WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:05.560 Okay, well, morning folks. It is lovely to see you. My name is Graham. I'm the pastor here of the church. 00:00:05.660 --> 00:00:14.980 Now, I get that it's hot, says the guy in the jumper, but this is really worth our best time and concentration today. 00:00:15.140 --> 00:00:20.300 This is an incredible passage if we've got the eyes of faith to tune in and see what it's saying to us. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:24.879 So let me encourage you to come expectantly to Genesis chapter 26. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:30.119 You can grab a Bible round about you or your own, or you can scroll on your phone. 00:00:30.219 --> 00:00:34.960 But so important that we have God's word open in front of us, Genesis chapter 26. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:48.620 And so with that in mind, let me try and get us into both the challenge and the comfort that God is going to hold out to us today in his word. 00:00:48.619 --> 00:00:55.239 Now, here is British tennis player Emma Raducanu. 00:00:55.539 --> 00:01:04.959 Now, back in 2021, she became a household name when she won the US Open as an 18-year-old rookie. 00:01:05.759 --> 00:01:14.799 And if you've followed her career since then, you'll know that she's kind of struggled both mentally and physically with the demands of the game of tennis. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:19.599 And so she said this in an interview with BBC Sport this week. 00:01:19.679 --> 00:01:25.799 If anybody read it, I thought it was a fascinating insight into the personality of a sports person. 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:26.640 She said this. 00:01:27.179 --> 00:01:33.700 She said, I very much attach my self-worth to my achievements. 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:36.840 If I lost a match, I would be really down. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:42.319 I would have a day of mourning, literally staring at the wall. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:48.379 I feel things so passionately and intensely. 00:01:49.559 --> 00:01:55.359 Now, on the one hand, part of me kind of loves that drive in her. 00:01:56.659 --> 00:02:03.399 But on the other hand, I may be saying this as a father, I really feel for her. 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:13.800 Because no 18-year-old, or she's now, what, 20, should live with that kind of outrageous burden and pressure on their lives, right? 00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:17.340 Let alone in life, as opposed to the game of sport. 00:02:17.420 --> 00:02:21.520 Now, I take it, though, when she uses that phrase in yellow there, she says, 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:23.120 It's my self-worth. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:31.360 I take it short for the thing that she perceives that gives her life meaning and purpose. 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:32.640 Okay? 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:37.000 It's kind of one of the buzz phrases of our day, our self-worth. 00:02:37.200 --> 00:02:42.340 And for her, that thing is winning. 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:46.939 Which you have to say is fine when you're winning. 00:02:48.259 --> 00:02:51.420 But what happens when you don't win? 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:54.159 I've got a friend called Andy. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:56.140 In fact, Andy was preaching here a couple of weeks ago. 00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:00.879 Andy's the chaplain at Hearts Football Club down in Gorgate. 00:03:00.939 --> 00:03:06.699 I remember hearing him say, not so long ago, that in his role as the chaplain of that football club, 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:11.120 none of the boys want to talk about the big things in life when things are going well, right? 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:14.620 When things, when they're winning, when they're performing well, 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:17.219 nobody's thinking about the existential questions of life. 00:03:18.300 --> 00:03:20.939 But all it takes is for the team to start losing, 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:24.259 and for contracts to be up for discussion, 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:27.120 and for injuries to set in, 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:30.000 and all of a sudden the questions come flying out. 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:33.580 So let me ask you, with that in mind, 00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:38.920 where does this morning, where does your sense of self-worth come from? 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:43.359 You see, here is the stunningly unique thing 00:03:43.359 --> 00:03:47.359 that the Christian faith has to say into our world today, 00:03:47.459 --> 00:03:50.359 that's the polar opposite of what you'll hear every single day 00:03:50.359 --> 00:03:51.679 as you live your life in this world, 00:03:51.839 --> 00:03:55.000 when it comes to the whole issue of identity and worth. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:59.579 The Christian faith, the Bible consistently says 00:03:59.579 --> 00:04:02.579 that in order to understand ourselves, 00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:08.060 we need to first begin by looking away from ourselves, 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:12.600 and to the God who made us, 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:15.000 and who created our hearts 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:18.420 to be eternally satisfied in knowing him. 00:04:20.300 --> 00:04:21.319 And so here is where, 00:04:21.379 --> 00:04:23.920 if you wondered where on earth we're going with this this morning, 00:04:24.340 --> 00:04:27.960 here is where Emma Raducanu connects with Genesis 26. 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:31.500 See, the first readers of Genesis, 00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:33.379 and this is what we've got to understand, 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:35.979 as Moses writes this book of Genesis, 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:39.299 the first readers of this first book of the Bible 00:04:39.299 --> 00:04:43.159 are the generation who are wandering in the wilderness. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:44.819 Right? 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:49.039 The Israelites, the people who God has rescued from Egypt. 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:49.979 Right? 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:51.279 Remember that story, 00:04:51.479 --> 00:04:52.379 Let My People Go, 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:53.599 that famous line? 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:56.720 I was going to say that Will Smith made famous 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:57.800 in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, 00:04:57.879 --> 00:04:58.600 if you know that scene. 00:04:58.860 --> 00:04:59.000 Yeah? 00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:00.180 Let My People Go. 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:02.120 They're out of Egypt. 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:04.379 They're now journeying towards the promised land, 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:07.160 the land where God said he was taking them. 00:05:07.960 --> 00:05:10.760 So these guys are the first readers of Genesis. 00:05:10.900 --> 00:05:13.800 Now that's critical for understanding the book as a whole, 00:05:14.020 --> 00:05:18.560 and it's crucial for understanding the message of chapter 26, 00:05:18.780 --> 00:05:22.140 because as that generation journey to where God has taken them, 00:05:22.200 --> 00:05:22.360 right, 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:24.900 they have got all sorts of questions, 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:27.520 spoken and unspoken in their minds. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:30.580 Who is the Lord? 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:34.000 Is he good for his word? 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:36.580 Can we trust him? 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:37.780 Or actually, 00:05:37.960 --> 00:05:39.740 is he just a bogus salesman 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:41.439 whose words aren't worth the bit of paper 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:42.340 that they're written on? 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.759 How do we know that we're not staking all of it 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:47.980 on an old wife's tale? 00:05:49.900 --> 00:05:50.139 Right? 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:50.699 Always love it. 00:05:50.699 --> 00:05:54.159 Is atheist Richard Dawkins right? 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:58.019 Is Christianity just a fairy tale for those afraid of the dark? 00:06:00.219 --> 00:06:02.939 Always love how Christian professor John Lennox 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:05.740 responded to that claim in a moment with a bit of love 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:06.980 and a bit of humor when he said, 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:07.439 actually, 00:06:07.579 --> 00:06:11.379 you think Christianity is a fairy tale for those afraid of the dark? 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:12.039 Can I just say, 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.460 atheism is a fairy tale for those afraid of the light? 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:16.840 It's what we do with the truth, 00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:17.180 isn't it? 00:06:17.200 --> 00:06:18.020 Like a beach ball, 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:18.680 the Bible says, 00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:19.620 we suppress it. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:20.480 We hold it underneath. 00:06:20.700 --> 00:06:23.819 We don't really want to think about truth 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:26.120 and the claims it has on our lives. 00:06:27.220 --> 00:06:27.680 You see, 00:06:27.720 --> 00:06:28.200 they're wondering, 00:06:28.340 --> 00:06:28.620 asking, 00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:29.780 who are we? 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:31.340 Where are we? 00:06:31.580 --> 00:06:32.920 Where are we going? 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:36.660 And you understand that those are not just postmodern questions. 00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:37.600 Right? 00:06:38.400 --> 00:06:41.560 Human beings have been asking them ever since we were created. 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:45.439 And this chapter is meant to give them, 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:46.500 and it's meant to give us, 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:47.920 a big piece of that puzzle. 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:50.060 Kind of reminded me this week, 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:53.480 if you remember that game show catchphrase. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:54.899 Yeah? 00:06:54.939 --> 00:06:56.500 They always had that scene at the end 00:06:56.500 --> 00:06:59.040 where the big thing was you had to kind of guess the picture 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:00.360 that was behind the puzzle pieces. 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:01.480 And you just got that music, 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:01.980 didn't you? 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:03.680 Do-do-do-do-do-do-do. 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:04.459 Vump. 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:09.040 And you saw a big piece of the puzzle reveal the picture. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:09.379 Now, 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:11.399 that's exactly what's going on in chapter 26. 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:15.160 Have a look at the text with me, 00:07:15.220 --> 00:07:16.819 and this will become clear, I hope. 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:18.100 You see, 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:22.420 the bookends are the clue to the purpose of this chapter. 00:07:22.660 --> 00:07:22.839 So, 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:24.680 if you scan your eye in the text, 00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:28.079 over verses 3 and 5, 00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:30.319 and then again, 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:32.759 you kind of get the repetition of it at verse 24, 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:36.220 it's all about promises. 00:07:37.660 --> 00:07:41.399 It's all about what God is promising to do and to be, 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:44.439 for this man called Isaac. 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:50.680 As God affirms the promises that he made to Isaac's father, 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:51.439 Abraham, 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:56.079 and as they get passed down this family line. 00:07:56.199 --> 00:07:57.100 There are four Ps, 00:07:57.199 --> 00:07:58.600 if you want to think about it like this. 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:01.060 Four Ps underlined on the screen. 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:03.860 They are promises of his presence. 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:05.019 Okay? 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:05.800 God is saying, 00:08:05.899 --> 00:08:06.740 that's what he says there. 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:07.519 That's the, 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:09.100 I will be with you language. 00:08:09.400 --> 00:08:10.060 God is saying, 00:08:10.840 --> 00:08:11.759 my presence, 00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:14.480 and a people. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:16.460 That's the, 00:08:16.540 --> 00:08:20.439 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the heaven language, 00:08:20.660 --> 00:08:21.740 and a place. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:24.740 I will give you these lands. 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:25.740 Right? 00:08:25.860 --> 00:08:26.139 Isaac, 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:26.840 as he hears this, 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:31.900 I think is probably at the southwest corner of this bit of geography called Canaan, 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:34.539 which is the promised land where God is leading his people, 00:08:35.180 --> 00:08:35.840 which as we'll see, 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:37.539 is pointed to something far greater. 00:08:39.180 --> 00:08:39.580 And, 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:40.799 slightly stretching it a little bit, 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:41.639 it's a program. 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:49.559 Through your line will come one through whom I will bless the peoples of the world. 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:51.919 Now, 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:53.939 what's strange here in terms of timeline, 00:08:55.519 --> 00:09:01.519 is that chapter 26 likely comes before chapter 25 chronologically. 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:02.120 Okay? 00:09:02.439 --> 00:09:02.639 So, 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:04.819 before these two boys, 00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:06.779 Esau and Jacob are on the scene. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:07.000 So, 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:08.340 you kind of think about it like this. 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:11.559 This is like when a character in a film has a flashback, 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:14.720 to a key moment in the past, 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:16.139 which kind of explains the present. 00:09:17.059 --> 00:09:19.559 It's kind of what's going on here in this chapter. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:19.939 Because, 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:21.159 in the present, 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:24.539 do you remember what we saw last week? 00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:26.960 Are the last words of chapter 25. 00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:27.840 Look at it there. 00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:30.340 The very last phrase. 00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:33.299 What did Esau do? 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:36.919 He despised his birthright. 00:09:37.379 --> 00:09:37.559 Yeah? 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:38.740 So, 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:40.340 being the firstborn 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:42.700 meant nothing to him. 00:09:42.780 --> 00:09:43.940 This was a bit like when 00:09:43.940 --> 00:09:46.440 a bit of junk mail comes through your letterbox. 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:47.000 You take one, 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:47.460 look at it, 00:09:47.540 --> 00:09:48.139 scrumple it up, 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:49.120 and throw it in the bin. 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:50.320 This is how this guy 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:51.960 reacted to 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:53.600 the promises of God. 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:57.100 And it's almost as if 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:58.600 Moses is saying, 00:09:58.759 --> 00:09:59.540 in this chapter, 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:00.800 with that as the backdrop, 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:06.439 do you see what Esau threw away? 00:10:08.439 --> 00:10:09.620 Do you see what he threw away? 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:10.740 Do you see what he thwarted? 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:12.120 Do you see what meant nothing to him? 00:10:12.219 --> 00:10:13.279 And I'm begging you, 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.939 don't make the same mistake. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:19.319 Do you see how glorious these promises are? 00:10:19.979 --> 00:10:21.500 How good God is for his words. 00:10:21.839 --> 00:10:24.299 Don't make the same mistake. 00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:25.899 And so, 00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:27.299 here's what I hope we see 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:28.679 as we journey through this real quick 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:30.019 as disciples of Jesus 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:31.740 in terms of our identity 00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:32.799 and our worth. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:36.039 That who you are today, 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:38.740 and who I am today, 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:41.159 and who we are today, 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:43.199 and who the church is today, 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:46.519 is a community that is formed by, 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:49.279 and fortified with, 00:10:49.579 --> 00:10:51.340 and standing to inherit 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:56.220 the unchanging promises of God. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:58.360 And it's my prayer today 00:10:58.360 --> 00:10:59.340 that we would leave, 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:00.720 as we gaze at Jesus, 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:03.500 we would leave here with zero doubt 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:05.299 about God's ability 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:07.139 to deliver on his promises. 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:10.079 And so, as we get there, 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:10.720 and that's where we're going to 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:11.720 kind of finish today, 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:13.639 here's two lessons I think we learned 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:15.139 from this chapter about 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:16.840 the people who are journeying 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:18.840 with faith. 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:20.659 Here's the first one. 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:22.879 Don't be frightened 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.080 by what's around you. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.819 So, in the text, 00:11:27.939 --> 00:11:28.699 do you see 00:11:28.699 --> 00:11:30.759 how there's a famine 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:32.840 facing Isaac? 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:34.120 Do you see that straight off the bat, 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:35.080 chapter 26? 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:37.799 And he thinks to himself, 00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:40.600 I'm going to do what my dad did, 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:43.240 and I'm going to head to Egypt, 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:44.439 because in Egypt, 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:45.840 there's help, 00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:47.640 and there's food. 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.760 But God says, 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:52.620 I want you 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:55.600 to stay here. 00:11:56.940 --> 00:11:58.620 So, Isaac's got a choice 00:11:58.620 --> 00:11:59.660 to make at this point, 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:00.020 doesn't he? 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:01.180 Will he be obedient, 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:04.160 or will he do the thing 00:12:04.160 --> 00:12:06.220 that he thinks makes sense to him? 00:12:06.520 --> 00:12:07.960 Will he live by faith, 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:12.860 or will he live by sight? 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:14.480 Which is the question 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:16.660 that faces every single generation 00:12:16.660 --> 00:12:17.580 of God's people, 00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:18.019 isn't it? 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:20.440 Now, the cultural air 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:21.500 which you and I breathe 00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:22.320 every day 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:25.120 goes right against the grain of that. 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:28.740 That if it feels right to you, 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:30.900 then how on earth 00:12:30.900 --> 00:12:32.340 could your heart be wrong? 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:35.000 And you spend enough time 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:35.879 in God's words, 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.320 and you learn that your heart 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:38.740 is the last thing 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:40.519 that you want to trust. 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:42.560 And actually, 00:12:42.680 --> 00:12:44.080 the person of faith 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.040 says 00:12:45.040 --> 00:12:47.139 that God's word 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:48.879 is the good compass 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.639 by which I'm going to sail by. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:54.019 So, Isaac settles, 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:54.840 do you see, 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:56.220 in this place 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:57.279 called Gerar. 00:12:58.439 --> 00:13:00.220 But as he settles there, 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:01.919 do you also see 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:03.159 how he begins 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:03.960 to lose 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:05.259 his nerve? 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:07.840 So, the men of Gerar 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:09.139 inquire about Rebecca, 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:09.879 his wife. 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:11.340 She was attractive 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:12.259 in appearance, 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.000 which I take it 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:14.179 is Moses channeling 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:15.279 his understated, 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.220 polite Brit. 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:19.759 She's drop-dead gorgeous. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:20.559 That's what we're meant 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:21.579 to understand here. 00:13:22.219 --> 00:13:23.000 And Isaac, 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.719 when he gets wind of this, 00:13:26.199 --> 00:13:26.759 oh man, 00:13:26.859 --> 00:13:28.939 what a spineless fool he is. 00:13:29.739 --> 00:13:30.019 Yeah? 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:31.639 And he's making 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:32.439 the same mistake 00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:33.000 that Abraham, 00:13:33.219 --> 00:13:33.779 his father, 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:34.139 made. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:35.500 Rather than standing 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:36.719 by his wife 00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:38.039 and believing 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:38.679 that the Lord 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:40.039 will protect them both, 00:13:40.079 --> 00:13:40.979 what does he say? 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:43.539 She's my, 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:45.979 she's my sister. 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:46.279 Now, 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:46.979 why, 00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:48.819 I can't get my head 00:13:48.819 --> 00:13:49.279 around that, 00:13:49.339 --> 00:13:49.839 why that would be 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:50.460 the first thing 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:51.139 coming into your mind 00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:52.120 to play that card. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:53.139 Yeah? 00:13:53.680 --> 00:13:54.540 If we were giving him 00:13:54.540 --> 00:13:55.600 the benefit of the doubt, 00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:55.820 now, 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:56.480 I'll come on in a minute 00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.580 just to say that I don't, 00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:57.980 okay? 00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.700 But if we were giving him 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:00.660 the benefit of the doubt, 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:01.540 knowing how the birds 00:14:01.540 --> 00:14:02.440 and the bees work, 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:04.560 this could be him, 00:14:04.780 --> 00:14:05.560 because Rebecca 00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.740 is key to this whole 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:07.620 offspring thing, 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.080 yeah? 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.379 This could be him 00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.740 trying to protect her 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:12.019 and preserve her life. 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:14.299 But this is where 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.120 I'm kind of landing. 00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.519 That he's pretty much 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.620 a coward at this point. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:21.799 Abimelech says, 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.220 verse 9, 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:23.179 why did you do that? 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:24.019 And he says, 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:25.960 lest I die 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:28.179 because of her. 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.500 Now, 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.740 it's a half-truth, 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:32.100 isn't it, 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:33.319 that Isaac's kind of told? 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:37.460 But in this moment, 00:14:37.540 --> 00:14:38.420 I think his heart, 00:14:38.520 --> 00:14:39.300 as it reacts, 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.440 is revealed. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.640 And it's so often 00:14:42.640 --> 00:14:43.580 the case, 00:14:43.660 --> 00:14:44.760 this is what the Lord does, 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:45.800 is we find ourselves 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:46.600 reacting, 00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.400 not in the big things 00:14:48.400 --> 00:14:49.000 of life, 00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:50.440 but in all the little 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:51.700 details that come our way. 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:54.700 He's revealing 00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.980 and he's prodding at 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:57.040 and he's forming 00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:58.260 our character. 00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:58.520 Now, 00:14:58.560 --> 00:14:59.080 do you see this 00:14:59.080 --> 00:14:59.760 in your own heart? 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:00.800 I see this all the time 00:15:00.800 --> 00:15:01.180 in mine. 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:02.820 Right? 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.920 The little half-truths 00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:04.560 that we tell, 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.020 the little exaggerated stories, 00:15:08.780 --> 00:15:09.760 the little things 00:15:09.760 --> 00:15:10.240 that we think 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:10.860 aren't actually 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:11.640 that big a deal 00:15:11.640 --> 00:15:12.879 in God's eyes. 00:15:13.020 --> 00:15:13.460 And to be honest, 00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:14.040 no one else 00:15:14.040 --> 00:15:15.020 kind of sees it. 00:15:16.660 --> 00:15:16.820 You know, 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:18.320 kind of doing that 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:21.180 rather than kind of, 00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:21.460 you know, 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:22.540 doing what we tell the kids 00:15:22.540 --> 00:15:24.240 to just be honest, 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:26.100 honest being the best policy. 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:26.800 Do you see that 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:27.360 in your life? 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.100 My heart instinctively 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:30.500 wants to do an Isaac 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.680 at certain points in time 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:32.200 and just save 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:32.900 my own skin. 00:15:34.920 --> 00:15:35.920 And those little times 00:15:35.920 --> 00:15:36.500 when we do that 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:36.920 in our lives, 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:37.940 I take it they're revealing 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:39.300 something big 00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:41.440 about what's going on 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:42.180 in our hearts. 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.740 What Jerry Bridges 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:45.100 called respectable 00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:45.680 sins. 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:46.759 Right? 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.660 The little things 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:48.280 that we do 00:15:48.280 --> 00:15:49.100 that we think 00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:50.140 no one else sees. 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:51.500 They're not one 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.280 of the headlines. 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.160 They're just one of 00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:53.540 these little 00:15:53.540 --> 00:15:54.560 respectable things. 00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:56.420 We've got to remember 00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:57.480 that God sees that. 00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:00.460 I take it we need 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.360 to recapture something 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.080 of what the church 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:03.279 leaders from the past 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.320 called Coram Deo. 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.060 Okay, 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:06.700 how's your Latin 00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:07.240 this morning? 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:08.720 Okay, 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.440 Coram 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:12.120 meaning always. 00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:14.500 Deo meaning God. 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.180 Always 00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:16.960 before God. 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:18.399 So God 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.340 sees everything 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.159 that's going on 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:20.960 in our lives. 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:21.440 There's nothing 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.580 that's hidden from him. 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.920 He is the all-knowing 00:16:23.920 --> 00:16:24.259 one. 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.860 And we should live 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.480 our lives 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:28.159 every single detail 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.519 knowing that we want 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.360 to praise him 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:30.939 with every single 00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:31.639 little detail. 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.600 Always living 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.299 before 00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:35.500 the face of God. 00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:38.240 So why do we 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:38.819 cop out? 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:40.700 Right? 00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:41.480 Why is it when 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.139 the person at 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.600 your workplace 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.519 and on the school run 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.580 asks you what you 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.419 did at the weekend? 00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:48.179 There's part of you 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:48.860 that's tempted just 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.419 to kind of duck 00:16:49.419 --> 00:16:49.899 the question 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.399 and ask about 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.039 something else. 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:52.319 Why is it 00:16:52.319 --> 00:16:53.419 that church leaders 00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:54.439 around the country 00:16:54.439 --> 00:16:55.979 so many of them 00:16:55.979 --> 00:16:56.519 are kind of 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.479 fudging what the 00:16:57.479 --> 00:16:58.099 Bible says 00:16:58.099 --> 00:16:59.539 about sexuality? 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:00.679 Why is that 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.360 going on? 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.819 The answer is 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:05.700 because the fear 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.299 of man 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:08.079 is bigger 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.940 in our minds 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:09.519 and greater 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.319 in our hearts 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.240 than the fear 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:11.839 of the Lord. 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.000 Now you've got to say 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:14.539 what is the 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.839 antidote to that? 00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:18.500 I take it 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:18.899 it's just that 00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:19.819 we need to pray 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.039 and humble ourselves 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:21.799 and repent 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:24.420 and seek 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.240 a big view 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.779 of God. 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:28.899 Now here's where 00:17:28.899 --> 00:17:30.019 I don't often do 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.500 this in sermons 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:30.799 but I'm going to 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.180 do it here 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:31.440 okay 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:33.339 just pull someone 00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:34.259 out in a good way. 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:35.519 Do you know what 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.359 Jackson was telling 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.079 me the other day? 00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:39.500 And friends 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.079 the Lord teaches 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:40.940 me so much 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.440 through you 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:41.940 in ways that 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.420 you just will 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.059 not be aware 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.920 of but he does. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.299 He said this 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:45.740 he was talking 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.119 about how one 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:46.659 of the options 00:17:46.659 --> 00:17:47.200 that he looked 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.000 at to getting 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.899 back to Canada 00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:49.660 in the summer 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:51.820 was the boat. 00:17:53.800 --> 00:17:54.360 I said Jackson 00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:55.240 how long 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:55.640 is that going 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:56.100 to take you? 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:57.000 Eight days. 00:17:58.120 --> 00:17:58.980 Eight days 00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.800 right? 00:18:00.040 --> 00:18:01.000 Waking up each day 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.280 just looking 00:18:02.280 --> 00:18:02.820 at the sea. 00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:03.780 Waking up the next 00:18:03.780 --> 00:18:05.019 day just looking 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.600 at the sea. 00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.280 I said why 00:18:07.280 --> 00:18:08.420 would you choose 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.080 that over just 00:18:09.080 --> 00:18:10.440 not flying? 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.300 And he said 00:18:11.300 --> 00:18:11.840 this phrase 00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:12.380 and it's just 00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:13.160 in my mind 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:13.519 at the minute 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.360 he said I just 00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:15.880 wanted to 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:17.080 experience the 00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:17.720 distance. 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:19.980 yeah I 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.460 wanted to 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.579 feel the 00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:23.299 the grandeur 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.079 of the sea 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:25.759 and how 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.779 small I 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.339 am 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:29.140 in comparison 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:30.120 to all 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:31.079 of creation. 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.819 And we've been 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.640 reminded this week 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:34.000 haven't we 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.700 that the Atlantic 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:35.279 Ocean 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:35.900 is a 00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:37.240 is a beast 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:38.539 it's big 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:40.900 and how much 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:41.600 greater than 00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:41.980 the God 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.779 who created 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.600 all of the 00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.200 things that 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:44.900 we see 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:46.059 and that phrase 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:46.380 has been 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:46.960 pinging around 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:47.519 my mind 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:47.860 asleep 00:18:47.860 --> 00:18:48.319 like a 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:48.660 ball in 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:49.220 a pinball 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:49.640 machine 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:50.500 because it 00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.279 reveals that 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.660 my my view 00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:53.400 of God 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.840 is way too 00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:55.440 small 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.380 and my 00:18:57.380 --> 00:18:58.059 fear of 00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.559 man 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.220 is way too 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.700 big. 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.539 You begin 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.120 to read 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:02.900 Isaiah 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.380 and the 00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:03.819 prophets 00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:04.640 and that's 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.160 the message 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.720 to their 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.519 generation. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.799 Why regard 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.059 man in 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.460 whose 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.299 nostrils 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:11.279 is breath? 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.380 The nations 00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:13.860 are but a 00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:14.559 drop in the 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.340 bucket in 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:15.919 comparison 00:19:15.919 --> 00:19:16.679 to him. 00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:20.359 And I 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:20.819 take it to 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.699 be increasingly 00:19:21.699 --> 00:19:22.639 growing in 00:19:22.639 --> 00:19:23.740 our understanding 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.359 of the 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:24.819 holiness 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.899 and the 00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:26.639 grandeur 00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:27.319 and the 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.339 magnificence 00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.240 of God 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:29.919 as we 00:19:29.919 --> 00:19:30.539 immerse 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.059 ourselves 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.639 in the 00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:32.179 word of 00:19:32.179 --> 00:19:32.579 God 00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:33.259 is an 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:33.879 incredibly 00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:34.399 healthy 00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:34.959 thing 00:19:34.959 --> 00:19:35.859 for our 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.319 hearts 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:37.500 to do. 00:19:39.659 --> 00:19:40.779 And that's 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.559 why Isaac 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.139 has totally 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:42.820 lost his 00:19:42.820 --> 00:19:43.160 nerve 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:43.520 here. 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:46.420 And that's 00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:46.880 the message 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:47.360 to this 00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:48.000 generation. 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.100 Wandering, 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:51.420 worrying about 00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.100 what's around 00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.420 them, 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.259 tempted to 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.060 conform to 00:19:55.060 --> 00:19:55.740 the idols 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.600 and just be 00:19:56.600 --> 00:19:57.140 like everyone 00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:57.820 else around 00:19:57.820 --> 00:19:58.080 them. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:58.940 Moses is 00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.360 saying don't 00:19:59.360 --> 00:19:59.900 be frightened 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.380 by what's 00:20:00.380 --> 00:20:00.980 around you. 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.240 And secondly 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.580 he's just 00:20:04.580 --> 00:20:05.000 saying don't 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.580 be doubtful 00:20:05.580 --> 00:20:05.940 of what's 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.360 ahead of 00:20:06.360 --> 00:20:06.520 you. 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:07.120 Now verse 00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:07.720 12, 00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:09.660 when we're 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.040 told that 00:20:10.040 --> 00:20:10.780 Isaac sowed 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:11.019 in the 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.299 land, 00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:11.720 I take 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.059 it that's 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:12.559 just code 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:12.960 for he 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.720 started to 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.240 walk by 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.099 faith again. 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:16.259 Right? 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:17.079 He started 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:17.599 to do the 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:19.240 thing that 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.799 God had 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.180 told him 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:20.680 to do. 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.259 And what a 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:21.799 year this 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.420 was if you 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:22.920 caught that 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:23.240 in the 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.559 text. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:23.920 Imagine 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.460 getting this 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.279 family Christmas 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:25.859 letter through 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.379 the post. 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.519 How was the 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.099 year gone? 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:29.819 Well we had 00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:30.500 a bumper 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.079 crop, 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.399 our wealth 00:20:32.399 --> 00:20:33.079 increased, 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.440 our flocks 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:34.700 and our 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.079 herds, 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:36.119 their numbers 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:36.579 went through 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.220 the roof and 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.720 because of 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.279 that we had 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:38.879 to hire a 00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:40.160 whole heap 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:40.840 of servant 00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:41.560 workers. 00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:43.000 Pretty good 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.740 year for us. 00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:44.779 Right? 00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.200 No wonder 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.580 the people 00:20:45.580 --> 00:20:46.160 in the land 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.060 envy them 00:20:47.060 --> 00:20:48.800 as he puts 00:20:48.800 --> 00:20:49.279 that out on 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.400 Instagram saying 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.580 hashtag blessed. 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.300 But I think 00:20:54.300 --> 00:20:54.680 that's what we 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.220 need to see is 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:56.040 exactly what's 00:20:56.040 --> 00:20:56.860 going on here. 00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.040 Right? 00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:58.640 This is more 00:20:58.640 --> 00:20:59.360 than just Isaac 00:20:59.360 --> 00:20:59.860 has got the 00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:00.860 Midas touch. 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:02.560 Do you 00:21:02.560 --> 00:21:03.060 remember what 00:21:03.060 --> 00:21:03.660 those four 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.220 Ps, 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.180 remember some 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:06.080 of the blessings 00:21:06.080 --> 00:21:07.120 that God said 00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:07.640 he would give 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.200 his people 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:08.840 because of his 00:21:08.840 --> 00:21:09.480 promise to 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:09.700 them? 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:10.279 Right? 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:10.920 People 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:13.620 and lands. 00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:15.539 Do you 00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.019 see how 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:17.579 the author 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:19.240 is trying 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.759 to tell 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.200 us 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:22.440 that God 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.400 is beginning 00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:24.259 to make 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:24.819 good 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:26.200 on his 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.660 promises? 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.880 So much 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.200 so that 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:29.839 verse 16 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.400 Abimelech 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:30.940 says you 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.279 need to 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:31.799 leave, 00:21:31.860 --> 00:21:32.099 you need 00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.380 to get 00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:33.160 away because 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:34.000 people are 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.740 too envious 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.400 of you 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.039 because you're 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.599 getting too 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:37.059 big. 00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:39.220 right? 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:39.960 And again 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:40.539 as we fast 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.000 forward to 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.619 the Exodus 00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.200 stories, 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:42.839 exactly what 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.379 you see is 00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:43.720 they begin 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.139 to grow 00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:44.759 and multiply. 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.200 What does 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.859 Pharaoh say? 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.259 No, 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.099 we can't 00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:47.619 have this. 00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:49.480 Abimelech 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:51.539 says you're 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.240 too big and 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.200 despite opposition 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.019 that comes as a 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.700 result of the 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.299 wells that they 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.619 dig, 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.659 verse 22, 00:21:58.159 --> 00:21:58.980 do you see 00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.359 how the 00:21:59.359 --> 00:21:59.940 well that they 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:01.079 finally settle 00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:01.319 at, 00:22:01.399 --> 00:22:01.859 what does he 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.480 call it? 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.660 Rehoboth 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:06.460 meaning the 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.380 Lord has 00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:08.019 made room 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.940 for us. 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:09.460 In other 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:09.640 words, 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.440 the Lord 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:12.200 has provided 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:14.140 like he 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.539 said he 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:14.839 would. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.759 Abimelech 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.240 even says 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.460 so, 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.319 verse 28, 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.039 we see that 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.460 the Lord 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.120 has been 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:22.299 with you. 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:22.720 So there's 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.460 another P, 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.120 do you see it? 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.819 We see that 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.400 God is with 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:25.559 you, 00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.120 we see the 00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.920 presence P. 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.860 So to 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.279 see the 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:30.819 message to 00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:31.559 this generation, 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.279 you can put 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:32.960 all your 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.700 eggs in 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:35.119 the God 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.740 fulfilling his 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.779 promises basket. 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.859 No need to 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:39.519 split your 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.000 risk, 00:22:40.159 --> 00:22:40.639 no need to 00:22:40.639 --> 00:22:41.480 open different 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.200 bank accounts 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:42.759 just in case 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.200 one of them 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.720 goes under. 00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:44.259 No, 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:44.359 no, 00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:44.460 no, 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:44.940 you can put 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:46.000 all of it, 00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:47.879 stake it all 00:22:47.879 --> 00:22:49.460 on God 00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.179 fulfilling his 00:22:50.179 --> 00:22:50.579 promises. 00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:52.779 So don't 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.440 mistake, 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.440 don't make 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.000 the same 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.720 mistake 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:57.139 that Esau 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.619 made. 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.200 Don't be 00:22:59.200 --> 00:22:59.759 scared of 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.359 what's around 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:00.639 you. 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.139 Don't be 00:23:02.139 --> 00:23:02.980 doubtful 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.220 of what's 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:04.700 ahead of 00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:04.940 you. 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:07.879 And here's 00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.240 what I want 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.740 us to see 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.399 sitting where 00:23:09.399 --> 00:23:10.000 we do 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:14.019 in 2023 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:16.940 at this 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.339 point in 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:17.799 salvation 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.359 history. 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:20.940 I want 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.139 us to 00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:21.440 understand 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.779 that we've 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.200 got so 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:22.720 much more 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.379 reason to 00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:23.879 trust that 00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.200 God will 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:24.579 make good 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:24.799 on his 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.220 promises. 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:25.279 promises. 00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:28.079 And the 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.539 reason that 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:28.940 we do 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.799 is because 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.120 of Jesus. 00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.740 Because he 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:36.140 came from 00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:36.799 this family 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.259 tree. 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.059 We've seen 00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:38.900 one baton 00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:40.500 pass from 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.140 Abraham to 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:41.640 Isaac. 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.940 Way down 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.600 this family 00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:45.680 line is 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:45.940 going to 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.559 come Jesus. 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.120 Now do you 00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:47.880 see how God 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.640 makes these 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.059 promises? 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:49.720 Who does he 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.259 make them 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.559 to? 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:52.099 Let me 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.839 just stretch 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.220 us for 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.879 just 5-10 00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.299 minutes as 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:54.720 we bring 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.059 this to a 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.319 close. 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.359 He makes 00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:56.779 them to 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.539 offspring. 00:23:59.480 --> 00:23:59.720 Yeah? 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:01.099 And the 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.839 New Testament 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.859 tells us 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:04.039 that that 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.619 offspring 00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:07.299 is singular. 00:24:08.159 --> 00:24:08.859 So there's 00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:09.859 one person 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.299 that's going 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.000 to inherit 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.460 and make 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.519 way for 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:13.919 these things 00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:14.339 to come to 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:14.679 pass, 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.619 these covenant 00:24:15.619 --> 00:24:16.240 blessings. 00:24:18.159 --> 00:24:18.859 Because God 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.259 said to 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.659 Abraham, 00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:20.519 walk before 00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.099 me and be 00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.759 blameless. 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:22.400 Right? 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.339 Only the 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.960 person who 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.359 is going to 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:26.299 fully fulfill 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.960 God's side 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.960 of the 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.299 covenant 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:29.980 bargain is 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.319 going to be 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:30.799 the one who's 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.039 going to 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.660 inherit these 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.819 four Ps. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.339 Only Jesus 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:37.279 walked before 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:37.839 the Father 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:38.299 and was 00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:38.879 blameless. 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:39.400 Right? 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.240 Only he 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.819 lived the 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.839 perfect life 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:43.819 so as to 00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:44.940 inherit these 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:46.220 blessings. 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:46.980 We couldn't 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.460 do that. 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.779 No chance 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.319 we could do 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:49.619 that. 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:50.819 See, 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.299 part of 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:51.500 this 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:51.859 covenant 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.379 bargain 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:54.299 that God 00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:54.720 made with 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.279 Abraham and 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:55.639 is being 00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.420 passed down 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.440 is that 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:57.680 there would 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.539 be blessings 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.420 for obedience 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:01.220 and there 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:01.680 would be 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:03.079 curses for 00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:04.480 disobedience on 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.299 man's part. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.900 But the 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.619 wonderful thing 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:08.019 about the 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.519 story of 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:10.299 Abraham is 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.139 that God 00:25:11.139 --> 00:25:11.799 is so 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.819 committed to 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.920 getting his 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.579 people the 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.960 blessing that 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.359 he says, 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.000 I'm even 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.539 going to take 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.259 those curses 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:19.119 on myself. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.019 And that's 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.480 what Jesus 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.099 did as he 00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:23.759 dies on the 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.279 cross. 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.399 He is 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:27.019 taking the 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.440 curses that 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:29.460 we deserved 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:31.159 on himself. 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:32.940 Do you know 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.359 something I'd 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:33.839 never seen 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.420 before until 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:34.940 this week? 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.460 Love this. 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.299 Genesis chapter 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.859 three. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.379 As sin 00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:42.359 enters the 00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:42.819 world, 00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:44.759 and as 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.220 God says 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:45.960 there's a 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.659 curse now, 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:46.939 you will 00:25:46.939 --> 00:25:47.240 feel the 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.119 effects of 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:48.539 sin. 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.399 What is 00:25:49.399 --> 00:25:50.059 one of the 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.000 symbols of 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.619 the curse 00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.859 in terms of 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.419 the ground? 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.179 It's 00:25:55.179 --> 00:25:55.659 thorns, 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.399 isn't it? 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.159 Thorns and 00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:57.460 thistles. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.099 Scottish people 00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:58.839 kind of don't 00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.240 talk about 00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.679 the thistles. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:01.519 Thorns. 00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:04.119 And what do 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:04.659 you see 00:26:04.659 --> 00:26:06.119 going on 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:07.359 as Jesus 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:07.879 goes to 00:26:07.879 --> 00:26:08.379 the cross? 00:26:08.419 --> 00:26:08.879 What is he 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.539 wearing on 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.099 his head? 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.379 A crown of 00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:11.639 what? 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.740 A crown of 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.099 thorns. 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.299 Do you 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:14.779 understand 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:16.139 that Jesus 00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:18.220 is taking 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.039 the covenant 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.879 curses that 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:20.359 his people 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:21.220 deserved on 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.740 himself? 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.799 That's what 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.359 he does as 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:23.960 he goes to 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.859 the cross. 00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:25.639 He hangs 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:27.000 on a tree. 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:27.700 So there's 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.379 another sign 00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:28.799 of the 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:30.439 covenant 00:26:30.439 --> 00:26:30.899 curses. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.720 He takes 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.579 them in 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:34.000 our place. 00:26:34.179 --> 00:26:34.460 And with 00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:34.899 that in 00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:35.200 mind, 00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:35.939 as you 00:26:35.939 --> 00:26:36.720 see here, 00:26:37.919 --> 00:26:38.619 Isaac the 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:39.059 coward, 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.779 when faced 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.099 with the 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.799 decision that 00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.339 it's either 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:43.759 your bride's 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.399 life or 00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:45.159 it's yours, 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.379 and he 00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:46.959 says, 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:47.879 I'm 00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:48.139 picking 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:48.579 mine. 00:26:49.659 --> 00:26:50.559 You cannot 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.579 help but 00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.480 think of 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.399 Jesus as 00:26:53.399 --> 00:26:54.139 he goes to 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:54.839 the cross 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:56.159 with his 00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:56.819 bride in 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.299 mind. 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.799 His bride 00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.459 being his 00:26:59.459 --> 00:26:59.959 people, 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.339 and he's 00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:00.759 faced with 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.439 the exact 00:27:01.439 --> 00:27:02.599 same question. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.439 It's either 00:27:03.439 --> 00:27:04.299 your life 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.319 or it's 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:05.959 hers. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.679 It's either 00:27:06.679 --> 00:27:07.480 your life 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:07.919 or it's 00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:08.839 your people's. 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:09.939 Isaac made 00:27:09.939 --> 00:27:11.199 his call, 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.539 and Jesus 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:14.159 also makes 00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:14.779 his call, 00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.259 but he does 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.899 the opposite 00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.379 of what 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:17.220 Isaac does. 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.639 He says, 00:27:19.699 --> 00:27:20.039 it's me 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.480 instead of 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:20.699 her. 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.179 And there, 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.759 as he dies 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.539 on the cross, 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.539 he is 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.579 uniting 00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.519 himself to 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.179 the death 00:27:29.179 --> 00:27:30.079 penalty that 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.839 every single 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:31.379 one of us 00:27:31.379 --> 00:27:31.939 deserved. 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:34.460 and in 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.039 turn, 00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:36.259 we are 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.759 united 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.460 because of 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:38.240 our faith 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.420 to these 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:40.180 blessings 00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:41.500 that only 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.860 he deserves. 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.000 And that's 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.759 why I love, 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:46.360 we started 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:46.720 with it 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.200 today, 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:49.019 that chorus 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.400 that kind 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:49.880 of captures 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.400 the language 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:51.240 of Ephesians 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.660 1. 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.240 Ephesians 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.240 1 starts 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.920 about how 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:54.400 God has 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.120 blessed us 00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:55.740 with every 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.539 spiritual 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:58.000 blessing in 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.420 the heavenly 00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.019 places. 00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.480 He has 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.000 what to 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.180 us? 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.519 He has 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.400 chosen us 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:02.759 He has 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.759 redeemed us, 00:28:04.300 --> 00:28:04.820 He has 00:28:04.820 --> 00:28:06.180 justified us, 00:28:06.280 --> 00:28:07.040 and He has 00:28:07.040 --> 00:28:08.019 adopted us 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.440 as His 00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:09.180 sons and 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:09.580 daughters. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.440 Not because 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:10.780 of what 00:28:10.780 --> 00:28:11.400 we've done, 00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:13.160 but because 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.640 of our 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.259 covenant 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.780 King who 00:28:14.780 --> 00:28:15.140 died on 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:15.519 the cross 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:15.980 for us 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.660 and shares 00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.019 with us 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.660 His life. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.440 And in 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.040 Him, 00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:21.540 those four 00:28:21.540 --> 00:28:22.600 Ps are 00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.360 ours. 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.240 A people, 00:28:26.800 --> 00:28:27.700 Christians all 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.259 over the 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.700 world, 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.220 today, 00:28:30.820 --> 00:28:31.040 do you 00:28:31.040 --> 00:28:31.160 know, 00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.840 just love 00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:32.500 the fact 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:32.920 that there's 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.380 a small 00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:33.840 number of 00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:34.259 us today, 00:28:34.340 --> 00:28:34.759 but how 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.560 many different 00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:37.080 countries and 00:28:37.080 --> 00:28:37.500 how many 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.380 different continents 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:39.160 are represented? 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:39.600 Maybe we 00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:39.900 can chat 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:40.300 about that 00:28:40.300 --> 00:28:40.620 at the 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:40.960 picnic. 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.440 Global 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:45.040 people that 00:28:45.040 --> 00:28:46.019 Jesus has 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.620 gathered for 00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.019 Himself, 00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:47.900 His presence, 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.660 it's one of the 00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.660 blessings that 00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:50.259 we have, 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.360 is God's 00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:51.900 Spirit, 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.500 not living 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.160 over us, 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:54.640 but living 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.580 in us. 00:28:57.100 --> 00:28:57.900 A place, 00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.620 God is leading 00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.699 us home 00:28:59.699 --> 00:29:00.179 to 00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:01.799 Himself. 00:29:02.159 --> 00:29:02.399 And that's 00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:02.719 why the 00:29:02.719 --> 00:29:03.359 Spirit living 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.839 inside of 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.719 us testifies 00:29:04.719 --> 00:29:05.119 with us 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:05.579 that yes, 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:05.939 that's 00:29:05.939 --> 00:29:06.359 true, 00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.579 sealed us 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.039 with the 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:09.439 Spirit, 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.459 wonderfully 00:29:10.459 --> 00:29:10.919 true, 00:29:11.139 --> 00:29:11.559 partially 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.039 now, 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:12.979 but all 00:29:12.979 --> 00:29:13.299 of these 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:13.719 things are 00:29:13.719 --> 00:29:14.059 going to be 00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.959 fully amplified 00:29:14.959 --> 00:29:15.479 in God's 00:29:15.479 --> 00:29:16.099 new creation, 00:29:16.219 --> 00:29:16.500 the place 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:16.779 where He's 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.419 taken us. 00:29:19.159 --> 00:29:20.019 So who 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.659 are we? 00:29:22.199 --> 00:29:23.000 Where are 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.259 we? 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.000 Where are 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.519 we going? 00:29:24.899 --> 00:29:25.579 Come to think 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:25.799 of it, 00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:26.259 who is 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:26.819 the Lord? 00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:29.379 Well, 00:29:29.439 --> 00:29:29.939 here is my 00:29:29.939 --> 00:29:30.839 plea to us, 00:29:30.919 --> 00:29:31.379 dear brothers 00:29:31.379 --> 00:29:31.960 and sisters 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.339 in the 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:32.720 faith, 00:29:34.399 --> 00:29:35.960 is not 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.299 to do 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.000 an Esau, 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:40.019 but to 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.740 be firm 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:43.259 in God's 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.319 ability to 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:46.299 deliver on 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.939 His promises. 00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:49.740 And by 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.500 God's sheer 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:50.919 grace, 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.599 we have been 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.699 scooped up 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:54.759 and this 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.200 is our 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.700 story. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.580 Whatever is 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.200 going on in 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.640 your life 00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:58.980 today, 00:29:59.120 --> 00:29:59.680 here's what I 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.140 want you to 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:00.640 know as we 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:00.940 bring this 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.660 to a close, 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:03.819 that right 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.279 here, 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:05.180 however you're 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.440 feeling, 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.340 whatever you're 00:30:06.340 --> 00:30:06.819 facing, 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:08.080 whatever sin 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:08.519 is weighing 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.120 you down, 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.400 dear brothers 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:10.880 and sisters, 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:11.819 let's come 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.299 back to 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:12.920 Jesus and 00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.660 remember that 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.140 in Him, 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.799 this is our 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.539 self-worth. 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.120 Now, 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:19.440 here's the 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:19.600 thing, 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.080 just as we 00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:20.299 close, 00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:20.840 just for one 00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:21.080 minute, 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.720 to kind 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.099 of bring 00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:23.439 us back 00:30:23.439 --> 00:30:23.720 to the 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.199 centrality 00:30:24.199 --> 00:30:24.439 of where 00:30:24.439 --> 00:30:25.000 I think 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.419 this is 00:30:25.419 --> 00:30:25.740 meant to 00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.079 lead this 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.720 first generation. 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.139 Put your 00:30:27.139 --> 00:30:27.519 hands up 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:27.919 this morning 00:30:27.919 --> 00:30:28.179 if you 00:30:28.179 --> 00:30:28.619 turned on 00:30:28.619 --> 00:30:29.079 a light. 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.799 This is 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.359 going somewhere, 00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:32.839 trust me, 00:30:32.919 --> 00:30:33.099 okay? 00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:34.779 Yeah? 00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:35.740 I turned 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:36.159 on a light 00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:36.599 this morning. 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:36.839 Now, 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.579 as far as I 00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:37.980 can see, 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:38.460 there are 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.099 two types 00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:39.500 of light 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:39.960 switch in 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:40.279 the world 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:40.559 that I 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.000 know of. 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:42.639 You've 00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:42.859 got your 00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:43.599 classic on 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.059 and off, 00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:45.619 you've 00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:46.259 also got 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:46.599 your 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.639 dimmer. 00:30:48.379 --> 00:30:48.819 You can 00:30:48.819 --> 00:30:49.119 kind of 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:49.939 phase in and 00:30:49.939 --> 00:30:50.460 phase out 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.000 the light. 00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:52.419 And I 00:30:52.419 --> 00:30:52.720 think this 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.159 passage, 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.579 as Moses 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.139 writes us, 00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:54.559 he's getting 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.019 us to think 00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:55.500 about both 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:55.839 of those 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.279 lights. 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:57.419 Okay? 00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:58.879 First of 00:30:58.879 --> 00:30:59.179 all, 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.279 as he asks 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.960 us to examine 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.419 our hearts 00:31:02.419 --> 00:31:02.980 and see where 00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.419 we're at, 00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:03.919 first of 00:31:03.919 --> 00:31:04.039 all, 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.679 think about 00:31:04.679 --> 00:31:05.019 the on 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.339 and off 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:05.779 switch. 00:31:08.379 --> 00:31:08.939 When it 00:31:08.939 --> 00:31:09.419 comes to 00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:09.960 your faith 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.599 in Jesus, 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:12.839 are you on 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.519 or you off? 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.500 Are you in 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.119 or you out? 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.679 Are you trusting 00:31:18.679 --> 00:31:19.339 in the promises 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.199 of God or not? 00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:22.980 And I 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.379 think about 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:23.839 the dimmer. 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.199 See, 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.539 the thing 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:24.859 about the 00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.399 dimmer is 00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:25.980 it can 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.539 be on, 00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:28.919 but it 00:31:28.919 --> 00:31:29.179 can be 00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:29.579 really, 00:31:29.699 --> 00:31:30.199 really low. 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.139 And I 00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:32.819 think the 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.519 challenge that 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.119 comes to 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:34.740 us that 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.519 are on 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:37.679 is as it 00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:38.619 concerns both 00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.419 our obedience 00:31:39.419 --> 00:31:40.439 to and our 00:31:40.439 --> 00:31:41.639 confidence in 00:31:41.639 --> 00:31:42.480 God's promises 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.500 and having seen 00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.079 how committed 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:45.099 he is to 00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:45.779 bringing them 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.379 to completion 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:47.080 in Christ 00:31:47.080 --> 00:31:47.980 is that 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.380 when it 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:48.840 comes to 00:31:48.840 --> 00:31:49.420 the dimmer 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:51.680 of light 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:51.940 of our 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.300 faith, 00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:56.100 the challenge 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.560 here is to 00:31:56.560 --> 00:31:56.880 turn it 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.180 up. 00:31:59.340 --> 00:31:59.880 Turn it 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:00.160 up. 00:32:01.520 --> 00:32:01.660 Okay, 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.100 whatever that 00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:02.600 looks like in 00:32:02.600 --> 00:32:03.060 your life just 00:32:03.060 --> 00:32:03.180 now, 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.460 in terms of 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:03.900 your witness 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.420 at work, 00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:05.260 turn it 00:32:05.260 --> 00:32:05.540 up. 00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:07.180 In terms of 00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:07.560 maybe your 00:32:07.560 --> 00:32:08.640 church attendance, 00:32:09.260 --> 00:32:09.400 you know, 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.060 I pray that 00:32:10.060 --> 00:32:10.720 for many of 00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:10.920 us, 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.240 the Lord 00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:11.560 would be at 00:32:11.560 --> 00:32:11.860 work in 00:32:11.860 --> 00:32:12.260 our life, 00:32:12.340 --> 00:32:12.700 that church 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.220 would stop 00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.240 being something 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:14.900 that we go 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.940 to and 00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.539 you would 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.019 come to 00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:17.420 the centre 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:17.860 and realise 00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.200 that it's 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:18.620 something that 00:32:18.620 --> 00:32:19.259 we are part 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:19.759 of. 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:21.860 Yeah? 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.299 Turning it 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.579 up. 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.220 You know, 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.680 the way that 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.259 we raise our 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:25.640 children, 00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:26.400 turning it 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:26.779 up as we 00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:27.220 thought about 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:27.559 it today, 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.579 whatever this 00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.079 looks like 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:29.759 in our 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.220 lives, 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:31.839 I think the 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.220 challenge of 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:32.860 this passage 00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:34.759 is to turn 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.140 it up. 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.480 Turn it 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:36.720 up. 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.299 I know 00:32:39.299 --> 00:32:39.839 not why 00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:40.960 God's wondrous 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.960 grace to me 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.740 he has made 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.120 known, 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.819 nor why 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:45.380 unworthy 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:46.059 Christ in 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:46.299 love 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:46.880 redeem me 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:47.339 for his 00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:47.519 own, 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:47.860 but I 00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:49.059 know whom 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:49.700 I have 00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:50.319 believed, 00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:51.819 and I'm 00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.600 persuaded 00:32:52.600 --> 00:32:53.839 that he 00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:54.620 is able 00:32:54.620 --> 00:32:56.160 to keep 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:56.980 that which 00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.700 I've 00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.140 committed 00:32:58.140 --> 00:33:00.259 unto him 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:01.600 against 00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.140 that day. 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.600 Let's pray, 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:03.920 will we? 00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:11.400 And so, 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:11.680 Father, 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.079 it's our 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:12.740 prayer this 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.259 morning, 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:15.519 that by 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:16.259 your grace 00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:16.519 that you 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:16.799 would just 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.740 increase 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.460 our 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.140 appetite 00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:20.019 for 00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:22.259 and our 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:22.940 assurance 00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:23.599 of 00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:25.319 what you 00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:25.980 have won 00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:26.880 for us 00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:28.620 in the 00:33:28.620 --> 00:33:29.420 person of 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:29.859 your son, 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.299 Jesus. 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.980 Lord, 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.599 thank you 00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:32.880 that there 00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.200 is just 00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:33.920 simply no 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:34.480 one like 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:34.960 him. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.480 Father, 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.480 who else 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.900 would die 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.880 for his 00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:40.299 enemies? 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.299 God, 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:42.299 you 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:43.079 have to 00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:44.079 be with 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.419 us. 00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:45.099 And so, 00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:45.359 Father, 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:45.720 as we 00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.259 contemplate your 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:46.619 outrageous, unmerited 00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:47.480 love for us 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.200 that's seen 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:49.240 there, 00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:51.000 oh, 00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:51.379 Father, 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:51.899 would you, 00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:52.339 by your 00:33:52.339 --> 00:33:52.619 spirit, 00:33:52.940 --> 00:33:53.980 increase our 00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:55.960 desire for 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.579 not just 00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:58.440 the blessings, 00:33:58.440 --> 00:33:59.940 blessings, but 00:33:59.940 --> 00:34:01.059 our desire and 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.960 our hunger and 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:03.240 our affection for 00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.720 you. 00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:06.539 So, 00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:06.799 Father, 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:08.059 be with us as 00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:09.139 we continue on 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.679 this morning. 00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:10.579 I thank you for 00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.480 my friends here. 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.260 I thank you for 00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:13.019 the role which 00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:14.280 we have in 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:14.820 each other's 00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:15.139 lives. 00:34:15.220 --> 00:34:15.500 And Lord, 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:16.179 may we 00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:17.099 together spur 00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:18.300 one another on 00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:20.119 towards love 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.780 and good deeds. 00:34:20.780 --> 00:34:22.040 And in 00:34:22.040 --> 00:34:22.420 Jesus' 00:34:22.660 --> 00:34:24.220 strong name 00:34:24.220 --> 00:34:24.780 we pray. 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:25.860 Amen. 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:26.940 Amen.