WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.120 Okay, folks, have we got Sam 2 open in front of us? Yeah. 00:00:03.320 --> 00:00:04.259 This is golden. 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:07.540 And this is just what we need at the start of the year 00:00:07.540 --> 00:00:09.460 as we set out as a local church. 00:00:09.460 --> 00:00:14.320 Because this gives us a wonderful vision of the kingship of Jesus. 00:00:15.040 --> 00:00:17.320 And there's nothing else that we need more this morning 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:20.379 than a greater view of who he is. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:23.699 So here is Jeff Bozos. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:25.219 Is that how you say his name? 00:00:25.339 --> 00:00:25.980 I'm never sure. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:26.800 The owner of Amazon. 00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:29.920 One of the richest men in the world. 00:00:30.739 --> 00:00:34.659 And he's actually considered one of the smartest men in the world. 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:38.620 And he did an interview recently with the Harvard Review. 00:00:38.620 --> 00:00:40.340 And he said this in the review. 00:00:40.460 --> 00:00:42.079 He said, people always ask me, 00:00:42.620 --> 00:00:46.579 what I think is going to change most in the next 10 years? 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:50.679 To be honest, I'd probably ask the guy that question I've ever met. 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:53.620 What do you think is going to change most in the next 10 years? 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:56.640 And my wallet would be listening to his answer. 00:00:57.619 --> 00:01:00.100 But here's what he went on to say in this interview. 00:01:01.299 --> 00:01:07.739 He said, no one ever asks me what's not going to change in the next 10 years. 00:01:07.739 --> 00:01:14.000 Because you find that answer to that question, what's not going to change over the next 10 years. 00:01:15.619 --> 00:01:17.439 And that's a place to ground your life. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:21.640 He said this, let me put it to you, that when it comes to building a business, 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:27.899 that the answer to the second question is way more important than the answer to the first. 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:30.200 Fascinating, isn't it? 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:33.920 And it makes complete sense, logical sense when you think about it. 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:41.900 It's not rocket science to build our lives on the things that aren't going to change. 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:46.420 Which takes me right to Psalm chapter 2. 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:47.360 Psalm 2. 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:52.019 This has become one of the most precious texts in the Bible for me. 00:01:52.739 --> 00:01:56.680 And my weary soul that so often drifts and doubts. 00:01:57.579 --> 00:02:01.239 Because this is all about the one thing this year that's not going to change. 00:02:02.340 --> 00:02:05.659 And the invitation here is to come and see what God has done. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:08.979 And build your life on it. 00:02:08.979 --> 00:02:16.000 And it's not so much an invitation, actually it's a declaration to the world about the kingship of Jesus. 00:02:17.299 --> 00:02:20.239 Because in a world that seems increasingly chaotic, 00:02:20.859 --> 00:02:22.919 day by day it seems to be that, isn't it? 00:02:23.099 --> 00:02:24.060 Increasingly chaotic. 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:31.299 And in a culture that seems angry or sometimes just plain indifferent to the Christian faith, 00:02:33.639 --> 00:02:38.739 particularly this time of year, my soul needs to know what Psalm chapter 2 has to say to us. 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:42.819 So come and warm yourself by the fire of this psalm. 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:46.599 And take a huge breath. 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:50.399 Huge gulp of air of the thing that it's telling us. 00:02:50.500 --> 00:02:53.120 So why don't we read it together and then we'll get into this together. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:55.519 Here's the one thing that's not going to change in this psalm. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:56.620 See if you can spot it. 00:02:58.099 --> 00:02:59.620 Psalm chapter 2 says this. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:01.739 Why do the nations conspire? 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:05.019 And the peoples plot in vain. 00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:12.920 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:13.719 saying, 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:17.840 Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:23.580 The one enthroned in heaven laughs. 00:03:25.099 --> 00:03:26.980 The Lord scoffs at them. 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:32.400 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, 00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:32.980 saying, 00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:38.119 I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:41.819 I will proclaim the Lord's decree. 00:03:42.039 --> 00:03:42.799 He said to me, 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:43.799 You are my son. 00:03:44.179 --> 00:03:46.099 Today I have become your father. 00:03:46.579 --> 00:03:49.699 Ask me and I will make the nations your inheritance, 00:03:50.239 --> 00:03:52.539 the ends of the earth your possession. 00:03:53.399 --> 00:03:55.579 You will break them with a rod of iron. 00:03:55.679 --> 00:03:58.060 You will dash them to pieces like pottery. 00:03:58.060 --> 00:04:03.159 Therefore, you kings, be wise. 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:06.620 Be warned, you rulers of the earth. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:10.699 Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:15.000 Kiss his son or he will be angry. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:19.160 And your way will lead to your destruction. 00:04:19.420 --> 00:04:21.560 For his wrath can flare up in a moment. 00:04:23.060 --> 00:04:27.740 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. 00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:30.480 And God will bless the reading of his word this morning. 00:04:30.579 --> 00:04:33.879 Friends, here's two things that this psalm has for us. 00:04:33.939 --> 00:04:34.660 Two big lessons. 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:35.620 Here's number one. 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:41.100 It's that the world's rebellion is not unexpected. 00:04:42.900 --> 00:04:48.139 So Acts 5 tells us that this is David writing this psalm 00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:49.860 in his role as the king of Israel. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:51.939 You might not see that. 00:04:52.340 --> 00:04:54.819 You might not see any kind of author underneath the psalm, 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:56.199 but that's what Acts 5 tells us. 00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:57.099 This is David writing. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:04:59.139 And that's not just a throwaway comment. 00:04:59.259 --> 00:05:01.680 It's actually really important for understanding the psalm 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:03.979 and everything it's got to teach us. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:07.500 David's writing this as the king of Israel. 00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:09.959 What that means is that in the back of his mind, 00:05:10.659 --> 00:05:12.659 he has the promises, 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:15.699 the covenant promises that God made to him 00:05:15.699 --> 00:05:17.860 in 2 Samuel chapter 7. 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:20.019 Now that's a massive chapter of the Bible. 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:20.839 Here it is. 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:24.959 It's the promises that God makes to David. 00:05:25.859 --> 00:05:28.439 That God will establish one of his kings, 00:05:28.599 --> 00:05:30.799 one of his sons rather, as king forever. 00:05:31.739 --> 00:05:33.219 This is what God promises David. 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:36.699 And his rule will bring peace. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:39.539 And it will bring rest. 00:05:39.540 --> 00:05:44.680 And God will be to him like a father. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:48.120 And he will be like a son to God. 00:05:49.520 --> 00:05:52.120 And David's mulling on these wonderful promises 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:54.120 that God makes to him. 00:05:54.260 --> 00:05:56.600 But you see, if that's what's in the back of his mind 00:05:56.600 --> 00:05:57.640 as he writes this, 00:05:58.180 --> 00:06:00.340 see what he sees in front of his eyes. 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:02.620 He's looking on at a world 00:06:02.620 --> 00:06:04.460 that wants nothing to do with the Lord. 00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:05.320 Do you see it? 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:08.420 Verse 3, come and see it. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:11.500 This world wants nothing to do with God 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:14.519 and it wants nothing to do with following his king. 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:17.060 It's why we get the word against twice there. 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:17.659 Do you see? 00:06:19.339 --> 00:06:21.399 It just means downright hostility. 00:06:22.920 --> 00:06:24.719 Verse 3, here's what they're saying. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.039 Let us break their chains 00:06:27.039 --> 00:06:30.159 and throw off their shackles. 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:31.259 Do you feel that imagery? 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:35.159 It's a fist shaking in the direction of God. 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:36.180 That's what's going on here. 00:06:36.820 --> 00:06:38.140 Let's get rid of God. 00:06:39.900 --> 00:06:42.740 Who is this God thinking that he can tell us 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:45.040 how to live our lives? 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:47.460 And here the puzzled pain in David's voice. 00:06:47.580 --> 00:06:48.260 What does he say? 00:06:48.340 --> 00:06:49.640 Do you see the word that comes up there? 00:06:51.060 --> 00:06:51.500 Why? 00:06:52.700 --> 00:06:56.140 Why do the nations conspire 00:06:56.140 --> 00:06:58.120 and the peoples plot in vain? 00:06:58.200 --> 00:07:00.840 So David looks on what's seen on earth 00:07:00.840 --> 00:07:03.320 and the rebellion that's happening against God 00:07:03.320 --> 00:07:04.560 and he's saying, what are you doing? 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:05.860 Do you see the vanity? 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:07.860 Do you see the futility of it all? 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:12.180 Oh, that you would see that life lived 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:14.319 in loving submission to this God 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:18.319 is precisely where we'll all find 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:21.740 the very fullness of life that we crave 00:07:21.740 --> 00:07:23.160 and that we long for 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:25.980 and the one that we were created to know. 00:07:26.220 --> 00:07:28.199 Oh, that you would see that the cords 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:30.139 that you are trying to throw off 00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:33.540 are cords of grace and of love. 00:07:33.540 --> 00:07:35.960 And that's the scene that David sees on earth. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:42.240 And then we get the response from heaven. 00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:43.020 Do you see it? 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:44.860 And this is the second big lesson 00:07:44.860 --> 00:07:46.500 that this psalm has to teach us. 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:50.600 The world's rebellion is not unexpected. 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:56.340 But friends, the throne of heaven is not unoccupied. 00:07:57.660 --> 00:07:58.879 Have a look at verse four. 00:07:58.980 --> 00:07:59.360 Come with me. 00:07:59.400 --> 00:07:59.900 Do you see it? 00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:02.740 Now, here's a question for you. 00:08:02.780 --> 00:08:04.379 Have you ever wondered what makes God laugh? 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:09.820 Probably didn't come up around the Christmas table conversation, did it? 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:10.819 But have you ever wondered it? 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:11.800 What makes God laugh? 00:08:12.599 --> 00:08:13.659 And this is your answer. 00:08:15.459 --> 00:08:17.159 And it's not a ha-ha kind of laugh 00:08:17.159 --> 00:08:19.620 like Peter Kay's just rocked up at heaven's gates 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:20.759 and told a few funnies. 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:24.360 This is more like a parent 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:28.039 staring down at a tantruming child 00:08:28.039 --> 00:08:30.899 who's hitting their fists in anger into their stomach 00:08:30.899 --> 00:08:34.000 and they're smirking at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:38.799 That's what God makes of this scene on earth. 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:40.039 Do you see verse six? 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:45.459 God thunders his response to the arrogance of man. 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:46.319 What does he say? 00:08:46.439 --> 00:08:47.139 He says, 00:08:49.059 --> 00:08:52.539 I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:54.419 So God's reaction, 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:55.740 what God's going to do 00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:59.419 in response to the scene on earth 00:08:59.419 --> 00:09:04.259 is to vindicate and establish his king 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:05.939 in front of the watching world. 00:09:07.699 --> 00:09:08.819 And in so doing, 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:10.779 he's going to confirm once and for all 00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:12.559 that his plans and purposes 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:15.419 since from all eternity 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:17.939 will never be stopped. 00:09:19.459 --> 00:09:20.219 In other words, 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:22.279 God's going to make a statement to the world 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:25.000 and his statement will come 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:26.219 when he establishes, 00:09:26.299 --> 00:09:27.360 do you see the language here? 00:09:27.439 --> 00:09:27.980 You've got to see it. 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:30.519 He establishes his king 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:32.639 on his holy hill. 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:36.379 So God's response to the rebellion on earth 00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:39.460 is to establish his king on his holy hill. 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:40.300 You with me so far? 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:41.620 This is about to really heat up. 00:09:41.700 --> 00:09:42.620 So you've got to get with me, yeah? 00:09:43.940 --> 00:09:45.420 This is what God's going to do. 00:09:45.700 --> 00:09:46.539 But the thing is, 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:47.600 David's saying this 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:49.899 and I probably imagine he's thinking to himself, 00:09:50.300 --> 00:09:51.860 this is way too big for me. 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:54.539 Way too big for me. 00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:58.759 And it's Jesus Christ 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.620 who steps into all the promises 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:01.959 and all the potential 00:10:01.959 --> 00:10:04.279 that's tied up in the true king 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:06.019 of this psalm. 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:10.620 He is the king from the line of David. 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:13.279 At his baptism, 00:10:13.439 --> 00:10:14.839 and we're going to see this in a few weeks time 00:10:14.839 --> 00:10:15.799 as we get into Matthew, 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:16.819 at his baptism, 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.459 God the Father uttered the very words 00:10:19.459 --> 00:10:20.480 of verse seven there. 00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:21.059 Do you see it? 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:23.539 Here is my son. 00:10:24.079 --> 00:10:25.059 Again at the transfiguration, 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:27.139 here is my son. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:28.759 Listen to him. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.439 King Jesus. 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:35.759 Four things we need to know about King Jesus. 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:36.679 Four quick headlines. 00:10:36.859 --> 00:10:37.359 Number one, 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:38.979 heaven's king lived. 00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:42.159 Jesus is the perfect king 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:44.059 that Israel never had. 00:10:45.099 --> 00:10:47.019 Perfect in his faithfulness. 00:10:47.199 --> 00:10:48.559 Perfect in his obedience. 00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:50.879 Perfect in his righteousness. 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:53.259 If you scan your eye back 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:54.599 to Psalm chapter one, 00:10:56.239 --> 00:10:58.939 he is the Psalm one man. 00:11:02.739 --> 00:11:03.779 Number two, 00:11:03.979 --> 00:11:05.159 heaven's king crucified. 00:11:05.699 --> 00:11:06.599 Jesus the king 00:11:06.599 --> 00:11:07.719 who went into battle 00:11:07.719 --> 00:11:08.579 for his people 00:11:08.579 --> 00:11:10.019 against their biggest enemy, 00:11:10.219 --> 00:11:11.059 sin and death, 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:14.379 sharing his triumph with them. 00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:15.599 Number three, 00:11:15.839 --> 00:11:17.279 heaven's king rose. 00:11:18.859 --> 00:11:19.919 Paul would write this, 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:20.839 and we're doing it this morning 00:11:20.839 --> 00:11:21.899 at the beginning of Romans, 00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:23.519 that Jesus was declared to be 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:25.539 the eternal son of God in power. 00:11:28.199 --> 00:11:29.120 And number four, 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:31.159 heaven's king ascended 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:35.740 to the right hand of the Father in heaven. 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:37.099 That's where he is right now. 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.620 And so when God says 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:42.719 that he will set his king, 00:11:42.839 --> 00:11:43.479 what it means is 00:11:43.479 --> 00:11:45.059 he will fix him there. 00:11:45.059 --> 00:11:48.659 That's the language of something solid, 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:50.219 something unchangeable. 00:11:50.439 --> 00:11:51.679 So heaven's answer 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:53.119 to the scene on earth 00:11:53.119 --> 00:11:54.839 is the risen and ruling 00:11:54.839 --> 00:11:56.259 King Jesus. 00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:59.459 And he is the one 00:11:59.459 --> 00:12:00.359 who will usher in 00:12:00.359 --> 00:12:01.839 the age of God's promise 00:12:01.839 --> 00:12:02.419 to Abraham 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:03.619 to bless the peoples 00:12:03.619 --> 00:12:04.159 of the world. 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.339 Do you see the overtones 00:12:05.339 --> 00:12:06.339 of that in verse eight? 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:09.840 Ask me, 00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:10.480 and I will make 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:12.280 the nations your inheritance, 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:14.560 the ends of the earth 00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:15.820 your possession. 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:16.580 See, 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.160 if you're a Christian 00:12:17.160 --> 00:12:17.720 here this morning, 00:12:17.780 --> 00:12:18.340 have you ever thought 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:18.879 about the fact 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:19.740 that you are part 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:21.100 of the inheritance? 00:12:23.180 --> 00:12:24.180 People of the world 00:12:24.180 --> 00:12:25.320 coming to know Christ 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:26.060 for themselves, 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:27.540 finding life in his name, 00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:28.500 forgiveness in life. 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:29.360 You are part 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.120 of this inheritance. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.120 We are part 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:31.920 of this inheritance. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:35.779 to be declared 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:37.000 right with this God, 00:12:37.099 --> 00:12:37.839 to be welcomed 00:12:37.839 --> 00:12:38.759 into his family 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:39.479 through the person 00:12:39.479 --> 00:12:40.419 and work of heaven's 00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:42.139 all-conquering king. 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:45.539 Do you see the scene 00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:45.879 on earth? 00:12:45.959 --> 00:12:46.659 The world's rebellion 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:47.579 is not unexpected, 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:51.000 but the throne of heaven 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:52.079 is not unoccupied. 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:54.599 And so see, 00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:55.439 as we just make our way 00:12:55.439 --> 00:12:56.399 through these last 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:58.059 couple of verses, 00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:58.539 let me just 00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:00.039 change the angle 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:00.539 a little bit 00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:01.379 and just throw out 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:03.059 to us two questions 00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:04.019 for us to think about. 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:04.980 Here's the first one. 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:06.399 Friends, 00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:07.019 do some of us 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:08.120 need to bow down? 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:10.340 Have a look 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:11.039 at verse 10. 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:15.720 You see, 00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.179 we are living 00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:16.720 in a day 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.039 when we're not 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:21.100 short on information. 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:23.200 You know, 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:23.700 I read a stat 00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:24.159 the other day 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:25.360 that 500 hours 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:25.899 of video 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.519 are uploaded 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:27.320 to YouTube 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:28.919 every single minute. 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:31.360 we're not 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.759 short on information 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.819 in our world. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:34.620 You can Google 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.219 anything 00:13:35.219 --> 00:13:36.779 and it will 00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:37.099 give you 00:13:37.099 --> 00:13:37.539 an answer 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.299 to anything. 00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:42.039 But we are 00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:43.199 short on our world, 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.199 in our world, 00:13:44.599 --> 00:13:47.179 on wisdom. 00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:51.019 With the facts 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.599 that we have 00:13:51.599 --> 00:13:52.659 making the correct 00:13:52.659 --> 00:13:54.459 decision. 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:55.240 And of course, 00:13:55.339 --> 00:13:56.620 what are Psalms 1 and 2? 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.460 They're often called 00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:58.039 the gateway 00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:59.039 to the Psalms. 00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:01.060 Offering us 00:14:01.060 --> 00:14:01.879 that worldview, 00:14:02.060 --> 00:14:03.060 offering us 00:14:03.060 --> 00:14:04.039 that perspective, 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:05.060 that pair of glasses 00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:06.419 that we can 00:14:06.419 --> 00:14:07.220 take, 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:07.720 put on, 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:08.539 and walk through 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:09.679 the rest of life 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:10.419 that the Psalms 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:11.340 present us with 00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:12.419 with them on. 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.240 The Psalmist says, 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:16.860 in light of what 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.480 God will do, 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:18.259 in light of the fact 00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:18.759 that he's seated 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:20.000 as king on his holy hill, 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:20.620 be wise. 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:25.320 Respond rightly 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:26.919 to what he has done. 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:27.399 Do you know 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.360 it was in 1882 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:30.399 that Nietzsche 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.500 famously 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:33.000 heralded 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.320 the fact 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:34.799 that God 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.419 is dead? 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.039 Right? 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:37.840 1882, 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:38.919 because he believed 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:39.320 that there would 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:40.460 inevitably come a time 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:41.419 when there'd be 00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:42.360 no place 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:44.039 for Christian belief 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.440 in a post-enlightenment 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.500 world. 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:49.840 But if my maths is right, 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:51.419 forgive me if I'm not, 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:53.139 but 143 years on, 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:55.759 it's a good time 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.559 to ask how that 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.559 prediction is going. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:00.179 Is it not? 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.620 And to ask it 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.500 in the same year 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.700 that Bible sales 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.399 in the UK 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:07.399 went up 14%, 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.080 did you know that? 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.460 Contrasted with the 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.019 wider non-fiction market 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:12.740 which is said 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.639 to be faltering, 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.620 got to ask how 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.159 that prediction 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:15.659 is going. 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:19.460 And it's 00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:20.080 Psalm 2 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:21.000 that tells us 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:21.580 that Jesus 00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.419 is not just 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:23.100 some kind of 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.059 skittle in a 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:24.720 bowling alley 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:27.519 and it's just 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.279 a matter of time 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:28.919 before the right 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:29.679 person with the 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:30.580 right baubles, 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:32.460 the right thing 00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:33.320 and strike 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:34.460 and game's over. 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.200 What Psalm 2 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:38.059 is telling us 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:38.659 is that because 00:15:38.659 --> 00:15:39.679 this king lives, 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.740 God will not be 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.539 thwarted in 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:42.480 accomplishing his 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:42.940 purposes. 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:43.940 He's not 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.360 Do you see 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:47.799 how that's the 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:48.080 thing that's 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:48.399 not going to 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:48.960 change this 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:49.220 year? 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.379 Because our 00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:51.759 king is 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.320 enthroned, 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.440 nothing is going 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.100 to stop him 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.559 accomplishing this 00:15:55.559 --> 00:15:56.480 purpose of making 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.539 the nations his 00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:58.299 inheritance. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:58.799 Does that not 00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.500 encourage you in 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.200 evangelism? 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.259 And encourage you 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.019 to keep going and 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.700 witnessing to your 00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:04.559 friends and family? 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:08.259 And the invitation 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.079 verse 11, 00:16:09.359 --> 00:16:09.959 friends, if this is 00:16:09.959 --> 00:16:10.619 you this morning, 00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:11.059 if you think I 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:11.699 don't know this 00:16:11.699 --> 00:16:12.619 king, would not 00:16:12.619 --> 00:16:13.359 be a great thing 00:16:13.359 --> 00:16:13.959 this year to 00:16:13.959 --> 00:16:14.559 explore. 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:17.819 Have a look at 00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:18.439 verse 11. 00:16:18.579 --> 00:16:19.159 Here's the 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:21.199 invitation, the 00:16:21.199 --> 00:16:21.619 wisdom. 00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:24.699 Serve the Lord 00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:25.919 with fear and 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:26.959 celebrate his 00:16:26.959 --> 00:16:29.779 rule with 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.399 trembling. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:30.859 And it's a 00:16:30.859 --> 00:16:31.399 strange painting 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.079 of words if you 00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:32.739 think about that, 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.179 isn't it? 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:34.519 celebrate with 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.019 trembling. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.479 And yet it is 00:16:40.479 --> 00:16:41.120 the joyous 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:41.899 confession of 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:42.539 every Christian 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.159 who has found 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:45.299 life and joy 00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:46.759 in knowing 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.359 Christ. 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:50.439 He is my 00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:51.199 Lord. 00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:51.739 And I take it 00:16:51.739 --> 00:16:52.219 we should put the 00:16:52.219 --> 00:16:53.019 stress on both of 00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:53.659 those words. 00:16:54.719 --> 00:16:55.299 He is my 00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:57.299 Lord, my 00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:57.979 master, my 00:16:57.979 --> 00:16:58.339 saviour. 00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.419 He is my 00:16:59.419 --> 00:16:59.779 Lord. 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.259 He is my 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.259 personal saviour. 00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:03.000 These are 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.980 personal saviour. 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:05.720 And the 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.359 image there of 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.079 bowing before 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:07.579 the king, 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.339 kissing his 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:08.960 ring is just 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.880 one of pledging 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:10.599 your total 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.539 allegiance to 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:12.859 him. 00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:16.440 You know, a 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:16.779 number of years 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.299 ago we used to 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.259 go on a church 00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:20.000 weekend, some of 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.440 you will remember 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:21.900 this, to a place 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.480 called Barony 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.420 Castle down in 00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:23.799 Peebles. 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:24.839 And there was 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:25.640 something above 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:27.619 the entrance of 00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.160 the door to 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:28.980 Barony Castle that 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.880 always made me 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:30.519 laugh. 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:32.639 just above the 00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:34.000 castle door, if 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:34.379 you remember 00:17:34.379 --> 00:17:34.960 this, it just 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.079 said, prepare to 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:36.559 meet thy 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:36.940 maker. 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:39.139 As I really 00:17:39.139 --> 00:17:40.000 relieved, I 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.339 didn't have a 00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:40.740 clue what it 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.160 meant, I went 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:41.759 on Google and 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.319 tried to find 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.660 out, I was 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:43.559 delighted that I 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:44.039 had nothing to 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:45.200 do with the 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:45.660 foods from 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.079 somebody on 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:46.639 TripAdvisor 00:17:46.639 --> 00:17:47.200 would tell you 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:47.480 that. 00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.619 But that's the 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.220 warning of this 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:50.839 psalm, isn't it? 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.599 Prepare to 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.339 meet thy 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:53.759 maker. 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:58.339 one day we 00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:58.920 will have to 00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.660 answer to 00:17:59.660 --> 00:18:00.379 heaven's reigning 00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:00.759 king. 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.920 And for God to 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:08.420 be angry is 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.379 not for him to 00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:10.119 fly off the 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:10.539 handles. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.460 That's what I 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.140 do, that's what 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:15.039 we do, isn't 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.160 it? 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:15.619 And we have to 00:18:15.619 --> 00:18:16.420 remember that 00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:18.539 God isn't like 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:18.960 us. 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:19.640 God is the 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:20.740 all-wise, God 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:21.680 is the all-knowing, 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.640 God is the all- 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:23.660 eternal one, God 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:24.700 is the all-just 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.980 one, God is 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.019 not like us. 00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:28.120 So for God to 00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:29.900 be angry is his 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:31.240 settled opposition 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:32.580 because of who he 00:18:32.580 --> 00:18:34.100 is to all the 00:18:34.100 --> 00:18:34.779 evil in the 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.060 world. 00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:38.820 And I don't 00:18:38.820 --> 00:18:39.180 know how that 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:40.000 sits in you this 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.440 morning, maybe 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.120 for some of us 00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:41.620 that makes us 00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.700 quite uncomfortable, 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.340 but can I 00:18:43.340 --> 00:18:44.200 suggest that the 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.620 idea of God's 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:50.720 wrath is really 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.340 good news. 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.800 I take it in our 00:18:54.800 --> 00:18:56.400 world where we 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:57.420 are so often 00:18:57.420 --> 00:19:00.200 rightly angry 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:02.400 at another 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.440 airstrike going 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.640 on in Ukraine 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.680 and at people 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.620 in news stories 00:19:06.620 --> 00:19:07.480 like Jeffrey 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:09.040 Epstein, that 00:19:09.040 --> 00:19:09.740 God, and that's 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.240 just the ones we 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.040 know about, right? 00:19:12.040 --> 00:19:12.820 That God is 00:19:12.820 --> 00:19:14.160 right to be 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.300 angry, he is 00:19:15.300 --> 00:19:16.160 right to be 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:17.320 against all the 00:19:17.320 --> 00:19:18.120 evil and the 00:19:18.120 --> 00:19:18.960 proud rebellion 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:19.740 against him and 00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.580 his ways in the 00:19:20.580 --> 00:19:20.840 world. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:21.880 Flip it around, 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:22.460 what kind of 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.080 God would he 00:19:23.080 --> 00:19:23.720 be if he 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.260 wasn't? 00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:28.520 But what the 00:19:28.520 --> 00:19:29.300 psalm tells us, 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:29.900 friends, is at 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.380 the end of the 00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:30.760 day we will 00:19:30.760 --> 00:19:31.300 have to give an 00:19:31.300 --> 00:19:31.720 answer to 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.340 heaven's reigning 00:19:32.340 --> 00:19:32.700 king. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:34.720 And the 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.380 question really 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:36.240 simply that 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.220 Jesus will ask 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:39.000 will be something 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.640 like, what did 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.320 you make of me? 00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:43.640 The decision is 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:44.480 either Jesus has 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.400 taken that penalty 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:46.540 for our sin, 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:48.360 he has incurred 00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:49.320 God's wrath on 00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:50.240 himself in our 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:51.020 place on the 00:19:51.020 --> 00:19:51.640 cross, either 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.500 Christ has 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.259 died for our 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.660 sins and 00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.060 given us 00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:55.060 life, or we 00:19:55.060 --> 00:19:55.520 will have to 00:19:55.520 --> 00:19:56.360 pay for our 00:19:56.360 --> 00:19:57.460 sins at the 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:57.880 end of the 00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:58.460 day in answer 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.800 to him, our 00:19:59.800 --> 00:20:00.220 king. 00:20:05.580 --> 00:20:06.500 Verse 8, we 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.100 like to think 00:20:07.100 --> 00:20:07.840 we're invincible, 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:10.880 but in that 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.460 day, bowing 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.080 before King 00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:12.980 Jesus, if you 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.480 don't know 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:13.900 him, do you 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.200 see the 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:14.860 warning, verse 00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:15.120 8? 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.000 To this evil 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.680 rebellion that 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:21.460 exists, it 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:21.900 will all be 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:23.400 dashed to 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.920 pieces like 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.400 pottery. 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.480 So folks, do 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:30.860 some of us 00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.360 need to bow 00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:32.120 down before 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:33.279 heaven's king? 00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:35.500 Second 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:38.160 question, do 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:38.680 some of us 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.240 need to look 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.860 up? 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:41.740 And here's 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.079 my hope, 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.160 this strengthens 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:43.819 many of us 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.299 this morning, 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:44.840 perhaps who 00:20:44.840 --> 00:20:45.500 are walking 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.480 faithfully with 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:48.000 this king. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.059 king. 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.799 What I mean 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.079 by that 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:50.519 question is, 00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:51.019 do some of 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.519 us need to 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:53.500 recalibrate 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:55.259 ourselves and 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.259 take stock of 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:56.799 where our 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.400 king is? 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.539 The king who 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.339 loves us. 00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:05.660 The king who 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.119 shed his 00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:06.740 blood and is 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.599 for us in 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:07.880 heaven. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.400 The king who 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:08.779 is there, 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.500 who's praying 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.519 for us. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.400 Nothing will 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.299 happen to us 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.240 this year out 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:14.759 with his 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.279 sovereign 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.899 say so. 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.039 Along with 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.579 his father, 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.359 he has given 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:21.819 the Holy 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.519 Spirit and 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.059 Christ is 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:23.639 there praying 00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:24.480 for us. 00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:26.980 Do you 00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.420 see where 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:27.879 your king 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:29.720 is this 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.079 morning? 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:32.319 We stumble, 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.220 we get weary, 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:34.180 we fall, but 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:34.859 he's on his 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.460 holy hill 00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:38.000 interceding for 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.559 us, praying 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.019 for us, 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:39.639 holding our 00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:40.039 lives. 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:40.960 We don't 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.359 have the 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.319 mental resolve 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.000 to face 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.619 another day 00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:44.420 at work or 00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.000 at home. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.399 But he's 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:46.680 on his 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.240 holy hill. 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:51.000 When your 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.480 day is at 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:51.899 work and 00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:52.279 at home, 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:52.660 they just 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.420 feel mundane, 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.000 they feel 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.519 pointless, 00:21:54.639 --> 00:21:54.859 you think, 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.299 what's the 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.660 point in 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.259 going on? 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.079 He's on 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:57.480 his holy 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:57.819 hill. 00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:01.200 When we're 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.799 facing our 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:02.440 darkest hour, 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.119 he's on his 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:03.660 holy hill. 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.180 When we feel 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:04.740 like we can't 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.359 go on another 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.059 day, he's 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.559 on his holy 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:06.879 hill. 00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.779 When opposition 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.700 comes against 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.899 us because we 00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:11.700 follow Christ 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.059 and we don't 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.379 know what's 00:22:12.379 --> 00:22:12.799 going on, 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.240 it feels like 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.599 the world's 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:14.099 against us, 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:14.720 he's on his 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.360 holy hill. 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.059 When that 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.500 friend and 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.200 family member 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.039 feels indifferent 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.600 to the things 00:22:18.600 --> 00:22:19.140 of the Christian 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:20.380 faith, he's 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:20.920 on his holy 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.279 hill. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.200 And when there's 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.100 wars and chaos 00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:23.799 in the world, 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.120 he's on his 00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:25.799 holy hill. 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.720 Friends, you 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.180 see the one 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.600 thing that's not 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:31.079 going to change 00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:31.579 this year 00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:34.900 is that he's 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.319 never going to 00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.000 be toppled from 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.640 his place in 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:36.980 the holy 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.279 hill. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:39.700 does that 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.039 not give you 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.859 great encouragement 00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:43.500 and strength 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.079 to know that 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:44.680 it's not about 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:46.519 me, it's 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.079 not about our 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:47.779 ability to 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.440 navigate our 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:48.819 way through 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.599 life, it's 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:49.980 about who 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:51.379 Christ is and 00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:52.099 his love for 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:52.599 me and that 00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.079 nothing will 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:54.220 separate me from 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:56.099 his love. 00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:56.819 You know, 00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:57.399 this psalm is 00:22:57.399 --> 00:22:58.139 often quoted, 00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.599 one of the 00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.220 places in the 00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.759 New Testament 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.420 is Acts 00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:01.799 chapter 4. 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:05.220 In the 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:06.119 context, Peter 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:06.619 and John 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.139 have just been 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:08.379 beaten up and 00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.139 as they feel the 00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:09.720 blows, they 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.440 recognise that 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:10.899 what they are 00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:12.579 experiencing on 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.680 account of 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.399 their association 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:16.460 with Jesus is 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.059 everything that's 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.599 outlined in 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.639 Psalm chapter 2. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.440 They make that 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.899 connection. 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:20.879 It's amazing 00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:21.500 actually when you 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:21.919 read it that 00:23:21.919 --> 00:23:22.980 they recognise 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.519 that they are 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.279 living this, 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:24.539 they are 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.680 experiencing the 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.579 opposition that 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.180 Psalm 2 is 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:27.819 talking about 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:29.319 and they pray 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.619 not, Lord 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.579 protect us, 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:34.539 they pray, 00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.539 Lord give us 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:36.460 more boldness 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.139 to keep on 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.700 speaking and 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.039 you read it 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.259 and you think 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.759 how on earth 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.200 did you get 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.579 there? 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:40.599 Because I 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:40.819 would be 00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.139 praying, 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:41.859 Lord protect 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.180 me, 00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.220 Lord make 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:43.919 this stop. 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.480 They pray 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.099 for more 00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:46.139 power to 00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:46.720 keep speaking 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.200 and going. 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:47.539 How did 00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:47.879 you get 00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.259 there? 00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:53.359 The answer 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:53.839 is that they 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.399 realise that 00:23:54.399 --> 00:23:54.720 there's a 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.139 man who's 00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.579 risen from 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.000 the dead 00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:00.419 and nothing 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:00.960 will topple 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.299 him from 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.879 that throne. 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.399 That's our 00:24:05.399 --> 00:24:06.119 confidence in 00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:06.799 evangelism. 00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:07.119 Friends, 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.460 do you see 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:07.899 how that's 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:08.299 the reason 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:08.740 we keep 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.180 speaking? 00:24:09.659 --> 00:24:09.859 Do you 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.240 see why 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:10.539 it's the 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:10.940 reason we've 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:11.419 got any 00:24:11.419 --> 00:24:12.240 confidence this 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.539 year of 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.019 people coming 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.319 to know 00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:13.799 Christ in 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.359 our community, 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.039 our friends, 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:15.599 our neighbours, 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.319 our family 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.819 members, 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.659 the people 00:24:17.659 --> 00:24:18.059 that you go 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.680 to uni with 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.139 every day, 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.619 that you rub 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.139 shoulders with 00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:20.680 every day at 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:20.879 work, 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.259 any confidence 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:22.899 that God 00:24:22.899 --> 00:24:23.299 will bring 00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:23.759 some to 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.159 faith. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:27.500 nothing to 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:27.820 do with 00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:28.160 us, 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:31.180 we've just 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.840 been faithful 00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:32.160 and doing 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.480 the job 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:32.880 that Christ 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.300 has asked 00:24:33.300 --> 00:24:33.580 us to 00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:33.740 do. 00:24:33.820 --> 00:24:34.220 It's not 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.100 in our 00:24:35.100 --> 00:24:35.800 ability to 00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:36.220 put on a 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:36.720 good show, 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.080 it's not 00:24:38.080 --> 00:24:38.420 in our 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.019 ability to 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.560 find out the 00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:40.120 tricks of the 00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:40.400 trade. 00:24:40.580 --> 00:24:40.759 Listen, 00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:41.480 Netflix will 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.120 do that way 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.519 better than 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.019 we can. 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.500 What's the 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:44.960 one thing 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.460 that we hold 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:45.920 out to the 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.300 world? 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:48.359 is that 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:48.799 God has 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.240 seated his 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.599 king on 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:49.980 his holy 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.460 hill and 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.079 nothing will 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.799 stop him 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:53.319 accomplishing 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:54.720 his purposes 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.159 and we 00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:55.720 minister, 00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:57.599 we witness 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.440 for him in 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.319 the slipstream 00:24:59.319 --> 00:24:59.619 of his 00:24:59.619 --> 00:24:59.980 victory. 00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:06.700 So do you 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:06.940 see, 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.200 friends, 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.539 how that's 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:07.879 the one 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:08.259 thing that's 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.500 not going 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:08.879 to change 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.319 this year? 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.279 Whatever 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.079 comes our 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.519 way this 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.039 year as a 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.480 community, 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.159 whatever comes 00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:14.599 our way 00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.039 individually 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.599 this year, 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.459 what's not 00:25:16.459 --> 00:25:16.719 going to 00:25:16.719 --> 00:25:17.219 change is 00:25:17.219 --> 00:25:17.719 he is 00:25:17.719 --> 00:25:18.859 never going 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.099 to be 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.480 toppled 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:19.859 from his 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:20.379 holy hill. 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:22.559 And God's 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.419 plan to 00:25:23.419 --> 00:25:24.779 gather the 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.459 nations into 00:25:26.459 --> 00:25:27.259 one people 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:27.699 under the 00:25:27.699 --> 00:25:28.219 lordship of 00:25:28.219 --> 00:25:28.459 Christ, 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.199 that plan 00:25:29.199 --> 00:25:30.819 is bang 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.399 on track. 00:25:33.439 --> 00:25:33.759 And just 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.099 to be 00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.399 close, 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:34.779 let me 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.179 tell you 00:25:35.179 --> 00:25:35.439 about a 00:25:35.439 --> 00:25:36.519 book that 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:38.859 was massive 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.459 when I was 00:25:39.459 --> 00:25:39.879 at uni. 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.059 A number 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.419 of years 00:25:41.419 --> 00:25:41.639 ago, 00:25:41.719 --> 00:25:41.879 I'll give 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.219 you that. 00:25:42.419 --> 00:25:42.839 But when 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.199 I was at 00:25:43.199 --> 00:25:43.679 uni back 00:25:43.679 --> 00:25:43.919 in the 00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:44.099 day, 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.899 this book, 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:46.080 this 2003 00:25:46.080 --> 00:25:48.360 New York 00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:48.900 Times best 00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.380 seller that 00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:49.780 sold a 00:25:49.780 --> 00:25:51.060 million copies 00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:52.259 all around 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.519 the world, 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:52.940 millions of 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.360 copies all 00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:53.700 around the 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.120 world called 00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:54.640 The Da Vinci 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:54.860 Code. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.280 Why it was 00:25:55.280 --> 00:25:55.820 so big is 00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:56.480 that people 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:56.820 always, 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.060 I remember 00:25:57.060 --> 00:25:57.360 they used 00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:57.560 to come 00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:57.900 up to me 00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.220 and say, 00:25:58.340 --> 00:25:58.740 here's the 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.140 book that's 00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.560 going to blow 00:25:59.560 --> 00:25:59.940 the hole 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.320 on the side 00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:01.060 of Christianity, 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.540 exposing the 00:26:03.540 --> 00:26:04.100 cover-ups, 00:26:04.300 --> 00:26:05.400 exposing the 00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.060 myths. 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.740 And here's my 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.320 favourite article 00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:10.880 that I read on 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.500 the BBC News 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.100 a few years 00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:12.379 ago. 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.059 It was 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.439 about an 00:26:14.439 --> 00:26:14.859 Oxfam 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.539 bookshop 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:18.759 in 2007 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.259 in a place 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.500 called 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.179 Swansea, 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:22.059 who put a 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.619 notice in 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.059 their window 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.740 that said, 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.379 and if you've 00:26:24.379 --> 00:26:24.819 got good 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.240 enough eyes 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:25.699 you can see 00:26:25.699 --> 00:26:25.980 this, 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.539 we're all 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:26.859 trying to do 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.099 that, 00:26:27.159 --> 00:26:27.399 aren't we, 00:26:27.459 --> 00:26:27.619 in our 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:27.839 phones, 00:26:27.959 --> 00:26:28.139 but we can 00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.500 do it. 00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:29.119 It says 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:29.399 this, 00:26:29.959 --> 00:26:30.799 you could 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.099 give us 00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.359 another 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:31.740 Da Vinci 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.139 Code, 00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:34.939 surrendered 00:26:34.939 --> 00:26:35.500 by a pile 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:35.919 of Da Vinci 00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:36.259 Codes, 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.059 but we'd 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.439 rather have 00:26:38.439 --> 00:26:38.939 your vinyl. 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:41.519 And that 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:43.140 sign sparked 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:44.080 an idea 00:26:44.080 --> 00:26:44.820 in the mind 00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:45.320 of a local 00:26:45.320 --> 00:26:46.019 artist called 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:46.860 David Shrigley. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.500 What he did 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.059 is he thought, 00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:48.880 I'm going to 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.380 get a hold 00:26:49.380 --> 00:26:50.080 of as many 00:26:50.080 --> 00:26:50.660 copies of 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.180 Da Vinci 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:51.539 Code that 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.220 I can get. 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:53.000 So what he 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.559 does is he 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.220 finds out 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:55.160 where the 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:55.539 Oxfam 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.039 bookshop 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.640 keep all 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.259 the reserves 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.759 and he 00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.259 phones up 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.019 this recycling 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.759 centre where 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.080 all the 00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:01.460 unwanted 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.140 books go 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:03.299 and he 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:03.620 asks them, 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:03.880 how many 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.340 copies of 00:27:04.340 --> 00:27:04.799 Da Vinci 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.220 Code do 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.700 you have? 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.320 They respond 00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:06.779 to him and 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.100 say we've 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:07.340 got an 00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.140 almost unlimited 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.720 number. 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:09.680 So he 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.080 says I'll 00:27:10.080 --> 00:27:10.600 take the 00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:10.840 lot. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.320 What he 00:27:11.320 --> 00:27:11.779 does is he 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.120 gets the 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:12.600 whole lot 00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:13.160 together and 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.820 he pulps 00:27:13.820 --> 00:27:14.820 them and 00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:15.299 he turns 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:15.660 it into 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.039 a piece 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:16.500 of art. 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.320 So do you 00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:19.820 see what's 00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:20.140 going on 00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:20.220 there? 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.380 Do you 00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:20.700 not love 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:20.980 that? 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.080 This 00:27:22.080 --> 00:27:22.600 book that 00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:22.940 was meant 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.400 to take 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:24.140 God down 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:26.360 is now 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:27.680 pulp. 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.600 Friends, 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:31.980 God has 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.279 done it 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.900 before. 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.440 The 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.320 Babylonian 00:27:36.320 --> 00:27:37.059 empire, 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:39.059 empire, 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.419 the 00:27:39.419 --> 00:27:39.799 Roman 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.759 empire. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.159 Do you 00:27:41.159 --> 00:27:41.659 think anyone 00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.159 living in 00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:42.659 those days 00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.319 thought that 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.720 God would 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.339 outlive those 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:44.720 empires? 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.079 Probably 00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:45.500 not. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.039 God has 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.279 done it 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:51.519 before and 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:51.839 God will 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.319 keep on 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:52.740 doing it 00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.000 throughout 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.440 history. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:53.839 Why? 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.039 Because he 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.879 seated his 00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:58.679 king on 00:27:58.679 --> 00:27:59.279 his holy 00:27:59.279 --> 00:27:59.599 hill. 00:28:00.159 --> 00:28:00.299 The 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.359 opposition on 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:01.859 earth is 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.700 not unexpected. 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:04.940 the throne 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.380 of heaven 00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:05.759 is not 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.640 unoccupied. 00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.539 The end 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.019 of history 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.539 is not 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.420 uncertain. 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.200 Here's the 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.620 last thing I 00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.039 want to say 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:14.360 if you look 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:14.880 right at the 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.259 end of the 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:15.500 psalm. 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:15.779 I hadn't 00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:16.220 noticed it 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.640 until this 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.259 morning so 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:17.840 I've not 00:28:17.840 --> 00:28:18.420 scripted this 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:18.740 we'll just 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.059 run with 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:19.319 this. 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.240 See the 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.539 word at 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:20.920 the end 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.200 there? 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:22.500 It's 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:22.980 actually the 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.340 word that 00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:23.620 you get 00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:23.819 at the 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.140 beginning 00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:24.620 of psalm 00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:25.019 one and 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.299 at the 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:25.740 end of 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.019 psalm 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.240 two. 00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:26.460 Do you 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:26.779 see the 00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.019 word? 00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:27.299 What's 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:27.740 the word? 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.559 Blessed. 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.400 Now roughly 00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.200 translated that 00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:33.860 word means 00:28:33.860 --> 00:28:34.580 happy. 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.320 Now you 00:28:37.320 --> 00:28:37.700 know how we 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.220 talk in our 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.660 age about 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.240 our happy 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.900 places. 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:41.360 Yeah? 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.800 Happy places. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.460 The wisdom 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.940 that psalm 00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.220 one and 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.580 psalm two 00:28:45.580 --> 00:28:46.040 are offering 00:28:46.040 --> 00:28:46.440 us this 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.080 morning is 00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:47.600 that your 00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:48.700 happy place 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:51.180 make it 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:51.580 at the 00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:52.759 feet of 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.240 your king. 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.980 So tomorrow 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.660 as you open 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.259 your Bible 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.040 cup of warm 00:28:58.040 --> 00:28:58.840 coffee, warm 00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.620 coffee in your 00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:01.380 hands, is 00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:01.560 as you 00:29:01.560 --> 00:29:02.120 open your 00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:02.620 Bible, as 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:02.960 you read 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.560 about who 00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:04.560 we are in 00:29:04.560 --> 00:29:05.160 Christ, as 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:05.580 we think 00:29:05.580 --> 00:29:06.060 about his 00:29:06.060 --> 00:29:07.180 victory, as 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.880 we bask 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.660 ourselves in 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.580 that, despite 00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:10.220 the chaos 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.600 that's going 00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:11.040 on in the 00:29:11.040 --> 00:29:11.460 world and 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.000 perhaps in 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.520 our lives, 00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:14.180 the invitation 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:14.800 of this psalm 00:29:14.800 --> 00:29:15.300 is to make 00:29:15.300 --> 00:29:17.000 that our 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.700 happy place. 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:18.720 You see 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:18.920 it? 00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:22.220 Blessed are 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.500 all who 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.500 take refuge 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:26.620 in him. 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.600 Let me 00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:28.820 pray. 00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:28.900 Amen. 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:28.900 00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:33.360 Father, we 00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:33.760 just want to 00:29:33.760 --> 00:29:34.320 take stock 00:29:34.320 --> 00:29:34.940 this morning 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:36.340 of the 00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:36.700 fact that 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.000 you are 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.380 God in 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:37.840 heaven and 00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:38.180 we are 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.660 on earth. 00:29:40.840 --> 00:29:41.420 Lord, would 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:41.840 you forgive 00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:43.540 us for 00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:44.720 the small 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:49.200 pictures we 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:49.640 have of 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:50.060 who you 00:29:50.060 --> 00:29:50.460 are. 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.540 Lord, that 00:29:53.540 --> 00:29:53.960 you are not 00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.640 just like a 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.280 bigger version 00:29:55.280 --> 00:29:55.780 of us. 00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:58.740 you are 00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.519 our creator. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.160 You are 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:01.819 our savior. 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.420 You are the 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:02.899 one who is 00:30:02.899 --> 00:30:03.480 eternal. 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:03.940 You are the 00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:04.399 one who knows 00:30:04.399 --> 00:30:04.980 all things. 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.440 Father, would 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:05.879 you forgive 00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.420 us when we 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:06.899 have small 00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.440 thoughts of 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:07.680 you? 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:09.319 And so, 00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:09.660 Lord, it's 00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.180 our prayer 00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:10.639 that this 00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:11.539 year would 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.099 be one 00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:12.599 where we 00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:13.399 leave it 00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:14.240 at the 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.819 end with 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.420 a greater 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.139 view of 00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:16.639 who Jesus 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.099 is than 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.319 when we 00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:17.759 came into 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:17.960 it. 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:19.779 Lord, would 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.720 you increase 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:22.279 the horizons 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.740 of our 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.440 minds as 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.980 we grasp 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.660 something more 00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:25.940 of the 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.620 greatness of 00:30:26.620 --> 00:30:27.259 his victory. 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:29.740 So, Father, I 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.140 pray that 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:30.519 wherever this 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:31.039 has landed 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.920 on our 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.460 lives this 00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:34.220 morning, I 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.580 pray that 00:30:34.580 --> 00:30:35.019 your spirit 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.440 would be at 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.759 work teaching 00:30:36.759 --> 00:30:37.380 us wonderful 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:37.920 things about 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.400 who Jesus 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:38.840 is. 00:30:40.320 --> 00:30:40.500 And so, 00:30:40.580 --> 00:30:40.960 Father, as we 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.380 turn our 00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:42.180 attention now to 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.860 communion as 00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:44.220 well, Lord, 00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:44.960 may we savor 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.940 something more 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:47.120 of the sweetness 00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:47.920 of the victory 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.340 that he's 00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:48.940 purchased for 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.340 us on the 00:30:49.340 --> 00:30:49.700 cross. 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.620 So be with 00:30:50.620 --> 00:30:51.080 us, Lord, as 00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:51.680 we finish our 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.240 time together. 00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:52.720 In Jesus' 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:53.420 name we pray. 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.380 Amen. 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:54.580 Amen.