WEBVTT

00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:05.459
 Today's scripture is found in Isaiah 9, 1-7.

00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:09.740
 Please follow along in your bulletin as we read this passage.

00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:15.900
 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish.

00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:22.660
 In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.

00:00:22.660 --> 00:00:33.039
 But in the latter time, he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:39.120
 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:45.240
 Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

00:00:46.879 --> 00:00:49.120
 You have multiplied the nations.

00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:51.820
 You have increased its joy.

00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:59.859
 They rejoice before you as with the joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

00:01:00.820 --> 00:01:09.599
 For the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:20.640
 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult, and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:24.359
 For to us a child is born.

00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:27.019
 To us a son is given.

00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:29.859
 And the government shall be upon his shoulder.

00:01:29.859 --> 00:01:33.400
 And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor.

00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:35.280
 Mighty God.

00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:37.439
 Everlasting Father.

00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:39.359
 Prince of Peace.

00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:48.060
 Of the increase of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end on the throne of David and over his kingdom.

00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:57.680
 To establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:01.240
 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

00:02:01.720 --> 00:02:03.920
 This is the reading of God's word.

00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:10.219
 Good morning.

00:02:11.620 --> 00:02:12.699
 My name is Eric.

00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:14.879
 If you don't know me, I'm the youth guy here at Watermark.

00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:23.719
 And as you can tell, I'm a guy, which by necessity means that I love all things war-related and battle-related.

00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:27.900
 And movies with guns and knives and swords and explosions are awesome.

00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:32.520
 And so when I was a kid, my friends and I, we would play a game called paintball.

00:02:33.140 --> 00:02:36.280
 If you don't know what paintball is, basically everyone gets a gun.

00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:39.180
 Only instead of shooting real bullets, they shoot little balls of paint.

00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:43.379
 And when you get hit, it feels like you're being punched and then paint splatters on you and you're out.

00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:45.680
 And so this one day we were playing a game.

00:02:45.980 --> 00:02:47.200
 It's called Storm the Castle.

00:02:47.980 --> 00:02:50.360
 A small group of guys gets a little fortress.

00:02:50.540 --> 00:02:52.120
 They have to get down and defend.

00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:56.740
 And the rest of the guys go out somewhere and they don't know where the castle is.

00:02:57.099 --> 00:03:01.259
 And their goal is to get in and take over the castle by shooting everyone who's guarding the castle.

00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.539
 So I was on the team that was attacking the castle.

00:03:05.480 --> 00:03:10.879
 And we're coming up and the guys in the castle had spread themselves out around the castle to try and pick us off as we came.

00:03:11.500 --> 00:03:15.099
 But we stuck together as a group and we ended up taking them out one by one by one.

00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:20.460
 We found the castle and we got there and realized there were only about two guys left inside the castle.

00:03:20.460 --> 00:03:22.560
 And there were about 10 or 15 of us.

00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:23.860
 They had no chance.

00:03:24.939 --> 00:03:27.320
 And so there's this little, short, scrawny kid.

00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:29.480
 He's running in front of our group.

00:03:29.939 --> 00:03:34.879
 He's actually, yeah, he runs in, up, and says, surrender!

00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:38.680
 And the guys in the castle, they're like, we have no chance.

00:03:38.819 --> 00:03:40.500
 We're out. We're done. It's over.

00:03:41.580 --> 00:03:46.439
 But the funny thing is, the kid who ran in there, this little, short, scrawny kid who told him to surrender,

00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:48.260
 actually had no ammo left in his gun.

00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:51.620
 They didn't know that, of course.

00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:56.560
 But if they had turned around, there would have been nothing that he could have done to stop them from shooting him.

00:03:56.939 --> 00:03:58.540
 But they knew they were surrounded.

00:03:58.680 --> 00:03:59.620
 They knew they were outnumbered.

00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:05.020
 They knew even if they got this one kid out, the rest of us were going to be in there in five seconds and they were going to be done.

00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:13.400
 And as we come to today's passage, the nation of Israel is in a similar state to those two guys in that fort.

00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:17.240
 There is a world superpower on its way to take them out.

00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:24.139
 And no matter how hard they try, no matter how hard they fight, they've got no chance.

00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:26.340
 And they recognize this.

00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:29.560
 And they say, what are we going to do?

00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:35.139
 Now, throughout the Old Testament, there's a theme that occurs again and again and again and again.

00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:41.680
 And this theme is, God will fight his battles for the nation of Israel.

00:04:42.579 --> 00:04:45.300
 You see this all the way throughout the Bible.

00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:49.199
 You see Joshua comes into the land, the promised land, to take it over.

00:04:49.479 --> 00:04:53.300
 And he looks at the walls of the city and he says, whoa, we can't take that.

00:04:54.060 --> 00:04:55.519
 And God says, here's what you do.

00:04:55.919 --> 00:04:58.879
 Just walk in circles for a few days around the city.

00:04:59.300 --> 00:05:01.379
 On the seventh day, blow some trumpets.

00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:02.240
 Walls go down.

00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:02.680
 You're good.

00:05:03.400 --> 00:05:06.420
 And sure enough, God fights the battles for Joshua.

00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:08.879
 The nation takes over the promised land.

00:05:10.220 --> 00:05:11.680
 Or there's a man named Gideon.

00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:16.420
 Gideon raises up an army because this country called Midian is oppressing the Israelites.

00:05:17.460 --> 00:05:20.240
 And Gideon raises up the army to go fight against them.

00:05:20.300 --> 00:05:23.180
 And God says, hey, Gideon, you've got too many guys in your army.

00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:24.100
 You need to shrink it down.

00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:30.680
 God shrinks down Gideon's army to a mere 300 men to go up against tens, if not hundreds of thousands.

00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:36.019
 But again, God fights the battles for his people.

00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:39.879
 And Gideon's able to be successful in this battle.

00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:47.740
 Or look at David, young little boy going against a huge nine-foot-tall giant.

00:05:47.740 --> 00:05:51.780
 And oh yeah, he doesn't have any armor.

00:05:51.900 --> 00:05:52.720
 He doesn't have a sword.

00:05:52.939 --> 00:05:54.259
 He has a sling and a few rocks.

00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:55.000
 Woo!

00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:57.220
 But what happens?

00:05:57.460 --> 00:05:58.699
 God fights his battles.

00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:05.040
 And because God is fighting the battles for David, David's able to defeat this giant.

00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:08.400
 And this theme comes up again and again and again.

00:06:08.520 --> 00:06:09.319
 But here's the problem.

00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:10.879
 Israel has stopped worshiping God.

00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:14.160
 Israel has turned away from God.

00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:17.980
 And Israel does not trust God to fight their battle for them.

00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:19.879
 And so what do they do?

00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:23.160
 They turn to the nation to their north, a nation called Syria.

00:06:23.980 --> 00:06:25.860
 And they say, hey, let's get together.

00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:31.200
 Let's combine forces so that when this world superpower comes, we can fight against them together.

00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:35.519
 And Syria says, okay, that sounds like a good plan to us.

00:06:36.219 --> 00:06:40.979
 So Israel and Syria combine forces, but there's a third country they want in their alliance.

00:06:41.420 --> 00:06:42.420
 It's down in the south.

00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:43.079
 It's called Judah.

00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:45.719
 When Israel split off, it became Israel and Judah.

00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:48.060
 And Israel wants Judah in this alliance too.

00:06:48.779 --> 00:06:49.599
 Judah's not interested.

00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:54.019
 So Israel and Syria say, we know how to get Judah on our side.

00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:56.199
 We'll go down there and attack them and take them over.

00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:57.779
 And then they'll be on our side.

00:06:57.779 --> 00:07:02.779
 So Israel and Syria start coming down towards Judah.

00:07:03.919 --> 00:07:05.959
 And they're ready to launch this attack.

00:07:07.059 --> 00:07:12.519
 And Israel says, maybe before we launch this attack, we should find out whether we'll win or lose.

00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:14.919
 Seems reasonable.

00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:16.219
 So what do they do?

00:07:16.259 --> 00:07:17.479
 They turn to fortune tellers.

00:07:18.059 --> 00:07:24.219
 They turn to people who consult with the dead and ask them, are we going to win?

00:07:24.419 --> 00:07:25.339
 Do we have any chance?

00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:28.279
 And God's not blind.

00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:29.179
 God's not deaf.

00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:30.919
 He hears what's going on.

00:07:30.979 --> 00:07:32.439
 He sees what's going on.

00:07:32.979 --> 00:07:38.479
 And he steps in and he says to Israel, why are you asking dead people whether you're going to win or lose?

00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:40.000
 Why don't you ask me?

00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:43.399
 And he says, because you've rejected me,

00:07:43.479 --> 00:07:48.319
 you're going to become like these dead people that you're consulting.

00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:51.699
 Your bones are going to be buried next to theirs.

00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:53.159
 You're going to be destroyed.

00:07:53.779 --> 00:07:57.199
 And sure enough, when Judah saw Israel and Syria coming down to attack,

00:07:57.740 --> 00:08:02.040
 Judah's king went into the temple, took all the gold out of the temple,

00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:04.620
 and sent it to the king of Assyria.

00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:06.279
 Don't get that mixed up with Syria.

00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:08.159
 Who was the world's superpower.

00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:10.560
 And he said, here's a huge gift.

00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:11.819
 Please do me a favor.

00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:13.800
 Go and attack Israel and Syria.

00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:18.900
 And since he had gotten lots of gold, the king of Assyria was happy to help out.

00:08:19.340 --> 00:08:21.439
 And he went in and attacked Israel and Syria,

00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:23.120
 took over the capital of Syria,

00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:25.040
 made Israel his subjects,

00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:26.420
 and they had to pay him every year.

00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:29.540
 And Israel and Syria had to pull out of their attack on Judah

00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:31.220
 and go back to defend their homes.

00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:32.879
 Judah was saved.

00:08:33.060 --> 00:08:35.060
 Israel became servants.

00:08:36.460 --> 00:08:37.680
 And a few years later,

00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:39.940
 made the king of Assyria upset,

00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:41.740
 and the land got wiped out.

00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:44.500
 The land got completely destroyed.

00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.480
 The people who survived were sent off to live in foreign lands.

00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:50.440
 Foreigners were brought in to live in the land of Israel.

00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:54.039
 It was a time of darkness and gloom for the nation,

00:08:54.560 --> 00:08:56.019
 just like God had said it would be.

00:08:57.340 --> 00:08:59.480
 But before this time of darkness came,

00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:03.779
 there was a promise that was made to Israel.

00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:08.440
 A promise that although darkness is coming,

00:09:08.560 --> 00:09:10.200
 it will be followed by light.

00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:14.680
 Although it's as bad as it's going to get,

00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:17.420
 it's not going to stay this way forever.

00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:21.420
 And God gave them this promise,

00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:25.860
 and then the foreign armies came in.

00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:29.740
 And in this passage today,

00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:31.080
 we have this promise.

00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:33.360
 We have the promise that light will come,

00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:35.040
 that Zebulun and Naphtali,

00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:37.500
 those are the places in the north of Israel,

00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:39.780
 the first ones that would have fallen to the invading armies.

00:09:40.640 --> 00:09:41.200
 He says,

00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:41.780
 yeah,

00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:43.640
 they're brought into contempt.

00:09:43.780 --> 00:09:44.600
 They're being destroyed.

00:09:44.800 --> 00:09:45.420
 But one day,

00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:46.420
 I'm going to raise them up again.

00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.500
 I'm going to make them glorious again.

00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:52.320
 And he makes a promise of a king that's going to come,

00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:54.200
 who's going to change the fortunes of the nation.

00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:56.000
 He's going to bring peace.

00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:57.500
 He's going to bring victory.

00:09:57.500 --> 00:10:01.600
 He's going to overthrow the nations that are invading them.

00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:04.500
 When it says in verse 4 of Isaiah 9,

00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:07.779
 the yoke of his burden will be broken.

00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:09.360
 The Assyrians,

00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:10.419
 the nation that came in,

00:10:10.659 --> 00:10:13.019
 literally were known to take a yoke,

00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:16.440
 a thing that held two farm animals together so they could work,

00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:19.860
 and put it on the necks of the people they took captive,

00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:21.840
 and force them to work like animals.

00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:24.539
 And there's a promise.

00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:25.740
 This yoke will be broken.

00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:27.879
 The oppressors will be overthrown.

00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:28.840
 You will be free.

00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:33.700
 But first,

00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:36.220
 there's this time of darkness.

00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:41.200
 And this time of darkness was not a short thing.

00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:45.180
 Israel was waiting for this king,

00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:46.519
 waiting for this salvation.

00:10:47.420 --> 00:10:48.220
 And yet,

00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:50.780
 for the next 600 years or so,

00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:52.680
 they were captive

00:10:52.680 --> 00:10:53.980
 to one nation,

00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:55.540
 after another,

00:10:56.460 --> 00:10:57.259
 after another,

00:10:57.259 --> 00:10:58.939
 after another.

00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:06.679
 About 600 years after this captivity began,

00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:09.240
 they were under the rule of Greece.

00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:13.000
 The Greek ruler came in

00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:15.200
 in an attempt to try and get everyone in Israel

00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:17.460
 to adopt the Greek way of life.

00:11:18.340 --> 00:11:20.360
 He completely defiled the temple,

00:11:21.179 --> 00:11:22.759
 and the Israelites said,

00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:23.519
 that's it.

00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:25.039
 We've had enough.

00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:26.919
 They rose up,

00:11:27.179 --> 00:11:27.879
 started a rebellion,

00:11:28.079 --> 00:11:30.480
 and actually were able to kick the Greeks out of Israel.

00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:32.199
 And a lot of people thought,

00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:32.699
 this is it.

00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:33.559
 The time has come.

00:11:33.819 --> 00:11:35.299
 The nation is being restored.

00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:38.679
 But within 100 years,

00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:40.699
 they were back under the control of the Romans.

00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:43.360
 And this promise still stood.

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:47.500
 But I think people started to doubt.

00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:49.800
 Is it ever going to happen?

00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:52.220
 Is this light ever going to come?

00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:56.240
 And then one night,

00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:57.060
 this baby is born.

00:11:58.820 --> 00:11:59.919
 In a small town,

00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:01.480
 in the middle of nowhere.

00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:03.379
 Seems pretty insignificant.

00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:06.000
 But he grows up.

00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:08.139
 He starts gathering a group of people around himself,

00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:09.240
 teaching them.

00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.960
 He goes around doing miracles,

00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:12.860
 and people start saying,

00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:14.019
 could this be the one?

00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:16.259
 The one we've been waiting for.

00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:18.600
 Even his enemies,

00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:20.480
 who want to disprove him,

00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:21.740
 and say that he's not,

00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:23.100
 have to admit,

00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:24.559
 this guy does so many miracles.

00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:24.980
 Like,

00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:27.399
 there's no way that the guy we're waiting for,

00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.480
 this promised one,

00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:31.580
 will do more miracles than this guy himself does.

00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:35.540
 And there's a hope.

00:12:36.540 --> 00:12:39.500
 This guy brings new teaching about God

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.960
 that makes so much clearer

00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:43.420
 everything they've understood before.

00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:46.620
 And there's this excitement growing,

00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:48.060
 and crowds start coming to him,

00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:49.160
 and start following him.

00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:51.360
 And right as the excitement reaches its peak,

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.600
 he turns to his closest group of friends,

00:12:54.680 --> 00:12:54.960
 and says,

00:12:55.060 --> 00:12:55.180
 hey,

00:12:56.140 --> 00:12:56.720
 by the way,

00:12:56.780 --> 00:12:58.080
 the thing that you expect of me,

00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.560
 you know how you expect me to rise up,

00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:02.920
 and restore our nation to power,

00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:04.300
 and take over as king,

00:13:04.400 --> 00:13:05.180
 and kick out Rome,

00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:06.700
 and take over Caesar's throne,

00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:08.820
 that's not what I'm doing.

00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:12.060
 I'm actually going to die.

00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:16.560
 And this is shocking to his followers.

00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.800
 One of them turns to him,

00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:19.040
 and he says,

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:19.560
 no, no, no,

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.340
 you can't do that.

00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:21.879
 You're the Messiah.

00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:22.639
 You're the promised one.

00:13:22.680 --> 00:13:23.120
 You're the king.

00:13:23.300 --> 00:13:24.400
 You have to save us.

00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:25.600
 You have to overthrow Rome.

00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:28.779
 And Jesus says to him,

00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:29.019
 no,

00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:31.800
 that's not what I'm here for.

00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:34.180
 Another one of his followers

00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:35.680
 feels so betrayed

00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:37.420
 by this news

00:13:37.420 --> 00:13:39.360
 that Jesus is not going to overthrow Rome,

00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:42.500
 that he actually turns to the governing authorities,

00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:43.700
 and says,

00:13:43.800 --> 00:13:43.920
 hey,

00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:45.360
 I'll sell him to you.

00:13:45.540 --> 00:13:47.000
 I know you're out to get him.

00:13:47.540 --> 00:13:48.700
 I know where you can find him.

00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:49.860
 Give me some money.

00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:52.240
 I'll connect you with him.

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:53.220
 You come in.

00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.080
 You arrest him.

00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:54.879
 Done.

00:13:56.560 --> 00:13:57.720
 They felt betrayed.

00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.600
 They felt shocked.

00:13:59.039 --> 00:13:59.860
 They felt sad

00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:02.379
 because they thought

00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:03.480
 this man

00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:05.159
 who we put all of our hope in

00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:07.899
 is not the one

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.680
 that we thought he was.

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.100
 The problem is not

00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:15.019
 that they had wrongly identified him

00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:17.500
 as the one who came to fulfill

00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.840
 these prophecies in Isaiah 9.

00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:21.680
 The problem

00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:25.139
 is that they were looking for Jesus to rule

00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:26.699
 as a king

00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:27.519
 in a different way

00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.479
 than he had come to rule.

00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:32.839
 They looked around

00:14:32.839 --> 00:14:34.939
 and they defined

00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:36.879
 their greatest problem as a nation

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.539
 as being the fact

00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:39.739
 that they were under oppression

00:14:39.739 --> 00:14:40.959
 from a foreign country.

00:14:42.099 --> 00:14:42.779
 Rome is here.

00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:44.339
 Rome causes us problems.

00:14:44.719 --> 00:14:45.659
 Rome needs to be gone.

00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:47.539
 You deal with that.

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.279
 Go for it.

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:48.859
 Have fun.

00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:52.859
 And Jesus looked at them

00:14:52.859 --> 00:14:53.819
 and he said,

00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:54.359
 yeah, Rome,

00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:55.559
 very real,

00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:56.939
 very big problem.

00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:58.919
 But you got a bigger problem.

00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:01.699
 Because, yeah,

00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.679
 Rome is big and powerful,

00:15:02.839 --> 00:15:03.539
 but God is bigger

00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:04.259
 and more powerful.

00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:07.000
 And having Rome

00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:08.019
 as an enemy sucks.

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.319
 Having God

00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:09.799
 as an enemy

00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:10.579
 is worse.

00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:14.639
 And because of our disobedience,

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.920
 we've made ourselves

00:15:16.920 --> 00:15:18.120
 enemies of God.

00:15:19.280 --> 00:15:20.540
 And I can fix the problem

00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:20.980
 with Rome,

00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.720
 but that's not going to fix

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.460
 the problem with God.

00:15:23.560 --> 00:15:24.139
 So before

00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:25.700
 we deal with Rome,

00:15:26.040 --> 00:15:27.040
 let's deal with God.

00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:29.040
 You know,

00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:29.800
 the nation

00:15:29.800 --> 00:15:31.240
 looked at this passage

00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.060
 in Isaiah 9

00:15:32.060 --> 00:15:33.460
 and they had

00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.620
 amazing expectations

00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.920
 of what Jesus would do.

00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.599
 they looked at

00:15:38.599 --> 00:15:39.779
 the promise

00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:40.419
 that the land

00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:41.240
 that walked in darkness

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.099
 would see a great light

00:15:42.099 --> 00:15:42.679
 and they were like,

00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:43.099
 oh,

00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:45.099
 the land went into darkness

00:15:45.099 --> 00:15:45.719
 when we were taken

00:15:45.719 --> 00:15:46.339
 into captivity.

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:46.879
 The light

00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.779
 must mean

00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.439
 that we'll be free.

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:51.839
 They looked

00:15:51.839 --> 00:15:54.019
 at the promise

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:54.459
 that he would

00:15:54.459 --> 00:15:55.279
 multiply the nation

00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.339
 and increase the joy.

00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.759
 They would rejoice

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.740
 and they'd be glad

00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:01.059
 and divide the spoil.

00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:01.500
 They were like,

00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:01.740
 well,

00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:02.699
 when we were slaves

00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:03.219
 in Egypt

00:16:03.219 --> 00:16:04.240
 and we left there,

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.399
 they gave us lots of gold

00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.159
 as we left.

00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:09.399
 I guess when we overthrow Rome,

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.580
 we'll take all their treasures

00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.120
 to us.

00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:13.480
 They're getting pretty excited.

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:16.139
 They look at the promise

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:18.919
 that the battle supplies,

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:20.220
 the garments rolled in blood

00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:20.779
 would be burned

00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.740
 as fuel for the fire.

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:22.840
 They said,

00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.259
 that means

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.220
 if we don't need

00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:25.419
 this equipment for battle,

00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:26.840
 peace is coming.

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.539
 They looked at the promise

00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:31.519
 of the child

00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.139
 that would be born,

00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:33.060
 the son that would be given

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:34.180
 and would have the government

00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:35.039
 upon his shoulders

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:35.439
 and they said,

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.919
 that's the royal robes.

00:16:37.199 --> 00:16:38.659
 He'll be wearing them

00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:40.279
 because he will be a king.

00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:44.139
 He'll be a wonderful counselor.

00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:47.179
 They would have looked at that

00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:48.039
 and seen that he would be

00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:50.219
 a wise military strategist.

00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:53.719
 He will be mighty God.

00:16:55.099 --> 00:16:55.459
 Apparently,

00:16:55.599 --> 00:16:57.339
 this term had connotations

00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:58.799
 of like superhuman strength

00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.139
 in battle.

00:16:59.240 --> 00:16:59.799
 They expected him

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.519
 to be like Thor.

00:17:00.859 --> 00:17:01.659
 Come in with your hammer

00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.500
 and bam!

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.619
 It's over.

00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.119
 All the enemies are defeated

00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:06.740
 right there.

00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:09.339
 This superhuman might

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:10.460
 that could just destroy

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.920
 everything and everyone

00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:13.440
 that stood in the path

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.579
 of them as a nation

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.220
 being restored.

00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:17.279
 They looked at the promise

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:17.839
 that he would be

00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.899
 the everlasting father.

00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.359
 They thought,

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.599
 he'll be here.

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.579
 He will reign forever

00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:23.859
 and he will care for us

00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:24.700
 and he will be good

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:26.100
 and he will be

00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:27.019
 a prince of peace.

00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:29.420
 Our nation won't be

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:31.740
 filled with war

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.640
 and violence.

00:17:32.840 --> 00:17:33.600
 We'll have peace,

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.279
 finally,

00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:35.799
 after all these hundreds

00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:37.180
 of years of war

00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:37.980
 and captivity

00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:39.180
 and violence.

00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:42.160
 Of his increase

00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:42.720
 in his government,

00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:43.920
 there will be no end.

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:45.880
 On the throne of David

00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.779
 and over his kingdom,

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.059
 now David was Israel's

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:50.480
 greatest king historically

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.360
 and they're saying

00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:51.880
 he's going to be

00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:52.539
 just like David.

00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.279
 He's going to be

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.559
 like our greatest king.

00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:55.639
 He's going to restore

00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:56.139
 the greatness

00:17:56.139 --> 00:17:57.460
 that we once had

00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:58.279
 as a nation

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.960
 and he'll establish

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:01.200
 justice and righteousness

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.240
 from this time forth

00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.339
 and forevermore.

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.940
 He's going to bring it,

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:06.799
 it's going to be good

00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:08.379
 and it's going to last forever.

00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:10.720
 It will be rejoicing forever.

00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:14.279
 And they identified this

00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:15.660
 as their hope

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:17.599
 and they looked for this

00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.859
 from Jesus.

00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:22.160
 But as Jesus came,

00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:25.300
 he saw a different problem.

00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.440
 He says,

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.480
 you're walking in darkness

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:31.140
 because you don't know God.

00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.880
 And the light that you need

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:36.019
 is a proper understanding

00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:36.880
 of who God is

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:38.600
 and I'm here as God

00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:39.759
 to show that to you.

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:42.860
 He said,

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.019
 yeah,

00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:45.200
 if we divide the spoil of Rome,

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.160
 if we overthrow them

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.100
 and take all their treasures,

00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:48.100
 that'll be great.

00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:49.919
 But eventually,

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:51.480
 those treasures will run out

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:53.279
 or eventually we'll die

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:53.740
 and won't be able

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.459
 to use them anymore.

00:18:54.659 --> 00:18:55.459
 We need treasures

00:18:55.459 --> 00:18:56.659
 that will last longer

00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:57.439
 than that.

00:18:59.719 --> 00:19:00.359
 He said,

00:19:00.399 --> 00:19:00.519
 yeah,

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.740
 we can be free

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.859
 from the oppression of Rome.

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.839
 We can be free

00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:05.339
 from this yoke

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.259
 that is on us.

00:19:07.439 --> 00:19:08.559
 But that doesn't free us

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.459
 from our greatest enemy,

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:10.939
 from death,

00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:12.240
 from the sin

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:13.459
 that alienates us from God.

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:16.799
 And when he looks

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:17.440
 at the passage

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.720
 about the government

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.519
 being on his shoulder,

00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:20.160
 he knows

00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:22.079
 that's not referring

00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:22.920
 right now

00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:25.279
 to a kingly robe.

00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:27.299
 It's referring to the cross.

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.240
 It's not the glory

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:29.740
 of the government

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.980
 that awaits him right now.

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.259
 It's the wrath

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:32.740
 of the government.

00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.380
 The nation was correct

00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:38.940
 in assuming

00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.680
 that the Messiah,

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.640
 the promised one,

00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:41.940
 would come to deal

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:43.500
 with their greatest problem.

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.900
 But they incorrectly

00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:46.860
 identified Rome

00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:48.059
 as their greatest problem.

00:19:50.100 --> 00:19:51.240
 Jesus did come

00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:51.840
 to deal with

00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:52.700
 their greatest problem.

00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:56.960
 But he saw

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.980
 that their greatest problem

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:59.000
 was a broken relationship

00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.580
 with God.

00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.660
 And he came to deal

00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.120
 with that

00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:03.120
 first and foremost.

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:05.880
 See,

00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.779
 they expected

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:08.000
 a traditional king.

00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:09.360
 They expected

00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:10.279
 someone who would come in,

00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:10.779
 who would rule,

00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:11.279
 who would reign.

00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.779
 And Jesus brought

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.319
 what we call

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:14.299
 an inverted kingdom.

00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:16.099
 He didn't start

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:16.480
 at the top

00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.279
 and work his way down.

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.599
 He started

00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:19.079
 in the hearts

00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:19.660
 of individuals.

00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:20.299
 He started

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.299
 in the lives

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.420
 of common people

00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.139
 like you and me

00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:25.759
 and let his kingdom

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.660
 spread from there.

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.240
 And because

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.319
 Israel and Jesus

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.859
 had different understandings

00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:33.960
 of what their greatest need

00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.899
 as a nation was,

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.420
 they ended up

00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:37.259
 rejecting him

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.319
 as their savior

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.379
 and as their king.

00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.900
 even though

00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.780
 he was the one

00:20:41.780 --> 00:20:43.080
 who had been promised.

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:43.480
 Even though

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.260
 he was the one

00:20:44.260 --> 00:20:45.200
 who was coming

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.640
 for them.

00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.540
 But that's them.

00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:50.440
 We're here.

00:20:50.560 --> 00:20:51.580
 We know that

00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:52.820
 Jesus came

00:20:52.820 --> 00:20:53.620
 to die for us

00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.200
 so we don't need

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.920
 to worry about that,

00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:55.140
 right?

00:20:55.260 --> 00:20:55.520
 Like,

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.120
 we're not gonna miss him

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.660
 because we have

00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:58.380
 wrong expectations,

00:20:58.380 --> 00:20:58.820
 are we?

00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:01.220
 Maybe.

00:21:01.820 --> 00:21:02.520
 Maybe we will.

00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:06.299
 I think the problem

00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:06.819
 of confusing

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.700
 our greatest need

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:10.359
 is one that goes

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:11.019
 throughout history.

00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.759
 We can see it

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.639
 in the example

00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:14.200
 of Israel.

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.039
 We can see it

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:16.099
 in ancient Greek mythology,

00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:16.460
 right?

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.460
 You've got King Midas.

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.599
 He's given one wish

00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:20.339
 for anything

00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:21.099
 that he wants.

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.019
 What does he ask for?

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.019
 He asks,

00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.799
 anything that I touch,

00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:29.039
 let it be turned

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.500
 into gold.

00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:32.799
 If you get one wish,

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.759
 you think to yourself,

00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:35.019
 what is my greatest problem?

00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.440
 What's the one thing

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.519
 that would fix that problem?

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:39.160
 I'm asking for that.

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.559
 When Midas is asked,

00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:43.000
 what's your one wish?

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.660
 He thinks to himself,

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.700
 what's my greatest problem?

00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:46.720
 I could use more money,

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.700
 I could use more power,

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.599
 what will fix that?

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.839
 Everything I touch

00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.640
 turns into gold.

00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:51.420
 Boom.

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.140
 Gold.

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.079
 But what happens to him?

00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.200
 He starts to try to eat

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.099
 and all this food

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.819
 turns into gold.

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.119
 He realizes,

00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:58.619
 oh no,

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.460
 now I have a bigger

00:21:59.460 --> 00:21:59.900
 problem.

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:02.059
 He tries to hug his daughter

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:03.160
 and she turns into gold.

00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.420
 Uh-oh.

00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:07.140
 He goes back

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.240
 to the Greek God

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.319
 who he had made

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:09.900
 the wish from

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:10.539
 and he says,

00:22:10.620 --> 00:22:10.860
 please,

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.380
 let me undo that one.

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.559
 And the Greek God

00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.039
 says, okay.

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.960
 And Midas is allowed

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.259
 to reverse that wish.

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.180
 But look what happens.

00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:22.240
 Midas confuses

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.720
 his greatest need

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:26.460
 and when he gets

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.180
 what he thinks

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.220
 is his greatest need

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.059
 taken care of,

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.419
 it creates bigger

00:22:30.419 --> 00:22:31.539
 problems for him.

00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.639
 Because he wrongly

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:35.259
 identified his greatest need,

00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.700
 receiving his greatest desire

00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.799
 didn't satisfy him,

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.480
 it left him in despair.

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.599
 And it's the same for us.

00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:44.399
 when we wrongly identify

00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:46.000
 our greatest needs in life.

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.439
 Receiving what we think

00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:49.359
 is our greatest need

00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:51.019
 doesn't satisfy us.

00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.659
 It leads us to despair.

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.759
 And I think for people

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.199
 in this room,

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.119
 we have a lot of different

00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:58.079
 definitions we would give

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:59.119
 of what is

00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:00.379
 our greatest need.

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.939
 For some of us,

00:23:02.939 --> 00:23:04.319
 I just need my kids

00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:04.939
 to obey.

00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:07.399
 If my kids would obey,

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.939
 life would be happy.

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:10.980
 For some of us,

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.820
 we just want to be happy.

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.160
 You know,

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.160
 as long as I'm happy,

00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.920
 everything can go wrong

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.340
 in life,

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.660
 but at the end of the day,

00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:18.500
 it's all good.

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.220
 For some of us,

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.019
 we want security.

00:23:21.820 --> 00:23:21.980
 You know,

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.900
 as long as I have

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:23.920
 my millions in the bank,

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.640
 I can lose my job

00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.100
 and it's okay

00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.720
 because I can still

00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.380
 support myself.

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.460
 For some of us,

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.340
 we just want this feeling

00:23:31.340 --> 00:23:33.140
 of peace inside us.

00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:35.640
 For some of us,

00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:36.840
 we just want to be able

00:23:36.840 --> 00:23:37.640
 to go to bed at night

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.940
 and know that we are

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.660
 good people.

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.960
 And no matter what

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.140
 wrong stuff happens

00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:43.640
 in the world,

00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:44.720
 I can sleep well

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.160
 because I know

00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.620
 that I did the right thing.

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.980
 And as we look

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.480
 at these things,

00:23:50.560 --> 00:23:51.420
 we identify them

00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:52.720
 as our greatest needs.

00:23:52.780 --> 00:23:53.820
 And while all of these things

00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:55.160
 are good things,

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.780
 when we identify them

00:23:57.780 --> 00:23:58.680
 as our greatest need,

00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:00.020
 it creates problems.

00:24:00.780 --> 00:24:02.140
 When we wrongly identify

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:03.120
 our greatest need,

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.420
 it leads to despair

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.080
 because either

00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:06.560
 we get that thing

00:24:06.560 --> 00:24:07.000
 that we think

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.800
 is our greatest need

00:24:07.800 --> 00:24:09.280
 and realize that

00:24:09.280 --> 00:24:10.540
 it can't really satisfy us

00:24:10.540 --> 00:24:11.320
 like we thought it could.

00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:14.360
 Or we beg and plead

00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:14.820
 with God,

00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:15.940
 please give this to me

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.740
 and we don't get it

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.800
 and we think that God

00:24:17.800 --> 00:24:19.060
 is weak or withholding

00:24:19.060 --> 00:24:19.540
 from us.

00:24:20.580 --> 00:24:21.540
 So whether we get

00:24:21.540 --> 00:24:22.020
 what we want

00:24:22.020 --> 00:24:22.840
 or we don't get it,

00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:23.940
 we end up in despair

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:25.480
 because either

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.259
 we have what we want

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.060
 and we're not satisfied

00:24:27.060 --> 00:24:28.040
 or we don't have it

00:24:28.040 --> 00:24:28.860
 and we blame God.

00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:32.080
 And if we take

00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:33.120
 a passage like this one

00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:33.879
 in Isaiah 9

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:36.039
 and approach it

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.099
 with a wrong understanding

00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:38.019
 of what our need is,

00:24:38.479 --> 00:24:40.459
 it's not going to give us hope.

00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.299
 It's going to make us confused.

00:24:42.419 --> 00:24:43.479
 It's going to make us angry.

00:24:44.659 --> 00:24:44.779
 Right?

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.099
 We look,

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.019
 he's going to be

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.879
 the wonderful counselor.

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.219
 Yeah.

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.059
 Well, why don't you fix me?

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:51.019
 Come on, God.

00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:52.379
 If you're this wonderful counselor,

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.899
 why don't you fix my problems?

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.459
 You're the mighty God.

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.439
 Why aren't you dealing

00:24:58.439 --> 00:24:59.319
 with this stuff in my life?

00:24:59.399 --> 00:25:00.679
 Why can't I find

00:25:00.679 --> 00:25:01.220
 the contentment

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.179
 in the things that I want?

00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.419
 Are you really that mighty?

00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.379
 Is it all just a big joke?

00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.819
 Are you actually pretty weak

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.700
 and you're just afraid

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.319
 to tell us?

00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.899
 You look at things

00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:16.019
 like everlasting father.

00:25:18.659 --> 00:25:19.579
 I mean, for me,

00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:22.319
 if I go based on feelings,

00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:23.980
 a lot of times

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.799
 it feels more like

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.659
 I'm an orphan of God

00:25:25.659 --> 00:25:26.379
 than a son of God.

00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:28.880
 And in those times,

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:30.000
 I look at a passage like this,

00:25:30.020 --> 00:25:30.280
 I'm like,

00:25:30.340 --> 00:25:31.940
 Everlasting Father,

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:32.900
 what is this?

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.820
 Why aren't you there?

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.800
 Why don't I feel you?

00:25:37.760 --> 00:25:38.900
 I look at the example

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.800
 that my earthly father

00:25:39.800 --> 00:25:40.240
 has given

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.760
 of taking care of me

00:25:41.760 --> 00:25:42.880
 and being there for me

00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:43.600
 when I need him.

00:25:44.040 --> 00:25:44.400
 And I say,

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:44.660
 God,

00:25:44.800 --> 00:25:47.000
 I can see my earthly father.

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.520
 He's there when I need him.

00:25:48.580 --> 00:25:49.660
 He takes care of stuff

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.400
 if he's able to.

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.480
 Where are you

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.300
 during this time?

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:55.859
 And then I look at this promise

00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.919
 that he's the prince of peace

00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.240
 and I'm like,

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.159
 why am I so anxious?

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.599
 Why am I so restless?

00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:03.500
 Where's this peace

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.139
 that you're promising?

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.379
 In the darkest moments,

00:26:07.419 --> 00:26:08.339
 I even start to question

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.480
 is peace even possible

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.399
 in such a messed up

00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:11.079
 and broken world?

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.359
 I'm guessing

00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:14.419
 that I'm not the only one

00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:15.700
 who ever feels this way.

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.139
 I'm guessing

00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:17.919
 I'm not the only one

00:26:17.919 --> 00:26:18.419
 who ever looks

00:26:18.419 --> 00:26:19.339
 at a passage like this

00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:19.700
 and says,

00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:21.400
 I see these amazing promises

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.220
 but where are they

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:22.880
 in my life?

00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.420
 I think it's a pretty

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.340
 common thing actually.

00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.860
 And as I look at the passage

00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.680
 like this

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.259
 in this way,

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:35.600
 I realize that my problem

00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:36.819
 is the same problem

00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.759
 as Israel, right?

00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.819
 Israel in Jesus' day

00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:40.080
 wanted Rome gone

00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:42.500
 instead of wanting

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.600
 to deal with their biggest problem

00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:44.360
 in their life.

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.900
 I look at these things

00:26:46.900 --> 00:26:48.559
 like having peace inside

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.640
 or feeling good

00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.540
 about my relationship

00:26:50.540 --> 00:26:51.100
 with God,

00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.300
 having warm fuzzy feelings

00:26:52.300 --> 00:26:52.880
 in my heart

00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.700
 and I say,

00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:55.060
 those are my Rome's.

00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:55.960
 I want them gone.

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.240
 I don't want to deal

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.140
 with the deeper stuff.

00:27:00.800 --> 00:27:01.720
 But God looks at me

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.040
 and he says,

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.500
 no Eric,

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.580
 I love you.

00:27:05.300 --> 00:27:06.640
 I'm not going to deal

00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.740
 with these secondary issues

00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.280
 until we've dealt

00:27:08.280 --> 00:27:09.980
 with the primary stuff first.

00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.400
 And as we look

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.100
 at this passage,

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.560
 when God starts

00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:16.660
 to deal with the problems

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.220
 of the nation

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.200
 and of us,

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:20.000
 at the start

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.740
 of the solution,

00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.720
 it's in verse 6.

00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.100
 It says,

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.579
 to us,

00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.700
 a child is born.

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.220
 To us,

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.160
 a son is given.

00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:27.620
 There's a baby.

00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.360
 It's a simple thing.

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.039
 Babies are born every day.

00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:34.420
 There's something special

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.079
 about this one.

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:39.039
 A child is born.

00:27:39.159 --> 00:27:39.819
 A son is given.

00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:41.000
 And like Paul Tripp

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.740
 said last week,

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:42.919
 you know,

00:27:42.939 --> 00:27:43.579
 we can look at this

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.679
 and see that a child is born.

00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.919
 We can see that a son is given.

00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:46.879
 But there's a couple

00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.699
 important words

00:27:47.699 --> 00:27:48.319
 that we miss

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.199
 if we say that.

00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:51.059
 Because if you look

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.480
 at the verse,

00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:51.839
 it says,

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.460
 to us,

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.980
 a child is born.

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.659
 To us,

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.939
 a son is given.

00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:00.359
 This baby that was born

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:02.279
 was born for us.

00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.299
 He wasn't just sent

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:04.000
 into the world

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.779
 to deal with an abstract problem.

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.399
 He was sent to us.

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.759
 He was sent for us.

00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:10.160
 God knows that the problem

00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.500
 starts in our hearts.

00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:13.039
 So he sent a savior

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:14.940
 that could deal with our sin.

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:17.299
 God knows that our problem

00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:18.980
 is an intensely personal

00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:20.420
 problem of sin.

00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:21.299
 And so he sends

00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:23.279
 an intensely personal savior

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.180
 for that,

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.139
 for us.

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.420
 God knows that the things

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.379
 that I struggle with

00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.819
 are not just abstract

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:31.279
 sins out there.

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.460
 He knows that there are sins

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:32.980
 in me.

00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.599
 And so he sends

00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:36.200
 a savior for me.

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:40.319
 God knows that the problems

00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:40.899
 in the world

00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:42.200
 that bother us

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.399
 aren't just problems

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:44.579
 out there abstract.

00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:48.440
 They're our problems.

00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:50.639
 And so he sends

00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:52.000
 a savior for us.

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.720
 He sends a baby

00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.819
 for us.

00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.539
 Jesus isn't out there

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.559
 as this abstract

00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.559
 wonderful counselor,

00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.519
 as this abstract

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.160
 mighty God,

00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.759
 an abstract everlasting

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.180
 father,

00:29:02.320 --> 00:29:03.779
 an abstract prince of peace.

00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:05.500
 He sent for us

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:07.380
 and that makes him

00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:09.320
 our wonderful counselor.

00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:11.019
 It makes him

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:13.100
 our mighty God,

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:16.120
 our everlasting father,

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.860
 our prince of peace.

00:29:20.340 --> 00:29:21.960
 And as long as I

00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:23.580
 am focused on myself,

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:25.040
 on my expectations

00:29:25.040 --> 00:29:25.600
 of God,

00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:27.539
 I miss this.

00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:30.179
 The way I finally

00:29:30.179 --> 00:29:30.659
 am freed

00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:31.439
 from these feelings

00:29:31.439 --> 00:29:32.059
 of despair

00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:34.339
 and of feeling lost

00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:35.939
 isn't by continually

00:29:35.939 --> 00:29:36.899
 focusing on me

00:29:36.899 --> 00:29:37.539
 and my need

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.119
 and what I think

00:29:38.119 --> 00:29:39.119
 is wrong in my life,

00:29:39.919 --> 00:29:41.219
 but by turning

00:29:41.219 --> 00:29:43.480
 and looking at God

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.519
 and looking at the ways

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.639
 that he has said

00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:46.299
 he's going to work.

00:29:48.219 --> 00:29:49.240
 As long as the focus

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:49.799
 is on me,

00:29:50.159 --> 00:29:51.500
 I can't see God.

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:53.519
 But when I focus

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.039
 on God,

00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.460
 I'm able to see him.

00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.640
 I'm able to see

00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:57.160
 who I am

00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:57.880
 in light of him.

00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.319
 And it's only

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:01.680
 when I put my focus

00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.119
 on God

00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:02.720
 that I'm able

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.579
 to experience

00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.500
 what he's doing

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.059
 in my life.

00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.740
 Just like Israel,

00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:11.180
 there is a promise,

00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:11.500
 yes,

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.420
 that one day he will come,

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:12.980
 that one day

00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:14.259
 he will literally

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.000
 rule the nations.

00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:16.359
 He will literally

00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:17.200
 bring a kingdom

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:17.980
 and reign of peace.

00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:19.120
 He will literally

00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:20.039
 reign forever

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.480
 and bring joy

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.240
 and glory

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.440
 and it's going

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.319
 to be awesome.

00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:28.019
 But when Jesus

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.700
 first came,

00:30:28.900 --> 00:30:29.779
 when he was first born

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.360
 as this baby,

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:33.140
 he didn't come

00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:34.079
 for royal robes.

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:36.460
 He came for a cross.

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:40.079
 He didn't come

00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:41.099
 to overthrow Rome

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.460
 right then and there.

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:45.720
 He came to deal

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.880
 with bigger problems.

00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.799
 He came to deal

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.339
 with the fact

00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:49.980
 that you and me

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:50.400
 are sinners.

00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.120
 That you and me

00:30:52.120 --> 00:30:53.259
 are separated from God.

00:30:54.339 --> 00:30:55.059
 That you and me

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.980
 have started a rebellion

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.759
 against God

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.559
 in our hearts.

00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:59.460
 And that as long

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.220
 as we are fighting

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.900
 in this rebellion,

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:03.059
 we won't have freedom.

00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.220
 And he came

00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:07.079
 and looked at you and me.

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:08.700
 And he said,

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:08.839
 yeah,

00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:09.900
 you have lots of problems.

00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:13.039
 But this is the big one.

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.160
 This is where it starts.

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:17.240
 I'm going to deal

00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.160
 with this one first.

00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:19.940
 And then we'll deal

00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.540
 with the rest.

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.660
 As he did that,

00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:24.300
 as he came,

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.620
 as the government

00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:26.840
 fell upon his shoulders,

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.140
 as he was hung

00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:29.019
 on the cross,

00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:31.759
 as he bled

00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.400
 and died,

00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.920
 he accomplished

00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:34.440
 a victory

00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.660
 greater than any victory

00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:36.180
 over Rome

00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:37.060
 he could have ever won.

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:41.559
 And as a son

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.659
 was given to us,

00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:45.119
 as he died

00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:45.879
 on that cross,

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:47.000
 as he rose again,

00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:48.559
 we were given proof,

00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:51.000
 tangible proof

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:53.019
 rooted in historical fact

00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:56.179
 that God does love us,

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.839
 that God is for us,

00:31:57.919 --> 00:31:58.440
 that even when

00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.299
 I can't feel it,

00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.000
 that even when

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:01.879
 I read this passage

00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:02.700
 and I think,

00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:03.419
 where are you?

00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.480
 Why can I not feel it?

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.919
 That God's there.

00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:08.000
 That God's for us.

00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:09.179
 That God has shown

00:32:09.179 --> 00:32:09.960
 his love for us

00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.960
 once for all

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.079
 in the cross.

00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.619
 That the blood of Jesus

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.759
 speaks way louder

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.519
 than any feelings

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.819
 in my heart

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.599
 of lostness.

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:23.299
 That when I look

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.619
 and I can't feel him,

00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:27.419
 I know he hasn't

00:32:27.419 --> 00:32:28.039
 abandoned me.

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.480
 I know he hasn't

00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:32.419
 abandoned us.

00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:36.920
 because for us,

00:32:37.320 --> 00:32:39.140
 a child has been born.

00:32:40.820 --> 00:32:41.960
 For us,

00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:44.580
 a son has been given.

00:32:46.060 --> 00:32:46.800
 And he's probably

00:32:46.800 --> 00:32:47.560
 not going to work

00:32:47.560 --> 00:32:48.360
 in the ways

00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:49.200
 that most of us

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.660
 would want him to work.

00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.539
 It's not always

00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.060
 going to be warm

00:32:53.060 --> 00:32:53.460
 and fuzzy.

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:54.600
 At times,

00:32:54.620 --> 00:32:55.380
 it's going to be painful

00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:58.000
 because he's dealing

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.400
 with our deepest issues

00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:00.160
 in our hearts.

00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:02.560
 And at least for me,

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.740
 having to recognize

00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.840
 how messed up I am

00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.840
 so that he can deal

00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:06.940
 with my brokenness

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:08.820
 is never a fun experience.

00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:10.460
 It's never easy.

00:33:10.560 --> 00:33:11.240
 It's never comfortable.

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:14.960
 But it's always good.

00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:19.339
 It always brings life.

00:33:23.400 --> 00:33:24.539
 So back in the day,

00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:26.880
 Israel missed Jesus

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:28.359
 because they were

00:33:28.359 --> 00:33:29.220
 expecting a king

00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.599
 who would work

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.620
 according to their definition.

00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:34.220
 They were expecting

00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:35.960
 a king who would come in

00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:36.900
 and rule

00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.900
 and deal with

00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:38.680
 what they thought

00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:39.819
 was their greatest issues.

00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:43.079
 But they had identified

00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:44.519
 their greatest issues wrongly.

00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:47.160
 And today,

00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.579
 we have this promise

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:50.339
 and we see the fulfillment

00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:51.000
 partially

00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:52.279
 of this promise

00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:53.200
 and we still wait

00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:53.640
 for the day

00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.380
 when Jesus is going

00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:55.019
 to come back

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:56.220
 and he's going to fix

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.799
 everything once for all

00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.259
 fully.

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.740
 But we have

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.599
 the assurance

00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:05.799
 that a baby

00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.640
 has been born,

00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:07.400
 that a son

00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:08.239
 has been born

00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:09.380
 and not just born

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.840
 but born for us.

00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:14.659
 And that he has

00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:15.579
 borne our sin,

00:34:16.399 --> 00:34:17.419
 our sin

00:34:17.419 --> 00:34:18.500
 on his shoulders.

00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.779
 And that he is

00:34:20.779 --> 00:34:23.000
 our wonderful counselor,

00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:25.619
 our mighty God,

00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:28.939
 our everlasting father,

00:34:29.939 --> 00:34:31.679
 our prince of peace.

00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:34.879
 watermark,

00:34:35.299 --> 00:34:37.239
 let's not miss him

00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:38.579
 because we're looking

00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:40.219
 for what we want

00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:41.679
 rather than what he wants

00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:42.139
 for us.

00:34:42.919 --> 00:34:43.539
 Let's pray.

00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:45.940
 Father,

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.599
 we thank you

00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:47.639
 for your word.

00:34:47.759 --> 00:34:48.179
 We thank you

00:34:48.179 --> 00:34:49.000
 for your promises

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:51.039
 and for hope

00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:53.079
 and for this promise

00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:53.759
 that the darkness

00:34:53.759 --> 00:34:54.759
 will not reign forever

00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:56.019
 but that light

00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:56.519
 will shine.

00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:59.440
 we thank you

00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:00.259
 for this baby,

00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:01.360
 for Jesus

00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:02.219
 who was born,

00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:03.639
 who came,

00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:05.380
 who had the government

00:35:05.380 --> 00:35:06.940
 laid upon his shoulders

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:08.559
 and who willingly

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.719
 bore that for us.

00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:12.420
 We pray that

00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:13.519
 as we go throughout

00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:13.940
 our weeks

00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.519
 and lives

00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:16.719
 that we would have

00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:17.759
 a proper understanding

00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.800
 of the work

00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:19.280
 that he's doing

00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:19.840
 in our lives,

00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.480
 that we wouldn't

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.699
 try and fit him

00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:22.739
 into our expectations,

00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:25.000
 but that we would

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.799
 see clearly

00:35:25.799 --> 00:35:26.639
 who you are,

00:35:26.959 --> 00:35:27.519
 what you're doing

00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.079
 through him

00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:30.819
 and rely on him

00:35:30.819 --> 00:35:31.959
 and his work

00:35:31.959 --> 00:35:32.539
 in our lives.

00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:34.959
 Thank you, God.

00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:35.559
 We love you.

00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:36.839
 In Jesus' name.

00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:37.379
 Amen.

00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:40.159
 God has been

00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.939
 taking us

00:35:40.939 --> 00:35:41.839
 on a journey

00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:45.659
 of what it means

00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:46.959
 to connect

00:35:46.959 --> 00:35:48.579
 what we do here

00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.479
 on a Sunday morning.

00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:51.099
 Again,

00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:51.739
 the worship

00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:53.799
 the music,

00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:55.019
 the singing,

00:35:55.319 --> 00:35:55.899
 the sermon,

00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:56.599
 the reading

00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:57.519
 of God's word,

00:35:58.539 --> 00:35:59.459
 connecting that

00:35:59.459 --> 00:36:00.479
 with what we do

00:36:00.479 --> 00:36:01.839
 outside the walls

00:36:01.839 --> 00:36:02.539
 of this room.

00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:04.899
 Some people call it

00:36:04.899 --> 00:36:06.439
 a lifestyle of worship,

00:36:07.019 --> 00:36:07.739
 worship as a way

00:36:07.739 --> 00:36:08.239
 of living.

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:09.979
 And something

00:36:09.979 --> 00:36:10.919
 that struck me

00:36:10.919 --> 00:36:12.279
 that was shared recently,

00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:14.079
 I think it was

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:14.579
 Paul Tripp,

00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:14.899
 he said,

00:36:14.899 --> 00:36:15.259
 worship,

00:36:16.379 --> 00:36:17.379
 in its essence,

00:36:17.659 --> 00:36:19.259
 is finding our identity

00:36:19.259 --> 00:36:20.479
 and being so closely

00:36:20.479 --> 00:36:21.339
 aligned to God

00:36:21.340 --> 00:36:23.680
 that our day-to-day,

00:36:23.780 --> 00:36:24.300
 our breathing,

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:24.880
 our living

00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:25.680
 is all worship

00:36:25.680 --> 00:36:26.180
 to him.

00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:28.420
 It's being so aligned

00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:28.900
 to God

00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:30.620
 that we begin

00:36:30.620 --> 00:36:31.300
 to see

00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:32.720
 how he sees

00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:34.260
 the city of Hong Kong,

00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:35.660
 sees the people

00:36:35.660 --> 00:36:36.500
 around us,

00:36:37.620 --> 00:36:38.260
 that we're not

00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:38.900
 blind

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:40.400
 to the needs,

00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:42.360
 that we can see

00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:44.140
 the social brokenness,

00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:45.059
 we can see

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:46.620
 the children

00:36:46.620 --> 00:36:47.680
 that are hurting,

00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:49.419
 and we can know

00:36:49.419 --> 00:36:50.440
 his heartbeat

00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:51.259
 and his love

00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:52.719
 for all of Hong Kong,

00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:54.259
 no matter how unlovable

00:36:54.259 --> 00:36:55.980
 someone is next to me.

00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:58.699
 And out of our community here,

00:36:58.779 --> 00:37:00.379
 out of Watermark Community Church,

00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:02.539
 we've seen grassroots movements

00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.460
 of people

00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:05.119
 who've heard that

00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:06.259
 resounding call

00:37:06.259 --> 00:37:07.399
 to be an agent

00:37:07.399 --> 00:37:08.579
 of justice and love

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.519
 throughout Hong Kong.

00:37:09.879 --> 00:37:10.859
 And the amazing thing

00:37:10.859 --> 00:37:12.460
 is that even within our church,

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:13.599
 we have ambassadors.

00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:15.199
 You might have seen

00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:16.819
 these maybe 15,

00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:18.799
 20 kids

00:37:18.799 --> 00:37:19.119
 that,

00:37:19.259 --> 00:37:20.159
 to be completely honest,

00:37:20.219 --> 00:37:21.139
 in a church like this

00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:22.179
 sometimes stick out

00:37:22.179 --> 00:37:23.059
 like a sore thumb,

00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.380
 but God doesn't see

00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:25.079
 any sore thumbs.

00:37:25.219 --> 00:37:26.460
 He sees children

00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:27.639
 no matter where

00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:28.099
 they're from.

00:37:28.179 --> 00:37:29.339
 And these 15 or 20 kids,

00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:29.880
 they're from

00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:31.400
 the South Asian community

00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:32.900
 in Hong Kong,

00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:33.900
 more specifically,

00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:35.339
 mainly the Nepali community.

00:37:36.279 --> 00:37:36.559
 They,

00:37:37.900 --> 00:37:38.500
 in Hong Kong,

00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:39.059
 this community

00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:40.139
 has been very much

00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:40.699
 marginalized.

00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:42.400
 They've been subject

00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.700
 to be a lot of

00:37:43.700 --> 00:37:45.619
 disempowerment,

00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:47.200
 just chronic poverty

00:37:47.200 --> 00:37:48.559
 and a cycle of poverty

00:37:48.559 --> 00:37:49.840
 that's really oppressed them.

00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:51.160
 And the amazing thing

00:37:51.160 --> 00:37:52.559
 is that God has placed

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.420
 these lights,

00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:54.340
 these little ambassadors

00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:55.360
 in our community

00:37:55.360 --> 00:37:56.519
 to be a part of

00:37:56.519 --> 00:37:57.340
 Watermark Church

00:37:57.340 --> 00:37:58.920
 and also to show us

00:37:58.920 --> 00:38:00.119
 how amazing God is

00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:01.000
 in doing this work

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:02.260
 throughout Hong Kong.

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:02.980
 So I want to invite

00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:05.139
 Edmund and Alan

00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:06.400
 up here.

00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:09.780
 And Edmund and Alan,

00:38:09.860 --> 00:38:10.519
 they've known each other

00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:10.960
 for a while.

00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:12.800
 Edmund's been serving

00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:13.579
 with a ministry

00:38:13.579 --> 00:38:15.179
 called Inner City Ministries

00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:16.619
 and they serve

00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:18.119
 this specific community group

00:38:18.119 --> 00:38:19.780
 within Hong Kong.

00:38:20.340 --> 00:38:21.340
 And Alan has also,

00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:22.159
 I guess,

00:38:22.199 --> 00:38:23.300
 been a beneficiary of that

00:38:23.300 --> 00:38:24.119
 but now he's also

00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:25.039
 an ambassador of that

00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:25.880
 because he's growing up

00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:26.500
 and he's seen

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.639
 what God's been doing

00:38:27.639 --> 00:38:28.699
 through that.

00:38:29.179 --> 00:38:30.119
 So I don't want

00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:30.920
 to introduce you anymore.

00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:31.400
 I want to let you

00:38:31.400 --> 00:38:31.920
 do the talking.

00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.320
 Okay, buddy?

00:38:33.659 --> 00:38:35.539
 Maybe just tell everyone

00:38:35.539 --> 00:38:36.340
 your name,

00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:36.940
 your full name

00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:37.639
 and how old are you?

00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:40.000
 My name is Alan Grung

00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:41.579
 and I'm 13 years old.

00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:43.179
 So Alan,

00:38:43.259 --> 00:38:44.059
 how long have I

00:38:44.059 --> 00:38:44.719
 known you for?

00:38:45.359 --> 00:38:46.739
 For almost four years.

00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:47.859
 Okay,

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:49.139
 and can you tell me

00:38:49.139 --> 00:38:50.159
 a little bit about

00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:51.719
 how you were like

00:38:51.719 --> 00:38:52.900
 when we first met you?

00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:55.359
 I used to be very naughty

00:38:55.359 --> 00:38:56.219
 and selfish.

00:38:57.039 --> 00:38:58.299
 I used to get caught

00:38:58.299 --> 00:38:58.980
 by the police

00:38:58.980 --> 00:39:00.920
 three or four times.

00:39:01.639 --> 00:39:02.379
 You got caught

00:39:02.379 --> 00:39:02.940
 by the police

00:39:02.940 --> 00:39:03.699
 three or four times.

00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:05.359
 How old were you?

00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:07.399
 Around eight or seven.

00:39:07.939 --> 00:39:08.719
 Seven or eight, right?

00:39:08.799 --> 00:39:08.939
 Yeah.

00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:09.179
 Okay,

00:39:09.279 --> 00:39:09.960
 and why did you get

00:39:09.960 --> 00:39:10.679
 caught by the police?

00:39:11.279 --> 00:39:12.399
 Fighting with others,

00:39:13.059 --> 00:39:14.259
 playing BB gun fights,

00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:15.419
 playing water balloon

00:39:15.419 --> 00:39:15.939
 when the city got

00:39:15.939 --> 00:39:16.500
 to not to play.

00:39:18.199 --> 00:39:19.819
 And can you tell me

00:39:19.819 --> 00:39:20.500
 how do you feel

00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:21.299
 when you got caught

00:39:21.299 --> 00:39:21.879
 by the police

00:39:21.879 --> 00:39:22.779
 at such a young age?

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.460
 I didn't care.

00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:25.719
 I just wanted

00:39:25.719 --> 00:39:26.379
 to have fun.

00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:26.839
 That's it.

00:39:27.919 --> 00:39:29.779
 And how late

00:39:29.779 --> 00:39:30.399
 would you stay out?

00:39:30.439 --> 00:39:31.099
 I remember you stayed

00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:31.960
 out really late, right?

00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:32.299
 Yeah,

00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:33.660
 until three or four a.m.

00:39:34.140 --> 00:39:35.039
 So this is three

00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:35.820
 or four a.m.

00:39:35.820 --> 00:39:36.620
 when you were eight?

00:39:37.240 --> 00:39:37.600
 Yes.

00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:38.140
 Okay.

00:39:39.240 --> 00:39:40.160
 How did you come

00:39:40.160 --> 00:39:41.200
 to know about ICM?

00:39:41.760 --> 00:39:43.200
 I started knowing

00:39:43.200 --> 00:39:44.640
 Caroline and others

00:39:44.640 --> 00:39:45.500
 by my sister

00:39:45.500 --> 00:39:46.280
 because she knows

00:39:46.280 --> 00:39:47.440
 about Caroline and ICM

00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.580
 more better than me.

00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:49.960
 She started to know

00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:50.920
 Caroline and ICM

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:52.060
 since she was really young.

00:39:52.460 --> 00:39:53.200
 So she taught me

00:39:53.200 --> 00:39:53.860
 how to go there

00:39:53.860 --> 00:39:54.560
 and know Caroline.

00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:56.320
 And can you tell me

00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:57.400
 more about Caroline and I?

00:39:58.900 --> 00:39:59.220
 Caroline,

00:39:59.500 --> 00:40:00.740
 she cares about us

00:40:00.740 --> 00:40:01.700
 and loves us.

00:40:01.699 --> 00:40:02.579
 And then sometimes

00:40:02.579 --> 00:40:03.759
 he gives some kind of

00:40:03.759 --> 00:40:05.239
 cards to hand in to others

00:40:05.239 --> 00:40:06.460
 to know about God

00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:08.899
 so they can come

00:40:08.899 --> 00:40:10.119
 in ICM with us.

00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:11.899
 And sometimes

00:40:11.899 --> 00:40:13.099
 he cooks for us also.

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:15.039
 Cooks for us also

00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:15.980
 so when we don't have

00:40:15.980 --> 00:40:16.679
 enough parking money

00:40:16.679 --> 00:40:17.519
 or when we're hungry.

00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:18.399
 Okay.

00:40:18.739 --> 00:40:20.779
 And you still go to ICM

00:40:20.779 --> 00:40:21.659
 a lot right now, right?

00:40:21.899 --> 00:40:22.319
 Yes.

00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:22.699
 Why?

00:40:23.419 --> 00:40:24.759
 Because it's the safest place

00:40:24.759 --> 00:40:25.179
 I know.

00:40:25.619 --> 00:40:26.259
 There's so many friends

00:40:26.259 --> 00:40:26.879
 I can talk to,

00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:27.619
 talk about God

00:40:27.619 --> 00:40:28.139
 and plenty.

00:40:28.139 --> 00:40:30.259
 In my regular home

00:40:30.259 --> 00:40:31.980
 there's so many

00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:33.480
 gangsters and addicts

00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:33.639
 there.

00:40:33.739 --> 00:40:34.139
 That's why.

00:40:34.719 --> 00:40:35.000
 Okay.

00:40:35.079 --> 00:40:35.900
 And you talk to her

00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:36.659
 about Jesus, right?

00:40:37.019 --> 00:40:37.420
 Yes.

00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:38.359
 So why don't you

00:40:38.359 --> 00:40:39.420
 tell us about Jesus?

00:40:39.940 --> 00:40:41.239
 That Jesus is our Messiah.

00:40:41.420 --> 00:40:42.079
 He died for us

00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:42.559
 on the cross

00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:44.199
 and we are sinful

00:40:44.199 --> 00:40:45.759
 and

00:40:45.759 --> 00:40:48.519
 and he's the only hope

00:40:48.519 --> 00:40:49.339
 to go to heaven

00:40:49.339 --> 00:40:50.519
 and have good relationship

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.559
 with him.

00:40:51.980 --> 00:40:52.960
 Thank you for sharing.

00:40:53.339 --> 00:40:53.579
 Okay.

00:40:54.359 --> 00:40:54.779
 Thanks.

00:40:54.780 --> 00:40:56.080
 Actually, Alan,

00:40:56.240 --> 00:40:57.100
 I have one more

00:40:57.100 --> 00:40:57.780
 question for you.

00:40:58.180 --> 00:40:59.380
 You were telling me

00:40:59.380 --> 00:40:59.840
 yesterday,

00:41:00.580 --> 00:41:01.700
 you're not off the hook

00:41:01.700 --> 00:41:02.120
 yet, man.

00:41:02.720 --> 00:41:03.600
 You told me yesterday

00:41:03.600 --> 00:41:04.519
 and it was really cool.

00:41:04.620 --> 00:41:05.300
 You were telling me

00:41:05.300 --> 00:41:05.800
 what,

00:41:06.700 --> 00:41:06.900
 you know,

00:41:06.940 --> 00:41:07.660
 where would you be

00:41:07.660 --> 00:41:08.340
 maybe today

00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:09.700
 on a Sunday morning

00:41:09.700 --> 00:41:10.460
 or this week

00:41:10.460 --> 00:41:12.019
 if you hadn't,

00:41:12.080 --> 00:41:12.820
 if God hadn't

00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:13.540
 touched you

00:41:13.540 --> 00:41:14.920
 and worked through you

00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:15.960
 through ICM.

00:41:16.540 --> 00:41:17.080
 Do you think you could tell

00:41:17.080 --> 00:41:18.620
 maybe share a little bit

00:41:18.620 --> 00:41:19.080
 about that?

00:41:19.160 --> 00:41:19.580
 What do you think?

00:41:20.200 --> 00:41:21.380
 Maybe I would win Jill.

00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:25.519
 Maybe in,

00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:26.480
 I don't know.

00:41:27.059 --> 00:41:27.519
 Higher, okay.

00:41:29.660 --> 00:41:30.780
 And I guess Edmund,

00:41:31.059 --> 00:41:32.840
 having been a part

00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:34.360
 of this ministry

00:41:34.360 --> 00:41:35.599
 and working with Alan

00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:37.400
 as little brother Aaron

00:41:37.400 --> 00:41:38.300
 and all the other kids,

00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:39.980
 what do you see

00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:41.480
 as ways

00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:43.460
 that we can respond

00:41:43.460 --> 00:41:45.980
 to what God's doing

00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:47.099
 through Inner City?

00:41:48.980 --> 00:41:50.240
 When I look at Watermark,

00:41:50.239 --> 00:41:51.219
 I see a church

00:41:51.219 --> 00:41:51.819
 that's very,

00:41:51.819 --> 00:41:53.579
 very abundantly blessed,

00:41:53.679 --> 00:41:55.039
 not just in our resources

00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:55.719
 but also

00:41:55.719 --> 00:41:58.039
 just how God has

00:41:58.039 --> 00:41:59.659
 sought each one of us out.

00:42:00.219 --> 00:42:01.639
 It's very obvious

00:42:01.639 --> 00:42:02.939
 from the character

00:42:02.939 --> 00:42:03.719
 of the people here

00:42:03.719 --> 00:42:05.500
 and just the family,

00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:06.719
 the family feel

00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:07.519
 that this church has.

00:42:09.379 --> 00:42:10.919
 I think one of the best ways

00:42:10.919 --> 00:42:12.019
 to respond to

00:42:12.019 --> 00:42:13.799
 our calling as Christians here

00:42:13.799 --> 00:42:15.879
 is to continue to respond

00:42:15.879 --> 00:42:17.159
 and expand this family

00:42:17.159 --> 00:42:18.119
 that we've built here,

00:42:18.119 --> 00:42:19.519
 which is also one

00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:20.460
 of the main reasons

00:42:20.460 --> 00:42:21.759
 why we felt God calling us

00:42:21.759 --> 00:42:22.599
 to bring all the kids

00:42:22.599 --> 00:42:23.739
 to Watermark

00:42:23.739 --> 00:42:24.579
 in the first place.

00:42:25.400 --> 00:42:26.519
 To expand the family,

00:42:26.719 --> 00:42:27.960
 to act as older brothers

00:42:27.960 --> 00:42:28.579
 and sisters,

00:42:29.420 --> 00:42:29.980
 mentors,

00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:31.599
 and even fathers

00:42:31.599 --> 00:42:32.019
 and mothers

00:42:32.019 --> 00:42:32.960
 to a lot of these kids.

00:42:35.239 --> 00:42:36.039
 In ICM,

00:42:36.099 --> 00:42:36.440
 there's actually

00:42:36.440 --> 00:42:37.199
 a really big need

00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:38.639
 for more committed mentors

00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:39.960
 who can come out weekly

00:42:39.960 --> 00:42:41.500
 just to seek them out

00:42:41.500 --> 00:42:42.059
 where they're at

00:42:42.059 --> 00:42:43.199
 to really seek

00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:43.960
 and save the loss.

00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:46.519
 To invest in relationships,

00:42:46.699 --> 00:42:47.079
 to care,

00:42:47.179 --> 00:42:47.980
 and to talk through life

00:42:47.980 --> 00:42:49.000
 with a lot of these guys

00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:50.519
 who just simply

00:42:50.519 --> 00:42:51.179
 don't have the chance

00:42:51.179 --> 00:42:51.880
 to talk to anybody.

00:42:52.940 --> 00:42:56.019
 And in terms of resources,

00:42:56.559 --> 00:42:57.619
 we know that ICM,

00:42:57.699 --> 00:42:58.239
 as Alan said,

00:42:58.320 --> 00:42:59.539
 is a home,

00:42:59.619 --> 00:43:00.340
 is a safe place

00:43:00.340 --> 00:43:01.259
 for a lot of these kids.

00:43:02.199 --> 00:43:02.980
 The staff there

00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:05.219
 are basically mothers

00:43:05.219 --> 00:43:05.659
 and fathers

00:43:05.659 --> 00:43:06.360
 to a lot of them.

00:43:06.360 --> 00:43:08.440
 and we need to be able

00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:09.280
 to empower them

00:43:09.280 --> 00:43:10.200
 with resources.

00:43:11.160 --> 00:43:11.680
 Currently,

00:43:11.820 --> 00:43:12.980
 ICM uses about

00:43:12.980 --> 00:43:15.860
 130,000 every month

00:43:15.860 --> 00:43:18.180
 to run the family ministries,

00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:20.240
 to do parenting classes,

00:43:20.579 --> 00:43:22.120
 to run the vocational ministries,

00:43:22.559 --> 00:43:23.900
 as well as tutoring ministries

00:43:23.900 --> 00:43:24.420
 of the kids.

00:43:25.160 --> 00:43:25.880
 But each month,

00:43:25.960 --> 00:43:26.579
 we fall short

00:43:26.579 --> 00:43:28.440
 by about 50,000

00:43:28.440 --> 00:43:29.539
 each month

00:43:29.539 --> 00:43:31.360
 as a regular donation basis.

00:43:32.240 --> 00:43:34.840
 So anything really helps,

00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:35.220
 actually,

00:43:35.340 --> 00:43:35.960
 both financially

00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:36.960
 as well as just

00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:38.940
 expanding your hearts

00:43:38.940 --> 00:43:40.039
 towards these kids

00:43:40.039 --> 00:43:40.880
 and the families there.

00:43:42.740 --> 00:43:43.460
 Thanks, Edmund.

00:43:43.760 --> 00:43:45.960
 And the leaders have decided,

00:43:46.179 --> 00:43:47.079
 I mentioned this last week,

00:43:47.179 --> 00:43:47.760
 but basically,

00:43:48.199 --> 00:43:49.079
 leading up to

00:43:49.079 --> 00:43:50.099
 next Sunday,

00:43:50.220 --> 00:43:51.079
 December 8th,

00:43:51.280 --> 00:43:52.539
 and that entire week,

00:43:53.320 --> 00:43:54.420
 devoting all our tithes

00:43:54.420 --> 00:43:54.900
 and offerings,

00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:56.039
 everything that's received

00:43:56.039 --> 00:43:56.780
 by Watermark,

00:43:57.039 --> 00:43:58.179
 will go to

00:43:58.179 --> 00:43:59.280
 ministries like

00:43:59.280 --> 00:43:59.940
 St. Barnabas

00:43:59.940 --> 00:44:00.579
 that I brought up

00:44:00.579 --> 00:44:01.820
 last Sunday,

00:44:02.139 --> 00:44:03.400
 and inner city ministries,

00:44:03.800 --> 00:44:04.880
 as well as church planting.

00:44:04.880 --> 00:44:06.700
 So please be praying

00:44:06.700 --> 00:44:07.380
 about that

00:44:07.380 --> 00:44:08.500
 and just ask for God

00:44:08.500 --> 00:44:09.820
 to show you

00:44:09.820 --> 00:44:12.220
 even more of his heart

00:44:12.220 --> 00:44:12.920
 and his heartbeat

00:44:12.920 --> 00:44:14.599
 for the city of Hong Kong.

00:44:15.059 --> 00:44:15.940
 Join with me

00:44:15.940 --> 00:44:18.000
 as I pray for us

00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:18.720
 and for inner city.

00:44:20.059 --> 00:44:21.160
 Father, thank you.

00:44:23.220 --> 00:44:24.340
 Yeah, where do I start, God?

00:44:24.400 --> 00:44:25.140
 Thank you so much

00:44:25.139 --> 00:44:27.259
 for this ministry

00:44:27.259 --> 00:44:29.859
 and for giving us

00:44:29.859 --> 00:44:32.679
 not just biological children,

00:44:33.679 --> 00:44:35.139
 but spiritual children, Lord,

00:44:35.139 --> 00:44:36.480
 even from places

00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:38.139
 that we would least expect,

00:44:38.339 --> 00:44:38.480
 you know,

00:44:38.519 --> 00:44:39.219
 places like

00:44:39.219 --> 00:44:41.039
 the Nepali community

00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:41.659
 in Hong Kong

00:44:41.659 --> 00:44:44.179
 and people in the poorest

00:44:44.179 --> 00:44:44.739
 of places

00:44:44.739 --> 00:44:46.379
 and the most desperate

00:44:46.379 --> 00:44:47.099
 of places, Lord.

00:44:47.139 --> 00:44:48.279
 You bring them to us

00:44:48.280 --> 00:44:50.960
 and make them

00:44:50.960 --> 00:44:52.280
 our spiritual children, Lord.

00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:53.620
 So, God,

00:44:53.660 --> 00:44:56.019
 I pray for all the people here, Lord,

00:44:56.080 --> 00:44:57.940
 no matter, you know,

00:44:57.980 --> 00:44:59.320
 whether we're just so

00:44:59.320 --> 00:45:01.220
 caught up in our own

00:45:01.220 --> 00:45:02.280
 biological families

00:45:02.280 --> 00:45:03.380
 and just really

00:45:03.380 --> 00:45:04.820
 wanting obedience

00:45:04.820 --> 00:45:05.540
 in the family

00:45:05.540 --> 00:45:06.140
 and order, Lord,

00:45:06.140 --> 00:45:07.019
 I also pray that we would

00:45:07.019 --> 00:45:07.860
 open our eyes

00:45:07.860 --> 00:45:09.220
 to see the spiritual children.

00:45:10.160 --> 00:45:11.800
 God, I pray for those of us

00:45:11.800 --> 00:45:12.920
 who are yearning

00:45:12.920 --> 00:45:14.900
 for sons and daughters

00:45:14.900 --> 00:45:16.480
 in their family,

00:45:16.480 --> 00:45:17.599
 but for whatever reason,

00:45:17.740 --> 00:45:19.760
 they don't have it, Lord.

00:45:19.800 --> 00:45:20.539
 I pray that you would

00:45:20.539 --> 00:45:21.119
 open their eyes

00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:24.539
 to see spiritual children, Lord,

00:45:24.639 --> 00:45:25.860
 spiritual sons and daughters

00:45:25.860 --> 00:45:27.559
 that you put in our care.

00:45:28.500 --> 00:45:30.860
 God, I pray for singles, Lord.

00:45:30.900 --> 00:45:35.039
 I pray for all the 20, 25,

00:45:35.159 --> 00:45:36.659
 30-year-olds like me, Lord,

00:45:36.740 --> 00:45:37.800
 that, you know,

00:45:37.840 --> 00:45:38.559
 you just help me

00:45:38.559 --> 00:45:39.260
 to suck it up

00:45:39.260 --> 00:45:40.519
 and stop being

00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:41.639
 a 30-year-old adolescent

00:45:41.639 --> 00:45:44.320
 and be a 30-year-old father, Lord,

00:45:44.679 --> 00:45:45.760
 of a spiritual child.

00:45:47.300 --> 00:45:47.820
 So, God,

00:45:47.880 --> 00:45:49.179
 thank you for that privilege.

00:45:49.719 --> 00:45:50.639
 Thank you for what you're doing

00:45:50.639 --> 00:45:51.360
 through ICM.

00:45:52.199 --> 00:45:53.199
 Thank you that

00:45:53.199 --> 00:45:55.900
 no one is a sore thumb to you.

00:45:55.960 --> 00:45:58.420
 No one is beneath, Lord, you,

00:45:58.500 --> 00:46:00.019
 and you came to die for all.

00:46:00.219 --> 00:46:01.500
 You came for us

00:46:01.500 --> 00:46:02.800
 from the least

00:46:02.800 --> 00:46:03.840
 to the greatest, Lord.

00:46:03.980 --> 00:46:04.679
 We're all the same

00:46:04.679 --> 00:46:05.199
 in your sight.

00:46:05.699 --> 00:46:07.860
 Help us to see that,

00:46:07.940 --> 00:46:09.039
 to experience that,

00:46:09.119 --> 00:46:10.000
 and just know

00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:11.519
 how loving you are, Lord,

00:46:11.579 --> 00:46:14.240
 that we can be a church.

00:46:14.239 --> 00:46:15.500
 We can be parents, Lord,

00:46:15.599 --> 00:46:16.599
 to Alan and Aaron

00:46:16.599 --> 00:46:17.959
 and all the other kids, Lord,

00:46:18.319 --> 00:46:18.979
 and even more

00:46:18.979 --> 00:46:21.099
 and beyond Cyberport,

00:46:21.239 --> 00:46:22.019
 beyond Pauplem,

00:46:22.059 --> 00:46:22.979
 all throughout Hong Kong.

00:46:23.939 --> 00:46:24.739
 God, empower us

00:46:24.739 --> 00:46:25.679
 with your spirit.

00:46:25.939 --> 00:46:26.659
 In Jesus' name.

00:46:27.059 --> 00:46:27.219
 Amen.

00:46:27.219 --> 00:46:27.719
 God.

00:46:31.459 --> 00:46:38.339
 When we started the church,

00:46:38.639 --> 00:46:40.000
 we asked ourselves

00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:40.659
 a lot of questions.

00:46:40.759 --> 00:46:41.239
 One of the questions

00:46:41.239 --> 00:46:42.419
 we asked ourselves was,

00:46:42.420 --> 00:46:44.700
 what would happen

00:46:44.700 --> 00:46:46.519
 if the church no longer existed?

00:46:47.440 --> 00:46:48.559
 If the church was not here

00:46:48.559 --> 00:46:49.320
 any longer,

00:46:49.519 --> 00:46:52.099
 would the community feel that?

00:46:52.180 --> 00:46:52.840
 Would they realize

00:46:52.840 --> 00:46:53.880
 there was once a group of people

00:46:53.880 --> 00:46:54.659
 who loved the Lord

00:46:54.659 --> 00:46:56.460
 and loved Hong Kong here,

00:46:56.539 --> 00:46:57.760
 but they're no longer here anymore?

00:46:57.840 --> 00:46:58.780
 We kept asking ourselves

00:46:58.780 --> 00:46:59.119
 the question,

00:46:59.180 --> 00:46:59.920
 what would it look like

00:46:59.920 --> 00:47:01.460
 to be missed?

00:47:02.539 --> 00:47:03.760
 When we started the church,

00:47:03.920 --> 00:47:06.240
 we got a lot of tension sometimes

00:47:06.240 --> 00:47:07.280
 because people would come in

00:47:07.280 --> 00:47:08.400
 and just be honest,

00:47:08.539 --> 00:47:08.680
 you know,

00:47:08.740 --> 00:47:09.519
 often we come in

00:47:09.519 --> 00:47:09.900
 and we're,

00:47:11.180 --> 00:47:12.099
 I'm a consumer.

00:47:13.039 --> 00:47:13.880
 We're consumers.

00:47:14.800 --> 00:47:15.480
 And we come in

00:47:15.480 --> 00:47:16.940
 and sometimes we say things like,

00:47:17.059 --> 00:47:18.380
 so where's the 20 mission trips

00:47:18.380 --> 00:47:19.760
 you're going to send me on this year?

00:47:19.900 --> 00:47:20.880
 And what are things

00:47:20.880 --> 00:47:21.559
 going to look like?

00:47:21.559 --> 00:47:22.740
 And how can I consume

00:47:22.740 --> 00:47:24.539
 what you're going to give me?

00:47:24.659 --> 00:47:25.700
 And that was a tension.

00:47:25.820 --> 00:47:26.820
 I think we all struggle

00:47:26.820 --> 00:47:27.480
 with that, right?

00:47:27.539 --> 00:47:28.659
 And we didn't do

00:47:28.659 --> 00:47:29.780
 the 20 mission trips

00:47:29.780 --> 00:47:30.920
 in the year

00:47:30.920 --> 00:47:31.539
 because we prayed

00:47:31.539 --> 00:47:32.240
 and we knew that God

00:47:32.240 --> 00:47:33.659
 had things in Hong Kong

00:47:33.659 --> 00:47:34.880
 that he wanted us to do

00:47:34.880 --> 00:47:35.780
 as the family of God.

00:47:36.539 --> 00:47:37.059
 And so we've spent

00:47:37.059 --> 00:47:38.059
 going on this journey

00:47:38.059 --> 00:47:38.680
 and praying

00:47:38.680 --> 00:47:40.360
 and asking God

00:47:40.360 --> 00:47:41.000
 to show us

00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:41.920
 to the community groups

00:47:41.920 --> 00:47:42.639
 and through individuals

00:47:42.639 --> 00:47:43.760
 who have a heart

00:47:43.760 --> 00:47:45.500
 for this amazing city.

00:47:46.539 --> 00:47:47.340
 And so we've been waiting

00:47:47.340 --> 00:47:48.039
 and looking

00:47:48.039 --> 00:47:48.659
 and praying

00:47:48.659 --> 00:47:49.760
 and community groups

00:47:49.760 --> 00:47:50.400
 have been going out

00:47:50.400 --> 00:47:51.139
 and doing things

00:47:51.139 --> 00:47:52.039
 and it's amazing to see

00:47:52.039 --> 00:47:53.500
 what they've been doing.

00:47:53.619 --> 00:47:54.420
 And so we've realized

00:47:54.420 --> 00:47:55.760
 that our mission trip

00:47:55.760 --> 00:47:57.720
 is Hong Kong right now.

00:47:57.980 --> 00:47:59.000
 Our workplace

00:47:59.000 --> 00:47:59.840
 and our families

00:47:59.840 --> 00:48:00.599
 and our homes

00:48:00.599 --> 00:48:02.119
 and where we eat dim sum

00:48:02.119 --> 00:48:03.840
 and the Nepalese kids

00:48:03.840 --> 00:48:04.700
 and all these places

00:48:04.700 --> 00:48:05.659
 we're hoping and praying

00:48:05.659 --> 00:48:06.960
 about planting churches in.

00:48:06.960 --> 00:48:08.980
 So next Sunday

00:48:08.980 --> 00:48:09.820
 when you come in

00:48:09.820 --> 00:48:11.820
 you'll see this red offering

00:48:11.820 --> 00:48:13.039
 this special offering envelope

00:48:13.039 --> 00:48:13.659
 and the elders

00:48:13.659 --> 00:48:14.159
 and the leaders

00:48:14.159 --> 00:48:14.720
 have caught together

00:48:14.720 --> 00:48:16.260
 and as a step of faith

00:48:16.260 --> 00:48:17.199
 we've done this a couple times

00:48:17.199 --> 00:48:17.860
 with church planners

00:48:17.860 --> 00:48:18.539
 and we've said

00:48:18.539 --> 00:48:20.240
 hey everything that comes in

00:48:20.240 --> 00:48:20.559
 we're

00:48:20.559 --> 00:48:22.280
 yeah we have a budget

00:48:22.280 --> 00:48:23.019
 we need to work

00:48:23.019 --> 00:48:24.139
 but we trust that God

00:48:24.139 --> 00:48:25.220
 is bigger than that.

00:48:25.780 --> 00:48:26.760
 So everything that comes in

00:48:26.760 --> 00:48:27.320
 next week

00:48:27.320 --> 00:48:28.860
 we will give out

00:48:28.860 --> 00:48:30.360
 to these missions

00:48:30.360 --> 00:48:31.360
 that we've been identifying.

00:48:31.360 --> 00:48:33.720
 So just so you think about that

00:48:33.720 --> 00:48:34.240
 and pray about

00:48:34.240 --> 00:48:35.519
 what has God called you to do?

00:48:35.599 --> 00:48:36.380
 What is it called to do

00:48:36.380 --> 00:48:37.860
 to not look like a consumer?

00:48:38.519 --> 00:48:38.980
 What does it look like

00:48:38.980 --> 00:48:40.320
 to be part of the family of God

00:48:40.320 --> 00:48:41.099
 and reaching out

00:48:41.099 --> 00:48:43.019
 to these amazing people

00:48:43.019 --> 00:48:44.360
 and opportunities

00:48:44.360 --> 00:48:47.800
 that God is bringing to us?

00:48:48.480 --> 00:48:48.900
 Watermark

00:48:48.900 --> 00:48:50.500
 as a church family.