CHRIST CENTRED BIBLE SATURATION
Series: Commitment Series 2014
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 25th October 2014
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 The Australia that I was born into was dominated by a philosophical worldview called modernism.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:18 Modernism took hold during the 18th century and it trusted human intellect rather than God to solve the world's issues for us and to discover truth.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:28 There was, however, a general agreement in modernism that there was a right and a wrong and it was universally true and it was absolute
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 and that objective truth could be known.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:40 But at the time of my, when I was born around 1969, I was born in 1969, but around that kind of time in the 1960s,
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 the tide was starting to change and quite dramatically.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:54 The worldview known as postmodernism began to emerge and postmodernism believes that there is no objective and absolute truth
00:00:54 --> 00:01:00 that is to be understood and accepted, which ironically is in fact an absolute truth claim.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01 But that's another point.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:10 Each individual is entitled to create and act on their own truth as they perceive it.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:15 And this entitles them to live and to do whatever is right in their own eyes.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:23 The final court of appeal on all religious and moral decisions is personal desire and opinion.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:32 This view was captured brilliantly by the American moral and social philosopher Abraham Edel when he wrote in his book Ethical Judgment,
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 It all depends on where you are.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 It all depends on who you are.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 It all depends on what you feel.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 It depends on how you feel.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 It all depends on how you're raised.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 It all depends on what is praised.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 What's right today is wrong tomorrow.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 Joy in France, but England sorrow.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 It all depends on your point of view.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:59 Australia or Timbuktu in Rome do as the Romans do.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:04 If tastes just happen to agree, then you have morality.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 But where there are conflicting trends, it all depends.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 It all depends.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:21 Very few, if any, have consciously adopted a postmodern view of thinking and living.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 Most have taken it on without thought or without critique
00:02:24 --> 00:02:29 because it's just part of the cultural soup that we've kind of been marinating in for so long.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:33 The rejection of absolute truth sounds great.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 It sounds liberating.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 It sounds like it brings freedom.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:42 But like any truth claims, there are consequences.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 And so for the postmodernists, life has no meaning.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 It is simply a game.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 You are the only one who cares about you.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 There is no story which is universally true.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 Every claim to truth is simply a grasp of power.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 And so therefore we must trust every claim to truth.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 It also believes that there's no order.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:07 Everything is random.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 You have only one life.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 There's nothing beyond this.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:11 There's no truth.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 There's nothing else out there.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 And so live this life with a whole heap of gusto.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:23 There's also an ability to say one thing but do something completely different
00:03:23 --> 00:03:28 and not be concerned in any sense that there's an inconsistency with that
00:03:28 --> 00:03:32 or to even feel any shame associated with that inconsistency.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:41 And in the worst case scenarios, there is a complete disregard and rejection of all external authority
00:03:41 --> 00:03:46 which ultimately, left unchecked, leads to anarchy and chaos.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:50 But ultimately our justice system will ultimately hold you accountable
00:03:50 --> 00:03:56 and so postmodernism prepares us for the jails is what it ultimately does.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:03 It's one of the great tragedies of our age that there is a flippant attitude towards truth.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:11 Our culture is drifting in a vast ocean with no solid anchor points
00:04:11 --> 00:04:17 flipping here and there depending on where the tide's taking us at that particular point.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:25 And this is where our core value of Christ-centered Bible saturation is so essential.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 It's what our world needs.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 It's what we need.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:38 This value, like all of our values, we aspire to hold deep in our minds and our hearts
00:04:38 --> 00:04:45 and for it to drive and to change our passions and our behavior.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:52 And so this value, Christ-centered Bible saturation, is so profoundly more important than
00:04:52 --> 00:04:56 a verse a day keeps the devil away, can't put an attitude to the Bible.
00:04:57 --> 00:05:03 And one of the aims of what I'm hoping to do here today is to awaken in us
00:05:03 --> 00:05:08 a passion for the sheer existence of truth
00:05:08 --> 00:05:14 and for it to shape our behavior as we look at this core value
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 and what the scriptures and where we get it from in the scriptures.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 So here we go.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 The Bible makes the claim
00:05:21 --> 00:05:25 that truth is what God speaks
00:05:25 --> 00:05:29 and it is absolute truth
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 for every culture,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:32 every generation,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 every individual.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 And the reason why God's word
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 is absolute truth
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 is because God is absolute reality,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 ultimate reality.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 Genesis 1 makes a very significant point
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 that there was no reality before God.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:50 It says,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 In the beginning,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:56 God created the heavens and the earth
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 and the earth was formless and empty.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 Before creation,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 God was.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 He stands outside of all things created.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 He wasn't part of what was created.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 God is from everlasting to everlasting.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 He had no beginning and no end.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 And the one who had no beginning,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 but always was and is and will be,
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 he's the one who defines all things.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 He is.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:27 You remember,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 for those of you who remember this,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 Exodus 3,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:31 Moses,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 the burning bush,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 and God tells Moses to get on back to Egypt
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 and tell Pharaoh,
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 the most powerful man in the world,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 you better pull your socks up, dude,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 because God's going to come and smash you.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 Got the idea?
00:06:41 --> 00:06:41 That's my,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 that's a whole lot of chapters shrunk in a little bit.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 And Moses is freaked out by this
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 because, you know,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 what am I going to do?
00:06:49 --> 00:06:49 And he says,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:49 well,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 what if they tell,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 what if they ask me,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 who sent me?
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 Who should I tell them?
00:06:54 --> 00:06:54 Bob,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 Bill,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:55 I mean,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:55 you know,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:56 give us your name.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 And God says,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 I am who I am.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 I just am.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:05 That's it.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 That's the best way you can define God.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 He just simply is.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:13 Now,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 if I tried that and said to Isabel,
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 go and tell those people,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 and they say,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:18 well,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 who sent you?
00:07:19 --> 00:07:19 And say,
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 well,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 I am sent me.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:23 I mean,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 that's just pretty much arrogance on my behalf.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 But when you are ultimate reality,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 when you're the ultimate being,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 you just say,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:31 I am,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 I define all things.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 My friends,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 let it hit you,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 the absoluteness of God's existence.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:41 Never beginning,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 never ending,
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 never becoming,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 never improving.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:52 Simply and absolutely there to be dealt with on his terms.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 Or not at all.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 Whether we want him to be there or not,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 he is there.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 We do not negotiate for what we want reality to be.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:10 No ranting and raving or sophisticated doubt or skepticism has any effect on the existence of God.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 He simply and absolutely is.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 And if we don't like it,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 we can change for our joy.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 Or we can resist for our destruction.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 But one thing remains absolutely unchanged.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 God is.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 He's the main thing in life because he's the main thing in the universe.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 And he's the main thing in the universe because he's created all that is.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 Romans 11,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 36.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:39 From him
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 and through him
00:08:41 --> 00:08:41 and through him
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 and to him
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 are all things.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 To him be glory forever.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 Whichever way you want to come at it,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 he is.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 And it's all about his glory.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 And so,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 what that means is,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 his reality is created by him,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 determined by him,
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 defined by him.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:02 And when God speaks,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 he reveals reality.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:10 He reveals the way things actually are.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:15 Have a look at Psalm 119.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:16 It was just read out to us.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 Psalm 119,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 verse 160.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:23 It says,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 All your words are true.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 All your righteous laws are eternal.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 Now,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 the word translated all there,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:30 in the NIV,
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 literally means head.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 It can mean the head of a body
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 or the head of a river
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 or the head of a tribe.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 And the same word there
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 is used in Exodus,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 chapter 30,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 verse 12.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 When you take a census
00:09:45 --> 00:09:45 of the Israelites
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 to count them,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 it's also used
00:09:48 --> 00:09:48 in Numbers,
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 chapter 1,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 verse 2,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 which says,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 Take a census
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 of the whole Israelite community
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 by their clans and families.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 In both cases,
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 what Psalm 119 translates all,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 they translate as census.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 And what I think,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 verse 160 is saying,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 is that if you took a census,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 a survey,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 of the word of God,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:13 then the conclusion
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 of that census and survey
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 would be that the sum total of it
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 is truth.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 It is the word of God.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 It is true.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 The totality of the Bible is truth.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 But notice the second half
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 of verse 160.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 All your righteous laws are eternal.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 And so it's not just the sum total
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 is truth.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 It's all the individual parts
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 which are truth.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 And so the census would reveal
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 that the whole and the parts
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 are all true.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 They are true
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 because when God,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 who is ultimate reality,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 speaks,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 he reveals the way things
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 actually are.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 He reveals reality.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 2 Corinthians 3,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 verse 16,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 says that all scripture
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 is God breathed.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 The whole Bible
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 is,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 comes out
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 from the mouth of God,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 from the ultimate reality.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 And when he speaks,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 he speaks what is true.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:26 So the Bible
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 is where God speaks
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 what is real
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 and absolute.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Now we haven't quite
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 got there yet.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 We've still got a little bit
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 of work to do here.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 And so far,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 we've understood
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 that God is ultimate reality.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 And when God speaks,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 he speaks ultimate reality.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 He speaks truth.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 And truth
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 is when ultimate reality
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 and the revelation
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 of ultimate reality
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 or the communication
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 of ultimate reality
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 align with each other.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 That's what truth is.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 The opposite of truth
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 is lies.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 And lies
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 are when reality
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 and what I communicate
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 about reality
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 don't align
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 with one another.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 I'm feeling really rotten
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 and someone says to me,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 how are you feeling?
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 I'm okay.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 Liar.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 Reality
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 and communication
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 don't align
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 with one another.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 The place where reality
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 and the communication
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 and that reality
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 come together
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 in the most profound senses
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 is in the person
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 of Jesus Christ.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 Firstly,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 it's because Jesus
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 speaks truth.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 Jesus says this.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 John chapter 18.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 Go to John
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 because we're going to be
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 lingering there
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 for a little bit.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 So John chapter 18.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 We're going to go to the back
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 and then move our way forward.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 So have that in mind.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 John chapter 18
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 verse 37.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 Jesus says,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 For this I came
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 into the world
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 to testify to the truth.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 Everyone
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 on the side of truth
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 listens to me.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 And Jesus is saying there
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 that he speaks truth
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 and if you want truth,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 you listen to what Jesus says.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 But he says something
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 even more profound
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 than that
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 a couple of chapters earlier
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 in John 14.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 He says this
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 in verse 6.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 I am the way,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 the truth,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and the life.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 And no one comes to the Father
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 except through me.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:30 He doesn't just speak the truth.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 He says,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 I am the truth.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 I am where
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 ultimate reality
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 and the communication
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 of ultimate reality
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 come together
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45 in perfect alignment.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 And he could only say that
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 if he was,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 in fact,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 God himself.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 Which is, of course,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 what John chapter 1 says.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 Flick over to John chapter 1.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 Remember what we've seen?
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 Ultimate reality.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 God existed before
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 ultimate reality.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 Sorry,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 his ultimate reality
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 because he existed
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 before all things were created.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 He defines everything.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 Beginning of the Bible.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 Before anything was made,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 God was.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 John chapter 1,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 verse 1.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 In the beginning
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 was the Word.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 Now the Word
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 existed before anything was made.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 And the Word was with God
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 and the Word
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 was God.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 He was with God
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 in the beginning.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 Verse 3.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 Through him,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 that is,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 through the Word,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 all things were made.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 Without him,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 nothing has been made
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 that has been made.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 And so the Word
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 existed before
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 anything was created.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 The Word
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 made everything
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 and the Word
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 is God.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 That is,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 the Word
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 is ultimate reality.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 The Word
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 is absolute truth.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 Then down
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 into verse 14,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 we see something
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 startling.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 this Word
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 became flesh
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 and made
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 his dwelling
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 amongst us.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 And we have
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 seen his glory,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 the glory of the one
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 and only
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 who came from the Father
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 full of grace
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 and truth.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 And so the question is,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 who then
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 is the Word
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 who is God,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 who existed
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 before creation,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 who created everything
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 and is full
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 of grace
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 and truth?
00:15:18 --> 00:15:21 Well,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 let's not
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 deliberate on that.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 Let's go to verse 15.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 John testifies
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 concerning him.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 He cries out,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 saying,
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 this was he
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 of whom I said,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 he who comes
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 after me
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 has surpassed me
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 because he was
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 before me.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 Verse 16,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 for the fullness
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 of his grace,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 we have all received
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 one blessing
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 after another.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 Verse 17,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 for the law
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 was given
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 through Moses,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:47 grace and truth
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 came
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 through Jesus
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 Christ.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 You see,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 Jesus doesn't just
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 speak God's Word.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 He is
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 the Word of God.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 He is
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 the center,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 the high point
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 of God's
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 self-revelation.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 It's where
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 reality
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 and the communication
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 of ultimate reality
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 come together
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 in perfect alignment.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 And Jesus
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 himself
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 endorses
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 the message
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 of Psalm 119
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 verse 160
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 which says
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 that all of God's
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 Word eternal,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 all his righteous
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 laws are true.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 When Jesus
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 himself says
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 in Matthew
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 chapter 5
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 verse 17,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 do not think
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 that I've come
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 to abolish
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 the law
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 and the prophets.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 I've not come
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 to abolish them
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 but to fulfill them.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 I tell you the truth,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 until heaven
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 and earth
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 disappeared,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 not the smallest
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 letter,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 not the least
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 stroke of a pen
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 will by any means
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 disappear from the law
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 until everything
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 is accomplished.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 You see,
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 the main reason
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 that I wrestle
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 with the Old Testament
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 is because of the
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 ringing endorsement
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 that Jesus gives
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 of it as
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 the Word of God.
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 And so,
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 the sum
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 of truth
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 that I want
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 St. Paul's
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 to embrace
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 is the 66 books
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 of the Bible
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 with Jesus
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 as its center.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 And that's what
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 makes his core value
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 called Christ-centered
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 Bible saturation,
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 so important
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 for us.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 Jesus is the center
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 of God's
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 self-revelation.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 And this is not
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 just essential
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 for us,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 it is essential
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 for our world.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 The Bible
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 is the way
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 that God,
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 the ultimate
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 and all-important
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 reality,
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 reveals himself
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 to us
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 with authority
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 and with clarity
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 today.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 And if God
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 is more important
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 than anything,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 then the Bible
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 is more important
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 than anything
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 but God.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 And so,
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 we need,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 as far as I'm
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 concerned,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 to be saturated
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 in it.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 Not the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 minimalistic
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 type of Christian
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 that thinks,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 like I said
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 before,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 a verse a day
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 keeps the devil
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 away.
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 Saturated,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 drenched through
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 with the Word
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 of God.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 Truth,
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 clarity
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 of reality,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 because everything
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 that we face
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 is touched
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 by the Bible.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 It is either
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 touched directly
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 because it's
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 in the Bible
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 or it's
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 indirectly touched
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 because the
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 Bible shapes
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 the attitudes
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 and criteria
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 in which we
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 deal with it.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 Now,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 I have no doubt
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 that there are
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 plenty of things
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 that we need
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 to know about
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 in this world,
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 but the Bible
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 will be the sun
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 in the solar
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 system of all
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 that we learn.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 It gives light,
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 it gives perspective,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 it gives meaning.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 Its truth
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 needs to permeate
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 everything.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 It is not one
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 amongst many books,
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 it will be the
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 central book,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 the all-permeating
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 book.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 The other truths
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 are dark planets,
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 the Bible is the
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 light-giving sun.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 All other truth
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 claims will be read
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 in the light of this
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 book,
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 all other things
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 will be judged
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 by this book.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 All things will
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 find their meaning
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 in the world view
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 which is built
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 by this book,
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 which means that
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 this book,
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 the Bible must
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 be known first
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 and known better
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 than anything else
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 if you want
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 a firm foundation
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 in the way
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 things actually
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 are.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 And if not,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 we are like
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 a boat,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 a drift
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 at sea,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 tossed about
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 by every wave
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 and storm
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 and latest idea.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:30 my friends,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 this core value,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 this truth
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 is so essential
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 in a world
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 that wants to
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 invent its own
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 truth
00:19:37 --> 00:19:40 and with all the
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 consequences that
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 go with that.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 And let's be
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 frank here,
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 what I've said
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 right now
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 ain't so popular
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 in our culture.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 And so how
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 can this world
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 come to know
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 the truth
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 and be joyfully
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 confident in it?
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 How can they know
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 ultimate reality
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 and absolute truth?
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 How can they know
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 that the Bible
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 is true?
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 How can they
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 come to know
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 that Jesus
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 is the centre
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 of God's
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 self-revelation?
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 And let me tell you,
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 there's a temptation
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 here for us
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 to rely upon
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 intellectual arguments
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 that prove
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 that God,
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 that Jesus
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 is God.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:18 and there are
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 so many
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 great arguments,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 so many
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 external reasons
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 as to why
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 we would credit
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 Jesus
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 to be
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 the Son of God.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 But the
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 external
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 evidences
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 are not
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 decisive
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 in and of
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 themselves.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 I'm not saying
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 you shouldn't use them,
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 I'm saying
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 they're not
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 decisive
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 in and of
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 themselves.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 You see,
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 the Pharisees
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 didn't conclude
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 that Jesus
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 was God
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 the Son
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 when they
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 saw
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 enough
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 evidence
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 in the
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 miracles
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 of
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 Jesus.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 They were
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 literally
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 metres
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 away
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 when
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 Jesus
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 called
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 Lazarus
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 out
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 of
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 the
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 tomb.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 A bloke
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 that they
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 themselves
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 had buried
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 four days
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 earlier.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 They knew
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 he was
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 dead.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 They were
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 metres
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 away.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 Jesus
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 called
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 Lazarus
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 out of
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 the tomb.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 He walks
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 out alive
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 and what
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 do they
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 do?
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 They
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 immediately
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 plotted
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 to kill
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 Jesus.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 Instead
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 of going
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 God,
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 we were
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 wrong.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 They
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 saw it.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 The
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 evidence
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 was
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 there.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 The
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 external
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 evidences
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 were not
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 and are
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 not
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 decisive
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 in and of
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 themselves.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 And there's
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 only one
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 thing that's
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 decisive in
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 people seeing
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 truth.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 Matthew
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 16
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 verses
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 13
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 to 17.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 When
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 Jesus
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 came to
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 the
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 region of
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 Caesarea
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 Philippi,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 he asked
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 his
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 disciples,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 who do
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 people say
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 the son
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 of man
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 is?
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 And
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 they
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 replied,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 some say
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 John
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 the
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 Baptist,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 others say
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 Elijah,
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 still others
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 Jeremiah,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 one of the
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 prophets.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 But what
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 about you,
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 he asked,
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 who do
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 you say I
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 am?
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 And
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 Simon
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 Peter
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 answered,
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 you are
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 the
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 Christ,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 the son
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 of the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 living
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 God.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 the
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 conclusion
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 that the
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 Pharisees
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 didn't
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 come to
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 when they
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 saw
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 Lazarus
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 walking
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 out of
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 the
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 tomb.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 What
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 does
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 Jesus
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 say to
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 him
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 in
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 verse
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 17?
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 Blessed
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 are you
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 Simon
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 son
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 of
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 Jonah
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 for
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 this
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 was
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 not
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 revealed
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 to
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 you
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 by
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 man
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 but
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 by
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 my
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 father
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 in
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 heaven.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 My
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 father
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 opened
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 your
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 eyes
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 to
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 see
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 glory
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 is
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 what
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 happened.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 When
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 God
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 the
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 father
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 opens
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 the
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 eyes
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 of
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 your
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 heart
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 you
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 will
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 see
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 and
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 you
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 will
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 know
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 the
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 facts
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 are
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 not
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 decisive
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 in
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 and
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 of
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 themselves.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 It's
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 like me
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 trying to
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 explain
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 to you
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 that
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 this
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 chocolate
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 is
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 sweet
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 and
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 tastes
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 pretty
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 good.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 And I
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 could
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 explain
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 it to
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 you by
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 reading
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 you some
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 of the
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 facts
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 that the
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 ingredients
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 are
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 sugar
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 and
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 cocoa
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 mass
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 and
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 vegetable
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 fats
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 and milk
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 fat
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 and this
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 contro
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 in it
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 and
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 a bunch
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 of other
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 numbers
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 and stuff
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 like that
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 and I
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 can
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 explain
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 to you
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 and say
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 those
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 things
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 combined
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 at the
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 right
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 sort
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 of
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 way
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 produces
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 something
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 that
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 tastes
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 pretty
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 good.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 You
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 know
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 the
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 best
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 way
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 that I
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 can
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 help
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 you
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 understand
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 the
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 sweetness
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 of
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 chocolate
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 is
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 to
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 actually
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 get
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 a piece
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 out
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 and
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 to
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 put it
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 in your
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 mouth
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 rather than
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 just
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 mine
00:23:30 --> 00:23:33 and go
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 what happens
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 is
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 I explain
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 the facts
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 to you
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 and you
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 go
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 oh yeah
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 yeah
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 put it
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 in your
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 mouth
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 and you
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 go
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 oh
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43 oh
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 glory
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 glory
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 glory
00:23:46 --> 00:23:49 you
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 see
00:23:50 --> 00:23:56 the
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 sweetness
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 of
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 chocolate
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 is
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 self
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 authenticatingly
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 true
00:24:01 --> 00:24:04 if
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 I
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 take it
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 out
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 and I
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 put it
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 in your
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 mouth
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 and you
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 don't
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 get it
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 I
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 can't
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 do
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 anything
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 for
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 you
00:24:12 --> 00:24:15 I
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 can't
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 help
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 you
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 anymore
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 the
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 facts
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 won't
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 help
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 you
00:24:17 --> 00:24:21 there's
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 only one
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 thing
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 my friends
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 that will
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 set us
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 out of
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 here
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 aflame
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 it's
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 all
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 gone
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 now
00:24:25 --> 00:24:27 the
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 only
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 thing
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 that
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 will
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 send
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 us
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 out
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 of
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 here
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 aflame
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 with
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 the
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 glory
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 of
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 God
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 in
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 the
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 face
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 of
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 Christ
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 in
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 the
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 word
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 of
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 God
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 is
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 the
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 work
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 of
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 the
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 Father
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 helping
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 you
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 to
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 taste
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 that
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 the
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 Lord
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 is
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 good
00:24:41 --> 00:24:45 that's
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 what
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 this
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 passage
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 in
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 2
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 Corinthians
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 4
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 1
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 to
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 6
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 is
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 so
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 helpful
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 for
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 us
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 so
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 flick
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 over
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 there
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 it's
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 essential
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 this
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 passage
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 therefore
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 starting
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 at
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 verse
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 1
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 therefore
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 since
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 through
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 God's
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 mercy
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 we
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 have
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 this
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 ministry
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 we
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 do
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 not
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 lose
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 heart
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 rather
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 we
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 have
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 renounced
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 secret
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 and
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 shameful
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 ways
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 we
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 do
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 not
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 use
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 deception
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 nor
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 do
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 we
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 distort
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 the
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 word
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 of
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 God
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 on
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 the
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 contrary
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 by
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 setting
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 forth
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 the
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 truth
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 plainly
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 we
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 commend
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 ourselves
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 to
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 every
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 man's
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 conscience
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 in the
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 sight
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 of
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 God
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 and
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 even
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 if
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 our
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 gospel
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 is
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 veiled
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 it
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 is
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 veiled
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 to
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 those
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 who
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 are
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 perishing
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 the
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 God
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 of
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 this
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 age
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 has
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 blinded
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 the
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 minds
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 of
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 unbelievers
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 so
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 they
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 cannot
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 see
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 the
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 light
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 of
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 gospel
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 of
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 glory
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 of
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 Christ
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 who
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 is
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 the
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 image
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 of
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 God
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 for
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 we
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 do
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 not
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 preach
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 ourselves
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 but
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 Jesus
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 Christ
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 as
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 Lord
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 and
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 ourselves
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 as
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 your
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 servants
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 for
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 Jesus
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 sake
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 for
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 God
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 said
00:25:43 --> 00:25:55 verse
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 4
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 says
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 that
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 all
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 human
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 beings
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 are
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 blind
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 the
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 devil
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 that
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 is
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 blind
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 to
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 glory
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 of
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 Christ
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 the
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 devil
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 combines
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 with
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 our
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 own
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 corruption
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 to
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 cause
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 blindness
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 what
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 are
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 we
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 blind
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 to
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 it's
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 not
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 the
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 facts
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 I
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 want
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 to
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 emphasize
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 this
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 it's
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 not
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 the
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 facts
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 about
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 Jesus
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 because
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 the
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 devil
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 gets
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 many
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 of
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 the
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 facts
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 about
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 Jesus
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 right
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 the
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 devil
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 knows
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 that
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 Jesus
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 died
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 he
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 knows
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 that
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 he
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 died
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 for
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 sin
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 he
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 knows
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 that
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 he
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 rose
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 again
00:26:23 --> 00:26:26 but
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 he
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 doesn't
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 see
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 any
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 of
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 that
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 as
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 glorious
00:26:29 --> 00:26:32 what
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 we
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 are
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 blind
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 to
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 is
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 the
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 glory
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 of
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 the
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 facts
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 about
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 Jesus
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 many
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 people
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 including
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 those
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 who have
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 sat
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 in church
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 for
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 years
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 acknowledge
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 the
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 facts
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 about
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 Jesus
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 but
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 they
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 don't
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 actually
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 treasure
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 them
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 they
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 know
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 about
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 Jesus
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 but
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 they
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 don't
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 treasure
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 him
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 they
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 know
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 the
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 Bible
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 but
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 they're
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 not
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 shaped
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 by
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 that
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 they
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 haven't
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 seen
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 the
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 beauty
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 of the
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 facts
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 the
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 compelling
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 worth
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 of the
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 facts
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 they
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 haven't
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 seen
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 verse
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 for
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 the
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 glory
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 of
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 Christ
00:27:01 --> 00:27:04 what
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 has
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 to
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 happen
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 verse
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 five
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 sorry
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 verse
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 six
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 for
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 God
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 who
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 said
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 let
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 light
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 shine
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 our
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 darkness
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 made
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 his
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 light
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 shine
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 our
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 hearts
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 to
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 give
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 us
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 the
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 light
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 of
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 the
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 knowledge
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 of
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 the
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 glory
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 of
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 God
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 in
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 the
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 face
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 of
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 Christ
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 that
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 is
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 what
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 has
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 happened
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 to
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 everyone
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 here
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 who
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 has
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 put
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 their
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 faith
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 in
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 Jesus
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 Matthew
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 16
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 16
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 to
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 17
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 is
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 what
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 happened
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 to
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 you
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 father
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 has
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 revealed
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 truth
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 to
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 you
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 it's
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 not
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 because
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 you're
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 smart
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 it's
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 not
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 because
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 you're
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 eloquent
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 it's
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 not
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 because
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 you're
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 clever
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 than
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 anyone
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 else
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 it's
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 because
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 the
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 father
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 has
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 taken
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 your
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 blindness
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 and
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 helped
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 you
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 to
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 see
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 that
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 in
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 itself
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 is
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 a
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 reason
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 for
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 humble
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 authenticity
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 but
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 we'll
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 get
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 to
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 that
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 in
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 a
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 couple
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 of
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 weeks
00:27:49 --> 00:27:52 now
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 that
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 doesn't
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 mean
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 that
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 we
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 don't
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 do
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 anything
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 verse
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 4
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 says
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 people
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 are
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 blind
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 verse
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 6
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 says
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 God
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 calls
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 them
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 to
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 see
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 and
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 right
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 in
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 between
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 those
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 two
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 is
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 verse
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 5
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 which
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 reveals
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 the
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 means
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 by
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 which
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 God
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 causes
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 eyes
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 to
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 open
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 so
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 that
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 they
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 taste
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 and
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 they
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 see
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 truth
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 glory
00:28:09 --> 00:28:11 for
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 we
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 do
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 not
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 preach
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 ourselves
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 but
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 Jesus
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 Christ
00:28:15 --> 00:28:18 as
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 your
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 servants
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 as
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 Lord
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 as
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 King
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 as
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 Master
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 as
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 God
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 as
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 ultimate
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 reality
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 our
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 job
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 in
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 this
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 world
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 uncertain
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 and
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 wary
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 of
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 any
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 truth
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 is
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 to
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 so
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 portray
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 the
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 truth
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 of
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 the
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 Bible
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 and
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 especially
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 the
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 center
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 of
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 it
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 the
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 center
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 of
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 it
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 being
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 the
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 light
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 of
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 the
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 gospel
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 of
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 the
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 glory
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 of
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 Christ
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 who
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 is
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 the
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 image
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 of
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 God
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 combined
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 with
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 the
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 prayer
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 that
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 God
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 would
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 do
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 his
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 work
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 convicting
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 so
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 that
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 people
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 might
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 see
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 Jesus
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 and
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 while
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 we
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 are
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 reading
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 the
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 ingredients
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 so to
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 speak
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 and
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 explaining
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 this
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 sweetness
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 of the
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 facts
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 God
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 might
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 unwrap
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 a piece
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 and put
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 in
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 people's
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 mouth
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 and they
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 go
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 Jesus
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 I see
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 him
00:29:02 --> 00:29:07 and
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 if
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 that
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 happens
00:29:08 --> 00:29:11 suddenly
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 all
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 the
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 defenses
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 will
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 fall
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 down
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 and
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 Jesus
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 will
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 be
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 irresistibly
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 compelling
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 as
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 true
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 and
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 beautiful
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 and
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 glorious
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 before
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 I
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 became
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 a
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 Christian
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 I
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 read
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 the
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 Bible
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 back
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 to
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 front
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 four
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 times
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 and
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 I
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 didn't
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 see
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 Jesus
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 I
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 heard
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 one
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 bloke
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 preach
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 one
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 night
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 and
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 I
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 just
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 went
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 oh
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 it
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 all
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 makes
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 sense
00:29:35 --> 00:29:38 and
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 it's
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 not
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 because
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 I
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 read
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 it
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 through
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 the
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 fifth
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 time
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 it's
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 because
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 God
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 just
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 calls
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 me
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 to
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 see
00:29:42 --> 00:29:45 my
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 friends
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 it is
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 simply
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 breathtaking
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 that
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 God
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 who
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 made
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 everything
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 controls
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 everything
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 as a
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 person
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 has
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 actually
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 spoken
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 to
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 us
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 it
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 is
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 impossible
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 for me
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 to stand
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 up here
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 and
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 actually
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 overstate
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 that
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 very
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 simple
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 and
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 basic
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 truth
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 God
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 has
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 spoken
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 to
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 us
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 we
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 are
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 not
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 left
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 without
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 a
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 knowledge
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 of
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 his
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 will
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 we
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 are
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 not
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 left
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 without
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 wisdom
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 we're
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 not
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 left
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 without
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 a
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 well
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 of
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 knowledge
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 that
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 will
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 never
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 run
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 dry
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 we're
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 not
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 left
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 without
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 a
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 revelation
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 of
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 the way
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 of
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 salvation
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 the way
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 of
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 everlasting
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 joy
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 he
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 has
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 left
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 us
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 without
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 a
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 way
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 to
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 measure
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 every
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 single
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 vital
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 thing
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 that we
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 face
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 in
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 life
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 including
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 all
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 of the
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 alternative
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 truth
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 claims
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 that are
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 currently
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 coming
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 at
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 us
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 this
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 is
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 simply
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 priceless
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 in a
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 world
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 with
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 little
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 grasp
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 or
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 of
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 truth
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 or
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 meaning
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 or
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 purpose
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 or
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 reality
00:30:36 --> 00:30:39 and I
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 would
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 suggest
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 that if
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 we
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 could
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 awaken
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 to
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 this
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 truth
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 in
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 our
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 life
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 together
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 as a
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 church
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 just
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 imagine
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 how we
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 would
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 live
00:30:47 --> 00:30:50 just
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 imagine
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 how we
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 would
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 navigate
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 the
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 complexity
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 of life
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 in this
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 world
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 the
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 implications
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 for our
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 lives
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 would be
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 countless
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 and
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 it
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 would
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 be
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 vital
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 and
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 so
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 let
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 me
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 be
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 absolutely
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 frank
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 with
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 you
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 I
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 am
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 pretty
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 much
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 baffled
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 by
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 Christian
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 leaders
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 who
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 preach
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 and
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 teach
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 on
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 things
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 other
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 than
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 the
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 Bible
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 as
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 if
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 it
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 is
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 not
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 relevant
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 or
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 interesting
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 and I'm
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 pretty much
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 baffled by
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 leaders of
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 ministries
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 who are
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 too embarrassed
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 to make
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 the Bible
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 front and
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 centre
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 in their
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 ministry
00:31:19 --> 00:31:26 the church
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 culture that I
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 am to shape
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 here at
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 St Paul's
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 is a church
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 that's committed
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 to Christ
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 centred Bible
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 saturation
00:31:31 --> 00:31:33 and the
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 implications
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 of what I
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 said about
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 reality and
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 absolute truth
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 in Jesus
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 are so
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 practical
00:31:38 --> 00:31:40 because if
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 we believe
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 that value
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 and it's
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 deeply inside
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 of us
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 it impacts
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 our behaviour
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 our attitudes
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 and our
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 actions
00:31:47 --> 00:31:50 it will mean
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 things like
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 that we value
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 individual and
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 corporate
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 biblical
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 reflection
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 assessment
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 of life
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 and ministry
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 that's we want
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 to critique
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 everything we
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 do through
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 the lens
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 of scripture
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 and consistently
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 be critiquing
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 everything we
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 do through
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 the lens
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 of scripture
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 we are
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 committed to
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 authority to
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 Bible teaching
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 and preaching
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 over reason
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 and experience
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 and tradition
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 we are
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 committed to
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 the God
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 centredness
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 of all
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 biblical
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 truth
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 we are
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 committed
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 to passing
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 on to the
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 next generation
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 a biblically
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 informed love
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 for God
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 we are
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 committed to
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 every believer
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 taking responsibility
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 to be spiritually
00:32:21 --> 00:32:23 and physically
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 prepared to
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 listen and
00:32:24 --> 00:32:26 obey as
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 God's word
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 is taught
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 and every
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 believer
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 having a
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 vital
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 personal
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 Bible
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 study
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 time
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 where the
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 Bible
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 is
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 read
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 and
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 meditated
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 on
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 and
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 memorized
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 and prayed
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 over
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 and obeyed
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 and so my
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 friends
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 may God
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 fill you
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 with a
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 strong
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 love for
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 truth
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 a deep
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 grasp of
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 the Bible
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 as the
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 sum of
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 all truth
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 and a
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 powerful
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 vision for
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 the glory
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 of God
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 in the face
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 of Christ
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 let's pray
00:32:55 --> 00:33:02 heavenly
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 father on
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 the six of
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 this month
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 478 years
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 ago
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 William
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 Tyndall was
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 strangled to
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 death and
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 his body
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 was burnt
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 so that we
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 could have
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 your word
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 in our
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 laps
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 tonight
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15 and so
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 may there
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 be nothing
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 trivial
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 about the
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 way we
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 speak
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 about the
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 Bible
00:33:20 --> 00:33:22 not primarily
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 because we
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 owe a debt
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 to Tyndall
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 but because
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 it is you
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 speaking to
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 us
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 and so we
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 ask that
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 many many
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 more than
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 we could
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 we could
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 even ask
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 for or
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 imagine
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 would come
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 to revere
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 you the
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 God of
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 the Bible
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 and your
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 word
00:33:38 --> 00:33:40 for St
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 Paul's
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 Lord we
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 ask for
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 an awakening
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 to the
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 truth in
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 our lives
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 and in
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 this city
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 for the
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 glory of
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 your name
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 Amen