The Character of Mercy James Shepherd
Series: LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 7th May 2017
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 I'm sure you've heard the phrase,
00:00:03 --> 00:00:07 you talk the talk, but do you walk the walk?
00:00:07 --> 00:00:12 We use this phrase with people when we think they're making a very bold claim
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 about something they actually can't back up.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:21 So if I said to you, I could do 500 push-ups without breaking, without a sweat,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:26 would you believe me or would you think that I was all talk?
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 Now, I know I have the appearance that I could, the physique,
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 but let me tell you, it's all appearance.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:40 It's not a true reflection.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:46 If you told me to get down and do 500 push-ups, I would fail,
00:00:46 --> 00:00:51 and you'd find out really, really quickly that I was just simply all talk.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 We consider those who are all talk and no action
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 as people who don't have much integrity.
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 They don't have the words to back up.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 We see this quite commonly in the way we say to each other,
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 we say to those people, we come in contact with our friends
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 that we see from time to time, we should catch up for a coffee soon.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:12 You ever say to someone, I've said this to plenty of people.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 We say to them, we should catch up for a coffee soon,
00:01:16 --> 00:01:17 but it never seems to happen.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 We never seem to make the effort of actually organizing the time
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 to catch up and have coffee with these people.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 And we've come to the point now where the words leave our mouth,
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 and we know, we know we're not going to hang out with these people.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 We know we're not going to actually catch up with them.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 But we just say it just because it feels rude not to say it.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 We say it because we think it's a nice thing to do.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:42 We talk the talk, but do we walk the walk?
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 That is the question on John's mind here in this letter as he writes
00:01:47 --> 00:01:48 to his brothers and sisters.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:53 His question is whether or not we Christians are living out our lives,
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 our calling to love each other.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:59 And perhaps he makes the accusation that while we might be good
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 at talking the talk, while we might be good at talking about love,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 we're not really good at actually loving.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 We're not really good in walking in the way of love.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 As Christians, we love to talk about love.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:16 We'll always talk about how much God loves you, how much God loves us.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 We talk about it on Facebook, sharing the Bible verses of that.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:20 Talk about God's love.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 From the platform, you might always hear people saying
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 that God just loves you, he wants to wrap you up in his love,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 he wants to make you warm and dizzy in his love.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 He wants the best for you.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 He loves you so much.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 Christians are good at talking about love.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 But do we walk in the way of love?
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 We're constantly saying that we are going to be Jesus' hands and feet,
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 that we want to do things and to show our love practically.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 But how much does that actually eventuate?
00:02:50 --> 00:02:56 John's fear is that although we might retain the word love,
00:02:56 --> 00:03:00 we've forgotten altogether what is at the core of our faith,
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 to love practically.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:03 Verse 11,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:07 we should love one another.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 His fear is that they have forgotten that the heart of the Christian life
00:03:11 --> 00:03:15 is love, and love not simply done in speech,
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 but action, modelled by Christ,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 which we see in verse 18.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 I'm sorry, verse 15.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:25 16 even.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 Jesus Christ laid down his life for us,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 that we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 And so he concludes next section,
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 verse 18.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 Dear children,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 let us not love with words or speech,
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 but with action,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 and in truth.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:44 I wonder if John would fear the same for us today,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 if you looked at our church.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 Would he see us as a church who talks to talk and walks the walk,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 or just as a church that just talks about love,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 and doesn't walk in the way of love?
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 Have we forgotten in the midst of all our Christian talk,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 to actually walk in the way of love?
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 We're in a series called Love Thy Neighbor,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:09 in which we want to spend time reflecting on our cause of church
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10 to love each other,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 and to love those in the world around us,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 in real, practical ways.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 Meeting the felt needs of people,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:18 those around us.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 The poor, the hungry, the marginalized,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 the sick, the needy, the vulnerable.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 Showing them the powerful and wonderful,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 restorative power of the gospel.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:31 How the kingdom of God has come in,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 ushered in through Jesus,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 and how through him,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 we can enjoy healing and new life now in this life.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 We saw last week,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 we are called to the task of practical love,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 in meeting the needs of those who are vulnerable.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 This week, we're going to explore
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 the fundamental characteristic of our calling,
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 that enables us,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 and fuels us,
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 for this task.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 Love.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 Using this passage here,
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 in John's letter to these brothers and sisters,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 we're going to unpack the character of Christian love,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 by looking at what the experience,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 and the existence of Christian love reveals,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 and what the essence of Christian love is.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 So I'm going to be asking those two questions,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 about Christian love this morning.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 And perhaps we ought to reflect,
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 if John's fear,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 ought to be our fear as well.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 Whether we are walking in the way of love,
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 or just simply talking about it.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 So firstly,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 the existence,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 and experience of Christian love,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 reveals new life,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 and is itself,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 driven towards life.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 John begins by stating the message,
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 you heard from the beginning,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 to love one another.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 And then he straight away contrasted,
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 the call to love each other,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 with the example of Cain,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 who murdered his brother,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 back in Genesis.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 Safe to say,
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 he didn't love his brother,
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 but hated him.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 If you remember the story,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 back in Genesis,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 the two brothers brought gifts to God,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 Abel's gift was accepted,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 but Cain's gift was rejected by God.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 And the cause of Cain's murder,
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 the reason why he murdered his brother Abel,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 wasn't because Abel had outdone him,
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 in a sense,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 it was because Cain was jealous,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 of Abel,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 and resented him.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 His feelings and actions towards Abel,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 were evil.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 Jealousy,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:29 resentment,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 and bitterness,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 all brewed into hatred,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 and eventually led,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 to him killing his brother,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 in an act of revenge,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 and hatred.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:41 Now,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 why the reminder of such a story as this?
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 Pretty brutal and awful story.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 Verse 13,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 Don't be surprised,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 my brothers and sisters,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 if the world hates you.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 John is making a point
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 that the world is not a place
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 where love is found naturally.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 We don't need to venture very far
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 to know this is all too true.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 Since almost the beginning of time,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 as John points out,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:10 hatred has been the dominating characteristic
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 of our world.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 And hate has an inclination,
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 or propensity,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 towards death.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 As we see in the story of Cain,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 the story of Cain has been played out again,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 and again,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 and again in our world.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 Jealousy,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 and bitterness,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 leads to hate,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 and hate leads to murder.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 Death.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 And although it doesn't always end in murder,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 we see deaths of different kinds in our world.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 Deaths of relationship,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 deaths of friendships,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:43 marriages,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 and family breakdowns.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:49 All result from this pattern of life
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 we see exemplifying Cain,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 of jealousy,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 bitterness,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 and hatred.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 And so the result being
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 a total disregard for life,
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 life for each other,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 and life in general.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 Where we can end up saying
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 to different people in our life,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 you are dead to me.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 But,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 verse 14,
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 we know
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 that we have passed from death to life
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 because we love each other.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 The difference for the Christian
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 is that he no longer lives
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 according to the pattern
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 of Cain,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 which is to be under the influence
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 of sin and death.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:26 Instead,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:27 Christians,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 by the power of the gospel,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 have been made alive again.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 They have passed from death
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 to life.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 And the foundational evidence
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 of this new life is what?
00:08:37 --> 00:08:37 Love.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 Love.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 The profound difference
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 between the world
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 and the Christian
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 is one
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 that has an inclination
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 towards hate
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 and therefore death,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 whilst the other
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 has an inclination
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 towards love
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 and therefore life.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 Christian love
00:08:58 --> 00:08:58 reveals
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 and is evidence
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 of
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 new life
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 given to us
00:09:03 --> 00:09:03 by Christ.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 Because love
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 is driven
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 as a propensity
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 for life.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 To explain
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 what I mean,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 think about those people
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 in your life,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:13 your friends
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 or family,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 co-workers,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 who contribute
00:09:16 --> 00:09:16 to your life
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 in such ways
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 that gives you joy
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 because of their love
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 for you.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 They're the kinds
00:09:22 --> 00:09:22 of people
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 who are always there
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 for you
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 when things aren't good
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 because they love you.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 When you say
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 let's catch up
00:09:29 --> 00:09:29 for coffee,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 they will organise it
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 because they want
00:09:32 --> 00:09:32 to be with you.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 When we're down
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 an ounce,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 miserable,
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 depressed and hurt,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 it can be the words
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 of a friend
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 that revitalise
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 our soul.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 When we are sick
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 and unwell,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 it can be the service
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 of a friend
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 making us meals,
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 doing the dishes,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 doing the groceries
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 that can make us
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 or make our bodies
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 feel strong again,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 make our hearts glad.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 It can be the phone call,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 the visit,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 the offer to help,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 the active encouragement
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 in walking alongside us
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 in grief
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 that can regenerate us
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 and give us life
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 once more.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 This is what I mean
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 when I say love
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 has a propensity
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 towards life.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 Love allows
00:10:13 --> 00:10:13 for the enabling,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:14 the flourishing,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 sustaining of life
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 in relationship
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 that human beings
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 so desperately want.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:21 Indeed,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 that's its purpose,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 to give
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 and to allow
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 for life
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 to happen.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 Hate,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 as characterised
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 by Cain,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 does the opposite
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 and has propensity
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 and an inclination
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 towards death.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 Whether it's murder
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 or toxic relationships
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 where love
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 is talked about
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 but never acted upon,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 the hatred we see
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 in our world
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 reveals that it's
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 under the influence
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 on reign
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 of sin
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 and death,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 one which is
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 unescapable.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 but the great hope
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 for our world
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 is that life
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 has broken in
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 and it overpowered
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 the reign
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 of death
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 that has been
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 since Cain.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 And since,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 as Christians,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 we love each other,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 we're able to love
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 those in our world
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 who need it.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 For Cain's hatred
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 of Abel
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 led him
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 to take life
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 and that has been
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 the pattern
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 of the world
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 since.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 God,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 who is rich in love,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 sent his one
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 and only Son
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 into the world
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 of death
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 that whoever
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 may believe in him
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 may not perish,
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 may not face death,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 but what?
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 Have eternal life.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:40 There is more
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 at stake here
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 than just simply
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 talking to talk
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 and walking the walk,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 isn't there?
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 The existence
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 and experience
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 of Christian love
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 isn't simply
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 a matter of
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 Christian integrity.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 It's a matter
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 of life
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 and death.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 Verse 14 again,
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 we know that we
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 have passed
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 from death
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 to life
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 because we
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 love each other.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 Anyone who
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 does not love
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 remains in death.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 Anyone who hates
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 a brother or sister
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 is a murderer
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 and you know
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 that no murderer
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 has eternal life
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 residing in him.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 Christian love
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 proves you have
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 been made alive again,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 that you have
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 crossed over
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 from death
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 to life.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 It's the result
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 and overflowing
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 of faith
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 in Christ.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 Hate isn't.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 Hate is a
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 dangerous emotion
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 for a Christian
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 to have,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 especially
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 for his own
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 brother or sister.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 It's contradictory
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 to the gospel,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 to the work of God
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 that has happened
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 in us.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 It belongs
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 in the realm
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 of sin and death
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 in the world
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 as exemplified
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 by Cain himself.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 If you have hate
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 in your heart,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 you may need
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 to reflect
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 upon whether
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 you are following
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 in the pattern
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 of Cain
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 or even in the
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 pattern of Christ.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 perhaps you need
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 to reflect
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 and pray
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 and discuss
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 with the person
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 who is the object
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 of your hate
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 or your resentment
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 and seek
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 reconciliation
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 and forgiveness.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 It's not something
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 we should be afraid
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 of doing though.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 For the ministry
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 of reconciliation
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 is one that's
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 fueled by love
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 and ushering
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 in life.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 Indeed,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 reconciliation
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 of relationships
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 is where we begin
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 to see the impact
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 of the gospel
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 in our life,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 where we see life
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 beginning to come in
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 and bring us
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 back together.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 For hate
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 leads to death,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 but love
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 showing in reconciliation
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 and forgiveness
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 leads to life.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 The existence
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 of love
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 and experience
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 is the evidence
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 of new life
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 in Christ
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 because love
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 in its foundational
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 working
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 has a propensity
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 and inclination
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 towards life.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 Love is all
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 about ushering
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 in,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 sustaining
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 and allowing
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 life to flourish,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 whereas hate
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 leads towards
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 taking life away.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 And this leads
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 to my second point.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 Seeing that existence
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 and experience
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 of love
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 is new life.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 The essence
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 of love
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 is seen
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 in sacrificial
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 life-giving
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 actions
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 that transcend
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 worldly comprehension.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 That should be
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 on the screen.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 It's a big,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 big sentence.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 Just to recap,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 the basic point
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 I wanted to make
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 was love
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 is for life.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 Just as a hat
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 is for the head,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 a chair
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 is for sitting,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 Jimmy
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 is for Katie
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 and McDonald's,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 love
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 is for life.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 Love's proper
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 goal
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 and purpose
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 is to enable
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 and usher in
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 life.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 Now I want
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 to articulate
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 the essence
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 of this love
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 that is to show
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 what it looks like
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 in the real world.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 And as I've said,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 I think its essence
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 is sacrificial
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 life-giving action
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 which ultimately
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 transcends
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 worldly comprehension.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 Verse 16,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 this is how we know
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 what love is.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Jesus Christ
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 laid down
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 his life for us
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 and we ought to
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 lay down our lives
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 for our brothers
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 and sisters.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 John 7 verse 11,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 what is fundamental
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 to the gospel,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 namely love.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 And here in verse 16
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 he now says
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 how we know
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 what love is.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 Jesus Christ
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 laid down
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 his life
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 for us.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 Just take that in.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 That is love.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 The example
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 set before us
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 is Jesus Christ
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 himself
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 who loved us
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 by giving up
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 his own life.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 Jesus' sacrifice
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 ushered in
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 new life for us.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 He was driven
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 by love
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 and he gave up
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 his own life
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 that we might
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 pass from death
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 to life ourselves
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 and enjoy
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 eternal life
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 with him.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 His sacrifice
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 was a life-giving
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 action.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 This is what life is.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 And according to John,
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 this is love,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 the love that we
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 ourselves should walk
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 in and we ought
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 to lay down
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 our lives
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 for our brothers
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 and sisters.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 Have a look
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 at each other
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 in this room.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 Would you be willing
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 to die
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 for the person
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 sitting next to you
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 or behind you?
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 And some of you
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 might be thinking,
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 define
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 what it is
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 to lay down
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 your life.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 Tell me
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 what it is.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:50 Sounds familiar,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 doesn't it?
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 That question.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 Such a call,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 such a question
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 makes us
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 want to ask
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 that question
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 like the expert
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 in the law
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 in Luke 10
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 who asked Jesus,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 who is my neighbour?
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 But let us not
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 cheapen love.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 Let us not
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 lower the bar.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 Sacrificial,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 life-giving action
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 is the bar
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 that Christian love
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 sets.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 It's the pattern
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 we are to follow in.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 This
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 gives
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 or ought to
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 give more weight
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 to our words
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 when we say
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 I love you.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 When we say
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 I love you,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 what we're saying
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 is I am willing
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 to sacrifice
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 my life for you
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 that you might
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 have life
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 to give up
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 the most precious
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 possession
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 that we have,
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 life,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 so that others
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 might keep it
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 and enjoy it
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 and flourish in it.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 It implies
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 so much more
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 than just simple
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 talk from the
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 front here in church
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 that we might
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 often hear
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 how much we
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 just love you
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 and we want
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 to be part
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 of everything
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 and God
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 loves you so much
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 once you feel
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 so warm and
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 dizzy.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 No,
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 it's so much
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 more than that.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 It's a love
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 that's willing
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 to get down
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 the dirt
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 sacrificially
00:17:59 --> 00:18:02 to the point
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 of which you're
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 willing to give
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 up your own
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 life.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 We are so
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 transformed
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 by the gospel
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 that it gives
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 us new life
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 that we love
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 in such a way
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 that we're
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 willing to
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 give it up
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 again
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 for the sake
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 of preserving
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 another's life
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 in order that
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 they might
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 experience the
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 kingdom of God
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 which is life
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 that is invaded
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 into our present
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 age through
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 Jesus Christ.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:35 it shows
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 our world
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 who cannot
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 comprehend
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 such love
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 that we are
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 under the
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 reign and
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 the rule
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 of someone
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 far greater
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 than the world
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 for whilst
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 they might
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 fear death
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 existing in
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 the world
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 that has
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 propensity
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 towards it
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 we are those
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 who do not
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 fear death
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 willing to
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 embrace it
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 because we
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 belong to
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 the kingdom
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 of heaven
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 which is
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 eternal life
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 and we're
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 willing to
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 lay down
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 our lives
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 that others
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 might see
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 that and
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 know that
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 that we've
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 come under
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 the lordship
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 of Jesus
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 who is
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 eternal
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 life
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 we lay
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 it down
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 knowing
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 full well
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 that we'll
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 be brought
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 back up
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 again
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 when God's
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 kingdom
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 of eternal
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 life is
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 established
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 in its
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 fullness
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 forever
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 that's the
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 call
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 it's a
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 big call
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 that's the
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 love we
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 should have
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 for each
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 other
00:19:25 --> 00:19:28 and whilst
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 not all
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 of us
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 here will
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 have the
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 opportunity
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 to give
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 up our
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 life for
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 each other
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 we're
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 nonetheless
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 called to
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 love with
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 such an
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 attitude
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 to love
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 wanting to
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 love in a
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 way that's
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 sacrificially
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 giving
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 but also
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 gives life
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 as well
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 verse 17
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 if anyone
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 has material
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 possessions
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 and sees a
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 brother or
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 sister in
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 need but
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 has no
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 pity on
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 them how
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 can the
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 love of
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 God be
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 in that
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 person
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 the
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 willingness
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 to lay
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 down one's
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 life is
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 the bar
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 that Christian
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 love sets
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 but it's
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 also the
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 attitude
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 and the
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 character
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 of Christian
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 love in
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 general
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 when one
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 begins to
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 follow in the
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 pattern of
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Christ a
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 transformation
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 takes place
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 they see
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 life and
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 love differently
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 instead of
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 seeing our
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 possessions as
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 ours to
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 indulge in
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 or our
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 times ours to
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 use to see
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 fit or our
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 money as ours to
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 spend on whatever
00:20:20 --> 00:20:22 we want the
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 love of God in
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 Christ Jesus
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 changes that for
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 us it changed
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 the disposition
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 in us to
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 see life as
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 all about
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 sacrificial
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 life giving
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 material possessions
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 that aren't as
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 something for us
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 to indulge in
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 but something for
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 us to give up
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 that others might
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 have and enjoy
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 life
00:20:42 --> 00:20:46 and so when
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 John says
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 if anyone has
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 material possessions
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 and says a
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 brother or sister
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 are in need
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 but has no
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 pity on them
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 he's saying that
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 that's a
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 contradiction
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 that exists
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 between what you
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 confess and
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 how you act
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 you talk the
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02 talk but do
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 you walk the
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 walk
00:21:02 --> 00:21:06 you do as the
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 priest and the
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 Levite do in
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 Luke 10
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 and walk on
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 by
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 those two
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 people who
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 exemplify what
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 it is to know
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 God apparently
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 who are supposed
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 to look after
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 God's people
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 who are supposed
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 to show compassion
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 and mercy
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 these people who
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 we expected to
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 help they walk
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 on by
00:21:23 --> 00:21:26 is that us
00:21:26 --> 00:21:31 he concludes
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 about such
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 people how
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 can the love
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 of God be
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 in them
00:21:34 --> 00:21:38 when we don't
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 have pity
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 on those who
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 are in need
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 around us
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 we show a
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 complete
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 disregard
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 for life
00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 and instead
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 we serve them
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 up death
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 by our
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 ignorance
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 by ignoring
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 them
00:21:54 --> 00:21:57 this is no
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 doubt
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 challenging
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 I feel
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 the weight
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 of what I'm
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 saying right
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 now
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 and it's
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 not easy
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 to do
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 this
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 there are
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 many
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 difficulties
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 today
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 when it
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 comes to
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 helping the
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 poor and
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 the sick
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 the vulnerable
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 the need
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 the homeless
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 it's not
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 black and
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 white
00:22:13 --> 00:22:16 but where we
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 have the means
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 to help
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 we must
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 because as
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 Christians
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 we have been
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 given new
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 life
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 and the
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 pattern of
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 love to
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 follow in
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 which means
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 we have
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 such a
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 great
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 privilege
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 to love
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 people
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 through
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 sacrificial
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 life giving
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 actions
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 and by giving
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 life and
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 healing to
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 those under
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 the reign of
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 death
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 we bring
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 them into
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 the experience
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 of God's
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 kingdom
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 which is
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 eternal life
00:22:43 --> 00:22:45 don't we
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 want this
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 for those
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 who don't
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 know Jesus
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 don't we
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 want to
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 bring them
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 out of
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 the kingdom
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 of darkness
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 or the
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 kingdom
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 of death
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 so that
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 they can
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 enjoy
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 knowing God
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 and being
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 in relationship
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 with him
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 and also
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 enjoy the
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 benefits
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 of being
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 in his
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 kingdom
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 where his
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 people love
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 in a
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 sacrificial
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 way
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 when they're
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 hungry
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 his people
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 feed them
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 when they're
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 naked
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 his people
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 clothe them
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 when they're
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 in financial
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 trouble
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 God's
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 people get
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 money together
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 and support
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 them
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 all these
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 things are
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 experiences of
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 new life
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 kingdom life
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 which God
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 has ushered
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 in beginning
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 with Jesus
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 and we see
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 the awful
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 effect of sin
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 and death on
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 people around
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 us in our
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 world
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 are we not
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 moved
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 like the
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 Samaritan who
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 saw the man
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 lying half
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 dead and
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 robbed
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 do we not
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 take pity
00:23:39 --> 00:23:44 throughout all
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 of Jesus'
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 ministry
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 in his life
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 he brought
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 life
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 to those
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 he encountered
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 we see that
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 Jesus healed
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 the sick
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 he made
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 the blind
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 see
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 he rose
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 the literal
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 dead from
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 the grave
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 the lame
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 walk
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 his love
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 in action
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 brought life
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 showing that
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 his kingdom
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 was coming
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 in and
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 breaking into
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 the world
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 of sin
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 and death
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 which is
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 being pushed
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 out by the
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 kingdom of
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 God
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 which is
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 eternal life
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 Jesus
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 ultimately
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 loved us
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 sacrificially
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 by giving up
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 his own
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 life
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 that we
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 might be
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 able to
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 partake in
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 this kingdom
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 kingdom of
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 life
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 and invite
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 others
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 to do so
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 and to
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 experience the
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 same thing
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 as we
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 encounter the
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 poor and
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 help them
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 as we
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 feed those
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 who are
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 hungry
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 as we
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 take in
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 those who
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 are outcasted
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 and marginalised
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 we give them
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 an experience
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 of the kingdom
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 of God
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 it's not
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 going to be
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 perfect of
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 course
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 we're still
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 looking forward
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 to that
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 perfect day
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 when things
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 will be
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 made right
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 and new
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 but as we
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 take these
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 people in
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 as we
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 show the
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 love of
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 God to
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 them
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 by feeding
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 them
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 not just
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 by talking
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 to them
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 by giving
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 them clothes
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 and money
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 by helping
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 them
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 restoring
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 their life
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 we give
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 them a
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 glimpse
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 a shadow
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 of what
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 is to
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 come for
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 them
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 in Jesus
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 when he
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 returns
00:25:02 --> 00:25:08 as we
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 encounter
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 these
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 people
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 we have
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 a
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 wonderful
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 privilege
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 to give
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 them life
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 as we
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 love them
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 by meeting
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 their needs
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 as we
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 take pity
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 and use
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 what God
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 has given
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 us
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 to help
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 meet their
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 needs
00:25:23 --> 00:25:27 but it
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 starts
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 with our
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 attitude
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 of love
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 our desire
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 to love
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 sacrificially
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 performing
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 life
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 giving
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 actions
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 to a
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 world
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 who
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 needs
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 it
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 so
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 will we
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 walk
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 in the
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 way of
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 love
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 not
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 just
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 talk
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 about
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 it
00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 let me
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 leave you
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 with John's
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 words
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 in verse
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 18
00:25:54 --> 00:25:57 dear
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 children
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 let us
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 not love
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 with words
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 or speech
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 but with
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 actions
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 and truth
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 and truth
00:26:03 --> 00:26:06 men
00:26:06 --> 00:26:23 as