00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 Have you heard the news?
00:00:03 --> 00:00:04 Did you hear what's just happened?
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 I can't believe it.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:07 Oh, you haven't heard?
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 You didn't see what's been on the front of social media
00:00:10 --> 00:00:11 and the front of the newspapers?
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 Our ears tend to prick up at these types of things.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:16 Maybe you were actually wondering
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 if I actually had some news to share.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 It's one of the things that I think social media does really well.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 It's constantly bombard us with new information.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 If you keep pulling down or hitting refresh
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 on Facebook or Insta or Twitter,
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 it just continues to provide us with new things
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 for our eyes to look at
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 because our brains really like it.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 They've figured out how much we like it
00:00:43 --> 00:00:44 and how addicted we can be
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 to just getting new information in.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 How would you feel if I shared the front page
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 of the news from 2005?
00:00:54 --> 00:00:55 Would you care?
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 What if I, you know, it's that feeling of
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 showing someone a picture of a meme
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01 that they've already seen.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:02 It's just kind of like,
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 hmm, yeah, it's a good one.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 But I wonder if there's some pieces of news.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 I wonder if there's some pieces of information
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 that are still life-changing.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 Some things that just stop us in our tracks.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:19 You know, when an old friend
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 who you've been meeting with,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 you've just been spending hours with them
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 for years and years and years,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:26 when this old friend says to you,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 I really still like catching up with you.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:30 It's actually really wonderful.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 You know, that's news you still want to hear.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 When a family member tells you again
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 for the 400th time how much they love you.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 Some of this news that we hear,
00:01:42 --> 00:01:43 we may have heard before,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 but some news can still impact our hearts.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 It's Christmas time.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:54 We've gathered late at night to celebrate,
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 to hear the old, old news
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 of Jesus coming as a baby.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 I wonder what kind of news it is for you.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 Is it news that we've just heard before
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 and it's not exciting
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 and we're actually looking for something
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 more interesting, more exciting for Christmas?
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 Or is there still something relevant for us
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 about this old news
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 that can still impact our hearts this year?
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 Tonight we're looking at how Mary,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26 the mother of Jesus,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 responded to the news of Jesus.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 And the challenge for us will be
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 to be amazed and transformed
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 at this old news.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 Not like it's the first time we've heard it,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 but because it is still meaningful for us.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 So as we do this tonight,
00:02:42 --> 00:02:43 let me pray for us.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45 Dear Heavenly Father,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 I ask that you would help us
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 to encounter this news of Jesus' birth
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 afresh tonight
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 and that it would be life-changing again for us, Lord.
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 We ask this in your Son's name.
00:02:58 --> 00:02:59 Amen.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 We're going to see two things tonight.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 First of all, we're going to see Mary's response to the news
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 and then we're going to consider
00:03:05 --> 00:03:09 how we need to respond to this old news.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 We come to Mary
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 and her response to hearing from God.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 She is a young lady,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 around the age of 15,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 pledged to be married to a man by the name of Joseph.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 And an angel appears to her with a message from God.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 This is the freshest of news that you could get.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:29 And she says,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 please have your Bibles open,
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 have your notes open with me.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 We're going to start in verse 28,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 where we see the angel says,
00:03:36 --> 00:03:36 greetings,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 you who are highly favoured.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 The Lord is with you.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 Now, I'm not sure how you would respond
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 if you had an angel appear,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 let alone describe you as highly favoured.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 God,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 at the start of this message,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 is saying that,
00:03:54 --> 00:03:54 Mary,
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55 you are highly favoured.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 I'm going to show my grace to you,
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 unmerited favour.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 This is amazing,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 that God would show His grace,
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 His unmerited favour to anyone,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 let alone a 15-year-old girl
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 who could not have done anything to deserve it.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 Mary responds to this announcement,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 verse 29,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:20 Mary was greatly troubled at His words,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 She doesn't immediately respond with joy.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 She doesn't say,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 wow,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 I've been greatly favoured by God,
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 I've got to go and tell everybody.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:32 She's troubled.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 She has an emotional response.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:37 She's trying to understand
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 what this message is
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 that the angelic being has brought to her.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 Why am I highly favoured by God?
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 Why has God shown His grace to me?
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 Why would the Lord show His favour to me?
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 But it's not about her being special.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 It's about God being gracious.
00:04:57 --> 00:05:01 The God who chooses to love and show His grace,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 even to unlikely people.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 The angel continues in verse 30,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 Do not be afraid, Mary,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 you have found favour with God.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 You will conceive and give birth to a son,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 and you are to call Him Jesus.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 He will be great,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 and He will be called the Son of the Most High.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 and He will reign over Jacob's descendants forever.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 His kingdom will never end.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 If she was confused and troubled
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 about being favoured by God,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 imagine her now.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:36 You're saying that I'm not only favoured by God,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 but that before I,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 and that's even before I get married,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 I'm going to be pregnant with a baby,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 and that that baby is going to be the long-expected Emmanuel,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 God with us,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 who's going to rule forever.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 It's no wonder Mary responds to this amazing news
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 with surprise and with questions.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:54 Verse 34,
00:05:54 --> 00:06:03 Now, this is not a sign of doubt.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 She's trying to understand God's good news to her.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:11 But even before she can get to the theological implications
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 of the descendant of David coming,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 of God's Son Himself, Jesus coming,
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 before she can get to those implications,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 she's asking very practical questions.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 God, how is this going to work?
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 I'm not married yet.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 How am I supposed to have a baby?
00:06:28 --> 00:06:32 She doesn't dismiss the good news because it's crazy,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 but she's asking God,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 help me understand your plan.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 God, how is this going to work?
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 And the angel clarifies,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 the Holy Spirit will come on you,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 And the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 Even Elizabeth, your relative,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:54 is going to have a child in her old age.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 Mary is given an explanation and a piece of proof.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 Elizabeth, her very old relative,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 will also have a miraculous birth.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:09 I think this is actually a really wonderful piece of news
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 and a piece of proof for Mary.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 I think it's really wonderful.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 God has placed her in a situation
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 which no one will understand.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 So she's going to be pregnant.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 Her fiancé is not going to understand it.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 Her parents aren't going to understand it.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 The society around her is all going to be questioning
00:07:28 --> 00:07:32 why this young, unmarried woman is pregnant.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 How can this be?
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 Sure, you've said it's from God.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 I'm not sure we believe you.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 And yet God directs her to Elizabeth.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:44 She also is going to have a miraculous birth.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 People also wouldn't have been able to believe
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 that she was pregnant,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 and yet she was six months pregnant.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 God puts this into her hands
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 because Elizabeth will understand.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 She's the only person who would.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 And the angel calls on her to trust God's word.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 No word from God will fail.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 And Mary responds, wise beyond her years.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 Verse 38,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 I am the Lord's servant.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 May your word to me be fulfilled.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 I just think her response is wonderful.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 God, I'm going to trust you.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 I've got questions,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 but I'm not going to be afraid.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 I am your servant,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 and I'm going to trust you.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 After this, Mary goes to visit her relative.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 And when she's there,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 she responds to all that God is doing,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 and she sings a song called the Magnificat,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 where she praises and gives glory to God.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 She rejoices.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:40 She says,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 My soul glorifies the Lord,
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 She is rejoicing.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 She is praising God.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 And Mary, just in these very short verses,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 has gone on this wonderful journey.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 She started at the good news,
00:08:59 --> 00:08:59 troubled.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 She was troubled,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 unsure of this news.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 She questions the angel,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 and then she places her trust in God's word,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 and finally rejoices with praise.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:20 I remember where I was when I first heard the news about 9-11.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 I remember I was sitting in high school.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 It was year 11,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 and a mate of mine was listening on the radio,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 and he was giving me live updates of what was happening.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:36 I remember hearing for the first time the full implications of COVID.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 Last year,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 I was camping.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 I was out in the middle of nowhere in a tent.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 I got a call from Steve,
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 saying,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 things have gotten serious.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 Even church is going to have to lock down.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:57 We have some parts of news that just shape our lives,
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 and that are very memorable.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:06 Do you remember the first time that the news of Jesus interrupted your life?
00:10:06 --> 00:10:10 How much has it shaped your life since then?
00:10:10 --> 00:10:15 Or maybe this is the first time that you're actually considering this news
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 of the Son of God coming,
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 that God would show unmerited favor and grace
00:10:21 --> 00:10:25 on unworthy people like Mary and like you and me,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 that God became a person to bring salvation,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 that this news was life-changing for Mary,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 but also for us.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 This is news that we can't ignore.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 And just like hearing about COVID that impacts everybody,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:44 we can't pretend that the news of Jesus isn't for us.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 We can't just say it's for someone else.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 This message is for all people.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 God sent His Son, Jesus,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 for all people to be able to know and follow Him,
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 because one day we will stand before Him.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:04 Now, you may have responded to this like Mary,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 being troubled at the news.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 And I think this is a good and rational response.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 We should be troubled at this news.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 Someone I know is dying of cancer at the moment.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 And they don't want to talk about death.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 They don't want to face the reality.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 They don't want to use that big D word of death.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 They're just placing their trust and their hope in doctors.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 The doctors are going to fix it.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 I don't have to think about my future.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 The doctors have got it sorted.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 But that would be like, you know,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:39 thinking that COVID is not going to impact our lives,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 or being on the Titanic that's going down,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 and ignoring the calls to jump into a lifeboat.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:50 Each of us need to consider our future
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 and what this news means for us.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 We should be troubled by this news.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 Troubled that we are in so desperate need,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 God would have to come Himself.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:05 We need God to favour us.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 And the wonderful good news of the Bible
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 is that He does.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 He has chosen to show His grace and His favour.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 If this is news to you,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 come and talk to me.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 If you're still considering this,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 talk to the person next to you.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 Talk to the person that you're with.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 Because I believe that
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 we can respond to this news like Mary.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 We can place our trust in Jesus.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 In God.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 And that is the way,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 just like Mary,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 to have joy.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 To rejoice at what God is doing.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 Joy even in a broken world.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 But what if this is old news?
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 What if this is a message
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 we've all heard before?
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 What if, you know,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 it doesn't actually seem that exciting anymore?
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 It doesn't have that same, you know,
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 hit of adrenaline or a dopamine rush
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 when I'm flicking through Twitter
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 that I get.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 It doesn't seem to be
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 life-changing joy anymore.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 I think Mary's response
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 to hearing the good news
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 is helpful for us
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 as we consider the old news.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 I think it is helpful for us
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 to consider what it is
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 to be troubled by this news.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 To question God
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 and then to trust in Him
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 and finally to rejoice.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 Starting with troubled.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 Mary, when she heard this message
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 from the angel,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 she was troubled.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 He said to her
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 that she was greatly favoured.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 If you're feeling like
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 the news of Christmas
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 isn't that new
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 or interesting anymore,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 I want to encourage you
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 to sit in this.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 Because God says to us
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 the same thing.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 Sure, we haven't had
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 an angel visit us
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 and say,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 hey, you're highly favoured.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 We have God saying that
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 to us in His Word.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 Ephesians 1, 7 says,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 In Him we have redemption
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 through His blood,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 the forgiveness of sins
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 in accordance with the riches
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 of God's grace.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 God shows His grace,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 His unmerited favour
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 to each of us.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 And this should trouble us.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 This should disturb us.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 It's news that should shake us
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 out of a mundane faith
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 because it's easy
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 to get used to Christmas
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 that Jesus became a baby.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 It's easy to get used
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 to this news
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 and just go through
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 a process of coming to church
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 week in and week out
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 and forget how amazing
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 and radical
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 and troubling this news is.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 Sometimes though,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 God will creep up on us
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 and remind us
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 of this great truth.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 Particularly when we've been
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 doing the wrong thing.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 When we've been sinning.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 When we've hurt someone else.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 And we realise,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 oh, I am despicable.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 I am sinful.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 And yet,
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 Ephesians 1 verse 7,
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 God has shown
00:14:54 --> 00:14:57 His immeasurable riches
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 in His grace to me.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 I don't deserve anything good
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 from God
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 and yet He chooses
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 to love me.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 Be reminded
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 of this truth from Ephesians 1,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 this word from Mary,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 God has poured out
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 His unmerited grace on us.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 One of my favourite TV shows
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 of the past years
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 is a TV show called
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 Ted Lasso.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 Not sure if you've seen it.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 One of the characters
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 in this show
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 attempted to ruin
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 this main character,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 Ted Lasso's life.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 But when they realised
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 what they've done,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 they came and apologised to Ted.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 And He just says,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 I forgive you.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 The other person
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 cannot believe it
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 and they are brought
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 to tears.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 God has shown
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 His amazing grace,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 His amazing favour
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 to us.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 He says
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 far more than forgiveness.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 He doesn't just forgive us,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 but He chooses
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 to show His riches
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 to us.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 His love
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 that He would bring us
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 into His family.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 He says,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 you are more precious
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 to me.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 God has shown
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 His amazing favour
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 that He would
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 choose you
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 and me,
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 sinful enemies of God.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 That He would shine
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 His face on us.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 We should be troubled
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 by this.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 We should be stirred
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 deep inside,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 reminded that we
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 do not deserve it
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 and it should remind us
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 of how great
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 and wonderful
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 our God is
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 and our need
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 and our dependence
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 on Him.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 Secondly,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 I think this news
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 for us is really helpful
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 because it reminds us
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 that it is good
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 to question God.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 We can keep bringing
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 our questions to Him.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 James chapter 1
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 reminds us
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 that if any of us
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 lack wisdom
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 to ask God
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 and He gives generously
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 to all
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 without reproach.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 Asking questions
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 is not a sign
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 of a lack of faith.
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 We can take
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 our questions to Him.
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 He's bigger than
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 our questions.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 He is sovereign.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 We can be asking
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 questions like,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 God,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 how am I ever
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 going to stop
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 sinning like this?
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 God,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 how will my family,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 my friends
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 ever come to know
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 and love you,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 Lord?
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 God,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 I'm really worried
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 about what's happening
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 at the moment.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 I'm really worried
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 about case numbers
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 in Sydney.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 I'm really worried
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 about COVID.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 God,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 I'm suffering
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 right now.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 God is big enough
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 for these questions.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 Now,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 God may speak
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 directly or even
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 through an angel,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 but as the angel
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 said to Mary,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 God's word
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 doesn't fail.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 We have His word
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 and He promises
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 that He is sovereign.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 He is in control
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 today and tomorrow
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 and He is with us.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 So let me encourage you
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 to be troubled
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 by this good news.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 Be encouraged
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 to take
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 your questions
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 to Him
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 and then
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 each day
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 respond to the good news
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 of the gospel
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 by choosing
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 to trust in Him.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 Trust that what God
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 has said about our tomorrow,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 that He is sovereign
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 for tomorrow,
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 that He has a plan.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 Trust in that.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 Trust that His way
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 and His plans
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 are better than anything
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 that we could come up with.
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 And then finally,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 to rejoice
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 with Mary
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 at this news.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 Rejoice
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 that God
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 would save
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 of people
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 like us.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 If you're feeling
00:18:28 --> 00:18:31 not excited
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 by this news,
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 this good news
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 of Jesus,
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 be troubled,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 take your questions
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 to God,
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 trust in Him
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 and then we can rejoice.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 We can rejoice
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 because we don't need
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 to worry about tomorrow.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 God has it sorted.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 Lamentations 3
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 says,
00:18:48 --> 00:19:03 When we daily
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 remind ourselves
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 of God's mercies,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 they are new.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 His gospel
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 is new to us.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 Then the old news
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 doesn't actually seem
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 old anymore.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 It is new.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 It is amazing.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 It is life-giving.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 I have been
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 married to my wife
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 Alyssa now
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 for almost 15 years.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 And I remember
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 the first time
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 that we said
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 I love you
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 to each other.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 I reminded her
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 of this the other day
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 and it turns out
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 she can't remember it.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 I am very glad
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 I can still remember it though.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 And I said it,
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 it was on a train
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 between our houses.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 We lived about
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 an hour apart
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 and I said it to her
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 on the train
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 and there was
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 a very short pause
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 where my heart
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 was in my mouth
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 and then she responded
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 with those
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 three little words.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 But I remember
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 thinking
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 what is she going
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 to say?
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 Do I get off
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 the train now
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 at whatever stop
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 this is?
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 Is she going
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 to run away
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 or is she going
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 to say I love you
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 back?
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 And it was wonderful
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 news when she did
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02 say it back to me.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 But since that time
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 let's say
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 that she has
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 either said
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 those words
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 or texted me
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 those words
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 every second day.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 That would be
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 over two and a half
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 thousand times
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 that I've heard that.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 It is not news
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 to me anymore
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 that she loves me.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 I'm pretty sure
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 I've gotten used
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 to that idea.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 But why haven't
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 I said to her
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 stop telling me.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 I don't need
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 that information.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 It's not news
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 to me anymore.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 I'm actually really
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 bored by that piece
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 of information.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 Can't you tell me
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 something new
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 and exciting?
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 It's probably
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 not the wisest
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 thing to say
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 to her.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 And yet
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 every day
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 when she says
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 those words
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 it's new.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 After we've had
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 an argument
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 or if there's
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 been pain
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 and conflict
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 and I hear
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 those words
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 it reminds me
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 that we're okay.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 That we're on
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 the same side
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 that we're on
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 the same team
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 that we're going
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 in the same
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 direction.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 Those words
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 have meaning
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 because of
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 the relationship.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 How much
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 more so
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 with God
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 when we hear
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 the news
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 again
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 that God
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 loves us
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 enough
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 that he
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 sent
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 Jesus.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 We need
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 to hear it
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 again
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 after we've
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 sinned.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 After we feel
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 distant from
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 him
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 because it
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 reminds us
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 of how great
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 his love
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 for you
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 is
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 for me
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 is.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 I need
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 to hear it.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 We need
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 to hear it
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 when we're
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 lost
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 or lonely
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 or when we're
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 far from
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 home.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 We need
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 to hear
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 this good
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 news
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 of the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 gospel
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 of Jesus
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 coming
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 when I'm
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 questioning
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 God
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 when we're
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 wondering
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 about the
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 season of
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 life in
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 because it
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 reminds us
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 of the good
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 news that
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 he is
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 sovereign
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 he is in
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 control of
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 all things
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 and then we
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 can rejoice.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 Let me
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 pray.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 Heavenly
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 Father
00:21:54 --> 00:21:57 we thank
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 you for
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 this good
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 news.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 Lord I
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 ask that
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 it would
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 be news
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 to us
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 again
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 today.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 That it
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 would not
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 just be
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 information
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 but it
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 would be
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 news that
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 leads to
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 our lives
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 being
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 transformed
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 to trust
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 in you
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 to rejoice
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 with you
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 and all of
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 your goodness
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 to us
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 Lord.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 Amen.