A Balanced Testimony & Judgement
Series: LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
Speaker: Debbie Gould
Date: 21st May 2017
Passage: Romans 3:9-26
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 Over the last few weeks, we've been looking at different aspects of the ministry of mercy.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:18 It's been a little bit like looking at a beautiful diamond that has different facets and different sides to that diamond,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:27 each showing something really very beautiful and each side essential for the whole diamond to be what it is.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 And today is no different.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:40 We're going to look at another side of the ministries of mercy that is essential for us to tackle and to understand.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:47 Now, hopefully so far, you have gotten a handle on the fact that as Christians,
00:00:48 --> 00:00:55 we are to be involved in helping the poor, the marginalised, the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, the immigrant.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 It's mandated that we do that.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:04 We have seen this by looking at the call of mercy, at the character of mercy.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 Last week, we looked at the motivation of mercy.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:18 And yet there's another facet that might have been niggling at you, at your heart and mind, right from the very beginning.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:28 And that is, how do I determine who I help and how do I help them?
00:01:28 --> 00:01:41 Now, I'm pretty sure if I took a survey of everybody here, we would get very, very different answers to that question of who do I help and how do I help?
00:01:41 --> 00:01:49 Now, depending on your family background and your view of helping people, how you've been brought up,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:54 depending on your theology and what you think is the place of evangelism,
00:01:55 --> 00:02:04 whether evangelism was presented as the number one thing that we have to concentrate all efforts on as a church,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:11 depending on your personal views as to whether a person deserves help or doesn't deserve help,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:16 will depend on your personal efforts of how you might show mercy.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 All of these will influence how you respond.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 I mentioned all of this might be niggling at your heart and mind,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 and that is a good thing if it has been,
00:02:30 --> 00:02:35 because both need to be engaged in the area of mercy ministry.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 It isn't easy to determine who we help.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:46 Now, we saw in the parable of the Good Samaritan that we need to love our neighbours.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 I think that we're getting there.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:53 We put it in front of you all the time that we need to love our neighbours.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:59 But the Samaritan really went way beyond his comfort zone, didn't he?
00:02:59 --> 00:03:04 He actually got his hands dirty, we might say.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 He sacrificed time.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 He sacrificed his own personal safety, his own money.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:16 He looked after the medical, the social, the financial needs of the chap on the road.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 Did he expect to get something in return?
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 No, he didn't.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:28 Did he place conditions on whether he would help or not help?
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 No, he didn't.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:37 He saw a need and he had the resources to help that need.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:44 Now, obviously, we might have limitations on what our resources are.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:49 We might not be able to do exactly what the Samaritan did.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:54 But that is no excuse for not helping those in need.
00:03:55 --> 00:04:04 I was brought up with a very negative view about helping the poor and the marginalised.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:14 Only some, this is what I was taught, only some deserved a coin or two into a charity box, but definitely not all.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:23 I was brought up to believe that charity starts at home and that there are many who are in a destitute situation,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:29 but they're there because they chose to be there and so we leave them alone.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:37 The really strange part of all of that in having that upbringing is that our family, my family,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 were recipients of the mercy of neighbours.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:46 When my parents, who had gambled money away and had no money to feed four children,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:53 the neighbours actually showed mercy to us by giving us money for bread and for milk.
00:04:54 --> 00:05:01 So there is a weirdness that in my upbringing of don't help but receive it.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:08 Now, Scripture does tell us that we do need to look after our families first.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 In 1 Timothy 5, it says,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:15 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 But if a widow has children or grandchildren,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:26 they should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family
00:05:26 --> 00:05:31 and so repaying their parents and grandparents for this is pleasing to God.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 Might I mention, that's actually what Candida is doing.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:41 So there is a condition in Scripture that we do support our family first.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:46 But the Scripture, there's another condition that Scripture puts on us
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 and that is that we need to work.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 That's a mandate that has been given.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 And the fourth commandment says,
00:05:53 --> 00:05:57 Six days shall you labour and then we rest on the seventh day.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 There's an expectation that we work.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 3,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 If a man will not work, he shall not eat.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:12 That particular verse is about just continues not to work,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 does not have any desire to work.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:19 And he has no incentive to actually make a living for himself.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:24 And the thing is, I mean, I knew a person who failed to work
00:06:24 --> 00:06:30 because he was given a financial allowance.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 He was given housing actually also.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 He was given housing, very lovely housing.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 He was also given financial assistance every week.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 And so there was no desire for him to go and work.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 Why would you work when you're living in a very plush house
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 and you're being given an allowance?
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 There are no bills to pay.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 Why would you not work?
00:06:49 --> 00:06:55 This wasn't actually mercy in that scenario.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 What it was, was foolishness.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 It was foolishness on behalf of the person
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 who was giving the financial allowance
00:07:03 --> 00:07:07 with no expectation of doing anything, any work.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:11 And it was foolishness on behalf of the person receiving the money
00:07:11 --> 00:07:15 because he was just taking the easy road out.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:21 Now, we can only understand the seeming contradictions in Scripture
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 about there are some conditions that are given
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 on how, what people have to do.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 And yet we look at the Good Samaritan
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 and that was totally unconditional.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 And so we've got this contradiction that is happening.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:39 But we need to actually look at the grace and the mercy of God
00:07:39 --> 00:07:44 to understand and put those two into some form of balance.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 God's mercy to us, we've already said,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 was totally unconditional.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:55 We had no desire for God of our own being.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 We were enemies of God,
00:07:57 --> 00:08:01 and yet God loved us and reached out to us.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 That's what the Romans 3 passage is saying.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:07 There was nothing in our words, in our eyes, in our deeds,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 nothing we did deserve God's love.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 And yet he still loved us unconditionally.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:23 God's mercy comes to us freely and without condition,
00:08:24 --> 00:08:30 and yet it proceeds, it moves forward with some conditions
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 because we need to grow.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 Once we receive this mercy and love from God,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 God is wanting us to grow.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 He doesn't want to keep us in the condition
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 that he has found us in.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:48 He therefore demands us to cooperate
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 with the mercy that he's actually given us.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 This, you will know, is called sanctification,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 if you want a big word to give it.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:04 But we grow day by day to be more and more Christ-like
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 until Jesus returns.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:10 We never arrive at that position until Jesus returns.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 But we are active in that process.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 We gather for worship together like we're doing today.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 We read our Bible, we pray, we serve,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 we encourage each other.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:27 We are very active in moving forward in the process
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 once we've received love and mercy.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:33 So too it is with showing mercy.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:40 The goal isn't to provide spot relief or stop suffering.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:46 Our real purpose must be to restore the whole person.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:54 Mercy must have the purpose of seeing God's lordship realised
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 in the lives of those that we help.
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 Scripture supports this principle of restoration.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 In Deuteronomy 15, we read,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:07 If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 sells himself to you and serves you six years,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 in the seventh year you must let him go.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 Supply him liberally from your flock,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 your threshing floor, threshing floor,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 and your winepress.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 Give to him as the Lord your God has blessed you.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 and the Lord your God redeemed you.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 That is why I give you this command today.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:40 For us today, we don't have slaves,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 but this might mean something like
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 we provide for those that we are actually helping
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 or where we are putting our money,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:53 something like counselling or encouragement or education,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 or it might be job training,
00:10:56 --> 00:11:01 or it might be grants to start a little business for somebody
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 so that they can move out of the scenario that they're in.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:10 All these are ways in which we can help and develop the poor.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 Our mercy must have as its goal
00:11:14 --> 00:11:19 the rehabilitation of the whole person.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:23 Now, working here at the church office,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:27 we often get people who come asking for money.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 Generally speaking, the money is for train tickets,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 and so it's just a little bit of money
00:11:33 --> 00:11:37 that people wish to actually collect from us.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 Now, over the years, and I've been here a long time now,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 over the years, we've done lots of different things.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:46 We have actually given the train ticket money sometimes.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:50 Other times, we've gone down to the station and bought tickets,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 and I remember ever so clearly one woman,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 I walked down to the station and I bought the ticket,
00:11:56 --> 00:12:01 and she was furious with me that I bought her a train ticket.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:05 So that didn't go down so well, that situation.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 And Dave Lawrence, who used to be on our team,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 the general manager for St Paul's at one stage,
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 there was one chap who would regularly come here to St Paul's.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 His name was Mark.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 And over time, we did give him little bits of money.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:27 And so Dave decided that what would be a really good thing to do
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 is to spend more time with Mark.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 So he would spend time with Mark.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 He'd chat to him.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 Sometimes he'd read God's word to him.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 He prayed with him.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 And he said to him, because Mark always said,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 I'm wanting to get a job.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:46 And so in the end, Dave decided that what would be a really good idea
00:12:46 --> 00:12:50 is to give him some odd jobs around here, just little jobs.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 And then he would give him his train ticket money,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:59 and that would actually be a great thing to do.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 It's happened once, and we never saw Mark again.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:11 You see, many people are rebellious against what the Lord wants,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:16 and of their own volition, they will stop asking or stop coming
00:13:16 --> 00:13:21 if we are not giving in the way that they are wanting.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 So that's actually very tricky,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 but it was the right thing that Dave actually did, I believe,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:33 to try and put worth into this chap who didn't wish for that to happen.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:37 So we must give mercy, and we give it unconditionally.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 That is what we keep repeating.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 But eventually, we have to call the whole person to Christ.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 This might take a long time to do that,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:51 to get to the point where we can share the gospel with somebody.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:56 But it is our aim in showing love to our neighbour.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 That must always be the overarching.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 Paul actually mentioned it with Anglicare,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 that that's the overall arching aim.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 You see, if we truly understand the gospel,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:12 we will know that Jesus is going to return,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 and there is a heaven, and there is a hell.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:20 And when we die, there is only two choices, heaven or hell.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:27 So if we are actually only giving a Band-Aid solution
00:14:27 --> 00:14:33 to help somebody that is not going to actually speak life words
00:14:33 --> 00:14:37 of salvation and the gospel into a person,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 then we are not loving them at all.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 Really hard thing.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:50 But we want to actually think of the bigger picture.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:56 More thought needs to go into any situation that we come across.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 And that's where our mind has to come into it.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:03 There are times when we may need to stop giving aid.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 So it's not an unending task.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:12 We can cut off aid if it is unmerciful to continue.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:19 Sometimes a person needs to feel the full consequences
00:15:19 --> 00:15:23 of his own irresponsible actions, if there are some.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 I would call this tough love.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:32 It's more loving to stop than to continue.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 Sometimes the mercy needs to be withdrawn,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:40 and we set new guidelines.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:46 Maybe you can talk to, if it's an individual that you're talking to,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 talk to a person and try and encourage them
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 to actually change their position.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:55 Maybe do something that is going to move them
00:15:55 --> 00:15:59 towards changing their position, taking some responsibility.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:03 And until such times they take some responsibility,
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 that's when you can actually assist again.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:10 But you might continue to meet with them, to pray with them.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 You might meet with them and just chat with them
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 and be a listening ear.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:18 But sometimes withdrawing aid is a good thing
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 and a right thing to do.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:25 We had a situation of a pastor friend in the Philippines one time
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 when we were over there on mission,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 and the pastor was very poor.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:33 I have to say most pastors in the Philippines are poor.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 But he was very poor.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 He had children.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 He wasn't succeeding in feeding his children,
00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 and yet he was trying to grow a church as well.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:46 So we decided that we would actually send him a bit of money.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:49 Now, $20 to us is not much,
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 but in the Philippines it's a massive amount of money.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 And so we sent some money over.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 I can't remember how much.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:58 And that was specifically for him to look after his family.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:03 And then a little while later we get an email to say,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:07 with the money that you sent, praise God,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:12 I was able to go and get a loan and buy a motorbike
00:17:12 --> 00:17:16 because in the Philippines for a pastor to have a motorbike,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 it's very prestigious.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:21 And it looks as if you've arrived, so to speak.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:25 I've been up to buy a motorbike, get a loan, get a motorbike,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:28 but unfortunately I'm unable to pay the repayments.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:32 Can you send some more money so that we can pay,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 you know, sort of to pay the repayments?
00:17:35 --> 00:17:40 Well, of course, I got the job of contacting this particular pastor
00:17:40 --> 00:17:44 to say that money was to feed your family
00:17:44 --> 00:17:49 because your first call from God is to actually feed your family,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 to look after your family first.
00:17:52 --> 00:17:56 And so the money that we are sending will be stopped
00:17:56 --> 00:18:03 and you need to take that motorbike back to whoever you bought it from
00:18:03 --> 00:18:06 and until such times we know that has happened,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 there will be no more support.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:13 Now, that was a tough thing to do, but that was tough love.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:17 That actually had to happen because even then his family were not being cared for.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:22 That is not unusual, I have to say, unfortunately.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:30 Now, the Bible is very, very clear about the different causes of poverty
00:18:30 --> 00:18:34 and we need to get a handle on this so that we don't make a mistake
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 in making different assumptions.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:42 One cause of poverty is oppression or injustice
00:18:42 --> 00:18:46 and there's lots of Bible verses that go with all of this.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:52 But oppression is any social condition or unfair treatment
00:18:52 --> 00:18:56 that brings or keeps somebody in poverty.
00:18:57 --> 00:19:01 It also includes, oppression includes delaying wages
00:19:01 --> 00:19:06 or giving unjust low wages
00:19:06 --> 00:19:11 or it might be a court or a government system
00:19:11 --> 00:19:15 that is weighted towards the wealthy
00:19:15 --> 00:19:20 and the Australian government is in question at this moment in time
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 in exactly that sort of thing.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:31 Or it might be high interest loans that are an example of oppression.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:37 Number two, cause is natural disaster or calamity.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 Scripture shares many of those things.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:44 It might be crop failures, especially with our farmers.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 It might be disabling injuries.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:49 It might be victimisation by criminals.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 It might be floods, storms, fires.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 All of those sorts of things are natural things
00:19:53 --> 00:19:56 that can come upon a family or a person
00:19:56 --> 00:20:02 and they have had nothing to do with all those things happening.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:07 And the third, poverty can be caused by personal sin.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 It might be a life of laziness.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 It might be problems with self-discipline.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:17 It might be expensive tastes and luxury seeking
00:20:17 --> 00:20:20 can be a reason for economic trouble.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 Now, it's important to see the differences
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 within these three categories
00:20:25 --> 00:20:30 so that you do not treat all situations the same.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:34 It's equally important to see that many situations
00:20:34 --> 00:20:37 may encounter all three together.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:41 You do not want to be trapped
00:20:41 --> 00:20:45 into thinking that all poor are oppressed
00:20:45 --> 00:20:50 and therefore you don't see the importance
00:20:50 --> 00:20:54 of setting any conditions on caring and showing mercy.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:58 But equally, you don't actually want to think
00:20:58 --> 00:21:01 that all poor are irresponsible
00:21:01 --> 00:21:03 because that's not right either.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:08 If we're to help, then we need to try and understand
00:21:08 --> 00:21:11 what the root cause of any situation is
00:21:11 --> 00:21:14 and discern what is really needed.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 What is needed?
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 Is it food?
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 Is it money?
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 Is it counselling?
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Is it education?
00:21:19 --> 00:21:21 Various types of aids?
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 Is it respect?
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 Is it loving concern?
00:21:24 --> 00:21:27 Or maybe it's just a listening ear.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 Now, in community groups this week,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:33 I'll give you a number of case studies
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 for you to examine
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 and for you to determine
00:21:37 --> 00:21:41 what type of help would be needed
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 in these case studies.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 And I didn't bring it up,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:47 but in this month's Eternity magazine,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 there is a fabulous example
00:21:50 --> 00:21:54 of a woman who was living in a car
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 and she was shown mercy
00:21:56 --> 00:21:59 and just the transformation in that woman's life.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 It's a great article.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:05 So it's out in the atrium if you wish to get it.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:08 What we need to remember in all of this
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 is that grace is free,
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 but it's not cheap.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:17 Grace costs Jesus his life.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:20 Grace comes to the undeserving,
00:22:20 --> 00:22:23 you and me and everybody else,
00:22:24 --> 00:22:27 but its goal is to intercept
00:22:27 --> 00:22:30 self-destructive behaviour.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 Our love is not mere sentiment.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:38 It is active and it longs to bring about healing
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 and change in the lives of the recipient
00:22:40 --> 00:22:44 under the kingship of Jesus.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:47 Nothing less will satisfy it.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 Matthew 5.16 says,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 In the same way,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 let your light shine before men
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 that they may see your good deeds
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 and praise your Father in heaven.
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 Mercy has impact.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 It melts hearts.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 It removes objections.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:08 It forces respect out of those
00:23:08 --> 00:23:11 who are even hostile to the gospel.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:15 By this all men will know
00:23:15 --> 00:23:18 that you are my disciples
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 if you love one another.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 The ministry of mercy
00:23:22 --> 00:23:25 within the Christian community
00:23:25 --> 00:23:29 is perhaps the most startling
00:23:29 --> 00:23:32 display of love for one another
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 that is seen by the world.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 The Roman Emperor Julian
00:23:37 --> 00:23:40 tried in the fourth century
00:23:40 --> 00:23:42 to revive paganism
00:23:42 --> 00:23:46 because paganism was dying
00:23:46 --> 00:23:49 because of the spread of Christianity.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 And as part of his plan,
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 he ordered that hospices,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 hospitals for want of another word,
00:23:57 --> 00:24:00 must be established in every town
00:24:00 --> 00:24:03 to help the poor and give relief.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 He said,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 it is disgraceful
00:24:06 --> 00:24:10 that while impious Galileans,
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 that is the Christians,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 it's disgraceful
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 that the Christians
00:24:14 --> 00:24:18 support their own poor
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 and they support ours as well.
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 All men see
00:24:23 --> 00:24:26 that they lack aid from us,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 he says.
00:24:27 --> 00:24:30 So he wanted more hospitals set up.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 Christians in the early church,
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 they were promiscuous.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:37 I never thought I'd say that word in here
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 and think it was a good thing.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 But Christians were promiscuous
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 with their charity
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 and the world paid attention.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 Can that be said of us today?
00:24:53 --> 00:24:55 Let's return to the comment
00:24:55 --> 00:24:58 about ministry of the word and deed.
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 It is inappropriate
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 to ask whether evangelism
00:25:02 --> 00:25:04 or social concern
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 is more important.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 They go together
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 and should not be divided.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:14 They are both necessary ministries.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 Jesus went everywhere teaching and healing.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 He came to speak
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 and to serve.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 So the church is gifted
00:25:21 --> 00:25:24 to both speak and to serve.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 In 1 Peter it says,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 if anyone speaks
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 he should do it
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 as one speaking
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 the very words of God.
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 If anyone serves
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 he must do it
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 with the strength God provides
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 so that in all things
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 God may be praised
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 through Jesus Christ.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 There are many, many different
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 there are many different
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 points of view
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 when we come to word
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 and deed ministry.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 And all of us
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 will fit into
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 one or a couple
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 of these mixing.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:55 Peter Wagner discerns
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 that there are five views
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 concerning whether
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 you do word or deed
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 or evangelism
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 and social concern.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 One is
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 number A
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 teaches that
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09 the ministry of mercy
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 and social justice
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 is the only
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 legitimate function
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 of the church.
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 B
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 holds that
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 social concern
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 is the most
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 important function
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 but evangelism
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 is part of the mission
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 so we have to do
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 a bit of that on the side.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 C
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 social concern
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 and evangelism
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 go hand in hand
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 and deed and word
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 are absolutely
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 equal
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 in importance.
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 D
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 evangelism
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 is the
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 primary function
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 of the church
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 and the ministry
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 of deed
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 is a ministry
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 but it's secondary.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 So let's put it
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 to the side.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 And E
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 states flatly
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52 that social concern
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 is not the job
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 of the church
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 at all
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 in the world.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 We carry on
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 only the ministry
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 of the word.
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 Now
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 all churches
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 will fit into
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 one of them
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 or
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 they might
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 mix over
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 sometimes.
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 Even we
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 as individuals
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 if I really
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 pushed you
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 you will have
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 a view
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 of which one
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 you think
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 is right.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 So let me
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 repeat
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 it is inappropriate
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 to ask
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 whether evangelism
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 or social concern
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 is more important.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 They constitute
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 a whole
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 that should
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 not be
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 divided.
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 Remember
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 deed ministry
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 like grace
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 ministry
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 is unmerited
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 favour.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 Our motive
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 for any
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 ministry
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 must
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 always
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 be love.
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 Where does
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 that leave
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 us then
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 when thinking
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 as a church
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 and as
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 individuals?
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 Well
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 God
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 commands
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 both
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 mercy
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 ministry
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 and word
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 ministry.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 They
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 are not
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 options
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 my friends.
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 Both
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 evangelism
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 and mercy
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 ministry
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 both
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 we are
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 commanded
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 as individuals
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 and we are
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 commanded
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 as a church
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 to be involved
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 in both.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 You might
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 like to
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 question
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 if you
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 are doing
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 both of
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 them.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 We cannot
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 get away
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 with saying
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 that we
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 can't afford
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 to help
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 the poor
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 because Paul
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 says in
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 Ephesians 4
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 28
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 we work
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 so that we
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 have something
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 to share
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 with those
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 in need.
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 Now
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 our work
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 and our
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 pay packet
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 surprisingly
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36 is not
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 for us
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 to plan
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 holidays
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 build
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 houses
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 and do
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 extensions
00:28:40 --> 00:28:42 and buy
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 lovely
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 material
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 possessions
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 first.
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 That is
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 not why
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 we get
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 a pay
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 packet.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 It's
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 fascinating
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 I found
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 it fascinating
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 that the
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 Bible even
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 addresses this.
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 It is to
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 support
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 our families
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 first
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 give to
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 our local
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 church
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 and to
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 support
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 the needy
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 and after
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 we've done
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 those three
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 then luxuries
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 like holidays
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 and material
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 possessions
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 come into
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 play.
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 Now
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 we just
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 might need
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 to adjust
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 our personal
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 giving
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 so that it
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 is in
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 better
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 biblical
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 priority
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 because
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 that's not
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 Debbie Gould
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 just speaking
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 that is
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 what the
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 Bible says
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 the order
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 of how
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 money should
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 be used.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 And we
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 must do
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 the same
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 as a
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 church
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 with what
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 we support
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 in the
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 way that
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 we minister.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 We must
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 see that
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 word and
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 deed are
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39 inextricably
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 united and
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 inseparable.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 We must
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 minister to
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 the whole
00:29:44 --> 00:29:46 person and
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 depending on
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 the situation
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 at hand
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 it might
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 be meeting
00:29:49 --> 00:29:51 needs first
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 and word
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 later.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 Who knows?
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 Every
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 circumstance
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 must be
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 treated on
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 its own
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 base and
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 merit and
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 there is no
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 set pattern
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 in how we
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 do this
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 and that's
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 what makes
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 it so
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 tricky.
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 But we
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 must be
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 doing it.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 You may
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 need to
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 reconsider
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 or do
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 some
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 exploring
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 into the
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 ministries
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 that you
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 might already
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 be supporting
00:30:17 --> 00:30:19 to see
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 where they
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 fit with
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 deed and
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 word.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 You may
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 also like
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 to think
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 long and
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 hard as
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 to what
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 you support
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 and how
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 you support
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 a need
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 ministry.
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 We've
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 mentioned
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 before our
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 mission giving
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 this month
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 is for
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 ropes crossing
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 and whatever
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 is over
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 the $10
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 mark will
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 go towards
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 grace ministry
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 and ESL
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 ministry.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 These
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 ministries
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 are desiring
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 to combine
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 deed and
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 word in
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 different ways
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 and in
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 different timing
00:30:56 --> 00:30:58 ministries
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 are all
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 about.
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 It fits
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 the mandate
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 that God
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 has given
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 us.
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 And you
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 might also
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 be thinking
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 I cannot
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 help every
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 person that
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 I see
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 who is in
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 need.
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 Well guess
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 what?
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 You don't
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 have to.
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 God
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 actually says
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 go and
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 preach the
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 good news
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 to every
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 person in
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 the world.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 Do we
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 do that?
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 No because
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 it's impossible
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 for us to
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 do that.
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 But we
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 can do a
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 little bit
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 in how
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 we show
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 mercy.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 What we
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 are to
00:31:27 --> 00:31:29 have is
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 to have
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 a heart
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 after mercy
00:31:31 --> 00:31:33 to help
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 where we
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 can and
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 to be
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 purposeful
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 in what
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 we say
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 and do.
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 That is
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 you cannot
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 feed every
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 homeless
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 person that
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 you might
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 pass by
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 on the
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 street.
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 But you
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 might be
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 able to
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 help one
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 of them.
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 You might
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 be able to
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 maybe give
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 a little bit
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 of money or
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 maybe give
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 a salad
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 sandwich.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 You might
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 be able to
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 say hi
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 one day
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 and the
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 next day
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 make eye
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 contact.
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 There may
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 be a
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 progression
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 of how
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 you help
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 that person
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 and who
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 knows the
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 Lord might
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 just open
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 up a
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 whole avenue
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 of something
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 fantastic
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 in sharing
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 about Jesus
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 with them.
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 It starts
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 with a very
00:32:19 --> 00:32:21 small effort.
00:32:21 --> 00:32:23 mercy and
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 evangelism
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 are like
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 smoke and
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 fire.
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 Where one
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 is, the
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 other must
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 be near.
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 Only when
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 both are
00:32:34 --> 00:32:36 occurring will
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 actual growth
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 in the
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 kingdom of
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 God occur.
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 And that
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 diamond that
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 we saw
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 mentioned at
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 the beginning,
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 that's when
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 we'll see the
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 diamond shining
00:32:47 --> 00:32:49 very, very
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 brightly.
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51 bless you
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 all in
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 your
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 endeavours.