What's your attitude to Life and Death?
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 23rd October 2010
Passage: Philippians 1:1-30
00:00:00 --> 00:00:08 Friends, as we were singing that last song, it's one of those moments where you'd like to just sort of frame in history and pause there.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:13 I thought it was a wonderful testimony to unity in the gospel.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 This sermon will not be translated.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:26 It will, for those in Chinese who cannot understand a word I'm saying right now, it will actually be projected on the screen.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:31 So it will be full text on the screen, except for the changes that I made this morning.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 So please bear with me on that one.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:40 Let's pray.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:49 Father God, I pray that your word will come alive to us this morning.
00:00:49 --> 00:01:01 We ask, Father, that your spirit will come in a fresh way and that you will revive our souls so that we might say with the Apostle Paul,
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 to live is Christ and to die is gain.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 Father, unite us in partnership around the gospel of grace, we pray.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:12 In Jesus' name.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:12 Amen.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:28 Late in the evening of the 24th of June, 1982, British Airways Flight 9, a Boeing 747-200 was flying high, very high, over Indonesia.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:35 What the pilots couldn't see on the radar was a cloud of volcanic ash up ahead in their flight path.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:41 Earlier, Mount Gowlingung had erupted 150 kilometres north of their flight path.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46 And all of a sudden, smoke started to fill the cabin.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:54 And those with a window seat noticed that the engines were, and I quote, unusually bright.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 Then, without warning, number four engines stopped.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:05 One minute later, number two engines stopped, followed quickly by engines one and three.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 The 747 was now what you call technically a glider.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 For 16 minutes, this plane fell out of the sky.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 In the eerie silence, people knew that they were going to die.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:26 Can you imagine the sort of things that were going through their minds for 16 minutes
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 as they gradually fell to the ground?
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 People started writing notes to loved ones on napkins.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:39 They started to, in fact, talk to the people that they had ignored for the rest of the flight.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:40 They prayed.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 And a strange feeling came across the plane.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 They accepted that life was over.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:58 Because of the lack of oxygen in the cabin, the pilots took the unusual step of making it quicker for everyone
00:02:58 --> 00:03:04 and put the plane in a nosedive to get to a lower level so that people could breathe again.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:10 That manoeuvre had the added benefit of unclogging the engines of volcanic ash,
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 and the engines were able to be restarted.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:18 Can you imagine the excitement as the engines kicked back in,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:22 the plane climbed and eventually landed at a nearby airport?
00:03:23 --> 00:03:27 The passengers thought they were dead, but they were alive.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 They had a new lease on life.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 They ended up actually forming a survivor's club.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 It is known as the Mount Galangang Gliding Club.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:44 They get together annually on the date of that flight,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 and they celebrate life together.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:51 One 81-year-old passenger said that on that night,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 she learnt to count every day as a blessing.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 She'd never before had a second chance on life.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 And that's what you've got if you've met Jesus.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:09 If you're a Christian, you've got a second chance on life,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:14 a new lease on life, a reason to really live,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:20 and it's a life that is enjoyed with other Christians.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:26 The Apostle Paul, the one who wrote this letter to the church in Philippi,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 he got a second chance when he met Jesus.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:33 He was a blasphemer, a persecutor of Christians,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:37 an opponent of the advancement of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:41 even to the point of giving his assent to the murder of Christians.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 But make no mistake, he was religious.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 He was zealous.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:49 He was pious.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:50 He was devout.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 And he was faultless in legalistic righteousness,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 as we will discover in a few weeks.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:59 Then he met Jesus.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 And his life was radically changed.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 A complete turnaround.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:09 He who was persecutor has become the persecuted.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 He who trusted in himself, his religious activity,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 and his heritage,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 now trusts in Jesus
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 and pursues God's glory no matter what.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 And he calls the Philippians
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 to have the same perspective on life as him.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:29 And he calls us to have the same perspective of life.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 And it's right there in verse 27.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 Whatever happens,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:40 conduct yourselves in a matter worthy of the gospel of Christ.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 And this is what this commitment series is all about.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:50 We are called to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:55 This commitment series is about reminding us who we are in Christ
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 and what we are called to be.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:02 We are called to live in such a way
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 as to show the worth of the value of the gospel.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 We are called to reveal to this world
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 that we prize the Lord Jesus
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 more than anything else in this world.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:19 We are called to show that our treasure is not in this world.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 Our hope is not in money and earthly security.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 Our satisfaction is not in power and prestige.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 Our contentment is not in the approval of others.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 And our happiness is not in avoiding criticism and slander.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:38 Instead, our treasure and hope and satisfaction
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 and contentment and happiness
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 are in Christ and his promises.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:49 Broadly speaking, I believe that what Philippians calls us to be
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 is what he stated in our mission statement.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 We exist to know Jesus,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 to treasure Jesus,
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 and represent Jesus for God's glory
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 and the joy of all people.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:08 As we go through Philippians in the coming weeks,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 Paul will spell out for us
00:07:10 --> 00:07:15 what it means to live a life worthy of the gospel.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 And two broad themes keep popping up
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 and are introduced here in chapter 1.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 Firstly, unity.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 And secondly, courageous sacrifice and service.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 In one sense, these two things
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 will always be a challenge for us and for God's people.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 They will always need to be spoken of
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 and they will always need to be pursued.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 But having said that,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 I don't want us to lose the urgency
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 of them for us right now as a church here.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:48 I have spent the best part of my 18 months here
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 working towards getting us heading in the same direction.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 And it's been painful for me and for some of you.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 There has been pain with the turnover in staff,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 adjustment to structures,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 the changing of ministry operations.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 Ironically, the divisions and difficulties
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 have the goal of unity.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 One of the main confronting issues
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 has been the siloing of ministry.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 Many good things happening,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 but not necessarily heading in the same direction
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 with the same purpose
00:08:19 --> 00:08:23 or even in reference to anyone else or anything else.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:28 Vision 2020 was launched almost a year ago
00:08:28 --> 00:08:33 to give us a common direction and purpose as a church.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 The second thing that is so pertinent to us right now
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 is the biblical teaching of radical,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 God-centered, wartime, risk-taking lifestyle
00:08:43 --> 00:08:48 for this is what God has called us to be as his people.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:54 It has been nearly 12 months since Vision 2020 was launched
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 and we've had time to get used to it
00:08:57 --> 00:09:02 and now it is time to start stirring each other up
00:09:02 --> 00:09:06 to take some risks in more venturesome acts of love
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 and evangelism and discipleship.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:13 We need to break out of deeply ingrained habits
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 of timidity and silence and fear.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:20 We need to be set free from long-established anxieties
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 of ruffling feathers and being slandered
00:09:23 --> 00:09:27 because too much is at stake for people in Chatswood.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:32 My prayer is that as we go through Philippians
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 in this commitment series,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 we will see our partnership in the gospel
00:09:36 --> 00:09:40 and we will courageously sacrifice and serve
00:09:40 --> 00:09:44 in order to see the gospel advance among us and beyond us.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 So firstly, let's look at the issue of unity.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:55 I find it astounding that Paul would write these words
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 at the beginning of Philippians, verse 3.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 I thank my God every time I remember you
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 in all of my prayers for all of you.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:08 I always pray with joy because of your partnership
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 in the gospel from the first day until now.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 Let us not forget that the one who writes these words
00:10:14 --> 00:10:18 is the same one who was chosen by God
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 to take the gospel to the nations.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 He planted church after church.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 He wrote about one third of the New Testament
00:10:25 --> 00:10:29 and suffered more for the gospel than I could ever imagine.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 Do you feel the impact of what Paul has written there
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 in those verses?
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 The word he chooses to describe his relationship
00:10:39 --> 00:10:43 with this church is partnership.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 Partners.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:51 It's a business word that refers to a shared endeavour
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 that holds two parties together.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 Even separated by prison,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 Paul uses this word to describe
00:10:59 --> 00:11:03 the shared identity and purpose that they have.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 I find it astounding that he would use this word
00:11:09 --> 00:11:13 because if anyone has the right to talk about rights,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 it would be Paul.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:19 If anyone has the credibility to elevate himself
00:11:19 --> 00:11:23 over other Christians and demand more,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 it would have to be Paul.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 If anyone could say that he is more equal
00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 than anyone else, it would have to be Paul.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:37 Instead, he calls this church at Philippi
00:11:37 --> 00:11:41 a church that he founded his partners
00:11:41 --> 00:11:45 from the very first day.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:49 Not after you've learned a thing or two.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 Not after you've been a Christian for a number of years.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 Not once the church has got its governance
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 and ministry structures firmly established.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 Not once, Church of Philippi,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 you send out a few missionaries.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 From the very first day,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 you are my partners in the gospel.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:12 How can the great apostle Paul say that
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 about this church at Philippi?
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 Verse 7 gives us the answer.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 since I have you in my heart.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 For whether I'm in chains or defending
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 and confirming the gospel,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:30 all of you share in God's grace with me.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 Their partnership with Paul began
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 from the very first day
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 because it says in verse 7,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:42 all of you share in God's grace with me.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 Paul doesn't demand more rights
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 because of his longevity in the faith,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 because of his commitment to the church,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 his commitment to the gospel,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 or because of his effectiveness
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 as a gospel worker.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 Grace means it's a level playing field.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 One of the clearest pictures of this
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 in the New Testament
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 is the parable of the workers of the vineyard
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 in Matthew 20.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 In the parable,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 a farmer hires men
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 at different times during the day.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 We are told that he hires them
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 early in the morning,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 the third hour,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 the sixth hour,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 the ninth hour,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 right at the end of the day
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 in the eleventh hour.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 And those who began early in the morning
00:13:25 --> 00:13:28 agreed to do a day's work
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 for denarius.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 That was a good wage
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 for a worker
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 and was considered
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 to be what was needed
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 to provide well
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 for their family.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 So don't let this point
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 slip you past.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 They all,
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 including those who started work
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 at the beginning of the day,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 they all received
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 not what they had earned,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 but what they needed.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 They were all paid
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 according to grace,
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 not according to debt.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 And the twist comes
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 at the end of the day
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 when they all line up
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 to get paid
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 and they all get the same.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 They all get a denarius.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 Everyone gets the same pay.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 No matter how long
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 they had been out there
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 in the paddock,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 they all get a denarius.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 Every worker got what they needed,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 not what they had earned.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 And, of course,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 those who'd been working
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 the longest
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 started to grumble.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 Hang on a bit,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 we've been out there all day.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 Shouldn't we get two?
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 And in a sense,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 the workers are right,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 it's not fair
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 what the boss is doing.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 But I think that's the point.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 Since when is grace
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 ever about being fair?
00:14:50 --> 00:14:54 It's about me getting
00:14:54 --> 00:14:57 what I don't deserve
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 and being rescued
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 from what I do deserve.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 The truth about God's grace
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 is not just a truth
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 that applies
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 when you first become a Christian.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 It's not just a truth
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 that is something to say
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 about salvation.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 It is an amazing truth
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 and reality
00:15:15 --> 00:15:18 that is the very foundation
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 of how Jesus deals
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 with us day by day
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 and how we are to deal
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 with each other
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 day by day.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 None of us needs
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 anything less
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 than God's grace
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 and none of us needs
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 anything more
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 than God's grace.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 We all need a denarius,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 so to speak.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 We are all beggars
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 at the foot of the cross.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 We were when we started
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 as a Christian
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 and we are to still be there
00:15:48 --> 00:15:52 50, 60, 70, 80,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 however many years
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 God allows you
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 in this world.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 Nothing ever changes.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 The thing that unites us
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 is not our culture,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 not our tradition,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 not our history,
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 not our preferences,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 not our language.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 It is our desperate,
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 desperate need
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 for the grace
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:16:17 --> 00:16:20 from the very first day
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 until the last.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 It is this grace
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 that unites Paul,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 the great apostle,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 with the Philippian church
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 that he founded.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 It would seem
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 that in the church
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 at Philippi
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 there were a few people
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 struggling
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 to get on
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 with each other.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 There was a bit
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 of wrong teaching
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 kicking around.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 There were some difficulties
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 with persecution
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 and it was getting them down.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 The joy of Christian discipleship
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 wasn't so evident
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 in this church,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 although Paul
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 significantly rejoices
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 with this church.
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 And so it's not surprising,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 therefore,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 that Philippians
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 is a book
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 that talks about
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 the gospel
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 more than any other
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 New Testament book.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 Paul wants us
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 to discover
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 how much
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 of a difference
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 a relationship
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 with Jesus
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 makes to our lives.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 Paul wants
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 to encourage them
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 by putting them
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 back to Jesus
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 to help them
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 to keep on going,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 to stand firm
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 and to put all
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 the issues
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 and difficulties
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 in the light
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 of the really
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 important news
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 of the gospel
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 of the grace
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 Christ.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 The differences
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 that cause
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 divisions
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 are always,
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 always,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 always,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 always
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 less
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 than which unites
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 us,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 the grace
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 of the Lord
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 Jesus Christ.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 The grace
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 of the Lord
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 Jesus
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 has completely
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 transformed Paul.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 It changes
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 the way
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 Paul sees
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 other Christians.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 It wasn't
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 long ago
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 that Paul
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 was persecuting
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 Christians,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 putting them
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 into jail,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 but now,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 verse 4,
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 because of your
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 partnership
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 in the gospel
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 from the first
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 day until now,
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 they are my
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 partners,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 Paul says.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 They are not
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 my competitors.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 they are not
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 my subjects.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 They are my
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 partners.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 Is this how
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 you see
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 your relationship
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 with your
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 brothers and
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 sisters here
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 at St.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 Paul's?
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 Just have a
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 look around.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 Is this how
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 you view
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 your relationship
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 with your
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 brothers and
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 sisters here
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 at St.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 Paul's?
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 Do you
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 see them
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 as your
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 partners
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 at the foot
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 of the cross
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 in the gospel
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 of the Lord
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 Jesus Christ,
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 dependent upon
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 his grace
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 as much as
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 they,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 as much as
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 you?
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 Note, too,
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 that when Paul
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 talks about
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 partnership,
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 he's not
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 merely tolerating
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 the Christian
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 church here
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 at Philippi.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 He is also
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 not giving
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 a mere
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 intellectual
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 assent
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 to the
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 theological
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 correctness
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 of
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 partnership.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 Verse 4,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 in all my
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 prayers for
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 all of you,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 I always
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 pray with
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 joy.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 Verse 7,
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 it is right
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 for me to
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 feel this
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 way about
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 all of you
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 since I
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 have you
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 in my
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 heart.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 Verse 8,
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 God can
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 testify how
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 I long
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 for you
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 with the
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 affection of
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 Jesus
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 Christ.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:48 God for
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 all the
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 church,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 he prays
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 for them
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 all with
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 joy,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 he has
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 them in
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 his heart
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 and he
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 longs for
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 them in
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 affection.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 I suspect
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 the answer
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 to the
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 question
00:20:01 --> 00:20:05 would want
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 to use
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 those verses
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 as a test
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 case as to
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 whether or not
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 you view
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 them as
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 your partners,
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 your brothers
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 and sisters
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 here.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:13 I suspect
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 those verses
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 are a true
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 test case as
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 to whether we
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 see each
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 other as
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 partners.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 So what is
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 it that
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 threatens our
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 unity and
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 partnership?
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 Broadly
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 speaking,
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 it is always
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 the three
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 enemies of
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 the Christian,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 the world,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 the flesh and
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 the devil.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 More
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 specifically,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 there are a
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 few things,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 but in one
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 way or another,
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 I believe
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 they're sort
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 of attached
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 to a common
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 underlying
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 issue.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 Longevity
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 and
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 effectiveness
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 equals
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 rights.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 In other
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 words,
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 those who
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 have a
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 history are
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 more equal
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 than others.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 It can
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 express itself
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 in many
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 ways.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 Those born
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 in this
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 country have
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 more rights
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 than those
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 who moved
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 here two
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 years ago.
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 The oldest
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 members have
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 more rights
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 than the
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 younger.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 The oldest
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 congregation
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 more rights
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 than the
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 newest
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 congregation.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 The
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 bigger
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 congregation
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 more rights
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 than the
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 smaller
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 congregation.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 Those
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 more
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 effective
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 in
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 ministry
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 more
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 rights
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 than
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 those
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 just
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 starting
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 out.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 Those
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 attending
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 here the
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 longest
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 more rights
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 than those
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 who have
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 just joined.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 Those
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 being
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 Christian
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 for 70
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 years
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 more equal
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 than those
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 who have
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 just come
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 to Christ.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 It is so
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 easy to
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 start
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 in the
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 vineyard
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 acknowledging
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 that I'm
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 a one
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 hour
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 worker at
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 the end
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 of the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 day in
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 vineyard
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 and
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 then
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 eventually
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 over
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 time
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 start
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 operating
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 as if
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 I've
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 done a
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 full
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 day's
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 work
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 and
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 deserve
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 a full
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 day's
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 pay.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 It is
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 subtle
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 and it
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 happens
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 slowly
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 but we
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 can stop
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 relating to
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 each other
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 on the
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 basis
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 of grace.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 It is
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 therefore
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 crucial
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 that we
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 never lose
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 sight of
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 the gospel
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 of grace
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 as a
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 church.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 Grace
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 reminds me
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 that I
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 am a
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 beggar
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 at the
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 foot of
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 the cross
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 and I
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 am
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 therefore
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 consistently
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 dependent
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 upon God
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 and I
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 am no
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 different
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 than you.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 Grace
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 reminds me
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 that I
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 have no
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 more rights
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 than you,
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 no more
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 privileges,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 I am
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 not more
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 equal.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 Grace
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 reminds me
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 that I
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 need to
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 consistently
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 go downward
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 in humility
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 as I
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 interact
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 with you
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 day by
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 day.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 Grace
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 ought to
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 lead me
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 to rejoice
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 as more
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 people come
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 into the
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 fellowship
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 believers
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 and get
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 involved
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 and open
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 up new
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 opportunities
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 for us
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 in ministry.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 I ought to
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 rejoice
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 because that
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 is partnership
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 and it is
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 the one
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 thing that
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 God uses
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 to advance
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 the gospel
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 amongst us
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 and beyond
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 us.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 And so
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 friends,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 Hope Anglican
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Church no
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 longer exists.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 At the
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 beginning of
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 January this
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 year,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 we were
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 all St.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 Paul's
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 Chatswood.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 St.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 Paul's
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 Chatswood
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 changed on
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 that day,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 the 1st
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 of January
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 2010,
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 it changed
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 as we
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 entered into
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 a new
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 partnership
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 with new
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 brothers and
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 sisters who
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 were not
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 less than
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 us.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 Things were
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 different from
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 that moment
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 and what
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 family does
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 not work
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 like that?
00:23:27 --> 00:23:30 when Phoebe
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 entered our
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 family just
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 over a year
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 ago,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 Isabel was
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 not more
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 equal than
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 Phoebe
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 just because
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 she was
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 there first.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43 To treat
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 her,
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 Phoebe that
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 is,
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 as number
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 two and
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 not equally
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 loved and
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 adored would
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 create enormous
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 tensions and
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 difficulties as
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 our family
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 grew.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:58 and a
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 lot of
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 expensive
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 counsellors in
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 years to
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 come.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 And so
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 the danger
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 in the
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 amalgamation
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 is to
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 strongly
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 affirm that
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 hope no
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 longer exists
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 but then to
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 expect nothing
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 to change in
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 the St.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 Paul's
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 family.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 That is to
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 expect those
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 who have
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 come to
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 partner with
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 us to
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 just fit
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 into our
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 ongoing
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 ministry and
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 agenda and
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 program.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 Woohoo!
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 You've
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 bolstered our
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 numbers and
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 given us a
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 few more
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 dollars but
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 just stay
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 over there
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 and you'll
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 learn the
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 ropes soon
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 enough.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 Because the
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 name and
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 the facilities
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 of St.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 Paul's was
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 retained in
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 the merger
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 doesn't mean
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 that everything
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 else was.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 And so on
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 another note
00:24:50 --> 00:24:53 our Chinese
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 ministries are
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 no longer the
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 little brothers
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 amongst us.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 There is
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 some very
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 significant
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 ministry
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 happening
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 amongst our
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 Chinese
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 congregations.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 And in
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 case you are
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 unaware our
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 country is
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 becoming more
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 and more
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 ethnic.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 By 2050
00:25:13 --> 00:25:16 only 35%
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 of our
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 country will
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 come from
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 an Anglo
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 background.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 And I
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 suspect the
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 ratio in
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 chats would
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 be significantly
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 higher than
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 say Narrabri.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 And
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 therefore
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 brothers and
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 sisters if
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 that is the
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 direction of
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 our country
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 we need to
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 be repositioned
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 and aligning
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 and resourcing
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 our ministries
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 accordingly.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 In
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 preparation what
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 God might do
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 amongst us in
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 40 years.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 And so
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 today as
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 Brian has
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 said we
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 launch a
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 new logo
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 for St
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 Paul's.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 At the
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 centre of
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 this logo
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 is the
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 cross and
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 it is the
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 cross that
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 is drawing
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 us together
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 in fellowship.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 Lots of
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 people,
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 different people
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 from different
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 backgrounds and
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 different places
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 coming together
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 in partnership
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 and unity
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 because of
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 the gospel
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 of grace
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 of our
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 Lord Jesus
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 Christ.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 The closer
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 we get to
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 the gospel
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 of grace,
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 the closer
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 we get to
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 the cross
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 the greater
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 the intensity
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 of partnership.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 To live
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 that life,
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 a life worthy
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 of the gospel
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 in partnership
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 takes fearless
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 courage and
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 sacrifice.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 It means
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 that I
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 consistently
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 lay aside
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 myself as
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 an individual
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 for the
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 sake of the
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 advancement of
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 the gospel
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 and the
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 glory of
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 God.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 God
00:26:40 --> 00:26:42 and so
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 let us
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 allow the
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 apostle Paul
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 to realign
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 us again
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 and challenge
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 us.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 Verse 14
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 Because of
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 my chains
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 most of the
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 brothers in
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 the Lord
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 have been
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 encouraged to
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 speak the
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 word of
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 God more
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 courageously
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 and fearlessly.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 It is true
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 that some
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 preach Christ
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 out of envy
00:26:58 --> 00:27:00 and rivalry
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 but others
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 out of good
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 will.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 And again
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 in verse 17
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 talking about
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 those with
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 wrong motives
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 he says
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 they preach
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 Christ out of
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 selfish ambition
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 not sincerely
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 supposing they
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 can stir up
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 trouble for
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 me while I
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 am in
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 chains.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 So here's
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 Paul in
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 prison and
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 some say we
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 can make life
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 even worse for
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 Paul if we
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 preach this
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 message.
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 We can get
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 him even into
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 more trouble if
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 we preach the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 gospel.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 How do you
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 think you'd
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 feel?
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 You're knocked
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 down,
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 circumstances are
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 against you
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 and someone
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 thinks he's
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 here's a
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 great opportunity
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 to stick
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 the boot
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 in.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 In fact
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 we may
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 even end
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 up with
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 his head
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 on a
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 platter.
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 Don't you
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 think you'd
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 want revenge?
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 Don't you
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 think you'd
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 be calling
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 on God?
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 Fix this
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 problem God.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 Don't you
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 think you'd
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 want God
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 to judge
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 these people
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 with their
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 motives?
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 Don't you?
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 Not Paul
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 verse 18
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 God
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 but what
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 does it
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 matter?
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 The
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 important
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 thing that
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 is in
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 every way
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 whether from
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 false
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 motives or
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 true,
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15 Christ is
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 preached
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 and therefore
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 I rejoice.
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 He doesn't
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 complain,
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 he's not
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 angry with
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 God about
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 it,
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 he doesn't
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 curse those
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 who are
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 against him,
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 he doesn't
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 even tolerate
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 it,
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 he in fact
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 rejoices that
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 Christ is
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 preached as
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 he is
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 rotting in
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 a prison
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 cell.
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 What is
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 wrong with
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 this guy?
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 He isn't
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 worried about
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 his pride,
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 he isn't
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 worried about
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 his reputation,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 he isn't
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 worried about
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 his position
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 as an
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 apostle,
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 he isn't
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 concerned for
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 his comfort,
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 he isn't
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 concerned for
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 his own
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 advancement,
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 he doesn't
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 logically think
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 God,
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 I'm an
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 apostle to
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 take the
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 gospel to
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 the nations,
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 surely this
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 is not
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 part of
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 your plan.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 He is
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 concerned only
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 for Jesus,
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 he is
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 concerned with
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 the reputation
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 of the Lord
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 Jesus,
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 he is
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 concerned that
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 other people
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 hear about
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 Jesus,
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 he is
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 concerned that
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 the gospel
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 of Christ
00:29:19 --> 00:29:21 is advanced.
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 Paul has
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 been so
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 gripped by
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 God's grace
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 to him
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 through Jesus,
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 so impacted
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 by this
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 new lease
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 on life
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 through
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 Jesus,
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 that he
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 is prepared
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 to sacrifice
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 his own
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 desires,
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 his will,
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 his pride,
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 his reputation,
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 even his
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 own life,
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 he lays it
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 all on the
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 line for
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 the glory
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 of the
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 Lord Jesus.
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 Everything
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 in life
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 now revolves
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 around Jesus,
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 not Paul.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 It is all
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 about Jesus
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 and not
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 Paul.
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 His life
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 has been
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 reorientated
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 to be
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 thoroughly
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 gospel-centered.
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 His primary
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 concern is
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 the advancement
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 of the
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 gospel.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 The advancement
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 of the
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 gospel means
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 laying aside
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 my personal
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 glory,
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 my comfort,
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 so that
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 God might
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 become
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 great.
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 But that's
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 not all.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 There's
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 more.
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 Verse 20,
00:30:16 --> 00:30:30 Paul says
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 that whatever
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 happens,
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 may the
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 Lord Jesus
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 Christ be
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 exalted,
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 whether that
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 be in my
00:30:37 --> 00:30:39 life or
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 whether it
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 be in my
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 death.
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 You see
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 what he's
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 saying there?
00:30:41 --> 00:30:44 If it
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 means I
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 live or
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 it means
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 I die,
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 whatever it
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 takes,
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 that the
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 gospel might
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 be advanced
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 and glory
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 might be
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 made to
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 Jesus.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 What Paul
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 is saying
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 here is
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 that it's
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 all about
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 life and
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 death.
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 This is
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 not a
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 trivial
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 matter,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 friends.
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 Verse 22
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 gives us a
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 glimpse of
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 how Paul
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 is thinking.
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 If I'm
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 to go on
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 living in
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 the body,
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 this will
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 mean fruitful
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 labour for
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 me, yet
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 what shall
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 I choose?
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 I do not
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 know.
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 I am
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 torn between
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 the two.
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 I desire
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 to depart
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 to be
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 with Christ,
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 which is
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 better by
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 far, but
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 it is more
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 necessary for
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 you that I
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 remain in
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 the body.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 Convinced of
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 this, I
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 know that I
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 will remain
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 and I
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 will continue
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 with all
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 of you for
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 your progress
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 and joy
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 in the
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 faith.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 And so
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 what Paul
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 is doing
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 is he sits
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 there and
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 rots in
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 this prison,
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 he looks
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 at his
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 life and
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 he thinks,
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 if I
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 live,
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 then it
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 means more
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 opportunities
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 to do
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 what I
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 can for
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 the gospel
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 to advance,
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 more
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 opportunities to
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 make God
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 look great,
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 but if I
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 die, I
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 will be in
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 heaven.
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 No more
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 prison, no
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 more chains,
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 no more
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 ridiculed, no
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 more persecution.
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 I will be
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 with Jesus and
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 that is clearly
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 better by far.
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 God.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 He knows in
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 the end that
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 it's all in
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 God's hands,
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 but he
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 says, if I'm
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 going to
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04 choose, what
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 will I
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 choose?
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 He says, I
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 would choose
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 more of the
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 same.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 Paul says,
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 it is more
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 important for
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 you that I
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 remain.
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 Even as he
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 rots in
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 prison and
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 he faces
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 death, he's
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 not concerned
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 with himself.
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 He sees
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 that for him
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 to go on
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 living is
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 all about
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 partnership in
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 the advancement
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 of the
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 gospel.
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 And if it
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 means that he
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 rots in
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 prison so the
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 gospel would be
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 advanced, then
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 so be it.
00:32:34 --> 00:32:39 if I have
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 the choice
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 right now, he
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 says, in
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 that moment
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 between eternal
00:32:43 --> 00:32:45 glory and
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 more suffering
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 and partnership
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 for the
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 advancement of
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 the gospel,
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 then right
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 now, for
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 your sakes,
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 church at
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 Philippi, you
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 need me to
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 suffer more.
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 And so
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 therefore I
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 will.
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 Because it's
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 not about
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 him.
00:33:00 --> 00:33:05 verse 21
00:33:05 --> 00:33:07 is Paul's
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 grace-driven
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 outlook on
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 life in a
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 nutshell.
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 For to me,
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 to live is
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15 Christ and
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 to die is
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 gain.
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 When I
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 first became
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 a Christian,
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 I bought
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 this Bible.
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 And I'm
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 not sure what
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 you, I
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 think you
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 just go and
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 get a big
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 Bible.
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 I think when
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 you first
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 become a
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 Christian,
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 show your
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 keenness.
00:33:28 --> 00:33:32 And I
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 wrote at
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 the beginning
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 my very
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 first memory
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 verse.
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 For to me,
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 to live is
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 Christ and
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 to die is
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 gain.
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 I wanted a
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 verse that
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 was going to
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 summarise my
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 life.
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 Something that
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 I would
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 proudly put on
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 a tombstone
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 or someone
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 else would
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 put on a
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 tombstone
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 for me.
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 That would
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 be a
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 miracle.
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 To live
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 is Christ,
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 to die is
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 gain,
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 and under
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 that I
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 have written
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 these words,
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 engage the
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 pain,
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 don't run.
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 Communicate
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 the gospel,
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 protect the
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 gospel,
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 adorn the
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 gospel,
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 suffer for
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 the gospel.
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 The
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 gospel of
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 grace has
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 so turned
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 around Paul's
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 life that
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 he is now
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 partnering with
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 those he
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 persecuted.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 It has
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 so turned
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 his life
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 around that
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 his whole
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 perspective
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 on life
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 and death
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 is all
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 about
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 Jesus.
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 For to
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 me,
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 to live
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 life is
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 all about
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 Jesus,
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 and to
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 die is
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 just to
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 get more
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 of Jesus.
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 Is it
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 any wonder
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 that he
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 calls this
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 church at
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 Philippi,
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 and he
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 calls us
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 and every
00:34:51 --> 00:34:51 generation
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 since then
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 to live
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 in such
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 a way
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 that Jesus
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 looks
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 spectacular?
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 Could you
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 say that?
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 Could you
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 read those
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 words and
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 for them to
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 ring true for
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 the way that
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 you view your
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 life and
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 your death?
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 Maybe your
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 wording is
00:35:13 --> 00:35:15 more like
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 to me to
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 live and
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 to die would
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 be really
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 inconvenient
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 right now.
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 Maybe you've
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 got plans,
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 you've got
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 things you
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 want to do
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 with your
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 life,
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 lots of
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 things to
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 achieve,
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 things to
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 achieve and
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 to advance
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 for your
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 own gain.
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 Maybe Jesus
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 doesn't fit in
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 with some of
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 those plans and
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 maybe you want
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 to do some
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 things first and
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 then maybe
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 hand over to
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 Jesus a little
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 bit later once
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 you've advanced
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 yourself.
00:35:43 --> 00:35:45 and if that
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 is you,
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 then death
00:35:47 --> 00:35:47 is the
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 ultimate thing
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 for you to
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 avoid because
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 this is the
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 thing that gets
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 in the way of
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 you getting
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 what you want
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 in your life.
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 And therefore
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 courage and
00:35:58 --> 00:36:00 fearlessness is
00:36:00 --> 00:36:00 not high on the
00:36:00 --> 00:36:02 agenda in
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 advancement of
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 the gospel.
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 This isn't how
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 Paul viewed his
00:36:07 --> 00:36:09 life, all
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 because of the
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 gospel of grace.
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 It isn't how
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 any Christian
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 should view
00:36:13 --> 00:36:13 their life.
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 We are meant
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 to have a
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 commitment to
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 Jesus that
00:36:16 --> 00:36:18 is sort of
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 until death
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 do us part,
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 if you know
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 what I mean.
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 Paul calls
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 us to stop
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 dating Jesus
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 and get
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 committed.
00:36:27 --> 00:36:29 To live is
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 to live for
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 Jesus, to
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 die is to
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 get even
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 more of
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 Jesus.
00:36:34 --> 00:36:34 Such a
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 call to the
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 commitment of
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 the advancement
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 of the gospel
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 and the glory
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 of Christ has
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 led many people
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 to do
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 extraordinary
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 things over
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 the centuries,
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 to live
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 lives worthy
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 of the gospel.
00:36:46 --> 00:36:46 There is a
00:36:46 --> 00:36:48 great cloud of
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 witnesses before
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 us, friends,
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 and at this
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 point in history
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 we stand on the
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 shoulders of
00:36:54 --> 00:36:54 significant people
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 who have gone
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 before us in so
00:36:56 --> 00:36:58 many ways, and
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 they are a
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 motivation and an
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 encouragement and a
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 challenge to us.
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 For instance, in
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 1800, a young
00:37:04 --> 00:37:06 19-year-old man
00:37:06 --> 00:37:06 named Henry
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 Martin became a
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 Christian while
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 studying at
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 Cambridge University
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 University in
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 England.
00:37:11 --> 00:37:11 He was
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 brilliant in
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 a variety of
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 areas including
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 mathematics,
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 philosophy, and
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 theology.
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 By just five
00:37:19 --> 00:37:21 years later, after
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 becoming a
00:37:21 --> 00:37:23 Christian, in
00:37:23 --> 00:37:25 1805, and at
00:37:25 --> 00:37:25 the age of
00:37:25 --> 00:37:28 24, he left
00:37:28 --> 00:37:30 everything, including
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 the love of his
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 life, Lydia
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 Grenfell.
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 He went
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 firstly to
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 India as a
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 missionary and
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 then on to
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 other countries.
00:37:38 --> 00:37:40 The boat took
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 ten months to
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 get to India
00:37:42 --> 00:37:42 and in the
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 process, he
00:37:43 --> 00:37:45 became extremely
00:37:45 --> 00:37:46 ill and almost
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 died.
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 He went on to
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 take the good
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 news about Jesus
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 to three other
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 countries and
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 translated the
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 Bible into
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 Arabic.
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 When he arrived
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 in India after
00:37:58 --> 00:37:58 the ten-month
00:37:58 --> 00:38:00 trip and nearly
00:38:00 --> 00:38:01 dying, he said
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 this,
00:38:01 --> 00:38:14 He did die
00:38:14 --> 00:38:16 on the 16th
00:38:16 --> 00:38:16 of October
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 1812, 12
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 years after
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 becoming a
00:38:19 --> 00:38:21 Christian, at
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 the age of
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 31, sharing
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 Jesus with
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 Muslims in
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 Iran.
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 He had a
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 vision for
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 life and for
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 death.
00:38:28 --> 00:38:31 If I die, I
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 die to be
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 happy, but if
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 I live, I
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 shall live to
00:38:34 --> 00:38:34 the glory of
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 God alone.
00:38:36 --> 00:38:37 It sounds
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 very familiar
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 to the
00:38:38 --> 00:38:39 Apostle Paul's
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 words, whatever
00:38:39 --> 00:38:41 happens, conduct
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 yourselves in a
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 manner worthy of
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 the gospel of
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 Christ for me to
00:38:45 --> 00:38:47 live is Christ
00:38:47 --> 00:38:48 and to die
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 is gain.
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 The conviction
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 that has gripped
00:38:53 --> 00:38:55 me over recent
00:38:55 --> 00:38:57 years is that
00:38:57 --> 00:38:58 courage is at
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 the centre of
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 what it means
00:39:00 --> 00:39:01 to live a
00:39:01 --> 00:39:03 life worthy
00:39:03 --> 00:39:03 of the gospel
00:39:03 --> 00:39:04 of Christ.
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 Boldness in
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 the fear of
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 opposition is
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 at the heart
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 of being a
00:39:10 --> 00:39:10 Christian.
00:39:11 --> 00:39:12 It is not
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 an upper
00:39:12 --> 00:39:14 level spirituality
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 for super
00:39:14 --> 00:39:15 saints.
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 It is the
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 everyday requirement
00:39:17 --> 00:39:18 of Christian
00:39:18 --> 00:39:19 living.
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 And so
00:39:21 --> 00:39:24 friends, it
00:39:24 --> 00:39:24 is almost
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 one year since
00:39:25 --> 00:39:26 I stood here
00:39:26 --> 00:39:27 and launched
00:39:27 --> 00:39:28 Vision 2020.
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 And at its
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 heart, it's a
00:39:31 --> 00:39:32 vision that
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 desires to see
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 members of
00:39:34 --> 00:39:34 St. Paul's
00:39:34 --> 00:39:37 individually and
00:39:37 --> 00:39:37 together living
00:39:37 --> 00:39:39 lives worthy of
00:39:39 --> 00:39:40 the gospel of
00:39:40 --> 00:39:40 Christ.
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 It is a vision to
00:39:42 --> 00:39:44 see Jesus made
00:39:44 --> 00:39:45 great in this
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 area.
00:39:46 --> 00:39:47 It's a vision that
00:39:47 --> 00:39:48 is intended to
00:39:48 --> 00:39:50 unite us for a
00:39:50 --> 00:39:50 common purpose,
00:39:51 --> 00:39:51 heading in a
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 common direction
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 with a common
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 goal, and that
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 is to make
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 Jesus look
00:39:56 --> 00:40:00 great, for
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 him to be our
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 greatest treasure,
00:40:03 --> 00:40:05 and for all
00:40:05 --> 00:40:05 the world to
00:40:05 --> 00:40:06 know it.
00:40:08 --> 00:40:09 I believe it
00:40:09 --> 00:40:10 says very
00:40:10 --> 00:40:11 clearly who we
00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 are meant to
00:40:12 --> 00:40:13 be and what we
00:40:13 --> 00:40:14 are on about.
00:40:15 --> 00:40:15 And so I want
00:40:15 --> 00:40:16 to ask you, how
00:40:16 --> 00:40:17 has Vision 2020
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 shaped you in the
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 last 12 months?
00:40:24 --> 00:40:26 How has life
00:40:26 --> 00:40:27 changed for you?
00:40:29 --> 00:40:30 What have you
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 sacrificed?
00:40:33 --> 00:40:34 The great danger
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 for us as a
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 church is to hear
00:40:36 --> 00:40:37 the language of
00:40:37 --> 00:40:39 Vision 2020, even
00:40:39 --> 00:40:40 use the language of
00:40:40 --> 00:40:41 Vision 2020, and
00:40:41 --> 00:40:42 just keep on as
00:40:42 --> 00:40:44 individuals doing
00:40:44 --> 00:40:45 what we've always
00:40:45 --> 00:40:46 done and nothing
00:40:46 --> 00:40:46 changes.
00:40:46 --> 00:40:48 and we put it
00:40:48 --> 00:40:48 all in the
00:40:48 --> 00:40:49 veneer of a
00:40:49 --> 00:40:50 Vision 2020
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 language.
00:40:56 --> 00:40:56 That's not what's
00:40:56 --> 00:40:57 been happening for
00:40:57 --> 00:40:58 me in the last 12
00:40:58 --> 00:40:58 months.
00:41:00 --> 00:41:01 I asked the
00:41:01 --> 00:41:02 senior staff a
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03 couple of weeks
00:41:03 --> 00:41:05 ago to give me
00:41:05 --> 00:41:07 a commitment, as
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 far as they were
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 able to, under
00:41:09 --> 00:41:10 God, to commit
00:41:10 --> 00:41:11 their lives to
00:41:11 --> 00:41:12 Vision 2020
00:41:12 --> 00:41:13 until Vision,
00:41:13 --> 00:41:15 until 2020.
00:41:16 --> 00:41:18 I want their
00:41:18 --> 00:41:18 partnership in the
00:41:18 --> 00:41:19 gospel.
00:41:20 --> 00:41:21 I need their
00:41:21 --> 00:41:22 partnership in the
00:41:22 --> 00:41:22 gospel.
00:41:23 --> 00:41:25 But in asking for
00:41:25 --> 00:41:29 that, I also, in
00:41:29 --> 00:41:30 the process, said
00:41:30 --> 00:41:32 that I need their
00:41:32 --> 00:41:34 sacrifice in order
00:41:34 --> 00:41:35 that the gospel
00:41:35 --> 00:41:36 would be advanced,
00:41:36 --> 00:41:36 that this vision
00:41:36 --> 00:41:37 would be advanced
00:41:37 --> 00:41:38 and realised under
00:41:38 --> 00:41:38 God.
00:41:39 --> 00:41:40 Whatever it takes,
00:41:40 --> 00:41:41 I said, whatever it
00:41:41 --> 00:41:42 takes for the next
00:41:42 --> 00:41:42 10 years, will you
00:41:42 --> 00:41:43 do it?
00:41:43 --> 00:41:46 Whatever new role
00:41:46 --> 00:41:48 you have to take
00:41:48 --> 00:41:49 on or to give up,
00:41:50 --> 00:41:52 an old one, we
00:41:52 --> 00:41:53 will do it together
00:41:53 --> 00:41:54 in order to not
00:41:54 --> 00:41:56 stand in the way
00:41:56 --> 00:41:57 of God growing his
00:41:57 --> 00:41:58 church and the
00:41:58 --> 00:42:00 gospel advancing in
00:42:00 --> 00:42:00 this place.
00:42:02 --> 00:42:03 I said to them at
00:42:03 --> 00:42:04 some point, you may
00:42:04 --> 00:42:05 come to me and say,
00:42:05 --> 00:42:07 Steve, it's time to
00:42:07 --> 00:42:07 go.
00:42:07 --> 00:42:11 Steve, it's time to
00:42:11 --> 00:42:12 change your role.
00:42:12 --> 00:42:13 It's time to step
00:42:13 --> 00:42:13 down and someone
00:42:13 --> 00:42:14 else step up.
00:42:16 --> 00:42:17 Because right now,
00:42:17 --> 00:42:18 you're not the
00:42:18 --> 00:42:18 person to take us
00:42:18 --> 00:42:20 from 1 to 2.
00:42:21 --> 00:42:22 And for the sake of
00:42:22 --> 00:42:23 the advancement of
00:42:23 --> 00:42:24 the gospel, you need
00:42:24 --> 00:42:25 to lay yourself
00:42:25 --> 00:42:26 aside.
00:42:28 --> 00:42:29 Or maybe to say to
00:42:29 --> 00:42:31 some that you can
00:42:31 --> 00:42:32 no longer preach,
00:42:32 --> 00:42:33 even though it is
00:42:33 --> 00:42:34 your gifting.
00:42:34 --> 00:42:36 But right now, as a
00:42:36 --> 00:42:36 church, we need you
00:42:36 --> 00:42:37 over there.
00:42:39 --> 00:42:40 Will you sacrifice?
00:42:41 --> 00:42:43 Will you give up?
00:42:45 --> 00:42:46 Or to move another
00:42:46 --> 00:42:47 person from their
00:42:47 --> 00:42:49 passion in one area
00:42:49 --> 00:42:50 of ministry to another
00:42:50 --> 00:42:51 area of ministry,
00:42:51 --> 00:42:52 because that is what
00:42:52 --> 00:42:53 is beneficial for the
00:42:53 --> 00:42:54 advancement of the
00:42:54 --> 00:42:55 gospel in that
00:42:55 --> 00:42:55 moment.
00:42:56 --> 00:42:58 And the call is
00:42:58 --> 00:42:58 this.
00:42:59 --> 00:43:00 Will you give up?
00:43:00 --> 00:43:01 Will you serve?
00:43:02 --> 00:43:03 Will you sacrifice?
00:43:03 --> 00:43:04 Will you surrender
00:43:04 --> 00:43:05 your comfort,
00:43:06 --> 00:43:06 sacrifice,
00:43:06 --> 00:43:07 prestige and
00:43:07 --> 00:43:08 position and
00:43:08 --> 00:43:09 significance and
00:43:09 --> 00:43:11 recognition and
00:43:11 --> 00:43:13 preferences for the
00:43:13 --> 00:43:15 sake of partnership
00:43:15 --> 00:43:17 and the advancement of
00:43:17 --> 00:43:18 the gospel of the
00:43:18 --> 00:43:19 Lord Jesus Christ?
00:43:19 --> 00:43:19 Christ?
00:43:22 --> 00:43:24 We need the perspective of
00:43:24 --> 00:43:27 Paul that if it is best
00:43:27 --> 00:43:29 for me to be in chains
00:43:29 --> 00:43:33 and rot, then I will do
00:43:33 --> 00:43:34 so if that means it's the
00:43:34 --> 00:43:35 advancement of the gospel.
00:43:35 --> 00:43:35 gospel.
00:43:41 --> 00:43:44 That is for all of us, that if
00:43:44 --> 00:43:47 it is best for me to be in
00:43:47 --> 00:43:49 chains and rot for the gospel
00:43:49 --> 00:43:51 to advance, then so be it,
00:43:51 --> 00:43:53 because this is the vision that
00:43:53 --> 00:43:54 God has called us to.
00:43:55 --> 00:43:57 We need a gospel-driven
00:43:57 --> 00:43:59 perspective on life and death if
00:43:59 --> 00:44:01 we are to see Vision 2020
00:44:01 --> 00:44:03 realized amongst us under God.
00:44:03 --> 00:44:05 There are many confronting
00:44:05 --> 00:44:06 issues and there are many
00:44:06 --> 00:44:07 things that we will be
00:44:07 --> 00:44:09 dealing with in the coming
00:44:09 --> 00:44:10 years.
00:44:10 --> 00:44:12 I hope you realize that,
00:44:12 --> 00:44:14 that for Vision 2020 to be
00:44:14 --> 00:44:16 realized, this place will be
00:44:16 --> 00:44:17 vastly different in the future.
00:44:18 --> 00:44:20 Praise God, so that more
00:44:20 --> 00:44:22 people might come under the
00:44:22 --> 00:44:24 Lordship of Christ means that
00:44:24 --> 00:44:25 we need to sacrifice.
00:44:26 --> 00:44:28 There are already means that
00:44:28 --> 00:44:29 parish council has been
00:44:29 --> 00:44:32 stepping out of operations to
00:44:32 --> 00:44:34 focus explicitly on governance
00:44:34 --> 00:44:37 and resourcing the vision,
00:44:37 --> 00:44:39 because no other group in this
00:44:39 --> 00:44:42 church is going to work on a
00:44:42 --> 00:44:44 10-year plan on how to resource
00:44:44 --> 00:44:46 and develop this place in order
00:44:46 --> 00:44:48 for Vision 2020 to be realized.
00:44:48 --> 00:44:50 That is part of the painful
00:44:50 --> 00:44:52 experience of sacrificing so that
00:44:52 --> 00:44:54 the gospel might advance a group
00:44:54 --> 00:44:57 of people who have got their
00:44:57 --> 00:44:59 hands in and are actively
00:44:59 --> 00:45:01 involved in day-by-day operations
00:45:01 --> 00:45:02 are actually deliberately
00:45:02 --> 00:45:04 stepping back to look at the
00:45:04 --> 00:45:06 longer-term vision of the place.
00:45:06 --> 00:45:07 That is sacrifice.
00:45:09 --> 00:45:13 It may mean for us redeploying
00:45:13 --> 00:45:15 financial or personal resources
00:45:15 --> 00:45:17 so that one dearly loved area of
00:45:17 --> 00:45:20 ministry and transferring it to
00:45:20 --> 00:45:21 another area of ministry which may
00:45:21 --> 00:45:24 be virtually unknown to us, but an
00:45:24 --> 00:45:25 area where we believe God is
00:45:25 --> 00:45:27 leading us to. It may mean
00:45:27 --> 00:45:30 investigating other church sites.
00:45:30 --> 00:45:32 It may mean a turnover of staff to
00:45:32 --> 00:45:34 get the right people in the right
00:45:34 --> 00:45:36 roles. It may mean even the
00:45:36 --> 00:45:38 removal of pews for more
00:45:38 --> 00:45:40 functional seating so that this
00:45:40 --> 00:45:42 resource that we sit in can in
00:45:42 --> 00:45:44 fact be used more effectively and
00:45:44 --> 00:45:46 efficiently. It may mean a large
00:45:46 --> 00:45:48 redevelopment of this site. It may
00:45:48 --> 00:45:50 mean a radical shake-up of our
00:45:50 --> 00:45:52 congregational meeting times and
00:45:52 --> 00:45:55 places. Whatever it may mean, it
00:45:55 --> 00:45:57 will definitely need to be graced,
00:45:58 --> 00:46:00 drenched partnership in the gospel
00:46:00 --> 00:46:02 of the Lord Jesus Christ and
00:46:02 --> 00:46:05 fearless courage in sacrifice and
00:46:05 --> 00:46:07 service for the advancement of the
00:46:07 --> 00:46:10 gospel because people's lives are at
00:46:10 --> 00:46:10 stake.
00:46:14 --> 00:46:17 The leadership needs the freedom and
00:46:17 --> 00:46:18 the encouragement and the
00:46:18 --> 00:46:21 partnership and the prayers to leave
00:46:21 --> 00:46:23 no stone unturned as we seek to
00:46:23 --> 00:46:26 utilize our resources for maximum
00:46:26 --> 00:46:28 impact to the advancement of the
00:46:28 --> 00:46:31 gospel and the glory of God in this
00:46:31 --> 00:46:31 place.
00:46:34 --> 00:46:37 And so friends, are you prepared to say
00:46:37 --> 00:46:40 with Paul, what does it matter?
00:46:40 --> 00:46:48 So long as Christ is preached, is your
00:46:48 --> 00:46:52 vision bigger than your own preferences
00:46:52 --> 00:46:56 and your own contentment and your own
00:46:56 --> 00:46:59 comfort? In fact, I want to ask you, is
00:46:59 --> 00:47:01 your vision even bigger than Vision 2020?
00:47:02 --> 00:47:05 Is your vision to live a life worthy of
00:47:05 --> 00:47:07 the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?
00:47:09 --> 00:47:15 So now, now is the time to start stirring
00:47:15 --> 00:47:18 each other up in partnership, to take
00:47:18 --> 00:47:21 some risks in more venturesome acts of
00:47:21 --> 00:47:25 love and evangelism and discipleship, to
00:47:25 --> 00:47:28 pray earnestly for the Spirit of God to
00:47:28 --> 00:47:32 move through us so that whatever happens in
00:47:32 --> 00:47:36 the future here at St Paul's, we will
00:47:36 --> 00:47:39 conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of
00:47:39 --> 00:47:42 the gospel of Christ. Amen.