WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 Amen. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.000 Amen. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.000 Amen. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Amen. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.000 Amen. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.000 Amen. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:02.000 Amen. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.000 Amen. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:02.000 Amen. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.000 Amen. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.000 Amen. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:32.000 Amen. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.000 Amen. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:32.000 Amen. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:01.000 Amen. 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:01.439 Amen. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:01.660 Amen. 00:07:01.660 --> 00:07:01.779 Amen. 00:07:01.779 --> 00:07:01.920 Amen. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:02.000 Amen. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:02.060 Amen. 00:07:02.060 --> 00:07:02.240 Amen. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:02.360 Amen. 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:02.439 Amen. 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:02.500 Amen. 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:02.560 Amen. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:02.639 Amen. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:02.699 Amen. 00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:02.759 Amen. 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:02.860 Amen. 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:02.980 Amen. 00:07:02.980 --> 00:07:03.100 Amen. 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:03.240 Amen. 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:03.399 Amen. 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:03.519 Amen. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:03.639 Amen. 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:03.720 Amen. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:03.779 Amen. 00:07:03.779 --> 00:07:03.860 Amen. 00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:03.920 Amen. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:03.959 Amen. 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:04.000 Amen. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:04.060 Amen. 00:07:04.060 --> 00:07:04.120 Amen. 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:04.180 Amen. 00:07:04.180 --> 00:07:04.220 Amen. 00:07:04.220 --> 00:07:04.300 Amen. 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:04.399 Amen. 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:04.519 Amen. 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:04.620 Amen. 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:04.699 Amen. 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:04.779 Amen. 00:07:04.779 --> 00:07:05.000 Amen. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:05.180 Amen. 00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:05.379 Amen. 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:05.480 Amen. 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:05.540 Amen. 00:07:05.540 --> 00:07:05.579 Amen. 00:07:05.579 --> 00:07:05.600 Amen. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:05.620 Amen. 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:05.620 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:05.639 Amen. 00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:05.660 Amen. 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:05.660 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:05.680 Amen. 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:05.699 Amen. 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:05.720 Amen. 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:05.720 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:05.740 Amen. 00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:05.759 Amen. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:33.699 I mean, they're just going on about it, whatever the game was that they were playing. 00:07:33.980 --> 00:07:39.040 They were talking about staying up all night to play this game and then going into work 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:41.420 and hardly being able to stay awake. 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:47.819 And they were giving each other kind of emotional high fives about how spectacular their game 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:48.480 lives were. 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:50.699 Impressive, you know? 00:07:51.259 --> 00:07:54.699 I would want to employ them if I listened to them and said, that's the kind of guy I 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:55.040 want. 00:07:56.379 --> 00:07:57.620 And here's the truth. 00:07:57.660 --> 00:07:58.819 We kind of chuckle at that. 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:04.759 I mean, gamers in excellence, you know, there they are. 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:09.639 And so we stop and think, yeah, that's not me, but then stop and think about it. 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:13.980 There are some of you here this morning that actually when you put it together, if you were 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:18.079 to chronicle the effort, you're going to spend countless hours on Facebook. 00:08:19.420 --> 00:08:23.240 I mean, since when did anybody really care about what you had for breakfast? 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:25.240 Do you understand that? 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:29.660 But there are some people that have to take these little pics of, well, I had oatmeal again 00:08:29.660 --> 00:08:29.980 today. 00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:34.419 It's the ninth day in a row, but I think everyone out here wants to know I had oatmeal. 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:39.620 Or there are some that are going to just, their lives are going to be consumed by Pinterest. 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:43.580 I mean, one thing after another. 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:44.560 It's Pinterest this. 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:45.399 It's Pinterest that. 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:48.279 I mean, in the old days, it used to be Home Shopping Network. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:49.879 How many of you described that? 00:08:50.779 --> 00:08:54.659 Home Shopping Network, you know, and I don't want to say this, but I will. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:59.439 You know, some elderly people, you know, they haven't got to the Pinterest stage in life, 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:02.059 but they're still kind of stuck on Home Shopping Network. 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:05.980 You know, I don't know what channel it is, but you walk into their apartment and you go 00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:06.899 there to visit with them. 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:08.019 And what are they doing? 00:09:08.019 --> 00:09:13.939 I mean, dialed up to where you can hardly hear yourself think, and they're having an opportunity 00:09:13.939 --> 00:09:16.720 to look at one little jewelry item after another. 00:09:17.079 --> 00:09:21.399 You know, it just kind of scrolls through, and there they are just with the phone in hand 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:23.519 deciding what are they going to buy. 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:26.899 And there's Amazon. 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:28.819 There's Amazon. 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:38.000 You know, we'd have to admit that there are things in our lives that we spend far more 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:40.919 time focused on than we really should. 00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:44.639 Every one of us. 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:55.279 And we'd also have to admit that the things we stay focused on and persist in working on 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:59.779 really reflect what we believe is in our best interest. 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:07.899 The things we stay focused on, the things we continue to work on, really reflect what we 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:12.240 believe is in our best interest. 00:10:14.579 --> 00:10:18.500 Furthermore, and I want you to recognize that this is a very, very important truth for us 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:24.699 to get our heads around, persistence and focus on single objects eventually have a great impact 00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:25.199 on us. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:27.100 They really do. 00:10:27.819 --> 00:10:31.379 Eventually, what we stay focused on ends up having an effect. 00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:32.639 It has an impact. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:37.220 And to put it this way, we become like what we worship. 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:41.080 We become like what we worship. 00:10:42.319 --> 00:10:48.399 Let me have you think with me about several different passages that undeniably mark this 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:48.860 truth. 00:10:49.199 --> 00:10:50.639 Turn in your Bibles first of all. 00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:52.080 You're there in Psalm 27. 00:10:52.199 --> 00:10:53.279 We will come back to it. 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:58.480 But turn to Psalm 115, verse 4 through 8. 00:11:00.319 --> 00:11:05.000 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:08.179 Just stop there just for a second. 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:09.879 Everybody look up so you don't miss this. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:15.899 We make idols. 00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:19.379 Idols make us. 00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:23.100 Pretty vicious little cycle when you stop and think about it. 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:28.000 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:31.759 They have mouths but do not speak, eyes but do not see. 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:35.639 They have ears but do not hear, noses but do not smell. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:39.379 They have hands but do not feel, feet but do not walk. 00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:43.039 And they do not make a sound in their throat. 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:45.679 Verse 8, underline it in your Bible. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:51.120 Those who make them become like them. 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:54.279 So do all who trust in them. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:58.620 Those who make them become like them. 00:12:01.359 --> 00:12:02.539 You make idols. 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:05.059 Idols make you. 00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:08.819 Let me have you look at another passage in relationship to this. 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:10.859 Keep your finger there in Psalm 27. 00:12:10.979 --> 00:12:11.799 We're coming back to it. 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:15.559 But I want you to turn to Jeremiah chapter 2, verse 5. 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:23.399 One of the things that Scripture over and over again in the Old Testament really hammers away at 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:27.139 is just the absolute idiocy of making idols. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:31.939 Now aren't you relieved that you are not an idolater? 00:12:32.979 --> 00:12:35.819 I mean the truth of the matter is that I would venture to say 00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:42.460 there are none of you that have little shrines in your house where there is some little piece of ceramic. 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:44.340 Maybe I shouldn't go there. 00:12:44.900 --> 00:12:50.620 There's no place in your home where there's a little shrine that has some hand cart. 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:52.020 Well, probably not there either. 00:12:52.680 --> 00:12:53.800 Let's just try this. 00:12:54.280 --> 00:12:55.320 We're not idol. 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:56.980 We're not idol worshipers, are we? 00:12:57.140 --> 00:13:03.060 There's nothing that we really are so supremely interested in that it has a special place in our life. 00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:03.539 Right? 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:09.399 Stay with the text. 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:12.219 Jeremiah chapter 2, just look at verse 5. 00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:21.479 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:24.039 Thus says the Lord, 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:30.939 What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me? 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:37.020 And went after worthlessness and became worthless. 00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:43.260 Can I play this out for you just to think practically? 00:13:44.140 --> 00:13:51.720 The larger issue is this, is that being focused on singular things ends up having a significant impact. 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:55.779 We become like what we worship. 00:13:57.680 --> 00:14:01.300 And so let me tell you this and have you recognize it. 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:14.440 The things in your life that predominate your agenda and your time are leaving an imprint on the way you think and the way you act. 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:31.700 If your discontentment seeks to find its satisfaction on Amazon, on Pinterest, on Home Shopping Network, and games, 00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:46.379 your dissatisfaction will metastasize beyond that narrow sphere to affect far more in your life than you can ever imagine. 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:51.120 And all God's people said, yes, I get it. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.259 I understand. 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:53.600 Would you say that with me? 00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.700 I get it. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:57.360 I get it. 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.799 I understand. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:04.860 I have an unrelenting battle in my own soul with idolatry. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:09.620 And I want this morning to be focused on the supremacy of God. 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:11.919 God, not other things. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.820 We become like what we worship. 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:25.980 I want you to look at a more encouraging passage than Jeremiah. 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:32.080 While Jeremiah may be indicting, I want you to turn, finger in, Psalm 27. 00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:32.919 We're coming back. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.460 We're coming back. 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:36.840 But go to 2 Corinthians 3, verse 18. 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:48.659 Oh, by the way, do you know what people should do when pastors preach? 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:49.960 Huh? 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.740 What should you do? 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:53.919 You ought to pray. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:55.799 I don't care if you close your eyes. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:57.580 I'll assume you're praying, not sleeping. 00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:01.360 Go ahead and say it. 00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:02.100 Help him, Lord. 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:06.120 2 Corinthians 3, verse 18. 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:14.460 I gave you some pretty sobering, oh, bad passages that deal with the fact that when we seek after worthlessness, we become worthless. 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:20.100 2 Corinthians 3, verse 18. 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:34.259 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:52.939 I'll never forget hearing Dr. James Boyer, in his late 70s, a Greek professor, say that if he had one sermon to preach to believers, that would be the one. 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:59.880 I don't know that I could narrow myself down like that because whichever passage I'm in, that's the best one. 00:17:00.260 --> 00:17:02.520 But I have to tell you, this one's full. 00:17:03.640 --> 00:17:04.180 Full. 00:17:05.600 --> 00:17:06.039 Full. 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:06.079 Full. 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.879 Our focus on Christ. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:18.720 Our focus on Christ. 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:23.619 Will help us grow to be more like him. 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:28.139 Our focus on Christ. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:32.859 Will help us to grow to be more satisfied people. 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:37.940 How many of you understand moody? 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:41.599 I mean, just kind of, you know, you understand moody. 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:46.279 You can be moody and self-focused without any extra practice. 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.940 How many of you are in that space with me? 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.339 It's like, I can do that. 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:58.559 There is no remedy for that poor person apart from being focused on Christ. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:01.819 And your, let me rephrase that. 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:09.720 My occasional unhappinesses are always directly related to my lack of focus on Jesus. 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:12.179 Write that down. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.599 Not about me. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.419 What about you? 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.919 You know me. 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:19.079 I've told you me before. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:23.519 And my purpose in telling you me is not to focus on me, but to help you understand. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:25.679 You don't have to stay that way. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:34.779 And I want you to notice that here is David going back to Psalm 27 now, 00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:40.860 who is actually in a very, very challenging place. 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:50.320 Psalm 27 is an interesting psalm because the passage that we're looking at is set against the backdrop 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:53.179 of unrelenting pressure. 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:59.019 And usually when we're in a position of unrelenting pressure, 00:18:59.379 --> 00:19:03.299 here is what our prayer often is. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.240 Just get me out of here. 00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:06.220 How many of you been there? 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.579 Bad situation in marriage. 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.799 Bad situation in work. 00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:11.039 The kids aren't being cooperative. 00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.720 Everything's going south. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.779 You don't have a job. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:15.799 You're sick. 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:19.159 Whatever it is, you know, Lord, here, here, do me a favor. 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:20.259 Just get me out of here. 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:31.000 The context of this one scripture that we look at this morning is David in the midst of adversity, 00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:35.340 and he says against the backdrop of his enemies and those who hate him 00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:39.380 and those who are intentional in their desire for his destruction, 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:42.340 he says there's one thing that I've desired. 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.740 There's one thing. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:49.060 So I want you to think with me this morning. 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:52.660 What really is at the heart of David's desires? 00:19:52.820 --> 00:19:54.540 Let's look at it in a threefold sense. 00:19:55.800 --> 00:19:58.960 David's threefold desires begin, first of all, with this fact. 00:19:59.080 --> 00:20:02.660 David desired an intimate relationship with God. 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:04.400 That's what it says there in verse 4, 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:08.400 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:14.380 Is that talking about sitting in church seven days a week, 24 hours a day? 00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:16.900 And the answer is not in your life. 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:18.960 Not in your life. 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:26.420 How many understand that the truth of the matter is that the scriptures make it undeniably clear 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:33.080 that our relationship with Christ is not something that is dependent entirely upon our being here? 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:35.679 Jesus said this. 00:20:35.679 --> 00:20:37.000 He says, I am with you what? 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:37.539 What? 00:20:38.159 --> 00:20:38.740 Always. 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.679 I'm with you always. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:46.879 And even in David, the psalmist's life, when you think about this statement, 00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:52.240 the desire to dwell in the house of the Lord, it's not talking about a location in particular. 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:54.179 It's talking about a relationship. 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:58.160 Remember how the 23rd Psalm comes to a conclusion, 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:03.759 and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.920 What was David reflecting upon? 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:10.660 He was reflecting on the sweet outcome of his relationship with the shepherd 00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:16.620 would be a lasting and an eternal relationship in the presence. 00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:25.259 I want you to recognize that rooted in the Bible's picture of our relationship with God 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:33.059 is this incredible fact that he who dwells in heaven and is the Lord of all that is created 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:37.579 has chosen to reveal himself to us and actually to dwell with us. 00:21:38.659 --> 00:21:43.199 The greatest blessing of the Garden of Eden, and we often think, I shouldn't say often, 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:47.819 but we occasionally think about the Garden of Eden, and it generally has to do with, 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:53.900 well, if Eve hadn't sinned and hadn't sinned, we wouldn't have weeds in our lawn, right? 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:57.720 I mean, you know, every now and then you think, well, the reason we have weeds and our gardens 00:21:57.720 --> 00:22:01.960 are tough and women have the pain and childbearing is because of what? 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:11.880 You know, so if these things were gone, well, the greatest blessing of Eden was not the absence 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:14.160 of pain and hardship and suffering. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:21.040 It was the intimate communion that they enjoyed with Christ. 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:25.800 In the cool of the evening, what did God do? 00:22:26.540 --> 00:22:28.160 He came down and dwelt with them. 00:22:29.020 --> 00:22:30.280 He communed with them. 00:22:31.260 --> 00:22:35.840 And over and over again, as we think through some of the sweetness of the Scriptures, 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:41.819 we recognize that one of the recurring themes that runs through the entire Bible is this, 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:44.959 I will be their God and they will be my people. 00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:50.740 The idea in that thought is this personal relationship, personal. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:57.539 And here is David who says, listen, this is the one thing that I've asked. 00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.679 Here's what I want. 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:01.460 Here's what I want. 00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:09.060 I want to have an intimate relationship with God. 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:13.779 David was intentional about this. 00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:20.460 And I would propose that David understood that an intimate relationship with God was not 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:26.940 something that could be nurtured just by casual and occasional attention to it. 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:33.740 How many of you have learned the hard way that when you don't invest energy and time in a 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:39.799 relationship, whether you like it or not, it can kind of lose some of its sweetness? 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.759 Do you understand that? 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:47.180 One of the things that I have enjoyed doing in premarital counseling as I get the couple 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:52.440 together and early on in our conversations, I ask them, okay, go ahead, tell me how much 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:55.900 time you spend kind of in the courtship phase. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.440 You guys understand that? 00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.400 Courtship phase? 00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.519 Am I right? 00:23:59.580 --> 00:24:00.080 Two weeks? 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:00.820 Huh? 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:01.759 Oh, yeah. 00:24:01.840 --> 00:24:03.740 She knows and he's, whatever, you know. 00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:05.120 I'll be there. 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.700 I'm sorry. 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:10.100 Jared, Will, you know how many weeks it is, right? 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:11.000 Two weeks, right? 00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:16.420 I ask them to say, how many hours do you spend a week in your relationship? 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:22.700 And a couple usually sits there and, and I've had, they're not even living in the same 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.080 city. 00:24:24.580 --> 00:24:26.200 Oh, we text each other through the day. 00:24:26.320 --> 00:24:28.500 I bet you your employer really appreciates that. 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.420 You know, yeah. 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:33.800 And then as soon as we get off work, we get on our phones, you know, we're driving down 00:24:33.800 --> 00:24:34.019 the aisle. 00:24:35.100 --> 00:24:36.100 How did your day go? 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:36.700 Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:43.100 And I've had them tabulate the hours and come up with dozens, dozens. 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:50.140 And I say, do me a favor, write that, that total in the front of your Bible. 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.920 And in complete innocence, they do that. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:25:02.420 They kind of, you know, we put 22 hours into nurturing our relationship in courtship. 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.340 I say, do me a favor. 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:08.859 Make a commitment to God that you're going to spend at least half of that time after you're 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.199 married. 00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:11.500 And guess what? 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:13.659 They kind of giggle and think, oh, that'll be easy. 00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:23.559 Judith is sick this morning, her third cold in the season. 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.799 I'm looking forward to spring already. 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:41.399 And after I'd finished my time with the Lord, and she hadn't gotten up yet, I took a cup 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:41.940 of coffee. 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:47.079 Because I know coffee has an aroma that does a very interesting thing to my wife. 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:49.200 And I carried the cup into the room. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:52.200 And, you know, get the... 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:55.279 I said, how are you? 00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:59.400 I said, do you want coffee? 00:25:59.480 --> 00:25:59.759 No. 00:25:59.860 --> 00:26:01.380 I said, well, I brought it up here. 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:02.460 I put it right by the bed. 00:26:02.580 --> 00:26:03.920 You know what I was doing? 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:05.440 I wanted to spend time with her. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:13.200 David wanted to have an intimate relationship with God. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:18.140 And he knew that meant investing the energy and time. 00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:22.080 There's a second thing that I want you to mark here in the passage. 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:26.720 You look there, he says, dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:29.519 upon the beauty of the Lord. 00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:36.860 David desired a captivating view of God. 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:42.880 Beauty is something that enthralls us into appreciating it. 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:49.380 It is in seeing beauty that we find great satisfaction and joy. 00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:55.040 And every single one of us here finds satisfaction in beauty. 00:26:57.220 --> 00:27:03.040 People are enthralled with beauty, whether it is in China or in India or in America. 00:27:03.520 --> 00:27:10.040 Wherever it is, when you look at a spectacular sunset and you are enjoying that on the beach 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:17.159 or wherever it is, you can't help yourself when you are around others and say, wow, isn't that beautiful? 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:26.339 And the person who is looking at that joins with you in saying, yeah, yeah, that's beautiful. 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:37.839 John Piper reflects on mankind's appreciation of beauty to be a glimmer of his being made in the image of God. 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.639 I think that's right. 00:27:40.419 --> 00:27:47.480 Because you'll remember that as God created things, he took pleasure in what was taking place. 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:51.779 And according to his word, he said, let there be light. 00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:57.059 Let there be the oceans, the creation all around. 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:59.220 And he took pleasure in those things. 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:04.799 Our lives are really enhanced by glimpses of beauty. 00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:08.339 The first good snow is beautiful, isn't it? 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:13.480 Every one of us, when it eventually comes, we'll need people to help with the plowing and shoveling. 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:15.039 But other than that, you know, guess what? 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.880 I did get that in, so remember that. 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:21.279 You know, hey, we're going to find pleasure in the first snow. 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:23.900 How many of you like the way it clings to branches? 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:29.539 Before the wind and everything else gets a hold of it. 00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:32.279 Just unbelievable, spectacular. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:35.880 And about a week later, what has happened to all that beautiful snow? 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:38.440 It has become a pain. 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:42.000 I mean, it's caused ruts. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:44.359 It's made you shovel. 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:46.279 There's a lot of bad things, you know. 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:55.720 And then that snow that was so beautiful at first now just lies in ugly, dark piles at the end of your driveway or wherever else. 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:57.940 And you're thinking, oh, I can't wait for spring. 00:28:58.099 --> 00:29:00.119 And then spring comes and what happens? 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.440 Crocuses. 00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:04.839 Crocuses. 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:07.200 I mean, just blow me away. 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.200 Daffodils. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:14.319 Just a little out of the ground they pop and wow! 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:18.000 How many of you get cold chills when you think about, that's beautiful! 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:28.400 We really do long to see beauty in its many forms for each reflects the glory of our Creator. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:32.080 But I want you to stop and think with me. 00:29:32.280 --> 00:29:35.280 What really was David talking about here? 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:42.980 How could he even think that our invisible God could be glimpsed? 00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:44.540 Think about that. 00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.720 This is David, Old Testament. 00:29:48.340 --> 00:29:50.200 Let me read the passage to you again. 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:59.480 To gaze upon the beauty of the God who has never allowed himself to be seen. 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:10.680 I want you to think with me of what David was referencing. 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:15.180 Let me read a quote from John Piper again. 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.640 Beauty is what God is. 00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:20.100 His wisdom is beautiful wisdom. 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:23.560 His power is beautiful power. 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:27.180 His justice is beautiful justice. 00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:30.500 His love is beautiful love. 00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:35.480 Beauty is what God is. 00:30:36.759 --> 00:30:43.380 So, when David said that he wanted to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:48.920 what he was speaking of is that David wanted to gain an understanding. 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:51.079 He wanted to be able to comprehend. 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:54.059 That's what's involved in this word gaze. 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:57.779 To comprehend the attributes and the nature of God. 00:30:58.359 --> 00:30:59.460 So stop and let me ask you this. 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:03.480 When was the last time that you actually consciously, deliberately, 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:07.799 reflected carefully upon the attributes of God? 00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:12.539 Hey, here's how a lot of our devotional lives go. 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.700 God, you got five minutes. 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:20.579 457, 458, 459. 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.539 Bye, I'm gone. 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:23.579 You know, it's like, hey, I've done my thing. 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:27.319 And then you wonder why you still remain sour and unhappy 00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:31.559 and your life is not fulfilled in the sweetness of your relationship. 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:34.019 You haven't been gazing at the beauty. 00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:37.200 You've been just going through the routine. 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:47.400 David says, listen, I want to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:53.759 Third, David desired a deeper understanding into his word and nature. 00:31:53.840 --> 00:31:55.120 There, the last part, it says this, 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:57.960 and to inquire in his temple. 00:31:57.960 --> 00:32:04.299 The word inquire is a word that is used mostly in the Old Testament 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:07.360 in a theological or a religious context, 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:09.840 and it really means to inspect carefully. 00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:14.840 It was a word that was used in relationship to the sacrificial animal. 00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:17.200 And what was the deal with the sacrificial animal? 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:19.900 When you used an animal for sacrifice, 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:23.299 were there particular standards that you had to pay attention to? 00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:23.720 Yes. 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:26.740 You had to look carefully to determine, 00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:29.819 is this animal one that is acceptable? 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:33.880 And the idea was to kind of scrutinize it carefully 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:37.980 and to think about it carefully and pay attention to it. 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:43.599 It also means to meditate, 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:47.140 to work at something over and over again 00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:51.779 with a conscious and deliberate desire of gaining more from it. 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.620 I am not a musician, 00:32:57.539 --> 00:33:05.940 and I would never profess that music is a gift for me or an ability. 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:08.420 I do enjoy good music. 00:33:09.580 --> 00:33:12.120 And I've learned in observation 00:33:12.120 --> 00:33:15.779 some of the principles of becoming proficient at music 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:18.539 is that in order to grow to the point 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:22.580 that you can really become capable, 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:25.620 you have to practice, what's the next word? 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:32.279 Incessantly, unrelenting discipline produces sweetness. 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:36.599 I have a neighbor right across the street 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:40.379 who is a saxophonist that makes part of his living 00:33:40.379 --> 00:33:44.440 by playing in concerts and orchestras 00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:46.000 and jazz bands around the city. 00:33:47.859 --> 00:33:49.460 Evidently, he does fairly well at it. 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:51.480 And one of the things that I can tell you 00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:54.279 is that Judith and I have listened to him over and over again, 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:58.180 kind of warming up and then going through the various musical... 00:33:58.180 --> 00:34:00.500 By the way, a saxophone carries in a neighborhood. 00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:01.339 Do you understand that? 00:34:01.339 --> 00:34:04.639 I mean, you can hear him. 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:08.639 And he practices and he practices and he practices and he practices. 00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:13.099 And his ability to enjoy 00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:20.279 flows out of his deep commitment to exercise. 00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:27.800 I've never in all of my years of ministry or counseling 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:32.980 come across a single person who fell into sin, 00:34:33.100 --> 00:34:34.540 became discontent or moody, 00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:37.800 or struggled with deep disappointment with God 00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:42.700 that could not, when they reflected on it carefully, 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:52.619 track back their dive into difficulty to their lack of pursuit in the Word of God. 00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.460 Think about that. 00:34:55.919 --> 00:34:57.500 There are some of you sitting here this morning, 00:34:57.500 --> 00:35:05.079 the truth of the matter is that your soul is wounded by the circumstances of life. 00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:10.960 And I would plead with you that you must stop and think carefully, 00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:13.579 what is that wound attributed to? 00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:18.559 Is it attributed to a God who is unfaithful and indifference to your well-being? 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:23.519 Is it attributed to his lack of interest in your personal state? 00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:26.420 Is it attributed to his lack of love for you? 00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:32.059 Or is it that you have taken your eyes off of the absolute supremacy of his glory 00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:35.900 and his unrelenting love for you? 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:43.079 So what can we do as we look into the new year and we think of, 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:45.000 so let's be focused. 00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:51.539 First, admit that where you are is not where you should be. 00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:52.720 I want you to think about that. 00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:54.940 Admit that where you are is not where you should be. 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.780 Let me say it again. 00:35:55.780 --> 00:35:58.340 Admit that where you are is not where you should be. 00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:03.380 Admit. 00:36:04.540 --> 00:36:07.040 In fact, here's what, you know what, 00:36:07.080 --> 00:36:10.660 it's so easy to preach a sermon and survive it and go out and forget about it. 00:36:10.680 --> 00:36:11.180 Do you follow that? 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:13.480 Here's one of the things that I would plead with you. 00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:16.700 When you're driving home, say to your wife, 00:36:17.040 --> 00:36:18.680 I'm not where I should be. 00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:19.740 By the way, she does know. 00:36:19.739 --> 00:36:26.139 Say to your husband, I'm not where I should be. 00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:31.239 I was listening to the preaching of the word of God and the spirit of God touched my heart 00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:34.579 to realize that I need to do something about what's going on. 00:36:34.799 --> 00:36:36.579 I'm not where I should be. 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:42.840 Number two, plead with him to change your desires. 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.599 Isn't that nice? 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.340 Think about that. 00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:49.139 Plead with him to change your desires. 00:36:49.139 --> 00:36:54.879 How many of you have been effective at kind of ginning up your own desires? 00:36:55.880 --> 00:37:00.300 I'm a little cold this morning and my heart's not fired up for Jesus 00:37:00.300 --> 00:37:03.780 and I really don't feel like singing and like, you know what, 00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:06.940 I just as soon lie in bed and feel sorry for myself. 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:10.780 You know, how many of you are glad that you don't have to make your thoughts 00:37:10.780 --> 00:37:15.500 entirely on your own accommodate the glory of Christ? 00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:19.099 You can go to him and say, listen, I'm not where I should be 00:37:19.099 --> 00:37:21.320 and I want you to change my desires. 00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:28.080 Others, Philippians, work out your salvation with fear and trembling 00:37:28.080 --> 00:37:29.539 for it is he who works in you. 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:32.580 Let's follow the next part, both to will. 00:37:33.900 --> 00:37:34.820 What does that mean? 00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:36.920 To have the right desires. 00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:41.340 Both to will and do his good pleasure. 00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:43.380 I can count on him to help me. 00:37:43.680 --> 00:37:46.000 So go ahead and let him know that you're depending on him. 00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:50.940 Third, have confidence that he answers the humble and persistent prayers 00:37:50.940 --> 00:37:51.519 of his children. 00:37:51.860 --> 00:37:57.019 How many of you will find that, okay, yeah, I'm a mess. 00:37:57.079 --> 00:37:59.760 I'm not where I need to be and I'm going to go ahead and ask him, 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:02.380 but if he doesn't answer in the next five seconds, I'm done. 00:38:03.700 --> 00:38:07.019 I'm going to go back to being kind of a surly, unhappy saint. 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:12.220 Do you remember the story of the importuning widow? 00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:13.220 Do you remember that one? 00:38:13.219 --> 00:38:20.519 She just wore the unjust judge out by asking again and again and again and again. 00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:30.139 I look at some of your faces and I see the kind of the sorrow and the disappointment 00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:33.119 and I recognize that I can't fix it. 00:38:34.859 --> 00:38:35.879 But here's what I know. 00:38:35.939 --> 00:38:36.980 I know the one who can. 00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:42.480 And when you come to him with a broken and a contrite heart and you say, 00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:46.179 listen, do something to change the attitude of my heart, 00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:49.179 if you persist, he will do it. 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:54.840 Fourth, dive into his word intentionally and daily. 00:38:56.199 --> 00:39:01.940 By the way, diving into his word is not something that happens in a 45-second 00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:04.780 little rendition with the daily bread. 00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:08.619 Fifth, and this is a kicker. 00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:14.900 Obey in every instance where his word instructs. 00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:16.480 Would you write that down? 00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:20.300 Obey in every instance where his word instructs. 00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:21.639 Here's why. 00:39:21.639 --> 00:39:32.079 Obedience is the key that unlocks the door of understanding and much of our blessing. 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:41.460 So, first question that I want you to leave here thinking is, 00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:45.500 am I where I need to be? 00:39:46.599 --> 00:39:50.839 The answer for all of us is no, I'm not. 00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:57.619 The second question is, will you, with the power of the Spirit of God, 00:39:58.059 --> 00:40:00.219 do something to make a difference? 00:40:01.480 --> 00:40:02.400 That's a question. 00:40:03.199 --> 00:40:04.219 I can't answer. 00:40:05.400 --> 00:40:06.960 But I do know for me, 00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:11.159 one thing have I desired of the Lord, 00:40:11.839 --> 00:40:13.579 that will I seek after. 00:40:14.579 --> 00:40:18.159 That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life 00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:20.199 to behold his beauty, 00:40:20.659 --> 00:40:21.739 to inquire. 00:40:24.899 --> 00:40:26.039 Let's close in prayer. 00:40:30.420 --> 00:40:34.440 Our Father God, this morning as we think carefully about the passage of Scripture, 00:40:34.579 --> 00:40:38.539 we recognize that this text is directed to those who know Christ. 00:40:38.539 --> 00:40:45.300 I have no doubt that there are those here this morning that do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior. 00:40:45.880 --> 00:40:47.239 And my plea would be this, 00:40:47.279 --> 00:40:49.500 is that your Spirit would bring them to the point 00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:53.699 where they understand that the deep and abiding discontentment 00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:59.679 and their fear and caution really is reflective of their lack of relationship. 00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:05.899 that your Spirit would draw them to the place of trusting in Jesus Christ, 00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:08.299 in whom is salvation alone. 00:41:09.779 --> 00:41:12.000 Let those who are here that are believers 00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:16.679 be conscious and deliberate in setting their affections 00:41:17.359 --> 00:41:21.639 on the things that are worthy and the scope and sight of eternity. 00:41:23.079 --> 00:41:24.819 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:41:25.480 --> 00:41:25.759 Amen.