WEBVTT

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 So we've been looking at this book of Deuteronomy.

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 And this book is all about what we're to be as his people.

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 The kind of family we're to be.

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 And in the midst of all the nations around, all the people around,

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 pagan nations, God's people would be different.

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 They would be generous.

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 They would be hospitable.

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 Last week we looked at how they would be partying.

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 How they would be filled with joy, eating together,

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 enjoying each other, serving each other, inviting people in.

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 And all of that was to show that all the people around would look at that and say,

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 why are you so different?

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 Why are you so different?

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 And the Israelites were meant to say, well, it's because we have an amazing,

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 generous, gracious, hospitable, glorious God.

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 That's why.

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 And they were meant to attract people to himself through this community.

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 And today we're just going to have a look at this passage in Deuteronomy 15,

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 which is a beautiful passage.

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 It's a challenging passage, but it's a beautiful one.

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 And it's a challenge that we're to be out of an overflow of God's goodness in our lives

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 to be a just people.

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 And so what I'm going to look at is just three sections.

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 I'm going to look at a vision for justice.

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 That's going to be verse 4 to 6.

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 A heart for justice.

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 That's verse 7 to 11.

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 And a power for justice, which is verse 15.

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 So let's look at a vision for justice.

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 Have your bulletin open.

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 And I encourage you to go away afterwards and read through this.

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 This is just really powerful stuff.

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 Deuteronomy 15 verse 4 says this,

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 There will be no poor among you.

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 For in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance,

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 he will richly bless you.

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 I don't know many people whose heart would not resonate with that.

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 There will be no poor among you.

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 You know, with the 300,000 kids in Hong Kong who can't afford three meals a day,

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 wouldn't we want them to be well fed?

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 There is elderly people living in drafty nursing homes with nobody to visit them.

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 Wouldn't we want them to be loved and given dignity?

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 There are single mothers.

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 There are people who are abused in their families.

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 Wouldn't we long for them to find acceptance and belonging?

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 Because poverty is spiritual, it's physical, it's economic, it's social, it's relational, it's economic.

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 It's economic in all of these different things.

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 Wouldn't we long to see that?

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 There's none of that.

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 None of that poverty.

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 And that's God's vision.

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 That's God's vision for his world.

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 God says in this passage, he's going to provide so much for this people who are about to enter into the land of the promised land of blessing.

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 There's going to be enough to go around for everyone.

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 No one should be poor.

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 No one should be poor.

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 That's what God is saying to his people.

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 And Michael Jackson, he sang, heal the world, make it a better place.

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 I'm not going to sing it.

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 Okay.

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 My voice isn't that high.

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 But deep down in our hearts, we resonate with that, right?

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 We resonate with that.

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 Because we know there's something fundamentally wrong with the world and with the injustice in the world.

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 And we want there to be a fix of this.

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 And that is God's heart, too.

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 But I don't know.

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 I sometimes scroll down the BBC News.

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 And there is like 15 tragedies in the world at one time.

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 And do you know what I do?

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 I avoid all of them, clicking all of those stories.

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 And I click on the stories, which are like, why did the Victorians electrocute themselves?

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 You know, like kind of these trivial things.

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 Because I don't want to hear about the tragedies of the world.

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 Because it's so much need.

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 It's so overwhelming.

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 So I hide in kind of the trivial things.

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 I don't know if anyone else is like me.

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 That's what I'm like.

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 And yet this passage is going to say, God wants his people to face the issue of poverty and need.

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 And in this passage, there are two types of poor people.

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 The desperate poor.

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 They're the people who simply need relief.

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 That's the people in verse 7 to 11.

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 And then there's the struggling poor.

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 Those who just need help to get back on their feet.

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 That's the people in debt.

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 That's the slaves in this passage.

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 The servants.

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 And so just to give you like the background of what's going on in this passage to help you understand it.

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 Remember, most wealth and income comes from the land.

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 And the passage tells us every seven years, and we know this from Leviticus as well and Exodus, every seven years the land was meant to have a rest.

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 Okay?

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 And they weren't to work the land.

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 But Exodus 21 tells us they would have let the poor eat from the land on their fields.

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 Okay?

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 And if you become poor and had to borrow money to survive, your debts in this seventh year would either be cancelled or they'd be delayed for at least a year.

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 Because those people who had to keep paying back would have less to provide from their land to repay debts.

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 So they took it all into account.

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 Foreigners, who are mentioned in verse 3, they were traders.

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 So they didn't rely on the wealth of the land.

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 So they could keep paying back their debts.

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 But those who had fallen into the pit of poverty sometimes could only sell themselves to someone else because they had no more land.

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 They had nothing else to gain an income from.

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 But Leviticus 25 tells us they would be treated not as slaves.

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 They would be treated just as employees.

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 Treated with dignity.

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 And every seven years, they would be set free so that nobody would be permanently enslaved to poverty as a family.

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 All land sales after 50 years...

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 Okay, get this.

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 All land sales after 50 years would go back to the original family.

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 So Li Ka-shing and his family would not continue inherited wealth.

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 But everyone would be equal again after 50 years.

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 So nobody would have this unbridgeable gap between rich and poor.

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 And the reason for this, Leviticus says, is the land shall not be sold forever because the land is mine.

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 And your tenants on my land.

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 This is my world.

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 And your tenants here on what I have given you.

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 And God is loaning this land of blessing to the people.

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 And what he says is, with great blessing comes great responsibility.

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 You see, he's saying, you can party.

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 We saw this last week.

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 You can party and enjoy God's goodness.

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 I don't want you to be a people living in guilt.

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 But you've also got to be aware that as you're partying, there are some people who don't have what you have.

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 And so because there is a broken world, poverty will always be among you.

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 That's what he says.

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 Jesus says the same.

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 You know, sometimes it's because of the environment.

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 Some people's land is more fertile than other people's land.

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 Sometimes it's because of people's own sin.

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 Their own poor choices that they've made.

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 Sometimes it's other people's sin.

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 Their greed and injustice.

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 All of these things are going to mean that there will always be poverty in your land.

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 But you guys, as God's people, it's your responsibility not to neglect those who are poor.

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 I'm going to give to you so you can give and be a blessing to others.

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 That's what he's saying.

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 And now here's the challenging part.

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 He says in verse 10, if you as my people don't do this,

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 he says, you will have your poor brother appealing to God and you will be guilty of sin.

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 That language is the language of the courts.

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 It's language of a crime.

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 Because this passage is not just about generosity.

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 It's about justice.

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 And what God is saying is that people, his people and being his people,

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 it's not a private thing between me and God.

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 The vertical relationship with God always flows out in the horizontal of the way you live.

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 Tim Keller puts it like this.

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 He says, a lack of concern for the poor is not a minor lapse,

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 but reveals that something is seriously wrong with one's spiritual compass, the heart.

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 You know, I find this challenging because a few years ago,

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 there was this story about a three-month-old Korean girl who died from malnutrition.

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 And if she had died because there wasn't enough food to go around,

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 we'd say that's a tragedy.

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 But her parents had plenty of food to eat.

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 The child died from neglect because her parents were gaming for hours every day.

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 And it wasn't that they were kind of terrible people.

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 They didn't mean to do it.

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 But actually, they had no idea what it meant to be parents.

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 And neglect, no matter how good their intentions were, was a crime.

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 And they got arrested for it.

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 And God is saying here, and this is pretty hard, heavy stuff.

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 He's saying, if you as my people are blessed with material possessions,

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 and we mentioned a couple of weeks ago that all of us are rich, right?

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 So none of us escape from this.

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 We're blessed.

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 And he says, you're to enjoy the blessing.

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 Don't go on a guilt trip because you're blessed.

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 No, you enjoy it.

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 But we have responsibility to those who don't have it.

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 So sin is not just about doing bad things.

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 Sin is also neglecting to do good things when you have an opportunity to do it.

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 Okay?

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 In Ephesians 4, this is really, really interesting.

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 If you go and read Ephesians 4, Paul picks up on the Ten Commandments.

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 And he picks up on the sin of stealing.

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 You know, do not steal.

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 And he says this, let the thief steal no more,

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 but rather let him labor doing honest work with his hands.

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 And you think, that's great, you know?

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 One of the solutions to stealing, and you know, if you're poor, don't steal.

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 Get a job.

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 That's good advice, right?

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 That's not bad advice.

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 That's good advice.

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 But do you know what he goes on to say?

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 He says, get a job so that you may have something to share with anyone in need.

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 Do you know what he's saying?

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 He's saying, if God has blessed you with work, this is challenging.

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 If God has blessed you with work, it's so that you can provide for yourself.

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 It's so that you can provide for your family.

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 But it's also so that you can provide for those in need.

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 So he's saying, you have a job.

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 Have you thought about that?

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 Your job is given as a blessing by God to you, in part,

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 to be able to provide for people who don't have what you have.

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 That's challenging.

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 So your job is a blessing to be able to bless other people with the fruit of that.

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 And verse 6 also says this.

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 The Lord your God will bless you as he has promised,

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 and you will lend to many nations, but you will borrow from none.

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 You will rule over many nations, but none will rule over you.

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 And this passage, it's talking particularly about providing people for those in need within God's people.

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 But here, he's saying that God's going to bless his people,

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 and they're going to be the lenders and the rulers of other nations around.

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 He's not saying, you're going to be the guys who are going to be the big, strong guys,

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 so that you can oppress everybody else.

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 He says, no, I'm going to give you position and blessing,

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 so that through you, people around will be blessed.

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 I heard a TV presenter who was normally highly critical of Christians.

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 She's an atheist, and she was kind of lamenting the current situation of the refugees in the States.

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 And she said this.

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 She said, you may not believe that I am actually saying this,

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 but the church in America may be the only hope for America

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 because they've consistently welcomed and spoken out for refugees.

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 She was an atheist.

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 You see, when a blessed people share that blessing with other people,

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 it's a powerful witness to the world around in need.

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 And the reverse is also true.

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 If I preach a gospel message, and yet you know that I'm abusing my wife at home,

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 you're not going to listen to anything I say.

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 I've lost all credibility.

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 And it doesn't matter how great the message is.

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 If I'm doing that, I've lost your heart.

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 I've lost your ear.

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 But if the church in Hong Kong, if we as the church in Hong Kong

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 only seem to be supporting ourselves indifferent to the needs of people around us,

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 while we invest lots of money in our own programs, our own buildings, whatever we're doing,

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 if we do that, then the gospel message will not be credible to the city around.

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 But history shows when the early church rescued babies from rubbish dumps,

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 people noticed.

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 People noticed.

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 When they fought against slavery, people noticed.

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 And the gospel message backed up by deeds of serving and using what we have to bless the poor

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 is powerful in society.

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 That's part of God's vision for us as his church.

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 So the second thing is there's a heart for justice.

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 Not just God's vision for justice, a heart for justice.

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 It says here,

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 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of your towns in the land

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 the Lord your God is giving you,

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 don't be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards them.

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 Rather, be open-handed and freely lend them whatever they need.

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 Okay?

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 So he said,

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 From the overflow of your blessings,

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 you're to be open-handed, liberally, generously blessing as God has blessed you.

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 That's why you cancel debts, even if it's going to be a cost to you.

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 Don't be tight-fisted.

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 Don't hold on to money.

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 People matter more than money.

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 Yet, the interesting thing is,

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 though I know all this stuff,

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 that's not always my first response.

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 Do you know why?

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 I think there's a number of things.

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 I mentioned it already.

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 One of the things that stops me from really having that heart

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 is I'm overwhelmed.

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 I am overwhelmed.

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 You know, I read this,

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 and my first thought is often,

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 are you asking me to give to everybody?

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 Like, everyone?

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 Because I walk along in Central,

00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:22.120
 and you know there's often beggars along the side of the bridges,

00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:23.399
 and I go through that thing,

00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.259
 should I give to them?

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.200
 Okay?

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.060
 I don't know if you've heard this.

00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:27.200
 Should I give to them?

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:29.420
 And sometimes I've given because I feel guilty.

00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:31.540
 Like, you know,

00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.540
 I know I've got more than you,

00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:33.540
 so I should give anyway.

00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:34.959
 Sometimes,

00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:37.980
 I've not given

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.819
 because I think they're probably part of a gang

00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:40.860
 or something like that.

00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:41.919
 Right?

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:43.839
 It's real.

00:15:44.719 --> 00:15:45.980
 Sometimes I've just ignored them.

00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:46.959
 Okay?

00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.740
 And if I was to

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:51.299
 magnify those responses

00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:52.399
 on a city level

00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:53.980
 and then on a world level,

00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:56.299
 you kind of get to see

00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:58.099
 that often we're paralyzed,

00:15:58.439 --> 00:16:00.259
 particularly when those charity guys

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.379
 come up to you on the streets

00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.319
 with their clipboards.

00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.420
 Do you know,

00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:05.120
 my instant response is like,

00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:06.100
 how can I avoid them?

00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:07.740
 Right?

00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:08.879
 Anyone else like me?

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.460
 I kind of head down,

00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.240
 straight on,

00:16:11.400 --> 00:16:11.660
 I'm not,

00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.640
 no eye contact,

00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.440
 that kind of thing.

00:16:15.060 --> 00:16:16.180
 Because I'm overwhelmed.

00:16:17.520 --> 00:16:18.320
 But he's saying,

00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:20.120
 you will always have the poor among you.

00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:22.460
 You're not going to save the world, Chris.

00:16:22.660 --> 00:16:24.640
 This church is not here to save the world.

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:25.720
 That's Jesus' job,

00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:26.700
 not our job.

00:16:27.260 --> 00:16:27.540
 Okay?

00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.339
 One day he will return

00:16:29.339 --> 00:16:30.439
 and bring justice

00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:32.719
 and full justice to the world.

00:16:32.939 --> 00:16:33.719
 That's his job.

00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:34.360
 He's the savior.

00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.159
 I'm not.

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.059
 But,

00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.759
 what I'm asking you,

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:40.039
 what God is asking

00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:40.980
 is for a people

00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:43.179
 whose heart is soft,

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.819
 who have eyes to see,

00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.539
 a heart that's soft

00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:47.799
 and hands that are open.

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:48.699
 And God,

00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.620
 if we're like that as his people,

00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:51.519
 God will show us

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.259
 who the poor,

00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:53.519
 who you're poor,

00:16:53.599 --> 00:16:54.120
 it says here,

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:55.059
 who you're needy,

00:16:55.359 --> 00:16:55.839
 who you're,

00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:57.979
 the people that you can reach out to

00:16:57.979 --> 00:17:00.099
 within your context

00:17:00.099 --> 00:17:00.979
 are going to be.

00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:03.079
 One Bible scholar said it like this,

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.839
 the disposition of one's possessions

00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:06.899
 signifies the dispositions

00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:07.799
 of your heart.

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.279
 I'm not calling you to everyone,

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.220
 but we are calling you to someone.

00:17:13.159 --> 00:17:13.799
 To someone.

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.740
 So do you ever pray,

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:17.019
 and this is challenging,

00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.779
 do you ever pray,

00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.059
 God,

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:20.940
 show me who that someone might be.

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.940
 Show me who that people in need

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:25.759
 that I can bless might be.

00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.960
 So we're sometimes overwhelmed.

00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:31.119
 Sometimes we just don't trust God.

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.400
 Verse 9 says,

00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.440
 be careful not to harbor

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.339
 this wicked thought.

00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:39.359
 The seventh year is near.

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.400
 And basically,

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:42.240
 the seventh year is like

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.259
 they're going to cancel the debts,

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.259
 so it's kind of,

00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:45.400
 I'm going to lose my money.

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.740
 If I lend money,

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.859
 I'm not going to get it back.

00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:49.359
 So I'm not going to lend to this guy.

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.920
 And the idea is,

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:51.839
 if I lend to him,

00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:52.460
 then I'm not going to,

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.059
 I won't have enough for myself.

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.420
 I've got school fees to pay.

00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:56.859
 I've got to provide for myself

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.519
 and my family.

00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.940
 And what he's really saying

00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:00.180
 when he says this is,

00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:02.460
 God's not going to keep providing for me

00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:04.140
 if I am generous.

00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:06.299
 God's not going to provide for me.

00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:08.039
 Maybe I can't trust him.

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:09.680
 You know,

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:11.859
 there was a multi-billionaire

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.819
 called Ted Turner

00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:13.639
 in the States.

00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:16.059
 He pledged to give

00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:17.159
 a billion dollars

00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:18.259
 to the UN

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:20.219
 to encourage other billionaires

00:18:20.219 --> 00:18:21.099
 to donate wealth.

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.059
 I don't know if you've heard of this.

00:18:22.879 --> 00:18:23.740
 But years later,

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.539
 after his pledge,

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.799
 a reporter came to him

00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:27.379
 and asked him,

00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.219
 are you going to give

00:18:28.219 --> 00:18:29.199
 another billion away?

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:31.099
 And his reply was,

00:18:31.659 --> 00:18:32.179
 well,

00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:33.579
 the price of beef

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.719
 is going up at the moment.

00:18:35.439 --> 00:18:35.659
 Now,

00:18:35.679 --> 00:18:36.339
 this is a guy

00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:37.679
 who's got

00:18:37.679 --> 00:18:39.399
 at least three billion dollars.

00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:41.639
 And he's saying,

00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.559
 with my other

00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:43.559
 two or three billion dollars,

00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.379
 I'm not sure

00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:45.399
 if I've got enough money

00:18:45.399 --> 00:18:46.059
 in the bank

00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:47.759
 to kind of account

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.419
 for inflation.

00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.679
 And that's ridiculous.

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:53.599
 I mean,

00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:55.220
 he's got enough

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.899
 to buy a whole,

00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.339
 like,

00:18:56.959 --> 00:18:58.119
 the whole of American farming,

00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:58.559
 probably.

00:18:59.099 --> 00:18:59.399
 But,

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.339
 if you look at it,

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:02.619
 and we look at all

00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.439
 that we have,

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.699
 do you know what?

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.480
 I think sometimes

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.480
 I do the same thing.

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:07.640
 I may not have

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.339
 a billion dollars,

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.819
 but God has blessed me.

00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.839
 Every meal,

00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:11.360
 that's what we talked

00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:11.799
 about last week,

00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:12.779
 every meal is assigned

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.500
 God's provision,

00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:14.599
 God's grace,

00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:16.059
 God's blessing to you.

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.259
 Do you think

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:19.980
 he's going to stop

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:21.039
 providing in the future

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.559
 if he's already

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.700
 provided in the past?

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.500
 He says,

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:23.660
 no,

00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.360
 be generous,

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.640
 trust him.

00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:27.559
 God is good.

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:29.279
 He will provide for you

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.660
 so you can be open-handed.

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.680
 But the third thing

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.299
 that I think

00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:36.319
 when I hear

00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:36.940
 all of this stuff,

00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:37.200
 do you know

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.839
 what I tend to feel?

00:19:37.899 --> 00:19:38.539
 I just feel like

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.379
 there's this weight

00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:40.599
 of guilt on me.

00:19:41.419 --> 00:19:41.579
 You know,

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.399
 I feel like

00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:44.319
 so much that has

00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.079
 motivated me

00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:46.200
 to do charity work

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.139
 and to serve people

00:19:47.139 --> 00:19:47.720
 is actually just

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.200
 out of guilt.

00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:49.399
 You know,

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:49.980
 I feel bad

00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.839
 that I've got so much

00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:51.639
 and other people don't

00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:52.440
 and I feel blessed.

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:54.339
 But the motivation here,

00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.319
 that's not the motivation

00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:55.980
 of this passage.

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.779
 This passage,

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.599
 verse 4,

00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.279
 verse 6,

00:19:59.399 --> 00:19:59.899
 verse 10,

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.639
 verse 18,

00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:01.839
 it says this passage

00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.779
 is about blessing,

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.339
 which is interesting.

00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.639
 It's about blessing.

00:20:05.939 --> 00:20:06.359
 He says,

00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.899
 showing justice

00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:08.659
 to the poor

00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:09.480
 and the needy,

00:20:09.699 --> 00:20:10.980
 it will free you

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:12.799
 from an impoverished spirit.

00:20:13.879 --> 00:20:15.019
 This is a way

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.359
 for God

00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:15.899
 to channel

00:20:15.899 --> 00:20:16.819
 his blessing

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:18.019
 to you.

00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.319
 Because if you want

00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.119
 to enjoy God,

00:20:21.639 --> 00:20:22.779
 if you want

00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.859
 to enjoy

00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:24.500
 his good things,

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.500
 then party together.

00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:26.339
 That's what we said

00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:26.759
 last week.

00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:27.619
 If you want

00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.220
 to enjoy God,

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.259
 celebrate him,

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.480
 invite others to join,

00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.379
 but then look out

00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.579
 for those who don't have.

00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:32.980
 And do you know

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.559
 what will happen?

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.699
 You will just begin

00:20:35.699 --> 00:20:37.399
 to see God's blessing

00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:38.579
 flowing into your life.

00:20:38.639 --> 00:20:39.319
 That may not be

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.379
 financial blessing,

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:40.899
 maybe,

00:20:41.379 --> 00:20:42.279
 but it's going to be

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:42.960
 a richness

00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:44.159
 in your experience

00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:44.679
 of God

00:20:44.679 --> 00:20:45.599
 in your life

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:47.879
 that actually

00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:48.399
 is so much

00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:49.059
 more exciting

00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:50.259
 when you become

00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.039
 actually the person

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.799
 you deep down

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.879
 would really want to be,

00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:54.500
 a generous person,

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.399
 somebody

00:20:55.399 --> 00:20:56.939
 whose respect,

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.659
 who you would love

00:20:58.659 --> 00:20:59.279
 to be like.

00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:00.559
 So the vision

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.639
 is no poor among you.

00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.440
 The heart is

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.559
 not out of guilt,

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.579
 not just because

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.379
 you're overwhelmed,

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.700
 not just because

00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:08.980
 you're like,

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.879
 I can't trust God,

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.819
 but with a trust

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:12.099
 of him for your future

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:13.960
 and realizing

00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:15.059
 that God is calling

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.740
 you to blessing,

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:18.119
 look out to serve

00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:18.899
 and give

00:21:18.899 --> 00:21:19.660
 and be generous

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.359
 to the needy

00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:20.899
 and the poor.

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.299
 Third thing,

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.700
 the power to be just,

00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:26.220
 the power for justice.

00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:30.559
 Verse 15,

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.759
 give to them

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.920
 as the Lord your God

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.680
 has blessed you.

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:36.420
 Remember that you

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:38.299
 were slaves in Egypt

00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:40.039
 and the Lord your God

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.860
 redeemed you.

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:41.960
 That is why

00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.539
 I give you

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.559
 this command today.

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.279
 Do you see

00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:45.660
 what he's saying?

00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.660
 He's saying,

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.880
 you need to remember

00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:49.319
 who you were.

00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:51.200
 You were slaves

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.380
 in poverty in Egypt

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.720
 and I rescued you.

00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.680
 So now you reflect

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.980
 my saving work

00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:57.759
 to others.

00:21:58.840 --> 00:21:59.100
 You know,

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:02.200
 so much charity work

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:04.200
 and I've done this

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:05.880
 is when we feel like

00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.640
 we're the strong,

00:22:06.820 --> 00:22:07.460
 confident ones

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.240
 and we're the wealthy ones

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.840
 and we're just going

00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:09.779
 to help all the poor.

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:10.840
 We're going to rescue them

00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:11.980
 from their problems.

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.539
 That's one of the reasons

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.480
 why NGO workers

00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.860
 have such a high burnout rate

00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:16.440
 because actually

00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:17.340
 when they get down to it

00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:17.720
 they realize

00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:19.080
 they can't rescue the poor

00:22:19.080 --> 00:22:19.759
 because there are

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.920
 so many different things

00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.539
 going on.

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:25.960
 sometimes we can

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:27.619
 so much neglect people

00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.399
 because we feel

00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:29.079
 they don't deserve

00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:29.740
 to be helped

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:31.319
 because frankly

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.299
 the poor are sometimes

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.139
 as unrighteous

00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:33.879
 as the rich.

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:34.839
 Right?

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.899
 And we feel like

00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:37.740
 we've worked hard

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.759
 to get what we have

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.440
 but are God's people

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:40.940
 of justice

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.980
 and neither of those?

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:44.200
 Jesus is the savior

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.579
 and that's what motivates us.

00:22:45.659 --> 00:22:47.639
 I shared this story

00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:48.700
 a few years ago

00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:49.500
 but I think it's worth

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.139
 sharing again.

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.220
 When I was in the UK

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.460
 I met a homeless guy

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.540
 I called him Jim

00:22:53.540 --> 00:22:55.300
 and we tried to help him

00:22:55.300 --> 00:22:56.700
 find a place to live

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:58.460
 and so we had him

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.100
 stay at our house

00:22:59.100 --> 00:22:59.759
 for a few days

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:01.340
 and eventually

00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:01.840
 a friend of mine

00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:02.820
 agreed to kind of

00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:03.400
 put him up

00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.720
 and the first night

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.400
 he stays there

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:07.280
 he steals 500 pounds

00:23:07.280 --> 00:23:08.420
 from my friend.

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.280
 He runs away.

00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:12.000
 Didn't see him

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.840
 I called the police

00:23:12.840 --> 00:23:13.980
 eventually they were like

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:15.120
 oh we can't press charges

00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:16.020
 or anything like that

00:23:16.020 --> 00:23:20.060
 and so I went to find him

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:21.700
 went down to a homeless shelter

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:24.039
 and I went there

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:25.099
 I knew he was going to be there

00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:26.099
 he walks in

00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:26.919
 he sees me

00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:29.359
 his face was just like shock

00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.539
 and kind of like

00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:32.240
 just hang his head in shame

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:34.700
 and I told him

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.839
 you know we know what you did

00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:37.000
 we've called the police

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.859
 and those different things

00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:38.639
 but do you know

00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:39.259
 at the end of the day

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:39.940
 I know there's a God

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.559
 who's gracious

00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:41.799
 and he forgives me

00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.639
 so we forgive you

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:44.920
 and I invited him

00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:45.300
 for dinner

00:23:45.300 --> 00:23:48.200
 he never turned up

00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:49.780
 a few days later

00:23:49.780 --> 00:23:51.740
 or maybe even a week

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.320
 I can't remember

00:23:52.320 --> 00:23:53.420
 maybe a week or so later

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.720
 I was cycling

00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:56.460
 in this completely

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.540
 other end of town

00:23:57.540 --> 00:23:58.180
 in this kind of

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.180
 narrow back alley

00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:01.020
 like no one goes down there

00:24:01.020 --> 00:24:02.259
 and I was cycling through

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.860
 and then suddenly

00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.640
 I see him

00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:04.640
 sitting on a bench

00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:07.100
 and as I saw him

00:24:07.100 --> 00:24:08.060
 I got off my bike

00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:08.900
 and went over to him

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:09.640
 and again

00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:10.600
 he saw me

00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.679
 and the look on his face

00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:13.059
 was like shock

00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:14.199
 and he said to me

00:24:14.199 --> 00:24:15.139
 you know I've been trying

00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:15.939
 to avoid you

00:24:15.939 --> 00:24:16.819
 all of this time

00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.219
 in fact

00:24:17.219 --> 00:24:18.799
 and I thought

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.819
 this was the one place

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.459
 in this city

00:24:20.459 --> 00:24:21.240
 that I could come

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.039
 to avoid you

00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:23.159
 but obviously

00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:24.039
 God's got something

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:25.219
 different going on here

00:24:25.219 --> 00:24:27.519
 and so from that point

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.059
 we started doing

00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:29.119
 Bible study with him

00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:30.319
 I invited him

00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:30.980
 to stay at our house

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.559
 for a few days

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.819
 until we found him

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.859
 another place to go

00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:37.000
 one day I went out to work

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.619
 I get a call

00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.339
 from my housemate

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.199
 saying this guy's

00:24:39.199 --> 00:24:40.559
 gone and stolen my PSP

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:47.500
 and we call the police

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.319
 he gets arrested

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.500
 he'd stolen some other stuff

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.039
 he gets sentenced

00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:50.980
 to three years in prison

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:53.659
 every month

00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:54.279
 I went to go

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.740
 and visit him

00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.119
 in prison

00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:57.079
 every month

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:58.019
 we talk about Jesus

00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.599
 we talk about

00:24:58.599 --> 00:24:59.480
 going to the chaplain

00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.279
 and going and

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.980
 sharing the gospel

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.480
 with him

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:02.940
 and every month

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.159
 he'd say

00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:04.179
 I'll go to see the chaplain

00:25:04.179 --> 00:25:04.960
 every month

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.519
 I went back

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:05.980
 I'd ask him

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.819
 have you been to the chaplain

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.299
 and he'd say no

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:09.139
 this went on

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:09.599
 for like

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.740
 about a year

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.480
 and then I kind of

00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.359
 began to give up

00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:17.480
 about 18 months

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.879
 into his term

00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:19.500
 I hadn't seen him

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.559
 for three or four months

00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.779
 I get a letter

00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.940
 from him

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.399
 the letter says

00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:25.559
 I

00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:27.919
 I just wanted to say

00:25:27.919 --> 00:25:29.039
 that I've become

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.460
 a Christian

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.119
 and I got baptized

00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:30.779
 last week

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:33.680
 because I was

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.599
 put in isolation

00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.920
 for brewing beer

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:36.839
 inside the prison

00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:40.639
 go figure

00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:42.139
 you can tell

00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:42.599
 the kind of guy

00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.059
 Jim was

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.920
 and

00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.399
 and he said

00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:48.200
 and while I was in there

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.859
 I remembered

00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.839
 everything

00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:51.119
 that you guys

00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.819
 had done for me

00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.740
 and the grace

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.399
 that you had shown

00:25:53.399 --> 00:25:53.799
 for me

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.279
 and I realized

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.039
 how much a sinner

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.639
 I was

00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:58.639
 and so I asked

00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.379
 God to save me

00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:01.320
 he said

00:26:01.320 --> 00:26:02.900
 later that day

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.640
 the chaplain

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.360
 came around

00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.660
 and he came around

00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.500
 and he said

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:06.760
 hey

00:26:06.760 --> 00:26:08.260
 you're getting baptized

00:26:08.260 --> 00:26:08.780
 Sunday

00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:11.180
 and Jim hadn't

00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:11.820
 told anyone

00:26:11.820 --> 00:26:12.800
 he prayed this prayer

00:26:12.800 --> 00:26:13.280
 and he's like

00:26:13.280 --> 00:26:14.160
 okay

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:14.860
 fine

00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:16.740
 Saturday comes

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.120
 the chaplain

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:17.860
 comes around again

00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:18.140
 and says

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:18.420
 hey

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.320
 I'm really sorry

00:26:19.320 --> 00:26:19.620
 Jim

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.720
 but I totally

00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.280
 mistook you

00:26:21.280 --> 00:26:22.120
 for somebody else

00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:23.800
 like

00:26:23.800 --> 00:26:25.120
 but do you still

00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:25.680
 want to get baptized

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:28.160
 and

00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.960
 and he did

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.340
 and

00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:30.960
 and he gave

00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.680
 this testimony

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.660
 to all of the other

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.079
 inmates

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.100
 of God's grace

00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:35.259
 and faithfulness

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:37.500
 now why do I tell you

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.240
 that story

00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.960
 it's not because

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.519
 I'm great

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:42.940
 but it's because

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:47.299
 looking back

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:47.980
 would I have done

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.620
 some of the same

00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.480
 things that I did

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:49.840
 before

00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.440
 maybe there's one

00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:50.960
 or two things

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.400
 I would change

00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:51.799
 but I think

00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:52.180
 I would do

00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:53.059
 exactly the same

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:56.220
 why

00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.200
 did Jim

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.240
 deserve my help

00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:01.180
 absolutely not

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:04.620
 could I rescue

00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.039
 Jim

00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:07.859
 absolutely not

00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:09.880
 his own sin

00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.599
 prevented him

00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:11.339
 from accepting

00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:11.880
 my help

00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:12.200
 really

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:14.240
 so why love

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.359
 people like Jim

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:16.660
 why love people

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.440
 who are desperate

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.319
 in need

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.299
 in this different way

00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:21.079
 because the gospel

00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:21.900
 says that you

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:22.539
 and I are just

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.079
 like Jim

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:25.439
 you see

00:27:25.439 --> 00:27:26.039
 God lavishes

00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:26.720
 his blessing

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.079
 on me

00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:27.579
 again

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.240
 and again

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:28.939
 and again

00:27:28.939 --> 00:27:30.819
 and then we steal

00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:31.359
 his stuff

00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.039
 trying to keep it

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.779
 just for himself

00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.359
 when he says

00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:33.939
 your tenants

00:27:33.939 --> 00:27:34.859
 I've loaned this

00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.159
 to you

00:27:35.159 --> 00:27:35.579
 but we say

00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.299
 no it's mine

00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:38.619
 and again

00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.039
 and again

00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.579
 God keeps

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.879
 chasing after us

00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:42.319
 showering his

00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:43.279
 blessing on us

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.119
 his grace

00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:44.799
 and forgiveness

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.399
 on us

00:27:45.399 --> 00:27:46.539
 again and again

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.199
 and again

00:27:47.199 --> 00:27:47.679
 and again

00:27:47.679 --> 00:27:48.599
 we keep holding

00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.179
 on to it

00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:51.420
 Jesus didn't

00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:51.980
 just lose

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.740
 a PSP

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:55.060
 he lost

00:27:55.060 --> 00:27:55.640
 his life

00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.019
 for you

00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.460
 and me

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:58.460
 because we're

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.160
 just like Jim

00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:01.600
 we were slaves

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.100
 to our own

00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.019
 spiritual poverty

00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:03.420
 and God

00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.380
 rescued us

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:06.539
 and he blesses

00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.240
 us with so much

00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:07.820
 not because we

00:28:07.820 --> 00:28:08.460
 deserve it

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.340
 but because

00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:10.019
 he's gracious

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:12.519
 and that's

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.019
 the kind of

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.740
 people that he

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.700
 calls us to be

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:16.060
 in this city

00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:17.560
 a people

00:28:17.560 --> 00:28:18.380
 who are gracious

00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.160
 to those

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.960
 who are in

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.300
 need

00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:23.360
 what does that

00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:23.940
 look like

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:25.400
 for each of us

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:25.840
 that's going to

00:28:25.840 --> 00:28:26.640
 look very different

00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.960
 very different

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.720
 some of us

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:28.980
 are like

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.000
 I'm so busy

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.500
 I have so many

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.180
 things to do

00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:31.980
 and God is not

00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.640
 saying I want you

00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:33.400
 to fill your

00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.080
 timetable with

00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:34.840
 a hundred things

00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:35.560
 but I want your

00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:36.019
 heart

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:37.920
 to just stop

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:40.759
 and ask yourself

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.640
 do I see

00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:42.360
 people

00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:43.480
 is my heart

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.120
 soft

00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:45.040
 are my hands

00:28:45.040 --> 00:28:45.580
 open

00:28:45.580 --> 00:28:48.120
 the greatest

00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.680
 education

00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.320
 my parents

00:28:49.320 --> 00:28:49.779
 gave me

00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.200
 was never

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.460
 in a

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.000
 classroom

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.500
 but it's

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:52.960
 they invited

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.460
 a refugee

00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.200
 family around

00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:54.740
 to my home

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:56.080
 week after

00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:56.440
 week

00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.160
 they never

00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.700
 preached to

00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.060
 me about

00:28:58.060 --> 00:28:59.039
 reaching out

00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.360
 to the

00:28:59.360 --> 00:28:59.980
 poor and

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.259
 needy

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:01.039
 I saw it

00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:02.279
 that's the

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.060
 greatest sermon

00:29:03.060 --> 00:29:03.640
 you can give

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.360
 your life

00:29:04.360 --> 00:29:06.620
 there are

00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:06.980
 tutoring

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.660
 opportunities

00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.299
 at Ebenezer

00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.580
 some of you

00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:10.420
 God has blessed

00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.039
 you with some

00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:11.759
 time or some

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.140
 abilities

00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:13.039
 that could be a

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.779
 great opportunity

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.399
 right here

00:29:14.399 --> 00:29:15.180
 to teach

00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:15.539
 some of the

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:15.879
 people

00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:17.460
 Thursday

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:18.039
 sons and

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.420
 daughters

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.740
 they go out

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.980
 loving and

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:22.460
 serving the

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.299
 sex workers

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:23.859
 on Lockhart

00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:24.200
 Road

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:26.359
 maybe you can

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:26.759
 go

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:28.899
 maybe you're

00:29:28.899 --> 00:29:29.399
 not free

00:29:29.399 --> 00:29:29.899
 then but maybe

00:29:29.899 --> 00:29:30.460
 you can pray

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.000
 for them

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:32.180
 maybe you can

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:32.740
 bake goods

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.220
 for them

00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.759
 maybe we can

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.519
 just get together

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.279
 and think about

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:38.099
 look at our

00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:38.519
 spending

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:38.940
 I don't know if

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.359
 you've ever got

00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:39.879
 together with

00:29:39.879 --> 00:29:40.460
 somebody and said

00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:41.220
 hey how much do

00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:41.980
 I actually spend

00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:42.519
 on clothes

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.460
 how much do

00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:44.240
 I actually spend

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.920
 on food and

00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:45.400
 entertainment

00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.360
 maybe if I just

00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:47.160
 cut one meal

00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.880
 and we set that

00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:48.559
 money aside

00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.339
 and used it

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.799
 to be able to

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:51.000
 give to those

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.599
 in need

00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:54.460
 maybe we just

00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:54.900
 need to just

00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:55.559
 start to pray

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.339
 as a CG

00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:56.860
 and say God

00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.880
 open my eyes

00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:58.420
 I don't know

00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:59.319
 where I don't

00:29:59.319 --> 00:29:59.779
 know how

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.460
 I don't know

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.079
 what but my

00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.759
 eyes and my

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.720
 ears are open

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.259
 for what you

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.799
 want to say

00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.900
 maybe that's

00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:05.620
 where we start

00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:08.680
 last year

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:10.360
 and I'll close

00:30:10.360 --> 00:30:10.819
 with this

00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.919
 I was walking

00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:12.359
 back from the

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.019
 community center

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:14.879
 the old community

00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:15.519
 center on Bonham

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:15.740
 Road

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.399
 and I saw

00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:16.779
 this guy

00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.460
 walking towards

00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:17.700
 me

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.859
 and he looked

00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.240
 at me

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:20.179
 I looked at

00:30:20.179 --> 00:30:20.379
 him

00:30:20.379 --> 00:30:20.720
 it's one of

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:20.939
 those kind

00:30:20.939 --> 00:30:21.319
 of awkward

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:21.899
 moments

00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:22.319
 you know

00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:24.200
 and I was

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:24.839
 like should I

00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.319
 stop and be

00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:25.980
 friendly or

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.319
 should I just

00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:27.019
 ignore him

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.579
 but I said

00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.559
 hi and he

00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:30.019
 kind of said

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.559
 hi

00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:33.700
 and he then

00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.139
 said to me

00:30:34.139 --> 00:30:34.500
 do you know

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.139
 a church near

00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:35.379
 here

00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:36.779
 and I was

00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:38.980
 like I don't

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.419
 have random

00:30:39.419 --> 00:30:40.000
 strangers just

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.460
 coming up to

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:40.839
 me asking

00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:41.240
 me that

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:45.160
 and he

00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:47.220
 I found out

00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:47.559
 he was a

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.319
 Sudanese guy

00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:48.720
 he said I've

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.180
 just come over

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.779
 from China

00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.559
 and there was

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.019
 money that was

00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.359
 meant to be

00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:51.799
 wired to me

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.359
 today hasn't

00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:52.740
 come through

00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.019
 and I've

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.519
 literally got

00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.720
 nothing this

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.039
 night

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:56.200
 like tomorrow

00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.740
 morning stuff

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.220
 should be come

00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.539
 through and

00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:00.259
 but I've got

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.019
 nothing right

00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:02.700
 now and at

00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.299
 that point I'm

00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:03.859
 going yeah I've

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.339
 heard so many

00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:06.740
 stories like

00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:08.839
 seriously I know

00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.659
 how this works

00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:13.959
 and I asked

00:31:13.959 --> 00:31:14.279
 him a few

00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.000
 more questions

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.559
 we chatted

00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.379
 for a while

00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:17.579
 and I'm

00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:17.919
 kind of in

00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.319
 this should I

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:18.740
 give should I

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.099
 not should I

00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:19.439
 give should I

00:31:19.439 --> 00:31:21.779
 not and then

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:23.099
 I'm like okay

00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:25.119
 it's 20 I

00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:26.299
 there's I said

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:26.799
 there's a

00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.539
 McDonald's I

00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.220
 had to go out

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:28.939
 later but I

00:31:28.939 --> 00:31:29.899
 said hey if you

00:31:29.899 --> 00:31:30.379
 want to stay the

00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:31.319
 night there's a

00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:31.980
 McDonald's there

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.740
 a 24-hour

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.579
 McDonald's down

00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:35.079
 the road okay

00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:35.859
 and here's

00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.699
 $20 or

00:31:36.699 --> 00:31:37.399
 $30 whatever

00:31:37.399 --> 00:31:38.480
 it was just

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.259
 buy yourself

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.619
 something you

00:31:39.619 --> 00:31:40.179
 can hang out

00:31:40.179 --> 00:31:40.819
 there and

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.079
 you know what

00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:42.339
 happened at

00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:43.839
 that moment he

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.699
 just burst into

00:31:44.699 --> 00:31:46.159
 tears like

00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:46.759
 literally his

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.740
 face just started

00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:48.819
 streaming with

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:51.000
 tears and you

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.299
 know what he

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:51.759
 said to me he

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.579
 said I've been

00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:53.439
 around to so

00:31:53.439 --> 00:31:55.539
 many churches and

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.399
 all of them said

00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:57.199
 they couldn't help

00:31:57.199 --> 00:31:59.559
 me and he said

00:31:59.559 --> 00:32:00.359
 I thought that

00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:01.279
 God had

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:02.179
 abandoned me

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:04.940
 but now I

00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.840
 know that he

00:32:05.840 --> 00:32:09.840
 hasn't and I

00:32:09.840 --> 00:32:10.779
 wonder how many

00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.560
 people there are

00:32:11.560 --> 00:32:12.779
 in this city that

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.700
 think that God has

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.519
 abandoned them

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:17.620
 because I just

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.480
 haven't stopped to

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:21.560
 think to pray to

00:32:21.560 --> 00:32:22.799
 ask God show me

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:24.100
 who it is who's

00:32:24.100 --> 00:32:24.920
 that someone you

00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:25.680
 want me to reach

00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:28.180
 and yet God has

00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:30.700
 us here as his

00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.640
 people not just to

00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.660
 be a busy people

00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:33.340
 running around

00:32:33.340 --> 00:32:33.920
 doing lots of

00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:34.540
 stuff but to

00:32:34.540 --> 00:32:36.280
 see who are the

00:32:36.280 --> 00:32:38.020
 people within the

00:32:38.020 --> 00:32:38.860
 church we need to

00:32:38.860 --> 00:32:40.580
 love but outside

00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:43.320
 people whose eyes

00:32:43.320 --> 00:32:44.780
 are open whose

00:32:44.780 --> 00:32:46.600
 heart is soft and

00:32:46.600 --> 00:32:48.520
 whose hands are

00:32:48.520 --> 00:32:50.340
 open to say God

00:32:50.340 --> 00:32:51.680
 may I bless people

00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:55.420
 here so that they

00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:58.100
 might know that you

00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:58.840
 have not abandoned

00:32:58.840 --> 00:33:00.480
 them but that you

00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.319
 came to rescue

00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:03.039
 them and pray

00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:14.360
 father this is a

00:33:14.360 --> 00:33:15.920
 heavy topic in

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:16.640
 many ways but it

00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:17.599
 does cut right to

00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.259
 the heart of my

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.400
 own sense of

00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:22.480
 comfort and sense

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.860
 of responsibility

00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:28.399
 I pray for us as a

00:33:28.399 --> 00:33:31.759
 church make us this

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.819
 kind of people that

00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.759
 you call us to be

00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:36.639
 change our hearts

00:33:36.639 --> 00:33:38.659
 don't let us go away

00:33:38.659 --> 00:33:39.459
 from here feeling just

00:33:39.459 --> 00:33:40.459
 guilty that we're not

00:33:40.459 --> 00:33:42.639
 done enough let us go

00:33:42.639 --> 00:33:43.679
 away here with just

00:33:43.679 --> 00:33:44.659
 that heart saying God

00:33:44.659 --> 00:33:46.699
 change my heart open

00:33:46.699 --> 00:33:49.019
 my eyes open my hands

00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:52.639
 show me I pray that

00:33:52.639 --> 00:33:53.279
 you'd make us a

00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:54.759
 people who know how

00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.960
 to bless those around

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:58.119
 us who know the

00:33:58.119 --> 00:33:59.000
 riches that you've

00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:01.200
 lavished on us and

00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:03.299
 will freely openly

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:06.200
 bless those around us

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:08.639
 with wisdom but with

00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:10.440
 compassion in Jesus

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.780
 name amen

00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.620
 what's going on

00:34:12.620 --> 00:34:14.480
 your neighbors

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.380
 you

00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.360
 are

00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:26.920
 saying