WEBVTT

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 30th of July, 1967, when she was 17 years old,

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 Johnny Erickson broke her neck diving into shallow water.

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 During the two years of her rehabilitation in hospital,

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 she said that she experienced anger, depression, suicidal thoughts

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 and serious doubts about her faith in Jesus Christ.

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 She's written over 40 books since those days

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 and a regular conference speaker, advisor to US presidents,

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 so on and so forth, but she wrote this in a foreword

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 for another book around about five years ago.

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 When a broken neck ambushed my life and left me a quadriplegic,

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 I felt as though God had smashed me underfoot like a cigarette.

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 At night, I would thrash my head on the pillow,

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 hoping to break my neck at a higher level

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 and thereby ending my misery.

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 After I left hospital, I refused to get out of bed.

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 My paralysis was permanent and inside I died.

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 You don't have to be in a wheelchair to identify.

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 You already know that sad situations sometimes don't get better.

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 Problems don't always get solved.

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 Conflicts don't get fixed.

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 Children die.

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 Couples divorce and ultimate untimely deaths

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 rock our world and shake our faith.

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 When we feel utterly overwhelmed,

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 we try soaking in the tub,

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 sweating on the treadmill,

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 splurging on a new dress

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 or heading to the mountains for the weekend.

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 We smile and we say we are trusting God,

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 but deep down we know it's a lie.

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 We're only trusting that he won't load us up with more.

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 A remarkable woman

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 who has helped countless people

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 through the process of suffering

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 and navigating suffering.

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 She is the woman who once said,

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 I would rather be in a wheelchair for life with God

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 than on my two legs without him.

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 If you've just tuned in for us for the first time,

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 we're in our vision series,

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 annual vision series on new life.

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 The new life that we have in Jesus.

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 What we're doing is we're building up to Easter

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 where we are looking at resurrection life,

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 what it looks like for us right now

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 and how this new birth, new life in Jesus,

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 how it changes and transforms every aspect of our lives.

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 And today we're looking at a new way of viewing suffering,

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 managing suffering, experiencing suffering,

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 processing suffering.

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 So I've got four points on the St. Paul's app

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 if you want to go there.

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 The first one is the certainty of suffering.

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 I get that from verse six.

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 If in all this you greatly rejoice,

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 though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief

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 in all kinds of trials.

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 Notice how that reads.

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 You may have had to suffer grief.

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 That statement is communicating a term

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 from the original language,

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 which means it is necessary to suffer grief.

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 It is necessary.

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 It's a certainty that you will suffer grief.

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 Peter is saying that suffering is a certainty

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 rather than a possibility.

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 That is, we live in a broken world

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 and so we should expect it

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 rather than be shocked when it happens.

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 Chapter four, verse 12, Peter says,

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 do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal

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 that has come upon you to test you

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 as though something strange were happening to you.

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 We should be prepared for suffering

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 because if we are not prepared for suffering,

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 then we're in fact not prepared for life.

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 We're not ready for life itself.

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 There is no way possible in this world

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 to create some kind of designer life

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 that is free from bereavement, illness,

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 financial challenges, personal betrayals,

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 and whole range of other trials.

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 Even Jesus, the perfect man,

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 suffered terribly to bring about God's redemptive purposes.

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 So why would we expect anything different for ourselves?

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 Sometimes I reckon that half of the pain

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 that I personally experience

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 when I suffer from a trial

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 is from the shock of actually going through it

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 in the first place.

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 It's because they're not expecting it.

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 And yet this world is deeply broken,

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 deeply, deeply broken.

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 So that raises the second point,

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 which is the problem of suffering.

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 Every single culture,

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 every single worldview

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 has to have some kind of response

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 to the reality of suffering,

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 the reality of trials

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 and the brokenness of this world.

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 If a worldview does not have a response to it,

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 it's a defective worldview there and then.

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 It's the issue

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 that every single human being faces,

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 rich or poor,

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 no matter what culture you are from.

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 So how does it deal

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 with the big question of suffering?

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 Human suffering poses questions like,

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 for instance, the Christian,

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 how could a loving God allow so much suffering?

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 How can the hypothesis of a loving, powerful God

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 stand against the crushing weight

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 of human suffering?

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 What's your worldview?

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 What's your answer to that question?

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 Well, the famous atheist Richard Dawkins

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 looks at all the weight of human suffering

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 and declares that our universe

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 has precisely the properties

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 we would expect,

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 we should expect,

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 if there is at bottom

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 no design,

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 no purpose,

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 no evil,

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 no good,

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 nothing but blind,

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 pitiless indifference.

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 That is the secular human response.

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 The atheistic response to human suffering

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 is that there is no meaning at all.

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 At all.

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 So what Dawkins does,

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 and Sam Harris and other,

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 you know,

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 more prominent atheists do,

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 and the atheistic worldview,

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 is that if you remove God

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 from the equation,

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 then what you have is relief.

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 The problem with human suffering

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 is God.

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 So take God out of the equation

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 and somehow you will have relief.

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 In other words,

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 there is no meaning,

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 there is no reason,

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 there is no hope,

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 so stop worrying about

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 trying to find some greater purpose in life

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 when you're in the midst of trauma and trial

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 and you'll feel better about yourself.

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 Already feeling relieved.

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 But it is an incredibly bleak view

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 of the universe.

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 It in fact erodes the very foundations

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 of which we balance life

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 and our humanness itself.

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 If there is no good

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 and there is no evil

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 and there is no purpose to it at all,

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 why is there in the human heart

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 an instinct to lament

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 in the face of suffering?

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 Why has evolution not removed that?

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 If that's all we are,

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 byproducts of evolution.

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 If human sympathy for others

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 is just simply a byproduct

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 of evolutionary kinship,

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 which is evolutionary biologists claim,

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 then why do we empathise

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 with the suffering

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 of those outside of our tribe?

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 Why do we even empathise

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 with suffering

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 even in the natural world?

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 Especially weaker beings

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 than human beings.

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 Why do we care about that?

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 You see, the irony is

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 that today

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 at the core of secular humanism

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 is that they don't actually believe

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 in human beings

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 any more than they believe

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 in a creator God.

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 That's the problem

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 with secular humanism.

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 The secular humanists,

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 for them,

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 both God

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 and humanity

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 is a delusion.

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 When you remove meaning

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 from suffering,

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 it doesn't

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 solve the problem.

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 It unravels

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 our humanity.

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 It unravels

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 our very sense of self.

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 secular humanism's

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 answer to suffering

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 leaves you

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 with no hope

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 whatsoever.

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 Human beings

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 are nothing more

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 than little kids

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 trying to build

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 sandcastles

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 in the face

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 of a relentless

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 rising tide.

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 Your life

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 is purposeless.

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 And so let me just say,

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 and I say this

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 with all gentleness,

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 but with intention,

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 if that is your worldview,

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 if that is your worldview,

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 and especially right now,

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 and I say this pastorally to you,

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 if that is your worldview,

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 and right now

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 you are in the face

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 of suffering,

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 can I please

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 encourage you

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 in this moment

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 not to reach

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 for the placebos

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 of false hope?

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 Too many

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 who hold to

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 the secular human worldview

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 will still say

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 things like

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 the universe

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 has got some kind

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 of plan in this.

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 It's not

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 God's got some kind

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 of plan,

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 but the universe

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 has got some kind

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 of plan

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 in my suffering.

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 It's a placebo

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 and nothing more

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 for you

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 in the face

00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:47.919
 of suffering.

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 If there is

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 no God

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 and we still

00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:53.480
 suffer,

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 there is

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 no universe

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 to care.

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 There is

00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:01.980
 no purpose

00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:02.779
 in the universe

00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:03.899
 for your suffering.

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 There is

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 nothing but

00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:07.100
 blind,

00:12:07.699 --> 00:12:08.259
 pitiless

00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:09.299
 indifference

00:12:09.299 --> 00:12:09.919
 for you

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 in the face

00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:11.419
 of your suffering.

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 And I'm saying

00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.500
 this gently.

00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:15.419
 You are doing

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 yourself

00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:17.120
 an enormous

00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:17.839
 favour

00:12:17.839 --> 00:12:19.240
 in the midst

00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:20.159
 of your suffering

00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.120
 as a secular

00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:21.939
 humanist

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 to stare

00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:24.679
 in the abyss

00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:25.819
 of your worldview.

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 Do not reach

00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:28.819
 for placebos.

00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:29.879
 Stare

00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.860
 into the abyss

00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:31.980
 of your worldview

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 and all

00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:36.240
 of its

00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:37.159
 implications

00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:38.320
 rather than

00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:39.259
 reaching for

00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:40.039
 platitudes

00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:40.860
 that are

00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:41.600
 inconsistent

00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.419
 with your

00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:42.899
 worldview.

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 Well,

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 that's

00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:49.360
 one side.

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 One other

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 alternative,

00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:54.480
 one of the

00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:54.779
 favourite

00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:55.500
 options

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 in the

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 Western world

00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:58.639
 these days,

00:12:58.980 --> 00:12:59.460
 those who

00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.700
 are dissatisfied

00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:01.620
 with Christianity

00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.779
 on the one

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 end,

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.080
 but not wanting

00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:04.500
 to jump

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.120
 entirely

00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:05.799
 into the

00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:06.320
 bleakness

00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:07.039
 of a secular

00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.840
 humanist worldview

00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:08.399
 on the other

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 end,

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.539
 is to go

00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:10.279
 middle way

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 and go for

00:13:11.059 --> 00:13:11.439
 Buddhism

00:13:11.439 --> 00:13:12.120
 and its

00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:12.779
 response

00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:14.340
 of suffering.

00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:15.539
 Buddhism's

00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:16.080
 response

00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:16.639
 to the

00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.100
 inevitability

00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:17.879
 of suffering

00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:19.840
 is to

00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:21.899
 break the

00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.759
 ties of

00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.419
 attachment

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:25.220
 that bind

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:25.600
 us to

00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:26.159
 life.

00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:27.899
 In other

00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:28.179
 words,

00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:28.879
 in Buddhism,

00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:30.100
 to love

00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:30.659
 is to be

00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:31.039
 vulnerable

00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:32.320
 and to be

00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:32.679
 vulnerable

00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:33.360
 is to

00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:33.799
 hurt.

00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:36.000
 To desire

00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:36.600
 and to

00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:37.419
 strive for

00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:38.039
 things is

00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:38.620
 to risk

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.340
 disappointment.

00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.259
 I won't

00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:42.659
 go into

00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.259
 unpacking

00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:43.779
 it all,

00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.059
 but again,

00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:45.600
 you end up

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:45.860
 with the

00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:46.559
 same problem.

00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:49.480
 to detach

00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:50.139
 yourself

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:50.860
 from love,

00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:51.740
 from striving,

00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.419
 from desire,

00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.600
 is in fact

00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:57.200
 to detach

00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:57.879
 yourself

00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:59.379
 from everything

00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:00.240
 that's joyous

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:00.919
 in life,

00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:03.279
 purposeful

00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:03.840
 in life,

00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:06.279
 and therefore

00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:07.080
 detach yourself

00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:07.620
 once again

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.059
 from your

00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:08.679
 humanness.

00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:12.200
 So let me

00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:12.580
 just jump

00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:12.840
 to my

00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.360
 third point.

00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:15.440
 What's the

00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:15.720
 Christian

00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.299
 response?

00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.220
 I want to

00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:17.480
 say the

00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:17.720
 Christian

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:18.120
 response

00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:18.860
 is very

00:14:18.860 --> 00:14:19.300
 broadly

00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:19.779
 a good

00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:20.300
 potential

00:14:20.300 --> 00:14:20.580
 for

00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:21.039
 suffering.

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.680
 Despite

00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:22.940
 the

00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:23.480
 inevitability

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:23.779
 of

00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:24.300
 suffering,

00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:25.600
 Christianity

00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:25.980
 declares

00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:26.240
 there is

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.440
 a good

00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:26.899
 potential.

00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:27.100
 The

00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:27.340
 Christian

00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:27.740
 worldview

00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:28.379
 says

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.580
 that we

00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:29.980
 can

00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:31.500
 pursue

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.100
 desire

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:33.120
 against

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:33.480
 Buddhism,

00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:33.840
 we can

00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.080
 pursue

00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:34.580
 desire,

00:14:35.180 --> 00:14:35.539
 we can

00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:35.800
 cling

00:14:35.800 --> 00:14:35.940
 to

00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:36.399
 attachment,

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.139
 we can

00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:37.639
 strive

00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:38.379
 for good

00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:39.440
 things,

00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:41.180
 while also

00:14:41.180 --> 00:14:42.139
 finding meaning

00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:42.639
 in the

00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:43.080
 suffering

00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:43.680
 that comes

00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:44.360
 to us,

00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.700
 as well

00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:46.139
 as hope

00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:46.439
 for the

00:14:46.439 --> 00:14:46.819
 future

00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:47.259
 in the

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:47.439
 midst

00:14:47.439 --> 00:14:47.740
 of that

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.139
 suffering.

00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:50.460
 Peter

00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.600
 gives us

00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:52.100
 a really

00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:52.639
 helpful

00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.259
 image of

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:53.600
 suffering

00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.039
 here,

00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:54.919
 and it

00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:55.199
 would do

00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:55.539
 well for

00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:55.960
 us to

00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:56.980
 reflect on

00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:57.179
 it for

00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:57.480
 a moment.

00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.120
 Verse 7

00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:58.480
 of chapter

00:14:58.480 --> 00:14:58.779
 1.

00:14:58.779 --> 00:15:16.339
 Gold,

00:15:16.339 --> 00:15:17.559
 I don't

00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:18.319
 know really

00:15:18.319 --> 00:15:19.179
 anything about

00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:19.679
 mining,

00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:21.019
 so this

00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:21.419
 is Google

00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:21.779
 for you,

00:15:21.839 --> 00:15:21.939
 right?

00:15:22.819 --> 00:15:23.159
 Gold

00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:23.639
 goes through

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.360
 a furnace

00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:25.180
 and is

00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:25.940
 purified.

00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:27.840
 What Paul

00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:28.259
 is saying

00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:28.680
 here is the

00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:29.120
 same thing

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:30.200
 happens to

00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:30.740
 our faith

00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.159
 and to

00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:31.700
 our lives,

00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.000
 to our

00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.539
 character,

00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:33.860
 when we

00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:34.379
 go through

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:34.980
 suffering.

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.800
 It's good

00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:37.899
 because our

00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.620
 faith is

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.279
 far more

00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.159
 valuable than

00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:40.460
 gold,

00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:40.879
 so we

00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.340
 should want

00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:41.779
 to go

00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:42.419
 through it

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:44.800
 because it's

00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:45.279
 more precious

00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:45.800
 than gold.

00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:47.120
 Gold,

00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:48.139
 in the end,

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:49.120
 will disappear

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.200
 like everything

00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:50.940
 else on the

00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:51.539
 face of this

00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:52.139
 earth.

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.220
 earth,

00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:53.679
 but faith

00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:54.199
 in Jesus

00:15:54.199 --> 00:15:54.819
 Christ will

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.539
 not disappear.

00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:56.919
 It will be

00:15:56.919 --> 00:15:57.379
 on for

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:57.759
 eternity,

00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:58.419
 so this is

00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:58.699
 a good

00:15:58.699 --> 00:15:59.679
 process for

00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.000
 us,

00:16:00.699 --> 00:16:01.580
 preparing us

00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:01.980
 for that

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:02.419
 day in

00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:03.100
 his presence.

00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:03.939
 The

00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:04.460
 furnace,

00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:04.960
 the gold

00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.259
 furnace,

00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:05.799
 does not

00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:06.600
 destroy the

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.139
 gold,

00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:07.919
 but it

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.600
 deals with

00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.360
 the impurities.

00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:10.360
 The

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:10.840
 furnace

00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:12.879
 separates

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.080
 the valuable

00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:14.819
 gold from

00:16:14.819 --> 00:16:15.460
 the worthless

00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.319
 impurities.

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.240
 It

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.360
 separates the

00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:20.279
 impurities in

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.139
 such a way

00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:21.879
 that what it

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.539
 does is it

00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:23.059
 brings the

00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:23.819
 impurities to

00:16:23.819 --> 00:16:24.799
 the surface

00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:27.299
 so they

00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:27.639
 can be

00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:29.340
 seen and

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:29.899
 removed.

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.600
 What Peter's

00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:34.120
 saying here

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.100
 is that our

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:35.580
 faith and

00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.279
 our lives

00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:37.379
 have lots of

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.240
 impurities in

00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:38.360
 them.

00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:39.580
 In so many

00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:41.039
 cases, we

00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.519
 have this

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.360
 mixture of

00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:42.899
 faith in

00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.679
 Jesus Christ

00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:44.199
 and yet at

00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:44.500
 the same

00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.559
 time, faith

00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:46.059
 in other

00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:47.139
 things as

00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.460
 well.

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.299
 Faith in

00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:48.939
 relationships

00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:49.419
 and in

00:16:49.419 --> 00:16:50.059
 status and

00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:50.580
 in children

00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.520
 and our

00:16:51.520 --> 00:16:51.960
 financial

00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:52.720
 security and

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:52.980
 the list

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.580
 goes on

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:53.840
 and on

00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.320
 and on.

00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.280
 The New

00:16:55.280 --> 00:16:55.840
 Testament, the

00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.259
 Old Testament

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:56.920
 refers to it

00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:57.800
 as idolatry.

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:58.759
 We worship

00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.259
 God, but we

00:16:59.259 --> 00:16:59.800
 also worship

00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:00.259
 these other

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.780
 things as

00:17:00.780 --> 00:17:01.060
 well.

00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:04.059
 We look to

00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.700
 these particular

00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.259
 things to

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:05.519
 give us

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.720
 meaning, our

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.660
 self-worth, our

00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.940
 self-esteem, our

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:09.900
 self-image in

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.220
 life.

00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.440
 Whatever it

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.819
 is, that's

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.539
 what we trust.

00:17:13.620 --> 00:17:13.920
 That's where

00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.980
 our faith is.

00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.240
 They can even

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.759
 be great

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.360
 things.

00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:21.159
 But we

00:17:21.159 --> 00:17:22.259
 overinvest

00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:23.679
 our hearts

00:17:23.679 --> 00:17:24.279
 in them

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.099
 and they

00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:25.839
 become things

00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.119
 that we

00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:26.839
 hope in.

00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.179
 And whenever

00:17:29.179 --> 00:17:30.059
 any of those

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:30.639
 things, whatever

00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:31.299
 it might be

00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:31.899
 for us,

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:32.899
 whenever any

00:17:32.899 --> 00:17:33.279
 of those

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.779
 things are

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.559
 rocked, we

00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.199
 feel so

00:17:35.199 --> 00:17:36.279
 fragile in

00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:36.740
 life.

00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:40.119
 We feel

00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:40.939
 fragile because

00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:41.979
 the things

00:17:41.979 --> 00:17:44.899
 that we have

00:17:44.899 --> 00:17:45.819
 our trust in

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:47.919
 are so

00:17:47.919 --> 00:17:48.399
 fragile.

00:17:49.899 --> 00:17:50.259
 Their

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.819
 impurities

00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.500
 rising to

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.119
 the surface.

00:17:54.139 --> 00:17:54.639
 They're

00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:55.279
 fragile because

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.700
 everything in

00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:56.240
 this world is

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:56.579
 fragile.

00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:58.599
 And the

00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.119
 furnace of

00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.099
 life, suffering,

00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:01.480
 rises to the

00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.079
 surface, the

00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:03.419
 fragility of

00:18:03.419 --> 00:18:04.220
 what we have

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:04.859
 put our hope

00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:05.139
 in.

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.399
 The furnace of

00:18:07.399 --> 00:18:08.319
 life shows us

00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:09.639
 just how little

00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:10.980
 we actually

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.000
 trust in

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:12.839
 Jesus Christ.

00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:20.319
 suffering shows

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.959
 us that

00:18:20.959 --> 00:18:23.759
 his love

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.079
 and his

00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.659
 power is

00:18:24.659 --> 00:18:25.099
 often not

00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:25.939
 real to us.

00:18:27.679 --> 00:18:28.359
 And when

00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:28.819
 this happens,

00:18:28.919 --> 00:18:29.259
 there's really

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.039
 only two ways

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.740
 to respond.

00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:32.859
 Either it's

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:33.720
 the case of

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:35.319
 God, you

00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:35.919
 are not

00:18:35.919 --> 00:18:36.419
 enough for

00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:36.980
 me right

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:38.879
 now, and

00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:39.359
 I've got to

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:40.099
 also have

00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:40.799
 my wealth,

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.299
 I've also

00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:42.740
 got to have

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.559
 my reputation,

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.120
 I've got to

00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:44.440
 have my

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.620
 beauty, I've

00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:45.960
 got to have

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.859
 the accolades,

00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:47.859
 I've got to

00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:48.180
 have the

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.720
 status.

00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:51.880
 Or it's a

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.359
 case of

00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:52.980
 holding on

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.740
 to God and

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.519
 asking him

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.319
 to purify

00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:56.400
 you so

00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:57.440
 that he is

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.440
 your greatest

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.019
 wealth, he

00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.599
 is your

00:18:59.599 --> 00:18:59.940
 greatest

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:02.559
 stability, he

00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.140
 is your

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.900
 acceptance, he

00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:04.460
 is your

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:04.880
 love, he

00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:05.359
 is your

00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:05.839
 status.

00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:08.099
 And in the

00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:08.420
 midst of

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:08.940
 suffering, you

00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.400
 hold on to

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:09.680
 him, I

00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.240
 want to know

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:10.819
 you, God,

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.140
 in a way that

00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:12.740
 I've never

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.240
 known you

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:13.640
 before.

00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:17.920
 And that

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.240
 is why

00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:18.880
 suffering has

00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:19.460
 the potential

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.259
 to turn us

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:20.900
 into pure

00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:21.320
 gold.

00:19:22.560 --> 00:19:23.060
 For

00:19:23.060 --> 00:19:23.380
 instance,

00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:23.920
 suffering

00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.040
 humbles you

00:19:25.040 --> 00:19:26.140
 and gives

00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:26.800
 you a far

00:19:26.800 --> 00:19:28.720
 more self-knowledge

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.540
 than you've

00:19:29.540 --> 00:19:30.080
 ever had

00:19:30.080 --> 00:19:30.500
 before.

00:19:31.600 --> 00:19:31.900
 Suffering

00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:32.560
 teaches you

00:19:32.560 --> 00:19:32.940
 not to

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.820
 over-invest

00:19:33.820 --> 00:19:34.940
 your heart

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.820
 into good

00:19:35.820 --> 00:19:36.340
 things in

00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:36.820
 such a way

00:19:36.820 --> 00:19:37.120
 that they

00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:37.920
 become ultimate

00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.460
 things.

00:19:39.100 --> 00:19:39.300
 Suffering

00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.619
 significantly

00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:42.139
 enhances your

00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:43.619
 experience of

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.180
 God's love

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:44.480
 in his

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.039
 presence.

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:45.980
 Suffering

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.500
 makes you

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.659
 more wise

00:19:47.659 --> 00:19:48.500
 and compassionate,

00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.339
 loving and

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.799
 generally,

00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.139
 and might I

00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:52.680
 say this as

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:52.859
 well,

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.339
 generally more

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.299
 useful to

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.119
 other people,

00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:58.240
 especially

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.220
 those who are

00:19:59.220 --> 00:19:59.519
 suffering

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.039
 themselves.

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.379
 A couple

00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:03.700
 of weeks

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.099
 ago I

00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.440
 used the

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.039
 illustration

00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:05.579
 of the

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.099
 forester

00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:08.960
 going in

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.279
 to cut

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.899
 trees

00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:11.680
 and there's

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.159
 a bird

00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:12.720
 building a

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.099
 nest and

00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:13.259
 he's

00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:13.639
 whacking

00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:14.159
 on the

00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:14.440
 tree.

00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:15.159
 Get off

00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:15.420
 there.

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.019
 This

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.379
 tree's

00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:16.839
 about to

00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.220
 fall.

00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.440
 I'm

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:17.639
 going to

00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:17.920
 cut it

00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.299
 down and

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.579
 the bird

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.000
 flies to

00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.240
 the next

00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.420
 one.

00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:19.720
 So he

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.240
 whacks on

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.740
 that tree

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.680
 and whacks

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:21.980
 on the

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.379
 other one

00:20:22.379 --> 00:20:22.619
 and then

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:22.899
 whacks

00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:23.119
 on the

00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:23.519
 other one

00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.619
 and sometimes

00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:25.000
 we have

00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.759
 the experience

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.259
 of that

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.059
 with God.

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:27.299
 God,

00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:27.779
 what are

00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.579
 you doing?

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:29.559
 Like this

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.200
 little bird,

00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.319
 what's your

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.000
 problem,

00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:32.680
 lumberjack?

00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:33.460
 What are you

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.279
 doing here?

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.279
 And what

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:36.700
 he's doing

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.399
 each time

00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:37.779
 is he's

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.379
 moving us

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:39.000
 from every

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.619
 tree that's

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:39.879
 going to

00:20:39.879 --> 00:20:41.099
 fall until

00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:41.779
 we eventually

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.319
 land.

00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:42.579
 And the

00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:43.159
 bird notices

00:20:43.159 --> 00:20:43.559
 when the

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:45.319
 bird sits

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:45.680
 on the

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.619
 rock and

00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.019
 builds its

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.420
 nest on

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:47.920
 the rock.

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.299
 Lumberjack

00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:49.700
 leaves him

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.059
 alone.

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.159
 That's what

00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:53.599
 God does

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.039
 for us in

00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.379
 life.

00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:54.779
 That's what

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.220
 suffering

00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:55.839
 moves us

00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:56.180
 to a

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:56.460
 deeper,

00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:56.839
 deeper

00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:57.420
 security.

00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:58.460
 The only

00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:58.920
 hope is

00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.200
 Jesus

00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.700
 Christ.

00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:01.659
 Malcolm

00:21:01.659 --> 00:21:02.139
 Muggeridge

00:21:02.139 --> 00:21:02.819
 was an

00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.139
 English

00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:03.720
 journalist

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:05.100
 in the

00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:05.380
 last

00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:05.819
 century.

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.039
 He was

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.180
 an

00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:07.600
 agnostic

00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:08.160
 most of

00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:08.799
 his life,

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.640
 but he

00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:10.079
 became a

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.420
 Christian

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:10.860
 late in

00:21:10.860 --> 00:21:11.299
 life in

00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.180
 his 60s.

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.259
 When he

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.120
 was 75

00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:15.259
 and reflecting

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.700
 on the

00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.059
 numerous

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:16.620
 challenges

00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:17.000
 that he

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.640
 faced in

00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.039
 life,

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.259
 some,

00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:19.720
 in fact,

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.019
 I would

00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.700
 probably say

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.279
 many were

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.079
 self-inflicted

00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.200
 challenges he

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:23.700
 faced in

00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.000
 life.

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.480
 He wrote

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:24.940
 this,

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:26.140
 I can

00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:26.559
 say with

00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:26.980
 complete

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.620
 truthfulness

00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:28.340
 that everything

00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:28.980
 I've learned

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.820
 in my 75

00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:30.480
 years in

00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.019
 this world,

00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:31.920
 everything that

00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.440
 has truly

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.160
 enhanced and

00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:34.100
 enlightened my

00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:36.080
 existence has

00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:36.880
 been through

00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:38.820
 affliction and

00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:39.299
 not through

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:39.880
 happiness,

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.600
 whether pursued

00:21:41.600 --> 00:21:42.600
 or attained.

00:21:43.080 --> 00:21:43.539
 In other

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.740
 words, if it

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.440
 ever were to

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.340
 be possible to

00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:47.539
 eliminate affliction

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.080
 from our

00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:48.980
 earthly existence

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.740
 by means of

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.820
 some drug or

00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:51.640
 other medical

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:52.519
 mumbo-jumbo,

00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.599
 the result

00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:54.480
 would not be

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.480
 to make life

00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.200
 delectable,

00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:57.519
 but to make

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.819
 it so banal

00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.720
 and trivial

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:01.259
 to be

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.920
 endurable.

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.160
 This, of

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.299
 course, is

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:05.839
 what the cross

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.440
 signifies,

00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:07.940
 and it is the

00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:09.099
 cross more

00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:09.639
 than anything

00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:10.420
 else that has

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:10.900
 called me

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.019
 inexorably to

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.500
 Christ.

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.460
 So my last

00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.139
 point is how

00:22:17.139 --> 00:22:17.680
 do we pursue

00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.099
 this good

00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.759
 potential in

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.119
 life?

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.139
 Notice

00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:22.800
 there's three

00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:23.820
 things in

00:22:23.820 --> 00:22:24.660
 some verses

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:25.100
 here that I

00:22:25.100 --> 00:22:25.560
 want to pull

00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:26.259
 out, and

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.820
 there's multiple

00:22:26.820 --> 00:22:27.259
 things, I

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.660
 just want to

00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.560
 mention three.

00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.720
 These are, if

00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.320
 you like, three

00:22:31.320 --> 00:22:32.300
 disciplines to

00:22:32.300 --> 00:22:33.540
 pursue in

00:22:33.540 --> 00:22:34.000
 order to

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.180
 experience the

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:36.200
 positive outcome

00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.300
 of suffering in

00:22:37.300 --> 00:22:37.900
 our life.

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.420
 The first

00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.259
 thing, really

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.280
 simply, is

00:22:41.280 --> 00:22:41.980
 cry.

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.920
 Is cry.

00:22:46.060 --> 00:22:46.860
 Verse six,

00:22:47.020 --> 00:22:47.860
 in all this

00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:48.500
 you greatly

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.580
 rejoice, even

00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:50.860
 though now for

00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:51.520
 a little while

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.039
 you may have

00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.379
 to suffer

00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.039
 grief in

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.619
 all kinds

00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:54.180
 of trials.

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.639
 When Peter

00:22:55.639 --> 00:22:57.779
 writes, in

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.519
 all this you

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.639
 greatly rejoice,

00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.619
 he's referring

00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:02.579
 to what he

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.519
 said previously

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.420
 here, all the

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:04.980
 great things

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.480
 that are gifted

00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:05.879
 to the

00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:06.359
 Christian,

00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:09.259
 gifts of

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.379
 new birth, a

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.200
 living hope in

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.160
 Jesus, resurrection,

00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:13.099
 all the stuff

00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:13.980
 he's referred to.

00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.559
 And then he

00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.519
 writes about all

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.220
 the kinds of

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.500
 trials in the

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.680
 present, the

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.480
 bad things that

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:20.980
 are happening,

00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:22.579
 loss, bereavement,

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.180
 relational

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.140
 breakdowns,

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.019
 betrayals.

00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:26.740
 In all these

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:28.259
 bad things, he

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:29.000
 says we

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:31.380
 suffer grief.

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.099
 And the

00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.880
 word that he

00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.940
 uses there for

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:37.279
 grief is a

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:37.860
 word that

00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:39.420
 means agonising

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:40.339
 pain.

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.860
 Agonising

00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:43.339
 pain.

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.220
 He says we

00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.099
 hurt.

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.620
 We hurt

00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.279
 deeply.

00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:50.819
 And yet at

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:51.459
 the same

00:23:51.459 --> 00:23:52.199
 time we

00:23:52.199 --> 00:23:53.139
 hurt deeply,

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.179
 he's saying

00:23:54.179 --> 00:23:54.559
 that the

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.399
 Christian is

00:23:55.399 --> 00:23:56.519
 rejoicing.

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.539
 They're in

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.419
 searing pain

00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:01.519
 and rejoicing.

00:24:02.179 --> 00:24:03.099
 And both

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.939
 words are

00:24:03.939 --> 00:24:05.139
 present tenses

00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:06.539
 in the original

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.219
 language.

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:07.919
 They are

00:24:07.919 --> 00:24:08.939
 happening at

00:24:08.939 --> 00:24:09.959
 exactly the

00:24:09.959 --> 00:24:10.799
 same time.

00:24:11.419 --> 00:24:12.359
 Rejoicing and

00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:13.419
 searing pain at

00:24:13.419 --> 00:24:14.319
 exactly the

00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.019
 same time.

00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.119
 time.

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.619
 I think

00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.099
 too many

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.059
 Christians think

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:24.500
 that rejoicing

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.460
 in the midst

00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.420
 of suffering

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:28.400
 is what

00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:30.139
 some Greek

00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:31.019
 philosophers would

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.180
 be called

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.859
 stoicism.

00:24:34.859 --> 00:24:35.139
 The

00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:35.720
 stoics in

00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.579
 Greek culture,

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.420
 and in fact I

00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.019
 would say many

00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:40.519
 shame and

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.420
 honour cultures

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:42.099
 that exist

00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.740
 today,

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:44.500
 work with

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.000
 the view

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.539
 that when

00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.620
 trials come

00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.640
 you just

00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.539
 simply don't

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.200
 let it get

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.720
 to you.

00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:51.779
 Don't let

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.240
 it get to

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.480
 you.

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.779
 I can't

00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.279
 tell you how

00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.599
 many people

00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.519
 I've heard as

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.400
 a pastor when

00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:00.140
 in the midst

00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:00.819
 of trial and

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.460
 suffering I've

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.079
 asked them

00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:02.839
 how are you

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.240
 managing,

00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:03.940
 I'm not

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.380
 letting it

00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:04.740
 get to

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:04.940
 me.

00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:06.700
 The point

00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.299
 of 1 Peter

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.160
 is let

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.940
 it get to

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.279
 you.

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:09.359
 Let it

00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:09.380
 get to you.

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:15.940
 It's not

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.640
 Christianity,

00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.539
 stoicism is

00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.220
 not Christianity

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.240
 and secondly

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:19.559
 it's not

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.180
 even healthy.

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.620
 Read the

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:22.920
 book of

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.339
 Job.

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:25.539
 It's a

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.039
 great bit

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.640
 of advice

00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.079
 in the midst

00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.660
 of suffering.

00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:28.440
 He

00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:29.299
 wrenches

00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:30.240
 his robes

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.819
 and covers

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.579
 himself with

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.079
 ash.

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.440
 Seven days

00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:35.079
 he sits on

00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:35.740
 an ash heap

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.759
 mourning

00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:38.779
 in such a

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.059
 way,

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.039
 in such

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.740
 mourning

00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.420
 that his

00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:42.160
 friends see

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.420
 him and

00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:42.839
 don't even

00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.440
 recognise

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:43.740
 him.

00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.019
 They

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.359
 don't even

00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:45.019
 go near

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.359
 him.

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.400
 He

00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.059
 wrestles

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:51.700
 with God

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.019
 throughout

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.420
 the book.

00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:52.759
 He

00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.759
 complains

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.420
 to God

00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:54.960
 throughout

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.500
 the book.

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.299
 He

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.980
 didn't run

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.660
 from God,

00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.480
 he directed

00:25:59.480 --> 00:25:59.980
 it all

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.900
 to God.

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.640
 He was

00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.460
 pouring his

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.160
 life out

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.839
 to him and

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.359
 at the end

00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:05.759
 of the book

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.079
 God vindicates

00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:07.359
 him.

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:08.640
 It's a

00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:09.019
 remarkable

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.480
 thing.

00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.160
 At the end

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:10.759
 of Job,

00:26:11.300 --> 00:26:13.120
 God slams

00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:13.940
 his mates

00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.980
 and says

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.519
 that my

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.540
 servant Job

00:26:16.540 --> 00:26:17.519
 was faithful

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.240
 to me.

00:26:23.600 --> 00:26:24.400
 The first

00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:25.040
 principle is

00:26:25.040 --> 00:26:25.400
 when you

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:25.700
 hurt,

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.080
 hurt.

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:27.880
 Cry.

00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.279
 Cry out

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.940
 to God.

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.460
 Stoicism

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:35.500
 is not

00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.400
 Christianity.

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.320
 The second

00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:39.800
 principle,

00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:41.560
 is keeping

00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:41.940
 a clear

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.500
 conscience.

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.380
 I get

00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:43.720
 that from

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.500
 chapter 3

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.259
 verse 16

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.240
 that Merle

00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:46.620
 read out

00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.000
 for us.

00:26:47.080 --> 00:26:47.440
 Do this

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.000
 with gentleness

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.519
 and respect,

00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.019
 keeping a

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.720
 clear conscience

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.519
 so that

00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.060
 those who

00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:51.400
 speak

00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:52.120
 maliciously

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.580
 against your

00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.220
 good behaviour

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:54.019
 in Christ

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:55.160
 may be ashamed

00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:55.660
 of their

00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.080
 slander.

00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:57.080
 What's the

00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:57.400
 connection

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:57.779
 here?

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.480
 Chapter 3

00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.100
 is talking

00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:00.920
 about suffering.

00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:02.259
 The suffering

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.820
 of being

00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.500
 persecuted.

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.300
 It's a particular

00:27:04.300 --> 00:27:05.040
 kind of suffering.

00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:05.880
 The suffering

00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.820
 of being persecuted

00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.299
 because of

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:07.759
 your faith

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.159
 in Jesus

00:27:08.159 --> 00:27:08.659
 Christ.

00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:10.759
 It was

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.579
 very real

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.200
 in Peter's

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.740
 day and

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.139
 for those

00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:13.399
 who are

00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:14.039
 reading this

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.419
 letter for

00:27:14.419 --> 00:27:14.779
 the first

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.139
 time.

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:15.779
 So the

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.339
 instruction

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.019
 here

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:18.279
 basically

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.379
 is do

00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:20.220
 not return

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.839
 like for

00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.259
 like.

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:22.859
 Don't lie,

00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.039
 don't attack,

00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.139
 don't destroy

00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:26.200
 reputations.

00:27:26.939 --> 00:27:27.319
 Keep a

00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:28.679
 clear conscience.

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.039
 Continue to

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.619
 live the

00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.299
 Christian life,

00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:32.179
 obey God.

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:32.939
 Now one of

00:27:32.939 --> 00:27:33.539
 the things that

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:33.899
 happens,

00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:34.740
 the reason I'm

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.259
 raising this

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:35.500
 as a

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:35.859
 principle,

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.779
 one of the

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.240
 things that

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.880
 happens,

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.099
 and Johnny

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:39.920
 Erickson has

00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:41.359
 already raised

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:41.900
 this in the

00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:42.500
 quote that I

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:44.039
 just read out

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.660
 to you earlier,

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.259
 is that when

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.880
 something happens

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.680
 to you,

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.279
 self-pity

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.099
 kicks in.

00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.620
 And self-pity

00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.579
 justifies

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.640
 everything.

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.640
 Self-pity,

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:06.000
 the sweating

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.420
 it out on

00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:06.920
 the treadmill,

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:09.280
 the escapes

00:28:09.280 --> 00:28:11.240
 to the

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:11.580
 mountains,

00:28:11.800 --> 00:28:12.240
 whatever

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.880
 Johnny Erickson

00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.120
 said,

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.460
 all those

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:13.660
 things,

00:28:13.860 --> 00:28:14.980
 the purchasing

00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:15.500
 of new

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.060
 items,

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.340
 because of

00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:17.500
 this,

00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:17.860
 what I've

00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:18.140
 been through,

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.000
 I deserve

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.480
 a new

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:19.980
 couch.

00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.140
 I deserve

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.600
 this.

00:28:23.040 --> 00:28:23.440
 And as a

00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.860
 pastor,

00:28:24.340 --> 00:28:24.900
 let me tell

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.540
 you that I've

00:28:25.540 --> 00:28:25.940
 heard people

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.340
 over the

00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:27.620
 years justify

00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.780
 even

00:28:28.780 --> 00:28:30.320
 adultery.

00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:34.339
 because of

00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:34.819
 their suffering

00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.259
 in life.

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:38.019
 Keep a clear

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.519
 conscience.

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.480
 Run to God.

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.439
 When you're

00:28:43.439 --> 00:28:43.919
 going through

00:28:43.919 --> 00:28:44.700
 trial, be very

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.419
 careful about the

00:28:45.419 --> 00:28:45.980
 voice in your

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.480
 head that says,

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.419
 I deserve this.

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.299
 All that I've

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.799
 been through,

00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.879
 my, you know,

00:28:50.879 --> 00:28:52.240
 all of my bad

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.519
 choices right now,

00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:54.299
 my bad behaviour,

00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:55.220
 it's all warranted.

00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:57.279
 I deserve

00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:57.779
 this.

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.500
 So cry,

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.120
 but keep a

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:08.839
 clear conscience.

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.000
 Trust and obey.

00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:11.160
 Keep doing

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:11.839
 things that God

00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:12.660
 requires you.

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.120
 Keep taking

00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:14.860
 your next steps

00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:15.420
 of faith.

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.519
 Again,

00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.279
 as a pastor,

00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:20.160
 over three

00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:20.759
 decades,

00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:21.460
 the number of

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.259
 people in the

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.299
 midst of suffering,

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.259
 how much they

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:24.980
 pull back.

00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:28.700
 how they pull

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.279
 back out of a

00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.819
 community group,

00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:30.380
 pull back out

00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:30.860
 from church,

00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.440
 pull back from

00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:33.079
 I'm just going

00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.500
 through a hard

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.360
 season right now.

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:34.860
 And so they

00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:35.460
 pull back and

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:35.960
 pull back and

00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.440
 pull back and

00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:36.880
 pull back and

00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:37.380
 pull back.

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.799
 Be careful of

00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.480
 those voices in

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.000
 your head that

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.380
 say, right now,

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.220
 because of what

00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:43.740
 I'm suffering,

00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:45.339
 I deserve

00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:45.960
 this.

00:29:48.360 --> 00:29:48.960
 The third

00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:51.680
 principle to

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.380
 pursue suffering

00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:53.259
 is to look to

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:54.100
 the suffering of

00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:54.860
 Jesus Christ.

00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.419
 Take a look at

00:29:55.419 --> 00:29:56.059
 chapter 3,

00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:56.919
 verse 18.

00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.019
 For Christ

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:59.059
 also suffered

00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.379
 once for sins,

00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:01.559
 the righteous for

00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.339
 the unrighteous to

00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:02.759
 bring you to

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.059
 God.

00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.000
 Now,

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:04.279
 we've been

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.959
 talking here,

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.479
 Peter's been

00:30:05.479 --> 00:30:06.079
 talking about

00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:07.019
 gold being

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.879
 refined in

00:30:07.879 --> 00:30:08.439
 fire,

00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:08.979
 in a fiery

00:30:08.979 --> 00:30:09.519
 furnace.

00:30:09.919 --> 00:30:10.279
 The Bible

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:10.959
 tells the story

00:30:10.959 --> 00:30:11.379
 of the fiery

00:30:11.379 --> 00:30:12.039
 furnace in

00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.679
 Daniel chapter

00:30:12.679 --> 00:30:13.219
 3 in the

00:30:13.219 --> 00:30:13.779
 Old Testament.

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.619
 It's the

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.339
 story of

00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:16.579
 three young

00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.879
 Jewish men,

00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:18.959
 Shadrach,

00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:19.479
 Meshach,

00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.099
 and Abednego.

00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:22.759
 A decree

00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.319
 had been

00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:24.099
 put out

00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:24.599
 through the

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.819
 entire Babylonian

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.480
 empire,

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.539
 where they were

00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.299
 captives at this

00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.099
 particular point,

00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:30.359
 to bow down and

00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.579
 worship an

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.099
 image,

00:30:32.199 --> 00:30:33.019
 an idol made

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:34.039
 of Nebuchadnezzar.

00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:35.779
 And so,

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.619
 Rakshak and

00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:38.019
 Benny refused

00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:38.599
 to do it.

00:30:39.219 --> 00:30:40.119
 They refused to

00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:40.779
 bow down to

00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.439
 this image,

00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:43.319
 and Nebuchadnezzar,

00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:43.819
 the king,

00:30:43.919 --> 00:30:45.119
 was absolutely

00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.879
 livid.

00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:47.820
 He gave

00:30:47.820 --> 00:30:48.940
 instructions for

00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:50.160
 these three

00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:50.980
 guys to be

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.840
 bound up,

00:30:52.260 --> 00:30:52.920
 tied up,

00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:54.040
 for the fiery

00:30:54.040 --> 00:30:54.860
 furnace to be

00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:55.720
 heated beyond

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.560
 it had ever

00:30:56.560 --> 00:30:57.080
 been heated

00:30:57.080 --> 00:30:57.600
 before,

00:30:57.760 --> 00:30:58.320
 and for the

00:30:58.320 --> 00:30:58.800
 three of them

00:30:58.800 --> 00:30:59.460
 to be thrown

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.620
 in and burnt

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.300
 to a crisp.

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.820
 The fire was

00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:04.760
 heated so hot

00:31:04.760 --> 00:31:05.320
 that the

00:31:05.320 --> 00:31:05.940
 soldiers who

00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.520
 grabbed them

00:31:06.520 --> 00:31:07.120
 to throw them

00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:07.880
 in were

00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:08.860
 instantaneously

00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:09.500
 killed.

00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:11.960
 And so

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:13.560
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:31:13.560 --> 00:31:14.160
 gets to a

00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:14.400
 point,

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.220
 he expects

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:15.920
 to see

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:17.480
 these three

00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:19.200
 guys sizzling

00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:19.500
 in the

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.000
 barbecue,

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.519
 but instead,

00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:24.220
 instead we

00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:25.100
 read this,

00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:27.000
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.880
 leapt to his

00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:28.759
 feet in

00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.819
 amazement and

00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.420
 asked his

00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:30.860
 advisors,

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:31.640
 weren't there

00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:32.339
 three men

00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:32.900
 that we tied

00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.440
 up and threw

00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:33.799
 into the

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.180
 fire?

00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:36.559
 They replied,

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.160
 certainly,

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.600
 your majesty.

00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:40.200
 Look,

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:43.319
 I see four

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:44.039
 men walking

00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.720
 around in the

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.019
 fire.

00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.819
 They're unbounded,

00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.579
 unharmed,

00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.099
 and the

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:47.900
 fourth looks

00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:48.400
 like the

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:48.799
 son of the

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.279
 gods.

00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.079
 Notice,

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.339
 didn't we tie

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.559
 up three?

00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:54.119
 Well,

00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:54.460
 I'm now

00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.519
 noticing four

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:57.579
 untied and

00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:58.299
 unharmed.

00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.119
 In the Old

00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:00.599
 Testament,

00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:01.220
 there's a

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:01.779
 figure called

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.440
 the angel of

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:02.859
 the Lord,

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.839
 not a

00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.720
 angel of the

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:04.900
 Lord,

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.480
 but the

00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:06.420
 angel of

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:07.000
 the Lord.

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.200
 And when

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.680
 that figure

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.339
 turns up,

00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:10.259
 he speaks

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.279
 as God

00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:11.940
 and embodies

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.360
 God.

00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:12.779
 Now,

00:32:12.840 --> 00:32:13.940
 most commentators

00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:15.340
 agree that

00:32:15.340 --> 00:32:15.880
 it is a

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:16.620
 manifestation

00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.980
 of Jesus

00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.400
 Christ,

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:18.960
 the Son of

00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:19.380
 God in

00:32:19.380 --> 00:32:19.660
 the Old

00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:20.080
 Testament.

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:20.700
 And the

00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:21.140
 point is

00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.900
 simply this,

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.039
 very simply,

00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.220
 when Jesus

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.140
 walks with

00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:25.580
 you through

00:32:25.580 --> 00:32:26.220
 the furnace,

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:27.640
 when he is

00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:28.559
 with you in

00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.259
 the furnace,

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:31.320
 the only

00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.820
 thing that

00:32:31.820 --> 00:32:32.600
 comes off,

00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.240
 the only

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.700
 thing that

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.299
 comes off

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:36.519
 is the

00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:37.220
 shackles that

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.799
 bind you and

00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:38.580
 imprison you.

00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:40.859
 that's the

00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.500
 only thing

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:41.960
 that comes

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.339
 off.

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.159
 The

00:32:43.159 --> 00:32:43.839
 impurities

00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:44.639
 rise to

00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:45.339
 the surface,

00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:46.779
 the things

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.460
 that controlled

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:47.759
 you,

00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.379
 the things

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:48.919
 that addicted

00:32:48.919 --> 00:32:49.379
 you,

00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.079
 the things

00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:50.319
 that are

00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:51.000
 too important

00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.480
 to you.

00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.319
 If Jesus

00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:53.039
 is with

00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:53.339
 you,

00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:54.220
 you will

00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.079
 only come

00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.519
 out of

00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.099
 the furnace

00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:56.799
 free,

00:32:58.439 --> 00:32:59.220
 unharmed,

00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:01.039
 pure gold.

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.299
 That is the

00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:03.460
 only thing

00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:03.819
 that will

00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:04.379
 happen to

00:33:04.379 --> 00:33:04.720
 you.

00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.639
 And how

00:33:09.639 --> 00:33:10.639
 do we

00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.299
 cling to

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:11.679
 him in

00:33:11.679 --> 00:33:12.000
 the midst

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.259
 of the

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:12.559
 furnace?

00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:13.939
 Verse 18,

00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:14.960
 for Christ

00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.899
 also

00:33:15.899 --> 00:33:16.919
 suffered.

00:33:19.919 --> 00:33:20.720
 Christianity

00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.619
 is the

00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:22.579
 only religion

00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:23.220
 in the

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:25.299
 world that

00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:25.839
 says that

00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.480
 God knows

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.519
 personally and

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.919
 firsthand the

00:33:28.919 --> 00:33:29.699
 fiery furnace

00:33:29.699 --> 00:33:30.339
 of suffering.

00:33:31.659 --> 00:33:32.699
 The only

00:33:32.699 --> 00:33:33.000
 one.

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.799
 The Greek

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.279
 philosopher

00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.299
 Aristotle once

00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:37.779
 said that it

00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.119
 would be

00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:40.019
 impossible for

00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:40.539
 there to be

00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:41.440
 any friendship

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:42.460
 between a

00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:43.680
 God and

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.160
 a human

00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.440
 being because

00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.039
 they don't

00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.920
 have anything

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.660
 in common

00:33:47.660 --> 00:33:48.420
 at all.

00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:53.099
 Christianity

00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:53.660
 says the

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.299
 exact opposite.

00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:55.759
 The God

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.359
 who made

00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:57.519
 all things,

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.579
 who took

00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.279
 on human

00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:00.960
 likeness in

00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:01.480
 the person

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.000
 of Jesus

00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:02.619
 Christ,

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:03.660
 suffered.

00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:05.920
 He knows

00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.480
 betrayal.

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.599
 He knows

00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:08.260
 abuse.

00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.219
 He knows

00:34:09.219 --> 00:34:09.840
 rejection.

00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:10.940
 He knows

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:11.400
 death.

00:34:11.699 --> 00:34:12.219
 He knows

00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:12.840
 physical

00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:13.280
 suffering.

00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:13.740
 He knows

00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:14.240
 it all.

00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:16.320
 He knew

00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:16.659
 what it

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.260
 was to be

00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:17.940
 abandoned on

00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:18.539
 the cross.

00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:21.260
 Jesus

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:22.139
 Christ and

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.860
 him alone

00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.619
 can be our

00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:24.260
 consoling

00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:25.119
 friend and

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:25.679
 our sure

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:26.260
 hope in

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:26.920
 the furnace

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:28.000
 of suffering

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.840
 in life

00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:30.159
 because he

00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:31.699
 himself went

00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:32.320
 into the

00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.780
 ultimate

00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:33.420
 furnace.

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:36.599
 for Christ

00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:36.980
 also

00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.480
 suffered

00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.619
 once for

00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.280
 all for

00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:39.840
 the sins

00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.400
 of people,

00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.420
 the righteous

00:34:41.420 --> 00:34:41.800
 for the

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.480
 unrighteous

00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.519
 to bring

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:43.800
 you to

00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.159
 God.

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.079
 That's the

00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.480
 ultimate

00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:46.000
 furnace.

00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:47.500
 The

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.519
 white hot

00:34:48.519 --> 00:34:49.500
 anger of

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.760
 God for

00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:51.639
 our rejection

00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:52.260
 of God.

00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.599
 The only

00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.500
 sinless one

00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.960
 suffered for

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.760
 our sin.

00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:59.240
 He got

00:34:59.240 --> 00:34:59.820
 everything we

00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:00.460
 deserve.

00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:03.199
 if we

00:35:03.199 --> 00:35:04.059
 see him

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.820
 going into

00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.500
 the ultimate

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.300
 furnace for

00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:07.059
 you, if

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:07.280
 you can

00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:08.000
 see that,

00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:13.059
 then you

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.539
 can know

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:13.940
 that he

00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.340
 is your

00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:14.960
 safety in

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.360
 the furnace

00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:15.900
 of life.

00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:18.340
 If he

00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:18.940
 suffered

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:19.960
 infinitely for

00:35:19.960 --> 00:35:20.400
 me,

00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:23.099
 then the

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.119
 reality is I

00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:24.679
 can suffer

00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:25.559
 infinitely for

00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:25.960
 him, or

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.159
 sorry,

00:35:26.280 --> 00:35:26.920
 finitely for

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.320
 him right

00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:27.639
 now.

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.500
 He is

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.000
 reliable,

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.480
 he is

00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:30.980
 trustworthy,

00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:32.179
 his word

00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:32.880
 is true,

00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:33.699
 and as we

00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:34.340
 journey through

00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:34.860
 the Christian

00:35:34.860 --> 00:35:35.480
 life with

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:35.840
 a sure

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.719
 expectation of

00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:37.500
 trials and

00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:38.000
 suffering,

00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:38.940
 our posture

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:39.579
 is to be

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.699
 one looking

00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:41.340
 to him

00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:41.800
 and him

00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:42.179
 alone.

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:44.019
 A posture

00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.639
 that might

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.380
 pray something

00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:46.119
 like this,

00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:47.079
 Jesus, you

00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:47.519
 came into

00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.079
 this world,

00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:48.739
 you identified

00:35:48.739 --> 00:35:49.440
 with me,

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:50.559
 you went

00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:51.820
 into the

00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:52.260
 ultimate

00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:53.099
 furnace for

00:35:53.099 --> 00:35:53.460
 me,

00:35:54.739 --> 00:35:55.840
 you suffered

00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.219
 and you

00:35:56.219 --> 00:35:56.780
 died for

00:35:56.780 --> 00:35:57.119
 me,

00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:58.119
 glory,

00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:59.420
 but you

00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.519
 also rose

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.400
 triumphantly

00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.480
 in spectacular

00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.159
 glory,

00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:04.579
 you triumphed

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.400
 over sin

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:06.420
 and evil

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:07.079
 and death

00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:07.599
 and because

00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:08.019
 of your

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.639
 triumph,

00:36:08.799 --> 00:36:09.359
 you promise

00:36:09.359 --> 00:36:09.960
 a time

00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:10.900
 is coming

00:36:10.900 --> 00:36:11.819
 just around

00:36:11.819 --> 00:36:12.359
 the corner

00:36:12.359 --> 00:36:13.000
 where in

00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:13.639
 your presence

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:13.980
 there will

00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.719
 be no longer

00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:16.059
 any fiery

00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:16.619
 furnaces,

00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:18.779
 just the

00:36:18.779 --> 00:36:19.319
 cool,

00:36:20.659 --> 00:36:21.579
 sweet,

00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:23.319
 delight of

00:36:23.319 --> 00:36:24.119
 your presence

00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:24.539
 and your

00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:24.980
 purity.

00:36:27.759 --> 00:36:28.199
 And so in

00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:28.559
 the midst

00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:28.839
 of this

00:36:28.839 --> 00:36:29.519
 suffering right

00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:29.799
 now,

00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:30.199
 Jesus,

00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:31.839
 hold me,

00:36:32.739 --> 00:36:33.559
 hold me,

00:36:34.279 --> 00:36:34.980
 teach me,

00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:36.239
 strengthen me

00:36:36.239 --> 00:36:37.059
 to obey you

00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:37.639
 and walk

00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:38.259
 with you

00:36:38.259 --> 00:36:39.440
 until the

00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:40.239
 great day

00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:40.880
 of blessing

00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.440
 comes.

00:36:44.299 --> 00:36:44.940
 Amen.

00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:46.679
 Maybe pray

00:36:46.679 --> 00:36:47.179
 a prayer like

00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:47.480
 that.

00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:49.659
 Every day.

00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:49.719
 Every day.