WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.659 And we eat Lottie Moon fried chicken. 00:01:02.500 --> 00:01:07.439 And that is because of the generosity of men and women like yourself. 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:10.040 And so I want to say thank you. 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:13.920 I was a senior pastor at a church in the Raleigh-Durham area. 00:01:14.379 --> 00:01:16.260 We were there for about 13 years. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:19.700 And we were a very mission-minded church like yourself. 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:23.060 And so I knew Lottie Moon from this side. 00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:29.219 But now serving 16 years overseas, I've experienced Lottie Moon on that side. 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:33.680 And I can attest that every penny goes to take the gospel to the nations. 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:35.100 And that's what we want. 00:01:35.159 --> 00:01:35.820 Amen, church. 00:01:35.819 --> 00:01:40.299 And so thank you for your amazing generosity. 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:45.699 I wonder, what would be some of the best news that you've ever heard? 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:47.959 And take just a moment and think about that. 00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:52.299 What is some of the best news that you've ever heard? 00:01:52.299 --> 00:01:57.179 Maybe it was finding out that you got accepted into the college you had applied for. 00:01:57.959 --> 00:02:01.359 Maybe it was finding out that even though you dress like I did back then, 00:02:01.459 --> 00:02:03.500 that a woman still wants to marry you. 00:02:03.539 --> 00:02:03.719 Amen. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:08.620 Maybe it's that job that you were hoping for and you got it. 00:02:09.079 --> 00:02:11.460 Maybe it was that first child or grandchild. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:13.379 But what is good news? 00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:16.900 What is some of the best news that you've ever heard? 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:19.979 There's an old saying that good news spreads quickly. 00:02:20.799 --> 00:02:26.340 And for you and I who know and love the Lord Jesus as disciples of Jesus Christ, 00:02:26.460 --> 00:02:31.300 what we know is that there is loads of good news we'll experience in this world, 00:02:31.519 --> 00:02:35.859 but there is no news better than the news of Jesus Christ. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:36.139 Amen. 00:02:36.859 --> 00:02:41.539 And that He loves us and has made a way for our salvation. 00:02:41.539 --> 00:02:47.959 And so I want us to spend just a few moments talking about good news. 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:48.859 Good news. 00:02:49.159 --> 00:02:50.219 Here's the reality. 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:53.879 Whether you live in Pickens or whether you live in Pakistan, 00:02:54.459 --> 00:02:55.919 the good news is the same. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:58.859 It is the news of Jesus Christ. 00:02:59.019 --> 00:03:02.620 And so I want to invite you to turn in your Bible to John chapter 3. 00:03:03.139 --> 00:03:04.259 John chapter 3. 00:03:04.459 --> 00:03:08.639 And we're going to look at what for many of us might be a very familiar passage of Scripture. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:17.039 But what a great way to start the new year to let the Lord remind us of good news. 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:19.839 I don't know what 2022 was like for you. 00:03:20.279 --> 00:03:22.399 Maybe life was a mountaintop experience. 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:27.159 Maybe last year you were in a deep valley that you still haven't climbed out of. 00:03:27.679 --> 00:03:30.899 And I just want us to be reminded as we launch into a new year 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:34.879 and as we think about taking the gospel to Pickens and beyond, 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:37.560 that we have good news. 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:39.420 John chapter 3. 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:40.460 And we'll begin in verse 1. 00:03:42.140 --> 00:03:45.259 John chapter 3 beginning in verse 1. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:47.520 And the Bible says this. 00:03:48.040 --> 00:03:51.379 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:53.340 a ruler of the Jews. 00:03:53.340 --> 00:03:58.219 And this man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 00:03:58.939 --> 00:04:05.719 Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:09.740 for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:11.259 And Jesus answered, 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:14.360 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:16.540 he cannot see the kingdom of God. 00:04:17.579 --> 00:04:18.740 And Nicodemus said to him, 00:04:18.980 --> 00:04:21.519 How can a man be born when he is old? 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:24.699 Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:26.579 And Jesus answered, 00:04:26.740 --> 00:04:31.039 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, 00:04:31.180 --> 00:04:32.759 he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 00:04:33.219 --> 00:04:35.419 Now that which is born of the flesh is flesh, 00:04:35.599 --> 00:04:38.359 and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. 00:04:39.099 --> 00:04:41.859 Do not marvel that I say to you, you must be born again. 00:04:42.479 --> 00:04:45.180 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear it sound, 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:48.120 but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:52.420 And so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:54.620 Nicodemus said to him, 00:04:54.840 --> 00:04:56.639 How can these things be? 00:04:57.300 --> 00:04:58.560 And Jesus answered him, 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:02.759 Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:04.720 Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.379 we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, 00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:10.959 but you do not receive our testimony. 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:14.480 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, 00:05:14.740 --> 00:05:17.180 how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:23.600 For no one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:27.060 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 00:05:27.379 --> 00:05:29.780 so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 00:05:29.960 --> 00:05:34.060 that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:38.460 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, 00:05:38.540 --> 00:05:43.259 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 00:05:43.259 --> 00:05:47.480 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:51.060 but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:53.939 And whoever believes in Him is not condemned, 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:57.879 but whoever does not believe is condemned already, 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:01.620 because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 00:06:02.099 --> 00:06:03.519 And this is the judgment. 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:05.740 The light has come into the world, 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:09.079 and people love the darkness rather than the light, 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:11.120 because their works were evil. 00:06:11.780 --> 00:06:14.840 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light, 00:06:14.960 --> 00:06:16.620 and does not come to the light, 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:19.079 lest his works should be exposed. 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:22.960 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:27.759 so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. 00:06:28.340 --> 00:06:29.400 Let's pray together. 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:32.679 Lord Jesus, we thank You so much for Your Word. 00:06:32.799 --> 00:06:35.859 We thank You that it is true and alive. 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:39.579 And Lord, just for these next few moments as we look into Your Word, 00:06:39.699 --> 00:06:42.979 we humbly ask, Holy Spirit, that You would open our minds, 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:45.500 give us understanding of Your Word, 00:06:45.599 --> 00:06:47.039 that we would understand truth. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:50.259 We ask, Holy Spirit, that You would soften our hearts, 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:53.819 that we would be transformed and changed by Your Word. 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:57.399 For Your glory, we humbly ask in Jesus' name. 00:06:57.399 --> 00:06:58.259 Amen. 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:01.279 Good news. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:06.339 We often, as we share the gospel there in Birmingham, England, 00:07:06.739 --> 00:07:09.779 Birmingham is a city of about 4 million people. 00:07:10.279 --> 00:07:11.239 To put that in perspective, 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:16.000 the entire state of South Carolina has about 5 million folks. 00:07:16.179 --> 00:07:19.439 We have about 4 million people in our city. 00:07:20.219 --> 00:07:23.639 From all the research we've done as IMB in England, 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:24.679 in our major cities, 00:07:24.679 --> 00:07:27.439 we would conclude very confidently 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:33.420 that the evangelical Christian population in our city is around 1%. 00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:34.480 A little less. 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:35.879 It's 0.9%. 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:39.420 Now that means someone who believes the Bible, 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:40.399 believes it's true. 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:44.220 They believe Jesus literally died on the cross and rose from the grave. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.000 They believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:49.420 And our city of 4 million people, 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:51.699 that would be one person out of 100. 00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:55.259 In our downtown area there in England, 00:07:55.740 --> 00:07:58.539 we have about 200 mosques. 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:01.199 That doesn't count Muslim schools, 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:02.719 Muslim bookstores. 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:05.800 We have Muslim TV stations, radio stations. 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:08.439 It is a very diverse culture. 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:10.620 I was telling the youth this morning 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:13.639 that there's an elementary school right by our house, 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:15.819 and in this one elementary school, 00:08:16.180 --> 00:08:18.319 the children speak 40 different languages. 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:21.000 Can you imagine being a teacher in that school? 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:22.180 40. 00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:24.759 40 different languages in one school. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.740 The nations have come to our city. 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:29.399 It's an average, 00:08:29.579 --> 00:08:30.480 but in our city, 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:32.460 every seven days, 00:08:32.820 --> 00:08:34.259 four churches go out of business. 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:36.000 So think about that. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:38.480 When you are back here next Sunday, 00:08:39.059 --> 00:08:42.259 four churches where we live would have closed their doors. 00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:43.379 On average, 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:45.919 we have about two church plants each week. 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:47.480 And so every week, 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:50.360 we have two less churches in England. 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:53.440 The Presbyterian church no longer exists. 00:08:53.980 --> 00:08:56.320 The Lutheran church no longer exists. 00:08:56.759 --> 00:08:57.000 The Methodists, 00:08:57.940 --> 00:08:59.279 according to their leadership, 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:01.200 probably have five years left, 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.539 and the Methodists will be gone, 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:03.879 which is amazing to think 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:06.340 that John Wesley and Charles Wesley were English, 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:08.759 and the Methodist church will soon be gone. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:09.820 The Church of England, 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:10.639 our state church, 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:12.840 loses 1,200 members a week. 00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:14.720 They're saying it'll be gone by 2050. 00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:17.360 Now, that can sound really discouraging, 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:20.379 but as I was telling the young people this morning, 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:22.320 there's a real positive to that, 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:23.460 and that is, 00:09:23.779 --> 00:09:27.320 in our 16 years of living there in Birmingham, England, 00:09:27.320 --> 00:09:30.260 I've never shared the gospel one time 00:09:30.260 --> 00:09:32.160 with a person who had heard it before. 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:35.540 Every single person I've ever shared the gospel, 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:37.860 doesn't matter white, black, brown, 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:38.720 and in between, 00:09:39.040 --> 00:09:40.960 every person we've shared the gospel with, 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:42.340 they've never heard it before. 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:44.980 We were studying the Bible with some ladies, 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:47.560 and one of the ladies in our group is named Deb. 00:09:47.900 --> 00:09:49.360 Deb's 50 years old, 00:09:49.660 --> 00:09:50.820 and she's white British, 00:09:51.160 --> 00:09:52.060 been there her whole life, 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:52.820 50 years old, 00:09:52.820 --> 00:09:55.840 and we were handing out Bibles around the table 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:56.620 to study the Bible, 00:09:56.760 --> 00:09:58.140 and I handed Deb a Bible, 00:09:58.400 --> 00:10:00.500 and she kind of touched it and looked at it, 00:10:00.520 --> 00:10:00.900 and she said, 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:01.480 what's this? 00:10:01.540 --> 00:10:02.220 And I said, 00:10:02.260 --> 00:10:02.840 well, it's a Bible. 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:03.540 And she said, 00:10:03.560 --> 00:10:03.800 really? 00:10:04.340 --> 00:10:04.580 I said, 00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:06.900 have you ever read a Bible? 00:10:07.020 --> 00:10:07.360 She said, 00:10:07.400 --> 00:10:07.680 no. 00:10:08.140 --> 00:10:08.320 I said, 00:10:08.340 --> 00:10:09.400 have you ever touched a Bible? 00:10:09.540 --> 00:10:09.879 She said, 00:10:09.920 --> 00:10:10.240 no. 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:11.360 Now, 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:12.020 think about that. 00:10:12.540 --> 00:10:13.900 We're not talking China. 00:10:14.020 --> 00:10:14.940 We're talking about England, 00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:16.340 and in 50 years, 00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:18.620 this woman's finger had never touched a Bible. 00:10:19.800 --> 00:10:20.220 And so, 00:10:20.560 --> 00:10:21.780 for her, 00:10:21.779 --> 00:10:25.120 the good news is news that she's never heard before. 00:10:25.839 --> 00:10:26.480 And by the way, 00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:29.019 after two and a half years of studying the Bible, 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:31.399 Jesus saved Deb, 00:10:31.439 --> 00:10:32.740 and she gave her life to Jesus. 00:10:33.339 --> 00:10:33.980 And then, 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:35.779 shared with her 18-year-old daughter, 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:39.159 and her 18-year-old daughter gave her life to Jesus. 00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:42.879 And Deb was the first person we had the privilege of baptizing 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:44.819 in the mission field. 00:10:45.459 --> 00:10:47.799 I went back later and looked at the pictures 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:51.659 and realized I was wearing a University of South Carolina Gamecock shirt 00:10:51.659 --> 00:10:52.599 when I baptized her. 00:10:53.599 --> 00:10:55.579 I'll do the next one in a Clemson shirt. 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:55.879 Amen? 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:57.740 And we'll work our way around. 00:10:58.699 --> 00:10:59.039 This, 00:10:59.219 --> 00:10:59.439 listen, 00:10:59.859 --> 00:11:03.019 in a city where only 1% of the population 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:04.759 believe Jesus, 00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:08.059 good news is new news. 00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:09.859 Good news is new news. 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:11.580 Let's just quickly, 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.560 let's look at the good news of the gospel in these verses 00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:16.759 where we see Nicodemus 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:20.039 who comes and asks all the right questions. 00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:23.080 And we're going to zoom in on two verses in particular. 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:27.019 And it's all about knowing Jesus Christ. 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:28.220 And here's what we learn. 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:28.779 Number one, 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:29.500 we see this. 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:31.779 In knowing Jesus Christ, 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:33.560 we experience the love of God. 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:36.279 In knowing Jesus Christ, 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:39.360 we experience the love of God. 00:11:39.660 --> 00:11:41.360 Look what he says in verse 16, 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:44.120 a verse many of us are familiar with probably. 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:45.779 For God so what? 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:47.000 Loved. 00:11:47.560 --> 00:11:50.820 For God so loved the world. 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:53.040 And what an amazing thought 00:11:53.040 --> 00:11:56.899 that God loves every single person in Pickens County. 00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:58.360 He knows their name. 00:11:58.659 --> 00:12:00.419 He knows the number of hairs on their head. 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:02.220 He knows everything about them. 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:04.279 And he loves them. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:08.620 We know there are a couple of different words for love in the Greek, 00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:10.679 which this would have originally been written in. 00:12:11.199 --> 00:12:14.159 And this word here, love, is akapao. 00:12:14.439 --> 00:12:17.220 It's this idea of unconditional love. 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:18.919 Think about this. 00:12:19.319 --> 00:12:22.360 And we've shared this a lot with folks there in England. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:24.220 Just get your mind on this. 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:27.180 There's nothing you can do to make God love you. 00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:28.620 Nothing. 00:12:30.060 --> 00:12:33.980 See, Islam is a religion where you have to earn the love of God. 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:36.759 In Islam, you have to pray five times a day. 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:38.200 You can't eat pork. 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:39.980 You have to give a certain amount of money. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:43.360 There are rules and regulations to somehow earn the love of God. 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.360 But the Bible says, 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:45.860 God so loved the world. 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:47.779 The word love means unconditionally. 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:50.820 There's nothing you can do to make God love you. 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:54.200 And there's nothing you can do to make God stop loving you. 00:12:55.520 --> 00:12:56.180 Let me say that, 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.620 because I think sometimes as Christians we need to be reminded. 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:00.360 You know what? 00:13:00.540 --> 00:13:03.800 It's great if you read your Bible every day this week, praise the Lord, 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:05.720 but God doesn't love you more for it. 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:07.720 And you know what? 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.100 If you mess up tomorrow, He won't love you any less. 00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:14.040 His love is fixed on us in Jesus Christ. 00:13:14.140 --> 00:13:14.840 Amen, church? 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:17.580 Let's don't forget that. 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:19.300 And His love is unconditional. 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:21.139 And so I can look at my neighbor. 00:13:21.280 --> 00:13:22.540 We live on a cul-de-sac. 00:13:23.020 --> 00:13:27.759 And on our cul-de-sac, we have 15 houses on our little cul-de-sac. 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:31.600 And out of those 15 houses, we have six nationalities. 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:38.180 So we have American, we have English, we have Indian, we have Pakistani, 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.320 Sierra Leone in Africa. 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:45.720 I mean, our little cul-de-sac of 15 houses is like the world. 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:49.620 And here's the thing, I can speak to my African neighbor from Sierra Leone 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:52.120 or I can speak to my Hindu neighbor from India 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:53.980 and I can equally tell them both, 00:13:54.180 --> 00:13:56.940 Jesus loves you because His love is unconditional. 00:13:57.899 --> 00:14:00.220 It doesn't worry about what country you're from, 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:01.940 how much money is in your bank account. 00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:03.720 Jesus loves you. 00:14:03.800 --> 00:14:05.500 And listen, church, that's good news. 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:07.660 That is good news. 00:14:08.040 --> 00:14:10.980 But it's only in knowing Jesus. 00:14:12.180 --> 00:14:15.160 Jesus said that He is the way, the truth, and the life, right? 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:16.819 No one comes to the Father but by Him. 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:21.159 The only way we experience the love of God is by knowing Jesus. 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:23.879 And when we say knowing, we don't mean knowing about. 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:27.079 I know a lot about our new king, King Charles, 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:30.639 but I can't say that I know King Charles, right? 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:32.259 It's the difference about knowing about. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:35.679 There are a lot of people who know about Jesus who don't know Jesus. 00:14:36.719 --> 00:14:40.879 And so we're talking about a relationship of knowing Him as Lord and Savior. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:45.399 And so in knowing Jesus Christ, we experience the love of God. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:49.740 Let me ask you, have you ever wondered or doubted if God loves you? 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:53.179 I have before. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:57.039 I've thought before, God, if You love me, why is this happening? 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:02.539 I've even thought things like, God, I sold all my stuff. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.379 And God, we went to the mission field. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:06.340 And God, we did all this. 00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:10.860 Listen, what do you mean a family member might have cancer? 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:14.519 What do you mean, Lord, there was a car accident? 00:15:14.660 --> 00:15:15.920 What do you mean, Lord? 00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:18.300 Lord, do You still love me? 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:23.980 And if or when we doubt the love of God, we look no further than Jesus. 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:24.320 Amen? 00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:30.100 It's interesting, John 3.16, but 1 John 3.16 says this, 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:35.040 By this we know love that Jesus laid down His life for us, 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:37.399 and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:39.240 Hear that again. 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:45.120 By this we know love that Jesus laid down His life for us. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:49.700 If I ever need to be reminded that Jesus loves me, 00:15:50.040 --> 00:15:52.180 I need look no further than the cross. 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:57.660 For on the cross, I am reminded that Jesus loves me. 00:15:57.659 --> 00:16:01.059 At the cross, you are reminded that Jesus loves you. 00:16:01.339 --> 00:16:06.019 At the cross, we are reminded that Jesus loves everyone from Pickens to Pakistan. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:10.299 For He says, at the cross, we experience the love of Jesus. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.259 Secondly, we see this. 00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:15.299 In knowing Jesus Christ, we experience the love of God. 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:20.259 But secondly, in knowing Jesus Christ, we experience the generosity of God. 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:22.679 We experience the generosity of God. 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.879 We know the verse. 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:26.759 He says, for God so loved the world that He what? 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.339 He gave. 00:16:29.339 --> 00:16:30.819 God was generous. 00:16:31.459 --> 00:16:32.379 And He gave. 00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:35.719 And that word there is really interesting. 00:16:36.319 --> 00:16:41.419 In Greek, it's when you give someone something that's solely for their advantage. 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:45.240 In other words, there's nothing you gain from what you give. 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:49.339 That the person who receives, they're the one who gets all the benefits. 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:59.639 And so there, the Bible is saying that in His generosity, we and we alone are the ones who reap the benefits of God's generosity. 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:02.899 And He is a good, good God. 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:03.180 Amen? 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:05.039 And He is generous. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:09.639 We've been blessed to do mission work in Africa. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:15.720 Christy and I, before we had kids, we lived with a Zulu family for a couple of weeks out in the middle of nowhere. 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:18.299 And it was an interesting time. 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.859 We just sat that first night. 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:22.079 We sat at the dinner table and stared at one another. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:26.200 And fast forward a couple of weeks, and we're hugging and crying. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:29.120 And the word there in Zulu, Maruti, is pastor. 00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:31.480 And I said, Maruti, am I what you expected? 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.039 And He said, no. 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:36.019 And I said, if you don't mind me asking, what were you expecting? 00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:40.160 And He said, I thought you would have a cowboy hat and a holster with pistols in it. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.480 And He said, am I what you expected? 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:44.220 And I said, no. 00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:45.920 And He said, well, what were you expecting? 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.279 And I said, I thought you'd be naked with a spear. 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:50.700 And He said, well, we were both wrong. 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:52.160 I said, we were both wrong. 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.279 Right? 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:56.700 But here's what you learned when you go to places like Africa. 00:17:57.099 --> 00:17:57.819 Here's what you learned. 00:17:57.940 --> 00:18:04.519 We partnered with a mission in Romania working with blind children up in the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania. 00:18:04.879 --> 00:18:06.059 And here's what you learned. 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:10.680 That compared to 99% of the people in the world, we are rich. 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.399 We are rich. 00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:17.940 We have been so blessed in these United States. 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:22.660 We are so blessed richly with what God has given us. 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:27.100 And can I just say, whether you know Jesus or not, whether you love Jesus or not, 00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:30.019 your next breath is a gift from His generosity. 00:18:31.080 --> 00:18:32.900 Everything we have comes from the Lord. 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:35.759 In fact, Jesus says this in Matthew. 00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:39.440 He says, God causes His Son to rise on the evil and the good. 00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:43.560 He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 00:18:44.300 --> 00:18:47.320 God is good even to the atheist. 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:50.720 God is good even to the Muslim. 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:53.200 God is good even to the Gamecock. 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:53.500 Amen? 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:56.460 Some of you, right? 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.439 God is good. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:00.019 God is good. 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:03.379 And before we ever loved Him, He first loved us. 00:19:03.879 --> 00:19:06.960 He says, while we were yet sinners, Christ died. 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:10.700 He is generous and He is good. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:15.160 But we only experience the ultimate expression of His generosity 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:18.559 through knowing His Son, Jesus Christ. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:27.200 That we might one day lavish and relish His generosity in heaven for all eternity. 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:29.840 Only by knowing Jesus Christ. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:33.039 And so in knowing Him, we experience the love of God. 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:35.960 We experience the generosity of God. 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:39.299 Thirdly, we see this church in knowing Jesus Christ. 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:41.600 We experience the mercy of God. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:46.220 And knowing Jesus Christ, we experience the mercy of God. 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:48.660 Look back at your Bible and look at verse 17. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:55.559 He says, for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:58.779 That we are not under condemnation. 00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:01.059 Jesus did not come to condemn the world, 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:04.460 but that through Him the world might be saved. 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:08.940 And so we see that in Jesus we experience the love of God. 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:11.319 We experience the generosity of God. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.559 But we experience the mercy of God. 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:16.680 Jesus does not come to condemn, 00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:18.759 but He comes to save. 00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:20.620 And praise the Lord for that. 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:23.819 That we are not under condemnation. 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:27.259 Mercy literally means this. 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:32.840 Mercy is when we do not receive what we justly deserve. 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:34.779 That's the definition of mercy. 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:35.639 Let me say that again. 00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:42.799 Mercy is when we do not receive what we justly deserve. 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.500 So let me give you an example. 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:47.480 This was many years ago when we were living in North Carolina. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:50.480 And it was a community about the size of Pickens. 00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:52.559 And so kind of everyone knew one another, 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.319 or at least knew a bit about one another, 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:56.279 as it might be here. 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:59.799 And Christy and I were driving on a back road, 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:03.119 heading to church one evening. 00:21:03.639 --> 00:21:06.879 And all of a sudden, I look in the rearview mirror, 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:08.019 and there are blue lights. 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:09.599 There's a North Carolina State Trooper. 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.059 And I see the blue lights. 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.799 And I told Christy, 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:15.500 oh, we need to pull over so he can get around us. 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:18.059 And the oddest thing happened when I pulled over. 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.139 He pulled over. 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:21.899 And so I thought, oh, he must be lost. 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:25.180 I'm happy to share with him how to get to wherever he's going. 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:27.360 And I'm looking in the rearview mirror. 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:29.640 I've never had a speeding ticket in my life. 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:31.140 I'm looking in the rearview mirror, 00:21:31.320 --> 00:21:34.200 and I see the State Trooper get out. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:36.860 And he was notorious in our community. 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:38.040 His name was Dumas. 00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:38.640 Is that right? 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:41.759 And Dumas, picture Goliath, 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:43.700 but with a State Trooper hat on. 00:21:43.800 --> 00:21:47.500 This guy is massive and kind of, you know, hardcore. 00:21:48.040 --> 00:21:49.660 And I look at Christy, and I'm like, 00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:51.019 it's Dumas, pray. 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:53.440 And Christy's like, I'm not the one who was speeding. 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.279 Why should I pray? 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:57.680 And that wasn't helpful at all in the moment. 00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:00.819 And so I roll down my window, 00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.319 and I'm going to be honest with you, 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.039 I'm really nervous, 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.299 and I've got my hands on the steering wheel, 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:05.220 cut the ignition off. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:08.240 And he walks up, and he looks in, 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:11.359 and he says, license and registration. 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:14.619 And so I hand him the license and registration. 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:16.319 He walks back to the car. 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:18.519 He's back there, feels like, for about three days. 00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:20.559 He comes back up to the window, 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.919 hands me my stuff back, 00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:23.819 and he says, can I ask you a question? 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:25.720 And I'm thinking, he's about to say, 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.919 do you know how fast you are going? 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:29.139 And he says, can I ask you a question? 00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:30.700 And I said, yes, sir. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:33.480 He said, aren't you the pastor at Somerset Baptist Church? 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:37.139 And if Christy wouldn't have been there, 00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:39.319 I might have said no and asked Jesus to forgive me later. 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:41.099 But I couldn't get away with it. 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:44.139 I said, yes, sir, I'm the pastor. 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:47.620 He said, you go into a funeral? 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:51.120 I said, if you give me a ticket, it might be my own. 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:54.759 And he started laughing, and I kind of, he broke a little bit. 00:22:54.840 --> 00:22:55.920 We had a nice little chat. 00:22:56.280 --> 00:22:59.220 And he said, this is what he said, it'll always stay with me. 00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:00.960 He said, were you speeding? 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.480 I said, yes, sir. 00:23:03.360 --> 00:23:04.680 He said, did you break the law? 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:06.300 I said, yes, sir. 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:08.560 He said, do you deserve a ticket? 00:23:09.280 --> 00:23:10.200 I said, yes, sir. 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:14.559 And then he looked at me and said, I'm not going to give you what you deserve. 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.519 He gave me a warning. 00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:20.240 And at that moment, I would have given him a kidney. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:22.100 I was that happy. 00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.779 See, that's mercy. 00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:27.299 What he showed me was mercy. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.519 Don't miss this church. 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:30.680 I deserved it. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.600 I deserved it. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.819 I broke the law. 00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:37.360 But he did not give me what I deserved. 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.220 That is mercy. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:41.420 The Bible says, none are righteous, no, not one. 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:45.460 The Bible says, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:47.059 Here's the reality. 00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.460 All of us deserve hell. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:54.579 The Bible says in James, if you've broken one commandment, one part of the law, 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.740 you've broken the whole thing. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.559 The whole thing. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:01.519 And so we all deserve hell. 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:06.620 But mercy is that in Jesus, we do not get what we justly deserve. 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:08.539 And what we receive is grace. 00:24:09.199 --> 00:24:13.339 And grace is when we receive what we do not justly deserve. 00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:15.119 And the picture of that is heaven. 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:19.899 For one thing I know for sure, when we get there, none of us deserve to be there. 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:23.500 But it's by the grace of a loving Savior that we'll be there. 00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:28.979 And so in Jesus, we experience the love of God, the generosity of God. 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:31.880 But we experience the mercy of God. 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:36.099 Someone asked me recently if I believe in a literal hell. 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:40.740 And I said, I wish I didn't. 00:24:42.459 --> 00:24:47.319 But as I read this book, and as I just look at this book, 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:50.359 and I just set aside my prejudices and my desires, 00:24:50.439 --> 00:24:54.519 it just seems like this book says there is a place called hell. 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:58.759 But this book also says that it's not God's will that any should perish, 00:24:58.879 --> 00:25:00.899 but that all would come to a knowledge of eternal life. 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:05.680 And God is patient, and it seems like it is a real place, 00:25:05.780 --> 00:25:07.560 but God has made a way through Jesus Christ. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.500 And can I tell you what? 00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:12.040 If I did not believe that hell was real, 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:15.259 I would be on the first plane back to America tomorrow. 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:21.540 For there would be no other reason to do what any of us do. 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:29.740 Like, we haven't seen our daughter in nine months. 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:33.700 I don't say that to get sympathy. 00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:35.859 It's just the reality of the missionary life. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.879 My son will be leaving for university next year, 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:40.619 and we won't see our kids. 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:42.700 Our kids will be 4,000 miles away, 00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:44.779 and that doesn't fill my heart with joy. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:50.639 But if people are really dying and going to hell church, 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:52.940 they need to hear the good news. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.200 Amen? 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:57.980 But you don't have to get on a plane to find people who are dying and going to hell. 00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:00.820 You walk across the street at McDonald's, 00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:02.740 and I'm sure it's full of people who don't know Jesus. 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.160 Amen? 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:07.560 May the Lord find us faithful where He places us. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:09.259 Last thing is this. 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:13.320 In knowing Jesus Christ, we experience the love of God, 00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:15.759 the generosity of God, the mercy of God. 00:26:15.840 --> 00:26:20.020 But finally, in knowing Jesus Christ, we experience the salvation of God. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:24.680 In knowing Jesus Christ, we experience the salvation of God. 00:26:26.280 --> 00:26:27.680 Look back at verse 16. 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:32.320 And He says that whoever believes in Him should not perish, 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.020 but have eternal life. 00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:36.860 And He picks this theme up again in verse 17 where He says, 00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:38.540 It did not come to condemn the world, 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:40.860 but in order that the world might be what? 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:43.380 Saved through Him. 00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:45.120 Saved through Him. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:46.779 That word saved is precious. 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:48.299 It's the Greek word sozo. 00:26:48.979 --> 00:26:51.919 And it means to save and to protect. 00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:53.739 To save and to keep. 00:26:53.899 --> 00:26:57.039 Like Jesus saves us, and then He keeps us. 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:59.139 He saves us and He keeps us. 00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:01.459 And wherever we go, Jesus is with us. 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.139 Amen, Christian? 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.719 Wherever we go. 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:05.139 In the Great Commission, He says, 00:27:05.239 --> 00:27:07.539 And lo, I go with you to the end of the age. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:08.699 It's a promise. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:12.019 Years ago, when I was pastoring, 00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:14.840 we were taking a mission trip, I believe to Romania. 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:19.080 And I was really encouraging our deacons to get on board. 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:21.140 We had about 12, 15 deacons maybe. 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:23.960 And a couple of them, our older guys were farmers. 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:27.779 And one of them's name was Elwood, a saint of the Lord. 00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:28.900 And I remember saying, 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:32.319 Elwood, man, I would love for you to go to Romania with us. 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.700 And he said, well, I can't. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.940 I said, well, if you don't mind me asking, why not? 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.779 What's holding you back? 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:39.319 And he said, because Jesus won't go with me. 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:42.920 I said, Elwood, what do you mean Jesus won't go with you? 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.899 He said, well, it's in the Bible. 00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:46.779 I said, well, if you don't mind, enlighten me. 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:50.700 He said, well, he said, did Jesus say in low I'll go with you? 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.680 I said, yes. 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:54.579 He said, well, we'd be getting on a plane to go over there. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.819 I said, yes. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:58.799 He said, well, if I'm on a plane, I'll be high and Jesus will be low 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.819 and I don't want to do that. 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.319 That's a bad hermeneutic. 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:07.139 By the way, we couldn't get Elwood on a plane for nothing. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:15.059 Jesus says, look, I've come and now I'm sending you that the world might know 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:18.299 that salvation in Christ is full and free. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:22.700 You don't have to earn it to get it and you don't have to work to keep it. 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:28.200 He says, we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:31.400 It's what I'll tell my Muslim friends that as Christians, 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:34.340 we don't earn our salvation through good works, 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:36.600 but we do good works because of our salvation. 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:41.259 Because that's who we are as people of faith. 00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:44.640 And knowing Jesus, we experience the love of God, 00:28:45.080 --> 00:28:49.059 the generosity of God, the mercy of God, but the salvation of God. 00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:53.299 The Bible says there's no other name under heaven in which men must be saved. 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:55.700 There is no plan B. 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:59.900 We were singing that beautiful hymn about a fountain that flows with blood 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:01.319 drawn from Emmanuel's veins. 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:06.380 And right by our house, there's the largest Hindu temple in Birmingham. 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:09.779 It's probably 10 minutes from our house. 00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:13.120 And the first thing you'll notice as you go into the temple, 00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:17.440 it feels vaguely familiar, the building does. 00:29:17.860 --> 00:29:19.460 And that's because it used to be a church. 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:22.519 And it's now one of the largest temples in our city. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:26.620 And so as you walk around the room, there are idols, 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.819 these massive idols all around the room. 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:32.539 And Hindus come in and they ring the bells to wake up the gods. 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:34.600 And they'll give them offerings and make their prayers. 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:36.360 And where the pulpit used to be, 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:41.480 there's now a 10-foot statue of Krishna with about eight arms coming out. 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:43.400 And we've been there often. 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:46.500 And when we have volunteer teams come, we've taken them before. 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:51.019 And in the back of the room at the Hindu temple, there's a fountain. 00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:55.780 And the fountain, instead of water coming out, is milk. 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:59.800 And when you go to the temple, you'll see the Hindus come in. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.500 Our landlords are Hindu. 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:06.340 And the Hindus will go there to the temple and they'll have empty jugs. 00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:08.720 And the Hindu priest has blessed the milk. 00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:11.899 And they'll line up throughout the building and they'll come 00:30:11.899 --> 00:30:14.679 and they'll fill that jug full of milk. 00:30:15.179 --> 00:30:17.500 And they believe if they take it home and drink it, 00:30:17.699 --> 00:30:19.179 it washes away their sins. 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:21.819 It washes away their sins. 00:30:23.679 --> 00:30:28.879 And we've had opportunities there in the temple to be able to share with folks 00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:32.299 that what we believe and what we know is this. 00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:34.159 What can wash away my sins? 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:36.940 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.720 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:40.720 Right? 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:44.820 There is no remission to sin without the shedding of blood, the Bible says. 00:30:45.840 --> 00:30:51.259 And so Jesus is not only our access to the love of God, 00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:53.340 the mercy of God, the generosity of God, 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:58.720 but He is our only access to salvation, full and free. 00:30:59.340 --> 00:31:02.540 And praise the Lord, He who the Son sets free is what church? 00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:04.060 Free indeed. 00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:08.019 We finish our sermons in England. 00:31:08.540 --> 00:31:10.740 We've planted a couple of churches now. 00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:14.120 And as we meet, we always try to end with a homework assignment. 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:17.480 And so I'm going to pretend like we're all English 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:18.960 and you're going to get a homework assignment. 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:20.720 I'm not going to ask you to say amen 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:22.259 because you're going to get it whether you want it or not. 00:31:22.320 --> 00:31:22.480 Amen? 00:31:23.300 --> 00:31:24.040 There you go. 00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:25.580 So here we go. 00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:26.640 What now? 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.780 I've got to go to work tomorrow. 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:32.160 That was a great sermon, but how does it connect to my work? 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:33.960 I've got school tomorrow. 00:31:34.080 --> 00:31:34.580 What now? 00:31:35.020 --> 00:31:35.520 Big deal. 00:31:36.020 --> 00:31:38.400 And so here are a couple of questions I want to ask you to take away 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:39.480 and some homework for you. 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.920 First of all, number one, 00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:45.160 who in my life needs to know Jesus in a personal way? 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:47.599 Who in my life? 00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:49.360 So take a moment and think about that. 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:51.079 Who do you know? 00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:55.720 Family, friend, co-worker, classmate, neighbor? 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:58.220 Don't say their name, 00:31:58.339 --> 00:32:00.660 but who's someone you know that right now 00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:03.460 they need to know the good news? 00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:06.259 And here's what I want to ask you to do. 00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:07.660 I want to ask you to pray for that person. 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:10.539 One thing moving overseas has taught me 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:15.880 is how little I appreciate the power of prayer. 00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:17.700 James says, 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:20.240 the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.960 And it's true. 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:26.620 So would you commit to pray this week for that person every day? 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.460 Second question. 00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:32.900 This week, how can I share or show the love of Jesus to someone else? 00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:34.559 It's your homework assignment. 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:36.079 So this week you have seven days. 00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:37.539 I won't be here next week. 00:32:37.620 --> 00:32:38.420 I'll be back in England. 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:40.880 But Daniel might quiz you to ask you what you did. 00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:44.600 This week, maybe it's a neighbor who needs some groceries. 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:50.220 Maybe it's someone who just needs some weeds pulled from their garden. 00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:53.980 Maybe it's a mom who just needs you to come and babysit 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:56.380 so she can just have some breathing space. 00:32:57.100 --> 00:32:59.180 I don't know who it is or what it is, 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:00.860 but I want you to pray and ask the Lord, 00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:03.220 Lord, what is something I can do this week 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:07.200 to share and show the love of Jesus? 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.160 And then lastly, 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:13.200 is there any aspect of the gospel that I'm not currently believing? 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:18.079 Is there any aspect of the gospel that I'm currently not believing? 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:19.319 So let me explain that. 00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:21.720 So we just saw four aspects of the gospel. 00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:25.179 Love, generosity, mercy, salvation. 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:28.379 And I'm speaking to Christians now. 00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:32.019 Are there any of those things that you're just not believing? 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.200 Right? 00:33:33.679 --> 00:33:35.519 And so maybe you're just thinking, 00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:38.019 man, I just don't know if God really loves me. 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:42.019 I mean, just looking at how things are playing out at work or at my family, 00:33:42.159 --> 00:33:45.059 like I've just really been struggling with the love of God. 00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:48.940 Maybe it's the generosity of God, 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:52.319 and maybe you don't have what you wish you had, 00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:53.679 what you would really desire, 00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:57.000 and you struggle with believing that God really wants the best for you, 00:33:57.259 --> 00:34:00.119 and you struggle believing that God doesn't give you certain things 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:02.059 because He knows it's best that you don't have them. 00:34:03.159 --> 00:34:04.139 Maybe it's mercy. 00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:08.260 The Scripture says there's therefore no condemnation, Paul says, 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:10.740 to those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:15.360 Maybe the enemy has you beaten down for sins you committed a decade ago. 00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:18.940 Maybe the enemy whispers lies to you that you're not forgiven, 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.619 that you have been forsaken. 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:24.460 Are there aspects of the gospel that you're not currently believing, 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:27.420 that you need to come back to John and say, 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:29.760 no, no, no, it doesn't matter how I feel, 00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.780 I know God loves me because it says so. 00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:34.700 It doesn't matter what I don't have, 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:38.760 I'm blessed beyond measure because God says so. 00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:41.300 I know that I belong to Jesus, 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:43.800 not because my good works are like they're of, 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:45.360 but because He says so. 00:34:45.700 --> 00:34:47.300 Are there aspects of the gospel, Christian, 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:50.280 you need to come back to and ask God to help you? 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.780 I pray that this week, 00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:57.060 you'll have opportunity to share and show to someone else 00:34:57.060 --> 00:35:00.260 God's love, God's generosity, His mercy, 00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:04.660 and that they would know salvation full and free in Jesus Christ. 00:35:05.540 --> 00:35:08.500 There's a neighborhood not far from our home, 00:35:08.660 --> 00:35:11.980 and we were trying to find a way to get into this neighborhood 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.940 and share the gospel. 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:17.300 It is what we would call in England a housing estate. 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:19.300 Think of like government projects. 00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:23.720 There were 10,000 people in less than one square mile. 00:35:24.740 --> 00:35:28.180 10,000 people, less than one square mile, no church. 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.860 So we began to pray. 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:33.500 We began to go and walk this neighborhood and pray over it 00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:36.080 and ask God to open up an opportunity, and He did. 00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:39.820 In the heart of the neighborhood, there was a public library. 00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:42.100 And I saw a sign on the door that said, 00:35:42.220 --> 00:35:43.300 Volunteers Needed. 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:46.460 And so went in, applied, and was accepted. 00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:50.880 And the woman said, We would like for you to volunteer in our computer lab. 00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:52.720 And I said, All right, what does that mean? 00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:56.480 She said, Well, it's primarily senior adults who come in 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:58.199 who want to learn how to use the Internet. 00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:00.360 And I thought, Oh, I can do that. 00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:03.940 And so I started going every week, volunteering, getting to meet people. 00:36:04.240 --> 00:36:07.059 And one day, a gentleman walks in by the name of Alan. 00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:10.240 And Alan was 89 years old. 00:36:10.740 --> 00:36:13.740 And so Alan comes in, and he has his Toshiba laptop. 00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:17.019 And he says, Sir, my laptop is broken. 00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:18.479 Could you fix it? 00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:20.919 And I said, Well, I'm going to be honest with you, Alan. 00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:22.439 Like, that's not what this is. 00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:24.679 This is to kind of show you how to use a computer. 00:36:24.779 --> 00:36:26.579 He said, Well, would you at least look at it? 00:36:26.979 --> 00:36:27.599 I said, Sure. 00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:28.459 So I opened the screen. 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.299 I hit the power button. 00:36:29.379 --> 00:36:29.939 It comes on. 00:36:30.219 --> 00:36:31.199 And he says, What did you do? 00:36:32.939 --> 00:36:34.639 And I said, I turned it on. 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:36.419 He said, I had not tried that. 00:36:37.479 --> 00:36:39.759 And he says, You're a genius. 00:36:40.479 --> 00:36:42.359 And I thought, We're going to be good friends. 00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:48.780 And so every week I would meet Alan to talk about how to use the Internet. 00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:53.780 And started over week after week, drip, drip, hearing Alan's story. 00:36:54.820 --> 00:36:57.700 Alan flew a Lancaster bomber in World War II. 00:36:58.260 --> 00:37:00.140 Flew 15 missions over Germany. 00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:06.180 Alan had been married for 40 years, but had been a widow for 30 years. 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:10.779 And Alan just never had children, had no family. 00:37:11.239 --> 00:37:12.539 And Alan was an atheist. 00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:14.519 Did not believe there was a God. 00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:19.799 And so we just adopted Alan into our family. 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:27.019 And we began to feed him and go buy groceries for him and cut his grass, 00:37:27.759 --> 00:37:29.419 have him over for Christmas morning. 00:37:29.420 --> 00:37:32.039 And Alan just became part of our family. 00:37:32.260 --> 00:37:34.820 And I wouldn't beat him over the head. 00:37:35.200 --> 00:37:36.599 Alan knew what we believed. 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:38.539 And I would just share. 00:37:39.200 --> 00:37:44.059 And this went on month after month, year after year, 00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:47.860 sharing and showing the love of Jesus to Alan. 00:37:48.700 --> 00:37:52.820 At the age of 94, five years, 94, 00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:56.760 Alan is admitted to hospital, having some stomach problems. 00:37:56.760 --> 00:37:59.880 He'd been in hospital then, actually what ended up being a couple of months. 00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:01.740 And I would go visit him and spend time with him. 00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:04.260 And went to visit him one morning. 00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:09.360 And when I showed up, the only explanation I have is Alan was beaming. 00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:12.780 There was something different in his countenance. 00:38:13.660 --> 00:38:15.940 And I said, Alan, you look amazing. 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:17.780 Like, you look great. 00:38:18.240 --> 00:38:19.660 Like, have they changed your medicine? 00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:20.480 What's happened? 00:38:21.620 --> 00:38:24.740 And Alan said, well, you know, for five years now, 00:38:24.739 --> 00:38:26.679 you've been telling me about Jesus. 00:38:26.859 --> 00:38:27.359 I said, yeah. 00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:29.939 He said, well, last night, 00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:32.839 I got down beside my hospital bed 00:38:32.839 --> 00:38:34.539 and asked Jesus to come into my heart 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:36.639 and to be my Lord and Savior. 00:38:37.979 --> 00:38:39.819 I said, Alan, that's amazing. 00:38:40.379 --> 00:38:41.079 He said, yeah. 00:38:41.479 --> 00:38:42.639 He said, and all morning, 00:38:42.759 --> 00:38:44.939 I've been telling every nurse about Jesus. 00:38:45.379 --> 00:38:47.679 And I've been asking every nurse if I could pray for her. 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:49.779 He said, the nurse who gives me a bath, 00:38:49.780 --> 00:38:51.120 I prayed for her twice. 00:38:55.560 --> 00:38:56.880 Ninety-four years old. 00:38:58.680 --> 00:39:00.220 And for those of you who know Jesus, 00:39:00.680 --> 00:39:02.940 I cannot wait to introduce you to Him in heaven. 00:39:04.280 --> 00:39:06.920 Because He's a wonderful, wonderful old mate. 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:09.640 Don't give up, church. 00:39:10.580 --> 00:39:11.720 Continue to share. 00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.440 Continue to show. 00:39:15.060 --> 00:39:16.080 Don't lose heart. 00:39:17.080 --> 00:39:18.220 And leave the rest to Jesus. 00:39:18.220 --> 00:39:19.019 Amen, church? 00:39:19.940 --> 00:39:21.080 Let me pray for us. 00:39:21.140 --> 00:39:22.420 Lord Jesus, we love You. 00:39:23.080 --> 00:39:24.800 And we thank You for the Gospel. 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:27.200 We thank You, Jesus, 00:39:27.320 --> 00:39:30.720 that in You we experience the love of God. 00:39:31.580 --> 00:39:32.580 We thank You, Jesus, 00:39:32.700 --> 00:39:36.220 that in You we experience the amazing generosity of God. 00:39:36.320 --> 00:39:37.580 We thank You, Jesus, 00:39:37.700 --> 00:39:39.640 that in You we are not condemned, 00:39:40.200 --> 00:39:41.800 but we receive mercy. 00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:44.980 And Jesus, we thank You 00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:47.220 that because of Your obedience 00:39:47.220 --> 00:39:49.019 to die on that old rugged cross, 00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:52.679 that we can have salvation full and free. 00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:54.820 And as we pray, 00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:56.739 I just want to invite Pastor Daniel to come. 00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:58.239 He's going to be up front. 00:39:58.480 --> 00:40:00.880 And maybe this morning, 00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:03.780 you've never known Jesus in a personal way. 00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:06.940 Maybe you've known about Him, 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:08.880 but you've never known Him. 00:40:09.759 --> 00:40:11.400 Maybe you just want to come and say, 00:40:11.400 --> 00:40:12.840 Pastor Daniel, 00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:14.000 could you share with me 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:16.300 how I can know Jesus in a real, 00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:17.860 in a personal way. 00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:20.559 Christian, maybe you're struggling. 00:40:21.119 --> 00:40:22.000 Maybe as a Christian, 00:40:22.139 --> 00:40:23.619 there are aspects of the Gospel 00:40:23.619 --> 00:40:26.380 that you're just not believing right now. 00:40:27.220 --> 00:40:28.800 And maybe you just need to come and say, 00:40:29.280 --> 00:40:31.539 oh, I'm struggling in this area of my life. 00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:32.660 Would you pray with me 00:40:32.660 --> 00:40:33.920 that the Lord would help me? 00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:39.500 But then maybe you have an Allen in your life. 00:40:40.780 --> 00:40:42.980 Maybe we just need to all just surround 00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:46.900 this altar and soak this carpet in tears 00:40:46.900 --> 00:40:50.119 as we pray for the Allens in our life, 00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:52.920 those who don't yet know 00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:55.280 salvation in Jesus Christ. 00:40:55.280 --> 00:41:00.460 The fervent prayer of a righteous man 00:41:00.460 --> 00:41:01.360 availeth much. 00:41:01.820 --> 00:41:03.320 As we pray, God moves. 00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:05.240 However the Holy Spirit leads, 00:41:05.320 --> 00:41:07.580 you come as we sing together.