WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.900 Good morning folks, it's great to see you. My name is Graham. For those who are new this morning, it's just so lovely to have you with us. 00:00:07.640 --> 00:00:12.400 Folks, let me invite you to grab your Bibles and come to John chapter 4. 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:17.100 We're back in this story today as Jesus encounters this Samaritan woman. 00:00:17.620 --> 00:00:23.059 It was so brilliant to hear last week as we began this chapter, as we were just speaking after the service, 00:00:23.240 --> 00:00:29.179 hearing how God has been moving in people's lives as we've encountered His Son in the pages of His Word. 00:00:29.179 --> 00:00:36.640 And let's just keep that momentum up. We want to create just a good space for us to have spiritual conversations as God's people. 00:00:37.379 --> 00:00:40.740 So this is incredible until we get back into John chapter 4 today. 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:45.460 So here's a question for you as we begin. How's your Spanish? 00:00:48.239 --> 00:00:51.420 Okay, if it's as good as mine, it's com si com sa. 00:00:53.760 --> 00:00:57.120 I've got one word. You can figure that out later, okay? 00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:00.599 I've got one word in my lingual locker in Spanish. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:03.439 And it's the word adoración. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:08.859 Now, I probably butchered that, but I checked how Google Translate this morning. 00:01:09.539 --> 00:01:10.840 And that's what it came back with. 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:15.060 Any Spanish speakers this morning, your native tongue, what does adoración mean? 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:17.019 It means worship. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:18.219 Okay? 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:21.099 So it's the one word I know in Spanish. Here's how I know it. 00:01:21.099 --> 00:01:24.799 I went to a conference in the States over the summer. 00:01:26.299 --> 00:01:28.780 500 people were in attendance at this conference. 00:01:29.739 --> 00:01:32.259 Half of them had Spanish as their mother tongue. 00:01:33.199 --> 00:01:36.060 The other half had English as their mother tongue. 00:01:36.659 --> 00:01:41.159 So the organizers of this conference, what they did is every song that we sang, 00:01:41.819 --> 00:01:45.879 every alternate verse of the song was either in English or Spanish. 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:49.899 And they did it deliberately to help us understand two things. 00:01:50.099 --> 00:01:56.239 Firstly, that in our different languages, as one, we were worshiping the same God. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:05.359 And secondly, they were helping us anticipate what it will be like one day in heaven. 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:13.159 Because the scene at the end of the Bible story is a quite remarkable one. 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:15.460 Revelation 7. 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:21.579 There are all of God's people, a great multitude that no one can count, 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:25.199 that God has gathered together in the name of his Son, 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:28.039 in the new heavens and in the new earth, 00:02:28.099 --> 00:02:32.300 that God will bring about a place where righteousness reigns, 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:35.280 where death is no more, where pain is no more, 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:38.960 and when God has defeated his enemies. 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:41.900 Where are those people from? 00:02:42.780 --> 00:02:44.740 They're from all over the world. 00:02:45.700 --> 00:02:50.320 They're from every tribe, every tongue, and every nation. 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:53.780 I think it's one of the most distinctive features about Christianity 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:57.600 when you compare it to the other major religions of the world today. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:02.719 Generally speaking, Christianity is not geographically tied. 00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:06.319 The scene at the end of the Bible is these people are, 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:10.699 God has gathered them from all places of the world, 00:03:10.859 --> 00:03:13.000 all ends of the globe, down through the ages. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:14.219 He's gathered them together. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:15.780 He's made them one. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:20.340 This God is in the business of making and gathering worshippers. 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:22.879 And this is why this passage is so exciting. 00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:27.400 Because John 4 is the wonderful star of the river 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:32.939 that leads to the ocean that is the scene in Revelation 7. 00:03:33.099 --> 00:03:37.759 How is this God going to unite his people from all around the world 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:39.400 under the banner of his Son? 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:40.780 How is he going to do it? 00:03:42.259 --> 00:03:46.060 And Jesus continues this conversation with this Samaritan woman. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:54.420 And as we're to get the earth-shattering worldview changing enormity of this, 00:03:54.620 --> 00:03:57.360 we need to get back in her world. 00:03:57.939 --> 00:04:00.900 Her world is a world of pain. 00:04:01.920 --> 00:04:04.219 Her world is a world of regret. 00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:06.980 Her world is a world of hostility. 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:10.259 Her world is a world of division. 00:04:10.480 --> 00:04:13.240 Her world is a world of shame. 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:15.780 And as I've mulled on it a bit more this week, 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:17.240 in light of last week, 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:19.939 I wonder whether that's why we don't even know her name. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:21.780 Okay? 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:23.740 John chapter 3, Nicodemus. 00:04:23.980 --> 00:04:25.600 Everybody knows that guy's name. 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:31.840 But could it be that no one has bothered to learn hers, 00:04:32.220 --> 00:04:35.579 such as society's disgusted who she is? 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:41.139 Well, into her dusty and thirsty world, 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:43.879 Jesus has stepped. 00:04:44.740 --> 00:04:49.079 And speaking is the one who knows her better than she knows herself. 00:04:49.259 --> 00:04:52.860 He has just offered her, verse 10, come with me in the text. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:56.399 He has offered her living water. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:05:01.479 He has offered her an inner spring of life 00:05:01.479 --> 00:05:07.199 that flows from his spirit living inside of her. 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:09.919 This is what Jesus has stepped into her world. 00:05:10.179 --> 00:05:12.879 And this is what Jesus has offered her. 00:05:12.979 --> 00:05:15.239 And I reckon she perceives something 00:05:15.239 --> 00:05:18.099 of what Jesus is offering her. 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:22.779 And she twigs that it's got something to do 00:05:22.779 --> 00:05:24.459 with worship. 00:05:24.459 --> 00:05:27.519 But in her mind, she thinks, 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:30.799 well, that's all well and good for you and yours. 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:32.139 Right? 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:37.180 Go back down south and offer that to the Jewish people. 00:05:38.039 --> 00:05:38.240 Right? 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:38.919 Maybe it's for them. 00:05:39.060 --> 00:05:40.539 But it's not for my people. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:42.459 And it's certainly not for me. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:46.199 And what Jesus does this morning 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:51.579 is that he redefines what worship is. 00:05:51.579 --> 00:05:58.039 The kind that God has both made possible 00:05:58.039 --> 00:06:00.759 and delights in. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:04.039 Folks, we need to get this this morning. 00:06:04.099 --> 00:06:04.539 It's brilliant. 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:05.500 Okay? 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:07.759 Here is one thing that Jesus says, 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:09.399 one thing that worship isn't about. 00:06:10.099 --> 00:06:11.379 Come with me to verse 20. 00:06:11.459 --> 00:06:12.060 Do you see? 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:15.579 It's not about a place. 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:18.039 Here's what she says. 00:06:18.039 --> 00:06:20.759 Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain. 00:06:21.419 --> 00:06:24.319 But you Jews claim that the place 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:26.879 where we must worship is in Jerusalem. 00:06:27.919 --> 00:06:30.120 So the Samaritans go to this place 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:33.399 called Mount Gerizim to offer their worship. 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:35.299 That's the monument, sorry, 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:37.439 the mountain that she's referring to. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:40.479 So as well as many other religious things, 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:45.060 the Samaritans recognised the Pentateuch. 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:47.180 So pent meaning five. 00:06:47.580 --> 00:06:50.160 Pentateuch is the first five books 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:52.439 that are in our Old Testaments, right? 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:55.259 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. 00:06:55.780 --> 00:06:59.480 The Samaritans recognise and follow the Pentateuch. 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:01.740 And if you read there, 00:07:02.200 --> 00:07:04.620 Shechem is the first place 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:06.280 that Abraham offered worship 00:07:06.280 --> 00:07:08.879 when he entered the promised land. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:12.060 So if you're going to drop a pin anywhere, 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:14.360 if you're going to build a temple somewhere, 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:17.540 then that's the place that makes sense to do it. 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:20.319 So they worship at Mount Gerizim. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:22.100 That's the place where they head. 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:24.040 Meanwhile, talking of temples, 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:27.939 the Jews believe in the rest of the Old Testament. 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:33.319 So they recognise Jerusalem as the place 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:35.240 where God's king would reign 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:37.879 and where God's presence would be. 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:40.860 And we get the story there of David's son Solomon 00:07:40.860 --> 00:07:42.719 building the temple. 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:44.100 That's where they worship. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:48.920 So this is two tribes going to war, right? 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.019 She is asking who is right. 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:53.379 Which horse are you backing? 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:56.259 Where is the place where we need to go 00:07:56.259 --> 00:07:58.100 to worship on your terms? 00:07:58.759 --> 00:07:59.240 And to be honest, 00:07:59.259 --> 00:08:01.279 I think this is how we naturally think 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:02.699 as human beings, is it not? 00:08:02.699 --> 00:08:05.740 That we have to go to special places 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.699 to worship. 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:10.699 The special places hold some kind 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:13.620 of religious significance. 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:16.240 You know, there's been one of the newest trends 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:17.459 in the UK right now 00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:20.379 is this thing called champing. 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:23.819 Camping in churches. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:26.899 So instead of booking a night away on Airbnb, 00:08:26.899 --> 00:08:29.539 you can now stay overnight in a church building. 00:08:30.739 --> 00:08:31.199 Right? 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:32.120 What's the appeal? 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:34.980 Well, the traditions and surroundings 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:37.079 combined with the silence and solitude 00:08:37.079 --> 00:08:38.000 come together, 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:40.079 meaning that you can have a religious experience 00:08:40.079 --> 00:08:42.199 as you stay overnight somewhere. 00:08:43.500 --> 00:08:43.939 Right? 00:08:44.079 --> 00:08:46.899 We think there are special places 00:08:47.579 --> 00:08:49.759 where we go to worship. 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:51.179 I remember there was a guy called Rory 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:52.639 who used to come to Basics Bank 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:53.840 back in the days 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:54.819 where we used to have breakfast 00:08:54.820 --> 00:08:56.540 in this corner when people used to come. 00:08:56.980 --> 00:08:58.260 Came in wearing his flat cap 00:08:58.260 --> 00:08:59.520 every time he came on a Friday. 00:08:59.680 --> 00:09:01.520 Took off his flat cap when he came in. 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:04.379 Told his mate off every time that he swore 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:05.420 because in his words, 00:09:05.520 --> 00:09:06.840 we are in the house of God. 00:09:07.900 --> 00:09:08.300 Right? 00:09:08.400 --> 00:09:11.379 We think places of worship. 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:13.400 How many of us grew up 00:09:13.400 --> 00:09:14.740 coming to church on a Sunday 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:16.440 wearing our Sunday best? 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:16.900 Why? 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.700 Because we need to dress smart 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:21.240 if we're going to come into the presence 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:22.440 of a king. 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:25.740 We think places of worship. 00:09:28.140 --> 00:09:30.540 And so she's asking Jesus to pick a winner 00:09:30.540 --> 00:09:32.940 and surely we and John's readers 00:09:32.940 --> 00:09:34.520 would fully expect him 00:09:34.520 --> 00:09:36.840 as a devout Jew to pick what? 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:38.220 Pick where? 00:09:40.020 --> 00:09:40.460 Jerusalem. 00:09:41.140 --> 00:09:41.320 Yeah? 00:09:42.680 --> 00:09:43.860 That that would be the horse 00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:44.960 that he would back. 00:09:45.280 --> 00:09:46.580 And add to that the fact 00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:48.360 that this encounter happens where? 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:49.560 Back at verse 5. 00:09:50.160 --> 00:09:50.860 If you look at it there, 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:51.759 in fact verse 5, 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:52.519 where is it happening? 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:53.139 It's happening. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:54.820 This encounter 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:56.480 at Sychar. 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:58.300 Which is literally 00:09:58.300 --> 00:09:59.000 the place. 00:09:59.060 --> 00:10:00.259 I didn't realize this until Friday 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:01.560 and it's always good to look up 00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:02.820 the geography of what the Bible 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:03.460 is telling us. 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:04.960 That place is literally 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:07.180 at the bottom of Mount Gerizim. 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:10.399 So Jesus has walked up 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:13.060 to this place 00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:14.519 which is in effect 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:16.019 the very epicenter 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:18.080 of Samaritan religious activity. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:19.200 What he's done here 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:19.820 is the equivalent 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:21.320 of walking right into Mecca 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:22.500 and saying this is not the place 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:23.080 where you worship. 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:25.840 You can imagine 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.020 the local Jews reading this 00:10:27.020 --> 00:10:27.780 thinking to themselves 00:10:27.780 --> 00:10:28.639 that's right Jesus 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:29.900 you go right over there 00:10:29.900 --> 00:10:30.680 and you tell them 00:10:30.680 --> 00:10:31.480 that they're wrong. 00:10:32.520 --> 00:10:32.759 Right? 00:10:32.800 --> 00:10:33.600 We love our boy. 00:10:33.900 --> 00:10:34.660 You go and tell them 00:10:34.660 --> 00:10:35.300 that's not the place 00:10:35.300 --> 00:10:35.840 where they worship. 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:36.360 You tell them 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:37.320 they've got to get down here. 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:40.200 But he says 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:40.920 verse 21 00:10:40.920 --> 00:10:41.759 place? 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:42.680 Question mark? 00:10:44.920 --> 00:10:45.320 Neither. 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:48.560 And to get 00:10:48.560 --> 00:10:49.240 how 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:50.580 he can say 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:51.340 neither 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:52.540 and why 00:10:52.540 --> 00:10:53.840 there's one thing 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:54.640 that true worship 00:10:54.640 --> 00:10:55.620 isn't about. 00:10:56.940 --> 00:10:58.180 We have to listen 00:10:58.180 --> 00:10:58.980 to him 00:10:58.980 --> 00:10:59.680 tell us 00:10:59.680 --> 00:11:00.720 about the two things 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:01.500 that true worship 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:02.760 is about. 00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:05.120 And here's the first one. 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:06.100 What is it about 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:07.080 according to Jesus? 00:11:07.260 --> 00:11:08.040 It's about 00:11:08.040 --> 00:11:09.200 truth. 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:11.120 Now here 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.200 Jesus right here 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:14.500 despite not citing 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.000 Jerusalem 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:16.100 as the place 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:16.680 of worship 00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:19.520 see how he is clear 00:11:19.520 --> 00:11:20.440 in his validation 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:21.680 of Jewish 00:11:21.680 --> 00:11:22.440 teaching. 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:23.320 Verse 22 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:24.140 what does he say? 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:25.160 He says salvation 00:11:25.160 --> 00:11:26.800 is from the Jews. 00:11:27.140 --> 00:11:27.700 We worship 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:28.800 what we know. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:31.879 They are 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:32.360 the Jews 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:33.840 God's chosen vehicle 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:34.840 by which 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:35.879 he would drive 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:36.660 his promised 00:11:36.660 --> 00:11:37.240 blessing 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:38.580 to the peoples 00:11:38.580 --> 00:11:39.680 of the world. 00:11:39.800 --> 00:11:41.080 It's why we need 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:42.040 our Old Testament. 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:43.740 really matters. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:44.780 All of scripture 00:11:44.780 --> 00:11:45.680 is God breathed. 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:46.620 It's why we need 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:47.379 our Old Testament. 00:11:48.300 --> 00:11:49.259 And getting into 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:49.960 our systems 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:50.920 the intentions 00:11:50.920 --> 00:11:51.920 the promises 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:53.320 and the character 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:54.040 of the God 00:11:54.040 --> 00:11:54.860 who has revealed 00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:55.920 himself there. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:57.620 And we need 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.259 the Old Testament 00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:58.980 to make sense 00:11:58.980 --> 00:11:59.520 of Jesus 00:11:59.520 --> 00:12:00.560 and flip 00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:01.700 we need 00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:03.160 Jesus to make sense 00:12:03.160 --> 00:12:04.259 of the Old Testament. 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:07.680 He validates 00:12:07.680 --> 00:12:08.400 the Jews 00:12:08.400 --> 00:12:08.940 and their 00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:09.700 heritage 00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.660 and their teaching. 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:12.480 But notice 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:12.939 when it comes 00:12:12.939 --> 00:12:13.399 to worship 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:13.819 what does 00:12:13.819 --> 00:12:14.459 Jesus say 00:12:14.459 --> 00:12:15.339 verse 24 00:12:15.339 --> 00:12:16.839 that God is? 00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:18.939 God 00:12:18.939 --> 00:12:19.980 is 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:21.659 spirit. 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:21.799 spirit. 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.279 I was chatting 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.719 to my mum 00:12:25.719 --> 00:12:26.600 earlier this week 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:28.939 and she was 00:12:28.939 --> 00:12:29.360 telling me 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.360 that she went 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:31.159 last week 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:31.860 on her first 00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:33.539 ever art class. 00:12:34.339 --> 00:12:34.480 Right? 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:35.199 Loving retirement 00:12:35.199 --> 00:12:35.980 life is my mum. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:37.879 And here's what 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:38.539 happened at that 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:39.179 art class 00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:39.819 that she found 00:12:39.819 --> 00:12:40.740 a bit strange. 00:12:41.819 --> 00:12:42.360 She thought 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:43.120 they do 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:43.620 what they normally 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.039 do at one of 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:44.579 these classes 00:12:44.579 --> 00:12:45.039 you've ever been 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.339 to them. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.139 People come 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:46.919 they sit in a 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:47.399 circle 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:48.860 with their 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:49.419 canvases 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:50.059 and the thing 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:50.340 you're meant 00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:50.819 to draw 00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:52.319 is right in 00:12:52.319 --> 00:12:52.579 the middle. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:53.000 It's kind of 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:53.679 how it goes. 00:12:54.959 --> 00:12:56.019 You can see 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:57.159 the object 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:57.620 that you're 00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:58.019 painting. 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.039 But she said 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:02.079 what was strange 00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:03.019 is that when I 00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:03.579 got there 00:13:03.579 --> 00:13:04.639 there wasn't 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:05.600 anything physical 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.419 for me to look 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:07.039 at in the middle. 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:09.019 And the teacher 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:09.620 comes on board 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:10.199 and asks him 00:13:10.199 --> 00:13:11.159 to draw a river. 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:11.860 This is what 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:12.879 my mum ended up 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:13.059 drawing, 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:13.460 a river. 00:13:13.579 --> 00:13:14.179 She was showing 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:14.480 me it. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:15.759 But the teacher 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.439 said draw a river 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:17.160 but go off 00:13:17.160 --> 00:13:17.680 what that river 00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:18.160 looks like 00:13:18.160 --> 00:13:18.460 in your 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:19.080 imagination. 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:22.580 What does it 00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:22.900 look like 00:13:22.900 --> 00:13:23.420 in your mind? 00:13:23.520 --> 00:13:23.900 How do you 00:13:23.900 --> 00:13:24.540 picture it? 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:27.220 You see 00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:27.660 friends 00:13:27.660 --> 00:13:28.040 when Jesus 00:13:28.040 --> 00:13:28.460 is talking 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:28.800 about God 00:13:28.800 --> 00:13:29.240 the Father 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:30.000 as spirit 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:30.680 he's saying 00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.040 that you 00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:32.080 cannot visibly 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:32.900 see him. 00:13:34.160 --> 00:13:34.820 He has 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:35.820 no form. 00:13:36.640 --> 00:13:37.200 You cannot 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:37.800 hope to 00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.940 contain him. 00:13:39.180 --> 00:13:39.780 You cannot 00:13:39.780 --> 00:13:40.340 hope to 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:41.180 control him. 00:13:41.280 --> 00:13:41.760 You cannot 00:13:41.760 --> 00:13:42.820 paint him 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:44.280 because he's 00:13:44.280 --> 00:13:45.060 so different 00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:45.820 from us. 00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:47.300 He's so 00:13:47.300 --> 00:13:48.180 high above 00:13:48.180 --> 00:13:48.900 the things 00:13:48.900 --> 00:13:49.240 of this 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:49.420 earth. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:49.920 How often 00:13:49.920 --> 00:13:50.380 I think 00:13:50.380 --> 00:13:50.760 of God 00:13:50.760 --> 00:13:51.080 as just 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:51.320 a kind 00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:51.840 of me 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:52.520 on my 00:13:52.520 --> 00:13:53.280 best day. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.100 No, 00:13:54.160 --> 00:13:54.240 no, 00:13:54.260 --> 00:13:54.340 no. 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:54.920 He's so 00:13:54.920 --> 00:13:55.560 far above 00:13:55.560 --> 00:13:56.020 the things 00:13:56.020 --> 00:13:56.360 of this 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:56.580 earth. 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:57.220 So far 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:57.540 above 00:13:57.540 --> 00:13:58.300 the things 00:13:58.300 --> 00:13:58.880 of me. 00:13:59.500 --> 00:13:59.740 As the 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:00.200 old hymn 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:00.760 says, 00:14:00.900 --> 00:14:01.400 immortal, 00:14:01.760 --> 00:14:02.240 invisible, 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.300 God only 00:14:03.300 --> 00:14:03.960 wise, 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:04.740 in light 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.560 and accessible, 00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:07.260 hid from 00:14:07.260 --> 00:14:08.120 our eyes. 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.360 God is 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:10.800 spirit. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:10.939 spirit. 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.120 Which means 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.539 that if 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:14.000 God had 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.599 not taken 00:14:14.599 --> 00:14:15.319 the initiative 00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:16.459 in disclosing 00:14:16.459 --> 00:14:17.359 himself to 00:14:17.359 --> 00:14:17.859 us, 00:14:18.339 --> 00:14:18.859 we would 00:14:18.859 --> 00:14:19.359 be like 00:14:19.359 --> 00:14:19.839 my mum 00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:20.339 delving 00:14:20.339 --> 00:14:21.000 into our 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.859 imaginations, 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:22.439 trying to 00:14:22.439 --> 00:14:23.279 understand who 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:23.779 he is, 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:24.519 what he 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:25.279 looks like. 00:14:25.819 --> 00:14:26.439 And left 00:14:26.439 --> 00:14:26.759 on our 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.099 own, 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:28.099 not only 00:14:28.099 --> 00:14:28.439 would we 00:14:28.439 --> 00:14:29.000 worship him 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:29.699 wrongly, 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:30.659 which is 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:31.019 what the 00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:31.679 Bible calls 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:32.659 idolatry, 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.579 worshipping a 00:14:33.579 --> 00:14:34.240 God in our 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:34.579 image, 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.099 according to 00:14:35.099 --> 00:14:36.019 our tastes, 00:14:36.339 --> 00:14:36.879 which play 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.459 out in our 00:14:37.459 --> 00:14:38.120 times. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:40.600 Friends, 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:40.840 we would 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.379 never begin 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:41.860 to imagine 00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.360 how gracious 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:42.820 and good 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.299 this God 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:43.679 is left 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:43.879 to our 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.019 own 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:44.440 devices. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:47.799 But it's 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:48.120 as if 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:48.580 Jesus, 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:49.159 as the 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:49.679 one who 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:50.139 is the 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:50.580 image of 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:50.720 the 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.159 invisible 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:51.740 God, 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:52.940 has walked 00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:53.419 into the 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:54.060 art class, 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:54.620 taken a 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:55.000 seat in 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:55.320 the middle 00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:55.759 and said, 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:55.980 do you 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:56.179 want to 00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:56.440 know what 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:56.759 God is 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.120 like? 00:14:58.659 --> 00:14:59.200 Look at 00:14:59.200 --> 00:14:59.480 me. 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.000 Because 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.360 John has 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:01.799 just unveiled 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:01.940 him, 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.159 hasn't he? 00:15:02.180 --> 00:15:02.480 Right at the 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:02.779 beginning of 00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.220 the gospel, 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:03.980 Jesus Christ 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.399 full of 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:06.200 grace and 00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:06.659 truth. 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:08.539 Look at 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:08.700 me, 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:09.299 says Jesus, 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:09.940 and listen 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:10.480 and live 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.000 your life 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.600 according to 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.060 what I 00:15:12.060 --> 00:15:12.820 say is 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:13.519 true. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:15.500 And so 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:15.919 when Jesus 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.500 says that 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:16.860 we must 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.360 worship the 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:17.940 Father in 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:18.500 truth, 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.480 it means 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:19.820 that the 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:20.440 only true 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:20.940 worship of 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:21.460 the Father 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:22.200 is the 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:22.720 worship that 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.159 is done 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:23.960 in and 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.440 through 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:25.259 him. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.500 He is 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.060 back at 00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:29.720 chapter 2 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.720 verse 21. 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:31.580 He is, 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.080 Alistair took 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:32.799 us there a 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:33.180 few weeks 00:15:33.180 --> 00:15:33.399 ago, 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.340 the new 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:34.960 temple, 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:36.519 the place 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.240 where God 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:38.320 dwells. 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:38.799 He is 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:40.200 God come 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:40.659 to dwell 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.279 on earth. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.019 It's after 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.799 his death 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.100 that the 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:43.580 curtain of 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.240 the temple 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.500 tears in 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:45.860 two, 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.379 meaning that 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.159 access to 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:47.580 God 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:48.379 where before 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.620 denied to 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.360 sinful human 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:51.279 beings is 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:51.919 now open 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.759 for all 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:53.659 who trust 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.440 in him. 00:15:54.940 --> 00:15:55.139 Through 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.720 what Jesus 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.379 has done, 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.299 we can 00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:57.940 have the 00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:58.680 audacity 00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:59.799 to address 00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:00.600 this holy 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:01.279 God who 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.159 is invisible, 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.200 but we do 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:04.080 it by trusting 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.720 in his son, 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:05.379 looking to 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:05.620 him, 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:06.659 we can call 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.120 him 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.019 father. 00:16:09.579 --> 00:16:10.120 And that's 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:10.620 not just a 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.120 theological 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:11.799 hang-up, 00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:12.339 okay? 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.279 Let me tell 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:13.659 you why that 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.159 was really 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.039 practically true 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:15.679 for me this 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:15.899 week. 00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:16.480 On Thursday 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:16.860 night we 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.799 met to 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:18.199 pray for 00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:18.679 the McLaren 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:19.319 family on 00:16:19.319 --> 00:16:20.519 Zoom and 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.059 to pray for 00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:21.279 them what 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.600 they're going 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.100 through just 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:22.419 now. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.000 Friends, 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:24.459 let me ask 00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:25.000 you what 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.679 came to my 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.139 mind with 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.699 this passage. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.500 What confidence 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.279 do I have? 00:16:28.339 --> 00:16:29.039 Do we have 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:30.240 as we met 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:30.759 on that call? 00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:31.519 What confidence 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.059 do we have 00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:32.399 that God 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:32.799 hears our 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.139 prayers? 00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:35.559 who am I 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:36.460 speaking to 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:37.500 a computer 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:39.580 thinking that 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.019 the God of 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.460 the universe 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:40.960 who created 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.500 all things 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:41.879 would hear 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.539 my cry? 00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:45.019 What confidence 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:45.799 do we have 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:46.419 that this God 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:47.000 knows? 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.419 When you pray 00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:48.840 to him, 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:49.819 what confidence 00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:50.539 do you have 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.279 that he hears? 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.299 What confidence 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:53.080 do you have 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:53.679 today that he 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:54.360 loves you? 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.000 And however it 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.639 plays out 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.539 according to 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:58.100 his sovereign 00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:58.460 will, 00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:59.120 that he 00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.940 has their 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:01.180 lives in 00:17:01.180 --> 00:17:01.740 his good 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.580 and sovereign 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.720 hands? 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.579 What confidence 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.319 do we have? 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.200 It comes in 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:08.759 that line 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.480 that we say 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.360 just before 00:17:10.360 --> 00:17:10.920 we say 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:11.620 amen at the 00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:12.000 end of our 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.299 prayers. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:12.779 What do we 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.059 say? 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:15.100 We say 00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:16.259 in Jesus 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.180 name. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.500 Now that 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:19.960 is not a 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:20.340 spiritual 00:17:20.340 --> 00:17:21.100 abracadabra. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:21.600 That is not 00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:22.240 you say those 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.740 words and you 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.299 will get heard. 00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:24.000 It's not that, 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:24.420 okay? 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:26.279 It captures 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.840 the very 00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:27.680 essence of 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.180 the very 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:28.840 reason that 00:17:28.840 --> 00:17:29.279 you and 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:29.759 I have 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:31.019 the brass 00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:31.539 neck to 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.019 say this 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:32.420 God, 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.039 I know 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.340 that you 00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:33.820 hear me 00:17:33.820 --> 00:17:34.080 and you 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:34.720 love me 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.080 because we 00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:37.019 pray in 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:37.680 Jesus' 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.160 name. 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:38.720 We pray 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.440 in his 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:39.860 name and 00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:40.480 he stands 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:40.759 there at 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.000 the right 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.279 hand of 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:41.740 the Father 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.640 holding our 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.019 lives in 00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.740 his hands. 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:45.220 And that's 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:45.620 why this 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.039 matters. 00:17:46.840 --> 00:17:47.440 We worship 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:47.920 him in 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.380 truth. 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:49.799 You know 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.160 the friend 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:50.420 Dean at 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:50.920 university 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.620 always leant 00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:52.060 into this 00:17:52.060 --> 00:17:52.460 truth and 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:52.759 I love 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:52.960 that he 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.279 always said 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:53.519 he used 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:53.920 the picture 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.200 as he 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:54.620 prayed 00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:55.279 God 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.539 reaching 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.160 down from 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:56.600 heaven with 00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:57.299 a massive 00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:57.819 ear to 00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.259 hear his 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:00.539 cry and 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:00.799 he was 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.079 the little 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:01.740 mouse whispering 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.200 into the 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.480 ear. 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:04.240 That's a bit 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:04.759 cheesy but it 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.059 makes the 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:05.579 point, yeah? 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.059 God hears 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:07.859 our prayers. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:08.599 Why does he 00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:09.119 hear our 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:09.480 prayers? 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.240 Because we 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.779 pray them 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.859 in Jesus' 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:12.759 name. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.799 We worship 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.539 this God 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:16.940 in truth. 00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:17.359 When it 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:17.819 comes to 00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:18.440 worshipping the 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.159 Father truly, 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:19.799 Jesus is 00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.500 saying don't 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.619 think place 00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:22.959 God 00:18:22.959 --> 00:18:23.239 because that 00:18:23.239 --> 00:18:23.739 place was 00:18:23.739 --> 00:18:24.419 always meant 00:18:24.419 --> 00:18:24.879 to find 00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:25.059 its 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.739 fulfilment 00:18:25.739 --> 00:18:26.659 as the 00:18:26.659 --> 00:18:27.139 place where 00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:27.959 God lives 00:18:27.959 --> 00:18:28.559 and where 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.099 you go to 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:29.819 worship him 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:31.519 in me. 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:33.779 Friends, 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.259 the first 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:34.559 thing that 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:35.019 true worship 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:35.639 is about 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:36.279 is truth 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:36.739 and the 00:18:36.739 --> 00:18:37.459 second thing 00:18:37.459 --> 00:18:37.839 that Jesus 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:38.399 says it's 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:39.000 about is 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.639 the spirit 00:18:39.639 --> 00:18:40.359 and that's 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:40.919 a direct 00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:41.359 reference, 00:18:41.479 --> 00:18:41.819 I think we've 00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:42.159 got to read 00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:42.739 it this way, 00:18:43.199 --> 00:18:43.459 to the 00:18:43.459 --> 00:18:44.399 conversation that 00:18:44.399 --> 00:18:44.879 Jesus has 00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.419 just had with 00:18:45.419 --> 00:18:46.099 Nicodemus back 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.699 at chapter 3. 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.039 You want to 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.419 flick there, 00:18:47.479 --> 00:18:47.939 you can do 00:18:47.939 --> 00:18:48.199 that. 00:18:49.479 --> 00:18:50.259 You must be 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.899 born again 00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:52.700 the spirit 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.200 of God 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.620 needs to 00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.040 move in 00:18:54.040 --> 00:18:54.540 your life 00:18:54.540 --> 00:18:55.019 and make 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.640 you alive. 00:18:55.820 --> 00:18:56.300 He needs 00:18:56.300 --> 00:18:57.240 to awaken 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:58.820 your soul 00:18:58.820 --> 00:18:59.540 to the 00:18:59.540 --> 00:19:00.820 all-surpassing 00:19:00.820 --> 00:19:01.340 greatness 00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:02.500 and sweetness 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.240 of Jesus 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.640 because it's 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.300 not us who 00:19:05.300 --> 00:19:05.800 came up with 00:19:05.800 --> 00:19:06.000 that, 00:19:06.080 --> 00:19:06.400 it's the 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:06.860 spirit of 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:07.180 God who 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:07.540 puts that 00:19:07.540 --> 00:19:08.380 desire in 00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:09.120 our hearts. 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:09.900 He needs 00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.280 to take 00:19:10.280 --> 00:19:10.880 out our 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:11.380 dead heart 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:11.960 of stone 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.660 and he 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:12.960 needs to 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.420 put in 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:14.100 its place 00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:15.200 a heart 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.140 that beats 00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:17.140 for him. 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:17.740 He needs 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.460 to reach in 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.000 there and 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.420 give us 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:20.440 new desires 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:22.120 new loves 00:19:22.120 --> 00:19:23.740 new passions 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.160 that want 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:24.960 to follow 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.860 after Jesus. 00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:27.960 Oh friends, 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:28.759 our affections 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.799 matter greatly 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.380 to God. 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.440 All the way 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:32.779 through the 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.299 Old Testament, 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:33.860 God's people 00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:34.940 are consistently 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:36.900 rebuked for 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.440 doing the 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.820 religious thing, 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.400 saying the 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:41.740 words, 00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.320 going to the 00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:42.960 place, 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:43.840 all the while 00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:45.180 lacking the 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:46.039 reverent heart 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.559 that should 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:48.240 have accompanied 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:48.559 it. 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.139 Isaiah 29, 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:50.599 here's just 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:51.480 one example, 00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:52.259 these people 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.960 come near to 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:53.359 me with 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:54.119 their mouth 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:55.279 and honour 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:55.639 me with 00:19:55.639 --> 00:19:56.200 their lips 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:56.639 but their 00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:58.179 hearts are 00:19:58.179 --> 00:19:59.460 far from 00:19:59.460 --> 00:19:59.799 me. 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.119 In other 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:00.359 words, 00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:00.779 here's the 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.460 subtext to 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:01.720 that, 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:02.940 God will 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.379 not be 00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.019 mocked, 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:05.980 he will 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.240 not be 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.079 fobbed off 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:09.099 by some 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:10.220 pious words, 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:10.619 he will 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:11.139 not pull 00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:11.519 the wool 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.039 over his 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.579 eyes by 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:12.980 some kind 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.460 of religious 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.460 performance. 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:16.519 Friends, 00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:16.899 bring those 00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:17.359 two things 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.799 together and 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:17.979 I'm going 00:20:17.979 --> 00:20:18.399 to stop 00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:18.699 saying the 00:20:18.699 --> 00:20:19.179 word friends, 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:19.479 okay? 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.519 Truth that 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:20.859 has no 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.459 impact on 00:20:21.459 --> 00:20:22.479 the affections, 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.879 emotions that 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:24.539 aren't informed 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.059 and led by 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.639 the truth of 00:20:25.639 --> 00:20:26.299 God's word. 00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:27.359 By declaring 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.839 that true 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.559 worshippers are 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:28.899 those who 00:20:28.899 --> 00:20:29.419 worship in 00:20:29.419 --> 00:20:30.079 spirit and 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:30.579 in truth, 00:20:30.959 --> 00:20:31.519 Jesus is 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.019 saying that 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.319 when it 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:32.719 comes to 00:20:32.719 --> 00:20:33.179 worshipping 00:20:33.179 --> 00:20:34.799 God truly, 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:35.759 it's only 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.939 possible with 00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:38.379 both. 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:41.639 Spirit and 00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.819 truth and 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:43.439 there ain't 00:20:43.439 --> 00:20:44.559 no dichotomy 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.539 between the 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:45.859 two. 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:47.279 And I 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.539 know so 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:48.839 many of 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.079 us are 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:50.059 growing up 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:50.599 and we're 00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:51.419 students in 00:20:51.419 --> 00:20:51.679 particular, 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.659 I think those 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.319 churches that 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:54.299 worship in 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:54.740 spirit and 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.279 those churches 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.799 that worship 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.259 in truth, 00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:56.659 they're really 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.000 into the 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.219 Bible, 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:57.719 these guys 00:20:57.719 --> 00:20:57.959 are really 00:20:57.959 --> 00:20:58.339 into singing, 00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.240 it's not 00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.939 a choice. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.959 Jesus says 00:21:01.959 --> 00:21:02.459 the true 00:21:02.459 --> 00:21:02.939 worshippers 00:21:02.939 --> 00:21:03.639 of him will 00:21:03.639 --> 00:21:04.139 worship him 00:21:04.139 --> 00:21:05.359 in spirit and 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:05.979 in truth in 00:21:05.979 --> 00:21:06.439 the words of 00:21:06.439 --> 00:21:07.119 my friend Bob 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.719 Coughlin in 00:21:07.719 --> 00:21:08.039 his book 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.359 True 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:08.859 Worshippers. 00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:11.019 Every church 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.559 or Christian 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:12.199 who claims to 00:21:12.199 --> 00:21:13.240 be spirit led 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.179 must be 00:21:14.179 --> 00:21:15.039 word fed. 00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:17.079 If we want 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.559 to know more 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.199 of the spirit's 00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:18.859 power in our 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:19.479 lives we would 00:21:19.479 --> 00:21:20.439 be wise to 00:21:20.439 --> 00:21:21.419 fill ourselves 00:21:21.419 --> 00:21:23.019 with the riches 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.799 of his word. 00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:26.279 Light in the 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.919 mind leading 00:21:27.919 --> 00:21:29.459 to heat in the 00:21:29.459 --> 00:21:29.759 heart. 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:32.659 And two things 00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:33.399 for us just to 00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:34.119 think about as we 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.839 wind this up this 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:35.139 morning. 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.519 Two things I 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:36.939 think we need to 00:21:36.939 --> 00:21:37.779 do is we embrace 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.479 what Jesus is 00:21:38.479 --> 00:21:39.039 saying here. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:39.719 Here's the first 00:21:39.719 --> 00:21:39.959 one. 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.459 Let's embrace 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:42.180 this as an 00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:43.000 all of life 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.519 thing. 00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:46.579 Subtext. 00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:48.819 Let's think 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:50.240 bigger than 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:50.740 singing. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:53.319 Now please 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.779 don't hear what 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.440 I'm not saying. 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.019 I'm just looking 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.640 at the text and 00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:58.180 I'm thinking isn't 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.140 it interesting that 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.140 Jesus in his most 00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:01.160 clear teaching about 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:02.019 the nature of 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.759 true worship 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.680 doesn't reference 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:05.100 music once. 00:22:06.620 --> 00:22:07.640 Now friends I 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.819 love to sing. 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:11.019 I love to sing. 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:12.099 Do you not love 00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:12.599 it when you come 00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.119 in here on a 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:15.159 Sunday and just 00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:15.980 declare God's 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.240 praise. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:17.059 His music is just 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.619 the wonderful 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.599 vehicle through 00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.139 which we can 00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:20.179 express our 00:22:20.179 --> 00:22:20.960 thanksgiving to 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.639 him for who he 00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:22.279 is and what he's 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:22.579 done. 00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.019 And do you not 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:25.279 find the more, 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:25.980 I find this more 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.859 in life the more 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.539 I come here on a 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:27.879 Sunday. 00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:29.879 I need this more 00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:31.279 not less as I go 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.919 on in life. 00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:34.059 I need the songs 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.099 that we sing 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:36.259 because they 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.339 remind so often 00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:38.359 my weary and 00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:38.799 tired. 00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.619 and sleepy 00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:40.359 and guilty 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:41.939 soul of the 00:22:41.939 --> 00:22:43.939 gospel and why 00:22:43.939 --> 00:22:44.559 we've got something 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.439 to sing about and 00:22:45.439 --> 00:22:45.980 celebrate. 00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:47.500 And they're so so 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.179 good for that. 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.139 Love to sing. 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:49.939 We should love to 00:22:49.939 --> 00:22:50.799 sing as a church 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.039 and we just want to 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.039 honour those who 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.779 lead us up the 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:55.019 front not just on a 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:56.879 Sunday but all the 00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:57.759 work that goes in 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.720 behind the scenes to 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.619 pick the songs that 00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:00.859 are the best songs 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:01.539 for today. 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.819 There's real thinking 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.519 that's gone into the 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.000 songs that we're 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.240 singing to help us 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.359 meditate more on 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:07.059 God's words. 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.799 Just thank the 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.599 guys that serve up 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.500 the front today for 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.079 what they do. 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.220 Thank the tech guys 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.559 as well. 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.159 They put it all 00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:13.759 together on the 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.619 slides for us to 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:14.899 sing. 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.200 So good at it that 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:16.819 we just take it for 00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.759 granted sometimes. 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.119 We should love to 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:20.019 sing as a church. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:22.119 Got a friend CJ 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:24.619 in America. 00:23:25.159 --> 00:23:25.939 Pastor he would 00:23:25.939 --> 00:23:26.819 always say in the 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:27.739 Monday morning oh 00:23:27.739 --> 00:23:28.859 how many sleeps to 00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:29.299 Sunday. 00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:30.979 How many sleep. 00:23:30.979 --> 00:23:31.779 Oh I wish it were 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.239 Sunday. 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.500 Because Sunday is a 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.519 big deal when we get 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.859 together as God's 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:36.119 people. 00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:37.659 It is a massive 00:23:37.659 --> 00:23:39.579 thing that we're 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.000 doing. 00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:42.019 The aim is to get 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.719 the song of the 00:23:42.719 --> 00:23:43.839 gospel in our 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.559 hearts. 00:23:45.439 --> 00:23:46.279 But that and this is 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.099 my point this should 00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:48.759 spill out into every 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.879 area of our lives. 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:53.280 work, home, gym, 00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:55.220 family gatherings, 00:23:55.520 --> 00:23:56.840 drinks with friends. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:57.520 Because as we'll see 00:23:57.520 --> 00:23:58.620 next week the song in 00:23:58.620 --> 00:23:59.440 this woman's heart 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.440 it leads to her 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.640 telling people about 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:02.160 Jesus. 00:24:04.860 --> 00:24:05.960 It's like a worship 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:07.020 in a big picture. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.080 Oh I've heard stories 00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:09.580 of and I won't name 00:24:09.580 --> 00:24:11.500 you two students this 00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:13.200 week taking bold steps 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.980 to share their faith 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.960 with their peers. 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:18.220 That is worship. 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:21.580 Others respectfully 00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:22.940 resisting the pressure 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:24.380 to wear a rainbow 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.500 lanyard at work. 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.320 Loving the people 00:24:27.320 --> 00:24:28.080 that you're working 00:24:28.080 --> 00:24:29.020 with but because you 00:24:29.020 --> 00:24:30.760 value being faithful 00:24:30.760 --> 00:24:31.840 to Jesus more. 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.600 You're willing to 00:24:32.600 --> 00:24:33.840 take the hit of their 00:24:33.840 --> 00:24:34.940 raised eyebrows while 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.900 you're not joining in. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:37.840 That's worship. 00:24:39.280 --> 00:24:40.560 Others checking in on 00:24:40.560 --> 00:24:41.380 and seeking to care 00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.160 for brothers and 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.160 sisters in this church 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.980 who are going through 00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:45.080 or have gone through 00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:46.580 hard times. 00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:48.020 That is worship. 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:49.039 We've got to understand 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.299 this is a bigger thing 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:51.039 spirit and truth 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:52.039 worshippers of God. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.859 When we do this for 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:55.299 his glory it brings him 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.960 praise and it delights 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.759 him. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.700 Let's embrace this as an 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.839 all of our life's thing 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:05.519 and let's embrace this 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.900 as an all of the world 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.839 thing. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.559 Subtext. 00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.339 Let's think bigger than 00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:11.059 where we're living. 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.339 You don't find it so 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.160 difficult in your life 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.400 at times to raise your 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:16.400 eyes to what God is 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.440 doing over the world. 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.700 You see when Jesus 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.600 declares that he is 00:25:20.600 --> 00:25:21.500 the Messiah, the 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.660 long awaited king 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:24.420 right at the end 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:24.680 there. 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.780 Verse 25 that God 00:25:27.780 --> 00:25:28.759 would raise up to 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.560 save his people. 00:25:30.800 --> 00:25:32.140 This moment isn't it 00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:33.440 glorious and isn't it 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.100 wonderful that the 00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:34.880 first person he 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.880 declares that to. 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.400 And the first person 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:41.120 invited to become 00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:42.920 to him and become a 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.540 spirit and truth 00:25:43.540 --> 00:25:44.220 worshipper of the 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.400 living God is this 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:48.120 shamed outcast 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:49.940 Samaritan woman. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:51.560 That is Jesus to a 00:25:51.560 --> 00:25:51.720 T. 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.000 See the word that 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.900 Jesus uses to 00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.940 describe the heart of 00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.800 the father at verse 00:25:59.800 --> 00:26:00.360 23. 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.300 What's this God doing? 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:01.820 Have a look. 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:04.240 He's seeking his 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.600 people. 00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.580 It's an active 00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:07.000 word. 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:10.580 And Jesus is there 00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:12.040 not only to tell her 00:26:12.040 --> 00:26:12.860 about the father 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:14.059 seeking such 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.599 worshippers. 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:16.259 This gospel ends 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.299 with Jesus going to 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.519 the cross to shed 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.599 his blood in her 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:21.119 place for her sin 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.799 taking her guilt and 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.759 condemnation and 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:25.039 shame on himself 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:26.919 to make her into a 00:26:26.919 --> 00:26:27.819 worshipper spirit and 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.619 truth worshipper of the 00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:29.219 living God. 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.539 See the divine groom 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.699 has come to win 00:26:32.699 --> 00:26:34.419 gather and give life 00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:36.079 to his bride which is 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.139 all his people. 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:40.240 And Jesus will not 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.920 have his bride 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.600 inanimate. 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.980 Rather by the work 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.940 of his spirit 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:47.920 opening the eyes 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:48.680 of his people to 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:50.300 his all surpassing 00:26:50.300 --> 00:26:51.860 glory she will 00:26:51.860 --> 00:26:53.120 radiate with 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:54.960 affection for him. 00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:57.800 Now as we close 00:26:57.800 --> 00:26:58.380 do you want to 00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.560 bring this together? 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:00.259 Do you want to hear 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.080 a really encouraging 00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:02.240 stat I heard this 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.500 week? 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:04.099 Yeah? 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.960 And it will shine 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.680 even more blightly 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.299 when we consider 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:08.880 what is quite 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:09.980 literally kicking off 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.799 in about two hours 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.200 time. 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.259 FIFA seeking to 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.039 harness the power 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.900 of football to 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.759 unite and bring 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.619 the nations of the 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.460 world together 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:20.240 in Qatar. 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.339 And yet are we 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.359 not acutely aware 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:24.019 that the whole 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.819 build up to this 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.779 World Cup has been 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:27.259 dominated by 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:28.380 spotlighting the 00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:29.779 huge and hostile 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:31.599 differences and 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.480 worldviews that 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.779 still exist between 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.539 the peoples and 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.380 nations of this 00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:35.819 world. 00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:37.860 As FIFA and I 00:27:37.860 --> 00:27:38.220 was reading the 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.960 BBC yesterday as 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.880 FIFA try and 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:43.579 dance with a 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.200 Muslim state. 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.880 And in contrast 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.519 to that according 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.339 to research done 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:49.900 by a church 00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:50.860 pastor in Miami 00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:52.839 let me ask you 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.680 who do you think 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.339 the average 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:55.680 Christian is in 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.440 the world today? 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:56.819 You know what I 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.420 mean by average 00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:57.740 okay? 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.319 Who do you think 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.480 that person is? 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.900 The average 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.900 Christian in the 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:03.480 world today. 00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:05.540 This church 00:28:05.540 --> 00:28:06.600 research that 00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:07.380 went on. 00:28:07.800 --> 00:28:08.259 And I love 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.620 this. 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.980 She is a 22 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:13.440 year old black 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:15.180 female who's 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.280 living her life 00:28:16.280 --> 00:28:17.480 in the third 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:17.900 world. 00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:19.680 That is the 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.600 average Christian 00:28:20.600 --> 00:28:21.140 in the world 00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:21.420 today. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.259 Now as we sit 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.640 here I guess 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:24.600 as a predominantly 00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:26.780 white middle 00:28:26.780 --> 00:28:27.920 class people living 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.900 our lives in the 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.700 first world. 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.920 what is that 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.819 telling us about 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.500 what God is 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.779 doing in our 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.180 midst? 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.480 See the invitation 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.259 to lift our 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.880 eyes to what 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.680 God is doing 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.779 around the globe 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.680 down the ages 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.799 is telling us 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.840 that this God 00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.660 is gathering 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.960 making and 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.500 uniting 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.279 worshippers 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.640 from everywhere. 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.519 Everywhere. 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.120 People that we 00:28:50.120 --> 00:28:51.039 will never meet 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:52.580 but we will be 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:53.539 sharing glory with 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.640 them one day. 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.200 For what are the 00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:57.059 different peoples of 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.839 the world doing 00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.720 together in that 00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.599 scene at the end 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.179 of the Bible 00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:01.419 in God's very 00:29:01.419 --> 00:29:01.879 presence? 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.359 What are they 00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:02.679 doing? 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:05.099 They're worshipping 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:06.960 him as one. 00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:09.659 Salvation belongs 00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:11.299 to our God who 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:12.599 sits on the throne 00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:14.480 and to the Lamb. 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.859 The invitation this 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:17.559 morning is to 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:19.339 come and become 00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:21.399 a spirit and 00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:22.759 truth worshipper 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:24.679 of the living God. 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:24.720 God. 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.200 Let's pray, 00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:26.539 will we? 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.600 Perhaps in the 00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:32.340 silence now, 00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:35.140 maybe bring your 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:36.100 own prayers to 00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:36.480 God. 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:39.060 As we think 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:40.440 about what the 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.240 Lord Jesus has 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.019 taught us this 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:44.019 morning and that 00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.700 we can address 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:46.200 this God through 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.100 him and his 00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:47.900 work on the cross 00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:49.539 for us and his 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.519 resurrection, we 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:51.100 can know and 00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:52.100 address this God 00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:53.700 as our Father. 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:59.840 Father, we ask 00:29:59.840 --> 00:30:01.400 that by your 00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:02.140 spirit moving 00:30:02.140 --> 00:30:02.980 amongst us just 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:06.100 now, that he 00:30:06.100 --> 00:30:06.720 would be doing 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:08.920 his work in our 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:11.140 hearts of 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:12.080 transforming us 00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:14.160 more into the 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:15.160 likeness of Jesus. 00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:17.000 Lord, we pray 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.860 that you would put 00:30:17.860 --> 00:30:19.220 new affections for 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.180 him and what he's 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:23.320 done into our 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:23.799 hearts. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.819 And Father, may 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:27.059 it just overflow 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:29.480 into every area 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.460 of our lives. 00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:31.960 Thank you, God, 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.980 that this tells us 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.720 what kind of God 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.339 that you are. 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.079 You are a God 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:37.059 who is seeking 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.759 such people 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.859 to worship you. 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:43.019 Father, thank you 00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:43.639 for this time. 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.759 In Jesus' name we 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.079 pray. 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.399 Amen.