WEBVTT

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 Let's just bowing our heads, remain standing.

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 Father, as we come now to, we've heard your word written,

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 and now, Father, we come to look at it again more carefully

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 and listen to it more carefully.

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 Father, you know how easy it is for our thoughts to flit away

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 and flit away and flit away,

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 and you know how hard it is, Father, for us to hear your word

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 and realize how it's speaking to us, us directly.

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 And so we ask, Father, that the Holy Spirit would do a gentle

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 but powerful work in our lives to bring your word home to us

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 in light of who Jesus is and what he has done for us on the cross.

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 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior.

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 Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Homes and houses are in the news a lot,

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 and they have been for the last couple of years.

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 It's a great concern for a lot of younger people

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 and a lot of new Canadians as to whether they'll ever be able

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 to own a home of their own, given how expensive they are.

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 And it's just a great concern.

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 And I think part of the reason it's...

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 I mean, it's always a concern, of course,

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 because there's something about owning your own house

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 or your own condo that's yours,

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 that has a sense of real security to it.

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 And it's also because, in many ways,

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 we feel like we live in an insecure world.

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 And I think we feel we're in an insecure world

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 because we don't have any roots.

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 At least a lot of people in our culture,

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 I'm not saying everyone here in this room don't have roots.

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 Many of us, in fact, hopefully our roots are sort of in the gospel.

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 But a lot of our culture, we feel unrooted, uprooted, rootless.

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 A lot in our culture actually sort of think they can find their roots

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 by, you know, making up stories or rituals

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 or try to find the roots in themselves.

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 But, you know, many people don't think they'll have a job

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 with the same employer for a long time.

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 They worry about whether their marriages will last,

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 whether they'll even get married.

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 And so there's a lot of insecurity connected to not having roots

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 and wanting a home, something that you can own.

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 And the text that we're looking at today

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 speaks directly into this need for a home

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 and a need to have roots.

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 So if you would turn in your Bibles, it would be a great help to me

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 if you turned in your Bibles and to yourselves,

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 if you turned in your Bibles to Nehemiah, chapter 2.

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 And Victory began reading at verse 11,

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 but we're going to begin reading at verse 9.

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 Nehemiah, chapter 2, verse 9.

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 And what's just happened prior to this

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 is Nehemiah has a very prestigious position in the court

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 of the emperor or the king of Persia, mighty empire.

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 Persia, up until I think a few decades ago,

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 Iran was called Persia.

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 So very old, longstanding, powerful empire.

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 He had a very high position in the court.

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 He's Jewish as well.

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 He hears a tale from people who've come back from Jerusalem

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 of the state of the city, how it's all in ruins,

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 how the people are sort of in a bit of weakness and confusion,

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 and there's no walls.

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 And it really cuts him to his heart,

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 and he fasts and he prays,

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 and he senses that God is putting on his heart

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 to approach the emperor, the king,

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 to see if the king would allow him to go back

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 and rebuild the walls and build a fortress

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 and have proper gates.

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 And he fasts and prays for four months,

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 and then the time comes when God opens a door,

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 and he goes and he speaks to the king,

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 and there's a great miracle that the king actually says yes.

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 And what Nehemiah did required a lot of courage

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 because he would have known, Nehemiah,

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 that it was this same king

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 that had earlier stopped a rebuilding effort of the walls

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 and caused the work to be put into rubble again

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 and to burn the wood.

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 And Nehemiah speaks to Artaxerxes,

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 and Artaxerxes says, yes, you can go back and do this.

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 So this is what happens next.

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 So if you have your Bibles, here's verse 9.

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 So he leaves.

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 Between verse 8 and verse 9,

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 they don't tell you about how he gets organized

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 or how long it took him to leave.

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 It just now tells you about him coming into the region.

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 It goes like this.

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 Then I came to the governors of the province beyond the river

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 and gave them the king's letters.

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 Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.

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 But when Sanballat the Horonite

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 and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this,

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 it displeased them greatly

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 that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

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 Now just sort of pause here.

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 It's translated very well when it says,

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 it displeased them greatly.

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 But it goes even beyond that.

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 As we're going to see in the text,

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 they despise the Jewish people.

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 And the word in the original Hebrew

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 is that it's implying this great displeasure

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 is connected with maliciousness

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 and the hint and the promise of violence.

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 That's how deeply these people,

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 they don't know anything about what Nehemiah is going to do.

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 They just know that he's Jewish,

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 that he's coming here to do something to help the Jewish people.

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 And immediately, unbidden, out of them

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 pours this emotional, visceral dislike

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 and hatred of anything to do

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 that's going to benefit the Jewish people.

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 You know, as I've talked about over the weeks

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 and over the years,

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 the Bible doesn't have any doctrine of race.

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 There's just human beings who are made in the image of God.

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 But the Bible very deeply addresses the issue of racism

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 and murderous prejudice.

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 One of the problems sometimes with people

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 who interpret the book of Nehemiah

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 is they miss this aspect.

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 You might remember, I've talked to you about it before,

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 in Ezra chapter 4,

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 which is all the same book as Nehemiah,

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 there's this little aside.

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 And in the aside,

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 it just paints a picture of over 100 years

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 and intergenerational hatred,

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 an intergenerational prejudice.

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 And here Nehemiah is coming in

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 almost exactly 100 years after the first decree.

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 And he comes into a situation

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 where it's still there and it's still strong

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 and it's just there as soon as it comes to the fore.

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 And that's going to be the context

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 throughout the entire book.

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 Why it is that Nehemiah is going to do the things he does,

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 how he goes about and does it,

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 it's in this context of this great,

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 great displeasure,

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 this hatred.

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 And it's key to notice,

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 notice what it says here

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 about how they're the governors of the land.

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 Or maybe it comes up a little bit later on

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 that it mentions that they're the governors.

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 It's a little bit later that it mentions it.

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 But it's actually really important to understand this,

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 that it's a little bit like

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 if you've watched movies set in the south,

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 you know,

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 in rural Alabama or Mississippi

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 or something like that during the 50s

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 at the height of segregation,

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 that great evil of segregation in the American south.

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 And if you've watched some movies

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 and maybe somebody from the north

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 comes to do something to help the local population,

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 the African Americans,

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 and the locals are terrible

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 and the locals are bad,

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 and he goes to complain to the police

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 or to the judge or the prosecutor,

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 not realizing at first

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 that the cop is with the Ku Klux Klan,

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 the judge is with the Ku Klux Klan,

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 the prosecutor is with the Ku Klux Klan.

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 So how do you go to them for help?

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 They're all not only part of the problem,

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 they are the problem.

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 And they have the power and they have the authority.

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 And it's in this context

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 that Nehemiah has to function.

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 So what happens next?

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 The next bit's actually a bit boring

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 and a little bit odd,

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 but the boring bit,

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 which I'll explain to you,

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 is actually going to be very significant

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 for the whole arc of the story.

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 Let's see what it says.

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 Verses 11 and following.

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 So I went to Jerusalem, right?

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 He goes first to the governors and all.

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 And now he goes to Jerusalem,

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 verse 11,

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 and was there for three days.

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 Then I arose in the night,

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 and I and a few men with me,

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 and I told no one

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 what my God had put into my heart

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 to do for Jerusalem.

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 There was no animal with me

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 but the one on which I rode.

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 I went out by night,

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 by the valley gate,

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 to the dragon spring,

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 and to the dung gate,

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 and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem

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 that were broken down,

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 and its gates had been destroyed by fire.

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 Then I went on to the fountain gate

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 and to the king's pool,

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 but there was no room for the animal

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 that was under me to pass.

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 Then I went up in the night

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 by the valley and inspected the wall,

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 and I turned back

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 and entered the valley gate

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 and so returned.

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 And the officials did not know

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 where I had gone

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 or what I was doing,

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 and I had not yet told the Jews,

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 that's the people,

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 the priests,

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 the nobles,

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 the officials,

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 and the rest

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 who were doing the work.

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 He hadn't told them his plans.

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 So here's the thing.

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 All of these things

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 are sort of incomprehensible to us,

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 but if you ever go to Jerusalem

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 and you sort of look at it

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 a bit of a higher level,

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 it's sort of there's a valley,

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 then a hill,

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 then a valley,

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 then a hill,

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 then a valley.

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 And back when,

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 before the wall had been destroyed,

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 you had walls that encompassed

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 the valley, the hill,

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 the valley, the hill,

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 and the valley,

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 and all around it.

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 So it was quite a big wall.

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 And one of the things that,

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 so what's going on here

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 is that Nehemiah,

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 he obviously came having

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 a bit of a plan,

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 but he'd never been to Jerusalem.

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 And he's like a good consultant.

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 He's like a good planner.

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 He has an idea that he knows

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 he wants to build the wall,

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 but he has to see

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 what's really happening

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 on the ground.

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 And so he does it secretly at night,

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 whether it's a full moon

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 and a cloudless night,

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 and he can see,

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 or he can see well enough.

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 He doesn't have to know

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 all the little itsy-bitsy details.

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 He can see very, very clearly.

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 And obviously,

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 during the three days

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 and this other time,

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 he's made a decision

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 that all of the other attempts

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 that there have probably been

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 over the hundred years

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 to deal with the wall,

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 they've probably tried

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 to deal with the whole wall,

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 and most of the city is empty.

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 And what they've just described here

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 is that he's now come up

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 to the plan

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 that he's going to move the wall

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 to the top of the hill

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 on this side,

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 and he's just going to fortify one hill.

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 That's all he's going to do.

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 He's going to leave the bulk

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 of the city unwalled.

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 But he's going to take a smaller job,

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 a doable job,

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 as part of his plan.

00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:42.240
 Now, once again,

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 it's important to understand

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 that the reason he's doing this at night

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 is because he's picked up very quickly

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 the deep, settled hatred

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 of those in authority.

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 So he can't do this publicly.

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 He has to do it secretly,

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 under cover of darkness.

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 So now he sees

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 what's going on with the wall.

00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:09.019
 He's had his ideas

00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:09.960
 about what he's going to do,

00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:11.720
 and he's probably had to change them all

00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:14.019
 in light of what's actually

00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:15.019
 in front of him.

00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:16.360
 He might not have realized

00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:17.279
 that there was a valley,

00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:18.659
 a hill, a valley, a hill,

00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:19.639
 a valley,

00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:20.840
 and that the original wall

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:21.679
 encompassed all of it.

00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:22.740
 He might be looking at it,

00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:23.820
 and if you ever found his notes,

00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:24.580
 you might say, well, no wonder

00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:25.620
 they couldn't build the wall

00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:27.060
 or it's going to take them too long.

00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:28.100
 That's just way too big

00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:28.940
 for our resources

00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:29.840
 and for our people,

00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.580
 and most of it's all,

00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:31.900
 it's all just empty anyway,

00:12:32.400 --> 00:12:33.420
 that whole other section.

00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:35.020
 So he comes up with a different plan.

00:12:35.640 --> 00:12:37.040
 And so this next bit,

00:12:37.160 --> 00:12:38.840
 there's this very helpful word,

00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:40.500
 but for scholars,

00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:41.740
 it's an unhelpful word

00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:43.300
 because they'd like to have it

00:12:43.300 --> 00:12:44.140
 be more precise.

00:12:45.060 --> 00:12:47.120
 Look what happens in verse 17.

00:12:47.260 --> 00:12:47.960
 It says this,

00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:50.660
 then I said to them,

00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:52.160
 just before I go,

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.120
 so here's the thing

00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:54.039
 about that's frustrating,

00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.000
 then means the next thing

00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.100
 we're going to be told about.

00:12:57.460 --> 00:12:57.860
 But it does,

00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.779
 then doesn't mean

00:12:58.779 --> 00:13:00.299
 that it meant like that morning.

00:13:00.820 --> 00:13:02.299
 We don't know whether he took a week,

00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:02.899
 two weeks,

00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:03.460
 three weeks,

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:03.960
 a month.

00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:06.200
 There's a period of time.

00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:08.340
 And after he's had this period of time,

00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:10.179
 then he speaks,

00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:11.100
 verse 17.

00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:12.580
 Then I said to them,

00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:14.019
 you see the trouble we are in,

00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:15.960
 how Jerusalem lies in ruins

00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:17.240
 with its gates burned.

00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.419
 Come,

00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:21.820
 let us build the wall of Jerusalem

00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:25.120
 that we may no longer suffer derision.

00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:28.360
 This is the big cry,

00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:31.639
 the leadership cry of Nehemiah.

00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.940
 It's time to build.

00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:35.060
 Let's arise and build.

00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:36.659
 And it continues,

00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.320
 verse 18,

00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:39.300
 and I told them of the hand of my God

00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:41.040
 that had been upon me for good

00:13:41.040 --> 00:13:42.140
 and also of the words

00:13:42.140 --> 00:13:43.600
 that the king had spoken to me.

00:13:44.040 --> 00:13:45.240
 And they said,

00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:47.780
 let us rise up and build.

00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:50.080
 So they strengthened their hands

00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:50.879
 for the good work.

00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:51.820
 Now,

00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:53.160
 just one little aside here.

00:13:53.680 --> 00:13:55.480
 It's an important aside.

00:13:56.540 --> 00:13:57.420
 One of the things,

00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:58.920
 sort of under the pressure

00:13:58.920 --> 00:14:00.600
 of a type of a belief

00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.920
 in process and technology

00:14:02.920 --> 00:14:03.560
 and all that,

00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:05.299
 we tend to have a sense

00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.939
 that if God's hand is upon us,

00:14:06.979 --> 00:14:07.819
 we won't have enemies.

00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:10.039
 But one of the important lessons

00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:11.219
 of the book of Nehemiah

00:14:11.219 --> 00:14:13.159
 is God's hand can be upon you

00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:14.500
 and you still might have enemies.

00:14:15.599 --> 00:14:17.039
 God's hand being upon you

00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:18.759
 doesn't mean you will no longer have enemies.

00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:20.939
 God's hand being upon you

00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:22.139
 means you can stand

00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:23.439
 in the face of your enemies

00:14:23.439 --> 00:14:26.299
 and build in the midst of your enemies.

00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.639
 That's what it means.

00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:31.439
 But here's the thing.

00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:34.859
 Actually, here.

00:14:35.099 --> 00:14:36.519
 I think it's going to be on the screen.

00:14:36.619 --> 00:14:38.500
 Just put your fingers in the Bible here

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.339
 and turn for a moment

00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:42.139
 to Proverbs 26, verses 4 to 5.

00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:45.819
 Proverbs 26, verses 4 to 5.

00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:48.279
 And this little two-verse bit

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.979
 of Proverbs 26

00:14:49.979 --> 00:14:50.839
 sort of captures

00:14:50.839 --> 00:14:53.539
 an issue with all of the Proverbs.

00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:56.299
 So Proverbs 26, verse 4 says,

00:14:56.299 --> 00:14:58.559
 Answer not a fool according to his folly,

00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:00.539
 lest you be like him yourself.

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.879
 Good piece of advice.

00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:04.460
 Don't answer a fool according to his folly,

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:07.279
 lest you be like him yourself.

00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:10.240
 Answer a fool according to his folly,

00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:12.299
 lest he be wise in his own eyes.

00:15:12.439 --> 00:15:13.860
 In other words, you have to answer the fool

00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.779
 because you don't want him

00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:15.799
 to think he's wise.

00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:16.980
 So one moment,

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:19.019
 those are contradictory pieces of advice.

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.539
 What's going on?

00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.419
 Well, in a sense,

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.740
 what God is saying is exactly.

00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.879
 In all of the Proverbs,

00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:26.700
 the issue is

00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:28.159
 that you need to have

00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.579
 the wise man or the wise woman

00:15:30.579 --> 00:15:31.539
 has to, in a sense,

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.839
 be so attentive to God

00:15:32.839 --> 00:15:34.500
 and so attentive to the real world

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:36.139
 and so attentive to the people

00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:36.719
 in front of him

00:15:36.719 --> 00:15:38.559
 that he or she has a sense

00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:41.039
 about when the right proverb applies.

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:42.600
 It's a little bit like

00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:44.259
 in using secular Proverbs.

00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:45.000
 We might say,

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:46.139
 look before you leap.

00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.299
 But in another context,

00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:49.019
 we might say,

00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:50.539
 he who hesitates is lost.

00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:52.100
 Well, okay, which is it?

00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:53.700
 Do it right away

00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:57.259
 or take some time to look, right?

00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.519
 We might say,

00:15:58.779 --> 00:16:00.259
 too many cooks spoil the broth

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:02.420
 or many hands make light work.

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:03.279
 Well, which is it?

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.139
 Well, it just depends

00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:05.240
 on the specific time.

00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:07.879
 So this is very important to this.

00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:08.639
 You see,

00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.460
 the book of Nehemiah

00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:11.940
 is justly famous

00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:14.720
 for its lessons on leadership,

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.240
 its lessons on courage,

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.940
 its reminder that God is big,

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:20.100
 and it's rightly remembered

00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:21.639
 for this rousing cry,

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:22.980
 let us build.

00:16:24.540 --> 00:16:25.960
 And I have to confess

00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:28.220
 that especially this week,

00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.560
 I have been wondering

00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:30.659
 if we as a church

00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:32.519
 are in a Nehemiah 2 moment.

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.120
 Like, is it part of God's providence

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.360
 that we are reading this text?

00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:38.440
 Like, is it the case

00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:39.680
 that God is saying to us,

00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:41.519
 it's time to arise

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.860
 and get a church building?

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:45.960
 Like, let's do that.

00:16:46.800 --> 00:16:48.580
 Or there's other things to build.

00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:50.060
 Like, it's time to really

00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:50.960
 take seriously

00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.120
 planting more churches

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.019
 in the city of Ottawa.

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:54.040
 Let's pray into it.

00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:55.280
 It's time to take

00:16:55.280 --> 00:16:56.259
 the training of clergy

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.900
 and future church leaders

00:16:57.900 --> 00:16:58.660
 more seriously.

00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:00.120
 Let's build up Ryle.

00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:02.200
 You know, it's time

00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:04.319
 to really take seriously

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.500
 the need to bring the gospel

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.240
 to the universities.

00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.279
 It's time to build

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.380
 a university.

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.019
 Like, I don't know.

00:17:09.100 --> 00:17:10.180
 Is God calling us that?

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.100
 Is that this time?

00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.600
 But, you know,

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:13.380
 here's the thing.

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.120
 So this really is a thing

00:17:16.120 --> 00:17:17.380
 that we need to take seriously,

00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:18.700
 but you also have to take seriously

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:20.080
 a very different story

00:17:20.080 --> 00:17:23.200
 in Kings and Chronicles

00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:23.820
 that God,

00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:25.400
 that David wants to build

00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.100
 the temple

00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:27.260
 and God says no.

00:17:28.520 --> 00:17:29.900
 So which moment are we in?

00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:31.480
 Well, that's where wisdom comes.

00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:32.880
 That's where prayer comes.

00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:34.860
 You can't just take this

00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.700
 and then always say

00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:36.500
 it means that we have to

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.160
 arise and build.

00:17:37.260 --> 00:17:39.100
 No, but we need to take it seriously.

00:17:40.020 --> 00:17:41.420
 But part of the wisdom

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:43.160
 that God wants us to have

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.600
 by being close to him,

00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:46.299
 by being attentive

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.500
 to the meaning of the Holy Spirit,

00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.659
 by looking at the world,

00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:50.299
 is to know and say to ourselves,

00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:50.740
 you know what?

00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:54.359
 I think we're in a Nehemiah 2 moment

00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:55.480
 in this area,

00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:56.199
 in this area.

00:17:56.939 --> 00:17:58.719
 And we need to arise and build.

00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.399
 I don't know.

00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:03.099
 I think one of the things,

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:05.159
 a word of all this passage for us

00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:06.419
 is to pray into that issue.

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:08.379
 Whether it's the church

00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:09.459
 or some other type of thing,

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.359
 is God calling us

00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:11.179
 to build something

00:18:11.179 --> 00:18:12.039
 at this point in time

00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:13.079
 in our church's history.

00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:14.659
 And one of the things

00:18:14.659 --> 00:18:15.099
 we might say,

00:18:15.139 --> 00:18:15.619
 well, one moment,

00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:17.859
 that George,

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.519
 God can't be calling us

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.019
 to do this

00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:21.119
 because it's impossible.

00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:21.579
 Well, you see,

00:18:21.639 --> 00:18:22.419
 this is where the hand

00:18:22.419 --> 00:18:23.039
 of our God

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.839
 being upon them

00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:24.599
 is so important.

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:28.059
 I mentioned last week

00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:29.240
 that Nehemiah

00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:32.460
 was almost definitely a eunuch.

00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:33.720
 It means he was castrated.

00:18:35.939 --> 00:18:38.259
 And in terms of Jewish culture

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:39.319
 and law at that time,

00:18:39.379 --> 00:18:40.199
 and even whether or not

00:18:40.199 --> 00:18:41.240
 he could be in the temple

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.620
 and his place in leadership,

00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:43.859
 it was very questionable.

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:44.740
 I mean,

00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:46.519
 in a very real physical way,

00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:47.799
 he was a broken man.

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:53.799
 And he confessed his sins.

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:55.279
 And these people are weak

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:57.019
 and they're not powerful.

00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.740
 And that's part of the story

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:01.579
 is that God doesn't want us

00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:02.640
 to look at our resources

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.740
 but who he is

00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:05.120
 and whether he's calling us

00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:05.740
 to do something

00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.779
 that only he can do.

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:08.839
 not because we are

00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.639
 great and powerful

00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:11.639
 but because we are

00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:12.160
 the servants

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.660
 of a great and powerful God.

00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:16.180
 And as long as we look

00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.099
 to our own resources,

00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:18.899
 then it's the devil

00:19:18.899 --> 00:19:19.960
 speaking to us.

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.720
 I'm not saying

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.160
 we should be

00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.160
 completely foolish.

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.299
 But we need to look at God

00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:30.460
 and ask what he's calling us

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:30.799
 to do.

00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:33.740
 Now,

00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:35.480
 I just want to say

00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:35.940
 one other thing.

00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:36.559
 I'm not going to talk

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.299
 about it very long

00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:38.480
 but it's important

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:40.139
 in terms of what I've just said.

00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:40.940
 It's also important

00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:41.500
 to understand

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:43.299
 the overarching story

00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.099
 of Ezra and Nehemiah.

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:44.680
 If you could put up

00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.379
 the first point.

00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.740
 The wall was spilt

00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:49.539
 to serve the beautiful vision.

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.399
 The beautiful vision

00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:52.799
 does not serve the wall.

00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:55.819
 I talked about that

00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:57.000
 a couple of weeks ago

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.460
 about this beautiful vision

00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.600
 in the midst of people

00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:01.400
 who believed myths

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.160
 and stories

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:04.400
 that legitimized incest

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.559
 and legitimized

00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:08.400
 the males

00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:10.819
 using their rapacious sexuality

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.860
 on any woman

00:20:11.860 --> 00:20:12.920
 that they felt like

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:14.880
 in a culture

00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:16.160
 where babies

00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.079
 would be served

00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.519
 and burned to Moloch

00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:21.299
 where every human being

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.980
 was viewed as a slave.

00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.600
 There's this overarching,

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:26.500
 profound, beautiful vision

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.140
 of the Bible

00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:28.380
 about every human being

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.780
 being made in the image of God

00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:31.280
 that both men and women

00:20:31.280 --> 00:20:31.960
 and children

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:33.060
 have an integrity

00:20:33.060 --> 00:20:34.040
 and a dignity

00:20:34.040 --> 00:20:35.140
 just by virtue

00:20:35.140 --> 00:20:35.960
 of being human

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.240
 that's bestowed by God

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.060
 and not the state

00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:39.940
 that God wants friends

00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:42.640
 and children

00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.880
 not slaves

00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:44.960
 and there's this profound,

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.800
 beautiful vision

00:20:45.800 --> 00:20:47.200
 and it's important

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:47.880
 if we think

00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.220
 we're in a Nehemiah 2 moment

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:50.740
 is that the gospel

00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:52.140
 doesn't serve buildings.

00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:53.220
 Buildings should serve

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:53.840
 the gospel.

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.580
 That's our beautiful vision.

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:59.179
 So,

00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:03.099
 there's another thing

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:04.079
 which we get

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.119
 the first hint of

00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:05.699
 that's going to be

00:21:05.699 --> 00:21:06.439
 very important

00:21:06.439 --> 00:21:07.539
 throughout the entire rest

00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.639
 of the book of Nehemiah

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:10.099
 and it's important

00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:10.619
 for us

00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:12.399
 to recognize as well.

00:21:13.919 --> 00:21:14.159
 You know,

00:21:14.199 --> 00:21:15.240
 sometimes we have people

00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:16.220
 who say they're with us

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.240
 but they're not with us,

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.579
 they're really against us

00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:20.439
 and they plot

00:21:20.439 --> 00:21:21.960
 and conspire against us

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.880
 and one of the things

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.620
 that's going to be coming

00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:25.480
 very clear

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.500
 as the book proceeds

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.840
 is that Nehemiah

00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:28.319
 is going to have

00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.120
 problems leading

00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:30.360
 because he has moles.

00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:33.360
 He has people

00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.200
 who are aligned

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:36.100
 with the people

00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:37.120
 who hate the Jews

00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:38.900
 and give them information.

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.200
 Look what happens

00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:41.100
 in verse 19.

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:44.719
 But when

00:21:44.719 --> 00:21:46.099
 Sanballat the Horonite

00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:47.799
 and Tobiah the Ammonite servant

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:49.219
 and now a new person,

00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:50.139
 Geshem the Arab,

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.759
 heard of it,

00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:53.619
 they jeered at us

00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:56.079
 and despised us

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.099
 and said,

00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:58.759
 what is this,

00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.559
 what, sorry,

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:02.019
 and what is this thing

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.879
 that you are doing?

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.919
 Are you rebelling

00:22:03.919 --> 00:22:05.000
 against the king?

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:07.099
 Now,

00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:09.640
 once again,

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.279
 these are very good words

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.579
 but we have to understand

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.859
 that in the original language

00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.640
 it's even

00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:15.960
 a deeper,

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.099
 deeper.

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.019
 They

00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.900
 despise

00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:22.559
 these people

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.619
 who are Jewish.

00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:25.160
 They despise them.

00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.619
 They look down

00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.400
 their nose

00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.039
 at them

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:30.880
 and they publicly

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:32.660
 point out

00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:33.880
 everything about them

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.500
 that from their

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.660
 twisted world

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:37.000
 and way of seeing things

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.779
 that makes them

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.660
 look inferior

00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:39.740
 and petty

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:41.180
 and small

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.880
 and worthless.

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.880
 That's what jeering

00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:45.079
 means at them.

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.180
 And the other thing,

00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.140
 and this is

00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:48.519
 why it's,

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:50.180
 this is part of the reason

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.779
 why this text

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.900
 is so important to us

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:55.160
 for us to meditate upon

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.900
 especially in our day and age

00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:58.119
 where there's a problem

00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:59.539
 ongoing of cancelling

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.220
 where

00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:04.059
 there is

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:06.619
 public denunciation

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:09.879
 and hatred

00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:12.119
 and lies

00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:12.980
 because you see

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.500
 they just make up a lie.

00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.179
 Notice that again?

00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.779
 What is this thing

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.480
 that you are doing?

00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.159
 Are you rebelling

00:23:19.159 --> 00:23:20.039
 against the king?

00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.879
 Let me tell you friends,

00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.779
 figuring out the truth

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.519
 is hard.

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.559
 Arguing for the truth

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.200
 is hard.

00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.700
 It's way easier

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.980
 just to make up a lie.

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.039
 lie.

00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.860
 It's always easier

00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:35.039
 just to lie

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.360
 on one level.

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.140
 I'm not saying

00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:37.860
 it's the right thing.

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.259
 I'm just saying

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.579
 on one level,

00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.720
 that's how a lot of people think.

00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.000
 Like, oh gosh,

00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:41.839
 like why to actually

00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.160
 try to listen well

00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:44.339
 and, you know,

00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:45.140
 spend some time

00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:45.920
 doing research

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.920
 and listen to both sides

00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:48.720
 and try to come up

00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.279
 with an argument

00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.140
 and try to sort out

00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.579
 the truth

00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.360
 and be willing

00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:52.120
 to change your mind.

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.339
 Why do all of that

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:54.000
 when you can just

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.319
 make up a whole pile of lies?

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:57.160
 And here's another thing.

00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.519
 Jeering implies

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.560
 they're yelling this

00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.060
 in public.

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:00.800
 They're public.

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:02.140
 They're proud of the fact

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:03.060
 that they despise

00:24:03.060 --> 00:24:03.920
 these people.

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:05.300
 They're not embarrassed

00:24:05.300 --> 00:24:05.740
 about it.

00:24:05.800 --> 00:24:06.640
 They're not ashamed

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.120
 about it.

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.140
 They think they're right

00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:08.560
 about it.

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.720
 They call them names.

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.000
 And here's the thing.

00:24:11.600 --> 00:24:12.759
 Lies yell.

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:17.040
 The truth can be whispered.

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.120
 The truth can be spoken

00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:22.340
 plainly and calmly.

00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:23.460
 But lies yell.

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.620
 In fact,

00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:27.140
 when faced with arguments,

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.300
 the best solution

00:24:28.300 --> 00:24:29.320
 is to yell louder.

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.360
 It's to yell louder.

00:24:33.800 --> 00:24:34.960
 Nothing has changed

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.680
 much in 2,400 years.

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.360
 If you could put up

00:24:39.360 --> 00:24:40.540
 the point just very briefly,

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.400
 this is one of the things

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.220
 about the text.

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.120
 The gospel,

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.460
 when I say the gospel,

00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:47.440
 I mean who Jesus is,

00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:49.300
 what he said and did,

00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.620
 what he accomplished

00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.420
 on the cross,

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:54.100
 and what he promises

00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:55.180
 to those who put

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.980
 their trust in him.

00:24:56.040 --> 00:24:56.800
 That's the gospel.

00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:58.700
 The gospel forms you

00:24:58.700 --> 00:24:59.480
 to be a person

00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.200
 of the truth

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.960
 who rejects lies.

00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:04.420
 I don't know

00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:04.860
 if you noticed,

00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.580
 it jumped out at me

00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:06.019
 when I was reading

00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:06.840
 the John text.

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.000
 What does it say

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.800
 when Jesus says,

00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.300
 I'm going to send

00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:09.840
 the helper?

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.580
 Talking about the Holy Spirit,

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.740
 and he calls the Spirit

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:15.420
 the Spirit of truth.

00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:19.019
 If God pours his Holy Spirit

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.539
 into us,

00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:20.759
 he's pouring his Holy Spirit

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.880
 into us for us

00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.580
 to be people

00:25:22.580 --> 00:25:23.779
 who know the truth,

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.779
 love the truth,

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.840
 seek the truth.

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.720
 We'll change our minds

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:29.800
 to stay with the truth,

00:25:30.800 --> 00:25:34.960
 who want to learn

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.960
 more of the truth,

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:38.000
 and who recognize lies

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.800
 and reject them.

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:43.399
 So how does Nehemiah respond?

00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:44.339
 Remember I said,

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.639
 this is one of the things,

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.980
 he responds quietly,

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:48.339
 not by jeering and yelling,

00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.839
 he responds quietly.

00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.480
 Look what he says

00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.200
 in verse 20.

00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:55.859
 Then I replied to them,

00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.859
 the God of heaven

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.899
 will make us prosper,

00:25:58.599 --> 00:26:00.000
 and we as servants

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:02.539
 will arise and build,

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:04.700
 but you have no portion

00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:06.119
 or right or claim

00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:07.759
 in Jerusalem.

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:12.079
 Then I replied to them,

00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:12.819
 the God of heaven

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.839
 will make us prosper,

00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.299
 and we as servants

00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:16.379
 will arise and build,

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:18.220
 but you have no portion

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.099
 or right to claim

00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.039
 in Jerusalem.

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.019
 Basically he says,

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:24.740
 God is big.

00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.980
 Yes, we're small.

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.339
 We're nobodies.

00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:29.779
 But that's fine,

00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.659
 because God is big.

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:32.600
 And yes,

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.460
 we are nobodies,

00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:35.060
 but we're his servants.

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.920
 We're the servants

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:38.200
 of the great God of heaven.

00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:40.740
 And by the way,

00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.980
 you are not with him,

00:26:42.540 --> 00:26:44.840
 so we are not with you.

00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.800
 You are not him,

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:49.120
 so we are not with you.

00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:51.720
 Now, okay,

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.140
 I mean the big question is,

00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:54.600
 there's two sort of

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.320
 big questions.

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.200
 One of them,

00:26:56.300 --> 00:26:57.300
 why didn't they just move?

00:26:59.480 --> 00:26:59.880
 Right?

00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.500
 I mean,

00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:01.280
 isn't that what a lot

00:27:01.280 --> 00:27:01.900
 of us would do

00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:03.000
 if we somehow bought a house

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.520
 and we discovered

00:27:03.520 --> 00:27:04.360
 that all of our neighbors

00:27:04.360 --> 00:27:04.880
 hated us?

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.680
 We'd sell the house

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.580
 and move to another house.

00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.380
 Like, there's other places

00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:07.920
 to live.

00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.260
 Like, why stay?

00:27:09.800 --> 00:27:10.780
 Why stay with people

00:27:10.780 --> 00:27:11.300
 who hate you?

00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.180
 And why does it matter?

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.480
 In fact,

00:27:13.540 --> 00:27:14.540
 it's very interesting.

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.160
 God in his providence,

00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:17.900
 a person who's a friend of mine,

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.220
 saw me preparing my sermon

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:21.300
 in my local coffee shop

00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:21.780
 and said,

00:27:21.820 --> 00:27:22.820
 are you preparing your sermon?

00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:23.500
 What's it about?

00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:25.080
 And it's always interesting

00:27:25.080 --> 00:27:26.320
 when questions like that happen,

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.539
 because now I'm trying

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.559
 to think very quickly,

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:30.119
 how do I make this sermon

00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:31.159
 relevant to him?

00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:33.019
 Like, why does it matter?

00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:34.240
 Why would it matter to him?

00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:34.859
 I mean,

00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.519
 other than the fact

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.679
 that it matters to him

00:27:36.679 --> 00:27:37.240
 and it should matter

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.079
 to all Canadians

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.899
 to recognize

00:27:38.899 --> 00:27:40.319
 the power of the lie.

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.480
 And I think all Canadians,

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.960
 at least on one level,

00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:44.980
 would say they want

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:46.159
 to be people of the truth,

00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:47.359
 even if they,

00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:47.919
 in fact,

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:49.299
 would rather just make up

00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.220
 and invent lies

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.419
 rather than engaging

00:27:51.419 --> 00:27:52.099
 with the truth.

00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:53.919
 But why don't they just move?

00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:56.219
 Like, why stay there?

00:27:58.899 --> 00:28:00.299
 There's lots of other land.

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.759
 So, to understand it,

00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.899
 I think it's going to be

00:28:04.899 --> 00:28:05.519
 on the screen.

00:28:05.719 --> 00:28:09.039
 If you go to Nehemiah 1, verse 9.

00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:10.639
 Did I tell you Nehemiah 1, 9

00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:11.819
 or Proverbs 1, 9?

00:28:12.919 --> 00:28:13.279
 Eh?

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.919
 Okay, I sent you the wrong text

00:28:15.919 --> 00:28:17.519
 because I had a mental block.

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.219
 So, it's not going to be

00:28:18.219 --> 00:28:18.639
 on the screen.

00:28:18.699 --> 00:28:19.639
 You just have to listen to it

00:28:19.639 --> 00:28:20.559
 or look in your Bibles.

00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.859
 Look what happens

00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:24.159
 in Nehemiah 1, 9.

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.779
 This is part of,

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:29.200
 this is part of Nehemiah's prayer

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.940
 and it's something

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.960
 that's really important

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.799
 to understand

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:34.240
 in terms of everything

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.279
 that happens in Nehemiah.

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.179
 But it's also something

00:28:36.179 --> 00:28:36.859
 really important

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.799
 to understand about

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:39.419
 your longing for a home

00:28:39.419 --> 00:28:40.279
 and for roots.

00:28:41.379 --> 00:28:42.299
 He says this,

00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:45.539
 but if you return to me,

00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.000
 this is,

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.279
 he's saying what God has said.

00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.220
 He's saying,

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:48.879
 God has said,

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:50.019
 if you return to me

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:51.059
 and keep my commandments

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.819
 and do them,

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.900
 though your outcasts

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:55.220
 are in the outermost parts

00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:55.740
 of the heaven,

00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.480
 from there I will gather them

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:57.980
 and bring them

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.559
 to the place

00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.480
 that I have chosen

00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:03.859
 to make my name dwell there.

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:06.660
 The place that I have chosen

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:11.119
 to make my name dwell there.

00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:17.939
 if you could put up the point,

00:29:19.399 --> 00:29:21.199
 all of the Old Testament

00:29:21.199 --> 00:29:22.079
 and what we know

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.879
 from the New Testament

00:29:22.879 --> 00:29:24.299
 makes this big claim.

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.500
 There is no square inch

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.179
 of reality

00:29:27.179 --> 00:29:28.979
 that the triune God

00:29:28.979 --> 00:29:30.000
 does not say,

00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.099
 mine.

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:35.359
 The way he taught that

00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:36.559
 is on one hand,

00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.159
 he taught it

00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:38.019
 because you even see

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.439
 at the beginning

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:40.080
 of Genesis chapter 1 and 2

00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:41.680
 that he's created

00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.600
 the whole world,

00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:44.799
 he's made the whole world

00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:45.559
 to be the home

00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.539
 for human beings.

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:48.440
 You see later on

00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.240
 in the Psalms,

00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:50.360
 the earth is the Lord's

00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:51.559
 and the fullness thereof

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.759
 and all of this,

00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:54.220
 but partly how he taught them

00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.180
 was not by teaching them

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.080
 just the big idea,

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:57.259
 but by trying to get them

00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:58.100
 to understand it

00:29:58.100 --> 00:29:59.840
 in one little concrete area.

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.960
 Why did he want to do it

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:02.799
 in stages like this?

00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:03.140
 I don't know.

00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:04.019
 We have to ask God

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.059
 when we get to heaven

00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:05.860
 why he wanted to do it

00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:06.320
 in stages,

00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.539
 but that's what he's saying.

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.779
 He's saying,

00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:09.420
 you know,

00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.420
 you live in a world

00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:12.180
 where kings claim the land

00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.339
 and gods and idols

00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:14.180
 claim the land

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:15.059
 and I want people

00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.680
 to understand

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:17.099
 that in this piece of land

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:18.740
 this is mine.

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.779
 This is mine.

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.259
 It's not the kings,

00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.420
 it's not the gods,

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.940
 it's not even yours,

00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.700
 it's mine.

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.980
 One of the reasons

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:37.240
 why we do not have land

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.880
 that we need to,

00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:39.579
 that there's no type

00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.579
 of Christian land

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:42.200
 is that one of the things

00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:43.500
 we understand from the gospel

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.700
 is that the good news

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.680
 of Jesus is to go

00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.920
 to every people group

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:48.079
 throughout the planet.

00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.339
 In fact,

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.920
 I hope I haven't forgotten one.

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.279
 I did a very quick thing.

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:54.059
 In this congregation,

00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:54.720
 part of those

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:56.019
 who call Church of the Messiah

00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.799
 their church home,

00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:58.059
 people were born,

00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.860
 who are part of our congregation,

00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:01.799
 were born in Canada,

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.859
 the United States,

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.460
 Mexico,

00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.099
 England,

00:31:04.639 --> 00:31:04.879
 Italy,

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:05.579
 China,

00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:06.319
 Taiwan,

00:31:06.599 --> 00:31:07.019
 Nigeria,

00:31:07.379 --> 00:31:07.839
 Rwanda,

00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:08.539
 Uganda,

00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.299
 Burundi,

00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:09.879
 Sudan,

00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:10.579
 Ethiopia,

00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:11.539
 India,

00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:12.480
 Syria,

00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:13.559
 Indonesia,

00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:14.759
 Barbados,

00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:15.659
 Korea,

00:31:15.899 --> 00:31:16.460
 and Australia.

00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.019
 And if I missed your,

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.639
 and that's just

00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:23.299
 where you were born.

00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:24.899
 If we added

00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:26.639
 first generation Canadians,

00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:27.980
 I would be one.

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.519
 I'm from Northern Ireland,

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.279
 my parents.

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:30.779
 Louise,

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:33.059
 I could have

00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:34.399
 a Northern Irish passport.

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.000
 Louise could have

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.879
 a Polish passport.

00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:37.599
 She's a first generation Canadian.

00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.440
 And if we went around

00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:41.599
 for first generation Canadians,

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.519
 there would be a lot more.

00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:45.639
 But that's part of what Jesus does.

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.779
 Jesus' salvation

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:48.379
 is a universal salvation

00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:50.379
 that's offered.

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.539
 And we are to go

00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:53.019
 to all the world.

00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.799
 And part of what God

00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.839
 is doing

00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:56.619
 is he wants

00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:57.720
 all the world

00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.899
 to come to know him.

00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.700
 And he wants us

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.360
 to begin to know

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:01.220
 that all the world

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:02.019
 is his.

00:32:02.800 --> 00:32:03.220
 If you could put up

00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:03.840
 the next point,

00:32:04.580 --> 00:32:05.259
 God says,

00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:05.940
 mine,

00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:07.740
 so you will have a home.

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:08.840
 See,

00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.560
 that's what he wanted

00:32:09.560 --> 00:32:10.519
 for those people.

00:32:11.340 --> 00:32:12.320
 He wanted them,

00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:13.360
 it wasn't just so much

00:32:13.360 --> 00:32:13.960
 that he claimed it

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.680
 to be mine

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.240
 as if it was

00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.200
 a power play.

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:17.440
 But,

00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:20.460
 you see,

00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:22.540
 where God is,

00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:23.500
 that is where

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:25.200
 our true home is.

00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:28.920
 Where God is,

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.420
 that is where

00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.500
 our true home is.

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:34.059
 And in Genesis chapter 1 and 2,

00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.039
 we see that God

00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:36.759
 intended that the entire world

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.599
 would be our home,

00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:38.720
 that we would understand

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.420
 that he's made it

00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:40.339
 for us to live in.

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.819
 And that we're to develop

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:44.220
 gardens and cities

00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:45.579
 and art

00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.900
 and song

00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:47.700
 and culture

00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:48.680
 and business

00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:50.539
 and mold it,

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.360
 all knowing

00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.320
 that we are with him.

00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:53.460
 And when we are with him

00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:54.740
 and reconcile to him,

00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.660
 then we are home.

00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:57.019
 You know,

00:32:57.060 --> 00:32:57.820
 Augustine said,

00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:58.880
 God has made us

00:32:58.880 --> 00:32:59.500
 for himself

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.140
 and our hearts

00:33:00.140 --> 00:33:00.700
 are restless

00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.940
 till they rest in him.

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.740
 And it's a very true

00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.740
 and profound thing.

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.299
 So,

00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:07.940
 why a wall?

00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:08.779
 I have to,

00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:09.820
 I have to come

00:33:09.820 --> 00:33:10.779
 wrap this up.

00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:12.840
 It's part of the deep

00:33:12.840 --> 00:33:14.160
 formation of the Bible.

00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:15.860
 So,

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:17.420
 there's not much

00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:18.539
 you can do about this.

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.640
 Other than educate

00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:20.880
 and catechize your kids

00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:21.980
 and pray for your kids.

00:33:22.060 --> 00:33:22.420
 But you know,

00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:24.000
 if kids watch cartoons,

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.759
 apart from the really

00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:26.440
 woke ones,

00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.299
 but even the,

00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:28.100
 just the ones

00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:28.660
 that we think

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.460
 are very safe,

00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.700
 like the old Disney ones

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.740
 or something like that,

00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:33.120
 what all those

00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:34.940
 old Disney films

00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:35.759
 and all those

00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:37.120
 old cartoons do

00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:38.200
 is they form you

00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:39.100
 to not pray.

00:33:41.600 --> 00:33:42.660
 They form you

00:33:42.660 --> 00:33:43.539
 to live in a world

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.100
 where God

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:44.980
 does not exist.

00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:47.900
 Nobody in the cartoons

00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:48.680
 praise.

00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:50.519
 Nobody thinks

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:50.880
 they should

00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:52.000
 to read the Bible.

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.300
 Nobody thinks

00:33:54.300 --> 00:33:55.080
 they need to trust

00:33:55.080 --> 00:33:55.660
 in a Savior.

00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.759
 Their goals

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.400
 are fine.

00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.400
 They can accomplish

00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:00.259
 them by themselves

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.100
 with some humor

00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:02.000
 and some courage.

00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:02.880
 And they teach

00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:03.400
 some valuable

00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:04.080
 moral lessons.

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:04.640
 I'm not saying

00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:05.019
 that people

00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.820
 shouldn't watch them,

00:34:05.860 --> 00:34:06.600
 but it forms you

00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:07.060
 to believe

00:34:07.060 --> 00:34:07.540
 that you live

00:34:07.540 --> 00:34:07.900
 in a world

00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:08.320
 that God

00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:09.059
 does not exist.

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:11.940
 stories like this

00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:14.360
 form you

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:16.500
 to understand

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.980
 that the real world

00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:18.719
 matters.

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.619
 Our friends here

00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.840
 who are

00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:24.099
 from India

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:24.820
 can tell you

00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:26.440
 that in India

00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.820
 Hinduism,

00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.179
 in a sense,

00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:29.239
 doesn't concern itself

00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:29.820
 with history.

00:34:30.279 --> 00:34:31.239
 It has myths

00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:31.880
 and rituals.

00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:33.599
 The goal

00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.059
 is a type

00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:34.639
 of private

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.420
 illumination

00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:38.099
 that will move

00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:39.099
 you to break

00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:39.659
 the spell

00:34:39.659 --> 00:34:40.680
 of reincarnation

00:34:40.680 --> 00:34:41.639
 and reincarnation

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:43.400
 to merge

00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:43.900
 with God.

00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:46.260
 And if you

00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:46.800
 have that,

00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:47.260
 that it's just

00:34:47.260 --> 00:34:48.200
 something private,

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:49.360
 it means in a sense

00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:50.039
 it doesn't matter

00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.780
 about the poor.

00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:51.940
 It doesn't matter

00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:53.500
 about industry.

00:34:53.720 --> 00:34:54.340
 It doesn't matter

00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:55.079
 about art.

00:34:55.680 --> 00:34:56.460
 It doesn't matter

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:57.400
 about education

00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.800
 because these things

00:34:58.800 --> 00:35:00.079
 are all just illusion.

00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:00.800
 They're all things

00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:01.619
 to pass away.

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:03.799
 But the Bible

00:35:03.799 --> 00:35:04.940
 at a very deep level

00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.880
 is forming us

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.799
 that you need

00:35:06.799 --> 00:35:07.819
 to care for the wall.

00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.440
 The wall is going

00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:09.679
 to serve the beautiful vision.

00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:10.460
 The wall is going

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.940
 to help to protect

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:13.119
 them from being robbed

00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.079
 and being beaten

00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:15.000
 and being raped.

00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.699
 It's going to become

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:16.579
 a place that can

00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.420
 become a platform

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.299
 to do all of these

00:35:18.299 --> 00:35:18.900
 other things.

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:21.139
 It's why it isn't

00:35:21.139 --> 00:35:21.739
 just the case

00:35:21.739 --> 00:35:22.380
 that I can just

00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:23.059
 present you some

00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:23.819
 ancient myth

00:35:23.819 --> 00:35:24.519
 about Jesus

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.380
 but that Jesus

00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:26.279
 isn't just some

00:35:26.279 --> 00:35:27.019
 ancient myth

00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:28.400
 but that Jesus

00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:29.239
 actually came

00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:30.219
 and lived amongst us

00:35:30.219 --> 00:35:31.259
 and walked amongst us.

00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:32.180
 He walked the streets

00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:32.720
 of Jerusalem.

00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:34.120
 He died upon a cross.

00:35:34.440 --> 00:35:35.600
 He died upon a cross

00:35:35.600 --> 00:35:37.520
 and historians

00:35:37.520 --> 00:35:38.380
 can pick

00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:39.820
 he died on the cross

00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:41.240
 on one of two days

00:35:41.240 --> 00:35:43.060
 because it happened

00:35:43.060 --> 00:35:43.660
 in history

00:35:43.660 --> 00:35:45.160
 and he rose from the dead

00:35:45.160 --> 00:35:46.780
 and scholars can say

00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:48.580
 it was on one of two days

00:35:48.580 --> 00:35:49.800
 that he rose from the dead

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:52.200
 and history matters

00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:53.440
 and the body matters

00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:54.720
 and the physical matters

00:35:54.720 --> 00:35:56.420
 and that's why it is

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.280
 that Christians

00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:59.000
 this is what I shared

00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.900
 with my Jewish friend

00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:00.580
 who asked me

00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:01.239
 about this yesterday

00:36:01.239 --> 00:36:01.940
 I said that's why

00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:03.119
 Christians and Jews

00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:04.559
 especially Christians

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.360
 no offense

00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:07.239
 wherever we go

00:36:07.239 --> 00:36:09.000
 we've set up hospitals

00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:09.940
 we set up schools

00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:10.960
 we care for the poor

00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:14.000
 the body matters

00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.940
 culture matters

00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:16.380
 it's why we have art

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:18.699
 it's why we have poetry

00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:19.360
 and song

00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:20.179
 and hymns

00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:23.719
 our physical existence

00:36:23.719 --> 00:36:24.319
 matters

00:36:24.319 --> 00:36:25.340
 and it's all part

00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:26.139
 of this forming

00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:27.019
 of what we see

00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:27.619
 by the fact

00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:28.159
 that the wall

00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:29.099
 has to be built

00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:30.299
 and the wall

00:36:30.299 --> 00:36:31.099
 serves us

00:36:31.099 --> 00:36:33.399
 you know

00:36:33.399 --> 00:36:34.839
 I'm going to read

00:36:34.839 --> 00:36:35.759
 it's not going to be up there

00:36:35.759 --> 00:36:36.159
 I'm going to read

00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:37.519
 Isaiah chapter 53

00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:37.879
 verse

00:36:37.879 --> 00:36:38.940
 just in closing

00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:40.440
 Isaiah chapter 53

00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:43.779
 as I bring this

00:36:43.779 --> 00:36:44.440
 to a close

00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:45.879
 Isaiah 53

00:36:45.879 --> 00:36:46.679
 3-6

00:36:46.679 --> 00:36:47.980
 remember I said

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:49.059
 that this is a story

00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:50.119
 about Nehemiah

00:36:50.119 --> 00:36:51.879
 leading a despised people

00:36:51.880 --> 00:36:54.820
 in the face

00:36:54.820 --> 00:36:55.920
 of their despisers

00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:56.720
 who are in positions

00:36:56.720 --> 00:36:57.360
 of authority

00:36:57.360 --> 00:36:59.000
 how he works

00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:00.440
 to build the wall

00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:03.539
 and I was very mindful

00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:04.099
 this week

00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:05.119
 of Isaiah 53

00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:05.900
 3-6

00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:08.000
 he was despised

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:08.599
 and rejected

00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:09.240
 by men

00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:11.180
 a man of sorrows

00:37:11.180 --> 00:37:11.740
 and acquainted

00:37:11.740 --> 00:37:12.400
 with grief

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:14.180
 and as one

00:37:14.180 --> 00:37:14.860
 from whom men

00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:15.660
 hide their faces

00:37:15.660 --> 00:37:16.880
 he was despised

00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:18.099
 and we esteemed him not

00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:19.860
 surely he has borne

00:37:19.860 --> 00:37:20.519
 our griefs

00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.719
 and carried our sorrows

00:37:21.719 --> 00:37:23.159
 we esteemed him stricken

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:24.159
 smitten by God

00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:24.900
 and afflicted

00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:26.559
 but he was pierced

00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.739
 for our transgressions

00:37:27.739 --> 00:37:28.460
 he was crushed

00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:29.780
 for our iniquities

00:37:29.780 --> 00:37:30.940
 upon him

00:37:30.940 --> 00:37:32.619
 was the chastisement

00:37:32.619 --> 00:37:33.840
 that brought us peace

00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:35.780
 and with his wounds

00:37:35.780 --> 00:37:36.599
 we are healed

00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:38.440
 all we like sheep

00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:39.280
 have gone astray

00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:40.039
 we have turned

00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:41.519
 everyone to his own way

00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:42.079
 and the Lord

00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:43.099
 has laid on him

00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:44.920
 the iniquity of us all

00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:47.639
 Jesus was despised

00:37:47.639 --> 00:37:49.860
 so that the despised

00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:51.280
 and the despisers

00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:53.079
 could repent

00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:54.519
 and be loved

00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:55.640
 by the triune God

00:37:55.640 --> 00:37:59.120
 he was despised

00:37:59.120 --> 00:38:00.980
 so that the despised

00:38:00.980 --> 00:38:02.660
 and the despisers

00:38:02.660 --> 00:38:04.180
 could repent

00:38:04.180 --> 00:38:05.160
 and be loved

00:38:05.160 --> 00:38:06.280
 by the triune God

00:38:06.280 --> 00:38:09.420
 you could put up the point

00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:10.260
 the triune God

00:38:10.260 --> 00:38:10.760
 is real

00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:11.340
 so he acts

00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:12.099
 in real history

00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:13.220
 so he can be

00:38:13.220 --> 00:38:13.820
 really known

00:38:13.820 --> 00:38:19.519
 and Jesus

00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.580
 the next point

00:38:20.580 --> 00:38:21.780
 is forming the real you

00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:22.640
 to follow him

00:38:22.640 --> 00:38:23.940
 and make him known

00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:24.840
 in the real world

00:38:24.840 --> 00:38:29.640
 Jesus is forming

00:38:29.640 --> 00:38:30.320
 the real you

00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:31.120
 to follow him

00:38:31.120 --> 00:38:31.960
 and make him known

00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:32.980
 in the real world

00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:34.320
 you know in a sense

00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:35.720
 there's many people

00:38:35.720 --> 00:38:36.340
 in our culture

00:38:36.340 --> 00:38:37.120
 who think that

00:38:37.120 --> 00:38:37.960
 to come to a church

00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:38.400
 like this

00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:39.200
 and believe the things

00:38:39.200 --> 00:38:39.780
 that we believe

00:38:39.780 --> 00:38:40.420
 is completely

00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.280
 and utterly foolish

00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:43.560
 and there's many people

00:38:43.560 --> 00:38:44.800
 who think that it's evil

00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:50.840
 follow Jesus anyway

00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:54.040
 make a difference

00:38:54.040 --> 00:38:55.019
 in the city anyway

00:38:55.019 --> 00:38:57.320
 share the gospel anyway

00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:59.200
 build anyway

00:38:59.200 --> 00:39:01.800
 and if you and I

00:39:01.800 --> 00:39:02.740
 think that there's a way

00:39:02.740 --> 00:39:03.380
 of behaving

00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:04.560
 so that people will

00:39:04.560 --> 00:39:05.980
 though people who think

00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:07.040
 that way about us

00:39:07.040 --> 00:39:08.480
 will not like us

00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.780
 dislike us less

00:39:09.780 --> 00:39:11.519
 I just want to say

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:11.840
 to you

00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:13.920
 for people who hate us

00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:15.640
 hate the things

00:39:15.640 --> 00:39:16.600
 that we stand for

00:39:16.600 --> 00:39:18.560
 before this service

00:39:18.560 --> 00:39:20.040
 they had 19 reasons

00:39:20.040 --> 00:39:21.140
 after this

00:39:21.140 --> 00:39:21.940
 they'll have 21

00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:25.140
 don't think about it

00:39:25.140 --> 00:39:28.420
 people hate you

00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:29.340
 for being a Christian

00:39:29.340 --> 00:39:32.180
 love them anyway

00:39:32.180 --> 00:39:34.380
 share the gospel anyway

00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:36.440
 pray for them anyway

00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:38.400
 do good anyway

00:39:38.400 --> 00:39:40.039
 build anyway

00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:41.800
 and in all things

00:39:41.800 --> 00:39:42.460
 pray for them

00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:47.559
 and if you're here

00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:48.019
 and you don't know

00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:48.460
 where you are

00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:49.039
 with Jesus

00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:49.940
 if you're here

00:39:49.940 --> 00:39:50.480
 and you don't know

00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:50.860
 where you are

00:39:50.860 --> 00:39:51.420
 with Jesus

00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.700
 it is so worth it

00:39:52.700 --> 00:39:55.420
 because he loves

00:39:55.420 --> 00:39:56.220
 the real you

00:39:56.220 --> 00:39:58.420
 he wants to fit

00:39:58.420 --> 00:39:59.240
 the real you

00:39:59.240 --> 00:40:00.200
 for a real life

00:40:00.200 --> 00:40:00.760
 with him

00:40:00.760 --> 00:40:03.780
 in this real world

00:40:03.780 --> 00:40:06.260
 and at the end

00:40:06.260 --> 00:40:06.660
 of the end

00:40:06.660 --> 00:40:07.340
 of the end

00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:09.320
 there is a real

00:40:09.320 --> 00:40:10.019
 new heaven

00:40:10.019 --> 00:40:10.680
 and new earth

00:40:10.680 --> 00:40:11.740
 you will have

00:40:11.740 --> 00:40:12.840
 a resurrection body

00:40:12.840 --> 00:40:14.559
 and be with him

00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:16.180
 you know

00:40:16.180 --> 00:40:17.539
 it's very interesting

00:40:17.539 --> 00:40:19.400
 the Bible begins

00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:19.920
 with God

00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.860
 having human beings

00:40:20.860 --> 00:40:21.500
 in a garden

00:40:21.500 --> 00:40:22.440
 in the center

00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:23.019
 of the world

00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:24.240
 if you go back

00:40:24.240 --> 00:40:24.680
 afterwards

00:40:24.680 --> 00:40:25.180
 and you read

00:40:25.180 --> 00:40:26.019
 Revelation chapter

00:40:26.019 --> 00:40:27.140
 21 and 22

00:40:27.140 --> 00:40:28.940
 it ends with a city

00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:30.480
 and in the center

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.000
 of the city

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:32.140
 is a garden

00:40:32.140 --> 00:40:34.200
 in all things

00:40:34.200 --> 00:40:34.840
 that's what God

00:40:34.840 --> 00:40:35.780
 is making us for

00:40:35.780 --> 00:40:37.380
 to live with others

00:40:37.380 --> 00:40:38.240
 under his rule

00:40:38.240 --> 00:40:39.740
 to have homes

00:40:39.740 --> 00:40:40.260
 in him

00:40:40.260 --> 00:40:42.280
 that are rooted

00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:42.960
 and deep

00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.579
 and thick

00:40:43.579 --> 00:40:44.760
 and have hope

00:40:44.760 --> 00:40:46.559
 please stand

00:40:46.559 --> 00:40:55.900
 let's bow our heads

00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:56.360
 in prayer

00:40:56.360 --> 00:41:03.019
 Father we

00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:06.219
 we ask that you

00:41:06.219 --> 00:41:08.420
 bring this story

00:41:08.420 --> 00:41:09.059
 home to us

00:41:09.059 --> 00:41:09.799
 in a real

00:41:09.799 --> 00:41:10.519
 and deep way

00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:10.799
 and

00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:13.340
 we thank you

00:41:13.340 --> 00:41:13.660
 Father

00:41:13.660 --> 00:41:14.060
 that

00:41:14.060 --> 00:41:16.340
 you claim

00:41:16.340 --> 00:41:17.120
 every single

00:41:17.120 --> 00:41:18.260
 bit of who we are

00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:19.400
 and that when

00:41:19.400 --> 00:41:20.519
 Jesus died on the cross

00:41:20.519 --> 00:41:21.300
 he died for

00:41:21.300 --> 00:41:22.120
 every single

00:41:22.120 --> 00:41:23.320
 bit of who we are

00:41:23.320 --> 00:41:25.640
 and you want us

00:41:25.640 --> 00:41:25.980
 to give

00:41:25.980 --> 00:41:26.780
 every single

00:41:26.780 --> 00:41:27.680
 bit of who we are

00:41:27.680 --> 00:41:28.260
 to you

00:41:28.260 --> 00:41:31.039
 and Father

00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:32.160
 you are taking

00:41:32.160 --> 00:41:32.940
 every single

00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:33.980
 bit of who we are

00:41:33.980 --> 00:41:34.700
 and you are

00:41:34.700 --> 00:41:35.260
 fitting us

00:41:35.260 --> 00:41:36.660
 for resurrection

00:41:36.660 --> 00:41:37.320
 bodies

00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:38.080
 in a new heaven

00:41:38.080 --> 00:41:38.920
 and a new earth

00:41:38.920 --> 00:41:40.579
 where we will dwell

00:41:40.579 --> 00:41:41.139
 with you

00:41:41.139 --> 00:41:42.260
 and with others

00:41:42.260 --> 00:41:42.980
 for all eternity

00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:45.680
 and

00:41:45.680 --> 00:41:47.940
 and so Father

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:48.400
 we give you

00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:49.539
 thanks and praise

00:41:49.539 --> 00:41:50.119
 that you claim

00:41:50.119 --> 00:41:50.820
 all of us

00:41:50.820 --> 00:41:52.019
 that Jesus died

00:41:52.019 --> 00:41:53.000
 for all of us

00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:54.220
 and we ask

00:41:54.220 --> 00:41:55.079
 that your Holy Spirit

00:41:55.079 --> 00:41:55.820
 would so move

00:41:55.820 --> 00:41:56.420
 in our lives

00:41:56.420 --> 00:41:57.340
 that all of us

00:41:57.340 --> 00:41:59.079
 that all of makes us

00:41:59.079 --> 00:41:59.440
 us

00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:00.880
 that we would recognize

00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:01.639
 that it's

00:42:01.639 --> 00:42:02.940
 it's to serve you

00:42:02.940 --> 00:42:03.659
 and to give back

00:42:03.659 --> 00:42:04.059
 to you

00:42:04.059 --> 00:42:04.380
 and that

00:42:04.380 --> 00:42:05.880
 you will only

00:42:05.880 --> 00:42:06.840
 make us more whole

00:42:06.840 --> 00:42:08.099
 whether it's

00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:08.720
 with our money

00:42:08.719 --> 00:42:09.719
 whether it's

00:42:09.719 --> 00:42:10.639
 with our sexuality

00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:11.719
 whether it's

00:42:11.719 --> 00:42:12.579
 with our time

00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:13.980
 our plan

00:42:13.980 --> 00:42:15.079
 our creativity

00:42:15.079 --> 00:42:16.500
 our intelligence

00:42:16.500 --> 00:42:17.539
 our thinking

00:42:17.539 --> 00:42:20.980
 Father

00:42:20.980 --> 00:42:21.959
 we give you

00:42:21.959 --> 00:42:22.779
 thanks and praise

00:42:22.779 --> 00:42:24.259
 that you claim it all

00:42:24.259 --> 00:42:25.839
 and have redeemed it all

00:42:25.839 --> 00:42:27.779
 and help us to live

00:42:27.779 --> 00:42:28.799
 under your rule

00:42:28.799 --> 00:42:30.619
 and under your gentle hand

00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:32.779
 making it all for you

00:42:32.779 --> 00:42:33.839
 giving it all to you

00:42:33.839 --> 00:42:35.059
 and we ask this

00:42:35.059 --> 00:42:35.859
 in the name of Jesus

00:42:35.859 --> 00:42:36.939
 your Son and our Savior

00:42:36.940 --> 00:42:38.820
 and therefore

00:42:38.820 --> 00:42:39.659
 we ask more

00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:40.300
 thank you

00:42:40.300 --> 00:42:40.900
 thank you

00:42:40.900 --> 00:42:41.159
 thank you