WEBVTT

00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:08.919
 Well, here we are. We're at home. Boris himself has said that's where we've got to be. We've got to stay at home. We've got to work from home.

00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:15.500
 We're not to go visiting others. We're only to go out when it's absolutely necessary to get those essential supplies.

00:00:16.620 --> 00:00:21.000
 And people have not been slow to share their experiences of this online.

00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:29.740
 My favourite is the guy who said that, for the first time in a while, I find myself spending more quality time with my wife.

00:00:30.280 --> 00:00:35.759
 We're starting to talk more. I had no idea she'd packed in her job in Woolworths.

00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:44.359
 OK, let's be serious for a minute. The virus itself, like any sickness, is horrific.

00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:51.140
 And the damage it's causing, the wider damage, is too terrible to even begin to put into words.

00:00:52.120 --> 00:00:58.200
 So please don't think that what I'm about to say in any way underestimates any of that.

00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:07.159
 But what I want us to think about over these next few minutes is how, in the midst of everything else that's going on,

00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:11.159
 we might be able to discern some of the good stuff.

00:01:11.740 --> 00:01:15.280
 And yet, I actually did say that. The good stuff.

00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:26.240
 The Bible helps us to understand that life is both a battle and a blessing. Always.

00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:32.200
 Now, sometimes we'll be more aware of one of those things than the other.

00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:37.379
 If we're in a period of blessing, it can seem like everything is just amazing.

00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:41.459
 Now, this week, the sun's been shining. That's fantastic.

00:01:42.539 --> 00:01:46.819
 And as we enter British summertime, we get those longer evenings.

00:01:46.819 --> 00:01:48.239
 That's even more fantastic.

00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:52.979
 But when we're in the midst of summer, or at least a hot one,

00:01:53.340 --> 00:02:01.219
 those memories of a cold, dark winter with short days can seem like a very, very distant reality.

00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:09.520
 Spiritually, when we're experiencing God's blessing, it's important that we don't let our guard down.

00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:13.800
 We need to remember that a battle is going on.

00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:15.400
 We need to be battle ready.

00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:21.060
 That's why, in Ephesians 6, Paul tells us to put on the full armour of God

00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:24.979
 so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

00:02:24.979 --> 00:02:30.579
 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,

00:02:30.859 --> 00:02:37.780
 against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:43.139
 So, Paul says that we're to put on the armour of God.

00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:47.639
 Notice Paul doesn't say anything about taking it off.

00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:50.939
 We're never to relax our guard.

00:02:51.839 --> 00:02:54.179
 We need to stay spiritually awake.

00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:56.200
 We need to be battle ready.

00:02:57.080 --> 00:02:57.480
 Always.

00:02:59.060 --> 00:03:01.840
 But that's not the point I want to emphasise right now.

00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:05.140
 Because my guess is that, at this point in time,

00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:11.719
 the greater challenge is not so much trying to remember that we're in the midst of a battle,

00:03:12.900 --> 00:03:16.020
 but rather catching sight of some of the blessing.

00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:19.840
 Just when the battle can seem overwhelming,

00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:25.400
 I want to call us to see beyond the objects of our fears and anxieties,

00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:29.780
 to recognise some of the blessing that is very, very real.

00:03:31.340 --> 00:03:33.640
 When we look at Mark chapter 1,

00:03:33.800 --> 00:03:37.920
 and I encourage you to go off and read the whole chapter, it's not long.

00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:41.059
 When we look at Mark chapter 1,

00:03:41.059 --> 00:03:49.359
 we see this dynamic of battle and blessing going on in and around the life of ministry of Jesus.

00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:55.359
 Now, a feature of Mark's gospel is the way in which it moves quite quickly.

00:03:55.360 --> 00:04:02.200
 For example, whereas Matthew and Luke give more detailed description of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness,

00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:06.100
 Mark gives us only a brief summary, and then he moves on.

00:04:06.940 --> 00:04:12.360
 So in one single chapter, we see the blessing of Jesus' baptism,

00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:15.300
 and the battle of his temptation.

00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:19.939
 We see the blessing of his disciples dropping everything to follow him.

00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:24.980
 And then as we encounter his healing, deliverance, and preaching of the good news,

00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:34.660
 we see lives blessed as Jesus goes to war against sickness, oppression, and the dark powers of this world.

00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:38.060
 Battle and blessing.

00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:46.540
 Sometimes it can feel like those things come in a sort of sequenced order in our lives.

00:04:46.540 --> 00:04:50.620
 You know, we've got a period of blessing, and then we go through a period of battle,

00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:54.420
 and then blessing, and then battle, and then more blessing, and then more battle,

00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:58.120
 like some kind of alternating succession of ups and downs.

00:04:59.020 --> 00:05:02.260
 But I think the reality is that if we look closely,

00:05:02.900 --> 00:05:06.160
 both are always there in any given moment.

00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:09.480
 It's a double track that runs right through life.

00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:11.460
 It's just that we don't always see it.

00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:15.280
 The Bible gives us plenty of examples.

00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:19.620
 As the people of Israel fled the Egyptian army,

00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:22.860
 their situation had every appearance of a battle,

00:05:23.460 --> 00:05:25.360
 and it was precisely that.

00:05:26.520 --> 00:05:30.660
 But as they made their way to freedom through the parted waters of the Red Sea,

00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:33.520
 it was simultaneously a blessing.

00:05:35.280 --> 00:05:41.100
 Mary and Joseph were told by an angel to flee the brutal massacre wrought by Herod.

00:05:42.100 --> 00:05:42.520
 Battle.

00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:47.839
 Yet through it all, they were raising and nurturing the infant Jesus

00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:52.579
 who had been placed in their care for the salvation of the world.

00:05:54.219 --> 00:05:54.779
 Blessing.

00:05:56.839 --> 00:05:59.180
 As Peter got out of the boat,

00:05:59.719 --> 00:06:03.079
 he could see the wind and waves threatening to engulf him.

00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:05.060
 Battle.

00:06:05.060 --> 00:06:08.480
 Yet as he set his gaze on Jesus,

00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:14.540
 he made his way across the surface of the water into his Saviour's arms.

00:06:16.339 --> 00:06:16.899
 Blessing.

00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:20.860
 We're in a battle at this time.

00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:22.199
 Let's make no mistake.

00:06:23.340 --> 00:06:25.800
 But let's not lose sight of the blessings.

00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:31.500
 For example, as countries go into lockdown over the virus,

00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:34.759
 there have been significant drops in pollution levels.

00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:39.580
 As we use our cars less and flights are cancelled en masse,

00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:44.040
 there are recordings all over the world of radically major falls

00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:48.040
 in both nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.

00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:51.720
 As people go into isolation,

00:06:52.080 --> 00:06:56.640
 stories abound of folk putting notes through the doors of others in their street,

00:06:56.780 --> 00:06:58.920
 offering help and support with shopping.

00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:04.160
 People connecting with fellow neighbours who they may have seen out and about,

00:07:04.780 --> 00:07:09.200
 but have never really spoken with or got to know before now.

00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:15.000
 And of course, we're starting to appreciate basic things again.

00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:17.240
 Having food.

00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:20.279
 Having the most simple things.

00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:26.360
 I mean, who would have believed that we'd ever pay attention to

00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:30.199
 and be thankful for the amount of toilet roll that we're able to access?

00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:34.019
 Life's a battle, yeah.

00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:35.579
 Especially right now.

00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:38.860
 But let's not lose sight of the blessing.

00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:43.339
 There's two tracks, and we need to be aware of both.

00:07:44.479 --> 00:07:47.539
 Remember, there's always more than one way of looking at things.

00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:51.339
 Like the guy in the pizza restaurant who was asked by the waiter

00:07:51.339 --> 00:07:54.579
 if he wanted his pizza cut into six slices or four.

00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:56.879
 He said, oh, you'd better make it four.

00:07:57.099 --> 00:07:58.980
 I don't think I could manage six.

00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:03.759
 Yeah, there are different ways of viewing the same reality.

00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:08.339
 And my call out to all of us over these coming days,

00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:11.399
 is to be on the lookout for the blessings.

00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:13.659
 Because they are there.

00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:16.839
 And we need to know that they're there.

00:08:18.099 --> 00:08:20.159
 Sure, let's always be battle ready.

00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:28.439
 But perhaps it's time to rediscover the forgotten art of being blessing ready.

00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:31.740
 And as you do so this week,

00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:33.960
 may God bless you.

00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:35.740
 Loads.

00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:36.240
 Kill this.

00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:36.680
 Kill this.

00:08:36.680 --> 00:08:37.039
 Do you?

00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:37.580
 Yeah.

00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:38.560
 Whip.

00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:38.919
 Zheng this.

00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:39.519
 Music is a giants.

00:08:39.560 --> 00:08:40.259
 Jahwe.

00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:40.639
 Son, government.

00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:40.759
 They're soccerers.

00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:40.860
 Look at all.

00:08:40.940 --> 00:08:41.519
 Oh, you don't know,

00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:41.940
 covetous.

00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:44.440
 In the end gate process tonight we'll lose purpose.

00:08:46.560 --> 00:08:46.860
 They ate a hug.

00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:47.960
 And you do try again.

00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:49.659
 The girls play it so that the captain can always make

00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:49.879
 a loss.

00:08:50.560 --> 00:08:50.820
 So'd that be why Jon still has it.

00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:51.639
 if, I think that it's the whole idea.

00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:52.720
 That's not a good idea.

00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:54.080
 The lady's playing edge is야��יה today.

00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:55.659
 And the owner takes focus into that role.