WEBVTT

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 Thank you. Thank you, Ellen. Good morning, everyone. The mood lighting is nice, but I know it

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! is conducive to nap time as well. But I just want to tell you as a preacher, when I see someone fighting

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! the nap, all I want to do is come and just kind of like just tilt your head and just let you sleep.

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 So if you're fighting and you're like, you know, when you're doing this, we do this, please just don't fight

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 it. Just close your eyes. I know you're praying. I know you're interceding. And that's okay.

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 But actually, speaking of what Ellen just said, I really do just felt as though like, James,

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 you've got stuff to say, but it's really God who is the one who wants to speak. And so if I may,

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 just lead us in just a final few moments of just quietness, that we would still our hearts, that we

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 would hear whatever the Spirit wants to speak to us about. Can I lead us in that?

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 If there's a physical body posture that you use to remind yourself and that you're open to what the

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 Lord is saying, I encourage you to do that now, whether it's opening up your hands, whether it's

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 closing your eyes, whatever it may be.

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 Amen.

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 God, we know that you are here.

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 And that changes everything.

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 We know that you are working, that you are drilling,

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 that you are making all things new.

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 And as we sit here, we ask that you would usher in your kingdom,

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 the one that is here but not yet.

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 Jesus, would you take your place on the throne?

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 Would you speak to us because we yearn to hear from you?

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 So now we open up your word, the one that gives life,

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 the one that is something to say about every circumstance we face in this life.

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 So Holy Spirit, would you soften our hearts?

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 Your word is a lamp to our feet, a light unto our path.

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 And we lean on it, we rely on it.

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 We look to it.

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 And it is with gratitude, with reverence and awe that we now stand for the word of the Lord.

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 Can I invite you to stand?

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 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 1 to verse 11.

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 The day of the Lord.

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 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,

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 you have no need to have anything written to you.

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 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

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 While people are saying there is peace and security,

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 then suddenly destruction will come upon them

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 as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman,

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 and they will not escape.

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 But you are not in darkness, brothers,

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 for that day to surprise you like a thief.

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 For you are all children of the light, children of the day.

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 We are not of the night or of darkness.

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 So then let us not sleep as others do,

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 but let us keep awake and to be sober.

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 For those who sleep, sleep at night,

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 and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

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 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober.

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 Having put on the breastplate of faith and love,

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 and for a helmet of hope of salvation.

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 For God has not destined us for wrath,

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 but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who died for us,

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 so that whether we are awake or asleep,

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 we might live with Him.

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 Therefore, encourage one another,

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 and build one another up,

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 just as you are doing.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Please take a seat.

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 Thank you, Nathan.

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 Birthday boy, Nathan.

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 Thirty years young.

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 Actually, this weekend,

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 there's a lot of celebration going on, actually.

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 So I think yesterday was Nathan...

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 Actually, I was kind of trolling him a little bit

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 because I know that he had a party last night

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 and that he was singing a lot of karaoke

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 and drinking a lot of orange juice.

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 So I wanted to test to see how his voice was this morning.

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 Just being pastoral there.

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 Anyway, more on that later.

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 We've been going through One Thessalonians,

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 and anyway, I won't bore you with the whole recap.

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 I've done that for quite a few weeks now.

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 We're coming towards the end.

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 But I will say this.

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 This book has taken us on a journey

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 that actually I wasn't fully expecting,

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 and maybe I should have done more due diligence on this.

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 I was attracted by chapter one,

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 which was that God was just so attracted to...

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 Sorry, not God.

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 Paul was so attracted to this church,

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 this young church,

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 and I was like, it would be really cool

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 to hear what he wrote to a church

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 that was around the same age as ours.

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 And it would be interesting to see

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 what they were so good at

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 that he was praising them about.

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 What I didn't know was that

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 it culminates in these last few weeks.

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 Two weeks ago, I had to talk about sex

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 because that's what Paul talked about.

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 Last week, I talked about death.

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 And this week, and I was like,

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 okay, please be something nice

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 just to finish the letter off.

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 And today, I'm actually talking about the end times.

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 So this is what...

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 So we're not going to be going through

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 One Thessalonians anytime soon after this.

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 So please do pay attention

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 and listen to what we're going to be going through.

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 If you remember last week,

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 I asked you what your relationship with death was like.

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 And actually, your perspective on death

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 affects how you live.

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 Or rather, your perspective on the resurrection

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 impacts the way you use your time right now.

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 He then goes into the next part.

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 And the last week, I had this quote from C.S. Lewis,

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 which I'll read to you again.

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 If you are really a product of a materialistic universe,

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 how is it that you don't feel at home there?

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 Do fish complain of the sea for being wet?

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 Or if they did, would that fact itself

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 not strongly suggest that they had not always been

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 or would not always be purely aquatic creatures?

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 Why are we continually shocked and repulsed by death?

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 Unless indeed something in us is not temporal.

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 He's saying, hey, there's something inside you

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 that can't be satisfied by anything in this world.

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 And actually, every time you see death, hear death, feel death,

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 you're like, something's wrong.

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 Everything isn't quite as it should be.

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 And there's anger.

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 There's grief.

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 And that's okay.

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 Because we weren't made for this place.

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 That this is simply just temporary.

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 Which then really begs the next question.

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 And my brother last week, he quoted an author, Mark Twain.

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 And he said, the two most important days in your life

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 are the one, the day that you were born,

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 and two, the day that you find out why.

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 And that reminded me of another quote

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 of actually a college football coach from Wheaton College

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 who actually said there were two other important days

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 in this world, in your life.

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 And it is today and that day.

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 Today, which is where we are right now,

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 and that day being that day that we meet our creator

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 when our life comes to an end.

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 And those two days are important because that day,

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 how you perceive that day,

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 will impact how you live today.

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 Right?

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 So then the next question comes,

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 and actually, Paul, as he's writing this

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 and he's talking about death,

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 he almost knows what the people there are asking.

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 Because he's talking about death.

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 He's talking about Christ coming back again.

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 The next question, therefore, is,

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 well, when's he coming back?

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 Well, if he's going to come back

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 and we have to be prepared,

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 what does that look like?

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 And so we move into this chapter five,

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 and he's talking a lot about this,

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 and he starts there.

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 Verse one.

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 And we're just going to go through.

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 There's 11 verses today,

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 but don't worry, we're going to go through fast.

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 But I truly believe the Lord has something here for us.

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 And so chapter five, verse one,

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 if you're following along in your Bibles,

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 just to track where we are in the servant today.

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 Verse one.

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 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,

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 you have no need to have anything written to you.

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 What's happening here is people are going,

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 hey, you're talking about Jesus coming back.

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 When is that then?

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 And actually, that's been the question of mankind.

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 We have been asking that question.

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 In Ecclesiastes three,

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 he planted eternity into the heart of man.

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 We've all been asking,

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 what's out there?

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 What's next?

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 If you watch the Chinese TVB series,

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 everyone's chasing after that.

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 Because everyone is wanting immortality

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 because they don't want to die.

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 Or you watch the other films from Hollywood

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 about the apocalypse,

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 and you see, oh,

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 we are going to all die at some point.

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 And everyone's asking, well, when?

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 When is it happening?

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 But the truth is,

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 we can't predict when things are happening.

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 This week, we couldn't really even predict the typhoon.

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 Apparently, we've had four typhoons

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 kind of circling around Hong Kong,

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 and we don't really know when they're going to come

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 or when they're going to go.

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 And it ended up with Thursday being the day

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 where kids didn't need to go to school,

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 which all the parents then celebrated.

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 We can't even predict when a typhoon is coming.

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 How can we predict when the end of the world is coming?

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 But the truth is,

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 there have been many people who have tried.

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 In 1992, October 1992,

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 there were a group of Christians in Korea,

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 I don't know if you've heard about this,

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 who they had decided,

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 and they had thought,

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 this month, October 1992,

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 Jesus is coming back again.

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 And they believed it so much

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 that they quit their jobs,

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 they sold everything that they had,

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 sold their houses,

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 sold their sneakers.

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 Johnny's like, never.

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 I'm taking those to heaven with me.

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 Never.

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 And they waited.

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 And guess what?

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 November 1992 arrived.

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 And Jesus did not.

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 And they were devastated.

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 To the point where actually,

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 some actually committed suicide.

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 This is a thing that has been around for a long time.

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 When is Jesus coming back?

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 And now, there's tons of theories,

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 and there's tons of theologians

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 who will talk to you about this,

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 and there's the pre-trip and the post-trip,

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 and when Jesus comes back,

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 is he going to reign for a thousand years?

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 Or what's that going to look like?

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 We're not going to delve into that today.

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 But there's one thing I want to tell you

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 that I know about when Jesus is coming back,

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 is that I don't know when he's coming back.

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 Because Jesus says time and time again,

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 you won't know.

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 The day and the hour, you won't know.

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 But rather, he wants to really tell us

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 actually how we're supposed to live.

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 Second verse.

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 For you yourselves are fully aware

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 that the day of the Lord

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 will come like a thief in the night.

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 It's impossible to preempt.

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 You're not supposed to know.

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 So I've had friends, actually, in England,

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 this seems to be a growing thing,

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 friends getting their homes burgled

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 and experiencing the horror

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 of not feeling safe in your own home.

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 Because you don't know when it's going to come.

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 I've had friends who have been burgled multiple times,

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 and the fear and the terror that comes with that.

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 But the truth is,

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 you can't just sit there in your house

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 staying awake forever.

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 You've still got to live.

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 You've still got to protect the house,

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 but also make precautions,

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 but then still get on with your life.

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 So this is the interesting thing for us as Christians.

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 We know Jesus is coming back.

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 We don't know when he's coming back.

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 Then how are we supposed to live right now?

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 Are we supposed to be constantly on edge?

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 Every time we hear a loud noise,

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 we wonder when it's time to come,

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 that Jesus is coming.

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 Every time we see thunder and lightning,

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 oh, Jesus, is that you?

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 Well, we can't quite live like that either.

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 We've got to try and find that balance between,

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 hey, there is urgency in our lives,

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 but we almost also still have to go as normal.

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 And so this is what they're really worrying about.

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 And verse three says this,

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 while people are saying there is peace and security,

00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:46.720
 then sudden destruction will come upon them

00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:49.580
 as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman,

00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:52.280
 and they will not escape.

00:12:53.060 --> 00:12:56.400
 The sudden destruction really is just separation from God.

00:12:56.680 --> 00:12:59.879
 Of course, those of you who have had children,

00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:01.759
 you'll know labor pains do just come

00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:04.019
 whenever they decide to come.

00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:06.580
 There is nothing you can do about them.

00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:09.120
 We had a baby shower in our midst yesterday,

00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:12.899
 and that's kind of the fate that awaits every mother,

00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:15.159
 is kind of like, hey, baby's coming.

00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.600
 I don't know when,

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:20.679
 but they will come and we cannot escape.

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.500
 Of course, it's interesting.

00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.799
 What he's talking about here is,

00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:25.080
 hey, surrender control.

00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:26.600
 You won't know.

00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.139
 You don't know.

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:32.179
 It's funny because in England for pregnancies

00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:34.220
 and for childbirth,

00:13:34.699 --> 00:13:36.120
 you kind of just wait for the child

00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:38.159
 to kind of come themselves

00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:39.779
 at the time that they want to come.

00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:42.360
 In Hong Kong, it's a little bit different

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:44.559
 than we've seen is Hong Kong culture

00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:45.439
 likes to seek control.

00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:46.000
 You're nodding, right?

00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:47.399
 Because Hong Kong people,

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:49.019
 we like to know when things are happening.

00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:52.600
 And we like it to happen in our own circumstances.

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:55.360
 So we schedule for the baby to arrive,

00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:57.159
 and then we will operate to bring the baby out.

00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:58.680
 And there's all these different kinds of things.

00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.600
 That just speaks of the kind of that,

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:02.879
 maybe even that idol that we have

00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:04.740
 as believers here in Hong Kong,

00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:05.560
 that we seek control.

00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:07.180
 We want to know exactly what time

00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:08.320
 and what is happening.

00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:11.139
 I feel great comfort when I walk into the MTR

00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:12.680
 and I see exactly how many minutes

00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:15.560
 it's going to be until the next train arrives.

00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:17.659
 In the summer, when I went back to England

00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:19.259
 and I looked at the departures board

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:21.039
 in King's Cross Station,

00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:23.100
 that board means nothing.

00:14:23.839 --> 00:14:24.779
 You just wait.

00:14:25.459 --> 00:14:27.360
 You just wait, and suddenly it will turn.

00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:31.100
 It will go from not here to going.

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.600
 And then you've just got to run.

00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:35.860
 Maybe our efficiency has led us

00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:37.519
 to actually really feed into this idol

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.379
 that we want to control.

00:14:38.699 --> 00:14:40.219
 We want to know exactly what is happening,

00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:41.480
 when it's happening,

00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:43.000
 so we can know what to do.

00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:44.799
 But just like labor,

00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:46.899
 it does not happen that way.

00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:48.319
 Verse 4.

00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.399
 But you are not in darkness, brothers,

00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:53.159
 for that day to surprise you like a thief.

00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:55.899
 What he's saying here is,

00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:58.159
 even though you don't know,

00:14:58.299 --> 00:15:00.199
 there is still a way to live.

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:03.340
 Even though you don't know when he's coming,

00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:04.759
 you do know he's coming.

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.980
 So actually what he's saying is,

00:15:07.079 --> 00:15:07.799
 the day of the Lord,

00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:09.779
 which is how people have always described

00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:11.000
 this day when Jesus returns,

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:13.659
 the day of the Lord should surprise you intellectually,

00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:15.819
 because, oh, it's happening, he's coming.

00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:17.760
 But it shouldn't surprise you ethically.

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.320
 Does that make sense?

00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:19.860
 The day of the Lord,

00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:20.680
 when Jesus comes back,

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:22.440
 it should surprise you intellectually,

00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:22.900
 because you're like,

00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:23.680
 oh, I don't know when it's coming.

00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:24.440
 Oh, he's coming now.

00:15:24.640 --> 00:15:26.180
 But it shouldn't surprise you ethically,

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:26.640
 in the sense of,

00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.120
 whoa, whoa, whoa,

00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:28.120
 I need to get my act together,

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.680
 because by then it will be too late.

00:15:30.780 --> 00:15:32.360
 So we need to figure our way,

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.580
 a mindset to have,

00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:34.879
 to be able to live in a way,

00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:35.520
 where actually,

00:15:35.680 --> 00:15:37.440
 we're ready for him whenever.

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.860
 The way we're living,

00:15:40.160 --> 00:15:41.580
 shows that actually we're in line.

00:15:41.900 --> 00:15:42.540
 If Jesus,

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.219
 I mean,

00:15:43.219 --> 00:15:45.000
 we can just do this mental exercise right now.

00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.319
 If Jesus walked through the door right now,

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.500
 or maybe he wouldn't walk through that door.

00:15:48.099 --> 00:15:50.039
 Maybe he would just come from the sky down there,

00:15:50.079 --> 00:15:52.199
 and we see him descending onto earth.

00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:53.039
 In that moment,

00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:53.980
 how would you feel?

00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:55.500
 Would you feel,

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:56.360
 oh,

00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.539
 finally,

00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:58.459
 you're here.

00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:00.339
 I'm so glad that he's coming back for us.

00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.419
 Or it will be like,

00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.500
 oh my goodness,

00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:04.079
 I have not got my life sorted yet.

00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.740
 I have still so much sin in my life,

00:16:06.839 --> 00:16:08.419
 deliberate sin in my life.

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:09.899
 I've been so selfish.

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:10.679
 Actually,

00:16:10.719 --> 00:16:10.919
 Jesus,

00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:12.479
 don't come and have a look at my life.

00:16:13.339 --> 00:16:14.579
 What Paul's saying here is,

00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:14.759
 hey,

00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:16.019
 the moment he comes,

00:16:16.079 --> 00:16:16.279
 you're like,

00:16:16.339 --> 00:16:16.479
 look,

00:16:16.579 --> 00:16:17.120
 it's a shock.

00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:17.740
 It's a surprise.

00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:18.919
 But my goodness,

00:16:18.979 --> 00:16:19.179
 Jesus,

00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:20.240
 I'm so glad that you're here.

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:23.539
 That's the mindset that we're supposed to have.

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.620
 We shouldn't be surprised.

00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:24.899
 Why?

00:16:25.319 --> 00:16:26.059
 Verse five,

00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:28.259
 for you are all children of light,

00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:29.919
 children of the day.

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.799
 We are not of the night,

00:16:32.219 --> 00:16:34.000
 or of the darkness.

00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.539
 What does that even mean?

00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:36.699
 I'm going to stop here for a second.

00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:38.620
 Because we see this word a lot.

00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.820
 You are children of light.

00:16:40.900 --> 00:16:41.200
 Cubon,

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:44.120
 you are a child of light.

00:16:45.160 --> 00:16:46.280
 What does that mean to you?

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.379
 We see it,

00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:48.820
 Ephesians,

00:16:48.900 --> 00:16:49.620
 he talks about it.

00:16:50.400 --> 00:16:51.740
 What does that actually mean?

00:16:53.160 --> 00:16:54.160
 Turn to the person next to you,

00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.200
 whether you know them or not.

00:16:55.640 --> 00:16:57.100
 What's the first thing that comes to mind

00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:59.120
 when you hear that you are a child of light?

00:16:59.280 --> 00:17:00.780
 What does it mean to you?

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.980
 There's no right or wrong answer right now.

00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:03.600
 Just quickly,

00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.920
 and I will pick on you afterwards.

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.519
 30 seconds,

00:17:05.600 --> 00:17:05.720
 go.

00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:06.860


00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:06.860


00:17:36.700 --> 00:18:06.680
 Thank you.

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:15.640
 All right, coming in in 15 seconds.

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:38.700
 All right, okay, we're gonna go.

00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:41.700
 Usually I pick on Juju, but I'm gonna pick on Jackie today.

00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:44.700
 Just because you're sat next to him, that'll teach you.

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:49.700
 So, Chard of Light, what does it mean to you or you guys?

00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:53.700
 To me, it's like you're just a reflector.

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:58.700
 So our job is to like polish the reflector.

00:18:58.700 --> 00:19:04.700
 You're a reflector and you're basically reflecting the qualities that he has.

00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.700
 That's good.

00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:08.700
 So it's not really your own light, but it's his light that you're reflecting,

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:10.700
 and that's what makes you a child.

00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:15.700
 I think this term here, child of light, children of light, is really a Hebrew idiom,

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:18.700
 which means that you exhibit the quality of something.

00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:21.700
 You are a child of something, you exhibit that quality, you reflect it.

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.700
 Good answer, Jackie.

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:25.700
 I'm gonna fly over here and I'm gonna go over.

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:27.700
 Whoa, everyone's avoiding eye contact.

00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.700
 That's important to do.

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:31.700
 But Kelly's smiling, so I'm not gonna go for Kelly.

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.700
 I'm gonna go for Teresa.

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:37.700
 What have you got, Teresa?

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:39.700
 What comes to mind for you guys?

00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.700
 To live like Jesus.

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:47.700
 It's interesting, when you're talking about being a child of light,

00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:52.700
 which is really just a thing that you wouldn't first think that it's about behavior

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:55.700
 and about action, yet actually in 1 John, all of it,

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:58.700
 when he's talking about light, it's talking about the way that you live.

00:19:58.700 --> 00:20:03.700
 And when you live in light, it does affect the way you, how it impacts your life.

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:09.700
 Those of you who travel a lot, I know those who are flying to New York, for example, jet lag.

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.700
 Jet lag is such a killer.

00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:13.700
 I hate jet lag and it feels as though as I get older it gets worse.

00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:15.700
 But it's funny, how do you cope with jet lag?

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:19.700
 Paul, how do you cope with jet lag when you fly?

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.700
 Paulie?

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.700
 Huh?

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.700
 Paulie?

00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.700
 Paulie.

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.700
 Ha ha.

00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.700
 Clever, clever.

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:26.700
 Paulie Paul.

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.700
 Oh, good.

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:31.700
 Johnny, you fly around everywhere.

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:35.700
 Actually, what's the usual thing that you have to do when you come back from a place and you're jet lagged?

00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:38.700
 Sleep on the plane.

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.700
 Sleep on the plane?

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:41.700
 According to the schedule that you're going through.

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.700
 According to...

00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.700
 Yeah, you're going through.

00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.700
 According...

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:46.700
 Well, not all of us get to fly first class like you.

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.700
 Johnny.

00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:48.700
 We're sponsoring.

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.700
 We're sponsoring.

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.700
 We're sponsoring.

00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.700
 We're sponsoring.

00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.700
 We're sponsoring.

00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.700
 We're sponsoring.

00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:55.700
 Okay, we need some medical practitioners here.

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:59.700
 Who can tell us how you respond to jet lag?

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:01.700
 What is the thing that you're supposed to do?

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.700
 Sunlight.

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.700
 Sunlight.

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.700
 Sunlight.

00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:09.700
 Isn't it interesting that your body is built to respond to light?

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.700
 And so there's...

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:16.700
 If you Google, and I've spent many a night Googling how to deal with jet lag, and there's a whole calculator.

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:19.700
 There's a whole calendar that I only find out about afterwards.

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.700
 How...

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:24.700
 When you have to sit in daylight, and when you have to be in the dark.

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.700
 And it just baffles me.

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.700
 Wow.

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:33.700
 Without even thinking, we have to let our body be exposed to light, and our bodies will naturally...

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:36.700
 It will change the way we behave.

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:38.700
 Isn't that interesting?

00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:43.700
 That when you spend time in the light, it will change the way you live.

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:45.700
 That's what he's saying here.

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.700
 Be children of light.

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:48.700
 Change the way you live.

00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:51.700
 Because we all live in a city and in a society.

00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:57.700
 And I was talking to Birthday Boy here a couple of days ago about actually just the marketplace that we have to work in.

00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.700
 The society that we have to live in.

00:21:58.700 --> 00:22:00.700
 There's so much pressure.

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:04.700
 The cultural norms are so different to what the Bible is teaching us.

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:07.700
 And so we have to be able to seek to live in a way that is different.

00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.700
 Because why?

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:11.700
 We are children of light.

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:14.700
 It changes the way you live.

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:17.700
 It also changes the way you see.

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.700
 Right?

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:26.700
 Those of you who have tried to wander through a dark room and then you end up standing on this and tripping on this and stubbing your toe on the table corner because you don't see.

00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:29.700
 When you see, when there is light, then you will know what to avoid.

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:31.700
 Then you will know how to live.

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:33.700
 So, it goes on to the next verse, verse 6 here.

00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:38.700
 So, then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:42.700
 I've had that word in my mind this last two weeks.

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:45.700
 And I've been trying to figure out what it actually means.

00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:48.700
 What does the word sober mean to you?

00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:54.700
 Or really, rather, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the word sober?

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:56.700
 JP, what do you think of?

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.700
 Clear.

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.700
 Clear.

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.700
 Clear.

00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:00.700
 That is so good.

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:06.700
 I like the word sober because it feels like it has a hint of negativity to it, but really it isn't.

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:09.700
 It's just actually, can I be clear-minded about something?

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:18.700
 When I look at something, can I go, well, actually, oh, there's pros, it's cons, this is what it means, this is what it doesn't mean.

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.700
 And just to be clear-minded about it.

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:24.700
 And when you're clear-minded about it, the other meaning for the word sober means that you are self-controlled.

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:29.700
 Because you will look, and if you are sober and you're at home and you're alone, but you have a clear mind,

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:35.700
 you will know that there are some things that if you do, you know it might be satisfying you for a temporary moment,

00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:38.700
 but you know this will make you feel worse later.

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:42.700
 That when you're reacting to someone who you don't like, but if you remain sober,

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:48.700
 then you are clear about maybe why they're saying what they're saying and that you respond appropriately.

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.700
 To be clear-minded.

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:52.700
 To be sober.

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:54.700
 Are we sober?

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:59.700
 As we see our children who are growing up, sometimes they're not, especially when they're two years old.

00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:01.700
 They don't see things very clearly, do they, Alex?

00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:05.700
 They respond very strongly to certain things.

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.700
 You don't need to respond like that.

00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.700
 Zoom out, EJ.

00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.700
 Look at the big picture.

00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:10.700
 Everything's okay.

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:17.700
 But as we grow up, as we become children of light, we also should be sober.

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:21.700
 So we have a clear grasp of what's actually happening in this world.

00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:23.700
 To be sober.

00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:25.700
 And then it carries on on that.

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.700
 Verse seven.

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.700
 For those who sleep, sleep at night.

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:29.700
 And those who get drunk, drunk at night.

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.700
 Not clear-minded.

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:36.700
 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love,

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:39.700
 and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:42.700
 Suddenly he goes, hey, be clear-minded.

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.700
 Stay sober.

00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:45.700
 See things for just as what they are.

00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:47.700
 Not anymore or not any less.

00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.700
 And then what?

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.700
 And then put on your armor.

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:52.700
 What he's saying here is, we're in a battle.

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:54.700
 We're in a war here.

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:56.700
 1 Peter 5a talks about this.

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:58.700
 Be sober and self-controlled at all times.

00:24:58.700 --> 00:24:59.700
 Why?

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:01.700
 Because the enemy is prowling.

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:04.700
 He is looking to attack.

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:10.700
 He is looking to discourage you, to distract you, to deceive you, and to divide us.

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:12.700
 So we have to remember that.

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.700
 And it's interesting.

00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:19.700
 If you go back to verse three, while people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come.

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:24.700
 I've been in Hong Kong for five and a half years now.

00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:28.700
 And we've had some things happen in Hong Kong in these last few years, right?

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:33.700
 We first had the protest that just started right here on that Wednesday in 2019.

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:35.700
 And then, of course, we had COVID.

00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:39.700
 You know, I remember throughout all of those things, there was one thing that I actually really appreciated.

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:41.700
 It let me be sober.

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:44.700
 It gave me a clear mind of things.

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:51.700
 Or rather, when things aren't going your way, you finally get to see the bigger picture.

00:25:51.700 --> 00:26:01.700
 It's when we have peace and security, when everything is going well and fine, that's when actually, strangely, ironically, we don't really think or see clearly.

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:06.700
 But I remember so clearly when things were happening, when the city was in array.

00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:13.700
 When we were just, we were outraged every other day as we were following the COVID count and all the different restrictions that were coming.

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:18.700
 I'll tell you, and those of us who were in ministry were like, actually, we cherish this time.

00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:21.700
 Because suddenly it felt like the veil was removed, right?

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.700
 Do you remember that?

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:25.700
 And it's like, whoa, what are we doing here?

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:27.700
 What is this life about?

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:35.700
 But it's funny, as soon as peace and security comes back, as soon as travel restrictions are lifted,

00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:44.700
 suddenly we enter into this kind of numbness of life where we're not actually thinking clearly anymore.

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:49.700
 At least not as when we were seeing all this horrifying news that was happening around.

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:51.700
 Isn't that interesting?

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:57.700
 For us, it's how can we stay alert and recognize that this is a battle?

00:26:57.700 --> 00:27:02.700
 And Nicky Gumbel, the one who started Alpha, he shared this story, and some of you will have heard me share this.

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:07.700
 He shares this fictional story between Satan and some of his minions.

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:12.700
 And the minions go to Satan and go, hey, this is a little bit like C.S. Lewis's screw tape letters kind of thing.

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:19.700
 And it was like, hey, boss, Satan, how can we pull mankind away from you, away from God?

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:23.700
 I don't know, what about if we make them obsessed with pleasure?

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:30.700
 And then Satan goes, well, no, they'll be obsessed for a little while and they'll chase all the desires of the flesh.

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:36.700
 But at some point they'll get bored and they'll realize that actually it doesn't bring the contentment that they're craving for and that they will turn back to God.

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:40.700
 Oh, well, what about money? Why don't we do that? Why don't we get them so obsessed with money?

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:43.700
 And then they'll turn away from God.

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:52.700
 Well, money again works for a little while, but eventually even those who have lots and those who have little, eventually they'll realize that actually it doesn't do anything for them.

00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:56.700
 Their happiness is not, cannot, their joy cannot be tied to how much money they have.

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:59.700
 And then they were like, well, boss, then what do we do?

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:03.700
 How do we distract and pull humans away from God forever?

00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:10.700
 And then the devil replies, and this is just fictional by the way, Nicky Gumbel did not hear this conversation.

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:15.700
 He said, well, just tell them that there is no hurry.

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:18.700
 Just tell them there is no rush.

00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:25.700
 Let them believe that God does exist, but that there is no real significance or importance or urgency.

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:28.700
 Let them live as they are.

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:34.700
 It's Matthew 24 in the days of Noah when they were just eating and drinking and being happy and marrying.

00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:40.700
 Just let them be in that lull where they think there is peace and security.

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:48.700
 That, my dear minions, is more powerful than anything that we can do to actively try and pull them away.

00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:54.700
 It reminds me of the analogy or the analog of the frog being bored alive in water.

00:28:54.700 --> 00:29:01.700
 You don't realize, the frog doesn't realize that it's in this kind of lukewarm water that Chinese people like to drink.

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:06.700
 But then once you keep heating the water up, it doesn't realize what environment it's in.

00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:09.700
 Christine and I, we had a similar story.

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:13.700
 We have MJ currently living inside our room.

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:28.700
 And of course, he cries at night and he feeds at night and he does something else at night, which is terrifying, which is he fills his nappy with this substance that is just the smell of it, the stench of it is incredible.

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:31.700
 But of course, we're tired.

00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:37.700
 And so, one night, the nappy was changed, but it was left in the room.

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:39.700
 You'd think we'd know.

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:45.700
 But then, because we're so used to it, it kind of just fills the atmosphere.

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:48.700
 I think every parent has experienced this to a degree.

00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:53.700
 And you just don't know anymore how smelly your room is.

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:57.700
 Until Christina walked out in the morning.

00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:59.700
 And then she walked back in.

00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.700
 And it hit her.

00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:03.700
 And it slapped her, it punched her in the face.

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:05.700
 And she was like, this room stinks.

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:07.700
 And I was like, really?

00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.700
 Really?

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.700
 Oh.

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:16.700
 Until I walked out and then I realized I wasn't sober about my surroundings in that moment because I've become so used to it.

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:19.700
 I'm so happy there.

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:21.700
 Do we have that sometimes?

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:26.700
 That actually, we don't actually realize how deprived we are as a mankind.

00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:30.700
 Of course, when we look on the news, sometimes it shows us this, but we've become numb to that also.

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:34.700
 And we don't realize the stench that we're actually living in.

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:37.700
 That we are no longer sober about this.

00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:42.700
 We are no longer desperate for a savior because we're just kind of happy where we're at.

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:47.700
 Scripture tells us here, this is a battle.

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.700
 And the enemy is going to try to distract you.

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:53.700
 To lull you into this place where you think there is peace and security.

00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:57.700
 When in reality, sudden destruction is coming.

00:30:57.700 --> 00:31:00.700
 And that, of course, should keep us on our toes.

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.700
 But there is hope.

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:03.700
 And we're going to finish with hope.

00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.700
 Verse 9.

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:09.700
 I'll read that to you again.

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.700
 Verse 9.

00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:12.700
 Listen to it and I'll read it slowly.

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:18.700
 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.700
 One more time.

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:25.700
 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:28.700
 How often do we think when God comes, he's going to judge?

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:32.700
 And we're going to be in trouble because we've made so many mistakes.

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:36.700
 This judgment that is coming is going to be bad.

00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:43.700
 When time and time again, he says, he doesn't want, he's not destining us for wrath.

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:50.700
 That judgment is simply making right what we wronged in the first place.

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:52.700
 But he's not here to rebuke you.

00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:55.700
 And how many of us actually struggle to get that in our minds?

00:31:55.700 --> 00:32:00.700
 We say God loves me and God is good and he's kind and we sing these songs about the goodness of God.

00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:05.700
 But in reality, deep inside, actually, we're still expecting him to rebuke us.

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:07.700
 We're still expecting judgment.

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.700
 We're still fearing judgment.

00:32:08.700 --> 00:32:09.700
 We're still fearing wrath.

00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:11.700
 But scripture, God says, no.

00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.700
 Don't you understand?

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:16.700
 I didn't come for those who are perfect and good.

00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:17.700
 I came for those who need help.

00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:22.700
 I didn't come so I can pour out my wrath on you.

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:25.700
 I came so that you would be saved.

00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:31.700
 That understanding of who God is, I think needs constant reminding for us.

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:37.700
 Because I think even though we think we know intellectually that God is love, that God is kind,

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:46.700
 because we're so in tune with our own depravity and our own state, our own fallen state, we still think he's going to come and he's going to give us some real grief.

00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:51.700
 And yet he says time and time again, the wrath won't be on you.

00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:51.700


00:32:51.700 --> 00:33:02.700
 Because I poured out my wrath onto my son through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him.

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:08.700
 That labor pain that suddenly strikes, that sudden destruction he talks about in verse 3, 4 and 5.

00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:15.700
 Of course, you remember, I mean, now, yes, a woman going into labor, there is a lot of pain there.

00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:17.700
 But there's life that comes out.

00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:24.700
 And by some medical miracle, apparently, women forget about the pain, apparently, once they see the baby.

00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:33.700
 Is that true? Is it? Yeah, it's kind of true. I mean, however painful it was, and somehow it's just, there is life.

00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:39.700
 So a sudden destruction or that sudden labor pain that comes isn't the thing that's going to destroy us.

00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:43.700
 It's actually going to give us life.

00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:47.700
 But what kind of life is this? And this is where I want to touch on the final thing here.

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:51.700
 Because actually the life that he's talking about isn't just life here.

00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:54.700
 It is life here too, but it isn't just life here.

00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:59.700
 And I want to talk about, when I'm talking about the end times, I kind of have to touch on this topic of heaven.

00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:03.700
 What do you picture heaven to be?

00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:09.699
 Growing up, I thought heaven, well, there are images of heaven, of clouds, of harps.

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:13.699
 But is that, I mean, what do you see in heaven?

00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:17.699
 What do you think of when you see heaven? Flo, when I say heaven, what do you think?

00:34:17.699 --> 00:34:19.699
 What does it look like?

00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:22.699
 Golden streets. Wow.

00:34:22.699 --> 00:34:28.699
 Golden streets. We see this kind of perfect, glorious, shiny place.

00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:31.699
 What else do you see? Uday, what do you think about when you see heaven?

00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:34.699
 If I was to ask you to describe heaven, your version of heaven.

00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:36.699
 Eternal joy.

00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:37.699
 Eternal joy.

00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:42.699
 This place where you have this joy that is completely unaffected by circumstances.

00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:44.699
 Then it will just keep on going forever.

00:34:44.699 --> 00:34:46.699
 Queenie, what about you? What's yours?

00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:47.699
 Emerald City.

00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:51.699
 Emerald City, Wizard of Oz.

00:34:51.699 --> 00:34:55.699
 That is so good. I want to be in your heaven. That's a good...

00:34:55.699 --> 00:35:00.699
 It's interesting. Sometimes when we think about heaven, we think of this complete blank vastness.

00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:03.699
 Have you watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?

00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:09.699
 That scene where a deceased Dumbledore stands with Harry in King's Cross Station.

00:35:09.699 --> 00:35:11.699
 It's all blank and white.

00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:16.699
 I'm like, I have this image that heaven is just going to be this glorious, just white plainness nothingness.

00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:20.699
 And everyone's just going to be singing, holy, holy, holy is the Lord forever and ever.

00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:22.699
 Which for some people, it's your kind of jam.

00:35:22.699 --> 00:35:26.699
 But for others, people are like, really? This chorus again? And again? And again?

00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:29.699
 Oh, we're not stopping. We're going to continue. Okay.

00:35:29.699 --> 00:35:33.699
 But actually, that isn't the Jewish vision of heaven.

00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:38.699
 We have this idea that heaven is this place that we escape from earth to.

00:35:38.699 --> 00:35:45.699
 That finally we'll be rid of all the problems of humanity, all the pain, all the selfishness, all the corruption.

00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:48.699
 And we're going to go back and wander into this garden.

00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:52.699
 And I want to tell you that is completely unbiblical and untrue.

00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:55.699
 We are not going back to the Garden of Eden.

00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:57.699
 Where are we going back to?

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:59.699
 It looks a little bit more like the Emerald City.

00:35:59.699 --> 00:36:02.699
 It has gold streets. It has eternal joy.

00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:06.699
 When Jesus was praying just before he died in John 17, verse 3, he says,

00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:09.699
 I pray that they would have eternal life, which is what?

00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:11.699
 To know you.

00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:15.699
 This place is beyond anything that we can imagine.

00:36:15.699 --> 00:36:17.699
 And it isn't just a garden.

00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:20.699
 If you look at Revelation 21, it is a city.

00:36:20.699 --> 00:36:22.699
 God's plan always.

00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:27.699
 And this is, I wonder, if you have this image of this beautiful garden where there is nothing there, no pain,

00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:32.699
 just vast, spacious places where you're wandering through the meadows, it isn't.

00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:36.699
 It is a city, garden, cosmos.

00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:39.699
 It is like Kowloon Park.

00:36:39.699 --> 00:36:45.699
 Gaps and I, we have spent quite a lot of time just wandering through Kowloon Park.

00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:47.699
 And I love Kowloon Park.

00:36:47.699 --> 00:36:49.699
 Actually, Hong Kong Park gives me the same vibes, by the way,

00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:53.699
 for those people on the island who don't want to go to the Kowloon side.

00:36:54.699 --> 00:37:00.699
 It is just this place where there is a garden, it is a park, and there is buildings.

00:37:00.699 --> 00:37:06.699
 Honestly, every time I walk in, I am like, it is going to look a little bit like this.

00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:08.699
 It is going to feel a little bit like this.

00:37:08.699 --> 00:37:18.699
 In fact, every single good thing that we experience in our flesh here is a mirror, is a reflection of what is out there.

00:37:18.699 --> 00:37:30.699
 The exhilaration that Mihi and Paul have when they sing or play music, that points to the pleasure that they will have in heaven.

00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:36.699
 The joy that Gabriel has when he sings Taylor Swift at karaoke.

00:37:36.699 --> 00:37:41.699
 And if you have seen Gabriel sing Taylor Swift at karaoke, it is quite a sight.

00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:44.699
 His fiance is kind of just covering her face right now.

00:37:45.699 --> 00:37:51.699
 But it is a mirror of that thing that we are going to experience.

00:37:51.699 --> 00:38:04.699
 Every time Kenneth enjoys and sips some special wine that he has, the sensations that he has in his mind and in his body and on his tongue,

00:38:04.699 --> 00:38:10.699
 it points to a pleasure in heaven.

00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:12.699
 And we will get all those same things.

00:38:12.699 --> 00:38:23.699
 Every time Julian, the exhilaration he gets from reading a contract and reading books,

00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:29.699
 he will get to experience that in heaven.

00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:36.699
 Every time I walk and I see something in Hong Kong that I truly enjoy,

00:38:36.699 --> 00:38:41.699
 whether it's the Chao Chan Tang, on Jiu Long Gai,

00:38:41.699 --> 00:38:45.699
 Weng Lok Yun, the Bolo Bao and the Ma Chuan Giao,

00:38:45.699 --> 00:38:51.699
 I'm like, oh, I'm going to feel this in heaven but a million times more.

00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:54.699
 That should excite you.

00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:58.699
 Because I think sometimes we've settled for less because we think heaven is this blank space.

00:38:58.699 --> 00:39:01.699
 And we actually don't know what we're going to be enjoying there.

00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:05.699
 And so because we don't really know what we're actually going to be enjoying,

00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:08.699
 we just settle for the snacks and the things that we have on this earth.

00:39:08.699 --> 00:39:11.699
 But if you imagine everything that you love now,

00:39:11.699 --> 00:39:15.699
 you're going to be able to experience in heaven to an infinite degree.

00:39:15.699 --> 00:39:18.699
 That's worth waiting for.

00:39:18.699 --> 00:39:21.699
 I've just finished the book The Great Divorce.

00:39:21.699 --> 00:39:24.699
 Who's read the book The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis?

00:39:24.699 --> 00:39:27.699
 Just this fascinating book that C.S. Lewis dreamt up of,

00:39:27.699 --> 00:39:30.699
 just this bus journey that some guy took from hell to heaven.

00:39:30.699 --> 00:39:33.699
 And he's trying to describe, again, it's just describing.

00:39:33.699 --> 00:39:39.699
 But the way he describes it is everything, the noise is immense and overwhelming,

00:39:39.699 --> 00:39:40.699
 but it's beautiful.

00:39:40.699 --> 00:39:47.699
 And every sensation that we feel as humans, but amplified in the most beautiful way.

00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:51.699
 That's what heaven is going to be.

00:39:51.699 --> 00:39:55.699
 That's what the day of the Lord that is coming is coming for us.

00:39:55.699 --> 00:39:57.699
 And so is it worth waiting for? Yes.

00:39:57.699 --> 00:39:59.699
 Is it worth changing the way you live? Yes.

00:39:59.699 --> 00:40:02.699
 Because when that day comes, it will all be worth it.

00:40:02.699 --> 00:40:08.699
 So let that day affect today, is really what he's saying here.

00:40:08.699 --> 00:40:15.699
 Dallas Willard, who's maybe the previous generation's John Mark Homer, says this,

00:40:15.699 --> 00:40:20.699
 The life we now have as the persons we now are in that day when Jesus returned will continue,

00:40:20.699 --> 00:40:23.699
 and continue in the universe in which we now exist.

00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:27.699
 The life we now have will be the same, it will continue, but just in a better way.

00:40:27.699 --> 00:40:28.699
 N.T. Wright says this,

00:40:28.699 --> 00:40:34.699
 The Messiah will come and restore things to their original state, the universal renewal of the world.

00:40:34.699 --> 00:40:38.699
 Isn't that going to be good?

00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:41.699
 So don't think of heaven as this completely new place that we don't understand.

00:40:41.699 --> 00:40:43.699
 Actually, no, we get to see it now.

00:40:43.699 --> 00:40:47.699
 The things that we enjoy now, the good things now, are pointing us to heaven.

00:40:47.699 --> 00:40:49.699
 And let those be signs to us.

00:40:49.699 --> 00:40:51.699
 And finally, it finishes this, verse 11,

00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:56.699
 Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing.

00:40:56.699 --> 00:41:03.699
 What's it saying here is that journey of kind of keeping yourself alert is not done alone.

00:41:03.699 --> 00:41:07.699
 It requires people around you to encourage you.

00:41:07.699 --> 00:41:10.699
 Hey, eyes on the prize.

00:41:10.699 --> 00:41:12.699
 That's what we need people around to say.

00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:19.699
 Whenever we do lose sight of ourselves, whenever we become less sober, we need people around us to go,

00:41:19.699 --> 00:41:22.699
 Hey, this is what it is.

00:41:22.699 --> 00:41:23.699
 But look at that.

00:41:23.699 --> 00:41:24.699
 Behold.

00:41:24.699 --> 00:41:26.699
 Look.

00:41:26.699 --> 00:41:28.699
 Eyes on the prize.

00:41:28.699 --> 00:41:29.699
 Eyes on the prize.

00:41:29.699 --> 00:41:33.699
 And maybe just I'll finish with a couple of final tips about what that looks like when we encourage one another,

00:41:33.699 --> 00:41:35.699
 because we need it.

00:41:35.699 --> 00:41:37.699
 This week I spent some time with some pastors in town.

00:41:37.699 --> 00:41:38.699
 And man, even pastors need it.

00:41:38.699 --> 00:41:41.699
 Pastors need that space just to go, Oh, what are we doing here?

00:41:41.699 --> 00:41:45.699
 Why am I dealing with all these people and all these complaints?

00:41:45.699 --> 00:41:47.699
 Hey, eyes on the prize.

00:41:47.699 --> 00:41:50.699
 Do you have those people in your life who tell you that?

00:41:50.699 --> 00:41:53.699
 We need to encourage one another.

00:41:53.699 --> 00:41:54.699
 Maybe what does that look like?

00:41:54.699 --> 00:42:00.699
 That looks like, Hey, send each other messages of compliment.

00:42:00.699 --> 00:42:01.699
 Right?

00:42:01.699 --> 00:42:03.699
 Even if I, as I say that maybe, maybe we'll spend even 10 seconds.

00:42:03.699 --> 00:42:04.699
 Now have a thing.

00:42:04.699 --> 00:42:06.699
 God, is there anyone that I should just drop a message to?

00:42:06.699 --> 00:42:11.699
 Do you know when you've received a message like, Hey, thinking about you, hope you're doing well.

00:42:11.699 --> 00:42:12.699
 How's things going?

00:42:12.699 --> 00:42:19.699
 Praying that you would have, let's be people that actually encourage one another who are willing to actually go out of our way.

00:42:19.699 --> 00:42:22.699
 To send a positive message to encourage one another.

00:42:22.699 --> 00:42:24.699
 Because I know I need that.

00:42:24.699 --> 00:42:29.699
 So you're all welcome to send me a message after this service, just to encourage me.

00:42:32.699 --> 00:42:34.699
 Because we need reminding.

00:42:34.699 --> 00:42:36.699
 Because we always get lost.

00:42:36.699 --> 00:42:41.699
 And this is really, there's this passage in one Chronicles, which again, I don't think anyone has a favorite passage in Chronicles.

00:42:41.699 --> 00:42:46.699
 But recently I saw it and I was like, man, in one Corinthians 12, it's talking about the people of Israel.

00:42:46.699 --> 00:42:48.699
 And there's this one group.

00:42:48.699 --> 00:42:49.699
 And there's this one line.

00:42:49.699 --> 00:42:53.699
 Actually, I used a sticky tape just to kind of put it out there.

00:42:53.699 --> 00:42:55.699
 It's about the men of Issachar.

00:42:55.699 --> 00:43:01.699
 And it's actually King Solomon, when he took over rule, he split them all up into the 12 districts, just like the Hunger Games.

00:43:01.699 --> 00:43:06.699
 And then from there, the men of Issachar had a district that they were looking after.

00:43:06.699 --> 00:43:11.699
 And that district just began to grow and began to grow stronger and stronger.

00:43:11.699 --> 00:43:14.699
 And there's one line and it's just trapped in the middle of a whole list of things.

00:43:14.699 --> 00:43:15.699
 But it's fascinating.

00:43:15.699 --> 00:43:16.699
 And I want to read it to you.

00:43:16.699 --> 00:43:18.699
 1 Chronicles 12, verse 22 says this.

00:43:18.699 --> 00:43:24.699
 Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do.

00:43:24.699 --> 00:43:25.699
 That's it.

00:43:25.699 --> 00:43:32.699
 There were a group of men, the men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what to do.

00:43:32.699 --> 00:43:39.699
 I pray that we would be a people who would look at the times and seasons, we would understand what is happening.

00:43:39.699 --> 00:43:46.699
 Whether we're watching Fox News or CNN or SCMP, we know what is happening and we know what to do.

00:43:46.699 --> 00:43:53.699
 That we are sober, that we don't get caught up, but we are clear minded with what we're supposed to do.

00:43:53.699 --> 00:43:57.699
 That we are children of light.

00:43:57.699 --> 00:43:59.699
 So we have to think about that.

00:43:59.699 --> 00:44:01.699
 The small decisions that we're making, who are we becoming?

00:44:01.699 --> 00:44:04.699
 Are we actually being children of light?

00:44:04.699 --> 00:44:08.699
 And if Jesus wants to come back right now, would that be good news to us?

00:44:08.699 --> 00:44:15.699
 Or do we think it's good news and we say, Jesus, come, but actually only come after I've completed all my career levels that I want to achieve.

00:44:15.699 --> 00:44:18.699
 Only come once I have the family that I want to have.

00:44:18.699 --> 00:44:25.699
 Or have we truly surrendered and go, Jesus, come back whenever you want, because you are the only thing that I want.

00:44:25.699 --> 00:44:30.699
 Are we people who have that clear mind?

00:44:30.699 --> 00:44:33.699
 And then we pray for one another.

00:44:33.699 --> 00:44:39.699
 Jesus was frustrated always by the people that he was hanging around.

00:44:39.699 --> 00:44:42.699
 In Matthew 24, just as he's going in 26, sorry.

00:44:42.699 --> 00:44:44.699
 And he's like, hey, you guys wait here.

00:44:44.699 --> 00:44:45.699
 I'm going to go and pray.

00:44:45.699 --> 00:44:46.699
 And what do they do?

00:44:46.699 --> 00:44:47.699
 They fall asleep.

00:44:47.699 --> 00:44:52.699
 He says, pray that you will remain alert.

00:44:52.699 --> 00:44:54.699
 Pray for one another that you will remain alert.

00:44:54.699 --> 00:44:57.699
 So I encourage you, and we're not going to do it here.

00:44:57.699 --> 00:45:00.699
 But when you are with each other.

00:45:00.699 --> 00:45:03.699
 And we were talking about this this week.

00:45:03.699 --> 00:45:09.699
 When we are with each other, just hanging out, whether it's just we've just finished Muay Thai or we've just finished wine tasting or we've just had a nice dinner together.

00:45:09.699 --> 00:45:14.699
 Can we be people who actually go, hey, let's finish this evening by praying?

00:45:14.699 --> 00:45:15.699
 How can I pray for you?

00:45:15.699 --> 00:45:19.699
 I know we've just finished this board game and you're feeling a little bit salty because I just beat you.

00:45:19.699 --> 00:45:24.699
 But can I pray for you and love on you as well, my brother, my sister?

00:45:24.699 --> 00:45:31.699
 Can we be people who, whatever we're doing in this life and we can enjoy all the pleasures of this life, point each other back to him?

00:45:31.699 --> 00:45:33.699
 That's the goal.

00:45:33.699 --> 00:45:35.699
 That's the goal here.

00:45:35.699 --> 00:45:37.699
 There are only two important days.

00:45:37.699 --> 00:45:40.699
 It is today and that day.

00:45:40.699 --> 00:45:46.699
 And so how we approach death, how we approach the resurrection impacts how we live today.

00:45:46.699 --> 00:45:48.699
 Let us live with that kind of urgency.

00:45:48.699 --> 00:45:51.699
 I'm going to invite Paul and the team back up now.

00:45:51.699 --> 00:45:53.699
 And the team back up now, we're going to finish with one last song.

00:45:53.699 --> 00:46:04.699
 And this song really is a powerful way that I have always experienced in pointing me back to that day, pointing me back to what is important.

00:46:04.699 --> 00:46:10.699
 Because we know, you know, I know, when we kind of just get on with our lives, we get sucked into our work.

00:46:10.699 --> 00:46:12.699
 We get sucked into our relationships.

00:46:12.699 --> 00:46:13.699
 We get sucked into our social lives.

00:46:13.699 --> 00:46:15.699
 We get sucked into everything here.

00:46:15.699 --> 00:46:28.699
 But when we look and see the glory of Christ, when we imagine the golden streets that we're about to walk down, then everything pales in comparison.

00:46:28.699 --> 00:46:30.699
 Let's spend that time now.

00:46:30.699 --> 00:46:32.699
 Can I invite you to stand?

00:46:32.699 --> 00:46:36.699
 And we're going to respond through song and through prayer.

00:46:36.699 --> 00:47:01.699
 So, Jesus, we respond to you now through song.

00:47:01.699 --> 00:47:07.699
 And we ask that you would give us the strength to turn our eyes to you.

00:47:07.699 --> 00:47:15.699
 That we won't be consumed by our own stories, but that we would look at your story, your life, your death and your resurrection.

00:47:19.699 --> 00:47:23.699
 And be encouraged to live today for that day.

00:47:23.699 --> 00:47:24.699
 Thank you.

00:47:24.699 --> 00:47:24.699