WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000
 Good morning to everybody, especially if you're visiting.

00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:05.320
 It's great to be here together.

00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:11.480
 We were continuing a series in the book of Revelation.

00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:16.960
 And I was thinking about this this week, and I was thinking about a time a few years back

00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:23.000
 when I was sitting outside at a coffee shop, and I saw this group of high schoolers, and

00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:24.160
 they were talking to people.

00:00:24.240 --> 00:00:27.359
 They were going up to people all around the area where I was sitting, and they were talking

00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:27.820
 to people.

00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:32.179
 And my natural reaction in such a moment is to hunker down and to try to become invisible.

00:00:33.259 --> 00:00:40.600
 But I see this one young girl working her way down the row of chairs that I'm sitting in,

00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:42.640
 and she gets closer and closer and closer.

00:00:42.780 --> 00:00:46.579
 And then finally, she says, sir, excuse me.

00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:48.659
 And I said, yes, what is it?

00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:49.799
 And I had no idea what they're doing.

00:00:50.340 --> 00:00:55.240
 And before I could say anything else, she sort of nervously blurts out, do you know Jesus

00:00:55.240 --> 00:00:56.579
 as your personal Lord and Savior?

00:00:57.820 --> 00:01:00.219
 And I said, I do.

00:01:00.619 --> 00:01:03.219
 And I said, what are you all doing out here?

00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:07.099
 And she said, well, I'm out here with my youth group, and we're having a save-a-thon.

00:01:08.540 --> 00:01:10.200
 And we're having a competition.

00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:12.040
 You know, I said, what's a save-a-thon?

00:01:12.180 --> 00:01:16.799
 And she said, well, it's a competition to see who can witness to the most people.

00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.939
 And I said, okay, well, this can count.

00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:22.420
 So you just witnessed to me.

00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:24.140
 I hope you win.

00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:32.739
 And, you know, and I have to say, I admire the courage of this young woman.

00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:35.539
 There I am hunkering down, hoping nobody's going to talk to me.

00:01:35.540 --> 00:01:36.680
 I'm the pastor of a church.

00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:41.280
 And it's probably kind of part of the job description that I should probably want to talk to people.

00:01:41.980 --> 00:01:47.300
 And on the other hand, she's coming up to people she doesn't even know and asking them about their religious life.

00:01:47.340 --> 00:01:49.000
 And I just think that's admirable.

00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:56.500
 But I also did find myself wondering, is this what Jesus meant when he said that we are to be witnesses?

00:01:57.579 --> 00:01:57.980
 Right?

00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:01.460
 In Acts 1, verse 8, Jesus commands his apostles.

00:02:01.640 --> 00:02:03.379
 He says, you will be my witnesses.

00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:07.099
 I'm going to empower you with the Spirit, and then you will be my witnesses.

00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:12.039
 And he says, you know, I don't just want you to talk to a few people at a coffee shop.

00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:17.340
 He says, you're going to be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.

00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:20.900
 And this command is given to all Christians.

00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:23.159
 It's given to every Christian.

00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:28.180
 And so if you're here and you're not a Christian, you wonder why are Christians constantly trying to share their faith?

00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.640
 It's because this is part of what it means to be a Christian.

00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:34.020
 To be a Christian is to be a witness.

00:02:34.939 --> 00:02:36.939
 But what does it mean to be a witness?

00:02:37.140 --> 00:02:38.699
 That's our question this morning.

00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:41.719
 What does it mean to be a witness with our neighbors at work?

00:02:41.819 --> 00:02:44.300
 A lot of you have jobs where you cannot talk about your faith.

00:02:44.300 --> 00:02:51.100
 You cannot in any way meaningfully make it known that you have a faith.

00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:54.640
 And so what does it mean to be a witness in a job like that?

00:02:54.700 --> 00:02:58.340
 What does it mean to be a witness with our own families in our neighborhoods?

00:02:58.600 --> 00:03:03.439
 To find the answer, we're going to be looking together at Revelation chapters 10 and 11.

00:03:03.600 --> 00:03:06.280
 As you saw, Annika beautifully read those passages.

00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:07.439
 There's a ton here.

00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:09.420
 We will not be able to touch on all of it.

00:03:09.419 --> 00:03:13.099
 Our focus is going to be, what does it mean to be a witness?

00:03:13.819 --> 00:03:15.500
 And you know, every person is different.

00:03:15.679 --> 00:03:19.159
 You all have different gifts and abilities and jobs and resources.

00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:22.259
 So every witness in many ways is going to look different.

00:03:22.779 --> 00:03:26.399
 But there are a few common characteristics shared by all witnesses.

00:03:26.899 --> 00:03:28.060
 We're going to see three of them.

00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:32.560
 Truth, vulnerability, and hope.

00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:37.659
 All witnesses embody truth, vulnerability, and hope.

00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:38.560
 Let's pray.

00:03:40.259 --> 00:03:41.740
 Lord, we thank you for your word.

00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:48.920
 And our temptation would be to put it on a table, to cut it open, to dissect it, to parse it out.

00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:52.920
 Instead, Lord, we pray that your word would put us on the table.

00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:56.819
 That it would do surgery on us.

00:03:57.819 --> 00:04:00.020
 That it would separate truth from falsehood.

00:04:00.140 --> 00:04:01.719
 That it would separate despair from hope.

00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:04.259
 That it would separate death from life.

00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:07.719
 That you would use your word to do your work in us, Lord.

00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:08.479
 For your glory.

00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:10.259
 For our goodness.

00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:12.099
 In your son's name.

00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:12.379
 Amen.

00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:15.599
 So we're looking at what does it mean to be a witness.

00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:21.420
 The first thing we see in Revelation 10 and 11 is that witnesses don't just proclaim truth.

00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:24.600
 They actually embody truth.

00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:28.279
 We've been looking at this book for some time.

00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:31.279
 The first half of Revelation, just to orient you a little bit.

00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:34.099
 The first 11 chapters, which is half of the book of Revelation.

00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:36.839
 All of these crazy visions.

00:04:37.079 --> 00:04:38.500
 All of the things that we've been looking at.

00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:42.959
 This is like one giant prophetic commissioning service.

00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:48.799
 For 11 chapters, God is commissioning the apostle John to be his witness.

00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:55.699
 And we know that because there's a lot of similarities with the book of Ezekiel and the first five chapters of Ezekiel.

00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:57.800
 That's Ezekiel's commissioning service.

00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:00.100
 And so this is John's commissioning service.

00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:03.920
 And so John is being commissioned to be a witness.

00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:09.280
 And in Revelation chapter 10, John hears this thundering voice of God speaking.

00:05:09.400 --> 00:05:12.319
 And he sees this mighty angel descending.

00:05:12.580 --> 00:05:18.540
 And so John, when he hears this thundering voice of God, his first instinct is to start writing it down.

00:05:18.640 --> 00:05:19.840
 He said, God is speaking to me.

00:05:20.020 --> 00:05:22.500
 So he grabs a piece of paper and starts trying to write it down.

00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:24.259
 But interestingly, God stops him.

00:05:25.700 --> 00:05:26.520
 God says, no, no, no.

00:05:26.520 --> 00:05:27.100
 Seal it up.

00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:28.840
 Don't write it down.

00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:37.019
 And then God says, essentially, instead, go and take the book that the angel is holding, the scroll.

00:05:37.599 --> 00:05:42.439
 Instead of writing down what I'm saying, I want you to take that scroll, that book, and I want you to eat it.

00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:46.559
 Now, again, this is a kind of a bizarre image.

00:05:46.719 --> 00:05:48.279
 It seems odd to us.

00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:50.939
 But he says, I want you to eat that book.

00:05:50.939 --> 00:05:53.879
 And then he says in verse 9, the angel says, take and eat it.

00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:59.019
 It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.

00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:03.519
 And this is actually showing us something very important about what it means to be a witness.

00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:05.779
 God is saying essentially this.

00:06:06.219 --> 00:06:08.939
 I don't want you to just repeat my words like a parrot.

00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:16.600
 I don't want you to just reflect back everything you hear, mirror back everything you hear.

00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:19.139
 I want you to consume my word.

00:06:19.719 --> 00:06:21.319
 I want it to go into you.

00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:26.060
 I want it to be absorbed into your bone and your marrow and your DNA.

00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:27.759
 I want it to become a part of you.

00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.139
 And I want it to do its work in you.

00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:33.040
 And on the one hand, it will be sweet.

00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:34.519
 And on the other hand, it will be bitter.

00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:40.339
 On the one hand, it will comfort you and encourage you and give you a sense of peace.

00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:45.639
 On the other hand, it will challenge you and disturb you and convict you of sin.

00:06:45.719 --> 00:06:48.519
 It will expose your need for my grace.

00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:51.719
 So it will be sweet and it will be bitter.

00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:53.159
 Switter.

00:06:53.160 --> 00:07:03.760
 But the point is he wants his word to do his work in John before John goes out as a witness.

00:07:05.140 --> 00:07:09.120
 And, you know, it reminds me of this sign at Union Market.

00:07:09.220 --> 00:07:14.460
 If you've ever been to Union Market, there's a sign and it talks about how our skin and our bones and our organs,

00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.360
 over time, the cells all replace themselves.

00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:26.340
 And it says that, therefore, the food that we eat literally becomes us because our bodies are constantly replacing themselves using the food that we eat.

00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:28.800
 And that's kind of like what God is saying to John.

00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:30.819
 I want my word to become you.

00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:35.540
 That's what it means to be a witness, that God's word has become you.

00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:38.360
 It's a part of every cell of your body.

00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:43.660
 So a true witness is someone who has consumed God's word and it has become them.

00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:45.319
 And you say, well, how do you do that?

00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:52.280
 Well, it reminds me of the Chicago Shakespeare improv group that sometimes I like to talk about.

00:07:52.340 --> 00:07:53.620
 It's a great illustration of this.

00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:58.520
 There's a group in Chicago and they're a troupe of improv actors and comedians.

00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:05.799
 And they, every night, do multiple performances in a fully Shakespearean, Elizabethan style.

00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.240
 With verse, iambic pentameter, you know, the whole nine yards.

00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:14.139
 And they start the show by polling the audience and they say, give us a title.

00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:18.359
 And people just shout out titles and from a title, they pick a title.

00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:24.659
 From that title, they improvise an entire Shakespearean play, a 90-minute performance.

00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:29.939
 And you ask, how in the world, you know, when you watch it happen, it is mind-blowing.

00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:32.600
 You think they can't possibly be making this up and yet they do.

00:08:33.300 --> 00:08:37.480
 The way they're able to do that is that they have consumed Shakespeare.

00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:43.379
 They have studied and read and memorized everything they can get their hands on.

00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:46.940
 And they've studied Shakespeare so much that they can channel Shakespeare.

00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:54.860
 And they can improvise on the spot what Shakespeare would say or do with any of his characters in any given situation.

00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:58.920
 And you know, that's relevant to us because life isn't scripted.

00:08:59.780 --> 00:09:01.460
 All of life is improv.

00:09:02.880 --> 00:09:10.140
 And so God calls his witnesses to consume God's word to the point that they develop not a Shakespearean instinct,

00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:12.100
 but a gospel instinct.

00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:17.600
 So that they can then live lives of what you might call gospel improvisation.

00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:22.420
 Because most of the situations that we face in life, the Bible does not directly address.

00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:30.879
 But if you develop a gospel instinct, you can improvise in the moment in ways that reflect the gospel,

00:09:31.040 --> 00:09:34.220
 like this acting troupe reflects Shakespeare.

00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:37.180
 You hear it or you see it and you think, that reminds me.

00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:39.899
 That might as well have been taken right out of scripture.

00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:40.459
 Right?

00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:46.720
 So the reason this matters for the question this morning, what does it mean to be a witness, is this.

00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:58.199
 The most convincing argument for the truth of the gospel will never come in the form of an abstract philosophical argument or apologetics.

00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:00.480
 There's a tremendous value.

00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:04.319
 I'm a great lover of philosophy, great lover of apologetics, tremendous value there.

00:10:04.579 --> 00:10:06.860
 But the most convincing argument is never going to come that way.

00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:13.180
 The most convincing argument is going to come in the form of a life that doesn't make sense.

00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:17.240
 It's going to come in the form of a life that demands explanation.

00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:21.000
 It's going to come in the form of a life that doesn't fit.

00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:26.700
 When people look at it, they say, how could you live that way given all of this?

00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:29.960
 Those are the most convincing arguments.

00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:33.340
 It's a life that puts the gospel on display.

00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:34.240
 Right?

00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:39.080
 So when you see somebody who is quick to forgive and slow to take offense.

00:10:39.900 --> 00:10:46.360
 Or when you see somebody that doesn't fight to take all the credit at work, but rather they freely give credit away.

00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:51.800
 And they lift up their co-workers, even if they're the ones who should be taking credit.

00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:59.500
 Or if you see somebody who is regularly taking Sabbath rest, even though all of their co-workers work seven days a week.

00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:03.559
 And you know it probably costs them in terms of promotion.

00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:13.419
 Or when you see somebody who actually is willing to receive criticism with openness and humility rather than defensiveness and hostility.

00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:21.479
 People who live lives like that provoke questions that only the gospel can answer.

00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:24.559
 And that's what it means to be a witness.

00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:26.319
 It means not just to proclaim truth.

00:11:26.819 --> 00:11:31.639
 But to live a life that provokes questions that only the gospel can answer.

00:11:31.699 --> 00:11:35.120
 Because I think the gospel always comes best as the answer to a question.

00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:36.399
 Explain that.

00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:39.679
 That doesn't make sense in my world view.

00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:43.859
 So part of what it means to be a witness is to embody truth.

00:11:43.959 --> 00:11:44.739
 But that's not all.

00:11:45.439 --> 00:11:49.559
 When you embody truth, you will get a variety of reactions.

00:11:50.199 --> 00:11:51.659
 And not all of them will be positive.

00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:55.539
 So the second thing we need to look at is the call to vulnerability.

00:11:56.199 --> 00:11:59.479
 In chapter 11, John sees two witnesses.

00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:00.899
 Verse 4 says,

00:12:01.219 --> 00:12:06.719
 These are the two olive trees, the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:12.700
 And it says that even though these witnesses are going to testify about the truth of Jesus,

00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:16.639
 even though they're going to have tremendous power in spiritual authority,

00:12:16.700 --> 00:12:18.000
 they're going to be breathing fire.

00:12:18.420 --> 00:12:20.420
 We've seen that already in Revelation.

00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:24.460
 It says that eventually these witnesses are going to be trampled and killed

00:12:24.460 --> 00:12:27.379
 by those who dwell on the earth,

00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:30.700
 which is a kind of biblical phrase for the unbelieving world.

00:12:30.800 --> 00:12:32.080
 People who've rejected God,

00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:35.040
 people who live in the world as though there is no God.

00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:38.439
 God, those who dwell on the earth will eventually trample and kill these witnesses.

00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:44.120
 And these unbelieving people who kill these witnesses are going to celebrate in the streets.

00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.319
 The witnesses are dead.

00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.399
 They're not even going to want to bury them.

00:12:48.459 --> 00:12:50.179
 They're not even going to give them the honor of a burial.

00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:53.419
 They're actually going to be exchanging gifts and celebrating in the streets.

00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:54.079
 Why?

00:12:54.439 --> 00:12:58.259
 Because the witnesses had been tormenting with their words,

00:12:58.679 --> 00:12:59.899
 all those who reject God.

00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:02.240
 They couldn't stand to hear what the witnesses were saying,

00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:03.480
 and so they put them to death.

00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:08.960
 And you know, the two witnesses symbolize Jews and Gentiles.

00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:11.259
 Jews and Gentiles.

00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:12.539
 And the message is clear.

00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.600
 Everyone who witnesses to the truth of Jesus,

00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:18.220
 whether you're a Jew or a Gentile,

00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.340
 it doesn't matter.

00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:23.340
 Everyone who witnesses to the truth of Jesus is going to suffer.

00:13:24.680 --> 00:13:25.940
 It's not a possibility.

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.659
 It's an inevitability.

00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:30.679
 And the reason is because the message of the gospel,

00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:32.240
 the truth that we are called to embody,

00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:33.679
 is inherently offensive.

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:38.899
 It torments people who really hear it.

00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:40.120
 It says essentially,

00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:44.939
 God created you as a human being to bear his image

00:13:44.939 --> 00:13:46.819
 and to do his work in the world.

00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:48.419
 That's what it means to be a human being.

00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:51.360
 But it says that because of our own idolatry,

00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.919
 because of our worship of self,

00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:54.419
 because of sin,

00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:56.919
 we have been corrupted and distorted.

00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:59.219
 That we are dehumanized.

00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.699
 And it says that our only hope of ever becoming fully human

00:14:03.699 --> 00:14:06.860
 is to abandon our entire way of life

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:10.319
 and to throw ourselves at Jesus' feet

00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:11.459
 and to beg for his mercy.

00:14:12.459 --> 00:14:15.219
 And that's a very offensive thing to tell people.

00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:16.919
 People are horrified,

00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.620
 especially this day and age,

00:14:19.079 --> 00:14:20.139
 at that idea.

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:23.740
 The whole thing is challenging and offensive.

00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:26.759
 And so people are not only going to hate that message,

00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.620
 they're going to hate the messengers.

00:14:30.180 --> 00:14:31.639
 And so God is showing us this.

00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:33.919
 You're going to have great, tremendous power and authority,

00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:35.000
 Jews and Gentiles alike.

00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:36.299
 You're going to be powerful witnesses.

00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:38.340
 But you're going to suffer

00:14:38.340 --> 00:14:40.240
 and ultimately you're going to die.

00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:43.259
 And he says this not so that he can then tell us the escape plan.

00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:44.840
 Now that you know,

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:46.500
 here's the exit to take.

00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:49.060
 It's so that we will embrace it.

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.180
 He's preparing us.

00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:52.500
 Don't run from it.

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:54.440
 Don't try to find another way.

00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.799
 Suffering is a part of what it means to be a witness.

00:14:58.259 --> 00:15:00.779
 Vulnerability is part of what it means to be a witness.

00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:02.539
 So witnesses don't just proclaim truth.

00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:04.440
 They suffer for it.

00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:06.019
 And you know,

00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:09.220
 I've been reflecting on this a lot this past couple of weeks.

00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.039
 And I've been thinking

00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:12.700
 how much I think I need to hear this.

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.220
 Because you know,

00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:15.120
 my honest,

00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:19.399
 my honest tendency is to want truth without vulnerability.

00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:22.740
 I'm happy to proclaim the gospel

00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:24.940
 as long as I'm not risking anything,

00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:27.240
 as long as it doesn't cost me anything,

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:29.460
 as long as it doesn't create any kind of discomfort.

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:31.420
 I'm happy to talk about the gospel.

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:32.040
 Right?

00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:34.159
 But if it actually costs me something,

00:15:34.459 --> 00:15:35.759
 if I'm actually risking something,

00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:37.039
 that's a whole different animal.

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.759
 Truth with vulnerability,

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.759
 that's terrifying.

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:40.719
 Right?

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.240
 I mean,

00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:44.039
 why do you think so many Christians

00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:46.319
 are willing to go halfway around the world

00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.579
 to some village

00:15:47.579 --> 00:15:48.740
 full of people they've never met

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.599
 and will never see again,

00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.539
 and they preach the gospel freely?

00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:54.399
 And yet they won't even admit

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.860
 that they're Christians to their neighbors.

00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:58.159
 Why the disconnect?

00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:58.519
 Well,

00:15:58.599 --> 00:16:01.019
 it's because we want truth without vulnerability.

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.899
 If somebody halfway around the world

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:04.079
 rejects me,

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.319
 I'm never going to see him again.

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.579
 But the person that I live next to,

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:10.759
 whose respect and admiration I actually want,

00:16:12.099 --> 00:16:12.299
 you know,

00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:13.579
 that's going to cost me something.

00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:15.240
 If I sit across the table from that person

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.599
 and I lay out what I believe,

00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:18.719
 and I have the audacity to say,

00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:19.679
 and I think that Jesus,

00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:21.079
 the good news of the gospel,

00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:22.080
 is for you as well,

00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:24.440
 and that person laughs in my face

00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:26.980
 or blacklists me socially,

00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:28.980
 that's going to cost me a tremendous amount.

00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.500
 But that's truth with vulnerability.

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:34.759
 God calls his witnesses to be vulnerable

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:36.820
 as we proclaim and embody truth.

00:16:36.900 --> 00:16:37.180
 And you know,

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:38.440
 you see this throughout the Bible.

00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:42.300
 When God called his people in Babylonian exile

00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:45.600
 to love and to seek the flourishing of Babylon,

00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:48.160
 he called them to do that,

00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.500
 and you see this in Jeremiah 29,

00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:51.240
 by going into the city,

00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.779
 planting gardens,

00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.639
 building houses,

00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:54.940
 letting their kids get married,

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.879
 and then he says,

00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.559
 in their welfare,

00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:59.600
 you will find your welfare.

00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:00.240
 In other words,

00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:02.159
 I want you to yoke yourself to them.

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:04.119
 I want you to become dependent on them.

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.039
 If they flourish,

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:05.500
 you flourish.

00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:06.299
 If they starve,

00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:06.859
 you starve.

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:08.539
 I want you to be deeply invested

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.779
 in the life of the city

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:12.099
 and dependent on the life of the city.

00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:13.919
 I'm going to provide for you

00:17:13.919 --> 00:17:16.119
 through these pagan people.

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:19.399
 Now that's an amazing call to vulnerability.

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:19.659
 He says,

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:21.359
 I want you to go and embody truth,

00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:22.559
 but I want you to do it in a way

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.699
 where you are utterly dependent

00:17:23.699 --> 00:17:24.939
 on the people you're trying to reach.

00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:27.740
 You see the same thing show up in the New Testament.

00:17:27.879 --> 00:17:29.079
 Jesus sends out his disciples.

00:17:29.439 --> 00:17:29.659
 He says,

00:17:29.699 --> 00:17:30.319
 I want you to go.

00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.599
 I want you to proclaim the gospel.

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:33.099
 Tell people what you've seen and heard from me.

00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:33.919
 Tell them about the kingdom.

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.699
 Don't take any provisions.

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:39.360
 Whatever clothes you're wearing,

00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.259
 good enough.

00:17:40.340 --> 00:17:41.360
 You're ready to go right now,

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.160
 going out the door.

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.120
 God bless you.

00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:43.920
 Right?

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:44.960
 And they go.

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.799
 And the reason is because he says,

00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.600
 I want you to go into the homes

00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:49.799
 of the people that you're trying to reach.

00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:51.500
 I want you to be dependent

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.680
 on their hospitality,

00:17:53.100 --> 00:17:54.100
 dependent on their kindness,

00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.740
 and also open to their rejection.

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.819
 If they invite you in,

00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:00.160
 see them as a person of peace.

00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:01.059
 Proclaim the gospel.

00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:01.940
 Tell them about me.

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.860
 If they reject you,

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.019
 shake the dust off your sandals

00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:04.960
 and move on.

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.220
 But you are to move forward

00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.799
 proclaiming the truth,

00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:08.819
 but vulnerable.

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:11.059
 At the mercy of their rejection.

00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:12.620
 At the mercy of their hospitality.

00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:14.019
 Trusting them

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:16.019
 to be the people to meet your needs.

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.860
 And I think this is something

00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:19.339
 that we often overlook.

00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:21.240
 But it's extremely important.

00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.819
 Because when we think about

00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:25.779
 being a witness in this day and age,

00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:28.220
 whenever you talk about

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.240
 any kind of truth claim,

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.460
 most people have bought in

00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.940
 to Michel Foucault,

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:35.420
 who said that all truth claims

00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:36.840
 are essentially power plays.

00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.759
 And if I'm making a claim,

00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:40.160
 a religious claim about you,

00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:40.860
 or religious claim,

00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:41.620
 if I'm preaching the gospel,

00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:42.900
 that's just a power play.

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:45.360
 Now we can quibble about

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:47.480
 how true or untrue that is, right?

00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.279
 But the point we need to see

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.039
 is that Jesus is actually calling us

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:52.039
 to lay down the power.

00:18:53.300 --> 00:18:54.560
 This is a truth claim

00:18:54.560 --> 00:18:55.440
 without the power play.

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.740
 This is a truth claim

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.900
 from a position of weakness.

00:18:59.800 --> 00:19:00.740
 It's a truth claim

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:02.060
 from a position of dependence

00:19:02.060 --> 00:19:03.279
 and vulnerability.

00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.639
 God calls his witnesses

00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:06.000
 to lay down their power.

00:19:07.399 --> 00:19:08.819
 He calls us to love people

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:10.019
 who hate and mock us.

00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:12.059
 He calls us to pray for people

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:13.259
 who try to trample us.

00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.940
 He calls us to serve people

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.299
 who reject us.

00:19:16.379 --> 00:19:18.559
 That's truth with vulnerability.

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:21.019
 And we see that with Jesus,

00:19:21.379 --> 00:19:22.660
 if you reflect on his ministry,

00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:24.200
 it wasn't just the truth

00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:24.859
 he proclaimed,

00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.859
 but it was actually

00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:28.779
 his willingness to suffer for us

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.519
 that has transformed

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.859
 so many lives over the centuries.

00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:33.299
 And here's the shocking thing.

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.619
 That's the shape

00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:35.539
 that our ministry

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:37.019
 is meant to take as well.

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.679
 We don't just proclaim the truth,

00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:39.939
 but we're willing to suffer.

00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.299
 I will sit across from you.

00:19:42.459 --> 00:19:43.719
 I will lay out my heart to you.

00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:45.179
 I will tell you all about Jesus.

00:19:45.679 --> 00:19:47.359
 And I will put myself at your mercy.

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.859
 And if you reject me

00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.779
 or laugh at me

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.059
 or never talk to me again,

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:51.919
 that's okay.

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.839
 It's worth it to me.

00:19:53.479 --> 00:19:54.439
 It's worth it to me

00:19:54.439 --> 00:19:55.939
 because I'm called to be a witness.

00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:57.519
 Right?

00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.419
 So this is what it means

00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.039
 to be a witness.

00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.440
 We are people of truth.

00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.940
 We are people of vulnerability.

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.420
 Last question is simply this.

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.539
 Why in the world

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.420
 would anybody do this?

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:09.839
 You know,

00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:10.359
 you're calling me

00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:11.220
 to embody truth

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:13.079
 and you're telling me,

00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:14.480
 you're telling me,

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.659
 not just the possibility,

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:16.940
 it's certain

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.759
 that you're going to suffer

00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.460
 because of this.

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.019
 How and why

00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:21.299
 would anybody do this?

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.599
 And this brings us

00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:23.559
 to the third characteristic

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.119
 of witness,

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:24.700
 which is

00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:26.420
 the characteristic of hope,

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:28.240
 a kind of unwavering hope.

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.279
 Witnesses exude hope.

00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.299
 Inexplicable hope.

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.140
 Chapter 11 ends,

00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.279
 we had to get this in here

00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.240
 because it's so beautiful.

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:36.839
 It ends

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.740
 with a vision

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:39.519
 of the ultimate end,

00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.380
 the ultimate purpose

00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:41.960
 and fate

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.180
 of all of God's witnesses.

00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:44.059
 I'll just read it,

00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:45.019
 verse 11 and 12.

00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:47.859
 For after the three and a half days,

00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.819
 a breath of life

00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:50.000
 from God entered them

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.099
 and they stood up

00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.660
 on their feet

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:53.099
 and great fear

00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:53.880
 fell on those

00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.620
 who saw them.

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.460
 These are all the people

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.359
 that had been celebrating

00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:57.039
 in the streets.

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:58.960
 Now they're feeling

00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.579
 very different.

00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.379
 A great fear

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:00.960
 fell on those

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:01.579
 who saw them.

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:02.680
 Then they heard

00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.259
 a loud voice

00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:03.700
 from heaven

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.440
 saying to them,

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.480
 come up here.

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.899
 And they went up to heaven

00:21:06.899 --> 00:21:07.960
 in a cloud

00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.079
 and their enemies

00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:10.359
 watched them.

00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.279
 This is a vision

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:12.980
 of the ultimate

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.379
 end of things.

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.099
 This is a vision

00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:17.879
 of the culmination,

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.399
 the seventh trumpet blast.

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.559
 And this is a vision

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.599
 of the Lord's prayer

00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.720
 finally being answered.

00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:23.519
 You know,

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.779
 for centuries upon centuries,

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:26.039
 God's people have prayed,

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.859
 thy kingdom come,

00:21:28.399 --> 00:21:29.319
 thy will be done

00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:30.200
 on earth

00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.019
 as it is in heaven.

00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.700
 Verse 15,

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.859
 the kingdom of the world

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.559
 has become

00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.659
 the kingdom of our Lord

00:21:34.659 --> 00:21:35.819
 and of his Christ

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.039
 and he shall reign

00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:39.000
 forever and ever.

00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:39.819
 You know,

00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.659
 no matter how

00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:42.779
 dark things get

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:44.619
 in this life,

00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:45.920
 true witnesses

00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:47.180
 exude hope

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:48.220
 because they know

00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:50.259
 how the story ends.

00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:51.000
 We know

00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.819
 where all of this

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.240
 is headed.

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:54.220
 Imagine,

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:56.039
 imagine all of us here

00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:57.539
 are sitting

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.319
 in a dark,

00:21:59.299 --> 00:21:59.900
 windowless,

00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:00.940
 hot,

00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:02.160
 on air conditioned room.

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.720
 And imagine

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.599
 there's two groups

00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.579
 in two rooms.

00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.140
 And imagine

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.420
 that we all sit there

00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.079
 for an hour.

00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.839
 But imagine

00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:11.920
 that the first group

00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.599
 is told

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.880
 you will only be here

00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.460
 for an hour

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.880
 and after an hour

00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.900
 of sitting in this room

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.620
 we're all going

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.440
 to get on a plane

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.440
 and we're going to go

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.740
 on a tropical vacation.

00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.759
 And it's going

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.180
 to be great.

00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:24.779
 And imagine

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.740
 that the other group

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:27.079
 isn't told anything.

00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.319
 Somebody leads

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.880
 them into the room,

00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:29.859
 sits them down,

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:30.960
 shuts the door,

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:31.900
 gone.

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.079
 Both groups

00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:34.500
 are going to have

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:36.240
 the exact same experience,

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.720
 exact same conditions,

00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:39.400
 exact same duration,

00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.180
 one hour.

00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:42.200
 But you will have

00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.140
 two vastly

00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:44.099
 different experiences.

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.779
 Two vastly

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.519
 different experiences

00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.359
 because the one group

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.319
 knows where

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.120
 all this is headed.

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.199
 they know

00:22:50.199 --> 00:22:51.339
 what the ending

00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.319
 entails.

00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:54.439
 God gives us

00:22:54.439 --> 00:22:55.979
 visions of the future

00:22:55.979 --> 00:22:57.439
 so that we can thrive

00:22:57.439 --> 00:22:58.239
 in the present.

00:22:59.139 --> 00:23:00.059
 And this is why

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:01.599
 you have Paul

00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.919
 saying crazy sounding

00:23:02.919 --> 00:23:03.779
 things like he does

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:05.199
 in 2 Corinthians 4.17.

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:05.879
 He says,

00:23:06.219 --> 00:23:06.839
 for this light

00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:07.959
 momentary affliction

00:23:07.959 --> 00:23:09.339
 is preparing us,

00:23:10.239 --> 00:23:11.339
 preparing for us

00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.279
 an eternal weight

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:12.759
 of glory

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.099
 beyond all comparison.

00:23:14.479 --> 00:23:15.359
 And light

00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:16.319
 momentary affliction,

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.239
 what he means

00:23:17.239 --> 00:23:17.739
 by that

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.920
 is all of the suffering

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.859
 in his entire life.

00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:22.079
 All of my suffering,

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.880
 everything I've ever

00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:23.599
 had to deal with.

00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:24.960
 And Paul suffered.

00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:25.779
 You know,

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.359
 he was whipped

00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:26.940
 and tortured

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.620
 and imprisoned

00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:28.259
 and rejected

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.940
 and mocked

00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.480
 and shamed

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.880
 most of his adult life.

00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.279
 And he says,

00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:32.960
 all of that

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:34.059
 compared to what's coming,

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.519
 light momentary affliction.

00:23:36.859 --> 00:23:37.799
 And compared to what's coming,

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.819
 a tropical vacation

00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:39.640
 is a very, very,

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.480
 very poor metaphor.

00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.680
 All of this,

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.839
 it'd be nice.

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:48.199
 But it's a poor metaphor

00:23:48.199 --> 00:23:50.240
 for what's coming.

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.519
 So while other people

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.859
 are raging out

00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:54.980
 over the latest

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:56.500
 kind of internet outrage,

00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:57.639
 they're raging

00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:58.639
 about politics,

00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.079
 they're panicking

00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:01.539
 over the latest

00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.919
 crisis du jour,

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:03.519
 you know,

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.379
 while people are

00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:05.199
 freaking out

00:24:05.199 --> 00:24:06.119
 over more and more

00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:06.579
 division

00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:08.019
 or waxing hopeless

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:10.179
 or lost

00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:10.740
 and wallowing

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.459
 in despair,

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.259
 God's witnesses

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.839
 are people

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.319
 of inexplicable peace.

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:17.960
 We are even keel.

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:20.779
 We are inexplicably hopeful.

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.179
 We are engaged.

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.299
 We are meaningfully

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.720
 doing everything we can

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.759
 to alleviate suffering

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.859
 and bring justice

00:24:27.859 --> 00:24:28.819
 wherever we can.

00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.399
 But we're not

00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:31.240
 caught up in it

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.359
 because we know

00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.039
 this is a light

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.039
 momentary affliction.

00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:34.779
 It's hard now,

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.960
 but it's a drop

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.439
 in the bucket

00:24:36.439 --> 00:24:38.220
 compared to what's coming.

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.759
 Witnesses exude hope.

00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:40.919
 And we know

00:24:40.919 --> 00:24:41.720
 that life is going

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:43.139
 to have ups and downs.

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:43.659
 And some of you

00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.500
 are in a great place

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:44.880
 in your life

00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.460
 and some of you

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.240
 are suffering.

00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.319
 You're here right now

00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.180
 and you are suffering.

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.480
 And maybe you're thinking,

00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.339
 I don't even know

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:51.099
 if I can connect

00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:52.619
 with what he's saying.

00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.119
 But witnesses

00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:55.160
 have this perspective

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.640
 of knowing

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.380
 that there are going

00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:57.160
 to be ups and downs.

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:57.819
 There's going to be

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.720
 laughter and tears.

00:24:59.359 --> 00:24:59.759
 Administrations

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:01.259
 will come and go.

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.759
 Nations will rise

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.299
 and fall.

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.160
 But the future

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:04.880
 of God's people

00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.440
 is secure.

00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.240
 It is secure.

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.319
 Sure.

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.960
 So part of what it means

00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:10.819
 to be a Christian

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:12.579
 is to be a witness.

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.440
 So I just want you

00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:14.799
 to think about

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.400
 your own life,

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.099
 your own job,

00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.799
 your own friends,

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.599
 your own family,

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:19.599
 the role,

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.299
 the vocation

00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.279
 that God has given you

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.339
 in this world.

00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.440
 And I just want you

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:23.960
 to think about

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.799
 these three things.

00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.740
 What would it look like

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:27.339
 for you to embody

00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:28.279
 the truth of the gospel?

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:30.460
 Right?

00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:31.359
 Even if you can't

00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:32.180
 talk about your faith.

00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.120
 Even if starting

00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:33.680
 a Bible study

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.099
 at your work

00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.759
 is never going to happen.

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.000
 Right?

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.779
 Even if those things

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:35.900
 are,

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.299
 what would it look like

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.839
 for you simply

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.619
 to embody,

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.539
 to live

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.900
 as though Jesus

00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.720
 rose from the dead?

00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.359
 To live as though

00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.200
 the future is secure?

00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:45.180
 What would that look like?

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.680
 To live knowing

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.160
 every day

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.000
 that you've been forgiven

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.759
 greater crimes

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.200
 than anybody

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.339
 will ever commit

00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:50.799
 against you.

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.319
 How would that

00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.279
 change the way you live?

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.539
 What would it look like

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.579
 for you to embrace

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.420
 vulnerability?

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.799
 What risks

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.420
 would you take

00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:58.940
 if you were willing

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.420
 to let go

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.279
 of self-preservation?

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.680
 If you said,

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:01.900
 you know,

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.740
 by being vulnerable

00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.460
 I am fulfilling

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.240
 what God has called me

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.579
 to do.

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:05.880
 I'm sharing

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.400
 in the sufferings

00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:06.859
 of Christ

00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.539
 which is what Paul

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.339
 so often says

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.519
 of his own suffering.

00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.099
 He doesn't say

00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:11.079
 how dare you God?

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.140
 He says,

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:12.839
 in this suffering

00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:13.579
 I'm drawn closer

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.319
 to the heart of my Lord.

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.740
 And what would it look like

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.759
 to exude hope

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.420
 in a culture

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.380
 that is desperately

00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.140
 lacking hope?

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:22.019
 To be that light

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.680
 and that beacon.

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.599
 If we want to know

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.599
 what this looks like,

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.400
 if we want the kind

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:26.960
 of courage

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.740
 that this takes,

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.119
 we have only to look

00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:29.839
 to Jesus

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:32.779
 who was the embodiment

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.240
 of truth,

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:35.660
 who was more vulnerable

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.859
 than we will ever

00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.799
 even be able

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.700
 to imagine

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.120
 on the cross

00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:41.740
 and who

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:43.740
 not only exuded hope,

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.559
 he was the hope

00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:47.059
 and through his resurrection

00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:48.079
 he offers us

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:50.059
 that eternally secured hope

00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:51.359
 in which we rest.

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.480
 Let's pray.

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:54.180
 here.

00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.240
 To beagement of truth,