WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.240 And we're going back into Matthew's Gospel this morning. And so before the summertime, if 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:12.960 ! you can remember that we reached Matthew chapter 9 and verse 34. And we're going to pick up 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:23.879 ! that this morning from verse 35 to chapter 10 and verse 15. It's a Thursday morning. You've 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:30.480 got to be up early for a meeting in the city. But you've slept in late. So you gobble breakfast 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:37.140 down. You run to the bus stop. And it's absolutely packed because it's rush hour. There's a real 00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:43.640 scrum. As the doors open, you manage to get on to the E1. You get to Ealing Broadway and 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:49.399 it's no better. You're faced with that great conundrum. Do you go Heathrow Connect to Paddington? 00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:54.460 Oh, it's not called that anymore, is it? Or do you go Central Line? And so you go for 00:00:54.460 --> 00:01:01.119 the train to Paddington. You manage to somehow miraculously get a seat. But there's people 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:05.039 standing in your face. There's a man with a satchel who every time he turns around hits 00:01:05.039 --> 00:01:12.640 you in the chops. And when you get to Paddington, you go to the underground and there's that horrific 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:18.259 moment where you are waiting to go through the ticket barrier and nobody can get out. And 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:24.160 they've managed to shut the food station from any more people getting in. And so you're 00:01:24.160 --> 00:01:32.359 trapped there. Just standing there. In typical British fashion. You go on the tube and there's 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:39.060 a man next to you who is far too close with personal hygiene issues. If you're meeting, it's 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:44.840 okay. It's a normal prostrating meeting. But then you have to go to see your friends 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:49.900 in Reading later that evening. You go to Paddington and it's six o'clock and yet there are a group 00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:56.180 of men who are in their late twenties who've been drinking since lunchtime. There's games 00:01:56.180 --> 00:02:02.860 and songs. You finally make it back to Elyle and Broadway about 9.30 at night. You feel 00:02:02.860 --> 00:02:07.820 very exhausted. And as you get out of the tube station, there are people already there staggering 00:02:07.820 --> 00:02:15.100 a little bit worse for wear. The atmosphere is a bit aggressive. You feel unsafe. You get 00:02:15.100 --> 00:02:18.860 home. You kick off your shoes. You lie on the sofa. There's a phone call from your friend. 00:02:20.040 --> 00:02:25.280 He tells you he's got some really sad news that his marriage is breaking up. And that he's 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:31.960 the one that had the affair. It's his own fault. You cannot believe that he's been so stupid. 00:02:33.740 --> 00:02:40.240 So you flick on the telly. The news is on. There's a woman who's been neglecting her children 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:48.680 and yet she's been claiming benefits of £45,000 per year. On days like that, if you had one 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:54.939 word to describe how you feel towards other people, what would that word be? 00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:03.960 Just think of that one word. What would that one word be? How you feel towards other people? 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:17.639 Have you got that word? Jesus says, now is the time for compassion. Compassion. Now is the 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:27.199 time for compassion because they are like sheep without a shepherd. Verse 35 is a drum that 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:32.319 Matthew keeps on beating. He says that Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:37.959 teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:47.640 and every affliction. And Jesus is preaching the kingdom. He is saying God's long promised 00:03:47.640 --> 00:03:55.000 king has come. And in God's long promised kingdom, everything was going to be restored how it was 00:03:55.000 --> 00:04:02.480 meant to be. And so there will be no more tears and no more suffering. And Jesus goes around and he 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:10.679 heals every disease. He is saying God's long promised kingdom has come and I am God's long promised king. 00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:18.420 And I have power and authority to fix a broken world. Do you see what I'm doing? Do you see who I am? 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:25.780 So chapter 8 and 9 if you remember them, they just zoom in, don't they, on a couple of days, two or three days in Jesus' ministry. 00:04:26.900 --> 00:04:32.840 And we see what was it like? What is the new kingdom going to be like? Well he forgives the man his sins. 00:04:33.780 --> 00:04:39.600 He has a meal with a tax collector. He has a debate with a Pharisee. He raises a dead girl. 00:04:40.200 --> 00:04:48.220 He heals a sick woman. He gives sight to a woman that was blind. He sets someone free from the grip of evil. 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:59.220 He goes around fixing broken lives. And verse 35 is telling us as we read that, this is just a sample of what Jesus did everywhere. 00:05:00.340 --> 00:05:08.500 Do you see what it says? Wherever he went. And he went through, verse 35, all the cities and all the villages. 00:05:09.340 --> 00:05:17.439 Get your head around that. According to Josephus, the first century Jewish historian, there are about 204 towns and villages. 00:05:18.420 --> 00:05:23.300 In the region. And the smallest of those towns and villages had 15,000 people living in them. 00:05:24.439 --> 00:05:31.600 So imagine what it takes to go around 204 towns and villages, day after day, packed with the sort of things we read in chapter 8 and 9. 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:37.580 Everywhere he went, crowds swarmed around him. They pushed and they jostled him. 00:05:37.579 --> 00:05:46.800 Everyone wanted something from him. Everyone had a question for him to answer. A sickness to be dealt with. 00:05:47.099 --> 00:05:56.120 He was dealing with people the whole time. Crowds the whole time. Religious teachers. Local rulers. Little children. Tax collectors. Prostitutes. 00:05:56.120 --> 00:06:01.500 People who no one else would even touch. And as we've seen, Jesus takes the time. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:07.560 He takes the time to speak to them personally. He looks them in the eye. He listens to their story. 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:12.939 And in between people seeing people like that, he would stand up and he'd preach. 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:14.920 For hours at a time. 00:06:16.220 --> 00:06:20.459 And so it's no wonder, is it, that we read of him feeling so tired that he falls asleep in the back of a boat. 00:06:20.459 --> 00:06:25.939 And at the end of chapter 8, he says, he had nowhere to lay his head. 00:06:27.159 --> 00:06:29.539 Just kept down wherever he could. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:35.439 And so many times, he was just nodding off and then somebody else was at the door wanting to see him. 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:39.699 It was a mystery, non-stop, of people, people, people. 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:42.599 Loading him down with sorrows. 00:06:43.799 --> 00:06:46.279 Casting their burdens before him. 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:48.439 Crying out for help. Now how does that feel? 00:06:50.459 --> 00:06:53.299 How does he feel about all these people? 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:57.500 Well, if it was us, if it was me, I'd have enough of them. 00:06:57.699 --> 00:06:59.279 But look how he feels in verse 36. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:05.120 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them. 00:07:06.419 --> 00:07:09.419 Because they were harassed and helpless like sheep. 00:07:10.659 --> 00:07:11.500 Without a shepherd. 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:14.379 He had compassion on them. 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:16.339 It's actually a really strong word. 00:07:16.339 --> 00:07:20.519 He is moved in the inner core. 00:07:21.919 --> 00:07:25.019 It's like his guts are wrenched by them. 00:07:25.419 --> 00:07:25.779 Why? 00:07:26.119 --> 00:07:29.459 Well, it tells us because they were harassed and helpless. 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:32.319 Literally flayed and torn to pieces. 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:34.139 They were helpless. 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:36.479 Whipped from all sides. 00:07:36.779 --> 00:07:38.699 They don't know where the next blow is coming from. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:41.199 There's nothing that they can do to protect themselves. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:41.920 Why? 00:07:42.420 --> 00:07:45.839 Well, because they are like sheep without a shepherd. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:50.659 And that is a phrase that's really rich in Old Testament history. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:52.819 Sheep without a shepherd. 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:56.379 In the Old Testament, the Lord described his people as his sheep. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:01.319 And he appoints leaders to be their shepherd. 00:08:01.779 --> 00:08:02.919 To care for them. 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:10.480 We don't see today, do we, why the role of shepherds is so important. 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:18.200 Most sheep, when we're driving along the motorway, there's sheep on the hillside, aren't there? 00:08:18.520 --> 00:08:20.000 But there's never a shepherd. 00:08:20.080 --> 00:08:22.120 I asked the children in school, have any of them seen a shepherd? 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:23.020 And none of them have. 00:08:23.580 --> 00:08:25.060 None of them had seen a shepherd. 00:08:25.100 --> 00:08:27.180 There's not much sign of shepherds in London. 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:27.460 Why? 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:29.759 Well, not in London, but in England. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:33.879 Because, isn't it, it's a rainy country. 00:08:34.100 --> 00:08:36.840 As I think we're probably experiencing just on the left. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:39.200 It's a rainy country. 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:40.220 And so there's loads of grass. 00:08:40.319 --> 00:08:41.039 There's loads of green grass. 00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:42.279 You don't have to hunt for grass. 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:44.919 You just let the sheep in the field and let them go. 00:08:45.939 --> 00:08:48.980 You probably don't have wolves in this country. 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:52.740 And so you don't need a shepherd to fight off the wolves. 00:08:52.740 --> 00:09:00.480 But if you were in the Middle East, your whole life depended on the shepherd leading you to green pastures. 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:01.899 And water. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.379 Sheep in the middle of those long, hot summers. 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:07.879 When water was hard to find. 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:11.159 And along the way, you'd cross rocky terrain. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:15.600 And if you got lost, if you got caught in a thicket, your shepherd would come and would rescue you. 00:09:16.839 --> 00:09:19.679 And if wolves came, your shepherd would stay and protect you. 00:09:20.819 --> 00:09:22.819 Or would he run away and leave you? 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:26.779 God's people were like sheep without a shepherd. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:28.139 And they were ripped to pieces. 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:28.779 They were hurting. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:29.819 They were desperately lost. 00:09:31.719 --> 00:09:33.480 And not just because it was their own stupid fault. 00:09:33.539 --> 00:09:35.559 Not just because they kept getting caught up in the thicket. 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:40.179 But because their shepherds, the very people that were supposed to look after them, weren't looking after them. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:44.239 And the religious leaders didn't show them the way to go. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:49.419 And so when Jesus looks at the grim-faced crowds barging their way through Oxford Street. 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:53.799 Or when he sees the supporters going into Wembley Stadium. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:56.679 Or clubbers worse for wear on a Saturday night. 00:09:56.939 --> 00:09:58.899 Or gangs who fight with knives. 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:04.619 His first emotion is not daily male outrage. 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:07.579 In his compassion. 00:10:10.319 --> 00:10:13.199 He doesn't say it's their own stupid fault. 00:10:13.819 --> 00:10:14.639 Leave them to it. 00:10:15.559 --> 00:10:17.599 They've been badly let down. 00:10:19.079 --> 00:10:20.500 Where are the shepherds? 00:10:21.719 --> 00:10:22.939 Where are the fathers? 00:10:24.459 --> 00:10:25.879 Where are the church leaders? 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:26.919 The political leaders? 00:10:27.339 --> 00:10:28.259 Who has cared for them? 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:30.859 Who has shown them the way to go? 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:33.319 They've been left to the wolves. 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:36.860 But back in the Old Testament, the Lord made a promise, didn't he? 00:10:36.900 --> 00:10:39.360 He made a promise that he would come. 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:42.200 And that he would come and be the shepherd of his sheep. 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:45.300 Prophet Ezekiel, there's a beautiful thing. 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:47.260 He says, I will come and I will gather up my lost. 00:10:48.300 --> 00:10:49.580 And I will bind up the injured. 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:50.879 And I will strengthen the weak. 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:54.020 And I will lead them to good pasture. 00:10:54.160 --> 00:10:56.060 And I will come and I will take care of my sheep. 00:10:56.059 --> 00:10:58.559 And that is what he promises. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:03.039 And that is exactly what Jesus is doing in Matthew 8 and 9. 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:08.459 That's why he goes tirelessly from one town to the next town. 00:11:09.019 --> 00:11:10.000 And he says, I'm here. 00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:10.899 I've come for you. 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:12.659 It's alright. 00:11:12.779 --> 00:11:14.479 I've come to bind up your wounds. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:21.300 It seems to me that we often talk about what Jesus has achieved for us. 00:11:22.920 --> 00:11:25.340 And the salvation he has won for us. 00:11:25.420 --> 00:11:26.399 And it is mind-blowing. 00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:33.700 But what has really struck me in these chapters in Matthew is the window that we get into his heart. 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:39.300 It's not just what he's done, as wonderful as that is, but what he's like. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:46.600 And so maybe this morning you think of yourself as someone in the crowd. 00:11:48.920 --> 00:11:51.460 Someone whose life has been torn to pieces. 00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:55.180 And you feel rather lost. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:57.160 And you don't know which way to turn. 00:11:57.580 --> 00:12:01.120 And you maybe think that Jesus is going to be outraged at you. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.440 And you think that he will look down his nose at you. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:04.960 And he'll have no time for you. 00:12:05.820 --> 00:12:06.740 No, look at what it's like. 00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:09.560 Look at what he's like. 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:12.960 He has compassion on you. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:17.139 He's saying to you this morning, I am the shepherd you need. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.639 I've come to take care of you. 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:24.700 And the movement in this passage, and the movement in Matthew's Gospel as a whole, 00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:28.100 Matthew shows us Jesus' mission, 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:31.700 and then he shows us that Jesus' mission continues through his followers. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.320 So when we think about the crowds in Ealing, 00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:40.460 when we think of the people closer to home, 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:45.259 when we think of our boss who we work with, 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:47.040 who's so difficult, 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:50.899 when we think of that mum at the school gate, 00:12:51.180 --> 00:12:53.620 who's just always talking about herself, 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:56.180 when we think about our neighbour who is so grumpy, 00:12:56.179 --> 00:13:01.679 when we think of that relative who is always stirring up trouble in our family, 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:05.259 if we're following Jesus, 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:08.379 we will feel as Jesus feels. 00:13:09.979 --> 00:13:11.599 And not disdain, 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.679 but compassion for these people. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:17.299 We are so quick to think, 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:17.579 don't we? 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.759 I am so quick to think, 00:13:18.819 --> 00:13:20.399 it is their own stupid fault. 00:13:21.599 --> 00:13:22.799 And we'll leave it at that. 00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:26.079 And Jesus just reminds us 00:13:26.079 --> 00:13:27.299 that they are lost 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:28.899 because they don't have a shepherd. 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:32.159 Don't think of them as people 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.699 that just need a good telling off. 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.439 Think of them as people 00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:37.599 who need a good shepherd, 00:13:38.219 --> 00:13:40.339 who needs Jesus desperately. 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:42.200 It is a time for compassion. 00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:44.860 Secondly, 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:45.940 it's a time for prayer. 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.139 That's verse 37. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.080 A time for prayer. 00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:52.399 Then he said to his disciples, 00:13:52.540 --> 00:13:54.120 the harvest is plentiful, 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:56.879 but the labourers are few. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:58.580 Therefore, 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:00.460 pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:02.379 to send out labourers into his harvest. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.300 He could have said, 00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:05.720 couldn't he, 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:08.360 there's thousands and thousands 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.160 of lost sheep 00:14:09.160 --> 00:14:10.580 who need a shepherd to round them up. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.600 And who is going to go after them? 00:14:14.420 --> 00:14:15.300 That would have worked, 00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:15.680 wouldn't it? 00:14:16.540 --> 00:14:18.040 But he changes the image. 00:14:18.560 --> 00:14:19.440 He changes the image 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:21.200 from sheep to crops. 00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:24.040 And what he's saying is this, 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.139 the crops are ripe. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:29.279 There is a massive harvest out there 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:31.279 that needs to be gathered in. 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:33.139 And the Old Testament 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.060 looked forward to the day 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.699 when the Lord would gather his people 00:14:35.699 --> 00:14:36.379 into his kingdom. 00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:38.099 And Jesus is saying, 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:38.719 the time has come. 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:40.919 And it's not just a handful 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.779 of religious types 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:43.179 who need bringing into God's barn, 00:14:43.219 --> 00:14:43.659 as it were. 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:45.259 There are millions and millions 00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:46.859 of people who need to be gathered 00:14:46.859 --> 00:14:47.939 into the harvest of God. 00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:49.979 And the harvest is plentiful, 00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:51.019 but the workers are few. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.699 In other words, 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:55.179 there are not many people 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:56.819 to go out and gather them in. 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:02.000 And I think we don't believe Jesus. 00:15:02.839 --> 00:15:03.759 Unless we... 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:07.980 Because when we look at our city, 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:10.759 and when we look at 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:13.100 the crowds going into the rugby, 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.480 and when we look at the kids 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:18.120 in the playground of our schools, 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.919 and when we get on the tube 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:21.399 in the morning, 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:22.360 and there's just hundreds 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:23.500 and hundreds and hundreds 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:23.980 of people, 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:26.399 we don't think of them 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:28.819 as ripe and ready for harvest. 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.500 To be gathered in. 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:32.919 What do we think of them as? 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:34.039 We think of them as not interested. 00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:36.779 They're not really interested 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:37.220 in Jesus. 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:40.019 We look to China, 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:40.860 or we hear about China, 00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:42.240 and we hear about millions 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.340 of people becoming Christians. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.779 We look at the revivals 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:46.240 in Africa or South America. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:48.279 And maybe we think 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:50.139 the harvest is plentiful there, 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.639 but it's not plentiful here. 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.039 Not in London. 00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.279 When we think of our city, 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:57.960 we think of it often 00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:58.960 as a spiritual desert. 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:02.340 We think maybe there's not much 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:04.199 call for Christian workers 00:16:04.199 --> 00:16:05.679 around these parts. 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:07.019 There's no harvest to bring in. 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:10.379 But the image of harvest 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.600 is not whether people 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:13.059 feel ripe or not. 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.579 Jesus says 00:16:15.579 --> 00:16:17.000 they are like ripe crops. 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.500 As a matter of fact, 00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:20.319 that is what they are like. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.519 Because the point about 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.000 ripe crops is that 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:24.559 you can't leave ripe crops 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.240 out of the field, 00:16:25.319 --> 00:16:25.559 can you? 00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:27.759 You need to go and 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.059 gather them into the barn 00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:30.740 before they perish. 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.879 And Jesus is saying 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.659 there are millions 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.720 and millions of people 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.100 out there, 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:35.019 and you just can't 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:35.679 leave them out there. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:37.679 You need to go 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:38.439 and gather them 00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:39.699 into the kingdom of God. 00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:41.259 But there are not many 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.059 workers to get them. 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.539 Verse 38. 00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:47.959 Not verse 38, 00:16:48.079 --> 00:16:50.319 verse 37. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.279 Therefore pray earnestly 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:55.379 to the Lord of the harvest 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.279 to send labourers 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:57.059 out into his field. 00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:00.679 And we see how 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.779 Jesus' followers 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.719 get involved in 00:17:02.719 --> 00:17:03.359 Jesus' mission. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:05.980 And it's very beautiful. 00:17:06.120 --> 00:17:06.700 He doesn't say, 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:08.160 he doesn't say, 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.299 the harvest is ripe, 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.819 the harvest is plentiful, 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.319 the workers are few, 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:15.079 there's loads to do, 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.680 so it's all down to you. 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:17.740 Go on, 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:18.339 get out there, 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.000 good luck. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.160 We're not told, 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.380 are we, 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.480 just to get on with it. 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.079 The workers are few, 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.579 so, 00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:28.180 ask the Lord of the harvest. 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:31.680 The first thing to note 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:32.480 is just that, 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.420 is that he is the Lord 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:33.900 of the harvest. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.440 It is God's harvest. 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.400 He is in charge 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.200 of the whole operation. 00:17:42.580 --> 00:17:43.460 But amazingly, 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.320 and wonderfully, 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:46.019 God gets us involved 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.759 in his plans. 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:50.380 And getting involved 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:51.940 starts when we pray. 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:54.220 When we pray. 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:57.640 I had a discussion 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.400 this week 00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:59.460 about prison ministry, 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:00.059 about us 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:02.059 going into Wormwood Scrubs. 00:18:02.860 --> 00:18:03.700 And I spoke to somebody 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:05.460 from Daylight Prison Ministries, 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.620 a brilliant organisation. 00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:08.519 And he says, 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:09.100 it's quite difficult 00:18:09.100 --> 00:18:09.519 to get in, 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:10.039 but there may be 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:11.519 opportunities next year. 00:18:12.620 --> 00:18:14.039 And he said to me, 00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:15.420 it may seem a little thing, 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:17.320 but pray for opportunities 00:18:17.320 --> 00:18:18.380 in prison ministries. 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:20.140 He said, 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.040 because we've noticed 00:18:21.040 --> 00:18:21.840 that when we pray 00:18:21.840 --> 00:18:22.600 for opportunities, 00:18:23.260 --> 00:18:24.240 the Lord gives them. 00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:26.300 So simple, isn't it? 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.980 Lord, please send workers 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.340 into the harvest field 00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:31.040 to bring people 00:18:31.040 --> 00:18:31.800 into your kingdom. 00:18:35.280 --> 00:18:36.280 I hope that as we 00:18:36.280 --> 00:18:37.280 move into a new building, 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.240 we will see people 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.140 coming to the church. 00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:41.440 As elders, 00:18:41.580 --> 00:18:42.380 we are praying 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.420 and seeking the Lord 00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:43.840 as well about 00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.620 whether we can plant 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:45.520 another congregation 00:18:45.520 --> 00:18:46.580 in a kind of 00:18:46.580 --> 00:18:47.640 Axbridge area. 00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:50.400 But get this 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.040 from this passage, 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:51.640 the first thing 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.220 we've got to do 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.100 is pray. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.880 To pray that God 00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.860 would raise up people 00:18:58.860 --> 00:18:59.880 in our church family 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:01.000 and in the Axbridge area 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.680 who will bring in 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.240 the harvest. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.780 I love the story 00:19:05.780 --> 00:19:06.900 of St. Helens Bishopsgate 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.440 in the city. 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.700 Most of you will know it 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:10.580 as a very, 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.800 very large church. 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:13.880 But it all started 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:14.440 when a group of 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.000 businessmen 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.080 in the early 60s 00:19:16.080 --> 00:19:16.860 began to meet 00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:17.400 to pray. 00:19:18.380 --> 00:19:19.160 There were about 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:19.940 seven or eight of them. 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.000 They wanted to reach 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.400 the city 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.320 so they prayed. 00:19:23.520 --> 00:19:24.320 And they asked then 00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:25.100 a very young man 00:19:25.100 --> 00:19:25.820 called Dick Lucas 00:19:25.820 --> 00:19:26.560 to come and give 00:19:26.560 --> 00:19:27.560 a series of talks 00:19:27.560 --> 00:19:28.340 in a church building. 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:29.940 It wasn't being used. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.180 The talks went down well. 00:19:31.260 --> 00:19:32.220 They ran for two months. 00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:33.840 And then a post 00:19:33.840 --> 00:19:35.100 came up in a church 00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:35.860 for the vicar 00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:36.880 of a church called 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.400 St. Helens 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.120 and they prayed 00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:38.940 that he would be appointed. 00:19:39.060 --> 00:19:39.800 It was a long shot. 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.380 Dick Lucas was 00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:42.380 a rank outsider 00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:43.360 but he was appointed. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:45.979 And like every 00:19:45.979 --> 00:19:47.240 great work of God 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.259 it was traceable 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.139 back to people 00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:49.619 praying. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:51.539 Praying, 00:19:51.699 --> 00:19:51.819 Lord, 00:19:51.919 --> 00:19:52.879 we long for people 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.399 to be brought 00:19:53.399 --> 00:19:54.099 into your kingdom 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:56.079 but the Lord 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:56.519 of the harvest 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.919 is huge 00:19:57.919 --> 00:19:59.859 and there's not 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.519 many of us 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.240 and so please 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.139 send more workers 00:20:02.139 --> 00:20:04.659 because without workers 00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:05.139 we'll never get 00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:05.839 the harvest in. 00:20:08.199 --> 00:20:08.819 And so we tend 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.899 to look at London 00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:10.659 and think 00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:11.359 there's not much 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:11.819 of a crop 00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.679 to be brought in. 00:20:14.719 --> 00:20:15.779 We're discouraged. 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.219 We think people 00:20:18.219 --> 00:20:18.939 are not interested. 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:19.939 There's nothing to harvest. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:21.819 But Jesus says 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.279 no, 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.459 there is plenty 00:20:23.459 --> 00:20:24.179 to be harvested. 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.359 The harvest 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:27.500 is plentiful. 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.179 The reason why 00:20:29.179 --> 00:20:29.859 not much has been 00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:30.979 brought into the barns 00:20:30.979 --> 00:20:31.379 is there aren't 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:31.979 enough workers 00:20:31.979 --> 00:20:32.679 going out 00:20:32.679 --> 00:20:33.479 and bringing them in. 00:20:35.659 --> 00:20:36.519 Fifty years ago 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.219 China didn't look 00:20:37.219 --> 00:20:37.879 ripe to this. 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.419 All the missionaries 00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.099 have been kicked out. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:44.139 looked like the end 00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:45.779 that God's people 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.179 prayed. 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.000 And the Lord 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.759 has raised up 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.379 workers to bring 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:49.939 in the harvest 00:20:49.939 --> 00:20:50.819 and if we would 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.559 follow Jesus 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:52.519 we must have a heart 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.119 like Jesus. 00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:54.959 And Jesus longs 00:20:54.959 --> 00:20:55.519 for people to be 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.259 brought into his kingdom. 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.859 So the first move 00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.659 will be to pray 00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:00.740 for more workers. 00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:01.679 More workers 00:21:01.679 --> 00:21:02.519 in our schools, 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.199 more workers 00:21:03.199 --> 00:21:04.119 in our offices, 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:04.740 more workers 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.399 in our streets, 00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:06.299 more workers 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.000 in our hospitals, 00:21:07.219 --> 00:21:07.599 more workers 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.240 in our prisons. 00:21:09.639 --> 00:21:10.279 Pray that the Lord 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.039 would raise up 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:11.619 workers who are 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.720 bold enough 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.819 to say the time 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.139 has come. 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:15.180 And when I say 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.579 workers, 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.480 don't think 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.279 full time 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.099 Christian ministry. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.019 Don't think that. 00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:20.599 What is 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.799 these workers 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.420 that he's talking 00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:22.720 about? 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.399 They are workers 00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.180 who are bold 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.940 enough to say 00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.799 the time has come, 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.819 God's King is here, 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.700 come into the kingdom. 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.240 And we can pray 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.819 with confidence, 00:21:32.899 --> 00:21:33.119 can't we, 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:33.500 this morning? 00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:35.940 We don't have to 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.839 twist the Lord's 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.599 arm on this, 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.359 it's a prayer 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.099 the Lord is longing 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:39.599 to answer 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:40.339 because he is 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:40.839 the Lord of the 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.980 harvest and it 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.799 is his harvest. 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.139 So, 00:21:46.139 --> 00:21:47.719 let's be people 00:21:47.719 --> 00:21:48.779 who want to be 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.419 part of what 00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:50.059 God is doing. 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.259 Which means 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.759 when we look 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.879 at our family 00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:55.000 or our school 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.079 friends or our 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.959 city or the 00:21:57.959 --> 00:21:58.959 places we work 00:21:58.959 --> 00:21:59.679 in, we are going 00:21:59.679 --> 00:21:59.939 to pray, 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.279 Lord send more 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.219 workers and it's 00:22:02.219 --> 00:22:02.859 a prayer that he 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:03.559 longs to answer. 00:22:05.219 --> 00:22:06.359 Pray it and watch 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.039 how he answers it 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.680 because he will. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:09.920 And of course 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.700 people who pray 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.440 for more workers 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:11.980 to be sent 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.639 often end up 00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:13.000 being sent 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.619 themselves. 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:15.899 Because where 00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.779 our prayers go 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.920 our hearts follow. 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:19.920 And where our 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:21.139 hearts go so often 00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:21.839 do our hands 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.480 and our heads 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.740 and our feet. 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.539 Which leads me 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.279 to the third point, 00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:26.279 time for compassion, 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.619 time for prayer, 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.920 and then thirdly 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:32.480 time for evangelism. 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:36.099 Time for evangelism. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.339 Let me just 00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:39.099 clarify what I 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:39.639 think that is. 00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.579 Evangelism is 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.339 telling other 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.819 people about 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.500 the Lord Jesus 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:43.960 Christ. 00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:47.220 Jesus is the 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.159 Jewish Messiah. 00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:51.059 And it may be 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.619 that you're very 00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:52.759 suspicious about 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.119 this. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.240 It may be that 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:54.680 you're very 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.399 nervous of this 00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:56.139 tell all the 00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:56.759 world kind of 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:56.980 thing. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.460 Why do 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.019 Christians think 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.440 that they need 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.319 to go imposing 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.599 their views on 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.359 everyone else? 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:06.399 Or you think, 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.019 well I do 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.539 follow Jesus 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:07.959 but it just 00:23:07.959 --> 00:23:08.419 wouldn't occur 00:23:08.419 --> 00:23:09.079 to me to tell 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:09.699 someone else 00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:10.079 to come into 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:10.419 the kingdom. 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.099 It just seems 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:12.819 so presumptuous 00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.359 and so arrogant. 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.599 Well in this 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:17.179 next little bit 00:23:17.179 --> 00:23:18.000 we begin to see 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.679 the logic of 00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:19.119 why everyone 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:19.859 needs to know. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.719 There's a lot 00:23:21.719 --> 00:23:23.659 in verses 1-15 00:23:23.659 --> 00:23:24.319 of chapter 10. 00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:24.599 I'm going to 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.039 try and steer 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.659 the main road 00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:26.099 through it. 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:27.539 And Jesus is 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.359 describing the 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:29.659 specific mission 00:23:29.659 --> 00:23:31.099 that he sent 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.899 his 12 disciples 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.340 on. 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.720 And it's a 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.060 mission to 00:23:35.060 --> 00:23:35.560 Jewish people. 00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:36.140 So if you 00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:36.500 look at verse 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.840 6 it says 00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:38.680 and tell the 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.460 lost sheep 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.180 of Israel. 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.660 Go tell them 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.120 that the king 00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:43.460 that they've 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:43.780 been waiting 00:23:43.780 --> 00:23:44.560 for has come. 00:23:46.060 --> 00:23:46.600 And in this 00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:48.980 17 onwards 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:50.740 really that is 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.660 the longer term 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.360 mission to 00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:53.560 the non-Jews 00:23:53.560 --> 00:23:54.380 to the Gentiles 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:54.820 to the rest 00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:55.259 of the world. 00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:58.400 That's going to 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:58.860 be carried out 00:23:58.860 --> 00:23:59.600 not just by the 00:23:59.600 --> 00:24:01.280 12 but by 00:24:01.280 --> 00:24:01.740 Christians 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.380 throughout all 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:02.680 the ages. 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.480 So if you 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:03.880 want verses 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:05.200 1-16 lay a 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:06.900 foundation and 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:07.980 verse 17 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:10.200 from verse 17 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.900 almost what 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:11.420 we'll see is 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:11.900 the fact that 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.500 Jesus is the 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.180 Jewish Messiah 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:14.000 and that is 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.400 the reason the 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:14.759 whole world 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.299 needs to know. 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.000 So let's look 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.039 at verses 1-16. 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.120 They underline 00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:19.620 why he's the 00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.160 Jewish Messiah. 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.500 He's been 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.000 talking to his 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.700 disciples in 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.779 general and 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.000 then in 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:24.120 chapter 12 00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:25.079 chapter 10 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:25.599 verse 1 he 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.039 calls the 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:27.740 12 disciples. 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:30.200 And again 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:30.900 the Old 00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:31.380 Testament looked 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:31.920 forward didn't 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.059 it? 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.319 It looked 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.599 forward to 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:32.880 the time 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.180 when the 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:33.559 scattered 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:35.700 people would 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:36.240 be made 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.819 truly gods 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.180 again. 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.440 And belong 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:40.900 to Jesus. 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.440 Now you 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:41.940 remember Israel 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.839 was founded 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.180 wasn't it? 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:43.620 On 12 00:24:43.620 --> 00:24:44.160 tribes. 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.240 And Jesus 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.440 is reforming 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:47.759 the people 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.160 of God 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:48.420 here. 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.460 He is 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.120 reforming 00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:51.599 people of 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:51.880 God 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:53.460 not on the 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.279 12 tribes 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.779 but on his 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.480 12 disciples. 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.480 And he's 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:58.099 saying do you 00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:58.440 want to be 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:58.779 part of the 00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.099 people of 00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.259 God? 00:24:59.339 --> 00:24:59.519 Well you've 00:24:59.519 --> 00:24:59.740 got to 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.240 follow me. 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.200 And the 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:02.539 Lord is 00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.259 gathering up 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.799 in this 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.519 passage his 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:04.899 scattered 00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:05.339 people. 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.379 He's 00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:08.299 gathering them 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.099 all together 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:10.240 and he's 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.720 gathering them 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.700 around me 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.319 himself. 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.139 And Jesus 00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:14.839 says go tell 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.200 the lost 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.539 sheep of 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:15.980 Israel I 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.279 come. 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:16.480 And the 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.920 message that 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.180 you're to 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.599 go with is 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.220 verse 7. 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.319 It is this 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.720 the kingdom 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.240 of heaven is 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.700 at hand. 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:21.859 It's here. 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.799 It's exactly 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.160 the same 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.619 message that 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.079 he's been 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.299 preaching. 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.180 And the 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.700 miracles that 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.019 he gives 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.480 them power 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:30.980 and authority 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.500 to perform 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:31.940 well that's 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.519 in verse 8 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.220 isn't it? 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.519 For they 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:34.660 are to 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:35.160 heal sick 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.539 raise the 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:35.740 dead 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.139 cleanse the 00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:36.319 lepers 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:36.819 cast out 00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.339 demons. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.519 It's exactly 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:40.859 the same 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.339 miracles he's 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:41.839 been performing. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.160 In other 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.440 words they 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:42.680 are going 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.019 to Jewish 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.899 people who 00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:44.359 are waiting 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:44.700 for the 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.079 signs of 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.539 the Messiah. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.740 The King. 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:48.980 They've been 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.480 waiting for 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:49.940 Jesus to 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.500 come and 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.359 Jesus says go 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:51.740 show them 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.279 the signs that 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:52.660 I've come. 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:54.320 And then 00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:54.600 he says 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:55.460 verse 9 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:57.519 Acquire no 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.300 gold or 00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:58.820 silver or 00:25:58.820 --> 00:25:59.180 copper for 00:25:59.180 --> 00:25:59.800 your belts. 00:26:01.120 --> 00:26:01.700 No bag for 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.220 your journey 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:03.400 or tunics or 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.100 sandals or 00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:04.560 staff. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.860 For the 00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:07.180 labourer 00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:10.759 deserves his 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.200 food. 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.019 And whatever 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.600 the town or 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:13.960 village you 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.580 enter find out 00:26:14.580 --> 00:26:15.080 who is worthy 00:26:15.080 --> 00:26:15.320 in it. 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:15.680 Stay there 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.000 until you 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.340 depart. 00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.320 He's partly 00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:18.759 saying that 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.540 don't pack a 00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:20.000 spare coat. 00:26:20.600 --> 00:26:21.320 Basically the 00:26:21.320 --> 00:26:21.700 message. 00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.060 It's really 00:26:23.060 --> 00:26:23.540 urgent. 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:25.820 Partly he's 00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:27.340 underlining the 00:26:27.340 --> 00:26:27.920 message that 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:29.160 you take to 00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:29.600 these people. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.440 It is one 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:30.720 that they 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.300 should welcome. 00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:33.380 You are 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:33.740 going to 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:33.980 them. 00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:35.960 It is a 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.519 message that 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:36.860 they should 00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:37.480 welcome with 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.160 open arms. 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:39.759 They've been 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.080 waiting for 00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:40.580 this good news 00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:41.040 for hundreds 00:26:41.040 --> 00:26:41.560 and thousands 00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:42.740 of years and 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.220 the worker is 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.540 worth their 00:26:43.540 --> 00:26:43.800 keeps. 00:26:46.040 --> 00:26:46.580 In other 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:46.860 words when 00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.160 you tell 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.400 them when 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:47.920 you travel to 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:48.300 the villages 00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:48.980 and you tell 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.340 them that I 00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:50.279 have come they 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.860 should invite you 00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.000 in. 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:51.400 They should be 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:52.380 so glad that 00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:52.840 you took the 00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.200 trouble to 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.520 tell them 00:26:53.520 --> 00:26:53.820 this good 00:26:53.820 --> 00:26:54.160 news. 00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:55.320 They'll be 00:26:55.320 --> 00:26:55.820 so grateful 00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:56.220 they'll look 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:56.800 after you 00:26:56.800 --> 00:26:57.900 and they'll 00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.180 see you 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.540 right for the 00:26:58.540 --> 00:26:58.880 next leg 00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.060 on the 00:26:59.060 --> 00:26:59.340 journey. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.460 But not 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:00.900 everyone will 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.320 be like that. 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:01.600 There'll be 00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:02.160 two reactions. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:02.760 So some 00:27:02.760 --> 00:27:04.460 will receive 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:04.920 you and some 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.520 will reject you. 00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:05.760 Look at 00:27:05.760 --> 00:27:06.200 verse 11. 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:07.840 And whatever 00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:08.160 town you 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:08.780 enter find out 00:27:08.780 --> 00:27:09.240 who's worthy 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.580 and stay 00:27:09.580 --> 00:27:10.180 there until 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.660 you depart. 00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:12.000 And as you 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.620 enter the 00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.140 house greet 00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:13.520 it and if 00:27:13.520 --> 00:27:13.920 the house is 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.400 worthy let 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:14.720 your peace 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.100 come upon 00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:15.440 it and if 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:15.740 it's not 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.120 worthy let 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.460 your peace 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.000 return from 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.140 it. 00:27:17.560 --> 00:27:17.760 And if 00:27:17.760 --> 00:27:18.240 anyone will 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.760 not receive 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:18.980 you'll 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.319 listen to 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:19.740 your words 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.220 shake off 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.619 the dust 00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:20.900 from your 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.259 feet when 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.539 you leave 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:21.920 that house 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.299 or town. 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:24.779 So the 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.119 people that 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.500 will receive 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:25.720 you, 00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.400 peace be 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:26.900 upon them, 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.480 the Messiah 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:28.900 has come. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.200 You receive 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.579 them because 00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:31.960 that means 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.279 they've been 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.839 restored to 00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:33.180 God. 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:33.819 You've been 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.279 brought to 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.140 this eternal 00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:35.539 kingdom. 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.200 It's eternal 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.819 peace but for 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.119 those who 00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:38.799 reject you, 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:39.420 you shake 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:39.779 the dust 00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.079 off your 00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:40.339 feet. 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:41.779 And that's 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:41.980 a really 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.440 significant 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:42.920 Jewish thing 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.299 to do. 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:43.900 When you 00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.279 shook off 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.660 the dust 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:44.940 of your 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.420 feet you 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:45.839 were saying 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.559 these people 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.140 they are no 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.059 longer part of 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.420 why people 00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:48.720 Israel. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.900 They are no 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.460 longer part of 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:51.940 God's people 00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.300 and for 00:27:52.300 --> 00:27:52.560 them, 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.200 verse 15, 00:27:53.300 --> 00:27:53.720 there is a 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.460 sober warning 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:54.920 of judgment. 00:27:56.800 --> 00:27:57.400 People often 00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:57.720 say, 00:27:57.800 --> 00:27:58.100 don't they, 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.900 Jesus claimed 00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.900 to be nothing 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:00.400 but a good 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:00.759 teacher. 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:03.680 And when 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.060 people say 00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:05.039 that I wonder 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.560 what gospel 00:28:05.560 --> 00:28:05.920 they'd be 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.259 reading. 00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:06.600 Do you see 00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:06.920 what he's 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.340 doing there? 00:28:07.580 --> 00:28:08.100 He's saying 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:09.259 tell Israel 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:10.160 I am here. 00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:12.700 The Messiah 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.220 has come. 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:14.779 And those 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.300 who accept 00:28:15.300 --> 00:28:15.700 me, 00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:17.380 well they 00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:17.800 can be part 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.139 of God's 00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:18.419 people. 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.000 And those 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.559 who reject 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:20.859 me, 00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:21.440 well they 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.099 cannot be 00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:22.440 part of 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:22.680 God's 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:22.940 people. 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:23.940 And they 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.279 are right 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.720 for judgment. 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:26.480 Do you 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:26.720 see the 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:27.059 extraordinary 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:27.480 thing he's 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:27.720 saying? 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:28.680 Where you 00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.279 stand with 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.379 God hinges 00:28:30.379 --> 00:28:32.079 completely on 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:32.799 how you 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.559 receive me. 00:28:35.139 --> 00:28:35.599 And that's 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:35.839 not the 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.180 sort of thing 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:36.619 good teachers 00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:37.039 say. 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.039 And if we 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.460 see verses 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.359 1 to 16 00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:40.819 as a kind 00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:41.339 of model 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:41.839 for mission 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:42.379 trips or 00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:42.940 how we go 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.859 about evangelism, 00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:44.599 I think we're 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.099 missing what 00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:45.500 Matthew is 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.019 wanting us to 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.299 see. 00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:48.200 Because apart 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.480 from anything 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:48.639 else, 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.019 it's not a 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.339 very good 00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:49.740 model for 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:49.960 mission. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:50.819 Jesus tells 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.339 us not to 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.659 go to the 00:28:51.659 --> 00:28:52.180 Gentiles. 00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:53.399 By the 00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:53.819 end of the 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.200 chapter, 00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:55.059 and by the 00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:55.279 end of 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.559 Matthew's 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:55.740 gospel, 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.159 he's telling 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:56.379 us to 00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:56.700 go to the 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.379 whole world. 00:28:59.079 --> 00:28:59.759 He tells 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.180 them here, 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:00.720 don't take 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.099 stuff for 00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:01.619 the journey. 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.180 But elsewhere, 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:02.919 Jesus does 00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:03.359 say take 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.720 stuff for 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.059 the journey. 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.240 By the 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:05.740 time Paul 00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.399 is ministering, 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.379 he doesn't 00:29:07.379 --> 00:29:07.919 shake the 00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:08.460 dust off his 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:08.899 feet whenever 00:29:08.899 --> 00:29:09.639 people reject 00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:09.639 00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:10.220 The message. 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:11.220 He stays 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:11.559 and he 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.399 perseveres. 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.500 Because they've 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.000 got to know. 00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:14.579 It's not a 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.039 model for 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.339 mission. 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.720 It's a very 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.579 specific mission 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.220 to the 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.680 lost people 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.099 of Israel. 00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:20.599 But the 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:21.119 reason Matthew 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:21.899 includes it, 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.819 he's saying 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:23.279 to you and 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.779 I, do you 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.039 see who 00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.659 Jesus is? 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.779 Do you 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:27.980 see who 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.359 Jesus is? 00:29:28.399 --> 00:29:28.819 He is the 00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:29.240 Messiah. 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.899 He wanted 00:29:31.899 --> 00:29:33.119 Israel to 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:33.619 know that 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.019 he had come 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.319 for them. 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.839 It's not a 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.440 model for 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:36.980 mission, but 00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:37.579 it is the 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.500 motivation for 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:38.899 our mission. 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:39.000 God. 00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:41.240 The reason 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:41.660 the Bible 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.720 starts with 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.740 Genesis and 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.500 with creation 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.840 is to show 00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.300 us that the 00:29:46.300 --> 00:29:46.840 God of the 00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:47.420 Bible is the 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:47.880 creator of 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:48.180 the whole 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.700 world. 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.540 In the 00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:50.920 beginning, 00:29:51.280 --> 00:29:52.060 God made 00:29:52.060 --> 00:29:52.440 the heavens 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:52.720 and the 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.080 earth. 00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:53.840 The whole 00:29:53.840 --> 00:29:54.540 earth is the 00:29:54.540 --> 00:29:55.040 Lord's in the 00:29:55.040 --> 00:29:55.780 fullness thereof. 00:29:56.080 --> 00:29:56.560 He is the 00:29:56.560 --> 00:29:57.840 one true God 00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:58.440 of the whole 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.060 world. 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.340 And then the 00:30:01.340 --> 00:30:01.860 Bible is the 00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:02.720 account of the 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:04.060 one true God's 00:30:04.060 --> 00:30:05.460 one true plan 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.400 to gather 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.079 people from 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:07.840 all the 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.380 nations to 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:08.759 his kingdom. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:09.220 And he says 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:09.519 he's going to 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:09.900 do it. 00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:11.600 And he will 00:30:11.600 --> 00:30:12.019 do it through 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:12.480 a king. 00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:14.019 And he'll do 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.420 it through a 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:14.840 king who will 00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.539 come from 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.220 Israel. 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.400 And Jesus 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:19.259 is saying he 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.380 is the king 00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:20.980 of the Old 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.799 Testament promise. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.079 But the king 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:24.460 of the Old 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.240 Testament promise 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.039 for Israel 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.880 wasn't just 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.380 for the Jewish 00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:27.759 people. 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:28.539 He was going 00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.160 to be God's 00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:29.980 king for all 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.900 people, for 00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:31.579 all nations. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.140 And he was 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:33.380 going to be 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:34.079 given power and 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:35.000 authority over the 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.880 whole world. 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.119 So the fact 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:38.940 that Jesus is 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.480 the king that 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.579 Israel has been 00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.380 waiting for means 00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:42.059 he's not just 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:42.539 Israel. 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.400 He's the 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:45.180 climax of the 00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:46.259 one true God's 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:46.960 one true plan 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.359 for the whole 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:47.759 world. 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.619 And he's come 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:49.180 to gather up 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.759 people of all 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.460 nations into 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.380 God's kingdom. 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.460 And he's here 00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.019 for everyone. 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.160 And so when 00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.779 you tell 00:30:57.779 --> 00:31:00.380 somebody that 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.099 Jesus is 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:02.039 God's king 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:03.180 for you, 00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:05.600 and he is 00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:06.140 king of all 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.740 kings and 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.120 lord of 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:07.539 lords, 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.060 that it's 00:31:09.060 --> 00:31:09.279 not a 00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:09.700 controlling 00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.140 thing to 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:10.380 do. 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.640 It just 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.100 flows out of 00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:13.480 who Jesus 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:13.779 is. 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:15.840 That if 00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:16.299 Jesus was 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:16.940 just another 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.360 religious 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:17.880 teacher, 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.779 then we 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.180 might want 00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:20.580 our friends 00:31:20.580 --> 00:31:20.920 to know 00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.320 about him, 00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:21.940 or we 00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.380 might not. 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:23.860 But we 00:31:23.860 --> 00:31:24.180 wouldn't go 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:24.440 on about 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:24.580 him, 00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:24.900 would we? 00:31:26.060 --> 00:31:26.620 But if 00:31:26.620 --> 00:31:27.080 he is the 00:31:27.080 --> 00:31:27.500 king that 00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:27.740 the Old 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.279 Testament was 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:28.740 waiting for, 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.360 then everyone 00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:30.120 needs to know 00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:30.500 about him. 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:32.779 Because where 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.440 we stand with 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:34.759 God hinges on 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.440 how we receive 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:35.599 him. 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.200 It's a time 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:36.880 for compassion. 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.579 To think of 00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:40.220 the people we 00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:41.059 know and 00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:42.740 love, or 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.059 even the 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.380 people that 00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:43.900 we've got no 00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:44.559 time for. 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:45.539 They are 00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.079 lost and 00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:46.380 they need 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:46.819 the shepherd. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:48.880 And it's a 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:49.259 time for 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:49.700 prayer. 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:52.720 Our 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.359 compassion will 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:53.579 mean, 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:53.920 won't it, 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:54.619 longing for 00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.079 them to be 00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:55.559 brought into 00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.180 God's kingdom. 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:56.819 That we 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.460 look out of 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.339 our city and 00:31:58.339 --> 00:31:59.059 we cry out, 00:31:59.059 --> 00:31:59.859 Lord, raise 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.619 up workers 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:01.419 to bring in 00:32:01.419 --> 00:32:02.000 the harvest. 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.200 And it's a 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:03.599 time for 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.500 urgent evangelism. 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:07.919 Why are we 00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:08.480 doing what 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:08.919 we're doing? 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:11.759 Well, it's a 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.359 chance to tell 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:12.700 them about 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.099 the shepherd, 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.619 who cares? 00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:18.039 Now is 00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:18.639 the time. 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:20.919 The Jewish 00:32:20.919 --> 00:32:21.639 Messiah has 00:32:21.639 --> 00:32:21.980 come. 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.200 And that 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:24.740 means everyone 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.419 needs to know. 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.859 Let's pray.