Authentic Humility
Series: AUTHENTIC
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 29th September 2019
Passage: 2 Corinthians 10:1-11:33
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 Good morning, everyone. My name is James. It's nice to be with you this morning.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:17 Have you ever been deceived by something? Something that seemed authentic, but it turned
00:00:17 --> 00:00:23 out to be fake? It may have seemed flashy and exciting, but it wasn't the real deal.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:31 I remember when Alyssa and I first visited China. We went to Beijing about 10 years ago,
00:00:32 --> 00:00:38 and we were struck by the food. It was so different to what we had grown up eating.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:46 What we thought authentic Chinese food was, was wonderful dishes like Mongolian lamb,
00:00:46 --> 00:00:55 satay chicken, beef and black bean. These are kind of classic Chinese dishes, authentic Chinese
00:00:55 --> 00:01:06 dishes, or so I thought. These meals usually had four parts, a meat, sauce, rice, and onion.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:14 That was the important fourth part. That's what I thought authentic Chinese food was for years.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:22 And then, we visited Beijing, and it was totally different. We saw what authentic
00:01:22 --> 00:01:29 Chinese food was. First of all, the meat was often on the bone, and you would eat the meat off the bone
00:01:29 --> 00:01:35 and spit the bone out. And that was totally new to me at the time. And at the time, I remember
00:01:35 --> 00:01:41 thinking, I know I'm in China, but this somehow doesn't seem authentic. I'm spitting bones out,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:47 you know. It's not like what I've had at home. And where's the onion? I couldn't find it anywhere.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:58 But then I realized, this was the real stuff. That's where the authentic, awesome flavors come
00:01:58 --> 00:02:05 from. And now, Alyssa and myself and our kids, we love trying all kinds of different foods. I'm not
00:02:05 --> 00:02:11 just restricted to that, you know, very Western, satay chicken style dish, even though I still do
00:02:11 --> 00:02:17 love it. If you think also that you've got the most authentic dish, I'm happy to try it. You can
00:02:17 --> 00:02:25 bring that in for me next week. No, no hands going out? No, fine. I was deceived into thinking that I
00:02:25 --> 00:02:34 knew what real food was. We can be deceived into thinking we know what authenticity looks like.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:43 It is often far more humble than we imagine. This is the same following Jesus. There is the real and
00:02:43 --> 00:02:50 authentic good news about Jesus, that He died for us, that our sins are forgiven, that we are brought
00:02:50 --> 00:02:57 into God into God's family. And this has nothing to do with us. It is all a gift of God's grace.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:07 But we can also be deceived. We can be distracted by flashier versions. A gospel that might seem more
00:03:07 --> 00:03:15 exciting, but is actually just fake. We've been going through the book of 2 Corinthians over the last
00:03:15 --> 00:03:23 10 weeks or so. As we're coming to the end, Paul, he is really worried about this new little church in
00:03:23 --> 00:03:32 Corinth. We could summarize this whole letter of 2 Corinthians as, don't be deceived. This church
00:03:32 --> 00:03:40 has been deceived by preachers who have come in, people that Paul calls super-apostles. And the church
00:03:40 --> 00:03:48 in Corinth was in danger of following a different fake version of Jesus, one that was not authentic.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:54 And Paul calls them back, and he's going to show that he was not a fake apostle, but he's the real deal.
00:03:55 --> 00:04:03 He's the real apostle to the real Jesus. And he'll show that the real deal often doesn't look flashy.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:12 It doesn't look powerful. Paul is humble because it is God that has the power. And so today for us,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:17 we're going to consider whether we've been deceived and whether we're following the real Jesus.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:24 And we're going to make sure that we're following the real Jesus and make sure that we're not deceived
00:04:24 --> 00:04:30 by other things going on around us in our culture. So please have your Bibles open to 2 Corinthians
00:04:30 --> 00:04:35 chapter 10. It'll also be on the screen, but it's always good to have your Bible open in front of you.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:42 Paul is going to hold up his ministry, and he's going to compare it with the super-apostles.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:47 And he's not just defending himself, but he's also teaching this little church
00:04:47 --> 00:04:55 to be able to discern what an authentic teacher looks like. I've got the button somewhere. Here we go.
00:04:55 --> 00:05:01 So first of all, we're going to see what the authentic teacher looks like. From chapter 10,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 verse 1,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:15 Paul doesn't come out fighting against the super-apostles as they would. He doesn't wage a war
00:05:15 --> 00:05:26 of words. He comes as the clay jar, weak and breakable. He comes like Jesus. He comes with
00:05:26 --> 00:05:34 the humility and gentleness of Christ. That's how he will rebuke and restore. He speaks with
00:05:34 --> 00:05:40 gentleness, giving this church an opportunity to repent. He's not bringing condemnation.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:47 He comes with humility, not weakness, but patience, because he knows that God has had
00:05:47 --> 00:05:55 patience with him. And this is a bit strange, but Paul also comes begging. This is the leader,
00:05:56 --> 00:06:02 the apostle who planted this church, and he comes begging, because there are more important things
00:06:02 --> 00:06:10 than his own feelings. There are more important things than his own shame and the desire to save face.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 He comes begging. Chapter 10, verse 1 again,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:20 I appeal to you, I, Paul, who am timid when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I'm away,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:29 I beg that when I come, I may not have to be as bold. Paul wants them to repent. Repent,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:36 come back to the authentic Jesus, so I don't have to be bold with you. I beg you, come back to Jesus,
00:06:36 --> 00:06:47 because if they don't, Paul will come with all of God's power. Not just in the flashiness and a powerful
00:06:47 --> 00:06:54 speech of the super-apostles, but he'll come with God's divine power, which, verse 4 says,
00:06:54 --> 00:07:02 can demolish strongholds. These super-apostles had come in, and they'd looked powerful and flashy,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:09 and so the church in Corinth had judged by appearances. They saw that on the outside,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:17 these super-apostles had flashy speech. They were really persuasive, and the church judged them
00:07:17 --> 00:07:23 like judging a book by its cover. They don't see them for who they are, and so Paul, instead of just
00:07:23 --> 00:07:29 judging the book by its cover, he's going to open this book. Okay, well, let's consider who these super-apostles
00:07:29 --> 00:07:36 are, and let's compare them with a real, authentic, humble apostle. Verse 12,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:45 we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure
00:07:45 --> 00:07:51 themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. These super-apostles
00:07:51 --> 00:07:58 have come in, and they're comparing themselves with each other. Hey, you look great. Hey, you look great,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:03 too. Oh, you know, look, do you know what? Let's pat each other on the back. Do you know what? How about
00:08:03 --> 00:08:09 I write you a letter of recommendation, and I'll write you a letter of recommendation, and then we
00:08:09 --> 00:08:16 can give them to each other, and we will look great ourselves. Aren't we great here? They're boasting
00:08:16 --> 00:08:26 in themselves. This is not wisdom. This is just foolishness. Instead, what does an authentic
00:08:26 --> 00:08:36 apostle do? Verse 13, we, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting
00:08:36 --> 00:08:41 to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us. Paul boasts in what God has given him.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:48 This is the church of Corinth. It's these people themselves, but these super-apostles are just
00:08:48 --> 00:08:57 boasting beyond limits. Boasting of what God has done through Paul and through others. But Paul's boast
00:08:57 --> 00:09:04 isn't about what he has done. It's about what God has done in them. And Paul closes this off. If you want
00:09:04 --> 00:09:11 to know who an authentic teacher is, an authentic teacher and apostle of God is, you should ask God
00:09:11 --> 00:09:19 himself. Verse 18, it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord
00:09:19 --> 00:09:28 commends. Who is God commending? The church might not think it was Paul because they've been judging by
00:09:28 --> 00:09:35 appearances. Paul has suffered and he has looked weak. As we've seen, as we've gone through this book of
00:09:35 --> 00:09:42 2 Corinthians, Paul looks weak to the eyes of the world. But that's just outward appearance.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:51 And Paul here is identifying closely with Jesus. Christ, Jesus, is the one who was commended by God
00:09:51 --> 00:09:59 even though he died. God raised him from the dead. And Paul, his work in ministry is very much like what
00:09:59 --> 00:10:06 Jesus did. In chapter 10, verse 1, he appealed with humility like Christ. And in the second half of
00:10:06 --> 00:10:15 chapter 11, which we didn't read, Paul leans into how foolish people think he looks. And I can't help
00:10:15 --> 00:10:21 but when I read this, it just reminds me of Christ's sufferings. Paul is saying, if you think I'm a fool
00:10:21 --> 00:10:27 compared to these super apostles, guys, let me be up front. I am a much bigger fool than you realize.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:35 You guys have got no idea how ridiculous I look. Let me be completely humble. Let me be completely
00:10:35 --> 00:10:44 up front. I will tell you how I look. Because Paul says, I know my worth because Jesus himself loves me
00:10:44 --> 00:10:50 and has given me a message to preach. And it's not because of how the world views me. And so Paul
00:10:50 --> 00:10:58 makes this big list of how foolish he is in the eyes of the world. It's not going to be on the
00:10:58 --> 00:11:02 screen. I'm going to go through it fairly quickly, but it's from the second half of chapter 11,
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 from verse 21. Have a look in your Bibles or on your phone.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:13 Whatever anyone else dares to boast about, I'm speaking as a fool, I also dare to boast about.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:19 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:25 Are they servants of Christ? I'm out of my mind to talk like this. I am more. I have worked harder.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:31 I've been in prison more frequently. I have been flogged more severely. I've been exposed to death.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:37 Five times I received 40 lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was pelted with
00:11:37 --> 00:11:43 stones. Three times I've been shipwrecked. I spent a day and a night in the open sea. I've been
00:11:43 --> 00:11:50 constantly on the move. Danger in rivers. Danger from bandits. Danger from fellow Jews. Danger from
00:11:50 --> 00:11:58 Gentiles. Danger at sea. Danger on the land. Danger from false believers. I've labored and toiled and
00:11:58 --> 00:12:03 gone without sleep. I've known hunger and thirst and have gone without food. I've been cold and naked.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:10 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:17 Who is weak and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin and I do not burn inwardly?
00:12:17 --> 00:12:24 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:33 This is radical, authentic humility here from Paul. These are things that you would hide away.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:41 But Paul has endured much so he could spread the gospel. And he was able to do this because his
00:12:41 --> 00:12:47 identity is fully in God. He is not worried about how the world is perceiving him.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:56 He knew he was commended by God. And he's gone to great lengths to give this church a framework,
00:12:56 --> 00:13:03 how to judge who an authentic teacher is. What is a teacher boasting about? Are they boasting about
00:13:03 --> 00:13:15 themselves? Or the power of God to use even a weak clay jar? Are these teachers more concerned with
00:13:15 --> 00:13:24 style over substance? Are these teachers more worried about outward appearance compared to how they
00:13:24 --> 00:13:31 appear to God? Are they more worried about looking weak because they're trusting in themselves instead of
00:13:31 --> 00:13:40 trusting God? I think this is a helpful framework for us as well. Who are the people that we are following?
00:13:43 --> 00:13:48 And what is driving us to be like them? Do you know the people that you are following?
00:13:48 --> 00:13:55 Is there someone in your life that you are seeking to follow in your Christian walk?
00:13:56 --> 00:14:04 And who are we becoming ourselves? Are we ourselves becoming authentic followers of Jesus with humility?
00:14:05 --> 00:14:15 Or are we becoming people who are just a bit fake and flashy? If we've got kids, our kids copy the way
00:14:15 --> 00:14:21 we behave. They copy the bits that we want them to copy. And they also have this wonderful knack of
00:14:21 --> 00:14:27 picking up all our bad habits too. You can tell me about all those stories later. If you have younger
00:14:27 --> 00:14:33 siblings, they often look up to older siblings and they want to emulate older siblings.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:41 You might love the way, you know, our dear brother Nick Freestone plays the guitar. And so,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:46 you know, you see him on stage and you go, I want to play guitar like Nick. And so you start dressing
00:14:46 --> 00:14:53 like him. You know, you wear a lot of scarves like Nick does. Notice he's not wearing a scarf today. It's
00:14:53 --> 00:15:02 getting warmer. And so we emulate those that we want to be like. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:09 to follow me as I follow Christ. And so this is a good thing that God has given us older brothers
00:15:09 --> 00:15:16 and sisters in the faith to follow as they are following Christ. And it's good for us to be aware
00:15:16 --> 00:15:23 of who we are as people are following us too. I'm the next gen pastor here at St. Paul's,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:29 and that means I'm the leader of our kids in our youth ministries. They follow me even if they
00:15:29 --> 00:15:35 don't realize it. The things that I talk about and value, they start to talk about and value.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:41 One of my favorite things to do, and one of my favorite parts of ministry, is working with our
00:15:41 --> 00:15:47 young preachers. Those at our Friday afternoon Kids Club Boom, those at Kids Church on a Sunday
00:15:47 --> 00:15:54 morning and Fridays. I love working with our young preachers. But it's always daunting when I give
00:15:54 --> 00:15:59 advice. You know, I'll say something like, you know, when you're preaching, you could say something
00:15:59 --> 00:16:04 like this. Let me just spitball, here's some ideas of what you could say. And then when I'm listening to
00:16:04 --> 00:16:14 them, I hear my words come out of their mouth. And it's always scary for me. Because I have this area
00:16:14 --> 00:16:22 of influence in my ministry. And so, for me, it's important that with this influence, that I have
00:16:22 --> 00:16:30 humility like Paul, and don't become overconfident like the super apostles. Imagine if I started to
00:16:30 --> 00:16:38 think like them, that it was all about me, and boasting the influence I would have in a damaging way.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:44 I know that people are following me. I've got three kids, and they're following me, and I've got
00:16:44 --> 00:16:49 this area of influence in ministry. And so, I need to make sure that I'm walking following Jesus,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:56 so that I am commended by God. And for me, I also need to be walking following someone else.
00:16:57 --> 00:17:01 And so, one of the things I've been doing recently is, I'm seeking a new mentor,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:06 so that they can keep me accountable. Someone that is following Christ.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:14 So, two questions for us here at this point. Who are you following? And who is following you?
00:17:15 --> 00:17:21 Who is making an appeal to you to follow Jesus, just like Paul does to this church?
00:17:22 --> 00:17:28 Who have you given permission to, to speak words into your life that says, actually,
00:17:29 --> 00:17:33 you've been deceived here, you need to come back to Jesus?
00:17:33 --> 00:17:38 To call us out when we're running away, when we've been deceived.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 And are you becoming someone like Paul,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:46 who is humble, and who is aware of how God has gifted him,
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 and someone that is worth following?
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 Wouldn't it be terrible if we
00:17:52 --> 00:17:56 became fake, or found out that
00:17:56 --> 00:18:00 that we love those who are preaching and presenting a fake gospel,
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 and we'd gone off
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 treasuring the wrong type of Jesus,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 and people had followed us?
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 The church in Corinth had been
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 deceived,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 and they'd begun to follow the wrong people.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 Paul says, judge what God commends,
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 not the world.
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 Look at the ministry I've been involved in.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 It's about you,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 not about me.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:25 And the church needed to step back and reassess
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 who they were following,
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 just like we need to.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 Now,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 this is also really helpful,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 I think, for all of us,
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 to see how Paul reacts to these super apostles.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 He could have defended his position
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 out of fear.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 You know,
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 he is the apostle,
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 and all of a sudden,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 his apostleship is being brought into question.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 He could have gotten really aggressive.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 He could have used his power
00:18:48 --> 00:18:51 to reinforce that he was the apostle,
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 and these guys were just fake.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:57 But he's not worried about himself,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 because authentic humility
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 focuses on the gospel.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 Authentic humility focuses
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 on the good news of the gospel.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 From chapter 11, verse 2,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:37 Paul is so concerned for this church
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 and where they're heading,
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 that he doesn't want them to be deceived
00:19:40 --> 00:19:42 from what they had believed.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:45 They had this pure devotion to Christ,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 but it's all changed
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 because of these false teachers
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 that have come in.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 And they've been so deceived
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 that in verse 4,
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 Paul can say
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 that the Jesus they're following,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:59 well, it's a totally different Jesus.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 It's not the real Jesus.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:04 They are following a different version of Jesus.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Paul says,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 you've been promised to God,
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 and Paul describes it like a marriage,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 and he's the maid of honor.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 You think about the maid of honor,
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 you know, maybe a girlfriend,
00:20:16 --> 00:20:19 and she's got this friend,
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 and she's introduced it to this guy,
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 and she's so excited to see them get married.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 Paul is saying,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 he's that friend,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 he's the maid of honor.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 He has introduced this church in Corinth
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 to God,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 and he really wants them
00:20:31 --> 00:20:34 to get to the end,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 to see the marriage of the church to Jesus.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 He doesn't want them to be deceived
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 and to run away.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 And what Paul is saying is,
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 he wants them to be ready
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 and to wait for Jesus,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 but instead,
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 they've run off
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 with a poor,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 rip-off version of Jesus.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 It's like every kind of romantic comedy
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 where somebody gets left at the altar.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:59 Paul is so worried
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 that the church of Corinth
00:21:01 --> 00:21:04 is going to leave Jesus at the altar
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 and run off with the bad guy.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:10 A poor, rip-off version of Jesus.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:16 Just as the serpent deceived Eve
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 away from following God,
00:21:19 --> 00:21:22 these teachers are inciting the church away.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:26 Paul calls them Satan's servants
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 in verse 14 and 15.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 That is incredibly strong language.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 In Genesis 3,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 the serpent deceived Eve
00:21:33 --> 00:21:36 with cunning and deceptive speech.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 And these false teachers
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 are doing the same thing.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 They're deceiving this church
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 with cunning, deceptive,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:46 but very attractive preaching.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 But it's a fake gospel.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 Now, it's not exactly clear
00:21:51 --> 00:21:54 what their different version of Jesus was,
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 but it's likely that they have added
00:21:56 --> 00:21:59 to the requirement of faith in Jesus.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:04 Faith in Jesus is a really wonderful thing.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:07 I think we can make the word faith
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 a little bit too mystical sometimes.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:12 Faith is trusting in someone's promises.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 So, for Alyssa and I,
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 when we got married 12 years ago,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 whatever it was,
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 we made promises to each other.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 And so, I am faithful
00:22:21 --> 00:22:24 when I keep those promises.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 And Alyssa can have faith
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 that I will trust in those promises.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 That's what faith is.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31 God has made promises to us
00:22:31 --> 00:22:34 that Jesus has died for us
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 and that our sins are cleansed.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 And so, we trust in God's promise.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 So, we can have faith.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 Jesus has promised
00:22:42 --> 00:22:46 that our faith will lead
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 to being in heaven with Him.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 And so, faith looks like trusting
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 in God's promise.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 But here, it seems like
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 these super apostles have come in
00:22:57 --> 00:23:00 and added to trusting in God's promises.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 Whether it was circumcision,
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 whether it was following the law
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 or something else.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 In one sense,
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 it seems to make Christianity
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 seem easier.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 Do these things,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 follow these laws,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 cut off this skin,
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 and it's all taken care of.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 But Paul is so angry
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 because it destroys
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 what is good about the gospel.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 That God's love for us
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 is a gift.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 One that cannot be earned.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 Knowing Jesus Himself
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 is so important to Paul
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 for this church,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 he doesn't even want to be
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 a financial burden on them.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 From verse 12,
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 I will keep on doing
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 what I am doing
00:23:41 --> 00:23:44 in order to cut the ground out
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 from under those
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 who want an opportunity
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 to be considered equal with us.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 Paul's saying,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 these super apostles
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 are going to come in,
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 they're going to take your money,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 and they're going to give you
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 a rip-off,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 poor man's version of Jesus.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 But I'm going to come in,
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 I'm not going to,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 I don't want to take your money.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 I've got a church in Macedonia
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 that's supporting me.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 All because he wants
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 to give them Jesus.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 There were false teachers then
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 that this church
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 needed to be aware of,
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 but the reality is,
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 even for us today,
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 there are
00:24:17 --> 00:24:20 different versions of Jesus
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 out there.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 You'll encounter people
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 knocking on your door,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 wanting to tell you
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 about a different version
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 of Jesus.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 Jesus.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 You'll hear other versions
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 of the Son of God.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 And so,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 I've got four questions
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 for us
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 to help us
00:24:36 --> 00:24:39 identify whether
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 someone is presenting
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 an authentic Jesus,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 or whether
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 they've got a totally
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 different view of Jesus.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 So,
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 four quick questions
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 for us.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 The first question
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 to help us identify
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 whether someone is
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 presenting a fake Jesus,
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 is,
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 what is their source?
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 is,
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 anything other
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 than the Bible
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 is not reliable.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 2 Peter 1 says
00:25:02 --> 00:25:04 that we don't follow
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 cleverly invented
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 stories about Jesus,
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 but we follow
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 eyewitness truth.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 Someone might come
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 and say,
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 I've had a dream
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 about Jesus,
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 and so you need
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 to follow this
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 instead.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 But if it's not
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 consistent with
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 the Bible,
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 the Jesus who is
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 presented to us
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 in the Bible,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 we don't follow
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 that Jesus.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 The second question,
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 what is the message?
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 For the authentic
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 teacher,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 Jesus is at the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 very centre
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 of the good news,
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 of the whole Bible.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 For the fake
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 teacher,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 Jesus will be there,
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 but He'll often
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 be over to one
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 side.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 The message
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 will be about
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 something else,
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 and they'll just
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 plug Jesus in.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 The message
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 might be about
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 making you really
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 great.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 Do you know what?
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 If you follow
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 Jesus,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 you can be the
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 best version of
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 you,
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 and it's all
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 about you,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 and let's make
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 you great,
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 and let's get
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 you as much
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 money as you
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 can,
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 and let's make
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 you successful.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 And we hear
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 that,
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 we can think,
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 yes,
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 I want to,
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 do you know
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 what?
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 I would like
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 money,
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 and I would
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 like to be
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 successful,
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 and Jesus is
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 going to help
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 me do that.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 But the problem
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 with that gospel
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 is,
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 that is not good
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 news about Jesus,
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 that is good
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 news about
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 to make us
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 great,
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 but Jesus
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 himself is
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 great,
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 and we get
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 to follow
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 him.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 The third
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 question to
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 help us to
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 understand whether
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 it's a real
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 Jesus or a
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 fake Jesus,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 is what is the
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 character that
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 is produced?
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 True humility
00:26:33 --> 00:26:35 will,
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 true teachers
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 will seek
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 humility,
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 holiness,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 and gentleness,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 whereas these
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 super apostles have
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 been boasting
00:26:42 --> 00:26:45 outside,
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 themselves.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 And so,
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 what is the
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 character that
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 is produced
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 for us?
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 Lastly,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 what is the
00:26:51 --> 00:26:53 reason for
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 the message?
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 The authentic
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 teacher asks,
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 what does God
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 have to say in
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 his word to
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 me today?
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 The fake
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 teacher asks,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 well,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 what do people
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 want to hear?
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 What is flashy?
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 What's going to
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 get in a big
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 crowd today?
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 What's going to
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 make this church
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 in Corinth grow?
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 And then I'll
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 add a Bible
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 verse onto that
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 or I'll stick
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 Jesus in there
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 somewhere.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 No,
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 no,
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 no,
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 what does
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 God have to
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 say to us
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 today?
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 We should not
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 be naive to
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 think that
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 everyone who
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 says that they
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 follow Jesus
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 is following
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 the same
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 Jesus.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 But we can be
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 prepared to
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 understand who
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Jesus is from
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 the Bible and
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 to question other
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 people's view of
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 Jesus.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 It's not just
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 teachers that can
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 deceive us away
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 from following
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 Jesus.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 This church in
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 Corinth had
00:27:45 --> 00:27:47 confused outward
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 appearance with
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 God's blessing.
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 Paul has
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 corrected their
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 view and shown
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 what a humble
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 and authentic
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 apostle looks
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 like.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 But we can be
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 deceived too from
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 our culture around
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 us.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 We can think a
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 certain picture of
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 success is God's
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 blessing.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 So, you know,
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 this is what it
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 looks like to be a
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 Christian.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 Or this is what
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 it looks like to
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 be a successful
00:28:11 --> 00:28:14 church based on
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 how our culture
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 defines success.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 We can think,
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 you know, I
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 should be this
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 good by now.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 If I'm a
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 Christian, well, I
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 shouldn't really
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 sin in all of
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 these ways.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 I should be this
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 mature.
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 I've been a
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 Christian for 15
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 years, so I
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 should look like
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 this.
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 And, you know,
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 when I share my
00:28:36 --> 00:28:38 feelings and my
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 problems and my
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 issues with my
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 non-Christians,
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 they're always
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 like, why aren't
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 you a Christian?
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 Shouldn't you be
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 better than this?
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 I shouldn't have
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 to deal with this
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 sin.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 And the church,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 well, our
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 society and our
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 culture defines
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 success by size
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 and numbers.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 And so, shouldn't
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 my ministry that
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 I'm involved in be
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 bigger?
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 Shouldn't my
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 church be bigger?
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 Shouldn't my
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 ministry be the
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 best?
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 Because that's
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 what success looks
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 like in our
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 culture.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 But we can
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 judge by
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 appearances and
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 not how God
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 judges.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 We need to be
00:29:15 --> 00:29:17 aware of how
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 our culture defines
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 success and make
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 sure that we don't
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 bring that into the
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 church.
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 Remember, this
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 church had
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 super apostles that
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 wanted to look
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 powerful, but Paul
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 looked weak.
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 I think a common
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 way we can be
00:29:33 --> 00:29:35 deceived is thinking
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 that success looks
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 like a size of
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 a church.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 We judge so
00:29:41 --> 00:29:43 often based on
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 size and
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 turnover in
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 companies and
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 in business that
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 we can judge by
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 outward appearance
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 as if this was
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 the best way to
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 test whether
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 something was a
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 faithful, authentic
00:29:56 --> 00:29:58 church that's
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 faithful to God's
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 call to make
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 disciples.
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 disciples.
00:30:00 --> 00:30:03 We have this
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 temptation to jump
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 on a treadmill of
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 competition and
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 comparison over the
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 size of a ministry or
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 over the size of a
00:30:11 --> 00:30:13 church, thinking that
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 bigger must always
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 equal better, or
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 that a church of this
00:30:18 --> 00:30:20 size, maybe a
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 smaller church is
00:30:20 --> 00:30:22 better, and so we
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 shouldn't change.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:25 But a small church
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 can be healthy
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 following an
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 authentic Jesus, but
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 a small church can
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 also be deceived.
00:30:32 --> 00:30:34 A big church can
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 be healthy following
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 God, but a big
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 church can be
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 deceived too.
00:30:39 --> 00:30:41 I've loved seeing
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 some of the markers
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 of a healthy church
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 here recently.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 Seeing all the
00:30:46 --> 00:30:48 stories of people's
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 lives, how they've
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 been changed by
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 Jesus.
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 In our social
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 media, on
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 Facebook, and in
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 the weekly
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 communication.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 I've loved seeing
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 what God has been
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 doing.
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 I've loved seeing
00:30:59 --> 00:31:01 that here, we are
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 not pursuing a
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 Jesus to make
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 ourselves look
00:31:04 --> 00:31:07 great, but because
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 Jesus is wonderful.
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 He is truly great
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 and generous.
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 And there is
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 truly nothing better
00:31:15 --> 00:31:17 to do than to
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 treasure Him.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:20 And that is what
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 success looks like as
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 a church.
00:31:22 --> 00:31:24 When we joyfully get
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 to treasure God
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 together.
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 What we have been
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 doing this morning,
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 that is what a
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 successful church
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 looks like.
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 When we are doing
00:31:31 --> 00:31:33 that more and more
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 each week, instead
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 of treasuring
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 ourselves more.
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 I've been reading
00:31:41 --> 00:31:43 about the history of
00:31:43 --> 00:31:45 the church in China
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 recently.
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 And I've been reading
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 about the Taiping
00:31:49 --> 00:31:51 Rebellion in the
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 1850s.
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 Has anybody heard of
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 the Taiping Rebellion
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 that happened in
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 China in the 1850s?
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 There's one hand up
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 in the corner.
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 Thank you.
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 Oh, there's a couple.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 Wonderful.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 Thank you.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:03 It was led by a man
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 named Hong
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 Xiuquan.
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 And he received
00:32:07 --> 00:32:09 a pamphlet with
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 information about
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11 Christianity from
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 the Bible that had
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 been spread around
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 by Christian
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 missionaries in
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 China.
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 And while it
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 seemed like he
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 became a Christian
00:32:18 --> 00:32:20 and wanted to see
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 China become a
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 Christian country,
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 he was following
00:32:23 --> 00:32:26 a different version
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 of Jesus and a
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 different version of
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 the gospel.
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 He believed that
00:32:31 --> 00:32:33 God wanted him to
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 found a heavenly
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 kingdom on earth.
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 He argued that
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 Jesus wasn't equal
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 with God.
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 You had God and
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 then you had Jesus
00:32:41 --> 00:32:43 and then he was
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 next.
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 This man,
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 Hong Xiuquan.
00:32:46 --> 00:32:48 And he had dreams
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 and visions that he
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 was to slay demons
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 and lead God's
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 kingdom.
00:32:53 --> 00:32:55 He had been
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 deceived and had a
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 twisted version of
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 the good news of
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 the gospel.
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 And he'd made it
00:33:00 --> 00:33:02 all about himself.
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 He believed dreams
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 which contradicted
00:33:05 --> 00:33:07 the Bible, which
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 set himself at the
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 top.
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 Now, we might not
00:33:11 --> 00:33:13 think that we will
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 be deceived into
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 thinking that we
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 need to lead a
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 rebellion here in
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 Chatswood.
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 Is anybody wanting
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 to lead a rebellion
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 in Chatswood?
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 Maybe not.
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 But we can
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 be deceived into
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 thinking that
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 Christianity is all
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 about me.
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 Maybe we won't
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 make ourselves
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 just a rung
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 lower than Jesus,
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 but we will make
00:33:32 --> 00:33:34 ourselves think that
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 God's purpose is
00:33:35 --> 00:33:37 for me to look
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 good.
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 We place ourselves
00:33:39 --> 00:33:41 over God's word
00:33:41 --> 00:33:43 and we ignore the
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 parts that we don't
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 like.
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 Instead of humility
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 and accountability,
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 we'll fool
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 ourselves into
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 thinking that we
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 are okay on our
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 own.
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 We focus on our
00:33:55 --> 00:33:57 own little kingdom
00:33:57 --> 00:33:59 in Sydney instead
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 of on God's
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 kingdom.
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 Let's be a church
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 that is humble,
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 knowing that God
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 has chosen to love
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 us, not because we
00:34:08 --> 00:34:10 are attractive, but
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 because He is
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 wonderfully generous.
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 Let's be people who
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 are willing to
00:34:14 --> 00:34:16 encourage and
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 correct others and
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 be people who are
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 corrected ourselves.
00:34:19 --> 00:34:21 Let's be people who
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 long to follow Jesus
00:34:22 --> 00:34:24 and not be deceived
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 into following a
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 fake Jesus that
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 makes it all about
00:34:27 --> 00:34:29 us, but the very
00:34:29 --> 00:34:31 Son of God who
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 reveals His Father
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 to us.
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 Let me pray.
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 Dear Heavenly
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 Father, Lord, I
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 thank You that You
00:34:40 --> 00:34:42 are indeed a good
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 and generous God,
00:34:43 --> 00:34:45 that You sent Your
00:34:45 --> 00:34:48 Son who lived
00:34:48 --> 00:34:50 with utmost
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 humility, who went
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 to the cross with
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 humility, who
00:34:53 --> 00:34:56 suffered even
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 though He is
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 God, who is
00:34:58 --> 00:35:00 immensely powerful.
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 God, we thank You
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 that Your Son
00:35:02 --> 00:35:04 suffered for us
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 and that You have
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 raised Him from the
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 dead so that we
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 can be brought into
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 Your family.
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 Heavenly Father, we
00:35:10 --> 00:35:12 ask that You would
00:35:12 --> 00:35:14 help us to be
00:35:14 --> 00:35:16 people who are
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 not deceived into
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 following a
00:35:18 --> 00:35:20 different version
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 of Jesus.
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 Give us people
00:35:22 --> 00:35:24 who are speaking
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 to our lives
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 to keep us
00:35:25 --> 00:35:27 accountable and
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 Father, help us
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 be aware that we
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 are all,
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 regardless of age,
00:35:32 --> 00:35:34 people who have
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 others following
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 us.
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 Help us to be
00:35:38 --> 00:35:40 like Paul, to
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 follow You as
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 other people follow
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 us, so that You
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 would have all of
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 the glory.
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 God, we pray
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 this in Your
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 Son's name.
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 Amen.
00:35:49 --> 00:35:51 One way that we
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 show our need
00:35:52 --> 00:35:54 and our humility
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 for Jesus,
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 towards Jesus,
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 is with the
00:35:56 --> 00:35:58 physical sign of
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 the Lord's Supper
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 or Communion.
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 This is a regular
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 time in church
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 where we eat
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 bread and drink
00:36:04 --> 00:36:06 juice to remember
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 that Jesus'
00:36:07 --> 00:36:09 body and blood
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 has been given
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 and poured out
00:36:11 --> 00:36:11 for us.
00:36:11 --> 00:36:13 And so we're
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 going to celebrate
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 communion today.
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 If you've got
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 children with
00:36:16 --> 00:36:18 you, please,
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 this is our
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 family meal
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 together.
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 If you would
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 like them to
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 partake in the
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 wafer and the
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 juice, please
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 do that.
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 And please,
00:36:26 --> 00:36:28 children, I
00:36:28 --> 00:36:28 want to encourage
00:36:28 --> 00:36:30 you to reflect
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 on your hearts,
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 kids.
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 The gospel isn't
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 just for adults,
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 it is for all
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 of us.
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 And we all need
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 to come before
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 God in humility,
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 dependent on God.
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 So we're going
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 to say the
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 words of a
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 confession on
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 the screen
00:36:45 --> 00:36:45 together.
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 Kids, you can
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 say this too.
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 Let's say this
00:36:48 --> 00:36:50 loudly, knowing
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 that we need
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 God's help.
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 Let's pray.
00:36:54 --> 00:36:56 Our Father in
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 heaven, you
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 have loved us
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 with a love
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 that lasts
00:37:00 --> 00:37:00 forever.
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 But we have
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 often gone our
00:37:03 --> 00:37:05 own way and
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 rejected your
00:37:06 --> 00:37:06 will for our
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 lives.
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 We are sorry
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 for our sins,
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 and turn
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 away from
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 them.
00:37:13 --> 00:37:13 For the
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 sake of
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 your Son
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 who died
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 for us,
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 forgive us,
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 cleanse us,
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 and change
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 us.
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 By your
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 Holy Spirit,
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 enable us
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 to live for
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 you and to
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 please you
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 in every
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 way.
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 For the
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 glory of
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 our Lord
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 Jesus Christ.
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 Amen.
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 In
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 1 John,
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 it says that
00:37:35 --> 00:37:35 if we claim
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 to be without
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 sin, we
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 deceive
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 ourselves,
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 but that
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 if we
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 confess our
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 sins, he
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 is faithful
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 and just
00:37:43 --> 00:37:44 and will
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 forgive us
00:37:44 --> 00:37:45 our sins
00:37:45 --> 00:37:46 and purify
00:37:46 --> 00:37:47 us from
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 all unrighteousness.
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 As a way
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 of showing
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 our allegiance
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 to Jesus
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 and our
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 dependence on
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 him, we
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 come to
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 the Lord's
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 Supper,
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 where we
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 will eat
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 and drink
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 bread and
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 juice together,
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 remembering
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 his life,
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 death,
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 and resurrection.
00:38:03 --> 00:38:04 Jesus, who
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 on the night
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 he was
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 betrayed, he
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 took bread,
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 and when
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 he had
00:38:07 --> 00:38:07 given thanks,
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 he broke
00:38:08 --> 00:38:09 it, and
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 he gave
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 it to his
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 disciples,
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 saying,
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 take and
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 eat.
00:38:12 --> 00:38:12 This is
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 my body
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 which is
00:38:14 --> 00:38:14 given for
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 you.
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 Do this
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 in remembrance
00:38:17 --> 00:38:17 of me.
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 After
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 supper, he
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 took the
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 cup, and
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 again giving
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 thanks, he
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 gave it to
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 his disciples,
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 saying,
00:38:23 --> 00:38:25 drink this,
00:38:25 --> 00:38:25 all of
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 you.
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 This is
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 the blood
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 of the
00:38:28 --> 00:38:28 new covenant,
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 which is
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 shed for
00:38:30 --> 00:38:30 you and
00:38:30 --> 00:38:31 for many
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 for the
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 forgiveness
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 of sins.
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 do this
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 as often
00:38:35 --> 00:38:36 as you
00:38:36 --> 00:38:36 drink it
00:38:36 --> 00:38:37 in remembrance
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 of me.
00:38:38 --> 00:38:39 And so
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 we're going
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 to celebrate
00:38:39 --> 00:38:40 this now.
00:38:40 --> 00:38:40 I'd like
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 to invite
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 our helpers
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 to come
00:38:43 --> 00:38:43 and hand
00:38:43 --> 00:38:45 out the
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 juice and
00:38:46 --> 00:38:46 the bread.
00:38:46 --> 00:38:47 Take this
00:38:47 --> 00:38:47 and hold
00:38:47 --> 00:38:48 on to
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 this.
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 We're going
00:38:49 --> 00:38:49 to all
00:38:49 --> 00:38:49 eat and
00:38:49 --> 00:38:50 drink together.
00:38:50 --> 00:38:50 Kids,
00:38:50 --> 00:38:51 don't eat
00:38:51 --> 00:38:51 it just
00:38:51 --> 00:38:51 yet.
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 Hold
00:38:52 --> 00:38:52 on to
00:38:52 --> 00:38:52 it.
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 Don't
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 crack
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 the cups.
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 They're
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 fragile.
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 And as
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 you take
00:38:57 --> 00:38:58 this moment,
00:38:59 --> 00:39:01 just spend
00:39:01 --> 00:39:01 a moment
00:39:01 --> 00:39:02 meditating on
00:39:02 --> 00:39:03 how God
00:39:03 --> 00:39:03 has been
00:39:03 --> 00:39:04 good to
00:39:04 --> 00:39:05 you.
00:39:05 --> 00:39:05 Amen.