The Gospel
Series: Generous God
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 10th September 2023
Passage: Luke 18:9-17
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 how good is the gospel?
00:00:03 --> 00:00:07 That is the good news of who God is and what he's done in Jesus.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 How good is God?
00:00:10 --> 00:00:11 Because God is the gospel.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 God is the good news.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 But I guess the question is, is he good news in your life?
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 Now, we know what the answer should be, or at least the gist of it.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:24 You know, he's great.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:25 He changes everything.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 I wake up every morning singing psalms of joy.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:35 But is God in reality making a difference to your anxiety or your fear?
00:00:36 --> 00:00:40 Is God in reality satisfying you, filling you with joy?
00:00:42 --> 00:00:46 Is he so good that you can't help but tell other people about him?
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 Is he so good that you're busting to tell your non-Christian friends about Jesus
00:00:50 --> 00:00:54 because you know he's the answer to the questions that they're asking?
00:00:54 --> 00:00:59 Again, we know the answer should be yes.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:05 But for many of us, that's not our day-to-day experience of following Jesus.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 We read in the New Testament that the fruit of the Spirit,
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 that is the fruit of God's presence in our lives,
00:01:11 --> 00:01:15 is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, self-control.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:24 But then we live lives marked by fear, anxiety, worry, anger, hurry, and depression.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 Why the gap?
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 Well, I want to suggest two possible reasons.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 Firstly, we don't actually know the gospel that we claim to believe.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 Now, we know about Jesus,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:43 but we don't actually understand who he is or what he did
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 and how that changes everything.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 Or, second reason,
00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 we don't actually believe the gospel that we claim to believe.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 So we say we believe we've forgiven,
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 but then when we sin,
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 we're crushed by guilt
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 and we feel like we can't pray or read our Bible to God
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 until we've kind of done some good deeds to balance the ledger.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:09 We say we believe that God's in control,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 but we are dominated by fear and anxiety
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 and the apparent instability and uncertainty of our lives.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 The message that we carry,
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21 the centre of our mission,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 the message we have heard and responded to,
00:02:23 --> 00:02:24 if you're a Christian,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 is good news for us,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 but first, it's good news about God.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 Which is then, because of God, good news for us,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 but at its core,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 the gospel message,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:37 the good news,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 is good news about God
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 because God himself is the gospel.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 And so much of our Christianity,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 so much of our faith,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 so much of following Jesus
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 and our church culture suffers
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 because we skip what is first and most important
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 and instead focus just on how
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 and if the gospel is good news for me,
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 good news for my circumstance,
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 and we miss the goodness of a God
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 who is the very definition of good.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 We focus on the results of the gospel
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 rather than its foundation and power.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 So we measure the goodness of God,
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 we measure the goodness of following God
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 based on the circumstances of my life
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 rather than measuring the circumstances of my life
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 and the goodness of them
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 based on the immovable goodness
00:03:23 --> 00:03:27 of God's incredible character and faithfulness.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:31 We focus on the results and miss the foundation.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 Now, just to be clear, there are results.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 The gospel works.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 The gospel does something in your life,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 but if you start there and you focus there first,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 you miss the power of the God
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 who brings the results
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 and brings the transformation,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:47 and then when you miss that power,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 you don't actually get the transformation.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:54 If all you're looking for is the result and change,
00:03:54 --> 00:03:54 you miss it.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 What I want to do this morning
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 is take us back to our roots,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 to the gospel,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:04 to what it means to believe in and follow Jesus.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:05 If you're a Christian,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 this is the immovable foundation
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 that we must never depart from.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 You will never graduate this.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:14 You might think,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 gospel, I've got this,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:16 I've heard it,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 I know this,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 but we need to hear this and hear it again
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 because this is everything.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 If you're not a Christian,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 first off, I'm just glad you're here.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 I'm glad you are in the room.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 I want to tell you,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 this is what we believe as Christians.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 This is the message of the gospel.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 This is what it means to believe,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 and it's yours to decide what you do with it.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 But I firmly believe
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 that in the gospel,
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 you will encounter a God who is better
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 and more generous and more loving
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 than you ever imagined.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 So let's get stuck into the passage.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 We're going to open up in Luke 18,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 which is one of the biographies of Jesus.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 And in chapter 18,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 we find a number of parables.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 In fact, I think Steve opened up
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 the parable of assistant widow last week
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 from this same passage.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 Parables are stories that Jesus tells
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 to give us a glimpse of himself
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 and the nature of what it is
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 that he is doing in the world.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 And this short story,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 just a few verses,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 gives us the core
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 of what it means to be a Christian
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 and certainly the heart of the message
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 of what you believe and preach
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 here as a church at St. Paul's.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 So let me run back through this passage with you
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 and pick out the main bits.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 First off,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 you've got two people going to pray.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 Two very different people,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 but they're both going to pray.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:34 On one side,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:35 you've got the Pharisee.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 Now, just to be clear,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 in this story,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 the Pharisee is the good guy.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 We're so trained in hearing this
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 that we kind of skip to the end
00:05:45 --> 00:05:45 and go,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 I know how this plays out,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 the Pharisee's bad,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 but actually in the story,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 the Pharisee is the good guy.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 He's done the good things.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 He has a resume of goodness
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 that he brings to this story.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 I mean, the Pharisees in Jesus' day
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 were the guys who worked hard to be good.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 They kept all the rules
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 that you and I try and keep
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 as followers of Jesus
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 and the ones that we've given up
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 and said they're completely unattainable.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 If you knew them now,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 you would look at them
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 and be impressed.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 On the other side,
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 we have a tax collector.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 This is the bad guy in the story.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 Don't think employee of the ATO.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 Think qualified,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 military-sanctioned thief.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 In Jesus' day,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 tax collectors had military backing
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 and clout
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 to not only collect the actual taxes
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 they were supposed to collect,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 but also,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:40 on top of that,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 whatever they wanted for themselves.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 So they got rich,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 ripping off their neighbours
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 and friends
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 and countrymen.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 They were universally hated.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 Think kind of like
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 a parking ticket inspector.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 Have you ever seen somebody
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 put a parking ticket
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 under your windscreen wiper
00:06:58 --> 00:06:58 as you got back
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 just too late
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 and thought,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 I'm so glad
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 that they are fulfilling
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 their duties
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 with faithfulness.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 You probably have
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 some less spiritual thoughts
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 at that moment.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 That's the tax collector.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 So everybody listening
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 to this story
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 is clear on who
00:07:15 --> 00:07:15 the good guy is
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 and who the bad guy is
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 and they're thinking,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 we know where this story
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 is going to go.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 This story is going to end well
00:07:23 --> 00:07:23 for the good guy
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 because Jesus is supposed
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 to be the good guy.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 They expect
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 if they're both going to pray,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:29 God's going to hear
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 the good guy's prayers.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:32 In fact,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 the moral of the story
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 might be something like
00:07:35 --> 00:07:35 the tax collector
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 misses out
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 and so be good
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 so God hears your prayers.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 But that's not where it goes.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 Jesus finishes
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 in verse 14 there,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 I tell you,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 this man went down
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 to his house,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 pointing to the tax collector,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 this man went down
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 to his house justified
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 rather than the other
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 for everyone who exalts himself
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 will be humbled
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 but the one who humbles himself
00:07:57 --> 00:07:57 will be exalted.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 So two people go to pray
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 but the tax collector
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 goes home justified
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 and only the tax collector,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 not the good guy.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 So how do we make sense
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 of this story?
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 Let me show you two things
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 that the story teaches us.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:16 First one,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:22 we all need mercy.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 We all need mercy.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 In 2006,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 which is getting to be
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 quite a while ago,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 a documentary was released
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 starring the former
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 United States Vice President
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 Al Gore.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 It chronicled his attempt
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 to raise awareness
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 of the dangers
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 of global warming
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 and the need for a change
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 in the way that humanity lives
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 and uses the planet.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 It was titled
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 An Inconvenient Truth.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 There's been a sequel
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 because no one wanted to hear
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 that inconvenient truth.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 No one wanted to believe him
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 regardless of what evidence
00:08:57 --> 00:08:57 he put out,
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 regardless of what evidence
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 has come since
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 because if it was true,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 it meant that there would be
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 a loss of money,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 a loss of lifestyle,
00:09:05 --> 00:09:05 that there would be
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 painful change
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 and to put it bluntly,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 no one could be bothered.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 In the same way,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 at the core of the gospel message,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 the message of this story
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 that Jesus shares
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 is an inconvenient truth.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 Namely,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 that we are all sinners
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 who deserve God's punishment.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 That's uncomfortable to hear.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 Something the Bible teaches us
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 repeatedly is that
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 the issue with our world
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 is that people,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 all people,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 sin.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 Romans 3.23 says,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 all have sinned
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 and fall short
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 of the glory of God.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 Now again,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 pay attention.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:42 Notice it says,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 all have sinned.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 The Pharisee,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 the tax collector,
00:09:48 --> 00:09:48 me,
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 you,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 all have sinned.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 And so even as we speak
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 the gospel,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 as we go on mission
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 to speak about Jesus
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 to a world
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 that doesn't want to hear
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 that it is a sinful world
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 in need of mercy,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 we must do it
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 with humility
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 and self-awareness
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 that knows
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 that that inconvenient,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 uncomfortable truth
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 is true for us too.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 We need mercy.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 All the hurt
00:10:19 --> 00:10:19 and pain
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 and brokenness
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 we are surrounded by
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 and experience
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 in our lives
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 is the result of sin.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 But what is sin?
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 Because when the world
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 hears Christians
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 say something
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 is sin,
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 they know it's not good,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 but what does it
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 actually mean?
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 Because often people
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 inside the church
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 and outside the church
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 tend to think of sin
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 as a list of naughty things
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 that we're not supposed to do,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 that we're to avoid
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 if we want God
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 to love us.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 And with that misconception
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 comes the understandable
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 offence
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 when something
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 is called a sin.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 Because it has this
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 self-righteous
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 be more like us vibe,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 don't do that thing,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 do what we do.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 And nobody wants that.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 Nobody wants to be told
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 they're not as good.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 Nobody wants to be told
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 they're less than.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 And when we do that,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 sin becomes this competition,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 this comparison sport,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 which is exactly
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 what is happening
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 in this story
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 between the Pharisee
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 and the tax collector.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:22 The Pharisee looks
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 at the bad guy
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 and figures,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 by comparison,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 he must be
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 a good guy.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 But that's not
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 what the Bible means
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 when it talks about
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 it.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 It uses the word sin.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 In fact,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 the story Jesus told,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 you've got two guys
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 that are clearly
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 being set up
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 against each other,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 as opposite alternatives.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 And if sin
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 is merely a list
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 of things you shouldn't do
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 or good things
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 you should have done,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 then the story makes no sense.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 Because the Pharisee
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 is the good guy
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 who's done good things
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 and the tax collector
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 is the bad guy
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 who's done bad things.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 But notice
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 what the tax collector
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 prays.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 He says,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 have mercy on me,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 a sinner.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 Sin is an identity marker.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:19 Sin is a relational category.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 It describes
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 your relationship
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 to God.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 See,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 when sin enters
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 the human story
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 back in the beginning
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 of the Bible,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 the infamous forbidden fruit,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 in that moment,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 not only are they
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 disobeying God
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 and a rule
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 that he gave them,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 what they're saying is,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 God,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 you don't get to decide
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 what's right and wrong,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 we do.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 So they look at the fruit,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 it looks good,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 and so instead
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 of listening to God,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 they figure,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 we know best,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 our way makes more sense
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 than yours does
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 and so they do
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 what they want to do.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 Now,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 that's not just
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 naughty
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 or wrong,
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 it's actually
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 a break in relationship.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 It's a rejection
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 of God.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 See,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 we either do
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 what God says
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 and enjoy all the benefits
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 of that
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 or we reject him
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 and we live
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 with the consequences.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 That's what sin is.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 It's rejecting
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 God
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 and his right
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 to rule
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 and as a result,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 we find ourselves
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 alienated from him
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and deserving
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 of his judgment.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 And again,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 that's every
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 one of us.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 Not bad people
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 out there,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 good people in here,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 all sinners,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 all in need
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 of mercy.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 And here's the thing,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 we actually know that.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 Whether you're
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 a Christian or not
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 in this room,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 you know it.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 Our world
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 and our lives
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 are marked
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 by a restlessness.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 So much
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 of our division
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 is fuelled
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 by fear
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 and a need
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 for some
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 external validation
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 of who we are
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 and how we live.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 We talk
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 like we're independent,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 like we need
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 no one,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 like others' opinions
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 doesn't matter,
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 you do you.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 follow your heart.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 But the insecurity
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 that we feel,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 the offence
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 we feel
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 when someone
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 questions us
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 doing us
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 is evidence
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 that the choices
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 that we're making
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 are not dealing
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 with the restlessness.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 Redefining
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 right and wrong
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 hasn't delivered
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 the peace
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 that it promised
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 it would.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 We still
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 clearly long
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 for that
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 external approval.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 And so sin,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 that is,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 our separation
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 from God,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 our opposition
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 to Him,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 is the problem.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 And when you hear
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 the Bible say
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 that you are a sinner,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 don't be offended
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 because it's calling
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 out a specific action
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 in your life
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 or a lifestyle
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 or an orientation.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 It's bigger than that.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 When you hear
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 Jesus tell this story,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 when you hear
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 the tax collector
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 who recognizes
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 his identity
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 as a sinner,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 as the good one,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 as the justified one,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 when the Bible says
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 that you are a sinner,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 it is not saying
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 you do things
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 that are wrong.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 It is saying
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 you are an enemy
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 of God
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 in need of His mercy.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 Not based
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 on your sexuality
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 or any other number
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 of hot-button topics,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 but because you reject
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 the God
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 who made you.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 Back in the garden again,
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 Adam and Eve
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 didn't get in trouble
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 for eating the fruit.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 They got in trouble
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 because eating the fruit
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 was their way of saying,
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 God, we want your job.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 We want to be in charge.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 We want to choose
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 right and wrong.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 And the gospel
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 is uncomfortable
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 and maybe even offensive,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 but not in the way
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 people are usually offended.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 If you hear right,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 the gospel message
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 is a bunch
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 of forgiven sinners,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 that is sinners
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 who have received mercy,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 telling a bunch
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 of not yet forgiven sinners
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 that they need
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 to receive mercy
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 as well.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:03 And the crazy good part
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 of the gospel message
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 and this story
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 is that God provides
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 the mercy we need
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 even though we don't deserve it.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 That's the whole point
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 of this story.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 God offers mercy.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 So the tax collector
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 asks for mercy
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 and goes home justified.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 That is,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 he's declared innocent,
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 his guilt is gone,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 he's forgiven,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 he's loved,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 he's brought into the family.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 Why?
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 How?
00:16:27 --> 00:16:30 Because he asks God
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 for what he needs.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 If anything,
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 this is the scandalous part
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 of the gospel.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 Not that the gospel
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 calls you out
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 as the one
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 who has rejected God,
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 but that despite that,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 God seeing you
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 and knowing everything
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 about you,
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 knowing your deepest,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 darkest secrets,
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 your hidden guilt
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 and shame,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 the things you hope
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 no one ever finds out
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 about you,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 seeing all of that,
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 knowing you've rejected him
00:16:56 --> 00:17:00 and still offers mercy
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 and love to all who ask.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 I've been following Jesus
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 for 26 years now
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 and this still blows my mind.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 I don't care if you've been
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 a Christian for a week
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 or for your whole life.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 This is a scandal.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 God knows you.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:25 You need mercy.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 You don't deserve mercy
00:17:27 --> 00:17:30 and yet he offers mercy.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 It's even on offer
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 for the Pharisee.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 I mean,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 God is so good
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 and so generous
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 that his grace
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 is enough for anyone.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 For the tax collector,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 for the liar,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 for the racist,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 for the thief,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 for the murderer,
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 for the adulterer,
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 even for me
00:17:48 --> 00:17:51 and even for you.
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 The reason the Pharisee
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 misses out
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 on God's mercy
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 and grace
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 in this story,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 the reason anyone
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 misses out
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 on the mercy
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 and grace of God
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 in the gospel
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 is not because
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 they are worse
00:18:05 --> 00:18:08 but because
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 they are unable
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 or unwilling
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 to recognize
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 that they too
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 are a sinner
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 in need of mercy.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:17 One of my favorite
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 old TV shows
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 and I'm dating myself
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 although it's back
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 on Netflix now
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 is The Simpsons
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 and there's this
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 amazing episode
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 of The Simpsons
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 where Homer,
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 the dad kind of character
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 is,
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 and this is classic him,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 he's driven by impulse,
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 led by his stomach,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 he gets his arms
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 stuck in a vending machine
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 and a rescue crew
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 is called in
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 to kind of help him
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 get his arms out
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 and they're sitting there
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 strategizing,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 trying to figure out
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 how they can do it
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 and then suddenly
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 one of them
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 realizes and asks
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 and says,
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 Mr. Simpson,
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 are you still holding
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 on to the food
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 in the vending machine?
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 To which he sheepishly
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 releases
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 and takes his arms out.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 He is able to be free
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 from his trap
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 if he lets go
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 of the food
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 that is inside.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 This is a picture
00:19:03 --> 00:19:06 of how we engage
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 the grace
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 that God offers us.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 We are trapped
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 in the habit
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 of trying to bring
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 something to God,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 trying to present
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 this resume
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 of how good we are,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 how worthy we are.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 We bring our
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 serving in ministry record,
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 we bring our evidence
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 of all the money
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 that we've donated,
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 kind of the good things
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 that we've done
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 and the result is
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 that we miss mercy.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 Our hands are so full
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 of what we are bringing
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 to God
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 that there is no room
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 left to receive
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 what he is offering,
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 to receive the thing
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 that we actually need.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 We feel like somehow
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 we can contribute,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 we can convince God
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 to give us mercy.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 But in trying to do that,
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 we actually stop ourselves
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 from taking
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 what has been provided.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 Receiving mercy
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 means coming
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 with empty hands.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 In fact,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 worse than that,
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 it means the only thing
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 we bring
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 is our sin,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 our failure,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 our worst bits
00:20:12 --> 00:20:16 and trust
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 that his mercy
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 is enough.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:22 The Christian message
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 is not first
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 about you or me.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 It's about Jesus.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 It says that you are not
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 good enough,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 you are not excited,
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 you are not appealing enough
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 and yet he is glorious
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 and he is gracious
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 and he is loving
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 and he is merciful
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 and he meets you
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 exactly as you are
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 and if you would just
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 ask,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 he would give you mercy.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 He would meet you
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 as you are
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 and offer you
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 the security
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 of a mercy
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 and love
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 that meets you
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 at your lowest
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 and so is sure
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 in every circumstance
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 and situation.
00:20:58 --> 00:21:02 the Christian message
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 is all about Jesus.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 The cross
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 is the picture
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 we get.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 It is the moment
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 in which Jesus
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 takes the punishment
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 we deserve
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 and even as he dies,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 hanging there
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 on the cross,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 he is praying
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 for the very people
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 who put him there,
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 who crucified him.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 His mercy is sufficient
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 for everyone
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 in every moment.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 His mercy is offered
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 to anyone who asks
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 and his love
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 is sufficient
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 for the worst
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 of sinners
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 and when he has
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 forgiven you
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 there is no longer
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 any condemnation.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 There is no longer
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 a need to fear
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 your failure.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 There is no longer
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 a need to pretend
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 that you are better
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 than you are.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 There is no longer
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 a need to come to God
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 only when you feel
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 like you have something
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 to offer
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 because that's not
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 how he works.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 He is the one
00:21:53 --> 00:21:55 who brings mercy
00:21:55 --> 00:21:59 the mercy
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 that we need
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 and long for
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 is found only
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 in Jesus
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 and finding it
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 in Jesus
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 means letting go
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 of the delusion
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 that you can make
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 yourself good enough.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 Letting go
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 of the lie
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 that you aren't
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 as bad
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 as anybody else.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 Hearing the truth
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 of the gospel
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 that you are a sinner
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 in need of mercy
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 and coming to Jesus
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 empty handed
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 not with a resume
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 like the Pharisee
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 but with an honest
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 cry for help
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 like the tax collector.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:32 I love
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 that you guys
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 take time
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 each year
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 for mission month.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 I love
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 that you come back
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 and want to hear
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 a fresh God's call
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 to mission
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 locally
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 and globally.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 I love the heart
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 of this church.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 I was formed
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 by the heart
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 of this church
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 in my time here
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 and I've been
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 incredibly blessed
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 and encouraged
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 by your generosity
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 as we have sought
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 to be on mission
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 on the Gold Coast
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 but I want to finish
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 our time
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 in this passage
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 with a warning
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 and a call.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 The risk
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 of any talk
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 about mission
00:23:02 --> 00:23:05 is that you
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 walk away
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 from this month
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 feeling guilted
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 into doing
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 what you are
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 supposed to do
00:23:11 --> 00:23:14 or you walk
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 away from this month
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 with a new set
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 of things
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 that you can take
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 to God
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 instead of empty hands.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 You walk away
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 priding yourself
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 on what you do
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 for Him.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 you feel a pressure
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 to satisfy
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 His demands
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 on you
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 but that is not
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 the Gospel.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 In the Gospel
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 in Jesus
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 we meet
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 God
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 and we meet
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 a God
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 who is gracious
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 and merciful
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 and generous
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 and even the call
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 to mission
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 is a good gift
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 of His mercy.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 Carmen expressed
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 it just before
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 it is something
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 that He invites us
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 into
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 for our sake.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:55 it is a chance
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 for us
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 to be reminded
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 to encounter
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 afresh
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 that His mercy
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 is available
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 to all
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 and is sufficient
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 for all.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 True Gospel
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 mission
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 whether that's
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 as a missionary
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 in Japan
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 a scripture teacher
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 in Chatswood High
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 an engineer
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 a teacher
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 a nurse
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 a full-time parent
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 or a church planter
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 on the Gold Coast
00:24:17 --> 00:24:19 true Gospel
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 mission
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 only happens
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 as a result
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 of
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 and the overflow
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 of
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 an encounter
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 with the mercy
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 of God
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 in the Gospel
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 of Jesus.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 The call
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 to mission
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 is a call
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 back
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 to the Gospel.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 It's a call
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 back to God.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 You don't come
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 to mission
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 with full hands
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 you come to mission
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 dependent
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 on God's mercy.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 This moment
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 this month
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 like every moment
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 is a call
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 to recognize
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 our need
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 for mercy
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 to confess
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 our sin
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 before God
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 because He
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 is faithful
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 and just
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 and sufficient
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 to forgive
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 and cleanse you.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 The call
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 to mission
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 is a daily
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 cry
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 for mercy
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 and grace
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 because you
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 and I
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 need it
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 as much
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 today
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 and tomorrow
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 as we ever
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 have.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 To not
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 live
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 every day
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 every moment
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 every breath
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 in a posture
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 of humble
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 dependence
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 on the mercy
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 of God
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 is to deny
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 the Gospel.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 It is to
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 reject
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 the mercy
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 that God
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 offers
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 in His grace.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 And so
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 the way
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 forward
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 the next
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 step
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 for every
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 person in
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 this room
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 whether this
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 is your
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 first time
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 hearing the
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 Gospel
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 or your
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 millionth time
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 hearing the
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 Gospel
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 the way
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 forward
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 the next
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 step
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 for you
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 as an
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 individual
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 and for
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 us as a
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 church
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 community
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 is to
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 cast
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 ourselves
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 on the
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 mercy
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 of God
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 and find
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 Him
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 sufficient.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 It is to
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 let go
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 of the
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 things that
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 you think
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 make you
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 attractive to
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 God
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 and recognize
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 that His
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 love for
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 you
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 is enough.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 It is
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 to confess
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 again
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 and find
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 Him
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 good
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 find Him
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 generous
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 gracious
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 and
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 forgiving
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 and
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 satisfying
00:26:14 --> 00:26:17 because
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 when you
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 do
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 you
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 won't be
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 able to
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 help
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 but speak
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 of what
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 you have
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 seen
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 and
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 heard.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 You
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 won't be
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 able to
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 help
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 but give
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 generously
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 you
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 won't be
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 able to
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 help
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 but serve
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 and forgive
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 and love
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 because
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 in Jesus
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 God has
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 done all
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 that for
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 you
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 and more
00:26:38 --> 00:26:41 I
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 started by
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 asking you
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 how good
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 the gospel
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 is
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 how good
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 God is
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 in your
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 life
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 and wrestling
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 with the
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 distance that
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 we feel
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 between what
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 we know
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 should be
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 true and
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 what isn't
00:26:54 --> 00:26:57 ultimately
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 the gap
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 is there
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 because we
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 come to
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 God with
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 closed hands
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 and stop
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 receiving
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 what He
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 offers.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 Jesus is
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 enough.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 for your
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 fear,
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 your anxiety,
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 your
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 uncertainty
00:27:10 --> 00:27:14 but only
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 when you
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 come to
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 Him
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 in humble
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 dependence
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 and confession
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 will you
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 encounter
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 Him
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 as enough.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 So long
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 as you
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 hold Him
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 at arm's
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 length
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 because you're
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 busy
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 depending
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 on your
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 ability
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 and your
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 strength
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 and your
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 gifting
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 and your
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 resourcing
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 and your
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 maturity
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 and whatever
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 else it
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 is that
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 you bring
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 He will
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 never be
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 enough
00:27:34 --> 00:27:37 because
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 you're
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 busy
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 trusting
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 in other
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 things.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 The call
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 to mission
00:27:42 --> 00:27:45 is a
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 call back
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 to the
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 gospel.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 Let me
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 pray for
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 us.
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 Father,
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 forgive us
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 for rejecting
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 your mercy
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 and trying to
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 navigate life
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 in our own
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 strength.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 Help us
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 to see how
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 far short
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 our lives
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 fall of
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 your holiness
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 and majesty.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 Forgive us
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 for our
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 sin and
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 make us
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 more like
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 Jesus.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 Jesus,
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 thank you
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 for your
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 death in
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 our place,
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 our punishment
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 taken and
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 the promise
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 of your
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 irreversible
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 forgiveness
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 and sufficient
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 mercy.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 Thank you
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 for your
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 resurrection.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 Please take
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 our guilt
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 and our
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 burdens and
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 fill us
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 with the
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 joy of
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 your presence
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 and power.
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 God,
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 we ask
00:28:33 --> 00:28:58 this in the
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 name of your
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 precious Son,
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 our Savior
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 Jesus.
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 Amen.