WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.459 Father, sometimes your word talks about things that we don't want to talk about and we don't want to think about. 00:00:08.220 --> 00:00:14.780 And sometimes your word says things that just about everything within us disagrees with. 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:19.320 And sometimes your word says things that we might agree with, 00:00:19.379 --> 00:00:25.440 but we don't think anybody around us that we know at work or in our neighborhood or maybe in our family would agree with. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:32.939 And Father, we confess before you that it's very easy for us in these situations to not want to hear your word at all, 00:00:33.120 --> 00:00:39.700 to skip over it, to think about something that pleases us or chooses, that pleases us. 00:00:40.660 --> 00:00:47.680 But Father, you are God, the true and living God, the creator of all things, the sustainer of all things, 00:00:47.680 --> 00:00:49.159 and you are a God who speaks. 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:52.320 And you have spoken to us and you speak to us. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:58.240 We ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would gently but deeply come into our minds and come into our hearts 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:01.880 and come into our wills, come into our bodies, come into who we are, 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:05.219 that your Holy Spirit would fall upon us with gentle power, 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:08.379 that we might hear your word and receive your word, 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:15.920 and that your word would enter into us to the end that we would bear much fruit in our daily lives for your glory. 00:01:16.460 --> 00:01:20.680 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:01:21.219 --> 00:01:22.099 Please be seated. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:22.819 Amen. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:35.979 So, some sort of strong texts. 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:38.919 Here's the first thing. 00:01:39.179 --> 00:01:43.179 So I'll, if you're a guest here, by the way, first of all, if you're a guest here this morning, 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:44.719 we always have some Bibles at the front. 00:01:45.039 --> 00:01:49.219 If you forgot your Bible, you're welcome to come and borrow a Bible or actually take it as a gift. 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:50.459 You don't have to bring it back. 00:01:50.459 --> 00:01:52.559 You can take it home with you if you want. 00:01:52.939 --> 00:01:54.459 And we're going to look at those Bible texts. 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:57.500 And what we do at this church is we preach through books of the Bible. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:01.559 So it wasn't as if, George, you know, that's my name's George if you're a guest. 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:07.500 It's not as if I thought one day, what could I do to really sort of just lay a big guilt bomb on a whole pile of people? 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:10.039 So why do I pick this text? 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:14.439 Because that will really, you know, thin the congregation, thin the herd or something like that. 00:02:14.500 --> 00:02:16.139 No, we preach through the Bible. 00:02:16.379 --> 00:02:17.740 We preach through books of the Bible. 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:19.020 And this was the next text. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:20.960 And so we're going to look at it. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:30.780 And here's the thing, which if you don't get anything else, and I apologize that event after event after event happened that I wasn't able to get my points to Andrew. 00:02:30.780 --> 00:02:41.199 So if you go on the webpage tomorrow in the afternoon, hopefully, if you need help with the points, they'll be up there on the computer or webpage. 00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:45.219 But here's the thing that struck me as I'm trying to wrestle with these texts. 00:02:45.219 --> 00:03:00.560 And it's as if the Holy Spirit spoke to me about a fundamental heart issue that only maybe I'm not always aware of, but it's a fundamental heart issue in terms of how I approach the Bible. 00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:05.340 And maybe I'm vastly more wicked than you, but I think it's a common heart problem. 00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:12.819 Maybe it's always been a common problem, but I think it's especially a problem in an affluent, well-educated city like Ottawa. 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:15.340 And here's the heart issue. 00:03:16.620 --> 00:03:24.039 The true God who truly speaks is not a puzzle to solve so that I can be safe and flourish. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:25.840 I'll say that again. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:31.819 It's too bad I don't have it up on the screen unless Andrew sort of types it while I speak, which would be sort of funny. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:39.819 The true God who truly speaks is not a puzzle to solve so that I can be safe and flourish. 00:03:39.819 --> 00:03:43.819 And you might say, George, why on earth would you say something like that? 00:03:43.859 --> 00:03:45.759 Like, that's not a very Christian thing to say. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:48.659 You know, we're just supposed to believe God at his word. 00:03:48.739 --> 00:03:50.340 We're just sort of to take it and all that. 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:56.120 But, you know, if I think about it, when I was sort of wrestling with this text, studying different commentaries, 00:03:56.299 --> 00:03:59.000 not only commentaries that have been written relatively recently, 00:03:59.459 --> 00:04:04.139 but commentaries that have been written other centuries where there were other types of perspectives on it. 00:04:04.139 --> 00:04:11.919 And, you know, it's very easy for us to try to turn these passages into something that will be safe for us. 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:14.819 As if it's a type of puzzle. 00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:21.839 And if we can just sort of solve the puzzle, then, okay, then we can live with the text. 00:04:22.099 --> 00:04:24.000 And we can be safe with the text. 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:25.800 And we can be safe with God. 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:28.460 And we can flourish because we're safe. 00:04:30.020 --> 00:04:32.259 And, but you know what? 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:33.639 That's not who God is. 00:04:33.939 --> 00:04:35.340 And it's not who we are. 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:43.000 In fact, texts like this reveal how we have a God project at work in our own lives. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:51.740 And that this God project that's at work in our own lives means that we sort of want to set the terms of what God will be like. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:55.100 And we want to set the terms for what he's going to speak. 00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:59.139 And the terms about what he can and cannot tell us. 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:01.339 And we want to set the terms. 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:05.160 We want to have a type of negotiation with God to set these terms up. 00:05:05.779 --> 00:05:09.180 And so that once we know the terms of the deal and the terms of the arrangement, 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:12.819 then we can go and we can do the different things that we want to do. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:15.660 And in fact, that's often what religion does. 00:05:15.899 --> 00:05:19.480 Even Christianity, which has been in a sense hijacked by religion. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:25.180 It creates, you know, like maybe in some churches, there's a whole pile of rituals and rules around Sunday morning, 00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:27.779 which means that you have virtually no rules for the rest of the week. 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:29.279 That's very, very handy. 00:05:29.459 --> 00:05:31.560 You know, we've worked out some rules with God. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:34.180 And we agree with these rules with God. 00:05:34.279 --> 00:05:35.459 Okay, God, those are good rules. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:36.300 We agree with them. 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:42.399 And now that we've agreed to these rules, I can go, whoa, okay, God is sort of, now we have God sort of settled. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:45.899 You know, like an awkward guest who comes to a dinner party. 00:05:46.420 --> 00:05:48.459 We have him or her settled. 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:50.459 This is the awkward guest, not God. 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:52.279 We have God settled. 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:58.459 And now we can get on with, and it's not going to be too disruptive to us having a good dinner party, us having a good life. 00:05:59.419 --> 00:06:01.539 And often religion functions like that. 00:06:01.719 --> 00:06:04.680 And, in fact, people, and I don't mean to insult anybody. 00:06:04.839 --> 00:06:06.739 I'm Canadian, so I don't want to insult anybody. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:11.199 But often when we say that we're spiritual, not religious, that's often sort of what we mean. 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:20.479 We have a different type of negotiation with God so that we can have God sort of be a certain type of way so that now that he, if we're spiritual, not religious, 00:06:20.479 --> 00:06:22.959 we might not know if God's a he or she or an it. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:26.279 But I'm not saying that to make fun, but it's just a different type of language. 00:06:26.839 --> 00:06:34.159 And now he or she or it is sort of settled, and it's all part of our, in fact, now God is actually part of our adornment, 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:38.399 how in our project to flourish and to be safe. 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:45.899 And texts like this that we just read a few moments ago that we're going to read again in a couple of seconds, 00:06:46.139 --> 00:06:52.199 it challenges our project at determining how we are safe and how we will flourish, 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:58.039 how I will be safe, how I will flourish, and where I begin and where I end, 00:06:58.039 --> 00:07:05.139 and how God is going to fit in with who I am and the choices I want to make and the choices I have made. 00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:09.240 And so I want to have God safe. 00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:15.659 And so when I come to a text like this, I approach it, you approach it like a puzzle. 00:07:17.379 --> 00:07:21.699 And it's a puzzle that if we just click it and shape it the right way, 00:07:22.519 --> 00:07:24.620 God's safe. 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:26.779 I can be safe. I can flourish. 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:35.919 Now, I know some religious and spiritual people will use texts like this as a club to bang other people over the head with 00:07:35.919 --> 00:07:40.099 and to try to belittle people. 00:07:41.239 --> 00:07:43.239 And that's another, that's a separate problem. 00:07:43.339 --> 00:07:46.519 That's probably not as much of a problem with most of the people who are here. 00:07:46.659 --> 00:07:51.699 Most of us are probably not looking for a Bible text to run into a crowd, 00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:54.679 being able to whack people with to make them uncomfortable. 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:56.500 That's probably not our temptation. 00:07:57.259 --> 00:07:58.199 I don't know you all. 00:07:58.280 --> 00:08:00.579 Maybe some of you will hear that is your temptation. 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:02.160 You need to repent. 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:05.360 It's a different problem. 00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:08.120 But for most of us, God is a puzzle. 00:08:08.860 --> 00:08:09.680 How did I put it? 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:17.379 The true God who truly speaks is not a puzzle to solve so that I can be safe and flourish. 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:18.460 That's not what God is. 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:21.840 God is, and we're going to see this in a moment, 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:25.599 that God is the creator, he's the sustainer, he's the end of our longings, 00:08:25.659 --> 00:08:28.659 he's the end of our yearnings, because he's our helper, 00:08:28.659 --> 00:08:32.179 he's the one who redeems us through the death of Jesus upon the cross, 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:36.339 that we can appropriate what he's done purely by faith, not weighing our merits. 00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:44.079 That everything about God speaking and all of his words are all designed so that we will come to Jesus. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:48.240 And when we come to Jesus in faith to trust him as our savior, 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:51.020 and we now receive him as our king, 00:08:51.020 --> 00:08:53.600 and we start to learn to live in his kingdom, 00:08:53.900 --> 00:08:56.180 that when we start to learn to do that, 00:08:56.280 --> 00:09:01.320 we reclaim the authentic humanity that God has intended for us for, 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:03.480 whereby we can be free. 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:10.620 No longer battered by idols and myths and demons, 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:12.800 false gods, 00:09:13.300 --> 00:09:14.440 false utopias, 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:18.060 everything in God's word is to funnel us to Jesus, 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.080 to realize that we need to accept him as our savior and our Lord, 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:25.019 and that once we give our lives to him as our savior, 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:26.680 that once we start to follow him, 00:09:26.800 --> 00:09:32.720 even God's hardest teachings are for us to understand what it means to truly be human, 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:36.480 to truly be a creature in the presence of the living God, 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:39.860 who desires to live with us and be with us, 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:44.060 so that we will go from one degree of glory to another for all eternity. 00:09:47.680 --> 00:09:51.240 The God who speaks is the end of our longings and the end of our yearnings. 00:09:51.920 --> 00:09:55.379 He's not a puzzle to be solved so we can be safe and flourish. 00:09:56.160 --> 00:09:58.540 If you get nothing else out of the sermon, I hope you get that. 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:00.240 Let's look at the text. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:01.800 George had made some bold claims. 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:02.959 Let's look at the text. 00:10:03.359 --> 00:10:05.659 So if you get your Bible out, it's Luke chapter 16, 00:10:06.459 --> 00:10:08.979 verses 16 to the end. 00:10:09.079 --> 00:10:10.979 We're going to read the whole bit that I read before. 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:13.379 We'll read that all before I'm finished. 00:10:14.059 --> 00:10:16.740 At different times, we'll stop and sort of look at the text 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:20.199 and try to draw out from it what the Bible is saying. 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:23.899 But remember, Luke 16, verses 16 to 31, 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.979 remember throughout all of it is that in our heart, 00:10:27.339 --> 00:10:29.039 because this is one of the things about Jesus, 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:33.779 religion and spirituality, we'll talk about all sorts of things, 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:36.379 but Jesus always attacks the heart. 00:10:36.779 --> 00:10:38.539 He always speaks into the heart, 00:10:38.719 --> 00:10:41.459 and the Bible understands the heart to be the center of who we are. 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:44.399 Underneath all of our masks, all of our pretensions, 00:10:44.599 --> 00:10:46.860 all of our longings, all of our yearnings, all of our fears, 00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:49.599 the good, the bad, the ugly, everything in between, 00:10:49.959 --> 00:10:51.360 the very center of who we are, 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:55.000 Jesus always goes right to the heart in the context of the living God, 00:10:55.340 --> 00:10:56.500 and that's what he's talking about here. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:02.720 So the text begins like this, verse 16 of chapter 16. 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:04.180 Jesus says, 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:06.779 The law and the prophets were until John. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.000 That's John the Baptist. 00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:12.879 Since then, the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:15.100 and everyone forces his way into it. 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:16.680 A better translation would be, 00:11:16.800 --> 00:11:22.980 many of your versions would have sort of little notes underneath about it. 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:24.139 It might be better to say, 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:27.259 and everyone is forcefully urged into it. 00:11:27.259 --> 00:11:29.740 In other words, we urge with the best of our reason, 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:31.220 the best of our winsomeness, 00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:34.320 the best of our analogies, 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:35.519 the best of our prayers, 00:11:36.300 --> 00:11:38.480 the best of what we can do, 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:43.340 that we try to spare nothing at talking about the good news. 00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:46.000 Every analogy we can think of. 00:11:46.060 --> 00:11:47.660 That's what Jesus is talking about. 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:49.820 Then verse 17. 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:52.940 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away 00:11:52.940 --> 00:11:56.320 than for one dot, one stroke of the law. 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:59.100 And here he's referring to what we now call the Old Testament, 00:11:59.540 --> 00:12:00.399 to become void. 00:12:01.580 --> 00:12:03.399 So here's the first thing. 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:05.580 With Jesus in his kingdom, 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:08.600 I will learn to listen to the living God. 00:12:10.040 --> 00:12:11.400 That's what this text is. 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:12.699 Underneath this text, 00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:15.259 we want to try to get a positive lesson from it. 00:12:15.959 --> 00:12:16.779 What does it mean? 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:19.379 We're going to talk about this more in a few minutes. 00:12:19.459 --> 00:12:21.120 But what does it mean when we come to Jesus 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:22.439 and accept him as our Savior 00:12:22.439 --> 00:12:24.459 and we desire to follow him as our Lord? 00:12:25.199 --> 00:12:26.480 Well, one of the things it means 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:28.419 is that we accept him as our Savior 00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:32.199 and we now just don't have a one-on-one relationship with him. 00:12:32.439 --> 00:12:35.340 We do have a personal relationship with Jesus, 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:37.500 but it's a communal relationship as well. 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:40.319 It's communal because he calls us into his kingdom 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:41.180 and he's the king. 00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:43.560 And what's one of the things that will happen to us 00:12:43.560 --> 00:12:44.620 in his kingdom? 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:46.980 Well, as we draw closer to Jesus, 00:12:47.280 --> 00:12:49.660 we will learn, he will teach us, 00:12:49.780 --> 00:12:51.879 we will learn, the Holy Spirit will teach us 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:55.340 to desire to listen to the living God 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:58.400 and to learn to listen to the living God 00:12:58.400 --> 00:13:00.020 who actually speaks. 00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:03.940 You know, one of the things in our culture, 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:06.880 many people in our culture are very terrified 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.960 with this idea that God speaks. 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:13.320 They think, one of the persons I talk to regularly 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:15.600 in coffee shops, he says, 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:17.879 you know, George, George, George, George, 00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:20.639 you know, how on earth can you possibly think 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:23.299 that something that was written 2,500 years ago 00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:24.740 or 2,000 years ago, 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:28.039 that that can just continue to speak into our lives? 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:29.960 How on earth can you possibly believe that? 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:33.320 You know, science continues, philosophy continues, 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:37.960 literature, poetry, art continues, technology continues, 00:13:38.260 --> 00:13:40.000 everything continues and develops. 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:42.860 Isn't it wiser to get the most recent thing? 00:13:43.420 --> 00:13:45.320 And isn't the most recent thing 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.760 just going to have to be better? 00:13:48.180 --> 00:13:50.680 And it's one of the things he says to me. 00:13:51.400 --> 00:13:55.120 And one of the things I try to say to him is, 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:58.540 what if there is a God who really does exist 00:13:58.540 --> 00:14:01.100 who actually speaks to us? 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:03.980 Like, what if it is that there is a God 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:06.340 who's created all things and sustains all things, 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:10.620 and this God actually speaks in words 00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:13.220 that can be translated into the heart language 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:14.840 of every people group? 00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:16.740 Because that's ultimately the claim of the Bible. 00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:18.560 See, why am I saying that? 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:19.360 Look at the game. 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:22.080 When Jesus says, verse 16, 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:23.740 the law and the prophets were until John, 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:25.860 but since then the good news of the kingdom is preached 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:27.500 and everyone is talked about it. 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.159 And then he says, 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:31.440 it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:33.340 than for one dot of the law to become void. 00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:36.460 What Jesus is saying here is that God has spoken 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:38.960 through the law and he's spoken through the prophets. 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:42.460 And because he is the one who ultimately speaks 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:44.299 through the law and speaks through the prophets, 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:47.379 then the words that have come out 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:49.419 are the words that he wants to have there. 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:51.620 And he stands behind these words 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:54.120 as their guarantor, so to speak. 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:56.240 And because they continue to always 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:58.019 and perpetually be his words, 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:00.779 that he chose to speak to our human race 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:03.539 in a public manner that all who can read 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:06.980 or all who can hear can come to hear and understand. 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:10.240 It's why it's because God is the ultimate author 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:12.000 and the guarantor of these words, 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:15.820 that these words have their potential power in our lives, 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:17.779 that they can speak into our lives, 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:20.100 that they can speak to our heart, 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.680 the center of who we are. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:24.839 They can speak to our heart and our heart's longing 00:15:24.839 --> 00:15:27.479 for things of the culture and things of our heart 00:15:27.479 --> 00:15:28.419 and things of the world 00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:30.419 and even maybe potentially things of the devil, 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:32.959 as well as good things that we long and yearn for. 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:37.199 But that these words are words that speak into our heart 00:15:37.199 --> 00:15:39.359 about things that are true. 00:15:40.599 --> 00:15:42.919 And that's why Jesus says that the word void 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:44.659 can also be translated as fail, 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:48.099 that these words will continue on and on and on and on. 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:49.359 And we're going to see in a couple of weeks 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:51.019 when we go to Luke chapter 21, 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:54.720 that Jesus says his own words will have that type of power. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:58.919 And only if it's ultimately God who is the speaker 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:02.500 behind and in the words can something like this be true. 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:04.080 And that's what Jesus is teaching us. 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:07.759 And so the words of God aren't words 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:09.940 that are now going to limit our freedom, 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:14.920 but in a sense unleash freedom and propel freedom. 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:19.500 They're words that will start to form our desires, 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:21.899 our longings, our yearnings, our understandings, 00:16:21.979 --> 00:16:23.860 the categories by which we think 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:25.860 as we think about everything else. 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:28.319 Because God made human beings to think 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:33.000 and to write poetry and to compose music 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.419 and to develop laws 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:38.000 and to speak to children 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:40.240 and to speak to wives and husbands 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:42.159 and mothers and fathers and neighbors. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:45.480 And he designed us to be curious and ask questions. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:48.740 And so God reveals this true truth, 00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:52.240 not that we will then somehow only read the words of this book 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.799 and completely ignore science 00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:55.419 and completely ignore poetry 00:16:55.419 --> 00:17:00.139 and art and creativity, 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:03.059 but to help us to understand 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:04.200 that we are creatures, 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:07.720 fallen creatures in a fallen world, 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.379 that God still exists. 00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:11.940 And his words come into our life 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:13.960 to start to help us to orient ourselves 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:15.180 and ground ourselves 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.560 so that we can think 00:17:16.560 --> 00:17:19.140 in a more completely fully human way 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:21.000 and think and be curious. 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:24.000 And, you know, maybe your thing isn't poetry, 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.140 maybe it's physics, 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.260 or maybe it's engineering, 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:27.560 or maybe it's math, 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:29.400 but to pursue that 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.980 and always day by day 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.860 coming back to the God who speaks 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:35.600 and speaks preeminently through his word, 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:37.200 but will speak into our lives. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:40.259 And that's what's behind this teaching of Jesus, 00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:45.539 that with Jesus in his kingdom, 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:47.900 I will learn to listen to the living God. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:51.400 And as I learn to listen, 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.519 as you learn to listen, 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:55.380 as we learn to listen together to the living God, 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:59.180 that he can form and reform our minds 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:01.340 and our hearts and our wills and our souls. 00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:05.519 And as our minds and hearts and wills are reformed, 00:18:05.939 --> 00:18:08.119 it doesn't mean that our mind stops thinking 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:09.559 and our will stops willing 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:11.279 and our heart stops longing, 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:14.279 but our mind can start to think 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:16.859 in a less fallen way. 00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:20.240 And our hearts can long for beauty 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.740 in a less fallen way. 00:18:23.179 --> 00:18:26.539 And our wills can will goodness 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.859 in our lives 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:29.519 and in the lives of our culture 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.980 in a less fallen way. 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:34.480 But we are redeemed 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:36.220 to be creatures 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:39.179 created by our creator, 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:41.779 who we were meant to know 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:43.199 and to love and to serve. 00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.699 And we were meant to do that 00:18:44.699 --> 00:18:45.699 not just by ourselves, 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.459 but with others. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:49.319 And this text, 00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:50.339 just one other thing about it 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.500 before I sort of go on, 00:18:51.659 --> 00:18:53.519 it's a profound refutation 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.839 of Islam as well. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:59.559 And it's very important to catch this 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.720 because many Christians 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.779 think about the Bible 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:03.579 the way Muslims think about the Koran. 00:19:04.179 --> 00:19:05.959 And if Christians think about the Bible 00:19:05.959 --> 00:19:07.459 the way Muslims think about the Koran, 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.879 then Christians aren't thinking 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.959 about the Bible truly. 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:12.059 You see, in the Koran, 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:15.099 the Islamic belief, 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.379 and I hope I'm getting this accurate, 00:19:16.459 --> 00:19:17.779 if you're a Muslim 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.939 who's come here this morning, 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:21.440 my understanding is that 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.820 God, Allah, 00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:24.640 speaks to Gabriel the angel. 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:27.279 And Gabriel the angel 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.700 remembers what God says, 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:31.259 and then Gabriel speaks to Muhammad. 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.840 And Muhammad remembers 00:19:33.840 --> 00:19:35.019 what the angel says, 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.539 and Muhammad speaks. 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.039 And other people, 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.759 because Muhammad was illiterate, 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:42.180 other people write down 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.519 what Muhammad spoke. 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.500 But it's all dictation. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.480 Gabriel takes dictation from God, 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.839 Muhammad takes dictation from Gabriel, 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:52.059 and the other writers 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:54.039 take dictation from Muhammad. 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:56.900 And it's like water through a pipe. 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:59.460 It's just a conduit. 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.160 And you'll notice here, 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.920 and it's going to come up 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:02.839 all the way through this text, 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.839 that Jesus keeps referring 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.039 to the law and the prophets. 00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:06.839 And he refers to Moses. 00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:09.559 And so he refers to the fact 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:11.140 that there are many books in the Bible, 00:20:11.620 --> 00:20:13.079 that there are many human authors, 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.259 that the books have 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.880 different literary genres. 00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:20.080 And that the key of all the scriptures 00:20:20.080 --> 00:20:21.420 focusing on Jesus. 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.400 But you see, 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:24.060 it's very, very radically different 00:20:24.060 --> 00:20:24.740 for him to, 00:20:25.080 --> 00:20:25.820 for Jesus to say, 00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:25.980 you know, 00:20:26.020 --> 00:20:26.880 I know the fact that, 00:20:27.280 --> 00:20:27.420 you know, 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:27.840 in his case, 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:29.060 that there would be 39 books. 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:30.540 He knew that there would be more books, 00:20:30.580 --> 00:20:31.580 as we'll see in a few weeks 00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:33.100 when we look at Luke chapter 21. 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:34.720 And that there, 00:20:34.820 --> 00:20:35.860 and he even calls them 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:36.860 different genres, 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.340 prophetic literature, 00:20:38.760 --> 00:20:39.700 and laws, 00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:40.480 instruction. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:43.200 So he recognizes different genres, 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.460 that God chose, 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:45.900 and God, 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.440 the Bible, 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.460 Jesus doesn't say 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.559 this is the psychology 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.579 that was going on 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.579 in these different people. 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:51.579 All he says 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.700 is that Moses wrote 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.680 and prophets wrote 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.140 and they wrote 00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:55.039 in different genres 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.579 and they wrote 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:56.539 in different times 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.259 and they wrote 00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.259 in different contexts 00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:58.759 and they wrote 00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.900 the way they were going to write. 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.460 But at the end of the day, 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.740 what stands behind the words 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.880 is God 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:05.660 who ultimately 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.920 gets the words 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:07.480 that he wanted 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.120 to be written 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:11.379 in the different genres, 00:21:11.679 --> 00:21:12.739 in the different times, 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:13.939 by the different authors, 00:21:14.219 --> 00:21:15.359 with different agendas, 00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:16.899 and different senses 00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:18.239 of literary technique 00:21:18.239 --> 00:21:18.859 and form. 00:21:19.159 --> 00:21:20.059 And God uses 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.719 all of these human things, 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:23.239 respecting the freedom 00:21:23.239 --> 00:21:24.219 of the human authors, 00:21:24.959 --> 00:21:26.539 and without at all 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.859 transgressing the freedom 00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.839 of the human authors, 00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:29.799 by the time 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.919 the process is finished, 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.339 the result is 00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:33.319 what God desired 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.479 to have there. 00:21:36.479 --> 00:21:37.439 And so we, 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.720 reading the Bible, 00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:39.980 now we read law like law, 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.820 we read prophecy 00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:41.600 like prophecy, 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.539 we read poetry 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.240 like poetry, 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:44.700 we read historical narrative 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:46.340 like historical narrative, 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.680 and we read it all 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.660 within the context 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.360 of Jesus 00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:50.620 who marks 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:51.420 the change 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.380 of an age. 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.840 A few weeks ago, 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.420 if you go back 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.240 and listen to the sermons 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:58.059 I did on John chapter 1, 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.380 you'll see that 00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:00.519 in the final sermon 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.259 I did just, 00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:01.440 I think, 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.180 two weeks ago, 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:04.080 is that the Bible 00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:05.080 teaches that Jesus 00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:06.080 is the exegesis 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:07.339 of God. 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.699 He's the interpreter 00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:10.579 of God. 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:13.799 And all of God's word 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:15.179 points to Jesus 00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:16.220 and is interpreted 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.960 by Jesus. 00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:19.000 And not just Jesus 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.500 in general, 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.339 but in particular, 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.379 the reason and the purpose 00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.199 that Jesus came, 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.079 which is to help us 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:24.299 by dying upon the cross 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.099 to redeem us. 00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:27.179 And that's 00:22:27.179 --> 00:22:29.639 what scripture teaches us. 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.579 I never turned on 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.379 my stopwatch. 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:34.020 I can press it now 00:22:34.020 --> 00:22:34.540 and I can speak 00:22:34.540 --> 00:22:35.520 for another 40 minutes. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.400 No, just joking. 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:40.400 So that's what's 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.340 happening in these words. 00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.300 So you say, 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:43.760 okay, George, 00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:44.360 that's all very, 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.400 very, very interesting. 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.500 It's very, 00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:47.240 very interesting 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.400 that you've stopped 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:48.960 and you've spent 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.940 a long time now 00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.620 on verses 16 and 17, 00:22:51.800 --> 00:22:52.780 you clever fellow, 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.260 leaving you no time 00:22:54.260 --> 00:22:55.460 to talk about divorce. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:59.440 Just keep in mind 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.360 the first thing, right? 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.039 The first thing 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.100 is that as we read 00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:02.519 the Bible, 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.400 we have to realize 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.380 about a heart issue. 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:05.940 And the heart issue 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:07.740 is that we treat God 00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.460 like a puzzle 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.819 to be managed 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.559 or solved. 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.039 And once it's managed 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:12.680 or solved, 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.840 I can continue on 00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:14.400 in my life 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.759 safe and flourishing. 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:17.920 And that's 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.519 the God 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.420 who really speaks 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.160 and really exists 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.180 isn't like that at all. 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.380 Right? 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:24.240 The God, 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:25.180 the true God 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.100 who truly speaks 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.840 is not a puzzle 00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.420 to solve 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.180 so that I can be 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.019 safe and flourish. 00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.640 So let's listen 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.900 to this next text 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.680 which sort of 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.519 jumps out at us. 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.759 Probably if we were reading, 00:23:36.860 --> 00:23:37.360 if we went back 00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.039 in a time machine 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.860 and read this text 00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:39.700 in 1954, 00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:40.900 people would just say, 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.940 oh, the really interesting 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:43.019 thing is the next text. 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.840 In fact, actually, 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.240 for most of us, 00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.360 the next text 00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:47.380 should be more important. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.920 Last time I checked, 00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:52.380 so I'm using 2012 data, 00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:54.460 less than 20% 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.420 of Canadians, 00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:57.860 less than 20% 00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:58.460 of Canadians 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.319 give enough money 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.000 to charity 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:03.100 to ask for an income tax, 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:03.759 like to be able 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.079 to ask, 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:06.019 to put a line item 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.579 that they've given 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.299 money to charity. 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.240 I think it's only $100, 00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:09.079 $150. 00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:11.680 Less than 20% 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.460 of Canadians 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:14.900 give even that amount 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:15.759 of money to charity. 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.779 The next text 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.980 should be far more shocking 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.640 to us 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:22.740 than the divorce text. 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:24.259 Let's look at the divorce text. 00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:25.240 Let's listen to it again. 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:25.900 Verse 18. 00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.940 Everyone who divorces 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.620 his wife 00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:29.900 and marries another 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:30.779 commits adultery. 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.500 And he who marries 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.000 a woman 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.500 divorced from her husband 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:36.120 commits adultery. 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:42.779 I'm married to Louise 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:44.059 for 33 years. 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.159 Neither of us 00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:46.739 are divorced. 00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.439 My hope 00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:50.079 and my prayer 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.939 is that if 00:24:50.939 --> 00:24:52.119 Jesus tarries 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:54.079 that I'll have 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:55.299 another 33 years 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.039 with Louise 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:58.919 and that we'll only 00:24:58.919 --> 00:24:59.619 grow closer 00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:01.799 as the years 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.659 go on. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.839 That's my hope. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.720 That's what I pray. 00:25:05.199 --> 00:25:06.339 That God will give us 00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.240 a long life together. 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.599 That he will regularly 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.720 incline my heart 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.439 towards her 00:25:10.439 --> 00:25:11.839 and incline her heart 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.379 to me. 00:25:13.179 --> 00:25:13.839 And that Jesus 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.740 will be the savior 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:16.079 of my marriage. 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:18.019 The Lord of my marriage. 00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:20.119 And that's what I pray. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.699 And that's what I hope 00:25:21.699 --> 00:25:22.159 will happen. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.959 So can I just say 00:25:23.959 --> 00:25:24.220 well, 00:25:24.419 --> 00:25:25.679 it sucks to be other people. 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:28.519 I'm fine with this text. 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:29.599 No, 00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:29.879 there's, 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.099 here's the thing 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:32.220 behind this text. 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.660 Um, 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.700 with Jesus 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.740 in his kingdom, 00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:38.380 I will learn 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:39.319 to be sexually 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.960 whole 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.779 and free. 00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.600 With Jesus 00:25:42.600 --> 00:25:43.500 in his kingdom, 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.100 I will learn 00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:46.299 to be sexually 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.860 whole 00:25:46.860 --> 00:25:48.019 and free. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.160 Um, 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:51.180 if we don't sort of 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:52.839 understand that 00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:54.140 behind 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.860 and 00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:55.779 overall 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.620 and underneath 00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.160 and at the end 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:57.980 of all of the different 00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:59.039 scriptural texts 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:00.299 around sexuality 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.460 and around marriage, 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.220 if we don't understand 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:03.899 that, 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.700 then all of these texts 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:06.440 will become very, 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.319 very complicated 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.419 and hard for us. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.759 And if we're honest, 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:11.899 texts like this 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.480 are very hard 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.240 in our culture 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.919 because on one hand 00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:16.119 we agree with this text 00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:16.919 but on another hand 00:26:16.919 --> 00:26:17.839 we don't agree with it. 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.619 On one hand 00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:19.759 we agree with this text 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:21.079 because, 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.680 um, 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:22.500 we, 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.259 we, 00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:23.659 um, 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.680 those of us 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:25.619 who enter into marriage 00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.299 don't want to have 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:26.919 the marriage end 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.519 in divorce. 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.480 And, 00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:29.900 um, 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:31.019 if anything, 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:31.800 um, 00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:32.560 for those of us 00:26:32.560 --> 00:26:33.200 who are in a marriage 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.420 and, 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.620 and we want to have 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.140 the marriage 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.460 continue to, 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.600 to have our hearts 00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:38.860 inclined to our spouse 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:40.519 and to grow into it 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:40.779 and all, 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:41.660 um, 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.620 we don't want 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.300 our spouse 00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:44.060 to think that 00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:45.180 for frivolous reasons 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.120 they can break up 00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:46.660 the marriage 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.840 because, 00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:48.500 uh, 00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:48.800 you know, 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.660 frankly now I'm 00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.700 33 years older 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.000 and, 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.920 and Louise is, 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.100 uh, 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:52.720 very attractive 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.519 and she could find 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:54.380 a younger model 00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:55.640 and a more attractive model 00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:56.759 or a richer model 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:59.040 or a more handy model, 00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.880 uh, 00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.640 or a whole pile 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.780 of other types of things 00:27:01.780 --> 00:27:02.020 and, 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.320 and, 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.460 and so on one hand 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.640 our culture agrees 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:05.420 and understands 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.080 that marriages 00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:07.220 shouldn't just break up 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.100 that, 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:08.660 um, 00:27:08.780 --> 00:27:09.780 we might want to say 00:27:09.780 --> 00:27:10.660 that in our understanding 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.259 of our culture 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:11.920 we should be able 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.160 to have a variety 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.660 of sexual relationships 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:16.240 and then at some point 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:16.920 in time we decide 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.340 to marry 00:27:17.340 --> 00:27:18.220 but when we marry 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:19.240 on one hand 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.180 we go into the marriage 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:20.900 in our culture 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:22.020 worried that our marriage 00:27:22.020 --> 00:27:23.020 will end in a divorce 00:27:23.020 --> 00:27:24.040 and the other hand 00:27:24.040 --> 00:27:24.840 hoping that it doesn't 00:27:24.840 --> 00:27:25.500 end on a divorce 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.160 and, 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.440 and partially because 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.119 of, 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.740 of what's going on 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.319 in our culture 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.559 we have a lot 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:33.240 of ambivalence 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:34.599 and longings 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.200 and yearnings 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.220 around marriage 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:38.940 and so in the midst 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.619 of all of that 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.779 the Bible teaches 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:42.680 that God's intent 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:44.319 is that, 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:44.960 um, 00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:47.059 God calls, 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.839 we are, 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.799 some men and women 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.440 are called 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:49.880 to, 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.200 uh, 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.480 to marriage 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.619 uh, 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.259 of a man 00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:53.940 to a woman 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.559 or a woman 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:55.160 to a man 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:56.860 and, 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.300 um, 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.360 and that when God 00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:59.640 calls us to a marriage 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.800 of a man 00:28:00.800 --> 00:28:01.259 to a woman 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:03.519 it's to be the intent 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.900 of a lifelong union 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:06.640 and that outside 00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.279 of that 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.240 uh, 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.040 we are called 00:28:09.040 --> 00:28:10.160 to abstain 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.300 from sexual knowing 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:13.899 and that, 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:15.059 and that in fact 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:16.980 while it's counterintuitive 00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:17.819 to our culture 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.399 it wouldn't have been 00:28:18.399 --> 00:28:19.139 counterintuitive 00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:19.839 to our culture 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.680 in 1954 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:22.519 or other times 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.339 but in our culture 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:23.659 right now 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.200 that's a very 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.059 counterintuitive 00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:25.599 statement 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:28.079 that it's human 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:28.700 flourishing 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.819 happens within the 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.460 context 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.500 of either a 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:33.500 lifelong marriage 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:33.960 of a man 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.559 to a woman 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.879 where sexual 00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:36.319 knowing 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:36.679 uh, 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.480 where sexual 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:37.799 knowing 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.480 takes place 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.000 and is part 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.259 of it 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:40.379 where sexual 00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:41.019 abstinence 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.819 sexual knowing 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.980 being abstaining 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.519 from that 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.220 in singleness 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.960 and that human 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.440 flourishing 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:47.099 can be accomplished 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:47.740 in both 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:49.399 and that's the 00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:50.019 consistent 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:51.339 overarching teaching 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.940 of the Bible 00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:53.440 so what's this 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.320 thing about divorce 00:28:54.320 --> 00:28:55.360 uh, 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:55.860 you'll notice 00:28:55.860 --> 00:28:56.640 in the bulletin 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.080 uh, 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.059 now that the 00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.759 Christmas holidays 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.220 are over 00:28:59.220 --> 00:28:59.820 every week 00:28:59.820 --> 00:29:00.539 I put in 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:01.140 something called 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:01.779 going deeper 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:03.340 and uh, 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.120 going deeper 00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:04.559 I also have 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.000 something called 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:05.720 growing in grace 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.500 and going in deeper 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.080 I usually have 00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:07.519 some extra 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.279 Bible verses 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.320 that people can 00:29:09.320 --> 00:29:09.700 look at 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.299 by themselves 00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:10.920 or with others 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:12.000 to go deeper 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.660 into the topic 00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.620 and I've placed 00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:14.120 in there 00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:15.080 the six other 00:29:15.080 --> 00:29:16.120 primary texts 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:16.779 about divorce 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.519 and remarriage 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.360 in the Old 00:29:18.360 --> 00:29:19.059 and New Testament 00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:20.140 here's what I'm 00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.360 going to say 00:29:20.360 --> 00:29:21.160 about the text 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.759 remember I said 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.140 to you 00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:24.380 that um 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:25.060 one of the things 00:29:25.060 --> 00:29:26.160 that Jesus teaches 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.240 is he says 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.820 that uh 00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:28.900 that ultimately 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:30.040 God is the one 00:29:30.040 --> 00:29:31.540 responsible for the law 00:29:31.540 --> 00:29:32.720 the prophets 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.980 and when we see 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.580 in a few weeks 00:29:34.580 --> 00:29:35.600 Luke chapter 21 00:29:35.600 --> 00:29:36.480 that God is the one 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.120 responsible 00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:37.900 ultimately 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:38.460 for the writing 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:39.160 of the New Testament 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.240 he stands behind 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:40.620 the word 00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:41.140 he gives it 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.680 its power 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:43.100 so if Luke 00:29:43.100 --> 00:29:44.060 chapter 16 00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.720 verse 18 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.560 was the absolutely 00:29:45.560 --> 00:29:46.519 only text 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.360 in all of the Bible 00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:48.019 that talked about 00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:48.980 divorce and remarriage 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:50.019 then we would have 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.720 to take that 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.759 as having no 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.319 other type 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:52.980 of context 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.440 and it would mean 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.720 exactly what it says 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:56.480 but given 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.160 that God 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:57.720 is the author 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.700 of all of scripture 00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.700 a very fundamental 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.880 principle of interpreting 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.339 the Bible 00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:01.940 is that we read 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.460 the Bible 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:03.620 every particular 00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.700 verse of the Bible 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.680 within the context 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:06.940 of the larger Bible 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.720 that that's one of the things 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.640 that you can pray for me 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.279 it's one of the things 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.700 for our ministry interns 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:13.140 is that as they have 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:14.000 experience 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.140 preaching different 00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:16.100 parts of the Bible 00:30:16.100 --> 00:30:17.279 that they are also 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:17.980 trying to learn 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.880 the whole sweep 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:19.539 of the Bible 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.720 and so that 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:22.819 and part of my mentoring 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.259 with them 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:23.799 is that they don't 00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.799 interpret one part 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.259 of the Bible 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:26.019 in such a way 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.420 that it makes 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.660 other parts of the Bible 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.980 be contradicted 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:29.920 or look foolish 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.799 or look ridiculous 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:33.559 and that's part of the task 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.180 of everything 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:36.000 so in this particular case 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.720 there's no other case 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.579 in Luke's gospel 00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:39.000 where Jesus talks about this 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.980 we're going to talk about 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:41.039 the context in a moment 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.200 but if you 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:43.339 it's very puzzling 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.099 on one hand 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:45.259 that Jesus says this 00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.079 immediately after 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.799 he said that nothing 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.299 in the law 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:48.359 will ever go away 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:50.519 and Deuteronomy 24 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.699 when you look at it 00:30:51.699 --> 00:30:52.859 later on in going deeper 00:30:52.859 --> 00:30:54.179 you'll see that 00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:55.779 Deuteronomy chapter 24 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.799 allows remarriage 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.559 after divorce 00:30:57.559 --> 00:31:00.220 and when you look 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.139 at some of the other texts 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:01.799 you'll see that 00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:03.519 in Matthew chapter 5 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.639 and Matthew 19 00:31:04.639 --> 00:31:05.519 a different book 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.579 but Jesus allows 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:08.480 remarriage after divorce 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:10.000 when there has been 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.480 pornea 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:12.559 in the marriage 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:14.859 pornea to the extent 00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:16.599 that it causes 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.740 a break in the marriage 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:19.819 and the wronged party 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:21.519 does not believe 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.959 the marriage can be healed 00:31:22.959 --> 00:31:24.679 and pornea 00:31:24.679 --> 00:31:26.439 it's a Greek word 00:31:26.439 --> 00:31:28.679 is any type of sexual knowing 00:31:28.679 --> 00:31:30.519 or sexual stimulation 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:32.799 outside of the marriage 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:34.039 of a man to a woman 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.359 or the woman to the man 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:38.119 and Jesus says 00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:39.379 that pornea 00:31:39.379 --> 00:31:41.359 can cause a break 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:42.240 in a marriage 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.640 in such a way 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:45.880 that the wronged person 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:47.940 can desire to remarry 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:51.019 and in 1 Corinthians 7 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:53.120 there is a second case 00:31:53.120 --> 00:31:55.160 where in the case 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:56.559 of basically desertion 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.660 or abandonment 00:31:57.660 --> 00:32:00.160 or a massive rejection 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:02.019 by the non-Christian 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.799 of the Christian 00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:04.380 the marriage is broken 00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:06.019 and by implication 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:07.279 a person can remarry 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:09.460 so what is Jesus 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:10.119 saying here 00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:12.139 I would take it 00:32:12.139 --> 00:32:12.700 that we have to 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.899 interpret these words 00:32:13.899 --> 00:32:15.740 in a way that doesn't 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:17.160 contradict those other words 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:21.099 and so I think 00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:22.099 it's referring to 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:23.399 two particular types 00:32:23.399 --> 00:32:23.960 of things 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:25.200 and remember how I said 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:27.139 that what we often do 00:32:27.139 --> 00:32:28.879 in our understanding 00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:29.420 of the Bible 00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.200 is that we want to try 00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.399 to solve the riddle 00:32:31.399 --> 00:32:31.899 of God 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.299 and the riddle 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:32.940 of his word 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:34.180 in such a way 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.079 that it allows us 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:36.339 on our terms 00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:37.179 to flourish 00:32:37.179 --> 00:32:38.259 and on our terms 00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:39.039 to be safe 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:43.639 I meet somebody 00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:45.319 different than Louise 00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:46.939 and I decide 00:32:46.939 --> 00:32:48.179 that I want to spend time 00:32:48.179 --> 00:32:48.919 with that person 00:32:48.919 --> 00:32:49.519 who's different 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.139 than Louise 00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:52.000 and I don't want to 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:53.679 violate the biblical command 00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:54.699 against adultery 00:32:54.699 --> 00:32:57.859 so I divorce Louise 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:59.720 so that I can 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:01.379 marry this new person 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:06.580 and God cuts 00:33:06.580 --> 00:33:07.440 right through that 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:08.240 Jesus cuts 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.080 right through that 00:33:09.080 --> 00:33:09.720 and says 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:11.440 what you've just done 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.160 is adultery 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:16.760 don't play fast 00:33:16.760 --> 00:33:17.280 and loose 00:33:17.280 --> 00:33:18.280 with the Bible 00:33:18.280 --> 00:33:19.260 and don't play 00:33:19.260 --> 00:33:20.780 fast and loose 00:33:20.780 --> 00:33:22.600 with religious rules 00:33:22.600 --> 00:33:23.160 and being able 00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:23.800 to manipulate 00:33:23.800 --> 00:33:24.960 religious rules 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:29.200 don't claim 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:30.140 that you didn't 00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:31.020 fully intend 00:33:31.020 --> 00:33:32.259 everything in your marriage 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.520 and a full sense of it 00:33:33.520 --> 00:33:33.920 and therefore 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:34.640 there's some type 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:35.240 of an exemption 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.740 from it 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.560 what you've just done 00:33:36.560 --> 00:33:37.200 is adultery 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:40.720 in fact 00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.400 obviously 00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.360 in our culture 00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:44.259 with prenuptial agreements 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:44.900 and other things 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:45.380 like that 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:46.380 there is a great fear 00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:47.480 of many people 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.700 in our culture 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.660 that people will enter 00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:50.380 into a marriage 00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:51.200 with the intention 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.900 of divorce 00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:56.140 not most people 00:33:56.140 --> 00:33:57.020 most people 00:33:57.020 --> 00:33:58.060 especially those 00:33:58.060 --> 00:33:58.960 who are victims 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:00.940 of desertion 00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:01.880 abandonment 00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.779 violence 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.620 which is a 00:34:03.620 --> 00:34:04.360 particular 00:34:04.360 --> 00:34:05.779 heinous form 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.400 of rejection 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:07.360 of the other person 00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:09.619 people who 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.380 enter into 00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.460 extramarital affairs 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:12.460 but the wronged 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:12.920 person 00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:14.400 in these things 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:15.780 who really did 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.320 desire 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:17.179 to love 00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:17.800 and cherish 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.539 and draw close 00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:19.400 to the other person 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:20.960 then all that's 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.300 happened 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:21.840 is a great 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.539 violation 00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:23.440 and a great 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:23.980 wounding 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:26.420 but some people 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:27.719 use laws 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:28.480 and exceptions 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:29.659 and wealth 00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:31.500 and personal interest 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.579 and personal desires 00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:33.440 for projects 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:35.139 to cast away 00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:36.300 their promises 00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.139 and their commitments 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:38.940 so they can move on 00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.860 to the next stage 00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:40.659 of their project 00:34:40.659 --> 00:34:41.139 in life 00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:43.780 and if some of you 00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.380 are here 00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:45.260 feeling wronged 00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:45.840 and picked on 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.900 because I've said that 00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:48.139 all I'm trying to explain 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:49.240 is what the Bible teaches 00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:51.299 and your quarrel 00:34:51.299 --> 00:34:52.219 is ultimately 00:34:52.219 --> 00:34:52.779 with Jesus 00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:53.539 not with me 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:55.399 and I'm not trying 00:34:55.399 --> 00:34:55.899 to bang you 00:34:55.899 --> 00:34:56.439 over the head 00:34:56.439 --> 00:34:59.279 in Islam 00:34:59.279 --> 00:35:00.839 although I think 00:35:00.839 --> 00:35:01.819 in most cultures 00:35:01.819 --> 00:35:02.500 it's not really 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.599 practiced very much 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:04.299 but in Islam 00:35:04.299 --> 00:35:05.979 in there are 00:35:05.979 --> 00:35:06.839 I've been told 00:35:06.839 --> 00:35:07.799 there are some places 00:35:07.799 --> 00:35:08.259 where 00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:10.639 you can 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.539 a man can sleep 00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:12.479 with a prostitute 00:35:12.479 --> 00:35:13.239 and 00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:14.899 to get around 00:35:14.899 --> 00:35:15.579 the problem 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.219 of adultery 00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:16.959 within Islam 00:35:16.959 --> 00:35:17.619 they marry 00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:18.579 the prostitute 00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:20.340 sleep with a prostitute 00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:21.480 and then divorce 00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.319 the prostitute 00:35:22.319 --> 00:35:23.400 and therefore 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:23.960 they have not 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.880 committed adultery 00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:28.719 texts like this 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:31.119 would speak 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:32.500 in a very powerful 00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.619 sense of rejection 00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.219 that would be 00:35:34.219 --> 00:35:35.500 an extreme case 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.539 of using religion 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:38.159 to avoid 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:39.119 the clear intent 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.759 of God 00:35:39.759 --> 00:35:42.000 that God 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:42.940 intends 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:43.840 marriage 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:46.079 and he intends 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.340 it 00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:47.179 as something 00:35:47.179 --> 00:35:47.840 that will last 00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:48.340 forever 00:35:48.340 --> 00:35:49.780 until Jesus 00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.200 comes 00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:50.600 or until 00:35:50.600 --> 00:35:50.920 death 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.280 of one 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:51.620 or both 00:35:51.620 --> 00:35:51.840 of the 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:52.260 partners 00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:56.220 and that's 00:35:56.220 --> 00:35:56.960 his intention 00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:58.579 but the Bible 00:35:58.579 --> 00:35:59.600 recognizing 00:35:59.600 --> 00:36:00.100 that it's 00:36:00.100 --> 00:36:00.760 sinful human 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:01.120 beings 00:36:01.120 --> 00:36:01.579 who enter 00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:02.100 into the 00:36:02.100 --> 00:36:02.700 holy estate 00:36:02.700 --> 00:36:03.460 of matrimony 00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:03.880 provides 00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:04.760 some cases 00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:05.180 whereby 00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:06.559 due to 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.240 sin 00:36:07.240 --> 00:36:08.200 the marriage 00:36:08.200 --> 00:36:08.760 comes to 00:36:08.760 --> 00:36:09.340 an end 00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:10.220 and the wronged 00:36:10.220 --> 00:36:11.059 person can enter 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:11.579 into a new 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:12.059 marriage 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:13.059 marriage 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:15.519 and I think 00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:15.980 there's great 00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.559 wisdom in the 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:16.880 Bible 00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:18.139 a wisdom 00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:18.480 that our 00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:19.320 culture needs 00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:20.440 and a wisdom 00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:21.320 for which we 00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:22.019 should not be 00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:22.460 ashamed 00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:26.059 because the 00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:26.559 Bible is 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:27.000 wise 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:30.860 I only have 00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:31.920 a few minutes 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:33.139 to talk about 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:34.320 the last text 00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:35.639 George 00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:36.299 what about 00:36:36.299 --> 00:36:37.000 the rich man 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:40.659 I'm going to 00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:41.059 say two 00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:41.619 things 00:36:41.619 --> 00:36:42.940 maybe I'll 00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:43.639 say three 00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:44.320 things relatively 00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:44.639 quick 00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:44.960 because I'm 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:45.559 very conscious 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:45.920 of the 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.260 time 00:36:46.260 --> 00:36:48.159 the first 00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:48.500 thing 00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:50.380 is that 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:55.019 with Jesus 00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:56.179 in his 00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.699 kingdom 00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:58.960 I will 00:36:58.960 --> 00:36:59.460 learn to 00:36:59.460 --> 00:36:59.980 open my 00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:00.619 eyes and be 00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:01.079 generous 00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:01.659 okay 00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:01.900 as we're 00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:02.079 going to 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:02.440 read through 00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:02.659 this 00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:03.179 parable 00:37:03.179 --> 00:37:03.920 because 00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:04.279 the time 00:37:04.279 --> 00:37:04.659 consists 00:37:04.659 --> 00:37:04.920 I'm going to 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:05.159 sort of 00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:05.360 give you 00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:05.599 the two 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:05.840 points 00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.079 I'll be 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:06.380 online 00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:06.619 if you 00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:06.819 want to 00:37:06.819 --> 00:37:06.960 write 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.139 them 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.500 down 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:08.319 okay 00:37:08.319 --> 00:37:08.559 one of 00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:08.639 the 00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:08.819 things 00:37:08.819 --> 00:37:09.039 about 00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:09.299 this 00:37:09.299 --> 00:37:09.860 parable 00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:12.179 that we 00:37:12.179 --> 00:37:12.579 come to 00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:12.819 that's 00:37:12.819 --> 00:37:13.059 very 00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:16.559 shocking 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:18.799 is that 00:37:18.799 --> 00:37:19.219 the rich 00:37:19.219 --> 00:37:19.619 man in 00:37:19.619 --> 00:37:19.759 the 00:37:19.759 --> 00:37:20.179 parable 00:37:20.179 --> 00:37:21.279 he's 00:37:21.279 --> 00:37:21.599 not 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:22.079 said 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.259 that 00:37:22.259 --> 00:37:23.279 he did 00:37:23.279 --> 00:37:24.019 a single 00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:24.739 thing 00:37:24.739 --> 00:37:25.360 wrong 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:28.380 in terms 00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:28.880 of doing 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:29.460 something 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:29.819 wrong 00:37:29.820 --> 00:37:31.900 it's not 00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.580 wrong 00:37:32.580 --> 00:37:33.080 to have 00:37:33.080 --> 00:37:33.600 a party 00:37:33.600 --> 00:37:34.600 it's not 00:37:34.600 --> 00:37:35.260 wrong 00:37:35.260 --> 00:37:35.740 to have 00:37:35.740 --> 00:37:36.260 a feast 00:37:36.260 --> 00:37:37.059 it's not 00:37:37.059 --> 00:37:37.800 wrong 00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:39.200 to have 00:37:39.200 --> 00:37:39.640 somebody 00:37:39.640 --> 00:37:40.360 take you 00:37:40.360 --> 00:37:41.000 to an 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:41.500 expensive 00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:42.160 restaurant 00:37:42.160 --> 00:37:43.320 and because 00:37:43.320 --> 00:37:43.920 they just 00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:44.580 want to 00:37:44.580 --> 00:37:45.039 honor you 00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:45.420 and love 00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:45.559 you 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:46.059 they buy 00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:46.260 you 00:37:46.260 --> 00:37:46.860 a really 00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:47.519 expensive 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:47.880 meal 00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:48.320 that's 00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:48.700 not a 00:37:48.700 --> 00:37:49.000 sin 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:49.940 if we 00:37:49.940 --> 00:37:50.380 think 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:50.720 those 00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:51.039 things 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:51.240 are 00:37:51.240 --> 00:37:51.700 sins 00:37:51.700 --> 00:37:52.160 it's 00:37:52.160 --> 00:37:52.440 not 00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:52.800 because 00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:52.960 of 00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.120 the 00:37:53.120 --> 00:37:53.539 Bible 00:37:53.539 --> 00:37:54.440 but 00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:54.860 because 00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:55.039 of 00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:55.180 a 00:37:55.180 --> 00:37:55.420 type 00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:55.580 of 00:37:55.580 --> 00:37:55.960 religion 00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.200 or 00:37:56.200 --> 00:37:56.780 spirituality 00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:57.340 which 00:37:57.340 --> 00:37:58.100 emphasizes 00:37:58.100 --> 00:37:59.420 asceticism 00:37:59.420 --> 00:38:00.380 and 00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:01.360 denigrates 00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:01.980 and puts 00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:02.320 aside 00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:02.800 the body 00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:03.079 it's 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:03.460 not 00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:03.760 a 00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:04.159 sin 00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:04.820 to 00:38:04.820 --> 00:38:05.139 sit 00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:05.579 down 00:38:05.579 --> 00:38:05.820 and 00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:06.360 enjoy 00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:06.659 a 00:38:06.659 --> 00:38:07.260 big 00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:08.460 steak 00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:10.900 with 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:12.079 sorry 00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:12.800 Baptists 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:13.420 with a 00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:14.119 nice glass 00:38:14.119 --> 00:38:14.579 of red 00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.039 wine 00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:16.280 and mashed 00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:16.740 potatoes 00:38:16.740 --> 00:38:17.579 with lots 00:38:17.579 --> 00:38:18.159 and lots 00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:18.720 and lots 00:38:18.720 --> 00:38:19.420 of gravy 00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.980 it is 00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:21.460 not a 00:38:21.460 --> 00:38:21.940 sin 00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:22.720 to do 00:38:22.720 --> 00:38:23.000 that 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:23.400 and for 00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:24.059 vegetarians 00:38:24.059 --> 00:38:24.599 it's not 00:38:24.599 --> 00:38:25.220 a sin 00:38:25.220 --> 00:38:26.099 to have 00:38:26.099 --> 00:38:26.539 a really 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:26.980 nice 00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:27.599 big piece 00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:28.179 of tofu 00:38:28.179 --> 00:38:28.579 deep 00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:29.019 fried 00:38:29.019 --> 00:38:29.559 with a 00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:29.880 cheesy 00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:30.519 sauce 00:38:30.519 --> 00:38:31.639 and 00:38:31.639 --> 00:38:32.360 quinoa 00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:32.880 okay 00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:34.759 and I 00:38:34.759 --> 00:38:35.279 also know 00:38:35.279 --> 00:38:35.639 I'm married 00:38:35.639 --> 00:38:35.900 to a 00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:36.360 vegetarian 00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:37.339 those of 00:38:37.339 --> 00:38:37.599 us who 00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:37.779 had 00:38:37.779 --> 00:38:38.219 the steak 00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:38.500 we're 00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:38.659 going to 00:38:38.659 --> 00:38:38.940 be in 00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:39.119 heaven 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.440 to see 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:39.779 Jesus 00:38:39.779 --> 00:38:40.259 quicker 00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:40.839 than 00:38:40.839 --> 00:38:40.980 the 00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:41.259 people 00:38:41.259 --> 00:38:41.440 who 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:41.779 had 00:38:41.779 --> 00:38:42.219 the 00:38:42.219 --> 00:38:42.599 tofu 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:43.239 and 00:38:43.239 --> 00:38:43.400 the 00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:44.000 quinoa 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:44.639 okay 00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:45.440 so you 00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:45.739 have to 00:38:45.739 --> 00:38:46.299 temper it 00:38:46.299 --> 00:38:46.920 but it's 00:38:46.920 --> 00:38:47.279 not a 00:38:47.279 --> 00:38:47.639 sin 00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:48.579 okay 00:38:48.579 --> 00:38:49.799 and here's 00:38:49.799 --> 00:38:50.380 the terrible 00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:50.900 thing 00:38:50.900 --> 00:38:51.819 the shocking 00:38:51.819 --> 00:38:52.380 thing about 00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:53.079 this parable 00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:54.119 what 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:54.699 damns 00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:55.219 the man 00:38:55.219 --> 00:38:55.779 is not 00:38:55.779 --> 00:38:56.420 a sin 00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:56.699 of 00:38:56.699 --> 00:38:57.239 commission 00:38:57.239 --> 00:38:58.319 but a 00:38:58.319 --> 00:38:58.639 sin 00:38:58.639 --> 00:38:58.879 of 00:38:58.879 --> 00:38:59.559 omission 00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:02.919 it's 00:39:02.919 --> 00:39:03.500 not 00:39:03.500 --> 00:39:05.419 that 00:39:05.419 --> 00:39:06.179 he had 00:39:06.179 --> 00:39:06.599 lots 00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:06.799 of 00:39:06.799 --> 00:39:07.079 great 00:39:07.079 --> 00:39:07.519 food 00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:09.479 it is 00:39:09.479 --> 00:39:09.979 that he 00:39:09.979 --> 00:39:10.359 knew 00:39:10.359 --> 00:39:11.339 Lazarus 00:39:11.339 --> 00:39:12.439 by name 00:39:12.439 --> 00:39:13.359 and he 00:39:13.359 --> 00:39:13.539 knew 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.139 Lazarus 00:39:14.139 --> 00:39:14.319 his 00:39:14.319 --> 00:39:14.879 poverty 00:39:14.879 --> 00:39:15.839 and he 00:39:15.839 --> 00:39:16.259 didn't 00:39:16.259 --> 00:39:16.559 do 00:39:16.559 --> 00:39:17.059 anything 00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:18.799 it is 00:39:18.799 --> 00:39:19.299 the sin 00:39:19.299 --> 00:39:19.559 of 00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:20.159 omission 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:21.039 that 00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:21.679 damns 00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:21.939 him 00:39:21.939 --> 00:39:23.299 not a 00:39:23.299 --> 00:39:23.579 sin 00:39:23.579 --> 00:39:23.819 of 00:39:23.819 --> 00:39:24.439 commission 00:39:24.440 --> 00:39:28.179 and so 00:39:28.179 --> 00:39:28.599 part of 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:28.720 the 00:39:28.720 --> 00:39:29.159 positive 00:39:29.159 --> 00:39:29.619 lesson 00:39:29.619 --> 00:39:29.940 of the 00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:30.380 text 00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:31.639 is that 00:39:31.639 --> 00:39:32.539 with 00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:32.940 Jesus 00:39:32.940 --> 00:39:33.460 in his 00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:33.920 kingdom 00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:34.619 I will 00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.119 learn to 00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:35.780 open my 00:39:35.780 --> 00:39:36.500 eyes 00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:37.380 and be 00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:37.900 generous 00:39:37.900 --> 00:39:40.679 and the 00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:41.059 other thing 00:39:41.059 --> 00:39:41.360 that we'll 00:39:41.360 --> 00:39:41.700 see 00:39:41.700 --> 00:39:43.079 is with 00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:43.420 Jesus 00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:44.000 in his 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:44.420 kingdom 00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:45.460 I will 00:39:45.460 --> 00:39:45.920 learn 00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:46.700 good 00:39:46.700 --> 00:39:47.800 helplessness 00:39:47.800 --> 00:39:48.820 in the 00:39:48.820 --> 00:39:49.480 context 00:39:49.480 --> 00:39:50.240 of the 00:39:50.240 --> 00:39:50.599 helper 00:39:50.599 --> 00:40:01.339 this is a 00:40:01.339 --> 00:40:01.719 very very 00:40:01.719 --> 00:40:02.199 frightening 00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:02.839 idea for 00:40:02.839 --> 00:40:03.219 those of 00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:03.500 us who 00:40:03.500 --> 00:40:03.799 want to 00:40:03.799 --> 00:40:04.400 see God 00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:04.779 as a 00:40:04.779 --> 00:40:05.139 problem 00:40:05.139 --> 00:40:05.480 to be 00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:05.920 solved 00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:06.380 a riddle 00:40:06.380 --> 00:40:06.739 to be 00:40:06.739 --> 00:40:07.219 solved 00:40:07.219 --> 00:40:08.179 that we 00:40:08.179 --> 00:40:08.819 manage 00:40:08.819 --> 00:40:09.500 and solve 00:40:09.500 --> 00:40:10.259 it so 00:40:10.259 --> 00:40:10.679 that we 00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:11.079 can be 00:40:11.079 --> 00:40:11.599 safe and 00:40:11.599 --> 00:40:11.900 flourish 00:40:11.900 --> 00:40:12.239 on our 00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:12.460 own 00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:12.960 terms 00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:14.139 but the 00:40:14.139 --> 00:40:14.460 Bible 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:14.759 is 00:40:14.759 --> 00:40:15.480 constantly 00:40:15.480 --> 00:40:16.159 trying to 00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:16.819 undercut 00:40:16.819 --> 00:40:17.079 our 00:40:17.079 --> 00:40:17.599 sense 00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:17.860 of 00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:18.179 self 00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:18.819 dependence 00:40:18.819 --> 00:40:20.219 to say 00:40:20.219 --> 00:40:20.679 there's a 00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:21.139 type of 00:40:21.139 --> 00:40:22.259 helplessness 00:40:22.259 --> 00:40:23.919 which is 00:40:23.919 --> 00:40:24.399 good for 00:40:24.399 --> 00:40:24.739 us 00:40:24.739 --> 00:40:25.819 and the 00:40:25.819 --> 00:40:26.279 type of 00:40:26.279 --> 00:40:27.079 helplessness 00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:27.679 is always 00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:28.039 in the 00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:28.599 context 00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:29.359 of the 00:40:29.359 --> 00:40:29.959 presentation 00:40:29.959 --> 00:40:31.639 of help 00:40:31.639 --> 00:40:32.980 it's like 00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:33.279 going to 00:40:33.279 --> 00:40:33.519 some of 00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:33.659 these 00:40:33.659 --> 00:40:34.039 leadership 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.259 and 00:40:34.259 --> 00:40:34.619 management 00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:35.039 things 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:35.319 where they 00:40:35.319 --> 00:40:35.539 do 00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:35.899 things 00:40:35.899 --> 00:40:36.119 like 00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:37.299 ask you 00:40:37.299 --> 00:40:37.839 to fall 00:40:37.839 --> 00:40:38.459 backwards 00:40:38.459 --> 00:40:39.579 and trust 00:40:39.579 --> 00:40:39.959 that your 00:40:39.959 --> 00:40:40.519 co-workers 00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:41.139 will catch 00:40:41.139 --> 00:40:41.439 you 00:40:41.439 --> 00:40:43.219 that one 00:40:43.219 --> 00:40:43.419 of the 00:40:43.419 --> 00:40:43.639 things 00:40:43.639 --> 00:40:44.299 that drives 00:40:44.299 --> 00:40:44.739 people 00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:45.299 into the 00:40:45.299 --> 00:40:45.779 ground 00:40:45.779 --> 00:40:46.419 is the 00:40:46.419 --> 00:40:46.699 sense 00:40:46.699 --> 00:40:46.959 that they 00:40:46.959 --> 00:40:47.319 have to 00:40:47.319 --> 00:40:47.619 be in 00:40:47.619 --> 00:40:48.039 control 00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:48.419 all of 00:40:48.419 --> 00:40:48.799 the time 00:40:48.799 --> 00:40:49.319 and not 00:40:49.319 --> 00:40:50.000 trust 00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:50.500 that people 00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:50.780 will 00:40:50.780 --> 00:40:51.239 help 00:40:51.239 --> 00:40:51.519 them 00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:52.199 the 00:40:52.199 --> 00:40:52.559 Bible 00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:53.760 is wise 00:40:53.760 --> 00:40:54.159 let's 00:40:54.159 --> 00:40:54.460 listen to 00:40:54.460 --> 00:40:54.579 the 00:40:54.579 --> 00:40:54.940 parable 00:40:54.940 --> 00:40:55.800 there was 00:40:55.800 --> 00:40:56.119 a rich 00:40:56.119 --> 00:40:56.400 man 00:40:56.400 --> 00:40:56.659 who was 00:40:56.659 --> 00:40:57.059 clothed 00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:57.519 in purple 00:40:57.519 --> 00:40:57.980 and fine 00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.239 linen 00:40:58.239 --> 00:40:58.639 and who 00:40:58.639 --> 00:40:59.139 feasted 00:40:59.139 --> 00:41:00.139 sumptuously 00:41:00.139 --> 00:41:01.159 every day 00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:02.300 and at his 00:41:02.300 --> 00:41:02.719 gate was 00:41:02.719 --> 00:41:03.559 laid a poor 00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:04.059 man named 00:41:04.059 --> 00:41:04.699 Lazarus 00:41:04.699 --> 00:41:05.719 covered with 00:41:05.719 --> 00:41:06.199 sores 00:41:06.199 --> 00:41:08.280 who desired 00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:08.940 to be fed 00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:09.619 with what fell 00:41:09.619 --> 00:41:10.119 from the rich 00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:10.699 man's table 00:41:10.699 --> 00:41:11.059 this is 00:41:11.059 --> 00:41:11.300 verse 00:41:11.300 --> 00:41:11.920 now we're up 00:41:11.920 --> 00:41:12.179 to verse 00:41:12.179 --> 00:41:12.679 21 00:41:12.679 --> 00:41:13.760 where over 00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:14.260 even the 00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:14.900 dogs came 00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:15.260 and licked 00:41:15.260 --> 00:41:15.820 his sores 00:41:15.820 --> 00:41:16.480 just pause 00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:16.780 there 00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:18.079 do not 00:41:18.079 --> 00:41:18.699 think Walt 00:41:18.699 --> 00:41:19.119 Disney 00:41:19.119 --> 00:41:22.460 do not 00:41:22.460 --> 00:41:22.980 think 00:41:22.980 --> 00:41:23.779 Cinderella 00:41:23.779 --> 00:41:24.619 singing a 00:41:24.619 --> 00:41:24.960 song 00:41:24.960 --> 00:41:25.359 while the 00:41:25.359 --> 00:41:26.159 birds come 00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:26.819 and help 00:41:26.819 --> 00:41:27.139 with the 00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:27.519 dishes 00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:29.639 I think it was 00:41:29.639 --> 00:41:29.960 Cinderella 00:41:29.960 --> 00:41:30.319 where that 00:41:30.319 --> 00:41:30.719 happened or 00:41:30.719 --> 00:41:31.059 was it the 00:41:31.059 --> 00:41:31.659 seven dwarves 00:41:31.659 --> 00:41:31.980 I can't 00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:32.159 remember 00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:32.739 anyway don't 00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:33.359 think Disney 00:41:33.359 --> 00:41:35.059 the original 00:41:35.059 --> 00:41:35.940 the word 00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:36.759 for dogs 00:41:36.759 --> 00:41:37.319 here is 00:41:37.319 --> 00:41:38.279 wild dog 00:41:38.279 --> 00:41:40.099 not pet 00:41:40.099 --> 00:41:40.799 but wild 00:41:40.799 --> 00:41:42.400 and it's 00:41:42.400 --> 00:41:42.819 portraying 00:41:42.819 --> 00:41:43.460 Lazarus as 00:41:43.460 --> 00:41:43.900 being so 00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:44.480 helpless 00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:45.460 that he 00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:45.840 can't 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:46.260 stop 00:41:46.260 --> 00:41:46.880 a wild 00:41:46.880 --> 00:41:47.460 dog 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:48.000 from 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:48.619 violating 00:41:48.619 --> 00:41:48.920 his 00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:49.500 person 00:41:49.500 --> 00:41:51.300 giving him 00:41:51.300 --> 00:41:51.980 even more 00:41:51.980 --> 00:41:52.740 infection 00:41:52.740 --> 00:41:53.619 while they 00:41:53.619 --> 00:41:54.059 lick his 00:41:54.059 --> 00:41:54.500 sores 00:41:54.500 --> 00:41:56.079 that's the 00:41:56.079 --> 00:41:56.500 image 00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:57.820 massive 00:41:57.820 --> 00:41:59.199 helplessness 00:41:59.199 --> 00:42:00.519 and unclean 00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:01.400 massively 00:42:01.400 --> 00:42:02.000 helpless 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:04.820 verse 22 00:42:04.820 --> 00:42:06.199 the poor 00:42:06.199 --> 00:42:06.719 man died 00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:07.000 and was 00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:07.440 carried by 00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:07.920 the angels 00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:08.760 to Abraham's 00:42:08.760 --> 00:42:09.079 side 00:42:09.079 --> 00:42:09.900 the rich 00:42:09.900 --> 00:42:10.340 man also 00:42:10.340 --> 00:42:10.740 died and 00:42:10.740 --> 00:42:11.280 was buried 00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:11.639 and in 00:42:11.639 --> 00:42:12.019 Hades 00:42:12.019 --> 00:42:12.539 being in 00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:12.860 torment 00:42:12.860 --> 00:42:13.420 he lifted 00:42:13.420 --> 00:42:13.780 up his 00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:14.039 eyes 00:42:14.039 --> 00:42:14.380 and saw 00:42:14.380 --> 00:42:14.840 Abraham 00:42:14.840 --> 00:42:15.620 afar off 00:42:15.620 --> 00:42:16.300 with 00:42:16.300 --> 00:42:16.800 Lazarus 00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:17.079 at his 00:42:17.079 --> 00:42:17.460 side 00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.500 they called 00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:18.660 out 00:42:18.660 --> 00:42:18.940 father 00:42:18.940 --> 00:42:19.420 Abraham 00:42:19.420 --> 00:42:20.039 have mercy 00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:20.380 on me 00:42:20.380 --> 00:42:20.760 and send 00:42:20.760 --> 00:42:21.760 Lazarus 00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:23.260 see 00:42:23.260 --> 00:42:24.099 I'm going to 00:42:24.099 --> 00:42:24.420 tell you in a 00:42:24.420 --> 00:42:24.860 moment but 00:42:24.860 --> 00:42:25.340 this is very 00:42:25.340 --> 00:42:26.019 the only 00:42:26.019 --> 00:42:26.660 parable of 00:42:26.660 --> 00:42:27.000 all of 00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:27.480 Jesus's 00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:27.920 parables 00:42:27.920 --> 00:42:28.380 where anybody 00:42:28.380 --> 00:42:28.820 has a 00:42:28.820 --> 00:42:29.180 name is 00:42:29.180 --> 00:42:29.380 this 00:42:29.380 --> 00:42:29.820 parable 00:42:29.820 --> 00:42:31.539 only 00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:32.000 parable 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:33.160 everybody 00:42:33.160 --> 00:42:33.420 else 00:42:33.420 --> 00:42:33.820 says man 00:42:33.820 --> 00:42:34.079 was going 00:42:34.079 --> 00:42:34.400 down to 00:42:34.400 --> 00:42:34.780 Jerusalem 00:42:34.780 --> 00:42:35.760 there was 00:42:35.760 --> 00:42:36.160 a father 00:42:36.160 --> 00:42:36.620 with two 00:42:36.620 --> 00:42:37.019 sons 00:42:37.019 --> 00:42:37.780 there was 00:42:37.780 --> 00:42:38.120 a woman 00:42:38.120 --> 00:42:38.579 who lost 00:42:38.579 --> 00:42:39.059 a coin 00:42:39.059 --> 00:42:39.539 it's always 00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:39.780 just 00:42:39.780 --> 00:42:40.039 something 00:42:40.039 --> 00:42:40.400 this is 00:42:40.400 --> 00:42:40.700 the only 00:42:40.700 --> 00:42:41.079 parable 00:42:41.079 --> 00:42:41.280 where 00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:41.720 somebody's 00:42:41.720 --> 00:42:42.079 named 00:42:42.079 --> 00:42:42.980 and it 00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:43.539 has several 00:42:43.539 --> 00:42:44.099 reasons 00:42:44.099 --> 00:42:44.619 for it 00:42:44.619 --> 00:42:44.940 and one 00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:45.159 of them 00:42:45.159 --> 00:42:45.539 is here 00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:46.139 that now 00:42:46.139 --> 00:42:47.039 it reveals 00:42:47.039 --> 00:42:48.639 the rich 00:42:48.639 --> 00:42:49.139 man doesn't 00:42:49.139 --> 00:42:49.460 say 00:42:49.460 --> 00:42:50.239 Abraham 00:42:50.239 --> 00:42:50.500 you have 00:42:50.500 --> 00:42:50.719 a whole 00:42:50.719 --> 00:42:51.159 pile of 00:42:51.159 --> 00:42:51.519 former 00:42:51.519 --> 00:42:52.039 street 00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:52.360 people 00:42:52.360 --> 00:42:52.719 up there 00:42:52.719 --> 00:42:53.079 could you 00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:53.500 pick one 00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:53.759 of those 00:42:53.759 --> 00:42:54.039 street 00:42:54.039 --> 00:42:54.380 people 00:42:54.380 --> 00:42:55.179 and just 00:42:55.179 --> 00:42:55.679 you know 00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:56.599 help me 00:42:56.599 --> 00:42:56.940 out here 00:42:56.940 --> 00:42:57.219 a bit 00:42:57.219 --> 00:42:59.519 okay 00:42:59.519 --> 00:43:00.219 all those 00:43:00.219 --> 00:43:00.739 days he 00:43:00.739 --> 00:43:01.619 was feasting 00:43:01.619 --> 00:43:02.579 he knew 00:43:02.579 --> 00:43:02.980 who the 00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:03.920 guy was 00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:04.900 did 00:43:04.900 --> 00:43:05.360 nothing 00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:07.579 his 00:43:07.579 --> 00:43:08.239 omission 00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:08.900 is 00:43:08.900 --> 00:43:09.420 revealed 00:43:09.420 --> 00:43:11.079 his 00:43:11.079 --> 00:43:11.680 omission 00:43:11.680 --> 00:43:12.159 is 00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:12.579 revealed 00:43:12.579 --> 00:43:17.599 verse 00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:18.280 25 00:43:18.280 --> 00:43:18.980 but 00:43:18.980 --> 00:43:19.360 Abraham 00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:19.720 said 00:43:19.720 --> 00:43:20.139 child 00:43:20.139 --> 00:43:21.240 remember 00:43:21.240 --> 00:43:21.480 that 00:43:21.480 --> 00:43:21.659 you 00:43:21.659 --> 00:43:21.780 in 00:43:21.780 --> 00:43:21.900 your 00:43:21.900 --> 00:43:22.300 lifetime 00:43:22.300 --> 00:43:22.800 received 00:43:22.800 --> 00:43:22.980 your 00:43:22.980 --> 00:43:23.200 good 00:43:23.200 --> 00:43:23.539 things 00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:23.740 and 00:43:23.740 --> 00:43:24.300 Lazarus 00:43:24.300 --> 00:43:24.440 and 00:43:24.440 --> 00:43:24.639 like 00:43:24.639 --> 00:43:24.880 man 00:43:24.880 --> 00:43:25.000 are 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:25.260 bad 00:43:25.260 --> 00:43:25.539 things 00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:25.740 but 00:43:25.740 --> 00:43:25.920 now 00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:26.079 he 00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:26.200 is 00:43:26.200 --> 00:43:26.760 comforted 00:43:26.760 --> 00:43:26.960 here 00:43:26.960 --> 00:43:27.139 and 00:43:27.139 --> 00:43:27.300 you 00:43:27.300 --> 00:43:27.420 are 00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:27.559 in 00:43:27.559 --> 00:43:28.059 anguish 00:43:28.059 --> 00:43:28.700 and 00:43:28.700 --> 00:43:28.980 besides 00:43:28.980 --> 00:43:29.340 all 00:43:29.340 --> 00:43:29.559 this 00:43:29.559 --> 00:43:29.840 between 00:43:29.840 --> 00:43:30.119 us 00:43:30.119 --> 00:43:30.240 and 00:43:30.240 --> 00:43:30.340 you 00:43:30.340 --> 00:43:30.460 a 00:43:30.460 --> 00:43:30.659 great 00:43:30.659 --> 00:43:31.099 chasm 00:43:31.099 --> 00:43:31.340 has 00:43:31.340 --> 00:43:31.519 been 00:43:31.519 --> 00:43:31.900 fixed 00:43:31.900 --> 00:43:32.519 in 00:43:32.519 --> 00:43:32.720 order 00:43:32.720 --> 00:43:32.940 that 00:43:32.940 --> 00:43:33.240 those 00:43:33.240 --> 00:43:33.360 who 00:43:33.360 --> 00:43:33.500 had 00:43:33.500 --> 00:43:33.860 passed 00:43:33.860 --> 00:43:34.079 from 00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:34.360 here 00:43:34.360 --> 00:43:34.599 to 00:43:34.599 --> 00:43:34.760 you 00:43:34.760 --> 00:43:34.940 may 00:43:34.940 --> 00:43:35.139 not 00:43:35.139 --> 00:43:35.340 be 00:43:35.340 --> 00:43:35.639 able 00:43:35.639 --> 00:43:35.840 and 00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:36.039 none 00:43:36.039 --> 00:43:36.280 may 00:43:36.280 --> 00:43:36.659 cross 00:43:36.659 --> 00:43:36.879 from 00:43:36.879 --> 00:43:37.059 there 00:43:37.059 --> 00:43:37.279 to 00:43:37.279 --> 00:43:37.619 us 00:43:37.619 --> 00:43:38.359 and 00:43:38.359 --> 00:43:38.980 the 00:43:38.980 --> 00:43:39.259 rich 00:43:39.259 --> 00:43:39.539 man 00:43:39.539 --> 00:43:39.699 the 00:43:39.699 --> 00:43:40.119 formerly 00:43:40.119 --> 00:43:40.440 rich 00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:40.639 man 00:43:40.639 --> 00:43:40.859 said 00:43:40.859 --> 00:43:41.039 then 00:43:41.039 --> 00:43:41.179 I 00:43:41.179 --> 00:43:41.440 beg 00:43:41.440 --> 00:43:41.619 you 00:43:41.619 --> 00:43:41.960 father 00:43:41.960 --> 00:43:42.199 to 00:43:42.199 --> 00:43:42.519 send 00:43:42.519 --> 00:43:42.679 him 00:43:42.679 --> 00:43:42.819 to 00:43:42.819 --> 00:43:43.019 my 00:43:43.019 --> 00:43:43.500 father's 00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:43.839 house 00:43:43.839 --> 00:43:44.319 for 00:43:44.319 --> 00:43:44.440 I 00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:44.579 have 00:43:44.579 --> 00:43:44.879 five 00:43:44.879 --> 00:43:45.219 brothers 00:43:45.219 --> 00:43:45.440 so 00:43:45.440 --> 00:43:45.559 that 00:43:45.559 --> 00:43:45.679 he 00:43:45.679 --> 00:43:45.839 may 00:43:45.839 --> 00:43:46.239 warn 00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:46.519 them 00:43:46.519 --> 00:43:46.940 lest 00:43:46.940 --> 00:43:47.059 they 00:43:47.059 --> 00:43:47.359 also 00:43:47.359 --> 00:43:47.639 come 00:43:47.639 --> 00:43:47.819 into 00:43:47.819 --> 00:43:48.039 this 00:43:48.039 --> 00:43:48.299 place 00:43:48.299 --> 00:43:48.460 of 00:43:48.460 --> 00:43:48.779 torment 00:43:48.779 --> 00:43:49.139 just 00:43:49.139 --> 00:43:49.420 as a 00:43:49.420 --> 00:43:49.659 second 00:43:49.659 --> 00:43:49.960 here 00:43:49.960 --> 00:43:50.739 how 00:43:50.739 --> 00:43:50.859 do 00:43:50.859 --> 00:43:50.960 you 00:43:50.960 --> 00:43:51.099 think 00:43:51.099 --> 00:43:51.179 it 00:43:51.179 --> 00:43:51.299 would 00:43:51.299 --> 00:43:51.639 actually 00:43:51.639 --> 00:43:51.960 work 00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:52.119 if 00:43:52.119 --> 00:43:52.239 the 00:43:52.239 --> 00:43:52.420 rich 00:43:52.420 --> 00:43:52.619 guy 00:43:52.619 --> 00:43:52.839 had 00:43:52.839 --> 00:43:53.239 five 00:43:53.239 --> 00:43:53.619 brothers 00:43:53.619 --> 00:43:53.899 and 00:43:53.899 --> 00:43:54.279 somebody 00:43:54.279 --> 00:43:54.599 came 00:43:54.599 --> 00:43:54.819 to him 00:43:54.819 --> 00:43:54.920 and 00:43:54.920 --> 00:43:55.980 said 00:43:55.980 --> 00:43:56.239 I've 00:43:56.239 --> 00:43:56.440 just 00:43:56.440 --> 00:43:56.820 come 00:43:56.820 --> 00:43:57.260 and 00:43:57.260 --> 00:43:57.420 your 00:43:57.420 --> 00:43:57.720 brothers 00:43:57.720 --> 00:43:57.980 in 00:43:57.980 --> 00:43:58.300 hell 00:43:58.300 --> 00:44:00.400 I 00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:01.000 don't 00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:01.380 think 00:44:01.380 --> 00:44:01.619 that 00:44:01.619 --> 00:44:02.340 conversation 00:44:02.340 --> 00:44:02.639 would 00:44:02.639 --> 00:44:03.000 actually 00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:03.240 be 00:44:03.240 --> 00:44:03.579 highly 00:44:03.579 --> 00:44:04.360 successful 00:44:04.360 --> 00:44:06.679 but 00:44:06.679 --> 00:44:07.000 Abraham 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:07.300 said 00:44:07.300 --> 00:44:07.420 they 00:44:07.420 --> 00:44:07.599 have 00:44:07.599 --> 00:44:07.940 Moses 00:44:07.940 --> 00:44:08.139 and 00:44:08.139 --> 00:44:08.280 the 00:44:08.280 --> 00:44:08.639 prophets 00:44:08.639 --> 00:44:08.900 let 00:44:08.900 --> 00:44:09.039 them 00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:09.260 hear 00:44:09.260 --> 00:44:09.539 them 00:44:09.539 --> 00:44:10.579 in 00:44:10.579 --> 00:44:10.700 other 00:44:10.700 --> 00:44:10.840 words 00:44:10.840 --> 00:44:11.179 Moses 00:44:11.179 --> 00:44:11.380 and 00:44:11.380 --> 00:44:11.519 the 00:44:11.519 --> 00:44:12.039 prophets 00:44:12.039 --> 00:44:12.860 are 00:44:12.860 --> 00:44:13.200 all 00:44:13.200 --> 00:44:13.420 we 00:44:13.420 --> 00:44:13.720 need 00:44:13.720 --> 00:44:13.900 to 00:44:13.900 --> 00:44:14.079 know 00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:14.280 about 00:44:14.280 --> 00:44:14.420 our 00:44:14.420 --> 00:44:14.700 need 00:44:14.700 --> 00:44:14.900 for 00:44:14.900 --> 00:44:15.780 Jesus 00:44:15.780 --> 00:44:17.700 and 00:44:17.700 --> 00:44:17.860 to 00:44:17.860 --> 00:44:18.039 learn 00:44:18.039 --> 00:44:18.280 to 00:44:18.280 --> 00:44:18.619 follow 00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:18.880 him 00:44:18.880 --> 00:44:19.039 and 00:44:19.039 --> 00:44:19.179 live 00:44:19.179 --> 00:44:19.280 in 00:44:19.280 --> 00:44:19.460 his 00:44:19.460 --> 00:44:19.800 kingdom 00:44:19.800 --> 00:44:22.679 and 00:44:22.679 --> 00:44:22.800 the 00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:22.960 rich 00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:23.139 man 00:44:23.139 --> 00:44:23.360 said 00:44:23.360 --> 00:44:23.519 no 00:44:23.519 --> 00:44:23.800 father 00:44:23.800 --> 00:44:24.179 Abraham 00:44:24.179 --> 00:44:24.380 but 00:44:24.380 --> 00:44:24.539 if 00:44:24.539 --> 00:44:24.820 someone 00:44:24.820 --> 00:44:25.159 goes 00:44:25.159 --> 00:44:25.340 to 00:44:25.340 --> 00:44:25.559 them 00:44:25.559 --> 00:44:25.760 from 00:44:25.760 --> 00:44:25.940 the 00:44:25.940 --> 00:44:26.140 dead 00:44:26.140 --> 00:44:26.320 they 00:44:26.320 --> 00:44:26.500 will 00:44:26.500 --> 00:44:26.940 repent 00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:28.280 and 00:44:28.280 --> 00:44:28.700 Abraham 00:44:28.700 --> 00:44:29.120 said 00:44:29.120 --> 00:44:29.280 if 00:44:29.280 --> 00:44:29.380 they 00:44:29.380 --> 00:44:29.540 do 00:44:29.540 --> 00:44:29.720 not 00:44:29.720 --> 00:44:29.920 hear 00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:30.300 Moses 00:44:30.300 --> 00:44:30.480 and 00:44:30.480 --> 00:44:30.600 the 00:44:30.600 --> 00:44:30.960 prophets 00:44:30.960 --> 00:44:31.260 neither 00:44:31.260 --> 00:44:31.500 will 00:44:31.500 --> 00:44:31.740 they 00:44:31.740 --> 00:44:31.960 be 00:44:31.960 --> 00:44:32.480 convinced 00:44:32.480 --> 00:44:32.720 if 00:44:32.720 --> 00:44:33.060 someone 00:44:33.060 --> 00:44:33.460 should 00:44:33.460 --> 00:44:33.780 rise 00:44:33.780 --> 00:44:33.980 from 00:44:33.980 --> 00:44:34.120 the 00:44:34.120 --> 00:44:34.360 dead 00:44:34.360 --> 00:44:35.520 and 00:44:35.520 --> 00:44:35.720 those 00:44:35.720 --> 00:44:35.860 of 00:44:35.860 --> 00:44:35.940 you 00:44:35.940 --> 00:44:36.060 who 00:44:36.060 --> 00:44:36.120 have 00:44:36.120 --> 00:44:36.200 been 00:44:36.200 --> 00:44:36.360 here 00:44:36.360 --> 00:44:36.560 other 00:44:36.560 --> 00:44:36.860 weeks 00:44:36.860 --> 00:44:37.100 know 00:44:37.100 --> 00:44:37.320 that 00:44:37.320 --> 00:44:37.780 at 00:44:37.780 --> 00:44:38.180 a 00:44:38.180 --> 00:44:38.480 literary 00:44:38.480 --> 00:44:38.940 level 00:44:38.940 --> 00:44:39.200 how 00:44:39.200 --> 00:44:39.560 Luke's 00:44:39.560 --> 00:44:39.920 gospel 00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:40.120 is 00:44:40.120 --> 00:44:40.400 written 00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:40.760 is 00:44:40.760 --> 00:44:40.900 that 00:44:40.900 --> 00:44:41.020 in 00:44:41.020 --> 00:44:41.240 Luke 00:44:41.240 --> 00:44:41.580 chapter 00:44:41.580 --> 00:44:41.940 9 00:44:41.940 --> 00:44:42.280 Jesus 00:44:42.280 --> 00:44:42.820 announces 00:44:42.820 --> 00:44:43.060 to 00:44:43.060 --> 00:44:43.220 his 00:44:43.220 --> 00:44:43.640 disciples 00:44:43.640 --> 00:44:43.860 that 00:44:43.860 --> 00:44:43.980 he's 00:44:43.980 --> 00:44:44.200 going 00:44:44.200 --> 00:44:44.380 to 00:44:44.380 --> 00:44:44.740 Jerusalem 00:44:44.740 --> 00:44:44.980 to 00:44:44.980 --> 00:44:45.300 die 00:44:45.300 --> 00:44:45.900 and 00:44:45.900 --> 00:44:46.000 he 00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:46.140 will 00:44:46.140 --> 00:44:46.440 rise 00:44:46.440 --> 00:44:46.760 again 00:44:55.760 --> 00:44:56.020 again 00:44:56.020 --> 00:44:56.140 that 00:44:56.140 --> 00:44:56.280 he's 00:44:56.280 --> 00:44:56.500 going 00:44:56.500 --> 00:44:56.680 to 00:44:56.680 --> 00:44:57.020 Jerusalem 00:44:57.020 --> 00:44:57.260 to 00:44:57.260 --> 00:44:57.520 die 00:44:57.520 --> 00:44:58.040 and 00:44:58.040 --> 00:44:58.240 when 00:44:58.240 --> 00:44:58.420 he 00:44:58.420 --> 00:44:58.800 dies 00:44:58.800 --> 00:44:59.180 he 00:44:59.180 --> 00:44:59.340 will 00:44:59.340 --> 00:44:59.620 rise 00:44:59.620 --> 00:44:59.960 again 00:44:59.960 --> 00:45:02.180 it's 00:45:02.180 --> 00:45:02.260 a 00:45:02.260 --> 00:45:02.500 reminder 00:45:02.500 --> 00:45:02.820 to us 00:45:02.820 --> 00:45:03.060 as a 00:45:03.060 --> 00:45:03.260 reader 00:45:03.260 --> 00:45:03.640 by the 00:45:03.640 --> 00:45:03.940 time we 00:45:03.940 --> 00:45:04.300 get to 00:45:04.300 --> 00:45:04.620 the end 00:45:04.620 --> 00:45:05.080 of Luke's 00:45:05.080 --> 00:45:05.540 gospel 00:45:05.540 --> 00:45:05.900 and 00:45:05.900 --> 00:45:06.300 Jesus 00:45:06.300 --> 00:45:06.540 is 00:45:06.540 --> 00:45:06.760 risen 00:45:06.760 --> 00:45:07.020 from 00:45:07.020 --> 00:45:07.180 the 00:45:07.180 --> 00:45:07.480 dead 00:45:07.480 --> 00:45:08.480 that 00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:08.660 if 00:45:08.660 --> 00:45:08.820 we 00:45:08.820 --> 00:45:09.040 don't 00:45:09.040 --> 00:45:09.280 listen 00:45:09.280 --> 00:45:09.420 to 00:45:09.420 --> 00:45:09.660 Moses 00:45:09.660 --> 00:45:09.880 and 00:45:09.880 --> 00:45:10.000 the 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:10.320 prophets 00:45:10.320 --> 00:45:10.520 we 00:45:10.520 --> 00:45:10.720 won't 00:45:10.720 --> 00:45:11.000 listen 00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:11.160 to 00:45:11.160 --> 00:45:11.360 one 00:45:11.360 --> 00:45:11.540 who 00:45:11.540 --> 00:45:11.900 rises 00:45:11.900 --> 00:45:12.200 from 00:45:12.200 --> 00:45:12.340 the 00:45:12.340 --> 00:45:12.540 dead 00:45:12.540 --> 00:45:15.120 here's 00:45:15.120 --> 00:45:15.240 the 00:45:15.240 --> 00:45:15.520 final 00:45:15.520 --> 00:45:16.120 significance 00:45:16.120 --> 00:45:16.500 about 00:45:16.500 --> 00:45:16.700 the 00:45:16.700 --> 00:45:17.060 text 00:45:17.060 --> 00:45:17.640 the 00:45:17.640 --> 00:45:17.800 name 00:45:17.800 --> 00:45:18.440 Lazarus 00:45:18.440 --> 00:45:19.400 the 00:45:19.400 --> 00:45:19.580 name 00:45:19.580 --> 00:45:20.240 Lazarus 00:45:20.240 --> 00:45:20.500 is 00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:25.960 but 00:45:25.960 --> 00:45:26.140 the 00:45:26.140 --> 00:45:26.360 main 00:45:26.360 --> 00:45:26.560 thing 00:45:26.560 --> 00:45:26.800 about 00:45:26.800 --> 00:45:26.980 it 00:45:26.980 --> 00:45:27.120 is 00:45:27.120 --> 00:45:27.260 that 00:45:27.260 --> 00:45:27.560 its 00:45:27.560 --> 00:45:27.960 name 00:45:27.960 --> 00:45:28.700 means 00:45:28.700 --> 00:45:29.420 and 00:45:29.420 --> 00:45:29.540 the 00:45:29.540 --> 00:45:29.700 name 00:45:29.700 --> 00:45:30.020 has 00:45:30.020 --> 00:45:30.220 to 00:45:30.220 --> 00:45:30.480 mean 00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:30.880 something 00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:31.080 because 00:45:31.080 --> 00:45:31.220 it's 00:45:31.220 --> 00:45:31.340 the 00:45:31.340 --> 00:45:31.560 only 00:45:31.560 --> 00:45:31.860 time 00:45:31.860 --> 00:45:32.320 anybody's 00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:32.540 named 00:45:32.540 --> 00:45:32.800 in a 00:45:32.800 --> 00:45:33.120 parable 00:45:33.120 --> 00:45:33.600 and 00:45:33.600 --> 00:45:33.760 it 00:45:33.760 --> 00:45:34.260 means 00:45:34.260 --> 00:45:34.900 God 00:45:34.900 --> 00:45:35.460 helps 00:45:35.460 --> 00:45:37.100 God 00:45:37.100 --> 00:45:37.860 helps 00:45:37.860 --> 00:45:38.600 that's 00:45:38.600 --> 00:45:38.680 what 00:45:38.680 --> 00:45:38.780 it 00:45:38.780 --> 00:45:39.160 means 00:45:39.160 --> 00:45:42.260 Lazarus 00:45:42.260 --> 00:45:43.520 is 00:45:43.520 --> 00:45:44.280 completely 00:45:44.280 --> 00:45:45.220 and utterly 00:45:45.220 --> 00:45:46.180 helpless 00:45:46.180 --> 00:45:47.220 in 00:45:47.220 --> 00:45:47.820 every 00:45:47.820 --> 00:45:48.520 sense 00:45:48.520 --> 00:45:48.820 of 00:45:48.820 --> 00:45:48.980 the 00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:49.340 word 00:45:49.340 --> 00:45:51.260 physically 00:45:51.260 --> 00:45:51.740 he 00:45:51.740 --> 00:45:52.200 can't 00:45:52.200 --> 00:45:52.640 move 00:45:52.640 --> 00:45:53.820 physically 00:45:53.820 --> 00:45:54.980 he is 00:45:54.980 --> 00:45:55.500 completely 00:45:55.500 --> 00:45:55.920 and utterly 00:45:55.920 --> 00:45:56.320 having 00:45:56.320 --> 00:45:56.539 his 00:45:56.539 --> 00:45:56.880 space 00:45:56.880 --> 00:45:57.539 violated 00:45:57.539 --> 00:45:58.260 he 00:45:58.260 --> 00:45:58.539 has 00:45:58.539 --> 00:45:58.780 no 00:45:58.780 --> 00:45:59.440 financial 00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:00.019 resources 00:46:00.019 --> 00:46:00.440 he is 00:46:00.440 --> 00:46:01.059 completely 00:46:01.059 --> 00:46:01.960 and utterly 00:46:01.960 --> 00:46:02.820 helpless 00:46:02.820 --> 00:46:04.280 and the 00:46:04.280 --> 00:46:05.119 only thing 00:46:05.119 --> 00:46:05.840 that gets 00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:06.340 him into 00:46:06.340 --> 00:46:06.699 heaven 00:46:06.699 --> 00:46:07.619 is that 00:46:07.619 --> 00:46:07.900 God 00:46:07.900 --> 00:46:08.420 helps 00:46:08.420 --> 00:46:09.639 so here's 00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:10.099 the final 00:46:10.099 --> 00:46:10.579 thing about 00:46:10.579 --> 00:46:11.199 this text 00:46:11.199 --> 00:46:11.440 and we're 00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:11.639 going to 00:46:11.639 --> 00:46:12.119 stand in a 00:46:12.119 --> 00:46:12.300 moment 00:46:12.300 --> 00:46:12.679 and close 00:46:12.679 --> 00:46:13.119 in prayer 00:46:13.119 --> 00:46:17.000 conversion 00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:17.980 happens 00:46:17.980 --> 00:46:19.380 when we 00:46:19.380 --> 00:46:20.019 say to 00:46:20.019 --> 00:46:20.219 the 00:46:20.219 --> 00:46:20.619 father 00:46:20.619 --> 00:46:22.099 all my 00:46:22.099 --> 00:46:22.739 life I 00:46:22.739 --> 00:46:23.179 have thought 00:46:23.179 --> 00:46:23.780 of myself 00:46:23.780 --> 00:46:24.239 as a 00:46:24.239 --> 00:46:24.460 rich 00:46:24.460 --> 00:46:24.880 man 00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:26.519 and I 00:46:26.519 --> 00:46:26.900 have never 00:46:26.900 --> 00:46:27.420 realized 00:46:27.420 --> 00:46:29.740 I 00:46:29.740 --> 00:46:30.300 am 00:46:30.300 --> 00:46:31.079 Lazarus 00:46:31.079 --> 00:46:33.880 if we 00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:34.300 approach 00:46:34.300 --> 00:46:34.840 the Bible 00:46:34.840 --> 00:46:35.480 thinking that 00:46:35.480 --> 00:46:35.760 we are 00:46:35.760 --> 00:46:36.200 the rich 00:46:36.200 --> 00:46:36.579 man 00:46:36.579 --> 00:46:37.720 we will 00:46:37.720 --> 00:46:37.960 never 00:46:37.960 --> 00:46:38.539 understand 00:46:38.539 --> 00:46:39.059 the Bible 00:46:39.059 --> 00:46:40.360 if we 00:46:40.360 --> 00:46:40.740 approach 00:46:40.740 --> 00:46:41.180 religion 00:46:41.180 --> 00:46:41.440 and 00:46:41.440 --> 00:46:42.200 spirituality 00:46:42.200 --> 00:46:43.019 and Jesus 00:46:43.019 --> 00:46:43.579 himself 00:46:43.579 --> 00:46:44.340 as the 00:46:44.340 --> 00:46:44.559 rich 00:46:44.559 --> 00:46:44.860 man 00:46:44.860 --> 00:46:45.500 we will 00:46:45.500 --> 00:46:45.740 never 00:46:45.740 --> 00:46:46.340 understand 00:46:46.340 --> 00:46:46.780 Jesus 00:46:46.780 --> 00:46:47.500 we will 00:46:47.500 --> 00:46:47.740 never 00:46:47.740 --> 00:46:48.240 understand 00:46:48.240 --> 00:46:48.680 the Bible 00:46:48.680 --> 00:46:49.019 we will 00:46:49.019 --> 00:46:49.240 never 00:46:49.240 --> 00:46:49.820 understand 00:46:49.820 --> 00:46:50.260 God 00:46:50.260 --> 00:46:52.440 Jesus 00:46:52.440 --> 00:46:53.100 is inviting 00:46:53.100 --> 00:46:53.440 me 00:46:53.440 --> 00:46:54.040 and you 00:46:54.040 --> 00:46:54.200 to 00:46:54.200 --> 00:46:54.880 understand 00:46:54.880 --> 00:46:56.520 I 00:46:56.520 --> 00:46:57.560 spend 00:46:57.560 --> 00:46:58.480 my 00:46:58.480 --> 00:46:59.460 days 00:46:59.460 --> 00:47:00.200 as 00:47:00.200 --> 00:47:01.020 the rich 00:47:01.020 --> 00:47:01.780 man 00:47:01.780 --> 00:47:03.220 but I 00:47:03.220 --> 00:47:04.380 am 00:47:04.380 --> 00:47:05.900 Lazarus 00:47:05.900 --> 00:47:08.140 who needs 00:47:08.140 --> 00:47:09.420 God's 00:47:09.420 --> 00:47:10.220 help 00:47:10.220 --> 00:47:13.100 and not 00:47:13.100 --> 00:47:13.980 only is 00:47:13.980 --> 00:47:14.640 conversion 00:47:14.640 --> 00:47:15.780 when we go 00:47:15.780 --> 00:47:16.380 and say 00:47:16.380 --> 00:47:16.900 God I 00:47:16.900 --> 00:47:17.720 never realized 00:47:17.719 --> 00:47:18.339 how much 00:47:18.339 --> 00:47:18.819 all I 00:47:18.819 --> 00:47:19.079 wanted 00:47:19.079 --> 00:47:19.619 to do 00:47:19.619 --> 00:47:20.319 was 00:47:20.319 --> 00:47:20.859 control 00:47:20.859 --> 00:47:21.519 and manage 00:47:21.519 --> 00:47:21.879 you 00:47:21.879 --> 00:47:23.639 and I 00:47:23.639 --> 00:47:23.819 am 00:47:23.819 --> 00:47:24.539 Lazarus 00:47:24.539 --> 00:47:25.659 change 00:47:25.659 --> 00:47:25.959 me 00:47:25.959 --> 00:47:26.319 from 00:47:26.319 --> 00:47:27.179 the rich 00:47:27.179 --> 00:47:27.539 man 00:47:27.539 --> 00:47:28.239 to 00:47:28.239 --> 00:47:28.919 Lazarus 00:47:28.919 --> 00:47:30.339 that 00:47:30.339 --> 00:47:30.619 is going 00:47:30.619 --> 00:47:31.139 to require 00:47:31.139 --> 00:47:31.759 humility 00:47:31.759 --> 00:47:32.480 of you 00:47:32.480 --> 00:47:32.859 and me 00:47:32.859 --> 00:47:34.199 change 00:47:34.199 --> 00:47:34.399 me 00:47:34.399 --> 00:47:34.599 from 00:47:34.599 --> 00:47:35.000 the rich 00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:35.239 man 00:47:35.239 --> 00:47:35.839 project 00:47:35.839 --> 00:47:36.839 I 00:47:36.839 --> 00:47:37.019 am 00:47:37.019 --> 00:47:37.719 Lazarus 00:47:37.719 --> 00:47:38.339 help 00:47:38.339 --> 00:47:38.579 me 00:47:38.579 --> 00:47:39.839 and not 00:47:39.839 --> 00:47:40.179 only is 00:47:40.179 --> 00:47:40.519 that how 00:47:40.519 --> 00:47:40.839 we get 00:47:40.839 --> 00:47:41.359 converted 00:47:41.359 --> 00:47:42.779 it's how 00:47:42.779 --> 00:47:43.319 we grow 00:47:43.319 --> 00:47:44.059 as followers 00:47:44.059 --> 00:47:44.719 of Jesus 00:47:44.719 --> 00:47:45.719 that day 00:47:45.719 --> 00:47:46.199 by day 00:47:46.199 --> 00:47:46.719 by day 00:47:46.719 --> 00:47:47.619 I say 00:47:47.619 --> 00:47:47.960 to him 00:47:47.960 --> 00:47:48.259 father 00:47:48.259 --> 00:47:48.559 I've 00:47:48.559 --> 00:47:48.799 spent 00:47:48.799 --> 00:47:49.039 my 00:47:49.039 --> 00:47:49.500 entire 00:47:49.500 --> 00:47:49.960 week 00:47:49.960 --> 00:47:50.960 wishing 00:47:50.960 --> 00:47:51.319 that I 00:47:51.319 --> 00:47:51.519 was 00:47:51.519 --> 00:47:51.920 the rich 00:47:51.920 --> 00:47:52.239 man 00:47:52.239 --> 00:47:53.739 and I 00:47:53.739 --> 00:47:54.259 have not 00:47:54.259 --> 00:47:54.839 realized 00:47:54.839 --> 00:47:55.779 that I 00:47:55.779 --> 00:47:55.940 am 00:47:55.940 --> 00:47:56.639 Lazarus 00:47:56.639 --> 00:47:57.960 and that 00:47:57.960 --> 00:47:58.299 I 00:47:58.299 --> 00:47:58.659 am 00:47:58.659 --> 00:47:59.139 helpless 00:47:59.139 --> 00:48:00.739 and you 00:48:00.739 --> 00:48:01.460 reveal my 00:48:01.460 --> 00:48:02.199 helplessness 00:48:02.199 --> 00:48:02.619 in the 00:48:02.619 --> 00:48:03.279 context 00:48:03.279 --> 00:48:03.960 of the 00:48:03.960 --> 00:48:04.380 great 00:48:04.380 --> 00:48:05.019 helper 00:48:05.019 --> 00:48:05.779 the great 00:48:05.779 --> 00:48:06.679 deliverer 00:48:06.679 --> 00:48:07.460 who loved 00:48:07.460 --> 00:48:07.940 me so 00:48:07.940 --> 00:48:08.319 much 00:48:08.319 --> 00:48:09.199 he died 00:48:09.199 --> 00:48:09.679 upon 00:48:09.679 --> 00:48:10.480 the cross 00:48:10.480 --> 00:48:11.099 for me 00:48:11.099 --> 00:48:12.539 I 00:48:12.539 --> 00:48:13.099 am 00:48:13.099 --> 00:48:14.079 Lazarus 00:48:14.079 --> 00:48:15.000 Jesus 00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:15.799 is the 00:48:15.799 --> 00:48:16.199 helper 00:48:16.199 --> 00:48:17.439 help 00:48:17.439 --> 00:48:18.419 me 00:48:18.419 --> 00:48:19.879 please 00:48:19.879 --> 00:48:20.319 stand 00:48:20.319 --> 00:48:29.659 bow our 00:48:29.659 --> 00:48:29.839 heads 00:48:29.839 --> 00:48:30.019 in 00:48:30.019 --> 00:48:30.299 prayer 00:48:30.299 --> 00:48:41.939 father 00:48:41.940 --> 00:48:42.220 ask 00:48:42.220 --> 00:48:42.539 that your 00:48:42.539 --> 00:48:42.760 holy 00:48:42.760 --> 00:48:43.220 spirit 00:48:43.220 --> 00:48:43.460 would 00:48:43.460 --> 00:48:43.720 move 00:48:43.720 --> 00:48:44.139 and work 00:48:44.139 --> 00:48:44.539 deeply 00:48:44.539 --> 00:48:44.840 in our 00:48:44.840 --> 00:48:45.200 hearts 00:48:45.200 --> 00:48:45.539 and our 00:48:45.539 --> 00:48:46.039 minds 00:48:46.039 --> 00:48:47.579 that 00:48:47.579 --> 00:48:49.500 you would 00:48:49.500 --> 00:48:50.159 reveal to 00:48:50.159 --> 00:48:50.500 us 00:48:50.500 --> 00:48:51.320 father 00:48:51.320 --> 00:48:52.039 gently 00:48:52.039 --> 00:48:52.380 but 00:48:52.380 --> 00:48:53.480 persistently 00:48:53.480 --> 00:48:54.200 reveal to 00:48:54.200 --> 00:48:54.460 us 00:48:54.460 --> 00:48:55.480 how much 00:48:55.480 --> 00:48:55.760 of our 00:48:55.760 --> 00:48:56.240 lives 00:48:56.240 --> 00:48:56.840 are lived 00:48:56.840 --> 00:48:57.559 in terms 00:48:57.559 --> 00:48:57.980 of being 00:48:57.980 --> 00:48:58.420 the rich 00:48:58.420 --> 00:48:58.720 man 00:48:58.720 --> 00:49:00.260 and refusing 00:49:00.260 --> 00:49:01.000 to acknowledge 00:49:01.000 --> 00:49:01.720 that we 00:49:01.720 --> 00:49:02.579 are Lazarus 00:49:02.579 --> 00:49:04.059 and that you 00:49:04.059 --> 00:49:04.740 have provided 00:49:04.740 --> 00:49:05.579 that great 00:49:05.579 --> 00:49:06.039 help 00:49:06.039 --> 00:49:06.900 that fits 00:49:06.900 --> 00:49:07.200 us 00:49:07.199 --> 00:49:08.159 to know 00:49:08.159 --> 00:49:08.539 Jesus 00:49:08.539 --> 00:49:09.179 and to 00:49:09.179 --> 00:49:09.480 live in 00:49:09.480 --> 00:49:09.659 his 00:49:09.659 --> 00:49:10.039 kingdom 00:49:10.039 --> 00:49:11.039 both on 00:49:11.039 --> 00:49:11.500 this side 00:49:11.500 --> 00:49:11.739 of the 00:49:11.739 --> 00:49:12.119 grave 00:49:12.119 --> 00:49:12.639 and for 00:49:12.639 --> 00:49:12.799 all 00:49:12.799 --> 00:49:13.159 eternity 00:49:13.159 --> 00:49:14.339 we ask 00:49:14.339 --> 00:49:14.739 father 00:49:14.739 --> 00:49:15.159 that your 00:49:15.159 --> 00:49:15.419 holy 00:49:15.419 --> 00:49:15.899 spirit 00:49:15.899 --> 00:49:16.159 would 00:49:16.159 --> 00:49:16.639 convict 00:49:16.639 --> 00:49:17.000 us 00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:17.859 that 00:49:17.859 --> 00:49:18.739 convict 00:49:18.739 --> 00:49:19.139 me 00:49:19.139 --> 00:49:20.199 convict 00:49:20.199 --> 00:49:20.519 each 00:49:20.519 --> 00:49:20.899 one 00:49:20.899 --> 00:49:22.239 to 00:49:22.239 --> 00:49:23.379 turn 00:49:23.379 --> 00:49:24.099 from the 00:49:24.099 --> 00:49:24.319 rich 00:49:24.319 --> 00:49:24.619 man 00:49:24.619 --> 00:49:25.199 project 00:49:25.199 --> 00:49:27.039 and accept 00:49:27.039 --> 00:49:27.960 and embrace 00:49:27.960 --> 00:49:29.259 that I 00:49:29.259 --> 00:49:29.899 am 00:49:29.899 --> 00:49:30.899 Lazarus 00:49:30.899 --> 00:49:31.919 and that 00:49:31.919 --> 00:49:32.319 Jesus 00:49:32.319 --> 00:49:33.379 is my 00:49:33.379 --> 00:49:34.039 great 00:49:34.039 --> 00:49:34.779 helper 00:49:34.780 --> 00:49:36.260 father 00:49:36.260 --> 00:49:37.740 help me 00:49:37.740 --> 00:49:38.720 to live 00:49:38.720 --> 00:49:39.400 my life 00:49:39.400 --> 00:49:40.800 conscious 00:49:40.800 --> 00:49:41.240 of this 00:49:41.240 --> 00:49:41.700 make me 00:49:41.700 --> 00:49:42.300 a disciple 00:49:42.300 --> 00:49:42.840 gripped 00:49:42.840 --> 00:49:43.200 by the 00:49:43.200 --> 00:49:43.680 gospel 00:49:43.680 --> 00:49:44.600 who now 00:49:44.600 --> 00:49:44.840 lives 00:49:44.840 --> 00:49:45.140 for your 00:49:45.140 --> 00:49:45.480 glory 00:49:45.480 --> 00:49:46.120 and all 00:49:46.120 --> 00:49:46.440 this I 00:49:46.440 --> 00:49:46.840 ask in 00:49:46.840 --> 00:49:47.100 the name 00:49:47.100 --> 00:49:47.600 of Jesus 00:49:47.600 --> 00:49:48.100 your 00:49:48.100 --> 00:49:48.519 son 00:49:48.519 --> 00:49:49.640 and our 00:49:49.640 --> 00:49:50.040 savior 00:49:50.040 --> 00:49:50.720 amen 00:49:50.720 --> 00:49:52.620 please take 00:49:52.620 --> 00:49:53.260 a posture 00:49:53.260 --> 00:49:53.800 of prayer 00:49:53.800 --> 00:49:54.500 as we enter 00:49:54.500 --> 00:49:55.180 into a time 00:49:55.180 --> 00:49:56.040 of intercession 00:50:04.780 --> 00:50:06.040 as we enter 00:50:06.040 --> 00:50:06.560 this time 00:50:06.560 --> 00:50:07.060 of prayer 00:50:07.060 --> 00:50:07.680 please feel 00:50:07.680 --> 00:50:08.340 free to take 00:50:08.340 --> 00:50:09.200 whatever posture 00:50:09.200 --> 00:50:09.880 helps you to 00:50:09.880 --> 00:50:10.360 communicate 00:50:10.360 --> 00:50:10.960 with God 00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:11.620 our father 00:50:11.620 --> 00:50:16.380 heavenly father 00:50:16.380 --> 00:50:17.060 as we enter 00:50:17.060 --> 00:50:17.960 this new year 00:50:17.960 --> 00:50:19.240 help us both 00:50:19.240 --> 00:50:19.960 individually 00:50:19.960 --> 00:50:20.960 and corporately 00:50:20.960 --> 00:50:21.900 to seek your 00:50:21.900 --> 00:50:22.640 will both 00:50:22.640 --> 00:50:23.360 for ourselves 00:50:23.360 --> 00:50:39.599 and