WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.080 I wonder if you've heard the joke about two men who one day found themselves walking through a graveyard. 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:14.500 ! And the first man away in the distance spots a gravestone, and it's got some engraving on it. 00:00:14.540 --> 00:00:17.339 And he turns to his friend and he says, what does it say? 00:00:18.420 --> 00:00:25.060 So the second man runs all the way to the gravestone and slowly begins to shout it back to his friend. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:26.160 Here's what it says. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:31.640 Here lies a politician and an honest man. 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:37.960 The first man hears him, smirks to himself, laughs and replies, strange that, isn't it? 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:40.380 Why on earth would they bury two people there? 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:44.960 Clearly a good enough joke that I feel I need to explain it. 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:52.920 It's a joke about how you can't be a politician and an honest person. 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:59.380 But the thing is, if you search online, you will find those kind of jokes for, what did I write down? 00:01:00.179 --> 00:01:03.120 Lawyers. I'm happy to take that. He's an ex-lawyer. 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:12.820 Car mechanics, social media influencers, estate agents, journals, and on and on it goes. 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:21.079 There are people in life who we find difficult to take them at their word and find difficult to trust their word. 00:01:22.399 --> 00:01:26.299 And I just want to add on the fact that for many of us that will be really painful. 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:28.839 It's not a kind of joke that. It will be really, really painful. 00:01:29.919 --> 00:01:34.479 And hang on in there for the good news of this passage that Jesus is going to give us. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:40.380 But we find it in life difficult to trust some people and take them at their words. 00:01:40.960 --> 00:01:43.880 A couple examples of that this week in the news, if you've followed it. 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:50.040 It is like a political drama that you see on Netflix playing out down in Westminster right now, isn't it? 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:55.980 I have lost count of who's in, who's out, who's standing for running against Keir Starmer, who's kind of supporting him. 00:01:56.080 --> 00:01:57.700 Kind of lost track of the whole thing. 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:02.439 It's interesting, isn't it? People in circles saying things. 00:02:02.579 --> 00:02:05.719 People distrusting, trusting people's words. 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:07.600 Playing out down south, isn't it, at the minute. 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:09.980 It's also playing out if you're into football. 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:12.159 I know it's a raw day to mention football. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:18.860 But the Premier League playoffs, if you've noticed it down south, they're heading towards their final. 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:21.560 The semi-finals clouded in controversy. 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:27.000 To get to the final, they call it the £100 million game to get promotion to the Premier League. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:34.460 Again, there was massive controversy this week because Southampton were accused of spying on their opponent, Middlesbrough. 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:38.180 A total breach of the fair play rules that they signed up to at the beginning of the season. 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:38.840 And I loved it. 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:43.240 And a bit of football banter, the Middlesbrough fans all turned up at the game with binoculars. 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:44.000 It was quite funny. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:49.939 But we live in a world, don't we, where we used to talk about my word is my bond. 00:02:50.139 --> 00:02:51.920 We used to talk about gentlemen's agreements. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:55.139 But nowadays, no one really talks like that. 00:02:55.139 --> 00:03:01.159 But friends in the U.S., the phrase that they always use is, now we live in a lawyer-up culture. 00:03:04.059 --> 00:03:05.379 But that's the world out there. 00:03:05.659 --> 00:03:09.639 But this passage today is going to ask us to take a much closer look at home. 00:03:10.899 --> 00:03:17.619 And ask us whether people today would describe us as people of our word. 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:19.800 Are we trustworthy? 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:23.980 It's been well documented, hasn't it, that people today, what do they value? 00:03:24.700 --> 00:03:30.539 They value keeping their options open until the last minute in case a better offer presents itself. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:32.340 Can I give you a little example of this? 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:37.280 I was reading the latest book from Ramesh Ranganathan, you know, the Radio 2 DJ. 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:39.300 He's one of my favorite comedians. 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:45.760 And I've always kind of tracked his career because we're kind of, he's a few years older than me, but we're at the kind of same stage of life. 00:03:45.820 --> 00:03:52.439 And I was reading over the Easter holidays his newest and very relatably funny book, which is all about his midlife crisis. 00:03:53.480 --> 00:03:59.080 And about how he's noticed these growing behavioral patterns in his life that he now perceives. 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:01.480 And here's what he wrote about plans. 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:04.600 And I know the font is small, but I thought I'd give you the whole quote because I thought it was really funny. 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:09.219 See if his honest humor, call it like it is, connects with you. 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:09.939 He says this, 00:04:10.299 --> 00:04:15.039 I became convinced for a while that I had a condition that has been dubbed cancellation ecstasy. 00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:17.219 I love cancelling. 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:17.759 It's glorious. 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:21.000 You've arranged to go out for dinner or a night at the pub. 00:04:21.939 --> 00:04:25.420 And as the time approaches, you start to dread getting ready and leaving the house. 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:28.639 You start thinking it feels more hassle than it's worth. 00:04:28.899 --> 00:04:31.620 And then you start to resent the fact that you're having to go out at all. 00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:37.620 A few hours before the event, you convince yourself that the right thing to do for your mental health is to not go out at all. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:39.399 And you cancel. 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:44.800 Actually feeling noble because you are taking steps to protect yourself. 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:46.199 Now, how relatable is that? 00:04:47.579 --> 00:04:51.899 I love what he called that particular chapter, just really simply flake. 00:04:51.899 --> 00:05:04.079 But see, when you bring all that together, we are living what I read somebody described recently in the aftermath of the elections last week. 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.959 We are living today in a low trust culture. 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:16.959 And so Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount to his disciples about the shape of life in the kingdom of God, 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:22.439 who he's calling us to be as his saved people, saved by grace. 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.000 These are so timely. 00:05:25.799 --> 00:05:30.279 And they will make them, if we take them to heart, they will make us so distinct. 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:36.219 Really simply because he's encouraging his people to be people of their word. 00:05:37.919 --> 00:05:42.299 And it comes in the context of Jesus' teaching about oaths. 00:05:42.299 --> 00:05:47.000 It's not language that we use much these days, but hopefully you can kind of connect with that word. 00:05:48.339 --> 00:05:51.139 And a bit like last week, before we read it together, here's the question. 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:55.300 Why does Jesus care so much? 00:05:57.419 --> 00:06:02.180 So let's read it together while we, the words will go on the screen, but you follow along in your own Bible if you can. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:05.399 This is Matthew 5, 33 to 37. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:06.779 We'll pick it up at verse 33. 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:10.539 Jesus speaking to the crowd, to his disciples. 00:06:10.539 --> 00:06:14.379 Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago. 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:19.800 Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:21.680 Verse 34. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:26.340 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:29.400 Either by heaven, for it's God's throne. 00:06:30.280 --> 00:06:32.560 Or by the earth, for it is his footstool. 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:35.319 Or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. 00:06:36.280 --> 00:06:41.300 And do not swear by your heads, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 00:06:42.259 --> 00:06:45.860 All you need to say is simply yes or no. 00:06:47.100 --> 00:06:51.000 Anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:54.300 And God will bless the reading of his word to us this morning. 00:06:55.699 --> 00:06:57.339 So we pick up at verse 33. 00:06:57.459 --> 00:06:58.019 Do you see it? 00:06:58.060 --> 00:06:59.600 You have heard it said. 00:06:59.660 --> 00:07:03.319 Now that's a phrase that Jesus has been using throughout this sermon. 00:07:03.779 --> 00:07:10.560 And it's indicating to us once again that he's challenging the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:11.839 Now what were they teaching? 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:14.339 We'll see it there at verse 33. 00:07:14.339 --> 00:07:21.139 Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. 00:07:21.679 --> 00:07:30.919 Now, strictly speaking, that is not a precise quotation of any one particular law of Moses. 00:07:31.039 --> 00:07:34.239 So you won't find that exact phrase in the Old Testament. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:42.000 But what it is, is an accurate summary of several Old Testament commands. 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:51.519 Ones where God's people were encouraged to make promises to God and follow through on and fulfill those promises. 00:07:51.780 --> 00:07:55.939 Really simply make a promise to God and keep it. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:56.560 Simple as that. 00:07:56.660 --> 00:07:58.360 Give me a couple examples on the screen. 00:07:58.360 --> 00:08:00.360 Here's one from Numbers 30. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:09.560 When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word, but must do everything he said. 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:10.180 Do you see it? 00:08:12.340 --> 00:08:13.180 Or here's another one. 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:14.460 You can scribble these down if you want. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:15.879 Deuteronomy 23. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:20.740 If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:27.740 For the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:34.899 So the concept at verse 33, their quotation, is certainly an accurate one. 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:42.519 But the Pharisees and teachers of the law, as they teach the people, and remember in their day, their role, they're doing more than teaching the people. 00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:48.299 They're also called to set the pace when it comes to holiness, godliness. 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:53.259 Just like they've done with divorce. 00:08:54.060 --> 00:08:55.039 Remember this last week. 00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:56.360 They're doing the same here. 00:08:56.360 --> 00:09:04.139 They're demonstrating the fact that they're sticklers for the letter of the law, but totally missing the heart of the law. 00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:10.699 Now we thought last week, if you get back into what's going on in this sermon, remember we've thought about this every single week. 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:13.659 The mistake is to think that this is a moral lecture from Jesus. 00:09:14.059 --> 00:09:14.879 It's not that at all. 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:17.720 It is about what life inside his kingdom looks like. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:26.639 And we thought last week that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, if you remember this, they're presenting to the people a botched version of the original. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:39.360 And Jesus has come to restore it to its beauty and its original intention and to display that to his disciples, not just in his teaching, but in his life. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:46.740 And somebody insightfully asked our growth group this week, as we consider that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.639 Somebody asked, why are they getting it so wrong? 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:53.419 That's a good question, isn't it? 00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:55.000 Why are they getting it so wrong? 00:09:55.000 --> 00:10:05.919 And I think the answer, if you remember back to the first week, first couple of weeks we spent in the sermon on the night, the answer is that they are trying to make it easier to obey. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:12.759 They are trying to drop the bar so low that anybody can feel like they've got over it. 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:15.500 Because who doesn't want to feel like we're all in God's good books? 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:23.879 So when it comes to righteousness, what they're trying to do is achieve it on the cheap. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:28.740 When it comes to righteousness, they're trying to achieve it on the cheap. 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:36.379 And so when it comes to oaths, in an attempt to make it easier to obey, got to notice what's going on here, what they're doing. 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:38.419 They are just shifting the emphasis. 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.399 Hold with me, track with me. 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:45.840 Take that phrase, fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:50.679 Now the emphasis is mine just for the purposes of this. 00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:53.159 Take that phrase, fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. 00:10:53.159 --> 00:11:00.179 Now it doesn't require too much thinking to realize that the emphasis in that sentence, where is the really important thing? 00:11:01.719 --> 00:11:03.459 It's on the Lord, isn't it? 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:05.600 It's on the Lord. 00:11:05.699 --> 00:11:07.559 This is about who the Lord is. 00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:11.039 This is about who he is. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.620 This is about what he has done. 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:14.240 This is about what he has said. 00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:18.620 And it's in light of his character that we'll come back to in about 10 minutes time. 00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:20.879 It's in light of his character that we want to obey. 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:25.519 So the stress is on the Lord. 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:30.159 However, in their day, what they've done is they've just switched the emphasis. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:34.919 They've shifted the emphasis to the vow. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:44.719 And they've come up with this elaborate scale by which people can assess the seriousness of the vow that they have made. 00:11:45.199 --> 00:11:51.039 And maybe to get your head around what I'm talking about, this is a bit like, if you remember back to the playground at school. 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:53.159 Do you remember this? 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:56.139 Unless your friend would promise to do something and you would take them at their word. 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:58.120 Or maybe you were that person, I don't know. 00:11:59.559 --> 00:12:01.860 Friend would promise something, you would take them at their word. 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:03.699 You would act on what they said. 00:12:04.319 --> 00:12:07.699 You would come back to them and say, why didn't you do what you said? 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:12.879 And they would say, oh, sorry, I made that promise all the time having my fingers behind my back. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:16.799 So technically, it doesn't count. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:23.519 And that's kind of what they're doing when it comes to the vows that they are making. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:28.779 And see, later on in Matthew's gospel, you kind of get a worked example of this. 00:12:28.859 --> 00:12:30.079 This is chapter 23. 00:12:30.319 --> 00:12:31.059 Jesus speaking. 00:12:31.219 --> 00:12:31.839 I'll go on the screen. 00:12:33.359 --> 00:12:35.139 He says, woe to you blind guides. 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:36.659 And that's strong language, isn't it? 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:40.299 You say, if anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing. 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:44.279 But if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, it's bound by the oath. 00:12:44.339 --> 00:12:45.539 You blind fools. 00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:50.579 Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:55.399 You also say, if anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing. 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:59.439 But anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath. 00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.419 You blind men. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:05.559 Which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:11.379 So can I give you the Shanks-inspired paraphrase of what's going on here, right? 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:18.240 They've created this bizarre distinction where somebody makes a promise saying, I swear by the temple, right? 00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:20.679 I swear by the temple. 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:29.039 And when they don't follow through on that, they would say, ah, well, technically, technically, I only swore by the altar. 00:13:29.599 --> 00:13:31.219 And so it doesn't count. 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:42.179 And so they've developed this whole system whereby your promises only count if you make them in a certain way and you make them according to a certain formula. 00:13:42.179 --> 00:13:46.179 And the three examples, I think, in the text, I think that's what Jesus is saying to them. 00:13:46.239 --> 00:13:46.799 Do you see them there? 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:50.179 Heaven, earth, and Jerusalem. 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:51.039 You can imagine that. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.120 I swear by heaven. 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:53.399 I swear by earth. 00:13:53.459 --> 00:13:55.179 I call upon Jerusalem as my witness. 00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:56.599 You kind of get that, right? 00:13:56.600 --> 00:14:02.340 And Jesus comes along and looks at this whole charade and says, what utter nonsense. 00:14:04.420 --> 00:14:06.500 And two reasons it's nonsense. 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:08.800 The first one is implied in the text. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:14.080 And it's what the very existence of the oath tells you. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:23.100 Now, last week, if you remember last week, if you were here, we thought about the fact that the certificate of divorce with that, 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:27.540 Jesus was implying that it only exists because of the hardness of your heart. 00:14:29.420 --> 00:14:33.000 This week, Jesus, I think, is implying with the oath. 00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:35.120 Do you know what? 00:14:35.180 --> 00:14:39.480 It only exists in the first place because of your untruthfulness. 00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:45.500 I mean, if you're having to convince someone to trust you by appealing to an oath, 00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:50.860 essentially saying to them, I really, really, really, really mean it this time, 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:53.860 then that doesn't reflect well on your character, does it? 00:14:54.680 --> 00:14:57.860 You're having to convince somebody, beg somebody to trust you. 00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:02.159 I mean, what kind of person has to twist someone's arm to get them to trust them? 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:04.620 Answer, an untrustworthy one. 00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:08.399 So it's implied in the text. 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:10.500 Why do oaths exist in the first place? 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.240 Think about it. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:14.320 But I think the second reason is, again, implied in the text. 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:15.500 And it's this. 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:18.840 Because commentators generally agree with this, 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:22.379 that what had happened here is that they had developed this system, 00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:27.580 that if you use the Lord's name, then your vow is really serious. 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:34.080 But if you didn't use the Lord's name, it's not as serious. 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:40.520 And Jesus is saying, do you see the futility of thinking 00:15:40.520 --> 00:15:46.960 that you can somehow keep God out of this by not using his name? 00:15:47.020 --> 00:15:48.960 Do you see how that is utterly absurd? 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:51.400 This is how I've been thinking about it this week. 00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:55.300 It's a bit like that constant theme in Lord of the Rings 00:15:55.300 --> 00:15:57.920 when Frodo, any time he puts on the ring, 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:02.160 the all-seeing eye of Sauron kind of sees him and looks at him, 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:03.579 and all of a sudden he's got him. 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.899 And if he takes off the ring, he's invisible again. 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:09.719 It's that kind of thing that they're trying to do with the vows. 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:12.079 We mention the Lord's name, all of a sudden he sees. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:14.719 But see, if we don't mention the Lord's name, he doesn't see. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:15.919 That's the mindset. 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:19.379 Thinking if we just keep him out of it, 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:20.799 if we just keep him out of it 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:24.860 and try and get around the back door with our oaths, 00:16:25.819 --> 00:16:26.500 then we're doing okay. 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.480 Because we still kept our oath, 00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:30.959 because technically we swore over something else. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.420 So technically we're okay. 00:16:32.540 --> 00:16:33.820 Do you remember we said this last week, 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:36.180 they are looking for loopholes? 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.540 And just as an aside, 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:43.259 that was the precise logic of the famous atheist philosopher A.C. Grayling. 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:46.740 He talked about how society's reliance 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:50.340 on thousands of CCTV cameras in public places 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:53.259 was proof of the fact that people today 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:56.400 don't believe that a divine being is watching them. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:59.459 So I've always found it interesting 00:16:59.459 --> 00:17:05.839 why he thought that that proved the unreliability of God. 00:17:06.639 --> 00:17:08.000 When I think actually all it does 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:10.940 is just show the unreliability of the human heart. 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.660 But you can make your minds up on that one if you want. 00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:16.259 But Jesus is reminding his disciples here really simply 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:19.299 that God sees it all. 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:24.599 And it's a great time to remind ourselves, 00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:26.259 every time we come up against this stuff, 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:30.460 remind ourselves who the Lord is. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.819 I'll give you two words. 00:17:32.919 --> 00:17:35.700 The Lord is the omnipresent one. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:39.700 So that word omni just means all present everywhere. 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.819 He is the all everywhere one. 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:47.139 And he is the omniscient one, right? 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:49.419 Omni, again, all science, knowledge. 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:52.179 That's where we get science from if you're into that. 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:53.839 Omni, he is the all-knowing one. 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:55.079 So he's the all-seeing one. 00:17:55.159 --> 00:17:56.819 He is the all-knowing one. 00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:58.079 He is the holy one. 00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:01.339 He is the one who's so far above the things of this earth. 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:03.480 And they have reduced him to, 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:06.399 he only sees when we kind of bring him into the equation. 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:09.859 And Jesus says, how wrong, how twisted. 00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:10.179 How twisted. 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.700 How foolish. 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:16.379 And I think what Jesus is getting at here 00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:18.259 is what the Puritans used to talk about 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:20.439 using that Latin phrase, coram deo, 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:25.819 meaning always in the presence of God. 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:31.079 Always in the presence of God. 00:18:31.179 --> 00:18:36.339 All of life, always in the presence of God. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.339 And that's what Jesus is encouraging in his disciples, 00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:42.019 I think here. 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:45.159 Now, remember that shift in emphasis? 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:49.099 The Pharisees seeking to make it easier to obey, 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.019 dropping the bar. 00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:52.059 They're seeking to put the emphasis not on the Lord. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:54.179 They're seeking to place it on the vow. 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:56.939 I think really simply, if you want to understand this, 00:18:57.339 --> 00:19:01.299 Jesus here is just seeking to shift the emphasis back. 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:08.359 And so here's his simple conclusion and plea to his disciples, 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.579 verse 37. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.819 All you need to say, remember, 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:14.220 in light of everything he's just said, 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.940 in light of who the Lord is, 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:19.839 all you need to say is simply yes or no. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:24.740 Anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:27.819 Now, what is he seeking to create in the hearts of his people? 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:30.900 I take it really simply, truthful speech. 00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:35.380 People whose words can be trusted. 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:40.380 Now, listen, you might hear that and think to yourself, 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:42.839 well, listen, I never come out with lines like, 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.380 I swear on my auntie's dog's grave, right? 00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:47.420 Or as God is my witness. 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:49.819 I never come out with lines like this in my life. 00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:53.659 But Jesus won't let us off the hook so easily. 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:56.220 He loves us too much for that. 00:19:57.399 --> 00:20:01.319 Because so often we do this in subtle ways. 00:20:03.159 --> 00:20:06.359 Can I ask you four questions that as this passage has had me 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:08.839 in a headlock this week and wrestled with me, 00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:11.859 that I've freshly realized that I am so guilty of 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:13.559 and sometimes I don't even notice it? 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:17.319 And try these on for signs and they all begin with over. 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.639 See if they connect. 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:24.500 Friends, are you guilty, first of all, of maybe over-promising? 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:26.599 Right? 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:29.159 Saying that you'll make sure that something definitely happens 00:20:29.159 --> 00:20:32.980 and then being casual on making good on those words. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:35.159 Some of my biggest regrets in life 00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:37.399 and some of my biggest pains I've received in life 00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:38.359 are all to do with that. 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.200 Hurt people by the things that I promised would happen 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.980 and never happened. 00:20:43.179 --> 00:20:46.599 Or was led up the garden path to think that something was going to happen 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.299 and it never happened. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:47.960 Really hurtful. 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:49.740 But Jesus is saying, 00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:53.420 are you prone to over-promising? 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.500 Secondly, are you prone to over-committing? 00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:59.620 Saying you'll take something on, 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.120 saying that you'll be at something 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:03.279 and then realizing that you've written a check 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.460 that you can't cash? 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:09.039 Just, oof, find this really hard. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.559 Third, these are really quick. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:12.360 Are you prone to over-egging? 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.519 Exaggerating stories for effect? 00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:17.900 Using superlatives? 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.740 Replaying conversations in your mind 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:24.940 where you're always the one who comes off 100% in the right? 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:30.400 Maybe fourth, are you prone to over-speaking? 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.940 Pretending you have answers 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:34.519 when really you have no answers? 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.700 You know, our phones, 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.340 I think this happens all the time in my life. 00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:40.259 My phone tricks me into thinking 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:42.299 that I'm the one who's omniscient. 00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:44.539 All-knowing. 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.980 So all I need to do is just go on Google 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.580 and I can find out answers to things. 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.160 And all of a sudden, 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.039 I can be an expert 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:51.680 in any kind of things. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.639 Horticulture, politics, anything. 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.519 I can be an expert 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.960 and give me five minutes 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.379 and I can rustle up a conversation. 00:21:58.879 --> 00:22:00.639 That combined with social media 00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:03.180 and feeling the pressure 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.420 to be an expert in everything, 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.639 to give your hot take, 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.639 to give your opinion 00:22:06.639 --> 00:22:08.220 and the speed of the news 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.579 that comes at us these days 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:11.359 in our 24-7 news channels 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:13.299 that says you need to be informed 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.460 on everything. 00:22:17.639 --> 00:22:17.980 You know, friends, 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.379 can I tell you the lecturers at uni 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:22.340 that made the biggest impact on me 00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:24.440 were the ones who I could tell 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:27.180 were the cleverest people in the room. 00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:28.800 I mean, their knowledge. 00:22:29.760 --> 00:22:31.660 I cannot begin to even fathom 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:33.260 the things that they know, right? 00:22:33.540 --> 00:22:34.960 But here's the thing. 00:22:35.760 --> 00:22:37.500 When they were quizzed on something, 00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:38.780 when we used to have a Q&A 00:22:38.780 --> 00:22:39.640 at the end of class, 00:22:39.760 --> 00:22:40.760 it's 10 minutes Q&A, 00:22:40.840 --> 00:22:41.940 anyone got any questions? 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:44.120 And they got asked a question 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:45.060 that they didn't know. 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:48.280 So instead of waffling an answer, 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:50.480 they would just humbly say, 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.519 do you know what? 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.639 I don't know, 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.619 but great question. 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.399 I want to find out. 00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.440 I think we feel the pressure, 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.119 don't we, sometimes, 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:02.220 of having to know everything. 00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:05.720 But friends, 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.240 see when you bring 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.319 those four things together, 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.279 over-promising, 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.180 over-committing, 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.119 over-egging, 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.879 over-speaking, 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:12.160 I think here's what 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:12.880 we need to see. 00:23:15.100 --> 00:23:16.420 Is that a great question 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.040 to be asking 00:23:17.040 --> 00:23:18.100 with these four things? 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:18.920 And there's lots more 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.680 we could have said, right? 00:23:19.760 --> 00:23:20.500 But a great question 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.160 to be asking 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.300 is always, 00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:23.920 why do I do it? 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.800 Why do I do it? 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.580 Whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:23:27.760 --> 00:23:29.760 What is the heart motivation 00:23:29.760 --> 00:23:31.980 in these things? 00:23:32.060 --> 00:23:32.420 Have you ever thought 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.080 last week about 00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:34.040 so often the devil 00:23:34.040 --> 00:23:34.980 tempts us to think 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.920 that red flags 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:37.200 are actually bunting? 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:39.460 And friends, 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.160 can I suggest 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:40.779 that these things 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.819 might just be warning lights 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.660 that are going on 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:44.019 in our hearts? 00:23:44.100 --> 00:23:44.539 Can I give you 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.500 my honest answer 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.759 why I so often do it? 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.779 I so often do it 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.460 because I think 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.100 I want people 00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:51.220 to think better of me 00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:52.200 than I actually am. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.500 And our words 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.279 really are 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:59.400 windows into our hearts. 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.380 A great question 00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:01.539 to ask yourself 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:03.460 with these things 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:06.000 is what's going on 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.559 in my heart. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:06.919 Again, 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:08.019 as my American friends 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.659 used to say, 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.879 you've got to learn 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:11.079 in life to pop the hood. 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.299 What's going on 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.799 in the heart? 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.839 And so why are we 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.859 to be truthful people, 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:19.220 right? 00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:20.559 How are we going to change? 00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.119 Because I take it 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:22.099 none of us are sitting here 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:22.379 thinking, 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:22.839 do you know what? 00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:23.659 I love lying. 00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.940 But it comes so naturally 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.399 to us. 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:26.940 I think this is why 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.740 Jesus is speaking 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.519 into this area. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.679 It's like we're born 00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:30.339 with the seeds 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.159 of deceptiveness 00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:32.200 in our hearts, 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.679 isn't it? 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.339 It's what happens 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.279 in Genesis 3. 00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:35.480 And Jesus has come 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.359 to woo us back 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:37.659 to life in the light. 00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:39.159 How are we going 00:24:39.159 --> 00:24:39.879 to change? 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.039 Well, I take it 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.759 it's a bit like 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:44.079 what environmentalists 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.679 will tell you 00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:45.859 about water pollution. 00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.799 It is in a way 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.819 pretty futile 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:51.919 to spend your time 00:24:51.919 --> 00:24:53.759 cleaning up 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.579 the actual river. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.179 In actual fact, 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:58.799 what you need to do 00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.439 is go way back 00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.119 to the source. 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:02.559 And I'm convinced 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.359 this is what Jesus 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.619 is doing in this sermon. 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.759 We often get 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:09.299 focused on the river. 00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:11.859 But he's saying 00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.379 he wants, 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.459 if we're going to change 00:25:13.459 --> 00:25:14.759 and he longs to change us, 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.379 he will take us 00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:16.839 right back to the source. 00:25:16.979 --> 00:25:17.639 What's the problem 00:25:17.639 --> 00:25:18.379 with murder? 00:25:19.239 --> 00:25:20.459 It's the evil thoughts, 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.139 angry thoughts 00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.719 in your heart. 00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.539 What's the problem 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.259 with adultery? 00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:24.579 It's the lust 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.539 that exists in your heart. 00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:26.059 So don't, 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:27.079 this is bad, 00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:27.659 but this isn't 00:25:27.659 --> 00:25:28.479 where the problem is. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.680 The problem is here. 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.299 And sometimes we need 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.960 to go way further upstream. 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.759 And I think this is 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:38.519 what Jesus is doing here. 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.360 And here's somebody 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:40.480 who puts it way better 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.140 than I will. 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:41.779 This is a man 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.420 called David Gibson 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.299 up in Aberdeen 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:45.240 in his book 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.799 called Radically Whole. 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.059 And can I just recommend 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.620 that you get it? 00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.519 It's on the book of James, 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.220 but it is 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:53.299 so applicable here. 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:55.400 Try this quote on for size. 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:57.039 Never try to fix your words 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.099 by mending your mouth. 00:25:59.480 --> 00:25:59.960 Instead, 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:01.700 the heart needs to change. 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:04.079 Since the tongue 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.700 is the hinge 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.420 on which the door 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.740 of the heart turns, 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:09.279 we need to open 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.579 our hearts to God, 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.860 first of all. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.559 And then, 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.839 when we open 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.880 our mouths, 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:19.019 things will be 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:20.460 different. 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:22.779 And the answer, 00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.120 I think here, 00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.860 that Jesus is 00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:26.019 wooing us towards 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:27.400 is knowing 00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:29.880 who the Lord is. 00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:31.120 That's what's upstream. 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.319 Not our words, 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.279 not our truthfulness. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.500 We don't start there. 00:26:36.340 --> 00:26:38.120 We start by getting back 00:26:38.120 --> 00:26:38.960 and knowing the Lord 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.579 who loves us 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.480 and has saved us. 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:43.000 Remembering his character. 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:45.240 Remembering the Lord, 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.680 the one who is faithful. 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:50.120 Remembering that the Lord 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:51.279 is one who never 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.580 changes his mind. 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.660 There is no shadow 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:56.320 due to change 00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:57.039 with him. 00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:58.740 Remembering that the Lord 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:00.240 is the one who always 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.779 delivers 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:02.600 on his words. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.340 He is the one 00:27:04.340 --> 00:27:05.220 who speaks 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.279 truth. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.000 He is the one 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.000 who is outside 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.259 of time. 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:12.779 And on and on 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.720 and on we could go. 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:14.660 It's by remembering 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.740 who the Lord 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.759 is. 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.019 Friends, 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:19.279 when I use my words 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.059 to improve 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.599 what others 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:22.339 think of me, 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.160 it shows 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.079 that I've forgotten 00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:26.740 that the most 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.319 important 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:27.960 and defining 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.819 thing about me 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.700 is what God 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.640 says is true 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:30.980 of me 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.579 in the gospel. 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.160 When I live 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.599 for the praise 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.000 of others 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.940 instead of his praise, 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.660 that's exactly 00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.259 what it shows 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:38.900 me in you. 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:42.099 And remembering 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.980 the Lord, 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.000 remembering what 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.680 is true of us 00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:45.400 of the gospel. 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.420 What is true? 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.539 And so often 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.339 what this gathering 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:49.500 is, 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.660 we gather every week 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.759 as one body 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.420 is all about 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:53.019 remembering 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:54.019 what the Lord 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.059 has said 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.859 is true. 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.500 What is true 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.599 of us in Christ, 00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.259 of our, 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.299 and you might be 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:00.940 here feeling like 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:01.920 it is a mustard 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:03.379 seed faith I have 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.200 in Christ. 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.799 Seems to me 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:06.859 that the tenderest 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.700 words of Jesus 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.319 for people 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.140 are those in the 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:09.900 gospels for whom 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:10.640 that is true. 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:11.900 If I can just 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.900 touch the hem 00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:14.120 of his garment. 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:14.620 Lord, 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:15.800 I believe, 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.759 help my unbelief. 00:28:16.820 --> 00:28:17.860 It is those people. 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:19.040 But what is true 00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:19.800 of us 00:28:19.800 --> 00:28:21.300 that God declares 00:28:21.300 --> 00:28:22.100 over us 00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:23.180 in Christ 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.720 because of our 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.400 faith in him? 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.040 The Christ who 00:28:25.040 --> 00:28:25.940 went to the cross, 00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:26.900 the Christ who 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:27.620 came and lived, 00:28:27.780 --> 00:28:28.540 the Christ who 00:28:28.540 --> 00:28:29.440 is risen, 00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:30.280 and as we sang 00:28:30.280 --> 00:28:30.920 at the start, 00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:32.080 who has our names 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:33.280 graven in his hand. 00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:33.940 What is true 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:34.460 of us? 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:36.300 We are a new 00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:36.860 creation. 00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.500 The old is gone, 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.380 the new has come. 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:41.240 We are forgiven, 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:42.940 we are chosen, 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.740 we are loved, 00:28:45.320 --> 00:28:46.200 we are adopted, 00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:47.759 we are sealed 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.820 with his spirit, 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.780 and we have a 00:28:49.780 --> 00:28:51.320 glorious future 00:28:51.320 --> 00:28:52.480 ahead. 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.700 That's what's 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.500 true of us, 00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:55.480 and the call 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.380 here is to 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:57.680 take that truth 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.460 about who the 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.000 Lord is 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:00.019 and have that 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:01.380 impact and change 00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:02.160 our words. 00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:03.800 And we're going 00:29:03.800 --> 00:29:04.320 to think more 00:29:04.320 --> 00:29:04.880 about this 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:05.900 next week. 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:08.340 that the Lord 00:29:08.340 --> 00:29:09.360 is transforming 00:29:09.360 --> 00:29:10.140 his people 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:11.080 into those 00:29:11.080 --> 00:29:12.280 who increasingly 00:29:12.280 --> 00:29:13.700 reflect something 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:15.140 of his character 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.519 to the watching 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.000 world. 00:29:17.780 --> 00:29:18.720 And in this 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.000 case, 00:29:19.060 --> 00:29:19.660 what is that 00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:20.080 truth? 00:29:20.840 --> 00:29:21.720 It is his 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.040 truthfulness and 00:29:23.040 --> 00:29:23.740 faithfulness. 00:29:24.820 --> 00:29:25.220 Do you see how 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:26.000 that changes 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.780 any little 00:29:26.780 --> 00:29:27.900 lies, 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.880 little exaggerations 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:30.240 we are tempted 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.019 to tell, 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.140 ways that we're 00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:33.080 tempted to promise 00:29:33.080 --> 00:29:33.400 things, 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.019 and all 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.519 these things, 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:35.880 we can glorify 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.880 God in those 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:37.720 smallest of 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.180 moments. 00:29:40.040 --> 00:29:40.900 The call here 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.360 is to make 00:29:41.360 --> 00:29:41.740 your words 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.200 matter. 00:29:44.800 --> 00:29:45.480 And we can 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:45.880 build our 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.380 lives there 00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:46.800 on who the 00:29:46.800 --> 00:29:47.360 Lord is. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.220 You know, 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.680 just as we 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:49.940 close, 00:29:50.040 --> 00:29:50.540 I've got my 00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:52.320 grand's funeral 00:29:52.320 --> 00:29:52.880 on Wednesday 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.460 next week. 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:53.900 You can pray 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.360 for us with 00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:54.860 that funeral. 00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:56.040 She was 95 00:29:56.040 --> 00:29:56.680 when she 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.080 died. 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:58.540 Suffered 00:29:58.540 --> 00:29:59.160 from vascular 00:29:59.160 --> 00:29:59.780 dementia the 00:29:59.780 --> 00:30:00.920 last season 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.980 of her life. 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.299 got a 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:03.500 funeral 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:03.940 Wednesday. 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:05.220 And my 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:05.860 dad this 00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:06.259 week, 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:06.980 or the 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.319 tail end 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:07.660 of last 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:07.920 week, 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:09.559 was cleaning 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:09.980 out her 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.380 flat, 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:11.980 thinking what 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.180 on earth 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:12.440 are we going 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:12.940 to do for 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.360 the funeral? 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:13.839 And as it 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.299 turns out, 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:14.660 a lot of 00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.980 people like 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.400 her in that 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:16.980 generation, 00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:17.640 she'd written 00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.259 the funeral 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.920 plan before 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:19.539 she died, 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.140 but she 00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:21.519 didn't just 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.539 write it a 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:24.019 week or 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.620 even a month 00:30:24.620 --> 00:30:25.140 before she 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.380 died. 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:25.920 She wrote 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.500 this thing 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.839 12 years 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.299 before she 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:28.599 died. 00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.120 And she 00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:30.579 was still 00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:31.519 fit as a 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:31.799 fiddle. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.079 And he 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:33.360 sent us 00:30:33.360 --> 00:30:33.880 a screenshot 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.480 of it, 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.720 and she's 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.160 written this, 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:36.480 she was like, 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:36.839 I would love 00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.440 to use this 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.279 funeral director. 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.019 The funeral 00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.660 director is not 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.279 going anymore, 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:40.880 right? 00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:42.180 I would love 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:43.059 to use this 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.640 minister, 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.500 my minister. 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.559 I had to 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:45.880 drag the 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:46.140 guy who 00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:46.519 retired 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.319 late 80s 00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:47.620 to come 00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:47.819 and do 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.200 the funeral. 00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:48.519 It's fine, 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:48.759 so we're 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.079 having a 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.400 joke about 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:49.779 the things 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.140 in this 00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:50.400 that have 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:50.700 totally 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:51.299 changed. 00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:53.720 But then 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.039 we start 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.380 reading, 00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:57.200 I want 00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.620 these 00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:58.059 readings, 00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:58.179 things, 00:30:58.879 --> 00:31:01.200 and I 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:01.559 want these 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.059 hymns, 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.419 and these 00:31:04.419 --> 00:31:04.679 to be 00:31:04.679 --> 00:31:05.139 themes that 00:31:05.139 --> 00:31:05.399 come out 00:31:05.399 --> 00:31:05.619 of my 00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:05.940 funeral, 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.460 and all 00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:06.659 of a sudden 00:31:06.659 --> 00:31:07.099 you're laughing 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.379 at the 00:31:07.379 --> 00:31:07.799 things that 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:08.859 change, 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:10.559 but the 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.139 whole thing 00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:11.460 is built 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:11.879 upon the 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:12.259 things that 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:12.579 don't 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:13.079 change. 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.919 The whole 00:31:14.919 --> 00:31:15.220 thing, 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:15.639 our whole 00:31:15.639 --> 00:31:16.059 life is 00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:16.339 built on 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:16.720 the fact 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.000 that the 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.500 Lord is 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:19.039 truthful, 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.379 he's 00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:21.019 faithful, 00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.279 and we 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:22.879 can stake 00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:23.679 everything. 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.640 It doesn't 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.000 matter how 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.539 long in 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.100 advance you 00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:26.320 want to 00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:26.740 plan the 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.100 end, 00:31:27.320 --> 00:31:27.680 the Lord 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.000 is saying 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.539 the end 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.080 is written, 00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.440 it's done, 00:31:31.320 --> 00:31:31.920 it's sealed, 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.720 and you 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.060 can live 00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:34.380 your life 00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:34.860 backwards. 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.220 So it 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:36.360 doesn't 00:31:36.360 --> 00:31:36.700 matter how 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.140 much of a 00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:37.680 running you 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:38.060 have to 00:31:38.060 --> 00:31:38.400 the end, 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.740 how many 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.519 days, 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.019 hours, 00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:40.360 weeks, 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:40.820 months we 00:31:40.820 --> 00:31:41.240 have left 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:41.519 on this 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:41.799 planet, 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.340 by God's 00:31:42.340 --> 00:31:42.580 grace, 00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:43.180 you can 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.580 stake it 00:31:43.580 --> 00:31:43.900 all in 00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:44.440 the fact 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:45.799 that I 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.340 am truthful 00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:46.700 and not 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:46.940 going to 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.440 change. 00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:48.500 So do 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:48.620 you see 00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:49.200 how that, 00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.100 knowing that, 00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:50.580 knowing who 00:31:50.580 --> 00:31:51.100 the Lord 00:31:51.100 --> 00:31:51.320 is, 00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:52.240 it impacts 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:53.019 friends. 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:53.940 Our 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.400 words. 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.240 It impacts 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:56.720 our words. 00:31:56.840 --> 00:31:57.980 Here's the 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.299 words of 00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.779 Isaac Watts, 00:32:00.060 --> 00:32:00.420 and I love 00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:00.960 this quote, 00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:01.240 and we'll 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.539 end with 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:01.860 this. 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:03.620 I believe 00:32:03.620 --> 00:32:04.360 the promises 00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:04.820 of God 00:32:04.820 --> 00:32:06.299 enough to 00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:07.880 venture an 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:09.820 eternity on 00:32:09.820 --> 00:32:10.019 them. 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.039 Let me 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:11.320 pray. 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:15.279 And so 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:15.460 Father, 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.000 we pray 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.840 today for 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:17.500 just a 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.900 greater view 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:19.940 of you. 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:22.600 thank you 00:32:22.600 --> 00:32:22.840 that you 00:32:22.840 --> 00:32:23.220 have not 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.519 left 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:23.920 yourself 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:24.259 without 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:24.920 witness. 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.580 Thank you 00:32:26.580 --> 00:32:26.759 that we 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.039 can look 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.400 around, 00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:27.880 we can 00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.320 see, 00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:28.600 and we'll 00:32:28.600 --> 00:32:28.820 think a 00:32:28.820 --> 00:32:29.080 bit more 00:32:29.080 --> 00:32:29.380 about this 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:29.840 next week, 00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:30.160 we can 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:30.860 see your 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:31.220 goodness 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:31.500 in 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.100 creation, 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.220 we can 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:33.620 see your 00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:34.440 power in 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.000 creation, 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.220 we can 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.200 turn, 00:32:37.320 --> 00:32:37.440 though, 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:37.740 to the 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.140 pages of 00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:38.500 the Bible, 00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:38.860 we can 00:32:38.860 --> 00:32:39.279 see your 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:39.740 plan, 00:32:39.840 --> 00:32:39.960 your 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.420 purposes, 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:40.960 your 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.420 track 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:41.920 record, 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.200 and we 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.559 can look 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:43.160 at Christ 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:43.539 and see 00:32:43.539 --> 00:32:44.039 perfectly 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.580 who you 00:32:44.580 --> 00:32:44.960 are. 00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:45.559 Father, 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.140 thank you 00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.360 that you 00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:46.680 have not 00:32:46.680 --> 00:32:46.920 left 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.279 yourself 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:47.539 without 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.019 witness. 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:49.759 And we 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:50.039 pray, 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.319 Lord, 00:32:50.379 --> 00:32:50.559 that we 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.059 would leave 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.859 here today 00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.920 having 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.960 increased in 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.460 our knowledge 00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:54.879 of who 00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.539 you are, 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:57.200 and may 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.940 you in 00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:58.299 turn, 00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.519 continually, 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:00.420 day by 00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:00.660 day, 00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.160 moment by 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:01.500 moment, 00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.119 and word 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:02.779 by word, 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:03.759 turn us 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.180 into a 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:04.700 people who 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.359 increasingly 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.839 display your 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.740 truthfulness to 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.200 a watching 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.619 world. 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:09.859 Father, 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.359 we thank 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:10.639 you for 00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.019 your love 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:11.359 for us 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:11.819 this morning, 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:12.759 and I 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.019 pray, 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:13.339 Lord, 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:13.759 for all 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.039 of us, 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:14.240 wherever 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:14.660 this has 00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.019 landed, 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:16.299 that they 00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:16.539 would be 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:17.379 both conviction, 00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.940 and comfort. 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.220 Lord, 00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:20.920 we leave 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.379 here with 00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:21.920 an increased 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:22.619 desire to 00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.000 live for 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.299 you, 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.220 and we 00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:24.639 pray all 00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:24.940 of these 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.599 things in 00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.279 Christ's 00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:27.059 precious name. 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.319 Amen. 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.759 Amen. 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:30.759 Amen. 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.759 Amen. 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:31.759 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:31.759 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:31.759 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:31.759 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:31.759 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:31.759 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:31.759 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:31.759