Revelation
Speaker: Richard Goscombe
Date: 11th October 2014
Passage: Revelation 21:1-27
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 We could stay here for the rest of this day till midnight and not be able to chase all the themes
00:00:07 --> 00:00:13 and all the scriptures that have been alluded to in the reading we've just heard.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:20 We're obviously not going to be able to do that, but let's stop and pray and ask the Lord to
00:00:20 --> 00:00:29 minister to us by his spirit so that we might capture this incredible vision
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 that really is what we've all been waiting for.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:34 Let's pray.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:50 Dear Lord, we thank you so much that we come and it is so easy for us to come in a way that
00:00:50 --> 00:00:55 we feel that just getting in the doors, we've done enough.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:57 We've ticked the box.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:06 And yet, Lord, as we have sung these amazing truths, as we have heard this amazing passage
00:01:06 --> 00:01:14 from your word just read, we are reminded that we are on the verge of something quite incredible.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:24 that you are indeed taking us forward to be part of something that no eye has seen, nor
00:01:24 --> 00:01:29 ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, that you have prepared from before the foundation
00:01:29 --> 00:01:30 of the world.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:38 And we ask that by your spirit you would strip away the distractions, the weariness, and that
00:01:38 --> 00:01:44 you would allow us to focus on what you have in store.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:51 That you would minister to us so that our minds and hearts might be gripped and thoroughly
00:01:51 --> 00:01:58 convinced by not just who you are and what you're doing, but of the part that you have
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 called us to play in it.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:04 Dear Lord, we are not spectators here tonight.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:14 We come as worshippers to hear and receive from you that you might indeed send us forward
00:02:14 --> 00:02:20 into all that you have purposed for us to walk in, for your glory.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21 Amen.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:32 Guys, I have been given an incredible privilege to come and share with you on a passage that
00:02:32 --> 00:02:37 has just been read to us that reflects the climax of this amazing book.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:44 The revelation of what will be for those following Jesus in these last days.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 We have just heard about the end of every tear.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 The answer to every prayer.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:54 Think about that.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 The answer to every prayer.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 And you think, oh, gee, I had a very different shopping list of the things.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:04 No, trust me.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:12 The answer to every prayer, everything you have ever come to the throne of grace with is ultimately
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 answered here.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 The healing of every hurt.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:22 I spoke to a group of older people this morning.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 There are not as many older people here.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:34 And yet we can't be so naive as to think that it's only the older people who have lived enough
00:03:34 --> 00:03:38 in this world under the curse that hurt.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:49 I come from a place where out of the funerals I do, up to two or three a week, up to a third of them are from suicide.
00:03:49 --> 00:04:05 I'm going to tell you a story shortly about a young boy, eight years of age, who's just seen enough hope in Jesus that he might not take his own life as an eight-year-old.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 And he is not uncommon.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 That says there is pain.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:16 And we have just heard about the healing of every hurt.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:35 Whatever your hurts are, whatever they have been, whatever binds you, whatever you long to be free of, whatever you just say, Lord, I want to live for you.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:37 He speaks of this here.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:44 And while, yes, we are speaking of a time that is hence, that is still future, he catches us up in it now.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:55 There is an incredible liberation for those who realise and live as the kids of the kingdom.
00:04:55 --> 00:05:08 And just like the building project next door, we will see that this is not going to be the goal.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 The completion of this is not the goal.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 The slab out the front is not the end of it.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 Even the opening day, it's not the end.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 It's the beginning.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 We're getting ready to start.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:25 And this is probably the hardest thing for you as young people to grasp.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 That you think, this is it.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 I'm in the prime of my life.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:33 I look at this guy out the front and I just go, he is so not in the prime of his life.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 But I am there.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 I am there.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:47 If you want to truly suck the marrow from life, in other words, get all the riches that God has purposed for you,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 you must stop listening to the world out there.
00:05:53 --> 00:06:00 You must stop listening to what it says will define you.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 And you must listen to this.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 You must live for this.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:11 Because in the previous chapters to this, you have heard that the battle is over.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 That evil has been swept away.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:21 You know that you haven't been following a calendar or diarised set of things that starts from chapter one and the seven churches.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 You're following something that is like layers.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 Anyone watch Bathurst yesterday?
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 No one?
00:06:28 --> 00:06:28 Today?
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 Was it today?
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 Oh, I lose track.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 I haven't watched Bathurst today.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 I used to love watching Bathurst.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 You know?
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 You know how they do Bathurst?
00:06:37 --> 00:06:37 Bathurst.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:48 You know, like, Bathurst was just gold for guys that make technology little and use it with cameras.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:49 You know?
00:06:49 --> 00:06:56 Because, you know, Bathurst, you know, one moment you have that standard camera view and then the next moment you are, you know,
00:06:56 --> 00:07:01 you're looking at this same race out of a camera that is down in the ground.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:06 And the cars are going straight over the top of you.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:14 And then the next moment you are on this pulley that is being pulled down the length of Pitt Street as fast as the cars go.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 And you feel like, well, you are going as fast as the car.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:25 The next moment you're actually looking from a camera that is up in the helicopter that is following around the mountain at, you know, nearly 200 miles an hour.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:32 The next moment you are in the car, you are looking at the guy's feet going up and down on top of you as he changes the gears.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:37 The next moment you are, let me think of another one, you're in the pits.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:47 All of these different camera angles are all giving you the same view, sorry, a different view of the same event.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 That is what Revelations do.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:54 It is layer upon layer.
00:07:56 --> 00:08:04 It keeps giving you different views of the same event of the last day, the period between Christ's first coming and his second coming.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:15 So that you might be secure in the knowledge and the assurance of what he is doing in your midst.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:25 And so having come through these previous visions and seen that the battle is over, evil has been swept away.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:31 We now have three pictures of incredible glory.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:37 The glory of a new day that we thought would never dawn has come.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:43 And these three pictures are all seen in the first couple of verses.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:47 Indeed, I'm going to focus on the first four verses of this chapter and leave the rest of it to you.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:53 We will unpack a few things, but you see that it begins and he says,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 Then I saw a new heavens and a new earth.
00:08:56 --> 00:09:05 And we read of something that is referred to in Isaiah 65 and in many other places,
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 this promise of a new heavens and a new earth.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 And he goes on and indeed says,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:14 For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:19 And I'm sure you've been told not only not to view it as a timeline and all of that,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:24 but not to take these pictures, these Old Testament allusions literally, right?
00:09:24 --> 00:09:28 To make sure that even as, if you're anything like me,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 you hear that passage read and you close your eyes.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 And in one sense, you're picturing.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:38 But remember, you're still picturing a vision that then has to be interpreted.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 Never take the vision as literal.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:50 You remember, it probably began with Steve preaching on the glorious vision of the risen and ascended Lord Jesus.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 Right?
00:09:53 --> 00:09:57 And if you take that vision literally, then of course, you will be ducking and weaving
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 when you stand before the Lord and get ready to give him a hug.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:04 Because as you know, there is a sharp two-edged sword coming out of his mouth.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 And if you are not careful, he will slice you in two when you give him a hug.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 Do not worry.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 This will not happen.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 It is an image to be interpreted.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 Right?
00:10:16 --> 00:10:20 We know that it means that he speaks truth.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 Every word is truth.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:29 And similarly here, when we speak of the new heavens and the new earth,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 just go back if you can,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:35 for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 we actually need to interpret the image.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 Because I'm going to call,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 I'm going to call an elephant in the room.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 that in fact,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 if you are anything like me,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 there is a bit of a worry about heaven.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 There is a bit of a feeling that,
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 Lord, how can I be?
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 Look,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 am I really going to want to be there?
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 When it really boils down,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 that's the elephant in the room.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 Am I really going to want to be there?
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 And this passage,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 I've got to tell you,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 does not give me any encouragement whatsoever.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 Who here likes to surf?
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 Anybody?
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 Right?
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 Sorry, Sam.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 I'm sorry, mate.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 Who here likes to fish?
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 Yep,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 a few more of those.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 Who here likes to walk along the beach?
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 Oh,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 lots of people.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 Well,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 I'm sorry,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 you're just going to have to suck it up
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 because there is no longer any sea.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 It's not a laughing matter.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 And yet,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 of course,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:52 if we in fact receive as we need to,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 every part of this revelation
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 as something that must be interpreted,
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 don't stop when you get to the millennium,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 don't stop interpreting
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 and translating these images,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 whether they be numbers,
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 time frames,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 pictures,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 whatever it be.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 And similarly with this,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 I'm just going to use this
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 no longer any sea as an example
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 that in fact,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 we need to recognize,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 as you see,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 and you can go right back
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 to Genesis chapter one
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 and see that in the beginning,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 God created the heavens and the earth.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 The earth was without form and void.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 Darkness was over the face of the deep
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 and the spirit of God
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 was hovering over the face of the waters.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 So as the Lord moves out to create
00:12:38 --> 00:12:42 and as we know in what flows
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 in the narrative there of chapter one,
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 the seas and the oceans
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 aren't created till later
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 and yet there is this image
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 in God creating out of nothing
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 that there is still this picture given us
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 that chaos
00:12:57 --> 00:13:02 and that which is not of God
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 is reflected by the deep,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 by waters that we don't know
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 what lurks beneath.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 And so there is this picture of chaos
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 and he's not going to be
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 but of the Lord presiding.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 He presides over it.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 He rules it
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 and he conforms it to his purpose
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 and his plan.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 And indeed,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 as we go on through the prophets
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 and we could pick many others,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 but just looking at Isaiah 57,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 he says,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 the wicked are like the tossing sea
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 for it cannot be quiet.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 Its waters toss up mire and dirt.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 If you've ever been down after a cyclone,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:45 you've seen it can be literally towers of foam
00:13:45 --> 00:13:48 and it is literally all the dirt
00:13:48 --> 00:13:51 that has been tossed out of the sea.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 So there's this picture of this chaos.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 But what we are reading here
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 when we read
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 of the sea being no more
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 is not meant to discourage anybody
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 who would like a walk along the beach in eternity.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 I can't tell you
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 what heaven will be like.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 And you say,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 what do you mean you can't tell me, Richard?
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 I mean,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 we're just reading the book that is full of it
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 and I want to tell you,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 no, we're not.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 That's actually not the purpose
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 of the book of Revelation.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 Its purpose is not to give you
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 a literal idea
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 of exactly what heaven will be like.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 Test me.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 Go back and read it.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 Every picture is just that,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 a picture to be interpreted.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 The idea of this
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 is not to discourage surfers,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 fishermen,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 or walk along the beaches.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 It is to actually
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 encourage those
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 who need to know
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 that will there be a day
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 when there is no longer,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 not just that which is wrong
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 and bad
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 and unjust
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 and the root of pain,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 but even the causes of sin.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 I need to know
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 it will end.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 And when he says
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 the sea was no more,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 in that image,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 that is what he's picking up.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 in this new heavens
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 and new earth
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 there will be nothing
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 of that.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 I can't tell you literally
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 what heaven will be like.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 But I guarantee you
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 of one thing,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 that while there's not
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 a single thing here
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 that tells you literally
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 what it will be,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 it tells you
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 that God is there
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 and so are you
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 in complete love
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 forever.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 And that is what
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 the rest of this unpacks.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 That's what he goes on
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 indeed in the next
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 of these three
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 glorious pictures.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 As we see,
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 he then says,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 verse two,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 I saw the holy city,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 the new Jerusalem,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 coming down out of heaven
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 from God,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 prepared as a bride,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 beautifully dressed
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 for her husband.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 So we see this
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 bringing together
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 of these two pictures,
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 this second and third picture,
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 a holy city,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 new Jerusalem,
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 coming down out of heaven
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 from God.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 It's a picture
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 that you could follow
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 right through.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 Right through.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 I read from Isaiah 12
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 this morning,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 Isaiah 11,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 sorry,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:30 about the time
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 when the lion
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 will dwell with the lamb,
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 when the child
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 won't just play
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 on the drums,
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 he will play
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 over the adder's den.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 And dad will not
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 have to worry.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 For no one
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 shall hurt
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 or steal
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 in all my holy mountain.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 This is the holy city,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 the new Jerusalem
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 that we now see
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 in this picture.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 is coming down
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 out of heaven
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 and then,
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 bam,
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 we're into the next picture
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 which is
00:17:04 --> 00:17:07 prepared as a bride,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 beautifully dressed
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 for her husband.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 I went to a wedding
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 on Friday,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 my daughter's getting married.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 My daughter's getting married
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 in three weeks' time.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 Lots of lace
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and tulle
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 and all of that,
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 I'm not allowed
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 to see the dress.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 It's a secret.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 But it's going
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 to be great.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 But here are these
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 put together.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 You see one moment,
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 Lord,
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 will you make up your mind?
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 What's coming down
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 out of heaven?
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 A city or a bride?
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 I need to know.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 No, you don't.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 Interpret it.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 Translate it.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 Understand it.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 Consider the images
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 and then understand them.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 Because as you do,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 you are caught up
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 with something astounding.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 And I want us
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 to quickly move forward
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 and move past
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 as we then look on
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 at verse 3
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 because these three images,
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 new heavens,
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 new earth,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 holy city,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 new Jerusalem,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 bride adorned
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 for her husband.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 What does it spell?
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 Verse 3.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 Verse 3.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 No,
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 verse 3.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 Golly,
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 Jay!
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 Sorry
00:18:18 --> 00:18:21 for that tantrum.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 And I heard a loud voice
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 from the throne saying,
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 look,
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 God's dwelling place
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 is now among the people
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 and he will dwell with them.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 They will be his people
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 and God himself
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 will be with them
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 and be their God.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 Every one of the three
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 pictures of glory
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 that you've seen
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 in verses 1 and 2
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 spells that.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:46 Just like I said,
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 none of what you see
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 in Revelation
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 about heaven
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 is to be understood
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 literally.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 That is what
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 you're to understand.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 That is what
00:18:56 --> 00:18:58 has always been in view.
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 When the Lord
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 promised to the people
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 through Moses,
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 both of his presence
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 at the tabernacle,
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 of his presence
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 at the temple,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 of them in the promised land,
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 of his promises
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 to David,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 it was all
00:19:09 --> 00:19:12 that they will be
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 his people
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 and God himself
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 will be with them
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 and be their God.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 Is that not what it is?
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 And then verse 4,
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 he will wipe
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 every tear
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 from their eyes.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 There will be no
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 more death
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 or mourning
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 or crying
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 or pain
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 for the old order
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 of things
00:19:36 --> 00:19:40 has passed away.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:42 and it's hard
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 for me to read that,
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 to sing
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 those words
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 and truths
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 so beautifully
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 expressed in that song
00:19:49 --> 00:19:53 without contemplating
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 what it's meant,
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 the journey
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 that the Lord's
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 caused me
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 to travel
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 over these 52 years
00:19:58 --> 00:20:02 to consider
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 what you are going through,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 what I have no idea of
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 but which the Lord knows,
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 which Jesus
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 carried to the cross
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 when it said,
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 when he said,
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 your sins
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 were laid upon him
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 and that by his wounds
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 you would be healed,
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 that he bore
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 the punishment
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 that would make you whole.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 When I think
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 of those
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 over in Wickham
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 and this
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 desperation,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:33 I want to tell you
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 the story
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 of two friends
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 of mine
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 who are in fact
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 brothers and sisters
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 to you,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 Bob and Pauline.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 They were never married,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 there's very little
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 marriage
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 that has gone on
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 over the last
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 30 years
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 in the Aboriginal
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 community
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 and the tribes
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 of the Pilbara
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 and we're just
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 starting to see that
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 there are four
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 Aboriginal couples
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 that have asked me
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 to marry them
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 just in the last year
00:21:02 --> 00:21:06 and Bob and Pauline
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 I know
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 wanted to head that way.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 Many of them
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 feel they can't
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 because the way
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 they've been taught
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 in the past
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 is that they've got
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 to get their
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 lives together
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 before they can
00:21:16 --> 00:21:19 actually come to God
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 and accept Jesus
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 and sadly
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 we have those same
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 misconceptions
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 and stereotypes here
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 rather than the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 realisation
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 that I have
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 no resources
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 in and of myself.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 Who am I kidding
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 to think
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 that I can fix
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 the things in me
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 outside of the
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 unction of the
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 spirit?
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 And so
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 Bob
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 was
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 they had
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 heritage
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 of faith
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 and had been
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 taken
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 by grandparents
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 to church
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 as kids
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 but Bob
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 asked me
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 to visit him
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 in prison
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 to give him
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 a Bible
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 and we read it
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 and he put
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 his trust in Jesus
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 and even while
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 he was doing
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 his stint
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 in prison
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 which I think
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 was his 12th
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 I would talk
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 to Pauline
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 and we were
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 starting barbecue
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 church
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 and I would
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 visit everyone
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 in the community
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 each month
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 and I would
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 talk to her
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 and she would
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 say I don't
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 need Jesus
00:22:12 --> 00:22:15 and if you knew
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 what had happened
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 in her life
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 you'd understand
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 why she says
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 that
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 and yet
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 it came to
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 the point
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 where she would
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 say to me
00:22:22 --> 00:22:25 I don't
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 come to
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 barbecue church
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 but I want
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 you to know
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 that I'm
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 listening
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 see all the
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 drinking houses
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 would listen
00:22:32 --> 00:22:34 to what was
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 sung and said
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 from their houses
00:22:36 --> 00:22:38 as we turn up
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 the amp
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 a bit more
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 and the Lord
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 the Lord
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 I know
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 is working
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 not just in
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 those who come
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 but in those
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 who don't
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 and she said
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 I think this
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 Jesus is good
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 and then a
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 while later
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 months later
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 she said
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 she would
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 start saying
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 to me
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 I need
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 Jesus
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 and as you
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 can see
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 she started
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 coming to
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 barbecue church
00:23:02 --> 00:23:05 and this
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 photo was
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 taken when
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 Bob was
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 out of prison
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 he's back
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 in for another
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 stint now
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 such are the
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 cycles of
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 dysfunction
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 and how
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 tightly they
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 bind us
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 they bind us
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 as tightly
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 as you might
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 find yourself
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 held by
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 consumerism
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 or held
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 by pride
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 or held
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 by the
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 need to
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 control
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 your life
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 or held
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 by whatever
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 it may be
00:23:28 --> 00:23:31 and yet
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 she began
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 to come
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 to barbecue
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 church
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 and she
00:23:35 --> 00:23:38 I know
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 that she
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 has said
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 yes to
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 Jesus
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 and we
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 would have
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 these amazing
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 conversations
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 and yet
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 still
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 she was
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 in the grip
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 of the things
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 to which
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 she had
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 been bound
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 and the
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 last time
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 I saw
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 her
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 a couple
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 of barbecue
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 churches
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 ago
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 she
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 came away
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 from the
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 group she
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 was drinking
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 with and
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 she spoke
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 to me
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 of having
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 been raped
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 recently
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 she spoke
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 to me
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 of the
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 fact that
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 she had
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 to get
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 off the
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 grog
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 and
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 if there
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 was to
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 be any
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 hope for
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 her
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 or for
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 Bob
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 when they
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 got out
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 when
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 Holmes
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 West
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 gave
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 them
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 a
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 house
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 and
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 she
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 said
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 you have
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 to pick
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 me up
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 for church
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 and I
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 thought she
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 meant barbecue
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 church
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 but she
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 like we've
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 had an
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 increasing
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 number of
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 aboriginal
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 people starting
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 to come
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 on Sunday
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 morning to
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 church
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 the first
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 year we
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 virtually
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 had no
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 one
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 there was
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 not an
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 aboriginal
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 person
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 in Wickham
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 that was a
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 Christian
00:24:33 --> 00:24:37 and now
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 we probably
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 have up to
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 a dozen
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 that will
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 come
00:24:39 --> 00:24:42 and to
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 realise that
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 she wanted
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 me to pick
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 her up
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 even for
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 morning church
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 and we
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 arranged and
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 I went
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 we went
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 round to
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 her place
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 to pick
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 her up
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 but after
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 inquiries
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 discovered
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 that she
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 had gone
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 to family
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 in Robben
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 and two
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 nights later
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 after an
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 argument she
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 took her
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 life
00:24:59 --> 00:25:03 and at
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 her funeral
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 in front
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 of about
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 five to
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 six hundred
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 people
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 family
00:25:08 --> 00:25:11 I was able
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 to speak
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 to them
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 because the
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 aboriginal
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 pastor asked
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 me to do
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 all the
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 teaching of
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 the bible
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 now at
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 these funerals
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 and he
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 asked me
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 and said
00:25:20 --> 00:25:23 sorry I
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 shared with
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 them from
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 Matthew 5
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 blessed
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 are the
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 poor
00:25:29 --> 00:25:32 blessed are
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 the poor
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 in spirit
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 for they
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 shall inherit
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 the earth
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 blessed are
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 those who
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 mourn for
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 they should
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 be comforted
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 I was able
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 to say to
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 them this
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 is not
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 talking about
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 those who
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 don't have
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 much money
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 getting this
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 reversal of
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 being rich
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 or those who
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 attend lots of
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 funerals like
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 you guys
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 you'll be the
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 ones that God
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 will comfort
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 it actually
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 speaks about
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 those who
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 realise that
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 they are
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 absolutely
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 bankrupt in
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 life without
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 Jesus
00:25:56 --> 00:26:00 a realisation
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 that they
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 need to
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 come to
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 just as
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 much as
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 we need
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 to come
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 to
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 or should
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 I say
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 that we
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 need to
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 come to
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 just as
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 much as
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 they need
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 to come
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 to
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 that those
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 in plain
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 dysfunction
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 open and
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 evident to
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 all
00:26:13 --> 00:26:16 need it
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 just as
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 much as
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 we
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 with our
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 hidden
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 dysfunctions
00:26:20 --> 00:26:25 desperately
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 need to
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 know the
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 sufficiency
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 the all
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 sufficiency
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 the lavish
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 resources
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 that Christ
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 brings to
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 us from
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 the Father's
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 hand and
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 to actually
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 see and
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 to know
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 and to
00:26:40 --> 00:26:42 sing those
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 words
00:26:43 --> 00:26:45 no more
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 tears
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 no more
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 crying
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 no more
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 mourning
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 no more
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 pain
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 no more
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 death
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52 to know
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 that that
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 is hers
00:26:53 --> 00:26:58 gives me
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 such a
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 comfort
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 but it
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 also creates
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 this prayer
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 where I
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 asked you
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 before
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 to pray
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 with us
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 that the
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 Lord indeed
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 will keep
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 people alive
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 long enough
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 another third
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 of those
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 that I
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 laid in
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 the ground
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 this year
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 died from
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 asbestosis
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 the public
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 face of
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 asbestos
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 related diseases
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 is
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 is
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 guys
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 white
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 Australians
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 that worked
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 in factories
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 you know
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 where it
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 was produced
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 or sent
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 out but
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 they missed
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 the people
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 who actually
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 had to
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 endure
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 the results
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 of having
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 played
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 on their
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 on the
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 sacks
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 as they
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 sat on
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 their dad's
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 truck
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 as he
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 drove it
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 from
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 Robben
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 out to
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 the
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 wharf
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 at
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 Point
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 Samson
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 as they
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 played
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 in the
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 tailings
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 one guy
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 who's got
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 cancer
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 a funeral
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 I took
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 for him
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 for his
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 brother
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 it was
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 the second
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 last
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 brother
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 apart
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 from him
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 left out
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 of seven
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 brothers
00:27:57 --> 00:28:00 I need
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 to tell
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 you more
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 of the
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 situation
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 of the
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 Aboriginal
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 people in
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 the
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 Pilbara
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 for you
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 to understand
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 so that
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 you can
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 pray in
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 an informed
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 way
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 I'll do
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 that on
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 Wednesday
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 night
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 I've been
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 given
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 permission
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 to share
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 with you
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 indeed the
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 story of
00:28:14 --> 00:28:17 the last
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 Indyabundi
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 elder to
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 die
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 normally
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 you're not
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 allowed to
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 do that
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 to share
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 his name
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 but his
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 elderly
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 children
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 have given
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 me
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 permission
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 to share
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 that
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 he died
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 at the
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 age of
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 107
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 and his
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 testimony
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 is one
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 that I
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 think
00:28:33 --> 00:28:35 enters my
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 mind
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 and informs
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 my prayers
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 as I
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 ask the
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 Lord
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 his plans
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 for me
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 there each
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 day
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 and I'd
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 love you
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 to be
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 aware
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 of it
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 on
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 Wednesday
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 night
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 but
00:28:46 --> 00:28:48 as we
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 move on
00:28:48 --> 00:28:51 we then
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 hear this
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 interjection
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 this word
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 from the
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 throne
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 that comes
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 and says
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 I am
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 making
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 everything
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 new
00:28:58 --> 00:29:00 says the
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 one seated
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 on the
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 throne
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 write this
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 down
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 for these
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 words are
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 trustworthy
00:29:03 --> 00:29:05 and true
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 trustworthy
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 and true
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 this is
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 reliable
00:29:10 --> 00:29:13 God
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 is your
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 God
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 you are
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 his
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 child
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 you will
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 be with
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 him
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 forever
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 and
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 nothing
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 not the
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 sin
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 of you
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 or the
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 sin of
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 others
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 can take
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 him away
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 from you
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 or you
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 away from
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 him
00:29:28 --> 00:29:31 whatever
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 you battle
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 with
00:29:32 --> 00:29:35 whatever
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 deep down
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 in the
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 recesses
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 of your
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 heart
00:29:37 --> 00:29:41 or through
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 the
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 accusations
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 of the
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 accuser
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 says it's
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 too late
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 it's too
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 late
00:29:45 --> 00:29:49 your file
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 is marked
00:29:49 --> 00:29:52 no
00:29:52 --> 00:29:54 the cross
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 stands
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 as long
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 as the
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 cross
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 stands
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 do you
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 know one
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 day
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 as you
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 sing an
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 amazing
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 grace
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 when you've
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 been there
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 10
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 years
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 can you
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 imagine
00:30:03 --> 00:30:05 when the
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 here and
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 now is
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 becoming a
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 distant
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 memory
00:30:07 --> 00:30:09 when the
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 eternity
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 that we
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 have been
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 just getting
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 ready for
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 has begun
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 and you
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 are in
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 full swing
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 in the
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 purpose
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 of the
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 father
00:30:17 --> 00:30:20 and you
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 will look
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 back
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 and the
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 foreshortening
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 of looking
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 back almost
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 along the
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 line
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 everything
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 will recede
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 into the
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 past
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 everything
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 will level
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 the pain
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 will become
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 a distant
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 memory
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 I don't
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 believe it
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 when people
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 say you
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 know time
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 heals
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 all wounds
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 only the
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 cross does
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 but let me
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 tell you
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 when you
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 look back
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 in thousands
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 of years
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 you will look
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 back and there'll
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 be only one
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 thing that rises
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 above the horizon
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 and that is the
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 cross
00:30:44 --> 00:30:48 everything else
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 will recede
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 but the cross
00:30:49 --> 00:30:51 you will never
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 forget where you
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 came from
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 as blood
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 bought children
00:30:54 --> 00:30:57 but as much
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 as that will
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 be the case
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 therefore live
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 each day
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 now defined
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 alone by
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 that and
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 by him
00:31:02 --> 00:31:06 he goes
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 on and he
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 says it is
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 done I am
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 the alpha
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 and the
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 omega
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 the beginning
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 and the
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 end
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 I govern
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 all from
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 go to
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 woe
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 and we
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 need to
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 just go
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 back just
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 that previous
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 slide because
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 down in the
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 fine print
00:31:20 --> 00:31:22 and it's
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 not fine
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 print in the
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 bible don't
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 worry God
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 has no
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 fine print
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 hidden things
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 stuff that
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 you know
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 he didn't
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 really want
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 you to know
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 but it's
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 down there
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 you know you
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 should have
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 checked
00:31:30 --> 00:31:33 it's just I've
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 got it in a
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 smaller font
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 but down the
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 bottom where it
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 actually speaks
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 of the fact
00:31:36 --> 00:31:39 that this is
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 open to all
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 who will come
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 it does of
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 course say
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 but the
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 cowardly the
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 unbelieving the
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 vile the
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 murderers the
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 sexually immoral
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 those who
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 practice magic
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 arts many of
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 those are
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 reflected among
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 the people I
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 work with
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 daily over
00:31:52 --> 00:31:55 there those
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 who I work
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 with at
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 cranebrook I
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 remember the
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 last life work
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 series I did
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 which was a
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 gift a tool
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 that the Lord
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 provided out of
00:32:03 --> 00:32:05 here I had a
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 committed warlock
00:32:06 --> 00:32:08 come along to
00:32:08 --> 00:32:10 life works and
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 the same he
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 said to me at
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 the end of the
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 first one he
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 said look
00:32:12 --> 00:32:14 wonderful I
00:32:14 --> 00:32:17 just I'm so
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 amazed at what
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 you do he
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 said it is so
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 real and so
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 genuine it's
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 not for me but
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 look thank you
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 for inviting me
00:32:23 --> 00:32:25 the second week
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 he came back
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 and he said
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 look would you
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 mind if I
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 came again
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 and he attended
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 all seven
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 weeks I don't
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 know what the
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 Lord will do
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 with him will
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 it be good
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 news for him
00:32:36 --> 00:32:38 or indeed will
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 it confirm the
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 justice of God's
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 judgment against
00:32:41 --> 00:32:43 him I don't
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 know the decrees
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 of the Lord I
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 just know that I
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 am called to
00:32:47 --> 00:32:49 love you are
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 you are in a
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 world that
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 especially as
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 young people
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 tells you that
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 if you don't
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 get what you
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 want you
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 should kick
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 up a stink
00:32:56 --> 00:32:58 you should be
00:32:58 --> 00:33:00 upset you
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 should demand
00:33:00 --> 00:33:02 I live in a
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 world and in a
00:33:02 --> 00:33:04 place where I
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 realized that what
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 Jesus said to me
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 when he said
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 you've heard it
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 said love your
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 enemies and pray
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 for those who
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 persecute you
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 sorry you've
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 heard it said
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15 you know you
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 know what I
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 mean
00:33:15 --> 00:33:21 what am I
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 trying to think
00:33:21 --> 00:33:23 of where he
00:33:23 --> 00:33:26 says love your
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 neighbors hate
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 your enemies and
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 he says I say to
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 you love your
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 enemies pray for
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 those who persecute
00:33:32 --> 00:33:34 you where he
00:33:34 --> 00:33:36 says you know
00:33:36 --> 00:33:38 pay back seek
00:33:38 --> 00:33:41 justice every time
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 I get disrespect
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 over there I
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 know they are
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 standing in
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 solidarity with
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 their forebears
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 and I realized
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 that even though
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 people both black
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 and white said to
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 me Richard you've
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 got to stop this
00:33:50 --> 00:33:53 they could have
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 said in brackets
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 small font
00:33:54 --> 00:33:56 Richard you are
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 part of the
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 dominant culture
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 here you must
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 not allow this to
00:33:59 --> 00:34:02 continue I even
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 said to the
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 aboriginal pastor
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 I said Marshall
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 you could do
00:34:05 --> 00:34:08 that but I
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 can't if I do
00:34:09 --> 00:34:11 I confirm in
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 them the stereotype
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 that they have
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 rightly held
00:34:14 --> 00:34:16 for so long
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 about this
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 dominant culture
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 that has made
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 them submit
00:34:21 --> 00:34:24 endlessly and
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 when they
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 complained said
00:34:25 --> 00:34:27 sorry you've got
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 to suck this up
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 you don't like it
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 build a bridge
00:34:30 --> 00:34:33 as the dominant
00:34:33 --> 00:34:35 culture we don't
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 have to cope with
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 disrespect in an
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 individualistic society
00:34:38 --> 00:34:40 you can conform
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 things to your
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 will and if you
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 are young you are
00:34:43 --> 00:34:45 still possibly
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 convinced that it's
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 possible I want to
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 tell you give up on
00:34:48 --> 00:34:50 it now give up on
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 it now it is not
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 cross shaped it is
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 not the way of the
00:34:53 --> 00:34:57 cross put your
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 trust in the Lord
00:34:58 --> 00:35:01 see the gospel it
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 is good news for
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 those who receive it
00:35:02 --> 00:35:04 it is extremely bad
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 news for those who
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 don't and and as
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 we continue he
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 then does an
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 amazing thing he
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 says one of the
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 seven angels who
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 had the seven
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 bowls seven last
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 plagues said to me
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 come I'll show you
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 the bride the wife
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 of the lamb he
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 carried me away to a
00:35:19 --> 00:35:21 high mountain great
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 and high and showed
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 me the holy city so
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 once again you have
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 this mashing together
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 of these two pictures
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 of glory right the
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 bride and the holy
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30 city right don't get
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 confused understand
00:35:31 --> 00:35:33 right the holy city
00:35:33 --> 00:35:39 is you the bride is
00:35:39 --> 00:35:43 you he is he is
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 secured he is
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 sanctified you you
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 can be no more
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 righteous than you
00:35:46 --> 00:35:48 are in him right
00:35:48 --> 00:35:51 now so let everything
00:35:51 --> 00:35:53 else go what about
00:35:53 --> 00:35:55 that great song all
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 the things I'm holding
00:35:56 --> 00:35:58 on to so tight that I
00:35:58 --> 00:36:01 won't let go Paul
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 says I count them as
00:36:02 --> 00:36:06 excrement let it go
00:36:06 --> 00:36:11 because this is you
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 I'm not just saying
00:36:12 --> 00:36:14 it's yours it's you
00:36:14 --> 00:36:16 you're the holy city
00:36:16 --> 00:36:18 you're the bride and
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 and he reveals this
00:36:19 --> 00:36:21 the bride is this city
00:36:21 --> 00:36:24 that is just so
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 glorious incredible
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 jewels the
00:36:26 --> 00:36:28 foundations later on
00:36:28 --> 00:36:28 when you heard that
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 did you notice that
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 the foundations each
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 foundation was a
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 different precious
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 stone
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 and you think golly
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 the foundations out
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 there it's road
00:36:35 --> 00:36:38 base the foundations
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 of this city go on
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 to the next slide how
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 big is this city
00:36:40 --> 00:36:43 right we count all the
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 gates and you see all
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 the 12s remember
00:36:45 --> 00:36:47 everything has to be
00:36:47 --> 00:36:49 interpreted all the
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 numbers in revelation
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 show what the book
00:36:51 --> 00:36:53 is about they are all
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 derivatives of 7 and
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 12 God and his
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 people that's what the
00:36:56 --> 00:36:58 book's about you're his
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 people he is your God
00:36:59 --> 00:37:02 right and so we read
00:37:02 --> 00:37:05 that you know not only
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 are there 12 gates and
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 12 foundations and
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 whatever but when you
00:37:07 --> 00:37:09 get down to verse 16 he
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 actually says he measured
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 the city with the rod
00:37:11 --> 00:37:13 found it to be 12
00:37:13 --> 00:37:17 stadia see 12 right it's
00:37:17 --> 00:37:20 got 144 cubits 12 times
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 12 it's really basic right
00:37:21 --> 00:37:23 the whole idea is it's
00:37:23 --> 00:37:25 speaking about you because
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 you're the people of God
00:37:26 --> 00:37:28 right but of course just
00:37:28 --> 00:37:30 do the math just for this
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 image paint the image
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 let let the the picture
00:37:32 --> 00:37:34 fully develop itself
00:37:34 --> 00:37:38 because 12 stadia
00:37:38 --> 00:37:40 roughly 2 kilometers
00:37:40 --> 00:37:42 if you go as the crow
00:37:42 --> 00:37:44 flies to Wiccan that means
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 from here you get more
00:37:44 --> 00:37:46 than halfway that's how
00:37:46 --> 00:37:49 wide the city is and of
00:37:49 --> 00:37:52 course he said that that's
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 it in length and it's as
00:37:53 --> 00:37:56 wide and high as it is
00:37:56 --> 00:38:00 long you could just fit the
00:38:00 --> 00:38:02 city on the land mass of
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 Australia if you picture
00:38:03 --> 00:38:04 Australia but of course
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 you're not meant to
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 picture it literally like
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 that are you because what
00:38:07 --> 00:38:09 did he say in length as
00:38:09 --> 00:38:11 wide as it is high so it's a
00:38:11 --> 00:38:15 cube you didn't want high
00:38:15 --> 00:38:20 rise suck it up baby no it
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 is a picture it's an image
00:38:21 --> 00:38:23 to be translated and
00:38:23 --> 00:38:25 understood all right the
00:38:25 --> 00:38:29 idea is the people of God
00:38:29 --> 00:38:32 the new Jerusalem the bride
00:38:32 --> 00:38:34 of Christ is glorious
00:38:34 --> 00:38:39 gloriously beautiful which
00:38:39 --> 00:38:40 means all the things in you
00:38:40 --> 00:38:42 that you know aren't they
00:38:42 --> 00:38:45 will be passed consigned to
00:38:45 --> 00:38:48 the cross it is big you
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 don't have to get worried
00:38:49 --> 00:38:53 that there won't be room and
00:38:53 --> 00:38:55 it is secure I think he
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 says the walls are 65
00:38:56 --> 00:38:58 meters thick which back in
00:38:58 --> 00:39:02 those days was huge right
00:39:02 --> 00:39:03 you guys sit there and you
00:39:03 --> 00:39:04 think about all your movies
00:39:04 --> 00:39:05 and say what about just
00:39:05 --> 00:39:07 germ warfare or something
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 wouldn't matter how thick
00:39:08 --> 00:39:10 the walls you're missing the
00:39:10 --> 00:39:12 point understand the image
00:39:12 --> 00:39:14 so guys look I've used as
00:39:14 --> 00:39:16 much time as I can but I
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 want to tell you one more
00:39:16 --> 00:39:20 story as I finish up this
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 boy's name it's a good one
00:39:21 --> 00:39:27 Richard and he's now 10 and
00:39:27 --> 00:39:32 he has been he's been talking
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 about suicide for quite some
00:39:33 --> 00:39:39 time at school and his mum said
00:39:39 --> 00:39:41 yes to Jesus at the last barbecue
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 church just before I came over
00:39:42 --> 00:39:45 here and said would you pray for
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 me that I would stop gambling
00:39:46 --> 00:39:48 and after we'd laid hands on her
00:39:48 --> 00:39:50 and done so I said I said
00:39:50 --> 00:39:53 what's been happening and she
00:39:53 --> 00:39:55 she told me about what had been
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 happening for Richard at school
00:39:56 --> 00:39:58 over the last few weeks and and
00:39:58 --> 00:40:02 the concerns and she said that
00:40:02 --> 00:40:04 during the week Richard came home
00:40:04 --> 00:40:06 and there is no Christian
00:40:06 --> 00:40:08 ministry in the school I mean I
00:40:08 --> 00:40:10 I've got such open doors I could
00:40:10 --> 00:40:12 place someone in there with my
00:40:12 --> 00:40:13 Wickham community chaplain shirt
00:40:13 --> 00:40:16 as a full-time chaplain tomorrow
00:40:16 --> 00:40:21 Rio will give me a house tomorrow
00:40:21 --> 00:40:24 I believe the Lord will provide the
00:40:24 --> 00:40:26 funding but pray that someone will
00:40:26 --> 00:40:28 go someone that is equipped in
00:40:28 --> 00:40:31 this hot house of ministry and
00:40:31 --> 00:40:35 growth in the word of Sydney that
00:40:35 --> 00:40:37 someone will go to the furthest
00:40:37 --> 00:40:42 part of Australia because Richard
00:40:42 --> 00:40:46 came home and said to his mum on
00:40:46 --> 00:40:49 the Wednesday of that week mum you've
00:40:49 --> 00:40:52 got to stop gambling because this is
00:40:52 --> 00:40:56 a Jesus house now I think he'd heard
00:40:56 --> 00:40:58 from a couple of other kids that had
00:40:58 --> 00:41:00 actually come to my house and said
00:41:00 --> 00:41:02 and are really struggling with the
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03 bullying and all the crime they're
00:41:03 --> 00:41:05 being pushed into by older kids and
00:41:05 --> 00:41:07 said to me can we have Jesus in our
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 heart they'll have heard it from
00:41:08 --> 00:41:11 grandparents say it right pastor
00:41:11 --> 00:41:13 Marshall but they said can we have
00:41:13 --> 00:41:18 Jesus in our heart and to see her
00:41:18 --> 00:41:20 call call over her son from from
00:41:20 --> 00:41:22 playing at the end of barbecue church
00:41:22 --> 00:41:25 and tell him that she'd said yes to
00:41:25 --> 00:41:27 Jesus and that she was going to stop
00:41:27 --> 00:41:31 gambling to see the look in his eyes
00:41:31 --> 00:41:34 that maybe there was hope there's a
00:41:34 --> 00:41:38 reason to stay alive is a fantastic
00:41:38 --> 00:41:40 thing and it makes me want to ask you
00:41:40 --> 00:41:41 to pray to to indeed come on
00:41:41 --> 00:41:43 Wednesday night and allow yourself to
00:41:43 --> 00:41:45 be informed so that you can
00:41:45 --> 00:41:46 understand the Aboriginal situation
00:41:46 --> 00:41:49 indeed understand all that is going
00:41:49 --> 00:41:52 on over there and continue to
00:41:52 --> 00:41:54 support us in prayer in in an
00:41:54 --> 00:41:56 informed way and and be aware of the
00:41:56 --> 00:41:57 wonderful things that God is doing
00:41:57 --> 00:42:00 that you can give thanks for let's
00:42:00 --> 00:42:03 pray dear Lord we thank you so much
00:42:03 --> 00:42:05 that in your powerful and great
00:42:05 --> 00:42:11 mercy you have done what you've done
00:42:11 --> 00:42:14 you didn't ask our permission you
00:42:14 --> 00:42:17 didn't wait for our cooperation and
00:42:17 --> 00:42:18 you have sent us out now with the
00:42:18 --> 00:42:23 gospel I thank you so much that you
00:42:23 --> 00:42:25 do not send us out and ask us to be a
00:42:25 --> 00:42:28 behavior reformation a behavior
00:42:28 --> 00:42:33 improvement society Lord you know that
00:42:33 --> 00:42:35 we are bankrupt without you that just
00:42:35 --> 00:42:39 like our sister Pauline there is no
00:42:39 --> 00:42:42 hope for the things that we battle with
00:42:42 --> 00:42:46 lest you by your spirit according to
00:42:46 --> 00:42:50 your agenda for our lives powerfully
00:42:50 --> 00:42:54 work to transform us to the likeness of
00:42:54 --> 00:42:58 of Christ and so Lord we ask that
00:42:58 --> 00:43:01 whatever age we are here that we will
00:43:01 --> 00:43:04 entrust ourselves to that that we will
00:43:04 --> 00:43:06 recognize that whether we are in
00:43:06 --> 00:43:09 Wickham or whether we are this light on
00:43:09 --> 00:43:12 the hill in Chatswood that we will
00:43:12 --> 00:43:14 recognize the opportunity you have given
00:43:14 --> 00:43:16 us in the place that you have called us
00:43:16 --> 00:43:17 to serve
00:43:17 --> 00:43:23 to be part of the preparations for the
00:43:23 --> 00:43:27 greatest revelation and glory the
00:43:27 --> 00:43:31 world has ever known we will never
00:43:31 --> 00:43:36 forget the cross Lord when all this pain
00:43:36 --> 00:43:38 is a distant memory we will never forget
00:43:38 --> 00:43:45 the price you pay but we praise you now we
00:43:45 --> 00:43:50 rejoice in your presence now and we
00:43:50 --> 00:43:55 entrust ourselves to you body mind soul
00:43:55 --> 00:43:58 in spirit in his name
00:43:58 --> 00:43:59 Amen