WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.000 Amen. 00:00:17.460 --> 00:00:21.420 Over the last several weeks, we've been looking at faith. 00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:22.379 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.719 Where does it take us? 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:34.759 How does it help when things are difficult? 00:00:36.060 --> 00:00:41.859 And we've talked about some of the implications of faith and how it shows up in our life and 00:00:41.859 --> 00:00:43.039 how it carries us through. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:52.299 We began several weeks ago looking at the fact that faith and quietness and rest and 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:56.100 trust lead to salvation and lead to strength. 00:00:56.100 --> 00:01:04.420 It really leads to this sense of confidence in us, this overriding peace and this abounding 00:01:04.420 --> 00:01:06.740 joy that is true of believers. 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:09.760 It connects with us individually. 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:11.299 It connects with us personally. 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:13.859 It has real life implications. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:18.519 It helps us to be able to step back and not to strive. 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:25.719 It helps us not to be anxious and to worry about the difficulties and hardships and the 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:27.340 twists and turns of life. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:34.960 But this morning, what I want us to understand is that faith in God also leads us not just 00:01:34.960 --> 00:01:39.239 to waiting, but faith in God leads us to action. 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:48.799 faith in God leads us to ordained movement in a direction that is aligned with the Savior, 00:01:49.399 --> 00:01:50.659 that is aligned with our God. 00:01:52.699 --> 00:02:00.280 A couple days ago, actually I think just yesterday, heard the news of a friend of ours in southern 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:05.140 Ohio that just passed away, just went to be home with the Lord. 00:02:05.140 --> 00:02:09.659 She would have been 95 in just a couple of days from now. 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:17.599 And two years ago, she was going through some difficulties because not only for her personally, 00:02:18.039 --> 00:02:26.139 the physical health issues and being in a care facility, but also at the same time, her 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:31.439 70-plus-year-old son was dying of cancer. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:38.979 There were times when I would go and talk with Margaret and the question would be on her heart 00:02:38.979 --> 00:02:44.460 and her mind, Andrew, what is God doing through this? 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:48.520 Parents aren't supposed to outlive their kids. 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:50.120 It's just not supposed to be this way. 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:53.439 What is God's purpose for my life? 00:02:53.539 --> 00:02:55.599 What does He have in mind for me? 00:02:55.699 --> 00:03:00.139 What really is the reason for me sticking around? 00:03:00.139 --> 00:03:02.279 After all, I'm old. 00:03:02.459 --> 00:03:03.819 I'm homebound. 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:06.759 I can't really do anything for God. 00:03:06.899 --> 00:03:10.679 There's not a whole lot of activity that I can be involved in. 00:03:12.699 --> 00:03:15.179 But she rested in the sovereignty of God. 00:03:16.539 --> 00:03:23.919 She rested in the future plan of God, His purposes for her life. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:30.119 And she came to terms with the fact that even though she didn't understand it all, there must 00:03:30.119 --> 00:03:35.079 be a reason for my son dying and for me to continue on. 00:03:36.819 --> 00:03:43.819 I think one of those reasons is the life of a young man that she began to invest in. 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:53.579 You see, our church was going through the process of encouraging the older saints in the church to partner themselves 00:03:53.579 --> 00:03:56.459 or to connect themselves with a younger individual. 00:03:57.299 --> 00:03:58.560 We called them prayer partners. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:06.360 And for the school year, the goal was for them to pray for these youngsters, these teenagers, 00:04:06.939 --> 00:04:12.280 that God would help them through the difficulties of school and the hardships that they encountered 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:16.840 and that they would be praying them through and encouraging them individually, 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:18.779 but praying that God would do a work in their life. 00:04:18.779 --> 00:04:22.179 Well, she took it to the next level. 00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:26.299 And she said, okay, I'm not just going to pray for this young man, 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:30.159 but what I'm going to do is I'm going to pray with this young man. 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:33.039 She said, you know, I can pray. 00:04:34.419 --> 00:04:35.919 God hasn't kept me from that. 00:04:37.159 --> 00:04:40.679 I might not be able to get out of the house, but you can bet I can pray. 00:04:41.659 --> 00:04:43.139 And I can talk on the phone. 00:04:43.139 --> 00:04:48.159 I can pick up the phone and I can call this young man and I can be an encouragement to him. 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:53.819 And not just for the year, but for the last four years, 00:04:54.719 --> 00:04:58.599 she has been investing and building into this young man. 00:04:59.659 --> 00:05:02.959 So that now, as I think about this young man, 00:05:03.599 --> 00:05:08.699 there is this new passion for the Lord Jesus. 00:05:09.739 --> 00:05:14.159 There is this bursting forth of confidence in the Lord. 00:05:15.039 --> 00:05:18.319 There is this deep affection for prayer. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:22.620 And seeing how it worked out, how it played out in the life of an older person. 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:26.079 There was a wrestling with God in prayer. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:28.560 There was a communion with God in prayer. 00:05:29.219 --> 00:05:30.680 And that was infectious. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:32.779 It was passed on. 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:39.100 The legacy of this godly woman was passed on to this young man. 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:43.200 And only time will tell. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:47.900 Only time will tell what that investment will lead to. 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:55.000 The investment of a godly woman who didn't understand the circumstances of life, 00:05:55.220 --> 00:05:59.120 but was willing to align herself with what she knew at the time. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:03.100 Faithful with God's will for the present, 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:10.259 so that it would lead to faithfulness of God investing in him and leading him to who knows where. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:14.100 Who knows what that investment will lead to in the future. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:19.600 Because of a faithful, godly woman who was willing to be used. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:23.540 Wrestling with God through uncertainty. 00:06:24.280 --> 00:06:27.520 Struggling with the, God, what is your plan for my life? 00:06:27.939 --> 00:06:29.580 But a willingness to obey in the moment. 00:06:29.579 --> 00:06:34.500 Well, this morning, I want us to look at Isaiah chapter 45. 00:06:35.539 --> 00:06:38.579 You know, I think we're quite happy to talk about the love of God. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:42.319 We're quite happy to talk about the holiness of God. 00:06:43.099 --> 00:06:47.379 We're quite happy to talk about the grace and the mercy of God. 00:06:47.539 --> 00:06:54.319 But one of the areas we don't really want to go often is we don't want to talk about the sovereignty of God. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:07:01.240 We don't often want to talk about the fact that God not only knows the future, but he has his hand on it. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:07.100 God not only has a foreknowledge of what things will happen, 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:10.819 but he is actively involved in bringing them about. 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:16.039 Let me tell you, that should give us confidence today. 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:26.200 That should make us so active and so risky in our courageous, self-sacrificing obedience. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:31.040 Because we are so convinced that God has a plan for our life, 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:38.020 and we'll work it through that nothing is going to get in the way of God's unfailing plan for us, 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:41.759 as long as we're aligned with his plans for the future. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:50.759 There is almost an invincibility about us if we're willing to align ourselves with God's plan, 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:53.439 because he is unfailing. 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:59.379 The unfailing God who is unstoppable in every way. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:01.159 That is the God who ordains. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:04.680 That's the God who we're going to look at this morning from Isaiah chapter 45. 00:08:05.579 --> 00:08:06.620 Look at that with me. 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:16.500 I just want to open and just read through this first verse as an introduction to our study today. 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:18.560 The God who ordains. 00:08:20.019 --> 00:08:21.000 It says this. 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:22.259 It says, 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:45.259 First, as we look at the God who ordains, 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:52.480 I want us to understand first and foremost that it is God's prerogative to choose his vessel. 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:56.059 It's God's prerogative to choose his vessel. 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:57.460 It's his right. 00:08:58.659 --> 00:09:00.000 It's his ability. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:06.120 There is no reason for us to question God's decision. 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:07.620 His purposes are final. 00:09:07.939 --> 00:09:10.740 He will do what he will do, and that's his prerogative. 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:12.960 That's what makes him God. 00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:14.039 That's what makes him distinct. 00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:15.099 He is sovereign. 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:16.480 He is able to do this. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:21.199 And in this selection process, 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:25.319 I want us to see here in verse 1 of chapter 45, 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:28.279 and then backing up a verse into chapter 44, 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:34.379 I want us to understand and to recognize the dignity associated with this decision. 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:38.539 The dignity associated with this selection. 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:42.579 Look at chapter 44, verse 28. 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:45.980 It speaks of Cyrus again when he says this. 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:47.840 Who says of Cyrus, 00:09:48.420 --> 00:09:49.379 He is my shepherd, 00:09:49.920 --> 00:09:53.420 and he shall fulfill all my purpose. 00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:55.379 Saying of Jerusalem, 00:09:55.800 --> 00:09:56.780 She shall be built, 00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:58.240 and of the temple, 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:00.540 Your foundation shall be laid. 00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:04.319 Now in verse 1 of chapter 45, 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:04.319 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:07.019 and in verse 28 of chapter 44, 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:14.059 we see two significant words that kind of single Cyrus out from the rest of the company, 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:19.279 that help us understand that God has set his affection on Cyrus, 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:22.399 and commissioned him for a specific work. 00:10:23.699 --> 00:10:25.539 Notice that word there in verse 28. 00:10:25.539 --> 00:10:25.919 He says, 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:27.099 He is my, 00:10:27.199 --> 00:10:27.899 What church? 00:10:28.839 --> 00:10:30.399 He is my shepherd. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:36.699 Now that's an incredible word as we think about Cyrus, 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.839 this foreigner, 00:10:39.339 --> 00:10:44.699 this person who is outside of Jewish nationality, 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:47.000 being considered a shepherd of God's people. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:49.700 A significant claim. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:55.820 And the significance is amplified by the fact that God uses the term, 00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:57.039 My shepherd. 00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:59.000 In the Hebrew, 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:00.460 it's actually one word, 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:02.120 all connected together. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:05.779 The pronoun is fixed to the end of that Hebrew word, 00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:08.200 to help understand the relationship there. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:10.600 They're connected. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.240 They can't be separated. 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:14.799 He is my shepherd. 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:17.720 Called out by me to do my bidding, 00:11:18.060 --> 00:11:19.919 to accomplish my purposes. 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:24.620 There is this intimate connection that cannot be separated. 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:29.200 We've looked at the concept of shepherding considerably. 00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:31.600 We saw this a couple of weeks ago in Isaiah chapter 40, 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:36.440 where God is referring to himself as the shepherd of his people. 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:43.220 And the idea of gathering and caring and comfort that springs up from Isaiah chapter 40, 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:45.240 and throughout the rest of the scripture, 00:11:46.140 --> 00:11:51.540 drawing attention to the great shepherd who will one day come in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:58.680 This title used consistently of God throughout the Old Testament. 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:03.120 Particularly the familiar passage in the Psalms, Psalm 23. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:05.820 The Lord is my shepherd. 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:07.500 I shall not want. 00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:13.020 And a title that Jesus would claim for himself in John chapter 10. 00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:14.080 He says, 00:12:14.180 --> 00:12:15.260 I am the good shepherd. 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:19.320 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 00:12:20.660 --> 00:12:23.760 Now whatever would be said about this individual, Cyrus, 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:31.200 we have to understand that it was an identity that connected him with significance. 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:37.140 An identity that connected him with the dignity and the honor of being called out by God. 00:12:40.140 --> 00:12:42.960 Now, in chapter 45, verse 1, 00:12:43.020 --> 00:12:46.560 not only shepherd, but also anointed. 00:12:47.680 --> 00:12:52.180 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus. 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:58.120 Anointed one having sacred oil poured on him ceremonially. 00:12:58.859 --> 00:13:03.439 And so becoming a person with special authority and function. 00:13:04.599 --> 00:13:08.519 God had singled Cyrus out for a special purpose. 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:25.159 Again, this personal pronoun is connected in the Hebrew in one word put together to help understand the intimacy and inseparability of the connection between what God is doing for Cyrus and what Cyrus will do for God. 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:27.159 They're mutually exclusive. 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:29.959 They cannot be separated. 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:40.179 And this term of being anointed is used exclusively up to this point, is used exclusively of Jewish kings. 00:13:40.719 --> 00:13:43.659 Or used exclusively of the future Messiah. 00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:51.480 And yet, here we find this dramatic shift taking place. 00:13:51.480 --> 00:14:00.620 This incredible confession of God through the mouth of Isaiah that Cyrus will be his anointed. 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:10.100 Cyrus will be able to enjoy the special dignity and the special honor of being used of God in this way. 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:14.879 Of course, just to be clear, Cyrus is not a Jew. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:19.100 But who is Cyrus after all? 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:21.639 We're going to look at some of the things. 00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:24.080 I don't want us to jump to any conclusions about Cyrus. 00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:28.659 But I want you to see how detailed the description is about Cyrus. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:33.460 So we can begin to understand from history who this individual was. 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:41.320 But as we understand, Cyrus is distinct in being anointed and commissioned by God. 00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:42.300 Set apart. 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:46.460 Called to lead and accomplish the purposes of God. 00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:49.460 That leads us to our next point. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:56.019 Not only do we see the dignity associated with this position, this selection. 00:14:56.560 --> 00:14:58.920 But we also come to understand the difficulty. 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:02.519 The difficulty with this selection. 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.980 So who was Cyrus? 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:08.980 Who is this man, Cyrus? 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:13.759 Well, if we look in the passage and move up to chapter 44, 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:18.379 I want to point out a couple of things that help to describe this person. 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:20.759 Who he is and what he will do. 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:25.240 Notice in verse 26, it says there in the middle, 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:54.740 Now whatever is taking place here, 00:15:55.240 --> 00:16:05.180 Isaiah is describing a city of Jerusalem that is in a far different condition than it is in the current time. 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:07.820 At that time, Jerusalem was inhabited. 00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:10.680 At that time, the temple had been built. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:17.259 But sometime in the future, there was going to be a need for being re-inhabited. 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:22.620 Sometime in the future, there was going to be a need for Jerusalem to be rebuilt. 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:27.940 Sometime in the future, there was going to be a need for the temple to be re-established. 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:34.840 Cyrus will be the means by which God will accomplish this objective. 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:44.639 He will be the shepherd to help usher in this new season of being re-established and revived as a people. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:50.819 There's a list of details that describe him later on as well. 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:54.460 We find in chapter 45, verse 1. 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:58.120 It says that he will subdue nations before him. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:01.639 It says that his... 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.000 Excuse me. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:10.460 I will break in pieces the doors of bronze, in verse 2, and cut through the bars of iron. 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:16.880 I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hordes in secret places, 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:23.680 that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.799 And then dropping down to verse 13. 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:28.259 It says, 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.980 I have stirred him up in righteousness. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:32.940 I will make all his ways level. 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:37.900 He shall build my city and set my exiles free. 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:42.259 Not for price or reward, says the Lord of hosts. 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:47.740 And there are a number of difficulties with this prophetic section. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:54.240 Difficulties that may have confused the people of the time. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.140 What are you saying? 00:17:57.380 --> 00:18:01.319 Cyrus is going to restore a city that hasn't yet been demolished? 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.980 What is taking place here? 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:06.859 And who is this Cyrus after all? 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:15.120 The first difficulty that the people would have come to terms with is the whole timing of this prophecy 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:17.200 is so distant into the future. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:25.400 It would be some 150 to 200 years before Cyrus would even emerge onto the scene. 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:29.599 But God names him before the fact. 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:36.380 God speaks the name of Cyrus 200 years before Cyrus even existed as an individual. 00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:44.819 And at the time, no one could envision any empire but the Assyrian Empire continuing to maintain control. 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:49.919 And yet, Cyrus, who was in the Persian Empire, 00:18:50.679 --> 00:18:59.720 has to move through the Babylonian Empire before you even get to his empire taking prominence. 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:05.319 The Babylonian Empire would emerge after Assyria. 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:13.700 And one would expect that it would be another couple of hundred years before any new empire would emerge as being the world power. 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:17.900 And yet, it was going to come in a series of years. 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.940 God predicted this before the fact. 00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:26.100 Cyrus would be installed as a king in 559. 00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:33.019 And in 20 years, he would not only conquer the portion of land that he was living in, 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:43.100 but he would conquer Babylon to the extent that the Assyrian or the Persian Empire would be the largest empire the world had ever known. 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:48.839 Emerging from obscurity to become the greatest empire in history. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:52.839 Any surprise? 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.719 No. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:57.119 Because it is God who ordains. 00:19:57.939 --> 00:19:59.519 It's God who knows the future. 00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:05.480 It is God who is in control of those things that are happening down the road. 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:11.620 But the difficulty is not only in terms of timing, but also in terms of heritage. 00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:14.380 Cyrus was a Persian. 00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:20.000 And as we look back to 2 Chronicles 26, we see a description of him. 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.400 It says, 00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:24.059 All those who escape from the sword he will carry away to Babylon, 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:30.120 where they will become servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.319 Speaking of Cyrus. 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:38.359 Cyrus would be a Persian, but earlier in the book of Isaiah, in Isaiah chapter 13, 00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:43.000 Isaiah actually says that it's not going to be the Persians who are taking Babylon. 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:46.079 It's going to be the Medes who will be taking Babylon. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.819 So how do you deal with this conundrum? 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:51.299 How do you resolve this conflict? 00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:54.619 Only in the mind of God. 00:20:54.619 --> 00:21:03.959 Only God can resolve the tension that would otherwise confound the wisest individuals. 00:21:05.219 --> 00:21:13.599 You see, Cyrus was a Persian because of his father, but his mom happened to be a Mede. 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:18.119 His grandfather actually happened to be the king of the Medes. 00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:22.500 And so again, God begins to unravel the tension. 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:25.739 To demonstrate his sovereign control. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:29.279 His ability to ordain the future, to know exactly what's coming, 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:33.639 to describe the details, and to help us understand that he is God. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:39.559 He alone is able to tell us what the future holds. 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:46.500 He alone is able to help us understand the things that would otherwise seem contradictory. 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:53.759 And the empire of Mede-Persia, although it began with the Medes being in charge, 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:57.859 Cyrus, in rising to power, overcame the Medes. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:05.019 And so he comes in and answers all of the things that God had promised to do through him. 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:13.680 The third difficulty is a difficulty of the fact that he was a foreigner. 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:18.099 It was a difficulty in the minds of those of the audience, those who were listening. 00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:26.619 How can you bring an anointed shepherd to rescue the people of Israel who is also not part of Israel? 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:29.359 How can you do this? 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:32.720 This is unjust. 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.259 This is not right. 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:40.660 And God's response to that is found in chapter 45, verses 9 and 10. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:43.000 In answering this complaint, 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:46.900 God, how can you do this to us? 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.240 God says, 00:22:48.240 --> 00:23:12.660 I'm in control. 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:14.660 I'm in charge. 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:16.580 Who are you to question me? 00:23:19.580 --> 00:23:23.540 God is the one who ordains the future. 00:23:24.560 --> 00:23:33.279 It is my prerogative to decide who I choose to use and how I accomplish my objectives. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:38.480 The point of all of this is that God's purposes will be accomplished. 00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:43.000 But the question is, will he accomplish it through you? 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:50.519 You see, the reason why God wasn't going to fulfill, at least immediately, his objectives through his people is because they were disobedient. 00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:58.059 They had stepped outside of the will of God and had not aligned themselves to his perfect plan for their lives. 00:23:58.059 --> 00:24:00.279 And so God says, fine. 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:06.879 I will accomplish my objectives, but I'm going to accomplish them through other means because of disobedience. 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.960 It will stand. 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.779 My plans are unfailing. 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:14.259 Will you choose to be part of the plans that I have made? 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:24.480 We have the privilege of aligning ourselves to God's plans if we're walking and submitting and yielding to his purposes. 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.920 His plans are unfailing. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.200 They will be accomplished. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:35.839 Will we have the privilege of being God's chosen vessels as we step in to the plans that he has made? 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:46.139 Israel could not experience the dignity, the honor of what God had in mind because of their disobedience. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:48.919 So he chose to bring in other means. 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:52.179 And he does that through the person Cyrus. 00:24:53.899 --> 00:24:57.639 Well, we see God's prerogative with his plans. 00:24:58.259 --> 00:25:04.459 Next, we see God's power to accomplish his plans in verses 1 to 5. 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:08.860 You see, God not only understands the future. 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:13.220 He not only has perfect foresight and foreknowledge of all that is coming. 00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:17.759 But we're going to see in these verses that God is the one to work it through. 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:21.680 What God purposes, he will perform. 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:25.900 What God has as a plan, he will bring about. 00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:30.440 That is our God, as we'll see here in the next several verses. 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:38.759 We're going to see through this section his primary means and his secondary means of accomplishing his objectives. 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:45.880 Look with me at the end of verse 1 and reading down through verse 5. 00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:48.200 It says this. 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:54.500 I want you to pay attention to the use of the personal pronoun I. 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:57.539 Who is the one who is accomplishing these plans? 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:59.639 What is the primary means? 00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.500 Notice it says, 00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:06.240 Whose right hand I have grasped. 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:08.079 That's in the middle of verse 1. 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:12.460 To subdue nations before him. 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:14.519 To loose the belts of kings. 00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:16.359 To open doors before him. 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:19.220 That gates may not be closed. 00:26:19.899 --> 00:26:20.420 Verse 2. 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:23.680 I will go before you. 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:27.980 And level the exalted places. 00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:32.259 I will break in pieces the doors of bronze. 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.180 Verse 3. 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:38.740 I will give you the treasures of darkness. 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.740 Verse 4. 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:52.680 I call you by name. 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:55.599 I name you, though you do not know me. 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:56.759 Verse 5. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.079 I am the Lord. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.480 There is no other. 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:02.579 Besides me, there is no God. 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:07.920 I am the Lord, and there is no other. 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:10.920 I equip you, though you do not know me. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.720 Verse 7. 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.779 I form light and create darkness. 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:17.640 I make well-being and create calamity. 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:20.340 I am the Lord who does all these things. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.460 Now dropping down to verse 12. 00:27:23.820 --> 00:27:26.640 I made the earth and created man on it. 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:29.940 It was my hands that stretched out the heavens. 00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:33.140 And I commanded all their hosts. 00:27:34.060 --> 00:27:34.820 Verse 13. 00:27:35.320 --> 00:27:38.500 I have stirred him up in righteousness, 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:42.680 and I will make all his ways level. 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:51.000 Is there any lack of clarity in those verses? 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:55.820 Who is the one who has accomplished these purposes? 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.820 Who is the primary means? 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.360 Who is the one that is making it happen? 00:28:00.560 --> 00:28:02.299 Not only in knowing the future, 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:04.860 but in bringing those purposes about? 00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:07.179 Make no mistake. 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:09.759 God is the primary means. 00:28:10.199 --> 00:28:14.659 God is the one who commits himself to work his plans through. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:17.740 What he has planned, the purposes that he has, 00:28:17.959 --> 00:28:20.259 are the purposes and plans that he will perform. 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:23.459 We can take confidence in that. 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:27.559 We can rest in God. 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:32.960 We can rest in the future because we know it is God who will work things through. 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:39.259 The future rests in the power of God to perform, 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:42.679 in the power of God alone. 00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:45.919 What God ordains to happen, 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:48.319 he will see it through to the end. 00:28:49.639 --> 00:28:53.539 It is no different from the involvement of God with his own people. 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:59.339 And if we were to take some time and you look through the second half of chapter 44, 00:28:59.659 --> 00:29:02.940 you would see God's involvement with his people 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:05.779 in bringing them and birthing them as a nation. 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:11.559 Israel didn't have any problem with God's favor on them as a people. 00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:14.500 But if they were to understand and recognize 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:16.559 that the only reason why they existed 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:19.680 is because of God's direct involvement in their lives as well. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:26.000 And so God has the prerogative not only to choose his vessel, Cyrus, 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:30.480 but to exalt him and to make him useful, 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:32.840 to accomplish his purposes. 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:36.200 And in doing this, he says, 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:38.539 you are nothing without me. 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:42.180 You are nothing without me. 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.900 I set you apart. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.000 I put my affection on you. 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:50.039 I have commissioned you as my own special vessel. 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:56.119 Any blessing or any purpose or any product 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:59.119 that you might be able to bring about 00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:01.460 is because of my working in your life. 00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:04.640 That's his primary means. 00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:08.119 We see now his secondary means in verse 13. 00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:14.180 His primary means is resting in the character of God alone. 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:19.779 His secondary means is that he chooses to let us be part of the process, 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:23.000 to be his vessels, to be his conduits. 00:30:23.820 --> 00:30:24.880 Look at verse 13. 00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:28.340 Chapter 45, it says this. 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:32.360 I have stirred him up in righteousness. 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:34.779 I will make all his ways level. 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:38.200 He shall build my city and set my exiles free, 00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:40.080 not for price or reward, 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:42.380 says the Lord of hosts. 00:30:42.380 --> 00:30:47.540 God's favor will be on Cyrus, 00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:49.400 to raise him up, 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.740 to stir his heart. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:56.140 This word stirring is this word to arouse 00:30:56.140 --> 00:30:58.000 or to awaken from sleep, 00:30:59.340 --> 00:31:01.340 to make him alert. 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:05.260 It's used 80 times throughout the Old Testament. 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:09.279 And in every case where it's translated to stir up, 00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:13.319 it's always used in the understanding of God's activity 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:17.019 in leading his instruments to accomplish his objectives. 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:21.960 God is the divine mover who is stirring hearts, 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:26.879 arousing us to then accomplish the purposes that he has called us to do. 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:32.840 And amazingly, it is used of God's power over kingdoms 17 times, 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:37.340 and particularly used of Cyrus 10 times throughout the Old Testament. 00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:44.179 It is a word used almost entirely of God's authority over the nations, 00:31:44.679 --> 00:31:46.939 and particularly God's authority over Cyrus. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:51.339 Cyrus, you may not know who I am, 00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:52.139 but I know who you are. 00:31:52.659 --> 00:31:55.039 You don't exist yet, but that doesn't matter. 00:31:55.399 --> 00:31:58.419 I am setting my sights on you. 00:31:58.420 --> 00:32:01.420 I will accomplish my purposes through you, 00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.900 and I will make it happen. 00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:07.160 I will stir up your heart and awaken within you 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:11.580 an idea, an understanding of my objectives, 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:14.200 and coupled with my divine power, 00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:15.620 you will be unstoppable. 00:32:17.300 --> 00:32:20.100 Cyrus was one of those secondary means, 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:24.500 but not in this text is another secondary means. 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:28.380 Somebody who had been taken out of Jerusalem, 00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:32.259 somebody who had been a prince in Jerusalem, 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:35.180 who had been moved into Babylon, 00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:39.220 who had been brought up in the courts of Babylon, 00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:43.640 and then had been transferred to the courts of Persia, 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:50.759 and had a direct line of access into the ear of Cyrus himself. 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.400 Who is that? 00:32:53.320 --> 00:32:53.880 Daniel. 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:57.080 Daniel is a man of God. 00:32:57.079 --> 00:33:00.519 Now, this blows me away, okay? 00:33:00.859 --> 00:33:05.759 This is an amazing example of bending and resting 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:08.139 through the twists and turns of life. 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:10.759 Daniel, who is in Jerusalem, 00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:12.740 and if he would have been like any of us, 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.159 would have said, 00:33:13.419 --> 00:33:15.839 hey, I'm in a place of prominence here. 00:33:16.119 --> 00:33:17.639 God, if you're going to really use me, 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:19.659 you keep me here in Jerusalem. 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:22.199 I've got a place of position here. 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:23.960 I've got a place of authority here. 00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:27.580 God knocks off that plan 00:33:27.580 --> 00:33:30.660 and moves him off to Babylon into exile 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:34.259 to be a slave, essentially, in another empire. 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:39.000 And as chance would have it, 00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:42.319 he was identified along with his friends 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:45.860 and allowed to be trained in the courts of Babylon. 00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:51.259 But Daniel wasn't going to be a man of compromise. 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:53.979 He was going to be a man who was committed 00:33:53.979 --> 00:33:56.479 and consistent, a man of integrity, 00:33:56.879 --> 00:33:58.479 to follow the ways of God, 00:33:58.699 --> 00:34:01.979 to submit himself to the purposes of God. 00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:02.819 And what happened? 00:34:03.919 --> 00:34:06.339 God used that submission 00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:09.319 to then raise him up to higher levels 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:11.980 within the courts of Babylon, 00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:14.640 to be the number two man 00:34:14.640 --> 00:34:17.100 in that massive empire, 00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:22.920 then to be relegated to the outskirts 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:24.380 once Nebuchadnezzar died, 00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:27.000 but then to reemerge 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:28.900 as the number two guy again 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:32.300 in another entire empire of Persia. 00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:35.900 Who could have imagined 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:37.120 that God would do that 00:34:37.120 --> 00:34:39.200 through the twists and turns of life? 00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:41.860 But it happened because of Daniel's willingness 00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:43.960 to submit his heart 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:45.940 to the teaching of the Scripture, 00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:48.320 to be a man who is committed to prayer, 00:34:48.600 --> 00:34:50.720 and a man who is willing to trust 00:34:50.720 --> 00:34:53.140 in God's perfect, 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:55.760 ordained plan for the future. 00:34:57.640 --> 00:34:58.559 And so here is Daniel. 00:34:59.059 --> 00:35:00.960 As we find in Daniel chapter 9, 00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:03.080 he's reading through the Scripture, 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:04.660 and at the time he's reading 00:35:04.660 --> 00:35:05.840 the book of Jeremiah, 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:08.240 and he notices in Jeremiah 00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:10.059 that in 70 years 00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:11.339 that the people are going to be 00:35:11.339 --> 00:35:13.000 brought back to Jerusalem. 00:35:13.779 --> 00:35:14.500 And he says, 00:35:14.939 --> 00:35:18.859 it's been 70 years! 00:35:19.859 --> 00:35:20.939 This is the time! 00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:22.419 God's going to do this! 00:35:23.699 --> 00:35:25.139 And so he prays it through, 00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:27.739 and we see this heart of a humble man 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:29.459 coming before the Lord 00:35:29.459 --> 00:35:31.399 in sackcloth and ashes 00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:33.880 and in repentance before him 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:35.260 and pleading with God 00:35:35.260 --> 00:35:36.440 to carry out his purposes. 00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:39.960 And certainly having a copy 00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:42.300 of the book of Isaiah in his hand 00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:42.800 and seeing, 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:44.840 Cyrus, 00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:46.760 his name is here! 00:35:47.720 --> 00:35:48.240 Wow! 00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.320 He's right here! 00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:51.880 He is the king now 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:52.579 over Babylon! 00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:52.860 Come on! 00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:55.759 God has put me 00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.559 exactly 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:58.360 where he wants me to be 00:35:58.360 --> 00:36:00.299 so I can speak the word 00:36:00.299 --> 00:36:02.059 into Cyrus' heart. 00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:03.619 And as we look back 00:36:03.619 --> 00:36:04.880 to Ezra chapter 1, 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:05.639 we can see 00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:07.319 the words of Cyrus 00:36:07.319 --> 00:36:09.840 confirming the words of God 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:10.299 and saying, 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:10.619 hey, 00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:12.400 I am the anointed 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.539 of God 00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:14.519 to carry out 00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.279 his plans. 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.440 I'm going to send 00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:17.159 the people back 00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.779 to Jerusalem 00:36:17.779 --> 00:36:18.799 because God 00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:19.639 has commissioned it 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.619 long before 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:21.360 I even existed. 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:24.920 the secondary means 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.900 of God 00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:26.620 to accomplish 00:36:26.620 --> 00:36:28.380 his primary purposes. 00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:30.740 You see, 00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.740 God wants to accomplish 00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.280 his purposes 00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:32.960 through you too. 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:34.840 The question 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:35.660 this morning 00:36:35.660 --> 00:36:36.440 is will you 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:37.320 align yourself 00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:38.680 to the purposes of God? 00:36:39.640 --> 00:36:40.840 And will you allow 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:43.680 the plans of God 00:36:43.680 --> 00:36:44.300 to be worked 00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:45.220 through your heart 00:36:45.220 --> 00:36:45.680 and life 00:36:45.680 --> 00:36:46.300 regardless 00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:47.340 of the twists 00:36:47.340 --> 00:36:47.880 and turns 00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:49.200 and the difficulties 00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:50.300 that you might experience? 00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:52.160 so that God 00:36:52.160 --> 00:36:53.019 can be exalted. 00:36:54.519 --> 00:36:55.260 It takes us 00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.039 to our last point 00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:56.800 this morning. 00:36:58.360 --> 00:36:59.019 The point 00:36:59.019 --> 00:36:59.500 that we see 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:01.200 in verses 6 to 12 00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:03.780 and that is 00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:05.480 that God's, 00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:07.700 we see God's purpose 00:37:07.700 --> 00:37:09.420 in the path 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:10.079 that he takes. 00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:12.700 We find God's purposes 00:37:12.700 --> 00:37:13.599 in the path 00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:14.680 that he takes. 00:37:14.679 --> 00:37:18.799 What is God's purpose? 00:37:19.839 --> 00:37:20.960 Why does he do it 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:21.619 this way? 00:37:22.659 --> 00:37:23.719 What is the point 00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:26.039 of raising up Cyrus? 00:37:26.279 --> 00:37:27.480 What is the point 00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.759 of looking down 00:37:28.759 --> 00:37:29.339 the road 00:37:29.339 --> 00:37:30.659 and doing something 00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.179 that would have 00:37:31.179 --> 00:37:32.500 totally confounded 00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:33.599 the wisdom 00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.179 of the day? 00:37:35.759 --> 00:37:36.319 Well, 00:37:36.379 --> 00:37:37.099 the first purpose 00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:38.440 is that it underscores 00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:39.940 the preeminence 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:40.920 of God. 00:37:41.740 --> 00:37:42.940 It underscores 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:43.920 the preeminence 00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:44.720 of God. 00:37:44.820 --> 00:37:45.280 Look with me 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:45.920 at verse 3. 00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:48.900 It says, 00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:54.240 I will give you 00:37:54.240 --> 00:37:54.880 the treasures 00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:55.579 of darkness 00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:57.059 and the hordes 00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:58.260 in secret places. 00:37:58.400 --> 00:37:58.700 Why? 00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:00.240 Here's the purpose. 00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:02.860 That you may know 00:38:02.860 --> 00:38:04.500 that it is I, 00:38:04.740 --> 00:38:05.660 the Lord, 00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:07.480 the God of Israel, 00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:08.920 who call you 00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:10.579 by your name. 00:38:12.019 --> 00:38:13.000 And then moving 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.940 down to verse 6. 00:38:15.820 --> 00:38:16.400 That people 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:17.940 may know 00:38:17.940 --> 00:38:18.760 from the rising 00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:19.539 of the sun 00:38:19.539 --> 00:38:20.940 and from the west 00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:22.320 that there is none 00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:23.599 besides me. 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:25.159 I am the Lord 00:38:25.159 --> 00:38:26.119 and there is 00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:27.480 no other. 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:29.340 What other 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:30.840 explanation is there? 00:38:32.019 --> 00:38:32.559 Notice 00:38:32.559 --> 00:38:33.480 the heart of God. 00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:35.280 The heart of God 00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:37.059 not just to establish 00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:39.280 the preeminence 00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:40.340 of his wisdom, 00:38:41.760 --> 00:38:42.900 but notice 00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:43.920 even in the contrast 00:38:43.920 --> 00:38:45.179 of these verses 00:38:45.179 --> 00:38:46.740 how they're 00:38:46.739 --> 00:38:48.279 how they're phrased. 00:38:48.399 --> 00:38:49.659 It says in verse 3, 00:38:51.759 --> 00:38:52.239 I will give you 00:38:52.239 --> 00:38:52.839 the treasures 00:38:52.839 --> 00:38:53.739 that you 00:38:53.739 --> 00:38:54.799 may know 00:38:54.799 --> 00:38:55.639 that I 00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:56.379 am the Lord. 00:38:57.339 --> 00:38:57.899 That you, 00:38:58.019 --> 00:38:58.359 Cyrus, 00:38:58.559 --> 00:38:59.479 might understand 00:38:59.479 --> 00:39:02.339 who I am. 00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:04.459 And then 00:39:04.459 --> 00:39:05.459 in verse 6, 00:39:06.139 --> 00:39:06.839 the difference 00:39:06.839 --> 00:39:08.000 that people 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.439 may know 00:39:08.439 --> 00:39:09.799 from the rising 00:39:09.799 --> 00:39:10.399 of the sun 00:39:10.399 --> 00:39:11.579 and from the west 00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.239 that there is 00:39:12.239 --> 00:39:13.439 none besides me. 00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:15.460 we see 00:39:15.460 --> 00:39:16.019 throughout 00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:17.320 this passage 00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:17.740 and now 00:39:17.740 --> 00:39:18.200 particularly 00:39:18.200 --> 00:39:19.200 at the end 00:39:19.200 --> 00:39:19.780 it says 00:39:19.780 --> 00:39:21.480 towards the end 00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:22.119 here in verse 00:39:22.119 --> 00:39:25.059 23, 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:25.460 23, 00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:30.000 I myself 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.619 have sworn 00:39:30.619 --> 00:39:31.400 from the mouth 00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:32.220 that has gone 00:39:32.220 --> 00:39:33.179 out in righteousness 00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:33.900 a word 00:39:33.900 --> 00:39:34.559 that shall not 00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:35.059 return. 00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:36.179 To me 00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:37.880 every knee 00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:38.780 shall bow, 00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:40.760 every tongue 00:39:40.760 --> 00:39:41.980 shall swear 00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:42.860 allegiance. 00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:44.980 And then 00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.820 in verse 25, 00:39:46.199 --> 00:39:47.300 in the Lord 00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:48.480 all the offspring 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:49.119 of Israel 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:50.500 shall be justified 00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:52.199 and shall glory. 00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.059 The heart 00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:54.500 of God 00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:55.400 in demonstrating 00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:57.079 his preeminence 00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:58.460 is not just 00:39:58.460 --> 00:39:59.119 to put himself 00:39:59.119 --> 00:40:00.280 up as the 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:01.519 superior one 00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:03.679 but to put 00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:04.360 himself there 00:40:04.360 --> 00:40:05.059 so that we 00:40:05.059 --> 00:40:05.719 can enter 00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:06.079 in. 00:40:06.739 --> 00:40:07.440 So that we 00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:08.159 can enjoy, 00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:08.659 so that we 00:40:08.659 --> 00:40:09.960 can recognize 00:40:09.960 --> 00:40:11.099 who he is 00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:12.119 as distinct 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:12.719 from the world 00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:13.179 and we can 00:40:13.179 --> 00:40:13.900 worship him. 00:40:14.759 --> 00:40:15.320 We can 00:40:15.320 --> 00:40:16.179 recognize him. 00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:16.559 We can 00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:18.280 delight 00:40:18.280 --> 00:40:19.320 in him 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:20.840 and understanding 00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:21.759 who he is. 00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:25.400 Whenever 00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:27.840 we see this 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:29.320 in this chapter 00:40:29.320 --> 00:40:29.920 throughout 00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:31.160 the rest 00:40:31.160 --> 00:40:31.620 of 00:40:31.620 --> 00:40:33.280 scripture 00:40:33.280 --> 00:40:33.900 and particularly 00:40:33.900 --> 00:40:34.539 in the book 00:40:34.539 --> 00:40:35.280 of Ezekiel 00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:36.720 we see 00:40:36.720 --> 00:40:37.180 throughout 00:40:37.180 --> 00:40:37.559 the book 00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:38.280 of Ezekiel 00:40:38.280 --> 00:40:40.280 75 times 00:40:40.280 --> 00:40:40.780 where he says 00:40:40.780 --> 00:40:42.480 this, 00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:43.440 then you 00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:43.960 will know 00:40:43.960 --> 00:40:44.539 that I 00:40:44.539 --> 00:40:45.220 am the Lord. 00:40:46.920 --> 00:40:47.680 God's desire 00:40:47.680 --> 00:40:48.300 is to set 00:40:48.300 --> 00:40:49.140 himself up 00:40:49.140 --> 00:40:50.240 in providing 00:40:50.240 --> 00:40:51.640 these prophetic 00:40:51.640 --> 00:40:53.740 words 00:40:53.740 --> 00:40:55.660 to help us 00:40:55.660 --> 00:40:56.200 understand 00:40:56.200 --> 00:40:57.680 his distinctiveness, 00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.980 his preeminence. 00:40:59.320 --> 00:41:00.900 And so 00:41:00.900 --> 00:41:01.440 in trusting 00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:01.720 him, 00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:02.160 it's not a 00:41:02.160 --> 00:41:02.780 blind faith. 00:41:03.840 --> 00:41:04.760 We recognize 00:41:04.760 --> 00:41:05.740 the unfailing 00:41:05.740 --> 00:41:06.400 testimony 00:41:06.400 --> 00:41:07.880 of God's 00:41:07.880 --> 00:41:08.600 preeminence 00:41:08.600 --> 00:41:09.340 and it 00:41:09.340 --> 00:41:09.760 sets him 00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:10.059 apart. 00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:12.160 It is 00:41:12.160 --> 00:41:12.800 his desire 00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:13.840 that the 00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:14.200 world would 00:41:14.200 --> 00:41:14.760 recognize 00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:16.039 his distinctiveness 00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:16.380 too 00:41:16.380 --> 00:41:17.240 and come 00:41:17.240 --> 00:41:17.780 and worship 00:41:17.780 --> 00:41:18.380 him. 00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:20.000 But finally 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:20.460 what I want 00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:21.059 us to recognize 00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:21.700 is not only 00:41:21.700 --> 00:41:22.800 the preeminence 00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:23.080 of God, 00:41:23.160 --> 00:41:23.519 that is his 00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:23.920 purpose, 00:41:24.580 --> 00:41:25.340 but I also 00:41:25.340 --> 00:41:25.920 want us to 00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:26.340 understand 00:41:26.340 --> 00:41:26.680 that it 00:41:26.680 --> 00:41:27.420 underscores 00:41:27.420 --> 00:41:29.240 the invincibility 00:41:29.240 --> 00:41:30.099 of his 00:41:30.099 --> 00:41:30.400 people. 00:41:31.340 --> 00:41:32.500 The invincibility 00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:33.099 of his 00:41:33.099 --> 00:41:33.420 people. 00:41:34.579 --> 00:41:35.159 Those who 00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:36.220 surrender to 00:41:36.220 --> 00:41:37.039 God's purposes 00:41:37.039 --> 00:41:37.480 for their 00:41:37.480 --> 00:41:38.519 lives will 00:41:38.519 --> 00:41:40.079 not fail. 00:41:41.240 --> 00:41:41.980 They cannot 00:41:41.980 --> 00:41:43.000 fail because 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:44.500 they have the 00:41:44.500 --> 00:41:45.579 unfailing strength 00:41:45.579 --> 00:41:46.380 of God working 00:41:46.380 --> 00:41:47.320 through their 00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:47.780 lives. 00:41:48.360 --> 00:41:49.220 As long as 00:41:49.220 --> 00:41:49.880 they are walking 00:41:49.880 --> 00:41:50.500 in the path 00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:50.980 of God, 00:41:51.119 --> 00:41:51.700 the path that 00:41:51.700 --> 00:41:52.119 he has set 00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.519 for them, 00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:53.420 they are 00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:54.159 invincible. 00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:56.500 The certainty 00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:57.399 of their 00:41:57.399 --> 00:41:58.000 productivity 00:41:58.000 --> 00:41:59.119 and usefulness 00:41:59.119 --> 00:42:00.159 rests in the 00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:01.099 wisdom and 00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:01.879 the power of 00:42:01.879 --> 00:42:02.319 God to 00:42:02.319 --> 00:42:02.719 perform, 00:42:03.420 --> 00:42:04.460 thus rendering 00:42:04.460 --> 00:42:06.019 them unstoppable. 00:42:07.379 --> 00:42:08.099 Now don't 00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:08.539 misunderstand. 00:42:10.519 --> 00:42:11.119 In rendering 00:42:11.119 --> 00:42:12.519 us unstoppable, 00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:15.099 in rendering 00:42:15.099 --> 00:42:16.599 us unfailing, 00:42:16.759 --> 00:42:17.239 it is not 00:42:17.239 --> 00:42:17.719 saying that 00:42:17.719 --> 00:42:18.119 you're not 00:42:18.119 --> 00:42:18.460 going to 00:42:18.460 --> 00:42:19.000 experience 00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:19.920 difficulty. 00:42:21.239 --> 00:42:21.719 It doesn't 00:42:21.719 --> 00:42:22.019 mean that 00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:22.399 you're not 00:42:22.399 --> 00:42:23.019 going to be 00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:23.539 persecuted. 00:42:23.539 --> 00:42:24.300 It does 00:42:24.300 --> 00:42:24.619 not mean 00:42:24.619 --> 00:42:24.900 that you're 00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:25.039 going to 00:42:25.039 --> 00:42:25.480 be treated 00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:26.279 unjustly. 00:42:26.639 --> 00:42:26.920 It does 00:42:26.920 --> 00:42:27.239 not mean 00:42:27.239 --> 00:42:27.579 there's not 00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:27.739 going to 00:42:27.739 --> 00:42:28.219 be twists 00:42:28.219 --> 00:42:28.820 and turns 00:42:28.820 --> 00:42:29.480 in your 00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:29.900 life, 00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:30.380 but it 00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:30.820 means that 00:42:30.820 --> 00:42:31.159 God will 00:42:31.159 --> 00:42:31.900 use those 00:42:31.900 --> 00:42:32.380 things in 00:42:32.380 --> 00:42:32.800 your life 00:42:32.800 --> 00:42:33.639 to accomplish 00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:34.320 his purposes. 00:42:35.019 --> 00:42:35.480 They will 00:42:35.480 --> 00:42:36.219 be unfailing 00:42:36.219 --> 00:42:37.840 because you 00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:38.139 have an 00:42:38.139 --> 00:42:38.500 unfailing 00:42:38.500 --> 00:42:38.920 God. 00:42:41.559 --> 00:42:42.699 The preeminent 00:42:42.699 --> 00:42:43.420 example is 00:42:43.420 --> 00:42:44.119 Jesus Christ. 00:42:45.380 --> 00:42:46.380 The preeminent 00:42:46.380 --> 00:42:47.159 example is 00:42:47.159 --> 00:42:48.679 the one who 00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:49.500 came in 00:42:49.500 --> 00:42:50.639 perfect submission 00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:51.019 to the 00:42:51.019 --> 00:42:51.900 Father's 00:42:51.900 --> 00:42:52.199 will. 00:42:53.539 --> 00:42:54.639 Of course, 00:42:54.860 --> 00:42:55.279 we understand 00:42:55.279 --> 00:42:55.719 what happened 00:42:55.719 --> 00:42:56.019 in his 00:42:56.019 --> 00:42:56.279 life. 00:42:56.400 --> 00:42:57.139 We understand 00:42:57.139 --> 00:42:57.500 that he 00:42:57.500 --> 00:42:58.300 was mistreated. 00:42:58.480 --> 00:42:59.119 We understand 00:42:59.119 --> 00:42:59.500 that he was 00:42:59.500 --> 00:42:59.920 put on a 00:42:59.920 --> 00:43:00.400 cross. 00:43:00.980 --> 00:43:01.539 But in 00:43:01.539 --> 00:43:02.579 his obedience, 00:43:03.179 --> 00:43:03.840 he accomplished 00:43:03.840 --> 00:43:04.699 the greatest 00:43:04.699 --> 00:43:05.920 objective that 00:43:05.920 --> 00:43:06.679 God ever had 00:43:06.679 --> 00:43:07.340 for humanity. 00:43:08.599 --> 00:43:09.719 To reconcile 00:43:09.719 --> 00:43:10.579 us to 00:43:10.579 --> 00:43:11.079 himself. 00:43:11.559 --> 00:43:12.139 To make 00:43:12.139 --> 00:43:12.820 a way for 00:43:12.820 --> 00:43:13.239 fellowship. 00:43:14.420 --> 00:43:15.059 That's what 00:43:15.059 --> 00:43:15.800 happens when 00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:16.300 we align 00:43:16.300 --> 00:43:17.840 ourselves to 00:43:17.840 --> 00:43:18.460 the wisdom 00:43:18.460 --> 00:43:19.400 and to the 00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:20.019 power of 00:43:20.019 --> 00:43:20.440 God. 00:43:20.440 --> 00:43:21.619 We will be 00:43:21.619 --> 00:43:22.300 unstoppable. 00:43:22.300 --> 00:43:24.500 not because 00:43:24.500 --> 00:43:26.039 the power 00:43:26.039 --> 00:43:26.460 is within 00:43:26.460 --> 00:43:26.880 us, 00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:28.420 but because 00:43:28.420 --> 00:43:29.000 we have 00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:29.519 yielded 00:43:29.519 --> 00:43:30.300 ourselves to 00:43:30.300 --> 00:43:30.980 the perfect 00:43:30.980 --> 00:43:31.500 plan of 00:43:31.500 --> 00:43:32.160 God who 00:43:32.160 --> 00:43:32.820 will bring 00:43:32.820 --> 00:43:33.340 about his 00:43:33.340 --> 00:43:33.980 purposes in 00:43:33.980 --> 00:43:34.320 our life. 00:43:35.800 --> 00:43:36.120 There's a 00:43:36.120 --> 00:43:36.340 lot of 00:43:36.340 --> 00:43:36.800 excuses. 00:43:38.200 --> 00:43:39.039 Maybe you're 00:43:39.039 --> 00:43:39.500 saying this 00:43:39.500 --> 00:43:39.760 morning, 00:43:39.900 --> 00:43:39.960 well, 00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:40.300 I'm just 00:43:40.300 --> 00:43:40.920 too old. 00:43:41.760 --> 00:43:42.500 God can't 00:43:42.500 --> 00:43:43.019 use me 00:43:43.019 --> 00:43:43.460 anymore. 00:43:45.039 --> 00:43:45.740 I would say, 00:43:45.740 --> 00:43:47.760 look at the 00:43:47.760 --> 00:43:48.620 life of 00:43:48.620 --> 00:43:49.100 Daniel. 00:43:49.099 --> 00:43:50.460 he was 00:43:50.460 --> 00:43:50.759 in his 00:43:50.759 --> 00:43:51.579 90s before 00:43:51.579 --> 00:43:52.319 Cyrus ever 00:43:52.319 --> 00:43:53.460 came into 00:43:53.460 --> 00:43:53.799 power. 00:43:54.940 --> 00:43:55.420 Look at 00:43:55.420 --> 00:43:56.159 the life of 00:43:56.159 --> 00:43:57.380 Margaret Brown. 00:43:58.380 --> 00:43:59.179 He was 00:43:59.179 --> 00:43:59.900 willing to 00:43:59.900 --> 00:44:00.779 invest in 00:44:00.779 --> 00:44:01.299 the life of 00:44:01.299 --> 00:44:01.599 a younger 00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:02.039 man. 00:44:02.880 --> 00:44:03.679 Who knows 00:44:03.679 --> 00:44:04.420 what God 00:44:04.420 --> 00:44:05.019 will accomplish 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.759 in his 00:44:05.759 --> 00:44:06.539 life because 00:44:06.539 --> 00:44:06.860 of her 00:44:06.860 --> 00:44:07.460 faithfulness. 00:44:08.559 --> 00:44:09.059 Maybe you 00:44:09.059 --> 00:44:09.259 say, 00:44:09.400 --> 00:44:09.719 I'm too 00:44:09.719 --> 00:44:10.039 young. 00:44:12.119 --> 00:44:12.599 Into that, 00:44:13.339 --> 00:44:13.980 Paul's words 00:44:13.980 --> 00:44:14.500 to Timothy 00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:15.039 says, 00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:15.679 don't let 00:44:15.679 --> 00:44:16.480 anyone despise 00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:16.940 your youth, 00:44:17.619 --> 00:44:18.440 but be an 00:44:18.440 --> 00:44:19.159 example in 00:44:19.159 --> 00:44:19.699 word and 00:44:19.699 --> 00:44:20.360 conduct and 00:44:20.360 --> 00:44:21.079 faith and 00:44:21.079 --> 00:44:21.559 love. 00:44:22.940 --> 00:44:23.579 Rise to 00:44:23.579 --> 00:44:24.139 the occasion. 00:44:24.320 --> 00:44:24.940 Let God's 00:44:24.940 --> 00:44:25.980 power speak 00:44:25.980 --> 00:44:26.380 through your 00:44:26.380 --> 00:44:26.820 life. 00:44:28.260 --> 00:44:28.639 Maybe you 00:44:28.639 --> 00:44:28.860 say, 00:44:29.039 --> 00:44:29.199 well, 00:44:29.940 --> 00:44:30.719 I'm just 00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:31.179 a mom. 00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:33.380 How can 00:44:33.380 --> 00:44:33.880 God use 00:44:33.880 --> 00:44:34.159 me? 00:44:35.199 --> 00:44:35.559 And I 00:44:35.559 --> 00:44:36.079 think of 00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:36.740 the life 00:44:36.740 --> 00:44:37.340 of Susanna 00:44:37.340 --> 00:44:37.699 Wesley. 00:44:38.619 --> 00:44:39.280 I think of 00:44:39.280 --> 00:44:40.240 the men, 00:44:40.440 --> 00:44:41.240 John Wesley 00:44:41.240 --> 00:44:41.900 and Charles 00:44:41.900 --> 00:44:42.380 Wesley, 00:44:42.760 --> 00:44:43.059 who we 00:44:43.059 --> 00:44:44.039 still enjoy 00:44:44.039 --> 00:44:44.940 not only the 00:44:44.940 --> 00:44:46.059 richness of 00:44:46.059 --> 00:44:46.779 theology and 00:44:46.779 --> 00:44:47.259 the hymns 00:44:47.259 --> 00:44:47.500 that we 00:44:47.500 --> 00:44:47.880 sing, 00:44:48.139 --> 00:44:48.699 but also 00:44:48.699 --> 00:44:49.299 in the 00:44:49.299 --> 00:44:50.679 legacy of 00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:51.259 men who 00:44:51.259 --> 00:44:51.960 loved God 00:44:51.960 --> 00:44:52.940 and spoke 00:44:52.940 --> 00:44:53.440 for him. 00:44:54.340 --> 00:44:54.599 There is 00:44:54.599 --> 00:44:55.619 not only an 00:44:55.619 --> 00:44:56.320 effect in 00:44:56.320 --> 00:44:56.900 the day 00:44:56.900 --> 00:44:57.279 that they 00:44:57.279 --> 00:44:57.679 were living 00:44:57.679 --> 00:44:57.940 in, 00:44:58.039 --> 00:44:58.539 but an 00:44:58.539 --> 00:44:59.039 effect that 00:44:59.039 --> 00:44:59.900 continues to 00:44:59.900 --> 00:45:00.779 last to 00:45:00.779 --> 00:45:01.259 this present 00:45:01.259 --> 00:45:01.539 day. 00:45:03.119 --> 00:45:03.559 Maybe you 00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:03.739 say, 00:45:03.820 --> 00:45:03.980 well, 00:45:04.460 --> 00:45:05.259 I don't 00:45:05.259 --> 00:45:05.820 have a 00:45:05.820 --> 00:45:06.400 seminary 00:45:06.400 --> 00:45:07.239 education. 00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:08.779 And I 00:45:08.779 --> 00:45:08.980 think of 00:45:08.980 --> 00:45:09.320 the life 00:45:09.320 --> 00:45:09.779 of David 00:45:09.779 --> 00:45:10.219 Brainerd. 00:45:11.119 --> 00:45:11.420 David 00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:11.820 Brainerd 00:45:11.820 --> 00:45:12.239 died at 00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:12.639 the age 00:45:12.639 --> 00:45:13.259 of 29. 00:45:14.659 --> 00:45:15.079 He 00:45:15.079 --> 00:45:15.900 suffered 00:45:15.900 --> 00:45:16.400 with 00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:17.699 crazy 00:45:17.699 --> 00:45:18.739 physical 00:45:18.739 --> 00:45:19.299 issues. 00:45:19.779 --> 00:45:20.319 But through 00:45:20.319 --> 00:45:20.840 it all, 00:45:20.960 --> 00:45:21.199 there was 00:45:21.199 --> 00:45:21.799 a resting 00:45:21.799 --> 00:45:22.360 and a waiting 00:45:22.360 --> 00:45:22.799 in God. 00:45:22.940 --> 00:45:23.319 And he 00:45:23.319 --> 00:45:23.840 wrote this 00:45:23.840 --> 00:45:25.119 journal that 00:45:25.119 --> 00:45:25.639 ended up 00:45:25.639 --> 00:45:26.179 being the 00:45:26.179 --> 00:45:27.259 catalyst for 00:45:27.259 --> 00:45:27.860 the modern 00:45:27.860 --> 00:45:28.679 missions movement. 00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:30.139 It went 00:45:30.139 --> 00:45:30.519 into the 00:45:30.519 --> 00:45:31.199 hands of 00:45:31.199 --> 00:45:32.119 great men 00:45:32.119 --> 00:45:32.719 like Hudson 00:45:32.719 --> 00:45:33.380 Taylor and 00:45:33.380 --> 00:45:34.159 William Carey, 00:45:34.319 --> 00:45:34.619 and it 00:45:34.619 --> 00:45:35.920 inspired them 00:45:35.920 --> 00:45:36.400 to love 00:45:36.400 --> 00:45:37.099 God and 00:45:37.099 --> 00:45:37.559 to trust 00:45:37.559 --> 00:45:37.920 him through 00:45:37.920 --> 00:45:38.559 any adversity. 00:45:41.299 --> 00:45:41.940 There could 00:45:41.940 --> 00:45:42.340 be any number 00:45:42.340 --> 00:45:42.920 of excuses 00:45:42.920 --> 00:45:43.559 this morning. 00:45:45.720 --> 00:45:46.400 But God 00:45:46.400 --> 00:45:46.960 wants to 00:45:46.960 --> 00:45:47.400 work his 00:45:47.400 --> 00:45:47.980 will out 00:45:47.980 --> 00:45:48.200 in our 00:45:48.200 --> 00:45:48.900 life if 00:45:48.900 --> 00:45:49.280 we just 00:45:49.280 --> 00:45:49.800 surrender 00:45:49.800 --> 00:45:50.160 to his 00:45:50.160 --> 00:45:50.620 plans. 00:45:51.280 --> 00:45:51.840 And if 00:45:51.840 --> 00:45:52.160 we do, 00:45:52.240 --> 00:45:52.579 the power 00:45:52.579 --> 00:45:52.900 of God 00:45:52.900 --> 00:45:53.280 will show 00:45:53.280 --> 00:45:53.519 up, 00:45:54.260 --> 00:45:55.000 will accomplish 00:45:55.000 --> 00:45:55.640 his purposes, 00:45:56.240 --> 00:45:56.720 and we 00:45:56.720 --> 00:45:57.120 will be 00:45:57.120 --> 00:45:57.860 unstoppable 00:45:57.860 --> 00:45:59.019 for him, 00:45:59.500 --> 00:45:59.800 for his 00:45:59.800 --> 00:46:00.140 glory. 00:46:00.579 --> 00:46:00.860 Let's 00:46:00.860 --> 00:46:01.059 pray. 00:46:05.920 --> 00:46:06.360 Lord, 00:46:06.440 --> 00:46:06.800 we say 00:46:06.800 --> 00:46:07.280 not to 00:46:07.280 --> 00:46:07.740 us, 00:46:08.400 --> 00:46:09.300 but to 00:46:09.300 --> 00:46:09.940 your name 00:46:09.940 --> 00:46:10.679 give 00:46:10.679 --> 00:46:11.119 praise. 00:46:12.200 --> 00:46:12.440 Our 00:46:12.440 --> 00:46:13.079 desire is 00:46:13.079 --> 00:46:13.599 not to 00:46:13.599 --> 00:46:13.780 put 00:46:13.780 --> 00:46:14.220 ourselves 00:46:14.220 --> 00:46:15.220 in the 00:46:15.220 --> 00:46:15.619 spotlight. 00:46:15.980 --> 00:46:16.099 Our 00:46:16.099 --> 00:46:16.980 desire is 00:46:16.980 --> 00:46:17.599 to submit 00:46:17.599 --> 00:46:18.179 ourselves 00:46:18.179 --> 00:46:18.860 to the 00:46:18.860 --> 00:46:19.420 sovereign 00:46:19.420 --> 00:46:20.000 hand of 00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:20.340 God, 00:46:20.980 --> 00:46:21.500 to your 00:46:21.500 --> 00:46:22.019 purposes, 00:46:22.260 --> 00:46:22.579 so that 00:46:22.579 --> 00:46:22.900 we can 00:46:22.900 --> 00:46:23.579 be useful, 00:46:25.039 --> 00:46:25.539 so there 00:46:25.539 --> 00:46:25.920 can be 00:46:25.920 --> 00:46:26.200 some 00:46:26.200 --> 00:46:26.780 productivity 00:46:26.780 --> 00:46:27.480 in life, 00:46:28.380 --> 00:46:29.059 so that 00:46:29.059 --> 00:46:29.539 we can 00:46:29.539 --> 00:46:30.480 look back 00:46:30.480 --> 00:46:31.480 on a 00:46:31.480 --> 00:46:31.940 legacy 00:46:31.940 --> 00:46:32.579 of your 00:46:32.579 --> 00:46:33.380 faithfulness 00:46:33.380 --> 00:46:34.659 and using 00:46:34.659 --> 00:46:35.700 us as 00:46:35.700 --> 00:46:36.019 weak 00:46:36.019 --> 00:46:36.700 vessels to 00:46:36.700 --> 00:46:37.340 accomplish 00:46:37.340 --> 00:46:38.019 your 00:46:38.019 --> 00:46:38.539 eternal 00:46:38.539 --> 00:46:39.440 purposes in 00:46:39.440 --> 00:46:39.659 this 00:46:39.659 --> 00:46:40.000 world. 00:46:41.179 --> 00:46:41.659 Purposes 00:46:41.659 --> 00:46:42.360 that will 00:46:42.360 --> 00:46:44.340 lead to 00:46:44.340 --> 00:46:45.079 people in 00:46:45.079 --> 00:46:45.639 this world 00:46:45.639 --> 00:46:46.420 bowing the 00:46:46.420 --> 00:46:46.900 knee before 00:46:46.900 --> 00:46:47.260 our Lord 00:46:47.260 --> 00:46:47.659 and Savior 00:46:47.659 --> 00:46:48.440 Jesus Christ. 00:46:48.720 --> 00:46:49.260 That is 00:46:49.260 --> 00:46:49.780 our desire. 00:46:51.300 --> 00:46:51.740 And so, 00:46:51.920 --> 00:46:52.460 this morning, 00:46:52.599 --> 00:46:52.900 we bow 00:46:52.900 --> 00:46:53.420 ourselves, 00:46:54.059 --> 00:46:54.260 and we 00:46:54.260 --> 00:46:54.700 pray that 00:46:54.700 --> 00:46:55.019 you would 00:46:55.019 --> 00:46:55.480 have your 00:46:55.480 --> 00:46:55.840 way in 00:46:55.840 --> 00:46:56.420 our lives, 00:46:56.780 --> 00:46:58.240 so that 00:46:58.240 --> 00:46:58.639 we can be 00:46:58.639 --> 00:47:00.440 useful in 00:47:00.440 --> 00:47:00.820 this world 00:47:00.820 --> 00:47:01.200 for you. 00:47:01.320 --> 00:47:01.740 We pray 00:47:01.740 --> 00:47:02.159 in Jesus' 00:47:02.340 --> 00:47:02.500 name. 00:47:02.920 --> 00:47:03.139 Amen.