WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.419 Mark's Gospel, chapter 6, verses 60-30, and it's on page 1008. 00:00:16.359 --> 00:00:20.059 Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 00:00:20.820 --> 00:00:26.580 Calling the twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil 00:00:26.580 --> 00:00:27.120 spirits. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:30.120 These were his instructions. 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:32.120 Take nothing for the journey except a staff. 00:00:32.120 --> 00:00:36.120 No bread, no bag, no money in your belt. 00:00:36.120 --> 00:00:39.120 Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 00:00:39.120 --> 00:00:43.120 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:49.120 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you 00:00:49.120 --> 00:00:52.120 leave as a testimony against them. 00:00:52.120 --> 00:00:55.120 They went out and preached that people should repent. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:00.119 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:05.120 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:11.120 Some were saying, John the Baptist has been raised from the dead and that is why miraculous powers 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:12.120 are at work in him. 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:14.120 Others said, he is Elijah. 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:20.120 And still others claimed he is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago. 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:26.120 But when Herod heard this, he said, John the man I beheaded has been raised from the dead. 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:32.120 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested and he had him bound and put in prison. 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:38.120 He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:43.120 For John had been saying to Herod, it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:48.120 So Herod, Herod, nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:56.120 But she was not able to because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. 00:01:56.120 --> 00:02:02.120 When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled, yet he liked to listen to him. 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:05.120 Finally, the opportune time came. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:13.120 On his birthday, Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:19.120 When the daughter of Herod came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:24.120 The king said to the girl, ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you. 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:31.120 And he promised her with an oath, whatever you ask, I will give you up to half my kingdom. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:35.120 She went out and said to her mother, what shall I ask for? 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:38.120 The head of John the Baptist, she answered. 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:46.120 At once the girl hurried into the king with the request, I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter. 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:53.120 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:59.120 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:06.120 The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:10.120 He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:16.120 On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:22.120 The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:35.120 Thank you, Sarah. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:38.120 Thank you, Sarah. 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:44.120 Well, please follow in your Bibles this next section of Mark's Gospel. 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:56.120 If any of you have been looking to listen to it on the web, we've had difficulty with the recording, so they haven't been there, but hopefully that will be rectified shortly. 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:01.120 And if you've got questions about any of what we look at this morning, please do talk to me afterwards. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:05.120 It's good to chat through these things together. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:08.120 Well, let's pray as we start. 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:15.120 Again, Father, we are thankful for our freedom to meet here. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:19.120 We are thankful that we have your word in our language. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:27.120 We're not having to listen to it secretly on an MP3, but we can talk about it publicly to one another. 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:46.120 And we thank you that we have your word and we pray that your word would now transform us and change us by your spirit, causing us to have the priorities of Jesus, to live our lives around his plan and his purpose. 00:04:46.120 --> 00:04:55.120 That we would go forward together as your people, as your church, on board with what you are doing in this world. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:05:01.120 Encourage us all this morning and help us to be about your business and your work. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:04.120 We pray it in Jesus' name. 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:05.120 Amen. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:10.120 Well, have you got the vision? 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:14.120 Maybe you're wondering, well, what is it? 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:17.120 Are you a part of the plan? 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:20.120 Do you know what the plan is? 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:29.120 Well, in case we are unsure what the vision is, Mark tells us very clearly at the middle of verse 6. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:31.120 It says there that, 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:35.120 Then Jesus went round teaching from village to village. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:41.120 It's a summary statement of all that Jesus was doing. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:43.120 This is his mission. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:47.120 This is what the vision is all about. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:55.120 Teaching from village to village, bringing the good news from place to place. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:01.120 Now this tells us two things that were central to Jesus and to his ministry. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:08.120 And if they're central to Jesus, they should be central to us as individuals and to us as a church. 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:12.120 We can unpack that very short verse in two ways. 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:15.120 First, that Jesus was word-centered. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:20.120 From the very beginning, we are told what Jesus came to do. 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:29.120 So, Mark chapter 1, verse 14. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:35.120 Mark chapter 1, verse 14. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.120 Here we are told what Jesus came to do. 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:46.120 So, after John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:48.120 The time has come, he said. 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.120 The kingdom of God is near. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:54.120 Repent and believe the good news. 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:55.120 Jesus was God's kingdom. 00:06:55.120 --> 00:07:04.120 Jesus was God's king who has come to renew this broken world, to renew lives, to restore lives. 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:15.120 And the way to be part of this new kingdom that he was coming to establish was to repent and to believe the good news about Jesus Christ. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:24.120 In fact, the only way he tells us that the kingdom is going to grow, the only way the kingdom is going to be established is by that same word. 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:27.120 So, look at Mark chapter 4. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:39.120 Mark chapter 4, which is the parable of the sower. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:45.120 It's his first parable and it's all about the power of God's word. 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:49.120 Chapter 4, verse 14 says, 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:51.120 The farmer sows the word. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:53.120 So, it's all about the word. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:55.120 Verse 20. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:56.120 So, he says, 00:07:56.120 --> 00:08:00.120 Others like seeds sown on good soil hear the word. 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:02.120 They accept the word. 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:07.120 And they produce a crop 30, 60 or even a hundred times what was sown. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:14.120 So, this word, the gospel, the good news about Jesus is what's going to change people and transform people. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:22.120 Jesus did lots of miracles as he went around, but it's only the word that makes us part of the kingdom. 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:26.120 And it's only the word that's going to grow the kingdom. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.120 And the good news is a word. 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:31.120 It's a message that's spoken. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:35.120 It's communicated to people through the things that we say. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:43.120 So, Mark reminds us in chapter 6, verse 6, that Jesus went around teaching. 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:48.120 This was central to who he is and what he did. 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:54.120 But second, Jesus was not only just word-centered, he was mission-centered. 00:08:54.120 --> 00:09:00.120 Again, from the very beginning, we're told that this word must be proclaimed. 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.120 It must be spoken out. 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:06.120 So, go back to chapter 1, verse 38 to 39. 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:10.120 This is following after many people have come to Jesus. 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:16.120 One of the interesting things as you're reading through Mark is that Jesus doesn't go to people to heal. 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:19.120 People come to him to be healed. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:22.120 But Jesus does go to people to teach. 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:27.120 So, many people have been healed and they're coming again to Jesus looking for them. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:32.120 And he says in verse 38 of chapter 1, Jesus replied, 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:38.120 Let us go somewhere else to nearby villages so that I can preach there also. 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:40.120 That is why I have come. 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:47.120 So, he traveled throughout Galilee preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:55.120 Jesus didn't stay in one location expecting that people were going to come to him and find out where he was. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:58.120 No, he went to where the people were. 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:01.120 But not only that, he actually sent people. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:04.120 Go to the very end of the Gospel of Mark. 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:06.120 Chapter 16, verse 15. 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:12.120 We get a little summary there of what he says to his disciples, his parting words. 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:16.120 Chapter 16, verse 15. 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:19.120 He said to them, 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:26.120 Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:31.120 All the world to all people, the good news must go. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.120 So, the good news is a word. 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.120 It's something we say. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.120 It's something we communicate. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.120 It's something we speak. 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:38.120 But it's a missionary word. 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:40.120 It's a good news message. 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:45.120 It's offering hope and salvation and change and transformation. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:50.120 And because it's a missionary word, it's a sent word, it's got to be proclaimed. 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:53.120 It's got to be spoken out. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:11:04.120 And so, Mark reminds us in chapter 6, verse 6, that Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:08.120 And this is what the big vision is all about. 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:10.120 Teaching from village to village. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:13.120 Bringing the good news from place to place. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:16.120 Whether it's here in this community of Karagaline. 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:20.120 Or whether it's to the nation of North Korea. 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:23.120 This is central to Jesus. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:27.120 This is primary for him. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:30.120 And therefore, it must be central for us individually. 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:34.120 And it's central for us as a church. 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:38.120 So, first then, the call to mission. 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:39.120 He's word-centered. 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:40.120 He's mission-centered. 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:44.120 And this dictates to us how we should be as people. 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:45.120 The call to mission. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:52.120 So far as we've been going through Mark's Gospel, the twelve are almost like bystanders. 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:55.120 They're watching Jesus all the time. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:59.120 They're listening to Jesus as he goes about doing what he's doing. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:01.120 They're following along. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.120 And they're there when he does miracles. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:05.120 He's there when he's preaching and teaching. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:08.120 Now, all of a sudden, there's a change in focus. 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:10.120 There's a shift in their responsibility. 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:14.120 So, he says to them in verse 7 of chapter 6, 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:20.120 Calling the twelve to him, he sent them out two by two. 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:29.120 Now, this shouldn't be a surprise for us because all along in Mark, he has been preparing them bit by bit. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:33.120 So, again, go back to chapter 1, verse 17. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:40.120 That the first of the disciples that he called, he says to them, chapter 1, verse 17, 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:45.120 Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I'm going to make you fishers of men. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:47.120 Well, they were fishermen by trade. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:51.120 What does it mean that they were going to be fishermen of people? 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:57.120 Well, look what it says in chapter 3, verse 13. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:00.120 It just expands it a little bit more. 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:02.120 Jesus went up on a mountainside. 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:04.120 This is chapter 3, verse 13. 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:09.120 Jesus went up on a mountainside and he called to him those he wanted. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.120 And they came to him. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:19.120 He appointed twelve, designating them apostles, that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:26.120 And now the time comes for them to actually head out on their own. 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:29.120 Jesus has been preparing them and now they've got to go. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:34.120 So, he calls the twelve to him and he sends them out two by two. 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:36.120 They need to grow up. 00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:39.120 They need to cut the apron strings. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:42.120 It's no longer kind of hanging around Jesus, watching him. 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:45.120 They're now to begin to do it. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:51.120 Because God was never, or Jesus was never in the business of calling people to salvation. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:54.120 He calls people into mission. 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:56.120 Christians are missionary people. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:58.120 That's who we are. 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:03.120 And he calls people and he also sends people. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:11.120 And Jesus realises that in the beginnings of his ministry that there's going to come a time where he's going to return to his Father. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:18.120 And the work must continue and it's going to continue with his disciples as they establish the church. 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:25.120 But it continues on with us, people like you and me, until Jesus Christ returns again. 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:31.120 So, there's this call to mission, to follow on in what Jesus was doing. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:34.120 But how are we going to go about this mission? 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:36.120 Well, three things. 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:41.120 First of all, we go by the authority of Jesus. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.120 Let's look at the rest of verse seven. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:51.120 Calling the twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and he gave them authority over evil spirits. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:15:00.120 This whole idea of mission isn't just thought up in recent days by people who are just like, what are we going to do? 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:07.120 No, this is a call to mission by the authority of King Jesus. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:17.120 Again, through Mark, we've seen that Jesus is introduced to us as one with great power and with supreme authority. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:20.120 Chapter one, verse 27. 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:27.120 This is after he's just been dealing with an evil spirit. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:33.120 It says the people were all so amazed that they asked each other, what is this, a new teaching? 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.120 And I'm with authority. 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:40.120 He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him. 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:44.120 He has authority over evil. 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:57.120 And then in chapter two, verse five, Jesus says to this man who's paralyzed, he saw their faith and he said to the paralytic, son, your sins are forgiven. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:59.120 Verse 10. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:05.120 But that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:09.120 He said to the paralytic, I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:12.120 And he got up and he went home forgiven. 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:27.120 And as we continue to read on through the gospel, we see his authority over nature as he calmed the storms, his authority over the created order, over evil people who are demon possessed and the madman in the graveyard. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:36.120 And his authority over sickness, being able to speak a word into somebody's life and immediately they are healed. 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:44.120 His authority over death itself as he speaks to a little girl of 12 years old, he says to her, I tell you, get up. 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:47.120 And she gets up from death to life. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:56.120 Jesus Christ is presented to us as the supreme king, absolute power, absolute authority. 00:16:56.120 --> 00:17:02.120 And so we today as the church, as his people, go with his authority. 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:11.119 We go as people of the king of the universe sent out into the world to continue on his work. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:20.119 And primarily the authority that we go with is an authority to confront the work of Satan. 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:23.119 Look at verse 7 of chapter 6. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:32.119 Calling the 12, he sent them out two by two and he gave them authority over evil spirits. 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:38.119 We've already learnt in Mark's gospel that Jesus talked about what he was going to do with Satan. 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:45.119 He was going to tie up the strong man, that's how he's referring to him, so that his prisoners could be released. 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:48.119 Jesus was going to do this through his work on the cross. 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:57.119 So as we go out with this gospel word, the simple message of the good news, we release people from his captivity. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:18:01.119 The good news has authority to forgive sins. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:06.119 The good news has authority to set people free from their guilt and shame. 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:11.119 It has authority to deal with God's wrath and his judgment. 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:15.119 It's the means by which people enter the kingdom. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:18.119 It's the means by which the kingdom is going to grow. 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:22.119 So we go not just because of our little ideas or our little plans. 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:30.119 We go because the creator of the universe, the king of kings, the Lord Jesus sends us by his authority. 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:39.119 But we also go independent on Jesus. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:41.119 Look at verse 8. 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:43.119 These were his instructions. 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:57.119 He says, take nothing for the journey except a staff, a stick, no bread, no bag, no money, no credit cards, no belts. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:00.119 Wear sandals, not even an extra tunic. 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:01.119 Travel lights. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:06.119 And whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:18.119 Sometimes we think that for mission to happen, we need to have lots and lots of money and lots and lots of resources, loads of it, before we can do anything. 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:27.119 But here, very simply, we are reminded that what is required for mission is dependent disciples. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:32.119 The principle here is one of trust, not must. 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:42.119 In a time, and we're in this stage right now, where churches are struggling to survive because of money. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:47.119 Mission organizations aren't able to operate because they don't have enough money. 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:56.119 And I think that this has something to say to us today in our present economic struggles as we're trying to work out what can we do. 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.119 We haven't got any money. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:02.119 And we've all got our must list before we can do anything. 00:20:02.119 --> 00:20:04.119 We must have buildings. 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:06.119 We must have better resources. 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:08.119 We must have more full-time staff. 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:10.119 We must have multimedia. 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:11.119 We must have this. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:12.119 We must have that. 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:15.119 We've got to buy all these lots of different things before we can do anything. 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:19.119 The early church didn't have any of these things. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:32.119 The early church was just about ordinary disciples, dependent on Jesus, bringing with them the word of life wherever they went. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:39.119 At a time of the early church where there was great persecution, they were kicked out of their homes. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:41.119 They had to travel to other places. 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:46.119 They did go very light, indeed, because they didn't have anything. 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:48.119 But they brought with them the word of life. 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:57.119 And we read through Acts and we keep getting this summary that everything grew and the church grew and it got bigger and bigger as the people went. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:10.119 And somehow, and I'm not saying that we don't need money, of course we need these things, but we've somehow over-complicated mission when it is actually a very simple method. 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:11.119 It's a very easy thing. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:22.119 Our budgets are sometimes too big and too grand and we operate in ways that are unsustainable and we can't keep going the way that we're going and something has to change. 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:31.119 And I think here a message for us today that dependent disciples going with the word in very simple ways. 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:39.119 And it has implications for us because the message calls people to trust and have faith in Jesus. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:41.119 We say to people, trust in him. 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:46.119 And they see us, the church, trusting in our possessions and in our wealth. 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:49.119 There's a bit of contradiction. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:56.119 But this dependency goes beyond the material things to the spiritual. 00:21:56.119 --> 00:22:00.119 We're dependent on Jesus for spiritual life. 00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:01.119 Look at verse 11. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:13.119 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave as a testimony against them. 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:16.119 So they weren't trying to force people to become Christians. 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:18.119 They knew they couldn't do it. 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:21.119 And our job isn't to make Christians. 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:23.119 I can't make anybody a Christian. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:25.119 You can't make anybody a Christian. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.119 Money can't do that. 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:28.119 We just simply can't. 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:29.119 That's God's job. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:31.119 That's his responsibility. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:37.119 Our job is simply to bring the word in very natural conversations with people. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:43.119 We're dependent on the spirit of Jesus who is the greatest evangelist to change lives. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:51.119 We go in dependence on Jesus materially, but we go in dependence on Jesus spiritually. 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:55.119 He's the one who will change a person's life, not us. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:58.119 We can never convince anybody. 00:22:58.119 --> 00:23:00.119 It's God who does that work. 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:03.119 So we go with the authority of the king. 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:06.119 We go in dependence on Jesus. 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:10.119 And third, we go with the compassion of Jesus. 00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:12.119 Look at verse 12. 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:18.119 They went out and they preached that people should repent. 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:21.119 This is the heart of the gospel. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:26.119 It summarizes the message of Jesus in chapter 1, 14. 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:29.119 Repent and believe the good news. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:35.119 The good news of this great kingdom that Jesus had come to establish, to put all things right, 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:37.119 to restore things and renew things. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:46.119 And Jesus was coming, as we see through Mark, to bring justice, to punish sin, to destroy evil. 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:54.119 But because we have all acted unjustly, because we have all sinned, because we are all born as children of the devil, 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:56.119 we all need to repent. 00:23:56.119 --> 00:24:04.119 They went out and preached that people should repent, because sin is serious. 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:07.119 The consequences of it is hell. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:11.119 Eternal separation from God and his kingdom. 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:19.119 Therefore, in compassion and in love, they went out and called people to repent. 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:27.119 Those who are not yet in the kingdom, calling them to turn to Jesus and to put their trust in him. 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:35.119 They went out with this compassion to see that people would be restored to the Lord Jesus. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:40.119 But again, the compassion is not just with the material. 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:44.119 It extends to our physical lives. 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:45.119 Verse 13. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:53.119 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. 00:24:53.119 --> 00:25:01.119 As we watch Jesus through Mark's Gospel, he acted in word and deed. 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:05.119 He taught, but he touched lives. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:09.119 He called people, but he also cared for people. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:11.119 And his followers are called to do the same. 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:15.119 To reach out to those who are suffering physically. 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:21.119 To reach out to those who are struggling emotionally and mentally. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:26.119 And people within our world are crushed under the weight of their suffering. 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:33.119 And so I think we must learn to be able to pray for one another, for those who are sick. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:35.119 We pray according to God's will. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:41.119 God may heal people and we should pray because he is able to. 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:45.119 But we should also be there to care for those in need. 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:46.119 If they are not healed. 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:48.119 To support them in their weakness. 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:53.119 To gather round and to help in every way that we can. 00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:58.119 And so we go with the compassion of Jesus. 00:25:58.119 --> 00:26:01.119 Teaching them that they should repent. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:03.119 But loving and caring for them. 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:06.119 In their physical and emotional needs. 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:10.119 This is the grand big call to mission. 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:12.119 This is who we are. 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.119 It's in our blood. 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:15.119 It's our DNA. 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:18.119 We say, Christian people are missionary people. 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:22.119 He doesn't call us into salvation. 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:28.119 He calls us into a mission with Him in what He is doing. 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:36.119 But while there is a call to mission, there is also a cost in mission. 00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:40.119 You see we could read from 12 and 13. 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:42.119 Let's just read that there a minute. 00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:45.119 They went out and preached that people should repent. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:49.119 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:50.119 And healed them. 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:52.119 Now jump straight to verse 30. 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:58.119 The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 00:26:58.119 --> 00:27:01.119 It's seamless, isn't it? 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:05.119 They went out from Jesus and now they report back to Jesus. 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:11.119 But we've got this big long story about the death of John the Baptist stuck between. 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:18.119 It's a story that's in a story to highlight something for us. 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:23.119 To highlight for us that there's a cost in mission. 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:28.119 The last time that we heard about John the Baptist was way back in chapter 1. 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:32.119 In chapter 1 verse 14 we're told that John was put in prison. 00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:37.119 Now at some stage between chapter 1 and chapter 6, 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:42.119 and all the historian buffs out there can go and do all the research and find out the exact time, 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:46.119 but somewhere between chapter 1 and chapter 6, John has been killed. 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:47.119 He's been beheaded. 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:58.119 So in verse 14 we read that King Herod, the political ruler of the time, heard about this. 00:27:58.119 --> 00:28:00.119 For Jesus' name had become well known. 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:06.119 He had heard about this activity of the disciples going out and doing lots of different things. 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:11.119 And some were saying that this was happening because John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:15.119 And that's why miraculous powers are at work in him. 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:18.119 Verse 16. 00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:21.119 But when Herod heard this, he said, 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:25.119 John the man I beheaded has been raised from the dead. 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:30.119 So obviously John has already died. 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:35.119 But Mark is only recording it now. 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:38.119 In the middle of the disciples' mission. 00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:43.119 To highlight that being a disciple, being a follower of Jesus is costly. 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:55.119 First, we must be ready to lose our reputation as believers, as followers of Jesus. 00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:58.119 Look at verse 17. 00:28:58.119 --> 00:29:02.119 Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested. 00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:06.119 And he had him bound and put in prison. 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:13.119 He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:18.119 So basically Herod had gone and nicked his brother's wife. 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:23.119 Now let's face it. 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:26.119 We are all people who like to be liked, aren't we? 00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:29.119 None of us here likes to be unpopular. 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:34.119 We want people to be friends with us. 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:39.119 We don't want to be the centre of attention, but we certainly don't want to be unliked. 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:45.119 And the last thing that we want to do is say things that are going to cause people offence, 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:47.119 or people are going to take offence through what we say. 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:50.119 And because of what we said, we're going to be on the outside. 00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:53.119 We don't want to say anything like that. 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:57.119 But John wasn't concerned about his reputation. 00:29:57.119 --> 00:30:00.119 He was concerned about speaking the truth. 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:03.119 So look at what he had to say in verse 18. 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:07.119 The reason why he was put in prison, verse 18, 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:09.119 For John had been saying to Herod, 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:14.119 Herod, he's the political ruler of the day with real powers. 00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:18.119 And he says, it's not lawful for you, Herod, to be nicking your brother's wife. 00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:20.119 You shouldn't have done that. 00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:26.119 You see, there's a design and an order of how we should live in God's world. 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:32.119 And these things were in place not to spoil our fun, but because it's good for us. 00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:35.119 And if we turn against it, it ruins us. 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:37.119 It ruins us as people. 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:41.119 And in this context, in this situation, it's ruining families. 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:43.119 It's breaking up families. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:50.119 And so when you speak the truth about these kinds of things, you lose your reputation. 00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:52.119 Verse 19. 00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:57.119 So Herodias, the wife, nursed a grudge against John. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:59.119 She didn't like what he was saying. 00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:02.119 And she wanted to kill him. 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:08.119 You see, if we speak up about God's design for marriage today, 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:16.119 if we say that God's design for marriage is about a man and a woman living together all the time, 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:22.119 and not about taking other people and all this sort of stuff, 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:25.119 and that God has an order for his family. 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:30.119 And if we speak out to people about that, if we say this is God's design, 00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:32.119 people won't like it. 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:36.119 And we'll risk losing our reputation. 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:42.119 Of course, there are many other things that we could speak about. 00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:48.119 But I think in this context, if God's creation, design, and order for his family is so central, 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:52.119 so foundational, to speak out about it, 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:55.119 we'll lose your reputation. 00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:59.119 But second, we must also be ready to lose our life. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:05.119 You think John would have learnt his lesson, wouldn't you? 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:08.119 John, just behave yourself, okay? 00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:11.119 You're in prison, good behaviour, don't say anything anymore, 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:12.119 and you'll be out in a year. 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:14.119 Maybe you'll do a bit of community service. 00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:16.119 Just don't say anything more, and you'll be out. 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:19.119 But no, he doesn't keep quiet. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:20.119 He doesn't learn his lesson. 00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:25.119 He keeps speaking the gospel, the good news to Herod. 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:27.119 Look at verse 20. 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:30.119 The end of verse 19. 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:36.119 Herodias was unable to because Herod feared John and protected him, 00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:39.119 knowing him to be a righteous and a holy man. 00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:41.119 And when Herod heard John, 00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:45.119 John was teaching the gospel as he heard him, 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:47.119 he was greatly puzzled, 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:49.119 yet he liked to listen to him. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:52.119 This kind of tension of going on in Herod's life, 00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:53.119 that he liked the message, 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:57.119 but it was going to mean drastic changes for his life. 00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:58.119 So he's puzzled. 00:32:58.119 --> 00:33:02.119 He likes it, but what's he going to do with it? 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:06.119 But not everybody was keen to listen to Herod. 00:33:06.119 --> 00:33:07.119 Verse 21. 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:10.119 Finally, the opportune time came. 00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:12.119 On his birthday, 00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:14.119 Herod gave a great banquet for his high officials 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:16.119 and military commanders 00:33:16.119 --> 00:33:18.119 and all the leading men of Galilee. 00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:21.119 The who's who was there. 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:24.119 All well-known people. 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:26.119 A chance for Herod to show off his great wealth 00:33:26.119 --> 00:33:28.119 and his influence and his power. 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:30.119 And they're all invited to celebrate 00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:32.119 in this great big festival, 00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:34.119 his great big party. 00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:36.119 And as part of this party, 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:38.119 the daughter of Herodias, 00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:40.119 from her previous marriage, 00:33:40.119 --> 00:33:43.119 has come in to dance. 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:45.119 Now the translation doesn't say it there, 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:48.119 but it's a very erotic dance. 00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:51.119 And she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. 00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:52.119 And the king said to the girl, 00:33:52.119 --> 00:33:55.119 ask me for anything you want 00:33:55.119 --> 00:33:57.119 and I'll give it to you. 00:33:57.119 --> 00:34:00.119 Whatever you want in my kingdom. 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:02.119 Ask whatever you will. 00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:03.119 Up to half my kingdom 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:05.119 and I will give it to you. 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:06.119 It's all for you. 00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:11.119 Herod has been overcome by what he has seen. 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:14.119 And maybe he said a little bit too much 00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:16.119 than what he really meant to say. 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:20.119 But he's surprised by what she says. 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:23.119 She went out, verse 24, 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:24.119 and said to her mother, 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:26.119 what shall I ask for? 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:31.119 The head of John the Baptist, she answered. 00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:35.119 You see, I think John knew what the cost was 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:38.119 in speaking the good news. 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:40.119 He knew what would happen. 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:44.119 If he kept quiet, he would have saved his life. 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:48.119 But he knew if he spoke up for the truth, 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.119 if he spoke the gospel, 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:52.119 there was a real risk that he would lose his life. 00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:59.119 Maybe it was because he knew what Jesus 00:34:59.119 --> 00:35:00.119 had perhaps said before. 00:35:00.119 --> 00:35:01.119 Look at chapter 8, verse 35. 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:02.119 Chapter 8, verse 35. 00:35:02.119 --> 00:35:03.119 Chapter 8, verse 35. 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:17.119 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:25.119 But whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:29.119 For John, there came a point of no return. 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:32.119 Well, he could shut up if he wanted to 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:36.119 and get out of prison and go and live his life in peace and quiet. 00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:37.119 And nobody would bother him. 00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:42.119 But in some sense, he would lose his life for all eternity. 00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:47.119 But there came a point where he stood for the gospel, 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:50.119 he spoke for the truth, he lost his physical life, 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:54.119 but he gained the kingdom eternal life. 00:35:57.119 --> 00:36:00.119 The cost is immense to be a disciple. 00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:05.119 And earlier we prayed for North Korea, didn't we? 00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:11.119 To preach the gospel in that country will mean certain death. 00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:18.119 In fact, there are 50 countries highlighted as places of real persecution. 00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:23.119 Places like Pakistan, Iran, Burma, China, Turkey. 00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:27.119 In each of those countries, people have lost their lives 00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:31.119 for preaching the good news as they've gone from place to place. 00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:38.119 In Eritrea this week, three more people were killed in a military prison 00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:40.119 because they loved Jesus. 00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:50.119 It's estimated that 150,000, 150,000 Christians 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:54.119 lose their life every year across the world 00:36:55.119 --> 00:36:58.119 because they've read Mark's gospel. 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:01.119 They've preached the good news. 00:37:02.119 --> 00:37:04.119 And they've lost their life to save their life 00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:07.119 and to see others come to Christ. 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:11.119 Mission is costly. 00:37:12.119 --> 00:37:15.119 It's costly here in our own country. 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:18.119 To lose our reputation. 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:20.119 People mightn't like us. 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:23.119 People, we might lose our friends. 00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:26.119 What is it to lose our friends? 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:28.119 To gain eternity. 00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:31.119 It's going to be costly overseas 00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:35.119 if people should go and live another place. 00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:39.119 We've been called on this mission. 00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:43.119 And the invitation for us is to live this mission. 00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:46.119 But to know what the cost is. 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:51.119 To live this mission together for us here today, 00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:54.119 this community, this family, this church here, 00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:56.119 that we would begin to live this mission, 00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.119 to keep on doing what we're doing. 00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:00.119 And I'm so encouraged with what we do. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:03.119 And to keep encouraging each other 00:38:04.119 --> 00:38:06.119 and to keep supporting each other as we disperse 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:08.119 and we go into our community, 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:10.119 we go to our place of work, 00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:12.119 we go to be with our children, 00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:14.119 we go where our families are and our friends, 00:38:14.119 --> 00:38:16.119 and we're living as Christ. 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:18.119 Support each other, 00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:20.119 encourage each other as we do it. 00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:22.119 It's good. 00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:26.119 And let's keep this as the centre of our church. 00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:28.119 Let this be the vision of our church. 00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:30.119 That we are word-centred people, 00:38:31.119 --> 00:38:32.119 that we are mission-centred people. 00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:36.119 And it instructs everything that we do. 00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:40.119 And let's pray that God would equip us 00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:46.119 and enable us to be able to live for Him. 00:38:49.119 --> 00:38:51.119 This is an amazing mission. 00:38:52.119 --> 00:38:54.119 It's a privilege, it's a responsibility, 00:38:55.119 --> 00:38:56.119 that we would be called for Him. 00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:59.119 And we can live it right now with our children, 00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:02.119 with our friends and with our neighbours, 00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.119 with our work colleagues, 00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:07.119 praying that God would give us opportunity 00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:11.119 to speak that good news to people's lives. 00:39:13.119 --> 00:39:14.119 Let's pray together. 00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:28.119 Our Father, we're reminded this morning 00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:30.119 that as we gather here, 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:33.119 that your mission has taken effect. 00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:34.119 We're more than 12 people here. 00:39:34.119 --> 00:39:40.119 And your disciples went out and that word is being spread. 00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:44.119 And across the nations and across the world, 00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:46.119 there are believers everywhere today, 00:39:47.119 --> 00:39:48.119 meeting like we are. 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:52.119 And we're a result of that mission of people speaking to us. 00:39:53.119 --> 00:39:54.119 Maybe our parents, 00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:57.119 maybe somebody within a church youth group 00:39:57.119 --> 00:40:02.119 or somebody somewhere along the line has taught us the good news. 00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:06.119 And we're your disciples, we're your followers today 00:40:07.119 --> 00:40:09.119 because of what they did and what they said. 00:40:10.119 --> 00:40:12.119 And we thank you for them. 00:40:13.119 --> 00:40:17.119 And we pray and we ask that you would encourage us 00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:20.119 to go on living this message, 00:40:21.119 --> 00:40:22.119 live this mission, 00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:24.119 to speak your truth, 00:40:24.119 --> 00:40:25.119 to live your truth. 00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:29.119 Equip us as we go out into our place this week, 00:40:30.119 --> 00:40:31.119 wherever we are. 00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:34.119 Fill us with the power of your Holy Spirit, 00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:39.119 with your authority sent by the authority of the great King, 00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:42.119 sent with your compassion, 00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:46.119 dependent on you to change people's lives. 00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:50.119 And I pray that you will raise up people within this church family, 00:40:51.119 --> 00:40:53.119 that you will send them to other nations. 00:40:54.119 --> 00:40:56.119 And should they lose their life, 00:40:56.119 --> 00:40:58.119 that they would gain it for all eternity. 00:40:58.119 --> 00:41:02.119 Lord, help us in this task. 00:41:03.119 --> 00:41:05.119 Encourage us day by day. 00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:09.119 Build your church here in this community. 00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:11.119 Build your church on this land. 00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:14.119 And see your kingdom grow, we pray. 00:41:15.119 --> 00:41:17.119 In Jesus' name we all pray. 00:41:18.119 --> 00:41:19.119 Amen. 00:41:28.119 --> 00:41:29.119 Amen.