WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.700 Father, we ask that you would gently but deeply pour out your Holy Spirit upon us. 00:00:04.419 --> 00:00:10.500 Father, we confess before you that we flatter ourselves too much to detect or hate our own sin. 00:00:11.200 --> 00:00:17.539 In fact, Father, that so often we flatter ourselves so much we don't even know that we are flattering ourselves. 00:00:18.240 --> 00:00:20.420 And we become deaf to your word. 00:00:20.900 --> 00:00:26.280 We also confess, Father, how easily the world forms us in its mold. 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:29.960 How the world forms our heart without us even realizing it. 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:38.000 So, Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would use your word in a powerful way in our minds and hearts and lives today. 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:42.179 That you would, Father, bring us freedom. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:44.620 The freedom to repent. 00:00:45.140 --> 00:00:46.519 The freedom to turn to you. 00:00:46.939 --> 00:00:48.740 The freedom to be gripped by the gospel. 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:52.120 And this we ask in Jesus' name, your Son and our Savior. 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:52.920 Amen. 00:00:53.620 --> 00:00:54.579 Please be seated. 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:54.719 Amen. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:01:06.959 So, some of you are going, I don't know how closely you're listening to Nigel read, but some of you are maybe going, 00:01:07.479 --> 00:01:07.779 Whoa! 00:01:08.619 --> 00:01:12.159 Did the Bible just say that God causes disasters in the city? 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:19.879 Did the Bible just say, did Nigel just read in the book of Amos that if there's disaster, it's caused by God? 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:22.339 But some of you, that might have jumped out at you. 00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:25.679 I have to confess, I'm going to talk about this a little bit more. 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:27.539 I'm a fast reader. 00:01:28.199 --> 00:01:33.359 And I have to really force myself to slow down and look at things slowly. 00:01:33.739 --> 00:01:38.079 By nature, I'm not like a, I don't read poetry unless I absolutely have to. 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:45.859 And I like novels, the type of novels that grip you and you just want to keep turning the page and turning the page and going and going until they're done. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:53.659 And that's like a really, really good thing when you find a novel that grips you and you just want to keep reading and you don't really pause to notice the prose. 00:01:54.620 --> 00:01:59.900 And so, when I was first reading this text to prepare to preach on it, I'm going, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:01.459 I wonder what on earth I'm going to say, what I'm going to say. 00:02:01.620 --> 00:02:01.980 Whoa! 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:04.299 God causes disaster in the city. 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:07.859 And then after that, I could hardly pay attention to the rest of the text. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:10.440 And so, we're going to look. 00:02:10.640 --> 00:02:11.980 Is that what the Bible said? 00:02:12.420 --> 00:02:13.800 What exactly does it say? 00:02:13.880 --> 00:02:14.820 What does it not say? 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:22.620 Some of you, when you hear that the text, does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it? 00:02:23.420 --> 00:02:25.939 Some of us will think, how dare God? 00:02:25.939 --> 00:02:31.240 Or some of us will think, I always knew that God was evil and that's why I don't believe he exists. 00:02:31.880 --> 00:02:37.680 Others of you might say, I know now why my life sucks because I always knew that God hated me. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:38.940 There's no hope. 00:02:39.420 --> 00:02:40.920 I meet people who say that. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:41.680 My life sucks. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:42.820 I think God hates me. 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:45.380 And so, is that what's going on in the text? 00:02:45.620 --> 00:02:46.160 Well, let's look. 00:02:46.540 --> 00:02:48.900 Be really helpful for me if you open the Bible yourself. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:52.240 And we spent some time in God's word in Amos 3. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.820 And here's how it begins. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:05.700 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt. 00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:07.719 Now, we're just going to pause here. 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:09.320 We have to sort of think about this verse. 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:13.379 I don't know how many of you are like me and you by nature are very, very fast readers. 00:03:14.340 --> 00:03:18.759 But there's different ways that the Bible can talk about hearing. 00:03:19.239 --> 00:03:26.519 And in this particular case, there's a very particular sense that it's using the word like to hear. 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:34.860 Many of us, when we're in conversations, hearing really means we just have an opportunity to catch our breath. 00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:39.160 And so that when the other person stops talking, we can continue to talk. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:42.780 Because what the other person is saying is actually completely and utterly irrelevant. 00:03:43.660 --> 00:03:46.300 We don't really want to listen and understand or hear. 00:03:46.640 --> 00:03:53.620 We just use the other person speaking as a chance to marshal our thoughts, to catch our breath while we continue to speak. 00:03:53.620 --> 00:04:01.719 And some of us, when we listen to people or listen to particular people, we're really only listening to them because we already know that they're stupid. 00:04:02.300 --> 00:04:08.599 And we're listening for examples so we can then once again prove to them that they're actually pretty stupid. 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:11.759 We often listen because we want to mock. 00:04:12.040 --> 00:04:18.120 We want to listen because we don't respect them, but we just have to endure it. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:21.860 I mean, there's all sorts of reasons and ways that we hear. 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:27.100 And in this particular context, it could almost be translated hear to obey. 00:04:27.980 --> 00:04:33.480 Hear, H-E-A-R, listen with an attitude that you're listening to obey. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:44.420 So in other words, the model underneath it, the image underneath it, if you were to give it a modern cast, would be you discover that you have something very seriously wrong with you. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:47.360 You have a very, very serious medical condition. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:48.480 And you go to the doctor. 00:04:48.980 --> 00:04:56.720 And the doctor starts to tell you not only what your condition is, but the next two or three or four things, including the medication you have to take and the steps you have to take. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:04.960 And unless you're like a complete fool or an idiot, when you're listening to the doctor at that point in time, you're listening to obey. 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:08.240 You're listening very, very, very carefully. 00:05:08.760 --> 00:05:13.420 You don't want to go home to your mom or your dad or your husband or your wife or your best friend. 00:05:13.760 --> 00:05:15.500 And they said, what did the doctor say? 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:17.040 And you go, I don't know. 00:05:17.080 --> 00:05:18.800 I think they said I have something wrong with me. 00:05:18.880 --> 00:05:19.560 What are you supposed to do? 00:05:19.580 --> 00:05:20.340 Well, I don't know. 00:05:20.339 --> 00:05:22.299 Like that might happen. 00:05:22.419 --> 00:05:24.659 I mean, many of us go to listen to the doctor. 00:05:24.859 --> 00:05:27.000 And afterwards, it's hard to remember what they said. 00:05:27.619 --> 00:05:29.879 And we want to bring somebody along with us. 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:42.659 But when the doctor tells us that this is very, very, very serious, it's cancer, it's hard, it's some serious liver problem or kidney problem, some serious disease, 00:05:43.219 --> 00:05:46.299 we listen very, very carefully. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:49.219 And we listen because we want to get better. 00:05:49.220 --> 00:05:54.780 We listen with the intention that we will remember it and take the steps that we need to obey. 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:57.920 And that's the way the text opens today. 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:03.320 Now, it's going to eventually talk about some very, very hard and difficult things. 00:06:03.700 --> 00:06:08.260 And many of us in our culture, we don't really like listening to God in that type of a sense. 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:15.400 In fact, for many of us, the way we listen to God is we listen like this. 00:06:15.399 --> 00:06:22.299 Sort of waiting to see if it matches with what we think and with what we agree with. 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:34.759 In fact, actually, if you read books on preaching, there's even a whole range of books that tell you about how to speak to the Bible that you have to answer the so what and now what question. 00:06:35.520 --> 00:06:40.360 That after people listen, they want to say, they're saying internally, so what? 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:42.240 Or now what? 00:06:42.240 --> 00:07:07.560 Without ever sort of challenging whether, in fact, that's the wise way to listen to God. 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:15.699 That maybe a wiser way to listen to God is to listen with the question, how shall we then live? 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:17.759 How shall I then live? 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:24.800 But it's very common to listen with a type of skeptical cast. 00:07:25.840 --> 00:07:30.620 And so this text in the Bible begins with a very, very stark challenge to how we listen. 00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:38.579 It says, once again, if you listen to it, hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you or about you. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:42.420 It can be translated the same way, either against or about, oh, people of Israel. 00:07:43.100 --> 00:07:48.420 Against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt. 00:07:48.420 --> 00:08:02.240 Now, in this particular case, it's really, really important that you notice the rest of verse one. 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:09.220 It's going to really, not only does it challenge how we listen, but it challenges something else in terms of our whole attitude to the rest of the text. 00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:15.520 My wife will tell you accurately that I am a very slow learner in terms of marriage. 00:08:17.100 --> 00:08:20.640 Fortunately, we've been married a long time, but I still have a lot to learn about marriage. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:26.300 And one of the hardest lessons for me to learn about marriage, one of the many hard lessons for me to learn about marriage, 00:08:26.840 --> 00:08:32.759 is that when Louise confronts me, she confronts me because she wants to connect with me more deeply. 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:41.740 In fact, in most marriages in North America, when the wife who loves the husband confronts the husband, 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:48.179 the husband often experiences the confrontation as pushing away behavior. 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:54.059 But in fact, the wife is confronting because she desires to connect. 00:08:55.860 --> 00:09:02.480 She's trying to grab you by the shirt and say, listen up, I want to connect with you. 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:04.559 I'm not pushing you away. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:06.919 I'm shaking you so you come closer. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:09.500 And I'm a really slow learner at that. 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:15.100 And it's really important for us to understand verse one. 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:18.819 Not only is it asking us to listen, is it challenging how we listen? 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:23.740 It's challenging us to understand that all of the rest that's going to happen, 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:28.100 and the way the book of Amos is structured is that the first, it's structured in three sections. 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:33.519 And the first section, chapters one and two, it's a series of oracles. 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:40.740 And amongst other things, it's showing that God is, in fact, a judge, is bigger than the nations. 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:43.980 And he's untamed by the nations. 00:09:44.420 --> 00:09:45.940 And he's going to judge the nations. 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:47.920 And he has the right to do it. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:54.259 And the last three chapters of Amos, chapter seven, eight, and nine, are a series of visions 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:57.120 about Israel and just about life. 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:58.079 They're a series of visions. 00:09:58.259 --> 00:10:04.519 And in between, chapter three, four, five, and six, it's sort of a list of, 00:10:04.959 --> 00:10:11.059 it's God speaking to his people with what's going on in their lives 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:13.039 and what they need to deal with. 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:18.319 And it's sort of, you know, Old Testament writers, by modern standards, they're loopy. 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:22.480 By that I mean is they sort of talk about something, and then they talk about something, 00:10:22.579 --> 00:10:25.719 and then they loop back, and then they loop over here, and then they talk about, you know, 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:32.659 like it can often drive us, you know, A, B, C, D, one, two, three, four types of people 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:35.299 really nuts because it keeps looping back. 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:36.740 It's just the way they talk. 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:44.399 But it's the beginning of this God sitting before Israel, what's really going on in their lives, 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:48.820 what really is the status of their hearts, how they really look from God's perspective 00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:49.899 at the level of the heart. 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:56.899 And at the very, very start of it, he wants his people to understand that he's confronting them, 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:58.620 to connect with them. 00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:03.299 Actually, if, I've already sort of missed some points. 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:05.480 I'm way out of whack with my thing. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:08.399 Well, I'm just going to fix this, and we'll go back to the other point. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:10.639 Look at verse one again. 00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:15.139 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, 00:11:15.680 --> 00:11:19.519 against the whole family that I brought up out of Egypt. 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:26.560 He's saying, he's reminding them that he's talking to his family. 00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:32.840 He's reminding them that he's the one who made them his family. 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:35.019 They didn't make him their dad. 00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:38.759 He made them his children. 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:49.220 And not only did they not make him dad, that he made them his children, that he adopted them. 00:11:49.800 --> 00:11:56.379 And not only did he adopt them, he was the one who rescued them out of bondage and slavery. 00:11:56.379 --> 00:12:06.480 And it was him, it was God, who rescued people, slaves, out of bondage, out of slavery. 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:12.820 He rescued them, and he adopts them, and enters into a covenant with them. 00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:14.720 And that's the one who's speaking. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:18.259 Now, I just need to put a couple of things up. 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:19.460 Could you put the first point up? 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:24.920 This is the first thing which I neglected to say, but I need to put it up. 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:33.720 It's very, very important all the way through this that it's clear that you understand that the Bible is claiming that this is God speaking. 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:48.680 As I put it up there, the Bible is God's word written down for every age, including our own. 00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:57.460 Amos isn't saying, I spent some time on the mountaintop with God, and I think this is what God means. 00:12:57.460 --> 00:13:12.580 And Amos isn't saying, I spent some time up there with God, or I've had a vision, and I know this is what he means, and I'm going to try to say it as best I can. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:16.840 No, the claim all the way through this text. 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:23.759 It's the claim in verse 1, in verse 7, in verse 8, in verse 10, in verse 11, in verse 12, in verse 15. 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:30.720 And if you go back and look at chapter 1 and 2, basically every oracle begins and ends with the statement, 00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:34.240 this is God saying this, and the Bible is making this claim. 00:13:34.660 --> 00:13:36.080 You don't have to necessarily accept it. 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:36.740 I accept it. 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:37.220 I believe it. 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:38.340 This is what the Bible teaches. 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:40.240 I believe it for a whole range of reasons. 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.840 But this is the claim that the Bible is making. 00:13:44.160 --> 00:13:46.160 I have to try to understand it. 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:50.379 But it's not Amos trying to understand something that God has said. 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:57.519 It's God speaking the words that he wants through Amos in this particular case. 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:04.200 And those are the words that we are to hear with the attitude that we desire to obey it, 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:07.860 like listening to a doctor after he's told us something serious. 00:14:08.420 --> 00:14:11.940 And if you could go up to the next point, Andrew, and this is the last part of verse 1. 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:15.960 God confronts me to connect with me. 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:21.200 In fact, not only here in Amos, it's the way we're to read all of the Bible. 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:23.879 All of those parts that make us want to scream. 00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:26.280 All of those parts that make us angry. 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:28.780 All of those parts that make us afraid. 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:33.800 Whether it's talking about abortion or about, you know, same-sex marriage. 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:36.240 Or whether it's talking about sexual matters. 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:38.519 Or whether it's talking about doctor-assisted suicide. 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:44.059 Whether it's talking about, you know, ways to wage war or not to wage war. 00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:45.879 How it talks about tithing. 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:47.100 And how it talks about money. 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:49.100 And how it talks about telling the truth. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.039 And how it talks about heaven. 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:52.460 And how it talks about hell. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:55.259 And how it talks about divine power. 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:56.679 And human responsibility. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:01.379 And whatever it is that can sometimes for us in our culture. 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:04.720 In terms of we're just thinking how harsh it sounds. 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:07.179 We can think about how we would hate our friends to hear this. 00:15:07.179 --> 00:15:13.460 Because they would think I'm seriously crazy to actually listen to this stuff. 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:15.039 It can terrify us. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.200 We might want to explain it away. 00:15:16.299 --> 00:15:20.139 We have to understand in every case that God speaks it with the idea and the hope. 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:22.259 We won't say so what and now what. 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:24.279 But that we'll listen very carefully. 00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:29.740 And he speaks even his hardest words to connect with us. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.759 That's his heart. 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:34.000 That's his heart. 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:39.179 And for Christians, after the cross, we know that even more deeply. 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:44.559 Now, the very next part, you sort of have to understand. 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:49.899 You see, the problem we often have with reading the Bible is the way we carry certain images towards the Bible. 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:53.199 And we sort of invent a context which isn't the Bible's context. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:16:00.259 A few years ago, a friend of mine who's a pastor, he had his daughter, his young daughter. 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.899 She got very, very sick. 00:16:01.959 --> 00:16:03.379 It ended up being quite serious. 00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:04.740 She went to Emerge. 00:16:04.819 --> 00:16:08.019 And after Emerge, she went into the department where they were going to deal with her. 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:09.480 And Emerge, they brought the doctor. 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:11.059 Anyway, it was very, very serious. 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:14.319 It was actually very, very serious. 00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:19.480 But they started to get it under control after, you know, whatever, 12 hours, 24 hours. 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:22.180 So after he'd been there about 36 hours, he'd slept there. 00:16:22.779 --> 00:16:26.779 He went down to the cafeteria to get a coffee and get something to eat. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:32.360 And while he was in the coffee getting something to eat, he bumped into somebody from his church. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:33.000 He's a pastor. 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.500 He bumped into somebody from his church. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:40.879 And this person from his church was the head doctor of one of the departments in the hospital. 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.100 Big cheese. 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:49.220 Whole floor of the hospital that dealt with certain types of things. 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:50.120 He was the head. 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:53.100 And he bumps into my friend in the cafeteria. 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:55.960 And the doctor says, you know, I'll just call him Bob. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.340 Bob, what are you doing here? 00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:59.560 And Bob says, well, it's been really touch and go. 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:02.700 My daughter came in like 36 hours ago. 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.740 It was like emergency. 00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:04.779 He came in by ambulance. 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:07.599 It was really hard. 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.400 And he talks. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.880 And, you know, the doctor was very listening. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:13.580 And he said, well, listen, I'll come up and I'll visit her with you. 00:17:14.040 --> 00:17:14.660 It's not a joke. 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.700 I'm smiling, but it's not a joke. 00:17:16.040 --> 00:17:18.120 So they get in the elevator. 00:17:18.580 --> 00:17:25.480 And as they get in the elevator, just before the elevator closes, another woman comes in with a younger man. 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:28.760 And the woman says hi to the doctor. 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:32.420 And she said, where are you going? 00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:34.000 And he doesn't get off at his floor. 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:34.900 He keeps going higher. 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:35.620 She said, oh, where are you going? 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.860 He said, well, I'm going up to your floor. 00:17:38.040 --> 00:17:39.260 She's the head of the department. 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:41.500 Where my friend's daughter is. 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.860 She's the head doctor. 00:17:44.560 --> 00:17:51.080 And he said, well, my buddy here, who's my pastor, his daughter is in your department. 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:53.200 You know, she had this problem. 00:17:53.780 --> 00:17:55.200 And I'm going up to visit her. 00:17:55.700 --> 00:18:04.240 So now the head of the department, who hasn't, I mean, there's no reason for, you know, the fellow's daughter had only seen interns and stuff. 00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:07.020 But he had no complaints about his care or anything like that. 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:10.940 But now the head of the department looks and looks. 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:15.519 Oh, he's not just some schlub. 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.680 He's important. 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:27.880 A guy who's really high up in the hospital is coming up on my floor to check on one of my patients with his pastor, his friend. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:41.240 So after my friend's friend leaves, the head of the department comes in to examine his daughter, concerned, of course, that she's getting the best care. 00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:46.660 And in the course of the conversation, she says to him, listen, here's my private mobile number. 00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:50.720 If you have any concern at any time about your care, give me a call. 00:18:50.820 --> 00:18:51.620 I'll deal with it. 00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:55.579 So here's the, this whole context, right? 00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:57.559 This is what we see in the world all of the time. 00:18:57.619 --> 00:19:00.659 That if you know the right people, things go, you know, go better. 00:19:00.739 --> 00:19:03.859 I had a knee pain a couple of, you know, a week, a couple of weeks ago. 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:07.079 And, you know, I, you know, I just self-diagnosed myself and all that. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:07.879 But you know how it is. 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:15.839 Like if I was a senator's player or if I was in the NFL and I was an important player and I had knee pain, I would see a doctor right away. 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:18.399 And if I needed surgery, it would happen the next day, right? 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:21.459 I mean, in Canada, there is two-tier medicine. 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:24.099 Like we never think about it. 00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:30.079 But the star player on an NHL team does not have to wait three months to see a specialist. 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:32.720 Why? 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:35.379 Because he's the star player on the Maple Leafs. 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:36.659 He's the star player in the Canucks. 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:39.259 He's the star player on the, on the Ottawa Senators. 00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:40.839 The whole season depends upon him. 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:46.500 He doesn't have to wait an extra three months after he finally sees the specialist to finally get an ultrasound. 00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:49.699 And then after that, wait two months to see the specialist again. 00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:52.379 And after that, wait four months to see a doctor. 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.359 Right? 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:54.579 It's funny. 00:19:54.639 --> 00:20:00.679 We don't even think about the fact that, okay, my, my aunt has to wait a year for surgery. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:06.299 But the star player of the Maple Leafs is operated on the next day. 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:19.299 And that's partially because in our culture and just in our human flesh, we understand that if you're important and you matter, the rules are different. 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:20.680 Isn't that what we think? 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:24.379 So in that context, listen to verses one and two again. 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:30.440 And when you, within this context, you're going to understand the shock of verse two. 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:41.039 And many of us are shocked with verse two, the second part of verse two for a different reason, but it's because we haven't grasped something about our heart and about how we think the world works. 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.960 Listen to verse one and two again. 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:50.779 So hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt. 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:54.880 You only have I known of all the families of the earth. 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:58.220 Therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities. 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:02.180 But that's not how the world works. 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:08.519 I mean, for us, it's a bit of a shock because we maybe wonder if it's a sadomasochistic type of thing or what's going on. 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:19.779 But the biggest shock is, the biggest shock is that's not how the, you know, oh, you're a really important person I've now discovered because you know the head of another department. 00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:22.840 Therefore, I am not going to help you. 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.880 No, no, that's not how it works. 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:31.140 Therefore, I mean, my friend never even, you know, this wouldn't have been the way it worked. 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:35.840 But imagine that he had gone in if he was another type of person and he had to take his daughter into an emergency. 00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:42.660 And it turns out that her problem was exactly, his daughter was going to go to the floor where the guy from his church was. 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:54.040 And aren't there many of us who would want to say as we're in emergency, they say, just so you know, your boss, your boss is boss's boss's boss is my best friend. 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:58.899 And I think I've been waiting too long. 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.859 Did I just tell you again? 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:04.359 Like, you want, I have his personal mobile number. 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:06.259 I don't have to go through a secretary. 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:09.379 And that's your boss's boss's boss. 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.960 We want special treatment. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:24.759 And so what's going to be going on, one of the big charges and one of the ways to understand the rest of chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, and even the visions is a particular human sin. 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.240 And it's a sin of presumption. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:28.380 If you could put it up, Andrew, that would be very helpful. 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:34.480 Presumption is the perennial counterfeit to saving faith. 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:41.460 Presumption is the perennial substitute to saving faith. 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:47.559 And we presume that we will be treated differently. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:53.000 We have a sense of entitlement, a sense of self-satisfaction. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:56.500 We are self-congratulatory. 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:59.840 We are self-righteous, self-justifying. 00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:01.120 We feel entitled. 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:02.180 We feel special. 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:08.460 We believe that the rules do not apply to us in the same way that they apply to other people in certain regards. 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:13.519 And it is very, very powerful in society and culture. 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:18.400 Like, I'll just, here's something which, I don't know, maybe some of you who have been in economics, you know this. 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:24.720 Did you know that if we were to go back 100 years ago and you had a choice of living in Canada or Argentina, 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:26.920 you know where most rational people would have chosen? 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.160 Argentina. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:28.240 Argentina. 00:23:30.320 --> 00:23:38.620 In the first three decades of the 20th century, Argentina was considerably wealthier, more prosperous, more stable than Canada. 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:40.140 Maybe not more stable, but richer. 00:23:41.060 --> 00:23:49.360 In fact, in the early part, the first three decades of the 20th century, Argentina, by per capita, was the 10th richest nation on the planet. 00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:51.920 10th richest. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:24:03.740 If you were looking in terms of economic opportunities in 1916, you would choose Argentina over Canada and over Australia or over New Zealand. 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.960 That over most nations. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:08.700 It was one of the most prosperous nations on the planet. 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:13.519 Now, in terms of prosperity, it's in the bottom half. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:19.039 Why is it that we in Canada don't think that that could happen to us? 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:28.799 Why is it that we think that we can make any type of political decision or economic decision or economic policy, 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:32.119 and that what happened to Argentina can't happen to us? 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:33.960 Why is it that we think that in our culture? 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:39.660 Is there some divine right that means that just because we're Canadians, 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:42.200 that we will always be prosperous and safe and free? 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:46.100 Well, that's BS. 00:24:47.620 --> 00:24:49.380 You don't have to zip that out, right? 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.700 I just used the letters, right? 00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:53.720 But it's presumptuous. 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:59.279 And how presumptuous is it to listen to God's word and go, 00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:01.180 so what? 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.920 Okay, now what? 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:09.920 I'm... 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:14.060 I just woke up one morning with a sore knee. 00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:16.500 I don't know what it was, a virus? 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:19.480 Like, you just wake up with it one day. 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:23.420 And all of us, either ourselves or have family members, 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:27.620 is that one day all of a sudden there's something really bad going on physically. 00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:30.679 We can be felled by this tiniest little microbe. 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:39.379 And yet we presume as if we are the judges of God and the judges of nations and the judges of people in the center of the universe. 00:25:39.939 --> 00:25:43.639 And it can mask in religious and social and spiritual forms. 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:46.139 It doesn't matter how I live, I speak in tongues. 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:51.620 I'm spiritually sophisticated and more advanced than other people because I speak in tongues. 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:54.800 I'm more advanced than people because I use the Book of Common Prayer. 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:58.340 I'm more advanced than people because I know how to say Hail Mary, full of grace. 00:25:58.460 --> 00:26:00.540 I'm more advanced than other people because I'm Reformed. 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:04.440 I'm more advanced and better than other people because I... 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:05.000 I don't know. 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:09.700 You just start to fill in the blanks because I'm Methodist, because I'm Wesleyan, because I'm Anic, because I'm whatever. 00:26:10.800 --> 00:26:13.700 That it's not faith. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.380 It's not a relationship. 00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:17.000 We're not connected to God. 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:18.420 We're presuming upon God. 00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:23.020 We're acting and thinking as if we are somehow entitled. 00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:28.220 And we give ourselves a pass on thing after thing after thing after thing. 00:26:33.120 --> 00:26:37.380 So to understand the text, we've only gotten into verse 2. 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:40.280 Just so you know at this rate, there's 15 verses. 00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:43.000 This is going to be a three and a half hour long sermon. 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:46.839 We're going to go through a bit quicker. 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:49.880 But it's a really important beginning to the text, right? 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:54.059 It's this perennial danger about presumption. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:56.359 And I'm going to put up two other texts. 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:58.519 Actually, where am I in my notes? 00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.680 Always dangerous. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:07.320 Actually, Andrew, could you put up the... 00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:07.779 No, no. 00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:08.980 We're going to go to verses 3 to 8. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.200 Sorry. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.880 So here's the thing then. 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:22.400 I told you I'm a really fast reader and I sometimes skip over things. 00:27:22.520 --> 00:27:28.160 And I have to confess that when I read the text for the first time, I didn't notice... 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:31.360 One of the things that happens is when you read the text really, really, really quickly. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:36.340 And you have to often read the Old Testament in particular very slowly and notice a very 00:27:36.340 --> 00:27:38.480 subtle change that it makes in the text. 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:43.200 And that's probably one of the reasons why I often, in my own personal devotions, because 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:45.880 I read fairly quickly even in my personal devotions. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.880 I probably don't get as much out of it as I should. 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:49.840 I should probably be a slower reader. 00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:54.480 Those of you who are slow readers, you probably get more out of the Bible than I do many times. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:57.860 But the Bible does something very, very subtle. 00:27:58.380 --> 00:28:00.660 It's challenging us about what God's Word is. 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:03.400 It challenges us about the danger of presumption. 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:09.299 And then it's going to do something else that it talks about disaster. 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:15.579 It sounds very, very judgmental, but it's actually very, very, very open-ended in terms 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:19.220 of how it starts to go into the problem that the Israelites are facing. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:22.079 Now, look, read with me with verses 3 to 8. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:24.099 And then you probably won't notice it. 00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:25.759 I'll go back and show you what it means. 00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:29.899 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to meet? 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:33.139 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? 00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:36.839 Does a young lion cry out from his den if he has taken nothing? 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:40.699 Does a bird fall on a snare on the earth when there is no trap for it? 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:43.740 Does a snare spring up from the ground when it has taken nothing? 00:28:44.219 --> 00:28:47.159 Is a trumpet blowing in a city and the people are not afraid? 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:50.879 Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it? 00:28:51.800 --> 00:28:54.460 That's a really scary verse we're going to look at in a moment. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:58.800 For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants, the prophets. 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.480 The lion is roared. 00:29:00.560 --> 00:29:01.300 Who will not fear? 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.220 The Lord has spoken. 00:29:02.760 --> 00:29:03.800 Who can but prophesy? 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:09.519 Now, here's the very, very subtle thing in the text, but it's really, really very important. 00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:13.059 And we're going to spend just a minute or two on it to try to help you see it. 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:18.619 But, you know, it's this sort of little thing that leads you to the shocking conclusion. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.599 Can two walk? 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:25.299 You know, about the traps, about the roaring, about the disaster. 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:27.519 Whoa, God's causing disaster in the city. 00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:29.159 I wasn't expecting that. 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:32.840 But if you'll notice, look at verses 4, 5, and 6. 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:35.320 There's always a pair in every case. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:39.180 Verse 4, there's a pair around lions roaring. 00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:42.680 In verse 5, there's a pair around traps. 00:29:43.360 --> 00:29:49.040 In verse 6, there's a pair around fighting and about disaster to a city. 00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:51.380 But in verse 3, it says, 00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:53.860 It says, do two walk together unless they've agreed to meet? 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:57.200 But there's no second bit. 00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:03.720 And that's because, as Amos is going to get into the rest of the book, 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:09.400 the challenge is for the listener to complete the couplet. 00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:15.180 If you don't listen to God in words of obedience, 00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:17.340 if you don't capture the fact, 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:20.540 if the fact that God's going to punish you only angers you, 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:24.400 it doesn't make you think that you're self-entitled, 00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:26.820 that you're presumptuous, that you're self-righteous, 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:29.220 that you're self-satisfied, that you're self-congratulatory. 00:30:29.280 --> 00:30:30.720 It doesn't make you think of any of those things. 00:30:30.780 --> 00:30:32.160 All it does is make you mad. 00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:36.400 Then there will be one second part to the couplet. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:38.680 And the couplet will begin, 00:30:39.100 --> 00:30:41.300 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to meet? 00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:44.780 Can two people live together after they have divorced? 00:30:45.560 --> 00:30:50.019 Or can two people walk together when one punches the other in the face? 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:54.660 Or can two walk together when one spends all of his time abusing the other person? 00:30:54.780 --> 00:30:59.140 Or can two walk together when one person wants to walk away and run away? 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.140 Is that how it's going to finish? 00:31:01.860 --> 00:31:03.120 Or is it going to finish? 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:06.579 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to meet? 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:09.959 Cannot two walk together when there has been repentance? 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:16.739 Like, Amos intentionally didn't complete the couplet 00:31:16.739 --> 00:31:19.599 because he says, 00:31:19.899 --> 00:31:21.699 How you listen to the rest of the book 00:31:21.699 --> 00:31:25.819 will determine what the second part should be. 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:28.539 Now here we go, just before we go on. 00:31:29.239 --> 00:31:30.979 Andrew, could you put up a scripture text? 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:33.819 This is a really good verse to memorize in life, folks. 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:36.099 It's from the book of Ezekiel. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:37.900 And you'll notice there's a funny thing at the end 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:41.640 because there's three verses almost identical in wording. 00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:43.839 And I had to look at, I ended up picking this wording, 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.860 but if you want to look it up, 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:46.980 all three of them are very, very similar wording. 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:48.140 Same idea. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:50.259 For those of you who are old Anglicans, 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:52.819 it's actually a really important part of Anglican spirituality 00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:55.480 because it's a key part of morning and evening prayer 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:57.819 to say a version of this verse 00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:59.720 every time you do the daily offices. 00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:02.220 God takes no delight in death of a sinner, 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:04.519 but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live. 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:06.579 It's actually part of the basic structure 00:32:06.579 --> 00:32:08.460 of Anglican Bible reading 00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:11.500 as it was formulated by the English reformers. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.359 But could you say this text with me? 00:32:14.159 --> 00:32:15.079 Say to them, 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:18.039 As I live, declares the Lord God, 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:21.299 I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, 00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:24.980 but that the wicked would turn from his way and live. 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.740 Just think of this. 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:30.379 When Jesus died on the cross, 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:32.819 he died between two thieves. 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:36.639 And if you look at all the accounts of his death upon the cross, 00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:40.000 the day begins with both thieves abusing Jesus. 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:42.819 But sometime during the day, 00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:45.619 one of the thieves is convicted 00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:47.819 and stops abusing Jesus. 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:51.119 And he eventually turns and says to Jesus, 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.279 Jesus, 00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:56.279 remember me when you come into your kingdom. 00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:57.599 And Jesus says to him, 00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:59.460 today you will be with me in paradise. 00:33:00.919 --> 00:33:03.700 And Jesus died between two thieves 00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:05.960 with very different destinies. 00:33:06.879 --> 00:33:07.599 The thief 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:11.659 who is the penitent 00:33:11.659 --> 00:33:14.440 who we will see in heaven 00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:16.700 if we have given our lives to Jesus. 00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:19.440 That thief reminds us 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:21.000 that we should never despair. 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:25.220 That no person is so far from God 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:26.919 that repentance is not an option. 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:29.740 The penitent thief reminds us 00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:31.980 that no human being should despair, 00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:33.539 nor should we despair 00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:35.720 in sharing the gospel with any human being. 00:33:36.919 --> 00:33:38.859 And the thief that began the day 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:40.519 and ended the day abusing Jesus 00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:42.819 reminds us that nobody should presume. 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:46.599 No one should presume. 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:53.759 Andrew, if you could put up A. 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:57.339 Here's just sort of two things to pause 00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:59.859 before we just bring the servant to a close. 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:02.039 We have a bit to go still. 00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:02.779 But dear Lord, 00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:04.920 please deliver me from all traces 00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:06.180 of presumption, 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.180 entitlement, 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:08.920 and self-satisfaction. 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:11.559 Instead, by your grace, 00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:13.739 make me a disciple of Jesus 00:34:13.739 --> 00:34:14.800 gripped by the gospel, 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.880 living for your glory. 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:17.079 Like for many of us, 00:34:17.200 --> 00:34:18.360 this is the challenge. 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:21.280 That entitlement and presumption 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:22.740 slip into our lives 00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:23.860 without realizing it. 00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:25.220 And we're redeemed, 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.500 we're saved by grace, 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:28.119 but our walk with Jesus 00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:30.119 is deeply burdened 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:31.360 and broken and compromised 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:33.940 because we aren't growing in holiness, 00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:35.500 we're growing in presumption. 00:34:36.220 --> 00:34:37.880 Self-satisfaction and entitlement. 00:34:39.160 --> 00:34:40.180 And here's the second thing. 00:34:40.220 --> 00:34:40.920 Andrew, if you could put up 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:41.659 the second prayer, 00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:45.220 many of us read the Bible 00:34:45.220 --> 00:34:46.920 with a so what, now what attitude. 00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:50.619 And this text is challenging us 00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:52.519 to consider praying a prayer like this. 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.700 If you don't have time to write it down, 00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.500 it'll be on the webpage. 00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:56.420 We'll maybe a little bit, 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.420 have to wait a little bit 00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:58.599 because Shirley's on holidays, 00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.700 but it will go on the webpage. 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.659 Or you can email me. 00:35:02.200 --> 00:35:02.639 Dear Lord, 00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:04.500 please deliver me from all vain, 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.099 false, 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:06.500 and self-congratulatory 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.639 listening to your word. 00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:10.639 Please make me a disciple 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:12.139 of Jesus gripped by the gospel 00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:13.279 who is learning to listen 00:35:13.279 --> 00:35:14.019 to your word 00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:15.019 humbly, 00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.159 deeply, 00:35:16.839 --> 00:35:17.659 obediently, 00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:18.500 and well 00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:20.199 so that I will live 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.819 for your glory. 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:24.099 Now, some of you are saying, 00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:24.420 George, 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.920 you can't finish the sermon now 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:27.179 without dealing with disaster 00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:27.739 in the city. 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:28.960 George, you just can't. 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.539 You can't, 00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:30.039 you can't, 00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:30.480 you can't. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.699 You can't sort of just say, 00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:33.559 okay, well, my time is up. 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:35.079 Let's just stop 00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.799 and go, whoa, 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:36.980 you go, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, 00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:37.500 George, 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:39.179 does disaster come to a city 00:35:39.179 --> 00:35:40.379 unless the Lord has done it? 00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:41.820 Does disaster come to a city 00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:42.880 unless the Lord has done it? 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:44.780 Now, we're going to, 00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:45.900 here's, 00:35:46.180 --> 00:35:46.820 here's the thing. 00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:49.180 I'm going to say one very important thing 00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.000 about this text 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.960 and we're going to talk about it 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.660 more next week 00:35:51.660 --> 00:35:53.260 because there's the same type of idea 00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:54.460 only it, 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:54.920 it actually, 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:56.460 about half of chapter four 00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.519 has the similar idea 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.360 so I'm going to talk about it 00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:58.980 more next week 00:35:58.980 --> 00:35:59.920 but I'm going to just give you 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:01.079 one analogy 00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:03.380 to help you understand 00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:04.579 the problem we have 00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.220 when we hear it. 00:36:05.219 --> 00:36:06.799 So the big problem we have 00:36:06.799 --> 00:36:07.419 when we hear it 00:36:07.419 --> 00:36:08.279 is we think of, 00:36:08.379 --> 00:36:10.399 we think of a different context, 00:36:10.399 --> 00:36:11.559 we think of a context 00:36:11.559 --> 00:36:12.599 of an innocent person 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:13.379 that has something bad 00:36:13.379 --> 00:36:14.059 happen to them. 00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.659 I know some people 00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:16.719 that if they hear this text 00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:17.359 all by itself, 00:36:17.459 --> 00:36:17.739 they say, 00:36:17.819 --> 00:36:19.059 well, my life has been 00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:20.299 one disaster after another 00:36:20.299 --> 00:36:21.179 and I've always known 00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:22.219 that God hates me. 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.699 Now I really know 00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.879 that he really does hate me 00:36:24.879 --> 00:36:25.639 and that's not the way 00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:26.399 to understand it. 00:36:26.759 --> 00:36:27.399 I want you to think 00:36:27.399 --> 00:36:28.359 of the Kameshi affair, 00:36:28.359 --> 00:36:29.119 I don't know if I pronounced 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.579 his name right, 00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:30.739 the Kameshi affair 00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:31.799 in CBC. 00:36:34.119 --> 00:36:35.299 It was a disaster 00:36:35.299 --> 00:36:36.059 for the CBC 00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:36.939 and it was a disaster 00:36:36.939 --> 00:36:37.679 for Kameshi. 00:36:39.239 --> 00:36:40.019 But what type 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:41.059 of disaster was it? 00:36:41.979 --> 00:36:43.279 And I have to be careful. 00:36:43.399 --> 00:36:44.000 You know, it's funny, 00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:45.219 sometimes people tell me 00:36:45.219 --> 00:36:46.059 why do you always use 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:47.319 examples from other countries 00:36:47.319 --> 00:36:48.419 and don't use 00:36:48.419 --> 00:36:49.319 Canadian examples 00:36:49.319 --> 00:36:50.079 and one of the reasons 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:50.859 is whenever I use 00:36:50.859 --> 00:36:51.699 Canadian examples 00:36:51.699 --> 00:36:53.199 I get so much pushback 00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:54.179 from some people. 00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:57.299 But anyway, 00:36:57.439 --> 00:36:58.119 I'm going to do it 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:59.819 and here's the thing, 00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:02.599 if the press 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.359 is to be believed 00:37:03.359 --> 00:37:03.659 and I, 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:04.479 so I have to, 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.519 just a bit of a caveat 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:07.359 and I've been in the press 00:37:07.359 --> 00:37:08.139 and I know that the press 00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:09.359 doesn't always get things right. 00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:10.079 There's a trail 00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:10.839 and everything like that 00:37:10.839 --> 00:37:11.759 but it appears as if 00:37:11.759 --> 00:37:14.759 this man sexually harassed 00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:16.119 quite a few women 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:17.519 over quite a long period 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.039 of time 00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:19.859 and the system 00:37:19.859 --> 00:37:21.239 and the CBC failed 00:37:21.239 --> 00:37:23.599 and he was able 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:24.519 to get away with it 00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:26.259 and eventually 00:37:26.259 --> 00:37:28.319 somebody had the courage 00:37:28.319 --> 00:37:29.199 to go to the press. 00:37:29.479 --> 00:37:30.439 A lot of this came out 00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:31.460 and it was, 00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:32.500 what was it for him? 00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:34.940 A disaster. 00:37:35.740 --> 00:37:37.019 Isn't that a good word for it? 00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:39.320 What was it for the CBC? 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:41.900 It was a disaster. 00:37:44.679 --> 00:37:45.000 Now, 00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:47.019 is it a disaster 00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:47.780 for you and me? 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:49.860 Well, 00:37:49.900 --> 00:37:50.519 I'm not going to talk 00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:51.019 about the outcome 00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.559 of the case 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:52.019 and all of that 00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:52.559 and I know there's going 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.340 to be civil suits 00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:53.840 and all of that 00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:54.320 but you see, 00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:55.059 here's the thing. 00:37:56.920 --> 00:37:57.500 Here's the thing 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.079 about this text. 00:37:58.179 --> 00:37:58.980 Here's the context 00:37:58.980 --> 00:37:59.360 for the text. 00:37:59.420 --> 00:37:59.579 Remember, 00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:00.440 we've already begun 00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.460 to get to the context 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:01.920 about this, 00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.039 the problem of presumption, 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:04.319 the problem of people 00:38:04.319 --> 00:38:05.000 listening to God 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:06.079 with a so-what attitude 00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:06.679 and all of that 00:38:06.679 --> 00:38:07.219 type of thing. 00:38:07.539 --> 00:38:08.739 How did the people 00:38:08.739 --> 00:38:09.619 in authority 00:38:09.619 --> 00:38:10.880 listen to the woman 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:11.900 who had complaints? 00:38:14.279 --> 00:38:15.559 Did they listen well? 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:18.139 They had authority 00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:18.779 to stop it. 00:38:18.819 --> 00:38:19.759 Did they stop it? 00:38:20.319 --> 00:38:20.639 No, 00:38:20.699 --> 00:38:21.559 they didn't. 00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:24.559 Did Kameshi, 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:25.599 he didn't. 00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:29.759 And it's not a disaster 00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:31.000 on one hand. 00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:32.519 It's a disaster 00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.900 for an 00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:35.519 unpenitent 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:37.259 wrongdoer 00:38:37.259 --> 00:38:38.900 who's getting away 00:38:38.900 --> 00:38:41.380 with terrible things 00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:44.139 when all of a sudden 00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:45.480 the day of reckoning 00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:46.340 comes 00:38:46.340 --> 00:38:48.159 and he can't 00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:48.980 get away 00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:50.380 from prospering, 00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:52.179 from doing terrible things. 00:38:52.179 --> 00:38:54.539 But if you have 00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:55.899 an unpenitent heart 00:38:55.899 --> 00:38:57.440 and you've been living 00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:58.079 off the fruit 00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:58.960 of doing evil 00:38:58.960 --> 00:39:00.679 and you are presumptuous 00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:01.500 and finally 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:02.339 the day of reckoning 00:39:02.339 --> 00:39:02.779 comes, 00:39:02.899 --> 00:39:03.980 it is a disaster. 00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.079 disaster. 00:39:06.780 --> 00:39:08.119 But it's not a disaster, 00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:08.460 is it? 00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:10.599 Something approaching 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:12.019 justice begins to happen. 00:39:13.460 --> 00:39:14.599 In this text, 00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:16.159 Amos has used 00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:17.400 chapter 1 and chapter 2 00:39:17.400 --> 00:39:17.719 to say, 00:39:17.780 --> 00:39:18.059 listen, 00:39:18.820 --> 00:39:20.159 nations think that God 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:20.960 is completely 00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:21.880 and utterly irrelevant 00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:22.880 and that at best 00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:24.119 he's a kindly 00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:24.860 doddering 00:39:24.860 --> 00:39:26.139 old grandfather 00:39:26.139 --> 00:39:26.980 who's asleep 00:39:26.980 --> 00:39:27.740 in his chair 00:39:27.740 --> 00:39:28.780 not noticing 00:39:28.780 --> 00:39:29.719 what's going on. 00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:30.679 Okay, 00:39:30.900 --> 00:39:32.179 nations might think 00:39:32.179 --> 00:39:33.260 that God is tame 00:39:33.260 --> 00:39:34.620 but Amos has spent 00:39:34.620 --> 00:39:35.560 chapter 1 and 2 00:39:35.560 --> 00:39:37.020 establishing that God 00:39:37.020 --> 00:39:38.420 is bigger than the nations, 00:39:38.820 --> 00:39:40.140 that God will judge 00:39:40.140 --> 00:39:40.740 the nations, 00:39:41.240 --> 00:39:42.700 that the nations might say 00:39:42.700 --> 00:39:43.540 what is right and wrong 00:39:43.540 --> 00:39:44.300 but at the end of the day 00:39:44.300 --> 00:39:45.160 there is a real right 00:39:45.160 --> 00:39:46.080 and there is a real wrong 00:39:46.080 --> 00:39:47.060 and they will be judged 00:39:47.060 --> 00:39:48.300 and not only will individuals 00:39:48.300 --> 00:39:48.840 be judged 00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.900 but social structures 00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:50.760 will be judged. 00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:52.580 And for people 00:39:52.580 --> 00:39:53.740 who write till the end 00:39:53.740 --> 00:39:55.140 continue to maintain 00:39:55.140 --> 00:39:56.260 that God is tame 00:39:56.260 --> 00:39:58.000 and that they really are God 00:39:58.000 --> 00:39:58.780 and they have gotten 00:39:58.780 --> 00:39:59.460 his job, 00:39:59.780 --> 00:40:00.980 when judgment comes 00:40:00.980 --> 00:40:02.200 it is a disaster. 00:40:03.260 --> 00:40:05.260 But Amos 00:40:05.260 --> 00:40:06.420 is trying to us 00:40:06.420 --> 00:40:07.400 understand 00:40:07.400 --> 00:40:08.520 that God is bigger 00:40:08.520 --> 00:40:09.180 than the nations, 00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:09.840 he is bigger 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:10.980 than social structures, 00:40:11.800 --> 00:40:12.940 that he is bigger 00:40:12.940 --> 00:40:13.560 than Canada, 00:40:13.700 --> 00:40:14.080 he is bigger 00:40:14.080 --> 00:40:14.940 than the CBC, 00:40:15.180 --> 00:40:15.580 he is bigger 00:40:15.580 --> 00:40:16.120 than Hollywood, 00:40:16.300 --> 00:40:16.680 he is bigger 00:40:16.680 --> 00:40:17.960 than the education elites, 00:40:18.340 --> 00:40:18.820 he is bigger 00:40:18.820 --> 00:40:19.760 than the United Nations, 00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:20.400 he is bigger 00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:20.860 than NATO, 00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:21.280 he is bigger 00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:21.920 than the United States, 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:22.520 he is bigger. 00:40:24.680 --> 00:40:25.400 And that 00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:27.320 if in many cases 00:40:27.320 --> 00:40:28.460 we have to wait 00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:29.060 until death 00:40:29.060 --> 00:40:29.800 before there is 00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:30.260 judgment 00:40:30.260 --> 00:40:31.320 and justice, 00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:32.900 it will come. 00:40:34.600 --> 00:40:35.519 God's lack 00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:36.260 of action 00:40:36.260 --> 00:40:38.360 is mercy 00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:39.260 in the hope 00:40:39.260 --> 00:40:40.440 of repentance, 00:40:41.160 --> 00:40:42.980 not agreement 00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:44.539 that he is 00:40:44.539 --> 00:40:45.420 daughtering, 00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:46.720 incompetent, 00:40:47.080 --> 00:40:48.059 disinterested, 00:40:48.620 --> 00:40:49.200 or tamed. 00:40:51.200 --> 00:40:52.500 He is none 00:40:52.500 --> 00:40:53.300 of those things. 00:40:54.320 --> 00:40:55.460 He is the 00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:57.039 roaring lion. 00:40:57.039 --> 00:41:11.219 Let's just, 00:41:11.380 --> 00:41:12.759 I want to read 00:41:12.759 --> 00:41:13.519 the rest of the text 00:41:13.519 --> 00:41:15.380 and I see the time 00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:16.960 but I just want to say 00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:17.759 a couple of other things 00:41:17.759 --> 00:41:18.279 about the rest 00:41:18.279 --> 00:41:18.820 of the text. 00:41:20.579 --> 00:41:21.119 Let's read 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:21.719 verse 7. 00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:23.340 For the Lord God 00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:23.900 does nothing 00:41:23.900 --> 00:41:24.599 without revealing 00:41:24.599 --> 00:41:25.320 his secret 00:41:25.320 --> 00:41:26.219 to his servants, 00:41:26.360 --> 00:41:26.920 the prophets, 00:41:27.739 --> 00:41:28.800 the lion is roared 00:41:28.800 --> 00:41:30.279 who will not fear. 00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:32.039 The Lord has spoken 00:41:32.039 --> 00:41:33.639 who can but prophesy. 00:41:33.779 --> 00:41:34.599 This is that last part. 00:41:34.619 --> 00:41:35.099 I'm not going to talk 00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:35.699 about this much 00:41:35.699 --> 00:41:36.019 other than to say 00:41:36.019 --> 00:41:36.779 this is terrifying 00:41:36.779 --> 00:41:38.039 because this is a word 00:41:38.039 --> 00:41:38.599 to us. 00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:40.460 If we hear God's word 00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:41.820 there is an obligation 00:41:41.820 --> 00:41:42.659 for us 00:41:42.659 --> 00:41:44.019 to have the courage 00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:45.900 to speak a word 00:41:45.900 --> 00:41:47.460 of God's word 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:48.840 when it disagrees 00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.699 with our culture. 00:41:50.619 --> 00:41:51.139 And he goes on 00:41:51.139 --> 00:41:51.900 to say verse 9, 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:53.500 proclaim to the strongholds 00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:54.059 in Ashdod 00:41:54.059 --> 00:41:55.179 and to the strongholds 00:41:55.179 --> 00:41:55.920 in the land of Egypt 00:41:55.920 --> 00:41:56.800 and say assemble 00:41:56.800 --> 00:41:57.300 yourselves 00:41:57.300 --> 00:41:57.940 on the mountains 00:41:57.940 --> 00:41:58.579 of Samaria 00:41:58.579 --> 00:41:59.780 and see the great 00:41:59.780 --> 00:42:00.700 tumults within her 00:42:00.700 --> 00:42:01.320 and the oppressed 00:42:01.320 --> 00:42:01.900 in her midst. 00:42:02.300 --> 00:42:03.019 They do not know 00:42:03.019 --> 00:42:03.740 how to do right 00:42:03.740 --> 00:42:04.559 declares the Lord 00:42:04.559 --> 00:42:05.659 those who store up 00:42:05.659 --> 00:42:06.900 violence and robbery 00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:08.180 in their strongholds. 00:42:08.619 --> 00:42:09.480 Therefore thus says 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:10.159 the Lord God 00:42:10.159 --> 00:42:10.920 an adversary 00:42:10.920 --> 00:42:12.079 shall surround the land 00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:12.659 and bring down 00:42:12.659 --> 00:42:13.880 your defenses from you 00:42:13.880 --> 00:42:15.119 and your stronghold 00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:16.039 shall be plundered. 00:42:16.200 --> 00:42:16.800 Remember Israel 00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:17.500 was destroyed 00:42:17.500 --> 00:42:18.820 in 722 BC. 00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:20.440 Thus says the Lord 00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:21.139 as the shepherd 00:42:21.139 --> 00:42:22.159 rescues from the mouth 00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:22.680 of the lion 00:42:22.679 --> 00:42:23.339 and two legs 00:42:23.339 --> 00:42:24.359 or a piece of an ear 00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:25.539 so shall the people 00:42:25.539 --> 00:42:25.960 of Israel 00:42:25.960 --> 00:42:26.980 who dwell in Samaria 00:42:26.980 --> 00:42:27.579 be rescued 00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:28.259 with the corner 00:42:28.259 --> 00:42:28.859 of a couch 00:42:28.859 --> 00:42:29.819 and a part of a bed. 00:42:30.519 --> 00:42:31.179 Hear and testify 00:42:31.179 --> 00:42:32.079 against the house 00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:32.539 of Jacob 00:42:32.539 --> 00:42:33.919 declares the Lord God 00:42:33.919 --> 00:42:34.980 the God of hosts 00:42:34.980 --> 00:42:35.879 that on the day 00:42:35.879 --> 00:42:36.679 I punish Israel 00:42:36.679 --> 00:42:37.779 for his transgressions 00:42:37.779 --> 00:42:38.419 I will punish 00:42:38.419 --> 00:42:39.659 the altars of Bethel 00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:40.539 and the horns 00:42:40.539 --> 00:42:41.099 of the altar 00:42:41.099 --> 00:42:41.980 shall be cut off 00:42:41.980 --> 00:42:42.919 and fall to the ground 00:42:42.919 --> 00:42:43.739 and I will strike 00:42:43.739 --> 00:42:44.519 the winter house 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:45.739 along with the summer house 00:42:45.739 --> 00:42:46.659 and the houses 00:42:46.659 --> 00:42:47.899 of ivory shall perish 00:42:47.899 --> 00:42:48.839 and the great houses 00:42:48.839 --> 00:42:50.159 shall come to an end 00:42:50.159 --> 00:42:52.859 declares the Lord. 00:42:54.879 --> 00:42:55.539 Andrew if you could 00:42:55.539 --> 00:42:56.139 put up the first 00:42:56.139 --> 00:42:57.219 the next point please 00:42:57.219 --> 00:42:59.259 just very in brief 00:42:59.259 --> 00:43:02.859 we read this now 00:43:02.859 --> 00:43:04.299 listening to it 00:43:04.299 --> 00:43:04.879 knowing that the 00:43:04.879 --> 00:43:05.619 you know in the old 00:43:05.619 --> 00:43:06.779 westerns in the 50s 00:43:06.779 --> 00:43:07.259 you could tell who 00:43:07.259 --> 00:43:07.799 the good guys 00:43:07.799 --> 00:43:08.639 and the bad guys were 00:43:08.639 --> 00:43:09.480 if they were a white hat 00:43:09.480 --> 00:43:10.339 or a black hat 00:43:10.339 --> 00:43:12.139 if you watch 00:43:12.139 --> 00:43:13.299 the original Star Trek 00:43:13.299 --> 00:43:14.119 you know that people 00:43:14.119 --> 00:43:15.219 with a certain color shirt 00:43:15.219 --> 00:43:15.960 are going to die 00:43:15.960 --> 00:43:18.079 and people with a certain 00:43:18.079 --> 00:43:18.679 color shirt 00:43:18.679 --> 00:43:19.399 are going to live 00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:21.320 and so we sometimes 00:43:21.320 --> 00:43:22.099 read the Old Testament 00:43:22.099 --> 00:43:22.800 this way 00:43:22.800 --> 00:43:24.220 but the first thing 00:43:24.220 --> 00:43:25.300 just very briefly 00:43:25.300 --> 00:43:26.260 is if you put up 00:43:26.260 --> 00:43:26.780 the point Andrew 00:43:26.780 --> 00:43:27.780 social structures 00:43:27.780 --> 00:43:29.180 customs and institutions 00:43:29.180 --> 00:43:30.900 can be powerful forces 00:43:30.900 --> 00:43:32.800 leading me away 00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:34.160 from saving faith 00:43:34.160 --> 00:43:34.680 in Jesus 00:43:34.680 --> 00:43:37.920 and that's 00:43:37.920 --> 00:43:39.019 that's the point here 00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:41.280 and the hard part 00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:42.360 about the point is 00:43:42.360 --> 00:43:43.340 because we're looking 00:43:43.340 --> 00:43:43.960 at it like they're 00:43:43.960 --> 00:43:44.440 wearing the right 00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:45.680 the wrong color shirt 00:43:45.680 --> 00:43:46.099 or they're wearing 00:43:46.099 --> 00:43:47.360 the wrong color hat 00:43:47.360 --> 00:43:48.700 but you have to 00:43:48.700 --> 00:43:49.260 think about it 00:43:49.260 --> 00:43:49.820 for a second 00:43:49.820 --> 00:43:51.920 these guys are Canadians 00:43:51.920 --> 00:43:53.620 they're spiritual 00:43:53.620 --> 00:43:54.420 not religious 00:43:54.420 --> 00:43:57.340 they have many altars 00:43:57.340 --> 00:44:00.920 they're not hung up 00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:01.700 on just one way 00:44:01.700 --> 00:44:02.160 to God 00:44:02.160 --> 00:44:03.120 they're not hung up 00:44:03.120 --> 00:44:03.980 with just one way 00:44:03.980 --> 00:44:05.039 or just one word 00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:05.480 from God 00:44:05.480 --> 00:44:06.220 they're not hung up 00:44:06.220 --> 00:44:06.800 with these things 00:44:06.800 --> 00:44:07.539 they're spiritual 00:44:07.539 --> 00:44:08.420 and they're not religious 00:44:08.420 --> 00:44:09.980 and they practice 00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.500 their religion 00:44:10.500 --> 00:44:11.240 in a way that it 00:44:11.240 --> 00:44:12.440 doesn't sort of bother 00:44:12.440 --> 00:44:13.360 other type of people 00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:13.860 and there can be 00:44:13.860 --> 00:44:14.640 as many altars 00:44:14.639 --> 00:44:15.339 as you want 00:44:15.339 --> 00:44:16.879 and when it talks 00:44:16.879 --> 00:44:17.659 about winter house 00:44:17.659 --> 00:44:18.379 and summer house 00:44:18.379 --> 00:44:19.079 you know 00:44:19.079 --> 00:44:19.879 isn't it usually 00:44:19.879 --> 00:44:20.719 that in the citizen 00:44:20.719 --> 00:44:22.119 or the national post 00:44:22.119 --> 00:44:22.920 or the globe and mail 00:44:22.920 --> 00:44:23.619 don't they usually 00:44:23.619 --> 00:44:24.339 have the rich 00:44:24.339 --> 00:44:24.859 and the famous 00:44:24.859 --> 00:44:25.579 and the powerful 00:44:25.579 --> 00:44:26.379 at little benefit 00:44:26.379 --> 00:44:27.259 types of things 00:44:27.259 --> 00:44:28.599 and don't they have 00:44:28.599 --> 00:44:29.500 homes that they 00:44:29.500 --> 00:44:30.019 sort of go 00:44:30.019 --> 00:44:30.679 and they take you 00:44:30.679 --> 00:44:30.859 through 00:44:30.859 --> 00:44:31.699 and don't all 00:44:31.699 --> 00:44:32.279 the magazines 00:44:32.279 --> 00:44:32.940 talk to you 00:44:32.940 --> 00:44:33.619 about the most 00:44:33.619 --> 00:44:35.699 spectacular houses 00:44:35.699 --> 00:44:36.420 and all of that 00:44:36.420 --> 00:44:37.039 type of thing 00:44:37.039 --> 00:44:37.599 and don't they 00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:38.339 always do it 00:44:38.339 --> 00:44:38.980 in such a way 00:44:38.980 --> 00:44:39.819 that it's a fawning 00:44:39.819 --> 00:44:40.420 type of thing 00:44:40.420 --> 00:44:41.039 about the rich 00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:41.699 and the powerful 00:44:41.699 --> 00:44:43.059 and don't they have 00:44:43.059 --> 00:44:43.639 things that are 00:44:43.639 --> 00:44:44.420 made out of ivory 00:44:44.420 --> 00:44:45.099 isn't that just 00:44:45.099 --> 00:44:45.980 a sense that you 00:44:45.980 --> 00:44:46.940 isn't that just 00:44:46.940 --> 00:44:47.360 telling you 00:44:47.360 --> 00:44:47.860 that you're not 00:44:47.860 --> 00:44:48.539 just a you know 00:44:48.539 --> 00:44:49.039 you're not just 00:44:49.039 --> 00:44:50.079 some poor schlub 00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:51.119 who thinks 00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:51.539 that going to 00:44:51.539 --> 00:44:52.139 McDonald's 00:44:52.139 --> 00:44:53.039 and having a Big Mac 00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:53.519 is the height 00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:54.460 of a haute cuisine 00:44:54.460 --> 00:44:54.900 but you know 00:44:54.900 --> 00:44:55.500 the right types 00:44:55.500 --> 00:44:56.059 of restaurants 00:44:56.059 --> 00:44:56.340 you know 00:44:56.340 --> 00:44:56.940 the right types 00:44:56.940 --> 00:44:57.639 of things to eat 00:44:57.639 --> 00:44:58.119 you know 00:44:58.119 --> 00:44:58.619 the right way 00:44:58.619 --> 00:44:59.019 to dress 00:44:59.019 --> 00:44:59.300 you know 00:44:59.300 --> 00:44:59.740 that when you 00:44:59.740 --> 00:45:00.360 can wear brown 00:45:00.360 --> 00:45:00.760 shoes 00:45:00.760 --> 00:45:01.159 and you know 00:45:01.159 --> 00:45:01.480 when you can 00:45:01.480 --> 00:45:02.619 wear the type 00:45:02.619 --> 00:45:03.300 of chandals 00:45:03.300 --> 00:45:03.680 you should have 00:45:03.680 --> 00:45:04.420 you understand 00:45:04.420 --> 00:45:04.980 that if you see 00:45:04.980 --> 00:45:05.639 somebody walking 00:45:05.639 --> 00:45:06.180 down the street 00:45:06.180 --> 00:45:06.639 you can tell 00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:07.039 whether that's 00:45:07.039 --> 00:45:07.579 a good purse 00:45:07.579 --> 00:45:08.400 or a bad purse 00:45:08.400 --> 00:45:09.240 or whether the 00:45:09.240 --> 00:45:10.000 watch matters 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:11.099 and that's why 00:45:11.099 --> 00:45:11.679 you have the 00:45:11.679 --> 00:45:12.779 fancy magazines 00:45:12.779 --> 00:45:13.539 with all of those 00:45:13.539 --> 00:45:14.299 types of things 00:45:14.299 --> 00:45:16.259 and if just 00:45:16.259 --> 00:45:17.019 whoa whoa whoa 00:45:17.019 --> 00:45:18.500 don't read it 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.659 with 00:45:18.659 --> 00:45:20.319 read it 00:45:20.319 --> 00:45:21.059 it's talking 00:45:21.059 --> 00:45:22.000 about Canada 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:25.339 strongholds 00:45:25.339 --> 00:45:25.900 is another word 00:45:25.900 --> 00:45:26.759 for elites 00:45:26.759 --> 00:45:29.239 fawning 00:45:29.239 --> 00:45:30.679 descriptions 00:45:30.679 --> 00:45:31.299 of the new 00:45:31.299 --> 00:45:32.440 heads of universities 00:45:32.440 --> 00:45:33.799 fawning descriptions 00:45:33.799 --> 00:45:34.519 of the new 00:45:34.519 --> 00:45:35.500 chief of staff 00:45:35.500 --> 00:45:36.319 for the prime minister 00:45:36.319 --> 00:45:37.679 fawning descriptions 00:45:37.679 --> 00:45:39.759 of the coolest 00:45:39.759 --> 00:45:40.699 restaurants 00:45:40.699 --> 00:45:41.859 the sign 00:45:41.859 --> 00:45:42.379 that you have 00:45:42.379 --> 00:45:43.519 just exquisite 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:44.139 taste 00:45:44.139 --> 00:45:46.519 not part 00:45:46.519 --> 00:45:46.919 of the 00:45:46.919 --> 00:45:48.319 hoi polloi 00:45:48.319 --> 00:45:50.519 it's written 00:45:50.519 --> 00:45:51.199 in the citizen 00:45:51.199 --> 00:45:51.819 in the national 00:45:51.819 --> 00:45:52.219 post 00:45:52.219 --> 00:45:52.659 in the globe 00:45:52.659 --> 00:45:53.019 and mail 00:45:53.019 --> 00:45:53.500 and put on 00:45:53.500 --> 00:45:53.960 television 00:45:53.960 --> 00:45:54.460 and twitter 00:45:54.460 --> 00:45:55.019 and facebook 00:45:55.019 --> 00:45:55.759 so that those 00:45:55.759 --> 00:45:56.079 of us 00:45:56.079 --> 00:45:56.359 in the 00:45:56.359 --> 00:45:57.419 hoi polloi 00:45:57.419 --> 00:45:58.739 know what 00:45:58.739 --> 00:45:59.279 matters 00:45:59.279 --> 00:46:02.960 and these 00:46:02.960 --> 00:46:04.139 social structures 00:46:04.139 --> 00:46:06.239 the strongholds 00:46:06.239 --> 00:46:08.039 have led to 00:46:08.039 --> 00:46:08.599 presumption 00:46:08.599 --> 00:46:09.000 and people 00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:09.399 being away 00:46:09.399 --> 00:46:09.919 from God 00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:14.539 and 00:46:14.539 --> 00:46:16.139 and one 00:46:16.139 --> 00:46:16.659 other thing 00:46:16.659 --> 00:46:17.320 actually 00:46:17.320 --> 00:46:17.599 Andrew 00:46:17.599 --> 00:46:17.880 if you could 00:46:17.880 --> 00:46:18.139 put up 00:46:18.139 --> 00:46:18.700 the point 00:46:18.700 --> 00:46:19.159 five 00:46:19.159 --> 00:46:21.280 I don't 00:46:21.280 --> 00:46:21.639 really have 00:46:21.639 --> 00:46:22.039 time to 00:46:22.039 --> 00:46:22.659 describe this 00:46:22.659 --> 00:46:23.139 but it's 00:46:23.139 --> 00:46:23.740 I'm just 00:46:23.740 --> 00:46:23.920 going to 00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:24.159 put it 00:46:24.159 --> 00:46:24.579 up there 00:46:24.579 --> 00:46:26.420 the sacrificial 00:46:26.420 --> 00:46:27.019 death of 00:46:27.019 --> 00:46:27.659 Jesus upon 00:46:27.659 --> 00:46:28.360 the cross 00:46:28.360 --> 00:46:29.680 is God's 00:46:29.680 --> 00:46:30.800 subversive 00:46:30.800 --> 00:46:31.800 fulfillment 00:46:31.800 --> 00:46:33.880 of idolatry 00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:36.579 the sacrificial 00:46:36.579 --> 00:46:37.119 death of 00:46:37.119 --> 00:46:37.720 Jesus upon 00:46:37.720 --> 00:46:38.160 the cross 00:46:38.160 --> 00:46:39.400 is God's 00:46:39.400 --> 00:46:40.420 subversive 00:46:40.420 --> 00:46:41.500 fulfillment 00:46:41.500 --> 00:46:43.079 of idolatry 00:46:43.079 --> 00:46:44.860 why is it 00:46:44.860 --> 00:46:45.460 subversive 00:46:45.460 --> 00:46:46.059 fulfillment 00:46:46.059 --> 00:46:49.500 it's subversive 00:46:49.500 --> 00:46:50.480 because this 00:46:50.480 --> 00:46:51.380 whole text is 00:46:51.380 --> 00:46:51.840 just saying 00:46:51.840 --> 00:46:52.380 listen you 00:46:52.380 --> 00:46:53.559 trust in 00:46:53.559 --> 00:46:54.260 your possessions 00:46:54.260 --> 00:46:55.440 you trust 00:46:55.440 --> 00:46:57.060 in all of 00:46:57.060 --> 00:46:57.580 these types 00:46:57.580 --> 00:46:58.200 of things 00:46:58.200 --> 00:46:59.920 they're all 00:46:59.920 --> 00:47:00.160 going to 00:47:00.160 --> 00:47:00.660 fail 00:47:00.660 --> 00:47:01.480 they're all 00:47:01.480 --> 00:47:01.760 going to 00:47:01.760 --> 00:47:02.120 fail 00:47:02.120 --> 00:47:04.400 and 00:47:04.400 --> 00:47:05.360 but at the 00:47:05.360 --> 00:47:05.980 same time 00:47:05.980 --> 00:47:06.240 you know 00:47:06.240 --> 00:47:06.740 when we 00:47:06.740 --> 00:47:07.460 we have 00:47:07.460 --> 00:47:08.260 we have a 00:47:08.260 --> 00:47:08.660 sense that 00:47:08.660 --> 00:47:09.100 there is a 00:47:09.100 --> 00:47:09.380 better 00:47:09.380 --> 00:47:10.140 we have a 00:47:10.140 --> 00:47:10.780 sense that 00:47:10.780 --> 00:47:11.260 there is 00:47:11.260 --> 00:47:12.820 that you know 00:47:12.820 --> 00:47:13.340 it might get 00:47:13.340 --> 00:47:14.220 confused by 00:47:14.220 --> 00:47:14.920 just taste 00:47:14.920 --> 00:47:15.320 and looking 00:47:15.320 --> 00:47:15.640 down our 00:47:15.640 --> 00:47:16.140 noses at 00:47:16.140 --> 00:47:16.540 people who 00:47:16.540 --> 00:47:16.940 eat Big 00:47:16.940 --> 00:47:18.040 Macs 00:47:18.040 --> 00:47:19.720 and you know 00:47:19.720 --> 00:47:20.300 or just go to 00:47:20.300 --> 00:47:20.880 Tim Hortons 00:47:20.880 --> 00:47:21.260 and don't 00:47:21.260 --> 00:47:21.700 can't tell 00:47:21.700 --> 00:47:22.240 what you know 00:47:22.239 --> 00:47:22.599 they don't 00:47:22.599 --> 00:47:22.839 know the 00:47:22.839 --> 00:47:23.199 right type 00:47:23.199 --> 00:47:23.739 of coffee 00:47:23.739 --> 00:47:24.399 or you know 00:47:24.399 --> 00:47:24.919 even worse 00:47:24.919 --> 00:47:25.339 they go somewhere 00:47:25.339 --> 00:47:25.859 even worse 00:47:25.859 --> 00:47:26.439 than Tim Horton 00:47:26.439 --> 00:47:27.619 like you know 00:47:27.619 --> 00:47:28.539 we have this 00:47:28.539 --> 00:47:28.939 sense that 00:47:28.939 --> 00:47:29.259 there is 00:47:29.259 --> 00:47:29.879 something better 00:47:29.879 --> 00:47:30.419 we have this 00:47:30.419 --> 00:47:30.879 something that 00:47:30.879 --> 00:47:31.199 there is 00:47:31.199 --> 00:47:31.819 something above 00:47:31.819 --> 00:47:32.039 us 00:47:32.039 --> 00:47:32.699 we have this 00:47:32.699 --> 00:47:33.839 sense that 00:47:33.839 --> 00:47:34.779 there is some 00:47:34.779 --> 00:47:35.599 type of 00:47:35.599 --> 00:47:35.939 of 00:47:35.939 --> 00:47:36.779 of 00:47:36.779 --> 00:47:37.219 there's some 00:47:37.219 --> 00:47:37.500 type of 00:47:37.500 --> 00:47:37.959 a quest 00:47:37.959 --> 00:47:38.259 that we 00:47:38.259 --> 00:47:38.639 should be 00:47:38.639 --> 00:47:38.859 on 00:47:38.859 --> 00:47:39.619 and on 00:47:39.619 --> 00:47:40.399 one hand 00:47:40.399 --> 00:47:41.259 the Bible 00:47:41.259 --> 00:47:41.639 is going to 00:47:41.639 --> 00:47:42.119 completely 00:47:42.119 --> 00:47:42.739 and utterly 00:47:42.739 --> 00:47:44.279 keep knocking 00:47:44.279 --> 00:47:45.299 everything out 00:47:45.299 --> 00:47:45.719 it's going to 00:47:45.719 --> 00:47:46.879 keep saying 00:47:46.879 --> 00:47:47.379 this is the 00:47:47.379 --> 00:47:48.000 wrong path 00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:48.479 this is the 00:47:48.479 --> 00:47:49.039 wrong path 00:47:49.039 --> 00:47:49.519 this isn't 00:47:49.519 --> 00:47:49.979 something you 00:47:49.979 --> 00:47:50.659 can stand on 00:47:50.659 --> 00:47:51.399 it's going to 00:47:51.399 --> 00:47:51.939 subvert it 00:47:51.940 --> 00:47:52.340 it's going to 00:47:52.340 --> 00:47:52.860 critique it 00:47:52.860 --> 00:47:53.220 it's going to 00:47:53.220 --> 00:47:53.639 knock it 00:47:53.639 --> 00:47:54.019 down 00:47:54.019 --> 00:47:55.119 but at the 00:47:55.119 --> 00:47:55.980 same time 00:47:55.980 --> 00:47:57.679 it's trying to 00:47:57.679 --> 00:47:58.519 knock all these 00:47:58.519 --> 00:47:58.760 downs 00:47:58.760 --> 00:47:59.240 it's trying to 00:47:59.240 --> 00:48:00.179 confront us 00:48:00.179 --> 00:48:01.039 and knock 00:48:01.039 --> 00:48:01.679 these things 00:48:01.679 --> 00:48:02.159 down 00:48:02.159 --> 00:48:02.639 because 00:48:02.639 --> 00:48:03.579 there is in 00:48:03.579 --> 00:48:04.039 fact a 00:48:04.039 --> 00:48:04.500 fulfillment 00:48:04.500 --> 00:48:05.099 that comes 00:48:05.099 --> 00:48:05.760 from God 00:48:05.760 --> 00:48:07.800 that if we 00:48:07.800 --> 00:48:08.360 lose 00:48:08.360 --> 00:48:09.480 our self 00:48:09.480 --> 00:48:10.380 congratulation 00:48:10.380 --> 00:48:10.700 and our 00:48:10.700 --> 00:48:10.920 self 00:48:10.920 --> 00:48:11.380 justification 00:48:11.380 --> 00:48:11.940 and our 00:48:11.940 --> 00:48:12.200 self 00:48:12.200 --> 00:48:12.679 righteousness 00:48:12.679 --> 00:48:14.820 that we 00:48:14.820 --> 00:48:15.400 can actually 00:48:15.400 --> 00:48:16.000 look to a 00:48:16.000 --> 00:48:16.519 power that 00:48:16.519 --> 00:48:17.260 comes from 00:48:17.260 --> 00:48:17.619 God 00:48:17.619 --> 00:48:18.300 where God 00:48:18.300 --> 00:48:19.220 justifies 00:48:19.219 --> 00:48:21.459 and God 00:48:21.459 --> 00:48:21.839 makes 00:48:21.839 --> 00:48:22.419 righteous 00:48:22.419 --> 00:48:24.639 and God 00:48:24.639 --> 00:48:25.079 makes 00:48:25.079 --> 00:48:25.639 right 00:48:25.639 --> 00:48:27.639 and he 00:48:27.639 --> 00:48:28.319 does it 00:48:28.319 --> 00:48:29.539 purely and 00:48:29.539 --> 00:48:29.859 utterly 00:48:29.859 --> 00:48:30.759 as gift 00:48:30.759 --> 00:48:31.439 and as 00:48:31.439 --> 00:48:31.879 grace 00:48:31.879 --> 00:48:34.179 I had a 00:48:34.179 --> 00:48:34.500 friend 00:48:34.500 --> 00:48:35.419 come up to 00:48:35.419 --> 00:48:35.739 me this 00:48:35.739 --> 00:48:36.219 week just 00:48:36.219 --> 00:48:37.359 on Friday 00:48:37.359 --> 00:48:38.959 and he 00:48:38.959 --> 00:48:39.739 described himself 00:48:39.739 --> 00:48:40.279 as spiritual 00:48:40.279 --> 00:48:40.959 not religious 00:48:40.959 --> 00:48:41.599 he described 00:48:41.599 --> 00:48:42.279 himself as a 00:48:42.279 --> 00:48:42.480 nun 00:48:42.480 --> 00:48:44.079 and he 00:48:44.079 --> 00:48:44.699 said so 00:48:44.699 --> 00:48:45.719 what are you 00:48:45.719 --> 00:48:46.079 going to talk 00:48:46.079 --> 00:48:46.639 about this 00:48:46.639 --> 00:48:47.259 Sunday 00:48:47.260 --> 00:48:51.540 are you 00:48:51.540 --> 00:48:52.500 going to 00:48:52.500 --> 00:48:53.380 do 00:48:53.380 --> 00:48:55.380 you 00:48:55.380 --> 00:48:55.940 sort of 00:48:55.940 --> 00:48:56.240 misunderstand 00:48:56.240 --> 00:48:56.900 me 00:48:56.900 --> 00:48:57.920 I almost 00:48:57.920 --> 00:48:58.220 said his 00:48:58.220 --> 00:48:58.460 name 00:48:58.460 --> 00:48:59.080 I'll call 00:48:59.080 --> 00:48:59.560 him Bob 00:48:59.560 --> 00:49:00.320 you know 00:49:00.320 --> 00:49:00.720 the Christian 00:49:00.720 --> 00:49:01.140 faith is 00:49:01.140 --> 00:49:01.660 one beggar 00:49:01.660 --> 00:49:02.240 telling another 00:49:02.240 --> 00:49:02.700 beggar where 00:49:02.700 --> 00:49:03.040 to find 00:49:03.040 --> 00:49:03.360 bread 00:49:03.360 --> 00:49:05.560 I'm a beggar 00:49:05.560 --> 00:49:05.840 I'm going to 00:49:05.840 --> 00:49:06.260 tell people 00:49:06.260 --> 00:49:06.520 where to 00:49:06.520 --> 00:49:06.960 find bread 00:49:06.960 --> 00:49:07.380 that's my 00:49:07.380 --> 00:49:07.680 hope 00:49:07.680 --> 00:49:08.740 and he 00:49:08.740 --> 00:49:08.860 said 00:49:08.860 --> 00:49:09.100 well that's 00:49:09.100 --> 00:49:09.480 a clever 00:49:09.480 --> 00:49:09.900 line 00:49:09.900 --> 00:49:10.840 although I 00:49:10.840 --> 00:49:11.260 prefer to 00:49:11.260 --> 00:49:11.600 say it's 00:49:11.600 --> 00:49:12.160 the blind 00:49:12.160 --> 00:49:12.680 leading the 00:49:12.680 --> 00:49:13.020 blind 00:49:13.020 --> 00:49:15.400 and I 00:49:15.400 --> 00:49:15.780 say 00:49:15.780 --> 00:49:17.100 well that's 00:49:17.099 --> 00:49:17.400 a pretty 00:49:17.400 --> 00:49:17.920 good line 00:49:17.920 --> 00:49:18.279 too 00:49:18.279 --> 00:49:18.819 and I 00:49:18.819 --> 00:49:19.259 acknowledge 00:49:19.259 --> 00:49:19.659 that I'm 00:49:19.659 --> 00:49:20.079 blind 00:49:20.079 --> 00:49:21.940 I'm a 00:49:21.940 --> 00:49:22.579 blind man 00:49:22.579 --> 00:49:23.119 telling other 00:49:23.119 --> 00:49:23.960 blind people 00:49:23.960 --> 00:49:25.319 about the 00:49:25.319 --> 00:49:25.659 one who 00:49:25.659 --> 00:49:26.039 can make 00:49:26.039 --> 00:49:26.500 them see 00:49:26.500 --> 00:49:28.279 and it's 00:49:28.279 --> 00:49:28.759 not me 00:49:28.759 --> 00:49:30.380 I said 00:49:30.380 --> 00:49:30.679 you know 00:49:30.679 --> 00:49:31.159 I happen 00:49:31.159 --> 00:49:31.360 to know 00:49:31.360 --> 00:49:31.699 that this 00:49:31.699 --> 00:49:32.279 guy both 00:49:32.279 --> 00:49:32.860 claims to 00:49:32.860 --> 00:49:33.299 be spiritual 00:49:33.299 --> 00:49:33.759 not religious 00:49:33.759 --> 00:49:34.179 he was also 00:49:34.179 --> 00:49:34.679 a huge 00:49:34.679 --> 00:49:35.099 fan of 00:49:35.099 --> 00:49:35.480 Christopher 00:49:35.480 --> 00:49:35.860 Hitchens 00:49:35.860 --> 00:49:36.360 I said 00:49:36.360 --> 00:49:36.719 you know 00:49:36.719 --> 00:49:37.699 Bob 00:49:37.699 --> 00:49:39.679 Christopher 00:49:39.679 --> 00:49:40.119 Hitchens 00:49:40.119 --> 00:49:40.980 and Christians 00:49:40.980 --> 00:49:41.699 agree on 00:49:41.699 --> 00:49:42.239 many many 00:49:42.239 --> 00:49:42.980 many things 00:49:42.980 --> 00:49:43.539 I said 00:49:43.539 --> 00:49:43.759 you know 00:49:43.759 --> 00:49:44.199 one thing 00:49:44.199 --> 00:49:44.440 I know 00:49:44.440 --> 00:49:44.679 you've 00:49:44.679 --> 00:49:45.000 puzzled 00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:45.239 about 00:49:45.239 --> 00:49:45.519 is the 00:49:45.519 --> 00:49:45.880 fact that 00:49:45.880 --> 00:49:46.380 Christopher 00:49:46.380 --> 00:49:46.920 Hitchens 00:49:46.920 --> 00:49:47.800 mocked 00:49:47.800 --> 00:49:48.519 people like 00:49:48.519 --> 00:49:48.920 yourself 00:49:48.920 --> 00:49:49.200 who are 00:49:49.200 --> 00:49:49.579 spiritual 00:49:49.579 --> 00:49:49.860 not 00:49:49.860 --> 00:49:50.240 religious 00:49:50.240 --> 00:49:53.400 and I 00:49:53.400 --> 00:49:54.220 and Christians 00:49:54.220 --> 00:49:54.700 agree 00:49:54.700 --> 00:49:55.480 that we're 00:49:55.480 --> 00:49:55.900 blind 00:49:55.900 --> 00:49:56.700 that the 00:49:56.700 --> 00:49:57.079 finite 00:49:57.079 --> 00:49:57.480 cannot 00:49:57.480 --> 00:49:58.180 possibly 00:49:58.180 --> 00:49:58.400 know 00:49:58.400 --> 00:49:58.599 the 00:49:58.599 --> 00:49:58.980 infinite 00:49:58.980 --> 00:50:00.780 but what 00:50:00.780 --> 00:50:01.220 if the 00:50:01.220 --> 00:50:01.640 infinite 00:50:01.640 --> 00:50:02.720 speaks to 00:50:02.720 --> 00:50:03.240 the finite 00:50:03.240 --> 00:50:04.340 in words 00:50:04.340 --> 00:50:04.619 that the 00:50:04.619 --> 00:50:04.880 finite 00:50:04.880 --> 00:50:05.680 can understand 00:50:05.680 --> 00:50:07.220 and what 00:50:07.220 --> 00:50:07.579 if the 00:50:07.579 --> 00:50:07.980 infinite 00:50:07.980 --> 00:50:09.360 comes and 00:50:09.360 --> 00:50:09.800 acts 00:50:09.800 --> 00:50:10.340 for the 00:50:10.340 --> 00:50:10.680 finite 00:50:10.680 --> 00:50:12.320 so the 00:50:12.320 --> 00:50:12.599 finite 00:50:12.599 --> 00:50:13.220 can belong 00:50:13.220 --> 00:50:13.720 to God 00:50:13.719 --> 00:50:16.739 I make 00:50:16.739 --> 00:50:17.439 no claim 00:50:17.439 --> 00:50:17.779 that I 00:50:17.779 --> 00:50:18.279 can see 00:50:18.279 --> 00:50:20.619 all I 00:50:20.619 --> 00:50:20.939 can do 00:50:20.939 --> 00:50:21.319 is say 00:50:21.319 --> 00:50:21.719 there is 00:50:21.719 --> 00:50:22.099 one who 00:50:22.099 --> 00:50:22.459 can make 00:50:22.459 --> 00:50:22.819 you see 00:50:22.819 --> 00:50:23.919 there is 00:50:23.919 --> 00:50:24.359 a beggar 00:50:24.359 --> 00:50:25.099 there is 00:50:25.099 --> 00:50:25.500 there is 00:50:25.500 --> 00:50:26.319 a food 00:50:26.319 --> 00:50:28.119 that God 00:50:28.119 --> 00:50:28.539 will freely 00:50:28.539 --> 00:50:28.879 give 00:50:28.879 --> 00:50:29.739 to beggars 00:50:29.739 --> 00:50:32.019 and do the 00:50:32.019 --> 00:50:32.299 final 00:50:32.299 --> 00:50:33.139 the first 00:50:33.139 --> 00:50:33.359 of the 00:50:33.359 --> 00:50:33.799 final two 00:50:33.799 --> 00:50:34.219 prayers 00:50:34.219 --> 00:50:38.319 many of 00:50:38.319 --> 00:50:38.619 us have 00:50:38.619 --> 00:50:39.159 to leave 00:50:39.159 --> 00:50:39.419 here 00:50:39.419 --> 00:50:39.779 praying 00:50:39.779 --> 00:50:40.019 dear 00:50:40.019 --> 00:50:40.259 Lord 00:50:40.260 --> 00:50:40.580 please 00:50:40.580 --> 00:50:40.840 make 00:50:40.840 --> 00:50:40.980 me 00:50:40.980 --> 00:50:41.120 a 00:50:41.120 --> 00:50:41.440 disciple 00:50:41.440 --> 00:50:41.640 of 00:50:41.640 --> 00:50:41.880 Jesus 00:50:41.880 --> 00:50:42.200 gripped 00:50:42.200 --> 00:50:42.500 by the 00:50:42.500 --> 00:50:42.860 gospel 00:50:42.860 --> 00:50:43.060 who 00:50:43.060 --> 00:50:43.240 has 00:50:43.240 --> 00:50:43.400 a 00:50:43.400 --> 00:50:43.640 heart 00:50:43.640 --> 00:50:44.000 for the 00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:44.580 world 00:50:44.580 --> 00:50:45.800 not a 00:50:45.800 --> 00:50:46.260 heart 00:50:46.260 --> 00:50:47.160 formed 00:50:47.160 --> 00:50:47.920 by the 00:50:47.920 --> 00:50:48.340 world 00:50:48.340 --> 00:50:49.740 so that 00:50:49.740 --> 00:50:49.980 I will 00:50:49.980 --> 00:50:50.280 daily 00:50:50.280 --> 00:50:50.540 live 00:50:50.540 --> 00:50:50.840 for your 00:50:50.840 --> 00:50:51.220 glory 00:50:51.220 --> 00:50:53.480 and the 00:50:53.480 --> 00:50:53.980 final one 00:50:53.980 --> 00:50:54.280 and with 00:50:54.280 --> 00:50:54.600 this 00:50:54.600 --> 00:50:55.280 could you 00:50:55.280 --> 00:50:55.460 all 00:50:55.460 --> 00:50:55.780 stand 00:50:55.780 --> 00:50:56.220 please 00:50:56.220 --> 00:50:59.640 the 00:50:59.640 --> 00:51:00.080 challenge 00:51:00.080 --> 00:51:00.420 of the 00:51:00.420 --> 00:51:00.820 text 00:51:00.820 --> 00:51:01.640 for many 00:51:01.640 --> 00:51:02.020 people 00:51:02.020 --> 00:51:02.400 is this 00:51:02.400 --> 00:51:02.740 prayer 00:51:02.740 --> 00:51:03.040 I mean 00:51:03.040 --> 00:51:03.320 the other 00:51:03.320 --> 00:51:03.600 three 00:51:03.600 --> 00:51:03.960 prayers 00:51:03.960 --> 00:51:04.280 are all 00:51:04.280 --> 00:51:04.520 really 00:51:04.520 --> 00:51:04.940 important 00:51:04.940 --> 00:51:05.440 challenges 00:51:05.440 --> 00:51:06.060 to us 00:51:06.060 --> 00:51:07.640 but this 00:51:07.640 --> 00:51:07.920 is a 00:51:07.920 --> 00:51:08.440 conversion 00:51:08.440 --> 00:51:08.940 prayer 00:51:08.940 --> 00:51:10.700 for many 00:51:10.700 --> 00:51:10.920 of you 00:51:10.920 --> 00:51:11.099 if you 00:51:11.099 --> 00:51:11.300 wonder 00:51:11.300 --> 00:51:11.559 how to 00:51:11.559 --> 00:51:11.700 give 00:51:11.700 --> 00:51:11.820 your 00:51:11.820 --> 00:51:12.039 life 00:51:12.039 --> 00:51:12.240 to 00:51:12.240 --> 00:51:12.519 Jesus 00:51:12.519 --> 00:51:13.019 and maybe 00:51:13.019 --> 00:51:13.340 you feel 00:51:13.340 --> 00:51:13.559 under 00:51:13.559 --> 00:51:14.019 conviction 00:51:14.019 --> 00:51:14.539 this is 00:51:14.539 --> 00:51:15.079 how you 00:51:15.079 --> 00:51:15.400 give your 00:51:15.400 --> 00:51:15.619 life 00:51:15.619 --> 00:51:15.820 to 00:51:15.820 --> 00:51:16.260 Jesus 00:51:16.260 --> 00:51:18.179 you know 00:51:18.179 --> 00:51:18.720 my words 00:51:18.720 --> 00:51:19.280 aren't magic 00:51:19.280 --> 00:51:19.780 or special 00:51:19.780 --> 00:51:20.079 I just 00:51:20.079 --> 00:51:20.360 try to 00:51:20.360 --> 00:51:20.860 take this 00:51:20.860 --> 00:51:21.200 text 00:51:21.200 --> 00:51:21.679 and form 00:51:21.679 --> 00:51:21.920 it in 00:51:21.920 --> 00:51:22.159 terms 00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:22.420 of a 00:51:22.420 --> 00:51:22.579 way 00:51:22.579 --> 00:51:22.920 that if 00:51:22.920 --> 00:51:23.059 you 00:51:23.059 --> 00:51:23.440 believe 00:51:23.440 --> 00:51:23.880 that it's 00:51:23.880 --> 00:51:24.240 time 00:51:24.240 --> 00:51:24.639 for you 00:51:24.639 --> 00:51:25.019 because 00:51:25.019 --> 00:51:25.579 you 00:51:25.579 --> 00:51:25.980 haven't 00:51:25.980 --> 00:51:26.119 been 00:51:26.119 --> 00:51:26.500 actually 00:51:26.500 --> 00:51:26.960 walking 00:51:26.960 --> 00:51:27.159 with 00:51:27.159 --> 00:51:27.360 God 00:51:27.360 --> 00:51:27.500 or 00:51:27.500 --> 00:51:27.780 connected 00:51:27.780 --> 00:51:27.940 with 00:51:27.940 --> 00:51:28.139 God 00:51:28.139 --> 00:51:28.340 you've 00:51:28.340 --> 00:51:28.460 just 00:51:28.460 --> 00:51:28.679 been 00:51:28.679 --> 00:51:29.460 presumptuous 00:51:29.460 --> 00:51:30.900 and the 00:51:30.900 --> 00:51:31.320 time is 00:51:31.320 --> 00:51:31.659 to come 00:51:31.659 --> 00:51:32.139 to leave 00:51:32.139 --> 00:51:32.740 presumption 00:51:32.740 --> 00:51:33.039 and to 00:51:33.039 --> 00:51:33.900 enter into 00:51:33.900 --> 00:51:34.300 saving 00:51:34.300 --> 00:51:34.619 faith 00:51:34.619 --> 00:51:34.820 I've 00:51:34.820 --> 00:51:34.940 just 00:51:34.940 --> 00:51:35.119 tried 00:51:35.119 --> 00:51:35.380 to put 00:51:35.380 --> 00:51:35.680 it into 00:51:35.680 --> 00:51:36.099 words 00:51:36.099 --> 00:51:38.460 and I'm 00:51:38.460 --> 00:51:38.599 going to 00:51:38.599 --> 00:51:38.980 ask us 00:51:38.980 --> 00:51:39.280 all to 00:51:39.280 --> 00:51:39.760 close by 00:51:39.760 --> 00:51:40.340 saying this 00:51:40.340 --> 00:51:40.559 prayer 00:51:40.559 --> 00:51:40.960 together 00:51:40.960 --> 00:51:41.800 for those 00:51:41.800 --> 00:51:42.139 of us 00:51:42.139 --> 00:51:42.500 who are 00:51:42.500 --> 00:51:43.039 Christians 00:51:43.039 --> 00:51:44.440 it's like 00:51:44.440 --> 00:51:44.900 saying the 00:51:44.900 --> 00:51:45.360 pledge of 00:51:45.360 --> 00:51:45.780 allegiance 00:51:45.780 --> 00:51:46.460 in the 00:51:46.460 --> 00:51:46.860 states 00:51:46.860 --> 00:51:47.720 you're 00:51:47.720 --> 00:51:47.980 already 00:51:47.980 --> 00:51:48.160 an 00:51:48.160 --> 00:51:48.519 American 00:51:48.519 --> 00:51:49.559 but it 00:51:49.559 --> 00:51:49.740 can 00:51:49.740 --> 00:51:50.180 sometimes 00:51:50.180 --> 00:51:50.680 just be 00:51:50.680 --> 00:51:51.139 so good 00:51:51.139 --> 00:51:51.460 Canada 00:51:51.460 --> 00:51:51.720 doesn't 00:51:51.720 --> 00:51:51.880 have 00:51:51.880 --> 00:51:52.119 anything 00:51:52.119 --> 00:51:52.519 like it 00:51:52.519 --> 00:51:52.619 it 00:51:52.619 --> 00:51:52.780 must 00:51:52.780 --> 00:51:52.940 be 00:51:52.940 --> 00:51:53.139 just 00:51:53.139 --> 00:51:53.480 sometimes 00:51:53.480 --> 00:51:53.820 so 00:51:53.820 --> 00:51:54.079 good 00:51:54.079 --> 00:51:54.320 just 00:51:54.320 --> 00:51:54.519 to 00:51:54.519 --> 00:51:54.960 remember 00:51:54.960 --> 00:51:55.340 once 00:51:55.340 --> 00:51:55.700 again 00:51:55.700 --> 00:51:57.079 the 00:51:57.079 --> 00:51:57.360 start 00:51:57.360 --> 00:51:57.559 of the 00:51:57.559 --> 00:51:57.860 Christian 00:51:57.860 --> 00:51:58.139 life 00:51:58.139 --> 00:51:58.500 prayer 00:51:58.500 --> 00:51:59.780 and what 00:51:59.780 --> 00:52:00.000 you're 00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:00.440 standing 00:52:00.440 --> 00:52:00.840 on 00:52:00.840 --> 00:52:01.519 what you're 00:52:01.519 --> 00:52:01.660 not 00:52:01.659 --> 00:52:02.000 standing 00:52:02.000 --> 00:52:02.199 on 00:52:02.199 --> 00:52:02.440 and how 00:52:02.440 --> 00:52:02.639 you're 00:52:02.639 --> 00:52:02.920 gripped 00:52:02.920 --> 00:52:03.960 and for 00:52:03.960 --> 00:52:04.299 some of 00:52:04.299 --> 00:52:04.559 us here 00:52:04.559 --> 00:52:04.759 in the 00:52:04.759 --> 00:52:04.899 room 00:52:04.899 --> 00:52:05.339 maybe this 00:52:05.339 --> 00:52:05.599 will be 00:52:05.599 --> 00:52:05.759 the 00:52:05.759 --> 00:52:06.259 prayer 00:52:06.259 --> 00:52:06.539 that 00:52:06.539 --> 00:52:06.980 begins 00:52:06.980 --> 00:52:07.500 your 00:52:07.500 --> 00:52:07.899 Christian 00:52:07.899 --> 00:52:08.259 life 00:52:08.259 --> 00:52:10.179 and if 00:52:10.179 --> 00:52:11.460 you haven't 00:52:11.460 --> 00:52:11.940 begun the 00:52:11.940 --> 00:52:12.279 Christian 00:52:12.279 --> 00:52:12.639 life 00:52:12.639 --> 00:52:13.339 I urge 00:52:13.339 --> 00:52:13.639 you to 00:52:13.639 --> 00:52:14.039 pray this 00:52:14.039 --> 00:52:14.319 prayer 00:52:14.319 --> 00:52:14.839 out loud 00:52:14.839 --> 00:52:15.759 saying to 00:52:15.759 --> 00:52:16.000 God 00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:17.059 this is 00:52:17.059 --> 00:52:17.319 me 00:52:17.319 --> 00:52:18.480 this is 00:52:18.480 --> 00:52:18.879 this 00:52:18.879 --> 00:52:19.440 I want 00:52:19.440 --> 00:52:19.799 this to 00:52:19.799 --> 00:52:20.179 be me 00:52:20.179 --> 00:52:22.599 let's 00:52:22.599 --> 00:52:22.940 pray it 00:52:22.940 --> 00:52:23.299 together 00:52:23.299 --> 00:52:24.759 dear 00:52:24.759 --> 00:52:25.179 Lord 00:52:25.179 --> 00:52:26.599 I turn 00:52:26.599 --> 00:52:27.119 from the 00:52:27.119 --> 00:52:27.619 hopes of 00:52:27.619 --> 00:52:27.859 this 00:52:27.859 --> 00:52:28.279 world 00:52:28.279 --> 00:52:29.099 from 00:52:29.099 --> 00:52:29.440 all 00:52:29.440 --> 00:52:30.319 idolatry 00:52:30.319 --> 00:52:31.159 and from 00:52:31.159 --> 00:52:31.500 all 00:52:31.500 --> 00:52:32.280 presumption 00:52:32.280 --> 00:52:33.599 I turn 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:34.119 to you 00:52:34.119 --> 00:52:35.320 I turn 00:52:35.320 --> 00:52:35.920 to Jesus 00:52:35.920 --> 00:52:36.440 Christ 00:52:36.440 --> 00:52:37.119 crucified 00:52:37.119 --> 00:52:37.900 your 00:52:37.900 --> 00:52:38.480 son 00:52:38.480 --> 00:52:39.059 and my 00:52:39.059 --> 00:52:39.519 savior 00:52:39.519 --> 00:52:40.920 I open 00:52:40.920 --> 00:52:41.599 myself 00:52:41.599 --> 00:52:42.800 unreservedly 00:52:42.800 --> 00:52:43.199 to the 00:52:43.199 --> 00:52:43.960 Holy Spirit 00:52:43.960 --> 00:52:45.539 please make 00:52:45.539 --> 00:52:45.900 me a 00:52:45.900 --> 00:52:46.420 disciple 00:52:46.420 --> 00:52:47.179 of Jesus 00:52:47.179 --> 00:52:47.960 gripped by 00:52:47.960 --> 00:52:48.639 the gospel 00:52:48.639 --> 00:52:49.679 living for 00:52:49.679 --> 00:52:50.340 your glory 00:52:50.340 --> 00:52:51.940 thank you 00:52:51.940 --> 00:52:53.300 amen 00:52:53.300 --> 00:52:54.139 father pour 00:52:54.139 --> 00:52:54.420 out your 00:52:54.420 --> 00:52:54.920 Holy Spirit 00:52:54.920 --> 00:52:55.360 upon us 00:52:55.360 --> 00:52:55.760 make us 00:52:55.760 --> 00:52:56.519 disciples of 00:52:56.519 --> 00:52:56.780 Jesus 00:52:56.780 --> 00:52:57.239 gripped by 00:52:57.239 --> 00:52:57.679 the gospel 00:52:57.679 --> 00:52:58.179 living for 00:52:58.179 --> 00:52:58.659 your glory 00:52:58.659 --> 00:52:59.079 and this 00:52:59.079 --> 00:52:59.500 we ask 00:52:59.500 --> 00:52:59.920 in Jesus 00:52:59.920 --> 00:53:00.440 name 00:53:00.440 --> 00:53:01.300 amen 00:53:01.300 --> 00:53:03.580 amen 00:53:03.580 --> 00:53:04.140 to 00:53:04.140 --> 00:53:04.980 God 00:53:04.980 --> 00:53:10.500 s 00:53:10.500 --> 00:53:20.000 fors 00:53:20.080 --> 00:53:29.400 ing