Authentic Christian Ministry
Series: AUTHENTIC
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 18th August 2019
Passage: 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18
00:00:00 --> 00:00:09 There was an Anglican priest who auditioned for the show Britain's Got Talent.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:16 And in his audition, he sang REM's song, Everybody Hurts.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:17 I don't know if you've seen it.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 You can see it on YouTube, if you know what that is.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:28 But the thing was, at the end of this audition, he just mesmerized the crowd.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:41 It was like, by the time he finished singing it, the room was silent until Simon Cowell got up and just started applauding.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:48 And then at that point, everyone was to their feet, standing ovation for a phenomenally good performance.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:52 And the online comments were interesting that flowed on that on YouTube.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 Some thought that, in fact, he sang it better than REM.
00:00:56 --> 00:01:08 And because of the real authenticity in which he sang it from someone who'd been an Anglican priest for many decades.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:12 And the amount of hurt that he had dealt with over those years.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:18 In fact, some thought that he did it so well that he should, in fact, shift careers.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:28 One person made the comment that, I bet you that guy wished he went into a singing career earlier in life.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:36 That is, what was being projected in that moment, in that comment, is a value statement.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:43 You know, see how you've impacted not just those sitting in the room with you singing,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 but people online who have seen you.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 See the impact you've made?
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 Why on earth would you be a minister?
00:01:52 --> 00:01:53 Why would you do that?
00:01:58 --> 00:02:02 Unfortunately, too many get their view of ministry from the Vicar of Dibley,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 the Simpsons' Reverend Lovejoy,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 or Father Brown,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10 or something like that.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 For many in our society,
00:02:12 --> 00:02:16 the role of minister is that they're there,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 if they have any concept of it all,
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 they're there to be there for times of crisis,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 significant life events,
00:02:24 --> 00:02:25 ministry of the poor,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26 care for the flock,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 but basically don't say anything offensive
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 and stay out of the way most of the time.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 That's if they've got any concept.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:34 But increasingly,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 in our day and age,
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 when I say to people what I do,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:39 when they ask you,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 what do you do?
00:02:40 --> 00:02:40 And I tell them that.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 I may as well be telling them
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 that I work for the taxation office
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 or that I work for a big bank.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 Like, it's a conversation killer.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 And if there's a follow-up question,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:55 it's,
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 but what do you do?
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 Like, what is it that you actually do?
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 For those in the church,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 we often expect a carer,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 a scholar,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 a leader,
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 an evangelist,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:12 a manager,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 a janitor.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 Without an own diocese,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 there is an undercurrent of expectation
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 that the wise leader,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 and I'm quoting someone,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:24 that the wise leader
00:03:24 --> 00:03:30 will keep everyone in the church
00:03:30 --> 00:03:31 on board
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 while they significantly push forward
00:03:34 --> 00:03:34 for new growth
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 and reach new people
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 at exactly the same time.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 In 2 Corinthians,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 Paul is helping us here
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 and the passage is read out to us.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:51 What does authentic ministry look like?
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 We saw yesterday,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 last week,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 what does the authentic minister look like?
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 What does the authentic Christian look like?
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 What does authentic gospel ministry look like?
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 That's what we're looking at here right now
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 in 2 Corinthians 2 and 3.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 You've got this next point out to you already.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 If you've got the paper version,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:11 right down the bottom,
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 point number four is robust love.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 That's not where I'm heading,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 but good thing to think about anyway.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 So go back and do that later.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:22 We've got three points
00:04:22 --> 00:04:23 I want to particularly focus on.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 But the situation
00:04:25 --> 00:04:29 is that when Paul moved on
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 from his time at Corinth,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 his opponents moved in.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 They were eloquent.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 Eloquent religious leaders
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 who took pride in the outward display
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 of ministry success.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 They started to drive a wedge
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 between Paul and the church.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 They criticized Paul,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 both of his life
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 and his message
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 as being weak,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 poor,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 he's not authentic,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 he's not the real deal,
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 he's not the true apostle,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 his ministry is not authentic ministry.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 They started to think that Paul
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 was worldly,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 insincere,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:06 cowardly,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:07 weak,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 theological deviant,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 who preached a false gospel.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 And so the Corinthian church
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 is in,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 significant danger
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 of walking away
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 from the authentic apostle
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 and therefore walking away
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 from the authentic good news
00:05:26 --> 00:05:26 of Jesus Christ.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 And that's what Paul
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 is fighting for
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 in this letter.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 As we saw,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 Paul's defending himself,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 as we saw last week,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 as he revealed the characteristics
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 of the true apostle,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 what it means to be
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 a true follower of Jesus.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 Today,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 the outlines in front of you,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:43 authentic ministry,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 what it looks like.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 Paul reveals three important things
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 about authentic gospel ministry,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 what authentic gospel ministry is,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 what it does,
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 what it produces.
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 That's where we're going to go,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:00 that's the journey.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 Nick was right,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 absolutely true,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 if you do not have a pencil in hand,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 you don't learn.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 That is called active engagement
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 in the learning process.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 So rip it out,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:12 or your finger,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:13 if you need to,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:14 for your iPad,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 and have the text in front of you open.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 No arms folded,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 just looking at me.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:21 Okay,
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 what authentic ministry is?
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 Let me just jump to the chase here,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 it is God speaking through the gospel.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:33 Verse 14 to 17,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 I'm going to jump straight to 17 of chapter 2.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 Unlike so many,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:41 we do not peddle the word of God for profit.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 On the contrary,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 in Christ we speak before God with sincerity
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 as those sent from God.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 Notice that Paul says,
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 the key activity of authentic ministry
00:06:56 --> 00:07:01 is the ministry of speaking the word of God.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 And it's marked by the sincerity
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 of knowing that we are accountable to God.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 That is a direct shot
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 at Paul's opponents in Corinth,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 who peddle the word of God for profit.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 And Paul chooses
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 two word pictures,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 if you like,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 that are shocking
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 in this section.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 First he says in verse 14,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 but thanks be to God
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 who always leads us
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 as captives
00:07:32 --> 00:07:36 in Christ's triumphal procession.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 Now that doesn't mean
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 what you probably think it means,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 and it doesn't mean
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 what the super apostles were declaring.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:51 It refers
00:07:51 --> 00:07:56 to what great Roman generals
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 used to do
00:07:57 --> 00:08:01 when they captured a city,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:02 a country,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:03 a nation,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 and they conquered it.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 They led the captives,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 their enemies,
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 as conquerors.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 And they led them
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 to the place
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 of death and slavery.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:19 They would
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 line them all up behind them
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 and they would triumphantly
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 ride back into Rome.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 The people of the city of Rome
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 would just be singing
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 the praises of their general,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 all the treasures
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 that they had captured.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 First of all,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 I think they robbed
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 from the nations,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 and then last of all,
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 the people that they captured.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 The kings,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 the rulers,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 and then the commoners.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 Verse 14,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 but thanks be to God
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 who always leads us
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 as captives
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 in Christ's triumphal procession.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 In other words,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 Paul's saying,
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 I'm defeated,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 I'm taken captive
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 by Christ,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 but he was brought to faith
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 and forgiven
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 and justified
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 and set free
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 from slavery
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 to sin and death
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 and made a glad
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 and willing servant
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 of the greatest general
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 who ever was.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 You see,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 what's happening here
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 is Paul's describing
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 the nature of discipleship.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 You're at the end
00:09:33 --> 00:09:33 of the train.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 You're captive to Christ.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:36 Christ.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 He's the general.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 He's the triumphant one.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 Not you,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 super apostles.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 Not you.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 So what Paul's doing here
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 with these word pictures
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 is he's accomplishing
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 two almost opposite things
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 at exactly the same time.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 On the one hand,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 God is like a great general
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 and Paul is a conquered
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 and called,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 Paul is conquered
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 and called to suffer
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 in his service
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 even to die.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 But on the other hand,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 God is triumphant
00:10:10 --> 00:10:14 and Paul is in his service
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 and through Paul
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 spreading everywhere
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 the good news
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 of the triumphant gospel.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 Paul is weak.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 He's a broken vessel.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 But God is displaying
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 his greatness,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 his goodness
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 and his power
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 through him.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 Paul's adversaries
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 at Corinth
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 don't recognize
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 Paul's authority
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 and they don't think
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 Paul is triumphant
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 as a missionary
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 the way they think
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 he should be.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 Some people are converted,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 some people are not.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 Some see Christ in him
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 and some reject Christ
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 because of him.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 They only see weakness
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 and failure
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 and hardship
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 and difficulty
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 and rejection.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 He has some success,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 he has some failures.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 But they think
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 that if he was
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 a genuine apostle
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 of the triumphant
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 king of kings,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 then he would have
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 success
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 and triumph
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 in every area
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 of his life.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:29 And so Paul chooses
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 a word picture here
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 that describes him
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 both as belonging
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 to a great victor
00:11:36 --> 00:11:39 and as a conquered enemy
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 whose service of the king
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 is to suffer
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 and look weak
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 and even die for him.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 Led in triumphal possession
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 as a defeated foe
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 in the service
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 of a king.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 And yet,
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 Paul says,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 this is my delight.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 This ministry
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 is good news.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 We go,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 what?
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 What?
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 Captive?
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 A slave?
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 How's that good news?
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 Paul says,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 this is my delight
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 because this great victor
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 who leads him
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 in triumphal possession
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 is the king of kings
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 and the lord of lords.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 This is the one
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 who himself
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 surrendered
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 to the soldiers
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 in the garden
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 of Gethsemane.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 Condemned to death
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 by a puppet ruler.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 Led by soldiers
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 through the streets
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 of Jerusalem
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 carrying a cross
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 as the crowds
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 mocked him
00:12:38 --> 00:12:42 before being nailed
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 to that cross
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 and dying.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 And to the eyes
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 of the world,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 he was to be
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 spat upon.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:52 He was a loser.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 He was defeated
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 in that moment.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 He was a spectacle
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 to be ridiculed.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:03 And yet,
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 as the scriptures tell us,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 this is no accident
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 of history.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 This was not
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 an unfortunate event.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 Jesus himself
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 declared
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 it was going
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 to happen
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 and he was
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 in control
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 of it
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 every single
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 step of the way.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Because Jesus
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 declared that
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 I am the God
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 of this universe
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 come into your presence
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 in flesh,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 the creator
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 and the ruler
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 of all things,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 the one who assigns
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 the beginning
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 and the end,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 not just the interpreter
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 of history,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 but I am the declarer
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 of history.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 It doesn't happen
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 unless I think it
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 into existence
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 and speak it
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 into existence.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 The prophet Isaiah
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 says that of this one
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 Jesus,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 the government
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 of all the universe
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 is resting
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 on his shoulders
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 or rule
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 and authority
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 is his.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 There is none
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 more powerful
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 and this is the one
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 who chose the path
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 into captivity.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 This is the one
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 who was led
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 to the place
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 of slaughter.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 He chose the path
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 of weakness
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 and death
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 so that we
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 would be set free
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 from our rebellion
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 against him,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 the true king
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 for putting ourselves
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 in the place
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 of being the king
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 of kings.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 He was crushed
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 so that we aren't.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 And that's the truth
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 that's captivated
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 Paul's heart,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 his soul,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 his mind,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 his body.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 He says it
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 explicitly
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 in chapter 5.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 He says,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 Christ's love
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 compels us.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 Because we are
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 convinced that one
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 died for all
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 and therefore
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 all died
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 and he died
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 for all
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 that those
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 who live
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 should no longer
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 live for themselves
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 but for him
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 who died for them
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 and was raised
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 again.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 And so at the end
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 of chapter 2
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 he uses a
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 second picture
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 of his life
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 as a sacrificial
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 offering
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 that is a sweet
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 fragrance before
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 God.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 This is him
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 living as one
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 no longer for
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 himself
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 but for him
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 who's captured
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 his heart.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 Starts in the
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 middle of verse 14.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 Have a look at it.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 Got the text in front
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 of you.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 And uses us
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 to spread the
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 aroma of the
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 knowledge of
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 him everywhere.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 And so Paul
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 here pitches
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 his missionary
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 life and his
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 ministry as
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 spreading the
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 fragrance of
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 the knowledge
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 of Christ
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 everywhere.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 When Christ
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 died for
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 our sins
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 allowed himself
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 to be taken
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 captive
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 led to the
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 place of
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 slaughter
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 for our
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 sakes
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 it was
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 like a
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 fragrant
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 offering
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 pleasing
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 to God.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 Ephesians 5
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 2 says
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 that when
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 Jesus died
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 for sins
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 it was a
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 fragrant
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 offering
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 that was
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 pleasing
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 to God.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 Now
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 here
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 is Paul
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 standing
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 in the
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 place
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 of Christ
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 as his
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 representative
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 here in
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 the world
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 suffering
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 like Christ
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 in the
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 service
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 of his
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 conquering
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 Lord
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 and he
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 says
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 we
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 are the
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 aroma
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 of Christ
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 to the
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 world.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 But first
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 of all we
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 are the
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 aroma of
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 Christ
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 to God.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 God sees
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 my service
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 of him
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 and he
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 smells it
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 and it
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 is pleasing
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 to him.
00:16:57 --> 00:17:00 in other
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 words when
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 we suffer
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 in the
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 service
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 of Christ
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 as witnesses
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 to the
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 gospel of
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 Jesus
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 Christ
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 it's like
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 Christ
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 suffering
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 for the
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 lost
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 and God
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 smells
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 this
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 fragrance
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 of
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 sacrificial
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 love
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 and it
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 pleases
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 him.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 But
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 it's not
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 pleasing to
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 everyone
00:17:20 --> 00:17:24 including
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 ironically
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 the
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 Corinthian
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 church.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 That is
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 there are
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 heart rejoicing
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 and there
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 are
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 heart
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 breaking
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 parts
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 of our
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 service
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 to Christ
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 and the
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 gospel.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 This
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 aroma
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 the
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 gospel
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 of
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 Jesus
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 Christ
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 divides
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 the
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 world.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 Look at
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 the
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 division
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 in
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 verses
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 15-16
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 For we
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 are to
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 God
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 the
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 pleasing
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 aroma
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 of
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 Christ
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 among
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 those
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 who
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 are
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 being
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 saved
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 and
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 those
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 who
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 are
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 perishing.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 To
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 the
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 one
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 we
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 are
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 an
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 aroma
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 that
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 brings
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 death
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 to
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 the
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 other
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 an
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 aroma
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 that
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 brings
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 life.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 Some
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 smell
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 the
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 sacrificial
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 love
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 of
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 Jesus
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 from
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 the
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 lips
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 and
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 the
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 life
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 of
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 Christians
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 and
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 it
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 only
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 smells
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 like
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 death.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 They
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 hear
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 the
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 gospel
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 and
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 all
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 they
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 hear
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 is
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 death.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 They
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 look
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 to
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 the
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 cross
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 and
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 all
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 they
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 see
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 is
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 death.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 They
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 see
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 failure.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 They
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 see
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 no
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 life.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 They
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 see
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 no
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 hope.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 They
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 see
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 no
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 future,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 no
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 joy.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 And
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 so
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 they
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 go,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 that
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 stinks.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 And
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 they
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 turn
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 away
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 from
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 it.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 And
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 if
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 they
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 turn
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 away
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 forever,
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 they
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 die.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 That's
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 what it
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 says.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 They
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 die
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 forever.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 They
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 are
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 perishing.
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 The
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 smell
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 of
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 death
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 leads
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 to
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 death.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 You
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 smell
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 roadkill
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 as you
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 drive
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 along
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 at
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 100
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 km
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 an
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 hour.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 Smell
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 roadkill,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 it's
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 because
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 something's
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 dead.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 they
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 don't
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 believe.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 They
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 don't
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 see
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 the
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 heartbreaking
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 side of
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 authentic
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 Christian
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 ministry.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 There
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 are
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 people
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 who
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 don't
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 believe.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 They
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 don't
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 see
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 Christ
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 as
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 precious.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 They
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 don't
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 see his
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 suffering
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 as a
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 treasure.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 They
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 don't
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 smell
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 his
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 death
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 for
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 sinners
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 as
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 the
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 sweetest
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 fragrance
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 in the
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 universe.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 it's
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 not a
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 satisfying
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 fragrance.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 It's
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 simply
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 the
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 smell
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 of
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 death
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 and
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 so
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 they
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 walk
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 away.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 But
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 the
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 heart
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 rejoicing
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 side
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 of
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 Christian
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 ministry
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 is
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 also
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 in
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 verse
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 16
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 to
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 the
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 other
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 an
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 aroma
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 that
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 brings
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 life.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 Those
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 who
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 are
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 being
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 saved
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 smell
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 the
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 death
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 of
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Christ
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 as
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 an
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 aroma
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 of
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 life.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 They
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 see
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 in
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 his
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 death
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 the
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 substitute
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 that
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 they
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 so
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 desperately
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 need
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 before
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 God.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 The
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 Son
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 of
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 God
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 dying
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 in
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 their
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 place
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 is
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 the
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 fragrance
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 of
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 life
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 and
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 so
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 they
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 don't
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 turn
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 away.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 They
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 believe
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 him.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 They
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 receive
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 him.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 They
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 embrace
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 him.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 They
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 treasure
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 him.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 They
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 submit
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 to
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 him
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 and
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 they
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 live
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 forever.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 In
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 his
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 death
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 they
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 see
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 life.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 smelling
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 Christ
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 is
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 the
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 aroma
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 of
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 life
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 that
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 gives
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 life.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 And
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 authentic
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 gospel
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 ministry
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 is
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 spreading
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 the
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 fragrance
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 of
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 Jesus
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 by
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 speaking
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 the
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 truth
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 of
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 the
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 gospel
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 of
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 Jesus
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 knowing
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 that
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 the
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 triumphant
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 God
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 speaks
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 through
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 us
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 bringing
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 both
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 salvation
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 and
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 judgment.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:59 we
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 don't
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 control
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 that.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 We're
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 going to
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 see more
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 of this
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 next week
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 in chapter
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 four.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 And so
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 Paul
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 asked this
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 really
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 crucial
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 question
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 in verse
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 16.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 Who
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 is
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 equal
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 to such
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 a task?
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 Knowing
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 that
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 eternity
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 is at
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 stake
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 through
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 my
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 lips
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 and
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 through
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 my
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 life
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 who
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 can
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 carry
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 that
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 burden?
00:21:26 --> 00:21:29 people
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 everywhere
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 are coming
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 to life
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 or death
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 through
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 me
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 representing
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 Christ.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 Who
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 can
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 carry
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 that
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 burden?
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 Who
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 can
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 carry
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 that
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 weight?
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 Paul
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 says,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 I am.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 I can.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 Not
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 because
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 I am
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 sufficient,
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 he says.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 Not
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 because
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 you're
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 sufficient.
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 Because
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 we
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 constantly
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 second
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 guess
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 ourselves.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 Can I
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 do
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 this?
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 Can I
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 bear the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 weight of
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 being the
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 aroma of
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 Christ at
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 home and
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 at work and
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 on social
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 media and
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 in the
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 playground?
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 And by
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 God's
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 grace,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 his word
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 to us
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 here is,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 yes,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 you can.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 You can
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 carry that
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 weight.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 Chapter
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 3,
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 verse 5,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 our
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 competence
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 comes
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 from
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 God.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 God's
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 grace,
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 we can
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 bear the
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 weight of
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 being the
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 aroma of
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 Christ wherever
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 he has
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 sovereignly
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 placed us.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 It is God
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 who speaks
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 through us as
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 we speak the
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 gospel because
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 God speaks
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 through the
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 gospel of
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 Jesus Christ
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 crucified for
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 our sin and
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 race triumphant
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 over sin and
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 death.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:47 can I just
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 say it would
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 be really
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 good to
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 remember that
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 really,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 really good to
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 remember that
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 the next time
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 we think that
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 we've got
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 nothing to say
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 in front of
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 our friends
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 around the
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 dinner table
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 who are not
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 Christians.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 It would be
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 really good to
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 remember that
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 the next time
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 you're leading
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 a community
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 group and it
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 isn't going
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 so well or
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 a youth group
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 or sharing
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 with a colleague
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 or you're
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 running a
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 ministry and
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 it just seems
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 like nothing's
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 happening.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 Really good to
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 remember that.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 the gospel
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 is what we've
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 got and it
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 is sufficient.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 We're going to
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 talk more about
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 this next week.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 The gospel is
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 what we've got
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 and it is
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 sufficient.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 It's not about
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 our personalities,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 not about our
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 giftedness or
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 our knowledge or
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 even our
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 weakness.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 And this leads
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 us to the
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 second point that
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 I have about
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 authentic ministry.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 It's in verses
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 3 to 11 of
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 chapter 3.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 Authentic
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 ministry, what
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 it does, it
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 changes people.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 God not only
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 speaks through
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 the gospel but
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 God changes
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 people through
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 the gospel.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 Now Paul
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 flashes this out
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 for us, first
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 of all, by
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 mentioning how
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 God has
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 changed the
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 Corinthians
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 themselves in
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 verses 1 to 4
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 of chapter 3.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 ministry.
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 And then
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 secondly, by
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 telling us about
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 the kind of
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 change-producing
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 ministry that
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 God has given
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 to Christians
00:24:23 --> 00:24:26 in verses 5 to
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 11, chapter 3.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 Now Paul's
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 opponents of
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 Corinth were
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 saying, you
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 know, Paul can't
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 be an authentic
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 apostle of Jesus
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 Christ because,
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 you know, frankly,
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 look at his
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 ministry.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 He's always
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 rejected.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 He's always in
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 jail.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 People are
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 running him
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 out of town.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 They're rejecting
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 you know.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 Where's the
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 massive crusades
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 and thousands
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 of people coming
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 to life?
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 Where's that
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 happening?
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 He doesn't
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 seem to display
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 the results that
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 you would expect
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 if his ministry
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 was authentic.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 And so Paul's
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 reply was,
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 guys, kind of
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 awkward, but
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 have a look
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 around because
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 before I came
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 to town with
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 the gospel in
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 Corinth, you
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 didn't even
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 exist as a
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 church.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 You weren't
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 even there.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 In other
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 words, you
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 are the fruit
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 of my ministry.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 Awkward to
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 point it out,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 but the
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 changes being
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 brought around
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 through the
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 gospel came
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 through me to
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 you.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 You're my
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 letter of
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 commendation.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:34 I don't
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 need the
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 degrees on
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 the wall.
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 I don't
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 need letters
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 of support
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 from the
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 mayor of
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 Athens.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 You've got
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 you are my
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 commendation.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 You are the
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 result of
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 my ministry.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 In other
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 words, the
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 Corinthian church
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 is his
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 boast.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 They are the
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 proof of his
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 ministry.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 The lasting
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 fruit of
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 authentic gospel
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 ministry is
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 people.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 people.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 Changed
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 people are
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 the lasting
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 fruit of
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 authentic gospel
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 ministry.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 Not the
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 size of the
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 church, not
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 our mastery of
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 theology, not
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 the books we
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 write, not
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 the talks we
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 give, not
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 the number of
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 programs we
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 run, not
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 the budget
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 being met,
00:26:27 --> 00:26:30 or any
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 other metric
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 you want to
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 throw at it.
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 Not the
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 number of
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 gospel endeavors
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 we support
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 around the
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 world or the
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 value of our
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 property.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:40 People are the
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 lasting fruit.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 People have
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 been changed
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 by God
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 through the
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 gospel that
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 has been
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 spoken by
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 us.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 God
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 eternally
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 changes people
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 through the
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 gospel that
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 has saved
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 us and that
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 we proclaim.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 That is the
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 heart of what
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 God has given
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 us to do
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 while we
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 are on
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 this
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 planet.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 And then,
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 sorry, that's
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 what it says in
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 verse 6.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 God has
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 made us
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 competent
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 ministers of
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 a new
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 covenant, not
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 of the
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 letter, but
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 of the
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 spirit, for
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 the letter
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 kills, but
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 the spirit
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 gives life.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 Now, if
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 you're starting
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 to doze off
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 right now,
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 stick with
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 me here,
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 because I
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 want to
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 just keep
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 unpacking a
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 little bit
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 what authentic
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 ministry does
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 in changing
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 people.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 What does it
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 do?
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 What's
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 happening in
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 this change?
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 What sort of
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 change are we
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 looking at?
00:27:37 --> 00:27:39 The contrast
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 that Paul works
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 with in verses
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 6 to 11 is
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 pretty straightforward.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 He has in
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 mind Exodus
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 33, which is
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 on the back
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 of your
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 service sheet.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 Exodus 33,
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 that was just
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 read out.
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 And he's
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 saying,
00:27:53 --> 00:27:57 God really
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 worked through
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 Moses at
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 Mount Sinai
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 and the old
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 covenant of
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 the law.
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 It was a
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 clear display
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 of the power
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 of God.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 It was
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 spectacular.
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 It was
00:28:10 --> 00:28:12 clouds
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 descending,
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 fire,
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 and
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 mountain
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 shaking,
00:28:16 --> 00:28:18 and just
00:28:18 --> 00:28:20 awesome.
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 I just
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 think,
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 wouldn't it
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 be great
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 nowadays?
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 What would
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 happen at
00:28:25 --> 00:28:27 Chatswood if
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 I was to
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 get up week
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 after week,
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 and when I
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 spoke, the
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 foundations of
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 this building
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 shook, and the
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 cloud descended,
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 and just hold
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 on, I'm just
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 talking to God
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 people.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:42 baptismal waters
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 were parted,
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 and just
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 imagine people
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 would flock to
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 it because
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 this is
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 spectacular
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 ministry.
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 This is the
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 power stuff
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 we've been
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 looking for.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 Paul.
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 Paul's saying,
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 God did
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 amazing stuff
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 through Moses,
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 spectacular,
00:29:03 --> 00:29:06 but now God
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 has made us
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 servants of a
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 new covenant,
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 a new way of
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 working rather
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 that comes from
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 the Spirit of
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 God rather than
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 words written on
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 tablets of stone.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 A new way of
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 working brings
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 life rather than
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 death.
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 Now, that was
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 the awkward bit
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 about that
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 passage.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 What Paul is
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 trying to achieve
00:29:28 --> 00:29:30 here is our
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 confidence in
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 gospel ministry
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 when we're losing
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 confidence in the
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 face of gospel
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 ministry.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 That's what he's
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 trying to do
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 here.
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 In the face of
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 hardship and guilt
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 and rejection and
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 apparent
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 ineffectiveness,
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 his answer is
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 that God
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 miraculously speaks
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 through the gospel
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 message of the
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 death and
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 resurrection of
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 Jesus Christ
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 to bring people
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 to new and
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 eternal life and
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 they are changed
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 forever.
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 Now, Moses'
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 ministry in the
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 Old Testament was
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 very spectacular.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 It was very
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 impressive.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 Massive, visible
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 signs of God's
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 presence and
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 Paul says that
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 the proclamation
00:30:11 --> 00:30:13 of the gospel in
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 the power of the
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 Spirit leaves
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 Moses' ministry
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 for dead.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 And he says in
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 chapter 5,
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 you won't get
00:30:28 --> 00:30:30 that if you
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 have the attitude
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 of the super
00:30:32 --> 00:30:34 apostles who only
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 look at things from
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 the outside,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 who just want
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 external,
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 physical displays
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 of success,
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 you won't
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 understand.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 Gospel, true
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 gospel impact.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 Moses'
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 ministry was
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 quite remarkable
00:30:51 --> 00:30:56 except for
00:30:56 --> 00:30:58 the fact that
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 it couldn't bring
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 change in
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 anyone's life.
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 That should be
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 pretty obvious to
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 us.
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 When Moses was
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 up on Mount
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 Sinai,
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 3 people
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 died at the
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 foot of the
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 mountain as a
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 result of their
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 disobedience.
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 In the midst
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 of the
00:31:17 --> 00:31:19 spectacular display
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 of the glory
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 of God,
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 3 people
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25 died because
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 they couldn't
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 even obey
00:31:26 --> 00:31:28 10 simple
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 rules.
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 They had
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 in their
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 possession
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 tablets
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 written on
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 by the
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 finger of
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 God
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 himself.
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 Verse
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 chapter 3
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 verse 7.
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 Now if the
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 ministry that
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 brought death,
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 which is
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 engraved in
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 letters of
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 stone,
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 came with
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 glory so
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 that the
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 Israelites
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 could not
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 look steadily
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 at the
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 face of
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 Moses because
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 of its
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 glory,
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 transitory
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 though it
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 was,
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 will not
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 the ministry
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 of the
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 spirit be
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 even more
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 glorious?
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 If the
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 ministry that
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 brought
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 condemnation
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 was glorious,
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 how much
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 more glorious
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 is the
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 ministry that
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 brings
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 righteousness.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 Ministry of
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 the gospel
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 brings real
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 time God
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 honoring
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 righteousness.
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 It changes
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 people for
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 eternity.
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 It's like a
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 light bulb
00:32:21 --> 00:32:23 and turning
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 a light,
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 grabbing a
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 torch,
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 walking out
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 right now and
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 shining it at
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 the sun.
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 The torch has
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 got no power.
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 It's nothing.
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 The glory
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 between the
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 two is
00:32:37 --> 00:32:41 so,
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 I mean,
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 you get
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 it.
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 There's no
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 comparison in
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 brightness and
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 illumination and
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 glory.
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 God has
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 given to
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 Christians,
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 even weak
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 suffering
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 Christians,
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 even Christians
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 struggling with
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 their own sin,
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 given to
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 Christians who
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 embrace the
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 gospel of the
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 Lord Jesus
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 Christ and
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 being led by
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 him in
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 triumphal
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 possession,
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05 a ministry
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 that is
00:33:06 --> 00:33:08 mind-blowingly
00:33:08 --> 00:33:10 superior to
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 Moses.
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 And you
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 will run
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 everywhere else
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 looking for
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 other metrics,
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 looking for
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 some sort of
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 power other
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 than the
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 gospel,
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 if you do
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 not trust the
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 power of the
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 gospel.
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 It's superior
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 because God's
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 glory is
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 revealed in
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 the good
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 news of
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 Jesus Christ
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 died and
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 resurrected.
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 His glory
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 is no longer
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 veiled.
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 That's the
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 main point.
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 I love that
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 song we sang,
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 it is no
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 longer veiled.
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 That's the
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 main point of
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 verses 13
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 to 18.
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 And to
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 simplify these
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 verses,
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 Paul is
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 saying that
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 when the
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 gospel of
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 the Lord
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 Jesus is
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 proclaimed,
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 the so-called
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 weak,
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 defeated,
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 crucified
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 Jesus,
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 what some
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 will see
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 is the
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 magnificence,
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 the beauty,
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 the power,
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 and the
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 splendor,
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 and the
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 value of
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 God himself
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 for the
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 very first
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 time.
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 They will
00:34:12 --> 00:34:14 see true
00:34:14 --> 00:34:17 glory through
00:34:17 --> 00:34:19 apparent
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 inglorious
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 ministry.
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 Some will
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 see the
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 splendor and
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 majesty of the
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 transcendent
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 creator,
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 God,
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 in the face
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 of Jesus
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 Christ.
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 Glory is
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 a very
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 small word
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 with huge
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 significance.
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 All the
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 goodness and
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 perfection and
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 authority and
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 power and
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 majesty and
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 the godness of
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 God is
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 packed into
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 two syllables,
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 glory.
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 Our
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 ministry is
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 wider and
00:34:51 --> 00:34:51 deeper and
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 more effective
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 than Moses
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 in bringing
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 lasting change.
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 Why?
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 Because God
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 changes people
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 on the
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 inside through
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 the gospel
00:35:00 --> 00:35:00 of the Lord
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 Jesus Christ.
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 Not only
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 does God
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 speak through
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 us when
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 we speak
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 the gospel,
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 but God
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 changes people
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 when we
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 speak the
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 gospel as
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 his glory
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 is revealed
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 in the
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 gospel.
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 gospel.
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 The
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 Spirit
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 opens our
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 hearts
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 to
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 apprehend,
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 to
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 appreciate,
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 to
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 savour,
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 to cherish
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 and treasure
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 the glory of
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 the Lord
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 Jesus Christ.
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 And this
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 happens,
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 as this
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 happened,
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 the Spirit
00:35:37 --> 00:35:39 changes our
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 inner desires
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 and drives,
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 so that we
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 want what
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 Jesus wants
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 and we
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 get freedom.
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 See that in
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 verse 17?
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 Authentic
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 ministry changes
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 people from
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 the inside
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 out.
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 It's not
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 external
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 compliance
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 forcing
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 change,
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 but deep
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 internal
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 change of
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 the desires
00:36:03 --> 00:36:05 that changes
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 outward
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 behaviour.
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 Genuine
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 conversion.
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 Your whole
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 value
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 system
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 is overturned.
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 I love
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 the story
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 of John
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 Patton.
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 He was
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 one of the
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 first Christian
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 missionaries
00:36:19 --> 00:36:21 to the
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 islands of
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 Anuatu.
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 In fact,
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 he was the
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 first Christian
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 missionary
00:36:23 --> 00:36:25 to not be
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 eaten on
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 the islands
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 of Anuatu
00:36:26 --> 00:36:29 because in
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 those days
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 they were
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 cannibalistic
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 tribes.
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 He wrote
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 in his
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 autobiography
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 about one
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 particular
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 convert to
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 Christianity
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 who was
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 dying.
00:36:40 --> 00:36:42 a former
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 cannibal
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 chief.
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 And it's
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 not just
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 because they're
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 hungry.
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 Their whole
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 value system
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 is wrapped
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 up.
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 Their whole
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 perspective in
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 terms of
00:36:55 --> 00:36:55 the world
00:36:55 --> 00:36:55 view,
00:36:55 --> 00:36:55 in terms of
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 the universe
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 is wrapped
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 up in
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 cannibalism.
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 It's not
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 because they've
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 got nothing
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 else to
00:37:00 --> 00:37:00 eat.
00:37:03 --> 00:37:03 So this
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 former
00:37:04 --> 00:37:04 cannibal
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 chief is
00:37:05 --> 00:37:05 dying.
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 And when
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 he was
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 dying,
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 he came
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 to
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 Patton
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 to say
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 goodbye
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 to
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 Patton.
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 And Patton
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 writes this.
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 Abraham,
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 that's
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 Patton's
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 Christian
00:37:17 --> 00:37:17 aide,
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 who himself
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 was a
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 former
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 cannibal,
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 right?
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 This guy
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 was a
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 former
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 cannibal.
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 He says,
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 Abraham
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 sustained
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 him,
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 tottering
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 to the
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 place of
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 graves.
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 And there
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 he lay
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 down and
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 slept in
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 Jesus.
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 And there
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 the faithful
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 Abraham
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 buried him
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 beside his
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 wife and
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 his children.
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 Get this,
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 that is
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 incomprehensible
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 in their
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 culture.
00:37:44 --> 00:37:45 He's dead,
00:37:45 --> 00:37:46 we eat
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 him.
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 And here
00:37:49 --> 00:37:49 is Abraham
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 caring for a
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 dying man,
00:37:51 --> 00:37:51 not eating
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 him,
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 and Patton
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 goes on to
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 say,
00:37:55 --> 00:37:56 thus died a
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 man who
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 had been a
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 cannibal chief,
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 but by the
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 grace of God
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 and the love
00:38:00 --> 00:38:01 of Jesus
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 changed,
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 transfigured
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 into a
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 character of
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 light and
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 beauty.
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 And then he
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 looks to
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 Europe and
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 all the
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 skepticism of
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 Europe and
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 against the
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 Christian faith.
00:38:17 --> 00:38:17 And he
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 says this in
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 his diary,
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 what think
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 ye of this,
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 ye
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 skeptics as
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 to the
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 reality of
00:38:24 --> 00:38:25 the power
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 of conversion.
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 All the
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 skepticism of
00:38:30 --> 00:38:31 Europe would
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 hide its
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 head in
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 foolish shame
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 and all
00:38:35 --> 00:38:36 its doubts
00:38:36 --> 00:38:37 would dissolve
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 under one
00:38:38 --> 00:38:40 glance of
00:38:40 --> 00:38:40 the new
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 light that
00:38:41 --> 00:38:43 Jesus and
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 Jesus alone
00:38:44 --> 00:38:46 pulls from
00:38:46 --> 00:38:47 the converted
00:38:47 --> 00:38:48 cannibal's eye.
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 God
00:38:49 --> 00:38:50 hear what
00:38:50 --> 00:38:50 he's saying
00:38:50 --> 00:38:51 there is?
00:38:54 --> 00:38:55 Change,
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 deep
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 change,
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 displays the
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 glory of
00:39:00 --> 00:39:01 Christ and
00:39:01 --> 00:39:02 produces more
00:39:02 --> 00:39:04 change in
00:39:04 --> 00:39:05 others.
00:39:05 --> 00:39:09 one of the
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 strongest
00:39:10 --> 00:39:11 arguments,
00:39:11 --> 00:39:12 historical
00:39:12 --> 00:39:13 arguments for
00:39:13 --> 00:39:13 the resurrection
00:39:13 --> 00:39:14 of Jesus
00:39:14 --> 00:39:16 is how do
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 you explain
00:39:17 --> 00:39:18 the change
00:39:18 --> 00:39:18 in the
00:39:18 --> 00:39:19 disciples?
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 There's no
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 explanation for
00:39:22 --> 00:39:22 that.
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 How do you
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 go from being
00:39:25 --> 00:39:26 cowards to
00:39:26 --> 00:39:27 bold proclaimers
00:39:27 --> 00:39:27 of the gospel?
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 There is no
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 explanation,
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 no psychological
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 explanation for
00:39:34 --> 00:39:35 it,
00:39:35 --> 00:39:36 no historical
00:39:36 --> 00:39:37 explanation for
00:39:37 --> 00:39:37 it,
00:39:37 --> 00:39:39 except they
00:39:39 --> 00:39:40 saw the
00:39:40 --> 00:39:40 glory of God
00:39:40 --> 00:39:41 in the face
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 of Christ in
00:39:42 --> 00:39:42 the resurrected
00:39:42 --> 00:39:43 Jesus.
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 And they
00:39:46 --> 00:39:47 went from
00:39:47 --> 00:39:48 being cowards
00:39:48 --> 00:39:49 to bold.
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 And that's
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 what authentic
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 ministry produces.
00:39:54 --> 00:39:54 The fruit of
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 authentic ministry
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 is changed
00:39:56 --> 00:39:57 people,
00:39:57 --> 00:39:58 it is bold
00:39:58 --> 00:39:59 people.
00:39:59 --> 00:40:03 Therefore,
00:40:03 --> 00:40:04 verse 12,
00:40:05 --> 00:40:07 since we
00:40:07 --> 00:40:08 have such
00:40:08 --> 00:40:09 a hope,
00:40:10 --> 00:40:11 we are
00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 very bold.
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 It is
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 the confidence
00:40:15 --> 00:40:16 that the
00:40:16 --> 00:40:16 sovereign
00:40:16 --> 00:40:16 God,
00:40:16 --> 00:40:17 spirit of
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 God,
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 is at work
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 in this
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 ministry to
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20 change hearts
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 of stone
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 in the
00:40:21 --> 00:40:21 hearts of
00:40:21 --> 00:40:21 flesh,
00:40:22 --> 00:40:22 and to
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23 give life
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 and righteousness
00:40:23 --> 00:40:25 and permanence
00:40:25 --> 00:40:25 to all of
00:40:25 --> 00:40:26 God's people,
00:40:27 --> 00:40:28 God is at
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 work.
00:40:28 --> 00:40:29 It's that
00:40:29 --> 00:40:29 confidence
00:40:29 --> 00:40:30 that God
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 is at work.
00:40:31 --> 00:40:31 It is the
00:40:31 --> 00:40:31 hope of the
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 victorious
00:40:32 --> 00:40:33 gospel of
00:40:33 --> 00:40:34 the triumphant
00:40:34 --> 00:40:34 king of
00:40:34 --> 00:40:34 kings.
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 The gospel
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 will accomplish
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 all that
00:40:36 --> 00:40:37 it was sent
00:40:37 --> 00:40:37 to do.
00:40:37 --> 00:40:38 It will
00:40:38 --> 00:40:38 not come
00:40:38 --> 00:40:39 back empty
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 anymore than
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 the word
00:40:39 --> 00:40:40 of God
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 can fall
00:40:40 --> 00:40:41 to the
00:40:41 --> 00:40:41 ground.
00:40:41 --> 00:40:42 Paul is
00:40:42 --> 00:40:42 utterly
00:40:42 --> 00:40:43 confident
00:40:43 --> 00:40:44 that the
00:40:44 --> 00:40:44 spirit of
00:40:44 --> 00:40:45 God will
00:40:45 --> 00:40:46 conquer
00:40:46 --> 00:40:47 and justify
00:40:47 --> 00:40:49 and preserve
00:40:49 --> 00:40:50 for glory
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 all whom
00:40:51 --> 00:40:51 God has
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 chosen for
00:40:52 --> 00:40:53 himself.
00:40:54 --> 00:40:55 In other
00:40:55 --> 00:40:55 words,
00:40:56 --> 00:40:56 he's saying
00:40:56 --> 00:40:58 because of
00:40:58 --> 00:40:59 this power,
00:40:59 --> 00:41:00 I cannot
00:41:00 --> 00:41:00 fail.
00:41:04 --> 00:41:05 By the
00:41:05 --> 00:41:05 almighty
00:41:05 --> 00:41:06 power of
00:41:06 --> 00:41:06 the Holy
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 Spirit,
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 through the
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 preaching of
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 the gospel,
00:41:09 --> 00:41:10 everyone
00:41:10 --> 00:41:10 appointed to
00:41:10 --> 00:41:11 eternal life
00:41:11 --> 00:41:12 will believe.
00:41:13 --> 00:41:14 This is the
00:41:14 --> 00:41:15 hope of
00:41:15 --> 00:41:15 Paul,
00:41:15 --> 00:41:16 and so he
00:41:16 --> 00:41:17 is bold.
00:41:18 --> 00:41:19 And boldness,
00:41:20 --> 00:41:21 to understand
00:41:21 --> 00:41:21 what it is,
00:41:21 --> 00:41:22 it's the
00:41:22 --> 00:41:23 opposite of
00:41:23 --> 00:41:23 fear and
00:41:23 --> 00:41:24 timidity.
00:41:24 --> 00:41:26 it's the
00:41:26 --> 00:41:26 opposite of
00:41:26 --> 00:41:27 shrinking back
00:41:27 --> 00:41:27 and pulling
00:41:27 --> 00:41:28 away.
00:41:29 --> 00:41:29 It's not
00:41:29 --> 00:41:30 shame,
00:41:30 --> 00:41:30 it's not
00:41:30 --> 00:41:31 guarded speech,
00:41:31 --> 00:41:32 it's not
00:41:32 --> 00:41:33 minting our
00:41:33 --> 00:41:33 words,
00:41:33 --> 00:41:34 it's not
00:41:34 --> 00:41:34 being indirect,
00:41:35 --> 00:41:35 it's not
00:41:35 --> 00:41:35 being vague,
00:41:35 --> 00:41:36 it's not
00:41:36 --> 00:41:37 being obscure
00:41:37 --> 00:41:38 in our
00:41:38 --> 00:41:38 communication.
00:41:39 --> 00:41:39 We should
00:41:39 --> 00:41:41 never cloud
00:41:41 --> 00:41:41 the word
00:41:41 --> 00:41:42 of God
00:41:42 --> 00:41:43 and the
00:41:43 --> 00:41:44 simplicity
00:41:44 --> 00:41:45 and the
00:41:45 --> 00:41:46 clarity of
00:41:46 --> 00:41:46 the gospel
00:41:46 --> 00:41:48 with palatable
00:41:48 --> 00:41:50 generalities
00:41:50 --> 00:41:51 and euphemisms
00:41:51 --> 00:41:52 that obscure
00:41:52 --> 00:41:54 the clear
00:41:54 --> 00:41:54 and the
00:41:54 --> 00:41:56 sharp contours
00:41:56 --> 00:41:56 of the
00:41:56 --> 00:41:56 truth.
00:41:58 --> 00:41:58 Boldness
00:41:58 --> 00:41:59 is the
00:41:59 --> 00:42:00 fruit of
00:42:00 --> 00:42:00 hope.
00:42:01 --> 00:42:01 Christian
00:42:01 --> 00:42:02 hope is
00:42:02 --> 00:42:03 the cause
00:42:03 --> 00:42:04 of boldness
00:42:04 --> 00:42:04 in the
00:42:04 --> 00:42:04 Christian
00:42:04 --> 00:42:04 life.
00:42:05 --> 00:42:05 So,
00:42:05 --> 00:42:06 if you
00:42:06 --> 00:42:07 are not
00:42:07 --> 00:42:07 bold in
00:42:07 --> 00:42:08 your
00:42:08 --> 00:42:08 witness,
00:42:09 --> 00:42:10 if you
00:42:10 --> 00:42:11 find yourself
00:42:11 --> 00:42:12 in a
00:42:12 --> 00:42:13 sphere around
00:42:13 --> 00:42:14 the non-Christian
00:42:14 --> 00:42:14 world,
00:42:15 --> 00:42:16 shrinking back,
00:42:17 --> 00:42:17 if you
00:42:17 --> 00:42:18 are not
00:42:18 --> 00:42:18 courageous,
00:42:20 --> 00:42:20 if you
00:42:20 --> 00:42:20 are not
00:42:20 --> 00:42:21 risk-taking
00:42:21 --> 00:42:22 in your
00:42:22 --> 00:42:23 ventures of
00:42:23 --> 00:42:23 righteousness,
00:42:23 --> 00:42:24 if you
00:42:24 --> 00:42:24 are not
00:42:24 --> 00:42:25 open and
00:42:25 --> 00:42:26 straightforward
00:42:26 --> 00:42:27 with your
00:42:27 --> 00:42:27 speech,
00:42:28 --> 00:42:30 it's because
00:42:30 --> 00:42:31 your hope
00:42:31 --> 00:42:32 is defective.
00:42:38 --> 00:42:38 Perhaps
00:42:38 --> 00:42:39 you're hoping
00:42:39 --> 00:42:39 in the wrong
00:42:39 --> 00:42:40 things to
00:42:40 --> 00:42:40 make your
00:42:40 --> 00:42:41 future happy.
00:42:43 --> 00:42:43 Perhaps
00:42:43 --> 00:42:44 you've
00:42:44 --> 00:42:46 never really
00:42:46 --> 00:42:47 thought seriously
00:42:47 --> 00:42:47 about the
00:42:47 --> 00:42:47 relationship
00:42:47 --> 00:42:48 between the
00:42:48 --> 00:42:49 strength of
00:42:49 --> 00:42:49 your hope
00:42:49 --> 00:42:49 and the
00:42:49 --> 00:42:50 boldness of
00:42:50 --> 00:42:50 your service
00:42:50 --> 00:42:51 to Jesus.
00:42:53 --> 00:42:53 The
00:42:53 --> 00:42:54 relationship
00:42:54 --> 00:42:54 is really
00:42:54 --> 00:42:55 clear there.
00:42:55 --> 00:42:56 Since we
00:42:56 --> 00:42:56 have such
00:42:56 --> 00:42:57 a hope,
00:42:57 --> 00:42:57 we are
00:42:57 --> 00:42:58 very bold.
00:42:59 --> 00:42:59 Since we
00:42:59 --> 00:43:00 have such
00:43:00 --> 00:43:00 a hope,
00:43:00 --> 00:43:01 and only
00:43:01 --> 00:43:01 because we
00:43:01 --> 00:43:02 have such
00:43:02 --> 00:43:02 a hope,
00:43:03 --> 00:43:03 can we
00:43:03 --> 00:43:04 and must
00:43:04 --> 00:43:04 we be
00:43:04 --> 00:43:05 very bold.
00:43:06 --> 00:43:06 And so
00:43:06 --> 00:43:06 his
00:43:06 --> 00:43:07 encouragement
00:43:07 --> 00:43:08 here is
00:43:08 --> 00:43:08 that if
00:43:08 --> 00:43:09 your hope
00:43:09 --> 00:43:10 is defective,
00:43:10 --> 00:43:11 it's probably
00:43:11 --> 00:43:12 got something
00:43:12 --> 00:43:12 to do with
00:43:12 --> 00:43:12 the fact
00:43:12 --> 00:43:13 that you're
00:43:13 --> 00:43:13 actually
00:43:13 --> 00:43:13 spending
00:43:13 --> 00:43:14 more time
00:43:14 --> 00:43:16 on YouTube
00:43:16 --> 00:43:19 rather than
00:43:19 --> 00:43:19 in the
00:43:19 --> 00:43:20 Bible,
00:43:21 --> 00:43:22 rather than
00:43:22 --> 00:43:22 gazing on
00:43:22 --> 00:43:23 the gospel.
00:43:25 --> 00:43:26 He says,
00:43:26 --> 00:43:27 keep fixing
00:43:27 --> 00:43:27 your gaze
00:43:27 --> 00:43:28 on the
00:43:28 --> 00:43:29 glory of
00:43:29 --> 00:43:29 God in
00:43:29 --> 00:43:30 the face
00:43:30 --> 00:43:30 of Christ
00:43:30 --> 00:43:31 in the
00:43:31 --> 00:43:31 gospel.
00:43:31 --> 00:43:32 It is
00:43:32 --> 00:43:32 your hope,
00:43:33 --> 00:43:33 it is
00:43:33 --> 00:43:34 your boldness,
00:43:34 --> 00:43:35 and it is
00:43:35 --> 00:43:36 the way that
00:43:36 --> 00:43:36 God will
00:43:36 --> 00:43:37 bring change
00:43:37 --> 00:43:37 and transformation
00:43:37 --> 00:43:38 in your life.
00:43:40 --> 00:43:40 If,
00:43:40 --> 00:43:41 however,
00:43:42 --> 00:43:42 that's for you,
00:43:42 --> 00:43:43 for Christians,
00:43:43 --> 00:43:43 if,
00:43:43 --> 00:43:44 however,
00:43:44 --> 00:43:44 you're here
00:43:44 --> 00:43:45 today and
00:43:45 --> 00:43:46 you're not
00:43:46 --> 00:43:47 a Christian,
00:43:47 --> 00:43:50 maybe,
00:43:51 --> 00:43:52 even as
00:43:52 --> 00:43:52 I've been
00:43:52 --> 00:43:53 speaking for
00:43:53 --> 00:43:53 the first
00:43:53 --> 00:43:54 time,
00:43:54 --> 00:43:54 the veil
00:43:54 --> 00:43:56 is slipping
00:43:56 --> 00:43:57 away.
00:43:59 --> 00:43:59 You're
00:43:59 --> 00:44:00 starting to
00:44:00 --> 00:44:00 see Jesus
00:44:00 --> 00:44:01 in a slightly
00:44:01 --> 00:44:02 different way
00:44:02 --> 00:44:02 than what you
00:44:02 --> 00:44:02 did when you
00:44:02 --> 00:44:03 first came in
00:44:03 --> 00:44:03 here.
00:44:06 --> 00:44:06 You heard
00:44:06 --> 00:44:07 this stuff
00:44:07 --> 00:44:07 about him
00:44:07 --> 00:44:08 being the
00:44:08 --> 00:44:08 triumphant
00:44:08 --> 00:44:09 king of
00:44:09 --> 00:44:09 kings who
00:44:09 --> 00:44:09 in fact
00:44:09 --> 00:44:10 became a
00:44:10 --> 00:44:11 slave for
00:44:11 --> 00:44:12 your sake.
00:44:12 --> 00:44:12 You've
00:44:12 --> 00:44:13 heard Paul
00:44:13 --> 00:44:13 say,
00:44:13 --> 00:44:13 it's
00:44:13 --> 00:44:14 Christ's
00:44:14 --> 00:44:14 love that
00:44:14 --> 00:44:15 compels
00:44:15 --> 00:44:15 me,
00:44:15 --> 00:44:16 and for
00:44:16 --> 00:44:16 the first
00:44:16 --> 00:44:16 time,
00:44:17 --> 00:44:17 you're
00:44:17 --> 00:44:17 not
00:44:17 --> 00:44:17 seeing
00:44:17 --> 00:44:18 him
00:44:18 --> 00:44:18 as
00:44:18 --> 00:44:19 judgmental.
00:44:22 --> 00:44:22 He's
00:44:22 --> 00:44:22 the king
00:44:22 --> 00:44:23 of kings
00:44:23 --> 00:44:23 who's
00:44:23 --> 00:44:23 conquered
00:44:23 --> 00:44:24 sin and
00:44:24 --> 00:44:24 death and
00:44:24 --> 00:44:25 shame and
00:44:25 --> 00:44:25 death for
00:44:25 --> 00:44:25 you.
00:44:28 --> 00:44:28 Can I
00:44:28 --> 00:44:28 say that
00:44:28 --> 00:44:29 if that's
00:44:29 --> 00:44:29 you,
00:44:29 --> 00:44:29 have you
00:44:29 --> 00:44:30 seen the
00:44:30 --> 00:44:31 veil slip
00:44:31 --> 00:44:31 for right
00:44:31 --> 00:44:31 now?
00:44:33 --> 00:44:33 The stakes
00:44:33 --> 00:44:34 are very
00:44:34 --> 00:44:35 high for
00:44:35 --> 00:44:35 you.
00:44:36 --> 00:44:36 Come to
00:44:36 --> 00:44:36 him,
00:44:37 --> 00:44:38 surrender
00:44:38 --> 00:44:38 to him,
00:44:38 --> 00:44:39 and find
00:44:39 --> 00:44:40 your joy
00:44:40 --> 00:44:41 in him
00:44:41 --> 00:44:42 today.
00:44:42 --> 00:44:42 I'd love
00:44:42 --> 00:44:43 to speak
00:44:43 --> 00:44:43 to you
00:44:43 --> 00:44:44 after the
00:44:44 --> 00:44:44 service.