WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.860 The 49th verse of the 13th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, we read this, 00:00:07.419 --> 00:00:11.460 the word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:15.640 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:24.920 Some years ago now, I was sitting in an airplane feeling very pleased with myself 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:29.879 because off a dirt cheap ticket I managed to get bumped up into business class. 00:00:30.579 --> 00:00:35.840 I was sitting there with a glass of what I'll call for you sensitive Christian folks, squash. 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:40.519 Feeling very good about life. 00:00:40.519 --> 00:00:47.100 And then suddenly this executive looking chap in an expensive suit arrived on the plane. 00:00:47.900 --> 00:00:49.200 And he's an American national. 00:00:49.379 --> 00:00:50.840 And a lot of Americans do this. 00:00:50.859 --> 00:00:54.600 A good habit actually, it helps people out, especially when you get to my age. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:57.140 Stuck his hand out and said his name. 00:00:57.140 --> 00:01:06.879 And so I said my name and he put his expensive luggage into the luggage compartment. 00:01:07.659 --> 00:01:13.719 And he asked me the question that, trust me, clergy really don't like to be asked when they're in Mufti. 00:01:14.240 --> 00:01:15.879 He said, what do you do for a living? 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:23.579 So I thought about saying, well, I'm in middle management in a large national organization. 00:01:24.979 --> 00:01:28.799 But I knew if I said that, I'd hear the cock crow somewhere in my head. 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:37.319 So I told him, and I could see him visibly stiffened when I gave him the dreadful news that I was an ordained clergy person. 00:01:37.859 --> 00:01:39.099 And this is what he said to me. 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:43.140 He said to me, Mike, I have no interest in religion. 00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:46.739 But you've got one minute to tell me why it's of interest to you. 00:01:48.939 --> 00:01:49.959 What would you say? 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:58.579 What would you say if somebody came to you and laid that kind of challenge before you? 00:01:59.419 --> 00:02:01.099 I mean, I have no idea what I said. 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:09.639 All I can say is it didn't seem to deeply impact his life as he downed the liquid contents of the business class cabin and fell into a coma. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:13.859 But it made me think. 00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:18.960 So I went back to my local church and did a little research. 00:02:19.100 --> 00:02:27.460 I went to people and said, just suppose, just suppose somebody was to walk up to you and say, you know what, Harry? 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:28.700 You know what, Mary? 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:33.560 I would really love to become a Christian, but I got no idea how to do it. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:34.920 What would you do? 00:02:35.980 --> 00:02:41.960 You know, we discovered that about 85% of the congregation would say, we'll send them to see Mike. 00:02:43.860 --> 00:02:51.620 Listen, if you leave it to the guys who wear the Colgate Ring of Confidence around their necks, it's really not going to happen. 00:02:52.980 --> 00:02:58.020 Because there's only usually one or two of them in a local church and there's a lot of you. 00:02:59.740 --> 00:03:02.600 Last week we celebrated Pentecost, remember? 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:05.600 Anybody remember? 00:03:06.420 --> 00:03:06.900 Yeah. 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:09.000 This is how it works. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:18.740 So Jesus, in Acts chapter 1, says to his followers, listen, I'm out of here soon. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:20.139 I'm paraphrasing, obviously. 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:22.020 I'm out of here soon. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:23.979 So it's down to you now. 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:29.240 You are going to be my witnesses across the whole world. 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:34.300 I have no idea why Jesus would say that, do you? 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:42.500 I have no idea why Jesus would choose us to be the people to carry the beacon of the gospel into this world. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:43.800 But that's what he does. 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:45.420 But notice he says this. 00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:49.640 Before you will be witnesses, I want you to wait in Jerusalem. 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:56.060 And you'll wait there until the promised Holy Spirit is poured out on you. 00:03:56.200 --> 00:03:58.100 That's what we celebrated last week. 00:03:58.099 --> 00:04:00.739 A lot of people are very confused about this. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:06.159 They think the Holy Spirit sent on the church so we can sing a bit louder and wave our arms in the air. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:12.079 And if we're extremely enthusiastic and don't mind looking stupid, we can get on the stage and wave a flag. 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:15.979 No. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:19.159 Why was the Spirit given? 00:04:19.159 --> 00:04:27.240 It was given to empower the witness of people like you and people like me. 00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:31.960 And there's two aspects to this, obviously. 00:04:32.220 --> 00:04:34.780 One is the aspect of your life. 00:04:37.260 --> 00:04:40.340 What do people see when they look at you? 00:04:41.640 --> 00:04:44.700 Do they see the light of Christ shining in you? 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:54.479 Or do they see somebody whose life looks like everybody else's life except that you show up in church on a Sunday for an hour and a half or whatever? 00:04:55.319 --> 00:05:01.759 Let me tell you, of the thousands of people in this town who will not be on church this Sunday, 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:09.680 the idea of life that looks like everybody else's life with a bit of church going thrown in isn't deeply attractive to them. 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:14.459 There is tons of stuff you can do on a Sunday. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:17.400 When I was a kid, there was nothing to do on a Sunday. 00:05:18.660 --> 00:05:20.480 We were so sad in our family. 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:25.480 We would go out for a drive in my dad's car on a Sunday afternoon. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:26.579 Right? 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:27.759 I mean, he had a nice car. 00:05:27.840 --> 00:05:28.240 Okay. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:29.939 And the same thing. 00:05:30.019 --> 00:05:31.240 You know, there's George Rule Bank. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:32.019 You know, again. 00:05:32.019 --> 00:05:45.139 Today, the church is in serious and losing competition with the leisure industry. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.299 You've got young children who like sport. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:49.479 When's it happen? 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:51.560 Sunday morning. 00:05:54.839 --> 00:06:00.979 You had a busy week in work and you didn't get a chance to go and do your shopping on a Saturday. 00:06:00.980 --> 00:06:02.580 Well, St. Bruce is open. 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:07.240 Listen. 00:06:08.900 --> 00:06:10.439 We have to step it up. 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:16.460 This is not a time for the church to lose confidence in our message. 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:18.680 This is a time to step it up. 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:24.100 And what I want to do today, in the brief time apportioned to me, 00:06:24.700 --> 00:06:29.040 is to try and inspire you to leave this church today, 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:35.840 determine that you will do something to add to the church's ministry in this wider world. 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:40.920 I want you to be personally responsible for setting off a chain reaction. 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:51.060 You have no idea what kind of an influence you could be if you're willing to submit to the Holy Spirit 00:06:51.060 --> 00:06:59.020 and allow the Holy Spirit to use you to be the bearer of the light of Jesus Christ. 00:06:59.019 --> 00:07:05.240 What do people see when they look at your life? 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:08.139 You know, I have this view. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:13.199 When people know that you're a churchgoer, as they somewhat patronizingly call us, 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:16.399 they're looking at your life just a little more closely. 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:20.479 They want to know what it is you say when the lift closes on your fingers. 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:28.420 They want to know what you're going to do when everybody else in the office is fiddling their expense account. 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:31.240 And do you have a choice? 00:07:31.379 --> 00:07:32.720 Do you pitch in or do you not? 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:38.879 They want to know what happens when you're at the photocopying machine 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:42.920 or in the staff room or at the nurse's station and the gossip starts. 00:07:44.580 --> 00:07:49.060 Are you going to pitch in or are you going to sit out on that stuff? 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:55.020 Because, you know, I hate to tell you this, 00:07:56.480 --> 00:08:02.800 but some people will make up their minds about God on the basis of what they see in your life. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:05.819 You ever thought about that? 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:14.100 Some people will make up their minds about God on the basis of what they see in your life and in my life. 00:08:14.220 --> 00:08:15.540 Sorry, in my life. 00:08:18.200 --> 00:08:19.360 So what is it? 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:21.759 That we need to think about. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:26.640 Well, there are three things from this passage I just briefly want to draw your attention to. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:35.680 The first thing is the message that those early followers of Jesus Christ brought was extraordinary. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.539 Let me give you a flavor of it. 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:39.740 And before I give you a flavor of it, 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:44.060 let me just say that up until this point in human history, 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:48.279 the chosen people of God, the nation of Jews, 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:55.580 thought that the only way that you could become righteous in God's eyes was by keeping the law. 00:08:55.580 --> 00:08:59.740 Basically, that was the Ten Commandments, 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:03.560 but as we know, the rabbis built and built and built on top of that. 00:09:03.920 --> 00:09:06.360 There's pages of this stuff in the Old Testament. 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:09.820 You can go and read it if you ever suffer from insomnia. 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:15.180 You know, stuff that's unbelievable to our ears. 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:19.439 It's like, thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother's milk. 00:09:20.339 --> 00:09:23.279 You know, hands up when that was the last of temptation for you. 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:24.359 Right? 00:09:26.059 --> 00:09:29.039 But, what about envy? 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:31.559 What about lust? 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:34.839 What about lying? 00:09:36.819 --> 00:09:40.719 These are the kind of things that dig deep into our souls, aren't they? 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:45.159 And sadly, too often, they find us out. 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:48.299 This was an extraordinary message. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:52.219 Let me just tell you the way Paul brilliantly summarized it. 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:52.819 He says this, 00:09:52.819 --> 00:09:55.759 Therefore, brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus, 00:09:56.139 --> 00:09:58.299 the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 00:09:58.299 --> 00:10:00.859 Through Him, through Jesus, 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:04.240 everyone who believes is justified from everything 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:06.759 you could not be justified from, 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:08.379 from the law of Moses. 00:10:11.299 --> 00:10:12.959 In the Church of England, 00:10:13.839 --> 00:10:15.459 in the Church of England, 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:18.959 there are a lot of souls who are very confused about this. 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:25.079 They still think that what they do will save them. 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:28.680 If you are in this church this morning, 00:10:28.800 --> 00:10:29.900 and you just hope, 00:10:30.040 --> 00:10:31.560 your mind is like this, 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:32.680 you are hoping, 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:35.580 I just hope I've done enough in my life 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:38.180 to kind of cancel out the stuff that's not so good, 00:10:38.180 --> 00:10:42.820 then I have to politely suggest to you, 00:10:43.420 --> 00:10:45.400 you do not understand the gospel. 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:49.700 The gospel is not about what you do, 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:52.780 it's about what God has done for you 00:10:52.780 --> 00:10:54.580 on the cross of Calvary. 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:57.379 Bearing shame and scoffing root, 00:10:57.660 --> 00:10:59.740 in my place condemned he stood. 00:11:00.180 --> 00:11:02.060 Seal my pardon with his blood. 00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:04.120 Hallelujah, what a Savior. 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:08.580 What you need to do 00:11:08.580 --> 00:11:11.220 is to accept what God in Jesus Christ 00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:12.480 has done for you, 00:11:12.660 --> 00:11:15.520 not think that you will earn your salvation 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:19.139 by trying to do your best. 00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:21.360 Because trust me, 00:11:21.819 --> 00:11:23.939 if God is 100% holy, 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:26.539 how much would you have to do 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:28.460 to make yourself acceptable to him? 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:30.500 It would be impossible, would it not? 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:34.860 That's why you need to trust Christ 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:37.460 and his work upon the cross, 00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:40.299 because our God is a God of grace. 00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:41.519 Someone say hallelujah. 00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:43.899 Good. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.399 Our God is a God of grace. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.240 He loves you, 00:11:48.579 --> 00:11:50.699 even though you don't deserve it. 00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:53.600 And the evidence of that love 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:54.779 is cross-shaped. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:58.840 It's where Jesus hung 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.600 so that we could be forgiven. 00:12:03.079 --> 00:12:05.819 It is an extraordinary message. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:07.639 And you need to know it, 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:10.720 because that gospel 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:12.819 is your ticket into eternity. 00:12:12.819 --> 00:12:14.419 A little more about that in a moment. 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:17.240 It was an extraordinary message. 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:18.439 The second thing is, 00:12:18.699 --> 00:12:20.299 it's a message for everyone. 00:12:21.959 --> 00:12:24.099 See, up to about Acts chapter 12, 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.779 everybody assumed 00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:29.740 that the gospel was only for Jewish people. 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:33.219 The early Christians used to meet 00:12:33.219 --> 00:12:35.000 at the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:37.419 and they'd do their own thing down there. 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:40.179 And it just felt like from the outside, 00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:44.059 this is just a queer sect of Judaism, 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:45.159 of Jewishness. 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:49.699 Until Peter, in Acts chapter 12, 00:12:50.099 --> 00:12:51.919 has this unbelievable dream. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.500 I mean, if I had a dream like that, 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:56.159 honestly, I'd change my medication. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.219 But this is what he gets. 00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:01.360 He gets that from this dream. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.220 You know, 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:04.840 that nothing is unclean. 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:05.820 And therefore, 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:07.680 the gospel is for everybody. 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:09.480 This was a big argument 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:10.659 in the early church. 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:13.840 You know, is it just for Jews, 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:16.560 or is it for Gentiles and Jews? 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:19.060 What's Paul saying? 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:19.659 He's saying, 00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:21.440 in verse 46, 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:24.080 Paul and Barnabas answered, 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:26.259 we had to speak the word of God to you first, 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:27.779 since you reject it, 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:29.639 and do not consider yourselves 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.960 worthy of eternal life. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:33.220 We now turn to the Gentiles. 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:36.480 See, what was happening here was, 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.299 when Paul went to a new town, 00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:39.960 he was going into the synagogue, 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:43.100 and he was starting with the kind of God-fearers. 00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:44.779 You know, Jews, monotheists, 00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:45.759 they believe in God. 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.220 So Paul was starting with that. 00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:50.799 He only had the Old Testament scriptures. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:51.659 Remember this. 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:53.240 Paul never had a New Testament. 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.220 And from the Old Testament scriptures, 00:13:56.220 --> 00:14:00.379 Paul was preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:03.460 And when they chucked him out of the synagogue, 00:14:03.660 --> 00:14:04.920 which they nearly always did, 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.560 he went out into the marketplace 00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:09.399 and preached the gospel to the Gentiles. 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:12.259 Paul had a plan, 00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:14.820 and he carried it out faithfully. 00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:15.840 You can read about that 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.200 through the central chapters 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:19.080 of the Acts of the Apostles. 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:23.879 This message is for everyone. 00:14:25.280 --> 00:14:27.660 God forgive the Church of England 00:14:27.660 --> 00:14:29.160 and its middle class list. 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:31.620 You know what sociologists of religion 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:33.400 said about the Church of England 00:14:33.400 --> 00:14:35.060 in the 1960s? 00:14:35.680 --> 00:14:38.680 They said it is one of the few vehicles 00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:40.180 of class transition. 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:41.780 You know what that means? 00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:44.379 It means that if you perceive yourself 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:46.360 not to be a middle class person, 00:14:46.520 --> 00:14:48.460 all you need to do is join the Church of England 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:50.200 and people start thinking you are one. 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.060 Right? 00:14:54.300 --> 00:14:55.800 What a terrible commentary 00:14:55.800 --> 00:14:58.800 on a gospel as for everybody. 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:03.600 You know, we should welcome into this place 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:06.040 the poor and the unacceptable. 00:15:07.660 --> 00:15:08.960 You know, my... 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:10.220 I need to tell you this. 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:12.160 You know, I have a cleanliness obsession. 00:15:12.160 --> 00:15:14.259 Really, you know, it's not great. 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:17.139 Although it does mean I smell nice. 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:19.879 But here's my point. 00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:22.639 People like me find it very difficult 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.400 to hang out with dirty people. 00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:25.800 Right? 00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:27.800 It really, you know, it stretches my... 00:15:29.300 --> 00:15:32.639 So one day, I was feeling self-righteous 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.460 in the extreme. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.980 I was down with this guy. 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:38.639 How about this for an act 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.519 of Christian witness? 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:42.899 This man forks out 800 pounds 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:44.659 of his own money every week 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:47.039 to give Sunday lunch to the homeless 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:49.179 in this greasy spoon cafe 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:50.299 in the center of Bristol. 00:15:51.319 --> 00:15:53.639 So I'm down there with the homeless people 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:56.000 feeling, you know, you're such a cool guy, aren't you? 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.019 You know, the Bishop of Bristol 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.199 deems to come down 00:15:58.199 --> 00:16:00.679 and hangs out with these poor people here. 00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:02.819 This guy goes from table to table. 00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:04.199 He kneels at the end of the table. 00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:05.539 He reads the Bible to them 00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:06.399 and he prays with them. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:07.759 So he said to me, 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:09.139 perhaps you'd like to do that. 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.519 Kneeling down praying. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:13.759 There's this man who to me, 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:15.779 honestly, was disgusting. 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:19.480 He had a beard that was full of... 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.799 I don't know whether he'd been sick 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:22.120 or something, but it was horrible. 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.939 And he had kind of scum 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:25.679 in the corners of his mouth 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.980 and he smelt to high heaven. 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:32.340 I was feeling so good about, you know, 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:34.600 here you are praying with your feet. 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:36.680 But God said to me clearly, 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:39.340 if this man collapses, 00:16:39.540 --> 00:16:41.240 will you give him the kiss of life? 00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:52.680 The gospel's for everybody. 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:55.139 It's not just for folks 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.980 who dress like you, 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:56.879 talk like you, 00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:58.940 wear the same aftershave as you. 00:16:58.940 --> 00:17:01.940 Sorry, if you're a man, obviously. 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.900 It's for everybody. 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:09.559 And that's why if you just leave 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.820 the witness of the church 00:17:10.820 --> 00:17:12.220 or explaining the gospel 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:14.960 to people with a Colgate ring of confidence 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.000 around their necks, 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.720 it's going to be very limited, isn't it? 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:23.480 And the third thing about this message is, 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:26.460 and this is a challenging message 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:27.620 into our culture, 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.539 which is a culture of the now. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.980 You hear what Meghan Markle said, 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:33.240 you know, her big thing is, 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.440 I live in the moment. 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.600 Well, fair play. 00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:40.299 You know, you were going to marry 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:44.339 the next six in line to the monarchy. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.940 You probably would want to live 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:47.299 in the moment a bit, wouldn't you? 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:49.980 But actually, 00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:53.059 our culture lives in the now. 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.900 Bob Geldo said, 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.960 the only moment I can relate to 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.059 is now. 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:01.900 Isn't that strange for human beings 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:03.960 who hope they have a future? 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:08.100 But what kind of future will that be? 00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:11.140 Let me tell you what Paul preached 00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:12.240 to these dear people. 00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:12.860 He said this, 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:14.160 when the Gentiles heard this, 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.820 they were glad 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:16.599 and honored the word of the Lord 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:18.439 and all who were appointed 00:18:18.439 --> 00:18:21.399 for eternal life believed. 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.960 That doesn't mean 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:28.359 that it's all sewn up, 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:30.220 that you're either in or you're out. 00:18:32.639 --> 00:18:34.720 Calvin seemed to imply that, 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:36.700 but that cannot be true. 00:18:37.419 --> 00:18:39.319 Because when the Philippian jailer said, 00:18:39.419 --> 00:18:40.859 what must I do to be saved? 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.819 St. Paul didn't say to him, 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:44.159 nothing you can do, 00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:44.519 pal, 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.399 it's all sorted. 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:46.740 He said, 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:49.159 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 00:18:49.159 --> 00:18:50.619 and you will be saved. 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:52.500 Some of you need to believe 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.839 on the Lord Jesus Christ 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.919 and you will be saved, 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:56.119 not just for now, 00:18:56.379 --> 00:18:57.379 but for eternity. 00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:59.279 And that eternal life 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:01.599 begins now in your soul. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:08.279 I sat here moved as we listened to Wendy's testimony 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.379 of, you know, 00:19:09.419 --> 00:19:11.179 that terrible kind of chapter 00:19:11.179 --> 00:19:12.919 of things that had gone wrong in her life 00:19:12.919 --> 00:19:15.159 over a two-year period, right? 00:19:16.219 --> 00:19:17.879 She wanted to tell you 00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:21.399 that the reason she's still hanging in together 00:19:21.399 --> 00:19:23.099 and is courageous enough 00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:25.179 to come and stand up behind that thing 00:19:25.179 --> 00:19:27.019 and tell you her testimony 00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:30.599 is because of what God has done in her life 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:32.599 and is doing in her life. 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:37.420 Why don't we do this? 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:40.859 Why aren't we more excited about it? 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.559 What is it that means 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:44.119 that the church is like 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:45.799 the St. Lawrence Seaway 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.920 in winter, 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:49.099 frozen at the mouth? 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:52.359 Well, I think for some of us 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:53.819 it's just darn apathy. 00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:55.879 For some of us it is 00:19:55.879 --> 00:19:57.359 we've had bad experiences 00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:58.319 of other people 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:00.119 trying to convert us in the past. 00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:00.980 You know what I mean? 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.679 People who carry a Bible 00:20:02.679 --> 00:20:04.359 the size of a paving slab 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.919 and beat you around the head with it 00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:07.639 until you finally submit. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.639 But I also think 00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:13.199 that fear plays a part. 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.899 We're kind of frightened 00:20:15.899 --> 00:20:18.480 that somehow if we get it wrong, 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.700 somebody who's been a friend 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.740 might not be a friend. 00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:24.920 I think that's, 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:25.759 you know, 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:27.099 I can understand that fear 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.920 but listen to me. 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.500 You know the most common phrase 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.120 in the whole of the Bible is 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:35.799 don't be afraid. 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:37.599 You know, 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.819 God promises us 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:40.140 that in the moments 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:41.380 when we're feeling fearful 00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:42.640 if we lean on Him, 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.640 to put it in Mr. Tozer's words, 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.079 if we lean on the wind, 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:48.779 we'll find the strength 00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.379 to cope 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:51.339 and to carry on. 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:55.899 Listen, 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.939 I need to land this aircraft 00:20:57.939 --> 00:20:59.419 because you need to go get lunch. 00:21:01.919 --> 00:21:03.740 But I want to end with a story. 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.339 At one night, 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.960 Enthea, my wife, 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.759 and my children 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.419 had gone down 00:21:09.419 --> 00:21:10.500 to stay with Granny 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.399 in Sussex 00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:11.779 saying, 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:13.899 I had been watching 00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:14.960 American football 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.259 with my church warden 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:17.200 on the television 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:19.160 in our home. 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.599 He had gone home. 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.480 I was going to bed 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.200 and suddenly 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.539 the front doorbell rang. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.619 I opened the door. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:28.660 There's a kid, 00:21:28.899 --> 00:21:31.000 be 18 or 19 years old, 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.700 covered in tattoos 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:35.359 and on his knuckles 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:36.480 he's got love and hate 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.899 which is usually a sign 00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:39.539 the person's been done time 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.899 in a prison. 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.559 So he said, 00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:44.879 I need a bed for the night. 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:49.899 So my mind is going in overdrive 00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:50.599 like, 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:53.159 here are 36 reasons 00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:54.180 you cannot possibly 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.180 cross the threshold 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:55.839 in my home. 00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.559 And the Holy Spirit 00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.579 just kind of confused me. 00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.519 I couldn't think of one. 00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:00.799 I was like, 00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:01.839 so, 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.440 I said, 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.139 come on in. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:04.899 Put him up 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:07.240 in our sitting room 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.060 on the sofa, 00:22:08.800 --> 00:22:10.200 came down the next morning 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.100 wondering how 00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:12.080 I'd ever explain 00:22:12.080 --> 00:22:13.259 to my sweet wife 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.980 that we no longer 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.620 had a TV 00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.720 and a video player. 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.600 And he was still there. 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.960 And we had breakfast together. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.740 And in that time, 00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:26.460 I told him my testimony. 00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:28.940 Turned out, 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:30.160 he worked for a group 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:31.460 of very bad people 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:32.319 in Aylesbury. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.420 Rick is his name. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.019 And when he came 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.920 to leave, 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.279 he got his stuff 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:40.880 and he went out. 00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:41.500 Incidentally, 00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:42.240 he needed a bed 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.660 for the night 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.600 because he'd been living 00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:46.140 with his girlfriend's parents 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:47.200 and he'd beaten 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.140 his girlfriend up 00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:48.779 and they'd rightly 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.759 shown him the door. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.680 That's why he needed 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.500 a bed for the night. 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.160 So he goes off, 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:55.460 he said, 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.440 I guess the difference 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.740 between you and me, 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.460 Mike, 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.000 is he said, 00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.920 you've found Jesus. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.620 I thought, 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:03.039 that's a very fair summary. 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:05.220 So he disappears. 00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:07.500 I didn't hear anything 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:09.060 about him at all 00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:09.740 after that 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:12.100 until about 10 years later, 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.779 I was at a large conference. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:16.840 And out of the wings, 00:23:17.300 --> 00:23:18.279 this guy appears 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.640 and says, 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.580 do you remember me? 00:23:21.060 --> 00:23:21.600 I said, 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:21.820 yeah, 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.279 I do. 00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:22.740 He said, 00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:25.480 I'm a Pentecostal pastor. 00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:28.480 And he said, 00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:29.560 I want you to know 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.980 that you started 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.099 the chain reaction 00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:33.599 which has got me 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.339 to where I am. 00:23:34.419 --> 00:23:34.940 I'm married. 00:23:36.919 --> 00:23:37.399 And he said, 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.240 just so you know, 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:40.000 I've never hit a woman since. 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:42.919 He said, 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:44.159 I'm also running 00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:45.159 a film company 00:23:45.159 --> 00:23:46.240 that's making 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.460 the kind of movies 00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.659 that you'd be happy 00:23:48.659 --> 00:23:49.539 for your children 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.240 to watch. 00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:54.279 I'm not suggesting 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:55.299 next time somebody 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.339 knocks on your door, 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.419 you ask them in 00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:57.980 for the night. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.119 I'm really not. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:01.859 What I am saying is, 00:24:02.199 --> 00:24:03.159 don't underestimate 00:24:03.159 --> 00:24:04.379 your ability 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:05.719 to set off 00:24:05.719 --> 00:24:07.339 a chain reaction. 00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:10.279 You need to do 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.899 some things, 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.259 friends. 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:12.439 You need to pray. 00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:14.679 Pray for opportunities. 00:24:15.179 --> 00:24:16.079 It's one of the prayers 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.719 that God will 00:24:16.719 --> 00:24:17.819 pretty quickly answer. 00:24:19.219 --> 00:24:19.759 Two is, 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:20.979 you need to be able 00:24:20.979 --> 00:24:21.699 to work out 00:24:21.699 --> 00:24:23.599 what your testimony is. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:23.679 grace. 00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:26.519 You know, 00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:29.519 Wendy had written it down 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.919 and come and shared it 00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.439 with us. 00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.919 She'd given thought to it. 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:35.059 You need to do that. 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.539 Somebody ever says to you, 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:37.939 you know, 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.879 why are you a Christian? 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.779 What would you say? 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:43.819 The third thing is, 00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:44.920 it really helped you 00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:46.240 if you just had a thumbnail 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.399 sketch of the gospel 00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:49.619 so that you could tell people 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:51.039 that they can stop earning. 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:53.279 Grace means the end of earning, 00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.119 but it doesn't mean 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:55.099 the end of effort. 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.740 Because Paul says 00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.740 in Ephesians 2, 00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.859 verses 8 and 9, 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.420 we are saved 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.379 in order to do 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.160 the good works 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.240 that God has prepared 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.799 for us 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:05.240 to do in advance. 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:08.519 And the fourth thing is, 00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.720 you could do something 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:12.079 by way of an act of service. 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:13.740 You could give some money 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.660 to tear fund. 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.380 Or you could volunteer 00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.440 to do a ministry 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.220 in this church. 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.799 They've got some 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:20.059 great ministries going. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.779 But like most ministries, 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:23.240 they always need more help 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.400 rather than less help. 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.339 Listen to me. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.019 You've been very gracious 00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:29.259 and mostly conscious. 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:32.700 I need to pray with you. 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.819 But listen to me. 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:35.019 If the Holy Spirit 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:36.599 has whispered in your ear 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.259 this morning, 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.539 here's my advice, 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.660 do something sooner 00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:42.059 rather than later. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.859 Every educationist 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.420 will tell you, 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.519 if you don't act 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.759 on a stimulus, 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.579 it will soon disappear 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:51.639 because you get back 00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:52.319 to what's called 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.039 your life. 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:54.680 Your marriage, 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.279 your job, 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:55.920 your mortgage, 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.819 all that stuff, 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:58.119 and it will dissipate. 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.460 Do something 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.900 so that the word 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.660 of the Lord 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.960 can be spread 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:06.100 across this region. 00:26:07.040 --> 00:26:07.900 In the name 00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:09.220 of our amazing God, 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:10.200 Father, Son, 00:26:10.340 --> 00:26:11.360 and Holy Spirit, 00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.640 the people who agreed 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.420 said together, 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.540 Amen.