Vision of the Cosmic King
Series: Vision of all Things
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 17th October 2020
Passage: Revelation 1:1-20
00:00:00 --> 00:00:14 Good morning, everyone. It's great to be with you in church this morning or joining with you online to kick off this season of reflection and celebration and looking forward to what God has next for us as a church.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:19 So be grateful if you've got your Bibles, open up to Revelation chapter 1. That'll be fantastic.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:39 In May 2017, Australian tennis legend and now Pentecostal Christian pastor from Perth, Margaret Court, wrote an open letter opposing the support of same-sex marriage by Qantas Airlines.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:43 It received a whole heap of feedback at the time.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:50 And one of the feedbacks, one of the responses to Margaret's letter came from another tennis great, Martina Navratilova.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:56 She tweeted on her account, thank you, Qantas, for your support.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:02 And Margaret, you've gone too far. Shame on you.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:08 And it came with a hashtag, the wrong side of history.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:18 It feels like that sometimes, I think, as a Christian, particularly in the modern West, that we are on the wrong side of history.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:27 That is, history was for, sorry, Christianity was for times past, but we've kind of grown up as a society and now we just leave it behind.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:32 You need to get new ideas, new thoughts about life and how life works.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:45 Our society has been moving further and further away and even over the time of Vision 2020, in the last 11 years as a church, it has rapidly moved further and further away from Christian truths.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 The foundation, in fact, of our society.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:54 The Christian worldview is not just regarded as outdated.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 It's not just the wrong side of history.
00:01:56 --> 00:02:03 It's viewed as wrong in some circles and, amongst other circles, even deviant.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 Church attendance is falling.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:16 Christians in society are sinking into the shadows, hoping not to be identified as such, just wanting to stay under the radar.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:21 So the question is, before us, as we just reflect on the past and as we look forward to the future,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:25 what future does the Christian faith have?
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 What future does the church have in our culture?
00:02:31 --> 00:02:38 What we're doing in this series, in terms of celebrating what God has done in the past and his work amongst us in the last 11 years,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:43 and we also start to form a path for what is next for us as a church,
00:02:43 --> 00:02:55 is this moment of this season we're in right now, this term, nothing more than just the band playing on the Titanic as it sinks,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 entertaining us as we go down.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 But we're almost at the end.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:02 Is that what's happening for us?
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 Well, obviously, I think no.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:17 But what we need to see as a church, what we need to see as Christians, and we need to see it again and again and again and again,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:23 what we need to be convinced of again and again is that Jesus is reigning.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:28 He's alive as much as you and I are alive, even more so that you and I are alive,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 and he is reigning over all that is still.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:36 He's resurrected, ascended, and he rules the universe.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:42 We need to have him speak into the situations in our lives, in our society, in our church.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:50 We need to know that God is right now on his throne in control in heaven,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:55 and unlike us right now with masks on our faces and silent in the singing,
00:03:55 --> 00:04:02 he is surrounded by myriads and myriads and myriads and myriads of angels,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:09 beings far greater and glorious than us, on their knees, singing at the tops of their voices,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:13 declaring his praise and worthy because he is so far even beyond them.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 He is so great and glorious.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:23 So right now when we can't sing, he is hearing the thunderous roar of that singing around his throne.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:34 We need to see the way that this God who is so patient will one day pulverize wickedness and injustice
00:04:34 --> 00:04:41 and obliterate those who oppose him and set up his kingdom for the eternal joy of all who trust him.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:48 What we need in this season is the book of Revelation and these verses which are in front of us right now.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 So I'd be grateful if you had your Bibles open, Revelation chapter 1.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:58 If you have to, if you're using an electronic device, shut down every other app.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 Shut down your notifications.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 You need to be focused here right now.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 Go to the St. Paul's app.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 Shut down every app apart from this one.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:11 Get to the St. Paul's app and there's a bit of an outline there for our message today.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 Three points I want to get to.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 First of all, which king is on the throne?
00:05:15 --> 00:05:23 See, the message of Revelation was so essential for the first recipients of this letter about 2 years ago.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:32 The first recipients of this letter were Christians living in the Roman Empire.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:40 They were living in the Roman Empire and they were facing the biggest nightmare of their lives.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:48 The storm clouds of persecution were building for them.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:54 The might of the Roman Empire was against them.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 Now this is important.
00:05:56 --> 00:06:08 By the time the book of Revelation was written, the Roman Empire had been around for 600 years.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:13 And it still had another 400 years to go.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:28 What that means is the Roman Empire lasted four times longer than the British Empire, the Communist Empire, and the American Empire combined.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 Four times longer.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 It is so embedded in terms of its power.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 The world has not seen anything like it.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:55 And when John writes this word that we have in front of us now, Christians were facing the might and the glory of that empire.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 Romans 1 verse 9.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 Sorry, not Romans.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 Revelation 1 verse 9.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:09 The second half of it tells us that John was exiled on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:14 Now these days, Patmos has around about 3 inhabitants.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 And it is full of five-star resorts and luxury villas.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 It's a great place to go for a holiday.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 In John's day, it was a prison island.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 It was a prison island for the Roman Empire.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 And John is an old man.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:40 And he is sentenced to work in the quarries, breaking stones on Patmos because of his faith in Jesus Christ.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:52 And John is, if you like, typical of the hardship that many Christians were facing and were about to face.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:58 Were about to face because of their emperor, Domitian.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:04 Now we all hear of the emperor Nero and the way that he sort of set himself against Christians.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:10 Domitian was, Nero was just sort of like a start.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 Start of the persecution.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:16 Domitian was a nasty piece of work compared to Nero.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:30 According to the Roman writer Suetonius, the Roman emperor Domitian, who was emperor when John wrote these words, was both physically unimpressive and a moral catastrophe of a man.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 Just to, I mean, I could give you a big long list.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 But here's a couple of things.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:43 He had many, many affairs with married women and eventually stole someone else's wife to be his own.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:52 His own brother Titus fell ill while on a campaign and he ordered his entire army to leave him alone to die.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 His own brother.
00:08:55 --> 00:09:02 He seduced his married niece, got her pregnant, and then she died from the abortion that he demanded that she have.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:08 This moral catastrophe of a man was physically unimpressive.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 He was particularly sensitive about his boldness.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:23 When what would be called nowadays a court joker made a joke, entertained the crowd, and made a bit of a passing shot at his boldness, Domitian had the guy executed straight away.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:33 He was particularly sensitive about his baldness, his growing pot belly, and what was described by historians as his spindly little legs.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:42 But he demanded that the entire Roman Empire referred to him as Lord God.
00:09:42 --> 00:10:00 And Christians were suffering extreme hardship because they refused to have this Roman emperor as the dominant reality of their lives, as the point of their lives.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:06 And so he threw the full force of the Roman Empire against them.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 His persecution was horrendous.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:21 He would have Christians laid out on the ground, have a horse attached to each arm and leg, and get the horses whipped so the horses would bolt and limbs would be ripped from torso.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:27 And then the crowds would watch the person die in agony.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:39 Some others, he would have them holes drilled into their skulls and molten lead poured in on their brains and watch them die that way.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:46 Others were mercifully thrown to the lions and torn apart.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 It was quicker.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 This is what these Christians are facing.
00:10:57 --> 00:11:07 And yet, they faced it with fortitude, with peace, and even joy.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 How did they do that?
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 Because it is a historical fact they did.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:25 It's a historical fact that lives throughout the whole Roman Empire were changed when Christians died this way with fortitude, peace, and joy.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:31 And others wanted to know, how is it that you can live and die like that?
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 How is that possible?
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 Historical fact.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:45 This, in fact, was written about Christians not long after Domitian's reign, but it was about Domitian's reign.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 This is a Roman writer.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 They loved everyone.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:53 They loved everyone, but by everyone they are persecuted.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 They are unknown, and yet they are condemned.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 They are put to death, and yet they are brought to life.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 They are poor, and yet they make many rich.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 They're in need of everything, and yet they are bound in everything.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:13 They are dishonored, and yet they are glorified in their dishonor.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 They are slandered, and yet they are vindicated.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 They are cursed, and yet they bless.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:21 They're insulted, and yet they offer respect.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24 And when they do good, they are punished as evildoers.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:28 When they are punished, they rejoice as if they are somehow brought to life.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:36 And so Christians, when punished, daily increase more and more.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:48 That is, the might of the greatest empire in the world could not stop them.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 So how did they do that?
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 How did they live and die like that?
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 Well, it's because they were captivated by the cosmic king.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:10 Revelation 1 was so important for them, and it's important for us.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:16 It reminds these suffering Christians who is, in fact, the dominant reality of their life,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 the cosmic king, Jesus Christ.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 Have a look at how he is described here.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 Verse 4.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:28 Him who was and who is to come.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 Verse 5.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:33 Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 Verse 6.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:39 The one to whom power and glory belong forever.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 And then we have in verse 8.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 I am.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 This is Jesus' declaration.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:52 I am the alpha and the omega who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.
00:13:53 --> 00:14:02 Verse 8 there is one of the most comprehensive statements in the entire Bible of the divinity of Jesus,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 of exactly who he is.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:12 During his ministry years, he consistently made these sorts of claims, claiming that he, in fact, was God himself.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 It's claims that no other religious leader has ever claimed.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:20 You know, Buddha, Muhammad, others have claimed to speak on behalf of the divine.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:30 None of them dared to take the step of actually declaring that they were, in fact, the divine, that they were, in fact, the God, the almighty, the creator.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 Now, I don't have time this morning to unpack all of that.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:40 In fact, I do have time, but you don't have time for me to unpack all of that for us today.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 Other times we do, and we will again into the future.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:50 But I want you to know that this church here at St. Paul's, if you're watching me online, this church here at St. Paul's exists,
00:14:50 --> 00:14:54 that you might grapple with that claim of who Jesus is.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:59 It is so, so essential for you to understand who Jesus is.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 And we would be delighted.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 In fact, our missions team, I'd be delighted.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:14 Our missions team would be delighted to lead you through exploring this claim and the many other claims of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 We want you to know him.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 And so please send us an email.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 Get in contact with us.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:25 Our missions team, Adrian, would be very glad to pursue that with you.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:31 But Jesus describes himself here as the Alpha and the Omega.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:37 That is, that's the first letter and the last letter of the Greek alphabet.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:43 He is, as we see a little bit later in chapter 1, he describes the beginning and the end.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 He's the first and the last.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:53 The Bible tells us that he existed before the universe was formed and he is its creator.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:58 He is, if you like, the starting point of all that is.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 He is the origin of all that is.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:08 As the beginning of the Bible tells us in Genesis chapter 1, in the beginning was God.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:14 When all things started, God was already there.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:21 Now, every single one of us has a starting point.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:24 I don't mean, you know, your birthday.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 I'm not referring to that.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 I mean your starting point.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:31 The starting point of life, of how life came to be.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 How we exist.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:42 The starting point of existence and how we derive our life and our meaning and our purpose from that starting point.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:50 It's the beginning point from which we explain the world as it is.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 What's your starting point?
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 We've all got one.
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 What is your starting point?
00:16:59 --> 00:17:05 Whatever your starting point is, it will fundamentally determine how you live.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:13 And especially it will determine how you handle tough times in life.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:21 Secularism declares there is no divine starting point.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:34 It declares that everything that exists now started because of a random act, random collision of atoms and stuff and gas.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:43 And so therefore, all life as it exists right now is an accident that happened billions of years ago.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:51 And life, existence, is therefore a collection of events and chaos.
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 It's the only explanation of life that they have.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 There is no meaning.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 There is no purpose.
00:17:58 --> 00:18:02 If you want to be a true secularist.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:15 And it means therefore that we are left to our own devices to determine our own path, our own meaning, our own purpose.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:19 Everything is subject to the elements in which we exist.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 We cannot plan on a future whatsoever.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:33 And therefore, we live, we breathe, we die, we're gone, and that's it.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 So you better make the most of it right now.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:45 And so in Western society, personal happiness is the highest goal of life.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 Because there's nothing else.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:57 I might as well enjoy while the earth spins and I stand on it.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 And so there is therefore no explanation for hard times.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 There's no way to endure hard times.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 Because it's not the purpose of life.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:27 If, however, there is a creator at the beginning, then it's essential that we discover his truth, his purpose, his meaning.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:32 And we are told here that Jesus Christ is the starting point.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 He's the starting point.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:40 We're also told here that he is the end point.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:43 He is the omega as well.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 He created the universe.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:50 And the universe is orientated towards him as the starting point and the end point.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:54 He has built everything for him and around him.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 All things are for his glory.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 All things are for his knowledge.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 All things are for his service.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 We are built for him.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:09 And as long as we connect our life, our existence, our understanding with him, there is hope.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:19 He didn't just start history, but all of history is rushing towards him.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:28 So what we think our starting point and our end point are will determine how we live now.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:37 And Christianity declares that if Jesus Christ is your starting point and he is your end point,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:45 and an end point that I must add never actually ends, it goes on living with him forever,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 then he is your point now.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 He is the point.
00:20:54 --> 00:21:01 And the good news here is that the source of all our hope and life and meaning and purpose
00:21:01 --> 00:21:10 is not just a cosmic king who rules, but he's a cosmic king who rules and is present.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 He's close.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 He's not a distant divine being.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:18 This cosmic king is close.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 He's approachable.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:27 And this is good news for the imprisoned John, for the persecution Christians in the Roman Empire,
00:21:27 --> 00:21:31 and for Christians around this world in a thousand hard places right now.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:35 It's good news for the suffering, for those who are tired, for those who are weary,
00:21:36 --> 00:21:39 for those who are running out of steam, for those who are confused, disheartened,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 for those who are disenfranchised, for those who are insecure.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:50 We need to see Jesus Christ, the risen, ascended, cosmic king, as ruling and present.
00:21:50 --> 00:22:04 So, in verse 12, John turns to see whose voice it was that sounded like a trumpet in verse 10.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:18 Verse 20 tells us the interpretation of what he saw in that moment.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:26 And that is, what he saw was the cosmic king standing in amongst the churches, standing right in the churches.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:29 He's not just merely as a king over the churches.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31 He's not distant away from it.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 He's not standing outside the churches.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:36 He is right there in the middle of his church.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:39 Now, I'll unpack this probably next week.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:43 But the idea of seven churches, he's not just a promise here for seven churches.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:47 The number seven in the book of Revelation is complete.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:52 So, the idea here is that he is amongst his church, his global worldwide church.
00:22:55 --> 00:23:01 And John saw, according to verse 13, one like a son of man.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:05 In Daniel chapter 7, it's a reference to Daniel chapter 7, verses 13 to 14.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:10 The term son of man or one like a son of man refers to a great ruler.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:18 So, when John says that he saw one like a son of man standing in the middle of the lampstands,
00:23:19 --> 00:23:25 he means he saw someone with dominion and glory and kingly power.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:32 The one who stands amongst the churches is the one who received from the ancient of days
00:23:32 --> 00:23:40 a reference to God himself, dominion and glory and kingdom rule and power and authority in heaven and on earth.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:46 That is, all of God's divine rule has been given to this one like the son of man.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:54 And in verse 13, we also see this son of man was dressed in a robe,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:58 reaching down to his feet and with a gold sash around his chest.
00:23:58 --> 00:24:05 Now, the robe here is similar to the robe in the Old Testament,
00:24:06 --> 00:24:10 where it is almost always refers to the robe of the high priest.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:16 So, Jesus is not just the son of man as the cosmic king.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 He's not just the son of man from Daniel 7,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:23 who receives everlasting dominion and rule over all nations and time and eternity.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:34 We also see that he is the final high priest who brings all of the work of the temple to an end.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:42 He is the almighty cosmic king who mediates between humanity and God.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:50 And he does that, as we see in verse 5,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 by giving his own blood.
00:24:58 --> 00:25:03 He gave his own blood once and for all to put away sin once and for all,
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 the sacrifice of himself.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:11 This is a king who gives of himself.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:19 These early Christians willingly put their lives on the line
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 and some of them died horrible deaths
00:25:21 --> 00:25:26 because Jesus, the cosmic king, gave his life for them.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 And verse 5 says,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 To him who loves us.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 He loves them.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:39 In fact, in the original language, it is in the present tense.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 He loves them now.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 He loves you now.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:46 In the present, right here, right now.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:52 They are so blessed because this cosmic king,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:57 in complete comparison to Domitian,
00:25:58 --> 00:26:02 gave his own life for them.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:07 And he has freed us from our sins by his blood.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 Verse 5.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:12 Those who sin, those who live life as if they are their own little Domitians,
00:26:12 --> 00:26:15 set themselves up as the cosmic kings,
00:26:15 --> 00:26:19 making everything, making them the point of all of life.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:25 The Bible declares deserve to die eternally.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:32 But Jesus steps in as the high priest,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:37 the cosmic high priest who dies on the altar for our sin.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:43 He cancels our obligation to pay the penalty for our sins against God
00:26:43 --> 00:26:48 so that we might be reconciled with God and live with him forever.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:54 See, the blood of Jesus frees people from lust and greed and pride and anger
00:26:54 --> 00:27:00 and every other enslaving sin that makes us, me, you, the point of life.
00:27:00 --> 00:27:07 The blood of Jesus breaks the power of canceled sin.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:12 He is the loving, sacrificial, cosmic king.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 And in verse 14,
00:27:18 --> 00:27:22 John describes his eyes were like blazing fire.
00:27:23 --> 00:27:26 You see, the eyes of this son of man, this cosmic king,
00:27:26 --> 00:27:29 are not the clouded eye of fading glory.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:36 It's not like this Jesus is from another world,
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 from times past.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 He's not on the wrong side of history.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:47 His eyes are the eyes of sharpest clarity and purification.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:51 They miss nothing that happens in his universe from time and eternity.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 They're exploding with energy.
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 We all know, I'm assuming you know,
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 but I just declare you all know,
00:27:59 --> 00:28:01 the dripping eye that's about to sleep,
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 you know, about to drive off to sleep,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 and the resentful eye and the grumpy eye
00:28:05 --> 00:28:08 and the half-shut scowl and the bad mood eye.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:12 You can look in someone's eye and you know when you've ticked them off.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 We all know what it is.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:19 But we also know the eye that is alive with wonder and excitement
00:28:19 --> 00:28:22 and hope and expectancy and energy
00:28:22 --> 00:28:26 and Jesus' eyes were like a flaming fire.
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 Know today,
00:28:32 --> 00:28:36 2 years after John saw this vision,
00:28:36 --> 00:28:38 that Jesus is God,
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 he is on the throne,
00:28:40 --> 00:28:43 he is as alive then as he is today.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:46 He is the cosmic king,
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 he's not tired,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 he's not burnt out,
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 he's not fatigued,
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52 he's not scrambling for answers.
00:28:58 --> 00:29:01 His eyes are aflame
00:29:01 --> 00:29:04 with the flashing fire of inexhaustible energy
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 and hope and love.
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 He sees everything that will be
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 and has been.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 Nothing takes him by surprise,
00:29:13 --> 00:29:17 nothing can make him love you less
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 or love you more.
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 When Jesus thinks about his plans for you,
00:29:22 --> 00:29:24 when he thinks about his plans for this church
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 and for this country
00:29:26 --> 00:29:28 and for Christians all across the globe,
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 beyond this day,
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 he's not hesitant,
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 he's not tired,
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 he's not bored,
00:29:33 --> 00:29:35 he's not scrambling for answers.
00:29:39 --> 00:29:41 His eyes are aflame of fire
00:29:41 --> 00:29:43 with utter exhilaration
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 and passion and enthusiasm
00:29:44 --> 00:29:46 for the work that he began
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 2 years ago on the cross
00:29:48 --> 00:29:50 and will bring to completion
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 when he comes with the clouds,
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 as we are told here in Revelation 1.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 It will go ahead,
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 nothing will hinder it
00:29:58 --> 00:30:01 and it excites him.
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 Let me tell you,
00:30:03 --> 00:30:06 this year I have been tired
00:30:06 --> 00:30:09 because I don't know the future.
00:30:09 --> 00:30:12 constantly making decisions
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 and changing and shifting
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 and when I think about
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 what St. Paul's needs to do next,
00:30:17 --> 00:30:19 I get tired thinking about it.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 Not Jesus.
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 Not Jesus.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 Now friends,
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 if you haven't quite grappled with it yet,
00:30:32 --> 00:30:35 this is a worldview-shaping passage.
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 Worldview-shaping passages.
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 Now there are two ways
00:30:40 --> 00:30:42 to approach God.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 Really only two ways
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 you can approach God.
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 Either he is
00:30:47 --> 00:30:50 the means to your end
00:30:50 --> 00:30:53 or he's the end
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 and everything else
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 is the means.
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 And religion
00:30:59 --> 00:31:01 is one way
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 to approach God
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 as the means
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 to your end.
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 religion is doing
00:31:07 --> 00:31:09 certain things
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 in order
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 for God
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 to do
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 certain things
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 for you.
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 I loved watching
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 Flora's video
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 this morning
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 and seeing
00:31:18 --> 00:31:20 the work of God
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 in her life
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 and the transformation
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 of needing
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25 to be a good student
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 to someone
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 who now rests
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 in the sovereign grace
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 of this Lord Jesus Christ.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 Love to see that.
00:31:31 --> 00:31:33 In the past
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 I've described
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 religion
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 as treating God
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 like a cosmic
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 vending machine.
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 You put in
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 your offerings
00:31:42 --> 00:31:44 your sacrifices
00:31:44 --> 00:31:47 in the hope
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 that God
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 will spit out
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 what it is
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 that you truly value.
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 What is
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 your true point
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 in life?
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 So in other words
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 you use him
00:32:00 --> 00:32:02 to get to your point
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04 and inevitably
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 the point
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 has something
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 to do with us
00:32:07 --> 00:32:09 gaining our glory
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 for ourselves
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 in some way.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 In one way
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 or another
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 it becomes
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 about us
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 being little
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 Domitians.
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 The other way
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 to approach God
00:32:22 --> 00:32:24 is to see
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 that it's all
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 about him
00:32:25 --> 00:32:28 that he is
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 in fact
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 the cosmic king
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31 and we discover
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 our point
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 we discover
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 our joy
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 we discover
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 our freedom
00:32:35 --> 00:32:39 when we pursue
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 him
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 surrender
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 to him
00:32:41 --> 00:32:43 and so my last
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 call here
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 is for us
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 to worship
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 to know
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 and to serve
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 the cosmic king.
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 Our cosmic king
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 is not just a ruler
00:32:51 --> 00:32:53 he's a loving
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 relational ruler
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 as I've said
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 and when John
00:32:55 --> 00:32:57 gets this vision
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 of Jesus
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 here
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 what we see
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 is he falls
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 to the ground
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 as though
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 he is dead.
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 That is
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 what we see here
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 is
00:33:06 --> 00:33:08 it's a position
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 of submission
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 it's a position
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 of worship
00:33:11 --> 00:33:13 Jesus Christ
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 is
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 to be
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 worshipped
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 he's not
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 the means
00:33:18 --> 00:33:20 to your end
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 he is
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 the end
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 he is
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 the omega
00:33:23 --> 00:33:25 he's
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 the starting
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 point of your
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 life
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 he's
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 the point
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 of your
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 life
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 every human
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 being
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 has the
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 choice
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 of either
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 living life
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 as little
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 Domitians
00:33:33 --> 00:33:36 or surrendering
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 to the true
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 cosmic king
00:33:38 --> 00:33:41 secondly
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 Jesus
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 wants you
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 to know
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 him
00:33:43 --> 00:33:45 I think
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 this is
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 really important
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 for everyone
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 and I want
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 to say
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 particularly
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 for those
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 of you
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 who are
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 Christians
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 and really
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 struggling
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 with it
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 right now
00:33:53 --> 00:33:55 this year
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 has just
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 put you
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 on tender
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 hooks
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 and you're
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 really struggling
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 to follow
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 him
00:33:59 --> 00:34:02 what happens
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 here is
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 God gives
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 John
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 on the
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 island
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 of Patmos
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 a revelation
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08 and this
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 revelation
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 is not
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 just for
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 John
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 this word
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 is not
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 just for
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 John
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 we are
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 told
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 in verse
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 11
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 write on
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 a scroll
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 what you
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 see
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 and send
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 it to the
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 seven
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 churches
00:34:20 --> 00:34:22 see the
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 point of
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 John
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 writing it
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 down
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 is to
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 transmit
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 to the
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 seven
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 churches
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 and ultimately
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 to us
00:34:27 --> 00:34:30 the experience
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 that John
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 had
00:34:31 --> 00:34:33 of seeing
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 Jesus
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 that's the
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 point
00:34:35 --> 00:34:37 now can you
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 imagine John
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 sitting on the
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 island of
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 Patmos
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 suffering
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 breaking rocks
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 in the
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 quarry as an
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 old bloke
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 every bit of
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 him hurting
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 and he gets
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 his vision
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 of the
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 cosmic
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 reigning
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 Jesus
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 how much
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 his soul
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 must have
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 lifted at
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 that point
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 and John
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 wants us
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 to see
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 what he
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 sees
00:34:55 --> 00:34:58 he appears
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 to John
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 and says
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 write in a
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 book
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 what you
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 see
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 and send
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 it to the
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 seven
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 churches
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 John
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 gets the
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 vision
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 we get
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 the
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 book
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 that's
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 the
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 point
00:35:08 --> 00:35:10 he
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 wants
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 us
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 this
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 cosmic
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 king
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 wants
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 us
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 to
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 come
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 to
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 him
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 through
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 his
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 word
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 to
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 us
00:35:19 --> 00:35:19 he
00:35:19 --> 00:35:19 wants
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 us
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 to
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 seek
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 him
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 in
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 his
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 word
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 he
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 wants
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 to
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 know
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 him
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 by
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 his
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 word
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 he
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 wants
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 us
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 to
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 gaze
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 on
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 him
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 and
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 all
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 of
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 his
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 majesty
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 in
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 his
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 word
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 to
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 steadily
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 gaze
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 until
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 the
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 point
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 that our
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 hearts
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 are
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 lifted
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 and we
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 feel
00:35:33 --> 00:35:33 deeply
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 encouraged
00:35:34 --> 00:35:37 he wants
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 us to
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 know how
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 blessed we
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 are to
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 call this
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 cosmic king
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 our friend
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 our lord
00:35:43 --> 00:35:46 so I
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 want to
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 ask you
00:35:46 --> 00:35:48 what
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 would
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 it
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 look
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 like
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 for
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 this
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 Jesus
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 to
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 become
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 the
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 point
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 of
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 your
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 life
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 the
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 dominant
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 reality
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 in
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 your
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 life
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 what
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 would
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 it
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 look
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 like
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 for
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 the
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 things
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 of
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 the
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 bible
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 his
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 word
00:36:00 --> 00:36:00 to
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 us
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 where
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 we
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 get
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 to
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 gaze
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 on
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 him
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 constantly
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 where
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 we
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 find
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 out
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 the
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 way
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 things
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 truly
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 are
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 to
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 have
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 his
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 world
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 view
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 as
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 the
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 creator
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 and
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 the
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 purpose
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 of
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 all
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 life
00:36:11 --> 00:36:11 and
00:36:11 --> 00:36:11 existence
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 what
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 would
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 it
00:36:13 --> 00:36:13 look
00:36:13 --> 00:36:13 like
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 to
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 have
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 the
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 things
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 of
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 the
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 bible
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 to
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 be
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 more
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 real
00:36:17 --> 00:36:17 for
00:36:17 --> 00:36:17 you
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 than
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 the
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 news
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 media
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 than
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 what
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 you
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 watch
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 on
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 television
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 than
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 for
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 the
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 internet
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 and
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 social
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 media
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 what
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 would
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 it
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 look
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 like
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 for
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 his
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 narrative
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 to
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 dominate
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 your
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 life
00:36:30 --> 00:36:33 more
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 so
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 than
00:36:33 --> 00:36:35 academics
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 from
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 universities
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 and their
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 opinion
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 on
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 world
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 view
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 what
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 would
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 it
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 look
00:36:39 --> 00:36:39 like
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 for
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 the
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 scriptures
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 for
00:36:41 --> 00:36:41 God's
00:36:41 --> 00:36:41 word
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 to
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 you
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 to
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 dominate
00:36:43 --> 00:36:43 your
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 world
00:36:44 --> 00:36:44 view
00:36:44 --> 00:36:46 and
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 to
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 be
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 the
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 point
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 of
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 interpretation
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 of
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 all
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 things
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 I
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 want
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 to
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 ask
00:36:50 --> 00:36:50 you
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 as
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 I've
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 already
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 done
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 are
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 you
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 losing
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 heart
00:36:54 --> 00:36:54 are
00:36:54 --> 00:36:54 you
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 weak
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 because
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 you
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 aren't
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 commuting
00:36:57 --> 00:36:57 with
00:36:57 --> 00:36:57 is it
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 because
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 you're
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 not
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 commuting
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 with
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 him
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 in
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 his
00:37:00 --> 00:37:00 word
00:37:00 --> 00:37:03 in
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 this
00:37:04 --> 00:37:04 season
00:37:04 --> 00:37:04 this
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 year
00:37:05 --> 00:37:07 which
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 world
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 view
00:37:08 --> 00:37:11 which
00:37:11 --> 00:37:11 narrative
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 grand
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 narrative
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 has
00:37:13 --> 00:37:13 dominated
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 your
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 daily
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 existence
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 I want
00:37:16 --> 00:37:16 to speak
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 to you
00:37:17 --> 00:37:17 particularly
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 if you're
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 at home
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 watching
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 from
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 this
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 I'm
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 not
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 speaking
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 to you
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 if
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 you've
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 got a
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 particular
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 medical
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 issue
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 I want
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 to
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 specifically
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 point
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 out
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 those
00:37:25 --> 00:37:25 who
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 just
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 finding
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 right
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 now
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 it's
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 just
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 a
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 whole
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 lot
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 easier
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 to
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 do
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 church
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 at
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 home
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 just
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 don't
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 want
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 to
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 do
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 that
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 battle
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 anymore
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 it's
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 much
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 more
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 comfortable
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 convenient
00:37:32 --> 00:37:34 to sit
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 on the
00:37:35 --> 00:37:35 lounge
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 with a
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 cup of
00:37:37 --> 00:37:37 coffee
00:37:37 --> 00:37:37 in my
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 pajamas
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 and do
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 church
00:37:38 --> 00:37:40 which
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 world
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 view
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 is
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 dominating
00:37:42 --> 00:37:42 your
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 reality
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 right
00:37:43 --> 00:37:44 now
00:37:44 --> 00:37:45 who
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 is
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 the
00:37:45 --> 00:37:46 king
00:37:46 --> 00:37:47 over
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 your
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 life
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 right
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 now
00:37:48 --> 00:37:52 thirdly
00:37:52 --> 00:37:52 as the
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 cosmic
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 king
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 Jesus
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 Christ
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 also
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 wants
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 us
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 to
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 serve
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 him
00:37:55 --> 00:37:57 whatever
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 dominates
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 your
00:37:58 --> 00:37:58 life
00:37:58 --> 00:37:58 whatever
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 is
00:37:59 --> 00:37:59 your
00:37:59 --> 00:37:59 starting
00:37:59 --> 00:37:59 point
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 your
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 end
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 point
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 whatever
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 is
00:38:00 --> 00:38:01 your
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 point
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 whatever
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 it
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 is
00:38:02 --> 00:38:02 that
00:38:02 --> 00:38:02 you're
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 putting
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 your
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 offerings
00:38:03 --> 00:38:04 in
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 the
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 cosmic
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 vending
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 machine
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 whatever
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 it is
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 that
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 you're
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 grabbing
00:38:07 --> 00:38:07 at the
00:38:07 --> 00:38:07 bottom
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 as
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 your
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 point
00:38:08 --> 00:38:09 whatever
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 it
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 is
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 it
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 will
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 require
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 you
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 to
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 sacrifice
00:38:12 --> 00:38:12 everything
00:38:12 --> 00:38:12 for
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 it
00:38:13 --> 00:38:18 Jesus
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 is
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 no
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 different
00:38:18 --> 00:38:21 but
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 he's
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 the
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 only
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 king
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 the
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 only
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 point
00:38:24 --> 00:38:26 who
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 has
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 first
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 served
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 us
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 and
00:38:28 --> 00:38:28 given
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 everything
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 to
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 us
00:38:30 --> 00:38:31 and
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 so
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 our
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 service
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 of
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 him
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 is
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 always
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 freedom
00:38:34 --> 00:38:37 in
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 verse
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 6
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 we
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 read
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 Jesus
00:38:38 --> 00:38:39 has
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 freed
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 us
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 from
00:38:39 --> 00:38:40 our
00:38:40 --> 00:38:40 sin
00:38:40 --> 00:38:40 and
00:38:40 --> 00:38:40 made
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 us
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 a
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 kingdom
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 and
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 priests
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 to
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 serve
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 his
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 God
00:38:43 --> 00:38:43 and
00:38:43 --> 00:38:43 father
00:38:43 --> 00:38:45 that
00:38:45 --> 00:38:45 verse
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 is
00:38:46 --> 00:38:46 an
00:38:46 --> 00:38:46 allusion
00:38:46 --> 00:38:48 to
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 the
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 moment
00:38:49 --> 00:38:49 when
00:38:49 --> 00:38:50 God's
00:38:50 --> 00:38:50 people
00:38:50 --> 00:38:50 were
00:38:50 --> 00:38:51 gathered
00:38:51 --> 00:38:51 at
00:38:51 --> 00:38:51 Mount
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 Sinai
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 to
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 meet
00:38:53 --> 00:38:54 with
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 God
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 to
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 hear
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 his
00:38:54 --> 00:38:55 law
00:38:55 --> 00:38:55 to
00:38:55 --> 00:38:55 receive
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 it
00:38:56 --> 00:38:56 and
00:38:56 --> 00:38:56 to
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 enter
00:38:57 --> 00:38:57 into
00:38:57 --> 00:38:58 covenant
00:38:58 --> 00:38:58 relationship
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 with
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 him
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 and
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 God
00:39:00 --> 00:39:00 reminded
00:39:00 --> 00:39:00 them
00:39:00 --> 00:39:01 in
00:39:01 --> 00:39:01 that
00:39:01 --> 00:39:01 moment
00:39:01 --> 00:39:01 that
00:39:01 --> 00:39:02 he
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 had
00:39:02 --> 00:39:03 freed
00:39:03 --> 00:39:03 them
00:39:03 --> 00:39:04 from
00:39:04 --> 00:39:05 slavery
00:39:05 --> 00:39:06 in
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 the
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 same
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 way
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 we
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 are
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 reminded
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 here
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 that
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 we
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 are
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 freed
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 from
00:39:10 --> 00:39:10 sin
00:39:10 --> 00:39:12 and
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 then
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 in
00:39:12 --> 00:39:13 Exodus
00:39:13 --> 00:39:14 19
00:39:14 --> 00:39:15 he
00:39:15 --> 00:39:15 describes
00:39:15 --> 00:39:16 his
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 people
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 as
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 a
00:39:17 --> 00:39:17 kingdom
00:39:17 --> 00:39:17 of
00:39:17 --> 00:39:18 priests
00:39:18 --> 00:39:19 that
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 is
00:39:19 --> 00:39:21 Israel's
00:39:21 --> 00:39:21 role
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 as
00:39:22 --> 00:39:22 he
00:39:22 --> 00:39:22 saved
00:39:22 --> 00:39:23 rescued
00:39:23 --> 00:39:23 people
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 was
00:39:24 --> 00:39:24 to
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 make
00:39:25 --> 00:39:25 God
00:39:25 --> 00:39:26 known
00:39:26 --> 00:39:26 to
00:39:26 --> 00:39:26 the
00:39:26 --> 00:39:26 world
00:39:26 --> 00:39:28 and
00:39:28 --> 00:39:28 to
00:39:28 --> 00:39:29 bring
00:39:29 --> 00:39:29 the
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 world
00:39:30 --> 00:39:30 to
00:39:30 --> 00:39:30 the
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 sacrifices
00:39:31 --> 00:39:32 that
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 would
00:39:33 --> 00:39:33 free
00:39:33 --> 00:39:33 them
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 from
00:39:34 --> 00:39:34 their
00:39:34 --> 00:39:35 sin
00:39:35 --> 00:39:35 through
00:39:35 --> 00:39:36 blood
00:39:36 --> 00:39:38 Israel's
00:39:38 --> 00:39:38 life
00:39:38 --> 00:39:38 together
00:39:38 --> 00:39:39 was
00:39:39 --> 00:39:39 to
00:39:39 --> 00:39:39 display
00:39:39 --> 00:39:40 the
00:39:40 --> 00:39:40 glory
00:39:40 --> 00:39:40 and
00:39:40 --> 00:39:41 the
00:39:41 --> 00:39:41 goodness
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 of
00:39:42 --> 00:39:42 God's
00:39:42 --> 00:39:43 reign
00:39:43 --> 00:39:43 over
00:39:43 --> 00:39:43 their
00:39:43 --> 00:39:44 life
00:39:44 --> 00:39:46 if
00:39:46 --> 00:39:46 you're
00:39:46 --> 00:39:46 a
00:39:46 --> 00:39:46 Christian
00:39:46 --> 00:39:47 you
00:39:47 --> 00:39:47 belong
00:39:47 --> 00:39:47 to
00:39:47 --> 00:39:47 Jesus
00:39:47 --> 00:39:49 we
00:39:49 --> 00:39:49 are
00:39:49 --> 00:39:49 his
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 people
00:39:50 --> 00:39:50 as
00:39:50 --> 00:39:50 the
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 church
00:39:51 --> 00:39:51 and
00:39:51 --> 00:39:51 our
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 allegiance
00:39:52 --> 00:39:52 is
00:39:52 --> 00:39:52 to
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 him
00:39:53 --> 00:39:53 our
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 life
00:39:54 --> 00:39:54 together
00:39:54 --> 00:39:54 is
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 to
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 attract
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 people
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 to
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 him
00:39:56 --> 00:39:58 we
00:39:58 --> 00:39:58 are
00:39:58 --> 00:39:58 to
00:39:58 --> 00:39:58 bring
00:39:58 --> 00:39:59 people
00:39:59 --> 00:39:59 to
00:39:59 --> 00:39:59 the
00:39:59 --> 00:40:00 sacrifice
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 the
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 only
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 sacrifice
00:40:01 --> 00:40:02 that
00:40:02 --> 00:40:02 frees
00:40:02 --> 00:40:03 us
00:40:03 --> 00:40:03 from
00:40:03 --> 00:40:03 our
00:40:03 --> 00:40:04 biggest
00:40:04 --> 00:40:04 problem
00:40:04 --> 00:40:05 sin
00:40:05 --> 00:40:08 we
00:40:08 --> 00:40:08 are
00:40:08 --> 00:40:08 to
00:40:08 --> 00:40:08 bring
00:40:08 --> 00:40:09 people
00:40:09 --> 00:40:09 to
00:40:09 --> 00:40:10 Jesus
00:40:10 --> 00:40:10 death
00:40:10 --> 00:40:10 on
00:40:10 --> 00:40:11 the
00:40:11 --> 00:40:11 cross
00:40:11 --> 00:40:11 for
00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 them
00:40:12 --> 00:40:14 proclaiming
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 the
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 good
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 news
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 of
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 the
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 benevolent
00:40:15 --> 00:40:15 cosmic
00:40:15 --> 00:40:16 king
00:40:16 --> 00:40:17 who
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 offers
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 us
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 life
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 forever
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 with
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 him
00:40:19 --> 00:40:19 is
00:40:19 --> 00:40:19 central
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20 to
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 the
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 mission
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 of
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 this
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 church
00:40:21 --> 00:40:22 and
00:40:22 --> 00:40:22 as
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23 just
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 not
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 just
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 in
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 the
00:40:23 --> 00:40:24 past
00:40:24 --> 00:40:24 but
00:40:24 --> 00:40:24 as
00:40:24 --> 00:40:24 we
00:40:24 --> 00:40:25 move
00:40:25 --> 00:40:25 forward
00:40:25 --> 00:40:25 into
00:40:25 --> 00:40:25 the
00:40:25 --> 00:40:26 future
00:40:26 --> 00:40:28 we
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 are
00:40:28 --> 00:40:29 in
00:40:29 --> 00:40:29 the
00:40:29 --> 00:40:29 service
00:40:29 --> 00:40:30 of
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 the
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 cosmic
00:40:30 --> 00:40:31 king
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 and
00:40:32 --> 00:40:33 therefore
00:40:33 --> 00:40:34 that
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 proclamation
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 of that
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 good
00:40:36 --> 00:40:36 news
00:40:36 --> 00:40:36 is
00:40:36 --> 00:40:37 central
00:40:37 --> 00:40:37 to
00:40:37 --> 00:40:37 your
00:40:37 --> 00:40:38 identity
00:40:38 --> 00:40:39 as
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 one
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 of
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 his
00:40:39 --> 00:40:40 children
00:40:40 --> 00:40:42 we
00:40:42 --> 00:40:42 are
00:40:42 --> 00:40:42 to
00:40:42 --> 00:40:42 herald
00:40:42 --> 00:40:43 his
00:40:43 --> 00:40:43 return
00:40:43 --> 00:40:44 and
00:40:44 --> 00:40:44 his
00:40:44 --> 00:40:45 priestly
00:40:45 --> 00:40:45 service
00:40:45 --> 00:40:46 by
00:40:46 --> 00:40:47 making
00:40:47 --> 00:40:48 by
00:40:48 --> 00:40:49 that
00:40:49 --> 00:40:49 that's
00:40:49 --> 00:40:49 not
00:40:49 --> 00:40:50 easy
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 in
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 our
00:40:52 --> 00:40:52 generation
00:40:52 --> 00:40:53 it
00:40:53 --> 00:40:53 seems
00:40:53 --> 00:40:53 to
00:40:53 --> 00:40:53 be
00:40:53 --> 00:40:53 getting
00:40:53 --> 00:40:54 harder
00:40:54 --> 00:40:55 we
00:40:55 --> 00:40:55 face
00:40:55 --> 00:40:56 misunderstanding
00:40:56 --> 00:40:57 apathy
00:40:57 --> 00:40:57 even
00:40:57 --> 00:40:58 hostility
00:40:58 --> 00:40:59 Christians
00:40:59 --> 00:41:00 are
00:41:00 --> 00:41:01 regarded
00:41:01 --> 00:41:01 as
00:41:01 --> 00:41:02 people
00:41:02 --> 00:41:02 from
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03 another
00:41:03 --> 00:41:03 era
00:41:03 --> 00:41:05 wrong
00:41:05 --> 00:41:05 side
00:41:05 --> 00:41:05 of
00:41:05 --> 00:41:06 history
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 and
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 yet
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 we
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 serve
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 the
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 cosmic
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 king
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 who
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 has
00:41:09 --> 00:41:09 all
00:41:09 --> 00:41:09 of
00:41:09 --> 00:41:09 history
00:41:09 --> 00:41:09 in
00:41:09 --> 00:41:10 his
00:41:10 --> 00:41:10 hands
00:41:10 --> 00:41:13 the
00:41:13 --> 00:41:13 encouragement
00:41:13 --> 00:41:14 here
00:41:14 --> 00:41:15 is that
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00:41:15 --> 00:41:16 the
00:41:16 --> 00:41:16 difficulty
00:41:16 --> 00:41:17 that
00:41:17 --> 00:41:17 you're
00:41:17 --> 00:41:17 facing
00:41:17 --> 00:41:17 in
00:41:17 --> 00:41:18 your
00:41:18 --> 00:41:18 life
00:41:18 --> 00:41:19 despite
00:41:19 --> 00:41:21 progress
00:41:21 --> 00:41:21 in
00:41:21 --> 00:41:21 your
00:41:21 --> 00:41:22 own
00:41:22 --> 00:41:22 conquering
00:41:22 --> 00:41:22 of
00:41:22 --> 00:41:23 sin
00:41:23 --> 00:41:23 and
00:41:23 --> 00:41:23 dealing
00:41:23 --> 00:41:23 with
00:41:23 --> 00:41:24 sin
00:41:24 --> 00:41:24 is
00:41:24 --> 00:41:24 slow
00:41:24 --> 00:41:26 despite
00:41:26 --> 00:41:26 the
00:41:26 --> 00:41:28 movement
00:41:28 --> 00:41:29 against
00:41:29 --> 00:41:29 the
00:41:29 --> 00:41:30 gospel
00:41:30 --> 00:41:30 and
00:41:30 --> 00:41:30 the
00:41:30 --> 00:41:30 church
00:41:30 --> 00:41:32 Jesus
00:41:32 --> 00:41:33 is
00:41:33 --> 00:41:34 with
00:41:34 --> 00:41:34 his
00:41:34 --> 00:41:34 church
00:41:34 --> 00:41:36 now
00:41:36 --> 00:41:37 with
00:41:37 --> 00:41:37 his
00:41:37 --> 00:41:37 church
00:41:37 --> 00:41:38 he is
00:41:38 --> 00:41:38 with
00:41:38 --> 00:41:38 us
00:41:38 --> 00:41:39 he is
00:41:39 --> 00:41:39 the
00:41:39 --> 00:41:40 son of
00:41:40 --> 00:41:40 man
00:41:40 --> 00:41:40 who
00:41:40 --> 00:41:41 reigns
00:41:41 --> 00:41:41 with
00:41:41 --> 00:41:41 dominion
00:41:41 --> 00:41:42 over
00:41:42 --> 00:41:42 all
00:41:42 --> 00:41:42 that
00:41:42 --> 00:41:43 is
00:41:43 --> 00:41:44 he
00:41:44 --> 00:41:44 reigns
00:41:44 --> 00:41:44 over
00:41:44 --> 00:41:45 secularism
00:41:45 --> 00:41:46 he
00:41:46 --> 00:41:46 reigns
00:41:46 --> 00:41:46 over
00:41:46 --> 00:41:47 Islam
00:41:47 --> 00:41:47 he
00:41:47 --> 00:41:48 reigns
00:41:48 --> 00:41:48 over
00:41:48 --> 00:41:48 communism
00:41:48 --> 00:41:49 he
00:41:49 --> 00:41:49 reigns
00:41:49 --> 00:41:49 over
00:41:49 --> 00:41:50 everything
00:41:50 --> 00:41:50 every
00:41:50 --> 00:41:51 individual
00:41:51 --> 00:41:51 that sets
00:41:51 --> 00:41:52 up
00:41:52 --> 00:41:53 against
00:41:53 --> 00:41:53 him
00:41:53 --> 00:41:57 he's
00:41:57 --> 00:41:57 the
00:41:57 --> 00:41:57 one
00:41:57 --> 00:41:57 with
00:41:57 --> 00:41:58 power
00:41:58 --> 00:41:58 over
00:41:58 --> 00:41:58 all
00:41:58 --> 00:41:59 that
00:41:59 --> 00:41:59 is
00:41:59 --> 00:42:00 both
00:42:00 --> 00:42:00 seen
00:42:00 --> 00:42:01 and
00:42:01 --> 00:42:01 unseen
00:42:01 --> 00:42:04 and
00:42:04 --> 00:42:04 so
00:42:04 --> 00:42:04 friends
00:42:04 --> 00:42:05 I want
00:42:05 --> 00:42:05 to
00:42:05 --> 00:42:05 encourage
00:42:05 --> 00:42:06 you
00:42:06 --> 00:42:06 whatever
00:42:06 --> 00:42:06 your
00:42:06 --> 00:42:06 position
00:42:06 --> 00:42:07 is
00:42:07 --> 00:42:07 right
00:42:07 --> 00:42:07 now
00:42:07 --> 00:42:07 to
00:42:07 --> 00:42:08 gaze
00:42:08 --> 00:42:08 upon
00:42:08 --> 00:42:09 Jesus
00:42:09 --> 00:42:10 and let
00:42:10 --> 00:42:10 his
00:42:10 --> 00:42:11 royal
00:42:11 --> 00:42:11 power
00:42:11 --> 00:42:12 and his
00:42:12 --> 00:42:12 priestly
00:42:12 --> 00:42:13 forgiveness
00:42:13 --> 00:42:14 and his
00:42:14 --> 00:42:15 fiery
00:42:15 --> 00:42:16 hope
00:42:16 --> 00:42:18 his fiery
00:42:18 --> 00:42:18 hope
00:42:18 --> 00:42:19 fill you
00:42:19 --> 00:42:20 with confidence
00:42:20 --> 00:42:21 afresh
00:42:21 --> 00:42:21 that
00:42:21 --> 00:42:22 treasuring
00:42:22 --> 00:42:22 Jesus
00:42:22 --> 00:42:23 is never
00:42:23 --> 00:42:24 ever
00:42:24 --> 00:42:24 a vanity
00:42:24 --> 00:42:26 I
00:42:26 --> 00:42:27 got to
00:42:27 --> 00:42:27 say
00:42:27 --> 00:42:27 I
00:42:27 --> 00:42:27 was
00:42:27 --> 00:42:28 bursting
00:42:28 --> 00:42:28 this
00:42:28 --> 00:42:29 morning
00:42:29 --> 00:42:30 both
00:42:30 --> 00:42:31 the
00:42:31 --> 00:42:31 early
00:42:31 --> 00:42:31 service
00:42:31 --> 00:42:32 and
00:42:32 --> 00:42:32 this
00:42:32 --> 00:42:32 one
00:42:32 --> 00:42:33 as
00:42:33 --> 00:42:33 we
00:42:33 --> 00:42:33 sang
00:42:33 --> 00:42:34 crown
00:42:34 --> 00:42:34 him
00:42:34 --> 00:42:34 with
00:42:34 --> 00:42:34 many
00:42:34 --> 00:42:35 crowns
00:42:35 --> 00:42:35 I'm
00:42:35 --> 00:42:35 so
00:42:35 --> 00:42:35 grateful
00:42:35 --> 00:42:35 for
00:42:35 --> 00:42:36 our
00:42:36 --> 00:42:37 teams
00:42:37 --> 00:42:37 our
00:42:37 --> 00:42:39 corporate
00:42:39 --> 00:42:39 worship
00:42:39 --> 00:42:40 team
00:42:40 --> 00:42:40 here
00:42:40 --> 00:42:40 and what
00:42:40 --> 00:42:41 they do
00:42:41 --> 00:42:41 in working
00:42:41 --> 00:42:42 to just
00:42:42 --> 00:42:44 lift our
00:42:44 --> 00:42:44 hearts
00:42:44 --> 00:42:45 to Jesus
00:42:45 --> 00:42:45 they
00:42:45 --> 00:42:46 certainly
00:42:46 --> 00:42:46 did it
00:42:46 --> 00:42:46 for me
00:42:46 --> 00:42:47 this
00:42:47 --> 00:42:47 morning
00:42:47 --> 00:42:47 even
00:42:47 --> 00:42:47 though
00:42:47 --> 00:42:47 I
00:42:47 --> 00:42:48 couldn't
00:42:48 --> 00:42:48 sing
00:42:48 --> 00:42:48 I
00:42:48 --> 00:42:48 was
00:42:48 --> 00:42:49 bursting
00:42:49 --> 00:42:49 so
00:42:49 --> 00:42:49 all
00:42:49 --> 00:42:49 that
00:42:49 --> 00:42:49 could
00:42:49 --> 00:42:50 happen
00:42:50 --> 00:42:50 was
00:42:50 --> 00:42:50 I
00:42:50 --> 00:42:51 burst it
00:42:51 --> 00:42:51 out of
00:42:51 --> 00:42:51 my
00:42:51 --> 00:42:51 eyes
00:42:51 --> 00:42:52 instead
00:42:52 --> 00:42:53 if it
00:42:53 --> 00:42:53 wasn't
00:42:53 --> 00:42:53 coming
00:42:53 --> 00:42:54 out
00:42:54 --> 00:42:54 of
00:42:54 --> 00:42:54 my
00:42:54 --> 00:42:54 mouth
00:42:54 --> 00:42:55 but
00:42:55 --> 00:42:56 those
00:42:56 --> 00:42:56 words
00:42:56 --> 00:42:58 all
00:42:58 --> 00:42:58 hail
00:42:58 --> 00:42:59 redeemer
00:42:59 --> 00:42:59 hail
00:42:59 --> 00:43:00 for
00:43:00 --> 00:43:00 you
00:43:00 --> 00:43:01 have
00:43:01 --> 00:43:01 died
00:43:01 --> 00:43:01 for
00:43:01 --> 00:43:02 me
00:43:02 --> 00:43:02 your
00:43:02 --> 00:43:03 praise
00:43:03 --> 00:43:03 and
00:43:03 --> 00:43:04 glory
00:43:04 --> 00:43:04 will
00:43:04 --> 00:43:05 never
00:43:05 --> 00:43:05 fail
00:43:05 --> 00:43:05 for
00:43:05 --> 00:43:06 all
00:43:06 --> 00:43:06 eternity
00:43:06 --> 00:43:09 let
00:43:09 --> 00:43:09 every
00:43:09 --> 00:43:10 throne
00:43:10 --> 00:43:11 before
00:43:11 --> 00:43:12 him
00:43:12 --> 00:43:12 fall
00:43:12 --> 00:43:13 come
00:43:13 --> 00:43:13 to the
00:43:13 --> 00:43:13 cosmic
00:43:13 --> 00:43:14 king
00:43:14 --> 00:43:14 and
00:43:14 --> 00:43:14 worship
00:43:14 --> 00:43:15 and
00:43:15 --> 00:43:15 serve
00:43:15 --> 00:43:16 and
00:43:16 --> 00:43:16 love
00:43:16 --> 00:43:16 him