WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.480 New Year's Eve last year, Sal and I decided it would be a good idea to have some people 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:09.500 over to our house and utilise the balcony that we have, which is a good entertaining 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:09.880 area. 00:00:10.820 --> 00:00:16.420 And being who I am, at the last minute I decided that the best kind of drinks holder would 00:00:16.420 --> 00:00:19.219 be a fancy one from Bunnings that involves some construction. 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:24.160 So New Year's Eve I went and bought one of those, you know, those kind of fancy looking 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:27.560 metal tubs with a frame that it sits on. 00:00:27.560 --> 00:00:29.519 Now, it's a fairly basic frame. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:34.600 It had a total of four screws that had to go into it and there was four other bits that 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:36.340 kind of had to slot into holes. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:37.619 So very complex. 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:43.079 Anyway, being me, again, I decided that I would just get stuck into putting it together. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:46.840 Our guests were already there, so I didn't think too much details-wise. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:51.439 I just constructed the thing, looked okay, put the tub on, put some ice in, put some drinks 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:51.719 in. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:56.480 It was at that point that I noticed that there was a bit of play in this frame that was supposed 00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:01.119 to hold the drinks, to the point where, you know, you could kind of wiggle it in a circle. 00:01:01.239 --> 00:01:03.439 And I figured that's probably not how it's designed. 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:09.120 You know, and it may not last the whole night with a tub of drinks on it, but I figured I'll 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:12.659 just leave it because, you know, it's too hard to fix it. 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:18.179 And it wasn't until I came back to it later on, we had some more friends over later in 00:01:18.179 --> 00:01:18.560 the month. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:22.859 And I realised that, you know, had I looked at the instructions, that there was actually 00:01:22.859 --> 00:01:26.560 some design to this thing and it could be much, much more stable. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:32.060 And so I went about removing the work that I had done in order to stabilise the structure 00:01:32.060 --> 00:01:32.719 that was there. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:39.539 This passage tonight is kind of like that moment where you realise, in spite of all these things 00:01:39.539 --> 00:01:43.219 that you've done and this work that you've done, there might be some deconstructing that 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:46.599 needs to happen in order to get to a stable finishing point. 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:51.700 When we think about God and when we approach God and when we think about the way he works 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:56.799 and what he's done in the world, we have a default setting for the way that we want to understand 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:57.159 him. 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:03.719 We take exciting memory verses like John 3.16 which say, for God so loved the world. 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:06.579 And so we just kind of stop there. 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:07.620 That's enough for me. 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:08.699 That's all I need to know. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:10.599 And so God is love and that's everything. 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:12.919 And see, the problem is it's true. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:17.699 The Bible says that God is love and love is one of the main reasons he sends Jesus. 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:20.219 But it's not the whole story. 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:25.599 And so the challenge for us tonight is that we've kind of built everything around the idea 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:31.000 that God is just loving and it's just overwhelming and amazing and we might need to come back 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:39.680 a step or two in order to get a more stable picture, a more accurate picture, a more satisfying 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:42.000 picture of who God really is. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:47.620 So this passage in John's Gospel, chapter 17, and in fact the whole second half of John's 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:50.240 Gospel is preparing for Jesus' death. 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:53.620 It's marching towards Jesus on the cross. 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:56.439 And so it's about the same thing as John 3.16. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:05.800 But the focus in this passage doesn't seem to be God so loved the world, at least not 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:06.379 in the same way. 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:10.920 So let's have a look at Jesus' prayer in those first few verses and see if we can grab what 00:03:10.920 --> 00:03:12.159 the emphasis is here. 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:17.879 After Jesus said this from verse 1, he looked toward heaven and prayed, 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:20.500 Father, the hour has come. 00:03:21.699 --> 00:03:24.639 Glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you. 00:03:25.579 --> 00:03:30.960 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:31.759 you have given him. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:38.000 Now this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:38.479 have sent. 00:03:39.139 --> 00:03:43.319 I've brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:49.479 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:49.900 began. 00:03:51.079 --> 00:03:54.879 Jesus' motivation as he comes to the cross is what? 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:57.120 Glory. 00:03:57.879 --> 00:04:00.459 The glory of his Father specifically. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:07.319 He is asking his Father to glorify him, but even that is so that he can glorify the Father 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:08.199 more clearly. 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:14.179 The agenda for him in every request in this prayer, as he prays for himself at the beginning, 00:04:14.399 --> 00:04:19.759 as he prays for his disciples next, and as he prays for us last of all, is always that 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:22.219 his Father would get glory. 00:04:22.939 --> 00:04:26.060 It's actually the theme of the whole Bible. 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:31.019 Everything in Scripture is guiding towards this agenda. 00:04:31.699 --> 00:04:35.919 In fact, it came up for us in our Frontline series that we did just recently. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:41.660 If you're a guest, Frontline was a series looking at the way God puts dignity wherever we are, 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:45.520 whether it's work or school or home, that he has put value there. 00:04:45.640 --> 00:04:49.560 And a verse that popped up time and time again was from 1 Corinthians, which says, 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:56.920 whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:02.800 And the reality is, at first glance, this idea of God's glory being the most important thing 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:09.480 can almost feel like it's in tension with God's love for us that we just talked about 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:10.620 from John 3.16. 00:05:11.520 --> 00:05:13.660 It seems like a fair question to ask. 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:16.600 Is God doing what he's doing because he loves us? 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:22.199 Or is God doing what he's doing because he's really excited about his glory? 00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:24.480 What's his agenda? 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:25.699 How do I work it out? 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:27.900 Is it for his sake or for my sake? 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:31.560 And the temptation for us is because the Bible says both. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:38.099 And so the temptation is we focus on one and leave the other one behind. 00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:45.879 So maybe we focus on the love of God and we kind of just ignore the big responsibility 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:47.840 of trying to glorify God. 00:05:48.320 --> 00:05:52.520 And so that can play out by us being people who think, you know, God's loving. 00:05:52.580 --> 00:05:53.720 It doesn't really matter what I do. 00:05:54.620 --> 00:05:57.780 And so there's no real effort on our part to be trying to grow, 00:05:57.900 --> 00:06:00.460 to be trying to grow, to be more like Jesus. 00:06:00.840 --> 00:06:04.720 There's no real worry about whether there's sin in our life or not. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:09.180 Or there's the other extreme where we focus so much on the glory of God 00:06:09.180 --> 00:06:11.500 that following Jesus becomes this pressure, 00:06:11.940 --> 00:06:13.820 this standard that we've got to live up to. 00:06:13.960 --> 00:06:15.800 And we just go through lives feeling guilty, 00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:19.480 looking down on other people because they're not trying as hard as we are. 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:24.000 And just in this constant cycle of feeling insecure about God's love 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:26.760 because we're so focused on one half. 00:06:27.840 --> 00:06:32.440 Now, before we get on to kind of figuring out what do we do with these two things, 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:35.360 we've got to be clear on what we mean when we talk about glory. 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:37.560 Glory is a great word. 00:06:37.660 --> 00:06:38.540 It's a Bible word. 00:06:38.779 --> 00:06:39.800 It's a good word. 00:06:39.899 --> 00:06:42.819 It helps us to understand who God is. 00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:46.500 But it's possible that it's a word that we throw out without thinking about it. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:50.240 We use the word glory even when we're not talking about God. 00:06:50.740 --> 00:06:53.180 We use it when we're thinking about sports teams. 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:54.879 There's the glory of victory. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:57.459 There's chasing the glory of a title. 00:06:57.579 --> 00:07:01.699 There's the glory associated with someone's abilities or skills or intellect. 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:07.019 It's kind of the ideas of honour, the ideas of respect that go with it. 00:07:07.099 --> 00:07:10.500 We look up to people for their glory. 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:16.279 And so we want to think about glory as being a description of quality, of essence. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:18.459 So think about it this way. 00:07:20.099 --> 00:07:27.539 Outside on your way in, you saw a little snapshot of the incredible baking skills that Ash Quok possesses. 00:07:28.340 --> 00:07:30.580 You may or may not have met Ash before. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:36.920 But there's a fair chance that even if you know Ash well, you may not have known that he possessed that incredible ability. 00:07:37.420 --> 00:07:38.860 I've known Ash for years. 00:07:38.960 --> 00:07:43.540 And it's only a couple of months ago when he started working here and started bringing cakes to work, which has been fantastic, 00:07:43.540 --> 00:07:48.980 that I got this insight into this incredible ability that he had. 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:59.680 Now, whether I recognise or know he has that ability or not doesn't actually change or diminish the fact that he has that ability. 00:08:00.580 --> 00:08:04.920 And just because I know that he has that ability doesn't actually enhance it either. 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:07.020 That ability is there. 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:07.720 It exists. 00:08:07.860 --> 00:08:09.080 It's part of who he is. 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:12.079 What's going on when I encounter that ability? 00:08:12.659 --> 00:08:18.740 What's going on when you walk outside and take a bite into that cupcake, which you've just purchased to support him on his mission trip to Fiji? 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:20.359 What's going on there? 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:28.479 As you encounter his glory in baking, you glorify him. 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:30.799 You don't add to him. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:32.919 You don't give him something. 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:43.959 But by experiencing his goodness, by the smile that's on your face, by the tears that are streaming down your face because your wallet is empty and you can't afford a second cupcake, 00:08:44.339 --> 00:08:47.779 you communicate something of how incredible Ash is. 00:08:48.459 --> 00:08:50.099 And again, you're not adding to him. 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:53.120 You're engaging with something that's already there. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:59.879 Now, of course, illustrations fail us when we come to God, but it helps us in this sense. 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:05.000 With God, we're not talking about some skill he's got in the kitchen. 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:08.580 We're talking about his character. 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:12.000 We're talking about what makes him him. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:15.740 It gets expressed in the way he acts, but we're talking about who he is. 00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:17.879 He's unchanging perfection. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:24.779 And when it comes to glorifying God, we don't glorify him by adding to him. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:29.659 We don't glorify him by giving him something that he doesn't have. 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:41.500 We glorify God by engaging with his majesty and his goodness and his compassion and his love. 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:47.059 We glorify God by experiencing his forgiveness in our own lives. 00:09:47.059 --> 00:09:57.779 We glorify God by displaying it because suddenly we are filled with joy and love and security and confidence that our creator loves us in spite of who we are. 00:09:57.779 --> 00:09:58.779 We glorify God by giving it to him. 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:03.620 We glorify God as we rejoice in his provision to us. 00:10:04.419 --> 00:10:10.779 We glorify God as we turn to him and acknowledge doubt and failure because we're secure in the love that he's shown us. 00:10:10.779 --> 00:10:20.740 We glorify God as we glorify God as we joyfully sacrifice other things because he is so satisfying that we no longer need those things to be happy, to be content. 00:10:21.779 --> 00:10:23.439 We're not adding to him. 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:28.679 We're just experiencing all that he is and expressing that experience. 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:35.459 We're just engaging with his goodness and that's having an overflow effect to the people around us. 00:10:36.599 --> 00:10:42.839 There's an American pastor by the name of John Piper and he articulates it quite succinctly. 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:49.659 He says that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:51.439 Say that again. 00:10:51.579 --> 00:10:56.939 God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. 00:10:58.379 --> 00:11:00.819 It's not about giving something to God. 00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:06.240 Glory is who God is and us getting to engage with that. 00:11:07.179 --> 00:11:13.339 And so what Jesus does when he prays for God's glory here is he's praying that God might be revealed. 00:11:14.439 --> 00:11:16.379 That's the agenda for Jesus. 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:26.120 For us to get a glimpse of God's goodness and love and majesty and forgiveness and holiness and compassion in who Jesus is and how he lives. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:43.700 But the exciting bit comes that even for Jesus himself, living his life for God's glory is ultimately about living his life engaged with and encountering God's goodness. 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:45.840 Does that make sense? 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:54.860 For Jesus to live in a way that glorifies God, that reveals God, the way he does that is not by doing something extra. 00:11:56.860 --> 00:12:01.939 But by simply encountering the Father's goodness to him. 00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:07.840 I mean, look at the way Jesus prays through this prayer. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:09.840 He's praying that God would be revealed. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:11.560 He's praying that God would be revealed. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:16.540 He's praying having lived a life of perfect obedience to his Father. 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:19.120 He's praying having experienced opposition. 00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:22.440 He's praying knowing that he's about to walk to the cross. 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:34.340 And yet this prayer is just saturated with Jesus' awareness that the Father has been abundantly generous and loving in everything that has happened in Jesus' life. 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:38.960 Jesus will be given the highest place of honor through his death. 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:44.360 It's Jesus who gets to be the one who glorifies the Father and reveals him. 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:49.060 And so as Jesus reflects in John 17, look from verse 6. 00:12:49.059 --> 00:13:12.519 I pray for them. 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:38.159 Everything. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:38.279 Everything. 00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:51.279 From the disciples that followed Jesus to the power to do miracles, every task that he was given, even the name that he had was a gift given by the Father. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:57.439 Not a duty, not a responsibility, not a job description to be satisfied. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:01.379 Even in the cross, Jesus is honored. 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:04.279 Jesus is praying here as he gets ready. 00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.240 The hour has come. 00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.840 So Father, glorify me. 00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:09.340 He's praying, God, put me on the cross. 00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:12.439 Because even that is a gift. 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:17.600 Even that is the path by which you're going to honor me as the Son of God. 00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:20.720 And you're going to exalt me and give me the name that is above every name. 00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:29.480 Jesus knows that even in the cross, he will be revealed to be the one who takes away the sin of the world. 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:36.340 In his death and resurrection, he will be shown to be the king who rules over all creation. 00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:49.940 The point of all this, the reason we need to understand this is that we need to understand that the call and command for us to give glory to God, 00:14:50.680 --> 00:15:02.720 for you to, whether you eat or drink, do it all for the glory of God, that call and that command is actually a call and command for you to experience the glory of God. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.660 And remember, the glory of God is his goodness. 00:15:06.660 --> 00:15:07.519 It's his love. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:09.000 It's his mercy. 00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:10.460 It's his compassion. 00:15:11.540 --> 00:15:22.860 What might at first feel like a burdensome instruction, if you're going to be a Christian, you must glorify God, is actually, if you're going to be a Christian, you must be loved by God. 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:25.560 That's what the instruction is. 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:28.820 Those two things sit perfectly together here. 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:34.379 When God calls us to glorify him, he's calling us to be stars, not suns. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:41.240 He's not calling us to somehow produce something from within ourselves that will help other people see God. 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.760 He's saying, be a star. 00:15:43.900 --> 00:15:47.260 Get yourself in a position where the sun's light reflects off you. 00:15:47.259 --> 00:16:00.159 And so for you to do the reflecting, the showing of God, you've got to be in a position where you're getting absolutely smashed by the light of the sun, where you're getting overwhelmed by it. 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:06.659 When I was growing up, it was really easy to tell whether or not I'd been in the sun because I had two colours, sunburn and peeling. 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:11.860 Being one of five kids, I managed to avoid the sunscreen drill fairly regularly. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:15.740 And I just loved being out in the sun, swimming, surfing, doing whatever. 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:17.579 And so I was always glowing red. 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:19.379 And I didn't have to tell you where I'd been. 00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:23.360 I didn't have to explain that the reason I was red is because I'd been in the sun. 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:25.059 That's how it works. 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:27.539 You know, you see sunburn, you assume sun. 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:32.799 That's what God is asking us to do when he says, glorify me. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:37.219 He's saying, be sunburned by my goodness. 00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:46.860 He's saying, be so loved by me that you can't help but people just see this thing about you that's different. 00:16:47.719 --> 00:16:56.139 They see this security and this peace, this joy that comes from being loved by the creator of heaven and earth so incredibly. 00:16:57.539 --> 00:17:02.579 The two temptations we talked about earlier, they miss this. 00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:12.119 See, if we focus just on the glory and the command and the responsibility to point to God and miss his incredible love, 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:19.659 we're actually shrinking down God anyway because we're missing out on this huge part of who he is. 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:23.779 We're reducing him to just being somebody who gives us tasks to do. 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:29.899 And likewise, if we're over here just enjoying the love of God and don't see anything that he's put in front of us to do, 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:35.539 don't feel any need to try and live out holiness, we've actually reduced God down. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:38.879 We've misunderstood that he is holy. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:46.579 And that in his holiness and in his majesty, he has found a way to love us in spite of who we are. 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:53.299 I've had multiple conversations with people recently here and outside of here as well. 00:17:53.919 --> 00:17:59.279 People who walk into church often, read their Bible by themselves often, go to Bible study, whatever it is, 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:03.960 and whenever they do, the overwhelming sense for them is that they've just gotten in trouble. 00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:07.220 Maybe that's how you feel when you walk into church sometimes. 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:08.679 Maybe that's how you're feeling right now. 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:13.200 Now, you walk in here and you just get told you need to do these things better. 00:18:14.320 --> 00:18:15.840 You're not trying hard enough. 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:18.759 You're not doing a great job at glorifying God. 00:18:18.820 --> 00:18:20.700 When people look at you, do they really see God? 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:24.240 And you just feel this sense like you're getting in trouble time and time again. 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:27.860 And let me be clear, if that's what people are hearing as preachers, 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:31.500 we need to be careful about what we're saying because that's not the message of the Bible. 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:43.200 But is it possible that the reason we sometimes hear that is because our starting point is that we've got this vision of God that says, 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:45.140 God has requirements for me. 00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:48.119 And sure, he's loving, but that's somewhere over there. 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:53.339 Our starting point is to only get half of the picture, 00:18:53.339 --> 00:19:01.980 to separate out the love of God and the passion for his glory to such an extent that we can't actually be loved and have God want us to do something. 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:05.679 Whereas that's not what is going on here in John 17. 00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:09.240 They're perfectly together. 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:16.839 And the answer is not that we should just stop talking about the things that Jesus demands in the Christian life. 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:20.339 I mean, even in this passage, this incredible prayer, 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:23.199 Jesus demands a bunch of stuff of his followers. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:27.079 He sets out a bar of what he's aiming at for his people. 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:30.839 Remember, he's actually praying aloud here in chapter 17. 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:35.759 So that his disciples can eavesdrop, can learn and be encouraged. 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:37.579 There's a clue there in verse 13. 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:38.539 He says, 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:42.539 I'm coming to you now, but I say these things while I'm still in the world so that they, 00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:44.439 the eavesdropping disciples, 00:19:45.439 --> 00:19:50.019 so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:54.180 And with the disciples eavesdropping, 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:56.619 he prays that they might be sanctified, 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:59.680 that they might be getting more holy, 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:01.200 that they might become more like Jesus. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:05.080 He prays three times that they might be one, 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:07.080 that they might be unified. 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:09.779 I mean, is there a bigger challenge than that for Christians? 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:13.180 I mean, do you hear that? 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.440 That call to be one, 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.720 and then sit there and think, 00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:17.019 God, are you serious? 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:19.980 I have to love these people? 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.779 All of these people? 00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:28.879 I mean, it's almost like Jesus is just turning the knife, 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:32.099 just giving them one last shame rebuke prayer. 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:34.139 Have you ever done this? 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.200 You might be holier than me. 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:38.099 It's the rebuke prayer that comes out in Bible study sometimes, 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.899 maybe even at the front of church. 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:42.579 It's the prayer where, you know, 00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:45.619 you've told a secret to your friend who's in your Bible study group, 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:47.720 and they've told everyone. 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:49.400 And so you're angry. 00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:50.220 You're hurt. 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:53.059 And so you pray a holy prayer like this. 00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:54.480 Say, dear God, 00:20:55.700 --> 00:21:00.620 I pray for those among us who are untrustworthy. 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:07.079 I pray that they might know how bad that is. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:11.299 I pray that they might repent of their sins, 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:15.079 that they might confess and beg forgiveness 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:18.939 from you and from the people they've hurt. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:22.919 I thank you that I'm not like them. 00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:26.759 In Jesus' name. 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:29.359 I'm sure you don't do that, 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:32.819 but maybe you do something kind of similar. 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:35.799 The prayer where you're just letting people know 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:38.539 that actually they're not really living up to the standard 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.319 that God set. 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:42.339 It's almost like that's what it feels like here. 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:45.500 Throughout this gospel, the disciples have been shocking. 00:21:46.139 --> 00:21:49.399 They've competed for the position of most honour and respect 00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:50.439 as Jesus' followers. 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:53.500 We know that now, thousands of years later, 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:56.659 as the church, we don't do a great job at being one, 00:21:57.459 --> 00:21:58.319 being unified. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:01.459 And yet Jesus puts this on the agenda right here. 00:22:04.159 --> 00:22:07.240 He prays for it over and over and over again. 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:09.439 And then he just adds salt into the wound by saying, 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:09.980 you know what? 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:13.799 That oneness is going to be the way that other people come to follow Jesus. 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:16.680 So now it's not just us having bad relationships with one another, 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:18.160 but it's other people's salvation. 00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:21.160 That's a lot of pressure. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.599 Now there's no question 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:28.519 if we're going to live for the glory of God, 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:30.599 if we're going to reveal him, 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:32.440 if people are going to see him in the way that we live, 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:34.240 then there's going to be some effort required. 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.720 We're going to have to fight for it. 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:37.180 We're going to have to battle temptation. 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:39.960 But what this passage does, 00:22:40.860 --> 00:22:42.279 what this truth does, 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:44.960 the way that glory and joy, 00:22:45.080 --> 00:22:46.779 glory and love can be brought together, 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:49.620 is that it rescues us 00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:51.759 from the most difficult question 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:53.380 for anyone who wants to follow Jesus. 00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:57.060 That question is, 00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:59.840 will I live for God's glory 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:02.799 or will I live for my joy, 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.759 for my satisfaction? 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:08.779 Now I don't mean the big overarching philosophical life question, 00:23:08.879 --> 00:23:10.240 which path am I going down? 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.559 I'm in the moment, 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.759 50 times a day, 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.059 what am I going to do right here? 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.500 I'm driving in the car 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.720 and someone cuts in on me. 00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:18.959 Do I, 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.459 you know, 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.579 one finger salute them 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.500 and thank them for 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.859 giving me plenty of notice 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.759 that they were going to come in? 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.740 Do I sit on the horn? 00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.039 Do I, 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.339 you know, 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:29.980 express my displeasure 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:31.460 through expletives out the window? 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:36.119 Or do I contain myself 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:38.240 and be happy 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.259 that that road user 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.339 is making the most 00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:41.859 of the small gap 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:43.059 between me and the car in front? 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.160 In that moment, 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.539 is it about my joy 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.759 or is it about doing 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:49.319 what I know God calls me to? 00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.379 For me personally, 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:52.359 I shared this morning 00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:53.079 and I'll share again, 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:53.559 for me, 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.899 this moment, 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.699 there's lots of them 00:23:55.699 --> 00:23:56.359 but one of them is 00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:57.460 when I get home every day. 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.079 I'm tired, 00:23:59.699 --> 00:24:00.559 I'm tired all the time 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:02.279 but when I get home after work, 00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:02.839 I'm tired 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:04.399 and I'm about to open the door 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:05.419 and it's a moment of 00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:07.359 will I walk in 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:09.460 and find some energy 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.859 to play with my boys? 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.919 Find some energy 00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:13.899 to have a conversation 00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.599 with my wife 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.720 about what she's done today 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.379 and give her a chance 00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:17.379 to interact with an adult 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:18.139 for a few minutes? 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:21.019 Or will I do 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.699 what deep down 00:24:21.699 --> 00:24:22.839 I'd really just love to do, 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.359 find an excuse 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.079 to be by myself 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.740 for 10 minutes? 00:24:25.659 --> 00:24:27.019 Need to go to the toilet 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:27.839 for 10 minutes? 00:24:28.699 --> 00:24:29.359 Lock the door, 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.720 hide away from the rest of them? 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.759 I've got to make the call. 00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:33.759 Do I do what I know 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.579 God wants me to do 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:34.959 in that moment 00:24:34.959 --> 00:24:35.959 or do I do what I think 00:24:35.959 --> 00:24:36.899 is going to make me happy? 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.159 That's the tension 00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:38.839 that we feel 00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.480 as a Christian. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.019 That's that pressure 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.759 and that burden 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.439 that can make us 00:24:42.439 --> 00:24:43.459 feel so guilty. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.439 But what this does 00:24:46.439 --> 00:24:47.819 is actually rescue us 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.679 from that question. 00:24:49.179 --> 00:24:50.579 It takes that question away. 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:51.539 Instead of there being 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.759 a dichotomy between, 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.519 a gap between, 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.740 an opposition between 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:56.099 glorifying God 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:57.579 and me being satisfied 00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:58.159 and happy 00:24:58.159 --> 00:24:59.159 and getting what I want, 00:25:00.199 --> 00:25:01.279 what this passage does 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.199 is actually draw 00:25:02.199 --> 00:25:03.379 those things together. 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.399 See, for Jesus, 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:08.279 obeying his Father fully, 00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:09.799 even to the point of death, 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.199 was his delight. 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.679 It was the thing 00:25:13.679 --> 00:25:15.159 that gave him greatest joy. 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:17.180 because in it, 00:25:18.040 --> 00:25:20.100 in choosing God's will for him, 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.000 in obeying, 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.700 he experienced 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.960 his Father's love. 00:25:26.040 --> 00:25:27.060 Even the sending 00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:28.259 of Jesus to the cross 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.279 was an act of love 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.060 from his Father 00:25:30.060 --> 00:25:30.560 for him. 00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:33.900 It was his Father 00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:35.460 taking him 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.279 through the cross 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.160 so that he might be 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.779 lifted up 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:39.140 and so that at his name 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:40.740 every knee might bow 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:42.180 and every tongue confess. 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:44.460 even for us 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.299 in this passage. 00:25:46.080 --> 00:25:46.920 Did you notice 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.600 that as Jesus 00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:49.060 prays for unity, 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:52.420 how do we get there? 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.220 Let me read again 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:55.700 verse 20 to 26. 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.660 Unity is clearly the goal. 00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.799 He prays it over and over 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.620 that we might be one 00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:00.600 just like Jesus 00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.860 and God are one. 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.539 So it's not just even 00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.340 we have to be nice 00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:05.360 to one another anymore. 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:06.500 The bar has been raised 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.060 even higher. 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:08.620 We've got to love each other 00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.560 so selflessly 00:26:09.560 --> 00:26:10.500 and serve each other 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.299 so continuously 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:12.460 that it's like God. 00:26:12.919 --> 00:26:13.319 And so you know 00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.680 if you thought 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.440 you were doing okay 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.659 sorry 00:26:15.659 --> 00:26:16.779 you can't give that 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.240 tick anymore. 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:18.339 The bar is up here 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:20.500 but notice how we get there. 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.779 Verse 20. 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.940 My prayer is not 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.700 for them alone. 00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:27.119 I pray also 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:27.799 for those who 00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.599 will believe in me 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.519 through their message 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.879 that all of them 00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.599 may be one 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.819 Father just as you 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.480 are in me 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.559 and I am in you. 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:36.079 May they also 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:36.940 be in us 00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:37.759 so that the world 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.419 may believe 00:26:38.419 --> 00:26:39.419 that you have sent me. 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:41.240 So the oneness 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.200 will draw others in. 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.400 Then verse 22. 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.800 I've given them 00:26:44.800 --> 00:26:45.300 the glory 00:26:45.300 --> 00:26:46.279 that you gave me 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.960 that they may be one 00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.820 as we are one. 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.720 I in them 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.460 and you in me 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.480 so that they may be 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.720 brought to complete unity. 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.620 Then the world 00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:55.000 will know 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.900 that you sent me 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:57.380 and have loved them 00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:59.519 even as you have loved me. 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.440 So catch the logic here. 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:03.000 This passage is dense 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.700 and confusing 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.480 and sometimes you've got to 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.480 read it and re-read it 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.000 and re-read it 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.060 but what's going on here 00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:08.060 is Jesus says 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:09.119 I want them to be one. 00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:11.220 I want them to be unified 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:12.839 just like we're unified. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:14.119 I want them to be in us 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:14.759 and with us. 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.579 I want them to experience 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.339 all your goodness 00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.659 and here's why. 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.819 Because that unity 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:21.559 will be the evidence 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.500 of what he talks about 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.339 in verse 23. 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.099 He says 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:26.119 they may be brought 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:27.139 to complete unity 00:27:27.139 --> 00:27:28.179 then the world 00:27:28.179 --> 00:27:28.859 will know 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:30.480 that you sent me 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:32.419 and have loved them 00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:35.179 even as you have loved me. 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:37.539 So it will be the evidence 00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:39.080 that we have been loved 00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:40.019 by God. 00:27:41.560 --> 00:27:42.420 So therefore 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.560 if it's the evidence 00:27:43.560 --> 00:27:44.380 of that thing 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:47.060 it's also the result 00:27:47.060 --> 00:27:47.920 of that thing. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:51.420 If the evidence 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.539 of God's love for us 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.100 is unity 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:54.620 the path to unity 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.960 is God's love for us. 00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:58.360 Do you understand 00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:59.120 what this is? 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:01.420 What this means is 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.600 when you open scripture 00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.660 when you open the Bible 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.860 when you sit in a sermon 00:28:04.860 --> 00:28:05.980 when you're in Bible study 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.279 and you begin to feel 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.840 this pressure 00:28:07.840 --> 00:28:09.259 to live up to a standard 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:13.680 really the instruction 00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:15.019 every instruction 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.480 in scripture 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.700 could be boiled down to 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.420 you've got to live 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.540 for the glory of God. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:21.100 And what that means is 00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:23.279 you've got to live 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.360 encountering 00:28:24.360 --> 00:28:25.440 the glory of God. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.100 That's the instruction. 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:30.700 The incredible responsibility 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.800 of trying to 00:28:31.800 --> 00:28:32.900 show God 00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:33.519 to the world 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.340 is actually 00:28:34.340 --> 00:28:35.320 an invitation 00:28:35.320 --> 00:28:37.180 to see 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.100 and savour 00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:39.000 and experience 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:40.420 God in your own life. 00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:44.080 It's to be so filled 00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:45.060 with God's love 00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:46.640 that it fills you up 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.480 and overflows 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.660 to the people around you. 00:28:49.820 --> 00:28:51.160 We have a vision statement 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:52.080 here at St. Paul's. 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:53.460 We exist to know Jesus 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.600 treasure Jesus 00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.900 and represent Jesus 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.980 for God's glory 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.180 and the joy of all people. 00:28:59.300 --> 00:29:00.019 Temptation would be 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:01.060 to see God's glory 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:02.119 and the joy of all people 00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:03.299 as separate things. 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.619 But that's the point 00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.619 of what's going on here. 00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:07.819 When God is revealed, 00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:10.079 that is joyful. 00:29:12.679 --> 00:29:14.179 When God gets glory, 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.200 the way that's going to happen 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.019 is us 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.500 enjoying him. 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:20.279 Us being loved by him. 00:29:20.679 --> 00:29:22.099 Us being sunburnt 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:22.919 by his goodness 00:29:22.919 --> 00:29:23.980 and his compassion 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.880 and his kindness 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:25.779 and his provision. 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:30.180 What Jesus is trying 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:31.140 to help us understand 00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:31.900 in this prayer 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:33.920 is that in the cross, 00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:36.079 God's passion 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:37.039 for his glory 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:38.920 and his love for you 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:40.120 are together 00:29:40.120 --> 00:29:41.120 in perfect unity. 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:43.039 It's not a competition. 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:45.279 We shrink God 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.400 when we separate them out 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.759 and settle for one 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.240 or the other. 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.319 What Jesus does 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:50.860 for us here 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.799 is draw them together 00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:52.379 and say, 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.339 yes, 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.159 God loves you 00:29:55.159 --> 00:29:55.680 incredibly. 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:57.039 Enough to send 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.559 his son 00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:58.119 that you might be 00:29:58.119 --> 00:29:58.519 forgiven 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.200 even though you 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:00.000 don't deserve it. 00:30:01.659 --> 00:30:02.159 Yes, 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.500 God is passionate 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.379 about his glory 00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.500 and wants you 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:07.500 to be his representative. 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.599 But the way 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:11.680 he makes you 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.379 his representative 00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:13.359 is by loving you 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.200 and sending Jesus 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:17.019 and continuing 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.019 to love you daily, 00:30:18.639 --> 00:30:19.779 continuing to provide 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.279 for you. 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.160 Remember the star. 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.579 Remember that image. 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:27.399 You are not called 00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:29.279 to generate light. 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.559 You are not called 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.859 to add something 00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.500 to God. 00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:36.119 You are called 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:37.480 to open yourself up 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.420 and drown 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:39.139 in his goodness 00:30:39.139 --> 00:30:39.759 to the point 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.680 where it overflows 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.839 and flows to other people. 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.039 Today, 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.619 God's trying 00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:46.619 to lift the burden 00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:47.180 from you. 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:50.460 If following him 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:50.920 is something 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.820 that feels like 00:30:51.820 --> 00:30:53.060 incredibly hard work, 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.860 it feels like 00:30:53.860 --> 00:30:55.100 just this tension 00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:56.600 between am I loved 00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:57.480 or am I not quite 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:58.080 there yet, 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.600 the message today 00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:01.320 is the means 00:31:01.320 --> 00:31:02.700 by which you glorify God 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:05.360 is you just 00:31:05.360 --> 00:31:05.940 get loved 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.500 by God. 00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:09.360 You encounter 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:10.039 his love 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.460 for you 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:10.960 in Jesus. 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.560 You come 00:31:12.560 --> 00:31:13.320 to the cross 00:31:13.320 --> 00:31:14.279 every day 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.799 and be reminded 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.879 that I don't deserve it 00:31:16.879 --> 00:31:17.920 but God loves me anyway. 00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:19.619 You come 00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.259 to the cross 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.160 every day 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:22.480 and you realise 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.139 that his love 00:31:23.139 --> 00:31:24.180 is not just sufficient 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:24.859 to meet you 00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.319 where we're at 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.399 in your inadequacy, 00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.680 but his love 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.399 is abundant 00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.660 and excessive 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:30.720 and generous. 00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:31.899 Not only does 00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:32.639 he forgive you, 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.259 he draws you 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.139 into his family. 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:37.500 How do you glorify God? 00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.399 Soak in all 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:42.060 his goodness. 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:47.140 The instruction 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:48.120 in every sermon, 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.259 the correction, 00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:50.860 the rebuke 00:31:50.860 --> 00:31:51.360 and they're there 00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:51.940 and they'll come. 00:31:53.780 --> 00:31:54.660 When they come 00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:55.440 we must hear 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.980 come back to Jesus. 00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.480 Come back 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.060 to the love 00:32:00.060 --> 00:32:00.740 that God's got 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.140 for you. 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.180 The need 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.700 for rebuke 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.400 is the evidence 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:04.940 that maybe 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.740 we've stopped 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.880 soaking in the 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.680 goodness of God. 00:32:08.540 --> 00:32:09.300 We've begun 00:32:09.300 --> 00:32:09.880 to focus 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:10.420 on the things 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.140 we need to do 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:11.600 or say 00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:12.140 or think 00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:14.080 but the encouragement 00:32:14.080 --> 00:32:14.880 here is 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:17.600 if you want 00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:18.539 to glorify God, 00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.300 if you want 00:32:19.300 --> 00:32:19.720 to point other 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.500 people to him, 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.060 enjoy him 00:32:23.060 --> 00:32:23.500 yourself. 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.220 And the only 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.060 place to do that 00:32:28.060 --> 00:32:28.800 is Jesus 00:32:28.800 --> 00:32:31.180 and his death, 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.340 his resurrection, 00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:33.820 the concrete, 00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:34.500 immovable 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.320 illustration 00:32:35.320 --> 00:32:36.080 and example 00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:37.220 of how God 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.700 loves you 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:39.440 and why God 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:39.980 will love you 00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.799 for all eternity. 00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:44.600 Let's pray. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.220 Father God, 00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:51.059 we want to 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.160 acknowledge that 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:53.580 sometimes following 00:32:53.580 --> 00:32:54.420 you does feel 00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:54.900 tiring. 00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:56.759 Sometimes following 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.580 you we feel 00:32:57.580 --> 00:32:58.059 like we're 00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.779 continuing to 00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.600 fail and we 00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:00.240 attempted to 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.620 give up. 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.920 Sometimes we 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:03.860 do feel this 00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:05.259 burden and guilt 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:05.860 when we gather 00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:06.459 as your people 00:33:06.459 --> 00:33:07.079 when we open 00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:07.599 your word. 00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.279 But God, 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:10.959 we want to ask 00:33:10.959 --> 00:33:11.399 that you would 00:33:11.399 --> 00:33:12.059 give us eyes 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:12.939 to see Jesus 00:33:12.939 --> 00:33:13.819 first and 00:33:13.819 --> 00:33:14.659 Jesus most. 00:33:16.159 --> 00:33:16.899 Even as we 00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:17.719 hear the rebuke, 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.319 may that be an 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:19.299 opportunity for us 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.359 to again taste 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:21.019 and experience 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.619 your love 00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:22.539 afresh. 00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:25.139 even as we 00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:25.940 recognise where 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.359 we fall 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:26.899 short and 00:33:26.899 --> 00:33:27.200 where we 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:27.599 need to 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:27.940 grow and 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.220 where we 00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:28.740 repeatedly 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.279 fail, 00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:30.240 might it 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:30.519 be an 00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:31.039 opportunity 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.680 for us 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.379 to again 00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:33.079 experience 00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:33.639 that you 00:33:33.639 --> 00:33:34.180 love us 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:35.079 unconditionally, 00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.740 that your 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.180 love is 00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:37.940 irreversible, 00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.500 it's eternal, 00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:38.879 it's not 00:33:38.879 --> 00:33:39.579 going anywhere. 00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.119 God, 00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:41.680 fill us 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.059 with your 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.500 love in 00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:43.119 such a way 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:43.460 that we 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:44.180 are secure, 00:33:44.399 --> 00:33:44.659 we are 00:33:44.659 --> 00:33:45.159 joyful, 00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:45.659 that people 00:33:45.659 --> 00:33:46.440 see peace 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.299 and joy 00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:47.799 in us 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:49.059 that draws 00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:49.759 their attention 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.339 to you. 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:54.019 even as we 00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:54.519 face 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.920 situations 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:56.299 and 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:57.139 circumstances 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:59.240 that in 00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.799 the world's 00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:00.319 eyes leave 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:00.920 no room 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:01.399 for joy 00:34:01.399 --> 00:34:02.039 or peace, 00:34:03.319 --> 00:34:05.579 may we 00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.279 continue to 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:06.899 enjoy your 00:34:06.899 --> 00:34:07.240 goodness, 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.159 may we 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.840 continue to 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.519 delight in 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:10.960 trying to 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.480 obey you 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:11.960 knowing that 00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:12.179 you have 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:12.779 designed good 00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:13.320 things for 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:13.659 us, 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:15.239 may we 00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:15.880 continue to 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.519 rejoice in 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.019 the immovable 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.599 hope that 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:18.139 we have in 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:18.480 Jesus, 00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:21.179 so that this 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:21.719 world might 00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:22.159 know that 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:22.480 there is 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.079 nothing 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:24.119 better than 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.380 you. 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.559 Amen.