To Take Part in God's Story (Mission)
Series: HIS PURPOSE OUR PURPOSE MY PURPOSE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 1st December 2018
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 Whatever you set your mind to, you can do it.
00:00:01 --> 00:00:02 You can change the world.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:06 And so you have this desire to be able to change the world.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10 If, however, you're a parent of a millennial,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 most likely you're a baby boomer or something like that,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 your big desire right now is to leave a legacy.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:17 That's all you're thinking about, death.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 And what's my mark on the world?
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 And you're starting to get kind of depressed and everything like about it.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:29 But on the whole, most of us have to come to grips with
00:00:29 --> 00:00:34 that is that our individual actions are a bit like stones
00:00:34 --> 00:00:35 tossed into a very large lake.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 The reality is we are remembered by just a few.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:46 And our contribution to humanity is remembered by even less.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:51 Most of us have to face the fact that we will drop the little pebble of our lives
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 into the turbulent ocean of world events.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:59 And in no time at all, the surface will bear no trace of our passing.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 That's kind of depressing, especially if you're a millennial
00:01:03 --> 00:01:04 and you're kind of positive right now.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:10 But it is this sense of purposelessness
00:01:10 --> 00:01:15 that is one of the chief anxieties of life.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 What is the purpose of life?
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 Big, big anxiety.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:20 Big, big anxiety.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:20 Big, big anxiety.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 So if you've just tuned in today,
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 then you've arrived at Vision Sunday.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 And it's the climax of our Vision series.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 And this year we've been discovering or rediscovering
00:01:30 --> 00:01:34 or aligning ourselves to God's purpose.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:35 We've called this whole series,
00:01:36 --> 00:01:37 His Purpose, Our Purpose, My Purpose.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 In week one, we asked the question,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:42 what's the purpose of life?
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 And we saw that God created all things
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 and that He saved us for His glory.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:52 And we used the word magnification to summarize that purpose.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 In week two, we narrowed it down.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 What's the purpose of the church,
00:01:57 --> 00:01:58 the people that He saved?
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 And we saw that God has gathered us together
00:02:00 --> 00:02:04 as a new people, a new humanity for His glory.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 We do it together.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 And we used the word membership to describe that.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 Week three, we investigated what is God's purpose for us
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 as He's gathered people.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 And we discovered it was to transform us
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 into the image of His true Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 because God desires to have children in His own image.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 And we used the word maturity to summarize all that.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 So God has created us.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:28 He saved us.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:29 He's gathered us.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 He's growing us.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 And last week, we saw that He's not just growing us,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 but He's giving us a job to do.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 And that job is to serve Him in the world.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:43 And we used the word ministry to summarize all of that.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 Today, we're looking at what is the work
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 that God has called us to do in His world.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 And we're summarizing this with our final M,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 and that's mission.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 So I'm up to point number one, what is God's mission?
00:02:57 --> 00:03:01 See, one of the ways we discover what is God's mission
00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 is to, that is, what is the work that God's doing in the world,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:09 is to look at the end of history as God describes it.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 Well, you know, therefore the goal of all things.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 And we can learn our purpose for being
00:03:15 --> 00:03:19 just by looking at what is God's goal in all time and eternity.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 And what we discover, it's kind of like a finish line
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 that we're running towards.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 But before we go to the end of all things,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 let's go back to the beginning of what God's work is in this world.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 This is God's story.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 It's His mission, His work in His world.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:40 God's storyline has four main chapters to it.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 Creation, new creation,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 for redemption and new creation.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 So let's look at those four things really quickly.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 This is time and eternity, history, everything,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 as God sees it.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 So creation, Genesis 1,
00:03:55 --> 00:04:00 is the God who stands outside of all that's created.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 The God who always existed from everlasting to everlasting,
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 created all things by speaking them into existence.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 You see that in Genesis 1 and 2.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 He made the first people, Adam and Eve,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 in His image.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 All people from Adam and Eve also bear the image of God.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 We saw that earlier on in this series.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:22 The great American theologian, Jonathan Edwards,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 wrote a booklet, a paper called
00:04:25 --> 00:04:30 A Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 That's the shortened version.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 He's much longer versions in terms of the titles.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 And he says there that the only reason
00:04:38 --> 00:04:43 that God would have created us
00:04:43 --> 00:04:48 was not to get the cosmic love and joy for relationship.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 That is, God wasn't hungering for relationship
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 as some people hunger to be loved by someone
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 so they go and have a baby.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 It's not that kind of an idea.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 But the only reason
00:04:59 --> 00:05:03 is to share the cosmic love and joy
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 that He already had
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 within Himself in the Trinity,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 And so the storyline of the Bible
00:05:10 --> 00:05:14 contains the only storyline in history
00:05:14 --> 00:05:18 where there is a divine creator
00:05:18 --> 00:05:23 who creates everything motivated by love.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:30 God's design is to have children in His own image
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 sharing in His perfect relationship.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:38 sharing in His perfect love.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:39 So that's creation.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:40 Fall.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 There is solidarity in the image of God.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 All people bear the image of God,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 but there's also solidarity in sin.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 Genesis 3, Adam and Eve reject God.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 They decide, well, we want to do things our way.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 All people have followed suit
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 since Adam and Eve living life
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 with no consideration for God.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 We assume right from the very beginning
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 that God hasn't got love as His main motive.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:09 That God is not actually ultimately loving.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 That He's actually holding back on us in some way.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 He's not giving us everything that we should have.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 He's put constraints around us
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 and we don't like constraints.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 And because of our special dignity
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 as people made in the image of God,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 image bearers,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 God holds us especially accountable
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 in a way that He doesn't hold
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 the rest of the universe accountable.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 And we see Him handing His people over for judgment.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 Judgment in Genesis 3,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 sorry, Genesis 11,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 as it is in Genesis 4,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 is He scatters people from His presence.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 Right throughout the Bible,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 God's judgment is to scatter them
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 away from relationship with Him.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 So in Genesis 11,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 He scatters people across the earth.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 He confuses all of their language
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 so they would not work together
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 and certainly not work together
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 in order to depose God.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 So relationship with God
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 and relationship with each other
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 and in fact the created order
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 is deeply fractured
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 because of the fall.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 Then we've got redemption.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 Chapter number 3.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 But God doesn't just act in judgment.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 He also has the plan to reverse everything.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 In Genesis chapter 12,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 to understand your Bible,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 you've got 11 chapters
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 and then you've got Genesis chapter 12.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 And Genesis chapter 12
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 is where the hinge of the Bible,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 it's where everything hinges here.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 This is the beginning
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 of the chapter of redemption.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 This is the turning point of the Bible.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 It's the beginning of God's plan of redemption
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 that began with a promise to Abraham
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 that all peoples on earth
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 would be blessed through Abraham.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 God's intention is to reverse judgment.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 It's a plan that's worked out through history,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 finds its culmination
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 And this is how Galatians 3 puts it
00:07:57 --> 00:07:57 in the New Testament.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 You are all sons of God
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 through faith in Christ Jesus.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 There is neither Jew nor Greek,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 slave nor free,
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 male nor female,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 If you belong to Christ,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 then you are Abraham's seed.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 You're someone who's inherited his promise
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 and heirs according to the promise.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 So Jesus takes the judgment of God
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 for our sin upon himself.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 He dies the death that we should have died,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 but he rises victorious over sin
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 so that everyone who puts their trust in Jesus
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 is now gathered back into relationship with God
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 and to each other.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 Jesus forms a new community,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 a new humanity,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 a new people for God,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 new sons and daughters
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 made in the image of God,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 not just in a physical sense
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 or relational sense,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 but in a deeply connected sense,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 doing what our Father wants us to do.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 He calls it the church.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 So all the former divining walls of hostility
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 between God have been broken down
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 as they have also with God.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:06 And as a result of Jesus' work of reconciliation,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 calling people back to each other
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 and back to God,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 Jesus calls his church
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 to take this good news of reconciliation
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 through the Lord Jesus
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 to the ends of the earth,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 making disciples of every nation,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 people and language.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:25 That is how we take part in God's work,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 his story,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 his mission in the world.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:34 And if you're sitting here right now,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 you are currently in chapter three.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 We're all in chapter three.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 But there's a chapter four.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 And chapter four of God's story
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 is not the end of it.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:51 It's actually the beginning of a new story.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 As C.S. Lewis wrote,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 and I'm going off the top of my head here,
00:09:56 --> 00:10:00 C.S. Lewis wrote in his booklet,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 The Last Battle Cry,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 he said the final chapter is in fact
00:10:05 --> 00:10:09 the actual story.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 It's like everything to open
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 the final chapter of the book,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 your whole lives have been waiting
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 for the final chapter to open,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 and it is a chapter that never closes.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:22 Everything is preparation for chapter four.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 It's a chapter where God reigns forever.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 There's no more evil.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 There's no more sin, carnage.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 There's no more death.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 There's no more mourning.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 There's no more tears.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 In Revelation five,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 we get a glimpse of how
00:10:40 --> 00:10:44 Jesus brings history to its final goal.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 In verse nine,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 John tells us why Jesus is worthy to open,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 the book of the end of history,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 so that things unfold according to the plan of God.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 It says,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 Jesus is worthy because of how his death
00:10:56 --> 00:10:59 relates to all peoples of earth.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 You are worthy to take the scroll,
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 to open its seals,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 because you were slain,
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 and with your blood you purchased men for God
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 from every tribe and language
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 and people and nation.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 You have made them to be
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 a kingdom of priests
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 to serve our God,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 and they will reign on the earth.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 You see,
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 the reason Jesus has the right
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 to open the book of history
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 is that by his death,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 he has ransomed people for God,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 for the glory of God
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 and the worship of God
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 from every tribe and language
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 and people and nation.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 It was God's design
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 in the death of Jesus
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 to ransom some
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 from every kind of race
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 and language
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 and make them into
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 one people,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 a new kingdom,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 his much-loved children.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 And his much-loved children
00:11:51 --> 00:11:54 will have one king over them,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 that is,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 they would live with Jesus
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 as their supreme treasure
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 and Lord.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 Jesus is the one
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 who unites them.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 Jesus is the one
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 to whom they live for.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 And they will all be priests.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 They will be full-time,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 this is what we saw last week,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 they'll be full-time worshippers
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 and servants of Jesus.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 Jesus died to ransom
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 subjects for the king
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 and worshippers for the king
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 from every people group
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 in history.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 All the scattered ones,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 all the ones once separated
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 from God
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 and from each other
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 are now brought together
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 under the reign of Jesus
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 in finding God's blessing
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 as promised to Abraham.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 And so God's big story,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 his mission,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 his work in the world
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 through all time and space
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 is for people to come
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 under the authority of Jesus
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 to turn to him
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 in repentance and faith
00:12:53 --> 00:12:56 and receive forgiveness of sins
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 and eternal life
00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 and live for the honour
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 of Jesus forever.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 That's God's big plan.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 God's purpose for all things,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 as revealed in the biblical storyline,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 is the reason why
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 this church has a purpose statement
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 that says
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 we exist to,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 we're treasuring Jesus
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 for God's glory
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 and the joy of all peoples.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 And this vision series
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 over these five weeks
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 is an attempt
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 to get greater clarity
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 and alignment
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 between,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 alignment behind
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 God's vision
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 in the world
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 as it's worked out
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 in this church.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 How we do it.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 Okay.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 That's point one.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 That's God's mission.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 That's how he's designed
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 time and eternity.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 That's his purposes.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 Point two
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 is
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 what does it look like
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 to be captured
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 by God's work
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 in the world?
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 So if you've got
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 someone beside you
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 who's going to sleep
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 right now,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 give them a
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 loving,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 gentle,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 but firm
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 elbow
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 in the ribs.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 If you're distracted
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 by Facebook
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 or by something else,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 have your moment,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 turn it off
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 and listen to this.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:23 This is so,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 so important
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 that you get this.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 What does it look like
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 to live
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 with God's mission
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 as the driving
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 force
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 of your life?
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 When his first
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 disciples,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 Jesus walks along,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 says,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 hey you,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 come follow me.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 And he calls
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 his first disciples
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 and they drop
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 their nets on the beach
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 and they left
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 their taxation tables.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 to follow Jesus.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 He wasn't asking
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 them to come
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 with him
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 on a gap year
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 of travel
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 around the Holy Land.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 It wasn't a
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 three year sabbatical.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 It wasn't a gap year
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 before you head off
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 to university
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 in Jerusalem
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 and study
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 a master's
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 in shepherding
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 or whatever it is
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 they did back
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 in those days.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 They signed
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 up for Jesus
00:15:15 --> 00:15:18 to reign over
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 the course
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 of their lives.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 And we see
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 that
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 clearly
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 with the disciples
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 and we see it
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 with the Apostle Paul
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 who I want to
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 take to now.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 So Acts 20
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 which was just
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 read out to us
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 it's in your service
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 sheet in front of you.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 In Acts 20
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 the Apostle Paul
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 gathers the Ephesian
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 elders,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 the elders from the
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 church at Ephesus
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 together,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 have a chat with them.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 So these verses
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 are first and foremost
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 primarily directed
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 to the leaders
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 of the church
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 but on the whole
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 they're applicable
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 to every disciple.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 And we see the
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 importance of this
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 chat when you look
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 at verse 25
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 where it says
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 now I know
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 that none of you
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 among whom I have
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 gone about preaching
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 the kingdom
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 will ever see me
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 again.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 So this is Paul's
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 if you like
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 final
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 final chat.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 This is the end
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 of his missionary
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 journeys in fact.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 And as with any
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 final farewells
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 it is the perfect
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 opportunity to talk
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 about what matters
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 actually matter most.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 In 2010
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 a dear friend of mine
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 and Natalie's
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 was near death.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 I went to visit her
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 in hospital
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 for the last time.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 I knew it was going
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 to be the last time
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 I knew she had
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 literally hours
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 if you know
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 maybe days to live.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 when I went
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 and visited her
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 she was slipping
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 in and out
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 of consciousness
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 and I had
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 10 to 15 minutes
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 you know
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 with her.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 We didn't talk
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 about the weather.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 We didn't talk
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 about house prices.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 We didn't talk
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 what was on the
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 front page
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 of the City Morning
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 Herald.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 We didn't talk
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 trivia at all.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 It was straight
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 down to business.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 I read the Bible
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 to her.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 That was the most
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 important thing
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 or walked
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 straight in
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 said Yvonne
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 love you
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 let me open
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 the Bible
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 and read
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 before you
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 lose consciousness.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 Read the Bible
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 with her.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 We talked
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 about hope
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 in Christ.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 We talked
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 about the
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 resurrection
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 of the body
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and when
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 the opportunity
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 came I talked
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 about what
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 she meant
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 to me
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 and what
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 she meant
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 to my family
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 and vice versa.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 We then
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 very quickly
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 planned her
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 funeral
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 and her
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 instructions
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 to me
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 were very
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 very clear.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 Put Christ
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 on display.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 don't you
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 dare tell
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 people
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 that I
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 was a
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 good
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 person.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 I said
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 no fear
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 of that.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 She left
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 me with
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 some parting
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 advice.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 We cried
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 and kissed
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 her,
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 walked away
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 never to
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 see her
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 again
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 in this
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 life.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 So
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 this is
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 this moment
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 for Paul.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 What
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 matters
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 most to
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 him
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 is key.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 Now
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 there is
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 so much
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 more that
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 could be
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 gleaned
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 from this
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 passage than
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 what I'm
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 going to
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 look at
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 tonight
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 but I
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 want to
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 focus on
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 something
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 important.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 What
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 Paul wants
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 for these
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 Ephesian
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 elders
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 is for
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 them
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 to
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 emulate
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 his
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 life.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 That's
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 what he
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 says.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 I want
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 you
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 to
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 emulate
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 my
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 God's
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 mission
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 shaped
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 life.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 God's
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 storyline
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 shaped
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 life.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 God's
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 work in
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 the
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 world
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 shaped
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 life.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 I
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 want
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 you
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 to
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 emulate
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 that.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 And
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 it's
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 not
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 unusual
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 because
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 he
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 said
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 it
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 before
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 1
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 Corinthians
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 11
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 1
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 he
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 says
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 follow
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 me
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 as
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 I
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 follow
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 Christ.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 You
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 want
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 to
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 know
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 what
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 it
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 looks
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 like
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 to
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 have
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 your
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 life
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 captured
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 by
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 God's
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 mission
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 in
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 the
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 world
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 then
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 you
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 look
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 at
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 me
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 and
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 you
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 watch
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 my
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 life.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 In
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 verse
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 24
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 we
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 see
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 his
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 vision
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 for
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 his
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 life.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 This
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 is
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 what's
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 happened
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 to him
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 ever
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 since
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 he
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 met
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 Jesus.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 I
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 consider
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 my
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 life
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 worth
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 nothing
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 to
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 me
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 if
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 only
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 I
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 may
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 finish
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 the
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 race
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 and
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 complete
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 the
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 task
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 the
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 Lord
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 Jesus
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 has
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 given
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 me.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 And
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 what's
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 the
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 task?
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 I
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 might
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 do
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 the
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 ministry
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 that
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 God
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 has
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 given
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 me.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 What's
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 this
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 ministry?
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 The
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 task
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 of
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 testifying
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 to
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 the
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 gospel
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 of
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 God's
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 grace.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 That's
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 the
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 mission.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 My
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 mission
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 in
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 life
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 is
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 to
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 do
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 God's
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 mission
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 in
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 life.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 The
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 gospel
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 of
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 God's
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 grace
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 is
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 what
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 turned
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 Paul's
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 life
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 upside
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 down
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 and
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 inside
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 out.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 This
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 is
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 the
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 guy
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 who
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 once
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 described
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 himself
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 as
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 the
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 chief
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 of
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 sinners,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 a
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 blasphemer,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 a
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 persecutor
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 of the
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 Lord
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 Jesus
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 and
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 his
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 church.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 He
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 consented
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 to
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 the
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 murder
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 and
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 beatings
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 and
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 the
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 false
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 imprisonments.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 Jesus
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 rescued
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 him
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 from
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 all of
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 that
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 miraculously,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 from all
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 the guilt
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 and the
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 condemnation
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 that went
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 with that
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 life of
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 wickedness.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 He was
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 forgiven.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 His debt
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 was wiped
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 clean.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 He was set
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 free.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 He's made
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 right with
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 God.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 He's been
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 gathered back
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 into relationship
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 with God.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 He's been
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 given eternal
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 life all
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 by grace.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 God's
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 favor rested
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 on him.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 God's
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 sin.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 How's
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 that
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 possible?
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 Verse 28,
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 the
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 church
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 of God
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 which he
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 bought
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 with the
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 blood
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 of his
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 own.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 The
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 Lord
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 Jesus
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 shed
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 his
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 blood
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 for the
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 sins
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 of the
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 world.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 And
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 it is
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 the
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 act
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 that
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 changes
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 the
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 course
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 of
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 history
00:20:37 --> 00:20:42 and
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 that
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 changed
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 the
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 course
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 of
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 Paul's
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 life.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 Paul
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 was
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 included
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 in
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 God's
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 mission
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 of
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 redemption.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 And
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 being
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 captured
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 by
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 God's
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 mission
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 he
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 was
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 able
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 to
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 say
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 I
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 consider
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 my
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 life
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 worth
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 nothing
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 to
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 me.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 If
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 only
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 I
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 may
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 finish
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 the
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 race
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 and
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 complete
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 the
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 task
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 the
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 Lord
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 has
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 given
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 me.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 You
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 see
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 the
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 pattern
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 of
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 Paul's
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 life
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 ever
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 since
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 becoming
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 a
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 Christian
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 was
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 commitment
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 to
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 Christ
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 that
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 superseded
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 self
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 interest.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 He
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 had a
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 job
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 to
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 do.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 He's
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 preoccupied
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 with
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 something
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 better
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 than life
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 itself
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 in the
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 Lord
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Jesus.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 He's
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 not
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 being
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 reckless.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 He's
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 not
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 being
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 irresponsible.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 He's
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 not
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 being
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 suicidal
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 when
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 he
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 says
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 that
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 he
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 considers
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 his
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 life
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 worth
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 nothing.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 He
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 is
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 simply
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 saying
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 that
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 Jesus
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 is
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 greater
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 than
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 my
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 career,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 than
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 my
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 ministry,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 than
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 my
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 success,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 than
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 my
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 money,
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 my
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 possessions,
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 my
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 holidays,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 my
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 children,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 my
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 body,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 my
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 significance,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 my
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 fulfillment,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 my
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 preservation,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 my
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 life.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:52 The
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 same
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 commitment
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 was
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 beautifully
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 evident
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 in the
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 life of
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 one
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 Iranian
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 pastor
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 who
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 was
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 imprisoned
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 on
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 charges
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 of
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 apostasy
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 in
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 1984.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 He
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 was
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 on
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 death
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 row
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 for
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 nine
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 years
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 before
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 he
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 finally
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 got
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 his
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 day
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 in
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 court.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 On
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 the
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 3rd
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 December
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 1993
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 he
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 wrote
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 a
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 defense
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 to
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 the
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 Sari
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 Court
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 of
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 Justice
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 and
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 this
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 is
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 part
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 of
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 what
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 he
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 wrote.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 He
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 summarized
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 his
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 life
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 with
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 these
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 words.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 I'm
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 a
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 Christian.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 As
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 a
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 sinner
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 I
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 believe
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 Jesus
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 has
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 died
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 for
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 my
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 sins
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 on
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 the
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 cross
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 and
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 by
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 his
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 resurrection
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 and
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 victory
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 over
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 death
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 has
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 made
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 me
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 righteous
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 in
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 the
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 presence
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 of
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 the
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 holy
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 God.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 In
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 response
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 to
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 this
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 kindness
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 he
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 has
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 asked
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 me
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 to
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 deny
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 myself
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 and
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 be
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 his
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 fully
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 surrendered
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 follower
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 and
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 not
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 to
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 fear
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 people
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 even
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 if
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 they
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 should
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 kill
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 my
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 body.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 Life
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 for
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 me
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 is
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 an
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 opportunity
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 to
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 serve
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 him
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 and
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 death
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 is
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 a
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 better
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 opportunity
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 to
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 be
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 with
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 Christ
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 therefore
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 I'm
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 not
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 only
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 satisfied
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 to be
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 in
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 prison
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 for
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 the
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 honor
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 of
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 his
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 holy
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 name
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 but
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 I'm
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 ready
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 to
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 give
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 my
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 life
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 for
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 the
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 sake
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 of
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 Jesus
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 my
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 Lord
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 and
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 enter
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 his
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 kingdom
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 sooner
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 the
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 place
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 where
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 the
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 elect
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 of
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 God
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 enter
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 everlasting
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 life.
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 Finally
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 the
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 charges
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 of
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 apostasy
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 were
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 removed
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 he
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 was
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 released
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 from
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 prison
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 in
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 1994
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 but
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 what
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 was
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 not
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 removed
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 was
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 the
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 death
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 sentence.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 Three
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 days
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 after being
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 released
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 from
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 prison
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 he
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 was
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 abducted
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 murdered
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 and
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 his
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 body
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 was
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 thrown
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 in
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 a
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 park.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 See
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 Paul's
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 vision
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 shaped
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 life
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 is
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 on
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 full
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 display
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 he's
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 saying
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 by
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 my
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 life
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 I'm
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 showing
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 you
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 that
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 my
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 life
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 is
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 caught
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 up
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 in
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 God's
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 story
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 the
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 story
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 of
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 my
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 life
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 is
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 caught
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 up
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 in
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 God's
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 story
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 of
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 the
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 world
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 he
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 says
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 in
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 verse
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 18
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 you
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 know
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 how
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 I
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 lived
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 the
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 whole
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 time
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 I
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 was
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 with
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 you
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 I
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 served
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 the
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 Lord
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 with
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 great
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 humility
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 and
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 with
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 tears
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 although
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 I
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 was
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 severely
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 tested
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 by
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 the
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 plots
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 of
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 the
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 Jews
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 and
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 then
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 down
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 in
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 verse
00:23:58 --> 00:24:28
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 things
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 humility
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 humility
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 honesty
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 honesty
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 industry
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 hard
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 work
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 meeting
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 needs
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 generosity
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 characterized
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 his
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 life
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 and
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 verse
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 20
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 is
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 the
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 work
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 that
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 he
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 especially
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 labored
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 hard
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 in
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 again
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 you
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 know
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 again
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 guys
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 look
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 at
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 me
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 you
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 know
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 that
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 I
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 have
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 not
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 hesitated
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 to
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 preach
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 anything
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 that
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 would
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 be
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 helpful
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 to
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 you
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 but
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 have
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 taught
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 you
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 publicly
00:24:56 --> 00:25:00 and from house to house, I have declared to both Jews and Greeks,
00:25:00 --> 00:25:04 in other words, everyone, that they must turn to God in repentance
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:11 And so Paul's mission-shaped life
00:25:11 --> 00:25:17 meant he discharged his duty to make the good news of God's grace
00:25:17 --> 00:25:20 in Jesus Christ be known to all.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:26 In fact, so thoroughly was his discharging of this duty
00:25:26 --> 00:25:29 that he says in verse 26,
00:25:29 --> 00:25:43 In other words, I have not failed to discharge that duty.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:51 See, in the gospel of the Lord Jesus, Paul discovered a greater treasure than himself.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:56 And it resulted in a gospel-shaped life,
00:25:57 --> 00:26:01 both in its authenticity and in its attention to focus
00:26:01 --> 00:26:05 on proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 from a heart of love and acts of service.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:15 And so, having said that, the apostle Paul left the Ephesian elders.
00:26:15 --> 00:26:18 He sailed off to keep giving his life to God's mission.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 He was arrested in Jerusalem, as he knew he would be.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:28 And by the providence of God, he ended up being transferred to Rome under God.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 He's like, he's gone to head office now.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:41 And the final two verses of the Acts of the Apostles says this.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:46 You know, like, now that he's arrested, has he lost his focus?
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 Here's the final two verses.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:53 For two whole years, Paul stayed there in his own rented house
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 and welcomed all who came to see him.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 Boldly and without hindrance,
00:26:58 --> 00:27:01 he preached the kingdom of God
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 Right to the very end.
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 Although he's bound by house arrest,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:16 what this is saying here is that the word of God wasn't.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:20 This servant of the gospel of the Lord Jesus
00:27:20 --> 00:27:23 will soon lose his life,
00:27:23 --> 00:27:27 but the gospel will keep on advancing to the ends of the earth.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:29 Paul will be dead,
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 but Jesus is still alive.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:36 And when we commit ourselves to the Lord Jesus and his gospel,
00:27:37 --> 00:27:41 we are committing to God's unstoppable, eternal purposes.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:45 The ripple effects of God's mission
00:27:45 --> 00:27:49 will only grow in magnitude for all of eternity.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:53 Who would have thought that 2 years later,
00:27:53 --> 00:27:56 we would be talking about the apostle Paul
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 in a country that he never knew existed.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 You want impact for your life?
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 There's impact.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 You want to leave a legacy?
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 There's a legacy.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:13 In the past couple of weeks,
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 you've potentially seen in the media
00:28:14 --> 00:28:18 about a young American missionary,
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 26 years of age,
00:28:19 --> 00:28:22 went to North Centauri Islands
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 in the Indian Ocean
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 and was killed.
00:28:26 --> 00:28:32 Just nod your head if you've seen that.
00:28:33 --> 00:28:38 I have seen secular media just cane this guy.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:40 What an idiot throwing his life away like that.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:46 I've seen Christians saying exactly the same thing.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 What a waste of life.
00:28:47 --> 00:28:53 Is it?
00:28:58 --> 00:29:01 We Christians have got a tendency to say the same thing
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 as the world.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:05 And we don't learn from history.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 In the 1800s,
00:29:08 --> 00:29:11 two men went to a place called New Hebrides,
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 which is now called Vanuatu.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:16 John Williams and James Harris.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 First two missionaries
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 out of the London Missionary Society
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 got on a boat,
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 went to the New Hebrides,
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 walked on a beach,
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27 and within 10 minutes of walking on the beach,
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 both of them were clubbed to death.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 They were cooked and eaten
00:29:30 --> 00:29:32 before the ship had pulled anchor and left.
00:29:33 --> 00:29:36 You go back to the church in Scotland
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 where they came from
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 and they said,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 what a wasted life.
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 Two young men,
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 lives are gone.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 What a wasted life.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 Within 15 years,
00:29:44 --> 00:29:46 a man named John Patton said,
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 I'll be the next.
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 John Patton goes down there
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 and the church in Scotland said,
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 don't do it,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 don't do it,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 they'll eat you.
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 Patton walked onto the beach
00:29:57 --> 00:30:01 and after 30 odd years of ministry,
00:30:03 --> 00:30:05 the whole island of Inewa
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 was converted.
00:30:06 --> 00:30:09 And today,
00:30:09 --> 00:30:13 60% of Vanuatu
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 declares itself to be Christian.
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 And John Patton says,
00:30:19 --> 00:30:21 the way was opened by God
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 through the blood of two men.
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 And I've just mentioned
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 John Williams
00:30:28 --> 00:30:30 and James Harris
00:30:30 --> 00:30:33 who are still known in the history books,
00:30:33 --> 00:30:36 who still leave a lasting legacy
00:30:36 --> 00:30:39 even though their lives were cut short.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 Who knows what God is going to do
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 in the North Sentinelese Islands
00:30:45 --> 00:30:47 as he by his Holy Spirit
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 could convict people
00:30:49 --> 00:30:51 for the atrocity they've committed
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 against another human being.
00:30:52 --> 00:30:56 We don't know.
00:30:58 --> 00:31:00 And the only reason you would say
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 that life's a wasted life
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 is because you've been captured
00:31:02 --> 00:31:04 by a different story.
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 See, God's story,
00:31:11 --> 00:31:13 his mission in the world
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 is what I've just said.
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 But there's another story
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 that's arisen
00:31:16 --> 00:31:18 in the last couple of hundred years
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 and it's taken up residence
00:31:19 --> 00:31:22 in the soul of the Western world.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 And it's becoming
00:31:24 --> 00:31:26 more and more dominant
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 and it's very dominant now.
00:31:29 --> 00:31:32 It's become the purpose of life
00:31:32 --> 00:31:34 for much of the Western world
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 and the technical term for it
00:31:36 --> 00:31:38 is philosophical naturalism.
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 That's a fancy name
00:31:41 --> 00:31:44 for materialism.
00:31:45 --> 00:31:47 And it's worth comparing
00:31:47 --> 00:31:50 the story of philosophical naturalism
00:31:50 --> 00:31:52 which is in our lifeblood
00:31:52 --> 00:31:55 in this society
00:31:55 --> 00:31:57 to God's story.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 This is a three-chapter story.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:02 Philosophical naturalism,
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 materialism is a three-chapter story.
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 It goes like this.
00:32:05 --> 00:32:07 Big bang, evolution, nothing.
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 In the big bang,
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 there's no supernatural
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 or spiritual power.
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 There's no creator.
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 There's nothing that rules
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 the physical universe.
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 Everything that can be seen
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 and measured
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 is a,
00:32:22 --> 00:32:24 which is the only thing that exists,
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 only things that can be seen
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 and measured
00:32:25 --> 00:32:28 is a result of an explosion
00:32:28 --> 00:32:31 that appeared out of nothing
00:32:31 --> 00:32:33 billions of years ago.
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 That's chapter one.
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 Random.
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 Boom.
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 Boom.
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 Chapter two.
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 Is that this earth,
00:32:43 --> 00:32:45 which is a result of that boom,
00:32:46 --> 00:32:50 is in exactly the right place,
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 revolving around the sun
00:32:52 --> 00:32:54 at exactly the right speed
00:32:54 --> 00:32:58 in order for life to evolve.
00:33:00 --> 00:33:02 Against all the odds,
00:33:02 --> 00:33:05 humanity has evolved
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 from prehistoric soup
00:33:06 --> 00:33:09 to be the dominant species
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 on the earth
00:33:10 --> 00:33:12 for the time being.
00:33:15 --> 00:33:17 And despite what people might think,
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 despite what they might feel,
00:33:20 --> 00:33:22 there is no such thing
00:33:22 --> 00:33:24 as absolute right or wrong.
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 If you happen to feel
00:33:26 --> 00:33:28 that there is an absolute right or wrong,
00:33:28 --> 00:33:30 it's because there's a chemical reaction
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 in your brain
00:33:31 --> 00:33:33 as a result of evolution.
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 But you've just got to ignore that
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 because it's just not true.
00:33:36 --> 00:33:39 Because everything is an accident
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 and it's random,
00:33:40 --> 00:33:43 then there is no absolute purpose in life.
00:33:43 --> 00:33:45 You can create purpose for life.
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 You can create your own purpose
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 if you want to,
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 but that's something
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 that you have created
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 as a finite being.
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 And that's what you'd need
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 in order to exist in life,
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 then that's fine,
00:33:54 --> 00:33:56 but it's not real.
00:33:56 --> 00:34:00 And so,
00:34:00 --> 00:34:03 that means that this life
00:34:03 --> 00:34:05 is all you have,
00:34:05 --> 00:34:07 make the most of it,
00:34:07 --> 00:34:09 and the goal of this life
00:34:09 --> 00:34:11 is for you to be as happy
00:34:11 --> 00:34:13 as you possibly can be.
00:34:16 --> 00:34:18 And to be as happy
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 as you possibly can be,
00:34:20 --> 00:34:23 you must consume experiences
00:34:23 --> 00:34:25 and accumulate things.
00:34:29 --> 00:34:31 And the reason you must do that
00:34:31 --> 00:34:35 is because chapter three is there.
00:34:35 --> 00:34:37 And it could happen at any time.
00:34:38 --> 00:34:41 The sun is just going to burn up.
00:34:41 --> 00:34:43 We're going to slip our axis
00:34:43 --> 00:34:47 and spin off into the Netherlands.
00:34:47 --> 00:34:50 Humanity will become extinct.
00:34:51 --> 00:34:53 There's no form of afterlife.
00:34:53 --> 00:34:55 There's no survival of the conscience.
00:34:56 --> 00:34:59 The story of materialism
00:34:59 --> 00:35:02 is that this life is it.
00:35:03 --> 00:35:06 Which is why when a 26-year-old
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 throws his life away,
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 we go,
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 what an idiot.
00:35:12 --> 00:35:15 We call that a wasted life.
00:35:17 --> 00:35:20 Where materialism says
00:35:20 --> 00:35:22 everything is random,
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 there's no good or evil,
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 there's nothing to hope for,
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 the biblical storyline
00:35:26 --> 00:35:28 is that we have a loving creator
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30 who has triumphed over evil
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 at great cost to himself
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 to love you dearly.
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 And we look forward to a day
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 when everything that's wrong
00:35:35 --> 00:35:37 is going to be made right.
00:35:37 --> 00:35:39 And we will live with him
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 in blissful joy
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 for all of eternity.
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 I've got to tell you,
00:35:43 --> 00:35:45 the biblical storyline
00:35:45 --> 00:35:47 just seems so much more compelling.
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 And it's not just compelling.
00:35:53 --> 00:35:56 If you're not convinced by it,
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 it is true
00:35:58 --> 00:36:00 and I can show you how it's true.
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 I can tell you
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 that it is more reasonable
00:36:03 --> 00:36:05 than every other
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 of the grand narratives
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 that are out there.
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 And if you're not a Christian,
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 I'd invite you to jump on board
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 with this
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 and start investigating
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 the claims of Jesus
00:36:12 --> 00:36:14 and his worldview today.
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 But here's the thing.
00:36:20 --> 00:36:22 Philosophical naturalism
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 or God's biblical storyline,
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 whichever one you choose,
00:36:27 --> 00:36:29 it will require
00:36:29 --> 00:36:31 demand of you,
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 your time,
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 your talents,
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 and your treasures.
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 Whichever one you serve,
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 you're serving it.
00:36:40 --> 00:36:48 And that's why I'm calling you today
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 to serve the biblical.
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 Don't keep a foot
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 in both worlds.
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 I'm calling you
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 to jump on board
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 with God's storyline.
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 One of the things
00:36:58 --> 00:37:00 we're doing practically tonight
00:37:00 --> 00:37:00 is pledging.
00:37:02 --> 00:37:04 We do this every year.
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 One of the things
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 that I do
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 is I declare
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 what Natalie and I
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 and the kids
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 are giving
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 to this mission
00:37:11 --> 00:37:13 in this church.
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 And staff
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 and parish council
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 follow me.
00:37:16 --> 00:37:16 I get this from
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 1 Chronicles 29.
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 I've written about this
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 a number of times.
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 Staff and parish council
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 follow me
00:37:21 --> 00:37:23 and then I invite
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 the rest of you
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 to follow.
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 For next year,
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 Natalie and I
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 are giving
00:37:28 --> 00:37:30 $350 a week
00:37:30 --> 00:37:32 to God's mission
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 in St. Paul's.
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 Our giving to poor
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 and mission
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 is on top of that.
00:37:39 --> 00:37:41 Staff and parish council
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 have in this week
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 followed suit
00:37:42 --> 00:37:44 and they have pledged
00:37:44 --> 00:37:47 $3 per week
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 between them.
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 That's 40%,
00:37:49 --> 00:37:51 almost 40%
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 of our target
00:37:52 --> 00:37:52 that we're hoping
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 to reach
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 just from staff
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 and parish council.
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 They've also contributed
00:37:57 --> 00:37:59 $16
00:37:59 --> 00:38:01 to our 50
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 project
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 for our local
00:38:03 --> 00:38:04 mission project
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 for our next gen ministries.
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 That's 30%
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 that's been raised
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 from parish council
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 and staff
00:38:08 --> 00:38:09 and they have
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 contributed
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 $2
00:38:11 --> 00:38:13 towards the
00:38:13 --> 00:38:15 Ropes Crossing
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 Global Mission Project.
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 Staff and parish council
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 have put 50%
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 towards that one
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 already.
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 What I'm calling you
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 to do
00:38:24 --> 00:38:25 is to play your part
00:38:25 --> 00:38:27 in God's mission
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 and to do it
00:38:28 --> 00:38:28 on purpose here.
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 God's mission
00:38:29 --> 00:38:31 is to overthrow
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 Satan
00:38:31 --> 00:38:33 gathering people
00:38:33 --> 00:38:33 to himself
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 through the Lord Jesus
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 so that they
00:38:35 --> 00:38:36 might live forever
00:38:36 --> 00:38:38 in his presence
00:38:38 --> 00:38:39 as his much-loved
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 children.
00:38:39 --> 00:38:40 God's plan
00:38:40 --> 00:38:40 is to gather
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 children to himself
00:38:41 --> 00:38:43 to be in the likeness
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 of his true son
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 the Lord Jesus
00:38:45 --> 00:38:45 remember he tribe,
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 language, nation
00:38:46 --> 00:38:47 and people.
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 How do you purposely
00:38:49 --> 00:38:50 play your part
00:38:50 --> 00:38:51 in God's mission
00:38:51 --> 00:38:51 in this world?
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 Very simply
00:38:53 --> 00:38:54 by surrendering
00:38:54 --> 00:38:55 your time,
00:38:55 --> 00:38:55 your talents
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 and your treasures
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 to the cause of Christ
00:38:57 --> 00:38:58 in such a way
00:38:58 --> 00:38:58 that it makes
00:38:58 --> 00:39:00 Jesus look magnificent.
00:39:02 --> 00:39:04 It makes your life
00:39:04 --> 00:39:05 look like
00:39:05 --> 00:39:06 it is out of step
00:39:06 --> 00:39:08 with philosophical
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 naturalism.
00:39:09 --> 00:39:11 We don't live for that.
00:39:12 --> 00:39:13 We live for this.
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 And it means
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 things like
00:39:17 --> 00:39:19 as we pull in
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 the whole series
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 together,
00:39:19 --> 00:39:20 we grow up in the
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 character of the Lord
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 Jesus so that
00:39:22 --> 00:39:23 our motive to see
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 God glorified
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 is love
00:39:25 --> 00:39:26 and our actions
00:39:26 --> 00:39:27 are service of others.
00:39:27 --> 00:39:29 We pray that God
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 will open the eyes
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 and transform hearts
00:39:31 --> 00:39:32 that people might see
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 the beauty
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 and the glory
00:39:34 --> 00:39:34 and the worth
00:39:34 --> 00:39:35 of Christ.
00:39:36 --> 00:39:36 We proclaim
00:39:36 --> 00:39:37 the good news
00:39:37 --> 00:39:38 that Jesus died
00:39:38 --> 00:39:39 for sins.
00:39:39 --> 00:39:41 He's risen triumphant
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 over all evil
00:39:42 --> 00:39:43 and reign supreme
00:39:43 --> 00:39:44 as Lord of all.
00:39:44 --> 00:39:45 And we do it together
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 as his people.
00:39:46 --> 00:39:47 We do it by supporting
00:39:47 --> 00:39:49 what God has been doing
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 and is doing
00:39:50 --> 00:39:50 at the moment
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 around the world.
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 We do it
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 wherever God
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 has placed us
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 as his ambassadors
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 in societies.
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 We heard from
00:39:56 --> 00:39:58 Coe earlier
00:39:58 --> 00:39:59 about being at school.
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 I want to ask you
00:40:01 --> 00:40:02 as we come
00:40:02 --> 00:40:03 to the end
00:40:03 --> 00:40:03 of this series,
00:40:04 --> 00:40:05 how have you been
00:40:05 --> 00:40:05 going with your
00:40:05 --> 00:40:06 My Purpose
00:40:06 --> 00:40:07 Health Checkup?
00:40:08 --> 00:40:10 What is the next step?
00:40:10 --> 00:40:12 Don't just sit here
00:40:12 --> 00:40:13 and absorb
00:40:13 --> 00:40:13 and absorb
00:40:13 --> 00:40:14 and absorb
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 but don't do anything.
00:40:15 --> 00:40:16 What is the next step
00:40:16 --> 00:40:17 you need to take?
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 I plead with you
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20 not just sit
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 comfortable.
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23 Is it a crawl?
00:40:23 --> 00:40:24 Is it a walk?
00:40:24 --> 00:40:24 Is it a run?
00:40:24 --> 00:40:26 Do you need to take
00:40:26 --> 00:40:26 the first step
00:40:26 --> 00:40:26 in fact
00:40:26 --> 00:40:27 and start following
00:40:27 --> 00:40:29 Jesus tonight?
00:40:29 --> 00:40:29 Do you need to
00:40:29 --> 00:40:31 increase the regularity
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 that you have at church?
00:40:32 --> 00:40:34 Do you need to prepare
00:40:34 --> 00:40:34 your heart
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 for corporate worship
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 so that you don't
00:40:36 --> 00:40:37 just turn up
00:40:37 --> 00:40:38 when the music starts
00:40:38 --> 00:40:39 but you're actually
00:40:39 --> 00:40:40 ready to engage
00:40:40 --> 00:40:41 to sing,
00:40:41 --> 00:40:41 to pray,
00:40:42 --> 00:40:43 to listen to God,
00:40:43 --> 00:40:44 to engage with others?
00:40:45 --> 00:40:45 Do you need to
00:40:45 --> 00:40:46 join a community group?
00:40:46 --> 00:40:47 Do it.
00:40:47 --> 00:40:47 Sign up at the table
00:40:47 --> 00:40:48 tonight.
00:40:48 --> 00:40:49 Do you need to
00:40:49 --> 00:40:50 start serving
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 and join a ministry team?
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 Sign up at the table
00:40:52 --> 00:40:53 tonight.
00:40:53 --> 00:40:54 Do you need to
00:40:54 --> 00:40:54 take further steps
00:40:54 --> 00:40:56 towards radical
00:40:56 --> 00:40:57 generosity with your
00:40:57 --> 00:40:57 resources?
00:40:57 --> 00:40:58 Do that tonight.
00:40:59 --> 00:40:59 Do you need to
00:40:59 --> 00:41:00 start praying for
00:41:00 --> 00:41:01 someone to know
00:41:01 --> 00:41:02 the truth and for
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03 opportunities for you
00:41:03 --> 00:41:04 to speak the truth?
00:41:04 --> 00:41:05 Do you need,
00:41:05 --> 00:41:06 first of all,
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 just to learn what
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 the truth is and
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 how to speak it well?
00:41:09 --> 00:41:10 What is the next
00:41:10 --> 00:41:11 step?
00:41:12 --> 00:41:14 That your life
00:41:14 --> 00:41:16 might be on
00:41:16 --> 00:41:17 purpose,
00:41:19 --> 00:41:19 aligned
00:41:19 --> 00:41:21 to God's
00:41:21 --> 00:41:22 purpose,
00:41:22 --> 00:41:23 to God's
00:41:23 --> 00:41:23 story?
00:41:24 --> 00:41:25 What do you
00:41:25 --> 00:41:25 need to do
00:41:25 --> 00:41:27 to take the
00:41:27 --> 00:41:27 next step
00:41:27 --> 00:41:28 to jump into
00:41:28 --> 00:41:29 God's storyline
00:41:29 --> 00:41:31 and find
00:41:31 --> 00:41:32 real impact,
00:41:32 --> 00:41:33 real legacy?