WEBVTT

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 Suffering. Is God really almighty?

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 It was January 2006.

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 I was 18 and had been selected as the New South Wales Youth Ambassador for World Vision Australia.

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 Now, as part of this year of volunteering, I took up, during my undergraduate degree,

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 I travelled to the very newly independent nation of Timor-Leste.

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 Now, prior to going, I really knew nothing about Timor-Leste.

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 I mean, what would an 18-year-old boy really think about?

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 He'd never heard of the term.

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 I recall I had to look it up, this country, on a map, just to confirm where in the world was it.

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 And to my surprise, it was only a very short distance from Australia's northernmost city, Darwin.

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 Now, the reason for myself and five others going was to reveal the story of Timor and its current suffering

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 to a nation of teenagers and children more interested in the next PlayStation.

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 Timor's history is one of profound suffering.

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 Hundreds of years of colonial rule by the Portuguese, World War II invasion by the Japanese,

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 and 24 years of brutal Indonesian occupation.

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 During the Indonesian occupation that started nine days after the Portuguese rolled out in 1975,

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 as many as a quarter of the population, or 250,000 people,

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 had died from violence, famine, or diseases over the next two and a half decades.

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 After a famous UN administered successful independence vote in September 1999,

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 the country was torched to the ground.

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 Some of you may remember this, by pro-Indonesian militia.

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 Some 1,400 people died in a few weeks,

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 and 80% of the country's infrastructure was destroyed.

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 When we arrived just over five years later,

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 the then youngest nation in the world was in the midst of a severe hunger crisis.

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 The rate of malnutrition was the highest in Southeast Asia.

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 The maternal mortality rate was the highest in the world.

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 And here was a now free nation,

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 covered in a cloak of silent suffering,

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 every hungry season,

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 where people would have literally nothing to eat for months and months.

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 And all of this, just one hour flight from Darwin.

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 This photo will stay with me for a very long time.

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 It was taken in the district of Aliu,

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 just about an hour south of Dili, the capital.

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 We had just met a mother named Isabel,

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 and met some of her children.

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 They were a poor family

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 that lived on maize and cassava.

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 There was no electricity in their community.

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 And she told us the story

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 of how three of her own children had died

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 because of hunger.

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 One was just eight months

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 and had not died long ago.

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 This was the grave site

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 behind their house

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 and their three children

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 under a small set of stones.

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 This was me

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 at that moment,

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 hit by the silence

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 of suffering.

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 We learned that the village was unusual

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 in that it had a Protestant church.

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 The majority of Timor is

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 Catholic.

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 And the mother, Isabel, said,

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 and I remember her saying this,

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 that life is short

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 and that the children

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 who had died

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 were happy

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 with their Father in heaven.

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 This morning,

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 I want us to come before the Lord

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 in the recognition

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 that things in our world

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 are not right.

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 They're not just.

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 And yet,

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 the Lord is here

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 with us

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 in it.

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 He knows Isabel's suffering.

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 He knows our suffering.

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 And He is inviting

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 our community

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 in Chatswood

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 to resist

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 what suffering

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 and evil does

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 and to remind ourselves

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 that God stands

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 in solidarity with us.

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 Not only that,

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 but He takes responsibility

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 for the evil

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 and suffering

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 in the world

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 as creation awaits

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 its complete

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 transformation

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 and redemption.

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 As we open ourselves up

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 this morning,

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 our hearts

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 and the word today,

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 I want us,

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 I want to remind us

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 that in the context

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 of suffering

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 and the sovereignty

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 of God,

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 there are these great words

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 from Paul.

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 For now we see

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 only a reflection

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 as in a mirror.

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 Then we shall see

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 face to face.

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 Now I know

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 in part,

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 then I shall know

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 fully,

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 even as I am

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 fully known

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 from 1 Corinthians 13.

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 So can we just

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 take this moment

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 to pray

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 as we explore

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 God's Word,

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 which is our only

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 source of light

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 and truth.

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 Heavenly Father,

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 King of Kings,

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 we thank you,

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 Lord,

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 that you are present

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 this morning with us

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 in all of our griefs,

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 in all of our heartbreaks,

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 in all of our sufferings.

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 Lord,

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 help us to see

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 your light,

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 your truth

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 in the darkness,

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 and may we bring you

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 unending glory.

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 In Jesus' name,

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 Amen.

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 So,

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 as you know,

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 we're going through

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 the Apostles' Creed,

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 and particularly

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 the first sentence,

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 which talks about

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 Father Almighty

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 creator of heaven

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 and earth.

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 So firstly,

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 who is Father Almighty?

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 These two powerful

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 words together,

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 words to describe God,

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 that He is both

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 our heavenly Father,

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 the one we refer,

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 that Jesus refers to

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 as Abba,

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 Abba Father,

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 reflecting that sense

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 of being known

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 personally by your Father,

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 as well as,

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 on the other hand,

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 Almighty.

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 Almighty,

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 something you would

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 normally attribute

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 to a king.

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 Often,

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 perhaps in Australia,

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 a sporting icon

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 is the closest reference

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 to Almighty.

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 In Melbourne,

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 where Kate and I

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 spent six years,

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 there is only one person

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 in sporting terms,

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 at least,

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 who meets the criteria

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 of the Almighty,

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 Almighty.

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 And his name is

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 Sir Gary Ablett.

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 Now,

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 I may imagine

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 that you're not all

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 AFL aficionados,

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 but this man

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 was known

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 and referred to

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 widely

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 as God.

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 He was called

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 God,

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 because he could do

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 all things.

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 Apparently,

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 things that no other

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 person could do,

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 like mark a ball

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 on top of the shoulders

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 of someone else.

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 I mean,

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 who can do that?

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 But apart from Gary,

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 I would suspect

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 very few people

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 get such a title

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 in Australia.

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 In Australia,

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 at least,

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 they would be humiliated

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 pretty quickly

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 by those around them,

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 like brought down

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 to size.

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 You are not

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 Almighty.

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 Let's remind

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 ourselves of that.

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 So,

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 what are we

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 to make

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 of God's

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 Almighty character?

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 In what way

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 does this go together

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 with him

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 as our Heavenly Father

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 who loves his children?

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 And to help us

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 consider this,

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 we're looking at Psalm 33.

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 So,

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 please,

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 I encourage you,

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 take your sheets out

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 or find a Bible

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 and open Psalm 33.

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 The first thing

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 to notice about this psalm

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 is that it celebrates

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 the Lord

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 as Redeemer,

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 Creator,

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 Judge,

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 and Savior,

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 all in one psalm.

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 It is a song

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 that is a reflection

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 of the whole history

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 of God's people,

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 in particular,

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 his sovereignty

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 in and through history

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 in delivering

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 on his promises.

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 It looks back

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 into the covenantal history,

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 the agreement

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 or the covenant

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 between God

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 and his people,

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 Israel,

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 and declares

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 in verse 4,

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 for the word

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 of the Lord

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 is right

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 and true.

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 He is faithful

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 in all

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 he does.

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 The psalm

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 reveals these

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 three key things

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 that illuminate

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 him as Father

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 Almighty.

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 The first,

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 the unmatchable

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 power of his word.

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 Verse 6,

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 by the word

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 of the Lord,

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 by the breath

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 of his mouth.

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 He need only

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 speak

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 and it is.

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 This echoes

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 for us,

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 surely,

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 Jesus,

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 who in the gospel

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 of Luke,

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 chapter 8,

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 speaks and calms

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 the storm

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 in the presence

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 of his terrified

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 disciples.

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 All he has to do

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 is speak.

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 There is such power.

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 number 2.2,

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 he sees and knows

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 all people.

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 He has formed

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 the hearts

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 of all

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 on the earth.

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 Verse 13

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 to 15,

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 from heaven

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 the Lord looks

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 down and sees

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 all mankind.

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 From his dwelling

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 place he watches

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 all who live

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 on earth.

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 He forms

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 the hearts

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 of all

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 who considers

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 everything

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 they do.

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 There is no one

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 in the world

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 the Lord

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 does not know.

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 In the whole

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 world,

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 in whole

00:10:55.900 --> 00:10:56.759
 of human history,

00:10:57.280 --> 00:10:58.320
 in that sense,

00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.700
 we see another

00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:00.519
 reflection of

00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:01.600
 his mighty power.

00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:02.720
 No one

00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.580
 falls out

00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:04.400
 of his

00:11:04.400 --> 00:11:05.259
 understanding.

00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:07.400
 And point 3,

00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:08.620
 finally,

00:11:09.560 --> 00:11:10.360
 no king,

00:11:10.900 --> 00:11:11.379
 not even

00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:11.840
 the greatest

00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:12.600
 powers or

00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:13.340
 armies on

00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:13.759
 earth,

00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:14.720
 is outside

00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:16.320
 the reach

00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:17.820
 or power

00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:18.540
 of the Lord.

00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:20.240
 Verse 16,

00:11:21.140 --> 00:11:21.840
 no king

00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:22.460
 is saved

00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:23.200
 by the size

00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:23.800
 of his army,

00:11:24.180 --> 00:11:24.960
 no warrior

00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:25.900
 escapes by

00:11:25.900 --> 00:11:27.100
 his great

00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:27.700
 strength.

00:11:29.180 --> 00:11:30.060
 In the

00:11:30.060 --> 00:11:31.200
 context of

00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:31.960
 when this

00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:32.640
 was written,

00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:34.600
 a king

00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:35.600
 had all

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.040
 power,

00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:36.440
 you could

00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:36.820
 imagine.

00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:38.220
 And the

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:38.640
 psalmist

00:11:38.640 --> 00:11:39.560
 is saying,

00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:41.760
 even God

00:11:41.760 --> 00:11:43.520
 has greater

00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:44.020
 power.

00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:44.059
 power.

00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.379
 No world

00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:47.439
 superpower in

00:11:47.439 --> 00:11:48.019
 all human

00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:48.620
 history matches

00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:49.519
 the strength

00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:51.500
 of God.

00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:52.059
 He is the

00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:52.720
 king of kings.

00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:53.220
 And so,

00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:54.439
 we hold in

00:11:54.439 --> 00:11:55.019
 one hand that

00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:55.259
 he is

00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.059
 father almighty,

00:11:56.939 --> 00:11:58.460
 and when we

00:11:58.460 --> 00:11:59.039
 learn he is

00:11:59.039 --> 00:11:59.980
 also creator

00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:00.600
 of all.

00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:01.639
 He is the

00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:02.039
 creator of

00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:02.419
 the heavens

00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:02.980
 and the

00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:03.319
 earth,

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.819
 of galaxies,

00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:05.980
 of the

00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.039
 hundreds of

00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.419
 billions of

00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:08.980
 galaxies,

00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:12.019
 and also of

00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:12.860
 nanoparticles.

00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:14.279
 verse 6

00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:14.800
 and 7.

00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:16.039
 By the

00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:16.440
 word of

00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:16.800
 the Lord

00:12:16.800 --> 00:12:17.519
 were the

00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.259
 heavens made,

00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:19.100
 their starry

00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:19.659
 host by

00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:20.100
 the breath

00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:20.399
 of his

00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:20.720
 mouth.

00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:21.539
 He gathers

00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:22.120
 the waters

00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:22.840
 of the

00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:23.580
 seas into

00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:24.259
 jars.

00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:25.460
 He puts

00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:26.120
 the deep

00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:26.680
 into

00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:27.779
 storehouses.

00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:29.659
 To him,

00:12:29.800 --> 00:12:30.440
 all of the

00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:30.860
 waters of

00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:31.300
 the sea

00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:33.899
 are as if

00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:34.180
 they would

00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:35.580
 fall into

00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:36.279
 a simple

00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:36.680
 jar,

00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:38.560
 or the

00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:38.899
 deep of

00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:39.360
 the ocean

00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:41.039
 into a

00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:41.420
 simple

00:12:41.420 --> 00:12:42.639
 garage.

00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:43.379
 a

00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.100
 storehouse.

00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.200
 The

00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:45.800
 psalmist is

00:12:45.800 --> 00:12:46.560
 declaring the

00:12:46.560 --> 00:12:47.440
 divine ownership

00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:47.980
 of the

00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:48.759
 whole earth,

00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:49.220
 the whole

00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:49.820
 universe,

00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.100
 to God.

00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:52.159
 But God

00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:52.659
 did not just

00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:53.200
 create the

00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:53.800
 heavens and

00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:54.180
 the earth

00:12:54.180 --> 00:12:54.560
 and then

00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:55.460
 stand to

00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:56.120
 one side

00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.700
 and say,

00:12:57.820 --> 00:12:58.019
 okay,

00:12:58.560 --> 00:12:58.820
 done.

00:12:59.680 --> 00:13:00.500
 He sustains

00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:00.759
 it.

00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:02.419
 Every moment

00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:02.980
 of every

00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:03.379
 day,

00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.180
 as we gather

00:13:04.180 --> 00:13:04.620
 at this

00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:05.460
 very time,

00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.120
 the Lord

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:07.039
 is sustaining

00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.700
 creation.

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:08.200
 Christopher

00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:08.620
 Wright

00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:10.159
 helpfully

00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:10.600
 puts it

00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:11.120
 like this.

00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:11.679
 He says,

00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:12.700
 creation then

00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:13.659
 is distinct

00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:14.200
 from God

00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:14.860
 its creator,

00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:15.620
 but it

00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.220
 also is

00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:16.679
 totally

00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:17.279
 dependent

00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.659
 upon God.

00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:21.220
 Creation

00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:21.639
 is not

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.279
 independent

00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:23.960
 or co-eternal,

00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:24.580
 rather,

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.419
 God is

00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:26.279
 actively and

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.080
 unceasingly

00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:28.139
 sustaining its

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.220
 existence and

00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:29.980
 its functions

00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:31.100
 at macro

00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:31.799
 and micro

00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.399
 levels.

00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:33.360
 It's just

00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.039
 the sheer

00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:36.259
 power and

00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.079
 might of

00:13:37.079 --> 00:13:37.980
 God as

00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:38.519
 creator.

00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.039
 So this

00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:40.379
 is the

00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:40.699
 sovereign

00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:42.339
 Lord of

00:13:42.339 --> 00:13:42.860
 the universe.

00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:43.379
 This is what

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.000
 we mean when

00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:44.740
 we understand

00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:45.899
 his sovereignty,

00:13:46.599 --> 00:13:47.299
 creator of

00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:47.879
 galaxies,

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.000
 who knows

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.599
 the hearts

00:13:49.599 --> 00:13:50.299
 of everyone

00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:50.879
 who walked

00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.319
 on the

00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:51.679
 earth.

00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:52.559
 And what's

00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:53.179
 most profound

00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:54.159
 to me is

00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:54.519
 that this

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.199
 creator of

00:13:55.199 --> 00:13:55.679
 galaxies,

00:13:56.579 --> 00:13:57.379
 he loves

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:58.299
 you.

00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:01.139
 You know,

00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:01.480
 let's just

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.279
 sit on that.

00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:03.299
 The creator

00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:04.279
 of the

00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:04.939
 universe

00:14:04.939 --> 00:14:05.679
 loves

00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.059
 you.

00:14:06.979 --> 00:14:07.919
 He loves

00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:08.359
 you.

00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.139
 I want

00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:09.459
 everyone to

00:14:09.459 --> 00:14:09.779
 say that.

00:14:09.859 --> 00:14:10.279
 He loves

00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:10.559
 me.

00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:12.359
 Amen.

00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:13.779
 It's no

00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:14.459
 small thing.

00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:16.719
 It is a

00:14:16.719 --> 00:14:17.159
 gift of

00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:17.899
 love revealed

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.779
 most perfectly

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.139
 in the

00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:19.620
 person of

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:19.939
 Jesus.

00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:20.839
 And all

00:14:20.839 --> 00:14:21.179
 we have

00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:21.500
 to do

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.379
 is accept

00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.240
 his love.

00:14:24.319 --> 00:14:24.859
 And what

00:14:24.859 --> 00:14:25.579
 you find,

00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:26.399
 and what

00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:26.779
 you will

00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:27.219
 find,

00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:28.159
 is that

00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.599
 when you

00:14:28.599 --> 00:14:29.339
 accept that

00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:29.759
 love,

00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:30.439
 your love

00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:31.139
 for him

00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:31.899
 will be

00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:32.679
 greater than

00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:32.959
 you can

00:14:32.959 --> 00:14:33.479
 possibly

00:14:33.479 --> 00:14:34.159
 imagine.

00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.239
 So let's

00:14:36.239 --> 00:14:36.839
 turn now

00:14:36.839 --> 00:14:37.819
 to suffering,

00:14:37.979 --> 00:14:38.239
 which we've

00:14:38.239 --> 00:14:38.659
 been talking

00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:39.079
 about a

00:14:39.079 --> 00:14:39.459
 little bit

00:14:39.459 --> 00:14:39.959
 already.

00:14:42.219 --> 00:14:42.979
 The question

00:14:42.979 --> 00:14:43.299
 I want us

00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:43.759
 to consider

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.039
 is,

00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:44.739
 how do we

00:14:44.739 --> 00:14:45.239
 live in

00:14:45.239 --> 00:14:45.639
 the reality

00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:45.899
 of an

00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:46.259
 almighty

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:46.719
 God

00:14:46.719 --> 00:14:47.539
 in the

00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:47.759
 midst

00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.139
 of

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:48.539
 suffering

00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:49.259
 and a

00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:49.539
 broken

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.079
 world?

00:14:50.979 --> 00:14:51.539
 You see,

00:14:51.599 --> 00:14:51.859
 when we

00:14:51.859 --> 00:14:52.659
 truly face

00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:53.719
 the tragic

00:14:53.719 --> 00:14:54.799
 reality of

00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:55.399
 suffering and

00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:55.899
 evil in

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.479
 our world,

00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:57.959
 our answer

00:14:57.959 --> 00:14:58.620
 for everything

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.159
 culture

00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.299
 that we

00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:00.779
 live in

00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.419
 and inhabit

00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:02.839
 screams the

00:15:02.839 --> 00:15:03.379
 question,

00:15:03.819 --> 00:15:04.079
 why?

00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.339
 Why does

00:15:06.339 --> 00:15:07.339
 God allow

00:15:07.339 --> 00:15:07.759
 this?

00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:08.699
 This

00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.259
 suffering?

00:15:09.699 --> 00:15:10.179
 This

00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:10.699
 evil?

00:15:12.179 --> 00:15:12.919
 Something that

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:13.519
 really hit me

00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:15.199
 this week,

00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:16.059
 and in fact it

00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:16.480
 was as we

00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:16.740
 were sitting

00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:17.279
 here last

00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:17.799
 Sunday,

00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:18.600
 and I was

00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:19.100
 preparing,

00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:19.759
 the Lord was

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.419
 preparing this

00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:20.759
 word,

00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:22.100
 this sermon

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:23.179
 for this

00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:23.539
 Sunday,

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:24.439
 I was

00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:24.860
 reflecting,

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.179
 and I'm

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:25.579
 sure many

00:15:25.579 --> 00:15:25.919
 of you

00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.220
 have,

00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:26.579
 on the

00:15:26.579 --> 00:15:26.939
 terrible

00:15:26.939 --> 00:15:27.620
 deaths of

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.439
 four children

00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:29.700
 by a

00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.040
 drunk

00:15:30.040 --> 00:15:31.460
 29-year-old

00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:33.140
 driver in

00:15:33.140 --> 00:15:33.480
 Western

00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:33.940
 Sydney.

00:15:35.020 --> 00:15:35.780
 This is

00:15:35.780 --> 00:15:36.440
 truly a

00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:36.840
 weighty

00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:37.120
 matter.

00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.300
 I was

00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:39.980
 grieving this

00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.780
 all last

00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:41.080
 week.

00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:43.240
 I lamented.

00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:44.600
 I said,

00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:45.560
 how Lord,

00:15:46.660 --> 00:15:47.540
 these children,

00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:48.860
 I saw my

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.840
 children in

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.480
 these children,

00:15:50.760 --> 00:15:51.080
 I saw

00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:52.220
 myself in

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:52.720
 the father,

00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:53.160
 I saw

00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:54.060
 Kate in

00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:54.480
 the mother.

00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:57.060
 Can I

00:15:57.060 --> 00:15:57.600
 encourage you,

00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:57.820
 if you

00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:58.420
 haven't had a

00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:59.219
 chance to

00:15:59.219 --> 00:15:59.599
 watch the

00:15:59.599 --> 00:16:00.039
 video of

00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:00.360
 Leela,

00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:01.639
 the mother,

00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:02.500
 speaking after

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.059
 the incident,

00:16:03.219 --> 00:16:03.899
 inspired by

00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:04.519
 her Lebanese

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.399
 Orthodox faith

00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:05.899
 in Jesus,

00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:07.059
 she speaks

00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:08.039
 as a mother

00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.719
 who knows

00:16:08.719 --> 00:16:09.339
 the resurrection

00:16:09.339 --> 00:16:10.159
 of Jesus

00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.360
 is her only

00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:12.319
 hope in

00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:12.839
 the face

00:16:12.839 --> 00:16:13.839
 of profound

00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:15.000
 suffering and

00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:15.399
 grief.

00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:16.579
 Some of you

00:16:16.579 --> 00:16:17.279
 may be aware

00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.299
 that I serve

00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:19.959
 at International

00:16:19.959 --> 00:16:20.919
 Justice Mission

00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:22.179
 Australia.

00:16:23.339 --> 00:16:24.139
 IJM is an

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.500
 organization that

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.539
 considers itself

00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:28.079
 first and

00:16:28.079 --> 00:16:28.899
 before anything

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.639
 a community

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:30.599
 of Christian

00:16:30.599 --> 00:16:31.719
 spiritual

00:16:31.719 --> 00:16:32.399
 formation.

00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.379
 That is the

00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.259
 primary thing

00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:36.860
 that we are

00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:38.279
 as a body.

00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:40.379
 But we

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:40.939
 are also the

00:16:40.939 --> 00:16:41.259
 largest

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.099
 anti-slavery

00:16:42.099 --> 00:16:43.139
 organization in

00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:43.620
 the world.

00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.179
 And it's

00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:44.839
 founder Gary

00:16:44.839 --> 00:16:46.039
 Haugen writes

00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.559
 on the subject

00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.199
 an extremely

00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:47.899
 helpful book

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:48.139
 and I

00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:48.699
 encourage you

00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:49.079
 if you would

00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:49.459
 like to

00:16:49.459 --> 00:16:49.740
 read,

00:16:50.219 --> 00:16:50.579
 I've got

00:16:50.579 --> 00:16:50.759
 one,

00:16:50.839 --> 00:16:51.039
 I'm happy

00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:51.500
 to share

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:51.719
 it,

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:52.580
 good news

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:52.860
 about

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.360
 injustice.

00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:55.259
 He writes

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:55.960
 about being

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.759
 the lead

00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.620
 UN investigator

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.120
 to the

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.560
 Rwandan

00:16:58.560 --> 00:16:59.019
 genocide

00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.639
 in 1994

00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.560
 that saw

00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:01.160
 almost 1

00:17:01.160 --> 00:17:01.940
 million people

00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:02.940
 killed in

00:17:02.940 --> 00:17:03.860
 100 days

00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:04.500
 in state

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:04.960
 sponsored

00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.620
 genocide

00:17:05.620 --> 00:17:06.579
 and crimes

00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:06.900
 against

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.500
 humanity.

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.319
 Gary

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:09.980
 himself

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.660
 waded

00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.180
 through

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:11.940
 thousands

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.640
 of bodies

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:13.519
 to identify

00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.579
 how they

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.240
 were killed

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.600
 so that

00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:17.100
 someday

00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:18.600
 their families

00:17:18.600 --> 00:17:19.420
 might receive

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.380
 justice.

00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:21.640
 And he

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.360
 reflects on

00:17:22.360 --> 00:17:23.280
 the typical

00:17:23.280 --> 00:17:24.220
 question,

00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.240
 quote,

00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:28.020
 why does

00:17:28.020 --> 00:17:28.800
 God allow

00:17:28.800 --> 00:17:29.400
 so much

00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:29.940
 injustice

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.400
 in the

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.120
 world as

00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:31.340
 it was

00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:32.040
 many times

00:17:32.040 --> 00:17:32.420
 put to

00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:32.680
 him?

00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:33.860
 He

00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.300
 responds,

00:17:34.300 --> 00:17:35.380
 I believe

00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:35.940
 I've heard

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:36.540
 most of

00:17:36.540 --> 00:17:36.900
 the neat

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:37.480
 answers to

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:37.720
 these

00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:38.340
 questions,

00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:39.540
 a set of

00:17:39.540 --> 00:17:40.300
 answers which

00:17:40.300 --> 00:17:40.760
 in Christian

00:17:40.760 --> 00:17:41.620
 circles often

00:17:41.620 --> 00:17:42.600
 explode in

00:17:42.600 --> 00:17:43.160
 a discussion

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:45.200
 like an

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.040
 emergency

00:17:46.040 --> 00:17:46.760
 ejection

00:17:46.760 --> 00:17:47.100
 seat,

00:17:47.560 --> 00:17:48.000
 rescuing

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.480
 relieved

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:48.920
 passages

00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:49.720
 from a

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.100
 crush

00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:50.659
 from a

00:17:50.659 --> 00:17:51.079
 crash and

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.339
 burn

00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:52.139
 confrontation

00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:52.740
 with

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.179
 unpleasant

00:17:53.179 --> 00:17:53.980
 mysteries.

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.139
 Frankly,

00:17:55.419 --> 00:17:55.779
 the pat

00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.259
 answers

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:56.779
 don't

00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:57.179
 work

00:17:57.179 --> 00:17:57.740
 and the

00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.559
 insensitivity

00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.079
 that I

00:17:59.079 --> 00:17:59.619
 have seen

00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.480
 in myself

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:01.219
 and in

00:18:01.219 --> 00:18:02.119
 others as

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:02.319
 we have

00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:02.740
 addressed

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.619
 others'

00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:04.699
 pain has

00:18:04.699 --> 00:18:05.959
 bordered at

00:18:05.959 --> 00:18:06.779
 times on

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.199
 cruelty.

00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:08.480
 Let's be

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:08.839
 honest,

00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:09.959
 this is

00:18:09.959 --> 00:18:10.500
 hard.

00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:12.359
 As Irving

00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.500
 Greenberg,

00:18:13.859 --> 00:18:14.639
 a writer of

00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:15.099
 the Holocaust,

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:15.839
 has said,

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.119
 no statement,

00:18:17.459 --> 00:18:18.299
 theological or

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:18.759
 otherwise,

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.579
 should be

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.599
 made that

00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.059
 would not

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.720
 be credible

00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.279
 in the

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:23.420
 presence of

00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:23.779
 burning

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.279
 children.

00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:27.619
 That is

00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:28.519
 very heavy.

00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:31.980
 And maybe

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:32.319
 for you,

00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:32.779
 you've had

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.119
 your own

00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:33.500
 personal

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.359
 experience of

00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:34.619
 this,

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.039
 this level

00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:36.700
 of suffering

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:37.079
 and not

00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:37.440
 being able

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:37.920
 to know

00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.339
 what to

00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:38.660
 say,

00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:38.940
 how to

00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:39.619
 explain

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.539
 what is

00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:40.900
 happening.

00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:44.360
 I have

00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:44.780
 my own

00:18:44.780 --> 00:18:45.220
 personal

00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:45.740
 experience,

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:46.540
 family

00:18:46.540 --> 00:18:46.960
 memory,

00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:49.840
 where

00:18:49.840 --> 00:18:50.540
 sometimes no

00:18:50.540 --> 00:18:50.820
 simple

00:18:50.820 --> 00:18:51.400
 statement will

00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:51.880
 suffice.

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.259
 For me,

00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:52.860
 I bring

00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:53.380
 forward my

00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:54.259
 grandfather I

00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:54.920
 never met.

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.100
 Here's a

00:18:57.100 --> 00:18:57.560
 photo of me

00:18:57.560 --> 00:18:57.840
 and my

00:18:57.840 --> 00:18:58.380
 father from

00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.680
 November last

00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.019
 year,

00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:01.400
 standing at

00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:01.840
 his grave

00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:02.220
 site.

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.680
 He was a

00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.060
 judge in

00:19:04.060 --> 00:19:04.440
 the highest

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:04.900
 court in

00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:05.180
 Ghana,

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.040
 my father's

00:19:06.040 --> 00:19:06.360
 homeland,

00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:07.259
 and on

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:07.800
 June 30,

00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.380
 1982,

00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:09.240
 in the

00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:09.940
 context of

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.279
 political

00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:10.799
 corruption

00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.200
 and a

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.440
 coup,

00:19:12.340 --> 00:19:12.940
 my father

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.460
 witnessed

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.340
 his own

00:19:14.340 --> 00:19:14.900
 father's,

00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.059
 my

00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.740
 grandfather's

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.259
 abduction

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.480
 out the

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:17.880
 front of

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.420
 his house.

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:19.960
 The next

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:20.400
 day he

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:20.900
 found out

00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:21.240
 that his

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:21.759
 father had

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.340
 been shot,

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.320
 he had

00:19:23.320 --> 00:19:23.500
 been

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.240
 assassinated

00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.019
 alongside

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.700
 two other

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.820
 judges and

00:19:26.820 --> 00:19:27.299
 a retired

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.019
 army general,

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.660
 all in the

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:30.500
 pursuit of

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:30.900
 power.

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.519
 Last

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:34.759
 November,

00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:35.360
 my father

00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:35.880
 and all

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.460
 my aunties

00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:37.019
 and uncles,

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:37.580
 we visited

00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:38.080
 his grave

00:19:38.080 --> 00:19:38.480
 site and

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:38.759
 it was the

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.180
 first time

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:39.620
 the family

00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:39.860
 had

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.339
 gone and

00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:40.919
 returned to

00:19:40.919 --> 00:19:41.479
 that place

00:19:41.479 --> 00:19:41.879
 of grief

00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:42.459
 and suffering

00:19:42.459 --> 00:19:43.539
 in 37

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.240
 years.

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.179
 I realised

00:19:46.179 --> 00:19:47.079
 even for

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.519
 myself,

00:19:47.679 --> 00:19:48.199
 having never

00:19:48.199 --> 00:19:48.759
 met him,

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.199
 I carried

00:19:50.199 --> 00:19:51.039
 this weight

00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.959
 of his

00:19:51.959 --> 00:19:53.019
 suffering my

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.219
 whole lifetime

00:19:54.219 --> 00:19:56.039
 and I had

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.619
 not given

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.079
 it over

00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.719
 to the

00:19:57.719 --> 00:19:58.000
 Lord.

00:19:59.699 --> 00:20:00.459
 And I

00:20:00.459 --> 00:20:00.819
 want to

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.319
 invite us

00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:01.839
 this moment

00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.539
 just now,

00:20:03.199 --> 00:20:03.699
 here and

00:20:03.699 --> 00:20:03.879
 now,

00:20:03.959 --> 00:20:04.579
 to bring

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.419
 to mind

00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:06.439
 perhaps your

00:20:06.439 --> 00:20:07.119
 own

00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:08.319
 weighty

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.559
 suffering

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:11.279
 in your

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.859
 family,

00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:13.139
 in your

00:20:13.139 --> 00:20:13.700
 history.

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.419
 And I

00:20:16.419 --> 00:20:16.519
 want to

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:16.819
 ask you

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.220
 the question,

00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:17.500
 will you

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:17.919
 do that?

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.619
 Will you

00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:23.960
 take that

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.460
 moment just

00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:24.819
 now,

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.759
 in your

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.200
 heart,

00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.460
 bring it

00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:28.960
 to mind?

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.019
 moment.

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.220
 The Psalms

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.759
 reveal a

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.279
 pattern of

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.180
 believers,

00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.559
 a pattern

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.340
 for believers

00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:37.019
 of not

00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:38.259
 hiding this

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:38.960
 suffering that

00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:40.600
 is heavy on

00:20:40.600 --> 00:20:41.000
 your heart

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.420
 now,

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.360
 not hiding

00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:43.920
 that suffering

00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.380
 away,

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.019
 but bringing

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.680
 it forward,

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:46.980
 open-handed

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.799
 and saying,

00:20:48.360 --> 00:20:48.700
 Lord,

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.779
 here I am.

00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:52.079
 I place

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:52.579
 this at

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.160
 the foot

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:53.579
 of the

00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:53.879
 cross

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.599
 before you.

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.779
 And friends,

00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.299
 I want us

00:20:59.299 --> 00:20:59.720
 to hear

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.039
 this,

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:00.599
 this,

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.440
 this,

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.079
 that we

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:02.420
 are bringing

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.039
 forward,

00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.599
 is God's

00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:05.019
 weight.

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.680
 I had

00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.420
 to pray,

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:10.779
 Lord,

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:12.819
 I am

00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.799
 handing this

00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.399
 suffering of

00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.180
 my grandfather

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:16.599
 and putting

00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:17.139
 it at the

00:21:17.139 --> 00:21:18.079
 foot of

00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:18.619
 the cross.

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.039
 because it

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.460
 is too

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:20.980
 much for

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.619
 me to

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:21.960
 carry.

00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.399
 So let

00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:26.839
 him take

00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.059
 it.

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.200
 He has

00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:30.680
 let us

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.599
 share a

00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:31.819
 little bit

00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.039
 of his

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.480
 heart,

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.180
 his own

00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:35.619
 pain.

00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.480
 He knows

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.660
 it, but

00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.180
 he also has

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.660
 a passion

00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.240
 for healing

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.720
 and for

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.200
 justice.

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.099
 And God

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:43.859
 carries the

00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:44.319
 weight of

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.000
 the world

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.819
 suffering more

00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.160
 than we

00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.619
 could ever

00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:47.379
 understand.

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.819
 And so

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.180
 the next

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.619
 question

00:21:51.619 --> 00:21:52.139
 sometimes

00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:52.700
 goes is,

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.059
 are we

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.559
 asking the

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:53.799
 right

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.279
 question?

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:55.639
 What does

00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.279
 God do

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:57.339
 in response

00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:57.879
 to evil?

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.279
 You see,

00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.279
 so often

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:01.240
 I see,

00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:02.680
 I would

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.059
 like us

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.519
 to think

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:03.899
 about

00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:07.619
 whether we

00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.119
 can put

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:09.259
 down the

00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:10.019
 why question

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.799
 and consider

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.220
 this from a

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.799
 different angle.

00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:13.759
 The why

00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.519
 question does

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.259
 not take

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:15.700
 the view

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.359
 of the

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:16.599
 many

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.099
 specific

00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:17.579
 actions

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.240
 in history

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:19.000
 of God

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.539
 in response

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.079
 to evil,

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.319
 particularly

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:21.859
 the life,

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.140
 death,

00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:22.740
 and resurrection

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.420
 of Jesus

00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.059
 Christ.

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:24.900
 You see,

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.220
 we are

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:25.640
 completely

00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:26.319
 at risk

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.019
 of ignoring

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.339
 the all

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:28.700
 powerful

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.160
 actions

00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:29.700
 of God

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.039
 throughout

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.759
 his word

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.379
 when we

00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:31.799
 ask,

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.980
 why does

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.480
 God

00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:34.799
 allow evil

00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.420
 and suffering

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.539
 rather than

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:38.319
 what does

00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:39.079
 God do

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.220
 in response

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:42.619
 to evil?

00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:42.699
 evil?

00:22:43.899 --> 00:22:44.439
 The question

00:22:44.439 --> 00:22:44.819
 we need

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.559
 to consider

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:47.000
 is what

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.899
 does suffering

00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:48.919
 or further

00:22:48.919 --> 00:22:49.519
 evil,

00:22:49.679 --> 00:22:49.959
 what does

00:22:49.959 --> 00:22:50.459
 it do

00:22:50.459 --> 00:22:50.819
 to you?

00:22:50.919 --> 00:22:51.099
 What does

00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:51.439
 it do

00:22:51.439 --> 00:22:52.000
 to us?

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.299
 And what

00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:54.279
 it almost

00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:54.859
 instantly

00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.859
 does is

00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:56.139
 that it

00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:56.759
 causes us

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.399
 to lose

00:22:57.399 --> 00:22:58.439
 our hope

00:22:58.439 --> 00:22:59.479
 in the

00:22:59.479 --> 00:22:59.899
 true,

00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:01.099
 living,

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.039
 and active

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.519
 God.

00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.159
 For this

00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:04.500
 message,

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:04.859
 I spent

00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.459
 some time

00:23:05.459 --> 00:23:06.259
 reading this

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.000
 terrific book,

00:23:07.479 --> 00:23:07.799
 Raging

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.759
 with Compassion,

00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:09.699
 pastoral

00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:11.259
 responses to

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.419
 the problem

00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:12.940
 of evil

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.100
 by a man

00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:14.620
 named John

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.100
 Swinton.

00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:15.960
 I found

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.440
 it to be

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.080
 extremely

00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:17.480
 helpful.

00:23:18.360 --> 00:23:18.720
 And he

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.160
 says,

00:23:19.300 --> 00:23:19.539
 quote,

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.640
 above all

00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:21.080
 else,

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.740
 what evil

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.700
 does is

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.300
 to separate

00:23:23.300 --> 00:23:24.100
 human beings

00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:24.560
 from their

00:23:24.560 --> 00:23:25.420
 primary source

00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:25.880
 of hope,

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:26.880
 God.

00:23:27.560 --> 00:23:28.120
 The problem

00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:28.660
 of evil

00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.240
 is its

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.940
 propensity

00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:31.320
 to tear

00:23:31.320 --> 00:23:32.380
 human beings

00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:32.960
 asunder

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.779
 from their

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.320
 identity

00:23:34.320 --> 00:23:35.880
 and purpose

00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:36.900
 as creatures

00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.820
 made in the

00:23:37.820 --> 00:23:38.700
 image of God

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.620
 and loved

00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:40.220
 by God

00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.000
 beyond all

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.580
 things.

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:44.060
 beyond all

00:23:44.060 --> 00:23:44.580
 things.

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.360
 Remember,

00:23:46.560 --> 00:23:46.920
 friends,

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:47.580
 that it

00:23:47.580 --> 00:23:47.779
 is,

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.440
 as we

00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:51.019
 say in

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.860
 our series

00:23:51.860 --> 00:23:52.440
 title,

00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:53.620
 We Believe,

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.120
 the Apostles'

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.840
 Creed reminds

00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.300
 us that we

00:23:57.300 --> 00:23:57.779
 are not

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.220
 alone.

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.420
 Yes,

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.580
 we live in

00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:02.080
 the presence

00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:02.600
 of evil

00:24:02.600 --> 00:24:03.240
 and suffering,

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.360
 but this

00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:07.300
 place belongs

00:24:07.300 --> 00:24:07.900
 to God.

00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:07.940
 God.

00:24:08.540 --> 00:24:08.780
 This

00:24:08.780 --> 00:24:09.300
 creation

00:24:09.300 --> 00:24:10.160
 is sustained

00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:10.820
 by him

00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:11.420
 and will

00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:11.880
 ultimately

00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.800
 be redeemed

00:24:12.800 --> 00:24:13.440
 by him.

00:24:14.060 --> 00:24:14.500
 A man

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.200
 who experienced

00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:16.100
 severe suffering

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.840
 once said,

00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:17.940
 I consider

00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:18.780
 that our

00:24:18.780 --> 00:24:19.840
 present sufferings

00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:20.820
 are not worth

00:24:20.820 --> 00:24:21.720
 comparing with

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.320
 the glory

00:24:22.320 --> 00:24:23.080
 that will be

00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:23.660
 revealed in

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.060
 us,

00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:25.259
 for the creation

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.280
 waits in eager

00:24:26.280 --> 00:24:27.320
 expectation for

00:24:27.320 --> 00:24:27.880
 the children of

00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:28.440
 God to be

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:28.840
 revealed.

00:24:30.280 --> 00:24:31.380
 For the creation

00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:32.040
 was subjected

00:24:32.040 --> 00:24:33.940
 to frustration,

00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:35.340
 not by its

00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:36.100
 own choice,

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:37.039
 but by the

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.659
 will of the

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.079
 one who

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.839
 subjected it,

00:24:39.179 --> 00:24:39.980
 in hope that

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.939
 the creation

00:24:40.939 --> 00:24:42.139
 itself will be

00:24:42.139 --> 00:24:42.980
 liberated from

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.699
 its bondage to

00:24:43.699 --> 00:24:44.699
 decay and

00:24:44.699 --> 00:24:45.319
 brought into

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.099
 the freedom and

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.740
 glory of the

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.519
 children of God.

00:24:49.459 --> 00:24:50.459
 The Apostle

00:24:50.459 --> 00:24:51.059
 Paul wrote

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.439
 this.

00:24:52.659 --> 00:24:53.039
 You see,

00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:54.099
 Paul reminds

00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:55.079
 us that

00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:56.039
 through Christ

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.299
 the creation

00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.399
 is being

00:24:58.399 --> 00:24:58.939
 redeemed.

00:24:59.699 --> 00:25:00.299
 John Swinton

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:00.819
 adds,

00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.399
 all suffering

00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.259
 and death

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.919
 has been

00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:04.719
 atoned for

00:25:04.719 --> 00:25:05.859
 and indeed

00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:06.859
 conquered in

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:07.740
 the sacrifice

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.579
 of Christ

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.779
 in spite of

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:10.399
 the continuing

00:25:10.399 --> 00:25:11.339
 presence of

00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:12.519
 evil and

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:12.959
 suffering.

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:15.179
 So, my

00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:15.619
 brothers and

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.159
 sisters, we

00:25:16.159 --> 00:25:16.919
 can be assured

00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:17.959
 that God

00:25:17.959 --> 00:25:18.939
 sits in

00:25:18.939 --> 00:25:19.899
 solidarity with

00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:20.659
 us and his

00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:21.359
 presence is

00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.539
 with us in

00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.699
 the midst of

00:25:23.699 --> 00:25:24.439
 suffering.

00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:25.979
 We have this

00:25:25.979 --> 00:25:26.819
 living and

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.740
 real hope

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:29.879
 of what is

00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:30.599
 to come

00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.479
 because of

00:25:31.479 --> 00:25:31.899
 the risen

00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:32.359
 Jesus.

00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:32.559
 Jesus.

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.039
 And not

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.559
 only do

00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:36.679
 we now

00:25:36.679 --> 00:25:38.219
 have the

00:25:38.219 --> 00:25:38.859
 joy of

00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.859
 receiving the

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:41.259
 free gift of

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.079
 Jesus in

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.599
 the midst of

00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.439
 our and our

00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:43.719
 neighbours'

00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:44.259
 suffering,

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.519
 but we can

00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:46.119
 be assured

00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:46.819
 that the

00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.559
 Lord is at

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.639
 work making

00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.359
 the world

00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:50.059
 right.

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:52.079
 He is at

00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.679
 work today

00:25:53.679 --> 00:25:54.939
 making the

00:25:54.939 --> 00:25:55.939
 world right.

00:25:56.979 --> 00:25:57.679
 Turning to

00:25:57.679 --> 00:25:58.259
 perhaps one of

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.819
 the boldest

00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.679
 statements in

00:25:59.679 --> 00:26:00.019
 the Old

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.799
 Testament falls

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.460
 within Psalm

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.139
 33, this

00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:02.480
 morning's

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:02.720
 reading.

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.259
 Did you see

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:03.480
 it?

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.139
 In verse

00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:04.599
 5?

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.160
 The Lord

00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.220
 loves righteousness

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:08.019
 and justice.

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.220
 The earth is

00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.420
 full of his

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.579
 unfailing love.

00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:14.079
 In the

00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.980
 original context,

00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:15.579
 the people

00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:16.460
 hearing this

00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:18.619
 knew all

00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:19.180
 too well

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:21.039
 injustice and

00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:21.379
 suffering.

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:21.920
 It was their

00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:23.220
 daily experience.

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:24.660
 And yet,

00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.639
 this is a

00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.900
 declaration that

00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.759
 in a world

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.200
 where the

00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:28.740
 Lord is

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.500
 almighty,

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.420
 all-powerful,

00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.700
 he actively

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:34.960
 loves pursuing

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.680
 making things

00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.440
 right.

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.519
 You see,

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.740
 in the context

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.440
 of brokenness

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:41.900
 and evil

00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.539
 actions of

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:42.960
 men and

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.339
 women in

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.779
 the world,

00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.819
 we see God

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.480
 working today

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.339
 to bring all

00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:46.960
 things in

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.720
 alignment with

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.579
 his perfect

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.740
 will.

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.639
 And we

00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:53.480
 also learn

00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.139
 something about

00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:54.859
 God's heart.

00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.440
 We actually

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.660
 discover something

00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.319
 about God's

00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:58.639
 heart.

00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:59.240
 Christopher

00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.880
 Wright says

00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.500
 again about

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.300
 Psalm 33

00:27:01.300 --> 00:27:02.420
 verse 5

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:02.980
 revealing,

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:04.140
 The justice

00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:04.920
 of God

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.380
 is the

00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:05.759
 justice

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.480
 of the

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.020
 God

00:27:07.020 --> 00:27:07.800
 who sees

00:27:07.800 --> 00:27:08.540
 and hears

00:27:08.540 --> 00:27:09.320
 the cry

00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:10.280
 of the

00:27:10.280 --> 00:27:11.200
 weak and

00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:11.740
 oppressed,

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.320
 cares about

00:27:13.320 --> 00:27:13.660
 them,

00:27:13.880 --> 00:27:14.380
 and takes

00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.280
 action on

00:27:15.280 --> 00:27:16.020
 their behalf.

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.700
 At IJM,

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.180
 over the last

00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:20.480
 22 years,

00:27:20.600 --> 00:27:21.620
 we have seen

00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.860
 God doing

00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.359
 this.

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.719
 50,000

00:27:25.719 --> 00:27:27.279
 people rescued

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.159
 from violence

00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:29.000
 and slavery,

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.919
 millions more

00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:32.039
 protected by

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.679
 strengthened

00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:33.399
 justice

00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:34.299
 systems,

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.359
 all through

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:35.959
 the power

00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:36.740
 of God

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:38.559
 revealed in

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.219
 his children

00:27:39.219 --> 00:27:40.059
 who see

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:40.799
 another kingdom,

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.500
 a kingdom

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.159
 of light,

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:44.679
 truth,

00:27:45.159 --> 00:27:46.019
 and justice.

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:48.720
 But brothers

00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.059
 and sisters,

00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.660
 can I stress

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.259
 again this

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:50.559
 point?

00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:52.359
 Answering the

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:52.859
 question,

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:53.799
 is God

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.200
 really

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.839
 almighty,

00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.700
 is not an

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.359
 intellectual

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.299
 exercise.

00:27:58.299 --> 00:28:01.579
 the challenge

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.259
 is, how

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.879
 can we,

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.659
 as the

00:28:03.659 --> 00:28:04.099
 community

00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:04.659
 here,

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.339
 live faithfully

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.500
 despite the

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.720
 presence of

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.099
 evil?

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.659
 How can

00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:14.399
 we, as a

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.000
 community of

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.579
 believers from

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.359
 all nations,

00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.460
 who gather in

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.159
 this place now

00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:19.019
 called Chatswood,

00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.139
 create a

00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:21.359
 community within

00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.359
 which the

00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:23.059
 impacts of

00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.619
 evil and

00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.339
 suffering can

00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:25.259
 be absorbed,

00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:28.019
 resisted,

00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:30.200
 and transformed

00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:31.460
 as we await

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:33.139
 for Christ's

00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:33.720
 return?

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:39.259
 So, we

00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.899
 could spend

00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:42.099
 months in

00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.619
 this topic,

00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:44.899
 but we have a

00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.419
 short time,

00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.159
 and I don't

00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:46.700
 want to,

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:49.059
 I don't,

00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:49.539
 I don't want

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:51.339
 to, I

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.539
 don't want

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:51.960
 to, I

00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.319
 suppose,

00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:56.019
 go too

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.299
 quickly,

00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:56.980
 too fast.

00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:57.839
 What we've

00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.459
 explored today

00:28:58.459 --> 00:28:59.480
 is a heavy

00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.019
 subject,

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.079
 a heavy and

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.679
 weighty matter,

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.779
 but the

00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.059
 following

00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.639
 suggestions

00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:04.459
 come from

00:29:04.459 --> 00:29:04.959
 a place

00:29:04.959 --> 00:29:05.339
 that I

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:06.259
 pray will

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.859
 build and

00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:08.299
 restore and

00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.159
 strengthen our

00:29:09.159 --> 00:29:10.099
 hope, and

00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.959
 most importantly,

00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:11.899
 our love for

00:29:11.899 --> 00:29:12.319
 the Lord.

00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:17.299
 And I say

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.740
 the love,

00:29:17.959 --> 00:29:18.559
 your love for

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:18.899
 the Lord,

00:29:18.959 --> 00:29:20.179
 because in

00:29:20.179 --> 00:29:20.839
 the last few

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.419
 years, in

00:29:21.419 --> 00:29:22.740
 the joy of the

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.399
 ministry that I've

00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:23.919
 been able to

00:29:23.919 --> 00:29:24.500
 serve in at

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.699
 IJM, I can

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:27.120
 absolutely say

00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:28.080
 that my love

00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:28.759
 for the Lord

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:30.080
 has skyrocketed

00:29:30.080 --> 00:29:31.360
 in the midst

00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:32.240
 of daily

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.480
 readings of

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.039
 people being

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.720
 trafficked,

00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:36.160
 forced labour,

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.440
 online sexual

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.240
 exploitation of

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.559
 children, and

00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.360
 yet my love

00:29:40.360 --> 00:29:41.000
 for the Lord

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.440
 and what he

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.000
 is doing,

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:42.960
 and what he

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.640
 has done,

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.759
 and what he

00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.460
 will do,

00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.660
 has grown,

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.640
 and grown,

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.519
 and grown.

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:51.680
 But always

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.119
 in the

00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:53.079
 community of

00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.859
 spiritual

00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.480
 formation.

00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.039
 So in the

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.460
 midst of

00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.319
 resisting evil,

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:56.900
 our ability

00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:57.680
 to love God

00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.339
 and continue

00:29:58.339 --> 00:29:59.099
 finding ways

00:29:59.099 --> 00:29:59.819
 to love God

00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.240
 will be our

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.240
 primary mode

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.900
 of resistance.

00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:05.019
 In growing

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.900
 in love for

00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:06.619
 God, we can

00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.660
 move to the

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.500
 following Christian

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.240
 practices, and

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.660
 there's just a

00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.019
 couple of

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:12.180
 suggestions that

00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:12.819
 I've got here,

00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.319
 and what I

00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:15.279
 mean is how

00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.160
 are our hearts

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.940
 being formed?

00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:18.240
 How are your

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.880
 hearts being

00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:19.660
 transformed,

00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:20.960
 modelled, and

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.660
 shaped by the

00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.920
 Holy Spirit in

00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:23.440
 the midst of

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.000
 this suffering?

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.400
 So again,

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.240
 borrowing from

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:26.759
 Swinton, he

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.299
 has a couple

00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:28.279
 of practices

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.000
 which I think

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.279
 have been

00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.740
 particularly

00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.240
 helpful, and

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:30.559
 I've got a

00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:31.160
 small table

00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:32.259
 on the screen.

00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.400
 You may be

00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:33.759
 able to read

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:33.980
 it, it's a

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.400
 bit small,

00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:34.860
 hopefully you

00:30:34.860 --> 00:30:35.360
 can see some

00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:35.580
 of it.

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.160
 The first

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.500
 one is

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.299
 listening to

00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:38.880
 silence.

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.740
 Have you

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.160
 ever been in

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.059
 the presence of

00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:42.980
 someone suffering?

00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:45.960
 And can

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.480
 you,

00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.960
 you sit

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:49.600
 and listen?

00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:50.799
 Can you

00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.960
 be with

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.779
 them in

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.279
 the silence?

00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:56.100
 Something that

00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:56.559
 often goes

00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:58.000
 unnoticed is

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.660
 the silence of

00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.660
 Jesus, his

00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.840
 experience on

00:31:00.840 --> 00:31:01.480
 and leading up

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:01.940
 to the cross.

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.200
 Have you

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.740
 noticed that

00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:04.420
 in Mark's

00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:04.799
 gospel?

00:31:05.820 --> 00:31:06.400
 Go home

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:06.900
 today and

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.340
 read the

00:31:07.340 --> 00:31:07.820
 last few

00:31:07.820 --> 00:31:08.220
 chapters,

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:10.320
 because you

00:31:10.320 --> 00:31:10.940
 see Jesus'

00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:11.960
 ordeal lasted

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.860
 roughly six

00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:13.880
 hours, and

00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:14.480
 yet in that

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.259
 whole time,

00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.940
 we only

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:18.200
 have seven

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:19.299
 sentences that

00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:19.900
 we hear from

00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:20.099
 him.

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.519
 When he

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.039
 speaks,

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.920
 though, his

00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.539
 words are

00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.379
 powerful and

00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:25.960
 compassionate.

00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.319
 There's

00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.079
 something in

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:30.119
 that silence,

00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:31.700
 the weight of

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.359
 the suffering,

00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.220
 and friends,

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.039
 we must learn

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.059
 the practice of

00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:35.819
 listening to

00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.379
 silences.

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:36.580
 Jesus.

00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.280
 As we

00:31:40.280 --> 00:31:40.840
 listen to the

00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.260
 silence of

00:31:41.260 --> 00:31:41.720
 Jesus, we

00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.900
 recognize that

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.600
 the sufferer's

00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:44.500
 experience of

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.240
 distance from

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.020
 God is not

00:31:46.020 --> 00:31:46.940
 necessarily a

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.420
 mark of

00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:48.800
 faithlessness.

00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:52.080
 Rather, it is

00:31:52.080 --> 00:31:52.940
 an experience

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:54.220
 closely identified

00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:55.040
 with the

00:31:55.040 --> 00:31:55.720
 experience of

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.420
 Christ on

00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:56.920
 the cross.

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.760
 And that's

00:31:59.760 --> 00:32:01.740
 okay, to

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.840
 be in that

00:32:02.840 --> 00:32:05.460
 place, to

00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.259
 pray in

00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:06.940
 that place.

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.259
 Speaking of

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.039
 prayer, the

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:10.579
 next point,

00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.079
 lament.

00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.579
 Not often

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.279
 practiced in

00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:13.660
 the modern

00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:14.680
 church, but

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.340
 throughout the

00:32:15.340 --> 00:32:16.480
 Psalms, lament

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.460
 has a purpose

00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.180
 and an end

00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:18.779
 point beyond

00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:19.340
 the simple

00:32:19.340 --> 00:32:20.140
 expression of

00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:20.640
 pain to

00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.059
 God and

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:21.700
 saying, God

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.360
 is so painful,

00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:22.799
 it's more

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.200
 than that.

00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:25.039
 It's actually

00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.779
 an act of

00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.500
 reconciliation

00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:29.180
 with and a

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.000
 deeper love

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.860
 of God.

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.720
 As

00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:33.360
 Christians, when

00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:34.100
 we lament,

00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:35.439
 we locate

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:36.240
 and interpret

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.079
 our sufferings

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.539
 within the

00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:38.839
 narrative of

00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.319
 the life,

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:39.939
 death, and

00:32:39.939 --> 00:32:40.579
 resurrection of

00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:40.899
 Jesus.

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.179
 Lament gives

00:32:42.179 --> 00:32:43.759
 voice to

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:45.359
 suffering and

00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:46.059
 provides a

00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.339
 faithful language

00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:48.199
 through which

00:32:48.199 --> 00:32:49.759
 we can bring

00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:50.839
 our pain before

00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:51.240
 God.

00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.359
 Look at

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:53.359
 Psalm 75,

00:32:53.939 --> 00:32:54.500
 look at

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.519
 Psalm 79,

00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.559
 look at

00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.539
 Psalm 88,

00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:58.639
 Psalm 13,

00:32:58.839 --> 00:32:59.459
 it's all

00:32:59.459 --> 00:32:59.899
 there,

00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:02.039
 allowing us

00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:02.700
 to speak

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.200
 to God

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.579
 out of

00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:04.119
 our pain.

00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.359
 Point

00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:05.700
 three,

00:33:05.879 --> 00:33:06.420
 forgiveness.

00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.139
 The German

00:33:08.139 --> 00:33:09.200
 pastor Bonhoeffer

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:09.899
 explains that

00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.579
 suffering is a

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.019
 mode of

00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:12.960
 sharing in,

00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:13.740
 that forgiveness

00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.460
 is a mode of

00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.079
 sharing in the

00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.579
 suffering of

00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:15.940
 Christ.

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:16.819
 Forgiving

00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:19.119
 sins is the

00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:19.680
 Christian,

00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:21.480
 is the

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:21.799
 Christ

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.240
 suffering

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.980
 required of

00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:23.619
 his disciples.

00:33:24.619 --> 00:33:25.200
 It is

00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:25.700
 required of

00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:26.399
 all Christians.

00:33:26.639 --> 00:33:27.259
 All Christians

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:27.799
 are to

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.159
 forgive.

00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:29.639
 And forgiveness

00:33:29.639 --> 00:33:30.440
 is perhaps one

00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:30.840
 of the most

00:33:30.840 --> 00:33:31.580
 radical gifts

00:33:31.580 --> 00:33:32.620
 God calls

00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:33.980
 us to

00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:34.880
 as we

00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:35.539
 struggle to

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.100
 resist the

00:33:36.100 --> 00:33:36.539
 evil and

00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.180
 suffering around

00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:37.580
 us.

00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.400
 And I've

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.019
 seen this in

00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:42.740
 the cases of

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.539
 IJM where

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:45.100
 a perpetrator

00:33:45.100 --> 00:33:46.039
 of sexual

00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.640
 violence to

00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.240
 a child,

00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:52.740
 where that

00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.559
 person has

00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:54.799
 been somehow

00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.640
 miraculously

00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:56.980
 transformed in

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:57.600
 the process of

00:33:57.600 --> 00:33:58.279
 the trial and

00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:58.680
 has sought

00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.120
 forgiveness.

00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:01.120
 They're about

00:34:01.120 --> 00:34:01.660
 to be sent

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.440
 to jail for

00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:03.259
 20 years.

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.779
 How do I

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:07.180
 even deal

00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.580
 with that?

00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:08.420
 It's too

00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:08.880
 heavy, it's

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.440
 too hard.

00:34:09.740 --> 00:34:10.300
 But yet,

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.360
 God works

00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.659
 even in

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:14.700
 those most

00:34:14.700 --> 00:34:15.480
 despised

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:16.139
 sometimes.

00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:18.519
 Point

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:18.760
 for number

00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:18.960
 four,

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.740
 thoughtfulness.

00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:20.500
 Friends,

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:22.800
 often reflect,

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:23.980
 let us pray,

00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:26.179
 as Paul says

00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:26.720
 in Romans

00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.579
 12, that

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.000
 we be

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:29.079
 transformed by

00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.779
 the renewing

00:34:29.779 --> 00:34:30.460
 of your

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:31.059
 mind.

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.219
 In a

00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:32.759
 world where

00:34:32.759 --> 00:34:33.400
 thoughtlessness

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.259
 allows for

00:34:34.259 --> 00:34:34.639
 so much

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.219
 evil and

00:34:35.219 --> 00:34:35.599
 suffering,

00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:37.759
 to carry

00:34:37.759 --> 00:34:38.259
 on just

00:34:38.259 --> 00:34:39.159
 unhindered,

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:39.819
 without

00:34:39.819 --> 00:34:40.599
 thinking,

00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:41.079
 no one

00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:41.259
 even

00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:42.019
 thinking,

00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.480
 how can

00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:43.880
 we allow

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.299
 the Holy

00:34:44.299 --> 00:34:44.880
 Spirit to

00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:45.480
 form and

00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:46.639
 transform our

00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:47.340
 values and

00:34:47.340 --> 00:34:48.000
 our thoughts?

00:34:50.819 --> 00:34:51.779
 The phone

00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:52.420
 is a classic

00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:53.219
 experience of

00:34:53.219 --> 00:34:53.400
 this.

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:53.699
 It just

00:34:53.699 --> 00:34:54.199
 leads to

00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:54.960
 thoughtlessness.

00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.159
 forgiveness.

00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:57.300
 The Word

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:57.820
 of God

00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:59.199
 inspires the

00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.860
 renewing of

00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.500
 our minds.

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:04.139
 Point

00:35:04.139 --> 00:35:04.780
 number five,

00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:05.960
 the church

00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:07.960
 is called to

00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:08.500
 share everything

00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:09.480
 we have with

00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:10.139
 the stranger,

00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.320
 because everything

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:12.179
 that we have is

00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:12.940
 not our own.

00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:14.139
 Hospitality.

00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:15.420
 One of the

00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.720
 greatest gifts,

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.159
 if you ever

00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:17.980
 experience someone's

00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.659
 hospitality and

00:35:18.659 --> 00:35:18.940
 they give you

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:19.380
 hospitality,

00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:21.099
 it is a gift

00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:21.480
 from God.

00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:22.199
 It's so amazing

00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:23.240
 to experience that.

00:35:23.239 --> 00:35:24.319
 And it's

00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:25.259
 because it's

00:35:25.259 --> 00:35:26.119
 not theirs,

00:35:26.279 --> 00:35:27.179
 it's God's.

00:35:27.799 --> 00:35:28.539
 Everything is a

00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:28.779
 gift.

00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:29.379
 Life,

00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:29.979
 creation,

00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.459
 children,

00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:31.339
 it's all a

00:35:31.339 --> 00:35:31.599
 gift.

00:35:31.919 --> 00:35:32.459
 And when we

00:35:32.459 --> 00:35:33.000
 think of

00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:33.419
 hospitality,

00:35:33.799 --> 00:35:34.299
 we think of

00:35:34.299 --> 00:35:34.659
 friendship.

00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:35.419
 And you

00:35:35.419 --> 00:35:35.719
 see,

00:35:36.099 --> 00:35:36.459
 suffering,

00:35:36.879 --> 00:35:37.439
 and particularly

00:35:37.439 --> 00:35:38.319
 suffering that

00:35:38.319 --> 00:35:39.019
 is evil,

00:35:39.879 --> 00:35:40.899
 that is

00:35:40.899 --> 00:35:43.099
 inspired by

00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:43.579
 evil,

00:35:43.959 --> 00:35:44.639
 separates us

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.319
 not only from

00:35:45.319 --> 00:35:46.219
 God, but

00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:46.859
 also from one

00:35:46.859 --> 00:35:47.139
 another.

00:35:47.259 --> 00:35:47.719
 It creates

00:35:47.719 --> 00:35:48.599
 distance from

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.059
 each other.

00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.500
 So let us

00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:52.920
 not allow

00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.400
 evil to

00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:54.360
 present us

00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.260
 loving the

00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:55.880
 stranger in

00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:56.400
 our midst

00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:56.860
 in the

00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:57.260
 church,

00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:59.139
 in Chatswood,

00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:00.519
 and in the

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.199
 wider world.

00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:04.500
 So let me

00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.420
 close this

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.019
 with a

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:06.380
 prayer,

00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.380
 Psalm 33

00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:08.900
 and Psalm

00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:09.320
 10.

00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:10.980
 And then I

00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.420
 want us to

00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:12.099
 move into a

00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:12.519
 time of

00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:13.400
 stillness as

00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:14.079
 we approach

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:17.699
 God and

00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.420
 think of what

00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:18.980
 He has called

00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:19.699
 us to do

00:36:19.699 --> 00:36:21.099
 today together.

00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:23.619
 So would

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:24.019
 you pray

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:24.539
 with me?

00:36:24.820 --> 00:36:25.139
 And then

00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:25.340
 we're going

00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:25.679
 to have a

00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:26.079
 time of

00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:26.599
 just some

00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:28.900
 solitude for

00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.219
 you to

00:36:29.219 --> 00:36:30.039
 consider this,

00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:30.559
 to bring it

00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.019
 before the

00:36:31.019 --> 00:36:32.019
 Lord, and

00:36:32.019 --> 00:36:32.420
 then Nick's

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:32.639
 going to

00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:33.159
 lead us.

00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:43.239
 You,

00:36:43.860 --> 00:36:44.239
 Lord,

00:36:44.239 --> 00:36:44.420
 Lord,

00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:49.099
 you hear the

00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:49.940
 desire of the

00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:50.579
 afflicted.

00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:54.340
 You encourage

00:36:54.340 --> 00:36:56.659
 them, and

00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:57.280
 you listen to

00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:58.079
 their cry,

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:01.480
 defending the

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.380
 fatherless and

00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.019
 the oppressed,

00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:05.039
 so that mere

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:06.559
 earthly mortals

00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:07.400
 will never

00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.639
 again strike

00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.099
 terror.

00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:13.659
 We wait in

00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:14.960
 hope for the

00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:15.260
 Lord.

00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:17.539
 He is our

00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:18.360
 help and our

00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:18.780
 shield.

00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:21.960
 in Him our

00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:23.100
 hearts rejoice,

00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:24.860
 for we trust

00:37:24.860 --> 00:37:25.440
 in His

00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:26.519
 holy name.

00:37:29.160 --> 00:37:29.900
 May your

00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:31.260
 unfailing love

00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:32.320
 be with us,

00:37:32.820 --> 00:37:33.019
 Lord,

00:37:34.620 --> 00:37:35.500
 even as we

00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.700
 put our

00:37:36.700 --> 00:37:38.060
 hope in

00:37:38.060 --> 00:37:38.300
 you.

00:37:38.300 --> 00:37:38.360
 Amen.

00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:38.420
 Amen.

00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:38.500
 Amen.

00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:38.519
 Amen.

00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:38.920
 Amen.

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.360
 Amen.

00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:39.420
 Amen.

00:37:39.420 --> 00:37:40.420
 Amen.

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:40.440
 Amen.