WEBVTT 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:11.359 You're listening to this edition of the world. 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:18.079 I remember with clarity the person that I used to be before I was saved. 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:22.000 I remember with happiness. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:31.679 I don't know if you can relate to what I'm about to say, but I hated who I was as a human being. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:41.280 And when Christ came into my life when he blessed me, and I became a born-again Christian, I'll tell you everything changed. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:46.960 At The Road, our vision is to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:51.359 For more information on the road, visit theroad.org. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:54.640 We hope you are encouraged by today's message. 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:08.719 In praying about the service, I really felt the Lord leading me to talk to you about the Iranic Blessing out of Numbers chapter 6. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:11.359 Has anyone ever heard a message on the ironic blessing? 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:12.959 I'm just curious. 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:14.239 A few? 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:14.959 All right. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:18.319 Well, hopefully this will be as good as the one you heard, brother. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:20.159 Time will tell, right? 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:31.200 Two weeks ago, I preached on Matthew 5.6, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:41.280 The purpose of that message was to cause you to hunger and to thirst for the deeper things of God so that you could be blessed. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:50.159 Last Sunday, Pastor Ryan spoke about the importance of hope as our hope is tied into the reality of heaven. 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:51.920 Did you enjoy that message last week? 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:52.560 Amen. 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:54.640 Let's give him a clap offering here. 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:57.040 There we go. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:01:58.239 Thank you, Ryan. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:07.840 So I wanted, see, Ryan and I didn't plan this, but I'm bringing the third message of the Bless You series. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:13.759 So many people have a misunderstanding of God. 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:19.199 They've been wounded, they've been hurt by figures in authority. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:28.240 Moms, dads, pastors, coaches, people that you should have been able to trust that prove that they were not trustworthy. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:41.759 And the sad reality is that when those kinds of wounds happen, it has a tendency to change our view of the person that we really can trust the most with our lives. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:03:13.520 And my whole desire this morning is to try to convince you from the Scripture that every blessing that you've ever received in life has been by the hand of the God who loves you, who wants the very best for you, who so desires to minister to you with such profound intimacy, more than you can begin to imagine or think. 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:21.680 So when we when we open to number 6, verse 27, let me just go ahead and read it to you. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:25.759 I want you to notice, first of all, who the characters are. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:28.319 Who are the people involved in this? 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.400 The Lord spoke to Moses. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:32.159 Who's talking to Moses? 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:34.639 Thank you. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:36.800 Very important. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:50.800 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel and you shall say to them, Now please understand what's happening here. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:57.280 More than likely, Moses has just come out of the Holy of Holies. 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:01.439 He's been communing with the Father. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.919 They're getting ready to finally inhabit the promised land. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:10.080 And God wants to bless them before they cross over. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:17.920 And God is saying, Moses, I'm going to give to you my personal blessing. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:20.240 These are my words. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:22.079 These are not the words of men. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:27.199 These are not the words of the priests or the prophets or the kings to come. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:39.439 These are my words given to you so that my priest who stands before the people can proclaim to them the truth of my heart. 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:46.879 Very important that you understand where this is coming from and its purpose. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:53.839 And you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you. 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:58.560 The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:02.800 The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:11.439 And then verse 27, so shall they put my name upon the people of Israel and I will bless them. 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:14.240 Do you see the heart? 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:17.839 Choose that background for a reason. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:21.759 I want you to understand God's heart. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:29.759 Not through the experiences that you've had through life, and trust me, some of you have had some really bad experiences. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:43.519 Some of you have prayed in earnest for things that you're going through to change so that there could be a light at the end of the tunnel and just a little bit of hope, and you're still waiting. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:50.560 Some of you have been disappointed and you've been hurt. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:57.360 And some of you may be really, really mad at God Himself. 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:05.600 Because of the things that you've experienced or the things that you had hoped to experience and just haven't happened, and why? 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:06.720 And where is he? 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:11.040 And if God is a God of love, then how can these things possibly happen? 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:24.079 Those of you that witness to others casually or decidedly, how many times have you heard somebody say, if God were a good God, why would he allow these things to happen? 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:25.759 Terrible things to happen? 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:31.439 If he is a good God, if he is a loving God, how can he allow these kinds of tragedies to happen? 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:33.439 You've experienced that, haven't you? 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:43.519 And sometimes we don't quite know what to say to that because it's like, yeah, I can relate because I'm kind of dealing with the same stuff. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:59.279 So this prayer, if you were to write out all of the prayers on scripture, which there are numerous, Paul's are some of the most fabulous, there is no prayer that you could ever pray for another individual that can be improved upon. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:03.600 This is God's prayer for you. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:06.560 These are his words for you. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:09.920 You can't improve on God's direct communication, can you? 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:14.319 So the Iranic blessing has three specific segments. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:17.279 Each division is broken up into two. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:21.759 And so I'm going to go ahead and break those down for you one by one. 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:25.839 The first is the most general, verse 24. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:28.720 God's blessing is his goodness poured out. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:34.720 The priest called upon him not only to provide for the people, but also to defend them from all evil. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:36.399 May the Lord bless you. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:39.040 The word bless is barach. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:43.199 It's a primitive word which means to kneel down. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:44.560 To kneel down. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:48.000 Now I have 16 grandchildren. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:57.759 And most of them are considerably shorter than I am, except for a few that are adults now. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:00.879 But I remember, do you remember when you were littler? 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:05.680 How the Grampy would come up and he would kneel down and pick you up? 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:08.800 Can I see your hands if you're a grandparent here? 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:09.199 Okay. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:11.519 Do you know what I'm talking about? 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:16.959 You know, you kneel down so that you can bless them. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:24.319 And God is saying, I love you so much that I am willing to kneel down. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:26.399 I am willing to bend down. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:27.600 I am willing. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:28.800 I am desirous. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:31.120 I want to touch your life. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:32.080 Why? 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:35.039 Because I love you. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:44.720 Wesley's expository notes to bestow upon you all manner of blessing, temporal and spiritual. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:49.360 To keep, that is, to continue his blessing to you. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:52.480 I don't want to just bless you one time. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:57.840 I want to bless you throughout all time. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:06.559 Sometimes you hear somebody, I remember years ago, when I was a new Christian, we used to have Wednesday night services. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.480 I've just dated myself. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:13.519 And Wednesday nights were dedicated to testimonies. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:17.039 And you'd have somebody stand up and they'd give their testimony. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:21.279 And I always wondered when that happened. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:24.480 Was it yesterday? 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:26.159 A week ago? 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:27.279 A year ago? 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:28.799 A decade ago? 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:34.879 God wants to bless you every day of your life. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:48.159 He wants you to have a fresh testimony of his love, a fresh expression of his desire to be intimate with you every single day of your life. 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:51.360 Acts 3 and verse 26. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:58.639 It was to you first that God sent his servant and son Jesus. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:10.080 When he raised him up, provided and gave him for us to bless us and turning us, every one of you, from wickedness and evil ways. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:17.440 Remember the word bless is not just physical, tangible things, but he wants to bless you spiritually. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:23.279 How many of you can say with me that you feel blessed that God has turned you away from sin? 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:24.559 Can I see your hand? 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:30.960 For those of you that didn't raise your hands during communion, there will be prayer teams on the left and on the right. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:35.120 We would invite you to come forward because we want you to be blessed. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:42.799 I remember with clarity the person that I used to be before I was saved. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:48.000 I remember, not with happiness, but with sadness. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:56.559 I don't know if you can relate to what I'm about to say, but I hated who I was as a human being. 00:10:57.440 --> 00:11:06.960 And when Christ came into my life, when he blessed me, and I became a born-again Christian, I'll tell you, everything changed. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:10.320 God's desire is to bless you. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:21.440 James 1:17, every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:28.480 Every blessing, those of you that are happily married, just the men only, may I see your hands? 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:30.879 Okay, ladies, did you notice? 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:31.519 Okay. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:35.440 You have been blessed in marriage. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:36.240 Amen. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:36.879 Men? 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:41.679 I'm sorry, men, you have been blessed with the wife that you have with you today. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:42.639 Is that correct? 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:46.000 That's what I thought you were going to say. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:59.519 And the women that have children, and I know children can be well difficult at times, and I have one of mine sitting here this morning, and I love you. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:04.879 And I am blessed that you are my daughter. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:12.559 Every blessing that you have, the job that you think you have your jobs because you're all that in a bag of chips. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:22.960 I went to college, I got my master's, I got my PhD, I have this job because I earned it. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:25.759 I pulled myself up from the bootstraps. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.360 You really believe that? 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:30.639 God wants to set you free. 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:38.559 Whatever blessing you may have this morning has come from the Father of Lights, saved or unsaved. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:47.200 Whatever you have that you consider to be a blessing is by the hand of Almighty God. 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:49.360 Because he loves you. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:52.399 Not because you earned it, not because you deserved it. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:55.919 He just wanted to shower you. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:58.639 But that's not the only thing. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:04.000 He wants to keep you, he wants to bless you, and he wants to keep you. 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:07.120 I accepted Christ in 1969. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.080 This is 2017. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:13.519 I've never backslid one time. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:16.879 He's kept me. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.039 Now I've had opportunity. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:24.240 Oh yeah, I could tell you stories that would bring tears to your eyes. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:27.440 He's kept me. 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:31.919 The only people who are not tempted are dead. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:34.399 He's kept me. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:41.679 Have dealt with temptation every single day of my life as a believer. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:43.440 Yes, it's true. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:45.360 And it's true for you too. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:46.399 Don't look at me like that. 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:47.519 You deal with it too. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.200 Come on, let's be honest. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:54.080 He doesn't just bless you, he keeps you. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.200 He keeps you. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:02.000 Is there a greater blessing outside of salvation? 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:27.840 John Gill's expository Bible says this from the evil of the world, from the hell, from the evil of Satan, from the evil of sin, from the from its power, its prevalence, its dominion of it, and from falling totally and finally by it and keep in state of grace until everlasting salvation. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:29.679 God is a keeping God. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:35.600 These are the words of Jehovah. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:40.480 These are the words of Yahweh to his people. 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:45.039 Say to my people these words. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:54.399 Say to them, not one time, the Iranic blessing was a regular ritual when they came together for worship. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:58.559 Psalms 121, verses 5 through 8. 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:08.960 The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is the shade on your right hand, and the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:11.840 The Lord will keep you from all evil. 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:14.159 He will keep your life. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:22.879 The Lord will keep you going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:25.759 God will keep you. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:34.879 Now, for those of you that may be here this morning saying, I wish it were true, because you don't know my story. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:37.759 Let me just say this to you. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:41.919 There's no temptation that you've ever dealt with. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:46.000 It is not common to the person sitting right next to you. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:54.799 And God's promise is that with the temptation, He also understands how much you can endure. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:57.440 He knows what your breaking point is. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:02.799 His promise is he will never allow you to be tempted above what you can actually stand. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:08.639 And you might say, Well, George, I wish that were true. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:16.480 If you yielded, it was a premeditated decision on your part. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.200 You moved, but God didn't. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:22.000 God's promise is true. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.840 And he will keep you. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:25.759 He will live up to his word. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:28.559 He will administer his word. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:37.759 Submit to God, resist the enemy, he will flee. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:40.000 That is a keeping promise. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:42.639 That's a keeping promise. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:49.679 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 8 in the New Living Translation. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:59.360 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:03.679 God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:09.359 And He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:11.920 He is faithful to do what He said. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:14.160 He will bless you. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:16.079 He will keep you. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:20.079 How long have you been unemployed? 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:23.279 Where is God's blessing? 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:27.279 What about that prodigal son or daughter? 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:37.519 And I've done everything that I've known to do as a parent to really raise them in a way that would honor Christ and bless their lives, and for whatever reason, they've walked away. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:41.680 Where is the keeping power of our God? 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:49.680 Where is the blessing when my heart breaks, not knowing whether or not that prodigal is even alive or dead? 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:53.279 Am I talking to the right crowd this morning? 00:17:54.319 --> 00:18:04.160 There are times when we have problems with the promises of God because we really believe that we're doing our part, and for whatever reason, God isn't doing his. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:08.559 I mean, I want to be honest with you this morning. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:10.960 I want to give you hope. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:14.319 Bad things happen to good people. 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.839 It just does. 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.079 We live in a broken world. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:22.960 We live in a world where we use sex to sell used cars and hamburgers. 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.400 Can you believe that? 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.640 It's true. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:30.559 We live in a world that is anti-Christ. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:40.559 And sometimes things happen to us that are separated from the promise of God simply because of the wrong decisions of other people. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:43.759 Not just because of the wrong decisions that we make. 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:52.720 Sometimes we suffer because someone else made a grievous error in judgment. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:56.079 But I want you to hear me this morning. 00:18:56.319 --> 00:19:06.240 Regardless of the situation that you're in, regardless of the disappointment that you may have brought with you to church this morning, God's word is true for you. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:24.480 And if you can walk out of here today believing, hanging on to the fact that He wants to bless you, that He wants to keep you, and that He can redeem whatever situation you are currently in, then you're going to experience something supernatural. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:31.440 May the Lord's face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:40.240 The word shine in the Hebrew literally means luminous, set on fire. 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:46.000 The second blessing is more specific than the first, verse 25. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:50.799 God's face is the revelation of his personality. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:57.039 It radiates as fire does, consuming evil and bestowing light and warmth. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.640 And it shines as the sun, promoting life. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:11.039 God's graciousness refers to the manifestation of his favor and grace in the evidence and the events of life. 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.559 God shines. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:29.200 Exodus 12, 21, when I think about the blessing of the Lord, his capacity to keep, that he really desires to stoop down and humble himself to touch us. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:33.759 But I mean the fact that he even thinks about us is kind of extraordinary. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:43.039 There are some believe that God is so distant, he created us, kind of like giving birth to a baby, leaving it on the doorstep and going on with life and paying no attention. 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:44.799 That's not the God we serve. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:56.640 We serve a God that is intimately involved with every detail, every care, every concern, every hope, every fear, every failure, every aspect of your life. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.920 He cares. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.000 He shines. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:02.480 Exodus 12, 21. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.920 And the Lord went before them. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:08.480 They've been delivered out of Egypt. 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:12.319 They're on their way to the Red Sea. 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:17.759 The Egyptians were not the only enemies that the children of Israel faced. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.960 There were many. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:34.559 And the testimony is, and the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light that they might travel both day and night. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.839 Now, Cecil B. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:46.400 DeMille did a pretty good job, pretty good job with the movie he produced, and he didn't even have all the cool technology we have today. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:56.319 But I can envision that pillar of fire at night just radiating the face of God in front of the people. 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:59.759 I can just see him looking down. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:03.039 Involved. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:06.160 Not distant, involved. 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:15.839 And letting the light of his countenance in the form of a pillar of fire lead them through the darkness. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:22.000 I went through a time of darkness a couple of times. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:28.880 And I can tell you this, I experienced the shining of his face. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:35.680 Psalms 31, 16, make your face shine on your servant. 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:38.880 Save me in your steadfast love. 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:41.839 Save me in your steadfast love. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:52.160 Psalms 80 and verse 3, restore us, O God, let your face shine that we may be saved. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:56.400 Show us your personality. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:05.039 Reveal the true you to us so that our hope can be rekindled. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:08.160 So that our courage can be bolstered. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:10.160 Reveal yourself. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.200 Shine. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.799 Allow us to see you in the darkness. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:18.799 And be gracious to us. 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:27.200 Again, to bend or to stoop in kindness to an inferior. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.759 Are we inferior to God? 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:32.319 I mean, can we say that in church? 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:38.160 I know we're saints, but compared to God, I think we're inferior. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:41.359 Kind of like an ant trying to understand brain surgery. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:43.599 There's a bit of inferiority there. 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:59.440 But God, God wants to, again, not just be up on the high in holies, but God is willing to actually come to us and bend down and expose himself to us. 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.880 He's personal. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.119 He's personal. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:07.359 He wants to be personal to you. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:10.319 He wants you to experience him. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:17.359 Not just to have a mental ascent, not just to have a correct theological view. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:20.000 He wants to touch you. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:25.200 He wants to be gracious to you. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:31.599 Isaiah 30, verse 18, therefore the Lord waits to be gracious. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:36.880 And therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:39.200 For the Lord is a God of justice. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:42.319 Blessed are those who wait for him. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:49.680 For those of you that are a part of the road and you're doing PBJ, we're just about done with the book of Ezra. 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:53.519 It's really an interesting book. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:59.759 You have to get through the first couple of chapters and then it gets interesting. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:02.000 That's what I experienced personally. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:15.279 But I love the part where the king issues a decree and says, I want those of you who want to go back to Israel and Judea, go ahead and go and rebuild the temple of the Lord. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:22.559 And so almost 50,000 of them journey, they make the trip and they start rebuilding. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:26.960 And their enemies, can we join you? 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:29.839 Can we join you in rebuilding the house of the Lord? 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.079 And they said, you have no part of this. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:34.160 You have no part of us. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:45.359 And so if we can't join you, if we can't kind of sneak in and do subtle sabotage, then we'll just do this overtly in your face. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:47.839 And they shut them down. 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:55.039 Depending on the commentator that you read, somewhere between 10 and 15 years, the work on the temple stopped. 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.920 And they waited. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:03.759 And they waited because they had the decree of God, go and rebuild. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:12.400 Well, God, we're trying to go and we're trying to rebuild, but our enemies have come against us and we have just we're just shut down. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.160 There's nothing more we can do. 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:26.319 Except to wait patiently, trusting that what you said will come to pass, even if it takes time. 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:29.680 And I don't understand why you delay the way that you do. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:32.319 Maybe that's the question you brought with you this morning. 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:35.839 If God is so great, why the delay? 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:43.039 We've prayed and we've prayed and we've laid hands and we've anointed with oil and we're still waiting, and where's the promise of God? 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:45.680 Maybe they were thinking the same thing. 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:50.720 It's been five years, it's been ten years, it's almost fifteen years. 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.319 Where's the promise of God? 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:56.000 And all of a sudden the Lord moves on a new king's heart. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:27:00.240 Those of you that have read Ezra. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:17.599 And the cool thing about that whole story is, to make a long story short, is that Ezra, the king, issues a new decree and says, not only will they be permitted to rebuild, but those of you that have come against them, you're gonna pay for the rebuilding. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.279 I love that part. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.960 I love that part. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:33.440 And I was thinking of somebody that I love very much who's been in a waiting mode for so many years, and I actually began to pray this scripture for them. 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:40.640 That God would enable them to be patient while God works in secret. 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:46.799 Jesus loved Lazarus, he loved him. 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:56.799 And the word comes to Jesus, you know, your friend Lazarus is sick, but if you can hurry up and get here, then you can heal him and he'll be just fine. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:03.200 And Jesus hears the message and purposely delays, purposely. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:08.240 You have to understand Jesus loved this family. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:13.920 And it was it was a simple journey to get from where he was to where Lazarus was sick. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.359 It was a simple journey. 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:17.599 But he chose not to go. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:22.960 And when he finally shows up, people are at the tomb and they're still weeping. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:26.319 Still weeping days after he's been buried. 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:30.559 And Mary kind of confronts Jesus. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:33.759 Maybe a little bit of anger there. 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:40.319 You know, if you had been here, if you had been here, he would still be alive. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:44.799 Well, Mary, do you believe in the resurrection? 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.359 Answer from her head. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:49.440 Well, of course I believe in the resurrection. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:52.799 That answer didn't come from her heart, it came from her head. 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:57.119 She had the theological understanding someday there'll be a resurrection. 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:59.039 I am the resurrection. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.559 Roll away the stone. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.319 Oh, Lord, please. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:05.359 I mean, by now the body stinks. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:08.559 Roll the stone away. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:17.200 You see, I came to bless, I came to keep, I came to be gracious. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:30.960 And even in delay, when you think it's dead and it's gone and there's nothing left to hang a promise on, I am still able. 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:34.319 And he said, Lazarus, come forth. 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:38.079 Blessed are those who wait for him. 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:41.519 And some of you are waiting. 00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:52.720 Some of you are here this morning listening, and it's like, well, that sounds really great for the person who's blessed and has full-time employment and is married because I'm single and I'm sick of being single. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:55.119 That's great for the person who's really res. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.720 What about me? 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:01.200 What about my needs? 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:08.480 Blessed are all of those who wait for him. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.599 Can you wait? 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:18.319 Can you hang on to the promise that is more sure than the sun rising in the morning? 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:22.559 Interesting story about God's graciousness. 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:25.359 You're familiar with Jonah and Nineveh? 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:33.599 Nineveh was one of the most powerful cities, maybe the most powerful city in this particular time. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:36.240 And it was wicked. 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:43.680 The Hebrew word for wicked was really, really bad wicked. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:57.519 And God says, Jonah, I'm going to send you, and I want you to go, and I want you to tell them how wicked they are, and I'm going to wipe them off the face of the earth. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.680 But see, here's what Jonah understands. 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:08.640 Jonah understands that God is gracious and he's compassionate and he's scared to death that if he goes, they might repent. 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:11.039 And I mean, that would be terrible. 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:16.079 Because they deserve, they deserve the wrath of God to come upon them. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:19.119 And so Jonah goes the opposite direction. 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:22.640 And you know the story about the fish, and he's in the belly for three days. 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.000 He's vomited up. 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:29.920 Probably skin is bleached, smells to high heaven worse than a carp and the sun for five days. 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:34.160 If you've never smelled a carp, you don't even know what I'm talking about. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:43.599 I mean, if I saw Jonah walking in, God's going to destroy you, repent, I'd be looking at him, and I'd be on my knees, I'd be on my face. 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.480 Yes, yes. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.359 You know. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:48.400 And exactly what he feared happened. 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:51.279 Chapter 4, verses 1 and 2. 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:55.680 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:32:03.119 Because when he walked through the city, God is going to destroy you because of your exceeding wickedness. 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:05.119 Everyone fasted. 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:07.920 No water, no food. 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:24.240 The animals, no water, no food, from the highest person up, from the king to the lowest, youngest child, every single person, every animal humbled themselves before God and begged for mercy. 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:27.119 And God relented. 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:30.799 And Jonah is ticked off. 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:42.640 And he prayed to the Lord and said, Oh Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my journey? 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:45.920 That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish. 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:56.559 For I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relenting from disaster. 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:02.319 That's the gracious God that we serve. 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:10.000 There are some people that you meet that are going to say, it's too little, it's too late, it's over for me. 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:13.119 God, you don't understand the life that I've lived. 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:15.680 God can't be gracious to me. 00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:17.119 He can't bless me. 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.400 He can't keep me. 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:20.480 His face will not shine upon me. 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:22.480 But he's been talking to me like this. 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:24.319 His back is to me. 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:36.079 And you can say to them with absolute assurance, if God can forgive the people of Nineveh, trust me, you're a cakewalk. 00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:48.720 There is no sin so great, save one, that God is not willing to prove his graciousness and forgive. 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:54.400 May the Lord turn his face to you. 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:56.480 Panin. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:01.119 May he turn his face to you. 00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:06.079 You ever been in a conversation? 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:10.480 See, I'm a counselor, my friend John, he's a counselor. 00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:22.480 And we can attest that most of the things that we hear about is, I just don't understand why my husband can't be present when I'm trying to talk to him. 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.559 Is that right, John? 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.920 Your children come up to you. 00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:30.239 They have something important to say. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:33.280