| [0.00 --> 7.00] last year
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| [20.24 --> 23.64] so this interview came about our surge group from last year
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| [23.64 --> 27.80] the discipleship group we had a reunion just to hear james and sarah's story
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| [27.80 --> 31.40] over the last year and then as they were sharing i'm like would you be willing to
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| [31.40 --> 36.92] share this with our church and they very kindly obliged and so before we get into
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| [36.92 --> 40.24] your story just maybe for those who don't know who you are say a few words
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| [40.24 --> 43.04] about who you are and how you came to hope
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| [43.04 --> 47.32] good morning my name is james and this is my wife sarah
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| [47.32 --> 52.60] we're both from korea first came as an international student i came in the year
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| [52.60 --> 61.72] 2000 and she came in here 2007 we met in bless you and we met in year 2012 and
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| [61.72 --> 67.48] married in 2013 with the two girls nine and who's for nine and five years old
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| [67.48 --> 75.80] and i work at a cra and sarah is an early early childhood educator but she's
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| [75.80 --> 80.84] taking time off because of her health and we found hope community church in early
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| [80.84 --> 88.04] 2021 before that before then we were we lived in korea for four years
|
| [88.04 --> 93.08] well sarah why don't you share a little bit about your journey over the last year
|
| [93.56 --> 99.56] so i actually prepared in advance so i will just look through
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| [99.56 --> 105.72] so last year i went my kids and i went to korea to visit my family
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| [105.72 --> 111.40] and my brother's family too for the during the spring break
|
| [113.40 --> 119.08] and like many koreans do i also took the opportunity to get a health checkup
|
| [119.08 --> 121.72] and two days before returning to canada
|
| [127.00 --> 133.24] ah returning to two days before returning to canada i received a
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| [133.24 --> 140.04] research via email the doctor mentioned some concerns about my breast and recommended a tissue
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| [140.04 --> 146.84] examination and the research would be available in a few days we returned to canada as planned
|
| [146.84 --> 153.88] and a few days later i got a call from my dad in korea saying that the research the research show
|
| [153.88 --> 161.74] was found that the earlier schedule helped meな already Anatomy religion has refined jug
|
| [161.74 --> 164.36] the find満ized wound wasеп lö DNS legally on disease and which was pequeña
|
| [164.36 --> 168.20] you know 38% of racism and the medicine was founded as a engineering andж faço
|
| [168.20 --> 170.36] or digital we headed to name one company that i found a 하나� сорah
|
| [170.36 --> 172.52] and we really moved on to GIRUM by dad in the springberries
|
| [172.52 --> 172.56] who was not Finally did I will believe him in chини
|
| [172.56 --> 173.36] and then the fact of errasia and our Nosike
|
| [173.36 --> 175.52] is the team was 20 years old who had been distributed over the years
|
| [175.52 --> 177.08] because it was pretty crazy it's so uh they've had professors
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| [177.08 --> 178.20] predestamentos but they were been talking on health concerns about not knowing when i was
|
| [178.20 --> 184.92] there's a lot you could share about the experience of treatment but I'd love for
|
| [184.92 --> 189.36] you to talk a little bit about what God showed you and the ways that God taught
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| [189.36 --> 195.30] you individually and as a couple through this experience of cancer after finding
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| [195.30 --> 202.74] out about my cancer my first thoughts were did I do something wrong and am I
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| [202.74 --> 208.32] getting punished for some mistakes even though I've been going to church all my
|
| [208.32 --> 216.18] life and thought of myself a faithful believer God was someone I feared for
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| [216.18 --> 221.56] someone like me who didn't know much about God during during the tough times
|
| [221.56 --> 230.50] of my illness God taught me the most about who God is
|
| [230.50 --> 237.88] so the first Sunday in Korea was Easter Sunday and for the first time the
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| [237.88 --> 243.76] sermon about the cross and Jesus love which I had heard many times before feel
|
| [243.76 --> 248.86] like a personal message from God Jesus Christ's suffering and death on the cross
|
| [248.86 --> 255.34] was God's plan to complete his promise and showing his love for us with this
|
| [255.34 --> 262.36] revelation my worries turn into gratitude and tears kept flowing after that
|
| [262.36 --> 268.54] gosh consistently showed me his character during my treatment making me
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| [268.54 --> 275.66] understand that it was part of his plan to cultivate complete trust in him whenever
|
| [275.66 --> 281.72] I went to see the doctor I didn't hear good news and I was discouraged it because I
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| [281.72 --> 287.06] had to start unexpected chemotherapy and the situation wasn't great as my type of
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| [287.06 --> 294.02] cancer was was uncommon since prayer was the only thing I could do I prayed with my
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| [294.02 --> 300.32] parents asking for peace rely on relying solely on the sovereign God and
|
| [300.32 --> 306.38] deciding to be thankful in all things even though I felt a bit better before
|
| [306.38 --> 313.64] starting chemo the fear stealing lingered I pray for God be with me every moment of
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| [313.64 --> 320.00] this tough journey and provide the strength to endure my body which had no pain
|
| [320.00 --> 328.04] before underwent a drastic change with just one round of chemo my face turned pale I
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| [328.04 --> 335.72] felt a draining sensation in all my muscles and making it hard to see it thankfully there was a
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| [335.72 --> 344.00] place in Korea to help with post-cancer treatment care so my mom called them got permission for
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| [344.00 --> 351.32] admission on the same day and with their help I gradually recovered and on that night my mom
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| [351.32 --> 360.62] praised God for finding a facility that could help us honestly I couldn't understand why she was thankful as I was
|
| [360.62 --> 378.62] still struggling and feeling like I was almost dying I prayed to God if chemo is like this I can't do it anymore I can go I cannot go through the remaining seven round of rounds
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| [378.62 --> 386.90] so please perform a miracle and let me stop here about three days later the side effects began to disappear
|
| [386.90 --> 400.90] one by one when I was in pain I felt abandoned by God and I was sad and even a bit angry however as time passed I realized that God never left me alone for a moment
|
| [400.90 --> 418.90] and I and I though we believe in his enduring strength and grace though this is a very personal story I pray to God each time side effects occurred I pray to avoid emergency room visits due to fever
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| [418.90 --> 438.90] or delays in the next chemotherapy session and I pray to keep my hands and feet warm as cancer patients often have cold extremities extremities I seldom pray like this but I did it because I lacking faith in God needed a kind of secret assurance
|
| [438.90 --> 457.90] the chemo was fear itself for me and I wanted to feel through such evidence that God was with me throughout the eight rounds of chemo God has answered to all these prayers and each time I praise God praise God in gratitude gratitude
|
| [457.90 --> 467.70] since most of my life was lived through my parents prayers I didn't have many opportunities for deep fellowship with God
|
| [467.70 --> 487.70] however during my busy time of raising children and working as a mom cancer provided me with temporal flexibility it became an opportunity to have fellowship with the Lord I dedicated regular moments of solitude to encounter God
|
| [487.70 --> 498.22] God. What changed during that time was that my prayers to God shifted from one-sidedly expressing
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| [498.22 --> 506.28] my desires to seeking and listening to his heart. The time spent with God became more anticipated
|
| [506.28 --> 514.76] and enjoyable than any other fellowship. Through fellowship with God, I've come realize how great
|
| [514.76 --> 524.62] God's love is, something I hadn't fully understood before. I have gained insights into why God created
|
| [524.62 --> 533.42] me, the purpose of my life, and I feel like I've started to understand a little more about God.
|
| [534.36 --> 541.44] Now that the long treatment in Korea has ended and concluding with the positive result of being
|
| [541.44 --> 550.72] breast cancer-free. However, I don't think that my life will always be filled with positive experiences
|
| [550.72 --> 558.46] simply because I've drawn closer to God. There was a time when I lived in constant worry and anxiety,
|
| [558.80 --> 565.56] fearing potential hardships for myself and my family. However, I've been free from the fears of
|
| [565.56 --> 574.78] this world through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The reason I am no longer afraid
|
| [574.78 --> 583.50] is that the God who was with me during the difficult times always provides me with good things and guides
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| [583.50 --> 585.50] me on the best path.
|
| [585.50 --> 602.72] Yeah, we knew that we made the right choice that Sarah is getting treatment in Korea because that's where she can get more support from her parents.
|
| [602.72 --> 608.84] And I have my parents live in Burnaby, so I could get the support from my parents as well.
|
| [609.62 --> 615.38] So as soon as we made the decision without me having the time to contemplate, we just had to jump in.
|
| [615.50 --> 621.66] Our family had to jump in and start the least things we have to do to take care of my daughters.
|
| [621.66 --> 626.42] And I took some time off during the summer to visit Sarah.
|
| [627.48 --> 638.80] And during that time, God has shown me so much, especially about, like, He personally made me feel His heart and love for us,
|
| [638.96 --> 645.62] all of us, not just Christians, Christians, non-Christians, like everybody, and how patient He is,
|
| [645.62 --> 651.36] and how much He wants more of us to know Jesus and come back to God.
|
| [651.86 --> 654.20] It was just amazing.
|
| [654.20 --> 662.80] And I think I now truly understand what it means to be a blessing to our neighbors and communities.
|
| [663.64 --> 669.04] And what surprised me more is that when I visited Sarah in summer after three months,
|
| [669.92 --> 672.66] God has shown, Sarah has experienced the same God.
|
| [672.66 --> 682.06] And we were just full with joy and gratitude, like, sharing about God and worshiping Him.
|
| [682.50 --> 685.28] Like, none of our issues were matter anymore.
|
| [685.76 --> 691.58] Like, whether we're healthy or finances, like, none mattered because we have Jesus.
|
| [692.18 --> 696.34] So that was the most, yeah, amazing part that I experienced.
|
| [696.34 --> 703.98] I still remember when we prayed with the surge group in the office over there just before you went to Korea.
|
| [704.78 --> 708.08] And just the fears and the anxiety around it and just with your kids.
|
| [708.74 --> 713.14] And I can honestly say I didn't know how you'd go through it or how you'd come back.
|
| [713.52 --> 716.00] But I can sense that you've changed, both of you.
|
| [716.70 --> 720.08] And it's remarkable because there's ways that we can talk, sometimes flippantly,
|
| [720.08 --> 724.58] about how God shows up in suffering, about what His plan is in suffering.
|
| [724.68 --> 729.32] And then when you came back, I was just hearing a couple that experienced the depth
|
| [729.32 --> 732.24] of God's love and His provision in the midst of suffering.
|
| [732.30 --> 733.62] And I praise the Lord for that.
|
| [735.22 --> 738.90] Maybe one question I'll have, and this is sort of on behalf of our church.
|
| [739.02 --> 741.88] There's people in our church going through different forms of suffering,
|
| [742.00 --> 743.84] different forms of pain and frustration with the Lord.
|
| [743.84 --> 747.82] What would you want to say to people in our church who are going through hardship right now?
|
| [751.98 --> 755.82] As the Word of God declares in the book of Isaiah,
|
| [757.30 --> 763.74] He is a wonderful counselor, almighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.
|
| [764.26 --> 770.40] I believe that the great and unchanging God is our Father.
|
| [770.40 --> 777.84] It would be wonderful if you take any problem to Him, seeking His heart, and listening in prayer.
|
| [778.90 --> 785.38] Through these challenges, God desires intimacy with us and longs to receive our hearts.
|
| [786.20 --> 794.22] He wants us to entrust everything to Him and experience true freedom within the peace He provides.
|
| [794.22 --> 800.80] It will bring us true joy and peace in the midst of our troubles.
|
| [801.72 --> 808.34] One more thing I want to share is to always express gratitude for everything God has given you.
|
| [808.90 --> 815.36] Even when gratitude seems difficult, and it makes our challenges no longer seem like problems,
|
| [815.90 --> 819.70] and praising Him removes sadness, filling us with joy.
|
| [819.70 --> 828.74] Living as Christians in this world, the opportunities to grow closer to God seem more like blessings than disasters.
|
| [829.78 --> 836.62] The God I have experienced is truly reliable, much greater, and better than I could ever imagine.
|
| [837.82 --> 838.10] Amen.
|
| [838.46 --> 838.70] Amen.
|
| [839.70 --> 842.32] Thank you so much for taking time to share this testimony.
|
| [842.32 --> 847.26] You should know that Sarah, well, obviously, you might not know, but Sarah's first language is Korean,
|
| [847.52 --> 851.50] and I see Korean written on her sheet, and I know it took a lot of work for you to read it all out in English,
|
| [851.56 --> 856.24] and we're very grateful for the way in which you shared with us the testimony of God's faithfulness.
|
| [856.70 --> 861.32] I just want to say, too, to the church, this is also on behalf of Sarah, but gratitude.
|
| [861.32 --> 870.10] Yeah, I really want to thank you to everyone for all the prayers and support and also the military.
|
| [870.52 --> 874.60] It was amazing, and we had a true blessing from you guys.
|
| [874.78 --> 875.64] Thank you so much.
|
| [875.64 --> 875.70] Thank you.
|
| [875.70 --> 890.42] I'd like to spend a few minutes in prayer, thanking the Lord for his provision.
|
| [890.58 --> 891.52] Would you join with me in prayer?
|
| [894.14 --> 895.14] Father, we praise you.
|
| [895.76 --> 899.92] We praise you for being the Lord of life and the healer of bodies.
|
| [900.88 --> 904.44] We thank you that Sarah is back home with her family and with us and that she's healthy.
|
| [904.44 --> 906.70] We thank you for doctors and nurses.
|
| [907.54 --> 909.02] We thank you for cancer treatment.
|
| [909.86 --> 912.86] We thank you for the way you use ordinary humans serving with their gifts,
|
| [913.44 --> 915.44] such that Sarah could receive this kind of care.
|
| [916.84 --> 919.06] Lord, we thank you for the way you meet us in suffering,
|
| [919.22 --> 921.66] and I want to pray right now for anyone this morning in our church
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| [921.66 --> 927.82] who is struggling with health and pain and is frustrated with the pain that they carry.
|
| [928.36 --> 932.74] We ask that you would meet them and show yourself to be a reliable father
|
| [932.74 --> 935.86] the way you showed Sarah and James that you are a reliable father.
|
| [936.84 --> 940.60] Meet us in our need and reveal to us the depth of your love.
|
| [940.82 --> 942.24] We pray this in your mighty name.
|
| [942.90 --> 943.14] Amen.
|
| [944.24 --> 945.16] Thank you so much.
|
| [948.48 --> 951.34] This time I'm going to invite Sandy Volkanet to lead us in community prayer.
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| [951.34 --> 966.02] Good morning, Hope Community Church.
|
| [966.34 --> 971.86] Thank you so much for your testimony of God's faith and grace,
|
| [972.42 --> 976.14] meeting you in your greatest time of need and walking with you.
|
| [976.14 --> 978.68] He does not leave us or forsake us.
|
| [979.30 --> 983.18] Such an inspirational faith story, and we thank you for that.
|
| [983.98 --> 988.90] I don't know about you, but the older I get, the more I feel like I'm running out of time.
|
| [989.94 --> 994.20] And time is one of God's greatest gifts to us, I believe.
|
| [994.84 --> 997.42] When we're younger, we don't think much about it.
|
| [997.46 --> 999.24] We wake up and we go about our day.
|
| [999.34 --> 1002.80] The older you get, the more you think about, hmm, my days are numbered.
|
| [1002.80 --> 1008.68] In Scripture, in Psalm 90, verse 12, it says,
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| [1008.86 --> 1012.62] Teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.
|
| [1013.60 --> 1018.54] And so it's with that text I would like to anchor my prayer this morning with you.
|
| [1018.60 --> 1019.98] Would you pray with me, please?
|
| [1023.62 --> 1028.42] Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you on this day of Sabbath,
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| [1028.42 --> 1034.54] a time where you have given us to rest in your word,
|
| [1034.54 --> 1036.64] to rest in your presence,
|
| [1036.90 --> 1041.22] to escape from our busy schedules of the week,
|
| [1041.60 --> 1045.26] and to reserve this time to spend it with you.
|
| [1046.04 --> 1051.48] Lord, you knew in your infinite wisdom that we would need this time and this space
|
| [1051.48 --> 1054.60] to reset our minds on you.
|
| [1054.98 --> 1056.44] There are so many distractions.
|
| [1056.44 --> 1060.90] Our time is being coveted by so many things,
|
| [1061.56 --> 1064.94] whether it be our family obligations, our work,
|
| [1065.60 --> 1068.96] our friendships, our relationships, Lord.
|
| [1069.50 --> 1075.70] And sometimes we feel squeezed by all of the things that are clamoring for our time.
|
| [1075.92 --> 1078.66] We pray, Lord, that we would be able to prioritize.
|
| [1079.96 --> 1084.68] Forgive us, Lord, for the time and times when we waste our time,
|
| [1084.68 --> 1089.20] when we are lured into the scroll of social media,
|
| [1090.14 --> 1092.10] that one more Netflix show,
|
| [1092.64 --> 1096.22] or maybe just working another hour.
|
| [1097.02 --> 1099.16] Lord, help us to value our time.
|
| [1099.44 --> 1102.72] And in those moments when we are mindful, Lord,
|
| [1102.80 --> 1104.64] help us to use our time
|
| [1104.64 --> 1112.60] and be mindful of the ways in which you would want us to be servants in time.
|
| [1113.40 --> 1117.80] Lord, we think especially of those who are suffering now, Lord,
|
| [1117.88 --> 1120.58] who are feeling like time is slipping away.
|
| [1121.10 --> 1122.72] We want to pray for Marnie.
|
| [1122.72 --> 1126.62] We know that she has had suffering.
|
| [1127.24 --> 1130.20] And we'd ask, Lord, that the time that you give her, Lord,
|
| [1130.26 --> 1131.64] would be meaningful time,
|
| [1132.10 --> 1134.58] that she would come to a time of peace.
|
| [1135.14 --> 1138.68] For those who are struggling with their elderly parents, Lord,
|
| [1138.88 --> 1140.40] time is ticking away.
|
| [1140.52 --> 1145.28] For those who are losing their mind to dementia and other ailments, Lord,
|
| [1145.28 --> 1147.30] we pray that the time would be precious
|
| [1147.30 --> 1149.82] and that we would take those moments
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| [1149.82 --> 1153.28] and not have regret for having squandered our time.
|
| [1153.98 --> 1159.36] We thank you for the moments in which you have met James and Sarah
|
| [1159.36 --> 1160.60] in their suffering.
|
| [1160.82 --> 1166.06] This time has been a time to strip away all of the things
|
| [1166.06 --> 1168.26] that aren't even important anymore, Lord.
|
| [1168.38 --> 1172.90] These times when we come to you in our weakness
|
| [1172.90 --> 1176.08] and we realize that we are fallible without you.
|
| [1176.84 --> 1179.58] And so those two are times, Lord, in our suffering
|
| [1179.58 --> 1183.02] that we know you've carved out for us to go deeper with you.
|
| [1183.60 --> 1188.60] And we, in our celebration of Sarah's good health now,
|
| [1189.26 --> 1192.72] also celebrate the time in which she was able to grow
|
| [1192.72 --> 1194.24] in her faith through this.
|
| [1195.12 --> 1197.50] Lord, we pray that we would use our time,
|
| [1197.68 --> 1199.76] whether it be to serve in the church, Lord,
|
| [1200.12 --> 1201.62] to serve in our community,
|
| [1201.62 --> 1203.44] to go into our neighborhoods
|
| [1203.44 --> 1207.94] and to really just commit this valuable resource
|
| [1207.94 --> 1210.00] that you've given each one of us, Lord.
|
| [1210.70 --> 1214.36] Help us to honor the time that you've given us on earth
|
| [1214.36 --> 1217.28] and use it for your glory and your purpose.
|
| [1217.56 --> 1218.86] In Jesus' name, amen.
|
| [1218.86 --> 1219.06] Amen.
|
| [1219.06 --> 1219.12] Amen.
|
| [1231.62 --> 1247.56] We're going to continue our sermon series on the book of Galatians.
|
| [1247.56 --> 1251.18] Last week, Pastor Sid preached on the gospel
|
| [1251.18 --> 1252.70] and the ways that we distort it,
|
| [1252.84 --> 1254.38] the ways that we shift it
|
| [1254.38 --> 1257.18] to make it no longer good news about Jesus Christ.
|
| [1257.66 --> 1259.56] And for the next two weeks, we're looking at how
|
| [1259.56 --> 1262.24] or what it means really to be part of God's family.
|
| [1263.10 --> 1264.98] And you'll probably notice at different points
|
| [1264.98 --> 1266.28] that when you distort the gospel,
|
| [1266.38 --> 1268.88] you will also distort what it means to be part of God's family.
|
| [1268.94 --> 1270.24] Those things are linked together.
|
| [1270.94 --> 1272.82] And this morning, we're going to continue in our study
|
| [1272.82 --> 1275.30] of the book of Galatians by reading some of chapter 3.
|
| [1275.30 --> 1276.82] And if you have your Bible on your phone
|
| [1276.82 --> 1278.78] or the old school physical Bible,
|
| [1278.94 --> 1280.90] turn with me to the book of Galatians.
|
| [1281.06 --> 1282.88] And we're going to read chapter 3, 1 to 14,
|
| [1283.36 --> 1286.34] and then jump over to verse 28 and 29.
|
| [1290.16 --> 1292.24] I love how Paul starts this passage.
|
| [1292.90 --> 1293.84] Nice and fiery.
|
| [1294.90 --> 1299.00] You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?
|
| [1299.90 --> 1303.26] Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed
|
| [1303.26 --> 1303.90] as crucified.
|
| [1303.90 --> 1307.24] I would like to learn just one thing from you.
|
| [1307.94 --> 1310.14] Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law
|
| [1310.14 --> 1312.46] or by believing what you heard?
|
| [1313.20 --> 1314.76] Are you so foolish?
|
| [1315.46 --> 1316.90] After beginning with the Spirit,
|
| [1317.00 --> 1319.34] are you trying now to finish by human effort?
|
| [1320.24 --> 1322.56] Have you experienced so much in vain,
|
| [1322.66 --> 1324.20] if it really was in vain?
|
| [1325.06 --> 1326.46] Does God give you His Spirit
|
| [1326.46 --> 1329.22] and work miracles among you by observing the law
|
| [1329.22 --> 1331.70] or by your believing what you heard?
|
| [1331.70 --> 1334.56] So also Abraham believed God
|
| [1334.56 --> 1336.76] and it was credited to him as righteousness.
|
| [1337.94 --> 1340.34] Understand then that those who have faith
|
| [1340.34 --> 1341.86] are children of Abraham.
|
| [1342.56 --> 1345.24] Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles
|
| [1345.24 --> 1349.06] by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham.
|
| [1349.06 --> 1351.56] All nations will be blessed through you.
|
| [1352.22 --> 1355.68] So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham,
|
| [1356.06 --> 1357.04] the man of faith.
|
| [1357.82 --> 1360.70] All who rely on observing the law are under a curse,
|
| [1361.10 --> 1361.84] for it is written,
|
| [1362.50 --> 1365.50] cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written
|
| [1365.50 --> 1366.54] in the book of the law.
|
| [1366.54 --> 1370.06] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law
|
| [1370.06 --> 1372.42] because the righteous will live by faith.
|
| [1372.78 --> 1374.86] The law is not based on faith.
|
| [1375.34 --> 1377.06] On the contrary, it says,
|
| [1377.18 --> 1379.34] whoever does these things will live by them.
|
| [1380.34 --> 1382.52] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
|
| [1382.52 --> 1384.62] by becoming a curse for us.
|
| [1385.04 --> 1385.72] For it is written,
|
| [1386.36 --> 1388.38] cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.
|
| [1389.18 --> 1392.26] He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham
|
| [1392.26 --> 1395.24] might come to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ
|
| [1395.24 --> 1399.00] so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
|
| [1399.94 --> 1401.10] And now to verse 26.
|
| [1402.10 --> 1403.36] So in Christ Jesus,
|
| [1403.50 --> 1405.34] you are all children of God through faith.
|
| [1405.82 --> 1408.02] For all of you who are baptized into Christ
|
| [1408.02 --> 1409.92] have clothed yourselves with Christ.
|
| [1410.64 --> 1412.36] There is neither Jew nor Gentile,
|
| [1412.90 --> 1414.06] neither slave nor free,
|
| [1414.64 --> 1415.58] neither male nor female,
|
| [1415.58 --> 1418.00] for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
|
| [1418.40 --> 1419.72] If you belong to Christ,
|
| [1420.38 --> 1421.90] then you are Abraham's seed.
|
| [1422.26 --> 1424.60] And heirs according to the promise.
|
| [1429.44 --> 1432.14] When I was just getting to know my wife, Brittany,
|
| [1432.54 --> 1433.24] in university,
|
| [1433.76 --> 1435.88] she invited me over to meet her family.
|
| [1436.18 --> 1438.20] And in one of those first meetings with the family,
|
| [1438.32 --> 1439.86] they were having a conversation together.
|
| [1439.98 --> 1441.26] You know, I'm on best behavior.
|
| [1442.00 --> 1443.24] And her brother, Ben,
|
| [1443.80 --> 1444.72] shared this phrase.
|
| [1444.78 --> 1446.16] He said in the course of conversation,
|
| [1446.60 --> 1447.76] he said, wait, wait, wait.
|
| [1448.36 --> 1449.84] Who is Moscow?
|
| [1449.84 --> 1453.56] And then all the Gohins broke out into laughter.
|
| [1454.14 --> 1458.06] And I stood there having no idea why that was funny.
|
| [1458.48 --> 1460.28] And I finally had the guts to say to Brittany,
|
| [1460.82 --> 1462.54] what did Ben just say?
|
| [1462.62 --> 1463.84] And why are you all laughing?
|
| [1464.48 --> 1465.58] And then she's like, oh, right.
|
| [1465.64 --> 1466.64] You don't know the backstory.
|
| [1466.64 --> 1470.00] And she explained how she had a classmate in university
|
| [1470.00 --> 1471.46] who was studying for an exam.
|
| [1471.90 --> 1473.22] And in that studying for the exam,
|
| [1473.32 --> 1476.04] she thought Moscow was a person and not a place.
|
| [1476.50 --> 1477.56] And ever since that point,
|
| [1477.62 --> 1479.50] it's become a family joke in the Gohin family
|
| [1479.50 --> 1480.94] when they say, who is Moscow?
|
| [1481.48 --> 1483.32] And then it finally made sense to me.
|
| [1484.26 --> 1485.78] But perhaps you've had your own experience
|
| [1485.78 --> 1486.82] of the who is Moscow,
|
| [1486.94 --> 1488.44] where you enter into a conversation,
|
| [1488.92 --> 1490.50] you're listening, trying to piece together,
|
| [1490.50 --> 1492.24] and it makes absolutely no sense
|
| [1492.24 --> 1493.92] because you don't know the backstory.
|
| [1495.22 --> 1496.92] If you've experienced that,
|
| [1497.58 --> 1499.88] you can understand what I think it might feel like
|
| [1499.88 --> 1501.02] to read Galatians 3.
|
| [1501.96 --> 1504.90] Galatians 3 is a complicated passage.
|
| [1505.26 --> 1506.78] In fact, it might very well be,
|
| [1507.08 --> 1507.86] according to some writers,
|
| [1508.12 --> 1510.48] the most complex piece of writing from Paul.
|
| [1510.60 --> 1512.10] So if you're a little bit confused
|
| [1512.10 --> 1513.94] by what we just read, it's okay.
|
| [1514.74 --> 1516.00] But also, I would say,
|
| [1516.10 --> 1517.90] Galatians 3 doesn't make any sense
|
| [1517.90 --> 1519.90] until you know the backstory.
|
| [1520.90 --> 1522.46] Paul assumes so much
|
| [1522.46 --> 1523.62] when he writes this letter
|
| [1523.62 --> 1525.52] of Old Testament story,
|
| [1525.94 --> 1528.02] of Old Testament people, right?
|
| [1528.36 --> 1530.30] And so Paul is just bringing these things
|
| [1530.30 --> 1530.96] into the foreground,
|
| [1531.14 --> 1532.16] and if we don't know the backstory,
|
| [1532.32 --> 1533.16] we're not going to understand.
|
| [1533.96 --> 1536.64] For example, he talks about blessings and curses.
|
| [1536.74 --> 1538.00] These are Old Testament things
|
| [1538.00 --> 1538.98] related to the law.
|
| [1539.32 --> 1542.74] He mentions a time the person of Abraham
|
| [1542.74 --> 1545.26] because Abraham is a big deal
|
| [1545.26 --> 1546.38] in the Old Testament story.
|
| [1546.50 --> 1547.74] And what we want to do this morning
|
| [1547.74 --> 1549.74] is open up that story,
|
| [1550.04 --> 1550.50] and hopefully,
|
| [1550.70 --> 1551.82] if you're new to the Christian faith
|
| [1551.82 --> 1552.96] or you're just reading the Bible,
|
| [1553.24 --> 1555.14] I hope actually that you'll get some clarity
|
| [1555.14 --> 1556.74] around the story of the Old Testament
|
| [1556.74 --> 1559.90] that helps us understand why Jesus matters,
|
| [1560.30 --> 1561.94] how Abraham fits into the story,
|
| [1562.04 --> 1563.38] and how we understand the law
|
| [1563.38 --> 1564.26] in relation to Jesus.
|
| [1564.66 --> 1566.50] No pressure, Dave, in one sermon.
|
| [1568.40 --> 1569.54] Yeah, I feel it.
|
| [1570.54 --> 1572.96] The reason Paul mentions Abraham
|
| [1572.96 --> 1574.84] eight times in Galatians 3
|
| [1574.84 --> 1577.34] is likely because there are these agitators,
|
| [1577.54 --> 1577.84] the Judaizers,
|
| [1578.54 --> 1580.26] who are coming into the churches in Galatia
|
| [1580.26 --> 1581.18] and saying to people,
|
| [1581.62 --> 1584.52] hey, if you want to be part of God's family,
|
| [1584.68 --> 1586.44] which is Abraham's family,
|
| [1586.86 --> 1588.40] this is how you have to live.
|
| [1588.50 --> 1589.46] There's works of the law,
|
| [1589.58 --> 1591.06] there's the practice of circumcision,
|
| [1591.28 --> 1593.12] and they're using Abraham as their example,
|
| [1593.22 --> 1594.18] saying if he did these things,
|
| [1594.24 --> 1595.76] then you have to do these things.
|
| [1596.38 --> 1598.18] And Paul, being quite fired up
|
| [1598.18 --> 1599.38] by what's happening in these churches,
|
| [1599.48 --> 1599.82] he says,
|
| [1599.82 --> 1601.40] let me tell you
|
| [1601.40 --> 1603.68] how Abraham fits into the story.
|
| [1604.62 --> 1606.22] So I'm going to read for you verse 7,
|
| [1606.76 --> 1608.14] and then we're going to go to the back story
|
| [1608.14 --> 1609.94] and come back to Galatians 7
|
| [1609.94 --> 1611.04] in a few minutes.
|
| [1611.10 --> 1612.20] So this is how Paul starts
|
| [1612.20 --> 1613.26] when he talks about Abraham.
|
| [1614.60 --> 1615.74] Understand then
|
| [1615.74 --> 1617.76] that those who have faith
|
| [1617.76 --> 1619.38] are children of Abraham.
|
| [1619.98 --> 1620.98] Scripture foresaw
|
| [1620.98 --> 1623.90] that God would justify the Gentiles by faith
|
| [1623.90 --> 1625.82] and announced the gospel
|
| [1625.82 --> 1626.96] in advance to Abraham.
|
| [1627.06 --> 1628.16] Isn't that a fascinating phrase?
|
| [1628.16 --> 1631.12] All nations will be blessed through you.
|
| [1631.62 --> 1633.66] So those who rely on faith
|
| [1633.66 --> 1635.68] are blessed along with Abraham,
|
| [1636.14 --> 1636.94] the man of faith.
|
| [1637.52 --> 1639.26] Now if that's clear as mud,
|
| [1639.42 --> 1639.78] it's okay.
|
| [1639.88 --> 1640.98] We're going to work through this together.
|
| [1641.44 --> 1642.28] But let me just summarize
|
| [1642.28 --> 1644.12] what Paul is trying to get at here,
|
| [1644.20 --> 1645.04] and then we'll work it out.
|
| [1645.58 --> 1646.00] Paul is saying,
|
| [1646.16 --> 1646.72] number one,
|
| [1647.72 --> 1649.20] the faith in God,
|
| [1649.36 --> 1649.66] or sorry,
|
| [1649.74 --> 1650.84] the essence of the Christian faith
|
| [1650.84 --> 1652.06] is always faith,
|
| [1652.14 --> 1653.22] not just works of the law.
|
| [1653.40 --> 1654.92] Abraham from the very beginning,
|
| [1655.02 --> 1657.24] who's sort of the beginning of God's people,
|
| [1657.24 --> 1658.76] was a man of faith,
|
| [1659.12 --> 1660.74] and it was credited to him as righteousness.
|
| [1660.90 --> 1661.98] So faith is at the center.
|
| [1662.70 --> 1663.94] But equally important,
|
| [1664.08 --> 1664.56] says Paul,
|
| [1664.64 --> 1665.90] is that the gospel was preached
|
| [1665.90 --> 1667.10] in advance to Abraham.
|
| [1667.94 --> 1668.86] And what was that gospel?
|
| [1669.82 --> 1671.54] That the nations would be blessed.
|
| [1671.76 --> 1672.86] That the blessing of God
|
| [1672.86 --> 1674.00] would move through Abraham
|
| [1674.00 --> 1674.76] to the nations.
|
| [1674.90 --> 1675.62] And I'll say this once
|
| [1675.62 --> 1676.30] and return to it.
|
| [1676.30 --> 1678.04] God's plan from the beginning
|
| [1678.04 --> 1679.74] was to have a global,
|
| [1680.12 --> 1681.10] multi-ethnic,
|
| [1681.26 --> 1682.04] diverse church.
|
| [1682.68 --> 1684.00] That was the plan from the beginning,
|
| [1684.18 --> 1685.04] that his people,
|
| [1685.26 --> 1686.12] unified by faith,
|
| [1686.34 --> 1688.06] would be unified by the nations
|
| [1688.06 --> 1689.50] coming in by faith to Jesus.
|
| [1691.06 --> 1692.44] So here's the back story.
|
| [1693.60 --> 1694.52] In Genesis 3,
|
| [1695.36 --> 1697.16] God's good world came undone
|
| [1697.16 --> 1698.40] through an act of rebellion,
|
| [1698.56 --> 1699.02] through sin.
|
| [1699.50 --> 1700.92] Adam and Eve rebelled against God,
|
| [1700.92 --> 1701.76] and all of a sudden
|
| [1701.76 --> 1702.56] this new sickness,
|
| [1702.80 --> 1704.16] this new disease that is sin,
|
| [1704.24 --> 1705.74] started taking hold of human hearts
|
| [1705.74 --> 1706.68] and creating havoc.
|
| [1707.16 --> 1707.92] We see murder,
|
| [1708.08 --> 1708.74] we see jealousy,
|
| [1708.96 --> 1709.46] we see hate,
|
| [1709.54 --> 1710.16] we see lying,
|
| [1710.26 --> 1710.82] we see stealing.
|
| [1711.16 --> 1712.48] We see all sorts of corruption
|
| [1712.48 --> 1713.82] taking hold of humanity.
|
| [1714.82 --> 1715.68] God sends a flood
|
| [1715.68 --> 1717.24] to bring judgment and renewal.
|
| [1717.38 --> 1718.38] Even after the flood,
|
| [1718.46 --> 1719.66] we see sin just spreading
|
| [1719.66 --> 1720.98] through humanity.
|
| [1721.58 --> 1722.50] And it all culminates,
|
| [1722.56 --> 1723.04] you might say,
|
| [1723.08 --> 1723.92] in Genesis 11,
|
| [1724.02 --> 1724.86] which is the story
|
| [1724.86 --> 1726.08] of the Tower of Babel,
|
| [1726.38 --> 1728.02] where humanity comes together,
|
| [1728.38 --> 1729.08] not for worship,
|
| [1729.46 --> 1730.78] not to adore God,
|
| [1730.92 --> 1732.14] but to build themselves
|
| [1732.14 --> 1733.00] this structure
|
| [1733.00 --> 1735.44] that shows just how significant
|
| [1735.44 --> 1737.54] humanity is without God.
|
| [1738.64 --> 1739.74] And God's response
|
| [1739.74 --> 1741.02] after Genesis 3-11
|
| [1741.02 --> 1742.48] narrates the unraveling
|
| [1742.48 --> 1742.98] of humanity.
|
| [1743.14 --> 1744.56] His response to the wickedness
|
| [1744.56 --> 1745.20] of human hearts,
|
| [1745.64 --> 1747.22] his response to the deadliness
|
| [1747.22 --> 1748.46] of disobedience,
|
| [1748.72 --> 1749.62] of idolatry,
|
| [1749.70 --> 1751.30] is Abraham.
|
| [1752.48 --> 1753.14] Genesis 12,
|
| [1753.70 --> 1754.36] right on the heels
|
| [1754.36 --> 1755.12] of the Tower of Babel,
|
| [1755.12 --> 1756.36] God goes to this man
|
| [1756.36 --> 1757.72] named Abram at the time,
|
| [1758.08 --> 1758.42] and he says,
|
| [1758.52 --> 1758.90] Abram,
|
| [1759.32 --> 1760.60] I've got a plan.
|
| [1760.92 --> 1762.84] I'm selecting just you
|
| [1762.84 --> 1763.88] out of all of humanity
|
| [1763.88 --> 1765.34] as a new start,
|
| [1765.46 --> 1766.16] you might say.
|
| [1766.52 --> 1767.82] And I'm going to bless you,
|
| [1767.96 --> 1768.70] I'm going to enable you
|
| [1768.70 --> 1769.26] to flourish,
|
| [1769.44 --> 1770.30] I'm going to teach you
|
| [1770.30 --> 1771.12] how to live,
|
| [1771.38 --> 1772.64] and as you flourish,
|
| [1772.92 --> 1774.06] the nations will flourish,
|
| [1774.14 --> 1775.30] and my blessing will flow
|
| [1775.30 --> 1776.64] through you to them.
|
| [1778.52 --> 1779.38] Let me show you
|
| [1779.38 --> 1780.18] how God says it
|
| [1780.18 --> 1781.34] in Genesis 12.
|
| [1781.58 --> 1781.98] This is,
|
| [1782.14 --> 1782.64] in some sense,
|
| [1782.70 --> 1783.86] such an important verse
|
| [1783.86 --> 1784.44] for the whole
|
| [1784.44 --> 1785.44] Old Testament story.
|
| [1786.10 --> 1787.02] Because God starts
|
| [1787.02 --> 1787.48] with Abraham,
|
| [1787.54 --> 1788.30] and he says to him,
|
| [1788.30 --> 1789.78] I will make you
|
| [1789.78 --> 1790.62] into a great nation.
|
| [1791.52 --> 1792.50] I will bless you.
|
| [1792.98 --> 1794.26] I will make your name great,
|
| [1794.34 --> 1795.26] and you will be
|
| [1795.26 --> 1795.76] a blessing.
|
| [1796.24 --> 1797.06] I will bless those
|
| [1797.06 --> 1797.70] who bless you,
|
| [1797.72 --> 1798.72] and whoever curses you,
|
| [1798.82 --> 1799.46] I will curse,
|
| [1799.68 --> 1800.64] and all peoples
|
| [1800.64 --> 1801.86] of the earth
|
| [1801.86 --> 1802.76] will be blessed
|
| [1802.76 --> 1804.14] through you.
|
| [1804.92 --> 1805.98] A few chapters later,
|
| [1806.10 --> 1807.10] God binds himself
|
| [1807.10 --> 1807.62] in a covenant,
|
| [1807.76 --> 1808.18] which is just
|
| [1808.18 --> 1809.94] a really deep promise,
|
| [1810.26 --> 1811.36] and he says to Abraham
|
| [1811.36 --> 1812.34] in chapter 17
|
| [1812.34 --> 1812.88] of Genesis,
|
| [1813.08 --> 1813.92] no longer will you
|
| [1813.92 --> 1815.00] be called Abram,
|
| [1815.00 --> 1817.16] your name will be Abraham,
|
| [1817.58 --> 1818.60] for I have made you
|
| [1818.60 --> 1819.02] the what?
|
| [1819.64 --> 1822.04] The father of nations.
|
| [1823.00 --> 1824.18] I'll say the point again.
|
| [1824.28 --> 1826.00] God's plan from the beginning
|
| [1826.00 --> 1826.88] was a global,
|
| [1827.18 --> 1828.50] multi-ethnic family
|
| [1828.50 --> 1829.76] of faith,
|
| [1830.34 --> 1831.48] and he's now working
|
| [1831.48 --> 1832.14] through Abraham
|
| [1832.14 --> 1833.94] to make this possible,
|
| [1834.04 --> 1834.90] and if you know the story,
|
| [1835.02 --> 1835.96] Abraham has a child,
|
| [1836.08 --> 1836.70] Abraham and Sarah
|
| [1836.70 --> 1837.34] have a child,
|
| [1837.48 --> 1838.54] and then that child
|
| [1838.54 --> 1839.04] has children,
|
| [1839.14 --> 1839.84] and that becomes
|
| [1839.84 --> 1840.66] the people of Israel.
|
| [1841.22 --> 1842.66] That people become so vast,
|
| [1842.74 --> 1843.50] they go into slavery,
|
| [1843.50 --> 1844.08] and God,
|
| [1844.16 --> 1844.82] who's making good
|
| [1844.82 --> 1845.86] on his promise to Abraham,
|
| [1846.18 --> 1847.48] redeems them from slavery,
|
| [1847.92 --> 1849.40] brings Israel to himself
|
| [1849.40 --> 1849.96] in the wilderness,
|
| [1850.14 --> 1850.90] and he says to them,
|
| [1851.42 --> 1853.26] you are my people.
|
| [1854.08 --> 1855.06] You are the nation
|
| [1855.06 --> 1856.30] that I've pulled aside,
|
| [1856.42 --> 1857.48] you are my representative
|
| [1857.48 --> 1858.46] people to the world,
|
| [1858.52 --> 1859.48] and I'm going to bless you,
|
| [1860.02 --> 1860.84] I'm going to teach you
|
| [1860.84 --> 1861.46] my ways,
|
| [1861.84 --> 1863.42] you are going to flourish
|
| [1863.42 --> 1864.44] as you know me
|
| [1864.44 --> 1865.16] and follow me,
|
| [1865.28 --> 1865.94] and the nations
|
| [1865.94 --> 1866.64] are going to see
|
| [1866.64 --> 1867.10] that goodness
|
| [1867.10 --> 1868.28] and follow in the ways
|
| [1868.28 --> 1868.92] after you.
|
| [1870.20 --> 1870.96] This is where
|
| [1870.96 --> 1871.76] the law comes in.
|
| [1872.10 --> 1873.12] This is such an important detail.
|
| [1873.12 --> 1873.68] The law is not
|
| [1873.68 --> 1874.48] some oppressive thing
|
| [1874.48 --> 1875.18] that God adds
|
| [1875.18 --> 1875.76] to their lives,
|
| [1875.94 --> 1877.20] it's not some cruel thing,
|
| [1877.44 --> 1878.84] it's kind of like a parent
|
| [1878.84 --> 1880.06] whose kid who doesn't
|
| [1880.06 --> 1880.56] know how to live
|
| [1880.56 --> 1880.92] saying,
|
| [1881.44 --> 1882.88] let me teach you
|
| [1882.88 --> 1884.30] the way of life.
|
| [1884.86 --> 1885.56] So God gives
|
| [1885.56 --> 1886.32] the Ten Commandments,
|
| [1886.36 --> 1887.14] and he gives all sorts
|
| [1887.14 --> 1887.94] of case law
|
| [1887.94 --> 1888.90] and contextual law,
|
| [1889.08 --> 1889.88] including things
|
| [1889.88 --> 1890.88] as detailed as this,
|
| [1891.32 --> 1892.22] make sure when you
|
| [1892.22 --> 1892.94] build your house,
|
| [1893.06 --> 1893.96] put a roof around the,
|
| [1894.16 --> 1895.56] or put a fence
|
| [1895.56 --> 1896.26] around the roof
|
| [1896.26 --> 1896.94] so that people don't
|
| [1896.94 --> 1897.74] fall out of your house.
|
| [1897.80 --> 1898.54] That's in the law,
|
| [1898.78 --> 1899.80] because God cares
|
| [1899.80 --> 1900.68] that our homes
|
| [1900.68 --> 1901.14] are places
|
| [1901.14 --> 1902.08] where people are safe.
|
| [1902.08 --> 1903.62] And God says to them,
|
| [1903.94 --> 1905.46] you follow my law,
|
| [1906.08 --> 1907.54] and you're gonna flourish.
|
| [1908.44 --> 1909.40] If you don't,
|
| [1909.58 --> 1910.48] it's gonna be painful.
|
| [1911.58 --> 1912.32] And this is,
|
| [1912.46 --> 1912.68] by the way,
|
| [1912.72 --> 1913.66] where we get that word
|
| [1913.66 --> 1914.34] of curse.
|
| [1914.44 --> 1915.38] But before I get to curse,
|
| [1915.44 --> 1916.24] let me just say this.
|
| [1916.70 --> 1917.48] Deuteronomy 4,
|
| [1918.12 --> 1919.16] fascinating passage.
|
| [1919.40 --> 1920.06] It shows
|
| [1920.06 --> 1921.10] the nations
|
| [1921.10 --> 1922.18] around Israel
|
| [1922.18 --> 1923.24] looking in
|
| [1923.24 --> 1924.22] on their life together
|
| [1924.22 --> 1924.96] and saying,
|
| [1925.60 --> 1926.10] whoa,
|
| [1926.10 --> 1927.92] look at the justice
|
| [1927.92 --> 1928.84] of this society.
|
| [1928.98 --> 1929.62] Look at the care
|
| [1929.62 --> 1930.12] for the poor.
|
| [1930.22 --> 1931.10] Look at how the families
|
| [1931.10 --> 1932.20] are flourishing.
|
| [1932.54 --> 1934.38] Look how this whole society
|
| [1934.38 --> 1935.96] is flourishing.
|
| [1936.74 --> 1937.70] That was the plan
|
| [1937.70 --> 1939.14] for God calling Abraham,
|
| [1939.62 --> 1940.34] moving to the people
|
| [1940.34 --> 1940.76] of Israel,
|
| [1941.04 --> 1941.80] giving them the law,
|
| [1941.96 --> 1942.84] placing them in Canaan.
|
| [1943.06 --> 1944.18] It was so that the nations
|
| [1944.18 --> 1945.98] would come into this community
|
| [1945.98 --> 1947.10] and experience blessing.
|
| [1948.48 --> 1949.64] Now I wanna talk about
|
| [1949.64 --> 1950.84] this word that is curse.
|
| [1952.02 --> 1953.12] Now, first of all,
|
| [1953.22 --> 1954.18] when you hear the word curse,
|
| [1954.18 --> 1954.88] what do you think?
|
| [1954.96 --> 1955.98] What's in your brain right now?
|
| [1957.22 --> 1958.26] Is it Harry Potter?
|
| [1959.44 --> 1959.72] Ah.
|
| [1960.54 --> 1961.56] So I just wanna say,
|
| [1961.64 --> 1962.54] when we hear the word curse,
|
| [1962.62 --> 1963.64] we're hearing something different
|
| [1963.64 --> 1964.82] than the Bible talks about
|
| [1964.82 --> 1965.94] when it says curse.
|
| [1966.64 --> 1967.46] Curse in the scriptures
|
| [1967.46 --> 1969.48] is perhaps best explained this way.
|
| [1970.00 --> 1971.14] If blessing means
|
| [1971.14 --> 1972.94] the favor and protection of God,
|
| [1973.30 --> 1975.00] curse is the absence of that.
|
| [1975.52 --> 1977.02] If blessing is the fullness
|
| [1977.02 --> 1979.48] of human life in relationship,
|
| [1980.26 --> 1981.48] curse is the absence
|
| [1981.48 --> 1983.16] and the emptiness of life
|
| [1983.16 --> 1983.84] in relationship
|
| [1983.84 --> 1985.62] when we live at a distance from God.
|
| [1986.14 --> 1987.90] It is sort of the removal of shalom,
|
| [1988.02 --> 1989.56] the removal of flourishing.
|
| [1989.72 --> 1990.88] That's what curse is.
|
| [1991.52 --> 1993.04] And in Deuteronomy 27 to 30,
|
| [1993.14 --> 1994.64] which actually are very important
|
| [1994.64 --> 1995.56] background passages
|
| [1995.56 --> 1996.56] for Galatians 3,
|
| [1997.38 --> 1998.62] it spells out very clearly
|
| [1998.62 --> 2000.30] if you follow the ways of God,
|
| [2000.54 --> 2001.70] the instructions of God,
|
| [2001.76 --> 2003.06] if you listen to him
|
| [2003.06 --> 2003.84] with a whole heart,
|
| [2003.92 --> 2005.42] you will be flourishing and blessed.
|
| [2005.62 --> 2006.52] And if you don't,
|
| [2007.06 --> 2008.32] you will experience curse.
|
| [2009.10 --> 2009.54] In fact,
|
| [2009.60 --> 2010.88] one of the very specific curses
|
| [2010.88 --> 2011.70] that's spelled out
|
| [2011.70 --> 2012.98] is exile.
|
| [2013.66 --> 2014.78] That the Israelites
|
| [2014.78 --> 2015.84] will lose their land.
|
| [2017.50 --> 2018.52] So if you know where the story
|
| [2018.52 --> 2019.10] goes from there,
|
| [2019.22 --> 2020.18] the Israel gets the law,
|
| [2020.30 --> 2021.26] they get put on the land,
|
| [2021.32 --> 2022.54] and then they chose
|
| [2022.54 --> 2024.06] the hard way.
|
| [2024.54 --> 2025.94] They rejected God's goodness,
|
| [2026.12 --> 2026.84] they didn't want to follow
|
| [2026.84 --> 2027.54] after his ways,
|
| [2027.66 --> 2028.62] they kept chasing
|
| [2028.62 --> 2029.74] the gods of the nations,
|
| [2030.16 --> 2031.00] rejecting the law,
|
| [2031.00 --> 2031.78] and what happened?
|
| [2032.70 --> 2033.30] The curse.
|
| [2034.30 --> 2034.64] In fact,
|
| [2034.70 --> 2035.64] the very exact thing
|
| [2035.64 --> 2036.18] that was predicted
|
| [2036.18 --> 2037.16] in Deuteronomy 27,
|
| [2037.38 --> 2038.78] they lost their land.
|
| [2039.38 --> 2040.12] And foreign nations
|
| [2040.12 --> 2041.26] came in and defeated them,
|
| [2041.58 --> 2042.28] subjected them,
|
| [2042.34 --> 2043.18] and made them slaves
|
| [2043.18 --> 2044.70] to those nations' interests
|
| [2044.70 --> 2046.00] and those nations' priorities.
|
| [2047.10 --> 2048.56] And if you're a first-time
|
| [2048.56 --> 2049.34] reader of the Bible,
|
| [2049.80 --> 2050.64] and you work your way
|
| [2050.64 --> 2051.20] through Genesis
|
| [2051.20 --> 2052.38] all the way to Malachi,
|
| [2052.92 --> 2054.60] it is actually quite a strange
|
| [2054.60 --> 2055.62] and confusing ending.
|
| [2056.14 --> 2056.86] We don't talk enough
|
| [2056.86 --> 2057.38] about this.
|
| [2057.80 --> 2058.96] The goal from the beginning
|
| [2058.96 --> 2060.32] was God to bring Abraham
|
| [2060.32 --> 2060.98] to himself,
|
| [2061.18 --> 2062.58] to form this people of Israel
|
| [2062.58 --> 2063.72] so that the nations
|
| [2063.72 --> 2064.72] experience blessing.
|
| [2065.24 --> 2065.88] And the Old Testament
|
| [2065.88 --> 2068.10] finishes with that nation
|
| [2068.10 --> 2069.28] experiencing curse,
|
| [2069.56 --> 2070.58] and the very nations
|
| [2070.58 --> 2071.80] they're supposed to bless
|
| [2071.80 --> 2073.22] oppressing them.
|
| [2073.94 --> 2074.50] And you have to think,
|
| [2074.58 --> 2074.98] okay, well,
|
| [2075.04 --> 2076.26] what's the plan here?
|
| [2077.18 --> 2078.64] And maybe the easiest way
|
| [2078.64 --> 2079.32] to summarize
|
| [2079.32 --> 2080.48] the Old Testament story,
|
| [2080.82 --> 2081.72] I hope this is helpful,
|
| [2082.42 --> 2084.22] is when the sickness of sin
|
| [2084.22 --> 2085.72] covered over God's good world
|
| [2085.72 --> 2087.78] and crept in the hearts
|
| [2087.78 --> 2088.78] of God's humanity,
|
| [2088.96 --> 2090.36] God chose Israel
|
| [2090.36 --> 2091.74] as a healing nation
|
| [2091.74 --> 2093.10] to sort of bring healing
|
| [2093.10 --> 2094.36] to where the sickness was.
|
| [2094.76 --> 2095.72] But what we realize
|
| [2095.72 --> 2096.92] at the end of the Old Testament
|
| [2096.92 --> 2098.70] is that Israel is just
|
| [2098.70 --> 2100.10] as infected by the sickness
|
| [2100.10 --> 2100.60] of sin
|
| [2100.60 --> 2102.16] as all the other nations.
|
| [2102.66 --> 2103.74] And now we're stuck
|
| [2103.74 --> 2104.68] with this thing
|
| [2104.68 --> 2105.32] that is the mess
|
| [2105.32 --> 2105.88] in the nations
|
| [2105.88 --> 2107.46] and in God's special people,
|
| [2108.02 --> 2108.26] Israel.
|
| [2109.88 --> 2111.16] With all this background
|
| [2111.16 --> 2111.78] in mind,
|
| [2112.06 --> 2113.16] this Old Testament story,
|
| [2113.28 --> 2115.20] I now want to read for us
|
| [2115.20 --> 2117.58] Galatians 3, 13, and 14.
|
| [2117.58 --> 2118.46] And I hope it's going to
|
| [2118.46 --> 2119.34] just piece some things
|
| [2119.34 --> 2120.28] together for us.
|
| [2120.82 --> 2121.28] We read,
|
| [2122.48 --> 2123.38] Christ redeemed us
|
| [2123.38 --> 2124.82] from the curse of the law
|
| [2124.82 --> 2127.42] by becoming a curse for us.
|
| [2128.02 --> 2128.84] For it is written,
|
| [2129.12 --> 2129.82] cursed is everyone
|
| [2129.82 --> 2130.84] who is hung on a pole.
|
| [2131.78 --> 2132.58] He redeemed us
|
| [2132.58 --> 2134.06] in order that the blessing
|
| [2134.06 --> 2135.38] given to Abraham
|
| [2135.38 --> 2137.50] might come to the Gentiles
|
| [2137.50 --> 2138.40] through Christ Jesus
|
| [2138.40 --> 2140.20] so that by faith
|
| [2140.20 --> 2141.60] we might receive
|
| [2141.60 --> 2143.52] the promise of the Spirit.
|
| [2144.10 --> 2144.84] It's making a little bit
|
| [2144.84 --> 2145.46] more sense now.
|
| [2146.90 --> 2148.08] Let me walk us through
|
| [2148.08 --> 2148.70] some of the movement.
|
| [2148.82 --> 2149.22] Number one,
|
| [2149.30 --> 2149.98] let me underscore
|
| [2149.98 --> 2151.32] Paul's main concern
|
| [2151.32 --> 2152.70] is to recognize
|
| [2152.70 --> 2153.36] that the law
|
| [2153.36 --> 2154.14] of the Old Testament
|
| [2154.14 --> 2155.64] could not solve
|
| [2155.64 --> 2156.68] the problem of sin.
|
| [2156.96 --> 2157.84] It could not curb
|
| [2157.84 --> 2158.52] human hearts
|
| [2158.52 --> 2159.92] and people even knowing
|
| [2159.92 --> 2160.62] what was good
|
| [2160.62 --> 2161.32] and knowing the good
|
| [2161.32 --> 2161.98] instruction of God
|
| [2161.98 --> 2163.34] chose the way of curse.
|
| [2163.94 --> 2164.92] So the movement now
|
| [2164.92 --> 2165.82] of Galatians 3 is
|
| [2165.82 --> 2167.06] the whole world
|
| [2167.06 --> 2167.98] lives in rebellion
|
| [2167.98 --> 2168.92] under the curse.
|
| [2169.62 --> 2171.20] God's representative people
|
| [2171.20 --> 2172.08] who were chosen
|
| [2172.08 --> 2172.80] for blessing
|
| [2172.80 --> 2174.54] also chose the way
|
| [2174.54 --> 2175.12] of the curse
|
| [2175.12 --> 2176.02] and now
|
| [2176.02 --> 2177.52] here's the good news.
|
| [2178.34 --> 2179.48] There is a representative
|
| [2179.48 --> 2180.68] within Israel
|
| [2180.68 --> 2181.96] who's going to take on
|
| [2181.96 --> 2182.48] the curse
|
| [2182.48 --> 2183.88] and that is Jesus.
|
| [2184.66 --> 2185.18] For Paul,
|
| [2185.26 --> 2185.88] the good news is
|
| [2185.88 --> 2187.28] yes, the curse is spread.
|
| [2187.48 --> 2188.60] Yes, it's infected Israel
|
| [2188.60 --> 2189.84] but good news church,
|
| [2190.46 --> 2191.52] there is a representative
|
| [2191.52 --> 2192.24] within Israel
|
| [2192.24 --> 2193.28] who is going to become
|
| [2193.28 --> 2194.32] that curse,
|
| [2194.84 --> 2195.56] Jesus Christ.
|
| [2196.24 --> 2197.16] He takes on
|
| [2197.16 --> 2197.82] the punishment
|
| [2197.82 --> 2198.78] for disobedience.
|
| [2198.86 --> 2199.40] He takes on
|
| [2199.40 --> 2200.32] the consequence
|
| [2200.32 --> 2201.06] for sin.
|
| [2201.06 --> 2202.94] He takes on
|
| [2202.94 --> 2203.66] the consequence
|
| [2203.66 --> 2204.34] of rebellion
|
| [2204.34 --> 2206.04] or as we read
|
| [2206.04 --> 2206.50] in the scriptures,
|
| [2206.66 --> 2207.06] he takes on
|
| [2207.06 --> 2207.96] the cup of judgment
|
| [2207.96 --> 2209.60] of God's wrath
|
| [2209.60 --> 2210.46] for the sake
|
| [2210.46 --> 2211.56] of humanity's rebellion
|
| [2211.56 --> 2212.90] so that we would be
|
| [2212.90 --> 2214.14] free from under
|
| [2214.14 --> 2214.66] the curse.
|
| [2215.48 --> 2216.28] And he does it
|
| [2216.28 --> 2217.60] once and for all
|
| [2217.60 --> 2219.00] on the cross.
|
| [2220.32 --> 2221.14] And for Paul,
|
| [2221.42 --> 2222.20] over and over,
|
| [2222.28 --> 2222.56] he's like,
|
| [2222.76 --> 2223.64] that's the point
|
| [2223.64 --> 2224.26] of liberation.
|
| [2224.78 --> 2225.60] That's the point
|
| [2225.60 --> 2226.40] where we get redeemed.
|
| [2226.50 --> 2227.40] It wasn't in the law,
|
| [2227.40 --> 2228.18] it wasn't in any
|
| [2228.18 --> 2228.82] former time.
|
| [2229.16 --> 2229.96] What liberates us
|
| [2229.96 --> 2230.86] once and for all
|
| [2230.86 --> 2231.42] is the death
|
| [2231.42 --> 2231.88] and resurrection
|
| [2231.88 --> 2232.48] of Jesus.
|
| [2232.64 --> 2233.66] He just keeps harping
|
| [2233.66 --> 2234.70] on that point
|
| [2234.70 --> 2235.40] in Galatians.
|
| [2236.78 --> 2238.00] But here's the why.
|
| [2238.40 --> 2239.14] This is the good news.
|
| [2239.22 --> 2239.92] This is where we come
|
| [2239.92 --> 2240.50] into the story
|
| [2240.50 --> 2241.04] of Galatians.
|
| [2241.18 --> 2241.64] Paul writes,
|
| [2242.04 --> 2243.04] he redeemed us
|
| [2243.04 --> 2244.18] in order
|
| [2244.18 --> 2245.72] that the blessing
|
| [2245.72 --> 2246.92] given to Abraham
|
| [2246.92 --> 2248.00] might, what,
|
| [2248.42 --> 2249.78] come to the Gentiles
|
| [2249.78 --> 2251.14] so that through Christ,
|
| [2251.32 --> 2251.92] by faith,
|
| [2252.10 --> 2252.84] we might receive
|
| [2252.84 --> 2253.30] the promise
|
| [2253.30 --> 2253.90] of the Spirit.
|
| [2254.90 --> 2255.94] That is to say,
|
| [2256.78 --> 2257.74] God's plan
|
| [2257.74 --> 2258.52] with Abraham
|
| [2258.52 --> 2260.06] can now
|
| [2260.06 --> 2261.60] finally move forward
|
| [2261.60 --> 2262.88] because the curse
|
| [2262.88 --> 2263.28] of sin
|
| [2263.28 --> 2264.20] has been dealt with.
|
| [2264.82 --> 2265.62] And then that means
|
| [2265.62 --> 2266.54] very specifically
|
| [2266.54 --> 2267.70] that all of us
|
| [2267.70 --> 2268.48] Gentiles,
|
| [2268.58 --> 2269.46] we are the Gentiles,
|
| [2269.58 --> 2270.80] who call on the name
|
| [2270.80 --> 2271.26] of Jesus
|
| [2271.26 --> 2271.98] and put our faith
|
| [2271.98 --> 2272.28] in Him,
|
| [2272.66 --> 2273.90] we get grafted
|
| [2273.90 --> 2275.04] into the family
|
| [2275.04 --> 2276.94] by faith.
|
| [2277.98 --> 2278.98] Every one of us
|
| [2278.98 --> 2279.32] who says,
|
| [2279.42 --> 2280.22] I believe in Jesus,
|
| [2280.34 --> 2281.44] I want to follow Him,
|
| [2281.52 --> 2282.60] I receive His grace
|
| [2282.60 --> 2283.08] by faith,
|
| [2283.36 --> 2285.34] we join the family,
|
| [2285.34 --> 2287.42] we receive the Spirit
|
| [2287.42 --> 2287.86] and man,
|
| [2287.94 --> 2288.54] I can already
|
| [2288.54 --> 2289.20] look forward to
|
| [2289.20 --> 2289.88] in two weeks' time
|
| [2289.88 --> 2291.30] the amazing things
|
| [2291.30 --> 2292.44] Paul says about the Spirit
|
| [2292.44 --> 2293.78] in contrast to the law,
|
| [2293.86 --> 2295.02] but that's a different sermon.
|
| [2296.90 --> 2297.86] Let me finish
|
| [2297.86 --> 2299.08] with how Paul finishes
|
| [2299.08 --> 2299.82] Galatians 3
|
| [2299.82 --> 2300.58] and work out
|
| [2300.58 --> 2301.12] some of these
|
| [2301.12 --> 2302.74] beautiful words with you.
|
| [2303.84 --> 2304.94] Galatians 3, 28,
|
| [2305.06 --> 2305.98] he says to the church,
|
| [2305.98 --> 2307.38] So in Christ Jesus,
|
| [2308.12 --> 2309.06] you are all children
|
| [2309.06 --> 2310.26] of God through faith.
|
| [2311.08 --> 2311.94] For all of you
|
| [2311.94 --> 2312.60] who were baptized
|
| [2312.60 --> 2313.34] into Christ
|
| [2313.34 --> 2314.58] have clothed yourselves
|
| [2314.58 --> 2315.30] with Christ.
|
| [2316.00 --> 2316.80] There is neither Jew
|
| [2316.80 --> 2317.68] nor Gentile,
|
| [2318.28 --> 2319.52] neither slave nor free.
|
| [2320.20 --> 2321.46] There is male nor female,
|
| [2321.82 --> 2323.32] for you are all one
|
| [2323.32 --> 2324.78] in Christ Jesus.
|
| [2325.52 --> 2326.80] If you belong to Christ,
|
| [2326.98 --> 2328.46] you are Abraham's seed
|
| [2328.46 --> 2330.04] and heirs according
|
| [2330.04 --> 2331.60] to the promise.
|
| [2332.22 --> 2333.06] I don't have time
|
| [2333.06 --> 2333.88] to preach on this today,
|
| [2334.00 --> 2334.92] but when Paul says
|
| [2334.92 --> 2335.46] you are heirs
|
| [2335.46 --> 2336.34] according to the promise,
|
| [2336.66 --> 2337.58] he says to the church,
|
| [2337.68 --> 2338.74] by faith you get
|
| [2338.74 --> 2339.80] to inherit the earth.
|
| [2340.66 --> 2341.34] After death,
|
| [2341.38 --> 2342.36] your bodies will rise
|
| [2342.36 --> 2343.00] and the creation
|
| [2343.00 --> 2343.50] will be renewed
|
| [2343.50 --> 2344.38] and you will live on it
|
| [2344.38 --> 2345.00] forever,
|
| [2345.00 --> 2346.24] because the promise
|
| [2346.24 --> 2346.84] to the church
|
| [2346.84 --> 2348.00] is eternal life
|
| [2348.00 --> 2349.28] in a resurrected world
|
| [2349.28 --> 2350.64] with resurrected bodies.
|
| [2352.54 --> 2354.46] God's plan all along.
|
| [2355.52 --> 2356.96] It was a multi-ethnic,
|
| [2357.30 --> 2358.22] global church
|
| [2358.22 --> 2360.48] that is united by faith.
|
| [2361.26 --> 2362.30] And can we just stop
|
| [2362.30 --> 2363.12] and marvel together
|
| [2363.12 --> 2364.24] that even as we worship,
|
| [2364.90 --> 2367.04] we get to taste that together.
|
| [2367.80 --> 2368.16] I mean,
|
| [2368.28 --> 2369.34] there's a lot of us here
|
| [2369.34 --> 2370.06] from different parts
|
| [2370.06 --> 2370.42] of the world,
|
| [2370.54 --> 2371.20] different backgrounds,
|
| [2371.20 --> 2372.06] and we get to worship
|
| [2372.06 --> 2372.98] Jesus together.
|
| [2373.88 --> 2375.04] This week in my office,
|
| [2375.12 --> 2376.90] I wrote down just a quick list
|
| [2376.90 --> 2377.56] of the countries
|
| [2377.56 --> 2378.48] that I know of
|
| [2378.48 --> 2379.14] that are represented
|
| [2379.14 --> 2379.86] in our church
|
| [2379.86 --> 2381.32] and I'll read them off.
|
| [2381.38 --> 2381.84] If you're missing,
|
| [2381.98 --> 2382.96] it's not because I don't like you,
|
| [2383.04 --> 2383.84] it's because I just forgot
|
| [2383.84 --> 2384.52] about your country.
|
| [2385.18 --> 2386.04] So here we go.
|
| [2386.66 --> 2387.52] Whenever you make a list,
|
| [2387.58 --> 2388.38] you always forget someone.
|
| [2389.96 --> 2390.72] In our church,
|
| [2390.80 --> 2392.28] people worship from Taiwan,
|
| [2392.86 --> 2393.24] Korea,
|
| [2393.92 --> 2394.30] China,
|
| [2394.30 --> 2395.42] the Philippines,
|
| [2396.12 --> 2396.46] India,
|
| [2396.82 --> 2397.30] Nigeria,
|
| [2397.70 --> 2398.02] Ghana,
|
| [2398.40 --> 2398.72] Holland,
|
| [2398.98 --> 2399.50] Honduras,
|
| [2399.66 --> 2400.18] El Salvador,
|
| [2400.60 --> 2401.02] Venezuela,
|
| [2401.62 --> 2402.56] even the U.S.
|
| [2402.92 --> 2403.72] and Canada.
|
| [2404.82 --> 2406.00] Praise the Lord
|
| [2406.00 --> 2407.70] for the diversity
|
| [2407.70 --> 2408.50] of the church.
|
| [2409.02 --> 2410.10] This was the plan
|
| [2410.10 --> 2411.20] all along.
|
| [2411.80 --> 2412.30] The plan
|
| [2412.30 --> 2413.32] when God called Abraham
|
| [2413.32 --> 2414.80] was that we would share
|
| [2414.80 --> 2415.62] in the blessing
|
| [2415.62 --> 2417.06] that our lives
|
| [2417.06 --> 2418.06] would be put back together
|
| [2418.06 --> 2418.90] by the work of Jesus,
|
| [2419.12 --> 2420.42] that we could experience
|
| [2420.42 --> 2421.30] the fullness of life.
|
| [2421.50 --> 2422.48] That was the plan.
|
| [2422.96 --> 2423.66] And here we are
|
| [2423.66 --> 2424.44] worshiping Jesus
|
| [2424.44 --> 2426.02] as part of proof
|
| [2426.02 --> 2427.46] that the work of Christ
|
| [2427.46 --> 2428.32] was accomplishing
|
| [2428.32 --> 2429.58] exactly what it needed to.
|
| [2430.24 --> 2431.18] That God's family
|
| [2431.18 --> 2432.46] is a global,
|
| [2432.86 --> 2434.06] multi-ethnic family.
|
| [2435.72 --> 2436.12] Now,
|
| [2436.24 --> 2437.36] just in the last couple weeks,
|
| [2437.54 --> 2438.20] I've been able to meet
|
| [2438.20 --> 2438.94] with some of the people
|
| [2438.94 --> 2439.48] in our church
|
| [2439.48 --> 2440.08] who are new
|
| [2440.08 --> 2440.98] from different parts
|
| [2440.98 --> 2441.38] of the world.
|
| [2442.06 --> 2442.48] You're going to meet
|
| [2442.48 --> 2443.26] some of them next week
|
| [2443.26 --> 2444.22] as we have our new members
|
| [2444.22 --> 2445.28] welcome and we baptize
|
| [2445.28 --> 2445.74] two people.
|
| [2446.46 --> 2447.32] But two families
|
| [2447.32 --> 2447.82] that I met with,
|
| [2447.88 --> 2448.64] one was from China,
|
| [2448.90 --> 2450.16] the other was originally
|
| [2450.16 --> 2450.70] from India
|
| [2450.70 --> 2451.64] and then Qatar.
|
| [2452.62 --> 2453.60] And it was such a privilege
|
| [2453.60 --> 2454.42] I'm looking for
|
| [2454.42 --> 2455.10] some of them right now.
|
| [2455.20 --> 2455.74] I see one of them,
|
| [2455.82 --> 2456.64] Avesh and Siali.
|
| [2457.08 --> 2457.96] Such a privilege
|
| [2457.96 --> 2459.36] to hear the stories
|
| [2459.36 --> 2460.44] of how they came to faith,
|
| [2461.32 --> 2461.86] hear the stories
|
| [2461.86 --> 2462.72] of how people share
|
| [2462.72 --> 2463.58] the gospel with them,
|
| [2463.66 --> 2464.58] the churches they found,
|
| [2464.66 --> 2465.76] the people who discipled them.
|
| [2465.92 --> 2466.80] And I just get to see,
|
| [2466.92 --> 2467.14] wow,
|
| [2467.28 --> 2468.20] God is at work
|
| [2468.20 --> 2469.10] in Qatar
|
| [2469.10 --> 2469.84] and India
|
| [2469.84 --> 2470.50] and China.
|
| [2470.74 --> 2471.30] He's at work
|
| [2471.30 --> 2472.06] in all these places.
|
| [2472.20 --> 2473.12] He's forming churches,
|
| [2473.26 --> 2473.86] planting churches,
|
| [2474.22 --> 2474.92] raising up leaders.
|
| [2475.10 --> 2476.40] Praise the Lord for that.
|
| [2477.14 --> 2478.44] But equally so,
|
| [2479.26 --> 2480.46] I was talking
|
| [2480.46 --> 2480.74] with someone
|
| [2480.74 --> 2481.50] after the 9 a.m. service
|
| [2481.50 --> 2481.88] about this.
|
| [2481.94 --> 2482.74] I had one of those moments
|
| [2482.74 --> 2483.40] where your heart
|
| [2483.40 --> 2484.30] is burning within you
|
| [2484.30 --> 2485.02] thinking to yourself,
|
| [2485.42 --> 2486.10] this person
|
| [2486.10 --> 2487.42] who was discipled
|
| [2487.42 --> 2488.84] by someone in Shendu
|
| [2488.84 --> 2490.90] or Southeast Asia,
|
| [2491.28 --> 2492.20] they are now sitting
|
| [2492.20 --> 2493.06] with me in my office
|
| [2493.06 --> 2493.96] and we're brothers
|
| [2493.96 --> 2495.86] and sisters in faith.
|
| [2496.78 --> 2498.52] What an amazing reality
|
| [2498.52 --> 2500.38] that we get to share
|
| [2500.38 --> 2501.44] in the life of the Spirit.
|
| [2501.56 --> 2502.26] We get to share
|
| [2502.26 --> 2503.68] in being part of Abraham's family
|
| [2503.68 --> 2504.96] because of what Jesus has done.
|
| [2505.36 --> 2506.40] Praise the Lord
|
| [2506.40 --> 2508.60] that we get to be the church,
|
| [2509.18 --> 2509.86] that we share
|
| [2509.86 --> 2510.44] in the blessing
|
| [2510.44 --> 2511.24] that God promised
|
| [2511.24 --> 2513.48] thousands of years ago.
|
| [2514.58 --> 2514.92] Amen.
|
| [2516.40 --> 2517.18] And I could say
|
| [2517.18 --> 2518.12] a lot more about this,
|
| [2518.24 --> 2519.12] but I want to be short.
|
| [2520.08 --> 2520.76] Did that come up
|
| [2520.76 --> 2521.26] on the screen?
|
| [2524.06 --> 2524.84] Thanks, Trev.
|
| [2527.74 --> 2529.20] In Galatians 3.28,
|
| [2529.30 --> 2530.18] one of the things
|
| [2530.18 --> 2530.72] that he's trying
|
| [2530.72 --> 2531.28] to communicate
|
| [2531.28 --> 2532.94] is the beautiful way
|
| [2532.94 --> 2533.50] in which everyone
|
| [2533.50 --> 2534.36] comes into the church
|
| [2534.36 --> 2534.86] by grace
|
| [2534.86 --> 2535.44] and there can be
|
| [2535.44 --> 2536.90] no upper and lower class.
|
| [2537.16 --> 2537.74] So when he says
|
| [2537.74 --> 2539.20] there's no Jew nor Gentile,
|
| [2539.30 --> 2540.04] slave nor free,
|
| [2540.18 --> 2540.84] male nor female,
|
| [2540.90 --> 2541.60] what he's saying is
|
| [2541.60 --> 2543.38] everyone enters the church
|
| [2543.38 --> 2544.06] as equals.
|
| [2545.08 --> 2545.76] And that means
|
| [2545.76 --> 2546.48] there's no lording
|
| [2546.48 --> 2547.34] over anybody,
|
| [2547.44 --> 2549.08] your socioeconomic class.
|
| [2549.46 --> 2550.08] There's no lording
|
| [2550.08 --> 2550.70] over anyone,
|
| [2550.76 --> 2551.74] the kind of family background
|
| [2551.74 --> 2552.36] you came from
|
| [2552.36 --> 2553.00] or your ethnicity.
|
| [2553.34 --> 2554.76] We are all one in Christ.
|
| [2555.66 --> 2556.48] And I'll just share
|
| [2556.48 --> 2557.24] a little bit personally
|
| [2557.24 --> 2559.00] that I grew up
|
| [2559.00 --> 2560.12] in a Dutch community,
|
| [2560.26 --> 2560.70] predominantly,
|
| [2560.86 --> 2561.42] Dutch-Canadian,
|
| [2561.60 --> 2562.84] a lot of immigrant families.
|
| [2563.58 --> 2564.46] And you don't know this,
|
| [2564.54 --> 2565.28] but you kind of grow up
|
| [2565.28 --> 2566.32] with a sense of pride
|
| [2566.32 --> 2567.52] with the culture you grew up in.
|
| [2567.52 --> 2568.18] Now that's a good thing.
|
| [2568.26 --> 2569.16] It's good to love
|
| [2569.16 --> 2570.18] the formation,
|
| [2570.36 --> 2570.84] your background.
|
| [2571.44 --> 2572.18] But I have learned
|
| [2572.18 --> 2572.68] that at least
|
| [2572.68 --> 2573.32] I can only speak
|
| [2573.32 --> 2574.04] for Dutch culture,
|
| [2574.52 --> 2575.50] that there's lots of phrases
|
| [2575.50 --> 2576.12] we use
|
| [2576.12 --> 2577.32] and lots of statements
|
| [2577.32 --> 2577.84] we make
|
| [2577.84 --> 2579.38] that suddenly make ourselves
|
| [2579.38 --> 2580.54] better than everybody else.
|
| [2581.12 --> 2581.34] Right?
|
| [2581.38 --> 2582.30] We look down on everyone.
|
| [2582.40 --> 2583.16] And I think part of that
|
| [2583.16 --> 2584.46] is Dutch people are so tall,
|
| [2584.74 --> 2585.46] they just naturally
|
| [2585.46 --> 2586.28] look down on people.
|
| [2588.18 --> 2589.22] And jokes aside,
|
| [2589.30 --> 2590.20] let me just put it this way,
|
| [2590.26 --> 2591.48] there is no room for that
|
| [2591.48 --> 2592.62] in the Church of Jesus Christ.
|
| [2594.26 --> 2595.04] That's what Jews
|
| [2595.04 --> 2595.74] struggled with.
|
| [2595.84 --> 2596.92] As the Gentiles came in,
|
| [2596.92 --> 2597.18] they're like,
|
| [2597.28 --> 2597.88] whoa, whoa, whoa.
|
| [2598.06 --> 2599.82] They're not quite Jewish enough.
|
| [2599.90 --> 2600.56] And Paul says,
|
| [2600.84 --> 2601.88] they are exactly
|
| [2601.88 --> 2603.08] what God wanted
|
| [2603.08 --> 2603.78] in His Church.
|
| [2604.38 --> 2605.20] All the cultures,
|
| [2605.38 --> 2606.16] all the ethnicities,
|
| [2606.32 --> 2607.18] that was the plan
|
| [2607.18 --> 2608.00] from the beginning
|
| [2608.00 --> 2609.06] by faith.
|
| [2609.74 --> 2610.58] And so there's no room
|
| [2610.58 --> 2610.88] for saying,
|
| [2610.96 --> 2611.70] ah, that person,
|
| [2612.22 --> 2612.66] I don't know how
|
| [2612.66 --> 2613.38] they made it in.
|
| [2613.92 --> 2614.66] That culture,
|
| [2614.86 --> 2615.86] surely they know
|
| [2615.86 --> 2616.56] that our culture
|
| [2616.56 --> 2617.30] is better than theirs.
|
| [2617.30 --> 2618.32] And it's all sorts
|
| [2618.32 --> 2619.08] of subtle things
|
| [2619.08 --> 2619.54] in the Church
|
| [2619.54 --> 2620.08] where we say,
|
| [2620.36 --> 2620.90] we're here,
|
| [2621.22 --> 2621.84] you're there.
|
| [2621.94 --> 2622.50] And Paul says,
|
| [2622.58 --> 2625.06] the Gospel is the great equalizer.
|
| [2626.54 --> 2627.42] It is the place
|
| [2627.42 --> 2628.62] where every single person
|
| [2628.62 --> 2629.86] who comes in the family of Christ
|
| [2629.86 --> 2631.98] comes by the grace of Jesus.
|
| [2632.94 --> 2633.56] Through the faith
|
| [2633.56 --> 2634.78] we share with our brothers
|
| [2634.78 --> 2635.38] and sisters.
|
| [2635.92 --> 2636.72] And there are no
|
| [2636.72 --> 2637.80] second-class citizens
|
| [2637.80 --> 2638.46] in the Church.
|
| [2638.86 --> 2640.58] May the Lord have mercy on us
|
| [2640.58 --> 2642.34] for the ways we subtly
|
| [2642.34 --> 2643.26] and not so subtly
|
| [2643.26 --> 2644.22] have those things
|
| [2644.22 --> 2645.50] in the body of Christ.
|
| [2645.50 --> 2646.58] Because he says,
|
| [2646.70 --> 2649.52] we are one in Christ Jesus.
|
| [2650.30 --> 2651.18] And what a gift it is
|
| [2651.18 --> 2652.18] to be one in Christ.
|
| [2652.32 --> 2652.54] I mean,
|
| [2652.76 --> 2653.40] this is sort of
|
| [2653.40 --> 2654.48] maybe a trivial example
|
| [2654.48 --> 2655.32] but it's not to me.
|
| [2655.68 --> 2656.30] I grew up in a,
|
| [2656.38 --> 2657.34] I love Dutch food.
|
| [2658.10 --> 2658.70] That's why I make
|
| [2658.70 --> 2659.16] olibolen
|
| [2659.16 --> 2660.88] on our front lawn
|
| [2660.88 --> 2662.10] at New Year's.
|
| [2662.64 --> 2663.32] But I realized
|
| [2663.32 --> 2663.94] as I got to know
|
| [2663.94 --> 2664.68] some people from India
|
| [2664.68 --> 2665.28] and Korea
|
| [2665.28 --> 2666.06] and other places
|
| [2666.06 --> 2666.48] in the world
|
| [2666.48 --> 2667.10] that there are actually
|
| [2667.10 --> 2667.88] a lot more spices
|
| [2667.88 --> 2668.44] in the cupboard
|
| [2668.44 --> 2669.66] than salt and pepper.
|
| [2670.90 --> 2672.46] And once you taste
|
| [2672.46 --> 2673.18] some of those spices,
|
| [2673.30 --> 2674.50] I see a couple in the back
|
| [2674.50 --> 2675.36] that they,
|
| [2675.50 --> 2676.18] they introduced me
|
| [2676.18 --> 2677.08] to jollof rice
|
| [2677.08 --> 2678.22] that I almost died of heat.
|
| [2678.52 --> 2679.34] But it was amazing.
|
| [2680.62 --> 2681.82] We need each other
|
| [2681.82 --> 2683.42] and we will be enriched
|
| [2683.42 --> 2684.74] by each other
|
| [2684.74 --> 2686.52] and God delights
|
| [2686.52 --> 2688.22] when the diverse body
|
| [2688.22 --> 2688.60] of Christ
|
| [2688.60 --> 2689.26] comes together
|
| [2689.26 --> 2691.14] in real meaningful unity
|
| [2691.14 --> 2692.92] to share fellowship,
|
| [2693.16 --> 2693.96] to share food,
|
| [2694.20 --> 2696.36] to be a family in Christ.
|
| [2697.28 --> 2697.94] And I'm convinced
|
| [2697.94 --> 2699.06] that's probably why
|
| [2699.06 --> 2700.28] I love doing communion
|
| [2700.28 --> 2701.10] so much at Hope.
|
| [2701.10 --> 2702.98] I love having
|
| [2702.98 --> 2703.88] these tables set up
|
| [2703.88 --> 2704.86] and the elders and deacons,
|
| [2704.96 --> 2705.44] they stand by
|
| [2705.44 --> 2705.90] in these tables
|
| [2705.90 --> 2706.76] and you see people
|
| [2706.76 --> 2707.70] from different backgrounds,
|
| [2708.54 --> 2709.48] different parts of the city,
|
| [2709.58 --> 2710.40] different parts of the country,
|
| [2710.50 --> 2711.36] different parts of the world
|
| [2711.36 --> 2712.40] with different pain
|
| [2712.40 --> 2713.00] and hardship,
|
| [2713.36 --> 2714.22] whatever our story is
|
| [2714.22 --> 2715.22] and we walk up together,
|
| [2715.52 --> 2716.62] we receive the elements
|
| [2716.62 --> 2717.58] and we get to hear God
|
| [2717.58 --> 2718.60] say to us through his leaders,
|
| [2718.98 --> 2719.82] the blood of Christ
|
| [2719.82 --> 2720.36] shed for you,
|
| [2720.42 --> 2721.14] the body of Christ
|
| [2721.14 --> 2721.76] given for you.
|
| [2722.10 --> 2723.76] You belong in the family
|
| [2723.76 --> 2725.70] because of the grace of Christ
|
| [2725.70 --> 2726.72] just like everyone else
|
| [2726.72 --> 2727.36] in the church.
|
| [2727.36 --> 2728.84] I love it.
|
| [2729.26 --> 2730.88] The unity of the body of Christ.
|
| [2731.40 --> 2732.70] And I will say this as well,
|
| [2733.60 --> 2735.78] that when we live in unity,
|
| [2736.60 --> 2737.44] meaningful unity,
|
| [2738.00 --> 2739.18] we demonstrate
|
| [2739.18 --> 2741.92] the power of the gospel.
|
| [2743.36 --> 2745.54] The law did not create
|
| [2745.54 --> 2747.58] a unified, diverse family,
|
| [2748.10 --> 2749.66] but Jesus Christ did.
|
| [2750.30 --> 2751.04] And when we live
|
| [2751.04 --> 2751.86] in meaningful unity
|
| [2751.86 --> 2753.26] with our ethnicity,
|
| [2753.50 --> 2753.96] with our different
|
| [2753.96 --> 2755.20] socioeconomic backgrounds,
|
| [2755.52 --> 2756.08] male and female
|
| [2756.08 --> 2756.62] and all the rest,
|
| [2756.62 --> 2758.88] we show to a polarizing,
|
| [2759.32 --> 2760.50] tribalizing,
|
| [2760.96 --> 2761.76] cancel culture
|
| [2761.76 --> 2762.72] that we live in
|
| [2762.72 --> 2763.74] that the gospel
|
| [2763.74 --> 2764.48] does have power.
|
| [2765.38 --> 2766.98] We show that we can live together
|
| [2766.98 --> 2767.86] as brothers and sisters
|
| [2767.86 --> 2769.24] by our united faith
|
| [2769.24 --> 2769.98] in Jesus Christ
|
| [2769.98 --> 2772.14] and that will always be
|
| [2772.14 --> 2773.32] a powerful witness
|
| [2773.32 --> 2774.36] in whatever culture
|
| [2774.36 --> 2774.78] you live in
|
| [2774.78 --> 2775.54] where there will always be
|
| [2775.54 --> 2776.92] something that wants
|
| [2776.92 --> 2777.68] to tear us apart,
|
| [2777.96 --> 2778.88] something that wants
|
| [2778.88 --> 2779.46] to make us live
|
| [2779.46 --> 2781.12] as first or second class citizens.
|
| [2781.42 --> 2783.26] The gospel has power
|
| [2783.26 --> 2785.14] and we demonstrate that
|
| [2785.14 --> 2786.30] in our unity.
|
| [2786.62 --> 2790.18] And I'll just say again,
|
| [2790.40 --> 2790.64] yeah.
|
| [2790.64 --> 2790.74] Yeah.
|
| [2798.10 --> 2799.76] I do think that one of the ways
|
| [2799.76 --> 2800.96] we respond to a passage
|
| [2800.96 --> 2801.90] like Galatians 3
|
| [2801.90 --> 2803.54] is to marvel
|
| [2803.54 --> 2805.18] that we are living
|
| [2805.18 --> 2806.14] in the very thing
|
| [2806.14 --> 2807.52] God had in his mind
|
| [2807.52 --> 2808.76] when he called Abraham.
|
| [2809.62 --> 2810.64] The blessing,
|
| [2811.24 --> 2812.12] the flourishing,
|
| [2812.50 --> 2813.16] the shalom
|
| [2813.16 --> 2814.14] and the life of God
|
| [2814.14 --> 2815.12] flowing to the nations,
|
| [2815.12 --> 2817.52] we are receiving that
|
| [2817.52 --> 2819.02] because Jesus dealt
|
| [2819.02 --> 2819.70] with the curse.
|
| [2820.40 --> 2821.74] Praise the Lord.
|
| [2822.52 --> 2823.40] Let's pray together.
|
| [2826.60 --> 2827.82] Father, we thank you
|
| [2827.82 --> 2828.44] for your word.
|
| [2829.72 --> 2830.58] We thank you
|
| [2830.58 --> 2832.14] that you have brought us
|
| [2832.14 --> 2833.34] into your family.
|
| [2834.34 --> 2834.92] We thank you
|
| [2834.92 --> 2835.84] that this was your plan
|
| [2835.84 --> 2836.74] all along
|
| [2836.74 --> 2838.08] and even as we drove it
|
| [2838.08 --> 2838.86] into the ground
|
| [2838.86 --> 2839.92] in disobedience
|
| [2839.92 --> 2842.28] and idolatry,
|
| [2843.16 --> 2844.22] enslaving ourselves
|
| [2844.22 --> 2845.32] to all sorts of things
|
| [2845.32 --> 2846.20] that do not bring life.
|
| [2846.20 --> 2847.74] You came in Jesus.
|
| [2848.60 --> 2849.72] We praise you
|
| [2849.72 --> 2850.70] that Jesus has dealt
|
| [2850.70 --> 2851.32] with the curse.
|
| [2852.20 --> 2852.90] We praise you
|
| [2852.90 --> 2853.52] that he drank
|
| [2853.52 --> 2854.32] the cup of judgment.
|
| [2855.10 --> 2855.78] We praise you
|
| [2855.78 --> 2857.20] that we have been set free.
|
| [2858.20 --> 2858.38] Lord,
|
| [2858.48 --> 2859.52] would you unify us
|
| [2859.52 --> 2860.18] in the gospel?
|
| [2861.10 --> 2862.38] Would you strengthen us
|
| [2862.38 --> 2863.12] as the church?
|
| [2863.54 --> 2863.96] And we pray
|
| [2863.96 --> 2864.96] that many more people
|
| [2864.96 --> 2865.72] in this city,
|
| [2866.20 --> 2867.12] in our families,
|
| [2867.12 --> 2868.20] in our workplaces
|
| [2868.20 --> 2869.58] would by faith
|
| [2869.58 --> 2870.66] recognize the power
|
| [2870.66 --> 2871.26] of the gospel
|
| [2871.26 --> 2872.70] and join the family
|
| [2872.70 --> 2873.38] of the resurrection.
|
| [2874.08 --> 2874.66] We pray this
|
| [2874.66 --> 2875.46] in your mighty name.
|
| [2875.78 --> 2876.00] Amen.
|
| [2877.32 --> 2878.08] Would you stand
|
| [2878.08 --> 2878.64] and sing with me
|
| [2878.64 --> 2879.56] a song of response?
|
|
|
