WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.320 I don't know about you, but I really like it when I can see myself in the Bible. 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:10.620 ! And I'm in this reading this morning. I'm right there. It says this, 00:00:10.620 --> 00:00:15.040 ! Many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:20.980 I'm not a tax collector, but I'm a sinner. I think you might be too. I don't mean to be rude. 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:28.320 But I can be full of anger and envy and jealousy and lust and just human. 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:34.079 But what I find stunning about this passage is that it's us, everyday people, 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:37.420 who are right in there with Jesus having dinner. 00:00:38.100 --> 00:00:44.719 I think it's just remarkable, as Jesus approaches Matthew and a tax collector, 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:51.900 which is synonymous with the word thief and untrustworthy and excluded out of that community 00:00:51.900 --> 00:00:57.659 because of their greed, that Jesus just says, follow me. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:07.040 And it tells us that we don't need to have five years of training or be very careful about not sinning for five days before we preach. 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:08.739 Oh, sorry, did I say that? 00:01:09.060 --> 00:01:10.939 Before we meet with Jesus. 00:01:10.939 --> 00:01:16.739 Or that you need to have got something right to be acceptable to Jesus. 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:18.819 But we are as we are. 00:01:19.060 --> 00:01:21.659 And all it takes is an open heart, an open mind. 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:29.560 And I think the sense of Jesus seeking us out is incredible. 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:39.859 The living God, not waiting in a distant location, but actually proactively coming forward and inviting us and saying, follow me. 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:45.459 So whether that's for the first time for you to give your life to Jesus. 00:01:48.260 --> 00:01:51.140 Or whether Jesus is saying, follow me. 00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:52.659 You've been a bit distant for a while. 00:01:53.819 --> 00:01:57.620 Or whether Jesus is saying, follow me close in this chapter of your life. 00:01:57.620 --> 00:02:04.560 I want you to take a moment to consider actually how Jesus might be speaking to you right now. 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:11.319 The Bible is really clear. 00:02:12.700 --> 00:02:14.400 Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 00:02:17.099 --> 00:02:20.920 And just notice if a little lie creeps in that says, well, maybe others, but not you. 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:30.379 I had a bike ride yesterday morning that was a little unusual. 00:02:31.399 --> 00:02:37.319 A friend of mine has persuaded me to go and do the King Alfred Way with him in two weekends' time, for which I'm wholly unprepared. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:41.379 And it's 350 kilometers over three days. 00:02:42.239 --> 00:02:46.379 And I mentioned this to a colleague of mine, and she just went, oh, yeah, I did that in a day once. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:47.699 I was, oh, thanks for the encouragement. 00:02:47.699 --> 00:02:56.079 I planned the route to make sure that each day we were in a location where we could get on the train and get home if we need to. 00:02:56.280 --> 00:02:57.399 That's how confident I am. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:04.319 Anyway, I'm out for this ride, training, pushing myself to make sure I'm not completely disastrous in two weekends' time. 00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:09.399 And I noticed this dog just standing on the path through all the cars over at Portishead Docks. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:11.899 And it's quite a sort of web going through there. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:13.419 And I looked around. 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:14.099 There's no owner. 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:15.139 And I carried on cycling. 00:03:15.139 --> 00:03:21.659 And about a mile and a half down the road, I came across a gentleman of mature years, we may say. 00:03:22.099 --> 00:03:23.000 And he had a dog whistle. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:26.519 And I was blowing the dog whistle, thinking, that dog can't hear a mile and a half away. 00:03:27.119 --> 00:03:28.479 And he said, have you lost your dog? 00:03:28.739 --> 00:03:30.739 Like, hello, Sherlock Holmes here. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:32.859 He said, yes. 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:34.399 I said, it's small, black, with a white front. 00:03:34.619 --> 00:03:35.259 Yes, that's it. 00:03:35.299 --> 00:03:37.039 I said, it's like a mile and a half back there. 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:38.259 He went, oh, thank you. 00:03:38.519 --> 00:03:42.619 Turned around and walked tiny steps with a big bandage on his foot. 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:43.959 I can't leave him. 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:45.599 I said, shall I get the dog for you? 00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:46.580 He said, yeah, please. 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:47.640 That'd be great. 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:49.980 And I said, what's his name? 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:51.260 And he paused. 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:52.340 And there was a look on his face. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:54.860 And I thought, is he about to say, murder dog? 00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:55.819 Or something like this. 00:03:55.860 --> 00:03:58.020 But he never said, there's toga or something like that. 00:03:58.439 --> 00:03:59.280 I got the lead. 00:03:59.640 --> 00:04:00.920 I said, will he come with me? 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:02.240 Another look of blankness. 00:04:02.300 --> 00:04:04.260 He went, he might jump up at you a bit. 00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:05.040 It wasn't promising. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:07.080 And it wasn't a sort of fluffy dog. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:08.920 It was quite a big teeth dog. 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:10.419 Anyway, I went back. 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:12.199 And I found the dog. 00:04:12.559 --> 00:04:13.339 And I got the lead. 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:14.339 And put on the lead. 00:04:14.379 --> 00:04:14.959 Let me do that. 00:04:15.019 --> 00:04:17.000 But then he wasn't happy at coming at all. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:19.000 And I was pulling on the lead. 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:22.079 And I was trying to cycle along while pulling this dog that was resisting me. 00:04:22.300 --> 00:04:23.379 But this is going to be a disaster. 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:24.680 Got off the bike. 00:04:24.979 --> 00:04:26.399 Clipped along in my cycling shoes. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:27.300 Pulling this dog. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:29.060 Who was jumping and jumping and jumping. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:29.919 And pulling away. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:32.180 Eventually found the chap. 00:04:32.259 --> 00:04:34.920 Who managed to move about 10 metres closer to where we started. 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:37.460 And handed the dog over. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:39.900 And he said, thank you, thank you. 00:04:40.020 --> 00:04:43.120 He said, he got distracted by a deer and ran off. 00:04:44.200 --> 00:04:46.500 And funny enough, as I was out there pulling this dog. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:47.860 I was just chucking to myself. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:50.340 Thinking, this feels a bit like Jesus. 00:04:51.080 --> 00:04:54.259 Who does go out of his way to find us. 00:04:54.520 --> 00:04:56.520 When we are stuck and lost. 00:04:56.519 --> 00:05:02.659 And I certainly, I'm not trying to say I'm some version of Jesus to the canine population of Portishead and Clevedon. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:07.180 But I definitely got distracted by a deer when I was, a different kind of deer when I was 19. 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:10.000 And Jesus came and found me from that one. 00:05:11.859 --> 00:05:14.299 So when Jesus said to Matthew, follow me. 00:05:14.819 --> 00:05:16.259 I just think it's remarkable. 00:05:16.659 --> 00:05:18.039 He got up and followed him. 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:21.479 I was running a leadership program this week. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:22.379 Which is the day job. 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:28.159 And on it, pretty regularly, one of my clients sends team members to it. 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:33.100 And those team members say things like, Chris is an amazing boss. 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:34.639 I love working with him. 00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:38.060 And often will say things like, I would follow him anywhere. 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:41.620 Which is pretty amazing, isn't it, for a leader to get that kind of response. 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:44.579 And he's a really lovely person. 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:45.819 And he's incredibly intelligent. 00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:47.219 And very helpful. 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:48.540 But he isn't Jesus. 00:05:48.540 --> 00:05:51.200 And here, it isn't just charisma. 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:52.360 It isn't just warmth. 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:59.700 It is, I think, the living presence of God in Jesus is the most compelling encounter we can have. 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:03.580 And I can see when Matthew would get up and follow him. 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:07.180 I think he's captivated by the presence of God. 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:19.460 And as a staff team, as an ECC, as we've been praying recently, we feel really stirred that as a church community, we need to increase our responsiveness to the Holy Spirit. 00:06:19.459 --> 00:06:23.699 To create more space for God to move in our services and our meetings. 00:06:24.039 --> 00:06:29.759 To really explore what it means to get that powerful encounter of the fullness of the presence of Jesus. 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:34.639 Here, when we're together, and in our lives outside of this church community. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:37.560 And how we can take it to others as well. 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:45.220 My experience of Jesus saying, follow me, kind of, I think, has three different themes. 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:51.240 One is the moment when I really met with Jesus at age 18 and gave my life to God. 00:06:51.780 --> 00:06:54.680 And direct, follow me for your life. 00:06:56.540 --> 00:07:03.779 There's a follow me as well, which is actually helping with key moments and sort of life choices. 00:07:03.779 --> 00:07:10.559 And there's also a follow me, which is a nudge of the Holy Spirit, in terms of actually do this for me. 00:07:11.099 --> 00:07:13.579 That God is saying, respond now to others. 00:07:15.799 --> 00:07:18.119 I want to give you just three examples of this. 00:07:18.339 --> 00:07:21.859 And then ask you to consider what might God be asking you to consider. 00:07:23.939 --> 00:07:33.219 The first one is that whenever we have big life choices, Helen, my wife and I, will often do this process we call a facilitated conversation with God. 00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:37.819 What we'll do is, Helen might say to me, what's your question that you have got for God? 00:07:38.359 --> 00:07:39.599 And I'll say, well, I think it's this. 00:07:39.719 --> 00:07:41.239 And she'll say, well, ask God now. 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:42.459 And I'll ask God. 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:45.699 And then about eight seconds later, she'll say, what have you heard? 00:07:46.159 --> 00:07:52.659 And it's a way of outworking that verse when two or three of you are gathered together, I am there also. 00:07:53.239 --> 00:07:54.679 And so two of us start to pray. 00:07:55.039 --> 00:07:56.739 And we trust that God is going to speak. 00:07:56.740 --> 00:08:01.040 And because she says after about eight seconds, you know, what have you heard? 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:07.340 It stops me starting thinking about cars or other ridiculous things and stay focused on the question that I have. 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:10.840 So then if I haven't heard anything, I'll say, I've not heard anything. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.160 We try again. 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:14.360 And Helen's listening at the same time. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:20.740 And we've had this experience when we've had these big life choices that we want to have God's hand on, 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:24.600 to know God's guidance, that God speaks really clearly to us. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:25.740 This is the path. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:27.439 Follow me in this. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:31.920 And we had an experience when I was trying to work out big career choices. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:33.379 Do I get another corporate role? 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:35.379 Do I start a business? 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:37.840 Both of us thought I should go and get another role. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:38.779 We're praying. 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:42.500 And we're walking through some National Trust property with Isabel in the pram, 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:43.779 wondering, I have this prayer. 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:48.779 And we ask God the question, corporate job next or go independent? 00:08:48.779 --> 00:08:51.860 Both expecting God to say, get another job. 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:56.259 And God said to us, clearly, go independent now. 00:08:56.819 --> 00:08:58.500 And I looked at Helen and said, what have you heard? 00:08:58.639 --> 00:08:59.559 She heard the same. 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:04.159 And then we're filled with the kind of the joy and fear that that generates when you're going, 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:07.759 oh, let's walk away from the payback and just try and generate money yourself. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:08.079 Good. 00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:12.279 But that sense of knowing that God was breathing life into a direction, 00:09:12.819 --> 00:09:16.360 and we've seen the fruitfulness of that for the last 14 years, 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:19.460 you know you can call on God when the times are tough, 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:22.620 because you're following the path that God has given you. 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:28.480 We had a second example where we were facing a particular challenge, 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:32.240 and a situation that was very disruptive to us as a family. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.320 And we were trying to work out what is our response? 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:36.100 Do we intervene? 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:36.680 Do we push? 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:37.399 Do we challenge? 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:39.360 Are the risks that the thing would escalate? 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:41.600 And so we prayed in the same way. 00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:43.320 God, what are you saying here? 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:44.879 We need your wisdom. 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:47.740 And as we prayed, God said and gave us the verse, 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:50.820 the battle is the Lord's from 1 Samuel. 00:09:51.560 --> 00:09:52.980 So we said, okay, we'll back off. 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:53.639 We'll pray. 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:55.519 We'll trust you, God. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:10:00.100 And the situation did resolve in a way we could never have imagined. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:05.040 The third one is a very sensitive story, 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:08.080 and I've never shared it publicly, 00:10:08.899 --> 00:10:11.860 but I felt prompted to do this this morning. 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:14.720 And there's an element of threat in the story, 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:16.840 but God really moves in it. 00:10:18.460 --> 00:10:22.600 When I was at university, a girlfriend of mine went home 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:25.920 from having been at my horrendous student accommodation, 00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:29.600 and she came back within five minutes and said, 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:32.920 I've seen a bike on its side by a park. 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:35.740 And actually, I felt the Holy Spirit just nudge me and say, 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:36.480 get Alex. 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:38.560 So I've driven back to get you. 00:10:39.040 --> 00:10:40.300 So I jumped in the car with her, 00:10:40.680 --> 00:10:42.159 and we drove up past the park. 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:44.759 And where she had seen the bicycle, 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:46.860 you couldn't see it from the road. 00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:49.720 I mean, it's just of this high bank on top of the bank. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:51.860 But as she's driven, she had seen it, 00:10:51.860 --> 00:10:54.220 and the Holy Spirit had clearly revealed it to her. 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:57.360 Jumped out the car, climbed up the bank, saw the bike, 00:10:57.879 --> 00:10:59.519 saw a glove there, saw a light there, 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:01.179 in the dark, pitch black. 00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:03.579 And I just instinctively knew where to go. 00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:05.919 And I ran across this park, 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:08.720 and it was clearly the Holy Spirit just guiding me. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:11.019 I sprinted right across this park, 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:13.340 huge black park, 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.460 and then came across a woman where a guy 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:17.460 had pulled off the bike and was attacking her. 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:19.319 So I shouted at the guy. 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.000 He ran off. 00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:24.399 The girl pointed out where my girlfriend was at the time. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:25.159 He said, go over there. 00:11:25.579 --> 00:11:26.899 Under that light, she's waiting. 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:29.000 She'll make sure you're safe. 00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:30.419 And then sort of followed the guy. 00:11:31.079 --> 00:11:32.980 And instinctively, I didn't attack him, 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.500 but he jumped into a car. 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:36.399 I got the number plate and called the police. 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:41.759 And it turned out later that he'd got a knife out 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:44.080 and was about to attack him with a knife. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:47.019 So it's wise not to tackle him. 00:11:47.100 --> 00:11:48.480 And the Holy Spirit was obviously nudging. 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:53.120 And when we then chatted to some of our friends at church, 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:55.819 they'd just said that in the prayer meeting the night before, 00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:57.659 they'd had this picture, 00:11:58.399 --> 00:11:59.340 and someone had a word, 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:02.060 of there being a battle over Chichester, 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:05.500 of angels and the enemy fighting out. 00:12:06.280 --> 00:12:08.440 And there was obviously something of this happening on the ground 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:10.700 that God used us to respond to. 00:12:11.800 --> 00:12:14.899 And Unconscious is a very sensitive and very dramatic story, 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:19.280 but I share it because of that sense that we are in a spiritual battle, 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.240 and we can trust God to intervene. 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:25.360 And so that's part of our prayers today, 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:27.779 that where you need the Spirit of God to move, 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:29.100 that God will move. 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:36.019 The second part that stands out for me as I read this 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:37.919 is when it says this. 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:40.360 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked the disciples, 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:43.480 why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? 00:12:44.560 --> 00:12:45.980 And on hearing this, Jesus says, 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:49.139 it's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 00:12:50.060 --> 00:12:52.039 But go and learn what this means. 00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:55.139 I desire mercy and not sacrifice. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.580 For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:04.759 Now, it's pretty easy to think about those pesky Pharisees judging others. 00:13:05.560 --> 00:13:07.460 And we can see ourselves on the inside, 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:09.440 the sinners with Jesus. 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:12.980 And if we've had the revelation of our need for Jesus, 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:14.820 and that it's written in Romans 3, 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:18.659 we've all fallen short of the glory of God. 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:22.259 And amazingly, nothing can separate us from the love of God. 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:27.039 Then our next challenge is to not be looking out at others with that judgment 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:30.379 of making others wrong and ourselves right. 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:34.259 And this is a lot harder than often we think it is. 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:38.179 There's this really interesting psychology. 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:42.139 It's really well tested this theory called the fundamental attribution error. 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:43.799 I'll give an example. 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:48.319 I was driving back from Leeds, having been running a program in the NHS. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:51.159 Later on a Thursday night, I want to get home. 00:13:51.979 --> 00:13:57.419 I pull onto the M1, and I'm trying to move into the outside lane so I can go fairly quickly 00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:58.039 back home. 00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:59.179 And there's a gap. 00:13:59.579 --> 00:14:00.919 And I think it's a big enough gap. 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:03.120 And so I pull into it, I think, with care. 00:14:03.819 --> 00:14:06.579 The person in the car behind me doesn't agree with my assessment 00:14:06.579 --> 00:14:10.360 and likes to flash their lights and wave at me in an unfriendly manner. 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:12.120 And I think, it's fine. 00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:12.779 I'm not worried. 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.879 My judgment is fine. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:14.719 And I took care. 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:19.000 A little bit further down the road, probably within 30 seconds, 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:23.719 a white van driver pulls their van into a gap in front of me 00:14:23.719 --> 00:14:26.579 that is actually larger than one that I have pulled into. 00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:29.680 But I say, idiot, and I flash my lights at him. 00:14:30.780 --> 00:14:34.379 And this is one of our problems, that we judge others on their actions 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:36.300 and ourselves on our intentions. 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:42.020 I could see my intention, my care, my personal needs of getting home to my family. 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:44.960 But for the white van driver, none of those exist. 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:45.860 He's just an idiot. 00:14:46.920 --> 00:14:50.139 And so that sense of this pattern of where we can make ourselves right 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:53.480 and others wrong very easily and very naturally, 00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:56.100 it's called an unconscious defensive routine. 00:14:57.300 --> 00:14:59.800 And I think that's a challenge for all of us as we hear this, 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:04.020 how easily we can be the Pharisee judging others. 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:09.700 And I think the challenge for us is to consider how might we be gracious and loving, 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:12.220 spot the defences and relax them, 00:15:12.540 --> 00:15:15.120 look for the positive intent in someone else, 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:19.300 and really take care that we're not falling into a place of making others wrong 00:15:19.300 --> 00:15:22.360 amongst our community, with our neighbours, 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:25.060 with others we meet around the town. 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:29.839 In that sense that we are the arms and legs and voice of Jesus. 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:32.859 And as I mentioned the last time I spoke, 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.159 my lovely friend, who's a vicar called Tony, 00:15:35.579 --> 00:15:39.759 says, remember, you're probably the only Bible that they are reading. 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:41.739 Such a beautiful challenge. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:46.019 Helen and I, in our first home, 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:47.799 when we lived in Chittister, 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:52.159 we rented this flat in this block of council flats, 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:54.519 and some had been bought privately and sold, 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:57.819 and we were renting one of those. 00:15:58.319 --> 00:16:01.639 And in the flat above us was a mother and her son, 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.960 a son called Els. 00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:05.960 And Els was in a very troubled period of his life, 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:11.200 and he was playing some of the most, to me, horrendous music, 00:16:11.280 --> 00:16:12.379 at incredible volume, 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:15.320 to the very thin floor or ceiling to us. 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:19.759 And there was one time when Helen telephoned me when I was up at work, 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:21.259 and she was working from home, 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.139 and she said, 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:26.900 Els is throwing all his mum's property out of the window, 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:29.500 and some of it's on fire. 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:33.659 So I kind of rushed back from the university I was working in, 00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:34.879 went up and knocked on the door, 00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:35.939 and had a good talk with Els, 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:36.939 and got them to sort it out. 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.319 It got worse, 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.139 because he was really upset and angry with his mum 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:42.039 for taking some of his music, 00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:44.379 and limiting him in some ways, 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:46.459 and he'd managed in her sleep 00:16:46.459 --> 00:16:49.439 to draw a moustache on her face in permanent ink, 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:51.059 and then put a cigarette in her mouth, 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.939 and taken a photo, 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:54.879 and saw the legs off her bed, 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.759 but propped it up, 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:57.159 so when she got into bed it collapsed. 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:59.919 Things weren't going very well. 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:02.860 And then one night there's a kerfuffle outside the flat, 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.840 and Helen went out, 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:06.339 and he'd managed to get some vodka, 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:08.940 and then was trying to sell his skateboard to a 90-year-old 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.559 to raise more money for more drink. 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.960 It wasn't going very well. 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.099 It was pretty annoying, 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.920 and it was in really enclosed quarters. 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:17.140 And very easy to get annoyed, 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.579 like most of the neighbours, 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:20.660 who were petitioning to the council 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:24.000 that they get removed as a family out of this block. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:27.720 Helen in particular was great at enrolling Els, 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.700 and connecting with him, 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.859 and he'd often come down and have a chat. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:34.279 And then she invited him to one of her gigs, 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:35.579 where the band she managed, 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:38.339 a bunch of Christian lads called Steve, 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:39.319 the band's called Steve, 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:40.380 were playing at a gig. 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:42.660 Els came along, loved it. 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:47.059 So she got one of the musicians to write out the music, 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.039 and give it to him, 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:51.480 and then we had eight months of listening to him 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:53.920 murdering this music through the floorboards, 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.720 which was challenging, 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:57.279 but it definitely got better. 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.359 And then a few years later, 00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:02.700 we heard Els, married, young family, 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.980 and a worship leader. 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:10.579 Leading other people to God. 00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:17.259 So I just want to encourage us 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:21.679 to respond to how the Spirit might be saying, 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.019 follow me. 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:28.500 Maybe the first time to really give your heart to God. 00:18:29.699 --> 00:18:33.279 Maybe God's saying, follow me, come closer. 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.339 You've gone distant. 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:38.299 Maybe the Holy Spirit is saying, 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:41.259 hey, follow me in this way right now. 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:43.980 Nudging us, prompting us to respond, 00:18:44.699 --> 00:18:48.919 to be his hands and feet and voice to others. 00:18:50.899 --> 00:18:52.339 Let's just take a moment to pray, 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.379 and let the Holy Spirit nudge us in this moment. 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:55.879 Okay. 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.419 Lord, we thank you 00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:04.720 that there isn't a barrier 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.560 to coming to you, 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:09.820 the living, loving God. 00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:13.680 You don't require some special religious ceremony. 00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:16.460 You don't require a set of qualifications, 00:19:17.320 --> 00:19:19.480 but there is no barrier to any of us 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:21.300 to access your love, 00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.560 your forgiveness, 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:23.840 your grace, 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.200 and your involvement 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.759 in the very essence of our lives. 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.140 And so we come before you now 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:31.720 and say, Holy Spirit, 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:33.279 would you be with us? 00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:35.259 Would you fill us? 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:38.140 Would you speak to us? 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:41.120 Would you be in the very challenges 00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:41.940 we are facing? 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:44.680 Would you bring breakthrough 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:46.480 where it is needed, 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:49.220 however much in the dark 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.120 we may feel? 00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:54.319 Would you tune our ears 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:55.900 to hear your voice 00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:57.980 and guide us in this week 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.900 with our friends, 00:19:59.440 --> 00:19:59.820 neighbours, 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.740 and those we're frustrated with? 00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:04.360 Lords, 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.960 would you bring your light 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.840 to the darkness 00:20:06.840 --> 00:20:09.080 and give hope 00:20:09.080 --> 00:20:09.960 and restore? 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.019 Lord, 00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:14.200 would you reveal to us 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.620 that we are chosen, 00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:21.140 that we're not forsaken? 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:21.880 Lord, 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:22.080 Lord, 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.080 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:24.079 Amen.