WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.419 We're going to read from Matthew 9, verse 35, all the way through to Matthew 10, verse 16. 00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:14.339 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues 00:00:14.339 --> 00:00:16.940 and healing every disease and every affliction. 00:00:18.059 --> 00:00:23.039 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:24.620 like sheep without a shepherd. 00:00:24.620 --> 00:00:30.380 Then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 00:00:31.220 --> 00:00:36.280 Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:42.920 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:46.020 cast them out and to heal every disease and every affliction. 00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:49.020 The names of the twelve apostles are these. 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:53.079 First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother. 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:56.679 James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother. 00:00:57.479 --> 00:00:58.820 Philip and Bartholomew. 00:00:59.259 --> 00:01:02.179 Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector. 00:01:02.979 --> 00:01:05.640 James, the son of Alphaeus and Thaddeus. 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:09.259 Simon, the zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:12.780 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, 00:01:13.039 --> 00:01:17.219 go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:20.299 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:24.420 And proclaim as you go, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:01:25.019 --> 00:01:29.780 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:33.299 You received without paying, give without pay. 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:37.659 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:42.340 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, 00:01:42.780 --> 00:01:44.459 for the laborer deserves his food. 00:01:44.459 --> 00:01:48.819 In whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it 00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:50.679 and stay there until you depart. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:53.059 As you enter the house, greet it. 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:56.299 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it. 00:01:56.979 --> 00:01:59.639 But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 00:02:00.199 --> 00:02:02.819 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, 00:02:03.259 --> 00:02:07.060 shake off the dust from your feet when you leave the house or town. 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:11.159 Truly I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:14.039 for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:17.979 Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:21.280 So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:26.419 Well, it was a long time ago, a different life really, 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:30.139 but I well remember harvest time on the farm growing up 00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:34.300 and then in a later life working for a seed breeding company, 00:02:34.300 --> 00:02:35.500 a wheat breeding company. 00:02:36.979 --> 00:02:39.099 Harvest always brought mixed emotions. 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:42.659 On the one hand, it was incredibly exciting 00:02:42.659 --> 00:02:46.799 because harvest was the end for which you worked all year. 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:50.219 That's what you did, that was what you had in mind 00:02:50.219 --> 00:02:52.479 when you were doing the plowing, when you were planting, 00:02:52.659 --> 00:02:54.740 when you were spraying, when you were watering, 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:58.599 and when you were waiting nervously for the crop to come ready. 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:03.419 So harvest time was the culmination of a whole year's worth of work, 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:05.259 or at least a good part of the year's worth of work. 00:03:05.259 --> 00:03:09.199 But it always brought that mixed emotion. 00:03:09.679 --> 00:03:10.959 It was a high energy time. 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:15.439 Harvest meant all that work had been worthwhile. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:20.019 But as I say, it was a mixed emotion because it was also a daunting time. 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:28.899 Hot summer days, hard, heavy, dangerous work because it was all with machines. 00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:33.000 Long hours, because there's lots to do, 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:36.520 and it just never quite seemed as if there was enough helpers to actually do it. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:40.580 And sometimes harvest was just purely heartbreaking. 00:03:41.200 --> 00:03:42.860 It might be one of those harvests this year. 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:45.599 You finally get a good crop, there's a good price, 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:46.920 and then the weather beats you. 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:52.120 So that's harvesting, a real mix of emotions. 00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:55.680 Well, in verses 37 and 38 of the passage before this morning, 00:03:55.860 --> 00:03:59.680 Jesus changes his language to describe his mission, 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:01.580 and he starts to use the language of harvesting. 00:04:03.219 --> 00:04:05.140 But before we get into the details, 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:09.400 and both the exciting and the daunting aspects of this harvest of Jesus, 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:12.840 I want to remind you again of the bigger context, 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:16.439 which I think helps us understand these verses properly. 00:04:17.420 --> 00:04:21.319 The bigger context is Jesus' authority and priority in his mission. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:26.139 Matthew himself reminds us again in chapter 9, verse 35. 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:28.759 Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.079 teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:35.899 and healing every disease and every affliction. 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:42.959 Now that's one of those word brackets that I've spoken about before. 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:47.959 And it pushes us right back to chapter 4 in verses 14 to 17, 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:49.340 where Jesus begins his ministry. 00:04:49.339 --> 00:04:53.699 And from that very point, Jesus presents himself as Messiah. 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:58.399 That is, the Old Testament promised king and savior. 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:03.879 The one who would come to reestablish the kingdom or rule of God. 00:05:05.599 --> 00:05:08.479 And Matthew in chapters 4 to 9 00:05:08.479 --> 00:05:14.559 emphasizes Jesus' authority and priority in mission. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:18.620 And he does that by using these bookend verses, these bracket verses. 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:22.379 So chapter 4, verse 23, you'll see, 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:25.519 is almost an identical verse to chapter 9, verse 35. 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:34.639 It talks about Jesus' mission as proclaiming, teaching, and healing. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:40.919 He would proclaim the good news of Messiah's arrival. 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:43.599 He would teach what the kingdom rule would look like. 00:05:44.599 --> 00:05:46.219 And in line with Isaiah's prediction, 00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:49.639 he would heal every disease and illness among the people. 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:52.199 And that, if you go back and read through Isaiah, 00:05:52.740 --> 00:05:55.879 was a very particular thing because that event, 00:05:56.699 --> 00:05:58.560 those happenings, Isaiah said, 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:02.899 they would mark the arrival of Messiah and the age of salvation, 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:05.259 the long-promised age of salvation. 00:06:05.899 --> 00:06:09.120 So Jesus does that as a sense to tell us 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.780 that that which Isaiah predicted has now come. 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:16.180 But it also illustrates his authority and priority 00:06:16.180 --> 00:06:18.340 in undoing the effects of sin 00:06:18.340 --> 00:06:22.720 and restoring God's image bearers to the character of God 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.879 and to relationship with God. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:29.800 So chapter 9, verse 35, 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:33.319 brings that first section of 49 to a close, 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:35.879 but also then links into the next section, 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:38.019 which we're going to look at over the next three weeks, 00:06:38.159 --> 00:06:40.120 which runs through to the end of chapter 10, 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:44.719 a section in which Jesus details by another sermon. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:47.519 So we've had the Sermon on the Mount in the first section. 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:49.420 Now we're going to get the Sermon on Mission 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:52.959 in this section through to the end of verse 10. 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:57.399 And again, Jesus is developing his authority and priority 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:01.019 in mission in a different way, 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:03.299 using different language, different pictures. 00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:05.979 And he now describes, as I said before, 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:10.500 his mission in terms of harvesting and shepherding in verse 36. 00:07:12.259 --> 00:07:13.959 Now, harvesting and shepherding, 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:16.599 both metaphors, and they are metaphors, 00:07:16.679 --> 00:07:17.359 they're picture words, 00:07:17.599 --> 00:07:20.319 both are used in the Old Testament by the prophets. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:25.379 And again, each of them describes the coming age of salvation 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:29.519 and the mission of Messiah or Jesus. 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:34.480 And Jesus used them as the basis, as I said, of another sermon, 00:07:35.219 --> 00:07:39.039 teaching how his mission of kingdom building 00:07:39.039 --> 00:07:41.319 would actually develop and happen, 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:43.560 how it would work out in practice. 00:07:44.180 --> 00:07:47.600 And here's the first of the big points in this new section. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.080 And it's a bit confronting, really, 00:07:50.400 --> 00:07:52.140 but we'll dig into it over the next three weeks. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:58.000 His disciples would share in the mission of Messiah. 00:07:59.520 --> 00:08:02.040 His disciples would actually share in his mission 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:04.439 of proclaiming, teaching, 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:06.740 and we'll have a look in a minute of healing. 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:13.560 And that, we'll come back to that healing a bit. 00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:16.840 So Isaiah 52 and Ezekiel 34 00:08:16.840 --> 00:08:20.420 are the two chapters predominantly that lie behind these verses. 00:08:21.579 --> 00:08:25.220 And those two chapters picture the joy 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:28.360 of God's salvation coming to God's people. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:32.159 And it's a familiar verse that Paul also uses in Romans chapter 10, 00:08:32.680 --> 00:08:33.960 talking about the same sort of thing. 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:34.820 And the verse says, 00:08:35.160 --> 00:08:38.040 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him, 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:41.500 or those who bring good news of happiness, 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:44.320 who publish salvation, 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:46.080 who say to Zion, 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:48.340 Your God reigns. 00:08:49.940 --> 00:08:53.860 The Old Testament prophets envisaged this time of salvation 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:56.560 when people would, with Messiah, 00:08:57.420 --> 00:08:59.879 proclaim God as Savior and King. 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:03.240 And Ezekiel 34 pictures the day 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:05.259 when God will replace false shepherds 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:07.159 who abused God's people. 00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:11.799 And I think that's a reference here back to verse 34, 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:14.539 the Jewish religious leaders. 00:09:16.220 --> 00:09:19.580 Ezekiel 34 contrasts the false shepherds 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:21.600 that abuse and harass God's people 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.139 and were self-interested, 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:24.759 were caring for themselves rather than God's people, 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:26.519 with the true shepherd, 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:28.419 the Messiah, 00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:31.620 who would come to rescue his sheep 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:34.580 and point them back to his grace and mercy. 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:38.480 And so, I want to stop here 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:40.679 and press upon you the principle again 00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:44.000 that we'll dig into over the next three weeks. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.559 That is, 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.419 Jesus invites his followers, 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:50.159 his disciples, 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:50.700 that is, 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:51.440 you and me, 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:52.580 if you're a Christian this morning, 00:09:53.220 --> 00:09:54.759 Jesus invites his followers, 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:56.159 or his disciples, 00:09:56.299 --> 00:09:59.200 to share in the mission of Messiah. 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:03.559 To share in that kingdom-building mission. 00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:08.799 It's quite an incredible thought, really, 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:09.600 when you think about it. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:12.779 And that means both harvesting 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:14.420 and shepherding 00:10:14.420 --> 00:10:17.000 or caring for God's people. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:19.580 Not only does Jesus invite you, 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:21.000 it's actually stronger than that 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:21.620 in these verses. 00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:24.159 Jesus expects you, 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:26.120 as a believer, 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:28.560 to share in his rescue mission. 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:30.680 How will you do that? 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:31.740 We'll see in more detail, 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:32.399 but at this point, 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.240 how do you do it? 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:36.000 By imitating what Jesus does. 00:10:36.680 --> 00:10:37.320 Follow the leader. 00:10:37.320 --> 00:10:39.940 Proclaiming the good news. 00:10:40.560 --> 00:10:42.960 Teaching what the kingdom of God looks like. 00:10:43.520 --> 00:10:44.520 And we'll see in a minute 00:10:44.520 --> 00:10:45.720 how the healing fits in. 00:10:48.540 --> 00:10:49.620 So, friends, 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:53.100 it's an incredible privilege 00:10:53.100 --> 00:10:54.700 that's on show here. 00:10:55.420 --> 00:10:57.240 That we should be brought in 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:59.900 to that very, very fundamental, 00:10:59.900 --> 00:11:02.620 important mission of Messiah. 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:05.180 An incredible privilege, 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:07.859 but it's also a great responsibility. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:10.039 And so, like the harvest I remember 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:11.659 as a young bloke, 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.799 it's both exciting and daunting. 00:11:17.439 --> 00:11:18.859 So, the question I want to spend 00:11:18.859 --> 00:11:20.819 the rest of the morning on this morning 00:11:20.819 --> 00:11:21.179 is, 00:11:21.599 --> 00:11:23.899 what will motivate you and me, then, 00:11:24.479 --> 00:11:26.939 to throw ourselves into this hard work? 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:31.520 The hard work of harvesting 00:11:31.520 --> 00:11:33.680 and the hard work of shepherding. 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:38.020 Well, I've got four points. 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.180 You'll see them on the outline 00:11:39.180 --> 00:11:40.240 if you've got it in front of you there. 00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:41.420 The first one is that 00:11:41.420 --> 00:11:43.140 seeing people with the compassion 00:11:43.140 --> 00:11:44.460 and love of Jesus. 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:47.480 It's an attitude to start with. 00:11:50.280 --> 00:11:51.360 Now, given the events 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:53.440 of chapters 8 and 9, 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.460 which I've been looking at 00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:56.420 over the last four weeks, 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:59.180 I think we could really easily 00:11:59.180 --> 00:12:00.320 understand Jesus 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:03.120 feeling a real sense of frustration. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.519 He hasn't been recognized 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:08.400 like he should have been recognized. 00:12:09.280 --> 00:12:10.860 Or perhaps even resentment. 00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:13.120 He's been used by the crowd 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:15.900 as just a very nice Mr. Fix-It. 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:20.080 But people haven't really wanted 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:21.940 to worship him as God. 00:12:21.940 --> 00:12:25.240 Or maybe even anger. 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:27.020 He's been bad-mouthed 00:12:27.020 --> 00:12:29.480 by the Jewish religious leaders. 00:12:30.140 --> 00:12:30.880 They, of all people, 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:32.080 should have recognized him 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:33.480 and been his strongest supporters. 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:37.960 It's not frustration, 00:12:38.400 --> 00:12:39.280 resentment, or anger 00:12:39.280 --> 00:12:40.220 that we see in Jesus 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:41.980 when he looks at the crowds. 00:12:42.680 --> 00:12:43.440 Verse 36. 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.240 It's compassion. 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:48.280 When he looked at the crowds, 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:50.700 he had compassion for them. 00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:51.100 Why? 00:12:52.300 --> 00:12:53.940 Because they were harassed 00:12:53.940 --> 00:12:55.280 and helpless 00:12:55.280 --> 00:12:57.080 like sheep 00:12:57.080 --> 00:12:58.600 without a shepherd. 00:13:02.800 --> 00:13:04.440 Jesus looks at the crowd 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:05.240 and he sees people 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:06.020 individually 00:13:06.020 --> 00:13:08.680 and corporately 00:13:08.680 --> 00:13:09.300 as a group. 00:13:10.300 --> 00:13:11.660 People who are lost. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.080 And if you know 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:14.780 anything in farming 00:13:14.780 --> 00:13:15.820 and sheep management, 00:13:16.280 --> 00:13:17.600 what you have with sheep herd 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:19.340 is you've got a whole 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:21.379 big number of sheep 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.580 and they're all 00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:23.680 very, very happily 00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:24.820 going together 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:25.779 as long as they're together. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.180 But not one of them 00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:27.840 know where they're going. 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:29.899 Not one of them 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:30.960 actually know where they are. 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:31.960 They're just all 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:32.540 going together 00:13:32.540 --> 00:13:33.379 and there's some security 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:33.720 in that. 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:35.420 And that's what Jesus sees. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.940 This massive crowd 00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:37.460 in front of them. 00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:39.220 They're all sort of 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:40.519 finding some security 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.779 in being in that crowd 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.300 together, 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:43.540 but Jesus sees 00:13:43.540 --> 00:13:44.120 that none of them 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:45.160 really know where they're going. 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:45.680 None of them know 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:46.219 who they are. 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.659 They're just following 00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:52.699 each other blindly, 00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:54.299 hoping that the person 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:55.439 of the sheep next to them 00:13:55.439 --> 00:13:57.179 knows where they're going. 00:13:58.899 --> 00:13:59.699 My friends, 00:13:59.819 --> 00:14:01.159 what a sad picture 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:02.399 of despair 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:04.439 and aimlessness 00:14:04.439 --> 00:14:05.120 in life. 00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:08.479 And Jesus looks 00:14:08.479 --> 00:14:09.099 at this crowd 00:14:09.099 --> 00:14:10.219 and he knows 00:14:10.219 --> 00:14:12.559 their need for rescue. 00:14:13.339 --> 00:14:14.039 He knows 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:15.240 they need to be delivered 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.580 from their own 00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:17.680 foolish thinking. 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:20.379 Determined thinking, 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:20.860 no doubt. 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:22.940 They need rescued 00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:23.940 from their lifestyle 00:14:23.940 --> 00:14:25.340 that they may 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:27.419 think is quite successful. 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.560 They need rescue. 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:34.940 They need redirection, 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:35.899 new direction 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.860 and purpose in life. 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:39.779 So friends, 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:40.320 the first point 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:40.800 of challenge 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:41.399 for you this morning 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:41.700 is, 00:14:42.180 --> 00:14:44.759 is that how 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.100 you see people? 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:49.539 Every day 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.600 we rub shoulders 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.440 with lots of different 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:51.680 people, 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.080 don't we? 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:55.279 Neighbors, 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.180 wider family, 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:57.700 workmates, 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.860 sportsmates 00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.440 that we play 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:00.120 sport with, 00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:01.360 just down the shops 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:01.940 as we go around 00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:02.700 our daily business. 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.340 Neighbors, 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:05.279 I mean there's a whole 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.159 list of people 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:07.339 that just on a daily 00:15:07.339 --> 00:15:08.600 basis we rub shoulders 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:08.899 with. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.240 How do you see them? 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.679 Do you look past 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:18.419 the veneer? 00:15:21.819 --> 00:15:22.939 Are you moved 00:15:22.939 --> 00:15:24.240 by their lostness? 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:28.580 Now I'm talking 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:28.940 about people 00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:29.680 who might present 00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:30.019 really, 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:30.680 really nicely. 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:33.360 Most of our friends 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:33.840 and families 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.279 and workmates 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:34.659 do. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.000 But are you moved 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.960 by their lostness 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.379 because you see 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.340 past what you're 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.560 seeing and you 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:44.299 see them chasing 00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:46.220 security and meaning 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:47.159 and purpose 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:48.480 in endless 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:49.060 entertainment, 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:51.740 in fads of fashion, 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:53.799 in the latest 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.779 gadgets, 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.620 in the latest 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:58.139 relationship 00:15:58.139 --> 00:16:00.080 and so on 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:00.899 the list could go. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.419 Do you delight 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:08.100 to tell them 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:08.980 of the rescue 00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:09.659 and the new life 00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:10.639 that you've experienced 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.200 in Jesus? 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.139 Or are you 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:17.259 simply happy 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:18.220 to engage 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:18.820 with them 00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:19.899 at face value? 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:22.659 as one nice 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.000 person 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.399 to another 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:24.039 nice person? 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.299 And if we do 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:30.579 that, 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.000 you know what 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:31.379 it means? 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.799 It means 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.159 that we 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:33.759 privately 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.600 enjoy 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:36.059 and delight 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:36.759 in the benefits 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.620 of our salvation 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:38.199 in Jesus 00:16:38.199 --> 00:16:41.159 and don't really 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:41.819 care too much 00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:42.199 about those 00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:42.759 we mix with. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.699 That's a harsh 00:16:44.699 --> 00:16:45.299 way of putting it 00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:46.319 but I guess 00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:46.679 when you take 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:47.139 all the frills 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.340 away, 00:16:47.439 --> 00:16:47.679 that's what 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.279 it boils down 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:48.500 to. 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:55.220 Second point 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.600 then is 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.259 the second 00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:56.720 motivation 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.519 is to see 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.199 my part 00:16:58.199 --> 00:16:58.779 in meeting 00:16:58.779 --> 00:16:59.600 this need. 00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:02.600 How does 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.439 Jesus intend 00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:04.339 us to share 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.400 or get involved 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:06.039 in his mission 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:06.700 of harvesting 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.319 or saving 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:07.819 people from 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.500 their lostness? 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:10.720 Well, 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.379 it's very interesting 00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:11.700 verse, 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.400 verse 38. 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.180 Praying, 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.099 by praying. 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:17.079 Now, 00:17:17.139 --> 00:17:17.559 I don't know 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:17.940 about you 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.259 but that 00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:18.720 seemed to me 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:18.900 to be 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:19.720 a strange 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:20.580 strategy. 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:22.500 See, 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.259 I'm an activist. 00:17:23.580 --> 00:17:24.220 I look and think 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:24.940 there's so much 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.299 to do, 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.500 so few people 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:26.960 to do it. 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.320 Let's get cracking, 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.080 let's get mobile. 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:31.880 What does 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:32.480 Jesus say? 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:33.779 He said, 00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:33.920 yeah, 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.460 there is a lot 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:34.799 to do, 00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.779 very few people 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.240 to do it, 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.620 so let's pray. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.519 Let's pray. 00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:42.100 Pray urgently 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:44.519 that the Lord 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.159 of the harvest 00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:46.439 will send out 00:17:46.439 --> 00:17:46.919 laborers 00:17:46.919 --> 00:17:47.659 into his harvest. 00:17:50.219 --> 00:17:50.399 Now, 00:17:50.439 --> 00:17:50.799 we might have 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.779 expected directions 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.619 to employ 00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:54.579 expert evangelists 00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:56.099 with specialized 00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:57.119 theological training 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:57.839 because this work 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.299 of harvesting 00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.199 is a specialized 00:17:59.199 --> 00:17:59.919 gig. 00:18:01.199 --> 00:18:02.279 Or we might have 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.039 expected directions 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.059 to plan all sorts 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:05.159 of evangelistic events, 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.119 all sorts of 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.299 church-sponsored events, 00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.500 formal events, 00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:09.779 appeals to raise funds 00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.679 for these sort of things. 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:13.360 Now, 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:13.720 no doubt 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.180 these things 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.840 have their place, 00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:16.740 but the first 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.920 and most urgent 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:18.840 part of mission 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:20.779 is always going 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.320 to be prayer. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.680 Why? 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.100 Because harvesting 00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:26.320 is a spiritual work 00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:29.460 and it requires 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.759 spiritual weapons. 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:32.519 See, 00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:33.100 salvation 00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:34.380 or bringing 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:35.400 somebody into the kingdom 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.620 from darkness 00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:37.420 into light, 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:39.360 it requires 00:18:39.360 --> 00:18:39.980 a complete 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.039 reformatting 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.539 of a person 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.620 from the inside out. 00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.640 Total change. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.500 And of course, 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.860 once we see that, 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:50.319 then we know 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.099 that we can't do it. 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.240 I can't change 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:52.960 a single attitude 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.680 in somebody else. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:55.019 Only the Lord 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.640 of the harvest 00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:56.420 can do that. 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.860 So we pray. 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:06.759 But as well as praying, 00:19:06.979 --> 00:19:07.779 we get on with 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:09.339 the ordinary business 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:10.219 of gossiping 00:19:10.219 --> 00:19:10.759 the gospel. 00:19:13.439 --> 00:19:13.959 Harvesting's 00:19:13.959 --> 00:19:14.919 a two-sided coin. 00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:16.319 We pray 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.779 and we get on 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.339 with the job 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:19.240 of telling people 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:19.699 the gospel. 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:20.679 That's what Jesus did. 00:19:21.199 --> 00:19:21.919 That's our job. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.619 That's our brief. 00:19:23.899 --> 00:19:24.559 And then as we move 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.779 into chapter 10, 00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.139 we see 00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:27.679 that in this early stage 00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.419 of Jesus' mission, 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.539 it's the band 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.300 of 12 00:19:30.300 --> 00:19:32.060 whom he commissions 00:19:32.060 --> 00:19:34.019 for a short-term 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.480 mission 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:36.759 into surrounding 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.700 Jews' villages 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.500 and homes 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.340 in Galilee. 00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:43.680 But as we look 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.820 across the whole 00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:45.960 spectrum of Mark's 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.080 record of the life 00:19:47.080 --> 00:19:47.600 of Jesus, 00:19:48.060 --> 00:19:48.640 by the time we get 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:48.960 to the end, 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.600 we see that things 00:19:49.600 --> 00:19:50.220 have changed. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.840 And after the resurrection, 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.279 it's clear 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:55.180 that the principle 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.580 is that all Christ's 00:19:56.580 --> 00:19:57.820 people are to be 00:19:57.820 --> 00:20:00.060 involved in proclaiming 00:20:00.060 --> 00:20:01.539 the good news 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.060 of the gospel. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.140 So therefore, 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:07.580 my friends, 00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:08.299 what it means is this, 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:08.700 again, 00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:09.740 come back to that 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.080 principle. 00:20:10.820 --> 00:20:12.060 Being a disciple 00:20:12.060 --> 00:20:14.779 is what qualifies 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:16.060 and mandates you 00:20:16.060 --> 00:20:16.880 to be involved 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.360 in mission. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.620 Simply by being 00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.200 a Christian, 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.720 you're expected 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.860 and invited 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:23.620 to be involved 00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:24.719 in the mission 00:20:24.719 --> 00:20:25.259 of Messiah. 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.939 And that's a really 00:20:29.939 --> 00:20:30.579 important thing 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.079 to grasp 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:31.679 because, you see, 00:20:32.199 --> 00:20:33.839 confidence for success 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:35.279 in this mission 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:35.919 of harvesting 00:20:35.919 --> 00:20:38.239 is not in the ability 00:20:38.239 --> 00:20:39.439 or the qualifications 00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:40.339 necessarily, 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:42.419 educational or otherwise, 00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:43.939 of the laborers. 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:46.519 Confidence for success 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:48.000 lies with the Lord 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.659 of the harvest. 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:48.720 harvest. 00:20:55.300 --> 00:20:57.340 What a ragtag bunch 00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:59.759 Jesus commissions here 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.740 for the work 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.279 of harvest. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.740 Most were fishermen. 00:21:07.560 --> 00:21:08.860 We know from other 00:21:08.860 --> 00:21:09.940 parts of the scriptures 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:11.140 that they were 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.920 uneducated, 00:21:13.320 --> 00:21:13.900 some of them 00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:14.620 uncouth, 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.600 and all of them 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:19.579 are not ordinary. 00:21:23.139 --> 00:21:24.139 Then in the middle 00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:24.639 of the list, 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.599 you've got Matthew. 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.159 He comes along 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:30.359 unable to shake 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.039 his reputation 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:32.339 as a despicable 00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:33.679 man in a past life, 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.519 a tax collector. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.519 And blow me down, 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.579 you've got Judas, 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:39.059 a disciple at this 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:39.359 point, 00:21:39.719 --> 00:21:40.659 who later was 00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.459 seen to lose 00:21:41.459 --> 00:21:42.119 his way in a 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:42.619 really, 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:44.019 really awful way. 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.559 Yet he's included. 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:49.919 I tell you, 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:51.359 it's a ragtag bunch. 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:56.339 And they're the ones 00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:56.899 commissioned 00:21:56.899 --> 00:21:58.500 as the forerunners 00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.220 and therefore the model 00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.839 for all of us 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.480 here this morning 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:03.480 to proclaim the gospel, 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:04.359 to teach. 00:22:08.419 --> 00:22:09.220 And there's something 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.359 really lovely about that, 00:22:10.419 --> 00:22:10.759 isn't there? 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:13.059 Because as Jesus 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.000 invites us 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.940 and expects us 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.519 to be involved 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.319 in his mission, 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:19.000 so he's also telling us 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.220 that the outcome 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.039 doesn't rest 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:21.720 on us alone. 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.339 We're given the job 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:25.619 of gossiping the gospel. 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.460 He's the Lord 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:27.980 of the harvest. 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.940 He'll do what only 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.480 he can do 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:31.099 if we'll do 00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:32.420 what he asks us to do. 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.920 Our confidence 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.480 for mission 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.740 is not our abilities. 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:39.680 It's not our eloquence. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:42.240 It's not even 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.519 the depth 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.539 of our understanding 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.200 of scriptures 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.840 as a whole. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.920 It's in the Lord 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.620 of the harvest 00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:52.820 supernaturally 00:22:52.820 --> 00:22:53.460 using 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:54.519 the words 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.480 that we speak 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.779 as we're 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.680 rubbing shoulders 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.299 with people 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.680 in a myriad 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.360 of opportunities 00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:01.340 every single day. 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:07.619 So my friends, 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.259 second challenge 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.679 this morning. 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:11.899 Are you praying 00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:12.939 this dangerous prayer? 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.699 Have you been praying 00:23:13.699 --> 00:23:14.539 this dangerous prayer? 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:16.159 And it is a dangerous prayer. 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:22.660 Are you praying 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:23.519 that the Lord 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.700 might cause you 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.640 to overflow 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.740 with compassion 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:30.279 such that you're 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:30.940 compelled 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.380 when you bump 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:32.920 shoulders 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:34.960 with myriad 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:35.820 people every day 00:23:35.820 --> 00:23:36.740 that you're compelled 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:38.019 as you see 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.900 their lostness 00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:40.240 to speak 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.200 the words of life? 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:41.259 Amen. 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:41.420 Amen. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:50.360 Are you praying 00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:51.740 that the Lord 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.300 of the harvest 00:23:52.300 --> 00:23:53.720 might change 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.400 those that you 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.140 see regularly 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:57.000 in all sorts 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.740 of circumstances? 00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:58.960 Are you praying 00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.500 that the Lord 00:23:59.500 --> 00:23:59.980 of the harvest 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:01.420 might go before you 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.860 so that the words 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.460 you speak 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.080 might be made 00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:05.160 effective in their lives? 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.279 The Lord of the harvest 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.720 might actually 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.900 change their hearts 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:10.820 and renew 00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:11.620 their minds. 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.820 And I think 00:24:16.820 --> 00:24:17.700 we've got to ask 00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.519 this as a church. 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.759 Is this 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.820 what we're 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:24.200 known for 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.120 as a church family? 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.560 Is this a priority? 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:27.480 Is this an urgency 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.080 for us? 00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.279 Or have we just 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:31.820 settled into 00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:32.420 a nice 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.180 comfortable 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:34.640 club? 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:45.460 If we're not 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:45.840 praying, 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.460 if you're not 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.280 praying individually 00:24:47.280 --> 00:24:48.340 and if we're not 00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:49.340 praying as a church 00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:50.640 family together, 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.840 if we're not 00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:52.440 doing that, 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.320 if we're not 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:53.840 taking the 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.420 opportunities 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.759 in everyday life, 00:24:56.060 --> 00:24:56.520 and my friend, 00:24:56.580 --> 00:24:57.000 I'm telling you, 00:24:57.040 --> 00:24:57.720 there's opportunities 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.520 every time you 00:24:58.520 --> 00:24:59.520 engage with a person. 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.920 We're not talking 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.820 formal evangelistic 00:25:02.820 --> 00:25:03.340 opportunities, 00:25:03.540 --> 00:25:04.380 as sometimes I think 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.040 we set it up 00:25:05.040 --> 00:25:05.540 so we can 00:25:05.540 --> 00:25:06.000 actually say, 00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.200 well, 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:06.880 this isn't 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:07.600 the right time. 00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:09.320 So we sort of 00:25:09.320 --> 00:25:10.180 set it up in a way 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.120 that we can 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:11.960 excuse ourselves. 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:12.520 No, 00:25:12.540 --> 00:25:13.100 this is just 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:14.600 gossiping the gospel. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.060 This is just 00:25:15.060 --> 00:25:15.780 overflowing. 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.600 As we engage 00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:20.340 in any sort 00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:21.000 of conversation, 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.900 the lostness 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.680 and the hopelessness 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.100 comes out 00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:23.760 really quickly. 00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:27.260 People pin 00:25:27.260 --> 00:25:27.640 their hopes 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.060 in this 00:25:28.060 --> 00:25:29.440 and frame 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:29.900 their lives 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.400 by that. 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.520 It's a wonderful 00:25:31.520 --> 00:25:32.020 opportunity, 00:25:32.300 --> 00:25:32.560 many, 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.060 many times, 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.700 just for those 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.300 few words. 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:37.980 words of life. 00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:40.660 So if we're 00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:41.220 not praying, 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.680 it seems to me 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.080 there's only 00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:44.140 limited options. 00:25:45.300 --> 00:25:45.780 Perhaps we're 00:25:45.780 --> 00:25:46.260 not praying 00:25:46.260 --> 00:25:46.800 those prayers 00:25:46.800 --> 00:25:47.240 because we're 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.880 actually caught 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:48.300 up in the 00:25:48.300 --> 00:25:48.920 lifestyle 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:50.400 that I'm 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:50.980 talking about 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.280 here, 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.440 and therefore, 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.280 in a sense, 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.660 drawn to that 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:55.180 lifestyle 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:56.260 ourselves, 00:25:56.780 --> 00:25:57.540 rather than 00:25:57.540 --> 00:25:59.040 seeing it 00:25:59.040 --> 00:25:59.580 as a statement 00:25:59.580 --> 00:26:00.400 of lostness. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:05.600 or if it's 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.240 not that, 00:26:06.780 --> 00:26:07.220 then if we're 00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.660 not praying, 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.259 that's perhaps 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:10.740 we think that 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.640 their lostness 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:12.400 might be 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.940 addressed in 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.360 some other 00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:14.880 way apart 00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:16.560 from salvation 00:26:16.560 --> 00:26:17.080 in Jesus. 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:17.199 Jesus. 00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.519 There aren't 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.019 too many more 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.539 options I 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:22.879 could come 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.279 up with. 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:27.359 Third point 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:27.859 of confidence 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:28.500 and motivation 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:28.899 for us 00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:29.619 is having 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.419 confidence then 00:26:30.419 --> 00:26:30.980 in the tools 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.419 that Christ 00:26:31.419 --> 00:26:32.019 provides. 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:34.740 Jesus sends 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.139 out this 00:26:35.139 --> 00:26:35.720 ragtag 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.199 bunch of 00:26:36.199 --> 00:26:36.619 disciples 00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:37.179 on a 00:26:37.179 --> 00:26:37.460 mission 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:37.799 which, 00:26:38.179 --> 00:26:38.659 humanly 00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:39.119 speaking, 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.039 is impossible. 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:43.139 But the 00:26:43.139 --> 00:26:43.960 key here is 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.220 that he 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.779 sends them 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.220 out with 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.940 his full 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.599 authority. 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:48.500 And that 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.700 means they've 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.619 got all the 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.359 tools they 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.819 need to do 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.559 the job he 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:53.960 asked them 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.319 to do. 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.879 What are 00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:57.339 those tools? 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.099 Well, they 00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:58.319 have the 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:58.960 simple message, 00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.720 verse 7. 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.259 The kingdom 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.960 of heaven is 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.399 at hand. 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:02.819 Now, we 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:04.440 can fill 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:04.899 that out a 00:27:04.899 --> 00:27:05.139 little bit 00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:05.440 more, 00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:06.920 but there's 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.539 essentially the 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:07.920 message, 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.240 the simple 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.759 message that 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.339 Jesus had 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:10.879 come to 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:12.779 save his 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.299 people from 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.680 their sin 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.460 and establish 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.140 the long 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.819 awaited rule 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.319 of God. 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.879 He'd come to 00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:19.879 rescue people 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.779 from lostness 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.940 and give 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.480 them meaning 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.180 and purpose 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:25.379 in life. 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.279 And they 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.980 delegated 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.819 authority of 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.460 Jesus to 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.079 add weight 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.400 to their 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:30.799 words. 00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:31.879 Now, this 00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.539 is where I'm 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:32.940 going to touch 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.460 down again 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.619 on this 00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.200 notion of 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.480 healing. 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.779 Can we 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.460 expect this 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:38.839 healing, 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:40.039 ordinarily, 00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:40.699 to be part 00:27:40.699 --> 00:27:41.179 of our 00:27:41.179 --> 00:27:42.139 gospel ministry 00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:42.579 and gospel 00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:42.879 mission? 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.039 Well, if you 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.459 look at verse 00:27:45.459 --> 00:27:45.879 1 and 00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:46.299 verse 8, 00:27:46.459 --> 00:27:47.179 we pick up 00:27:47.179 --> 00:27:48.819 the notion 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.039 of those 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.539 two verses. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.339 And clearly, 00:27:52.659 --> 00:27:53.279 Jesus gives 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.000 them the ability 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.579 to heal, 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.740 including raising 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.220 the dead. 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.539 This is extreme 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.359 power he's 00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:58.799 given these 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.119 guys. 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.279 What are we 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.819 to make of it? 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:04.399 well, at 00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:05.159 this point, 00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.259 their ability 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:08.460 to heal 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.639 in the 00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:10.720 extremity is 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.419 tied with 00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:12.159 their authority. 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.659 It was given 00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:14.299 them as a 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:14.720 point of 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.519 authority, a 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:15.960 confirmation 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:17.200 that they 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.480 were ambassadors 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.339 of Jesus, 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.740 ambassadors of 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.200 Messiah, 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:24.039 engaged in 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.720 exactly the 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.679 same work as 00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:26.740 Messiah was 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.359 engaged in. 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:31.199 Now, that 00:28:31.199 --> 00:28:32.599 this power 00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:34.359 was a special 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.519 feature for a 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.519 special time, 00:28:36.719 --> 00:28:38.399 limited, and 00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:39.319 not an enduring 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:40.079 principle, 00:28:41.199 --> 00:28:42.479 becomes clear by 00:28:42.479 --> 00:28:43.159 the end of 00:28:43.159 --> 00:28:43.959 Matthew's record. 00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:45.419 By the end of 00:28:45.419 --> 00:28:45.979 Matthew's record, 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:46.779 we move to 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.439 what's called the 00:28:47.439 --> 00:28:48.099 Great Commission 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:49.519 in Matthew 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.319 chapter 28. 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.099 And when Jesus 00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:52.799 gives that Great 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:54.759 Commission, we 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.339 find that the 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.539 delegated authority 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.279 of Jesus, 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:59.699 now resides in 00:28:59.699 --> 00:29:00.719 his word, in 00:29:00.719 --> 00:29:01.219 his written 00:29:01.219 --> 00:29:01.559 word. 00:29:04.199 --> 00:29:05.019 And there's no 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.699 longer a mention 00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:06.519 of healing at 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:06.939 that point. 00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:11.599 And so, from 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.299 there, we can 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.179 say the delegated 00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:14.559 authority and 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.579 power of Jesus 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.259 to believers 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:17.000 today, where 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.479 Jesus says, 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.119 lo, I'll be 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.959 with you always, 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.339 is in his 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:20.899 written word, 00:29:20.959 --> 00:29:21.419 what we call 00:29:21.419 --> 00:29:21.859 the Bible. 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.679 It is that 00:29:23.679 --> 00:29:24.500 word which is 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.699 powerful to 00:29:25.699 --> 00:29:26.740 save as the 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.359 Holy Spirit 00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:28.099 takes that 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:28.519 word and 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.299 applies it to 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.039 the hearts of 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.460 those we 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:30.920 speak to. 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.440 And finally, 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.539 the final tool, 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.240 the weapon for 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:40.720 the disciples, 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.579 was the tool of 00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.519 radically changed 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.019 lives. 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.500 Now, this is my 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.620 attempt to deal 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:46.640 with verses 8 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.900 and 9, or 00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:49.319 8b, 9 and 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:49.599 10. 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.480 This strange 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.579 travel log 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:55.019 direction, not to 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.740 take any extra 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.400 stuff with you. 00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:59.240 So, folk have 00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.900 labored over these 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:00.900 verses for years 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.900 looking for some 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:02.500 sort of deep, 00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:03.299 significant meeting. 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.460 I think the point 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:05.039 might be rather 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.420 simple. 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.359 I think it might 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:07.200 come from the 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.019 passages in 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.839 Isaiah I've just 00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:09.779 referred to earlier 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.940 on, Isaiah 52 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.480 particularly. 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.960 That is, it's 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:14.639 aligned with what 00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:15.440 Isaiah predicted 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.559 as a mark of 00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.460 the edge of 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.500 God's outpouring 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.259 of grace and 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.740 salvation. 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.379 And back then, 00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.680 in Isaiah's day, 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.619 he said that the 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:25.139 mark of that 00:30:25.139 --> 00:30:26.279 would be that 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.000 you receive 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.899 God's salvation 00:30:27.899 --> 00:30:29.000 as a free 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.179 gift and you 00:30:30.179 --> 00:30:30.899 hand it on as 00:30:30.899 --> 00:30:31.519 a free gift. 00:30:31.979 --> 00:30:32.719 That's the 00:30:32.719 --> 00:30:33.599 essence of how 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.379 God deals with 00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:35.159 people, in 00:30:35.159 --> 00:30:35.539 grace. 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.619 And so I 00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:38.259 think this here 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:38.759 is just a 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.199 confirmation 00:30:39.199 --> 00:30:41.259 again, or 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.179 a direction 00:30:42.179 --> 00:30:43.979 again, that 00:30:43.979 --> 00:30:44.579 the approach 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:44.839 of the 00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:45.699 disciples on 00:30:45.699 --> 00:30:46.859 mission was 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.979 to reflect the 00:30:47.979 --> 00:30:48.799 grace of the 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.619 gospel as they 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.219 had experienced 00:30:50.219 --> 00:30:50.500 it. 00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:53.859 the changing 00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:54.759 power of 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.380 Jesus is 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:57.359 free, and 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.140 Jesus wanted 00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:59.019 to be clear 00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:00.140 that it was 00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:00.740 the gospel 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:02.000 message which 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.960 motivated these 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.680 guys to be on 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.660 mission, and 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:06.000 not the idea of 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.200 personal benefit 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.680 or gain. 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.539 In the day, 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.900 there were a lot 00:31:10.900 --> 00:31:11.460 of traveling 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.799 rabbis, and 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.220 they were like 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:14.200 sort of theological 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:14.859 buskers. 00:31:15.339 --> 00:31:15.940 They would go 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.420 around the 00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:17.880 neighborhood, and 00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:18.720 quite literally, 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.400 they would 00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:20.339 present themselves 00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.819 in splendor to 00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.339 attract the 00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:23.220 crowd, and 00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:23.600 then they 00:31:23.600 --> 00:31:24.180 literally would 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:24.740 sell their 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.079 wisdom. 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:29.259 Jesus doesn't 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.600 want his 00:31:29.600 --> 00:31:30.279 disciples to be 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.100 even close to 00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:31.420 that. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.279 So, friends, 00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.680 the question 00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.400 again now is 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:42.539 then, are you 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.519 confident in the 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.279 tools provided? 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.579 See, this is how 00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:46.900 it works. 00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:48.460 we might 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.600 understand the 00:31:49.600 --> 00:31:50.480 invitation and 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.259 expectation to be 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:51.820 involved in the 00:31:51.820 --> 00:31:52.560 mission of Jesus, 00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:53.860 and then we 00:31:53.860 --> 00:31:54.340 start to say, 00:31:54.560 --> 00:31:56.140 well, heck, I 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:57.300 can't do that. 00:31:59.320 --> 00:32:00.880 Well, you can 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:02.560 do it if you 00:32:02.560 --> 00:32:03.460 get confidence in 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.140 the tools that 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:04.940 Jesus provided 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.400 you with. 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.100 Words of 00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:13.340 grace, words 00:32:13.340 --> 00:32:14.780 of salvation for 00:32:14.780 --> 00:32:15.560 the worst of 00:32:15.560 --> 00:32:15.880 sinners. 00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.940 the words are 00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.280 here. 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:19.880 We just have 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:20.380 to share 00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:20.620 them. 00:32:21.320 --> 00:32:21.620 We don't 00:32:21.620 --> 00:32:22.000 have to make 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.360 them up. 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.540 We just 00:32:24.540 --> 00:32:25.060 share them. 00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:28.400 The awesome 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:29.200 power of the 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:29.900 Holy Spirit 00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:31.400 behind those 00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.080 words, making 00:32:32.080 --> 00:32:32.880 them real in 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:33.480 the hearts of 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:33.980 the people to 00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.300 whom we 00:32:34.300 --> 00:32:34.660 speak. 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.600 We don't 00:32:36.600 --> 00:32:37.140 even have to 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:37.460 make the 00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.220 words impact. 00:32:38.780 --> 00:32:39.440 We just have 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.540 to state them 00:32:40.540 --> 00:32:41.500 clearly, and 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.259 the Holy Spirit 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.540 will look after 00:32:43.540 --> 00:32:44.340 that aspect of 00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:44.620 things. 00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:44.719 things. 00:32:51.719 --> 00:32:52.399 And all 00:32:52.399 --> 00:32:53.839 that reinforced 00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:54.359 with the 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:54.879 compelling 00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:56.439 evidence and 00:32:56.439 --> 00:32:57.019 witness and 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.859 testimony of 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:58.699 changed lives. 00:32:59.159 --> 00:32:59.619 And believe you 00:32:59.619 --> 00:32:59.939 me, my 00:32:59.939 --> 00:33:01.139 friends, that is 00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:01.599 a compelling 00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:02.079 witness. 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.159 People in our 00:33:04.159 --> 00:33:05.979 society today are 00:33:05.979 --> 00:33:06.879 actually asking the 00:33:06.879 --> 00:33:07.799 question, does it 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.139 work? 00:33:08.239 --> 00:33:08.679 That's what they 00:33:08.679 --> 00:33:09.500 want to know in 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:10.319 anything of life. 00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.299 Does it work? 00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:14.879 The radically 00:33:14.879 --> 00:33:16.419 changed life is a 00:33:16.419 --> 00:33:17.440 compelling addition 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:18.639 to the words we 00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:19.240 speak, and a 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.619 necessary addition 00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:21.319 to the words we 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:21.680 speak, or a 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.299 compliment, rather 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:22.740 than an addition 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.740 to the words we 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.019 speak. 00:33:25.919 --> 00:33:26.659 I think, again, 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.759 perhaps the real 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:29.019 problem that keeps 00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:29.899 many of us from 00:33:29.899 --> 00:33:30.659 throwing ourselves 00:33:30.659 --> 00:33:32.119 into harvest is 00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:32.940 that we have lost 00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:34.079 confidence in the 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:34.980 tools provided. 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.960 These tools don't 00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.859 look or sound 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:39.319 impressive. 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:44.940 especially given 00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.619 the enormity of 00:33:45.619 --> 00:33:46.159 the task. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.799 But that 00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:50.460 pushes me to my 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:51.399 last point of 00:33:51.399 --> 00:33:52.159 motivation, and 00:33:52.159 --> 00:33:53.799 that is understanding 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:55.579 the success of 00:33:55.579 --> 00:33:56.399 harvest is 00:33:56.399 --> 00:33:56.879 guaranteed. 00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:00.440 So in the last 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:01.599 few verses, Jesus 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.379 doesn't hide the 00:34:02.379 --> 00:34:04.419 fact that just as 00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:05.339 opposition to him 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:06.220 was becoming more 00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:07.200 frequent and more 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:09.480 vicious, so his 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:11.259 harvesters would 00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:12.260 experience the 00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:13.300 similar sort of 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:13.800 things. 00:34:15.540 --> 00:34:16.520 And so I think 00:34:16.520 --> 00:34:17.540 Jesus here gives 00:34:17.540 --> 00:34:19.780 a perspective to 00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:22.220 get his mission 00:34:22.220 --> 00:34:23.700 workers through 00:34:23.700 --> 00:34:25.020 these tough times. 00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:29.140 Verses 11 through 00:34:29.140 --> 00:34:30.860 to 15 has this 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.660 strange thing about 00:34:31.660 --> 00:34:32.080 going into 00:34:32.080 --> 00:34:32.760 somebody's house, 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.760 and then if they 00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:35.000 don't respond, then 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:36.040 just walk away. 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:40.480 then I think what's 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.960 happening here is a 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:43.320 picture of what they 00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:44.340 were familiar with in 00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:45.360 the day, symbolically. 00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:47.079 So Jesus is saying, 00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.679 okay, if you take the 00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.679 words of the gospel to 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:50.719 a particular house, a 00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:51.679 particular village, a 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:53.539 particular person, and 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:55.900 they aren't interested in 00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:57.420 Jesus ultimately, then 00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:59.219 you should leave and 00:34:59.219 --> 00:35:01.320 symbolically shake the 00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:02.800 dust of that home or 00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:04.380 city off your feet. 00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:07.340 Now, again, there was a 00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:08.180 common religious 00:35:08.180 --> 00:35:10.200 practice among the 00:35:10.200 --> 00:35:11.599 Pharisees and 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:12.920 Orthodox Jews. 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:14.820 When they returned to 00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.820 Israel, they quite 00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:17.340 literally would shake the 00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:18.500 dust from their feet and 00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:19.200 their clothes. 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:21.840 And it was a symbol of 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:23.480 leaving behind everything 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:25.599 that was defiled and 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.920 unclean and Gentile, 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:27.780 everything that was 00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:28.760 opposed to God, in 00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:29.160 other words. 00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:32.179 I think what Matthew's 00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:33.139 saying here, what Jesus 00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:33.719 is saying here through 00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:35.219 Matthew is that he's 00:35:35.219 --> 00:35:36.420 taking that same symbol 00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:37.659 and applying it a 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.440 slightly different way. 00:35:39.239 --> 00:35:40.579 If you go into a house 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:41.839 or speak to a person or 00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:42.659 a village and they 00:35:42.659 --> 00:35:44.500 refuse Jesus, the words 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.639 of Jesus, then 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:47.440 symbolically leave, 00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:49.920 symbolically shaking off 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:51.839 the dust of that village 00:35:51.839 --> 00:35:52.099 from you. 00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:52.899 In other words, Jesus 00:35:52.899 --> 00:35:55.079 is saying, warn them 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:57.739 that rejecting the words 00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:58.919 of Jesus, rejecting the 00:35:58.919 --> 00:36:00.139 ambassador of Jesus, is 00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:01.179 the same as rejecting 00:36:01.179 --> 00:36:02.539 Jesus himself. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:07.619 So, out of all that, 00:36:07.699 --> 00:36:08.459 what's the perspective 00:36:08.459 --> 00:36:09.739 we should hang on to as 00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:10.259 harvesters? 00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:12.079 Well, I think what Jesus 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:13.819 is saying here is, we 00:36:13.819 --> 00:36:15.639 must be content to do 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:17.259 what Jesus has asked us 00:36:17.259 --> 00:36:19.719 to do and let God do 00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:20.759 what only he can do. 00:36:23.779 --> 00:36:26.159 We, practically that 00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:27.139 means we plead with 00:36:27.139 --> 00:36:28.279 people as much as 00:36:28.279 --> 00:36:28.699 possible. 00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:30.179 We plead with them to 00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:31.239 hear the offer of 00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:32.199 salvation in Jesus. 00:36:32.779 --> 00:36:34.119 We even go as far as 00:36:34.119 --> 00:36:35.420 to warn them if they're 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.579 totally disinterested 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:38.319 and dismissing the 00:36:38.319 --> 00:36:39.639 offer of salvation in 00:36:39.639 --> 00:36:39.940 Jesus. 00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:42.460 But then, having done 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.500 all that, which is all 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:45.799 we're asked to do, then 00:36:45.799 --> 00:36:46.980 we leave it to Jesus. 00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:48.000 We walk away in a 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:49.099 sense and we leave it 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:49.480 to Jesus. 00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:50.139 We leave it to the 00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:51.879 Lord of the harvest to 00:36:51.879 --> 00:36:52.980 do what only he can do 00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:55.099 and that is either apply 00:36:55.099 --> 00:36:56.519 our words savingly into 00:36:56.519 --> 00:37:00.159 their lives or leave 00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:00.940 those people in their 00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:01.460 unbelief. 00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:10.380 And that's, again, a 00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:11.719 wonderful relief for us. 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:14.059 It's not our 00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:15.340 responsibility to get 00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:15.920 conversions. 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:19.219 It's our responsibility to 00:37:19.219 --> 00:37:19.900 speak the word. 00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:21.960 And when we've done that 00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:23.840 as best we can, then we 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:24.920 should be relaxed and, in 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:25.780 sense, walk away from 00:37:25.780 --> 00:37:31.159 the situation and let 00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:32.720 God do with that word 00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:33.639 what only he can do 00:37:33.639 --> 00:37:33.940 with it. 00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.559 And verse 16, I'm just 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.360 going to touch down on 00:37:37.360 --> 00:37:38.019 because it belongs to 00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:38.940 next week's section, but 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:39.559 it sort of links. 00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:43.880 Jesus anticipates it's 00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.800 going to be even worse 00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:46.840 than just mild rejection. 00:37:48.280 --> 00:37:49.480 So at times it's going to 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.519 feel like you're going in 00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:52.039 the midst of a pack of 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:53.780 wolves trying to convince 00:37:53.780 --> 00:37:55.280 them to be vegetarians. 00:37:56.080 --> 00:37:56.880 And it's not going to 00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:57.340 end well. 00:38:00.160 --> 00:38:00.900 There's going to be 00:38:00.900 --> 00:38:04.060 serious physical danger 00:38:04.060 --> 00:38:04.620 ahead. 00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:11.860 What perspective can take 00:38:11.860 --> 00:38:13.300 us into that sort of 00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:14.240 scenario? 00:38:15.840 --> 00:38:18.480 Well, again, the Lord of 00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:21.019 the harvest will guarantee 00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:22.340 the harvest is brought 00:38:22.340 --> 00:38:22.599 in. 00:38:26.259 --> 00:38:27.480 Not even that sort of 00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:29.380 opposition will stop 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:31.079 Jesus harvesting those 00:38:31.079 --> 00:38:32.139 he intends to harvest 00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:32.820 into his kingdom. 00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:36.860 And going back to 00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:38.179 chapter 9, verse 37, 00:38:38.719 --> 00:38:39.900 it's going to be a 00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:41.940 plentiful harvest, a 00:38:41.940 --> 00:38:42.699 huge harvest. 00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:48.300 So friends, in the light 00:38:48.300 --> 00:38:49.500 of those four motivations, 00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:50.760 and I hope you find them 00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:53.719 motivating, I'll just 00:38:53.719 --> 00:38:54.239 finish on this. 00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:56.420 We all need to respond in 00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:56.679 prayer. 00:38:59.340 --> 00:39:00.639 I think we need to direct, 00:39:00.739 --> 00:39:01.559 at least, and I'm speaking 00:39:01.559 --> 00:39:02.840 about myself here, but I 00:39:02.840 --> 00:39:04.179 think it probably applies to 00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:05.179 lots more than me. 00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:07.659 We need to direct our prayer 00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:08.320 in two ways. 00:39:08.679 --> 00:39:09.500 I think we need to be 00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:11.500 praying in repentance and 00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:15.380 asking forgiveness for our 00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:17.539 self-interested indulgence in 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.000 the gospel. 00:39:19.320 --> 00:39:20.239 We need to be doing that 00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:21.579 individually and also 00:39:21.579 --> 00:39:22.480 together as a church 00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:22.800 family. 00:39:24.099 --> 00:39:24.840 And what do I mean by 00:39:24.840 --> 00:39:25.420 self-interested 00:39:25.420 --> 00:39:26.019 indulgence? 00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:28.599 Well, I think this is 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:29.639 again for me, but if it 00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:31.079 applies to you, then make 00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:32.059 sure you wear the cap of 00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:32.179 it. 00:39:33.219 --> 00:39:35.139 I think we can easily 00:39:35.139 --> 00:39:39.039 delight in the joy of new 00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:39.900 life in Christ. 00:39:40.219 --> 00:39:41.259 We can delight in the 00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:43.000 security that gives us, the 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:44.000 hope of heaven for the 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:44.320 future. 00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:48.780 we can delight in it at 00:39:48.780 --> 00:39:51.080 every point that we've been 00:39:51.080 --> 00:39:52.080 rescued into new 00:39:52.080 --> 00:39:53.000 relationship with the 00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:54.120 Lord, new hope of heaven. 00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:56.860 We can do all that and not 00:39:56.860 --> 00:40:00.019 be engaged in the task of 00:40:00.019 --> 00:40:01.420 trying to make sure that 00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:04.080 others around us find that 00:40:04.080 --> 00:40:05.000 similar delight. 00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:08.860 And that's what I mean by 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:09.380 indulgence. 00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:12.920 I think we do need to pray 00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:15.320 in repentance and ask 00:40:15.320 --> 00:40:16.119 forgiveness for that. 00:40:16.519 --> 00:40:17.340 I certainly do. 00:40:18.640 --> 00:40:19.619 And then we need to pray 00:40:19.619 --> 00:40:21.680 also at the same time that 00:40:21.680 --> 00:40:23.019 the Lord of the harvest will 00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:24.280 make us overflow with 00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:24.840 compassion. 00:40:28.019 --> 00:40:29.240 Compassion for people that 00:40:29.240 --> 00:40:30.940 we see in such lostness. 00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:32.340 Remember, we're rubbing 00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:33.599 shoulders every day in our 00:40:33.599 --> 00:40:34.940 family, in our street, with 00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:35.920 our neighbours, workmates. 00:40:36.180 --> 00:40:37.260 We're rubbing shoulders with 00:40:37.260 --> 00:40:38.460 people who present really, 00:40:38.460 --> 00:40:39.119 really nicely. 00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:42.159 They've got their life in 00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:43.740 order, it appears. 00:40:44.019 --> 00:40:45.300 They've got all the things 00:40:45.300 --> 00:40:46.220 that they like. 00:40:47.159 --> 00:40:48.059 They're set up for the 00:40:48.059 --> 00:40:48.780 future, for their 00:40:48.780 --> 00:40:49.220 retirement. 00:40:50.420 --> 00:40:52.380 They've got nice wives and 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:53.619 husbands and nice children 00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:55.199 and nice houses and nice 00:40:55.199 --> 00:40:55.639 yards. 00:40:56.199 --> 00:40:57.619 And it's so deceptive. 00:40:57.619 --> 00:41:01.559 we need to be praying that the 00:41:01.559 --> 00:41:03.039 Lord would help us see past 00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:04.219 all that, see through all 00:41:04.219 --> 00:41:06.460 that, and see people who are 00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:08.279 lost, even in their niceness. 00:41:10.259 --> 00:41:12.239 And that we might be so 00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:15.279 overflowing with compassion for 00:41:15.279 --> 00:41:17.639 them that we'll take the risk 00:41:17.639 --> 00:41:21.639 and we'll open our mouths and 00:41:21.639 --> 00:41:22.519 we'll say to them, well, you 00:41:22.519 --> 00:41:24.339 know, you can have all that 00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:25.620 stuff that can be taken away in 00:41:25.620 --> 00:41:25.880 a minute. 00:41:28.480 --> 00:41:30.360 It's not real good to build a 00:41:30.360 --> 00:41:30.980 life on that. 00:41:33.100 --> 00:41:34.680 I want to tell you that there's 00:41:34.680 --> 00:41:35.340 a better way. 00:41:38.500 --> 00:41:39.600 Speak of the Lord Jesus. 00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:45.059 So pray with me now. 00:41:54.599 --> 00:41:57.259 Lord, we have been indulgent, 00:41:57.380 --> 00:42:02.380 self-indulgent in enjoying you. 00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:05.159 Lord, it's right and proper that 00:42:05.159 --> 00:42:06.279 we should enjoy you, that we 00:42:06.279 --> 00:42:07.980 should delight in you, should see 00:42:07.980 --> 00:42:08.480 your beauty. 00:42:09.300 --> 00:42:11.679 And we know the sweetness of 00:42:11.679 --> 00:42:13.780 new life and relationship with 00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:13.940 you. 00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:16.340 We know the freedom from guilt 00:42:16.340 --> 00:42:18.099 that comes in knowing that our 00:42:18.099 --> 00:42:19.059 sins have been forgiven. 00:42:21.079 --> 00:42:22.699 But Lord, our indulgence is that 00:42:22.699 --> 00:42:24.960 we've just been happy to have 00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:26.599 that for ourselves and we've not 00:42:26.599 --> 00:42:29.579 had that urgency, that compassion 00:42:29.579 --> 00:42:30.920 that would force us to speak to 00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.679 those around us. 00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:35.940 So help us, Lord, to see people 00:42:35.940 --> 00:42:37.440 around us as you see them. 00:42:38.659 --> 00:42:40.420 And respond, Lord, with the same 00:42:40.420 --> 00:42:42.039 overwhelming compassion that you 00:42:42.039 --> 00:42:42.240 do. 00:42:44.240 --> 00:42:45.559 I pray, Lord, that you might 00:42:45.559 --> 00:42:48.440 help us to trust in the tools 00:42:48.440 --> 00:42:49.019 you've given us. 00:42:49.079 --> 00:42:50.619 Help us to trust in your spoken 00:42:50.619 --> 00:42:51.000 word. 00:42:51.699 --> 00:42:53.280 Help us to trust in your spirit 00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:54.260 applying that word. 00:42:55.539 --> 00:42:57.679 Help us, Lord, just to be content 00:42:57.679 --> 00:43:01.099 to have a model of a changed life 00:43:01.099 --> 00:43:02.760 that goes with us as we speak to 00:43:02.760 --> 00:43:02.960 people. 00:43:02.960 --> 00:43:07.240 Help us, we pray, Lord, in Jesus' 00:43:07.420 --> 00:43:07.579 name. 00:43:07.820 --> 00:43:08.039 Amen. 00:43:08.039 --> 00:43:08.119 Amen. 00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:38.099 Thank you.