WEBVTT

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 And he says,

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 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.

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 I wish that you were cold or hot.

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 So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold,

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 I'm going to vomit you out of my mouth.

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 And I've got to tell you, when the subject of vomit comes up,

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 I cannot get past the memory of our family going home to Weewar

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 after holidays in Yamba.

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 We were inland, we had to travel over the Great Dividing Range to get home

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 and that meant five children in the car, winding roads and gentle heat.

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 And one of our kids didn't handle warm days and winding roads very well

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 and neither did I when I was a kid.

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 A lot of experiences won't even tell you about me.

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 You can ask my mum and I won't let her tell you.

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 But Kerry was prepared for the journey ahead.

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 She gave the child an ice cream bucket.

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 She gave them some chewing gum to keep them occupied and away we went.

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 And halfway up the mountain, the inevitable happened,

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 the pale and clammy expression,

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 the sudden noise and vomit all through the back of the car.

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 When I was at high school, we called that a technicolour yawn.

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 Why didn't you use the bucket?

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 Well, they did.

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 They took the chewing gum out of their mouth

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 and put it in the bucket for safekeeping

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 and vomited into the car.

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 Policeman pulled us over a few hours later.

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 One of the lights on the trailer wasn't on.

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 He stuck his head through the window.

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 He pulled his nose back and he said,

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 go.

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 Now, despite the humour,

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 there is nothing funny

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 about how the Lord Jesus describes his church at Laodicea.

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 You make me want to vomit.

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 You make me sick.

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 And it's pretty hard to understand at first

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 because Laodicea in those days was a very modern city.

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 Deb Gould's been there, she told us, the other day.

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 And she said that up the top of the hill

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 and the city above Laodicea,

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 there's another city called Hierapolis.

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 And up there, there's hot Turkish steam baths

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 fed by the natural spring water

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 that comes up out of the ground.

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 And down at the bottom of the mountain,

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 down below Laodicea,

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 there's a beautiful, fresh water river

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 with the water running from the snow melt

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 in mountains far away.

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 Beautiful water for drinking.

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 And the Laodiceans lived between the two,

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 halfway up the hill.

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 And they were very clever.

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 And they built a series of pipes and pumps

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 to carry the colder water up the hill

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 to meet the hotter water that was coming down the hill.

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 And so they gave themselves a diluted water supply,

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 a mix of the two,

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 lukewarm water to provide water for their town,

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 their city.

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 And people who were very clever,

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 good at taking care of their comfort

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 and looking after themselves.

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 But in mixing that water,

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 the Laodiceans had a reputation for water

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 which tasted disgusting.

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 Lots of minerals, terrible taste,

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 terrible smell, lukewarm.

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 Now Westfield warms their water.

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 You go to Westfield,

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 you want to refill your water bottle.

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 Lukewarm water tastes disgusting,

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 except it hasn't got the taste of minerals.

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 So when John writes that the Lord Jesus

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 would want to spit them out of his mouth,

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 they knew exactly what Laodicean water tasted like

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 and they knew exactly why he had written it like this.

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 And he's no longer talking about water,

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 he's changed from walking to talking about,

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 talking,

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 he's changed from water

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 to talking about people

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 who called themselves God's people in that place.

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 And so John is writing to a proud,

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 self-sufficient church

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 and he gives them this really frightening serve.

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 This is the only church of the seven

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 that he has absolutely nothing good

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 to commend them for.

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 I know your works.

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 Verse 15,

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 you are neither cold nor hot.

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 I wish that you were cold or hot

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 and because you're lukewarm

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 and neither hot nor cold,

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 I'm going to vomit you out of my mouth.

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 Laodicea is a proud city.

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 They are like a few of the others in Revelation.

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 They are a city that was absolutely destroyed

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 by a massive earthquake in AD 60.

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 But they were different from the other cities

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 because the other cities accepted

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 the emperor's help to rebuild their city.

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 Money from him,

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 you know the disaster relief fund

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 that rebuilt their city.

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 Well the Laodiceans said,

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 thanks but no thanks.

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 We're rich,

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 they're skilled,

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 they're self-starters,

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 they're initiators,

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 they're independent people

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 who achieve much by their own effort,

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 self-made men and women

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 who did not need handouts

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 even when confronted by natural disaster.

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 And so they would be getting

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 award after award in Australia

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 for their can-do attitude

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 in facing such a disaster

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 and incredibly difficult times.

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 But the huge problem in this passage,

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 and this is the crux,

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 was their self-assessment

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 was different from God's evaluation of them.

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 So verse 17,

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 you say,

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 I'm rich,

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 I have become wealthy,

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 I need nothing.

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 And you don't know

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 that you are wretched,

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 pitiful,

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 poor,

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 blind,

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 and naked.

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 They filled out a survey,

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 they've given themselves

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 nine out of ten,

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 and God fills out his survey

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 and he gives them two.

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 And this church is described

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 as incredibly needy

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 and desperate for charity.

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 My first four years

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 out of Mill College,

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 I was serving in a church

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 in the Campbelltown Valley

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 and it was probably

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 one of the neediest suburbs

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 in Sydney at the time

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 and to some extent still is.

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 And we were very dependent

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 on Anglicare's support

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 for ministry positions

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 at church,

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 for food,

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 for gas and electricity bills

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 for some of the people

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 in the congregation,

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 for counselling support.

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 In that parish,

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 people's neediness

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 was incredibly obvious,

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 everybody could see it,

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 and it was something

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 that had to be dealt with.

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 We as a parish,

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 we as people,

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 we knew we were needy

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 and we were hungry for help.

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 But I've also been

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 in wealthy churches

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 where need was hidden,

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 where people have problems

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 in their families

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 and their homes.

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 Sometimes we have the wealth

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 to hide them,

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 they're not obvious

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 and not easy to see.

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 Gambling addictions,

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 destroying family finances.

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 Drug and alcohol abuse

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 to cope with unsustainable lives.

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 Uncontrolled temper,

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 somebody loses their temper

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 in the family

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 and somebody else lives

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 with dreadful fear

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 of them going off again.

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 Hidden addiction

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 to pornography

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 that many of us

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 have grappled with

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 where we pursue deep

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 inner need

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 in empty

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 and harmful ways.

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 We hide it,

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 we get trapped

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 in secrets,

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 and we all

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 have very deep

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 need and brokenness

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 and even for myself

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 I go back a few years

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 I needed two years

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 of fairly significant

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 support in counselling

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 for some of the things

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 that were going on

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 in my life.

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 We are broken

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 and we are needy.

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 Now privately

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 we know that we're

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 in desperate trouble

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 but publicly

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 we're too scared

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 to admit it.

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 and so we fake it.

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 Surely those things

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 couldn't be a problem

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 amongst the people of God.

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 We don't feel like

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 we can reveal those things

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 when we come into a group

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 of people like this.

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 We put on a face,

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 we don't cry out

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 needy for help.

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 We try to present

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 as though we're holding it

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 together in a self-sufficient way.

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 And Jesus speaks

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 to his church

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 and he says,

00:09:00.939 --> 00:09:01.620
 you say

00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:03.100
 I'm rich.

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 I've become wealthy.

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 I need nothing.

00:09:11.079 --> 00:09:13.000
 But you don't know

00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:14.719
 that you are

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 wretched,

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 pitiful,

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 poor,

00:09:19.199 --> 00:09:19.720
 blind,

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 and naked.

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 And the incredible

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 gospel truth

00:09:29.259 --> 00:09:30.120
 here is that

00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:31.279
 Jesus does not

00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:32.100
 condemn them

00:09:32.100 --> 00:09:33.220
 for being wretched,

00:09:33.779 --> 00:09:34.240
 pitiful,

00:09:34.660 --> 00:09:35.000
 poor,

00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:36.639
 blind and naked.

00:09:37.300 --> 00:09:37.860
 He's merely

00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:38.680
 pointing it out.

00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:41.699
 This is a universal

00:09:41.699 --> 00:09:42.339
 condition.

00:09:42.539 --> 00:09:43.159
 The gospel's

00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:43.799
 starting point

00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:44.719
 is that all people

00:09:44.719 --> 00:09:45.179
 are fallen.

00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:47.099
 All people have sinned

00:09:47.099 --> 00:09:47.699
 and fall short

00:09:47.699 --> 00:09:48.579
 of the glory of God.

00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:49.679
 Romans 3.23

00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:51.879
 The same gospel

00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:52.519
 is wonderfully

00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:54.179
 expressed in Ephesians 2.

00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:54.919
 As for you,

00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:55.739
 talking to us,

00:09:56.699 --> 00:09:57.379
 you were dead

00:09:57.379 --> 00:09:58.739
 in your transgressions

00:09:58.739 --> 00:09:59.199
 and sins

00:09:59.199 --> 00:09:59.979
 in which you used

00:09:59.979 --> 00:10:00.459
 to walk.

00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:03.019
 And then further down,

00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:03.859
 because of his

00:10:03.859 --> 00:10:04.979
 great love for us,

00:10:05.099 --> 00:10:06.019
 God who is rich

00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:06.659
 in mercy

00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:08.339
 made us alive

00:10:08.340 --> 00:10:08.940
 in Christ

00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:09.940
 even when we were

00:10:09.940 --> 00:10:10.940
 dead in our

00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:11.680
 trespasses

00:10:11.680 --> 00:10:12.580
 and sin.

00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:18.180
 I think some

00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:18.860
 of the saddest

00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:19.820
 and most difficult

00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:20.740
 people I meet

00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.379
 in ministry

00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:23.840
 are self-made

00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:25.000
 men and women,

00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:25.980
 often rich,

00:10:26.820 --> 00:10:27.860
 people that perhaps

00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.740
 we put up on

00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:29.600
 pedestals because

00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:30.360
 of their wealth.

00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:32.519
 I think of a man

00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:33.660
 I loved and respected,

00:10:33.800 --> 00:10:34.460
 a man who was

00:10:34.460 --> 00:10:35.180
 kind to me,

00:10:35.300 --> 00:10:36.160
 who was more moral

00:10:36.160 --> 00:10:36.860
 than some of the

00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:38.060
 Christians that he

00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:39.059
 dealt with in business

00:10:39.059 --> 00:10:39.939
 and some of the

00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:41.079
 moral issues that

00:10:41.079 --> 00:10:41.859
 were even going on

00:10:41.859 --> 00:10:42.719
 in our church family.

00:10:44.459 --> 00:10:45.359
 He was rich.

00:10:46.439 --> 00:10:47.399
 It was a principle

00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:48.079
 of his never

00:10:48.079 --> 00:10:48.839
 to borrow money.

00:10:50.179 --> 00:10:51.339
 He paid in cash

00:10:51.339 --> 00:10:53.059
 and he was a man

00:10:53.059 --> 00:10:53.959
 who bought some

00:10:53.959 --> 00:10:55.699
 really big stuff.

00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:58.439
 He was the biggest

00:10:58.439 --> 00:11:00.500
 giver to a new

00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:01.279
 church building

00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:02.299
 in the parish

00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:03.159
 that I was in.

00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:05.439
 And he died

00:11:05.439 --> 00:11:06.319
 earlier this year

00:11:06.319 --> 00:11:07.139
 as far as I know

00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:07.860
 he died without

00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:08.339
 Christ.

00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:11.659
 But brothers and

00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:11.899
 sisters,

00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:12.679
 he had a way

00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:13.279
 of life

00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.019
 that we would

00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:14.899
 sell ourselves

00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:15.279
 for.

00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:20.120
 Outwardly,

00:11:20.199 --> 00:11:20.839
 really connected

00:11:20.839 --> 00:11:21.459
 to church

00:11:21.459 --> 00:11:24.100
 but he didn't

00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:24.659
 know Jesus

00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:25.959
 and he built

00:11:25.959 --> 00:11:26.559
 walls around

00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:27.179
 himself that

00:11:27.179 --> 00:11:27.860
 stopped anyone

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.539
 really knowing

00:11:28.539 --> 00:11:29.100
 him and getting

00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:29.839
 near what was

00:11:29.839 --> 00:11:30.480
 deep inside.

00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.279
 I loved him.

00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:32.079
 Jesus loved him

00:11:32.079 --> 00:11:32.759
 even more

00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:34.279
 but my friend

00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:34.879
 did not know

00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:35.240
 Jesus.

00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:38.399
 See,

00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:39.699
 we fear being

00:11:39.699 --> 00:11:40.339
 laid bare.

00:11:41.199 --> 00:11:42.439
 We fear rejection.

00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:43.240
 If other people

00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:44.100
 really knew what

00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:44.779
 was going on

00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.319
 inside us,

00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.000
 do they really

00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:46.819
 know how anxious

00:11:46.819 --> 00:11:47.579
 I am about

00:11:47.579 --> 00:11:48.299
 these exams

00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:48.899
 coming up?

00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:49.679
 Do they know

00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:50.819
 how difficult

00:11:50.819 --> 00:11:51.740
 it is for me

00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:52.299
 not to have

00:11:52.299 --> 00:11:52.839
 the boyfriend

00:11:52.839 --> 00:11:53.579
 or the girlfriend

00:11:53.579 --> 00:11:54.339
 that I've really

00:11:54.339 --> 00:11:55.339
 been hoping for

00:11:55.339 --> 00:11:56.259
 or the struggle

00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:56.939
 which is going

00:11:56.939 --> 00:11:57.919
 on in my family?

00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.939
 And we hide

00:12:02.939 --> 00:12:04.259
 although some

00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:04.860
 of us have

00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:05.539
 places that

00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:06.299
 we can share.

00:12:09.339 --> 00:12:10.299
 The Bible

00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:11.439
 is consistently

00:12:11.439 --> 00:12:12.299
 scathing of

00:12:12.299 --> 00:12:12.720
 our efforts

00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.220
 to present

00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:13.819
 ourselves as

00:12:13.819 --> 00:12:14.319
 something to

00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:14.579
 God,

00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:15.159
 faking it

00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:15.559
 with him.

00:12:15.959 --> 00:12:16.299
 Isaiah

00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:17.179
 chapter 64

00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:17.799
 verse 6

00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:18.139
 says,

00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:19.500
 all of us

00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:20.039
 have become

00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:20.579
 like one

00:12:20.579 --> 00:12:20.919
 who is

00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:21.439
 unclean

00:12:21.439 --> 00:12:21.779
 and all

00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:22.279
 our righteous

00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:22.759
 acts are

00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:23.279
 like filthy

00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:23.740
 rags.

00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.059
 God wants

00:12:25.059 --> 00:12:25.699
 our hearts

00:12:25.699 --> 00:12:26.459
 and throughout

00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:26.980
 the Bible

00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:27.620
 he calls us

00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.100
 to humble

00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:28.600
 ourselves

00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:29.379
 before him.

00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:30.460
 So in Isaiah

00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:31.639
 66 it says

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:32.159
 this is the

00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:33.059
 one I esteem

00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:34.019
 he who is

00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:34.580
 humble and

00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:35.299
 contrite in

00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:36.240
 spirit and

00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:36.919
 trembles at

00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:37.559
 my word.

00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:39.759
 And you come

00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:40.360
 into the pages

00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:40.960
 of the Bible

00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.480
 and you see

00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:42.539
 that the way

00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:45.039
 of the cross

00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.740
 is a journey

00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:46.720
 from independence

00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.879
 and self-sufficiency

00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:48.679
 to dependence

00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:49.360
 and complete

00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:50.059
 reliance on

00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:50.500
 Christ.

00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.620
 Jesus speaks

00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.500
 to this proud

00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.679
 church with

00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.379
 an incredible

00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:56.059
 invitation.

00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:56.700
 He says in

00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:57.480
 verse 18

00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.899
 I advise you

00:12:58.899 --> 00:12:59.379
 to buy

00:12:59.379 --> 00:12:59.939
 from me

00:12:59.939 --> 00:13:00.860
 gold refined

00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.539
 in the fire

00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:02.480
 so that you

00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.139
 might be

00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.620
 rich

00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:05.059
 and white

00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:05.720
 clothes so

00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.039
 that you

00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:06.419
 may be

00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:06.819
 dressed

00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:07.240
 and your

00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:07.659
 shameful

00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:08.419
 nakedness

00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:08.860
 not be

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.500
 exposed

00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:10.539
 and ointment

00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:11.019
 to spread

00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:11.399
 on your

00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:11.879
 eyes so

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.220
 that you

00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:12.899
 may see

00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:15.340
 this is a

00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:15.899
 rich trading

00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:16.279
 city

00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:17.439
 and these

00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:17.980
 people are

00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:18.439
 the Chinese

00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:19.039
 of Chatswood

00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:19.360
 and I'm

00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:19.840
 not using

00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.220
 it in a

00:13:20.220 --> 00:13:20.740
 derogatory

00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:21.299
 way they

00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:21.939
 know about

00:13:21.939 --> 00:13:22.439
 money they

00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:22.840
 know how

00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.240
 to do a

00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.779
 good deal

00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:25.279
 and they

00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:25.840
 have gold

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.600
 supplies and

00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:27.179
 they're famous

00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:27.639
 for their

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.399
 black woolen

00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:28.759
 rugs

00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:29.299
 they're sold

00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:29.840
 all around

00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:30.319
 the world

00:13:30.319 --> 00:13:30.980
 and their

00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:31.379
 ear and

00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:31.779
 their eye

00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:32.299
 treatments

00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:33.179
 everybody knows

00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:33.860
 about them

00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.860
 and Jesus

00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:35.500
 offers them

00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:36.080
 something that

00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:36.580
 they already

00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:37.139
 feel self

00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:37.919
 sufficient in

00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:39.240
 what do you

00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:39.620
 do when

00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:40.379
 somebody offers

00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:40.840
 you something

00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.220
 which you

00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:41.860
 already think

00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:42.460
 you have

00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:43.340
 enough of

00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:43.600
 you don't

00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:44.220
 want anymore

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:46.080
 you say

00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:46.580
 something like

00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:47.200
 what do I need

00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:47.580
 that for

00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:47.840
 I've already

00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:48.379
 got it

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:51.120
 and it's

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:51.580
 almost an

00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:52.240
 expression of

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:52.720
 pride of

00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:53.419
 self sufficiency

00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:54.000
 of saying I'm

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.600
 okay thanks

00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:55.139
 I don't need

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.419
 it

00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:56.639
 and Jesus

00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.500
 looks deeper

00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:58.039
 than they are

00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:58.719
 capable of

00:13:58.719 --> 00:13:59.240
 looking he

00:13:59.240 --> 00:13:59.879
 knows their

00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:00.799
 need and he

00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:02.079
 says he says

00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:02.759
 to them he

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.319
 says that you

00:14:03.319 --> 00:14:04.240
 are wretched you

00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.139
 are pitiful you

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:05.799
 are poor you

00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:06.500
 are blind you

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.019
 are naked

00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:10.240
 come to me and

00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.179
 receive real

00:14:11.179 --> 00:14:12.259
 wealth true

00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.579
 cleansing removal

00:14:13.579 --> 00:14:14.959
 of shame he can

00:14:14.959 --> 00:14:15.919
 help them to see

00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:16.459
 what they are

00:14:16.459 --> 00:14:17.579
 completely blind

00:14:17.579 --> 00:14:17.959
 to

00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:21.420
 it's the

00:14:21.420 --> 00:14:21.940
 gospel

00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:24.060
 it's the

00:14:24.060 --> 00:14:25.060
 cleansing power

00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:25.600
 of the cross

00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:26.320
 it's the work

00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:26.860
 of the Holy

00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:27.800
 Spirit which

00:14:27.800 --> 00:14:28.540
 takes the

00:14:28.540 --> 00:14:29.300
 eye scales

00:14:29.300 --> 00:14:29.820
 away and

00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:30.480
 helps us to

00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:30.860
 see

00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:35.300
 can you see

00:14:35.300 --> 00:14:35.879
 the dynamic

00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:36.600
 Jesus has

00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.820
 absolutely nothing

00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:38.820
 good to say

00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:39.519
 about this

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.120
 church and

00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:41.100
 yet he stands

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:42.259
 there and he

00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:43.100
 offers them the

00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:44.180
 most magnificent

00:14:44.180 --> 00:14:44.940
 and generous

00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:45.740
 invitation

00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:47.080
 verse 8

00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:47.759
 19 as

00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.460
 many as I

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.559
 love I

00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:50.080
 rebuke and

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:51.980
 discipline so

00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.700
 be committed

00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:53.360
 and repent

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:55.740
 listen I

00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:56.500
 stand at the

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:56.879
 door and

00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.899
 knock if

00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:58.759
 anyone hears

00:14:58.759 --> 00:14:59.559
 my voice and

00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:00.539
 opens the door I

00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:01.220
 will come into

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.379
 him and have

00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.200
 dinner with him

00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:03.759
 and he with

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.159
 me

00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:06.720
 Jesus is

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.200
 speaking to a

00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:07.659
 church he's

00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.360
 speaking to church

00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.080
 people you and

00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:10.480
 me people who

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.059
 call themselves

00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:12.679
 Christians who

00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:13.240
 hang around

00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.000
 churches who are

00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.580
 proud of their

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.220
 standing in the

00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:15.960
 church community

00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:17.740
 speaks as a

00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:18.500
 father to a

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.299
 wayward son or

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.620
 daughter that he

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.180
 is still in

00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:22.539
 relationship with he

00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:23.700
 has not given up on

00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:24.799
 relationship yet

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:27.060
 those I love I

00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:27.899
 rebuke and I

00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:30.039
 discipline wake up

00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.879
 he speaks a word to

00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:33.820
 insiders not to

00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.720
 outsiders and he

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.000
 says let me in

00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:40.320
 last week when I

00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.060
 preached on the

00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:41.899
 letter to the

00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:42.340
 church in

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.279
 Philadelphia Jesus

00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.279
 was portrayed as

00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.220
 the faithful steward

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.500
 of God's house he

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:48.039
 has the swipe card to

00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:49.059
 every room in heaven

00:15:49.059 --> 00:15:51.039
 and he opens and he

00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.799
 closes doors of

00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:54.019
 opportunity to ministry

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:54.819
 and ultimately to

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.819
 heaven itself if he

00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:56.720
 opens it you can't

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.319
 close and if he

00:15:57.319 --> 00:15:58.079
 closes it you can't

00:15:58.079 --> 00:15:59.559
 open it awesome

00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:01.939
 power but the door

00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:03.240
 here in Laodicea is

00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:04.980
 different this door is

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:06.100
 a door that we have

00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:07.279
 the ability to open

00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:09.740
 and that we are

00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.839
 ultimately held

00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:12.440
 responsible for if we

00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:15.500
 don't open it and

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:17.000
 Jesus says to us to

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.899
 his church be

00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:20.160
 committed and repent

00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:23.800
 it's a call to

00:16:23.800 --> 00:16:24.720
 commitment to stand

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.580
 in Christ to move

00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:27.080
 from lukewarm fence

00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.620
 sitting and

00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.740
 half-heartedness to a

00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:29.700
 life which is devoted

00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:31.639
 to Christ to repentance

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.940
 to a turning back to

00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:33.960
 what we already know

00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:34.960
 a turning back to the

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:36.860
 gospel giving up the

00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.860
 faking it and allowing

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.860
 Jesus to do his

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.940
 cleansing work in us

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:41.960
 it's a call to humble

00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:43.440
 dependence and

00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:46.260
 repentance and it's a

00:16:46.260 --> 00:16:47.700
 completely undeserved

00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:49.200
 invitation into a

00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:51.220
 renewed and refreshed

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:52.680
 relationship with Jesus

00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:57.000
 I will come into him

00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:00.200
 or her and I will have

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:01.720
 dinner with him or her

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.560
 and they with me

00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:07.779
 it's the intimacy of

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.940
 knowing Jesus the

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.220
 closeness of having a

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.799
 meal together

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:12.240
 real relationship with

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:12.519
 him

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:14.480
 being able to pour

00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.420
 your heart out to him

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:16.259
 and knowing him

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.600
 personally and knowing

00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:19.960
 that he cares for you

00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:25.440
 it's not about doing

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.500
 and performing

00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:30.580
 it's about abiding

00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:32.400
 and resting

00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:34.200
 and refreshing

00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:37.060
 in joyful obedience

00:17:37.060 --> 00:17:38.220
 of our saviour

00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:39.280
 Jesus Christ

00:17:39.280 --> 00:17:45.960
 I thank God for the

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.960
 man who taught me

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:47.840
 when I was first a

00:17:47.840 --> 00:17:49.040
 believer to relate to

00:17:49.040 --> 00:17:50.100
 God in a real and

00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:51.519
 intimate way every day

00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:53.019
 in coming to his word

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:53.880
 and speaking with him

00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.720
 in prayer and also

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.680
 sharing the faith with

00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.240
 my friends

00:17:56.240 --> 00:18:01.019
 and I grew

00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:02.720
 and I was refreshed in

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.819
 my relationship with

00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:05.400
 Jesus and I felt alive

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.799
 and I felt dependent on

00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:08.859
 him and it was just a

00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:10.180
 deep thrill being his

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.680
 person

00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:14.440
 and after a few years

00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.200
 and some of them in

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.440
 theological college and

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.559
 it's not college's fault

00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:19.000
 but it became a chore

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:20.920
 and a task

00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:22.579
 and a duty

00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:24.819
 and more about getting

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:26.059
 over my guilt

00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.480
 than enjoying Jesus

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:30.720
 and I was very

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.579
 half-hearted

00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.980
 and lukewarm

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:34.000
 in coming to the

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.359
 scriptures

00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.539
 and I used the

00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:36.680
 language of commitment

00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:39.000
 but was trading on the

00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.799
 past not on the

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.119
 present

00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:43.420
 and it's a really

00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:44.640
 lonely place to be

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:48.819
 and Jesus invites us

00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.939
 into something which

00:18:49.939 --> 00:18:51.919
 is rich and

00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:53.919
 intimate and

00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:55.339
 relational with him

00:18:55.339 --> 00:18:58.579
 and so I thank God

00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.740
 for the woman and

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.659
 not Kerry another

00:19:00.659 --> 00:19:01.740
 woman I thank God

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.899
 for Kerry let me tell

00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:04.460
 you but this other

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.700
 woman who 25 years

00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.740
 later helped me back

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.899
 into joyous times with

00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:10.500
 Jesus in his word

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:12.200
 and in prayer and in

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.279
 understanding that I

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:16.159
 was his son and who

00:19:16.159 --> 00:19:16.839
 helped me to

00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:18.019
 experiencing the

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:19.480
 intimacy and the

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:21.400
 grace and the

00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.900
 exceeding joy of

00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:24.079
 dining with him and

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.000
 living for him

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:28.039
 of being able to

00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.259
 come safely into his

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.819
 presence despite being

00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:32.139
 a person who was

00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:32.660
 wretched

00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:34.119
 pitiful

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:35.119
 poor

00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:36.299
 blind

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:37.500
 and naked

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:42.059
 it's the greatest

00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:42.980
 thing in life to

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.619
 know that we are

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.400
 loved by Jesus

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:47.600
 it's an enormous

00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:48.780
 privilege to treasure

00:19:48.780 --> 00:19:49.420
 him together

00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:52.440
 there's incredible

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.460
 encouragement from

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.820
 coming together as

00:19:54.820 --> 00:19:56.080
 the people of God who

00:19:56.080 --> 00:19:57.100
 just love him

00:19:57.100 --> 00:20:04.120
 and Jesus stands here

00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:05.240
 with this church that he

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.420
 has nothing to commend

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:09.000
 to or to commend them

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:11.720
 for and he offers them

00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.460
 extraordinary grace and

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.720
 mercy and kindness

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:19.100
 I think it's

00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:21.220
 incredibly similar to

00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.319
 the sort of teaching

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.360
 which is going on in

00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:24.400
 Luke's gospel from

00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.160
 round about Luke

00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:26.000
 chapter 18

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:27.900
 you know the rich

00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:29.440
 young man who comes

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.299
 up to Jesus and he

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.319
 says to Jesus what's

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.360
 the what's the good

00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:33.279
 thing what's the one

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:35.279
 good thing that I must

00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.680
 do to inherit eternal

00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.240
 life

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:41.680
 and he says Jesus

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.380
 says we know the

00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:43.039
 commandments he said

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.900
 I've kept all the

00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:44.840
 relational commandments

00:20:44.840 --> 00:20:45.920
 look I've never

00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:47.340
 committed adultery I've

00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:48.480
 never murdered anybody

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.880
 I've never lied I don't

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:51.140
 steal and I really

00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:52.259
 honour my mum and dad

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:54.440
 and the whole community

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.360
 listening on they would

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:55.940
 have looked at the

00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.539
 bloke they would have

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.240
 known his history and

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:57.680
 they would have said

00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.779
 yeah he is like that

00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.700
 that's the sort of bloke

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:01.440
 he is but Jesus drew

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.320
 out his heart and he

00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:03.120
 said you still lack

00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:05.680
 just one thing sell

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:07.180
 everything you have

00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:08.000
 and give to the poor

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.600
 and you will have

00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:09.519
 treasure in heaven and

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.220
 then come and follow

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:14.380
 me and he walked

00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:15.560
 away from Jesus very

00:21:15.560 --> 00:21:16.960
 sad because he had

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:18.200
 great wealth he would

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:19.680
 not let go of one

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.820
 treasure to lay hold

00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:21.740
 of a better treasure

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:26.600
 the Laodiceans are

00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:27.600
 being called to let go

00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:28.440
 of something which was

00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.560
 a treasure to them but

00:21:29.560 --> 00:21:30.500
 which made the Lord

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.620
 Jesus want to vomit

00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:35.660
 and in his great grace

00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.700
 he wasn't just calling

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.820
 them to leave something

00:21:37.820 --> 00:21:38.840
 precious or what was

00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:39.740
 precious to them he

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.740
 was calling them to

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.540
 something precious

00:21:41.540 --> 00:21:42.860
 something far more

00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:46.040
 precious he wanted

00:21:46.040 --> 00:21:46.840
 them to have something

00:21:46.840 --> 00:21:47.800
 so much better he

00:21:47.800 --> 00:21:48.820
 wanted these wealthy

00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:50.279
 self-satisfied people

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.380
 to have him as their

00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:53.120
 greatest treasure to

00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:54.400
 repent to see that

00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.620
 they needed to let go

00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.560
 of the false treasure

00:21:56.560 --> 00:21:57.620
 and lay hold of him

00:21:57.620 --> 00:22:00.840
 and Jesus was very sad

00:22:00.840 --> 00:22:01.640
 when that man walked

00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.759
 away from him a great

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.900
 gift was being offered

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:05.500
 and he didn't take it

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.480
 because he thought he

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.500
 had something better

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:09.200
 no thanks I don't need

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.040
 it really is what he's

00:22:10.040 --> 00:22:10.759
 saying even though he

00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.780
 didn't say it like that

00:22:11.780 --> 00:22:18.380
 and Jesus said how hard

00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.400
 it is for a rich person

00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:20.320
 to enter the kingdom of

00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:21.580
 heaven it is easier for a

00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:22.460
 camel to go through the

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.600
 eye of a needle than for a

00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:24.519
 rich person to get into

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:26.580
 heaven and the people who

00:22:26.580 --> 00:22:27.259
 were listening and the

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.180
 people were looking on

00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.540
 they were astonished at

00:22:29.540 --> 00:22:30.660
 what Jesus said they were

00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:32.060
 shocked and the disciples

00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:34.139
 who can be saved

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:40.759
 and the question gets an

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.839
 astonishing answer with

00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.619
 the encounter with the

00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.619
 chief tax collector

00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:44.819
 Zacchaeus in Luke chapter

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:47.419
 19 wealthy greedy rip off

00:22:47.419 --> 00:22:48.759
 merchant trader he's all

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.940
 those things a great story

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.279
 for a current affair you

00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.200
 know do one of those

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.259
 ambush interviews with

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.240
 Zacchaeus coming out the

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.419
 corner in Jericho up the

00:22:55.419 --> 00:22:57.240
 tree gotcha Zacchaeus as he

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.159
 gets out of his filthy

00:22:58.159 --> 00:22:59.879
 looking Mercedes Benz or

00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.980
 whatever it is to climb the

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:02.299
 tree what's it like to

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.240
 live the high life on

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.000
 what you've stolen from

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.559
 other people in Jericho you

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.140
 dog

00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:08.039
 that's how you do it

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.200
 isn't it

00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:14.299
 he's a true Laodicean

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.000
 wretched

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:16.360
 pitiful

00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:17.420
 poor

00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.200
 blind

00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:18.940
 and naked

00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:20.559
 and he encounters Jesus

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.160
 and he is transformed

00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:24.059
 isn't that incredible

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:27.240
 Lord I give back half of my

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.279
 possessions to the poor

00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.140
 and if I've ripped off

00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:30.620
 anybody in the year I have

00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:32.359
 I will pay back four times

00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:33.619
 what I've stolen from them

00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:38.859
 so he does he exchanges one

00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:42.079
 treasure for another he is

00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.859
 received and accepted and

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.319
 loved by Jesus shame is

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.679
 removed his eyes are open

00:23:46.679 --> 00:23:48.119
 he's loved by Jesus who

00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:49.299
 declares the impossible

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:51.619
 Jesus says today salvation

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:54.619
 has come to this house this

00:23:55.419 --> 00:23:56.619
 guy gets it

00:23:56.619 --> 00:24:06.439
 church in Laodicea is called to

00:24:06.439 --> 00:24:07.679
 exchange one treasure for

00:24:07.679 --> 00:24:08.719
 another they're called to

00:24:08.719 --> 00:24:09.259
 overcome

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:13.339
 you see the starting point

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.559
 the starting point for all of

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.359
 us here is one of our value

00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.619
 statement humble authenticity

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:21.500
 seeing ourselves as Christ sees us

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:23.079
 and the way that Christ sees us

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:25.259
 is all we've begun at this point

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:25.740
 wretched

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.079
 pitiful

00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:28.179
 poor

00:24:28.179 --> 00:24:29.639
 blind

00:24:29.639 --> 00:24:30.639
 naked

00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:33.359
 incredibly needy

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:37.879
 somebody asked me a question

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:39.199
 the other day about how I would

00:24:39.199 --> 00:24:40.859
 cope as a minister if I was

00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:42.299
 leading a church with a number of

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:43.539
 attenders who live

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:46.319
 an openly gay lifestyle

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:51.779
 and it threw me for a bit

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:54.480
 and I spent quite a bit of time

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.839
 reflecting on the question I'm

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:57.139
 going to continue to do so

00:24:57.139 --> 00:25:02.099
 but part of the answers in this

00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.579
 passage

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:07.720
 to see myself as Jesus assesses me

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:11.019
 to see me before I see them to

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:13.899
 see me as wretched pitiful poor

00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.700
 blind

00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.340
 naked

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:18.080
 very needy of the grace of

00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:18.600
 Christ

00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:21.280
 starting point for us all

00:25:21.280 --> 00:25:23.960
 because it puts us in a place

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:25.720
 where we won't be too quick to

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:27.580
 exalt ourselves over others and it

00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:29.120
 reminds us of the grace that we

00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:29.759
 all need

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:33.900
 that's not a complete answer to

00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:35.519
 that question but it is a

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.400
 starting point

00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:40.500
 and I think going with that I

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.780
 hope that our church and I think

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.680
 that our church is a safe place

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:45.660
 for people from all sorts of

00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.839
 places and struggles

00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:49.259
 to consider the claims of the

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.339
 Lord Jesus Christ

00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:54.379
 a church where we understand that

00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:56.019
 we are all a work in progress

00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:57.200
 that we haven't arrived

00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:00.339
 and that we're at the mercy of the

00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.899
 Lord Jesus Christ and he is the

00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:03.200
 one who has lifted us up from

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:03.940
 where we were

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:08.639
 where the Lord Jesus looked on us

00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:10.399
 and saw us as wretched pitiful

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.380
 poor blind

00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:11.920
 naked

00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.720
 deeply broken before him

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:17.180
 I've only got to go to the

00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:18.740
 Sermon on the Mount to expose my

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.040
 heart

00:26:19.040 --> 00:26:20.800
 and reveal me to be

00:26:20.800 --> 00:26:22.759
 I read the Sermon on the Mount

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.220
 and I see straight away that I'm

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.580
 in God's eyes a thief

00:26:25.580 --> 00:26:27.220
 a murderer

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.840
 an adulterer

00:26:28.840 --> 00:26:29.720
 an immoral man

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:33.280
 and I don't glory in that

00:26:33.280 --> 00:26:36.680
 but it drives us to be like the

00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:38.340
 tax collector in the temple in

00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:40.959
 Luke 18 whose starting point in

00:26:40.959 --> 00:26:42.359
 relationship with Christ

00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:45.319
 is to beat his breast and to cry

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:47.919
 out Lord have mercy on me the

00:26:47.919 --> 00:26:48.240
 sinner

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:53.980
 Revelation 3 finishes with the

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:55.619
 words of Jesus to this church

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:58.480
 to the one who overcomes

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.319
 verse 21

00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.919
 to the one who overcomes I will

00:27:00.919 --> 00:27:02.959
 give the right to sit with me on

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.759
 my throne

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:06.519
 just as I also won the victory

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:08.519
 and sat down with the father on

00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.140
 his throne

00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:12.400
 now it's pretty clear through this

00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:15.700
 passage that the the overcomer is

00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:17.579
 not the self-made man or woman

00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:19.340
 they are the person who takes up

00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:20.360
 Jesus invitation

00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:23.960
 and buys from him gold refined in

00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:25.640
 the fire so that they may be rich

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:27.340
 and white clothes so that they may

00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:28.660
 be dressed and their shameful

00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.640
 nakedness hidden

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:32.300
 and ointment to spread on their

00:27:32.300 --> 00:27:34.320
 eyes that they might see

00:27:34.320 --> 00:27:38.700
 so the overcomer that we are

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:41.660
 called to be is the one who turns

00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:45.120
 to Jesus who comes to Jesus who

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:47.540
 receives from Jesus who depends on

00:27:47.540 --> 00:27:47.960
 Jesus

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:53.280
 and we can do that because he is the

00:27:53.280 --> 00:27:56.360
 great overcomer he is the one who

00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:57.579
 has overcome for us

00:27:57.579 --> 00:28:00.159
 and he says

00:28:00.159 --> 00:28:03.699
 I also won the victory and sat down

00:28:03.699 --> 00:28:05.879
 with my father on his throne

00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:09.939
 he overcame

00:28:09.939 --> 00:28:12.179
 God in the flesh

00:28:12.179 --> 00:28:15.979
 allowed his creation to reject him in

00:28:15.979 --> 00:28:17.919
 the most wicked and final way that

00:28:17.919 --> 00:28:19.079
 they could at the cross

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:23.059
 he overcame he is the resurrected

00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:25.979
 Christ the first to overcome sin and

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.400
 death

00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:30.779
 he overcame right now he sits with

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:32.720
 his father on the throne of heaven

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:34.860
 ruling over the universe

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:41.019
 we overcome when we give way to him

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:45.360
 when we see ourselves as God sees us

00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:49.460
 as wretched as pitiful as poor as blind

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.240
 and as naked

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:53.720
 we overcome when we turn from

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:55.500
 self-sufficiency to independence

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:59.319
 to turn from self-sufficient independence

00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:02.980
 and we overcome when we humbly receive

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:04.759
 the grace that God wants to shower

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.900
 us with

00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:09.599
 we overcome when we treasure Jesus

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.680
 Amen

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:23.940
 Amen

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:28.220
 wam

00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:28.480
 Maps

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:28.660
master

00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.279
os