WEBVTT 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:03.160 I'm going to invite you to Romans Chapter 11. 00:00:03.180 --> 00:00:08.930 Today is where we're going to be if you want to know more of things that are happening here at Alpine, just download the Alpine Bible Church app and click on the bulletin. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:13.180 You can see or you can grab a bulletin sheet on your way out that'll tell you some more information. 00:00:13.900 --> 00:00:15.220 But we're in Romans chapter 11. 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:19.280 We're ending an interesting section of the book of Romans. 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:26.320 You remember as we studied together, the first eight chapters of the Book of Romans describes for us what it means to walk in Christ, to know Jesus and 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:30.120 salvation and the identity that we receive in him, right? 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:33.240 Romans Chapter five, six, seven and eight starts to talk about our identity. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:40.240 It comes to that pinnacle in Romans Chapter eight being adopted, being able to call God father and the beautiful picture of what the gospel is. 00:00:40.480 --> 00:00:41.860 That's the first eight chapters of Romans. 00:00:42.260 --> 00:00:44.200 Then we get to chapter nine, ten and 11. 00:00:44.260 --> 00:00:47.350 And Israel is asking the question, where does that put us? 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:47.620 Right? 00:00:47.980 --> 00:00:52.220 Because we see in the New Testament that the Gentiles have come to know the Lord. 00:00:52.400 --> 00:00:54.880 By and large, the Jewish people had rejected the Messiah. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:56.890 There are still some Jews that followed after Jesus. 00:00:56.920 --> 00:01:00.800 Much of your New Testament written by Jews, all of your Old Testament, written by Jews. 00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:05.430 And but what they're seeing is the majority of the Gentiles have come to know Christ. 00:01:05.540 --> 00:01:10.420 The majority of the Jews have rejected Christ and the Gentiles are or excuse me, the Jews are asking, where does that put us? 00:01:10.420 --> 00:01:13.560 As God abandoned us, as God forgotten about us? 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:21.030 Or where do we fit in God's plan as it regards to Israel in the future and all of God's promises to God's chosen people? 00:01:21.580 --> 00:01:24.600 Where is their place in what God desires to do? 00:01:24.600 --> 00:01:28.950 Romans nine, 1011 explains that in terms of those three chapters, you can think of it like this. 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:31.370 Romans Chapter nine deals with Israel in the past. 00:01:31.600 --> 00:01:33.580 Romans Chapter ten deals with Israel in the present. 00:01:33.880 --> 00:01:36.410 Romans Chapter 11 deals with Israel in the future. 00:01:36.500 --> 00:01:43.080 And these last few verses we're going to look at again once more God's plan for his people as he moves forward in this world. 00:01:43.180 --> 00:01:44.060 And it's just bigger. 00:01:44.240 --> 00:01:45.560 It's bigger than one people group. 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:52.680 In fact, in Genesis chapter 12, when God called Abraham the first Jewish person, God says to him, through him, He will bless 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:53.730 all nations. 00:01:54.020 --> 00:02:01.160 He repeats that in Genesis chapter 12, all the way really to the end of Genesis, to when you get to Judah, God 00:02:01.160 --> 00:02:08.419 continues to promise through that, through the line of Judah, that he will fulfill his covenant promises to his people and through them all nations 00:02:08.419 --> 00:02:09.960 would be blessed. 00:02:09.979 --> 00:02:13.060 And so God's picture is bigger than just one people group. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:17.020 But sometimes in life, in relationship to Israel, we might have those same questions. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:25.140 Sometimes you might feel like you're an outsider looking in, trying to figure out where is your place in God's plan in this world and how is 00:02:25.140 --> 00:02:31.980 it when God created you, what is his purpose for your life and how can you be a part of what God desires to do in this world? 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:39.440 And this is exactly what we're going to look at today in Romans chapter 11, starting in verse 25, we're going to understand God's missional heart and then learn how 00:02:39.440 --> 00:02:44.920 we fit into that missional heart and how we can all play a part in what God desires for us. 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:48.560 God working through the Jews to bless all people. 00:02:48.920 --> 00:02:54.180 We all struggle to have a healthy view of how we fit into what God desires. 00:02:54.200 --> 00:03:01.380 And when you get into Romans chapter 12 to 16, then God starts to paint the picture of in the in the day 00:03:01.380 --> 00:03:08.440 to day experiences of your life, how you live that out MISSIONALLY in regards to marriage and family and government. 00:03:08.440 --> 00:03:15.460 Like what is what is God's desire for you to live that missional purpose out As we look in these last few verses, God's bigger plan 00:03:15.460 --> 00:03:19.720 for all of us and He gives us these particular points in your notes, I'm going to give you a point. 00:03:19.900 --> 00:03:25.890 Number one, understanding God's missional heart starts this way, that we live through humility. 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:28.950 That point, that blank in your notes is humility. 00:03:29.820 --> 00:03:37.060 If you want to be a part of what God desires, we need to start with a heart that is that is humble, a willingness to want to participate in what God 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:39.160 calls us to in this world. 00:03:39.980 --> 00:03:41.380 These notes you're going to see this morning. 00:03:41.420 --> 00:03:44.340 The first point and the last point deals with your heart before God. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:49.000 And all the points in between are what God's character is demonstrated in this world. 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:52.860 And it's important for us to understand all of these to walk in light of all of this. 00:03:53.080 --> 00:04:00.180 If we're going to live for his missional purpose, to see how God has communicated himself in terms of his missional heart to this world, God 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:07.280 created his church for a purpose and we want to belong to that purpose and live out the calling for which God has put 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:08.860 upon us in this world. 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:13.120 And in verse 25, it says this lest you be wise in your own sight. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:18.839 He starts off really with a warning Paul is acknowledging in Romans chapter 11. 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:26.420 Yes, the Jewish people are really in this parenthetical type of place where they were God's chosen people called 00:04:26.420 --> 00:04:30.700 to live for his mission in this world, by and large rejected the Messiah. 00:04:30.820 --> 00:04:33.400 God then brings in Team B, right? 00:04:33.580 --> 00:04:35.350 He brings you off the bench, you Gentiles. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:37.170 That's everyone else that's not Jewish. 00:04:37.440 --> 00:04:40.520 And he works his mission through those that are willing. 00:04:40.520 --> 00:04:42.780 He works his mission through through the Gentile people. 00:04:42.780 --> 00:04:45.880 It doesn't mean that all of the Jewish people are sitting on the bench. 00:04:45.880 --> 00:04:47.840 There are some that came to know Christ, right? 00:04:47.840 --> 00:04:50.920 Like the apostle Paul who writes the book of Romans. 00:04:51.320 --> 00:04:55.160 He's certainly a Jew that continued to follow the Messiah to live for his glory in this world. 00:04:55.520 --> 00:04:59.640 But he writes to the Gentiles here in the beginning and says, look, you need to have a healthy perspective. 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:01.400 Who you are in light of who God is. 00:05:02.460 --> 00:05:07.320 God is not working, by and large, through the Gentile people now because they're better than the Jewish people. 00:05:08.200 --> 00:05:09.450 We're not better than anyone. 00:05:09.900 --> 00:05:12.650 It's only by the grace of God that we are where we are. 00:05:12.880 --> 00:05:19.940 And so he's saying, lest you be wise in your own sight, that the purpose which God has called you is not 00:05:19.940 --> 00:05:22.480 because you're better than someone else. 00:05:23.020 --> 00:05:30.220 It's purely because of the grace of God being made known in your life that you're able to do anything that God has called you to in 00:05:30.220 --> 00:05:30.760 this world. 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:34.260 And this is an important message, I think, for all of God's people. 00:05:35.280 --> 00:05:37.590 And depending on where you are in this world. 00:05:38.520 --> 00:05:42.950 There is a flavor of temptation that can push us away from what God is communicating here. 00:05:43.280 --> 00:05:44.940 Let me just give you an example of what I mean. 00:05:46.340 --> 00:05:50.500 The tendency in every culture is to sort of take what your culture says. 00:05:50.820 --> 00:05:55.900 Take what the Bible says, and blend it together in some weird folk theology. 00:05:57.200 --> 00:06:02.480 And we take the identity of our culture and we sort of press it upon what scripture says. 00:06:03.400 --> 00:06:06.180 And we have the danger of even doing that here in America. 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:10.360 And typically within your own culture, you're blind to those messages. 00:06:10.400 --> 00:06:15.640 You don't always realize exactly how your culture is affecting your view of theology. 00:06:16.280 --> 00:06:18.520 And that's certainly true in the American church. 00:06:18.580 --> 00:06:19.490 Let me let me give you an example. 00:06:21.320 --> 00:06:28.340 Sometimes when we walk into a church, we walk in with the idea of I need help and I want God to 00:06:28.340 --> 00:06:35.950 fix this thing so that I can go on living a life of peace or joy or no problems. 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:36.300 Right? 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:40.510 We just we understand there's a problem here, and we don't want that problem because it makes us uncomfortable. 00:06:41.200 --> 00:06:48.220 And God will tell me what I need to know to fix this problem so I can really put God back on the shelf and I can go continue to live life the way that I want, right? 00:06:48.300 --> 00:06:55.640 We sort of approach God as if God is here to serve me rather than me being created to serve him in our 00:06:55.640 --> 00:06:58.020 culture today. 00:06:58.020 --> 00:07:04.360 The self, the idea of you being the most important thing is the focus of life. 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:05.510 Life is all about you. 00:07:05.520 --> 00:07:08.560 Whatever makes you happy, whatever pleases you, that's what you should do. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:13.110 Wake up tomorrow and just decide what would make you most happy and live your life for that purpose. 00:07:13.440 --> 00:07:17.100 But the problem with that is, and I know happiness is an important thing, Right? 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:19.880 But God didn't create you for happiness. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.290 God created you for holiness. 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:26.240 And that does not happen until your life is wholly surrendered to him. 00:07:26.780 --> 00:07:28.790 To understand God made me for his purposes. 00:07:29.200 --> 00:07:32.650 And certainly in that there can be joy deeper than just happiness. 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:33.440 There can be joy. 00:07:33.900 --> 00:07:39.280 But it's not until my life is surrendered to that I find the purpose which God has created me. 00:07:39.280 --> 00:07:46.630 So that journey has to begin with this place of humility, surrendering your life to God and saying, God, you made me for your purpose. 00:07:46.760 --> 00:07:47.800 You designed me. 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:49.060 Let me understand that. 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:52.850 And as I surrender my life to you, I walk in the joy of that relationship. 00:07:54.520 --> 00:07:56.040 But in the American church today. 00:07:57.340 --> 00:08:01.940 The way that we tend to or can dangerously treat Christianity. 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:09.170 Is simply you show up on a Sunday and we want to give you a self-help talk of how to have your best life now. 00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:14.240 And the focus of your Christianity becomes all about you. 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:22.340 You get a message to help you so that your life can be all about you and you can be happy with the way that you want your life to 00:08:22.340 --> 00:08:22.580 be. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:30.780 And if that is that certainly in Christianity, the Lord can help you in places that you're facing struggle. 00:08:31.820 --> 00:08:38.360 But if the message of Christianity simply ends with you have completely missed the purpose of the gospel. 00:08:39.760 --> 00:08:42.039 God's message to this world is far bigger than you. 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:48.660 And he's not He's not saying, invite me into your life so that I can live your mission. 00:08:49.780 --> 00:08:49.840 God. 00:08:49.940 --> 00:08:54.660 God is saying I am inviting you into my life so you can live my mission in this world. 00:08:55.240 --> 00:09:00.490 And the only way that ever happens is if you're willing to surrender to you to live for his glory. 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:08.340 And so Paul is saying in the very beginning of this letter, if you want to live for the purpose which God has called you into this world, you want to understand the missional heart of God. 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.970 Take note from Jesus. 00:09:11.920 --> 00:09:16.160 He was the servant of servants that gave his life for the glory of the Father. 00:09:17.060 --> 00:09:24.160 And if that is what your king was willing to do for you, then who are you as a servant of this king, to expect to 00:09:24.160 --> 00:09:27.350 live this life for your glory rather than for his? 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:30.510 Now, I know I said a lot of yous, and it felt very accusatory. 00:09:30.920 --> 00:09:35.140 But just know I'm not talking about you specifically because you guys are perfect. 00:09:35.880 --> 00:09:39.000 I'm talking about other churches somewhere else, other people. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:46.770 But this is important for our lives to understand what Paul is saying in this passage, that you want to understand the way that God's heart is working. 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:49.380 You feel like an outsider and you're just trying to find your place. 00:09:49.520 --> 00:09:52.890 Well, to find your place, it's got to be it's got to begin with the end of yourself. 00:09:55.280 --> 00:09:57.120 In order to embrace what God has called you to in Him. 00:09:58.400 --> 00:10:00.600 Point number two, then, is his plan. 00:10:03.400 --> 00:10:04.640 Understanding his plan. 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:09.360 I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery brothers. 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:16.500 A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 00:10:17.520 --> 00:10:20.580 And in this way all Israel will be saved. 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:29.660 I've wrestled a little bit with this verse, not just in preparation for this message, but in theology in general, trying to understand 00:10:29.660 --> 00:10:31.110 what God is communicating best. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.330 And there's a there's a little bit of a challenge to this passage. 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:37.190 And it starts with the idea of mystery. 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:41.440 Paul talks about mystery multiple times in the New Testament. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:48.580 He says to us, and I love that he uses this word mystery because I think it provides not not just a humility to us 00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:55.320 and surrendering to God, but a humility in our theology to say we don't always need to act like we have it figured out. 00:10:56.020 --> 00:11:03.220 Even in the Christian faith, there are primary issues of theology and there are tertiary issues of theology, like when it comes to 00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:07.740 the inerrancy of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the Triunity of God. 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:12.160 Those theological foundations and Christianity, those are immovable, right? 00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:19.420 I would like to think if someone contests my faith and I have to lay down my life for the deity of Jesus, that I would be willing to die in 00:11:19.420 --> 00:11:24.920 the truthfulness that Jesus is Lord Jesus as God, Jesus as Savior, Jesus is king. 00:11:25.780 --> 00:11:26.580 And those things matter. 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:27.520 Those things are immovable. 00:11:29.180 --> 00:11:36.180 But in regards to how God works out, the particularities of those things, there are some things I understand brothers and sisters in Christ, they don't 00:11:36.180 --> 00:11:40.540 always agree in, for example, exactly how the second coming of Christ is going to work. 00:11:41.920 --> 00:11:43.720 Some people like to pretend like they get out. 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:51.380 They get out there their bunkers that they build for doomsday, And they write out all these charts of exactly every world leader that 00:11:51.380 --> 00:11:53.540 is of Satan or something. 00:11:53.540 --> 00:11:56.830 And they know exactly how everything's going to work out to the to the end of days. 00:11:56.920 --> 00:11:58.810 Like I have my idea of what I think. 00:11:59.060 --> 00:12:04.020 But I'm reminded that in the first century, most people got Jesus's first coming wrong. 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:09.420 And I don't want to be so arrogant as to claim I have every detail of Jesus second coming, right? 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:17.340 There's a little bit of mystery in the how God works and for the Jewish people, the idea of the Gentiles being grafted 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:18.020 in right. 00:12:18.650 --> 00:12:19.730 And the hardening of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:21.480 That was a bit of a mystery to them. 00:12:21.540 --> 00:12:24.760 They didn't understand how God was going to work exactly like that. 00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:31.900 And yet that mystery has been revealed that God is now moving through the Gentile people, all nations coming to know Christ and 00:12:31.900 --> 00:12:35.980 to move in this world to proclaim the goodness of God. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:40.640 Like it's not to just be with one people that God is for every tribe, tongue and language. 00:12:42.300 --> 00:12:44.380 His plan moving in this world. 00:12:44.380 --> 00:12:47.480 And so our heart should match God's heart. 00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:51.150 And there's a group called the Joshua Project. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.800 In fact, if you can Google it later today if you're interested. 00:12:54.100 --> 00:13:01.580 Joshua Project Net, you can see all of the demographic studies they do of the needs of people 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:08.700 around the world knowing that God has called his church to minister to the lost in this world for the sake of the gospel. 00:13:09.660 --> 00:13:16.720 Some of the statistics regarding Christianity and the Commission that God has called us to go into this world and reach the Gentile 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.340 nations, all ethnic groups, all people groups. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:21.200 Joshua Project does a great job. 00:13:21.640 --> 00:13:28.640 And in talking about the needs around the world, but the majority of the world that still needs the gospel, ironically, is what's called the 00:13:28.640 --> 00:13:36.010 1040 Window, ten degrees north of the equator, 40 degrees north of the equator involving these continents Africa, 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:37.430 Asia and Europe. 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:44.400 43% of the world's population lives here and 7400 unreached people. 00:13:44.420 --> 00:13:47.140 Groups out of the 17,000 people groups throughout the world. 00:13:48.420 --> 00:13:50.120 A couple more statistics on there for you. 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:53.860 85% of unreached people groups live in this 1040 window. 00:13:53.900 --> 00:13:56.560 So when you think in terms of unreached people groups, let me tell you what that means. 00:13:57.100 --> 00:14:02.660 It means there is less than 2% of an evangelical Christian presence in this area of the 1040 window. 00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:07.520 I love sharing statistics like this because, most missiologists say about Utah. 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:11.800 Utah is somewhere, right, about 2% evangelical Christian. 00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:19.700 So you live in terms of what Joshua project would call an unreached people group location in the world, the most unreached evangelical place in 00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:20.240 the United States. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:20.980 That's where you are. 00:14:22.880 --> 00:14:30.420 And so the carrying that need and seeing that need, having lived in Utah, we can have a greater 00:14:30.420 --> 00:14:32.710 heart, I think, for unreached people, groups around the world. 00:14:32.900 --> 00:14:34.590 But here's the reality. 00:14:35.400 --> 00:14:40.920 For every one unreached people group, there are over 1000 evangelical churches. 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:46.550 Meaning it shouldn't be any problem for all of us to come together and just reach them all tomorrow. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:55.980 But reality is statistically Christian sin less than 1% of their missionary 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:57.680 force to that 1040 window. 00:14:58.340 --> 00:15:01.460 So you think about people that are missionaries that go around the world and preach the gospel. 00:15:01.800 --> 00:15:07.220 Less than 1% of those go to where 43% of the population is, where the majority of unreached people groups are. 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:11.080 Less than 1% of mission giving goes to that. 00:15:12.660 --> 00:15:19.720 98% or excuse me, out of all the Christians in the world, statistically, we use 98% of 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.690 our wealth on ourselves. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:24.020 2% of our wealth. 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:27.760 We give towards what God calls us to in this in this world. 00:15:27.800 --> 00:15:35.100 Missionally living for His glory, to proclaim his message, to see the church go forth out of that 2% that we give less than 1% 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:37.000 of that money goes to the 1040 window. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:40.880 But God. 00:15:42.880 --> 00:15:43.360 Has a plan. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:48.740 And in this way, he says, all Israel will be saved. 00:15:50.260 --> 00:15:53.640 Some people ask the question, what exactly does it mean that all Israel will be saved? 00:15:53.660 --> 00:15:59.100 There's a few different theologies in Christianity that try to figure out what all Israel will be saved. 00:15:59.160 --> 00:16:02.400 Some believe in what's called replacement theology that God's done with Israel. 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.740 Now the church becomes Israel. 00:16:03.780 --> 00:16:10.880 I don't hold to that belief, but there is a passage in Galatians chapter three, starting in verse six, that talks about 00:16:10.880 --> 00:16:17.440 anyone that's of faith is a seed of Abraham, meaning there are those that are born physically as Jews. 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:22.960 But there are those who are reborn spiritually in Abraham because Abraham had faith in God. 00:16:23.260 --> 00:16:25.200 And Abraham claimed this message of faith. 00:16:25.400 --> 00:16:30.120 And if you put that faith in the same God of Abraham, then you are spiritually born into Abraham's family. 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:33.280 So what Galatians Chapter three talks about in verse six and on. 00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:37.540 But I think in verse 26, he is specifically talking about the Jewish people. 00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:45.700 And if you go back and read in Romans 11, verse 11, he says to us that God is using the Gentiles in order to provoke 00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:47.460 the Jewish people to jealousy. 00:16:47.660 --> 00:16:54.660 He says that again in verse 14 of Chapter 11, that while God is working his message out through the Gentile people to 00:16:54.660 --> 00:17:01.800 proclaim his gospel in the world, at the same time, he's also using that to provoke the Jewish people to see the 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:03.480 need for Christ in their life. 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:09.510 And so the point of it to say like, look, the Old Testament written by Jews, New Testament, written by the majority of Jews. 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:16.140 And so we have their message that they carried forth, we learn from their scriptures and what was taught. 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:19.660 And while the Gentiles proclaim this message, by and large. 00:17:22.020 --> 00:17:26.180 God says ultimately he will provoke the Jewish people to faith as well. 00:17:28.040 --> 00:17:29.440 What Paul is driving to. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:34.510 As a people unified of every tribe and tongue and language. 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:37.540 God wants us striving together in Him. 00:17:38.600 --> 00:17:43.140 God is a beautiful, creative God, in fact, in Africa. 00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:45.100 Last weekend we were reminded of that. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.900 We show up to church. 00:17:48.040 --> 00:17:50.320 They worship a little different than we worship here. 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:53.240 Not wrong, but different. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.670 You know, when you turn to the New Testament and you think what? 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.460 What should a church service look like? 00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:01.880 Do you know there's nowhere in the New Testament that prescribes for you exactly what a church service looks like. 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:10.000 There are places in the New Testament that describes what the church does when they gather, but there's not the particularities of exactly how that 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.650 should look and when it should happen and how long it should last. 00:18:13.300 --> 00:18:18.090 And I think the reason the Lord did that is because he knows among every culture and people group, we're all a little unique. 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:22.700 And what speaks to our heart is a little different here in Utah. 00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:29.540 Our experience is a little more maybe I'll describe it as reverential, right? 00:18:29.560 --> 00:18:33.780 We sometimes keep to ourselves, not a not a whole lot of amen going out loud. 00:18:35.320 --> 00:18:35.710 I don't think. 00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:37.500 Okay. 00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:44.960 But you go to you go to Africa and for the for the first time ever for me, I was involved in a Congo line of worship. 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.940 And somehow we incorporated, Simon says, into our into our worship time. 00:18:49.020 --> 00:18:49.300 I don't know. 00:18:49.520 --> 00:18:50.450 I don't know how that works here. 00:18:50.820 --> 00:18:52.980 But that's what happened. 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:55.440 But they love the Lord and they were genuinely praising God. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.880 So I would say ours. 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:57.840 Not that they're not reverential. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.940 I think their reverence just looks a little different. 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:02.920 But we're just a little more keep to ourselves reverential, right? 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:08.220 And in their culture, they're a little more lavish and joyful in the way that they do things. 00:19:08.280 --> 00:19:08.780 Not bad. 00:19:08.780 --> 00:19:09.220 Not wrong. 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.820 Just different. 00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:18.300 And I think this is what the Lord is describing in this passage, that his desire working through all people groups, his plan, understanding 00:19:18.300 --> 00:19:20.040 his heart for everyone. 00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:22.700 And then he goes on this point number three. 00:19:23.840 --> 00:19:24.300 His truth. 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:29.560 His plan, his truth, and he says as it is written. 00:19:30.760 --> 00:19:33.580 The deliverer will come from Zion. 00:19:34.760 --> 00:19:36.720 He will banish Ungodliness from Jacob. 00:19:37.300 --> 00:19:42.370 And this will be my covenant with him when I take away their sins. 00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:52.260 Paul is going back into the book of Isaiah, chapter 59, and he's reminding us of what the Messiah will do 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:54.920 to rule and reign, right? 00:19:54.920 --> 00:20:00.890 He's driving towards this, the King of Kings ruling and reigning from Zion, which is not in America. 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:04.980 This is this is a picture of really Israel and Jerusalem. 00:20:05.260 --> 00:20:08.100 And it's a greater picture of God's ruling and reigning over all things. 00:20:09.340 --> 00:20:16.520 So it's a reminder of what the gospel is about this place of freedom, where God has control, every tribe, tongue, language, bowing before 00:20:16.520 --> 00:20:16.960 him. 00:20:18.060 --> 00:20:25.360 So it's this truth that we have opportunity to share that God, that God created us in his image for 00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:29.400 relationship in him, that man sinned against God. 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:31.640 But God did not reject us in our sin. 00:20:31.820 --> 00:20:35.820 That even while we were sinners, Christ pursued us and Jesus will. 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:37.230 He came in the flesh. 00:20:37.520 --> 00:20:39.940 He gave his life that we could have freedom in him. 00:20:40.100 --> 00:20:41.650 And he was resurrected from the grave. 00:20:42.100 --> 00:20:46.260 And one day he will return and he will rule and reign as king of kings and Lord of Lords. 00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:48.320 And he sits on his throne today. 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:56.650 Over his church, calling them on his mission in this world, that we would proclaim that truth, that Jesus has conquered sin, 00:20:56.700 --> 00:21:02.120 Satan and death, and we can all in that promise have freedom in him if we, by faith, would trust in Christ. 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:11.540 And Isaiah 59 is that picture of that message to see the beauty of God who became flesh origin, one 00:21:11.540 --> 00:21:12.430 of the early church fathers. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:14.120 He said this at one time. 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:21.100 He said there was a village who had a created a statue that was so great, so big that it was so large. 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:24.740 They couldn't even they didn't even know who the statue was honoring. 00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:32.840 And so in order for the village to understand who the statue was honoring, they shrunk the statue to a smaller size 00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:36.680 so the people could recognize who the statue was created in honor to. 00:21:37.780 --> 00:21:40.860 And then Origin said, And that is what God did with his son. 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:45.340 Christ is the image of the invisible God. 00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:47.280 That's what it tells us in Colossians chapter one, verse 15. 00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:49.230 God in the flesh. 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:52.020 That you could see what he was like. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.640 And his heart was missional. 00:21:55.860 --> 00:22:01.900 Pursuing our lives, that we could find redemption and forgiveness in him, because apart from him, we had no hope. 00:22:03.260 --> 00:22:07.040 And that plan, that truth that sets us free. 00:22:07.080 --> 00:22:12.650 And then he goes on verse 28 and he says this, and the next blink of your notes is to understand his faithfulness. 00:22:15.060 --> 00:22:15.780 His faithfulness. 00:22:17.040 --> 00:22:19.820 As regards the gospel. 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:21.800 They are enemies for your sake. 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:29.080 But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers for the gift and the calling of God are irrevocable. 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:34.180 So he's saying the Jewish people, by and large, had rejected the Messiah becoming enemies. 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.160 But what does God do? 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:39.220 He doesn't retaliate as their enemy in response. 00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:46.140 But rather he remembers the promises to Israel that he had made, the promises to the forefathers. 00:22:46.260 --> 00:22:50.800 And so he remained true to his calling and his promises because they were irrevocable. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.740 The God's nature does not change. 00:22:53.760 --> 00:22:57.930 The same God that they worship in the Old Testament is the same God that you worship today. 00:22:58.620 --> 00:23:05.960 It tells us in second Timothy, chapter two, verse 13, If we are faithless, he remains 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:07.440 faithful. 00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:13.370 It's beautiful that God's grace is new to you every morning, no matter how many times you feel like you fall. 00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:17.440 God remains consistent, which is different than the way that we operate in our culture. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:23.500 When people offend us, we use that excuse to get nasty in return. 00:23:23.520 --> 00:23:24.840 But that is not the heart of God. 00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:28.310 The heart of God is gracious and forgiving. 00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:31.910 It reminds me of the story of the woman at the well in John chapter four. 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:34.040 Married five times. 00:23:34.040 --> 00:23:38.910 The man that she is with currently when Jesus meets her is not even her husband. 00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:41.840 But yet Jesus does not give up on her. 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.540 Because his character. 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.060 Never changes. 00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:54.160 God is a gracious God in his faithfulness. 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:59.220 Adoniram Judson, one of the famous missionaries to Burma. 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:06.660 Three years into his mission in Burma, they asked for a report that determined whether or not he was being successful. 00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:15.100 Adoniram Judson didn't see a single convert in Burma until his sixth year, but in year three, they asked him for a report to determine 00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:22.360 his success, and he simply replied with, as he said, as much as there is a God who will fulfill all his promises, that's 00:24:22.360 --> 00:24:24.140 what a success is measured by. 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:29.420 It's not based on your performance. 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:32.260 It's based on his. 00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:34.100 His character. 00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:36.240 His promises. 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.870 And by year three. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:40.440 By worldly standards, yes. 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:43.160 Adoniram Judson would not have been considered successful. 00:24:44.520 --> 00:24:46.280 But he knew he served a faithful God. 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:55.120 And today in Burma, there are now hundreds of churches and thousands of converts because Adoniram Judson remained consistent 00:24:55.120 --> 00:25:00.480 in his walk with the Lord, knowing that God's promises were always true. 00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:04.220 Next. 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:05.730 This is mercy. 00:25:07.540 --> 00:25:08.120 Verse 30. 00:25:08.540 --> 00:25:14.850 He goes on and says, For just as you were at one time, disobedient to God, but now have received mercy because of their disobedience. 00:25:15.520 --> 00:25:22.760 So they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you, they also may now receive mercy. 00:25:24.120 --> 00:25:31.380 For God has consigned all to disobedience that he may have mercy on all. 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:36.370 What is he acknowledging here? 00:25:36.520 --> 00:25:38.440 Is that, God, he's a he's a just God. 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.150 God will judge. 00:25:42.540 --> 00:25:44.380 In order to be good, he must judge. 00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:48.150 And he will judge sin if we die. 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.280 Apart from God. 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:53.160 Apart from Christ, apart from His forgiveness, we will be judged in that sin. 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:54.330 That's why we need Jesus. 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:58.880 But He reminds us in the same passage that while we sin, he is also merciful. 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:03.290 A mercy means withholding what we do deserve. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:10.920 And the only reason he does that is because of his grace that he pursued us in the sin and he still gave his life for you while you were a sinner. 00:26:12.580 --> 00:26:17.240 And that becomes the beauty of our invitation to belong to him. 00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:23.880 There was a famous Christian missionary that once said she heard a group of believers marking remarking about the trouble in the world. 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:26.640 And this missionary responded this way. 00:26:27.280 --> 00:26:28.900 They said, Maybe. 00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:32.660 Maybe they're starved for bread in Africa. 00:26:34.560 --> 00:26:37.620 But you are starved for love in America. 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:43.100 How much this world needs the mercy of God. 00:26:45.540 --> 00:26:46.700 Needs the grace of God. 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:52.720 Is the platform of invitation to belong to the mission of God. 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:59.710 It is the only reason we have a place to come before God because of what He has done for us. 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:05.160 And so then Paul brings us to this last place, this place of worship. 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:11.360 And this is how he ends in verse 33 to verse 36 to talk about worship. 00:27:13.320 --> 00:27:18.340 And this is again, the beginning starts with you, right through humility, the surrendering of yourself. 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:25.560 And it continues in your life to live in this missional heart of God by your worship in that as you come humbly, you continue to worship this 00:27:25.560 --> 00:27:27.420 king because he alone is worthy. 00:27:28.060 --> 00:27:35.060 It's not about him being invited to serve you and your plan for this world, but you surrendering your life to serve him and his plan for this world 00:27:35.060 --> 00:27:36.880 that happens through through worship. 00:27:37.820 --> 00:27:41.440 John Piper and his famous book, Let the let the Nations be Glad. 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:48.600 He says this missions exist because worship does not that we're called in this world to go into this world to represent 00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:50.020 Jesus to others. 00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:52.610 So they come to know him and respond in worship. 00:27:52.760 --> 00:27:54.600 That's the whole purpose of mission. 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:59.710 We live on mission to call people, to worship, to understand the purpose for which they were created in Christ. 00:28:00.060 --> 00:28:03.400 Because apart from that, we will never fulfill the reason for our existence. 00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:06.500 But worship. 00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:12.230 Brings us to that beautiful place to connect to our creator. 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:21.520 In verse 33, he gives us these three exclamations and then verse 34 and 35, he asks three questions, and then finally he gives us 00:28:21.520 --> 00:28:28.820 a conclusion in verse 36, and these thoughts that Paul is sharing, I don't really think he's really sharing 00:28:28.820 --> 00:28:35.960 them, us, these thoughts to necessarily dive deep theologically, but just to embrace the statement that he's talking 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:42.980 about and let our heart be provoked to worship of this great God who has invited us to participate in this calling of 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.360 the world. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:47.820 This is all the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. 00:28:47.820 --> 00:28:48.680 Thought one. 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:50.830 How unsearchable are his judgments? 00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:54.840 And then thought thought three How inscrutable his ways. 00:28:54.920 --> 00:29:02.120 He's saying to us that in terms of God's judgment, he's not saying that this is God's judicial decision, but rather his 00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:04.960 executive decision for salvation in this world. 00:29:05.520 --> 00:29:12.620 The way that God has worked out his plan and he says, how inscrutable are his ways, meaning you will spend the rest of your days, all of eternity, 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:16.220 exploring the depth of God and you will never come to the end. 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:22.600 This is how great God is that you in his riches and wisdom that you have the opportunity to be a part of that. 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.710 And then he asked these questions. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:29.100 He says, For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:33.740 Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid. 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:37.060 God, in his brilliance, he's identifying for us. 00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:44.380 And then in verse 36, he says, For from him and through him and to him are all things to 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:47.100 him be glory forever and ever. 00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:47.380 Amen. 00:29:49.280 --> 00:29:56.480 I mean, these verses are intended to provoke your heart to worship this unfathomable God that while he became 00:29:56.480 --> 00:30:00.520 personal for us in flesh, to die for you. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:03.340 He is also magnificently brilliant. 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:04.860 To adapt. 00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:07.220 We can't even fully define or comprehend. 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:13.100 Yet he allows us to be a part of that to worship. 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:21.960 Can I tell you one of the hardest things for me, when I when I was in Africa this past week was on a Sunday, 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.280 this time last week. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:29.520 After the church services, we went up and prayed on this mountain for the ministry there. 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:33.740 And then they took us through the village just to pray with people. 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:43.440 And little cynical in my heart got to each home and ask them what their needs were and their prayer 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:46.660 requests tended to be, I just want enough food to eat. 00:30:47.760 --> 00:30:50.640 Or I just need a place where I have a roof that's not leaking. 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:55.220 Or one lady looked like she was maybe in her 70s. 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:58.440 Had her grandkids or great grandkids around. 00:30:58.780 --> 00:31:00.490 Asked us to pray that she could find a job. 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:08.800 I don't know how this lady was even going to be capable of working, but her request of us was to have a job and our group 00:31:08.800 --> 00:31:09.900 would take time praying. 00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:12.540 And I didn't even step forward in the group time of prayer. 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:14.440 I just sat back and thought, this is. 00:31:16.060 --> 00:31:18.660 A little bit crazy to me. 00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.620 Somewhat foolish. 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:23.120 And I'll tell you, there's a solution to this in a minute, so just hold with me. 00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:27.190 But the reason I was having a difficult time with this is not because I didn't think their prayers were important. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:35.780 It just feels dumb to be a part of one of the wealthiest nations in the history of existence, sitting with someone that has nothing, 00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:40.570 praying for them to have something without recognizing that we might be that solution. 00:31:42.520 --> 00:31:43.900 Just as Phil's asinine. 00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:48.240 Why are we having to pray when the answer is already here? 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.060 Right. 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:54.410 And here we are asking that this person can have food when we're more than capable of just walking to the grocery. 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.380 Give me five minutes. 00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:56.130 I'll be right back. 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.380 Right. 00:31:57.260 --> 00:31:58.080 And we did. 00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:58.660 We did. 00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.580 The good thing. 00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:02.550 Good news for you is a couple of days later, we circled back and gave these people food. 00:32:02.760 --> 00:32:02.860 So. 00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:04.260 So that was good. 00:32:04.600 --> 00:32:05.540 But it just felt ridiculous. 00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:08.340 It reminded me of James chapter two, verse 16. 00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:11.240 It says, Who are you man of wealth to? 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:18.960 To look at someone who has no clothing or food and just tell them be warm and filled and wish them well on their way and send them away when God has already gifted 00:32:19.060 --> 00:32:21.070 you with the opportunity to give to them. 00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:26.260 We are the greatest nation in terms of wealth that's existed in history. 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.940 And to just use it on ourselves. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:32.880 That's insane. 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:34.420 That's stupid. 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:38.170 In fact, you could you could look at a believer that might claim all these things of Christ. 00:32:38.260 --> 00:32:43.740 And if you examine their life and you see no generosity, you might want to question whether or not they genuinely believe in Jesus. 00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:46.000 Do you really believe what Scripture says? 00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:53.100 Now, let me just tell you this, because my danger in saying all this is then to say and you should feel guilty, right? 00:32:53.190 --> 00:32:54.590 Like, I don't want to drive you to guilt. 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.620 Here's what I think the solution is. 00:32:59.020 --> 00:33:00.470 And I think this is what Paul is saying in this passage. 00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:04.930 The true solution to your heart to be a generous person. 00:33:06.300 --> 00:33:06.860 It's not guilt. 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:08.740 It's worship. 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.020 It's worship. 00:33:13.060 --> 00:33:15.850 When you really understand what Jesus has done for you. 00:33:16.520 --> 00:33:19.940 When you see a God who gave up everything from his throne. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:28.020 To become the servant of servants and offer his life for you and then call you to live your life 00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:28.480 for him. 00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:32.880 How could you be anything less than a person of generosity? 00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:35.720 Because it is the very nature of the gospel. 00:33:37.320 --> 00:33:44.360 If we were to call ourselves Christian and then walk out here and only use the gifts and the talents God has given us to 00:33:44.360 --> 00:33:46.980 serve ourselves, Can I tell you? 00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:49.200 You're fooling yourself into thinking you're a Christian? 00:33:50.760 --> 00:33:51.360 That faith. 00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:53.860 James says Chapter two does not save you. 00:33:56.180 --> 00:34:03.320 When a believer truly understands the graciousness of God that has been poured out into your life, you can't 00:34:03.340 --> 00:34:08.780 help but respond in a worshipful way that says, And now God use me too. 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:15.340 I want to make a difference in this world, the way you used your life to make a difference in my own. 00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:18.440 And it's when that life is surrendered. 00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:23.159 That the beauty of what Christ desires to do in you is fulfilled. 00:34:26.040 --> 00:34:29.139 When the Apostle Paul wrote much of the New Testament. 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:31.000 You know, one of the interesting things about the apostle Paul. 00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:40.139 You read his letters, you never see Paul stopping to talk about the architecture of the places that he visited or really 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:43.400 much about the culture of the people groups that he was a part of. 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:46.159 Paul had one focus. 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:50.139 That gospel being made known in the hearts of people. 00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:54.860 He desired that people would know Jesus in worship. 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:59.020 Missions exist because worship does not. 00:34:59.120 --> 00:35:01.580 So let me just give you one little story here to end. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:08.400 This is a little historical for us because this happened almost 160 years ago in Virginia. 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:09.640 Appomattox, Virginia. 00:35:10.640 --> 00:35:15.980 This happened on Palm Sunday, April 9th, 1865. 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:24.140 This was the time that the Southern Army surrendered to the Northern Army in the Civil War. 00:35:24.200 --> 00:35:27.180 750,000 people died. 00:35:27.180 --> 00:35:28.860 Soldiers died during the civil war. 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:33.100 That would be the equivalent if that war happened today as the bloodiest war in American history. 00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:36.160 If that war happened today, it would be the equivalent of eight. 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:38.380 8 million soldiers dying in America. 00:35:40.600 --> 00:35:47.880 It was at Appomattox on this farm in which generally surrendered to General Grant and the Civil War was 00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:55.140 over a writer about this time described it this way Bruce Catton He said this it was Palm Sunday 00:35:56.100 --> 00:36:03.180 and they the soldiers would like to see Easter and with the guns quieted, it might be easier to comprehend the mystery and the promises 00:36:03.180 --> 00:36:03.880 of that day. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:12.160 Yet the fact of peace and no more killing and an open road, an open road home seemed to have been too big to 00:36:12.240 --> 00:36:13.460 grasp right at that moment. 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:21.600 And in the enormous silence that lay upon the field, men remembered that they had marched far and were very tired, and 00:36:21.600 --> 00:36:25.460 they wondered when the wagon trains would come up with rations. 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:28.120 They had been warring. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.480 And all they long for. 00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:33.520 Was peace. 00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:37.600 Almost 160 years passed. 00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:45.040 And for us today, it's easy to look at that moment to those soldiers that surrendered to the south and the south and say. 00:36:46.140 --> 00:36:47.750 And you were on the wrong side of history. 00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:51.790 You were on the wrong side of history. 00:36:54.020 --> 00:36:55.140 And the cost they paid. 00:36:57.360 --> 00:36:58.700 The lives that were lost. 00:37:02.680 --> 00:37:08.440 Guys, Can I tell you, in this world today, there is a far greater battle happening than even the Civil War. 00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:12.120 It's the battle for the soul. 00:37:14.660 --> 00:37:18.220 And some of us are warring on the wrong side of history. 00:37:20.340 --> 00:37:21.640 And some of us don't even know it. 00:37:24.200 --> 00:37:28.000 Rather than give our lives to Christ for the glory for which he has created us. 00:37:29.040 --> 00:37:32.170 We're fighting against the one who desires to offer us peace. 00:37:33.540 --> 00:37:34.990 To live for a purpose greater. 00:37:36.640 --> 00:37:36.900 Then? 00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:37.480 Just myself. 00:37:39.300 --> 00:37:40.340 I can think is a parallel. 00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:45.060 These two stories here you are just one week away from Palm Sunday. 00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:50.220 And what a beautiful time it is knowing Easter is coming. 00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:53.820 To get off my throne. 00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:56.900 And to come to Jesus. 00:37:58.520 --> 00:38:01.640 And simply say to him in humble service. 00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:03.340 What? 00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:04.200 I give you my life. 00:38:06.160 --> 00:38:06.460 Your plan. 00:38:08.260 --> 00:38:08.820 Your truth. 00:38:10.360 --> 00:38:11.540 Your promises. 00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:13.220 God, your faithfulness. 00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:16.480 Your mercy. 00:38:17.860 --> 00:38:23.180 May my life be one of worship because you alone are worthy.