tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82742544563513187032024-03-05T00:23:34.277-08:00kevin swanPlease copy and paste this link for GREAT Teaching And Fellowship
www.communitybible.com/onlinekevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-43413619361243315972013-08-19T05:25:00.001-07:002013-08-19T05:25:08.298-07:00Love isI met a girl in the park whilst walking my dog. She had a tattoo on her wrist and it read-LOVE IS.<br />
Her idea was that love is and no more. She does not need to add anything to that statement.kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-57820817728559570662012-12-04T01:39:00.001-08:002012-12-04T01:39:37.989-08:00COMMITMENT<br />
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Hebrews 2 verses 1-4</div>
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Commitment</div>
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<span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I read recently of a professor who wanted to show his students how easily distracted they were. He asked a student to leave the room and he asked the other students to keep alert for the return of that student. He then continued with his lecture and at one point another person entered from the other side of the lecture theater at that moment the student also returned and resumed his seat. Very few of the other students noticed his return until the professor asked him a question. They were told to pay attention to one door but were distracted by someone entering another door. How often did you hear in school or at home pay attention? We are so easily distracted from things. We lose focus very easily. Hebrews 2 begins with just such an exhortation Pay attention. Turn to Hebrews 2 verses 1- 4 and let us see what we are to pay attention to </span></span></div>
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Context.</div>
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The letter to the Hebrews was written around AD70 to a predominantly Jewish Christians who were being tempted to return again to Judaism or to join add Jewish ceremonial law on to the gospel of grace. The author does not identify himself. The main theme of the letter is to reassure the believers that Christ is both superior to the old law and sufficient for their salvation. Chapter 1 outlines his superiority and the sufficiency of his sacrifice on the cross to purify them from sin and its consequences.</div>
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Chapter 2 verse 1.</div>
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<span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Hence the second chapter begins with an exhortation that in light of the superiority of Christs sacrifice to the animal sacrifices and the sufficiency of his sacrifice for the purification of their sins they are to pay more careful attention. Note will you what it is that they are to pay careful attention to what they have heard which has just been briefly outlined in chapter 1 namely the superiority and sufficiency of Christs sacrifice for sin. I want to stop here for a moment and for us all to make a mental note to what we have heard. Let me read for you something which Paul wrote to the believers in Rome Romans 10 verses 14-15, 17. Paul and the author of the letter to the Hebrews both emphasize the need for hearing the gospel. Christ on several occasions said let him who has ears hear. The world in which we live lays great emphasis on seeing but the gospel comes first and foremost through hearing. The author to the Hebrews writes they are to pay more careful attention to what they have heard. The Greek word used there speaks about bringing a ship in to land, to moor it safely and securely. When it is used of people it speaks about laying hold and cleaving to something or attaching oneself to something. So the exhortation is calling them to secure, lay hold of tightly, or attach themselves to the gospel of the superiority and sufficiency of Christs sacrifice for sin. Why? Well he goes on to say to them so that we do not drift away. Again the Greek word used there is applying the imagery of a ship which has drifted past its safe anchorage point and is drifting into danger. It also speaks of flowing alongside something and of a ring slipping unnoticed from a finger. The author to the Hebrews exhorts them to secure themselves to the gospel which they have heard and not to drift from it as some of them are apparently in danger of doing.</span></span></div>
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But stop there for a moment. <b>Who is in danger of drifting from the security of the gospel? The Christian believers are the people who are in danger of drifting</b>. How? Well the rest of the letter to the Hebrews answers how but primarily it is answered for us in verse 3 (read verse 3). <b> They are ignoring or as an older translation puts it neglecting the salvation offered by Christs atoning sacrifice for sin</b>. Turn for a moment to verse 2 the author writes that the Old Covenant of the Law was binding on them and violation of that covenant law brought punishment then the New Covenant in the blood of Christ being superior to the Old would most certainly bring punishment. The New Covenant was brought into force personally by the Son of God its sufficiency and superiority will be dramatically outlined in chapter 9 when the author writes of how the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin whereas the blood of bulls and goats could only cleanse them ceremonially but not spiritually. Then in verse 3 the author points out the danger of neglecting or ignoring this salvation which comes in and through the finished work of Christ. But how would they neglect, ignore or drift away from such a salvation. Having heard of its superiority, having heard of its sufficiency to save from sin and the wrath of God and having, verse 4, had it verified by God through signs, wonders, miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit how could they neglect it and drift from it.</div>
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<span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Do you remember the Exon Valdez disaster? It happened at Blighs Reef near Canada. The Exon Valdez drifted on to rocks and disgorged 11million gallons of crude oil into the sea. How did it happen? A third mate was left in charge of the vessel and he was drunk and he neglected to pay attention to what was happening the ship and it drifted slowly on to the reef and the resulting environmental disaster. It didn't happen quickly but slowly the ship drifted towards the danger until it was too late to escape. The same is true of these Christians and for us today. Like a small leak in a bucket slowly little by little the water escapes. <b>The same is true for us spiritually. In my time as a Christian</b></span></span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><b> I have only ever met one person who consciously walked away from God but I have lost count of the number of people who drifted slowly away from the gospel of grace</b>. What was the danger in the first century and now?</span></div>
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<b style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You drift when you fail to heed the warnings and you neglect to pay attention to what you have heard from the Word of God. So you slowly begin to lose your priorities and your focus on your relationship with Christ</b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">. Your passion for Christ and the things of God begins to wane. You lose your discipline and so you start to neglect to meet with other Christians and not just on Sunday mornings. Seriously how many of you who are Christians are lax about your attendance at church on Sunday mornings. It is the first sign of drift and neglect of your salvation. You then move to appease your conscience over this drift from the gospel that you heard. You appease your conscience over the drift in discipline, your lack of bible reading and prayer, your neglect of fellowship. Then the next stage in the drift is that you will distance yourself from being associated with Christ. You haven't yet reached the stage of outright denial of knowing him but you begin to put some distance between yourself and the gospel. So you begin to put arguments up against biblical standards in morality, in behavior and you begin to soften your attitude towards what the Bible teaches about sin and its consequences. Then one day you find yourself in the place of opposition to the gospel, of outright denial of what it teaches. How did you get there? Let me tell you how you got there you drifted. You're the lost sheep who has his head down grazing and all the time wandering away from the Shepherd and the security of the sheep fold. You graze and wander, graze and wander ever further away. You're the people spoken of in the parable of the banquet of Matthew 22. They were invited to the feast of the king. They knew they had been invited. They understood the invitation but they drifted along with the other things in their lives and found out one day the door was closed and the invitation was no longer open to them. Let me read a verse to you from Ezekiel 33.32. I think a more apt description of the attitude of many to the salvation offered in Christ alone could not be found. Does it describe you? The result of the drifting from the gospel for the recipients of this letter to the Hebrews was that they had lost their assurance of salvation because they had drifted from what they had heard. They had lost their peace and security and so had started to look for that peace and security not in the Word of God but in the ritual and ceremonies of the Old familiar Law. What about? Are you assured of your salvation? Do you have peace and security in the gospel you heard and first believed when you came to Christ? The danger is you will neglect it and drift from it, not consciously but unconsciously. Little by little the water will leak from the bucket and one day you will waken up (DV) and wonder why there is such a distance between you and Christ. You will realize that there is no longer any fruit in your life and there is no joy in your salvation because you have drifted away from the secure anchorage of the gospel. Friends listen to me this morning if ever there was a timely message for us all this morning then these verses from Hebrews are them. We drift so easily. We sleepwalk into the distance, away from Christ and his great salvation.</span></span></div>
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In closing let me speak for a moment to those who find themselves either having drifted or never having come to Christ. the author in verse 3 says how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation. <b>The implication of the word escape is that there must be something from which we need rescuing if we neglect the offer of salvation found in Christ alone</b>. Hebrews 1 has told us part of what that is the consequences of our sins, and verse 2 of chapter 2 tells us that punishment awaits us if we neglect this offer of salvation. It may not be popular today, it has never been popular, but the truth is that if we neglect the offer of salvation offered us in Christ then we will face eternal punishment for our sins. The Bible calls that eternal punishment hell, separation from God for eternity. Matthew describes that moment with these words weeping and gnashing of teeth. A picture of anguish and despair. But the good news, the eternal good news, is that God desires no one to go there but that all might come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. How? By the very fact that he sent his only begotten Son into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world. That through the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross all who by repentance and faith come to him might not perish but have eternal life. In Matthew 1 verse 21 we are told Christ Jesus will save his people from their sins. In 1 Thessalonians 1 verse 10 we are told he will deliver them from the wrath of God which is to come upon all sin.</div>
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So the question remains: Drifting or Committed?</div>
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<span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The challenge: Pay attention don't drift.</span></span></div>
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Amen.</div>
kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-66719634065436885212012-08-31T21:21:00.002-07:002012-08-31T21:21:19.317-07:00ForgivenessForgiveness<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> ea</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">sy to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">say but hard to give. Yet when we meditate on what we </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">ourselves have been forgiven, we can then look at the per</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">son a</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">sking </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">us for forgiveness with the eye</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">s of </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Jesus.</span></span>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-71903735843045931812012-03-14T17:32:00.002-07:002012-03-14T17:32:47.190-07:00Healing<a href="http://www.yorickjackson.com/talents/jesus-healer/">http://www.yorickjackson.com/talents/jesus-healer/</a>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-57672352290144082232012-03-06T21:10:00.000-08:002012-03-06T21:10:45.571-08:00LIVE BY FAITHJudges 6 verses 36‐40<br />
Dear God if you want me to tithe allow me to win the lottery this week ... if<br />
you want me to buy that new car let me meet 3 of them on the way to work<br />
this morning...if you want me to ask that girl out on a date then let her walk<br />
past me in school and say hello...if you want me to be a missionary let me see<br />
a programme on Africa on national geographical tonight. They all may sound<br />
far‐fetched to you, but the sad thing is I guarantee some of you have prayed<br />
similar prayers to that in the past, or even are doing so right now in seeking<br />
guidance from God.<br />
Well, I am going to look at verses 36‐40. The context of these verses is found from verses 1‐35 – the<br />
terrible plight of the people of Israel at the hand of the Midianites, the call of<br />
Gideon, on the floor of the winepress, to rise up and be a man of valour in<br />
leading Israel to freedom. He begins by tearing down, under the cover of<br />
darkness, the pagan shrine to baal. He then, under the inspiration of the Holy<br />
Spirit (v34), he blew the trumpet to sound the men of Israel to assemble for<br />
battle against the Midianites and the Amalekites who had come to the plains<br />
of Jezreel to plunder Israel’s harvest. Having called the men to gather as an<br />
army Gideon suddenly starts to have doubts and that is where we turn now to<br />
verse 36.<br />
Look closely at verse 36 because understanding this verse accurately is actually<br />
the essential key to opening up the understanding of the remainder of the chapter and especially the issue of ‘laying fleeces before God.’ I want you to read it – read verse 36.<br />
If you will save Israel – doubt<br />
By my hand – Gideon knows he has been called to this task<br />
As you have said – guidance has been already given. <br />
He repeats this again in verse 37 – there is no doubt that Gideon knows what<br />
God has called him to – the guidance is clear.<br />
Did you hear what I said there? Guidance has already been given to Gideon as<br />
to what he is to do and what God is going to do. Guidance has already been<br />
given to Gideon – that he has been called by God to be a mighty man of valour<br />
and to lead Israel against the Midianites , the Amalakites and the people of the<br />
East who have been oppressing them for 7 years and have been plundering<br />
Israel of its harvest and choice resources. Keep that fact in mind – Guidance<br />
has already been given. Gideon knows exactly who has called him, why he has<br />
been called, the task he is called for and that victory has been promised. It is<br />
not for guidance that Gideon lays down the fleece before God. Hear that<br />
clearly – it is not for the purpose of guidance that Gideon lays<br />
down the fleece – guidance has already been given – verse 36 and especially:<br />
as you have said – makes that very clear‐ guidance has already been given. So,<br />
if you have thought that this laying down of a fleece was for the<br />
sake of guidance then I hope by a simple plain reading of the text you will see<br />
the error of your ways. So if it is not about guidance what are these verses and<br />
this incident in the life of Gideon actually about?Verses 37‐40 Assurance<br />
Let me ask you some questions: Have you ever doubted God? Have you ever<br />
asked God: Did you really ask me to do this? Have you really called me to lead<br />
here? Have you really called me to this experience? Of course you have, we<br />
all have. That is certainly where we find Gideon. He has had the<br />
visitation from the angel of the Lord calling him to be a mighty man of valour<br />
and to lead. He destroyed the altar to Baal and God kept him safe even though<br />
all the people wanted to kill him. The Holy Spirit has come upon him and he<br />
blew the trumpet and the men of Israel have rallied to him to go into battle – a<br />
vast army of 32,000 assembled before him. Now Gideon begins to have<br />
doubts. The surge of enthusiasm and courage that he had received from the<br />
Holy Spirit coming upon him has maybe just waned. The enormous task before<br />
him starts to grow in his heart and mind with the result that doubts enter his<br />
head and fear enters his soul. Although the Holy Spirit had fallen very<br />
powerfully on Gideon his faith is still weak. This reminds us that the<br />
grace of God does not destroy our character or our natural human<br />
temperament. God knew that Gideon needed to recognise fully his weakness<br />
in order to come to totally rely on God.<br />
Recognise the scenario? Identify with Gideon here? Your initial enthusiasm<br />
wanes and you realise this is no easy task – this is a real battle. Gideon had<br />
people who would point out the obvious to him – these men are farmers not<br />
soldiers. They are not used to handling swords in warfare. The numbers are<br />
stacked against you. Don’t you know the size of the task that you are taking on<br />
here? What does Gideon do? He seeks assurance – hence the beginning of<br />
verse 36 – If you will save Israel by my hand... He wants assurance from God that this is what he has been called to by God – despite all that has happened<br />
in verses 1‐35 of chapter 6.<br />
Verses 37‐40 – the events are very simple and clear. Gideon asks God for a<br />
sign that this is what he is to do – despite verse 36 making it clear he knows<br />
exactly what he is called by God to do. God has already confirmed his call of<br />
Gideon by fire (verse 21), peace (verse 23), protection (verses 25‐32), the<br />
power of the Holy Spirit coming upon him to enable him to blow the trumpet<br />
as a call to arms (verse 34), and the rallying of 32000 men to his side (verse<br />
35). It would appear that Gideon himself knows that this is not his finest hour<br />
or greatest request before God – verses 39 – when he asks that God would not<br />
be angry with him in making such a request for a second time.<br />
Gideon lays a fleece on the ground of the threshing floor and asks for the<br />
ground to be dry and the fleece to wet with dew in the morning. In the OT<br />
dew was a sign of God’s salvation, protection and prosperity – Genesis 27.28<br />
and 39. In essence Gideon is asking for a sign of God’s peace – something he<br />
has already been assured of by God’s Word to him. In the morning it is as<br />
Gideon had requested and yet he still doubts. I can imagine the doubts in his<br />
head going along the following lines: of course the wool fleece would absorb<br />
more dew and the hardened earth of the threshing floor would not retain the<br />
moisture of the dew. You cannot be sure Gideon this is of God, best ask again<br />
for another sign, and that is exactly what he does. He prefaces this second<br />
request with an apology (verse 39) and reverses the actions – floor wet and<br />
fleece dry. God in His patience, His grace and mercy works the miracle and it is as Gideon had requested. Look at this situation for a moment. Gideon turns<br />
his attention away from an army of 32000 men who have gathered at the<br />
sound of the trumpet to go into battle and focuses on a fleece. A fleece has<br />
nothing to do with battle but an army of 32000 men have everything to do<br />
with the call of Gideon and the battle that is before him.<br />
Secondly, he is not true to his word. After the first sign is granted he wants a<br />
second sign from God – despite all that we have noted in his call and in God’s<br />
guidance to him. <br />
Now here is the key question for us all: Is this a pattern to be<br />
followed in our Christian lives? You may well know some Christians who have<br />
done such ‘laying out of fleeces’ with apparent success. It may well seem very<br />
tempting to you because it provides some sort of certainty which makes faith<br />
redundant. You may have actually prayed such a prayer to God – complete<br />
with a fleece that you laid before Him – with mixed results?? I want to point<br />
some things out to you from the passage which I pray will be of a<br />
spiritual benefit to you:<br />
Verse 36 – Gideon already had his guidance so this was about assurance. It is<br />
not a means of guidance, certainly not for Gideon, but of assurance. It was to<br />
confirm guidance, not to provide guidance that he makes this request. I pray<br />
you have realised that from the Word of God.<br />
Gideon’s request was the fruit of doubt and unbelief rather than faith in God.Gideon was asking for the miraculous, supernatural intervention of God in this<br />
sign. It was not one of circumstantial change to give guidance. Do you<br />
understand that? He was not asking God to so order circumstances that it was<br />
a sign of God’s will but to supernaturally intervene in nature, to actually<br />
override nature, to assure Gideon of what he already knew to be God’s will. <br />
The challenge was in fact obedience to God’s will. Is it possible that Gideon<br />
was looking a way out of the task before him? Maybe! Are you playing games<br />
of chance in seeking to know the will of God? Laying fleeces<br />
down is not the way to know the will of God – Gideon already knew the will of<br />
God – he lacked faith and courage to obey. God in his grace and mercy<br />
answered but by the very words of Gideon we know he knew God would be<br />
angry at this course of action.<br />
Sometimes we seek to use all sorts of circumstantial reasons to avoid the plain<br />
guidance of Scripture. We actually use fleeces to avoid the will of God than<br />
seeking to know the will of God. Let me ask you another question: Do you<br />
believe the Bible is the Word of God? If you say ‘Yes’ then are you obeying its<br />
plain teaching and guidance in every area of your life? Not just some areas but<br />
every area of your life. You see I can lay circumstantial fleeces before God as a<br />
means of guidance, wrongly, and avoid obeying all manner of the teaching of<br />
the Bible?<br />
You know the little rhyme I often quote – the main things are the plain things<br />
and the plain things are the main things in Scripture. Well, knowing that to be<br />
true – that the plain will of God for each of us is clear in Scripture – are we obeying that main/plain teaching? I have found that that the reason people<br />
often lack guidance is that they are not reading the Word of God, not praying<br />
and not walking according to holiness of life. Added to this there is a deep lack<br />
of belief in the Word of God, in that we want some further proof other than<br />
what Scripture says – that is God is with us, that He will never leave us or<br />
forsake us etc. As with many other things in the Christian life – it boils down to<br />
belief and acknowledgement that the Bible is the Word of God and obedience<br />
to it.<br />
So friends, from these 5 verses I hope we have learned a simple<br />
lesson concerning laying down fleeces before God – namely that it was not for<br />
guidance that Gideon laid them down but for assurance. Also that God was<br />
patient with him but Gideon himself knew God would be angry at such a<br />
request. Lastly, that we are called to live by faith, not by sight.kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-47227989403782548512012-02-02T18:05:00.000-08:002012-02-02T18:05:09.511-08:00zechariah<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Zechariah 12<sup style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10</sup>-13<sup style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2</sup><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"> </o:p></span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> <o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br />
12.10 Mourning for the One they pierced.</span></i></b>Zechariah was active around 520BC and he was a contemporary of Haggai.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The chief purpose of the book was to rebuke the people of Judah and to encourage and motivate them to complete the rebuilding of the Temple.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Added to this Zechariah called the people to a spiritual renewal as well.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>We come this morning to look at three verses in particular: <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 verse 10 and 13 verses 1-2.</i></b><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Let me ask you a question:</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">what moves you to mourning?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">What has you crying from the very depths of your soul?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Look at verse 10 and the second part of the verse.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Zechariah says that these people mourn as if they had lost an only child or a first-born son.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">But what are they mourning?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Well go back a sentence.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">They are mourning as they look upon the One whom they have pierced.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This can only be one person and there can only be one event in mind here the Crucifixion of Christ.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">But why would they mourn the crucifixion after all we know that the people will in fact cry out for Christ to be crucified and apart from a small band of disciples no one mourns his death initially.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">But go back now to the beginning of the verse and read what it says.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">READ v10</i></b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">.</span><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; line-height: 18px;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Do you see what happens to lead these people to mourn over the One they pierced?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When did this happen?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Surely the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit came upon not just the Apostles but also the crowd who listened to Peter preach and they did exactly what this verse says they mourned the One they had pierced.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Zechariah, some 500 years before the crucifixion and Pentecost, speaks about a moment in time when God will pour out (copiously) His Spirit on all people.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>This Spirit (the Holy Spirit) will do two things:<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Bring Gods Grace to bear on their lives.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>That is Gods undeserved riches and favour will be poured out upon the people.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>What happens when Gods grace is poured out upon a man?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He is convicted of his sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When Gods Spirit pours his grace into my life my spiritually blind eyes are opened and I am immediately aware of my sinfulness.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I am immediately aware of how odious I am to God and before God.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Gods grace draws me, unworthy and undeserving as I am, to God himself.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Then secondly the same Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Supplication.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> <b> </b></span><b>When Gods grace is poured into my life I am moved to seek God in prayer</b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>The moment I become aware of my sinfulness before God I cry to him for mercy.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Zechariah says that when the Spirit of grace and supplication comes upon the people their eyes will be turned towards the One they pierced and they will mourn.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>Gods</b></span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> grace turns me from gazing at myself to gaze at Christ crucified.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>And when my eyes are lifted to the cross I am aware of the depth of my sin</b>.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I am moved deep in my spirit, the very core of my being by the awesome consequences of my sin.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">My sin pierced the Son of God.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">My sin nailed the holy One of Israel to a tree and condemned him to die as a common criminal.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">He who knew no sin became sin for me, he became my sin and my soul mourns because I put him there.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b>Zechariah says that the depth of distress in the heart of a man upon whom the Spirit of grace and supplication has been poured out is the depth of distress experienced by the death of a child.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Now let me ask you:<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>is that how you would describe your attitude to your sin today?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When Gods grace falls upon your life are you filled with grief at your sin?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Are your eyes lifted to the cross?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When you gaze upon the One whom your sin pierced and murdered do you mourn?</b><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">But friends let me say this to you all the tears of grief over sin cannot cleanse sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>All the tears that you or I have ever, or could ever shed, over our sin cannot cleanse us from sin, from the eternal consequences of sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Sorrow and mourning for sin is not the end in itself.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>No amount of weeping over sin is the answer to the problem of sin.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13.1-2 The Answer to the Problem of Sin<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">READ verses 1 and 2 of chapter 13 and we will find the answer to the problem of sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>These are some of the most beautiful verses in the book of Zechariah, in fact in all of Scripture.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Look at what the prophet says.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Verse 1</span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">On that day a fountain will be opened to cleanse them from sin and impurity.</i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>A fountain in the desert land of Judah was precious.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It was precious because unlike a stream it did not dry up when the dry season came.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It was precious because it could be trusted to provide a refreshing and pure drink in the midst of a dry and arid landscape.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It was precious because it was constant and consistent.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It was precious because it brought life when all around was death and decay due to the heat of the sun.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Friends the prophet says that is what God provided to answer the problem of their sin and your sin today.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>This fountain, the atoning death of the One they pierced, provided cleansing from sin and impurity.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This fountain cleansed them from sin that is from all the ways in which they failed to meet the standards that God required.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Gods standard was and is perfection.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So every time they failed to meet perfection they sinned.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Now I don't know about you but I cannot think of any single occasion in my life when I reached perfection.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So when I look back on my life the mountain of sin is very tall indeed.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Zechariah says this fountain opened opened by the death of Christ flows with cleansing from that mountain of sin praise God.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">He goes further and says that the cleansing is not just from sin but also from impurity.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Zechariah says that on that day, the day that the Spirit of grace and supplication is poured out,<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>there will be mourning as eyes are lifted to the crucified Christ but there will also be hope, joy and forgiveness.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It will not be a hopeless or helpless situation.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>There will be cleansing.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>You see this fountain is for cleansing.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It is for washing in.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Friends that fountain broke forth upon this world the day Christ died on the Cross.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>That fountain is there for us all to freely do to and be cleansed of sin and impurity in our lives.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>If you remain this day unclean and impure there is no one to blame but yourself.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The other thing about the fountain is, as I said, it never dries up.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>This fountain of cleansing and forgiveness is inexhaustible.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>There is mercy enough in God and merit enough in Christ to cleanse you from all and every sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>There is no sin too great and no sin too small that he cannot cleanse or does not need cleansing</b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Note also will you that Zechariah places no stipulations, no barriers on who or who may not come to this fountain.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The fountain has been opened opened for all who would come.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Verse 2 </span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> Zechariah now moves to a further outworking of this fountain sanctification.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Read verse 2.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> <b> </b></span><b>Do you see what follows from the cleansing of sin and impurity in the life of a believer?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>There is a practical outworking of that inner cleansing.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>As the fountain washes and cleanses (justifies) so it also sanctifies.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>You see just as when you physically take a bath you are not the same afterwards, you are cleansed, the dirt and filth has been removed from your body you do not immediately put back on the dirty garment you wore before the bath, or at least you should not.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>So it is with the inner cleansing that has taken place when you came to the fountain, the living water of Christ Jesus <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">(spoken of in John 4).</i></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>You cannot go back and put on the old man again.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>You cannot come to Christ for cleansing and then go back to the old life, to idols and to living according to the spirit of impurity.</b><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Zechariah says the Lord God, the One they pierced, will banish the very names of the idols from the land and they will be remembered no more.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>This is significant.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Your name was very important in the OT.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When God wanted to reveal his glory to Moses he revealed his name to Moses.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Your name spoke of your identity, your character, your attributes and your power.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>God says here that when you come to the fountain and are cleansed then one aspect of the outworking of that is that he comes and removes the idols from our lives.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He removes their power, their <a href="http://www.surfcanyon.com/search?f=sl&q=dominion&partner=wtigca" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #2fb3fd; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" target="scSearchLink">dominion</a>, their names their very existence is removed.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>They are removed and remembered no more.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>In the day of Zechariah what happened was that the people, collectively often, brought out all the idols and burned them in a public repentance.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>They brought them out and burned them.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Now listen to me, they had to go into their homes and into their temples and bring forth the idols and destroy them before God.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>There are many idols in all our lives and we need to bring them before God and destroy them repent of their influence and hold over us and lay them before God to be destroyed</b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>And when we have destroyed them we are not to go back and rebuild them again, nor to lament their destruction in fact we are to live as if they never existed in the first place.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>You cannot worship the true and living God and at the same time harbour in your heart, in your soul and in your life false gods, that are really no gods at all.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Zechariah said that when the Spirit of grace and supplication came upon them their eyes would be lifted to the One they had pierced and they would mourn what their sin had done.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>They would be led to a fountain opened for them, a fountain of cleansing spiritually that would usher into their lives and the life of their nation cleansing from idols from false gods.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Zechariah further states that the Lord will also remove the false prophets and the spirit of impurity from their nation.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The spirit of impurity is in stark contrast to the Spirit of grace and supplication.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The spirit of impurity leads only to false gods, further sin and eventual death.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>So when Gods Spirit of grace and supplication opens their eyes he will also come in power to remove the false prophet from their midst and to remove the spirit of impurity from their midst.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>But how?<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Because their eyes will have been opened to the truth and they will know the false teaching.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Because their souls and their conscience will have been cleansed and they will recognise what is impure.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>They will know in their hearts and in their spirits that certain actions, certain lifestyles, etc are not of God, not of his Spirit but are in fact false and impure.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Note friends too that some of those false prophets may even be members of their own families and most certainly will come from amongst the people of God, of the tribe of Judah.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Friends open your eyes.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">False prophets are all around us today.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">From the health and wealth tele-evangelists such as Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Jesse Duplantis, to the Anglican Bishops wanting to ordain and promote same-sex unions.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">False prophets also abound in the media, in the political world etc.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Anyone who does not proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Son of God, the only Saviour is a false prophet.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">When it comes to a spirit of impurity well I don't have to go into any details there.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Our eyes should certainly be open to the immorality all around us and even within the church.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">How many people claiming to be followers of Christ live immoral lives.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The secret sins that they think no one sees.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The small sins that they think do not matter.</span></span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Friends God says here in his word that when we come to the fountain for cleansing then we are cleansed and the outworking of that in all our lives is the banishment of idols, the killing of the false prophet in our lives and the slaying of the spirit of impurity.</span><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; line-height: 18px;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Conclusion<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Well there is only one conclusion.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Have you come to the fountain to be cleansed?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Having come are you truly repentant for and of your sin?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>What are you doing about the false prophet and the spirit of impurity in your life?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>In your community and nation?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Amen.</i></b></span></div>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-20038351465333043952012-01-13T05:07:00.000-08:002012-01-13T05:07:50.681-08:00Mary Magdalene and Jesus<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">Mary Magdalene and Jesus.</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">People often speak about <b><i>decisive moments</i></b> in their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you are old enough to remember the day John F Kennedy was assassinated a decisive moment they say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this generation it may well be September 11 that is described as a decisive moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Decisive moments in life change our lives direction in a decisive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such moments are etched on our memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some are <b><i>surprising moments:<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">uh, dad about the car </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">or <b><i>honey, I am pregnant</i></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some moments are <b><i>painful</i></b>; <b><i>I am afraid it is bad new </i></b>or <b><i>the test was positiv </i></b> or <b><i>I do not want to see you again.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some moments <b><i>are expected, anticipated and even celebrated: congratulations, it is a boy/girl</i></b> or <b><i>I now pronounce you husband and wife </i></b>or <b><i>you have got the job</i></b> or <b><i>you have passed your driving test.</i></b> Though I am not sure that last one is not a mixture of all three. Such things are decisive moments in the life of an individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to look at just such a moment in the life of a woman in the Bible <b><i>Mary Magdalene.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moment in her life was not just decisive for her but for all of humanity throughout all of history.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We know really very little about this woman Mary of Magdala.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Magdala as place was notorious for paganism, prostitution and immorality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not the sort of place you would readily admit was your home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sort of place you omitted to write on your C.V.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This we do know about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke tells us that Jesus had cast 7 demons out of Mary Magdalene <b><i>(Luke 8.2) </i></b>and that from that moment on she became a close follower of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John records that she was present at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark says that she was one of the women who came to the tomb of Christ early on the first Easter Day in order to anoint his body as a last act of love and devotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In <b><i>John 20</i></b> John records for us that she was left at the tomb when everyone else had left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He records for us the depth of her despair and grief at the loss of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is distraught at his death and even more so at the removal of his body from his burial tomb.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This was truly a decisive moment in the life of Mary of Magdala.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read chapter 20 of Johns gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John tells us it was early in the morning, probably around 3am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary and other women are making their way to the tomb of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few days before they had stood at the bottom of his cross watching their Lord die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had taken his body down and prepared it for burial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They now come back to the tomb to do this last thing for him to anoint his body with spices and ointment a bit like the way we leave flowers on a grave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they walk along the road they wonder how they will move the stone that they had witnessed the guards place across the entrance to the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the get to the tomb they see the stone rolled away and immediately Mary Magdalene runs to get Simon and John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Greek implies that they were not together and Mary has to go two errands to get them both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why these two?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Even though Simon had denied Jesus he is still seen as the leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John is known as the beloved disciple and the one who is closest to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These two disciples run ahead of Mary to the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John gets there first but for whatever reason he just peeks in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he was frightened, maybe he did not want to be ceremonially defiled, after all it is Passover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looks in and sees the tomb is empty </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> he notices folded grave clothes and the linen head cloth lying where Jesus head would have been.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Simon,</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ever the impulsive, races on into the tomb and finds it empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Luke</i> tells us in <i>24.12 </i>that Simon went away wondering what had happened to Jesus. Isnt that amazing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon goes away wondering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verse 8 of chapter 20 simply tells us that <i>John,</i> the other disciple, went in and believed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Simon went away wondering and John leaves believing</i> both having seen the same thing an empty tomb and empty grave clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Verse 9</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> tells us why this was so they were yet to understand the scriptures and how they applied to Jesus Emmaus helped to clarify that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i>Verse 10</i></b> tells us that the two disciples go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isnt that amazing also?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They go back home again this may have been due to fear of the authorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to have witnessed what they had witnessed and just to turn and go home well?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A Story of Grief.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Look at <b><i>verse 11.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here was Mary Magdalene a social outcast, a sinner, and Christ comes and meets her where she is at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had nowhere to go but to this empty tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her home was 65 miles away in Magdala but there was nothing there but her old life of sin and demon possession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The road back to Magdala was no place for a lone woman to be travelling, it was too dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>There was nowhere else her heart wanted to be other than near Jesus and at this moment the only place to be was at his tomb, even if it was empty. Is this not a sad verse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary is left outside the tomb weeping for her Lord<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is left alone with her grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary is at this moment in her life experiencing all that we experience <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when someone we love dies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is confused and no doubt angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angry at death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angry because the body has been taken away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angry maybe even at Jesus how could he let this happen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did he have to go to the cross?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did he have to trust Judas? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No doubt she is confused and disorientated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No doubt there is disbelief how could they do this to his body?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it not enough to whip him, mock him and crucify him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is totally unable to move on she comes to the last place where her Lord was the tomb and she weeps from the depths of her heart she weeps bitter tears of grief at the pain of her loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will ever fill this void of pain in her soul?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she is about to have another decisive moment in her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first was when Jesus cast out the demons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second was when Christ died before her eyes on the cross of Calvary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third begins when she decides to look into the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was it that the disciples saw when they went into the tomb?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So with a broken heart and tear filled eyes she looks into the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sees two angels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John tells us one was sitting where Christs head would have been and the other where his feet would have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In between are the folded grave clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her tears flow even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tomb really is empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His body is gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then one of the angels speak why are you crying? <b><i>(v13).</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary answers they have taken my Lord away and I dont know where they have laid him <b><i>(13).</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see at this point Mary still thinks someone has stolen his body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How else do you explain </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I dont know where they have put him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turns away from the angels and she sees Jesus, though she fails to recognise him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i>Verse 15</i></b>Jesus asks her the same question and adds who is it you are looking for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thinking he is the gardener asks what he has done with the body of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please tell me and I will go and get his body and bring it back to the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what Mary says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wants Jesus back in the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wants him in the tomb so that she can come and grieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that she can<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>come and remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Story of Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Verse 16 </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>Mary</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now things are about to change forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary Jesus speaks only one word her name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She replies with only one word <b><i>Rabonni (Master).</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one she has been grieving for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one she saw die on a cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one whose body she had come to anoint with oils and spices is now standing before her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her grief gives way to joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A heart that was breaking with the searing pain of loss is now breaking with the joy of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She runs to him and clasps hold of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we will come to that in a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to linger for a moment on these two words Maryand Master.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">it was her name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>She did not recognise him when she turned to face him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes were filled with tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her sight was clouded with grief and her heart was dying with the pain of loss and separation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when Jesus spoke her name she recognised him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She recognised his voice and she recognised his voice calling her name</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u><span style="color: blue;">In John 10<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said that he called his sheep by their name and they recognised his voice and they followed him</span></u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is the fulfilment of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the midst of despair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the midst of searing loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the midst of the pain of separation Jesus only has to speak her name and her heart is overwhelmed with joy, with hope and with love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What seemed hopeless to Mary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What seemed to be a helpless situation to her needed only her name called by her Lord for it to be transformed, renewed and restored.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All she could do in reply was to fall at his feet and cry <b><i>Master.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends I have no doubt her tears flowed even more at that moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember the joy of finding someone who was lost?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember the tears when you were reunited with someone you thought you would never see again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Mary can only reply Master and clasp him tightly to her</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Grief had dulled her heart and mind but the voice of Jesus calling her name restored hope to her soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He speaks her name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He calls her personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted him back in the tomb tell me where he is and I will go and get him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was seeking him with all her heart little did she know how God would answer the promise I will reveal myself to you when you seek me with all your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted a body in the grave to remember and to grieve over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He came resurrected to bring hope and new life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which was better?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which do you think Mary would have preferred?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Our Story</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So friends what is our decisive moment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stand today before an empty cross, outside an empty tomb wherein lie empty grave clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The Empty Cross</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">What does the empty cross of Christ say to us?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first thing it tells me is that Jesus died there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Roman soldiers knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disciples knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The women knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Jewish leaders knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bloodstains on the wood of that cross proclaim a man died here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He died as a public spectacle, to some as entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The empty cross tells me he died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>But what does the empty cross promise?</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It promises me that my sin is atoned for and my penalty paid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gods Word tells me that the wages of sin is death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Christ died on the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cross he paid the wages of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When wages are paid there is nothing more to pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see as the Scriptures teach all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God all that includes you and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have fallen short, we have sinned and the wages, the debt owed is death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the empty cross promises me that the wages have been paid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gods wrath has been satisfied and my sin atoned for by the death of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God by his love for us showed his love that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he said it is finished he proclaimed the penalty has been paid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the book were it once read guilty of sin it now reads forgiven, paid in full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>So though the cross is empty it is full of the promise of forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Empty Tomb.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You see the empty tomb speaks of resurrection life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul says this in <b><i>1 Corinthians 15.20 Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see his resurrection promises our resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because he is risen we also will be raised from the dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore death has lost its power over me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no need to fear death any longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Paul states in <b><i>1 Corinthians 15</i></b> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> death has lost its sting and grave has lost its victory because they have been swallowed up in Christ and his resurrection. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>The empty tomb is full of promise the promise of resurrection life for all who believe and trust in Christ Jesus.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Empty Grave Clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We read in the gospels that when Peter entered the empty tomb he saw the grave clothes where the body of Christ was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John is very vivid in his description.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He speaks of the linen cloth which would have been over the head of Christ lying separate from the strips of cloth that embalmed the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>If the grave had been robbed and the body snatched then such care would not have been taken to remove and fold the cloths around the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact the body would have just been lifted, clothes and all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The empty grave clothes speak to me of the promise of fellowship with Christ.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Friends here is fellowship with Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>Note will you it is not until she hears his voice calling her name that her eyes are open and her immediate response is to cling to him</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is his desire for you and I to hear his voice call out our name and for us to cling to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The empty grave clothes speak of his fellowship with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is no longer dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is no longer limited by an earthly human body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While he walked this earth only those who were physically and geographically close to him could have fellowship with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until the resurrection he could not be in two places at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once rise n from the dead he is able to fellowship by His Holy Spirit with all men, in all places and at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Conclusion</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Friends here it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have had decisive moments in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have had those life changing experiences and we know that life has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find ourselves standing once again before the empty cross, the empty tomb and empty grave clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>The question is not Is this a decisive moment for you today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is actually a statement of fact:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the decisive moment of your</strong> <strong>eternity!</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong><span style="color: blue;">Today the risen Christ calls your name he calls your name and the choice is yours.</span></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you going to remain blind and unseeing or are you going to turn and recognise him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you going to turn to him today and as Mary did clasp him to yourself and know the power of his resurrection life flood your life and change your for all eternity.<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText2"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> He is risen! He is here and He calls each of us by name. How are you going to respond?<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Amen</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-47630160146799744652012-01-06T18:43:00.000-08:002012-01-06T18:43:35.043-08:00GOD OF MERCY<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"></span><div class="MsoTitle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">God of Mercy<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">I once saw a sign outside a convent that read Trespassers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Underneath it was signed Sisters of Mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>There seemed to be an anomaly there to me.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Prosecution to the full extent of the law and mercy?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Did you ever get caught doing something you shouldn't?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">What were you hoping for when you got caught?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Did you ever hurt someone by accident?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">What were you hoping for when you begged forgiveness?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Mercy, that i</span></span></span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px;">what we were hoping for each time.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> we are going to look at the fact that God is Merciful.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Read <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Exodus 34 and verses 6-7.</i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>We read here of God revealing himself to Moses.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Read verses <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6-7.</i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>We find here that God reveals his character to Moses and part of his character is that he is merciful.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>When God says he is merciful he is saying to us that his gaze upon us is one of tender compassion</b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>In <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Isaiah 42.3</i></b> we read of this tender compassion, this relentless tenderness, this mercy towards us.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The children of the day would have used the reeds of the riverside to make flutes.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>A reed that was bent or bruised would have been of no use to them they broke it and discarded it.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>But God says such reeds, those broken and bruised by sin, are not only of value but of use to Him.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>In fact he will show them mercy and will not break them but restore them</b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He supports that imagery with one of a smouldering wick which he will not snuff out.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>This is the mercy of God being displayed to those who due to sin are almost extinct spiritually.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Yet look closely at <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 7</i></b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>God</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">s mercy does not mean that he will set aside justice.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">God will not clear the guilty that is he will not and he does not turn a blind eye to sin.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">He will not clear nor cleanse those who refuse to repent of their sin.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">He will not clear the guilty without satisfaction to his justice.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">That moves us then to the next step in Gods mercy.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mercy requires blood to be shed.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">On one occasion a mother came before Napoleon to plead for mercy for her son. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The conversation went along the following lines:<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mother I plead for mercy for my son.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Napoleon this is his second offence and justice demands death.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mother I know what justice demands but I am asking for mercy.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Napoleon -<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>he does not deserve mercy.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mother if he deserved mercy it would not be mercy.</span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Napoleon capitulated and gave the mother her son back.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>To what was that mother appealing?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>What is mercy?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When we look up the definition in the dictionary it states the following:<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Refraining from inflicting suffering, punishment by one who has the right, power to inflict it.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mercy is not in the hands of the one who pleads for it but rests in the hands of the one to whom the plea is made.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Mercy is also related to justice.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Justice treats us as we deserve to be treated because of our words and or actions.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> <b> </b></span><b>Mercy treats us differently than we deserve.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Let me give you a few Biblical examples of mercy.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Genesis 3</span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> the Fall of Mankind.</i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>You all I am sure know the story well.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Adam and Eve deliberately disobey God and bring sin and death into creation.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When they realise what they have done they run and hide.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>God comes and searches them out.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>God had warned them in his word to them that if they ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil they would die.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Justice demanded death.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Adam and Eve deserved death.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>What happens?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>God displays his mercy to them.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>He does not turn a blind eye to their disobedience and their sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He does not choose to ignore it.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>What he does is to pardon their sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>How?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Look at the text closely mercy comes at the expense of a life.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>In this case the blood of an animal was shed to atone for the sin of Adam and Eve.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>How do we know that?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Well we read that God clothed them in animal skins to hide their nakedness. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Mercy came at the expense of a life, at the cost of the shedding of blood.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Read <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Exodus 25.17-22.</i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>We have here described the <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></i></b>I want you to note that the Mercy Seat covered the Ark.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It was over the Law, it covered justice and judgment.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>But I want you also to note it only came into effect when blood was sprinkled on it.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When the blood from the sacrificial lamb on the Day of Atonement was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat then the throne of Gods judgment and justice became the means of his mercy to a sinful and wayward people.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Mercy was offered at the price of a life.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">You see no one has the right to mercy.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It took blood to make the mercy seat work and mercy still requires a life and it still requires blood to be effectual.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Why blood?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Well if you turn to </span></span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Genesis 4.10</i></b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> we read that blood speaks it cries to God.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Then turn if you would to </span></span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Hebrews 12.24.</i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Do you notice the difference?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Abel's blood spoke of justice and judgment.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>The blood of Christ speaks of Gods mercy</b>.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b><u><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">For God to show us mercy he cannot set aside justice.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></u></b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><u>Justice must be fulfilled or God would not be just.</u></b> So God in his mercy towards us satisfies his justice, his holiness by taking the punishment which our sin deserves, death, upon himself and the blood of his Son shed on the cross effects mercy for us.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Mercy required the shedding of blood and yet as the letter to </span></span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Hebrews 9</i></b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> tells us the blood of goats and heifers could not and would not cleanse us from sin for eternity.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">But as the author of Hebrews goes on to point out the blood of Christ brought a new covenant, an eternal covenant, in his own blood which does cleanse us from sin for all eternity.</span><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; line-height: 18px;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Read again <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Exodus 34</i></b> and now to <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verses 8-9</i></b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Do you see the result in the life of Moses of God revealing his mercy?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Moses immediately bows his head in humble reverence and adoration.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He immediately gives God the glory due to his name.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He is then moved to repentance in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 9.</i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Repentance because he is before God as the representative, the mediator, of a stiff-necked people.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He then immediately asks God to pardon their sin and to take them as his, Gods inheritance.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b>You see friends in order for you to appeal to Gods mercy you must be aware of your sin, Moses certainly was.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>You see mercy can only be exercised where there is guilt.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Mercy always presupposes guilt.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The penalty of the law must have been incurred, otherwise there can be no scope, no grounds for mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When Moses appealed here for forgiveness, for God to show mercy he was saying I am guilty.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>If Moses was not guilty then he could have appealed to justice to defend him and to offer him redress but he knows that not only is he guilty but that all the nation of Israel is guilty before God.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Therefore he appeals for mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Let me illustrate this with a few examples from the Bible.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Joseph and his brothers.</span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">You know the story how they threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery in Egypt.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Through the providence of God Joseph became de facto the Prime Minister of the land and how his brothers came to buy food because of a famine.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Towards the end of the story in Genesis we read of how Joseph plants a silver cup in Benjamin's sack and then demands he stay in Egypt as punishment.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The brothers plead to Joseph for Benjamin.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Joseph then reveals who he is and we read that the brothers bow before him and Joseph shows them mercy.</span><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; line-height: 18px;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The Prodigal Son</span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> that parable speaks of mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The Prodigal knows he is guilty and deserves nothing but punishment form his father.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Yet his father shows him mercy.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">David and Nathan</span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> when Nathan confronts David with his sin over Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah Gods mercy is declared but it is at the expense of a life, the child's.</span><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; line-height: 18px;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b>In order of us to cry to God for mercy we must come to the realisation that we are guilty and that we deserve the punishment.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b> </b> </span>It is only when I am convinced and convicted of my sinful state before God.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It is only when I am convinced and convicted that my sinful state deserves death, eternal death, that I am led to cry to God for mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>I cannot appeal to him for justice because justice demands my death</b> <u>the wages of sin is death</u>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>God</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>s holiness and his justice demands my eternal damnation and yet because he is merciful he has provided the means for me to escape death and receive eternal life.</b></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mercy implies my guilt.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Mercy is what I appeal to when I come to the realisation that I have nowhere else to turn to and no one else to cry to.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Friends you know God leads me to that point in many ways but significantly he does it by revealing to me by His Holy Spirit the extent and the consequences of my sinfulness.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Read <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Deuteronomy 8.2-3, 15-17</i></b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>We read here of God humbling the people of Israel for 40 years in the wilderness.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Why did God do that?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>Moses says the reason was so that the people might come to a realisation of their disobedience, their sin before God.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It was to show them, and subsequent generations, that sin had consequences but that even in the midst of their sin God was merciful to them.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>God allowed them to dwell in misery, not because he enjoyed it, but because only when they realised the consequences of their sin would their hearts be turned to repentance and faith in God.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>the father allowed the Prodigal to end up in the pigsty not because he did not love his son but because only in the mire of the pigsty would the sons heart be turned to repentance and his eyes opened to the love of his father.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b>Friends God will allow you to wallow in the mire of your sin so that your eyes might be opened to the consequences of your sin and your heart turned in repentance to him and that you might cry to him for mercy.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Jesus said<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>the Prodigal came to his senses in the pigsty.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The question is will God have to lead you into a pigsty for you to come to your senses and come home?<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>You see in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">1 Kings 8.38-39</i></b> God says that each man will know the disease, the affliction of his own heart and that will lead him to stretch out his hand in prayer seeking forgiveness.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Paul says the same thing in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 Corinthians 1.8-9.</i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>God desires that we would cry to him for mercy and so he leads us to realise exactly who we are before him a sinner.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He leads us to realise exactly where we are before him lost.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He leads us to realise exactly what we deserve before him eternal death.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He leads us to realise exactly what we can do before him nothing.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>All so that we might turn to him and seek his mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span> <b>my prayer for each and every one of you is that God would make you miserable in your sin</b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I pray that God would make you miserable in your sin <b>that your eyes might be open to the offer of his mercy</b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Like the people of Israel God may well lead us into a wilderness in order to break our stiff-necks and soften our hard hearts.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I pray that he will take us like he did <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Elijah (1 Kings 19.11-12)</i></b> and hide us in the cleft of a rock and when he has shaken our worlds by wind and earthquake then we will be in a spiritual position and place to hear his still small voice speak to our soul<b>s.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>While you and I remain unconvinced of our sin and the fact that we are sinners then sin will lie hidden in our souls and it canker will corrupt our lives.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It is only when God opens our eyes by the convicting of the Holy Spirit that we will be on the road to redemption.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">We all know the story of </span></span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Scrooge </i></b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">and how the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future come to haunt him on Christmas Eve.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Friends there is some truth in what </span></span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Dickens</i></b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> wrote.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">God sometimes in our lives brings the ghosts of the past and the present and in his mercy the spectre of our future to come into our souls.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">You know I don't mean literal ghosts, there are no such things as ghosts.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">What God does is by his Spirit to almost quite literally haunt us with the sins of our past, our present and the consequence of them in the future.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">He convicts us of our sin and convinces us of their punishment so that we might what?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Live in fear and dread?</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">No! </span></span><b style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px;">So that we might repent of them and turn to him and call on his grace and mercy for forgiveness.</b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; line-height: 18px;"><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b>You see when I turn to Gods mercy I am acknowledging my deep heartfelt guilt at my sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When I turn to God for mercy I am admitting I have no hope of redemption but his forgiveness.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When I turn to God for mercy I am saying that I trust and believe that he is merciful.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I believe that his nature is merciful</b>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I believe and trust Paul when he writes in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Ephesians 2.4-5</i></b> that God is rich in mercy and will make me alive in Christ even though at this moment I am dead in my sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Gods mercy takes note of me and it also takes action for me.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>In <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Hebrews 4.15-16</i></b> we also realise that Gods mercy identifies with me.<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b>Trusting in Gods mercy I admit my guilt.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I no longer seek excuses or justifications for my sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I cry for his mercy and I rest assured in the knowledge that because he is merciful and because he is faithful <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">(Ex. 34.6-7)</i></span> he will forgive me my sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He will forgive me on the grounds of the shedding of the blood of<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>his Son Christ Jesus.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>And it is that blood sprinkled on the mercy seat of God which brings the mercy of God to bear on my life and yours.</b><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p><o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Conclusion<o:p style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">We often hear people say God helps those who help themselves.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>Friends the truth is God helps those who are unable to help themselves.</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Our God is a God of Mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He does not treat us as our sin deserves. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>In his love and mercy for you he sent Christ to die in your place, to take your punishment.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He shed his blood for you so that when he carried his blood into heaven and sprinkled it on the mercy seat before the throne of his father his fathers justice would be satisfied, atonement for sin made, and his fathers mercy towards mankind become effectual.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I want each and every one of us to bow our heads and to be still before God.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I want you to know deep in your soul before whom you stand the sovereign creator of this universe.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>A God of holiness.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>A God of justice.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>A God of wrath at sin.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>A God of grace.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>A God of mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>A God of mercy.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>as we bow our heads, we bow our hearts and all we can do is thank God for his mercy towards us.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>We plead nothing before him but the blood of Christ.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>We turn to him for forgiveness trusting in his grace, his mercy and his faithfulness.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Our God is a God of mercy and we are eternally thankful.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Amen.</i></b></span></div>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-23905262866598591202011-12-22T15:49:00.000-08:002011-12-22T15:49:04.090-08:00Jesus<div align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br />
Mark 8.27-9.1 Jesus, you must be joking</span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">I read recently that they reckon by the time a child is 16 they will have asked over 500,000 questions and the majority will have started with the word Why. Sometimes we ask a question to gain information for ourselves. Sometimes it is a test to see what someone else knows. Sometimes it is to convey information. We often find Jesus answering questions in the gospel and on a few occasions He asks questions. . Look, with me, if you would <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">at verses 27-30</b>. These verses set the context in which the words are spoken by Jesus. Jesus has asked the disciples <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Who do the people say I am?</i></b> The disciples have answered with all the popular answers of the day - John the Baptist, Elijah or some other prophet. He then asks them who they say He is? Simon Peter gives this wonderful answer <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">You are the Christ.</i></b> In Matthew</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: x-small;">s gospel Jesus praises Simon for this confession. Here in Mark Jesus immediately goes on to teach the disciples exactly what Simons confession means. This passage is the turning point in the gospel of Mark. From here on Jesus face is turned to Jerusalem and the Cross. Read</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: x-small;"> </span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 31.</span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Verses 31-33 Shock One - The Messiah must die.</span></span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mark tells us that Jesus began to teach the twelve that the Son of Man, that is Jesus, must suffer, be rejected by the social and religious leaders, crucified and then rise again. Now why was it important for Jesus to teach them this at this stage? Well you see, the disciples, like all Jews, had a false understanding of the Messiah and what He would do when He came. Simon has confessed that they believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One promised by God. However the common idea was that the Messiah would free Israel from all her enemies by military might. He would be a great liberator from the Romans. Jesus now teaches them as Mark says in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 32 -</i></b> plainly about this. So let us look at what He said to them about the Messiah, about Himself.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The Messiah must suffer, be rejected, die and rise again. This was the way it was going to be. This was to be the way of the Messiah. The disciples were shocked at this and they failed to understand. You see they did not understand that Jesus must</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: small; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Suffer If you have ever seen Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ I think you understand something of the physical suffering of Christ as he was crucified. <b>Yet the physical pain was nothing compared to the spiritual pain of taking our sin and bearing the wrath of God the Father towards sin. The agony of separation from the Father and the Holy Spirit that mystery of the cross as the Father turns His back on His Son expressed in that cry My God, my God, Why have you forsaken me?</b></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: small; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"> All that suffering was to reconcile man to God.</span></span></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Rejected - the religious leaders would fail to see He was the Son of God and they therefore would reject Him and the way of the Cross. He would be rejected by the very people who longed for the coming of the Messiah. He would be rejected by family and friends. When they come to arrest Him in the garden of Gethsemane His closest friends will run away in terror. Judas will reject Him and betray Him with a kiss.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Die - the Word of God tells us that without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins. Under the old covenant the blood shed was that of bulls and goats. Once a year the High Priest would enter into the presence of God in the Holy of Holies within the Temple and present the sacrifice of atonement for the people of Israel. Daily other sacrifices would be offered to atone for sin and to make reparation for sin. But the thing was it had to be repeated endlessly, day after day. Month after month. Year after year. Jesus reveals that His death will atone for sin once and for all. The perfect sacrifice which would meet all the requirements of the Law and of the Holiness of God to atone for sin. He, the Messiah, would take the place of the sacrificial Lamb. He would stand in the place of condemnation and take upon Himself the punishment due for sin. </span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Rise again Yet death is not the end. In the old covenant the animal died and it atoned for sin but it could not bring life to the person in whose place it stood. When Christ died on the Cross He atoned for sin but rising from the dead He defeated death and offered victory over the grave. The disciples fail to understand these things -.9.10 says they failed to understand about the resurrection.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Their failure to understand is clearly demonstrated in what happens next. I love Simon Peter in the Bible. Failure after failure and yet God uses him greatly. Good old Simon - one minute confessing Jesus as the Messiah the next telling Him no not that way. Simon is shocked by what Jesus has just told them. He is offended with the idea of Jesus suffering, being rejected and dying. Please note will you Simon is full of good intentions. It is out of genuine love for Jesus that he does not want Him to die. It is also however, ignorance of the will of God that he rebukes Jesus. Simon says what the rest are thinking. Jesus replies in some of the hardest hitting words of all Scripture - <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">READ verse 33.</i></b> What a rebuke. Note He looks at the twelve, He knows they are thinking the same as Simon. I would say Simon went red with embarrassment and from what we know of his temper he probably had trouble controlling it. Why would Jesus say such a thing to a loving friend like Simon? Especially after Simon has just confessed Him to be the Messiah and when He knows that Simon spoke only in His best interests. Well the answer is quite simple:</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The temptation to go another way than the way and will of God the Father - the way of the Cross.</span></span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> Jesus is here once again facing temptation to go the way of man and not the way of God. The Fathers way was of humility, obedience, suffering and death on the Cross - Paul says in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Philippians 2</i></b> Jesus humbled himself, became obedient unto death, even death on the cross. It is the wilderness temptations all over again, only this time the words come from the lips of a friend, a disciple. Listen, learn from that. When we set our foot and heart to follow the way of God - good friends may well come and with good intentions and try to divert us another way. The temptation is to go along the way of the common expectations. Peter had no idea what he was doing. Peter, the one Jesus said would be the rock, whose confession of the gospel would be the foundation upon which Christ would build His church has now become a stumbling block to the way of the Cross. Jesus had to reject Peters assertion. He had to in order to obey the Father and to win salvation for mankind.</span></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Verses 34-37 Shock 2 - The Messiahs Followers must die.</span></span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Jesus now calls the crowd to Himself. What He is about to say is for all believers, for all who would follow Him, not just for the select few, not just for the disciples or the leaders of the Church - but for all who claim allegiance to Christ. He now tells them plainly and in stark terms what it means to follow Him. <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">READ Verses 34-37</i></b>. Following me, He says, is not about power but about humility, obedience, suffering and death which will lead to resurrection to new life. To follow me means to follow my path, to suffer as I suffer and if needs be to die for me and the gospel. The gospel is about a crucified saviour - gospel people must therefore be a crucified people. Let us look at this a little more closely:</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Deny himself</span></span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> - now this not denying that nice cream bun, or that second helping of chocolate cake. It is about dying to my self-centredness. Dying to my ambitions, my hopes, my possessions and living to Christ. Paul said <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">I die daily.</i></b> That is what Jesus calls for here. <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">This is actually a harder saying than the rebuke to Simon in verse 33. </i></b>I must move from being self-centred to be Christ-centred. I must give up all that would stand against me following His way. It is me giving my whole life over to Jesus because this leads to total freedom. As <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 35</i></b> says I have all to gain and nothing to lose. You see if I try to save my physical life by holding on to it and denying Christ I actually end up losing the greater prize eternal life. Which is of more value? As someone once said <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">he is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for what he cannot lose. </span></i></b></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Verse 36</span></span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> - Richard Branson when he was offered a bribe by GTech said I need only</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> a </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: x-small;">suit</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: x-small;">, and three meals a day thank you. Howard Hughes had an immense fortune but ended up a lonely, broken, recluse. He had the wealth but at what cost. What about you? You see life to God is not cheap. Weigh it up - profit side = the world, loss side=soul - no contest really because they are nowhere near the same value. One is temporary, fleeting, the other is eternal. You can lose your soul in many ways:</span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Murder it</span></span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> - by loving sin and cleaving to the world</span></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Poison it</span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> - by choosing lies and believing man-made religion and superstition</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Starve it</span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> - by neglecting all means of grace and refusing the gift of Jesus - salvation.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The most foolish deal - to gain wealth and fame at the expense of your eternal salvation. To sell your soul for earthly gain is to sell it cheap, like Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of stew. Remember these words when you are tempted by the treasures and pleasures the world offers. Remember them when you are tempted to deny Jesus.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Verses 38-9.1 The Glory to Come</span></span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Jesus tells the crowd and His disciples there will come a day of reckoning. A day when I will judge the world. A day when men will be called to account for their souls. He has told them His way and His gospel will never be popular, it may lead them to suffering, even to death but that in the face of them they are not to deny Him. Many Christians know firsthand the truth of those words of Christ. Ask Lindy Reid about the persecuted church and you will be shocked at the facts. We may not face physical death here for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel but we will face ridicule, the death of our name and reputation, maybe the loss of promotion or even our job - but Jesus promises us a greater reward for standing up for Him. Our motivation for denial of Jesus is self, self-preservation - but Jesus has already challenged us that we must be Christ-centred and not self-centred if we would truly follow Him. The consequences of denying Him does not bear thinking about - <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">READ Verse 38.</i></b> How awful it will be on that day when Jesus denies men before His father because they have denied Him before men. It is hard to imagine that we would be ashamed of Christ. Yet Jesus says that is exactly what some people will be. They will be ashamed of Him, ashamed to be known as one of His people. Friends you cannot be a closet Christian. You cannot walk around denying Him and believe that one day He will present you before the Father with joy. <b>Maybe this Christmas is actually the opportunity for you stand up and be counted for Christ. </b> From this day forward purpose in your heart to follow Him and to no longer deny Him. We have much to gain and little to lose in following Jesus. As the old chorus goes <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of Him. </span></i></b></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b>So today Jesus challenges each of us:</b></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b>My way is the way of the Cross. It is the way of humility, obedience, suffering, death to self but it leads to resurrection and eternal life. What way are you going to go?</b></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Amen.</span></span></i></b></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-86354915031143813322011-12-21T14:23:00.000-08:002011-12-21T14:23:38.089-08:00Mary called by God<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"></span><div class="MsoTitle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">MARY CALLED BY GOD</span></span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> The visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus. We have grown so use to hearing the account that our senses have been dulled to the wonder of the occasion and to the enormity of what Mary was called to by God. I want to take a few moments and to look again at the call of Mary. First let me set the context for you. Luke is a doctor and he weaves deep theological meaning into simple stories. Here for example he tells how the God the Son came to this world to be born Son of God. The pagan religions of the days had endless stories of the carnal knowledge of gods and woman producing a semi-divine offspring. No such story is told by Luke. As a doctor he would have understood as well as any of his contemporaries the biological steps of conception and birth. So let us look closely at the passage and see what we learn.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The Surprise of Mary</span></span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The Surrender of Mary</span></span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The Surprise of Mary.</span></span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Here is a little girl, really a young woman of somewhere between 14 and 17. She is engaged to be married to Joseph a carpenter. Now betrothals were formal, legal contracts much more binding than our engagements today. Only divorce or death could end such a betrothal. <b> Any one betrothed was not allowed sexual relationship with their espoused until they were married.</b> No doubt she was busy making her wedding garment. No doubt she is all exited about the coming wedding. Into this situation God sends Gabriel with a message which will completely transform and revolutionise the whole situation. Gabriel come to Mary and tells her that she has found favour before God and that she has been chosen to bring the Son of God into the world.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">From the passage we can see that initially she is fearful of the angelic appearance. That is why the Gabriel tells her not to be afraid. Interesting every time an angel appears in the Christmas narrative the first thing they say is fear not. Mary is taken totally by surprise at the news and at the fact that God has chosen her. Why was she highly favoured? Why did the angel come to her? I think it is important at this point that we actually listen to what the text says. <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Look at verse 28.</i></b> The text says <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">greetings, you who are highly favoured. The Lord is with you. </i></b>The phrase <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">highly favoured</i></b> is found only one other place in the NT <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Ephesians 1 v6</i></b> and there it is translated <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">His glorious grace</i></b> Mary is the recipient of Gods grace and therefore she can say in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 47 my spirit rejoices in God my saviour </i></b>Gabriel assures her that </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The Lord is with you because only the assurance of the presence of the Lord will sustain her through what is to come.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">I think we should note that in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 12</i></b> the very appearance of the angel was enough to grip Zechariah with fear but here in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verses 29-30</i></b> it is the word, the message, of Gabriel which troubles Mary. Hence the assurance that she has found favour with God. <b>Gods grace, like His love, banishes fear from the hearts of His children</b>. <b><u>I want us to note that when the Word of God comes to us it is not always to bring comfort, it may in fact trouble us, discomfort us but the knowledge of His grace and the assurance of His presence are enough to enable us to surrender our wills to His</u></b>.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The Surrender of Mary.</span></span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoBodyText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">In <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 31</i></b> Gabriel reveals to Mary the message of the Incarnation. He tells her of the significance, not just for her but for all mankind, of her having found favour before God. The announcement that the time for the birth of the messiah has come is given first to a teenage girl in a despised village in Galilee <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">(see John 2.5).</i></b> In <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verses 32-33</i></b> Gabriel affirms that the child to be born to Mary will be the Messiah by giving Him the messianic titles of the OT.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Look at </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Mary's</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> response to the news which Gabriel brings, read verse 34. </span></span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">She does not ask Why? but How?</i></b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> <b>You know when I read that it stopped me dead in my tracks. It was like scales fell from my eyes and I was left with the question in my own heart: How often do you ask God why? When you should be asking How?</b> Think for a moment. Is that not what you and I do all the time? God speaks to us from His word and the first question on our lips Why? Why me? Why now? Why that? Mary did not ask Why but How? She knows of her moral purity in this area of her life. She knows that she has been faithful to the Word of God that sexual intercourse is for marriage and outside of that it is sinful and condemned by God. So she asks Gabriel how as a virgin she could possibly be pregnant? Gabriel explains in verse 35 that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and she will conceive. <b>This term </b></span></span><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">overshadow</i></b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana;"><b style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> is the one used in the OT to speak of the presence of God in the Tabernacle, in the Temple and on Mount Sinai when the Law is given</b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">. It speaks of the holy and powerful presence of God. Gabriel also speaks of the baby expected by Elizabeth, Mary's cousin, as a way to show Mary that what is deemed impossible by man is possible with God. It is a means of assuring Mary of the power of God to bring this about. It is a means of showing how God can bring blessedness out of barrenness.</span></span></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Now we see the servant heart and attitude of Mary. Read it for yourself in <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 38.</i></b> She humbly and obediently accepts Gods will for her life. She trusts God to do what is right and to fulfil His promise. Now we might say so what. But that would be to completely miss the enormity of her answer here. On the surface it seems a straight forward answer Yes. But let us look at the scene a little more closely.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Now here is the real danger for her. <b>To be pregnant outside of marriage in Judaism is not merely a scandal but is actually to place yourself in a position where you can be stoned to death</b>. Mary by accepting the will of God for her own life was actually putting her own life at risk. Now once again we can see the gracious hand of God and the protective hand of God. Basic biology tells us that if anything happens to Mary then the baby, the Christ, whom she is carrying will also suffer. So God actually protects her from all danger here. </span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Not only is she in danger of being stoned to death but Joseph , when he hears of here pregnancy, is mindful not to shame her but never-the-less not to marry her. Once again God steps in and insures the marriage. <b>Can I say to you when you obey the will of God you are never at a loss</b>. </span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">So Mary by accepting the will of God, this call of God to bear His Son, puts herself in a position where she will be the talk of the town, a social outcast, a scandal to her family, open to ridicule and rejection by Joseph and even death. <b>Yet look at her answer to this call in <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">verse 38</i></span> humble obedient acceptance. </b> There is no question of her asking Gabriel, and therefore God, What do I get out of this? What is there in this for me? No we do not read of that on her lips. We do not read that she started negotiations for better terms and conditions in this call. That is why God called her. He knew that in Mary he had a humble servant. One willing to obey the call of God come what may. <b>One who was not preoccupied with the cost of the service but actually concerned about doing the service.</b></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mary accepted the call and she responded by believing and trusting God for the future. This was a call to danger, to isolation, to rejection, to ruining of her reputation and possibly her happiness with Joseph. But God came first and because of that she was greatly blessed by God and became the mother of Jesus.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Application.</span></span></i></b></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoListBullet" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">We are often reluctant to learn from the life of Mary in case we are accused of Mariolatry. We have no grounds in Scripture to worship anyone but Christ Jesus. There is no other mediator, or saviour except Jesus Christ. However we can and we should learn from the life of Mary. We can learn some valuable lessons from this episode in her life.</span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoListBullet" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-left: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">1.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The call in the life of Mary is initiated by God. Her response is a humble obedience to the call of God. It all started with God</span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">s vision for Mary's life. Often when God calls us to do something we begin to count the cost. We begin to put up all the excuses of why we could not answer or do that. The first call of God in all our lives is to come to faith in Jesus. I often hear all sorts of excuses for people not coming to Christ Jesus. We should learn from Mary who answered a call that placed her in all sorts of dangers and the result was that God greatly blessed her.</span></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoListBullet" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">We should learn from her that it is not the people who have power or wealth or great intelligence who are necessarily called by God. It is those whom God knows whose hearts are His. Whose desire is to be a faithful servant for Him. Mary was no one special before this call of God. She was a simple peasant girl betrothed to a carpenter. She had no great wealth, no great education, no great status and yet she became the mother of Jesus. So do not say God could not use me. I have nothing to offer. When God calls He also provides what is necessary to fulfil that call. He also assured Mary, through Gabriel that His presence was with her for the future. </span></span></span></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoListBullet" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mary needed Jesus to die for her sins. We read three times in the gospels that Mary did not understand why Jesus had come. When Jesus gets left behind in Jerusalem as a boy Mary fails to understand why He was in the Temple. She fails to understand when Jesus says I was about my fathers business. Again at the wedding at Cana she asks for a sign Jesus gently rebukes her. He gently points out that signs and wonders are not what His ministry is about. Mark, in his gospel, records for us an occasion when Mary, along with Jesus</span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; text-indent: -18pt;"> brothers, come to take Him home because they think Jesus is mad. Here again we see that she did not understand His purpose in coming. Finally she comes in from the cold at the foot of the cross. We read that she was there along with others as her Son died. She too, like you and I, needed to come to the cross of Christ for forgiveness. We know that after that she saw the risen Lord Jesus and we can assume that she then understood His purpose in coming.</span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="MsoListBullet" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Mary is often neglected and forgotten in Protestant churches. We have gone to the other extreme because some have raised her to a position that is not biblical. However, she was the mother of Jesus. She was chosen by God to bring His Son into the world and to raise Him to manhood. For that she is to be respected as we respect any other biblical person called by God. We are not to worship her but we can learn from her obedience and trust in God. We can follow her example in accepting, whatever the personal cost, surrender to Gods will for her life, and ours. God accomplishes His will through the obedience of Mary. <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Amen.</span></span></b></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-18180561369242833662011-12-14T21:23:00.000-08:002011-12-14T21:26:59.146-08:00In the Battle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">Romans 13. V11-14</strong><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">'Waken up!' If you are not a morning person you must really hate those words. If you just love that feeling of rolling over and going back to sleep then to hear those words, accompanied by the duvet being pulled back must really rank up there as the worst way to start the day. Sometimes we hear 'waken up' and it means we need to have our eyes open to something that is going on around us that we are missing. I am sure you have heard the expression 'waken up and smell the coffee!' that is exactly what Paul is writing to the believers in the church at Rome. These verses (11-14) are in fact a summary of the argument that Paul began in 12.1 concerning the Second Coming of Christ and the way Christian believers should live in the light of that fact. In AD386, in Milan, Italy, this passage led to the conversion of St Augustine - you can read it in his Confessions. Read 13 verses 11-14.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">Verse 11- there is urgency in what Paul writes in this verse. Paul is not speaking about some remote time in the future for which they can prepare at leisure. Having spoken of the need to love their neighbours as themselves (1-10) Paul now exhorts them to understand the time in which they live and to waken up from spiritual slumber. They are to remember that they live in a critical period - the era between the first coming and the second coming of Christ Jesus. This expectation hovers over all believers and they are to live in the light of that expectation. Isn't it interesting that he has to tell the Christian believers not to slumber but to be watchful and alert for the coming of Christ. He tells them the time of their 'salvation' is nearer than when they first believed in Christ Jesus. By that he means that the fulfilment of salvation is near. The bible speaks of salvation in past, present and future senses - so I am saved (Eph 2.8), I am being saved (1 Cor 15.2), I will be saved (1 Peter 1.9). Here Paul is speaking of the final consummation of their salvation when Christ returns. They must waken up to that fact. Obviously some of them had started to drift asleep in their walk with God. You know how you start to do the 'nodding dog', eyes get heavy, heaviness comes over you and suddenly you find someone poking you and you hear 'waken up!' That is exactly what Paul is doing here to the believers at Rome.<b> He wants them to live that day, that moment in the expectation of the return of Christ. </b>How would, or should, the fact that Christ could come today change how you live your life today? <b>Seriously, if you knew Christ would come today would you live in a different way? Why don't you then live like that now?</b></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">Verse 12 - Paul uses the contrast between day and night, darkness and light to depict the difference Christ and His return makes, and should make, in the life of the believer.<b> Note also that he does not exclude himself from this admonition - 'Let us' Paul does not place himself above them or above his own teaching. He too needs to step out of darkness into the marvellous light of Christ and to live accordingly.</b></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">Night/darkness - depicts evil and sin. The night is nearly ended in that the return of Christ is nearer than when they first believed in Him. There is also a sense in which their present life is still lived in the realm of darkness but they are to remove the clothes of darkness - that is the works of sin and the deeds belonging to their old lives. The lifestyle/behaviour which they indulged in before coming to Christ are to be taken off and left in the darkness because they no longer live in darkness but they have crossed over into the light of Christ Jesus. Light depicts those who have passed through the experience of salvation in Christ. Therefore the clothing (the deeds of sin) are no longer their clothing for their lives - they have done away with such things by coming to Christ Jesus. Hence the admonition earlier in this chapter to love Christ and to love their neighbours. Their lives are to be lives filled with love for Christ and for others - the very opposite of the self-centredness of the old life they lived when they belonged to the darkness. They put off the 'works of darkness' by putting on 'the armour of light.' <b>Note will you they do not put on the works of light but the armour of light</b>. This is important for them, and us, to grasp. <b>It is a battle which they have entered by coming to faith in Christ and in order to fight that battle they need the right equipment.</b> In Ephesians 6.10-20 Paul lists the armour of light - and in other letters he mentions armour. Christ takes us from darkness to light, from sin to salvation but we must not fall asleep in this present time - we must put on the armour provided and engage in the battle. How do they, and we, do this?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">Verse 13 - Paul here lists three couplets which are meant to cover the whole of life. In an age when we hear very little of what we cannot (or should not) do Paul's words here are a very timely reminder of how Christians are to live. Paul states quite clearly and categorically that by being a follower of Christ there is a way of life which is necessary if we are not to slumber and fall into sin. Intemperance, sexual sins and licentiousness (or unrestrained desires) are not the marks of a Christian believer who has put on the armour of light. Christians belong to Christ and not to the realm of darkness. <b>Hence they, and we, are to live lives that clearly marks us out as followers of Christ</b>. Paul is very clear, Scripture is very clear, - read these words again and take them on board. The first two couplets deal with behaviour - personal morality which if not brought captive to the word of God will lead us into sin and hurt others in the process. The third couplet deals with the attitude of mind and spirit. We may tick the right boxes in the first two areas but what about this third area - our attitude of mind and spirit. It is easy to be morally upright in our actions but what about our words and thoughts. Paul says that believers are to live decent lives - literally 'walk becomingly' before God. The lifestyle of those who walk in the light is one that is in stark contrast to those who walk in darkness.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"> A way of life which marks out the believer as different from those who still walk in darkness.<b> Now let me ask you - can you tell the difference in your life? Without you saying a word would people know you are a follower of Christ Jesus? From your attitude and words would people mark you as a follower of Christ</b>? Paul expects there to be convincing and compelling evidence of your confession as a follower of Christ. God expects there to be a clear distinction and difference between your life and the ways of darkness if you claim to be His. You see the six vices listed here by Paul paint the picture of someone who is self-centred and self-pleasing above all else. The gratification of self is the mark of their life and lifestyle. In stark contrast the believer is to live as though the day of the return of Christ has dawned, bringing with it the personal presence of Christ Jesus. Friends, especially you young people, heed this warning from the apostle Paul. Let me say also - to put on the armour of light and to walk in the light will lead you into a battle - a battle with your own sinful desires, with the sinful desires and actions of your friends, family etc and ultimately the world - <b>so don't expect to be popular when you walk in the light clothed in the armour of light.</b></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">This is a daily spiritual battle of consciously and habitually turning away from the paths of darkness and following Christ. To do this we need to spend time with God. <b>We need to spend time in His word, in prayer, in fellowship with other believers so that our knowledge of and intimacy with God deepens. This is a daily process and progression. We need to encourage one another to put on the armour of light and to once again enter the battle.</b></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Verse 14 in stark contrast to those who walk in darkness the believers are to clothe themselves with Christ and not to seek to gratify the sinful desires of the flesh. How do they clothe yourself with Christ? It is a deliberate and conscious acceptance of the Lordship of Christ in and over their lives. All their motives and desires, all their actions and words are to be brought under His control and guidance, under His Lordship. This they do by faith in Christ. This they do by obeying His word, following His commands and growing in love of Him and one another. Having laid aside the garment of the sinful nature and having put on Christ by faith, they are to live accordingly. Having learned the gospel in principle they are now to put it into practice daily in their lives. Paul has spent much of the letter to the Romans explaining how they are justified in Christ and in these last chapters he spends his time explaining how that justification leads to sanctification. Justification is the work of the finished work of Christ on the cross applied to their lives by the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the daily ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, with which they co-operate, in making the believer more like Christ each day. That Christlikeness will be seen in love in action in their lives. </span><b style="font-size: 12px;">That is what Christ taught His disciples in parables and in actions - love for those whom society despised, rejected and abandoned</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">. The Good Samaritan, the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, Zaccheus, the lepers, the 'little ones' and even Judas. And we could go on with that list. Sanctification is a steady ongoing progression in their lives as daily they put on the armour of light and seek to walk in the light of Christ doing battle 'against sin, the world, and the devil and so remain Christ's faithful soldier and follower till life's end' as we say in our baptismal liturgy. By clothing themselves with Christ they make no room for sin in their lives. </span><b style="font-size: 12px;">They habitually identify and associate with Christ Jesus. It is a strong and vivid metaphor that Paul uses by saying 'clothe yourself with Christ.' It is more than just putting on His character - it is being clothed with His grace and then living as Christ daily</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">. People should see Christ in you daily. </span><b style="font-size: 12px;">There is no room for complacency in the Christian life. Godliness and holiness do not automatically follow - they require the putting off of the old and the putting on of Christ each day</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">. We remain sinners (7.14) even after we have become a saint and there is a constant battle in our lives against the sinful nature and we must play our part in that battle. A good soldier does not sleep whilst the enemy is around. A good soldier obeys the rules, follows orders, has effective armour, has a definite goal and exerts himself in the fulfilment of that goal. </span><b>Yet soldiers do not fight alone - they are part of an army - each playing his/her part so that the whole are victorious. Should this not be true of the soldiers of Christ?</b></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Conclusion</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">Here is a stark warning to us all. We are too inclined to slumber and to fall into grave danger. We need to waken up and to put on the armour of light because we are in a spiritual battle everyday. We are to make no room in our lives for sin but to be on our guard against it and to fight against it with the weapons God has provided for us. Today we are to put off the clothes of darkness and to put on the armour of light by clothing ourselves in Christ Jesus. This we do by consciously coming to Him and surrendering our lives to Him and asking the Holy Spirit to apply the finished work of the cross, the atonement, to our sinful lives. Then we are to clothe ourselves in the armour to enter the fray and to fight for godliness and holiness in our lives. People should be able to point us out as Christians because we walk in the light and live accordingly. </div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><br />
</div>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-47844356801253235682011-12-12T20:01:00.000-08:002011-12-12T20:01:43.405-08:00watch-keeperNehemiah 6.15‐7.4 Job Accomplished!<br />
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When you complete a task or a project are you the sort of person who then gives yourself a treat? Do you reward yourself upon completion? Task accomplished, pat on back etc. Nehemiah has completed the project of rebuilding the walls – verse 15. What a wonderful achievement and in 7.1 we learn that he proceeded to hang the gates/doors in their place – the task was complete. The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and the gates hung – the city was once again fortified and secure for its inhabitants. Amazing, the walls that had lain neglected for almost two centuries were rebuilt in less than two months. Why? Because the people were galvanised together, they had a strong and courageous leader and they were following the will of God.<br />
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Lesson learned – do not underestimate what the people of God can achieve when they have good leadership, stay focused and follow the will of God. Amazing walls can be built in short periods of time.<br />
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The result of this is seen in verse 16 – their enemies literally ‘lost their self‐confidence.’ The rapid completion of the building of the walls against such odds and in the face of such opposition could only have been completed with the help of God. Nehemiah gives the glory to God and to God alone for the completion of the rebuilding of the walls and the hanging of the gates of Jerusalem.Read Daniel 4.30. What a contrast? Nehemiah gave all the glory to God but Nebuchadnezzar took all the glory for himself. If you read on in Daniel 4 you see the judgement of God fall on Nebuchadnezzar for his arrogance and pride.<br />
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<b>Why is it that as people climb the ladder of success they will pray and seek God’s help but as soon as they seem to reach the pinnacle they take all the glory for themselves?</b> Why do Christian leaders also, sadly all too often, fall into this sin? There is still a battle in our hearts with the old Adam wanting the glory. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Throughout all this work Nehemiah has acknowledged God as the source of his strength, as the One who is directing the project, guarding the workers and who has brought them to this point of completion. God is acknowledged at every stage of the building work. From the first report to the last hinge – God is given the praise and the glory.</span></b><br />
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Lesson learned – God must be given His rightful place, (i.e. First), in every stage of building the kingdom. Why? Because the kingdom is His, we are His (He bought us with the blood of Christ) and without Him we would complete nothing. The completion of the work is a testimony to God’s provision, protection and providence. It has to be acknowledged in public and not just in private. . What is the priority of your heart?<br />
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Verses 17‐19 – the opposition continued even after the walls had been rebuilt and the gates had been put in place. Nehemiah is very clear – the nobility are still opposed to his work. He had faced much opposition in rebuilding the walls and now, even when the task is complete, the opposition still attacks. Tobiah keeps up his opposition. Tobiah was a fellow Jew and therefore his opposition and attacks must have hurt Nehemiah deeply because he was supposed to be equally concerned with the glory of God. Do you not find that also? Do you not find that when someone who is a Christian attacks your service or your work for God that it cuts deeply? How often do you find yourself thinking: I thought they were a follower of Christ and they have just assassinated my service for God? It is very painful when the opposition is from within the church fellowship? The most painful opposition is the fifth column opposition and every church fellowship has them. Nehemiah tells us that Tobiah has people within the nobility who feed him fresh information about the workings of Jerusalem so that he can keep up guerrilla warfare consisting of constant intimidation. Tobiah does this by two means – his commercial interests and his family connections. Tobiah used the marriage ceremony as a means of undermining the work of God in Jerusalem. How more sinister can you get than using a God‐ordained gift to attack the work of building the kingdom of God.<br />
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You know nothing much has changed in the world today and nothing much has changed within the church either. The enemies of God’s kingdom still use such relationships to intimidate the people of God as they build the kingdom of God.<br />
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Lesson learned – just because the project is complete does not mean the opposition will stop. Satan will use all sorts of connections to intimidate leaders in the church and those being faithful. When money is the source of a relationship, as it was with these nobles and Tobiah, the opposition to the kingdom of God being built is soon forgotten. Remember that when you take money from people – and I am not just talking about cash there. Those who are opposed to the building of the walls of Jerusalem will use that connection, that relationship, to continue an underground campaign against God’s work.<br />
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7.1 – with the wall complete Nehemiah’s turns now to the physical safety of the people of Jerusalem and he appoints gatekeepers. The gatekeepers would serve as guards or watchmen and in 13.22 they were also entrusted with moral responsibilities for overseeing the observance of the Sabbath in Jerusalem. These men would guard not just the physical well being of the city but also make sure that on holy days the worship of God was a priority and prevent trade taking place within Jerusalem. <b> Let me ask you something: Who have you set as gatekeepers over your life, your family etc?</b> None of us would ever consider allowing our children to go into a swimming lesson if the instructor was not qualified and yet we are quite happy to allow computer games, internet, tv, films, and music all to enter our homes and lives without posting a watchman. <b>You don’t believe me – how many of you parents allow your children to play computer games, or watch films above their age classification?</b> Have you taken time recently to look at their friend’s photos on facebook. Just last week my college tutor told me how horrified he was at the photos his niece, his daughter’s cousin, had posted on her facebook site. Who is being gatekeeper to the hearts, minds, eyes, ears and soul of your children?<br />
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Singers – the spiritual need of Jerusalem was worship. Nehemiah appointed singers to lead people in the praise of God, the One who had brought this task to completion. These singers reminded the people of Jerusalem that there was more to life than work and money. Their greatest priority was to ensure that God was at the centre of their life, their family and their community. Nehemiah was aware and alert to the creeping secularisation of Jerusalem. Are you aware of the creeping, in fact rampant, secularisation of society today? Seriously – look around you – a Christian couple are struck off the fostering register in England because they state that as Christians they could not tell a child that homosexuality was a good lifestyle choice. We could go on with that list. Who will take a stand and remind us, remind our children and remind our community that man has a soul, an eternal soul.<br />
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Let me say something to you, something which I think we all need to take on board and to take seriously. Instead of criticising those who lead in our organisations, those who lead us in praise and worship, those who teach the faith in your church – we should remember why Nehemiah appointed singers – to remind the people of God of their souls, of their need to worship God and that money/work was not all there was to life.<br />
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Levites – what do you feed your mind with? Take a moment and think about what you have put into your mind in the past week. What have you allowed to enter into the mind of your children in this past week? What is feeding your intellect? Nehemiah appointed Levites to teach the people of God the word of God. Parents – what or whom, is teaching your children? What/whom is feeding their intellect?<br />
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If the heart is to be inspired to worship then the mind must be informed. Faith is not empty, it is not pie in the sky dreaming. Faith must be built on the knowledge of God as revealed in the Word of God. Are you as concerned with your knowledge of the Word of God as you are about your knowledge of current affairs, of the soaps on television or of value of your house? Are you as concerned that your children know the Word of God as they are that they pass their GCSE’s or A’ Levels or whatever. My friend said to me recently: I would be happy for all three of my children to leave school without a qualification if I knew they loved Jesus and would one day be in heaven. What do you desire for your children above all else in this world? What do you desire for yourself above all else in this world?<br />
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Who have you appointed as a Levite in your life? The Sun newspaper! The latest blockbuster film! The latest best selling book! Where does the Bible come in all of this? Seriously – you want to know the worst attended meeting of this fellowship – Wednesday night Bible study and please don’t give me I can’t make it. I am always amazed how we can make night classes, salsa classes or whatever but sitting at the feet of God’s Word is not a priority. Who have you appointed as a Levite in your life?<br />
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7.2 – value reliable partners in this work. The longer I walk with Christ the more convinced I become that those you appoint in leadership decide the spiritual well being of a congregation. I want the leaders of the organisations to hear what I am going to say next because this is for you. I know at times you feel undervalued in your church. I know there are times that you feel no one would even notice if you were not there or if you did not do the work you presently do. I know the long hours you put in and the commitment that you give in serving Christ here each week. <br />
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If reliability was important to Nehemiah then so was Reverence for God and the things of God. Hanani and Hananiah put God first in their lives and so Nehemiah appointed them to leadership. In fact it was Hanani who had come to tell Nehemiah of the state of the walls of Jerusalem in chapter 1. Nehemiah heaps high praise on Hananiah when he says that he feared God more than most men. Would that not be a wonderful thing to be said of you? If you would be a leader in the kingdom of God then fear God more than men.<br />
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7.3 Be on your guard. Nehemiah gave instructions about the security of the gates. Nehemiah knew that just because the walls were built and the gates in place did not mean the enemy would not attack. They needed reliable men to guard the gates and if necessary to shut the gates in the face of the enemies attacks. <b>Have you posted a guard on the gates of your heart and mind?</b><br />
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These verses are filled with challenges from God concerning how we live when we have built the walls and hung the gates on God’s kingdom in our lives and in the lives of others.<br />
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These verses give us timely advice about being on our guard as we continue living in the kingdom of God and how we need the gatekeepers, singers and Levites in our lives. It also informs us about being reliable and reverential leaders – so that we can partner with one another in the work of the Gospel. lastly it warns us to keep our guard up because our enemy has not given up the fight just because we have entered into the kingdom of God – through salvation.<br />
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Amen.kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-5682369682057577572011-12-09T09:05:00.000-08:002011-12-09T09:05:56.341-08:00PrayerNehemiah 1 verses 1‐11<br />
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Rebuilding with Prayer<br />
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During last year there was a programme to tell the history of the world in 100 objects. You may have heard it on the radio. People often make lists of the world’s most influential people, or histories most influential people. If you get your face on the cover of Time magazine you are considered to be an important person. The Sunday Times publishes a rich list each year, telling you who has lost money and who has gotten even richer. So who influences history? In the world in which we live it is pretty easy to feel, and believe, that ordinary people make absolutely no difference to history but as we look at the book of Nehemiah we shall see that the very opposite is in fact true. Read Nehemiah chapter 1.Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book in many of the early Hebrew texts and they need to be read together to get the full round picture. Historically they are set during the fourth century BC when the people of Israel are in Babylonian exile. Artexerxes is king of Persia and he allows, or rather sends, Nehemiah back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and gates of the city. Nehemiah encounters fierce opposition to this task from other people and finds his own people in complete disunity and disarray. Despite all of this he rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem. When the people once again begin to fall into sin Ezra and Nehemiah read the Law of God to them and call them to repentance.<br />
Verses 1‐3 serve as an introduction to the book and also put before us the necessary facts of the story. We are told that Hanani, along with other men from Judah, came from Jerusalem and that Nehemiah asked them about Jerusalem and about the people of God there.<br />
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Their reply is given in verse 3 – read. The reply sets the scene for the rest of the book. Nehemiah is informed that Jerusalem lies in ruins and the people are despairing as a result. The walls are broken down and the gates have been burned. There is no means of protection and it is not a city that you would be proud to belong to. Further to that the people themselves are in no better state. In fact they tell Nehemiah that the people are in great trouble and shame. Is that not a dreadful description of the people of God? What is to be done?<br />
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There are two possible reactions – ‘nothing to do with me...’ or<br />
‘let’s get a recovery project/programme into place...’ Nehemiah does neither of these – turn to the following verse 4.<br />
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Verse 4 – this is the key verse of this passage, and in fact of the whole books. Look at what Nehemiah does when he hears the disturbing news of the state of Jerusalem and the people of God there. He sits down – he takes a seat. Quite literally he stopped what he was doing and shut out all the distractions of his life in the palace. He shut out all the riches and glamour of the royal court – he took a ‘sabbath.’ In the Hebrew ‘sabbath’ is ‘shabbath’ which meant ‘to stop’ and that is what he did. <b>Here is the first lesson we learn from Nehemiah – to stop what we are doing to concentrate on what God would have us do.</b> When we read on in verse 4 <b>we read that he fasted and prayed – but he could do neither if he was still busying himself with the things of everyday life. So the first thing he did was to stop all other activity in order to concentrate on being before God.</b> We all need to take that on board at the beginning of 2012. Let me ask you what are all the distractions going on around you when you come to read your bible and to pray. The radio on in the background, checking emails, or is the television still on? <b>That should never be – we are to stop – to shabbath – so that God gets our full attention.</b> I know what some of you are thinking right at this moment – do you know how difficult it is for me to get even five minutes spare time? <b>I want to be as gentle as I can with you about this but I do want to be honest with about it – if it is a priority you will find the time</b>. If you are serious about your relationship with God you will find the time.<b> Some of you seriously need to examine your time management before God. You cannot find time to be alone with God but you can spend hours on face book, hours playing Farmville and all those other pointless games on websites but you cannot stop and be before God in prayer?</b> You can read the newspapers, the latest novel, surf the internet, bid on ebay, never miss an episode of eastenders and you can make time for coffee in the local coffee house but you cannot make time to be alone before God. Nehemiah immediately sat down, stopped, before God when news came of the disrepair of Jerusalem and the despair of the people of God.<br />
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He then fasted and prayed. He didn’t do this for five minutes but for a number of days. It was not a one off arrow prayer, prayed in the moment to salve his conscience. Nehemiah was serious before God in prayer for Jerusalem and the people of God. <b>Prayer mattered because prayer influences history, changes events, moves people and helps fulfil the will of God. Throughout the book of Nehemiah we read of him praying:</b><br />
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1.4 he prays for a long time<br />
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2.4 he prays in an emergency<br />
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4.4 he prays when he is misunderstood instead of getting bitter<br />
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4.9 he prays when he is in danger<br />
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5.19 he prays when he is tested<br />
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6.9 he prays even when he is exhausted<br />
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7.3 he keeps on praying<br />
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<b>Nehemiah is saturated in prayer</b>. He makes no decisions, takes no steps forward and does not begin a task without praying. His life was a life of prayer. When word comes of Jerusalem he prays – not just because it is the right thing to do but also because it is the only thing to do – there is no greater thing that you can do for someone or some situation than to bring it to God in prayer. Do you believe that? Do you really believe that? If you do then prayer will be a priority in your life. So let us look at what Nehemiah prayed.<br />
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Verse 5 Nehemiah begins his prayer with adoration of God. He begins with praise, declaring the greatness of Almighty God. He describes God as a great and awesome God. It is this understanding of God that is the bedrock of his prayer – why else would you pray if you did not believe that God was in control? Nehemiah then states that God is faithful and loving. It is God himself who has called the people into a covenant relationship with him. Nehemiah uses the ‘name’ that God revealed to Moses when Moses asked to see God’s glory in Exodus 33. ‘Steadfast love’ – covenant love – this is the glory of God. God is His name – that is why it is not to be taken lightly, vainly or used as a swear word. Here Nehemiah reveals the glory of God and that this God of majesty, of power and might is the one who has called, and covenanted, His people into an intimate personal relationship with Himself – so that they can pray to Him. <b>Without a relationship there can be no communication and without communication there can be no relationship</b>. <b><u>If you claim to follow Christ, to belong to God and are not praying then there is no relationship with God or a breakdown in your relationship with God. It is the same in marriage – the breakdown of the relationship is usually because of the breakdown in communication – no communication = no relationship – that is why scripture constantly uses marriage as an illustration of the relationship of God and His people.</u></b><br />
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Adoration also slows Nehemiah down – it is all part and parcel of the ‘shabbath.’ Nehemiah’s heart has been moved by the plight of Jerusalem and the people of God but his focus needs to be on God. Jerusalem is very obviously the issue on his heart that he wants to bring before God but prayer is not about a ‘heavenly shopping list’– it is about a relationship with God. <b>Adoration at the beginning of prayer slows him down, reminds him of before whom he now stands and to whom he is bringing his requests.</b> It reinforces the covenant relationship and his understanding that God is gracious, faithful, loving and awesome. Remember to praise and adore God when you begin to pray – it focuses your heart and mind on God and not on self.<br />
Verses 6‐7 – Confession. The next part of Nehemiah’s prayer is a lesson in confession of sin. Being in the presence of God he can only confess his sin because he is aware of his sinfulness before God’s holiness. I hope and pray that the same is true of us. When we come into the presence of God we become aware of our sinfulness in His presence. I think it is important that we teach that to our children and to our teenagers. In a world where there is little respect for anyone or anything <b>we need to reinforce by our own actions, by our own prayers and by our teaching that God is holy,</b> He is awesome and majestic and that we are sinners in His presence. <b>There are occasions that I am horrified at the lack of reverence before God. God is not you bosom buddy. Nor is He your mate and should not be treated with such flippancy as often passes for worship.</b> He is your creator. He sustains your life each day. He decided the moment of your birth and He has already decided the moment of your death. <b>He sent His Son to die for your sin and He is holy, awesome, majestic and all powerful. </b>The least you can do is to show respect and reverence in His presence.<br />
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Nehemiah confesses that he, and the people of God, have not kept the word of God and in so doing they have sinned against God. They are at fault, not God. They have broken the covenant, not God. They have been unfaithful, not God. Nehemiah is honest in his confession before God and he confesses because he knows that God is gracious and will forgive those who truly repent and turn from their sin. It is the holiness of God that convicts him of his sin and it is the grace of God that brings him to confession. There is wrath and mercy here. <b>There is both judgement and grace in confession of sin. There is acknowledgement of who God is and who Nehemiah is before God.</b> Oh, that we would follow such an example of prayer. At the beginning of 2012 is it not right that we should we confess like Nehemiah that we are sinners, that we have broken the covenant with God and that we have been unfaithful.<br />
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I think it is fair to say that confession of sin is one of the neglected areas of prayer in the life of many. I am not talking about confessing your sins to another person. What passes for confession of sin in prayer? <b>Often we pray and ask God to forgive us our sin – one sentence – it has not involved self‐examination before God, it has caused us no pain, remorse or regret and there is certainly been no shame or embarrassment about it. </b> I wonder, truly wonder, how much genuine repentance and confession of sin actually happens in the life of many – the result is actually pretty easy to see. The evidence of this lack of true repentance and confession is seen in the number of those who claim to follow Christ who live lives of sin, who walk away from God and who are casual about the moral law of God.<br />
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If I have lied – do I ask God to forgive me because I am a liar? If I have broken my marriage vows do I ask God to forgive me for adultery? If I have cheated on expenses do I confess that I am a thief? If I have gossiped and destroyed someone’s reputation do I confess that I am a murderer? If I have claimed to follow Christ but lived as the world lives do I confess that I am a hypocrite? True confession leads us to naming sin for what it is, to confront it openly and confess it specifically before God. Nehemiah did, and he also said that the people of God in general were guilty of sin.<br />
<b>The result of such confession is that my guilt is assuaged, my conscience is seared by the Holy Spirit and purified by God and the burden of sin (which we used to confess to God was intolerable and that we were unable to bear it) is lifted from my shoulders and life. Don’t you want that? I know that I do.</b><br />
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Verses 8‐9 make harrowing reading for the people of God, in the day of Nehemiah and today. Look at the consequences of sin and blessing of confession. Sin scatters people because its sole purpose is the breakdown and death of relationships. <b> The sole purpose of sin is to break your relationship with God and to lead to your death– both physical and spiritual</b>. If only we would understand that about sin. If only we had eyes that would see the consequences of our sinful actions before we took the next step. Adam and Eve could not see the death of their relationship with God and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the gracious provision of God – and so they ate the forbidden fruit and brought death into their relationship with God, with each other and with the earth. Nehemiah knows this and confesses that the people of God cannot claim to be ignorant of this because God had told them of such consequences through His word – you cannot be ignorant of it either. The death of their relationship with God, the removal of God’s protection and the scattering of the people (all of which has happened and is pictured in the broken walls and burned gates of Jerusalem) are because the people have been unfaithful to the covenant relationship with God. Friends, there are no blessings to be found in unfaithfulness but there is always death and scattering.<br />
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<b>Yet there is hope, yet there is grace and yet there is blessing.</b> If the people return to God, repent of their sin and are faithful to the covenant that God has established with them – <b>Nehemiah says no matter how far apart they are, no matter how far they have been scattered God will gather them together to the place where He has chosen to dwell and to make His name known.</b> At the time of Nehemiah that place was Jerusalem – God choose the place and He choose that His name would dwell there – in the Temple. What a wonderful picture – which finds its ultimate fulfilment in the book of Revelation – when God’s people, a gathering which no man can number, gather for the banquet of the Lamb. <b> God is not about scattering people – throughout His Word He gathers His people together – around His word, around His throne of grace, a place where He dwells with and amongst His people</b>. Nehemiah knows that this is God’s will – to gather His people and to dwell amongst them. God has not changed. God’s desire is still to gather His people and to dwell amongst them.<br />
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Verse 10 – Redemption of God’s people by the hand of God. Jerusalem may lie in ruins and the people of God may be despairing but God is the God of redemption. By His hand the people are redeemed and in that redemption they are declared the people of God. As you read this you may feel that your life is in ruins and the walls of your life are broken down and the gates are burned. You may feel despairing because of your past and the past of others which has brought you to this place. NOW God whispers into your life that He is the God of redemption – the one who redeems, who has paid for all the consequences of your sin and the sins of others. He has taken all the punishment for your unfaithfulness and the unfaithfulness of others and this morning by His mighty power and His strong arm He will redeem you. He wants you to know that redemption NOW. He wants you to know the redeeming love of the saviour, not just to know it in your head but to feel it in the depth of your soul – to know you are redeemed this NOW.<br />
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Verse 11 – now Nehemiah is in a place to ask of God. Look at this verse closely. He does not immediately launch into a list of requests concerning Jerusalem. Having taken a ‘shabbath’, having adored God, confessed his sin and praised God for His faithfulness and redemption he asks that God would turn His ear to his request – not because of who Nehemiah is but because Nehemiah fears the name of the Lord. Look at what he asks of God– give me success before this man – the king.<br />
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I want you to note that Nehemiah does not tell God or ask God about Jerusalem and what needs to be done there – no he asks simply that God gives him success in the next step – before king Artexerxes. There is no racing to the end of this project, there is only prayer for the next step of the journey. <b>Too often we pray for the end of the journey without having asked God for success for taking the first footsteps of that journey. Remember that in prayer. Pray for the next step</b><br />
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I asked who influences history? You do by your prayers. your prayers have a greater influence, impact and consequences for your life, for the life of your family, for YOUR church and for YOUR community Do you believe that? As the people of God I want to encourage you to keep on praying and to take prayer seriously. As your Brother in Christ I want to say to you that over the past few years there were times when only prayer, only prayer, carried me through many situations. <b>There were times when knowing that other people were praying for me quite literally gave me the strength, the courage and the determination to keep following Christ in very dark and difficult situations</b>. Thank you for those prayers because they sustained my life, they changed my life and they have changed the lives of others. So keep praying.<br />
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<b>Make the time – take a shabbath each day. Quite literally stop whatever you are doing and come before God – use the pattern of Nehemiah 1‐11 for your prayer pattern. Don’t go through the motions. Turn off the computer, switch off facebook, the television, whatever and go before God in prayer. You want to influence your children, you want to enrich your marriage, you want the blessings of God in your life – it won’t happen unless you are before Him in prayer. Start somewhere – but you need to start. You need to keep going, be persistent because satan will through everything at you, including the kitchen sink, to stop you praying.</b><br />
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Thank you for those prayers in the past and I thank you for those prayers in the future.<br />
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Amen.kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-63301671214199723032011-11-29T14:03:00.000-08:002011-11-29T14:03:11.617-08:00The Bible...how it came to be Have you ever wondered where we got our Bible from? We read it each Sunday in worship and we accept its authority in our lives, at least some of us do. <br />
There are some important basic terms that we need to understand: <br />
Autograph - the original texts were written either by the author's own hand or by a scribe under their personal supervision. <br />
Manuscripts - until Gutenberg first printed the Latin bible in 1465, all Bibles were hand copied on to papyrus, parchment and paper. <br />
Translation - usually translated from the original Greek and Hebrew/Aramaic. <br />
The earliest collection of written words of God was the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments thus form the beginning of the biblical canon - Exodus 31.18. We read in Deuteronomy 31.24-26 that Moses wrote additional words that were also to be stored in the Ark of the Covenant - these being the first five books of the Bible. The content of the OT canon continued to grow until the end of the writing process with Malachi around 435BC. After the date of the reign of Artaxerxes there is no further additions to the OT canon. <br />
We have in this intervening period until the emergence of the NT books the books called the Apocrypha which are not accepted as being canonical. The NT canon began with the writing of the apostles - to be an Apostle you had to have me the risen Christ, hence Paul's Damascus road encounter - not just for his conversion but also so that his writings would be canonical. By AD397 the Church in the East and West had agreed on the canon of Scripture. <br />
Old Testament: written in Hebrew and Aramaic, but there are no known autographs of any OT books. The Dead Sea Scrolls date from 200BC-70AD and contain the entire book of Isaiah and portions of every other OT book but Esther. <br />
Geniza Fragments - portions of the OT in Hebrew and Aramaic discovered in 1947 in an old synagogue in Cairo, Egypt, which date from 400AD. <br />
Ben Asher Manuscript - five or six generations of this family made copies of the OT using the Masoretic Hebrew text, from 700-950AD. Two examples of the Masoretic text-type: <br />
Aleppo Codex - contains the complete OT and is dated around 950AD. What is unfortunate is that in 1947 a quarter of this text was destroyed in anti-Jewish riots. <br />
Codex Leningradensis - the complete OT in Hebrew copied by the last member of the Ben Asher family in AD1008. <br />
400BC - the OT began to be translated into Aramaic. This is called the Aramaic Targums - it helped the Jewish people, who began to speak Aramaic from the time of their Babylonian captivity, to read the OT in their own language. <br />
250BC - the OT was translated into Greek - Septuagint or you sometimes see it written as LXX (Roman numeral for 70) because it is believed that 70 to 72 translators worked on the translation. This was the translation used by the early church and copies of it exist from 100AD. <br />
As you know our Bible is made up of 66 books, 39 in the OT and 27 in the NT. These 66 books were written over a 1500 year period by more than 40 authors. They are arranged in broad groups: <br />
Legal - Genesis through Deuteronomy, generally accepted to have been authored by Moses. These are called the Torah or the Pentateuch. <br />
Historical - Joshua through Esther - these 12 books trace the historical development, the disobedience, the downfall and the deliverance of the people of God, the nation of Israel. <br />
Poetical Books - Job through Song of Songs (Solomon). Job is a book of poetic laments mainly concerned with suffering and then we have the book of Psalms full of praise, pleas etc and finally the words of Wisdom of Solomon. <br />
Prophetic Books - we call some of the major and the minor prophets - which has to do with the length of the book and not the importance of the author or its content. This takes us from Isaiah through to Malachi. These books address the people of God after the kingdom of Israel has been divided into a northern and southern kingdoms. These books contain God's call, through the prophets, to His people to repent of their sin and to return to Him. <br />
New Testament - written in common Greek. <strong>There are over 5,600 early Greek Manuscripts of the NT still in existence today, written on papyrus (earliest) and parchment (later copies).</strong> The earliest manuscript which dates most closely to the original autograph is dated 125AD, within 35 years of the original - it is designated p.52 and contains a portion of John 18. The 'p' stands for papyrus. <br />
By AD 200 we have extant copies of the Pauline Epistles and Hebrews, along with a large part of John's gospel. By 225AD we have copies of Luke and John in papyrus and 25 years later we have the four gospels and Acts in a complete papyrus - p45 Chester Beatty biblical papyrus. 350 AD Codex Sinaiticus we have the complete NT as we know it today and it also contains almost all of the OT in Greek - discovered in a monastery at Mt. Sinai. The NT is made up of the following types of books: <br />
Biographical Books - the four gospels. Each gospel was written to a different audience and emphasise different aspects of Jesus' life, ministry, death and resurrection. <br />
Matthew - is a Jewish gospel, concerned with the kingdom of God. Christ is the King and the Teacher in this gospel <br />
Mark - Jesus is the Servant in this gospel. Peter is the eye witness disciple for Mark. <br />
Luke - being a doctor has a lot of healing miracles and conversational Jesus, who is Son of Man. <br />
John - written for a Greek audience and he deals with Jesus as the logos - the Word made flesh. <br />
Historical - Book of Acts which provides us with the story of the spread of the gospel and the birth and growth of the early church. <br />
Doctrinal books - Romans through Jude. The main author being Paul who wrote 13 of those books, with James, John, Peter and Jude being the authors of the rest. These books apply the gospel to the life of individual believers and community of believers. <br />
Prophetic or Apocalyptic - John is given a vision of the end times when Christ will return in glory, judgment and power. <br />
There are four key links in the chain - Revelation/Inspiration; Canonisation; Transmission and Translation. <br />
Inspiration - <strong>I want to make it clear that when we speak of inspiration we are not thinking of God taking over someone's mind and the person becoming a human typewriter.</strong> God did not bypass the faculties of men to write Scripture. 2 Timothy 3 verses 16-17 tell us that Scripture is inspired. Paul uses a word which literally translated means 'God-breathed' (theopnuestos) when he speaks of inspiration. You cannot speak without breathing and breath means that you are living - hence God-breathed - the Word of God has life and is a living thing. So God breathed out his Word which was written down by human agents. <br />
Canonisation - was the process by which the Church came to recognise, accept and agree upon the 66 books in Scripture. The Church accepted the OT as those books that were accepted by Judaism in the time of Christ - 39 books. When it came to what would be included in the NT the church applied the following criteria: <br />
Apostolic authority - that is, they must have been written either by and apostle themselves, who were eyewitnesses to what they wrote about, or by associates of the apostles. <br />
Conformity to what was called the "rule of faith" - in other words, was the document congruent with the basic Christian tradition that the church recognised as normative. <br />
Third, there was the criterion of whether the document had enjoyed continuous acceptance and usage by the church at large. <br />
Example - the gospel of Thomas was rejected because it did not have apostolic authority, no early church father ever quotes from it. It does not conform to the rule of faith as it contains 114 secret sayings of Jesus - one of which denies salvation to women unless they become male and it fails continuous use because of the lack of manuscript evidence and no quotes from the early church fathers. <br />
Transmission and Translation - the accurate writing down and translation of the bible from the original languages to the languages of today. Take sometime this week and read the preface to your bible and see what was involved in the translation of your bible into English. <br />
In finishing let me make a few practical suggestions to you concerning our use of the Bible: <br />
The Bible was written to be read out loud - not to read as we read - but to be heard and to be read not as a snippet but as a complete book. Jonah was written to be read as a complete story, not just a few verses here and there. <br />
How do you read your bible? Let me use an illustration to get you thinking about how you read your bible. I want you to think about how you eat a cinnamon lozenge or similar sweet? Do you pop it in your mouth and then after a few seconds bite down on it and crunch it to pieces or do you savour every moment of it? Allowing it to dissolve and melt in your mouth? The latter is how you should read the Bible - read - Isaiah 31 v 4 - the word their 'growl' is how we are to read the Word of God. The Hebrew word 'growl' is hagah which is usually translated as 'meditate', as in Psalm 1 verse 2 or Psalm 63 verse 6. The word 'meditate' is a tame word for reading the word of God. Reading the Bible is an active, participatory event. It is not about wolfing down information but about taking time, thinking, ruminating, savouring the words of God. You see we need to regain a 'deep trust in the power of words' (a phrase used by the poet Coleridge) which will bring us into the presence of God and change our lives. Rainer Maria Rilke said this about reading, and I think it is essential for us to apply it our reading of Scripture: the writer requires a reader who "does not always remain bent over his pages; he often leans back and closes his eyes over a line he has been reading again, and its meaning spreads through his blood." <br />
<strong>That is the kind of reading we need to cultivate and reclaim when reading the Bible. Reading which enters our souls as food enters our stomachs, spreads through our blood, and becomes holiness, love, wisdom and witness in our lives. </strong><br />
Kafka said this about reading, "<strong>If the book we are reading does not wake us, as with a fist hammering on our skull, why then do we read it?...A book must be like an ice-axe to break the frozen sea within us." Be honest with yourself - don't you need the Word of God to act as an ice-axe to break through the frozen ice of your life? Well that will only happen when you read the Word of God - taking time and purpose to hear and not just biting and crunching it as information</strong>. <br />
Amen. <br />
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<section id="content_bot"><article class="col marg_right1" style="padding-bottom: 30px; padding-top: 35px;"></article></h2>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-92008273934283948382011-11-28T21:54:00.000-08:002011-11-28T21:54:48.890-08:00We are sent...We are sent...Acts 1.6‐11<br />
Allow me to ask you a question: Have you ever been sent with a message to someone? Of course you have. No doubt, as a child your mum or dad sent you off somewhere with a message or on an errand. So we understand what it means to be sent. We are given a task, a message, a mission to complete by someone. <br />
Acts is the second of Luke’s books in the New Testament. His gospel covered roughly 33 years of the life of Christ and this book covers roughly 33 years of the life of the Church. The book of Acts is addressed to Theophilus (v3), who was most likely an official resident in Rome. The two main characters of Acts are Peter and then Paul. The two main topics of conversation are the kingdom of God and the Spirit of God. Most people know of the Day of Pentecost in Acts and even then it is misunderstood, misinterpreted and misapplied. But that is for another day. Read 6‐11. I want to concentrate on verses 6‐8.<br />
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Verses 6‐8 The Mandate to Witness. These three verses actually set the scene for the book of Acts. In these verses the church receives its commission. You know what a commission is? A commission is an authoritative order, charge or direction. For example you can receive a commission in the armed forces – the certificate comes with a royal seal and signature – assigning you authority and rank. So as we read these verses I want you to keep in mind that definition – that the disciples and the church of God receive an authoritative order, charge and direction.<br />
Verse 6 – Luke begins verse 6 with a simple little word ‘so.’ If you read through the rest of Acts you will see that it is one of his favourite words for connecting paragraphs together. The disciples ask Jesus a question: Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?’ They had still failed to understand what Jesus meant by the kingdom of God. They had seen Christ die on the cross and rise from the dead but their minds are still focused on the restoration of Israel as a nation. Could I suggest that many people who claim to follow Christ still misunderstand the kingdom of God and still focus on temporal things within the Church. The disciples were expecting a political and territorial kingdom to be restored to Israel. Jesus had something entirely different in mind. They also expect it to happen immediately – ‘at this time’, showing once again their temporal understanding of the things of the kingdom of God.<br />
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Verse 7 – the disciples need their thinking and understanding to be revised and to understand the divine commission that they are about to be given. For all of us we need to understand exactly what it is we have been commissioned as a church to do. Leaders, you especially need to take this on board. The disciples had been asking about the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. Jesus answers by telling them that the times and dates of seasons are not of their concern. <span style="color: purple;"> They must be willing to be ignorant of such details and to be content with what God does reveal. How I wish so many people would take heed of this verse. The endless books and hours wasted by Christians trying to figure out what God has not revealed, and had not planned to reveal to man, vastly swamps the time and effort put into obeying what God has revealed.</span> The ‘times and dates’ is Luke’s shorthand for the character of the age preceding the final consummation of God’s plan. God has set this by His authority and therefore Jesus tells the disciples, and us, that it is not to be subject to the speculation of men.<br />
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Verse 8 ‘But’ – one of the great words of Scripture – bringing our attention to something significant, and here is no different. The disciples and we also, are not to speculate about times and dates because we will receive power and a commission from God. Read this verse closely and slowly – here is your commissioning as a Christian.<br />
First – you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. In 10 days from now the disciples will receive the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. You received the Holy Spirit when you came to Christ Jesus and were born again. When you confessed your sins, died to yourself and you rose again a new creation in Christ Jesus.<br />
They will receive power for a purpose: to be witnesses. Do you notice the little word ‘my’ before the word ‘witnesses.’ There is the authority, the commissioning authority, directive to action – my witnesses. They are not to go and tell people what they think or what they wish to hear. They are to bear testimony, witness, to Christ Jesus – to His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and his imminent return.<br />
Their commissioning comes with a promise and a gift (the Holy Spirit), as does ours. The concern of the commissioning is the person of Jesus Christ. The power of the commissioning is the Holy Spirit<br />
and then comes the plan of their commissioning – begin in Jerusalem and travel outwards. Therefore you disciples, you the church, are to be a missionary body which: Acts on Christ’s behalf in the extension of His ministry. Do you understand that commissioning today? Do you realise you are an extension of the ministry of Christ? That is part of the commissioning given to the Christian church by Christ to and through the disciples on the day of His ascension into heaven.<br />
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The focus of that commission was, and is still, the proclamation of the kingdom of God in its witness to Christ Jesus. We sometimes hear the media talk about ‘staying on message’. <strong>The Christian church must stay on message – the witness to Christ Jesus.</strong> You must stay on message – the witness to Christ Jesus.<br />
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This commissioning is guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. He is the promised gift to enable us to be Christ’s witnesses today. The army does not commission and officer without training and equipping him for the task ahead. <strong>God has equipped you with the gift of the Holy Spirit and He has provided you with His revealed Word to train you in righteousness so as Paul says to the young Timothy – that you might be thoroughly equipped to do every good work, every good work that God has prepared in advance for you to do.</strong><br />
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This commissioning comes with a plan – to start in Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria and finally the ends of the earth. Your commissioning is to start in your church, your city and then the ends of the earth. Some of the early disciples never left Jerusalem, some got no further than Judea, some Samaria and then some travelled the known world of the day bearing witness to Christ. It was not that every one of them had to travel to the ends of the earth, BUT – hear this, every one of them was to bear witness. Every one of them was commissioned to authoritative directive of being a witness. You may never go beyond your church but that does not excuse you from being a witness. Some of you may bear witness further afield, but all of us must bear witness.<br />
I want you to note the kingdom of God is spread by witnesses and not soldiers. Secondly, I want you to note that the expansion of the kingdom of God is gradual. <strong>soul work is slow work.</strong><br />
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We are a sent people. We have been commissioned by Christ to be His witnesses – are we doing that?kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-62187883184424516512011-11-15T20:22:00.000-08:002011-11-15T20:22:49.536-08:00In the power of the Holy spiritJohn 14.15‐27 In the Power of the Holy Spirit<br />
Sometimes with hindsight you realise the significance of something that someone has said to you. It might have been a last conversation with a loved one or a friend. The same is happening in the passage In John’s gospel from 13.1‐17.26 we have the farewell discourse of Christ with His disciples. They are in the Upper Room, celebrating the Passover, with Christ inaugurating the Lord’s Supper. Our reading this morning from chapter 14 is set in the context of Christ preparing His disciples for his impending departure. The cross is only a matter of hours away. They do not know or realise that fact but Christ knows. So turn with me to chapter 14 verses 15‐27.<br />
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Verse 15 – sets the scene of this part of the discourse between Christ and His disciples. This verse ties the passage to the previous 14 verses. The prospect of doing greater things, which Christ has mentioned in verse 12, requires enabling power. So Christ begins with ‘If you love me...’ ‐ this is the controlling part of verses 15‐21. He does not assume they love Him, nor does He assume that they do not love Him. He projects a condition and stipulates its entailment. In 13 verse 1 we read that Christ had demonstrated His love for them and in the same chapter verses 34‐35 He had commanded them to love one another. Now He speaks of the first time in the gospel of John of their love for Him.<br />
He makes an uncompromising connection between love and obedience. <strong> If you love me you will obey my commandments</strong>. Love and obedience are coupled together and both are associated with the coming of the ‘Comforter.’ Let no one be under any illusions love and obedience go together in Christianity. I cannot obey Christ unless I love Him first and I cannot claim to love Him if I do not obey Him. <strong>These words make it perfectly clear that following Christ has ethical and moral implications for behaviour.</strong> read Romans 8.15 – it is the glad obedience, not the obedience of a slave which is spoken of in 14.15.<br />
Verses 16‐17 – Christ asks the Father to give them ‘another Comforter’ or ‘another Helper.’ The Greek word here is Paraclete – it means one who is summoned to come alongside, to aid, and advisor, advocate, mediator or intercessor. The word Paraclete which is translated ‘comforter, counsellor or helper’ does not have the 21st century understanding of those words. A ‘paraclete’ was not like a marriage guidance counsellor or psychotherapist – that is non‐directive, there to listen to bring comfort. No it is more of the imagery of a prosecuting counsel in a courtroom. That changes your imagination and understanding of Christ’s words here.<strong> This ‘comforter’ is one who makes us strong and brave by being strong and brave beside us.</strong> He strengthens us, a bracing consolation and not a relaxing sympathy is what Christ is speaking of here.<br />
Did you note that Christ prefaced ‘Comforter’ with ‘another.’ Meaning another of the same kind as Himself. Jesus has been their comforter, their advocate and the one who has strengthened them. The ‘comforter,’ who we know from verse 26 is the Holy Spirit, is another such advocate. He is divine, from the Father, the third person of the Trinity.<br />
Then in verse 17 Christ tells them that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is directed towards the disciples. He will direct their decisions, counsel them continually and remain with them forever. Look at what Christ tells them. The Holy Spirit is the ‘Spirit of truth.’ He is the essence of truth and He also imparts truth, convincing and convicting of the truth. In verse 6 of this chapter Christ said He was the truth, now in verse 17 Christ tells the disciples the Spirit is also the truth. There are both the subjective and the objective aspect of truth here. the Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth – there is no bias or blurring of judgment in the work of the Holy Spirit.<br />
Christ then points out that the world cannot accept, cannot understand, cannot see, and cannot receive the Holy Spirit. He is invisible to the world around because the world will not recognise Him. The King James Version of the Bible uses the word ‘beholdeth Him not’, which paints the picture of a world which is totally unaware of His presence and work. The world, and those of the world, does not enter into a personal relationship with Him, but it is not so with the disciples, nor us. Look at what Christ says to them, and to us.<br />
His presence was already with them but later, when Christ goes to the Father, the Holy Spirit will indwell them because they know Him. There is a present continuing reality here – they know Him and He is with them. There is also a future reality ‐ He will be in you. In these words Christ makes a distinction between the experience of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and that of post‐Pentecost New Testament. His presence was already with them (OT) but He would dwell in them (NT Pentecost experience). True followers of Christ not only know the Holy Spirit with them they also know the indwelling of the Holy Spirit – there is a difference, Christ says so here.<br />
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Verses 18‐19. In 13.33 Christ has called His disciples ‘little children’ here He refers to them as ‘orphans.’ He promises that He will not leave them ‘desolate’ or as ‘orphans.’ An orphan at the time of Christ was literally desolate, with no hope and no future. <strong>This is not how Christ will leave His disciples, nor His people</strong>. He will not leave them to battle on their own through the world. What a comfort those words will be to them in a matter of hours and in the days ahead. They do not realise the significance of those words but years later when John is writing his gospel he realises their significance. I wonder did he put his pen down at that moment and lean back in his chair and think – He knew. He knew that in a few hours Judas would betray Him, Simon would deny Him, I and the rest would run away. He knew we would be ‘desolate’ but He did not leave us ‘desolate.’ Then, maybe, just maybe with<br />
tears rolling down his face he realised the significance of those words spoken in that Upper<br />
Room that night.<br />
Now Christ speaks again of His leaving, His departure. In a ‘little while’ – they don’t realise how soon this will be. The cross is only a matter of hours away. The shattering of their world is imminent. He assures them that though the world will not see Him they will – speaking of post resurrection appearances which would be the guarantee of life eternal for them. He will not leave them desolate orphans – because He has defeated death they will live.<br />
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Verse 20 – Christ now speaks with certainty to them of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He now reveals to them the unity of purpose in the Godhead, the Holy Trinity. <strong>A new intimate relationship between God and believers is coming through the Holy Spirit</strong>. Here is the confirmation of His continuing presence in their lives and His continued ministry in their lives. Here also is the clear revelation that the Father and the Son are One and that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are One. The Father in the Son and the Son in them through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Here is the curse of Genesis 3 being removed. <strong>The expulsion of man from the Garden of Eden, from God’s intimate presence is reversed. The barrier of sin which broke the relationship between God and man is removed. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit reconciles man to God.</strong><br />
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Verse 21 – Christ now reiterates verse 15, showing its importance in the life of the disciples and in our lives as believers. Love is the basis of the relationship with God. John has written in 1 John 4.9‐10 that God’s love is in the gift of Christ His only begotten Son. In 1 John 5.3 he writes that our love is manifested in obedience. Loving Christ pays unmatched dividends<br />
– bringing unity with Christ.– this is not some trade off, some bargaining chip. Obedience does not purchase the Holy Spirit. The lover keeps the commandments of the loved one. His commandments they must make their own, to take them into their innermost being and observe them in their daily lives. This is not some intellectual task that they have to grasp but an ethical, moral purity that they must live daily. Obedience is the mark of true love for Christ. He cannot make it any clearer to them or us.<br />
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Verse 22 – Judas, not Iscariot, maybe Thaddaeus (Matthew 10.3, Mark 3.18) or Judas of James (Luke 6.16, Acts 1.13), poses a question. He could not understand how Christ could be seen by them but not the world. He still had not understood the messiahship of Christ. Surely if Christ is the Messiah He must startle the world with His kingship. The cross would shatter that understanding for Judas, and the other disciples.<br />
Verse 23 in answering Christ does not speculate about His Messianic kingdom. He doesn’t actually answer Judas’ question. Instead He once again focuses their attention on the broader revelation that would come through obedience to His known teaching and through the work of the Holy Spirit. He reveals to them that the presence of Christ and the Father in their lives would be conditional on obedience. Yet, please hear this obedience is not a condition of God loving us. God loves us no matter what. <strong>Obedience is a condition of His indwelling though.</strong> Obedience is a consequence of the love of God in their lives, in our lives! Whilst Christ is going to the Father to make a dwelling place for them (verse 3), simultaneously He and the Father make a dwelling in them, in us. The curse of Genesis 3 is reversed, the Creator and the created are reconciled by the Holy Spirit.<br />
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Verse 24 – Christ equates His teaching with the Father’s will. Thus loving Christ is demonstrated by one’s obedience to the revealed will of God, the Bible. Mere duty does not generate obedience to Christ. Only love can and does. The life of communion with Christ will be expressed under ethical, moral conditions. Love for Christ implies obedience to Him. Christ expresses all this negatively in that He speaks of the man who does not love Him. It is like a husband telling His wife He loves her but being unfaithful to her. No matter his words his actions reveal the extent of his love. He can claim he loves her. He may even convince himself he does love her but his actions reveal the truth – he does not love her. <strong>Christ says if you love me you will obey my commands.</strong> You see for John, the beloved disciples, love was no abstract emotion. Love was, is, something intensely practical and it involves obedience.<br />
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Verse 25‐26 here are parting words of comfort. The next few hours will shatter their lives. They will never have experienced anything like the darkness they are about to witness. It will literally tear their world apart. Christ knows this and so speaks these words of reassurance and comfort to them. Through the Holy Spirit the presence of Christ will be perpetuated amongst them. ‘In my name...’ the Spirit is officially delegated to act in His behalf. The function of the Holy Spirit is to teach them the will of the Father, to remind them of what Christ has taught. He does this by instructing them from within, bringing back to their minds the commands of Christ and prompting them to obedience. <strong>Please note what Christ has said here concerning the function of the Holy Spirit – to be a teacher of the will of the Father which has been revealed in the commands of Christ.</strong><br />
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Verse 27 – what a powerful verse to end on. Here Christ repeats the words of comfort of verse 1. We could spend eternity on this verse and never but scratch the surface of its meaning. Peace – is not the exemption from trial or conflict. The disciples were about to learn this in an unimagined way. Christ Himself is troubled by the cross. His soul is in turmoil over what is to come. The peace which He speaks of here, which He imparts to them, is the calmness of confidence in God. Here is an impartation of a gift – Christ’s own peace to them and to us. Please note this is supernatural, as Christ makes clear by saying it is not as the world gives. He leaves them peace in the imminent face of unspeakable suffering. A peace born of a living relationship with Christ and deepened though a growing surrender of life to His gracious rule through obedience to His commands. Here is the assurance of the Father’s love and approval. This is to be a source of courage for and encouragement to the disciples, and to us.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">We are summoned to the Upper Room, to trust in Christ (v1), to banish our anxiety and to face the challenge of God’s call to us.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">Obedience of Life = Love of Christ – how is that seen in your life? How has it been seen in the past week? Would people have known that you loved Christ by how you lived?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">Peace – not the absence of conflict but the calm confidence in God – even in the face of unspeakable suffering. When your very world is shattered and plunged into darkness, He promises eternal peace.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple;">Amen.</span></strong>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-66080110895140564542011-10-11T19:06:00.000-07:002011-10-11T19:06:57.974-07:00The Cross<script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript">
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
document.getElementById('PrintPage').className='print';
</script> To suggest at the outset that a subject defies philosophical probing sounds dangerously anti-intellectual. And yet this is precisely what Paul the apostle (no less) seems to imply about the cross at the start of his Corinthian correspondence: <br />
'Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.'<sup><em><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc"></a> </em></sup><br />
Now, this hardly means that it is impossible to say <em>anything </em>about Jesus’ death on the cross – that would clearly contradict the testimony of both Old and New Testaments. But it does suggest that we should learn to be content with the fact that Jesus’ death will <em>never </em>fit neatly into our theological categories or grids. As a result, we should never be surprised by the academic incredulity, if not scorn, which a biblical understanding of the cross inevitably generates. For instance, contrast the disdain of the brilliant atheist philosopher A. J. Ayer… <br />
<blockquote> Of all religions, a strong case can be made against Christianity as the worst, because it rests on the allied doctrines of original sin and vicarious atonement, which are intellectually contemptible and morally outrageous. <sup><em><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote2sym" name="sdfootnote2anc"></a></em></sup></blockquote><sup><em> </em></sup><br />
… with Charles Wesley’s poetic and overwhelmed wonder: <br />
<blockquote> ’ Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:Who can explore His strange design?<br />
In vain the firstborn seraph tries<br />
To sound the depths of love divine.<br />
’ Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,<br />
Let angel minds inquire no more. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote3sym" name="sdfootnote3anc"></a></sup></blockquote><sup> </sup><br />
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<a href="" id="OLE_LINK4" name="OLE_LINK4"></a> This cannot be an excuse for disengaging the brain when we come to the cross, however. To do so would be almost as dishonouring to God as pouring scorn on it. For as Luther once said, “If you want to understand the Christian faith, you must understand the wounds of Christ;” <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote4sym" name="sdfootnote4anc"></a> </sup> and there is <em>much</em> to understand! We should, therefore, always approach the cross with a humble and expectant caution. We will never plumb its depths nor can we expect full intellectual satisfaction; but the more we discover, the more will we value what can only be described as the divine genius that lay behind it (and even that seems like a gross understatement!). Indeed, a sure sign of having grasped something of the magnitude of the cross is if it leaves us open-mouthed and lost for words. The aim of this essay, then, is to touch on a number of approaches that people have taken, without providing an exhaustive (or exhausting analysis). It will hopefully spur and guide further study. <br />
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<h2>Why the Cross?</h2>One of the functions of a worldview (or metanarrative) is to analyze, and hopefully provide solutions to, what has gone wrong in the world. Different worldviews inevitably vary in their analysis, but they all seem agreed on the fact that the world is not as it should or could be. <br />
For the theist, and especially the Christian theist, the fact of a fractured universe raises uncomfortable questions. What should we conclude from it? That God is unable to do anything about it? Or that he doesn’t want to? Or that somehow, he has other plans? The Bible’s unique answer is the cross. According to Paul in Romans, the cross demonstrates both God’s justice and love. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote5sym" name="sdfootnote5anc"></a> </sup> These two attributes are essential to God’s character, as portrayed in the Bible. So, how does the cross demonstrate these attributes? <br />
<h3>Subjective models</h3><br />
<br />
One answer has been the Exemplarist or Moral Influence model. Commonly associated with the medieval theologian Peter Abelard, it found a more recent champion in the 1915 Bampton Lectures of English philosopher and theologian, Hastings Rashdall. The idea is that God sent Jesus to die on the cross out of love for the world, in order to persuade the world to repent and be reformed. Consequently, this view falls into the category of subjective atonement models: its efficacy lies in the fact that the ‘voluntary self-sacrifice of the Son of God moves <em>us</em> to grateful love in response’ <sup> <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote6sym" name="sdfootnote6anc"><sup></sup></a></sup>. Such a response is then held to be sufficiently sweeping as to heal the universe’s fractures.<br />
<br />
In common with so many atonement models, this is not entirely without merit. It is certainly true that Christ’s self-sacrifice <em>does</em> move us to respond, as many contemporary gospel preachers know well. In fact, one of the best-loved hymns about the cross (<em>When I Survey</em>), culminates on precisely this note: <br />
Were the whole realm of nature mine,<br />
that were an offering far too small;<br />
love so amazing, so divine,<br />
demands my soul, my life, my all. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote7sym" name="sdfootnote7anc"></a> </sup><br />
It is also an approach that seems to make some sense for non-Christians. Gandhi, for example, wrote in his autobiography: <br />
I could accept Jesus as a martyr, and embodiment of sacrifice and a divine teacher. His death on the cross was a great example to the world, but that there was anything like a mysterious or miraculous virtue in it, my heart could not accept. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote8sym" name="sdfootnote8anc"></a></sup><br />
However, the Bible will not allow such a distinction because to restrict the exemplarist model to being the <em>only </em>atonement model is profoundly, and dangerously, flawed. It fails to do justice to the seriousness of human sinfulness (as if that was merely something from which we could be inspired to walk away) and conveniently sidelines the pervasive biblical conviction that God is holy. These are objective realities that cannot be overlooked. Furthermore, it paints a strangely distorted view of God’s love – for ‘ true love is purposive in its self-giving; it does not make random or reckless gestures. If you were to jump off the end of a pier and drown, or dash into a burning building and be burnt to death, and if your self-sacrifice had no saving purpose, you would convince me of your folly, not your love. But if I were myself drowning in the sea, or trapped in the burning building, and it was in attempting to rescue me that you lost your life, then I would indeed see love not folly in your action. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote9sym" name="sdfootnote9anc"></a> </sup><br />
It is, therefore, hard to see such a restricted view of the atonement as anything other than gross emotional blackmail. For the cross to make sense, it must <em>also </em>somehow deal with our <em>objective</em> predicament as sinful human beings. <br />
<h3>Objective models: God’s Ransom </h3><a href="" id="OLE_LINK2" name="OLE_LINK2"></a> Jesus famously described his mission as a ‘ransom’, a metaphor which strongly suggests a more objective model. <br />
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote10sym" name="sdfootnote10anc"></a> </sup><br />
This verse has consequently been the springboard for the so-called ‘Ransom/Satisfaction’ or ‘Classic’ models. At stake is the question of how far to extend the imagery: it certainly implies some form of captivity or slavery; but does it also imply there is someone to pay off? In the patristic era, (especially in the work of Origen) it was commonly asserted that sinners were in some way owned by Satan, as the result of the Fall. The only escape was through some form of redemption, or ‘buying back’, of which the cross was the means. Satan is therefore the “cosmic kidnapper”, who will only release humanity when his demand of Jesus is met or satisfied. What he did not realise was that death could not keep its hold on Jesus <sup> <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote11sym" name="sdfootnote11anc"><sup></sup></a></sup>, with the result that Satan ended up by losing him as well!<br />
Since the Middle Ages, this view has generally fallen out of favour, especially because it implies that God somehow tricked Satan into taking Jesus and that it suggests that Satan is much more powerful than Scripture presents him to be. The implication is that God was in some ways beholden to Satan. While it is certainly true that Satan is a real and malignant force in the world (for which he should never be underestimated), it is not the case that he is on a par with God or able to outwit him. The Bible has no room for such dualism. <br />
<a href="" id="OLE_LINK1" name="OLE_LINK1"></a> Nevertheless, in 1931, the Swedish bishop Gustaf Aulén produced his groundbreaking book, <em>Christus Victor</em>. He called for a re-evaluation of the classic patristic model because it takes the reality of cosmic spiritual warfare seriously, which had perhaps been sidelined in the more legal models of Reformation Protestantism (to which we will come below). He argued that subsequent theologians had misread the ransom model and that there is still a place for seeing the cross as ‘first and foremost a victory over the powers, which hold mankind in bondage: sin, death, and the devil’. <sup> <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote12sym" name="sdfootnote12anc"><sup></sup></a></sup>Sin, death and the devil are genuine threats. This certainly fits with Paul’s breathtaking account of the cross in Col 2v14-15 and so Aulén provides a helpful reminder if not corrective. Nevertheless, this model does not actually answer <em>how</em> and <em>why </em>this victory was achieved and so can hardly stand in isolation from other objective models.<br />
Some have suggested that the satisfaction provided by the cross was not so much satanic as moral. God created the universe with an intrinsic moral framework and structure. Because of humanity’s sin (which John describes as ‘lawlessness’ <sup> <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote13sym" name="sdfootnote13anc"><sup></sup></a></sup>), the penalty for sin is death. Because of God’s love for humanity, he did not want anyone to perish. <sup> <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote14sym" name="sdfootnote14anc"><sup></sup></a></sup>Consequently, he had to find a way to satisfy the rigorous, moral demands of the universe, as if God himself needed to submit to them. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote15sym" name="sdfootnote15anc"></a> </sup> Jesus’ death then satisfied those demands. Again there are merits to this approach – it does deal more seriously with the objective problem we have as sinners, and provides a healthy reminder of the moral framework that exists in the universe. Intriguingly, C S Lewis’ explanation for why Aslan had to die in <em>The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe</em>, owes much to this model, as well as to the classic ransom theory.<br />
But its flaw is summed up brilliantly, as ever, by John Stott: <br />
'The real reason why disobedience of God’s moral laws brings condemnation is not that God is their prisoner, but that he is their creator.'<sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote16sym" name="sdfootnote16anc"></a> </sup><br />
Therefore, the one who needs satisfaction is not Satan, or some impersonal law but God himself. This means, if we can put it like this, sin is not a problem because of us; it is a problem because of God. He is the one that a sinner rejects – and that is what makes sin both moral <em>and </em>personal. <br />
<h3> Objective models: God’s Self-Satisfaction </h3><a href="" id="OLE_LINK6" name="OLE_LINK6"></a> Establishing the relationship between justice and mercy is a constant challenge for human beings. The remarkable Truth And Reconciliation Commission in post-apartheid South Africa nobly tried to provide a forum for truth to be exposed without plunging a profoundly damaged nation into a bloodbath. For without the truth, there can never be both forgiveness and reconciliation. However, was it enough simply to admit their crimes and then get off scot-free? The objective reality of what had been done demanded justice<em> as well </em>as mercy, surely? For sure, the situation was not as simplistic as that, and the commission did have the power to punish where it saw fit. The reason for pointing to it is that it illustrates both the deep need to reconcile justice with mercy and the inevitable impossibility for human beings to do so with complete success.<br />
This is where the genius of the cross becomes apparent – but also why none of the models discussed so far come close to encapsulating by themselves the objective reality of human sin and divine justice<br />
Sinners need something far more powerful than a limp moral influence or a tragic, if noble, example.<br />
There are spiritually malevolent forces at work in the world and they need to be overcome. But this does not remove an individual’s responsibility for his or her own life and conduct<br />
God’s holiness and justice demand sin and evil to be named and punished. It is not enough simply to ‘forgive and forget’, however much one might wish it otherwise. Try telling that to the victims of others’ sin. <br />
It is common at this point, therefore, to sense the tension between justice and mercy within God himself. And while it may be true that a resolution between the two is alluded to as the Old Testament progresses, it is only at the cross that we discover that there is no tension in God <em>at all</em>. The cross satisfies both divine justice and divine love. As American theologian A H Strong once wrote, ‘God requires satisfaction because he is Holiness; but he makes satisfaction because he is Love’. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote17sym" name="sdfootnote17anc"></a> </sup> More importantly, it coheres precisely with the two-fold divine demonstration of Romans: <br />
God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to <em>demonstrate his justice</em>, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote18sym" name="sdfootnote18anc"></a> </sup><br />
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. <em>But God demonstrates his own love for us in this</em>: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote19sym" name="sdfootnote19anc"></a> </sup><br />
In both cases, Paul is clear that the cross has an objective affect, and the key to understanding that is the imagery of sacrifice and blood. The atonement model that takes this most seriously is that of Penal Substitution (meaning a punishment taken by a substitute). As I have sought to explain elsewhere, ‘the blood’ is theological shorthand for the principle of substitution <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote20sym" name="sdfootnote20anc"></a> </sup> , as presented throughout the entire OT sacrificial system. It symbolizes one death in place of another death. For the sinner, the death of Jesus is a death of punishment, willingly and innocently undergone as the means to forgiveness for the sinner. How else does one explain Paul’s extraordinary statement of exchange in 2 Corinthians? <br />
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote21sym" name="sdfootnote21anc"></a> </sup><br />
No other model really comes close. But the mistake many make here is to use Penal Substitution as an exclusive atonement model, rather than what seems the more biblical approach, which is to see it as the foundational model for all the others. Out of this great substitution flows the wonders of a Christian’s justification, redemption, reconciliation and cleansing. Our objective guilt is wiped clean and thus our lives are turned inside out and changed forever. How can we not ‘in view of God’s mercy, present [our] bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to the Lord’? <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote22sym" name="sdfootnote22anc"></a> </sup> How can we not be inspired and moved by Christ’s supreme self-sacrifice to take up our own cross and follow him? <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote23sym" name="sdfootnote23anc"></a></sup><br />
A word of caution before some brief personal implications. Penal Substitution has come under increasing attack in recent years, not least because people regard it as describing a merely legal transaction. <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote24sym" name="sdfootnote24anc"></a> </sup> This is not the place for a thorough going defence <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote25sym" name="sdfootnote25anc"></a> </sup> , but it is worth making this observation. It is impossible to come to terms with the model without a robust Christology. It is no accident that one of the great explanations of this model came from a book entitled <em>Cur Deus Homo?</em> (meaning <em>‘Why did God become a man?’</em>), by the great mediaeval theologian Anselm. If Jesus is not fully divine and fully human, then it is impossible for him to be the true mediator and substitute. He is relegated to a third-party, innocently and therefore unjustly, dragged in to taking the punishment on behalf of guilty sinners. But the doctrine of penal substitution is profoundly biblical, when, and only when, it is clear that Jesus is no third-party but God himself. As Paul puts it in 2 cor5v19, <br />
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. <br />
God is both the one who needs appeasing and the one who appeases. He is the one who must judge but he brings the judgment down on himself, in Christ. He is the one who satisfies his own nature by substitute himself on the cross.<br />
No other model really comes close. But the mistake many make here is to use Penal Substitution as an exclusive atonement model, rather than what seems the more biblical approach, which is to see it as the foundational model for all the others. Out of this great substitution flows the wonders of a Christian’s justification, redemption, reconciliation and cleansing. Our objective guilt is wiped clean and thus our lives are turned inside out and changed forever. Furthermore, it is precisely through that wiping out of guilt (together with the death that is sin's inevitable consequence), that Satan is defeated and Christ triumphs as the victor. How, then, can we not ‘in view of God’s mercy, present [our] bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to the Lord’? How can w e not be inspired and moved...<br />
It should be no surprise, then, that there are profound implications for a Christian’s lifestyle. Here is the briefest of sketches. <br />
<h2>Because of the cross... </h2><h3> … we can live with God </h3>God’s purpose was to renew and recreate what was ruined by the fall. It is no surprise that there are cosmic implications of the cross. Paul in Romans 8. 18-21 and Col 1v 19-20 gives no space for western individualism for this is a cosmic victory of reconciliation. At the universe’s epicenter, however, stands humanity made in God’s image, and the wonder is that through the cross, rebels can be reconciled to God (as mentioned above). Rescued sinners can live with a holy God without fear or danger. <br />
<h3>… we can live for God </h3>God’s grace is not cheap and the confidence of forgiveness can never be used as an excuse for high-handed rebellion or independent-mindedness. Instead, we now have a new obligation, an obligation to live for God and not against him (e.g. Romans 8v12<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 8.12" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%208.12" target="_blank"></a>). A cross-rescued human being has now undergone a Copernican revolution, so that he or she is no longer the centre of the universe; the rescuing God is. Living for God is the life that we have been saved to live; and it is the best way to live. It is a life of confidence and freedom from fear, because it is based on our divine acceptance and adoption, our eternal belonging. Above all, it is a life made possible by Jesus death and his subsequent sending of his Holy Spirit (Romans 8 v13-17). <br />
<h3>… we can live like God </h3>With the Spirit living within us, living for God is no longer a matter of pulling up one’s socks and trying better. It is a life that is profoundly shaped by the cross in the confidence of being saved by the cross. We should now live with the same attitude as Christ our Lord and Saviour had. That is the final challenge of living the Christian life (Phil 2 5-11). <br />
The last word should be given to a great (if controversial and unusual) contemporary theologian by the name of Bono. While his articulation of the cross might not fit everybody’s style, it cannot be faulted for its understanding of divine grace. And as such, he surely echoes the other great poet of the cross mentioned at the start, Charles Wesley. <br />
'I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep s**t. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity. I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says, ‘Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there’s mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and let’s face it, you’re not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions.’ The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled. It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.’ <sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-cross/starting-out/an-introduction-to-the-cross.htm#sdfootnote26sym" name="sdfootnote26anc"></a></sup><br />
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This is not my own workkevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-40133084091585820512011-10-03T18:00:00.001-07:002011-10-03T18:00:52.014-07:00Why doesn't God answer my prayers?<h1><strong>Why doesn't God answer my prayers?</strong></h1>How we reply to this complex question will very much depend on who is asking, and we need to be ready to admit that we don’t have all the answers, while at the same time praying that God will draw close to the person and meet their needs. A number of issues are raised by this question:<br />
<strong>1. </strong><strong>Who is the God we are praying to?</strong> <br />
Today many people are taking time to explore spirituality and prayer. Our Jesus is very different to the gods worshipped by other world religions. What we think about who God is will determine whether we pray, how we pray and what we pray for. Are we ultimately able to trust this God? How would you describe Jesus to someone who wants to know more about the God to whom you pray?<br />
<strong>2. </strong><strong>What is prayer?</strong> <br />
Prayer is essentially a conversation between us and God. Prayer is listening, talking, watching and waiting in the company of our Father. To seek his priorities for our needs, and the needs of those around us and of our world, we come as God’s child to our Father in heaven through Jesus (Ephesians 2:18) with the help of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).<br />
<strong>3. </strong><strong>Living selfishly is a barrier to seeing prayers answered.</strong> <br />
Sometimes our prayers will not be answered if there is wrongdoing in our hearts. Our holy God is not able to answer our prayers if we are disobedient to what he may have asked us to do (1 John 3:21–22), if we have wrong motives in our asking (James 4:2–3) or if we haven’t stopped to find out what is his will in a given situation.<br />
<strong>4. </strong><strong>Our view of time is different from God’s view.</strong> <br />
We have to learn to wait for God. Most of us find this hard. I believe God does answer prayer, but he does not always do so in the way that we want. He sees the bigger picture and he knows how it all fits together. I find the image of a tapestry helpful. When we look at the wrong side, it is hard to imagine that there is a picture in the making. Each thread is waiting its turn to be woven in. It is the same with our prayers. They each have their turn to be slotted in to make the picture complete.<br />
<strong>5.</strong><strong> God communicates with us in different ways.</strong> <br />
We need to be aware of how God speaks to us. It could be through reading Scripture, talking with other people, books, the media or day-to-day circumstances. We need to recognise His prompt, nudge and voice in our daily lives (John 10:27). Often he does speak, but we are too preoccupied or blinkered to hear or understand.<br />
<strong>6. </strong><strong>Answers to prayer vary.</strong> <br />
God may answer very quickly, in a way that makes the answer very obvious. On other occasions it is not such an obvious 'yes', and we get a sense that we need to continue to wait for clear guidance (Matthew 7:7–8). Sometimes an answer comes, but in a completely different way to what we are expecting. Then there are the times when it appears that we get nothing but a brick wall. And as we carry on with life, it is often only by looking back on a situation that we discover it was actually a 'no'. I remember Billy Graham’s wife Ruth recounting the story of how she prayed and prayed for the man she thought she wanted to marry, and is today so grateful to God that he did not answer her prayer. For at that time she had not yet met Billy and realises what a disaster the other marriage might have been.<br />
<strong>What we want to hear</strong><br />
<br />
Sometimes the answer appears to be a straight 'no'. Fiona Castle, speaking after the death of her husband Roy, said, 'I would never underestimate the value of prayer. I really believe that although perhaps prayer was not answered the way we would have liked to see it answered, I honestly believe that through the prayers of the faithful people who prayed for Roy, he was strong, he was faithful to the end. I believe that through prayer we were given opportunities to share our faith.'<br />
We need to remember that God always has our best interests at heart even if the answer is not what we want to hear; that we will never understand the complete will of God in every situation.<br />
And sometimes there is no answer at all. In his book, <em>Prayer: Does it Make any Difference?</em>, Philip Yancey cites many times in the Bible when prayer was unanswered, such as King David praying for his son to live; Moses, Job, Jonah and Elijah all praying that they would die; Jesus’ disciples praying for deliverance; Paul praying for the removal of his 'thorn in the flesh'. God did not answer their requests, and we learn a lot from watching how they coped and how God always brought good out of those often desperate situations.<br />
The important thing is that we want to encourage anyone wrestling with this big question not to give up but to keep on talking both to God and their friends as they find a way through. 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths' (Proverbs 3:5).kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-33757649902476098322011-10-02T18:52:00.000-07:002011-10-02T18:52:41.431-07:00Christianity is Just a Psychological Crutch<em>“Christianity is just a psychological crutch!”</em> This is one of a group of common accusations framed against Christianity, which is why it is so important to examine and distinguish if there's any truth in it. Is Christianity just a crutch for the weak, unintelligent and scared, or is it far more than that?<br />
One of the most popular proponents of this hypothesis was Sigmund Freud, the renowned Austrian Psychiatrist who had this to say about religious beliefs:<br />
<blockquote> <em>They are illusions, fulfilments of the oldest, strongest, and most urgent wishes of mankind... As we already know; the terrifying impression of helplessness in childhood aroused the need for protection – for protection through love – which was provided by the father.... Thus the benevolent rule of divine providence allays our fear of the dangers of life.</em> <a href="http://www.bethinking.org/truth-tolerance/introductory/is-christianity-a-psychological-crutch.htm#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""></a></blockquote>Freud is accusing Christianity of being the result of a deep-seated desire for the loving protection from a heavenly father figure, a form of wish fulfilment as it were. Is this simplistic assertion true or does the Biblical account of what Jesus did for us on the cross actually provide a way for us to get right with our creator? I will seek to demonstrate just some of the flaws with this sort of reasoning and in some sense make a defence of the historical and life changing claims of Jesus.<br />
<strong>1.</strong> If we understand Freud's analysis correctly, we should see that religions that were practised prior to Christianity would strongly emphasise God as a benevolent father figure. However, it is Christianity that is distinct among the world's religions in this practice. In the many religions of the early Mediterranean and Middle-East this is simply not the case. Surely if this was a deep-seated desire within the human heart, one would have expected it to be expressed frequently throughout early religious history, yet historical data demonstrates that such an assertion is false.<br />
<strong>2.</strong> In fact this argument can be easily turned around. Surely if Christians only believe in God because they want it to be true, couldn't the equally fallacious assertion be made that Atheists only believe no God exists because they don't want to believe in God? There are some good reasons to wish God doesn't exist, for example there is then no accountability for the way you live your life (I'm not accusing all Atheists of living immorally, just stating that philosophically and theologically there is no justification for not doing so), no judgement after death, no hell, the freedom to live exactly how you wish and to make your own rules.<br />
What is it that makes sceptics proudly assume that they are the only ones who are impenetrable to tricks of the mind and other psychological factors? The assumption is that the person who is asserting that God is just a human construct is claiming that they are in a position to give an objective evaluation free from being affected by psychological factors themselves, whilst for the rest of us psychology determines our beliefs.<br />
<strong>3.</strong> The idea that Christians create a Father like God to comfort themselves is perhaps plausible, but an equally strong case could be made that ends with the opposite conclusion. Perhaps it is, in fact, the Atheists who are the ones who reject God upon merely psychological factors that occurred during their childhood. Isn't it interesting that some of the most renowned Atheists, including Nietzsche, Feuerbach, H.G. Wells and Freud himself, had terrible relationships with their earthly fathers <a href="http://www.bethinking.org/truth-tolerance/introductory/is-christianity-a-psychological-crutch.htm#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""></a>. Perhaps they projected their anger against their earthly father against their heavenly father. It is just as valid an argument as the one framed against Christians. This is obviously not the case with every Atheist and I wouldn't be silly enough to make such a claim but I hope that you are starting to see that such an argument cuts both ways.<br />
<strong>4.</strong> The Atheist philosopher Thomas Nagel had this to say:<br />
<blockquote> <em>“I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers. It isn't just that I don't believe in God and naturally hope that I'm right in my belief. It's that I hope that there is no God! I don't want there to be a God; I don't want the universe to be like that.” </em><a href="http://www.bethinking.org/truth-tolerance/introductory/is-christianity-a-psychological-crutch.htm#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""></a></blockquote>For many, as Nagel explains, it is not simply a question of evidence but the <em>hope</em> that no God exists so he can do what he wants, and not what God may want him to. Everyone has presuppositions, things we already believe, that we use to interpret new experiences or information; sometimes it is our presuppositions that stop us from following a path that will take us out of our comfort zone. We must remember that we all have presuppositions, even Atheists who claim to be among the elite who somehow always manage to see everything objectively and without biases.<br />
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<strong>5.</strong> This leads to an equally challenging question. If Christians were just looking for a God who would simply function as a crutch to make life easier to bear, why come up with a God who is holy and just, a God who finds many of our desires and thoughts to be immoral? Shouldn’t that be the last sort of God we would want to make up if we just wanted a crutch to get through life? Wouldn’t we want a God who just nods at all our behaviour and desires? I certainly would have. If I was making up a God before I was a Christian, he would have been the very opposite of the God I’ve just described. He would have let me get up to all sorts! Why come up with a God who is impossible to please by our good works and effort? Freud's conclusion simply doesn't follow logically from his assertions.<br />
<strong>6.</strong> What about people who were once hostile to Christianity? There is a large number of people who were once unbelievers, some of whom were once very hostile to the message of Jesus. However, they have investigated the claims of Christianity and discovered that they were true. Speaking of my own experience, I was brought up in a secular non-religious household and would have considered myself an Atheist until I was 20. Yet it was by investigating for myself whilst trying to prove someone wrong that I realised you didn't have to leave your brain at the door to be a Christian, and instead discovered that it was both intellectually and emotionally satisfying. So for many with my experience the crutch hypothesis falls short, as I really was enjoying my life, doing what I wanted with no need for a crutch. I just realised I could no longer sweep Jesus under the carpet!<br />
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<strong>7.</strong> Also, the fact that God cares for and values the weak in no sense demonstrates that Christianity is only for those who have discovered the futility of a world without God or for those who get into a position where they acknowledge that only God can help them. The fact that many people, who the world may consider weak or marginalised, have been helped by Christianity, doesn’t mean that it is only for such people. There are many persons both past and present who have come to believe that Christianity is intellectually fulfilling. These include the well known scholar C.S. Lewis and many of today's most renowned philosophers at many of the world’s top universities such as Dallas Willard, Alvin Plantinga, William Lane Craig, Douglas Geivett, Stephen T. Davis, J.P Moreland and many more. Although this in itself doesn’t present an argument, it does demonstrate that Christianity is more than simply a crutch for the weak but can also function as a sound basis for understanding and interpreting the world we live in.<br />
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<strong>8.</strong> Why would you follow something that you know would make life harder for yourself? If a belief system is said to be a psychological crutch then we would expect it to help you in your day-to-day life and in at least some sense make life a little easier to function and cope with. So how exactly does Christianity fair in such an assessment? From the very start we observe that Jesus' earliest followers, known as his disciples, were mostly murdered for preaching Jesus' atoning death on the cross and his resurrection. Consider the following list:<br />
<blockquote><em></em> <em>James, son of Zebedee – Beheaded (Acts 12:1-2)<br />
Thomas – Murdered in India<br />
Simon the Canaanite – Crucified<br />
Simon Peter – Crucified in Rome<br />
Mark – Burned alive<br />
Bartholomew – Beaten, crucified and beheaded<br />
Andrew – Crucified - the actual place is not definite although Archaia is the most likely<br />
Matthew – Speared to death<br />
Philip – Stoned then crucified</em><a href="http://www.bethinking.org/truth-tolerance/introductory/is-christianity-a-psychological-crutch.htm#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""></a></blockquote>Some details do differ depending on which records are used. However, there is little doubt that all of the above and many more were killed for preaching the Gospel. Even taking into account slight differences in regards to the exact fate of some or the location, the above list demonstrates that following Jesus in the first century was a dangerous path to follow, as for many today it still is.<br />
Then we see that Jesus himself was whipped, beaten and crucified for what he taught. Christians for almost 300 hundred years after Jesus’ resurrection were a persecuted and suffering people, and even today tens of millions of people around the world continue to suffer and die for simply believing and following Jesus' message. A message that asks you to deny yourself, and take up your cross daily (meaning picking up the cross to die as Jesus did), not to gather vast amounts of earthly possessions, to live humbly, to forgive and pray for your enemies, to acknowledge that you have disobeyed God and are in need of a saviour, simply does not function as a crutch to get through life! The claim that Christianity is a crutch would then only really serve as a reason for the minority of Christians who live in the West, not the vast majority elsewhere. If anything, it generally makes life much more difficult and actually demonstrates that Christians are willing to follow the truth regardless of how difficult it may be. Are you?<br />
<strong>Conclusion</strong><br />
The idea that belief in God is a crutch begins with the assumption that God doesn’t exist and is a human invention. No reason is offered for this; it is just an assumption forming a false conclusion from an unfounded premise. However as I pointed out in my second point, the argument from wish-fulfilment cuts both ways and is equally valid when applied to the reasons for unbelief, which means that it fails to meet the standards of a reasonable argument for rejecting God.<br />
The fact that Christianity has many positive outcomes shouldn’t be a reason to dismiss it. Whether it helps those who are poor or wealthy, educated or uneducated, this shouldn't be the means of determining whether it is true or false. If God does exist and does actually love and care for us, then surely it is logical that this would have a serious impact on our lives. Belief in God neither makes us weaker or inferior individuals but is in reality a logical response to what God has done for us through Jesus on the cross. Many Atheists would have you believe that only idiots turn to Jesus. However it's simply not just a case of the intellect – consider Peter and Christopher Hitchens, both of whom are highly intelligent yet one is a faithful follower of Jesus and the other an outspoken anti-religious Atheist.<br />
The final question for us really is what explanation of the world best accounts for the world we encounter? Is it a loving God who stepped down from heaven to demonstrate his love for us in history or the randomness and guideless processes of a universe without God?<br />
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Richard Dawkins has this to say about the world:<br />
<blockquote> <em>"The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference."</em> <a href="http://www.bethinking.org/truth-tolerance/introductory/is-christianity-a-psychological-crutch.htm#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""></a></blockquote>The truth of the matter is that Jesus never offered a crutch, only a cross; it wasn't a call to be a better person with high self-esteem or a plan to help us scrape through our existence. It was a call to acknowledge that the forgiveness we all seek is to be found in him by following him onto the cross. I've pointed out several reasons that I hope demonstrate that such an objection against Christianity simply isn't a warranted position to hold. It’s because Christianity is true that it has something to offer every person in every circumstance, regardless of their background or intellectual capabilities.kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-79636229906360974512011-09-09T02:42:00.000-07:002011-09-09T02:42:22.123-07:00Did Morals Evolve?<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td width="60%"> <div align="center" class="headline">Did Morals Evolve?</div></td> <td align="right" class="headline4m" width="20%"></td></tr>
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<div align="center" class="subheading">Gregory Koukl</div><br />
<blockquote class="body1"> <center><em>If the answer is yes, then we are in trouble. </em> <img alt="divider" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.str.org/images/content/pagebuilder/10175.gif" width="300" /></center></blockquote><br />
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<tr> <td class="body1">I have consistently put forth what I believe to be a very strong argument for the existence of a personal God and the reality of personal guilt before God based on the existence of self-evident moral rules in the universe. I think it's a good argument. But it hasn't gone unchallenged, especially by those who are committed to the belief that nothing truly exists which is not subject to examination by the senses through scientific inquiry. <br />
This idea has been around in some form for a long time and goes by a variety of different names, depending upon how it's nuanced: physicalism, scientism, anti-realism, nominalism, strict empiricism, naturalism, etc. I think it's safe to say that modern man <strong>thinks </strong>he believes this. (Shannon) But this man who said knowledge was only available through empirical testing also said he'd been in love many times, and you can't put love in a test tube. Further, you can't weigh this empirical knowledge he was referring to. And the more we talked the more it became evident that we couldn't even discuss the issue without having to employ the very abstract entities he claimed didn't exist. <br />
By the way, virtually everything we hold to be dear and important to us....cannot be analyzed empirically. If this is true, and if it's also true that nothing is real that is not available to scientific scrutiny, then nothing truly important to us actually exists. <br />
A recent challenge to the transcendent nature of morality comes from the book <em>The Moral Animal--Why We Are the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology </em>, by Robert Wright, published by Pantheon Press. I have not read the book, but I have read the review by Sara Lippincott in the September 4 (1994) Book Review section of the <em>LA Times </em>. Lippencott sketches out the arguments for us. <br />
The thesis: "conscience, the seat of our moral sense, evolved as a survival mechanism. When...we feel guilt because we have harmed a sibling, it is because we have thereby imperiled the proliferation of our genes. When we feel guilt because we have harmed someone outside the family circle, it is because we have potentially damaged our own (survival enhancing) status." <br />
This doesn't account for guilt we may feel for wantonly mistreating some other animal, which is an immediate problem with this view as an explanation for morality, but let's ignore that for a moment because something else is more pressing. <br />
<blockquote> <center><img alt="divider" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.str.org/images/content/pagebuilder/10175.gif" width="300" /> <div align="center" class="headline4"><strong>If everything about man can be explained in scientific, evolutionary terms, Our belief that we're exploring truth is merely the result of our physical wiring over which we have no control.</strong></div><strong><img alt="divider" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.str.org/images/content/pagebuilder/10175.gif" width="300" /></strong></center></blockquote>This explanation implicitly contains a remarkable claim. It suggests that there is something in us that is self-consciously aware of the process of evolution, that understands what the goal of evolution is--survival of our own species--and instructs us through our conscience to fulfill the optimal conditions for that survival. How do we know that harming a sibling has "imperiled the proliferation of our genes?" Isn't this a remarkable statement? Nobody even knew what genes were until Gregor Mendel in the latter part of the 19th century. Consider two cavemen in neighboring villages. One kills the other in cold blood. We're being asked to believe that he feels guilt because he realizes such an act ultimately undermines his own survival status (How? He didn't say.) In the rest of the animal kingdom, killing the opposition seems to secure just the opposite. <br />
We think we have a type of transcendent knowledge we call morality, Wright argues. But there's an explanation for that in evolutionary terms. Something in us <strong>knows </strong>that conscience is useful for securing the long-term survival of our race. So now to explain away the existence of morality as transcendent knowledge Wright posits the existence of some other kind of transcendent knowledge that <strong>creates </strong>morality for its own purpose. But this only pushes the problem one generation back. One can then ask, "Where did this force, this law, to always seek the survival of the species come from?" You can't say it evolved, because that would be begging the question: Where did the impulse to seek your own species' survival come from? It evolved based on a species seeking its own survival. The argument becomes circular. Wright solves nothing with his amazing claim. <br />
There are more problems with this, of course, and they center around one inescapable observation. If everything about man can be explained in scientific, evolutionary terms, Our belief that we're exploring truth is merely the result of our physical wiring over which we have no control. <br />
In other words, this kind of physicalism always seems to lead to some kind of determinism: Everything about us is determined by our prior physical states. It's very hard to argue, then, that there is any truth at all to be known, moral or otherwise. <br />
<blockquote> <center><img alt="divider" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.str.org/images/content/pagebuilder/10175.gif" width="300" /> <div align="center" class="headline4"><strong>If the moral element is prior to the behavior, then it can't be the behavior itself.</strong></div><img alt="divider" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.str.org/images/content/pagebuilder/10175.gif" width="300" /></center></blockquote>Then why should I believe this article? This article purports to tell us something true about the universe, but in the process tells us that our perception of truth is something that is dictated by our genes to "get our genes into the next generation." This view changes drastically what it means to be moral. It reduces morality to mere survival, to pragmatics. We feel moral urgings because these moral urgings help us to survive better. They have at their core self-preservation in mind. But does self-preservation truly capture what we mean when we say a thing is moral. Indeed many things that fall into the moral category have to do with denying self. <br />
But what is this "correct" business? It implies that there is some higher standard outside of the morality that he is allegedly explaining, a higher standard of <strong>moral conduct </strong>that can correct the "moral biases built into us by natural selection." But it's precisely this higher moral law that needs explaining and defies naturalistic explanation. Robert Wright doesn't explain it. He merely offers an explanation for some low order moral conduct that has survival value. And then cavalierly refers to this other morality that enables us to become "a truly moral animal." He writes, "Go above and beyond the call of smoothly functioning conscience; help those who aren't likely to help those in return, and do so when nobody's watching. This is one way to be a truly moral animal." <br />
Arguably, certain ways of acting may have evolved (I don't believe this, but I'll grant this for the sake of argument), but morality is not merely a way of acting. How do I know this? Because there's an <strong>oughtness </strong>about behavior that we can feel that actually precedes the behavior itself. It's not a behavior pattern, but an internal compulsion that compels us to choose certain behaviors--to do what's right--even though this moral incumbency can be denied or disobeyed. If the moral element is prior to the behavior, then it can't be the behavior itself.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-43619147304841448592011-07-18T20:23:00.000-07:002011-07-18T20:23:34.776-07:00I am the VINE<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt; text-transform: uppercase;">John 15.1-8</span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt; text-transform: uppercase;">I AM the Vine…</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Verse 1 –</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Jesus begins with a bold statement – read verse 1. ‘I am the Vine…’ – this saying would not be new to the disciples. To the Jews the term ‘Vine’ was a common description of them as the people of God. The OT is replete with such descriptions – <i>Psalm 80, Isaiah 5, Ezekiel 17, Jeremiah 23 and 33 and Zechariah 3 and 6.</i> On the majority of occasions it spoke of the unfaithfulness of Israel to the covenant with God and of the imminent judgment of God upon them. On several occasions God speaks through his prophets to tell the people of Israel that he is about to remove his protection from the vineyard and to expose her to the dangers of other nations because she has played the harlot with his love for her. So the disciples would immediately see the allusion to Israel and realise that Christ was replacing the nation of Israel as the Vine with himself and those who followed Him. In a few moments we will see and I hope understand the significance of that first statement. Christ goes on then to add that his Father is the gardener, literally ‘farmer.’ </span></b> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Verse 2</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - In the junior high school which I attended on the biology labs had a greenhouse attached to the side of it. All sorts of things were grown there but the one which fascinated us all was the vine. We waited every year to see the grapes appear – truth is we wanted to have the opportunity to taste them. we never did get the chance – the teacher always kept the door locked – he knew more about the nature of schoolboys than we realised. You know there were times when that vine looked like it would never bear fruit. There were times when the teacher seemed to be utterly ruthless in cutting back branches, pruning them. As a young schoolboy I did not understand why he cut off what seemed to be healthy branches. He knew though that without that pruning no fruit would appear the next year. Christ tells his disciples that his Father as the gardener ‘cuts off’ some branches and ‘prunes’ others so that fruit might be produced. Just as with a physical plant the dead wood needed to be cut out so that disease does not have a chance to take hold so the same is true of the ‘spiritual plant.’ In a vine the gardener would ‘trim’ or ‘prune’ branches so that the energy and the life of the vine was not going to grow wood but to produce fruit – the same is true of the ‘spiritual plant.’ There is a play on words in verse 2 that is not easily conveyed in the English translation. Jesus says to his disciples that the Father <i>‘cuts off’ (airei)</i> some branches whilst he <i> ‘trims’ (katharei)</i> other branches and it is further played upon in verse 3 when he says that the disciples are <i>‘clean’ (katharoi).</i> Jesus is saying to his disciples that fruitfulness is the mark of the true believer, the true follower of Christ and the Father will do whatever is necessary for the branches to bear fruit.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Cut off.</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> There are some branches and they look like every other branch on the vine but the reality is that although the outward appearance is the same the inside is dead and if left they will bring death to other branches also. Such branches the Father cuts off and they are fit only for the fire. This is good husbandry because the purpose of the branches is to bear fruit. They are not there for decorative purposes. This is the teaching behind the parable of the fig tree in Luke 13.6ff. The purpose of cutting off some branches and pruning others is the same – that the plant might be healthy and bear fruit in due season. I don’t want to dwell this morning on the branches that are ‘cut off’ because that is the task of the gardener (God the Father) and it is not my task to say who will be ‘cut off’ and burned in the fire.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Pruning</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – I am sure many of you have pruned some plants in the past. Maybe roses or some other plant that needs to be cut back in order for new growth to be stimulated. The untrained and unskilled person usually does not prune vigorously enough and the new growth is a bit feeble. In the hands of the expert though it appears drastic given time the new growth is strong and vigorous and a healthy plant is the result. Read Hebrews 12 verses 5-6, 10 – read. Do you understand the connection with verse 2 of John 15? The reason the Father prunes the branches is that they might bear fruit and part of that fruit is to share in his holiness. The pruning is painful. The pruning may even appear harsh and drastic but the purpose is to bring new life, new growth and in due season to bear much fruit in the branch.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Verse 3</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Jesus then speaks a word of reassurance to his disciples. He tells them they are already clean because of the ‘word’ he had spoken to them. This verse is very much connected to the incident of his washing of the disciples’ feet a few hours earlier – <i>13.1-17. </i>You remember, Simon wanted Christ to wash him all over and Christ had said that Simon was clean, but that not all of them were clean – knowing that Judas would betray him. Now, however, Christ can say that they are all clean because Judas has gone. How are they clean – by his word. Do you remember the incident when the four friends climbed on to the roof of the house in which Christ was teaching and lowered their friend down before Christ? Christ told him his sins were forgiven. On what basis were they forgiven? The word of Christ. He spoke and it came to be. From creation what God spoke came to be. So Christ tells his disciples that because he has spoken their forgiveness they are clean. Remember this follows his teaching that he was going via the cross to prepare a place for them – via atonement for their sins.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Verse 4</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> You know sometimes things are so simply stated in Scripture that we miss the depth of their meaning. I think this is a verse which on the surface sounds so simple and straight forward, and it is, but the outworking of it in our lives is demanding but the results are such a blessing. <i>Read verse 4.</i> The first part of the verse is necessary for the second part to be a reality in the life of a Christian believer. The continued fruitfulness of a believer depends on constant union with the source of life and fruitfulness –namely Christ Jesus. Just as in a physical plant the branch needs the life of the vine, the nourishment which the roots draw up, to live and bear fruit so the Christian needs to remain connected to Christ to live and bear fruit. I want to point out to you at this point that the branches cannot be different from the Vine, they cannot live separately from the vine. They cannot bear fruit without the Vine and they can only bear the fruit of the Vine. I also think it is crucial to point out that the branches are connected to other branches by being part of the same Vine. There is no independence here. The disciples are connected to one another as they are connected to Christ – hence his teaching in <i>chapter 13</i> to love one another – another one of the fruits they will produce as they remain connected to the Vine. Did you catch that? Love for one another is one of the fruits that the branches produce when they are connected to the true Vine. As Christ said <i>‘you cannot claim to love God if you hate your brother.’ </i> There is a second thing I want each of us to notice from this verse. Christ tells each of the disciples they will bear fruit if they remain in him. Bearing fruit is the sign of remaining in Christ – it was not an option for the disciples but a sign of the life of Christ in them. The same is true for you and I today. Bearing fruit in the Christian life is not an option but is in fact a sign of true Christian life. Bearing fruit in my life shows that I am in Christ and that he is in me. Also note that nowhere does Christ say that the fruit will be uniform in quality or quantity. What is inevitable is that they will bear much fruit if they remain in him and he in them. but let me ask a question – What is this fruit? I think Christ answers that question in the remainder of the chapter – look at <i>verses 10-11</i> = obedience resulting in joy – so obedience to Christ (God’s Word) is part of this fruit bearing. Look <i>at verse 12</i> –love for one another. Look at <i> verses 16 and 27</i> being witnesses to the world is part of this fruit bearing. Turn for a moment to<i> Galatians 5 verses 22-23 </i>– <i>the fruit of the Spirit -</i> once again I want you to note that it is not a pick and mix selection – where you choose what you like and reject what you don’t. These fruit (singular) of the Spirit <i> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">will </span></i>(not are to be) seen in those who remain in Christ and he in them.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Verse 6</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – now here comes the stark warning to the disciples, and to all believers. If they do not remain in Christ they are like the branches which are cut off from the Vine and without the life of the Vine they wither and die and are useless except for firewood. Stop right there for a moment. Think to whom Christ is here speaking. Think at what moment he is speaking to them. Think what is ahead of them the rest of this night and the next few days. They are about to face his betrayal, death and burial – and the challenge in those hours will be to remain in Christ. They are about to face the question which Judas has already answered – will I remain in Christ? Christ warns them that without him there is no life (14 verse 6 again), in fact without him not only is there no life there is only the prospect of death and destruction. A branch cut off from the Vine may for a while appear green and healthy but over time it dies and it will never bear fruit. Friends, listen to God’s Word , the danger for all of us is that we are cut off because we are not remaining in Christ and he in us. Without him we wither and die and we are cut off because the Father wants branches that bear fruit and not dead wood in his church.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Verses 7-8</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – Christ then assures them of the assistance of the Father in answer to their prayers. Please do not take verse 7 out of context and use it as a carte blanche promise that God says ‘yes’ to everything you ask for – you know that is not true and not what is meant by the text. <i>Verse 8 helps you understand verse 7</i> – it is the for the glory of the Father by the bearing of much fruit in their lives that they are to ask in prayer. Christ wants them to ask the Father for every assistance that they might remain in Christ and in so doing bear much fruit to the glory of the Father. What is the Father’s will for their lives? That they, the disciples, might remain in Christ bearing fruit to his eternal glory. What are they to ask for in prayer? Whatever they need to bear fruit and bring glory to the Father. Friends we would do well to learn that simple prayer lesson. When I ask in prayer is it so that I might remain in Christ bearing much fruit to the glory of God the Father? That would straighten some prayer lives and some prayer requests.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Application</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">You know the one thing which struck my heart deeply when I read this passage – its context. That at the moment Christ was moving towards betrayal and death was the moment he chose to teach this to his disciples – Why? Why this moment? I can only say to you that at this moment in their journey with Christ, knowing what they are going to witness over the next 24-72hours – they needed to know that remaining in Christ was the answer to it all. Being grafted into the true Vine was the only means of life in this situation. They would face many perils and dangers, many storms and struggles and in the face of such they needed to know that it was out of love and to bear much fruit that the Father did such ‘pruning’ in their lives. You see the reality for the disciples, and for us, that without the pain of pruning they would never grow spiritually and never bear fruit to the glory of God the Father. Think for a moment of Peter – without the experience of denying Christ, the pruning of his self-reliance, self-confidence and strength – he would never have become reliant upon Christ they way we witness post-resurrection and in his epistles. Without the pruning of Thomas’ doubt he would never have learnt to walk by faith. He would have always remained stagnant in his spirit wanting physical proof before believing and trusting Christ.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">What about your life? Are you connected to the true and living Vine – Christ Jesus? Are you remaining in him and he in you? Is his word still the nourishment of you soul so that you might bear fruit to the glory of the Father? Are you now experiencing the pruning of the Father? Yes, it is painful, but do you know and understand it is that later in your life a rich harvest of fruit might be produced to the glory of the Father? The turth is you in danger of God the Father cutting you off because you are dead wood? You give the appearance of being connected to the Vine, the outward signs are the same as the living branches, but the inside is dead, spiritually dead? You know Christ once described such people as ‘whitewashed tombs’ – all the signs of cleanliness on the outside but the inside contained only death. Heed the warning and become grafted on to the living Vine so that you might know the nourishment of your soul.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Finally can I share with you the significance of this for you and those you fellowship with. We are all connected via the Vine, (Christ) to one another. Each branch is part of the Vine and draws nourishment and strength form the same vine. Each branch is to bear fruit, it is not an option. Each branch is bear fruit in love for one another, in displaying to one another the fruit of the Spirit, in obeying the Word of God and in witnessing to the world. Each branch is to bear the same fruit – yes it will be in different amounts and quality – but each must bear fruit. There is the greatest challenge to us all – because when it comes to bearing the fruit of service and witnessing to the world there are too few fruit bearing branches at our churches. I believe that is the challenge from God to everyone reading this.</b></span></div>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-70401854661325529922011-07-14T15:56:00.000-07:002011-07-14T15:56:38.190-07:00Spiritual maturityPhilemon<br />
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The art of letter writing is really dying today. With all our technology, email, text messaging and twitter receiving a handwritten letter is almost as rare as ‘hen’s teeth’ or a bucket of clergy man’s sweat – as my grandfather would have said. The letter to Philemon is a very personal letter, but it is also an open letter which in all probability was brought back to Colossae along with the letter to the Colossians. Written by the apostle Paul, almost certainly whilst he was in prison in Rome, between AD56‐58 to Philemon in Colossae concerning a runaway slave called Onesimus. We are told that not only had Onesimus runaway but he had, it appears, also stolen from his master – verses 18‐19.<br />
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So let us look at this letter together.<br />
Verses 1‐3 the greeting is different from the other letters Paul has written. This letter follows the ancient form of a letter of commendation. More formal but not unlike how we would set out a CV reference for someone today. Paul‘s opening words are calculated to suggest that his appeal for Onesimus should be looked on favourably. In verse 1 Paul tells us he is a prisoner of Christ and in verse<br />
9 he tells us he is a prisoner for Christ. He was a prisoner of Christ in that Christ had bought him with his blood and now he was in prison Rome for Christ and the sake of the gospel. Paul suffered for the sake of the gospel and this is a mark of his apostleship. This in turn adds weight to his request for clemency for Onesimus. Paul adds Timothy’s name to the appeal. Paul greets Philemon, the owner of Onesimus, and also Apphia who is generally accepted to be his wife and would have been responsible for the day to day running of the household, including responsibility for slaves. The greeting is also extended to Archippus who is the elder of the church, a church which Onesimus would have to join when he goes back to Colossae.<br />
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Verses 4‐7 we have a section of thanksgiving and prayer. Verses 4‐5 are very typical of Christian letters of the day. The greeting was followed by thanksgiving and prayer. This is a full thanksgiving – Paul tells them that he always gives thanks for them and he does so in his prayers. He thanks God for them. He tells them why he gives such thanks – verse 5 – because of their faith and love for Christ and his people. In verse 4 we should note that the ‘you’ is singular not plural. The ‘you’ that Paul is giving thanks for is Philemon. Whereas the ‘you’ and ‘yours’ of the greeting and the ending of the letter are plural. So although this is letter is addressed to Philemon it is also to be read in the church.<br />
Verse 6 Paul prays that Philemon’s participation in the faith will be made effective because he has a full understanding of the gospel and of God’s love and goodness in Christ towards them both. Paul throughout his letters makes it clear that knowledge precedes good works – Colossians 1.9‐10.<br />
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Verse 7 Paul knows all about the love that Philemon has for Christ expressed through his love for Paul. Paul is alluding to the spiritual maturity that is found in Philemon because his faith is expressed in love towards others. The implication is that the love that he has shown to Paul and others will now be shown to the runaway slave Onesimus. How he treats Onesimus upon his return is Paul’s concern because it will be a reflection of Philemon’s Christian maturity.<br />
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Let us linger here for a moment. <b>There is an important lesson for us to learn here concerning Christian maturity.</b><br />
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How we love one another is a sign of our Christian maturity. <b><span style="color: red;">More importantly how we love someone who has wronged us, repented of the wrong they have done, and sought to be reconciled is a sign of our Christian maturity.</span></b> We can do nothing about their part – the repentance and desire for reconciliation but are answerable for our expression of love when genuine repentance has occurred and loving reconciliation is desired. I want you to note as well that Paul never told Philemon it would be easy and he never seeks in this letter to justify any of Onesimus’ actions. To our 21st century ears the very thought of slavery is horrific but Paul does not discuss the morality of slavery either. Paul has written on behalf of one brother in Christ to another brother in Christ who has been wronged to bring about reconciliation for the sake of the gospel and the glory of Christ. Remember the context and the purpose of the letter and don’t get sidetracked with other issues.<br />
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Verse 8‐22 the Plea for Onesimus. This is the heart of this letter and it is important for us not only to understand Onesimus’ situation but also to understand where Paul is at this moment. Paul’s circumstances are significant. Because Paul is in prison he cannot do the things a free man could do to help a slave. All he can do is write this letter of appeal to Philemon, asking for clemency for this new brother in Christ. If Paul was a free man he could have applied to the officials to have Onesimus assigned into his care for a time. This was not uncommon at that time. Onesimus was in a very vulnerable situation. A runaway slave was protected by no laws and he was open to all manner of abuse. In Rome he could be anonymous but if caught he could be beaten unmercifully and their life expectancy was short. By asking Philemon to show mercy towards Onesimus Paul was asking Philemon to go against all the cultural norms of the day and by this request Paul is in fact giving rights and dignity to a class of people who no one thought worthy of even life.<br />
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Verse 8 Paul begins his plea for clemency by reminding Philemon that he (Paul) is an apostle. Paul had authority in the church and he reminds Philemon that he was not afraid to exercise that authority but on this occasion he will not command Philemon to obey but will appeal for ‘love’s sake’ that Philemon agree with his request for clemency.<br />
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Verse 9 in the ANE ‘old age’ also conveyed authority on you and Paul mentions this second level of authority in his life. Wisdom and authority were assumed to go with old<br />
age but Paul here emphasises his feeble condition and situation.<br />
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Verse 10 now Paul pleads with Philemon for Onesimus. He calls the slave his son – this depicts the relationship of a teacher and a student in the faith. Verse 11 Paul now uses a play on words in this verse. Onesimus = profitable or useful – Paul uses ‘chrestos’ which meant useless and ‘euchrestos’ which means useful. ‘Chrestos’ in turn sounds like ‘Christos’ – the name of Christ. We miss the humour and the subtlety of such a play on words. It would not have been lost on Philemon. Paul is showing how sensitive this situation is for everyone and he is showing tact in dealing with it. It would seem that Paul introduces some humour into the letter at this point because what he is about to ask of Philemon is so radical that it may just provoke laughter.<br />
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Verse 12 – I don’t think Paul can make it any clearer how fond he is of Onesimus. Paul also reminds Philemon that Onesimus had served Paul whilst he was in prison and Paul credits this to Philemon – verse 13. Paul desires to keep Onesimus with him for the comfort and help that he brought him but he shows deference to Philemon, how could Philemon now refuse Paul’s request for clemency?<br />
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Verses 15‐120 – Paul shows how he understands that God’s hand was in control of this situation right from the very start. Paul does not refer to Onesimus as a runaway but of their temporary separation which would lead to a permanent reunion. Please don’t take that verse out of<br />
context and use it for relationship counselling – as I heard some people do in the past. Similarly he refers to Onesimus as a ‘slave’ which is a temporary situation and then as a ‘brother’ which is an eternal condition in Christ. Paul goes even further in verse 17, referring to Philemon in business terms as a ‘partner’, an equal with the apostle in the work of the kingdom of God. Philemon was to receive Onesimus as if he was receiving Paul, his partner in the gospel. Paul then commits himself to pay (verses18‐19) any financial loss incurred by the actions of Onesimus. This shows Paul’s love for Onesimus and for Philemon. He does not want Philemon to suffer as a consequence of his request but he also wants to make it clear that repentance and reconciliation also requires restitution. Paul reminds Philemon of the debt that he owes Paul which should more than cover the debt owed by Onesimus but never‐the‐less Paul will pay what is owed. Paul tells Philemon that in obeying this request he will refresh Paul’s heart in Christ – because the act of love in Christ will be seen by all.<br />
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Verses 21‐22 – Paul knows that Philemon will obey out of love for the Lord and for Paul. In fact he is so confident of the Christian maturity of Philemon that he knows Philemon will do more than he has asked of him. Paul knows that Philemon, because of the gospel, will treat Onesimus fairly and graciously. He is confident of this because he knows Philemon’s heart and life are rotted in the gospel.<br />
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Verses 23‐25 Paul finishes his letter to Philemon with a standard ending, followed in many of his letters. He mentions those with him and commits Philemon to the grace of Christ Jesus.<br />
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<b>Application</b><br />
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We might well be appalled at the thought of slavery. It is not something we encounter or would even countenance today. Yet in the first century to suggest doing away with slaves would be akin to suggesting we get rid of all electrical appliances and any transportation that required oil, diesel or petrol to power it. Society of the day never really gave the owning of slaves a second thought. Yet, a careful reading of Philemon shows us that Paul expected a radical change in the relationship between master and slave, slave and master within the Christian church. In Christ relationships are dramatically and radically changed. Paul asked two men, in Christ, to do an amazing and courageous thing. He asked Onesimus to go back to the master he had run away from and he asked Philemon to accept Onesimus back into his household without punishment. In fact Paul hints in the letter that Philemon should even consider giving Onesimus his freedom (verse21). We don’t own slaves and so the immediate context of this letter is removed from our everyday lives. Yet, what of the principles taught here.<br />
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1. When we come to Christ Jesus our relationships are changed – for the better.<br />
2. When we have wronged someone God asks us to repent, to return and to seek reconciliation with them.<br />
3. If we have been wronged and the person who has offended us repents and comes back we are to forgive and restore the relationship. That may be a painful experience for us but it is what Paul teaches here.<br />
4. Sometimes we are called by God to stand against the way the world deals with broken relationships and in so doing we may place ourselves in a place of ridicule, outside our social circles and be misunderstood but we know we do it because God has called us to obey his word. This is a sign of our Christian maturity – remember that.<br />
5. Authority – finally we need to take seriously the spiritual authorities that God has placed over us in Christ. Those whom God has made overseers of his flock and who through the Word of God, not their own authority or position, but teaching the Word of God point out to us how God has called us to live<br />
– we are to obey them.<br />
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Today you may have such a broken relationship in your life – you may be an Onesimus who has run away and right now God is calling you to repent and go back. Or, you may be a Philemon and God is saying when that person comes back – show Christian maturity for the sake of the gospel of love. Show clemency, the world may not understand and may even balk at what you do – but receive them as you would receive me. Take a moment now and examine your heart and see if you are in the place of Onesimus, or Philemen – or even Paul where you have to exhort someone to do a radically difficult and counter‐cultural act of reconciliation in order that they might be spiritually mature.<br />
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Amen.kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-47130266170910514112011-06-30T16:33:00.000-07:002011-06-30T16:33:10.507-07:00Wrestling in prayer<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wrestling in Prayer</span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Isn’t it amazing how quick the pace of life is? Are you not astounded that every 18 months or so the speed of a computer doubles? We all use to think the www was quick with a dial up connection but now we have broadband and isdn lines. We have instant everything. You can go and get your glasses made in an hour at vision express. You can do banking on line. Everything is at such a speed. <strong>Yet when it comes to prayer speed is not of any importance at all.</strong> In fact the one thing which we need in prayer is not speed but perseverance. We actually need to learn how to wrestle in prayer over a long period of time and not just in short bursts of speed. The truth is that for many believers today their prayer lives reflect the pace of their lives – hectic. Everything is hurried. Everything, even prayer, has to be slotted into a time frame. How often do you find yourself praying and your mind is wandering all over the place? You are actually thinking of things that you could, note I said could not should, be doing if you were not praying. We often even fall into the trap of thinking ‘this time spent praying is wasted.’ Ever found that thought in your head when you are praying or about to pray? Of course you have, we all have at some time. Yet we are exhorted by Jesus and the Word of God to pray and to not give up praying. <strong>So in this post I want to encourage you to ‘wrestle in prayer’ – basically to keep going over the long haul and to not give up or give in.</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>A myth slain.</strong></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Allow me right at the beginning of this post to slay a myth in the area of ‘wrestling in prayer.’ It is quite common to hear people hold up the example of Jacob or the Syro-Phoenican woman who came to Jesus as examples of people who wrestled in prayer and got the answer they desired. The implications of what is said is that you should wrestle with God and not let Him go until He has answered. That sort of teaching in wrestling in prayer is quite common, you may even hold to it yourself but it is not biblical. Such teaching makes God out to be a reluctant giver of blessing. It makes out that we have to literally wrestle the answer out of God and wring out the blessings from His hands. Such an image of God is wrong. God is not reluctant to answer prayer, nor does He begrudgingly bless. Listen to these words spoken by Jesus in <b><i>Matthew 7.10</i></b> – the key phrase being <b><i>‘how much more…’</i></b> God does not hold on to blessings or answers until we somehow manage to prise them out of His grip. Let us remember that it was God who came to meet Jacob and to wrestle with Jacob. Jacob had deceived his brother, his father and sought to manipulate situations to fulfil the promise God had made to him – he would not wait on God’s time. In the struggle Jacob was changed by God and left with a limp to remind him of the night of wrestling with God. Jacob learnt that God was in control and he was blessed with far more than he had ever requested. He wanted a right relationship with Esau. Jacob got that. Far more importantly he also had a restored relationship with God. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><u>So please understand that when I speak of ‘wrestling in prayer’ I am not talking about a struggle with God to get Him to answer. Many passages speak of God’s desire to hear and to answer our prayers.</u></strong> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wrestling in Prayer – so what do we mean by that phrase? I want to look at two aspects of ‘wrestling in prayer:’</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Firstly, I want to look at Ephesians 6.10-12, 18 where we are instructed by Paul that we are in a spiritual battle when it comes to prayer and the Christian life.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Secondly, I want to encourage us all to persist in prayer, to wrestle in prayer over the long haul and not just the short term.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Spiritual Battle – Ephesians 6.10-12, 18. </span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When you became a Christian the bible says your were ‘born again.’ Now let me ask you a question: Into what were you born? Physically at one stage you were born – born in a hospital, most likely. <span style="color: red;"><strong>As a Christian when you were ‘born again’ you were born in to a battle.</strong></span> You were in fact born on a battle field and into an army engaged in a war. You and I are not always aware of the battle, but it is real and it is of eternal consequences. The truth is our prayer lives would be better if we were more aware of the spiritual battle which is raging all around us. <span style="color: red;"><strong>By the very fact that we do not think about it, or don’t believe it there is such a battle raging, our prayer life suffers immensely.</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Paul tells us in <b><i>Ephesians 6</i></b> that we are engaged in a battle against <b><i>‘spiritual forces’</i></b> which are evil, wicked and dark. Look closely at <b><i>verses 11-12</i></b> – notice how often the word ‘against’ appears. Here is the battleground of the Christian believer. It is not against people but against powers, authorities etc. Paul begins by saying it is against the ‘schemes’ or ‘wiles’ of the devil. The battle begins, continues and ends on the ground of ‘Truth.’ Do you see that? The wiles of satan, literally the deceptions and the lies of satan are what we stand against. Satan and his cohorts are the foe of every believer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In <b><i>Ephesians 1.19-22</i></b> Paul has already spoken of the victory over these forces which Christ has won. I want you to note that in your bible. <strong><span style="color: blue;">We are never exhorted to win the victory over satan and his cohorts. The victory has already been won, on the Cross of Calvary.</span></strong> We are urged to stand firm in the victory won for us by Christ. <span style="color: red;"><strong>Remember that – we stand in the victory we are not called to win what has already been won</strong></span>. That is a fact. These ‘powers and authorities’ are a defeated foe but they refuse to acknowledge defeat and at this moment in time they continue the spiritual battle against God and His kingdom. Paul says that they rule the realms of darkness but in 5.8 he tells us that in Christ we have been freed from such darkness. But I want you to read <b><i>verse 18 READ</i></b>. Did you notice what he instructs them to do? As they put on the armour of God, provided by God, they are ‘to pray.’ As the hymn writer wrote ‘each piece put on with prayer.’ Paul warns the believers at Ephesus, and us, that they wrestle not with people but with spiritual beings whose character is wicked and whose realm is darkness. In <b><i>verse 18</i></b> Paul emphasises prayer in this struggle. <strong><span style="color: red;">In order to stand firm you need to put on the armour of God and you do this by prayer.</span></strong> Prayer is the calling for and the appropriating of the armour of God. Prayer is foundational in the deployment of all other parts of the armour of God. Note will you how often the word ‘all’ appears in this verse. Paul wants the believers at Ephesus to ‘stand firm’ and the only way for them to do that is to ‘wrestle in prayer.’ </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Friends when you come to pray remember Paul’s admonition <b><i>‘be alert and pray.’ </i></b>Jesus had warned His disciples of the very same thing – <b><i>Matthew 26.41.</i></b> Where did Jesus learn this lesson? I believe it was learnt during the time of His temptation in the wilderness, <b><i>Matthew 4.1-11.</i></b> What is the temptation all about? Is it not about satan trying to deceive Christ into going another way other than the cross? Was it not Christ’s battle against the powers and authorities of which Paul writes in Ephesians 6? <strong><u><span style="color: red;"> If that is what satan brought against Christ what will he bring against you?</span></u></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In <b><i>1 Peter 5.8</i></b> we are warned that satan prowls around seeking whom he may devour – that is destroy. When you come to pray remember there is one who is coming against you as you seek to pray. Remember that satan and his cohorts will do all they can to stop you praying. Remember you are on a battlefield. Too many Christians think they are in a playground and are seeking toys for pleasure when they should be seeking weapons for war. Paul was under no illusions and he desired that the eyes of the believers at Ephesus would also be open to the spiritual reality around them. Oh, that this day/evening our eyes too would be open to the spiritual battle going on right now for our souls and for our service for God. This struggle, this wrestling never ends. The battle is continuous – that is why Paul urges them to pray continually. That is why Jesus urged His followers not to give up in payer and that leads me to the second point of ‘wrestling in prayer.’</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Perseverance.</span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You know we could learn a lot about persistence by observing children when they want something. They don’t give in easily. They ask time and time again. Friends the truth is we give up on prayer very easily. We talk a good talk but we don’t actually walk a good walk. We are not people who persevere in prayer. We encourage others not to give up on prayer but to ‘pray without ceasing.’ Yet the reality in our own lives is that we give up very quickly. If the answer seems to be a while in coming we fail to persevere in prayer. We lose heart very easily and give up. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Even a quick glance though the pages of Scripture sets before us time and again the example of people who persisted in prayer. <b><i>Abraham</i></b> repeatedly prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah, <b><i>Genesis 18</i></b>. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah but Abraham had persevered in prayer for their deliverance right up until God’s wrath descended. <b><i>Moses </i></b>prayed for 40 days and nights to stay God’s wrath against Aaron and the people of Israel in the wilderness, <b><i>Deuteronomy 9.18-29</i></b>. <u><i> </i>God heard and spared those who repented.</u> <b><i> Elijah</i></b> prayed 7 times before the rain cloud appeared <b><i>1 Kings 18.44. </i></b>Look at <b><i>1 Samuel 1</i></b> and the story of <b><i>Hannah</i></b>, Samuel’s mother, who year after year went up to the temple to ask God for a son. Eli, the priest, misunderstood and thought she was drunk but God had not only heard her prayer He also answered it. She persisted year after year. She wrestled in prayer year after year. <b><i>1 Samuel 1</i></b> tells us of the anguish of her soul as she prayed. I am sure there were many occasions in Hannah’s prayers that tears flowed but she did not give up and she did not give in – she persisted in prayer. <b><i>Daniel</i></b> prayed for 3 weeks before God answered, <b><i>Daniel 10. Nehemiah</i></b> prayed persistently when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. When the <b><i>Canaanite woman </i></b>came to Jesus seeking healing for her daughter she persisted until he heard her cry and answered, <b><i>Matthew 15.21-28.</i></b> <b><i>Blind Bartimaeus</i></b> did not give in, he did not give up. He persisted in his cries until Jesus heard him and healed him, <b><i>Mark 10.46-52.</i></b> The <b><i>four men</i></b> did not give up when they saw the crowd outside the house where Christ was, <b><i>Luke 5.17-26. </i></b>They climbed on to the roof, opened a hole in the ceiling and lowered their friend down before Christ to be healed. <b><i>Jesus </i></b>taught His disciples to be persistent in prayer in the parable of the persistent widow, <b><i>Luke 18.1-8.</i></b> Her case was answered because she did not give in and kept asking until the judge heard her case and answered her cause. Throughout all those passages there is one glaring lesson – perseverance in prayer. None of them gave up until God had answered. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The superficial pray-er will give up when no answer appears to be forthcoming. The superficial pray-er will go silent and move on when time seems to pass and no answer is forthcoming. <strong><u> But the man of prayer hangs on and perseveres in prayer.</u></strong> He follows the example of the men and women of faith in the scriptures and does not give in or give up. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The man of prayer follows the example of Christ who persisted in prayer until an answer came from His heavenly Father. Turn with me to <b><i>Matthew 26.36-45.</i></b> Let me linger here for a moment with you as we finish. This is a familiar passage to us all but we often fail to understand its significance in teaching us to wrestle in prayer. I said at the beginning of this post that we had to slay the myth concerning wrestling in prayer that we persist until God reluctantly gives an answer or we prise a blessing from His hands. Does the Garden of Gethsemane not kill that lie? Jesus, the beloved, the only-begotten of the Father, is praying and asking if there is any other way for mankind to be saved and for atonement to be made then let it be so. He is sweating drops of blood in His pleading before His Father. He was pleading for His Father to lift this cup of salvation from Him. He persevered until the answer came. Three times He returns to this prayer and at the end of the third time of prayer He hears the answer in the sound of the feet of Judas and the soldiers coming to arrest Him. <strong><u><span style="color: red;">I hope you notice that when the answer comes Christ gets up and walks towards the answer – the Cross.</span></u></strong> You can say three times is not very often but I want you to stop and think on this for a moment. All through His life Jesus knew why He had come. Don’t you think that at this moment, in the garden, He was articulating a prayer He had spoken many times to His Father? Do you really believe that it was just at this moment that He decided to pray this prayer? What do you think the Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness was all about? Was it not about perseverance in prayer? Now in the garden, knowing that death was a matter of hours away, Jesus focuses His prayer on the very purpose of His life – His death. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Friends, if our heavenly Father desired His only begotten Son to persist in prayer until an answer came then why would He desire anything different from you and I? We give up so very easily. We give in and our prayers go silent all too soon. We need to learn the discipline of wrestling in prayer.<strong><u><span style="color: red;"> We need to remind ourselves that the wrestling is part of the battle in to which were born when we came to faith in Christ. We need to be aware that our enemy, satan, will do all in his power to stop us from praying. We need to take deep into our hearts and minds that prayer is the foundation block to putting on the armour of God which will help us stand firm in the knowledge of the victory Christ has won for us. </span></u></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We need to learn perseverance in prayer. We need that discipline and practice of persevering until an answer comes, even if it is years in coming. Athletes talk about ‘muscle memory.’ That is where they do something repeatedly so that it becomes second nature to them. They repeat the action so that even under pressure their muscles instinctively know what to do. They persevere in doing this time and time again, so that when the moment comes they know it will happen. <strong>You know some of you have persevered for years learning to play the piano, to play golf, to do a certain thing. You had the willpower and the determination to stick at it and to reap the benefits from it.</strong> <strong><span style="color: red;">What is so amazing is how little willpower and determination you have when it comes to persevering in prayer.</span></strong> Are you not appalled at yourself? Are you not ashamed at how easily you give up praying about something or for someone? You are more faithful and persevering at your hobbies than you are at prayer – does that not say something is wrong spiritually in your life? Does that not send warning signals to your mind? Is it not time to waken up spiritually? Don’t you think satan has you just where he wants you spiritually? This morning can I encourage, and challenge, you to wrestle in prayer. That we can only do by actually doing it. By being people who pray over the long haul. Who reject the ‘instant answer’ mentality of this world and have ‘eternity’ written on our hearts and minds. <b><i>Amen.</i></b></span></div>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-76659463923607783712011-06-23T18:59:00.000-07:002011-06-23T18:59:16.237-07:00What Prayer is<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;"> What Prayer is</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">let me ask you a question ‘What is prayer?’ I have no doubt that all of us expect to pray at some point during our service of worship. No doubt many of you said prayers with your children at bedtime last night. Some of you may have prayed this morning .. What were you doing? Do you believe it makes a difference? What do you pray about? Do you find it easy or difficult to pray? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I want to concentrate on a couple of bible verses in answering; <b><i>‘What prayer is.’</i></b> Read <b><i>Luke 18 verse 1</i></b>. I want to draw your attention to the question the disciples asked of Christ – read verse 1. Now think a moment about Jesus. Here are 12 men who have spent three years with Jesus. They have listened to Him preach with great power and authority. They have witnessed Him work wonderful miracles. They have listened to Him debate with the religious elite of His day. <b><i>Yet they come and ask Him to teach them how to pray</i></b>. I was really struck by that. They could have asked Him to teach them all sorts of things and yet it is how to pray that they desire teaching on – Why? Why prayer? I believe the answer to that question is found in what they had witnessed of the life of Christ – His life was bathed in prayer. We read that He rose early in the morning and sought a quiet place to pray. We read constantly of Him withdrawing from the crowds to pray. Before major events in the gospels we find Jesus praying. At the very end of His life what does He do? He goes to the Garden of Gethsemane and prays. From the gospel accounts Judas knew where Jesus would be – illustrating that this part of the garden was a familiar place of prayer for Christ. So the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. So let us now see what He taught them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Read <b><i>Matthew 6.5-13.</i></b> When answering the request of the disciples; <b><i>‘teach us how to pray’</i></b> Jesus begins by assuming that they do pray. <b><i>Look at verse 6 ‘when you pray.’</i></b> There is an assumption there that the disciples do pray. Jesus assumes that those who would be His followers pray and that it is a daily occurrence. He then sets down some simple guidelines for them, and we should follow them also. He tells them to go somewhere quiet and private – a place away from public gaze and distraction. It is not that Jesus is saying we should not pray in public, nor with others – but that daily prayer is to be a private devotion. So we are to go somewhere we won’t be seen by anyone but our heavenly Father and Jesus makes a promise to His disciples, and us – the Father will hear and answer. So those are some of the practical things that we need to consider when we come to pray. But what is prayer? What are we doing when we pray? Well let me share with you two things the Bible teaches about prayer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Relationship.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I want you to look at <b><i>Matthew 6.9.</i></b> When Jesus begins His prayer He tells the disciples to call God <b><i>‘Father.’</i></b> He uses the everyday term ‘Abba, Father.’ A biblical scholar called <b><i> Joachim Jeremias</i></b> has studied all the teaching on prayer in Judaism at the time of Christ and he says that nowhere did he read of God being addressed as ‘father’ in any Hebrew prayers or teaching on prayer. So for Christ to address God in such a way was in fact quite revolutionary, almost scandalous in fact. Yet the reason He did so was that right at the very heart, the very core of His teaching on prayer is that it is primarily about a relationship with God as Father. Let me repeat that. At the very heart, the very core, prayer is about a relationship with God as Father. That is why Jesus begins His teaching on prayer with an intimate term of endearment. He addresses God as ‘Father’ and teaches the disciples to do the same. The address is to a personal God and not to something or someone unknown. Such a personal address implies a personal relationship. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">If you go back to the Old Testament you will see time and again that those who pray, pray not to some unknown god but, to God who is known to them and with whom they have a relationship. For example how often do we read of God revealing Himself as <b><i>‘the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.’</i></b> God constantly and consistently reveals Himself as personal. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Read <b><i>James 4.7-8.</i></b> Prayer is also the means of coming near to God. James exhorts us to come to near to God because in drawing near to God we will be blessed by God drawing near to us. The means of this drawing near is prayer. What happens in this drawing near – <b><i>READ 1 John 1.9</i></b> God assures us of the forgiveness of our sin. God assures us of our relationship with Him that was once non-existent because of our sin but in prayer God assures us that our sin is forgiven and the relationship with God is restored. Having that assurance in our souls we know the peace of God in our lives <b><i>(Philippians 4.6-7).</i></b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Prayer is therefore a relationship with God who is personal and who speaks. Which leads us to the second point.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Communication.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Read <b><i>Revelation 3.20.</i></b> I know you have often heard them quoted in the context of coming to a personal relationship with God through Christ Jesus but I believe they also speak to us of communication in prayer. Prayer is the speaking part of our relationship with God. <b><i>Our relationship with God depends upon birth – being born again. However our fellowship (the quality) of our relationship with God depends on our behaviour.</i></b> Let me illustrate that for you. Your children are your children by birth. You cannot change that fact, nor can they. However the quality of your relationship with your children is not determined by the fact that you gave birth to them. The quality of the relationship depends upon their behaviour and your behaviour. They remain your children but the relationship is maintained, strained or broken by behaviour. We know from the Word of God that God as our Father is completely consistent in His behaviour towards us (He loves us unconditionally) but our fellowship with Him is maintained, strained or broken by our behaviour (our sin primarily). Prayer is a means of maintaining our fellowship with God. It is the speaking part of our relationship with God. But please hear this – it is a two way communication – it is a dialogue and not a monologue. We are often guilty of seeing prayer as us speaking to God, as something we do. But look again at <b> Revelation 3.20<i>. Do you notice who takes the initiative? Jesus takes the initiative.</i></b> He is standing at the door. He knocks. He speaks and then we respond. Please note that – our words in prayer are a response to God’s Word to us in Christ. Our words are a response and not primarily an address. We open our hearts and He comes in and eats with us. He moves us to pray. <b><i> Our prayers are always a response to God</i></b> moving in our hearts. We may think we take the initiative but that is not true – God is in control and leading our hearts to prayer. Prayer is a response. Yes we bring petitions and requests to God in prayer but this only happens because God has moved our hearts to prayer. I think we sometimes need to remind ourselves that prayer is our response to God having spoken first.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">God wants us to pray but He does not need us to pray. God knows already what we need. <b><i> Read Isaiah 65.24.</i></b> God said that even before we call He answers. He knows what we need and He knocks on the door of our hearts to move us to prayer so that we might open the door of our lives and accept the gracious blessings He has in store for us- <b><i>Matthew 7.9-11.</i></b> The key phrase in those verses is <b><i>‘how much more.’</i></b> However much we may think we know what is best for us in our lives God has even greater gifts of grace to give us. God never has to answer our prayers but He does answer because as He said in <b><i> Jeremiah 32.40-41</i></b> <b><i>‘I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.’</i></b> He answers because He delights to do good for you His children. Therefore He motivates us to ask. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Listen to these words of <b><i>Paul</i></b> in <b><i>Romans 8.26-27.</i></b> These verses are commonly interpreted as meaning we don’t know the right words to speak and so the Holy Spirit takes our hearts cry and intercedes before the Father for us. Yet that does not do true justice to the text. What Paul is saying is that the Holy Spirit comes to our aid to help us pray aright. It is a case of that we do not know what we ought to pray (ignorance) and also we do not pray well. So the Holy Spirit comes and puts into words what we ought to pray but also enables us to pray aright – since He already knows the will of the Father. So even in our weakness, in our inability to put into words the deep longings of our souls God in His desire to communicate with us has given us the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us. The Holy Spirit gives expression to the inexpressible longings of our souls. Again I want you to note that it is God taking the initiative in prayer. The Holy Spirit intercedes because we are unable to. One writer wrote of this action of the Holy Spirit; ‘this prayer is the very breath of the soul.’ I think that is a wonderful description of what the Spirit of God does in my soul in prayer – He breathes life into my prayers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Conclusion.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I want to finish with a word of warning to us all. Often today prayer is treated as something to <b><i>‘start things off’</i></b> or to ‘<b><i>bring things to a close.’</i></b> Often if there is a pastor present he will be asked to <b><i>‘say a wee prayer.’</i></b> Often people want me, or you as the christian, to pray for them because they treat prayer as a superstitious good luck charm. All of these things take prayer lightly and are in fact belittling of prayer. The words we use when we pray are sacred and not to be taken lightly. Let me read one pastor’s fantasised response to being asked to <b><i>‘get things started with a little prayer, will ya?’ ‘I will not! There are no little prayers! Prayer enters the lion’s den, brings us before the holy where it is uncertain whether we will come back alive or sane, for ‘it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.’’ (William McNamara, The Human Adventure, p.89).</i></b> I think we all would do well to take those thoughts on board when we come to pray.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Amen. </span></i></b></div>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8274254456351318703.post-31584926909716389942011-05-27T06:53:00.001-07:002011-05-27T06:53:49.502-07:00REJOICE IN THE LORD<b>Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus</b>kevin swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569415583022483727noreply@blogger.com0