WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.280 If you are joining us tonight and you haven't been around, we are in the middle of a Jonah series that's not really a Jonah series, for those of you who didn't catch that last week. 00:00:07.780 --> 00:00:14.300 So we're kind of looking at the Jonah narrative, but more looking at some topics that come up in the Jonah narrative. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:16.359 And tonight we're going to continue doing that. 00:00:16.519 --> 00:00:22.839 So it's worth keeping your Bible open to that Jonah passage, but we are going to jump around a little bit as well. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:25.760 So how about I pray, and then we'll get stuck into it. 00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:29.679 Father God, we thank you for bringing us here tonight. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:34.399 We thank you for the incredible joy of new families that will be beginning soon. 00:00:34.500 --> 00:00:39.679 We ask that you would watch over and protect Asha and Jess and Susie and James as well, 00:00:39.780 --> 00:00:44.659 that you would prepare them for what it means to be a family and that you would use their families for your glory. 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:50.760 Lord, we ask that tonight as we gather as a bigger church family, that you would prepare us to hear you speak, 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:55.140 that you would strip away anything in our minds that would block that, 00:00:55.140 --> 00:01:00.560 and that as we sit under your word, you would change us and you would reveal yourself so that our lives are to your glory. 00:01:01.120 --> 00:01:01.560 Amen. 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:08.879 I wonder what it is that you are expecting to happen in the next 20 minutes. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:13.060 I say 20 minutes, but I said that this morning, and in truth, it was a little bit longer. 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:17.000 But what is it that you're expecting to happen in the next little while? 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:24.120 As we arrive to church each week, as somebody like Amy just did comes and opens the Bible and speaks, 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:29.740 and reads it, and then someone like me or Steve or Chris or Brian gets up and preaches, 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:32.920 what is it that you expect to happen in that moment? 00:01:33.580 --> 00:01:37.900 What about in your community groups, or maybe as you do your own quiet times at home, 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:40.939 what is it that you expect is going on? 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:46.240 What is it that you think you are doing when you sit down and you open this book that we call the Bible? 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:52.379 I was reflecting on that this week, and the reason was I thought about it, 00:01:52.399 --> 00:01:56.019 and I probably have 10, 11, 12, 13 Bibles at home. 00:01:56.539 --> 00:02:00.859 I've got lots of English Bibles, lots of NIVs, a few other random translations as well, 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:06.019 and that even doesn't include the ones I have on my computer or my phone or, for some of you, your iPad. 00:02:06.679 --> 00:02:09.419 And I was thinking, I actually don't know where some of my Bibles are. 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:11.759 Some of them are probably on bookshelves. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:16.979 Some of them might be in piles of paper, on the coffee table, in my car, in my backpack. 00:02:17.419 --> 00:02:18.459 One's right here. 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:20.840 Most of them are worn. 00:02:21.399 --> 00:02:24.500 Some of them have, like, stains from Coke that I've spilt on them. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:26.319 They've got pen marks in them. 00:02:26.399 --> 00:02:27.459 They've got torn pages. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:29.680 One of them's about to come out from the spine. 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:33.560 This particular one is missing about three words from Ephesians chapter 2, 00:02:33.639 --> 00:02:37.719 which is really important that I know off by heart when I get to Ephesians chapter 2. 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:44.360 So, basically, I was thinking about it because the way I treat my Bibles is sometimes just like a book, 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:48.939 like any other book that I might have or might own. 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:53.439 And the reason this stuck out for me is I did some reading a little while ago 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:58.939 on the way that Muslim people handle their scriptures, the way they handle the Quran. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:03.639 They are meticulous compared to me, and I think it's fair to say compared to us. 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:07.139 They wash their hands before they even touch the Quran. 00:03:08.079 --> 00:03:12.659 Almost every Muslim memorizes significant chunks of the Quran in Arabic 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:14.319 so that they can use it in their prayers. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:19.419 And if a copy of the Quran is damaged or a page is torn, like my one now, 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:20.979 you can't just throw it away. 00:03:21.119 --> 00:03:22.439 You can't just recycle it. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:26.859 In some cases, what they will do is they will actually put it into a stream 00:03:26.859 --> 00:03:28.219 and let it float away. 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:31.060 Something symbolic about it. 00:03:31.060 --> 00:03:36.920 They will ceremonially burn it or they'll find a remote place and bury it especially. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:41.319 All this for a book that we would say is fictitious. 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:50.640 And yet, we treat our book, which we say is the Word of God, just like any other book. 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:57.819 And I wonder if that's the issue, is that we have taken this thing that God has given us 00:03:57.819 --> 00:04:03.259 and it's become just like any other book, like Twilight or Harry Potter. 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:05.799 I mean, don't get me wrong, we think it's a good book. 00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:07.560 Sometimes it makes us happy. 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:09.039 Sometimes it makes us sad. 00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:13.139 Sometimes it's challenging, but it's kind of just a book. 00:04:14.079 --> 00:04:19.879 It's like we've kind of lost the purpose of what God gave us the Bible for. 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:25.480 One of the joys of watching my little boy grow up is watching him discover new things. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:28.879 A development in our family over Christmas is that he's now crawling. 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:32.659 That's exciting and scary because you've really got to lock stuff up now. 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:36.719 But one of his favourite things to do is to find stuff that he's not supposed to have 00:04:36.719 --> 00:04:38.079 and stick it in his mouth. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:41.139 My keys are a personal favourite of his. 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:42.100 I don't know why. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:42.759 It's metal. 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:44.600 It can't be nice to eat. 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:48.400 I assume it's dirty and probably got germs all over it, but he loves it. 00:04:48.620 --> 00:04:51.160 He puts it in his mouth and you can hear him tapping it on his teeth, 00:04:51.280 --> 00:04:54.980 the two of them that he's got, and chewing on it all around his gums and stuff like that. 00:04:55.020 --> 00:04:57.600 For him, keys are perfect for teething. 00:04:58.280 --> 00:05:01.500 But in actual fact, those keys have a significant job to do. 00:05:01.640 --> 00:05:04.520 They have to start my car so that I can get around and go places. 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:08.300 But for him, he's kind of got a lesser job for it and he's settled for that. 00:05:09.080 --> 00:05:10.980 And I wonder if that's what we've done with the Scriptures. 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:14.400 The Scriptures have a significant purpose. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:18.640 God gave them to us with an agenda and with an outcome in mind. 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:23.140 And I wonder if we have settled for making them just another book that we read, 00:05:23.700 --> 00:05:25.960 just something that might teach us some information. 00:05:26.660 --> 00:05:30.920 And I wonder if we have misunderstood just why God gave us his word 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:34.500 and just what it means to have it in this form that we have it. 00:05:34.540 --> 00:05:39.240 And so what I want to wrestle with tonight is I want to rediscover God's word 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:42.040 and why God has given us his word. 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:44.819 So I want to look at three things particularly. 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:49.079 First one is we need to understand that the words we have on the pages, 00:05:49.220 --> 00:05:52.540 the words that Amy just wrote out for us from Psalm 1 and from Jonah 3, 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:54.819 these are not just human words. 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:58.980 We live in a culture where if something is old, it has credibility. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:04.000 If you read something that somebody said 50 years ago, suddenly it is wisdom. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:05.680 It is good advice. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.560 But if the same advice was written down yesterday, 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:11.540 we have to wait a little while and see if it has actually got any credibility. 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:16.519 But the Bible is not just old wisdom that has kind of gained credibility over time 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:18.160 because it is older and older and older. 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:21.079 The Bible is actually God's words. 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:24.519 We sometimes call it God's word and that is right, 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:26.939 but we have to understand that the words are God's. 00:06:27.180 --> 00:06:28.899 This is not just random thoughts. 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:30.779 This is God speaking. 00:06:30.779 --> 00:06:35.379 In the Old Testament, when God spoke, people were scared. 00:06:36.479 --> 00:06:38.319 If you think of Mount Sinai, for example, 00:06:38.459 --> 00:06:42.559 God came down to speak to his people and it was so scary for the people 00:06:42.559 --> 00:06:45.919 that they insisted that someone else stand between them. 00:06:46.179 --> 00:06:47.479 They sent Moses off and they said, 00:06:47.559 --> 00:06:52.759 Moses, you go and hear from God because we are scared to hear the voice of God speak. 00:06:53.679 --> 00:06:58.139 We are nervous to have God speak directly to us because we know who he is 00:06:58.139 --> 00:07:00.639 and we know how powerful his word is. 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:06.479 And we need to understand that the same God speaks in his word. 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:08.719 This is not just a book. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:11.599 This is God's mouthpiece to us. 00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:14.399 This is his means of communicating with us. 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:16.659 When you read a letter that is sent to you, 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:21.759 you don't kind of step outside the letter and dispassionately just read what's going on. 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:25.039 And, you know, it might be a letter of somebody telling you how fantastic you are. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:27.540 At that point, you don't step outside of that letter and think, 00:07:27.960 --> 00:07:31.879 well, I can see why they said that sentence and they must be talking about someone great. 00:07:31.960 --> 00:07:35.900 When you read a letter to you that says you're fantastic, it makes you feel good. 00:07:36.520 --> 00:07:40.060 When you read a letter to you that says you're a jerk and you shouldn't have done this thing, 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:41.220 it might offend you. 00:07:41.280 --> 00:07:42.480 It might make you feel bad. 00:07:42.700 --> 00:07:44.620 And it's the same here with God's word. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:47.800 You've got to understand this is not something that you sit next to 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:50.560 and study and find information from. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:55.600 Every time we open these pages, God is speaking to you. 00:07:56.759 --> 00:07:58.860 God is not speaking near you. 00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:02.040 God is not speaking merely to other people. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:05.240 This is his word to you. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:08.180 Now, it's true there is historical context. 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:09.400 There is the people of Israel. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:10.860 There's all that stuff going on. 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:14.420 But that doesn't change that this is God's word to you. 00:08:15.020 --> 00:08:20.060 In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul says this to the church that he's planted there. 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:20.939 It says, 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:43.120 Paul went to this church and preached the Old Testament. 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:46.620 He opened God's word to them and he converted them. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:49.440 And the Bible was God speaking to them. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:52.760 It was the story of Israel's rescue from Egypt. 00:08:52.920 --> 00:08:54.340 It was the story of creation. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:55.620 It was the story of Abraham. 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:56.940 It was all that. 00:08:57.100 --> 00:09:02.140 But in those stories, God was speaking to the church at Thessalonica. 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:08.580 And in the same way, what we read now is God speaking to us. 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:13.680 Now, it is good and helpful for us to understand what's going on in the history, 00:09:13.800 --> 00:09:15.940 to understand the background, to understand the context. 00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:22.220 But it matters most that we actually approach it expecting to hear from God. 00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:26.640 Not expecting to find out about Jonah and a whale and thinking, great story. 00:09:27.260 --> 00:09:30.480 But expecting God to tell us something. 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:32.000 To show us something. 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:34.300 Because God's word is powerful. 00:09:36.560 --> 00:09:42.080 The scriptures open by showing us this picture of creation in which God creates by speaking. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:45.320 God's word does things. 00:09:45.520 --> 00:09:50.180 And so we need to be clear that when we open this book and when we hear God's words, 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:52.520 his word will do things. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:55.200 His word will achieve an outcome. 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:58.040 It can't just wash past us. 00:09:58.139 --> 00:09:59.639 We can't be a passenger. 00:09:59.800 --> 00:10:01.040 We can't be passive with it. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:05.079 We need to expect that because this book comes from the words of God, 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:07.299 who is sovereign and powerful and authoritative, 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:09.319 it will achieve something. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.299 It's addressed to us to achieve something in us. 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:19.719 So first thing is that we've got to understand that this is God's divine word. 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:22.000 This is God speaking to us. 00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:23.819 But the second one is just important. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:26.839 Because God is speaking to us, 00:10:27.319 --> 00:10:29.599 it means something's going to happen. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:32.560 God's word does stuff. 00:10:33.300 --> 00:10:35.420 It never doesn't do stuff. 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:37.279 And I don't just mean empathetically, 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:39.580 like when you're reading Twilight and you wish you were Bella. 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:43.019 And not just that sense where you cry in a sad story. 00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:45.139 I remember the first, 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:46.320 it was actually a movie, 00:10:46.420 --> 00:10:47.100 so I'm cheating a little bit. 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:50.200 The first movie that made me cry was The Power of One. 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:51.519 I'm a softie at heart. 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:54.379 But it was a sad story. 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:57.759 I was horrified at the racism and the injustice that happened. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:59.440 But the Bible's not like that. 00:11:00.040 --> 00:11:01.920 The Bible's not supposed to make me look at it and go, 00:11:02.040 --> 00:11:03.220 wow, I can't believe that injustice. 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:03.940 That's horrible. 00:11:04.060 --> 00:11:05.220 Wow, I wonder what new book is out. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:05.800 And move on. 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:08.019 Because that's what happened with Power of One. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:09.500 I didn't cry last time I watched it. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.060 God's word is different. 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:14.220 It achieves specific outcomes. 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:15.080 I want you to quickly, 00:11:15.300 --> 00:11:16.460 we're going to jump through Jonah, 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:18.940 and I want to show you a couple of examples of what I'm talking about. 00:11:18.940 --> 00:11:21.260 Jonah 1.1. 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:24.820 The word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amittai. 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:28.140 Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it. 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:30.560 God speaks. 00:11:31.040 --> 00:11:32.700 He gives Jonah a specific command. 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:33.120 He says, 00:11:33.380 --> 00:11:33.760 Go here, 00:11:33.880 --> 00:11:35.480 and Jonah disobeys and runs away. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:38.620 But God's word still achieves something. 00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:40.040 We know, 00:11:40.140 --> 00:11:41.340 because we just read in chapter 3, 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:43.860 that eventually Jonah ends up in Nineveh. 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:46.480 So God's word has achieved what it set out to achieve. 00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:47.419 But more than that, 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:51.779 we also know that God's word never fails. 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:52.379 Last week, 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:55.139 we wrestled with the sovereignty of God and the power of God. 00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:56.259 God has a plan. 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:57.500 Jonah is going to Nineveh. 00:11:57.620 --> 00:12:00.700 And so when Jonah runs and disobeys God's word, 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:03.259 God's word becomes judgment on Jonah. 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:07.220 Because God's will is clear and it's in front of him, 00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:09.820 and Jonah tries to ignore it and disobey it, 00:12:10.300 --> 00:12:13.779 the judgment of a storm and a fish is sent. 00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:16.940 So that God's word will achieve its outcome. 00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:19.720 Jonah 1.9. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:23.039 God speaks through Jonah the prophet again to the sailors. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:23.860 Jonah answered, 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:26.080 I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:26.960 the God of heaven, 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:29.080 who made the sea and the land. 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:31.259 Jonah is a disobedient prophet. 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:33.700 And yet when God speaks through him, 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.279 when God gives him his words, 00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:39.060 sailors make vows to God and sacrifice to God 00:12:39.060 --> 00:12:40.500 and cry out and understand 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:43.980 that God alone controls all things. 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.159 Jonah 3.1. 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:48.039 God speaks this time and Jonah finally obeys. 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:50.320 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:51.980 Go to the great city of Nineveh 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:54.019 and proclaim to it the message I give you. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:54.899 And Jonah does. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.039 But the big one, 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:56.600 I think, 00:12:56.659 --> 00:12:58.539 in Jonah is Jonah 3.4. 00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:01.659 On the first day Jonah started into the city, 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:02.539 he proclaimed, 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:05.319 40 more days and Nineveh will be overturned. 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:07.339 The Ninevites believed God, 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.579 they declared a fast, 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.599 and all of them, 00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:11.579 from the greatest to the least, 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.459 put on sackcloth. 00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:14.740 Now, 00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:16.379 we know stories like this 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.220 and it's really dangerous 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:19.720 that we miss the significance of this story. 00:13:20.780 --> 00:13:21.280 In Jonah, 00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:23.000 God makes the point of telling us 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.820 that this is a big city, 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:26.920 that it's going to take time. 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:28.780 A visit requires three days 00:13:28.780 --> 00:13:30.379 because there's lots of people there. 00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:33.000 We know that Nineveh has a king 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:36.360 and yet Jonah turns up unannounced 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:39.440 as a mouthpiece for God, 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.160 walks in the gate and says, 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.519 you are going to be destroyed 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:43.579 because of how you're living 00:13:43.579 --> 00:13:47.759 and every single person in that city repents. 00:13:49.219 --> 00:13:50.480 That is significant. 00:13:50.959 --> 00:13:52.480 We know it's got nothing to do with Jonah 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.159 because just two chapters ago, 00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:55.199 Jonah is running away 00:13:55.199 --> 00:13:56.279 and trying to avoid God. 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:58.039 There's nothing impressive about Jonah 00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:58.899 as a mouthpiece, 00:13:59.059 --> 00:14:00.000 but God's word, 00:14:00.439 --> 00:14:01.139 through Jonah, 00:14:01.219 --> 00:14:01.819 his prophet, 00:14:02.719 --> 00:14:05.539 achieves the outcome that God desires 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:07.019 and that outcome is that 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:08.379 that city would repent. 00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:12.340 God's word never fails. 00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:16.559 God's word will always achieve God's purpose. 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:18.620 Every time it goes out in this story, 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:19.559 something happens. 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:22.360 Even when Jonah ignores it and runs away, 00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:23.620 it brings judgment. 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:25.379 We learnt last week, 00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:26.860 God's will is unstoppable 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:28.740 and even our disobedience 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:30.820 cannot stop God's plans. 00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:34.080 God has spoken to Jonah 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:36.320 and Jonah will achieve what God wants, 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.659 whether he likes it or not. 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:41.740 God's word is there to guide us 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:42.860 in what God's will is. 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.139 For Nineveh, it's obvious. 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.840 He wanted them to turn from his ways, 00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.799 so he sent Jonah to speak to them. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:49.840 And again, 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.759 an inadequate, 00:14:51.439 --> 00:14:52.019 imperfect, 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:54.120 disobedient prophet 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:57.419 with the word of God 00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:59.559 led a whole city to repent. 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:01.339 even the king 00:15:01.339 --> 00:15:04.079 strips off his royal robes, 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.159 gets down in the dirt 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:07.619 and acknowledges the God of heaven 00:15:07.619 --> 00:15:10.079 simply because God has spoken. 00:15:11.099 --> 00:15:12.599 There's no miracles here. 00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:14.559 There's no visions for the king 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:16.459 to show them what God could do 00:15:16.459 --> 00:15:17.819 and what God will do. 00:15:20.119 --> 00:15:21.559 God just speaks 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:23.659 and that is enough 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:25.539 because God's word is powerful. 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:29.039 God's word will pierce us. 00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:31.659 Hebrews 4 tells us 00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:33.879 that God's word is living and active, 00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:35.740 sharper than any double-edged sword. 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:38.439 It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.399 joints and marrow. 00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.899 It judges the thoughts 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:42.659 and attitudes of the heart. 00:15:42.819 --> 00:15:44.620 God's word will convict us 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:45.719 and challenge us 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:47.420 and maybe sometimes 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:48.740 even make us feel guilty. 00:15:50.540 --> 00:15:51.300 I remember 00:15:51.300 --> 00:15:53.160 when I was a student at school, 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.860 I wasn't a great student 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:56.120 to have in your class. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.220 I was a fairly proud kid 00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.720 and so that meant 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:01.180 if you told me I was wrong, 00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:04.639 I just got my back up 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.180 and would yell. 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:06.759 And it didn't matter 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:08.100 what the cause was, 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:08.600 it didn't matter 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.860 if I'd done something wrong, 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:11.399 I just didn't like to hear 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.660 that I'd done something wrong. 00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.399 And so teachers would yell at me 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.100 for talking, 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.440 for distracting someone, 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:17.379 for not doing my work, 00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.019 whatever it was. 00:16:18.300 --> 00:16:19.519 And as they began to yell, 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.379 I began to yell. 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:22.960 And it would escalate back and forth 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:24.060 and I was so proud 00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:25.659 that I refused to lose 00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.460 in that moment. 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:28.060 I refused to let them 00:16:28.060 --> 00:16:28.960 get on top of me 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.200 and so I would keep yelling 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:31.180 and keep yelling 00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:31.920 until eventually 00:16:31.920 --> 00:16:33.379 they would break down 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.200 or send me out 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:34.899 or whatever it was 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:35.899 and time and time again 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:36.680 I'd get flicked off 00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:37.300 to the principal 00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:38.759 or the head of senior school 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.720 or whoever it was. 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:41.300 And I'd walk into the office 00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:42.040 and I remember 00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:43.360 having these conversations 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.279 over and over and over 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.039 and they'd just tell me 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.500 that it was rude 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.259 and disrespectful 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.720 and what a bad kid I was 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:50.039 that I would drive teachers 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:50.759 to tears 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.919 or that I would make them 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:52.819 have to go home 00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:53.659 and do all these things 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:55.980 and I would just block it out. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.819 I didn't want to hear that. 00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.600 I don't care if it's true. 00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:00.159 I don't want to know 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:01.500 that I'm damaging somebody. 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.679 And so sure enough, 00:17:03.839 --> 00:17:04.440 the next day 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.259 or a week later, 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:07.000 I'd be doing the same thing. 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:09.180 I'd get in a situation 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.259 where I didn't want to know 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:10.920 that I was bad. 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.740 I didn't want to know 00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.799 that I'd done something wrong 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.440 and so as soon as I heard that, 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.359 I would just push 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:16.940 and push and push. 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:19.019 And now I'm a little bit embarrassed 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:19.759 to admit 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:21.559 the kind of stuff that I did 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.659 and the person that I was 00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:24.099 and I'm very thankful 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:25.000 for some teachers 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.599 who persisted with me 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.879 and were gracious with me. 00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:31.059 But before you judge me, 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:33.159 I wonder if you do 00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:34.500 the same sort of thing with God. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.059 We come to church 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:39.379 and we open God's Word 00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:40.280 and we have just read 00:17:40.280 --> 00:17:41.020 in Hebrews 4, 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:41.820 God's Word 00:17:41.820 --> 00:17:44.100 will judge our thoughts. 00:17:44.800 --> 00:17:45.760 It will judge 00:17:45.760 --> 00:17:46.400 the attitudes 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.380 of our hearts. 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.640 It will pierce us. 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:50.640 And I wonder 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:51.860 if when God's Word 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:52.440 does that, 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:54.620 you stop listening. 00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:57.360 When God's Word 00:17:57.360 --> 00:17:58.220 shows you parts 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:58.840 of your life 00:17:58.840 --> 00:17:59.740 that don't match up 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.360 with what it means 00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:01.840 to be a follower of Jesus, 00:18:02.520 --> 00:18:04.120 do you switch off? 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.220 Don't get me wrong, 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.600 God's Word is full 00:18:08.600 --> 00:18:09.339 of encouragement. 00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:12.059 It's full of comfort 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.940 and assurance. 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:13.860 Last week, 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:14.579 we were reminded 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.600 that God is sovereign 00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:16.240 and powerful 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.240 and that He is always 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:19.120 working for our good, 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:20.279 that He has an unstoppable 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.559 plan in creation. 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.839 But sometimes, 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.799 God's Word 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.100 will rebuke you. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.180 Sometimes, 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.360 it will need to show you 00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:32.380 things in your life 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.880 that aren't okay. 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:35.700 Sometimes, 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:37.160 God will need to rebuke you 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:37.759 for words 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.460 you have spoken 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.040 in anger, 00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:41.180 for the way 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:41.960 you have maligned 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.680 someone else, 00:18:43.320 --> 00:18:44.180 for the private, 00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:45.100 lustful thoughts 00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:46.220 that no one else 00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:46.800 knows about, 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.360 for the way 00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:49.380 we rationalize 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.580 going that few kilometers 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:51.600 over the speed limit, 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.080 for our refusal 00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:54.080 to forgive people 00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:55.019 when they hurt us. 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.279 If you are anywhere 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.279 near as sinful 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.060 as I am, 00:19:00.120 --> 00:19:01.259 then there is a lot 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.600 that God will need 00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:03.400 to rebuke in you. 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:06.160 we are reminded 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.720 in Scripture 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.560 if we claim 00:19:07.560 --> 00:19:08.800 to be without sin, 00:19:09.280 --> 00:19:10.720 we deceive ourselves. 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:13.620 We are not perfect. 00:19:15.620 --> 00:19:16.360 And so, 00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.120 sometimes, 00:19:17.280 --> 00:19:18.300 when we open the Bible, 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.040 God will 00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:22.460 rebuke us. 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:25.799 in Isaiah 55, 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:26.559 we are told 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.240 that as the rain 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:27.660 and snow 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.160 come down 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:28.660 from heaven 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.180 and do not 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:29.840 return to it 00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:30.500 without watering 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:30.980 the earth, 00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:32.000 making it bud 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.680 and flourish, 00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:34.100 so my word 00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:34.680 that goes out 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.360 from my mouth, 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.360 it will never 00:19:36.360 --> 00:19:37.559 return to me 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:37.920 empty, 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:39.340 but will accomplish 00:19:39.340 --> 00:19:40.299 what I desire 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.019 and achieve 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.620 the purpose 00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:42.180 for which 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.240 I sent it. 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:45.660 God's word 00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:46.500 never fails. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.259 Just because 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.000 we sometimes 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.900 try not to listen 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:51.079 or maybe try 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.359 and run 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:51.700 in the other 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.140 direction 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:53.000 like Jonah did, 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.500 God's word 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.180 still achieves 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:55.880 its purpose, 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:58.279 whether that is 00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.019 to guide us 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.099 and direct us 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:03.039 or to judge us 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:05.279 for avoiding 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.039 and running 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.640 from God. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:10.339 I remember 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:10.819 when I was 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.359 at college, 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.759 I found 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.539 God's word 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.399 difficult, 00:20:14.979 --> 00:20:15.439 as strange 00:20:15.439 --> 00:20:15.939 as that might 00:20:15.939 --> 00:20:16.379 sound. 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:18.479 The way 00:20:18.479 --> 00:20:19.599 that college 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.079 is, 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:21.039 is that you 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.500 spend a lot 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.559 of time 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:23.919 jostling for 00:20:23.919 --> 00:20:24.339 position, 00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.479 if that's the 00:20:25.479 --> 00:20:25.919 right word. 00:20:26.379 --> 00:20:27.059 You arrive at 00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:27.559 college and 00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:27.939 there's this 00:20:27.939 --> 00:20:28.740 unspoken 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.919 who's the best 00:20:29.919 --> 00:20:30.319 preacher. 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:31.919 There's this 00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:32.859 constant awareness 00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:33.679 of who's getting 00:20:33.679 --> 00:20:34.379 asked to speak 00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:34.859 at the biggest 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:35.359 events, 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.899 who's travelling 00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:37.479 around, 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.000 who's releasing 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.419 books, 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:39.899 who's doing 00:20:39.899 --> 00:20:40.339 all that sort 00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:40.599 of things. 00:20:40.679 --> 00:20:41.059 Now I know 00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.440 it sounds 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.799 childish, 00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:42.179 but it's 00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:42.659 the reality. 00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.500 You get 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:44.740 there, 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:45.379 and for me 00:20:45.379 --> 00:20:45.899 personally, 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.480 I found 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.179 myself over 00:20:47.179 --> 00:20:47.619 the course 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.220 of college 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:49.779 stopping 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:51.000 hearing God's 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.240 word. 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:53.019 I would 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.639 walk into 00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.119 a sermon 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:54.599 and instead 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:55.039 of thinking 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.559 what is God 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:56.259 teaching me, 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:56.980 I would 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.339 think, 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.259 is this 00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:58.740 preacher any 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:58.940 good? 00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.079 And I could 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:00.519 tell you 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.099 whether or not 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.339 they were 00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:01.720 any good. 00:21:02.139 --> 00:21:02.659 I could tell 00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:03.019 you if their 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.819 stories were 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.559 entertaining, 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:05.179 if they were 00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:05.500 helpful, 00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:05.879 if they 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:06.359 illustrated 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:06.759 anything, 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.359 I could tell 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:07.919 you if their 00:21:07.919 --> 00:21:08.519 structure was 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:08.839 clear, 00:21:09.139 --> 00:21:09.619 I could tell 00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.019 you what they 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.339 should have 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:10.659 said, 00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:11.759 and I 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.039 wasn't 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.379 alone. 00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.339 I wonder 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:16.779 if you ever 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.439 find yourself 00:21:17.439 --> 00:21:17.980 in church 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.799 doing something 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.259 similar. 00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.740 You walk out 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.059 of church 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:22.379 thinking, 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:22.859 oh, I wish 00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:23.459 that preacher 00:21:23.459 --> 00:21:23.819 was on 00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.139 tonight. 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.259 I don't 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:25.659 really like 00:21:25.659 --> 00:21:26.159 listening to 00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:26.579 this one. 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.299 Or, it 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:29.759 wasn't a very 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.259 good sermon, 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:30.879 I didn't learn 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.240 anything. 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:33.700 I remember 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.240 making that 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.880 comment one 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.440 morning tea 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:35.900 after a 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.400 chapel at 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:36.720 college, 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.220 to a friend 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:37.460 who I 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.220 trusted and 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.620 who I 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.279 still trust, 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.440 I said that 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:40.759 wasn't a 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.079 very good 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.420 sermon, 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:41.980 I didn't 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.400 get anything 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:42.960 out of it. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.120 And he 00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:45.819 responded by 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.279 pointing me 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:46.559 to this 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:46.980 verse, 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.480 and reminding 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:48.799 me that 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.319 God's word 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:49.880 is doing 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.880 God's will 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.339 whether I 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:51.759 hear it or 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.000 not. 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:53.680 Now, this 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.240 doesn't mean 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.559 that the 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.079 preacher doesn't 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.319 have a 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:56.200 responsibility to 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:56.960 work hard to 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.960 understand God's 00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.620 word and to 00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.000 preach it 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.359 clearly, 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.819 but what it 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:01.539 means is, 00:22:02.199 --> 00:22:03.359 you have a 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.399 responsibility as 00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.399 well, and so 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:05.779 do I. 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.819 As we come to 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.579 sit under God's 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.019 word, whether 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.639 it's a sermon, 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.240 whether it's your 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:10.740 own reading, 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:11.259 whether it's the 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.959 Bible reading, 00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:15.039 God's word will 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.559 achieve its 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.099 purpose. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:17.959 Are you actually 00:22:17.959 --> 00:22:18.979 coming willing to 00:22:18.979 --> 00:22:19.659 hear what it has 00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.119 to say? 00:22:21.399 --> 00:22:22.279 Or are you maybe 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.000 trying to pick and 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.659 choose the things 00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.259 you want to hear? 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.159 Maybe today you 00:22:26.159 --> 00:22:26.819 would prefer to 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.379 hear that God 00:22:27.379 --> 00:22:28.179 loves you lots. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.039 And it's true, 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:30.679 and it's good, 00:22:30.719 --> 00:22:31.279 and it's great, 00:22:31.399 --> 00:22:32.039 but what if God 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.699 has something else 00:22:32.699 --> 00:22:33.179 he wants to 00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:33.559 tell you? 00:22:35.939 --> 00:22:36.719 We need to be 00:22:36.719 --> 00:22:37.579 people who have 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.299 ears that are 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.439 open, who 00:22:39.439 --> 00:22:40.599 deeply desire 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:42.819 that God would 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.779 speak to us even 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.419 when it hurts, 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.839 because we know 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.979 from last week he's 00:22:46.979 --> 00:22:49.059 always working for 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.479 our good. 00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:51.799 He's not showing 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.539 us sin in our 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.379 lives just to make 00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:54.179 us feel guilty. 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.799 He's showing us 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.740 and reminding us 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.039 that he is holy 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.220 and perfect and 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:01.620 majestic, and for 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:02.220 us to spend 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.160 eternity with him 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:03.759 he needs to 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:05.819 cleanse us of 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.500 the parts of our 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.660 lives that aren't 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.400 good enough. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.620 He's preparing 00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:11.880 us for heaven. 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:17.400 But again, the 00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:18.559 point isn't guilt. 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.680 That's not God's 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.140 desire. 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.259 If you come here 00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:24.120 regularly and you 00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:25.160 sit and feel a 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.079 weight of guilt as 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.819 we are in church 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:28.740 gathered, if God's 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.740 word, you feel like 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.619 it just points at 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.679 you and shines a 00:23:31.679 --> 00:23:32.700 spotlight on parts of 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.339 your life that you 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:33.839 want to be kept 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:38.399 secret, that's not 00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:39.359 God's desire for 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:39.559 you. 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.119 Guilt is not a 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:43.159 wrong starting point 00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:44.039 because the way that 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.399 we live is shameful. 00:23:47.419 --> 00:23:48.759 But the reason God 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.859 shows us those parts 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:51.980 of our lives is 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:53.240 because his desire is 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:53.919 that we might be 00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:55.659 purified and cleansed 00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:57.060 and that we might 00:23:57.060 --> 00:23:58.060 spend eternity with 00:23:58.060 --> 00:23:58.620 him in heaven. 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:03.000 It is not a 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:05.800 coincidence that in 00:24:05.800 --> 00:24:07.700 God's word we are 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:10.040 convicted of sin but 00:24:10.040 --> 00:24:11.019 we are also shown 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.440 Jesus. 00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:15.480 God speaks to us to 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.420 show us that we are 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:18.740 not good enough so 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.600 that when he preaches 00:24:19.600 --> 00:24:20.660 to us of our 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:23.300 Saviour, we may 00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.319 catch a glimpse of 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:27.119 the majesty of 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:28.000 God's love and 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.899 forgiveness in the 00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:29.480 face of our 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.359 disobedience. 00:24:33.399 --> 00:24:34.480 God's word is 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:36.079 God speaking to 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.480 us. 00:24:36.919 --> 00:24:39.180 God's word always 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:40.720 achieves its 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:43.139 purpose and 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:44.000 ultimately that 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:46.019 purpose is for us 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.879 to see God. 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:49.200 God's word is 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.280 God speaking to 00:24:49.280 --> 00:24:49.360 God. 00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:50.000 The way that God 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.920 rebukes us in 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.600 Scripture isn't 00:24:51.600 --> 00:24:52.620 always to say, I 00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:53.380 saw you speeding. 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.440 There's no verse that 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:55.960 says that. 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.620 Or I know what you're 00:24:57.620 --> 00:24:58.360 thinking about that 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:58.840 person. 00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:01.620 But what Scripture 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.840 does, what God does 00:25:02.840 --> 00:25:03.920 when he speaks is he 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:04.820 shows us himself. 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:07.260 And as we see his 00:25:07.260 --> 00:25:08.440 majesty and holiness, 00:25:09.340 --> 00:25:10.260 our sin becomes 00:25:10.260 --> 00:25:11.220 apparent very 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:11.900 quickly. 00:25:13.800 --> 00:25:14.980 We need to be very 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.900 careful that we are 00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.920 not people who read 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:19.360 God's word selectively, 00:25:20.280 --> 00:25:21.259 who pick and choose 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:21.980 the stuff that we 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.800 like to hear at 00:25:22.800 --> 00:25:23.620 certain times in our 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.000 life. 00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:26.320 God wants more for 00:25:26.320 --> 00:25:26.840 you than that. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.000 God doesn't want 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.480 some superficial, 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.940 I feel great and 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:33.060 isn't life fantastic 00:25:33.060 --> 00:25:34.360 faith. 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:34.960 He doesn't want us 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.960 to understand just 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.660 the love of him 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.480 because you can't 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.200 understand God's 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:39.740 love until you 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.480 comprehend his 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.400 holiness and his 00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:41.820 justice. 00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:42.900 I've had a 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:44.440 conversation with a 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.300 woman who has left 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.000 this church. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.079 And she said, 00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:49.039 I just got sick of 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.180 being told that I 00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:50.599 was wrong. 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.759 I got sick of being 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.440 told that there was 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.240 things that needed to 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.220 change in my life. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.619 I just wanted to hear 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.539 about God's love for 00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.339 me so that I could be 00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:00.059 ready to handle the 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.599 week ahead. 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.639 Now, without judging 00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.639 her situation, 00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:08.480 she can't understand 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.639 God's love unless she 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:10.440 understands how 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.500 unworthy she is of 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:11.660 it. 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.960 When we are 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.700 reminded of our 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.539 own sin, we are 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.380 driven back to the 00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:19.840 cross and we see 00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:21.180 God most clearly 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:23.799 because he loves 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.980 unworthy people like 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.360 us. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.759 The Bible tells us 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.539 that as we open 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.180 God's word, we get 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:33.140 to know God better. 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:36.400 It's here, in God's 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.620 word, when God speaks, 00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:38.519 that we are born 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:40.779 again, that we 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.859 receive new life, 00:26:41.939 --> 00:26:42.619 that we are shaped, 00:26:42.699 --> 00:26:43.399 not because of this 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:44.679 paper or these words, 00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:46.279 but because God 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.299 speaks here. 00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:50.019 By his Holy Spirit, 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:51.179 this becomes living 00:26:51.179 --> 00:26:53.619 and active and 00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.519 shapes our heart to 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.359 love what God 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:56.799 loves. 00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:59.000 This is the only 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:00.879 place where you get 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.539 to see God. 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.439 There are some 00:27:03.439 --> 00:27:04.479 fantastic Christian 00:27:04.479 --> 00:27:05.339 books to read that 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.979 are helpful, but 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:08.160 this alone is the 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:10.019 place that you get 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.680 to know God. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.279 This alone is the 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.000 place that he has 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:14.279 chosen to speak to 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:14.960 you, to reveal 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.019 himself, and this is 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.920 essential if you want 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:19.140 to grow and mature as 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:20.140 a follower of Jesus. 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.420 Psalm 1 that was 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:24.240 read for us earlier 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.299 paints this incredible 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.779 picture of when we 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.680 delight in and 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.660 meditate on God's 00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.759 law, on his word, 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.960 we become like a 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.779 healthy tree. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.400 It's planted by a 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:33.880 stream. 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.000 It gets the 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.980 sustenance it needs. 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.759 It grows, it 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.819 produces fruit, it 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.500 prospers. 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.700 In God's word, we're 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.740 fed and strengthened. 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.360 In God's word, we're 00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:44.420 pruned that we might 00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.259 bear more fruit. 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.680 And by God's word, we 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:49.259 fulfill the purpose 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.740 that he has for us. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:55.039 So this is not just an 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.720 ordinary book. 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.079 It's nothing like a 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.120 good story we might 00:27:59.120 --> 00:27:59.460 read. 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:01.900 This is God speaking to 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.140 you. 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:04.180 This is God wanting to 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.319 work in your life and 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:05.859 shape you. 00:28:05.939 --> 00:28:06.879 This is God wanting to 00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:08.339 reveal himself to you. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.740 But what does that mean 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.599 about the way we handle 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:11.079 this book? 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.379 Should you wash your 00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:13.519 hands before you open 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.419 it tomorrow morning to 00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:14.779 read it? 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.159 Maybe. 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.839 It's probably not 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.259 essential. 00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:21.259 What will it mean for 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:23.079 us to treat this as God 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.139 speaking to us? 00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:25.799 Let me suggest a couple 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.359 really quickly. 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:28.720 Firstly, be prepared. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:32.900 for Israel, having God 00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:35.339 speak to them was a 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.720 fearful experience. 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:39.059 Because the God who was 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.200 about to speak was the 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.960 same God who spoke 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:43.000 creation. 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:46.539 As you prepare for your 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:48.120 own quiet times, as you 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:49.460 prepare for church, as you 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.799 prepare for community 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:52.799 group, don't come here 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.900 thinking about 50 other 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.400 things. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:56.700 Don't go out late on a 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.500 Saturday night so that 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.440 you're so tired when you 00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:59.320 get here on Sunday you're 00:28:59.320 --> 00:29:00.460 struggling to stay awake. 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:03.180 God wants to speak to 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.440 you. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:06.060 Come here in the best 00:29:06.060 --> 00:29:07.060 frame of mind that you 00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:07.900 possibly can. 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:09.820 Eager to hear him speak. 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.400 Awake. 00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.060 Alert. 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:13.680 Deeply desiring that he 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:15.600 might rebuke you so that 00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:16.940 you might know the joy of 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.560 his forgiveness. 00:29:18.780 --> 00:29:20.700 Be eager to know God 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:23.519 where he reveals himself 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.559 in his word. 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.860 We need to be regular. 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.980 There are so many voices 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:30.240 speaking into our lives 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.759 at the moment. 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.860 I confess this morning 00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:34.420 that I have somewhat of a 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:35.299 Facebook addiction. 00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.000 Now that it's on your 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.400 phone, I will literally 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:40.500 sometimes wake up, turn 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.440 off the alarm and in the 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.440 same motion hit the 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.680 Facebook icon just to 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.799 gander at what statuses 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:45.600 have appeared while I've 00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:46.080 been asleep. 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:49.299 And maybe you're not as 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.680 bad with Facebook as I am 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.680 maybe you read the paper, 00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:52.580 maybe you check your 00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:52.980 emails. 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.820 The first voice you hear 00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:56.660 for the day, is it 00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.100 God's? 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:00.400 Do you even hear God 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.560 speak to you each day? 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:04.380 There are so many people 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:05.640 telling you who you are, 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.620 what matters, what's 00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:08.460 important, but God's 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.900 voice is the one that 00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.240 matters. 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:13.160 We are a church that has 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:14.600 as a core value Christ 00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:15.980 centered Bible 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.480 saturation. 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:19.320 We want to be people that 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:20.899 when life squeezes us 00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:21.919 through suffering and 00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:23.799 trial, Bible comes out. 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.679 As you face difficulty 00:30:27.679 --> 00:30:32.419 and pain, may the hope 00:30:32.419 --> 00:30:33.859 and encouragement of God's 00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:34.939 word be the first thing 00:30:34.939 --> 00:30:36.000 that comes to the surface. 00:30:37.659 --> 00:30:39.839 We need God's word. 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:41.919 Memorize it. 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.179 Read it daily. 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:44.119 Do whatever you've got to 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:44.259 do. 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:45.259 If you're not doing a 00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.419 Bible reading plan this year 00:30:46.419 --> 00:30:47.419 and you want to, please 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.400 join us during the one 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.360 that I've emailed out to 00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:49.560 you. 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.880 It's been a joy this week 00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:53.000 to get back into Genesis 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:56.300 and be reminded of the 00:30:56.300 --> 00:30:57.300 God who is sovereign. 00:30:59.820 --> 00:31:03.880 Lastly, be humble and be 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:04.560 expectant. 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:08.300 When you open this book, 00:31:09.320 --> 00:31:10.820 don't let it be about 00:31:10.820 --> 00:31:11.900 finishing what you're doing. 00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:15.440 When we read the Bible in 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:17.059 church, don't let it be about 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:18.220 what's happening after 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.720 church. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:21.080 When you meet in your 00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:22.259 community group, don't let 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.299 it be about supper. 00:31:23.840 --> 00:31:24.820 Don't let it be about 00:31:24.820 --> 00:31:27.299 anything but hearing what 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:28.680 God has to say. 00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:33.259 Don't close it until he's 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.100 spoken to you. 00:31:36.340 --> 00:31:38.259 Because his word is always 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.519 achieving his purpose. 00:31:41.820 --> 00:31:43.180 We want to be people who 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:45.259 delight in the opportunities 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:47.000 that God's word gives us 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.860 to repent. 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:51.039 We want to be like the 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.660 Ninevites. 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:54.100 When God says there is 00:31:54.100 --> 00:31:56.140 wickedness in us, may we 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:59.519 humbly repent and 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.779 acknowledge that he alone 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.400 is God. 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:03.940 Repentance is joy for 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.840 followers of God. 00:32:05.840 --> 00:32:07.400 There is that initial pain 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:09.240 and guilt, but all it does is 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:10.259 take us to Jesus. 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.200 It takes us to forgiveness 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:13.480 and it takes us to hope. 00:32:13.580 --> 00:32:14.700 So let's be people who come 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:17.279 to church wanting God to 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:18.880 show us what in us needs to 00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:19.360 change. 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:21.160 Because then we can hand it 00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:22.440 over at the cross and ask 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.840 that he replace it with 00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.460 something better. 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:26.740 He replace it with Christ's 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:28.160 likeness and a love for him 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:29.180 that is growing. 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.840 Sorry, one more. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:35.059 So be prepared, be regular, be 00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:37.200 humble and lastly be bold. 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:40.240 God's word does stuff. 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.319 We need to stop trying to 00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:45.380 come up with fantastic ways 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:46.400 that we're going to introduce 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.420 Jesus to the world. 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:50.180 This is the way. 00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:52.940 Jonah is trying to run away 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:55.880 from God and he speaks God's 00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:57.160 word and sailors make 00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:58.340 sacrifices to God. 00:32:58.339 --> 00:33:01.839 In your work, in your family, 00:33:01.939 --> 00:33:03.519 in your school, wherever it is, 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:07.000 speak God's word. 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:10.139 If you're looking for ways to 00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:12.000 share the gospel, there are a 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.519 bunch of amazing memory verses 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:15.019 that will communicate the gospel 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.419 to people and it's God's words, 00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:16.980 not yours. 00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:19.379 And just a tip, he's more 00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.279 articulate than you. 00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:23.539 But more importantly, he's more 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.379 powerful than you. 00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:27.000 And when he speaks, people have 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:28.140 the chance to see him. 00:33:29.060 --> 00:33:31.100 This is the most incredible gift 00:33:31.100 --> 00:33:33.040 God has given us, the ability 00:33:33.040 --> 00:33:34.060 to know him. 00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:40.840 So be prepared, be regular, be 00:33:40.840 --> 00:33:44.400 humble, be bold and may God 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:47.640 transform us to be more and more 00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:50.760 like Jesus for his sake and for 00:33:50.760 --> 00:33:51.300 his glory. 00:33:52.040 --> 00:33:52.800 Let's pray. 00:33:54.380 --> 00:34:01.060 Father God, we want to 00:34:01.060 --> 00:34:02.800 acknowledge that even tonight as 00:34:02.800 --> 00:34:04.820 we sit and we read your word and 00:34:04.820 --> 00:34:06.460 we wrestle with what it is to have 00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:08.099 you speak to us, that there are 00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:11.019 other things on our minds that 00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:12.460 maybe all we're focused on is 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.340 getting to the end. 00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:17.820 But God, we ask that you would 00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:20.220 give us a deep thirst to know you, 00:34:21.180 --> 00:34:22.680 that you would keep us from being 00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:24.339 more precious about how comfortable 00:34:24.339 --> 00:34:26.799 we feel, about how self-confident 00:34:26.799 --> 00:34:27.319 we feel. 00:34:28.359 --> 00:34:30.259 Instead, give us a desire to know you 00:34:30.259 --> 00:34:31.899 more than anything else, to treasure 00:34:31.899 --> 00:34:33.399 you more than anything else. 00:34:34.259 --> 00:34:36.460 Make us people who soak in your word, 00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:38.059 who delight in your law. 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:42.480 Write your word on our hearts, God, 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:44.539 that we may live lives that honor you. 00:34:46.419 --> 00:34:48.099 God, we want to pray that as we open 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:49.940 your word, that it would never be just 00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:51.239 an academic exercise. 00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:55.679 But as we hear you speak, help us to 00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:56.279 see you. 00:34:56.839 --> 00:34:58.179 Help us to love you. 00:34:59.699 --> 00:35:02.039 Shape our hearts that we may love what 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:03.659 you love and hate what you hate. 00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:08.940 God, I want to pray that if there are 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.739 people in this room right now who for 00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:12.759 them it's still the experience that when 00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:15.420 your word is open, guilt is the first 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.140 thing they feel. 00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:19.860 God, I pray that you may show them your 00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:20.320 love. 00:35:22.180 --> 00:35:23.440 Show them your grace. 00:35:25.200 --> 00:35:27.040 Show them that guilt for us 00:35:27.040 --> 00:35:30.220 is just an opportunity for joyful 00:35:30.220 --> 00:35:30.800 repentance. 00:35:34.080 --> 00:35:36.540 Father, we thank you so much for Jesus. 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:39.860 We thank you that we can call you 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:40.239 Father. 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:42.279 We thank you that we can sit under your 00:35:42.279 --> 00:35:44.719 word, that we can rejoice as your 00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:46.940 people, that we can be confident that 00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:48.639 you are preparing a place for us. 00:35:49.779 --> 00:35:51.779 Lord, every day until you come back, 00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:55.420 may you reveal more of yourself, that 00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:57.840 we may know you better, that we may 00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:59.920 find the fuller joy that is only found 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:03.119 in you, and so that the world may see 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.980 you in us. 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.500 Amen. 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:06.619 Amen.