New Jerusalem Sheep

[0:00] Well, I hope you, most of you, can remember something from this morning's message.

[0:16] And what I'll try to do right now is to give a sequel to it, but in a different way, because what happens after the calling?

[0:27] Well, Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord, was transformed by him, and was called to his service. What now? What's next?

[0:39] What's awaiting me when I leave those doors? It's everything very comfy here. Everybody loves one another. No one gossips.

[0:52] No one has a knife behind the back to stab you. The Lord does. What happens when we are launched into the world?

[1:06] One thing that I like a lot is to look at sports teams' names, especially in America, but also in the UK, because it has a very interesting sense, too.

[1:22] But when you look at the NFL, for example, or NBL, or all those letters in American sports teams, you look very strong, you see very strong names.

[1:34] You know? Chicago Bulls. Golden State Warriors. The Wolves. The Hornets. The such and such. In the UK, the names are more related to their hometowns, which bring us back to burks, fortified walls, protected cities, solidity.

[1:59] That's how the world likes to be seen. That's how people of the world like to be related with. With strength, power, invincibleness.

[2:11] But you know, we and you are both part of a team, too. But I guess our animal would not be as strong or able or fast like an eagle or like a wolf.

[2:32] Our city has walls that are a little bit different from the walls in the Castle of Edinburgh. Because if we would have a name such a regular sports team's names, I guess we could be something like the New Jerusalem Sheep.

[2:58] What strength does it convey to the world? What speed does it convey to the world? Any. A clumsy, defenseless, and quite dumb animal.

[3:15] Representing a city that today is invisible. Many don't even believe it exists. And some believe that one day it will descend from heaven.

[3:29] And this team is set to face the wolves, the hawks, the beasts, the hornets, the lions, the tigers, the warriors.

[3:40] In human terms, I guess that's an unfair dispute. It's like David and Goliath.

[3:52] And in human terms, that is really what it is. We are a minority. We have no guns.

[4:07] We have no special martial arts abilities. Some of us, yes. Not all of us. And the world outside doesn't like us.

[4:21] That's the kind of mission Isaiah was called to. Tradition says that he was put to death by being sown a cross. We have outside this wall some signs that talk about the persecuted church.

[4:44] The life of a Christian may be easy in some countries. But in many others, it isn't. Until today, people are arrested, tortured, put to death by the cruelest ways.

[5:03] If you look at some videos that I watched, some of you will turn the faces away sick. Because it is sick. What are we here for anyway?

[5:15] Jesus saw that. Jesus knew that. And when he assembled his first team, his first New Jerusalem sheep, the first generation, he gathered them around and he gave them a lot of instructions.

[5:39] These instructions, we can read them in Matthew chapter 10. And that's what we are looking at. Matthew chapter 10, verses 16 to 31.

[6:01] It's a little long, but please bear with me one more time. Because this is very important. I promise that you're going to flip a lot of last pages.

[6:13] We'll keep more to this text this evening. This is the word of the Lord. I am sending you like sheep among wolves.

[6:29] Therefore, be shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men. They will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.

[6:41] On my account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.

[6:54] At that time, you will be given what to say. For it will not be you speaking, but the spirit of your father speaking through you. Brother will betray brothers to death, and a father his child.

[7:06] Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

[7:18] When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth. You will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

[7:34] It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household.

[7:46] So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight.

[7:57] What is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

[8:14] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet, not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your father. And neither the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

[8:27] So, don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. Let's pray. Father, we are not worthy.

[8:42] We are sinners. We are far from you. We are not worthy. We are not worthy. We are not worthy. We are not worthy. We are not worthy. And even then, you loved us. You paid a price of blood for us.

[8:56] You brought us close to you. And all we can do now is to serve you. The least we can do. Proclaim your name.

[9:08] Surrender ourselves before you. And do your work on this earth. To hasten the coming of your kingdom. Make us bold.

[9:19] Make us courageous. Take away all fear from us. Because your son has promised us. That he would be with us until the end of times.

[9:31] And in his name we pray. Amen. Well, Jesus had been moments before.

[9:43] Before a crowd. And he took pity on them. He said in the chapter 9. That they were like sheep without a shepherd.

[9:55] All the crowd. The whole multitude. And he prayed to God. And he asks us to pray to God. To send more workers to the harvest.

[10:09] But it's interesting to see. That in chapter 9. The crowd are compared to sheep. But in chapter 10. The disciples are the sheep.

[10:21] And the crowd is made by wolves. What a contrast. And right here we can already stop. And think that God knows our heart inside out.

[10:36] He knows how much we need him. How much we are far from him. How much we need his grace. For our salvation. But at the same time. He knows that our sin.

[10:49] Our sinful nature. Turns us into his enemies. So. In the same measure. That the crowd outside. Is like disoriented sheep.

[11:00] With our pastor. With our shepherd. They can turn into wolves. Because. In their actual. Current state. They hate God.

[11:10] They hate his word. So. Let us not try to hide anything from our God. Our sins. Our needs. Our fear.

[11:22] To go outside and preach his word. Because he already knows. But he wants us. To surrender absolutely. Everything to him. Even. Our fears.

[11:34] Our doubts. And everything. During these instructions. That we read. He tells us.

[11:46] Of several dangers. That we might. Suffer. And. Some of them. We will suffer. Actually. Just to make a quick review of them.

[11:58] Verse 17. We would be put on trial. And flogged. Inside synagogues. Which were supposed to be. Places of prayer.

[12:10] And preaching. Verse 18. We would be taken before authorities. Verse 21. Our families. Will turn against us.

[12:21] Verse 22. We would be hated by everyone. 25 and 26. We would be secretly. Secretly. Attacked. For following him.

[12:33] Verse 28. Our very lives. Would be at risk. Who wants to volunteer? Imagine.

[12:45] That you're being recruited. To a mission. And. This is the kind of. Situations. We are going to face. I think it's. Bound to.

[12:55] A second opinion. What would you. Said. That there. The. The rewards. Because. The perils. Are great. But.

[13:07] First of all. Everything. Jesus said. That we would be through. He went through. Before us. He can't say. Everything.

[13:19] Because he was the first one. To. Be there. There. He was. Judged. He was. Flogged.

[13:29] He was. Betrayed. He was. Abandoned. By his friends. And family. He was. Mocked. He was. Tortured. And finally.

[13:40] He gave his life. In the worst. Way. That was possible. At that time. So. He's not.

[13:50] Saying. To us. Go there. And do this. He's saying. Come here. With me. Because I've been through this. And I know what it's like.

[14:02] So. If not anything else. He's our example. He's our pioneer. And we have a guide. Through all this.

[14:13] We're not alone. I'd like to. Separate. These instructions. Into. The four portions.

[14:24] When he said. Don't worry. Four times. In this text. He says. Don't worry. Don't be afraid. And we'll take a quick look. Into these.

[14:35] Four assurances. That he gave us. First. Verses. Nineteen and twenty. Don't be afraid. About the message. What will I say.

[14:48] When people ask me. Will I dishonor God. By not knowing what to say. Will I stumble on my words. Will I say the wrong thing.

[15:01] At the wrong time. To the wrong person. Will I represent my God. In a sincere. And. Worthy.

[15:12] Way. Way. After all. We are sinners. We are heavy. In our tongues. Like Moses was. Before authorities.

[15:27] And. Actually. You. Right now. Have. A very special. Person. To pray for. Which is. Your deputy. Prime minister. If I'm not wrong.

[15:38] Kate Forbes. She is an authority. But. She is before. Even higher authorities. And she has. A testimony. To do there. Let me tell you.

[15:51] A secret. Which is no secret. At all. Actually. That's the part. Where Jesus. Likes to act. Because. He said. We would be there. And he said.

[16:02] That. We would not speak. For ourselves. You know. Do not be afraid. Do not worry. About. How to respond.

[16:12] Or what to say. In that hour. You will be given. What to say. For it will not be. You speaking. But the spirit.

[16:23] Of your father. Speaking through you. And notice that. It's not any spirit. It's our father. Spirit.

[16:35] What father. Does something. Inherently bad. To his children. None. We won't be alone.

[16:47] We will be instruments. In his hands. To speak. His word. His message. To the ones. He chose. That would hear us.

[16:58] And he will be speaking. Through us. But. Please. Don't think that. It's. Any excuse.

[17:10] For. Lack of preparation. You know. That kind of student. That. Doesn't study anything. During. The classes. In the classes. And when the time.

[17:20] Of the test. Comes. He asks. God. Please help me. What. Where. Will he take. Knowledge from. Nowhere. He can't.

[17:33] Withdraw. From a bank account. Where there's nothing. So. We shall. Be prepared. First. Peter. Verses.

[17:44] 14 and 15. In chapter 3. But. Even if you should. Suffer. For what is right. You are blessed. Do not fear. What they fear.

[17:55] Do not be shaken. But in your hearts. Sanctify. Christ. As Lord. Always be prepared. To give a defense. To everyone. Who asks you.

[18:06] The reason. For the hope. There is in you. We must. Pray. We must. Study. We must. Live.

[18:17] With. The word. In our hearts. And in our minds. Because. We will be asked. About. Our hope. What. Shall. We say.

[18:27] Whatever. We have learned. From the Bible. Oh. I hope. The Holy Spirit. Illuminates me.

[18:37] Right now. Because I don't know anything. And I'm being asked. About. Why I go to church. And the Spirit. Is going to. Speak through me now. But. From where. Will I. Take knowledge. And ask for the Spirit.

[18:48] To help me. And. This. Particular verse. Tells. Us. That. Being. Prepared. To answer.

[19:00] Is a way. Of sanctifying. Christ. In our hearts. If I want to make. Christ. The Lord. Of my heart. I must study. His word.

[19:11] I must be prepared. So. This is the first. Don't worry. That Jesus says here. The second one. Verses. Twenty five.

[19:22] And twenty six. Blasphemy. Don't be. Don't be. Afraid. Of the blasphemers. And here.

[19:34] I gather together. Some other concepts. Because. A blasphemy. Is a slander. Against God. All right. It's a lie. Against.

[19:44] Our word. So. Lies. Slanders. And blasphemy. Can be. Put in the same basket. Here. Because. We will be.

[19:55] Slender. And God. Will be. Blasphemy. There is a. Famous. Sentence.

[20:05] Where I come from. That defines. Slender. Very well. Kills them. Of. What you do. Call them. What you are. And that's exactly.

[20:18] What Satan does. He. Tells everybody. That God's. Work. Is. The devil's work. Jesus.

[20:28] Was accused of this. By the Pharisees. He was accused. Of. Expelling demons. By Satan's power. And this is an old strategy.

[20:41] Actually. Because. In Eden. He told. Adam. He told Eve. Exactly. The same thing. God is evil. God wants. To ruin you. God wants.

[20:52] To keep. Knowledge. Away from you. I'm your real source. Of knowledge. I can deliver you. From the. Tyranny. Of God. Because God.

[21:03] Is a tyrant. He doesn't want you. To grow. He doesn't want you. To be like. Himself. So. Eat the fruit. It smells good. Tastes good. And will.

[21:13] Open your eyes. And you'll be like. God. Himself. Believe. The root. Of every lie. And every slender.

[21:24] And every blasphemy. That we hear today. Comes. From Eden. Actually comes from heaven. When he started saying. Up there. That he would be.

[21:35] Greater than God. Himself. The strategy. Is. The same. Just changes. A set of clothes. Jesus. Jesus.

[21:46] Suffered this. The apostle Paul. Suffered this. He was accused of. An agitator. And a blasphemer. By the ones. Who. Arose. Entire cities.

[21:56] Against him. And against the gospel. And so many others. Why should it be different. With you and me. When I preach.

[22:09] God's word. I will be accused. Of being a satanist. When I preach. Freedom from the world. I'm accused. Of. Enslaving people. To.

[22:20] A set of rules. Have you ever. Heard anything like it? I don't want your religion. Because it's. It bonds me. To a book. To a set of yes and no's.

[22:32] And I want to be free. Of course. And. Jesus. Adds. One more. Because. They say.

[22:43] About. Things that will be said. In secret. But the solution. To all. Because. He is. The way. The truth. And the life.

[22:56] Every. Everything. That they say. Against God. And against us. Will be clarified. And there will be nothing. Hidden. That won't. Come to light.

[23:06] Our. Our. So we mustn't be afraid. Of anything. Said. Or done. In secret. Any. Treachery. Any. Blasphemy. That is said.

[23:16] Against us. Or against God. Because he is the source. Of true. And. And. An additional. Reassurance. That he gives us. Is in chapter 5.

[23:30] Verses. 11 and 12. Bless you. Persecute you. And falsely say. All kinds of evil. Against you. Because of me. Read.

[23:41] And be glad. Because great is your reward. In heaven. New Jerusalem. For the. In the same way. They persecuted the prophets.

[23:52] Before you. About standing. On the shoulders. Of giants. Not only in Scotland. But through what. Children. Have examples.

[24:04] Of people. Who suffered. And died. For his word. To spread. His word. So. You know what. If being.

[24:15] Guarantee. That. I'm going to heaven. Just bring it on. I'm going to be there. No matter what the cost. No matter.

[24:25] How bad the lies. How. Insulted I am. On this earth. 120 years. That's nothing.

[24:36] Before eternity. Eternity. In glory. What do I have to fear? What do we have to fear? Nothing. From them. Third.

[24:49] Don't worry. From Jesus. Don't be afraid. For your own life. Well. Until now. It was all about. Lies and slanders. But now.

[25:02] We are being touched. Where it hurts. Physically. Sticks and stones. May break my bones. Yes. They do break. And it hurts. And it can kill. But in my family.

[25:14] We have a saying. If you fall. The floor is the limit. You know. There's. No way. To dig deeper than that. It's.

[25:26] A meek. And consolation. Because it's like. They are saying. Keep going. Don't look back. If. Some scratches. Maybe. But when you succeed.

[25:37] You'll feel such joy. What about a hike? Or. Bungie jump? Well. Not about bungie jumping. Because if you fall. Things are going. But. Anything.

[25:51] Related to the word of God. And with salvation. To us. Is destroy this body. This body that.

[26:02] Will perish. Within the next 50 years. And again. I have an eternity. To live. With him. Set beside. His presence.

[26:13] His glory. For eternity. Flesh and bone body. It's. Nonsense. Actually. When he. When we put. It's irrational.

[26:24] You know. I. I. Usually. Put this. Before my children. Suppose. You have a choice. Being. The punishment.

[26:36] For. A day. And spend. The next. At all. Eating sweets. And having ice cream. Or.

[26:48] Of ice cream. And sweets. Today. And spend. The next year. Under punishment. Really. Really. Really. But that's. We're talking about here. A.

[27:01] Brief. In exchange. For eternity. In Jesus. Company. And it. Ignoring. The suffering.

[27:11] Cause. From. A world. That has. An expiry day. And fearing. The eternal. God. God. Brings. Eternal. Reavering.

[27:22] This world. And this life. And ignoring. The eternal. Lord. God. Who. Who. Am I going. I going. To fear. Who.

[27:33] Am I going. To. Put. And. Avoid. Offending. At all costs. And surrender. My life. To. This world. It's too little. To offer.

[27:45] And the loss. Is so great. For your lives. We have much more. To receive. From God. And. Here.

[27:56] We have some hard choices. To do. Because suffering. Physically speaking. Parting. With a friend. Is hard. Maybe.

[28:07] Living. A. Relationship. Is hard. You love him. Okay. I don't. Neither. Christ.

[28:19] Or my job. Christ. Christ. Or my life. Tough choices. I'm not saying they're not. To put your hearts.

[28:30] In the right place. It will be. Much easier. Much lighter. To bear. Because you know. That your end. Is guaranteed.

[28:41] With the Lord. And this is the part. I like the most. And I'm glad that Jesus. Left. For the last part. Because. It closes. Don't be afraid. Because our life.

[28:51] Has value. To God. I can see. At the same time. The power. Of our God. And his love for us.

[29:03] He is the creator. And the sustainer. Of the universe. I saw someone. Saying. The billions.

[29:13] And billions. And billions. Of galaxies. And the trillions. And trillions. Of stars. And suns. And solar systems. That there are. In the universe. Our Lord. Measures.

[29:24] The universe. By his palms. How wonderful. Is he. Just like we said. This morning.

[29:34] He takes care. Of the sparrows. Not ground.

[29:45] Without his knowledge. And permission. The hairs. Accounted for. Do you know what it is.

[29:56] For a God. From one point of the universe. To the other. With his palms. To take care of. As if I'm the only creature. In the whole universe. This is.

[30:09] The Lord. That promised. The Lord. That promises eternal life. With him. What do I have to fear. After all. The world. Doesn't know.

[30:19] This God. They think. They are the best. They think. The bulls. The warriors. The fortified cities. When in fact.

[30:31] The fortified city. There is. Belongs to our God. Takes care of us. Individually. Particularly.

[30:44] For our salvation. That cost. The life. Of his very own. Only son. Can you realize. How deep is this? How eternal.

[30:56] This is. And this is the one. Who said. And surely. I am with you. Until. So go. And preach.

[31:09] Embrace my mission. I am with you. Do what I'm saying. Because what I say. Is true. Come with me. Because the reward. I've been with you. For eternity. Don't be afraid.

[31:22] There's nothing. To be afraid of. My hand. I'm holding you. In my hands. There's the best place to be. I just want to.

[31:34] Finish. This message. Summing up. The things that. Because it's. Important to have. Some staples. In what. We are looking at.

[31:46] Your words. When you testify. Because the spirit. Of our father. Will be. With you. Blasphemies. Slanders. Or lies. Because Christ.

[31:57] Is the truth. And eternally. Don't be afraid. For your own life. Because. Your eternal. Exist. And don't be afraid.

[32:09] Because Christ. Purchased your life. Pouring his blood. On the cross. We have eternal value. Don't be afraid. Because he is.

[32:19] Portress. The one who will. Never ever. Let anything happen. To our eternal lives. Okay. Go. And do my will. Because I am with you.

[32:31] God bless us. When we have ever.

[32:59] Be a bit of blood, a mortal thing, for still all ancient foe does seem to be.