WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.980 Well, thank you so much, Kate. 00:00:03.419 --> 00:00:07.360 Just for your real honesty and just for encouraging us, 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:08.400 thank you so much for doing that. 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:09.480 And I'm thinking there to myself, 00:00:09.620 --> 00:00:12.400 she left a beach in Australia to come here. 00:00:13.620 --> 00:00:15.800 And thinking, well, I wonder if I could get myself 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:18.400 a wee minister exchange over in Australia. 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:21.140 But it's great to be together. 00:00:21.240 --> 00:00:22.519 Thank you so much for coming out tonight. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:23.740 I hope this is going to be useful. 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:27.760 We're here at the final installment of our little series 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:29.359 that we began six weeks ago, 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:31.539 looking at the subject of work. 00:00:32.659 --> 00:00:34.519 And the question we've been thinking through 00:00:34.519 --> 00:00:36.920 is how does being a follower of Jesus, 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:40.039 how should it and how does it make a difference 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:44.140 to the things that we do with the waking hours of our days? 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:46.920 And if you remember, we started out 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:49.019 in the early chapters of Genesis 00:00:49.019 --> 00:00:51.960 and we were thinking about God at work. 00:00:52.700 --> 00:00:54.500 He created the cosmos from nothing. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:56.980 He spoke and things came into being. 00:00:56.979 --> 00:01:00.179 He created out of his all-powerful words. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:03.879 We saw that he created male and female, 00:01:05.379 --> 00:01:08.579 both made in the image of this great loving community 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:11.140 that we meet in Genesis of the three-in-one God. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:14.219 And he tasked Adam and Eve, 00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:17.679 this great complimentary dream team that he had made, 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:20.759 with the job of caring for and cultivating 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:25.180 his good creation for their good and for his glory. 00:01:26.020 --> 00:01:27.760 And it was all going so well 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:30.000 until Adam and Eve rebelled against God. 00:01:30.160 --> 00:01:32.780 And we thought about how sin is at work. 00:01:33.980 --> 00:01:36.680 And we saw sin enter the world. 00:01:37.939 --> 00:01:39.180 And we heard God pronounce 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:40.800 that one of the consequences of sin 00:01:40.800 --> 00:01:41.719 was that work, 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:43.939 whilst not ceasing to be good, 00:01:44.939 --> 00:01:46.240 was going to bring frustration. 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:49.439 And it will be at times hard. 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:52.919 And it will be at times unfruitful. 00:01:53.839 --> 00:01:54.759 And if nothing else, 00:01:54.819 --> 00:01:57.219 one day you won't be able to work 00:01:57.219 --> 00:02:00.039 because death and decay will have set in. 00:02:01.179 --> 00:02:02.719 But thankfully for the Christian, 00:02:03.019 --> 00:02:04.519 the truth of the gospel 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:07.799 is that Jesus Christ has redeemed us 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:09.680 and he's made us his own. 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:12.439 And yes, we still live in this fallen world. 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:16.260 Yes, we still live with our fallen bodies. 00:02:16.260 --> 00:02:17.159 But in Christ, 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:19.900 not only has our future been radically altered, 00:02:20.659 --> 00:02:23.360 but our life's purpose here and now 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:25.219 has been radically altered too. 00:02:25.260 --> 00:02:26.620 Because we've got a new master. 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:28.640 We've got a new vision. 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:30.460 And we've got a new agenda. 00:02:30.460 --> 00:02:32.140 And we serve King Jesus 00:02:32.140 --> 00:02:34.460 with our everyday work. 00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:36.260 And so this evening, 00:02:37.040 --> 00:02:38.219 as we bring it home, 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:39.840 we're going to think about how God 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:41.859 is at work today. 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:44.780 And we're going to see this great invitation 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:47.439 that Jesus makes to us as his followers, 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:51.439 as we serve him in our work that is temporary, 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:55.139 to join in with God's work, 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:58.379 the fruit of which will last for eternity. 00:02:59.259 --> 00:03:01.840 So why don't you turn back to John chapter four 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.639 and to this quite wonderful chapter of scripture 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:07.560 that is so much to teach us. 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:10.120 But just before we pray, 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:11.620 I'm very aware that we've been sitting 00:03:11.620 --> 00:03:13.300 for about half an hour now. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:14.979 So what I want you to do is just to stand. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:18.000 And we've been thinking about children. 00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:18.719 If you were here this morning, 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:19.979 we were thinking about children, 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:20.979 how God, 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:22.280 how Jesus invited, 00:03:22.420 --> 00:03:23.659 don't hinder the little children 00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:24.920 from coming to me. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:26.800 So I thought we'd get our inner child out 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:27.340 this evening, 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:28.640 just as we come to pray, okay? 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:30.259 Now this is what the, 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:31.099 this is what Pete, 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:32.280 this is on you here. 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:33.740 This is what Pete teaches, 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:35.020 if we're all looking at him. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:37.300 This is how he teaches the children to play 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:38.360 in kids' church. 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:38.880 Is this right? 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:40.980 I've been watching you for almost six years now, 00:03:41.040 --> 00:03:41.960 so I hope I get this right. 00:03:42.520 --> 00:03:44.400 P-R-A-Y. 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:45.280 Do that together? 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:47.360 I feel I mastered that, 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:47.760 didn't I, Pete? 00:03:47.820 --> 00:03:48.480 I nailed that one. 00:03:48.640 --> 00:03:49.439 Okay, here we go. 00:03:49.700 --> 00:03:51.900 P-R-A-Y. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:52.760 Let's pray together. 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:54.199 Dearest Father, 00:03:55.139 --> 00:03:57.379 we ask that you would help us grasp 00:03:57.379 --> 00:03:59.479 something more this evening, 00:03:59.879 --> 00:04:01.979 something more of your ways, 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:04.599 which are so much higher than our ways, 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:06.959 something more of your wisdom 00:04:06.959 --> 00:04:10.000 that is so much greater than our wisdom, 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:12.699 something more of your plans 00:04:12.699 --> 00:04:16.019 that are so much greater than our plans, 00:04:16.019 --> 00:04:18.120 and by your spirit, 00:04:18.659 --> 00:04:20.639 help us grasp something more 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:23.240 of the greatness of your son, 00:04:23.359 --> 00:04:24.120 Jesus Christ. 00:04:24.659 --> 00:04:26.879 And it's in his name that we pray confidently. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:27.939 Amen. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:30.039 Please have a seat. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:32.000 And to get us thinking this evening, 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:33.539 I've got three questions for you. 00:04:33.599 --> 00:04:35.339 Here's question number one. 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:36.159 Name the building. 00:04:38.899 --> 00:04:39.779 St. Paul's. 00:04:39.899 --> 00:04:40.959 Okay, question number two, 00:04:41.039 --> 00:04:42.339 if you're really on the ball here. 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:45.240 Does anyone know the year of construction? 00:04:46.599 --> 00:04:47.479 If you know the century, 00:04:47.599 --> 00:04:48.379 that'll probably do. 00:04:51.039 --> 00:04:52.779 So it's the late 17th. 00:04:53.099 --> 00:04:53.620 Is that what you said? 00:04:54.299 --> 00:04:55.219 Spot the architect. 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:55.919 I like it. 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:57.959 Thirdly, name the designer. 00:04:59.719 --> 00:05:00.939 Christopher Wren. 00:05:01.539 --> 00:05:03.060 So there's a famous story told 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:04.099 of Christopher Wren 00:05:04.099 --> 00:05:06.240 and St. Paul's Cathedral. 00:05:08.139 --> 00:05:09.419 Christopher Wren had designed 00:05:09.419 --> 00:05:11.299 the grand plan of what St. Paul's 00:05:11.299 --> 00:05:12.180 was going to look like, 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:13.319 and it's under construction. 00:05:13.599 --> 00:05:14.599 And Christopher Wren decides 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:15.439 to go undercover 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:16.759 into St. Paul's Cathedral 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:18.439 to see what the moods 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:19.600 of the men 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:20.240 who were working 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:21.420 to make this thing a reality, 00:05:21.540 --> 00:05:22.759 to see what their mood was like. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:24.199 So he walks in undercover 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:25.399 into St. Paul's Cathedral 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:27.100 and he comes across a man 00:05:27.100 --> 00:05:27.660 and he says, 00:05:27.740 --> 00:05:28.019 man, 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:30.180 you'd probably call them sir, 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:31.720 sir, 00:05:31.779 --> 00:05:32.459 what are you doing? 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:34.920 And the man replies, 00:05:35.060 --> 00:05:35.240 sir, 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:36.720 I am cutting a piece of stone. 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:38.720 So he goes, 00:05:38.779 --> 00:05:39.180 very good, 00:05:39.220 --> 00:05:39.779 keep on working. 00:05:39.899 --> 00:05:40.360 He goes on, 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:41.139 makes another man, 00:05:41.180 --> 00:05:42.379 he puts the same question to him, 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:42.659 sir, 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:43.420 what are you doing? 00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:45.360 And he replies, 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:45.920 sir, 00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:47.639 I am earning five shillings, 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:48.980 two pence a day. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:50.100 I've got no idea 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:51.219 what that's worth in today's money, 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:52.500 but that's what he was earning 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:52.939 at the time, 00:05:53.019 --> 00:05:53.680 five shillings, 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:54.800 two pence a day. 00:05:55.699 --> 00:05:56.699 And on he walks 00:05:56.699 --> 00:05:58.079 and he comes across 00:05:58.079 --> 00:05:58.879 a third man 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:00.839 and he puts the same question 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:01.560 to the third man. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:01.920 He says, 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:02.159 sir, 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:02.879 what are you doing? 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:04.800 And this man replies, 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:05.199 sir, 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:06.939 I am helping 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:08.420 sir Christopher Wren 00:06:08.420 --> 00:06:09.899 make his plan 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:10.860 a reality. 00:06:12.159 --> 00:06:12.360 Now, 00:06:12.379 --> 00:06:13.240 here's the question for you 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:14.539 as we set out this evening. 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:16.360 If you were Christopher Wren, 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:18.279 which mindset 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:19.959 would have encouraged you 00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:20.719 the most? 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:22.639 Surely, 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:23.699 it's the man 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:24.819 who grasped 00:06:24.819 --> 00:06:26.399 the bigger plan 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:28.180 and the bigger purpose 00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:29.079 for what you were trying 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:30.099 to achieve. 00:06:30.819 --> 00:06:32.019 Because this evening 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:33.799 is all about 00:06:33.799 --> 00:06:34.979 buying into 00:06:34.979 --> 00:06:35.740 and grasping 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:36.659 the bigger plan. 00:06:37.459 --> 00:06:38.120 So this is, 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:39.060 if you get one thing 00:06:39.060 --> 00:06:39.659 from this evening, 00:06:39.659 --> 00:06:40.659 that is what we're all about 00:06:40.659 --> 00:06:41.099 this evening, 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:43.459 grasping a bigger plan. 00:06:43.819 --> 00:06:44.500 And what we're going to see 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:46.359 is Jesus invite us 00:06:46.359 --> 00:06:48.659 to sink our life's work 00:06:48.659 --> 00:06:52.680 with God's bigger plan. 00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:55.319 So if you've got John 4 there, 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:57.180 I invite you to turn back there now. 00:06:57.399 --> 00:06:58.519 This is what we're going to see 00:06:58.519 --> 00:06:59.579 in John chapter 4. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:01.599 We're going to see Jesus 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:02.920 invite his disciples 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:05.620 to see how God is at work 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:07.640 and he's going to invite them 00:07:07.640 --> 00:07:10.480 to join God at work. 00:07:11.320 --> 00:07:13.000 And if you've got John chapter 4 there, 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:14.040 you'll see that the action 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:15.360 takes place with Jesus 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:16.960 having left Judea 00:07:16.960 --> 00:07:18.400 in the south 00:07:18.400 --> 00:07:21.040 and he's heading for Galilee 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.340 in the north. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:23.660 And see, 00:07:23.820 --> 00:07:24.460 if you notice it there, 00:07:24.520 --> 00:07:25.540 what John tells us 00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:26.400 at verse 4, 00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:29.320 that he had to pass 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:30.000 through Samaria. 00:07:31.159 --> 00:07:32.300 He had to pass 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:32.879 through Samaria. 00:07:33.599 --> 00:07:34.740 Now as the crow flies, 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:36.040 this was the shortest route 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:36.759 from the south 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:37.579 to the north. 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:39.240 But for Jews, 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:40.819 if you wanted to avoid 00:07:40.819 --> 00:07:41.680 defilement, 00:07:42.060 --> 00:07:43.860 if you wanted to stay clean, 00:07:44.019 --> 00:07:44.639 as it were, 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:45.600 then the travel route 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:46.319 that you took 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:46.839 was the one 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:47.740 that was on the east. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:49.459 And that meant 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:50.319 that you bypassed 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:51.480 Samaria. 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:53.300 But Jesus, 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:54.219 do you see it there? 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:54.939 John tells us 00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:56.279 he had to pass 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:57.479 through Samaria. 00:07:58.599 --> 00:07:59.179 Now not because 00:07:59.179 --> 00:08:00.439 he's got dry cleaning 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:01.259 to pick up there, 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:01.979 not because he's got 00:08:01.979 --> 00:08:02.659 a distant cousin 00:08:02.659 --> 00:08:03.479 that he needs to visit, 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:04.599 there's no other reason 00:08:04.599 --> 00:08:05.599 for Jesus to go 00:08:05.599 --> 00:08:06.459 to Samaria 00:08:06.459 --> 00:08:07.039 except 00:08:07.039 --> 00:08:09.219 a divine 00:08:09.219 --> 00:08:10.839 and a purposeful 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:12.079 impulse. 00:08:13.239 --> 00:08:14.039 Do you see what's going on? 00:08:14.119 --> 00:08:15.059 It's John's way 00:08:15.059 --> 00:08:15.859 of telling us 00:08:15.859 --> 00:08:16.779 to sit up 00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:17.739 and listen, 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:18.939 sit up and take notice 00:08:18.939 --> 00:08:19.699 because something 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:20.659 quite magnificent 00:08:20.659 --> 00:08:21.339 and something 00:08:21.339 --> 00:08:22.199 quite striking 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:22.879 is just about 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:23.519 to go down 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:25.139 in his gospel. 00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:26.799 Verse 5, 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:27.219 do you see it? 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:28.299 Jesus comes to this town 00:08:28.299 --> 00:08:29.099 called Sychar. 00:08:30.919 --> 00:08:31.879 And as you might expect, 00:08:31.979 --> 00:08:32.579 he's tired 00:08:32.579 --> 00:08:33.360 and he's weary 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:34.259 from his journey. 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:35.879 He's tired 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:36.299 and he's weary. 00:08:36.439 --> 00:08:37.360 Now that's not just 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:38.679 a throwaway line 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:39.480 that John's chucked 00:08:39.480 --> 00:08:39.819 in there. 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:40.480 That is actually 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:41.699 a line of very, 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:42.840 very deep theology. 00:08:43.079 --> 00:08:43.679 Blink and you might 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:44.179 miss it. 00:08:44.819 --> 00:08:45.539 Because what is 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:46.579 John telling us? 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:47.559 That Jesus, 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:49.139 he may be fully God. 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:50.799 This is what we've seen 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:51.919 in John chapter 1. 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:53.179 He's fully God. 00:08:53.939 --> 00:08:54.539 But don't forget 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:56.399 he is also fully human. 00:08:57.939 --> 00:08:58.559 It's the truth 00:08:58.559 --> 00:08:59.279 that we're remembering, 00:08:59.439 --> 00:08:59.659 isn't it, 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:00.519 this time of year? 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:01.120 The truth 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:02.299 that we're working towards 00:09:02.299 --> 00:09:02.939 as we look forward 00:09:02.939 --> 00:09:03.860 to the 25th, 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:04.439 we remember, 00:09:04.579 --> 00:09:05.120 we celebrate, 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:05.659 we sing, 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:06.399 we declare 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:08.699 that veiled in flesh 00:09:08.699 --> 00:09:10.179 the Godhead see 00:09:10.179 --> 00:09:13.439 hail the incarnate deity. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:14.559 This is Jesus. 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:16.419 He is God with us. 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:19.039 He is God in flesh. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:19.779 And here he is 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:20.860 in John chapter 4. 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:22.860 And Jesus sits 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:23.340 by the well. 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:23.759 Do you see it 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:24.580 in the narrative there? 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:26.240 When does he sit 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:26.840 by the well? 00:09:26.899 --> 00:09:28.600 At the sixth hour. 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:30.279 So at the very height 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:31.060 of the day, 00:09:31.539 --> 00:09:32.399 he's by the well. 00:09:33.779 --> 00:09:35.120 And who does he bump into? 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:36.320 Verse 7. 00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:37.980 This woman. 00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:40.580 Now immediately, 00:09:40.800 --> 00:09:41.820 we should smell 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:42.399 that something's 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:43.300 not quite right here. 00:09:44.560 --> 00:09:45.779 Because women in this day, 00:09:45.899 --> 00:09:46.639 they would normally 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:47.879 come to collect their water 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:49.100 at the cool of the day. 00:09:49.179 --> 00:09:49.919 Now that makes sense, 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:50.399 doesn't it? 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:51.539 Makes sense. 00:09:51.580 --> 00:09:52.340 Unless you had 00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:52.840 some kind of 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:55.059 factor 200 sunscreen 00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:56.000 that you were wearing 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:57.279 and you wanted to look 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.159 like Casper the ghost, 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.000 this is when you would 00:09:59.000 --> 00:09:59.779 go out to collect 00:09:59.779 --> 00:10:00.539 your water, 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:01.700 the cool of the day. 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:02.879 But here is this woman. 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:03.840 She's out at the height 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:04.360 of the day. 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:06.820 She clearly doesn't want 00:10:06.820 --> 00:10:07.919 anybody, 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:09.179 for one reason or another, 00:10:09.259 --> 00:10:10.080 that will come on to see. 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:10.899 She doesn't want anybody 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:11.899 to see her in public. 00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:15.059 And the scene develops. 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:16.159 We see this back and forth 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:17.279 dialogue between Jesus 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:18.059 and this woman. 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:19.159 And we soon discover 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:20.980 that Jesus knows this woman. 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:23.379 Jesus knows. 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:24.120 Do you notice it there 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:25.620 that she's had five husbands 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:29.399 who have either divorced her 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:30.679 or who have either died? 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.799 And Jesus knows 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:34.279 that the man that she's with now 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:36.120 is not her husband. 00:10:37.579 --> 00:10:38.399 And we've got to ask 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:38.840 as the reader, 00:10:38.939 --> 00:10:40.079 how does Jesus know that? 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:41.980 Did he read it 00:10:41.980 --> 00:10:43.240 in Hello Magazine of the day? 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:44.700 How does he know that? 00:10:46.220 --> 00:10:47.860 Well, he may be fully human, 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:49.879 but don't forget 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:51.800 that he is also fully God. 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:53.060 Do you see how the two truths 00:10:53.060 --> 00:10:54.500 combine in John chapter 4? 00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:55.160 This is Jesus. 00:10:55.280 --> 00:10:56.060 This is our Lord. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:57.900 He knows every little detail 00:10:57.900 --> 00:10:59.000 of this woman's life. 00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:01.200 He feels her pain. 00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:03.600 He sees her tears. 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.480 He hears her words. 00:11:05.900 --> 00:11:06.980 He knows her sin 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:08.800 and he understands her questions. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.840 And most importantly, 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.960 he knows what she doesn't know 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:16.520 at this outset of John 4. 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:18.580 He knows what she needs most of all. 00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:22.060 She needs living water. 00:11:23.160 --> 00:11:24.420 She needs living water. 00:11:24.520 --> 00:11:25.340 She's not going to find it 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:25.940 from the well. 00:11:26.280 --> 00:11:27.560 She needs living water 00:11:27.560 --> 00:11:28.379 that's going to what? 00:11:28.920 --> 00:11:30.460 It's going to quench her thirst. 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:34.420 See, her life up to this point 00:11:34.420 --> 00:11:36.020 has been this endless cycle, 00:11:36.160 --> 00:11:37.660 this endless merry-go-round 00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:38.740 of disappointments 00:11:38.740 --> 00:11:39.679 and failed dreams. 00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:40.679 There we go again 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:42.600 and again and again. 00:11:42.699 --> 00:11:43.819 This woman, 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:45.860 here she is. 00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:47.679 You know, 00:11:47.699 --> 00:11:49.079 as Christian writer 00:11:49.079 --> 00:11:49.659 and apologist, 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:50.779 Ravi Zacharias, 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:51.779 he puts it like this, 00:11:51.959 --> 00:11:53.179 the loneliest moment 00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:54.079 in your life 00:11:54.079 --> 00:11:55.579 is when you have 00:11:55.579 --> 00:11:56.879 just experienced 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.000 what you thought 00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.039 would deliver the ultimate 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:01.199 and it's let you down. 00:12:02.099 --> 00:12:02.740 That's this woman. 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:05.839 Every bubble of her life, 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:07.139 she's watched it grow. 00:12:07.339 --> 00:12:09.019 She's watched it promise 00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:09.759 and ultimately 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.179 she's watched it burst. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.240 Now we're left here, 00:12:14.299 --> 00:12:14.500 aren't we, 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:15.339 John chapter 4, 00:12:15.439 --> 00:12:15.740 thinking, 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:17.019 does this woman need a husband? 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:19.519 To her right, 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:20.339 she needs a husband. 00:12:20.340 --> 00:12:24.200 A selfless husband. 00:12:25.420 --> 00:12:27.639 A husband who will give his life 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:28.920 selflessly to die, 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:29.660 to save her. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:31.080 A husband who will complete her. 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:32.980 A husband who will transform her 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:35.200 into a spirit and truth 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.000 worshiper of the living God. 00:12:37.060 --> 00:12:38.240 Do you see what she needs? 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:40.200 She doesn't need a husband. 00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:43.840 She needs the great husband. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:45.759 She needs Jesus. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:45.960 Jesus. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:48.279 Truly, 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:49.860 Jesus 00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:51.240 had 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:52.500 to pass 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.460 through 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:54.620 Samaria. 00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:56.059 He had to meet this 00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:57.960 and let's get it in context 00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:59.240 who she is at this point. 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:00.399 She is theologically 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:01.340 uneducated. 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:02.500 She is religiously 00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.039 impure. 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:04.179 She is ritually 00:13:04.179 --> 00:13:04.740 unclean. 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:05.500 She is morally 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:06.220 disqualified 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.899 and she's a woman. 00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:11.700 And it's no surprise then 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.559 that when the disciples, 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:14.519 when they come back, 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:15.240 remember they were off 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.299 buying bread in town. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.200 When they come back, 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.539 return at verse 27, 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:19.680 they are flabbergasted 00:13:19.680 --> 00:13:21.139 that Jesus is speaking 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.019 with this woman. 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:26.000 And this woman, 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:26.820 after her encounter 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:27.360 with Jesus, 00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:28.200 what has she done? 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:31.259 She's gone back where? 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.620 Into her own town. 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:35.700 And as we sometimes say 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:36.299 in the West 00:13:36.299 --> 00:13:37.039 where I'm formed, 00:13:37.180 --> 00:13:37.960 she's clearly got 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:38.840 the gift of the gap, 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.279 hasn't she? 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:40.639 She's just telling 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.779 everybody she meets. 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:42.539 Verse 29, 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:43.960 inviting everyone 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:44.519 that she meets. 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:44.980 To what? 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:46.300 Come and meet a man 00:13:46.300 --> 00:13:47.300 who told me everything 00:13:47.300 --> 00:13:48.400 that I ever did. 00:13:49.280 --> 00:13:50.280 That's her invitation. 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:52.259 And so are the people 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:52.759 going to come 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.560 from this village? 00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:54.960 You bet they're going 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:55.320 to come. 00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:58.379 Meanwhile, 00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.200 the camera pans 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:00.080 to the disciples. 00:14:00.420 --> 00:14:01.259 What are their minds? 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:02.500 Jesus, 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.000 have you had 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.940 something to eat? 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.120 Jesus responds, 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:06.879 verse 34, 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:07.420 effectively, 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:07.860 boys, 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:09.040 you need to up the game. 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:10.280 You need to get 00:14:10.280 --> 00:14:11.259 your priorities right. 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:11.539 You see, 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.120 for Jesus, 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:13.899 the accomplishment 00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:14.980 of God's mission 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:17.200 is way more urgent 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:18.759 than filling his belly 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:19.360 with food. 00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:21.120 God is at work, 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:21.740 says Jesus. 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:22.700 God is at work. 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:24.200 If only you would see it, 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.279 and if only you would seize it, 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:27.919 and if only you would buy 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:30.720 into God's bigger plan. 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:33.319 And how is God at work? 00:14:33.439 --> 00:14:34.179 Jesus shows them. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:34.919 Verse 35, 00:14:37.819 --> 00:14:38.919 don't you have a saying? 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:41.219 It's still four months 00:14:41.219 --> 00:14:41.939 until harvest. 00:14:42.099 --> 00:14:42.539 I tell you, 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:43.259 open your eyes 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.319 and look at the fields. 00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:46.819 Invitation there 00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:47.519 to the disciples, 00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:48.740 lift their eyes 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.479 and look. 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:51.860 Well, 00:14:52.319 --> 00:14:53.179 I was trying to picture it 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:53.679 this week, 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.979 as they lifted their eyes 00:14:54.979 --> 00:14:55.799 and as they looked, 00:14:56.959 --> 00:14:57.779 what would they have seen? 00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.799 Most likely, 00:14:59.939 --> 00:15:00.399 just brown, 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.000 empty fields. 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:03.039 It's not harvest time yet, 00:15:03.099 --> 00:15:04.219 but what does Jesus say? 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:05.740 That these fields 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:07.819 are ripe for harvest. 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.279 Really? 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:10.620 Brown fields? 00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.699 You can understand, 00:15:13.819 --> 00:15:14.059 can't you, 00:15:14.099 --> 00:15:14.679 the disciples 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:15.299 who were previously 00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.019 thinking of bread 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:16.839 are looking at Jesus 00:15:16.839 --> 00:15:17.360 and thinking, 00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.699 is he one sandwich 00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:19.259 short of a picnic? 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.519 Has he lost the plot? 00:15:21.599 --> 00:15:22.339 What's he on about? 00:15:22.579 --> 00:15:23.219 Brown fields? 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.719 So their eyes up, 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.399 they're still looking 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.799 and thinking, 00:15:29.099 --> 00:15:30.399 what's on the horizon? 00:15:32.099 --> 00:15:33.240 You flip the question, 00:15:33.339 --> 00:15:33.659 they think, 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:34.659 who's on the horizon? 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:36.599 The people from 00:15:36.599 --> 00:15:37.559 this Samaritan village, 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:38.240 who they are, 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.060 responding to this woman's invitation, 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:40.980 they're making their way 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.740 across the fields 00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:42.580 to get to Jesus. 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:43.899 Here is the harvest, 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:44.500 says Jesus. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:46.320 You see, 00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.019 he's not talking about 00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:47.759 a physical harvest, 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.080 is he? 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:48.879 He's talking about 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.120 a soul harvest. 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.639 This is how God 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.200 is at work, 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:53.799 says Jesus. 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.379 In the coming 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:55.919 of Jesus, 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:56.899 in the coming of his son, 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.720 he is breaking 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.779 into people's lives. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.840 He is calling people 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.740 to repent and believe 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.139 in his son, 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:01.379 Jesus. 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.720 He is bringing men 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.160 and women, 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:03.940 boys and girls 00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:05.460 back to God. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:07.500 See, 00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:08.240 when Jesus talks 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.200 about God's work here, 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.139 what he's talking about 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:11.200 is God's work 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.460 being a harvest work. 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:13.720 And what are the disciples 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.879 invited to do? 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:21.660 Join in the Father's work. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:22.440 Verse 34. 00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:25.580 Join in the Father's work. 00:16:26.540 --> 00:16:27.300 And what would that mean? 00:16:27.420 --> 00:16:27.960 Two things. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:28.320 You see, 00:16:28.420 --> 00:16:28.740 firstly, 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.899 Jesus invites them 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.620 to get sowing. 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.340 Get sowing. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:33.740 So tell everybody 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.579 that you come across 00:16:34.579 --> 00:16:35.340 about Jesus. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.419 Make it your life's business 00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:39.360 to seek to introduce 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.439 everyone that you come across 00:16:40.439 --> 00:16:41.059 to Jesus. 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.120 And make it your life's business 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.919 to invite everyone 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:43.639 that you come across 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.340 to put their faith 00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.399 in Jesus. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:48.120 So your life's work 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.740 is to be about 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:50.579 diligently sowing the seed, 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:52.939 expectantly spreading 00:16:52.939 --> 00:16:53.899 the word. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.059 And if you wanted 00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:56.559 a case in point example 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:57.659 of what that looks like, 00:16:59.039 --> 00:16:59.679 surely it's just 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:00.139 this woman. 00:17:01.359 --> 00:17:02.079 What has she done? 00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:03.139 She's just gone back 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.859 and she's told everyone 00:17:03.859 --> 00:17:04.500 that she's met, 00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:05.319 come and meet a man, 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.200 come and meet a man. 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.819 They told me everything 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:09.419 that I've ever done. 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:09.960 Get sowing, 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.679 Jesus said. 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.379 And secondly, 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.179 get reaping. 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:13.819 Work hard. 00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:15.059 Make it your life's work 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:19.159 to get those gospel seeds 00:17:19.159 --> 00:17:19.759 reaped. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:21.440 Work to see those gospel seeds 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.259 that the others 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:24.000 before you have planted. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.399 Work to see them 00:17:25.399 --> 00:17:26.359 come to fruition. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:27.859 Do you see that 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:28.459 these fields 00:17:28.459 --> 00:17:29.319 currently full 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.439 of lost people 00:17:30.439 --> 00:17:31.519 making their way 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.019 to Jesus? 00:17:32.199 --> 00:17:33.199 This is the harvest, 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.299 says Jesus 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:35.099 to his disciples. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.059 So the question 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:38.619 for them 00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:40.319 is, 00:17:40.459 --> 00:17:41.339 will they lift their eyes 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.679 to what God is doing 00:17:42.679 --> 00:17:45.439 or will they be dominated 00:17:45.439 --> 00:17:47.139 by the world's work? 00:17:49.219 --> 00:17:50.119 As they look out, 00:17:50.179 --> 00:17:50.819 will they continue 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.899 to have their horizons 00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:53.379 dominated by the world's work 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:55.780 or will they take up 00:17:55.780 --> 00:17:57.060 the invitation to join 00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:58.200 in the Father's work? 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:00.700 Will they look on the world 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:03.120 through the eyes of Jesus? 00:18:04.280 --> 00:18:05.720 Will they have a heart 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:07.080 for the harvest? 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.120 Will they have a mindset 00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:10.080 for mission? 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.700 And here we are back 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:13.480 to our big question 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:13.960 this evening. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:16.080 Will they sink 00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:18.020 their life's work 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:21.700 with God's bigger plan? 00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.480 That's the question 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.299 of John 4. 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.859 And I think that's 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.759 the big challenge 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.539 that will come to us 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.000 this evening 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.299 as we finish this series 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.160 and as we think 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:33.019 about how God 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:35.339 is at work. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:38.359 Will we sink 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:39.400 our lives, 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.920 our working lives, 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.160 with how God's 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:45.619 is at work? 00:18:45.619 --> 00:18:47.379 And just to help us 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:47.779 think through, 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.359 we're just going to go 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.500 for another 5-10 minutes, 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:50.500 okay, just to help us 00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.779 think through the implications 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.719 of what that might look 00:18:52.719 --> 00:18:53.639 like in our lives, 00:18:54.479 --> 00:18:55.339 I've just got two things 00:18:55.339 --> 00:18:56.179 that we can take away 00:18:56.179 --> 00:18:56.819 and apply from 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.779 John chapter 4. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:58.979 Sound okay? 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.719 Here's the first one. 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.839 Here's the first thing 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.219 we learn from 00:19:03.219 --> 00:19:04.099 John chapter 4. 00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:06.039 The places that God 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:06.599 targets. 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.059 So Jesus had to 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.899 pass through Sumeria. 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:10.339 Why? 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:11.779 Well, presumably 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.719 because no Jew 00:19:12.719 --> 00:19:13.459 in Jesus' day 00:19:13.459 --> 00:19:14.799 would ever venture there. 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.739 And we see Jesus, 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.099 don't we? 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:18.099 I love this in John 4. 00:19:18.159 --> 00:19:18.659 We see him 00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:20.359 smashing gospel barriers 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:21.179 and we see him 00:19:21.179 --> 00:19:22.399 building gospel bridges. 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.500 Jesus smashes 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.779 the male-female barrier, 00:19:25.879 --> 00:19:26.219 doesn't he? 00:19:26.739 --> 00:19:27.859 And he smashes 00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:29.159 the Jew-Gentile barrier 00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:30.539 because this woman, 00:19:30.979 --> 00:19:31.879 she was lost, 00:19:32.239 --> 00:19:32.959 she was helpless, 00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:34.179 she was spending 00:19:34.179 --> 00:19:35.779 her life chasing bubbles 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.699 and she needed 00:19:36.699 --> 00:19:37.739 to be reconciled 00:19:37.739 --> 00:19:38.239 to the God 00:19:38.239 --> 00:19:39.079 who created her. 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.619 And so I think 00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:42.679 that as readers, 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.379 the question we're 00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:44.559 meant to ask is, 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:46.819 where are the lost 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:48.679 people of our day? 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.619 Where are they? 00:19:51.899 --> 00:19:52.779 I think the answer 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:53.419 has got to be 00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:54.299 everywhere. 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.139 And the question 00:19:57.139 --> 00:19:57.960 we need to ask ourselves 00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.980 as we see Jesus' 00:19:59.179 --> 00:19:59.899 prerogative 00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:03.879 is his mission 00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:05.220 our mission. 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.399 Ask yourself firstly, 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:07.960 where has God 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.639 deployed you? 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.099 Where has he put you? 00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:12.460 How often we forget, 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:12.759 don't we, 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.480 the sovereign purposes 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.859 of God for our lives? 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.640 How often we forget 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:18.779 his sovereign hand 00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:20.059 over our placement, 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.799 if you like, 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:22.180 that he's not put us 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:23.539 to places where we are, 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.640 doing what we do 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.759 simply so we can 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.980 fill time between 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:28.299 now and his return. 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:30.339 He's placed us 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.279 where we are 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.720 with a divine purpose. 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.980 The office, 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.539 the playground, 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.299 the surgery, 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:40.059 the classroom, 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.679 the changing room, 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.599 the building site, 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.500 the hairdressers, 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:43.980 the shop, 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.480 the family, 00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:45.079 the stairwell, 00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:45.799 the coffee shop, 00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:47.619 everywhere he has placed us 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:50.179 with this mission. 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.679 Now, 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.559 we need Christians, 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:52.819 don't we? 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.519 We need them witnessing 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.940 in all different areas 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.839 of society, 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:57.139 all different sectors. 00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.700 That's what we need. 00:20:59.220 --> 00:20:59.839 But do you see 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.379 how God 00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.679 in his almighty wisdom 00:21:01.679 --> 00:21:03.359 has done that? 00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:05.259 It's been so incredible. 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.200 I've loved having 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.679 these interviews 00:21:06.679 --> 00:21:07.159 up the front 00:21:07.159 --> 00:21:08.079 over the past few weeks 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.939 because we've seen 00:21:08.939 --> 00:21:10.139 how God has been 00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:10.799 at work deploying 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.740 his people all around 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.199 this city 00:21:12.199 --> 00:21:13.259 in all different areas 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.960 of society. 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.720 We've seen Christian parents. 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:16.960 We've heard from 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.740 Christian teachers, 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.759 Christian scientists, 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.779 Christian students, 00:21:19.939 --> 00:21:21.099 Christian civil servants. 00:21:21.399 --> 00:21:21.779 Do you see, 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.939 and we didn't even 00:21:22.939 --> 00:21:23.720 interview a doctor. 00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:24.359 I don't even know 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.359 how we managed to do that. 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.919 But do you see 00:21:26.919 --> 00:21:27.960 how God has placed 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.599 his people, 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.939 and we're just a microcosm 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:30.960 of this in our city, 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.500 how God has placed 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.819 his people all over 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.500 the place. 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.119 So have a think, 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.399 where has God deployed you? 00:21:40.199 --> 00:21:41.039 And ask yourself, 00:21:41.199 --> 00:21:41.539 secondly, 00:21:41.699 --> 00:21:42.719 who has God put 00:21:42.719 --> 00:21:43.519 around you? 00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:46.279 It's a constant theme, 00:21:46.379 --> 00:21:47.299 it's a constant pattern 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:47.779 in scripture 00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.399 that we see 00:21:48.399 --> 00:21:50.039 that God places people, 00:21:50.239 --> 00:21:51.159 his people places, 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.019 so that he can reach 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:52.519 other people. 00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:54.379 If you want to check out 00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:55.159 the book of Acts, 00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:57.259 we see this all the time. 00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.500 God wants to reach 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.439 the Philippian jailer. 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:00.979 What does he do? 00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.039 He preaches Paul in prison. 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:04.019 God wants to reach 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.279 the Ethiopian eunuch. 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:05.839 What does he do? 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.159 He brings Philip to him. 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.720 God working out 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.480 his purposes, 00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.619 his sovereign purposes 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.579 through his people. 00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:12.579 You see, 00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:14.379 this is God uniquely wiring 00:22:14.379 --> 00:22:16.059 and uniquely placing 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.959 each of us 00:22:16.959 --> 00:22:17.599 where we are 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.359 to accomplish 00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:20.019 his sovereign purposes. 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.959 And that means, 00:22:22.699 --> 00:22:23.819 if you work that through, 00:22:24.459 --> 00:22:25.000 that means 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.059 he has placed 00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:27.459 you places 00:22:27.459 --> 00:22:30.159 that you can reach 00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:30.959 people for Jesus 00:22:30.959 --> 00:22:31.959 that I can't reach. 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.600 and I can reach 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.299 people for Jesus 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:35.259 that you can't reach. 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.500 But the question is, 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.319 will we see it 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:39.380 and will we seize 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.840 the opportunity 00:22:40.840 --> 00:22:41.900 and the invitation 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.700 to be part 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.920 of something bigger? 00:22:44.340 --> 00:22:44.519 You see, 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.140 the Great Commission 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:46.380 is no young man's game. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.799 The call to make disciples 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.700 is not simply 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.480 for the seasoned 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.319 and mature saints. 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.700 We're all in this together. 00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:54.460 That Jesus summons us 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.759 to join in 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.640 God's work. 00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.180 And so the question 00:22:59.180 --> 00:23:00.400 we need to ask ourselves 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:00.620 is, 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.360 whatever we are, 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:02.100 whatever we're doing, 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.900 will we sink our lives 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:06.540 with God's bigger plan? 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:08.460 So there's the first thing 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:08.780 we learn, 00:23:08.840 --> 00:23:09.040 I think, 00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:10.200 from John chapter 4. 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.620 We learn the places 00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:12.660 that God targets. 00:23:12.800 --> 00:23:13.600 Here's the second thing 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.320 I think we learn. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:17.060 The people that God uses. 00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:19.300 Because you have to see, 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.100 as we read this through, 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.900 there is a beautiful simplicity 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:23.140 about John chapter 4. 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.340 Isn't there this woman? 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.720 Now just think about her. 00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.860 She doesn't go to church. 00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:31.960 She's got no theology degree. 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.420 She hasn't attended 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:36.120 a Christianity Explored course. 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.180 She hasn't been taken through 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:38.420 a Two Ways to Live manual 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.259 and how to do that. 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.080 She hasn't read 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:41.460 a stirring book on evangelism. 00:23:41.540 --> 00:23:43.000 She simply has met Jesus, 00:23:43.540 --> 00:23:45.160 has been transformed by him, 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.200 and has gone back 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:46.820 to her village 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.600 and told everyone 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:49.280 that she meets about him. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.680 From the text, 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.660 you notice that we didn't, 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:53.120 we don't even see Jesus 00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:54.480 tell her to go and do that. 00:23:54.520 --> 00:23:55.820 It just kind of happens naturally. 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:59.400 But notice why people came, 00:23:59.520 --> 00:24:00.220 verse 39. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.360 Because of this woman's testimony. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.520 Come and meet a man 00:24:06.520 --> 00:24:07.759 who told me 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:09.700 all that I ever did, 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.220 she says. 00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:11.120 Now you can imagine 00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.800 the townspeople 00:24:11.800 --> 00:24:12.880 when she drops that one in, 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:13.340 can you not? 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:14.860 Wait a minute, 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:16.200 he told you everything 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:17.580 that you've ever done? 00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:20.200 She responds, 00:24:20.320 --> 00:24:20.560 yes, 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.820 everything I've ever done. 00:24:22.280 --> 00:24:23.320 Everything I've ever done. 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.159 Do you see in Jesus 00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:25.619 she's clearly found someone 00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:27.859 with whom there is no hiding, 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.579 with whom there is no pretending, 00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:31.539 and with whom she can be herself 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.939 worse and all. 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.559 And you can imagine her, 00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:34.879 can you not, 00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:36.159 going back to her townspeople 00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:36.519 and saying, 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.599 isn't it incredible 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.679 that the man that I met, 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.259 the Messiah, 00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:40.500 hasn't come to judge me 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.259 for my sin. 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:43.919 He has come to save me 00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:45.579 from my sin. 00:24:47.159 --> 00:24:47.859 It's the same thing 00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.519 that we see 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.819 at the rulers, 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.000 the elders and the scribes, 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.680 that they say 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.579 of Peter and John 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.640 in Acts chapter 4. 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.900 You can check that out afterwards. 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.640 That they perceive 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:58.059 that these men are what? 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.339 Uneducated and common. 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.299 In other words, 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.500 they were just country bumpkins. 00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:04.720 But what did they recognize? 00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.619 What did they say 00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.519 about these men? 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:10.319 That they had been with Jesus. 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:13.579 They had been with Jesus. 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:17.960 Presumably these men, 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.019 remember their intent 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.700 on stamping Jesus out, 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.619 they look at Peter and John, 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:24.400 they hear how they talk, 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.799 they see how they behave, 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:27.660 and it simply reminds them 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.579 of Jesus who they tried 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.160 to stamp out 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:29.940 in the first place. 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:33.019 And there was a survey 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.619 carried out in 2012 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:36.500 by Marie Curie Cancer Care 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.200 as part of their 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:39.299 Cancer Awareness Week. 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:41.599 And they asked living celebrities 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:44.420 to write in and tell them 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:45.319 what they would like 00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:45.839 to be written 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:47.000 on their tombstone. 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.819 If you want to check it out, 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.779 you can Google it afterwards. 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:51.779 There's some quite funny 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.339 entries in there. 00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:53.059 This is my favorite. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.819 Louis Theroux 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:56.000 wants this in his tombstone. 00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:57.359 And if you're a man, 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.399 you'll click with this, okay? 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.759 So now, 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.740 do you believe me 00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.619 that I've got man flu? 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.720 This is what he wants to 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.660 write on his tombstone, okay? 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.539 There's some great entries 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:04.839 in there. 00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:05.839 But here's the question 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.700 I want to ask you. 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.339 What would you like 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.119 written about you? 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:12.139 What would you like 00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:12.859 written about you? 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:15.599 I was thinking on it this week. 00:26:15.659 --> 00:26:16.799 What would people say about me? 00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:19.079 Husband? 00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:20.739 Father? 00:26:22.179 --> 00:26:22.799 Airdrie fan? 00:26:23.199 --> 00:26:23.599 Probably. 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:25.659 But here's what I want 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:26.479 people to write. 00:26:27.719 --> 00:26:28.500 Graham Shanks, 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:33.099 we saw that he had been 00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:34.140 with Jesus. 00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:37.079 And if that's it, 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.640 praise God, 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:42.559 we saw that he had been 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.779 with Jesus. 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.700 That's clearly what 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.460 these townspeople 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:47.619 saw in this Samaritan woman. 00:26:48.380 --> 00:26:49.599 That's evidently what 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.799 these chief elders and rulers 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.980 saw in Peter and John. 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:53.579 And the question for us 00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.640 this evening is, 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:57.779 do we live our lives 00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:58.759 in such a way 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:01.079 that that is what 00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:02.240 people in our circles, 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:04.440 people in our workplaces 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:06.099 would instinctively say 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.720 about us? 00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:09.200 They had been 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:11.140 with Jesus. 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.380 You know, 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.160 every Christian has 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.120 the same story. 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.039 Sorry, 00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.180 every Christian has 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.039 a different story, 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:19.279 but each story 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.339 has the same message. 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:22.299 that I was lost 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:24.319 and I met Jesus. 00:27:25.439 --> 00:27:26.279 Or rather, 00:27:26.659 --> 00:27:27.519 Jesus met me 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:29.579 and he transformed me. 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:32.399 It's the old hymn we used to, 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.399 I remember singing it 00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:35.539 when we were growing up. 00:27:36.379 --> 00:27:37.159 I was lost, 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:38.339 but Jesus found me, 00:27:38.459 --> 00:27:39.199 found the sheep 00:27:39.199 --> 00:27:40.079 that went astray, 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:42.179 threw his loving arms 00:27:42.179 --> 00:27:42.740 around me, 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.679 drew me back 00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:44.500 into his way. 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.519 Yes, 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:47.099 I'll sing the wondrous story 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.819 of the Christ 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.799 who died for me. 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.319 Sing it with the 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.259 saints in glory, 00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:52.759 gathered by 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.899 the crystal sea. 00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:54.480 Do you see, 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:55.839 these are the ordinary people 00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.519 that God uses. 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.500 And I find that 00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:59.619 massively reassuring 00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:00.819 when I look at my own life 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:02.359 because I know 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:04.039 I'm an ordinary person, 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.859 living an ordinary life, 00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:07.179 doing ordinary things, 00:28:07.419 --> 00:28:08.679 but simply to tell people 00:28:08.679 --> 00:28:10.139 about an extraordinary God. 00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.859 As my friend's 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:14.220 Twitter profile reads, 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.919 I'm simply a nobody 00:28:15.919 --> 00:28:17.419 trying to tell everybody 00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:18.500 about somebody. 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.099 I think that's a great way 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:20.619 of putting that. 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.420 I'm a nobody 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:23.460 trying to tell everybody 00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.359 about somebody. 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.779 So I hope you're encouraged 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:27.460 just by a short little time 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.500 in John chapter 4 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:30.519 that God uses simple people 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:32.039 with simple stories. 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.819 Because I know that's hard, 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.059 isn't it, 00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:35.119 for many of us in the workplace. 00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:36.000 We think we don't have 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.539 the answers. 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:36.799 Well, 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.599 I hope the woman 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.619 has encouraged you here 00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:42.359 that she simply went 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:43.160 and told 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:43.599 and said, 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:43.879 come, 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.319 come and meet a man 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:46.779 who's known 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.819 and who knows 00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.939 everything I've ever done. 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.419 You see, 00:28:50.459 --> 00:28:51.119 this woman didn't just 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:52.019 testify to Jesus 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.119 to see how she invited. 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:56.459 Just on a personal note, 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.500 how encouraged I was 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.579 to hear how many people 00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.619 invited friends 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.779 to that gingerbread event 00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.240 yesterday. 00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:01.779 Now, 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.839 I know they didn't all come, 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:05.259 but so encouraged 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:05.839 this week hearing 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:07.019 how many invitations 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.919 had gone out to people 00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:08.359 to come. 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.899 Come to an event, 00:29:10.199 --> 00:29:10.500 yes, 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.500 but come and meet Jesus. 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.559 Come and meet Jesus. 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.039 You know, 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:15.940 Christmas presents us 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:17.420 with just a wonderful opportunity, 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:17.920 does it not, 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.839 to invite people 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.819 to come. 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.279 It's such an easy sell. 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:22.880 Such an easy sell. 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.980 Who could we be inviting 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.740 to come to 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.980 the Christmas events 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.660 that go on here? 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.500 Who can you invite? 00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:28.920 And here's the challenge 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.660 I want to leave you with. 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.599 Who are you praying for? 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.900 Who are you praying for? 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.420 Somebody challenged me 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:36.380 this week that if, 00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.160 and get this, 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:37.880 this is a challenge, 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:38.960 that if God 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:40.039 was to answer 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.619 every one of my prayers 00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:43.420 for my non-Christian friends 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.399 to become Christians, 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.299 how many people 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.799 would be added 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.339 to the kingdom? 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.180 Are we praying 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:50.879 for our friends? 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.399 Are we praying 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:52.159 for opportunities? 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:52.819 Are we praying 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.579 that God would give us 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:54.779 the heart and the gumption 00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:56.119 to seize those opportunities? 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:56.980 Who's on your heart 00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:57.460 this week? 00:29:58.379 --> 00:29:59.599 Who can you be praying for? 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:02.039 That's the second thing 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.759 I think we learned 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.740 from John chapter four, 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.960 the people that God uses. 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:07.639 Will we sync our lives 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:10.280 with God's bigger plan? 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.220 So just as we close, 00:30:13.280 --> 00:30:13.800 let me take you back 00:30:13.800 --> 00:30:14.720 to Christopher Wren. 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:16.300 Remember those three men 00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:17.759 that he talked to? 00:30:18.300 --> 00:30:19.120 Let me ask you 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:20.320 just as we close 00:30:20.320 --> 00:30:20.900 the question, 00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.100 what do you do? 00:30:23.060 --> 00:30:23.800 What are you doing? 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.140 Same question 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.960 that he asked those men. 00:30:26.020 --> 00:30:26.620 What are you doing? 00:30:27.860 --> 00:30:28.300 Are you simply 00:30:28.300 --> 00:30:29.300 cutting a piece of stone? 00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:31.640 Are you just performing a job? 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:32.640 Are you just going 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.340 through the routine? 00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:35.519 Are you simply earning 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.980 five shillings, 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.859 two pints a day? 00:30:38.379 --> 00:30:38.859 Are you just trying 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.500 to fill your face? 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:39.980 Are you just trying 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.899 to put food on the table? 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.279 Or are you like 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.079 that third man? 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.339 Have you grasped? 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.659 Have you seen? 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.379 Have you seized? 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.259 Have you bought into 00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:49.339 the great designer's 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.019 master plan? 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:53.419 See, Jesus is telling us 00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:54.539 that is the very reason 00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.299 that he has come 00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.220 because God is building 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:56.919 something bigger. 00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:58.399 God is building something 00:30:58.399 --> 00:30:59.240 more beautiful 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.359 than St. Paul's Cathedral 00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:01.299 and he's building something 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:02.000 that's going to last 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.579 well beyond St. Paul's Cathedral. 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.539 He's building his church. 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.720 He's building his church. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:08.940 How is God at work today? 00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:10.339 He's working through his son 00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:11.180 by his spirit 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:12.940 to seek and to save the lost 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.960 and to gather in 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:15.380 the great soul harvest. 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.420 Here we see it 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:19.960 in Revelation chapter 7. 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:23.619 The great multitude of people 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:24.319 that through Jesus 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:25.740 God has won to himself. 00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:26.680 John writes this, 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:27.640 After this I looked 00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:28.380 and there before me 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:29.500 was a great multitude 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:31.099 that no one could count 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:32.099 from every nation, 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.339 tribe, people and language, 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.699 standing before the throne 00:31:34.699 --> 00:31:36.119 and before the Lamb. 00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:38.319 And you read on down, 00:31:38.679 --> 00:31:39.599 They fell on their faces 00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.319 before the throne 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.199 and they worshipped God 00:31:41.199 --> 00:31:42.000 saying, Amen, 00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:43.399 praise and glory 00:31:43.399 --> 00:31:44.599 and wisdom and thanks 00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:45.719 and honour and power 00:31:45.719 --> 00:31:46.439 and strength 00:31:46.439 --> 00:31:47.980 be to our God 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:50.119 forever and ever. 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.119 Amen. 00:31:52.219 --> 00:31:52.559 Amen. 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.339 Let's pray together. 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:53.439 Father, 00:31:54.439 --> 00:31:57.659 and so just maybe 00:31:57.659 --> 00:31:58.759 in the silence now 00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.619 as we've maybe come 00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:00.779 to the end of this series, 00:32:00.899 --> 00:32:02.159 maybe now is a great time 00:32:02.159 --> 00:32:03.339 just to pause 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:06.519 and maybe to rededicate 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.879 ourselves to God's 00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:09.319 master plan. 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.539 And so Father, 00:32:17.659 --> 00:32:18.439 thank you so much 00:32:18.439 --> 00:32:19.139 for this evening. 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:21.700 Thank you for these 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.620 last few weeks 00:32:22.620 --> 00:32:23.400 as we've studied 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:24.080 your word 00:32:24.080 --> 00:32:25.720 and particularly 00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.360 as we've looked 00:32:26.360 --> 00:32:27.259 at applying it 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.820 to this particular 00:32:28.820 --> 00:32:29.900 area of our lives, 00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.680 the things that we do 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:32.060 during the waking hours 00:32:32.060 --> 00:32:32.500 of our day 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.460 that we call work. 00:32:34.560 --> 00:32:34.800 And Lord, 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:36.160 we ask that the message 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:37.080 and the challenge 00:32:37.080 --> 00:32:38.600 of these last few weeks 00:32:38.600 --> 00:32:39.460 would last long 00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.160 in our minds 00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:42.120 and it would profoundly 00:32:42.120 --> 00:32:42.960 change the way 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.600 that we act 00:32:43.600 --> 00:32:44.200 and behave 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.759 and live 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.940 and view the world. 00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.780 Help us, Lord, 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:48.220 to sink our lives 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:50.460 with your bigger plan 00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.759 for this world. 00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.720 And so this is our prayer. 00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:54.440 Dear Father, 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.680 hear it because we make it 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.639 in Jesus' name. 00:32:57.139 --> 00:32:57.519 Amen.