A Hope from Despair
Series: Hope in Despair
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 28th November 2021
Passage: Psalm 40:1-17
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 Good morning, everyone.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 My name is James, and my middle name is Stuart,
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10 and I'm more than happy for you to make up nicknames based on that.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:14 I love doing that, so please, be creative as you like.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:19 And I'm also very excited to be ordained in a couple of weeks here,
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 and I'd love to see you all here if you can.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 I recently learned a phrase in Korean.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:30 Now, I'm very sorry, my Korean accent is, like, really terrible,
00:00:31 --> 00:00:32 but here we go.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 The phrase is,
00:00:33 --> 00:00:39 Does anybody know any Korean?
00:00:40 --> 00:00:41 No? Okay, so it wasn't that helpful.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:43 The phrase means,
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 when you walk past a mountain,
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 there is another mountain to walk past.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 I think it's a slightly better version of
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 out of the frying pan into the fire.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 And the last part of the phrase,
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 Taishan, is actually talking about a mountain
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 in Shandong province in China.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 It's this mountain called Taishan.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 And it has this imagery of,
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 once you walk up part of this mountain,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 there's just another part of the mountain to climb up.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 But I think it captures a certain feeling,
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 a mixture of joy and pain really well.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:22 That feeling of getting past one struggle
00:01:22 --> 00:01:26 and being joyful that you're on the other side of it,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 but then the clouds part
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 and there is just another struggle,
00:01:32 --> 00:01:33 another challenge ahead.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 I know it's been exam period for many people here,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 and it's like that short-term feeling of joy
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 when you finish one exam,
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 only to remember you have four more coming up.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 How foolish is it if we pretend
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 that after the first struggle,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 after the first exam,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 that there's no more,
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 and it's just easy roads ahead.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 But I think, I wonder actually,
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 I wonder if we can do the same thing with God.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 Is it possible that we depend on God
00:02:02 --> 00:02:03 in one difficult season,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 like a COVID lockdown,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 one struggle,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 and then we quickly forget how much we need Him,
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 and we go back to trying to do life on our own.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 We've climbed one mountain with God's help,
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 and then we don't even see the next one,
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 and we don't realize how dependent we are
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 on God in every season.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 Today is our last in our series,
00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 Hope in Despair.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33 We've spent the last eight weeks
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 in the Psalms and the Book of Lamentations,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:39 and I'm really thankful for this series.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 I texted in to that number
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 about how thankful I am
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 because I have been reminded
00:02:45 --> 00:02:49 of how amazing God's grace is to us.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:54 That we do things which make God grieve,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 and He continues to love us.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 I'm thankful for Psalm 13 last week,
00:03:00 --> 00:03:04 which gave us a way to use our lament.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 The Book of Lamentations
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 was a very difficult book to read through
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 as we saw the city of Jerusalem destroyed,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 but it has been wonderful for me personally
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 to see and to be reminded
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 that we have a God who stands by His people.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 Even when He pours out His anger on them,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 He continues to love them,
00:03:25 --> 00:03:26 and He does that as well,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 ultimately in Jesus.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 But the challenge for me
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 and the challenge for us today
00:03:32 --> 00:03:36 is that as we come out of a season of despair,
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 as we come back into what seems to be
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 more like normal life,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 that we cannot trust in God.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 We can think that we've got it,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 and we can forget the mountains ahead.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 So the challenge will be for us
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 to continue to trust in God
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 and not forget our need in Him
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 because our God is our only hope.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 And so today, we're in Psalm 40,
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 and King David is going to encourage us
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 to be lifelong lamenters
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 who know how to cry out,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 how to pray to God,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 how to rejoice in Him,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10 how to do what Aidan did
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 and prepare a lament
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 so we can use that later
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 so that we can lament our sin,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 so we can grieve in a difficult season.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 When there's a loss of a loved one
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 or a difficult season,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 we can depend on God's grace
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 in every season.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 So let me pray
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 as we have a look at Psalm 40.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 Dear Heavenly Father,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 I thank You for Your goodness to us,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 that You walk with us
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 and You continue to walk with us
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 when we think we don't need You.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 Heavenly Father,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 as we are reminded of Your love
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 and Your grace in Psalm 40,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 remind us of our continual need
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 in You today, Lord.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 Amen.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 So please,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 have your Bibles open.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 Psalm chapter 40.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 We're going to spend our time
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 in Psalm 40 today.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 As we see that God saves
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 and He continues to save.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 Psalm 40 verse 1.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 I waited patiently for the Lord.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 He turned to me and heard my cry.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 out of the mud and mire.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 This is almost the flip side
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 of the season we've been in.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 We've been looking at a number of laments
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 and people grieving.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:28 And this is David.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:29 And he's saying,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 I have been grieving,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 but you have answered me.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 David had been in a time of despair.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 He cried out to God
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 and then he waited patiently.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 Now, we don't know how long he had to wait
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 or what he was crying out to God for,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 but he waited patiently.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 Now, even that word there,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 that's a challenge.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 I don't like waiting for anything,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 especially when I'm in despair.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 God, come and fix it now.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 But David waited patiently.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 David has waited on God
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 in a season of despair.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 And God has answered him.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 He has saved him
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 from whatever the issue was.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 And that description of the problem,
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 it's just so vivid.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 It's pictured as a slimy pit
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 out of the mud and mire
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 or the miry bog
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 from older translations.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 Now, it makes me think
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 of my worst nightmare
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 as a child.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 Quicksand.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 It seemed to be
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 in every TV show
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 that I grew up in.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 It was the threat
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 of stumbling upon to quicksand
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 and then you,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 no matter how much you tried,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 you couldn't claw your way out of it.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 Now, I've never been in one.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 Has anybody been in quicksand?
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 No, it turns out
00:06:49 --> 00:06:49 it's not actually
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 that much of a threat.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 But it's this picture
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 of danger,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 of slippery walls.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 You're unable to save yourself.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 David says he was stuck
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 in a hole,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 unable to get himself out there.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:03 He can't even get
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 a foothold or purchase
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 to try and fix the situation.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 It sounds a lot like
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 a COVID lockdown.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 For a while there,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 it didn't seem to matter
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 what restrictions were in place.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 Nothing was getting better.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:19 There seemed to be
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 no way out.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 It was this season
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 of depression and despair,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 attack from outside
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 and attack from in.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 But God has saved David
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 from what seemed to him
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 to be an impossible situation.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 God has saved him.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 He's pulled him out.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 And there's a contrast
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 in the rest of verse 2.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 Pulled him out of the miry pit.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 Verse 2,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 the second part of verse 2.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 He set my feet on a rock
00:07:46 --> 00:07:49 and gave me a firm place to stand.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 Safety.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 Security in God.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 Now I don't know
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 the feeling of coming out
00:07:57 --> 00:07:57 of a slimy pit
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 onto firm ground,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 but I do know
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 a similar feeling.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 The feeling of
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 being swept into the ocean
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 and not being in control.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 I remember one morning
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 on holiday
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 a couple of years ago.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 I'd gone for a run
00:08:13 --> 00:08:13 on the beach
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 early in the morning
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 and then I jumped in the ocean
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 and I swam a little bit.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 And I didn't realise
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 how tired my legs were
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 until I tried
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 to swim back into shore.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 It wasn't then
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 until then I realised
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 I was actually being pulled out.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 And I had that moment
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 where I had my life flash before me.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 Is this going to be
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 the place that I die?
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 Are my two little kids
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 going to be without a father
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 at this point?
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 And I remember that feeling
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 when my foot
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 finally hit sand.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 Joy.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 Inexpressible joy, relief.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 Praise to God.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 God,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 my children are going to see
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 their dad for another day.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 God has taken David
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 out of the pits
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 of pain and despair,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 a struggle he couldn't
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 climb out of,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 and placed him safe
00:09:06 --> 00:09:06 on a rock
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 and David responds
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 by praising God.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 Because of God saving him,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 David trusts in God more
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 and he wants to give his life
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 and not just a couple of offerings.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 Have a look at verse 3.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 He put a new song
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 in my mouth,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 a hymn of praise
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 to our God.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 Many will see
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 and fear the Lord
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 and put their trust in him.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 He is praising God.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 He is rejoicing
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 and his trust
00:09:36 --> 00:09:36 and dependence
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 has grown.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 He cried out to God.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 He waited on him.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 God answered
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 and saved him.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 And importantly,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 David doesn't just move on
00:09:46 --> 00:09:46 to the next thing
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 he's got to do
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 in his life.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 He sits in this moment
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 and praises God.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 He trusts in him
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 and he offers
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 his whole life to him.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 Verse 6,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 sacrifice and offering
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 you did not desire,
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 but my ears
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 you have opened.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 Burn offerings
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 and sin offerings
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 you did not require.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 Then I said,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 here I am,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 I have come.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 It is written about me
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 in the scroll.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 I desire to do your will,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 my God.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 Your law
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 is within my heart.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 Now it's hard not
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 to read this part
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 and immediately
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 think of Jesus.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 But David is the
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 fulfillment of expectation.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 He is the king.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 But where David
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 desires to do
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 God's will,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 Jesus is the one
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 who does it.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 He is the one
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 who the scrolls
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 point to,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 the Old Testament
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 points to.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:37 And whilst God
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 has been faithful
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and answered
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 David's call,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 how much more
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 for Jesus?
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 Crying out
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 on the cross,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 God,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 why have you
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 forsaken me?
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 And yet God
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 lifted Jesus
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 out of a pit.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 Not just a pit
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 of despair
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 and pain,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 but the pit
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 of death.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 And because God
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 has lifted him up,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 he lifts us
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 up to new life too.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 Placing us
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 on the firm
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 foundation
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 of Jesus.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 In our moment
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 of salvation,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 we don't even
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 realize how high
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 the walls
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 of the pit
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 are around us
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 until we get
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 taken out of them.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 We were stuck
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 in a pit,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 but not just
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 a difficult pit,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 an impossible pit.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 Ephesians 2
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 tells us
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 that we
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 were dead,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 totally unable
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 to climb out
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 of our graves.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 But God
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 has pulled us
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 out of this pit
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 in Jesus
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 and he puts
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 us on him
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 a firm
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 foundation.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 And so now
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 we can do
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 what David
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 does and see
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 God's goodness
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 on the other
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 side of this pit.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 We can see
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 and be reminded
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 that God
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 is good.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 He listens
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 to us.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 He answers
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 our cries.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 We can say,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 God,
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 I can depend
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 upon you
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 when I'm in a pit
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 because no matter
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 what pit I'm in,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 it's not going
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 to be as bad
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 as the pit
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 I was in
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 when I was dead.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 but God,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 you have pulled
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 me out of that
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 and I can stand
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 on Jesus
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 regardless
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 of the season
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 around me
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 because no pit
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 can swallow me
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 because I am firm
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 in him.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 If those
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 10 verses
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 were all we had
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 of Psalm 40,
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 it would be lovely
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 and it would be amazing.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 It's this picture
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 of David
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 responding to God
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 saving him,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 David crying out
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 and David
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 knowing that
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 God saves him.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 But that's not
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 the full story
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 because that's not
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 our lived experience.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 That illustration
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 from before
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 about that Korean
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 phrase,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 our life
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 is much more
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 we climb a mountain,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 we go through
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 a season of despair
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 and then there's
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 another mountain
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 to climb.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 The truth is
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 that we lurch
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 from disaster
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 to disaster,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 from the frying pan
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 to the fire.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 Just because
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 someone has
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 survived cancer
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 doesn't mean
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 that they won't
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 lose a loved one.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 Just because
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 someone has
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 struggled to
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 find a job
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 doesn't mean
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 their house
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 won't be threatened
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 by a bushfire.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 The harsh
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 realistic truth
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 is that we live
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 in a damned world
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 cursed by sin.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 God is the only hope
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 until he sends Jesus
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and this world
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 is remade.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 It is easy
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 to move on
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 from one mountain
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 of dependence
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 on God
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 and forget him
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 in the next moment.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 Throughout lockdown
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 I was very aware
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 of the mountain
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 that we were climbing.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 I was very aware
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 how much I needed
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 God's help
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 just to do
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 daily things
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 like have
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 patience
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 with my kids.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 God was really good
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 to me in that season.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 I really appreciated
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 reading the book
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 of Jeremiah
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 and being reminded
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 about God's
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 continued patience
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 for his kids
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 Israel.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 And that encouraged
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 me to be a good dad.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 And then we got
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 back to normal life.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 We came out
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 of lockdown
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 and I didn't realise it
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 but I'd actually
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 put that dependence
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 on God
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 particularly for
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 patience to one side.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 And I went back
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 to thinking
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 normal life
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 I can do this
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 I can do this
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 on my own.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 Even though
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 it's just a different
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 mountain to climb.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 And so
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 you know
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 I'm not sure
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 if you found this
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 came out of lockdown
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 my kids hadn't seen
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 anybody for four months
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 they went back
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 to school
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 we thought
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 yes
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 school's back
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 and then they all
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 got sick
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 because they were
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 back with people.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 And I love you all
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 thank you for wearing masks.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 And even then
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 I thought
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 okay
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 we're back
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 to this
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 we've just
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 gotten our freedom
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 I thought
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 I had life
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 and now
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 we're back
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 in a different
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 sort of lockdown
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 and that challenge
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 of having patience
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 was back
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 but I hadn't realised
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 how much
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 I needed
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 God in that.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 Instead of
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 coming to him
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 and grieving
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 the fact that
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 we live in a cursed world
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 where you still have to
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 deal with sickness
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 depending on him
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 as the great healer
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 I just thought
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 I can do it.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 But there is
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 a wonderful hope
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 and encouragement
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 here for us
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 in Psalm 40.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 The first half
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 of the Psalm
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 is David
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 being thankful
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 to God
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 that he has
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 saved him.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 The second half
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 of Psalm 40
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 David says
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 oh God
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 I've stuffed up
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 and I need you
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 to save me
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 I'm in another pit
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 I need you
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 to get me
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 out of this.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 Verse 11
00:15:44 --> 00:16:05 David's own sin
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 has caused
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 his trouble
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 and his request
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 his request
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 is based
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 on God
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 and on
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 who God
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 is.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 God
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 is merciful
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 he is faithful
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 and he is loving
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 and so even though
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 David has
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 effectively
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 just gone
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 and jumped
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 back into
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 the pit
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 God has
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 pulled him
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 out of
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 David
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 cries out
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 to him
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 our God
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 is a much
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 better father
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 than me
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 if my kids
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 continually
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 come and ask
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 me the same
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 thing
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 I'll be okay
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 the first
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 three or four
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 or five times
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 on the sixth
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 it's just like
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 leave me alone
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 just figure it
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 out yourself
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 God is not
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 like that
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 we throw
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 ourself back
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 into that pit
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 of despair
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 repeatedly
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 we choose
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 to sin
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 and God
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 in his goodness
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 and patience
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 and love
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 for us
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 continues to
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 answer our
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 cries for help
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 verse 13
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 be pleased
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 to save me
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 Lord
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 come quickly
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 Lord
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 to help me
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 David has
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 learnt the
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 lesson of
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 grief and
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 lamentation
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 calling out
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 to God
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 when in need
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 depending on
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 him in
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 each and
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 every
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 circumstance
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 even the
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 problems that
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 he is now
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 making
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 God doesn't
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 ignore him
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 David sees
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 how faithful
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 God is
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 that he is a
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 God who
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 answers prayers
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 and so he
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 continues to
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 cry out
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 and he's aware
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 of his condition
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 verse 17
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 as for me
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 I am poor
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 and needy
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 may the Lord
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 think of me
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 you are my
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 help and my
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 deliverer
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 you are my
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 God do not
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 delay
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 now this is
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 King David
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 saying these
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 words
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 not sure if
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 he's in a
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 cave at this
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 point but
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 this is the
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 king and he
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 is saying he
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 is poor
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 and needy
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 he is aware
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 of who he
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 is before
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 God
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 that's what
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 happens when
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 we cry out
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 to God
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 we see God
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 answer us
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 when our
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 trust and
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 dependence grows
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 in him
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 we become more
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 aware of who
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 we are and
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 who he is
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 how awesome
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 he is and
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 how awful
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 we are and
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 how much we
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 need him
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 so that we
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 can say God
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 I am poor
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 and needy but
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 you are my
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 help and my
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 deliverer
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 when we learn
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 the lament of
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 Psalm 40 and
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 the and from
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 the book of
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 lamentations or
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 from Psalm 13
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 we learn David's
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 lesson here that
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 God is always
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 good he is
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 always helping and
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 answering prayers he
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 is always able to
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 be trusted but
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 also how good
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 God's grace for
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 us is that our
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 God would
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 willingly trade
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 our place with
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 Jesus at the
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 cross and so
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 that we can
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 continue to cry
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 out to him
00:18:48 --> 00:18:51 preacher
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 theologian and
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 author Don
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 Carson told a
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 story about a
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 missionary who
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 came back to
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 Don Carson's
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 church while he
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 was doing his
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 PhD he brought
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 his wife and
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 young daughter
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 with him when
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 they were there
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 and he was
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 studying his
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 PhD his wife
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 got cancer she
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 was treated with
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 chemotherapy and
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 she recovered six
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 months later he
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 was diagnosed with
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 cancer liver
00:19:22 --> 00:19:25 cancer no one
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 wanted to touch
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 him eventually
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 they found doctors
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 who would help
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 him they took a
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 large chunk of
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 his stomach with
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 radical treatment
00:19:34 --> 00:19:37 but eventually he
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 recovered and was
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 able to continue
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 his PhD studies
00:19:40 --> 00:19:44 six months after
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 that his wife died
00:19:46 --> 00:19:49 of cancer he
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 finished his PhD
00:19:50 --> 00:19:53 but before he went
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 back to the mission
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 field with his then
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 nine-year-old
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 daughter he went
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 and spoke at Don
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 Carson's church
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 and he thanked
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 everybody for their
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 support for their
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 prayers for him
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 over this time
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 and he thanked
00:20:05 --> 00:20:08 God for all his
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 goodness
00:20:08 --> 00:20:12 he thanked God
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 for the assurance
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 of life
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 for real hope
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 that he would see
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 his wife again
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 he thanked God
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 that he had left
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 him there to care
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 for his daughter
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 he spent his
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 whole time
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 in gratitude
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 and Don Carson
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 made the point
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 a very painful
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 point
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 that that is
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 simply normal
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 Christian living
00:20:35 --> 00:20:39 hope in despair
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 is the usual
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 life of the
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 Christian
00:20:42 --> 00:20:45 it is to be
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 the usual
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 life of the
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 Christian
00:20:47 --> 00:20:50 our hope
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 isn't that
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 this season
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 of pain
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 will get
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 better
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 our hope
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 is not that
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 we will climb
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 a mountain
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 and then
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 it will just
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 be valleys
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 it will be
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 smooth sailing
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 it will just
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 be downhill
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 from here
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 because that
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 is not our
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 lived experience
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 that is not
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 life
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 it is we
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 climb a
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 mountain
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 and there's
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 another
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 mountain
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 our hope
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 is in
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 Jesus
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 who didn't
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 climb a
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 mountain
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 he went up
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 a hill
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 to Jerusalem
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 he went
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 on to a
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 cross
00:21:19 --> 00:21:21 who God
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 raised from
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 the dead
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 who pulled
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 him out
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 of the pit
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 and so that
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 no matter what
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 happens with
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 our story
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 about the
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 mountains we
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 have to
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 climb
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 we can
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 grieve the
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 painful
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 difficult
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 seasons
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 we can
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 grieve the
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 challenges of
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 work
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 our families
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 getting sick
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 because Jesus
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 has climbed
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 the most
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 important
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 mountain
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 and he
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 has placed
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 us on his
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 back
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 and carries
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 us like a
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 little child
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 to stand
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 before God
00:21:47 --> 00:21:50 the Christian
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 can endure
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 that the
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 story of
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 the missionary
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 still rejoicing
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 and being
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 thankful to
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 God
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 it can be
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 our story
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 because Jesus
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 is walking
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 with us
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 he says
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 this pain
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 you're going
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 through
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 I have
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 already
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 walked
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 through it
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 come
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 and follow
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 me
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 come and
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 place your
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 burdens
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 on me
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 because I
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 can carry
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 them
00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 and so
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 as we
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 finish this
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 series
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 this season
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 of having
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 hope in
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 despair
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 and before
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 we head
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 into Christmas
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 and we get
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 distracted
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 with the
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 food and
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 the lights
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 and the
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 feasting
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 and the
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 festivals
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 and the
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 presents
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31 remember
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 the value
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 of lament
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 lament
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 reminds us
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 of God's
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 goodness
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 it reminds
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 us of how
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 we still
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 depend on
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 God
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 on how
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 we should
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 be grieving
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 our sins
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 grieving
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 the things
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 that go
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 on around
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 us
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 but also
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 remembering
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 and celebrating
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 and rejoicing
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 God's goodness
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 to us
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 that he
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 would have
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 grace for
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 us
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 remember it
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 because there
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 is another
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 mountain around
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 the corner
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 to climb
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 but Jesus
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 is already
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 there
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 calling us
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 to walk
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 with him
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 don't
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 get bogged
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 down in
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 the mountain
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 because
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 God is
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 there with
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 us
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 cry out
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 to him
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 to help
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 because he
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 will answer
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 let's pray
00:23:19 --> 00:23:24 heavenly
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 father
00:23:24 --> 00:23:27 you were
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 so kind
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 to us
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 that Jesus
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 climbed
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 that mountain
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 to Jerusalem
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 that he
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 was on
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 a cross
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 that you
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 pulled him
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 out of
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 the pit
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 of death
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 and that
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 you have
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 raised us
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 to life
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 heavenly
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 father
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 thank you
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 that you
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 continue
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 to walk
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 with us
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 in the
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 good seasons
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 and in the
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 painful
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 difficult ones
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 lord
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 heavenly
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 father
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 for those
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 of us
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 who are
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 not in
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 a difficult
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 season
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 at the
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 moment
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 help us
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 not to
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 think that
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 we can
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 do it
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 on our
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 own
00:24:06 --> 00:24:08 but lord
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 remind us
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 in season
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 and out
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 about how
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 much we
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 need you
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 bring us
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 closer to
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 you lord
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 and we
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 ask this
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 in your
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 son's name
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 and for
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 your glory
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 amen
00:24:20 --> 00:24:33 amen
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 amen
00:24:34 --> 00:24:38 me
00:24:38 --> 00:24:42 amen
00:24:42 --> 00:24:45 amen
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 amen