How to Find God
Series: A SUMMER OF PSALMS
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 12th January 2019
Passage: Psalm 19:1-14
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 About 500 years ago, a new theory regarding the world started to emerge.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:12 People used to think the planet Earth is the center of the universe,
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 and everything revolves around it.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:21 But through observing the sky and recording the location of few known stars over time,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:27 a few scientists concluded that the sun is the center of our galaxy,
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 and we revolve around the sun,
00:00:30 --> 00:00:35 and there is something much bigger that is at the center of the universe.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:41 Scientists and astronomers continue to explore the night sky
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 in order to find out the size of our neighboring planets
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 and their exact distance between each other
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 in order to work out the size of the solar system
00:00:51 --> 00:00:57 and hopefully to work out the size of the Milky Way galaxy and the universe.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:06 In early 1700s, astronomer Edmund Haley proposed that
00:01:06 --> 00:01:11 one way to calculate the exact distance between each planet of our solar system
00:01:11 --> 00:01:17 is to observe Venus moving across in front of the sun
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 from different parts of the world.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:26 So in 1769, Lieutenant James Cook travelled to Tahiti
00:01:26 --> 00:01:30 to observe the transits of Venus in front of the sun.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 The answer to great scientific question is in observing.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 By observing the sky,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 scientists were able to work out the exact distance
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 between planets of our solar system.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:48 After his work at Tahiti was done,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 Lieutenant Cook carried on his forager,
00:01:52 --> 00:01:56 down south to survey and charter what they can find.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 And in April 1770,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:03 he landed on a huge uncharted landmark stand under,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 and he named his landing place Botany Bay.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:12 The planet Venus not just helped scientists
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 to work out exact distance between planets.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 It also led to the landing of which Australia,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 the land down under, was found.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 Today, Psalms also tell us that
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 the heaven and skies will help us to find out
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 something very important for each one of us too.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 something as important as the finding of a new country
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 and a new life.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:39 So let's pray.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 Father, as we start the new year
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 and looking into your words,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 please help us to have attentive ears
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 and an open heart for your words.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 Please help us in this coming year
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 to keep searching and looking for who you really are
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 and have a true relationship with you.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 In Jesus, I pray.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 Please turn with me to Psalm 19 again.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 I would like to use today's passage
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 to answer the question,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 how do we know God?
00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 There are three areas that I want to explore with you.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 First one is,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 how is it possible to know God?
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 Secondly,
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 what does nature say about God?
00:03:30 --> 00:03:30 And lastly,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 what is the way to know God?
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 So let's start from Psalm 19,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:36 first one to four.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 The heavens declare the glory of God.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 The skies proclaim the work of his hands.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:48 Day after day,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 they pour forth speech.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:51 Night after night,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 they reveal knowledge.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 They have no speech.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 They use no words.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 No sound is heard from them.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 Their words to the ends of the world.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 When we start thinking about God,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 what does that make you feel?
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 If I tell you,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 you are now in the presence of God,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 does that wake you up
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 and cause you to sit up straight?
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 Or does it make no difference
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 because you think
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 you already know God
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 and be in his presence all the time?
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 For many cultures,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 God is someone who hovers above us,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 waiting to send down thunder and lightning
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 when we do something that he disapproves.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 We often associate God
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 with punishment and retribution.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 How often do you think about the glory of God
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 and the works of his hands?
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 The heavens declare the glory of God.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 The skies proclaim the works of his hands.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:05 Do you believe God as a personal God
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 that you can approach
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 or a mysterious, powerful force
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 that you need to reckon with?
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 The Jewish tradition believed
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 the divine name of God
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 is too sacred to be uttered.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 So they used an equivalent of the Lord
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 instead of calling God directly.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 They do not dare to call God's name directly
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 out of fear and respect.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 The Chinese believe the realm of God
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 is about three feet above our heads.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 So as we grow up,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 we are told we need to sit properly
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 at our dining table
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 and do not hit the table with our chopsticks
00:05:45 --> 00:05:49 because it will upset the gods above us.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 And what God will do is
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 he will send us nightmares
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 and make our teeth fall off when we sleep.
00:05:55 --> 00:06:00 Some believe God is localized
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 in each particular culture.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 So the God of the Bible
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 is a Western God
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 and people from Asia
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 should believe Buddha
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 or people from Middle East
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 should follow Allah.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:18 as if God is how human beings
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 make him out to be,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 as if we control how God is to be known.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 Just like what people used to believe
00:06:25 --> 00:06:29 the world revolves around the planet Earth,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 we believe we are the center of the universe
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 and everything revolves around us.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 If we hold to a very unhealthy
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 and unrealistic view of God,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 how is it possible
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 for you to know God?
00:06:45 --> 00:06:49 The heavens declare the glory of God.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 The skies proclaim the work of his hands.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 Day after day,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 they pour forth speech.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 Night after night,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 they reveal knowledge.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 The knowledge of the glory of God
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 and the work of his hands
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 is revealed to us
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 through God's creation.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 It is possible to know God
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 because God has revealed
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 that knowledge to us.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 the heavens and the skies
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 are calling out to us
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 to say that there is much more
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 to what we think
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 we know about God.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 In verse 3,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 they have no speech.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 They use no words.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 The sound is heard from,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 no sound is heard from them.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 Yet their voice goes out into the earth.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 Their words to the end of the world.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 There is something very fundamental about God.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 It is so fundamental
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 that we humans often miss it.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 We are often too busy
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 working out how to keep the world
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 revolving around us
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 that we forget to observe
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 the fundamental truth.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 It is there in the second half
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 of verse 4.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 In the heavens,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 God has pitched a tent for the sun.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:08 The God of the universe,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 the God of our world,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 has everything under control,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 even the sun.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 God has pitched a tent for the sun.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 He has set the course for nature
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 in place of his glory
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 to reveal the knowledge
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 of the work of his hands.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 God is not a concept
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 of human imagination
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 to somehow make us feel better
00:08:32 --> 00:08:32 about ourselves
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 or to help us
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 to parenting our kids.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 God,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 not us,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 not you or me,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 is the center of our universe
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 and he is active
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 in reaching out to us
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 for us to know him better.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:49 So,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 how is it possible
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 to know God?
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 It is possible
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 to know God
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 because God
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 has revealed
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 that knowledge to us.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:57 It is possible
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 to know God
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 because God
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 is much bigger
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 than what we can imagine
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 him to be
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 and he is under control.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 Everything in nature
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 has its proper course
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 for us to know God.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 In the heavens,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 God has pitched a tent
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 for the sun.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 It is like a bridegroom
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 coming out of his chamber,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 like a champion
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 rejoicing to run his course.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 It raises at one end
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 of the heavens
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 and makes its circuits
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 to the other.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 Nothing is deprived
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 of its warmth.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 God has said
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 the most powerful thing
00:09:33 --> 00:09:33 in nature,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 the sun,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 in a circuit.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 God has pitched
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 a tent for it.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 What is the meaning
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 of that to us?
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 What does that say
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 about God?
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 I believe
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 it says that
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 no matter how powerful
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 we think the nature is,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 it is not God.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 For many years
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 and even now,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 many cultures
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 worship nature.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 They worship
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 the sun,
00:09:59 --> 00:09:59 the moon.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:00 However,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 nature is only
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 the reflection
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 of the glory of God.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 God has a power
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 and ability
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 to manipulate nature
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 to achieve
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 his goals.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 But not every
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 natural phenomenon
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 is a result
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 of God's manipulation.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 when natural disasters
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 strike,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 like a tsunami
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 or earthquake,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 to attribute them
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 to God
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 and saying God
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 is pronouncing judgment
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 is very irresponsible
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 and wrong.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 The same attitude
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 can be applied
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 to our lives,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 ups and downs.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 Not all the ups
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 are the reward
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 of God
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 and not all the downs
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 are the punishment
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 from God.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 God
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 is not
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 the purpose
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 of the sun
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 to run its course
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 is that nothing
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 is deprived
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 of its warmth.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 The presence
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 of the sun
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 is unavoidable.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 It hits
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 every senses
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 of our body.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 The bright light
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 hits your eyes,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 the warmth
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 you feel
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 on your skin.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 The presence
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 of God
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 is even more
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 unavoidable
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 and undeniable.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 My family
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 went to
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 Hokkaido,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 Japan
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 on Christmas Eve
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 and we got back
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 just after
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 the New Year.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 In Hokkaido,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 there is no
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 New Year Eve
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 countdown
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 or firework.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 So we followed
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 the Japanese tradition
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 and we got up
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 around 5 in the morning
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 on New Year Day.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 We caught the cable car
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 to man
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 Mao
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 and
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 to welcome
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 the first sunrise
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 of 2019.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 The sun
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 meant to come out
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 at 7 or 3
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 in the morning
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 but it was
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 very windy
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 and stormy.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 The snow
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 was just blowing
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 very heavy.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 So we didn't
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 see the sun
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 until about
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 8 o'clock.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 But we feel
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 the sky
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 brighten up.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 The temperature
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 when we get up
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 to the mountain
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 is negative 3.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 Just before
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 the sun rises
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 it drops
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 to negative 6.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 But after
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 the sun rises
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 it becomes
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 0 degrees.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 So we feel
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 the warmth
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 swell a little bit.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 The presence
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 of God
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 like the sun
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 is undeniable.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 David
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 in another
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 psalm
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 in Psalm 139
00:12:18 --> 00:12:21 verse 7
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 to 10
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 says this.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 Where can I
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 go from
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 your spirit?
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 Where can I
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 flee
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 from your
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 presence?
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 If I go up
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 to the heaven
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 you are there.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 If I make
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 my bed
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 in the death
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 you are there.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 If I rise
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 on the wings
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 of the dawn
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 if I settle
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 on the far
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 side of the sea
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 even there
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 your hand
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 will guide me.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 Your right hand
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 will hold me
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 fast.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:48 nature
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 tell us
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 that God
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 like the sun
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 will surely
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 rise after
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 a long
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 dark night
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 to provide
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 us with
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 warmth.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 God is
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 everywhere
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 and he knows
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 our coming
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 and going
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 and the works
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 of his hand
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 is to guide
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 us and hold
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 fast to us.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 You might
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 for some reason
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 want to run
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 away from God.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 You might want
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 to go from
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 his spirit
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 and flee
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 from his presence
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 but no matter
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 where you run
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 to
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 he will be
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 there
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 up to the
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 heavens
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 or down
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 to the
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 death.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 God is
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 there
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 not to
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 punish you
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 but to
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 celebrate
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 your life
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 with you
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 like a
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 bridegroom
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 running out
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 of his
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 chamber
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 like a
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 champion
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 rejoicing
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 in running
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 his course.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 God will
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 go from
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 one end
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 of the
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 heavens
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 to the
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 other end
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 to make
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 sure you
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 fulfill the
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 course that
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 he set
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 for your
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 life
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 and declare
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 the glory
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 of God.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 Do you
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 look at
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 God
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 with this
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 kind of
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 understanding?
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 What do you
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 think is
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 the purpose
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 of life
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 God has
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 intended for
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 you?
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 Or are you
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 currently trying
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 to flee and
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 hide from the
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 presence of
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 God?
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 One other
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 thing we can
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 learn from
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 the metaphor
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 of the
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 son is
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 that God
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 is concealed
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 from human
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 sight for
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 a reason?
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 In our
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 stupidity,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 we often
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 think that
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 we can
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 handle the
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 ray of
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 the sun
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 blinding
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 ourselves.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 We often
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 think that
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 we can
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 handle
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 God.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 We say
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 things like,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 if God
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 is so
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 loving,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 why did
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 he allow
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 suffering
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 to exist
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 in this
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 world or
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 in my
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 life?
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 If God
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 is for
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 me,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 why don't
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 things go
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 my way?
00:14:40 --> 00:14:45 God is
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 the most
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 important
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 thing of
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 this
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 universe.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 He set
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 everything
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 into
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 motion.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 He is
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 in
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 control,
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 and he is
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 the only
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 one that
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 really knows
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 what is
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 best for
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 you and
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 me.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 So let
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 me encourage
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 you to
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 look into
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 nature and
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 be amazed
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 of the
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 glory of
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 God that
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 he declares
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 and proclaims.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 Let me
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 encourage you
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 to run
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 towards
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 him and
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 not away
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 from him,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 for he
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 will guide
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 you and
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 hold fast
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 to you.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 We can
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 know God
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 because God
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 has revealed
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 himself to
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 us through
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 his creation,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 through the
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 heavens and
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 the skies.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 The nature
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 tells us God
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 is much bigger
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 than what we
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 can imagine
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 him to be.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 God is
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 everywhere and
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 all-powerful,
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 and he
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 controls even
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 the sun.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 So how do
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 we really
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 know God?
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 Is
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 looking at
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 nature and
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 God's
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 creation enough
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 to let us
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 know God
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 intimately?
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 Let's
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 read on
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 from Psalm
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 19,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 verse 7.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 And we
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 look at the
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 last point,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 what is the
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 way to
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 know God?
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 Verse 7.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 The law
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 of the
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 Lord is
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 perfect,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 refreshing
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 the soul.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 The
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 statue of
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 the
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 Lord are
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 trustworthy,
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 making
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 wise the
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 simple.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 The
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 precepts of
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 the
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 Lord are
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 bright,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 giving joy
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 to the
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 heart.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 The
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 commands of
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 the
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 Lord are
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 radiant,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 giving light
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 to the
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 eyes.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 The
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 fear of
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 the
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 Lord is
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 pure,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 enduring
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 forever.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 The
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 decrees of
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 the
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 Lord are
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 firm,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 and all
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 of them
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 are
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 righteous.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 The
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 Psalms tell
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 us that
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 by our
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 serving
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 nature,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 it's not
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 enough to
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 know God
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 intimately.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 We need
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 something more
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 from God.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 The
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 law,
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 statutes,
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 percepts,
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 commands,
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 and decrees
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 of God
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 referring to
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 his words.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 These are
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 what we can
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 find in the
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 Bible.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 Nature is
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 only a
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 pointer,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 pointing us
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 to the
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 specific
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 revelation of
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 God through
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 his words.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 The
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 Bible is
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 given to
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 us as
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 the most
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 reliable
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 source of
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 knowing God
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 intimately
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 to build
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 a personal
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 relationship
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 with God.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 The
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 Bible is
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 perfect,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 it's
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 trustworthy,
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 it's right,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 it's radiant,
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 it's firm.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 It
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 refreshes the
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 soul,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 it makes
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 simple people
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 wise,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 it gives
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 joy to
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 the heart,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 gives light
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 to the eyes,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 and all of
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 it are
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 righteous.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 As we
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 know God
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 intimately,
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 as we
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 build a
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 personal
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 relationship
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 with God,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 we shall
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 have a
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 sense of
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 fear
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 towards
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 God
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 growing
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 within
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 us.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 This is
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 not the
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 same fear
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 that most
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 cultures
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 don't know
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 about God
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 personally
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 have.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 It's not
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 a fear
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 of punishment
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 or retribution.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 As we
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 experience the
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 greatness and
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 glory of
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 God,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 as we
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 come to
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 realize how
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 precious is
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 our
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 relationship
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 with God,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 how sweet
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 it is to
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 be loved
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 by the
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 creator of
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 the universe,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 his word
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 warns us
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 that in
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 obeying God
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 there's
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 great reward.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 Do you
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 find it
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 strange that
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 we are
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 warned about
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 a great
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 reward?
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 Wouldn't it
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 make more
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 sense to
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 say in
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 disobeying
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 there's a
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 great
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 punishment?
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 But instead
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 say that's
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 a great
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 reward.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 God is
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 not
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 hovering above
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 us,
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 waiting to
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 punish us,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 but he
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 knows that
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 we are
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 so feeble
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 that we
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 cannot
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 discern
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 our own
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 error or
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 keep
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 ourselves
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 from
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 sinning
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 against
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 him.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 So he
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 became
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 one of
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 us and
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 lived among
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 us and
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 paid the
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 price for
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 our
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 disobedience
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 on the
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 cross.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 God
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 had done
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 the
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 impossible
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 to make
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 it possible
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 for us
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 to be
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 in loving
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 relationship
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 with him.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 by trusting
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 him for
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 his grace,
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 he will
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 forgive our
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 hidden
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 thoughts
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 because the
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 punishment for
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 our disobedience
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 has fully
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 paid out.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 There are
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 only rewards
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 left within
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 our relationship
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 with God.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 Apostle
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 Paul is
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 so overwhelmed
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 by the
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 greatness and
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 majesty of
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 God,
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 he breaks
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 out with
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 these words
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 in Romans
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 11,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 verse 33
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 to 36.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 O the
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 death of
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 the riches
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 of the
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 wisdom
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 and
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 knowledge
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 of God!
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 How
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 unsearchable
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 is his
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 judgment,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 his path
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 beyond
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 tracing
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 out!
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 Who has
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 known the
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 mind of
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 the Lord,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 or who
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 has been
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 his
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 counselor,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 who has
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 even given
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 to God
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 that God
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 should
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 repay
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 them?
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 For
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 from him
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 and through
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 him and
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 for him
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 are all
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 things,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 to him
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 be the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 glory
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 forever.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 Amen.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 By
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 treasuring
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 our
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 relationship
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 with God
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 like pure
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 gold and
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 honey from
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 the
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 honeycomb,
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 God will
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 keep you
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 from
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 willful
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 sins,
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 from being
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 ruled over
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 by evil.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 He will
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 make you
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 blameless
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 and keep
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 you in
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 relationship
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 with him
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 forever.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 This is
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 the right
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 kind of
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 fee,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 the right
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 kind of
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 attitude
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 towards
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 the almighty
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 creator
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 of this
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 universe.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 Take
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 courage
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 that God
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 is full
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 of wonders,
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 big with
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 mercy,
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 and because
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 of what he
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 had done
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 for you,
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 he looks
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 upon you
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 with a
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 smiling face.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 We can
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 find God
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 because he
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 has revealed
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 himself to
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 us through
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 his creation,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 used them
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 as a
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 pointer to
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 point us
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 to his
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 words,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 the Bible.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 The creation
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 of God,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 nature of
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 itself,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 cannot
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 help us
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 to build
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 an intimate
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 personal
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 relationship
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 with God.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 The word
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 of God
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 is the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 way to
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 know
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 God.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 How are
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 we to
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 know
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 God?
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 God is
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 his own
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 interpreter
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 and he
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 will make
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 it plain
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 to us.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 So
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 forgive my
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 hidden
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 thoughts.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 Keep
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 your servant
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 also from
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 willful
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 sins.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 May they
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 not rule
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 over me,
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 then I
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 will be
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 blameless,
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 innocent,
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 of great
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 transgression.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 May these
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 words of
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 my mouth
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 and this
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 meditation of
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 my heart
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 be pleasing
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 to your
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 sight,
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 Lord,
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 my rock
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 and my
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 redeemers.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 My wishes
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 for you
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 in the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 new year
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 are to
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 discover
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 God
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 through
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 his
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 word,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 to
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 discover
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 your
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 rock
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 and your
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 redeemer,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 to have
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 a pleasing
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 personal
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 relationship
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 with God.