Share the Gospel
Series: Vision Series 2025- Rhythms of Grace
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 30th March 2025
Passage: Luke 10:1-21
00:00:00 --> 00:00:13 Good morning, everyone. Great to be in church with you again this morning. My name's Steve. If I've not met you before, I'm the senior pastor here at St. Paul's, and as Nick has indicated, we're coming towards the end of our vision series for this year.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:29 A worldview is the way that we, as individuals, but also as cultures and societies, the way that we understand the way things are. That's what a worldview is.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:47 And there are six basic questions that all worldviews should address, and they're on the screen. Things like, where did the universe come from? Where is things heading? What should I do or how should I live?
00:00:47 --> 00:00:58 How do we attain our goals in life, fulfill our goals in life? What's true or false? And where did the answers to the first five questions come from?
00:00:58 --> 00:01:10 And is whatever the source of those answers are, where it came from, is it internally consistent? That's the basic questions in terms of forming a worldview.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:16 And remarkably, because most of us don't think about it at all, but every single person has got a worldview.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:36 Even if you don't are even aware of the worldview, you are operating under a worldview. All of our value systems, our principles, the choices we make, the things that we commit to, are all attached to a much deeper thing, which is our understanding of the way things are.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:46 And the Christian worldview is based on God's story of all things as it is outlaid in the Bible.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:52 And it has four main chapters in it. The Christian worldview has four main chapters.
00:01:52 --> 00:02:04 Number one, chapter one is creation. The God who always existed, never had a beginning, never had an end, created all things by speaking them into existence, such as his power.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 He made humanity for a special relationship with him.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:23 In fact, Christianity is the only worldview of all worldviews of the history of humanity, where a divine creator creates all things purely out of love.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:25 That's it.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 Chapter two in the Christian worldview is the fall.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:34 Humanity rejects relationship and rule of God.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:43 All people live life without consideration for their maker at all, flowing from the very first people right through to our current day and age.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 And the Bible calls that sin.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:53 And the sin is the biggest problem for humanity.
00:02:53 --> 00:03:04 In fact, it has cosmic consequences of fracturing our relationship with God, with each other, with ourselves and with the rest of creation.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:15 Humanity's special dignity created in the image of God means that God holds us especially accountable for rejecting him.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:27 And we see that in the early chapters of the Bible where God's judgment comes upon the nations of that time in Genesis 11 with the Tower of Babel.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:42 It's an incident where God scatters people from his presence across the earth so that they will no longer work together in order to rebel against God as a collective, to attempt to defund God.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:56 It's a judgment that ultimately symbolizes the ultimate separation from God and his presence and everything good for all of eternity for those who live a life consistently rejecting God.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 Chapter three is the story of redemption.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:03 And the great news is it starts within on chapter 12 of the Bible.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 It starts right there.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:12 God has a plan to reverse our rejection of him and make all things new.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:20 And that plan begins with a promise to an obscure dude named Abram in Genesis 12.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:30 And God takes this guy Abram, gives him a new name, Abraham, and says that through you, all peoples of the world will be blessed.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:39 And it's a redemption plan that is slowly worked out in all the chaos and carnage of human history as revealed in the Bible.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:43 And it finds its culmination in the person of Jesus Christ.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:57 The Bible claims that Jesus, the Son of God, the creator of all things, to solve humanity's greatest problem and to deal with the need for them to be redeemed and brought back to God,
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 God has to enter his own story.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:13 Not as a vengeful God seeking revenge, but as a servant of humanity, as we just read from Philippians 2.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:25 And everyone, what he does is, as a servant, he takes the judgment, his own judgment, the judgment of God for our sin upon himself.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:29 He dies the death that we should die for our rejection of him.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:36 But the great news is, he rises triumphantly, therefore defeating sin.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:46 And everyone who turns back to God in repentance and trusting Jesus is gathered back from all the corners of the world,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:54 gathered back into relationship with God, become members of his new family, his new society, his new people,
00:05:54 --> 00:06:01 his new nation who he will dwell with for all of eternity for our joy and his glory.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:14 And the work of gathering people from all nations continues this day, 2025, through God's new people,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:22 as Jesus sends them out filled with the spirit and the good news of reconciliation to the very corners of the world,
00:06:22 --> 00:06:30 into every culture and people, group and nation, making disciples of all people until chapter 4 comes.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 And chapter 4 is the new creation.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 It's the chapter with no ending.
00:06:36 --> 00:07:06 It's the chapter with no ending.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 It's the Christian worldview in a nutshell.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:14 This is so much more purposeful.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:25 And so, therefore, the opposite of the main worldview that is currently dominating our society here in this country,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:33 a worldview that says life's an accident, there's no reason or purpose or meaning behind existence at all,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:38 and therefore just do what you can because when you're gone, you're gone.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 That's it.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:47 One of the things I've been saying throughout this series
00:07:47 --> 00:07:56 is that there is often a gap between the great truths of the Christian faith
00:07:56 --> 00:08:02 and the things that we hold in our mind to be true as God's revealed them
00:08:02 --> 00:08:10 and the lives that such truths should produce in terms of character and priorities.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:15 And to close the gap, what we need is grace-fueled rhythms,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 spiritual disciplines, things that God has given us
00:08:18 --> 00:08:26 that push God's plan of redemption in Jesus down from our minds
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 into the centre of our lives
00:08:28 --> 00:08:33 so that it is, number one, constantly before us
00:08:33 --> 00:08:39 and it comes out of us in terms of changed characters
00:08:39 --> 00:08:45 and priorities and lives as we live confidently in the Christian worldview.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 So as we open up Luke chapter 10,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:56 we are sitting in chapter 3 of God's worldview,
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 the chapter of redemption.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 And the main concern as we open up chapter 10,
00:09:05 --> 00:09:11 the main concern of Luke 1 to 9
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 is the question of who is Jesus.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 And then at the very end of chapter 9,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 it shifts.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 The theme shifts for the next few chapters.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 And it shifts to,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:34 if Jesus is who Luke 1 to 9 says he is,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 that he is the creator eternal God,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 the one who is the author of life,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 the one who has written the worldview,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 written history,
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 if that is true
00:09:47 --> 00:09:52 and that he has entered into his world for our redemption,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 if that is true,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 what does it mean for life?
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 That's where we get to chapter 10.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:05 And the general answer to that question is,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 we should give our lives to Jesus,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 we should follow Jesus,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 we should obey Jesus.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:15 And the specific answer that we're looking at today
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 in chapter 10 verses 1 to 21 is,
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 if that's true,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 if Jesus is who he says he is
00:10:21 --> 00:10:25 and that is how he has said that the world is,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 then as followers of Jesus,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:33 we are messengers of God in this world.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 That's what we're looking at today.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 And so on the St. Paul's app,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 you've got four points there
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 as we journey through this.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 First of all, mission.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:51 The mission that we have as Christians
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 in terms of,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 the mission in terms of our part to play
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 in God's story of all things
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 is in the very first sentence.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 After this,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 the Lord appointed 72 others
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 and sent them two by two
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 ahead of him to every town and place
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 where he was about to go.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 Again, verse 3,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:12 go, I am sending you out.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 Now,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 at the beginning of chapter 9,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 Jesus sends out his core team,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 you know,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 the 12,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 the 12 original disciples.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:26 And if we had just chapter 9
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 and not chapter 10,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 we could have stopped there
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 and we could deduce
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 that the sending out job here
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 is for those in vocational ministry.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 You know,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 the core team,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 you know,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 for Jesus' key disciples,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 not the rest of the crowd.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 You know,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 it's the job of the professionals,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 it's the pastors,
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 it's the clergy,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 it's the evangelists,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 those kind of people.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 It's their job.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 The rest of us,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 we pay them to do that job.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 Like,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 that's our job,
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 you know.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 But then we get chapter 10
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 and chapter 10
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 entirely undoes that idea.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 Jesus sends out 72.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 Now,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 if you've hung around the Bible at all,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 you would know
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 anytime a number like this pops up,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 you go,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 what's the significance of 72?
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 Why 72?
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 I mean,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 it's a random,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 you,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 you,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 you,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 you,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 you,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 and just happens to be 72?
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 Well,
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 scholars will tell you
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 there's something very significant
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 happening here.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 I mentioned earlier
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 God's judgment
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 upon the nations
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 in the Tower of Babel incident,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 which is in
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 Genesis 11.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 It's in the,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 you know,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 the chapter 2 of God's story,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 scatters people to the ends of the earth.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 One chapter before that
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 and chapter 10
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 and chapter 11
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 actually go as one unit.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 So in chapter 10,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 what we have there
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 is a list of the nations
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 that God is judging
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 at Babel
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 and in the Greek language version
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 of the Old Testament,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 think of the Septuagint,
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 there is 72 nations listed.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 72.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:06 This is Jesus' way of saying,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 I'm sending you out
00:13:08 --> 00:13:11 to all peoples
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 of the nations.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 This is,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 as you go out,
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 you are reversing
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 my judgment.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 It's the symbolic reversal
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 of Babel
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 and it is the responsibility
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 of all his people
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 to send out.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 A Christian
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 is someone
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 who has been
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 gathered from
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 the nations of the world
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 back into intimate relationship
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 with God
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 through Jesus Christ
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 and into his new people.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 Then,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 having been gathered,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 they are then
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 sent out
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 on mission,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 sent out
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 on God's mission
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 to see
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 more people
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 from the nations
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 gathered into
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 God's new family.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 Every disciple
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 of Jesus
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 is normally,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 naturally,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 personally
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 involved in
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 God's work
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 of reaching
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 those who don't
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 have salvation
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 and hope
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 in Jesus
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 as much as
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 they are
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 personally,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 normally,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 naturally
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 involved
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 in corporate
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 worship,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 Bible study,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 prayer
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 in exactly
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 the same way.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 Christians
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 and churches
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 can never
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 outsource
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 the mission
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 of God
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 to others.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 We can
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 outsource
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 roofing repairs
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 to others,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 but we can
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 never outsource
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 the mission
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 of God's work
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 to others.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 It is all
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 too easy,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 I believe,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 to put up
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 pictures of missionaries,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 to receive
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 new letters,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 to give
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 financially
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 to missions,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 be on boards
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 of organizations,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 even support
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 the running
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 of an evangelistic
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 course like
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 Hope Explored
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 and applaud
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 myself that
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 I've got a
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 mission mindset
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 and that
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 we are
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 ascending
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 church.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 I'm not saying
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 those things
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 are bad.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 What I'm
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 saying is
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 as he's
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 gathered people,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 God sends
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 us out,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 each of us
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 personally.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 we obviously
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 do it together
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 in partnership,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 but we go
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 out personally,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 each of us
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 has skin
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 in the game
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 as the old
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 saying goes.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 If you've never
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 heard of it,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 don't worry
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 about it.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 That's the first
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 thing.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 There's a mission
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 and we're all
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 personally involved
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 in it.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 Secondly,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 there's a message.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 Jesus'
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 command to
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 make disciples
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 necessarily
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 involves
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 helping people
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 who are not
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 yet followers
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 of Jesus
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 to become
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 followers
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 of Jesus.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 And core
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 to the
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 Christian
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 mission
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 is a
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 message.
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 Yes,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 the
00:16:00 --> 00:16:03 Christian
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 mission
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 includes
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 healing
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 and
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 restoration.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 It includes
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 deeds of
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 love and
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 mercy.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 Chapter 10,
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 you just need
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 to read the
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 second bit
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 of that.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 The Good
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 Samaritan,
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 you'll see
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 that that's
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 another core
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 aspect of
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 the Christian
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 life.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 Have a look
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 at verse
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 9.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 Heal the
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 sick who
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 are there
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 and tell
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 them the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 kingdom of
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 God has
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 come near
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 to you.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 Then in
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 verse 11,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 yet be sure
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 of this,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 the kingdom
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 of God
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 has come
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 near.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 Again,
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 verse 16,
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 whoever
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 listens to
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 you listens
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 to me,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 whoever
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 rejects you
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 rejects me,
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 but whoever
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 rejects me
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 rejects him
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 who sent
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 me.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 Every
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 follower of
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 Jesus has
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 been given
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 a message
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 that they
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 are to
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 communicate
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and to
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 urge those
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 who hear
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 it to
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 believe it.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 Now,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 what I've
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 just said
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 there is
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 very
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 controversial
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 in our
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 society in
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 this day
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 and age.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 There are
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 many people
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 in our
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 society who
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 are quite
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 tolerant of
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 Christianity,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 providing
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 that we
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 don't try
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 and convert
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 other people
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 to our
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 view of
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 things.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 You know,
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 that is
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 very
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 happy in
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 our
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 society,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 very
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 happy for
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 people to
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 have a
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 private
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 faith that's
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 totally fine,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 if it works
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 for you,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 it's good
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 for you,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 but it's
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 wrong to
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 tell others
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 that they
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 should believe
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 it as
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 well.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 Now,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 this creates
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 a problem
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 for the
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 Christian
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 because the
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 message Jesus
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 sends us
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 out with
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 is called
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 the
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 gospel.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 The word
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 gospel had
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 a very
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 specific
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 meaning
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 in Jesus'
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 time.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 A gospel
00:17:49 --> 00:17:52 was news
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 of an
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 objective,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 historic,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 life-altering,
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 changing
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 event.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 An event
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 that changes
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 everyone's
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 situation,
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 not just a
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 couple of
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 people,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 everyone's
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 situation
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 and therefore
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 required a
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 response from
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 everyone at
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 some point.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 For instance,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 in the
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 Berlin Museum,
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 if you've
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 got a chance
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 to go there,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 you can see
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 a thing called
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 the
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 Prienin
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 calendar.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 This thing
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 was discovered
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 in the
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 town square
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 of ancient
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 Prienin
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 in western
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 Turkey.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 The inscription
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 on it
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 is known
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 as the
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 gospel
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 of
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 Caesar
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 Augustus.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 Pax
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 Romania.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 The inscription
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 portrays
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 Augustus
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 as a
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 saviour
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 and as
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 a benefactor
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 and with
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 his birth.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 It's a
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 gospel that
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 went to the
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 Roman Empire
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 upon his
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 birth,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 that with
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 his birth
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 and his
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 rule,
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 that he
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 will bring
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 salvation
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 to the
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 Roman Empire.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 It is
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 referred to
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 as a
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 gospel,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 the gospel
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 of Caesar
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 Augustus.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 And the
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 gospel of
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 Caesar Augustus
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 promises
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 peace and
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 prosperity
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 for the
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 empire
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 through his
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 reign,
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 through his
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 life.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 And so
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 a gospel
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 is an
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 announcement
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 of a
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 major
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 history
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 altering
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 event
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 that
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 impacts
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 every
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 single
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 person
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 under
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 the
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 jurisdiction
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 of that
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 gospel,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 of that
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 announcement.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 And so
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 like
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 Prioryne,
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 throughout
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 the ancient
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 empire,
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 this thing
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 was carved
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 in stone
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 and jammed
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 in the
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 middle of
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 the town
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 square.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 Every
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 corner of
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 the Roman
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 Empire,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 it was
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 sent.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 And the
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 response of
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 all people
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 is,
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 you submit
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 to the
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 emperor.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 You want
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 peace and
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 prosperity?
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 You do
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 what he
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 says.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 Now the
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 problem for
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 the Christian
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 is that
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 when society
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 is, well
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 if it works
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 for you
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 that's fine
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 but don't
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 tell others,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 what it's
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 saying is
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 that the
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 jurisdiction
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 of the
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 gospel of
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 Jesus Christ
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 is just
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 you, it's
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 not me,
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 it's just
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 you.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 It's not
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 relevant for
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 me.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 And yet
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 what the
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 Christian
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 gospel
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 claims of
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 itself is
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 fundamentally
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 far bigger
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 than that.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 And we
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 get a
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 subtle hint
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 of it
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 in verse
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 18.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 This is
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 the extent
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 of the
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 claim of
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 the Christian
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 gospel.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 Verse 18.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 Jesus said,
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 I saw
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 Satan fall
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 like lightning
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 from heaven.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 In very
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 simple terms,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 what Jesus
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 is claiming
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 there is
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 that he
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 was there.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 He was
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 there when
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 Satan fell.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 He was
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 there when
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 Satan himself
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 rebelled
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 against God,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 rebelled
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 against his
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 maker,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 before the
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 world was
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 even made.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 Way before
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 the world
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 was even
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 made,
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 Jesus
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 claiming,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 in this
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 that I
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 was there,
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 I was there
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 when Satan
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 fell for the
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 very present
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 God for
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 his pride
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 and his
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 arrogance.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 I was
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 there.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 And he's
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 claiming in
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 this statement,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 I am the
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 everlasting God,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 I am the
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 maker of all
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 things,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 I am the
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 sustainer of
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 all things.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 That is,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 my jurisdiction
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 has no
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 bounds,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 not just to
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 all peoples
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 of the
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 earth,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 but to
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 all things
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 of the
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 world and
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 beyond the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 world and
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 into the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 universe.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 Every realm
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 comes under
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 my jurisdiction
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 because I've
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 made it
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 all.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 The
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 staggering,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 unique and
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 exclusive claim
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 of the
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 Christian
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 gospel is
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 that Jesus
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 is not
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 just a
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 religious
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 leader with
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 a bunch
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 of advice
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 about God.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 The
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 staggering
00:22:03 --> 00:22:05 claim is
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 Jesus
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 Christ is
00:22:06 --> 00:22:08 God and
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 he has
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 entered his
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 story.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 The writer
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 of history
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 has put
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 himself in
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 the storyline
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 so that
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 the storyline
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 has absolute
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 clarity.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 reality.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 And the
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 Christian has
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 been sent
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 out by
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 Jesus with
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 the news
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 that changes
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 everything and
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 it's a response
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 is required
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 from all
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 of humanity.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 Now the
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 second problem
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 with a common
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 view of
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 believe,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 but be
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 quiet,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 is that
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 while it
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 seems
00:22:43 --> 00:22:45 really tolerant,
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 it seems
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 really
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 tolerant,
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 it's not
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 actually
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 consistent,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 internally
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 consistent.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 Remember
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 question number
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 six about
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 your worldview?
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 It's not
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 internally
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 consistent.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 It's actually
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 not that
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 tolerant at
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 all.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 What that
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 view is
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 really saying
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 is you
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 shouldn't
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 believe it
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 either.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 You
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 shouldn't
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 speak it
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 because you
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 shouldn't
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 believe it.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 when it
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 boils down
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 to say
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 we must
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 keep our
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 faith
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 private
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 is to
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 say
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 Jesus
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 cannot
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 possibly
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 be
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 who
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 he
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 claims
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 to
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 be.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 And so
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 you
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 shouldn't
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 claim,
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 you
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 shouldn't
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 speak
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 about it,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 you
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 shouldn't
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 believe
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 it,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 you
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 shouldn't
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 believe
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 that
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 about
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 him.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 Believe
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 he's a
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 nice
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 guy,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 believe
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 all
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 these
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 other
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 good
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 things,
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 but
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 do
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 not
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 believe
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 what
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 he
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 claims
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 to
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 be.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 And
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 in that
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 moment
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 when
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 someone
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 says
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 believe
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 it
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 yourself
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 but
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 be
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 quiet
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 about
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 it,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 you're
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 asserting
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 your
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 worldview
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 on
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 me.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 Your
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 worldview.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 It's
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 an assertion
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 that my
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 worldview
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 must not
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 be
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 communicated
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 and as
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 you do
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 that,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 you are
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 saying
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 that your
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 worldview
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 must be
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 adopted.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 In the
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 end,
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 the reality
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 is every
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 single
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 person
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 is a
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 messenger
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 and evangelist
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 for their
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 worldview.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 Everyone
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 is.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 No one
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 can say
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 you must
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 stop
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 communicating
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 your
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 worldview
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 without
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 doing the
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 very thing
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 they just
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 told you
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 not to
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 do.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 No one
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 can do
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 it.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 To say
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 no one
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 should
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 claim
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 absolute
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 truth
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 is in
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 fact
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 an
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 absolute
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 truth
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 claim.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 All
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 people
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 are
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 messengers
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 of their
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 worldview.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 you.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 And so
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 if Jesus
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 is who
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 he says
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 he is
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 and has
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 achieved
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 what he
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 claims to
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 have
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 achieved,
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 to not
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 declare it
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 to all
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 people is
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 reprehensible.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 Absolutely
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 reprehensible.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:04 to find a
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 cure for
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 cancer and
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 keep it to
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 yourself and
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 the people
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 you love,
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 that's just
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 plain wicked.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 it.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 But to
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 keep the
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 news of
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 hope in
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 Jesus
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 Christ in
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 eternal
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 life,
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 that's
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 evil.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 Third
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 point,
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 motivation.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 Now I
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 acknowledge the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 concerns of
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 our society
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 and I
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 totally agree
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 with it,
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 that there
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 has been
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 quite a
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 lot of
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 damage done
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 by absolute
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 truth claims
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 throughout
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 history.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 leading to
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 oppression
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 of people
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 and all
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 sorts of
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 things,
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 just awful
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 stuff.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 And
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 Christians
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 have got
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 blood on
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 their hands
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 on this
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 one as
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 well.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 But I
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 want to
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 say that
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 the Christian
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 gospel never
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 takes us in
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 that place.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 The Christian
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 gospel, the
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 Christian faith
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 in no way
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 ever justifies
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 that in
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 any way.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 The
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 motivation for
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 being messengers
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 is never
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 influence,
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 it's never
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 power at
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 all.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 Verse
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 17,
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 the 72
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 returned with
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 joy and
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 said,
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 Lord,
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 even the
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 demons
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 submitted to
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 us in
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 your name.
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 Of course,
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 verse 18,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 Jesus said,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 of course they
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 did.
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 I saw
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 Satan fall.
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 Of course
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 they're going
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 to submit in
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 my name.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 My name is
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 the name above
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 every name.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 Of course
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 they're going
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 to.
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 But then
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 his response
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 is in
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 verse 20
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 to them.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 However,
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 do not
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 rejoice that
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 the spirits
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 submit to
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 you,
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 but rejoice
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 that your
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 names are
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 written in
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 heaven.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 So in
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 other words,
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 the 72
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 come back
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 with all
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 full of
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 joy,
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 amazing
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 stuff,
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 Jesus,
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 you should
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 have been
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 there,
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 and he
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 goes,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 rebukes
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 them.
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 It's a
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 rebuke.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 The 72
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 did not
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 come back
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 rejoicing that
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 people's lives
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 are being
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 changed by
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 the gospel,
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 that people
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 are being
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 set free
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 from oppression,
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 have been
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 healed from
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 infirmities.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 There is
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 no mention
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 at all
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 of people's
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 lives and
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 communities
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 being changed
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 by Jesus.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 At all.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 They are
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 rejoicing in
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 power.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 Now,
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 Jesus,
00:27:31 --> 00:27:36 we
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 were part
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 of
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 something
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 spectacular.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 Us
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 no-name
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 people that
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 you've
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 gathered from
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 all the
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 people of
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 the Middle
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 East as
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 you walked
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 through,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 us people,
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 no-one
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 knows,
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 we're still
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 not named,
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 no-one
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 knows who
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 we are,
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 and we
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 are now
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 spectacular.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 We,
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 Jesus,
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 now have
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 power,
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 and so
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 therefore we
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 must be
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 something in
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 your eyes,
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 Jesus.
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 Jesus says,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 no,
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 your joy
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 should be
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 that your
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 names are
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 written in
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 heaven.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 Not that
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 now that
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 you've made
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 a name for
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 yourself,
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 but that
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 your names
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 are written
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 in heaven.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 This is the
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 deepest motivation
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 for being a
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 messenger,
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 receiving a
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 name in
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 heaven,
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 receiving a
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 name from
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 God himself,
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 in other
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 words.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 Christians are
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 somebody because
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 they have
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 received a
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 name from
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 God,
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 not earned
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 a name for
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 themselves through
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 power of
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 success or
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 accomplishment or
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 performance or
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 gifts or how
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 big their
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 church is or
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 how effective
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 they are or
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 Jesus warning
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 them in verse
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 18 that if
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 you go down
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 that line,
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 then it will
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 lead to the
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 exact same
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 thing that
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 led to
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 Satan
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 fall,
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 pride.
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 And
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 he's a
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 great oppressor.
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 Pride will
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 always lead to
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 oppression and
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 aggression.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 In fact,
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 it was in an
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 attempt to
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 make a name
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 for themselves
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 apart from
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 God that
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 saw the 72
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 nations come
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 together to
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 build a tower
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 to Babel,
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 the Tower of
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 Babel,
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 to storm the
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 heavens to
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 remove God
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 in order that
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 we might make a
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 name for
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 ourselves.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 It saw them
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 judged.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:29 it's pride
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 that saw
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 Satan pushed
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 out from
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 God and
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 pride that
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 saw the
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 nations
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 scattered from
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 God.
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 How
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 humanity
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 is gathered
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 back in
00:29:45 --> 00:29:47 and receive
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 the approval
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 of a name
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 in heaven
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 is the
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 essence of
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 the message
00:29:52 --> 00:29:54 that Jesus
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 sends his
00:29:56 --> 00:29:58 people out
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 with,
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 his friends
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 out with.
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 So how
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 do we get
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 that name?
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 Well,
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 way back
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 before Jesus,
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 the leader
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 of God's
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 people was
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 a bloke
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 named
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 Moses.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 And you
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 see him
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 popping up
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 in the
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 second book
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 of the
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 Bible,
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 a book
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 called
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 Exodus.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 In
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 Exodus
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 32,
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 there's
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 this
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 horrendous
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 incident
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 where
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 Israel
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 disobeyed
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 God in
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 a really,
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 really big
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 way,
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 really big
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 way.
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 And Moses
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 knows two
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 things.
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 God is a
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 perfect God,
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 he's a just
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 God,
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 and so
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 therefore Israel
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 must be
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 punished for
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 their rebellion
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 against God.
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 But Moses
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 also knows
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 that he
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 loves Israel
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 and he
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 knows that
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 ultimately
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 God loves
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 Israel as
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 well,
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 which is why
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 he saved
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 them in
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 the first
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 place.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:50 He wants
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 Israel to
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 be saved
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 from
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 judgment.
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 And so
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 there's this
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 remarkable
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 moment where
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 Moses pulls
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 himself away
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 and he
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 prays.
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 He says,
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 God,
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 please
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 forgive
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 Israel.
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 Please
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 forgive your
00:31:08 --> 00:31:10 people and
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 punish me
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 instead.
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 Save
00:31:15 --> 00:31:17 them and
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 take my
00:31:18 --> 00:31:20 name out
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 of the
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 book
00:31:20 --> 00:31:23 that
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 theirs
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 might
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 remain.
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 And God
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 replies to
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 him and
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 says,
00:31:33 --> 00:31:35 well,
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 actually,
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 I will
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 remove their
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 name,
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 but Moses,
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 you keep
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 leading them.
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 What's
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 going on
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 here?
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 If God's
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 going to
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 remove their
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 name,
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 why does
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 Moses have
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 to keep
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 leading them?
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 What's the
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 point of
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 that?
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 Why is
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 he going
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 to front
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 back up
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 again with
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 these
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 rebellious
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 people and
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 keep leading
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 them?
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 If you're
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 going to
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 blot their
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 name out,
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 just blot
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 the name
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 out.
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 Just
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 remove it.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 Because
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 God is
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 a patient
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 God.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 God is
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 waiting
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 for
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 centuries
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 upon
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 centuries
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 for the
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 ultimate
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 Israelite
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 to turn
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 up.
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 He's
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 waiting for
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 the ultimate
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 Israelite to
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 come,
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 the true
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 person of
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 God.
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 God.
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 And he's
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 waiting for
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 centuries and
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 centuries and
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 centuries for
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 the ultimate
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 Moses to
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 turn up,
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 the ultimate
00:32:20 --> 00:32:22 mediator and
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 substitute for
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 a sinful
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 person to
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 be sent.
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 And the
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 Christian
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 gospel is
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 that God
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 was waiting
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 for to
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 send his
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 divine son
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 Jesus,
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 the ultimate
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 Israelite,
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 and the true
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 mediator and
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 substitute for
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 a sinful
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 people.
00:32:38 --> 00:32:40 Jesus
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 Christ,
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 the eternal
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 son of
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 God,
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 was sent
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 into God's
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 story as
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 an Israelite
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 man.
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 Born,
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 he bore
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 God.
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 And as he
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 died on
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 that cross
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15 outside of
00:33:15 --> 00:33:18 Jerusalem,
00:33:19 --> 00:33:21 he died
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 and his
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 name was
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 blotted.
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 He gave
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 up his
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 place in
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 heaven,
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 he came
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 to us,
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 he was
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 born into
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 a nobody
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 village,
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 he was
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 despised,
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 he was
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 mocked,
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 he was
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 scorned,
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 he was
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 rejected,
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 so that
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 we might
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 have a
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 permanent
00:33:40 --> 00:33:42 name in
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 heaven.
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 And the
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 good news
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 of Easter
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 day is
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 that he
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 rose
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 triumphant,
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 defeating
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 death,
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 and now
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 reigns as
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 the Lord
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 of all
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 the universe
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 and as
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 we just
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 said earlier
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 in the
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 service,
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 he now
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 has the
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 name that
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 is above
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 every name
00:34:02 --> 00:34:04 and at
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 some point
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 in history
00:34:05 --> 00:34:07 either now
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 or in
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 chapter 4
00:34:08 --> 00:34:10 every person
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 who has
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 ever,
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 ever,
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 ever
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 breathed
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 breath on
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 this earth
00:34:16 --> 00:34:18 will declare
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 with their
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 lips his
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 name.
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 And it's
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 because he
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 rose triumphant
00:34:27 --> 00:34:29 over our
00:34:29 --> 00:34:31 sin that he
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 secures our
00:34:32 --> 00:34:34 name so
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 that we
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 reign with
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 him.
00:34:35 --> 00:34:38 our name
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 in heaven
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 is attached
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 to his
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 triumph.
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 Our name
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 that is our
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 approval,
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 our welcome,
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 our intimacy,
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 our life
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 is a gift
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 and that's
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 why in
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 verse 21
00:34:47 --> 00:34:49 Jesus is
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 full of
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 joy.
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 So many
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 scholars as
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 I read
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 through this
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 just said
00:34:54 --> 00:34:57 this is
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 the ultimate
00:34:58 --> 00:35:00 expression of
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 Jesus in
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 joy.
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 Verse 21
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 because the
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 plan of
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 God is
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 not to
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 give his
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 name,
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 not to
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 give his
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 grace and
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 his favour
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 to the
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 wise,
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 to the
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 strong,
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 to the
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 oppressors,
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 to the
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 successful,
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 to the
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 gifted,
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 but to
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 the little
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 children.
00:35:19 --> 00:35:19 The
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 nobodies
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 in first
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 century is
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 the symbolism
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 here.
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 The weak,
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 the powerless,
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 the vulnerable,
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 the broken,
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 the flawed,
00:35:29 --> 00:35:29 God's grace
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 to the
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 undeserving
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 sinner in
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 Jesus is
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 the gospel.
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 That's the
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 message we're
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 sent out
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 into all
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 the world
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 with.
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 So if
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 you've tuned
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 on in
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 here this
00:35:49 --> 00:35:51 morning and
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 you don't
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 know Jesus,
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 or if
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 you're sitting
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 in this
00:35:54 --> 00:35:56 room and
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 your
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 confidence
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 is
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 ultimately
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 in
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 yourself
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 and
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 Jesus,
00:36:01 --> 00:36:04 I urge
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 you,
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 today is
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 the day
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 of salvation,
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 I urge
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 you to
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 accept that
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 message
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 now.
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 Speak
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 to me
00:36:13 --> 00:36:13 afterwards,
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 I'd be
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 delighted to
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 pray with
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 you,
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 accept it
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 now.
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 God's
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 grace to
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 the
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 undeserving
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 sinner in
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 Jesus Christ
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 is the
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 gospel.
00:36:27 --> 00:36:27 It's the
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 motivation for
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 the Christian
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 to go out
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 as messengers
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 and it
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 shapes the
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 manner in
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 which we
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 go out.
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 Courage is
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 certainly
00:36:34 --> 00:36:34 needed.
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 I know
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 that fully,
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 courage is
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 needed.
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 As even
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 Jesus says,
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 we are
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 sent out
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 like lambs
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 amongst
00:36:40 --> 00:36:42 wolves and
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 humility and
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 grace is
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 needed so
00:36:45 --> 00:36:45 that us
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 lambs never
00:36:46 --> 00:36:46 turn into
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 wolves.
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 Christians
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 can never be
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 persecutors or
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 oppressors even
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 if we are
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 being oppressed
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 and persecuted.
00:36:54 --> 00:36:56 it is one
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 of the
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 horrendous
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 ironies
00:36:59 --> 00:37:01 that any
00:37:01 --> 00:37:01 Christian
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 would
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 communicate
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 the
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 glorious
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 gospel of
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 God's
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 grace
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 with
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 arrogance,
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 with pride,
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 with anger,
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 with condemnation,
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 with coercion.
00:37:13 --> 00:37:19 even the
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 woes
00:37:20 --> 00:37:22 that are in
00:37:22 --> 00:37:25 Luke 10
00:37:25 --> 00:37:25 that were
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 read out to
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 us
00:37:26 --> 00:37:29 are not
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 a
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 anger,
00:37:31 --> 00:37:33 not a
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 judgment
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 statement,
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 they are an
00:37:35 --> 00:37:35 empathy
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 statement.
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 Oh,
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 urge you,
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 Chorosan,
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 please,
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 please,
00:37:40 --> 00:37:43 come to
00:37:43 --> 00:37:44 the
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 gospel.
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 So
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 this is
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 my
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 last point
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 is that
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 Jesus
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 sends the
00:37:51 --> 00:37:51 Christian
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 out.
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 That
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 requires
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 movement,
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 frankly,
00:37:55 --> 00:37:56 it always
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 does,
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 one step,
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 two steps,
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 there's always
00:37:59 --> 00:37:59 a first step
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 and ongoing
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 steps,
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 and the
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 first and
00:38:02 --> 00:38:02 ongoing
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 step of
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 daily,
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 weekly,
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 monthly,
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 every moment
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 being
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 messages
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 of the
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 gospel is
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 verse 2,
00:38:08 --> 00:38:09 the harvest
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 is plentiful
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 with the
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 workers
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 a few,
00:38:12 --> 00:38:12 ask the
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 Lord of
00:38:13 --> 00:38:13 the harvest
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 therefore to
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 send out
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 workers into
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 the harvest
00:38:16 --> 00:38:16 field.
00:38:16 --> 00:38:16 In other
00:38:16 --> 00:38:16 words,
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 what it's
00:38:17 --> 00:38:17 saying there
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 is pray,
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 pray,
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 pray every
00:38:20 --> 00:38:20 day,
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 we cannot
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 separate what
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 we have
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 been sent
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 out to
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 be and
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 do and
00:38:24 --> 00:38:25 the God
00:38:25 --> 00:38:25 who sends
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 us out
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 and all
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 of his
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 power in
00:38:28 --> 00:38:28 sending us
00:38:28 --> 00:38:28 out.
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 We cannot
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 be his
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 messengers
00:38:30 --> 00:38:31 in our
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 own wisdom,
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 with our
00:38:32 --> 00:38:34 own power,
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 our own
00:38:35 --> 00:38:35 intellect.
00:38:38 --> 00:38:39 Pray,
00:38:39 --> 00:38:40 pray for
00:38:40 --> 00:38:40 opportunities
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 to be
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 messengers
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 of the
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 gospel.
00:38:43 --> 00:38:43 Pray
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 specifically
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 for people
00:38:45 --> 00:38:45 who you
00:38:45 --> 00:38:45 know don't
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 know Jesus
00:38:46 --> 00:38:47 to know
00:38:47 --> 00:38:47 Jesus.
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 We've been
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 encouraging you
00:38:49 --> 00:38:50 to do that
00:38:50 --> 00:38:50 here for
00:38:50 --> 00:38:51 numbers of
00:38:51 --> 00:38:51 years.
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 One plus
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 one plus
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 one.
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 One plus
00:38:56 --> 00:38:56 one.
00:38:56 --> 00:38:56 Pray for
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 one person
00:38:57 --> 00:38:57 once a day
00:38:57 --> 00:38:58 for at least
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 one minute
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 that they
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 might know
00:39:00 --> 00:39:01 Jesus and
00:39:01 --> 00:39:02 embrace him
00:39:02 --> 00:39:03 for their
00:39:03 --> 00:39:03 joy.
00:39:03 --> 00:39:04 Pray for
00:39:04 --> 00:39:05 people to
00:39:05 --> 00:39:06 say yes
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 to an
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 invite to
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 church or
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 to an
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 invite to
00:39:09 --> 00:39:09 read the
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 Bible with
00:39:10 --> 00:39:10 you or
00:39:10 --> 00:39:11 to come
00:39:11 --> 00:39:11 to a
00:39:11 --> 00:39:12 course that
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 explains the
00:39:12 --> 00:39:13 Christian
00:39:13 --> 00:39:13 faith.
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 Pray for
00:39:14 --> 00:39:15 boldness and
00:39:15 --> 00:39:16 courage to
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 take that
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 next step.
00:39:17 --> 00:39:17 Pray too
00:39:17 --> 00:39:18 for the
00:39:18 --> 00:39:18 mission of
00:39:18 --> 00:39:19 this church.
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 Right now
00:39:22 --> 00:39:23 there is a
00:39:23 --> 00:39:23 small group
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 of people
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 amongst us,
00:39:25 --> 00:39:26 I emphasise the
00:39:26 --> 00:39:26 word small
00:39:26 --> 00:39:26 there,
00:39:26 --> 00:39:27 group of
00:39:27 --> 00:39:27 people amongst
00:39:27 --> 00:39:29 us who
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 are praying
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 one plus
00:39:31 --> 00:39:32 one plus
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 one by
00:39:33 --> 00:39:33 name for
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 those attending
00:39:34 --> 00:39:34 the Hope
00:39:34 --> 00:39:35 Explored course.
00:39:35 --> 00:39:35 prayers.
00:39:37 --> 00:39:38 And the
00:39:38 --> 00:39:38 second step
00:39:38 --> 00:39:39 really is
00:39:39 --> 00:39:40 to prepare.
00:39:42 --> 00:39:44 Be prepared
00:39:44 --> 00:39:45 to be the
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 person that
00:39:46 --> 00:39:46 God will
00:39:46 --> 00:39:47 use to
00:39:47 --> 00:39:48 answer your
00:39:48 --> 00:39:50 prayers at
00:39:50 --> 00:39:50 any moment,
00:39:50 --> 00:39:52 which basically
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 means learn
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 the gospel,
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 learn how to
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 communicate it
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 winsomely,
00:39:57 --> 00:39:57 sensitively and
00:39:57 --> 00:39:58 relationally.
00:39:58 --> 00:39:58 We've got
00:39:58 --> 00:39:59 training on that
00:39:59 --> 00:40:00 does that for
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 you here as
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 well.
00:40:01 --> 00:40:02 Third step,
00:40:02 --> 00:40:02 which is not
00:40:02 --> 00:40:03 in your notes,
00:40:03 --> 00:40:04 it was an
00:40:04 --> 00:40:05 afterthought,
00:40:05 --> 00:40:07 proclaim it.
00:40:09 --> 00:40:09 It was
00:40:09 --> 00:40:10 literally an
00:40:10 --> 00:40:10 afterthought.
00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 Proclaim it.
00:40:12 --> 00:40:13 Actually speak
00:40:13 --> 00:40:13 it.
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 I mean,
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 you can't just
00:40:15 --> 00:40:15 pray and
00:40:15 --> 00:40:16 prepare and
00:40:16 --> 00:40:16 not actually
00:40:16 --> 00:40:17 do it.
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 You're
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 actually sent
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 out to
00:40:19 --> 00:40:19 do it.
00:40:19 --> 00:40:19 So in
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20 case that
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 wasn't
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 clear,
00:40:21 --> 00:40:22 proclaim the
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23 truth,
00:40:23 --> 00:40:24 just do
00:40:24 --> 00:40:24 it.
00:40:26 --> 00:40:26 God
00:40:26 --> 00:40:27 calls scattered
00:40:27 --> 00:40:28 individuals into
00:40:28 --> 00:40:29 his family,
00:40:29 --> 00:40:30 from all the
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 nations of the
00:40:30 --> 00:40:31 world,
00:40:31 --> 00:40:31 into his
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 worldview,
00:40:33 --> 00:40:33 into his
00:40:33 --> 00:40:34 reality of
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 everything,
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 the way it
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 is going
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 to be,
00:40:36 --> 00:40:36 and he
00:40:36 --> 00:40:37 sends us
00:40:37 --> 00:40:38 out as
00:40:38 --> 00:40:39 partners with
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 him and
00:40:39 --> 00:40:40 each other
00:40:40 --> 00:40:41 to bring
00:40:41 --> 00:40:42 more people
00:40:42 --> 00:40:44 into his
00:40:44 --> 00:40:45 saved eternal
00:40:45 --> 00:40:46 family.
00:40:47 --> 00:40:48 For our
00:40:48 --> 00:40:49 joy and
00:40:49 --> 00:40:49 for his
00:40:49 --> 00:40:50 glory,
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 the Christian
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 is daily
00:40:52 --> 00:40:53 on mission,
00:40:53 --> 00:40:54 daily bearing
00:40:54 --> 00:40:56 witness to
00:40:56 --> 00:40:57 the gospel of
00:40:57 --> 00:40:58 Jesus Christ.
00:40:58 --> 00:40:58 Christ.
00:41:01 --> 00:41:02 And yet,
00:41:03 --> 00:41:04 recent
00:41:04 --> 00:41:04 statistics I
00:41:04 --> 00:41:07 saw was
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 that less
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 than 5%
00:41:08 --> 00:41:10 actually are,
00:41:11 --> 00:41:14 even those
00:41:14 --> 00:41:15 who claim
00:41:15 --> 00:41:15 maturity in
00:41:15 --> 00:41:16 Christ.
00:41:17 --> 00:41:17 What's your
00:41:17 --> 00:41:18 next step?
00:41:18 --> 00:41:22 what's what
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