WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.600 Let's pray. 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:06.640 Heavenly Father, would you glorify your name this morning? 00:00:07.140 --> 00:00:11.720 Would you speak through me as I bring these words to these people? 00:00:13.060 --> 00:00:17.780 And would you continue the great mission that Jesus began 00:00:17.780 --> 00:00:21.839 when he heard some people, some foreigners, 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:24.320 wanted to hear from him? 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:31.039 I thank you that your son came to die for all people. 00:00:32.480 --> 00:00:37.920 And as a room full of non-Hebrews and people from all over the world, 00:00:38.899 --> 00:00:43.679 I ask, Father, that you would glorify your name in this place. 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:45.159 Show us Jesus. 00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:47.159 Bring people from darkness to light. 00:00:48.760 --> 00:00:50.960 Equip us as his followers. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:57.620 And give me your grace as a flawed man as I preach. 00:00:57.880 --> 00:00:58.060 Amen. 00:00:58.840 --> 00:00:59.280 Amen. 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:01.359 Amen. 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:03.439 My name is Nick. 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:06.359 I'm on the pastoral team here at St. Paul's. 00:01:06.599 --> 00:01:10.099 I'm probably a little loud because I can hear myself bouncing off all these walls. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:14.439 Maybe you just turn me down a bit, Greg, because my voice is warming up. 00:01:17.140 --> 00:01:20.200 Do you want to live a good life? 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:23.239 Everyone does. 00:01:23.899 --> 00:01:24.119 Right? 00:01:25.559 --> 00:01:27.019 But what is a good life? 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:29.819 Shut your eyes. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:34.059 Imagine what your life looks like. 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:37.319 Have you left a legacy? 00:01:37.799 --> 00:01:39.179 Is it full of great successes? 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:42.579 Did you will an inheritance to your family? 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:44.700 Did you share great memories? 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:46.599 Live great experiences? 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:48.599 Secure comforts? 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:50.099 Passed down wisdom? 00:01:50.939 --> 00:01:51.959 Showed respect? 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:53.799 Enjoyed friendships? 00:01:55.679 --> 00:01:56.840 No regrets? 00:01:58.519 --> 00:01:59.599 You can open your eyes. 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:07.459 The world will tell you how to pursue the good life. 00:02:07.459 --> 00:02:09.359 Your family? 00:02:09.359 --> 00:02:11.199 Your culture? 00:02:12.139 --> 00:02:13.739 Media and advertising? 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:22.900 A good life from your youth to your death is defined for you. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:27.400 It might even change generation to generation and year by year. 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:34.260 It's plastered on billboards and it's spoken quietly and subtly in the background. 00:02:35.980 --> 00:02:41.099 It's all pointing you to a good life that benefits you the most in the end. 00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:47.400 So in response to the world, you are pursuing your good life. 00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:52.340 Some of what the world says you should do in your life, you accept. 00:02:52.659 --> 00:02:53.620 And some you reject. 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:58.800 You see it in your choices. 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:04.860 You see it in how you live your every day. 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:06.879 And we can see you living that life. 00:03:08.060 --> 00:03:09.539 And we can't see. 00:03:10.420 --> 00:03:14.080 But what you live by is your desires and your motivations. 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:19.960 That all year by year are about pursuing your good life. 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:25.000 You might have even reassessed what a good life looks like and written down some resolutions. 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:27.780 Hands up if you've got a list of New Year's resolutions. 00:03:29.020 --> 00:03:29.300 Anyone? 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:31.319 Anyone written them down? 00:03:32.480 --> 00:03:38.379 Anyone got them in their phone or in their diary or on their fridge or on a tattoo? 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:41.819 Anyone broken their resolutions already? 00:03:44.600 --> 00:03:46.219 It's my birthday this week. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:49.000 I've just, yeah, well done to me. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:49.699 I got old. 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:50.300 I hung around. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:57.020 But I like to write some resolutions to mark every year of my life. 00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:05.420 They're my new plans for hope and change as I reassess what a good life looks like for me. 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:08.680 But that's the worldly process. 00:04:09.699 --> 00:04:13.080 We decide what the good life is for us. 00:04:13.740 --> 00:04:17.139 But Christians believe that God defines a good life. 00:04:17.139 --> 00:04:23.379 He plans and purposes every life in a time and a place. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:27.899 And he bids us choose his way over ours. 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:32.819 He shows us the good life through Jesus. 00:04:32.819 --> 00:04:39.579 Jesus gives his followers principles for living a good life as our example. 00:04:40.819 --> 00:04:43.439 And they counter everything that the world says is good. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:52.139 What your family or your culture, the media, the billboard, say is a good life. 00:04:52.139 --> 00:04:55.839 Jesus will show you how to live another way. 00:04:57.919 --> 00:05:05.839 The good life shows us how to live for others and not ourselves. 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:10.879 Living a worldly way to a good life will lead to death, says Jesus. 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:18.779 But following him his way will lead to the good life and to eternity with him. 00:05:18.779 --> 00:05:29.119 So if you want to live a good life and you want to follow Jesus, we need to know what that life looks like. 00:05:29.419 --> 00:05:29.500 Right? 00:05:30.699 --> 00:05:31.539 Well, good news. 00:05:31.659 --> 00:05:37.000 We're in a season of church called Running the Race where we look into the lives of Christians throughout history 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:43.519 from as Hebrews that Ash quoted at the beginning of church today are in this great cloud of witnesses. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:48.879 People who've lived life before that we might follow like them in their following of Jesus. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:58.040 And today we're going to meet a very faithful, very flawed man called Adoniram. 00:05:59.579 --> 00:06:02.399 Now, we don't have a name tag machine working today. 00:06:03.019 --> 00:06:04.279 Anyone here called Adoniram? 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:04.919 Adoniram. 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:07.519 Now, it's not a very popular name anymore. 00:06:08.419 --> 00:06:09.659 I'm very thankful for that. 00:06:09.699 --> 00:06:12.679 It's very tricky to type, write down and remember. 00:06:13.679 --> 00:06:15.459 But he's who we're going to hear about today. 00:06:16.579 --> 00:06:23.339 You'll see how God helped turn Adoniram from his self-defined worldly view of a good life 00:06:23.339 --> 00:06:26.279 towards God's good life for him. 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:33.219 And my hope is that you'll discover a vision of God's good life for you. 00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:41.019 Take a step toward discovering what that looks like as he calls you into a good life, 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:45.299 as defined in John chapter 12. 00:06:46.379 --> 00:06:48.139 So let's get to know Adoniram a little bit. 00:06:48.899 --> 00:06:50.359 Let's look at our passage today. 00:06:50.799 --> 00:06:55.539 And let's see how living God's good life made an impact for Adoniram. 00:06:55.540 --> 00:06:55.620 Adoniram. 00:06:56.500 --> 00:07:03.240 He was born over 200 years ago, in the late 1700s, in the northeast of America. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:05.280 His parents were Christians. 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:06.720 His dad was a pastor. 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:10.580 Adoniram was a very gifted child. 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:12.480 Very. 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:17.180 He graduated high school at 15. 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:19.939 He entered university at 16. 00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:23.819 He was top of the class and valedictorian at 19. 00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:31.360 But by the time he finished university, he declared that he had no more faith in Jesus. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:39.980 You see, young Adoniram met people at university who spoke against the Christian worldview. 00:07:39.980 --> 00:07:48.140 His friend at uni, Jacob Eames, led him into a way of thinking called deism, 00:07:48.580 --> 00:07:57.780 where one's logic and reason and view of the world was the only acceptable way that you could find God. 00:07:57.779 --> 00:08:10.219 Adoniram publicly rejected the church and its message, following Eames' way of thinking into skepticism against the church, 00:08:11.059 --> 00:08:14.939 into his own self-determined view of reality. 00:08:15.859 --> 00:08:18.019 He gave up becoming a pastor like his father. 00:08:19.359 --> 00:08:21.539 He ended up becoming a playwright. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:28.360 He banded together with like-minded men and wandered around living in the moment. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:38.680 He had a goal to move to New York and write plays and maybe live a bit of the good life that the media says is a good life that you and I wouldn't know. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:46.159 But that life led him into broken relationships, into petty crime, 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:53.059 and away from the good he expected to get out of that good way of life. 00:08:54.179 --> 00:09:00.579 So he decided to reboot, set some new resolutions. 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:03.219 He thought, I'll go right back to the start. 00:09:03.319 --> 00:09:06.539 I'll go home and I'll figure out my new way. 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:10.860 So he went home. 00:09:10.860 --> 00:09:19.539 But the final night before he got there, he couldn't get all the way home, so he had to stop at a country inn. 00:09:20.800 --> 00:09:25.980 So he went to find his room for the night and they said, yeah, we've got a room, but there's a problem. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:31.740 The person in the room next to you is dying. 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:34.759 We're not sure he's going to live through the night. 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:47.120 With the choice of sleeping outside or in a bed, Adoniram took the bed and the night was full of screams and anxiety. 00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:50.039 There was beating on the wall. 00:09:52.819 --> 00:09:56.759 And somehow Adoniram managed to fall asleep and woke up the next morning to silence. 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:57.480 Silence. 00:09:58.899 --> 00:10:06.539 And as Adoniram prepared to leave, he went downstairs and discovered that the man next door had indeed died. 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:09.220 And who he was. 00:10:10.980 --> 00:10:12.500 His name was Eames. 00:10:14.100 --> 00:10:15.240 Jacob Eames. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:21.139 Adoniram had witnessed his friend's violent end. 00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:27.699 Eames, the man Adoniram had followed into the good life that had failed him, was now dead in it. 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:30.620 Adoniram just froze. 00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:34.720 He went to a chair and sat for an hour. 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:40.199 Thinking about how he was probably headed the same way. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:49.319 And over time, over time, he saw that that moment was a miracle. 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:54.960 That moment was a way that God saved his life. 00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:58.139 And by no means was it a coincidence. 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:05.059 God's intervention here led Adoniram not just to go home and rethink his life, 00:11:05.059 --> 00:11:14.080 but actually reconsider what a God who would care so much to put him in that inn on that night might offer him. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:20.700 And to his family's joy and the shock of his peers, he became a Christian. 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:22.240 Born again. 00:11:22.540 --> 00:11:23.420 Visibly different. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:27.000 Once spiritually dead. 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:28.240 Now alive. 00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:30.660 Eager to live God's good life. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.960 Adoniram took the Bible seriously. 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.879 He spent time in it. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:40.080 He allowed his worldview to be reshaped by it. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:42.720 By Jesus' principles of a good life. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:51.060 And in John 12, we see one of Jesus' principles for living that Adoniram exemplified in his life. 00:11:51.520 --> 00:11:52.580 That he lived out. 00:11:52.920 --> 00:11:54.160 So grab your Bibles out. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:56.139 Go to John 12. 00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:57.879 Sarah's just read. 00:11:58.520 --> 00:11:59.940 Have a look at verse 25. 00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:00.920 I'm going to read from there. 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:07.759 Anyone who loves their life will lose it. 00:12:09.299 --> 00:12:13.599 While anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:17.279 Whoever serves me must follow me. 00:12:18.319 --> 00:12:21.360 And where I am, my servant also will be. 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:25.779 My Father will honor the one who serves me. 00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:39.279 As people marinating in a modern world, 200 years after Adoniram, I've got to tell you, this passage should be offensive to you. 00:12:39.819 --> 00:12:42.360 Jesus says, hate your life in the world. 00:12:43.439 --> 00:12:47.100 Hate what the world says is a good life. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:51.299 As it only leads to death and eternity without God. 00:12:51.299 --> 00:12:57.000 Adoniram had just had a lived experience seeing that. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:05.459 His friend who had led him astray, but who he respected greatly, was dead. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:09.740 The good life of this world is no good life at all. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:15.919 And then Jesus says, the Father will honor the one who serves him. 00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:18.879 And receive his presence for eternity. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:24.379 But to receive God, we must hate. 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.939 Strong word. 00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:30.200 Hate the good looking life that the world shows us. 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:34.759 And follow Jesus into a good life that he defines. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:40.659 Hating worldly good life is costly and isolating. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:48.740 And Adoniram took Jesus so seriously that he was willing to pay whatever cost Jesus was calling him to pay. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:52.539 And here's the cost of hating our life in the world. 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:54.919 Look at verse 24. 00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:06.240 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:10.879 But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:15.480 Jesus is not talking about farming. 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:22.100 This is a parable that he tells, describing his good life. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:25.419 Jesus' good life for himself. 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:27.320 He is the seed. 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.539 He's going to die. 00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:31.959 It's his plan. 00:14:31.959 --> 00:14:33.480 As it says in verse 33. 00:14:33.599 --> 00:14:34.360 It's his plan. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:40.000 He alone can hate the life of the world this way. 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:42.379 For he died for the sins of all people. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.719 And because he died, fruit can grow. 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:48.240 His followers are the fruit. 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:52.799 And Jesus knows the intensity, the plan for his good life. 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:55.859 Sarah read it really beautifully in verse 27. 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:58.139 Now my soul is troubled. 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.319 And what shall I say? 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:01.719 Father, save me from this hour? 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:04.919 No, it was for this very reason. 00:15:06.079 --> 00:15:07.500 I came to this hour. 00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:16.859 Jesus, fully aware of his coming death, chose to let his father define his good life. 00:15:17.079 --> 00:15:21.259 To bear the wrath of God for the sin of humanity. 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:26.500 We cannot know that loss or imagine the cost. 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:30.539 But Jesus did not remain a single seed. 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:35.840 His father's plan was for fruit. 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:39.939 And he yielded to that good life. 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:46.460 And if you trust in Jesus, you are a seed of Christ. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:49.620 You are the fruit of his death. 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:51.679 It cost Jesus everything. 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:55.720 For you to have his good life to live. 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:03.159 This parable is also an example to follow. 00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:06.500 And we do not need to die for the sins of others. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:09.240 Because Jesus did that once and for all. 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:19.840 But we are to hate our worldly life to the point of readiness to lose all that the world says is a good life. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:21.840 Our comforts. 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.300 Our safety. 00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:25.139 Successes. 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:26.080 Our reputation. 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:29.460 Hating that stuff because it's not the good life. 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:35.360 To be a seed of Christ is to bear fruit. 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.280 That's the good life. 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:41.779 It's costly. 00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:41.860 It's costly. 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:44.679 And it's good. 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.899 His example. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:53.319 Lived out in the most extreme possible way. 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:57.699 Is that we, his followers, would just like him not remain a single seed. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.139 But to bear him fruit. 00:16:59.139 --> 00:16:59.899 Dying. 00:16:59.899 --> 00:16:59.939 Dying. 00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:05.920 Being thrown deliberately into the ground so that there would be fruit born. 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:09.539 To give our life away for the sake of others. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.900 That whether it be on a train. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.240 In your household. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.359 In Chatswood. 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.960 Or the other side of the world. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:21.379 That in a spiritual desert. 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:24.019 There would be life through Jesus Christ. 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:28.940 And who were those fruit? 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.539 Look back at verse 20. 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:32.740 Will you? 00:17:33.639 --> 00:17:34.400 Verse 20. 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.099 Some Greeks. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.980 Some non-Jews. 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:40.639 Asked to see Jesus. 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:46.160 They go and speak to the disciples who have Greek names. 00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:47.299 Andrew and Philip. 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.700 Who probably understood their language. 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:53.299 And all we know is that Jesus heard about it. 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.480 He didn't speak to them. 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:56.940 No. 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.659 He had a plan. 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:00.879 Jesus must have been waiting for this moment. 00:18:01.379 --> 00:18:03.559 Like a wise farmer. 00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:04.619 Watchful. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:07.299 Looking for the right season to plant the seed. 00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:08.500 That moment. 00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:09.440 That request. 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:12.039 From people from a foreign land. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.899 To know him. 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.279 To hear from him. 00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:17.539 That was when he knew he had to die. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.839 Verse 27. 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:24.259 It was for this reason. 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:26.019 Verse 23. 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.139 And at this hour. 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:29.919 That Jesus came to be planted. 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.059 And raised to life. 00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:33.619 For all people. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.679 Verse 32. 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.799 All people. 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.819 Good life is following Jesus. 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.619 So that. 00:18:45.199 --> 00:18:46.619 We are to be planted. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.699 And crops might grow. 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:49.580 Multiplying salvation. 00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:50.299 Multiplying salvation. 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.620 Wherever Jesus plants us. 00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:56.100 That's the good life following Jesus. 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.880 Self-sacrifice. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.580 For the sake of the salvation of others. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.539 Adoniram heard this. 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:09.400 And fixed his remaining life on becoming a missionary. 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:12.900 He handed over his good life. 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.700 In the world. 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:19.140 To a people who knew nothing about the Bible or Jesus. 00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:20.540 In Burma. 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.259 In Asia. 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:24.320 It's now called Myanmar. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:28.980 We're going to hear. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:34.079 Where this good life led Adoniram. 00:19:36.939 --> 00:19:39.379 This story changed my life. 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:43.559 I really hope you're encouraged by it. 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:48.220 Adoniram had to fight the church. 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.279 To go on mission. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:52.960 It seems laughable nowadays. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:54.899 Church. 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:58.559 Sometimes looks like it's fighting for people. 00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.519 To go on mission. 00:20:00.639 --> 00:20:02.579 But no one had ever left America. 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.720 To do anything like this. 00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.899 He had to get support. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.259 And permission to travel. 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:10.139 It would take 18 months. 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.879 He had to learn the language. 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.639 He had to word by word. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.899 Translate the Bible. 00:20:15.899 --> 00:20:18.000 From original language. 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.539 Into Burmese. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:23.700 All while the locals didn't want him there. 00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:24.700 Would persecute him. 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.559 Isolate him. 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:28.500 And refuse to accept him as a white person. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.200 All the message he carried. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.059 And Adoniram knew this. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.519 And willingly took all the risks. 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:37.180 In fact he knew it is a certainty. 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.359 That this mission. 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:40.339 Would lead to his death. 00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.460 Kill him. 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:45.039 Perhaps without seeing any fruit. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:50.259 But he was compelled by God's persistence with him. 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:53.539 His immeasurable grace over his life. 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:56.240 To take the message of Jesus to a people. 00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:58.220 Who would never hear it. 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:01.920 Unless Adoniram went to tell them. 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:06.399 But he didn't risk it alone. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:09.700 He got married. 00:21:12.320 --> 00:21:14.460 To a young Christian girl named Anne. 00:21:18.040 --> 00:21:21.019 Listen to Adoniram's letter. 00:21:21.820 --> 00:21:23.200 To Anne's father. 00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.780 Asking for her. 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.920 His permission. 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.740 To get married. 00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:30.540 It was Adoniram. 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:33.519 I have now to ask. 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.700 Whether you can consent. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:36.019 To part with your daughter. 00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:37.200 Early next spring. 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.099 That sounds normal. 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:42.159 To see her no more in this world. 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.139 Whether you can consent. 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:45.839 To her departure. 00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:47.119 And her subjection. 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:49.119 To the hardships and sufferings. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:50.180 Of missionary life. 00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:51.799 Whether you can consent. 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.779 To her exposure. 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:54.399 To the dangers of the ocean. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:56.099 They had to travel by ship. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.740 The fatal influence. 00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.879 Of the southern climate. 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.819 Want and distress. 00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:02.740 Degradation. 00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:03.200 Insult. 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.859 Persecution. 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:05.099 And perhaps a violent death. 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.819 Can you consent to all this. 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:08.500 For the sake of him. 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.940 Who left his heavenly home. 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.139 And died for her. 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.079 And for you. 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.940 For the sake of perishing. 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.139 Immortal souls. 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.599 For the sake of Zion. 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.960 And the glory of God. 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.940 Can you consent to all this. 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:21.159 In hope. 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:23.139 Of soon meeting your daughter. 00:22:23.139 --> 00:22:24.539 In a world of glory. 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:26.180 With the crown of the righteous. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.480 Brightened. 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:30.099 With the acclamations of praise. 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:31.559 Which shall resound. 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.579 To her savior. 00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:34.319 From the lost. 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:35.179 Saved. 00:22:35.399 --> 00:22:36.759 Through her means. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.199 From eternal woe. 00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:39.779 And despair. 00:22:42.939 --> 00:22:44.259 That's the good life. 00:22:44.439 --> 00:22:45.439 That Adoniram offered. 00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:46.199 To this girl. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:49.259 And she was just as keen. 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.419 To live it with him. 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:53.900 And listen to. 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.539 Listen to what. 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.720 You might reflectively. 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:01.519 If you're a child. 00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:02.000 Or a parent. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.800 Might expect this father to say. 00:23:06.800 --> 00:23:07.820 His father said. 00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.960 If she wants to go. 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.680 Okay. 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:18.100 Ann's dad declared that. 00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:19.039 That life. 00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:21.380 Was a good life. 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.060 For his little girl. 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.779 I could stop here. 00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.720 And this story be enough. 00:23:28.820 --> 00:23:29.480 I'm astounded. 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:30.640 That this young married couple. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.720 Exchanged their youth. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.680 And young love. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.220 For hardship. 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:34.980 And loss. 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:37.120 And by the willingness. 00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:37.819 Of a father. 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:39.579 To hand over his daughter. 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.259 To a death. 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.880 That he can't prevent. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.279 But you need to hear. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.339 This whole story. 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:47.160 So I'm going to speed through. 00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:48.539 What happened to Adoniram. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.059 Ann. 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:50.059 And their family. 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.839 And as I do. 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.460 I encourage you. 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.819 To keep your eyes open. 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:55.660 And consider whether you agree. 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.279 If this. 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.799 That this is a good life. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.660 Ann and Adoniram. 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.240 Made it. 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:05.759 To Rangoon. 00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:06.519 Their new home. 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.019 In Burma. 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.940 In 1813. 00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.680 And they were immediately. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:11.039 Battling sickness. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:12.960 Malaria. 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:13.740 Dysentery. 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.220 Cholera. 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.140 Whole bunch of diseases. 00:24:16.140 --> 00:24:17.460 That we have names for now. 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.839 That they could not even. 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.000 Dream of battling. 00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.559 Back then. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.099 And while Adoniram. 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.079 Studied the language. 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:24.299 And translated the Bible. 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.360 Ann raised. 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:26.539 Children. 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:28.019 They raised their family. 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:31.039 Three out of four. 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:33.620 Of Adoniram's children. 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:36.819 And Ann's children died. 00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:40.879 Ann wrote this letter home. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.619 To her friend. 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.119 After the death. 00:24:43.179 --> 00:24:44.000 Of their only son. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:47.779 Our hearts were bound up. 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.480 With this child. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:50.039 We felt he was. 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.400 Our earthly all. 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.480 Our only source. 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.640 Of innocent recreation. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.039 In this heathen land. 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:57.380 But God saw it necessary. 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.299 To remind us. 00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.960 Of our error. 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.359 And to strip us. 00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:01.940 Of our only little all. 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:04.279 Oh may it not be in vain. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.059 That he has done it. 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:06.680 May we so improve it. 00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:06.920 That. 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:09.440 He will stay his hand. 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:09.940 And say. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:10.819 It is enough. 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:15.919 Soon after. 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.359 Adoniram was imprisoned. 00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:18.419 Imprisoned. 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.480 They rounded up everyone. 00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.519 Who was a foreigner. 00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:23.700 All the men. 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.419 And imprisoned them. 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.639 He was. 00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.559 Tortured horribly. 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:33.240 And you didn't get food. 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:34.099 Or help at all. 00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:35.179 Unless someone came to. 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.319 Help you in prison. 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.059 So Ann. 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.619 Every day. 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:39.839 Went back and forth. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:41.819 From their child. 00:25:41.919 --> 00:25:42.439 To the prison. 00:25:44.419 --> 00:25:45.599 To care for Adoniram. 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.939 They had colleagues. 00:25:48.939 --> 00:25:50.659 Who had gone with them. 00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:51.339 On the mission. 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.240 Some of whom died. 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.119 During this season. 00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:56.579 And then. 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.699 Even when Adoniram. 00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.379 Was released. 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.500 At long last. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.439 Ann and the child. 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.079 Were very sick. 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:03.159 And then the child died. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.000 And then Ann died. 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.579 And Adoniram. 00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:09.799 Just broke. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:13.639 He lost all sense. 00:26:13.679 --> 00:26:14.419 Of God's nearness. 00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:15.119 And voice. 00:26:15.699 --> 00:26:16.480 He wandered. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.279 In his faith. 00:26:17.699 --> 00:26:19.039 Doubting the last decade. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.599 Or so. 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.980 Of trying to get. 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.599 A mission. 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.459 In Burma. 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:23.759 Off. 00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:24.159 Up. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.019 Up and running. 00:26:25.199 --> 00:26:25.259 And. 00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:26.419 He just slipped. 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.139 Into despair. 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.759 His mental health. 00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.299 Failed him. 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.819 In his fear. 00:26:31.939 --> 00:26:32.579 He destroyed. 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:33.599 Everything. 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.319 He'd written down. 00:26:35.679 --> 00:26:36.139 Thankfully. 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.279 Not his translation. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:37.819 Work. 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.939 But every letter. 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.059 He even. 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.839 Wrote a final letter home. 00:26:42.939 --> 00:26:43.240 To say. 00:26:43.379 --> 00:26:44.299 Please destroy. 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.960 All my possessions. 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.159 Everything I've written. 00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:48.740 To anyone. 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.839 Organize it. 00:26:49.879 --> 00:26:50.759 For it to be destroyed. 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.619 Hoping to somehow. 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.039 A plea. 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.939 Appease God. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.179 And to stop the horrors. 00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.139 In his life. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.000 And in his mind. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:00.259 He even dug. 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.960 His own grave. 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:01.880 And sat by it. 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.920 And that could have been. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.480 Where it ended. 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.720 But he got. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:08.960 One more letter. 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.480 One more letter. 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.359 With bad news. 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.599 But God. 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.519 Did another miracle. 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.779 And saved. 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.640 Adoniram's life. 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.819 Saved him from himself. 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.220 Again. 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:25.460 Adoniram's brother. 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.600 Had turned away. 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.420 From Christianity. 00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:28.500 When he was young. 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.299 As he followed. 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:31.259 In his older brother's footsteps. 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.600 Away from Jesus. 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.200 Adoniram. 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:35.880 Had pleaded. 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.500 With his brother. 00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.839 Day after day. 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.079 Even on the dock. 00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:40.279 Before getting on the boat. 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:40.900 To Burma. 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.579 Believe in Jesus. 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:45.160 There is no other good life. 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.640 And he wasn't a believer. 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:48.339 When he left. 00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:49.559 But this letter. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.240 Told that before his death. 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.659 This brother had come to faith. 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:53.599 In Jesus. 00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:55.220 And the joy. 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.059 Of God. 00:27:56.619 --> 00:27:57.059 Reignited. 00:27:57.639 --> 00:27:58.199 In Adoniram. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.679 Bad news. 00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:06.740 Gave him hope. 00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.799 And it took a year. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:11.359 But he returned to himself. 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.539 To God. 00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.259 And to the mission. 00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.019 That he and Anne. 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.779 Had established. 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:19.720 And it was now. 00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:21.079 1831. 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:24.159 And the gospel. 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.119 Exploded. 00:28:25.199 --> 00:28:25.899 Across Burma. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:28.159 Nothing changed. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.919 In the way they did their ministry. 00:28:32.959 --> 00:28:34.119 But all of a sudden. 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.259 People were traveling. 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:37.299 Up to five months journey. 00:28:37.679 --> 00:28:38.480 To come and hear. 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.419 The Jesus man. 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.980 The Jesus man. 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.579 They called. 00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:42.359 Adoniram. 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:46.579 They came to receive. 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.159 The gospel. 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.500 In their own language. 00:28:49.979 --> 00:28:51.119 They came to hear. 00:28:51.219 --> 00:28:51.740 A flawed. 00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:53.119 Broken person. 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:55.179 Who was from somewhere else. 00:28:55.459 --> 00:28:57.159 Tell them of what they needed. 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.379 Deep in their heart. 00:28:59.659 --> 00:29:00.439 The lowest. 00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:01.779 To the most powerful. 00:29:01.979 --> 00:29:03.159 Began to long for Jesus. 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:04.799 And accept the message of hope. 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.979 To know God. 00:29:06.219 --> 00:29:07.559 Have eternity with him. 00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:09.339 Through Jesus death. 00:29:09.419 --> 00:29:10.179 In their place. 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.059 Thousands. 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:12.299 Came to faith. 00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:13.879 Hundreds. 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.279 Were trained. 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.159 To share the gospel. 00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.279 And plant churches. 00:29:19.139 --> 00:29:19.740 Fruit. 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.519 From a dead. 00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:22.480 Seed. 00:29:23.639 --> 00:29:24.220 Eight years. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.299 After Anne died. 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.039 Adoniram. 00:29:26.179 --> 00:29:26.960 Got married again. 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:29.099 He married a widow. 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.339 Of a missionary. 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.319 In a far off. 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.259 Country. 00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:32.960 Like him. 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.700 Another country. 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:34.919 Whose husband. 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:35.759 Had passed away. 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.279 While they. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:38.379 Were sharing the gospel. 00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:38.740 There. 00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.319 And Adoniram. 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.039 Heard of her. 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.259 Began to write letters. 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:41.700 To her. 00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:43.359 And they. 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.099 Got married. 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.200 And she. 00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:46.319 Left that mission. 00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:47.139 In good hands. 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.399 To come and join Adoniram. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:50.639 Her name was Sarah. 00:29:52.899 --> 00:29:54.059 They share the gospel. 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.839 In Burma together. 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.779 Until she too. 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.599 Sadly. 00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.259 Passed away. 00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.639 And then. 00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:00.779 Years later. 00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:01.240 Adoniram. 00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:02.159 Got married again. 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:05.900 To a like minded. 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.320 Follower of Jesus. 00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:08.040 Named Emily. 00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:11.860 Who even though she was a good 20 years younger than him. 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.940 There's no scandal. 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:17.600 Because she signed off to a life following Jesus. 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:21.480 And followed Adoniram. 00:30:22.060 --> 00:30:23.320 Even beyond his death. 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:25.019 Sharing the gospel in Burma. 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:28.680 There's so much I'm leaving out. 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.639 I said this week. 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.079 I could. 00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:34.460 Confidently. 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:36.099 Give a six hour sermon. 00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:37.519 On his life. 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:40.359 And joyfully stand here and give it. 00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:41.759 As someone who is stage fright. 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.779 And doesn't like being up front. 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.379 It's. 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.700 A wonderful. 00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:46.420 Good life. 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.799 But here's a final picture. 00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:50.500 Of this good life. 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.160 For you to consider. 00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:55.160 Adoniram had 13 children. 00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.740 Seven died. 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:00.400 Adoniram and Sarah and Emily. 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.860 And their children. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.720 Endured incredible suffering. 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:06.100 Alongside all those. 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:06.820 Who left. 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.279 Their homes. 00:31:08.620 --> 00:31:09.279 To join them. 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:13.140 And then one final time. 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:14.140 Adoniram too. 00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:15.060 Got sick. 00:31:17.800 --> 00:31:19.180 As was the custom then. 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.240 You get in a ship. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.500 And you go back to a better climate. 00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.440 You go back to America. 00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.120 And you hope. 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:24.200 That you will recover. 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:25.980 But sadly. 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.059 Two days. 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.079 Three days. 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:29.440 Into that journey. 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.019 Adoniram. 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.039 Died. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:34.200 He was buried at sea. 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:36.339 That means thrown overboard. 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:38.660 There was no funeral. 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:41.480 There was no other believer on board. 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:44.380 Only thing we know about. 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.620 His death. 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.440 Is its violence. 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:49.740 And the longitude and latitude. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:54.900 And that was it for Adoniram. 00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:55.920 And his good life. 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.380 Or was it? 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.680 Because today. 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:04.240 In Burma. 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.480 Now called Myanmar. 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:06.720 In 2023. 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.220 This Sunday. 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:11.000 3,700 churches are going to meet. 00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:15.500 There are going to be roughly 600,000 people at those services. 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:19.400 And every single church that gathers today. 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:21.039 That I've just numbered. 00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:29.380 Can trace their existence to the life and mission of Adoniram, Anne, Emily and Sarah. 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:33.960 And so many others who were there with them. 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:42.060 Countless seeds were grown and re-sown in the once spiritual desert of Myanmar. 00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.500 What a legacy. 00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:45.880 What a good life. 00:32:46.260 --> 00:32:53.540 And so we get to 11 o'clock on a Sunday morning. 00:32:53.539 --> 00:32:58.159 Where the person preaching says, so what are you going to do about it? 00:33:00.899 --> 00:33:01.619 I think. 00:33:02.639 --> 00:33:06.440 I want to encourage you to redefine what you think a good life is. 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:10.299 I think we can all hear it. 00:33:11.360 --> 00:33:14.320 We can all be challenged. 00:33:15.880 --> 00:33:17.799 If you don't yet follow Jesus. 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:21.400 If you're very aware that you are considering him. 00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:25.820 Or you say you do. 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.920 But life says you don't. 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:31.360 Listen to Jesus in John 12. 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:36.240 About what living life your way might lead to. 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:38.759 And listen to Adoniram himself. 00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:42.920 From a sermon from 200 years ago. 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:46.019 Speaking to those who dabble in following Jesus. 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.700 Yet live life their way. 00:33:49.320 --> 00:33:50.559 Adoniram says to you. 00:33:51.120 --> 00:33:55.259 Inquire not whether a fact is agreeable to his own reason. 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:58.240 But whether it is in the book. 00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:00.059 The Bible. 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:03.660 His pride is yielded to divine testimony. 00:34:04.580 --> 00:34:06.560 Your pride is still unbroken. 00:34:07.620 --> 00:34:08.900 Break down your pride. 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:11.360 And yield to the word of God. 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:14.360 We've seen on the screen today. 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:15.360 Invitation. 00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:17.460 Which is a code that you can scan. 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:19.200 To come explore Christianity. 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:20.760 Come speak to me. 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.820 If that's you. 00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.380 Or scan the code. 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:24.920 That's on the screen. 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:29.780 But if you do follow Jesus. 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:33.220 You might find. 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.800 It daunting. 00:34:35.220 --> 00:34:36.139 To tell your workmates. 00:34:36.200 --> 00:34:36.720 Or your family. 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:37.460 That you're a Christian. 00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:39.619 Let alone living up to. 00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:40.900 The standard of Adoniram. 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:41.760 That I've just shared. 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:46.180 I've laid awake at night. 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:48.260 Worried that I'm not going to measure up to that life. 00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:53.180 That's not the point. 00:34:56.240 --> 00:34:57.260 God's love for you. 00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:58.100 Does not demand. 00:34:58.240 --> 00:34:59.840 That you measure up to Adoniram's standard. 00:35:00.100 --> 00:35:01.120 Is that you pursue. 00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.140 The principle. 00:35:04.060 --> 00:35:05.100 Like I said before. 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.460 It may not be Burma. 00:35:06.620 --> 00:35:07.960 But it might be the train car. 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:11.520 It might not be the other side of the world. 00:35:11.640 --> 00:35:12.640 But it might be in your household. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:16.960 So if you follow Jesus. 00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:18.239 I encourage you to. 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:19.159 Pick up the book. 00:35:19.839 --> 00:35:20.599 Pick up your Bible. 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:22.960 And as an exercise. 00:35:23.319 --> 00:35:25.059 Read John 11 and 12. 00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:29.379 And then John 19 and 20. 00:35:30.879 --> 00:35:32.319 See Jesus power. 00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:34.799 To raise Lazarus. 00:35:34.859 --> 00:35:35.819 His friend who had died. 00:35:35.879 --> 00:35:36.719 From the dead. 00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:39.099 And then in the next chapter. 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.900 In verse 12. 00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.619 As we've just read. 00:35:40.759 --> 00:35:42.279 Commit to dying himself. 00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:43.820 Even though he had power over death. 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:46.080 Committing to dying. 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:48.800 For your sake. 00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:51.040 And then in 19 and 20. 00:35:51.140 --> 00:35:51.900 Go read about it. 00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:56.580 Consider the good life. 00:35:56.700 --> 00:35:57.600 That you have planned. 00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:59.460 And take the next step. 00:36:01.680 --> 00:36:02.200 Reassess. 00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:03.880 The good life. 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.780 That Jesus has. 00:36:05.240 --> 00:36:05.740 For you. 00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:08.260 It might risk a friendship. 00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:09.060 Or a job. 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.560 It might cost. 00:36:10.560 --> 00:36:11.880 Your worldly treasures. 00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.880 Or your time. 00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.700 But are you willing to say no. 00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:16.640 To the good life. 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:18.539 Even to hate it. 00:36:19.220 --> 00:36:20.300 To follow Jesus. 00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:20.880 His way. 00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:24.280 And there might be part of you. 00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:24.740 Right now. 00:36:24.820 --> 00:36:25.559 That says no. 00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:26.160 Nick. 00:36:26.700 --> 00:36:27.039 I'm. 00:36:27.660 --> 00:36:28.599 I feel like. 00:36:28.680 --> 00:36:29.579 I'm not willing to do that. 00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:31.340 I'm not willing to do. 00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:32.280 What Adoniram did. 00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:35.539 Consider Jesus. 00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:37.900 Is. 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:37.940 Is. 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.880 Your first step. 00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:42.400 Consider his willingness to die. 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:43.500 For you. 00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:44.619 And lose his all. 00:36:47.820 --> 00:36:49.259 And you might be full of fear. 00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.259 About what you might lose. 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:51.000 But consider. 00:36:52.340 --> 00:36:54.340 Jesus willingness to face this hour. 00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:56.820 He saw foreigners like us. 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:58.019 Looking for him. 00:36:59.300 --> 00:37:00.619 He was willing to die. 00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:02.639 So that his followers. 00:37:03.319 --> 00:37:04.539 Could share the word. 00:37:04.799 --> 00:37:05.319 With us. 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.679 Share the word. 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:08.279 With me. 00:37:10.279 --> 00:37:12.179 God might be calling you today as well. 00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:13.039 To consider a life. 00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:14.000 Completely. 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.799 Life altering. 00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.599 Change in your life. 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:19.920 Relationships. 00:37:20.259 --> 00:37:20.619 Career. 00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.659 Where you live. 00:37:22.019 --> 00:37:22.359 Even. 00:37:22.480 --> 00:37:23.559 Preach the gospel overseas. 00:37:25.759 --> 00:37:26.960 But ask God to speak to you. 00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:27.679 And show you. 00:37:27.799 --> 00:37:29.339 Ways to be his seed. 00:37:30.179 --> 00:37:31.039 And grow. 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.879 Grow from the book. 00:37:34.339 --> 00:37:35.259 Grow in reflection. 00:37:35.839 --> 00:37:36.639 Grow in prayer. 00:37:36.879 --> 00:37:38.440 And listen to God this week. 00:37:38.759 --> 00:37:39.960 Speak to a fellow believer. 00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:41.679 About what God has called you to do. 00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:42.819 And get ready. 00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:46.539 For more of what the good life was. 00:37:46.759 --> 00:37:47.980 For one follower of Jesus. 00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:52.139 To make an impact in your life. 00:37:52.219 --> 00:37:53.679 And maybe to follow in their steps too. 00:37:54.740 --> 00:37:55.360 As we. 00:37:55.659 --> 00:37:56.719 In the next two weeks. 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:58.079 Hear about two more. 00:37:58.659 --> 00:37:59.559 Great lives. 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:00.920 Lived in faith. 00:38:00.980 --> 00:38:01.539 From the cloud. 00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:05.280 I said. 00:38:05.740 --> 00:38:07.079 I've heard about Adoniram. 00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:08.559 And I made a big deal in my life. 00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:11.099 Here's what I mean. 00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:15.900 I've been using Adoniram's first name. 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:17.139 The whole time. 00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:18.719 It's been on purpose. 00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:20.880 I wanted Adoniram. 00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:21.420 And Anne. 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:21.940 And Sarah. 00:38:22.099 --> 00:38:22.500 And Emily. 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:25.079 To feel as normal as the. 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:26.440 People. 00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.619 Who are in this room. 00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:29.159 I know Ali. 00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:30.179 And I know Tanya. 00:38:30.360 --> 00:38:30.760 And I know. 00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:32.199 Nick. 00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:32.860 I know. 00:38:33.619 --> 00:38:34.019 Merle. 00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:36.240 I know many of the faces in this room. 00:38:37.260 --> 00:38:38.179 These people who. 00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:39.619 Did these incredible things. 00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:40.179 Were as normal. 00:38:40.300 --> 00:38:40.800 And as regular. 00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:41.639 And as flawed. 00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:43.559 And as lovely. 00:38:44.019 --> 00:38:44.579 As you. 00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:48.039 But there's another reason. 00:38:48.519 --> 00:38:49.860 When I first heard about Adoniram. 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:51.400 I was a newly married man. 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:54.460 I was excited about. 00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:56.199 What that meant. 00:38:56.319 --> 00:38:57.159 And in time. 00:38:57.259 --> 00:38:57.900 God blessed. 00:38:58.559 --> 00:38:59.980 My wife and I with a son. 00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:01.779 And we called him Judson. 00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:04.000 It's another weird name. 00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:04.239 Right? 00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:06.619 Like Adoniram. 00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:07.219 Adoniram. 00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:08.859 People call Judson. 00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:09.980 Justin. 00:39:10.319 --> 00:39:10.859 Or Johnson. 00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:11.779 Or Jetson. 00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:12.460 Or Justice. 00:39:12.659 --> 00:39:13.420 Never Judson. 00:39:14.799 --> 00:39:15.980 Eventually they got it right. 00:39:17.079 --> 00:39:17.980 But I would tell them. 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:18.799 That he's named after. 00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.940 A missionary to Myanmar. 00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:21.819 Called Adoniram. 00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:23.679 Adoniram Judson. 00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:27.199 He's named after Adoniram Judson. 00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:28.579 Anne Judson. 00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:30.059 Sarah Judson. 00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:31.579 Emily Judson. 00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:34.119 I hope that. 00:39:34.639 --> 00:39:35.179 My boy. 00:39:35.839 --> 00:39:36.500 My daughters. 00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:38.940 My wife. 00:39:39.319 --> 00:39:40.099 All of you. 00:39:41.460 --> 00:39:42.619 Might come to know Jesus. 00:39:43.839 --> 00:39:45.259 Greatest treasure in all the world. 00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:45.679 And live. 00:39:46.420 --> 00:39:47.880 The good life his way. 00:39:49.559 --> 00:39:51.279 Go live it for the sake of God's glory. 00:39:51.359 --> 00:39:52.339 And the joy of all people.