WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.280 I have never used this word about myself ever before, 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:06.719 but as I prepared this message, I thought I can do this. 00:00:06.820 --> 00:00:10.160 I was raised as a theist, or more specifically, 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:13.019 I was raised as a monotheist. 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:16.199 I was raised to believe in one God, 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:20.719 to pray prayers at night that were addressed as dear God, 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:24.660 sent to Sunday school where Jesus was a bit of a mystery, 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:29.440 important but not as important as God, the man. 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:32.439 And I think I had a mindset of, 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:35.619 why would you talk to this number two when you could talk to the main man? 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:42.439 And if I was raised, or had been raised in a Muslim family, 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:45.439 I would have been taught similar things about God. 00:00:48.460 --> 00:00:51.799 When I was confirmed at 14, I think I had a sincerity of heart, 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:56.060 I wanted to honour God, but Jesus still made no specific sense. 00:00:56.060 --> 00:01:02.420 So when God shone his light and broke into my heart at 18 years of age, 00:01:02.500 --> 00:01:05.859 the most dramatic change in my thinking was twofold. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:09.620 God showed me that I deserved to be judged by him. 00:01:10.320 --> 00:01:13.800 I understood for the first time that I really didn't deserve special favours. 00:01:14.300 --> 00:01:15.780 I was immediately afraid. 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:20.740 And the second thing he did was show me that Jesus had stood in my place, 00:01:20.739 --> 00:01:23.500 that he had taken the judgment that I deserved, 00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:27.159 and I was thrilled and thankful for the mercy of the Lord Jesus, 00:01:27.339 --> 00:01:29.979 and he became the new centre of my world. 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:38.359 Knowing Jesus was the beginning of a journey to know his Father, 00:01:39.479 --> 00:01:41.939 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:41.939 --> 00:01:47.840 It's a journey which is ongoing, and it will not stop this side of heaven. 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:52.859 And so as I live with Jesus Christ as my Lord, 00:01:53.900 --> 00:01:57.519 I am still learning about the sheer goodness and supremacy 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:01.379 and love and power and provision of his most magnificent Father. 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:05.519 Really interesting this morning to hear the job description of a dad you came up with. 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:08.219 I wish I'd had that in mind when I was preparing this message, 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:12.740 because it reflects the nature of God himself and what we know of him. 00:02:13.939 --> 00:02:15.900 But the big point that I'm making this morning, 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:18.479 if you walk away with nothing else, I want you walk away with this, 00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:22.259 that the only way to know the true God and Father, 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:26.099 the only way to know the true God and Father, 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:28.939 is through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:35.500 In John 14, Jesus is talking about returning to his Father's house in heaven. 00:02:35.500 --> 00:02:38.479 And Thomas says to him, Lord, we don't know the way, 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:41.759 we don't know where you're going, so how can we know the way? 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:46.759 And Jesus replies, I am the way and the truth and the life. 00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:50.500 No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:02:51.920 --> 00:02:53.199 I mean, this day and age, 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:57.159 that is one of Christianity's most offensive claims to a lot of people. 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:00.280 The only way that God the Father can be known 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:02.539 is through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:06.620 and any other attempt is futile and false. 00:03:08.459 --> 00:03:10.739 And we make this claim confidently 00:03:10.739 --> 00:03:13.799 because it is straight from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:18.139 Philip says to Jesus in John 14, verse 8, 00:03:18.239 --> 00:03:19.620 Lord, show us the Father, 00:03:20.799 --> 00:03:22.599 and that will be enough for us. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:25.219 And Jesus replied, 00:03:25.219 --> 00:03:27.780 Don't you know me, Philip? 00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:31.199 Anyone who has seen me 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:33.599 has seen the Father. 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:36.819 The Lord Jesus Christ 00:03:36.819 --> 00:03:39.340 is the one who reveals God the Father. 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:43.460 The only way to know the true God and Father 00:03:43.460 --> 00:03:45.400 is through his Son, 00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:46.900 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:48.419 --> 00:03:49.639 Matthew chapter 11 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:50.780 says something similar. 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:51.500 Jesus says, 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:52.819 I praise you, Father, 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:54.659 Lord of heaven and earth, 00:03:54.659 --> 00:03:57.240 because you have hidden these things 00:03:57.240 --> 00:03:58.740 from the wise and learned 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:00.560 and revealed them to little children. 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:03.000 Yes, Father, 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:05.800 for this was your good pleasure. 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:10.199 All things have been committed to me by my Father. 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:13.259 No one knows the Son 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:15.079 except the Father, 00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:17.759 and no one knows the Father 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.639 except the Son 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:24.000 and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:29.240 We do not come to know God the Father 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:31.000 by the power of our own intellect. 00:04:31.660 --> 00:04:32.899 We know him 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:35.819 because of the gracious gift of his Son. 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:41.019 The only way to know the true God and Father 00:04:41.019 --> 00:04:43.300 is through his Son, 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:45.120 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:49.500 So this morning is the second of two messages 00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:51.240 that focus on the God of the Bible. 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:53.620 The second of two messages, 00:04:53.660 --> 00:04:54.879 we're doing more than two messages. 00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:56.180 Who he is, 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:57.360 how he's revealed himself. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:04:58.560 I said last week 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:01.220 that we have to keep a fair bit of humility 00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:03.280 when trying to know God 00:05:03.280 --> 00:05:04.139 and describe God 00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:05.120 and talk about God. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:06.379 We don't know everything. 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:09.519 We only know as much about God 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:11.699 as he chooses to reveal about himself, 00:05:11.699 --> 00:05:13.259 and to go any further 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:15.899 is to move into the realm of speculation and error. 00:05:17.139 --> 00:05:19.420 I want to put a few more pegs in the ground today 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:23.719 which focus on God revealing himself to us as Father. 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:27.079 We're exploring the doctrine of the Trinity. 00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:30.039 It's a word that the early church used to describe 00:05:30.039 --> 00:05:32.699 how God reveals himself as three persons, 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:35.839 Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:39.060 And we've been saying, 00:05:39.159 --> 00:05:41.839 and we'll say again and again throughout this series, 00:05:42.039 --> 00:05:43.719 that the Scriptures clearly teach 00:05:43.719 --> 00:05:45.500 the Father is God, 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:47.199 the Son is God, 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:49.179 the Holy Spirit is God. 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:52.199 But they also clearly teach 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:53.799 the Son is not the Father, 00:05:54.459 --> 00:05:55.979 the Father is not the Spirit, 00:05:56.719 --> 00:05:58.719 and the Spirit is not the Son. 00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:03.559 Describing God is in some sense 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:06.720 like trying to describe the indescribable. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:13.000 Sometimes you have to hold to truth 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:17.259 that seems illogical and contradictory. 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:22.240 We can only describe what we see. 00:06:23.019 --> 00:06:25.720 We do not see the whole picture. 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:29.360 Despite all the confidence 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:31.240 that scientists sometimes speak with, 00:06:31.779 --> 00:06:32.660 they're like that. 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:36.120 And what they teach us about light, 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:38.280 they tell us that it, 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:39.800 when they teach us about light, 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:41.139 they'll tell us that it displays 00:06:41.139 --> 00:06:43.300 the form and behaviour of waves. 00:06:44.780 --> 00:06:46.139 But they'll also teach us 00:06:46.139 --> 00:06:47.959 that light displays the form 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:49.899 and behaviour of particles. 00:06:51.139 --> 00:06:52.519 Two different substances 00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:55.519 doesn't easily fit logic, 00:06:56.199 --> 00:06:58.519 but it is what it is. 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:04.759 I was wonderfully surprised 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:05.939 as I prepared this message 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:07.199 and actually quite excited. 00:07:07.399 --> 00:07:08.180 I did a search 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:10.859 of the whole of the Bible 00:07:10.859 --> 00:07:11.979 with my concordance 00:07:11.979 --> 00:07:14.139 for the number of times 00:07:14.139 --> 00:07:14.979 or the places 00:07:14.979 --> 00:07:16.599 where the word Father is used. 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:17.519 And you push the button 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:18.159 on your computer 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:18.799 and you get more than 00:07:18.799 --> 00:07:20.099 a thousand references. 00:07:21.159 --> 00:07:22.159 And when you get rid 00:07:22.159 --> 00:07:23.399 of all the human references, 00:07:23.579 --> 00:07:25.479 such as Abraham was the father of Isaac 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:26.780 and he was the father of Jacob 00:07:26.780 --> 00:07:28.080 and all that sort of reference 00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:28.660 in the Bible, 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:30.100 you get a much shorter list. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.560 And you discover, 00:07:34.200 --> 00:07:35.660 or I saw for the first time, 00:07:35.720 --> 00:07:37.819 that there are very few references 00:07:37.819 --> 00:07:40.439 to God as Father 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:41.660 in the Old Testament. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:43.580 Very few. 00:07:43.579 --> 00:07:47.060 And most of them 00:07:47.060 --> 00:07:47.740 are associated 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:49.219 with God's relationship 00:07:49.219 --> 00:07:50.180 to King David 00:07:50.180 --> 00:07:50.859 and the promises 00:07:50.859 --> 00:07:51.899 that he makes to him. 00:07:53.659 --> 00:07:55.099 So probably the high point 00:07:55.099 --> 00:07:56.000 of David's reign 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.219 is in 2 Samuel chapter 7 00:07:59.219 --> 00:08:00.979 when God promises 00:08:00.979 --> 00:08:03.299 to build a dynasty from him. 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:05.159 And it says, 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:06.740 The Lord declares to you 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:07.979 that the Lord himself 00:08:07.979 --> 00:08:09.680 will establish a house for you 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:12.099 when your days are over 00:08:12.099 --> 00:08:13.519 and you rest with your fathers. 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:15.719 I will raise up your offspring 00:08:15.719 --> 00:08:16.939 to succeed you 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:18.639 who will come from your own body. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:21.620 And I will establish his kingdom. 00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:23.839 And he is the one 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:25.500 who will build a house for my name. 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:26.800 And I will establish 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:28.800 the throne of his kingdom forever. 00:08:29.860 --> 00:08:32.199 I will be his father 00:08:32.199 --> 00:08:35.259 and he will be my son. 00:08:36.419 --> 00:08:37.519 And when he does wrong, 00:08:37.579 --> 00:08:38.379 I will punish him 00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:39.299 with the rod of men 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:41.319 and with floggings inflicted by men. 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:43.140 But my love 00:08:43.140 --> 00:08:45.080 will never be taken away from him 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:46.560 as I took it away from Saul, 00:08:46.900 --> 00:08:48.640 whom I removed from before you. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:50.660 Your house and your kingdom 00:08:50.660 --> 00:08:52.620 will endure forever before me 00:08:52.620 --> 00:08:53.780 and your throne 00:08:53.780 --> 00:08:55.140 will be established forever. 00:08:58.260 --> 00:09:01.120 Psalm 2 carries the same idea 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:02.160 or similar ideas. 00:09:02.280 --> 00:09:02.640 He says, 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:04.819 I have installed my king 00:09:04.819 --> 00:09:05.439 on Zion, 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:06.460 my holy hill. 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:08.340 I will proclaim 00:09:08.340 --> 00:09:09.460 the decree of the Lord. 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.319 He said to me, 00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:11.720 You are my son. 00:09:12.340 --> 00:09:12.819 Today, 00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:14.360 I have become your father. 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:16.759 Ask of me 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:18.299 and I will make the nations 00:09:18.299 --> 00:09:19.100 your inheritance, 00:09:19.460 --> 00:09:20.319 the ends of the earth 00:09:20.319 --> 00:09:20.980 your possession. 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:23.580 And it's there as well 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:24.179 in Isaiah. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:24.899 It's in a reading 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:25.860 that we read at Christmas 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:26.580 all the time. 00:09:26.580 --> 00:09:27.400 For unto us 00:09:27.400 --> 00:09:28.379 a child is born, 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:29.940 to us a son is given, 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:31.220 and the government 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:32.460 will be on his shoulders 00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:33.420 and he will be called 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:34.700 Wonderful Counselor, 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:35.720 Mighty God, 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:37.259 Everlasting Father, 00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:38.900 Prince of Peace. 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:40.560 Of the increase 00:09:40.560 --> 00:09:41.300 of his government 00:09:41.300 --> 00:09:41.820 and peace 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:42.860 there will be no end 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:43.660 and he will reign 00:09:43.660 --> 00:09:44.700 on David's throne 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:46.240 and over his kingdom, 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:47.540 establishing 00:09:47.540 --> 00:09:48.620 and upholding it 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:49.400 with justice 00:09:49.400 --> 00:09:51.120 and righteousness 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:52.700 from that time on forever. 00:09:52.900 --> 00:09:53.420 And the zeal 00:09:53.420 --> 00:09:54.240 of the Lord Almighty 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:55.340 will accomplish this. 00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:59.060 It's not as clear 00:09:59.060 --> 00:10:00.180 but amongst 00:10:00.180 --> 00:10:01.580 his other titles 00:10:01.580 --> 00:10:02.200 this son 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:03.280 will also be known 00:10:03.280 --> 00:10:04.860 as Mighty God 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:06.920 and Everlasting Father. 00:10:09.180 --> 00:10:11.019 Those three passages 00:10:11.019 --> 00:10:12.480 are passages 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:13.720 which are all looking 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:15.060 towards a future day, 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:16.879 a future king, 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:18.480 a future son 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:19.220 who will reign 00:10:19.220 --> 00:10:20.480 on behalf of his father. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:22.759 And the Old Testament 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:24.120 begins to anticipate 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:25.300 what will be revealed 00:10:25.299 --> 00:10:26.000 with the coming 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:27.559 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:30.019 So I want you to see 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:31.079 that in some ways 00:10:31.079 --> 00:10:31.979 our understanding 00:10:31.979 --> 00:10:33.339 of God as father 00:10:33.339 --> 00:10:34.019 grows 00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:35.179 as the passages 00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:36.620 of the Bible unfold 00:10:36.620 --> 00:10:38.299 and as God's king 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:39.000 is revealed. 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:40.120 It's not always there 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:41.279 to be seen explicitly. 00:10:41.459 --> 00:10:41.959 It becomes 00:10:41.959 --> 00:10:43.399 much more explicit 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:44.139 as you move 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:44.879 through the Bible 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:46.199 and into the New Testament. 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:48.520 So when you get 00:10:48.520 --> 00:10:49.600 to Matthew chapter 3 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:50.500 that God and Father 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.540 speaks at the baptism 00:10:51.540 --> 00:10:52.280 of his son 00:10:52.280 --> 00:10:53.879 and he says, 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:55.379 this is my son 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:56.439 whom I love 00:10:56.439 --> 00:10:57.379 and in him 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:59.019 I am well pleased. 00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:01.059 You discover 00:11:01.059 --> 00:11:01.600 as you read 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.240 the Gospels 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.139 that the normal way 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:03.620 for Jesus 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:04.980 to speak about God 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:06.240 is as father. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:08.779 The Sermon on the Mount 00:11:08.779 --> 00:11:09.879 in Matthew chapter 5 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:10.340 to 7 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:11.639 Jesus continually 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:12.700 reveals God 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:13.860 as father. 00:11:14.939 --> 00:11:16.080 Matthew chapter 5 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:16.779 verse 44 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:31.740 So the implication 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.019 is that we 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:33.860 and from the Lord 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:35.019 Jesus Christ himself 00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:36.500 we have a merciful father. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.539 When we love our enemies 00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:39.519 we reflect 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:40.659 the heart of God. 00:11:41.699 --> 00:11:42.279 He is a God 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:42.980 who sustains 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:43.860 the whole earth. 00:11:44.419 --> 00:11:44.899 The goodness 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:45.740 and the bounty 00:11:45.740 --> 00:11:46.740 of creation 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.419 is enjoyed 00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:48.680 by all his creatures. 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:50.980 It's the kindness 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:52.080 of our heavenly father 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.100 that even an atheist 00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:54.279 like Richard Dawkins 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:55.740 can sunbake on the beach 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:56.940 that he can enjoy 00:11:56.940 --> 00:11:58.120 the cooling of the waters 00:11:58.120 --> 00:11:59.360 that he can savour 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:01.080 a Jamie Oliver meal 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:01.799 that he can know 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:02.940 an intimate relationship 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:03.759 with his wife. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:05.620 God has made things 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:07.279 so that even unjust people 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:09.340 or people of evil intent 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:11.820 can enjoy his creation. 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:16.720 I could go to lots of places 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:17.899 and I really do feel 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:18.500 like I'm scratching 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.019 the surface 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:19.740 and that's not just 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:20.779 a throwaway platitude 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:23.379 but go to Matthew chapter 6. 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:26.540 Jesus makes huge revelations 00:12:26.540 --> 00:12:27.940 about the fatherhood of God. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:29.639 He's a father 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:30.779 who knows our hearts. 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:32.840 We can't pull the wool 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:33.680 over his eyes. 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:35.660 We're not to be hypocrites 00:12:35.660 --> 00:12:36.940 going through acts 00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:38.259 of religious devotion 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:39.120 to draw attention 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:39.820 to ourselves 00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:41.620 and our own self-righteousness. 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.180 So he says to us 00:12:43.180 --> 00:12:43.759 when you give 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.460 or when you pray 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.160 or when you fast 00:12:45.160 --> 00:12:46.180 don't do those things 00:12:46.180 --> 00:12:47.220 to impress people. 00:12:47.780 --> 00:12:49.060 Do them out of relationship 00:12:49.060 --> 00:12:49.980 with your wonderful 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.840 heavenly father. 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:52.460 This is not religious duty. 00:12:52.780 --> 00:12:53.440 He's the one 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:54.780 who is able to reward us 00:12:54.780 --> 00:12:55.500 and to forgive us 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:56.259 for our sins. 00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.560 And then he moves 00:12:59.560 --> 00:13:00.639 into the Lord's prayer 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.240 giving further insights 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.080 into the nature 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.200 of God's fatherhood. 00:13:05.300 --> 00:13:06.519 This is how you should pray. 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:09.799 Our father in heaven 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:12.600 hallowed be your name. 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.779 Your kingdom come. 00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:17.419 Your will be done 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.899 on earth as it is in heaven. 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:21.840 Give us today 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:22.759 our daily bread. 00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:25.879 Forgive us our debts 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.799 as we have forgiven 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.519 our debtors. 00:13:28.579 --> 00:13:29.559 And lead us 00:13:29.559 --> 00:13:30.620 not into temptation 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:31.699 but deliver us 00:13:31.699 --> 00:13:32.720 from the evil one. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:36.160 For if you forgive men 00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:37.360 when they sin against you 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:38.460 your heavenly father 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:40.480 will also forgive you. 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:42.620 But if you do not 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.980 forgive people 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:44.620 their sins 00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:45.700 your heavenly father 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:47.660 will not forgive 00:13:47.660 --> 00:13:48.600 your sins. 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:52.100 So Jesus does 00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:52.820 a bucket load 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:53.680 of things in that prayer. 00:13:53.800 --> 00:13:54.379 He teaches us 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.160 to address God 00:13:55.160 --> 00:13:55.700 as father. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:57.960 And that's a new way 00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:59.060 of relating to God 00:13:59.060 --> 00:14:00.660 that has never been seen 00:14:00.660 --> 00:14:01.720 before in the scriptures. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:04.560 Jesus himself 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:05.660 addresses God 00:14:05.660 --> 00:14:06.500 with a particular 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.980 reverence and intimacy 00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:08.779 as a son. 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:11.860 In Mark's gospel 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:13.120 in the garden of Gethsemane 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.480 he says 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:14.259 Abba Father 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:16.840 everything is possible 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.360 for you. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.720 Take this cup 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.259 from me. 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.860 Yet not what I will 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.759 but what you will. 00:14:26.800 --> 00:14:27.620 In calling God 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:28.019 Father 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:28.920 he uses a word 00:14:28.920 --> 00:14:29.840 that only a true son 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:30.840 would be permitted to use. 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:31.500 Steve's example 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.019 with his kids 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:32.480 this morning. 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:35.080 all the loving 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:35.759 respect 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.580 and reverence 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.480 of dad 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:39.920 but with no 00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:40.820 irreverence 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:41.620 or inappropriate 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.540 familiarity 00:14:42.540 --> 00:14:43.420 like old man 00:14:43.420 --> 00:14:43.980 or Steve 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:44.820 or whatever it is. 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:49.960 Our father 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:50.660 in heaven 00:14:50.660 --> 00:14:52.660 his dwelling 00:14:52.660 --> 00:14:53.480 place is heaven 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:55.820 he lives 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:56.320 in a realm 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:56.940 that we can't 00:14:56.940 --> 00:14:57.759 enter into yet 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.660 except through prayer 00:14:58.660 --> 00:15:00.700 we can't see 00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:03.520 and he has this 00:15:03.520 --> 00:15:04.400 glorious name 00:15:04.400 --> 00:15:05.000 that is to be 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:05.640 treated with the 00:15:05.640 --> 00:15:06.560 utmost reverence 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:07.220 and respect. 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.020 Your kingdom 00:15:10.020 --> 00:15:10.500 come 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:13.240 assumes that the 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.060 kingdom of God 00:15:14.060 --> 00:15:14.580 the father 00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.300 is established 00:15:15.300 --> 00:15:16.000 in heaven 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.900 but is still 00:15:16.900 --> 00:15:17.720 being established 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.520 on earth 00:15:18.520 --> 00:15:20.520 and not everyone 00:15:20.520 --> 00:15:21.860 submits to his reign 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:22.220 and rule 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:22.920 so when we pray 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:23.440 for the coming 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.180 of God's kingdom 00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:24.620 we're actually 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.320 praying for men 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:25.640 and women 00:15:25.640 --> 00:15:26.020 and boys 00:15:26.020 --> 00:15:26.620 and girls 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:27.960 to submit 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:28.759 to his reign 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:29.419 and to the reign 00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:29.860 of the Lord 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:30.799 Jesus Christ. 00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:33.360 Give us today 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.139 our daily bread 00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:34.820 he's a father 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:35.620 who we can come 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.399 to for what we 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:36.720 need 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.299 he is our 00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:37.759 provider. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:41.580 I wish I could 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.259 tell you the detail 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:42.580 of this 00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:43.279 I can't really 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.100 but I can tell you 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:44.740 that this week 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:46.820 I had to bring 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.700 some needs to him 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.539 which were clearly 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.340 beyond my own 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:50.399 resources to manage 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.100 and were quite 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:52.740 overwhelming. 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:55.740 And you know 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.360 in those moments 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:56.940 when you ask 00:15:56.940 --> 00:15:57.379 for help 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.159 and you're in pain 00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.659 and one of the things 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.419 you really want God 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:00.960 to do is just 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:01.879 take away the pain? 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.500 He did deal 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.259 with the pain 00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:10.680 but in a way 00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:11.740 that I didn't expect 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:13.120 by helping me 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:13.560 and others 00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:14.340 to rise up 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:14.820 and to face 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:15.460 the difficulty 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.220 and to walk 00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:16.960 through the pain 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.340 with a trust 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.519 and firm trust 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.039 in the goodness 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:20.500 of God 00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:20.980 and in the Lord 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:21.840 Jesus Christ. 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:23.799 He reversed 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.500 the difficulty 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.980 and he 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.980 caused me 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:27.440 and others 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:27.940 to grow 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:28.440 through that 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:28.940 difficulty. 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.679 He knew 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.980 what I needed. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.220 Further down 00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.000 in Matthew 6 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:36.480 the father 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.059 is revealed 00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:37.740 as a provider 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.279 who knows 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:38.779 our bodily 00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:39.580 needs of food 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.100 and clothing. 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.100 Matthew chapter 10 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:42.779 says the hairs 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.240 of our head 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.639 are numbered 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.240 and a sparrow 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:44.779 doesn't die 00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.159 without him 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:45.639 even knowing 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:46.080 about it. 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:48.080 Matthew 7 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:48.820 says that God 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.720 is a good father 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.399 eager to give 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:50.919 good gifts 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.700 to his children. 00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:54.440 The father 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:55.220 is a powerful 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.840 provider. 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.280 He's all 00:16:57.280 --> 00:16:57.560 knowing. 00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:58.220 He delights 00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:58.840 to provide 00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.600 for his children 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.280 bountifully. 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.680 And the father 00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:04.400 is forgiving. 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:07.100 Forgive us 00:17:07.100 --> 00:17:07.640 our debts 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.420 as we also 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.140 have forgiven 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:09.960 our debtors. 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.860 We are to 00:17:13.860 --> 00:17:14.779 reflect the 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.220 character 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.220 of our father. 00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.539 We come to 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:18.920 know him 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.279 through the 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:19.680 forgiveness 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.299 that we have 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:20.920 in Christ. 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:23.700 it necessarily 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.559 follows that 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:24.860 we will 00:17:24.860 --> 00:17:25.580 display his 00:17:25.580 --> 00:17:26.140 character 00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:26.720 as we 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.559 forgive people 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.080 who have 00:17:28.080 --> 00:17:28.640 hurt us. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.860 He invites 00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:32.500 us to ask 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:32.860 him for 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:33.440 forgiveness 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:34.360 while presuming 00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:34.920 that we will 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:35.640 show mercy 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:36.360 and forgiveness 00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:37.080 to others. 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.580 He tells 00:17:38.580 --> 00:17:39.080 that ugly 00:17:39.080 --> 00:17:39.580 parable 00:17:39.580 --> 00:17:40.500 in Matthew's 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:40.819 gospel 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:41.380 about the 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:41.819 man who 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:42.440 is forgiven 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.720 a huge 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.580 and unpayable 00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:44.960 debt 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.160 and who 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:46.740 then goes 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.120 out and 00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:47.480 abuses 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.319 another man 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:48.779 who owns 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.259 a pittance 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.600 and he 00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:50.559 says such 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:50.840 a man 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:51.179 will come 00:17:51.179 --> 00:17:51.839 under the 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.199 judgment 00:17:52.199 --> 00:17:52.679 of God. 00:17:56.679 --> 00:17:57.659 Jesus also 00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:58.579 reveals God 00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:58.919 as a 00:17:58.919 --> 00:17:59.379 father who 00:17:59.379 --> 00:17:59.799 loves. 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.079 John 3 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.579 16 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:03.259 For God 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:03.819 so loved 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.359 the world 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:05.839 that he 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.720 gave his 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.439 one and 00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.199 only son 00:18:08.199 --> 00:18:10.419 that whoever 00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:11.179 believes in 00:18:11.179 --> 00:18:11.759 him will not 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.339 perish but 00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:13.079 have everlasting 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:13.720 life. 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:16.900 there are 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:17.460 some modern 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.220 theologians 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:18.660 out there 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.079 who have 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:19.660 caused the 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.299 precious things 00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:20.660 of God 00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:20.960 to be 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.319 trampled 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:21.579 on. 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.460 They 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.120 accuse God 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:24.660 the father 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.440 of what 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:25.880 they call 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:26.339 cosmic 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.100 child abuse 00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:27.720 in sending 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.440 his son 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:28.880 to do 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:29.440 his dirty 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.299 work on 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:30.740 the cross. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.440 And it's 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.140 become a 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:33.819 very popular 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.640 little refrain 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.180 which is 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.000 repeated around 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.460 the world 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.160 and by 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:37.839 numbers of 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:38.779 people who 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.420 stand outside 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.140 the faith. 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:42.100 And it is 00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:43.120 effectively an 00:18:43.120 --> 00:18:43.960 injustice, an 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.800 accusation of 00:18:44.800 --> 00:18:45.840 injustice against 00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:46.280 God. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.340 And that could 00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:47.820 be a sermon 00:18:47.820 --> 00:18:48.380 in itself. 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.360 But think 00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:51.900 about what I'm 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.600 preaching today. 00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:55.060 It is the 00:18:55.060 --> 00:18:56.140 son who 00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:56.860 reveals the 00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:57.180 father. 00:18:58.540 --> 00:18:59.000 And the 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.020 son shows us 00:19:00.020 --> 00:19:00.759 his character 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:01.280 and his 00:19:01.280 --> 00:19:01.700 nature. 00:19:03.060 --> 00:19:03.860 And right 00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:04.540 here in 00:19:04.540 --> 00:19:05.380 John's gospel 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:06.240 the son who 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.960 sees the 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:07.640 bigger picture, 00:19:08.020 --> 00:19:08.680 the son who 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.240 knows the 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:09.620 father, 00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.579 the son 00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.439 insists that 00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:12.179 the father's 00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:12.719 sending of 00:19:12.719 --> 00:19:13.619 him was an 00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:14.379 extraordinarily 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.439 loving act. 00:19:16.439 --> 00:19:16.959 It was 00:19:16.959 --> 00:19:17.659 driven by 00:19:17.659 --> 00:19:18.379 the father's 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:18.979 love for a 00:19:18.979 --> 00:19:19.359 world that 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:19.699 was in 00:19:19.699 --> 00:19:20.679 rebellion against 00:19:20.679 --> 00:19:20.899 him. 00:19:21.199 --> 00:19:21.619 We should 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:22.119 listen to 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:22.479 him. 00:19:27.479 --> 00:19:27.979 The 00:19:27.979 --> 00:19:28.699 scriptures also 00:19:28.699 --> 00:19:29.299 reveal the 00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:29.959 father to be 00:19:29.959 --> 00:19:30.579 supreme and 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.459 also to be 00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:31.819 humble. 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.419 1 Corinthians 00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:34.319 15 where 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.139 Adam read to 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.959 us focuses on 00:19:35.959 --> 00:19:36.699 the impact of 00:19:36.699 --> 00:19:37.500 Jesus Christ 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.179 rising from 00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:38.519 the dead, 00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:38.739 the 00:19:38.739 --> 00:19:39.179 resurrection. 00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:41.239 verse 24, 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:41.659 the end 00:19:41.659 --> 00:19:42.239 will come 00:19:42.239 --> 00:19:43.219 when he 00:19:43.219 --> 00:19:43.819 hands over 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.339 the kingdom 00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:44.839 to God 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.359 the father 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.119 after he 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.899 has destroyed 00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:48.059 all dominion, 00:19:48.199 --> 00:19:48.879 authority and 00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:49.259 power. 00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:50.759 For he must 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.559 reign until he 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.199 has put all 00:19:52.199 --> 00:19:52.719 his enemies 00:19:52.719 --> 00:19:53.259 under his 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.599 feet. 00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:55.239 The last 00:19:55.239 --> 00:19:55.939 enemy to be 00:19:55.939 --> 00:19:56.659 destroyed is 00:19:56.659 --> 00:19:57.599 death for he 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.019 has put 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.799 everything under 00:19:58.799 --> 00:19:59.419 his feet. 00:20:00.139 --> 00:20:00.679 Now when it 00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:01.039 says that 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.619 everything has 00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:02.219 been put under 00:20:02.219 --> 00:20:02.859 his feet it 00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:03.439 is clear that 00:20:03.439 --> 00:20:04.000 that does not 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.639 include God 00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.919 himself who 00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:06.779 put everything 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.659 under Christ. 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.840 Christ and 00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:09.400 when he has 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.040 done this 00:20:10.040 --> 00:20:11.860 then the 00:20:11.860 --> 00:20:12.600 son himself 00:20:12.600 --> 00:20:13.279 will be made 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.019 subject to 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.720 him who put 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.500 everything under 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.180 him so that 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:16.740 God may be 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.400 all in all. 00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:19.980 There is 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:21.440 clearly order in 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.720 relationship between 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.580 the father and 00:20:23.580 --> 00:20:24.060 the son. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:27.519 The father is 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.360 the supreme 00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:29.200 authority. 00:20:30.580 --> 00:20:31.519 The kingdom 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.800 of God is 00:20:32.800 --> 00:20:33.360 his. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:37.000 the son is 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:39.599 his regent and 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:40.319 he conquers 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:40.859 through his 00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:41.319 death and 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.319 resurrection and 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.579 having done his 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:45.000 magnificent work he 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.919 hands the kingdom 00:20:45.919 --> 00:20:46.699 back to his 00:20:46.699 --> 00:20:48.319 father and the 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.699 son is subject 00:20:49.699 --> 00:20:50.799 to him. 00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:55.939 Probably say 00:20:55.939 --> 00:20:56.679 more about this 00:20:56.679 --> 00:20:57.319 next week when 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:58.199 the focus is on 00:20:58.199 --> 00:20:59.079 the son and his 00:20:59.079 --> 00:20:59.459 work. 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:02.000 But to put it 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.100 really simply is 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:03.980 to say that there 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.940 is an authority 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:06.880 structure in the 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.759 Godhead in the 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.440 way that they 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.340 relate to one 00:21:09.340 --> 00:21:09.680 another. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.579 The spirit 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.519 glorifies the 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:13.819 son. 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.940 The son gives 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:17.019 glory and directs 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.900 his attention to 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.840 his unseen 00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:19.740 heavenly father. 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.019 He gives him the 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.700 glory and he 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.440 submits to his 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:22.920 authority. 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.000 authority. 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.440 When I use the 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.480 words authority and 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.279 submission I hope 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.080 that you see that 00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:31.400 they are rooted in 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:32.940 the sheer magnificence 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:34.440 and goodness and 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:36.180 love and power and 00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:37.660 provision and 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:39.380 planning of God 00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.279 the father who is 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.080 revealed to us 00:21:41.080 --> 00:21:41.620 through the Lord 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:42.500 Jesus Christ. 00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.220 The father has a 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.880 certain humility 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.779 about him because he 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:48.080 absolutely delights in 00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:48.680 the work of his 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:48.960 son. 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.180 He exalts him. 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.259 At the end of the 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.160 Bible in Revelation 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:55.079 21 the lamb shares 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:56.039 the throne of God 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.799 with his father. 00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.200 They both sit on 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.140 the throne together. 00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:02.819 The son delights to 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.599 yield to his 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:06.359 heavenly father and 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:08.400 he calls us to do 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.160 the same. 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.559 Now words like 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.160 authority and 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.079 submission don't sit 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.779 well with us. 00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:17.279 Especially in 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.680 Australia. 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.359 We think of 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:21.000 ourselves as 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.700 egalitarian. 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.460 Nobody's better than 00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.120 anybody else. 00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:24.779 We chop down tall 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.319 poppies. 00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:28.720 We try to put people 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.539 in authority in their 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:31.519 place whether it be 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.440 the Prime Minister of 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.019 Australia or the 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.700 Rector of the Church 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:36.120 whoever it is and we 00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:37.340 do not always readily 00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:38.559 submit to their 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:38.980 leadership. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.160 But the scriptures 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.759 show us that there is 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:45.319 order and relationship 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:46.240 in the Godhead. 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:48.220 Father, Son, Holy 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:50.140 Spirit are in a 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.160 relationship with the 00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:52.039 Father where the 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.279 Father is clearly 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:53.880 supreme. 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.740 The mission of the 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.660 Lord Jesus Christ 00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:59.039 reveals to us this 00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.980 unseen Father. 00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:00.960 He helps us to see 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.039 him and to know what 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.519 he's like. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.400 He is supreme over 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:05.680 all. 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.819 He is magnificently 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.220 good. 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.600 The Son delights to 00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:12.640 submit to him and he 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.839 teaches us that our 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.420 highest good is to know 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:17.400 him and to submit to 00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:17.960 him as well. 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.140 Paul's letter to the 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:22.360 Ephesians begins by 00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:23.460 declaring the nature of 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.740 God and it finishes in 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:26.019 chapters 5 and 6 with 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.860 very practical 00:23:26.860 --> 00:23:28.400 understandings or 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:31.660 applications to 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:33.700 relationships in both 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.539 family and work 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:36.480 relationships based on 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.580 who God is. 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.920 So it actually says our 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.060 human relationships 00:23:41.060 --> 00:23:42.360 should be governed by 00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:43.180 the nature of God 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.539 himself. 00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.600 So marriage in 00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:47.960 Ephesians 5, submit to 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.779 one another out of 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.900 reverence for Christ. 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.880 Wives submit to your 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.900 husbands as to the 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:55.019 Lord for the husband is 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.940 the head of the wife as 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.019 Christ is the head of the 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:59.259 church, his body of 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.019 which he is the 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.480 saviour. 00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:03.080 Now as the church 00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:04.340 submits to Christ so 00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:05.779 also wives should submit 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.820 to their husbands in 00:24:06.820 --> 00:24:07.380 everything. 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.519 Husbands love your 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.740 wives just as Christ 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.820 loved the church and 00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:13.900 gave himself up for 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.120 her. 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:16.279 To make her holy, 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:18.859 cleansing her by the 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.759 washing with water 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.979 through the word and 00:24:21.979 --> 00:24:22.839 to present her to 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.000 himself as a radiant 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.359 church without stain or 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:26.239 wrinkle or any other 00:24:26.239 --> 00:24:27.339 blemish but holy and 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:27.819 blameless. 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.979 Mutual submission, a 00:24:32.979 --> 00:24:34.279 wife who delights to 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:36.459 submit to and honour her 00:24:36.459 --> 00:24:36.919 husband. 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.019 husband. 00:24:38.560 --> 00:24:40.720 A husband who generously 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:42.840 and self-sacrificially 00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:44.060 loves his wife with the 00:24:44.060 --> 00:24:45.019 sort of love that is 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:46.820 seen in the Godhead. 00:24:48.060 --> 00:24:49.480 Not self-centred, 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:52.200 selfish and self-obsessed 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:54.920 but giving generously for 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.240 the benefit of the other. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:00.680 Most of us know something 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.960 less than the ideal. 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:06.720 We know where we rub in 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.400 relationship. 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.960 Some of us may carry very 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:12.900 deep and unresolved pain. 00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:16.640 I read a book by John 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.740 Piper in January which 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.400 called this 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:19.540 Impermanent Marriage 00:25:19.540 --> 00:25:20.920 saying that our 00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:22.120 relationships in this life 00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:23.060 are temporary but the 00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:23.980 one we have with God into 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.920 the future is permanent. 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.560 And it helped me to think 00:25:26.560 --> 00:25:27.580 about this passage in a 00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:28.560 fresh way because 00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:31.220 as difficult as life and 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.360 relationships sometimes 00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:33.060 are, 00:25:34.540 --> 00:25:36.000 God has given us the 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.019 privilege in our 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:38.560 relationships of reflecting 00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:39.620 something which is even 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:40.479 greater than us. 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:41.899 Him. 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.699 And so for a believer 00:25:45.699 --> 00:25:48.979 marriage and relationships 00:25:48.979 --> 00:25:50.859 are not firstly about us. 00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:54.579 They are about God and 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.779 they are about God's glory. 00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:59.359 So the husband who lives 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:00.399 with a wife who doesn't 00:26:00.399 --> 00:26:03.219 respect him but who 00:26:03.219 --> 00:26:04.759 continues to love his wife 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:06.879 with abundant love and 00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:08.439 providing generously for her 00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:09.500 in a way that reflects 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.259 the nature of our 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:10.960 heavenly father. 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.839 Or a wife with an 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:18.099 oppressive husband, a 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.359 wife who still seeks to 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.440 honour him in a way which 00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:21.900 reflects the devotion of 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.960 Christ to his heavenly 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:24.880 father in loving the 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:25.279 church. 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.819 Kerry's done that for me in 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.480 my marriage. 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.359 There have been times in 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:34.859 my marriage where when it 00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:37.880 has been all about me or 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:39.320 all about my ministry. 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:42.240 I couldn't see it. 00:26:42.300 --> 00:26:42.720 Kerry could. 00:26:44.260 --> 00:26:45.800 And she has lived with the 00:26:45.800 --> 00:26:47.860 pain and the oppression 00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:50.800 of it and sometimes 00:26:50.800 --> 00:26:52.640 challenging me but fearing 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:53.900 that I would respond with 00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:55.340 my self-protecting and 00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:58.680 self-justifying wrath to 00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.620 close her down. 00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:03.919 And she has loved me with a 00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:05.879 Christ-like love in ways 00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:07.179 which I often did not 00:27:07.179 --> 00:27:10.139 appreciate and even found 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:12.219 hard to believe and receive 00:27:12.219 --> 00:27:13.239 what she was giving. 00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:20.299 You see there is rich blessing 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:23.259 to be had in our marriages if 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.960 we would look to God and the 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.620 nature of the relationship 00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.779 between the father and the 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.039 son. 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:33.539 Men, if we look to the 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:36.500 father we would see how much 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:41.279 he loves, esteems, trusts and 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.500 delights in his son. 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:46.279 He shows us how to 00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:48.220 generously or use authority 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:51.039 with generosity to those that 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:53.059 we have responsibility and 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:54.079 accountability for. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:58.759 Thinking is transferable to the 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.240 workplace. 00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:00.000 I could go there. 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.819 I could go to the Christian 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.279 workplace. 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.339 I could go to the secular 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:03.019 workplace. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:05.420 Ephesians chapter 6, slaves 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:07.000 serving whatever master, serve 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.920 them all good or bad but serving 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:10.220 them as though you were obeying 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.519 Christ and doing it for his 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:11.940 glory. 00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:14.500 Or masters treating slaves in 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.920 such a way, employers treating 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:17.380 slaves to their employees in such 00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:19.160 a way that they reflect that they 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:20.579 know that they are accountable to a 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.339 heavenly master. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:30.400 To grow in knowledge of the 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:34.279 father is to grow in our 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.519 knowledge of ourselves. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:41.720 Who the father is helps us to know 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:44.759 how we are to function in the 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:46.680 difficult crucible of human 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:48.240 relationships. 00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.920 I told you at the beginning my 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:54.480 journey from theism to Christ. 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:57.980 I didn't monotheism to Christ. 00:28:58.200 --> 00:29:00.759 I didn't understand what God was 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.599 doing at the time. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:04.619 I now know that Christ was 00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.980 carrying me on a journey which is 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:07.039 about knowing his father. 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.959 It's an ongoing journey. 00:29:11.219 --> 00:29:13.559 I am secure in Christ, absolutely 00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.519 safe in him. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:17.779 But I am only a minnow in 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:19.539 understanding the depths of the 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:21.439 wisdom of the knowledge of God. 00:29:23.379 --> 00:29:26.699 But one thing I do know, that the 00:29:26.699 --> 00:29:28.579 only way to know the true God and 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:30.379 father is through his son, the 00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:31.360 Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:33.560 --> 00:29:36.340 Knowing the father will be 00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:38.960 transforming of all human 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.660 relationships. 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:44.000 And so a good question for me, and 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.280 I think it's a good question for you 00:29:45.280 --> 00:29:45.720 as well. 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:51.060 In my family, in my roles in my 00:29:51.060 --> 00:29:55.140 workplace, do I reflect the nature 00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:58.720 of my heavenly father and his 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:00.540 relationship with his son? 00:30:02.820 --> 00:30:03.259 Amen.