WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.680 You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.440 couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun, in 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:13.560 practical ways. Hey, everybody, welcome to the Bible Guys. 4 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:15.880 My name is Chris and I'm Jeff. 5 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:18.920 Yes, that's our names, and we are here together and. 6 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:20.960 We're the founder of them. People have been calling us 7 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:23.199 those names for like just about our whole lot. 8 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:26.640 Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah that's true. And was your 9 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:27.679 first name always Jeff? 10 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:28.359 Yeah? 11 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:30.320 Okay, yeah, so you said a different last name, h 12 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:31.480 middle name. 13 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:33.039 Different middle and the last night. 14 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:35.280 I thought you had a name changed when you got adopted. 15 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:37.159 I did my last name changed? 16 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:40.320 Oh, but your first name didn't change. No, huh it's 17 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:43.640 sound of a gun. I for some reason I thought 18 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:47.560 you were something else anywaything else? You are? 19 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:49.359 Ye? Really something else? 20 00:00:49.479 --> 00:00:51.520 Yeah? I've always been Christopher A. We talked about this 21 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:53.679 last night at a small group. I was supposed to 22 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:57.119 be Jonathan Edward and then I was born on Palm Sunday, 23 00:00:57.159 --> 00:00:59.719 crept into Palm Sunday after midnight, and my wife and 24 00:00:59.719 --> 00:01:02.960 my mom, who was Catholic, I thought of Saint Christopher 25 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:05.560 and she's like, oh, Palm Sunday. So she changed to the Christopher, 26 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:07.640 but she liked the name John still because I was 27 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:10.079 supposed to be Jonathan, and so it's Christopher John. 28 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:12.560 Oh wow, good for you, buddy. 29 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:15.159 Well, hey, it does mean you know, like it little 30 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:17.760 or it means christ like yeah right, christ like yeah. 31 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:19.159 So yeah, it's a good name. 32 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:22.200 I love it. Yes, it's how I think of you. 33 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:26.079 Oh look at you, Chris. I set that up, didn't I. 34 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:26.400 Yes. 35 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:29.319 So today we're in the middle of a series. Well, 36 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:33.120 you know, this week of the whole series is God's Promises, 37 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:35.760 but each week has a theme, and this week is 38 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:38.599 God's Peace. Yes, and so we talked about that yesterday. 39 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:41.159 Today we're going to do Isaiah chapter twenty six. But 40 00:01:41.239 --> 00:01:44.799 before we do that, we have a segment and we 41 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:46.760 just actually did a whole week on this. But this 42 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:47.719 is a stump the past. 43 00:01:47.959 --> 00:01:50.439 The response to our stump the pastor week has been 44 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:51.480 really great, has it? 45 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:51.799 Yeah? 46 00:01:51.799 --> 00:01:55.079 Oh yeah, people, really we've gotten a ton of responses 47 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:56.680 and then a whole bunch of new questions as a 48 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.000 result of it. Okay, but yeah, it's it's really been good. 49 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.239 So I think we should do it more often, okay, 50 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:04.959 or or do a whole day every once in a 51 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:08.240 while where it's just all yeah, stumped pastor take a break. Yeah, 52 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:11.120 I think people like asking questions. Yeah yeah, and then 53 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:15.240 you're so approachable and understandable you're trying to meet. Yeah yeah, 54 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:17.599 So okay. 55 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:19.000 All right, wey let me go ahead and read this 56 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:21.840 stump the pastor. It says, if God already knows everything 57 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:23.680 about us, what we do, and by the way, this 58 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:24.400 is by D. D. 59 00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:25.479 S hy Dd. 60 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:28.319 If God knows everything about us, what we do, what 61 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:31.319 decisions we will make, and how we will live lives, 62 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:34.439 how they will evolve, and when and how we die, 63 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:37.039 how does prayer fit? For example, if someone dies young 64 00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:39.840 though an unexpected illness or death, or have a serious 65 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:42.960 injury or accident or tragedy, for example, are all these 66 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:44.319 things already determined? 67 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:45.319 Predetermined? 68 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:48.960 Excuse me predetermined? Such as a young person who dies 69 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:51.840 at a young age from cancer. Is our death, circumstance, 70 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:57.199 circumstances already predetermined? And if so, can prayer really help 71 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:05.479 in these types of circumstances death, time, and circumstances already determined? Wow? 72 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.000 Yeah right, that covers a lot well. 73 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:11.719 And so think about that playing out in the scenario. So, 74 00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:15.120 so your mom is sick perhaps, right, something like this 75 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:15.840 mother in law. 76 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:18.560 Or whatever, or if someone dies young expected illness or 77 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:19.039 death or. 78 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:23.000 Yeah, someone don't matter who is, matter who it is, Yes, okay, 79 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:24.719 let's just let's make him young, Jeff. 80 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:27.520 Well, well, no, both of her for instances are. 81 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:31.759 Okay, okay, okay. So there's a young person with cancer 82 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:34.719 and they're on the bed and then we pray. And 83 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:40.520 her question is, what does prayer matter if everybody's death 84 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:43.120 is absolutely decided and determined? 85 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:43.520 Yeah? 86 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:46.960 Right, because because all we really have to do is 87 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:49.400 just say, well, God, if this is her time or 88 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:52.520 his time, then it's his or her time. Yeah right, 89 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:55.639 So why would prayer change things? That's what that's her question. 90 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:05.120 So I think this question comes up every few questions 91 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:09.120 when people ask that they want to know about God's sovereignty. 92 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:12.919 They want to know about if God's already decided all 93 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:16.480 these things, then why does prayer matter? Or does that 94 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:18.079 mean my life is prescripted? 95 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:19.839 Or do I have a choice? 96 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:21.879 Yeah? Yeah, yeah, this is kind of a hint at 97 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:23.439 am I really part of the matrix? 98 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:25.000 Right? 99 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:27.920 Right? That's kind of the thing. Do I am I 100 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:30.480 really an autonomous person? Am I really making my own decisions, 101 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:33.959 or if it's already predetermined, then you know what's the point, 102 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:38.240 and then it kind of will ultimately lead to doesn't 103 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:41.079 this make God a monster if he's already decided that 104 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:43.879 some little kid's going to die of cancer and that's 105 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:44.639 what he wants. 106 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:47.199 Yeah, I mean, well that that could definitely be a 107 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:47.959 connect to dots. 108 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:50.360 Right. Well, I've known lots of people who struggle with 109 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:53.519 faith because their belief system is that everything that happens 110 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:59.759 God made it happen, right, And so follow with me 111 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:03.720 here just a little bit on this one. God set 112 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:08.240 up the natural universe with natural laws. Right, If you 113 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:10.600 step off the roof of a building, gravity's going to 114 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:15.360 pull you under the ground, right, So natural laws like that. Unless, yeah, 115 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:17.560 unless you had wings and could fly, so you have 116 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:21.959 a jet packed Superman, yeah if you can. Yeah, yeah, okay. 117 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:23.680 Sorry, I shouldn't done it. 118 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:26.439 Yeah, go ahead, But natural laws are in place, yes, right, 119 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:31.920 gravity exists, motion, all those things. Then, and God made 120 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:34.000 it perfect. In the Book of Genesis, this is what 121 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:36.160 the Bible says. He made it perfect. He looked at it, 122 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:38.720 he said it was very good. He put Adam and 123 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:41.480 Eve the first people in this perfect environment. Everything is great. 124 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:44.399 But when we sinned. We just read this last week 125 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:47.759 in the Book of Romans. All of creation now is broken. 126 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:52.360 All of creation groans. That's when disease happened. That there 127 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:56.199 was no cancer when God made it. Humanity broke the universe. 128 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:59.439 Our DNA change, our DNA change everything, the DNA of 129 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:02.879 the earth, of everything change right like earthquakes, tsunami, everything, 130 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:04.639 the weeds of the ground. 131 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:12.000 So so now disease exists. These are natural, They're part 132 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:15.720 of the natural universe. And it happens you have these 133 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:19.199 combinations of DNA things, or you have these combinations of genes, 134 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:21.720 you have these, you have certain susceptibilities to certain things. 135 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:23.839 And the Bible does say it's appointed and the man 136 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:25.920 wants to die. And after this the judgment, So all 137 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:28.439 of humanity has an appointment with death. We will all 138 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:33.160 die someday. Life's one hundred percent terminal Hebrew Hebrews, Hebrews. 139 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:41.199 But if, if, if we pray, God promises to intervene. 140 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:43.839 The Book of James says, the prayer of a righteous 141 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:49.480 person accomplishes much. Right, so it changes or or or 142 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:54.160 it changes the trajectory of the happenings in the universe. 143 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:57.120 If God chooses to intervene. But when we pray, what 144 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:01.759 we're asking is for God to intervene in the natural world. 145 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.920 We're asking God to do the supernatural thing in the 146 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:09.399 natural world. So God didn't have to predetermine you will 147 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:13.079 die of cancer. We're all dying because of the curse 148 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:16.759 of sin, right right, Cancer may be the way. Does 149 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:19.720 God know that that's coming in your life? God knows 150 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:22.879 all things, certainly, but God's not the one creating those things, 151 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:26.759 making those things happen. So then when we pray, it's 152 00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:31.199 natural cancer happened. We pray and ask God to intervene, 153 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:34.839 and we're asking God to do something supernatural. Super just 154 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:39.600 means outside of or beyond the natural, right over top 155 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:42.279 of that's really the better word, over top of the natural. 156 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:45.600 And so this is what a miracle is. A miracle 157 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:48.800 is supernatural. So you and I live all day every 158 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:52.519 day in the natural world, and then natural things happen. 159 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:56.600 And when we pray, God does supernatural things, He overcomes 160 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:01.399 the natural. That's what's happening. So God isn't predetermining all 161 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.720 the horrible things that would happen in life. Those are 162 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:05.959 all part of the curse. They just naturally happen now 163 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:09.040 because nature is broken. And then we ask God to 164 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:13.399 supernaturally intervene, and he changes things, so prayer matters. And 165 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:16.519 it's all like we read yesterday, when we pray in 166 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:20.079 Jesus name, when we're praying in alliance with what Jesus 167 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:22.920 is already saying is the mission. Right, when we're praying 168 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:27.399 in in agreement with God's will, then he will step 169 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:28.199 in and intervene. 170 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:30.360 Yeah, so and then and then. 171 00:08:30.759 --> 00:08:32.679 So that's the complex answer. I think you're going to 172 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:34.879 give a more practical answer. 173 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.960 Yeah, Well, what I was going to say is that 174 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:41.200 it is a conundrum because God does know all things, right, 175 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:42.519 so you know, if we do. 176 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:44.440 Have knowing a thing and causing a thing or two 177 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:45.039 different things. 178 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.519 Yes, for sure. But but what I'm saying is like, like, 179 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:51.559 does God know when we're going to die regardless of 180 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.440 whether or not he chooses to intervene? You know, did 181 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:57.320 he know? Did he know that he was going to intervene? Right? 182 00:08:57.559 --> 00:08:59.840 Like if if my predetermined time was here and then 183 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.879 and then he decided to supernaturally extend it, did he 184 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:05.360 know that? Of course he knew that, right. So it's 185 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:07.960 just it's one of these mind boggling type things where 186 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:10.039 God foreknos That's what the Bible says. 187 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:12.639 Yeah, I think God knows all the options. He knew 188 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:15.600 he would and wouldn't. He knew that it would happen 189 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:17.440 and that it wouldn't happen. He knew that you would 190 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:19.720 and that you would not. Because of the possibilities of 191 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:20.519 all the combinations. 192 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:24.159 Doctor Strange sees fourteen million different options. 193 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:25.279 Yeah, yeah, me, do we win? 194 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:25.799 He won? 195 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:29.320 He sees both sides. Yeah, he sees the potential of 196 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:31.519 all of those things. But I can tell you this, 197 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:33.919 God said, get out of the way, Moses. I'm going 198 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:36.360 to wipe out the people of Israel because they're so evil, 199 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:39.159 and I'll keep my promise through you. And Moses begs 200 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:40.679 God not to do it, and the Bible says God 201 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:43.559 changed his mind. I know that when God sent the 202 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:46.879 prophet to Isaiah to Hezekiah, he says, you're going to 203 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:50.240 die soon. Get your house ready, And Hezekiah goes on 204 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:53.600 his bed and begins to weep and cry plead the God, saying, 205 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:55.120 I feel like I have more mission and I'm going 206 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:57.879 to make sure I lean into to you and I'm 207 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:00.399 going to lead the people well and God changed his 208 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:04.039 mind and extended his life by fifteen years. Right. So 209 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:07.159 God has this natural thing, he knows what's going to happen. 210 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.440 He also has the ability to change his mind or 211 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:10.559 to change course. 212 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:14.120 And Jesus said, knock, asked for bread, Hey, go away. 213 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:16.639 That's my choice, that's my decision. And he says, but 214 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:20.399 because of the man's consistency, he got up, changed his mind, 215 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:24.840 gave him bread. He said, so pray this way, and so, yeah, 216 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:25.559 it definitely does. 217 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:27.519 No. I was going to say, oh, yeah, I'm sorry, ahead, No, 218 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:28.519 I was just going to say. 219 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:34.159 The difference between like Calvinism and Arminiism Arminianism is Calvinism 220 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:40.080 technically believes that God chooses us to be saved, that. 221 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:43.279 All things are predetermined, all things are predetermined, right. 222 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:46.679 This is the predetermined idea that like, hey, it's really 223 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:50.639 not up to us. We choose only in response to 224 00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:55.720 God's initiation, right, And whereas Arminianism would say it's up 225 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:58.840 to us that God's will is for everyone to be saved, 226 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:02.039 and then you know, we could either choose. In other words, 227 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:05.879 God foreknos, of course, but God doesn't force, right, God 228 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:08.399 doesn't force, it's it's still our choice to either choose 229 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:11.399 or reject. And then the health the healthy balance between 230 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:15.840 those two because both are you know, both have biblical backings. 231 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:17.960 You know, you can make the argument for both, but that, 232 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:21.120 but the healthy balance of those things are. God does 233 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:25.600 forekno and gives us a choice, right, He knows all things. 234 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.480 And then then we uh we we you know, God 235 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:32.600 initiates we respond because of our choice, right, right. 236 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:38.120 So uh, I was going to say with regard to 237 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:42.159 God changing his mind, which is a thing I know. 238 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:45.200 The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, 239 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:48.759 and forever. I know that that. The Bible talks about 240 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:52.440 the fact that he he can never break his will, 241 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.720 he can never break his word, all those kinds of things. 242 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:58.399 So I'm saying about changing his mind with Hezekiah. I 243 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:02.399 don't think he was playing around with Hezekiah, spooking him 244 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:05.720 in order to get him to pray, right. I think 245 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:09.879 he was genuinely going to unless I intervene, you're gonna 246 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:12.360 die on this day. And then when he prayed, God, 247 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:14.759 would you intervene? God chose to intervene in that moment, 248 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:17.120 and it changed the trajectory of the nation of Israel. 249 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:20.799 It changed the trajectory of Hezekiah's life because God decided, 250 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.480 you know what, I do have more work I can 251 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:25.440 have you do. You're surrendered to me. Your surrender matters. 252 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:27.120 I'm going to go ahead and give you an extra 253 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:30.320 fifteen years. And so God's really looking at your heart, 254 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:32.320 He's looking at the intent. He's also looking at what 255 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:34.919 his will and his plan is and what he's trying 256 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:39.600 to achieve in the world around us and how we 257 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:42.200 fit into that. And so when we're just asking God, 258 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:45.200 would you intervene for me so that I can just, 259 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:47.759 you know, keep consuming and doing I don't know what 260 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:49.840 God's what the benefit to God would be for that 261 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:52.279 or even in his kingdom. But when you're saying, God, 262 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.200 would you intervene? Would you step in because of this, 263 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.840 this is what I know I need to do, or 264 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:58.120 this is what I feel like you're calling me to 265 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.559 do for you to get the glory we see God 266 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:03.200 on a regular basis, Moses appealed to God's glory. Has 267 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:06.399 Akia appealed to God's glory? God stepped in and altered 268 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:06.840 his path. 269 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:11.399 So to wrap up the question, if a person who's 270 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:17.480 young is on their deathbed, so to speak, Should I pray? 271 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:19.840 And does it matter? The answer is yes and. 272 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:23.440 Yes, yes, the prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much, right, 273 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:26.519 is what James tells us. Yes, yeah, so keep praying. 274 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:29.480 Let's try that intervenes. Besides that, Jesus told us to pray. 275 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:33.039 That's right, right, over and over again. Well good, well, hey, 276 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:38.960 we are in Isaiah and talking about prayer. Most of 277 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:42.799 the songs in the Bible are prayers. There there's a transition. 278 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:44.799 They are prayers to God, right, And so here we 279 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:48.519 are in the Book of Isaiah. Twenty four, twenty six, 280 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:52.320 and twenty seven are sometimes called the Apocalypse of Isaiah, 281 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:57.080 and it's a he shifts out of his other prophecies, 282 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:59.879 and now he's looking not just to Israel, but he's 283 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:03.879 looking to a day when the entire world will come 284 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:07.720 under judgment and then how God will deal with the 285 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:11.519 wicked verses, how God will deal with his people. And 286 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.919 so when you start reading in chapter twenty six, there's 287 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:17.679 this song of praise to God and he's leading the 288 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:20.799 people singing about how good God is to God's people, 289 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:23.039 and he says, in that day everyone in the land 290 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:25.840 of Judah will sing this song. Our city is strong. 291 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:29.639 We are surrounded by the walls of God's salvation. Open 292 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:31.960 the gates to all who are righteous, Allow the faithful 293 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:35.919 to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who 294 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:38.919 trust in you, All whose thoughts are fixed on you, 295 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:41.559 trust in the Lord always. For the Lord God is 296 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:45.399 the eternal rock. He humbles the proud, and he brings 297 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:49.120 down the arrogant city. He brings it down to the dust. 298 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:52.200 The poor and oppressed tramplet underfoot, and the needy walk 299 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.720 all over it. But for those who are righteous, the 300 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:58.200 way is not steep and rough. You are a God 301 00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:00.159 who does what is right, and you smooth out the 302 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:03.320 path ahead of them. Lord, we show our trust in 303 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:06.879 you by obeying your laws. Our heart's desire is to 304 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:09.519 glorify your name. In the night I search for you, 305 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:12.320 and in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only 306 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:14.440 when you come to judge the earth will people learn 307 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:17.559 what is right. Your kindness to the wicked does not 308 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:20.559 make them do good. Although others do right, the wicked 309 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:22.960 keep doing wrong and take no notice of the Lord's majesty. 310 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:26.159 Oh Lord, they pay no attention to your upraised fists. 311 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:29.919 Show them your eagerness to defend your people. Then they 312 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:33.559 will be ashamed and let your fire consume your enemies. Lord, 313 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:36.960 you will grant us peace. All we have accomplished is 314 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:40.080 really from you, O Lord, our God. Others have ruled us, 315 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.759 but you alone are the one we worship. Those we 316 00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:46.320 served before are dead and gone. They departed, Their departed 317 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:49.840 spirits will never return. You attacked them and destroyed them, 318 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:52.320 and they are long forgotten. Oh Lord, you have made 319 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:55.559 our nation great. Yes, you have made us great. You 320 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:58.360 have extended our borders, and we give you the glory. 321 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.720 Then it goes on from there about the restoration of 322 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:03.440 Israel things, But in this passage he's talking about how 323 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:07.039 God steps in and intervenes, how God is their strength 324 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:10.279 and protection, their wall, and how God tears down the 325 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:13.000 mighty and the proud, but he gives grace and strength 326 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:15.879 to the humble. And I love it. I love this passage. 327 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:20.240 Yeah, that's great. And again the theme this week is peace, 328 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:23.159 and so verse number three and then also in verse 329 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:27.080 number twelve, both of those mentioned peace. You will keep 330 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:30.440 in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose 331 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.039 thoughts are fixed on you, and he says, trusting the 332 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:36.159 Lord always. And then in verse nomber twelve it says, Lord, 333 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:39.320 you will grant us peace. All we have accomplished is 334 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.240 really from you. 335 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.080 Do you think Isaiah was from down south? 336 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.759 Why is what you say fix it? 337 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:47.679 Because he's fixed, because our thoughts are fixed on you. 338 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.480 That's a Southern thing. 339 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:50.039 Yeah, well he didn't say fixing. 340 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:53.000 Fixing. Yeah, I'm fixing to do that. When I live 341 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:55.360 down in Texas, everybody's fixing to do something. Yea, yeah, yeah, 342 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:57.120 we're fixing to go fishing, We're fixing to go to 343 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.720 Turkey live. 344 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.799 I live in Atlanta for ten years, ten and a 345 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:02.840 halfe and uh yeah, I love saying fixing. 346 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.119 Fixing. Fixing is a good word. 347 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:05.640 Yeah yeah. And then I came up here and every 348 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:07.039 once in a while I'll say, hey, are you fixing 349 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.839 to go up there? But I'll say it to people 350 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:12.200 who are used to hearing it. So like Trey was 351 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.480 this from Louisiana. 352 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.480 He's always fixing to do something. 353 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:17.599 And so I'll say hey, are you fixing to do that? 354 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:21.559 And He'll just look at me and without even thinking, yeah, 355 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:23.799 you know, and I'm so, I'm like, oh, I could 356 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:24.480 use that with so. 357 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:27.599 So the two words that I think are super utilitarian 358 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:31.279 from down South are y'all. Y'all is phenomenal because it 359 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:33.960 covers so many different things. Oh yeah, and then fixing 360 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:36.480 that that's the other really good one. Yeah, and big old, 361 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:38.920 big old is a good one too, like a big 362 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:40.359 old truck and a big old boat. 363 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:43.759 Such a good By the way, sorry to go on 364 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:46.759 this on this rant, but there was a comedian that said, uh. 365 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:50.000 The one word is uh. It's supposed to be did 366 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:54.680 you eat yet? But yeah, yeah, and dude, that that's 367 00:17:54.680 --> 00:18:00.359 a thing yet, and he says not. He says, you now, 368 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:04.640 y'all too. I ye. 369 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:08.359 So anyways he's saying here, whether he's Southern or not, 370 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:12.359 I don't know. But Isaiah says that God's going to 371 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:16.759 keep them in perfect peace, all who trust in you, 372 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:20.680 all whose thoughts are fixed on you. And then he says, 373 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:23.279 trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is 374 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:26.920 the eternal rock. And so he promises to give us 375 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:30.799 perfect peace when we are totally dialed into him, and 376 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:33.079 we talked yesterday. Jesus said, if you love me, keep 377 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:37.319 my commandments. Here it's the same, right, This is the promise. 378 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:41.160 This is the commitment that they're making here. We're trusting 379 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:44.200 in the Lord, your eternal rock. Our thoughts are committed 380 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:47.759 to you. And then they start talking about following God's way. 381 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:51.119 He says, Lord, you will grant us peace. All we 382 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:53.960 have accomplished is really from you. So it's giving God 383 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:56.759 the glory, giving God the focus, spending time focused on 384 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.519 him and his word. 385 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:00.000 And there's a good lesson in here for us because 386 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:03.559 as there are times and seasons of our lives, maybe 387 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:07.839 even long seasons where we don't experience peace. So he 388 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:10.960 just said, hey, we used to serve other people and 389 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:13.559 they're dead and gone, they'll never come back, and now 390 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:16.279 we only serve you. And you have made us an independent, 391 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:20.599 great nation and you're restoring us and we acknowledge you. 392 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:22.960 And so we're in a season of peace. And I 393 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:27.279 think what's important is we have to acknowledge that there 394 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:31.599 are times where God does deliver us, and we should 395 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:34.319 acknowledge the fact that we're experiencing more peace in our lives. 396 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:37.319 It's a gratitude thing, right, I mean, think about all 397 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:39.519 the different, you know, times where it's like I got 398 00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:41.200 to quit this job, I got to get out of here, 399 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:43.519 I gotta, I gotta, I gotta do something about this. 400 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:46.279 And then all of a sudden, somehow, some way, God 401 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:48.720