WEBVTT

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 Good morning, Watermark. The scripture reading today comes from Exodus chapters 19 and 20.

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 Please follow along on the screen, on your bulletin, or in your own Bible.

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 Starting in chapter 19, verse 1, we read,

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 On the third new moon, after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt,

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 on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.

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 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness.

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 There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God.

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 The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying,

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 Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel,

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 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians,

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 and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

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 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant,

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 you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples.

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 For all the earth is mine,

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 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

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 These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.

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 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and sat before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.

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 All the people answered together and said,

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 All that the Lord has spoken, we will do.

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 And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

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 And the Lord said to Moses,

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 Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud,

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 that the people may hear when I speak with you,

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 and may also believe you forever.

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 When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord,

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 the Lord said to Moses,

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 Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow.

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 And let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day.

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 For on the third day, the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai,

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 in the sight of all the people.

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 And you shall set limits for the people all around,

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 saying,

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 Take care not to go up into the mountain,

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 or touch the edge of it.

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 Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.

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 No one shall touch him,

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 but he shall be stoned or shot.

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 Whether beast or man,

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 he shall not live.

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 When the trumpet sounds a long blast,

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 they shall come up to the mountain.

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 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people,

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 and consecrated the people.

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 And they washed their garments.

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 And he said to the people,

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 Be ready for the third day.

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 Do not go near a woman.

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 On the morning of the third day,

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 there were thunders and lightnings,

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 and a thick cloud on the mountain,

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 and a very loud trumpet blast,

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 so that all the people in the camp trembled.

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 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God,

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 and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

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 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke,

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 because the Lord had descended on it in fire.

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 The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln,

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 and the whole mountain trembled greatly.

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 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder,

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 Moses spoke,

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 and God answered him in thunder.

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 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain,

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 and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain,

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 and Moses went up.

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 Then in chapter 20, verse 18,

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 Now when all the people saw the thunder,

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 and the flashes of lightning,

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 and the sound of the trumpet,

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 and the mountain smoking,

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 the people were afraid and trembled.

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 And they stood far off and said to Moses,

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 Moses,

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 You speak to us,

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 and we will listen.

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 But do not let God speak to us,

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 lest we die.

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 Moses said to the people,

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 Do not fear,

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 for God has come to test you,

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 that the fear of him may be before you,

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 that you may not sin.

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 The people stood far off,

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 while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Great.

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 Thanks so much, Iris.

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 If you don't know me,

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 my name is Niels.

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 And it's my privilege to bring us God's word this morning.

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 But we need God to speak to us,

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 not just me.

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 So why don't we pray together?

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 Our Father,

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 may we come to you,

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 and we thank you that you're the speaking God,

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 just like you spoke back then,

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 and showed yourself.

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 Would you speak to us today,

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 and show yourself to us?

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 Would we see your glory,

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 your greatness,

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 and would it change our life?

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Great.

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 Well,

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 as we get into today's text,

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 actually,

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 what I wanted to start with,

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 you know the kind of idea of the small print.

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 You buy something,

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 and then there's a lot of small letters,

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 with some,

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 some that are just ingredients,

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 but often disclaimers,

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 that actually,

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 it's not quite what you think.

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 I don't know,

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 this is my favorite,

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 that I found online.

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 So here's a Superman pyjama,

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 and there's a warning,

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 and it says,

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 warning,

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 if you wear this,

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 it doesn't enable you to fly.

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 I'm really glad they put it on,

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 right?

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 Or you buy eggs,

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 and it says,

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 warning,

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 contains eggs.

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 But,

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 you know,

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 I don't think anyone would buy this,

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 in order to fly.

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 The thing is,

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 often it's disappointing,

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 right?

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 You buy something,

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 and actually,

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 you read the small print,

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 and it's not quite what you wanted.

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 This airline,

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 oh,

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 we have the cheapest fares,

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 except that in the small print,

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 this doesn't yet include taxes,

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 and check-in,

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 and baggage,

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 and actually,

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 it's the same as everyone else.

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 But that's often the problem,

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 right?

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 We have certain expectations,

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 and they're not met.

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 Is that just cheating?

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 Is that the small print?

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 Because sometimes,

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 we have that with Christianity.

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 Long ago,

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 EJ and I did,

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 we worked with Korean students,

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 in London,

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 and,

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 you know,

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 we had a Bible study group,

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 and there was this girl,

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 who came along,

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 and she really loved it,

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 and she was so excited,

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 about what she heard,

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 and she wanted to become a Christian,

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 and it was great.

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 Except that,

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 you know,

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 a few months later,

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 she got a boyfriend,

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 one of her colleagues,

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 and he was not a Christian,

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 and they moved in together,

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 and we had to talk to her,

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 about that.

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 And what was the,

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 well,

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 maybe we didn't,

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 we also didn't handle it well,

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 I think,

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 but,

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 yeah,

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 she,

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 well,

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 I don't want it anymore.

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 You know,

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 if it's like this,

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 no thanks,

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 and she stopped coming,

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 and she gave it up.

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 Right?

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 Maybe she felt like,

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 well,

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 hey,

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 there was this small print.

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 I didn't know this,

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 and so,

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 no thanks.

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 Maybe you feel like that,

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 right?

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 You know,

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 Christianity promises to be a very different religion.

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 It promises that it's all about grace and love,

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 and then yet,

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 we talk,

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 well,

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 about obeying Jesus.

00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:06.639
 Well,

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 I think today's message will be really helpful,

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 if that's what we think.

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 Maybe you're here as a visitor.

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 It's true.

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 Following Jesus does involve,

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 yeah,

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 following him.

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 But,

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 I hope we can see more why.

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 Now,

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 what are we doing?

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 At the moment,

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 we're doing a sermon series about,

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 well,

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 we call it the wonderful work of God.

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 We're looking at the storyline of the Bible.

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 How the world,

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 how everything went wrong because of us,

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 God,

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 but now,

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 God is making everything right again,

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 and basically,

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 the story of how he's doing that.

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 If you haven't been here,

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 we have,

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 God appeared to this man called Abraham,

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 made a great promise to,

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 yeah,

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 that his descendants would be his people,

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 and last week,

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 we saw God starting to fulfill that promise.

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 He rescued his people from Egypt,

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 from slavery,

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 so that they were free to be with him,

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 and then today,

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 well,

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 God is making another covenant.

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 Sometimes we call it the law.

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 We've been singing about the law this morning.

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 People also,

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 sometimes call it the Mosaic covenant,

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 the covenant with Moses,

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 because Moses is the hero at the moment.

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 And it's huge.

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 I mean,

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 this covenant,

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 it takes up the next three and a half books of the Bible,

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 right?

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 That's how big this is.

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 This,

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 it's basically,

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 it governs the rest of the Old Testament,

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 all the way until,

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 yeah,

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 the end of the Old Testament.

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 And so,

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 if we are reading the Bible,

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 you want to understand the Old Testament,

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 basically,

00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:43.899
 we need to understand

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 what is the relationship that God has

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 with the people of Israel.

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 And what is it about?

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 Well,

00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:51.399
 first,

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 a privileged relationship

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 with God.

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 The first thing we see here,

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 you know,

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 it's a really privileged relationship,

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 because that was the whole promise,

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 right?

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 Here's Abraham's descendants.

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 They're going to the promised land.

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 But what is the heart of,

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 what is so wonderful,

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 is that they have this relationship.

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 And today,

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 it's a little bit like a,

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 it's like a marriage,

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 right?

00:09:14.660 --> 00:09:15.820
 God makes this proposal,

00:09:16.040 --> 00:09:16.200
 hey,

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 you're going to be my special people.

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 And Israel says,

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 yes,

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 we do.

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 And then they have a ceremony,

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 and they have a banquet,

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 and they move in together,

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 if you read on,

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 right?

00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:26.620
 It's like a wedding.

00:09:26.780 --> 00:09:27.620
 It's like a marriage,

00:09:28.220 --> 00:09:28.480
 right?

00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:34.840
 They are going to have a relationship with this awesome God of power and love,

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 who just rescued them from Egypt.

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 And that should be just so wonderful,

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 right?

00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:41.279
 And he's not going to just stay up in heaven.

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 He's going to come and live with them.

00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.460
 They're in a desert,

00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:45.879
 living in tents,

00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:50.720
 and they're going to build a special tent in the middle of the camp where God is going to live with them.

00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:51.740
 Can you imagine?

00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:55.220
 They are so close to this amazing God.

00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:57.200
 How does he call it?

00:09:57.259 --> 00:09:58.139
 You're going to be my,

00:09:58.139 --> 00:09:59.820
 my treasured possession,

00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:01.279
 verse five.

00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:02.120
 You know,

00:10:02.139 --> 00:10:02.740
 the word is,

00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:03.340
 you know,

00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:05.700
 you have this crown full of jewels,

00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:06.759
 but in the front,

00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:08.399
 there's this one big,

00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:09.860
 beautiful gemstone.

00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:12.840
 And that is what you guys are going to be to me.

00:10:13.180 --> 00:10:14.680
 That is what God promises,

00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:15.200
 which is,

00:10:15.280 --> 00:10:16.060
 sounds wonderful.

00:10:16.940 --> 00:10:17.720
 And not just,

00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:17.980
 you know,

00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:19.100
 a special relationship.

00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:20.519
 They're going to have a special role.

00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:23.340
 Because God had promised,

00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:23.800
 actually,

00:10:23.920 --> 00:10:26.320
 it's not just about Abraham and his family.

00:10:26.800 --> 00:10:27.139
 Through him,

00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:28.560
 the whole world will be blessed.

00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:31.259
 And that is here as well,

00:10:31.340 --> 00:10:32.759
 because God keeps saying,

00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:33.019
 well,

00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:34.360
 the whole earth is mine.

00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:35.759
 It's for all nations.

00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.740
 What are they going to do?

00:10:37.920 --> 00:10:39.160
 You're going to be to me,

00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:39.759
 verse six,

00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:41.480
 a kingdom of priests.

00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:43.639
 You're going to be priests.

00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:44.460
 I mean,

00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:44.639
 what,

00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:45.659
 what does a priest do?

00:10:46.220 --> 00:10:46.399
 Well,

00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:46.960
 two things.

00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:47.180
 Well,

00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:47.700
 on one hand,

00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:50.120
 they have a very special relationship with God,

00:10:50.180 --> 00:10:50.360
 right?

00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.899
 They can go into his presence.

00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:53.659
 They can get close to him.

00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:55.620
 But at the same time,

00:10:55.680 --> 00:10:56.060
 there's a,

00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:56.899
 there's a purpose,

00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:57.180
 right?

00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:59.000
 They are like an intermediary.

00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:01.440
 They can connect God with the people.

00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:05.779
 And Israel's there to connect God with the rest of the world.

00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:07.899
 How is that happening?

00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:08.139
 Well,

00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.639
 through the law.

00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:10.240
 Uh,

00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:10.860
 we see that,

00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:11.179
 uh,

00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:12.860
 these verses are clearer.

00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.360
 They're from Deuteronomy.

00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:15.220
 Uh,

00:11:15.220 --> 00:11:15.899
 later on,

00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:16.720
 uh,

00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:17.659
 this is what God's,

00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:18.600
 this is God's plan.

00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:20.500
 Uh,

00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:20.840
 yeah,

00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:21.620
 Deuteronomy four,

00:11:21.699 --> 00:11:22.279
 it's on the screen.

00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:22.960
 See,

00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:26.340
 I have taught you statutes and rules as the Lord,

00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:27.620
 my God commanded me.

00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:28.220
 That's Moses.

00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:28.960
 Uh,

00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:29.419
 do you,

00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:29.500
 you,

00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:33.220
 that you should do them in the lands that you are entering to take possession of it.

00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:38.879
 Keep them and do them for that will be your wisdom and your understanding.

00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:41.519
 In the sight of the peoples who,

00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:43.919
 when they hear all these statutes will say,

00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:49.039
 surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:54.100
 For what great nation is there that has a God so near to it as the Lord,

00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:56.720
 our God is to us whenever we call upon him.

00:11:57.159 --> 00:12:03.720
 And what great nation is there that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I said before you today.

00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:04.860
 Right.

00:12:04.940 --> 00:12:06.000
 God's plan is that,

00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:06.639
 you know,

00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:07.820
 the rest of the world,

00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:08.879
 they will see Israel.

00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:12.840
 They will see what an amazing relationship with God they have.

00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:13.500
 What,

00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:17.759
 what a wonderful society of love and justice and righteousness.

00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:18.800
 And that they just think,

00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:19.160
 wow,

00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:20.240
 I want that.

00:12:20.660 --> 00:12:22.240
 I want to be one of God's people.

00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:22.980
 Right.

00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:25.600
 That is how God's going to bless the world.

00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:27.860
 It's actually still the plan.

00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:28.080
 Right.

00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:29.159
 In the new Testament,

00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:29.639
 you know,

00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:31.620
 this is how everyone will know that you're my disciples.

00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.639
 If you love one another,

00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:33.279
 again,

00:12:33.340 --> 00:12:36.860
 it's our community life that shows God to the world.

00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:39.300
 And how that feels exciting.

00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:41.039
 I hope you,

00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:41.960
 I'm excited.

00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:42.320
 Right.

00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.680
 I hope if you're a visitor,

00:12:44.140 --> 00:12:44.320
 you know,

00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:48.220
 this should be so amazing that God is not distant,

00:12:48.400 --> 00:12:51.040
 but he wants this amazing relationship.

00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:53.040
 However,

00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:54.960
 and that is the thing.

00:12:55.060 --> 00:12:55.960
 If you've heard the reading,

00:12:56.520 --> 00:12:58.680
 verse five has this dreaded words.

00:12:59.320 --> 00:12:59.500
 Right.

00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:00.040
 Now,

00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:00.640
 therefore,

00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:01.200
 if,

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:04.420
 if you will indeed obey my voice,

00:13:05.300 --> 00:13:06.080
 if you obey,

00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:07.920
 if you keep my covenant,

00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:11.679
 which if you were here two weeks ago is quite a change,

00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:11.899
 right?

00:13:11.939 --> 00:13:13.779
 Because God had said to Abraham,

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:14.360
 Hey,

00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:15.799
 I'm going to do this myself.

00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:17.240
 That was kind of one way,

00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:17.919
 but this is,

00:13:18.079 --> 00:13:19.059
 this is two way.

00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:19.799
 This is conditional.

00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:22.079
 If you obey.

00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:23.559
 And you can see that,

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:23.740
 right.

00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:24.639
 We've heard the reading,

00:13:24.839 --> 00:13:26.620
 lots of instructions about,

00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:27.159
 okay,

00:13:27.199 --> 00:13:28.779
 keep your distance and cleanse yourself.

00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.379
 And because God is going to come.

00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:30.740
 And,

00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:31.360
 uh,

00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:33.039
 we skipped over the 10 commandments.

00:13:33.319 --> 00:13:34.319
 Many of us know it well,

00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:34.980
 but yeah,

00:13:35.579 --> 00:13:35.980
 uh,

00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:36.379
 commandments,

00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:36.779
 right?

00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:40.839
 This is really real because this is a relationship.

00:13:41.439 --> 00:13:41.959
 Well,

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:44.740
 that requires God to be at the center.

00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:47.579
 It requires God at the center.

00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:48.579
 I mean,

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:50.059
 those 10 commandments,

00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:51.399
 they are not arbitrary.

00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:52.319
 It just,

00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:52.759
 it basically,

00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.959
 it puts God at the center of life.

00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:56.000
 I mean,

00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:56.839
 that's what it does,

00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.079
 right?

00:13:57.439 --> 00:13:58.839
 The very first commandment,

00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.919
 you shall have no other gods before me,

00:14:01.059 --> 00:14:01.839
 right?

00:14:01.939 --> 00:14:02.339
 I'm,

00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:03.319
 I should be number one,

00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:04.039
 no one else,

00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:05.039
 but,

00:14:05.079 --> 00:14:06.600
 but it's not just that.

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.480
 It's not just worship,

00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:07.759
 right?

00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:14.040
 He talks about government and authority and life and death and marriage and property and truth and justice.

00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:16.300
 And all of that has to be God's way.

00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:16.920
 All of that,

00:14:17.300 --> 00:14:17.620
 you know,

00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:19.300
 should be according to God.

00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:19.779
 Um,

00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:20.779
 even our heart,

00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.019
 right?

00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:23.980
 Most people in the world don't think,

00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:26.139
 care about what you think or what you do in your heart.

00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:26.680
 It doesn't matter,

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:26.879
 right?

00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.419
 That's yours.

00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:28.799
 Uh,

00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.399
 not for God,

00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:30.139
 right?

00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:32.139
 You shall not covet the last commandments.

00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:32.620
 Actually,

00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:34.080
 even in your heart,

00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:34.779
 God says,

00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.000
 I should be number one.

00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:37.299
 I think it should be my way.

00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:38.659
 Uh,

00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:40.340
 and then the other 600 commandments,

00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:42.279
 they just show that in detail.

00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:42.919
 Uh,

00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:43.939
 God requires,

00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:44.220
 yeah,

00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.159
 that he's at the center.

00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.100
 Uh,

00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:47.840
 just to say,

00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:48.899
 we shouldn't miss.

00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:51.500
 This comes in a context of grace,

00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:53.079
 right?

00:14:53.079 --> 00:14:53.240
 Uh,

00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:55.019
 it's not that the Israelites,

00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:56.639
 they were in Egypt and God says,

00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:56.860
 okay,

00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:57.579
 here's the deal.

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:59.319
 If you obey me and do all this,

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.240
 then I'll rescue you.

00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:02.500
 Now he has already rescued them,

00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:03.399
 right?

00:15:03.579 --> 00:15:04.699
 Commandment number zero.

00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:05.720
 Uh,

00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:06.879
 I am the Lord,

00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:07.519
 your God,

00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:09.500
 who brought you up out of the land of Egypt,

00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:11.079
 out of the house of slavery.

00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:12.659
 I've rescued you.

00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:16.279
 And now you shall have no other God,

00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:16.480
 right?

00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:17.199
 It's grace.

00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:18.419
 Even the law.

00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:18.799
 I mean,

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:27.179
 more than half the law is about sacrifices and priests because it's about forgiveness and atonement and those kind of things.

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:28.919
 Yet,

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:33.539
 there is still a real requirement to obey.

00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.879
 And it's really not optional.

00:15:36.719 --> 00:15:39.439
 It's not that God is just a bit sad when you don't,

00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:39.699
 right?

00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:41.179
 Because as you read on,

00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:44.039
 especially maybe near the end of the law,

00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:46.659
 there were really serious consequences.

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.319
 Uh,

00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:49.019
 yeah,

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.079
 on your bulletin,

00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:52.259
 I've printed a Leviticus 26,

00:15:52.459 --> 00:15:53.519
 which is kind of the,

00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:53.759
 the,

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.339
 the blessings and curses at the end.

00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:56.039
 We're not going to,

00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:58.039
 we don't have time to read much of it,

00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:59.379
 but God promises.

00:15:59.379 --> 00:15:59.639
 Yeah,

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.480
 if you obey,

00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.379
 you'll be wonderfully blessed,

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:02.659
 right?

00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:04.839
 You'll have peace and abundance and everything.

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.199
 But,

00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:06.579
 uh,

00:16:06.579 --> 00:16:07.719
 Leviticus 26,

00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:08.679
 verse 14.

00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:11.839
 But if you will not listen to me,

00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:13.580
 I will not do all these commandments,

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:13.600
 I will not do all these commandments.

00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:17.899
 If you spurn my statutes and if your soul abhors my rules,

00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:20.340
 so that you will not do all my commandments,

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.680
 but break my covenant,

00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:24.000
 then I will do this to you.

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.620
 I will visit you with panic,

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:30.799
 with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache.

00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:34.720
 And you shall sow your seed in vain for your enemy shall eat it.

00:16:35.180 --> 00:16:39.740
 I will set my face against you and you shall be struck down before your enemies.

00:16:41.040 --> 00:16:41.340
 All right?

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.500
 God really means it.

00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:42.800
 And,

00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:43.440
 uh,

00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:43.960
 verse 18.

00:16:44.060 --> 00:16:44.899
 If in spite of this,

00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:46.060
 you will not listen to me,

00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:47.720
 then I will discipline you again,

00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:49.480
 sevenfold for your sins.

00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.639
 And I will break the pride of your power.

00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:56.019
 I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze and so on.

00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:56.220
 Right?

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.139
 If you keep sinning,

00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.279
 I will discipline you again.

00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.340
 And if you keep on sinning,

00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:00.440
 I will discipline you again.

00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:03.519
 And it gets worse and worse until,

00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:03.720
 yeah,

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.660
 they lose the land.

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.680
 Verse 33.

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:11.680
 I will scatter you among the nations and I will unsheave the sword after you.

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:16.759
 And your land shall be a desolation and your city shall be a waste.

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.200
 They,

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.579
 they lose everything.

00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:20.740
 They lose the land.

00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:22.120
 And yeah,

00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:22.360
 they,

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:24.400
 they can be quite shocking verses that we,

00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.460
 when they're in the Bible,

00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.740
 so we should preach them.

00:17:27.620 --> 00:17:29.579
 But yeah,

00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.400
 by the way,

00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:31.279
 just to notice,

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.100
 you know,

00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:35.299
 I hope you feel that this is really a rejection of God.

00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:35.539
 Right?

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.919
 If you spurn my statutes,

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:40.500
 if your soul abhors my rules,

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:43.319
 God is not like an Asian tiger parent.

00:17:43.419 --> 00:17:43.559
 Right?

00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:44.619
 You work really hard,

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:46.519
 but you only get 99%.

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.160
 And God says,

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:47.420
 no.

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:47.920
 Right?

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.779
 It's not like that.

00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.480
 This is really,

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.339
 you know,

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:53.420
 deliberately failing your exams when your parents have give you everything.

00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.379
 That's what it's like.

00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:57.320
 But it's real.

00:17:58.560 --> 00:17:58.660
 And,

00:17:58.660 --> 00:17:58.800
 and,

00:17:58.800 --> 00:17:59.640
 and it's discipline.

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.160
 You know,

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.740
 God says,

00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:01.380
 you know,

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:03.040
 discipline is to bring people back.

00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:03.980
 It's to train them.

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:06.200
 It's not like vengeance,

00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:08.240
 but it's real.

00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:11.660
 And that's a real change compared to what came before.

00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.700
 And with Abraham,

00:18:13.520 --> 00:18:15.220
 he sinned and God just ignored it.

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.720
 But now,

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.060
 this is real.

00:18:19.280 --> 00:18:20.200
 But why?

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:20.620
 Right?

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.380
 It's just,

00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:22.800
 just annoying small print.

00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:24.680
 Maybe it feels like that,

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:24.859
 right?

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:26.700
 God promises this wonderful grace.

00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:29.240
 And now he kind of spoils it.

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.139
 And maybe you thought,

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.299
 well,

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:32.460
 that promise to Abraham,

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.960
 that was just too good to be true.

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.419
 Wasn't it?

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:36.680
 Well,

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:38.099
 why is God doing this?

00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:39.559
 That is what I want us to think about.

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.339
 That is,

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.799
 I think what's at the heart of this.

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.159
 The thing is,

00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:45.599
 that is reality.

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.859
 I don't know how sure,

00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:49.220
 how to put this,

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.480
 but this is reality.

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.240
 This is who God is.

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.200
 This is who we are.

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.680
 This is what the world is like.

00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:57.120
 This is just reality.

00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.019
 This is creation.

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.180
 Right?

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:02.019
 Because God shows,

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:02.339
 look,

00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.859
 you need to just know who I am.

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:05.759
 And so,

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.240
 the Israelites don't know him,

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:09.259
 so God is going to show himself.

00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.039
 And they get this,

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:10.839
 we've read it,

00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:11.000
 right?

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:12.859
 This awesome vision

00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:15.960
 where God reveals himself on Mount Sinai.

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.180
 Again,

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:19.500
 on the morning of the third day,

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:21.859
 there were thunders and lightnings,

00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.339
 19 verse 16,

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:25.440
 and a thick cloud on the mountain,

00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:27.359
 and a very loud trumpet blast,

00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:29.960
 so that all the people in the camp trembled.

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:33.819
 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God,

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.099
 and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:38.500
 Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke,

00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:41.400
 because the Lord had descended on it in fire.

00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:44.359
 The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln,

00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:46.579
 and the whole mountain trembled greatly.

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.159
 You know,

00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:50.839
 it's this awesome vision.

00:19:51.659 --> 00:19:51.899
 I mean,

00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:52.619
 it shows that,

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:55.019
 it shows awesome holiness,

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.459
 right?

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:58.259
 God is so different from us.

00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:01.259
 He is so separate from us.

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:01.979
 That's why,

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.079
 keep your distance,

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.139
 and cleanse yourself.

00:20:04.699 --> 00:20:05.579
 God is so separate.

00:20:05.699 --> 00:20:05.839
 But,

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:07.459
 what is that separation?

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:11.459
 It's not just that he is perfect and pure.

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:12.479
 Right?

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.940
 He is the creator,

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.720
 and we are creatures.

00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:17.079
 I mean,

00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:20.279
 that is why the whole creation is just shaking,

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.079
 and burning.

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.319
 It's like,

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:22.599
 you know,

00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:24.480
 God who is outside creation,

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.220
 you know,

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.440
 normally he's out there,

00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:28.400
 but when he enters creation,

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:30.880
 everything just starts to creak and break,

00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:33.259
 because creation just can't handle it.

00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:34.120
 Right?

00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:36.279
 The mountain that looks so firm,

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:37.000
 it's shaking.

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:37.380
 You know,

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.819
 the creator is here.

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.279
 And,

00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:42.160
 if that is the God you relate to,

00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.620
 the creator,

00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:45.299
 well,

00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:47.120
 it should be obvious,

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.400
 right,

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:49.440
 that he should be at the center of life.

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.180
 Right?

00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:52.660
 If this is his world that he made,

00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:54.880
 and we are made by him,

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.019
 yeah,

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:57.079
 no wonder that he is at the center.

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:58.019
 That's just who he is.

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:59.180
 That's what the world is like.

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.000
 Right?

00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:02.460
 No wonder we should have no other gods,

00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.579
 because you read this,

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:06.360
 there is no other gods,

00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:06.579
 right?

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:09.339
 There can't be any others if this is the real God.

00:21:11.199 --> 00:21:11.559
 So,

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.220
 you know,

00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:13.339
 living God's way,

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.259
 doing,

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.500
 having him at the center,

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:19.339
 I hope you see that that's just reality,

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.240
 that is creation.

00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.139
 I think that this,

00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:23.159
 you know,

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.259
 this challenges us.

00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:24.919
 How do we,

00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.019
 you know,

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:28.839
 this is more than just a personal relationship.

00:21:29.679 --> 00:21:30.579
 It's more than just,

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.179
 you know,

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:32.659
 I love Jesus,

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.779
 and I want to please him.

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:34.480
 I mean,

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.339
 that's a good thing.

00:21:36.199 --> 00:21:36.879
 But I don't know,

00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:38.619
 let me illustrate it.

00:21:38.699 --> 00:21:38.919
 You know,

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:40.059
 when I got married,

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:42.720
 you probably don't know this about me,

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:44.699
 but my favorite music is techno music,

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.079
 especially,

00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:46.879
 you know,

00:21:46.939 --> 00:21:50.220
 the kind of German music trends from the early 90s.

00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.139
 And for some unexplainable reason,

00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:54.480
 my wife doesn't like it.

00:21:54.679 --> 00:21:55.799
 I don't know why.

00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:58.759
 But so,

00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.659
 when we got married,

00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:01.180
 and we lived in a small flat,

00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:01.839
 well,

00:22:01.919 --> 00:22:02.899
 I wouldn't play it,

00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:04.279
 because she didn't like it,

00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:04.460
 right?

00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.359
 This is,

00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:07.059
 this is before Bluetooth headphones,

00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.480
 and mobile devices,

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:08.940
 and stuff.

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.000
 Yeah,

00:22:10.159 --> 00:22:10.220
 we,

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.659
 it makes sense,

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:11.879
 right?

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.680
 And at some point,

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.440
 we needed money,

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:15.680
 so I just sold my 150 CDs.

00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:16.500
 Yeah,

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.000
 that's fine,

00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:19.159
 because I loved her.

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:21.299
 I was so amazed that she wanted to marry me.

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:21.539
 Yeah.

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.359
 But the thing is,

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:27.500
 that's just love,

00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:27.720
 right?

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.700
 If I didn't love her,

00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.599
 I wouldn't have done that.

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.339
 It's just a preference,

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:32.619
 right?

00:22:32.639 --> 00:22:33.359
 It's just subjective.

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.919
 If I know,

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.879
 I love Jesus,

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.059
 and he's done so much for me,

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:39.099
 so I want to please him.

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:39.700
 Well,

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.720
 if you don't love Jesus,

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:42.279
 does that mean you don't need to do what he says?

00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:43.480
 No,

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:43.779
 right?

00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:45.539
 This is something objective.

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.819
 Sin is,

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.980
 sin is wrong,

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:48.759
 right?

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.839
 This is something true.

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.099
 Or,

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.960
 think of a nut allergy.

00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:53.099
 It's not just a preference,

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.339
 right?

00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:53.940
 Some people,

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:54.660
 you know,

00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.920
 they can't be with nuts.

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.099
 And so you,

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:57.500
 okay?

00:22:58.039 --> 00:23:00.019
 And sometimes we explain the gospel like that,

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.220
 right?

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:00.879
 That,

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.140
 you know,

00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.559
 God,

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.440
 he loves you,

00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.900
 and he wants to be with you,

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.240
 but yeah,

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.200
 you have sin,

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:06.539
 and so you can't be with him.

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:08.039
 But thankfully,

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.759
 Jesus came,

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.339
 and he died,

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.440
 and everything is okay now.

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:11.900
 Now,

00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:12.640
 that's true,

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.780
 but it really misses something,

00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:15.019
 right?

00:23:15.060 --> 00:23:17.560
 It misses that sin is just wrong,

00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:19.940
 and that even after we're forgiven,

00:23:20.040 --> 00:23:21.019
 it's still a problem.

00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:22.200
 It's wrong.

00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.560
 It's against reality,

00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:24.500
 right?

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:27.160
 God is the creator.

00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:28.940
 He is the center of the universe,

00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:31.560
 so he ought to be the center of our lives.

00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:32.519
 It's essential,

00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:35.220
 and that is what God is communicating.

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:38.120
 And we've been thinking in this series,

00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:38.900
 okay,

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:41.540
 the Bible is about the kingdom of God.

00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:44.200
 God's people in God's place,

00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:45.700
 under God's rule,

00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:47.519
 experiencing God's blessing.

00:23:48.320 --> 00:23:49.280
 And two weeks ago,

00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:51.340
 I talked a lot about place,

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:51.840
 and people,

00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.420
 and blessing,

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:55.360
 because God didn't mention God's rule.

00:23:56.040 --> 00:23:58.340
 But now he puts that very big on the table.

00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:58.680
 No,

00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.920
 that one also needs to be there.

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:01.780
 You know,

00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:03.580
 it's not just the other three.

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:05.900
 God's rule needs to be there as well.

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:08.680
 If you want to go back to the Garden of Eden,

00:24:08.800 --> 00:24:10.420
 if you want things to be restored,

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:12.440
 if you want the world to be as it was,

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.620
 God's rule needs to be there,

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:14.820
 right?

00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:16.519
 It's like the key to the other three.

00:24:17.100 --> 00:24:17.700
 Without it,

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.880
 you can't have anything else.

00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:20.320
 Right?

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.620
 Think of Adam and Eve.

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.840
 Where did it all go wrong?

00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:26.840
 It went wrong because they rejected God.

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:29.180
 And that is when they lost the place,

00:24:29.300 --> 00:24:29.960
 and their people,

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.240
 and their blessing,

00:24:31.340 --> 00:24:31.519
 right?

00:24:32.600 --> 00:24:33.860
 God's rule is the key.

00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:38.539
 It's obvious,

00:24:38.719 --> 00:24:38.839
 right?

00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:39.059
 I mean,

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.579
 the world is God's world.

00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:41.419
 Everything is his.

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.439
 If we reject him,

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:42.959
 well,

00:24:42.979 --> 00:24:43.719
 we lose everything.

00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:45.059
 I mean,

00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:46.240
 we think of a teenager

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.919
 running away from home,

00:24:48.159 --> 00:24:49.399
 breaking off all communication

00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:50.139
 with his parents.

00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:51.579
 Well,

00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:51.740
 yeah,

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:53.639
 he's not going to have a nice warm room

00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:55.919
 and free meals a day.

00:24:56.479 --> 00:24:58.139
 But it's not because the parents are mean.

00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:58.519
 It's just,

00:24:58.599 --> 00:24:58.699
 yeah,

00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:00.079
 if you walk out on your parents,

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:02.399
 you don't have what they give you,

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:02.759
 right?

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:05.400
 God's rule is central.

00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:05.839
 And so,

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.119
 yeah,

00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:09.099
 we talk about the cause of the fall

00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:10.140
 and the consequences.

00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:12.920
 The cause is our rejection of God,

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:14.779
 and the consequences are,

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.480
 well,

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.879
 are the blessings and everything.

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:19.359
 And in this covenant,

00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:19.680
 you know,

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.460
 God has promised,

00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:23.720
 I will deal with the consequences of the fall.

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.680
 But now God says,

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:27.359
 but the cause also needs to be dealt with.

00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:29.359
 If the world is to be right,

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:31.640
 I need to be at the center again.

00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:33.560
 Because I am,

00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:34.259
 because I'm God.

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.860
 I don't know,

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:38.440
 how do you think about the world?

00:25:38.800 --> 00:25:38.940
 Right?

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.100
 We think of the world.

00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:40.860
 And,

00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.060
 and,

00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:41.880
 you know,

00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:43.280
 think about your life.

00:25:44.040 --> 00:25:45.820
 How do you make your life right?

00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.440
 What's wrong with your life?

00:25:47.580 --> 00:25:48.400
 And there's so many things,

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:48.580
 right?

00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.440
 Maybe we're lonely,

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.600
 and we're hurt,

00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.720
 and we're frustrated.

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.060
 Yeah,

00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:54.500
 that are all real problems.

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:57.619
 But surely the biggest problem is our sin,

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:57.880
 right?

00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:00.440
 Or think about the world out there.

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.500
 What's wrong with the world?

00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:01.720
 Well,

00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.480
 there's war,

00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:03.500
 and oppression,

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.480
 and injustice,

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.579
 and sickness,

00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.779
 and natural disasters.

00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:08.279
 That's all wrong with the world.

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:11.279
 But the biggest thing that's wrong with the world

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.920
 is that there's seven billion people

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:14.559
 who are ignoring their creator,

00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:14.839
 right?

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.519
 Seven billion people

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:18.980
 who are pretending to be God themselves.

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.700
 That is the real problem.

00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:23.519
 And even if we solve everything,

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:23.900
 right?

00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.180
 If we have world peace,

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.840
 and we cure every sickness,

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:27.880
 and,

00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:28.400
 you know,

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.720
 everyone has enough food,

00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.160
 is that a perfect world?

00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:33.019
 This passage says no.

00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.200
 Without God,

00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:36.819
 without God at the center,

00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:38.460
 it's still not the Garden of Eden.

00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:41.039
 And to be honest,

00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:41.460
 actually,

00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.340
 you know,

00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:43.640
 without God's rule,

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.539
 it can never be the Garden of Eden,

00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:45.740
 right?

00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.059
 We know,

00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:48.019
 because God's rule is good.

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.200
 You know,

00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:50.440
 His law is,

00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:51.360
 is a blessing,

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:51.740
 right?

00:26:52.080 --> 00:26:52.380
 You know,

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.420
 if everyone in the world

00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.539
 kept the Ten Commandments

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.380
 truly and fully,

00:26:55.580 --> 00:26:56.759
 the world would be a lot better.

00:26:56.840 --> 00:26:57.279
 We know that,

00:26:57.320 --> 00:26:57.460
 right?

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:58.480
 You know,

00:26:58.580 --> 00:27:00.519
 Israel was supposed to be attractive.

00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.100
 If they lived God's way,

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:03.059
 everyone would think,

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:03.460
 wow,

00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:04.519
 I want that.

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:07.460
 My own country is a dystopian mess,

00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.019
 but actually,

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:08.680
 wow,

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.980
 God's way is,

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.680
 is attractive,

00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.259
 is great,

00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:11.759
 is perfect.

00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:12.380
 I want that.

00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.920
 So God makes it clear.

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.940
 A perfect world,

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:16.700
 yeah,

00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.480
 it must have Him

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.080
 at the center.

00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:20.099
 And as you can imagine,

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.259
 yeah,

00:27:21.659 --> 00:27:22.319
 that's good,

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.839
 but it's a problem.

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.960
 It's a problem because

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:27.179
 we aren't very good

00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:27.960
 at obeying.

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.579
 And as you read on,

00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:29.779
 yeah,

00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.779
 that's Israel's problem,

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.039
 right,

00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:31.339
 today.

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.299
 They try to obey,

00:27:33.419 --> 00:27:33.839
 but actually,

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:35.119
 they don't,

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:36.519
 and they reject God,

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.220
 and they rebel,

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:39.299
 and we get a lot of punishment.

00:27:41.139 --> 00:27:41.539
 Yeah.

00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:44.220
 That's not where I'm going today,

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:44.559
 but yeah,

00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.440
 that's the problem,

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:45.700
 right?

00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.779
 So we're getting,

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:49.180
 we're focusing in now.

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.500
 Well,

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.019
 what is the,

00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:52.299
 how can the world be restored?

00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:52.480
 Well,

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.319
 we need to do something

00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:54.139
 about our sin.

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.480
 Of course,

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:57.039
 God's promise hasn't changed.

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:59.200
 At the end of Leviticus,

00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.599
 at the end of all the curses,

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.319
 God still mentions it,

00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.420
 Leviticus 26,

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:04.079
 verse 40,

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.759
 but if they confess

00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.619
 their iniquity,

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.740
 and the iniquity of their fathers,

00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.799
 in their treachery

00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:11.180
 that they committed against me,

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:13.599
 and also in walking contrary to me,

00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:14.500
 you know,

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.399
 then I will remember

00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:16.680
 my covenant with Jacob,

00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.500
 and I will remember

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.680
 my covenant with Isaac,

00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:20.399
 my covenant with Abraham,

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.720
 and I'll remember the land.

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.039
 God's promise stands.

00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:25.359
 He will make things right.

00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.700
 The question is,

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.599
 how can these people

00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:28.220
 stop sinning?

00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:29.819
 But,

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.519
 that's not really

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:33.399
 where I want to go.

00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:35.119
 That's for later weeks.

00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.480
 I think for now,

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.899
 what should be our response?

00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:39.980
 I hope we see

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:42.080
 that what God really wants

00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:44.180
 is that we have this vision,

00:28:44.360 --> 00:28:44.480
 right?

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.780
 That we see who He is.

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.660
 I mean,

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.820
 we're looking at the big story

00:28:47.820 --> 00:28:48.500
 of the Bible,

00:28:48.800 --> 00:28:49.860
 so we need to kind of,

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.360
 you know,

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.100
 stand back

00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:52.519
 and appreciate the whole story.

00:28:53.280 --> 00:28:54.400
 What I don't want you to do

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.540
 is tomorrow think,

00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:55.780
 okay,

00:28:55.820 --> 00:28:57.019
 I need to keep all these rules,

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.340
 right?

00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.900
 So I need to do this and this,

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.640
 and otherwise,

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:01.160
 I will lose my donkey

00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.980
 and my vineyard.

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:02.680
 You know,

00:29:02.780 --> 00:29:03.820
 this comes in a certain

00:29:03.820 --> 00:29:05.340
 cultural context.

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:07.099
 What is God teaching us

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.799
 about Himself,

00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:09.079
 about the world?

00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:11.199
 Because even though

00:29:11.199 --> 00:29:12.299
 the details have changed,

00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:12.839
 of course,

00:29:12.919 --> 00:29:13.859
 God hasn't changed,

00:29:13.939 --> 00:29:14.059
 right?

00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:15.779
 Sin is still a big problem,

00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.699
 and if we reject God,

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.019
 yeah,

00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:18.959
 there will be,

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.539
 well,

00:29:19.699 --> 00:29:21.599
 not curses like this,

00:29:22.199 --> 00:29:23.579
 but ultimately,

00:29:23.699 --> 00:29:24.379
 the Bible says,

00:29:24.459 --> 00:29:24.579
 well,

00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:25.399
 there's hell,

00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.659
 and a million,

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:26.959
 yeah,

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.899
 a million times worse

00:29:27.899 --> 00:29:28.799
 than what you read here.

00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:30.279
 And so if you're,

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:30.799
 by the way,

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.459
 not a visitor,

00:29:32.439 --> 00:29:33.240
 don't think,

00:29:33.439 --> 00:29:33.659
 please,

00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.120
 okay,

00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:35.580
 I should start obeying God.

00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:37.800
 It would be great if you could.

00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:38.400
 The problem is,

00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.580
 we can't,

00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:39.759
 right?

00:29:39.820 --> 00:29:40.680
 Come and talk to me.

00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:40.880
 Well,

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.700
 you need Jesus.

00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:43.680
 You need His death for you.

00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.519
 You need forgiveness.

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.620
 But again,

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.860
 that's not the main direction

00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:48.740
 I want to go.

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:50.160
 God's aim is

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:51.200
 just that we have

00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:52.220
 this real vision

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.220
 for who He is,

00:29:53.320 --> 00:29:53.840
 and therefore,

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.700
 that life should have Him

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:57.019
 at the center.

00:29:58.140 --> 00:29:59.180
 Exodus 20,

00:29:59.540 --> 00:30:00.080
 at the end

00:30:00.080 --> 00:30:01.160
 of the Ten Commandments,

00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:03.040
 there's this interesting verse

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.899
 where the people,

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.940
 they're so terrified.

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.799
 20 verse 20,

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.180
 Moses said to the people,

00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.500
 do not fear,

00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:11.139
 for God has come

00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:11.920
 to test you,

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.599
 that the fear of Him

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.579
 may be before you,

00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:16.279
 that you may not sin.

00:30:17.399 --> 00:30:18.700
 That is what God wants.

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.599
 It sounds contradictory,

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.500
 don't fear,

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.420
 but at the fear of Him.

00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:23.139
 But what that means,

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:25.159
 don't be afraid,

00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:25.579
 right?

00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:26.399
 God loves you,

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.500
 He's rescued you,

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:29.559
 but you should be

00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:30.259
 in awe of Him.

00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:31.359
 Right?

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:33.019
 You should treat Him rightly.

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.420
 And if you know who He is,

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:36.160
 you will respect Him.

00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.900
 And that you may not sin,

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.799
 not because you're afraid

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.359
 of punishment,

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:41.079
 but because you're in awe

00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:41.759
 of God

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.500
 and you see

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.579
 who He is.

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:45.720
 And that is God's purpose,

00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.119
 I think,

00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:46.339
 here.

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:46.519
 We,

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.960
 that we want God's rule

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.559
 in our heart,

00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.900
 that we want to know God

00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:51.240
 and hence live

00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.220
 His way

00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:53.079
 in every area

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.880
 of our life.

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.680
 That that's the driving force

00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.340
 for what we do.

00:30:58.060 --> 00:30:59.580
 And I think that challenges us

00:30:59.580 --> 00:31:00.160
 often in,

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:00.720
 yeah,

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.779
 in why we do things,

00:31:01.840 --> 00:31:01.960
 right?

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:03.039
 This is not just on the level

00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.380
 of how,

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:03.980
 what we do,

00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.180
 right?

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.779
 Don't sin,

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:06.039
 do what's right.

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.560
 It's about motivations.

00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:08.720
 I mean,

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:10.120
 where does God come

00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:11.900
 in your priority list?

00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.400
 Maybe tomorrow,

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.480
 at work,

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.920
 you are tempted to cheat.

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.580
 And what kind of goes

00:31:17.580 --> 00:31:18.299
 into your mind?

00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.320
 What keeps you from cheating?

00:31:20.320 --> 00:31:20.500
 I mean,

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.240
 all kinds of things,

00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.460
 right?

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:21.779
 Maybe,

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:22.380
 you know,

00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.660
 what will my colleagues think?

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.519
 And maybe they won't come

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.320
 to church anymore.

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.419
 And I'm a bad witness.

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:28.059
 It's a good reason.

00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:30.720
 But is that a real reason?

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:31.740
 You know,

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:33.139
 what will my wife think?

00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:33.859
 You know,

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.659
 what will my small group think?

00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:38.119
 I know I might lose my job.

00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:39.059
 Yeah?

00:31:39.639 --> 00:31:40.099
 You know,

00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:40.339
 maybe.

00:31:40.599 --> 00:31:41.779
 If that keeps you from sinning,

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.119
 great.

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.539
 But all of those

00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.480
 are very small reasons,

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:44.700
 right?

00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:46.759
 How about the big reason

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:48.240
 that God is God

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:49.079
 and He made you

00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:51.159
 and you're His?

00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:52.859
 And He made the world

00:31:52.859 --> 00:31:54.179
 to run on truth

00:31:54.179 --> 00:31:54.740
 and justice

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.859
 and that's how we live.

00:31:56.699 --> 00:31:57.599
 That's much bigger,

00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:57.879
 right?

00:31:58.459 --> 00:31:59.119
 That's much bigger

00:31:59.119 --> 00:31:59.859
 than your job

00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:01.399
 and what other people think.

00:32:02.419 --> 00:32:03.099
 That's the thing,

00:32:03.159 --> 00:32:03.299
 right?

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.299
 It challenges us.

00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:04.799
 Yeah,

00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.539
 where is God

00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:06.399
 in your priorities?

00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:07.619
 Yes,

00:32:07.639 --> 00:32:08.419
 so that is where

00:32:08.419 --> 00:32:10.079
 basically I want to finish.

00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:12.000
 That is what God wants,

00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:12.679
 that we have this

00:32:12.679 --> 00:32:13.919
 great vision of Him,

00:32:13.979 --> 00:32:14.899
 that we see Him

00:32:14.899 --> 00:32:15.500
 as He is,

00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.079
 the holy,

00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:17.759
 awesome creator.

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.200
 creator

00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:19.579
 and so we want to

00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:21.859
 live His way,

00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.960
 have Him at the center

00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.759
 of our lives,

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:26.140
 which means we turn to Him

00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:27.180
 and we seek Him

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:29.019
 and we ask Him

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.680
 to change us.

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:30.619
 I mean,

00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:31.160
 it would be great

00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:32.119
 if we could just do this.

00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:33.720
 Actually,

00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:35.259
 God needs to do that in us

00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:38.039
 because that's where

00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:39.059
 this actually goes.

00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.279
 I mean,

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:41.200
 here God gave them

00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.099
 this great vision

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:42.960
 and He came down

00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.740
 in fire

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.740
 and wind

00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.859
 on Mount Sinai

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.559
 and gave them

00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.599
 this law

00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.480
 but the problem was

00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.379
 this law was just

00:32:49.379 --> 00:32:50.279
 external,

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:50.959
 right?

00:32:51.159 --> 00:32:52.500
 This law was on stone tablets.

00:32:52.639 --> 00:32:53.339
 It didn't actually

00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:55.579
 do anything inside them

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:57.759
 and that didn't work

00:32:57.759 --> 00:33:00.179
 but after Jesus died

00:33:00.179 --> 00:33:00.759
 and rose

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:02.399
 in Acts 2,

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:02.839
 again,

00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.919
 God came down

00:33:03.919 --> 00:33:05.379
 in fire and wind

00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.939
 not on a mountain

00:33:06.939 --> 00:33:08.240
 but on each believer.

00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:09.819
 God came down

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.980
 and took up residence,

00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:11.240
 right?

00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:12.559
 The Spirit was poured out

00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.839
 to dwell in us

00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:14.579
 and not to give us

00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:15.519
 an external law

00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:16.919
 but the Bible says

00:33:16.919 --> 00:33:17.579
 to write the law

00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.500
 on our hearts

00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.000
 that changes

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.939
 from the inside

00:33:19.939 --> 00:33:22.599
 because that is

00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:23.119
 the only way

00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:23.799
 it's going to work

00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:25.039
 and so,

00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:25.659
 yeah,

00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:27.480
 this is what we want.

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.259
 We want the Spirit

00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.119
 to make God

00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:30.839
 the center of our hearts,

00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:32.079
 of our lives

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:34.099
 and so we should ask Him,

00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:34.559
 right?

00:33:34.879 --> 00:33:35.519
 Ask God,

00:33:35.639 --> 00:33:36.879
 please buy your Spirit,

00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:37.639
 you know,

00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.579
 open the eyes

00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.240
 of my heart,

00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:39.960
 be the center

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.699
 of my life.

00:33:40.699 --> 00:33:41.619
 It's not about me

00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.559
 and my promise

00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.799
 and my problems

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.619
 and my blessings.

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:46.019
 This is about you

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.919
 and your glory

00:33:46.919 --> 00:33:48.919
 and that is how it should be

00:33:48.919 --> 00:33:49.779
 and that is wonderful.

00:33:51.159 --> 00:33:51.440
 And so,

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.539
 shall we pray that?

00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:53.539
 Maybe you're doing great.

00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.839
 We can always have more.

00:33:55.879 --> 00:33:56.319
 Maybe,

00:33:56.619 --> 00:33:57.019
 actually,

00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.179
 you feel like,

00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:58.319
 yeah,

00:33:58.359 --> 00:33:58.679
 that's right,

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.980
 I haven't been living this way.

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:00.799
 Well,

00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:02.039
 God wants you

00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:02.799
 to turn to Him

00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:04.159
 and He forgives

00:34:04.159 --> 00:34:05.119
 and He loves you

00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:06.559
 and He wants to rescue you

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.359
 and have you back

00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:11.199
 but back to live with Him again

00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:13.000
 at the center of your life,

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:13.940
 how it should be,

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.500
 what is reality.

00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.179
 So,

00:34:17.300 --> 00:34:19.099
 why don't we pray for that now?

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:22.599
 Just after 20 seconds of reflection.

00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:56.360
 Our Father,

00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:57.500
 You are King of kings

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.660
 and Lord of lords.

00:34:58.659 --> 00:35:00.859
 You made the heavens

00:35:00.859 --> 00:35:02.000
 and the host of heaven.

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:04.719
 Your greatness is beyond imagining.

00:35:05.799 --> 00:35:07.299
 Give us this vision of you.

00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:09.259
 Would we see who you are

00:35:09.259 --> 00:35:10.500
 and what this world is like

00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:12.259
 and that we want you

00:35:12.259 --> 00:35:13.199
 and that we want you

00:35:13.199 --> 00:35:14.779
 to be at the center of our lives.

00:35:15.899 --> 00:35:16.119
 Lord,

00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:18.159
 we know this is not what we are like.

00:35:18.379 --> 00:35:19.899
 We are curved in on ourselves.

00:35:20.859 --> 00:35:23.219
 We always have ourselves at the center.

00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:24.739
 We don't want that.

00:35:24.839 --> 00:35:26.739
 We see the damage it's doing.

00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:28.159
 Please, Lord,

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:29.279
 turn our hearts to you

00:35:29.279 --> 00:35:31.000
 and open our eyes

00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:32.460
 to see your glory

00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:35.319
 and would it transform our lives,

00:35:35.399 --> 00:35:37.079
 would it transform the world around us

00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:39.879
 as people see how great you are

00:35:39.879 --> 00:35:42.799
 through what you've done in our lives.

00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:44.379
 In Jesus' name I pray.

00:35:44.859 --> 00:35:45.219
 Amen.

00:35:45.219 --> 00:35:45.339
 Amen.

00:35:45.339 --> 00:35:45.379
 Amen.

00:35:45.379 --> 00:35:45.399
 Amen.

00:35:45.399 --> 00:35:45.420
 Amen.

00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:45.440
 Amen.

00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:45.460
 Amen.

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:45.519
 Amen.

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:45.539
 Amen.