WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.200
 Well, it's comforting that I'm not standing here condemned today. I'm just standing here to bring the word of the Lord. Unlike the situation we read of in the passage before us.

00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:27.240
! Last week we began to see how Paul addressed the challenge that arose in the gathering of the apostles in Jerusalem.

00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:39.700
 He had taken Titus with him to Jerusalem and there was this insistence by the other apostles who were Jews that Titus should be circumcised.

00:00:39.700 --> 00:00:48.759
 And Paul felt that was not right and for him it contradicted the truth of the gospel.

00:00:48.759 --> 00:01:02.320
 So he rose to confront and challenge that because he felt the truth of the gospel was in question and he fought to defend the truth of the gospel.

00:01:03.179 --> 00:01:13.759
 So last week dealt with circumcision and today, today's passage seems to be dealing with yet another issue but this time the matter of dietary laws.

00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:21.540
 Because in the passage before us, some apostles came from Jerusalem.

00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:28.200
 They had been sent by James or they were from the big gathering in Jerusalem.

00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:40.700
 But before then, Peter who had been with Paul in Antioch and the other Gentiles had been enjoying wonderful fellowship with the Gentiles.

00:01:41.020 --> 00:01:50.900
 No difference, no discrimination and he would eat with them celebrating his freedom that came to him even in the gospel.

00:01:50.900 --> 00:02:04.440
 Because having been saved, having enjoyed the liberty that the gospel brings, he felt there was no need to be different, to refuse to eat with the Gentiles.

00:02:04.520 --> 00:02:05.680
 So he ate with them.

00:02:06.620 --> 00:02:16.159
 But when this party came from Jerusalem, he now found himself in a difficult situation.

00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:35.659
 He decided to keep away from these Gentiles and would no longer participate in the fellowship with them, which I'm sure must have made them to feel one, must have made them to feel welcome, must have made them feel one in the body of Christ.

00:02:35.659 --> 00:02:52.620
 If Peter or Kephas, these apostles who had been with the Lord Jesus and Paul would come and sit with them, then truly it meant that the gospel has a way of making people from different nationalities and backgrounds one.

00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:55.759
 But this time, he kept apart.

00:02:56.579 --> 00:03:01.259
 But not only did that happen, others followed his example.

00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:08.379
 And again, Paul felt he had a responsibility to defend the truth of the gospel.

00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:18.280
 For him, the challenge was, their action kind of presented the gospel that had come to us, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:24.079
 And what the gospel stood for, it presented a challenge to the truth of that gospel.

00:03:24.340 --> 00:03:26.759
 And he felt it needed to be defended.

00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:32.060
 And he stood staunchly to talk against it.

00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:37.280
 And he confronted Kephas to his face.

00:03:38.179 --> 00:03:39.840
 And did it publicly.

00:03:40.799 --> 00:03:45.759
 And I'm touched that, I'm impressed that he dealt with the matter publicly.

00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:54.179
 I'm sure if I was the one, I would have felt, well, Brother Peter is an important person in the body of Christ.

00:03:54.299 --> 00:03:57.519
 This is a man who had had wonderful experiences.

00:03:58.099 --> 00:04:01.000
 There's so much that is said about him in the faith.

00:04:01.239 --> 00:04:05.159
 You don't speak to such a leader publicly.

00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:07.199
 You call him aside.

00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:11.280
 And in the spirit of Christian love, rebuke him.

00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:17.959
 If he had done that, the Gentiles would still have felt not part of the gospel.

00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:20.939
 They would have felt cut out.

00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:26.819
 What Paul felt, this gospel should be defended publicly.

00:04:27.459 --> 00:04:27.740
 Why?

00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:31.240
 Because the gospel is not just a message.

00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:37.240
 It is the good news that there is a privilege that has come to us in Christ Jesus.

00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:48.460
 And the privilege is that we who are sinners, and all who are sinners, and who are worthy of the condemnation and rejection of God by virtue of sin,

00:04:48.459 --> 00:04:58.099
 could now come and find membership in the body of Christ as a result of the death and the resurrection of Jesus.

00:04:59.039 --> 00:05:02.879
 So for Paul, here was an important matter that needed to be defended.

00:05:03.599 --> 00:05:09.479
 God had provided solution for the breaking of every form of wall of division.

00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:18.460
 And why would Paul choose to want to raise him on the basis of insisting on Jewish traditions?

00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:30.759
 Because the reason for the separation of Peter or Kephas was the fact that Jews were to observe strict dietary regulations,

00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:42.899
 and they were not to have fellowship with Gentiles, lest their relationship with Gentiles would contaminate their holy appearance or holy nature.

00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:48.180
 So Paul told him, this is wrong.

00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:51.959
 And he said it in the presence of the Gentiles.

00:05:52.899 --> 00:05:54.579
 This is wrong.

00:05:54.579 --> 00:06:01.099
 And he told him, here is something that you and I have in common.

00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:03.099
 You and I have known this.

00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:12.680
 In verse 15, he explains what is common knowledge to both himself and to Paul, to Peter.

00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:15.919
 He said, you and I are Jews by birth.

00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:19.079
 We know the law of Jewish lifestyle.

00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:22.360
 We have lived by the Jewish requirements.

00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:25.600
 We have observed all of the requirements.

00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:33.660
 But, yes, we cannot be compared to, by virtue of Jewish positions, we do not see ourselves as Gentile sinners.

00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:36.180
 Yet, here is something that happens to us.

00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.819
 Though you and I were Jews, we came to faith in Christ Jesus.

00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:49.800
 And by virtue of our coming to faith in Christ Jesus, something significant has happened to us.

00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:52.800
 We have come to the assurance of salvation.

00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:57.079
 Not because we have observed the Jewish regulations.

00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:01.300
 Not because we have been wonderful people as Jews.

00:07:01.579 --> 00:07:06.400
 But because we have placed our faith in Jesus and accepted the salvation.

00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:09.460
 The free offer of salvation from him.

00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:16.360
 Therefore, we have assurance of standing before God only in the grace of Jesus.

00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:18.580
 Because you and I know this.

00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:22.139
 You and I have had experiences of this.

00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:28.420
 Why would Paul be so sure that Peter knew this or Kephas knew this?

00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:37.160
 If you just flip back to Acts chapter 10, you will remember the experience that Peter had.

00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:42.280
 When in a vision, a sheep came from heaven.

00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.300
 With all manner of animals.

00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:52.840
 And they were all animals that by Jewish law and regulation, he was not supposed to eat.

00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:56.520
 And he was told, rise, kill and eat.

00:07:57.140 --> 00:08:01.300
 And he presented his Jewish regulations.

00:08:01.440 --> 00:08:06.180
 He presented his righteousness by observation of the Jewish regulations.

00:08:06.180 --> 00:08:12.079
 He said, I have never eaten anything that will defile me.

00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:21.100
 And God told him, why would you, how can you call that which God has cleansed unclean?

00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:31.620
 Right after that experience, he now saw how the grace of God appeared to the family of Cornelius.

00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:32.799
 A Gentile.

00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:39.080
 And he saw how God brought Cornelius, an outsider to the Jewish race, into the faith.

00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:47.840
 And he saw how the spirit of God did not discriminate between him, Peter, being a Jew, and the family of Cornelius.

00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:51.899
 But they were blessed by the spirit of God, the presence of God.

00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:56.899
 Maybe that is why initially he could sit to eat with other Gentiles.

00:08:57.060 --> 00:09:04.580
 And then suddenly, because other fellow disciples from Jerusalem had come,

00:09:05.680 --> 00:09:09.500
 he now turned against this experience he had had.

00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:15.419
 He turned against this deep knowledge he had received and acted wrongly.

00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:18.879
 Peter said, this is not right.

00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:22.759
 In doing this, you've betrayed your conscience.

00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:27.100
 You've betrayed the truth of the gospel that came to you and I.

00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:31.639
 You've betrayed the fellowship that you started to establish,

00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:36.980
 even in the initial relationship you had with these Gentiles.

00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:40.700
 And we all do the same.

00:09:42.800 --> 00:09:45.440
 In various ways we do the same.

00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:54.180
 When in our churches we think we are more Christian than others because of race,

00:09:54.940 --> 00:10:01.960
 we are behaving just like Peter behaved in his relationship with these Gentiles.

00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:08.879
 When we would refuse to see and have fellowship with fellow believers,

00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:14.259
 creatures, children of God created in his image and likeness.

00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:17.900
 But if we would differ on the basis of race,

00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:20.600
 on the basis of our educational standing,

00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:29.860
 on the basis of something that is not a criteria for entering into the relationship with God,

00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:32.379
 we behave just like Peter.

00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:37.659
 And I hear the voice of the Lord speaking strongly through Paul

00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:42.060
 that this does not present the truth of the gospel.

00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:45.159
 The truth of the gospel is less.

00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:49.100
 The salvation of God has come to all,

00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:53.560
 irrespective of color, skin, knowledge, wealth, status also.

00:10:53.559 --> 00:11:00.000
 Salvation has come to all who would choose to place their faith in Jesus Christ.

00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:07.279
 So yes, though they had a joint theology and joint understanding,

00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:10.359
 Peter betrayed it.

00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:15.359
 And we have a responsibility to draw others into this faith.

00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:18.320
 When I first arrived in this country,

00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:21.840
 I had some wonderful experiences in the people,

00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.940
 in some of the churches I went to,

00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:28.139
 but the truth also is that in some of the churches I visited,

00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:34.100
 I left wondering whether I had been in a church

00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:36.659
 that truly believed in the name of Jesus.

00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:39.299
 Because after service,

00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:42.259
 they all had fellowship with each other,

00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:44.779
 would greet each other and say hello to each other.

00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:47.959
 But this Nigerian felt out of place.

00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:51.159
 No one would say hello to me.

00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:55.219
 And I wondered whether I was really a child of God

00:11:55.219 --> 00:11:57.299
 and was among the children of God.

00:11:57.559 --> 00:12:00.360
 Yet, there are other churches that when I went to,

00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:02.659
 oh, they so embraced me.

00:12:02.659 --> 00:12:04.679
 And I felt at home.

00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:08.879
 And that is exactly the experience I have had in this lunchtime talk.

00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:12.439
 This is why I keep coming again and again and again.

00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:18.299
 Because here I have a sense that I'm among children of God.

00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.779
 I'm among family.

00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:20.939
 I'm among brethren.

00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:24.179
 And this is what Paul fought for.

00:12:24.459 --> 00:12:28.100
 This is what the truth of the gospel makes clear.

00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:34.000
 If our faith in Christ will cause division when we go out,

00:12:34.060 --> 00:12:36.500
 if our relationship with others outside

00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:40.480
 will make them feel condemned, rejected, despised,

00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:43.519
 because we are holier people,

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:46.560
 we are so righteous that we are doing them,

00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:48.519
 those who do not believe in Christ,

00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:50.379
 a favor in inviting them,

00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:54.300
 then we are not representing the gospel correctly.

00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:59.359
 And that is why Paul went on in verse 20

00:12:59.359 --> 00:13:01.199
 to say,

00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:04.379
 look, here is a truth.

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:09.439
 We have been crucified with Christ.

00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:12.699
 I have been crucified with Christ.

00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:14.459
 It is no longer I who live,

00:13:14.939 --> 00:13:16.779
 but Christ that lives in me.

00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.419
 And in that statement,

00:13:18.859 --> 00:13:20.579
 Paul was acknowledging that

00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:24.860
 the gruesome nature of the death of Christ

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:27.840
 was a result of who I am

00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:29.800
 and who I had become.

00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:33.600
 And that is what I was deserving.

00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:37.160
 But when Christ died that horrifying,

00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:38.920
 that gruesome death,

00:13:39.160 --> 00:13:41.020
 he died in my place.

00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:43.100
 So in him I died.

00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.520
 I died to a desire

00:13:45.520 --> 00:13:49.120
 to prove my standing with God by my works.

00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:51.279
 I died because I realized

00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:53.139
 that it is only in Christ

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:55.000
 that I am accepted

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.740
 and I can please God,

00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:59.279
 not by any works of righteousness.

00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:02.100
 It's not my wonderful prayer life

00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:03.659
 that qualifies me

00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:05.539
 for a right relationship with God.

00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:07.620
 It's not good as prayer is.

00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:09.580
 It's not my knowledge of Bible

00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:11.779
 and my ability to recite all of it

00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:13.240
 that qualifies me

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:15.220
 for a right standing with God.

00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:16.560
 Good as that is,

00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:19.839
 it's not even the good works I do

00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:22.739
 to prove that I am a wonderful Christian

00:14:22.739 --> 00:14:24.719
 that qualifies me

00:14:24.719 --> 00:14:28.099
 to enter into right standing with God.

00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.699
 It is only faith in the fact that

00:14:30.699 --> 00:14:32.459
 what you and I

00:14:32.459 --> 00:14:34.219
 have not been able to do

00:14:34.219 --> 00:14:36.099
 would for all of eternity

00:14:36.099 --> 00:14:37.239
 not be able to do

00:14:37.239 --> 00:14:40.139
 to merit eternity with God.

00:14:40.479 --> 00:14:43.059
 Christ did it on our behalf.

00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:46.339
 And by virtue of our placing faith in Him

00:14:46.339 --> 00:14:48.079
 we are accepted,

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:50.000
 we stand right with God,

00:14:50.099 --> 00:14:51.979
 we stand justified with God,

00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:54.459
 we stand beyond condemnation,

00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:56.039
 beyond rejection with God.

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:58.199
 That is what has happened also.

00:14:58.719 --> 00:15:00.399
 Though I continue to live,

00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:01.239
 according to Paul,

00:15:01.339 --> 00:15:01.500
 he says,

00:15:01.859 --> 00:15:03.719
 though I have been crucified with Christ,

00:15:04.099 --> 00:15:05.959
 it is no longer I that lives,

00:15:06.199 --> 00:15:08.419
 but Christ who lives in me.

00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:12.479
 My responsibility is to allow Christ

00:15:12.479 --> 00:15:14.679
 to live in and through me.

00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:17.139
 So I become merely a channel

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:19.479
 through which the life of God

00:15:19.479 --> 00:15:22.019
 will be expressed in and through me

00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:24.740
 in my relationship with people.

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:29.579
 Electricity passes through the cables,

00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:32.279
 but the cables never take credit

00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:34.159
 for the power that passes through them.

00:15:34.719 --> 00:15:36.779
 Water flows through the pipes

00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:37.899
 to come to my house.

00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:40.100
 I benefit from the water,

00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:41.240
 I use the water,

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:45.299
 but the pipes never take credit for it.

00:15:45.699 --> 00:15:47.199
 Why would we then

00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:50.000
 take credit for the life of God

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.339
 that should be flowing in and through us

00:15:52.339 --> 00:15:53.240
 to bring others

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:56.679
 to the knowledge of God

00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:59.659
 and the love of God in Christ Jesus?

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.379
 So Paul says,

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.699
 when you, Peter,

00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:09.000
 when you try to rebuild those things

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.700
 that you have been convinced were wrong,

00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:13.860
 when you try to bring back

00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:16.520
 the lifestyle you have been convinced was wrong,

00:16:16.800 --> 00:16:19.379
 when you try to live by the regulations,

00:16:19.660 --> 00:16:20.560
 by the laws,

00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:23.160
 in the hope that observing them

00:16:23.160 --> 00:16:25.140
 is what qualifies you

00:16:25.140 --> 00:16:28.560
 to be a proper Jew,

00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:31.379
 then you are rebuilding those things

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:34.960
 that you say Christ has destroyed in you.

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:38.120
 So when we show difference,

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:41.779
 when we live with a sense of superiority

00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:42.840
 over others,

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.480
 when we treat others

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:47.159
 as though they are not good enough,

00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:49.279
 they are not as good as we are

00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:51.100
 to come to the Lord,

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:53.460
 we are now destroying

00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:55.419
 what Jesus has done for us.

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.139
 We are saying,

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:56.840
 yes, Jesus,

00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:58.919
 granted you died for me,

00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:00.299
 you cleansed my sin,

00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:02.120
 but here is some good

00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:03.139
 that I have done

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.920
 that qualifies to be accepted.

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.759
 No, it's not that

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:09.759
 we will not do good works,

00:17:10.159 --> 00:17:12.619
 but whatever good works we do

00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:15.119
 should be Christ leading us.

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:18.019
 We will walk in grateful response

00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:20.019
 to who we have been made

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:22.399
 and what God has done in us.

00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:24.220
 not that our good works

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:26.560
 will be a way of earning

00:17:26.560 --> 00:17:29.300
 God's merit of commendation.

00:17:31.840 --> 00:17:33.000
 Paul tells us,

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:35.200
 when we begin to trust

00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:37.580
 in the same works

00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:40.420
 that we looked up to God

00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:42.280
 to deal with

00:17:42.280 --> 00:17:43.920
 so that we will be accepted,

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.840
 then we are nullifying

00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:48.200
 the grace of God.

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:51.440
 As we go out

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.779
 to relate with people

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:56.480
 and they meet with us

00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:58.400
 and we try to evangelize,

00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:59.740
 which is what I encounter

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.759
 every day,

00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:03.700
 what do we present to them?

00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.480
 What do we,

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:07.160
 how do we come up

00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:08.819
 to those that we seek

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:10.940
 to share the gospel of Jesus with?

00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.420
 Do they meet

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:14.319
 very wonderful,

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:15.500
 holy people

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:17.140
 that are so far

00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:18.400
 that they cannot begin

00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:20.259
 to aspire to reach up to

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.380
 by virtue of

00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:22.880
 their good works?

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.240
 The only things

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.300
 we have to present,

00:18:25.560 --> 00:18:26.700
 what do we present

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.180
 to cause us to be accepted?

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.880
 Our wonderful works?

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:32.280
 Or do we present the truth

00:18:32.280 --> 00:18:34.560
 that we are also sinners

00:18:34.560 --> 00:18:37.100
 that have been saved by God?

00:18:37.560 --> 00:18:38.340
 We are sinners

00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:40.100
 being saved

00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:41.640
 by the cleansing

00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:44.040
 of the word of God

00:18:44.040 --> 00:18:44.980
 that comes to us

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.960
 constantly

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:47.460
 and we are people

00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.720
 that will be saved

00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:50.240
 from the very presence

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.420
 of sin itself

00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.960
 when we finally stand

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.140
 in the presence of God?

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:55.799
 What do we make them

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:57.200
 feel very bad?

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.720
 In 1998,

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.620
 I remember,

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:02.299
 back in Nigeria,

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.660
 when we were trying

00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.579
 to plant a church

00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:07.799
 in a very remote part

00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.079
 of Abuja.

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.259
 Abuja is the capital city

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.039
 of Nigeria.

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.019
 It's a new capital

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.640
 that was formed.

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.900
 So there are loads

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.820
 of villages

00:19:14.820 --> 00:19:17.120
 that were unreached.

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.660
 We had been sending

00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:21.280
 women who had gone there

00:19:21.280 --> 00:19:22.620
 as part of women fellowship,

00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:23.820
 youth had gone there,

00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:27.500
 but they had not been successful.

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.920
 On this particular day,

00:19:29.020 --> 00:19:30.380
 I went along with them

00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:31.440
 and they were happy.

00:19:31.580 --> 00:19:32.280
 Their pastor,

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.620
 a leader in the church,

00:19:34.020 --> 00:19:35.540
 had come along with them

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:37.460
 and so maybe I would do

00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.759
 something unique

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:40.099
 that would make the people

00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:40.980
 accept the gospel.

00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.399
 And on that day,

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.440
 the people decided

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.399
 they are tired

00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:46.299
 of these people

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.000
 that have been coming

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.359
 to try to make them

00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.420
 change their way of life.

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:51.599
 They would do something

00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:53.200
 so despicable

00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:54.920
 to keep us away.

00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.180
 And we went to preach

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:58.240
 and they brought food.

00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:01.880
 And the manner

00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:03.320
 from the dish

00:20:03.320 --> 00:20:04.160
 to the place

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.340
 we start to eat

00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:07.580
 to the appearance

00:20:07.580 --> 00:20:08.640
 of the people,

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.940
 it will take

00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:12.259
 exceptional grace

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.279
 for you to sit

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.140
 to eat with them.

00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:16.820
 And we start to eat.

00:20:17.820 --> 00:20:18.620
 And the leader

00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.340
 of the group

00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:20.519
 did something

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:22.360
 that is so terrible

00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.680
 I wouldn't want to tell you

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.580
 so that you will be able

00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.860
 to eat your next meals.

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:30.320
 And when he had finished,

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.100
 he came

00:20:31.100 --> 00:20:34.039
 and I looked at his hand

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:36.200
 and his hand was

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:38.140
 in bad need of water.

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:40.340
 But he looked at me

00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:41.960
 and came

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.759
 and dipped his hand

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:45.060
 right in front

00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:46.440
 of where I was sitting

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.860
 and ate

00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:50.220
 and everybody waited

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:51.620
 to see what I would do.

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.779
 I was struggling

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.940
 between vomiting

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:56.759
 and getting

00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.960
 up of that place.

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.960
 But I quietly prayed

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.860
 and asked God

00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:01.900
 to help me.

00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:03.779
 And I ate

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:05.660
 from the same spot

00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:07.279
 that he ate.

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.740
 And that moment

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.180
 was when

00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.420
 he decided

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.980
 to give his life

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.059
 to Christ.

00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:16.759
 Two years later,

00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:18.039
 he was preaching

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.360
 in the community

00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:20.400
 where we had gone

00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:20.940
 to plant

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.860
 the church.

00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:23.459
 and he said

00:21:23.459 --> 00:21:24.979
 the one thing

00:21:24.979 --> 00:21:26.979
 that made him

00:21:26.979 --> 00:21:27.979
 give his life

00:21:27.979 --> 00:21:28.659
 to Christ

00:21:28.659 --> 00:21:30.019
 was the fact

00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:31.279
 that they were

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.019
 filthy

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:34.159
 yet we did not

00:21:34.159 --> 00:21:34.939
 reject

00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:36.179
 to eat with them.

00:21:36.939 --> 00:21:37.659
 They had done

00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:38.719
 they were living

00:21:38.719 --> 00:21:39.959
 in squalor

00:21:39.959 --> 00:21:41.839
 in great filth

00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:43.619
 but it did not

00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:45.219
 turn us away.

00:21:45.919 --> 00:21:47.059
 They now believed

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.259
 that we had

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.419
 genuine love

00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:50.299
 for them.

00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.980
 but I told him

00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:54.259
 we had received

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.539
 greater love

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.919
 from the Lord

00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:57.419
 Jesus.

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.879
 Because you see

00:21:58.879 --> 00:21:59.960
 everyone

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:01.639
 who has sinned

00:22:01.639 --> 00:22:02.700
 is deserving

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.619
 of the judgment

00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:04.419
 of God.

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.839
 But God

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.220
 chose to send

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:07.819
 Jesus

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:09.599
 who died

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.759
 so that we

00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.759
 who are deserving

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.259
 of

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:14.059
 condemnation

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.059
 would find

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.019
 life eternal

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.859
 with him.

00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:19.159
 all around us

00:22:19.159 --> 00:22:19.619
 are people

00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.039
 that are

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.859
 desperately

00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:21.879
 in need

00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:22.319
 of

00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:23.639
 a true

00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:24.319
 manifestation

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.379
 of the love

00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:26.079
 of God.

00:22:26.959 --> 00:22:27.679
 All around us

00:22:27.679 --> 00:22:28.119
 are people

00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:29.319
 who are interested

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.059
 in meeting

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.759
 Christians

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.119
 who would not

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.899
 present

00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:34.019
 how wonderful

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.699
 they are

00:22:34.699 --> 00:22:35.939
 but would present

00:22:35.939 --> 00:22:37.079
 the wonderful

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.559
 loving God

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.399
 they are in

00:22:39.399 --> 00:22:40.740
 relationship with.

00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:43.579
 so that

00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.559
 when they

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.319
 see that

00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:46.180
 lifestyle

00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:47.440
 they will be

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.940
 drawn

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.819
 into the

00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.400
 relationship

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:49.839
 with the

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:50.380
 Lord Jesus

00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:51.640
 that will

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:52.900
 transform them

00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.240
 and they

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.079
 will stand

00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:56.700
 because of

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.039
 the love

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.599
 of God.

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.980
 Do we go

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.559
 out

00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.839
 being such

00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.319
 people

00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.660
 or do we

00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:04.460
 go out

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.160
 lifting up

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.980
 our noses

00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.920
 looking down

00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.800
 on people

00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:09.980
 despising

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.400
 them

00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:11.600
 because

00:23:11.600 --> 00:23:12.680
 they have

00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:13.120
 not

00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:14.100
 entered

00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:14.700
 into the

00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.180
 relationship

00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:15.779
 you and I

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.259
 have in

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.120
 Christ Jesus.

00:23:18.800 --> 00:23:20.120
 God expects

00:23:20.120 --> 00:23:21.259
 that

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.039
 because

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.779
 we have

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.380
 received

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:23.980
 of his

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.940
 salvation

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.940
 freely

00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:27.400
 we have

00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.019
 experienced

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.500
 his love

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:28.980
 and we have

00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.600
 been drawn

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:30.320
 into a

00:23:30.320 --> 00:23:30.560
 loving

00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:31.180
 relationship

00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.700
 with him

00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:33.100
 so freely

00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.420
 we will

00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:35.140
 be extension

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:35.640
 of his

00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:36.019
 hands

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:37.039
 in reaching

00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.560
 out to

00:23:37.560 --> 00:23:37.860
 people

00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:38.419
 I mean

00:23:38.419 --> 00:23:38.939
 we would

00:23:38.939 --> 00:23:40.619
 be available

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.299
 to be

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:41.819
 channels

00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.699
 through whom

00:23:42.699 --> 00:23:43.279
 he would

00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:43.959
 pass

00:23:43.959 --> 00:23:45.319
 to touch

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:45.819
 others.

00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:46.979
 Let them

00:23:46.979 --> 00:23:47.479
 see our

00:23:47.479 --> 00:23:48.019
 lifestyle

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.939
 let them

00:23:48.939 --> 00:23:49.319
 see our

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:49.899
 submission

00:23:49.899 --> 00:23:50.319
 to God

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:50.639
 let them

00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:51.059
 see how

00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:51.779
 desperately

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:53.119
 we love

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.419
 God

00:23:53.419 --> 00:23:53.759
 and are

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.599
 appreciative

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.659
 of the

00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:56.279
 message we

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.099
 have received

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.379
 that they

00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:58.779
 can be

00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.419
 attracted

00:23:59.419 --> 00:24:00.559
 and welcome

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.839
 into this

00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.500
 wonderful

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.079
 fellowship

00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:04.039
 that you

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.339
 and I

00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:04.659
 have.

00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:05.399
 And I

00:24:05.399 --> 00:24:05.899
 assure you

00:24:05.899 --> 00:24:06.479
 in case

00:24:06.479 --> 00:24:06.740
 you are

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.000
 here and

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.179
 you are

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.019
 thinking about

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.960
 what the

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.440
 Christian

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.180
 faith is

00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.940
 all about

00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:12.080
 it is

00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:13.840
 entering

00:24:13.840 --> 00:24:14.860
 into a

00:24:14.860 --> 00:24:15.440
 wonderful

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.140
 loving

00:24:16.140 --> 00:24:17.039
 relationship

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.980
 with Jesus

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.920
 and he

00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.380
 will not

00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:20.000
 condemn

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.400
 you.

00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.680
 Most of

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.200
 us humans

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.779
 are a

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.039
 poor

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.620
 reflection

00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:24.380
 of what

00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:24.900
 the true

00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.720
 gospel ought

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.299
 to be

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.440
 but I

00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.000
 tell you

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.720
 if you

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.120
 would just

00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:29.740
 give in

00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.100
 to the

00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:30.660
 Lord Jesus

00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.560
 you

00:24:31.560 --> 00:24:31.820
 would

00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:32.140
 know

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.860
 love

00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:33.980
 that is

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.680
 beyond

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.880
 understanding.

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.200
 Let's

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:37.420
 pray.