WEBVTT

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 Father, you know those of us who have been victims of violence.

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 You know those of us who have been abused and oppressed.

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 And you know, Father, how hard it can be for them in a country like Canada to suffer alone

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 when it seems like nobody else has those problems.

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 And we confess before you, Father, that our Christian community isn't always maybe very good at helping people.

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 So, Father, your word today, Father, came as a shock probably to many of us.

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 And it seems odd that it would be in your word.

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 But we know that you are the good God, that you are the loving God,

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 and that even your hard words are said in mercy to bring us to yourself.

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 So we ask, Father, that in your kindness and in your grace,

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 the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon us with might and power and deep conviction,

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 that your word would come home to us in a deep way,

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 and that we would be gripped by the wonder and beauty and power and grace of the gospel,

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 and so live free and whole to bring you glory.

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 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 So it must have come as a bit of a shock to some of you when you heard Ken read that text of Scripture.

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 We, in fact, are going to look today at one of the most horrible passages in the Bible,

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 just to be very, very frank.

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 It is, and it not only is one of the most horrible stories in the Bible,

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 it touches on many of the deepest fears people in our culture have about the Christian faith,

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 in particular in religion in general,

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 that a man would be filled with the Holy Spirit and make a vow to the Lord

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 and then would proceed to, let's be blunt, murder his daughter.

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 Murder his daughter as a sacrifice to the Lord.

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 And it is a horrible story,

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 and as I said, it touches on many of the deepest cultural fears

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 that people in Canada have about the Bible.

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 And I guess for some of you, as you might have noticed in my prayer,

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 it might touch on some of your own particular fears

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 in terms of if you've suffered violence from a hand of a father or a mother.

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 So what we do here at Church of the Messiah is we,

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 you know, the Bible was written as a series of books.

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 And so what we do is we preach through books,

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 and that means we look at those things which are sort of easy.

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 I have some Sundays, some Mondays, I look at the text I'm going to preach on

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 and think, oh, this is going to be fun.

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 And I have other Sundays, other Mondays like this past one

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 when I look at 60 verses,

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 and I think, well, this is going to be a bit of an interesting week

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 trying to understand the text.

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 And so we're going to look at the story.

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 Once again, if you don't have a Bible,

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 there is Bibles up at the front.

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 Just feel free to just come and walk up to the front while I'm speaking.

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 That will be fine.

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 I can't read all of the text, all 60 verses.

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 The part that Ken read was just a little bit of the whole story of Jephthah.

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 And so parts of the text we will read,

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 and parts of it I'll just tell you in a bit of a summary form.

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 If you have your own Bibles, you can check.

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 I haven't, I've made sure that the awkward parts are in.

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 So I'm not trying to dodge anything in terms of what the text is saying.

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 So if you're just a bit of a, you know, a refresher,

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 this is a long, the book of Judges is a series of many, many, many stories.

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 It takes place roughly between the time that Israel enters into the promised land

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 and the coming of the first, the naming of the very first king.

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 It's several hundred years,

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 and it shows these different 12 tribes

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 and the different ways they depart from the Lord.

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 And one of the things you have to understand when we're reading this,

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 because some of us, if we're very Canadian,

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 will wonder why it is a bad thing

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 that we're, that the text talks about

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 you shouldn't worship Baal or Ashtar.

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 You shouldn't worship the gods of other nations.

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 And for many Canadians, it sounds very, very narrow-minded.

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 And I'm not going to argue about it today.

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 I just want to let you know that this is one of the things

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 that Christians believe is very, very, very, very, very un-Canadian.

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 Like, I believe that the triune God actually really exists.

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 And that talking about religion and spirituality

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 isn't like talking about things that make you peaceful

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 or things that give you meaning or anything like that.

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 I believe that the triune God,

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 revealed by Jesus, who lived in history

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 and died upon the cross and rose again,

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 that he really did die, he really did rise from the dead,

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 he really will come again,

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 and he really reveals a real being that really does exist.

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 And given that he really exists,

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 it means that to believe that God is somehow different than that

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 is to not know the real God.

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 And it's very un-Canadian.

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 But that's at the heart of this whole text, by the way.

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 All the way through it.

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 There is this particular God that really does exist,

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 and other gods don't exist,

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 at least not in the way that they portray themselves to their followers.

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 So let's look at the story.

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 If you turn in the book of Judges to chapter 10,

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 and we begin the story of Jephthah at verse 6,

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 and it begins like this.

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 The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord

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 and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth,

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 the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon,

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 the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites,

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 and the gods of the Philistines.

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 And they forsook, they left behind,

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 they completely abandoned,

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 they turned their back on the Lord.

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 And did not serve him.

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 You can also translate that as worship him.

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 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel,

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 and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines,

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 and into the hand of the Ammonites.

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 And they crushed and oppressed,

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 that is the Ammonites,

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 they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year.

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 For 18 years,

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 they oppressed all the people of Israel

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 who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Ammonites,

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 which is in Gilead.

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 And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah

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 and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim,

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 so that Israel was severely distressed.

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 Now just sort of pause there.

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 What we see here is the people of Israel are listed that they now serve seven different pantheons of gods.

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 So it's not just seven different gods,

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 but seven pantheons of gods,

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 seven whole families of gods.

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 And they not only worship these other apparent gods

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 that were native to the land of Canaan,

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 but even from those beyond,

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 because the Philistines aren't native to Canaan.

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 And many of these other people or nations that they mention

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 are people who have come into the land and defeated Israel.

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 And then Israel ends up starting to worship their gods as well.

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 And when it says here that the Lord,

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 as I've talked about in other weeks,

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 the Lord sells Israel into the hand of the Ammonites.

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 It's not like when,

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 if I was to sell you a car,

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 you'd really have to be desperate to buy a car that I would sell you,

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 because it's just half a step ahead of the scrap heap.

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 But if I was to sell you a car,

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 once I've sold you the car,

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 it's your car.

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 I can't tell you how,

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 you know,

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 when you should put oil in it or how you should drive it.

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 It's your car.

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 You could tell me,

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 get lost.

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 It's my car now.

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 That's not the language here.

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 It's a very literal translation.

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 But as I've shared other weeks,

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 what the Lord says is that you have chosen idols.

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 And in a sense,

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 the punishment for choosing idols is for the Lord to allow you to have a greater idolatry

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 and have the idol have a greater role in your life.

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 An example would be this.

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 There are many,

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 a simple one,

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 but many,

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 many people in our culture make an idol out of money.

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 We don't think of worshipping money.

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 Like,

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 you don't really think that there's like a multi-billionaire.

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 It's not just rich people who worship money,

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 by the way.

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 It can be many of us.

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 It's not as if they put a,

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 you know,

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 a hundred dollar bill down on a table and bow down and worship it.

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 But for many people,

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 they serve money.

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 They get their meaning from money.

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 They get their pleasure from money.

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 They get their hope from money.

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 They,

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 they,

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 they justify themselves and their behaviors and their actions from money.

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 And in a sense,

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 what happens is that God might at some point in time,

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 he,

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 he restrains that a little bit with you.

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 It's called common grace.

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 So that you don't really just completely and utterly give your life totally to money.

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 Because if you do that,

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 it will almost always ruin your relationships.

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 It will ruin your wife or your husband or your marriage.

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 If you're married,

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 it'll ruin your kids.

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 If you just completely and utterly devote yourself to money,

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 it'll twist how you view the world.

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 And this description of the Lord selling you is just saying,

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 if in a sense for you to,

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 to understand what you're doing,

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 I'm going to withdraw my common grace and let you pursue what you want.

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 In the hope that by pursuing what you want,

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 you say to yourself,

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 what am I doing?

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 Why am I putting everything into money?

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 And it's ruined my marriage.

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 It's ruined my relationships with my kids.

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 It's poisoned my relationships with my coworkers and my neighbors.

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 And that's the hope behind it.

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 And so what has happened is they've worshipped the pantheons of seven different nations,

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 the seven different pantheons,

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 and God has allowed that to happen.

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 Well,

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 what happens next?

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 And if you're familiar with the other stories,

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 you now realize that they come to that point where they start to cry out to the Lord.

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 And this next bit is a very shocking part of the Bible.

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 Just listen to what it is.

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 Continue reading at verse 10.

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 And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord,

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 saying,

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 we have sinned against you because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals,

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 the Baals.

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 And the Lord said to the people of Israel,

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 did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites,

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 from the Ammonites and from the Philistines,

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 the Sidonians also,

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 and the Amalekites and the Amalekites oppressed you and you cried out to me,

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 and I saved you out of their hand.

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 Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods.

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 Listen to this.

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 Therefore,

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 I will save you no more.

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 Go and cry out to the gods from whom you have chosen.

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 Let them save you in the time of your distress.

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 Just using the analogy of an idol of money,

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 money shows you no mercy.

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 Does it?

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 Money never shows you grace.

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 Never.

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 They worship these other gods.

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 God says this very,

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 very,

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 very shocking thing.

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 There have been seven pantheons of God.

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 Clever little thing is there are seven different deliverances which are made.

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 made.

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 Now,

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 this is one of the important things in the Bible.

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 Often when people get troubled by certain parts of the Bible,

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 and this is still a very troubling thing,

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 you need to keep reading and look at the whole story often,

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 sometimes the whole book,

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 to see how that actually really plays out.

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 And in this particular case,

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 what happens is that the people of Israel,

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 despite what is said,

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 throw themselves on God's mercy.

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 They abandon themselves to God's mercy.

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 And they really abandon themselves.

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 Look what happens next.

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 Verses 15 and 16.

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 And the people of Israel said to the Lord,

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 we have sinned.

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 Do to us whatever seems good to you.

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 Only please deliver us this day.

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 So they put away the foreign gods from among them

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 and served the Lord.

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 And he became impatient over the misery of Israel.

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 In other words,

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 his heart was moved over the misery of Israel.

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 And you know that he's going to do something about it.

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 Now,

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 just very,

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 very briefly,

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 I don't want to spend much time on it,

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 but I just wanted to point out,

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 if you want to go on later on and read this text

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 and meditate upon it,

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 it's a very,

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 very interesting thing about what true repentance is.

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 Truly saying you're sorry.

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 If you could put up the first point,

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 in true and wise repentance,

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 you are sorry for the wrong that you have done,

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 not the personal consequences of wrongdoing.

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 See,

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 many of us,

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 so let's say it's a matter that you get caught telling lies.

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 And what people are sorry about is that they got caught,

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 not the lies.

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 You know,

00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:28.980
 you're dating,

00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:29.799
 you know,

00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:30.779
 a couple are dating,

00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:32.759
 and you find out that,

00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:33.399
 you know,

00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.620
 you find out that your boyfriend

00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:37.559
 had been going on with dates with another girl,

00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:39.179
 and you get mad at him,

00:13:39.219 --> 00:13:40.119
 and you drop him,

00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:41.919
 and he's sorry that you dropped him,

00:13:42.199 --> 00:13:43.099
 not what he did.

00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:44.899
 Right?

00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:47.299
 And so what we see here in this story

00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:49.939
 is that they realize that they've been doing something wrong.

00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:52.099
 It's not just the consequences that they're sad about,

00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:52.839
 the personal ones,

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:56.099
 they're sorry over what they've done wrong.

00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:57.859
 And the second thing,

00:13:57.919 --> 00:13:59.019
 if you could put up the next point,

00:13:59.119 --> 00:14:00.500
 is in true and wise repentance,

00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:01.899
 you put away the sin

00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:03.719
 and replace it with the good.

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.619
 In true and wise repentance,

00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:06.740
 you put away the sin

00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:08.240
 and replace it with the good.

00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.460
 The last time I did a counseling session with a couple

00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:13.580
 about this particular issue,

00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:15.679
 not the last time I did something with a couple,

00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:16.600
 but there was this couple,

00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:17.600
 and as I'm talking to them,

00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:18.620
 I started to have a suspicion

00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:19.240
 that there was,

00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:21.940
 that he was punching her and hitting her.

00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.840
 And so I asked the direct question,

00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:26.980
 and there's this very, very pause,

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.600
 this shocked silence.

00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.159
 And then she said,

00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:30.460
 yes,

00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:31.639
 he's hitting me.

00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.419
 And I said to him,

00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.919
 I'm not going to do any marriage counseling

00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:36.659
 until you stop hitting your wife.

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.059
 And I said to her,

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:41.139
 you either kick him out or you leave.

00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.980
 And when you're in a place of safety,

00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:46.539
 then we can continue the counseling.

00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.639
 Like,

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:55.600
 that's what real repentance is.

00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:57.960
 You stop doing the bad thing,

00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:00.000
 and it can be hard,

00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.680
 but you start to do the right thing.

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.620
 So it's actually,

00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.519
 if you look at that text,

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:06.500
 it's a very simple little thing within the text

00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:07.740
 that I wanted to point out to you.

00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:10.120
 But the text continues.

00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.840
 And what happens next,

00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.480
 right after this,

00:15:12.540 --> 00:15:14.420
 just to sort of move the story along,

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:17.540
 is war starts to be,

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:20.120
 you're on the edge of war.

00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:23.220
 The Ammonites are preparing for a major battle.

00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:24.120
 They've been oppressing,

00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:27.779
 severely oppressing Israel for 18 years.

00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:29.440
 They're mobilizing their forces.

00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:30.700
 They're on the brink of war.

00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:33.980
 It's late August 1939,

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.840
 and so to speak,

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:39.540
 and they can see that the war is going to be coming.

00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.399
 And then what happens is

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:44.340
 the people of Israel realize

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:46.740
 that they have lots of different troops,

00:15:46.800 --> 00:15:47.840
 but they have no leader.

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.019
 There's nobody over them,

00:15:49.040 --> 00:15:50.660
 and there's nobody who's really a warrior.

00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:53.040
 It's as if they have lots of bureaucrats,

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.360
 not putting down bureaucrats.

00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:55.740
 They have lots of bureaucrats,

00:15:55.839 --> 00:15:58.059
 but not somebody who can actually lead somebody into battle.

00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:00.519
 And so you get a bit of a backstory about Jephthah,

00:16:00.599 --> 00:16:02.000
 and Jephthah is the son.

00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:04.519
 There's a married man who has kids,

00:16:04.719 --> 00:16:06.579
 and he goes and sleeps with a prostitute

00:16:06.579 --> 00:16:08.000
 and makes the prostitute pregnant,

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:09.539
 and the baby is Jephthah.

00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:12.120
 And as Jephthah gets to be a certain age,

00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:15.199
 the brothers and sisters of the dad

00:16:15.199 --> 00:16:17.779
 start oppressing Jephthah

00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:20.459
 and eventually kick him out of the whole region,

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:22.460
 and he has to go and flee and live somewhere else

00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:24.920
 because his brothers and sisters are so against him.

00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.780
 And when he goes to this other place,

00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:29.320
 he ends up becoming basically like a...

00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:30.900
 He becomes a raider.

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:32.000
 He becomes a robber.

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:34.540
 He gathers a whole pile of criminals around him,

00:16:34.780 --> 00:16:36.160
 so he's a natural leader.

00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:38.800
 Only the thing is, he's a leader in stealing.

00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:41.820
 But he's able to mobilize a large group of men,

00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:43.639
 and they go and successfully steal and raid

00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.540
 in lots of places.

00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:47.620
 And so the elders of Israel,

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:49.879
 they go and they headhunt him.

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.120
 And they said,

00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:52.599
 you're very successful at fighting,

00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:55.419
 and you're very successful at mobilizing people.

00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:58.199
 Will you come and be the commander of the army?

00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:58.679
 And he says,

00:16:58.719 --> 00:17:00.539
 I'm only going to come and be the commander of the army

00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:01.819
 if I'm also, in a sense, the king,

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.899
 the ruler of the whole place.

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:03.899
 And they have a bit of a negotiation.

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.359
 And at the end of it,

00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:07.159
 the people of Israel agree.

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.920
 And then if you look here at verse 11,

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.259
 chapter 11, verse 11,

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.980
 you see this very interesting thing.

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:14.900
 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead,

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.480
 that's sort of the particular area of Israel that they're in,

00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:20.440
 and the people made him head and leader over them.

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:24.460
 And Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord at Mizpah.

00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:26.720
 And it's sort of a very interesting thing,

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:29.700
 is that despite that he's living in a pagan land,

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:32.380
 and he's a robber, he's a raider,

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.799
 he has this connection to the Lord.

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.539
 And everything that's gone on,

00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:39.000
 all that they've asked him to do,

00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:40.599
 he brings before the Lord.

00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:43.139
 It's a holy moment, so to speak.

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:45.179
 Even though they've been serving the pantheons

00:17:45.179 --> 00:17:47.480
 of seven other nations, seven pantheons,

00:17:47.879 --> 00:17:49.879
 he doesn't go and speak to any of the pantheons.

00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:52.299
 He brings the whole matter, everything.

00:17:52.719 --> 00:17:53.980
 What they're asking him to do,

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:55.959
 the battle, the oppression, everything,

00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:58.079
 he pours it out to the Lord.

00:17:58.919 --> 00:17:59.699
 And that's what happens.

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:02.279
 So what happens next?

00:18:02.459 --> 00:18:05.740
 Well, if you go back and you read from verses 12 to 28,

00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:07.480
 you see that the first thing that Jephthah does

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:10.220
 is he actually tries to negotiate with the Ammonites.

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:12.940
 And what you see there is how he says,

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.339
 you know, what's the issue here?

00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:16.900
 Is there a way we can solve it by negotiation?

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:19.360
 You can go and read it if you want.

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.200
 And at the end of the day,

00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:22.920
 Jephthah says,

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.980
 here's the different issues that I see them.

00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:27.220
 But the Ammonites just reject them all.

00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:29.759
 They're not interested in negotiation at all.

00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.879
 They're not interested in dialogue at all.

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:35.900
 It's their way or death.

00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:37.819
 And their way will be death.

00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:41.279
 And so the battle is about to begin.

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:46.879
 But this brings us to the part that Ken read.

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:51.279
 It brings us to the horror of the text.

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:57.480
 If you turn with me to chapter 11, verse 29.

00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.759
 And notice here,

00:19:02.139 --> 00:19:04.079
 the Bible doesn't pull any punches.

00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:09.720
 Then the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jephthah.

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.799
 Now you just pause and you think,

00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:14.619
 okay, the Holy Spirit's on Jephthah.

00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:16.779
 Things are going to be holy and good.

00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.539
 I mean, he's been a pretty good leader.

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.779
 He's poured out his heart to the Lord.

00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.759
 He's tried to negotiate.

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.399
 I mean, that's the right thing to do.

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:25.139
 Things are going to be good now

00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:28.039
 because the Holy Spirit has come upon Jephthah.

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:30.180
 Continuing on in verse 29,

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:32.240
 and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.240
 and passed on to Mishpah of Gilead.

00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.399
 And from Mishpah of Gilead,

00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:37.339
 he passed on to the Ammonites.

00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:38.559
 In other words,

00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:40.559
 he's mobilizing his forces for the battle.

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:44.599
 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said,

00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:47.680
 if you will give the Ammonites into my hand,

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:50.039
 then whatever,

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:52.860
 and in Hebrew it can either be whatever or whoever,

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:57.539
 comes out from the doors of my house to meet me

00:19:57.539 --> 00:20:00.420
 when I return in peace from the Ammonites,

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:02.160
 shall be the Lord's.

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:07.400
 And I will offer him or her or it up

00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:10.160
 for a burnt offering.

00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:18.759
 It's just a terrific text.

00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:22.840
 How is it that he has this affinity for the Lord

00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:24.600
 and he's open,

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.140
 he's saying to God,

00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:27.460
 listen, here's the deal, God.

00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:28.920
 Here's the deal, Lord.

00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:30.720
 You help me win

00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:33.980
 and I will make the biggest sacrifice imaginable.

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:36.120
 I'll sacrifice a human being for you

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:38.040
 if you let me win.

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:42.359
 Now we're going to spend some more time

00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:43.639
 on some other issues in this text,

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.659
 but if you could, Andrew,

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:47.579
 put up this next thing.

00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.759
 I just want to say a couple of things

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.759
 very, very briefly

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.079
 before we go any further.

00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:53.180
 Doing what is evil

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:55.879
 is never acceptable worship

00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:57.899
 in the eyes of the triune God.

00:20:58.619 --> 00:21:00.119
 Doing what is evil

00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:02.339
 is never acceptable worship

00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:04.159
 in the eyes of the triune God.

00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:06.040
 I have an atheist friend.

00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:08.680
 He's since moved to a different Starbucks,

00:21:08.860 --> 00:21:09.900
 so I don't see him very often,

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:11.900
 but one of the things

00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:13.140
 which he loved to do

00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:16.279
 was show me the most recent picture

00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:18.480
 of a Russian Orthodox priest

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.480
 blessing war planes

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.800
 that were going to Syria.

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:24.660
 And for him,

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:26.000
 it was just a classic defeater.

00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:26.759
 He would just go,

00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:29.180
 religion?

00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:30.620
 Christianity?

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.100
 Drop the mic.

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:35.539
 What the Bible is saying is this.

00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:37.179
 Adding a prayer

00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:39.419
 before you go to kill somebody

00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:40.679
 doesn't make it right.

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.079
 Adding a prayer

00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:43.599
 before you commit adultery

00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:45.039
 doesn't make it right.

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.759
 Adding a prayer

00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.240
 while you deny

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.959
 you're a slum landlord

00:21:49.959 --> 00:21:51.299
 and you deny the rights

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.139
 of your tenants,

00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:53.480
 but you go to church

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:55.000
 doesn't make it right.

00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.559
 And I use the word evil

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.599
 because it's very strong,

00:21:57.699 --> 00:21:59.179
 but it's anything which is wrong.

00:22:00.219 --> 00:22:01.339
 Doing something wrong

00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:02.539
 is never something

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.639
 that pleases God.

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.559
 It's not something

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.399
 you can consider

00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.259
 to be worship.

00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.980
 Whatever else is going on

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.939
 in this story here,

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.359
 it's not meant to teach us

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.459
 that it's all right.

00:22:12.899 --> 00:22:14.279
 And this is very important

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.059
 because it touches

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.419
 on deep cultural issues.

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:18.939
 It's a very big cultural fear

00:22:18.939 --> 00:22:20.259
 and it's a big cultural fear

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.199
 because sometimes,

00:22:21.399 --> 00:22:21.559
 I mean,

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:22.599
 how can we deny

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.959
 that there have been

00:22:23.959 --> 00:22:24.720
 many priests

00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.359
 and pastors

00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:25.959
 and ministers

00:22:25.959 --> 00:22:27.359
 who abused their power

00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.559
 to abuse boys?

00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:30.619
 We can't deny that.

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.259
 And how many

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.379
 Baptist deacons

00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:33.940
 and elders

00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:34.759
 have also been,

00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:35.919
 and Anglicans

00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:36.539
 have been guilty

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.759
 of horrendous things

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.639
 using religion

00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:39.399
 to cover it up.

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.879
 We cannot deny that.

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:43.500
 But what we can say

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.240
 is this text

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.619
 is definitely not saying

00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.339
 that it is right.

00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:47.480
 If you could put up

00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.139
 the next point,

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:48.859
 Andrew.

00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.940
 Here's the other thing

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.539
 is the Lord

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.799
 is going to deliver Israel,

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:54.099
 but the Lord

00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.960
 delivers Israel

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:57.419
 despite Jephthah's vow,

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:59.299
 not because of his vow.

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.779
 The Lord's going

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.659
 to deliver Israel

00:23:01.659 --> 00:23:03.200
 because the Lord

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.940
 delivers,

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:06.419
 not because of

00:23:06.419 --> 00:23:07.259
 what Jephthah says.

00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.460
 It is because

00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.319
 it is of the very

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.339
 nature of the Lord

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:11.359
 that he saves

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.440
 and delivers.

00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:14.980
 And so despite

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:16.379
 the evil

00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:19.419
 of Jephthah's vow,

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.899
 the Lord will deliver.

00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:22.640
 And that's what happens

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.400
 very next.

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.220
 Just very briefly,

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.240
 they win.

00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.880
 Immediately after this,

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.600
 they win.

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.320
 The people

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.680
 who had been

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:32.240
 severely oppressing them

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.420
 for 18 years

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:34.100
 are beaten

00:23:34.100 --> 00:23:35.160
 in battle.

00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:37.280
 And now we turn

00:23:37.280 --> 00:23:38.160
 to verse 34

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.120
 of chapter 11.

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.140
 Then Jephthah,

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.500
 after the victory,

00:23:43.060 --> 00:23:43.660
 then Jephthah

00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.519
 came to his home

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.180
 at Mizpah,

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.140
 and behold,

00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:47.240
 his daughter

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.900
 came out

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.460
 to meet him

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.519
 with tambourines

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.320
 and with dances.

00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:52.400
 She was his only child.

00:23:52.540 --> 00:23:53.300
 Beside her,

00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.580
 he had neither son

00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:55.259
 nor daughter.

00:23:55.840 --> 00:23:56.680
 And as soon as

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.440
 he saw her,

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:59.280
 he tore his clothes

00:23:59.280 --> 00:24:00.780
 and said,

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.759
 Alas,

00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:03.420
 my daughter,

00:24:03.540 --> 00:24:04.140
 you have brought me

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.740
 very low,

00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:06.400
 and you have become

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.340
 the cause

00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:08.240
 of great trouble

00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.360
 for me.

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.259
 For I have opened

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.300
 my mouth to the Lord,

00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.380
 and I cannot take

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:14.240
 back my vow.

00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:16.500
 And she said to him,

00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.059
 my father,

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:17.700
 you have opened

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.120
 your mouth

00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:18.700
 to the Lord.

00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.440
 Do to me

00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.319
 according to what

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:20.980
 has gone out

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.579
 of your mouth

00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:23.099
 now that the Lord

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.940
 has avenged you

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.720
 on your enemies

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.740
 on the Ammonites.

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.079
 Just pause

00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.640
 before we read

00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.279
 the next bit.

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.200
 If you make

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.880
 an evil vow,

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:34.099
 the Lord wants you

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.660
 to recant

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.519
 and repent of it.

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:36.640
 So this is wrong.

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.339
 But the other thing

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:38.940
 is a very,

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.700
 very telling thing.

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.299
 This goes back

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:40.839
 to the whole thing

00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.519
 about repentance.

00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:43.720
 from the story,

00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.799
 he would not

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.920
 have been upset

00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:49.579
 if one of his

00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.700
 servants came up

00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.839
 first.

00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:52.680
 He would have

00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.539
 sacrificed them.

00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:55.039
 He's upset

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.160
 because it's his

00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.460
 daughter.

00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.920
 And then the story

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:04.440
 goes,

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.200
 if you continue

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.460
 on with it

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.720
 in verse 37.

00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:10.420
 So she said

00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:10.980
 to her father,

00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.640
 let this thing

00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:12.319
 be done for me.

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:12.980
 Leave me alone

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.480
 two months

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.079
 that I may go

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.759
 up and down

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.400
 on the mountains

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:15.960
 and weep

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.839
 for my virginity.

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.620
 She's prepucessant.

00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.319
 Just on the edge

00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:20.940
 of being old enough

00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.539
 to be married.

00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.940
 I and my companions.

00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.779
 And so he said,

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.059
 go.

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.160
 Then he sent her

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.039
 away for two months

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.740
 and she departed.

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.799
 She and her companions

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.819
 and wept for her

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:30.299
 virginity on the mountains.

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.019
 And at the end

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.720
 of the two months

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.220
 she returned

00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:32.880
 to her father

00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:34.339
 who did with her

00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:36.339
 according to his vow

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:38.220
 that he had made.

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.500
 She had never

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.079
 known a man

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.660
 and it became

00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:41.599
 a custom in Israel

00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.319
 that the daughters

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:42.799
 of Israel

00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.839
 went year by year

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.319
 to lament

00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:44.819
 the daughter

00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.339
 of Jephthah

00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:46.000
 the Gilead,

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.200
 Gileadite,

00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:49.339
 four days in the year.

00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.940
 It's an oral custom.

00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:51.880
 It's not something

00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.980
 which is still practiced.

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.259
 And the fact

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.420
 that they memorialize

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.539
 this isn't a good sign

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.359
 about the spiritual

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.180
 health of Israel

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:58.799
 by the way.

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.799
 It's not a good sign.

00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:03.160
 They're not romanticizing it.

00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:06.480
 Right?

00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.660
 Because the lesson

00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.920
 should have been

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.980
 that there is

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:11.019
 a yearly remembrance

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:12.540
 that you never

00:26:12.540 --> 00:26:13.259
 make a vow

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:14.660
 to commit human sacrifice

00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.680
 which is clearly

00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.400
 condemned

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.519
 throughout the entire

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.340
 five books

00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.019
 of the Bible

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.840
 which Jephthah

00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:21.220
 would have had access

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.080
 to at that time

00:26:22.080 --> 00:26:22.660
 in his life.

00:26:23.080 --> 00:26:24.160
 It's consistently

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:24.880
 condemned

00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:26.519
 in the Bible.

00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.740
 And then

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:31.100
 just to wrap up

00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.500
 the story

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:31.920
 if you read

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.840
 the last eight verses

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:34.119
 you'll find

00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:34.959
 that one of the things

00:26:34.959 --> 00:26:35.799
 that ends up happening

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:37.519
 and by the way

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.779
 in many many religions

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:41.099
 and it's often viewed

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.539
 as a positive thing today

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.279
 you know

00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.419
 you look at the lion king

00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:45.579
 and the circle of life

00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.519
 but the fact of the matter

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.399
 is is that people

00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:48.039
 who live

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.299
 amongst a story

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.179
 that is a circle

00:26:50.179 --> 00:26:52.019
 it's despairing

00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:53.099
 because you're trapped.

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.599
 You're trapped

00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.459
 in circles.

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.819
 In the Bible

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.919
 the book of Judges

00:26:57.919 --> 00:26:58.819
 I haven't talked about

00:26:58.819 --> 00:26:59.899
 this very much

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.799
 but in each of the

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.519
 twelve judges

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.439
 that mark the book

00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:02.980
 of Judges

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:04.759
 it looks like a cycle

00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.720
 but it's not a cycle

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.580
 it's a spiral

00:27:06.580 --> 00:27:08.799
 and you see

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.340
 that's often

00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:10.519
 how life works

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.519
 and I'm just

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.019
 just as a bit

00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.519
 of an aside

00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.460
 the spiral

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.860
 can go downwards

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.559
 because

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.680
 as the spiral

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.279
 goes downwards

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:17.799
 and that's what's

00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.440
 happening in the book

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.279
 of Judges

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.860
 as you go

00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:21.059
 from the very first judge

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.880
 to by the time

00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:22.779
 you come to the very end

00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.539
 you see that there's

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.500
 this apparent

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.640
 going around in circle

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.259
 but every time

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.860
 it goes around

00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:27.519
 they get lower

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:27.980
 and lower

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.400
 and lower

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:28.980
 and they get more

00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.640
 and more evil

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.240
 and more and more

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.839
 debased

00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:32.279
 and by the end

00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.500
 of it

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:32.940
 you have

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:35.000
 massive killing

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.599
 and breaking

00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.319
 of promises

00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:38.019
 and raping

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.559
 of a woman

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.240
 and severing

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.819
 her into twelve

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.180
 pieces

00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:40.900
 you see this

00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:42.059
 and in a sense

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:42.860
 what we know

00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:43.599
 about our holiness

00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:45.180
 is also a cycle

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.900
 because it isn't

00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:46.339
 that you just

00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:47.500
 always do what is right

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.319
 you do what is wrong

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:48.960
 and you repent

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.519
 but in a sense

00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.240
 in a godly way

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.980
 there's a spiral

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.779
 that goes up

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:53.559
 or at least

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.099
 goes up

00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:54.680
 and then down

00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.140
 and then up

00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:55.620
 and then down

00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.339
 and it's mainly up

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:57.720
 but that's what you see

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.959
 going on here

00:27:58.959 --> 00:27:59.619
 in this text

00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:00.399
 is this cycle

00:28:00.399 --> 00:28:01.399
 of

00:28:01.399 --> 00:28:03.799
 there's just civil war

00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.959
 Israel fighting Israel

00:28:04.959 --> 00:28:05.619
 at the end

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:07.799
 there's a type of peace

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.720
 but not rest

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:11.439
 now what do we want to say

00:28:11.439 --> 00:28:12.480
 about all of this story

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:16.039
 the sermon series

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:17.039
 is called

00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.699
 Messy People

00:28:17.699 --> 00:28:18.579
 Faithful God

00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.879
 and by God

00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:21.000
 I mean the Triune God

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:23.220
 and this story

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.899
 seems to be

00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:25.459
 very very confusing

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.980
 like for many people

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:28.000
 it doesn't make any sense

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.980
 that this isn't a Bible

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:32.559
 it seems to talk

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.740
 about making vows

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.960
 to the Lord

00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.960
 it seems

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.620
 talks about

00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:37.259
 making your

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.640
 opening your heart

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.299
 to the Lord

00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:39.940
 and pouring out

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:40.799
 your heart to him

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:42.600
 it shows being

00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:44.000
 trusting the Lord

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.019
 to go and fight

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.579
 in a battle

00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.980
 but it also makes vows

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.680
 which are evil

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.600
 but somehow or another

00:28:48.600 --> 00:28:49.519
 even after the Holy Spirit

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.200
 comes upon him

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.799
 they make this

00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.900
 this vow

00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:53.559
 and still it's all successful

00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:55.919
 and what on earth

00:28:55.919 --> 00:28:56.720
 is going on

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:58.779
 like what on earth

00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.419
 is going on

00:28:59.419 --> 00:29:01.419
 well all I can say

00:29:01.419 --> 00:29:01.960
 is this

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:05.539
 if we have

00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.259
 and I could have

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.519
 called the sermon series

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.879
 Faithless People

00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:09.639
 Faithful God

00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:10.500
 Sinful People

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:12.240
 Faithful God

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:14.740
 you know

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.659
 Rebellious People

00:29:15.659 --> 00:29:16.440
 Faithful God

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.059
 Messy People

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.700
 Faithful God

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.339
 but if God

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:19.299
 has to get through

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.299
 to messy people

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:21.759
 he needs to mess

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.559
 with their heads

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:26.339
 if God wants

00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:26.960
 to deal with

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:27.720
 messy people

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:29.059
 he needs to mess

00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.839
 with their heads

00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:31.640
 and that's what

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.460
 the book of Judges

00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.940
 does time and time

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.460
 and time again

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.119
 if you could put up

00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:35.700
 the next point

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.039
 Andrew

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:38.839
 when I say

00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.799
 a fallen mind

00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.720
 as a Christian

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.299
 what I believe

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:41.980
 is that God

00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:43.400
 originally made

00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.019
 human beings

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.759
 to be completely

00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.779
 good and perfect

00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:47.660
 we human beings

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.779
 in Genesis 3

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.900
 it describes a fall

00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:50.779
 we desire to be

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.579
 like God

00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:53.539
 and to be the center

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:55.319
 and to be over God

00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:56.639
 and to be over each other

00:29:56.639 --> 00:29:57.899
 we think we can be

00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:58.639
 gods together

00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:59.659
 but you can't really

00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.599
 be gods together

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.659
 because there really is

00:30:01.659 --> 00:30:03.059
 the very heart of the desire

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:03.960
 to be gods together

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.740
 is I'm going to be more

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.559
 of a god than you

00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.000
 sorry

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:07.799
 but that's my desire

00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.799
 and you want to be

00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.960
 more of a god than me

00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:13.019
 and human beings

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.659
 are fallen

00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:15.639
 and what I would like

00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:16.519
 to suggest is

00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:18.099
 that there are two things

00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:19.279
 that the fallen mind

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.699
 believes

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.360
 it's especially

00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:20.819
 prevalent

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.740
 in Canada today

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:23.000
 the first

00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:24.180
 is that this is

00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:25.620
 how religion

00:30:25.620 --> 00:30:26.319
 or spirituality

00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:27.140
 works

00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:28.799
 first you be good

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:30.799
 then once you

00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.940
 start to be good

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:33.259
 then God

00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.160
 will hear you

00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:35.039
 the universe

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:36.180
 will hear you

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:38.620
 and then

00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:40.000
 after you're

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.840
 still being good

00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.360
 and you're starting

00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:41.940
 to be heard

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.860
 you're able to talk

00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.500
 to God

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.279
 whatever that is

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:44.960
 then eventually

00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:46.420
 if that all works out

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:46.980
 you'll be one

00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.500
 with God

00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:49.480
 and I would suggest

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.519
 this characterizes

00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.400
 most versions

00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.339
 of personally

00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:53.460
 put together

00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.099
 spirituality

00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:55.079
 I'm not denigrating

00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:55.759
 it by saying that

00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.360
 but that's how many

00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.160
 people approach it

00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.900
 they take the best

00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.980
 and what they would

00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.640
 view as the best

00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:00.559
 of different things

00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:02.000
 and put them together

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.680
 to be their own

00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.680
 spiritual path

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.640
 that they're walking on

00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:05.720
 and they seek to be good

00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.620
 within those terms

00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:07.440
 and as they're good

00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:09.120
 they can use their rituals

00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:10.099
 and whatever it is

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.079
 their meditation

00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:11.900
 or their yoga

00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:12.960
 or their prayers

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:15.099
 to connect with God

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:15.839
 and eventually

00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.619
 if they do that

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:17.699
 they'll be one with God

00:31:17.699 --> 00:31:18.259
 or recognize

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:19.219
 that they're one with God

00:31:19.219 --> 00:31:20.719
 and it characterizes

00:31:20.719 --> 00:31:21.579
 all religious

00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:22.799
 and spiritual endeavors

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:25.399
 and the second thing

00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:26.399
 that goes along with it

00:31:26.399 --> 00:31:26.759
 is that

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.399
 and you hear this

00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:28.500
 constantly in our culture

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.899
 is that

00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:30.119
 to the fallen mind

00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:31.119
 the world is divided

00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:32.659
 between the good people

00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:33.439
 and bad people

00:31:33.439 --> 00:31:36.919
 I read about

00:31:36.919 --> 00:31:38.259
 one novel a week

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:41.679
 and they're all

00:31:41.679 --> 00:31:42.579
 secular novels

00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:43.959
 I don't read

00:31:43.959 --> 00:31:44.740
 Christian literature

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.839
 unless it's C.S. Lewis

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:47.099
 or J.R. Tolkien

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:48.039
 or something like that

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.839
 which is very old

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:51.980
 and it's a constant thing

00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.839
 you're a good person

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.420
 you hear it

00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:54.279
 you go to Tim Hortons

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:55.079
 you can go to Starbucks

00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:56.160
 you can go to the Happy Goat

00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.920
 you can go to Bridgehead

00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.740
 you're a good person

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:59.700
 he's not a good person

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.660
 she's not a good person

00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.220
 they're bad

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:02.259
 the world is divided

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.220
 between good and bad

00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:03.980
 and of course

00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.599
 it's very easy

00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:05.279
 because if the world

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:05.720
 is divided

00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.319
 between good and bad

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.019
 and you're a good person

00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.799
 it means you're already

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:09.259
 in terms of the spiritual journey

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.220
 you've already got

00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:11.099
 step one nailed

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:13.039
 now it's just a matter

00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.819
 of actually deciding

00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:15.000
 you want to start talking to God

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:16.179
 so you can be one with God

00:32:16.179 --> 00:32:18.359
 and that's just how

00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:19.279
 our fallen mind

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.659
 just understands the world

00:32:20.659 --> 00:32:21.759
 and it's all

00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.779
 part of that

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.220
 by the way

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.679
 is why

00:32:23.679 --> 00:32:25.359
 at a very very deep level

00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:26.379
 it just seems completely

00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:27.919
 and utterly obvious to us

00:32:27.919 --> 00:32:28.599
 that good things

00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.819
 should happen to good people

00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.960
 and bad things

00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:32.179
 should happen to bad people

00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:32.519
 and that

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:34.099
 any bad thing

00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:35.500
 that happens to a good person

00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:37.220
 shows that there's something wrong

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.159
 with the moral order

00:32:38.159 --> 00:32:38.759
 of the universe

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.500
 and in fact

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.659
 whatever God

00:32:40.659 --> 00:32:41.399
 that should exist

00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.160
 and that would include

00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:43.320
 whatever Christians say

00:32:43.320 --> 00:32:44.360
 God is

00:32:44.360 --> 00:32:45.420
 or they think he is

00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:46.180
 or she is

00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:46.960
 or it is

00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:48.200
 that that God

00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:50.019
 should rectify these matters

00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:51.840
 because there are good people

00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:52.880
 and there are bad people

00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:53.920
 and I'm a good person

00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.780
 and a bad thing

00:32:54.780 --> 00:32:55.880
 shouldn't be happening to me

00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:57.280
 because I'm a good person

00:32:57.280 --> 00:32:59.160
 haven't you heard me

00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:00.860
 why on earth

00:33:00.860 --> 00:33:01.700
 is it worth it

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.720
 to be one with you

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.980
 if bad things are happening

00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:05.340
 for many many people

00:33:05.340 --> 00:33:05.940
 that we know

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.680
 and I know people

00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.480
 who completely

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.160
 and utterly

00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.519
 rejected religion

00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:11.359
 they say religion

00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.180
 is a complete

00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:13.200
 and utter waste

00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:13.940
 of time

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:15.539
 it makes me angry

00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:17.000
 to even talk about it

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.099
 what they've given up

00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:19.160
 is point A

00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:21.740
 what they've completely

00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:22.339
 rejected

00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:23.940
 is 5A

00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:24.799
 that you

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:26.139
 first be good

00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:26.920
 then be heard

00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.720
 then be one

00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:28.900
 and people who've given up

00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:29.400
 on religion

00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:29.920
 and spirituality

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:31.259
 that's what they've given up on

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:35.160
 but the fact of the matter is

00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:36.720
 is that even if they make jokes

00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:37.639
 about how they're going to go

00:33:37.639 --> 00:33:38.559
 to the bad place

00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.700
 how them and all their friends

00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.659
 will be in the bad place

00:33:40.659 --> 00:33:42.259
 they say that in a way

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:43.740
 that it's good to be bad

00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:45.619
 because they still accept

00:33:45.619 --> 00:33:47.539
 the structure of that worldview

00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:49.279
 and so here's what happens

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.559
 and there's Christian versions

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.940
 of this by the way

00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:53.319
 and so what happens

00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:54.859
 if you have the view

00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:56.419
 okay first you be good

00:33:56.419 --> 00:33:58.259
 then you be heard

00:33:58.259 --> 00:34:00.039
 then you be one

00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:01.639
 and if there's a world

00:34:01.639 --> 00:34:02.440
 between good people

00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:03.000
 and bad people

00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:03.859
 where on earth

00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:05.119
 do you put Jephthah?

00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:09.319
 like what?

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.819
 like he's heard

00:34:12.819 --> 00:34:14.139
 because he's one

00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:15.679
 and he sort of does this good stuff

00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.339
 but he does this work

00:34:16.339 --> 00:34:18.319
 like where do you put Jephthah?

00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:21.519
 where do you put this story?

00:34:21.839 --> 00:34:22.920
 where do you put judges

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:26.719
 if that's how everybody knows

00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:28.359
 the world works

00:34:28.359 --> 00:34:29.239
 or should work

00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:30.599
 how on earth

00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:32.000
 does this make any sense?

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:35.360
 well the answer is

00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:36.239
 it doesn't

00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:40.239
 but here's the thing

00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:47.079
 here's the problem

00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:47.659
 with the way

00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:49.179
 our minds work

00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:53.440
 if I got up

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:55.000
 my wife's not in church

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:55.599
 she's downstairs

00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.679
 looking after the kids

00:34:56.679 --> 00:34:57.940
 if I got up

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:59.400
 and spent the next 10 minutes

00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.820
 talking about how good a dad I am

00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:02.400
 I am the best dad

00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:04.280
 I am the best husband

00:35:04.280 --> 00:35:05.940
 we're going to be married

00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:07.140
 39 years in October

00:35:07.140 --> 00:35:09.059
 it has been 39 years

00:35:09.059 --> 00:35:09.920
 of bliss

00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:10.900
 and happiness

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:13.300
 and if I was to say that

00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:14.180
 my wife would be

00:35:14.180 --> 00:35:15.140
 gagging

00:35:15.140 --> 00:35:19.460
 none of you would believe it

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:22.740
 and all it would show

00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:25.880
 was that I was very good

00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:26.960
 especially if I convince you

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:28.140
 is that I'm really good at BS

00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:31.199
 and I'm really good

00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:33.239
 at self-congratulation

00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:34.319
 and self-flattery

00:35:34.319 --> 00:35:37.440
 and here's the problem

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.359
 with this world view

00:35:38.359 --> 00:35:39.239
 the world is divided

00:35:39.239 --> 00:35:40.460
 between good and bad people

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.779
 the fact of the matter is

00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:42.579
 is that bad people

00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.239
 think they're good

00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:43.759
 don't they?

00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.379
 like let's be honest

00:35:47.379 --> 00:35:48.319
 if you're thinking

00:35:48.319 --> 00:35:49.819
 who some of the bad people are

00:35:49.819 --> 00:35:51.940
 however you want to think

00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:52.440
 about that

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.119
 my guess is

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:54.199
 that if you hung around them

00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:54.940
 you want to know

00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.719
 how you really know

00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:56.759
 that there's no bad people

00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:57.500
 in the world

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:59.200
 go to a funeral

00:35:59.200 --> 00:36:01.700
 doesn't matter

00:36:01.700 --> 00:36:03.620
 how big a crook

00:36:03.620 --> 00:36:04.840
 they are

00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:06.480
 there will be somebody

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.280
 who gets up

00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:08.440
 and praises

00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:09.580
 how good a person

00:36:09.580 --> 00:36:10.500
 they are

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:13.540
 guarantee it

00:36:13.540 --> 00:36:15.780
 nobody in a funeral

00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:16.200
 will say

00:36:16.200 --> 00:36:17.780
 this was a despicable person

00:36:17.780 --> 00:36:19.240
 I'm only doing this service

00:36:19.240 --> 00:36:20.260
 because they paid me

00:36:20.260 --> 00:36:21.180
 500 bucks

00:36:21.180 --> 00:36:22.840
 if it ever happens

00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:24.220
 it would go viral

00:36:24.219 --> 00:36:27.259
 if it was taped

00:36:27.259 --> 00:36:29.739
 and so

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.899
 how does this work

00:36:30.899 --> 00:36:31.659
 if you in fact

00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:32.779
 aren't really good

00:36:32.779 --> 00:36:34.259
 but you believe you're good

00:36:34.259 --> 00:36:35.939
 and doesn't make you gag

00:36:35.939 --> 00:36:37.279
 when you meet somebody

00:36:37.279 --> 00:36:38.759
 who says how good they are

00:36:38.759 --> 00:36:40.099
 and you know they're not good

00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:41.179
 but why is it

00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:42.139
 that you give yourself

00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:42.899
 a pass

00:36:42.899 --> 00:36:47.099
 and we all know

00:36:47.099 --> 00:36:48.480
 that bad things

00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:49.319
 in quotes

00:36:49.319 --> 00:36:50.019
 happen to good

00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.719
 people

00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:51.579
 in quotes

00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:53.239
 that that isn't the way

00:36:53.239 --> 00:36:54.400
 the world is

00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:55.759
 yet that's how we think

00:36:55.759 --> 00:36:56.779
 the world is

00:36:56.779 --> 00:36:57.779
 or should be

00:36:57.779 --> 00:37:00.000
 just to wrap it up

00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:00.920
 only Christianity

00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:02.639
 explains our sense

00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:04.079
 and our hypocrisy

00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:07.599
 and our trap

00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:08.099
 and our dilemma

00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:08.719
 if you could put up

00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:09.579
 the next point Andrew

00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:10.539
 that would be very helpful

00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:12.299
 here's what the Bible

00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:13.539
 says about every human being

00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:15.480
 every human being

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:16.500
 every human being

00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:17.360
 you will meet today

00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:19.680
 if you go wandering

00:37:19.680 --> 00:37:20.280
 around the market

00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:21.120
 and you meet some

00:37:21.120 --> 00:37:22.460
 unbelievably broken

00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:23.360
 street people

00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:25.059
 if you walk around

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:25.860
 the market today

00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:27.260
 and you see Justin Trudeau

00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:28.240
 or Andrew Scheer

00:37:28.240 --> 00:37:29.300
 or you see the owner

00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:29.940
 of Shopify

00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:31.820
 it doesn't matter

00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:34.360
 I mean one level

00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:34.720
 it matters

00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:35.480
 but it doesn't matter

00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.140
 because at the end

00:37:36.140 --> 00:37:36.480
 of the day

00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:36.960
 you only

00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:37.840
 every human being

00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:38.200
 you meet

00:37:38.200 --> 00:37:39.720
 is a bent treasure

00:37:39.720 --> 00:37:40.860
 who wears

00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:41.780
 a crown

00:37:41.780 --> 00:37:43.800
 that's what the Bible

00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:44.260
 says

00:37:44.260 --> 00:37:46.900
 every human being

00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:47.440
 is made

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:48.260
 in the image

00:37:48.260 --> 00:37:49.280
 of God

00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:51.820
 every human being

00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:52.720
 is made

00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:54.060
 so that they

00:37:54.060 --> 00:37:55.820
 would have stewardship

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:57.000
 over the created order

00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:58.060
 you read Psalm 8

00:37:58.060 --> 00:37:59.040
 and it says

00:37:59.040 --> 00:38:00.220
 that every human being

00:38:00.220 --> 00:38:00.820
 in a sense

00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:01.980
 is crowned

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:02.920
 by God

00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:04.520
 but the line

00:38:04.520 --> 00:38:05.460
 between good and evil

00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:06.740
 is not between me

00:38:06.740 --> 00:38:07.960
 and some other person

00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:09.260
 the line between good and evil

00:38:09.260 --> 00:38:10.620
 goes right down me

00:38:10.620 --> 00:38:11.920
 it goes right down

00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:12.580
 my thoughts

00:38:12.580 --> 00:38:13.120
 it goes through

00:38:13.120 --> 00:38:14.060
 my will

00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:14.599
 it goes through

00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.820
 my dreams of the future

00:38:15.820 --> 00:38:16.619
 my imagination

00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:17.599
 my hopes

00:38:17.599 --> 00:38:19.519
 my remembrances

00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.299
 of the past

00:38:20.299 --> 00:38:21.739
 the line between good and evil

00:38:21.739 --> 00:38:23.420
 is right through me

00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:24.679
 and so it is

00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:25.840
 that I am bent

00:38:25.840 --> 00:38:27.019
 I am out of whack

00:38:27.019 --> 00:38:28.139
 I am not straight

00:38:28.139 --> 00:38:29.079
 but even though

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:29.679
 I am that

00:38:29.679 --> 00:38:30.659
 God does not

00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:31.279
 remove

00:38:31.279 --> 00:38:33.920
 my humanity

00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:34.460
 from me

00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:35.619
 so I am still

00:38:35.619 --> 00:38:37.119
 made as a treasure

00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:38.420
 bearing the image

00:38:38.420 --> 00:38:38.860
 of God

00:38:38.860 --> 00:38:39.440
 and wearing

00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:40.360
 a crown

00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:42.840
 and every human being

00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:44.100
 is like that

00:38:44.100 --> 00:38:47.079
 but if this is the case

00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:48.620
 that I am bent

00:38:48.620 --> 00:38:49.320
 and if the line

00:38:49.320 --> 00:38:50.260
 between good and evil

00:38:50.260 --> 00:38:51.960
 goes right down me

00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:53.820
 then how is it possible

00:38:53.820 --> 00:38:55.400
 for me to divide the world

00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.400
 between good people

00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:57.140
 and bad people

00:38:57.140 --> 00:38:58.640
 and how is it possible

00:38:58.640 --> 00:38:59.200
 for me

00:38:59.200 --> 00:39:00.380
 whether it is Islam

00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:01.019
 or Judaism

00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:02.079
 or religious forms

00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:02.820
 of Christianity

00:39:02.820 --> 00:39:03.700
 or spirituality

00:39:03.700 --> 00:39:04.579
 or Buddhism

00:39:04.579 --> 00:39:05.440
 or Hinduism

00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:06.220
 to think

00:39:06.220 --> 00:39:06.980
 that the way

00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:07.880
 that I can be one

00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:08.360
 with God

00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:08.920
 is that first

00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:09.720
 I am going to be good

00:39:09.720 --> 00:39:10.620
 and then I am going to be heard

00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:11.500
 and then I am going to be one

00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:12.480
 and how can I do that

00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:13.079
 if the line

00:39:13.079 --> 00:39:13.980
 between good and evil

00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:15.199
 goes right down

00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:15.980
 through me

00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:18.659
 it can never

00:39:18.659 --> 00:39:19.719
 ever

00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:20.699
 ever

00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:21.839
 work

00:39:21.839 --> 00:39:23.839
 and that is why

00:39:23.839 --> 00:39:25.339
 religion and spirituality

00:39:25.339 --> 00:39:26.900
 so sickens

00:39:26.900 --> 00:39:27.599
 many people

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:29.019
 because it is filled

00:39:29.019 --> 00:39:30.859
 with hypocrisy

00:39:30.859 --> 00:39:33.179
 I was too loud

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:34.199
 and I made a baby cry

00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:34.940
 I am sorry

00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:39.619
 and it

00:39:39.619 --> 00:39:40.780
 and so here

00:39:40.780 --> 00:39:41.659
 I just want to tell you

00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:42.280
 this is why

00:39:42.280 --> 00:39:42.920
 this story

00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:43.780
 is preparing us

00:39:43.780 --> 00:39:44.420
 for something

00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:47.260
 far more glorious

00:39:47.260 --> 00:39:47.940
 Andrew

00:39:47.940 --> 00:39:48.920
 if you could put it up

00:39:48.920 --> 00:39:51.099
 religion

00:39:51.099 --> 00:39:52.519
 does not work

00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:55.599
 but there is a power

00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:57.500
 from the triune God

00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:59.599
 that is pure grace

00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:01.619
 and is offered

00:40:01.619 --> 00:40:03.260
 to the undeserving

00:40:03.260 --> 00:40:04.659
 as a gift

00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:06.980
 and when received

00:40:06.980 --> 00:40:08.319
 by faith in Jesus

00:40:08.319 --> 00:40:10.019
 God makes

00:40:10.019 --> 00:40:11.019
 the dead

00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:12.819
 to come alive

00:40:12.819 --> 00:40:14.359
 the blind

00:40:14.359 --> 00:40:15.759
 to have light

00:40:15.759 --> 00:40:17.339
 the shameful

00:40:17.339 --> 00:40:19.099
 to have honor

00:40:19.099 --> 00:40:20.759
 the slave

00:40:20.759 --> 00:40:22.000
 to be free

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:23.519
 the condemned

00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.859
 to be acquitted

00:40:24.859 --> 00:40:26.500
 the lost

00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:27.879
 to be saved

00:40:27.879 --> 00:40:29.139
 the poor

00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:30.500
 to be rich

00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:31.819
 the alone

00:40:31.819 --> 00:40:33.079
 to be adopted

00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:34.420
 the impure

00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:35.659
 to be pure

00:40:35.659 --> 00:40:36.860
 the sinful

00:40:36.860 --> 00:40:38.059
 to be righteous

00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:39.279
 the doomed

00:40:39.279 --> 00:40:40.420
 to possess

00:40:40.420 --> 00:40:41.739
 a sure hope

00:40:41.739 --> 00:40:43.119
 the far off

00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:44.480
 to be brought near

00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:45.579
 the hostile

00:40:45.579 --> 00:40:47.340
 to be reconciled

00:40:47.340 --> 00:40:48.139
 the guilty

00:40:48.139 --> 00:40:49.319
 to be forgiven

00:40:49.319 --> 00:40:50.799
 the demonized

00:40:50.799 --> 00:40:51.659
 to be filled

00:40:51.659 --> 00:40:52.719
 with the Holy Spirit

00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:53.880
 the lovelest

00:40:53.880 --> 00:40:54.920
 to be loved

00:40:54.920 --> 00:40:55.980
 the dweller

00:40:55.980 --> 00:40:56.940
 in the domain

00:40:56.940 --> 00:40:57.719
 of darkness

00:40:57.719 --> 00:40:58.759
 to be transferred

00:40:58.759 --> 00:40:59.539
 to dwell

00:40:59.539 --> 00:41:00.360
 as a citizen

00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:01.480
 in the kingdom

00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:02.779
 of the beloved

00:41:02.779 --> 00:41:04.199
 son

00:41:04.199 --> 00:41:12.539
 and if God

00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:13.820
 does all

00:41:13.820 --> 00:41:14.659
 of that

00:41:14.659 --> 00:41:15.639
 for us

00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:16.980
 the undeserving

00:41:16.980 --> 00:41:18.559
 as a gift

00:41:18.559 --> 00:41:20.940
 for each

00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:21.659
 bent

00:41:21.659 --> 00:41:22.639
 treasure

00:41:22.639 --> 00:41:24.400
 for whom

00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:24.940
 the line

00:41:24.940 --> 00:41:25.320
 for good

00:41:25.320 --> 00:41:25.659
 and evil

00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:26.219
 goes right

00:41:26.219 --> 00:41:26.980
 down the center

00:41:26.980 --> 00:41:27.299
 of whom

00:41:27.299 --> 00:41:27.779
 they are

00:41:27.779 --> 00:41:28.900
 but they are

00:41:28.900 --> 00:41:29.599
 still a treasure

00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:30.059
 who wears

00:41:30.059 --> 00:41:30.579
 a crown

00:41:30.579 --> 00:41:32.000
 if God

00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:32.599
 does that

00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:33.440
 for us

00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:34.199
 and we

00:41:34.199 --> 00:41:34.860
 receive it

00:41:34.860 --> 00:41:35.679
 by Jesus

00:41:35.679 --> 00:41:40.320
 these stories

00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:40.880
 are trying

00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:41.400
 to break

00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:42.119
 our mind

00:41:42.119 --> 00:41:44.079
 from how

00:41:44.079 --> 00:41:44.599
 the fallen

00:41:44.599 --> 00:41:45.000
 mind

00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:45.519
 works

00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:47.559
 to be like

00:41:47.559 --> 00:41:47.940
 Israel

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:48.380
 and throw

00:41:48.380 --> 00:41:48.840
 ourselves

00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.400
 upon the

00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:49.639
 mercy

00:41:49.639 --> 00:41:50.179
 of God

00:41:50.179 --> 00:41:52.519
 and then

00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:52.840
 the way

00:41:52.840 --> 00:41:53.539
 we live

00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:55.380
 is out

00:41:55.380 --> 00:41:56.179
 of gratitude

00:41:56.179 --> 00:41:57.880
 and security

00:41:57.880 --> 00:41:59.340
 for what

00:41:59.340 --> 00:41:59.900
 God has

00:41:59.900 --> 00:42:00.820
 done for us

00:42:00.820 --> 00:42:02.159
 and it is

00:42:02.159 --> 00:42:02.900
 out of that

00:42:02.900 --> 00:42:03.659
 that we begin

00:42:03.659 --> 00:42:04.259
 to pray

00:42:04.259 --> 00:42:04.659
 to our

00:42:04.659 --> 00:42:05.280
 father in

00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:05.559
 heaven

00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:06.380
 in a new

00:42:06.380 --> 00:42:07.099
 and different

00:42:07.099 --> 00:42:07.500
 way

00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:08.759
 and it is

00:42:08.759 --> 00:42:09.480
 out of that

00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:10.840
 that we

00:42:10.840 --> 00:42:11.460
 begin to

00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:11.860
 live

00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:12.539
 in our

00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:13.119
 father's

00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:13.480
 world

00:42:13.480 --> 00:42:14.619
 in a new

00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:15.699
 and different

00:42:15.699 --> 00:42:16.380
 way

00:42:16.380 --> 00:42:17.880
 I invite

00:42:17.880 --> 00:42:18.159
 you to

00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:18.539
 stand

00:42:18.539 --> 00:42:30.059
 just bow

00:42:30.059 --> 00:42:30.380
 our heads

00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:30.880
 in prayer

00:42:30.880 --> 00:42:38.679
 if there's

00:42:38.679 --> 00:42:39.099
 any here

00:42:39.099 --> 00:42:39.440
 who have

00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:40.059
 never yet

00:42:40.059 --> 00:42:41.480
 crossed

00:42:41.480 --> 00:42:42.099
 that line

00:42:42.099 --> 00:42:42.420
 and come

00:42:42.420 --> 00:42:42.699
 to that

00:42:42.699 --> 00:42:43.000
 point

00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:43.400
 where they

00:42:43.400 --> 00:42:44.460
 call out

00:42:44.460 --> 00:42:45.180
 upon God

00:42:45.180 --> 00:42:45.820
 for mercy

00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:48.539
 or who

00:42:48.539 --> 00:42:49.059
 have thought

00:42:49.059 --> 00:42:49.539
 all their

00:42:49.539 --> 00:42:50.099
 life that

00:42:50.099 --> 00:42:50.340
 they are

00:42:50.340 --> 00:42:50.740
 trying to

00:42:50.740 --> 00:42:51.240
 be good

00:42:51.240 --> 00:42:51.619
 to be

00:42:51.619 --> 00:42:51.960
 heard

00:42:51.960 --> 00:42:52.300
 so they

00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:52.760
 can someday

00:42:52.760 --> 00:42:53.320
 be one

00:42:53.320 --> 00:42:54.160
 and now

00:42:54.160 --> 00:42:54.840
 realize that

00:42:54.840 --> 00:42:55.440
 entire

00:42:55.440 --> 00:42:56.280
 journey is

00:42:56.280 --> 00:42:57.000
 completely

00:42:57.000 --> 00:42:57.900
 impossible

00:42:57.900 --> 00:42:59.820
 and the

00:42:59.820 --> 00:43:00.460
 Holy Spirit

00:43:00.460 --> 00:43:01.240
 is convicting

00:43:01.240 --> 00:43:01.780
 you to

00:43:01.780 --> 00:43:02.900
 die to

00:43:02.900 --> 00:43:03.300
 that

00:43:03.300 --> 00:43:03.920
 and die

00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:04.260
 to your

00:43:04.260 --> 00:43:05.019
 self-conception

00:43:05.019 --> 00:43:05.599
 as good

00:43:05.599 --> 00:43:05.900
 and your

00:43:05.900 --> 00:43:06.360
 fear that

00:43:06.360 --> 00:43:06.599
 you are

00:43:06.599 --> 00:43:06.940
 bad

00:43:06.940 --> 00:43:08.000
 and the

00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:08.579
 Holy Spirit

00:43:08.579 --> 00:43:09.180
 is knocking

00:43:09.180 --> 00:43:09.500
 on the

00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:09.660
 door

00:43:09.660 --> 00:43:10.300
 Jesus is

00:43:10.300 --> 00:43:10.700
 knocking on

00:43:10.700 --> 00:43:10.940
 the door

00:43:10.940 --> 00:43:11.220
 of your

00:43:11.220 --> 00:43:11.559
 heart

00:43:11.559 --> 00:43:11.920
 that you

00:43:11.920 --> 00:43:12.119
 would

00:43:12.119 --> 00:43:12.619
 cast

00:43:12.619 --> 00:43:13.039
 yourself

00:43:13.039 --> 00:43:13.380
 upon

00:43:13.380 --> 00:43:13.599
 his

00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:13.920
 mercy

00:43:13.920 --> 00:43:14.420
 and call

00:43:14.420 --> 00:43:14.719
 out to

00:43:14.719 --> 00:43:14.920
 him

00:43:14.920 --> 00:43:15.860
 there is

00:43:15.860 --> 00:43:16.259
 no better

00:43:16.259 --> 00:43:16.799
 time than

00:43:16.799 --> 00:43:17.239
 right now

00:43:17.239 --> 00:43:17.719
 to stop

00:43:17.719 --> 00:43:18.219
 listening to

00:43:18.219 --> 00:43:18.539
 what I

00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:18.940
 say and

00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:19.380
 just say

00:43:19.380 --> 00:43:19.980
 Jesus

00:43:19.980 --> 00:43:21.440
 be my

00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:21.860
 savior

00:43:21.860 --> 00:43:22.539
 and be

00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:22.779
 my

00:43:22.779 --> 00:43:23.159
 Lord

00:43:23.159 --> 00:43:25.599
 all that

00:43:25.599 --> 00:43:26.159
 list that

00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:26.719
 George just

00:43:26.719 --> 00:43:27.239
 read that's

00:43:27.239 --> 00:43:27.840
 all from the

00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:28.199
 Bible

00:43:28.199 --> 00:43:30.299
 I need

00:43:30.299 --> 00:43:30.860
 that I

00:43:30.860 --> 00:43:31.519
 want that

00:43:31.519 --> 00:43:31.779
 and I

00:43:31.779 --> 00:43:32.159
 surrender

00:43:32.159 --> 00:43:32.579
 to that

00:43:32.579 --> 00:43:32.900
 and there's

00:43:32.900 --> 00:43:33.279
 no better

00:43:33.279 --> 00:43:33.759
 time than

00:43:33.759 --> 00:43:34.159
 now to

00:43:34.159 --> 00:43:34.460
 use your

00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:35.000
 own words

00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:35.420
 to so

00:43:35.420 --> 00:43:35.860
 say it

00:43:35.860 --> 00:43:37.860
 and for

00:43:37.860 --> 00:43:38.220
 the rest

00:43:38.220 --> 00:43:38.579
 of us

00:43:38.579 --> 00:43:39.019
 who all

00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:39.660
 have fallen

00:43:39.660 --> 00:43:40.440
 minds as

00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:40.740
 well

00:43:40.740 --> 00:43:41.960
 who

00:43:41.960 --> 00:43:43.380
 we leave

00:43:43.380 --> 00:43:43.900
 church on

00:43:43.900 --> 00:43:44.360
 a Sunday

00:43:44.360 --> 00:43:44.780
 and very

00:43:44.780 --> 00:43:45.480
 quickly we

00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:46.160
 fall back

00:43:46.160 --> 00:43:46.640
 into thinking

00:43:46.640 --> 00:43:47.260
 of ourselves

00:43:47.260 --> 00:43:47.820
 as good

00:43:47.820 --> 00:43:48.340
 worried that

00:43:48.340 --> 00:43:48.920
 we're bad

00:43:48.920 --> 00:43:49.840
 seeing others

00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:50.240
 as the

00:43:50.240 --> 00:43:50.800
 other and

00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:51.460
 somehow a

00:43:51.460 --> 00:43:52.000
 threat

00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:53.079
 rather than

00:43:53.079 --> 00:43:53.660
 someone to

00:43:53.660 --> 00:43:54.200
 be loved

00:43:54.200 --> 00:43:55.180
 and served

00:43:55.180 --> 00:43:55.660
 and prayed

00:43:55.660 --> 00:43:56.000
 for

00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:57.500
 who quickly

00:43:57.500 --> 00:43:58.300
 fall into

00:43:58.300 --> 00:43:59.019
 those religious

00:43:59.019 --> 00:43:59.860
 habits of

00:43:59.860 --> 00:44:00.320
 thinking

00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:01.840
 Father this

00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:02.500
 is our time

00:44:02.500 --> 00:44:03.059
 to just come

00:44:03.059 --> 00:44:03.519
 before the

00:44:03.519 --> 00:44:04.140
 Lord and say

00:44:04.140 --> 00:44:05.000
 Lord thank you

00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:05.780
 for the gospel

00:44:05.780 --> 00:44:06.300
 thank you

00:44:06.300 --> 00:44:06.760
 I can be

00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:07.099
 with your

00:44:07.099 --> 00:44:07.619
 people

00:44:07.619 --> 00:44:08.719
 and hear

00:44:08.719 --> 00:44:08.940
 it

00:44:08.940 --> 00:44:10.460
 I really

00:44:10.460 --> 00:44:11.039
 need it

00:44:11.039 --> 00:44:13.440
 I want

00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:13.980
 my life

00:44:13.980 --> 00:44:14.360
 in light

00:44:14.360 --> 00:44:14.579
 of the

00:44:14.579 --> 00:44:14.900
 gospel

00:44:14.900 --> 00:44:15.239
 to be

00:44:15.239 --> 00:44:16.019
 a spiral

00:44:16.019 --> 00:44:16.679
 that ends

00:44:16.679 --> 00:44:17.159
 in heaven

00:44:17.159 --> 00:44:20.400
 Father

00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:21.739
 we thank

00:44:21.739 --> 00:44:22.039
 you for

00:44:22.039 --> 00:44:22.579
 your word

00:44:22.579 --> 00:44:23.179
 we thank

00:44:23.179 --> 00:44:23.639
 you that

00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:24.099
 you mess

00:44:24.099 --> 00:44:24.480
 with our

00:44:24.480 --> 00:44:24.840
 heads

00:44:24.840 --> 00:44:25.440
 we thank

00:44:25.440 --> 00:44:25.920
 you that

00:44:25.920 --> 00:44:26.820
 you mess

00:44:26.820 --> 00:44:27.219
 with our

00:44:27.219 --> 00:44:27.599
 heads

00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:28.239
 so that

00:44:28.239 --> 00:44:29.039
 we will

00:44:29.039 --> 00:44:30.059
 be open

00:44:30.059 --> 00:44:30.420
 to the

00:44:30.420 --> 00:44:30.880
 gospel

00:44:30.880 --> 00:44:31.300
 and be

00:44:31.300 --> 00:44:31.579
 gripped

00:44:31.579 --> 00:44:31.980
 by it

00:44:31.980 --> 00:44:32.460
 we ask

00:44:32.460 --> 00:44:33.039
 Father that

00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:33.420
 the Holy

00:44:33.420 --> 00:44:33.960
 Spirit would

00:44:33.960 --> 00:44:34.380
 move in a

00:44:34.380 --> 00:44:34.559
 mighty

00:44:34.559 --> 00:44:35.179
 and powerful

00:44:35.179 --> 00:44:35.759
 way within

00:44:35.759 --> 00:44:36.139
 us to

00:44:36.139 --> 00:44:36.559
 grip us

00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:37.420
 by the

00:44:37.420 --> 00:44:37.820
 gospel

00:44:37.820 --> 00:44:38.299
 and with

00:44:38.299 --> 00:44:38.860
 the gospel

00:44:38.860 --> 00:44:39.380
 with its

00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:39.900
 truth

00:44:39.900 --> 00:44:40.340
 with its

00:44:40.340 --> 00:44:40.739
 beauty

00:44:40.739 --> 00:44:41.239
 with its

00:44:41.239 --> 00:44:42.079
 power

00:44:42.079 --> 00:44:42.639
 with its

00:44:42.639 --> 00:44:43.259
 certainty

00:44:43.259 --> 00:44:44.179
 with its

00:44:44.179 --> 00:44:44.779
 reality

00:44:44.779 --> 00:44:45.679
 with its

00:44:45.679 --> 00:44:46.460
 unending

00:44:46.460 --> 00:44:47.119
 nature

00:44:47.119 --> 00:44:47.960
 Father grip

00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:48.320
 us with

00:44:48.320 --> 00:44:48.960
 the gospel

00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:50.179
 so that

00:44:50.179 --> 00:44:50.719
 we will

00:44:50.719 --> 00:44:51.440
 begin to

00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:52.259
 live free

00:44:52.259 --> 00:44:53.199
 in your

00:44:53.199 --> 00:44:53.699
 world

00:44:53.699 --> 00:44:54.279
 with you

00:44:54.279 --> 00:44:54.619
 as our

00:44:54.619 --> 00:44:55.139
 father

00:44:55.139 --> 00:44:56.920
 for the

00:44:56.920 --> 00:44:57.279
 good of

00:44:57.279 --> 00:44:57.659
 people

00:44:57.659 --> 00:44:58.219
 for the

00:44:58.219 --> 00:44:58.519
 sharing

00:44:58.519 --> 00:44:58.840
 of the

00:44:58.840 --> 00:44:59.320
 gospel

00:44:59.320 --> 00:45:00.159
 and for

00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:00.639
 your great

00:45:00.639 --> 00:45:00.980
 glory

00:45:00.980 --> 00:45:01.400
 not our

00:45:01.400 --> 00:45:01.639
 own

00:45:01.639 --> 00:45:02.779
 all

00:45:02.779 --> 00:45:03.039
 these

00:45:03.039 --> 00:45:03.299
 things

00:45:03.299 --> 00:45:03.759
 we ask

00:45:03.759 --> 00:45:03.980
 in the

00:45:03.980 --> 00:45:04.159
 name

00:45:04.159 --> 00:45:04.339
 of

00:45:04.339 --> 00:45:04.659
 Jesus

00:45:04.659 --> 00:45:04.940
 and

00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:05.319
 God's

00:45:05.319 --> 00:45:05.639
 people

00:45:05.639 --> 00:45:06.279
 said

00:45:06.279 --> 00:45:07.339
 Amen