WEBVTT 00:00:00.900 --> 00:00:01.900 Good morning, Watermark. 00:00:02.260 --> 00:00:04.339 If you do not know me, my name is Alfie, 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:06.000 and I'm one of the guys here on staff. 00:00:06.580 --> 00:00:08.759 I help out with the university ministry. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:10.839 And it was really great. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:14.160 Thank you, Jordan and Iris, for sharing about our trip. 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:17.839 And in a way, they've done, you know, 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:20.460 I don't know, 40% of what I'm going to try to do today. 00:00:21.140 --> 00:00:23.719 Talk about how the gospel transforms us, 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:26.760 how the gospel fills us with praise and worship, 00:00:26.760 --> 00:00:31.700 that we would go out and we would be about God's mission in the world today. 00:00:33.260 --> 00:00:34.719 We need to be about God's mission 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:38.939 because this is a world that isn't very hopeless, 00:00:39.380 --> 00:00:40.120 isn't very hopeful. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:41.620 It is hopeless. 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:43.620 There's a lot of hopelessness around. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:47.100 You don't have to look far. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:49.560 You open a newspaper, you look on Facebook, 00:00:50.219 --> 00:00:51.480 you look at a magazine, 00:00:51.480 --> 00:00:54.820 there is sadness around. 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:59.539 There is a longing for freedom from suffering. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:05.840 There is a longing for a hope that is permanent, 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:08.900 that is tangible, that is eternal. 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:13.980 You know, this past week, there was a shooting in Orlando, 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:18.719 and that brought up many questions and many strong feelings. 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:24.539 There is anger, confusion, hurt, sadness. 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:27.459 I don't know how you felt. 00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:29.640 How did you respond? 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:34.680 But it's not just far away in the U.S., it's here as well, 00:01:34.739 --> 00:01:38.079 because Hong Kong is meant to be this land of freedom and opportunity 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:40.460 where if you come here and you can work hard enough, 00:01:40.819 --> 00:01:41.980 you'll have a great life, 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:43.460 you'll have a great family, 00:01:43.459 --> 00:01:44.859 and everything will be perfect. 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:49.879 But it seems that the stuff of life here in Hong Kong 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:52.780 drains our hope. 00:01:53.979 --> 00:01:57.079 Whether it's people coming and taking our jobs 00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:59.979 because they're trying to escape their hopeless situation overseas, 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:01.780 where they can't get jobs there, 00:02:01.839 --> 00:02:02.639 they're coming to Hong Kong, 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:04.939 and now there's this huge competition for jobs. 00:02:05.399 --> 00:02:07.939 Or maybe you're trying to find a home for your family, 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:11.180 but it seems like this unlimited amount of money is coming out of China, 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:13.180 driving home house prices up, 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:19.099 and you feel hopeless or trapped. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:23.840 You know, it could be that you're looking for a husband, 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:26.079 but there aren't any quality guys around. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:28.979 Or maybe you're a guy, 00:02:29.079 --> 00:02:31.340 and you're just complaining that the girls are just far too picky. 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:37.340 All of this brings up feelings of hopelessness. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:39.340 We feel trapped. 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:42.759 We feel stuck. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:45.680 Like God has abandoned us. 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:49.580 Like he doesn't care about where we are. 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:53.180 He doesn't care about what we're going through. 00:02:54.140 --> 00:02:55.060 We're alone, 00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:57.199 and even when we look up to him, 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:00.599 we can't seem to reach or call out. 00:03:01.740 --> 00:03:03.180 God seems far away. 00:03:04.200 --> 00:03:05.259 Sometimes he feels, 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:08.200 it feels like he's abandoned us. 00:03:10.480 --> 00:03:14.800 This isn't a foreign feeling, 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:16.259 I don't think, to many of us. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:18.379 I think we've all been through times 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:22.819 where we feel hopeless about one thing or another. 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:26.599 Yet, with all of this, 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:29.719 we look at our key words at Watermark, 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:31.580 and we think we feel hopeless, 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:32.859 but we're supposed to be on mission. 00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:35.099 How do we do that? 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:38.360 When I can't deal with the struggles of my life, 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:41.340 how am I supposed to go and spread this message of joy? 00:03:41.340 --> 00:03:41.420 Anyway, 00:03:42.300 --> 00:03:48.920 what I want to show you guys today 00:03:48.920 --> 00:03:52.840 is that if we haven't received this message of freedom 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:55.659 and of hope in the gospel, 00:03:55.659 --> 00:04:00.180 that we can't be people on mission, 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:01.939 for us to be a church 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:04.479 that is reaching out and loving 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:05.740 and sharing the gospel 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:07.859 and doing justice in our community, 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:10.460 that we need to be people who are captured, 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:12.819 who are amazed, 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:15.900 who are freed by the gospel. 00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:20.319 So we've been in this series in Isaiah. 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:22.360 We've spent about five weeks on it, 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:27.639 and we've been going through this passage at the end, 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:29.379 the series of passages at the end of Isaiah, 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:32.040 which talk about this great news, 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:34.660 this hope for God's people. 00:04:35.220 --> 00:04:37.699 But Isaiah starts early on in the beginning, 00:04:37.959 --> 00:04:40.540 and it starts with Isaiah preaching 00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:42.319 to the people of Israel. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:45.399 The people of Israel have turned to follow idols. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:46.599 They've turned, 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:48.300 and they've put their hope and security 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:49.240 in the horses of Egypt. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:51.360 And Isaiah tells them in chapter one 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:53.540 that you are my children that I've brought up, 00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:56.019 but you have rebelled against me. 00:04:58.500 --> 00:05:00.240 He calls them to repent, 00:05:00.579 --> 00:05:01.800 to turn back to God, 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:03.779 but they don't. 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:06.120 Isaiah calls to them again, 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:08.759 but they continue in their ways. 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:12.300 Eventually, these people are conquered 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:14.099 by the nation of Babylon, 00:05:14.659 --> 00:05:16.659 and they're taken away in exile. 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:18.480 And while they're in exile, 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:20.599 they feel abandoned. 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:24.199 They feel stuck and hopeless. 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:26.399 And Isaiah calls these people, 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:26.959 and he says, 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.259 God has not left you alone. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:30.980 He's not done with you. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:35.139 Isaiah says that God is saying, 00:05:35.459 --> 00:05:36.579 I am with you. 00:05:36.779 --> 00:05:37.519 Fear not. 00:05:37.980 --> 00:05:40.000 He says in chapter 41, 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:44.879 he says that your idols haven't saved you, 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:49.480 but I am going to be your salvation. 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:52.779 He says these things that you turn to 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:56.759 to look for hope and satisfaction and security, 00:05:57.420 --> 00:05:58.180 they have failed you, 00:05:58.259 --> 00:05:59.860 but I am your God. 00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:01.480 I am the one that calls to you, 00:06:01.900 --> 00:06:03.920 and I am the one that is going to bring you 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:04.800 out of Babylon. 00:06:06.400 --> 00:06:07.600 After a number of years, 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:09.740 the Persian Empire comes in 00:06:09.740 --> 00:06:11.420 and destroys Babylon, 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:13.879 and they begin sending back 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:15.840 the exiles to Israel. 00:06:17.960 --> 00:06:19.300 And this is a passage 00:06:19.300 --> 00:06:21.180 that we're going to be reading today, 00:06:21.660 --> 00:06:22.960 the passage that these exiles 00:06:22.960 --> 00:06:23.960 returning to Jerusalem 00:06:23.960 --> 00:06:25.540 would have opened up 00:06:25.540 --> 00:06:27.900 and read what Isaiah had written 00:06:27.900 --> 00:06:28.660 many years ago. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:35.140 We talked about how Isaiah 00:06:35.140 --> 00:06:36.980 called the people of Israel 00:06:36.980 --> 00:06:38.960 to be satisfied in God. 00:06:39.280 --> 00:06:40.660 That was in Isaiah chapter 55, 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:42.360 that the things that they were looking for 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:43.240 would not satisfy. 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:45.780 We looked in chapter 56 00:06:45.780 --> 00:06:49.280 about how God had a big picture 00:06:49.280 --> 00:06:51.840 for Israel's new hope, 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:53.200 that he was going to bring in 00:06:53.200 --> 00:06:54.060 the outsiders, 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:55.240 the people who would normally 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:56.360 have been kept out 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:57.699 of Israel's society. 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:01.160 We saw how God was calling them 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:02.839 not just to be righteous 00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:04.839 in their religious actions, 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:07.540 but to be doing justice 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:09.579 and calling people 00:07:09.579 --> 00:07:12.100 who have been treated unjustly 00:07:12.100 --> 00:07:14.819 to see a God who loves them 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:16.079 and cares for them. 00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:18.100 And last week, 00:07:18.139 --> 00:07:20.160 we saw a vision that God gave 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:22.079 for God's people 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:23.319 not just being defined 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:25.399 by their culture 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:26.300 or ethnicity, 00:07:27.019 --> 00:07:28.240 but how God's glory 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.379 is made amazing and great 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:32.019 because he's bringing all people 00:07:32.019 --> 00:07:33.139 from all nations 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:34.740 to himself. 00:07:36.159 --> 00:07:37.360 And now we find ourselves 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:39.099 in Isaiah chapter 61, 00:07:39.779 --> 00:07:40.699 where God says 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:42.479 he is bringing good news 00:07:42.479 --> 00:07:43.099 to the poor 00:07:43.099 --> 00:07:45.399 and he is opening the prison 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:46.799 for the captives. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.840 He's telling these people, 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:49.560 these exiles, 00:07:49.960 --> 00:07:51.939 that they are a part of people 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:53.240 who are going to be 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:55.920 enjoying God's freedom 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:58.740 and his blessing over them. 00:08:00.020 --> 00:08:00.800 So today, 00:08:00.900 --> 00:08:01.920 we're going to have three parts. 00:08:03.080 --> 00:08:04.120 Hopefully, you'll follow along. 00:08:04.180 --> 00:08:04.699 We're going to talk about 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:06.939 what God's hope looked like 00:08:06.939 --> 00:08:07.780 for the exiles 00:08:07.780 --> 00:08:10.800 reading this for the first time. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:12.639 Then we're going to 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:13.759 fast forward a little bit 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:15.199 and hear about 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:16.340 what this passage meant 00:08:16.340 --> 00:08:18.319 for the Israels 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:19.360 reading it again 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:21.720 when they're oppressed 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:22.660 by Romans. 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:24.080 And we'll finish up 00:08:24.080 --> 00:08:24.560 looking at 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:25.560 what this passage 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:26.639 has to say for us, 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:28.639 what it's calling us to. 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:31.160 Before we start, 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:31.740 I want to talk 00:08:31.740 --> 00:08:32.720 a little bit about 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:34.019 a Japanese soldier 00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:35.820 in World War II. 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:37.120 His name was Hiro Onoda. 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:39.180 And he was 00:08:39.180 --> 00:08:40.180 an intelligence officer 00:08:40.179 --> 00:08:41.179 and he was sent 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:41.919 to an island 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:42.539 in the Philippines 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:43.239 called Lubang. 00:08:43.859 --> 00:08:44.799 And he was told 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:45.359 that he had 00:08:45.359 --> 00:08:46.199 a very important mission 00:08:46.199 --> 00:08:48.639 to go and sabotage 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:50.739 U.S. military installments 00:08:50.739 --> 00:08:51.159 on the island. 00:08:52.579 --> 00:08:53.739 And he went 00:08:53.739 --> 00:08:55.379 and he was attached 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:56.179 to a group of soldiers 00:08:56.179 --> 00:08:59.039 but in a couple of months, 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:00.979 all but a few 00:09:00.979 --> 00:09:01.679 of his soldiers 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:03.419 had died. 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:05.019 The U.S. had come in, 00:09:05.079 --> 00:09:05.979 they'd taken control 00:09:05.979 --> 00:09:06.479 of the island 00:09:06.479 --> 00:09:07.759 and he told his soldiers 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.620 to go and hide 00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:09.299 in the jungles 00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:10.639 and in the hills. 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.359 A couple of months later, 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:14.479 the war ended 00:09:14.479 --> 00:09:16.699 and leaflets 00:09:16.699 --> 00:09:17.199 were dropped 00:09:17.199 --> 00:09:19.079 all over these islands, 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:19.639 all these places 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:20.959 where Japanese soldiers 00:09:20.959 --> 00:09:22.159 were hiding, 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:23.279 telling them 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:24.159 the war was over, 00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:26.019 that they could come out, 00:09:26.459 --> 00:09:27.039 that they didn't have 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:28.219 to fight anymore. 00:09:29.599 --> 00:09:30.899 Onoda and his men, 00:09:30.979 --> 00:09:32.039 there were three of them left, 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:34.339 they found these leaflets 00:09:34.339 --> 00:09:35.120 and they looked at them 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:36.820 and they were convinced 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:39.060 that it was a trick, 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:41.139 that the war wasn't really over, 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:41.840 that it was a way 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:42.840 to get them out of hiding 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:44.779 so that they could be killed. 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:47.139 And so for many years, 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:48.460 despite the war having ended, 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:50.539 they continued their little battle 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:51.620 in the hills. 00:09:52.560 --> 00:09:53.980 They would occasionally clash 00:09:53.980 --> 00:09:54.580 with Philippine 00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:55.580 and American forces, 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:58.280 but they lived their lives 00:09:58.280 --> 00:10:00.920 in constant fear. 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.220 They lived their lives 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:06.379 afraid of what would happen, 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:08.100 afraid of an enemy 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:09.580 that would kill them. 00:10:10.920 --> 00:10:12.639 This is how Israel lived 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:14.220 when they came back from exile. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:15.780 They lived in fear 00:10:15.780 --> 00:10:16.860 of an enemy. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:18.700 They lived in fear of Babylon. 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:20.360 They lived in fear 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.920 of slavery. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:23.360 You can read about it 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:24.899 in books like Ezra and Nehemiah, 00:10:25.259 --> 00:10:25.819 where the people, 00:10:26.079 --> 00:10:26.699 instead of going 00:10:26.699 --> 00:10:28.839 and rebuilding Jerusalem, 00:10:29.059 --> 00:10:30.099 instead of rebuilding 00:10:30.099 --> 00:10:30.979 the rubble 00:10:30.979 --> 00:10:32.819 and the ashes 00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:34.199 of their temple, 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:35.019 of their walls, 00:10:36.079 --> 00:10:37.439 they paneled up their houses 00:10:37.439 --> 00:10:38.579 and made little forts 00:10:38.579 --> 00:10:40.500 where they would be safe, 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:42.459 where they would be hidden. 00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:47.599 They were worried. 00:10:48.179 --> 00:10:49.259 They were in fear. 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:51.079 They felt abandoned. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:53.819 And God calls out to them. 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:55.659 God calls out to them 00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:56.139 and says, 00:10:57.199 --> 00:11:00.240 I have come to bring good news. 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:04.479 And Isaiah 61, 00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:05.000 he says, 00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:06.279 he has sent me 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:07.959 to bind up the brokenhearted, 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:09.620 to proclaim liberty 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:10.539 to the captives, 00:11:10.599 --> 00:11:11.479 to these slaves, 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:14.579 to open up the prison 00:11:14.579 --> 00:11:15.559 for those who are bound, 00:11:15.939 --> 00:11:17.480 to proclaim the year 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:18.959 of the Lord's favor, 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:21.700 to comfort those 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.200 who are mourning. 00:11:24.160 --> 00:11:25.700 This message of hope 00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:26.580 from God 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:27.780 says that after all 00:11:27.780 --> 00:11:28.400 their struggle, 00:11:28.900 --> 00:11:30.000 that they could live in hope, 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:31.080 they could live in freedom. 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:33.980 It's good news. 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:34.780 It's healing. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.540 It's comfort 00:11:36.540 --> 00:11:37.900 for these people 00:11:37.900 --> 00:11:38.680 who have been liberated 00:11:38.680 --> 00:11:39.540 from years 00:11:39.540 --> 00:11:41.060 of Babylonian slavery, 00:11:41.059 --> 00:11:44.479 people who felt 00:11:44.479 --> 00:11:45.079 abandoned 00:11:45.079 --> 00:11:46.699 and hopeless. 00:11:47.179 --> 00:11:47.819 But he doesn't just 00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:48.899 give them this message 00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:49.299 of hope. 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:50.339 He shows them 00:11:50.339 --> 00:11:51.000 what this hope 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.019 is supposed to do. 00:11:52.079 --> 00:11:52.699 In verse 4, 00:11:52.899 --> 00:11:53.579 he says that 00:11:53.579 --> 00:11:54.479 these people 00:11:54.479 --> 00:11:56.000 are going to build up 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:56.739 ancient ruins, 00:11:57.059 --> 00:11:57.559 the things 00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:58.500 that the Babylonians 00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:59.219 had destroyed, 00:11:59.839 --> 00:12:00.500 the things that 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.239 the surrounding nations 00:12:01.239 --> 00:12:02.099 had picked away 00:12:02.099 --> 00:12:03.199 from the ruins, 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:04.819 that they were going 00:12:04.819 --> 00:12:05.339 to be people 00:12:05.339 --> 00:12:06.799 that would build up 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:08.059 former devastations. 00:12:08.439 --> 00:12:09.279 They would repair 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:11.100 ruined cities. 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.959 And it's not just 00:12:13.959 --> 00:12:14.480 an instruction 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:16.039 that Isaiah is giving them, 00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:17.019 that God is giving them. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.419 Other prophets 00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:19.439 and leaders 00:12:19.439 --> 00:12:21.000 would call these people 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:21.860 to say, 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:23.379 hey, look, 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:25.100 God has set you free. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:26.159 He used the Persians 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:26.740 to free you 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.620 from the Babylonians. 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:29.220 You don't have to hide 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:30.120 in your holes anymore. 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:32.600 You can live 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:34.100 like free people. 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.860 Build up the walls. 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:36.759 Build up the temple. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:37.839 Worship God. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:38.899 Find your security. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.559 And your identity 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:41.600 in Him. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.819 But Israel was afraid. 00:12:47.199 --> 00:12:48.459 They felt abandoned. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.039 They felt alone. 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:51.919 They were living 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:53.339 in fear. 00:12:54.579 --> 00:12:55.339 They had called, 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:56.699 they had been called 00:12:56.699 --> 00:12:57.299 to live 00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:58.679 as free people. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:00.720 But they continued 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:01.439 to live 00:13:01.439 --> 00:13:02.459 as if 00:13:02.459 --> 00:13:03.519 they were slaves. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:06.299 You know, 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.199 back on 00:13:07.199 --> 00:13:08.839 Lubang Island, 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:10.019 Hiro Noda 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:10.580 and his three 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:11.300 remaining soldiers, 00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:11.980 they spent 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:13.200 many years, 00:13:13.280 --> 00:13:14.500 almost 28 years, 00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:15.740 fighting 00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:17.019 against 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:17.940 an enemy 00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:18.820 that wasn't there. 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:20.500 They spent 00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.220 their years 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:23.000 in fear 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.800 of nothing, 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:25.639 fighting 00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:26.800 against nothing, 00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:27.340 hiding 00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:29.040 from 00:13:29.040 --> 00:13:29.780 nothing. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:30.740 Again, 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.019 leaflets were dropped 00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:32.620 and this time 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:32.639 and this time 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:33.419 it had pictures 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.220 and letters 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:35.379 from their family members 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.659 saying, 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:37.620 the war is over. 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:39.220 Please come home. 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.579 They looked at these letters 00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:42.980 and they said, 00:13:43.079 --> 00:13:43.319 no, 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.879 this is another trick. 00:13:45.439 --> 00:13:46.559 This is another trick 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:47.840 to get us out of hiding. 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.460 The war is still 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.179 going on. 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:52.819 In a couple of years, 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:54.860 the remaining soldiers 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:55.500 that were with 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.040 Hiro Noda 00:13:56.040 --> 00:13:57.440 died 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:59.960 and he was left alone. 00:14:01.020 --> 00:14:01.620 So he hid, 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.680 he fortified his defenses 00:14:03.680 --> 00:14:05.100 and he continued 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:05.700 to live 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:07.140 in fear. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.580 Hiro's story 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:11.520 is an interesting one 00:14:11.520 --> 00:14:12.320 because 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:13.560 if he's right, 00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:14.700 if the war 00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:15.620 is still going on, 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:16.920 then what he was doing 00:14:16.920 --> 00:14:18.220 makes perfect sense. 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:20.120 What he was doing, 00:14:20.280 --> 00:14:20.580 hiding 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:21.639 and trying to keep safe 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:22.860 is the right thing 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.320 to do 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:24.280 in a war 00:14:24.280 --> 00:14:25.700 when an enemy 00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.840 is looking for you, 00:14:27.180 --> 00:14:27.720 hunting you 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:28.660 and trying to kill you. 00:14:29.900 --> 00:14:30.379 But 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:32.060 if the war is over, 00:14:33.020 --> 00:14:34.420 if what these leaflets 00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:35.280 said was true, 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.960 then to continue 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:39.259 to live in fear 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:42.520 is the wrong thing. 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.400 That he is free. 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:45.040 He is free 00:14:45.040 --> 00:14:45.840 from his orders. 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:46.920 He is free 00:14:46.920 --> 00:14:48.820 from fear 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:50.540 of the enemy 00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:51.339 around him. 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.579 But Israel 00:14:54.579 --> 00:14:55.860 acted in the same way. 00:14:55.959 --> 00:14:56.559 They acted 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.579 in fear 00:14:57.579 --> 00:14:58.559 when they were free. 00:14:58.939 --> 00:15:00.259 They acted like slaves 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:01.539 when God 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:02.459 had brought them 00:15:02.459 --> 00:15:03.519 good news. 00:15:07.099 --> 00:15:08.319 Many of us Christians, 00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:09.899 we act 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:11.719 like these Israelites. 00:15:13.199 --> 00:15:14.419 We feel like 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:17.819 we are not free 00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:18.699 from the burdens 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:19.940 of our past, 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.600 that we are not 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.460 free 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:22.420 from the struggles 00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:24.820 that we face today. 00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:29.200 But the gospel 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:29.980 says that 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:31.400 if your hope 00:15:31.400 --> 00:15:32.180 is in Christ, 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.480 then you're free 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.140 from guilt, 00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:38.120 from shame, 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:40.300 that you're free 00:15:40.300 --> 00:15:41.220 from the expectation 00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:42.420 to be perfect 00:15:42.420 --> 00:15:43.740 because God 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:44.620 has given us 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:45.759 righteousness. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:49.240 God says 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:49.980 that you are 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:50.799 loved 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.480 so you don't need 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.039 to look for it 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:52.840 in other places. 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:53.639 He says that 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.220 you're forgiven 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:54.899 so you have no need 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:55.860 to prove yourself. 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:56.840 But as Christians, 00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:57.460 so many times 00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.340 we live that way. 00:15:58.860 --> 00:15:59.279 We live, 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.080 we do things, 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.340 we act 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:01.980 and we believe 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:02.539 in a way 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:04.319 that we still need 00:16:04.319 --> 00:16:04.879 to earn 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.679 our salvation. 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:06.939 We live 00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:08.399 as if we are 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.179 still slaves 00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:10.240 to sin. 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.019 We live 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:11.439 as if we're 00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.340 still slaves 00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:14.440 to our guilt. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:16.660 We live 00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:17.240 as if 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.620 God 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:20.620 doesn't care 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.160 about us, 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:21.660 that he's 00:16:21.660 --> 00:16:22.480 abandoned us, 00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:24.240 that 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:26.340 he isn't 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:26.960 going to call 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.320 us to him. 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.840 The gospel 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.360 says, 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:34.940 Isaiah 61 00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:36.240 says that 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:37.560 there is 00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:37.980 liberty 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:38.740 for the 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.340 captives. 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.720 Christians, 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.200 if you 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:43.100 are in 00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:43.519 Christ, 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.259 then you 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:44.920 need no 00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:45.860 fear of 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.160 sin. 00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:46.560 You need 00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:47.200 no fear 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:47.920 of the 00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:48.160 enemy 00:16:48.160 --> 00:16:48.820 because God 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.240 has defeated 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.440 him. 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:49.740 He says 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.280 it's over. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.080 Just like 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:52.379 he told 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:52.820 Israelites, 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:53.600 just like 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.180 the leaflets 00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.019 told the 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:55.360 Japanese 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:55.720 soldiers, 00:16:56.420 --> 00:16:57.580 it's over. 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.180 You 00:17:00.180 --> 00:17:01.019 are free. 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.900 The Jews 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:08.460 living in 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.160 exile here, 00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.720 continue to 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.899 live as 00:17:11.899 --> 00:17:13.039 slaves under 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:13.579 Babylonian 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:13.939 masters. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.039 But if 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.339 they were 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:17.639 free, 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:17.959 then they 00:17:17.959 --> 00:17:18.679 could enjoy 00:17:18.679 --> 00:17:19.359 their freedom. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:19.759 They could 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.319 enjoy what 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:20.740 that meant, 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.539 being able 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.399 to worship 00:17:22.399 --> 00:17:23.079 God, 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.059 being identified 00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:24.579 with him, 00:17:24.699 --> 00:17:25.240 finding their 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:27.319 security in 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:27.599 him. 00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:29.319 The 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.119 Babylonians 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:30.819 who had 00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:31.500 enslaved them 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.379 were gone. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.259 They did 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.779 not need to 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.059 fear them 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.419 anymore. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.000 Christians, 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:39.180 if you 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:39.559 are in 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:39.920 Christ, 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:41.099 the sin 00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.259 that 00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:41.700 enslaved 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.059 you 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.900 has no 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.480 power over 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.079 you anymore. 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:47.680 Don't give 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.160 an opportunity 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:49.059 for your 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.660 dead 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.460 former 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:50.920 master 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:52.500 to have 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.019 power 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.839 over you 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:57.640 because 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.839 Jesus has 00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.200 come 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.559 and he 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.039 has said 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:02.140 that you 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:02.920 are free. 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:05.779 Now, 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:06.680 we go 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:07.680 500 years 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.620 forward 00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:10.819 and now 00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:11.019 these 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.360 Israelites, 00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:12.360 they've tried 00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:12.860 to rebuild 00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:13.299 their city, 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:13.840 they've rebuilt 00:18:13.840 --> 00:18:14.319 the temple, 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:14.379 people, 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:15.799 but they 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.480 find themselves 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:16.899 oppressed 00:18:16.899 --> 00:18:17.700 by a 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.159 different kind 00:18:18.159 --> 00:18:18.539 of master. 00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:18.960 They find 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.480 themselves 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.439 under the 00:18:20.439 --> 00:18:21.039 Roman Empire 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.559 and these 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:22.960 Romans 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:24.679 are 00:18:24.679 --> 00:18:26.579 exporting 00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:27.039 Greek 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.480 culture 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:27.939 and trying 00:18:27.939 --> 00:18:29.240 to destroy 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.579 what is 00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:31.419 left of 00:18:31.419 --> 00:18:33.399 the identity 00:18:33.399 --> 00:18:33.859 of God's 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.079 people, 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:34.700 their Jewish 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:35.339 identity, 00:18:35.439 --> 00:18:35.839 their identity 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.779 as God's 00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.819 chosen people. 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.500 And in the 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.139 midst of that, 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:40.960 the people 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.439 themselves 00:18:41.439 --> 00:18:42.659 became divided. 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:44.160 You have 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:44.480 on one 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:44.720 side 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.140 these 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:45.580 religious 00:18:45.580 --> 00:18:46.360 Pharisees 00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:47.279 and they're 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:47.620 the people 00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:48.279 that they 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:48.840 found their 00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:49.820 freedom in 00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:50.840 ethnic and 00:18:50.840 --> 00:18:52.100 religious purity. 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:53.340 They 00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:54.880 increased the 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:55.480 laws to this 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.940 almost unattainable 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.759 standard. 00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.080 They're the 00:18:59.080 --> 00:18:59.560 kind of people 00:18:59.560 --> 00:18:59.920 that would 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.500 whisper under 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.000 their breath 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.960 when they 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.560 saw something 00:19:02.560 --> 00:19:03.580 going wrong. 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:04.440 They're the 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:04.740 kind of people 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.000 that would 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.420 post on 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:05.720 Facebook 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.180 about all 00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:06.500 the wrong 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.720 things going 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.120 on in the 00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:08.620 church today. 00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:09.980 On the 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.380 other side 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:10.720 was another 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.040 group of 00:19:11.040 --> 00:19:11.300 people. 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.220 These were 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.759 the cultural, 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.740 the social 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.160 elites, 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.700 these sinners. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.320 They made 00:19:17.320 --> 00:19:17.700 the best 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:18.019 of a tricky 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.500 situation. 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.259 They would 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:19.840 join up 00:19:19.840 --> 00:19:20.279 and cozy 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.220 up with 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:21.660 the Romans. 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.100 And their 00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:23.759 morality was 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.700 defined by 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:26.320 whatever got 00:19:26.320 --> 00:19:27.220 them ahead. 00:19:28.800 --> 00:19:29.540 These are the 00:19:29.540 --> 00:19:29.779 kinds of 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.100 people who 00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:30.480 would lie 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:30.820 to get a 00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:31.180 promotion. 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.580 Those who 00:19:33.580 --> 00:19:34.440 wouldn't worry 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:34.940 about others 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.580 suffering around 00:19:35.580 --> 00:19:37.220 them as long 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:37.779 as they looked 00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.900 good, as long 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:39.840 as they were 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:40.220 comfortable. 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:41.680 And between 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.180 these two 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:42.620 groups, 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.900 those who 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:45.779 couldn't be a 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.480 religious elite 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.779 or an elite 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.380 in society, 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.040 were the 00:19:50.040 --> 00:19:51.320 poor and 00:19:51.320 --> 00:19:51.800 the sick 00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:52.519 and the 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:52.820 hungry, 00:19:53.820 --> 00:19:54.320 who fell 00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:54.779 between the 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.259 cracks and 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.860 suffered the 00:19:55.860 --> 00:19:57.240 worst of 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.080 Roman oppression. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.460 And into 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.100 this backdrop, 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.200 Jesus walks 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:02.460 in. 00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:04.000 And it says 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.480 that one day 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:04.940 while he's in 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.320 the synagogue 00:20:05.320 --> 00:20:06.140 in Nazareth, 00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:07.080 he opens up 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:07.600 the scroll. 00:20:08.060 --> 00:20:08.340 You can read 00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:08.800 about it in 00:20:08.800 --> 00:20:09.300 Luke 4. 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.240 and he 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.000 finds this 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.519 passage, 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.639 Isaiah 61, 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.259 and he reads 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:14.000 it to the 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.279 people. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:15.480 It says, 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.039 the Spirit of 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:16.500 the Lord is 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.119 upon me to 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:18.159 proclaim good 00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:18.720 news to the 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:18.940 poor. 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.599 He sent me to 00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.680 proclaim liberty 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.139 to the 00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:22.680 captives, 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.139 recovering of 00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:24.599 sight to the 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:24.899 blind, 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.339 liberty to 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:26.700 those who 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.240 are oppressed, 00:20:27.899 --> 00:20:28.720 to proclaim 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.659 the year of 00:20:29.659 --> 00:20:30.059 the Lord's 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.319 favor. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.319 God's 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:31.519 favor. 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.539 He rolled 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:32.839 up the 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:33.159 scroll, 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:34.259 and he 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.519 looked at 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:34.899 the people, 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.119 and he 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:35.299 said, 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:35.779 today, 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:36.799 this 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.419 scripture has 00:20:37.419 --> 00:20:37.599 been 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.039 fulfilled 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:39.899 before you. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.259 People 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.099 looked at 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:43.259 him, 00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:45.079 and they're 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:45.480 a bit 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:45.939 confused. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.759 And they 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:46.899 said, 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.519 isn't this 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.700 Joseph's 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:48.960 son? 00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:52.619 Jesus 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:53.159 comes, 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:53.500 and he 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.019 quotes this 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.319 passage, 00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:54.619 and he 00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.000 says, 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.099 what Isaiah 00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:58.619 left for 00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.379 those exiles 00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.020 so many 00:21:00.020 --> 00:21:00.540 years ago 00:21:00.540 --> 00:21:01.900 is about 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.240 me. 00:21:04.040 --> 00:21:04.660 It's about 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.280 what I am 00:21:05.280 --> 00:21:05.540 going to 00:21:05.540 --> 00:21:05.660 do. 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.040 It's my 00:21:06.040 --> 00:21:06.720 manifesto. 00:21:07.760 --> 00:21:08.360 It's the 00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:09.080 things that 00:21:09.080 --> 00:21:09.900 I am going 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.180 to spend 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:10.620 my time 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:10.900 doing. 00:21:11.040 --> 00:21:11.360 I'm going 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:11.640 to spend 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.220 my time 00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.880 preaching 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.660 about. 00:21:14.060 --> 00:21:14.320 And we 00:21:14.320 --> 00:21:14.700 see this 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:14.980 throughout 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.380 the 00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:15.880 gospels. 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.200 We see 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:16.640 how God 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:17.240 healed 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:17.640 people. 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.240 He brought 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:18.720 sight to 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:18.960 blind 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.280 people. 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:19.980 He forgives 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.600 the sins 00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:20.800 of the 00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:21.180 paralytic 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.600 and tells 00:21:21.600 --> 00:21:21.880 them to 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.400 stand up 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.280 and walk. 00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:24.460 One 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:24.740 moment, 00:21:24.800 --> 00:21:25.400 he tenderly 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:25.900 calls to 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.420 a Samaritan 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.620 woman and 00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:28.280 shows her 00:21:28.280 --> 00:21:28.660 where she 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:29.360 can find 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:30.500 living water. 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.199 And another 00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:32.559 moment, 00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:34.199 he calls to 00:21:34.199 --> 00:21:35.039 the Pharisees 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.519 to turn 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.199 away from 00:21:37.199 --> 00:21:37.879 their hypocrisy. 00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:39.639 Jesus spent 00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:39.979 his time 00:21:39.979 --> 00:21:40.759 preaching this 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.159 gospel, 00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:42.979 addressing all 00:21:42.979 --> 00:21:44.039 the wickedness 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:45.139 that sin had 00:21:45.139 --> 00:21:45.500 brought into 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:45.939 the world. 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.159 And he 00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:47.439 said, 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:49.100 this is 00:21:49.100 --> 00:21:49.620 about me. 00:21:50.340 --> 00:21:51.700 I am your 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.039 freedom. 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:53.559 I am where 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:53.940 your hope 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.240 is. 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.340 Your hope 00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:56.140 isn't in 00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.539 being able 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.100 to follow 00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:58.140 these laws 00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:58.640 perfectly. 00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.500 Your hope 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.920 isn't in 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:01.740 escaping the 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.100 laws and 00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:02.920 living your 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.820 life your 00:22:03.820 --> 00:22:04.279 own way. 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.799 He looks to 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.279 them both 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.880 and he says, 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.279 I am your 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:08.559 freedom. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.360 I am the 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.400 place where 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:11.960 you can find 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.320 hope. 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.080 The people 00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:14.580 heard this 00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.179 and they 00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:15.859 were divided. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:16.819 Throughout his 00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.139 ministry, 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.799 you saw people 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.599 coming to 00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.079 Jesus because 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.599 they knew 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.279 that he 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.679 was the 00:22:20.679 --> 00:22:22.439 hope for 00:22:22.439 --> 00:22:22.980 their sick. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.179 He was the 00:22:24.179 --> 00:22:24.500 hope for 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:24.919 their poverty. 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:25.259 They knew 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.759 that he 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.699 could feed 00:22:26.699 --> 00:22:26.939 them. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:28.799 Again, 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.279 other people 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:29.779 came to 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.599 see what 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:30.919 they could 00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.299 get from 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:31.460 him. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:31.740 And when 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.139 they didn't 00:22:32.139 --> 00:22:32.480 like what 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:32.859 he had to 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.139 say, 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.460 they walked 00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:34.759 away. 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.720 Other people, 00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:38.139 as we see in 00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:38.740 this passage, 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:39.960 tried to kill 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.119 him. 00:22:41.439 --> 00:22:41.980 After Jesus 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.439 read this 00:22:42.439 --> 00:22:43.059 passage in the 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:43.359 synagogue, 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:44.519 the people 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.279 were enraged. 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:45.819 A riot 00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.199 started. 00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.119 They dragged 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:47.500 Jesus and 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:47.859 they tried to 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:48.179 take him 00:22:48.179 --> 00:22:48.519 over to 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:48.959 this cliff 00:22:48.959 --> 00:22:49.379 and throw 00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:49.839 him off. 00:22:50.419 --> 00:22:51.419 But it 00:22:51.419 --> 00:22:51.939 says that 00:22:51.939 --> 00:22:52.759 Jesus passed 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:52.979 through the 00:22:52.979 --> 00:22:55.379 crowds and 00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:55.779 he went on 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.179 his way. 00:22:57.719 --> 00:22:58.500 He went 00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.939 to do what 00:22:59.939 --> 00:23:00.479 he had said, 00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:02.039 to bring good 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.619 news to the 00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:04.179 people, to 00:23:04.179 --> 00:23:04.719 bring liberty 00:23:04.719 --> 00:23:06.159 and freedom 00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:07.159 to those who 00:23:07.159 --> 00:23:07.639 are lost. 00:23:09.959 --> 00:23:10.740 The religious 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.979 people, they 00:23:11.979 --> 00:23:12.379 didn't like 00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.259 Jesus because 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.000 he didn't 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.420 stand for 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:14.680 what they 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:14.920 did. 00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:16.420 He didn't 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:16.839 hate the 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.339 Romans like 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:17.759 they wanted 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.200 him to. 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:19.319 In fact, his 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.039 agenda was 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:20.859 completely 00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.319 different. 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.220 But they 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:22.879 couldn't see 00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:24.140 the rescue 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.559 that they 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:26.299 needed, that 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:26.519 it would 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.039 come from 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.319 Jesus. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.279 They didn't 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.920 see that he 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:32.339 would bring 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.680 the freedom 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:32.980 that they 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:34.119 wanted, that 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:34.779 their laws 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:36.039 would only tie 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.379 them and 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.480 keep them as 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:38.879 slaves. 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.720 The sinners 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.220 and the social 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.799 elites, they 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.640 didn't like 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.240 Jesus either 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.280 because he 00:23:44.280 --> 00:23:44.660 didn't seem 00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.620 concerned about 00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.740 the here and 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.840 now, about 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.560 their comfort 00:23:48.560 --> 00:23:49.120 and their 00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:49.700 satisfaction 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:52.200 because he 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:53.380 looked forward. 00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:54.840 He was 00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.900 looking to 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:56.500 an eternal 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:58.759 kingdom and 00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.180 that wasn't 00:23:59.180 --> 00:23:59.600 the kind of 00:23:59.600 --> 00:24:00.000 freedom that 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.440 they wanted. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.580 Jesus brings 00:24:03.580 --> 00:24:04.420 a message of 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.340 freedom to 00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:06.140 all people, 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.180 but many of 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:09.320 us, we 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:10.460 don't like it. 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.700 we don't 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.039 like it 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.440 because Jesus 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.279 says uncomfortable 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.440 things about 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.160 who we are, 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.240 about our 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.980 sinful nature, 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.360 about the 00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:17.920 state of our 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.720 hearts and 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.259 our souls 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.000 before him. 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.620 After three 00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.220 years of his 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.600 ministry, 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:29.059 after three 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:30.539 years of 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.180 good news, 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.940 of hope and 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.340 freedom, 00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:35.360 eventually the 00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:35.819 people would 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.539 take him to 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:37.120 another hill 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:39.259 where they 00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:39.619 would kill 00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:39.879 him. 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.159 Where Jesus 00:24:45.159 --> 00:24:45.599 had been 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.279 spending his 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:48.679 life correcting 00:24:48.679 --> 00:24:50.319 the wrongs 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.519 that sin had 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.539 caused, in 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.939 his death, he 00:24:53.939 --> 00:24:54.399 would get to 00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:55.059 the root of 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.559 the problem. 00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:56.939 On the cross, 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.519 where these 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.019 people thought 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.319 they were 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:01.319 killing God's 00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:01.779 messenger, 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:04.799 instead God 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:06.079 was killing 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:07.059 sin. 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.819 We see in 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.359 the Bible that 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:09.919 three days 00:25:09.919 --> 00:25:10.339 later he 00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:11.779 rose again 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.759 and showed 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.199 the people 00:25:13.199 --> 00:25:13.739 who trusted 00:25:13.739 --> 00:25:14.119 in him, 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.759 the people 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.119 who had 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:15.919 hope and 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.219 the freedom 00:25:16.219 --> 00:25:16.500 that he 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:16.919 would bring, 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:17.379 that their 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.339 freedom wasn't 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:20.539 just from 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.239 the Roman 00:25:21.239 --> 00:25:21.699 oppressors, 00:25:21.739 --> 00:25:22.099 the freedom 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:23.059 wasn't just 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.839 from the 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.459 Pharisees' 00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:25.179 oppression, 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:25.779 the freedom 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:27.199 wasn't from 00:25:27.199 --> 00:25:27.619 the sinners 00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:27.939 who took 00:25:27.939 --> 00:25:28.479 advantage from 00:25:28.479 --> 00:25:28.619 them, 00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:29.519 their freedom 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.159 was even 00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:31.739 over death, 00:25:32.739 --> 00:25:33.819 that those 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:34.079 who had 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.519 hope in 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.579 Christ had 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:35.959 a freedom 00:25:35.959 --> 00:25:36.459 that goes 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.840 beyond the 00:25:37.840 --> 00:25:38.600 life we 00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:38.940 live, 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:39.860 to an 00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:40.240 eternity 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.079 where God 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:41.620 is restoring, 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.840 where we 00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:43.660 get to see 00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.579 what Isaiah 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.299 talks about, 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:45.960 we get to 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.539 see in its 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:46.880 fullness, 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.220 in its 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:47.700 beauty, 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.880 perfect good 00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.100 news, 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.579 perfect hope, 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.700 perfect freedom 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.740 for those who 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.160 are bound. 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:59.720 the Bible 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:02.519 says that we 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:04.140 are in a 00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.620 state of 00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:04.940 spiritual 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:05.340 poverty, 00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.680 we need 00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.740 God's 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.720 good news, 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.680 that we 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.400 are blind 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:14.180 to our 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.540 sin, 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:15.400 we need 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:15.840 God to 00:26:15.840 --> 00:26:16.740 open our 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.160 eyes, 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.820 the Bible 00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:20.560 says that 00:26:20.560 --> 00:26:22.320 the rules 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:22.940 we follow 00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:24.440 cannot save 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:24.779 us, 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.620 and neither 00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:27.360 can our 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:27.680 freedom 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.160 outside 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.519 them. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:30.900 And if 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:32.539 you are 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:32.840 not a 00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.240 Christian here 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:33.600 today, 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.380 then Jesus 00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:36.220 calls you 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.680 and he 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:36.880 says, 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.340 I have 00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:37.779 good news 00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.220 for you, 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.720 because 00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:41.360 where your 00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:42.759 imperfection 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:44.440 haunts you, 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:45.840 God says 00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.580 that in 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.380 me you 00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:48.019 are perfect. 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.019 Where you 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.880 struggle for 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.559 approval from 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.179 other people, 00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:55.159 God says, 00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:56.299 you don't 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.799 need that 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:58.179 because I 00:26:58.179 --> 00:26:59.240 love you. 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.700 Where we 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.960 fail at 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.879 work and 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.359 at home, 00:27:04.899 --> 00:27:05.599 Jesus says 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:06.839 that my 00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.440 strength, 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.700 my grace 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.859 is enough 00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:10.559 for you. 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.599 On the 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:12.899 cross, 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.899 God fulfills 00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:14.700 what he 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.460 says in 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.179 Isaiah 61. 00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.279 He says, 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:18.960 trust in me 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.379 because while 00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:19.940 everything else 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.319 is going to 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.579 let you 00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:20.879 down, 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:23.020 while your 00:27:23.020 --> 00:27:24.140 work and 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:24.700 your family 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:26.120 and your 00:27:26.120 --> 00:27:27.140 nice two 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:27.840 bedroom flat 00:27:27.840 --> 00:27:30.000 are eventually 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.520 going to 00:27:30.520 --> 00:27:30.940 fail you 00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.440 and let 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:31.840 you down, 00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:34.680 I will 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.060 not. 00:27:36.060 --> 00:27:36.740 I will 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.140 give you 00:27:37.140 --> 00:27:38.660 freedom and 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.760 hope beyond 00:27:39.760 --> 00:27:40.400 this life. 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:41.780 I will 00:27:41.780 --> 00:27:42.320 give you 00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:43.460 unimaginable 00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:45.280 love. 00:27:45.760 --> 00:27:46.080 I will 00:27:46.080 --> 00:27:46.580 bring you 00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:47.180 into a 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.820 family that 00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:49.540 lasts forever. 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.659 forever and 00:27:50.659 --> 00:27:50.859 I will 00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.139 give you 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:51.579 forgiveness 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:53.159 for every 00:27:53.159 --> 00:27:53.500 wrong, 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.559 for every 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:55.319 sin. 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.839 This is a 00:27:58.839 --> 00:27:59.879 hope not 00:27:59.879 --> 00:28:00.920 just for 00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.579 the exiles 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:03.019 who are 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:03.559 hearing this 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:03.920 in Isaiah 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.359 61. 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.759 It's not 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:06.159 just for 00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:06.559 the people 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:06.839 in that 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.399 synagogue 00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:08.779 at Sabbath 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:10.059 hearing Jesus 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:10.759 in Luke 4. 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.220 It's a 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.579 hope for 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:12.940 us. 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:14.259 It's a 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.920 hope that 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.399 we have 00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:16.480 heard from 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.119 the mouth 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:17.599 of God 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.059 himself. 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.359 In 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.099 1974, 00:28:21.959 --> 00:28:22.519 a young 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:22.919 Japanese 00:28:22.919 --> 00:28:23.239 guy, 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:23.659 his name 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.019 was 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.859 Nariyo 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.199 Suzuki, 00:28:25.979 --> 00:28:26.699 decided that 00:28:26.699 --> 00:28:26.959 he would 00:28:26.959 --> 00:28:27.500 travel to 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.159 Lubang Island 00:28:28.159 --> 00:28:28.659 to go 00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:29.899 and find 00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:30.799 Onoda. 00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.419 He searched 00:28:32.419 --> 00:28:33.039 and after a 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.299 couple of 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:33.659 days he 00:28:33.659 --> 00:28:34.219 found him 00:28:34.219 --> 00:28:34.839 hiding in 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.179 the jungle. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:35.819 And this 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.059 is the 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.739 first person 00:28:36.739 --> 00:28:38.000 that Hiro 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.479 Onoda had 00:28:38.479 --> 00:28:39.179 spoken to 00:28:39.179 --> 00:28:39.839 in over 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.419 two years. 00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:41.779 And Suzuki 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.479 shared with 00:28:42.479 --> 00:28:43.779 him the 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.319 good news. 00:28:44.959 --> 00:28:45.339 The war 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:45.679 is over. 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.860 You don't 00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:47.220 have to 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.500 hide. 00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:49.480 But Onoda 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:49.759 wasn't 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.180 convinced. 00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:51.320 And so 00:28:51.320 --> 00:28:51.980 Suzuki went 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.299 back to 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:52.660 Japan, 00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:55.420 found Onoda's 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.560 commanding 00:28:56.560 --> 00:28:56.920 officer, 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.519 the guy 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:57.740 that had 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.080 sent him 00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:58.240 out on 00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:58.539 this mission 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:58.880 and brought 00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.160 him back 00:28:59.160 --> 00:28:59.580 to Lubang 00:28:59.580 --> 00:29:01.600 and said, 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.600 the war 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:02.960 is over. 00:29:03.840 --> 00:29:04.259 You don't 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:04.519 have to 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:04.920 follow these 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.539 orders anymore. 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.180 You're 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.480 free. 00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:08.180 You can 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:08.519 come out 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:08.880 of hiding. 00:29:11.320 --> 00:29:11.960 He turned 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.279 over his 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.560 weapons. 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.560 He came 00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:14.860 out of the 00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:15.080 jungle. 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:16.500 And he 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.360 returned to 00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:17.680 Japan, 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:19.860 where he 00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:21.160 lived not 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.560 in fear of 00:29:22.560 --> 00:29:23.820 Americans who 00:29:23.820 --> 00:29:24.100 were going to 00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.480 kill him, 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.640 not in fear of 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:27.080 being found 00:29:27.080 --> 00:29:28.200 out, not 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:29.400 struggling in 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:29.840 the jungle, 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.640 but living a 00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:33.160 free and 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:34.060 full life. 00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:36.600 Jesus' 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.200 message hasn't 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:38.560 changed. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.460 What he said 00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:40.980 to the people in 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.539 the synagogue that 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:41.940 day is the 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.620 same message 00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:44.019 that he has 00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.640 for us today. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:48.000 real freedom, 00:29:49.300 --> 00:29:50.720 real good 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.060 news. 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.040 And he 00:29:53.040 --> 00:29:53.920 came so we 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.500 could hear it, 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.759 not just from 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:58.800 a second-hand 00:29:58.800 --> 00:29:59.620 messenger, but 00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.620 he came that we 00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:01.160 would hear it 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.640 firsthand, that 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.320 we would hear it 00:30:03.320 --> 00:30:05.220 from him, that 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.740 we would see in 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:08.780 him our hope. 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:17.680 as Christians, 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.700 are our lives 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:22.440 showing that 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:22.779 hope? 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.220 Do our lives 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.899 show that we 00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:26.559 are really 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.279 saved? 00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:29.519 Do our lives 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:31.059 show that 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:33.359 we have 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:34.220 confidence in 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.460 God? 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:36.140 do we walk 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:36.960 around in 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:39.460 fear or 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.000 in trust? 00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.120 Do we live 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:41.759 our lives in 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:45.779 guilt or 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.340 in confidence? 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.279 I love what 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.200 Isaiah talks 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:50.819 about in 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.860 verses 10 and 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.180 11. 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.920 He says, 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.960 the people who 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.640 have experienced 00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:56.400 God's freedom, 00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:58.579 they rejoice in 00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:58.940 God. 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.059 They say, 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.200 my soul will 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:01.980 exalt in my 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:03.340 God because he 00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:03.939 has given me 00:31:03.939 --> 00:31:04.939 clothes of 00:31:04.939 --> 00:31:05.299 righteousness. 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.099 He has given 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:07.279 me robes of 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:07.720 salvation. 00:31:08.379 --> 00:31:09.199 He says that 00:31:09.199 --> 00:31:10.159 God's people 00:31:10.159 --> 00:31:10.639 who have 00:31:10.639 --> 00:31:12.000 experienced his 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.159 love, God's 00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:13.619 people who have 00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:14.240 experienced his 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.379 salvation are 00:31:15.379 --> 00:31:16.379 like a plant 00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:18.199 that sprouts 00:31:18.199 --> 00:31:19.119 forward with 00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:20.419 righteousness and 00:31:20.419 --> 00:31:21.539 praise, that 00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:22.699 their lives are 00:31:22.699 --> 00:31:25.000 a fountain of 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:26.279 God's love, of 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.939 God's grace. 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:29.039 Do we? 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.899 Do we look 00:31:30.899 --> 00:31:31.299 like that? 00:31:32.419 --> 00:31:32.879 Do we? 00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:34.419 Sound like 00:31:34.419 --> 00:31:34.939 these people 00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:35.199 who are 00:31:35.199 --> 00:31:35.699 rejoicing? 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.099 Do we wear 00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:38.659 these robes? 00:31:38.699 --> 00:31:39.379 Are we trees 00:31:39.379 --> 00:31:39.879 in a garden? 00:31:43.379 --> 00:31:44.139 Often in the 00:31:44.139 --> 00:31:44.980 church, and 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.879 if I want us, 00:31:45.899 --> 00:31:46.199 I'm talking 00:31:46.199 --> 00:31:46.759 about myself, 00:31:47.939 --> 00:31:48.740 we look for 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.439 other things 00:31:49.439 --> 00:31:50.939 other than 00:31:50.939 --> 00:31:51.659 Jesus, other 00:31:51.659 --> 00:31:52.119 than his 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:54.259 righteousness and 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:54.959 his salvation. 00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.379 Just like the 00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:00.699 Israelites hid 00:32:00.699 --> 00:32:01.439 in their holes 00:32:01.439 --> 00:32:02.519 and paneled 00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:03.099 their homes, 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.559 or just like 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:04.879 the religious 00:32:04.879 --> 00:32:06.279 people clung 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.079 to their 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:08.919 laws, or 00:32:08.919 --> 00:32:09.439 Hiro Noda 00:32:09.439 --> 00:32:10.319 stuck with 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:10.819 his orders. 00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:14.019 We look for 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.519 things that can 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.240 save us, like 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.959 our boss's 00:32:16.959 --> 00:32:19.139 approval, where 00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:20.839 if he will 00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:21.279 like us 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.679 enough, then 00:32:22.679 --> 00:32:23.480 we can have 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.000 freedom. 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.679 Or maybe it's 00:32:26.679 --> 00:32:27.359 our grades at 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:27.639 school. 00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.220 Or perhaps it's 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:29.939 the love of our 00:32:29.939 --> 00:32:30.639 friends and our 00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:31.179 family, and we 00:32:31.179 --> 00:32:32.039 serve these things 00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:33.339 hoping that they 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:34.119 will free us. 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:39.220 But if God is 00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:41.759 our hope, if 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.720 what Jesus says 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:43.839 is true, that 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:44.519 there is freedom, 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:50.059 then our work can 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.559 be different. 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:51.899 It means that when 00:32:51.899 --> 00:32:52.819 we're stuck between 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:55.099 a terrible boss and 00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:56.399 tough working hours, 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:59.320 we can look and 00:32:59.320 --> 00:33:00.560 know that our God 00:33:00.560 --> 00:33:01.600 hasn't abandoned us, 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.900 that he's there, 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:07.480 that we know that 00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.880 we can pass our 00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:09.820 exams at school, 00:33:09.820 --> 00:33:11.560 or we can fail them 00:33:11.560 --> 00:33:13.220 spectacularly, because 00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:16.060 either way, God's love 00:33:16.060 --> 00:33:18.420 is enough, and he will 00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:20.380 provide, and he says 00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:21.900 that you are free. 00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:23.900 And he says, 00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:25.340 this hope in God 00:33:25.340 --> 00:33:26.900 propels us into 00:33:27.580 --> 00:33:29.980 mission, because when 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:31.620 we see our hope, when 00:33:31.620 --> 00:33:32.860 our lives are rejoicing 00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:34.180 in our difficulty, when 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:35.480 our lives are rejoicing 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:39.120 in our struggle, we can 00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:40.040 look up, and we can 00:33:40.040 --> 00:33:42.280 see other people who 00:33:42.280 --> 00:33:45.060 are trapped, slaves to 00:33:45.060 --> 00:33:46.660 their work, to others' 00:33:46.780 --> 00:33:49.000 approval, slaves to the 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.640 struggles that they're 00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.300 facing today. 00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:52.240 We can look up and 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.139 see the things that 00:33:53.139 --> 00:33:53.680 we've been talking 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.339 about the past couple 00:33:54.339 --> 00:33:54.759 of weeks. 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:56.259 We can look up to the 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.259 thirsty, and we can 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.859 tell them where to 00:33:57.859 --> 00:34:01.599 find true water, true 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.259 life. 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.480 We can look to the 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:05.859 outsiders, those who 00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:06.919 are ignored by others, 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:09.300 and bring them in to a 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.980 family where they are 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.880 loved and accepted. 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.659 We can go out, and we 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:16.500 can see injustice, and 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:18.039 because our hope is not 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.059 in our ability to do 00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:20.279 something about it, but 00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:21.880 in God who promises to 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:23.160 right the wrongs. 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:26.860 We can love those who 00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:27.260 have been treated 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:27.960 unjustly. 00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:32.080 If our mission is 00:34:32.080 --> 00:34:33.920 fueled by our own 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:36.700 motivation, we're going 00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:37.080 to fail. 00:34:38.160 --> 00:34:40.920 But if our mission as a 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:43.280 church is fueled by God's 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.900 hope, then we can do 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:46.980 amazing things, rejoicing in 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:48.559 God and knowing that he is 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.059 in control. 00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:54.139 When you go to work, and 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:55.059 you see someone who comes 00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:58.079 in like, it's the end of 00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:58.860 the week, and it's only 00:34:58.860 --> 00:35:01.900 Monday, or they look 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:03.099 defeated at their desk the 00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:05.320 moment they sit down, what 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:08.539 hope can you share with 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:08.740 them? 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:12.759 How can your friendships and 00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:13.319 relationships be different as 00:35:13.319 --> 00:35:15.319 you're pointing people to the 00:35:15.319 --> 00:35:17.319 true satisfaction? 00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:21.899 What about the disadvantaged 00:35:21.899 --> 00:35:22.759 people in your neighborhood? 00:35:23.339 --> 00:35:25.019 How can your community group go 00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:27.419 out and share hope and share 00:35:27.419 --> 00:35:29.359 freedom and share love with these 00:35:29.359 --> 00:35:29.699 people? 00:35:29.699 --> 00:35:34.919 What about the mother in your 00:35:34.919 --> 00:35:37.559 child's play group who looks 00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:39.719 like there's no hope? 00:35:41.419 --> 00:35:42.799 Or the neighbor across the 00:35:42.799 --> 00:35:45.899 hallway who's just lost their 00:35:45.899 --> 00:35:47.039 spouse to cancer? 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:52.539 All of our lives can be about 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:55.159 God's mission because in every 00:35:55.159 --> 00:35:58.099 moment, in every struggle, in 00:35:58.099 --> 00:36:00.799 every sadness, we know that we 00:36:00.799 --> 00:36:02.360 have received this message of 00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:04.539 hope, good news for the poor, 00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:07.799 freedom for captives. 00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:14.480 Jesus says in Isaiah 61 that 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:16.599 God's Spirit is upon him to bring 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:17.500 good news. 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:21.199 And if we are God's children, 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:24.679 then God's Spirit is on us so we 00:36:24.679 --> 00:36:26.380 can proclaim good news to the poor 00:36:26.380 --> 00:36:30.420 and liberty to the captives, that we 00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:33.400 can bring comfort to the 00:36:33.400 --> 00:36:33.660 morning. 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.680 We can look to those around us and 00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:39.099 say that there is true freedom and 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:40.940 hope in Christ, that you don't have 00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:43.400 to fight your war anymore because 00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:45.440 Christ has done it. 00:36:46.180 --> 00:36:48.720 You don't have to search and look for 00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:52.079 love because God has all that you 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:54.400 need, that you don't have to be 00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:57.200 perfect because he gives you 00:36:57.200 --> 00:36:57.660 forgiveness. 00:36:59.019 --> 00:36:59.639 Let's pray. 00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:06.139 Father God, I thank you for your good 00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:06.380 news. 00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:11.019 I thank you that you speak to us in 00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:13.820 our trapped lives, in our 00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:16.240 hopelessness, in our slavery. 00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:18.960 And you say that we can come to you, 00:37:19.700 --> 00:37:22.539 that we can find hope, that we can 00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:23.519 find relief. 00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:26.119 And I thank you for the words that 00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:27.739 you share with us in Isaiah 61, 00:37:28.300 --> 00:37:30.199 that you have brought good news. 00:37:31.320 --> 00:37:33.579 I pray that we would be people who 00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:35.559 receive this good news, who are 00:37:35.559 --> 00:37:38.360 shaped by your great love for us, 00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:40.860 who are shaped by the amazing 00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:44.380 freedom and hope that you give us in 00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:44.739 Jesus. 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:48.119 In his name, amen.