Series B – Seventh Sunday of Easter – Sunday, May 16, 2021 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough
| Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough: |
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:28 | the holy gospel according to saint john |
| 0:30 | the 17th |
| 0:32 | chapter glory to you |
| 0:35 | oh lord Jesus said |
| 0:39 | holy father keep them in your name which |
| 0:41 | you have given me |
| 0:42 | that they may be one even as we are one |
| 0:45 | while i was with them i kept them in |
| 0:47 | your name which you have given me |
| 0:48 | i have guarded them and not one of them |
| 0:50 | has been lost except for the son of |
| 0:51 | destruction that the scripture might be |
| 0:53 | fulfilled |
| 0:54 | but now i am coming to you and these |
| 0:56 | things i speak in the world |
| 0:58 | that they may have my joy fulfilled in |
| 1:00 | themselves |
| 1:01 | i have given them your word and the |
| 1:03 | world has hated them because they are |
| 1:05 | not of the world just as i am not of the |
| 1:07 | world |
| 1:07 | i do not ask that you take them out of |
| 1:09 | the world but that you keep them from |
| 1:10 | the evil one |
| 1:12 | they are not of the world just as i am |
| 1:14 | not of the world sanctify them in the |
| 1:16 | truth |
| 1:17 | your word is truth as you sent me into |
| 1:20 | the world so i have sent them into the |
| 1:21 | world |
| 1:22 | and for their sake i consecrate myself |
| 1:24 | that they also may be sanctified |
| 1:26 | in truth this is the gospel of the lord |
| 1:30 | in the name of Jesus all right |
| 1:34 | a little bit of a confession here i |
| 1:36 | don’t always eat the way i should |
| 1:38 | is that is it just me have you ever |
| 1:40 | noticed that like |
| 1:42 | there’s certain foods that you are |
| 1:44 | tempted to eat and you |
| 1:46 | know that if you eat them you’re gonna |
| 1:49 | suffer for it later |
| 1:50 | right i mean my midsection is proof |
| 1:53 | okay my midsection is proof that not |
| 1:55 | everything i eat is healthy |
| 1:57 | and not everything i eat is good for me |
| 1:59 | and you’ll note that |
| 2:01 | as human beings we generally try to eat |
| 2:05 | right but then again those people who |
| 2:07 | are always talking about |
| 2:08 | all the right foods they’re sketchy you |
| 2:11 | know we kind of keep them at a distance |
| 2:12 | you know |
| 2:13 | something a little bit off with them |
| 2:14 | they’re just a little too uptight |
| 2:16 | but all of that being said none of us |
| 2:19 | would really be willing to have a salad |
| 2:23 | with strychnine on top of it you know as |
| 2:26 | part of the salad dressing nobody would |
| 2:28 | do that |
| 2:29 | right because well our life would come |
| 2:32 | to an abrupt end |
| 2:33 | poison is a bad thing and so as we |
| 2:36 | consider our gospel text today |
| 2:39 | we’re going to note the fact that what |
| 2:40 | we are listening to here |
| 2:42 | is a section of scripture that biblical |
| 2:44 | scholars have referred to for |
| 2:46 | a long long time as Jesus’s |
| 2:49 | high priestly prayer we get to listen in |
| 2:53 | as Jesus prays for the church |
| 2:55 | and you’re going to note that this is an |
| 2:57 | important and vital function that Christ |
| 2:59 | continues to this day in the book of |
| 3:01 | hebrews it’s very clear |
| 3:02 | that Jesus is our great high priest |
| 3:06 | and not only that he’s also the |
| 3:08 | sacrifice for our sins |
| 3:10 | paul puts it this way in ii timothy |
| 3:12 | there is one god |
| 3:14 | there is one mediator between god and |
| 3:17 | men |
| 3:18 | and that is the man Christ Jesus |
| 3:21 | he is our mediator he is our |
| 3:24 | advocate he is the one who prays for us |
| 3:27 | and so as we are given a glimpse of |
| 3:30 | Christ’s prayers for the church for the |
| 3:34 | saints |
| 3:34 | we might want to pay attention because |
| 3:37 | you can hear |
| 3:38 | some of the will of god for us all here |
| 3:41 | especially as it relates to |
| 3:43 | how we Christians are sanctified |
| 3:47 | so it says this Jesus praying for his |
| 3:50 | church |
| 3:51 | says i am no longer in the world but |
| 3:53 | they are in the world |
| 3:54 | and i am coming to you holy father keep |
| 3:57 | them in your name which you have given |
| 3:58 | me |
| 3:59 | that they may be one even as we are one |
| 4:02 | and we’ll note this past thursday was |
| 4:04 | actual ascension day we didn’t have |
| 4:05 | ascension day services but it’s |
| 4:06 | important to note |
| 4:07 | that in the history of how the |
| 4:10 | lectionary works |
| 4:11 | you know you have easter and then |
| 4:12 | ascension comes just a little bit before |
| 4:15 | pentecost |
| 4:16 | and so already Christ has ascended to |
| 4:18 | the |
| 4:19 | throne and to be with his father but |
| 4:22 | here you’re going to note one of the |
| 4:23 | first things he prays for |
| 4:25 | us is that we be |
| 4:28 | one you know unified |
| 4:32 | you know one holy catholic |
| 4:35 | and apostolic church right this is what |
| 4:38 | he wills but here’s the question i have |
| 4:39 | for you |
| 4:40 | what is it that cause division in the |
| 4:42 | church what causes divisions |
| 4:45 | what does scripture say is the cause of |
| 4:48 | divisions |
| 4:49 | answer false teachers they’re the ones |
| 4:52 | who cause |
| 4:53 | divisions and so in order for us to be |
| 4:56 | one we’re gonna have to be one around |
| 4:59 | something |
| 5:00 | we have to be one and united in thought |
| 5:02 | and mind |
| 5:03 | and in mission and that’s only gonna |
| 5:05 | come from one place and that’s gonna |
| 5:07 | come from god himself and Christ will |
| 5:09 | in this prayer reveal to us the source |
| 5:12 | then |
| 5:12 | of how we can become unified |
| 5:16 | when we sinful human beings seem to be |
| 5:18 | at odds with each other and with the |
| 5:20 | whole world at times |
| 5:21 | especially as it relates to theology |
| 5:23 | doctrine the bible things like this |
| 5:26 | so Christ goes on to continue praying he |
| 5:28 | says while i was with them |
| 5:29 | i kept them in your name which you have |
| 5:31 | given me |
| 5:32 | i have guarded them not one of them has |
| 5:34 | been lost except for the son of |
| 5:36 | destruction |
| 5:37 | so that the scripture might be fulfilled |
| 5:40 | scriptures are never |
| 5:41 | broken they are always fulfilled god’s |
| 5:43 | word doesn’t return to him void isaiah |
| 5:45 | 55 makes that |
| 5:46 | very clear that god’s word always |
| 5:49 | accomplishes the thing for which he sent |
| 5:50 | it |
| 5:51 | and since the old testament prophets |
| 5:53 | prophesied the word of the lord |
| 5:54 | that while there would be one who |
| 5:56 | betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver |
| 5:58 | and that he would have a destruction |
| 6:01 | well that destruction has come |
| 6:02 | the word of god always accomplishes that |
| 6:04 | for which he sends it it cannot be |
| 6:06 | broken |
| 6:07 | but now i’m coming to you and these |
| 6:09 | things i speak in the world |
| 6:11 | that they may have my joy fulfilled in |
| 6:13 | themselves |
| 6:14 | and i have given them your word and the |
| 6:17 | world has |
| 6:18 | hated them because they are not of the |
| 6:20 | world |
| 6:21 | just as i am not of the world |
| 6:24 | by the way we Christians we human beings |
| 6:27 | i should put it this way |
| 6:28 | we don’t like it when people don’t like |
| 6:30 | us have you noticed that i mean it’s |
| 6:32 | kind of a fair thing it’s like |
| 6:34 | you know what did i ever do to you yeah |
| 6:36 | when somebody is |
| 6:37 | really upset with us or or has secretly |
| 6:40 | become our enemy |
| 6:42 | i didn’t really realize i had a nemesis |
| 6:44 | and now all of a sudden i have one what |
| 6:45 | has happened here |
| 6:46 | we don’t like it when we’re not liked |
| 6:48 | but we’re going to note that |
| 6:50 | everybody who is in Christ is not |
| 6:54 | of the world and because of this fact |
| 6:57 | the world is not um well |
| 7:00 | friendly towards us the world wants |
| 7:04 | unity too |
| 7:05 | unity around its values unity around |
| 7:08 | what it perceives |
| 7:10 | or believes to be important so Christ |
| 7:13 | comes along and he upsets our apple |
| 7:15 | carts |
| 7:16 | and tells us you are not the center of |
| 7:17 | the universe you are not your own deity |
| 7:19 | you are a creation |
| 7:21 | and god is the one who gets to call the |
| 7:23 | shots |
| 7:24 | i always like to point out to the |
| 7:25 | radical feminists that |
| 7:27 | god the father son and holy spirit all |
| 7:30 | prefer |
| 7:31 | male pronouns and it would be |
| 7:34 | well absolutely wrong of you to |
| 7:36 | misgender him |
| 7:37 | and so the world the universe is run by |
| 7:40 | patriarchy |
| 7:41 | and they don’t like this fact and so |
| 7:44 | what does the world do we’ve got to get |
| 7:45 | rid |
| 7:46 | of the patriarchy but that’s a whole |
| 7:48 | other thing altogether |
| 7:49 | what they’re basically saying is they |
| 7:50 | want to get rid of god and so when we |
| 7:52 | come along and we say yeah |
| 7:54 | i believe in king Jesus the crucified |
| 7:57 | and also the circumcised |
| 7:59 | the feminists go right |
| 8:02 | this is not politically correct so you |
| 8:05 | know the world wants unity |
| 8:07 | and Christ wants unity the question is |
| 8:10 | which voice are you going to listen to |
| 8:11 | whose voice are you going to be unified |
| 8:13 | around and before you think that well |
| 8:15 | the problem is always out there |
| 8:18 | knock that off real quick because have |
| 8:20 | you ever noticed that your old sinful |
| 8:22 | nature is a preacher |
| 8:24 | all of us inside of us there’s a |
| 8:26 | preacher and a bad one at that |
| 8:29 | and this preacher tells you things like |
| 8:31 | yeah i know that god’s word says this |
| 8:34 | but you deserve it |
| 8:38 | all right this is how your your sinful |
| 8:41 | nature talks you know you’ve got to look |
| 8:43 | out for yourself i mean you’ve got to be |
| 8:45 | authentic to who you |
| 8:46 | are you got to be you you got to love |
| 8:49 | the one you’re with you got to |
| 8:50 | you see and see our old sinful nature is |
| 8:53 | constantly |
| 8:54 | preaching messages to us and you know |
| 8:56 | what |
| 8:57 | we’re foolish enough to listen all the |
| 9:00 | time |
| 9:00 | every day i’m less concerned about joel |
| 9:03 | osteen |
| 9:03 | than i am about my old adam because that |
| 9:06 | guy has got a megaphone |
| 9:09 | running into my head and so does your |
| 9:11 | old adam |
| 9:12 | as well so Christ continues |
| 9:15 | i have given them your word the world |
| 9:18 | has hated them because they are not |
| 9:19 | of the world just as i am not of the |
| 9:21 | world so i do not ask that you take them |
| 9:23 | out of the world |
| 9:24 | but that you keep them from the evil one |
| 9:27 | Christ |
| 9:27 | wants his disciples to tell people about |
| 9:30 | Jesus to proclaim the good news |
| 9:32 | that Christ has bled and died for their |
| 9:33 | sins to call all nations to repentance |
| 9:36 | and to be baptized in the name of the |
| 9:37 | father son and the holy spirit |
| 9:39 | so if you were ever wondering why is it |
| 9:41 | that as soon as you |
| 9:42 | are made new in Christ and become a |
| 9:44 | Christian that you’re not |
| 9:45 | beamed up like scotty and you know the |
| 9:48 | star trek crew up to heaven to be with |
| 9:49 | god |
| 9:50 | well because Christ wills for you to |
| 9:52 | stay here for a bit |
| 9:53 | and his prayer for every one of us is |
| 9:55 | that we |
| 9:56 | are kept from the evil one isn’t that |
| 9:59 | what we pray in the lord’s prayer every |
| 10:00 | day |
| 10:02 | lead us not into temptation but deliver |
| 10:04 | us from |
| 10:05 | and here’s the thing the matthew version |
| 10:07 | of it actually in the greek says from |
| 10:09 | the evil one |
| 10:11 | and so Christ here he prays for us that |
| 10:13 | we will be kept from the evil one |
| 10:16 | and then he continues they are not of |
| 10:17 | the world just as i am not of the world |
| 10:19 | and then his prayer is this sanctify |
| 10:22 | them in the |
| 10:23 | truth your word |
| 10:26 | is truth |
| 10:31 | next week we’re going to hear how well |
| 10:34 | god the father sends the spirit |
| 10:38 | of truth and that’s the issue is it not |
| 10:42 | what is truth answer god’s word |
| 10:45 | is truth and so you’ll note that Christ |
| 10:47 | wills and he’s praying for each and |
| 10:49 | every one of us |
| 10:50 | that we would be sanctified through what |
| 10:53 | the living active sharper than a |
| 10:56 | two-edged sword |
| 10:57 | god breathed word of god it is god’s |
| 11:01 | word that sanctifies us it is god’s word |
| 11:04 | that the holy spirit uses to produce in |
| 11:06 | us repentance and the fruit of the |
| 11:08 | spirit and it is god’s word then that |
| 11:10 | will create the unity |
| 11:12 | that Christ prayed for earlier in this |
| 11:15 | text |
| 11:16 | and when people deviate from |
| 11:19 | and depart from the word of god or make |
| 11:22 | excuses for it or undermine its |
| 11:24 | authority |
| 11:26 | what they end up doing is casting it |
| 11:28 | behind themselves |
| 11:30 | so that they can establish their own |
| 11:32 | words their own |
| 11:33 | truth and there is no other truth except |
| 11:35 | for the truth of scripture especially in |
| 11:37 | the church |
| 11:37 | and that being the case when a church |
| 11:40 | body or a church congregation |
| 11:42 | deviates from the word of god they’re |
| 11:44 | not being sanctified |
| 11:46 | not being made holy they are drifting |
| 11:49 | into unholiness and sin |
| 11:53 | this is just the facts and you see this |
| 11:56 | pattern repeated over |
| 11:58 | and over and over again in the old |
| 11:59 | testament and we’re warned about it in |
| 12:02 | the new |
| 12:03 | sanctify them in the truth so that means |
| 12:06 | as Christians well |
| 12:07 | how does that commandment go remember |
| 12:10 | the sabbath day to keep it holy what |
| 12:12 | does this mean |
| 12:14 | where’s james there he is that we should |
| 12:16 | fear and love god so we do not despise |
| 12:18 | preaching in his word |
| 12:20 | but gladly hear and learn it |
| 12:25 | but the word of god tells me that i |
| 12:26 | can’t do my favorite sin |
| 12:29 | the word of god tells me that i’m not |
| 12:30 | the center of the universe |
| 12:32 | the word of god tells me that that |
| 12:35 | authentic self that the world tells me |
| 12:37 | is inside my |
| 12:38 | heart is actually sinful and evil right |
| 12:41 | it does who will you be unified with |
| 12:48 | all of that being said we then recognize |
| 12:51 | it is important for us to be attentive |
| 12:53 | to god’s word |
| 12:55 | to come and hear it rightly preached to |
| 12:57 | not tolerate deviation |
| 13:00 | by those who would manipulate it and |
| 13:02 | make it void |
| 13:03 | or cast it behind them i found it really |
| 13:05 | fascinating that |
| 13:07 | this past week i had a fellow on twitter |
| 13:09 | who claims to be an antifa |
| 13:11 | theologian what an interesting title an |
| 13:14 | antifa theologian |
| 13:15 | and he informed me that all of the |
| 13:18 | passages in the new testament |
| 13:20 | that forbid women from being pastors |
| 13:22 | that those particular letters |
| 13:24 | by paul are all forgeries |
| 13:27 | how convenient |
| 13:31 | and he we just figured this out in the |
| 13:32 | 21st century |
| 13:34 | you know the church has been wrong the |
| 13:35 | whole time i could have had a v8 |
| 13:38 | anyway you get the idea here all right |
| 13:41 | but that’s what happens people find ways |
| 13:43 | well it wasn’t written until after that |
| 13:45 | we were |
| 13:46 | we the bible wasn’t compiled into the |
| 13:48 | fourth century |
| 13:49 | a bunch of drunken monks got together in |
| 13:51 | a tavern and had too many beers and they |
| 13:53 | gave us this bible thing |
| 13:55 | we don’t need to listen to them they |
| 13:57 | always and again they create these |
| 13:58 | narratives to undermine |
| 14:00 | the word of god but god’s word is truth |
| 14:05 | sanctify them in the truth we are |
| 14:08 | sanctified through the word of god |
| 14:11 | so consider then in juxtaposition to |
| 14:13 | these strange examples that i’ve brought |
| 14:15 | up i always have some really fun exotic |
| 14:17 | examples along those lines |
| 14:18 | but consider what god’s word says about |
| 14:20 | god’s word have you ever taken the time |
| 14:22 | to |
| 14:23 | slowly work your way through psalm 119 |
| 14:27 | it’s stunningly beautiful comforting |
| 14:31 | and its praise for the word of god |
| 14:34 | cannot be matched i’d like to read just |
| 14:37 | a portion of it |
| 14:39 | psalm 119 i’ll start in verse 49 |
| 14:42 | in the zion section |
| 14:45 | the psalmist writes remember your word |
| 14:47 | to your servant in which you have made |
| 14:50 | me hope oh isn’t it great already here |
| 14:53 | you can see that god is the one who |
| 14:55 | makes us hope in his word |
| 14:56 | he is the active one when it comes to |
| 14:59 | our salvation and giving us faith |
| 15:00 | even the psalmist knows this you are the |
| 15:03 | one who have made me hope |
| 15:04 | in your word so this is my comfort in my |
| 15:07 | affliction |
| 15:08 | so that your promises give me life |
| 15:12 | true true true insolent |
| 15:15 | the insolent they utterly deride me but |
| 15:18 | i do not turn away from your law |
| 15:20 | when i think of your rules from of old i |
| 15:23 | take comfort o lord |
| 15:24 | hot indignation seizes me because of the |
| 15:27 | wicked who forsake your law |
| 15:28 | your statutes have been my songs in |
| 15:31 | those |
| 15:32 | house in the in the house of my |
| 15:33 | sojournings i |
| 15:35 | remember your name in the night oh lord |
| 15:37 | and i keep your law |
| 15:39 | this blessing has fallen to me that i |
| 15:41 | have kept your precepts |
| 15:43 | so the lord is my portion and i promise |
| 15:45 | to keep your words |
| 15:47 | i entreat your favor with all of my |
| 15:49 | heart be gracious to me according to |
| 15:51 | your promise |
| 15:52 | when i think on my ways i turn my feet |
| 15:54 | to your testimonies |
| 15:55 | and i hasten and i do not delay to keep |
| 15:58 | your commandments |
| 15:59 | though the cords of the wicked ensnare |
| 16:01 | me i do not forget your law |
| 16:03 | at midnight i rise to praise you because |
| 16:05 | your righteous rules |
| 16:07 | i am a companion of all who fear you and |
| 16:10 | of those who keep your precepts |
| 16:12 | the earth o lord is full of your |
| 16:14 | steadfast love so teach me your statutes |
| 16:18 | you want to know what god is like you |
| 16:19 | want to know |
| 16:21 | his voice do you want to hear the |
| 16:23 | message that he has for you |
| 16:25 | it’s written in a book rightly preached |
| 16:29 | rightly taught it will lead you to the |
| 16:32 | gates |
| 16:33 | of jerusalem twisted and mangled |
| 16:37 | and made void it will lead you to the |
| 16:39 | gates of hell |
| 16:41 | at least the ones who mangled it up but |
| 16:44 | god’s |
| 16:45 | word is true and it is through his word |
| 16:47 | that we are sanctified |
| 16:49 | i think in the old testament the story |
| 16:51 | of king manasseh |
| 16:52 | you guys remember guys a guy by the name |
| 16:54 | of hezekiah hezekiah was supposed to die |
| 16:57 | and hezekiah had apparently like a boil |
| 17:01 | that had gone septic and he was supposed |
| 17:03 | to die isaiah the prophet shows up to |
| 17:05 | let him know you’re gonna die |
| 17:07 | get your stuff in order and what does |
| 17:09 | hezekiah do he prays to god |
| 17:11 | and he reminds god of his well all the |
| 17:13 | good |
| 17:14 | things he has done and his love for the |
| 17:16 | lord and his steadfastness and so god |
| 17:18 | sends isaiah the prophet back and says |
| 17:20 | all right |
| 17:21 | i’m going to give you 15 more years |
| 17:23 | right well during those 15 years |
| 17:26 | manasseh was born and boy was this guy |
| 17:29 | poorly catechized |
| 17:31 | okay and when he became king after |
| 17:33 | hezekiah died |
| 17:34 | he took god’s word and just got rid of |
| 17:37 | it |
| 17:37 | and he brought into the temple itself |
| 17:40 | all kinds of abominations |
| 17:42 | idols to ashira of mo he sacrificed his |
| 17:46 | son to molech |
| 17:47 | he set up shrines and incense altars to |
| 17:50 | the starry host of heaven |
| 17:52 | and even shamash the the the abomination |
| 17:55 | of the moabites |
| 17:56 | and you can almost hear you can almost |
| 17:58 | hear the rhetoric justifying |
| 18:00 | this blasphemy right i do not believe in |
| 18:04 | a god who is not |
| 18:05 | inclusive what kind of god would we be |
| 18:08 | worshiping here |
| 18:09 | who didn’t invite in all of these other |
| 18:12 | deities so that we can all |
| 18:14 | be together and unified around |
| 18:17 | diversity |
| 18:20 | it has a ring of truth to it doesn’t it |
| 18:23 | right but |
| 18:24 | also we learn that somewhere in between |
| 18:27 | manassas reign |
| 18:29 | and the reign of josiah they came up |
| 18:31 | with an interesting idea |
| 18:33 | and that was they brought in male cult |
| 18:36 | prostitutes who were who set up business |
| 18:40 | inside the temple complex itself i |
| 18:43 | always wonder |
| 18:44 | every time i see that fact i want to go |
| 18:47 | how did that church council meeting go |
| 18:50 | okay |
| 18:53 | i make a motion that we set up a male |
| 18:56 | cult prostitute brothel in our church |
| 18:59 | and people going you know that that |
| 19:00 | sounds like a great idea |
| 19:02 | okay that sounds like a great idea but |
| 19:05 | what was missing in all of this was what |
| 19:08 | the word of god that’s what was missing |
| 19:12 | because manasseh had made that thing |
| 19:13 | gone in fact it hints at the fact that |
| 19:15 | those who were speaking the truth of |
| 19:17 | god’s word |
| 19:18 | that manasseh had put them to death and |
| 19:20 | murdered many people who were speaking |
| 19:21 | the truth |
| 19:23 | that’s how it goes well his grandson |
| 19:26 | josiah when he came to the throne was |
| 19:28 | eight years old and then 18 years into |
| 19:30 | his reign |
| 19:31 | they came up with this great idea he |
| 19:32 | thought you know what |
| 19:34 | solomon’s temple is looking a little |
| 19:36 | long in the tooth it needs a new paint |
| 19:37 | job we need to replace some of the |
| 19:39 | timbers you know we got to do a |
| 19:40 | refurbishment thing |
| 19:41 | and here’s the thing they still had |
| 19:44 | still had high priests |
| 19:46 | who were tasked with the job of offering |
| 19:49 | the sacrifices and stuff |
| 19:50 | along with offering incense to ball and |
| 19:53 | all these other gods and stuff |
| 19:55 | right and so they and so he came up with |
| 19:57 | this idea save out some of the money |
| 19:59 | let’s |
| 19:59 | you know and then we’ll go and finish up |
| 20:01 | and fix up the temple |
| 20:03 | and so when they finally had enough |
| 20:05 | money and they started the project |
| 20:07 | hilkiah the high priest |
| 20:10 | well something happened that startled |
| 20:12 | him |
| 20:14 | they found a book they didn’t know that |
| 20:17 | there was a book |
| 20:19 | they found a book and for the first time |
| 20:21 | in his life |
| 20:22 | hilkiah the high priest of the temple |
| 20:26 | in jerusalem read the words of moses |
| 20:29 | genesis exodus leviticus numbers and |
| 20:32 | deuteronomy |
| 20:34 | and then he went uh-oh |
| 20:37 | and so he went to the king and said king |
| 20:40 | we uh |
| 20:40 | found a book and so that afternoon that |
| 20:44 | day |
| 20:45 | they read to the king josiah |
| 20:49 | from the torah and at the |
| 20:52 | finishing of the closing sentences of |
| 20:54 | deuteronomy |
| 20:56 | king josiah tore his clothes |
| 20:59 | and he said we are in big trouble |
| 21:02 | because the wrath of god is burning |
| 21:05 | hard against this place |
| 21:08 | how is it that religious worship and |
| 21:10 | sacrifices were going on |
| 21:12 | in jerusalem without a bible |
| 21:17 | what had they done they took the word of |
| 21:19 | god |
| 21:20 | threw it away thought they’d gotten rid |
| 21:22 | of that thing for good |
| 21:24 | and they were just worshiping any old |
| 21:25 | way they wanted to |
| 21:29 | that will lead you to hell |
| 21:32 | so josiah repented josiah repented |
| 21:36 | and god allowed him to not see the |
| 21:38 | destruction that would come later |
| 21:39 | when he would send nebuchadnezzar to |
| 21:41 | destroy jerusalem |
| 21:43 | but that’s for another point another |
| 21:45 | time so know this then brothers and |
| 21:47 | sisters |
| 21:47 | each and every one of us we are not |
| 21:49 | immune from that preacher inside of each |
| 21:52 | and every one of us |
| 21:53 | that would lead us astray that would |
| 21:55 | justify our sin |
| 21:56 | and that would have us wander after our |
| 21:58 | own sinful passions |
| 22:00 | all under the pretense of piety put it |
| 22:02 | away repent |
| 22:04 | Christ has prayed for you and continues |
| 22:07 | to pray for you and me |
| 22:08 | that we be sanctified in the truth and |
| 22:11 | his word |
| 22:12 | is truth and we’ll note then that |
| 22:14 | through |
| 22:15 | then the sanctifying word of god we |
| 22:18 | become united to each other |
| 22:20 | but not only that an amazing thing if |
| 22:22 | you consider it |
| 22:24 | from our epistle text and one we don’t |
| 22:26 | want to miss |
| 22:27 | that we not only then through the word |
| 22:30 | of god are sanctified we have |
| 22:32 | confidence that we are saved but there’s |
| 22:34 | another little issue here |
| 22:36 | let me let me see what if i can tease |
| 22:37 | this out in first john 5 verse 10 |
| 22:40 | whoever believes in the son has the |
| 22:41 | testimony in himself |
| 22:43 | whoever does not believe god has made |
| 22:45 | him to be a liar |
| 22:46 | because he’s not believed in the |
| 22:47 | testimony that god is born concerning |
| 22:49 | his son |
| 22:50 | so this is the testimony that god has |
| 22:52 | given that god |
| 22:53 | has already now given us eternal life |
| 22:57 | we all have it now and this life is in |
| 23:00 | his son |
| 23:00 | whoever has the son has life whoever |
| 23:03 | doesn’t have the son does not have life |
| 23:05 | but we who are in Christ we do have the |
| 23:08 | son |
| 23:09 | and so john says this i write these |
| 23:11 | things to you who believe in the name of |
| 23:13 | the son of god so that you may |
| 23:15 | know that you have eternal life so |
| 23:18 | don’t let that pass you by let me kind |
| 23:20 | of tease it out this way |
| 23:22 | every single time you’ve listened to |
| 23:24 | that false teacher inside of you |
| 23:26 | or that false teacher out in the world |
| 23:28 | or that false prophet |
| 23:30 | and you thought you know that’s a great |
| 23:31 | thing and you’ve ended off in sin |
| 23:34 | or in false belief note that Christ has |
| 23:37 | even borne that sin it’s called the sin |
| 23:38 | of idolatry by the way |
| 23:41 | and he’s born those sins on the cross so |
| 23:43 | that you can be forgiven |
| 23:45 | and we who’ve been brought to repentance |
| 23:47 | through the living active word of god |
| 23:50 | and trust these promises of being |
| 23:52 | reconciled because god has made us to |
| 23:55 | trust in his word |
| 23:56 | that we have eternal life and because of |
| 23:59 | this we have confidence that |
| 24:00 | we have that we have toward him that if |
| 24:02 | we ask him anything |
| 24:04 | according to his will he hears us and |
| 24:07 | here’s the next |
| 24:08 | kind of aspect of it god’s word |
| 24:10 | sanctifies us |
| 24:11 | it unifies us but it also starts to do |
| 24:14 | something in us that’s really |
| 24:15 | interesting |
| 24:16 | and that is it begins to unite our will |
| 24:18 | with gods let me explain |
| 24:20 | have you ever noticed that maybe early |
| 24:22 | on when you were a Christian you prayed |
| 24:23 | some pretty stupid prayers |
| 24:25 | all right i know i have all right and i |
| 24:28 | don’t want to get too |
| 24:29 | personal in that regard but let me give |
| 24:31 | you an example from a 1970s song that |
| 24:34 | gets played on the radio from time to |
| 24:36 | time lord won’t you buy me |
| 24:39 | a mercedes-benz right we’ve all heard |
| 24:41 | this song right |
| 24:42 | what kind of prayer is that okay well |
| 24:45 | ken copeland |
| 24:46 | has taken that to a whole another level |
| 24:47 | lord won’t you buy me a fourth |
| 24:49 | you know private jet but the thing is |
| 24:52 | that’s a horrible prayer |
| 24:53 | and you’ll note that james and his |
| 24:55 | epistle says you have not cause you ask |
| 24:57 | not |
| 24:57 | and then you don’t have because you ask |
| 24:59 | with evil intent |
| 25:00 | right |
| 25:04 | so what is the solution here well you’ll |
| 25:06 | note that |
| 25:07 | we are instructed and |
| 25:11 | comforted that when we pray according to |
| 25:13 | god’s will |
| 25:14 | he hears us and he answers us is it |
| 25:16 | god’s will that you have a mercedes-benz |
| 25:18 | probably not probably not you know |
| 25:22 | i’m okay with the 2006 ford f250 you |
| 25:25 | know |
| 25:25 | that still works you get the idea but |
| 25:28 | what is it that |
| 25:29 | needs to happen here through the |
| 25:31 | sanctifying work of the spirit |
| 25:33 | we by the power of the holy spirit begin |
| 25:36 | the process and continue the process of |
| 25:38 | daily taking off our old self and |
| 25:40 | putting on the new |
| 25:42 | mortifying our sinful flesh by the power |
| 25:44 | of the holy spirit |
| 25:46 | and one slow day at a time |
| 25:51 | our will yields to god’s |
| 25:54 | so that the prayers that we stupidly |
| 25:57 | prayed |
| 25:58 | when we were younger Christians change |
| 26:02 | to prayers where we’re not praying |
| 26:05 | selfishly for ourself |
| 26:07 | we’re praying the very things that god |
| 26:09 | has willed for us to pray |
| 26:10 | and we have confidence then our will |
| 26:13 | being changed by the sanctifying work of |
| 26:16 | the word |
| 26:17 | makes it so that our will and god’s will |
| 26:20 | unites together in our prayers |
| 26:22 | and we have confidence then that god |
| 26:24 | hears them |
| 26:26 | and so let us pray then that the holy |
| 26:28 | spirit would continue the spirit of |
| 26:30 | truth would continue to sanctify us |
| 26:32 | through his word |
| 26:33 | so that we might have the strength and |
| 26:36 | through the spirit |
| 26:37 | bear the fruit of the spirit of love joy |
| 26:39 | peace patience |
| 26:40 | kindness gentleness goodness and |
| 26:42 | self-control |
| 26:43 | and that we would learn how to pray |
| 26:45 | according to God’s will |
| 26:46 | and that we would have confidence that |
| 26:48 | he hears us and that we would see the |
| 26:50 | answer to these prayers |
| 26:52 | because they are the very will that God |
| 26:54 | has for us |
| 26:55 | and you’ll note this that Christ has |
| 26:58 | prayed for us |
| 26:59 | so that this will be and i think |
| 27:02 | that God hears Christ’s prayers and so |
| 27:04 | note |
| 27:05 | that in his high priestly prayer we’ve |
| 27:07 | seen that Christ has prayed according to |
| 27:09 | God’s will |
| 27:10 | so amen amen so be it |
| 27:13 | in the name of Jesus amen |
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