ESTHER
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 3rd July 2016
Passage: Esther 9:1-10:3
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 rest. Most people say to me before I leave, I hope you have a good rest or I hope you have a good
00:00:05 --> 00:00:11 break, that sort of stuff. It's not so much sleep that I need. I tend to sleep fairly well. I've got
00:00:11 --> 00:00:16 one of these Fitbit things that tells me when I need to go to bed and wakes me up at the right
00:00:16 --> 00:00:22 time and what sort of quality of sleep I've had. It's more the freedom from deadlines and the
00:00:22 --> 00:00:27 day-to-day burdens to be able to step out of those things and do something very different. That
00:00:27 --> 00:00:35 is rest for me. And so tonight I will crawl into bed and not have my mind on work commitments for
00:00:35 --> 00:00:42 the next day. And that will feel good. That will feel really good. I had experience recently for a
00:00:42 --> 00:00:47 long weekend where I did that, crawling to bed on a Sunday night and I wasn't thinking about, oh,
00:00:47 --> 00:00:54 I don't have to go to work tomorrow. That felt good. Now rest is a big theme in the Bible. Right
00:00:54 --> 00:01:00 the beginning. God created the world and it says that he rested from all of his work in creating.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:07 And the rest there is a picture of harmony and peace. Everything is as it should be. However,
00:01:08 --> 00:01:13 the rejection of God and the devastating effects of sin destroyed that rest. And much of the Bible
00:01:13 --> 00:01:24 from that point on is this process of God revealing his plan to undo that and to bring his people back to
00:01:24 --> 00:01:32 a state of peace and rest with him. And as we come to the end of the story of Esther today, we notice
00:01:32 --> 00:01:44 that the upshot of all that Esther has achieved was that she got rest for God's people from rest from all of
00:01:44 --> 00:01:50 their enemies. And so let's track back a little bit. Remember what's transpired to this point.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:57 Esther is the young orphan Jewish woman who became Queen of Persia around two and a half thousand years
00:01:57 --> 00:02:03 ago. In the first couple of chapters, she hides her Jewish identity. She's compliant. She wins Miss
00:02:03 --> 00:02:11 Persia beauty pageant 480 BC. And her prize is to be the wife of the most powerful man in the world at
00:02:11 --> 00:02:16 the time, King Xerxes. In chapter three, she's living the high life in the palace when all of everything
00:02:16 --> 00:02:25 turns bad. Having been convinced by the narcissistic Haman, Xerxes issues a decree to his whole empire
00:02:25 --> 00:02:32 to kill, destroy and annihilate the Jews. They're Esther's people. They're God's people.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:42 And this was all because Esther's older cousin Mordecai wouldn't acknowledge how important Haman was.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:49 Chapters four and five, Esther finally does identify with her people, goes to Xerxes to mediate a plan on
00:02:49 --> 00:02:56 behalf of those people, a rescue plan. She risks her life and uses her position in the palace to work to
00:02:56 --> 00:03:05 save God's people. Chapter six, although Haman plots to execute Mordecai, Xerxes honors Mordecai in just the
00:03:05 --> 00:03:14 time to save his life. And from that moment on, Haman's downfall is swift. In chapter seven, there's a sense of
00:03:14 --> 00:03:22 poetic justice as he is executed on the stake that he himself had built to execute Mordecai on. And Mordecai
00:03:22 --> 00:03:29 then rises to Haman's place of power. A counter edict is drawn up saying that the Jews could now defend
00:03:29 --> 00:03:37 themselves when they are attacked and they could take the plunder of their enemies. Now, I suspect
00:03:37 --> 00:03:44 that Esther and Mordecai would have been hoping with the, that edict, counter edict being drawn up, that they
00:03:44 --> 00:03:49 could put the whole thing to rest and that people wouldn't be bothered now to attack the Jews.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:59 And as we see in chapter nine, many tried anyway. The whole thing wasn't put to rest. There was an
00:03:59 --> 00:04:06 enormous amount of bloodshed and many of the Jews were killed. Clearly, there were quite a few who were
00:04:06 --> 00:04:12 willing to carry through on the original edict. They really did hate the people of God. And even in the
00:04:12 --> 00:04:20 citadel, the seat of power and influence, there were more than 500 who wanted to kill the Jews.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:30 This is in the palace, more than 500. In verse 16, we see that 75 were killed by God's people in one
00:04:30 --> 00:04:38 day. And none of them are named, none of the killed were named, except in verses seven to nine, the 10
00:04:38 --> 00:04:47 sons of Haman with names that are impossible to pronounce. Why are they named? I think for two
00:04:47 --> 00:04:56 really important reasons. Firstly, at the end of chapter five, when Haman's ego was bruised by Mordecai,
00:04:57 --> 00:05:02 he goes home, he gathers his family and his friends around him, and he just has a little boast session,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:13 tells him how great he is. And he boasts about three things. His wealth, his authority, his sons.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:22 In chapter seven, his position was taken away from him, given to Mordecai in chapter eight. In chapter
00:05:22 --> 00:05:30 eight, his wealth is taken away from him and given to Esther. And in chapter nine, his sons are no longer.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:40 They are hung on a pole as a public spectacle. The proud has been brought low. His boasting is gone.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:49 There is nothing left to boast about. And secondly, I think the death of Haman's sons marks the reversal
00:05:49 --> 00:05:59 and the end to a mistake the king saw make back in one Samuel chapter 15 that Deb spoke about a number
00:05:59 --> 00:06:06 of weeks ago. God had instructed Saul to go and attack the Amalekites and to wipe them out and not to touch
00:06:06 --> 00:06:15 their plunder. And Saul didn't wipe them out and he took the plunder. And with the death of Haman's sons,
00:06:15 --> 00:06:21 we're meant to see the end of the Amalekites, the enemies of God's people.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:29 God had not forgotten his plan to judge the Amalekites. He might take his time, but his justice
00:06:29 --> 00:06:36 will end up catching up. He always punishes his enemies. And at the very least, we ought to all
00:06:36 --> 00:06:45 at this point be considering our state before God very clearly. God's silence on our sin does not mean
00:06:45 --> 00:06:53 his absence or his lack of care for it. Now, let's be frank. Many people struggle with these parts
00:06:53 --> 00:06:58 of the Old Testament that portray God's people executing God's judgment on others.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:08 But God's anger here at his enemies is not a cranky explosion. It is his settled opposition
00:07:08 --> 00:07:18 to the cancer which is eating the insides of the human race, the race that he loves with his whole
00:07:18 --> 00:07:28 being. The Bible says that God's anger flows from his love and his delight of his creation. He is angry
00:07:28 --> 00:07:36 at evil and injustice because it is destroying the peace and the integrity of what he has made.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:44 It's quite noticeable that a couple of times in chapter 9 that we are told here that the Jews did not
00:07:44 --> 00:07:51 take the wealth of their attackers, even though the edict gave them permission to do so.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:59 And that just helps us see here, just for a moment, that this bloodshed here was simply an act of
00:07:59 --> 00:08:08 self-defence. It's an act of justice on wrongdoers. This bloodshed was not an imperial action by which
00:08:08 --> 00:08:17 they were enriching themselves and increasing their power. They were simply wanted and needed relief
00:08:17 --> 00:08:26 from their enemies. And that's what they get in chapter 9, verse 17. They rested and made it a day
00:08:26 --> 00:08:34 of feasting and joy. And at this point, they ended up consecrating a new annual celebration to remember
00:08:34 --> 00:08:42 the time that they got relief from their enemies. And yet, they've been here before, many times.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:49 God's people have a track record of getting rest that doesn't last.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:55 Moses gave it to them for a little while. Joshua gave it to them for a little while. David gave it to
00:08:55 --> 00:08:59 them for a little while. Solomon gave it to them for a little while. Esther and Mordecai gives it to
00:08:59 --> 00:09:07 them for a little while. But this, even this rest that they have in this moment does not last.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:14 Tacked on the end of Esther is this awkward little postscript in chapter 10.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:18 Just a few verses. It's kind of awkward. It reads,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:26 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire to its distant shores and all his acts of power and
00:09:26 --> 00:09:32 might together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai whom the king had promoted.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:43 And at first glance, it appears, what's that there for? Why end with those words? What's the purpose of it?
00:09:43 --> 00:09:50 But if you put them in the big picture of the enormous reversal which has been experienced in the book of Esther,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:56 they show us that in the end, not a lot has actually changed.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 Xerxes is still king.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:09 And don't forget, it was his cold indifference that saw him write a law that allowed for the destruction of the Jews
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 throughout the whole empire.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 And he's still on the throne.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:21 His personal interests still remain paramount regardless of the cost to his subjects.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:27 That's what it means when it says here that he imposed tribute throughout the empire.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:33 A tribute is not a...
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 Good on Mordecai.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 A tribute is a new tax.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 It's a new tax.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:46 Or, and most likely both together, it's also conscripting people into forced labour.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 God's people have received rest from all of their enemies
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 except Xerxes.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 And he's still on the throne.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:02 It's a temporary rest.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 It's a fragile rest.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:09 And that's why the later prophets in the Old Testament, like Isaiah and Daniel,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:13 began to prophesy that someday the Messiah would come
00:11:13 --> 00:11:17 and he would give God's people the ultimate rest,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 the final rest,
00:11:18 --> 00:11:21 the final peace that God longs for.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:26 In fact, Daniel chapter 7 talks about the Son of Man
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 who comes and he wages war,
00:11:29 --> 00:11:33 just warfare against all evil and injustice
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 and who will bring final rest.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:41 And along comes Jesus.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 Jesus, 500 odd years after Esther and says,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 I am the Son of Man.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:57 But he wages war against God's enemies differently.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 In Luke chapter 9,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 there's a place where some people reject Jesus
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 and they show themselves to be enemies of Jesus
00:12:03 --> 00:12:06 and enemies of God's people.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 And the disciples turn to Jesus
00:12:09 --> 00:12:13 and ask Jesus whether he wants them
00:12:13 --> 00:12:18 to call down fire on these people.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 It's like the disciples are sort of saying to Jesus,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 you know, Jesus, you're the Son of Man, right?
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 And you've come to wage war,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 you know, final warfare
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 on all of the enemies of God's people
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 and to give us rest.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 So do you want to start now
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 on these people?
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 Because we don't like them.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 Fire down on these people?
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 That'd be good.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 And Jesus rebukes him.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 He says,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 love your enemies.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 Forgive your enemies.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 And it doesn't make sense.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:59 How can that bring us rest from our enemies?
00:12:59 --> 00:13:03 And then at the very end,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 when his enemies come for him
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 at the Garden of Gethsemane,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:10 the disciples finally got it.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 And that's when they ran.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 When they got it.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 This is the moment when Jesus,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 the Son of Man,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 is arrested
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 and Peter
00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 draws his sword
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 ready to die for Jesus
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 because he thinks
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 that this is the moment
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 where we are going to bring destruction
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 upon the enemies of God.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 It's finally a rise.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 This is the moment
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 when Jesus is going to rise up
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 and he's going to defeat the Romans.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 And Jesus says,
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 Peter, put your sword away.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 And Jesus goes with his enemies
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 and he dies on a cross.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 He utters incredible words
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 from the cross.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 He says,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 Father, forgive them
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 for they don't know
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 what they are doing.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 He forgives his enemies.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 Now, it's at this point
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 that many people think
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 there's a difference
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 between the God of the Old Testament
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 and the God of the New Testament.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 You may have heard it before.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 The God of the Old Testament
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 is a bloodthirsty God
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 who's angry,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 capricious,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 evil.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 He doesn't like evil injustice
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 and he's just always smiting things.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 Always obliterating things,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 annihilating things.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 But he's mellowed a bit
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 by the time he gets
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 to the New Testament.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 Gotten a bit older or something.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 Mellowed a bit
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 and Jesus is love.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 Jesus just loves everybody.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 He just accepts everybody
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 and little kittens
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 and children
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 and lambs love him.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 And yet Jesus believed
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 in the judgment of God
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 on evil.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 Jesus talked more about
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 hell and judgment
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 than everyone else
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 in the Bible put together.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 Of course he believed
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 in the reality of hell
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 and the judgment of God
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 on all sin
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 and evil injustice.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 And what we have
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 on the cross
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 is Jesus Christ
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 loving his enemies,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 forgiving his enemies,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:09 dying for his enemies.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 And yet it's the ultimate
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 warfare
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 and judgment
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 on evil and injustice.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:19 He is concerned about
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 destroying the sin
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 and the evil
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 and the injustice
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 that he's eating away
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 at the world
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 that he loves.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 Galatians 3.13
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 says that Jesus
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 was hung on a pole.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 He was on display
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 as a public spectacle.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 It says,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 Christ redeemed us
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 from the curse
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 of the law
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 by becoming
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 a curse for us.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 For as it is written,
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 cursed is everyone
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 who is hung
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 on a pole.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 He redeemed us
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 in order
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 that the blessing
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 of Abraham
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 might come
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 to the Gentiles
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 through Christ Jesus
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 so that by faith
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 we might receive
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 the promise
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 of the Spirit.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:06 You see,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 Jesus trades places
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 with us
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 and becomes
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 a curse
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 for us.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 He takes God's anger
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 and his judgment
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 for us.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 He's made a spectacle
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 for our sin
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 and our evil
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 and our injustice.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 You see,
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 what the cross
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 of Christ reveals
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 is that God
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 is concerned
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 to destroy
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 evil,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 injustice and sin
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 but he's not so much
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 concerned to destroy
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 that enemy over there
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 and that enemy over there.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 he is very concerned
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 to destroy
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 enmity.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 He's very concerned
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 to destroy
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 enmity.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 That is
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 hostility.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 That's what he wants
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 to destroy.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 In Ephesians 2
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 we are told
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 that on the cross
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 Jesus killed
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 the enmity
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 that divides me
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 from you
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 and you from you.
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 The enmity
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 that divides us
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 as people
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 from God.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 the hostility
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 that exists
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 and he killed
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 the enmity
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 that exists.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 You see,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 if Jesus
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 had said to Peter
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 go nuts
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 in the Garden
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 of Gethsemane
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 use your sword
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 and in fact
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 all the disciples
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 let's all whip out
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 our swords
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 and go nuts
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 on these guys
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 and destroy
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 the Romans
00:17:18 --> 00:17:21 he would have
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 given his people
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 in that moment
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 temporary
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 rest
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 from one
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 particular enemy
00:17:27 --> 00:17:31 but when he died
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 on the cross
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 for our sin
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 he was destroying
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 sin
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 and evil
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 and injustice
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 and death
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 itself.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 He became
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 the curse
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 he was hung
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 on a pole
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 and turned away
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 the anger
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 of God
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 the cross
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 is the ultimate
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 warfare
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 against God's
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 enemies
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 enemies
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 because it
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 kills the enmity
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 the hostility.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 This is so
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 important to
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 grasp.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 If someone
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 wrongs you
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 in some way
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 maybe they've
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 hurt your
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 reputation
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 or something
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 most people
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 would conclude
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 that you have
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 a perfect right
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 to tell everyone
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 else about it.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 Tell them
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 what's happened
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 and therefore
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 what you're doing
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 in that moment
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 is you're ruining
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 their reputation.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 or if a person
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 has robbed you
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 of happiness
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 or in love
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 we tend to think
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 that we have
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 every right
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 to withdraw
00:18:28 --> 00:18:31 from that person
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 to withhold
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 from that person
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 our love.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 We can go
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 really cold
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 with them
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 and so that
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 we hurt them
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 and we hurt
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 their happiness
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 and their love.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 We're really good
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 at this in marriage
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 especially.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 Wife doesn't
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 treat me the way
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 I want
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 doesn't give me
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 what I want
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 so I'm just
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 going to go
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 over here
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 and I'm just
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 going to go
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 cold shoulder
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 until I get
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 what I want.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 Great at that.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 That's our
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 default human
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 position.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 Our position
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 in the human
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 heart
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 is to respond
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 to evil
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 force
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 with hurtful
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 force.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 Evil force
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 hurtful
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 force.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 Our default
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 position
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 is to
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 whack
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 the enemy
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 even if
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 it is
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 our
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 spouse.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 And if
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 you whack
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 them hard
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 enough
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 you will
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 get rest.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 That's because
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 they're
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 dead
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 or they're
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 gone
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 or they're
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 debilitated
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 or they're
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 in hospital
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 they're
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 humiliated
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 or something's
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 happened.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:43 if you
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 whack
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 them
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 hard
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 enough
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 you
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 will
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 win
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 with
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 that
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 enemy
00:19:48 --> 00:19:51 for a
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 moment.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 On the
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 train on
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 Wednesday
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 I was
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 heading back
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 up this
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 way and
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 there were
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 a couple
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 of guys
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 standing
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 beside me
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 talking about
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 some work
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 scenario
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 and from
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 what I could
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 gather
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 and I tell
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 you what
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 it's
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 everything to
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 me not to
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 jump in on
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 this conversation
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 but for
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 what I could
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 gather
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 one of the
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 guys had
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 just finished
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 up on a
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 job and
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 it ended
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 fairly badly
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 with the
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 boss.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 And these
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 two guys
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 were really
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 bad-mouthing
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 this guy
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 and for
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 what I could
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 gather
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 that this
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 guy who
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 finished up
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 the job
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 and his
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 boss were
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 bad-mouthing
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 each other
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 in their
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 fairly small
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 industry.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 And the
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 other gentleman
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 there was
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 giving him
00:20:31 --> 00:20:34 advice on
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 how he can
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 win.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 And he
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 mentioned a
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 bunch of
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 stuff and
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 a few
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 things that
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 he could
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 manipulate in
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 the scenario
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 and leverage
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 to beat
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 his former
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 boss.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 His
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 conflict
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 management
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 advice
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 included a
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 heap of
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 threats,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 manipulation
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 and
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 expletive
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 laden
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 sentences.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 Just say
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 this to him
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 and I'm
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 thinking oh
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 that's going
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 to inflame
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 it, that's
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 going to
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 inflame
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 it.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 You see
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 what was
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 happening in
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 that moment
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 evil force
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 hurtful
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 force.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 Someone will
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 come out the
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 victor, someone
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 will lose.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 You've
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 whacked the
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 only enemy
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 but all
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 you've done
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 is made
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 the enemy
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 worse.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 That's all
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 you've
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 done.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 The
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 enmity, the
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 hostility between
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 you and the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 enemy is still
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 there.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 It's still
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 there.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 When you
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 fight evil
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 with evil
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 you don't
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 beat evil,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 evil wins.
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 and it
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 wins in
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 two ways.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 Firstly, you
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 become harder.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 You become
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 colder.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 But most of
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 all you
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 become self
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 righteous.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 You say
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 things like I
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 can't believe
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 that person
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 did that.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 I can't
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 believe they
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 said that.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 I would
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 never do
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 that.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 So evil
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 wins firstly
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 that way.
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 The second
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 way that evil
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 wins is when
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 you whack an
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 enemy back
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 you make
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 them more
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 of an
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 enemy.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 even if
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 they are
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 dead.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 The
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 children might
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 come after
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 you.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 Haman's a
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 classic case
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 here.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 Haman's
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 bitterness
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 towards God
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 people was
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 carried over
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 from centuries
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 before.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 Or maybe
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 the enemy
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 will regroup
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 and be more
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 angry than
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 ever.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 It just
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 goes on
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 and on
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 and on
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 and on.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:32 the best
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 way to
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 defeat
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 evil and
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 injustice
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 the best
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 way to
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 defeat
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 an enemy
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 is with
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 good.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 The cross
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 of Jesus
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 Christ
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 changes the
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 warfare
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 against evil
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 and injustice
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 so that now
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 the way we
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 handle enemies
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 is by loving
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 them and
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 forgiving them.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 We overcome
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 evil with
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 good.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 We don't
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 respond to
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 evil force
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 with hurtful
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 force.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 we respond
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 to evil
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 force with
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 something more
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 powerful,
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 grace.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 Grace is
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 powerful.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 Grace
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 destroys
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 enmity.
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 There is
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 nothing more
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 formidable,
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 nothing more
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 violent in
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 the best
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 possible way
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 than
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 grace.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 You may,
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 for those who
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 are cultural
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 buffs amongst
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 us,
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 les mis,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 Jean Valjean,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 the interaction
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 with the
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 bishop right
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 at the end
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 when the
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 bishop says,
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 oh, you
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 stole the
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 candlesticks,
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 I told you
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 to take
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 everything else.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 Jean Valjean
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 walks away
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 from that
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 moment and
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 he says,
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 grace did
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 violence to
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 his soul.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 Nothing more
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 violent in the
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 best possible way
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 than grace.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 And get
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 this, this
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 is so
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 important.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 when you
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 give somebody
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 grace,
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 when you
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 forgive them,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 and especially
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 your enemies,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 you give them
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 the prospect
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 of becoming
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 a friend.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 And that
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 is the only
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 way to
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 truly to
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 destroy an
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 enemy,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 is to make
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 them a
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 friend.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 It's the only
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 way.
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 God's
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 God's
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 God's
00:24:24 --> 00:24:26 enemies to
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 God's
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 friends.
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 He was
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 changing us
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 from being
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 God's
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 enemies to
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 God's
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 friends.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 Rather than
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 smiting us
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 and whacking
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 us, he
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 dealt with
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 the righteous
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 anger because
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 of our
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 evil by
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 whacking
00:24:43 --> 00:24:45 himself to
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 make us
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 his friends.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:50 the minute
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 we grasp
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 hold of
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 that, the
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 minute we
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 grasp hold
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 of that, it
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 changes us
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 from being
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 an enemy
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 to a
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 friend of
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 God.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 And what
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 that does is
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 it sends
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 you out
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 into this
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 world at
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 truly being
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 at rest
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 with your
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 enemies.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 enemies.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 If you
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 understand the
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 good news of
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 what Jesus
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 has done
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 for you, you
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 get rest from
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 your enemies.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 And this is
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 how it works.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 Do you
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 truly believe
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 that Jesus
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 Christ had to
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 die for you
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 because you
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 are that
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 bad, that
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 sinful, that
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 evil, that
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 unjust?
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 Do you
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 believe that
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 you are that
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 sinful that
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 nothing less
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 than the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 Son of
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 God dying
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 on the
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 cross could
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 save you?
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 That is
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 humbling.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 The cross
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 of Christ is
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 tumbling.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 It inoculates
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 you against
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 what evil
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 does to
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 keep itself
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 going in
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 this world.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 When someone
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 does something
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 wrong to you,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 when an enemy
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 insults you,
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 the first thing
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 that happens is
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 we jump on our
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 high horse of
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 self-righteousness,
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 we get angry.
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 And that's
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 what helps
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 evil continue
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 to go around
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 and around
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 and around.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 I'm not
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 like that.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 You've
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 whacked me,
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 I'm going to
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 whack you.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 the good
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 news of
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 Jesus dying
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 on the
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 cross for
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 me tells
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 me that I
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 am no
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 better.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 I am a
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 sinner saved
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 by sheer
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 grace and
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 if that is
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 your place
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 of refuge,
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 then the
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 evil one
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 and evil
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 and injustice
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 and sin
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 doesn't have
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 any place to
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 get a
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 foothold in
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 your life.
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 The enemy
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 of the
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 Christian can
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 no longer
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 destroy them
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 because they
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 can't make
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 you hate
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 them.
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 If you
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 hate your
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 enemy,
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48 then you
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 don't know
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 that you
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 are a
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 sinner saved
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 by grace.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 You don't
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 know that.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 If you
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 haven't been
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 humbled by
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 the Christian
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 gospel of
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 God dying
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 on the cross
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 for you,
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 if you
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 haven't truly
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 seen that,
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 then you
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 are so
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 vulnerable.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 if you
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 don't have
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 rest from
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 your enemies,
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 your enemies
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 can destroy
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 you and
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 they can
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 control you,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 they can
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 manipulate you
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 and the
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 Christian
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 gospel
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 humbles you
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 so that
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 you are
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 able to
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 resist what
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 the enemy
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 does to
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 you.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 And now
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 you can
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 go out in
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 the world
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 and you
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 can give
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 enemies
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 what you
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 got from
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 Jesus.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 You can
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 forgive them,
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 reach out to
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 them, be
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 gracious to
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 them.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 More and
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 more enemies
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 will then
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 become friends,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 not all of
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 them, but
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 many will
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 become
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 friends.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 That's what
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 we need.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 That's true
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 and genuine
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 and enduring
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 rest.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 And that's
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 what we all
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 need and
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 that's what
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 the Lord
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 Jesus has
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 secured for
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 us and
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 promises us.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 And it's a
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 rest that we
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 can have both
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 now and a
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 rest that just
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 goes on and
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 on into all
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 the future
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 and eternity.
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 Jesus gives
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 us rest for
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 ourselves now.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 Jesus says
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 this in
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 Matthew 11.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 He says,
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 Come to me
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 all who are
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 weary and
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 burdened and
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 I will give
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 you rest.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 Take my
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 yoke upon
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 you and
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 learn from
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 me for
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 I am
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 gentle and
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 humble in
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 heart and
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 you will
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 find rest
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 for your
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 souls.
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 Many
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 people today
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 speak about
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 a deep
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 hunger in
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 the human
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 heart.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 People are
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 hungry for
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 love and
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 security and
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 significance and
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 meaning.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 And Jesus
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 says,
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 I'm the bread
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 of life.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 Feed them
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 mean you
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 never be
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 hungry.
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 Many walk
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 in darkness
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 and disillusionment
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 and despair.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 And Jesus
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 says,
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 I'm the light
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 of the world.
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 If you
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 follow me,
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 you will
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 never walk
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 in darkness.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 Instead,
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 you'll have
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 the light
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 of life.
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 Others are
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 fearful of
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 death.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 And Jesus
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 says,
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 I'm the
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 resurrection
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 of the
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 life.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 He who
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 believes in
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 me will
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 live even
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 though he
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 dies.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 And whoever
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 lives and
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 believes in
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 me will
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 never die.
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 Others are
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 burdened by
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 worry and
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 anxiety and
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 fear and
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 guilt.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 And Jesus
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 says,
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 come to
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 me,
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 all who
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 are weary
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 and burdened,
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 and I
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 will give
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 you rest.
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 That's the
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 promise of
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 rest for
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 our souls
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 right now
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 as we
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 come to
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 Jesus.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 And yet
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 the best
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 is yet to
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 come for
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 those who
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 trust in
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 Jesus.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 Jesus
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 secured
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 final,
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 perfect,
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 never-ending
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 rest in
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 God's new
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 creation.
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 The rest
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 of unspoiled
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 love between
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 you and
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 God.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 No enemies.
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 The rest
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 of temptation
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 and our
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 inbuilt drift
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 away from
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 God.
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 The rest
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 from the
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 shaming cycle
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 of failing,
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 failure and
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 confession and
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 trying harder
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 and failure
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 and confession
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 and rest
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 from the
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 opposition of
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 the world,
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 rest from
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 all sickness
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 and pain
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 and disability
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 and death,
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 rest from
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 everything that
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 takes the
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 gloss of this
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 life.
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 And that
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 is the
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 rest that
00:29:38 --> 00:29:40 Jesus offers
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 his people
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 right now.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 It's what he
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 has secured
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 for you right
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 now.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 And so
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 we come to
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 the end of
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 Esther.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 Six weeks
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 looking at
00:29:55 --> 00:29:57 pride and
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 identity in
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 Christ and
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 a bunch of
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 other stuff.
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 And the
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 last verse
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 of chapter
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 eight is
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 where I
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 want to
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 take some
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 of you
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 right now.
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 It says,
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 Jews and
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 many people
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 of other
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 nationalities
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 became Jews
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 because fear
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 of the
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 Jews had
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 seized them.
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 That is,
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 what was
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 remarkable at
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 the end of
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 chapter eight
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 is that many
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 people across
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 the Persian
00:30:29 --> 00:30:31 empire identified
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 with the
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 people of
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 God.
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 They identified
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 with the
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 God of the
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 Bible and
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 they too
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 enjoyed the
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 rest of
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 chapter nine
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 and ten
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 and the
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 celebration of
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 joy and
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 happiness.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 And so as
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 we come to
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 our time,
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 the end of
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 our time in
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 Esther,
00:30:51 --> 00:30:53 this is a
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 decision time
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 for you.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 It might be
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 that you don't
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 have that place
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 of rest right
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 now.
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 And maybe
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 today is the
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 day that you
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 need to make
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 that decision
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 to have
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 that rest.
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 Come to
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 Jesus,
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 end the
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 warfare on
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 God,
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 and find
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 true and
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 enduring rest
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 for your
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 soul.
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 If that's
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 you,
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 I'd be
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 really glad
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 to speak to
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 you after
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 the service.