WEBVTT

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 Hi everyone, I'm Amy and I'll be doing the Bible reading for today.

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 The reading is from the book of Matthew, chapter 3, verses 1 to 12.

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 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the desert of Judea, and saying, Repent,

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 for the kingdom of heaven is near. This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah.

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 A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.

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 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.

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 His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea

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 and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the

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 Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptized,

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 he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

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 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance, and do not think you can say to yourselves,

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 We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children

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 for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce

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 good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance,

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 but after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.

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 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand,

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 and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff

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 with unquenchable fire. Father, I pray simply that you would open our eyes to see Jesus,

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 for each one of us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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 Amen. Well, tomorrow has been called Freedom Day. It's Freedom Day tomorrow, according to an ABC

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 News article. Freedom from the captivity of the COVID restrictions. More people can gather together,

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 we can sing at Christmas, a handful of people can dance again. I'll happily step aside and let you

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 dance if you want to. And this will mean that there's more jobs again. That's probably,

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 the best news, isn't it? The first line of the article says that pubs, theatres and places of

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 worship all agree next week's Freedom Day in New South Wales will be the best Christmas present

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 they could wish for. It's good news, isn't it? We're all looking forward to it. We should be thankful

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 and not take it for granted. Now, I'm sure many people had it worse than me in Australia, but

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 calling it Freedom Day just feels to me a bit over the top. It made me wonder, will lifting the

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 restrictions make my life better? I think that really depends on how you measure a good life.

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 So for instance, during the COVID restrictions this year, I think I was actually shown that there's a

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 much greater captivity that I need freedom from than just the restrictions. Let me show you what I mean.

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 Now, this probably depends on your personality, but a week into the lockdown back in April,

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 with all these life commitments suddenly cancelled, as an introvert, I loved the extra time that I could

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 just use for however I wanted to spend it. I don't know if you found that. It probably depends on

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 personality. Or when the madness erupted with the panic buying. Even though I resolved to only buy

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 what I needed for that week, like usual, I remember standing in the aisle of Coles holding a bag of rice

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 rice that I didn't need and having this battle inside me, will it be here next week? And I took it for myself.

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 When the lockdown lifted and these commitments started up again, it was difficult to leave the house,

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 did you find? Like to set the alarm earlier, to actually drive to places, oh, what a burden.

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 It gets in the way of your agenda again. Now, you might be thinking these are very minor things,

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 but I believe they're examples of my heart being captive, that I'm devoted to a life living for myself.

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 The outward situations change, but the problem inside my heart remains the same.

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 The heart devoted to self can sometimes have very little impact on others, like you wouldn't even notice it.

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 But other times, I think you would agree with me, a life devoted to self can really harm

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 and let others down.

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 I wonder, will we use our renewed freedoms tomorrow for ourselves?

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 Or are we excited because we have more opportunities to serve others?

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 Is your heart devoted to living for yourself?

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 God's word to us today in Matthew is going to tell us about the greatest freedom day.

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 The day when God came to set us free on the inside.

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 So let's listen to what God says to us today.

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 After Matthew has spent two chapters looking at the birth of Jesus

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 and how he clearly meets the criteria for God's promised king,

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 he skips over 25 years or so of Jesus' life.

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 He's not a very good biographer, if that's what he's trying to do.

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 Which it's not, he's got a point to make.

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 Our attention is then drawn in chapter 3 to this camel hair wearing,

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 locust eating, probably smelly man,

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 living outside civilisation in the wilderness,

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 a preacher who announces this day of freedom.

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 What a weird thing to draw our attention to.

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 The Bible rarely tells us what someone looks like.

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 So it's interesting that we're told in 2 Kings 1.8 that Elijah the prophet,

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 who lived a further 850 years before John,

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 he wore a garment of hair with a leather belt around his waist.

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 Now why is this significant?

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 It's significant because God's final promise in the Old Testament,

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 before Jesus turns up, is Malachi 4.5.

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 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet,

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 before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

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 As far as we know, there's absolutely nothing attractive about John

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 that people back then or us today would be attracted to him,

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 to come to him.

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 We're told in verse 5 that many people did.

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 Like a lot of people confused him for the king himself.

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 That's how popular he was.

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 Many people came and listened.

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 Now why is he worth listening to?

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 He's worth listening to because he is the last prophet to come

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 before the great and awesome day,

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 the day called the Day of the Lord,

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 the day when God himself walks in the door,

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 when he turns up.

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 Isaiah the prophet said the same thing and Matthew quotes it.

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 The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

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 prepare the way of the Lord.

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 Make his path straight.

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 The Lord is coming.

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 Now the original context of this quote in Isaiah

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 is about God's people being set free from captivity,

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 a new exodus,

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 a new freedom.

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 If John is this second Elijah preparing the way,

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 then the Day of the Lord is here.

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 It's arrived.

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 It's happened.

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 And the prophets were clear that the Day of the Lord

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 was a day of salvation,

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 bringing everlasting freedom

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 for those who want God to be in control.

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 But it's also the Day of God's anger

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 for anyone who doesn't want God to be God.

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 God is showing up.

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 It's either going to be freedom or anger.

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 Depending on whether we want God to be God.

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 Another clue that Matthew gives us

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 that this new day has arrived is the setting.

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 It's in the wilderness.

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 Now, the wilderness is where God loves

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 to bring about new beginnings.

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 So we see it when the Israelites come out of Egypt.

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 After leaving captivity in Egypt,

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 they're taken into the wilderness

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 and it's in the wilderness

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 that God comes to them at Mount Sinai

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 and enters into a covenant relationship with them.

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 It's in the wilderness.

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 There's nothing there.

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 That's where God meets people

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 and starts the new covenant relationship.

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 But for Israel back then,

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 that freedom to live with God,

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 that freedom to live for God,

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 it was short-lived.

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 It didn't last.

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 Because the problem in their hearts,

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 they just stuffed it up again and again and again.

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 So God promised through the prophets

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 a new day of freedom.

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 A new exodus from captivity in the wilderness.

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 I love the pictures in the next chapter of Isaiah,

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 chapter 41.

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 chapter 41.

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 When the poor and needy seek water,

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 and there is none,

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 and their tongue is parched with thirst,

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 I, the Lord, will answer them.

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 I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

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 I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

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 and the dry land springs of water.

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 I will put in the wilderness the cedar,

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 the acacia, the myrtle, the olive,

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 that they may see and know,

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 may consider and understand together

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 that the hand of the Lord has done this.

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 The Holy One of Israel has created it.

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 Now what's the point of that?

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 The crowds who first heard John,

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 they had to leave Jerusalem.

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 They had to leave the city

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 and go into the wilderness

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 for this new beginning.

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 They had to leave behind their status as Jews,

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 as members of the people of God.

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 They had to leave that behind,

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 not trust in it.

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 They had to leave behind

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 the religious establishment

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 that said,

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 this is how you approach God.

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 They had to leave that behind

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 and go to the wilderness.

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 So too, I think we need to leave behind

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 whatever we look to in life.

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 As the source of our confidence before God,

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 we've got to leave that behind

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 and come to God with nothing

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 and let him create a garden in our hearts.

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 We've got to come to him with nothing

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 in the wilderness

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 and he creates something new.

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 So John's message in verse 2

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 is really brief,

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 but it's life-changing.

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 It's history-changing.

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 Here's his message.

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 Here's what's going to bring about the change.

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 Repent,

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 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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 That's it.

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 The kingdom of heaven isn't about a place.

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 The kingdom of heaven is not the church,

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 the institution.

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 It is really about God's kingship,

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 his sovereignty.

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 I like how a guy named R.T. France

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 puts John's message.

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 He says it like this.

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 God is now taking control.

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 He's come.

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 God is now taking control.

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 The kingdom of heaven is the rule of God.

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 Now, we might assume that the rule of God

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 is kind of like the COVID restrictions.

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 It's a damper.

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 It's restraining life.

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 But that's not true.

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 God's good rule is like water

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 pouring in the wilderness

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 that causes thriving.

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 It sets us free.

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 Of course, in one sense,

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 ever since God created the world,

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 he's always been ruling.

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 He's God.

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 He's still ruling.

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 But in another sense,

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 people don't recognize his rule.

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 People don't like his rule.

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 People fight against him being God

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 of their lives.

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 And so there's this tension.

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 John's message is,

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 the kingdom of heaven is now.

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 It starts in our hearts.

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 It's when people acknowledge

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 that God alone is God

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 and want to live in his good ways.

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 It's when people love God

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 and worship him alone.

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 People all over the world.

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 That's the changes in here.

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 The kingdom of heaven is arriving

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 in people's hearts.

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 That time has begun.

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 It's arrived.

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 It's not future.

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 It's arrived.

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 It's not future.

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 Which is why it is time

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 for every person to repent.

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 Now, repentance isn't just

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 feeling sorry for what you've done,

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 although you've got to start there.

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 Repentance is to abandon

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 living for yourself

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 and turn back to God.

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 It's to give your entire allegiance

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 to him,

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 not to self.

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 And John gives us two pictures

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 of how urgent

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 our situation is.

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 He says in verse 10,

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 even now the axe

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 is laid at the root of the trees.

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 Every tree, therefore,

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 that does not bear good fruit

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 is cut down

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 and thrown into the fire.

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 There are serious consequences

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 to trying to dethrone God

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 in our lives.

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 That is a serious thing

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 to try and do.

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 The axe is placed

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 at the root of the tree.

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 It is ready to swing.

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 Every tree,

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 the whole tree,

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 it's at the root.

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 The whole tree will come down.

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 There's no time to waste.

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 The gardener wants

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 to find good fruit.

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 That's what a fruit tree

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 is for.

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 Otherwise,

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 it's worthless,

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 only good for burning.

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 God is looking

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 for the fruit

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 of a life

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 lived

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 in love of God

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 which overflows

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 in the love of others.

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 But notice

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 that as every tree,

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 the judgment

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 is selective.

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 God isn't just

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 swinging wildly.

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 He's careful.

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 It's selective.

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 Each person

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 is judged

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 according to their own fruit

00:16:19.079 --> 00:16:19.919
 or lack thereof.

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:23.939
 So the question

00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:24.559
 for us is

00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.099
 will he find

00:16:25.099 --> 00:16:26.279
 fruit on your tree?

00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.419
 The other picture

00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:33.399
 is a farming one

00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.819
 in verse 12.

00:16:35.219 --> 00:16:36.139
 After harvesting

00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:36.579
 the wheat,

00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:37.679
 there's a pile of wheat

00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:38.339
 mixed up with

00:16:38.339 --> 00:16:39.079
 all the other bits

00:16:39.079 --> 00:16:40.039
 that got caught up

00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:41.360
 in the threshing.

00:16:42.579 --> 00:16:43.360
 Now the farmer

00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.179
 uses a shovel,

00:16:44.719 --> 00:16:45.799
 a winnowing fork,

00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:46.879
 it's called here,

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:47.980
 to throw it up

00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:48.500
 in the air

00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:50.259
 and the light bit,

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:51.220
 the useless bits

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:51.779
 are lighter

00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:52.419
 and the wind

00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.539
 blows it away

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.399
 and the wheat

00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.279
 falls back down.

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.419
 The wheat

00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:01.259
 is bundled up

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:02.039
 and safely

00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:03.039
 brought into the barn.

00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.579
 The chaff,

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.519
 the useless bits,

00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.480
 is bundled up

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.460
 and put

00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:09.059
 into the fire.

00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:11.880
 Notice again

00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:12.319
 the judgment

00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.119
 is selective.

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.299
 The wheat

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:15.920
 isn't burned

00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.579
 with the chaff

00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.359
 nor is the chaff

00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:18.479
 accidentally bundled up

00:17:18.479 --> 00:17:18.979
 with the wheat.

00:17:21.679 --> 00:17:22.559
 John says

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.219
 the situation

00:17:23.219 --> 00:17:24.019
 is urgent.

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.699
 The winnowing fork

00:17:25.699 --> 00:17:27.059
 is in his hand.

00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:28.819
 He's ready

00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:30.099
 to separate.

00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.679
 Bringing his people

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.959
 into his barn safely

00:17:34.959 --> 00:17:37.199
 and the rest

00:17:37.199 --> 00:17:38.899
 burnt with

00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:40.000
 unquenchable

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.939
 fire.

00:17:43.939 --> 00:17:45.359
 Fire that can't

00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.319
 be extinguished.

00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:49.219
 Now to be honest

00:17:49.219 --> 00:17:49.579
 with you,

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.059
 I had to spend

00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.659
 a lot of time

00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:52.159
 this week

00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:53.819
 just researching

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.559
 this word

00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.199
 unquenchable

00:17:55.199 --> 00:17:55.919
 and things like

00:17:55.919 --> 00:17:56.699
 every fiver

00:17:56.699 --> 00:17:57.419
 of my being

00:17:57.419 --> 00:17:58.000
 wants this

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.859
 not to mean

00:17:58.859 --> 00:17:59.579
 what it means.

00:18:02.219 --> 00:18:03.319
 Maybe I'm okay

00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.919
 in the extreme cases

00:18:04.919 --> 00:18:05.539
 like Hitler

00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.119
 and the like

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:06.719
 of them

00:18:06.719 --> 00:18:07.639
 having eternal

00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:08.779
 unquenchable

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.740
 fire.

00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:11.059
 Maybe I'm okay

00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:11.479
 with that

00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.420
 but for

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.299
 ordinary people

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.420
 this idea

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.660
 is just

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.920
 terrifying.

00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.920
 Many Christians

00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:22.079
 try and downplay

00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:22.759
 what the Bible

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.039
 says,

00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:23.559
 what Jesus

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.360
 himself says

00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:24.980
 later on.

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.519
 So one idea

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.039
 that people

00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.519
 have come up

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.059
 with is

00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:28.579
 purgatory

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.000
 where people

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.960
 just pay

00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:30.380
 for their

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:30.880
 sins

00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:31.599
 and then

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:31.880
 they go

00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:32.240
 to heaven.

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.480
 Another idea

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.079
 is that

00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:37.440
 only Christians

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.019
 have eternal

00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.319
 life.

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:38.960
 Everyone else

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.700
 just ceases

00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:40.400
 to exist.

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:43.779
 Unfortunately

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:47.220
 this picture

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:47.980
 here of a fire

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.519
 that can't be

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.299
 extinguished

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:50.579
 is a picture

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:51.319
 of eternal

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.440
 conscious experience

00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:53.519
 and Jesus

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.000
 talks about

00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.480
 this later.

00:18:55.600 --> 00:18:56.200
 It's a

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:56.579
 terrifying

00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:57.059
 thought.

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.500
 But even

00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:02.160
 if we

00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.720
 struggle with

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.140
 I think we

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.480
 should all

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:03.900
 struggle with

00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:04.340
 this idea.

00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:06.019
 I think anyone

00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.480
 should be

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.400
 rejoicing about

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.079
 this concept.

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.420
 But we've

00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:10.600
 got a

00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:10.900
 choice.

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.860
 We can

00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:13.220
 sit as

00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.000
 judge over

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.420
 what God

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:14.799
 says in

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.200
 the Bible

00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.860
 and decide

00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:16.259
 it's too

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.880
 harsh or

00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.240
 we can

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.779
 listen to

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.100
 what the

00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:18.360
 righteous

00:19:18.360 --> 00:19:18.720
 judge

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.079
 says.

00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:27.360
 While we

00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:27.600
 do,

00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:28.579
 we need to

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.420
 always remember

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:29.900
 what God

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.480
 says in

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.680
 Ezekiel 33

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.079
 11.

00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.460
 Please hear

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:34.960
 this clearly.

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:38.140
 as I

00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:38.620
 live,

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.200
 declares

00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.740
 the Lord

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.120
 God,

00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:42.100
 I have

00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:42.980
 no pleasure

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.880
 in the

00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:44.180
 death of

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:44.539
 the wicked.

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:45.360
 I have

00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:45.920
 no pleasure.

00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:48.100
 But that

00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:48.600
 the wicked

00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:49.660
 would turn

00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.120
 from his

00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:50.920
 way and

00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:51.319
 live.

00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:53.539
 Turn

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.019
 back,

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.539
 turn back

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.319
 from your

00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:56.980
 evil ways.

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.180
 For why

00:19:58.180 --> 00:19:58.500
 will you

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:58.779
 die?

00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:01.000
 That is the

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:01.319
 heart of

00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:01.559
 God.

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:02.319
 He takes

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:02.860
 no pleasure

00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:03.240
 in the

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.559
 death of

00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:03.819
 anyone.

00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:06.679
 God's

00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:10.960
 just

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.359
 judgment,

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:11.919
 the words

00:20:11.919 --> 00:20:12.419
 of Malachi

00:20:12.419 --> 00:20:12.980
 say it

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.279
 best.

00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:13.980
 Who can

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.559
 endure

00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.980
 the day

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.279
 of his

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.599
 coming?

00:20:17.659 --> 00:20:18.299
 Who can

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.259
 stand when

00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:20.039
 he appears?

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.939
 Is there

00:20:23.939 --> 00:20:24.319
 any good

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:24.639
 tree?

00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.339
 Is there

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.700
 any good

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.000
 wheat?

00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.379
 Well,

00:20:32.419 --> 00:20:32.799
 before you

00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.279
 despair,

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.139
 before we

00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:34.559
 despair,

00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.059
 you need

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.339
 to see

00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.220
 the surprising

00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:37.519
 answer to

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.059
 who the

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:38.779
 king counts

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.259
 as good

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.139
 and whom

00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:40.480
 he will

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.119
 cut down.

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.379
 We see

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:43.960
 two groups

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.359
 of people

00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:44.920
 coming out

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.339
 to John

00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.920
 and they

00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:47.500
 represent the

00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.240
 two responses

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.139
 we can have

00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:49.759
 to King

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.119
 Jesus.

00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:50.259
 people.

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:54.479
 If you

00:20:54.479 --> 00:20:54.939
 were to ask

00:20:54.939 --> 00:20:55.299
 a Jewish

00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:55.899
 person living

00:20:55.899 --> 00:20:56.379
 in Jerusalem

00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:56.699
 at the

00:20:56.699 --> 00:20:57.119
 time,

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:57.659
 show me

00:20:57.659 --> 00:20:57.939
 what a

00:20:57.939 --> 00:20:58.179
 godly

00:20:58.179 --> 00:20:58.519
 person

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.159
 looks like,

00:20:59.219 --> 00:20:59.599
 they would

00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.219
 take you

00:21:00.219 --> 00:21:00.919
 to one

00:21:00.919 --> 00:21:01.319
 of two

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:01.819
 groups of

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.179
 people.

00:21:02.919 --> 00:21:03.059
 The

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.719
 Sadducees

00:21:03.719 --> 00:21:04.639
 or the

00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:05.279
 Pharisees.

00:21:05.459 --> 00:21:05.959
 They're the

00:21:05.959 --> 00:21:07.099
 religious elite.

00:21:07.239 --> 00:21:07.699
 They're at the

00:21:07.699 --> 00:21:08.019
 top.

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.799
 The Sadducees

00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.619
 were politically

00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.279
 in charge.

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.639
 They were the

00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.599
 priests in the

00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:13.899
 temple.

00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:15.459
 And the Sadducees,

00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.440
 they were just

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.279
 so careful

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.680
 to keep

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.279
 God's rules

00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:18.620
 that they

00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:19.480
 added rules

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.360
 just to be

00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:20.840
 even more

00:21:20.840 --> 00:21:21.259
 careful.

00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:23.059
 Everyone

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:23.840
 thought these

00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:24.440
 guys were

00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:24.960
 close to

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.220
 God.

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:25.880
 They're at

00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:26.259
 the top.

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.759
 If anyone's

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.220
 getting in,

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:28.880
 they're getting

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.200
 in.

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:32.920
 But verse

00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.240
 7,

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.279
 when these

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.240
 religious elites

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.860
 come out to

00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:36.700
 see why all

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.140
 the crowds

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.680
 are coming to

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:37.960
 John,

00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.880
 he does not

00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.440
 welcome them.

00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.900
 You brood of

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.360
 vipers,

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.460
 who warned

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.720
 you to

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.299
 flee from

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:45.639
 the wrath

00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:46.079
 to come.

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.399
 Bear fruit

00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:50.059
 in keeping

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.720
 with repentance.

00:21:52.659 --> 00:21:53.579
 They too

00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.220
 needed to

00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.740
 turn their

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.220
 hearts back

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:55.619
 to God,

00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:56.099
 but they

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:57.119
 thought they

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.579
 were already

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.180
 pretty good

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.240
 by their

00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.779
 own efforts.

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.899
 They were

00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:02.619
 Abraham's

00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.019
 descendants.

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.059
 They thought

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.279
 they were

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.159
 already members

00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:05.619
 of God's

00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:05.940
 people.

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:06.559
 They were

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.419
 confident they

00:22:07.419 --> 00:22:08.019
 were already

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.500
 good at

00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:08.899
 running their

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.579
 own life.

00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:12.099
 Yet from

00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:12.480
 God's

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:12.919
 perspective,

00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:14.519
 where their

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.240
 confidence in

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.920
 themselves,

00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:17.640
 their lack

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.200
 of awareness

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:18.599
 of their

00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:18.980
 sin,

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.519
 they're in

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.099
 danger of

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:20.319
 hell.

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.339
 It was the

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.519
 religious elite

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.700
 who were most

00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.279
 in danger.

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:30.900
 And then

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.539
 surprisingly,

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.299
 again,

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.420
 it's the

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.519
 ordinary people,

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.700
 the people you

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.799
 could look at

00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:37.420
 and they

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.559
 obviously haven't

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.259
 lived for God.

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:39.299
 God.

00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.339
 It's those

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:41.879
 people who

00:22:41.879 --> 00:22:42.579
 came out to

00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:44.200
 John who

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.039
 admitted that

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.579
 they need

00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:45.980
 forgiveness.

00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.019
 They admitted

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.740
 that they need

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.339
 freedom from

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:48.879
 their sin,

00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:50.140
 that they need

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.440
 a new

00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:50.819
 beginning.

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:54.019
 It isn't the

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.799
 self-confident

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.519
 person that the

00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.099
 king welcomes,

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:56.900
 it's the person

00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.779
 who confesses

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.480
 their need for

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.160
 the king to

00:22:59.160 --> 00:22:59.819
 forgive them

00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.420
 and change

00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:00.640
 them.

00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:03.780
 We see in

00:23:03.780 --> 00:23:04.340
 verse 6,

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.400
 to symbolise

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.060
 their turning

00:23:06.060 --> 00:23:06.720
 back to God,

00:23:06.800 --> 00:23:07.560
 they're baptised

00:23:07.560 --> 00:23:08.100
 by John,

00:23:08.520 --> 00:23:09.180
 confessing

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.860
 their sins.

00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.600
 So baptism,

00:23:13.800 --> 00:23:14.340
 it was common

00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:14.980
 back then for

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.800
 converts to

00:23:15.800 --> 00:23:16.560
 Judaism to

00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:17.060
 immerse

00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:18.360
 themselves in

00:23:18.360 --> 00:23:18.940
 water to

00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:19.680
 show a change

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.380
 in their life,

00:23:21.280 --> 00:23:22.120
 to stop

00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.640
 worshipping

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.280
 other gods

00:23:23.280 --> 00:23:23.600
 and to

00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:24.600
 worship the

00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:25.140
 God of the

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:25.500
 Jews.

00:23:25.780 --> 00:23:26.460
 Or it was

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:26.960
 common for

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.780
 Jews on their

00:23:27.780 --> 00:23:28.280
 way to the

00:23:28.280 --> 00:23:28.860
 temple to

00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:29.800
 wash themselves.

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.420
 What's different

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.140
 about John's

00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:35.140
 baptism was

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.520
 to accept

00:23:36.520 --> 00:23:37.259
 his message

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.740
 that the

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.780
 new day of

00:23:39.780 --> 00:23:40.560
 God's rule

00:23:40.560 --> 00:23:41.660
 under God's

00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:42.400
 appointed king

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.040
 has begun

00:23:43.040 --> 00:23:43.580
 because the

00:23:43.580 --> 00:23:44.080
 king has

00:23:44.080 --> 00:23:44.680
 shown up.

00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:47.080
 It was to

00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:47.660
 believe his

00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.100
 message.

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.160
 It was to

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.160
 accept freedom

00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:51.820
 on God's

00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.259
 terms.

00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.640
 Even the

00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:55.300
 act of having

00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:56.960
 John immerse

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.540
 them, so

00:23:57.540 --> 00:23:57.900
 they didn't

00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.259
 immerse

00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:58.780
 themselves,

00:23:58.780 --> 00:23:59.660
 the act of

00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.980
 John baptizing.

00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.120
 Even that

00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:04.160
 symbolizes that

00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:05.040
 you don't

00:24:05.040 --> 00:24:06.000
 change yourself.

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:06.800
 You must

00:24:06.800 --> 00:24:07.519
 receive it.

00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.180
 It must be

00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:08.800
 done for

00:24:08.800 --> 00:24:09.120
 you.

00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:12.800
 But John

00:24:12.800 --> 00:24:13.140
 is really

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.440
 clear.

00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.180
 His water

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:14.820
 baptism was

00:24:14.820 --> 00:24:15.160
 just to

00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.019
 prepare people

00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.759
 for the

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.860
 real inside

00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:18.500
 change that

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.000
 only the

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.460
 king can

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:19.880
 give you.

00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:20.720
 John

00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.200
 can't give

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.300
 it.

00:24:22.040 --> 00:24:22.800
 I can't

00:24:22.800 --> 00:24:23.180
 give it to

00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:23.320
 you.

00:24:23.320 --> 00:24:24.100
 You must go

00:24:24.100 --> 00:24:24.360
 to the

00:24:24.360 --> 00:24:25.100
 king himself

00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:25.779
 to get

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.579
 that internal

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.059
 cleansing.

00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:30.000
 A radical

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.099
 change has

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:31.599
 to happen,

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:33.199
 like turning

00:24:33.199 --> 00:24:34.980
 stones into

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.439
 children.

00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.459
 Only God

00:24:38.459 --> 00:24:38.799
 can do

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.059
 that.

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.719
 With

00:24:44.719 --> 00:24:44.980
 enough

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.619
 willpower

00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:47.399
 and motivations,

00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:47.899
 I can

00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.919
 modify some

00:24:48.919 --> 00:24:49.199
 of my

00:24:49.199 --> 00:24:49.619
 behaviors.

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.679
 Like, I've

00:24:50.679 --> 00:24:51.119
 cut down

00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:51.599
 from three

00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.159
 coffees to

00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:52.819
 two each

00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:53.099
 day.

00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:54.460
 That's a

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:54.839
 big win

00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.319
 for me.

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.779
 But how

00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.159
 will my

00:25:00.159 --> 00:25:00.779
 heart,

00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:01.720
 that is so

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:03.419
 devoted to

00:25:03.419 --> 00:25:04.259
 a life living

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.000
 for myself,

00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:06.159
 be set

00:25:06.159 --> 00:25:06.700
 free to

00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.179
 love God

00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:07.599
 and others?

00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:11.839
 How will

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.279
 that happen?

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.980
 The prophet

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.759
 Ezekiel in

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.460
 chapter 36

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.000
 said that

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.319
 God will

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.740
 one day

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.220
 bring about

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:19.679
 this radical

00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:20.159
 change.

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.279
 Let me

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:21.639
 read his

00:25:21.639 --> 00:25:21.939
 words.

00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.220
 God

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:23.480
 said,

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.200
 I will

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:24.720
 sprinkle

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.179
 clean

00:25:25.179 --> 00:25:25.679
 water on

00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:25.919
 you,

00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:27.599
 and you

00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.139
 shall be

00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:29.579
 clean from

00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.220
 all your

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.899
 uncleannesses,

00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.240
 and from

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.819
 all your

00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.480
 idols I

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.119
 will cleanse

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.379
 you,

00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.879
 and I

00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:36.500
 will give

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.740
 you a

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.399
 new heart

00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.799
 and a

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.839
 new spirit

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:42.460
 I will

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.099
 put within

00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.419
 you,

00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:44.919
 and I

00:25:44.919 --> 00:25:45.579
 will remove

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.079
 the heart

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:46.740
 of stone

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.319
 from your

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.419
 flesh and

00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:49.240
 give you

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.220
 a heart

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.799
 of flesh,

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:52.319
 and I

00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:52.799
 will put

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.680
 my spirit

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.359
 within you

00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.619
 and cause

00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.700
 you to

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.279
 walk in

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:58.159
 my statutes

00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:59.119
 and be

00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.720
 careful to

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.200
 obey my

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.599
 rules,

00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.940
 and you

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:02.299
 shall be

00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:02.879
 my people

00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:04.259
 and I

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:04.539
 will be

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.059
 your God.

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.139
 John

00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:09.200
 says the

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:09.839
 day of

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.759
 inner renewal

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:12.319
 has arrived

00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:12.819
 with King

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.299
 Jesus.

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:16.879
 verse 11,

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.399
 he points

00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.579
 forward to

00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:21.019
 this baptism

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:22.099
 inside.

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:23.899
 He who

00:26:23.899 --> 00:26:24.259
 is coming

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.940
 after me

00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.799
 is mightier

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.220
 than I,

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.659
 whose sandals

00:26:27.659 --> 00:26:28.159
 I'm not

00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:28.759
 worthy to

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.159
 carry.

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.180
 He will

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.899
 baptize you

00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:32.539
 with the

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.240
 Holy Spirit

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:33.919
 and fire.

00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:35.980
 And then

00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.639
 Jesus walks

00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:37.019
 onto the

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.279
 scene,

00:26:38.419 --> 00:26:38.799
 the next

00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.119
 verse,

00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:41.879
 and he's

00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.519
 baptized by

00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:42.819
 John.

00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:44.119
 That's a bit

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.839
 surprising and

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.039
 we're going

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.319
 to look at

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.700
 that next

00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.000
 week.

00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:46.680
 Why does

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.019
 he choose

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.240
 to be

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.519
 baptized?

00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.079
 The

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.500
 mighty

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.059
 one has

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:53.680
 arrived.

00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:55.539
 The

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:55.960
 day of

00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.460
 the Lord

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.180
 is here.

00:26:58.899 --> 00:26:59.539
 The

00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.259
 King has

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.759
 come.

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.839
 God is

00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:03.579
 now taking

00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.279
 control.

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.379
 How does

00:27:08.379 --> 00:27:08.720
 he take

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.259
 control of

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:09.879
 our hearts?

00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:11.059
 It's not

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.759
 by force.

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.680
 God is

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.039
 going to

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.299
 do it.

00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:16.079
 I like

00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.039
 the quote

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.139
 by Augustine

00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:19.960
 which captures

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.759
 the lengths

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.319
 Jesus has

00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:21.879
 gone to,

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.259
 not to

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.919
 condemn us,

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.220
 which he

00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.700
 has every

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.079
 right to

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.240
 do,

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:24.539
 but to

00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:24.879
 set us

00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.200
 free.

00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.119
 So it's

00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:27.339
 in the

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:27.799
 bulletin,

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.480
 but let me

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.000
 read it.

00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:30.839
 Talking

00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:31.379
 about Jesus,

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.500
 he lies in

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:32.980
 a manger,

00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:35.359
 but he

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:35.919
 holds the

00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:36.399
 world in

00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.000
 his hand.

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.339
 God

00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.619
 is

00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.180
 nourished

00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:40.460
 at the

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:40.920
 breast,

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:43.079
 but he

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.579
 feeds

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.140
 angels.

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.519
 He is

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.220
 wrapped in

00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.740
 swaddling

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.740
 cloths,

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.700
 but he

00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.720
 clothes us

00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.140
 with

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:51.920
 immortality.

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.880
 He is

00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.380
 suckled,

00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:55.099
 but he's

00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.640
 adored.

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.660
 He does

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.079
 not find

00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:57.500
 room in

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:57.900
 the inn,

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.180
 but he

00:27:59.180 --> 00:27:59.700
 makes a

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.380
 temple for

00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:01.759
 himself in

00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.220
 the hearts

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.799
 of believers.

00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:05.579
 God

00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.359
 became a

00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:06.899
 human

00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:07.919
 being

00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:10.240
 to set

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.680
 us free

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.159
 from living

00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:11.960
 for ourselves.

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.159
 I think

00:28:14.159 --> 00:28:14.399
 it is

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.019
 right for

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.359
 us to

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:15.839
 fear

00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.440
 eternal

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.919
 fire that

00:28:17.919 --> 00:28:18.339
 our sins

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:18.839
 deserve.

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.240
 It is

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.720
 right for

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.039
 us to

00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.519
 fear that.

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.000
 But Jesus

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.619
 does not

00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.019
 want you

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.480
 to come

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.159
 simply with

00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:24.539
 fear.

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.119
 We're just

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.519
 saying it

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:27.980
 in Amazing

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.419
 Grace,

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:29.019
 the lyrics.

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.000
 It was

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.799
 grace that

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.259
 taught my

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.759
 heart to

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.159
 fear,

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:34.299
 and grace

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.440
 my fears

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.720
 relieved.

00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:38.639
 You've

00:28:38.639 --> 00:28:38.819
 got to

00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.279
 start with

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.599
 fear,

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:39.980
 but he

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.220
 doesn't

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.539
 want you

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.079
 to just

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.559
 come with

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:41.919
 fear.

00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.519
 It was

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.460
 grace that

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.000
 my fears

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.700
 relieved.

00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:49.059
 How does

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.299
 he do

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:49.559
 that?

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.259
 The

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.000
 king sets

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.440
 us free

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:55.859
 from our

00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.440
 sin by

00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.240
 taking hell

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.240
 upon himself

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.500
 by going

00:28:59.500 --> 00:28:59.799
 to the

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.159
 cross.

00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.540
 God

00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:02.160
 said,

00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.040
 instead of

00:29:03.040 --> 00:29:03.400
 me,

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.080
 the fruitless

00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:04.460
 tree,

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.480
 the gardener

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.920
 was cut

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.300
 down.

00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.620
 Instead

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.200
 of me,

00:29:12.320 --> 00:29:13.000
 the chaff

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.560
 that should

00:29:13.560 --> 00:29:13.779
 have been

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.500
 blown away,

00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.440
 the farmer

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.980
 himself was

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.519
 thrown into

00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.000
 the fire.

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.000
 God

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.380
 will

00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.000
 love you.

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.500
 God

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.000
 will

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.500
 love you.

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.000
 God

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.500
 will

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.500
 love you.

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.039
 He invites

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:26.420
 us to

00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:26.900
 come to

00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.160
 him to

00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:27.519
 be set

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:27.839
 free,

00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:29.559
 to give

00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.240
 our total

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.980
 allegiance to

00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.720
 him and

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.420
 receive the

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.099
 Holy Spirit

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:34.460
 that will

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.019
 change us

00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:35.339
 from the

00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:36.180
 inside out,

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.660
 to love

00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:38.140
 God and

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.680
 love others

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.339
 as we're

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:39.900
 made for.

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:42.920
 But he

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.480
 does it by

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:43.920
 his own

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.279
 death.

00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:44.359
 death.

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:47.019
 His own

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:48.559
 death makes

00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.460
 a temple for

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.200
 himself in

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.680
 the hearts

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.379
 of believers.

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:57.079
 So are

00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.480
 you ready

00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.879
 to meet

00:29:58.879 --> 00:29:59.240
 the king?

00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:04.220
 are you

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.920
 ready to

00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.319
 accept

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.039
 freedom on

00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.400
 God's

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:06.819
 terms?

00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.420
 Not

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.019
 freedom to

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.359
 sin,

00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.240
 to keep

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:11.660
 living for

00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.019
 yourself,

00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:12.559
 but freedom

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.160
 to love

00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:14.039
 and flourish

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.539
 under the

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:14.740
 king.

00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.799
 God has

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.319
 turned up.

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:20.799
 He's

00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.240
 walked in

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.599
 the door.

00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.460
 The time

00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:24.900
 of God's

00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:25.460
 rule has

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:25.920
 begun.

00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:27.279
 The king

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.220
 is enthroned.

00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:28.720
 His name

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.319
 is Jesus.

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:31.819
 Tomorrow

00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.279
 might be

00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:32.980
 freedom day

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.380
 from all

00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:33.480
 the

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:33.960
 restrictions,

00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.420
 but today

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:38.519
 he offers

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.079
 you freedom

00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:39.559
 from your

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:39.900
 sin.

00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:42.079
 He offers

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.720
 you freedom

00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.500
 from the

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.180
 consequences

00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:44.720
 of your

00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.100
 sin.

00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.880
 He offers

00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:48.400
 you a

00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:48.559
 new

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:48.940
 beginning,

00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.000
 a new

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.600
 life,

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.279
 knowing God

00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.559
 as your

00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.000
 father,

00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.539
 loving him,

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:56.839
 and then

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.779
 that overflowing

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.279
 in loving

00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:58.640
 others.

00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:00.360
 we've

00:31:00.360 --> 00:31:00.720
 all got

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.120
 to face

00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:01.339
 this

00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:01.779
 king one

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.039
 day,

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:02.759
 an answer

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.120
 for our

00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:03.500
 lives.

00:31:04.839 --> 00:31:05.480
 Why not

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:05.839
 come to

00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.480
 him today,

00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.759
 confessing

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.220
 your sin,

00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:10.400
 asking him

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.799
 to change

00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.039
 you?

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.059
 Will you

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.579
 pray with me?

00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.019
 Father,

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.319
 let's pray.

00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:16.339
 Let's pray.

00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.059
 Father,

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:28.779
 we thank you

00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.279
 for sending

00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.819
 your son,

00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.960
 not to

00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:32.519
 condemn the

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:32.839
 world,

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:33.899
 but to

00:31:33.899 --> 00:31:34.480
 save us.

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.740
 We thank you

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.039
 that you

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.379
 came,

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:37.659
 Lord,

00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.539
 not to be

00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.039
 served,

00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:39.899
 but to

00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:40.799
 serve us

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:42.879
 by going

00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:43.180
 to the

00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.720
 cross in

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:43.859
 our

00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:44.259
 place.

00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:46.599
 Father,

00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.200
 help each

00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:47.559
 of us

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:49.139
 to hear

00:31:49.139 --> 00:31:49.980
 your words

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.639
 in Matthew.

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.119
 Lord,

00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:53.700
 help each

00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.139
 of us

00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:54.960
 not to

00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:55.539
 trust in

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.039
 ourselves

00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.720
 and be

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.319
 confident in

00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:57.819
 ourselves

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:58.559
 to stand

00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:59.240
 before you,

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.440
 but help us

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.339
 come to you.

00:32:04.139 --> 00:32:04.720
 May our

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.440
 hearts be a

00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.740
 wilderness as

00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.279
 we come to

00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:07.559
 you,

00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.500
 and may you

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.119
 create new

00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:09.839
 life in each

00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.439
 one of us,

00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:12.439
 the life

00:32:12.439 --> 00:32:12.959
 you made

00:32:12.959 --> 00:32:13.419
 us for,

00:32:14.659 --> 00:32:15.799
 the life

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.399
 in your

00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:17.039
 presence,

00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:19.339
 knowing your

00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:20.039
 love that

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:21.099
 even went to

00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:21.619
 the cross

00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:22.099
 for our

00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:22.379
 sake.

00:32:24.179 --> 00:32:24.659
 Lord,

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.240
 create a

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.839
 garden in

00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.220
 each one

00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:26.579
 of us,

00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:27.379
 set us

00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.159
 free from

00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:28.639
 a life

00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.139
 lived for

00:32:29.139 --> 00:32:29.439
 self,

00:32:30.179 --> 00:32:31.459
 that we

00:32:31.459 --> 00:32:32.039
 might love

00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.519
 you as

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.039
 you deserve

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.639
 and love

00:32:33.639 --> 00:32:34.240
 others as

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.619
 we ought

00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:34.839
 to.

00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:36.359
 Lord,

00:32:36.419 --> 00:32:36.879
 only your

00:32:36.879 --> 00:32:37.500
 spirit can

00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:37.980
 bring about

00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.299
 this.

00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:39.720
 My words

00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.059
 can't,

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:40.620
 only your

00:32:40.620 --> 00:32:41.220
 spirit can.

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:42.860
 Please,

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.880
 save each

00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:44.339
 one of us,

00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:44.759
 in Jesus'

00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:45.100
 name.

00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:45.680
 Amen.