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Nehemiah 9:1-38 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
All right, and as you're getting yourselves settled, let me add to your settling, take out your copy of God's Word, and turn to the Old Testament.
0:29
Throughout this summer, most of you would be probably a more fair assessment of that, but I'm going to work to catch you up and show you where we've been so that you can really grasp hold of where we are now in the book.
0:44
Just in brief, the nation of Israel was sent into captivity. This was a judgment brought on them by God, first with the Assyrians and then the Babylonians.
0:53
This was something that was promised to them by the prophets, and because they didn't turn from their wicked ways and turn back to God, God brought this judgment upon them.
1:02
And where we are now is post-exilic Israel. They've now been sent back.
1:08
The world power has shifted from the Babylonians to the Persians, and they have given them permission to go back to their homeland.
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Some 90 years that starts the process before where we are now in Nehemiah.
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Nehemiah serves here. We see him serving as the governor as he was appointed by the king of Persia.
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Prior to that, he was serving as the cupbearer to the king, and it was Nehemiah that was brought this news that the wall had yet to be rebuilt around the city.
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And that grieved him because it was evidence that the people of God were not in a good place.
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The city, the capital, was still in ruins.
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And as such, that was an affront to the majesty of God.
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The state of God's people showed the world, the nations around them, how good God was, in fact, to them.
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And so here we see God returning his goodness to the people and using the man, Nehemiah, to accomplish that work.
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So we've been working through this. We've seen opposition to the work.
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He goes back. He gets this opposition. They work in spite of that.
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They complete the wall in 52 days.
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And we can see now that there's this revival beginning to happen, a returning to, a rejuvenation of the people of God,
2:27
wanting to follow the goodness of God.
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We've come now to chapter 8.
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And this is where many would say that the real revival begins,
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although I would argue that it's been happening all along,
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but it certainly seems to kick into high gear at this point.
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There's a fervency that picks up in it as they come together for a feast called the Feast of Trumpets.
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Rosh Hashanah was taught in the Old Testament that they should do this thing.
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And it was a celebration meant to celebrate the coming Day of Atonement,
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which would happen nine days later.
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I think it's actually eight days later.
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I'd probably say eight days later on the ninth day of the month,
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which was the great day that the high priest went to the Holy of Holies
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and made sacrifice for the people of God.
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The whole thing meant to foreshadow the coming of Christ
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and the full and final sacrifice for the church.
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This is what they were coming together to celebrate.
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So all the Israelites were estimating 30,000 to 50,000 gather,
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and they asked Ezra, the priest-scribed, to come and open up the Word of God,
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and he reads from it for half of a day.
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And we see a structure set out where it's explained.
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This is where we've been spending our time the last two weeks.
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I intended to do it in one,
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but we talked about if revival is to come on God's people,
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there will be some evidences of that,
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and that they will be praying.
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We can see that Nehemiah is a book of prayer.
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Nehemiah was certainly a man of prayer,
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beseeching God to work on behalf of His people.
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And it will be continued in prayer.
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We also saw that the people of God will reestablish the Word of God
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as the ultimate authority in their lives.
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And that's what we see happening in chapter 8.
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They no longer make excuses.
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They no longer try to justify their way.
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But they say, God's way is the right way,
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and His Word is the authority over our living.
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The proper response to that is you see them mourn.
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They recognize how far removed their lives are
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from the holy standard that God has set up for them.
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They see this and they begin to mourn.
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You can see this beginning in verse 9 of chapter 8.
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But because of the special nature of this day,
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what this day was meant for in Jewish culture,
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they're encouraged to rejoice.
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And they do.
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We see verse 17.
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And there was very great rejoicing.
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So the Word of God now has been established as the ultimate authority.
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And we see now coming back into chapter 9,
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a new season of repentance.
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A new level of contrition on their part.
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Before we get there though,
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I want to say to you that the things I'm presenting to you
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are not formulaic.
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It's not that if we as the people of God
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will get these four things I'm presenting
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that we're going to observe here right,
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then we will be in a state of revival.
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Or God will bring revival to us,
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a special close visit of His Spirit.
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But certainly these are things that should be true
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of the people of God.
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Recall that Ezra has been here for 14 years,
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faithfully teaching the Word of God,
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calling the people back to His way.
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Revival wasn't happening for him, was it?
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But suddenly the Spirit comes,
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sovereignly works in the hearts of men,
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and things take off.
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They take on a new fervency.
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Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones,
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a man I would commend to you,
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he died in 1981,
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but for almost 30 years
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he was a minister of Westminster Chapel in London.
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A wonderful man to read.
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Some of you may be familiar with his daughter,
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Sally Lloyd-Jones,
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who wrote the Jesus Storybook Bible.
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Said this of revival,
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you cannot revive something that has never had life.
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So revival by definition
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is first of all
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an enlivening and quickening and awakening
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of lethargic, sleepy church members.
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Suddenly the power of the Spirit comes upon them.
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They are humbled.
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They are convicted of sin.
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Then as a result of their quickening and enlivening,
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they begin to pray.
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New power comes into the preaching of the ministers,
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and the result of this is large numbers are converted.
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So a revival is not something we can put on a calendar.
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It's not a thing to schedule
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that belongs on a sign
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out in front of a building.
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It cannot be advertised in that way.
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A revival is a visiting of the Spirit of God
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in a new way,
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in a freshening way,
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in a way that causes us to return.
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As religion seems to be on the decline,
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I think that America is primed for this thing.
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If you look at the history of revivals,
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I believe we're primed for that to happen once again.
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So keep in mind,
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these are not formulaic,
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but if revival is God sent,
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God's people will be praying.
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They will reestablish the Word of God
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as the ultimate authority in their lives.
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And we can observe from chapter 9,
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the people of God will recognize
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their defiance of God
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and view His chastisement
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or His punishment as just.
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This is a particularly remarkable mark
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of revival.
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So, we see here,
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and I'm going to give you a quick summary
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at the beginning of chapter 9,
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on the 24th day of the month,
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so first day of the month,
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Feast of Trumpets,
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Ezra reads from the Law,
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24th day of the month,
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they come back together
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and we can see that they've been driven
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into a deep repentance for their sins.
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There's three hours again
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of reading of the Word of God
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and three hours of confession
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and of worshiping.
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You can see in verse 1
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that they come together
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with fasting and sackcloth
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and with earth on their heads,
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which were all signs of this contrition.
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The sackcloth would have been
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cloth bags made of goat hair.
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It would have been very, very coarse.
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It was worn to remind them
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of how terrible their sin was.
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The earth on their heads
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was more than likely,
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typically done was ashes.
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So it represented the sacrifice
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that needed to be made
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on their part.
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So it's this visible outward,
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we are sinners.
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We have offended God.
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And they were publicly
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displaying this with one another.
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They had come to realize
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through reestablishing the Word of God
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as the authority in their lives,
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having it read and taught to them,
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we see it again here
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on the 24th day,
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being read to them,
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that God is infinitely holy,
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and so His law is infinitely holy.
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Therefore, any transgression,
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any transgression,
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from what in your mind
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might be the greatest transgression
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to what in your mind
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might be the very littlest transgression,
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right?
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For God, they are all
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an infinite offense.
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This ought to cause us
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to repent.
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This ought to cause us
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to mourn.
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Because true repentance recognizes,
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first and foremost,
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that sin is primarily
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vertical in its offense.
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Our good God,
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the Creator of heaven and earth,
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the One that lavishes on us,
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abounding love,
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is the One who's primarily offended
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by our sin.
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We certainly sin against others.
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There certainly is
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a horizontal process of that.
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And repentance ought to appropriately
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make reparations for those types of things.
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You've sinned against a brother,
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you should go to him
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and make those things right.
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But firstly,
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we should make ourselves right with God.
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True repentance can be seen,
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as Charles Spurgeon said,
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and I quote,
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when a person's repentance
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becomes as notorious
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as his sin.
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Everybody knows of your sin,
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everybody should know
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of your repentance.
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One person knows of your sin,
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that person should know
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of your repentance.
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Your sin was a private matter,
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there's no need for the repentance
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to go beyond.
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And here we see
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the nation of Israel
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publicly displaying
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to everyone,
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everyone should know
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how very, very, very
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offensive my sin is
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to God,
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clothing themselves
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and sackcloths,
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fasting,
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putting ash or earth
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on their heads.
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That's what they're putting
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on display.
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We are a wretched,
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sinful people.
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We have offended
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God.
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if you don't feel this
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for your sin,
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your view of God
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is too small.
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You need to have your vision
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expanded for God
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and His holiness.
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You need to see
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that He has a standard
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that we have all
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failed to live up to.
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Even as those
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who have been delivered
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by Christ,
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who have the Spirit of God
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working within us,
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the ability now
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to not transgress the law,
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we have failed
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at so many points.
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Now, properly,
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we see here,
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there's a traditional
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understanding
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in Reformed communities.
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We would all
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probably agree to this.
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It's an altogether
11:49
biblical
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understanding
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that confessions of faith
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are necessarily
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preceded
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by deep contrition.
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That people need
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to recognize
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their transgression
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of the law.
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That ought to be
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a reality.
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I have sinned
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against the most holy God
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and this grieves me.
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My end is destruction.
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Because of my status,
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I am cut off from Him.
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I worship the devil,
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is what Jesus said.
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And therefore,
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we're broken by that,
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but then we're turned
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to joy
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because of the work
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of Christ.
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And we've seen this
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happen already
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back in chapter 8.
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We see the mourning
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and then they're instructed
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to don't mourn,
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be joyful.
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There's this
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day of atonement
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that's coming
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on your behalf.
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Be filled with joy
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as a result.
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But I think
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what we often neglect
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is that the Christian life
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is going to run
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in cycles
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of contrition
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and joy.
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Repentance
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and joy.
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That is the
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life
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of the believer.
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And here we see
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the evidence of that.
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Right?
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It's now 24 days later.
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They've been filled
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with joy.
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The record there
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in verse 17
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of chapter 8.
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And there was
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very great rejoicing.
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And then it doesn't say
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and then they went
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about their merry way
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and their life
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and did their
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American thing.
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Right?
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No.
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They continue to study
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the Word of God.
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They continue to have
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new revelation
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of how very sinful
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they were.
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And they were moved
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back into a cycle
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of repentance.
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So that cycle is
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a cycle of deeper
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repentance
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and increasing joy.
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Deeper repentance
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and increasing joy.
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And so on.
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Have you ever
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stopped to reflect
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on what Jesus said
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in Matthew 5.
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4?
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Blessed are they
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that mourn.
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Some have understood
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this to mean
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those who mourn
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say over a lost person.
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Right?
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That we're so sad
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of the sin of the world.
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Or somebody who dies.
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They mourn.
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And this is a promise
13:46
of God
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to come close
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and comfort
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in those times.
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In fact,
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it finishes
13:50
for they shall be
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comforted.
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But we've come
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to understand
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that what Jesus
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is actually talking
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right here
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is the state
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of a person.
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Not a time
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somebody dies
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I mourn at that time.
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But who they
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actually are.
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So catch that.
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If you're a Christian
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your life is going
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to run
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in these cycles.
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What we mourn
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over
14:09
is our sin.
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That we still
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carry around
14:12
the baggage
14:13
of our flesh.
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That our flesh
14:14
has been spoiled
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by this.
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We have a new
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nature.
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That's what we're
14:19
going to talk about
14:19
with baptism.
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We can walk
14:22
in that new nature
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and yet
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we still
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fall back
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into this sinful
14:27
state as Paul
14:28
laments in
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chapter 7 of
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Romans.
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Oh, I do
14:31
the things I
14:32
don't want to
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do.
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But what does
14:37
he say here?
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That we are
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blessed.
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We are
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filled with
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an abiding
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joy even
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as we
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mourn.
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This is coming
14:48
off the hip.
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I don't remember
14:49
who said this.
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You've heard me
14:51
and Wes quote
14:52
this before,
14:52
but a man
14:53
who I owe
14:54
credit to
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and I can't
14:55
give it,
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once said
14:58
that the gospel
14:59
all at once
15:00
both gladdens
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and abases
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the soul.
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That's what it
15:05
ought to do
15:06
to you.
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You ought to
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feel pretty
15:08
crummy
15:08
about your
15:09
performance,
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but you ought
15:11
to be overjoyed
15:12
that God is
15:13
working in you
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to bring about
15:15
perfection.
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This should be
15:16
the process
15:17
that goes on
15:18
in your life.
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I want people
15:19
to leave
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on Sunday
15:21
morning
15:21
so overjoyed,
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but I want
15:24
them to leave
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because they
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know that
15:26
Christ is at
15:27
work in them
15:28
to accomplish
15:28
his goodwill,
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not because I
15:30
give you some
15:31
kind of a pep
15:31
talk and make
15:32
you feel pretty
15:32
good about what
15:33
you accomplished
15:33
this week.
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That the
15:34
particular sin
15:35
we addressed
15:36
that week,
15:36
you handled
15:37
well,
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and so you
15:38
can walk out
15:39
and say,
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good,
15:40
gold star
15:41
for me.
15:43
Gold star
15:44
for Jesus,
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right?
15:45
He's the one
15:45
working in you
15:46
to accomplish
15:47
these things.
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Man, I say
15:49
some weird stuff
15:50
off the hip.
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So we're going
15:53
to read.
15:54
Here we go.
15:54
So remember,
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if the Bible
15:55
is God sent,
15:56
God's people
15:56
will recognize
15:58
their defiance
15:58
of God
15:59
and view
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his chastisement
16:02
as just.
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We're going
16:03
to begin
16:03
in verse 5b.
16:05
So the gathering
16:06
has happened,
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they've been
16:07
reading,
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they've been
16:08
confessing,
16:09
and then we
16:09
see a group
16:10
of the Levites,
16:11
we've got a
16:12
couple of
16:12
different groups
16:12
of Levites
16:13
here,
16:15
say to them,
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stand up
16:17
and bless
16:18
the Lord
16:19
your God
16:19
from everlasting
16:20
to everlasting.
16:22
Blessed be
16:22
your glorious
16:23
name which
16:23
is exalted
16:24
above all
16:25
blessing
16:25
and praise.
16:27
Then we
16:28
launch into
16:29
a prayer
16:29
together.
16:30
The
16:30
Septuagint,
16:31
the Greek
16:32
translation
16:32
of the Hebrew
16:34
Old Testament
16:34
adds at this
16:36
point,
16:37
and Ezra
16:38
said.
16:38
So,
16:39
possibly,
16:40
I don't know
16:40
where that
16:41
comes from,
16:42
but possibly
16:43
Ezra is
16:43
leading this
16:44
prayer.
16:45
I don't
16:46
think it
16:46
really
16:46
matters
16:46
at this
16:47
point
16:47
though.
16:48
So,
16:48
beginning
16:48
in verse
16:49
6,
16:50
you are
16:51
the Lord,
16:52
you alone.
16:54
You have
16:54
made heaven,
16:55
the heaven of
16:57
heavens,
16:57
with all
16:58
their hosts,
16:58
the earth
16:59
and all
16:59
that is on
17:00
it,
17:00
the seas
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and all
17:01
that is
17:02
in them,
17:02
and you
17:03
preserve
17:03
all of
17:04
them,
17:04
and the
17:04
host of
17:05
heaven
17:05
worships
17:06
you.
17:06
They
17:06
praise
17:07
God
17:07
as the
17:08
God
17:08
of
17:09
creation.
17:10
Verse
17:10
7,
17:11
you are
17:11
the Lord,
17:12
the God
17:12
who chose
17:13
Abram,
17:13
and brought
17:14
him out
17:14
of Ur
17:15
of the
17:15
Chaldeans,
17:15
and gave
17:16
him the
17:16
name
17:16
Abraham.
17:17
You
17:18
found his
17:18
heart
17:18
faithful
17:19
before you
17:19
and made
17:20
with him
17:20
the covenant
17:21
to give
17:21
to his
17:21
offspring the
17:22
land of
17:22
the Canaanite,
17:23
the Hittite,
17:24
the Amorite,
17:25
the Perizzite,
17:26
the Jebusite,
17:27
and the
17:27
Girgashite.
17:28
And you
17:29
have kept
17:29
your promise,
17:30
for you
17:31
are righteous.
17:32
They
17:32
praise him
17:33
as the
17:34
God of
17:34
Abraham.
17:36
Verse
17:36
9,
17:36
And you
17:38
saw the
17:38
affliction
17:39
of our
17:39
fathers
17:39
in Egypt,
17:40
and you
17:41
heard their
17:41
cry at the
17:42
Red Sea,
17:42
and performed
17:43
signs and
17:44
wonders against
17:44
Pharaoh and
17:45
all his
17:45
servants,
17:46
and all the
17:47
people of
17:47
his land,
17:48
for you
17:48
knew that
17:49
they acted
17:49
arrogantly
17:50
against our
17:50
fathers.
17:51
And you
17:51
made a
17:52
name for
17:52
yourself,
17:53
as it is
17:53
to this
17:54
day.
17:54
And you
17:55
divided the
17:55
sea before
17:56
them,
17:56
so they
17:56
went through
17:57
the midst
17:57
of the
17:57
sea on
17:58
dry land,
17:59
and you
17:59
cast their
18:00
pursuers
18:00
into the
18:00
depths as
18:01
a stone
18:01
into mighty
18:02
waters.
18:03
By a
18:03
pillar of
18:04
cloud you
18:04
led them
18:05
in the
18:05
day,
18:06
and by
18:06
a pillar
18:06
of fire
18:07
in the
18:07
night,
18:08
to light
18:08
for them
18:08
the way
18:09
in which
18:09
they should
18:09
go.
18:10
You
18:10
came down
18:11
on Mount
18:11
Sinai,
18:12
and spoke
18:12
with them
18:12
from heaven,
18:13
and gave
18:13
them right
18:14
rules and
18:14
true laws,
18:16
good statutes
18:17
and commandments.
18:18
And you
18:18
made known
18:19
to them
18:19
your holy
18:20
Sabbath,
18:20
and commanded
18:21
them commandments
18:21
and statutes
18:22
and a law
18:23
by Moses
18:23
your servant.
18:25
You gave
18:25
them bread
18:26
from heaven
18:26
for their
18:27
hunger,
18:28
and brought
18:28
water for
18:29
them out
18:29
of the
18:29
rocks for
18:30
their thirst.
18:31
And you
18:31
told them
18:32
to go in
18:32
to possess
18:33
the land
18:33
you had
18:33
sworn to
18:34
give them.
18:35
They praised
18:36
him for
18:36
being the
18:36
God of
18:37
the Exodus,
18:38
the people
18:39
of Israel.
18:41
Verse 16,
18:42
But they
18:43
and our
18:44
fathers
18:45
acted
18:45
presumptuously
18:46
and stiffened
18:47
their neck
18:48
and did not
18:49
obey your
18:49
commandments.
18:50
They refused
18:51
to obey,
18:51
were not
18:51
mindful of
18:52
the wonders
18:53
that you
18:53
performed
18:53
among them,
18:54
but they
18:55
stiffened
18:55
their neck
18:55
and appointed
18:56
a leader
18:57
to return
18:57
to their
18:58
slavery
18:58
in Egypt.
19:00
But you
19:00
are a
19:01
God
19:01
ready to
19:02
forgive,
19:03
gracious
19:03
and merciful,
19:04
slow to
19:05
anger,
19:05
and abounding
19:06
in steadfast
19:06
love,
19:07
and did
19:07
not forsake
19:08
them.
19:09
Even when
19:09
they had
19:10
made for
19:10
themselves a
19:10
golden calf
19:11
and said,
19:12
This is
19:13
your God
19:13
who brought
19:13
you up
19:14
out of
19:14
Egypt,
19:14
and had
19:15
committed
19:15
great
19:16
blasphemies,
19:17
you and
19:17
your great
19:18
mercies did
19:18
not forsake
19:19
them in
19:19
the wilderness.
19:20
The pillar
19:21
of cloud
19:21
to lead
19:22
them in
19:22
the way
19:22
did not
19:23
depart
19:23
from them
19:24
by day,
19:24
nor the
19:25
pillar
19:25
of fire
19:25
by night
19:26
to light
19:26
for them
19:26
the way
19:27
by which
19:27
they should
19:27
go.
19:28
You gave
19:29
your good
19:29
spirit to
19:30
instruct
19:30
them,
19:30
and did
19:31
not withhold
19:31
your manna
19:32
from their
19:32
mouth,
19:32
and gave
19:33
them water
19:33
for their
19:34
thirst.
19:35
Forty
19:35
years you
19:36
sustained
19:36
them in
19:37
the wilderness,
19:37
and they
19:38
lacked
19:38
nothing.
19:39
Their
19:39
clothes did
19:40
not wear
19:40
out,
19:41
and their
19:41
feet did
19:42
not swell.
19:43
And you
19:44
gave them
19:44
kingdoms
19:45
and peoples,
19:46
and allotted
19:46
to them
19:46
every corner.
19:48
So they
19:48
took possession
19:48
of the land
19:49
of Sihon,
19:50
king of
19:50
Heshbon,
19:51
and the land
19:51
of Og,
19:52
king of
19:52
Bashan.
19:53
You
19:53
multiplied
19:54
their
19:54
children
19:54
as the
19:55
stars of
19:55
heaven,
19:56
and you
19:56
brought
19:56
them into
19:57
the land
19:57
that you
19:57
had told
19:58
their
19:58
fathers
19:58
to enter
19:59
and possess.
20:00
So the
20:01
descendants
20:01
went in
20:02
and possessed
20:02
the land,
20:03
and you
20:03
subdued before
20:04
them the
20:04
inhabitants
20:05
of the
20:05
land,
20:05
the
20:05
Canaanites,
20:06
and gave
20:06
them into
20:07
their hand
20:07
with their
20:08
kings and
20:08
the people
20:09
of the
20:09
land,
20:09
that they
20:10
might do
20:10
with them
20:11
as they
20:11
would.
20:12
And they
20:12
captured
20:13
fortified
20:13
cities and
20:14
a rich
20:14
land and
20:15
took possession
20:15
of houses
20:16
full of
20:16
all good
20:17
things,
20:18
cisterns
20:18
already
20:18
hewn,
20:19
vineyards,
20:20
olive orchards,
20:21
and fruit
20:21
trees in
20:22
abundance.
20:22
So they
20:23
ate and
20:23
were filled
20:24
and became
20:24
fat and
20:25
delighted
20:26
themselves in
20:26
your great
20:27
goodness.
20:30
Praise
20:31
him for
20:32
sustaining
20:32
them,
20:33
the God
20:34
of the
20:34
sustenance
20:35
in the
20:36
wilderness,
20:36
and the
20:37
conquering
20:38
of
20:38
Canaan.
20:40
Verse 26,
20:41
Nevertheless,
20:43
they were
20:44
disobedient,
20:45
and rebelled
20:45
against you,
20:46
and cast
20:47
your law
20:47
behind their
20:47
back,
20:48
and killed
20:48
your prophets,
20:49
who had
20:50
warned them
20:50
in order to
20:51
turn them
20:51
back to you,
20:52
and they
20:52
committed
20:53
great
20:53
blasphemies.
20:54
Therefore
20:55
you gave
20:55
them into
20:55
the hand
20:56
of their
20:56
enemies,
20:57
who made
20:57
them suffer.
20:58
And in
20:58
the time
20:58
of their
20:59
sufferings
20:59
they cried
20:59
out to
21:00
you,
21:00
and you
21:00
heard them
21:01
from
21:01
heaven.
21:02
And
21:02
according
21:02
to your
21:02
great
21:03
mercies
21:03
you gave
21:03
them
21:03
saviors
21:04
who
21:04
saved
21:04
them from
21:05
the hand
21:05
of their
21:05
enemies.
21:06
But after
21:07
they had
21:07
rest,
21:08
they did
21:08
evil again
21:09
before you,
21:10
and you
21:10
abandoned
21:10
them to
21:11
the hand
21:11
of their
21:11
enemies,
21:12
so that
21:12
they had
21:12
dominion
21:13
over them.
21:13
Yet when
21:14
they turned
21:14
and cried
21:15
to you,
21:15
you heard
21:15
from heaven,
21:16
and many
21:17
times you
21:17
delivered
21:17
them according
21:18
to your
21:18
mercies.
21:19
And you
21:19
warned
21:20
them in
21:20
order to
21:20
turn back
21:20
to your
21:21
law.
21:21
Yet they
21:22
acted
21:22
presumptuously
21:23
and did
21:23
not obey
21:23
your
21:24
commandments,
21:24
but sinned
21:25
against
21:25
your
21:25
rules,
21:26
which if
21:26
a person
21:26
does
21:27
them,
21:27
he shall
21:27
!
21:36
Praise
21:50
him as
21:51
the God
21:52
of the
21:52
judges
21:52
and of
21:53
the
21:54
prophets.
21:55
Now,
21:56
catch at
21:56
this point,
21:57
they're getting
21:58
fairly caught
21:59
up to speed.
22:00
Ezra,
22:00
if he's the
22:01
one praying
22:01
at this
22:01
point,
22:02
has covered
22:03
the Old
22:04
Testament
22:05
narrative.
22:06
Praise
22:06
God all
22:07
along the
22:08
way for
22:08
the great
22:08
things he
22:09
has done
22:09
for the
22:09
people of
22:10
Israel.
22:10
And I
22:11
want you
22:11
to hear
22:11
this
22:11
carefully.
22:12
This is
22:13
not a
22:13
history
22:13
that's
22:13
removed
22:14
for us.
22:15
This is
22:16
God's
22:17
special
22:18
people,
22:19
his called
22:19
ones,
22:20
which we
22:21
are now
22:22
that,
22:22
the church.
22:23
The gospel
22:24
has advanced
22:25
that out
22:26
beyond the
22:26
borders of
22:27
a nation,
22:28
of a
22:28
bloodline.
22:29
And this
22:29
now belongs
22:30
to us.
22:30
This is
22:30
our history.
22:32
These are
22:32
our people
22:33
that were
22:33
let out,
22:34
that acted
22:35
wickedly,
22:35
that God
22:36
was good
22:36
to just
22:37
the same.
22:38
The promises
22:39
here and
22:39
the praises
22:40
are ours
22:40
as well.
22:42
Now here's
22:43
the request
22:43
beginning in
22:44
verse 32.
22:46
Now
22:46
therefore,
22:47
our God,
22:48
the great,
22:49
the mighty,
22:50
and the
22:50
awesome God
22:51
who keeps
22:51
covenant and
22:52
steadfast love,
22:53
let not all
22:54
the hardship
22:55
seem little to
22:56
you that has
22:56
come upon us,
22:57
upon our
22:58
kings,
22:58
our princes,
22:59
our priests,
23:00
our prophets,
23:01
our fathers,
23:01
and all your
23:02
people since
23:03
the time of the
23:03
kings of Assyria
23:04
until this
23:05
day.
23:06
Yet you
23:07
have been
23:07
righteous in
23:08
all that
23:08
has come
23:08
upon us,
23:09
for you
23:09
have dealt
23:10
faithfully,
23:11
and we
23:11
have acted
23:12
wickedly.
23:13
Our kings,
23:14
our princes,
23:15
our priests,
23:15
and our fathers
23:16
have not kept
23:16
your law or
23:17
paid attention
23:17
to your
23:17
commandments and
23:19
your warnings
23:19
that you gave
23:20
them.
23:20
Even in
23:21
their own
23:21
kingdom and
23:22
amid your
23:22
great goodness
23:23
that you
23:23
gave them,
23:23
and in the
23:24
large and
23:24
rich land
23:25
that you
23:25
set before
23:26
them,
23:26
they did
23:26
not serve
23:27
you or
23:27
turn from
23:28
their wicked
23:28
works.
23:30
Behold,
23:30
we are
23:30
slaves this
23:31
day in
23:32
the land that
23:32
you gave to
23:33
our fathers
23:33
to enjoy
23:34
its fruit
23:35
and its
23:35
good gifts.
23:36
Behold,
23:37
we are
23:37
slaves,
23:38
and its
23:38
rich yield
23:39
goes to
23:40
the kings
23:40
who you
23:44
have set
23:45
over us
23:45
because of
23:45
our sins.
23:46
They rule
23:47
over our
23:47
bodies and
23:48
over our
23:48
livestock as
23:49
they please,
23:50
and we are
23:50
in great
23:51
distress.
23:52
Because of
23:52
all this,
23:53
we make a
23:54
firm covenant
23:54
in writing.
23:55
On the
23:55
sealed document
23:56
are the
23:56
names of
23:57
our princes,
23:58
our Levites,
23:59
and our
24:00
priests.
24:03
So see
24:04
the recognition
24:05
here on
24:06
their part.
24:07
They see
24:08
that they
24:09
have defied
24:09
God.
24:10
They have
24:10
stated that
24:11
now over
24:12
and over
24:13
and over
24:14
and over
24:15
again.
24:16
But they
24:16
also see
24:17
that God
24:17
is right
24:18
and just
24:19
and good.
24:21
Notice the
24:21
praises that
24:22
they give
24:22
Him all
24:23
throughout
24:24
this.
24:26
First in
24:27
verse 6,
24:28
you are
24:29
righteous.
24:30
Then in
24:31
verse 6,
24:35
you are
24:35
the Lord,
24:36
you alone.
24:36
Verse 8,
24:37
you are
24:37
righteous.
24:39
Verse 17,
24:41
but you are
24:41
a God
24:42
ready to
24:42
forgive,
24:43
gracious,
24:44
merciful,
24:44
slow to
24:45
anger,
24:46
abounding
24:46
in steadfast
24:47
love.
24:48
Verse 25,
24:50
they praise
24:50
Him for
24:50
His great
24:51
goodness.
24:52
Verse 32,
24:55
you are
24:55
God,
24:55
our God,
24:56
the great,
24:57
the mighty,
24:57
the awesome
24:58
God who
24:58
keeps covenant
24:59
and steadfast
25:00
love.
25:02
And I
25:02
think kind
25:03
of the
25:03
hinging
25:04
verse for
25:06
us here
25:06
that wraps
25:07
this up
25:07
for us
25:08
in such
25:08
a nice
25:08
little neat
25:09
package
25:10
is verse
25:10
33.
25:13
Yet you
25:13
have been
25:14
righteous
25:14
in all
25:15
that has
25:16
come upon
25:16
us,
25:17
for you
25:17
have dealt
25:18
faithfully
25:18
and we
25:19
have acted
25:20
wickedly.
25:22
In spite
25:22
of all
25:23
these good
25:23
things that
25:24
you have
25:24
done for
25:24
us,
25:25
look at
25:26
this great
25:26
history
25:27
that we
25:27
have as
25:28
the people
25:28
of God.
25:29
We look
25:30
back across
25:30
it and
25:31
we see
25:31
your
25:32
consistent
25:32
faithfulness.
25:34
You're
25:34
never
25:34
changing.
25:35
Your
25:35
loving
25:35
kindness
25:36
is
25:36
abounding
25:37
to us.
25:37
You just
25:37
keep on
25:38
being good
25:39
and we
25:39
keep on
25:40
rebelling
25:41
against you.
25:43
And we're
25:43
so quick
25:44
in our
25:45
arrogance
25:46
to look
25:47
at them
25:47
and say,
25:47
those foolish
25:48
Israelites,
25:50
what was
25:50
their problem?
25:51
I mean,
25:52
he records
25:53
here the
25:54
work of the
25:54
golden calf.
25:56
They were
25:56
not very
25:57
far out
25:58
of Egypt
25:58
having been
25:59
delivered.
26:00
An ocean
26:00
split in
26:01
front of
26:02
them.
26:03
They walked
26:03
through it.
26:04
It crashed
26:05
behind them
26:05
and destroyed
26:06
an army.
26:07
They were
26:07
being led
26:08
by a
26:08
pillar of
26:09
fire and
26:09
a pillar
26:09
of cloud
26:10
which existed
26:11
when they
26:12
cast the
26:12
golden calf.
26:13
Doesn't
26:14
that not
26:14
just in
26:14
some way
26:15
seem insane
26:15
to you
26:16
that they
26:17
were doing
26:17
this thing?
26:18
That they
26:18
were saying
26:19
this image
26:20
that we
26:20
created,
26:20
this is
26:21
what led
26:21
us out
26:22
of Egypt.
26:23
But we
26:24
are the
26:25
same way.
26:27
We are
26:27
equally
26:28
foolish
26:29
because we
26:30
have this
26:31
history and
26:32
we have
26:33
our own.
26:34
Study church
26:35
history.
26:36
Look at the
26:37
faithfulness of
26:37
God.
26:38
The very
26:38
fact that you
26:39
have sitting
26:39
in your lap
26:40
or opened
26:40
up on some
26:41
device the
26:42
words of
26:42
God translated
26:43
in your
26:43
language is
26:44
a mighty
26:44
work of
26:45
God.
26:45
This thing
26:46
has been
26:47
tried to
26:47
be killed
26:48
throughout
26:49
the ages
26:49
and yet
26:50
it perseveres.
26:52
Men have
26:52
died bringing
26:53
this book
26:54
to us
26:55
this morning.
26:56
We have
26:57
such a
26:58
rich,
26:58
rich history.
27:00
How about
27:00
your own
27:00
life?
27:02
If you're
27:03
truly a
27:03
believer,
27:04
you've
27:04
experienced
27:05
repentance.
27:06
You've
27:06
experienced
27:07
how very,
27:08
very ugly
27:08
your sin
27:09
is.
27:10
You've
27:10
felt the
27:11
depth of
27:12
that.
27:12
You've
27:12
seen God
27:13
in His
27:13
holiness
27:13
and you
27:14
know
27:14
there was
27:14
no way
27:15
you could
27:15
measure up
27:16
to that.
27:16
And yet
27:17
in Christ
27:17
you've
27:17
been
27:18
delivered.
27:18
You've
27:18
experienced
27:19
the kind
27:19
of joy
27:19
that comes
27:20
from that.
27:21
You've
27:22
been
27:21
!
27:22
You've
27:22
been
27:22
delivered.
27:23
Eternal
27:23
end was
27:23
destruction
27:24
and yet
27:25
someone
27:26
paid the
27:26
price fully
27:27
for you.
27:28
You just
27:29
believe in
27:29
that.
27:29
You place
27:30
faith in
27:30
them and
27:31
you've
27:31
been
27:31
delivered.
27:32
You've
27:33
been ushered
27:34
back into
27:34
the kingdom.
27:35
You are
27:35
now a
27:36
son of
27:36
the living
27:37
God.
27:40
Why does
27:40
that history
27:41
not come
27:41
into our
27:41
minds?
27:42
Right?
27:43
Look at
27:43
the amazing
27:44
things God
27:45
has done
27:45
on our
27:46
behalf and
27:47
yet here
27:48
we are
27:48
just like
27:49
the
27:49
Israelites
27:50
turning
27:51
back away
27:51
back to
27:52
our
27:52
sin.
27:55
Look at
27:56
these
27:56
important
27:58
words.
27:59
Verse 16
27:59
and 17.
28:01
There are
28:02
two rather
28:02
incredible
28:03
buts in
28:04
the text
28:04
and I
28:04
say it
28:05
that way
28:05
on purpose
28:05
because I
28:06
want you
28:06
to remember
28:06
it.
28:07
There's
28:07
some
28:07
incredible
28:08
buts
28:08
in this
28:08
text.
28:11
Two of
28:12
them.
28:13
Verse 16
28:13
but they
28:15
and then
28:17
verse 17
28:18
but you.
28:20
Those are
28:21
precious
28:21
precious
28:22
words.
28:25
God has
28:25
been good
28:25
to us
28:26
but we
28:27
but then
28:29
right back
28:29
we can
28:30
say but
28:30
you.
28:33
God is
28:33
God.
28:35
We don't
28:35
affect who
28:36
he is and
28:36
how he
28:36
operates.
28:38
He is
28:39
self-existent.
28:42
His very
28:42
title he gave
28:43
to Moses
28:44
to tell
28:45
the people
28:45
tell them
28:45
I am
28:46
has sent
28:47
you.
28:48
The very
28:49
thought of
28:49
that word
28:50
is that
28:51
he is
28:51
self-sufficient.
28:55
You've
28:55
heard me say
28:55
before that
28:56
everything plugs
28:57
into him
28:58
but he
28:58
plugs into
28:59
nothing.
29:01
This is
29:01
the but
29:02
you that
29:03
we get to
29:03
bank on
29:04
when the
29:05
but we
29:05
is playing
29:06
out in
29:07
our lives.
29:08
Two
29:09
incredible
29:10
buts.
29:11
We continue
29:11
to sin
29:12
against our
29:12
God even
29:13
though he's
29:13
shown us
29:14
so much
29:14
goodness
29:15
but he
29:16
continues to
29:17
be good
29:17
and faithful
29:18
to us.
29:19
This should
29:19
move us
29:20
to repentance
29:20
beloved.
29:22
This should
29:23
move us
29:23
to hate
29:24
our sin
29:25
and to
29:25
love him
29:25
more.
29:27
To not
29:27
be
29:27
complacent.
29:28
To not
29:29
make excuses
29:29
but to
29:30
see that
29:30
the word
29:31
of God
29:31
is the
29:31
authority.
29:32
It is
29:33
the authority
29:33
whether you
29:34
recognize it
29:34
or not.
29:35
But to
29:35
begin to
29:35
recognize it
29:36
in your
29:36
life.
29:37
And begin
29:37
to arrange
29:38
your life
29:38
accordingly.
29:39
because you
29:41
know your
29:41
God loves
29:42
you and
29:42
your
29:42
appropriate
29:43
response
29:43
is a
29:44
love for
29:44
him in
29:45
keeping
29:45
his
29:46
commands.
29:49
The
29:49
American
29:50
church
29:50
and ours
29:51
has much
29:52
room
29:53
for repentance.
29:55
We were
29:55
putting together
29:56
a preaching
29:57
schedule for
29:58
Thursday night
29:58
and this
30:00
year
30:00
October 31st
30:02
falls on a
30:03
Thursday night
30:03
and so
30:04
most of
30:05
you
30:05
immediately
30:06
think of
30:06
Halloween
30:06
but it's
30:07
also
30:07
Reformation
30:07
Day.
30:08
It's the
30:08
day that
30:09
Martin Luther
30:09
nailed the
30:10
95 theses
30:11
on the door
30:11
of the
30:11
Wittenberg
30:12
church.
30:12
And I
30:12
was just
30:13
thinking about
30:13
that like
30:13
how we
30:14
probably should
30:14
do something
30:14
that night
30:15
for that.
30:16
And the
30:17
thought that
30:18
came into
30:18
my head
30:18
was that I
30:19
probably
30:19
needed to
30:20
write my
30:20
own
30:21
thesis
30:21
and put
30:22
it on
30:22
our
30:22
door.
30:24
There
30:24
wasn't
30:25
another
30:25
church
30:25
that needs
30:26
what I
30:27
have to
30:27
say about
30:27
it but
30:28
there's
30:28
plenty of
30:28
work to
30:29
be done
30:29
here
30:30
amongst
30:33
we do
30:35
some things
30:36
really well.
30:37
I think we
30:38
have some
30:38
things right.
30:38
We try to
30:39
be faithful
30:39
in the way
30:40
we arrange
30:40
church.
30:40
Some of
30:41
you will
30:41
say this
30:41
is a
30:42
strange
30:42
church.
30:43
It's a
30:43
lot
30:43
different.
30:43
We
30:43
just try
30:43
to line
30:44
up with
30:44
what we
30:45
see the
30:45
Word of
30:45
God
30:45
telling us
30:46
we ought
30:46
to do.
30:47
Good
30:47
for us.
30:48
Right?
30:49
But boy
30:50
do we
30:50
fail at
30:51
so many
30:52
points as
30:53
a congregation.
30:55
This work
30:56
of revival,
30:58
this type
30:59
of repentance,
31:00
this level,
31:01
this depth
31:02
of contrition,
31:03
is going
31:04
to show
31:04
up when
31:05
God sends
31:06
it amongst
31:07
us.
31:09
And my
31:09
question is
31:10
do we
31:10
long for
31:11
that type
31:11
of thing?
31:13
Do we
31:13
want our
31:14
sin exposed?
31:16
If we
31:17
could put it
31:17
on the
31:18
screen,
31:18
use the
31:19
technology,
31:20
would you
31:20
want it
31:21
exposed up
31:22
on the
31:22
screen?
31:23
Everything
31:23
that you
31:24
thought,
31:24
every emotion
31:25
that you've
31:25
had,
31:26
played,
31:27
for all
31:27
of us
31:28
to see?
31:29
It's what
31:30
the Israelites
31:30
were doing.
31:31
They were
31:32
putting on
31:33
sackcloth.
31:33
They were
31:34
fasting,
31:35
ashes on
31:35
their head.
31:36
They knew
31:37
that the
31:37
people of
31:38
God needed
31:38
to see,
31:39
I'm a
31:40
sinner too.
31:41
I am in
31:41
desperate need
31:42
of God's
31:43
grace in
31:44
my life.
31:45
Would we
31:45
be willing
31:46
for this
31:46
type of
31:47
thing to
31:48
happen?
31:49
Jay turned
31:50
me on to a
31:50
book this
31:51
week by
31:52
Jonathan Edwards
31:52
called The
31:52
Surprising
31:53
Work of
31:53
God.
31:54
I had
31:54
never heard
31:54
of it
31:54
until Jay
31:55
showed it
31:55
to me.
31:57
Sadly,
31:57
I'm going
31:57
to give
31:58
his copy
31:58
back and
31:59
I'm going
31:59
to buy
31:59
my own
32:00
soon to
32:01
continue
32:01
reading it.
32:02
Listen to
32:03
what he
32:04
said as
32:04
he observed
32:05
what was
32:06
going on
32:06
during the
32:06
Great
32:07
Awakening,
32:07
which he
32:08
was one
32:08
of the
32:08
major
32:09
leaders in,
32:10
a catalyst
32:10
for this
32:11
near work
32:12
of God.
32:14
He's
32:15
speaking of
32:15
converts.
32:16
He says,
32:16
there's a
32:16
great deal
32:17
of difference
32:17
in the
32:18
distinctness
32:19
of these
32:20
awakenings.
32:21
Genuine
32:21
God-sent
32:23
revival
32:23
awakenings.
32:24
Some people
32:25
who have
32:25
not had
32:26
such a
32:26
clear sight
32:26
of God's
32:27
justice
32:27
in their
32:28
condemnation
32:28
still mention
32:29
things that
32:30
plainly imply
32:31
it.
32:32
They develop
32:32
disposition to
32:33
acknowledge that
32:34
God is just
32:35
and righteous
32:35
in declaring
32:36
that he will
32:37
inflict punishment
32:38
on those
32:39
who sin.
32:40
They know
32:41
that they are
32:41
undeserving of
32:42
his comforts.
32:44
Many times
32:44
they did not
32:45
have such a
32:46
clear sight
32:46
of it
32:46
at the
32:47
beginning.
32:48
They have
32:48
very clear
32:49
discoveries
32:49
of their
32:50
unworthiness
32:51
soon after
32:52
their conviction
32:52
along with
32:54
being made
32:54
humble in
32:55
the dust
32:55
before God.
32:57
So let me
32:57
just sum up
32:57
for you
32:58
what he's
32:58
saying.
32:59
As a man
33:00
who observed
33:01
a genuine
33:03
God-sent
33:03
revival,
33:05
people who
33:05
were converting
33:06
to Christ
33:06
during this
33:07
time reacted
33:09
in this way.
33:10
They saw
33:11
the depth
33:11
of their sin
33:12
and they also
33:12
saw that God
33:13
was just
33:14
and right
33:14
and holy.
33:15
Just like
33:16
the people
33:17
in Nehemiah's
33:17
day recognized
33:18
that it was
33:19
proper that
33:20
God should
33:20
punish them.
33:22
It was the
33:23
right thing
33:23
for him to
33:24
do because
33:24
their sin
33:25
was great
33:26
and grievous.
33:28
This is the
33:29
thing that we
33:29
ought to also
33:30
do.
33:32
Many of us
33:33
grew up in
33:33
good Christian
33:34
homes and
33:35
were moral
33:36
and have
33:38
yet to really
33:38
see fully
33:40
unfolded before
33:41
us the depth
33:41
of our sin.
33:42
We really
33:43
act in a lot
33:44
of ways as
33:44
if God
33:45
owes us
33:45
something.
33:47
I've lived
33:48
a good
33:48
life.
33:49
I've done
33:49
my thing.
33:49
I've gone
33:50
to church.
33:50
I've done
33:50
on the
33:50
mission trips.
33:52
God owes
33:53
me.
33:54
God owes
33:55
you nothing.
33:57
You're a
33:58
sinner.
33:59
You're an
33:59
enemy of
33:59
his.
34:00
Cut off.
34:02
He doesn't
34:02
owe you
34:02
anything.
34:04
He freely
34:05
gives you
34:06
the gift
34:06
of grace
34:07
because he
34:07
loves you.
34:09
This is
34:09
that attitude
34:10
that should
34:10
be set
34:11
amongst
34:11
us.
34:13
Recognizing
34:13
the depth
34:14
of our
34:14
sin,
34:14
it's an
34:15
offense to
34:16
this holy
34:16
God.
34:17
Why would
34:17
he ever
34:18
forgive me?
34:19
Why would
34:19
he ever
34:20
do anything
34:20
good for
34:21
me?
34:21
Look at
34:21
what I
34:21
have done
34:22
against
34:22
him.
34:24
And that's
34:25
when we
34:25
turn to
34:25
Christ.
34:26
We see
34:27
that God
34:28
poured out
34:28
his wrath
34:29
for our
34:30
sin on
34:31
Christ.
34:32
The punishment
34:32
has been
34:33
played and
34:33
we place
34:34
our faith
34:35
in him.
34:36
We recognize
34:37
that the
34:37
person,
34:38
the work
34:38
of Christ
34:38
is the
34:39
way in
34:40
which we
34:40
get back
34:41
in right
34:41
standing
34:41
with God.
34:42
Our
34:42
righteousness
34:43
is found
34:44
in Christ.
34:46
This is a
34:47
supernatural
34:47
work of
34:48
the Spirit
34:49
of God.
34:50
When the
34:51
Spirit of
34:51
God draws
34:52
the Word
34:53
of God,
34:53
we see this
34:53
happening here,
34:54
draws the
34:55
Word of
34:55
God from
34:56
its
34:56
scabbard and
34:57
begins to
34:58
apply it
34:58
to the
34:59
hearts of
34:59
men.
35:01
Slices it,
35:02
dices it,
35:02
julian's fries,
35:04
gets in there
35:04
and starts
35:04
working in
35:05
our hearts.
35:07
This is what
35:08
happens.
35:10
This is the
35:10
evidence that
35:11
will take
35:12
place.
35:13
So we can
35:14
say,
35:15
yeah,
35:15
we're repentant
35:17
people.
35:17
Sure,
35:17
yeah,
35:18
we get the
35:18
depth of
35:18
sin until
35:20
we begin to
35:20
see this
35:21
kind of
35:21
repentance
35:21
happen.
35:22
The kind
35:23
that Spurgeon
35:24
spoke of.
35:25
The repentance
35:26
is as
35:27
notorious as
35:28
the sin
35:29
itself.
35:30
It's not
35:30
the work
35:31
that's taking
35:32
place in our
35:33
lives.
35:33
I'm going
35:34
to show you
35:34
two New
35:34
Testament
35:35
examples of
35:36
genuine
35:37
God
35:38
wrought
35:38
repentance.
35:40
The first
35:40
being the
35:41
prodigal son.
35:41
Don't turn
35:42
here.
35:42
I'll have you
35:43
turn to the
35:43
next one.
35:44
The first
35:44
being the
35:44
prodigal son,
35:45
Luke 15
35:45
21.
35:46
This is the
35:46
parable that
35:47
Jesus told.
35:48
You see the
35:48
return of the
35:49
son.
35:49
He's gone.
35:50
He said to
35:51
his dad,
35:51
I wish you
35:51
were dead.
35:52
Give me my
35:52
share of the
35:52
inheritance.
35:53
He's gone.
35:54
He's lived
35:54
lavishly.
35:55
He's wasted
35:56
it all.
35:57
He's gone and
35:57
lived as one
35:58
contrary to the
35:59
way his father
36:00
would have him
36:00
live.
36:01
But he
36:01
returns to
36:02
him and he
36:02
says,
36:03
Father, I
36:07
be called
36:13
your son.
36:14
I get that.
36:15
I'm not
36:16
coming to you
36:16
because I
36:16
expect anything
36:17
of you
36:18
whatsoever.
36:20
The second
36:20
one, 2
36:21
Corinthians
36:22
chapter 7.
36:23
Please do
36:23
turn here
36:23
with me.
36:37
So I
36:43
hope you
36:43
get that
36:43
2 Corinthians
36:44
is the
36:44
follow-up
36:45
letter to
36:45
1 Corinthians.
36:46
The second
36:47
letter that
36:48
Paul wrote
36:48
to the
36:48
Corinthian
36:49
church.
36:50
He was
36:50
pretty hard
36:51
on the
36:52
Corinthian
36:52
church in
36:52
his first
36:53
letter.
36:54
He was
36:54
setting
36:54
straight a
36:55
lot of
36:56
things that
36:56
needed to
36:57
be set
36:58
straight.
36:58
Listen to
36:58
what he
36:58
says here
36:59
beginning in
36:59
verse 8.
37:03
For even
37:04
if I made
37:04
you grieve
37:05
with my
37:06
letter,
37:07
I do
37:07
not
37:08
regret it
37:08
though I
37:09
did regret
37:10
it for I
37:11
see that the
37:12
letter grieved
37:13
you though only
37:14
for a little
37:14
while.
37:15
So catch
37:15
that.
37:16
He says
37:16
even if I
37:17
made you
37:17
grieve with
37:17
my letter,
37:18
I don't
37:19
regret it
37:20
now even
37:20
though I
37:20
did because
37:21
it grieved
37:21
you.
37:22
That saddened
37:23
him, these
37:23
people that
37:23
he loved.
37:24
But he
37:25
recognized it
37:25
only was for
37:26
a little
37:26
while.
37:26
Verse 9.
37:27
As it
37:28
is, I
37:28
rejoice not
37:30
because you
37:30
were grieved
37:31
but because
37:32
you were
37:32
grieved into
37:33
repenting.
37:34
For you
37:35
felt a
37:35
godly
37:36
grief.
37:37
So that
37:37
you suffered
37:37
no loss
37:38
through us.
37:40
For godly
37:41
grief produces
37:41
a repentance
37:42
that leads
37:42
to salvation
37:43
without regret
37:44
whereas worldly
37:45
grief produces
37:46
death.
37:48
For see what
37:48
earnestness this
37:49
godly grief has
37:50
produced to you
37:50
but also what
37:52
eagerness to
37:52
clear yourselves,
37:54
what indignation,
37:55
what fear,
37:56
what longing,
37:57
what zeal,
37:58
what punishment.
37:59
He's
38:02
overjoyed.
38:03
He's
38:03
happy that
38:04
it brought
38:04
about grief
38:05
because the
38:05
grief led
38:07
to repentance.
38:08
It's the same
38:08
picture of what's
38:09
happening here
38:10
to the Israelites
38:10
in the book of
38:11
Nehemiah.
38:12
Broken,
38:14
weeping over
38:15
their sin.
38:16
Visibly displaying
38:17
how distraught
38:18
they are over
38:19
this and then
38:20
calling on God
38:22
for the
38:22
deliverance of
38:23
their souls.
38:23
praise God
38:26
that even when
38:28
the but they
38:29
and the but we
38:30
exists,
38:32
the but you
38:32
is quick to
38:33
come along
38:34
behind it.
38:35
Join me in
38:36
prayer.