WEBVTT

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 We've just had the Paris Olympics 2024.

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 I wonder if anyone in this room went to the Sydney Olympics 2000.

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 Raise your hand.

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 Quite a few of you actually were there.

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 Keep your hand up if you actually saw Cathy Freeman win the 400.

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 You were there to see that.

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 I am so jealous.

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 It was really quite difficult actually in days gone by,

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 if I may speak as looking back, to witness something.

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 You had to kind of be there in person in order to witness it.

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 But then with the advent of television of course and more recently with now,

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 in fact we have a phone in our pockets that has a camera and a video camera in it

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 and we've got the internet,

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 it's almost impossible not to see something that happened

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 because it gets filmed and goes up online.

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 Not much can happen these days without someone recording it.

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 The emergence of this technology means that we have an enhanced capacity to be witnesses.

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 But really that's just one side of witnessing,

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 being the observer, the one who sees an event.

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 Acts 1 describes for us Jesus' instruction to his disciples,

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 and we'll see it there in verse 8.

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 I'll put it up on the screen there for you.

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 It says,

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 This is the other side of disciples simply witnessing an event.

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 They did that.

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 But they are now not just to be the witnesses of,

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 but to witness to others.

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 Telling others of what they have seen and heard.

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 This morning I want us to see two things.

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 Firstly, how the disciples were to be witnesses

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 in both the observing and the telling of what they'd seen.

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 And secondly, significantly,

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 what it means for us to be witnesses today,

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 here in Chatswood 2024.

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 Firstly though, let's have a look with you

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 at what disciples are to be witnesses of.

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 Luke wrote a big chunk of the New Testament.

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 He wrote what we call Luke's Gospel,

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 but then he wrote his volume 2,

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 which is Acts.

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 And in fact, Luke's Gospel

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 and the beginning of Acts kind of overlap.

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 The events at the very end of Luke's Gospel

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 and the events at the very beginning of Acts overlap.

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 Jesus, we read, had suffered,

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 he'd died, he'd been buried,

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 and then he rose again from the grave.

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 And then for about 40 days,

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 there was a period before he was taken up into heaven.

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 Luke 24 describes how after Jesus' resurrection,

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 he met with various disciples.

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 He met with two disciples on the road to Emmaus,

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 and then he asked them about the things they had witnessed.

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 Jesus explained to them

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 how he was the fulfillment

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 of all the Old Testament scriptures.

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 Jesus then appeared in the very midst of the disciples.

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 He showed them his hands and his feet.

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 He even ate broiled fish with them.

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 In other words, he proved that he was alive.

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 He had physically, bodily risen from the dead.

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 We read then in the end of Luke's Gospel,

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 and I'll put it up on the screen there

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 where you can open your own Bibles.

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 Luke 24 from verse 44,

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 Jesus said to the disciples,

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 This is what I told you while I was still with you.

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 Everything must be fulfilled

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 that is written about me in the law of Moses,

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 the prophets, and the Psalms.

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 In other words,

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 everything must be fulfilled about me

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 that is written in the whole of the Bible.

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 And then he opened their minds

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 so they could understand the scriptures.

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 Jesus told them,

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 This is what is written.

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 The Messiah will suffer

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 and rise from the dead on the third day,

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 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins

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 will be preached in his name to all nations,

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 beginning at Jerusalem.

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 And then there's that word again,

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 You are witnesses of these things,

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 see what he told them.

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 Notice the reminder here

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 that the disciples,

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 they are witnesses,

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 and they are to be witnesses.

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 Then we read in Acts chapter 1,

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 the very first verse we read just a moment ago,

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 Luke writes,

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 In my former book, Theophilus,

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 that is, he's referring to Luke's gospel,

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 I wrote about all that Jesus began to do

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 and to teach

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 until the day he was taken up into heaven,

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 after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit

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 to the apostles he had chosen.

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 But don't you think that's a curious expression?

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 It says,

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 All that Jesus began to do and to teach

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 until he is taken up into heaven.

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 That implies that Jesus is going to continue to do

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 and to teach

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 after he's been taken up into heaven.

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 How can that be?

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 Well, Acts 1 gives us the answer.

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 In Acts chapter 1, verse 3,

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 we are reminded

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 that the risen Jesus

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 presented himself to many people

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 and gave many convincing proofs

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 that he was alive.

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 So for 40 days,

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 Jesus appeared to people

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 to confirm that he had physically,

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 bodily,

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 risen from the dead.

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 They witnessed that.

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 They saw that with their own eyes.

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 And they were in turn then

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 to be witnesses of the things they had seen.

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 Jesus then went on to speak about the what next.

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 Not a kind of a five-year plan

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 or a strategic plan

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 or a governance plan.

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 No, and not a modest plan either.

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 But a plan that was entirely in accord

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 with God's promises

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 from the beginning of time.

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 The Jesus plan

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 is about the coming

00:06:21.779 --> 00:06:23.399
 of the kingdom of God.

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 Now, here in Chatswood

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 and all around the place

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 on a couple of weeks' time,

00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:30.459
 14th September,

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 the New South Wales

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 local government elections will occur.

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 And probably in your letterbox,

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 like mine,

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 you've been getting outlines

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 of what candidates are promising to do

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 if they are elected.

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 And they're quite often

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 ambitious aims

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 that these candidates are suggesting.

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 Ambitious aims

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 but for the local area.

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 The Jesus plan

00:07:02.060 --> 00:07:03.900
 is entirely different.

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 It's on another level altogether.

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 It doesn't just pertain to

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 one part of one city

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 in one period of time.

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 But the Jesus plan

00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:15.820
 is for all people

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 for all time

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 in every part of the world.

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 So,

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 look again at verse 4

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 of chapter 1 of Acts.

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 Jesus,

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 Luke reminds us rather

00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:28.579
 that while Jesus

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 was having a meal

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 with his disciples,

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 he outlined

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 his plan.

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 Notice, of course,

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 it wasn't a suggestion.

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 It wasn't something

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 he was putting out there

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 to be kind of workshopped.

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 No, this was

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 a command.

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 It was to be understood

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 and obeyed.

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 Verse 4,

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 Do not leave Jerusalem,

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 said Jesus,

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 but wait.

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 And here I think we have

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 in what

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 at first blush

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 looks like a very

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 odd

00:08:00.960 --> 00:08:01.759
 plan.

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 In former days,

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 I worked for a couple

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 of large

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 multinationals,

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 including in the food industry.

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 And when a food manufacturer,

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 a global food manufacturer,

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 finds a product

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 that they believe

00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:14.779
 is going to

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 just go gangbusters

00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:17.259
 across the whole world,

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 then they work out

00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:19.319
 a strategic plan

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 in order to do

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 a global rollout

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 of this.

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 I was working

00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:23.759
 for the Mars group

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 at the time

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 they were going

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 to roll out

00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:27.360
 the Mars ice cream bars

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 around the world.

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 Now, I cannot imagine

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 for one moment

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 the director of sales

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 and marketing

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 saying to his

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 sales managers

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 that, hey,

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 we've got this

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 fantastic product

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 ready to go

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 and here's what

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 I want you to do.

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 Stay here in Chatswood

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 and wait.

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 You think,

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 that doesn't make sense.

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 Why would...

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 And you see,

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 but that's what

00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:59.239
 Jesus' command was.

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 I want you to see

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 the stark difference

00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:05.219
 between the Jesus plan

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 and the corporate world.

00:09:08.300 --> 00:09:09.379
 Why would Jesus

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 say to his disciples,

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 wait,

00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:18.000
 stay in Jerusalem?

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 Well, the answer

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 is found in the second

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 part of the verse.

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 Jesus' disciples

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 are called

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 to trust in him

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 and to wait

00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:31.740
 for the gift

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 that his father

00:09:32.940 --> 00:09:33.620
 had promised,

00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:35.299
 the gift of the Holy Spirit,

00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:37.200
 the gift that heard him

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 speak so much about.

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 Do not leave Jerusalem,

00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:40.399
 he says,

00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:42.139
 but wait for the gifts

00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:44.120
 my father promised.

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 You see,

00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.000
 if they were to charge off

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 and try and fulfill

00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:48.320
 the great commission

00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:49.060
 without waiting

00:09:49.060 --> 00:09:49.860
 for the Holy Spirit,

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 then they'll be doing it

00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:51.539
 in their own strength.

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 They'll be doing it

00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:53.179
 in their own capacities,

00:09:53.340 --> 00:09:54.240
 in their own power.

00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:56.259
 That's not the Jesus plan.

00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:57.899
 The Jesus plan

00:09:57.899 --> 00:09:58.799
 is that they will be

00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:00.220
 witnesses around the globe,

00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:01.680
 but not in their own strength.

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 They'll be doing it

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 in the power

00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:04.579
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:07.359
 God's people

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 are to obey

00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:09.039
 his commands

00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.059
 and not witness

00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:12.259
 in their own strength,

00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:14.779
 but to receive

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 the power

00:10:15.219 --> 00:10:15.959
 of the Holy Spirit

00:10:15.959 --> 00:10:16.799
 and Jesus promised

00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:17.399
 in verse 5,

00:10:17.439 --> 00:10:18.399
 in a few days

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 they would be baptized

00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:20.679
 with the Holy Spirit.

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 That event,

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 which we know

00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:23.279
 as Pentecost,

00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:24.019
 did happen

00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:25.179
 just 10 days later.

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 We read in Acts chapter 2

00:10:26.479 --> 00:10:27.859
 that at that time

00:10:27.859 --> 00:10:28.639
 the apostles

00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:29.479
 were enabled

00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:30.440
 to do that,

00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:31.779
 which is humanly speaking

00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:32.680
 quite impossible.

00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:33.779
 They had people

00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:34.960
 from around the world

00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:35.700
 gathered there

00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:36.300
 and they were able

00:10:36.300 --> 00:10:37.480
 to preach the gospel

00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:38.860
 and be understood,

00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:40.860
 each person understood it

00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:42.399
 in their native language.

00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:43.220
 Now I did a little bit

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 of research

00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:44.740
 during the week

00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:45.560
 about Chatswood

00:10:45.560 --> 00:10:48.039
 and the census data

00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:49.700
 says that these

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 are the top languages

00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:51.740
 spoken at homes

00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:52.420
 in Chatswood.

00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:54.800
 English creeps in

00:10:54.800 --> 00:10:55.399
 at number one,

00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:56.620
 Mandarin,

00:10:56.940 --> 00:10:57.480
 Cantonese,

00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:57.960
 Korean,

00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:59.940
 Japanese and Hindi.

00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:02.019
 Now I'd be surprised

00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:02.820
 if there weren't people

00:11:02.820 --> 00:11:03.460
 in this room

00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:04.100
 this morning

00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.600
 who speak

00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:06.580
 these languages.

00:11:08.400 --> 00:11:09.600
 Imagine if I was then

00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:10.700
 preaching as I am

00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:11.180
 in English

00:11:11.180 --> 00:11:12.160
 and you were actually

00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:13.100
 hearing it

00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:14.220
 in Mandarin

00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:15.420
 or Cantonese

00:11:15.420 --> 00:11:16.019
 or Korean.

00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:18.460
 That's what was happening

00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:20.200
 at Pentecost.

00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:22.340
 That was the power

00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:23.340
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:25.680
 Jesus promised them

00:11:25.680 --> 00:11:26.480
 that they would receive

00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.240
 power

00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:28.220
 when the Holy Spirit

00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:28.720
 came.

00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:29.919
 That word power,

00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:30.759
 the Greek word

00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:31.519
 is dynamon,

00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:32.080
 dunamon,

00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:32.899
 from which we get

00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:34.120
 the English word dynamite.

00:11:34.180 --> 00:11:34.700
 We're talking about

00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:36.259
 an extraordinary power

00:11:36.259 --> 00:11:38.159
 that came upon them

00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:39.419
 that they're able

00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:40.240
 to do that.

00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:41.460
 And it is in that

00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:42.440
 extraordinary power

00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:43.080
 that they are

00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:43.860
 to proceed

00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:44.720
 to be witnesses,

00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:45.779
 Jesus' witnesses

00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:47.700
 in Judea and Samaria

00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:50.100
 and then

00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:52.120
 to the ends

00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:52.620
 of the earth.

00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:55.720
 in the early chapters

00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:57.340
 of Acts,

00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:59.639
 we see that the world

00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:00.440
 was coming

00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:01.980
 to Jerusalem.

00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:04.000
 The model was

00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:05.399
 an attractional one.

00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:06.659
 People came

00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:07.700
 to the city of David

00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:08.659
 to Mount Zion.

00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.460
 Jerusalem was a very

00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:11.460
 attractive city

00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:12.399
 to go to.

00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:13.560
 Maybe not at the moment

00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:14.440
 but I imagine,

00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:15.039
 raise your hand

00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:15.919
 if you've been to Jerusalem.

00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:17.080
 Anyone here in the room

00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:18.039
 been to Jerusalem?

00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:21.279
 It's a really

00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:22.219
 interesting city.

00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:23.839
 People came

00:12:23.839 --> 00:12:26.019
 from around the world

00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:27.799
 to Jerusalem.

00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:31.259
 And when they came,

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:32.980
 they heard the gospel

00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:34.399
 in the power

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.139
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:36.360
 Thousands of people

00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:37.219
 heard the gospel

00:12:37.219 --> 00:12:38.699
 in their own mother tongue

00:12:38.699 --> 00:12:39.860
 and responded

00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:40.539
 in repentance

00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:41.339
 and faith.

00:12:42.099 --> 00:12:42.819
 And then

00:12:42.819 --> 00:12:44.480
 those people

00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:46.000
 returned

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.219
 to their

00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:48.519
 places of origin.

00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:51.120
 The Copernican

00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:51.940
 revolution

00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:53.920
 of global mission

00:12:53.920 --> 00:12:55.340
 came a short while later.

00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.700
 We read in Acts chapter 7,

00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:59.580
 so just a few chapters on,

00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:01.180
 of Stephen

00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:02.899
 speaks to the Sanhedrin.

00:13:03.820 --> 00:13:04.440
 Now Stephen

00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:05.000
 was asked

00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:06.420
 to come

00:13:06.420 --> 00:13:07.120
 and speak

00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:07.840
 to the

00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:09.180
 legal councils

00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:09.720
 of the day,

00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:10.779
 the heavies of the day.

00:13:11.160 --> 00:13:12.100
 And he delivered

00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:13.019
 what was an absolute

00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:14.320
 cracker of a sermon.

00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:15.259
 He drew on

00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:16.440
 a lot of Old Testament

00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:17.000
 references

00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:17.539
 and showed

00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:18.100
 how Jesus

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:19.220
 was the fulfillment

00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:19.899
 of the promises

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:20.840
 of the Old Testament.

00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:22.480
 It was an amazing sermon.

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:23.759
 So at the end of that,

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.600
 they decided

00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:25.320
 they would take

00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:26.179
 Stephen

00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:27.080
 on a road trip

00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:28.100
 to all the biggest

00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:28.799
 stadia

00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.379
 and all the

00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:31.440
 major synagogues

00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.419
 all around the world

00:13:32.419 --> 00:13:33.559
 so that more people

00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:34.059
 could...

00:13:34.059 --> 00:13:35.519
 No, they didn't do that.

00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:36.399
 Do you know

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:36.879
 what they did?

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.799
 They took him out

00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.259
 after he delivered

00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:41.279
 this incredible sermon

00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:41.740
 and they

00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:43.340
 stoned him.

00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:46.720
 And again,

00:13:46.780 --> 00:13:47.320
 we're kind of left

00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:48.320
 scratching our head

00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:49.040
 thinking,

00:13:49.300 --> 00:13:50.200
 how can this

00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:51.519
 be part of God's plan?

00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:53.120
 How can it be part

00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.660
 of God's plan

00:13:53.660 --> 00:13:54.879
 to take out

00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:56.540
 a man who

00:13:56.540 --> 00:13:57.940
 had the capacity,

00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:58.780
 one of the few

00:13:58.780 --> 00:13:59.620
 on the planet

00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:00.519
 at that moment

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.320
 who had the capacity

00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:02.680
 to preach the gospel

00:14:02.680 --> 00:14:03.460
 clearly

00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:04.440
 and faithfully

00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:05.440
 and boldly

00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.520
 and after he

00:14:06.520 --> 00:14:07.360
 does so,

00:14:08.400 --> 00:14:09.140
 he's stoned

00:14:09.140 --> 00:14:10.400
 to death.

00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.520
 How can that

00:14:12.520 --> 00:14:13.220
 be part of God's

00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:13.540
 plan?

00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:15.640
 Well, we actually

00:14:15.640 --> 00:14:16.580
 see it in the next

00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:17.140
 verse,

00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:18.020
 the beginning of

00:14:18.020 --> 00:14:18.640
 chapter 8,

00:14:19.140 --> 00:14:19.860
 verse 1

00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:21.480
 and we read there

00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:22.820
 on that day,

00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:23.580
 the day when

00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:24.460
 Stephen was

00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.920
 stoned to death,

00:14:26.420 --> 00:14:27.460
 a great persecution

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.120
 broke out

00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:28.980
 and all except

00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:29.580
 the apostles

00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:30.120
 were scattered

00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:31.380
 throughout Judea

00:14:31.380 --> 00:14:33.020
 and Samaria.

00:14:33.400 --> 00:14:33.620
 You see,

00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.140
 in God's economy,

00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.440
 the tragic

00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:37.280
 martyrdom

00:14:37.280 --> 00:14:38.360
 of Stephen

00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:39.940
 led to the

00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:40.680
 spread of the

00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:41.100
 gospel

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:42.800
 across the

00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:43.860
 known world.

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.860
 The model

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:47.060
 of mission

00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:48.600
 moved from being,

00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:49.180
 if I remember

00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:49.840
 my school of

00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.520
 science correctly

00:14:50.520 --> 00:14:50.820
 here,

00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:51.500
 from being a

00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.260
 centripetal one,

00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.080
 that is the force

00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:53.900
 of kind of coming

00:14:53.900 --> 00:14:54.320
 in,

00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:55.460
 to it becoming

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.840
 a centrifugal one,

00:14:57.280 --> 00:14:58.160
 the force then

00:14:58.160 --> 00:14:58.980
 the gospel

00:14:58.980 --> 00:14:59.860
 going out,

00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:01.100
 going out to

00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:01.920
 take the gospel

00:15:01.920 --> 00:15:02.500
 to the ends

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.140
 of the earth.

00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.080
 Now,

00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.280
 over the centuries,

00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:05.919
 the church

00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.639
 has fallen

00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.399
 into this

00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.079
 era of

00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:09.139
 operating as

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.539
 if our

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.459
 mission mandate

00:15:10.459 --> 00:15:11.759
 is fulfilled

00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.500
 if we simply

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.779
 build churches

00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.360
 on hills

00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:15.620
 and then expect

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.519
 people to come.

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.500
 Building churches

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:21.600
 is important,

00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.339
 but friends,

00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:24.679
 our mission mandate

00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:26.759
 is to go out,

00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:28.620
 to be

00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.740
 witnesses.

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:29.960
 witnesses.

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.500
 Did the

00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.120
 first century

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:35.440
 disciples do

00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.100
 that which

00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.399
 they were

00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:36.779
 commissioned

00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:37.360
 to do?

00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:39.440
 Yes,

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.060
 they did.

00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:41.600
 How do I

00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.080
 know that?

00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:43.480
 Because we are

00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:44.259
 sitting here in

00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:44.940
 Chatswood,

00:15:45.680 --> 00:15:46.560
 two millennia

00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:47.159
 later,

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:48.759
 and Chatswood,

00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.320
 beautiful place,

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.240
 but if I may say

00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:52.220
 from a first century

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:52.899
 perspective,

00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:54.960
 Jerusalem perspective

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.320
 is the ends

00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:56.920
 of the earth.

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.640
 The gospel

00:15:58.640 --> 00:16:00.140
 has come

00:16:00.140 --> 00:16:01.400
 to the ends

00:16:01.400 --> 00:16:02.140
 of the earth.

00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:06.560
 Verse 8,

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.000
 Jesus said,

00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.120
 they were to be

00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:10.960
 witnesses in

00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.700
 Jerusalem

00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:14.160
 and all Judea

00:16:14.160 --> 00:16:16.340
 and Samaria

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:18.220
 and to the

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:18.879
 ends of the earth.

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.639
 Let's consider

00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.340
 our context

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:21.720
 here.

00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:23.759
 In Sydney

00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.960
 2024,

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:26.639
 we do a

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.039
 pretty good

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.580
 job of

00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:29.379
 being witnesses

00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.419
 of Jesus

00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.620
 in our

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.200
 Jerusalem,

00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.039
 our Judea,

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:33.620
 that is,

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:34.779
 in the Sydney

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:35.620
 Diocese.

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:37.240
 And we do a

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:38.279
 pretty good job

00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:39.419
 of supporting

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.460
 ministries that

00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:41.120
 go out from

00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:41.659
 here to the

00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:42.039
 ends of the

00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:42.179
 earth.

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:42.960
 So organizations

00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.019
 like CMS

00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:44.759
 are supporting

00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:46.379
 ministries to

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.000
 the nations.

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.240
 nations.

00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:49.720
 But what

00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.220
 about our

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:50.759
 Samaria?

00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:53.279
 What about

00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:55.139
 the 7 million

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.960
 people who

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.860
 live in regional,

00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:57.779
 rural and remote

00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.399
 parts of

00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:58.879
 Australia?

00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.879
 They're often

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.360
 forgotten.

00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.580
 The BCA

00:17:03.580 --> 00:17:04.480
 mission is

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.380
 entirely in

00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.519
 accord with

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.160
 the Jesus

00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:07.660
 mission.

00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:09.019
 The BCA

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:10.099
 strategic plan

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:11.220
 is entirely

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:11.779
 in accord

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.420
 with Jesus

00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.619
 strategic plan.

00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.319
 That is,

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.079
 to go the

00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:15.460
 distance,

00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.039
 to take

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.740
 the gospel,

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.900
 not just

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.180
 to the

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:18.539
 cities,

00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:19.559
 not just

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:19.839
 to the

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.220
 nation,

00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.240
 but to the

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.960
 original rural

00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:23.440
 and remote

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:23.960
 parts,

00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:24.819
 to all

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.259
 people.

00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.660
 To places

00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:28.180
 like, and

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:28.579
 you can see

00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.000
 them on the

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:29.539
 map there,

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.339
 Exmouth and

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:31.319
 Roxby Downs

00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.619
 and Cobar,

00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:33.460
 Cobar,

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.900
 and what I was

00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:35.420
 speaking about

00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:35.819
 before,

00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.920
 in the western

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.519
 part of New

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.180
 South Wales,

00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:39.240
 and Newman

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.019
 and Kununurra,

00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:40.680
 right up there

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.359
 in the north,

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:42.440
 in the western

00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.019
 Australia,

00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:43.859
 north of western

00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:44.440
 Australia.

00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:47.180
 I mentioned

00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:47.980
 before that

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.840
 we have

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.279
 more than

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:50.299
 10,000

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.380
 prayer supporters

00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:52.580
 in

00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.960
 New South

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.519
 Wales,

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.019
 diligently

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.920
 upholding

00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.640
 these ministries

00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.180
 in prayer

00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.740
 using the

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.519
 BCA prayer

00:17:59.519 --> 00:17:59.779
 notes.

00:17:59.900 --> 00:17:59.980
 Now,

00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.840
 last Thursday

00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:01.160
 in the

00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:01.580
 prayer notes,

00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:01.860
 if you

00:18:01.860 --> 00:18:02.380
 looked there,

00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.460
 last Thursday,

00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:03.900
 I remember

00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:04.400
 the date,

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:04.799
 it was my

00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.539
 wife's birthday,

00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:06.960
 on the 29th,

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.440
 George and

00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.259
 Carmel Ferguson

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.740
 are listed.

00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:08.980
 Now,

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.320
 they're in

00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:09.820
 Walgett and

00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:10.100
 Colorado,

00:18:10.100 --> 00:18:11.500
 and you read

00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:11.700
 there,

00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.059
 it's a little

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.680
 bit too small

00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.140
 on the screen,

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.539
 but you can

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:13.900
 read it in

00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:14.180
 your prayer

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.620
 notes later,

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.060
 that George

00:18:15.060 --> 00:18:15.480
 and Carmel

00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:15.840
 are committed

00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:16.380
 to preaching

00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:17.100
 the gospel

00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:18.500
 and spreading

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.480
 the good news

00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.299
 of salvation.

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.080
 We might add

00:18:21.080 --> 00:18:21.660
 to the ends

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.180
 of the earth,

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.620
 or we could

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.340
 use the language

00:18:23.340 --> 00:18:23.860
 of Acts,

00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:24.480
 chapter 1,

00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:24.920
 verse 8,

00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.120
 to Samaria.

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.720
 They're out

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.140
 there in

00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:28.580
 Walgett and

00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:28.860
 Colorado,

00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:29.360
 and I,

00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:31.039
 trusting in

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.820
 the Holy Spirit,

00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:33.080
 thousands of

00:18:33.080 --> 00:18:34.120
 people across

00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:34.740
 the country

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:36.539
 pray regularly

00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:37.960
 to support

00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:38.900
 the BCA

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.680
 mission.

00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:41.279
 Not because

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:41.700
 it's the

00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:42.740
 BCA mission

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.359
 per se,

00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.079
 because that

00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:46.440
 mission aligns

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.980
 with the

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:49.220
 Jesus mission.

00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.200
 So let me

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:51.759
 ask you this

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.079
 morning,

00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.039
 will you

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:53.899
 please join

00:18:53.899 --> 00:18:55.339
 us in

00:18:55.339 --> 00:18:56.619
 this part

00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:56.899
 of the

00:18:56.899 --> 00:18:57.240
 mission,

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:59.099
 and pray

00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:00.559
 and give

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.839
 to support

00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.519
 the gospel

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.319
 going to

00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.299
 our Samaria.

00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:07.039
 As disciples

00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.720
 of Jesus,

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.660
 our mission

00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.500
 and our plans

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.059
 need to

00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:11.259
 continue to

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.180
 be aligned

00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:12.799
 with Jesus'

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.200
 plan,

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:13.920
 to bring

00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:14.819
 people across

00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.359
 the globe

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:15.819
 under the

00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:16.160
 sound of

00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:16.759
 the gospel,

00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:17.500
 so that

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:17.920
 people in

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.599
 the cities,

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:19.859
 people in

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.559
 the suburbs

00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.619
 of Chatswood

00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:22.220
 and beyond,

00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.359
 people right

00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.019
 across Australia

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.500
 and across

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.279
 the nations,

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:26.879
 come under

00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:27.339
 the sound

00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:28.079
 of the gospel.

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.140
 That is our

00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:30.660
 privilege,

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:31.980
 and that is

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:33.019
 our responsibility

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:34.420
 as witnesses

00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:35.279
 of the gospel.

00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:36.960
 So,

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:37.660
 here at

00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:37.819
 St.

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.400
 Paul's,

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:39.559
 you must

00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.299
 continue to

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.259
 strategize as

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.359
 to how to

00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:42.980
 reach the

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.039
 many people

00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:45.039
 of Chatswood

00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:46.159
 who do

00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:47.119
 not yet know

00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:47.899
 Jesus as

00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:48.299
 their Lord

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:48.879
 and Savior.

00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:50.359
 You must

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.079
 continue to

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.980
 strategize,

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.419
 but if I

00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:53.819
 may say,

00:19:53.899 --> 00:19:54.659
 not rely

00:19:54.659 --> 00:19:55.440
 upon those

00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.099
 strategies,

00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:58.539
 but rather

00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.419
 rely upon the

00:19:59.419 --> 00:19:59.940
 power of the

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.619
 Holy Spirit

00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:01.899
 that the Lord

00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:02.659
 has promised

00:20:02.659 --> 00:20:03.579
 to us before

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.419
 his ascension.

00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:04.560
 salvation.

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.720
 We've seen

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.080
 how the

00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:08.019
 first disciples

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.560
 were to be

00:20:08.560 --> 00:20:09.180
 witnesses of

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:09.720
 the gospel,

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.000
 and what

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.340
 Jesus'

00:20:11.560 --> 00:20:12.160
 command is

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.820
 for us

00:20:12.820 --> 00:20:14.039
 to in turn

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.600
 be witnesses

00:20:14.600 --> 00:20:15.340
 of the gospel.

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:15.860
 We've seen

00:20:15.860 --> 00:20:16.360
 the what.

00:20:17.060 --> 00:20:17.880
 Let me finish

00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.480
 this morning

00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.560
 with the why.

00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:22.300
 Why are we

00:20:22.300 --> 00:20:23.460
 to press on

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.720
 to seek to

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.200
 bring all

00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.759
 people under

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.180
 the sound

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:26.880
 of the gospel?

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.779
 The compelling

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:30.259
 reason is

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.140
 found in the

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:32.080
 final verse

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.720
 of today's

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.240
 passage.

00:20:34.439 --> 00:20:35.220
 After Jesus

00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:35.579
 had given

00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:36.339
 this command

00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:37.179
 to witness

00:20:37.179 --> 00:20:37.519
 to the

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:37.980
 world,

00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.079
 he ascended

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.699
 to heaven,

00:20:40.199 --> 00:20:40.819
 and then the

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.980
 angels gave

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:43.439
 those who

00:20:43.439 --> 00:20:43.919
 were standing

00:20:43.919 --> 00:20:45.439
 there this

00:20:45.439 --> 00:20:46.039
 reminder.

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.039
 This is the

00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:48.460
 why.

00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:51.720
 Jesus is

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.539
 coming back.

00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:54.500
 Why do we

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:54.980
 keep going

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.939
 the distance

00:20:55.939 --> 00:20:57.539
 to witness

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.220
 the gospel

00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:58.759
 to all

00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.199
 people?

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:00.960
 Who is my

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:01.399
 friends?

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.859
 Jesus is

00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:04.519
 coming back.

00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:06.539
 Let's pray.

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.139
 Our

00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:08.699
 gracious God

00:21:08.699 --> 00:21:09.079
 and heavenly

00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.599
 Father, we

00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:10.259
 do thank you

00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:10.679
 that in your

00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:12.119
 love and

00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:12.720
 mercy you

00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.199
 sent your

00:21:13.199 --> 00:21:13.679
 son, the

00:21:13.679 --> 00:21:14.259
 Lord Jesus,

00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:16.059
 to be born

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:16.639
 as a man,

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.399
 to live among

00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:18.059
 us with all

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.619
 the struggles

00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:19.579
 and temptations

00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.379
 of life,

00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:21.740
 but to live

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.500
 without sin.

00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:24.879
 Thank you

00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:25.319
 that Jesus

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.339
 so loved us

00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:26.599
 that he

00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.059
 willingly

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.139
 suffered and

00:21:28.139 --> 00:21:28.839
 died to

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.220
 pay the

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.779
 price for

00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:30.559
 our sins.

00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:32.179
 God

00:21:32.179 --> 00:21:32.220
 and

00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.579
 thank you

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.179
 that just

00:21:33.179 --> 00:21:33.740
 as predicted

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.619
 Jesus rose

00:21:34.619 --> 00:21:35.259
 again from

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.740
 the grave

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.359
 and proved

00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:36.659
 that he

00:21:36.659 --> 00:21:37.500
 was alive.

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.579
 Thank you

00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.019
 that Jesus

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.980
 promised the

00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:41.539
 gift of the

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.220
 Holy Spirit

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:44.099
 and we

00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.480
 thank you

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:44.859
 that in your

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.659
 plan for the

00:21:45.659 --> 00:21:46.399
 salvation of

00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:47.099
 all mankind,

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:49.279
 you've chosen

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.960
 to include

00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.460
 us.

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.019
 Father, we

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.500
 praise you

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:53.879
 that we do

00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:54.399
 not have to

00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:54.980
 proceed in

00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.379
 our own

00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:55.899
 strength,

00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:57.720
 but rather in

00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.480
 the power of

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.059
 your Holy

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.599
 Spirit.

00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:02.140
 As we

00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:02.579
 seek to

00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.240
 continue to

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:03.620
 take the

00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:04.059
 good news

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.339
 of the

00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:05.539
 gospel to

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:05.920
 the ends

00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.200
 of the

00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:07.759
 earth, to

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.220
 the remote

00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.860
 places of

00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:10.559
 Australia and

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:10.940
 here in

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.460
 Chatswood,

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:13.180
 give us

00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:15.240
 courage and

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.700
 a deep

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.380
 trust in

00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:17.059
 you and

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.680
 the power

00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.140
 of your

00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:18.640
 spirit.

00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:20.539
 We pray

00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.160
 this in

00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:21.519
 Jesus'

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.319
 name as

00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:22.920
 we await

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.640
 his return.

00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:24.980
 Amen.

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.079
 Amen.

00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:25.120
 Amen.

00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:25.140
 Amen.