WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.299 It would be great if you could go to the St Paul's app, open it. 00:00:04.379 --> 00:00:07.320 You'll see three main points as we look through today's passage. 00:00:07.560 --> 00:00:10.880 The focus of faith, the response of faith, and the life of faith. 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:13.179 Let's pray. 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:18.820 Father God, we ask that you would help us to see you as glorious and as gracious. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:26.460 We pray that you would give us insight into our own faith and who it is that we are ultimately trusting where our faith lies. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:33.120 How much of it is relying upon ourselves and how much of it is completely sold out, dependent upon you. 00:00:33.820 --> 00:00:40.700 Give us insight and particularly, Lord, that you would change our hearts, that we would see ourselves as we truly are and that we would trust in you. 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:41.399 Amen. 00:00:43.019 --> 00:00:50.900 So first of all, the focus of faith in chapter 36, it opens with the Assyrian army, not just breathing down the necks, but actually the very gates of Jerusalem. 00:00:50.899 --> 00:01:00.899 What Isaiah does not include in this retelling of the story, which you could also go to two kings and see the same information, 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:13.640 is that King Hezekiah of Judah has already attempted to buy off the Assyrian army by presenting him with treasures that he took from the temple in Jerusalem. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:22.659 That is, what Hezekiah has already attempted to do is to buy off the king of Assyria by robbing God from the treasury of the temple. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:29.939 Sennacherib is the king of Assyria, the terrifying king of the nation of Assyria. 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:38.879 We are told here that he is in this moment in Lachish, which is 45 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem. 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:40.219 That's where he is. 00:01:41.140 --> 00:02:01.620 Archaeologists in the past discovered a pit in Lachish that is one hole with approximately 1,500 corpses in it attributed to Sennacherib and his conquest of Lachish on his way to Jerusalem. 00:02:01.620 --> 00:02:14.000 And so from there, when he is there obliterating that town, he sends a message, he sends a delegation to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem and says, 00:02:14.480 --> 00:02:16.099 Guys, it's your turn next. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:17.960 We're coming for you. 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:36.060 We are told in verse 2 that a meeting of the delegation from the two leaders, two nations, happens at the aqueduct of the upper pool on the road to the Launderer's Field. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.480 And you go, why do we need to know that where it is? 00:02:39.860 --> 00:02:41.860 It's because we've already been here before. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:43.240 That's why we need to know that. 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:53.219 We were here in chapter 7 of Isaiah, exact same place, the aqueduct of the upper pool on the road to Launderer's Field. 00:02:53.939 --> 00:03:04.800 This is where Isaiah the prophet had met with King Ahaz, Hezekiah's father, back in chapter 7. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:22.120 And in that moment, in chapter 7, God had offered to rescue King Ahaz from the threat that he was currently under from the nation of Aram and the northern tribes of Israel. 00:03:23.220 --> 00:03:26.439 What did Ahaz do in chapter 7? 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:29.880 Did he turn to God in trust? 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:35.719 No, he made a political alliance with Assyria. 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:42.859 And now Assyria is about to destroy Jerusalem as well. 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:52.599 And the question is, as you come to verse 2, will Hezekiah make the same mistake as his father and go for another political alliance? 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:58.219 Or will he trust in God for his security and deliverance? 00:03:59.879 --> 00:04:06.259 In fact, the issue is right there in verse 4 on who is it that Hezekiah trusts. 00:04:07.019 --> 00:04:10.180 This is what the great king, the king of Assyria says, 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:14.280 On what are you basing this confidence of yours? 00:04:14.939 --> 00:04:17.659 You say you have counsel and might for war, 00:04:18.659 --> 00:04:21.920 but you speak only empty words. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:27.720 On whom are you depending that you rebel against me? 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:38.180 What value is there, Hezekiah, in you trusting in your God who doesn't offer you a battle fleet? 00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:43.319 There's no intercontinental ballistic missiles in your arsenal. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:49.160 You don't have fighter jets parked for the air force in the back of Jerusalem there somewhere. 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:53.800 All you have, Hezekiah, is mere words. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:54.899 Literally is what that means. 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:56.319 Mere words. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:57.319 Empty words. 00:04:57.639 --> 00:04:58.199 Just words. 00:04:58.259 --> 00:04:58.819 That's all you've got. 00:04:58.819 --> 00:05:09.639 And what follows from the Assyrian commander in the delegation is a masterpiece of military propaganda. 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:13.639 And he makes two points really in this speech. 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:15.399 The first is don't trust in Egypt. 00:05:15.779 --> 00:05:19.759 That has already proven to be true because they've made an alliance with Egypt. 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:21.860 And Egypt hasn't turned up. 00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:22.860 So that was pretty stupid. 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:24.560 So don't trust in them. 00:05:24.620 --> 00:05:25.779 It's only going to end in tears. 00:05:25.860 --> 00:05:26.800 In fact, it already is. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:32.040 The second point he makes is really the heart of the speech. 00:05:33.540 --> 00:05:40.160 He says, don't be deceived into trusting in God either. 00:05:41.520 --> 00:05:43.120 Don't trust in God either. 00:05:44.400 --> 00:05:47.560 And there's really two points to that speech. 00:05:47.860 --> 00:05:54.980 First of all, he says, don't forget Hezekiah has already removed all the high places. 00:05:54.980 --> 00:06:06.319 You know, from the perspective of the field commander is actually you shouldn't trust in God because Hezekiah has ticked off God by demolishing all the worship places. 00:06:07.080 --> 00:06:12.259 He sees it purely from the perspective of you're actually not worshiping God enough. 00:06:12.259 --> 00:06:18.060 God's not on your side at all because you failed him in some kind of way. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:25.039 Of course, what he doesn't realize is that Hezekiah has done exactly the right thing by removing all the high places of the false gods. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:30.000 But in verse 13, he says, here's the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:31.480 This is what the king says. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:34.240 Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:36.540 He cannot deliver you. 00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:43.439 Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says the Lord will surely deliver us. 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:46.280 This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:48.899 Don't trust Egypt. 00:06:49.099 --> 00:06:50.419 Don't trust your God. 00:06:50.859 --> 00:06:53.199 Who then should you trust? 00:06:53.899 --> 00:06:54.839 Verse 16. 00:06:55.979 --> 00:06:58.699 This is what the great king of Assyria says. 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:01.899 Make peace with me. 00:07:03.039 --> 00:07:05.099 Trust in me. 00:07:05.100 --> 00:07:14.100 Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern. 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:19.140 Until I come and take you to the land like your own. 00:07:19.220 --> 00:07:21.180 A land of grain and new wine. 00:07:21.280 --> 00:07:23.640 A land of bread and vineyards. 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:38.019 Sennacherib, through his delegation here, is offering Judah the exact same salvation that God has already offered them. 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:41.099 In Egypt. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:47.219 Put your trust in me and I will take you to the promised land of land flowing with milk and honey. 00:07:47.899 --> 00:07:51.360 With vineyards and everything that you could imagine. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:55.240 And so Sennacherib comes in through his delegation and says, 00:07:55.660 --> 00:07:56.439 Don't trust in your God. 00:07:56.540 --> 00:07:57.139 Trust in me. 00:07:57.240 --> 00:07:58.540 I can deliver it for you. 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:12.379 Come and I will take you to the promised land of mansions and a solid career and influential friends with a big superannuation account. 00:08:13.520 --> 00:08:18.540 Trust in me and I will deliver the great life where you can have your ski holidays. 00:08:18.540 --> 00:08:23.600 Where you can sun yourself on tropical islands. 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:26.600 Come to me and you'll eat the choices of food. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:27.900 The wagyu steak. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.720 And come to me and I will offer it to you. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:31.939 The good life. 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:41.779 The Syrian commander here uses the word trust seven times in his speech. 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:45.299 It's the key issue. 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:52.159 And in this context, the word means to throw oneself down on one's faith. 00:08:52.699 --> 00:08:55.220 To lie extended on the ground. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:59.000 It means deep, deep and entire dependence. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:00.819 It means coming to an end of yourself. 00:09:00.820 --> 00:09:06.700 In other words, come to Sennacherib. 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:12.300 Total submission to him and he will give it all to you. 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:14.580 He'll give it all to you. 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:16.320 Just bow before me. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:22.980 Of course, ultimately, that leads to some form of a slavery, doesn't it? 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:34.140 And so the question is, is King Hezekiah so crazy that he would confront such a great army with mere words? 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:42.840 Why doesn't he just trottle off and just submit himself to Sennacherib and have the good life? 00:09:44.659 --> 00:09:47.819 Is faith in the promise of God and the gospel enough? 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:49.799 Is God's word enough? 00:09:50.319 --> 00:09:53.039 Does it contain everything necessary in life and salvation? 00:09:53.819 --> 00:09:58.059 That's the question of the first 39 chapters of Isaiah. 00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:02.480 And the answer to that question, it depends on who you think God is. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:09.340 If you think he's just another version of Sennacherib, just a greater one, then no, he's not. 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:16.120 The answer on who God is, we get that in Hezekiah's prayer in chapter 37. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:19.680 Chapter 37, verse 16. 00:10:21.779 --> 00:10:27.279 Firstly, we read that this God that he trusts in is the almighty God. 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:34.299 You know, Sennacherib might be the great king of Assyria, but this is the almighty God. 00:10:34.699 --> 00:10:36.439 There is no limitations to his power. 00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:43.100 The Lord Almighty is the Lord of hosts, which means that he has an angelic army at his disposal. 00:10:43.439 --> 00:10:46.579 Again, in verse 16, we see, secondly, that he is the only God. 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:54.740 He is not just one king amongst the member of kings of the universe around the world, sorry, at the time. 00:10:56.340 --> 00:10:58.240 He is the only God. 00:10:59.280 --> 00:11:06.700 Unlike every other deity in the world at its time, Hezekiah's God is not a national God. 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:13.400 He's not like one of the gods of the nations that Sennacherib has already destroyed. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.580 He's the God over all the kingdoms of the earth. 00:11:19.900 --> 00:11:27.520 Even we see at the end of chapter 37, Sennacherib's own God could not save him from the hand of almighty God. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:32.319 Thirdly, and again, in verse 16, he is the living God. 00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:36.199 Hezekiah's God is the one who made the heaven and the earth. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.759 Other gods are made. 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:43.139 Assyria has defeated all these other gods of all these other nations, verse 19. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:45.519 But it tells us they're not gods at all. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:48.100 They're only wood and stone fashioned by human hands. 00:11:48.460 --> 00:11:49.480 They're nothing but idols. 00:11:49.480 --> 00:12:00.039 But fourthly, unlike Sennacherib, the almighty, the great king of Assyria, 00:12:01.680 --> 00:12:03.460 Hezekiah's God is a merciful God. 00:12:04.539 --> 00:12:05.539 Verse 16 again. 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:13.100 We read that this Lord, this God, his God, is enthroned between the cherubim. 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:25.060 This is more than a claim that this God is in heaven surrounded by angels. 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:30.800 This is a very specific location we are told here is between the cherubim. 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:32.519 Between the cherubim. 00:12:33.659 --> 00:12:38.460 The ark of the covenant in the temple had two cherubims sitting on top of it. 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:43.620 And the ark contained the word of God, God's word, his presence amongst his people. 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:51.980 And the ark shared the same dimensions as the footstool of the royal throne. 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:55.860 In the palace of Jerusalem. 00:12:57.300 --> 00:13:04.300 In other words, what it's saying here is that God's throne where he ruled the nations was in heaven 00:13:04.300 --> 00:13:07.540 and his presence in the world was his footstool. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:12.160 We see that, in fact, at the end of Isaiah chapter 36. 00:13:14.040 --> 00:13:15.000 66, sorry. 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:17.060 At the end of Isaiah. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.940 That the earth is his footstool. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:22.620 In other words, it's his presence. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:27.519 The ark of the covenant is his presence in the world. 00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:32.220 His word is his presence in his world and how he rules and navigates his world. 00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:34.820 But between the cherubim. 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:40.180 Between the cherubim was not only the place of divine rule. 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:42.820 It was also the place of divine mercy. 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:45.500 Because in Exodus 35 verse 12. 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:48.040 Between the cherubim. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.940 Was the atonement cover. 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:55.880 The place where the atonement for sin was made. 00:13:56.400 --> 00:13:58.040 By the high priest. 00:13:58.540 --> 00:14:01.600 On the day of atonement for the sins of the nation. 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:09.800 In other words, this God of Hezekiah is not just greater than Sennacherib. 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:13.219 He is also a merciful God. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:16.319 Who forgives the sins of his people. 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:23.599 So, friends, I want to ask you to think about your own life for the moment. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.519 Think of the things that give you cause for worry and anxiety. 00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:30.219 Think of the things that wake up. 00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:32.620 That maybe cause you to not sleep. 00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:33.919 But also bring you awake in the morning. 00:14:33.959 --> 00:14:34.919 The first thought of the day. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.740 Think of the people. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:39.480 Or the circumstances you fear. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.879 The things you can't control in your life right now. 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:43.180 And you've been trying to control them. 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:45.379 And so anxiety and worry is building up. 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:49.480 Maybe it's people whose acceptance that you crave. 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:52.500 Or it might be people whose rejection that you really fear. 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:56.419 Think of the threats to Christianity and the church in our society. 00:14:56.680 --> 00:14:58.440 Or of the nations right now. 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:00.879 Who are persecuting God's people around the world. 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:03.340 In such a way that they can't meet like we're meeting this morning. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:06.720 Now compare them to the God of the Bible. 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:08.960 The Lord Almighty. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.840 God over all. 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.960 The maker of heaven and earth. 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:13.019 The God of atoning mercy. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:19.840 He and he alone is the antidote to fear. 00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:24.779 His perfect and powerful love drives out fear. 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:32.539 And so the question that is posed for Hezekiah right now and for Judah is also our question. 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:35.620 In whom do you trust? 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.139 Where do you look? 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:41.779 Where are you looking? 00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:49.819 So let's move on to the second point. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.939 The response of faith. 00:15:53.339 --> 00:15:54.579 Hezekiah makes his move. 00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.699 He makes his choice. 00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:56.659 He responds in faith. 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:58.699 We see that at the beginning of chapter 37. 00:15:59.220 --> 00:15:59.740 Verse 1. 00:15:59.839 --> 00:16:02.319 When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes. 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:05.919 He put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:16.000 Hezekiah here, what he does here is an act of public self-humiliation. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:22.580 The king is meant to wear the finest of clothes. 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:26.480 He's meant to maintain his dignity. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:35.860 And here he rips off those clothes and he covers himself with sackcloth publicly. 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:42.159 But this is not a man wallowing in self-pity. 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:47.300 Because we are told he goes straight to the presence of God in the temple of God. 00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:48.320 Goes straight there. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:52.580 In fact, he goes into the presence where the Ark of the Covenant is. 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.600 He goes straight there. 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:55.379 Straight to the temple. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:03.560 And to his lasting credit in this moment, what we see is that Hezekiah gets real with God. 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:10.880 He understands in this moment that what really matters is not his relationship with Sennacherib, 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.460 the king of Assyria. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.140 The great king of Assyria. 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:21.160 What matters is his relationship with the almighty God, the king of heaven. 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:22.660 That's what matters. 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:31.640 We also see in this moment that he sends off his prime minister and his bishops with a message to Isaiah. 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.420 Verse 3. 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:35.240 This is the scenario. 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:44.859 This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:53.940 As when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them. 00:17:53.940 --> 00:18:04.360 What that statement is, it's an admission of complete personal failure and powerlessness. 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:21.019 What Hezekiah is acknowledging there is that his alliance with Egypt, his foreign policy has just, all it's done is angered Assyria and it's also brought the Lord's rebuke. 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:21.899 Notice the statement there. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.439 It's disgrace and it's rebuke. 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:33.539 Jerusalem is so hopeless in this moment. 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:40.400 It is compared to a baby whose mother doesn't even have the energy to deliver her. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.360 This baby is about to die. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.019 There's nothing left. 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.220 There's no alternatives. 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:50.579 He is helpless. 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.980 Judah is helpless. 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:57.360 They are out of options and Hezekiah is personally humiliated. 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:02.319 He has come to an end of himself. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:08.880 And he finds his deliverance in God alone. 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.539 Verse 36. 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.440 Right at the end of the chapter. 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.620 The deliverance comes. 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:21.879 God secures the victory and rescues his people as he said he would. 00:19:22.699 --> 00:19:29.119 Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. 00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:35.939 And when the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies. 00:19:40.239 --> 00:19:42.319 Jerusalem didn't lift a finger. 00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:47.299 They didn't even know it happened. 00:19:47.979 --> 00:19:53.199 They just simply woke up the next morning and the Assyrian army's been decimated. 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.079 That's it. 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.199 It was done. 00:19:57.959 --> 00:20:08.399 And the chapter ends with Sennacherib himself assassinated by his sons in his temple. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:12.920 His God could not save him. 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:18.100 His misplaced trust was a deeply misplaced trust. 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:25.060 The enemy of God and his people are defeated. 00:20:25.840 --> 00:20:26.380 They're defeated. 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:32.860 It's a spectacular display of divine glory, power and majesty. 00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:34.879 And why did it happen? 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.579 Why did it happen? 00:20:38.939 --> 00:20:43.259 We're given only one clue in these chapters as to why it happened. 00:20:44.979 --> 00:20:46.879 Chapter 37 verse 21. 00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:50.500 Because you prayed. 00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:53.879 Because you prayed. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:21:02.560 Hezekiah prays for the victory of God. 00:21:03.280 --> 00:21:04.380 That's what he prays for. 00:21:05.780 --> 00:21:11.560 And God responds by killing 185,000 soldiers and rescuing his people miraculously. 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:23.059 Was the content of his prayer, God, I call you now to kill 185,000 Assyrian soldiers? 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.839 Because that will bring the victory. 00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:29.500 No, it wasn't at all. 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:33.299 Save us, God, from these people. 00:21:34.639 --> 00:21:35.859 What was the content of his prayer? 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.460 Verse 4. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:42.360 It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the field commander, 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:48.059 whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:55.000 and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard. 00:21:57.240 --> 00:22:03.840 The essence of his prayer is God pursue your glory. 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.660 Pursue your glory. 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:11.539 Your name is being mocked. 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:16.259 Can you put up with that? 00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:23.640 If God was to rescue his people, 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:28.220 it will not be because the people deserved it in any way whatsoever. 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:31.240 It's not because Hezekiah deserved it in any way whatsoever. 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:35.059 But because God's honour demands it. 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:39.720 And Hezekiah has got to that point. 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.579 A complete end to himself. 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:47.539 Commenting on verse 4, John Oswald in his commentary on Isaiah, 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:50.259 chapters 1 to 39, says this. 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:59.599 This kind of admission of helplessness is frequently a necessity before divine help can be received. 00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:05.339 So long as we believe we only need some assistance, 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:13.000 we are still treating ourselves as the lords of the situation. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:19.740 And that latent pride cuts us off from any help that God would give us. 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:28.359 Only when we have admitted our complete bankruptcy are we able to receive what He has for us. 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:32.259 The response of faith, 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:35.479 the response of faith in God, 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:39.619 is not needing some assistance from God. 00:23:40.179 --> 00:23:41.919 You know, God, I've got most of the way there. 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:44.599 You know, look at the good things I do. 00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:46.139 Look at the things I've done. 00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:48.439 I'm generally a good person. 00:23:48.719 --> 00:23:51.919 Don't forget, I go to church and I give money and I help the poor. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:55.460 I just need a bit extra from you. 00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.860 It's not some assistance. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:01.820 It is admitting complete bankruptcy, 00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:05.120 complete helplessness. 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:11.940 Hezekiah here has a remarkable, 00:24:12.580 --> 00:24:16.920 he is a remarkable example of faith in God despite the circumstances. 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:21.460 He comes to an end in himself and he trusts in nothing, 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:25.720 but God's promise to pursue his glory in the nations. 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.700 So just reflect on a moment, 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:31.539 your prayer life in the last week. 00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:35.539 Is it like Hezekiah's? 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:42.059 Well, I mean, in the content of your prayers, 00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:44.240 particularly think about it if you're not prayed at all. 00:24:46.100 --> 00:24:48.340 Because the content of your prayers 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:50.619 or the lack of your prayers 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:53.299 would be an indication as to whether or not 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:54.599 you've completely come to yourself, 00:24:54.699 --> 00:24:55.419 end of yourself, 00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:57.899 in all things. 00:24:59.699 --> 00:25:01.819 Too often I hear in prayers, 00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:03.599 and myself as well, 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:06.959 I need your help, God, 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:09.139 just get this thing over the line. 00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:11.000 Got a great plan lined up here? 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:13.400 Just tick it over the line for me. 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:15.119 Just push it over the edge so that, 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.380 you know, 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:18.440 God, bring glory to yourself by bringing success to my plans. 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:22.420 God, I want you to fix this thing. 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.700 Because in my mind, 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.960 when you fix that thing, 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:28.400 then you'll be honoured. 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:32.880 That's not what Hezekiah does. 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:39.440 He is a remarkable example of faithfulness in this moment, 00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:41.519 of coming to an end of himself 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:44.120 and putting his trust in Almighty God. 00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:46.340 And so be like Hezekiah. 00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:51.120 See your powerlessness in all situations, 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.880 trust the Word of God, 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.700 and pray. 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:57.279 This is a case study of faith, 00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:58.819 of genuine faith in God, 00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:01.000 so have the faith of Hezekiah. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.920 If I left it there, 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.380 all I've done is I've just lumbered you 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:09.660 with a bunch of guilt 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:12.000 to pull up your socks and try a lot harder. 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.480 Try a lot harder. 00:26:14.580 --> 00:26:16.500 And burden you to have more faith. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:23.440 The central basis of our relationship with God 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:28.960 is not how much our hearts are set on God by faith, 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:33.860 but how unshakably His heart is set on us. 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:36.900 That's the central issue of the Christian walk, 00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:38.440 of the walk of faith. 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:41.779 How much His heart is set on us. 00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:44.880 And Judah's only hope here 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:47.559 is not the faith of Hezekiah, 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:50.140 but God's heart for His people. 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:51.740 That's it. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:58.360 And the situation here of Jerusalem 00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:59.900 that it's found itself in 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:02.299 points to a much bigger issue 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:03.360 for all of humanity 00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:05.580 that the Bible and the Christian faith reveals 00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:07.840 that we need deliverance from, 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:09.080 that we are powerless in. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.080 It's so big, 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:14.180 we can do nothing about it at all. 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:17.220 No amount of negotiation with God 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.480 can fix this problem. 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:22.380 Ephesians 2 says that every single human need 00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:24.940 needs deliverance from sin 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.019 and God's wrath. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.440 I'll read it out to you. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.339 As for you, 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:30.440 you were dead in your transgressions and sins 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.480 in which you used to live 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:33.380 when you followed the ways of this world 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:34.799 and the rule of the kingdom of the air, 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:37.019 the spirit who is now at work 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:38.420 in those who are disobedient. 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:40.140 All of us 00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:42.900 also lived among them at one time, 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:45.200 gratifying the cravings of our flesh 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:47.700 and the following its desires and thoughts. 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.900 And like the rest, 00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:50.759 we were by nature 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:53.160 deserving of wrath. 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.480 What that says there 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:57.500 is that all of humanity 00:27:57.500 --> 00:28:00.740 is dead in sin and transgressions 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:02.759 and deserving of God's judgment. 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.799 Dead means, 00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:05.400 dead people can't help themselves. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:07.860 We are powerless for our own deliverance. 00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:11.919 Every human being, 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:13.219 according to the Bible, 00:28:13.719 --> 00:28:14.759 has lived life 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:17.899 doing what the commander of Assyria has done 00:28:17.899 --> 00:28:19.259 and it has mocked, 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.779 mocked the living God. 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.659 Every human being 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:26.259 has done exactly what Sennacherib has done 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:28.579 and sought his own gods 00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:29.839 for his salvation. 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.799 Every human being. 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:34.919 And Ephesians 2 says 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:36.600 the battle lines are drawn 00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:38.680 between us individuals 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.940 and the creator God. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:43.080 And when you put the almighty 00:28:43.080 --> 00:28:44.080 and only God, 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.300 the creator of all that is, 00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:45.840 against you, 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.640 the human being, 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.160 your powers. 00:28:50.560 --> 00:28:51.560 You've got nothing. 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:54.080 We are helpless, 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:54.840 we are hopeless, 00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:56.120 we have no power 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:57.019 to rescue ourselves 00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.740 or deliver ourselves. 00:28:58.120 --> 00:29:00.920 We need help. 00:29:01.560 --> 00:29:03.460 We need someone to deliver us. 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:07.279 Did you notice that in the text 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.940 as it was read through? 00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:12.140 The residents of Jerusalem 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:13.380 are on the wall 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:14.720 watching this, 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:17.920 listening to this delegation go out 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:21.160 and they were observers to it all. 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:24.660 Notice as well 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.740 that they themselves 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:27.140 did not rip off their clothes 00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:28.279 and put on sackcloths. 00:29:30.600 --> 00:29:31.400 Hezekiah did. 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:35.120 Notice that they didn't go 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.880 to the temple. 00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.560 Hezekiah did. 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.360 In the end, 00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.080 they were saved 00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:43.860 by the intervention 00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:44.600 of their king. 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.500 That's why they were saved. 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:49.340 Not because they were worthy, 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:51.000 but because of the intervention 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.800 of their king. 00:29:52.800 --> 00:29:54.019 The king went in 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.300 to the place of God 00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:56.660 and mediated 00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:58.340 on their behalf. 00:29:58.339 --> 00:30:01.480 The king humbled himself, 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:03.039 took on sackcloth, 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:04.559 was publicly humiliated. 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:07.459 He emptied himself. 00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:09.259 He prayed for the deliverance 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.539 of his people 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:13.659 and the people of Jerusalem 00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:14.299 did nothing. 00:30:16.159 --> 00:30:16.480 Nothing. 00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:22.179 It was a, 00:30:22.459 --> 00:30:23.599 on Hezekiah's behalf, 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:25.639 it was a spectacular display 00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:27.119 of faith 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:28.299 in God. 00:30:37.179 --> 00:30:38.139 In that sense, 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.439 Hezekiah rebukes us. 00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:43.319 But like us, 00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.459 Hezekiah 00:30:44.459 --> 00:30:46.859 had only fleeting moments 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.639 of faithfulness. 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:50.079 He'd already tried 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:51.139 to buy off 00:30:51.139 --> 00:30:51.859 Assyria. 00:30:52.419 --> 00:30:53.199 He'd already 00:30:53.199 --> 00:30:53.879 attempted 00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:57.180 to align 00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:57.560 himself 00:30:57.560 --> 00:30:58.400 to Egypt. 00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.740 And after this, 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.780 in the chapters 00:31:04.780 --> 00:31:05.480 that follow 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.080 in 38 00:31:06.080 --> 00:31:07.020 and 39, 00:31:08.040 --> 00:31:09.060 especially 39, 00:31:10.380 --> 00:31:11.360 he again 00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:11.980 gets really 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:12.420 chummy 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.040 with Babylon 00:31:13.040 --> 00:31:13.920 and makes a deal 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.440 with Babylon. 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:20.880 He's a flawed, 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:22.160 flawed king. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.740 So don't be like Hezekiah 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.559 because you and I 00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.320 already are. 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.340 We already are 00:31:28.340 --> 00:31:29.900 in our faithlessness. 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:32.140 Our faith in God 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:32.680 wavers. 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.180 We have our alliances. 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.120 We trust in our 00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:36.200 superannuation fund. 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:36.940 We trust in our 00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:37.559 connections. 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.400 We trust in our 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:38.940 psychologists. 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.600 We trust in 00:31:39.600 --> 00:31:40.340 everything else 00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:42.320 except in the 00:31:42.320 --> 00:31:42.759 living God 00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.160 who is more 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:43.960 mighty over all 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.420 things. 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.860 Even while we 00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:47.420 say we trust 00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:47.779 in Him. 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.080 In chapter 00:31:51.080 --> 00:31:52.840 Hezekiah, 00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.539 what this section 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.500 does for us 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.559 is that 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.600 Hezekiah 00:31:57.600 --> 00:31:58.279 points us to 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:59.100 a greater king. 00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:00.820 We need 00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:01.580 a greater 00:32:01.580 --> 00:32:02.279 Hezekiah. 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:03.220 And Hezekiah, 00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:03.980 the descendant 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.779 of King David, 00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:05.600 ultimately 00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:06.340 points us to 00:32:06.340 --> 00:32:07.320 Jesus Christ, 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:08.460 the greatest 00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.119 descendant 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:10.240 of King David. 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:13.419 The New Testament 00:32:13.419 --> 00:32:14.700 doesn't just tell us 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.539 that Jesus Christ 00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.079 is from the 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:17.000 royal bloodline 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:18.179 of King David 00:32:18.179 --> 00:32:21.339 and Hezekiah, 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:23.359 but that Jesus 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:24.779 Christ is divine 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.339 Himself. 00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:27.000 He's God. 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.119 He didn't go, 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:29.799 and Jesus Christ 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.960 didn't go into 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:32.419 the presence of 00:32:32.419 --> 00:32:33.279 God to mediate 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.000 for His people. 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.799 He came from 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.799 the presence of 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.139 God. 00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:38.079 to mediate 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:39.159 for His people. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.099 Philippians chapter 2 00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.740 tells us that 00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.359 Jesus Christ 00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:42.980 did not consider 00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:44.379 equality with God 00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:45.659 something that He 00:32:45.659 --> 00:32:46.319 would use for 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:47.079 His own benefit, 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.259 but that He 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.859 humbled Himself 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:52.200 and took on 00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:52.960 human form. 00:32:54.139 --> 00:32:54.659 And when His 00:32:54.659 --> 00:32:55.960 ministry finally 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:56.779 went public 00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:58.079 after His baptism, 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.299 He went into 00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.899 the wilderness 00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:01.220 and He starts 00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:02.099 immediately doing 00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:02.779 battle with the 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.539 enemy of God, 00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.139 the greatest 00:33:04.139 --> 00:33:04.700 enemy of God, 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.579 Satan himself. 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:07.619 and Satan 00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:08.079 says, 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:09.039 come, 00:33:09.199 --> 00:33:10.279 come to me, 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.079 follow me, 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.220 just bow down 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:13.000 and prostrate 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.879 yourself in front 00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.159 of me, 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:14.919 and I will 00:33:14.919 --> 00:33:16.099 give you all 00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:16.699 the nations 00:33:16.699 --> 00:33:17.439 of the world. 00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.339 The very thing 00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:20.899 that Jesus 00:33:20.899 --> 00:33:22.740 has come to 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.679 win for God, 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.639 Satan says, 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:25.439 you can have it 00:33:25.439 --> 00:33:25.819 all, 00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:27.220 just align 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.000 yourself with 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.399 me. 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:31.160 come to an 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:31.420 end of 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.800 yourself, 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.660 enter yourself 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.980 and bow 00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:34.920 yourself down 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:35.480 and worship 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:35.980 me. 00:33:42.560 --> 00:33:43.519 And what did 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:44.320 Jesus do in 00:33:44.320 --> 00:33:44.860 that moment? 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:48.120 He fought 00:33:48.120 --> 00:33:49.280 Satan with 00:33:49.280 --> 00:33:50.000 mere words. 00:33:52.080 --> 00:33:52.960 Not mere 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.280 words, 00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:53.740 the word of 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.080 God. 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:57.500 But the 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:57.919 battle was 00:33:57.919 --> 00:33:58.740 ultimately won 00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.319 when Jesus 00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:00.179 went lower 00:34:00.179 --> 00:34:00.679 still. 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.099 Not just 00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:01.279 that He 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:01.740 became a 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.139 man, 00:34:02.659 --> 00:34:02.980 but He 00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.480 went lower 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:03.740 still. 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:04.079 It wasn't 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:04.599 just that God 00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:04.919 took on 00:34:04.919 --> 00:34:05.439 human form, 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:05.699 He went 00:34:05.699 --> 00:34:06.519 lower still. 00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:07.460 The eternal 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.340 God, 00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:09.360 the one who 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:09.799 has been 00:34:09.799 --> 00:34:10.599 from everlasting 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.159 to everlasting, 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:11.759 the one who 00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:12.599 never ever had 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:13.039 a beginning, 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.900 came to an 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.440 end on the 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:16.779 cross. 00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:21.179 He went 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:21.759 to death 00:34:21.759 --> 00:34:22.460 on a cross 00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.420 publicly, 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.460 the cross, 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.400 the crucifixion 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.159 of shame 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:29.099 and humiliation 00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:32.159 on the 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:32.920 outskirts of 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:33.460 Jerusalem. 00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.119 Just on the 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:37.780 outskirts of 00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:38.480 Jerusalem where 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:38.880 everyone in 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.440 Jerusalem could 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:39.740 see. 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.199 And He went 00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:44.900 to the cross 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.880 and He paid 00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:46.480 the punishment 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.539 for our sin 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.480 because we 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.240 have robbed 00:34:49.240 --> 00:34:50.079 God of His 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.619 glory just 00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.440 like Assyria 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:52.920 is doing 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:53.679 right now. 00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.079 And in 00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:58.480 going to 00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.019 the cross 00:34:59.019 --> 00:34:59.819 He satisfied 00:34:59.819 --> 00:35:00.759 God's just 00:35:00.759 --> 00:35:01.199 anger. 00:35:01.839 --> 00:35:02.359 There's no 00:35:02.359 --> 00:35:03.460 more debt 00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:04.059 to pay. 00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:12.940 God's just 00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:13.519 anger was 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:14.019 not poured 00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:15.920 out upon us 00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:16.579 who deserve 00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.319 His judgment. 00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:19.039 He poured 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.579 it out upon 00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.039 Himself. 00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:22.400 God didn't 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:23.059 obliterate 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:23.619 humanity. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.320 He didn't 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:24.840 obliterate 00:35:24.840 --> 00:35:25.320 the Roman 00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:25.900 Empire. 00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:26.980 He didn't 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.619 obliterate 00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:27.980 everyone. 00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.739 God 00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:30.519 obliterated 00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:31.159 Himself on 00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:31.599 the cross. 00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:33.239 He turned 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:33.739 His anger 00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:34.460 upon Himself 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.940 to satisfy 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:37.139 His judgment. 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:41.159 He allowed 00:35:41.159 --> 00:35:41.739 Himself to 00:35:41.739 --> 00:35:42.340 be killed 00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:44.059 so that His 00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:44.679 enemies could 00:35:44.679 --> 00:35:45.039 be His 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:45.440 friends. 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.840 God 00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:47.679 will 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:48.579 be 00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.579 saved. 00:35:49.579 --> 00:35:50.139 That is 00:35:50.139 --> 00:35:50.659 the great 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:51.559 victory that 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:51.980 God has 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:52.400 won for 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:52.740 us. 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.460 And in 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:54.740 His 00:35:54.740 --> 00:35:55.420 resurrection 00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:56.179 Jesus 00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:56.800 defeated 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:58.539 death so 00:35:58.539 --> 00:35:59.039 that those 00:35:59.039 --> 00:35:59.440 who put 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:00.000 their faith 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:00.639 in Him 00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.960 have 00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:03.000 completely 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:04.320 all sin 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:05.179 or failure 00:36:05.179 --> 00:36:05.820 removed 00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:09.519 and live 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.059 forever in 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.700 His presence. 00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:13.059 So the 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:13.819 two greatest 00:36:13.819 --> 00:36:14.599 enemies of 00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.219 humanity, 00:36:15.779 --> 00:36:16.480 sin and 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:16.960 death, 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.019 have been 00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:19.839 defeated by 00:36:19.839 --> 00:36:20.879 Christ on 00:36:20.879 --> 00:36:21.839 the cross and 00:36:21.839 --> 00:36:22.239 through His 00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:22.739 resurrection. 00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:25.759 And this is a 00:36:25.759 --> 00:36:28.059 victory that 00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:28.539 is over 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.480 everything that 00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:29.980 is broken, 00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:30.819 evil, wrong, 00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:31.359 corrupt and 00:36:31.359 --> 00:36:32.059 unjust in our 00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:32.359 world. 00:36:32.419 --> 00:36:33.139 It is a total 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:33.879 and universal 00:36:33.879 --> 00:36:34.379 victory. 00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:35.199 And as 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.779 Christians, 00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:37.460 we wait 00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:38.460 for Jesus 00:36:38.460 --> 00:36:39.360 to return 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:40.420 to seal 00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:41.040 that final 00:36:41.040 --> 00:36:41.800 victory and 00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:42.220 take us 00:36:42.220 --> 00:36:43.600 into His 00:36:43.600 --> 00:36:44.120 land of 00:36:44.120 --> 00:36:44.500 plenty 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.019 forever. 00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:46.920 He's 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.420 promised us 00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:47.680 that. 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:50.700 And make 00:36:50.700 --> 00:36:51.440 no mistake, 00:36:52.160 --> 00:36:53.100 you, I 00:36:53.100 --> 00:36:53.840 and every 00:36:53.840 --> 00:36:54.400 other Christian 00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:54.700 throughout 00:36:54.700 --> 00:36:55.360 humanity, 00:36:56.080 --> 00:36:56.920 we have 00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:57.700 not lifted 00:36:57.700 --> 00:36:58.480 a single 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:00.180 finger for 00:37:00.180 --> 00:37:00.780 that victory 00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.560 to be ours. 00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:02.980 Not a 00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:03.600 single finger. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:05.139 it is 00:37:05.139 --> 00:37:06.259 entirely of 00:37:06.259 --> 00:37:06.659 His. 00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:08.079 Entirely. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:14.599 So what 00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:14.759 does it 00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:15.019 mean to 00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:15.360 live by 00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:15.759 faith? 00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:17.279 What are 00:37:17.279 --> 00:37:17.519 we to 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:17.739 do? 00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.219 We are 00:37:20.219 --> 00:37:20.559 to look 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:21.119 to Jesus 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:21.619 for our 00:37:21.619 --> 00:37:21.940 eternal 00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:22.500 deliverance 00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:23.239 as Hezekiah 00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:24.039 looked to 00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:24.759 God in 00:37:24.759 --> 00:37:25.239 the temple. 00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:25.659 We are 00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:26.039 to look 00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:26.339 to the 00:37:26.339 --> 00:37:26.960 same God 00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:27.839 for our 00:37:27.839 --> 00:37:28.259 eternal 00:37:28.259 --> 00:37:28.420 deliverance. 00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:28.779 We are 00:37:28.779 --> 00:37:29.079 not to 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:29.659 try harder 00:37:29.659 --> 00:37:30.000 to be 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:30.679 like Hezekiah 00:37:30.679 --> 00:37:31.059 for our 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.819 deliverance. 00:37:32.059 --> 00:37:32.380 We look 00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:32.860 to the 00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:33.319 God that 00:37:33.320 --> 00:37:33.580 He 00:37:33.580 --> 00:37:34.260 himself 00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:34.559 looked 00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:34.900 to. 00:37:36.340 --> 00:37:36.880 To 00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:37.360 quote Tim 00:37:37.360 --> 00:37:37.620 Keller 00:37:37.620 --> 00:37:38.140 who died 00:37:38.140 --> 00:37:38.740 this last 00:37:38.740 --> 00:37:39.019 week, 00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:39.820 if you 00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:40.500 are falling 00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:41.019 off a 00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:41.480 cliff, 00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:43.039 strong 00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:43.880 faith in 00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.340 a weak 00:37:44.340 --> 00:37:45.000 branch 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:45.420 is 00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:46.740 fatally 00:37:46.740 --> 00:37:47.480 inferior 00:37:47.480 --> 00:37:48.920 to weak 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:49.660 faith in 00:37:49.660 --> 00:37:50.300 a strong 00:37:50.300 --> 00:37:50.880 branch. 00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:54.320 It's 00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:55.500 not the 00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:56.120 amount of 00:37:56.120 --> 00:37:56.860 your faith 00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:57.600 that matters. 00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:59.100 It's the 00:37:59.100 --> 00:37:59.880 object of 00:37:59.880 --> 00:38:00.380 your faith 00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:01.019 that matters. 00:38:01.780 --> 00:38:02.039 To 00:38:02.039 --> 00:38:02.900 continue 00:38:02.900 --> 00:38:03.039 your 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.340 color. 00:38:03.780 --> 00:38:04.260 Salvation 00:38:04.260 --> 00:38:04.920 is not 00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:05.500 finally 00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:06.180 based on 00:38:06.180 --> 00:38:07.000 the strength 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:07.300 of your 00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:07.740 faith, 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:09.340 but on 00:38:09.340 --> 00:38:09.700 the object 00:38:09.700 --> 00:38:09.960 of your 00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:10.320 faith. 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:13.019 Come to 00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:13.360 Jesus and 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:13.599 put your 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:13.980 faith in 00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:14.139 him. 00:38:14.240 --> 00:38:14.420 Weak 00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:14.820 faith is 00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:15.200 enough 00:38:15.200 --> 00:38:16.119 because he 00:38:16.119 --> 00:38:16.460 is a 00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:16.740 mighty 00:38:16.740 --> 00:38:17.680 deliverer. 00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:19.260 Secondly, 00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:19.700 what does it 00:38:19.700 --> 00:38:20.079 look to 00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:20.500 live by 00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:20.900 faith day 00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.460 by day, 00:38:21.740 --> 00:38:21.980 trusting 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:22.460 in him? 00:38:23.619 --> 00:38:23.900 Hebrews 00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:24.660 12, 00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:25.960 so if 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.220 you're a 00:38:26.220 --> 00:38:26.420 Christian, 00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:26.700 sit in 00:38:26.700 --> 00:38:27.099 the room, 00:38:27.200 --> 00:38:27.400 Hebrews 00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:28.280 12 tells 00:38:28.280 --> 00:38:29.300 us to 00:38:29.300 --> 00:38:29.820 look to 00:38:29.820 --> 00:38:30.280 Jesus, 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.019 the author 00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:31.440 and the 00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:32.000 perfecter 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.340 of our 00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:32.740 faith. 00:38:33.100 --> 00:38:33.660 He's 00:38:33.660 --> 00:38:34.019 done it 00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:34.400 all. 00:38:34.860 --> 00:38:35.160 He doesn't 00:38:35.160 --> 00:38:36.019 just 00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:38.640 describe for 00:38:38.640 --> 00:38:39.260 us or reveal 00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:39.740 to us what 00:38:39.740 --> 00:38:40.460 actual faith 00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:41.120 is. 00:38:41.780 --> 00:38:42.300 He's 00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:43.140 completed it 00:38:43.140 --> 00:38:43.820 for us. 00:38:45.300 --> 00:38:45.600 He's 00:38:45.600 --> 00:38:46.340 completed our 00:38:46.340 --> 00:38:46.720 faith. 00:38:49.720 --> 00:38:50.559 He is the 00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.059 one, the 00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:51.700 glorious and 00:38:51.700 --> 00:38:52.420 powerful and 00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.000 patient and 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:53.880 merciful one 00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:56.099 who we are 00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:56.800 told is 00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:57.539 risen from 00:38:57.539 --> 00:38:58.099 the dead 00:38:58.099 --> 00:38:59.559 and always 00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:00.440 lives to 00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:01.500 make intercession 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:02.119 for us. 00:39:02.500 --> 00:39:03.079 So not 00:39:03.079 --> 00:39:03.720 only has 00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:04.599 he made 00:39:04.599 --> 00:39:05.760 intercession 00:39:05.760 --> 00:39:07.460 mediating 00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:08.519 between us 00:39:08.519 --> 00:39:09.000 for our 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:09.559 salvation, 00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:10.559 he mediates 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:11.340 for us now 00:39:11.340 --> 00:39:11.720 in our 00:39:11.720 --> 00:39:12.500 faithlessness. 00:39:14.539 --> 00:39:15.460 He's in the 00:39:15.460 --> 00:39:16.360 throne room 00:39:16.360 --> 00:39:17.539 taking my 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.800 weak prayers. 00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:20.240 Father, what 00:39:20.240 --> 00:39:20.860 Steve really 00:39:20.860 --> 00:39:21.380 means is 00:39:21.380 --> 00:39:21.820 this. 00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:25.860 he's 00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:26.480 interceding 00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:26.840 for me 00:39:26.840 --> 00:39:28.240 now in 00:39:28.240 --> 00:39:28.780 my faith. 00:39:29.380 --> 00:39:30.140 Father, don't 00:39:30.140 --> 00:39:30.599 forget he's 00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:31.099 with us. 00:39:32.720 --> 00:39:33.440 He's one of 00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:33.619 ours. 00:39:33.700 --> 00:39:34.000 We love 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:34.200 him. 00:39:40.280 --> 00:39:41.079 Therefore, I 00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:42.059 want to call 00:39:42.059 --> 00:39:43.460 you to 00:39:43.460 --> 00:39:44.140 confidently, 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.420 boldly pray 00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:45.860 for the 00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.420 victory of 00:39:46.420 --> 00:39:46.900 God in 00:39:46.900 --> 00:39:47.519 your life 00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:47.820 and in 00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:48.500 this world. 00:39:49.780 --> 00:39:50.280 Pray for 00:39:50.280 --> 00:39:51.019 his name to 00:39:51.019 --> 00:39:51.480 be honoured 00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:52.420 by you in 00:39:52.420 --> 00:39:52.920 your heart, 00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:53.280 in your 00:39:53.280 --> 00:39:53.720 mind. 00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:54.820 Pray for 00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:55.400 his kingdom 00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.300 to rule 00:39:56.300 --> 00:39:56.820 you, 00:39:57.840 --> 00:39:58.340 that his 00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.260 will will 00:39:59.260 --> 00:39:59.700 be done 00:39:59.700 --> 00:40:00.480 on earth 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:01.059 as it is 00:40:01.059 --> 00:40:01.579 in heaven. 00:40:02.880 --> 00:40:03.440 Pray that 00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:03.720 he would 00:40:03.720 --> 00:40:04.380 open the 00:40:04.380 --> 00:40:05.500 door to 00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.220 the gospel. 00:40:07.240 --> 00:40:07.680 Pray that 00:40:07.680 --> 00:40:07.960 he will 00:40:07.960 --> 00:40:08.960 give boldness 00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:09.599 to you, 00:40:11.320 --> 00:40:11.940 that he 00:40:11.940 --> 00:40:12.940 will save 00:40:12.940 --> 00:40:14.440 Chatswood 00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:15.500 for his 00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:16.039 glory. 00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:20.119 And as 00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:20.500 we do 00:40:20.500 --> 00:40:20.900 that as 00:40:20.900 --> 00:40:21.460 his people, 00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:22.200 remember that 00:40:22.200 --> 00:40:22.760 today the 00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:23.360 enemies of 00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:23.820 the church 00:40:23.820 --> 00:40:24.300 of Jesus 00:40:24.300 --> 00:40:24.880 Christ, 00:40:25.320 --> 00:40:25.880 they're not 00:40:25.880 --> 00:40:26.340 political, 00:40:26.760 --> 00:40:27.180 they're not 00:40:27.180 --> 00:40:27.760 ethnic, 00:40:28.519 --> 00:40:28.960 they're not 00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:29.500 national. 00:40:32.820 --> 00:40:33.300 Ephesians 00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:34.059 chapter 6 00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:35.740 tells us 00:40:35.740 --> 00:40:36.579 that our 00:40:36.579 --> 00:40:37.960 struggle is 00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:38.820 not against 00:40:38.820 --> 00:40:39.380 flesh and 00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:39.740 blood, 00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:40.920 but against 00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:41.539 the rulers 00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:42.059 and against 00:40:42.059 --> 00:40:42.680 the authorities, 00:40:42.860 --> 00:40:43.180 against the 00:40:43.180 --> 00:40:43.660 powers of 00:40:43.660 --> 00:40:44.160 this dark 00:40:44.160 --> 00:40:44.519 world and 00:40:44.519 --> 00:40:44.940 against the 00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:45.240 spiritual 00:40:45.240 --> 00:40:45.840 forces of 00:40:45.840 --> 00:40:46.380 evil in 00:40:46.380 --> 00:40:46.680 the heavenly 00:40:46.680 --> 00:40:47.240 realms. 00:40:47.239 --> 00:40:50.599 note as 00:40:50.599 --> 00:40:51.139 a disciple 00:40:51.139 --> 00:40:51.699 of Jesus 00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:52.159 if you 00:40:52.159 --> 00:40:52.579 are, 00:40:52.759 --> 00:40:54.559 that this 00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:54.959 is an 00:40:54.959 --> 00:40:55.519 enemy that 00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:55.859 is too 00:40:55.859 --> 00:40:56.419 great for 00:40:56.419 --> 00:40:56.779 you. 00:41:00.339 --> 00:41:01.419 And until 00:41:01.419 --> 00:41:02.059 our king 00:41:02.059 --> 00:41:03.659 comes from 00:41:03.659 --> 00:41:04.259 heaven to 00:41:04.259 --> 00:41:04.839 bring his 00:41:04.839 --> 00:41:05.819 total and 00:41:05.819 --> 00:41:06.699 complete renewal 00:41:06.699 --> 00:41:07.079 of all 00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:07.619 things, 00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:10.579 we will 00:41:10.579 --> 00:41:11.000 waver 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:13.039 in our 00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:13.479 faith. 00:41:13.480 --> 00:41:16.219 and note 00:41:16.219 --> 00:41:16.800 too that 00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:17.880 we don't 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:18.559 desire the 00:41:18.559 --> 00:41:19.380 destruction of 00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:19.980 a single 00:41:19.980 --> 00:41:20.760 human being. 00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:22.360 We don't 00:41:22.360 --> 00:41:23.340 pray for the 00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:23.980 enemies to 00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:24.400 be crushed 00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:25.099 like Assyria 00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:26.219 was crushed. 00:41:28.679 --> 00:41:29.280 As 00:41:29.280 --> 00:41:29.579 Christians, 00:41:29.699 --> 00:41:30.059 we do not 00:41:30.059 --> 00:41:30.840 kill our 00:41:30.840 --> 00:41:31.179 enemies, 00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:33.139 we pray for 00:41:33.139 --> 00:41:33.679 our enemies. 00:41:34.500 --> 00:41:35.380 We pray that 00:41:35.380 --> 00:41:36.159 God would 00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:37.000 rule in it, 00:41:37.059 --> 00:41:37.300 they would 00:41:37.300 --> 00:41:37.880 come to an 00:41:37.880 --> 00:41:38.199 end to 00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:38.699 themselves and 00:41:38.699 --> 00:41:39.019 that God 00:41:39.019 --> 00:41:39.460 would rule 00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:39.740 in their 00:41:39.740 --> 00:41:40.800 life just 00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:41.420 as Jesus 00:41:41.420 --> 00:41:41.960 taught us 00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:42.179 to. 00:41:42.699 --> 00:41:43.380 The great 00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:44.460 battle today 00:41:44.460 --> 00:41:45.119 that God 00:41:45.119 --> 00:41:45.700 is fighting, 00:41:45.820 --> 00:41:46.539 the miraculous 00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:47.119 work that 00:41:47.119 --> 00:41:47.559 he's doing 00:41:47.559 --> 00:41:47.960 in this 00:41:47.960 --> 00:41:48.820 world is 00:41:48.820 --> 00:41:49.240 a battle 00:41:49.240 --> 00:41:49.740 that's not 00:41:49.740 --> 00:41:50.260 fought with 00:41:50.260 --> 00:41:50.800 swords, 00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:51.579 it's not 00:41:51.579 --> 00:41:52.140 fought with 00:41:52.140 --> 00:41:52.559 political 00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:53.340 force, 00:41:53.640 --> 00:41:54.300 it's not 00:41:54.300 --> 00:41:54.780 fought with 00:41:54.780 --> 00:41:55.460 alliances, 00:41:57.059 --> 00:41:58.820 it's fought 00:41:58.820 --> 00:41:59.579 with words. 00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:02.440 Mere 00:42:02.440 --> 00:42:02.960 words, 00:42:03.539 --> 00:42:03.940 as the 00:42:03.940 --> 00:42:04.320 Assyrian 00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:04.720 commander 00:42:04.720 --> 00:42:05.119 said, 00:42:05.680 --> 00:42:06.220 but more 00:42:06.220 --> 00:42:06.740 than mere 00:42:06.740 --> 00:42:07.220 words, 00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:10.260 but with 00:42:10.260 --> 00:42:10.599 the good 00:42:10.599 --> 00:42:11.039 news of 00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:11.440 the gospel 00:42:11.440 --> 00:42:11.900 of Jesus 00:42:11.900 --> 00:42:12.460 Christ 00:42:12.460 --> 00:42:13.320 crucified 00:42:13.320 --> 00:42:14.000 and risen 00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:15.260 for our 00:42:15.260 --> 00:42:15.840 deliverance 00:42:15.840 --> 00:42:16.460 and the 00:42:16.460 --> 00:42:16.840 deliverance 00:42:16.840 --> 00:42:17.120 of all 00:42:17.120 --> 00:42:17.480 people. 00:42:18.620 --> 00:42:19.200 It's a 00:42:19.200 --> 00:42:19.620 battle that's 00:42:19.620 --> 00:42:19.980 fought for 00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:20.380 the souls 00:42:20.380 --> 00:42:20.680 of all 00:42:20.680 --> 00:42:21.059 people, 00:42:21.740 --> 00:42:22.780 it is 00:42:22.780 --> 00:42:23.220 fought in 00:42:23.220 --> 00:42:23.720 the power 00:42:23.720 --> 00:42:23.980 of the 00:42:23.980 --> 00:42:24.780 Holy Spirit, 00:42:25.940 --> 00:42:26.320 it is 00:42:26.320 --> 00:42:26.880 fought with 00:42:26.880 --> 00:42:27.440 the words 00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:27.820 of the 00:42:27.820 --> 00:42:29.360 truth 00:42:29.360 --> 00:42:30.740 and with 00:42:30.740 --> 00:42:31.200 deeds of 00:42:31.200 --> 00:42:31.760 love and 00:42:31.760 --> 00:42:32.240 justice. 00:42:34.100 --> 00:42:34.600 And all 00:42:34.600 --> 00:42:35.080 of that, 00:42:35.620 --> 00:42:36.960 all of that 00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:37.920 is shrouded, 00:42:38.120 --> 00:42:38.700 backed up 00:42:38.699 --> 00:42:42.099 by prayer 00:42:42.099 --> 00:42:43.279 as we 00:42:43.279 --> 00:42:44.059 plead for 00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:45.099 his glory 00:42:45.099 --> 00:42:45.779 and his 00:42:45.779 --> 00:42:46.599 grace to 00:42:46.599 --> 00:42:47.159 be revealed 00:42:47.159 --> 00:42:47.519 to the 00:42:47.519 --> 00:42:48.000 nations. 00:42:49.319 --> 00:42:49.699 And the 00:42:49.699 --> 00:42:50.179 victory will 00:42:50.179 --> 00:42:51.619 come and 00:42:51.619 --> 00:42:51.839 it will 00:42:51.839 --> 00:42:52.519 come through 00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:53.219 word and 00:42:53.219 --> 00:42:53.480 prayer. 00:42:53.480 --> 00:43:23.460 Thank you.