My Lord what a morning
00:01:02.01\00:01:07.43
My Lord what a morning
00:01:08.42\00:01:14.27
Oh, my Lord what a morning
00:01:14.28\00:01:20.05
When the stars begin to fall
00:01:20.06\00:01:26.00
My Lord what a morning
00:01:27.56\00:01:33.33
My Lord what a morning
00:01:34.37\00:01:40.56
Oh, my Lord what a morning
00:01:40.57\00:01:46.15
When the stars begin to fall
00:01:46.16\00:01:54.19
You'll hear the sinner moan
00:01:54.20\00:02:00.59
To wake the nations underground
00:02:00.60\00:02:07.70
Look into my God's right hand
00:02:07.71\00:02:13.70
When the stars begin to fall
00:02:13.71\00:02:19.31
My Lord what a morning
00:02:20.42\00:02:26.52
My Lord what a morning
00:02:27.25\00:02:33.71
Oh, my Lord what a morning
00:02:33.72\00:02:39.41
When the stars begin to fall
00:02:39.42\00:02:47.17
You'll hear the trumpet sound
00:02:47.18\00:02:52.89
To wake the nations underground
00:02:52.90\00:02:59.97
Look into my God's right hand
00:02:59.98\00:03:05.65
When the stars begin to fall
00:03:05.66\00:03:11.34
My Lord what a morning
00:03:12.62\00:03:18.30
My Lord what a morning
00:03:19.22\00:03:24.63
My Lord what a morning
00:03:25.54\00:03:34.25
When the stars begin to fall
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I was in Rocker, Montana
which is just outside Butte.
00:03:59.12\00:04:03.14
And I was there about lunch time
00:04:03.15\00:04:04.88
and I had knees bound
and I was sitting there
00:04:04.89\00:04:06.88
eating my lunch in my truck.
00:04:06.89\00:04:09.37
When I crossed the CB, I heard,
00:04:09.38\00:04:10.53
"Hey, driver how about it,
00:04:10.54\00:04:11.92
give me a ride I'm
needing to go East Billings,
00:04:11.93\00:04:14.70
I'm broke down."
00:04:14.71\00:04:15.81
I went ahead and eat my lunch
00:04:17.58\00:04:18.58
and didn't hear
anymore in the CB,
00:04:18.59\00:04:20.03
and pretty soon
he came on again.
00:04:20.04\00:04:22.29
"Hey, how about it,
driver, I need a ride?
00:04:22.30\00:04:24.21
I'm broke down."
00:04:24.22\00:04:25.70
So I got on the CB, and
said, "Yeah, I'll take you."
00:04:25.71\00:04:29.57
So this fellow come walking
across the parking lot there
00:04:29.58\00:04:31.40
at flying hook and
he got into my truck.
00:04:31.41\00:04:35.74
And before I even got to
the freeway on the on ramp,
00:04:35.75\00:04:39.37
he introduced
himself as John Peterson.
00:04:39.38\00:04:40.86
I introduced myself.
00:04:40.87\00:04:41.94
And he said, "What kind
of a truck is this anyway?"
00:04:41.95\00:04:45.37
And I told, "This
is owned and operated
00:04:45.38\00:04:46.88
by the Upper Columbia Conference
of Seventh-day Adventist."
00:04:46.89\00:04:49.02
He says, "Oh,
are you a Christian?"
00:04:49.03\00:04:51.53
I said, "Yes, sir, I am."
00:04:51.54\00:04:53.04
"Oh, no." he says. "Oh, no."
00:04:53.05\00:04:54.09
And he's reaching his pocket
00:04:54.10\00:04:55.09
and he pulled
out his pocket knife
00:04:55.10\00:04:56.48
just exactly
like this one of mine
00:04:56.49\00:04:58.56
and he laid on my
desk, and he said,
00:04:58.57\00:04:59.71
"That's the only weapon I have,
00:04:59.72\00:05:00.78
that's all the weapon I've got."
00:05:00.79\00:05:02.34
I said, "That's fine to
me. It's all right to me."
00:05:02.35\00:05:05.90
He said, "You're
really a Christian?"
00:05:05.91\00:05:07.10
I said, "Yes, sir, I am."
00:05:07.11\00:05:09.11
Oh, man, my
wife must be praying.
00:05:09.12\00:05:12.47
You know, I
thought that was great.
00:05:12.48\00:05:14.43
And I wanna say something
now here to Christian wives.
00:05:14.44\00:05:18.45
You know, you
never know the influence
00:05:18.46\00:05:19.83
you have on your husbands,
00:05:19.84\00:05:20.83
because this guy as
you'll learn was quite a fellow.
00:05:20.84\00:05:25.31
But one thing he
never did even though
00:05:25.32\00:05:26.95
he'd done everything
else the truck drivers do,
00:05:26.96\00:05:29.10
nothing--one
thing he never did was
00:05:29.11\00:05:30.64
he never cheated on his wife.
00:05:30.65\00:05:32.47
His wife is a
Christian, a Lutheran.
00:05:32.48\00:05:34.73
And she was praying
for him, and he knew it.
00:05:34.74\00:05:37.16
And now he was in a
truck with a Christian
00:05:37.17\00:05:38.83
and he was very uncomfortable.
00:05:38.84\00:05:40.39
And I said, "You
know, if it bothers you
00:05:41.86\00:05:43.55
I'll be happy to let you out."
00:05:43.56\00:05:44.66
He says "Oh, oh, no, no."
00:05:44.67\00:05:45.70
He says, "I, I, I.
00:05:45.71\00:05:46.70
I suppose it's all right
to ride with a Christian."
00:05:46.71\00:05:47.90
He says, "I just--just I
never could be a Christian."
00:05:47.91\00:05:49.96
I said, "Really?" And
so we started talking.
00:05:49.97\00:05:51.44
He said, "Why
are you a Christian?"
00:05:51.45\00:05:52.60
I told him, "Because my Savior
has forgiven me of my sins."
00:05:52.61\00:05:56.21
Well, he said,
"God can't forgive me."
00:05:56.22\00:05:58.91
I said, "You're a
Vietnam veteran, aren't you?"
00:05:58.92\00:06:00.20
And he said, "Yes, I am."
00:06:00.21\00:06:01.36
And he said, "I've
killed a lot of people.
00:06:01.37\00:06:03.61
God can't forgive me."
00:06:03.62\00:06:06.01
This guy was so nervous.
00:06:06.02\00:06:07.03
He was sitting
in my shotgun seat,
00:06:07.04\00:06:08.40
that's what they called
it in the trucks over there.
00:06:08.41\00:06:09.88
He was bouncing
around just like it was hot.
00:06:09.89\00:06:12.95
And he kept asking
me over and over again,
00:06:12.96\00:06:15.01
"Are you a Christian?
Oh, you're a Christian.
00:06:15.02\00:06:16.51
Oh, I can't
believe you're a Christian.
00:06:16.52\00:06:17.54
Oh, you're a
Christian." Over and over again
00:06:17.55\00:06:19.20
and finally says it,
"Have you ever preached?"
00:06:19.21\00:06:22.28
"Yes, sir, I am."
00:06:24.74\00:06:26.37
And just to show you
how the Lord's timetable
00:06:26.38\00:06:28.73
is always way ahead
of everybody else's.
00:06:28.74\00:06:31.57
The Sabbath before, I had
preached at Edgemere, Idaho.
00:06:31.58\00:06:34.55
And for some
reason they taped it
00:06:34.56\00:06:35.99
and gave me a copy of it.
00:06:36.00\00:06:37.73
Now I don't know about you
00:06:37.74\00:06:38.73
but I don't like
to hear myself talk.
00:06:38.74\00:06:40.04
You won't believe that.
00:06:40.05\00:06:41.22
Listen to me but I really
don't like to hear myself talk.
00:06:41.23\00:06:45.23
And when I put the tape
in, my voice sounds way high
00:06:45.24\00:06:47.58
and I hear all the
mistakes I've made,
00:06:47.59\00:06:48.85
and you know, so forth so.
00:06:48.86\00:06:50.07
I hadn't even played the tape.
00:06:50.08\00:06:51.45
But I had preached on Matthew 9
00:06:51.46\00:06:54.93
and in particularly verse 13,
00:06:54.94\00:06:56.75
"Go on, learn what this means.
00:06:56.76\00:06:58.89
I'll have mercy, not sacrifice.
00:06:58.90\00:07:00.60
For I have not come
to call the righteous,
00:07:00.61\00:07:02.73
but the sinners to repentance."
00:07:02.74\00:07:05.21
And as we talked and he asked
00:07:05.22\00:07:07.67
about whether I
was be able to preach.
00:07:07.68\00:07:09.62
And he said, "Have
you ever stood up there,
00:07:09.63\00:07:10.87
you know,
upfront?" I said, "Yes, sir."
00:07:10.88\00:07:12.23
He said, "I mean up there
where the preacher stands."
00:07:12.24\00:07:13.71
"Yeah, yes,
sir, I've been there.
00:07:13.72\00:07:15.16
In fact, I have a tape.
Would you like to hear it?"
00:07:15.17\00:07:17.23
He says, "Yeah, yeah, I would."
00:07:17.24\00:07:18.26
So I stuck in the tape player
00:07:18.27\00:07:20.37
and from then
on the conversation
00:07:20.38\00:07:21.80
went something like this.
00:07:21.81\00:07:23.36
"Stop the tape! Stop the tape!
00:07:23.37\00:07:24.89
You mean to believe that
you really believe that?"
00:07:24.90\00:07:26.89
And I said, "Yes, sir, I do."
00:07:26.90\00:07:27.91
Okay, start the
tape, start the tape.
00:07:27.92\00:07:29.47
And we went through
where Jesus heal the man
00:07:29.48\00:07:31.76
that was has the
paralysis you know.
00:07:31.77\00:07:33.00
And then we talked about
palsy and then demand that,
00:07:33.01\00:07:36.37
"Come in inside my
daughter is unto death."
00:07:36.38\00:07:38.30
And they started to go
and the woman was healed
00:07:38.31\00:07:40.17
and all these
things in Matthew 9.
00:07:40.18\00:07:42.30
And each time, "Stop
the tape, stop the tape.
00:07:42.31\00:07:44.11
You believe
that?" "Yes, sir, I do."
00:07:44.12\00:07:45.52
"Start the
tape, start the tape."
00:07:45.53\00:07:46.53
And over and over we
went until we got to the time
00:07:46.54\00:07:48.43
when Jesus actually raised
Jairus' daughter from the dead.
00:07:48.44\00:07:50.68
And he jumped out of that chair
00:07:50.69\00:07:52.14
and he walked back to my sleeper
00:07:52.15\00:07:53.40
and he says, "Stop
the tape, stop the tape."
00:07:53.41\00:07:56.11
And so I stopped the tape.
00:07:56.12\00:07:58.82
He said, "Do you
really believe that man
00:07:58.83\00:08:00.18
actually raised that man from--
00:08:00.19\00:08:02.06
that little girl from the dead?"
00:08:02.07\00:08:03.19
And I said, "Yes, sir, I do."
00:08:03.20\00:08:05.50
And he sat down, for
the first time he was quiet.
00:08:05.51\00:08:09.26
And he just
looked out the window.
00:08:09.27\00:08:10.90
"Start the tape." So I re-start
00:08:10.91\00:08:12.51
to turn the tape back on.
00:08:12.52\00:08:13.60
He said, "No, wait.
00:08:13.61\00:08:14.75
I've got to think,
I've got to think."
00:08:14.76\00:08:18.05
And while he was
thinking, I was praying.
00:08:18.06\00:08:20.36
The Lord was touching his heart,
00:08:20.37\00:08:22.07
convicting this man if Jesus
was able to raise the dead,
00:08:22.08\00:08:26.62
maybe He could forgive sins.
00:08:26.63\00:08:30.35
And as he sat over there
00:08:30.36\00:08:31.86
and I could just feel the
struggle going on inside of him.
00:08:31.87\00:08:35.78
About that time
we got to Park City.
00:08:35.79\00:08:38.41
That's just outside the
Billings just west of Billings.
00:08:38.42\00:08:41.29
He said, "This is
where I wanna out.
00:08:41.30\00:08:42.48
This way I gotta go."
00:08:42.49\00:08:43.48
And so I pulled in,
the truck stopped there.
00:08:43.49\00:08:46.45
And I had not been
able to get through
00:08:46.46\00:08:48.62
to the tape bottom of
the-- the end of the tape.
00:08:48.63\00:08:50.80
And you know, like
preachers always like to get
00:08:50.81\00:08:52.32
to the end of the sermon
00:08:52.33\00:08:53.32
because that's where
the appeal is, right?
00:08:53.33\00:08:56.16
But we hadn't got
past Jairus' daughter
00:08:56.17\00:08:59.01
being raised from the dead.
00:08:59.02\00:09:00.96
As he sat there
thinking, he said,
00:09:00.97\00:09:02.97
"Well, I appreciate the ride."
00:09:02.98\00:09:04.34
Then I said, "You know,
John if you make me a promise,
00:09:04.35\00:09:07.81
one thing I've
learned over the road
00:09:07.82\00:09:09.45
when truck drivers make you
promise they usually keep it."
00:09:09.46\00:09:12.14
I said, "If you
make me a promise,
00:09:12.15\00:09:13.48
I'll give you this tape,
00:09:13.49\00:09:14.48
if you'll promise me
that you'll listen to it."
00:09:14.49\00:09:17.35
"I promise." He said, "I
wanna hear the rest of it."
00:09:17.36\00:09:19.64
So I gave him the tape.
00:09:19.65\00:09:21.60
And then I felt
very impressed to say,
00:09:21.61\00:09:22.81
"You know, John, if you
make me another promise,
00:09:22.82\00:09:25.32
I have a little tiny
book I'd like to give you.
00:09:25.33\00:09:27.28
It's called "Steps to Christ."
00:09:27.29\00:09:28.79
I think you find a
lot of hope in there.
00:09:28.80\00:09:30.28
It shows how God
loves us so much.
00:09:30.29\00:09:31.70
He's willing to
forgive us even our sins.
00:09:31.71\00:09:34.89
Yeah, I promise, I'll read it.
00:09:34.90\00:09:36.65
And then he said, "Now preacher,
00:09:36.66\00:09:37.71
I want you to do some for me."
00:09:37.72\00:09:38.96
He called me
preacher from the time
00:09:38.97\00:09:40.90
he found out I was upfront.
00:09:40.91\00:09:43.13
He said, "Put your hand
right there on my shoulder
00:09:43.14\00:09:45.70
and you pray for me."
00:09:45.71\00:09:47.42
I said, "John, I'll do that
but that's not what you need."
00:09:47.43\00:09:50.87
"It isn't?" he
said. I said, "No.
00:09:50.88\00:09:53.17
You need to pray to God.
00:09:53.18\00:09:54.71
You need to ask for forgiveness.
00:09:54.72\00:09:56.02
You need to talk to Him."
00:09:56.03\00:09:57.62
He said, "I
don't know how to pray.
00:09:57.63\00:09:58.68
I've never prayed." And I said,
"The way you've talked to me,
00:09:58.69\00:10:00.26
you talk to God
just like you do to me."
00:10:00.27\00:10:03.03
"Well, I don't know, preacher."
00:10:04.88\00:10:06.25
I said, "Well,
I'll pray for you.
00:10:06.26\00:10:08.12
But that's what you need
to do is pray for yourself."
00:10:08.13\00:10:10.37
So I put my hand on John
00:10:10.38\00:10:11.38
and I had a prayer
and he left my truck.
00:10:11.39\00:10:15.87
I don't know whatever happened
00:10:15.88\00:10:18.26
but remember
John in your prayers
00:10:18.27\00:10:20.09
and remember we
can all talk to God.
00:10:20.10\00:10:23.17
Well, that was a blessing
that mission story, wasn't it?
00:10:25.46\00:10:29.24
Right here in the
United States of America,
00:10:29.25\00:10:32.39
mission work taking place.
00:10:32.40\00:10:34.21
That's good to know, isn't it?
00:10:34.22\00:10:36.39
Well, I wanna wish
you a happy Sabbath.
00:10:36.40\00:10:38.88
Are you having a
happy Sabbath? Yes.
00:10:38.89\00:10:41.73
Well, look like you're
having a happy Sabbath then.
00:10:41.74\00:10:44.88
I said happy
Sabbath, would somebody say
00:10:44.89\00:10:47.25
happy Sabbath back to me.
00:10:47.26\00:10:48.77
Happy Sabbath.
Well, that's nice.
00:10:48.78\00:10:52.19
We're gonna have a nice
time in God's word this morning
00:10:52.20\00:10:55.95
and before we
open this sacred word,
00:10:55.96\00:10:58.39
I wanna invite you to approach
00:10:58.40\00:11:00.84
the throne of God
with me in prayers.
00:11:00.85\00:11:02.61
So would you please bow
your heads for just a moment?
00:11:02.62\00:11:06.20
Father in Heaven, You
are truly great, Lord.
00:11:06.21\00:11:11.16
You are
beautiful beyond anything
00:11:11.17\00:11:12.88
this world has to offer.
00:11:12.89\00:11:15.51
And we want this
morning to see Your beauty.
00:11:15.52\00:11:18.84
In Jesus' name, amen.
00:11:18.85\00:11:21.45
This morning, I
want to share with you
00:11:23.09\00:11:26.38
a very
surprising picture of God.
00:11:26.39\00:11:29.82
It's surprising
but I want to tell you
00:11:29.83\00:11:32.09
that it is a very
accurate picture of God.
00:11:32.10\00:11:35.92
And I know it's accurate,
because it is a self portrait.
00:11:35.93\00:11:40.24
In other words, it
is a picture of God
00:11:40.25\00:11:43.59
that He has painted
of Himself in scripture.
00:11:43.60\00:11:48.96
Now this particular picture
may catches us off guard,
00:11:48.97\00:11:53.24
because God is
presenting Himself to us
00:11:53.25\00:11:57.16
in very passionate terms
and even provocative terms.
00:11:57.17\00:12:02.11
The title of our message
this morning is "The Alluring".
00:12:02.12\00:12:05.94
And as you're going to
find out in just a moment,
00:12:05.95\00:12:08.27
this is
actually a biblical word.
00:12:08.28\00:12:10.37
We're gonna read this
word right in scripture as God
00:12:10.38\00:12:13.83
presents to you and
me a picture of Himself.
00:12:13.84\00:12:18.31
Now the first brush strokes
of this beautiful portrait
00:12:18.32\00:12:21.63
of our God are
found in Ezekiel 16:1-8.
00:12:21.64\00:12:27.36
Now if you have your Bible,
00:12:27.37\00:12:28.43
why don't you look with
me at Ezekiel Chapter 16
00:12:28.44\00:12:31.77
for just a moment and
here you're going to see
00:12:31.78\00:12:34.34
something about the heart of God
00:12:34.35\00:12:37.60
that often escapes unnoticed.
00:12:37.61\00:12:40.71
The Lord presents
Himself here as a man
00:12:40.72\00:12:44.06
traveling on a
path and he comes upon
00:12:44.07\00:12:49.15
a certain juncture on this road.
00:12:49.16\00:12:52.38
And what does he see,
00:12:52.39\00:12:53.80
but an abandoned baby
caste off into an open field.
00:12:53.81\00:12:59.26
Now the Lord
says there in verse 4
00:12:59.27\00:13:02.72
that as He saw this baby
abandoned in an open field,
00:13:02.73\00:13:06.86
He says, "That your
navel cord was not cut."
00:13:06.87\00:13:10.64
Down in verse 5, He says,
00:13:10.65\00:13:12.12
"You're thrown or
abandoned in an open field."
00:13:12.13\00:13:16.53
In verse 6 of
Ezekiel 16, God says,
00:13:16.54\00:13:19.40
"When I passed you by I saw
00:13:19.41\00:13:21.15
that you were
struggling in your own blood."
00:13:21.16\00:13:23.80
You were ready to
die in other words.
00:13:23.81\00:13:26.66
And then I want
you to notice verse 7,
00:13:26.67\00:13:28.66
God says, "I made you to thrive
like a plant in the field,
00:13:28.67\00:13:34.65
and you grew and you matured,
00:13:34.66\00:13:36.46
and you became very beautiful.
00:13:36.47\00:13:39.97
Your breasts were well
formed and your hair grew long,
00:13:39.98\00:13:43.51
but you were naked and bare."
00:13:43.52\00:13:45.72
Now notice
verse 8 very carefully
00:13:45.73\00:13:47.70
and remember that this is God,
00:13:47.71\00:13:49.64
the creator of the
universe speaking to us
00:13:49.65\00:13:52.76
and He says, "I passed you by."
00:13:52.77\00:13:54.76
There in verse 8,
"I passed you by again
00:13:54.77\00:13:58.37
and I looked upon you and I saw
00:13:58.38\00:14:01.50
that it was the time
for you to fall in love.
00:14:01.51\00:14:05.61
And so I spread My
coat over your naked body
00:14:05.62\00:14:09.08
and I swore a
marriage covenant to you
00:14:09.09\00:14:13.27
and you became
Mine," says the Lord.
00:14:13.28\00:14:17.70
Now this is a very
incredible picture of God.
00:14:17.71\00:14:21.27
He is introducing Himself
here to you and me as a lover,
00:14:21.28\00:14:26.41
as a husband who is
pursuing the love of His wife.
00:14:26.42\00:14:33.24
I want you to notice
that He found this young lady
00:14:33.25\00:14:37.15
when she was just a babe,
abandoned in an open field.
00:14:37.16\00:14:41.98
And God takes great care too.
00:14:41.99\00:14:44.71
He says there in
verses 4 through 7
00:14:44.72\00:14:47.50
to trim the untrimmed
umbilical cord of this babe.
00:14:47.51\00:14:52.40
God takes care to
wash the body of this baby
00:14:52.41\00:14:56.28
with pure water He says.
00:14:56.29\00:14:58.92
And then He receives
that baby up into His arms.
00:14:58.93\00:15:01.82
And then there is
this picture of God
00:15:01.83\00:15:05.05
raising up this young lady into
the full bloom of womanhood.
00:15:05.06\00:15:10.71
And when she becomes
a fully mature woman,
00:15:10.72\00:15:13.64
what does God do but enter
into marriage covenant with her.
00:15:13.65\00:15:17.57
God says, "I passed you by again
00:15:17.58\00:15:21.30
and I saw that it was
time for you to fall in love
00:15:21.31\00:15:26.98
and so I entered
into a covenant with you.
00:15:26.99\00:15:29.01
I made promises to you." As
today's English version says,
00:15:29.02\00:15:33.61
"I promised to love
you and you became mine."
00:15:33.62\00:15:39.35
Now these are very tender words,
00:15:39.36\00:15:41.36
very passionate
words for the Almighty God
00:15:41.37\00:15:43.99
of the universe to
speak concerning you and me.
00:15:44.00\00:15:47.33
It portrays God as a
very, very sensitive person.
00:15:47.34\00:15:53.45
In fact, in this picture of God,
00:15:53.46\00:15:55.61
we seemed to be looking
at God's emotional side.
00:15:55.62\00:15:59.37
And I want to just
ask you this morning,
00:15:59.38\00:16:01.26
"Do you even believe that
God has an emotional side?"
00:16:01.27\00:16:06.26
The Bible says that God
made man in His own, what?
00:16:06.27\00:16:09.84
Help me out. In His
own image, that's right.
00:16:09.85\00:16:13.00
So that means that God made
us like Himself in some ways.
00:16:13.01\00:16:18.43
And if that's true, then
the reverse is true as well
00:16:18.44\00:16:22.33
that we're not only
like God, but He is like us.
00:16:22.34\00:16:27.84
Now of course, there
are some differences.
00:16:27.85\00:16:29.90
He is God and we are not.
00:16:29.91\00:16:32.27
He is the sovereign
creator of the universe
00:16:32.28\00:16:34.10
and we are creatures,
but that does not detract
00:16:34.11\00:16:37.01
from the reality that
in some very special ways
00:16:37.02\00:16:41.30
we are like God and
therefore He is like us.
00:16:41.31\00:16:45.19
Well, how are we like God
and how is He then like us?
00:16:45.20\00:16:49.67
Well, God has a mind, He thinks.
00:16:49.68\00:16:52.19
He pursues creative endeavors
and He created us also to think,
00:16:52.20\00:16:57.27
to be rational creatures,
00:16:57.28\00:16:59.42
and to pursue
creative endeavors.
00:16:59.43\00:17:01.93
But not only
does God have a mind,
00:17:01.94\00:17:04.96
not only does
God think thoughts,
00:17:04.97\00:17:07.29
but God also has a
heart. God feels feelings.
00:17:07.30\00:17:12.46
God is an emotional person.
00:17:12.47\00:17:15.09
We often speak of
the omnipotence of God
00:17:15.10\00:17:17.81
which means He is all powerful.
00:17:17.82\00:17:20.12
We speak of the
omniscience of God
00:17:20.13\00:17:22.25
which means that
He's all knowing.
00:17:22.26\00:17:24.61
We speak of the
omnipresence of God
00:17:24.62\00:17:27.18
which means that
He is simultaneously
00:17:27.19\00:17:29.36
in all places at all times.
00:17:29.37\00:17:32.85
But have you ever thought
of God as omnipassionate,
00:17:32.86\00:17:37.31
because that picture
also is presented in scripture
00:17:37.32\00:17:40.09
that God
Himself is the epicenter
00:17:40.10\00:17:43.95
of all true and pure passion,
00:17:43.96\00:17:46.62
that God is in fact
an emotional person.
00:17:46.63\00:17:49.89
I would go so far as to say that
00:17:49.90\00:17:51.50
God is the most sensitive
person in all the vast universe,
00:17:51.51\00:17:56.37
that He loves with a depth
of love and interest and care.
00:17:56.38\00:18:01.76
He loves with a love that
far exceeds any human love.
00:18:01.77\00:18:06.40
In fact, every impulse of
love that we ever experience
00:18:06.41\00:18:10.96
in this life is
just the echo of a purer
00:18:10.97\00:18:15.20
and higher and deeper love
00:18:15.21\00:18:17.12
that resides in
the heart of God.
00:18:17.13\00:18:20.49
And so it shouldn't
catch us by surprise
00:18:20.50\00:18:23.48
that God paints a
picture of Himself here
00:18:23.49\00:18:25.99
in Ezekiel as a lover.
00:18:26.00\00:18:28.44
As one who is pursuing a
reciprocal love flowing forth
00:18:28.45\00:18:33.74
from our hearts to His.
00:18:33.75\00:18:36.77
Socrates, the ancient
Greek philosopher would have us
00:18:36.78\00:18:40.97
believe in a phrase
that he himself coined
00:18:40.98\00:18:44.16
that God is the unmoved mover.
00:18:44.17\00:18:47.06
Have you ever
heard that term before?
00:18:47.07\00:18:49.99
Socrates believed that
God was the unmoved mover
00:18:50.00\00:18:53.15
which means in
Socrates' mind at least
00:18:53.16\00:18:56.51
that God moves
everyone in the universe
00:18:56.52\00:19:00.52
but He Himself
ever remains unmoved.
00:19:00.53\00:19:04.72
Theologians have picked up
00:19:04.73\00:19:06.19
on this ancient
Greek philosophy,
00:19:06.20\00:19:08.67
and have said
that God is impassible
00:19:08.68\00:19:11.10
which means that God is
incapable of passion or emotion.
00:19:11.11\00:19:16.15
In other words, God doesn't move
00:19:16.16\00:19:18.28
in response to
anyone outside of Himself.
00:19:18.29\00:19:22.81
Now these theologians
have taken certain scriptures
00:19:22.82\00:19:25.81
like Malachi 3 and
verse 16 that says,
00:19:25.82\00:19:29.83
"I am the Lord
and I change not."
00:19:29.84\00:19:33.04
And they have said, "See there
is proof that God doesn't change
00:19:33.05\00:19:36.09
therefore God couldn't
possibly be an emotional being,
00:19:36.10\00:19:39.51
because emotions
come from the word 'emote'
00:19:39.52\00:19:43.47
which means to move, right?
00:19:43.48\00:19:46.15
So God couldn't
possibly be an emotional being,
00:19:46.16\00:19:49.09
because God never
changes. He never fluctuates.
00:19:49.10\00:19:51.84
He never response to
anything external to Himself.
00:19:51.85\00:19:56.31
But the Bible
actually teaches that,
00:19:56.32\00:19:59.80
that aspect of God's person
00:19:59.81\00:20:01.78
that is unchangeable is
His character, His love.
00:20:01.79\00:20:05.62
God is love and that is
an unchangeable reality.
00:20:05.63\00:20:09.76
God's character never changes.
00:20:09.77\00:20:11.95
But the very fact that
His character never changes
00:20:11.96\00:20:15.15
is what makes Him
so lucid and fluid
00:20:15.16\00:20:18.06
in His
interactions with you and me.
00:20:18.07\00:20:20.93
God does move.
God is passionate.
00:20:20.94\00:20:24.66
God is
emotional. He is the matrix.
00:20:24.67\00:20:28.86
The mother if you
will of all true emotion.
00:20:28.87\00:20:33.39
And the only reason why
any of us are ever emotional.
00:20:33.40\00:20:37.09
The only reason
we ever feel anything
00:20:37.10\00:20:39.50
is because God created us
in His image and God feels.
00:20:39.51\00:20:45.23
In fact, Jesus
said that He is touched
00:20:45.24\00:20:48.41
with a feeling of
all our infirmities
00:20:48.42\00:20:51.26
in Hebrews Chapter
4 verses 15 and 16.
00:20:51.27\00:20:54.82
That means that every
time we experience anything
00:20:54.83\00:20:57.99
God is impacted by it.
00:20:58.00\00:21:00.22
Desire of Ages, page
352 presents the idea
00:21:00.23\00:21:04.19
in these words not
a sigh is breathed.
00:21:04.20\00:21:07.76
You know what a
sigh is, don't you?
00:21:07.77\00:21:09.55
Not a sigh is
breathed, not a pain is felt,
00:21:11.86\00:21:15.46
not a sorrow pierces the soul,
00:21:15.47\00:21:18.16
but the throb
vibrates to the Father's heart.
00:21:18.17\00:21:21.07
In all our
afflictions, He is afflicted.
00:21:21.08\00:21:24.87
And Jesus in Matthew 25 said
00:21:24.88\00:21:28.11
that anytime you do
anything to another human being
00:21:28.12\00:21:31.36
it's like you did
to, what did he say?
00:21:31.37\00:21:34.72
"To me." That's right.
00:21:34.73\00:21:36.94
In other words,
Jesus is telling us
00:21:36.95\00:21:39.22
that He is so
involved in every life
00:21:39.23\00:21:42.24
that He is so deeply moved
by every person's circumstances
00:21:42.25\00:21:47.98
that God is so intimately
connected with you and me
00:21:47.99\00:21:52.62
that it is virtually
impossible for anything
00:21:52.63\00:21:55.24
to ever happen to you and me
00:21:55.25\00:21:57.17
or any other human being
00:21:57.18\00:21:58.31
that does not
impact the heart of God.
00:21:58.32\00:22:01.42
God is incredible I tell you.
00:22:01.43\00:22:03.43
He is truly
beautiful and He is a God
00:22:03.44\00:22:06.34
who is worthy of
our deepest adoration
00:22:06.35\00:22:09.76
in our highest
praise. God is truly good.
00:22:09.77\00:22:13.72
He is not just a
mass of distant energy,
00:22:13.73\00:22:16.45
a force that resides
somewhere in the universe.
00:22:16.46\00:22:20.35
Yes, God is
powerful, but God is not power.
00:22:20.36\00:22:23.83
God is love, the Bible says.
00:22:23.84\00:22:26.41
And that's very personal.
00:22:26.42\00:22:28.08
That means that not only does
God think but God also feels.
00:22:28.09\00:22:33.04
And so turn with me now if
you have a Bible this morning
00:22:33.05\00:22:35.82
to Hosea Chapter 2 where
God presents Himself to us
00:22:35.83\00:22:39.33
in these terms again.
00:22:39.34\00:22:41.87
And now this is
not a picture of God
00:22:41.88\00:22:44.88
that is only presented in
one or two verses in scripture.
00:22:44.89\00:22:48.39
In fact, you'll
find throughout the Bible
00:22:48.40\00:22:50.88
that God portrays
Himself as a husband
00:22:50.89\00:22:54.02
and His people
as a woman, a bride
00:22:54.03\00:22:57.49
that He is seeking to
enter into intimacy with.
00:22:57.50\00:23:00.90
Notice this
picture in Hosea Chapter 3.
00:23:00.91\00:23:03.91
And I want you to
notice first of all verse 1.
00:23:03.92\00:23:06.03
If you don't
have a Bible with you
00:23:06.04\00:23:07.12
this morning, no problem.
00:23:07.13\00:23:08.48
I'm just reading the few verses
00:23:08.49\00:23:10.73
and you can just follow
along carefully as I read here.
00:23:10.74\00:23:14.91
Hosea 3:1, "The Lord
said to me, 'Go again.'
00:23:14.92\00:23:20.72
He is telling
Hosea to do something.
00:23:20.73\00:23:22.89
"Go again and love a
woman who is loved by a lover
00:23:22.90\00:23:29.00
and is committing adultery."
00:23:29.01\00:23:30.54
Notice these words,
"Just like the love of the Lord
00:23:30.55\00:23:35.61
for the children of Israel."
00:23:35.62\00:23:38.00
"Notice the words, "Just
like the love of the Lord
00:23:38.01\00:23:41.89
for the children of Israel."
00:23:41.90\00:23:43.98
What is just like
the love of the Lord
00:23:43.99\00:23:47.13
for the children of
Israel in this text?
00:23:47.14\00:23:49.81
In other words,
God says to Hosea,
00:23:49.82\00:23:51.90
He says, "Hosea,
go and marry a woman
00:23:51.91\00:23:55.51
who is committing adultery.
00:23:55.52\00:23:58.29
Love her with all your heart.
00:23:58.30\00:24:00.00
Pour all your energy
into loving her, Hosea.
00:24:00.01\00:24:04.80
And when she
commits adultery, Hosea,
00:24:04.81\00:24:07.74
you will be
experiencing similar feelings
00:24:07.75\00:24:11.74
to what I experience
as the God of Israel,
00:24:11.75\00:24:14.77
the God of the human race even."
00:24:14.78\00:24:17.37
In other words, God says,
00:24:17.38\00:24:18.63
"Hosea, listen, do you
feel those feelings of pain,
00:24:18.64\00:24:23.15
those feelings of sorrow?
00:24:23.16\00:24:24.75
Do you feel in your
inmost heart, Hosea,
00:24:24.76\00:24:27.65
what it feels like for the one
you love with all your energy
00:24:27.66\00:24:31.96
to commit adultery against you?
00:24:31.97\00:24:33.80
Do you feel
those feelings, Hosea?
00:24:33.81\00:24:35.98
Well, those are my feelings
that's how I feel when my bride,
00:24:35.99\00:24:43.21
My people don't love Me in
response to My love for them."
00:24:43.22\00:24:49.00
So did you notice in this text
00:24:49.01\00:24:51.29
that God actually
presents Himself as a lover?
00:24:51.30\00:24:55.61
"Hosea, go and love a
woman who has another lover.
00:24:55.62\00:25:01.05
You become her lover
and you will be acting out
00:25:01.06\00:25:05.27
in a living parable the love
of the Lord for the human race."
00:25:05.28\00:25:10.80
Now go back to
Chapter 2 of Hosea.
00:25:10.81\00:25:13.42
And I want you to notice
something fascinating here.
00:25:13.43\00:25:16.14
In verse 13 of Hosea 2,
00:25:16.15\00:25:19.60
at the later part
of the verse God says
00:25:19.61\00:25:21.78
that "She went after her lovers
00:25:21.79\00:25:24.12
and she forgot
me," says the Lord.
00:25:24.13\00:25:28.28
Now what kind of
person speaks words like that?
00:25:28.29\00:25:32.30
God is obviously not a
massive cerebral energy.
00:25:32.31\00:25:35.78
He's not just a mind throbbing
somewhere in the universe.
00:25:35.79\00:25:39.81
God also obviously has heart,
00:25:39.82\00:25:42.75
because nobody speaks these
kinds of words without a heart.
00:25:42.76\00:25:47.48
God says, "You have
pursued other lovers
00:25:47.49\00:25:51.54
and you have
forgotten me" says the Lord.
00:25:51.55\00:25:55.21
Now some of you here
this morning you know
00:25:55.22\00:25:56.90
what it likes to
feel forgotten by someone
00:25:56.91\00:25:59.83
that you love with all
the energy of your heart.
00:25:59.84\00:26:02.68
You know what it's
like to love someone
00:26:02.69\00:26:05.16
and to have that person
wander away from your love,
00:26:05.17\00:26:08.41
and disloyalty, and distrust.
00:26:08.42\00:26:12.31
You felt those feelings
some of you have and God says,
00:26:12.32\00:26:16.97
"Listen, the way I
feel about the sin problem
00:26:16.98\00:26:22.03
is like I've been forgotten
by someone I love very much."
00:26:22.04\00:26:27.49
We like to say that sin is
the transgression of the law
00:26:27.50\00:26:30.42
and that is a
Biblical definition,
00:26:30.43\00:26:32.54
but take it a step
further when First John 3:4 says
00:26:32.55\00:26:36.25
that sin is the
transgression of the law.
00:26:36.26\00:26:38.64
We must remember
Romans 13:10 that says,
00:26:38.65\00:26:41.82
"The law is
fulfilled by love." Right?
00:26:41.83\00:26:45.06
So the law of God is really
a law that defines God's love.
00:26:45.07\00:26:51.28
So to break the law is to break
that love to breach the trust
00:26:51.29\00:26:57.82
and loyalty of a
love relationship.
00:26:57.83\00:27:01.64
Do you see that the law of God
00:27:01.65\00:27:03.78
is more than cold
rules on tables of stone?
00:27:03.79\00:27:08.63
The law of God is a
transcript of His character.
00:27:08.64\00:27:12.25
The law of God is the
revelation of the way God
00:27:12.26\00:27:15.65
thinks and feels and
behaves toward you and me.
00:27:15.66\00:27:19.71
God is love and the
law reveals that love
00:27:19.72\00:27:22.74
and to break that law
is not just to violate
00:27:22.75\00:27:25.56
called impersonal
rules on a table of stone,
00:27:25.57\00:27:29.49
but to break that law is in
fact a breaking of God's heart.
00:27:29.50\00:27:34.06
It is a violation of a love
that God has for you and me.
00:27:34.07\00:27:39.75
And that's how He
portrays sin in Hosea.
00:27:39.76\00:27:42.97
To Hosea He says, "Tell my
people that I feel like a lover
00:27:42.98\00:27:47.73
who has been
forgotten by the one He loves."
00:27:47.74\00:27:52.32
So what is God going to do?
00:27:52.33\00:27:53.89
How does He
respond to the sin problem?
00:27:53.90\00:27:57.19
Notice what he's
going to do in verse 14
00:27:57.20\00:27:59.11
if you have your Bible.
00:27:59.12\00:28:00.30
He says,
"Therefore" and here's that word
00:28:01.69\00:28:03.80
that's in the title of
our message this morning
00:28:03.81\00:28:05.68
that you saw in the
program. "Therefore behold."
00:28:05.69\00:28:08.52
God says, "I will allure her."
00:28:08.53\00:28:12.33
I will allure her? Why would
God use language like that?
00:28:12.34\00:28:16.71
What does it mean to be allured?
00:28:16.72\00:28:19.42
In our current
contemporary English,
00:28:19.43\00:28:21.82
we don't think
of the word 'allure'
00:28:21.83\00:28:24.03
in any kind of
positive sense, do we?
00:28:24.04\00:28:26.69
Some people know
it may associated
00:28:26.70\00:28:28.71
with illicit attractions
for sexual indulgence.
00:28:28.72\00:28:32.97
Other people may just associate
it with fishing, right?
00:28:32.98\00:28:36.49
But the word
'allure' is a Biblical word
00:28:38.79\00:28:41.88
and God uses the word
'allure' here and He says,
00:28:41.89\00:28:45.97
"You have pursued other lovers
00:28:45.98\00:28:47.57
and you have forgotten me
00:28:47.58\00:28:49.07
therefore I will
allure you to Myself."
00:28:49.08\00:28:52.68
Now somebody
just shout out loud,
00:28:52.69\00:28:54.85
so I can hear you,
because I'm kind of far away.
00:28:54.86\00:28:57.24
What would be a synonym
00:28:57.25\00:28:59.02
that comes to mind
for the word allure?
00:28:59.03\00:29:01.00
What does it mean to be allured?
00:29:01.01\00:29:02.47
What's another word?
00:29:02.48\00:29:04.35
To be drawn and that's
a Biblical word, isn't it?
00:29:04.36\00:29:07.36
Do you remember what
Jesus said in John 12:32,
00:29:07.37\00:29:11.61
"And I if I be
lifted up from the earth,
00:29:11.62\00:29:14.34
will--what was the word he use?
00:29:14.35\00:29:16.70
Draw all to me."
It's the same concept.
00:29:16.71\00:29:20.59
In fact, Hosea 2 is
a messianic prophecy.
00:29:20.60\00:29:26.01
It is a prophecy of the
coming Messiah Jesus Christ,
00:29:26.02\00:29:30.16
who will become God's alluring.
00:29:30.17\00:29:33.25
Who will become the
attraction to draw the attention
00:29:33.26\00:29:37.88
of onlookers to the beauty
of God's love and character?
00:29:37.89\00:29:42.22
The Cross of
Calvary is God's alluring.
00:29:42.23\00:29:45.87
It is God exerting the best
of His influence putting forth
00:29:45.88\00:29:52.87
all that He has to put forth
even sacrificing His own life
00:29:52.88\00:29:58.05
to draw you and me back in
00:29:58.06\00:30:00.44
to a love
relationship with Himself.
00:30:00.45\00:30:03.54
That's why Jesus came.
00:30:03.55\00:30:05.49
Jesus came to this world
to be lifted up on the cross
00:30:05.50\00:30:09.37
and draw you and me to Himself
00:30:09.38\00:30:12.62
by the beauty of that event.
00:30:12.63\00:30:15.28
And what was so beautiful
about the event of Calvary?
00:30:15.29\00:30:18.14
What makes it so alluring?
00:30:18.15\00:30:20.92
Well, Hebrews 9:26
says that Jesus will appear
00:30:20.93\00:30:26.74
one time at the end of
the world to put away sin
00:30:26.75\00:30:31.53
by the sacrifice of
Himself. Hebrews 9:26.
00:30:31.54\00:30:37.72
So what really happened
at the Cross of Calvary?
00:30:37.73\00:30:40.88
What we see happening
at the Cross of Calvary
00:30:40.89\00:30:44.20
is God sacrificing Himself
00:30:44.21\00:30:48.82
in totality with no reserve.
00:30:48.83\00:30:52.90
God didn't give material
things to save you and me.
00:30:52.91\00:30:57.42
He didn't give stuff.
He didn't give wealth.
00:30:57.43\00:31:00.07
He didn't give money.
00:31:00.08\00:31:01.11
He didn't give gold and silver.
00:31:01.12\00:31:02.62
He didn't even give the
life of another created being
00:31:02.63\00:31:05.90
like an angel or an
entire host of angels.
00:31:05.91\00:31:10.57
God didn't give things or
others to save you and me.
00:31:10.58\00:31:15.98
Hebrews 9:26 says
that He saves you and me
00:31:15.99\00:31:18.99
by the sacrifice of Himself.
00:31:19.00\00:31:23.39
He gave His own
life so that you and I
00:31:23.40\00:31:26.84
could see how
truly, madly, deeply,
00:31:26.85\00:31:29.95
passionately He
loves you and me.
00:31:29.96\00:31:32.51
He is the divine
lover of our souls.
00:31:32.52\00:31:36.87
And He loves you and me so much
00:31:36.88\00:31:39.30
that when push comes to shove
00:31:39.31\00:31:40.63
and rubber meets the road,
00:31:40.64\00:31:41.95
God literally would rather
die than live without you.
00:31:41.96\00:31:46.17
God literally values your
life and mine above His own.
00:31:46.18\00:31:51.34
And that's the
essence of His character.
00:31:51.35\00:31:53.29
God is love and that
could only mean one thing.
00:31:53.30\00:31:55.96
According to First
Corinthians 13:7 and 8,
00:31:55.97\00:32:00.51
the Bible
defines love like this.
00:32:00.52\00:32:03.28
It says, "Love
seeks not its own."
00:32:03.29\00:32:07.90
That's the
Biblical definition of love.
00:32:07.91\00:32:10.41
Love does not seek its
own meaning what exactly?
00:32:10.42\00:32:15.09
Translate that into these words
00:32:15.10\00:32:16.78
that love is
essentially at its core essence.
00:32:16.79\00:32:20.41
Love is other
centered and it's focused
00:32:20.42\00:32:23.38
and selfless in its pursuits.
00:32:23.39\00:32:27.01
God is love simply
means that God is selfless.
00:32:27.02\00:32:31.43
God is other centered
and who are the others
00:32:31.44\00:32:35.42
that He happens to be
centered upon and focused upon?
00:32:35.43\00:32:39.22
Well, that's you and me.
00:32:39.23\00:32:41.49
God literally loves you
and me more than His own life
00:32:41.50\00:32:46.14
which is the most
astounding reality
00:32:46.15\00:32:48.77
that human minds
can ever contemplate.
00:32:48.78\00:32:51.17
To think that the
creator of the universe
00:32:51.18\00:32:53.31
would literally
value your eternal life
00:32:53.32\00:32:56.59
and mine above His own.
00:32:56.60\00:32:59.62
It takes our breath away.
00:32:59.63\00:33:02.04
And it calms us,
deep in our hearts,
00:33:02.05\00:33:04.10
it makes us want
to reach out to Him
00:33:04.11\00:33:06.33
and say, yes to His love.
00:33:06.34\00:33:09.71
And that's what Hosea 2
goes on to invite us to do.
00:33:09.72\00:33:14.15
In Hosea 2 after
God says in verse 14,
00:33:14.16\00:33:17.92
"I will allure you to Myself."
00:33:17.93\00:33:20.92
I want you to
notice verse 16 now
00:33:20.93\00:33:23.13
because here God describes
a radical paradigm shift
00:33:23.14\00:33:27.15
that all Christians
must sooner or later undergo.
00:33:27.16\00:33:31.31
I don't know where you are
in your spiritual experience
00:33:31.32\00:33:34.21
but Hosea Chapter 2:16 describes
where you're going to be
00:33:34.22\00:33:40.04
if you continue to
fall in love with God.
00:33:40.05\00:33:42.96
Verse 16, God says
as He has allured us.
00:33:42.97\00:33:46.82
He says, "And it
shall be at that day
00:33:46.83\00:33:49.25
that is the day
when I allure you
00:33:49.26\00:33:51.37
by my beauty at the cross.
00:33:51.38\00:33:54.30
It shall be in
that day, says the Lord
00:33:54.31\00:33:56.41
that you will call me my husband
00:33:56.42\00:34:00.12
and you will no
longer call me my master."
00:34:00.13\00:34:04.22
Isn't that incredible?
00:34:04.23\00:34:05.59
Here God holds before us two
kinds of relationships, right?
00:34:05.60\00:34:10.22
A master-slave relationship
and a husband-wife relationship
00:34:10.23\00:34:15.04
which are different by the way.
00:34:15.05\00:34:16.92
And God here
points out very clearly
00:34:19.83\00:34:23.69
that He wants us by
the alluring, drawing,
00:34:23.70\00:34:27.89
attractive beauty of Calvary.
00:34:27.90\00:34:30.03
God wants you need to
be so attracted to Him,
00:34:30.04\00:34:32.77
so drawn to Him,
so allured to Him
00:34:32.78\00:34:35.52
that we would fall in
love with Him as a person
00:34:35.53\00:34:38.55
and in falling in love with Him
00:34:38.56\00:34:40.11
that we would have
a change of perception
00:34:40.12\00:34:43.57
regarding our
relationship to Him.
00:34:43.58\00:34:45.39
And what is that change
00:34:45.40\00:34:46.63
that He wants you
and me to experience?
00:34:46.64\00:34:48.64
He says, "Once you
see my love for you
00:34:48.65\00:34:51.51
and really drink it in and
take that love as your own.
00:34:51.52\00:34:55.08
Once you see what the
cross of Calvary really means."
00:34:55.09\00:34:58.40
God says, "You will no
longer relate to me as a master,
00:34:58.41\00:35:04.03
but you will begin
relating to me as a husband.
00:35:04.04\00:35:08.41
In other words, God says,
00:35:08.42\00:35:09.96
"I don't want you to
have a relationship with Me
00:35:09.97\00:35:12.84
that is based
on fear and a sense
00:35:12.85\00:35:14.89
of bondage and control.
00:35:14.90\00:35:17.53
I don't want you to
have a relationship with Me
00:35:17.54\00:35:19.83
that is like a master
relating to a servant.
00:35:19.84\00:35:23.20
No, He says, "I want
you to shift your focus off
00:35:23.21\00:35:27.88
of the cold letter of the law
00:35:27.89\00:35:31.77
onto the beauty
of my love for you
00:35:31.78\00:35:34.46
and I want you to
begin relating to Me
00:35:34.47\00:35:37.41
as a loving wife
relates to a loving husband.
00:35:37.42\00:35:40.69
I want you, in other
words, to fall in love with me.
00:35:40.70\00:35:43.50
I want you to
see my love for you
00:35:43.51\00:35:46.57
and allow that love
to arouse and awaken
00:35:46.58\00:35:49.15
within you a love
for me in return."
00:35:49.16\00:35:53.08
God wants us to enter into
marriage covenant with Himself.
00:35:53.09\00:35:57.72
And so He proposes to you and me
00:35:57.73\00:35:59.74
as it were on bended
knee in verses 19 and 20,
00:35:59.75\00:36:04.09
God says, "Behold, I will
betroth you to Me forever.
00:36:04.10\00:36:09.51
Yes, I will betroth you to
me in righteousness and justice,
00:36:09.52\00:36:13.88
in loving kindness and in mercy.
00:36:13.89\00:36:16.74
I will betroth you
to me in faithfulness."
00:36:16.75\00:36:19.73
That's God saying I
will be faithful to you
00:36:19.74\00:36:22.52
in this marriage vow.
00:36:22.53\00:36:24.12
And you shall know the Lord.
00:36:24.13\00:36:27.11
you shall know the Lord.
00:36:27.12\00:36:28.62
When will we know the Lord?
00:36:28.63\00:36:30.34
When we enter into
marriage covenant with Him
00:36:30.35\00:36:33.37
on the basis of His alluring,
attractive love for you and me.
00:36:33.38\00:36:39.27
Build your spiritual experience.
00:36:39.28\00:36:41.33
Build your Christianity
on the firm foundation
00:36:41.34\00:36:45.55
of God's love for you.
00:36:45.56\00:36:48.43
And as you build
your relationship with God
00:36:48.44\00:36:50.47
on the basis of
His love for you,
00:36:50.48\00:36:52.97
then you will truly understand
what He means when He says,
00:36:52.98\00:36:56.90
"I will betroth you to me.
00:36:56.91\00:36:59.18
I will be your husband
and you will be my wife.
00:36:59.19\00:37:01.77
I will be your spiritual lover
00:37:01.78\00:37:04.92
and you'll enter
into a covenant with me
00:37:04.93\00:37:07.34
and the quality and depth
of your spiritual experience
00:37:07.35\00:37:11.02
will be governed
by love not by fear.
00:37:11.03\00:37:14.11
It will be governed by trust,
00:37:14.12\00:37:16.80
not by a sense of
confinement and bondage.
00:37:16.81\00:37:20.54
You will love Me
because I have loved you.
00:37:20.55\00:37:23.31
I will betroth
you to Me forever.
00:37:23.32\00:37:27.37
And you will be Mine," God says.
00:37:27.38\00:37:29.23
And He says at
the end of verse 20,
00:37:29.24\00:37:30.81
"You shall know the Lord."
00:37:30.82\00:37:34.20
And here God has chosen to use
00:37:34.21\00:37:36.95
one of the most intimate
words in the Hebrew language,
00:37:36.96\00:37:40.07
"You shall know the Lord."
00:37:40.08\00:37:41.86
It's the same word that is used
00:37:41.87\00:37:43.95
in Genesis when the Bible says,
00:37:43.96\00:37:45.65
"Adam knew his wife
Eve and she conceived
00:37:45.66\00:37:48.51
and brought forth a son."
00:37:48.52\00:37:50.26
In other words, God is
using the marriage metaphor
00:37:50.27\00:37:54.69
to describe a heart and mind
and soul intimacy with Himself.
00:37:54.70\00:38:00.27
You shall know
the Lord, God says,
00:38:00.28\00:38:03.78
"As you come to Me in
the light of Calvary's love."
00:38:03.79\00:38:08.82
In closing, I want to
share with you the story
00:38:08.83\00:38:11.28
of a lady named Linda.
00:38:11.29\00:38:13.20
Linda was the kind of girl who
looked forward to being married
00:38:13.21\00:38:16.74
all her life as a
little girl as she grew up.
00:38:16.75\00:38:19.54
She wanted to be
married so bad and then finally
00:38:19.55\00:38:22.35
as a young adult
she met whom she thought
00:38:22.36\00:38:25.15
would be the man of her dreams.
00:38:25.16\00:38:27.59
His name was Herman
which was very convenient
00:38:27.60\00:38:30.34
because she could
refer to him as her man.
00:38:30.35\00:38:32.72
Isn't that nice, ladies?
00:38:32.73\00:38:35.49
And Herman was everything
00:38:35.50\00:38:36.84
she could have
imagined a husband to be.
00:38:36.85\00:38:41.37
And Herman won her heart
00:38:41.38\00:38:43.28
and swept her of her feet
00:38:43.29\00:38:45.02
and finally, he
proposed one day.
00:38:45.03\00:38:46.66
Herman said to
Linda, "Will you marry me?"
00:38:46.67\00:38:49.29
And of course, she
said very enthusiastically,
00:38:49.30\00:38:51.91
"Yes, Herman.
Yes, I'll marry you."
00:38:51.92\00:38:54.65
And they entered into marriage
covenant with one another.
00:38:54.66\00:38:58.51
They had their lovely honeymoon
00:38:58.52\00:39:00.40
and then at 5 a.m.
I kids you not. 5 a.m,
00:39:00.41\00:39:05.44
Linda woke up in a
start right in her bed,
00:39:05.45\00:39:08.47
rubbed her eyes, and
looked at the end of the bed,
00:39:08.48\00:39:10.49
and there was
Herman standing there
00:39:10.50\00:39:13.18
with a piece of
paper in his hand
00:39:13.19\00:39:15.42
and he said, "Linda,
the honeymoon's over.
00:39:15.43\00:39:17.49
Now real life begins and I
have the first two week list
00:39:17.50\00:39:21.26
of your duties
and responsibilities
00:39:21.27\00:39:23.22
I'd like to present to you."
00:39:23.23\00:39:25.87
And so Herman
presented the list.
00:39:25.88\00:39:27.79
I just happen to
have an authentic copy
00:39:27.80\00:39:30.64
of one of these lists.
00:39:30.65\00:39:32.38
I know it's authentic
because I wrote it myself.
00:39:32.39\00:39:35.75
I didn't write it
for my wife by the way.
00:39:35.76\00:39:38.07
I wrote it
'cause I'm not Herman.
00:39:38.08\00:39:39.66
But I wrote it for a book
and here is what the first list,
00:39:39.67\00:39:44.45
the two week list said
as Linda sat in bed reading
00:39:44.46\00:39:47.91
what life was going to be liked
00:39:47.92\00:39:49.41
from here on out with Herman.
00:39:49.42\00:39:52.30
5:30 a.m, Herman says that
Linda must rise and shower.
00:39:52.31\00:39:57.37
6 o'clock begin breakfast
preparation menu attached.
00:39:57.38\00:40:02.00
6:15, awake Hermie Cuddles
00:40:02.01\00:40:04.47
that's what he came to
be known by Linda at least
00:40:04.48\00:40:07.00
at the beginning
before the honeymoon was over.
00:40:07.01\00:40:10.01
Awaken Hermie
Cuddles with a gentle kiss
00:40:10.02\00:40:12.99
and turn on the shower for him.
00:40:13.00\00:40:15.07
6:45, serve breakfast
to the man of your dreams.
00:40:15.08\00:40:19.01
Don't forget the
grape fruit juice.
00:40:19.02\00:40:21.10
7:15, begin breakfast, clean up
00:40:21.11\00:40:24.44
while your
husband brushes his teeth.
00:40:24.45\00:40:26.75
7:25, meet your
husband at the front door
00:40:26.76\00:40:29.93
with appropriate jacket in hand.
00:40:29.94\00:40:32.16
Pay attention to the weather
00:40:32.17\00:40:33.46
and say goodbye
with a smile and a kiss.
00:40:33.47\00:40:36.39
7:30 a.m., finish breakfast
clean up. 8 a.m. free time.
00:40:36.40\00:40:42.79
Isn't that nice of Herman?
00:40:42.80\00:40:44.45
8:15, free time is
over, house cleaning begins,
00:40:44.46\00:40:49.12
cleaning list
supply-- supply attached.
00:40:49.13\00:40:52.47
Mondays north
rooms, Tuesdays east rooms,
00:40:52.48\00:40:55.17
Wednesdays south
rooms, Thursdays west rooms,
00:40:55.18\00:40:58.03
and Friday, do not
forget to clean the garage.
00:40:58.04\00:41:01.78
11 a.m., balance the check book.
00:41:01.79\00:41:04.34
12 noon, have
lunch whatever you'd like
00:41:04.35\00:41:06.62
except marked items
in the refrigerator.
00:41:06.63\00:41:09.72
12:30 p.m. miscellaneous duties.
00:41:09.73\00:41:12.07
On Mondays, take
care of car maintenance,
00:41:12.08\00:41:14.01
appointments, and wash the car.
00:41:14.02\00:41:16.10
On Tuesdays, do
the dry cleaning.
00:41:16.11\00:41:18.48
On Wednesdays
shopping, see list attached.
00:41:18.49\00:41:21.48
Thursday, wash windows
00:41:21.49\00:41:22.81
and Friday, do
all the yard work.
00:41:22.82\00:41:25.62
3:30, begin dinner
preparation, see attached menu.
00:41:25.63\00:41:30.45
4:30, meet husband at the
door with a smile and a kiss
00:41:30.46\00:41:33.71
and hang up his coat for him.
00:41:33.72\00:41:36.10
5 o'clock, serve dinner.
00:41:36.11\00:41:37.54
5:45, dinner clean
up. 6:15, free time again.
00:41:37.55\00:41:43.80
6:45, draw bath
for your husband.
00:41:43.81\00:41:47.21
7 o'clock, next day's ironing.
00:41:47.22\00:41:50.64
7:45, hand your husband his
towel as he exits the shower.
00:41:50.65\00:41:56.42
8 p.m., neck and back massage
00:41:56.43\00:42:00.21
for the man of your dreams.
00:42:00.22\00:42:01.77
And at 9 p.m., lights out,
pleasant dreams, sweetheart.
00:42:01.78\00:42:06.97
For 10 years, Herman
prepared these kinds of lists
00:42:08.68\00:42:12.85
every two weeks for Linda.
00:42:12.86\00:42:15.16
And the man of
her dreams turned out
00:42:15.17\00:42:16.79
to the man of her nightmares
00:42:16.80\00:42:18.82
as some of you are
feeling deep inside right now.
00:42:18.83\00:42:23.15
And then after 10
years of marriage to Herman,
00:42:23.16\00:42:26.75
I hate to report to you
00:42:26.76\00:42:27.98
that Herman dropped
dead from unknown causes.
00:42:27.99\00:42:32.02
Praise the Lord, right?
00:42:35.24\00:42:37.03
And Linda entered into
a conflict of emotions.
00:42:40.13\00:42:42.34
She did not know
whether to jump up and down
00:42:42.35\00:42:44.42
and blow multicolored
bubbles or to mourn his loss.
00:42:44.43\00:42:51.68
She did the right
thing and she mourned.
00:42:51.69\00:42:53.27
Then she went on with her life
and she vowed she would never,
00:42:53.28\00:42:56.79
what do you
think? Get married again.
00:42:56.80\00:42:59.37
But then after two
years of being single,
00:42:59.38\00:43:01.80
Michael came along. Oh,
man, he was so like Herman
00:43:01.81\00:43:06.55
in many ways and that
scared Linda at first,
00:43:06.56\00:43:09.99
but he seemed
different in some ways
00:43:10.00\00:43:11.86
and they got married
00:43:11.87\00:43:14.26
and then after the
honeymoon at 5 a.m.
00:43:14.27\00:43:19.08
you can't blame her.
00:43:19.09\00:43:20.08
She automatically woke up
00:43:20.09\00:43:21.56
and went into
karate stands on the bed.
00:43:21.57\00:43:24.85
And there she
saw Michael standing
00:43:24.86\00:43:27.08
at the end of the bed with
a piece of paper in his hand.
00:43:27.09\00:43:31.99
Déjà vu for sure and
then she quickly grabbed
00:43:32.00\00:43:36.43
the list out of
his hand thinking
00:43:36.44\00:43:38.05
it was a list like Herman's list
00:43:38.06\00:43:40.16
and ripped it in two
and threw it to the ground.
00:43:40.17\00:43:42.28
Then Michael said "What's
wrong? You don't like poetry.
00:43:44.00\00:43:47.57
I got up early and wrote
that special poem for you."
00:43:47.58\00:43:52.01
She felt bad, of
course, just like
00:43:52.02\00:43:53.51
you're feeling right now.
00:43:53.52\00:43:54.70
And she taped it back together
00:43:54.71\00:43:56.17
and read it and it turned out
00:43:56.18\00:43:57.63
that Michael was
nothing at all like Herman.
00:43:57.64\00:44:00.42
In fact, he helped with
all the household duties.
00:44:00.43\00:44:04.06
He served her
breakfast in bed on occasion.
00:44:04.07\00:44:06.24
He remembered their anniversary.
00:44:06.25\00:44:09.03
Michael was
definitely not like Herman.
00:44:09.04\00:44:13.90
Praise the Lord, right?
00:44:13.91\00:44:16.75
Ten years passed by and
life was so sweet with Michael
00:44:16.76\00:44:21.49
and then one day,
Linda was up in the attic
00:44:21.50\00:44:24.78
going through a box of
old lists from Herman's time.
00:44:24.79\00:44:30.75
And she began
to read these lists
00:44:30.76\00:44:32.32
and as she took the list in hand
00:44:32.33\00:44:35.08
and looked at
it to her amazement
00:44:35.09\00:44:38.19
something dawned on her.
00:44:38.20\00:44:40.12
She looked at the list
and as she read it through,
00:44:40.13\00:44:43.04
Linda realized in the
quiet to her own mind and heart,
00:44:43.05\00:44:47.48
she looked at the list
00:44:47.49\00:44:48.50
and she said,
"That is so strange.
00:44:48.51\00:44:51.12
Under Herman's ruthless rule,
I could never fulfill the list.
00:44:51.13\00:44:55.55
I could never do these
things to his satisfaction
00:44:55.56\00:44:58.55
and I always felt like
I could never measure up."
00:44:58.56\00:45:01.71
But strangely enough
Linda said to herself.
00:45:01.72\00:45:04.15
She said, "Michael
never requires anything of me
00:45:04.16\00:45:07.48
and yet I do
everything for him."
00:45:07.49\00:45:10.42
And that's the difference
between being married to a man
00:45:12.72\00:45:18.12
who loves you versus
being made married to a man
00:45:18.13\00:45:22.75
who merely is
trying to control you.
00:45:22.76\00:45:25.23
And that is by
the way the difference
00:45:25.24\00:45:27.74
between being involved
in a Christian experience
00:45:27.75\00:45:31.07
that is based on the
hard letter of the law
00:45:31.08\00:45:35.05
versus being married
to Jesus in the light
00:45:36.52\00:45:40.41
of His beautiful love for
you and me at Calvary's cross.
00:45:40.42\00:45:44.08
When we see God's love for
us, duty becomes a delight,
00:45:44.09\00:45:47.55
sacrifice a pleasure
and we can say with Jesus,
00:45:47.56\00:45:52.13
I do always those
things that please God.
00:45:52.14\00:45:55.18
Have a great day
and a happy Sabbath.
00:45:55.19\00:45:57.36