Activate
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 12th July 2015
Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-31
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 So today we are launching into our second ever round of Activate.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 This is a chance for us to get connected through community groups.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:14 It's a chance to sign up and serve in a whole bunch of ministries across the church.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:23 But as I was preparing my message this week, I was convicted that there was more to say than you should serve.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:28 You should serve and God wants you to serve and it's okay to say that.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:37 But this week, and in fact over the past few weeks, God has been impressing something else on my heart.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 Namely, his heart.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:52 Over the past two weeks, I've had this overwhelming sense that we as a church and me personally need to refocus on the heart of God who gathers us.
00:00:52 --> 00:01:04 We need to stop and realise that in reality, all service, all connection, all relationship, all of that has to begin by understanding the heart of God.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:10 If we're to reflect on what it means to serve him, we must start with him.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 We must start with what matters to him.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:14 It has to come first.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:22 Because if we don't start there, anything that we do for him will just be a job or a task.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 Something that we're required to do or a box that we have to tick.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:32 If you remember Jonah in the Old Testament, the way he approached his God-given calling.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:41 After running away, being rescued by a fish, hearing a second time what God wanted him to do, he goes off dutifully and does his task.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:47 He never stopped to ask, though, why he was being sent to the city of Nineveh.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 He walked into a large city.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 He told them all that God was angry, that there was going to be judgment.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 It was just a simple transaction for him.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 And then he wandered out of the city and waited for the fireworks.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 But he was disappointed when God didn't come through.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 He was angry when God's judgment wasn't poured out.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:13 He had never stopped to ask, why did God send me?
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 What matters to God in this?
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 It was never just a job.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:23 God had an agenda the whole time and Jonah lost sight of God's heart.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 So what is it that consumes God's heart?
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 What is it that matters to him most?
00:02:31 --> 00:02:36 What is it that he's desperate for in any and every circumstance?
00:02:38 --> 00:02:44 First and foremost, God is a God who desires his own glory.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 And rightly so, because he is glorious.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:55 But the way that he seeks his glory tells us a lot about who he is.
00:02:55 --> 00:03:04 From the beginning of creation, if you start with Adam and Eve in the garden, God's agenda, his desire has been for relationships with his people.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:12 The thing he's always worked towards has been the goal of dwelling among his people, of having that right relationship with his people.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:26 And as you read what happens with Israel in the desert wanderings, God goes to incredible lengths to create an acceptable dwelling place for him, a sanctuary, a temple where he can be among his unworthy people.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:38 God is driven by desperation to bring people who are far from him back into a right relationship to find what is lost.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:49 The heart of God, the heart that we as his people must imitate and share, is a heart for lost people.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:58 Even what motivates God in his acts of judgment throughout scripture is a heart for lost people.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 Look at the way he deals with his children in the Old Testament.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 He always starts with a warning.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:13 His desire is that they might turn back, that there might be repentance, that he might not have to pour out his judgment, like with Nineveh.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:19 And even when he does pour out his judgment, it's always motivated by love.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 Take Adam and Eve right at the beginning.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 They get kicked out of the garden for disobeying God.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 They're kicked out of the perfect place.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 But why?
00:04:30 --> 00:04:43 Because if God leaves them there in the garden, they have access to the tree of life and they could live forever as sinful people separated from God.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 God doesn't want that for them.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 His desire is not that they live forever.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:52 His desire is that they have a close, intimate relationship with him.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 That they know that deep satisfaction.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:58 God wants more for them.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:07 And so in his wisdom, he judges them, kicks them out of the garden and begins the greatest rescue mission ever.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 Why?
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 Because he loves his people.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:21 Because he desperately wants Adam and Eve and us and all of his creation to be in a right relationship with him.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:26 Because God's heart beats for those who don't know him yet.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:34 If you look at Jesus, you get a picture of God's heart in human form.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 Jesus is God's heart personified.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:41 When you look at his life, you see everything that excites God.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:46 Everything that's important to God lived out in our earthly context.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 You can sum up Jesus' life and ministry in one word.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:51 Compassion.
00:05:54 --> 00:06:04 As he spends time on the earth, as he interacts with people, he looks and he sees need and he's moved with compassion to meet that need.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 He sees people lost without God.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:14 He sees people suffering the effects of a sinful world and his heart is moved with compassion to meet that need.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:19 He was deeply aware of the suffering and need around him.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:30 And what fuelled him, what drove his action and his teaching and everything that he did was a desperation to see that suffering relieved.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:35 You can see it in every bit of Jesus' life.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 Jesus didn't actually come to earth to do miracles.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 I mean, they're the bit that often gets a lot of coverage, a lot of press, a lot of excitement.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 He didn't come to earth to impress people with his power and healings.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:53 But when he saw people in desperate need, his heart went out to them.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:59 His compassion was aroused within him and he met needs.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 The day he fed the 5, that wasn't on his to-do list that day.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:15 Jesus was there to teach, but he looked and it says he saw them harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 So he met that need.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 He fed them and then he spoke God's truth to them.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:25 Jesus' whole life and ministry was about meeting the need of people.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:30 The need that they might be restored into a relationship with God.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:43 And sure, he spent a lot of his time with his disciples, but even there his agenda was that he would equip the disciples to continue reaching for lost people once he was gone.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:48 The fact that we're sitting here today is a testament to how good he was at equipping them for that ministry.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:59 But even in amongst his time spent training the disciples, Jesus couldn't help but be moved by the need that he saw around him.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:12 He couldn't help but be driven by the urgency for lost people who were living as enemies of God to be brought back into a saving relationship with God.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:23 He looked and saw those who didn't yet know the love of his heavenly Father and he was moved to teach them and to reach out to them.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:32 Because in his own words from Luke 19, the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:37 In his teaching, Jesus even says this is what motivates him.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:44 The thing that motivated him more than anything else was a desire to see lost people brought back, lost people found.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:55 The lost sheep, the lost son, the lost coin, they're all stories of God's heart for that which is far away to be brought close into the love of God.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 In Luke 15, he says,
00:08:58 --> 00:09:07 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:14 God is on a mission to bring lost people back into a relationship with himself.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:21 His heart is desperate for the people that we walk past every day.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:30 Maybe the people we live with, maybe our neighbours, maybe those we work with, those that we walk past in the shops or catch the train with.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 His heart is desperate for lost people.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:40 And in his grace and generosity, he has chosen to include us in the mission that he is on.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 We are chosen to share God's goal.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 To share God's heart.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:53 The thing that unites us as a church, the thing that draws us together, isn't sitting together in this time slot.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 It's not a logo or anything else.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 It's a common goal or desire.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 It's a common heart, a common purpose.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 It's God's heart.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:10 God's heart for his creation, to know him and to glorify him as God.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:16 And so this morning, I want to challenge you to reflect on how are we going at that?
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 Together and personally.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:30 If we were to give ourselves a health check, would you right now describe yourself as desperate for lost people?
00:10:32 --> 00:10:39 Desperate to see those who don't know Jesus come to discover the grace and hope that is offered in him.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:45 Does your heart quicken and get excited when you see an opportunity to talk about Jesus?
00:10:45 --> 00:10:54 Is your day and week and year and everything you do driven by the same goal as God?
00:10:54 --> 00:11:00 When I was growing up, I used to live for footy.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 I think I've told you this before.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 It's not a big secret.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:07 I played AFL as a kid and it was the highlight of my week.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 My week revolved around Wednesday night training, Saturday games.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 I would go to training two hours early just because I liked being at the Oval.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 No one else was there.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 I'd just take a football and hang out.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:23 I would wake up on Thursday really excited that that meant I was in the closer to the game half of the week.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 Everything was directed towards that.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 I would be imagining myself kicking the winning goal.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 I would be talking about how well I'd played the week before.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 I was planning my career as a professional AFL player.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 Saturdays was easy.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 That was all about football.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 I would turn up for the first game of the day, which is like 8am in the morning.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 My game's somewhere in the middle and I would stay right to the end.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 I'd be helping put pads up, cook sausages.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 I just loved everything football.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:52 And then on Sunday I would wake up with my brother to recover from the game the day before,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:56 talk about how well I'd played, kick a football and start preparing for the next week again.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 I carried a football around instead of a teddy bear.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 I'd talk about football.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:06 I'd force my brother to come and kick a football with me every single afternoon.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 I loved it.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 I lived for it.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:15 It was obvious to anyone that football motivated everything I did.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 I'm not exaggerating.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:22 Every time there was a chance to draw a picture in class or wherever I was, it was football related.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:28 I wonder right now, what is that thing in your life?
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 What is driving you?
00:12:32 --> 00:12:37 If people looked at the way you make decisions, spend your time, use your energy, spend your money,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:42 what would they think is your driving desire?
00:12:42 --> 00:12:51 And is it anything like a desire for God to be glorified by lost people coming to know him?
00:12:54 --> 00:12:59 Are we as a church desperate to see people come into the kingdom of God?
00:12:59 --> 00:13:04 My guess would be no.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 This past few weeks, while God has been pushing me on this,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:17 it's been quite a challenging and sobering time.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:21 I've reflected on what I was like as a new Christian.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:27 Or even just in my early days of serving God in ministry.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 I was undivided in my allegiance.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 Absolute in my commitment.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:38 I was happy to take ridicule or discomfort or whatever came my way
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 as long as I got to tell people about Jesus.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:47 As long as I could tell them about this incredible love that I had experienced and tasted in my own life.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:52 I would catch my friends at lunchtime and not let them go off to play whatever we were playing
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 because they needed to hear about Jesus.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:58 Because there was nothing more important that could happen in that 45 minute break at school.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 But I'm not like that now.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 Somewhere over the past 18 years,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:11 I've slowly but surely slipped back
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 with the tide.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 I've gotten distracted
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 by the responsibilities of life.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 By worrying about money.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 Worrying about fitting in.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:32 Worrying about how I might spend the rest of my life.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:36 Dreaming about holidays and retirement and whatever else.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 And what we need to understand
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 and what God has been challenging me on this week
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 is that everything that you have in your life,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 even the good gifts from God,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 war for your affection.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 They war for your allegiance.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 And unless we actively
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 draw close to the heart of God
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 that has loved us
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 even when we are sinners,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 then we are destined
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 for apathy.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 For mediocrity.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 Let me share with you two traps
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 that we fall into
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 when it comes to serving God's mission
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and serving God's church.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 The first trap is
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 a roster
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 instead of a heart.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 Like Jonah,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 ministry can just become a job
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 that we tick.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 Something we have to get done.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 It's about filling a hole
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 rather than a heart
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 that's overflowing
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 in love for God's people.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 Every single person
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 is valuable to God
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 and he has called us
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 to get out there
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 and speak to them.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 He's called us to be desperate
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 because
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 he was desperate for us.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:52 He was willing to go to any length
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 and he's calling us
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 to love people like he does.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 Not just to be the name
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 on a spreadsheet
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 or a name on a roster.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:03 A couple of weeks ago
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 I was having a conversation
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 with Candida
00:16:05 --> 00:16:08 who's one of our 930 volunteers
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 for welcoming
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 and she came up to me
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 to chat about welcoming
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 and how we might do it better.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 She had some great ideas
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 but what struck me
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 as I was chatting with her
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 was the reason
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 that she bothered
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 to come up with these ideas
00:16:21 --> 00:16:24 because it's not necessarily her job.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 If Candida stands at the door
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 and smiles
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 and gives you handouts,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 helps with collection,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 she has ticked the box.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 She's done what's required of her.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 But the encouragement was
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 it's not a job to her.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 There is no box to tick for Candida.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 She just has a heart
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 to see us as a church connect.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 To see us having rich,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 deep, Christ-filled relationships.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 She wants this to be a community
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 that is so welcoming
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 and so loving
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 that any outsider
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 who walks in
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 easily connects
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 and gets cared for
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 and feels valued.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 I hope I'm doing justice
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 to her in my paraphrase
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 but I just walked away
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 encouraged
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 and rebuked
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 because for her
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 there was no job.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 For her, literally,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 the roster is irrelevant.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 This morning,
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 we had a conversation.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 I said,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 are you on welcoming?
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 She goes,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 well, I like to just be here
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 every week.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 That is a heart
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 that doesn't look at
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 what must be done
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 but a heart
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 that looks like God
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 and loves people
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 who are in need.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:44 If serving at church
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 here has become
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 just one of the commitments
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 that you have to get done
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 in your life,
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 could it be that
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 desperation
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 and love
00:17:54 --> 00:17:57 has given way
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 to rosters?
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 Now, don't get me wrong,
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 there's nothing wrong
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 with a roster itself.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 It's a good and efficient way
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 for us to organise ourselves
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 but there is something wrong
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 when we have a roster mentality
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 to the way that we serve.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 In Ephesians 3,
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 Paul tells us
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 that it's through the church
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 that God has chosen
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 to display
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 his manifold wisdom
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 to the rulers
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 and authorities
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 in the heavenly realms
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 according to his eternal purpose
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 which he accomplished
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 through Christ Jesus.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 The church is central
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 to how God is working
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 in the world.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 It's a key part
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 of his mission.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 It's not the only place
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 you can serve
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 but it's a key way
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 that God has chosen to work
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 and so you've got to
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 ask yourself the question,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 if I'm too busy
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 to commit
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 to the people of God
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 and the mission of God
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 through his local church,
00:18:51 --> 00:18:54 am I wasting my time
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 on things that are
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 less important?
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 Now, I want to choose
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 those words carefully.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 not unimportant,
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 less important.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 We have a lot
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 of really important things
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 in our lives,
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 valid, valuable things
00:19:11 --> 00:19:14 but if this is God's heart,
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 there is nothing
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 more important than this.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 Maybe it means
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 we need to make
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 some hard decisions.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 Maybe it means
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 we need to say no
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 to some other things,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 count the cost
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 and let our heart
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 for God's purpose
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 drive the way
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 that we spend our time
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 and energy and resources.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 The first trap
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 for us
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 that we need
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 to be mindful of
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 is that roster
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 or task mentality
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 instead of a heart
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 that shares God's desire
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 for lost people.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 The second trap
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 for us
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 that can limit
00:19:50 --> 00:19:52 our desire to serve,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 our effectiveness
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 in serving
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 is comparison.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 Let me read to you
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 from 1 Corinthians 12
00:19:57 --> 00:19:59 that Tim read out for us
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 from verse 7.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 Now to each one
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 the manifestation
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 of the Spirit
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 is given
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 for the common good.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 To one there is given
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 through the Spirit
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 the message of wisdom,
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 to another
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 the message of knowledge
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 by means
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 of the same Spirit,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 to another
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 faith by the same Spirit,
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 to another
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 gifts of healing
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 by that one Spirit,
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 to another
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 miraculous powers,
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 to another prophecy,
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 to another
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 distinguishing between
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 spirits,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 to another speaking
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 in different kinds
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 of tongues,
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 and to still another
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 the interpretation
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 of tongues.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 All these
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 are the work
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 of one and the same Spirit
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 and He gives them
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 to each
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 just as He determines.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 Verse 7
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 is a really key verse
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 for us this morning.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 Each one
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 has a manifestation
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 of the Spirit.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 Not some,
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 not most,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 each one
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 and the same
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 grace that
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 chose you
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 when you didn't
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 deserve it,
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 the same love
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 that reached out
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 to you
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 while you were
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 still a sinner
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 has now empowered
00:21:01 --> 00:21:03 you by the Holy Spirit
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 to serve,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 to be a part
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 of God's mission.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 God loves to use
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 inadequate people.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 God loves to grab
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 hold of people
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 who couldn't do it
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 in their own strength
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 and use them
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 to achieve significant
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 things for His kingdom.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:20 Moses was a stutterer
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 yet he would be
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 God's mouthpiece
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 to lead the people
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 out of Egypt.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Any limitation
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 you see within yourself,
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 if you look out
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 at our church community
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 and you think
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 I'm not as articulate
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 as that person,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 I'm not as friendly
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 as that person,
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 I'm not as energetic
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 as that person,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 I'm not as strong
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 as that person,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 I don't have as much money
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 as that person,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 whatever limitation
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 you see within yourself
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 is an opportunity
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 for God
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 to glorify Himself.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 It is a gift
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 for God
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 to show off
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 how powerful He is.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 But what you have to do
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 is put up your hand
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 and have a go.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 Be willing
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 to let God use you.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 Understand
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 it's not about
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 what you can
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 and can't do.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 It's about a God
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 who is the God
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 of the impossible.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 You don't need
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 to know everything
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 about your gifts.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 You don't need
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 to be able
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 to tell me
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 on the list
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 of spiritual gifts
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 that are in this passage
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 or any other list
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 that someone gives you
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 which ones you have
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 and which ones
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 you don't have.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 Most gifts
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 are discovered
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 by trial and error.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 Most gifts
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31 are discovered
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 by trying something
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 and seeing God
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 use you.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 If you're nervous
00:22:36 --> 00:22:38 because you're not sure
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 what gifts you have,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 you're not sure
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 how you could contribute,
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 let me encourage you
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 to wander around
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 over morning tea
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 see what is happening
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 and put your hand
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 up for something
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 because God can
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 and God will surprise you.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 You're not signing
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 your life away.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 It's one of the beauties
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 of Activate
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 is it's six months
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 for you to have a go
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 and see what God
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 will do.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 Everything we do
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 as a church here
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 is aimed
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 at people coming
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 to know,
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 treasure,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 and represent Jesus.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 so any ministry,
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 absolutely any ministry
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 is a chance
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 for you to share
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 God's heart
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 of lost people
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 coming to know him.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 Whether it's morning tea,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 youth ministry,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 music ministry,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 sound,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 cooking meals
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 for sick people,
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 doing admin
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 in the office,
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 ringing new people
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 to our church,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 hospitality,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 visiting people
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 who are unwell,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 vacuuming the floor,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 all of it
00:23:35 --> 00:23:38 is about God's glory
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 and the joy
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 of all people,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:42 lost and found.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 So have a go.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 Try something,
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 anything,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 and see what God
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 will do.
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 There's no hierarchy
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 of gifts.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 It's the great encouragement
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 of 1 Corinthians 12.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 We are a diverse body,
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 interdependent,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 unified,
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 because we've all
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 received the same grace.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 Because none of us
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 deserves to be here.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 None of us has something
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 great to offer God.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 But God in his grace
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 empowers us
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 to do great things
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 for him.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 In his strength,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 in his power.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 It's poisonous
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 for churches
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 when people start
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 getting focused
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 on their ministry
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 or their ability
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 or their recognition
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 over and above
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 other ones.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 If the youth ministry
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 starts fighting
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 with the music ministry
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 for the best leaders
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 or for the best rooms
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 or for the best resources,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 we're all in this together.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 It's not my mission.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 It's not your mission.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 It's God's mission.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 He has,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 in his grace,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 designed this body
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 of his
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 so that we need
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 one another
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 to do what he wants
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 us to do.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 No one
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 is dispensable.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:59 We need the attitude
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 of Jesus
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 that says,
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 what I'm part of
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 is bigger
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 than the part I play.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 What I'm part of,
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 this whole church
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 on mission
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 for God's glory
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 drawing lost people
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 into the hope
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 and salvation
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 of Jesus
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 is bigger
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 than the bit
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 that I do.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 It's bigger
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 than any recognition
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 that I get
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 or don't get.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 Verse 26
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 is a key verse here
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 in chapter 12.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 It says,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 if one part suffers,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 every part suffers
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 with it.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 If one part is on it,
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 every part rejoices
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 with it.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 It's shared rejoicing.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 It's shared struggling.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 When someone
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 becomes a Christian
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 in our youth ministry,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 that is a rejoice moment
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 for the person
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 who vacuums the carpet
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 after playgroup
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 on a Tuesday.
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 When somebody
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 comes here
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 on a Sunday
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 and makes a good
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 relational connection
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 and starts investigating
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 Jesus,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 that is a rejoice moment
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 for those
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 who are cutting fruit
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 in the kitchen
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 on a Tuesday.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 When somebody
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 joins our
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 Mandarin Bible study
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 on a Sunday
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 because they have
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 come to know
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 the hope and salvation
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 that is in Jesus,
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05 that is a rejoice moment
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 for every one of us.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 And equally,
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 when somebody
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 loses
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 somebody close
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 to them,
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 regardless of
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 whether we know
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 them or sit
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 next to them
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 or are serving
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 in the same ministry
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 of them,
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 that is a struggle
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 moment for all
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 of us.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 We are a body
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 unified.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 What we are part
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 of,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 what God is doing
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 is bigger
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 than the part
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 that we play
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 individually.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 Jesus can work
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 in spite of us
00:26:33 --> 00:26:36 and thankfully
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 sometimes he does.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 He can work
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 around us
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 or he can work
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 through us.
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 Which one do you
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 think is most
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 beneficial to him?
00:26:45 --> 00:26:49 It doesn't matter.
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 He can achieve
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 the same outcome
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 whether we're
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 involved or not.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 But which one's
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 most beneficial
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 for us?
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 God has included
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 us for our
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 sake,
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 for our joy,
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 that we might
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 know that joy
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 he talks about
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 in Luke 15,
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 that rejoicing
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 over a sinner
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 who repents,
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 that we might
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 rejoice as his
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 body,
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 as other
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 churches grow,
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 as the gospel
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 goes out,
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 as missionaries
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 bear fruit,
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 he includes us
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 for our sake
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 and for our
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 joy.
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 And so what
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 now?
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 If we need
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 to acknowledge
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 and I want to
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 say personally
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 I do and
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 possibly we
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 do,
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 that we are
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 not as
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 desperate as
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 God has been
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 for us,
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 what now?
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 Two things.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 And this
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 is cannot
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 be overstated
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 for importance.
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 Remember
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 God's grace
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 to you.
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 Don't walk
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 away feeling
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 guilty because
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 you failed.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 Don't walk
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 away kicking
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 yourself and
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 trying to
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 self-generate
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 desperation.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 Remember
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 God's grace
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 to you.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 Remember
00:28:05 --> 00:28:07 his incredible
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 love.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 Remember
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 the lengths
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 he went
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 to,
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 to draw you
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 back into a
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 relationship
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 with him.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 Remember
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 how far
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 away you
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 were.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 Maybe
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 like me
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 this week
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 you need
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 to be
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 reminded
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 of what
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 it is
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 to be
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 forgiven
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 by Jesus.
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 What it
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 is to be
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 loved by
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 Jesus
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 unconditionally.
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 What it
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 is to have
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 your saviour
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 die in your
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 place and
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 take your
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 punishment
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 and instead
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 offer you
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 freedom and
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 hope and
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 future and
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 eternity.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 When we
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 know that
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 love, when
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 we know that
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 love that
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 will never be
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 taken away,
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 that love that
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 is doing a
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 work in us and
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 guarantees heaven,
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 then we can
00:28:54 --> 00:28:56 look and see
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 the people who
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 are where we
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 used to be.
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 People who are
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 still far from
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 God.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 people who
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 are in
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 desperate need
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 and we can
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 accept the
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 joy that God
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 is offering by
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 taking the
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 hope of the
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 gospel to
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 people who
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 are lost and
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 hurting.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 Soak in
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 God's word.
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 Get to know
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 his heartbeat
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 again.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 It's there over
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 and over in
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 scripture.
00:29:22 --> 00:29:24 He loves us
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 even while we're
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 sinners.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 He chose us
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 before the
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 creation of the
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 world.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 He loved us
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 enough to send
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 his son,
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 soak in God's
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 word, hear
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 God's heartbeat
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 and then
00:29:36 --> 00:29:39 gradually you
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 become more
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 and more like
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 him.
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 You begin to
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 take joy in
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 what he takes
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 joy in.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 You begin to
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 be increasingly
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 upset by the
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 things that
00:29:47 --> 00:29:49 upset him and
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 you begin to
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 be increasingly
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 desperate for
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 that which he
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 is desperate
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 for.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 People who
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 are lost.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 We need to
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 remember God's
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 grace.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:04 God loves to
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 answer prayers
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 that honor
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 him.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 God loves to
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 answer a
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 prayer when
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 you go to
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 him and
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 say,
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 God, I
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 want to be
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 the person
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 you want me
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 to be.
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 God, I
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 want to love
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 what you
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 love more.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 God, I
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 want to stop
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 being distracted.
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 I want to
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 stop paying
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 attention to
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 things that
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 are less
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 important.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 God, I
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 want you to
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 give me your
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 heart.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 God, I
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 want you to
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 love me.
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 He loves to
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 answer that
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 prayer.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 He loves to
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 redefine lives
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 and give us
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 purpose as a
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 church so that
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 we might
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 joyfully
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 sacrifice,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 joyfully pay
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 the cost.
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 And he
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 loves to
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 empower us
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 to do more
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 than we're
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 capable of
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 on our
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 own.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 God's desire
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 is not for
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 a big church
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 or a small
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 church or a
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 medium church.
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 God's desire
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 desire is for
00:30:53 --> 00:30:55 people, for
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 your husband
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 or your
00:30:56 --> 00:30:58 wife, for
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 your son or
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 your daughter,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 for your
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 neighbour or
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 your work
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 colleague, for
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 people you
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 haven't met
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 yet, people
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 who right now
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 live their
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 lives in the
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 shadow of
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 death.
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 For those
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 individuals,
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 God's heart
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 breaks.
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 So let's
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 ask God to
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 give us that
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 heart as
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 well.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 Let's ask
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 him to
00:31:21 --> 00:31:23 empower us
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 to resource
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 us, to
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 equip us
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 so that we
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 might be a
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 part of a
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 body that
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 rejoices
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 together and
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 suffers together
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 for his
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 cause.
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 Let's do
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 that now.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:37 Let's do
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 that now.
00:31:38 --> 00:31:44 Let's do
00:31:44 --> 00:31:46 term
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 verse
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 그리고
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 set
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 yours