Mission Month INF Phil Morris
St. Paul's Anglican Church Chatswood - SermonsJune 13, 201524:0021.98 MB

Mission Month INF Phil Morris

Mission Month INF Phil Morris

Speaker: Steve Jeffrey

Date: 14th June 2015

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:1-18


00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 the International Nepal Fellowship, before.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 I hope that from the short films you saw earlier,
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 you've got a little bit more of a sense of what we do
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 and what we are as an organisation.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 But I just want to go back a little bit
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 and just some of the history that exists
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 between St. Paul's here in Chatswood and INF.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:25 Now, the vision for INF was given to two medical missionaries
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 way back in 1936.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 They were serving in India,
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 but they really felt called to serve the people of Nepal.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 At that time, Nepal was a closed country.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 Foreigners would have been killed on site.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 And there were no known Christians in the country of Nepal.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:44 So those missionaries,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 they set up a clinic close to the border
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 between India and Nepal.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 And they treated anyone who came over the border,
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 especially focusing on Nepali people.
00:00:57 --> 00:00:58 And they prayed.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:00 And they taught.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:02 And they discipled.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 And they slowly built up a band of Nepali believers.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:07 And they continued to pray.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 For 16 years, they served.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:16 Before finally there was a change in the king in Nepal,
00:01:16 --> 00:01:17 and they were granted permission to enter the country.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:21 Now, during those 16 years,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 they'd shared their vision with others around the world.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 And several people came to serve alongside them,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 including an English nurse called Jean Radden.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 After many years in Nepal,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 Jean retired to Australia and settled here in this church.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 Some of you may remember her.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 She passed away about,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 I think, about six, seven years ago.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 We continue to have strong links
00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 between INF and St. Paul's.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 They're quite apart from our office being down there.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 Our former treasurer still attends here.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:02 The Green family have been fantastic supporters of INF.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:06 And I know that many of you pray for the work of INF
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 and also support us financially.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 And I want to thank you for that.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 So there is here in this place
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 a great heritage of prayer and mission
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 and many connections with Nepal.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 So going back to the history then,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:22 in 1952,
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 with permission to finally enter the country,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 a small group of Nepali Christians
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 and foreign medical missionaries
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 walked in to start the first church in Nepal
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 and the first hospital outside the capital, Kathmandu.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 And that has been our model ever since.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 Serving with the love of Jesus,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:49 Nepali Christians and foreign medical missionaries
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 working alongside each other,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 supported by a band of supporters and prayers
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 from right around the world.
00:02:56 --> 00:03:00 There to serve the physical and spiritual needs
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 of Nepali people,
00:03:02 --> 00:03:03 particularly focused on the poor and marginalized.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 The church in Nepal is now recognized
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 as one of the fastest growing in the world.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 There are over a million Christians in Nepal
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 and you can find churches operating openly
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 in almost every town across the country.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 Isn't that just a miracle
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 in a country where 20 years ago
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 you could be imprisoned for your faith?
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 So our vision,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 that is what we want to see happening,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 what we understand is the purpose of our organization,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 is to see Nepali people in Nepal
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 but also right around the world
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 serving alongside people from all nationalities
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 to bring about fullness of life,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 to bring about the kingdom of God
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 that Jesus talked about.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 Personally, I feel like it's a great privilege
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 to be a part of INF
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 with the heritage and example that we have
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 from our early missionaries.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 We still work very closely
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 with the church in Nepal
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 and the worldwide church
00:04:03 --> 00:04:04 and there are many ways
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 in which you can be a part of that too
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 through your prayers,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 through giving financially
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 and maybe even through going out to Nepal to serve.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 Just in the last six weeks
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 since those earthquakes,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:18 I've been really humbled
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 by the response to what happened in Nepal.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:23 Certainly I was conscious
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 that people were praying
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 and giving to supporters
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 but in the last six weeks
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 we've just received thousands,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:31 literally,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 of phone calls
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 and donations,
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 people wanting to be a part
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 of what is happening there.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:40 And just on Thursday,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 I had the privilege
00:04:41 --> 00:04:41 of going to the bank
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 down here in Chatswood
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 and transferring a quarter of a million dollars
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 over to Nepal
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 to support the work there
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 that will play a huge part
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 in the response
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 that you saw mentioned up on the screen.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 So thank you very much
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 to those of you
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 who've been a part of that.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 The passage that Sam read earlier
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 is from Paul's second letter
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 to the church in Corinth.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 In Paul's time,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 Corinth was a major center
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 for trade and industry
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 and Paul was a missionary
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 traveling,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:13 preaching,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:14 teaching,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 discipling and working.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 He taught and worked
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 in Corinth
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 for over a year
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 before moving away
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 and this letter
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 was written in around 55 AD,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 so around 25 years
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 after Jesus' death
00:05:28 --> 00:05:28 and resurrection.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 Now Paul had a difficult relationship
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 with the church in Corinth.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:35 Paul,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 he was different
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 from the missionaries
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 that we send out to Nepal.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 He spoke and taught
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 with the authority
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 of an apostle.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 But people in the church
00:05:46 --> 00:05:46 still struggled
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 to leave behind
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 their bad habits.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 They rejected Paul's teaching
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 and they questioned
00:05:52 --> 00:05:52 his authority.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 So Paul is writing here
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 just to remind the church
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 of what they believe
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 and to prepare them
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 for hard times ahead.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 Paul starts
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 the chapter 4
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 of 2 Corinthians
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 with a therefore.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:07 Therefore,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 therefore,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 since through God's mercy
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 we have this ministry,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 we do not lose heart.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 Paul's referring
00:06:15 --> 00:06:15 to the new covenant
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 of forgiveness
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 through Jesus
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 and the gift
00:06:18 --> 00:06:18 of his spirit
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 in us.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 This is the foundation
00:06:21 --> 00:06:21 that Paul
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 keeps coming back to.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:24 Jesus.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:25 Jesus.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:26 Jesus.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 Jesus.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 And like Paul,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 it's really important
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 that we store up
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 in our hearts
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 what is really important.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 What is our motivation?
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 What do we believe?
00:06:38 --> 00:06:38 Time and again,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 we just need to keep
00:06:40 --> 00:06:40 coming back
00:06:40 --> 00:06:40 to the basics
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 of our faith
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 so that we don't lose heart,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 so that we don't lose courage.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 What's your therefore?
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 Why do you do
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 what you do?
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 Paul goes on.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 Rather,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 we've renounced
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 secret and shameful ways.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 We don't use deception
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 and nor do we distort
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 the word of God.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 And sadly,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 it's common
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 in many churches
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 to hear a distorted
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 version of the gospel.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 If you believe,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:13 God will bless you
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 with health,
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 wealth and happiness.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 If you give
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 to this church,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:18 God will give back to you.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:20 Unfortunately,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 this is not
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 from the Bible.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 In Nepal,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 Hindus
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 offer sacrifices
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 to their millions
00:07:27 --> 00:07:27 of gods
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 in order to avert
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 the God's anger
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 or get their blessing.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 And it's easy
00:07:33 --> 00:07:33 for us to make
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 the same mistake.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:35 God,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 I gave to the church,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 therefore you owe me.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:38 Or,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 I've been a good person,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:41 therefore,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 why won't you heal
00:07:42 --> 00:07:42 my sick child?
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 In the aftermath
00:07:46 --> 00:07:46 of disasters,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 like the earthquake
00:07:48 --> 00:07:48 in Nepal,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 it's very easy
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 to apply our judgments
00:07:51 --> 00:07:51 and our values
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 and describe them
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 as a punishment
00:07:54 --> 00:07:54 for sin
00:07:54 --> 00:07:58 or as God's judgment.
00:07:59 --> 00:07:59 Again,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 this doesn't come
00:08:00 --> 00:08:00 from the Bible.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 Jesus didn't do that.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 In Luke's gospel,
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 Jesus referred to people
00:08:06 --> 00:08:06 who had been crushed
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 in the collapse
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 of a building.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 And he asked,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 do you think
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 that they were more guilty
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 than all the others
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 living in Jerusalem?
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 I tell you no.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 But unless you repent,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 you too will perish.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 So Jesus didn't
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 apportion blame
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 and neither should we.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 But Jesus reminds us
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 that judgment is coming
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 for everyone
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 and that we all
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 need to repent.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 Now,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 INF doesn't serve
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 in Nepal
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 because Nepali people
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 are greater sinners
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 than we are.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 And the people in Nepal
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 are not poor
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 because of their sins.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 Again,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 the Bible tells us
00:08:45 --> 00:08:45 all have sinned
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 and fall far short
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 of the glory of God.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 But through faith
00:08:50 --> 00:08:50 in Jesus,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 our sins are forgiven
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 and we can be right
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 with God.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 There is nothing
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 that we can do
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 to make him love us more
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 and there's nothing
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 that we can do
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 to make him love us less.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 Jesus sought out
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 the poor and marginalized,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 those who are suffering.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 He served them
00:09:10 --> 00:09:10 and he told them
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 about God's love.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 Jesus is the model
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 that we seek to follow
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 within INF,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 serving the physical
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 and the spiritual needs
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 of the poor
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 and declaring his kingdom
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 both in word and deed.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 And when I went out
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 to Nepal in 2006
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 with my family,
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 we traveled
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 with an older couple
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 who'd previously served
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 with INF
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 but had then returned
00:09:37 --> 00:09:37 to the UK.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 And they were,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 so they were coming back
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 to Nepal
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 after a long absence.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 And soon after arriving
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 in Kathmandu,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 they met someone
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 who they used to know,
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 who they knew
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 from the community
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 where they used to live.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 And as soon as they got
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 into a conversation,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:53 it became clear
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 that this person
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 had become a Christian.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 And they asked,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 well,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 how did this happen?
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 You never came
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 to our fellowships.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 You never asked us
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 about our faith.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 And she said,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 we watched you.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 We watched you
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 for a long time.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 We could see
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 that there was
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 something different
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 about you,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 but we wanted to see
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 if your life
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 matched up
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 to what you said.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 Now,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:19 because that couple
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 didn't distort
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 the gospel
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 and they practiced
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 what they preached,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 that woman
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 and her family
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 and many people
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 in that community
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 have become convinced
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 of the truth
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 of Jesus
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 and serve him.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 The same thing
00:10:36 --> 00:10:36 is happening
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 in your community,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 in your workplace,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 in your family.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 People are watching you,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 measuring what you say
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 and how you treat people.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 Now,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 of course,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 we're not saved
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 by our actions,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 but our actions
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 should be a window
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 onto our relationship
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 with God
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 and the work
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 that he's doing
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 in our lives.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 Paul continues
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 and even if
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 the gospel
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 is veiled,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 it is veiled
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 to those
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 who are perishing.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 The God of this age
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 has blinded
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 the minds
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 of unbelievers
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 so that they cannot
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 see the light
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 of the gospel
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 that displays
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 the glory of Christ
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 who is the image
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 of God.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 Now,
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 what is it
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 that stops
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 people believing?
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 How can anyone
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 see God's creation
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 and the work
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 that he does
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 in people
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 all around the world
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 and not believe?
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 How can we
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 see the historical
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 proof of Jesus'
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 life and death
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 and read the Bible
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 and not be transformed?
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 Nepal is famous
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 for its millions
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 of Hindu gods.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 It's the birthplace
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 of the historical Buddha
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 and it's also famous
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 for its temples
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 and shrines
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 and the many
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 animal sacrifices
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 which are
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 clear examples
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 of idolatry.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 But it's a huge
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 mistake
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 to think
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 that we
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 are any better.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 Now,
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 what are our
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 idols?
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 Is it money?
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 Health?
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 Family?
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 Hobbies?
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 Jobs?
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 It's,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 in reality,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 it's anything
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 that we put
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 before God.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 Materialism
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 is growing
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 faster in Nepal
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 even than Christianity.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 Mobile phones,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 overseas jobs,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 are quickly becoming
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 the idols of choice
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 for young Nepali people.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 And the evidence
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 of development,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 of,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 of,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 of,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 the evidence
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 of,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 of,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 of,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 of development
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 in Nepal
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 can be seen
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 through rising
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 levels of literacy,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 can be seen
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 through fewer women
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 dying in childbirth.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 But unfortunately,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 this is also
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 accompanied by
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 corruption.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 It's accompanied
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 by high levels
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 of family breakup,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 of divorce,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 and even
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 chronic disease.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 It's quite clear
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 that the God
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 of this age,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 the God of development,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 is not the answer.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 So why is it
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 that so many people
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 are coming to faith
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 in Jesus in Nepal
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 while here in Australia
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 so many people
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 are drifting away
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 or flatly denying
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 that there is a God?
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 The God of this age
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 has blinded
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 the minds
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 of believers
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 as well as unbelievers.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 Our wealth
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 in Australia
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 insulates us
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 from so much
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 pain and fear
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 but it's left
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 us apathetic,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 unable to tell
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 the difference
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 between creation
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 and creator.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 Technology
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 is not the answer.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 Money is not
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 the answer.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 In Nepal,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 even earthquakes,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 earthquake-proof buildings
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 and an end
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 to hunger
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 are not the answer.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 It must be Jesus.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:50 Now,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 Paul doesn't say
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 you can be like us
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 and it's essential
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 that we don't do that
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 either in our lives
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 here
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 or through the work
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 of INF
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 in Nepal.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 In Nepal,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 we promote
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 the development
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 of local leaders
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 in the church
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 and in INF.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 Not that they
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 will be perfect
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 but so that
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 the light
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 of the knowledge
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 of God's glory
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 can be displayed
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 through them.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 I've met
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 many fantastic
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 Nepali evangelists.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 The joy
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 that comes
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 from a right
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 relationship with God
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 just flows out of them
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 and they can't
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 stop sharing it.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 God is doing
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 amazing things
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 among Nepali people
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 and the time
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 when Nepal
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 will be sending
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 missionaries
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 to the rest
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 of the world
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 I think is coming.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 There are very few
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 jobs in Nepal
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 and every day
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 hundreds,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 literally,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 of well-qualified
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 young Nepali
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 people
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 are leaving
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 the country
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 and travelling
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 overseas
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 in search of
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 work.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 Many of them
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 are coming
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 to work
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 in low-paid
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 jobs
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 here in Sydney.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 They've probably
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 served you coffee.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 They've probably
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 looked after
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 your elderly
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 relative
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 in a nursing home
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 and I know
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 that some of them
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 clean the church
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 here on a weekly
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 basis.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 While INF
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 is working
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 to create
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 jobs
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 in Nepal,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 we're also
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 looking to
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 create
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 opportunities
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 and hope.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 But we are
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 working with
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 Nepali churches
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 as well
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 and Christian
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 student union
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 groups,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 helping them
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 to prepare
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 believers
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 who are going
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 overseas to work
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 and helping them
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 to see it as a
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 God-given opportunity
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 to be a witness
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 and to share
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 their faith.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 Now sadly,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 many Nepali
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 people come to
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 Australia
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 and they never
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 experience the
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 light of the
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 gospel.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 They're blinded
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 by the God
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 of this age
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 and their
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 hearts become
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 hard.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 Please pray
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 for Nepali
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 people here
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 in Australia
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 that each of
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 them would
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 experience
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 the light
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 of the gospel
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 and that each
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 one of them
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 would have
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 an opportunity
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 to know
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 Jesus.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 And please
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 also pray
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 that God
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 would reveal
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 your idols
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 to you.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 What is
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 blinding you
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 to the light
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 of the gospel?
00:16:09 --> 00:16:15 move on
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 now to
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 this famous
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 analogy
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 that Paul
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 uses
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 of our
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 bodies
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 being jars
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 of clay.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 But we
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 have this
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 treasure
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 in jars
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 of clay
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 to show
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 that this
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 all-surpassing
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 power
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 is from
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 God
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 and not
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 from us.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 Now in
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 Nepal
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 and India
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 it used
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 to be
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 common
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 to buy
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 tea
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 from
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 roadside
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 shacks
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 in
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 little
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 disposable
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 clay
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 cups
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 cheap
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 and simple
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 and locally
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 made
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 and also
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 biodegradable.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 But you
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 had to
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 drink your
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 tea
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 quickly
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 in case
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 they dissolved
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 and deposited
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 the contents
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 all over
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 your lap.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 But
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 unfortunately
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 they've been
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 replaced
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 largely
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 by plastic
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 which
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 doesn't
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 degrade
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 but it
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 also
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 litters
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 the roadsides
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 in many
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 streets
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 in Nepal.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 Now in
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 Paul's
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 context
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 clay
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 jar
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 was a
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 simple
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 and a
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 plain
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 container
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 that housed
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 something
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 of much
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 greater
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 value.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 And the
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 treasure
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 that he
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 refers to
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 is the
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 knowledge
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 of the
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 glory
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 of God.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 But
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 as sinful
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and broken
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 people
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 we waste
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 it and
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 spoil it
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 every day.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 We don't
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 work in
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 Nepal
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 because we
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 have all
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 the answers.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 We work
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 in Nepal
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 because we
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 are blessed
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 with knowing
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 God.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 And we
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 want to
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 serve him
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 and be
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 a witness
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 to him.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 But even
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 so we
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 so often
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 get it
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 wrong.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 The
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 Sydney
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 Missionary
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 Bible
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 College
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 recently
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 did some
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 research on
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 why people
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 became
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 missionaries.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 The most
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 common
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 factor in
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 people becoming
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 missionaries
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 was the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 realisation
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 that actually
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 missionaries
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 are ordinary
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 people.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 A quote
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 from this
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 research.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 This guy
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 came and he
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 spoke at our
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 church and he
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 was very
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 ordinary.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 he was the
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 worst orator
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 on the
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 planet.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 I don't
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 think I've
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 met this
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 guy.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 I don't
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 think he's
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 referring to
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 me but he
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 could be.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 He was an
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 ordinary guy.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 He really
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 encouraged me
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 because I
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 didn't think I
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 could, I had
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 to attain to a
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 standard that
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 was beyond me.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 I could relate
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 to this guy.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 I could identify
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 and I thought
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 if God can use
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 that guy, he
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 can use me.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 And I thought
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 perhaps God
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 can use me in
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 this.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 how tragic
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 that what we
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 have here in
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 Australia and
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 the West, which
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 is just amazing
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 access to church
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 and to the
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 Bible and to
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 the knowledge of
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 the glory of
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 God, is no
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 longer seen to
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 have value.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 We're focused
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 on living
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 longer and
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 preserving our
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 lives rather
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 than our
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 souls.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 We seek
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 short-term
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 pleasure over
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 eternal glory.
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 And we're
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 throwing out
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 the treasure,
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 trying to
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 preserve this
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 rough clay
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 pot that
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 contains it.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 We are
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 hard-pressed
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 on every
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 side, but
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 not crushed.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 Perplexed, but
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 not in despair.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 Persecuted, but
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 not abandoned.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 Struck down, but
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 not destroyed.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:27 The very
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 physical language
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 that Paul uses
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 is particularly
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 apt in the
00:19:29 --> 00:19:32 aftermath of
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 natural disaster.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 And there's
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 real pain and
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 fear and
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 suffering in
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 Paul's words.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 During my
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 recent visit to
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 Nepal, I spent
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 a lot of time
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 talking with our
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 people, and I
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 could sense
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 their fear and
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 their uncertainty.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 They were
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 hard-pressed.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 They were
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 perplexed.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 They were
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 struck down.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:55 Jesus promised
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 that there would
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 be hard times
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 ahead, and
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 most of his
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 disciples paid
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 with their
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 lives.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 Now, our
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 workers going
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 over to
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 Nepal have
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 made huge
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 sacrifices.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 Most of
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 them are
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 highly qualified
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 people who
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 have given
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 up good jobs,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 family, and
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 all that's
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 familiar to
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 live in
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 Nepal.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 To begin
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 with, they
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 can't speak
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 the language.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 They have
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 no control
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 over their
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 surroundings.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 They become
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 as dependent
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 on others as
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 my three-year-old
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 son.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 And this can
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 be a deeply
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 unsettling
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 experience.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 And these
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 verses of
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 Paul's would
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 ring true to
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 most of
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 them.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 But with
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 the deep
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 foundation of
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 Jesus as
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 their rock,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 they can
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 say, we
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 are not
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 crushed.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 We are not
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 in despair.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 We are not
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 abandoned.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 We are not
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 destroyed.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 God is at
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 work through
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 the hard
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 times.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 The Bible
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 uses the
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 analogy of
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 gold being
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 refined through
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 fire.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 And most
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 of us have
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 had times
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 when all
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 we thought
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 we could rely
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 on was
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 stripped away,
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 when money
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 or education
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 or houses
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 couldn't help.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 And that is
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 so often when
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 we turn to
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 God.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 A lady
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 called
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 Julian of
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 Norwich
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 lived in
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 England in
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 the 14th
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 century,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 and her
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 writings often
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 reflect on
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 pain and
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 suffering.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 She wrote,
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 we need to
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 fall and
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 we need to
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 be aware
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 of it.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 For if we
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 did not
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 fall, we
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 should not
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 know how
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 weak and
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 wretched we
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 are of
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 ourselves,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 and nor
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 should we
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 know our
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 maker's
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 marvellous
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 love so
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 fully.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 This is
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 what is
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 unique about
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 the Christian
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 faith,
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 and this
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 is what is
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 unique about
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 Jesus.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 This world
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 is broken,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 but God
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 is coming
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 back, and
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 he will
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 restore it.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 Our bodies
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 are crumbling,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 but God
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 promises us
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 new bodies.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 Our faith
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 is weak,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 but we
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 know that
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 someday we
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 will stand
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 before him.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 We are
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 sinful, but
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 God calls
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 each of us
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 to be a
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 part of
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 his perfect
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 work in
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 this world.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 The kingdom
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 of God is
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 near,
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 and Jesus
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 came to
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 reconcile us
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 to himself
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 and to
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 each other
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 and to
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 bring us
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 life in
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 all its
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 fullness.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 Like
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 Paul,
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 we need
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 a
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 therefore.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 We need
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 a solid
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 foundation,
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 a deep
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 trust in
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 God's
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 goodness and
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 faithfulness,
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 and a
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 certain
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 knowledge that
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 we are
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 right with
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 God.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 With that
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 solid
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 foundation,
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 we can
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 keep
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 hardship in
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 perspective
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 through
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 uncertain
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 times.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 We can
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 use the
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 gifts and
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 opportunities
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 that God
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 has given
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 us to
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 serve him,
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 whether that's
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 here in
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 Chatswood or
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 in Kathmandu.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 We can
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 share God's
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 love with
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 those around
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 us.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 We can
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 pray God's
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 kingdom come,
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 his will be
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 done.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 We can use
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 the resources,
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 whether that's
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 time or
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 money,
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 for his
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 glory.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 And through
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 our day-to-day
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 relationships and
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 interactions,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 we can
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 seek to
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 serve God
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 and glorify
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 him.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 I'll
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 close now
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 with the
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 final verses
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 of this
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 chapter,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 reading them
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 again,
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 which Paul
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 prefaces with
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 another
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 therefore.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 Therefore,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 we do not
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 lose heart,
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 though outwardly
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 we are wasting
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 away,
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 yet inwardly
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 we are being
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 renewed day
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 by day.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 For our
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 light and
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 momentary troubles
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 are achieving
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 for us an
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 eternal glory
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 that far
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 outweighs
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 them all.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 So we fix
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 our eyes
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 not on what
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 is seen,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 but on what
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 is unseen.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 For what is
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 seen is
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 temporary,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 and what is
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 unseen is
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 eternal.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 Praise be to
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 God.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 Amen.