WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:07.240 Well, good morning, everyone. It's lovely to have you with us today, particularly if this is maybe your first time here, maybe that's the first time that we've met. 00:00:07.640 --> 00:00:13.300 It's just so lovely to have you with us this morning. Let me just give my welcome to those who are joining us online as well. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:17.760 Now, I'm conscious that we've been sitting for about 40, 45 minutes. So here's what I want you to do. 00:00:17.780 --> 00:00:22.039 If you're in the building, you do this at home if you want as well, feel free. Why don't we stand? 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:35.659 Let's stand. And I don't know, maybe you just want to relax any muscles, get any yawns out of your system, because these pews do funny things to my back when I sit. 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:43.799 So maybe just kind of get yourself awake this morning and maybe look around, see who's here, give a little nod to people, acknowledge them. 00:00:44.739 --> 00:00:48.280 And then let me just read some words from Philippians chapter three. 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:54.200 This is what I pray is true of us as we encounter God, as we hear his word this morning. 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:55.399 Paul would write this. 00:01:00.260 --> 00:01:04.740 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:13.359 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ, my Lord. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:20.659 And so that's our prayer as we head into this passage this morning, that we would see Jesus's all-surpassing worth. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:24.079 So with that in mind, have a seat. That was for free. It wasn't even in my notes, okay? 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:28.019 So here's a question to get us thinking this morning. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:33.400 When was the last time, and get this in your minds, but a mental exercise as we begin. 00:01:33.659 --> 00:01:42.200 When was the last time that you tasted something, and you tasted it, and oh, man alive, honestly, it just made you want to be sick? 00:01:43.159 --> 00:01:46.219 Okay, we're far enough away from lunchtime, I feel I can get away with that one. 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:50.159 When was the last time you tasted something, and it made you want to be sick? 00:01:50.859 --> 00:01:57.079 Okay, maybe you're one of 47% of the people, apparently, in the UK who gag at the taste of an oyster. 00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:07.320 Okay, maybe you're one of 34% of people in the UK who say that they wretch at the smell, or the texture, or the taste of blue cheese. 00:02:07.820 --> 00:02:09.719 Okay, I do that. My wife loves blue cheese. 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:12.460 Every time I open the fridge, oh, it hits me like a brick wall. 00:02:13.099 --> 00:02:23.079 Maybe you're one of almost 40% of people, apparently, in the UK who say, and I think this is hugely unfair, that they cannot stand the taste of a black pudding. 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:29.960 Okay, now, if ever there's going to be a food that makes it to heaven, it's going to be a store-in-law black pudding in my books, okay? 00:02:30.020 --> 00:02:31.860 If you haven't tasted it, give it a try. 00:02:31.980 --> 00:02:32.820 But here's what I want you to do. 00:02:32.880 --> 00:02:36.120 Whatever that food is, I want you to get it in your mind. 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:44.700 And I want you to recall, tap into something of that, get that out of me, get that out of my stomach sensation and that feeling. 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:52.700 And when you've got it, come with me to Revelation chapter 3 and to this church in Laodicea. 00:02:52.699 --> 00:02:58.139 Now, here's the striking thing about what Jesus says to this church as we encounter it in Revelation 3. 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:01.339 He tastes this church. 00:03:03.119 --> 00:03:08.019 And it's as if he says, in fact, he does say, he says, I just want to spit you out. 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:10.879 I taste you and you make me sick. 00:03:13.099 --> 00:03:14.959 Which is hugely striking, isn't it? 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:19.800 We've got to ask ourselves why he says that. 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:25.920 Now, here's what is historically true about life in Laodicea in this day. 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:30.340 The drinking water is terrible. 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:32.500 Okay, and here's why. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:36.719 These folks don't have their own water supply. 00:03:36.900 --> 00:03:41.560 So what they need to do is they need to pipe it in from nearby cities. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:45.420 So you have Colossae, which is the city to the east. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:50.759 And Colossae has lovely, fresh, cold water. 00:03:51.180 --> 00:04:01.300 By the time that they pipe it in all the way to Laodicea, what has happened is that water that was really cool and lovely has warmed up so that it's tepid. 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:07.439 And the second place these guys go for their water is Hierapolis, which is the city to the north. 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:10.620 And Hierapolis has lovely, warm water. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:15.439 But by the time it makes it to Laodicea, it too has gone tepid. 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:17.280 So you bring these things together. 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:24.360 And what happens when you turn on the tap in Laodicea is what comes out is tepid, stinking water. 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:31.220 Because you can imagine to get the water to the city is going to go through these old stinking pipes. 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:34.660 So you turn on the tap in Laodicea. 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:37.200 Disgusting water. 00:04:38.840 --> 00:04:41.540 And Jesus taps into this. 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:43.540 Pun intended, right? 00:04:44.440 --> 00:04:46.640 And he says, you guys are just like your water. 00:04:47.900 --> 00:04:51.500 I taste you and honestly I just want to be sick. 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:54.980 And we've got to ask ourselves why. 00:04:55.060 --> 00:04:59.540 Because that is not the Jesus that we get in the stained glass windows in churches around the country, is it? 00:05:00.420 --> 00:05:02.160 It's not the Jesus of popular culture. 00:05:03.220 --> 00:05:06.339 So we have to understand what is going on here. 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:07.579 Here's what's happening. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:08.660 Here's the heart of it. 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:11.740 Life in Laodicea, right? 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:13.040 The water might be minging. 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:15.319 But life is happening. 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:16.780 Okay? 00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:19.800 It's a banking center. 00:05:21.260 --> 00:05:24.000 So people are wealthy in Laodicea. 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:25.520 It's a medical center. 00:05:26.220 --> 00:05:28.280 With a particular speciality. 00:05:28.280 --> 00:05:30.960 People used to come from the regions around to Laodicea. 00:05:31.080 --> 00:05:34.680 Because it's famous for producing salve for the eyes. 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:35.640 Right? 00:05:35.740 --> 00:05:37.720 To heal and to help people's sight. 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:40.240 And it's a textile center. 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:43.060 So it's famous for producing black wool. 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:46.780 I don't know if you want to think about kind of Scotland famous for producing what? 00:05:46.980 --> 00:05:47.420 Kashmir. 00:05:47.660 --> 00:05:47.840 Right? 00:05:48.460 --> 00:05:50.139 The same kind of thing goes on in Laodicea. 00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:52.720 So people are well dressed. 00:05:52.840 --> 00:05:54.840 People look the part in Laodicea. 00:05:54.960 --> 00:05:58.840 So you take those things together and life is pretty cushy in Laodicea. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:02.600 In fact, life's so cushy. 00:06:02.660 --> 00:06:04.340 And I love this, learning this this week. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:07.620 That an earthquake once destroyed this city. 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:11.319 Rome offers to help give them money. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:13.340 And these guys say, do you know what? 00:06:13.379 --> 00:06:14.439 We don't need your money. 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:16.180 We don't need your tools. 00:06:16.280 --> 00:06:17.100 We don't need your resources. 00:06:17.100 --> 00:06:19.280 Because we can do this one by ourselves. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:20.540 And they did it by themselves. 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:29.480 And so if you're a Laodicean, you pride yourself on the fact that you are independent and self-sufficient. 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:39.860 And what seems to have happened is that those same values that the people of the city love, independent self-sufficiency, right? 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:42.580 No political connotations, just independent self-sufficiency. 00:06:42.579 --> 00:06:48.479 These things have infiltrated and seeped into the lives of this church. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:07:01.660 And instead of reflecting the glory of God, also passing worth of Jesus to the world, what's happening is these people are just reflecting the world to the world. 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:03.220 Okay? 00:07:03.400 --> 00:07:07.780 It's so often what, I don't know if I find my non-Christian friends, they would think. 00:07:08.679 --> 00:07:08.899 Right? 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.219 You guys are just like us. 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:13.599 Except you like to meet up on a Sunday and sing kumbaya. 00:07:14.219 --> 00:07:14.419 Okay? 00:07:14.539 --> 00:07:15.319 What do they have in their minds? 00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:16.879 They have the Vicar of Debly in their minds. 00:07:17.779 --> 00:07:18.919 So you're just like us. 00:07:19.719 --> 00:07:22.500 And it seems that this church is just like their city. 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:23.739 Just like the people of their city. 00:07:23.859 --> 00:07:24.719 Chasing the same things. 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:25.339 Same dreams. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:26.099 Same ambitions. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:27.719 Independent. 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:28.500 Self-sufficient. 00:07:28.679 --> 00:07:30.859 And Jesus hates it. 00:07:32.719 --> 00:07:37.179 Because these people think deep down that they don't. 00:07:37.779 --> 00:07:38.359 Need him. 00:07:40.899 --> 00:07:41.379 Right? 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:43.319 If you asked them, they would have said, do you know what? 00:07:43.339 --> 00:07:45.519 We've got this church thing sorted. 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:46.239 Right? 00:07:46.299 --> 00:07:47.419 We've got money in the bank. 00:07:48.219 --> 00:07:49.459 We've got people with skills. 00:07:49.619 --> 00:07:51.159 We've got a slick running service. 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:52.199 We checked our website. 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.819 We've got this church thing sorted. 00:07:55.419 --> 00:07:56.719 And Jesus hates it. 00:07:58.099 --> 00:07:59.019 He hates it. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:07.239 And so as we eavesdrop in on this loving rebuke that Jesus makes to these Christians. 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:14.279 The self-reflective question that comes squarely to us, I think, individually, but more so corporately, 00:08:14.919 --> 00:08:22.419 is to assess whether deep down we too don't think we really need Jesus. 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:29.460 That we rate our abilities to do things without him. 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:36.980 And we certainly, as we're thinking about tonight, as we think about the future, yeah, we can do these things without him. 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:44.840 You know, if you phone the AA, pick up the phone and the person on the other end of the line will say, 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:46.980 welcome to the fourth emergency service. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:47.920 Right? 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:48.700 You heard that one before? 00:08:48.800 --> 00:08:50.420 You're looking for your car insurance, home insurance? 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:51.399 Car insurance. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:54.100 Welcome to the fourth emergency service. 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:59.180 How often, friends, that we view Jesus as if he's simply the fifth. 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:01.680 Right? 00:09:01.779 --> 00:09:01.920 Right? 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:07.620 He's like a useful tag team member who we can kind of call upon if we've gone a few rounds. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:09.379 We're running out of energy. 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:09.800 Right? 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:10.960 He's a great sub. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:16.040 He's the only goner so shower of the religious world that we know we can bring on if we need a last minute winner. 00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:26.040 Well, this morning, Jesus is going to challenge us to recapture a sense of just how much we need him. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:32.040 And we'll see just how great and glorious he is. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:36.759 And we will revel in the fact that he loves us. 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:39.460 He loves us. 00:09:39.460 --> 00:09:43.700 So here's, we need to see just two headings if you're into headings. 00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:43.860 Right? 00:09:43.900 --> 00:09:46.160 Here's two things that we need to see Jesus is doing here. 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:46.660 Okay? 00:09:46.800 --> 00:09:50.840 The first thing he is doing is he is calling out complacent Christianity. 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:52.320 Okay? 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:54.240 Calling out complacent Christianity. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:55.879 Now, if you come with me to verse 17. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:00.680 Here's what Jesus knows the folks in this church are saying. 00:10:01.139 --> 00:10:01.280 Right? 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.160 Verse 17. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:02.639 Come with me. 00:10:02.680 --> 00:10:03.820 It's crucial that we see this. 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:04.480 Here's what they're saying. 00:10:04.540 --> 00:10:04.620 Right? 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:07.960 They're not probably walking around saying this stuff like, nice to meet you. 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:08.759 My name's Norman. 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:10.419 And I am these things. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:12.620 They're not saying these things out loud. 00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:12.840 Right? 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:18.679 Probably the worrying thing, the challenging thing for us is I imagine they're doing every kind of thing that we do. 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:19.379 They go to church. 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:19.899 They sing. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:20.519 They read. 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:22.720 But here's what they think deep down. 00:10:22.819 --> 00:10:24.220 Here is the mantra in their hearts. 00:10:24.319 --> 00:10:25.600 Here's the thing that they say. 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:28.519 The mental pep talk they give themselves every day. 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:31.559 As they look in the mirror as they are about to head out the door for work. 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:32.059 Do you see it? 00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:34.659 You say, I am rich. 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:37.319 I have acquired wealth. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:39.679 And do not need a thing. 00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:45.079 Now, that's straight off the Oprah Winfrey show that one, isn't it? 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:50.920 That is some serious, positive mental attitude. 00:10:51.300 --> 00:10:57.320 And the thing I think, and this is what I was challenged on to see this week, is that we can have a right good laugh at these guys. 00:10:57.900 --> 00:11:03.400 But the thing to see is, I know this is true in my life, that this is the default attitude of my heart. 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:05.920 This is where I drift. 00:11:06.020 --> 00:11:08.080 I don't drift into dependence on God. 00:11:08.140 --> 00:11:10.860 I drift away to independence on me. 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:12.340 Right? 00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:14.640 Particularly when we live in a culture like this. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.480 I turn on the news in the morning, and there's Richard Branson. 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:20.180 And I think to myself, man, there's a self-made man. 00:11:21.260 --> 00:11:22.080 He's done it. 00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:23.020 He's done it. 00:11:24.040 --> 00:11:25.900 I turn on the news, and there's Gary Barlow. 00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:31.679 If you check this out on BBC News later, he's talking about how he wrote three of his greatest hits for Take That in the one week. 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.579 And I think, what a productive week that guy had. 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:35.120 What am I going to do with my week? 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:37.279 What am I going to achieve today? 00:11:37.959 --> 00:11:39.819 I've got the mental resolve to do it today. 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:42.539 I've got the resources to progress my life today. 00:11:42.819 --> 00:11:44.379 Let's go and attack it today. 00:11:45.059 --> 00:11:46.319 And I'm out that door. 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:49.480 And I'm thinking, I've got this one sussed. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:55.860 Friends, if you want to trace the crack on the ceiling of our hearts all the way back. 00:11:55.899 --> 00:11:56.699 To its source. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:01.259 You can trace it all the way back to the Garden of Eden, can't you? 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:03.819 God, we don't need you. 00:12:05.019 --> 00:12:07.279 We can do this on our own. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.639 We've got this. 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.579 You're an inconvenience. 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:11.179 You're in the way. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:12.819 Just, we can do this. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:15.779 But here's what Jesus sees back in the text. 00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:25.379 But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:26.500 Right? 00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:27.279 Do you see what he's doing there? 00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:29.519 He's picked his words brilliantly. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:33.860 To the people living in the banking center, he says what? 00:12:33.939 --> 00:12:34.759 He says, you are poor. 00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:38.860 To the people living in the medical center, specializing in the eyes. 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:39.460 What does he say? 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:40.379 He says, you are blind. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:45.039 To the people living in the textile center, he says, you are naked. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:51.299 We've got to understand that this isn't Jesus adopting some kind of tall poppy syndrome. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:51.659 Right? 00:12:53.059 --> 00:12:58.699 This isn't tabloid Jesus seeking to kind of expose people in an attempt to cut them down to size 00:12:58.699 --> 00:13:02.519 in case they get any ideas above their stations. 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:14.579 This is Jesus inviting them to adopt the mindset of his counterintuitive kingdom. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:19.340 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled. 00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:24.240 And those who humble themselves will be exalted. 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:29.100 Where the first will be last. 00:13:30.319 --> 00:13:31.840 And where the last will be first. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:34.139 Where weakness is the new strength. 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:38.379 Where dying to self is the way to life. 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:45.160 This is the cross-shaped pattern of the kingdom. 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:48.620 And it sounds like utter foolishness to the world. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.940 Why would you even entertain thoughts like this? 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:58.680 But, says Jesus, this is exactly the place. 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:06.000 And this is exactly the posture where you will find eternal life. 00:14:08.199 --> 00:14:13.339 As you come to savor the gospel of God's free grace. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:22.059 As you come to rest in the Jesus who loved us and who gave himself for us. 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:27.619 And as you come to know Jesus as our all in all. 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:35.879 You know, when Alex and I, before we started here, spent a bit of time in Malawi. 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:37.480 Lovely country. 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:40.779 Lord willing, we'd love to go back there one day. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:43.560 Two of our best friends when we were out there were called Helen's Stew. 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:44.440 Right? 00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:45.740 Helen's Stew, they live in Oban now. 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:46.639 They were Scottish as well. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.259 So we kind of connected over that Scotland thing. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:51.000 Remember we went for a walk one day. 00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:55.299 And we're having a chat about things that we will love when we go home. 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.059 Right? 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.879 The things that we miss about home. 00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:59.980 It's what you do when you go abroad, isn't it? 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:01.419 You find somebody from your own country. 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:02.960 You talk about the things that you miss. 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:06.360 So I'm talking about the things that I'm looking forward to when I go back. 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.840 And I'm talking about McDonald's. 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:09.539 I'm talking about power showers. 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:10.439 Right? 00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.899 I'm talking about match of the day. 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:15.419 And I say, what do you miss? 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:16.379 What are you going to love? 00:15:16.419 --> 00:15:17.419 You've been out here longer than us. 00:15:17.719 --> 00:15:20.339 What are you going to love when you go home? 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.919 Expected to kind of hear similar answers. 00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:23.199 Right? 00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:25.099 And do you know what she said? 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:29.259 She said, I'm actually dreading going home. 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:32.279 Because back home, do you know what? 00:15:32.959 --> 00:15:34.099 I never prayed. 00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:40.419 But out here, I've learned what it is to ask the Lord for my daily bread. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:40.980 Right? 00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:42.959 Where are we going to get petrol from? 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:46.180 There was a huge petrol shortage when we were out there. 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:48.660 How are we going to make ends meet? 00:15:49.420 --> 00:15:54.379 You know, our sponsors abroad, as they support us, as kind of mission workers. 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:55.259 What are we going to do? 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:59.720 How do I mentally cope in a culture that is so different from the one that I'm used to? 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.759 Thinking about the little girl that they had. 00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:05.759 What happens when she gets sick and we're not in a country where we have free access to health care? 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:12.659 And all of a sudden, friends, she said, you know, that quarter pounder that was in my mind didn't sound so appealing. 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:26.059 How often we let our relative affluence cloud our understanding for just how much we need Jesus. 00:16:26.059 --> 00:16:31.479 Do we see how much we need him? 00:16:34.239 --> 00:16:36.799 He is calling out complacent Christianity. 00:16:37.319 --> 00:16:42.639 And the second thing he is doing is he is calling for dependent disciples. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:46.120 He loves them too much. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:52.659 Loves them too much to let them stay in this place, this whole existence of a religious life. 00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:55.179 He wants them to know life to the full. 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:59.120 But he ain't going to find it doing what they're doing, living how they're living. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:00.799 They're going to find it in him. 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:01.299 Right? 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.980 That's what's driving all of this. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:04.000 His love for his people. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.440 Do you see that in verse 19? 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:11.580 The promise of Jesus that those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. 00:17:12.340 --> 00:17:12.500 Okay? 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:18.880 So like a loving parent there, Jesus is saying, son, daughter, don't roam over there. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.299 Don't go there. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:21.779 It's not good for you to be there. 00:17:21.840 --> 00:17:23.500 It's not good for you to think like that. 00:17:25.320 --> 00:17:27.720 And what we need to see, he's not lost the plot here. 00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:30.480 He's not like a neighbor standing in the middle of the street. 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.840 Lost it, shouting. 00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.940 Get your act together. 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.880 What are you doing? 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:38.080 He's not sitting there disappointed in their failings. 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.880 He's not angry at their folly. 00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:43.820 Friends, how often that is the Jesus that we have in our minds when we fail. 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.440 To see where he is. 00:17:46.520 --> 00:17:47.000 Where is he? 00:17:47.040 --> 00:17:47.820 And we need to see this. 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.200 Where is he? 00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:48.720 Verse 20. 00:17:48.820 --> 00:17:49.240 Come with me. 00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:49.920 Verse 20. 00:17:51.320 --> 00:17:54.460 He is at the door knocking. 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:58.080 He is pursuing them. 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:01.340 And he's offering them. 00:18:02.040 --> 00:18:03.120 Not stuff. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:03.719 Right? 00:18:03.719 --> 00:18:06.419 Guys don't need stuff. 00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:11.979 He's offering them himself, which is so much greater. 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:15.460 And that's why he reminds them, I think, of who he is at verse 14. 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.500 This is who I am. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.660 This is who I am. 00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:19.240 Do you see it? 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.640 He doesn't offer an amen. 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:22.319 He calls himself the amen. 00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:23.519 Okay? 00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:25.420 He is the yes. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:30.000 As Paul would write in 2 Corinthians, the yes to all of God's promises down the ages. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.980 He is the faithful one. 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:35.119 He is the one who will not change. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:38.099 In your world, it changes all the time. 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:42.380 He is the one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:46.019 He is the one who holds all creation together by the power of his word. 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.680 He is the one who holds the future. 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:53.619 And he is the one who holds these Christians in his hand. 00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:58.179 And he invites them, verse 18, to come and buy from me. 00:18:59.439 --> 00:19:03.319 It's just a deliberate echo of the Isaiah 55 passage that we read earlier, 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:06.819 where God offers his people, right? 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:07.699 His rebellious people. 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.599 He offers them. 00:19:09.179 --> 00:19:11.459 It's almost like the finest cuts of life. 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.459 Right? 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.920 And you say, well, how much does that cost? 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.100 What do I need to save? 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:16.860 Right? 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:20.539 That little girl, Chloe, she's into saving pennies at the minute. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:21.160 Right? 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:23.500 How much does this cost? 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:25.980 How much do we need to buy stuff from our creator? 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.819 The answer is this is without payment. 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.980 This is without price. 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:32.920 And look what Jesus is offering here. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.680 Gold refined in the fire. 00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:38.660 So you can become rich. 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:40.059 And white clothes to wear. 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:42.619 So you can cover your shameful nakedness. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:44.359 And salve to put on your eyes. 00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:45.980 So you can see. 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:50.519 This is an invitation to come and taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:55.480 This is an invitation to come and know the transforming power of his free grace. 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:56.559 It's free. 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.819 It's lavish. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.299 Why? 00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.940 Because he paid the price. 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.299 He paid the price. 00:20:02.379 --> 00:20:03.899 Went for a coffee with somebody the other day. 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:06.379 And they used that phrase that we use all the time. 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.179 This one's on me. 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:08.019 Okay? 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:08.539 Very nice. 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.480 This one's on me. 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:13.440 Grace, friends, is on him. 00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:15.679 It's on him. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.919 He picked up the tab. 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:22.720 He paid the price for our sin on the cross. 00:20:22.919 --> 00:20:24.179 He took it on himself. 00:20:24.419 --> 00:20:30.139 And so he extends life, the invitation of life, to all those who would come and trust in him. 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:42.300 He says, come and see that in me are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, that in me are redemption and forgiveness for your every single failing and faults. 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:50.680 And come and find that in me your eyes can be opened so that you can clearly see and walk in the light of life. 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:53.400 You know, my favorite hymn, favorite hymn. 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:56.920 I heard the voice of Jesus say. 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:59.160 If you're not listening to it, go and check it out when you get home. 00:20:59.840 --> 00:21:01.740 Audrey Asad has got a great version of it. 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:03.400 I heard the voice of Jesus say, 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:05.740 Behold, I freely give. 00:21:06.540 --> 00:21:10.720 The living water, thirsty one, stoop down and drink and live. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:15.500 I came to Jesus and I drank of that life-giving stream. 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:17.779 Oh, my thirst was quenched. 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:19.140 My soul revived. 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:22.160 And now I live in him. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.860 This is what's an offer. 00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:35.579 In verse 20, do you see, he promises to all those who would open the door and humble themselves that he will come and eat with them. 00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:36.460 I love that thought. 00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:38.180 Love that thought. 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.819 Do you know why? 00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:41.299 Because sharing a meal with Jesus. 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:46.480 Okay, and of course, to share a meal with someone in this day speaks of association. 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.819 Speaks of kind of affirmation. 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.200 Speaks of affection. 00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:50.960 Speaks of worth. 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:57.299 That's why you can make a great case that in Luke's gospel, Jesus gets killed because he eats with the wrong people. 00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.460 Okay? 00:21:58.919 --> 00:22:00.700 But this is what Jesus is offering here. 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:02.819 This is a deeply relational invitation. 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:05.899 I will come and eat with you. 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.720 Right? 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:14.180 To know life with this three-in-one God and to share in his victory. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.759 Right? 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.900 Here is Jesus, friends. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.799 Here he is. 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.279 And he's doing two things. 00:22:20.360 --> 00:22:22.339 He's calling out complacent Christianity. 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:27.100 And he's calling for dependent disciples. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:27.579 Right? 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:37.139 And so as we bring this together, these two things together, how is this dependence going to express ourselves in our daily lives? 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:39.540 So I was asking myself all week, right? 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:47.680 How can we help ourselves every day see and stop and listen and know our need for Jesus? 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:49.579 How can we help ourselves see it? 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:53.440 Maybe it was something you want to think about as you go about your day to day. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:57.720 You know, it's often said that William Wilberforce, what he did every day is he put a small stone in his shoe. 00:22:57.720 --> 00:23:04.240 And what would happen is that at random points throughout the day, that stone would kind of dig into his foot. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:04.460 Right? 00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:06.140 You know that feeling, how annoying that is. 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.720 But he did this deliberately. 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:10.160 And apparently every time it happened, it humbled him. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:11.039 Right? 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:13.620 Because he mixed him with some big wigs. 00:23:13.860 --> 00:23:14.000 Okay? 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.620 Humbled him. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:18.180 But also it just reminded him of his need to pray. 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:24.840 You know, what we've tried to do recently and I found this so helpful is we just bought a sticker for our house. 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:25.640 Right? 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:29.240 And we stuck it right next to the front door. 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:32.740 And it just says, quoting the words from the Philippians, Paul Philippians, 00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:35.000 Give thanks in all circumstances. 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:36.680 Pray without ceasing. 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:40.420 Every day when I'm about to go out the door, I see it. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:45.320 And every day I look at it and I'm reminded, Graham, you are not Superman today. 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:48.740 You are not the saviour of the world today because that role is taken. 00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:50.039 You are tired. 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:50.799 You are weary. 00:23:50.919 --> 00:23:52.119 You do not have the answers today. 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:54.119 You do not know what is going to happen today. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:56.839 That is exactly what life has taught us over this last year. 00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:58.599 You do not have a clue what's going to happen. 00:23:59.159 --> 00:23:59.859 But you know what? 00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:01.200 You're lacking in wisdom. 00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:02.659 You're lacking in knowledge. 00:24:03.159 --> 00:24:04.099 Jesus isn't. 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.319 Jesus isn't. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.679 Friends, we have a great need of Jesus. 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:15.580 But let's rejoice that we have a great Jesus for our need. 00:24:17.620 --> 00:24:24.460 You know, just as we bring this to a close, if proud self-sufficiency in the heart is the kind of taste that makes Jesus sick, 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:31.440 let's flip it around and ask, what is the taste that makes him delighted? 00:24:32.820 --> 00:24:33.019 Right? 00:24:33.060 --> 00:24:36.500 It seems to me as you read the Gospels, and there's tons of places we could have gone here, right? 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:43.000 But it seems to me as you read the Gospels that Jesus has some of his greatest words of affirmation for this man called John the Baptist. 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:44.759 Okay? 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:51.180 And when you read it, you know, there is none born of woman greater than John the Baptist. 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:51.839 Right? 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:54.599 And it's to do with his role in salvation history. 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:56.799 He's the one that comes before Jesus. 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:58.640 He's the forerunner that's getting the ground ready. 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:03.960 But I'm sure wrapped up in that as well is the confession that we get of John the Baptist and John. 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:04.799 Right? 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:11.099 Where he says, I must decrease and he must increase. 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:15.799 I must decrease, he must increase. 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:19.799 You know, just as we close, there was a song I was listening to in the car on the way here. 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:25.680 It was a song written a number of years ago by a man named Matt Redmond. 00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:30.839 And the story behind it came out of this church that he's part of down in Watford. 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.359 Right? 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:35.599 That moment in time, the too many things had gotten in the way. 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:40.220 The people in this church up the front are too obsessed with how things were looking. 00:25:40.459 --> 00:25:42.959 Too worried about how they were performing. 00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:45.519 And they were almost competing for who was doing what. 00:25:45.659 --> 00:25:50.079 And somebody at one point in time just stopped and pointed out and asked the question. 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:53.279 And they said, just where is Jesus in all of this? 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.720 Where is Jesus in all of this? 00:25:57.259 --> 00:26:02.839 And out of this moment, as the church together, they stopped and they saw it. 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:05.639 And they fell on their knees and they repented. 00:26:06.459 --> 00:26:09.899 And they threw themselves upon Jesus once again. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:13.079 Out of this moment was birthed this song, The Heart of Worship. 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:17.259 And let me just close with these words, friends. 00:26:17.419 --> 00:26:21.959 And maybe you can just resonate wherever you are right now with these words. 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:29.380 King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:35.160 Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is yours every single breath. 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:39.720 I'm coming back to the heart of worship and it's all about you. 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:42.120 It's all about you, Jesus. 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:45.420 I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it. 00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:50.200 When it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus. 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.920 Friends, let's pray. 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:02.600 And so, Heavenly Father, in the silence now, Lord, I just ask that you're, 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:10.480 the truth of your gospel, the truth of who you are, 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:14.180 Father, who sent his Son for us, 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:19.120 and the truth of your Spirit now living in us as your people, Father, 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:24.079 would you help us just recapture a sense of who we are 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:26.619 and a glorious sense of who you are. 00:27:27.959 --> 00:27:31.239 So, Father, I pray for us here who are here this morning. 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.899 I pray for those perhaps who are watching, 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:35.979 whose hearts are away from you. 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:40.539 Lord, I pray that you would help us understand 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:43.299 that your Son, Jesus, is at the door knocking. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:47.940 And he is the one full of grace and truth. 00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:52.720 Oh, Father, would you just rid us of our self-sufficiency 00:27:52.720 --> 00:28:00.839 and instill in us that utter sense of dependency 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:08.459 and in us that heart that knows the all-surpassing worth of Jesus. 00:28:10.659 --> 00:28:12.220 Father, thank you that you love us. 00:28:12.639 --> 00:28:14.159 This passage screams that at us. 00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:16.099 Thank you that you love us. 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:17.959 And thank you that you hear us 00:28:17.959 --> 00:28:22.519 because we pray in Jesus' worthy and in his wonderful name. 00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:23.519 Amen. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:23.559 Amen. 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.740 Amen. 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.319 Amen. 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:47.599 Amen. 00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.940 Amen. 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.319 Amen. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:50.460 Amen. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:50.759 Amen. 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.420 Amen. 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:51.680 Amen. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.500 Amen. 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:52.539 Amen. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:53.500 Amen.