WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.760 So let's read John chapter 17, starting at verse 1. 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:09.700 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, 00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:12.640 Father, the hour has come. 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:17.059 Glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify you. 00:00:17.539 --> 00:00:24.640 Since you have given him authority over all flesh to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:34.539 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:40.560 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:50.159 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:56.479 I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. 00:00:57.539 --> 00:01:02.579 Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 00:01:03.859 --> 00:01:07.840 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:12.699 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them, 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:19.620 and have come to know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:22.420 I am praying for them. 00:01:23.420 --> 00:01:28.959 I am not praying for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 00:01:30.179 --> 00:01:35.560 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 00:01:36.259 --> 00:01:41.340 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:51.700 Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:57.040 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. 00:01:57.040 --> 00:02:05.400 I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, that the scripture might be fulfilled. 00:02:06.600 --> 00:02:14.379 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 00:02:14.379 --> 00:02:23.599 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:30.900 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 00:02:32.139 --> 00:02:35.479 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 00:02:35.479 --> 00:03:03.799 I do not ask for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:14.880 just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 00:03:16.140 --> 00:03:21.980 The glory that you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one. 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:30.640 I in them, and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me, 00:03:30.640 --> 00:03:33.720 and loved them, even as you loved me. 00:03:33.800 --> 00:03:42.680 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, 00:03:43.260 --> 00:03:49.540 to see my glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:57.580 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, 00:03:57.580 --> 00:04:00.219 and these know that you have sent me. 00:04:00.940 --> 00:04:05.640 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, 00:04:06.040 --> 00:04:10.800 that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. 00:04:11.220 --> 00:04:12.340 That's the word of the Lord. 00:04:12.340 --> 00:04:15.860 Okay. 00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:19.540 We're eight weeks into a nine-week series, 00:04:20.840 --> 00:04:26.620 considering how we experience God's sovereignty, God's power, in our salvation. 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:31.439 I just want to recap a little bit before we jump into the question this morning, 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:39.079 because I think it's important to remind ourselves that as we've looked at this whole issue of experiencing God's power and salvation, 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:42.639 we've been swept away by the language of salvation. 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:50.300 We've seen that the nature and extent of sin leaves a person in a totally hopeless situation before God. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:53.800 But then the language of salvation sweeps in. 00:04:53.979 --> 00:04:58.120 God takes the initiative in his love, in his mercy. 00:04:59.039 --> 00:05:01.519 He initiates our salvation. 00:05:01.699 --> 00:05:05.639 He initiates everything that's required to bring us back into good relationship with himself. 00:05:06.500 --> 00:05:08.740 Very powerful, compelling language. 00:05:08.740 --> 00:05:16.780 And all of that effort on God's part is received by us as pure grace. 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:20.019 That's another word of salvation. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:24.040 It's something that we're so totally contrary to what we deserve. 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:31.480 And we've been reminded, as we work through what are commonly called the doctrines of grace, 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:41.080 we've been reminded that salvation from start to finish is due to God's actions, powerful actions for us and in us. 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:54.319 And we saw last week that God's golden chain of salvation with inseparable links that speaks so much of security and completeness 00:05:54.319 --> 00:06:00.000 and the fact that God's got us, at no point are we left to our own resources. 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:03.659 That's so lovely, that language, isn't it? 00:06:04.099 --> 00:06:05.180 So reassuring. 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:11.699 In Romans 8 and 29, we saw last week that God, at the start, God determines who will be saved. 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:14.500 Then he acts decisively to save them. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:20.040 Then he guarantees that a saved people will make it all the way home to heaven, 00:06:20.400 --> 00:06:22.480 where we'll be with Jesus and we'll be like Jesus. 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:27.699 It's just incredible as that language just sweeps over us. 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:37.259 Yet, and this is something I find is really incredible, yet incredibly, for many believers, 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:46.180 God's golden chain of salvation is not a cause to praise him, to praise him for his grace. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:49.060 It's not something they find wonderful assurance in, 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:55.319 but in actual fact, for so many Christians, that has been the cause of angry division 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:59.579 and separation within Christian communities. 00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:07.740 It's actually been the cause of some Christians to doubt God's character and God's goodness. 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:16.040 It just seems so counterintuitive to have the language of grace and love and mercy 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:19.620 and to end up really thinking that God's not good. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:21.480 Oof. 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:27.439 I think I'm starting to sound like Dave Bott just in the way I said that, didn't I? 00:07:28.840 --> 00:07:30.780 He's channeling me from on holidays. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:36.740 Okay, so in response to that, we've been addressing some of the common questions 00:07:36.740 --> 00:07:41.079 posed in response to God's absolute sovereignty and salvation. 00:07:41.300 --> 00:07:43.379 And this morning, the question is, as Matt introduced us, 00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:47.400 does God's absolute sovereignty or power, 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:53.019 does that make evangelism and prayer for us as Christians pointless? 00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:00.939 Since God has already set his love upon specific individuals, 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:03.819 since he's already marked them out for salvation, 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:06.719 and since only those ones will be saved, 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:11.040 then what is the point of me evangelizing? 00:08:11.099 --> 00:08:14.879 What is the point of me praying for the salvation of people in general 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.980 or a specific person in particular? 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:23.579 And as Matt rightly said, it's a big question. 00:08:23.659 --> 00:08:25.980 All these questions we've been dealing with are big questions. 00:08:27.659 --> 00:08:29.139 Now, I want to push this in four directions. 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:30.959 Well, it's not actually four directions. 00:08:31.099 --> 00:08:33.220 I want to sort of step through this in four steps. 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:34.879 There might well be other steps. 00:08:34.939 --> 00:08:35.860 I just couldn't think of them. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:39.039 You might come up with a better answer than I've got this morning. 00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:42.639 But it is what it is, and you can deal with me afterwards. 00:08:43.319 --> 00:08:45.699 The first step I wanted to take is to say this. 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:51.600 We need to recognize that there is no ultimately satisfying answer 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.460 in any of these questions about God 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:56.720 and God's action and salvation. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:03.940 We can go so far in philosophical analysis, 00:09:04.779 --> 00:09:08.560 but inevitably we'll come to a point where we can't go any further, 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:10.899 and there'll still be a point we just don't understand. 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:15.899 And because of that, it's really important 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:19.660 to be aware of our presuppositions and assumptions 00:09:19.660 --> 00:09:22.660 that we might bring to any of these questions 00:09:22.660 --> 00:09:24.960 regarding God's absolute sovereignty. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:27.040 Now, here's the point, you see. 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:31.960 I think we're victims of our so-called scientific, 00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:34.960 evidence-based culture. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:36.560 That's what we hear all the time. 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:38.879 And it runs like this. 00:09:39.040 --> 00:09:42.320 Science really claims, or perhaps it's pseudoscience, 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:46.080 science claims that if I cannot understand something fully, 00:09:46.160 --> 00:09:48.360 if I cannot explain the logic of something, 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:50.399 the process of something then, 00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:52.259 it's probably not real 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:55.100 and probably foolish to believe it. 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:05.080 Now, when armed with our assumptions of human logic, 00:10:05.180 --> 00:10:05.940 such as those, 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:09.159 when we go looking for the logic of God 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:13.719 and we intersect God saying on the one hand 00:10:13.719 --> 00:10:17.219 that salvation is his sovereign initiative 00:10:17.219 --> 00:10:18.839 and action from start to finish, 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:20.179 yet on the other hand, 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:25.039 God's saying that he commands us to pray and evangelize. 00:10:27.579 --> 00:10:28.959 With our human logic, 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:32.079 we quickly conclude, or easily conclude, 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:35.520 that these two things just don't sit with each other. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:37.759 In fact, we conclude that they've got to be enemies 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:39.680 because we can't quite work out 00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:41.860 how they work together. 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:44.100 And so we quickly move to the conclusion 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:45.040 that they're enemies. 00:10:47.340 --> 00:10:48.840 They cannot both be true. 00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:51.000 And from there, 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:54.139 we conclude that God cannot be sovereign in salvation, 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:54.740 as he claims. 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:57.240 Or, we conclude that God is sovereign, 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:58.840 but a monstrous tyrant. 00:10:59.560 --> 00:11:01.980 Because our understanding of his sovereign action 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:05.039 doesn't fit with what we think would be a good action. 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:11.919 Now, the problem with all that is 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.720 that it actually lies in the face 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.700 of what we live with practically and constantly 00:11:17.700 --> 00:11:20.419 at so many points in our life. 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:24.220 At so many points of trying to interact with our universe. 00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:27.720 The best scientific minds 00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:31.019 concede that at so many points 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:32.700 we observe things in the universe 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:35.860 that don't fit our logic, 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:39.440 that don't fit our ideas of how things should work, 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:41.860 that can't be understood, 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:43.000 that can't be explained. 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:47.840 Yet, 00:11:48.180 --> 00:11:51.039 the reality of them cannot be denied. 00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.159 And so, 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:57.879 that creates a tension. 00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:00.480 Where is the tension sourced? 00:12:01.180 --> 00:12:02.759 The tension is sourced 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:04.000 not in what we observe, 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.759 but in our understanding, 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:08.440 our ability to understand and comprehend 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:09.240 and articulate 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:11.080 in the process of what we observe. 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:12.779 The problem is ours. 00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:20.360 How much more, then, 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:23.100 when it comes to understanding 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:24.679 the infinite character 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:26.159 and working of our God 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:28.220 with our finite brains? 00:12:34.459 --> 00:12:36.159 Scientists don't understand, really, 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:38.819 how the universe can be both expanding exponentially 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:41.379 and also deteriorating. 00:12:45.300 --> 00:12:45.900 And so, 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.300 for us, 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:48.220 when we come to bring our logic 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:49.240 to God 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:51.980 and make God 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:52.940 fit our logic 00:12:52.940 --> 00:12:53.660 and our ideas 00:12:53.660 --> 00:12:54.280 of what's good 00:12:54.280 --> 00:12:54.940 and consistent 00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:55.520 and right 00:12:55.520 --> 00:12:56.600 and how things should work, 00:12:57.400 --> 00:12:57.680 then, 00:12:57.800 --> 00:12:59.580 I think it's both foolish 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:00.379 and arrogant 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:02.060 to conclude 00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:03.820 that because we cannot understand 00:13:03.820 --> 00:13:04.860 to our satisfaction 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:05.520 and logic 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.899 how God's absolute sovereignty 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:09.360 and human responsibility 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.220 fit together, 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:11.579 it's arrogant 00:13:11.579 --> 00:13:12.259 and foolish 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:12.779 to conclude 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:13.259 that, therefore, 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.399 because we can't understand it, 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:14.779 therefore, 00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:15.799 it can't sit together 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:17.360 or it won't sit together. 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:22.819 And that, 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:23.559 therefore, 00:13:23.699 --> 00:13:25.199 if we see these two things 00:13:25.199 --> 00:13:26.500 and they don't fit together, 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:26.779 then, 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:28.199 our option is either 00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:29.399 that we're puppets 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:31.360 or 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:33.460 that God's not absolutely sovereign. 00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:35.820 Now, 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:36.500 J.I. Packer, 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:37.060 in his book 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:38.500 Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.320 and I think that book 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:40.019 still was written 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:41.019 in the 70s or 80s, 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:41.639 but I don't think 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:43.320 it's been surpassed. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.900 Get a copy of it 00:13:44.900 --> 00:13:46.160 if you can get a hold of it. 00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:47.240 Actually, 00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:48.340 this is a moment to say 00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:48.879 somebody out there 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.540 has got my copy. 00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:54.060 Anyway, 00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:58.440 Packer says this, 00:13:59.100 --> 00:13:59.680 a God 00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:01.560 whom we could understand 00:14:01.560 --> 00:14:02.620 exhaustively 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:04.980 and whose revelation 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:05.539 of himself 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:06.560 confronted us 00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:07.600 with no mysteries 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:08.159 whatsoever 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.460 would be a God 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:11.480 in man's image 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.639 and, therefore, 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:14.659 an imaginary God, 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:16.799 not the God 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.639 of the Bible at all. 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:22.080 The problem's ours 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.240 where we find 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:23.919 these tensions 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:25.779 and lack of understanding. 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.460 So, my friends, 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.279 since God puts 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:28.960 his sovereignty 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.379 and human responsibility 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.080 together 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.379 constantly 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.580 in the Bible, 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:35.779 then 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:38.559 we should believe 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:39.220 and accept, 00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:40.639 comma, 00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:41.799 even though 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:43.519 we don't fully understand. 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:48.919 Having said that, 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.360 we move on 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.019 to the second point. 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:52.259 We can dig into the Bible 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:52.899 and there's lots 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:53.899 we can understand. 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:56.799 And here, 00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:57.799 the point I want to make 00:14:57.799 --> 00:14:58.759 is that we should be 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:00.120 instructed by the clear 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.319 emphasis of Scripture. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:02.679 In other words, 00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:03.980 when you read the Bible 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:06.240 just with an honest mind 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.080 for comprehension, 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:09.879 it will give us a lot 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.379 to answer this question. 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:14.200 And it goes like this. 00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.620 It appears that Christians 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:18.139 have found an issue 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:20.500 that Jesus himself 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.899 had no sense of. 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:24.659 And that's why 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:25.620 I want to touch us down 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.360 in John 17. 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:28.440 Throughout his ministry, 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:30.659 Jesus is up front 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:32.340 about two things. 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.240 Firstly, 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:33.879 he's up front 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.899 about God's 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:36.220 absolute sovereignty 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.680 in every step 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:40.039 of salvation, 00:15:40.180 --> 00:15:40.759 every stage 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.259 of salvation. 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.080 We see that right 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.980 through John's Gospel, 00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.279 particularly. 00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:49.580 But at the same time, 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:52.020 we find Jesus 00:15:52.020 --> 00:15:54.160 in John 17 00:15:54.160 --> 00:15:55.379 praying 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:57.440 and urging 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.540 his disciples 00:15:58.540 --> 00:15:59.639 to evangelism. 00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:02.980 No problem for Jesus 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:03.600 at that point. 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:05.900 If you look at 00:16:05.900 --> 00:16:07.000 chapter 17, 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:08.080 verses 2 through to 12, 00:16:08.160 --> 00:16:09.020 I don't have time 00:16:09.020 --> 00:16:09.520 to touch down 00:16:09.520 --> 00:16:10.639 in great detail, 00:16:11.040 --> 00:16:11.600 but you can just 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.040 check it out 00:16:12.040 --> 00:16:12.500 on your own 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.780 this afternoon 00:16:13.780 --> 00:16:14.320 if you're interested. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.300 In chapter 2 00:16:16.300 --> 00:16:17.760 through to 12, 00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:18.220 sorry, 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:18.960 chapter 17, 00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:20.120 verses 2 through to 12, 00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:22.020 Jesus is reflecting 00:16:22.020 --> 00:16:23.680 on his sentness. 00:16:24.780 --> 00:16:26.240 He's very much aware 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.800 that he's been sent 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:28.640 into the world 00:16:28.640 --> 00:16:29.740 by his Father 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:31.560 to achieve 00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:33.040 the Father's purposes, 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.379 eternal purposes 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.200 in salvation. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:41.260 To give eternal life 00:16:41.260 --> 00:16:42.480 to all those, 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.019 and the language 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.279 is in John 17, 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:44.720 the language 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.580 of God's sovereignty. 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.759 He's been sent 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.279 into the world 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.500 to give life 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.560 to all those 00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.279 that the Father 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:51.420 has taken out 00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:51.820 of the world 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.759 and given to Jesus. 00:16:53.420 --> 00:16:54.039 There's the language 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.600 of election. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.279 And in verses 18 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:00.960 through to 20, 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.740 Jesus takes 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.400 another step 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.960 and the connection 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.319 is this. 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:07.019 Jesus says, 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:07.960 Father, 00:17:08.120 --> 00:17:09.120 as you have sent 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:10.279 me into the world 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:12.599 to speak of your glory 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:13.279 and your salvation, 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.379 so I send 00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:16.539 all my saved people, 00:17:16.899 --> 00:17:18.059 this elect group. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.220 I then have brought them, 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:20.639 or sorry, 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.339 you've brought them 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:21.759 out of the world 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.519 and I'm sending them 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.420 back into the world. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.039 Why? 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.259 To speak 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.599 about Jesus 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.779 so that others 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.680 might know 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.819 Jesus 00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:31.819 and come into 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.639 eternal life 00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:33.639 as they themselves 00:17:33.639 --> 00:17:34.079 have done. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.279 in other words, 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.199 evangelism. 00:17:41.679 --> 00:17:42.220 Now friends, 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:42.859 I just want to make 00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:43.659 this very simple point. 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:45.139 Jesus prays 00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:45.960 for his disciples, 00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:47.299 for his people, 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.159 and it's not just 00:17:48.159 --> 00:17:48.879 his disciples 00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:49.619 because he prays 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.379 for those who have 00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:51.000 not yet 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:53.299 become believers. 00:17:53.919 --> 00:17:54.480 He's praying 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.059 right down 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:55.919 through the generations 00:17:55.919 --> 00:17:56.379 as it were. 00:17:57.159 --> 00:17:58.059 Jesus prays 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:58.679 for his people 00:17:58.679 --> 00:18:01.240 in the context 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:04.000 of evangelism 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.039 and in the context 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.279 of God's 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.240 absolute sovereignty 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.140 and there's not 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:08.940 a skerrick 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:10.420 of embarrassment 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:11.059 or tension. 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.799 Now I realize 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.579 that doesn't answer 00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:18.319 all the questions 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:21.380 but it normalizes it, 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:21.740 doesn't it? 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.880 Because the same pattern, 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.480 it's not just 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.299 in John 17 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:26.940 I find that. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.859 You can actually 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.900 get a hold of that 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:29.460 concordance 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:29.960 and look through 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:31.059 the whole of the Bible 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:31.519 and you'll see 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.319 this repeatedly. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.339 Same pattern 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.480 across the whole Bible. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.319 In Deuteronomy 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:36.919 chapter 4 00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:38.000 that goes right back 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.279 to God's people 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.579 in the wilderness 00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.240 ready to go 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.079 into the promised land 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:43.460 and in Deuteronomy 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.259 chapter 4 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.539 verses 5 through to 8 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:47.379 God makes clear 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:48.759 essentially the same point 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:51.379 that he wants, 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.399 he tells his people 00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:54.039 that he expects them 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:55.980 to go before 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.819 all the nations 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.899 and make clear 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:58.799 to all the nations 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:01.599 his sovereign power 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.279 and loving character 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:05.619 and the goodness 00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.819 of God's laws 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.980 as the means 00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:08.960 to the good life. 00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:10.779 Why does God 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.180 do that? 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:13.740 So that all nations 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:15.200 might know him 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:17.059 and might have 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.639 the opportunity 00:19:17.639 --> 00:19:18.500 to come and bow 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:18.960 before him 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:19.619 and serve him 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.539 and worship him. 00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:22.539 Isaiah 66 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:23.059 verse 19 00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.799 and there's many 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.279 many places 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:24.919 between that. 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:26.300 Isaiah 66 00:19:26.300 --> 00:19:27.000 verse 19 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:29.340 at the other end 00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:31.840 of the exodus 00:19:31.840 --> 00:19:33.640 the exile 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.440 sorry exile 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:34.740 I said 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.360 I should have been 00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:36.360 exile not exodus 00:19:36.360 --> 00:19:36.860 the other end 00:19:36.860 --> 00:19:37.340 of the exile 00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:39.320 God's intent 00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:40.400 in that verse 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.200 is very clearly 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.300 to send survivors 00:19:42.300 --> 00:19:43.300 of the exile 00:19:43.300 --> 00:19:45.039 to the nations 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:46.320 for what purpose? 00:19:47.900 --> 00:19:49.060 Nations that have not 00:19:49.060 --> 00:19:50.259 heard of his glory 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:51.240 and his character 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.420 and his works 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:54.840 and God's sending 00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:55.259 he says 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.500 I intend to send 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.080 my people 00:19:57.080 --> 00:19:58.360 to those nations 00:19:58.360 --> 00:19:58.680 why? 00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.840 So that they might 00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:01.039 know of God's character 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.820 and God's glory. 00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:05.680 Evangelism. 00:20:11.580 --> 00:20:13.340 Again in Luke chapter 24 00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:15.340 verses 45 through 47 00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:16.460 you remember that 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:18.180 just that little 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.539 cameo 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.060 with Jesus 00:20:20.060 --> 00:20:21.000 just before Jesus 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.940 returns to heaven. 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.519 and he's reminding 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.160 his disciples 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:26.380 of two things. 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.380 Firstly he reminds 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:28.519 his disciples 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:30.100 that somebody's locked 00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:30.440 out there 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:31.019 you need to open 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:31.820 the door from the inside. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.320 He reminds his disciples 00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:35.039 of two things. 00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:36.380 Firstly that the Old Testament 00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:37.660 spoke clearly of him 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:39.100 and anticipated his coming 00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:42.000 and that God's intention 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.940 had always been 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.460 secondly 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:45.200 through his people 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:47.320 to make known 00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:47.900 repentance 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.620 and forgiveness 00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.180 of sin 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.019 in Christ 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:52.440 to all nations. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:57.359 There is no 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:59.160 incompatibility 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.339 in the scripture 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.200 between God's 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.440 absolute sovereignty 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:06.220 and global 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:06.980 sentness 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:08.139 of his people 00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:12.660 to speak of God's glory 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:14.180 to make his name known 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:16.779 which is really 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.879 what evangelism is. 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.299 And friends 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:22.519 I think if we move 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.180 from there 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.220 to look 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.000 historically 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.039 across the 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.980 ages of the church 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.740 that particular 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:31.099 emphasis of scripture 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:32.220 that sentness 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:33.779 in the context 00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:35.119 of God's 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:36.160 absolute sovereignty 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:38.180 of God going 00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:38.680 before them 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.079 as it were 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:40.579 that has been 00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:42.039 the motivation 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.240 for countless 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.259 missionary movements 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:46.980 over the generations. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.660 It's not been 00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:50.640 a detraction 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.799 from missionary 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.319 zeal 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.039 it's been 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.759 the motivation 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.079 to it 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.960 because God 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.799 goes ahead of them 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.220 because God 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.640 has it 00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:58.440 even before 00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.180 they get there. 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.359 They're not 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:04.980 going in 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.279 to a state 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.759 of 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:09.299 it being 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:09.940 left up to 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.440 themselves 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:10.920 and their own 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.240 efforts 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:11.619 and their own 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.140 cleverness 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:12.480 and their own 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.460 ability to articulate 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.019 things, their own 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:15.360 ability to identify 00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:16.160 wrong thinking 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:16.779 in a person's 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.420 heart and change 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:17.900 their attitudes 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.340 and desires. 00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:20.100 No, they go there 00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:21.180 because God 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.900 is sovereign 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:23.019 and God will do 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.240 that. 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:24.059 Their job is 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:24.799 simply to take 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.319 the gospel 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.000 and speak it 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.720 as God's 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.440 intention always 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.079 was for us 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.319 people. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.779 Go and speak 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.559 of my glory. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.759 And step again 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.799 into the third 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:39.480 point as we're 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.180 thinking about this. 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.740 So as we 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:43.059 dig down into 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:43.579 this, then I 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:43.960 would say 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:45.279 thirdly, we've 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:45.599 got to be 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.440 really careful 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:47.519 as we 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.519 sort of 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.759 swim into 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.359 this big 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:51.619 issue not 00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:52.359 to confuse 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:53.359 God's stuff 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.099 with our 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.500 stuff. 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.379 Think of 00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:58.879 two sides 00:22:58.879 --> 00:22:59.519 of one coin. 00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.500 Two sides 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.019 of one coin 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.960 are inseparable 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.940 but different. 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.139 We'll get 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:07.700 ourselves in a 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.740 tangle if we 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.619 don't know 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.639 which side of 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:11.140 the coin 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:12.740 we're dealing 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.020 with. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.680 God's stuff 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:13.980 and our 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.259 stuff. 00:23:16.040 --> 00:23:16.480 How does 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:16.840 that work? 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.500 Well, let me 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:17.880 tell you what 00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:18.400 God's stuff 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:18.660 is. 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.140 God's stuff 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:20.580 is what 00:23:20.580 --> 00:23:21.940 describes God's 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.940 character and 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.660 activity in 00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.100 his world. 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:26.180 In classic 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.440 theological terms, 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.560 these are called 00:23:28.560 --> 00:23:29.620 the secret decrees 00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:30.140 of God. 00:23:32.040 --> 00:23:32.940 The secret 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.780 decrees of God. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.620 Now, these are 00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.720 things and 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.240 they're often 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:38.500 the why of 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.220 God's actions. 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.420 These are 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:41.960 things which 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.940 we cannot 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.180 understand fully 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:46.160 at points 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.160 because we 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:47.799 cannot fathom 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.319 the mind of 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.620 God and 00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:49.980 at points 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.500 because God 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.000 simply hasn't 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.559 told us. 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.059 They're the 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.539 secret things 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.140 of God which 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:56.440 you cannot 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.759 understand but 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.519 which are 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.220 nevertheless 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.279 true because 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.180 God says 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.359 they're true. 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.099 For example, 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:07.980 in this golden 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.359 chain of 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:08.720 salvation, 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.819 we are simply 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:11.000 told by God 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.220 that he in 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.240 eternity past 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:14.440 has elected 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.599 or set his 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:16.279 love upon a 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.120 specific group 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:18.180 of people and 00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:19.359 determined that 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:19.759 they would be 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.099 saved. 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:22.140 God just 00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.460 makes that 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:22.779 statement. 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:27.059 But immediately 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.819 we realize 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.859 there's so much 00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:29.460 about that 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:31.339 process that 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:32.259 we simply do 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:32.900 not know 00:24:32.900 --> 00:24:34.579 and cannot 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.259 understand. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:40.620 but in 00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:41.599 that God 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:42.259 tells us 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:42.920 what he does 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:43.440 want us to 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:43.680 know. 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:47.120 He tells 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:48.220 us that 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.480 he does 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:49.839 what he 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.259 wants 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.900 because he 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.480 does have 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.440 sovereign power 00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.880 and nobody 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:55.519 can challenge 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.220 him or limit 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:56.480 him. 00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.620 And he 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.019 tells us 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.039 alongside that 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.920 that his 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.579 purpose in 00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.940 salvation is 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.700 to display 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.599 his grace, 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.939 mercy and 00:25:06.939 --> 00:25:07.879 manifold wisdom 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:08.879 with a 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:10.359 multitude so 00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:11.119 great that no 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:11.879 man can number 00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.439 them to use a 00:25:12.439 --> 00:25:12.839 picture of 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.279 revelation. 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.759 Being brought 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.899 from death to 00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:16.279 life. 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:17.679 A multitude 00:25:17.679 --> 00:25:19.099 so great that 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:20.399 deserves judgment 00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:21.240 and condemnation 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:23.240 being pardoned 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.159 and restored. 00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.419 That's what God 00:25:26.419 --> 00:25:27.019 tells us his 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.980 purpose is in it. 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.740 And we still 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.419 can't understand 00:25:29.419 --> 00:25:30.339 how it works. 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:35.939 God wants 00:25:35.939 --> 00:25:36.720 this great 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.839 community across 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:39.159 the world that 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:40.039 will respond to 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.919 him in praise and 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:41.459 worship and 00:25:41.459 --> 00:25:41.980 obedience. 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:45.500 And we still 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.279 can't understand 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:46.939 how it all 00:25:46.939 --> 00:25:48.240 works or why 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.599 God has 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:50.679 chosen the way 00:25:50.679 --> 00:25:51.179 he's chosen. 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.720 That's God's 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:55.959 stuff. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.059 And dare I 00:25:58.059 --> 00:26:00.159 say, like 00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:01.059 as a parent 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.480 I've said to 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.220 my children so 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:02.859 many times over 00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:03.220 the years, 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.019 it's none of 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.839 your business. 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:09.139 What is very 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:10.019 clear is what I 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.480 want you to 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:10.720 do. 00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.119 Don't you worry 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.599 about the rest 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:13.879 of it. 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.139 That's up to 00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:15.579 mammon may 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:15.960 to sort. 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:17.940 Have you said 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.259 that to your 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:18.500 children? 00:26:19.659 --> 00:26:20.019 There you go, 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.359 you've answered 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:20.659 your own 00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.000 question. 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.579 The other 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:22.919 side of the 00:26:22.919 --> 00:26:23.619 coin is our 00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:24.019 stuff. 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:26.779 Words or 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.460 commands, 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.480 commands directed 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.380 clearly to 00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:29.840 people, 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.240 describing our 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.680 character, 00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.620 describing the 00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:33.180 activity that 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:33.420 the Lord 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.279 intends us to 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.720 have, and 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.420 describing our 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.220 proper response 00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:37.660 to God. 00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:42.860 So, I want 00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.220 you to do 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.980 this, says 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.299 the Lord. 00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:44.779 I want you to 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.460 do that, says 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:45.779 Jesus. 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.880 Now, here's the 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:49.000 point, and this 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.559 is a really, 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.160 really important 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.480 point. 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.500 Never in 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.259 scripture that I 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.000 can find, and 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.539 if you want to 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.440 argue with me, 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:56.980 please wait to 00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.360 the end of the 00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:58.339 sermon, don't 00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:58.779 embarrass me 00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.180 now, but as 00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.620 far as I can 00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.579 see, never in 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.440 scripture are 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.240 we asked to 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.200 respond on the 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:05.200 basis of God's 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:08.539 stuff, or 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.200 God's secret 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:09.839 decrees. 00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.000 We are only 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.059 ever asked to 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:13.339 respond on the 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.099 basis of our 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.740 stuff, on the 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.400 basis of God's 00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:16.420 commands, on the 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.019 basis of what God 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.819 tells us and makes 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.220 clear. 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:19.220 God's secret. 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:25.160 And Christ 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:26.400 commands us to 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:27.160 evangelize. 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:29.039 Matthew 28, verse 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:29.940 19, the Great 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.339 Commission. 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.120 Simple, isn't 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:36.259 it? 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.579 The apostles also 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.680 taught and modeled 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.500 evangelism. 00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:41.799 Again, these 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.940 passages are listed, 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.579 so I'm not going to 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.339 even go to them. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:44.980 You can check them 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.660 out for yourself 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:45.920 later. 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.120 1 Corinthians 5, 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:47.920 11 to 21. 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.640 Paul speaks at 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:50.840 length about being 00:27:50.840 --> 00:27:51.900 entrusted with the 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.640 ministry of 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.240 reconciliation. 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:56.279 That is, to go 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:57.200 and speak to 00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:58.600 people, to argue, 00:27:58.779 --> 00:28:00.000 to persuade, to 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.300 reason, to draw 00:28:01.300 --> 00:28:02.620 people, to listen 00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:04.480 to the truth of 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.120 the gospel that 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:05.800 salvation has 00:28:05.800 --> 00:28:06.440 found in no one 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.440 else except Jesus. 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:09.840 His motivation? 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.279 The compelling 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.480 love of Jesus. 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:16.480 Not election, not 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.579 predestination, not 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.259 a theological 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:20.099 treatise does he 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:20.720 go to these people 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:20.920 with. 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:22.160 It goes because of 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.200 the compelling love 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:23.660 of Jesus. 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.539 That's our stuff. 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:30.200 And the task of 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.920 evangelism, my 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.880 friends, of being 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:32.700 witnesses of 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.640 salvation in Jesus, 00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:35.000 is never 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:37.400 described as a 00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:38.539 call to explain 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.440 the detailed 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.140 workings of 00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:40.599 election. 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.740 Never, ever. 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:46.539 is a call to 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.400 explain God's 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:49.380 effectual call by 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:49.940 which he 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.380 mysteriously acts 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:52.120 within a person, 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.140 takes the gospel 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:53.880 message to hear and 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.579 mysteriously acts 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:55.620 within a person to 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.740 renew them and give 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.279 them life. 00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.299 No. 00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.519 Never in those 00:28:59.519 --> 00:28:59.860 terms. 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.920 Paul's ministry of 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:04.460 reconciliation, the 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.539 focus was on sin, 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:06.960 the need for 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:08.180 repentance, the 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:08.660 reality of 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.339 forgiveness in 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.059 Christ, a new 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.539 life. 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:12.180 Salvation is found 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.759 in no one else 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.299 but Jesus. 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:14.980 That's our 00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.400 stuff. 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.340 And likewise, 00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:26.220 Christ commands 00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:26.759 us to pray. 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.519 Many, many 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:27.820 verses. 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.779 1 Thessalonians 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.640 5, verse 17, 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.140 only one. 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.460 Pray continually, 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.400 pray urgently. 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:35.900 to command. 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:38.820 And again, John 17, 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:40.100 Christ modeled that 00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:42.180 command in his own 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.600 ministry. 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:49.259 Friends, we may never 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.740 or we may not 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:53.040 understand fully how 00:29:53.040 --> 00:29:54.660 and why God does it 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.160 this way. 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:59.980 but that's God's 00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:00.360 business. 00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:04.360 Our business is to 00:30:04.360 --> 00:30:05.320 get on with the 00:30:05.320 --> 00:30:06.320 task of what God 00:30:06.320 --> 00:30:07.779 has called us to 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.620 and made clean to us. 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:10.240 That is, get on with 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.300 the task of being 00:30:11.300 --> 00:30:12.380 witnesses, being my 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:13.560 witnesses, of telling 00:30:13.560 --> 00:30:14.720 anyone who will listen 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.460 of their need for 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:17.840 Christ and praying 00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:18.940 urgently that the 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.560 Lord will actually 00:30:19.560 --> 00:30:21.820 open their hearts to 00:30:21.820 --> 00:30:22.840 hear those words of 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:24.319 Christ so they 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:25.579 become real and so 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.619 that person might be 00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.359 swept into the 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.599 kingdom and enjoy 00:30:28.599 --> 00:30:29.299 a new life. 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.439 And the fourth step 00:30:33.439 --> 00:30:35.639 then in that is, 00:30:37.199 --> 00:30:37.919 and in my mind 00:30:37.919 --> 00:30:39.179 these sort of follow 00:30:39.179 --> 00:30:40.439 on but maybe not 00:30:40.439 --> 00:30:41.839 in the presentation 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.039 but in my mind 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.500 we take another step 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.599 and we say, well, 00:30:45.679 --> 00:30:46.419 we need to remember 00:30:46.419 --> 00:30:47.740 then that God 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:49.099 determines both what 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:51.819 will happen and how 00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:52.399 it will happen. 00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:57.039 God determines not 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:59.079 only that a specific 00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:00.139 group called the 00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:01.599 elect will be saved, 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:03.500 he also determines 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:05.179 how they will be 00:31:05.179 --> 00:31:05.500 saved. 00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:07.439 He provides the means 00:31:07.439 --> 00:31:08.220 by which they will 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:08.720 be saved. 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:12.539 So God sets his love 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.299 on this group we 00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:14.480 call the elect before 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:14.939 eternity. 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:18.139 That's the what or 00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:19.599 that a group will be 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:19.879 saved. 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:22.560 then he determines, 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.620 provides the means, 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.120 the how. 00:31:24.560 --> 00:31:25.080 What does he do? 00:31:25.080 --> 00:31:27.180 He sends Jesus to 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:27.540 redeem. 00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:28.680 He sends his Holy 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.760 Spirit to renew. 00:31:38.260 --> 00:31:40.340 Again, we can push 00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:41.280 back so far but 00:31:41.280 --> 00:31:42.060 ultimately we have to 00:31:42.060 --> 00:31:43.280 say, well, we don't 00:31:43.280 --> 00:31:44.340 understand why God 00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:45.040 does it this way. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:48.500 But it's clear that he 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:48.839 does. 00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:53.180 And at that point, 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.700 there's a mix 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:56.700 between God's stuff 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.200 and our stuff. 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:57.819 And at that point, 00:31:57.859 --> 00:31:58.779 it's so terribly, 00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.700 terribly important to 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:01.099 know which one we're 00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:01.920 dealing with, which one 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:02.399 we're addressing. 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.399 In Romans chapter 10, 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.099 verse 14, 00:32:05.099 --> 00:32:08.319 Paul talks there about 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:10.359 preaching the gospel. 00:32:10.899 --> 00:32:12.039 And he says that our 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:13.599 work as Christians is 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:15.379 like the work of 00:32:15.379 --> 00:32:15.719 Messiah. 00:32:15.899 --> 00:32:16.980 We're drawn into the 00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.659 work of Messiah. 00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:18.899 How beautiful are the 00:32:18.899 --> 00:32:19.839 feet of those who bring 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:21.379 glad tidings and good 00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:21.799 news. 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.439 That's the work of 00:32:24.439 --> 00:32:24.839 Messiah. 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.359 Preaching or declaring 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:33.359 the gospel is the 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:36.699 appointed means of 00:32:36.699 --> 00:32:37.899 working out God's 00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:39.099 purposes in salvation. 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.740 How will they believe 00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.579 unless somebody tells 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.479 them, says Paul. 00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:48.099 How does it all fit 00:32:48.099 --> 00:32:48.359 together? 00:32:48.459 --> 00:32:49.199 Why does God do it 00:32:49.199 --> 00:32:49.459 like that? 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:51.579 Why does God draw us 00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.719 into his purposes in 00:32:52.719 --> 00:32:53.159 salvation? 00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:58.519 I'd have to ask some of 00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.240 my colleagues for the 00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.759 answer to that one. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.639 I have no idea. 00:33:00.939 --> 00:33:01.959 I might know one day 00:33:01.959 --> 00:33:02.519 when I'm in heaven, 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.379 but I might not. 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.379 The same point is made 00:33:09.379 --> 00:33:10.500 in 2 Thessalonians 2, 00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:11.299 13 and 14, 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.139 Acts 18, 00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:13.639 1 Corinthians 1, 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.639 and a plethora of other 00:33:14.639 --> 00:33:15.519 places across the New 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:15.799 Testament. 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.859 God has determined that 00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:19.539 those he intends to save 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.940 will actually come to 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:22.619 salvation in response to 00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.480 what? 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:24.940 In response to one of his 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:27.079 people actually gossiping 00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:28.099 the gospel to them. 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.639 I mean, imagine that for 00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:33.180 goodness sake, that here's 00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:34.880 God's sovereign plan and 00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:36.080 purpose from all eternity, 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:37.080 one eternity to the other 00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:39.860 eternity, all put in place 00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:42.240 and somehow or other, for 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:45.040 some reason or other, God 00:33:45.040 --> 00:33:46.700 uses us as a means by which 00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.980 people will hear the gospel 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:51.100 and, as it were, trigger that 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:52.460 process by which the spirit 00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:54.020 will take those words and 00:33:54.020 --> 00:33:55.160 make them real in the heart 00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.080 and mind of the person we 00:33:56.080 --> 00:33:56.500 speak to. 00:33:56.500 --> 00:34:00.380 Phenomenal, isn't it? 00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:03.779 How can we sort of encapsulate 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.240 that? 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.780 That that's what the scripture 00:34:08.780 --> 00:34:09.460 leads us to. 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:15.619 Sometimes it will require, as 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:17.119 Paul says, sometimes it will 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:19.800 require reasoning, debating, 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:22.380 persuading, using all our 00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:25.400 God-given abilities and 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:28.599 talents to make the gospel 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:29.880 message that we want to say 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:33.340 to people winsome, compelling. 00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:38.400 Speaking to people who might 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:40.059 at first be reluctant to hear. 00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:44.240 Speaking to people that, from 00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:45.760 our human logic point of view, 00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:47.599 is a waste of time to speak to 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:49.300 because clearly we can see that 00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:50.519 they're not suitable for the 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:50.840 gospel. 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:53.300 They're too dead in their sin. 00:34:57.940 --> 00:35:00.880 Friends, rather than election 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:03.199 being a reason not to evangelize, 00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:04.539 it's quite the opposite. 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.759 God's sovereignty is the 00:35:07.759 --> 00:35:10.139 greatest encouragement to 00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:11.980 persevere in declaring the 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:13.739 gospel to our family, friends, 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:15.320 and world at large. 00:35:16.759 --> 00:35:17.980 God's sovereignty is the 00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.840 greatest encouragement to 00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.679 persevere in prayer. 00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.500 God's sovereignty is the 00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:30.380 gospel to anybody I can find 00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:31.300 who will listen to me. 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:36.199 And let God do his stuff. 00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:39.480 Change people from the inside 00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:39.759 out. 00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:45.960 Not my place to decide if he 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:47.259 should speak, you know, change 00:35:47.259 --> 00:35:48.599 that person and not that person 00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.900 or change them all or change 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.420 none of them. 00:35:52.619 --> 00:35:54.159 I'm to get on with my stuff. 00:35:58.279 --> 00:35:58.639 Why? 00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.980 Why preach? 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:02.099 Why speak the gospel? 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.639 Why pray? 00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:04.980 Well, because it's the means by 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:06.360 which God will actually 00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:08.420 effect the salvation of those 00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:09.139 he set apart. 00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:10.139 God's purpose will be achieved. 00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:11.139 God's purpose will be achieved. 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:13.900 And that's guaranteed with the end 00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:15.500 result that God's cause will 00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:15.960 triumph. 00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:17.480 God's purpose will be achieved 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:19.079 and he will be praised and he 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:20.679 will be honored as he deserves to 00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:20.879 be. 00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:26.400 What's faithfulness in evangelism? 00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:29.480 It's actually not seeing people 00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:30.879 converted, which is what we've 00:36:30.879 --> 00:36:32.639 sort of pushed to believe these 00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:34.059 days in modern evangelicalism. 00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:35.900 That's not evangelism, faithfulness 00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:36.480 in evangelism. 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:38.400 Oh, faithfulness in evangelism 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:41.139 is speaking as clearly and truly 00:36:41.139 --> 00:36:42.639 the gospel of the Lord Jesus 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:43.900 Christ and salvation 00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.880 finding none else. 00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:47.539 That's faithfulness in evangelism. 00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:49.519 A person could do that all their 00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:50.320 life and not see anybody 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:50.759 converted. 00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:51.860 That would be faithful. 00:36:54.340 --> 00:36:55.639 Because that's our stuff. 00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:58.500 And we've got to learn to let God 00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.840 do his stuff. 00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:02.280 as he's promised he would do. 00:37:02.600 --> 00:37:04.200 And as we see evidence of him 00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:06.400 doing around us here this morning. 00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:10.360 And the same applies to prayer. 00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:14.019 You look at Ephesians chapter 1. 00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:17.180 Paul launches into a very, very 00:37:17.180 --> 00:37:19.120 confident prayer in verses 15 and 00:37:19.120 --> 00:37:20.180 following for the Ephesians. 00:37:20.640 --> 00:37:21.740 Now what's the motivation to his 00:37:21.740 --> 00:37:21.920 prayer? 00:37:22.340 --> 00:37:24.519 Well, he's just finished rehearsing 00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:26.980 God's salvation bundle. 00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:31.059 He's got his mind full of God's 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:32.199 sovereignty and salvation 00:37:32.199 --> 00:37:33.380 from start to finish. 00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:35.199 And it's with that he launches 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:38.320 into prayer for the believers 00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:39.179 at Ephesus. 00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:43.760 Why? 00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:46.139 Why does Paul pray in response to 00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:46.280 that? 00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:49.059 Because he understands that prayer 00:37:49.059 --> 00:37:51.099 is not about changing God's mind. 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:54.260 Changing God's plan for his people 00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:54.699 and his world. 00:37:54.699 --> 00:37:57.179 If that was the case, then prayer 00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:58.039 is a waste of time. 00:37:58.559 --> 00:37:59.819 But Paul prays because 00:37:59.819 --> 00:38:02.619 he recognizes that prayer 00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:04.179 is a means of accomplishing 00:38:04.179 --> 00:38:06.879 what God has really purposed 00:38:06.879 --> 00:38:07.460 and planned. 00:38:09.059 --> 00:38:10.679 Paul's prayer is asking the Lord 00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:12.859 to do what he's already purposed 00:38:12.859 --> 00:38:13.939 to do in their lives. 00:38:15.619 --> 00:38:16.960 And that's why prayer is worth 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:17.259 praying. 00:38:20.099 --> 00:38:21.779 We're not twisting God's arm. 00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:24.480 We're not wrestling blessings 00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:25.700 out of a God who's reluctant 00:38:25.700 --> 00:38:26.440 to give blessing. 00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:30.180 We're asking God to do 00:38:30.180 --> 00:38:31.300 what he's promised to do. 00:38:32.080 --> 00:38:34.140 And God loves to hear his children. 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:37.740 It's an act of honor in itself 00:38:37.740 --> 00:38:39.220 when we say, 00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:41.060 Lord, we know your character 00:38:41.060 --> 00:38:42.080 and we're asking you now 00:38:42.080 --> 00:38:43.680 to do what you've promised to do. 00:38:44.760 --> 00:38:45.540 And in brackets, 00:38:45.800 --> 00:38:46.540 we're asking you to do 00:38:46.540 --> 00:38:47.740 what we know we could never do 00:38:47.740 --> 00:38:49.000 in this person I'm praying for. 00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:55.239 My friends, 00:38:58.820 --> 00:39:00.940 since it's a gospel message 00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:02.039 that God will use 00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:03.599 to bring people to salvation, 00:39:05.019 --> 00:39:06.699 since God alone 00:39:06.699 --> 00:39:07.599 can resurrect 00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:09.179 dead people 00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:10.500 by a secret inner working 00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:11.119 of a spirit, 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:17.380 since those two things are true, 00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:20.260 then as a church family, 00:39:20.380 --> 00:39:21.380 we ought to be noted 00:39:21.380 --> 00:39:23.000 above all else 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:24.880 as being a people of prayer 00:39:24.880 --> 00:39:27.420 and a people of speaking, 00:39:27.760 --> 00:39:28.760 a people of sentness. 00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:34.019 Great programs operating 00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:34.720 within our church 00:39:34.720 --> 00:39:35.340 are terrific. 00:39:37.200 --> 00:39:38.380 Extending into the community 00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:39.000 even better. 00:39:40.160 --> 00:39:41.579 A united and radically 00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:43.400 countercultural community here 00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:44.680 is essential, 00:39:44.840 --> 00:39:45.240 compelling 00:39:45.240 --> 00:39:47.800 as the world looks at us. 00:39:49.660 --> 00:39:51.619 But nothing replaces 00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:52.740 the centrality 00:39:52.740 --> 00:39:54.760 of the words spoken 00:39:54.760 --> 00:39:56.579 and prayer. 00:39:59.760 --> 00:40:00.780 They're the means 00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:02.780 by which God 00:40:02.780 --> 00:40:03.579 will save his people. 00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:06.440 The rest is bling, 00:40:06.639 --> 00:40:07.000 as it were, 00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:07.539 on the side. 00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:08.720 It will make it look 00:40:08.720 --> 00:40:09.800 more attractive 00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:10.340 and appealing 00:40:10.340 --> 00:40:10.940 and compelling. 00:40:11.079 --> 00:40:12.099 It will make it look authentic. 00:40:12.099 --> 00:40:14.019 But at the end of the day, 00:40:14.799 --> 00:40:16.259 the means of people 00:40:16.259 --> 00:40:16.940 being converted 00:40:16.940 --> 00:40:18.159 is when we speak the gospel. 00:40:21.639 --> 00:40:22.659 We don't have to reinvent 00:40:22.659 --> 00:40:23.059 the wheel. 00:40:23.719 --> 00:40:24.599 We don't have to be 00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:26.279 keeping ahead 00:40:26.279 --> 00:40:27.360 of the current trends, 00:40:28.799 --> 00:40:29.719 being seen to be cool, 00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:30.920 being seen to be novel. 00:40:31.719 --> 00:40:32.659 We just speak 00:40:32.659 --> 00:40:34.099 the truth of the gospel 00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:35.599 and we pray. 00:40:36.679 --> 00:40:36.960 Lord, 00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:38.339 make this word true 00:40:38.339 --> 00:40:40.000 in the life of this person 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:40.719 I've just spoken to. 00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:42.399 bring them into your kingdom, 00:40:42.639 --> 00:40:42.739 Lord, 00:40:42.939 --> 00:40:43.839 as you've brought me 00:40:43.839 --> 00:40:44.339 into the kingdom 00:40:44.339 --> 00:40:44.980 through your word. 00:40:49.619 --> 00:40:50.439 And in the end, 00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:50.739 you know, 00:40:51.099 --> 00:40:54.199 it's more important 00:40:54.199 --> 00:40:55.339 for us as a church family 00:40:55.339 --> 00:40:56.239 that we're pleading 00:40:56.239 --> 00:40:56.980 with our Father 00:40:56.980 --> 00:40:57.939 to make effect 00:40:57.939 --> 00:40:58.739 of our words 00:40:58.739 --> 00:41:00.099 as we speak the gospel. 00:41:02.179 --> 00:41:04.639 That's more important 00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:06.219 than it is for us 00:41:06.219 --> 00:41:07.099 directly to try 00:41:07.099 --> 00:41:07.599 and persuade 00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:08.659 any given sinner 00:41:08.659 --> 00:41:10.079 of their need for Jesus. 00:41:11.500 --> 00:41:12.159 The second one's 00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:12.739 not unimportant, 00:41:13.480 --> 00:41:14.579 but the other one's primary. 00:41:19.119 --> 00:41:19.699 But of course, 00:41:19.739 --> 00:41:20.299 we do both, 00:41:21.259 --> 00:41:22.099 knowing that this 00:41:22.099 --> 00:41:22.839 honors the Lord 00:41:22.839 --> 00:41:24.079 and will be the means 00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:25.839 by which our secular family 00:41:25.839 --> 00:41:27.019 and workmates 00:41:27.019 --> 00:41:27.639 will be saved. 00:41:29.859 --> 00:41:31.059 You've got family members 00:41:31.059 --> 00:41:32.119 not converted like me 00:41:32.119 --> 00:41:34.079 to break your heart, 00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:35.299 you long to see them, 00:41:36.099 --> 00:41:37.000 respond to Jesus. 00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:38.260 Do you wonder why, 00:41:38.920 --> 00:41:39.480 as I do, 00:41:39.579 --> 00:41:40.559 why four siblings 00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:42.099 respond to Jesus 00:41:42.099 --> 00:41:42.940 and the fifth one 00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:44.440 is hostile? 00:41:45.320 --> 00:41:46.460 I have no idea 00:41:46.460 --> 00:41:47.099 how it works. 00:41:48.719 --> 00:41:49.940 But I continue 00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:51.079 to ask the Lord 00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:52.239 to use his word 00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:53.980 to make 00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:55.760 my other brother 00:41:55.760 --> 00:41:57.619 alive in Christ 00:41:57.619 --> 00:41:59.340 as he's made me alive 00:41:59.340 --> 00:41:59.639 in Christ. 00:42:00.940 --> 00:42:01.940 I'll let God 00:42:01.940 --> 00:42:02.800 do his business 00:42:02.800 --> 00:42:04.099 because only God 00:42:04.099 --> 00:42:04.940 can do his business 00:42:04.940 --> 00:42:05.980 in my brother's life. 00:42:06.700 --> 00:42:07.740 I'll just be content 00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:08.599 to do my business. 00:42:09.619 --> 00:42:10.099 Let me pray. 00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:12.780 Lord, 00:42:13.159 --> 00:42:14.400 these are 00:42:14.400 --> 00:42:16.320 perplexing questions 00:42:16.320 --> 00:42:16.720 for us 00:42:16.720 --> 00:42:17.400 and questions, 00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:17.659 Lord, 00:42:17.720 --> 00:42:18.420 sometimes that 00:42:18.420 --> 00:42:20.159 we allow to become 00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:21.179 bigger in our minds 00:42:21.179 --> 00:42:22.380 than they ought to be. 00:42:23.079 --> 00:42:23.519 And sometimes, 00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:23.760 Lord, 00:42:23.800 --> 00:42:24.700 we allow tensions 00:42:24.700 --> 00:42:26.380 to debilitate us 00:42:26.380 --> 00:42:27.519 or even derail us 00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:28.039 in a way 00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:28.559 they should never. 00:42:29.760 --> 00:42:30.119 Help us, 00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:30.360 Lord, 00:42:30.440 --> 00:42:31.420 to both 00:42:31.420 --> 00:42:33.820 have inquiring minds 00:42:33.820 --> 00:42:36.019 for your gospel 00:42:36.019 --> 00:42:36.840 and your Bible, 00:42:37.019 --> 00:42:37.180 Lord, 00:42:37.900 --> 00:42:38.659 is sufficient 00:42:38.659 --> 00:42:39.740 to 00:42:39.740 --> 00:42:41.820 take on 00:42:41.820 --> 00:42:42.480 the 00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:44.260 most robust 00:42:44.260 --> 00:42:45.079 of inquiries 00:42:45.079 --> 00:42:45.860 from any 00:42:45.860 --> 00:42:46.440 of your people. 00:42:47.800 --> 00:42:48.460 And yet, 00:42:48.579 --> 00:42:48.740 Lord, 00:42:49.200 --> 00:42:50.220 we also pray 00:42:50.220 --> 00:42:50.860 you might give us 00:42:50.860 --> 00:42:51.639 believing hearts 00:42:51.639 --> 00:42:52.420 so that we might 00:42:52.420 --> 00:42:54.180 actively move 00:42:54.180 --> 00:42:55.200 and hold 00:42:55.200 --> 00:42:55.800 to things 00:42:55.800 --> 00:42:56.960 we don't fully understand. 00:42:58.159 --> 00:42:59.300 I pray in Jesus' name. 00:42:59.500 --> 00:42:59.639 Amen. 00:42:59.639 --> 00:43:01.799 Thank you very much 00:43:01.799 --> 00:43:02.500 for listening to me. 00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:02.559 Thank you.