1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,920 Our scripture. Reading today is Genesis. 21 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:08,160 verses one through 7. Now the Lord was gracious to 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,120 Sarah, as he had said. And the Lord. 4 00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:13,280 Did for Sarah. What he had promised. 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,240 Sarah became pregnant and bore him, bore a son. 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,120 To Abraham in his. Old age at the. 7 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,680 Very time God had promised him Abraham. 8 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,760 Gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 9 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,360 When his son Isaac. Was eight days old. 10 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,439 Abraham circumcised him as. God commanded him. 11 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,880 Abraham was 100 years old. When his son Isaac was born to 12 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:41,160 him. Sarah said God has brought me 13 00:00:41,160 --> 00:00:44,400 laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh. 14 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,360 With me and she. Added. 15 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:48,320 Who would have said to? Abraham. 16 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,600 That Sarah would nurse children. Yet I have borne him a son. 17 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,520 In his old age. May the Lord add his. 18 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,920 Blessing to the reading and. Hearing of His Word, God can be. 19 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:05,120 Funny sometimes, God can be funny sometimes and and. 20 00:01:05,239 --> 00:01:09,960 Here in Genesis chapter. 21 We. See Sarah laughing with delight. 21 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:12,400 We're going to see another instance in which Sarah was 22 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,960 laughing. At what God has done, God can be 23 00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:17,840 funny. But that begs. 24 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,240 The question. Does that mean funny? 25 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:21,760 Strange or funny? Ha ha. 26 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,440 And I think the. Answer to that question is a 27 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:30,000 firm yes. It means both funny, strange and 28 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:30,960 funny. Ha ha. 29 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:37,280 Sometimes God can just fill us through what he does with just, 30 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,720 you know, gut. Pounding. 31 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:46,560 Joy Belly laughs Just. Such a tremendous love. 32 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,080 And excitement and enjoyment for where we are that we can't help 33 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:51,880 but laugh. God can do that. 34 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,080 And God does do. That but God can also be 35 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,880 bafflingly strange in a way that sometimes we. 36 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,120 Just have to shake our head and laugh. 37 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,800 And say I don't get it. But that's God. 38 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,760 Let's take a look at that. So funny, Strange. 39 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,800 God's promise to Abraham and Sarah. 40 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,280 In Genesis 18. Was funny, strange. 41 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,800 Let's review that one. Abraham and Sarah were both very 42 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,080 old by this time. Very old meaning Abraham was 43 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,440 about. 99 and. Sarah was about 84. 44 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:26,840 OK, that's very old. If anyone is in that range right 45 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,200 now, I don't. Intend to be insulting. 46 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,800 That's just reality. I'm well past childbearing. 47 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,920 Years. So we're very old by this time, 48 00:02:36,920 --> 00:02:40,680 and Sarah was long past the age of having children, so she 49 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,040 laughed silently to herself. And said how well. 50 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,760 Laughed so the the setting here is visitors have come to visit 51 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,800 Abraham, God and angels coming to appear to. 52 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,720 Them and in human. Form and one of the things that 53 00:02:54,720 --> 00:03:00,320 God says at this point is this time next year Abraham Sarah's 54 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,920 going to bear you a son so that's what's Sarah's responding 55 00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:08,400 to that promise from God she laughed silently to herself and 56 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,360 said how could a worn out woman like. 57 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,760 Me. Enjoy such pleasure. 58 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,280 And yes, that's what she's talking about. 59 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,120 And the pleasure. Of making a baby. 60 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,480 Especially when my master. I could have sworn I took that 61 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,640 master out on on the slides and that was there on Chester's. 62 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:30,000 Maybe it was just new beginnings I took it out on. 63 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,520 Y'all, I'm not dealing with the. Fact that Sarah calls her 64 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,720 husband her Master. You don't talk about that 65 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:37,160 amongst yourselves when you get home. 66 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,320 That's beyond the. Scope of the sermon today, 67 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,560 especially when my master, my husband is also so. 68 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,200 Old how? How could this? 69 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,400 Happen and and. Sarah's laugh here. 70 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:54,840 Is not the joy. Of hope, it's the This is absurd 71 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,880 and ridiculous. God's been making this. 72 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,760 Promise for 15 years, 14 to 15. Years at this point. 73 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:04,040 God has said it over and over again. 74 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,560 She was past childbearing years when God first made the promise. 75 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,440 I am assuming they've been. Trying over the years and. 76 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,360 Nothing has happened And and and God. 77 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,920 Still has not fulfilled and now God comes back. 78 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,959 Yet. Again, to promise a baby. 79 00:04:19,959 --> 00:04:22,600 And at this point, Sarah just thinks it's ridiculous. 80 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:28,960 And she laughs, she laughs. Quietly to herself, God hears, 81 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,320 'cause God hears everything God said. 82 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,680 Sarah, why did you laugh? Sarah said I didn't laugh. 83 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,360 God said yes, you did. I heard you laughed. 84 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:41,000 You laughed. But this time next year. 85 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:42,960 You're going to have a baby in your arms. 86 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:48,280 I promise it. God is strange sometimes. 87 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,720 God makes promises that don't seem to make any sense, that 88 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,040 seem to have no. Real hope of fulfillment. 89 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,280 And sometimes it's. Promises for and it's. 90 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,640 They they just go on and on and on and on and on. 91 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:06,040 It is not unreasonable. That Sarah laughed at this. 92 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:10,640 If you think I'm wrong, just imagine if an 80. 93 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,280 Five year. Old woman friend of. 94 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:15,760 Yours said hey, I had a dream last night. 95 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:17,920 God promised me I'm. Having a baby. 96 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,240 This year. Your response would not. 97 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,960 Be the joy of divine possibility. 98 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,240 Your response would be we need to get this person. 99 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:32,080 Some care. Because they probably shouldn't. 100 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:37,040 Be living alone anymore, right I mean that's. 101 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:42,400 The reasonable response to an 85 year old being told they're 102 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,520 going to. Have a baby next year, it's 103 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:46,440 just. Absurd. 104 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:51,800 It's just absurd. God can be strange like that. 105 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:56,440 God makes promises that seem like they might never come true. 106 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:04,360 Like Jesus 2000 years ago saying be right back 2000 years. 107 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,800 We're still waiting for Jesus. He hasn't. 108 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,760 Come right back. He hasn't come right back. 109 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,600 One of the things that atheists and other. 110 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,800 Critics of Christianity point out to as as. 111 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,160 Reasons why they don't. Believe are. 112 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,160 Some of the absurd. Promises that scripture. 113 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,960 Seems to make and does make and that. 114 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,680 Seem to be impossible to be fulfilled. 115 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,880 A dead man coming. Back to life, that. 116 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,360 Same dead man who? Came back to life who hasn't 117 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,920 been seen for 2000 years, Is going to come back someday. 118 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,800 Really, really, really going to wipe away every tear. 119 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:45,640 Really. God will never. 120 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,960 Leave you or forsake me really. I feel loved and forsaken. 121 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,320 Right now, people respond to those kinds of promises. 122 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,960 With skepticism because it's so. Strange and so weird. 123 00:06:59,960 --> 00:07:02,240 Funny. Strange God can be funny. 124 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,600 Strange God can also be funny, ha ha. 125 00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:06,880 We see that in Genesis chapter 21. 126 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,600 This is God being. Funny ha ha when he keeps his. 127 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:11,440 Promise to Sarah. And now here. 128 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:16,200 She is 85. Years old nursing a baby nursing 129 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,200 a. Baby a thing unheard. 130 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,520 Of a thing unknown, a thing impossible. 131 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,080 And yet. God has done it. 132 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,120 Let's look at that one again. Now the. 133 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,520 Lord was gracious to Sarah, as he had said. 134 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,320 And the. Lord did for Sarah what he had. 135 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,720 Promised and Sarah. Said God has brought me 136 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,680 laughter. And everyone who? 137 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,600 Hears about this, will laugh. With me. 138 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:49,000 Joy, God had had his. Strangeness made Sarah. 139 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:53,080 Laugh at a ridiculous. Promise his faithfulness. 140 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,120 Brought Sarah joy. Unimaginable. 141 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:59,480 Unimaginable. Before. 142 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,800 Doing a thing that seemed impossible. 143 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:05,440 To. Everyone who'd heard about. 144 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,440 It. Everyone what did Sarah find? 145 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,040 How did she find? Where did she find so much joy 146 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:14,920 in all of this? Let's take a look. 147 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,280 Sarah had the joy of. Being a mother. 148 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,600 The joy of being a mother. Now I know. 149 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,560 Culture has. Changed substantially since 150 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:32,320 Sarah and Abraham's day and and and motherhood. 151 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:36,520 I still believe is is an important, valuable high. 152 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,799 Calling 1 of the. Highest callings that any person 153 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:41,080 can have. To be a mother. 154 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,520 To be a father, not everyone shares that, and I'm going to 155 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,560 talk about that today. But in Abraham and. 156 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:49,280 Sarah's Culture. You would. 157 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,520 Have been hard pressed to. Find anyone who didn't. 158 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:56,440 Share that that being a mother was a privilege was an honor was 159 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:00,360 a responsibility was. Almost a duty, maybe for some 160 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:04,120 folks. In fact, it was a duty and it 161 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,720 was a joy to be able to fulfill that. 162 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,800 Duty to bring a. Child in the world to. 163 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,080 Live out the command. Of God to be. 164 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,440 Fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 165 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,920 To to fulfill your husband's desires to have heirs. 166 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:19,760 And descendants to. Carry on the. 167 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,760 Family and the legacy and the name and now. 168 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:26,400 Sarah had the joy of. Being a mother. 169 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,400 The Joy of. Creating a life inside of. 170 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,080 Her. Of sustaining that life with the 171 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:38,000 milk of her own body. The joy of being a mother. 172 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,920 Sarah had the joy of a lifelong desire come true. 173 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,320 Let's say lifelong. That's probably a little bit of 174 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,480 a stretch. I you know I don't. 175 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:47,960 Know if culture? Maybe. 176 00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:51,800 I still have to think there was probably a time, even in Sarah's 177 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,160 culture, in which little girls thought boys were yucky. 178 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:57,320 And didn't want to have anything to do with. 179 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,120 Him, I got to think there was at least a period. 180 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,920 Of time like that. So maybe it wasn't until Sarah 181 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,840 got to be 10 or 12 that she really was like I. 182 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:10,560 Want a child I want a child, but all elements of culture and 183 00:10:10,560 --> 00:10:15,160 religion encouraged that mentality. 184 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:17,360 I want to be a mom. I want to be a. 185 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:21,200 Child I have a responsibility to bear children. 186 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:22,960 I have a desire to bear children. 187 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:23,960 I have a. Dream of. 188 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,240 Bearing children, I will. Show my value. 189 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,480 And worth in the world and society and my family to my. 190 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,080 Friends to my husband. By bearing children. 191 00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:38,760 And this was her desire, and she's 85 years old, and that 192 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:43,520 desire is unfulfilled. And she has no reasonable. 193 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:47,360 Hope or expectation that it ever could be fulfilled, the ship 194 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:48,840 has. Sailed the train has. 195 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,240 Left the station. The sun has. 196 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:54,040 Set there is no. Turning back the clock. 197 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,840 I am past my childbearing years, people. 198 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,440 In that day and. Age understood how the human 199 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,920 body worked in that way as much as we do they knew that women 200 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:07,720 reached a point when childbearing was impossible and. 201 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:13,520 Sarah had long since passed that point, but now? 202 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:19,640 She has a baby this. Lifelong desire this lifelong 203 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:20,520 sense of. Hope. 204 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,400 And yearning of. Of responsibility Of. 205 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,120 Of. Inadequacy. 206 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:26,480 And now she's. Adequate. 207 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,480 She's fulfilling. What she was meant to do and 208 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,240 meant to be. Her whole life. 209 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:33,480 The things. She had longed. 210 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,800 For had come true. And that brought her joy. 211 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,520 That brought her. Joy and Sarah. 212 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:40,400 Had the joy of. Being honored. 213 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,440 By those around her. Everyone who knows of. 214 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,240 This will laugh too. I'll be honored. 215 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:49,840 I'm no longer have to hide my head in shame as the woman, the 216 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,880 one woman that that's. Going to the well to draw water. 217 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,160 That couldn't have kids. That couldn't fulfill her 218 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,520 husband. 'S desires that couldn't provide 219 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,240 an air. That couldn't provide. 220 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,080 Faithful response to the Lord's command to be fruitful and 221 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:12,720 multiply. She almost certainly was 222 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:17,400 overwhelmed with feelings of an of inadequacy, of not being good 223 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,880 enough, of maybe not even being holy enough. 224 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,520 Maybe God was punishing. Maybe God was cursing. 225 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,120 Maybe God was rejecting. What is wrong with me? 226 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:30,640 The shame, the the humiliation, the inadequacy that she felt. 227 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,560 All gone. In fact, now quite the. 228 00:12:33,560 --> 00:12:36,440 Opposite because she. Was doing something no woman had 229 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:40,120 ever done before. Having a child well after her 230 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:44,600 childbearing years were over. Nursing a child at 85 years old. 231 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,040 This was unheard of. This was impossible. 232 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,800 This is blessing from God. This is honor. 233 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,960 Unbelievable. Sarah has gone from being a 234 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,120 woman who would have been shamed and scorned and thought and. 235 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,440 Adequate by those. Around her to being one of the 236 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,360 most honored and respected women in human history. 237 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,320 And it all happened in nine short months. 238 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:12,120 And there she is, nursing that baby, honored by those around 239 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:13,520 her and. She had the joy. 240 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:18,560 Of being honored by people who knew her and loved her and and. 241 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,280 Had the joy of this is maybe even better part if you've ever 242 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,520 experienced this, being honored by the people that had scorned 243 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,960 and rejected her. And now they have to honor 244 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,040 because she's a living, walking, breathing miracle. 245 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:37,240 Of God, she had that joy. She had that joy. 246 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:39,320 There's a. Lot. 247 00:13:39,680 --> 00:13:41,320 Of joy here, and that's. Why Sarah? 248 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:43,120 They named Isaac. That's the. 249 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,040 Name. The name Isaac means laughter. 250 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,640 They named their son. Laughter after all this laughter 251 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:52,360 that Sarah and others had had. To remind them. 252 00:13:52,560 --> 00:13:55,920 Forever of the joy that God had. Brought into their lives. 253 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:00,680 But clarity and accuracy are. Absolutely essential here. 254 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:06,320 Because if we read this passage. Wrong that authentic. 255 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,560 Faithful Christianity gets completely derailed because at 256 00:14:10,560 --> 00:14:12,520 first. Blush and at first. 257 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:17,360 Glance, it looks like this whole story affirms the woefully wrong 258 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:18,840 notion. That that. 259 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:20,920 I have heard preached. And taught in places. 260 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,920 Name it and claim it. Name what this thing that that 261 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,880 you want and just claim it in the name of Jesus. 262 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:32,720 And God will provide it for you. The IT completely undercuts the 263 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,560 false teaching that if I believe. 264 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:36,960 It I can achieve it. Or if you believe. 265 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:42,440 It you can achieve it. That's what it appears to say. 266 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:47,320 Sarah had this lifelong desire she she did her best to trust. 267 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:50,360 And be faithful to God and God. Gave her what she. 268 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:51,840 Had longed. For her whole life. 269 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:53,440 And if. We are faithful. 270 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,960 To God and we trust God, and we. Pray God will give us the 271 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,800 desires of our hearts too. And it all sounds very, very 272 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:03,280 biblical. And you can pull. 273 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,280 Verses and stories and passages out of context. 274 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,320 And try to make that argument but that. 275 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:12,560 Argument is doomed to failure because Jesus, our leader, the 276 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,560 Bible itself says that he was a man of. 277 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:20,480 Sorrows who experienced grief and if that's. 278 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,000 Our leader's life you can be sure that we are going to know 279 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:25,800 sorrow and. Grief in our lifetime. 280 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,240 Jesus himself said. You know not not. 281 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,280 Hey, come and follow me and I'll give you everything you want. 282 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:35,200 He said take up your cross and follow me. 283 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,880 Come and die with me. That's the. 284 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:43,320 Leader that we're following any expectation that that means 285 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:44,840 that. God is somehow promising. 286 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,600 To give us whatever. We want. 287 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,960 Is, is, is. Baseless and setting people up. 288 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:55,240 For a a a trajectory in the faith that is very, very. 289 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,280 Unbiblical and unfaithful. So what is the? 290 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,000 Point here. The point here is not. 291 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,680 Sarah having her hopes and dreams fulfilled, that was a 292 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,240 side effect of the point that's. Not the point of. 293 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,040 These passages, the point of these. 294 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:14,960 Passages the main thing is not the fulfillment of sarah's hopes 295 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,000 and dreams the main thing here is the faithfulness and. 296 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,040 Power of God that God did what God? 297 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,400 Said he was going to do even though. 298 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:29,040 For all outside perspectives, it was impossible. 299 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,320 God did what he. Said he was going to do. 300 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:38,480 That's why God included this passage in the Scriptures, so 301 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,600 that we can see one more example. 302 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,440 Of how God. Against all odds Against. 303 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,440 All possibility against. Everything we understand about 304 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,320 science and how the. World works. 305 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,560 God did what God said he would do. 306 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,000 He had the power to fulfill his. Promise. 307 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,000 And He has the faithfulness to fulfill His promise. 308 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:05,560 That's the main thing. That's the main thing here. 309 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:07,319 If God. Has promised it. 310 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:13,800 God will do it. Period. 2000 years since. 311 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:19,200 Jesus said be right back. Jesus said I'm coming back, I'm 312 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,800 coming back, Jesus is coming back. 313 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:25,359 I might be in 10 minutes from now. 314 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:30,000 It might be another 2000 years. None of us knows when but God. 315 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,280 Will fulfill his promise. I will never. 316 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,960 Leave you or forsake you? No matter what, we. 317 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,160 Feel. No matter what we might feel is 318 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:42,920 happening around us, no matter how forsaken we may feel, God 319 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,320 will never. Leave us or forsake us. 320 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:50,040 God has not brought any of us as individuals. 321 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,360 God has not brought his church. God has not. 322 00:17:52,360 --> 00:17:57,800 Brought the world this. Far to abandon us now and 323 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:03,880 nothing. I will wipe away every tear, no 324 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,440 matter how hard and how the hurt was and how deep. 325 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:12,640 The heartache is. God can and will provide comfort 326 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:18,200 and healing. It might take longer than we 327 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,520 want, but God can do it. And God. 328 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:24,760 Will do it. Because God has promised it. 329 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,320 God has promised it. Come to me. 330 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:32,400 All you who labor. And are heavy laden and I will. 331 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,760 Give you rest. Take my yoke upon me and learn 332 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,440 from me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is. 333 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:44,200 Light God. God will give us rest. 334 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,440 God can give us rest. God will give us rest. 335 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:49,880 And God. Will give us. 336 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,480 All the strength we need. To bear any burden. 337 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:56,320 That he places upon us, if God has promised it. 338 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:00,440 God will do it. So what does that? 339 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,280 Mean for us? Where does that leave us? 340 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:04,960 In the midst. Of a world which looks at the 341 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:09,480 promises of God with that best. Skepticism and at worst, mocking 342 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,560 derision. How could anyone in the 20? 343 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,760 1st century be so. Foolish and so ignorant and so 344 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,280 primitive. As to believe stuff like this, 345 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,840 where does that leave? US1 is here. 346 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:27,280 To be. Open to the impossible, to trust 347 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:32,080 in God's promise even when it seems impossible and way 348 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:38,160 overdue. Now, as parents and grandparents 349 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:43,520 and people that function in society, we have another. 350 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,360 Tension here that we have to deal with. 351 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:49,040 Because one of the things. That I repeatedly had to say to 352 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,160 my. Kids and sometimes still do in 353 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,800 one way. Shape or form is let's be 354 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,040 realistic here, in your expectations. 355 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,160 Be realistic. It's important. 356 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:02,560 That we teach kids that the number. 357 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,920 I've worked with with children and youth my whole life. 358 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,560 The number of. Children and youth I have worked 359 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,120 with that we're going to grow up to be rock stars and 360 00:20:10,120 --> 00:20:13,600 professional athletes. Extraordinary I. 361 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:18,400 Have yet to get. Tickets to anything from any of 362 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:24,200 them, and I don't want to ever step on anyone's dreams. 363 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,440 So one of the ways I say be realistic is hey. 364 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,480 That's a great dream. Keep working at it. 365 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:31,880 You're going to have to. Work really, really hard, 366 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:33,200 because that's a really hard dream. 367 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:35,040 You have to. Work really really hard. 368 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,480 You should have a Plan B in case you get injured in case 369 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:41,120 something doesn't work out. Have a. 370 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:44,560 Good, solid Plan B. Be ready to do other things 371 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:46,240 until that dream is. Fulfilled. 372 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:49,480 I don't like to step on. People's dreams. 373 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:50,960 But. Let's be honest, we have to be 374 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,000 realistic. And very few people make it into 375 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,520 the NFL or the NBA or on stage as a. 376 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:02,800 Rock star. At the same time, we have to 377 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:06,800 constantly train ourselves and the young people around us to be 378 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:12,720 open to the impossible. That when God says I will do 379 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:14,640 something. God will do it. 380 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:17,960 No matter how. Crazy and ridiculous. 381 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,440 And outlandish it seems. And part of that is when God 382 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:26,400 calls us to do something, that God wants us to step out and do 383 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:30,560 it, even if it looks impossible, even if it looks outlandish, 384 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:32,640 even if it looks. Crazy, even if it. 385 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,680 Looks like he can like God. I can't do that. 386 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:36,760 I don't have the skills, I don't have the money, I don't have the 387 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,360 connections, I don't have the influence. 388 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:40,680 I don't have any of the God I. How can I possibly? 389 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,080 God says just do it. Just. 390 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,920 Just take the next. Step each day. 391 00:21:46,120 --> 00:21:49,640 Do the next thing in that direction, even if you think 392 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:51,000 it's impossible. I'm. 393 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:52,680 Calling you to do. This. 394 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,840 And to cultivate within ourselves and within the young 395 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,840 people around us this openness to the impossible, because very 396 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:03,280 often, God. Calls. 397 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:06,680 Us to things that seem ridiculous and impossible. 398 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,120 Because God is. Funny, strange that way. 399 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:14,600 And you go, what? God that no. 400 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:18,920 How God's like. Don't worry about the how. 401 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:23,360 The how is my responsibility. The walk in and out. 402 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,000 That's your responsibility. We have to. 403 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:31,560 Be open to the impossible or we will miss the call of God in our 404 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:36,160 lives. Far too often if we evaluate 405 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:39,200 whether God if that's God calling me to that if the test 406 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,640 for is God calling me to that if the test to. 407 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,840 Determine that is can I do it myself? 408 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:47,080 That's a bad. Test. 409 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,320 God. I mean, what's the point? 410 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:56,880 We don't need God if we can. Do it ourselves, God calls. 411 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,920 Us to the impossible. And we need to cultivate 412 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:02,440 openness to that impossible because a call. 413 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,920 To do thing is a promise that God will. 414 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,000 Support us through that. Now that doesn't mean everything 415 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,280 that God. Calls us to do ultimately 416 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:16,360 happens because often there are people. 417 00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:19,760 Along the way around us in that. Call who aren't. 418 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,760 Doing what God has called them to do. 419 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,320 And so sometimes when we're faithfully following God's call, 420 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:30,720 it doesn't end in the hope and the dream and the vision that we 421 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:33,240 had at the beginning, because other people were not. 422 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:37,160 Faithful to God. Around that, that's why it's so 423 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:38,640 important for us to. Be faithful. 424 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:39,760 We don't. Want to put. 425 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:41,240 We don't want to. We don't want to be. 426 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:43,960 The the the. Stick and the spokes of someone 427 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:45,240 else. 'S call from God. 428 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,960 That keeps them from living it out and we certainly. 429 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:48,880 Don't want? To do that for. 430 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:53,080 Ourselves. Let's be faithful. 431 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:56,160 Open to the impossible, and then we can. 432 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,720 Be igniters of joy by giving the. 433 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,240 Gift of God's. Impossible things to other. 434 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:05,360 People impossible things like. Love like forgiveness, like 435 00:24:05,360 --> 00:24:08,720 adequacy. Because here's the thing. 436 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:14,680 Sarah, I got to believe Sarah was. 437 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:19,400 Feeling unlovable, unforgiven and inadequate. 438 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:24,280 How could if God loved me, God would have given me a child. 439 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:29,240 And now it's too late. Maybe God loves me, but I'm 440 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,360 just, you know, I said this morning, Chester, I had. 441 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:35,840 Unreasonable expectations every. Christmas as a kid, true 442 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,760 believer growing up, Santa can make anything in his workshop. 443 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:43,560 Why can he make socks? But he can't seem to make a 444 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:48,400 television set for me. And someone said maybe we're on 445 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,760 the naughty list. Fair enough. 446 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,120 Maybe Sarah was thinking I'm on the naughty list. 447 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:57,720 God has the power, had the power, to give me a. 448 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:02,280 Child, but I I have not been good enough for God to give me a 449 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:07,000 child. And Sarah did some pretty rotten 450 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,320 things over the years. Or maybe. 451 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:15,960 She just felt utterly. Inadequate, the most basic thing 452 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,440 for a woman to do and the mindset of folks in that day and 453 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:20,600 age. Was have a baby. 454 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:26,400 And I can't even do that the first commandment given by God. 455 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:29,360 Be. Fruitful and multiply and I 456 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:36,680 can't even do that but we. As God's people with the power 457 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:41,320 of the Holy Spirit. Within us have the capacity and 458 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:46,800 the power by God to ignite joy and those who feel unlovable by 459 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,960 loving them, by loving them. Your parents didn't love you. 460 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:53,280 Your grand. Friends treat you bad, spouse 461 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,400 treat you bad. I will love you, we will love 462 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:58,000 you. God loves you and we're going to 463 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,200 prove God loves you because. We're going to love you. 464 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,560 Love you like nobody's business. Love you like you've. 465 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:07,760 Never been loved before. One thing you can count on from 466 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:09,360 us? Is that you're going to be loved 467 00:26:09,360 --> 00:26:13,000 and. Bring joy into their life simply 468 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,200 by loving someone who thinks of themselves as unlovable. 469 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:19,560 By forgiving people and pronouncing God's forgiveness 470 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:23,200 for people who feel they are unforgivable, the wrong they've 471 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,080 done, the evil they've done, the hurt and the harm that they have 472 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:29,000 caused to people around them. And they are convinced it can 473 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,600 never be forgiven. Probably think it never should 474 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:33,680 be forgiven. And we come and we forgive them 475 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:40,040 anyway. We forgive them anyway in the 476 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:45,600 name of Jesus, say, yeah, I know it hurt, I know it was wrong. 477 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,600 I know you caused a lot of pain. Maybe you can work to undo some 478 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:51,640 of that, but you'll never be able to undo all of it. 479 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,360 But I forgive you. We forgive you. 480 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:59,360 I've sinned so much. If I'm not going to forgive you, 481 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:01,360 then God's not going to forgive me. 482 00:27:01,360 --> 00:27:03,040 And I trust me, I need forgiveness. 483 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:08,360 And that's the gift that we can share, the impossibility of 484 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:12,320 forgiveness and adequacy. To say to folks. 485 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:15,880 In a world where an increasing number of people, particularly 486 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:20,200 young people, feel inadequate. To what life holds in store. 487 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:22,360 For them in the future. What do you mean I'm adequate? 488 00:27:22,360 --> 00:27:24,520 I'm never going to make enough money to own a house. 489 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,720 I'm never going to make enough money to have a. 490 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:29,760 Kid and really take care of. It I'm never going to never. 491 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:31,200 How am I ever going to have enough money? 492 00:27:31,360 --> 00:27:33,280 To pay for healthcare. And and what? 493 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:34,920 About all this global. Warming stuff? 494 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:36,600 And what about? All these wars that are out 495 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:39,160 there and all of this. Division and conflict in this 496 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:40,480 world? That seems so. 497 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,160 Full of chaos. And always on the. 498 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:46,960 Edge of of horrific. Painful destruction and there's 499 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:48,680 nothing I can do. About it, it's all. 500 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,800 Too big for me, I'm only. Just small. 501 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:57,440 And I can't. And to go to people that are 502 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:01,040 convinced that they can't and say but Jesus. 503 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:06,280 Says by his grace. You can do all things, 504 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:09,600 everything that God. Calls you to do. 505 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,520 God will give you the power to do. 506 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:13,560 How? Maybe. 507 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:15,480 Maybe God. Doesn't give you the body and 508 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:16,840 the power. And the strength to become a 509 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,680 professional athlete? Oh, there's a good chance that 510 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:24,320 isn't what God called. You to, but whatever. 511 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:30,560 God calls you to God will make you adequate for and you might 512 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:33,080 not be able to believe, but you just got to walk it out. 513 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,640 One of the. The best things my parents ever 514 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:38,960 told us is when we were young. If you wait until you think you 515 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,200 have enough money to have kids, you'll never have kids. 516 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,920 You wouldn't have the kids, have the kids you. 517 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:49,280 Got to step out. And we can give that gift to 518 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,320 people. We can say to them, I know you 519 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:57,360 think you can't, but you can. You can love, you can grow, you 520 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,880 can walk into the future. With hope. 521 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:02,560 Rather than dread with. Joy. 522 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,760 Rather than despair, and we can offer. 523 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,680 People that by the. Grace and the power of God that 524 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:15,880 is within us igniting joy in others Nelson Mandela I and I 525 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:19,840 spent I got AI had too much in the sermon and so I'm going to 526 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:21,560 be a little late for new beginnings here too. 527 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:25,040 Nelson Mandela, I think, is one of the. 528 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:27,920 Greatest examples in history. Of someone who. 529 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:31,960 Lived this out. Who had dreams and hopes and 530 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:35,520 expectations that took? Far longer to fulfill. 531 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:37,560 Than most. People would be. 532 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:43,720 Willing to wait patiently Nelson Mandela as a young man was an 533 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:49,640 activist fighting against the. Apartheid regime in South Africa 534 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:55,000 that left a very small white majority minority with with all 535 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,480 of the real. Power in the country and the 536 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:00,960 large. Black majority as second class. 537 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:06,080 Citizens in their own homeland. And he saw the injustice of it. 538 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:07,080 He saw the. Wrong of it. 539 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:09,360 He saw his people. Suffering and he was pushing 540 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:11,000 back against that and he went to. 541 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:15,640 Prison for it? He spent 27 years in prison, 542 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:20,720 most of that on I, I, I want to say Rob. 543 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:22,200 I cannot remember the name of the island. 544 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:25,600 It's a very, it's a very famous prison island that I in South 545 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:29,360 Africa and I can't think of the name of it and, and. 546 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,840 While he was there. He was abused and mistreated. 547 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:37,400 He was. He was kept in solitary 548 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:41,160 confinement. Often he was given a small. 549 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:44,080 Cell with a cold. Stone floor and nothing but a 550 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,640 thin mat to sleep on and a. Bucket for a toilet? 551 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:52,960 And less food than he needed. He was forced to work hard labor 552 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:57,360 in a limestone quarry without adequate protection that did 553 00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:03,320 permanent damage to. His eyes and lungs and through 554 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,120 all of that. Through all of that. 555 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:12,080 He was determined to see his country transformed into a 556 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,400 democracy in which all. People, regardless of the color. 557 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,720 Of their skin. Could be treated with justice 558 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:22,000 and fairness and. Equality And so while he was in 559 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,120 prison, even when his guards were abusing him, he insisted on 560 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:27,600 treating his. Guards with dignity. 561 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:30,880 And respect. Even if prisoners. 562 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,320 Around him. Were hopeless in despair, he. 563 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:34,720 Taught. And he encouraged. 564 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:40,120 And he had mentored them and he spent 27 years doing that. 565 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:44,800 And it was said of Nelson Mandela, it's been said of him, 566 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,120 that he went into prison as an activist and he came. 567 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:49,840 Out of. Prison as a statesman. 568 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:55,080 This is what he had to say in his autobiography, A Long Walk 569 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:55,680 To. Freedom. 570 00:31:56,480 --> 00:31:59,840 I never lost hope that this great transformation would 571 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:02,000 occur. Not only because of the great 572 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,800 heroes I have already sighted, but because of the courage of 573 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,840 the ordinary. Men and women of my country, I 574 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:08,680 always knew that. Deep. 575 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:11,600 Down in every heart. There is mercy and generosity. 576 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:14,320 No one is born. Hating another person because of 577 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:16,080 the color of his. Skin or his? 578 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:20,600 Background or his religion? People must learn to hate, and 579 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:24,840 if they can, learn to hate. They can be taught to love for 580 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:27,840 love. Comes naturally, more naturally 581 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:30,560 to the human heart than its opposite. 582 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:34,920 Did you know Nelson Mandela was a Methodist? 583 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:38,800 Do you know that he grew up in the Methodist Church in South 584 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:44,120 Africa, where he learned faith, where he learned this hope, 585 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:46,560 where he learned the. Power of God. 586 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:50,840 To do impossible things in and through his. 587 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:57,240 People who are faithful. As they follow him and Mandela 588 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:02,200 didn't talk. A lot explicitly about his 589 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,680 Christian. Faith, but you can. 590 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,880 See the way he. Lived it out, refusing to 591 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:10,280 return. Hate for hate. 592 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:15,320 But instead loving his enemies, refusing to turn indignity for 593 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:19,760 indignity, but treating his enemies with dignity, honoring 594 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:26,200 them more than they honored him, not leaving prison with a heart. 595 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:29,320 Filled with hatred. And a desire for retribution, 596 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:33,200 but living through prison and. Following prison with a heart. 597 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:39,400 Still seeking reconciliation and unity and justice, not just for 598 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:46,560 people that look like him, but for everyone in South Africa. 27 599 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:51,840 years, 27 years. That's longer than it took. 600 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:55,160 For God to fulfill His. Promise to Sarah and Abraham 601 00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:59,760 God. God can be funny. 602 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:05,920 Sometimes bafflingly funny. Making impossible promises, 603 00:34:06,120 --> 00:34:09,360 calling us to do things that look ridiculous, impossible. 604 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:11,360 Or or or absurd. Oh. 605 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:16,400 My God can bring great joy into our lives now. 606 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:19,920 Again, we got to be clear. Don't sign on to follow. 607 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:25,000 Jesus for the laughs. Jesus is a man of sorrow, 608 00:34:25,199 --> 00:34:28,520 acquainted with grief, and he says we. 609 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:34,840 Will suffer as he. Suffered in this life but along 610 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:36,360 the. Way we will. 611 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:41,040 Have these moments like Sarah had, of just unimaginable joy? 612 00:34:42,679 --> 00:34:45,560 As we. See and experience impossible 613 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:49,800 things around us, things like someone who never. 614 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:55,080 Thought they could be. Loved experiencing love like 615 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:57,600 someone who never thought they could be forgiven, being 616 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:00,800 forgiven like someone who thought they were never adequate 617 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:04,040 to the task, learning that by the grace and power of God they 618 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:08,760 are adequate and we can be part of that and sharing that joy 619 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:11,160 together in Jesus name, Amen.