WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.839 Father, we give you thanks and praise that you know our hearts better than we know our own hearts. 00:00:06.540 --> 00:00:11.599 And you know how easily we flatter ourselves and deceive ourselves. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:22.859 And Father, you know how we slightly or maybe even in a very big way turn from some of the very hard things you say to us because it offends our pride. 00:00:22.859 --> 00:00:29.119 So, Father, we ask that you would pour the Holy Spirit upon us at this time and grip us with the gospel. 00:00:29.899 --> 00:00:36.679 And as you grip us with the gospel, may your word come and minister to us at the very deep level of who we are. 00:00:37.299 --> 00:00:40.879 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:42.560 Please be seated. 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:50.640 I was going to say this earlier, but I forgot. 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:55.280 I thought this is the place that we worship regularly on a Sunday morning at Church of the Messiah. 00:00:56.299 --> 00:00:59.439 We never, every five weeks, there's a different stage up front. 00:00:59.880 --> 00:01:02.079 This is the beginning of the stage for the next play. 00:01:03.060 --> 00:01:08.280 So, Charlie and I and others had to sort of try to figure out how the service was going to work. 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:14.719 There was some discussion about pulling the curtain across to hide the stage. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:20.939 But I wanted to keep the stage as it is because, you know, at the end of the day, 00:01:21.179 --> 00:01:30.359 Jonathan and Daniel and Daniel aren't being ordained to just like live in a little tiny church ghetto where we're not in the world. 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:38.620 Like, we gather in worship and we gather to receive from Christ and the Father and the Holy Spirit grace. 00:01:38.620 --> 00:01:42.620 But we do that to live in the world and to share the gospel. 00:01:43.380 --> 00:01:47.640 And in some ways, this stage always reminds us that while we're here to worship, 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:55.080 we worship amidst cars going by and condos and business and in a very theater where other things have gone on. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:58.920 And that's the world that we live in to represent Jesus and to proclaim the gospel. 00:01:59.080 --> 00:02:01.219 So that's why we left the stage as it is. 00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:08.460 There was a feature article on CBC just a short while ago. 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:12.719 It was, I think it was just two months ago, and it was a report. 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:20.039 It was covering a report by a major heritage organization in Canada that said that within the next five to ten years, 00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:22.560 9,000 churches in Canada will close. 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:27.439 9,000 churches in Canada will close. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:32.199 That's one-third of all churches that own buildings will close. 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:34.680 That's their estimate within the next five to ten years. 00:02:35.859 --> 00:02:45.060 I just recently became aware of a private set of work about what the attendance is like in the Anglican Church of Canada. 00:02:45.620 --> 00:02:50.379 We're part of a worldwide Anglican body and a North American-wide body, 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:51.919 but we're not part of the Anglican Church of Canada. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:56.919 But the point is, the statistic is that between 2007 and 2017, 00:02:57.299 --> 00:03:01.879 the average Sunday attendance in the Anglican Church of Canada dropped by 50% 00:03:01.879 --> 00:03:07.159 at the same time that the average age in attendance on Sunday morning went up. 00:03:10.959 --> 00:03:15.979 In Ottawa, the last time there was a census that talked about religious affiliation, 00:03:15.979 --> 00:03:20.719 there are now more people in Ottawa who identify themselves as having no religion 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:24.739 than there are Protestants in the city of Ottawa. 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:28.560 More people who are called nuns, N-O-N-E. 00:03:29.339 --> 00:03:32.579 More people in Ottawa who are nuns than are Protestants. 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:35.219 And we all know that we live in a culture 00:03:35.219 --> 00:03:39.039 where for very many people, maybe the majority of people, 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:43.579 they'll do anything to get help other than go to Christianity. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:50.340 Maybe they'll try yoga, they'll try all sorts of different spiritualities, 00:03:50.500 --> 00:03:55.159 but the very last on the list will be trying Christianity. 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:57.199 Because I think for many people in our culture, 00:03:57.379 --> 00:04:00.439 especially in elite culture and in entertainment world, 00:04:01.519 --> 00:04:05.799 Christianity and the Christian heritage of the country is what causes trouble. 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:12.000 To be a Christian is to be a part of the enemy, 00:04:12.439 --> 00:04:15.680 part of the problem that has to be rectified by something else. 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:20.660 So now that I've cheered up Daniel and Jonathan and Daniel, 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:23.660 in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen, 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:25.400 and we'll continue on with the service. 00:04:26.460 --> 00:04:28.920 I mean, that's the world that we live in, you know, isn't it? 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:34.939 And so it's very, very easy to be discouraged and to lose heart in today's world. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:38.759 And it's not just the fact that we're, you know, as a pastor, 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:40.980 I'm very conscious that I'm the away team. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:43.180 I'm on part of the away team. 00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:46.540 You know, that means if you watch playoff hockey or basketball, 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:49.839 like when you're in the other stadium, 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:53.759 they're all waving the towels and stuff like that, 00:04:53.779 --> 00:04:56.620 and the sound system's all cranked up to help the other team. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:00.459 And it's not cranked up to help me at all. 00:05:00.839 --> 00:05:03.279 And that's the culture, that's the world we live in. 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:04.579 And it's very easy to get discouraged. 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:07.679 And that's on top, of course, the normal things that can discourage us 00:05:07.679 --> 00:05:09.979 about just getting tired or being sick. 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:12.119 But we live in a time and an age in Canada 00:05:12.119 --> 00:05:15.000 where it's very, very easy to be discouraged. 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:20.819 And what I'd like to do in a few minutes is just to press into this. 00:05:21.359 --> 00:05:24.500 Because one of the things which is so fantastic about the Bible, 00:05:24.619 --> 00:05:26.059 it's very counterintuitive. 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:29.660 When I try to talk about things with my non-Christian friends, 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:32.699 I have to keep telling them that it's very counterintuitive 00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:37.300 that the Bible is regularly pressing into issues. 00:05:37.399 --> 00:05:39.939 In fact, the big problem for Christians is 00:05:39.939 --> 00:05:44.079 we get those type of stats and we just want to shut down. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:45.340 We want to think about something else. 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:46.699 We want to have a few happy thoughts. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:48.620 We don't actually want to press into the issue. 00:05:48.699 --> 00:05:51.160 And we don't want to press in to the state of our heart. 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:53.900 But the Bible actually, if we follow the Bible, 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:56.760 if we listen to the Bible, the Bible will press into those issues. 00:05:56.880 --> 00:05:58.460 It'll say, let's look at those issues. 00:05:58.540 --> 00:06:00.140 Let's go a little bit deeper into them. 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:02.720 And that's what we're going to look at today. 00:06:02.820 --> 00:06:04.000 There's a passage in the Bible. 00:06:04.080 --> 00:06:07.200 It was the passage that Alexander read that presses into this. 00:06:07.260 --> 00:06:08.740 So if you have your Bibles with you, 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:10.940 if you would turn in your Bibles to, 00:06:11.640 --> 00:06:13.160 it would help if I had the right text open, 00:06:13.280 --> 00:06:15.960 2 Corinthians 4, verses 1 to 6. 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:20.700 2 Corinthians 4, verses 1 to 6. 00:06:20.699 --> 00:06:23.560 And we're going to look at that text of Scripture 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:26.939 because the Scripture deals with losing heart. 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:28.219 It deals with discouragement. 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:30.539 And at first glance, 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:33.879 it might seem that reading something like this, 00:06:33.899 --> 00:06:36.060 this text is written to a group of Christians 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:38.819 in a place in what we now know of as Greece. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:41.139 And it was written in the late 50s. 00:06:41.579 --> 00:06:44.199 That's the 0000 50s. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:46.159 So it's almost 2,000 years ago. 00:06:47.160 --> 00:06:49.580 And yet, it might seem very, very odd 00:06:49.580 --> 00:06:50.820 to go to a text like this. 00:06:50.880 --> 00:06:52.420 We, of course, as Christians go to it 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:53.439 because at the end of the day, 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:56.080 we believe that Jesus died on the cross 00:06:56.080 --> 00:06:57.040 and rose from the dead. 00:06:57.380 --> 00:06:58.640 And when he rose from the dead, 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:00.680 he triumphed over sin and death 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:02.860 and all hostile spiritual powers. 00:07:02.900 --> 00:07:06.320 And he was vindicated as the one who reveals God. 00:07:06.440 --> 00:07:08.060 He is vindicated as the one 00:07:08.060 --> 00:07:11.140 who can connect us to God. 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:13.620 And so we as Christians, 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:14.800 we just believe Jesus. 00:07:14.979 --> 00:07:16.399 And Jesus believes the Bible, 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:17.759 so I believe the Bible. 00:07:19.139 --> 00:07:20.259 It's as simple as that. 00:07:20.279 --> 00:07:22.699 I'm a very, very, very simple-minded guy. 00:07:23.219 --> 00:07:25.279 Jesus told me to believe and trust the Bible, 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:26.740 so I believe and trust the Bible. 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:31.019 But even apart from that, 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:34.300 for those of us who haven't quite figured out that stuff, 00:07:34.899 --> 00:07:37.620 it actually makes a lot of sense in some odd way 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:39.500 to go to look to such an ancient text. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:42.000 Because if you think about it for a second, 00:07:42.840 --> 00:07:47.100 I mean, one of the things that we Christians feel badly, 00:07:47.280 --> 00:07:50.139 especially those of us who are over a certain age, 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:51.699 an age which I will not specify. 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:53.199 You can specify it yourself. 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:58.220 We remember a time when we weren't the away team all the time, 00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:02.259 where there'd be at least some type of grudging respect 00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:05.160 towards the church and towards Christian things. 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:09.080 But this letter is written at a time when there was no... 00:08:09.080 --> 00:08:12.280 I mean, Paul was writing to a group of people 00:08:12.280 --> 00:08:13.860 who were definitely the away team. 00:08:14.380 --> 00:08:16.439 And it was a very, very similar situation. 00:08:16.700 --> 00:08:18.200 Like, you know, in our culture, 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:21.700 all the smart people know that Christianity is wrong. 00:08:21.900 --> 00:08:24.120 I mean, in fact, that would almost be a criteria 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:26.840 to be a smart person is to know that Christianity is wrong. 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:28.940 And that's exactly what was going on in Corinth. 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:32.279 Like, all the smart people knew that there were many gods, not one. 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:34.320 Like, that's what all the smart people knew. 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:39.100 And all the smart people knew that for men of means, 00:08:39.819 --> 00:08:41.459 well, you had to have a wife, of course, 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:44.339 for reasons of inheritance. 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:47.519 But, gosh, you can't hold a man down to one woman, 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:51.759 so you'd have to have probably a concubine on the side. 00:08:51.839 --> 00:08:54.500 And when the man is on a military campaign, 00:08:54.579 --> 00:08:57.459 a young man, a young boy, for your sexual satisfaction, 00:08:57.559 --> 00:08:59.199 that's what all the smart people knew. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.840 That's what, in a sense, the Globe and Mail, the National Post, 00:09:03.020 --> 00:09:07.900 the CBC, University of Ottawa, Toronto, McGill, politicians. 00:09:08.020 --> 00:09:08.860 That's what everybody knew. 00:09:08.920 --> 00:09:10.340 That's just the smart way to live. 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:12.440 Christians are weird. 00:09:14.060 --> 00:09:17.160 And so we hear these words from Paul 00:09:17.160 --> 00:09:19.640 in actually a very funny way, 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:22.400 in a very similar type of cultural context to us. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:23.980 And here's what Paul says. 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:27.079 He's just finished talking about what he calls 00:09:27.079 --> 00:09:28.199 New Covenant ministry, 00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:30.439 the type of ministry that comes from the fact 00:09:30.439 --> 00:09:33.120 that Jesus has created a new people, 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:35.740 a new way of following, 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:37.519 of being connected to God, 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:38.799 to have God be your king. 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:40.679 And so in verse 1 of chapter 4, 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:41.159 he says, 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:49.279 And just want to pause right there, 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:50.939 because I just want to pause there. 00:09:50.959 --> 00:09:53.600 That's a really, really, really important way that this begins. 00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:57.860 It begins by the Bible recognizing that we lose heart. 00:09:58.600 --> 00:09:59.459 That's what it's saying. 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:02.379 Paul knows the people there, 00:10:02.419 --> 00:10:04.799 and he knows that there are many times that they lose heart. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:07.339 Another way to translate it is that they are discouraged. 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:11.139 Some of your Bible translations might say that you are in despair. 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:14.120 And the Bible, 00:10:14.939 --> 00:10:18.100 Paul, God, ultimately, who's the ultimate author of this, 00:10:18.339 --> 00:10:20.019 he knows that you and I, 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.919 many times, 00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:23.919 have to deal with discouragement 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:26.139 and losing heart. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.819 And the thing which is so wonderful about this, 00:10:28.959 --> 00:10:30.159 especially when it's going to be about, 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:32.799 in the context about being a Christian in such a world, 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:35.259 well, actually, if you could put up the first point, Andrew, 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:36.559 that would be very, very handy. 00:10:37.319 --> 00:10:40.339 The Lord knows the true state of your heart better than you do. 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:43.919 The Lord knows the true state of your heart better than you do. 00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:47.799 So, pray with openness and honesty. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:51.360 I mean, on one level, I would say this to a non-Christian, 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:52.539 because as you know, I mean, 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:55.159 I think it was the Pew Research Center that, 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.679 a few years ago, they did a statistic. 00:10:56.839 --> 00:10:58.679 And I'm not saying people shouldn't laugh at this, 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:00.000 but it's very interesting, 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:03.439 that a third of atheists pray regularly. 00:11:05.339 --> 00:11:08.379 And in fact, the fact of the matter is, 00:11:08.419 --> 00:11:10.719 is if you actually press in to get to know 00:11:10.719 --> 00:11:12.899 some of your non-Christian friends very well, 00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:14.079 you might, to your shock, 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:15.519 discover that they pray more than, 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:16.979 those of us who are Christians, 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.259 you might discover, to your shock, 00:11:18.339 --> 00:11:20.859 that your non-Christian friends pray more than you do. 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:24.139 It's very counterintuitive to us. 00:11:25.680 --> 00:11:27.539 And I would encourage a non-Christian, 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:28.560 if they ask me for advice, 00:11:28.620 --> 00:11:30.519 just to pray openly and honestly to God. 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:33.960 Obviously, it's a very different thing to pray to a God, 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:34.840 whatever that means, 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:37.360 than it is to pray to your Father in Heaven. 00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:40.580 But for those of us who are Christians, 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:43.279 this text is a very important reminder 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.800 to just pray. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.679 To be honest, 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:47.519 that you're discouraged, 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.639 that you're downhearted. 00:11:49.219 --> 00:11:50.959 And in terms of the original, 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.240 in the original language, 00:11:52.459 --> 00:11:53.500 however this is captured, 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:55.719 losing your heart or discouragement or despair, 00:11:55.839 --> 00:11:57.659 the opposite of it is courage. 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:01.539 The Lord knows that there's all sorts of things in your time, 00:12:01.579 --> 00:12:02.919 there's all sorts of times in your life 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:04.099 and long seasons of your life 00:12:04.099 --> 00:12:06.039 where you're lacking in courage to live as a Christian. 00:12:06.439 --> 00:12:07.759 So just pray about it. 00:12:08.579 --> 00:12:10.799 Now, I could end my sermon right here. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.620 And, but part of the problem is, 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:15.580 is that that almost sounds like a bit of a truism. 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:17.139 And it actually, in some small way, 00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:19.919 like, it's almost like a platitude. 00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:20.759 I mean, it's very true. 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:21.840 I don't mean it as a platitude. 00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:22.860 And the Bible's very serious, 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:24.460 but it's a little bit of a platitude, you know, 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:25.379 almost that, oh yeah, okay, 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:27.659 fire off a little prayer and go on. 00:12:28.299 --> 00:12:29.080 But you know what? 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:31.419 It doesn't really get at what's going on in the world. 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:32.940 And it doesn't really get at 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:35.480 what actually causes us to lose courage. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:38.960 And so the Bible presses in 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:43.259 to talk about some very, very, very uncomfortable truths 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:44.720 connected to our pride. 00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:48.480 And it doesn't just sort of say, 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:50.379 okay, just fire off some prayers to God 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.440 because he knows you're discouraged. 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:52.480 Have a good day. 00:12:53.040 --> 00:12:53.700 God loves you. 00:12:53.780 --> 00:12:54.860 God is good all the time. 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:56.620 No, it says, okay, okay, 00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:58.600 you can, whoa, whoa, you can do that. 00:12:58.820 --> 00:12:59.120 Good. 00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:00.639 But let's press in a little bit more 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.080 because there's other things going on 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:04.620 at the very center of whom you are 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.139 that God wants to deal with. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:11.220 So what Paul does very next is, 00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:13.740 after that, he starts to give us some, 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:16.879 to get at this heart issue of pride, 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:18.799 he starts to give us some instructions, 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:20.940 first by telling us what not to do 00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:21.960 and then telling us what to do. 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:23.120 If you look at verse two, 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:25.639 here's how the Bible continues. 00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:30.419 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:33.659 We refuse to practice cunning 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:36.139 or to tamper with God's word. 00:13:36.939 --> 00:13:38.819 But by the open statement of the truth, 00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:41.939 we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience 00:13:41.939 --> 00:13:43.279 in the sight of God. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:46.219 Now, just sort of pause here for a second. 00:13:46.959 --> 00:13:49.599 One of the big problems is, as you all know, 00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:50.759 or maybe it's just, 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:52.919 I'm probably just vastly more wicked 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:54.019 than most of you here. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:56.779 But one of the big problems I have regularly 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:57.899 when I read the Bible 00:13:57.899 --> 00:14:00.179 is I think about how this applies to other people 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:00.859 other than me. 00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:05.479 I'm very, very, very good at seeing 00:14:05.479 --> 00:14:07.939 specks in other people's eyes 00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:10.819 while I walk around with a log in my own eye. 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:14.799 And, you know, I can't remember what psalm it is. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:16.539 Charlie would know what the psalm is. 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:19.259 But there's a very powerful psalm 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:20.359 that people should meditate on. 00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:21.579 I think it's either 12 or 13, 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:23.519 how we flatter ourselves too much 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:25.120 to detect or hate our own sin. 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.899 And one of the things which we often do 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.039 when we're discouraged 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:30.620 is we flatter ourselves. 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.799 Legends in our own mind. 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:36.840 While functionally we act without courage. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:39.500 But what this text is saying here, 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:41.319 the first couple of ideas 00:14:41.319 --> 00:14:43.620 about we refuse to, 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:46.000 we have renounced disgraceful 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:46.959 and underhanded ways. 00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:48.620 And that's a very, very good translation. 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:51.139 A very, very literal translation of it 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:53.419 is the secret things of shame. 00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.039 That we either, 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:58.639 we refuse to act out of the secret things of shame 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:00.480 or we refuse to do those things, 00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:02.539 the secret things of shame. 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:04.699 That's sort of a more literal type of translation. 00:15:05.199 --> 00:15:07.259 And the thing which is very interesting about this, 00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:07.600 you see, 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:10.379 is it actually presses in for us to recognize 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.740 that one of the things 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.819 that we have to struggle with 00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:14.159 when we're discouraged is shame. 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:16.659 You see, if you're in a room 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:18.379 and you're the only person who thinks one thing 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.220 and everybody else, 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.639 if they knew what you thought, 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.840 would say that it was wicked, 00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:25.159 it's easy to start to have a sense of shame. 00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:27.960 And it's, 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:33.000 and a lot of really bad behavior 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.480 flows out of us not dealing with shame. 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:39.179 In fact, a lot of times 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:40.860 the people who are the best 00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:45.720 at making condemning statements 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:48.279 and looking like they have puffed out chests 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.279 and are really strong, 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:52.399 often it doesn't come out 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:53.819 of a firm belief in the gospel, 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:55.139 but because they have 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:57.279 a deeply hidden sense of shame 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:59.299 that leads them to bravido. 00:16:02.199 --> 00:16:02.919 But of course, 00:16:02.959 --> 00:16:03.799 other things of shame 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:05.240 can make us very, very timid. 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.319 The next two things, 00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:07.299 because all of us would say, 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:07.879 well, who on earth 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.399 would ever want to practice cunning 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.839 or to tamper with God's word? 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:13.419 But the idea behind cunning 00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:16.360 is actually the end justifies the means. 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:19.240 And that's, of course, 00:16:19.300 --> 00:16:21.279 a very, very powerful problem 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.980 in the church. 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.600 I mean, if I can just sort of 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.480 use some music 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:26.659 or use the service 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:28.060 or some other types of things 00:16:28.060 --> 00:16:29.759 to manipulate you, 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:31.180 that's all right, 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:33.300 because if you give your life to Jesus, 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:36.139 the end justifies the means. 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.399 And tampering with God's word 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.919 is the same basic idea 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:41.360 as paring it down, 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.759 to water it down, 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:44.279 to hide certain things. 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:45.440 It's like saying, 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.340 let's not talk about 00:16:46.340 --> 00:16:47.000 the different things 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.779 in the Old Testament 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:49.080 because there's all sorts of things 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.759 in the Old Testament 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.519 which are very offensive to people. 00:16:52.180 --> 00:16:53.580 Don't talk about certain things 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:54.279 about sexuality 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.320 or about money 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:57.159 or about forgiveness 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:58.940 because that's going to offend people. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.240 If you talk about things like that, 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:01.440 you're going to offend people. 00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:02.379 And so you don't want to talk 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.120 about those things. 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.620 You water it down. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.279 You hide it. 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:08.160 You don't bring it up. 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:10.079 You stick on very safe topics. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:11.759 And those are all 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:14.099 very, very, very powerful forces 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:16.699 that when we organize 00:17:16.699 --> 00:17:17.919 our worship services 00:17:17.919 --> 00:17:19.059 in our small groups 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:20.039 that we just avoid 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.039 lots of topics. 00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:23.059 We water things down. 00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:24.199 We smooth things over. 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:26.019 We pretend certain things aren't there. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.740 We talk about sins 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:29.279 that everybody agrees are sins 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.220 like slavery, 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:32.359 but we don't talk about things 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:33.019 like abortion 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.039 where we're going to say 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:35.460 some very, very different things 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.500 than the rest of our culture. 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:40.759 Because we, in fact, 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:42.200 have things which are eating away 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:43.579 at the courage of our lives. 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:47.319 And so what the Bible says here, 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:48.180 that was the first bit, 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:48.640 but he says, 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.519 what do you do in the opposite? 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.480 Look at verse 2 again. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.220 We have renounced 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.180 disgraceful, 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:54.519 underhanded ways. 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:55.180 That's the things 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.079 which come out of shame. 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:57.759 We refuse to practice cunning, 00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:58.180 that is, 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.619 where the end justifies the means, 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.079 or to tamper with God's word. 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:01.900 Another way to put it 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:04.119 is to be God's spin doctor 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:05.660 or to water things down. 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.800 But instead, 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.940 by the open statement 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:08.620 of the truth, 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.519 we would commend, 00:18:11.080 --> 00:18:12.160 it says here ourselves, 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.759 what it means is our message, 00:18:13.840 --> 00:18:15.320 ourselves as God's messengers. 00:18:15.560 --> 00:18:17.580 We open statement of the truth 00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:18.580 to everyone's conscience 00:18:18.580 --> 00:18:19.380 in the sight of God. 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.480 And I think to my 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.700 non-Christian friends, 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.860 they'd be very surprised 00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:24.440 to see that the Bible's advice 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:26.440 is that you always respect 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:28.200 the integrity of human beings, 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:30.180 and even those who disagree 00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:31.519 with you very strongly, 00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:32.980 and you respect their conscience, 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:34.259 you respect the integrity 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.120 of who they are, 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:36.419 and you don't manipulate, 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:38.259 you don't hide things, 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:39.939 you don't do things 00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:40.959 that are coming out of shame, 00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:41.799 you act in a way 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.539 which is clear 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.199 and straightforward 00:18:43.199 --> 00:18:44.839 and public. 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.039 And I think 00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:47.939 many of my non-Christian friends, 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.500 I know they'd be surprised at that 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.379 because it's not how 00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:51.519 they experience Christians, 00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.739 whether rightly or wrongly, 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:54.619 it's not how they often experience this. 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:56.159 But that's actually 00:18:56.159 --> 00:18:57.179 what the Bible is saying. 00:18:57.180 --> 00:19:00.799 But for people 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.539 who are very tempted 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:05.299 to say, 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.560 well, you know, George, 00:19:06.600 --> 00:19:07.480 you don't talk about this 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.100 and this and this 00:19:08.100 --> 00:19:08.880 and this in church 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:10.820 because you want to attract seekers, 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.860 you want to attract, 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:14.160 you want to make the gospel 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:16.200 attractive to people, 00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:17.580 and by making the gospel 00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:18.740 attractive to people 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:20.880 in a very, very compelling format, 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.600 and who Jesus is, 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:23.200 not the church, 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.100 and there's all these 00:19:24.100 --> 00:19:25.400 different things that we say 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:29.000 and we say, 00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:30.059 that's the way you go. 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.240 You don't talk about 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:33.059 these awkward things 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:35.740 like the very, very next things 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.759 which are going to be said 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.580 because, in fact, 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.299 it would be a very, 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:39.680 you know, 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.539 about a year ago, 00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:41.720 there was a young woman 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:42.640 that I'd shared the gospel 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:43.740 with several times 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:45.200 and out of the blue, 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.660 when I was talking to her, 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.279 she asked me 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:47.700 if I thought 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:48.559 she was going to go to hell. 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:53.539 And I have to confess 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.339 I wasn't prepared 00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.079 for the question. 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.019 And I sure hope 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:57.679 I didn't look like 00:19:57.679 --> 00:19:58.519 a deer in the headlights 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.480 just before it gets hit 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.619 when I tried to answer 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.279 that question. 00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:04.519 But I did the best I did. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.399 I didn't deny it. 00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:05.839 I didn't say, 00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:06.119 no, no, 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:06.839 I don't think you're going 00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.240 to go to hell. 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:08.799 I tried to deal with 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.440 this hard truth. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.559 But these very next things 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.799 that Paul does, 00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.599 the Bible takes us 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.919 in a very, very hard direction 00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:14.799 almost immediately. 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.539 It's almost as if, 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.139 okay, 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:19.800 we're all agreed 00:20:19.800 --> 00:20:20.180 we're not going 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:20.980 to water things down. 00:20:21.100 --> 00:20:21.340 Yes, 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.440 we're all agreed 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:22.880 we're not going 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:23.600 to be spin doctors. 00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:24.100 Yes, 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.520 we all agreed 00:20:25.520 --> 00:20:26.060 that we're not going 00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:26.700 to live out of shame. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.300 Yes, 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.060 aha, 00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:28.640 okay, 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.780 then look at verse 3. 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:32.259 And even if our gospel 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.900 is veiled, 00:20:33.540 --> 00:20:34.220 it is veiled 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.720 to those who are perishing. 00:20:36.780 --> 00:20:37.540 In this case, 00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:39.100 it means that they're already, 00:20:40.040 --> 00:20:41.280 unless something happens 00:20:41.280 --> 00:20:42.000 from outside, 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.140 they're going to 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:45.120 perish eternally. 00:20:46.520 --> 00:20:47.180 Verse 4, 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:47.820 in that case, 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:49.139 the God of this world 00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:50.359 has blinded the minds 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.299 of the unbelievers 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.079 to keep them 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.379 from seeing the light 00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.019 of the gospel 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:55.079 of the glory of Christ 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.119 who is the image of God. 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:59.200 And I could just imagine, 00:20:59.439 --> 00:21:00.799 I was just sharing the gospel 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.619 with this fellow 00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.720 named Mark 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.000 on Saturday. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.919 Got in the way of me 00:21:05.919 --> 00:21:06.480 actually working 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.119 on my sermon 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:08.339 for today. 00:21:09.139 --> 00:21:11.539 And I can just imagine 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.579 if I said to him 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.779 that passage 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.379 and he'd say, 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:16.559 you actually think, 00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:17.779 George, 00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:20.299 that when you talk 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:21.259 about certain types 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.839 of things 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:23.200 that I can't see it 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.660 or I can't understand it, 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.359 that my mind 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.559 can't grasp it? 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:28.059 And are you actually 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:29.000 saying, George, 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.819 that there is 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.920 like a demon 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:33.559 that's making my mind 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:35.879 blind 00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:38.500 so that my mind 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.359 is dark? 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:43.359 And I could just picture 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.339 so many of my friends 00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:45.119 they'd smile and say, 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:45.380 George, 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.539 I'm way smarter than you. 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:50.019 And I see the crappy car 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.680 you drive. 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:53.380 I'm obviously vastly 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.599 more successful than you. 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.559 I'm way better 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.279 at making money. 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.019 I'm way better 00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:58.920 at managing money. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.859 And I'm way smarter 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.339 than you. 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:02.859 And you actually think 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:06.160 that there's things 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.420 my mind can't grasp 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:08.279 and that my mind 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.039 is darkened 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.660 and blinded 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.259 by a demon? 00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.039 And I think 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.660 what I would say 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:19.420 to my friend 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:21.920 is, 00:22:22.060 --> 00:22:23.620 before I answer 00:22:23.620 --> 00:22:24.420 that question, 00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.100 can we look 00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:27.180 at the next two verses? 00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.720 And then can I just 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.440 share with you 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.380 what I think they mean? 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.800 And because 00:22:34.800 --> 00:22:36.220 they're my friend, 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.000 they'd probably 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.859 give me the time. 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.420 And if you look 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.339 at the next two verses, 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:42.339 there's something 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.519 very, very glorious 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.700 but very humbling 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.460 which is said. 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.119 Verse 5, 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.900 for what we proclaim, 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.900 for what we proclaim 00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:51.960 is not ourselves, 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.079 but Jesus Christ 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.759 as Lord, 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.339 with ourselves 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.200 as your servants 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.319 for Jesus' sake. 00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.619 Notice this, 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.920 what we proclaim, 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.180 what I am to proclaim 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:04.400 is Jesus Christ 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:04.980 is Lord. 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:06.000 I am to proclaim 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.019 that there was a man 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.700 in history 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.880 by the name of Jesus. 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:10.140 It was one of the most 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:11.539 popular Jewish names 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.120 for boys 00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:12.660 at the time 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:14.220 that Jesus was born. 00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:15.559 But in the case 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.200 of Jesus, 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:18.059 his name literally 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.700 is true 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.460 because Jesus 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.680 means God saves 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.599 and it literally 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.240 is true. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.400 This man 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:25.140 named God saves 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.539 is the man 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:28.720 who will save us. 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.180 And this man 00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:31.160 who lived in history, 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:31.640 who lived 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:33.060 a perfect life 00:23:33.060 --> 00:23:34.380 and died upon the cross 00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:35.800 and was buried 00:23:35.800 --> 00:23:37.259 and on the third day 00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:37.980 rose and then 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.800 ascended into heaven. 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.380 This very same man, 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.280 he is the Christ. 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.080 And what does that mean? 00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:43.140 That means that 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:44.720 all of the overarching 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.040 story of the Bible, 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:46.600 it means that 00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:47.720 for a thousand years 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.400 of all of the 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.340 prophetical writings 00:23:49.340 --> 00:23:50.660 and all of the Psalms 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.600 and all of the laws, 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.860 that every law 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:53.860 finds its fulfillment 00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:54.320 in him. 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.200 Every type 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.380 finds its fulfillment 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:56.820 in him. 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.900 Every promise 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:59.100 finds its fulfillment 00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.740 in him. 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.879 Every hero 00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:02.219 finds its true hero 00:24:02.219 --> 00:24:02.679 in him. 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.839 Every riddle 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:04.679 which the Bible 00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:06.519 poses to human beings 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.619 that do not seem 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.000 to be able 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.759 to be answered, 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:09.980 he is the answer 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.879 to every riddle. 00:24:11.219 --> 00:24:12.519 Every promise, 00:24:12.719 --> 00:24:13.659 prophecy type, 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:15.119 everything in the Bible 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:16.539 all finds their fulfillment 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.159 in him. 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.379 And when he died 00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:19.299 upon the cross, 00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.259 when he lived 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:21.579 his sinless life 00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.859 and died upon the cross, 00:24:23.219 --> 00:24:24.500 he did everything 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.919 that needed to be done 00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:26.939 to make me right 00:24:26.939 --> 00:24:27.539 with God. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.899 He did everything 00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:30.580 that needed to be done. 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:31.820 Every wrong, 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.820 every shame, 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.060 every accusation, 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.519 he dealt with it 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.300 in his person, 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:37.740 taking it in my place. 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:39.440 And after he had not only 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.300 taken all of those 00:24:40.300 --> 00:24:41.519 terrible things away 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:41.960 from me, 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:43.180 I couldn't stand 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:43.840 before God 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:44.680 because I haven't done 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.700 very many good things 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.300 in my life. 00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:46.960 You might think 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.300 I've done a few good things 00:24:48.300 --> 00:24:48.840 in my life, 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.920 but I haven't done 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.840 that many good things 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.740 in my life. 00:24:51.820 --> 00:24:52.740 But Jesus not only 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:54.019 takes all the bad 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.620 things away, 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:56.040 I am clothed 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:58.259 with his perfect life 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.139 of obedience 00:24:59.139 --> 00:25:01.000 and I stand 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.899 before God 00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:03.019 not because of anything 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.899 I have done, 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.460 can do, 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.259 or will do, 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:06.700 but all because 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:08.039 of him. 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.700 He is the Lamb 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.299 of God 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.960 who dies 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:12.279 and is in my place. 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.920 And by his rising 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.539 from the dead, 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.440 that is why we know 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.139 that he is Lord. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.440 He is God with us 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.220 and I am here 00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:22.240 to proclaim that. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.759 And here's, 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.320 and they might say, 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:28.860 okay, George, 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.519 that doesn't deal 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.519 with the demon thing 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.799 and that doesn't deal 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.380 with what you think 00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.180 about my mind, 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:34.400 but the next bit does. 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.240 You see, 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:37.220 this is the weird thing 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:37.880 about God. 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:40.160 This is the important thing 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:40.720 about the text. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.539 One of the main reasons 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.320 I get discouraged 00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:43.400 is I think it's about me. 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.259 One of the main reasons 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.000 I get discouraged 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.100 is I think it's about us. 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.799 I think if I could just be, 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:50.659 if I could just be more winsome, 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.940 if I could be more scholarly, 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:53.159 if I could pray more, 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.879 if I was just more effective 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:55.539 in communication, 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.980 if I could listen better, 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.460 if I just could listen 00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:59.339 to the Holy Spirit better, 00:25:59.419 --> 00:25:59.799 if I, 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.579 if I, 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.359 if I, 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:01.940 if I, 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:03.220 but the Bible here 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.379 cuts the ground 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:06.299 completely out from under me, 00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:07.619 but not in a way 00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:09.779 that completely destroys me. 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:11.119 What it says is, 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.539 George, 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:13.059 all God is asking you 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.799 to do is stand 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:15.180 on your hind legs 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:17.159 and say what you just said, 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.700 that there's this 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.380 man Jesus, 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.720 that he really did live, 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.000 that all of the promises 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:23.400 for over a thousand years 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.900 find their fulfillment in him, 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:26.019 that he is the one 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:27.180 that God has provided, 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:29.080 his life is for you, 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.539 he has done this, 00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:31.120 he is Lord, 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.360 you just tell people that, 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:34.420 and when you tell people that, 00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:36.080 sometimes what happens 00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.740 is this, 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.299 verse six, 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:41.259 for God who said, 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.680 let light shine out of darkness 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:44.200 has shone in our hearts 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:44.900 to give the light 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.420 of the knowledge 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.400 of the glory of God 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:47.700 in the face of Jesus Christ. 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.480 What does that mean? 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:50.039 I'm going to call you Charlie, 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.580 is that all right? 00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:51.440 Charlie, 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.299 you're a smart guy. 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:54.200 Most people here don't know 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:55.400 he has a math degree 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.180 from UBC. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.160 You have to be smart. 00:26:57.340 --> 00:26:58.140 You can't just sort of 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.640 guess the answers 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:01.640 to do that, 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.200 okay? 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.880 And you were in, 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.080 like, 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.580 last years of high school 00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:06.279 or was it university 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.180 when you became a Christian? 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.400 Second year university. 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.620 Second year university. 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:10.960 Charlie, 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.019 I have terrible news 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.580 to tell you. 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:14.639 You did not become 00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:15.139 a Christian 00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:16.299 because you were smart. 00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:17.699 You did not become 00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:18.199 a Christian 00:27:18.199 --> 00:27:19.339 because you were holy. 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.339 You did not become 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:20.759 a Christian 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.740 because you engaged 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.919 on a spiritual quest 00:27:22.919 --> 00:27:23.879 and you figured 00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:24.619 those things out. 00:27:24.699 --> 00:27:24.859 You know, 00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.199 Charlie, 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.019 you are like me. 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.299 Before, 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.579 one day, 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.839 as somebody was saying 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.319 to you, 00:27:30.419 --> 00:27:31.779 to Jesus Christ as Lord, 00:27:32.699 --> 00:27:34.259 God said to Charlie 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.879 the same thing 00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:36.859 he said on the first 00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.659 day of creation 00:27:37.659 --> 00:27:38.299 when he said, 00:27:38.439 --> 00:27:39.259 let there be light. 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.900 And God the Father 00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:42.000 said to Charlie, 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:42.980 let there be light. 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.339 And light from God 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:46.200 pierced the veil 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:48.359 and pierced the darkness 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:50.379 and came into your heart 00:27:50.379 --> 00:27:51.660 and into your mind. 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:53.160 And Jesus Christ 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.339 became your Savior 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:54.900 and Lord 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:56.119 and it had nothing 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:56.879 to do 00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:58.519 with your smarts, 00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:59.640 with your ability. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:01.099 And it's the same thing 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:02.000 that happened to me. 00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:02.859 And if any of you 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:03.700 here are Christians, 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.779 there is nothing 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:06.019 at all 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:07.940 that you can be proud about 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:09.140 or boast in 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:10.520 because it had nothing 00:28:10.520 --> 00:28:12.759 to do with your smartness 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:14.759 or your wisdom 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.400 or your seeking 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.500 or your searching. 00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:21.259 Some simple Christian 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:21.920 pronounced 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:23.640 and shared with you 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:24.520 that Jesus Christ 00:28:24.520 --> 00:28:25.000 is Lord 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.840 and God 00:28:25.840 --> 00:28:27.500 does a miracle 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.800 in you 00:28:28.800 --> 00:28:29.759 that you 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:31.280 cannot do 00:28:31.280 --> 00:28:32.460 for yourself. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.240 God said, 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.620 let there be light. 00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:37.820 And light from God 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:39.059 pierced the veil 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.500 and pierced your darkness 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.659 and pierced your blindness. 00:28:42.159 --> 00:28:42.939 So what would I say 00:28:42.939 --> 00:28:43.599 for my friend? 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.819 Am I saying these things 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.240 about you? 00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:46.700 You know what? 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:47.679 They 00:28:47.679 --> 00:28:51.539 this was a darkened mind 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:53.419 and I didn't think 00:28:53.419 --> 00:28:54.339 myself out of it. 00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:58.059 God did a miracle. 00:28:58.959 --> 00:28:59.799 And if you feel 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.720 any stirring 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.659 within you, 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.459 that's a sign 00:29:03.459 --> 00:29:04.220 that the light 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:05.319 of the glory 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.179 of God 00:29:06.179 --> 00:29:07.099 in the face 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.959 of Jesus Christ 00:29:07.959 --> 00:29:08.459 is shining 00:29:08.459 --> 00:29:09.139 into your heart. 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:10.480 Brothers and sisters, 00:29:11.179 --> 00:29:12.299 this Daniel, 00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:13.779 Jonathan and Daniel, 00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:14.359 I just gave you 00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:14.919 the great news 00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:15.359 that a third 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.139 of all the churches 00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:16.659 in the country 00:29:16.659 --> 00:29:17.279 are going to close 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:17.819 within the next 00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:18.779 five to ten years. 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:19.859 But here's what 00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:20.519 I want to tell you. 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:21.119 God is still 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:21.740 on his throne. 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.819 He is still sustaining 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:25.120 everything that we see. 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.660 He has everything 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.640 under his control. 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.920 There are people 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.720 in Ottawa 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:32.319 that are just waiting 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.779 for some duffer 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.500 like you 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:36.519 or you or you 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.740 or you or you 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.240 or you 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.279 to share 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.200 that Jesus Christ 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.759 is Lord. 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.779 And you do it 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.740 and God does 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.339 a miracle. 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.579 Because only 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:47.599 he can save. 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:50.620 You can do nothing. 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:52.500 Isn't that good news? 00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:54.739 The pressure is off. 00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:56.779 And he knows 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.579 how discouraged 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.079 you get. 00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.439 He knows how you 00:29:59.439 --> 00:30:00.279 can share and share 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.339 and share and share 00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:02.619 and that nothing 00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:03.319 seems to happen. 00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:03.759 But you know what 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.559 he says is just 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.919 continue to proclaim 00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:07.099 that Jesus Christ 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.639 is Lord 00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.739 as clearly, 00:30:09.219 --> 00:30:09.939 as honestly, 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.139 as humbly 00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:12.859 as you possibly can. 00:30:13.919 --> 00:30:14.619 If you could put up 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.459 the final point 00:30:15.459 --> 00:30:17.799 to summarize this. 00:30:18.479 --> 00:30:19.019 It's a prayer. 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:20.639 Lord, make real 00:30:20.639 --> 00:30:21.579 to my heart 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:23.240 that it is only 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.139 your gospel 00:30:24.139 --> 00:30:25.879 and only your power 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:27.359 that makes me yours. 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.319 And as God 00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:29.960 makes it real 00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:30.700 to our heart, 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.160 so help me 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:33.000 to pray for the 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.579 perishing 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:35.740 and share the gospel 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:37.019 with humility, 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.200 clarity, 00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.539 and courage. 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:41.940 that 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:45.039 all I can do 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.539 is to share 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.279 that with you 00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:47.440 and with each 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:47.980 of us here. 00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.159 Could you please 00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:49.579 stand? 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.079 Let's just bow 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:54.899 our heads in prayer. 00:30:58.839 --> 00:30:59.159 Actually, 00:30:59.279 --> 00:30:59.960 could you all, 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.519 I'm going to pray, 00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:01.299 could you all pray 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:01.839 this with me? 00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:02.220 If the Lord 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:03.359 has put it on your heart 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:04.920 to pray this with me, 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.619 could you pray 00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:06.299 what is above 00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:07.059 on the screen 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.899 with me 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.580 if it is with you? 00:31:08.600 --> 00:31:09.080 And then I'll just 00:31:09.080 --> 00:31:10.220 say a closing prayer 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.580 and then Bishop Charlie 00:31:11.580 --> 00:31:12.040 will get up 00:31:12.040 --> 00:31:12.340 and we're going 00:31:12.340 --> 00:31:13.040 to make these guys 00:31:13.040 --> 00:31:13.600 deacons. 00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:14.880 So let's pray. 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:16.080 Lord, 00:31:16.320 --> 00:31:17.280 make real 00:31:17.280 --> 00:31:18.240 to my heart 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:19.380 that it is only 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:20.380 your gospel 00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:22.259 and only your power 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.880 that makes me yours. 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.560 And so help me 00:31:25.560 --> 00:31:26.519 to pray for the 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.060 perishing 00:31:27.060 --> 00:31:28.920 and share the gospel 00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:29.980 with humility, 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:30.840 clarity, 00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:32.000 and courage. 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:32.840 Father, 00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:33.940 pour out the Holy Spirit 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.440 upon us. 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.160 If there are any here 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.060 who do not yet know 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:36.440 Jesus, 00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:37.500 may this be the time. 00:31:37.639 --> 00:31:37.799 Father, 00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.299 shine. 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.940 Just may they know 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:40.720 Jesus as Lord. 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:42.019 Reveal Jesus as Savior 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.919 and Lord to them. 00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:43.960 And Father, 00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:46.059 thank you that you 00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:46.839 know our hearts. 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.119 Thank you that you 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:48.940 know how easily 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.879 we get sidetracked 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.960 as if it's all up to us. 00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:51.440 Thank you, 00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:51.700 Father, 00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:52.559 so much 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:54.240 that at the same time 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.759 that you humble us 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.759 that it's nothing 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.440 about us, 00:31:57.639 --> 00:31:59.119 you reassure us 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:00.279 of your great love 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:00.720 for us 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.619 and your great power. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:02.819 So Father, 00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:03.899 we ask that you 00:32:03.899 --> 00:32:04.419 would make us 00:32:04.419 --> 00:32:05.579 disciples of Jesus 00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.240 who are gripped 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.139 by the gospel, 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.319 learning to live 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.159 day by day 00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:10.240 for your glory 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.379 in this city 00:32:11.379 --> 00:32:12.199 and to the ends 00:32:12.199 --> 00:32:12.720 of the earth. 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.879 And all God's people 00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:14.279 said, 00:32:14.919 --> 00:32:15.199 Amen.