Uncomfortable Life
Series: THE TRIUMPHANT LIFE
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 23rd March 2019
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Unmet expectation breeds conflict.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 This is one of the things I always talk to.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:12 I talk to couples that are about to get married.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:16 I always try to get them to talk about many things.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 You know, have you spoken about how many kids that you want to have?
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 Whether you're going to have kids at all?
00:00:23 --> 00:00:29 Because if you both have expectations and they're not met, it will breed conflict.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:37 John Piper, in his book, The Roots of Endurance, says that here in the Western civilization,
00:00:37 --> 00:00:42 there is a mindset that we deserve trouble-free, pain-free existence.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 So we expect to be able to go to the school that we want to.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 We expect to have all the creature comforts of life.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:53 We expect that life will be comfortable.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:58 Maybe if you've moved to Australia, you came here for those reasons.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:05 A better life, a better job, a place to raise your kids, to avoid pain and conflict.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 What is the expectation of our lives?
00:01:10 --> 00:01:15 Is it the avoidance of pain and suffering and the pursuit of comfort and pleasures?
00:01:15 --> 00:01:28 Is it possible that we bring in this Western mindset of having a safe, risk-averse, pain-free life into the life of Christianity?
00:01:28 --> 00:01:33 What are the expectations of the Christian life?
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 If you're a Christian, what are the expectations that you have of Christianity?
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 Is it a settled, comfortable life?
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 What does it cost to be a Christian?
00:01:46 --> 00:01:53 How much does being a Christian impact your job, where you live, the people that you welcome into your own home?
00:01:55 --> 00:01:59 Does being a committed Christian just look like coming to church on a Sunday?
00:01:59 --> 00:02:08 What is the expectation of how much our entire life will be shaped and impacted by Jesus?
00:02:08 --> 00:02:16 Is Christianity just like supporting a sporting team, where we just have our life and the sporting team sits on top,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:24 and sometimes we're really serious about the sport, and sometimes it's the off-season, and we don't even think about it at all?
00:02:24 --> 00:02:32 Jesus is going to set some clear expectations about what the Christian life looks like.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:41 We're in John chapter 15, and Jesus is just about to die, and to be raised to the throne above all thrones.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:46 Raised in glory, as we see God's kingdom breaking in.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 Dead people are raised to life.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 The Holy Spirit starts dwelling within people.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 It's a new world.
00:02:52 --> 00:03:02 But what is it going to look like for the Christians in this stage between Jesus' death and resurrection, and Jesus' return?
00:03:03 --> 00:03:09 Where Jesus is the King of the cosmos, but the whole world isn't yet following Him.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:15 What's going to happen when there's conflict on the earth between those who follow Jesus and those who don't?
00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 What can we expect this life to look like while we wait?
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 Let me pray as we jump into chapter 15 and 16.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 Heavenly Father, be with us tonight.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:30 Help us to hear what you have to say to us individually,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:35 so that we would depend upon you and to be shaped to be more like your Son.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:35 Amen.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:44 And so Jesus has spent time over the last couple of chapters, the last couple of weeks that we've been looking at this book,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:48 explaining the positives of what it means to be a Christian.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 Those who follow Jesus have life.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 Jesus is going to prepare a house.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 Christians will have the Holy Spirit.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:02 Christians are invited into the awesome love of the Trinity.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:10 He calls on us to abide in His love, shaped by the Father, and to love other people.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:15 And now He has some very sobering words.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 Chapter 15, verse 18.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:19 What...
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 Have a look with me.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 Chapter 15, verse 18.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:28 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 If you belong to the world, it would love you as its own.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:39 As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 That is why the world hates you.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 Hatred.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 It's a pretty sharp turn for Jesus.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:52 If the disciples were hoping that everything was going to be smooth sailing, following Jesus,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 Jesus makes their expectations really clear.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 Christians have been taken out of the world.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 We are owned by Jesus.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:08 And so if Jesus was hated by the world, well, so will those who are owned by Him.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:17 Jesus is saying, don't be surprised if the world's hatred goes from being on me to now being on you.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 Jesus had been the focus of the hate.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 And now it's going to turn to His followers.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 There's going to be conflict between Christians and the world,
00:05:26 --> 00:05:30 because Christians don't belong to the world anymore.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 We are taken as His.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 We are owned by Him.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:39 And Jesus' followers slowly start to look like Jesus,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:44 in their love and obedience and fruitfulness being connected to the vine.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 Jesus stood out.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 And people didn't like that.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 And Jesus' followers are going to stand out as well.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 Increasingly so, in our culture,
00:05:57 --> 00:06:01 those who joyfully follow Jesus and obey Him,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 just don't make sense to the rest of the world.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 People love to rebel, particularly against God.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 And so when Christians joyfully obey God,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 at the least people are surprised,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 and at the worst, people hate.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 I remember many, many years ago,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 people saying to me,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:24 what do you mean you've chosen not to have sex before marriage?
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 How can you be happy in that situation?
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 You're limiting your rights.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 How are you going to know that she's the right person to marry?
00:06:32 --> 00:06:37 It's like when someone changes a team that they support.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 Can somebody offer me a team sport?
00:06:42 --> 00:06:42 Curling?
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 I don't know.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 Something far more mainstream than that.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:48 AFL.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:49 Thank you, Liv.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 And give me an AFL team, Liv.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 GWS.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:54 GWS.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:56 Yes.
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 The greater Western Sydney Giants.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:05 When GWS started, I was living in Parramatta,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 so I have an affinity for GWS.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:11 Their arch rival is, of course, the Swans.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 That's right.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 Now imagine that, you know, every weekend,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 there's Liv and Darcy.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:20 They're out there supporting GWS,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 loving it, having a great time.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 But then, for some reason,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 Darcy changed teams.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 He's gone to the Swans.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 Can you imagine their relationship?
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 All of a sudden,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 we used to go to this game together,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 and now you're on the other side.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 You're not only going for another team,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 you're going for our arch rival.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 You're going for our nemesis.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 How are you going to go for them?
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 Christians are people who have been literally plucked
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 from being on the wrong team
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 against God,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 and now we are placed on God's team.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:01 Jesus has come as the captain of the new team
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 and plucked us out.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 And so Christians are going to be treated
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 the same way that Jesus was treated.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:12 I'm trying to click.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 There we go.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 Oh, too far.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:14 There we go.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:14 Go back one.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 And so there's a positive and negative
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 to the way that Jesus was treated
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 and the way we're going to be treated too.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 Have a look with me at verse 20.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 Jesus said,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 if they persecute me,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 and some of them did persecute Jesus,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 they will persecute you also.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 Some of them certainly did get jealous
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 and angry and kill Jesus.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 So expect the same thing.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 But some people didn't.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 Some people, like the disciples
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 and those people that he healed in particular,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 some of them didn't persecute Jesus.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 Some of them followed him.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 And so Jesus was persecuted by some
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 and others followed.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 And so for those who follow Jesus,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 the same thing is going to happen.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 Some will persecute
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 and some will not persecute and listen.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 Jesus said,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 if they obeyed my teaching,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 they will obey yours also.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 So how is Jesus treated?
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 Well, some of them obeyed Jesus' teaching,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 like the disciples,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 Mary, Martha, Lazarus,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 again, those who were healed.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 Some will obey Jesus,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 but not all will listen.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 People were divided around Jesus.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 Much like the Pharisees,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 they seemed to be like a whole group
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 who didn't like Jesus,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 and yet even they are divided.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 And you get someone like Nicodemus
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 who stands out from the crowd.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 But Jesus is like a knife
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 that cuts through a crowd.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 Some fall this way,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 some fall that way.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 People are divided around Jesus,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 and it's going to be the same
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 with the disciples.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 We're going to divide people.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 So expect some people
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 to listen to you
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 when you talk about
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 what you were doing
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 on Sunday afternoon at church.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 expect some people
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 to ridicule you
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 and persecute you
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 just for coming to church.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 It leads to the question,
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 why all the hate?
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 Why are people so divided
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 around Jesus?
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 Why are people then
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 and even now
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 divided around Jesus' followers?
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 Verse 22,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 If I had not come
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 and spoken to them,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 they would not be guilty of sin.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 But now,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 they have no excuse
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 for their sin.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 By coming,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 Jesus has brought
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 before people's eyes
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 the most central
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 and controlling of sins.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 The rejection
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 and rebellion of God.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 Jesus has come,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 God in the flesh,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 and people refuse
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 to listen to God,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 and it's damning.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 The Pharisees
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 didn't like it
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 when they were told
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 that they were worshipping God
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 in the wrong way.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 They were offering praise
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 and service
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 which was actually
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 just all about themselves.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 And even now,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 when we hold out
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 the good news
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 about Jesus
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 being the only way
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 to God,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 it causes
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 a rejection
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 of not just us
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 but a rejection
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 of Jesus
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 and a hatred
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 towards those
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 who follow him.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 Why all the hate?
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 Because just like Jesus,
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Christians are called
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 to stand up
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 and reveal sin.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 Our lives
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 will reveal sin
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 in other people's lives.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 This paints
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 a dark
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 and difficult picture
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 of the future
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 for the disciples.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 And anyone else,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 including ourselves,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 that follows Jesus,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 what is the point
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 of Jesus
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 telling the disciples
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 all of this?
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 Have a look at
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 verse 1
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 of chapter 16
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 with me.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 All this
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 I have told you
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 so you will
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 not fall away.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 Jesus is telling
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 the disciples this
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 so that they have
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 clear expectations.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 They know what to expect.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 It's a big purpose
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 statement
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 for this segment.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 Jesus has so much
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 concern
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 for this little flock.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 He has so much
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 love for them.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 He doesn't want
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 them to fall away.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 He's already
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 lost Judas
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 who he sent
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 out
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 to go and
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 betray him.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 He is preparing
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 them
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 so that they
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 won't fall away.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 So they're not
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 surprised
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 and they won't
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 stumble.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 The Greek word
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 for fall away
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 is
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 skandalizo.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 It's one of my
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 favorite Greek words.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 That's why I still
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 remember it.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 And it's the word
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 that we get
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 scandalized from.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 Jesus doesn't
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 want these disciples
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 to be scandalized
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 by falling away
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 and ruining
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 their lives.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 And so Jesus
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 gets them ready
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 to know what
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 to expect
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 in a Christian
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 walk.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 He doesn't want
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 to lose his
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 disciples
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 and so he's
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 preparing them.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 And Jesus
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 in his final
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 moments
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 gives them
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 such an
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 awesome view
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 of God
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 he's making
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 sure that they
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 get to God
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 and don't
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 fall away
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 like Judas.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 He's not
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 pretending that
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 everything's fine
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 don't worry
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 follow me
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 after I die
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 it's all
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 going to be
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 hunky-dory
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 you know
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 there's not
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 going to be
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 any problems
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 at all.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 It's not that.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 Far better
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 for Jesus
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 to prepare
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 his disciples.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 I'm going
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 to go
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 and the same
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 way that they
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 treat me
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 they're going
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 to treat you.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 Make sure
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 that they
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 didn't go
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 into Christianity
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 with rose
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 tinted glasses.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 I remember
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 reading a book
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 a couple of
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 years ago
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 about how to
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 preach an
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 evangelistic sermon
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 how to preach
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 in a way
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 so that at
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 the end
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 you can call
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 people to
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 follow Jesus
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 you know
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 come down
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 the front
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 put your
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 hand up
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 whatever way
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 you like
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 doing
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 but the
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 author made
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 a note
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 that when
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 people do
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 come down
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 the front
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 let's say
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 I'll take
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 Lachlan as
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 an example
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 let's say
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 you know
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 Lachlan wanted
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 to commit
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 his life
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 to Jesus
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 the author
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 encouraged
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 people to
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 push
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 and say
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 you know
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 Lachlan
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 why do you
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 want to be
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 a Christian?
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 It's not
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 going to be
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 easy
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 are you sure
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 you want to
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 be a Christian?
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 and at
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 first I
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 thought this
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 was a little
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 crazy
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 it's a bit
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 counterintuitive
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 you know
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 if Lachlan
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 wants to be
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 a Christian
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 quick
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 sign on
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 the dotted
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 line
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 we'll get
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 the tank
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 in
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 we'll get
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 him dunked
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 we'll get
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 him baptized
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 we're not
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 going to tell
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 him about
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 persecution
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 we're not
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 going to warn
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 him that
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 it's going
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 to be hard
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 that there
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 will be
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 consequences
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 with family
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 and friends
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 just push
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 him over the
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 line
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 but if we
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 forget in
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 our zeal
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 and desire
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 a good
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 desire to
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 see people
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 follow Jesus
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 if we
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 forget that
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 Christianity
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 is not
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 easy
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 it's possible
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 to go into
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 Christianity
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 with unfair
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 expectations
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 that God
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 will do
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 everything I
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 want
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 a Christianity
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 where yes
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 Jesus died
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 for me
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 but a
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 Christianity
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 that says
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 Jesus I
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 want you
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 to do
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 what I
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 want
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 when I
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 want
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 you keep
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 providing
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 for me
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 and I'll
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 keep
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 following
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 you
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 and then
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 what happens
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 when life
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 is tough
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 when their
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 expectations
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 of
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 Christianity
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 are dashed
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 by persecution
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 or hate
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 because they're
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 trying hard
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 to obey
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 Jesus
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 will they
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 crumble
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 when the
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 first roadblock
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 hits
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 will they
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 crumble
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 when God
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 doesn't
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 actually
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 take the
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 roadblock
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 away
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 but it's
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 there so
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 that they're
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 encouraged
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 to trust
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 in God
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 more
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 Jesus
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 sets
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 clear
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 expectations
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 of what's
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 going to
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 happen
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 he is
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 real
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 with the
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 disciples
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 he doesn't
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 sugarcoat
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 it
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 he tells
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 them the
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 painful
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 truth
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 chapter 16
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 verse 2
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 then they
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 will put
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 you out
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 of the
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 synagogue
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 in fact
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 the time
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 is coming
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 when anyone
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 who kills
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 you will
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 think they
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 are offering
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 a service
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 to God
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 they will
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 do such
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 things
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 because they
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 have not
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 known the
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 father
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 or me
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 Jesus
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 is predicting
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 what is
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 going to
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 happen to
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 him
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 that he
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 would be
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 killed
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 and people
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 would think
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 that they
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 were doing
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 the right
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 thing
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 they were
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 serving
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 God
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 it reminds
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 us of
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 the apostle
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 Paul
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 who was
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 totally
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 convinced
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 he was
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 doing
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 the right
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 thing
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 persecuting
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 Christians
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 putting
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 Christians
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 to death
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 heading to
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 Damascus
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 to put
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 more
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 Christians
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 in jail
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 full of
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 misguided
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 zeal
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 until he
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 was confronted
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 by Jesus
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 himself
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 Jesus said
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 I have
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 told you
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 this
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 so that
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 when your
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 time comes
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 you will
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 remember
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 that I
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 warned you
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 about them
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 Jesus
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 is warning
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 them so it
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 drives people
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 back to him
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 in trust
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 and dependence
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 because even
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 though
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 Christianity
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 will not be
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 easy it will
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 not be a
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 comfortable
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 life
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 Jesus has
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 done enough
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 for us
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 to trust
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 and depend
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 upon him
00:16:56 --> 00:16:59 Jesus
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 has told
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 us
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 what's
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 going
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 to
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 happen
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 to
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 Christians
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 in the
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 world
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 waiting
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 on his
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 return
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 and now
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 he tells
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 us about
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 what the
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 Holy Spirit
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 will be
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 doing
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 in the
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 world
00:17:08 --> 00:17:13 he tells
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 us what
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 the Spirit
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 will be
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 doing
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 have a look
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 at verse
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 8
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 when he
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 comes
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 he will
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 prove the
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 world to
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 be in
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 the wrong
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 about sin
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 and righteousness
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 and judgment
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 the believers
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 might be left
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 in a world
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 of hate
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 directed to
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 them
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 causing them
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 to depend
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 upon Jesus
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 but the Spirit
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 is going to be
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 working in
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 that same
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 world
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 convicting
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 people about
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 sin
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 and righteousness
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 and judgment
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 verse 9
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 about sin
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 because people
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 do not
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 believe in
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 me
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 about
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 righteousness
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 because I'm
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 going to the
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 Father where
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 you can see
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 me no
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 longer
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 and judgment
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 because the
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 prince of
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 this world
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 now stands
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 condemned
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 just as
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 Jesus
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 caused a
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 division
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 between
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 people
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 the Holy
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 Spirit is
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 going to
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 come and
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 confront
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 people in
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 the same
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 way
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 it does
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 it in
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 our lives
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 in the
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 lives of
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 believers
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 causing us
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 to confront
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 our own
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 sin
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 and he'll
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 keep doing
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 it in
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 the world
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 the Spirit
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 convicts the
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 world of its
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 sin
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 because the
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 world hasn't
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 believed that
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 Jesus is
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 from God
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 it's convicted
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 in righteousness
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 because Jesus
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 is the only
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 one who is
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 right before
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 God
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 the only
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 one who
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 is good
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32 and judgment
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 because the
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 devil has
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 been condemned
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 and this is a
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 promise about
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 God's
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 continued
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 graciousness
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 to us
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 Christians
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 are to
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 continue
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 Jesus's
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 ministry
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 and people
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 are going
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 to respond
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 and be
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 divided
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 some will
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 hate
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 and some
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 the Spirit
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 will work
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 in their
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 hearts to
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 follow the
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 Lord
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 making them
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 realize their
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 need for
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 Jesus and
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 to turn to
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 him
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 to be on
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 his team
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 and to stop
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 being on
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 the world's
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 team
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 the Holy
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 Spirit does
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 it out in
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 the world
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 and he does
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 it often
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 through the
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 witness of
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 his disciples
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 verse 26
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 and 27
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 of chapter
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 15
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 explain that
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 the Holy
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 Spirit will
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 testify to
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 the truth
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 and so
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 are Christians
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 who follow
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 the Lord
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 Christians aren't
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 just to hide
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 away and stay
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 safe and think
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 okay I'm now
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 following Jesus
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 and there's lots
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 of temptations
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 out there
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 so I'm going to
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 hide from them
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 I'm going to go
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 into this little
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 bubble
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 I'm only going to
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 hang out with
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 Christians
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 I'm going to
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 hide in my
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 little cave
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 and I'll
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 be safe
00:19:36 --> 00:19:39 Christians
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 don't just
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 hide away
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 and stay
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 safe
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 try and have
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 a risk
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 averse life
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 to try and
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 protect themselves
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 part of the
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 Christian walk
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 in the world
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 is to testify
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 about Jesus
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 we can do this
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 in two ways
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 we can do it
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 passively
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 which is
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 just following
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 Jesus
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 and people
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 will see
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 him in our
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 lives
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 or we can
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 do it
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 actively
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 where we
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 verbally testify
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 and we go
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 on the front
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 foot
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 sharing Jesus
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 message and
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 mission
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 the testimony
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 of a life
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 the passive
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 way goes
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 something like
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 this
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 where I'm
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 just going
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 to work
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 really hard
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 through the
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 power of the
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 Holy Spirit
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 to follow
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 Jesus in my
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 life
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 I'm going
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 to be
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 praying
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 reading God's
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 word
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 shaped more
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 like him
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 and asking
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 the Holy
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 Spirit
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 to be
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 convicting
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 me about
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 my sin
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 and as
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 Steve was
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 talking about
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 last week
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 cutting
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 things out
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 of my
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 life
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 idols
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 out of
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 my
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 life
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 and a
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 consequence
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 of that
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 is people
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 notice
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 I know
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 of people
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 who've
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 said
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 this
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 Christian
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 they don't
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 they don't
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 swear
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 they don't
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 gamble
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 they don't
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 drink too
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 much
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 they are
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 generous
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 and loving
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 why are
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 they so
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 different
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 they're
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 joyful
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 and they
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 seem to
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 cope
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 when life
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 gets tough
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 how can
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 this be
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 we had
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 someone
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 contact the
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 church
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 just recently
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 and say
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 there's
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 these people
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 that I
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 work with
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 who are
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 Christians
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 and they're
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 different
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 and I
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 want to
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 know
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 what's
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 so unique
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 about them
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 I have
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 problems
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 I can't
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 cope
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 I want
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 what they
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 have
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 and so
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 confronting
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 sin
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 in the
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 world
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 with our
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 friends and
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 family
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 starts by
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 confronting it
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 in our
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 own
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 lives
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 seeing
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 God
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 cut us
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 draw
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 from the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 vine
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 and
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 shapes
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 more
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 like
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 Jesus
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 but this
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 is not
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 where it
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 stops
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 we're also
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 called to
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 confront
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 sin
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 and unbelief
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 in the
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 world
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 now there
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 are good
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 ways to
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 do this
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 and there
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 are bad
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 ways
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 I'm going
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 to share
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 two ways
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 that you
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 shouldn't
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 do it
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 two bad
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 ways to
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 confront
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 sin in
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 the world
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 before two
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 good ways
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 the first
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 bad way
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 to confront
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 sin
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 is something
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 my four
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 year old
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 daughter
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 recently
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 did
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 daughters
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 are wonderful
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 gifts from
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 God
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 if you
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 hadn't
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 noticed
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 so
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 Tamara
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 was at
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 preschool
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 last week
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 and she's
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 a wonderful
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 evangelist
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 and she was
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 going around
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 asking the
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 kids if they
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 believed Jesus
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 in Jesus
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 and if they
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 didn't
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 she said
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 well you're
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 going to
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 hell
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 and it's
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 fiery
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 and it's
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 hot
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 and it's
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 spiky
00:22:22 --> 00:22:25 and that's
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 true
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 not so sure
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 about the
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 spiky part
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 but it
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 made kids
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 cry
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 I don't
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 know why
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 you're laughing
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 but that was
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 my response
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 too
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 it's probably
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 not the
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 best way
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 to evangelize
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 to encourage
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 people that
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 Jesus is
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 better than
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 the way
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 they are
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 living
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 but
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 she was
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 confronting
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 unbelief
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 and so I
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 encouraged her
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 show the
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 love of
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 Jesus to
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 them instead
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 show them
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 why Jesus
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 is so
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 great
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 but imagine
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 if half
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 of us
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 had her
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 courage
00:22:59 --> 00:23:02 maybe we
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 all need
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 to be led
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 by the
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 sprouts team
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 on a
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 Sunday
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 morning
00:23:06 --> 00:23:09 the second
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 bad way
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 to confront
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 sin in the
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 world is
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 anything on
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 social media
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 particularly
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 Facebook I
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 see many
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 posts lots
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 of inflammatory
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 posts about
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 Christianity and
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 religion in
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 general and I'm
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 always tempted
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 to engage
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 and try and
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 point out in a
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 helpful way why
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 they're wrong
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 about Jesus but
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30 it never works
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 it never goes
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 well it just
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 devolves into
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 argument upon
00:23:35 --> 00:23:38 argument and
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 so these are
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 these are two
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 ways not to
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 confront sin I
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 don't think there's
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 anything helpful on
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 Facebook when it
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 comes to arguing
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 about Christianity
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 but let me
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 encourage you to
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 testify to
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 Jesus' identity
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 and to
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 confront the
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 sin in the
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 world in two
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 ways quietly
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 and loudly
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 quietly first
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 of all by
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 personally mentioning
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 it to someone
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 maybe a friend
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 maybe you see a
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 friend making
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 some poor
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 decisions about
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 their life
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 some decisions
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 that you know
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 will have
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 consequences
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 you know that
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 Jesus said if
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 you go down
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 this path it
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 will not go
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 well for you
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 and so speak
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 quietly to them
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 whether it's a
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 Christian or a
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 non-Christian
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 friend maybe
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 you don't want
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 to do this this
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 is going to go
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 poorly for you
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 people might be
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 able to hear this
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 if it's done
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 well people might
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 get defensive
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 but this is a
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 way to speak to
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 people in a
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 loving way to
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 confront their sin
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 it probably won't
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 destroy friendships
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 the second way
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 is loudly
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 sometimes we
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 need to speak
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 loudly
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 for those who
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 don't have a
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 voice
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 for the life
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 of the unborn
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 for the rights
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 of refugees
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 even if it
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 makes our life
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 uncomfortable
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 in China
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 there is a
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 pastor of a
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 Chinese church
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 called early
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 rain in
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 Chengdu
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 province
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 his name is
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 pastor Wang
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 Yi
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 and he has
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 been doing
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 exactly this
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 he has been
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 preaching the
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 gospel faithfully
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 in spite of
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 pressure to be
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 silent
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 he was arrested
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 on December
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 9th
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 with over 100
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 members of the
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 church in
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 Chengdu
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 including his
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 wife
00:25:28 --> 00:25:31 and as of
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 two days ago
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 they're still
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 in prison
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 and no one
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 knows where
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 they are
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 knowing that
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 it was likely
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 to happen
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 that he'd
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 likely be
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 arrested at
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 some point
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 he wrote a
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 declaration to
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 be published
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 if he was
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 detained by
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 the government
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 for more
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 than 48
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 hours
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 and so he
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 wrote this
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 declaration
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 I'm going to
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 read part of
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 it which
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 came out in
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 December last
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 year
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 on the basis
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 of the teachings
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 of the Bible
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 and the mission
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 of the gospel
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 I respect the
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 authorities God
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 has established
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 in China
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 for God
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 deposes kings
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 and raises up
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 kings
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 this is why I
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 submit to the
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 historical and
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 institutional
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 arrangements of
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 God in China
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 as a pastor
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 of a Christian
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 church I
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 have my own
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 understanding and
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 views based on
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 the Bible about
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 what righteous
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 order and good
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 government is
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 at the same
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 time I am
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 filled with
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 anger and
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 disgust at the
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 persecution of
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 the church by
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 this communist
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 regime at the
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 wickedness of
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 their depriving
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 people of the
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 freedoms of
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 religion and
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 of conscience
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 but changing
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 social and
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 political institutions
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 is not the
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 mission I have
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 been called
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 to and it
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 is not the
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 goal for which
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 God has given
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 his people the
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 gospel for all
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 hideous realities
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 unrighteous politics
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 and arbitrary laws
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 manifest the cross
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 of Jesus Christ
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 the only means by
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 which every Chinese
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 person must be
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 saved they also
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 manifest the fact
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 that true hope
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 and a perfect
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 society will never
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 be found in the
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 transformation of
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 any earthly
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 institution or
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 culture but only
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 in our sins
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 being freely
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 forgiven by
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 Christ and in
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 the hope of
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 eternal life
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 Pastor Wang Yi
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 is standing firm
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 against the
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 Chinese government
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 looking to
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 clamp down on
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 him it is
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 totally risky
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 he hasn't been
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 satisfied with
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 having an easy
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 comfortable version
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 of Christianity
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 and he's been
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 detained for three
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 months with no
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 end in sight as
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 a consequence
00:27:35 --> 00:27:37 following Jesus
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 Jesus has
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 meant he has
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 taken risks
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 but he was
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 prepared for an
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 uncomfortable life
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 he knew that he
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 would be arrested
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 one day which is
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 why he had that
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 declaration published
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 beforehand
00:27:50 --> 00:27:53 Jesus prepares his
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 disciples to have
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 an uncomfortable
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 life in the
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 light of our
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 hope of eternal
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 glory with Jesus
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 calling out people's
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 sin either of a
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 friend or the
00:28:06 --> 00:28:08 government's will
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 make life
00:28:08 --> 00:28:10 uncomfortable but
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 it will see lives
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 changed it will
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 call Sydney and
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 the world to be
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 convicted of their
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 sin and the
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 righteousness of
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 Jesus and to
00:28:19 --> 00:28:21 follow him so
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 let me encourage
00:28:21 --> 00:28:23 you be praying for
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 Gladys
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 Berger clean and
00:28:25 --> 00:28:27 the liberal party at
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 a state level who
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 have come into
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 another term who
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 were elected
00:28:30 --> 00:28:32 yesterday today
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 whenever the
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 election is
00:28:33 --> 00:28:35 finalized be
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 praying for the
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 federal government
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 with elections
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 coming up
00:28:38 --> 00:28:41 it's it's easy to
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 come up with
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 excuses to be
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 comfortable with
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 Christianity and to
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 not speak out it
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 might cost me a
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 friend it might make
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 them uncomfortable
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 I don't want to be the
00:28:53 --> 00:28:56 fun police it might
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 get me locked up
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 but what do we
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 expect our lives to
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 look like
00:29:01 --> 00:29:04 do we trust God
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 that he will
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 provide what we
00:29:06 --> 00:29:08 need even if we
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 are persecuted
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 do we trust God
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 to proclaim the
00:29:12 --> 00:29:14 gospel even when
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 it is unattractive
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 and hated
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 let me pray for us
00:29:17 --> 00:29:21 heavenly father
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 we thank you that
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 your son
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 obeyed you fully
00:29:26 --> 00:29:28 in life and in
00:29:28 --> 00:29:30 death that he
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 endured much
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 persecution and
00:29:32 --> 00:29:35 hatred so that we
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 could know you
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 Lord father
00:29:38 --> 00:29:40 prepare us to
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 have an
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 uncomfortable life
00:29:42 --> 00:29:45 Lord help when we
00:29:45 --> 00:29:47 are persecuted when
00:29:47 --> 00:29:49 we are hated to
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 depend upon you
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 knowing that you
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 are enough because
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 you have provided
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 eternal life and
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 relationship
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 with you Lord
00:29:57 --> 00:30:00 father help us to
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 draw on you
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 when we are
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 struggling and
00:30:04 --> 00:30:06 when we are
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 attacked and
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 persecuted Lord
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 we ask all this in
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 your son's name and
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 your for your glory
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 amen