Greg Clarke The truth sets free
Series: CHRISTMAS 2014
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 13th December 2014
00:00:00 --> 00:00:09 Heavenly Father, we are indeed grateful that we can meet here tonight in freedom, in peace,
00:00:09 --> 00:00:16 to understand you, to explore you, to worship you, to focus our lives together around you.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:22 We thank you for that privilege and we understand that not everyone in the world, not all Christian people can do that.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:26 So please protect that opportunity in this country.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:31 Protect this church, protect all who would like to gather in the name of Christ.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:36 And Lord, tonight as we open your word and think about how it applies to our lives,
00:00:37 --> 00:00:44 please grant blessing and wisdom to the words I have to say and open our hearts to receive what you have to offer.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 In Jesus' name, Amen.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:52 Can you all hear me all right? Is there a big echo sound? It means I should move this somewhere.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:59 Can you hear up the back? Okay, I'm getting nods. That's good. It must just be my old age and my hearing.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 Thank you for the invitation to be here tonight.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:09 And it's always a privilege to come to a church where you're not regularly part of the congregation and to deliver a message.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 But you always do it with a little bit of fear and trepidation.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 Think, what have these people been through this week?
00:01:14 --> 00:01:18 I've just heard about all the amazing things that are happening at the church.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 Big changes and building projects.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:26 And is it a school, a junior school that's, or preschool, is it?
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 A Chinese school?
00:01:28 --> 00:01:28 Fantastic.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 What a marvellous thing to be adding to your community.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 But of course, I come in knowing almost nothing about you.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 Nothing about your challenges this week.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 Nothing about the pressures on your life.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:46 Nothing about the sadnesses you've experienced or the joys you've had this week.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 We come together with a common bond that we want to know Christ.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:57 We bring all those things, all those stresses, all those joys, all those family situations,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 to that one goal, to know Christ.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:06 And the passage I've brought to you tonight, I think, is one that is extremely comforting,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 extremely liberating for those who want to know Christ.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 Because it's saying to us that if you know the teachings of Christ,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:19 you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:25 If you come to this man through this book,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:30 you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 It's an enormous claim.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 It's one that you'd be right to be sceptical about.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 One that we need to justify.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 One that we need to explore and see what it has to offer us today.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 Do you know anyone who's blind?
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 How many people here know someone who is blind?
00:02:47 --> 00:02:47 Anyone?
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 One, two, three people, four people do.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 That's quite a large percentage, actually, in any gathering.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 It's not the most common of problems,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 most common of afflictions in Australia.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:01 But around the world is a very common problem to be blind.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 In my Bible Society work, I've come across the names of a couple,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:09 and forgive me, I need to read them because my Chinese expression is so terrible.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 It's Ma Hongming and his wife, Zhao Bilian.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 Two Chinese people, they live in a rural village.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:23 They're in their 70s, and they've both been blind since birth.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 I can't imagine how hard life has been for them.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 How much they just haven't experienced.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:36 How much of what I take for granted is completely dark to them in their world.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:44 How difficult the just basic activities of life have been in a rural village in China,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 blind since birth.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 Well, we received a letter from them.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 A letter that went to the Bible Society office, I think, in Singapore.
00:03:53 --> 00:04:00 And they had received a Braille Bible that's produced at the Amity Bible Press in Nanjing.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 Braille Bibles are enormous things, because you know Braille,
00:04:04 --> 00:04:09 there's all the little bumps, and you run your fingers along the bumps to read when you're blind.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:17 And these are Braille Bibles that can be understood by an older Chinese couple.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 And the letter turned up in the office, and this is what it said.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:26 Thank you for the Bible, which we read every day.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 We have no worries about the future.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 God is with us all the time.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 People have asked us before if we're worried about what is to come,
00:04:35 --> 00:04:39 since we're already so old and we have no children to support us.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 We thank them for their concern.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:46 We told them that we simply take whatever comes our way, whenever it comes.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 After all, God is in control of our lives.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 Why should we be anxious about tomorrow?
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 What an extraordinary thing to be able to write
00:04:57 --> 00:05:01 as you come towards, I guess, the end of their lives,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 having had such difficulties, such struggles,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:09 but to feel such peace, such contentment,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 such release from anxiety.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 And it's come from the Word of God.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 It's come from knowing the teachings of Jesus.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 I can hear echoes of all sorts of Bible passages
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 that they would have read down the years,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:28 from Matthew 6 or Luke 12 or Philippians 4, 6,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 cast your cares, your anxieties on God,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 who alone knows what tomorrow will bring.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 Now, all of these echoes of Scripture
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 that must be in their ears as they think about it.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 And our passage tonight also comes to mind
00:05:41 --> 00:05:46 because here's a couple who know the truth
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 and the truth has set them free.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 They know the truth about life.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 They know what really matters.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 And knowing that truth has set them free.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:03 Now, of course, it hasn't set them free
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 from their daily struggles,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 from making a cup of tea when you're blind
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 or from working out where the money's going to come from
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 or who is going to care for me when I'm old.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 They've still got the daily struggles,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 more struggles than we can possibly imagine.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 But at a deeper level or a higher level,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 at a more profound level,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 they don't have a worry in the world.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:29 The truth has set them free.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 Well, friends, from this passage
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 that was really well read for us tonight,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 thank you very much,
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 I want to leave you with just four thoughts
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 around what it means to be set free
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 in the truth about Christ.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 Four thoughts about what it means
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 to be radically free.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 Not free from every anxiety,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 not free from worrying about what Christmas presents
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 you've got to buy for your uncle
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 or not worried about your job,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 released from worrying about your job next year
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 or your marriage or whatever it is,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 but radical freedom.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 The kind of freedom you get
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 when you've profoundly grasped
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 what really matters in this world,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 when you've really got the truth.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 The first point is that
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 when you come to know the truth through Jesus,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:21 you enter into a relationship
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 with him and his father.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 And it's described in the Bible
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 as a disciple relationship.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 When you know the truth,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 you enter into a relationship
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 with Jesus and his father in heaven.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 Very few religions actually offer you
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 a relationship with God.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 Most religions are about law keeping,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 about appeasing the anger of the deity
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 or about keeping your place in life.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 Maybe adding some wisdom,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 understanding the world a bit better.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:01 But very few religions offer you this,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 the idea that you would know God
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 and be known by God.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 If you hold my teaching,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 says Jesus in verse 31,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 you're really my disciples,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 my followers,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 those who are known to me,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 those who are close to me.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 In a society like Australia,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 Christianity has been preached
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 for a very long time.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 After all, the Bible Society came here in 1817.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 Bibles were available to the early convicts,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 to the early settlers.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 The message of Christianity has been preached
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 and many people turned up in the churches
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 and would hear that message.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 But so many left it at that.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:48 So many didn't take that extra step
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 that brings you into relationship with God,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:56 to become a disciple of Jesus,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 someone known to Jesus
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 and known by Jesus.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 Deeply understood,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 deeply known
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 in a deep relationship with God.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 That is what Christianity offers.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 That's the kind of understanding of yourself
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 that can set you free.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 Uniquely among religions,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 this is offered even to sinners,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 even to those who fall short of God's standards.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:28 that the truth will set you free
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 to be in relationship with God.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:32 So firstly,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 if you know the truth,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 it sets you free
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 to be in a real relationship
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 with Jesus and his Father.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:40 Secondly,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 Jesus' teaching brings truth
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 into a world of spin
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 and lies.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 Jesus' teaching brings truth
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 into this world
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 that is full of spin
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 and lies.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 We've never had a time
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 where you have more access
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 to more information
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 about more things
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 than today.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 The average person
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 has access on their phone
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 to more information
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 than all the professors
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 of the world had
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 in the 19th century.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 More access to information
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 and power
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 than those who landed
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 on the moon had
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 in their computer systems.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 You have profound access
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 to knowledge.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 The libraries of the world
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 are open to you.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 Whereas in the past,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 to read a book,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 you had to go to a library,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 look for that book,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 take it out,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 or even worse,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 go to a bookshop,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:28 buy that book,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 take it out.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 You've got your online stores now.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 You can download them
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 in moments.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 You've got access
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 to the literature
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 of the world
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 that couldn't have been imagined
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 just decades ago.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 And yet,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 how do you sort out
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 the truth from the lies?
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 How are you going to work out
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 which books matter?
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 How are you going to work out
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 what teaching matters?
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 Even the religious sphere alone,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 there's plenty of religious chatter,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 plenty of options
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 available to you.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 I had the joy
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 of going to an opening
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 of an art exhibition yesterday
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 called the Blake Religious Prize.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 And this is a long-standing
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 religious art prize
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 in Australia.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 It's a wonderful exhibition.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 It has on display
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 all sorts of artworks
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 dealing with the religious matters
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 of our world.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 And it's extraordinarily diverse.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 You've got perspectives
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 from every religion.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 You've got Christians,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 you've got Jews,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 you've got Hindus,
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 you've got anti-religious material
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 talking about religion.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 There's all sorts
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 of religious chatter
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 going on,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 all sorts of experiences
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 to be had,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 all sorts of options
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 being made available to you.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 But Jesus doesn't offer
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 an option.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 He claims to have the truth.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 He doesn't offer
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 one way forward.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 He claims to be
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 the way forward.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 He doesn't offer
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 a religious experience.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 he offers
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 a relationship
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 with the true
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 and living God.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 And so when he says
00:12:12 --> 00:12:19 in verse 29,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 the one who sent me
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 is with me.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 He has not left me alone
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 for I always do
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 what pleases him.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 He's talking about
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 a special relationship
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 with the living God.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 He's talking about
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 the father
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 who has sent him,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 who has not left him alone,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 whom he always pleases.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 He's talking about
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 his closeness
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 to God himself.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 He's making a profound
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 and unique claim
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 to reveal God to us
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 because of
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 how intimately
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 he knows God.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 in a world
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 of spin and lies,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 Jesus doesn't
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 offer us an option,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 but he holds
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 out to us
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 the truth.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 In a confusing world,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 that's very welcome.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 Thirdly,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 from this passage,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 knowing the truth
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 about Jesus
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 releases you
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 from false religion.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 You may be
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 someone who
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 wants to serve God,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 who attends
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 something like
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 a prize exhibition,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 yearning to find
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 religious experience
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 and understanding,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 yearning to know
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 what is true,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 deeply searching.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 Well,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 Jesus,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 through his teaching,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 promises to release
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 you from false religion.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 And this is what
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 was so difficult
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 for the Jewish
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 teachers of the day.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 In the passage
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 that we've read,
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 you see some of
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 the confusion
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 and difficulty
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 that the Jews
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 had with understanding
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 who Jesus was.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 back in verse 21,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 Jesus says,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 I'm going to go away.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 You'll look for me.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 You'll die in your sin
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 because where I go,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 you can't come.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 And they say,
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 what is he talking
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 about here?
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 Is he about to
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 commit suicide
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 and leave us
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 that way?
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 What does he mean
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 we can't follow him?
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 There's confusion
00:14:08 --> 00:14:11 among the Jewish
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 leaders about
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 who he is.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 And a deep
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 contrast,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 I think,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 between Jesus
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 himself
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 and these Pharisees.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 Whereas they have
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 endeavoured
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 to serve God,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 endeavoured
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 to keep the law,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 endeavoured to
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 every jot and tittle
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 of the law,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 as they say,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 every particular
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 commandment
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 in precision
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 will be kept
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 by us
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 to please God.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 Jesus says,
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 to them,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 you'll die
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 in your sin.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 Extremely offensive
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 thing to say.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 Imagine if that's
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 what your church
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 leaders are saying.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 This is the way
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 to go.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 And someone comes
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 along and says,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 no,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 you'll die in your sin.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 You've got it
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 all wrong.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 You've got it
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 wrong.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 You are from below,
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 he says in verse 23.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 I'm from above.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 You're of this world,
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 but I'm not of this
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 world.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 I told you,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 you would die
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 in your sins.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 If you do not
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 believe me,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 if you do not
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 believe that I am
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 he,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 you will indeed
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 die in your sins.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 And with that
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 comment,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 Jesus changes
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 the game
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 about religion.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 The Pharisees
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 are thinking,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 if I obey the law,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 I will please God.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 Jesus comes and
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 says,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 if you only do
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 that,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 you will die
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 in your sins.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 If you believe
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 me
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 and follow
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 me,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 the truth
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 will set you
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 free.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 This profound
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 contrast is set up
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 between Jesus
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 and religion.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 the Pharisees
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 struggle with
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 this.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 You can
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 understand them
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 struggling with
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 this.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 This is a very
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 difficult concept
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 to grasp,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 but Jesus
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 keeps showing
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 them a true
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 understanding of
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 what God's law
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 is all about.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 A true
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 understanding of
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 God's law
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 leads you to
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 commitment to
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 God himself,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 changed hearts,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 not just
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 changed behaviour
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 and obedience
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 to the law.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 He presents
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 a very
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 profound
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 teaching here
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 to the
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 Pharisees.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 In verse
00:16:11 --> 00:16:16 21-22,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 as we've
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 said,
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 he claims
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 to be able
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 to judge.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 Sorry,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 verse 26,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 he claims
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 to be able
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 to judge.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 I have much
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 to say in
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 judgment of
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 you,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 you religious
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 leaders,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 but he who
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 sent me is
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 trustworthy and
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 what I've
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 heard from
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 him,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 I tell the
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 world.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 Jesus takes
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 a position
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 of God
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 as judge.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 What a
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 thing to
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 wrestle with
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 as a
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 religious
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 leader.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 He claims
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 to be
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 super close
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 to the
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 father,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 so close
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 that they
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 can't
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 understand
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 it.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 He's
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 claiming
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 that they
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 are one.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 The one
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 who sent
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 me is
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 with me.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 He has
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 not left
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 me alone.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 What a
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 difficult
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 thing for
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 a monotheistic
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 religion to
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 grapple with.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 The Jews
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 have taught
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 that there
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 is only one
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 God,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 but here
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 is this
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 figure
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 suggesting
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 that he
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 and the
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 father are
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 one.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 Surely
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 that's
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 blasphemy,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 surely
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 that's
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 sacrilege,
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 or it's
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 the truth.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 This
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 truth will
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 set you
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 free.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 But so
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 hard to
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 take.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 Jesus
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 teaching,
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 when
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 grappled
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 with,
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 releases
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 you from
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 false
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 religion.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 It
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 releases
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 you from
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 that idea
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 that you've
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 got to try
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 hard enough
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 to please
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 God.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 It
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 releases
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 you into
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 the
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 relationship
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 you can
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 have even
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 as a
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 sinner with
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 the living
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 God through
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 Jesus Christ.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 And
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 fourthly,
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 and finally,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 Jesus'
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 teaching here
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 in fact
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 sets you
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 free from
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 sin and
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 from judgment.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 It sets you
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 free from
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 sin and
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 judgment.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 It's
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 spiritually
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 powerful.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 at the
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 art
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 exhibition
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 I saw
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 an amazing
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 range of
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 religious
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 teaching
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 being depicted
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 in either
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 video
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 installations
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 or
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 paintings
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 or
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 sculptures.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 If you're
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 into art,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 I'd recommend
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 going over
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 to the
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 University of
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 New South
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 Wales College
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 of Fine
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 Arts and
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 seeing the
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 Blake
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 Religious
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 Prize
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 exhibition.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 It's a
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 wonderful
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 insight into
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 thinking about
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 religion in
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 contemporary
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 Australia.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:26 But the
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 teaching,
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 the teaching
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 on offer,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 there's a
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 profound
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 difference
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 between what
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 Jesus has
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 to offer
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 and what
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 the religions
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 of the
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 world have
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 to offer.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 Jesus
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 claims not
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 just to set
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 us free from
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 false
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 understandings of
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 the world,
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 to make us
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 wiser,
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 to wise us
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 up to
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 reality.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 He claims
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 to set us
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 free from
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 our deepest
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 problem,
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 from sin,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 from our
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 corruption at
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 heart.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 What a
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 claim.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 And it's a
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 radical
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 exclusive
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 claim.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 It's this
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 radical
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 exclusive
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 claim that
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 drives
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 missionary
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 work around
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 the world.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 If you
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 think you've
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 found the
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 core to
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 relieving
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 humans of
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 their burden
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 of sin,
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 well, you
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 want the
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 world to
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 know.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 You want
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 that to be
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 spread far
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 and wide.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 You want
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 that message
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 to ring
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 out here
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 in Australia
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 and abroad.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 It's because
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 Jesus'
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 teaching is
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 so much
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 more than
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 just wise
00:19:24 --> 00:19:27 words that
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 missionary
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 movements like
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 the Bible
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Society begin.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 Because we
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 know that
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 when people
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 know this
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 man, this
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 Jesus, that
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 truth will
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 set them
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 free in
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 profoundly
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 spiritual and
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 deeply
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 relational
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 ways.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 Jesus isn't
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 just a good
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 option.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 He's the
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 one through
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 whom truth
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 and freedom
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 and purpose
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 can be
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 found.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 And thank
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 God, even
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 in his
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 time, many
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 came to
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 see this
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 immediately.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 Verse 30,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 even as he
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 spoke, many
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 believed in
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 him.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 I think the
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 message of
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 forgiveness in
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 Jesus is
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 so liberating.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 It's such
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 good news,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 it's hardly
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 surprising that
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 people often
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 get it on the
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 spot.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 That's what I've
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 been waiting
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 for.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 I've been
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 searching the
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 world to
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 find the
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 answer, to
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 find the
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 truth, to
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 find the
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 way, to
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 find some
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 teaching that
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 would make
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 a difference.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 And now
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 I've heard
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 it.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 Now I've
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 heard it in
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 Jesus, the
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 revelation of
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 God, the
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 one who is
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 at one with
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 the living
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 God, the
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 Father, the
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 one whose
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 death can
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 set me free
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 from my
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 sin, the
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 one who can
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 remove judgment
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 from me.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 Well, that's
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 something, why
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 am I waiting?
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 That's something
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 I want.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 And I want
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 it right now.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 And many on
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 that day
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 believed in
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 him.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 And then in
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 verse 31,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 Jesus said to
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 them, to the
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 Jews who had
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 believed him,
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 Jesus said to
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 them, if you
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 hold my
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 teaching, you
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 really are my
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 disciples.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 Come to
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 Jesus and
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 accept the
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 freedom and
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 forgiveness he
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 has to offer,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 and you are
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 now in
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 relationship with
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 me.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 You're a
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 follower of
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 me, says
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 Jesus.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 You're a
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 disciple.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 Then you
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 will know
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 the truth.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 You'll
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 have all
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 the spin
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 and all
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 the lies
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 pushed aside.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 You will
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 know what
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 really matters
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 in this
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 life.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 You'll
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 understand God
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 and yourself
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 and the
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 world that
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 you live
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 in.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 You'll
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 know, even
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 if you're
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 blind and
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 lost from
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 the light in
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 a village in
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 remote China,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 it won't
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 matter because
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 you'll know
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 the truth from
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 the lies.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 It will set
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 you free.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 And you'll
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 be set free
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 from the
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 struggles you've
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 had to
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 please God,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 the attempts,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 the failures,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 the worry about
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 the law, the
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 worry about am
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 I good enough?
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 In Jesus, you're
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 found to be good
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 enough.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 He sets you
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 free.
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 And that sin
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 and that
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 judgment, that
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 spiritual
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 condemnation that
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 so many of us
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 feel and know is
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 what we deserve,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 passes away as we
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 come into a
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 relationship with
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 the living God
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 through Jesus
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 Christ.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 Friends, this
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 Christmas, the
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 message of Jesus
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 coming into the
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 world will be
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 preached all over
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 the country.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 How much we
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 long for people
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 to not just
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 hear it, not
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 just understand
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 the story, but
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 for it to enter
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 our hearts so
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 that we can all
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 experience that
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 freedom that
00:22:32 --> 00:22:34 comes from
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 knowing Jesus,
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 the true and
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 living God,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 in human form.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 Let's pray.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 Heavenly Father,
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 it's miraculous,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 it's miraculous
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 that we can
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 know you.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 Heavenly Father,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 it is stunning
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 that you would
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 come into the
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 world in human
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 form through
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 Christ, that we
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 might be able to
00:23:01 --> 00:23:04 grasp you in a
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 way that we can
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 understand.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:08 Father, it is
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 mind-blowing that
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 you have preserved
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 this truth for us
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 in the scriptures,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 that we have
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 access to it here
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 in Sydney,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 Australia, in the
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 21st century, in
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 our language, in a
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 format we can
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 understand.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 Lord, may we not
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 take this for
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 granted.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 May we saturate
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 ourselves in your
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 word.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 word.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 And by doing so,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 may we more
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 deeply understand
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 your truth and
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 experience that
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 freedom that it
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 gives.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 In Jesus' name we
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 pray.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 Amen.
00:23:40 --> 00:24:10 I'll see you next time.