WEBVTT

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 Matthew 5, verses 33 to 37.

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 And Jesus says this,

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 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old,

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 You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.

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 But I say to you, do not take an oath at all,

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 either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

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 or by earth, for it is His footstool,

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 or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

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 And do not take an oath by your head,

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 for you cannot make one hair white or black.

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 Let what you say be simply yes or no.

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 Anything more than this comes from evil.

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 This is God's holy word.

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 Tonight, we are carrying on with Jesus as He preaches His sermon on the Mount.

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 The last few weeks, we've been saying that Jesus is preaching,

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 He's speaking in a day when people are trying to minimize the reality of human failure.

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 And we're on these six commands that Jesus picks up on.

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 We're on the fourth tonight.

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 And we've said before, our idea maybe, just maybe,

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 is that these are just sets of rules.

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 Rules and more rules.

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 Or on the other side of that,

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 maybe perhaps we obsess over them,

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 and we'll say, you know, I'll be more Christian.

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 I will be more spiritual if I just keep these commands down to the letter.

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 Jesus comes to these two extremes, we've said the last few weeks,

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 evasion and obsession.

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 And He says it's neither.

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 This is just, for you, Christian, He says,

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 this is just about living the life that you have been given.

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 In a world full of disorder,

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 in a world full of, you know, what we said the last few weeks,

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 anger and lust and wrong desires,

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 broken relationships,

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 tonight a lack of trust.

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 In that world, God's ongoing work is to undo that.

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 And He will undo it at the new creation.

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 And you, if you are a Christian,

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 have been called to take part in that work.

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 We are called to support life,

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 to illustrate true, beautiful life,

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 as it's meant to be.

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 And tonight we're thinking especially about integrity

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 and keeping your word and being honest.

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 And with that, again, perhaps we stray towards evasion

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 rather than staying in the middle where Jesus wants us to be.

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 With the last three commands,

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 with the last three sections on anger and wrong desires

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 and having a correct view of marriage and relationships,

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 relationships, and tonight, meaning what we say all of the time.

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 The question is surely, surely we can relax a wee bit.

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 That's the story in the Screwtape Letters,

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 this book that Cody was mentioning earlier.

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 Satan comes and he says,

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 a little bit of bad is okay.

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 You don't need to do as Jesus says all the time.

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 It's attractive.

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 It's appealing.

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 Just a wee bit of bad is okay and you'll get by.

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 If you're a Christian,

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 you have been called to live this restored life.

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 And the only reason you have this life

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 is because Jesus kept his word.

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 I know some people here are Gavin Orland fans.

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 He's an American pastor and theologian

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 and he's got a great podcast.

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 And on his podcast he says,

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 you know, as Christians,

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 we are allowed to have happy thoughts.

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 We have been given happy thoughts.

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 And one happy thought is this,

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 that Christ, before time,

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 before creation,

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 the Son of God,

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 he knew your name.

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 He thought of you specifically

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 and he said he would go and die for you.

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 The plan of the triune God from before time

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 was to save sinful, broken people

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 and give them real, true life.

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 If you're a Christian,

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 you're called to that.

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 And the reason you're called to that

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 is because Christ kept his word.

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 He fulfilled what he said he would

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 and he saved you.

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 So, how do you support life?

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 How do you,

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 how do we fulfill our purpose in the world?

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 We do it by imitating Jesus.

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 We do it by keeping our word

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 and being people of integrity.

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 So, just two points tonight on that.

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 Two points from these verses that we read.

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 Firstly, we are,

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 every single person,

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 we are all in the presence of God

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 all the time.

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 And the second point,

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 how to mean what you say.

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 In light of being in the presence of God,

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 how to mean what you say.

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 So, firstly,

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 we all,

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 every single person,

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 all of us tonight

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 are in the presence of God

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 every single time we speak.

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 Jesus in this section is,

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 he's picking up on a serious issue in his day

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 and we read it there.

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 It seems like quite a foreign issue to us,

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 I think,

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 perhaps more so than the last three commands.

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 We don't usually swear oaths

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 or make vows

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 apart from in court

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 or at our wedding.

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 It's a pretty foreign idea.

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 Jesus is speaking in a day

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 when it's a big deal

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 and it's a big problem,

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 he says.

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 So, in verse 33,

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 he follows the same pattern

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 that we've seen the last few weeks.

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 You have heard it said,

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 he says,

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 you shall not swear falsely

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 but shall perform to the Lord

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 what you have sworn.

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 But I say to you,

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 do not take an oath at all.

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 Jesus is again,

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 for the fourth time in a row,

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 correcting this idea

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 that we can minimize

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 the reality of our human failure.

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 He tells him,

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 you know,

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 you think you can

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 but you can't.

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 You've been trying to make it

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 really difficult

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 to mess up.

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 You say you're going to take oaths,

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 well, I'm telling you,

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 don't take any at all.

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 Why?

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 What's the problem

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 with taking oaths?

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 What's the point Jesus is making?

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 The practice of taking oaths properly,

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 according to the Pharisees,

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 is not built around any one command,

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 but it's a pulling together

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 of loads of different commands

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 in the Old Testament,

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 and you don't need to turn to them,

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 but I'll read just two or three.

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 Leviticus 19,

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 you shall not swear by my name falsely

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 and so profane the name of your God.

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 Numbers 30, verse 2,

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 If a man vows a vow to the Lord

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 or swears an oath to bind himself

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 by a pledge,

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 he shall not break his word.

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 Ecclesiastes 5,

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 When you vow a vow to God,

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 do not delay paying it.

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 There are so many more,

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 but the one common feature

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 that you'll have heard

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 in each of these commands

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 is swearing an oath

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 in the name of the Lord.

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 You make a vow to God,

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 and Jesus is summarizing,

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 in this verse,

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 Jesus is summarizing

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 their interpretation.

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 Of the commands,

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 when he says,

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 You shall perform to the Lord

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 what you have sworn.

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 They're meant to be a sign

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 that your word is binding.

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 Vows were a sign

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 that in your heart

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 you really, really meant

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 what you said.

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 Swearing was a sign

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 that you were going to,

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 without question,

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 tell the truth

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 and stick to it.

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 And what did the Pharisees do?

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 They took all of these commands

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 and they said,

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 Well, only if you swear

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 in the name of the Lord

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 is your word binding.

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 Only if you use his name

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 when you say something

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 are you going to have

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 to follow through on that.

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 Documents and tracks,

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 loads and loads

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 have been found

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 outside of the Bible

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 from the time

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 that Jesus was speaking in.

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 And there are these reports

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 that oath-taking

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 was a part,

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 it was a big part

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 of day-to-day life.

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 So you could take an oath

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 publicly in front of many people,

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 you could take an oath

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 or make a vow privately

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 with just one person.

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 Swearing was the same

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 and books and tracks,

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 pages and pages

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 were written

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 by these religious rulers

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 to offer people loopholes

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 when they made these vows.

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 Formulas,

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 sets of rules

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 were created

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 by taking Leviticus 19

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 and Numbers 30

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 and saying that,

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 you know,

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 there are things

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 that you can say

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 that will mean

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 you don't really

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 have to keep your word.

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 You don't really

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 have to follow through on this.

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 If you follow this chart

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 and you read the verses there,

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 if you swear by heaven

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 or by Jerusalem

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 or by the hairs on your head,

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 then you're fine.

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 You don't have to keep your word.

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 Just as long

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 as you're not swearing

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 in the name of the Lord,

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 you don't have to

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 keep your word.

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 We see the problem.

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 I think God is identifying

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 a problem of the heart

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 in the Old Testament

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 when he gives these commands.

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 He says, you know,

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 people are deceitful.

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 But what do the Pharisees say?

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 What do they say?

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 We can work around it.

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 If we are deceitful

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 and that's an issue,

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 we can work around it.

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 Oaths are meant

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 to promote truthfulness.

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 Let's use them

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 to give us an opportunity

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 not to be truthful.

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 And so,

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 Jesus says,

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 if you swear

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 in the name of the Lord

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 and that's the only time

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 you're going to tell the truth,

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 don't swear an oath at all.

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 Don't make a vow at all.

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 That's Jesus' point.

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 Don't take them at all.

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 Why?

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 Why not take oaths?

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 You are always,

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 Jesus is saying,

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 in the presence of God,

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 whether you say it or not.

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 Heaven is his throne.

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 The earth is his footstool.

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 Jerusalem is the city of the king.

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 Even your head is not your own.

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 It's God who changes

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 one black and one gray.

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 He does that.

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 From the most public speech

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 to a relaxed conversation,

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 to the most careful language,

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 to the most careless,

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 flippant language

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 that someone really believes.

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 He hears it all.

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 You are always,

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 Jesus is saying to them,

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 in the presence of God

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 when you speak.

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 And every word you speak

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 is before him.

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 By his name

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 or by the hairs on your head,

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 you are speaking

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 before God.

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 And again,

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 we don't take oaths.

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 We don't make vows daily.

00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:02.100
 And we read these words

00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:03.780
 that Jesus is saying

00:11:03.780 --> 00:11:04.200
 and we think

00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:05.620
 that's a detached problem.

00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:07.820
 That's a foreign problem to us.

00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.020
 In verses 34 to 36,

00:11:10.140 --> 00:11:10.740
 Jesus is saying,

00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:10.879
 no,

00:11:10.920 --> 00:11:11.600
 this is a problem

00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:12.860
 for everyone.

00:11:13.780 --> 00:11:14.540
 This is a problem

00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:15.000
 for the heart,

00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:15.840
 for every person.

00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:18.140
 You might not swear

00:11:18.140 --> 00:11:19.780
 by heaven

00:11:19.780 --> 00:11:21.340
 or by your head,

00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.620
 but God hears

00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.460
 every word you say.

00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:27.900
 Do we speak well?

00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:29.879
 Do we mean everything we say?

00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:31.699
 We are always

00:11:31.699 --> 00:11:32.860
 in the presence of God.

00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:36.059
 Every word is before him.

00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:38.079
 We can put it another way.

00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:40.019
 This week,

00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:41.159
 the next seven days,

00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:42.959
 when you think about

00:11:42.959 --> 00:11:43.299
 the people

00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:44.120
 that you're going to meet with

00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:45.139
 and the things

00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:46.519
 that you'll probably say to them,

00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:49.539
 you will not be able

00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:50.139
 to measure

00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:51.539
 the truthfulness

00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:52.220
 of your words.

00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:54.759
 There are no levels

00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.579
 to truthfulness,

00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:57.000
 one preacher says.

00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.120
 whether you

00:11:58.120 --> 00:11:59.399
 really,

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.519
 really mean something

00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:03.220
 or you just say it flippantly

00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:05.299
 and the person believes you,

00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:06.039
 there is no difference.

00:12:06.179 --> 00:12:06.259
 You know,

00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:07.059
 you could be in a court,

00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:08.840
 you could be swearing

00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:09.860
 that you'll tell the truth.

00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:11.100
 You can say to your friend,

00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:11.500
 yes,

00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:12.840
 I'll be there.

00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:15.019
 Do you tell the truth

00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:16.340
 about the most serious things

00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:17.799
 and relax a bit

00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:20.399
 on gray areas?

00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:22.259
 Do you tell

00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.940
 your friend

00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:25.000
 or your flatmate

00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.559
 or your husband

00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:27.240
 or your wife

00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:27.919
 or your child

00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:28.679
 or your parents

00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:30.039
 that you'll do something

00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:30.519
 for them,

00:12:30.820 --> 00:12:31.600
 that you'll buy them

00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:32.580
 this gift

00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:34.220
 or whatever it might be

00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:35.279
 and never do it?

00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:38.059
 Do you speak

00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:38.700
 with people

00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:40.179
 in confidentiality

00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:41.500
 and you know

00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:42.139
 it's confidential

00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:42.980
 and they ask you

00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:43.759
 not to say anything

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.820
 and yet you go out

00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:46.980
 and speak about it

00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:47.659
 anyway?

00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:50.759
 Jesus says

00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:51.899
 there are no levels

00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:53.000
 to integrity.

00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:54.100
 There is no level

00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:55.219
 whatsoever to truthfulness.

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.419
 You can't swear

00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:57.980
 by the Lord

00:12:57.980 --> 00:12:58.600
 for one thing

00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.100
 and your head

00:12:59.100 --> 00:12:59.519
 for another.

00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:01.039
 It's not at all

00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:02.120
 about sticking to your word

00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:02.959
 in one sense

00:13:02.959 --> 00:13:04.079
 and not in another.

00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:06.259
 No,

00:13:06.319 --> 00:13:07.159
 everything you say

00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:08.179
 is before God.

00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:08.939
 Everything you say

00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:10.779
 is by His name.

00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:14.339
 you can think

00:13:14.339 --> 00:13:16.399
 about any crime

00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.740
 or police drama

00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.759
 that you watch on TV

00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:19.579
 or Netflix

00:13:19.579 --> 00:13:20.399
 or wherever it is

00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:22.000
 and in almost all of them

00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.339
 one key character

00:13:23.339 --> 00:13:25.240
 has all the vital information

00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:26.480
 about this case

00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:27.319
 that's being investigated

00:13:27.319 --> 00:13:28.639
 and they say

00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:28.939
 yes,

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.039
 I will tell you the truth

00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:31.019
 as long as I'm not

00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:31.779
 on the record

00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:33.879
 and so they meet

00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:35.639
 in some dim,

00:13:35.939 --> 00:13:37.100
 shady lit street

00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:38.299
 or they go to the station

00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:39.620
 and the cameras

00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:40.299
 are turned off

00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:42.359
 and maybe whatever

00:13:42.359 --> 00:13:43.279
 is said is true

00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:43.859
 in the program

00:13:43.859 --> 00:13:46.059
 but it's not

00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:46.759
 a recorded truth.

00:13:46.859 --> 00:13:47.659
 It's not under oath

00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.359
 and so,

00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.979
 you know,

00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:50.500
 it usually means

00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.620
 you get five more episodes

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.259
 out of this show

00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:52.799
 because the police

00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:54.000
 have still got to prove it anyway.

00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.979
 Jesus is making the point

00:13:55.979 --> 00:13:56.579
 that,

00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:57.599
 you know,

00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:58.519
 we can look at it

00:13:58.519 --> 00:13:59.199
 in the same way.

00:14:01.359 --> 00:14:02.620
 Jesus is making the point

00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.399
 that

00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:07.519
 recorded or not recorded truth,

00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.719
 the meaningfulness

00:14:08.719 --> 00:14:09.579
 of your words

00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:10.420
 he is saying

00:14:10.420 --> 00:14:12.220
 does not depend

00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:13.060
 on the situation.

00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:14.440
 Your words

00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:15.379
 are always meaningful.

00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:17.720
 Your words

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:18.460
 outside the court

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.280
 are as real

00:14:19.280 --> 00:14:20.360
 and as binding

00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.040
 as your words

00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:21.580
 in the court.

00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:22.700
 The Pharisees,

00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:23.800
 you know,

00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:24.740
 they can't use formulas

00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:25.560
 to escape that

00:14:25.560 --> 00:14:27.960
 and nor can we.

00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.160
 One more thing here

00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:30.680
 and we'll go on

00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:31.379
 to the last point.

00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.139
 Words are a big deal.

00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:35.680
 Jesus makes that point

00:14:35.680 --> 00:14:36.560
 over and over

00:14:36.560 --> 00:14:37.180
 and over again

00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:38.299
 in Matthew

00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:39.479
 and in the other Gospels.

00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:40.699
 Paul and James

00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:42.439
 constantly bring us

00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:42.979
 back to that

00:14:42.979 --> 00:14:44.099
 in their letters as well.

00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:45.439
 Words are a big deal

00:14:45.439 --> 00:14:45.739
 and

00:14:45.739 --> 00:14:48.339
 you think,

00:14:48.719 --> 00:14:48.919
 okay,

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.339
 you think,

00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:50.779
 you look at the news

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.620
 and you think

00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:54.019
 on an international level

00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:56.000
 there is constant scrutiny

00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:57.699
 between countries

00:14:57.699 --> 00:14:59.120
 or between a leader

00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.459
 and his country

00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:01.099
 or his people

00:15:01.099 --> 00:15:02.339
 today

00:15:02.339 --> 00:15:03.339
 and throughout history.

00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:05.600
 bring that down

00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.540
 to a personal level.

00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:08.379
 Bring that down

00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:09.280
 to you and your sibling

00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:10.259
 or your parents

00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:11.399
 or your family

00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:12.080
 or social group.

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.480
 Where does tension

00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.060
 come from?

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:18.160
 Does it come from

00:15:18.160 --> 00:15:18.960
 your words

00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.620
 to one another?

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.560
 Promises maybe

00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.399
 that you don't keep?

00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.320
 Good things

00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:25.139
 that you speak about

00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:26.680
 but never follow up on?

00:15:26.920 --> 00:15:27.800
 Not being honest?

00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:28.400
 Why?

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.879
 Why is there such a breakdown

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:31.939
 on a social

00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:33.419
 and an international scale?

00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:35.659
 Because words

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:36.379
 are important.

00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:37.000
 Words

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.860
 are deep

00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:39.179
 and we don't

00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:40.240
 always mean what we say.

00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.419
 We hide the truth

00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:43.199
 and we're dishonest.

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.100
 Jesus says,

00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:45.539
 don't

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.939
 treat your words lightly.

00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.319
 There is no level

00:15:48.319 --> 00:15:49.360
 to integrity.

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:50.399
 You are always

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.079
 before God.

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.159
 You are constantly

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:55.139
 in his presence

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.120
 and everything you say

00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:56.860
 is before him.

00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:59.180
 everything you say

00:15:59.180 --> 00:16:01.539
 leads to joy

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:03.159
 or leads to breakdown

00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:04.379
 in your relationships.

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:06.639
 Do we mean

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.600
 what we say?

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.480
 Will we be people

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.039
 of honesty?

00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:10.620
 He's asking.

00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.320
 Will we be people

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.580
 of integrity

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.940
 with his kingdom life

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:16.399
 that we've been given?

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:19.840
 Secondly then,

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:21.180
 in light of that,

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.899
 in light of being

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:22.720
 in God's presence

00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.340
 all the time,

00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:24.779
 how to mean

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.300
 what we say?

00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.759
 Jesus doesn't

00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.859
 complicate it

00:16:27.859 --> 00:16:28.479
 at all

00:16:28.479 --> 00:16:29.359
 in this passage.

00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.019
 Let what you say

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:32.179
 be simply yes

00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:33.000
 or no.

00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:34.059
 Anything more than this

00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:35.120
 comes from evil.

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.059
 Mean what you say,

00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:39.519
 Jesus says.

00:16:40.099 --> 00:16:41.279
 You don't need oaths.

00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:42.939
 Just think about

00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:43.740
 what you're going to say

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:45.120
 and mean it.

00:16:45.479 --> 00:16:46.019
 It's probably

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:47.359
 helpful

00:16:47.359 --> 00:16:48.240
 at this point

00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.599
 to give a couple

00:16:49.599 --> 00:16:50.599
 of situations

00:16:50.599 --> 00:16:51.299
 where we don't

00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:52.399
 follow up on this.

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.699
 There are quite a lot

00:16:53.699 --> 00:16:55.419
 but just a couple.

00:16:58.419 --> 00:16:59.259
 There are

00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:00.899
 circumstances

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.480
 where you can't

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:02.939
 keep your word.

00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:03.319
 You know,

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.180
 emergencies come,

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.859
 things happen

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:06.900
 and you can't

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.440
 follow through

00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.559
 on what you're

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.539
 saying you'll do.

00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:11.940
 Other factors

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.859
 impact on what

00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:13.359
 you've said.

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.180
 Altogether,

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.240
 apart from the

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.379
 99% of the time

00:17:17.379 --> 00:17:17.920
 that you can keep

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.379
 your word,

00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.180
 there are genuine

00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:20.879
 reasons why we

00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:21.560
 can't follow through.

00:17:22.320 --> 00:17:23.140
 And we know that.

00:17:23.840 --> 00:17:24.540
 Another thing,

00:17:26.020 --> 00:17:27.600
 we take oaths

00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:28.560
 in the courtroom.

00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:31.220
 And this has

00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.020
 historically been

00:17:32.020 --> 00:17:33.520
 where a lot

00:17:33.520 --> 00:17:33.920
 of Christians

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.700
 come and they say,

00:17:34.780 --> 00:17:34.840
 well,

00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.700
 Jesus says we

00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:36.480
 can't take oaths

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.300
 so we're not

00:17:37.300 --> 00:17:37.680
 going to be in

00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.020
 the court.

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.960
 When Jesus says

00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.660
 take no oaths

00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.860
 and simply let

00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:45.740
 your yes be yes

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.520
 and your no be no,

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.200
 he's not saying

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.240
 you can't take oaths

00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:49.700
 at all.

00:17:49.820 --> 00:17:50.640
 The whole reason

00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.460
 oaths exist is

00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:54.360
 because humans

00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:54.920
 are prone to

00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:55.540
 dishonesty

00:17:55.540 --> 00:17:58.140
 and the world

00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:58.580
 knows it.

00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.360
 So, you know,

00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:00.020
 telling the truth,

00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:01.020
 telling the truth

00:18:01.020 --> 00:18:01.600
 in the court

00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:02.960
 is a serious

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:03.340
 issue.

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:04.860
 And unfortunately,

00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:05.240
 you know,

00:18:05.300 --> 00:18:06.100
 you can't just

00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:06.740
 walk into the

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.580
 court and say,

00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:08.860
 can you just

00:18:08.860 --> 00:18:09.300
 believe me?

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:09.800
 Here, I'm a

00:18:09.800 --> 00:18:10.080
 Christian.

00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:10.520
 You know,

00:18:10.540 --> 00:18:10.800
 I'm going to

00:18:10.800 --> 00:18:11.300
 tell my truth

00:18:11.300 --> 00:18:12.160
 all the time.

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.800
 No, you shouldn't

00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:14.420
 need an oath

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.020
 as a Christian,

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:17.100
 but the external

00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:18.140
 world asks that

00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:18.620
 you would take

00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:18.820
 one.

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.399
 He's only

00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:19.879
 telling you,

00:18:19.919 --> 00:18:20.639
 Jesus is only

00:18:20.639 --> 00:18:21.240
 telling you

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.960
 not to use

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.200
 them for

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.599
 loopholes.

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.839
 It's simply

00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.639
 a case of

00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:27.259
 being truthful

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.079
 or not.

00:18:28.379 --> 00:18:28.740
 There are many

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.019
 more,

00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.039
 but Jesus'

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.059
 point is

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:34.000
 not to

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.399
 throw them

00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:34.619
 out.

00:18:35.419 --> 00:18:35.659
 You know,

00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.319
 he takes one

00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:37.839
 before he dies.

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.539
 Paul takes

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.200
 them in his

00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:39.559
 letters.

00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.000
 Jesus doesn't

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.359
 throw them

00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:41.759
 out, but he

00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.159
 just says,

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:42.419
 you're meant

00:18:42.419 --> 00:18:43.000
 to be honest

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.659
 all the time,

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:46.599
 no matter who

00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:47.059
 you're speaking

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:47.259
 to.

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:47.740
 Okay,

00:18:47.919 --> 00:18:48.559
 apart from

00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:48.799
 that,

00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:49.819
 apart from

00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:50.059
 that,

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.200
 Jesus says,

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.039
 let your

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:52.539
 yes be

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:52.960
 yes and

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.319
 your no be

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:53.519
 no.

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:55.599
 Are you

00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:57.099
 speaking to

00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:57.619
 your children

00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.299
 and you

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.039
 promise them

00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.419
 something?

00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:02.980
 When you

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:04.099
 say yes

00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:05.500
 and you are

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.200
 completely within

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.879
 your power to

00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:07.859
 follow through

00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:08.220
 in that,

00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.259
 are you

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:10.859
 serious about

00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.039
 that,

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.759
 Jesus asks.

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:13.799
 You know,

00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.279
 when you phone

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:16.119
 into work sick,

00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:17.500
 and you

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:17.779
 say you

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.159
 can't come

00:19:18.159 --> 00:19:18.379
 in,

00:19:18.939 --> 00:19:19.399
 is that

00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:19.839
 really a

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.139
 yes?

00:19:21.479 --> 00:19:22.059
 Or are you

00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:22.439
 fit for

00:19:22.439 --> 00:19:23.079
 everything else

00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.959
 in the day?

00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:25.759
 When you

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.500
 say to

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:27.759
 someone,

00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:28.139
 I'll be

00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:28.579
 praying for

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:28.799
 you,

00:19:29.979 --> 00:19:30.879
 will you

00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:31.299
 be praying

00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:31.639
 for them?

00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.579
 What's the

00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:34.959
 difference?

00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:35.599
 Your child,

00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.339
 your boss,

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.059
 your friend

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.599
 in church,

00:19:38.199 --> 00:19:38.519
 you know,

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:38.879
 it feels

00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:39.379
 like keeping

00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:39.759
 your word

00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:40.279
 has more

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:40.639
 or less

00:19:40.639 --> 00:19:41.959
 impact in

00:19:41.959 --> 00:19:42.299
 each of

00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.299
 these situations.

00:19:43.699 --> 00:19:43.859
 No,

00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:44.059
 no,

00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.639
 Jesus says,

00:19:44.699 --> 00:19:45.019
 there are

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:45.819
 no levels,

00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.339
 there are

00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:46.839
 no levels

00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:47.039
 to

00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:47.479
 integrity.

00:19:50.219 --> 00:19:50.659
 There's

00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:51.079
 no point

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.699
 in swearing

00:19:51.699 --> 00:19:52.339
 by heaven

00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:52.959
 or by the

00:19:52.959 --> 00:19:53.459
 earth or

00:19:53.459 --> 00:19:53.839
 Jerusalem

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.699
 or your

00:19:54.699 --> 00:19:55.000
 head.

00:19:55.979 --> 00:19:56.719
 Your words

00:19:56.719 --> 00:19:57.119
 are always

00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:57.619
 serious.

00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.539
 It doesn't

00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:00.959
 matter who

00:20:00.959 --> 00:20:01.379
 you're speaking

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:01.599
 to.

00:20:01.699 --> 00:20:02.059
 All your

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:03.239
 words are

00:20:03.239 --> 00:20:03.919
 before God.

00:20:04.179 --> 00:20:04.679
 They're all

00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:05.059
 binding,

00:20:05.179 --> 00:20:05.479
 like your

00:20:05.479 --> 00:20:05.779
 yes,

00:20:05.859 --> 00:20:06.259
 be yes,

00:20:06.459 --> 00:20:06.859
 and your

00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:07.219
 no,

00:20:07.719 --> 00:20:08.479
 be no,

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:08.979
 he says.

00:20:10.419 --> 00:20:10.839
 Be a

00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.619
 person of

00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:11.879
 truth,

00:20:11.979 --> 00:20:12.179
 be a

00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:13.299
 person of

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.899
 integrity,

00:20:14.179 --> 00:20:14.799
 and fulfill

00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.819
 your purpose

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.220
 as a

00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:16.619
 Christian

00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:18.220
 in the

00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:18.539
 world.

00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:21.180
 One more

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:21.460
 thing,

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:21.839
 and then we

00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.339
 can finish

00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:23.740
 more positively,

00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:24.419
 I think.

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:26.480
 To mean what

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:26.899
 you say,

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:27.740
 to speak with

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.159
 integrity,

00:20:28.399 --> 00:20:29.659
 to be upright

00:20:29.659 --> 00:20:30.579
 and honest

00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.919
 about what

00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:32.200
 you're going

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:32.619
 to do.

00:20:33.919 --> 00:20:34.619
 It's about

00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:35.399
 bringing joy

00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:36.919
 into other

00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:37.639
 people's

00:20:37.639 --> 00:20:38.379
 lives.

00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:41.120
 joy and

00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:41.760
 not hurt

00:20:41.760 --> 00:20:42.260
 into your

00:20:42.260 --> 00:20:42.880
 relationships.

00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:44.440
 In Hebrews

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:44.860
 6,

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.380
 the writer,

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.660
 he's reminding

00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.280
 us what God

00:20:47.280 --> 00:20:47.820
 has promised

00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:48.420
 to Abraham,

00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.880
 and what he's

00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.280
 promised to

00:20:52.280 --> 00:20:52.760
 his offspring,

00:20:53.260 --> 00:20:53.800
 that they

00:20:53.800 --> 00:20:54.080
 would be

00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:54.440
 blessed.

00:20:55.080 --> 00:20:55.320
 And it

00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:55.520
 says,

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:56.360
 God swore

00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:56.800
 this would

00:20:56.800 --> 00:20:57.120
 happen.

00:20:58.800 --> 00:20:59.280
 By

00:20:59.280 --> 00:20:59.920
 myself,

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.360
 I have

00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:00.700
 sworn,

00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:01.280
 God says.

00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.260
 And,

00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:02.640
 you know,

00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.060
 we've said

00:21:03.060 --> 00:21:03.580
 that taking

00:21:03.580 --> 00:21:04.020
 an oath,

00:21:05.060 --> 00:21:05.620
 saying I

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:06.200
 promise,

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:08.120
 making a

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:09.039
 vow is a

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.720
 signal that

00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.460
 us humans

00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.319
 aren't always

00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:12.519
 good at

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.140
 keeping our

00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:13.420
 word.

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:14.740
 And so,

00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:15.059
 if God

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.740
 cannot lie,

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.380
 why swear?

00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:18.779
 Why swear by

00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.080
 his own

00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:19.299
 name?

00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:23.900
 When we

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:24.259
 swear,

00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:25.640
 you know,

00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.039
 we're saying

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:26.299
 that we're

00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.840
 dishonest.

00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.100
 We're saying

00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:29.980
 that our

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.400
 words are

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:30.660
 weak.

00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:31.460
 When God

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:31.960
 swears,

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:33.279
 he's saying

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:33.960
 that our

00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.500
 faith is

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:34.720
 weak,

00:21:34.840 --> 00:21:35.200
 not his

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.539
 words,

00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:35.960
 but our

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.299
 faith.

00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:38.319
 And in

00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.180
 pursuit of

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.640
 our

00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:40.100
 encouragement

00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:41.700
 and joy,

00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:42.740
 even this

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.000
 week,

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.240
 in pursuit

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.500
 of building

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.100
 you up in

00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:46.620
 your faith,

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.579
 in pursuit

00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.519
 of our

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.079
 hope that

00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:52.220
 we will one

00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:52.680
 day be with

00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:53.240
 him forever

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:53.880
 and ever,

00:21:54.360 --> 00:21:54.840
 God says,

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.400
 I swear,

00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:56.900
 I swear that

00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.380
 will happen.

00:21:59.160 --> 00:21:59.980
 He knows

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.579
 our faith is

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:00.799
 weak,

00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.460
 and he says,

00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:03.019
 you can

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.880
 really believe

00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:04.440
 the promises

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:04.920
 that I've

00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.200
 made.

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:08.180
 to all of

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:08.640
 Abraham's

00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.039
 descendants,

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.779
 to us,

00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:10.140
 to the

00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.539
 church,

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.000
 you can

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.779
 really believe

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.400
 these promises.

00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:15.100
 He keeps

00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.519
 his word,

00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.180
 he swears,

00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.680
 God means

00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.400
 what he says

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:18.799
 to us.

00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.180
 We mentioned

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.700
 at the start

00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.640
 this covenant

00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:24.279
 that was made

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.519
 by the triune

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.140
 God before

00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:26.740
 time,

00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.579
 the covenant

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.160
 of redemption

00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.500
 has been called.

00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.920
 God promised

00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.840
 before time

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:34.359
 to save

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.059
 his creation

00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.699
 and the

00:22:35.699 --> 00:22:36.139
 people who

00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:36.639
 would reject

00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:36.839
 him.

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:37.919
 In John

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:38.279
 10,

00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.740
 Jesus speaks

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.199
 about this

00:22:40.199 --> 00:22:41.279
 charge that's

00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:41.619
 been given

00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.039
 to him by

00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.559
 the Father

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:44.199
 to die

00:22:44.199 --> 00:22:44.779
 and rise

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.099
 again.

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.439
 It was an

00:22:46.439 --> 00:22:46.759
 agreement.

00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.599
 It was a

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.099
 word that

00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:49.059
 Jesus kept.

00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:50.319
 Tonight,

00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:52.659
 if you are

00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:54.439
 wondering why

00:22:54.439 --> 00:22:55.299
 telling the

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.439
 truth and

00:22:56.439 --> 00:22:56.899
 being people

00:22:56.899 --> 00:22:57.459
 of integrity

00:22:57.459 --> 00:22:58.319
 is such a

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:58.759
 big deal,

00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:00.819
 if you are

00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.119
 not a

00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:01.440
 Christian

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.240
 and you

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.359
 wonder why

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:03.980
 honesty is

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.680
 so important,

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:06.879
 it was

00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:08.160
 because of

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:08.779
 the integrity

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:10.079
 of Jesus.

00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.460
 It was

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:10.980
 because of

00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.539
 him keeping

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.240
 his word

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:15.799
 and leaving

00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.480
 his perfect

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.279
 home and

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:17.839
 living out

00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.420
 this life

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.720
 of tears

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.720
 and loss

00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:21.940
 and mocking

00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.960
 and abandonment

00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.480
 and death.

00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.299
 It was because

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.599
 of that.

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.099
 It was because

00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:25.619
 he kept

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.220
 his word

00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:28.600
 that you

00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:28.960
 can be

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.319
 saved.

00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:32.299
 Knowing

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:32.740
 God,

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.779
 knowing God

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.700
 tonight and

00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.600
 being forgiven

00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:39.620
 for every

00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:40.259
 broken word

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:40.700
 or promise

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.279
 you've made,

00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.720
 having real

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.440
 joy in

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.019
 your soul

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:45.720
 is possible

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.440
 because Jesus

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:46.960
 kept his

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.240
 word.

00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.120
 Truth,

00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.299
 honesty,

00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:52.240
 integrity

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:54.579
 is at

00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.120
 the heart

00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:55.940
 of God's

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.440
 relationship

00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:56.940
 with man.

00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.559
 Will you

00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.039
 believe in

00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.200
 him?

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.039
 Will you

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.079
 trust him?

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:02.720
 And if you

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.180
 have done,

00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:03.779
 do you

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:05.299
 believe tonight

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:05.799
 if you're a

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.259
 Christian that

00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:07.460
 God keeps

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.079
 his promises

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.759
 every single

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.039
 day?

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.920
 I wasn't

00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:12.299
 sure if I

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.680
 had time

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:13.940
 at this

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.140
 point,

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:14.440
 but this

00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.220
 afternoon I

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.819
 just looked

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.240
 at a list

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.519
 of all

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:16.799
 God's

00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.180
 promises,

00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:17.700
 or not all

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:17.900
 of them,

00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:18.240
 but many

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.539
 of them

00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.160
 in the

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:19.380
 Bible.

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:19.980
 And there

00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.240
 are so

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:20.500
 many.

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.180
 I'm just

00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:21.539
 going to

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.099
 list a

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:22.559
 few here

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.579
 that were

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.059
 helpful to

00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:24.839
 me as I

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.079
 look to

00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:25.359
 this.

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.180
 1 John

00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:27.819
 1,

00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:28.920
 verse 9,

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.279
 if we

00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.140
 confess our

00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:30.480
 sins,

00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.119
 John says,

00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:32.940
 he is

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.720
 faithful and

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.180
 just to

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:34.619
 forgive us

00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:35.160
 our sins

00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:35.579
 and to

00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.220
 cleanse us

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.079
 from all

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.880
 unrighteousness.

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.359
 This week,

00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.619
 think about

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.299
 Matthew 11,

00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.140
 Jesus'

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:44.599
 words,

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.119
 come to

00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:45.380
 me,

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.420
 all who

00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:46.980
 labor and

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.359
 are heavy

00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:47.680
 laden,

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.279
 and I

00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:48.740
 will give

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.299
 you rest.

00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.859
 Take my

00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.419
 yoke upon

00:24:51.419 --> 00:24:51.759
 you and

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.200
 learn from

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.460
 me,

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.019
 for I

00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.619
 am gentle

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.639
 and lowly

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.039
 in heart,

00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:55.460
 and you

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.839
 will find

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:57.259
 rest for

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.839
 your souls.

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.220
 Matthew

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:01.859
 11,

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.319
 verse 9,

00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:03.700
 if you

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.039
 then,

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.039
 though you

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.500
 are evil,

00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:05.859
 know how

00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:06.180
 to give

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.700
 good gifts

00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.019
 to your

00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.299
 children,

00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:07.960
 how much

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:09.180
 more will

00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:09.700
 the Father

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.259
 in heaven

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.919
 give good

00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.579
 gifts to

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.299
 those who

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:12.779
 ask him?

00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.259
 Revelation

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:16.220
 21,

00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:16.819
 verse 4,

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.819
 one day,

00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:18.579
 one day,

00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.359
 he will

00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:20.139
 wipe away

00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:20.759
 every tear

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.139
 from their

00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.619
 eyes,

00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.359
 and death

00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:22.759
 shall be

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.240
 no more.

00:25:24.419 --> 00:25:24.699
 Neither

00:25:24.699 --> 00:25:25.279
 shall there

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.819
 be mourning,

00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.679
 nor crying,

00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.759
 nor pain

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.179
 anymore,

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.579
 for the

00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.339
 former things

00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.240
 have passed

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.759
 away.

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.799
 2 Corinthians

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.299
 1,

00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.679
 20,

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.279
 for all

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.339
 the promises

00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:35.899
 of God

00:25:35.899 --> 00:25:36.379
 find their

00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:37.679
 yes in

00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:38.079
 Christ.

00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.119
 God

00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:42.220
 pursues

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.599
 your

00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.240
 encouragement

00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:44.599
 and your

00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:46.379
 joy and

00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:47.240
 faith every

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.539
 week.

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:47.900
 He will

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.240
 do it

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.779
 this week

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:50.299
 by keeping

00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:50.779
 his word.

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.519
 He brings

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.059
 lost people

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.799
 home and

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.180
 he keeps

00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:56.539
 them there.

00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:57.660
 He means

00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.039
 what he

00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.359
 says.

00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.680
 His promises

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.319
 are all

00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.980
 yes in

00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.420
 Christ.

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.720
 A few

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.640
 things just

00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:05.900
 to think

00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.220
 about this

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.900
 week and

00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.120
 we'll be

00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:07.359
 done.

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:08.920
 Just four

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:11.779
 things you

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.120
 can ask

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.519
 yourself.

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.500
 Do you

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.799
 treat your

00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:17.819
 words more

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.299
 or less

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:18.739
 seriously

00:26:18.739 --> 00:26:20.019
 depending on

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.319
 who you're

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.819
 talking to

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:22.079
 or what

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.699
 the situation

00:26:22.699 --> 00:26:23.099
 is?

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:23.899
 Is your

00:26:23.899 --> 00:26:24.659
 speech

00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:26.539
 flippant

00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.479
 or idle

00:26:27.479 --> 00:26:29.139
 in some

00:26:29.139 --> 00:26:29.839
 place and

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.699
 more serious

00:26:30.699 --> 00:26:31.699
 with someone

00:26:31.699 --> 00:26:32.079
 else?

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.719
 Do you

00:26:35.719 --> 00:26:36.519
 make the

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:38.479
 effort to

00:26:38.479 --> 00:26:39.719
 really mean

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.019
 what you

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.259
 say?

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.740
 If you

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.120
 say you'll

00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:43.579
 do something

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:43.960
 for your

00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.500
 boss or

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.059
 your friends

00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:45.360
 or your

00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:45.680
 children,

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.940
 will you?

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.220
 If someone

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:49.799
 asks you to

00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.079
 pray for

00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.240
 them,

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.319
 will you?

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.539
 Is your

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.640
 yes a yes

00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.200
 and no

00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:55.880
 no?

00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.180
 Will you

00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.940
 remember that

00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:00.279
 keeping your

00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:01.660
 word and

00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.460
 being honest

00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:04.120
 and being

00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:04.740
 a person

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.539
 of integrity

00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:07.360
 is about

00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.779
 building up

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.240
 joy in

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.759
 other people's

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.140
 lives?

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.880
 No matter

00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:16.220
 how young

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:16.920
 or old.

00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:17.559
 Will you

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.100
 remember that

00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:18.539
 it's about

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.519
 being a

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.240
 faint picture

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.779
 of Jesus

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:23.360
 and helping

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:23.920
 others see

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.100
 him?

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.680
 Will you

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.160
 remember

00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:28.140
 that God

00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:28.620
 is a God

00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:28.960
 who keeps

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.480
 his promises?

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:29.680
 promises.

00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.319
 We are

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.079
 all oath

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.640
 breakers,

00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.420
 the Bible

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:35.880
 says,

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:37.920
 but Jesus

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.539
 will never

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.599
 cast any

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:39.860
 out.

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:40.839
 We heard

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.120
 that at

00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:41.500
 the start.

00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.120
 There is

00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:42.599
 forgiveness

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.819
 with him

00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:45.120
 for every

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.680
 broken word

00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.319
 said to

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:47.420
 all who

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.480
 trust in

00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:48.700
 him.

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.759
 He will

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.299
 never turn

00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:51.779
 any away.

00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:53.579
 Will you

00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.120
 this week

00:27:54.120 --> 00:27:55.920
 hold on

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.259
 to his

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.599
 promises?

00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.019
 Let's

00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.200
 pray.

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:01.319
 Lord,

00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.980
 we ask

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.400
 that you

00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:04.700
 would help

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.099
 us to be

00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:05.519
 people of

00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:05.960
 our word.

00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:07.620
 Help us

00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:07.880
 as we

00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.339
 think about

00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:08.819
 this kingdom

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.299
 life that

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:09.460
 you've

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.039
 given us.

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.200
 Faint

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:12.819
 pictures of

00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:13.120
 Jesus.

00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.000
 Help us

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.299
 to be

00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:15.680
 people of

00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.099
 integrity,

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:16.599
 people who

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.000
 keep our

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.400
 word and

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:17.779
 mean what

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.099
 we say.

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.660
 Help us

00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.180
 above all

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.579
 Lord to

00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.720
 hold on to

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.319
 your promises

00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:21.779
 to us.

00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:22.220
 That even

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.559
 tomorrow as

00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:24.079
 we get up

00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.400
 we will

00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:25.339
 know that

00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:25.860
 we are in

00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:26.319
 the arms

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.099
 of a loving

00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:27.460
 Father.

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.680
 Help us

00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:28.940
 and be

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.240
 well as

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.660
 we ask

00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.039
 for Jesus

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.420
 sake.

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.180
 Amen.