WEBVTT

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 12. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,

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 that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful

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 light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not

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 received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens

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 and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul.

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 Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they

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 may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

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 Thank you. Well, please keep your Bibles open and we're going to pray and ask for God's

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 help. Let's do that now.

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 Father, you have given to us your word, the revelation of who you are, written down, recorded

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 for us and in our own language today. So we thank you for your word, the Bible. And we

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 thank you for your Holy Spirit. For the work he has done in our lives, opening our eyes, opening

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 our hearts to see and understand, not just with our minds, but deeply with our hearts.

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 And so we ask, Father God, that you would speak to us through your word, by your spirit, helping

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 us to become the people you have called us to be. And that we would live our lives in this world

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 as you have called us to live. Father, may each one of us here today be deeply affected by this word,

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 that it would shape us, that it would challenge us, that it would remind us of our amazing salvation

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 and the hope that you have given to us. So Father, thank you for your word, for your spirit.

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 And we ask for your continued help to us now, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 I want to start by asking a couple of questions. No need to shout the answers out, but just think

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 what the answers might be. Here's the first one. Did you come to church today?

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 Are you in church right now?

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 Where will the church be when you go home?

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 In other words, what do you think church is?

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 Well, for many, church is a building you go to, this structure that we're in right now.

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 To other, it's a meeting that you attend on a Sunday morning, such as where we are right now.

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 But as far as the Bible is concerned, that's not church.

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 Have a look back at chapter 2, verse 4.

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 This is what we saw last week.

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 Chapter 2, verse 4.

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 As you come to him, that is, as you come to Jesus, the living stone, that is, the foundation

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 of our lives, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious to him, you also are like

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 living stones and are being built into a spiritual house.

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 So, people who trust in Jesus, people who build their lives on the foundation of Jesus, are the church.

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 As we come to Jesus in faith, we are being built together.

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 Each one of us is like a stone being built into a living house where God lives by his Spirit.

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 So, church is not a place to go to.

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 It's not a meeting that we attend.

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 Church is, if you see on the screen, church is God's chosen people, built together by Jesus,

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 empowered by the Holy Spirit, and called to declare and display Christ to the world.

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 That is amazing.

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 That is who we are.

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 God's chosen people, built together by Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit,

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 and called to declare and display Christ to the world.

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 Three things we are going to think about the church.

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 First, our double identity as the church.

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 Our double identity.

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 First, our identity, number one, we belong to God.

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 Look at verse 9.

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 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.

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 Now, we didn't always belong to God.

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 Once upon a time, we were not a people.

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 Look at verse 10.

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 Once we were not a people.

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 In the Old Testament, there's a prophet by the name of Hosea.

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 We read from it this morning.

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 And God spoke a very clear message to the people through Hosea, using his family.

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 And Hosea had a son.

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 And he called his son Lo-Ami.

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 And Lo-Ami means, you're not my people, and I am not your God.

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 So you could imagine Hosea, Lo-Ami is out running away outside, and Hosea calls him.

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 You're not my people.

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 I'm not your God.

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 The message was clear to the people.

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 Because of your rejection and your rebellion against God,

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 because you've turned away from me and not loved me,

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 you do not belong to me.

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 You're not my people.

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 And Peter, the author here, wants us to see our life like that.

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 Because we too have ignored God.

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 We are not God's people.

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 We do not belong to him.

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 But, let's read verse 10 again.

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 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.

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 Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

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 Mercy is God not treating us as we deserve.

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 In fact, God does the opposite towards us.

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 In love he pursues unfaithful, rebellious people like you and me.

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 And he makes us his people.

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 Listen to those words again from Hosea.

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 What God said to Hosea, to the people.

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 Having said you are not my people, and I am not your God.

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 Here's the promise.

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 Listen to these words again.

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 I will show my love to the one I called not my loved one.

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 I will say to those called not my people, you are my people.

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 And they will say, you are my God.

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 And that wonderful promise was fulfilled when Jesus came and loved us and showed mercy to us.

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 Jesus didn't treat us as we deserve.

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 In fact, Jesus went to the cross to die for us so that people like you and me could become God's very own people.

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 In fact, he goes on to tell us exactly who we are.

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 Look at verse 9.

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 We are God's chosen people.

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 Or if you like, God's chosen race.

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 Verse 9.

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 But you are a chosen people.

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 God has taken nobodies like you and me and made us into his chosen race.

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 Loved from before time began.

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 Gathered from all different kinds of backgrounds and nationalities.

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 And created to be God's very own people.

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 So if you are a Christian here today,

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 you are not European or African or Asian or American.

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 First and foremost, our identity is we are God's chosen race.

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 But we're more than just that.

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 Again, read verse 9.

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 We are God's chosen people.

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 A royal priesthood.

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 Priests, you remember, were primarily responsible for making God known to the people.

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 They spoke on behalf of God to the people.

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 They were like a mediator from God to people.

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 And now he's telling us, guess what?

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 We're a priesthood.

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 From once rejecting God to now people who represent God in the world.

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 We're his royal priesthood.

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 We have been chosen by the creator, the king of the universe,

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 who rules over everyone and everything.

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 And he has chosen us and he has sent us to represent God in the world.

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 His living representatives.

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 So that means we're not students, first and foremost.

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 We're not workers.

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 We're not unemployed.

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 We're not sports players.

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 We're not just mums at home looking after kids.

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 We are a royal priesthood.

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 God's representatives here on earth.

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 A chosen people, a royal priesthood.

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 And let's read verse 9 again.

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 A holy nation.

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 If you've done any kind of travelling,

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 or surely if you've watched the shows on television,

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 you know that every country you go to is different.

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 Different food.

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 Different culture.

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 Different languages.

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 Each nation is distinct from everyone else.

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 And look at what we are.

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 We are a holy nation.

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 Holy means to be distinct.

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 That is, we are different from everybody else.

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 Not by the food we eat.

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 Not by the clothes that we wear.

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 But by our words of truth.

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 By our loving behaviour.

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 Together, corporately, as his people,

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 we are to declare and display the beauty

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 and the goodness of God in the world in which we live.

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 So you see, it's not just about me

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 and my relationship with God

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 and my personal experience with God.

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 It's not about me and God all on our own.

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 We're much bigger and greater than that.

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 We are a holy nation.

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 So I don't know how you came thinking of yourself today.

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 Maybe feeling a little bit down and miserable.

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 Thinking that you're not worth very much.

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 And people don't pay you much attention.

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 Well, look again at your identity

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 if you are trusting Christ.

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 You belong to God.

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 You have been shown mercy.

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 You are a chosen race.

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 A royal priesthood.

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 And a holy nation.

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 But that's not how the world will see God's people.

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 So here's our second identity.

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 And this should be familiar to us

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 as we've gone through 1 Peter.

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 We are strangers in the world.

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 Verse 11.

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 Dear friends, I urge you as aliens

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 and strangers in the world.

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 In the eyes of God,

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 we are royal.

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 We are special.

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 We are holy.

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 We are treasured.

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 But in the eyes of the world,

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 we're nobodies.

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 Outsiders.

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 Shut out.

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 Pushed out.

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 We're strangers.

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 Have a look back at chapter 1, verse 1.

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 Remember how he set out this identity

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 at the very beginning of the letter?

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 To God's elect.

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 God's, yes, you're chosen people,

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 loved by God,

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 but you are strangers

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 in the world.

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 If we belong to God,

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 that means we do not belong to the world.

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 We cannot belong to two things at once.

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 We either belong to God

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 or we belong to the world.

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 One writer put it like this.

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 Christians,

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 if you're living in the world

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 as a Christian today,

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 he says Christians are like immigrants,

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 foreigners,

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 temporary residents,

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 like refugees.

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 We do not belong.

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 We do not have the rights of citizens.

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 We're outsiders.

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 We're living on the edge

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 of the culture.

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 Yes, we are a chosen race,

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 but in the world

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 we are an unwelcome race.

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 Yes, we're a royal priesthood,

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 but in the world

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 we're an unwanted priesthood.

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 Yes, we are a holy nation,

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 but in the world

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 we're an undesirable nation.

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 Don't believe me?

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 Well, if you are a Christian today,

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 if you speak up for the rights

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 of the unborn,

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 if you stand and say,

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 I am pro-life,

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 and if you stand up for Christian values

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 and for truth,

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 you will feel a sense of isolation.

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 You will be pushed out.

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 You will feel a stranger

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 in the world.

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 So you see,

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 we do live with this double identity.

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 We belong to God,

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 but we're strangers.

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 The second thing about church

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 is this,

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 our double calling.

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 And here's our first calling.

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 We have been called out of the world.

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 Let's read verse 9 again.

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 You are a chosen people,

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 a royal priesthood,

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 a holy nation,

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 a people belonging to God,

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 that you may declare

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 the praises of him

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 who did what?

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 Who called you out

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 of darkness.

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 Darkness

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 is a description of life

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 that is under the influence

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 of the world.

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 It's a life

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 without Jesus,

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 where we are trapped

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 and enslaved,

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 without hope,

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 without purpose.

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 So the world

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 will tell us

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 things like this.

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 We've come from nowhere,

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 and guess what?

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 We're going nowhere.

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 We are born,

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 that's if we escape

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 abortion.

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 We die naturally,

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 if we escape

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 euthanasia.

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 It's a life

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 that gives

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 no hope

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 beyond the grave,

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 no purpose

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 to our present existence.

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 It's a life

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 that is utterly

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 dark and empty.

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 But the good news is,

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 Jesus,

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 verse 9,

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 has called us

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 out

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 from darkness

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 into

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 his wonderful light.

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 You see,

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 as we come

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 to Jesus,

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 we discover

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 we do have

00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.339
 a purpose.

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.819
 We are loved

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.960
 and we are chosen

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.519
 before

00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:50.500
 we were ever born.

00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:52.200
 Through Jesus,

00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:52.920
 we discover

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.039
 we do have a hope.

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:55.139
 When we die,

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.359
 we've got an inheritance

00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:58.119
 that can never perish,

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.259
 spoil or fade.

00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:01.440
 Jesus has called us

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.000
 out

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:03.019
 from the darkness

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:04.000
 of this world

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.000
 into

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:07.119
 his wonderful light.

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.359
 Have a look back

00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.339
 at chapter 1,

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.420
 verse 18.

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.960
 Chapter 1,

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:14.700
 verse 18.

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:23.200
 For you know

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.000
 that it was not

00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.539
 with perishable things

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.539
 such as silver

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.360
 or gold

00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:28.860
 that you were

00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:29.539
 redeemed

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.380
 from the

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:31.500
 empty

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.400
 way

00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.480
 of life.

00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:34.940
 That's the darkness,

00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.100
 the empty way

00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:36.580
 of life.

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.380
 We've been

00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:38.620
 redeemed from it.

00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:41.279
 We have been

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:41.779
 redeemed,

00:18:41.899 --> 00:18:42.659
 verse 19,

00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.639
 with the precious

00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.739
 blood of Christ,

00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.439
 the Lamb,

00:18:45.959 --> 00:18:46.899
 without blemish

00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:48.099
 or defect.

00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:49.759
 Christ,

00:18:49.919 --> 00:18:50.859
 the perfect one,

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.559
 has rescued us

00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.599
 from the empty

00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:54.359
 darkness

00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:56.039
 and has brought us

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.979
 into his

00:18:56.979 --> 00:18:58.279
 beautiful light,

00:18:58.679 --> 00:18:59.500
 bringing meaning

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.359
 and purpose

00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:01.439
 and filling

00:19:01.439 --> 00:19:02.139
 our lives

00:19:02.139 --> 00:19:03.159
 with hope.

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:05.960
 But that's just

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:06.560
 one side

00:19:06.560 --> 00:19:07.240
 of our calling.

00:19:08.060 --> 00:19:08.620
 We've been

00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:09.380
 called out

00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:10.060
 of the world

00:19:10.060 --> 00:19:12.800
 but we have

00:19:12.800 --> 00:19:13.720
 also been

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:15.420
 sent back

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:16.019
 into

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:17.160
 the world.

00:19:18.300 --> 00:19:19.080
 Look at

00:19:19.080 --> 00:19:19.759
 verse 11.

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.519
 Dear friends,

00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.440
 I urge you

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.660
 as aliens

00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:25.940
 and strangers,

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:27.860
 whereabouts

00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:28.380
 are they?

00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:30.320
 In

00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:31.640
 the world.

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.320
 Living life

00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:34.920
 as a Christian

00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.620
 in this world

00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:36.440
 is tough.

00:19:36.580 --> 00:19:37.320
 It is hard.

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.720
 To speak out

00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.680
 for Christian truth,

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:40.680
 to stand up

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.680
 for Christian values,

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.660
 means we will

00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.440
 not always be

00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:43.840
 liked.

00:19:44.860 --> 00:19:45.740
 And in an effort

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.420
 to try and

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.540
 protect ourselves,

00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:48.740
 what we do

00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.620
 is we retreat

00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:50.940
 into our nice,

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:51.800
 safe,

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.100
 Christian ghetto.

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.720
 We surround

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.600
 ourselves with

00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:56.300
 people who

00:19:56.300 --> 00:19:57.340
 believe the

00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:58.040
 same things

00:19:58.040 --> 00:19:58.940
 and think

00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.800
 the same way.

00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.220
 We hide

00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:01.840
 behind the

00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:02.460
 comfort of

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:02.900
 our own

00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:04.200
 Christian faith,

00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:05.620
 surrounding

00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:06.500
 ourselves with

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.740
 Christian friends.

00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:09.280
 We live in

00:20:09.280 --> 00:20:09.780
 the world

00:20:09.780 --> 00:20:10.940
 of Christian

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.460
 Facebook

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.140
 where we

00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:13.700
 like Christian

00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.460
 friends but

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.880
 unlike those

00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:16.560
 who do not

00:20:16.560 --> 00:20:17.080
 believe.

00:20:18.040 --> 00:20:18.560
 And we

00:20:18.560 --> 00:20:19.740
 just live

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.280
 in our own

00:20:20.280 --> 00:20:21.060
 little bubble.

00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.300
 But that's

00:20:23.300 --> 00:20:23.700
 wrong.

00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.200
 That's wrong.

00:20:26.280 --> 00:20:27.220
 The point is

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.880
 there is nothing

00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:29.320
 private about

00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:30.220
 our Christian

00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:30.660
 faith.

00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:31.700
 Look at

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.380
 verse 12.

00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.620
 Live such

00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:36.580
 good lives

00:20:36.580 --> 00:20:38.299
 among

00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:40.140
 the pagans,

00:20:41.080 --> 00:20:41.860
 around about

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.860
 with the

00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:43.640
 people who

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.200
 do not

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:45.140
 yet believe.

00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.220
 Live your

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.259
 life amongst

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.519
 them.

00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:48.860
 Work there.

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:49.900
 Live there.

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:50.980
 Play there.

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.059
 Jesus has

00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.880
 rescued us

00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.740
 from the

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.559
 world and

00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:55.960
 now he

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.519
 sends us

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.580
 back into

00:20:57.580 --> 00:20:58.539
 the world.

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.659
 We are

00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:00.839
 the light

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:02.359
 that goes

00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:03.539
 into the

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.019
 darkness.

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.399
 You see,

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.119
 through Jesus

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.759
 we have been

00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.659
 changed and

00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:10.059
 transformed and

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:10.559
 we are to

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.059
 bring that

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:11.819
 hope with

00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.960
 us back

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.200
 to the

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.579
 world.

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.839
 Have a look

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.259
 with me,

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:18.599
 please.

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.200
 Keep your

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.059
 finger in

00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:21.940
 1 Peter and

00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:22.500
 just go back

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.159
 to Matthew's

00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:23.559
 Gospel.

00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:23.619
 Gospel.

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:24.940
 Matthew

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.919
 chapter 5.

00:21:26.919 --> 00:21:27.539
 It's on

00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:29.839
 page 968.

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.899
 968.

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.319
 Remember what

00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.240
 Jesus said to

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:41.159
 his disciples?

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:43.700
 Matthew

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.619
 chapter 5.

00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:45.639
 Sorry,

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.799
 it's 969.

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.200
 We're going to

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.659
 read from

00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:49.919
 verse 14.

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:54.940
 Matthew 5

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.759
 verse 14.

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.860
 What does

00:21:57.860 --> 00:21:58.480
 he say of

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.019
 the church,

00:21:59.140 --> 00:21:59.680
 his people?

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.460
 You are

00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.560
 the light

00:22:02.560 --> 00:22:03.900
 of the

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:04.220
 world.

00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:05.920
 We're like

00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.600
 a city

00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:08.240
 on a hill

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.900
 that cannot

00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:09.420
 be hidden.

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.300
 Our light

00:22:10.300 --> 00:22:11.100
 is shining

00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:11.680
 for all

00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.140
 to see.

00:22:13.840 --> 00:22:14.300
 Neither

00:22:14.300 --> 00:22:15.039
 do people

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.820
 light a

00:22:15.820 --> 00:22:16.279
 lamp and

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:16.620
 put it

00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.060
 under a

00:22:17.060 --> 00:22:17.320
 bowl.

00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:18.700
 That's

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.200
 kind of

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.900
 to retreat

00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.640
 into our

00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.460
 own safe

00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:22.000
 Christian

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.400
 ghetto.

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.460
 Instead,

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.080
 they put

00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:24.380
 it on

00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:25.180
 its stand

00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.840
 and it

00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:26.360
 gives light

00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:27.220
 to everyone

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:27.640
 in the

00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:27.900
 house.

00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:28.500
 In other

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:28.700
 words,

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.000
 we are

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.319
 to live

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:29.799
 our lives

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:31.039
 out in

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.559
 the world.

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.259
 In the

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.920
 same way,

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.680
 verse 16,

00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:34.660
 let your

00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.779
 light shine

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.840
 before men

00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:37.360
 and women

00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.120
 that they

00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:38.880
 may see

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.660
 your good

00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.299
 deeds

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:42.259
 and praise

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.360
 your Father

00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.660
 in heaven.

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:48.620
 we have

00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:49.340
 been rescued

00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:50.019
 from the

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.720
 world of

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.240
 darkness.

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.100
 Now we

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:53.580
 are sent

00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:54.500
 back into

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.080
 the world

00:22:55.080 --> 00:22:55.600
 as his

00:22:55.600 --> 00:22:56.580
 lights to

00:22:56.580 --> 00:22:57.660
 shatter the

00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.140
 darkness,

00:22:59.060 --> 00:22:59.720
 to bring

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:01.400
 hope and

00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:01.740
 to bring

00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.200
 life.

00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.080
 So,

00:23:05.800 --> 00:23:07.279
 our double

00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:07.900
 identity,

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:10.180
 we belong

00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:10.820
 to God,

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.660
 but yet we're

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.840
 strangers in

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.399
 this world.

00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:16.119
 Our double

00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.579
 calling,

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.439
 we've been

00:23:17.439 --> 00:23:18.419
 rescued out

00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:18.759
 of the

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.679
 world and

00:23:19.679 --> 00:23:21.019
 now we

00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.379
 have been

00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:22.119
 sent back

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:23.459
 into the

00:23:23.459 --> 00:23:23.759
 world.

00:23:25.679 --> 00:23:26.799
 And third,

00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.379
 our double

00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:28.819
 mission.

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.279
 First,

00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:33.220
 we are to

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:34.639
 declare Jesus

00:23:34.639 --> 00:23:36.480
 through our

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:38.199
 words to

00:23:38.199 --> 00:23:38.799
 the world.

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.480
 Declare

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.399
 Jesus through

00:23:40.399 --> 00:23:41.679
 our words to

00:23:41.679 --> 00:23:42.139
 the world.

00:23:42.959 --> 00:23:43.379
 Look at

00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:43.980
 verse 9.

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:46.100
 You're a

00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:46.940
 chosen people,

00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:47.840
 a royal

00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.420
 priesthood,

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:48.860
 a holy

00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:49.320
 nation,

00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:50.140
 a people

00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.940
 belonging to

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.220
 God.

00:23:51.540 --> 00:23:52.220
 You've got a

00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.560
 purpose,

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.060
 you've got a

00:23:54.060 --> 00:23:54.400
 mission,

00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.420
 you have been

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:56.240
 chosen by

00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.000
 God to do

00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.360
 what?

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:57.860
 Look at the

00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:58.340
 end of verse

00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:58.680
 9.

00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.740
 That you

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:01.100
 may declare

00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:02.300
 the praises

00:24:02.300 --> 00:24:03.280
 of him who

00:24:03.280 --> 00:24:04.040
 called you

00:24:04.040 --> 00:24:04.480
 out of

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.560
 darkness and

00:24:05.560 --> 00:24:06.480
 into his

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.060
 wonderful

00:24:07.060 --> 00:24:07.960
 light.

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:10.480
 The story

00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:10.940
 of our

00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:12.020
 new identity

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.900
 and our

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.839
 new calling

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.680
 is an

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:16.139
 amazing story

00:24:16.139 --> 00:24:17.160
 to tell.

00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:18.900
 We are,

00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:19.579
 verse 9,

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.660
 to declare

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.940
 the praises

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.920
 of him.

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.279
 We are to

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.480
 point to

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:25.920
 Jesus.

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.500
 We are to

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.160
 point to

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.059
 God and

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:30.079
 tell and

00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.920
 show people

00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:32.420
 the incredible

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.740
 and amazing

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:35.000
 life-changing

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.980
 work that

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.660
 God has

00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.480
 done in

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.200
 our lives

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:38.920
 and can be

00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.660
 done in

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.460
 your life.

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.880
 To tell

00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:42.640
 the story

00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.019
 of how

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.560
 God has

00:24:43.560 --> 00:24:44.420
 loved us

00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:45.480
 and chosen

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.259
 us and

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.820
 made us

00:24:46.820 --> 00:24:47.500
 his royal

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.240
 priesthood.

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.160
 How he's

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:49.560
 taken

00:24:49.560 --> 00:24:50.300
 nobodies

00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:50.920
 like you

00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.420
 and me,

00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.220
 rebels

00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:52.980
 living in

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.680
 the emptiness

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.220
 of this

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.140
 dark world

00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:55.920
 and made

00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.360
 us his

00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:57.300
 holy nation.

00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.040
 How he

00:24:58.040 --> 00:24:58.540
 has given

00:24:58.540 --> 00:24:59.040
 us a

00:24:59.040 --> 00:24:59.740
 living hope

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.700
 and inheritance

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.320
 that can

00:25:01.320 --> 00:25:02.100
 never perish,

00:25:02.300 --> 00:25:03.400
 spoil or fade.

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.460
 We are here

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.320
 to tell the

00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:06.300
 story of

00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:06.900
 how God

00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.840
 rescues us

00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.659
 from darkness

00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:09.859
 and brings

00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:10.619
 us into

00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:11.779
 his wonderful

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.339
 light.

00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:17.879
 I've heard

00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:18.419
 a phrase,

00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:19.099
 maybe you've

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.519
 heard this

00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:19.839
 too.

00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.339
 People often

00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:21.980
 quote it.

00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:23.559
 Always

00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:25.000
 preach the

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:27.139
 gospel and

00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:28.059
 if necessary

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:29.579
 use words.

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.159
 Always

00:25:31.159 --> 00:25:31.740
 preach the

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.799
 gospel and

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.599
 if necessary

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:35.099
 use words.

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.199
 Well,

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.819
 whoever said

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.139
 it,

00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:38.680
 is wrong

00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:40.360
 because the

00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:40.860
 good news

00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:41.600
 about Jesus

00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.980
 is a

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.380
 word.

00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:44.320
 We need

00:25:44.320 --> 00:25:45.000
 to use

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.900
 our words.

00:25:46.020 --> 00:25:46.259
 We are

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.160
 to declare

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.040
 the truth

00:25:48.040 --> 00:25:48.680
 about God

00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.460
 because it

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.040
 is his

00:25:50.040 --> 00:25:50.500
 word,

00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:51.160
 the word

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:51.700
 of God

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.440
 that changes

00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.100
 lives.

00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:54.120
 Look back

00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:54.540
 at chapter

00:25:54.540 --> 00:25:55.160
 1 verse

00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:55.840
 23.

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.860
 Chapter

00:25:58.860 --> 00:25:59.440
 1 verse

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.080
 23.

00:26:01.320 --> 00:26:02.340
 He tells

00:26:02.340 --> 00:26:02.940
 us that we

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.320
 have been

00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:04.080
 born again.

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:04.580
 This is

00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.220
 this new

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.600
 life,

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.200
 this new

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.540
 hope,

00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.159
 this new

00:26:07.159 --> 00:26:07.599
 beginning.

00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:08.920
 We have

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.460
 been born

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:09.920
 again,

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.559
 not of

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.079
 perishable

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.500
 seed,

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.119
 but of

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.920
 imperishable.

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:13.480
 How?

00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.500
 Through the

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.639
 living and

00:26:15.639 --> 00:26:16.259
 enduring

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:18.259
 word of

00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:18.680
 God.

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.920
 You see,

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.420
 when the

00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.019
 word of

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.279
 God,

00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:21.839
 the good

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.460
 news about

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:22.859
 Jesus,

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.639
 is told

00:26:23.639 --> 00:26:24.440
 and declared,

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.579
 God by

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.299
 his spirit

00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:27.779
 changes lives

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:29.019
 and transforms

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.920
 lives.

00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:32.420
 Ephesians

00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.539
 number 16.

00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:33.980
 Now,

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.340
 I know

00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:34.700
 that's

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:36.539
 hard because

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.080
 I find

00:26:37.080 --> 00:26:37.600
 it hard.

00:26:38.120 --> 00:26:39.220
 It's hard

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.700
 to talk

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:39.980
 about

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.580
 Jesus when

00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:41.240
 people don't

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.779
 want to

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.100
 listen.

00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.460
 That's

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:43.880
 why on

00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.920
 Wednesdays,

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:45.920
 as our

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.840
 study together,

00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:48.000
 we're looking

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:49.180
 at how to

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.820
 talk about

00:26:49.820 --> 00:26:50.779
 Jesus even

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.380
 when it's

00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:51.740
 tough.

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.740
 Because it

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.460
 is tough.

00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:57.380
 and together we're sharing with each other,

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.440
 we're learning together,

00:26:58.660 --> 00:27:01.500
 we're encouraging each other to talk about Jesus.

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:04.920
 And it's been exciting to hear the stories of people

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.420
 as they've come on a Wednesday

00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:09.160
 and tell us how they've gotten on in work,

00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.799
 how they got on with this friend

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:17.460
 and how people are declaring the story of Jesus.

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:23.440
 So, declare Jesus through our words.

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:28.940
 And display Jesus through our lives to the world.

00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:31.319
 That's the second part of our mission.

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:33.880
 Look at verse 12, chapter 2, verse 12.

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:42.539
 Live such good lives among those who are not yet believers

00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:45.620
 that though they accuse you of doing wrong,

00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:49.380
 they may see your good deeds

00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:53.180
 and glorify God on the day he visits us.

00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:55.420
 Words are necessary,

00:27:55.880 --> 00:28:00.420
 but our lives must match what we talk about.

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.880
 Let me put it this way.

00:28:03.820 --> 00:28:05.880
 People need to see the gospel

00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:09.560
 as well as hear the gospel.

00:28:10.340 --> 00:28:12.480
 We say, God is love.

00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:17.400
 Well then let's love the refugee who is isolated and alone.

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:20.400
 You say, Jesus forgives?

00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:23.280
 Well then don't hold any grudges

00:28:23.280 --> 00:28:25.060
 and forgive your brother and sister.

00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:26.980
 Again.

00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:30.160
 You say, God gave his life?

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:34.680
 Then give your life sacrificially for the service of others.

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:37.900
 You say, Jesus accepts us?

00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:41.360
 Then welcome others and don't condemn them.

00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:46.179
 If we're wanting people to hear the good news of Jesus,

00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:50.879
 then our very lives must reflect and display the beauty of Jesus

00:28:50.879 --> 00:28:52.359
 to those around us.

00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:54.959
 People are much more likely going to listen

00:28:54.959 --> 00:28:56.899
 and they're going to ask questions

00:28:56.899 --> 00:29:01.459
 if our life looks like the message that we're seeking to tell.

00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:05.200
 That's why, verse 11,

00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:07.140
 he says,

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.680
 I urge you, dear friends,

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:11.039
 I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world

00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:14.720
 to abstain from sinful desires

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:16.299
 which war against your soul.

00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:18.600
 Sinful natures.

00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.799
 It makes us selfish.

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:23.259
 It puts barriers between us and people.

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:25.140
 And if it's not dealt with,

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:27.420
 it will turn people away from Jesus.

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:30.039
 Our behaviour in public,

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:32.279
 our ways in private,

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.920
 have an effect on people.

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:38.580
 Rather than display the beauty of Jesus,

00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:41.140
 we'll just display the ugliness of our hearts.

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:44.320
 That is why there is a battle going on.

00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:46.880
 A war in our souls

00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:49.400
 to fight against our sinful nature

00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:53.240
 so that we display the beauty of Jesus

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.820
 to the world.

00:29:57.420 --> 00:30:01.140
 In the first century,

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:04.420
 just after this letter was written,

00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:08.960
 it was really tough to be a Christian.

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:13.720
 It was illegal to be a Christian.

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.420
 Ordinary believers,

00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:17.960
 just like you and me,

00:30:18.060 --> 00:30:20.100
 put yourself back into the first century,

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.539
 didn't have a Bible,

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:24.000
 didn't have one of these that you have in your lap.

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:26.300
 Most people couldn't read.

00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:30.399
 There were a few letters that Paul had

00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:32.720
 and bits of scripture that others had

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.899
 that were passed around.

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:37.159
 They didn't have church buildings to go to,

00:30:37.419 --> 00:30:40.559
 not even a grand sports hall like this.

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.680
 No worship groups.

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:46.539
 No projectors.

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:50.299
 No Christianity Explored courses.

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:53.799
 No tracts or booklets to give to people.

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:59.519
 They just had people like you and me

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:02.339
 meeting together,

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:04.180
 gathering together,

00:31:04.659 --> 00:31:06.659
 living their lives together.

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.279
 And amazingly,

00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:10.139
 the church grew

00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:13.259
 and people became followers of Jesus.

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:18.359
 How did that happen with such few resources?

00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.000
 People,

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.500
 the Word of God

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:23.019
 and the Spirit of God

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.180
 working together?

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:27.319
 How did it all happen?

00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:30.000
 Well, they got their new identity,

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:33.279
 that they were God's loved and chosen people.

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:35.440
 They understood their new calling,

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:37.200
 that they were sent into the world

00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:38.879
 as God's royal priesthood.

00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:40.780
 They were a holy nation.

00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:43.520
 God's representatives.

00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:46.160
 And they understood their new mission

00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:47.380
 as they went about.

00:31:47.540 --> 00:31:49.260
 They talked about Jesus

00:31:49.260 --> 00:31:52.080
 and their lives reflected Jesus

00:31:52.080 --> 00:31:53.620
 as they loved people

00:31:53.620 --> 00:31:56.300
 and cared for people.

00:31:56.299 --> 00:32:01.220
 It seems so simple,

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:01.919
 doesn't it?

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:04.879
 And the reality is,

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:07.359
 we can all do that too.

00:32:08.379 --> 00:32:10.000
 And what encourages me,

00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:12.180
 and I guess it encourages you too,

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:14.299
 is that many people here

00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:17.940
 are doing this already together.

00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:20.600
 to hear your stories

00:32:20.600 --> 00:32:22.120
 of how you go about

00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:23.320
 your day-to-day lives

00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:24.600
 when you go into college,

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:26.420
 when you're going into work,

00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.820
 to hear of mums

00:32:27.820 --> 00:32:29.860
 who are telling the story

00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:31.440
 of Christ to their children,

00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:33.460
 of making the effort

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:35.019
 to put yourself into

00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:37.519
 a tough place

00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:39.559
 where you talk about Jesus.

00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:43.360
 And as you go about your lives

00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:44.539
 loving your neighbours,

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.960
 loving your friends,

00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:48.279
 even when they don't even recognise it,

00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:50.160
 even when they slag you off,

00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:52.880
 even when things go wrong,

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:56.120
 you're doing it.

00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:59.940
 And so our encouragement together is,

00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:01.400
 rather than run away

00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:04.019
 and hide into our safe Christian ghetto

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:06.640
 and into that nice little cosy bubble

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:08.240
 where we surround our friends

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.779
 with our nice worship songs

00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:11.539
 and our nice readings

00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:13.880
 and our nice Christian friends,

00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:17.260
 we just go out into the darkness.

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:20.820
 We are the light of God,

00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:22.520
 shattering the darkness,

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:24.060
 bringing the hope,

00:33:24.860 --> 00:33:26.200
 bringing the life.

00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:29.440
 And when we live like this,

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:31.980
 look at the end of verse 12,

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:37.740
 they will see your good deeds

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:40.559
 and glorify God

00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:43.220
 on the day he visits us.

00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:44.819
 You know what?

00:33:44.860 --> 00:33:47.039
 You mightn't see huge changes now,

00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:49.440
 but there's a promise

00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:51.880
 and take it away with you

00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:54.299
 that on the day Christ returns

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:56.940
 because of your mission,

00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:59.420
 because of your declaring of Christ,

00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:01.820
 because of your displaying of Christ,

00:34:02.080 --> 00:34:03.259
 there will be people

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:04.740
 that you would have impacted

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:09.519
 and they will be glorifying Christ with you

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:11.340
 and they will share

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:13.139
 in that eternal inheritance

00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:15.680
 forever and forever.

00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:20.679
 We're not ordinary people.

00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:23.199
 We're a royal priesthood

00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:26.739
 filled with the power of God's Holy Spirit

00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:29.960
 sent to declare and display Christ

00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:31.179
 to the world.

00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:34.599
 May God give us grace

00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:37.799
 to be his chosen people.

00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:38.659
 Let's pray.

00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:38.739
 Amen.

00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:38.799
 Amen.

00:34:38.799 --> 00:34:38.839
 Amen.

00:34:38.839 --> 00:34:38.859
 Amen.

00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:56.759
 Father, would you please help us

00:34:56.759 --> 00:34:58.719
 to, as it were,

00:34:58.879 --> 00:35:02.679
 block out the voices of the world

00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:05.019
 that tell us

00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:07.359
 that we're nobodies,

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.639
 that we have nothing,

00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:10.259
 that we are nothing.

00:35:11.339 --> 00:35:13.460
 Help us to listen to the clear,

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:16.280
 crystal voice of God

00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:19.599
 to be reminded again

00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:20.639
 of our identity,

00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:24.679
 that we are God's chosen people,

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:28.300
 his holy nation,

00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:32.900
 rescued from the emptiness

00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:34.639
 and darkness,

00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:38.880
 called into his beautiful light,

00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:40.880
 given hope,

00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:42.079
 given meaning,

00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:43.440
 given purpose.

00:35:46.299 --> 00:35:47.219
 Help us.

00:35:47.639 --> 00:35:48.779
 Fill us with your Spirit

00:35:48.779 --> 00:35:50.099
 that we, this week,

00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:52.900
 may declare your truth.

00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:56.779
 And that we would so fight

00:35:56.779 --> 00:35:58.619
 the sin in our lives

00:35:58.619 --> 00:36:00.199
 that we would display

00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:01.639
 the beauty of Christ

00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:03.119
 from our lives.

00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:06.159
 And we pray this,

00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:08.259
 that people,

00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:10.059
 our friends,

00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:10.779
 our family,

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.820
 our loved ones,

00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:14.700
 will glorify Christ,

00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:16.640
 will love him

00:36:16.640 --> 00:36:18.440
 and worship him

00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:21.840
 the day Christ returns.

00:36:24.740 --> 00:36:26.060
 Father, do your work,

00:36:26.140 --> 00:36:26.560
 we pray.

00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:28.600
 In Jesus' name.

00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:30.280
 Amen.

00:36:34.560 --> 00:36:36.220
 We're going to sing together.

00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:36.259
 Father,

00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:40.099
 you're the word of God the Father,

00:36:40.419 --> 00:36:42.319
 which tells the story

00:36:42.319 --> 00:36:43.759
 of God's amazing love

00:36:43.759 --> 00:36:44.939
 who reached down

00:36:44.939 --> 00:36:46.339
 into our world.

00:36:46.699 --> 00:36:48.679
 He didn't stay away

00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:49.459
 from the world.

00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:51.899
 He came into the world,

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:53.039
 into the darkness,

00:36:53.219 --> 00:36:53.980
 to be light.

00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:54.980
 Nope