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 Hey, church. So good to be with you. Todd and Brittany have meant so much to us and we've heard so many wonderful things about Trinity Church as you've come and gathered and proclaim Christ in this great city.

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 I want to speak to you from 2 Corinthians 5, verses 9-21. Why don't we stand in honor of God and His Word and I'll read the text. We start in verse 9.

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 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

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 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God and I hope it is also known to your conscience.

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 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you cause to boast about us so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

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 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. If we are in our right mind, it is for you.

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 For the love of Christ controls us because we have concluded this, that one has died for all and therefore all have died.

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 And He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.

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 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.

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 Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer.

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 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

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 The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come.

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 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

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 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them

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 and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

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 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.

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 We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

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 For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

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 This is the word of the Lord. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 As a young boy, I grew up in a small western Kentucky city, village called Owensboro,

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 where my father practiced medicine.

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 It was provincial and somewhat isolated.

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 It was a great place to grow up.

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 But back in Owensboro, if you had asked me of my view of Arabs, no one ever did that.

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 But if you had, let's just say, if you had.

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 All Arabs were Muslims and all Arabs didn't like Americans.

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 Sort of a TV view.

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 Well, I left Owensboro many years ago.

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 I joined student ministry, campus ministry,

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 and I started directing short-term mission programs.

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 And I ran a program in Tunisia, North Africa, a Muslim nation.

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 We placed students in homes, Muslim homes, of students who were English majors at the University of Tunis.

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 And great friendships were formed.

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 And amazing opportunities to share the gospel.

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 It was there I discovered the Arab view of Americans.

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 All Americans were Christians.

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 And all Americans didn't like Arabs.

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 Sort of a different TV view.

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 On that program, I met a young man named Hatem.

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 Hatem was an English major at the University of Tunis.

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 And he was a lot of fun.

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 And a practical joker.

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 He was always pulling pranks on other students and myself.

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 And we sort of developed a friendly rivalry.

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 Hatem, one day, took us to the Muslim beach,

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 where we could be away from kind of the decadent European beach.

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 And we're walking along the sand shore.

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 And I spied this sand bar that was out maybe 100 yards from the shore.

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 And I said, come on, Hatem, I'm going to race you out to the shore.

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 You know, I'd been in the middle school swim team.

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 And he was like, oh, no, I must go take a cigarette.

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 And I said, okay, well, you go get your nicotine fix.

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 I'll meet you out there.

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 Come swim out there.

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 He said, okay.

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 Okay, so I start leisurely swimming out to the sandbar.

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 And suddenly I spy that Hatem, true to form, has dove under me.

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 And he's going to beat me to the sandbar.

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 And that is not going to happen.

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 So I'm shadowing him.

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 I spied him, of course.

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 And I'm shadowing him right over.

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 And he comes up back to me.

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 And I quick grab him in a choke hold and take him down under.

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 It was a perfect opportunity.

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 I dunk him down under the water.

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 I bring him back.

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 I'm laughing.

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 He's sputtering for good measure.

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 I take him down again.

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 Bring him back up.

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 I spin him around.

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 And it's not Hatem.

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 It is a very frightened Tunisian who knows that the American has come to kill him personally.

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 You know, what do you say?

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 I'm so sorry.

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 You know, he doesn't speak English.

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 And he's doing this number away from me.

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 Eyes as big as saucers.

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 And suddenly I have this sort of out-of-body experience by looking up on the shore and seeing his extended family of very buff guys.

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 Not mad yet.

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 But wondering what in the world has happened to their younger brother.

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 And so I'm following up stupidly.

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 We get out of the water.

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 And I'm, you know, uttering, you know, absurdities.

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 And you know what I need at this point, right?

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 None of them speak the language.

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 I need someone who speaks the language.

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 I need someone who can kind of explain this case of mistaken identity.

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 I need someone.

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 Guess who shows up?

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 Hatem.

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 Hey, Hatem, come here.

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 I grab his arm.

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 I pull him over.

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 I explain the situation to Hatem.

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 Hatem, of course, tears streaming down his face as he tries to choke out the laughter, explains to this family what has happened.

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 And they think it's hilarious, too.

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 The young man I never saw again.

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 He backed up and went to his car in the parking lot.

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 Never saw him again.

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 But the family welcomed me in for lunch.

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 I had a great time in their great big Arab tent.

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 And Hatem, of course, regaled the people with this story, as I do to this day, that Hatem had become my ambassador.

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 He showed up speaking the language, explaining the truth so that I might be reconciled and forgiven.

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 Spared certain harm.

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 Our passage today, this passage, is about ambassadorship.

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 That's what it's about.

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 Let me take a walk through the outline for you in 2 Corinthians 9 through 21, because I want to draw out five marks of the ambassador.

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 For those of you who are note-takers.

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 Verses 11 through 15.

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 Verses 11 through 15.

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 Number two, an ambassador's view of people.

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 Verses 16 through 17.

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 The ambassador's role in verses 18 through 20.

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 And an ambassador's view of the world in verse 19.

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 Finally, an ambassador's understanding of Christ's work in verse 21.

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 So, first, our motivation.

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 Now, it will be helped to have your Bible open.

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 We're just going to go through these sort of line by line.

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 But notice here that Paul starts off with judgment in verse 9.

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 Judgment is coming.

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 And he says that when we understand what's at stake in people's lives, that is when we fear God, we persuade people.

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 So, judgment is coming, verses 9 and 10.

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 And therefore, we persuade people in verse 11.

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 That's the motivation of the ambassador.

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 We know this is coming.

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 And so, we know that we must move out in a world that is hostile to the gospel.

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 Even though they…

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 And because they don't understand.

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 Now, at that point, Paul, in verse 11 and 12, it raises this issue of what people might think.

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 And what people might think of him as he proclaims the gospel.

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 Notice in verse 12.

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 We don't proclaim the gospel because we're proud.

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 In verse 12, Paul was accused of being proud.

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 And you will be too, of course, if you claim an exclusive truth.

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 The exclusive truth of Jesus.

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 Jesus said, I'm the way, the truth, and the life.

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 And no one comes to the Father except through me.

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 That's a statement that people don't like and think you're proud.

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 Or they think you're crazy.

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 Which is what Paul's talking about in verse 13.

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 That's what beside ourselves mean.

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 Paul was responding to the accusations that he was proud and that he was crazy.

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 But look at why we keep going.

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 It's that we have concluded something in verse 14.

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 That Jesus died for all who would repent and come to him.

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 He would do that out of his great love.

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 That we know that his death was for their sake in verse 15.

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 We have concluded that sins can be forgiven.

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 And reconciliation with God is possible through the death of Jesus.

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 And that conclusion leads us to an understanding.

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 We don't live for ourselves.

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 We step out of our safe worlds.

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 We tell others the good news.

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 We try to persuade them.

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 We don't manipulate.

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 We don't lie.

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 We tell the truth.

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 We persuade.

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 And that means, brothers and sisters, that means it's almost as important about the way we share as what we share.

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 Persuasion is Paul's call.

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 And notice too that at the end of verse 14, Paul states that Jesus was raised.

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 This is a life-changing conclusion if you've made it.

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 I was on a panel in Australia of a student conference for the Australian evangelical students.

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 And it was their yearly training event.

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 A couple thousand students had gathered.

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 And the question came to me about why I would do ministry in the Middle East.

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 So Leanne and I spent 20 years in the Middle East doing ministry as a pastor in Iraq and as a campus minister in Dubai.

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 And he asked the question like I was crazy.

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 You know, why in the world would anyone do that?

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 Right?

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 I mean, that was how the question came up from the crowd.

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 Now, of course, there's a lot of ways I can answer that.

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 But I said, as I often do, well, because I really believe deep in my heart with genuine faith that this man Jesus got up from the dead.

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 And that changes everything.

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 And so, because he offers salvation to anyone who will come to him, I want to tell everyone.

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 Look, brothers and sisters, we're driven to boldness and crazy love because of God's amazing love and what's at stake in people's lives.

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 It's as if Christians are calling people off the ledge.

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 Please don't kill yourself.

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 Please, come back to God our Father.

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 He will accept you with open arms if you will only repent.

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 Yesterday I was at a funeral for my aunt.

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 One of the reasons I came to Boston.

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 The crowd that gathered was not Christian.

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 I said the same thing.

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 I really believe this man got up from the dead and that was the hope of my aunt.

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 Bottom line.

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 In verses 11 through 15, we're motivated by the fear of the Lord, the conviction of the truth, and the overwhelming love of God.

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 It moves us out in mission and evangelism with crazy boldness for others.

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 Evangelism is the most loving thing you can do to another human being.

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 That's our motivation.

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 And this changes how we view people in verses 16 and 17.

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 Second point.

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 When we're motivated correctly, Paul says in verse 16, ambassadors view people rightly.

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 He says, from now on, therefore we regard no one according to the flesh.

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 Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

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 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

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 The old has passed away.

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 Behold, the new has come.

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 So we regard no one according to the flesh.

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 We reject sinful views of people.

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 Fleshly views.

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 Sexist views.

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 Worldly racist understandings of people.

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 It's an enormous hindrance in mission, in the church, in evangelism.

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 But it's our natural tendency.

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 And this is Paul's point.

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 He says that even though we viewed Christ that way.

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 You know, in other words, he's making a point that we viewed Christ with worldly eyes in verse 16.

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 You know how it is.

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 People want to say nice things about it.

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 They find out you're a Christian and they're not a Christian.

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 And they kind of want to, you know, say something nice about Jesus, accommodating.

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 Oh, he's a great moral teacher.

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 Or he was just, he was a very good man.

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 Or he was a great prophet.

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 He's not just a man.

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 He's not just a great teacher or even a prophet.

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 He's God incarnate.

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 And anything less curses Christ.

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 Christ.

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 And Paul's point is that if we saw Jesus that way, we were much more likely to see other people through worldly eyes.

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 TV lends views of other people, not the eyes of God.

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 And of course, Christians walk a tightrope on this, don't we?

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 We understand that all people are created in the image of God.

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 C.S. Lewis deals with that so beautifully in The Weight of Glory.

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 Where he reminds us that every person that has been presented to your senses has the mark of the divine on them.

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 They're created in the image of God.

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 And that's why they have value and worth and honor and dignity.

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 They do that because God's mark is on them.

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 And so ambassadors strive to love all people.

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 At the same time, Christians, followers of Christ, understand all people to be sinners.

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 Not only sinners, but without Christ, enemies of God.

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 We understand that from Ephesians chapter 2.

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 So ambassadors avoid worshiping people knowing that every human is fallen and sinful.

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 Of course, that's just an explanation of the doctrine of the total depravity of man.

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 Total depravity doesn't mean you're totally sinful, as bad as you ever could possibly be.

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 It just means that every part of us is tainted by sin.

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 G.K. Chesterton said,

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 I don't know why people don't believe in total depravity.

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 It's the one doctrine we have empirical data for.

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 Look at the last 5,000 years of human history.

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 But the most important thing to understand about people is in verse 17.

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 We understand the potential of divinely created but fallen enemies of God and what they can become.

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 New creations in Christ.

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 It's our hope for every person you meet to be restored, to be forgiven, to be redeemed.

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 Creations in Christ.

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 And is there any more joy in the world than to see someone turn from darkness into light, to become a new creation?

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 This can happen in the most surprising ways.

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 And you know that because you came to Christ in a surprising way.

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 No matter what, everyone's conversion is a testimony of the grace of God.

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 Whether you grew up in a Christian home or a rank pagan and discovered Christ in some far-off place.

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 Neighborhoods, schools, your own family.

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 New creations in Christ.

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 My sister, Linda, showed up on my doorstep.

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:54.700
 I've been praying for my sister for 20 years.

00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:56.500
 Hard.

00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.519
 Two divorces.

00:17:58.639 --> 00:18:00.740
 Successful in business.

00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:04.799
 She's standing on my front steps, smoking a cigarette.

00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:07.299
 Throws it down the steps, runs it out.

00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:09.559
 Okay.

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.660
 Tell me about this Jesus guy.

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:16.079
 Come on in, Linda.

00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:16.920
 Come on in.

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.599
 Have a seat.

00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:22.740
 She said, I don't know.

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:24.659
 I used to think it was just a joke, a show.

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:27.000
 I didn't think it was real in your life, and I can tell it is.

00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:33.079
 And after the second divorce, I just, I felt so ashamed of my life.

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.480
 Just started weeping.

00:18:37.179 --> 00:18:38.219
 I'm so ashamed.

00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:45.319
 I said, Linda, let me tell you about the one who came to take away your shame.

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.359
 Let me tell you about it.

00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.459
 She said, I don't know.

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.279
 I guess that's why I'm here.

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:51.159
 It was why she was here.

00:18:51.219 --> 00:18:52.199
 I knew why she was there.

00:18:53.719 --> 00:19:03.339
 And my sister, what, Leanne, 30 years ago, 35 years ago, in our living room, bent her knee to Jesus.

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:07.559
 Yesterday, I was with her at this funeral.

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:11.099
 You wouldn't believe the transformation.

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:13.459
 The godly woman that she is.

00:19:13.459 --> 00:19:15.819
 The amazing ministry that she has.

00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:19.519
 The way that God has transformed her into a child of God.

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:32.599
 Now, it would have been easy for me to say over those years that there were just too many obstacles in life and in her life for me to reach my sister.

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.859
 What about you?

00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:36.000
 What about you?

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:41.339
 Do you know someone you believe would never come to Jesus?

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:51.480
 Think they'd be too sinful, too hard-hearted, too isolated, too apathetic, too distant, too broken.

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:56.579
 Maybe they look like they have everything they need.

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:59.120
 Maybe their lives look better than yours, you think.

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:03.200
 Maybe as a believer, you're tempted to think they don't need God.

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.579
 Don't believe it for a minute.

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:12.339
 People, the world around you, Jesus, because he offers something you can't get just by living a good life.

00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:17.319
 The world does not offer salvation.

00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:24.679
 Notice, too, that it doesn't just change our view of people here in this text.

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:28.359
 It changes our view of the world, which is point three.

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:33.460
 So, we looked at the motivation of an ambassador.

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:36.759
 We've looked at an ambassador's view of people.

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:40.680
 Third point, how we see our role, verses 18 through 21.

00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.920
 Now, Paul says in 18,

00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:50.799
 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:55.640
 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself,

00:20:56.039 --> 00:21:02.039
 not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:07.759
 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God was making his appeal through us.

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:16.819
 So, if you're a Christian, Paul says in verses 18 and then in 19 and in verse 20,

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:19.859
 that we are Christ's ambassadors.

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:24.839
 That God is making his appeal through us.

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:32.039
 Now, Paul is purposely using the image of ambassador here to make sure we understand our role.

00:21:32.679 --> 00:21:34.199
 Ambassadors exist.

00:21:34.459 --> 00:21:40.879
 Their purpose is to deliver a message from a higher authority.

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:43.099
 So, according to Paul,

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:48.139
 when you sit down for coffee and the spiritual topic comes up,

00:21:48.199 --> 00:21:50.459
 and spiritual topics come up all the time,

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.859
 and you should take hold of them,

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:55.279
 and you begin to share your faith with a friend about Jesus,

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:58.480
 you, get this,

00:21:58.859 --> 00:22:02.679
 represent the foreign power of the kingdom of God.

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:05.320
 That's an astonishing thought.

00:22:05.320 --> 00:22:07.100
 That blows my mind.

00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.720
 That somehow,

00:22:09.080 --> 00:22:10.920
 from the throne of God,

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.420
 through me,

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:14.019
 there's this thread that goes to that person.

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:19.019
 So, we better get the message right.

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.820
 Know the message of the gospel.

00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:27.860
 Ambassadors are not at liberty to change the message.

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.779
 You can't air condition hell.

00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.480
 Don't try.

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:34.460
 Don't nice up the message.

00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:36.079
 Deliver it as given.

00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:42.380
 You know, there's so many historical stories of ambassadors

00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:45.319
 trying to change the message to great harm.

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.319
 But especially,

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.900
 and maybe more relevant for most of us,

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:55.339
 ambassadors don't leave the message undelivered.

00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:58.819
 We don't stuff the message in our sock drawer.

00:22:58.819 --> 00:23:00.240
 That is,

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:05.319
 slay your fear of man in evangelism.

00:23:06.179 --> 00:23:08.460
 The fear of evangelism is the fear of man.

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:10.879
 We fear what people think of us.

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.859
 Awkward is better than silence.

00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:16.159
 You know, it's said,

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.419
 I've heard it said often,

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:21.759
 that most of the world's Christian population

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.000
 fear the raised fist.

00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:27.839
 Here we face and fear the raised eyebrow.

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.599
 And just by the way,

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:34.339
 ambassadors, by definition,

00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:35.859
 don't live at home.

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:39.579
 We are wanderers in the world.

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:43.519
 Now, that doesn't mean you need to pack up your family

00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:45.099
 and move to the Middle East like I did.

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.339
 It might.

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.740
 It might mean that.

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.480
 But I think it means mostly

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:54.980
 that we always live a bit uneasy in the world.

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:59.059
 We understand that ultimately,

00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.980
 this world is not our home.

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:04.940
 And here's our message in verse 20.

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.659
 Paul models what we say.

00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.679
 It's a bit of a tricky verse.

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.980
 In the second half of verse 20,

00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:12.379
 it can first sound like on first reading

00:24:12.379 --> 00:24:13.679
 that Paul's calling the Corinthians

00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:14.899
 to be reconciled to God.

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:17.059
 Of course, all of us must be reconciled to God.

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.839
 But they were Christians

00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.779
 for all their problems.

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.980
 And they had enormous problems.

00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:23.119
 But for all their problems,

00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:25.240
 Paul is repeating the message

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:28.440
 we shout out with Paul to the world.

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:30.519
 This is the message of the ambassador.

00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.940
 We implore you.

00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:33.680
 We beg you.

00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:35.759
 On Christ's behalf,

00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:37.940
 we beg on Christ's behalf, he says,

00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:39.940
 be reconciled to God.

00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:42.200
 Our message is,

00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:44.700
 though your sins have separated you

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.700
 from a holy God,

00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:49.259
 you can be reconciled to Him.

00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.600
 So the text is clear.

00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:55.860
 God is not counting our sins against you.

00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:00.600
 So when we first got to Dubai

00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:02.279
 and we started in student ministry,

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:07.140
 students started coming to faith

00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:10.080
 on Muslim campuses.

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:13.059
 And it was such a joy.

00:25:14.320 --> 00:25:16.720
 And this is 20 years ago.

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:19.480
 And I thought,

00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:19.880
 well,

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:22.600
 we started these Bible studies on campus

00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:24.559
 and we need leadership.

00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.980
 So we need to have a leadership.

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.579
 We need to have leadership gathering.

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.819
 We're going to gather all the leaders together,

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:33.319
 kind of the less younger Christians,

00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:35.120
 and we're going to train them

00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:35.900
 how to be leaders.

00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.279
 And so,

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:40.299
 so we gathered up about,

00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:40.539
 you know,

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:40.920
 15,

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.100
 20 leaders.

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.179
 leaders.

00:25:42.659 --> 00:25:43.919
 And we met every week

00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:45.000
 in my living room.

00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:48.019
 And so,

00:25:49.459 --> 00:25:51.339
 I started in this training course.

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.719
 And then I realized,

00:25:54.679 --> 00:25:56.539
 there's this kid on the front row.

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:58.059
 So I called one of our leaders up.

00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:58.719
 His name was Nissen.

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.279
 Nissen,

00:25:59.379 --> 00:25:59.579
 come here.

00:26:02.159 --> 00:26:02.519
 Listen,

00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:04.039
 Akil is here.

00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:05.240
 He's right there on the front row.

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:05.939
 He said,

00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.159
 yeah,

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.019
 he wanted to come.

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:08.439
 He thought it looked good on his resume

00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:08.799
 to,

00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:09.079
 you know,

00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:09.899
 have a leadership thing.

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:10.839
 And I said,

00:26:11.219 --> 00:26:12.000
 Akil's a Hindu.

00:26:12.199 --> 00:26:13.439
 How's he going to lead a Bible study?

00:26:14.139 --> 00:26:14.379
 You know,

00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:15.679
 well,

00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:16.219
 you know,

00:26:16.219 --> 00:26:16.919
 he's a nice guy.

00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:17.899
 And actually,

00:26:17.959 --> 00:26:19.039
 what was going on really was

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.759
 there was a real cute little Indian girl there

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.679
 named Shabnita.

00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:22.759
 Shabnita.

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.339
 He was interested in Shabnita.

00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:24.980
 Eventually,

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.459
 he got married.

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:25.839
 But anyhow,

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.159
 so,

00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:28.719
 I said,

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.039
 listen,

00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:30.039
 listen,

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.579
 tell Akil he can't come.

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:32.980
 You know,

00:26:33.179 --> 00:26:33.859
 this is,

00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:34.519
 you know,

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:34.839
 for about,

00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:36.079
 and Nissen was,

00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:37.039
 no,

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.859
 he's not going to.

00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:38.579
 So anyhow,

00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.159
 Akil kept,

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.539
 actually,

00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:40.899
 Akil turned out to be our most

00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:42.540
 regular attender

00:26:42.540 --> 00:26:44.100
 of the leadership week.

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.560
 And one day,

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:45.960
 finally,

00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:47.340
 it's sort of alarming.

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:47.800
 And there's,

00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:48.120
 you know,

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.259
 there's security concerns

00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.840
 and stuff like this.

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.180
 So I said,

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.400
 Akil,

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:51.640
 come on,

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.340
 I got to talk to you.

00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.100
 He goes,

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.320
 okay,

00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.360
 I need to talk to you too.

00:26:54.820 --> 00:26:55.640
 He comes up,

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.200
 real bright.

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.380
 And I said,

00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:57.880
 you go first.

00:26:58.060 --> 00:26:58.340
 He goes,

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.320
 I've become a Christian.

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.119
 And I said,

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.220
 how'd that happen?

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.839
 And he said,

00:27:02.859 --> 00:27:02.980
 well,

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.240
 I really appreciate the leadership.

00:27:04.419 --> 00:27:04.559
 But,

00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:04.859
 you know,

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.960
 the leadership conference times

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.099
 and seminar and everything,

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.279
 but all the students

00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.119
 are excited about the gospel

00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.879
 and they've been telling me

00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:12.000
 I need to repent of my sins

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.419
 and put my faith in Jesus alone

00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:14.899
 and take him as my savior.

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.639
 And I did last week.

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:16.899
 I said,

00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:17.679
 Akil,

00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.119
 that's great.

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.740
 He said,

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.779
 what do you want to talk to me about?

00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.099
 I said,

00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:20.859
 nothing,

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.279
 never mind.

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:22.939
 Keep coming.

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.659
 And I called Nissen.

00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:23.939
 I'm like,

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.200
 Nissen,

00:27:24.659 --> 00:27:25.819
 Hindus can keep coming back

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.679
 if they want to,

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.240
 I guess.

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:31.220
 just listening in.

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.099
 Hey,

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:34.359
 maybe,

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.620
 maybe you're here like Akil.

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.759
 You're not a Christian.

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:39.380
 And you're just here listening in.

00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:39.660
 Let me,

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.839
 let me talk to you just a second.

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.440
 This is a message for you too

00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:46.759
 because you need to see yourself

00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.460
 through God's eyes.

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:50.640
 You were both divinely created

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:53.039
 and yet cut off from God

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:54.440
 because of your sin and rebellion.

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.920
 I love telling my Muslim friends,

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:58.240
 that every Christian,

00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:58.920
 true Christian,

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.519
 is a convert.

00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:02.339
 And that means to repent of sin

00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:03.980
 and put your trust and faith in Christ.

00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:04.900
 You,

00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:07.859
 you can see the potential

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:10.680
 if you will be reconciled

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.319
 to a loving God

00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:12.299
 who has paid the penalty

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:12.980
 for your sin.

00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.960
 He offers complete

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:17.519
 and total forgiveness to you.

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.900
 He loves you.

00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:20.160
 The Bible says,

00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:21.200
 God will not hold

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:23.120
 your sins against you

00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:24.700
 if you come to Him

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.539
 in faith and trust.

00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:27.460
 All that's required of you

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:29.859
 is to not try and earn

00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:31.039
 your way back to God.

00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:32.819
 You know,

00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:33.159
 that's a great,

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.299
 that's a great misunderstanding

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.379
 about Christianity.

00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:38.399
 What we repent,

00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.519
 most of all,

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:41.259
 when we put our faith

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.299
 and trust in Jesus

00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:44.359
 is holding Jesus

00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.339
 at arm's length.

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.279
 Ultimately,

00:28:48.399 --> 00:28:49.119
 the sin

00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:51.279
 that casts us

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.739
 into what Jesus called

00:28:52.739 --> 00:28:53.859
 the outer darkness

00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:55.479
 is the sin

00:28:55.479 --> 00:28:56.679
 of rejecting Him

00:28:56.679 --> 00:28:57.539
 as the Savior

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.959
 of your life.

00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:02.619
 That's the message

00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:03.259
 we shout out.

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.079
 I want to be like Paul.

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.779
 I want you to be reconciled

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.039
 to God.

00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:07.879
 Be reconciled

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.679
 to God

00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.599
 because you can be.

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.239
 Well,

00:29:12.439 --> 00:29:13.339
 we've looked at

00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.979
 the ambassador's motivation,

00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:16.659
 the ambassador's view

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.380
 of people

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:19.160
 and the ambassador's role,

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.920
 which brings us

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.279
 to our fourth point,

00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:22.980
 how we view the world

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.940
 in verse 19.

00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:25.900
 So,

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.660
 notice in verse 19,

00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:29.380
 we see how ambassadors

00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.500
 view the world.

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.660
 Paul expands

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:32.940
 the scope

00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:34.019
 of this great salvation.

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:36.019
 He says in verse 19

00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:37.940
 that God is reconciling

00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.380
 the world,

00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:38.779
 that is,

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.680
 anyone in the world

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.540
 who would come to Him.

00:29:40.840 --> 00:29:42.380
 It's a universal message,

00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:42.880
 he's saying.

00:29:43.060 --> 00:29:44.000
 This was radical.

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:45.680
 He means not just Jews,

00:29:46.020 --> 00:29:46.580
 everybody.

00:29:47.020 --> 00:29:47.940
 That's what he means here.

00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:49.860
 It's a message

00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:50.720
 for all people

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.240
 in all cultures

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.200
 at all times.

00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.220
 I know there's

00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.640
 a tendency

00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:56.380
 to think

00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:57.700
 that this is a message

00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:58.460
 for just parts

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:58.960
 of the world.

00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.680
 But there are no

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:02.100
 barriers to God

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:02.940
 in the world.

00:30:03.300 --> 00:30:04.500
 And it's happening now

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.460
 in the world.

00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:06.940
 And we need to see

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.040
 how our sovereign God

00:30:08.040 --> 00:30:08.800
 is at work.

00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:08.859
 work.

00:30:11.639 --> 00:30:12.159
 So,

00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:15.680
 when Leanne and I

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:19.099
 lived in our villa,

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.839
 we lived

00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:24.720
 amid three mosques.

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.399
 And

00:30:26.399 --> 00:30:29.539
 they would call out,

00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.220
 they called a prayer

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.220
 five times a day

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.039
 with a makeup

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:33.319
 in the gulf.

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.059
 There's a makeup

00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:35.099
 prayer time,

00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.279
 a six prayer time.

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.740
 And sometimes,

00:30:38.399 --> 00:30:39.559
 as we would hear

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.599
 the call to prayer

00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:41.319
 reverberate

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.940
 through our homes,

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.059
 there would be

00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:44.099
 a sense of despair.

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.319
 How can we reach

00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:45.899
 this culture

00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:46.539
 with the gospel?

00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.099
 How can we?

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.160
 How can we?

00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:53.899
 But there are

00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:54.779
 no barriers to God.

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:58.599
 On our staff team,

00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:01.440
 as the staff team

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:01.859
 grew

00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:03.099
 in Dubai,

00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:05.019
 we had

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.819
 a young couple

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.539
 join our team.

00:31:07.619 --> 00:31:08.099
 And I want to tell

00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:09.279
 the story of

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.899
 Nestoran,

00:31:11.899 --> 00:31:12.559
 who was married

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:12.959
 to Yuna,

00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.500
 husband and wife,

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.779
 from Iran.

00:31:17.179 --> 00:31:17.919
 They were

00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:20.119
 Christian believers

00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:21.219
 and had a great heart

00:31:21.219 --> 00:31:22.019
 for the Iranian people

00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.399
 in Dubai,

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.419
 many, many Iranians

00:31:23.419 --> 00:31:23.759
 in Dubai.

00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:27.279
 Nestoran

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.079
 was a young

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:28.759
 teenage girl.

00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:30.519
 She lived

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.019
 in Tehran.

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.599
 She'd taken

00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:33.039
 a shower.

00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.799
 And in the shower,

00:31:34.959 --> 00:31:35.719
 she heard a voice.

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.719
 And the voice said,

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.679
 I'm going to wash

00:31:38.679 --> 00:31:39.659
 you of your sins.

00:31:41.719 --> 00:31:42.639
 And she was

00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.839
 not sure what that meant

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.759
 and what that was.

00:31:46.199 --> 00:31:46.779
 And so,

00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:48.480
 she's a good Muslim girl,

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.939
 never seen a hymn,

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.339
 never been to a church,

00:31:51.719 --> 00:31:52.079
 didn't know anything

00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:52.579
 of the Bible.

00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:53.699
 She goes to the imam,

00:31:54.219 --> 00:31:54.759
 her imam,

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.619
 at her mosque,

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.339
 and says,

00:31:56.419 --> 00:31:57.119
 I heard this voice.

00:31:58.219 --> 00:31:59.219
 And the voice said,

00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:00.619
 he was going to wash

00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:01.279
 me of my sins.

00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:02.319
 Who was that?

00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:05.099
 And the imam said,

00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:07.159
 that was Jesus.

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.899
 He's the only prophet

00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.659
 that talks that away.

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:12.240
 Pretty good for an imam,

00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:12.539
 huh?

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.619
 So Nestoran said,

00:32:14.679 --> 00:32:15.000
 thank you.

00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:15.619
 And she went home.

00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.819
 Same week,

00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:19.279
 her sister,

00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:21.179
 confusing name,

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.220
 her name is Nestorine.

00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.460
 These are real names.

00:32:24.619 --> 00:32:25.059
 Nestoran,

00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:25.579
 Nestorine.

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.279
 her sister,

00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:27.000
 who has moved

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.460
 to Amsterdam for work

00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:31.019
 and has joined a church.

00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:33.199
 And she's come to faith,

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:33.819
 secretly.

00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:35.019
 She's not told her family.

00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:38.480
 But one Sunday,

00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:39.659
 a woman comes up to her

00:32:39.659 --> 00:32:40.259
 and says,

00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:41.960
 Nestorine,

00:32:42.159 --> 00:32:43.679
 I had a dream last night.

00:32:45.159 --> 00:32:46.279
 It was about you.

00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:49.059
 I dreamed

00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:50.559
 that you were sitting

00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.180
 on a bed

00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:53.039
 talking to two women,

00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.399
 sharing the gospel

00:32:54.399 --> 00:32:55.000
 with them.

00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:56.740
 And I think you're

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.660
 supposed to go home.

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.059
 And Nestorine said,

00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:00.759
 I can't go home.

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.779
 I don't have any money.

00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:04.039
 And this woman said,

00:33:04.099 --> 00:33:04.240
 look,

00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:05.119
 I never remembered

00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.839
 my dreams.

00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.980
 I don't have dreams

00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:08.699
 as far as I know,

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.559
 but it was so real.

00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.179
 I went ahead

00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:11.899
 and bought your ticket.

00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:15.939
 Nestorine flies home

00:33:15.939 --> 00:33:17.339
 to Tehran.

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.720
 She knocks on the door.

00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.319
 Nestorine and her mother

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.019
 answer the door.

00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.099
 Nestorine says,

00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:25.939
 I don't know why I'm here.

00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:26.699
 And Nestorine says,

00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:28.059
 no, we know why you're here.

00:33:28.899 --> 00:33:30.759
 You've been in a Christian country,

00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:31.859
 the Netherlands.

00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:36.359
 And we've been spoken to

00:33:36.359 --> 00:33:36.879
 by Jesus

00:33:36.879 --> 00:33:38.259
 and we want to hear about him.

00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:39.899
 And so Nestorine

00:33:39.899 --> 00:33:41.679
 is overjoyed,

00:33:41.699 --> 00:33:43.099
 but they go sit on the bed

00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:44.679
 like in the dream.

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.859
 Nestorine leads

00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:48.059
 her sister Nestoron

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:49.219
 to the Lord.

00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:53.779
 There are no barriers

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.740
 to God.

00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:55.639
 None.

00:33:56.959 --> 00:33:58.419
 He's the sovereign Lord.

00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:03.659
 In case you're tempted

00:34:03.659 --> 00:34:06.719
 to exalt or desire

00:34:06.719 --> 00:34:07.659
 that kind of story

00:34:07.659 --> 00:34:10.099
 in your own life,

00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:10.819
 I should tell you

00:34:10.819 --> 00:34:11.759
 that their sweet faith

00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:13.039
 has resulted in insult

00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:15.199
 and harassment

00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:17.259
 and separation,

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.859
 jail,

00:34:21.839 --> 00:34:22.659
 deportation.

00:34:24.739 --> 00:34:25.259
 Nestorine

00:34:25.259 --> 00:34:28.319
 was not able to go

00:34:28.319 --> 00:34:30.339
 to her sweet mother's

00:34:30.339 --> 00:34:31.619
 funeral

00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.259
 funeral

00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:33.380
 a couple years ago

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:33.679
 even.

00:34:37.359 --> 00:34:38.159
 What about you?

00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:41.380
 You see people

00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.159
 from other backgrounds

00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:42.859
 and think you can't

00:34:42.859 --> 00:34:43.400
 get to them?

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.639
 Maybe you see people

00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:48.460
 of other faith backgrounds

00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.179
 and set aside

00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:49.679
 any hope

00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:50.159
 that you might

00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.480
 see them come to faith.

00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:54.099
 This passage

00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:56.179
 is why you should be

00:34:56.179 --> 00:34:57.159
 concerned about missions,

00:34:57.779 --> 00:34:58.579
 about the Great Commission.

00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.639
 The Great Commission

00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:01.119
 from Jesus

00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:02.239
 to go into all the world

00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:03.059
 and make disciples.

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.619
 Those people

00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:05.179
 in the world

00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:05.599
 who have never

00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.440
 had the opportunity

00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:07.799
 to hear the gospel message.

00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:10.119
 Even if they wanted

00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:10.839
 to be forgiven,

00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.880
 even if they long

00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:12.579
 to know God,

00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:13.420
 they wouldn't know

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.179
 which way to turn.

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.259
 Well, we've seen

00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:19.460
 how ambassadors

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.559
 are motivated by love

00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.079
 with a right view

00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.380
 of people,

00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:22.319
 a clear understanding

00:35:22.319 --> 00:35:23.039
 of our role

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.859
 of ambassadorship

00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.579
 and for all people

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:25.140
 worldwide.

00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:25.960
 And fifth,

00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:26.559
 and finally,

00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.980
 we understand

00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:29.559
 what Jesus

00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:30.300
 has done

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:31.400
 in the gospel.

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.980
 We take hold

00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:33.340
 of that.

00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.620
 We become students

00:35:34.620 --> 00:35:35.800
 of the gospel.

00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:37.380
 The ambassador

00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:38.500
 must understand,

00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:39.260
 point five,

00:35:39.660 --> 00:35:40.400
 God's work

00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:41.200
 in the message

00:35:41.200 --> 00:35:42.039
 of the gospel.

00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:43.519
 Verse 21,

00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:45.780
 for our sake

00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:46.500
 he made him

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.519
 to be sin

00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.559
 who knew no sin

00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:50.239
 so that in him

00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:51.139
 we might become

00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:51.759
 the righteousness

00:35:51.759 --> 00:35:52.759
 of God.

00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:54.519
 Now, much ink

00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:55.300
 has been spilled

00:35:55.300 --> 00:35:56.679
 on verse 21.

00:35:57.380 --> 00:35:57.800
 It's about

00:35:57.800 --> 00:35:58.759
 a significant

00:35:58.759 --> 00:36:00.759
 theological idea,

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:02.639
 that of substitutionary

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:03.500
 atonement.

00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:05.400
 In 24 words,

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:06.340
 it's astonishing.

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:08.559
 Substitutionary

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.280
 atonement

00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:10.560
 is at the heart

00:36:10.560 --> 00:36:11.380
 of the Christian faith.

00:36:11.680 --> 00:36:12.220
 To atone,

00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:12.780
 of course,

00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:13.500
 means to pay

00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:14.360
 for something,

00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:15.240
 pay for sin.

00:36:16.140 --> 00:36:17.580
 It's a behind-the-scenes

00:36:17.580 --> 00:36:19.019
 look at what

00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:20.440
 God did on the cross

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:22.420
 where Paul says

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:24.180
 Jesus became

00:36:24.180 --> 00:36:25.820
 sin for us.

00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:26.640
 He didn't have

00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:27.140
 just sin

00:36:27.140 --> 00:36:28.960
 put on his shoulders.

00:36:29.100 --> 00:36:30.560
 He became sin.

00:36:31.060 --> 00:36:31.840
 It was placed

00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.880
 in him,

00:36:33.080 --> 00:36:33.600
 imputed

00:36:33.600 --> 00:36:34.600
 into Christ

00:36:34.600 --> 00:36:35.920
 where in his

00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:36.640
 great love

00:36:36.640 --> 00:36:37.820
 God took

00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:38.740
 all the sins

00:36:38.739 --> 00:36:39.579
 of all

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.299
 who would repent

00:36:40.299 --> 00:36:40.839
 and believe

00:36:40.839 --> 00:36:41.959
 and put them

00:36:41.959 --> 00:36:43.279
 on his perfect

00:36:43.279 --> 00:36:44.319
 sinless son

00:36:44.319 --> 00:36:45.299
 that we might

00:36:45.299 --> 00:36:45.839
 be forgiven

00:36:45.839 --> 00:36:46.379
 by God.

00:36:47.619 --> 00:36:48.559
 Jesus referred

00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:48.919
 to this

00:36:48.919 --> 00:36:49.599
 as drinking

00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:50.119
 the cup

00:36:50.119 --> 00:36:50.779
 of wrath.

00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:52.419
 And then

00:36:52.419 --> 00:36:53.000
 God takes

00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:53.419
 all who

00:36:53.419 --> 00:36:54.019
 will repent

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:54.479
 and believe

00:36:54.479 --> 00:36:54.979
 in Jesus

00:36:54.979 --> 00:36:56.539
 and clothes

00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:57.059
 us in

00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:57.619
 Christ's

00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:58.099
 righteousness

00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:59.639
 so that

00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:00.199
 when we're

00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:00.619
 united

00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:01.239
 with Christ

00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:02.719
 and we stand

00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:03.379
 before him

00:37:03.379 --> 00:37:03.959
 in judgment

00:37:03.959 --> 00:37:04.679
 as we looked

00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:05.839
 at in verses

00:37:05.839 --> 00:37:07.279
 9 and 10,

00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:08.840
 he declares

00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:09.400
 us forgiven

00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:11.180
 and righteous

00:37:11.180 --> 00:37:12.220
 as we stand

00:37:12.220 --> 00:37:12.700
 before him.

00:37:13.220 --> 00:37:14.000
 I love this

00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:14.720
 summary of the

00:37:14.720 --> 00:37:15.180
 gospel

00:37:15.180 --> 00:37:17.280
 in verse 21.

00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:17.880
 I want to quote

00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:18.200
 this.

00:37:18.720 --> 00:37:19.540
 On the cross

00:37:19.540 --> 00:37:20.980
 God treated

00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:21.700
 Christ

00:37:21.700 --> 00:37:23.000
 as if he

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.580
 had committed

00:37:23.580 --> 00:37:25.240
 all the sins

00:37:25.240 --> 00:37:26.700
 of every sinner

00:37:26.700 --> 00:37:27.700
 who would ever

00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:28.400
 believe

00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:29.660
 so that he

00:37:29.660 --> 00:37:30.120
 could treat

00:37:30.120 --> 00:37:31.380
 every believer

00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:32.600
 as if

00:37:32.600 --> 00:37:34.120
 they had lived

00:37:34.120 --> 00:37:34.780
 Christ's

00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:35.760
 perfect life.

00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:37.300
 Oh brothers

00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:37.740
 and sisters

00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:38.500
 what a promise

00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:39.380
 that is for us.

00:37:40.180 --> 00:37:41.160
 It's essential

00:37:41.160 --> 00:37:42.580
 to see

00:37:42.580 --> 00:37:43.380
 our righteousness

00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:45.440
 contrary to

00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:46.200
 all the other

00:37:46.200 --> 00:37:47.020
 religions in the

00:37:47.020 --> 00:37:47.260
 world

00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:48.700
 come to us

00:37:48.700 --> 00:37:49.580
 from God.

00:37:49.700 --> 00:37:50.160
 Our righteousness

00:37:50.160 --> 00:37:51.240
 comes to us

00:37:51.240 --> 00:37:51.560
 from God.

00:37:51.640 --> 00:37:51.860
 It's not

00:37:51.860 --> 00:37:53.060
 self-righteousness

00:37:53.060 --> 00:37:54.060
 but a God

00:37:54.060 --> 00:37:54.960
 given righteousness.

00:37:57.600 --> 00:37:58.840
 I don't like

00:37:58.840 --> 00:37:59.460
 self-righteous

00:37:59.460 --> 00:37:59.860
 people.

00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:01.820
 I bet you

00:38:01.820 --> 00:38:02.380
 don't either.

00:38:02.380 --> 00:38:05.720
 God hates

00:38:05.720 --> 00:38:06.500
 self-righteous

00:38:06.500 --> 00:38:06.980
 people.

00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:08.840
 Those who

00:38:08.840 --> 00:38:09.200
 think they

00:38:09.200 --> 00:38:09.700
 can stand

00:38:09.700 --> 00:38:10.320
 before God

00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:11.140
 and that

00:38:11.140 --> 00:38:11.420
 he'll be

00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:11.840
 impressed

00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:12.140
 with all

00:38:12.140 --> 00:38:12.460
 the good

00:38:12.460 --> 00:38:12.940
 things they've

00:38:12.940 --> 00:38:13.240
 done.

00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:14.579
 That's

00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.519
 self-righteousness.

00:38:16.340 --> 00:38:17.320
 I don't like

00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:18.160
 self-righteousness

00:38:18.160 --> 00:38:18.740
 when I see it

00:38:18.740 --> 00:38:19.579
 in myself.

00:38:20.740 --> 00:38:21.599
 My own

00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:22.300
 hypocrisy.

00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:24.240
 My own

00:38:24.240 --> 00:38:24.880
 failings

00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:25.300
 as I

00:38:25.300 --> 00:38:27.000
 judge

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.599
 others.

00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:30.240
 No,

00:38:30.300 --> 00:38:30.760
 our righteousness

00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:32.080
 comes from

00:38:32.080 --> 00:38:32.960
 outside of

00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:33.360
 us.

00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:35.340
 Most of the

00:38:35.340 --> 00:38:35.760
 world of course

00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:36.180
 thinks you do

00:38:36.180 --> 00:38:37.500
 that by

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:38.040
 yourself.

00:38:39.180 --> 00:38:39.640
 But the

00:38:39.640 --> 00:38:40.340
 entire Bible

00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:41.040
 from Genesis

00:38:41.040 --> 00:38:42.700
 on points

00:38:42.700 --> 00:38:43.900
 to the event

00:38:43.900 --> 00:38:44.560
 Paul's talking

00:38:44.560 --> 00:38:44.880
 about in

00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:45.480
 verse 21.

00:38:46.040 --> 00:38:46.360
 Christ

00:38:46.360 --> 00:38:47.820
 became sin

00:38:47.820 --> 00:38:48.940
 for us.

00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:49.480
 He took

00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.400
 our place.

00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:51.180
 It's substitutionary

00:38:51.180 --> 00:38:51.560
 atonement.

00:38:52.160 --> 00:38:52.800
 He died for

00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:53.180
 me in my

00:38:53.180 --> 00:38:53.600
 place.

00:38:54.040 --> 00:38:54.520
 Christ is

00:38:54.520 --> 00:38:54.760
 my

00:38:54.760 --> 00:38:55.800
 substitutionary.

00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:58.240
 How precious

00:38:58.239 --> 00:39:00.179
 is that

00:39:00.179 --> 00:39:00.839
 message to

00:39:00.839 --> 00:39:01.079
 you?

00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:01.519
 Does your

00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:02.279
 heart warm

00:39:02.279 --> 00:39:03.279
 when you

00:39:03.279 --> 00:39:03.679
 think about

00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:04.099
 the gospel

00:39:04.099 --> 00:39:04.659
 message when

00:39:04.659 --> 00:39:05.299
 I explain

00:39:05.299 --> 00:39:06.019
 substitutionary

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.199
 time?

00:39:06.399 --> 00:39:06.659
 Does your

00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:07.139
 heart leap?

00:39:08.299 --> 00:39:08.959
 Or is it

00:39:08.959 --> 00:39:09.419
 something, oh

00:39:09.419 --> 00:39:09.699
 I've heard

00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:10.279
 that before,

00:39:10.959 --> 00:39:11.459
 you know,

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:11.719
 when's

00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:12.159
 lunch?

00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:15.659
 You may

00:39:15.659 --> 00:39:16.439
 not be a

00:39:16.439 --> 00:39:17.139
 Christian if

00:39:17.139 --> 00:39:17.599
 you're not

00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:18.239
 interested in

00:39:18.239 --> 00:39:18.679
 the gospel.

00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:21.719
 Let me ask

00:39:21.719 --> 00:39:22.219
 another question.

00:39:22.279 --> 00:39:22.459
 Are you

00:39:22.459 --> 00:39:23.099
 willing to

00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:23.379
 give your

00:39:23.379 --> 00:39:24.119
 life to it?

00:39:24.779 --> 00:39:25.079
 Are you

00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:25.719
 willing to

00:39:25.719 --> 00:39:26.000
 give your

00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:26.719
 life to the

00:39:26.719 --> 00:39:27.059
 gospel?

00:39:27.859 --> 00:39:28.339
 Are you

00:39:28.339 --> 00:39:28.659
 ready to

00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:29.219
 die for

00:39:29.219 --> 00:39:29.500
 it?

00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:33.179
 My suspicion

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:33.679
 is most

00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:34.339
 of you are.

00:39:35.259 --> 00:39:36.000
 My suspicion

00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:37.079
 is day by

00:39:37.079 --> 00:39:38.459
 day you're

00:39:38.459 --> 00:39:39.039
 giving your

00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:40.619
 life, you're

00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:40.980
 giving your

00:39:40.980 --> 00:39:41.419
 life away,

00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:41.719
 that your

00:39:41.719 --> 00:39:42.279
 life doesn't

00:39:42.279 --> 00:39:43.199
 make sense

00:39:43.199 --> 00:39:44.539
 apart from

00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.119
 the gospel.

00:39:45.500 --> 00:39:46.179
 You're laying

00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:47.379
 down your

00:39:47.379 --> 00:39:47.939
 life for the

00:39:47.939 --> 00:39:48.319
 hope of the

00:39:48.319 --> 00:39:49.459
 gospel day

00:39:49.459 --> 00:39:49.959
 by day.

00:39:51.299 --> 00:39:51.739
 But how

00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:52.059
 about this?

00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.000
 Final question.

00:39:54.179 --> 00:39:54.459
 Are you

00:39:54.459 --> 00:39:55.980
 willing to

00:39:55.980 --> 00:39:56.699
 call others

00:39:56.699 --> 00:39:58.019
 to die

00:39:58.019 --> 00:39:58.559
 for it?

00:40:01.379 --> 00:40:01.899
 In our

00:40:01.899 --> 00:40:02.279
 time in the

00:40:02.279 --> 00:40:02.539
 Middle East

00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:02.939
 that actually

00:40:02.939 --> 00:40:03.439
 turned out

00:40:03.439 --> 00:40:03.919
 to be a

00:40:03.919 --> 00:40:04.460
 little harder.

00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:07.480
 I remember

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:07.960
 talking to

00:40:07.960 --> 00:40:09.439
 Asma in

00:40:09.439 --> 00:40:09.960
 her apartment,

00:40:10.939 --> 00:40:11.480
 nine-month-old

00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:12.059
 baby on her

00:40:12.059 --> 00:40:12.299
 lap.

00:40:13.299 --> 00:40:13.839
 Asma, you

00:40:13.839 --> 00:40:14.239
 know, you

00:40:14.239 --> 00:40:14.859
 understand that

00:40:14.859 --> 00:40:15.519
 if I baptize

00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:16.679
 you, there

00:40:16.679 --> 00:40:17.559
 will be people

00:40:17.559 --> 00:40:18.039
 who want to

00:40:18.039 --> 00:40:18.599
 kill you.

00:40:20.059 --> 00:40:20.460
 Yes, I

00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:20.679
 know.

00:40:22.339 --> 00:40:22.980
 Jesus is

00:40:22.980 --> 00:40:23.460
 worth it.

00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:25.259
 He's worth

00:40:25.259 --> 00:40:25.480
 it.

00:40:25.480 --> 00:40:28.559
 So we

00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:29.719
 started a

00:40:29.719 --> 00:40:30.159
 church called

00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:31.059
 Redeemer in

00:40:31.059 --> 00:40:31.699
 downtown Dubai.

00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:32.039
 It grew to

00:40:32.039 --> 00:40:32.860
 1,500 people.

00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:33.099
 It was

00:40:33.099 --> 00:40:33.539
 astonishing.

00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.300
 See the

00:40:34.300 --> 00:40:34.740
 response?

00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:36.280
 I was

00:40:36.280 --> 00:40:37.559
 preaching on

00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:38.880
 Genesis 22,

00:40:39.300 --> 00:40:40.039
 the story of

00:40:40.039 --> 00:40:41.260
 Abraham being

00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:41.740
 called to

00:40:41.740 --> 00:40:42.760
 sacrifice Isaac.

00:40:44.159 --> 00:40:45.240
 And I

00:40:45.240 --> 00:40:45.699
 explained

00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:46.460
 substitutionary

00:40:46.460 --> 00:40:46.780
 atonement.

00:40:47.159 --> 00:40:47.599
 Right there in

00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.219
 Genesis, first

00:40:48.219 --> 00:40:48.860
 book of the

00:40:48.860 --> 00:40:49.199
 Bible,

00:40:49.840 --> 00:40:50.400
 substitutionary

00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:50.900
 atonement is

00:40:50.900 --> 00:40:51.440
 a part of the

00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:52.980
 whole story that

00:40:52.980 --> 00:40:53.559
 a ram was

00:40:53.559 --> 00:40:54.039
 offered as

00:40:54.039 --> 00:40:54.559
 a substitute.

00:40:56.880 --> 00:40:57.400
 You know,

00:40:57.500 --> 00:40:58.039
 when I grew

00:40:58.039 --> 00:40:58.940
 up, the

00:40:58.940 --> 00:40:59.659
 whole point of

00:40:59.659 --> 00:41:00.519
 Genesis 22

00:41:00.519 --> 00:41:01.199
 and Abraham was

00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:01.619
 to be like

00:41:01.619 --> 00:41:02.000
 Abraham.

00:41:02.860 --> 00:41:03.380
 You're not

00:41:03.380 --> 00:41:03.840
 like Abraham.

00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:04.279
 I'm not

00:41:04.279 --> 00:41:04.739
 either, let

00:41:04.739 --> 00:41:05.119
 me tell you.

00:41:06.199 --> 00:41:06.759
 If we're

00:41:06.759 --> 00:41:07.639
 anyone, we're

00:41:07.639 --> 00:41:08.259
 Isaac on the

00:41:08.259 --> 00:41:08.519
 altar.

00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:10.259
 The knife of

00:41:10.259 --> 00:41:11.159
 God's justice

00:41:11.159 --> 00:41:12.239
 hangs rightly

00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:13.139
 over us.

00:41:15.019 --> 00:41:15.699
 And our only

00:41:15.699 --> 00:41:16.299
 hope is that

00:41:16.299 --> 00:41:17.980
 substitute, that

00:41:17.980 --> 00:41:18.259
 lamb.

00:41:19.079 --> 00:41:19.619
 So that when

00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:20.219
 John the

00:41:20.219 --> 00:41:20.860
 Baptist saw

00:41:20.860 --> 00:41:21.360
 Jesus and

00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:21.759
 said, there

00:41:21.759 --> 00:41:22.239
 goes the

00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:22.579
 lamb of

00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:22.899
 God who

00:41:22.899 --> 00:41:23.339
 takes away

00:41:23.339 --> 00:41:24.019
 the sins

00:41:24.019 --> 00:41:24.199
 of the

00:41:24.199 --> 00:41:24.479
 world, it

00:41:24.479 --> 00:41:24.899
 was understood.

00:41:25.719 --> 00:41:26.559
 Anyhow, that

00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:26.939
 was what I

00:41:26.939 --> 00:41:27.359
 was preaching.

00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:31.759
 At the end

00:41:31.759 --> 00:41:32.379
 of the

00:41:32.379 --> 00:41:32.859
 sermon,

00:41:33.959 --> 00:41:34.199
 Nissen,

00:41:34.519 --> 00:41:34.879
 faithful

00:41:34.879 --> 00:41:36.319
 Nissen, who

00:41:36.319 --> 00:41:36.699
 is now the

00:41:36.699 --> 00:41:37.159
 director of

00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:37.500
 the student

00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:38.059
 ministry in

00:41:38.059 --> 00:41:39.959
 Dubai, was

00:41:39.959 --> 00:41:40.319
 leading a

00:41:40.319 --> 00:41:41.059
 young man up

00:41:41.059 --> 00:41:42.019
 to me through

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.379
 the crowd.

00:41:43.659 --> 00:41:43.959
 And he

00:41:43.959 --> 00:41:44.179
 says,

00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:46.599
 Mac, this

00:41:46.599 --> 00:41:47.139
 is Mohammed.

00:41:47.699 --> 00:41:48.119
 And he

00:41:48.119 --> 00:41:49.039
 has just heard

00:41:49.039 --> 00:41:49.759
 the message of

00:41:49.759 --> 00:41:50.279
 the gospel really

00:41:50.279 --> 00:41:50.699
 for the first

00:41:50.699 --> 00:41:50.959
 time.

00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:52.079
 And he

00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:52.440
 would like to

00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:52.740
 become a

00:41:52.740 --> 00:41:52.940
 Christian.

00:41:55.019 --> 00:41:57.340
 And I

00:41:57.340 --> 00:41:57.659
 said, oh,

00:41:58.599 --> 00:41:59.139
 Mohammed, that's

00:41:59.139 --> 00:41:59.460
 wonderful.

00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:00.119
 He looks down at

00:42:00.119 --> 00:42:00.500
 my Bible.

00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:01.420
 He says, is that

00:42:01.420 --> 00:42:01.760
 a Bible?

00:42:01.900 --> 00:42:02.300
 Is the one with

00:42:02.300 --> 00:42:02.860
 all my notes in

00:42:02.860 --> 00:42:02.980
 it?

00:42:03.940 --> 00:42:05.099
 I said, in my

00:42:05.099 --> 00:42:06.019
 heart, oh, I

00:42:06.019 --> 00:42:06.519
 wish I'd left

00:42:06.519 --> 00:42:07.519
 this Bible at

00:42:07.519 --> 00:42:07.960
 home and brought

00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:08.579
 my cheap Bible.

00:42:09.960 --> 00:42:10.880
 I said, yeah, so

00:42:10.880 --> 00:42:11.559
 would you like it?

00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:12.159
 He said, I would

00:42:12.159 --> 00:42:12.679
 very much.

00:42:12.740 --> 00:42:13.260
 I'd give him

00:42:13.260 --> 00:42:13.619
 my Bible.

00:42:13.619 --> 00:42:17.840
 I said, you

00:42:17.840 --> 00:42:18.440
 know, Mohammed,

00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:19.280
 you may face

00:42:19.280 --> 00:42:20.080
 persecution for

00:42:20.080 --> 00:42:20.200
 this.

00:42:20.260 --> 00:42:20.540
 You need to

00:42:20.540 --> 00:42:21.100
 understand that.

00:42:21.560 --> 00:42:22.800
 If you truly

00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:24.280
 come to faith.

00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:25.320
 He said, I

00:42:25.320 --> 00:42:25.740
 know, my

00:42:25.740 --> 00:42:26.140
 father's an

00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:26.820
 imam back in

00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:27.820
 Sudan and he

00:42:27.820 --> 00:42:28.320
 will kill me.

00:42:29.400 --> 00:42:29.800
 He didn't

00:42:29.800 --> 00:42:31.320
 mean maybe.

00:42:31.560 --> 00:42:32.140
 I mean, he's

00:42:32.140 --> 00:42:32.860
 not speaking

00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:34.600
 metaphorically.

00:42:39.060 --> 00:42:40.320
 By way of

00:42:40.320 --> 00:42:40.720
 confession,

00:42:40.840 --> 00:42:41.120
 there's a little

00:42:41.120 --> 00:42:41.700
 hitch in me.

00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:44.000
 Maybe we

00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:44.360
 should wait.

00:42:46.280 --> 00:42:46.880
 We don't have

00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:47.360
 to do this.

00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:47.960
 God's sovereign,

00:42:47.960 --> 00:42:48.280
 right?

00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:52.480
 But then,

00:42:53.699 --> 00:42:55.220
 because long

00:42:55.220 --> 00:42:57.059
 ago, I

00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:57.699
 determined that

00:42:57.699 --> 00:42:58.260
 it's better for

00:42:58.260 --> 00:42:58.800
 someone to come

00:42:58.800 --> 00:42:59.199
 to faith in

00:42:59.199 --> 00:43:01.039
 Christ and live

00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:01.920
 in forgiveness

00:43:01.920 --> 00:43:02.539
 even if it's

00:43:02.539 --> 00:43:03.440
 just for weeks

00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:04.099
 and meet God

00:43:04.099 --> 00:43:04.699
 face to face

00:43:04.699 --> 00:43:05.099
 at the judgment

00:43:05.099 --> 00:43:08.960
 seat, than for

00:43:08.960 --> 00:43:10.300
 someone to

00:43:10.300 --> 00:43:11.360
 reject Jesus,

00:43:11.840 --> 00:43:12.340
 eke out what

00:43:12.340 --> 00:43:13.039
 pleasure they can

00:43:13.039 --> 00:43:13.460
 in the world

00:43:13.460 --> 00:43:14.440
 and meet God

00:43:14.440 --> 00:43:16.240
 without forgiveness

00:43:16.239 --> 00:43:17.179
 forgiveness is

00:43:17.179 --> 00:43:18.659
 better to be

00:43:18.659 --> 00:43:18.979
 forgiven.

00:43:20.759 --> 00:43:21.159
 And so I

00:43:21.159 --> 00:43:22.539
 said, okay,

00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:23.279
 listen,

00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:24.799
 discipled

00:43:24.799 --> 00:43:25.339
 Muhammad.

00:43:26.139 --> 00:43:26.899
 He grew in

00:43:26.899 --> 00:43:27.219
 faith.

00:43:28.679 --> 00:43:29.699
 He left for

00:43:29.699 --> 00:43:30.979
 Sudan and we

00:43:30.979 --> 00:43:31.559
 never heard from

00:43:31.559 --> 00:43:32.019
 him again.

00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:32.119
 him.

00:43:36.340 --> 00:43:37.159
 But like

00:43:37.159 --> 00:43:37.539
 asthma,

00:43:38.400 --> 00:43:40.079
 Jesus is

00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:40.619
 worth it.

00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:45.360
 It's worth it.

00:43:45.659 --> 00:43:45.940
 Do you

00:43:45.940 --> 00:43:46.460
 believe that?

00:43:48.699 --> 00:43:49.500
 It's part of

00:43:49.500 --> 00:43:51.039
 our call as

00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:54.139
 ambassadors to

00:43:54.139 --> 00:43:54.619
 ensure we

00:43:54.619 --> 00:43:55.219
 understand the

00:43:55.219 --> 00:43:56.079
 preciousness of

00:43:56.079 --> 00:43:56.860
 God's call on the

00:43:56.860 --> 00:43:57.219
 gospel.

00:43:57.219 --> 00:43:57.279
 gospel.

00:43:59.059 --> 00:44:00.099
 So remember the

00:44:00.099 --> 00:44:01.019
 five marks of

00:44:01.019 --> 00:44:01.519
 an ambassador.

00:44:03.279 --> 00:44:04.339
 Our motivation,

00:44:05.480 --> 00:44:06.219
 our view of

00:44:06.219 --> 00:44:08.099
 people, our

00:44:08.099 --> 00:44:08.739
 grasp of our

00:44:08.739 --> 00:44:10.959
 role, and our

00:44:10.959 --> 00:44:11.639
 understanding of

00:44:11.639 --> 00:44:12.279
 God's love for

00:44:12.279 --> 00:44:13.019
 people around the

00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:14.239
 world with a

00:44:14.239 --> 00:44:15.299
 clear understanding

00:44:15.299 --> 00:44:16.599
 of the gospel.

00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:18.259
 Amen?

00:44:19.319 --> 00:44:19.879
 Amen.

00:44:20.339 --> 00:44:20.879
 Let me pray.

00:44:25.379 --> 00:44:26.139
 Lord Jesus,

00:44:26.279 --> 00:44:26.939
 move us out in

00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:27.599
 gospel love.

00:44:31.320 --> 00:44:32.280
 Move us out in

00:44:32.280 --> 00:44:33.639
 an understanding of

00:44:33.639 --> 00:44:34.300
 what's at stake.

00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:36.980
 We thank you,

00:44:37.740 --> 00:44:38.880
 Lord God, for this

00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:40.119
 astonishing offer of

00:44:40.119 --> 00:44:40.619
 your salvation.

00:44:40.780 --> 00:44:41.420
 Help us in our

00:44:41.420 --> 00:44:42.019
 view of people.

00:44:43.179 --> 00:44:44.360
 See them with the

00:44:44.360 --> 00:44:45.200
 potential that they

00:44:45.200 --> 00:44:46.880
 can become redeemed

00:44:46.880 --> 00:44:48.240
 people of God,

00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:49.300
 your children.

00:44:51.220 --> 00:44:52.280
 Help us take hold

00:44:52.280 --> 00:44:52.820
 of our role.

00:44:52.820 --> 00:44:57.100
 give us a right

00:44:57.100 --> 00:44:57.480
 view of the

00:44:57.480 --> 00:44:57.760
 world.

00:44:59.360 --> 00:45:00.100
 And most of

00:45:00.100 --> 00:45:00.940
 all, oh Lord

00:45:00.940 --> 00:45:02.559
 God, give us a

00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:03.280
 clear understanding

00:45:03.280 --> 00:45:04.300
 as we talk and

00:45:04.300 --> 00:45:04.860
 meet with people

00:45:04.860 --> 00:45:07.420
 about the meaning

00:45:07.420 --> 00:45:08.800
 of your gospel

00:45:08.800 --> 00:45:10.440
 and its worth.

00:45:10.440 --> 00:45:13.500
 in Jesus name we pray

00:45:13.500 --> 00:45:14.420
 Amen

00:45:14.420 --> 00:45:15.820
 Amen