1 00:00:13,615 --> 00:00:15,455 Trip songs. You know, they're like the songs 2 00:00:15,455 --> 00:00:17,030 that you sing on your road trip 3 00:00:17,550 --> 00:00:19,310 when you're going with the family somewhere because 4 00:00:19,310 --> 00:00:21,550 they they sort of become the soundtrack to 5 00:00:21,550 --> 00:00:23,470 this communal life, and that would have been 6 00:00:23,470 --> 00:00:24,109 true for Israel, 7 00:00:24,604 --> 00:00:26,383 as they were making their way to jerusalem 8 00:00:26,442 --> 00:00:28,200 3 times a year wherever they had lived. 9 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,618 They were ascending because Jerusalem was higher 10 00:00:30,997 --> 00:00:32,915 top geographically than most places in the country. 11 00:00:33,075 --> 00:00:35,878 So they'd be ascending to Jerusalem to worship 12 00:00:35,958 --> 00:00:37,152 God. And as they would do that they 13 00:00:37,152 --> 00:00:38,267 would sing these psalms. 14 00:00:38,744 --> 00:00:39,859 This is 1 of the ones that they 15 00:00:39,859 --> 00:00:41,610 would sing. And so we're considering, how does 16 00:00:41,610 --> 00:00:43,223 it shape the life of a group of 17 00:00:43,223 --> 00:00:45,940 people if they're regularly reminding cells of the 18 00:00:45,940 --> 00:00:48,738 truths in these psalms and even singing them 19 00:00:48,738 --> 00:00:50,336 as a way of saying, we believe this. 20 00:00:50,496 --> 00:00:51,750 We were rejoice in it 21 00:00:52,344 --> 00:00:55,198 and so that's what we find ourselves in 22 00:00:55,198 --> 00:00:57,339 now for these 3 weeks. We looked at 23 00:00:57,339 --> 00:00:59,162 psalm 01:30 last week and we're thinking about. 24 00:00:59,654 --> 00:01:01,729 This regular habit of repentance, being a a 25 00:01:01,729 --> 00:01:04,123 group of people who are okay, they're more 26 00:01:04,123 --> 00:01:05,639 than okay, I guess, I would say is, 27 00:01:06,357 --> 00:01:07,235 who are eagerly, 28 00:01:07,886 --> 00:01:09,476 willing to say I admit I was wrong, 29 00:01:10,271 --> 00:01:11,623 I need to ask for forgiveness, and I 30 00:01:11,623 --> 00:01:12,894 need to turn away from the wrong that 31 00:01:12,974 --> 00:01:15,359 I did and just imagine what that produces 32 00:01:15,359 --> 00:01:16,631 in the life of a group of people, 33 00:01:17,044 --> 00:01:19,115 if they do that. And so we come 34 00:01:19,115 --> 00:01:20,571 to psalm 01:27 35 00:01:20,629 --> 00:01:22,541 today it's to fitting family Sunday, 36 00:01:23,259 --> 00:01:24,613 where all... You know, we have all our 37 00:01:24,613 --> 00:01:26,207 kids with us because we're gonna look at 38 00:01:26,207 --> 00:01:28,450 kids, and it work. We're gonna see how 39 00:01:28,450 --> 00:01:30,041 those 2 things relate to 1 another. It's 40 00:01:30,041 --> 00:01:31,633 a very pragmatic psalm, 41 00:01:32,428 --> 00:01:35,531 very short, very sweet into the point, and 42 00:01:35,611 --> 00:01:38,090 I... Think really, really helpful. I hope to 43 00:01:38,090 --> 00:01:41,110 you. Certainly helpful to me. Let's read the 44 00:01:41,110 --> 00:01:43,415 song together. Psalm 01:27, you'll find it on 45 00:01:43,415 --> 00:01:44,210 the screens there. 46 00:01:45,258 --> 00:01:46,526 You didn't bring a bible with you today. 47 00:01:47,635 --> 00:01:50,171 So begins a song of a sense of 48 00:01:50,171 --> 00:01:51,677 solomon interestingly enough. 49 00:01:52,391 --> 00:01:54,790 If says unless the Lord builds the house, 50 00:01:54,950 --> 00:01:56,881 those who build it labor in vain 51 00:01:57,414 --> 00:01:59,243 unless the Lord watches over the city, 52 00:01:59,799 --> 00:02:01,549 the watch stays awake in vain. 53 00:02:02,836 --> 00:02:03,630 It is vain, 54 00:02:04,346 --> 00:02:06,651 in vain that you rise up early and 55 00:02:06,651 --> 00:02:09,114 go late to rest, eating the bread of 56 00:02:09,114 --> 00:02:09,884 anxious toil 57 00:02:10,481 --> 00:02:11,755 where he gives his beloved sleep. 58 00:02:13,347 --> 00:02:15,417 If we hold children are heritage from the 59 00:02:15,417 --> 00:02:17,860 lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward 60 00:02:18,539 --> 00:02:20,397 like arrows in the hand warrior 61 00:02:20,776 --> 00:02:21,975 or the children of one's youth. 62 00:02:22,854 --> 00:02:24,612 Blessed is the man who feels his quiver 63 00:02:24,612 --> 00:02:26,770 with them. He shall not be put to 64 00:02:26,770 --> 00:02:29,185 shame when he speaks with his enemies in 65 00:02:29,185 --> 00:02:29,585 the gate. 66 00:02:30,544 --> 00:02:32,305 So like I said it's it's a short 67 00:02:32,305 --> 00:02:34,625 psalm at first reading. It probably feels almost 68 00:02:34,625 --> 00:02:36,800 like 2 different psalms in fact some scholars 69 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:37,840 look at it and go how do these 70 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:39,199 2 things relate to 1 another. I hope 71 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:40,879 I can show you how they relate to 72 00:02:40,879 --> 00:02:42,080 1 another. It seems like you talking about 73 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:43,927 work at the beginning. And children at the 74 00:02:43,927 --> 00:02:45,751 end, did you catch that? You might even 75 00:02:45,751 --> 00:02:46,941 think well, how are do these 2... You 76 00:02:46,941 --> 00:02:48,369 know, like, how do these 2 things relate? 77 00:02:48,527 --> 00:02:50,114 And essentially, here's what I would say. Let 78 00:02:50,114 --> 00:02:51,199 me give you a road map 79 00:02:51,795 --> 00:02:53,940 What the psalm is doing is he is 80 00:02:53,940 --> 00:02:55,926 laying out a general principle. So we're gonna 81 00:02:55,926 --> 00:02:57,832 find that in verse 1 and in verse 82 00:02:57,832 --> 00:02:59,739 2, where he's giving us this general principle 83 00:02:59,818 --> 00:03:00,851 I'll tell what that is in a second. 84 00:03:01,184 --> 00:03:03,113 And he's giving us a motivation 85 00:03:03,566 --> 00:03:05,789 to adhere to that principle, right, in in 86 00:03:05,789 --> 00:03:07,536 the following verses. And then when he picks 87 00:03:07,536 --> 00:03:09,617 up with children what he's doing, Is he's 88 00:03:09,617 --> 00:03:12,802 giving us another reit of that same principle, 89 00:03:13,041 --> 00:03:15,668 that same idea that's saying driving idea in 90 00:03:15,668 --> 00:03:17,022 a specific example. 91 00:03:17,753 --> 00:03:19,662 And then he's gonna give us another motivation. 92 00:03:19,901 --> 00:03:20,799 So it goes 93 00:03:21,174 --> 00:03:24,569 principal, motivation, principal motivation. Everybody with me? Super 94 00:03:24,769 --> 00:03:27,716 simple outline of the text today. So here's 95 00:03:27,716 --> 00:03:29,628 the general principle When you read it, those 96 00:03:29,628 --> 00:03:32,191 first versus, they tell us what this Soul 97 00:03:32,191 --> 00:03:34,336 about. And says, unless the Lord builds the 98 00:03:34,336 --> 00:03:36,323 house, those who build it, what? 99 00:03:37,197 --> 00:03:40,074 The labor in vain. Right? Now that word 100 00:03:40,074 --> 00:03:42,382 house could be taken to relate to the 101 00:03:42,382 --> 00:03:43,655 idea of family. It could be, like, unless 102 00:03:43,655 --> 00:03:45,485 you're building your family unless the lord is 103 00:03:45,485 --> 00:03:47,969 building your family. You're labor in vain, but 104 00:03:47,969 --> 00:03:50,279 it also can just mean literally physically building 105 00:03:50,279 --> 00:03:52,909 something, like doing your work. Your job, someone's 106 00:03:52,909 --> 00:03:53,705 job is building. 107 00:03:54,197 --> 00:03:56,498 Then he's saying, if you're labor in your 108 00:03:56,498 --> 00:03:56,998 work 109 00:03:57,370 --> 00:03:59,829 to build something and the Lord's not in 110 00:03:59,829 --> 00:03:59,988 it, 111 00:04:01,114 --> 00:04:02,705 you're labor in vain. And then he goes 112 00:04:02,705 --> 00:04:04,932 on to kinda of broaden the idea because 113 00:04:04,932 --> 00:04:06,443 he gives another type of work. Doesn't and 114 00:04:06,443 --> 00:04:07,898 he says, unless 115 00:04:08,288 --> 00:04:10,119 the Lord is in it. If the watch 116 00:04:10,119 --> 00:04:11,870 is staying up all night and watching over 117 00:04:11,870 --> 00:04:13,780 the city and and protecting the community. 118 00:04:14,815 --> 00:04:16,978 They're watching in vain if Lord himself isn't 119 00:04:16,978 --> 00:04:18,750 the 1 doing it. So here's the principal 120 00:04:19,283 --> 00:04:20,872 stated in the negative, which is how the 121 00:04:20,952 --> 00:04:23,018 Psalm states it. It would be this. It 122 00:04:23,018 --> 00:04:25,833 would be to say, you can't produce anything 123 00:04:26,443 --> 00:04:27,973 of value or meaning 124 00:04:29,059 --> 00:04:30,723 unless the lord's power and pleasure are in 125 00:04:30,723 --> 00:04:30,961 that thing. 126 00:04:32,573 --> 00:04:35,769 You cannot produce anything of value it might 127 00:04:35,769 --> 00:04:37,148 say lasting value 128 00:04:37,607 --> 00:04:40,175 unless the Lord's power and pleasure are in 129 00:04:40,175 --> 00:04:41,208 that thing. If you want to stay it 130 00:04:41,208 --> 00:04:42,717 in the positive, it would be this way, 131 00:04:43,353 --> 00:04:46,372 seek the lord's power and pleasure in every 132 00:04:46,372 --> 00:04:46,610 endeavor. 133 00:04:47,722 --> 00:04:50,678 Seek the Lord's power and pleasure in every 134 00:04:50,678 --> 00:04:53,142 work in every endeavor in everything you do. 135 00:04:53,301 --> 00:04:55,368 Whatever your work is that he gives you 136 00:04:55,368 --> 00:04:55,980 to do 137 00:04:56,418 --> 00:04:58,252 seek his pleasure in it. Now, here's what 138 00:04:58,252 --> 00:05:00,167 our I would argue you. Think if this 139 00:05:00,167 --> 00:05:00,725 is true of you. 140 00:05:01,443 --> 00:05:04,234 What our western minds do is they hear 141 00:05:04,234 --> 00:05:07,275 that. Okay. Yes. Unless the Lord builds the 142 00:05:07,275 --> 00:05:09,739 house, those who build it labor in vain. 143 00:05:09,978 --> 00:05:11,567 So immediately go, okay, if I don't have 144 00:05:11,567 --> 00:05:13,237 your power in this thing your pleasure in 145 00:05:13,237 --> 00:05:14,986 it. It's not gonna amount to anything. 146 00:05:15,479 --> 00:05:16,996 So how do I get your power and 147 00:05:16,996 --> 00:05:19,151 pleasure? We wanna how to. Do you find 148 00:05:19,151 --> 00:05:19,790 that in yourself? 149 00:05:20,748 --> 00:05:22,664 Like, okay, So tell me how. And the 150 00:05:22,664 --> 00:05:24,260 psalm is going to resist that? 151 00:05:24,914 --> 00:05:26,271 Because he's not a western mind. 152 00:05:26,830 --> 00:05:29,065 He's an eastern mind. And so he's saying 153 00:05:29,065 --> 00:05:31,619 to you and to I, the lord is 154 00:05:31,619 --> 00:05:33,455 not giving us a how to get his 155 00:05:33,455 --> 00:05:35,706 power in pleasure behind the things that we 156 00:05:35,706 --> 00:05:38,340 do. That's not what he's interested in. What 157 00:05:38,340 --> 00:05:40,416 he's going to do in the motivation he's 158 00:05:40,416 --> 00:05:42,411 gonna give us principal motivation, principal, 159 00:05:42,970 --> 00:05:45,376 motivation. Is he's going to say, I want 160 00:05:45,376 --> 00:05:48,166 you to open up your hands so that 161 00:05:48,166 --> 00:05:50,317 you will be completely dependent on me and 162 00:05:50,317 --> 00:05:51,845 what I want to do. 163 00:05:52,641 --> 00:05:54,788 Not how do I get your power behind 164 00:05:54,788 --> 00:05:55,425 what I'm doing? 165 00:05:56,141 --> 00:05:57,732 How do I join you in what you're 166 00:05:57,732 --> 00:06:00,222 doing? And open my hands to it. That's 167 00:06:00,222 --> 00:06:02,140 what the Psalm is making an effort to 168 00:06:02,140 --> 00:06:04,138 do today. Can I tell you that I 169 00:06:04,138 --> 00:06:04,378 spent, 170 00:06:05,177 --> 00:06:06,856 I spent about 2 weeks on this? And 171 00:06:06,856 --> 00:06:08,949 as I was studying, anyway, I spent, like, 172 00:06:09,029 --> 00:06:10,709 the first week trying to figure out where 173 00:06:10,709 --> 00:06:11,509 are the how to's? 174 00:06:12,550 --> 00:06:14,230 Where are the... How do I get your 175 00:06:14,230 --> 00:06:15,829 powers and I was trying to... In my 176 00:06:15,829 --> 00:06:17,841 head, find them and they're not in a 177 00:06:17,841 --> 00:06:19,597 sense they're not there. Now there's are some 178 00:06:19,597 --> 00:06:19,836 hints, 179 00:06:20,634 --> 00:06:22,629 but what this text is really about. I 180 00:06:22,629 --> 00:06:25,378 became convicted the long Studied it is just 181 00:06:25,435 --> 00:06:25,754 tread, 182 00:06:26,471 --> 00:06:27,847 open up your hands 183 00:06:28,541 --> 00:06:31,249 and receive from me everything that I have 184 00:06:31,249 --> 00:06:32,546 to give yield 185 00:06:33,081 --> 00:06:33,320 yourself. 186 00:06:33,892 --> 00:06:34,688 To me. 187 00:06:35,563 --> 00:06:37,631 Unless the lord preach the sermon those who 188 00:06:37,631 --> 00:06:38,029 preach it. 189 00:06:38,904 --> 00:06:39,620 Preach it in vain. 190 00:06:41,229 --> 00:06:42,747 That was what I was convicted of This 191 00:06:42,747 --> 00:06:44,745 psalm is about you yielding to god. 192 00:06:45,624 --> 00:06:48,100 It's about you surrendering every part of your 193 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:50,688 life to God. And saying, I am completely 194 00:06:51,222 --> 00:06:51,722 dependent 195 00:06:52,177 --> 00:06:53,950 upon you for everything, 196 00:06:54,484 --> 00:06:55,757 and I like it that way. 197 00:06:56,712 --> 00:06:58,558 I want it that way. Can can someone 198 00:06:58,558 --> 00:06:59,355 say amen to that. 199 00:07:00,550 --> 00:07:02,065 So listen, if you're not a follower of 200 00:07:02,224 --> 00:07:04,079 Jesus, 1 of the things that 201 00:07:04,536 --> 00:07:06,702 I need to help you see here is 202 00:07:06,702 --> 00:07:09,325 that we get, we, who are followers. We 203 00:07:09,325 --> 00:07:10,540 get that it's weird 204 00:07:11,312 --> 00:07:11,948 to say, 205 00:07:12,504 --> 00:07:15,579 depend completely on a being you can't see 206 00:07:16,498 --> 00:07:19,614 who you who we believe created everything and 207 00:07:19,614 --> 00:07:21,372 loves us and sin sun for us. Like 208 00:07:21,372 --> 00:07:23,390 we get that it's weird to rely 209 00:07:23,704 --> 00:07:26,901 on this unseen God. And I don't have 210 00:07:26,901 --> 00:07:29,618 any logical reason. I mean, I can point 211 00:07:29,618 --> 00:07:31,297 some out, but ultimately, my guess is you'll 212 00:07:31,297 --> 00:07:33,947 just excuse those away. All I can tell 213 00:07:33,947 --> 00:07:35,621 you is this is the more we learn 214 00:07:35,621 --> 00:07:37,932 to depend upon God, the more satisfied we 215 00:07:37,932 --> 00:07:38,968 are depending on him. 216 00:07:39,925 --> 00:07:41,120 It just is that way. 217 00:07:41,692 --> 00:07:43,596 And you won't experience that until you begin 218 00:07:43,596 --> 00:07:45,183 to do that. So I just need to 219 00:07:45,183 --> 00:07:47,167 tell you as you're exploring... I mean, I'm 220 00:07:47,167 --> 00:07:48,834 kind of assuming and forgive me for assuming 221 00:07:48,834 --> 00:07:50,000 this if you're here that 222 00:07:50,838 --> 00:07:52,217 even if you're just being a good 223 00:07:52,596 --> 00:07:53,315 son, daughter, 224 00:07:53,875 --> 00:07:56,831 husband wife, a good neighbor by showing up 225 00:07:56,831 --> 00:07:59,317 here because someone asked you to, Now, I'm 226 00:07:59,317 --> 00:08:00,907 still presuming there's some amount of seeking of 227 00:08:00,987 --> 00:08:02,973 God that's happening in your life. I hope 228 00:08:02,973 --> 00:08:04,404 there is. And man you're in the right 229 00:08:04,404 --> 00:08:07,836 place like keep keep coming, keep exploring, keep 230 00:08:07,836 --> 00:08:08,154 seeking. 231 00:08:09,425 --> 00:08:11,014 If that's true that there's some amount of 232 00:08:11,014 --> 00:08:13,080 seeking of god going on well it's even 233 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:14,644 just the most fractional amount. I just 234 00:08:15,324 --> 00:08:16,682 I just want you to see we get 235 00:08:16,682 --> 00:08:18,440 that it's weird to say depend upon an 236 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,198 unseen God, but we also wanted to say 237 00:08:20,198 --> 00:08:22,515 make room for considering that it's actually the 238 00:08:22,515 --> 00:08:23,407 best kinda life. 239 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,662 And you kinda... It's like if I had 240 00:08:26,662 --> 00:08:28,329 an apple up here and I was biting 241 00:08:28,329 --> 00:08:30,075 into it. You couldn't tell me what the 242 00:08:30,075 --> 00:08:32,034 apple tastes like because you're not actually taste 243 00:08:32,074 --> 00:08:34,062 and I I'm tasting it. It's a bit 244 00:08:34,062 --> 00:08:36,471 like that. It just is so sweet 245 00:08:37,004 --> 00:08:38,197 to depend upon the Lord. 246 00:08:38,833 --> 00:08:39,549 Not easy. 247 00:08:40,265 --> 00:08:40,503 Amen. 248 00:08:41,219 --> 00:08:44,421 Not easy. The suite. Alright. So let... Let's 249 00:08:44,421 --> 00:08:46,117 just walk away through the text and then 250 00:08:46,653 --> 00:08:47,849 see what it has to offer us again, 251 00:08:48,248 --> 00:08:50,001 by way of big picture, you see it 252 00:08:50,001 --> 00:08:50,320 immediately. 253 00:08:51,288 --> 00:08:52,820 How he's emphasizing the 254 00:08:53,272 --> 00:08:55,097 idea of complete dependence upon the lord. But 255 00:08:55,256 --> 00:08:56,447 I want... I wanna help you see it 256 00:08:56,447 --> 00:08:58,272 in the text that it's maybe even stronger 257 00:08:58,272 --> 00:08:58,986 than you might think. 258 00:08:59,639 --> 00:09:00,916 Outset because I want you to note that 259 00:09:00,916 --> 00:09:03,572 he said, not unless the lord 260 00:09:03,950 --> 00:09:06,026 gives you the strength to build the house, 261 00:09:06,584 --> 00:09:08,181 then you labor in vain. Is that what 262 00:09:08,181 --> 00:09:08,820 the tech said? 263 00:09:10,353 --> 00:09:11,872 No. You can look back down if you've 264 00:09:11,872 --> 00:09:12,431 got a bible. 265 00:09:13,230 --> 00:09:16,507 He said, unless the Lord builds the house. 266 00:09:17,786 --> 00:09:18,925 Unless the Lord 267 00:09:19,238 --> 00:09:22,126 watches over the city. Not he's not suggesting 268 00:09:22,263 --> 00:09:24,014 that you then have to sit down and 269 00:09:24,014 --> 00:09:25,606 pray for, like, got to snap his fingers 270 00:09:25,606 --> 00:09:26,481 and make a house up appear. 271 00:09:27,755 --> 00:09:29,680 But what he's saying is your dependence on 272 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:31,908 the lord to produce anything through your work 273 00:09:31,908 --> 00:09:33,283 is so massive 274 00:09:34,136 --> 00:09:35,966 that it's not just unless the lord gives 275 00:09:35,966 --> 00:09:39,401 you strength. It is literally that whatever is 276 00:09:39,401 --> 00:09:41,229 producers is only gonna be produced because he 277 00:09:41,229 --> 00:09:41,547 doesn't. 278 00:09:42,660 --> 00:09:45,703 You are completely and utterly depend all your 279 00:09:46,094 --> 00:09:47,053 all your effort, 280 00:09:47,612 --> 00:09:49,130 all your long hours, 281 00:09:49,689 --> 00:09:51,228 all your longing, 282 00:09:51,766 --> 00:09:52,985 all your labor, 283 00:09:54,092 --> 00:09:57,526 as unfair that sounds will amount to nothing 284 00:09:58,929 --> 00:10:01,403 unless the Lord is the 1 doing to 285 00:10:01,403 --> 00:10:01,563 work. 286 00:10:02,995 --> 00:10:04,847 Unless he is working through your hands 287 00:10:05,222 --> 00:10:07,393 and bringing about That's the level of 288 00:10:08,007 --> 00:10:09,939 complete reliance and dependence 289 00:10:10,808 --> 00:10:12,564 I'm gonna say the phrase a lot in 290 00:10:12,564 --> 00:10:14,959 the sermon open your hands. 291 00:10:16,316 --> 00:10:17,273 Open your hands, 292 00:10:18,231 --> 00:10:20,879 to yield to god to receive everything must 293 00:10:20,879 --> 00:10:22,314 go back to what I said about these 294 00:10:22,314 --> 00:10:24,170 psalms of a ascent. Can you imagine 295 00:10:24,867 --> 00:10:26,462 a group of people who 3 times a 296 00:10:26,462 --> 00:10:29,609 year are making this journey up to to 297 00:10:29,746 --> 00:10:31,819 meet with the Lord, and they're singing this 298 00:10:31,819 --> 00:10:32,218 psalm, 299 00:10:32,696 --> 00:10:33,515 they're saying 300 00:10:34,051 --> 00:10:35,646 unless the Lord builds the... I don't know 301 00:10:35,646 --> 00:10:37,240 what the tune to it would be. 302 00:10:38,130 --> 00:10:40,036 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who 303 00:10:40,036 --> 00:10:42,363 build it, labor in vain and they're reminding 304 00:10:42,419 --> 00:10:44,485 themselves of that truth and rehearsing it over 305 00:10:44,485 --> 00:10:46,629 and over. Wouldn't that become a people who 306 00:10:46,629 --> 00:10:47,320 were just 307 00:10:48,074 --> 00:10:50,061 completely and gladly dependent upon the lord and 308 00:10:50,061 --> 00:10:51,412 who were opening their hands and. We need 309 00:10:51,412 --> 00:10:53,240 you. We need you show up. 310 00:10:54,035 --> 00:10:55,465 And by the way, I think there's something 311 00:10:55,465 --> 00:10:57,783 particularly important that they would sing this on 312 00:10:57,783 --> 00:11:00,322 their way to do their religious work because 313 00:11:00,322 --> 00:11:02,544 there's a particular danger in religious work to 314 00:11:02,544 --> 00:11:04,528 just assume the Lord's power gonna be in 315 00:11:04,528 --> 00:11:06,535 it and to assume as pleasures in it 316 00:11:06,535 --> 00:11:07,731 when it very well may not be. 317 00:11:09,247 --> 00:11:11,001 Because you assume, oh, this is this is 318 00:11:11,001 --> 00:11:13,314 like the religious stuff. So of of, surely, 319 00:11:14,112 --> 00:11:17,077 God is in it. But man, how many 320 00:11:17,077 --> 00:11:18,910 times have we seen people and how many 321 00:11:18,910 --> 00:11:21,221 times have we been guilty of doing work 322 00:11:21,221 --> 00:11:23,029 in the name of the lord without ever 323 00:11:23,149 --> 00:11:25,384 is power without ever seeking is pleasure without 324 00:11:25,384 --> 00:11:27,698 ever saying, I'm open handed what do you 325 00:11:27,698 --> 00:11:28,895 want? I'd depend upon you. 326 00:11:29,693 --> 00:11:32,124 You can do all the religious type labor 327 00:11:32,183 --> 00:11:35,540 you want and unless the Lord does the 328 00:11:35,540 --> 00:11:37,698 work, those who do it, what church? 329 00:11:38,816 --> 00:11:40,495 Labor in vain. 330 00:11:41,148 --> 00:11:43,619 And they're reminding themselves of that as they're 331 00:11:43,619 --> 00:11:44,895 making their way to the house of the 332 00:11:44,975 --> 00:11:45,134 Lord. 333 00:11:46,091 --> 00:11:48,164 Unless Lord does the work. Unless Lord builds 334 00:11:48,164 --> 00:11:49,414 the house. So 335 00:11:50,169 --> 00:11:52,947 That's that first principle. He's hound us with 336 00:11:52,947 --> 00:11:54,240 it. He is being 337 00:11:54,931 --> 00:11:57,550 really tough about it. And then he comes 338 00:11:57,550 --> 00:11:59,235 down to verse to then, and now we 339 00:11:59,235 --> 00:12:01,304 come to the motivation. He wants to give. 340 00:12:01,543 --> 00:12:04,169 So he's saying, open up your hands. Be 341 00:12:04,169 --> 00:12:06,054 dependent upon the lord. Don't resist 342 00:12:06,809 --> 00:12:08,953 And then he's going to give us this 343 00:12:08,953 --> 00:12:09,906 motivation. Here is. He says, 344 00:12:11,415 --> 00:12:13,004 it is in vain that you rise up 345 00:12:13,004 --> 00:12:16,198 early and go late to rest and immediately 346 00:12:16,198 --> 00:12:17,715 we say, was, he just saying work? Like, 347 00:12:18,114 --> 00:12:20,828 working hard is foolish. Like, working hard is 348 00:12:20,828 --> 00:12:22,265 in vain that's not what he's saying. He's 349 00:12:22,265 --> 00:12:24,740 saying a particular kind of work is foolish. 350 00:12:25,315 --> 00:12:26,995 The kind of work that is marked by 351 00:12:26,995 --> 00:12:28,595 what the next phrase says. 352 00:12:29,475 --> 00:12:30,274 What does he say? 353 00:12:30,995 --> 00:12:32,214 Eating the bread 354 00:12:32,595 --> 00:12:34,330 of anxious toil 355 00:12:34,924 --> 00:12:36,430 And then he's gonna give us the contrast 356 00:12:36,430 --> 00:12:38,490 to that. So he's gonna say, all your 357 00:12:38,490 --> 00:12:40,472 hard work. All you're getting up early, all 358 00:12:40,472 --> 00:12:41,581 you're staying at the office late, 359 00:12:42,554 --> 00:12:45,195 labor and working hard, which is a good 360 00:12:45,195 --> 00:12:46,714 thing, not a bad thing the scriptures are 361 00:12:46,714 --> 00:12:49,214 very clear. We were made in God's image 362 00:12:49,274 --> 00:12:51,034 and made by his design to work. God 363 00:12:51,034 --> 00:12:53,126 is a god who at work. And Jesus 364 00:12:53,126 --> 00:12:55,440 said, to this day, I see my father 365 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,275 at work. Therefore I am at work. Right? 366 00:12:57,515 --> 00:12:58,414 So there's this 367 00:12:58,951 --> 00:13:01,203 really rich, which can't do all of today 368 00:13:01,203 --> 00:13:03,441 theology work, which we understand. I was made 369 00:13:03,441 --> 00:13:06,637 to work. I was made to to to 370 00:13:06,637 --> 00:13:07,277 produce things, 371 00:13:08,236 --> 00:13:11,381 but not whatever I choose, but whatever god 372 00:13:11,597 --> 00:13:13,506 designs me and makes me to do, and 373 00:13:13,506 --> 00:13:15,097 so I open my hands to him, 374 00:13:16,131 --> 00:13:18,373 so they he would labor through me. And 375 00:13:18,373 --> 00:13:19,248 so he says them, 376 00:13:20,839 --> 00:13:22,828 it's in vain to get up early and 377 00:13:22,828 --> 00:13:25,149 go to work and labor all day until 378 00:13:25,149 --> 00:13:27,455 the sun goes down in long hours, and 379 00:13:27,455 --> 00:13:29,045 you might think I'm gonna produce a lot, 380 00:13:29,999 --> 00:13:31,351 not if it's anxious toil. 381 00:13:32,782 --> 00:13:34,727 Not if the con of toilet that says 382 00:13:35,102 --> 00:13:36,294 it all depends on me. 383 00:13:37,565 --> 00:13:39,631 I'm the 1 that must produce it. Have 384 00:13:39,631 --> 00:13:41,936 you toil anxiously before? 385 00:13:44,095 --> 00:13:45,128 U. Yeah. You have. 386 00:13:46,081 --> 00:13:46,875 Yeah. You have. 387 00:13:47,749 --> 00:13:48,861 That deadlines come in. 388 00:13:51,005 --> 00:13:52,530 That person's to depending on you. 389 00:13:53,484 --> 00:13:54,995 Listen, I'm not saying there's not some, like, 390 00:13:55,313 --> 00:13:56,982 stress that come with men. And I've gotta 391 00:13:56,982 --> 00:13:57,857 get my work done, 392 00:13:58,652 --> 00:14:01,490 but there's a difference between, like, that hard 393 00:14:02,169 --> 00:14:05,370 fought, like well done labor and the kind 394 00:14:05,370 --> 00:14:07,289 that is marked by anxious and here's the 395 00:14:07,289 --> 00:14:08,809 contrast. Here's the contrast. 396 00:14:11,129 --> 00:14:13,055 It it's in vain that you eat the 397 00:14:13,055 --> 00:14:16,238 bread of anxious toil, why? What's the contrast? 398 00:14:17,114 --> 00:14:18,785 For he gives his what, 399 00:14:19,661 --> 00:14:19,979 beloved. 400 00:14:20,775 --> 00:14:21,108 It's sleep. 401 00:14:21,984 --> 00:14:23,418 There's the motivation, Not sleep. 402 00:14:25,647 --> 00:14:27,638 Sleep a good gift. Right? So everything awesome. 403 00:14:27,877 --> 00:14:29,524 Like I miss that 8AM class. Sleep 404 00:14:31,558 --> 00:14:32,515 No. What's he saying? 405 00:14:33,472 --> 00:14:36,342 There's a stream working anxiously and knowing that 406 00:14:36,342 --> 00:14:37,161 you're loved 407 00:14:38,017 --> 00:14:38,655 by God, 408 00:14:39,308 --> 00:14:40,984 and he will be the 1 to give 409 00:14:40,984 --> 00:14:42,978 the the fruit of your labor. He will 410 00:14:42,978 --> 00:14:44,813 be the 1 to produce it. So I 411 00:14:44,813 --> 00:14:46,902 opened my hands and I work as 1 412 00:14:46,902 --> 00:14:48,734 who knows that I'm love. So that's the 413 00:14:48,734 --> 00:14:50,429 motivation to get you to open your hands 414 00:14:50,486 --> 00:14:52,181 and to say whatever you want 415 00:14:52,558 --> 00:14:55,425 father. Whatever you want me to work. Whatever 416 00:14:55,425 --> 00:14:57,192 worked you want me to do. Whatever is 417 00:14:57,192 --> 00:14:59,762 gonna be produced through this work. It's all 418 00:14:59,978 --> 00:15:02,207 up to you. And, yes, I will labor 419 00:15:02,207 --> 00:15:03,720 hard, but not in a way that says 420 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,121 if depends upon me. And how do I 421 00:15:06,121 --> 00:15:07,552 do that? There is a bit of a 422 00:15:07,552 --> 00:15:08,348 how to here. Right? 423 00:15:09,143 --> 00:15:12,085 I remember that no matter what you love 424 00:15:12,339 --> 00:15:12,839 Me 425 00:15:13,455 --> 00:15:15,130 I know that might sound very, like, 426 00:15:16,087 --> 00:15:16,587 theoretical, 427 00:15:17,602 --> 00:15:20,313 but think about how many decisions in your 428 00:15:20,313 --> 00:15:22,638 life have been made that were great decisions 429 00:15:22,638 --> 00:15:24,628 because you knew that you knew that you 430 00:15:24,628 --> 00:15:26,379 knew that you were loved no matter what? 431 00:15:27,254 --> 00:15:29,721 I think about the the converse, how many 432 00:15:29,721 --> 00:15:31,728 really bad decisions were made? Because you were 433 00:15:31,728 --> 00:15:34,123 acting like or believing in your mind that 434 00:15:34,123 --> 00:15:35,560 you weren't loved or that you had to 435 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:36,039 earn love. 436 00:15:37,237 --> 00:15:39,233 I can in some way trace almost every 437 00:15:39,233 --> 00:15:41,322 bad decision in my life back to that 438 00:15:41,322 --> 00:15:41,720 reality. 439 00:15:42,674 --> 00:15:45,139 Believing I was loved, and being confident in 440 00:15:45,139 --> 00:15:48,558 it or failing to believe that. And therefore 441 00:15:48,558 --> 00:15:51,600 trying to manipulate or earn or make my 442 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:53,519 own way. Would you agree with that? 443 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,040 That's a sense what he's getting at. Here's 444 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:58,720 here's your motivation to open up your hands 445 00:15:58,720 --> 00:15:59,414 and say Lord what 446 00:16:00,094 --> 00:16:02,411 I need you. I'm completely dependent upon you. 447 00:16:02,650 --> 00:16:03,449 Here's the motivation. 448 00:16:04,328 --> 00:16:06,246 You are loved. You are loved. 449 00:16:06,725 --> 00:16:09,287 Are loved. Your loves. What George led us 450 00:16:09,287 --> 00:16:11,352 in singing about a minute go from Romans 451 00:16:11,352 --> 00:16:13,839 8, which reminds us nothing. Nothing 452 00:16:14,372 --> 00:16:16,794 can separate us from the love of God 453 00:16:16,850 --> 00:16:19,634 in Christ Jesus. Now if the Psalm can 454 00:16:19,634 --> 00:16:21,940 write this on the front side of the 455 00:16:21,940 --> 00:16:22,440 cross 456 00:16:22,815 --> 00:16:23,292 and say, 457 00:16:23,928 --> 00:16:24,246 God, 458 00:16:24,976 --> 00:16:27,697 loves his children, and he gives them rest. 459 00:16:29,181 --> 00:16:31,878 They can depend upon him. They can rest 460 00:16:31,878 --> 00:16:33,560 when it's time to rest. And they can 461 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:35,228 work when it's time to work. And even 462 00:16:35,228 --> 00:16:37,078 as they work, they work in a rest 463 00:16:37,213 --> 00:16:37,713 way 464 00:16:39,039 --> 00:16:41,342 because they trust that he's the 1 that 465 00:16:41,342 --> 00:16:42,350 must and will 466 00:16:42,787 --> 00:16:45,885 give the fruit of the labor. He's the 467 00:16:45,885 --> 00:16:47,077 1, not me. 468 00:16:47,713 --> 00:16:50,494 And the more the love child believes that. 469 00:16:50,732 --> 00:16:52,902 Right? The more they work in the way 470 00:16:52,902 --> 00:16:55,379 that honors the Lord and produces that fruit. 471 00:16:55,539 --> 00:16:56,758 And so he's 472 00:16:57,136 --> 00:16:58,415 connecting that for 473 00:16:59,224 --> 00:17:01,285 and giving us that motivation just to say 474 00:17:01,285 --> 00:17:04,772 again, open up your hands to the lord. 475 00:17:05,009 --> 00:17:05,168 Now, 476 00:17:07,010 --> 00:17:09,739 It's also helpful to remember, psalm 01:45 477 00:17:09,796 --> 00:17:10,114 says, 478 00:17:10,672 --> 00:17:11,865 psalm 01:45 says, 479 00:17:13,458 --> 00:17:14,015 verse 16. 480 00:17:14,908 --> 00:17:17,405 Says the lord opens his hand 481 00:17:18,104 --> 00:17:20,740 and satisfies the desire of every living thing. 482 00:17:21,634 --> 00:17:24,527 So think about that. This psalm psalm 01:27 483 00:17:24,664 --> 00:17:26,659 is saying in a very real sense, even 484 00:17:26,659 --> 00:17:28,573 though to use these words open up your 485 00:17:28,573 --> 00:17:31,698 hands and trust the lord to provide trust 486 00:17:31,698 --> 00:17:33,533 that the Lord will do the work because 487 00:17:33,533 --> 00:17:36,245 he loves you. You are his beloved children. 488 00:17:37,122 --> 00:17:39,036 And then psalm 01:45 comes right behind it. 489 00:17:39,276 --> 00:17:40,951 Not too much not too much further into 490 00:17:40,951 --> 00:17:42,952 the soul and it says the Lord himself 491 00:17:42,952 --> 00:17:44,167 opens his hand 492 00:17:44,699 --> 00:17:46,526 and satisfies the desire of every living thing, 493 00:17:47,002 --> 00:17:48,034 he's not tight fist. 494 00:17:48,828 --> 00:17:49,718 Neither should You. 495 00:17:50,754 --> 00:17:52,188 The picture is not he's here with his 496 00:17:52,188 --> 00:17:53,543 tight fist, and I'm here with my type 497 00:17:53,543 --> 00:17:55,854 fist. It is... He has an open hand, 498 00:17:56,332 --> 00:17:57,861 and I should open my hand. 499 00:17:58,897 --> 00:18:00,731 And how much more can we believe that 500 00:18:00,731 --> 00:18:02,405 in the Psalm when we now have the 501 00:18:02,405 --> 00:18:04,876 fixed point in all of history of the 502 00:18:04,876 --> 00:18:05,766 cross open Christ, 503 00:18:06,721 --> 00:18:08,549 which speaks to us what Romans 8 says 504 00:18:08,549 --> 00:18:10,537 you are loved by God and and it's 505 00:18:10,537 --> 00:18:11,434 his death 506 00:18:11,809 --> 00:18:13,717 and his resurrection that declares it and it 507 00:18:13,717 --> 00:18:16,356 can never be undone. How much richer of 508 00:18:16,356 --> 00:18:18,107 an understanding of his love net... Do I 509 00:18:18,107 --> 00:18:20,118 now get to have than even the Psalm 510 00:18:20,334 --> 00:18:21,925 got to have who didn't get to see 511 00:18:21,925 --> 00:18:22,402 that day? 512 00:18:23,436 --> 00:18:25,788 Alright. Now let's turn our attention. So that's 513 00:18:26,327 --> 00:18:26,827 principle 514 00:18:27,846 --> 00:18:29,604 motivation. Now let's see how he then applies 515 00:18:29,604 --> 00:18:31,682 that into a specific situation. We're gonna turn 516 00:18:31,682 --> 00:18:33,040 to kids and family. 517 00:18:34,095 --> 00:18:37,535 And what more important realm could he begin 518 00:18:37,535 --> 00:18:40,255 to apply this in? Alright? Now, listen, let 519 00:18:40,255 --> 00:18:40,894 me just say friends, 520 00:18:41,615 --> 00:18:42,734 every time we come to a text like 521 00:18:42,734 --> 00:18:45,707 this about family I fully recognize that there 522 00:18:45,707 --> 00:18:47,305 are some of you who who want kids 523 00:18:47,305 --> 00:18:49,302 and and aren't able to have them or 524 00:18:49,302 --> 00:18:49,861 not yet. 525 00:18:50,580 --> 00:18:52,989 There are those, who will never have children. 526 00:18:53,148 --> 00:18:54,344 There are those who have them and are... 527 00:18:54,663 --> 00:18:56,896 And there's some heartbreaking stuff going on with 528 00:18:56,896 --> 00:18:59,288 children. There's there's a... Maybe the way that 529 00:18:59,288 --> 00:19:00,299 there's a there's a 530 00:19:01,137 --> 00:19:03,931 big host of situations all sitting in this 531 00:19:03,931 --> 00:19:04,649 room. Yes? 532 00:19:05,686 --> 00:19:06,006 Yeah. 533 00:19:07,681 --> 00:19:10,174 Absolutely. So the Lord comes to in tender 534 00:19:10,174 --> 00:19:10,994 this now 535 00:19:11,774 --> 00:19:13,954 to speak about this reality 536 00:19:14,414 --> 00:19:16,575 and to give us these principles to motivate 537 00:19:16,575 --> 00:19:18,366 us to open our hands 538 00:19:19,062 --> 00:19:21,454 to whatever circumstances circumstance. And he's gonna use 539 00:19:21,454 --> 00:19:24,484 kids as the example, but there's endeavors for 540 00:19:24,484 --> 00:19:25,815 all of us that he has 541 00:19:26,493 --> 00:19:29,126 called us into works that he's called us 542 00:19:29,126 --> 00:19:30,961 into. In this case, he's gonna use children 543 00:19:30,961 --> 00:19:32,796 as that work, That example of that work. 544 00:19:33,115 --> 00:19:33,275 K? 545 00:19:34,250 --> 00:19:36,490 And so wherever you are with that, I 546 00:19:36,490 --> 00:19:38,970 wanna encourage you don't shut down. K? 547 00:19:40,009 --> 00:19:41,470 Stay in the text 548 00:19:41,783 --> 00:19:42,657 let it speak. 549 00:19:43,531 --> 00:19:45,438 Let it speak and let god's tender through 550 00:19:45,438 --> 00:19:47,346 his spirit minister to you and speak to 551 00:19:47,346 --> 00:19:48,481 you because even if 552 00:19:49,189 --> 00:19:51,422 as he engages around kids and children and 553 00:19:51,422 --> 00:19:53,973 families, and that's an area of of hurt 554 00:19:53,973 --> 00:19:54,531 for you. 555 00:19:55,169 --> 00:19:57,881 He still wants to speak to you. So 556 00:19:57,881 --> 00:19:59,330 yield open your hands. 557 00:20:00,048 --> 00:20:01,164 Know that he speaks to you as a 558 00:20:01,164 --> 00:20:02,279 tender father. Okay? 559 00:20:03,076 --> 00:20:04,192 So listen now he says this, 560 00:20:05,627 --> 00:20:07,876 behold children are a heritage from the lord, 561 00:20:08,355 --> 00:20:09,632 the fruit of the womb, 562 00:20:10,191 --> 00:20:12,825 a reward. Now, do you see our principal 563 00:20:12,825 --> 00:20:15,194 there again. So he's now getting... He's up 564 00:20:15,315 --> 00:20:16,994 applying that principal into the realm of children. 565 00:20:17,154 --> 00:20:19,315 What he's saying is in the same way 566 00:20:19,315 --> 00:20:21,794 then unless the lord builds the house, the 567 00:20:21,794 --> 00:20:24,287 person who builds it labor in vain you 568 00:20:24,287 --> 00:20:25,321 can't produce anything, 569 00:20:26,355 --> 00:20:28,502 apart from a value, apart from my power 570 00:20:28,502 --> 00:20:30,014 and my pleasure is saying the same things 571 00:20:30,014 --> 00:20:32,810 here. You are completely dependent upon me as 572 00:20:32,810 --> 00:20:35,035 it relates to children. In 2 ways in 573 00:20:35,035 --> 00:20:37,736 particular, the Lord is the give of kid, 574 00:20:38,466 --> 00:20:40,610 Now by his grace, he invites us into 575 00:20:40,610 --> 00:20:43,333 a participation in that, which is a miraculous 576 00:20:43,706 --> 00:20:46,009 beautiful design of god where he invites human 577 00:20:46,009 --> 00:20:48,327 beings to be in a sense c creators, 578 00:20:48,725 --> 00:20:49,701 but ultimately, 579 00:20:50,552 --> 00:20:54,468 all every single human who has ever drawn 580 00:20:54,524 --> 00:20:54,921 breath, 581 00:20:56,287 --> 00:20:58,036 is created by god, not by man. 582 00:20:59,388 --> 00:21:01,694 It's why we believe in this biblical review 583 00:21:01,694 --> 00:21:04,239 of the dignity of human life from conception 584 00:21:04,239 --> 00:21:05,034 to natural death. 585 00:21:06,323 --> 00:21:08,318 From 1 end to the other, and all 586 00:21:08,318 --> 00:21:10,314 human beings made in that image are worthy 587 00:21:10,314 --> 00:21:11,133 of dignity 588 00:21:11,830 --> 00:21:14,237 and protection and value you. 589 00:21:15,905 --> 00:21:17,572 An amen would go real well right there. 590 00:21:19,161 --> 00:21:20,987 So listen... I mean... And then sometimes got 591 00:21:20,987 --> 00:21:22,434 a beg for it. It's okay. You know? 592 00:21:24,272 --> 00:21:26,829 The the thing that he's saying is, yeah. 593 00:21:27,069 --> 00:21:28,667 I I told you, you can't build a 594 00:21:28,667 --> 00:21:30,585 house. The lord's... The ones gotta build it. 595 00:21:31,079 --> 00:21:32,036 Can't build a family either, 596 00:21:32,914 --> 00:21:34,031 the lord the 1 that has to be 597 00:21:34,031 --> 00:21:35,707 build If you think I'm the 1 building 598 00:21:35,707 --> 00:21:37,223 my family. If you think I'm the 1 599 00:21:37,223 --> 00:21:38,740 creating these children, you're wrong, 600 00:21:39,555 --> 00:21:40,595 He's saying I'm the 1. 601 00:21:41,555 --> 00:21:42,914 I'm the 1. So we got some kids 602 00:21:42,914 --> 00:21:44,515 in your kids. Can you help me out? 603 00:21:45,075 --> 00:21:46,674 Everybody say, I'm a gift from God. 604 00:21:48,365 --> 00:21:49,795 Let's try 1 more time real. I mean, 605 00:21:49,954 --> 00:21:51,463 I didn't real loud preach to us now. 606 00:21:52,258 --> 00:21:53,450 I a gift from God. 607 00:21:55,675 --> 00:21:56,231 That's right. 608 00:21:57,039 --> 00:21:59,499 That's exactly right. And your next time, your 609 00:21:59,499 --> 00:22:01,245 parents are giving you a hard time. You 610 00:22:01,245 --> 00:22:02,277 just turn to them and say, 611 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:06,277 I am a gift from god, 612 00:22:07,955 --> 00:22:09,153 and I don't know if a mom or 613 00:22:09,153 --> 00:22:11,391 dad might throw a little honor your father 614 00:22:11,391 --> 00:22:12,270 and mother at you. 615 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:15,651 But you can do a little scripture ninja 616 00:22:15,867 --> 00:22:16,367 action 617 00:22:16,902 --> 00:22:18,414 back and forth with each other. 618 00:22:21,518 --> 00:22:24,423 Every child is gift from god every single 619 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:27,029 1. We can't make them. God makes them. 620 00:22:28,463 --> 00:22:30,875 And acknowledging them as a gift 621 00:22:31,411 --> 00:22:32,780 is the part of the way that we 622 00:22:32,780 --> 00:22:34,533 show that we are open handed to God. 623 00:22:34,772 --> 00:22:36,127 We depend upon him. Now let me give 624 00:22:36,127 --> 00:22:37,640 you a little bit of statistics in but, 625 00:22:38,039 --> 00:22:39,632 in 19 60, I'll try to not be 626 00:22:39,632 --> 00:22:41,599 too dry with the statistics. In 19 6 627 00:22:41,798 --> 00:22:43,702 8. Always forget his first name. Last name's 628 00:22:43,702 --> 00:22:45,843 is Ehr. What's his last name? First name? 629 00:22:47,668 --> 00:22:49,835 Paul Ehr. 30 y'all familiar with Paul Ehr 630 00:22:49,835 --> 00:22:51,115 in 19 60 he wrote a book called 631 00:22:51,115 --> 00:22:53,434 the population bomb. And the thesis of this 632 00:22:53,434 --> 00:22:55,355 book was that basically, the world was headed 633 00:22:55,355 --> 00:22:57,195 to disaster because we were gonna be over 634 00:22:57,195 --> 00:22:59,120 popular. Related. Bring with too many people on 635 00:22:59,120 --> 00:23:00,950 the planet. And he, this was not some 636 00:23:00,950 --> 00:23:02,938 little niche thing. He was going on with 637 00:23:03,018 --> 00:23:03,916 Johnny Carson 638 00:23:04,450 --> 00:23:05,820 played on the tonight show, 639 00:23:06,379 --> 00:23:09,250 and before a national audience basically arguing that 640 00:23:09,250 --> 00:23:11,882 the government and and culture at large should 641 00:23:11,882 --> 00:23:13,956 basically impose penalties on people for having too 642 00:23:13,956 --> 00:23:14,355 many kids. 643 00:23:15,890 --> 00:23:18,369 Like, there should be, you know, tax problems 644 00:23:18,369 --> 00:23:20,130 that are created. Like, all kinds of, like, 645 00:23:20,609 --> 00:23:22,862 we've got to limit the number of children 646 00:23:22,862 --> 00:23:24,696 people are having. Now, listen, 647 00:23:25,334 --> 00:23:27,964 that is completely contrary to a biblical review. 648 00:23:28,443 --> 00:23:29,958 Right? And when we just read that... Man, 649 00:23:30,117 --> 00:23:32,121 children argue a from God. Right? That's the 650 00:23:32,121 --> 00:23:35,379 very opposite perspective. And I... I'm not, like, 651 00:23:35,777 --> 00:23:36,015 you know, 652 00:23:37,604 --> 00:23:40,078 I'm not a a bash culture guy. I 653 00:23:40,078 --> 00:23:41,187 don't like to spend a lot of time 654 00:23:41,187 --> 00:23:42,138 that, but it's helpful to know what kind 655 00:23:42,138 --> 00:23:43,169 of waters we're swimming in. 656 00:23:44,357 --> 00:23:45,759 And that those 657 00:23:46,277 --> 00:23:48,504 ideas are pervasive in our waters. We do 658 00:23:48,504 --> 00:23:50,811 not value children as a society. 659 00:23:52,402 --> 00:23:52,775 Now 660 00:23:53,213 --> 00:23:54,968 let me tell you what we're the reality 661 00:23:54,968 --> 00:23:56,744 now of what we're facing is 662 00:23:57,281 --> 00:23:58,499 every major 663 00:23:59,036 --> 00:24:01,668 country in the world is now facing a 664 00:24:01,668 --> 00:24:03,196 d population problem. 665 00:24:03,911 --> 00:24:06,453 We are not producing children at what soc 666 00:24:06,453 --> 00:24:09,154 called the replacement rate, which is basically the 667 00:24:09,154 --> 00:24:11,140 rate we need to sustain a society. 668 00:24:12,113 --> 00:24:13,469 No 1 is doing. The United States is 669 00:24:13,469 --> 00:24:14,826 a little better than some others. 670 00:24:15,464 --> 00:24:17,779 But if you follow, like, in countries like 671 00:24:17,939 --> 00:24:20,527 China and North Korea, the prediction is they're 672 00:24:20,662 --> 00:24:21,162 already 673 00:24:21,774 --> 00:24:24,950 decreasing in population, the estimation for the United 674 00:24:25,109 --> 00:24:28,223 States is somewhere in 20 64 675 00:24:28,223 --> 00:24:31,015 ish that we will cross over a threshold 676 00:24:31,015 --> 00:24:33,089 and begin to not produce enough children to 677 00:24:33,089 --> 00:24:35,416 replace ourselves to sustain the life of a 678 00:24:35,416 --> 00:24:37,561 nation. Now that's not just like a national 679 00:24:37,561 --> 00:24:39,389 problem because we want to keep existing as 680 00:24:39,389 --> 00:24:42,273 a nation. It's a perspective problem 681 00:24:42,584 --> 00:24:44,522 that is rooted in our dev 682 00:24:44,981 --> 00:24:47,538 of children, which is the exact opposite of 683 00:24:47,538 --> 00:24:49,695 what god says about children. I mean, again, 684 00:24:49,855 --> 00:24:51,549 and again, the skip scripture say they are 685 00:24:51,549 --> 00:24:53,630 a gift from God. They point us even 686 00:24:53,630 --> 00:24:56,350 to our children as as an indicator what 687 00:24:56,350 --> 00:24:58,269 it means to believe and have eternal life. 688 00:24:59,483 --> 00:25:01,402 No 1 will enter my kingdom unless they 689 00:25:01,402 --> 00:25:02,520 come to me like a what, 690 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:04,199 Like a child, 691 00:25:04,678 --> 00:25:06,676 Jesus taught. Our kids are precious. 692 00:25:07,156 --> 00:25:09,962 They are value false, and we are completely 693 00:25:09,962 --> 00:25:12,034 dependent upon God to have them. So listen, 694 00:25:12,273 --> 00:25:12,932 as of 695 00:25:13,547 --> 00:25:14,424 20 24, 696 00:25:14,981 --> 00:25:15,434 our 697 00:25:16,032 --> 00:25:18,582 fertility rates are down from 20 22 just 698 00:25:18,582 --> 00:25:20,733 2 years ago, by 3 percent. It's the 699 00:25:20,733 --> 00:25:21,791 it's the fastest 700 00:25:22,327 --> 00:25:24,319 slide that we've experienced over 2 year period 701 00:25:24,319 --> 00:25:25,115 in the history of our nation. 702 00:25:26,167 --> 00:25:27,465 So there's this massive 703 00:25:27,923 --> 00:25:28,481 challenge. Now, 704 00:25:29,199 --> 00:25:30,476 I bring all that up to say this. 705 00:25:32,151 --> 00:25:32,765 A lot of 706 00:25:33,997 --> 00:25:36,723 lot of people in the in in society 707 00:25:37,098 --> 00:25:37,757 in the 708 00:25:38,211 --> 00:25:40,358 in the art and the social sciences. 709 00:25:41,089 --> 00:25:42,603 Have basically made an argument that it's an 710 00:25:42,603 --> 00:25:44,754 economic problem. Cost of living is so high, 711 00:25:45,710 --> 00:25:47,065 you know, a lot of more women are 712 00:25:47,065 --> 00:25:49,315 working outside the home and their less likely 713 00:25:49,315 --> 00:25:51,255 to have kids that is basically an economic 714 00:25:51,794 --> 00:25:54,115 situation. There's some of that involved. But, 715 00:25:54,914 --> 00:25:57,486 Rachel Wise, and I forget her teammates name. 716 00:25:57,725 --> 00:25:58,682 They wrote a book called, 717 00:25:59,718 --> 00:26:02,269 what are children for, which again, not believers. 718 00:26:02,429 --> 00:26:04,342 These are folks coming from a secular perspective, 719 00:26:04,741 --> 00:26:08,134 and the more they interviewed people and and 720 00:26:08,595 --> 00:26:10,355 kinda tried to get to the bottom of 721 00:26:10,355 --> 00:26:10,855 this 722 00:26:11,394 --> 00:26:13,795 fertility rate, this d population problem that's coming. 723 00:26:14,529 --> 00:26:15,967 The more they saw that had nothing to 724 00:26:15,967 --> 00:26:17,885 do with economics, it just had to do 725 00:26:17,885 --> 00:26:19,584 with the fact that we now view children 726 00:26:19,643 --> 00:26:20,862 as not 727 00:26:21,241 --> 00:26:22,520 crucial to having a meaningful life. 728 00:26:23,652 --> 00:26:25,488 So the Pew research study did a study, 729 00:26:26,286 --> 00:26:28,521 not too many years ago, relatively recently. And 730 00:26:28,521 --> 00:26:30,277 when they asked folks, what is the key 731 00:26:30,277 --> 00:26:31,888 to a meaningful life, What are key things 732 00:26:31,888 --> 00:26:34,198 so a meaningful. 70 percent said, a career 733 00:26:34,198 --> 00:26:34,835 that I love, 734 00:26:35,790 --> 00:26:38,100 and that... You know, I'm successful in. 70 735 00:26:38,100 --> 00:26:40,250 percent. Less than 30 percent said, 736 00:26:40,823 --> 00:26:41,620 family and children. 737 00:26:43,612 --> 00:26:44,590 Now in a 738 00:26:45,205 --> 00:26:46,002 preceding age. 739 00:26:46,799 --> 00:26:48,153 So now what that does is it caused 740 00:26:48,153 --> 00:26:49,667 people to say, when you ask them, why 741 00:26:49,667 --> 00:26:50,359 are you not 742 00:26:50,718 --> 00:26:52,473 why why are you not having kids? 743 00:26:53,111 --> 00:26:54,387 The answer is because they get in the 744 00:26:54,387 --> 00:26:55,504 way of a meaningful life? 745 00:26:56,621 --> 00:26:58,934 That's the current perspective. When you asked the 746 00:26:58,934 --> 00:27:00,050 generation before ours, 747 00:27:01,423 --> 00:27:03,661 why are you having kids? The presumption would 748 00:27:03,661 --> 00:27:05,659 have been because that's absolutely part of a 749 00:27:05,659 --> 00:27:07,497 meaningful life? It's absolutely it's just a given. 750 00:27:07,737 --> 00:27:09,815 It was like a background information sort of 751 00:27:09,815 --> 00:27:11,529 a think that we have 752 00:27:11,990 --> 00:27:14,710 undone societal. Now I point all that out 753 00:27:14,710 --> 00:27:15,349 to say this. 754 00:27:16,630 --> 00:27:18,570 1 thing I want you to see is 755 00:27:18,710 --> 00:27:19,210 dev 756 00:27:19,750 --> 00:27:20,045 children 757 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:24,780 is directly related to our sense of autonomy 758 00:27:24,780 --> 00:27:25,258 from God. 759 00:27:26,213 --> 00:27:27,725 When you believe that children are a gift 760 00:27:27,725 --> 00:27:29,476 of God and they must be given by 761 00:27:29,476 --> 00:27:31,721 god if they're going to be given, then 762 00:27:31,721 --> 00:27:33,952 you are saying, I'm dependent upon you, and 763 00:27:34,032 --> 00:27:37,457 I'm gladly so. But as I disconnect myself 764 00:27:37,457 --> 00:27:40,339 from god and dependence upon them, do you 765 00:27:40,339 --> 00:27:41,932 see that what that leads to then is 766 00:27:41,932 --> 00:27:42,171 saying, 767 00:27:42,808 --> 00:27:45,037 I will do whatever I find to be 768 00:27:45,037 --> 00:27:45,537 meaningful 769 00:27:45,993 --> 00:27:46,550 in life. 770 00:27:47,267 --> 00:27:47,720 So 771 00:27:48,318 --> 00:27:50,393 that's the waters we're swimming in, 772 00:27:51,271 --> 00:27:53,746 and we are reminded by the song that 773 00:27:53,746 --> 00:27:54,884 we are completely 774 00:27:55,262 --> 00:27:57,593 dependent upon the lord. And and saying kids 775 00:27:57,593 --> 00:27:58,813 are a gift from god 776 00:27:59,591 --> 00:28:02,627 is a huge part of acknowledging that we 777 00:28:02,627 --> 00:28:05,319 are open handed. We have to be hands 778 00:28:05,439 --> 00:28:07,912 open before him as he's using this is 779 00:28:07,912 --> 00:28:09,188 an example of a kind of work in 780 00:28:09,188 --> 00:28:11,102 which we're dependent upon. The second way we're 781 00:28:11,102 --> 00:28:13,415 completely dependent upon God is we cannot control 782 00:28:13,415 --> 00:28:14,532 what our children become. 783 00:28:15,903 --> 00:28:17,021 Somebody say him amen to that. 784 00:28:18,538 --> 00:28:20,932 The longer I pair the more I am 785 00:28:20,932 --> 00:28:23,108 getting used to the idea, and I find 786 00:28:23,247 --> 00:28:25,577 do you find that it if you're parenting 787 00:28:25,577 --> 00:28:26,774 and you're raising your kids and they're still 788 00:28:26,774 --> 00:28:28,450 under your roof. Do you find that again 789 00:28:28,450 --> 00:28:30,525 and again, you find subtle ways that you 790 00:28:30,525 --> 00:28:31,802 want to control what they become? 791 00:28:33,254 --> 00:28:35,325 Like, I just want you to really love 792 00:28:35,325 --> 00:28:35,825 basketball. 793 00:28:38,193 --> 00:28:40,265 You laugh. That's real in my home. 794 00:28:41,947 --> 00:28:44,486 And I'm having to go, what if my 795 00:28:44,486 --> 00:28:46,176 kids want to 796 00:28:46,787 --> 00:28:47,104 like, 797 00:28:47,913 --> 00:28:48,809 play a musical 798 00:28:49,261 --> 00:28:50,847 instrument, and that's the they're passion. I'm like, 799 00:28:51,085 --> 00:28:52,354 I don't... I'm not into that. 800 00:28:53,464 --> 00:28:54,891 Do I want them to be what I 801 00:28:54,891 --> 00:28:55,446 want them to be? 802 00:28:56,334 --> 00:28:57,683 I just want them to be what God 803 00:28:57,683 --> 00:28:59,825 made them to be. I am learning more 804 00:28:59,825 --> 00:29:02,285 and more to turn to god and say, 805 00:29:02,364 --> 00:29:02,761 okay, God. 806 00:29:03,412 --> 00:29:05,638 Show me, show me what you made them 807 00:29:05,638 --> 00:29:08,022 to be, and my only job, my only 808 00:29:08,022 --> 00:29:08,522 job 809 00:29:09,056 --> 00:29:11,139 is to just steward them into that best 810 00:29:11,219 --> 00:29:13,696 I can. I cannot control what they become, 811 00:29:14,175 --> 00:29:16,093 and there are things in scripture that are 812 00:29:16,093 --> 00:29:18,171 very clear. I am to lead my kids 813 00:29:18,171 --> 00:29:19,702 to love the Lord. I'm lead them to 814 00:29:19,702 --> 00:29:21,613 noah his word on to lead them to 815 00:29:21,613 --> 00:29:24,161 to be kind and compassionate and full of 816 00:29:24,161 --> 00:29:26,310 love for neighbor. Yeah. I wanna lead... The 817 00:29:26,310 --> 00:29:28,397 those things are clear, but what's not written 818 00:29:28,397 --> 00:29:30,711 in scripture is whether my kid, where they're 819 00:29:30,711 --> 00:29:31,769 gonna go to school 820 00:29:32,466 --> 00:29:34,381 or what their occupation is gonna be 1 821 00:29:34,381 --> 00:29:34,540 day. 822 00:29:35,194 --> 00:29:36,795 Or if they'll marry or not marry. 823 00:29:37,275 --> 00:29:38,954 None of that is revealed in scripture. Can 824 00:29:38,954 --> 00:29:39,835 we all agree with that? 825 00:29:40,714 --> 00:29:41,214 And 826 00:29:41,595 --> 00:29:43,194 some of us are, like, treating our kids 827 00:29:43,194 --> 00:29:43,694 grades 828 00:29:44,730 --> 00:29:46,650 Like, we have to control them if they're 829 00:29:46,650 --> 00:29:47,690 gonna have a meaningful life. 830 00:29:49,450 --> 00:29:51,130 Because that's our vision of what a meaningful 831 00:29:51,130 --> 00:29:53,210 life looks like. Some of us are treating 832 00:29:53,210 --> 00:29:54,582 our kids hobbies. 833 00:29:55,858 --> 00:29:57,374 Like, if they don't get a college scholarship 834 00:29:57,374 --> 00:29:57,932 in this thing, 835 00:29:58,650 --> 00:30:00,484 that's not gonna be a meaningful life. 836 00:30:02,558 --> 00:30:04,429 Our only job job 837 00:30:05,368 --> 00:30:08,085 I cannot control. You cannot control what your 838 00:30:08,085 --> 00:30:09,863 kids become just 839 00:30:11,201 --> 00:30:13,371 again and again, say God. Who did you 840 00:30:13,371 --> 00:30:14,327 make them to be? 841 00:30:14,964 --> 00:30:16,637 That's what I wanna see. What did you 842 00:30:16,637 --> 00:30:17,434 make them to be? 843 00:30:18,868 --> 00:30:20,078 What's your does design. 844 00:30:21,113 --> 00:30:23,105 What pleases you about what you made them 845 00:30:23,184 --> 00:30:24,300 And you know what I find that does 846 00:30:24,300 --> 00:30:26,530 to me is it makes me really prayer. 847 00:30:27,964 --> 00:30:30,949 Before I start controlling my kids with my 848 00:30:31,006 --> 00:30:32,064 correction or my 849 00:30:32,838 --> 00:30:34,671 approval or lack of approval or whatever it 850 00:30:34,671 --> 00:30:37,060 is. I find myself going to God and 851 00:30:37,060 --> 00:30:39,788 saying, god, what do I do? 852 00:30:41,067 --> 00:30:43,384 Show me what to do. And you know 853 00:30:43,384 --> 00:30:45,862 what happens when I do that, couple things 854 00:30:45,862 --> 00:30:46,821 again and again happens. 855 00:30:47,380 --> 00:30:50,657 Number 1, He shows me my sin first 856 00:30:50,657 --> 00:30:51,055 usually. 857 00:30:52,723 --> 00:30:55,027 And I'm like, oh, that sin that they're 858 00:30:55,027 --> 00:30:57,586 doing that I've got correct is like, also 859 00:30:57,586 --> 00:30:58,063 in me, 860 00:30:58,858 --> 00:31:00,529 and it changes the way I correct it. 861 00:31:01,404 --> 00:31:03,631 It makes me much less harsh, much more 862 00:31:03,631 --> 00:31:03,924 patience 863 00:31:04,839 --> 00:31:06,112 because I wouldn't want it... I want the 864 00:31:06,112 --> 00:31:07,226 learn to be harsh with me for the... 865 00:31:07,464 --> 00:31:08,260 I'm doing the same thing. 866 00:31:09,532 --> 00:31:11,297 And I find myself going, oh, Alright. 867 00:31:12,490 --> 00:31:14,398 The other thing that it does is it 868 00:31:14,398 --> 00:31:17,341 it it takes my mind from here and 869 00:31:17,341 --> 00:31:20,124 the thing that somehow I have this idle 870 00:31:20,124 --> 00:31:22,441 that I want to be about this thing 871 00:31:22,441 --> 00:31:25,613 or to to do this or accomplish that 872 00:31:25,613 --> 00:31:28,839 or and I stop making my child an 873 00:31:28,959 --> 00:31:30,717 idol where I have to get them to 874 00:31:30,717 --> 00:31:31,756 do the thing that I want them to 875 00:31:31,756 --> 00:31:32,954 do to so that I look good or 876 00:31:32,954 --> 00:31:34,712 so that it it validates me as a 877 00:31:34,712 --> 00:31:36,230 parent. And I just start looking to the 878 00:31:36,230 --> 00:31:37,085 lord and I going 879 00:31:38,317 --> 00:31:39,987 whatever you whatever you made them to be 880 00:31:39,987 --> 00:31:40,782 is all the matters. 881 00:31:41,656 --> 00:31:42,929 And all of a sudden, I I just 882 00:31:42,929 --> 00:31:44,201 have this much more 883 00:31:46,845 --> 00:31:50,037 Helpful. I think, hopeful way of correcting them. 884 00:31:50,276 --> 00:31:52,771 It it makes me much more able 885 00:31:53,644 --> 00:31:54,144 to 886 00:31:55,244 --> 00:31:56,224 stick with 887 00:31:56,845 --> 00:31:57,984 them through 888 00:31:58,765 --> 00:31:59,744 a long, 889 00:32:00,684 --> 00:32:01,918 like long, 890 00:32:02,773 --> 00:32:04,767 like, why are you acting this way sort 891 00:32:04,767 --> 00:32:05,245 of moment? 892 00:32:06,043 --> 00:32:07,797 And instead of being just stop it. 893 00:32:08,833 --> 00:32:10,679 It helps me to actually I gotta shepherd 894 00:32:10,679 --> 00:32:12,028 with the heart. Gotta shepherd with the heart. 895 00:32:12,187 --> 00:32:13,457 I gotta ship with the heart. And that 896 00:32:13,457 --> 00:32:14,353 takes a long 897 00:32:14,726 --> 00:32:15,837 stinking time. 898 00:32:18,059 --> 00:32:20,783 But that's the goal. Right? So anyway, these 899 00:32:20,783 --> 00:32:21,980 are some learn lessons. 900 00:32:22,538 --> 00:32:23,415 Some of you guys are, like, 901 00:32:25,409 --> 00:32:27,643 12 times, 50 times better parent than I 902 00:32:27,643 --> 00:32:30,205 am. So I preaching to those who already 903 00:32:30,205 --> 00:32:32,511 know. But... Okay. So listen, that's the principle. 904 00:32:32,670 --> 00:32:34,976 We are dependent upon the Lord, open your 905 00:32:34,976 --> 00:32:35,215 hands. 906 00:32:36,010 --> 00:32:37,680 Now he gives us the motivation. You're ready 907 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:39,763 for the motivation. So if the motivation, the 908 00:32:39,763 --> 00:32:41,353 first time about our work and kinda of 909 00:32:41,353 --> 00:32:42,705 broadly was me you are loved. 910 00:32:43,341 --> 00:32:45,670 Remember that you're loved. Then the second 911 00:32:46,124 --> 00:32:48,192 motivation now is all the fruitful ness. 912 00:32:48,844 --> 00:32:50,361 That will come if you will open your 913 00:32:50,361 --> 00:32:52,037 hands. So isn't god good that he says, 914 00:32:52,197 --> 00:32:53,634 let me show you how good a fruit 915 00:32:53,634 --> 00:32:55,311 you're gonna get. If you open your hands 916 00:32:55,311 --> 00:32:57,386 and depend upon me and and love depending 917 00:32:57,386 --> 00:32:59,635 on on on me particularly when it comes 918 00:32:59,635 --> 00:33:01,549 to your kids with your family. So he 919 00:33:01,549 --> 00:33:04,680 says this, like Arrows verse 4, like arrows 920 00:33:04,898 --> 00:33:05,797 in the hand 921 00:33:06,413 --> 00:33:09,061 of a warrior are the children of one's 922 00:33:09,061 --> 00:33:09,380 youth. 923 00:33:10,258 --> 00:33:12,013 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver 924 00:33:12,013 --> 00:33:13,450 with them. He shall not be put to 925 00:33:13,450 --> 00:33:13,950 shame 926 00:33:14,328 --> 00:33:16,339 when he speaks with his enemies in the 927 00:33:16,339 --> 00:33:16,579 gate. 928 00:33:17,380 --> 00:33:18,980 Here's the 2 pieces of fruit that he's 929 00:33:18,980 --> 00:33:20,740 saying are gonna be born by this open 930 00:33:20,740 --> 00:33:22,659 handed person. Who knows they depend on the 931 00:33:22,659 --> 00:33:22,819 lord. 932 00:33:24,265 --> 00:33:26,353 Fruitful through impact now 933 00:33:26,807 --> 00:33:29,928 and fruitful through impact later or a legacy 934 00:33:30,381 --> 00:33:32,618 of impact. So you noticed he said, like 935 00:33:32,618 --> 00:33:35,000 arrows in the hands of a warrior. Well, 936 00:33:35,238 --> 00:33:36,508 to a warrior, what's an arrow? 937 00:33:37,222 --> 00:33:39,127 It's a tool for a really important work. 938 00:33:40,334 --> 00:33:42,352 Anything saying if you will recognize 939 00:33:42,731 --> 00:33:45,368 that you are completely dependent upon me to 940 00:33:45,368 --> 00:33:47,925 lead your child to to create your child, 941 00:33:48,499 --> 00:33:51,371 to to guide them through life. If you'll 942 00:33:51,371 --> 00:33:53,068 recognize that and and 943 00:33:53,525 --> 00:33:55,280 say unless you build it, it will not 944 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:58,156 happen if you will do that, what will 945 00:33:58,156 --> 00:33:59,269 happen is you will find that they are 946 00:33:59,269 --> 00:34:00,619 gonna be shaped like arrows. 947 00:34:01,652 --> 00:34:03,599 They are going to be shaped. Like arrows 948 00:34:04,777 --> 00:34:07,015 for my purposes. Now I love the metaphor 949 00:34:07,015 --> 00:34:09,034 of arrows? Because just think about what immediately 950 00:34:09,253 --> 00:34:11,011 comes to mind. How many bow hunters we 951 00:34:11,011 --> 00:34:11,490 got out there, 952 00:34:12,305 --> 00:34:14,785 some bow hunters. Alright. So handful. Yeah. Absolutely. 953 00:34:15,105 --> 00:34:16,545 So I'm not a bow hunter. 954 00:34:17,344 --> 00:34:19,505 I'm not great. I thought Archer at Camp 955 00:34:19,505 --> 00:34:21,184 1 summer. They gave me 10 minutes of 956 00:34:21,184 --> 00:34:23,199 instruction. Got and then told me to teach 957 00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:24,880 the kids and I can promise you, no 958 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:26,800 1 left that summer as a good archer, 959 00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:28,980 not a single person 960 00:34:29,599 --> 00:34:31,359 unless they had some lessons already coming in. 961 00:34:31,614 --> 00:34:33,688 Because here's what's implied by this metaphor of. 962 00:34:33,927 --> 00:34:37,038 Number 1, it implies a battle metaphor to 963 00:34:37,038 --> 00:34:39,590 our mindset in this world, which reminds us 964 00:34:39,590 --> 00:34:40,945 that we are not at war against flesh 965 00:34:40,945 --> 00:34:43,767 and blood, but we are at war against 966 00:34:44,063 --> 00:34:46,607 spiritual powers of darkness, principal personalities and powers, 967 00:34:46,846 --> 00:34:47,800 the scriptures say, 968 00:34:48,436 --> 00:34:51,140 and our children are weapons against the darkness. 969 00:34:52,669 --> 00:34:54,741 They are weapons. It not weapons to be 970 00:34:54,741 --> 00:34:56,893 used at our own disposable but as God 971 00:34:56,893 --> 00:34:58,327 gets hold of them as God gets hold 972 00:34:58,327 --> 00:35:00,731 of their heart, the kingdom of darkness shrinks 973 00:35:00,731 --> 00:35:02,402 and the kingdom of light grows. 974 00:35:03,516 --> 00:35:05,210 Their arrows. They are purposeful. 975 00:35:05,825 --> 00:35:09,183 They have massive purpose in this world. Then 976 00:35:09,183 --> 00:35:10,938 the second thing the metaphor of the arrow 977 00:35:10,938 --> 00:35:13,352 tells us is it takes a lot of 978 00:35:13,650 --> 00:35:16,441 intentional training to use an arrow well. 979 00:35:17,318 --> 00:35:18,275 Yes, My bow hunters? 980 00:35:19,643 --> 00:35:21,313 You didn't probably walk out and do a 981 00:35:21,313 --> 00:35:23,221 great job bow hunting. The first time you 982 00:35:23,221 --> 00:35:25,368 walked out. Right? The first... They don't put 983 00:35:25,368 --> 00:35:26,401 people on the front lines. 984 00:35:26,893 --> 00:35:28,243 I guess in the days when they fought 985 00:35:28,243 --> 00:35:29,117 with bows and arrows, 986 00:35:30,149 --> 00:35:33,166 the first day out, it probably trained. Yes. 987 00:35:34,119 --> 00:35:36,442 And so to thank him, my kids are 988 00:35:36,442 --> 00:35:37,956 like. There's gonna have to be a lot 989 00:35:37,956 --> 00:35:39,072 of intentional training, 990 00:35:39,948 --> 00:35:41,005 a lot of thoughtful, 991 00:35:41,382 --> 00:35:43,453 a lot of intentional in the way I 992 00:35:43,453 --> 00:35:46,100 approach this work of raising my kids. I 993 00:35:46,100 --> 00:35:48,734 can't just kinda fumble through it. I've gotta 994 00:35:48,734 --> 00:35:51,527 be very thoughtful and prayer and intentional and 995 00:35:51,527 --> 00:35:52,027 train 996 00:35:52,565 --> 00:35:54,167 myself and then the third thing is, 997 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:56,862 and I was, when is an arrow effective. 998 00:35:59,399 --> 00:36:00,192 It effective now? 999 00:36:03,062 --> 00:36:03,934 It's effective now. 1000 00:36:04,806 --> 00:36:06,893 An arrow is effective until it is 1001 00:36:07,820 --> 00:36:08,137 released. 1002 00:36:09,750 --> 00:36:10,789 Until it is released. 1003 00:36:11,750 --> 00:36:12,730 Some of you 1004 00:36:13,190 --> 00:36:15,670 are holding and tight to those kids. Now 1005 00:36:15,670 --> 00:36:17,512 listen if your kids are 3 months old, 1006 00:36:17,671 --> 00:36:18,623 it's not time yet. 1007 00:36:20,844 --> 00:36:22,192 If they're 33, 1008 00:36:25,796 --> 00:36:26,356 This time, 1009 00:36:30,031 --> 00:36:31,309 you have to release your kid. 1010 00:36:32,445 --> 00:36:33,965 Part of depending on the lord, part of 1011 00:36:33,965 --> 00:36:35,724 holding my hands open as saying Lord. 1012 00:36:36,684 --> 00:36:37,885 You hold them in your hands. 1013 00:36:39,659 --> 00:36:42,046 Have a purpose for them. I release them. 1014 00:36:42,603 --> 00:36:45,070 I release them. I love that. The arrow 1015 00:36:45,070 --> 00:36:46,503 metaphor is very helpful. Me mean, we actually 1016 00:36:46,503 --> 00:36:48,833 put have put arrows on the kids on 1017 00:36:49,223 --> 00:36:50,175 some of the kids walls, 1018 00:36:50,968 --> 00:36:53,268 just to remind us, that's their arrows, their 1019 00:36:53,268 --> 00:36:55,489 arrows, shape an arrow, shape an arrow. 1020 00:36:57,076 --> 00:36:58,597 On then the last thing is this idea 1021 00:36:58,597 --> 00:37:00,261 of a legacy. And do you see what 1022 00:37:00,261 --> 00:37:01,132 he's getting at When he says, 1023 00:37:02,163 --> 00:37:04,144 the the man who feels his quiver with 1024 00:37:04,144 --> 00:37:04,675 children, and 1025 00:37:05,514 --> 00:37:07,032 will not be ashamed in the gates. The 1026 00:37:07,032 --> 00:37:08,310 gates and the ancient near east were the 1027 00:37:08,310 --> 00:37:10,786 place where trials were held. And so what 1028 00:37:10,786 --> 00:37:12,956 the Psalm is essentially saying is when there's 1029 00:37:12,956 --> 00:37:16,059 an accusation made that that you dad, lack 1030 00:37:16,059 --> 00:37:18,685 integrity or that, you know, you're not operating 1031 00:37:18,685 --> 00:37:19,481 as you should, 1032 00:37:20,527 --> 00:37:21,953 your children will be the ones who will 1033 00:37:21,953 --> 00:37:22,666 come to your defense. 1034 00:37:23,537 --> 00:37:25,043 They will be the ones who will rise 1035 00:37:25,043 --> 00:37:26,786 up in the gate and say my father 1036 00:37:26,786 --> 00:37:28,393 is a man of integrity or in the 1037 00:37:28,393 --> 00:37:29,747 words of Proverbs 31, 1038 00:37:30,384 --> 00:37:33,172 blessed is the godly woman because her children 1039 00:37:33,172 --> 00:37:34,845 will rise up and call her, 1040 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:37,641 bless, a the scripture say. 1041 00:37:38,435 --> 00:37:40,894 So listen, again, we don't control our relations 1042 00:37:40,894 --> 00:37:42,323 to their kids or what's produced them, but 1043 00:37:42,323 --> 00:37:43,830 as we hold our hands open with him 1044 00:37:43,830 --> 00:37:45,519 and released and to the Lord. There's a 1045 00:37:45,519 --> 00:37:47,599 much higher likelihood than what we will find 1046 00:37:47,599 --> 00:37:49,920 is that they will return and call their 1047 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:50,900 parents a blessing 1048 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:53,599 and speak on their parents behalf and say, 1049 00:37:53,934 --> 00:37:55,074 They've left a legacy 1050 00:37:55,775 --> 00:37:58,335 of fruitful. They've left a legacy of love 1051 00:37:58,335 --> 00:38:00,815 of the Lord and of faithful work in 1052 00:38:00,815 --> 00:38:02,734 him. And don't we all want that? 1053 00:38:03,787 --> 00:38:05,143 I don't know a parent who doesn't want 1054 00:38:05,143 --> 00:38:07,138 their child to return home in their adult 1055 00:38:07,138 --> 00:38:09,372 ears and say, I bless your name. 1056 00:38:11,224 --> 00:38:12,025 You raised me well. 1057 00:38:13,304 --> 00:38:16,824 You loved me. You guided me. You released 1058 00:38:16,824 --> 00:38:17,065 me. 1059 00:38:17,704 --> 00:38:19,235 You launched. Me for the sake of the 1060 00:38:19,315 --> 00:38:21,940 Lord. All of us long for that. Every 1061 00:38:21,940 --> 00:38:23,452 single 1, those you who are not. Parents, 1062 00:38:23,532 --> 00:38:24,964 yeah, Those are you who are kids right 1063 00:38:24,964 --> 00:38:26,715 now, you will long for that Should the 1064 00:38:26,795 --> 00:38:27,590 Lord bring you children. 1065 00:38:29,038 --> 00:38:30,869 Nobody says I hope my kids never come 1066 00:38:30,869 --> 00:38:32,461 back and never bless my name. 1067 00:38:34,849 --> 00:38:36,618 Everybody wants their kids bless the name. And 1068 00:38:36,618 --> 00:38:37,817 by the way, kids take note of that. 1069 00:38:38,056 --> 00:38:39,973 Maybe bless the name of your parents today. 1070 00:38:40,932 --> 00:38:42,610 Maybe take the opportunity to say, 1071 00:38:43,501 --> 00:38:46,128 you you have steward my life well. Thank 1072 00:38:46,128 --> 00:38:46,287 you. 1073 00:38:48,516 --> 00:38:50,109 Every parent knows we will stand before the 1074 00:38:50,188 --> 00:38:51,880 Lord 1 day. We will give account. 1075 00:38:52,839 --> 00:38:54,199 We will give account. 1076 00:38:56,199 --> 00:38:58,094 Did we shape and fashion era 1077 00:38:59,090 --> 00:39:01,319 with open hands before the Lord. It's a 1078 00:39:01,319 --> 00:39:01,797 big deal. 1079 00:39:02,593 --> 00:39:04,765 So here's the here's the kinda 1080 00:39:05,221 --> 00:39:06,550 bring this full circle now 1081 00:39:07,547 --> 00:39:09,463 as this Psalm is teaching us it's saying 1082 00:39:09,463 --> 00:39:09,703 man, 1083 00:39:11,060 --> 00:39:13,614 open your hands, rely on the lord in 1084 00:39:13,614 --> 00:39:15,610 every endeavor because if he doesn't build the 1085 00:39:15,610 --> 00:39:17,541 house he doesn't create the family, it will 1086 00:39:17,541 --> 00:39:19,398 not be built. It will not be founded 1087 00:39:19,776 --> 00:39:22,090 that cannot happen. And so what this reminds 1088 00:39:22,090 --> 00:39:23,447 us of now is it tells us that 1089 00:39:23,447 --> 00:39:25,375 all our endeavors, all our work the work 1090 00:39:25,375 --> 00:39:27,440 of children and families, the work of whatever 1091 00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:29,267 your industry is, all of it. 1092 00:39:30,379 --> 00:39:31,094 When we work, 1093 00:39:32,523 --> 00:39:34,843 we are taught the gospel, Our work, teaches 1094 00:39:34,843 --> 00:39:35,720 us the gospel, 1095 00:39:36,119 --> 00:39:37,793 and the gospel teaches us how to work. 1096 00:39:38,271 --> 00:39:39,148 Isn't this beautiful. 1097 00:39:39,786 --> 00:39:41,539 When I go to labor, 1098 00:39:42,097 --> 00:39:42,949 I am reminded 1099 00:39:43,547 --> 00:39:45,938 lord unless you produce the fruit. It will 1100 00:39:45,938 --> 00:39:48,489 not come, which is the this is the 1101 00:39:48,489 --> 00:39:50,721 ultimate truth that is... The gospel was found 1102 00:39:50,721 --> 00:39:52,960 that on. I cannot save myself. 1103 00:39:53,675 --> 00:39:55,264 If the lord does not save me, I 1104 00:39:55,264 --> 00:39:56,057 will not be saved. 1105 00:39:57,726 --> 00:39:59,791 If the lord doesn't open my eyes and 1106 00:39:59,791 --> 00:40:01,317 and do the work through his son jesus 1107 00:40:01,477 --> 00:40:03,152 Christ on the cross. I cannot earn merit 1108 00:40:03,152 --> 00:40:05,465 it with God. So when I go to 1109 00:40:05,465 --> 00:40:07,379 work, and I say, it all depends upon 1110 00:40:07,379 --> 00:40:09,533 you. Guess what I'm learning. I'm learning the 1111 00:40:09,533 --> 00:40:11,221 gospel through my work. 1112 00:40:12,096 --> 00:40:15,358 Right? And then I apply the gospel to 1113 00:40:15,358 --> 00:40:16,789 my work, and I say, as I do 1114 00:40:16,789 --> 00:40:17,639 it, I do it... 1115 00:40:18,398 --> 00:40:19,675 Complete dependence upon you. 1116 00:40:20,393 --> 00:40:22,469 So work teaches the gospel and the gospel 1117 00:40:22,469 --> 00:40:24,066 teaches us how to work. Amen? 1118 00:40:25,343 --> 00:40:25,503 Amen. 1119 00:40:26,700 --> 00:40:28,629 Alright. Let's come to the Lord's table now 1120 00:40:28,629 --> 00:40:30,621 where we're reminded of the sacrifice of Jesus 1121 00:40:30,621 --> 00:40:31,817 a servers if you'll come. 1122 00:40:32,853 --> 00:40:34,527 We do this regularly as a as a 1123 00:40:34,527 --> 00:40:35,085 church body, 1124 00:40:36,856 --> 00:40:38,692 And as we do it, we always remind 1125 00:40:38,692 --> 00:40:40,607 if you're, 1 of our friends who's with 1126 00:40:40,607 --> 00:40:42,363 us, who's not a follower of Jesus. We'll 1127 00:40:42,363 --> 00:40:44,054 just invite you and that these elements pass. 1128 00:40:44,213 --> 00:40:46,150 And the reason we always say that 1129 00:40:46,847 --> 00:40:47,347 is 1130 00:40:47,804 --> 00:40:50,278 because we are proclaiming with our actions here 1131 00:40:50,278 --> 00:40:52,447 is as we partake of the the symbols, 1132 00:40:52,686 --> 00:40:55,159 these elements that that represent the body and 1133 00:40:55,159 --> 00:40:57,334 the blood of Jesus. We are saying 1134 00:40:57,791 --> 00:41:00,025 that we believe that he and he alone 1135 00:41:00,025 --> 00:41:01,300 can save us from our sins, 1136 00:41:02,033 --> 00:41:03,490 and give us eternal life 1137 00:41:04,187 --> 00:41:05,543 and that we have placed our faith in 1138 00:41:05,543 --> 00:41:08,255 that reality. And so as you're journey along 1139 00:41:08,255 --> 00:41:10,807 and exploring those claims that jesus has made, 1140 00:41:12,655 --> 00:41:14,328 until you come to that place, see I 1141 00:41:14,328 --> 00:41:16,239 believe, we'll just invite you to use this 1142 00:41:16,239 --> 00:41:19,664 time to consider those claims to to ponder 1143 00:41:19,664 --> 00:41:21,755 them to ponder the the word of god 1144 00:41:21,755 --> 00:41:23,755 that you've heard today. For those of you 1145 00:41:23,755 --> 00:41:24,875 who are followers of Jesus, 1146 00:41:25,434 --> 00:41:26,795 this is your church home, if it's not, 1147 00:41:27,034 --> 00:41:28,714 this table is open to you for all 1148 00:41:28,714 --> 00:41:30,969 who have come to God and reconcile him 1149 00:41:30,969 --> 00:41:32,809 through faith and Jesus, is tables open. 1150 00:41:33,450 --> 00:41:35,130 Now as you come to it, the scriptures 1151 00:41:35,130 --> 00:41:37,210 also instruct us, and they instruct us not 1152 00:41:37,210 --> 00:41:38,422 to take of it lightly. 1153 00:41:39,300 --> 00:41:41,157 But to come in a her sober way 1154 00:41:41,456 --> 00:41:43,452 and to hold our hands open before the 1155 00:41:43,452 --> 00:41:45,527 lord and say what what do you want 1156 00:41:45,527 --> 00:41:47,612 to deal with me about? Is there anything 1157 00:41:47,612 --> 00:41:49,518 that you want to change that I need 1158 00:41:49,518 --> 00:41:51,503 to be made aware of, and I'm listening, 1159 00:41:52,218 --> 00:41:54,760 and I commit myself then to to yield 1160 00:41:54,760 --> 00:41:56,523 to you and walk in that change. As 1161 00:41:56,523 --> 00:41:57,023 you 1162 00:41:57,479 --> 00:41:59,470 leave me in it. So we'll take time 1163 00:41:59,470 --> 00:42:00,425 to consider that, 1164 00:42:01,381 --> 00:42:03,213 that open handed this before the lord as 1165 00:42:03,213 --> 00:42:05,125 we come to his table. So service you 1166 00:42:05,125 --> 00:42:06,967 can come and we'll partake altogether here in 1167 00:42:06,967 --> 00:42:07,685 just a few moments. 1168 00:42:09,681 --> 00:42:09,815 If you