God is...

WEBVTT
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I want to speak over this term on God. You might say, well, you do that every week. But I want us to look at who is God and what is God. It's been on my heart for a while to preach on the nature, the character, the attributes of God.
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The Westminster Shorter Catechism, one of the documents that we confess we believe as a church, says this, what is God? God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.
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And my plan is to basically take each word of that answer and try and expound them from scripture. We're going to really look at God on God, preaching God from the word of God.
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We're going to do that because all of the Bible, all of scripture is given by the inspiration of God. And it's profitable for us. And it gives us all that we need to know concerning how to live righteously, about holiness, about correction and about proof.
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All that we need for the Christian life is contained for us in the word of God. And the word of God, the whole of the Bible declares God to us.
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The word of God doesn't simply try to prove God to you. One of the first words of the Bible, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
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It doesn't pause at that point and say, before we go any further, let me give you the qualities of God, the characteristics of God, because you don't know him.
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But the word of God does reveal God to us.
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I've chosen a text for this morning.
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It's Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 6.
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And I think it's a good summary statement to begin our series.
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It says this.
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It says,
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Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
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For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
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It's a whole cluster of words put together in that verse that assume that knowing God and understanding God and seeking God is something that you want to do.
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Now, this verse assumes that we as human beings have a desire within us to please God.
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And it's telling us, isn't it, that you cannot please God.
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It is impossible for you to please God without faith.
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You cannot please God without believing that he is.
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And that he is a rewarder.
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He rewards those who seek him.
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The verse speaks about drawing near to God.
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Because that is what you were made to do.
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And that God is the rewarder of all those who seek him.
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Now, I think we are nervous of the word rewards, aren't we?
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You might be sitting there and you think, well, are we to seek God for a reward?
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And we don't do that.
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We don't seek God for any reward.
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But actually, the Bible says we do.
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That's why we need to know God.
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To know who he is and his character and his being and his character, his nature, his attributes.
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And we are to seek God.
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And as we seek him, he rewards us with revealing himself to us.
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And so I want to ask the question this morning.
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Why is it that you and I should draw near to God?
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Why is it that you and I should seek God?
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The first reason is this.
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The Bible makes it clear that is what you were made for.
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That is what we were made for.
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We were made to please God.
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To know God.
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And we were made for his pleasure.
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And we were made to draw near to God.
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To worship him and to know him.
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We were made to seek him and to be diligent in searching him out and knowing him.
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And he has made us so that we would find our reward, our fulfillment, our happiness, our enjoyment in him.
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It's the reason why you exist.
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It's what you were made for.
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You were made to know God.
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To please him and to draw near to him.
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To seek him.
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To find your reward and your fulfillment in him.
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And the Bible makes that plain in lots of places.
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Not only here in this text.
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The word of God makes it plain to us.
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That we were made to know God.
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But it also says to us that we will not find God by our own investigation.
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We will not be able to figure out God by our own investigation.
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Do you remember in Mark chapter 8, Jesus has done these great miracles.
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And he says to his disciples that famous question, who do people say that I am?
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And then he says to them, and who do you say that I am?
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And Peter responds, doesn't he?
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And he says, you are the Christ, looking at the Lord Jesus.
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You are the Christ, you are God's King, the Son of the living God.
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And Jesus turns to him and says, blessed are you Simon.
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Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you.
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But my Father who is in heaven revealed it to you.
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In other words, Peter, you didn't figure this out yourself.
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In other words, coming to know God and coming to know the Lord Jesus is a gift of his grace.
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And it is a revelation, a revealing of himself.
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Knowing God, seeking God, is not something that you come to by logical proofs.
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You'll find many great theologians have tried to set out the logical proofs that prove that God exists.
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But Hebrews 11 is very, very clear, isn't it?
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It doesn't matter how many logical proofs you set before someone, you need to believe.
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It is a question of faith.
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Faith is a response to what God has revealed about himself.
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So how does God reveal himself?
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First of all, God reveals himself.
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He shows you what he's like by his created order.
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His created world.
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God reveals himself in the very nature of the world in which we live.
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Isaiah 40 and verse 26 says to you, lift up your eyes and see.
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Who created these?
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Go into the night sky, look up and see.
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He who brings out their host by number calls them all by name.
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By the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one of them is missing.
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He created these.
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In other words, you go to the night sky and there is a voice that booms out of the stars when you look up.
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And the message of the stars in the night sky is, look who made these.
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Look at the one who made them.
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They're all in order, not one of them is missing.
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And he gives them a name.
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The created world says there is a God who is great in might and strong in power.
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Now that's a lot we learn.
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And that's good, isn't it?
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It's a start from the nature of creation.
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And Paul takes up this theme.
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And he develops it further.
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He says in Acts 14 and verse 17,
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Yet he did not leave himself without witness.
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For he did good by giving you the rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
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satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
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The heat wave.
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And London and the parched ground.
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And the rains came.
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And it was so refreshing, wasn't it?
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So delightful that again we had rain.
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We've had this wonderful, wonderful spell of weather where the sun has been shining.
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But everything was dry and arid.
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And yet the rain came.
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But the rain was giving you a message from God.
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God says, do you look at the rain?
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It is a witness to the fact that I am God.
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God did not leave himself without a witness.
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He sends the rain and the seasons and the fruit.
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All these things say that there is a God.
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A God who is great and mighty.
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And he's revealing something of himself in the way that the world is created and put together.
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Of course it's made much more explicit in that famous verse from Romans chapter 1.
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For what can be known about God is plain to everyone.
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Because God has shown it to them.
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For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power, his divine nature, has been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made.
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So that they, all of us, are without excuse.
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What these texts are saying to us is that the first glimpse we have, or hint that we have, that there is a God, is in the nature of the world in which we live.
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And a voice booms out of creation.
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So that every direction you look, wherever you are, the order and the majesty of the created world shouts at you, there is a God.
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But when you look at the pinnacle of creation, which is the creation of human beings, men and women, boys and girls.
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The Bible tells us that we, you, are created in the image of God.
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That in some sense, God has put a knowledge of himself inside of you.
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The book of Ecclesiastes says, God has set eternity in our hearts.
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John Calvin, a great theologian, when he thought about this, and he thought about the way that we've been created, the nature of God, that we've been created in the image of God.
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He said that Satan is like one of those people that comes and, like a graffiti artist, and sprays over the piece of art.
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But the devil is like someone coming along and finding an image of God, and he sprays all over it to destroy the glory of it.
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And that's what's happened to us.
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We are glorious, but we are glorious ruins.
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There's something wrong.
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The graffiti, the paint has been sprayed on us.
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But the image of God has not been obliterated.
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It has not been defaced.
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So every single human being has a sense of God.
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It's in your heart.
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It's wired into you.
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It is engraved into us because of the way that we've been made.
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We've been made in the image of God.
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And so the creation of the world is a magnificent testimony, and God has not left himself without a witness.
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But you, yourself, are a statement of the nature of God.
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And of the way that God is.
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And of all that God has done.
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The sense of divinity is on every single one of us, which means you matter incredibly, doesn't it?
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And that you were made to know God.
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Because you are part of his creation.
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And the image of God, yes, it's been defaced.
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It's been covered with graffiti.
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It's been damaged.
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The effects of sin have affected your mind.
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They've affected your will.
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They've affected your affections.
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But the image of God is not totally lost.
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Don McLeod writes,
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If our understanding of Paul in Romans 1 is correct, there is no such thing as an atheist.
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John Calvin said,
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God has endued all people with some sense of the Godhead.
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And the result of that is that a sense of deity is inscribed unto every heart.
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And that sense of deity is indelible.
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You can't get rid of it.
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We never lose it.
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And so that explains to us, isn't it,
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that the Bible describes the person who says there is no God as a fool.
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The fool says in his heart there is no God.
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Why?
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Because what's the fool doing?
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He's suppressing the truth that he already knows.
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The agnostic person, well, they're more honest, aren't they?
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They say they don't know.
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But they're suppressing the truth too.
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Everywhere we look,
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every single human being knows that there is a God.
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And that means every single human being knows that they were made to know him.
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Donald MacLeod, I've been reading lots of him this summer, he writes this.
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He says,
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So children,
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the kids that you go to school with,
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this week,
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they know that there's a God.
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The neighbors on your street,
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they know that there's a God.
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The people that you work with,
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they know that there is a God.
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The Apostle Paul,
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when he went and preached in Athens,
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he didn't try to make them religious.
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Do you remember?
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He said,
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I perceive that you are very religious.
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The evidence of their religion was all around him.
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In their temples,
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the paraphernalia of their city,
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all men have a sense of the Holy One.
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All men have a feeling of dependence.
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All have God's law written on their hearts.
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All know that they are answerable to God.
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It is not our calling as a church
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to instill those instincts into people.
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Our responsibility is to build on that foundation,
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to speak the truth that they already know.
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that they've been made by God,
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for God,
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to know God.
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I think that's an enormous help,
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an enormous encouragement.
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But it's only one side of the truth.
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That's what we were made for.
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Because the other side of this truth
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is confirmed in the revelation of a book,
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of God's own words,
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that God has written down.
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Here is the wonder of the glory of God,
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that he chooses to reveal himself in creation,
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yes,
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and in human beings,
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but also to reveal himself in a book.
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He not only speaks the word and says,
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okay,
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and pass that on to the next generation
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and to the next generation after that,
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because when that happens,
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we know that that gets distorted.
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When I was growing up,
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there was a game
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that was called
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Chinese Whispers.
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I've tried to think of a more politically correct phrase.
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Those of you who are Chinese,
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I'd love to know what you called it in your culture.
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But do you remember that game?
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Let's call it Whispers, all right?
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And you'd tell a message to the person at the front,
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and then they would pass it to the person,
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they'd whisper it to the person back,
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and then they'd whisper it,
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and they'd whisper it,
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and they'd whisper it.
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And at the end of the road,
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do you remember,
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there's a completely garbled message.
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Some kind of game.
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You all played it at some point,
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I'm sure.
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The transmission of words gets garbled,
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doesn't it?
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And gets altered.
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And so sometimes,
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the message from the start to the end,
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it came out the exact opposite
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from what the original purpose was.
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Somebody's accent was different,
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and they pronounced the words.
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You know how it is.
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Nobody's quite sure what was said originally.
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But that isn't what happened with God's word.
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That isn't what happened with the Bible.
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God gives us his word,
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and he puts it into print.
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And he causes it to be written down,
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and he watches over it from generation to generation.
00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:55.079
And so the Bible that you've got on your laps
00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:55.899
is trustworthy.
00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:59.120
Don't fall for the Islamic lie
00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:00.480
that it's somehow been corrupted.
00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:05.220
He has revealed himself in his word.
00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:10.539
But he's also revealed himself
00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:15.819
more explicitly in the Lord Jesus Christ
00:16:15.819 --> 00:16:16.699
that you might know him.
00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:19.639
John 17 verse 3 says,
00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.659
this is eternal life.
00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.840
You want to know what eternal life is?
00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:23.319
That they may know you,
00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.660
the only true God,
00:16:24.780 --> 00:16:26.220
and Jesus Christ who you've sent.
00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:28.520
John 20 verse 31.
00:16:28.660 --> 00:16:29.820
Why was John's gospel written?
00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:31.160
It was written so that you may believe
00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:32.460
that Jesus is the Son of God,
00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.520
the Christ,
00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.840
and that by believing,
00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.900
you might have life in his name.
00:16:37.660 --> 00:16:38.840
And that theme is picked up
00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:40.040
in the Old Testament again, isn't it?
00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.640
Jeremiah 9 verse 23.
00:16:42.540 --> 00:16:43.180
Let not the man,
00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:45.820
let not the wise man boast in his wisdom.
00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:48.540
Let not the mighty man boast in his might.
00:16:48.900 --> 00:16:50.420
Let not the rich man boast in his riches.
00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:51.719
Let him who boasts, boasts in this,
00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:53.659
that he understands and knows me.
00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:57.919
One of the things Jeremiah is saying,
00:16:58.059 --> 00:17:00.039
this wisdom, riches, might.
00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:04.059
But more important than any of that
00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:05.339
is that you might know God.
00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.139
That's why you were made.
00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:09.299
Hebrews chapter,
00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:11.000
Hosea chapter 6 and verse 6.
00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:11.420
God says,
00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.799
I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice.
00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.019
It's an amazing verse.
00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:17.460
I desire the knowledge of God
00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.500
rather than burnt offerings.
00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:20.779
I desire that you know me,
00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:22.339
not just that you turn up on a Sunday morning.
00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:27.079
They were coming in their worship
00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:28.139
with all their burnt offerings
00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:28.879
and their sacrifices
00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:29.720
and God is saying,
00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:32.440
I want you to know me.
00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.160
That's what we were meant for.
00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:40.279
To know God and the glory of his word
00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.379
is that he's revealed himself.
00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:44.019
But he reveals himself ultimately
00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.799
in the Lord Jesus.
00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:48.160
2 Corinthians 4 and verse 6.
00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:48.839
God who said,
00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:51.220
let light shine out of the darkness.
00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.359
The God who said,
00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:53.859
let there be light.
00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:55.599
And there was light in the world
00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:58.599
has shone in our hearts.
00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:01.220
To give the light of the knowledge
00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.200
of the glory of God
00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.660
in the face of Jesus Christ.
00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.980
That God has made us to know him
00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.799
and to know his glory.
00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:09.319
And he says,
00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:10.539
this is how you will come to know me.
00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:12.359
Not simply through the rain
00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.279
and the stars.
00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:15.919
Not simply through the written word.
00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:18.259
But what is written here
00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.699
as it points to the Lord Jesus.
00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:22.419
You will know me in my glory.
00:18:24.479 --> 00:18:25.819
Do you know that's what you were made for?
00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:28.000
To know God through Jesus.
00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:31.220
John Calvin,
00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.119
he wrote
00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:35.579
that Calvin's Institutes
00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:37.599
are some of the most remarkable writing
00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.980
this world has ever known.
00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.440
But the Institutes
00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.279
actually started as a very small book.
00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.779
He wrote it early on in the Reformation.
00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:48.039
And it had just six chapters
00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:49.599
in its very first edition.
00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.359
He was a young man.
00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.500
He was 26 years of age.
00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:55.400
And he wrote it as a defense of Christians.
00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.339
Because in France
00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:57.059
they were being persecuted.
00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.859
And in his introduction,
00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:00.000
the preface to the king,
00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.960
it's a very powerful document.
00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.079
He begins by saying
00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:04.779
that the sum of all knowledge
00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:07.740
is to know God and ourselves.
00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.240
And then he goes on to say,
00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:11.420
I don't know which one comes first.
00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.539
We can't know ourselves
00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.519
without knowing God.
00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.539
And we can't know God
00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:16.140
without also coming to know ourselves.
00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:16.859
It's very profound.
00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.980
He wrote a little catechism.
00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:22.920
When he was a pastor in Geneva.
00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.519
And his catechism began in this way.
00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.579
What is the chief end?
00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.620
What is the most important thing
00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.319
about human life?
00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.079
And he says this,
00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.039
that human beings
00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.460
may know God
00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.440
by whom they were created.
00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:38.299
You see that
00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:39.660
where the short catechism got it,
00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.059
don't you?
00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.700
That you may know God
00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.660
by whom you were created.
00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:48.940
We read in Hebrews 11, verse 6,
00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:50.740
that those who draw near to God
00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:52.680
need to believe that he is.
00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.779
And so why should you
00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.980
draw near to God?
00:19:57.120 --> 00:19:58.759
Why should you study God?
00:19:59.580 --> 00:20:01.220
Because that's what you were made for.
00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.880
But there's a second thing.
00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:06.220
Why should you draw near to God?
00:20:06.320 --> 00:20:07.440
You need to know him
00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.940
in order to worship him.
00:20:10.080 --> 00:20:11.440
You need to know him
00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:13.360
in order to worship him.
00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.920
The more that we know God,
00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.680
the more that we're drawn
00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.840
to worship God
00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:18.099
and to give glory to God,
00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:21.459
the English word comes from,
00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:22.919
the old English word of
00:20:22.919 --> 00:20:23.819
worth-ship.
00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.500
To worship God
00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:28.899
is to know the worth of him.
00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:31.579
It's to know and grasp
00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.139
the value,
00:20:32.959 --> 00:20:33.439
the honour,
00:20:33.679 --> 00:20:34.279
the place,
00:20:34.919 --> 00:20:35.519
the standing,
00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:37.899
the person
00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:39.179
and all that he is.
00:20:40.699 --> 00:20:41.740
The worship of God
00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.480
is knowing
00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.980
the worth of God.
00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:46.480
And the more that we know
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.660
the worth of God,
00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.279
the more that will breed in us
00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:49.960
an awe
00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:51.019
and reverence
00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.180
and adoration.
00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.880
The prophet Isaiah,
00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.019
when he saw
00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.039
that vision
00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.180
of the glory of God,
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:02.140
he hears in Isaiah 60,
00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:03.000
angels crying,
00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:03.440
holy,
00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:03.980
holy,
00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:04.740
holy
00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.839
is the Lord.
00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.039
And in John's Gospel,
00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:09.759
Jesus picks that up
00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.460
and Jesus says,
00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.519
when Isaiah
00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:13.099
saw that glory,
00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.339
he was speaking of
00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:14.920
my glory,
00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.680
the glory of Christ.
00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.440
And Isaiah
00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.859
saw the angels
00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:20.579
crying out,
00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.279
he is holy,
00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.119
he is holy,
00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.940
he is holy.
00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:24.079
And he cried out,
00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.220
woe is me.
00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.139
I'm done for.
00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.099
I'm undone.
00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.480
I'm a man of unclean lips
00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:32.079
and I dwell in the middle
00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.539
of a people
00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.359
of unclean lips.
00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:34.759
For my eyes
00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.420
have seen the King,
00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.099
the Lord of hosts.
00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.200
And when he grasps
00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:39.759
the sense of the worthiness
00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.119
of God,
00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.339
how much God is worth,
00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.640
he sees his own
00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.279
unworthiness
00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:45.099
in the presence of God.
00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:48.440
A similar thing happens
00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.319
in the book of Revelation
00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:51.279
when in Revelation 5,
00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.059
the apostle John
00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:53.420
hears every creature
00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:53.900
in heaven
00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:54.900
and on earth
00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:55.619
and under the earth
00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:56.259
and in the sea
00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.579
and all that is in them
00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.279
saying to him
00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.200
who sits on the throne
00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.259
and to the Lamb
00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:01.180
be blessing and honour
00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:02.200
and glory and might
00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:03.059
forever and ever.
00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.400
And the four living creatures
00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:05.980
said amen
00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.680
and the elders
00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.799
fell down and worshipped.
00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:09.680
Why?
00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.180
Because
00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:12.419
they had a sense
00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:14.500
of the worth of God.
00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.539
And that's what he's speaking of
00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.359
in Hebrews chapter 11
00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:18.819
when he says
00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:20.039
draw near to God
00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:21.319
of pleasing God
00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.279
of seeking God.
00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:22.639
It means
00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:24.259
coming to know God
00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.039
and to grasp
00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:26.059
his worthiness.
00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:26.960
How much he's worth.
00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.220
So that we join
00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:30.000
in the chorus
00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.619
of standing
00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:32.960
in front of a glorious God
00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.639
and saying
00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:34.799
you oh God
00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:36.019
are worthy.
00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:38.240
worthy is the Lamb
00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.000
to receive honour
00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.660
and glory
00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.259
and dominion
00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:40.619
and power
00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:41.460
forever and ever.
00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.720
Knowing God
00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.920
breeds worship.
00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:46.460
To know God
00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.639
breeds worship.
00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.039
In Hebrews
00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.379
it uses the language
00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.819
of drawing near to God.
00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.420
If you've got your Bible
00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:54.960
open let's just
00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.859
have a look at this.
00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.079
Look at Hebrews chapter 4
00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.779
and verse 16.
00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.680
He says to us
00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.840
let us
00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:05.320
with confidence
00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:06.420
draw near
00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.259
to the throne
00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.920
of grace
00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.680
that we may receive
00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.019
mercy
00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.880
and find grace
00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.840
to help in our time of need.
00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:11.360
What an encouragement
00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:11.759
to pray.
00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.980
But did you notice
00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.560
the context?
00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.160
We have a great high priest
00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.840
who's passed
00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:18.279
through the heavens
00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:19.600
Jesus the son of God.
00:23:21.080 --> 00:23:21.900
And we don't have a high priest
00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:23.039
who's unable to sympathise
00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.820
with us in our weaknesses
00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:24.900
but in every respect
00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.500
has been tempted
00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.200
as we are yet
00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.140
is without sin.
00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:28.580
He takes you to Christ
00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.500
and he says
00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.759
look at your high priest
00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:32.240
look at the gospel
00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.099
of good news
00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:34.419
you want to draw near
00:23:34.419 --> 00:23:34.919
to God
00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:36.439
draw near to him.
00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:38.439
You need to know him.
00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.779
Look at chapter 7
00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.539
and verse 25
00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:43.099
it's the same phrase.
00:23:44.399 --> 00:23:44.740
Consequently
00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:46.139
he's able to save
00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:46.859
to the uttermost
00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.699
those who drew near
00:23:47.699 --> 00:23:48.240
to God
00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:48.859
through him
00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:50.699
since he always lives
00:23:50.699 --> 00:23:51.519
to make intercession
00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:51.960
for us.
00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.579
He goes on
00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.079
in that passage
00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.759
to speak of the
00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.599
priesthood
00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:58.099
of Christ
00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.619
and all that
00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.099
the Lord Jesus
00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.740
has done
00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.719
that he's offered
00:24:00.719 --> 00:24:01.159
himself
00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:02.599
once and for all
00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:04.319
and drawing near
00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.179
to God
00:24:05.179 --> 00:24:06.259
is through
00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:06.980
the Lord Jesus.
00:24:08.199 --> 00:24:09.099
Knowing him
00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.740
we know God
00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.859
through Jesus
00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:13.159
and it breeds
00:24:13.159 --> 00:24:14.059
our worship
00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:14.839
and adoration.
00:24:16.719 --> 00:24:17.099
Chapter 10
00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.639
and verse 22
00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.500
let us draw near
00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.539
with a true heart
00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:22.059
in full assurance
00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:22.539
of faith
00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.500
our hearts
00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.039
having been
00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:26.099
sprinkled clean
00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:27.039
from an evil conscience
00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:27.599
our bodies
00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.460
having been washed
00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:29.339
with pure water
00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:31.720
the blood
00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:32.480
of the Lord Jesus
00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:34.000
has opened
00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.899
up to us
00:24:34.899 --> 00:24:36.079
his death
00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.500
has opened
00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:36.779
to us
00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.339
a new
00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:38.099
and a living
00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.680
way
00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:41.259
that we have
00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.940
a great high
00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.480
priest
00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.399
over the house
00:24:43.399 --> 00:24:44.119
of God.
00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.399
I've been reading
00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:49.720
this book
00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.700
by Don Carson
00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.720
it's got a little
00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:53.039
essay on worship
00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:54.220
he's a Baptist
00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.119
sometimes we quote
00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:55.599
Baptists
00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:57.659
and he says this
00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:59.240
although there are
00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.899
things that can be
00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:00.659
done to enhance
00:25:00.659 --> 00:25:01.319
corporate worship
00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:01.720
that's what we're
00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.279
doing this morning
00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.339
gathering together
00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:03.700
to worship
00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:05.680
there is a profound
00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.539
sense in which
00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.200
excellent worship
00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.740
cannot be attended
00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.659
by merely
00:25:09.659 --> 00:25:10.859
pursuing excellent
00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.180
worship
00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:13.220
in the same way
00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:13.779
that according to
00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.019
Jesus
00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.119
you cannot find
00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:15.460
yourself
00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.019
until you lose
00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.399
yourself
00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:17.200
so you cannot
00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:18.159
find excellent
00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:18.960
corporate worship
00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:20.240
until you stop
00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.339
trying to find
00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.559
excellent corporate
00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:22.899
worship
00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:24.240
and pursue
00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:25.059
God himself
00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:27.579
despite the
00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.319
protestations
00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.059
one sometimes
00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:29.819
wonders if we
00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.299
are beginning
00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:30.980
to worship
00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.500
worship
00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:33.259
rather than
00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.939
worship God
00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:36.299
sheep he says
00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:36.959
lie down when
00:25:36.959 --> 00:25:37.819
they are well fed
00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.759
and they are more
00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.579
likely to be restless
00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.379
when they're hungry
00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:41.579
feed my sheep
00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.500
Jesus commanded
00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:42.919
Peter
00:25:42.919 --> 00:25:44.000
and many sheep
00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.659
in Christ's church
00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:45.519
are unfed
00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:47.019
if you wish to
00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.740
deepen the worship
00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.599
of the people of God
00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.079
above all
00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.119
deepen their grasp
00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:50.959
of his ineffable
00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.380
majesty
00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:52.360
in his person
00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:53.220
and in all his works
00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.960
what is clear
00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.340
is that if you try
00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.079
to enhance worship
00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.960
by simply livening
00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.519
up the tempo
00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.460
updating the beat
00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.600
you may not be
00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.279
enhancing worship
00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.579
at all
00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.200
on the other hand
00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:03.380
dry as dust sermons
00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:04.539
loaded with cliches
00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.500
and devoid of the
00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.000
presence of the
00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.559
living God
00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.620
mediated by the word
00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.539
do little to
00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.120
enhance worship
00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.380
either
00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:10.400
what we must
00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.180
strive for
00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:11.900
is growing
00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.960
knowledge of God
00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.460
and delight of him
00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:16.079
not delight
00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:16.620
in worship
00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:17.120
per se
00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:19.319
but delight in God
00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:21.879
why should we
00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:22.339
study the
00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:23.099
doctrine of God
00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:24.439
why should we
00:26:24.439 --> 00:26:24.919
seek to know
00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.299
God
00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:27.299
well first of all
00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.740
because it's what
00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.319
you were made for
00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.099
secondly because
00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:31.139
it puts vitality
00:26:31.139 --> 00:26:31.740
in our worship
00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.359
he's worthy
00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:32.980
of our worship
00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.319
but thirdly
00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.460
because we desire
00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.119
to serve him
00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:39.359
I'd hope to get
00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:39.679
them today
00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:41.240
but I hope
00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.119
that you will read
00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:42.639
and if you've not
00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:42.919
read it
00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:43.559
J.I. Packer's
00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.319
book Knowing God
00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:46.059
it's a classic
00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:48.220
it's a 20th century
00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:48.559
book
00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.899
it's rich
00:26:49.899 --> 00:26:50.480
powerful
00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.700
biblical teaching
00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:53.220
teeming with
00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.500
scripture
00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:55.240
and one of the
00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.000
most remarkable
00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.039
points that J.I. Packer
00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.980
makes in that book
00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.859
is that he picks up
00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.980
the text of Daniel
00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.899
chapter 11
00:27:01.899 --> 00:27:02.539
verse 32
00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:02.919
and he says
00:27:02.919 --> 00:27:03.759
the people who know
00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.480
their God
00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:06.159
will stand firm
00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:06.819
and take action
00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:08.220
or I think he is it
00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:08.960
the people
00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.519
who know their God
00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.599
will do great exploits
00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:15.259
we will not be able
00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.159
to serve God
00:27:16.159 --> 00:27:17.179
in the way
00:27:17.179 --> 00:27:18.019
that he is worthy
00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.119
of unless we
00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.079
know God
00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:21.899
know God
00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:22.199
in the way
00:27:22.199 --> 00:27:22.719
that he's revealed
00:27:22.719 --> 00:27:23.199
to us
00:27:23.199 --> 00:27:25.819
and Packer says
00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.019
this
00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.779
those who know
00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.119
God
00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:27.619
number one
00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.740
have great energy
00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.339
for God
00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:30.899
number two
00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:31.939
have great thoughts
00:27:31.939 --> 00:27:32.519
of God
00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:34.219
number three
00:27:34.219 --> 00:27:35.659
show great boldness
00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:36.279
for God
00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.059
and number four
00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:38.159
have great contentment
00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:38.619
in God
00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:40.139
now children
00:27:40.139 --> 00:27:40.519
those of us
00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:40.740
who were at
00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.399
Holiday Bible Club
00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:41.940
we saw that
00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.340
in Daniel
00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:42.740
didn't we
00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:44.640
that Daniel
00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.180
was a man
00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:46.040
who knew his God
00:27:46.040 --> 00:27:46.700
so he goes
00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.400
as a 13
00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.660
14 year old man
00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:50.100
and he's taken
00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:50.920
off to Babylon
00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:52.700
and he knows
00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.120
God
00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:53.880
and yet he's
00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.500
strong
00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:56.740
he stands firm
00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.540
in the classroom
00:27:57.540 --> 00:27:59.360
and he comes
00:27:59.360 --> 00:27:59.980
out the other end
00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:00.960
remember on day one
00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.180
not simply smarter
00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:02.980
than the others
00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:05.620
but he comes out
00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.060
at the end
00:28:06.060 --> 00:28:06.880
of Daniel chapter 1
00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:07.519
having stood
00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.220
for God
00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:10.120
escaping from
00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:10.820
Nebuchadnezzar
00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.639
full of the
00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:12.220
spirit of God
00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.639
and the grace
00:28:12.639 --> 00:28:13.059
of God
00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:15.359
and in this
00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.220
Babylonian empire
00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.220
hundreds of miles
00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.799
from home
00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:19.299
these men stand
00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:19.899
and they stand
00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:20.799
in the public square
00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:23.159
and when
00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:25.039
the population
00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.799
is commanded
00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.839
to worship
00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.639
in a way
00:28:27.639 --> 00:28:28.679
like everyone else
00:28:28.679 --> 00:28:29.059
does
00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:30.019
but it's not
00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:30.399
appropriate
00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:30.980
for those
00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.619
as followers
00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.439
of the living God
00:28:32.439 --> 00:28:32.919
to worship
00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.980
they refuse
00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:35.359
and they will
00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.259
not fall down
00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.419
they stand up
00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:39.140
and when
00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:39.800
the persecution
00:28:39.800 --> 00:28:40.400
invades
00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:41.039
the privacy
00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.680
of their own
00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.060
home
00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:42.759
it moves
00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.340
from the public
00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:43.880
square
00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.039
into the private
00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.519
home
00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:46.720
and they're told
00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.580
they can't pray
00:28:47.580 --> 00:28:48.519
Daniel still
00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.539
goes home
00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:49.920
doesn't he
00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.440
in private
00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:52.300
and he prays
00:28:52.300 --> 00:28:54.620
and when they
00:28:54.620 --> 00:28:55.360
stand in front
00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:55.880
of the fiery
00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:56.360
furnace
00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:57.220
they stand
00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.019
boldly looking
00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.600
at the king
00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.460
and they say
00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:00.140
well if our
00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:00.960
God saves us
00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.820
he saves us
00:29:01.820 --> 00:29:03.019
but if he
00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.340
doesn't
00:29:03.340 --> 00:29:04.019
we want you
00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.600
to know
00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.179
oh king
00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:05.779
that we
00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.199
will not
00:29:06.199 --> 00:29:06.579
bow down
00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:06.839
to your
00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.119
image
00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:09.099
and where
00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:09.299
do they
00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.439
go
00:29:09.439 --> 00:29:09.759
they go
00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.279
into the
00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:10.619
fiery
00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.079
furnace
00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.359
they're
00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:11.599
thrown
00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:11.919
in there
00:29:11.919 --> 00:29:12.359
but who
00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:12.679
is with
00:29:12.679 --> 00:29:12.879
them
00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.599
one like
00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:13.980
the son
00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.500
of man
00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:16.259
who was
00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:16.439
in the
00:29:16.439 --> 00:29:16.639
fiery
00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:16.980
furnace
00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.279
with them
00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:17.539
it's the
00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.000
Lord Jesus
00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:20.139
and when
00:29:20.139 --> 00:29:20.659
Daniel goes
00:29:20.659 --> 00:29:20.980
into the
00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.759
lion's den
00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.639
because he
00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:23.439
kept praying
00:29:23.439 --> 00:29:24.139
in his own
00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:24.559
home
00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.619
God sends
00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:26.159
an angel
00:29:26.159 --> 00:29:29.000
and so
00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.500
Daniel was
00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:29.939
able to
00:29:29.939 --> 00:29:30.519
serve God
00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:30.879
in his
00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.359
generation
00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:31.859
for the
00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:32.419
best part
00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:33.179
of 70
00:29:33.179 --> 00:29:33.759
years
00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.539
because he
00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:34.980
knew his
00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.319
God
00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:39.319
and in
00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:39.440
our
00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:39.879
generation
00:29:39.879 --> 00:29:40.379
in which
00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:40.819
religion
00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.539
is attacked
00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:41.819
in the
00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.019
public
00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.420
square
00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.079
and persecuted
00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.420
in the
00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:43.619
public
00:29:43.619 --> 00:29:43.980
square
00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.619
we need
00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:45.200
to know
00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.539
God
00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:45.779
if we're
00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:45.980
going to
00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.420
serve him
00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:49.839
and what
00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.200
happens
00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.779
if it
00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.460
moves from
00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.160
public
00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:53.759
to private
00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:57.200
well we
00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.500
need to
00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:57.940
know God
00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.660
because at
00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.039
that point
00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.480
those who
00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.039
know God
00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:00.359
will be
00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:00.660
able to
00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:00.940
stand
00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.420
because if
00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:01.740
you don't
00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.119
know God
00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:02.519
you will
00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.019
not stand
00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.319
on that
00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:03.559
day
00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:05.319
let me
00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:05.679
move really
00:30:05.679 --> 00:30:06.059
quickly to
00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.460
my fourth
00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:06.839
and final
00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:07.119
point
00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:07.460
we need
00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:07.879
to worship
00:30:07.879 --> 00:30:08.299
God
00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:08.700
we need
00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.179
to know
00:30:09.179 --> 00:30:09.579
God
00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:10.000
not only
00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.379
because
00:30:10.379 --> 00:30:11.259
that's
00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.460
what we
00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:11.759
were made
00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.039
for
00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:13.859
it's part
00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:14.000
of the
00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.480
very fabric
00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:14.679
of the
00:30:14.679 --> 00:30:14.980
way we
00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.259
are
00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:17.839
not only
00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:18.319
because
00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:21.000
we desire
00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.480
to worship
00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:21.759
him
00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.379
not only
00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:23.779
because
00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:25.339
if we are
00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:25.599
going to
00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.039
serve him
00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.299
we need
00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:26.579
to know
00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:26.740
him
00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.179
lastly
00:30:27.179 --> 00:30:27.859
we need
00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:28.099
to know
00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:28.240
him
00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.579
in order
00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.099
to enjoy
00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:29.419
him
00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:32.420
he
00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:32.600
who
00:30:32.600 --> 00:30:32.880
comes
00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.039
to
00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.279
God
00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:33.539
remember
00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.700
the
00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:33.960
verse
00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.300
must
00:30:34.300 --> 00:30:34.560
believe
00:30:34.560 --> 00:30:34.740
that
00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:34.960
he
00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.440
is
00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:37.300
that
00:30:37.300 --> 00:30:37.440
he
00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:37.600
is
00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:37.740
a
00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.360
rewarder
00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:38.640
of all
00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:38.759
who
00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.060
diligently
00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:39.440
seek
00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:39.640
him
00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:41.420
that
00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.660
doesn't
00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:41.860
mean
00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:42.080
that
00:30:42.080 --> 00:30:42.580
all of a
00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:42.720
sudden
00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:42.980
we do
00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.240
something
00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:43.519
good
00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:43.840
because
00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:44.039
we
00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.200
want
00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:44.320
the
00:30:44.320 --> 00:30:44.720
reward
00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:46.059
it
00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.380
simply
00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:46.660
means
00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:46.920
this
00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.120
that
00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:47.259
when
00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:47.420
we
00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:47.779
seek
00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.140
him
00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.700
it
00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.019
is
00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:50.120
himself
00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:51.200
that
00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.299
we
00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:51.440
are
00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:51.720
seeking
00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:53.299
and
00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:53.420
it
00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:53.680
is
00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.299
himself
00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:54.600
that
00:30:54.600 --> 00:30:54.720
we
00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:54.880
shall
00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.180
find
00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:55.440
and
00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:55.600
the
00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:56.220
reward
00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:56.620
is
00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.200
himself
00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.579
that
00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:57.720
we
00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:57.900
shall
00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.120
know
00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:58.440
him
00:30:58.440 --> 00:31:01.380
that's
00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:01.500
what
00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:01.600
the
00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:01.819
apostle
00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:02.140
Paul
00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:02.460
wanted
00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:02.660
wasn't
00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:02.759
it
00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:02.900
it's
00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:03.100
all
00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:03.240
the
00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:03.500
apostle
00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:03.779
Paul
00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:04.120
wanted
00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:04.420
do you
00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:04.660
remember
00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:07.279
to
00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:07.519
know
00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:07.940
him
00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.079
and
00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.200
the
00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:09.420
power
00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:09.640
of his
00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:10.039
resurrection
00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:11.880
it's
00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:12.000
what
00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.220
God
00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:12.440
said
00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:12.620
to
00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:12.940
Abraham
00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.220
in
00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:13.559
Genesis
00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.319
God
00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:14.559
says
00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:14.659
to
00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:14.779
him
00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.000
I
00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.119
am
00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:15.259
your
00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:15.679
protector
00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:16.000
and
00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.359
I
00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:16.500
am
00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:16.659
your
00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:17.279
exceeding
00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.579
great
00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.119
reward
00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:20.039
and
00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.319
God
00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:20.639
gives
00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:21.059
nothing
00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.399
but
00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:22.019
himself
00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:24.659
and
00:31:24.659 --> 00:31:24.799
all
00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:24.899
the
00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:25.039
other
00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.339
blessings
00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:25.519
that
00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:25.599
you
00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:25.759
have
00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:25.879
in
00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:26.240
life
00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:28.619
they're
00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:28.859
simply
00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.259
small
00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.700
things
00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.960
in
00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.419
comparison
00:31:31.419 --> 00:31:31.819
to
00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:32.059
knowing
00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.399
him
00:31:32.399 --> 00:31:34.240
and
00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.399
being
00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:34.679
found
00:31:34.679 --> 00:31:34.819
in
00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:35.039
him
00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:37.419
and
00:31:37.419 --> 00:31:37.500
so
00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:37.679
this
00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:37.940
morning
00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.200
we
00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:38.379
need
00:31:38.379 --> 00:31:38.500
to
00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:38.740
believe
00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:38.919
that
00:31:38.919 --> 00:31:39.079
he
00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:39.460
is
00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:39.700
that
00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.059
God
00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:40.700
is
00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:42.460
and
00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:42.599
that
00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:42.779
he
00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:42.940
is
00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.099
the
00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:43.519
reward
00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:43.740
of
00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:43.940
those
00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:44.119
who
00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:44.599
diligently
00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:45.039
seek
00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.279
him
00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:47.180
and
00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:47.339
my
00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:47.519
prayer
00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:47.859
across
00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.079
this
00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:48.500
term
00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:48.799
is
00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:48.920
that
00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.079
as
00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:49.220
we
00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:49.639
study
00:31:49.639 --> 00:31:49.819
the
00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.119
doctrine
00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:50.279
of
00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:50.519
God
00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:50.779
as
00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.000
he's
00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.359
revealed
00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.500
to
00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:51.819
himself
00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:52.019
in
00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.139
the
00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:52.299
word
00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:52.420
of
00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:52.579
God
00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:52.740
that
00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:52.900
he
00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:53.160
will
00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:53.619
awaken
00:31:53.619 --> 00:31:53.900
in
00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:54.079
our
00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.539
hearts
00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:56.720
that
00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:56.920
this
00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.079
will
00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.279
be
00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:57.440
a
00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:57.599
church
00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:57.920
family
00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:59.440
of
00:31:59.440 --> 00:31:59.839
diligent
00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.259
seekers
00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:00.660
after
00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.000
God
00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:03.279
may
00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:03.480
God
00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:03.639
so
00:32:03.639 --> 00:32:03.859
work
00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:04.019
it
00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:05.200
let's
00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:05.379
pray
00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:11.600
may
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600
00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.600