WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.400
 Ephesians chapter 1, we're going to read from verses 3 down to 14, and it's on page 1173

00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:22.199
 if you're using a red-covered Bible. Let's listen to God speak to us as we read this.

00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:52.179
 Amen.

00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:57.960
 He has freely given us in the one he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood,

00:00:58.740 --> 00:01:04.359
 the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he has lavished on us

00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:11.180
 with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to

00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:17.500
 his good pleasure which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times have reached

00:01:17.500 --> 00:01:25.599
 their fulfillment, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

00:01:26.599 --> 00:01:31.700
 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out

00:01:31.700 --> 00:01:38.180
 everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we who were the first to hope

00:01:38.180 --> 00:01:46.800
 in Christ might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard

00:01:46.800 --> 00:01:53.820
 the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal,

00:01:54.380 --> 00:02:00.560
 the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption

00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:12.400
 of those who are God's possession, to the praise of his glory. Ken. Before Ken speaks, I'm just going to pray for him

00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:24.819
 and for us. Let's pray. Our Father God, we thank you for your word. We thank you that it's in our language

00:02:24.819 --> 00:02:32.939
 that we can read, but without your Holy Spirit we will not understand and it will not change us or transform us.

00:02:32.979 --> 00:02:41.519
 So we ask that by your Spirit you would speak into our lives today. We pray for Ken. We ask that you would

00:02:41.519 --> 00:02:48.340
 help him to communicate effectively and clearly the truth of your word. We pray that you will bless

00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:55.800
 his ministry and his work, his teaching ministry in the college. We pray for his visits to Peru,

00:02:56.699 --> 00:03:02.840
 that he would be an encouragement to the church there and that you would continue to help him

00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:12.819
 as he seeks to bring the gospel and encourage the church worldwide with the good news of Christ.

00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:16.799
 Christ. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:30.340
 Good morning again. I want to say it's a privilege to be here and to enjoy fellowship. I was going to

00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:36.299
 say the warmth of fellowship. The fellowship's good. The building's cold. I understand why you have tea

00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:43.760
 and coffee. I think that's great. And I've drunk Barry's tea for the first time in my life. Some

00:03:43.760 --> 00:03:54.300
 people drink nothing but, I'm told. Anyway, today I was asked a question about what I'm doing now that

00:03:54.300 --> 00:04:00.439
 I'm going to retire quite soon. I'm going to tell you a secret before I begin to preach. Today is my

00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:13.740
 birthday. A very kind gentleman guessed me at 51. I think that was flattery. I'm 62 today and life has

00:04:13.740 --> 00:04:22.199
 gone very quickly. Life moves along very swiftly, doesn't it? And it's good to be able to live for

00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:28.659
 the Lord and to know the Lord. And the theme today is mission. The whole weekend has been mission and

00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:35.660
 we've been thinking about mission and hostility. But really what I want to do today is perhaps pick up

00:04:35.660 --> 00:04:43.460
 the idea of mission and preach a sermon that may not be so typical. I want to reflect on why I am doing

00:04:43.460 --> 00:04:49.520
 what I do at this time, but not to make it that personal, to actually look at the scriptures and to see

00:04:49.520 --> 00:04:58.060
 what the scriptures say. And we've read together a lovely passage, Ephesians 1, 3 to 14, which I think is a

00:04:58.060 --> 00:05:03.139
 great passage on mission, but I'm not going to expound it. But really that is the background to what we're

00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:12.620
 going to do today. Before we get into the Word of God, let's pray. Father, again we pray. And once again,

00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:18.899
 our God and Father, we thank you that mission is part of your sovereign activity in the realm of

00:05:18.899 --> 00:05:26.679
 redemption in the world. And Father, we know that from first to last, it's your mission. It's not our

00:05:26.679 --> 00:05:33.759
 mission. We're involved in mission not because of us, but because of you. And Father, we know that

00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:43.459
 mission and the gospel of Jesus Christ originated in your heart. It's based on your love, determined by

00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:50.759
 your will. And the mandate was enunciated in the Word of God through the will of God. And Father,

00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:55.919
 we know that it is all explained. The rationale for mission is explained in the Word of God.

00:05:56.379 --> 00:06:04.659
 And the ultimate success and fulfillment depends on your power, not on us. Depends on your sovereignty

00:06:04.659 --> 00:06:11.620
 and not on our human will. Help us, Father, we pray, to proclaim the gospel, knowing that people

00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:20.500
 will believe because the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes in you.

00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:23.660
 We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:32.180
 So, when I sit in my office in Belfast, in Moira, and think about mission, these are the thoughts that

00:06:32.180 --> 00:06:40.199
 come to my mind. And I want to share them today. And the starting place for mission is not me.

00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:47.959
 It's not you. It's not us. Nor is it the lostness of the world. Nor the command to go.

00:06:49.479 --> 00:06:57.099
 The mandate for mission lies within God and His desire to have a relationship with His creation.

00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:03.899
 So, this is my weak attempt to try to articulate what I believe the Bible teaches about mission.

00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:11.620
 And this church, every church, the church of Jesus Christ, and it's much bigger than any little local church,

00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:20.000
 exists because God is a missionary God. We can certainly say that. And God works through His Son.

00:07:20.339 --> 00:07:27.079
 He works through His Spirit. And without God's work, I would have nothing to do. You would have nothing to do.

00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:32.060
 The great thing about the mission of God is, and we were reading about it in Ephesians chapter 1,

00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:37.159
 is that the mission of God stretches from eternity to eternity.

00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:43.360
 Long before we came here, and I have to say, long after we will be gone from here.

00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:47.979
 What excites me when I look at the New Testament and the scripture about mission is,

00:07:47.980 --> 00:07:55.220
 that all the verbs connected to mission and God. If we have to be convinced it's God's mission,

00:07:55.600 --> 00:08:05.120
 think of the verbs, the action words. God loves. Action. God sends. Action. God chooses. Action.

00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:11.040
 God predestines. Some people will have a ball game just because I mentioned that word.

00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:18.680
 God does that. Action. God speaks. God creates. God plans. He sends. He moves by His Spirit.

00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:25.540
 And I have two big brush strokes this morning. And when I think about these two things,

00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:32.259
 my heart, I think, is kept right in regard to mission. I don't get the thing out of sync.

00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:37.060
 I don't lose too much sleep. And I follow the Lord more easily.

00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:40.159
 The first thing I want to say this morning, very simply, is this.

00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:46.539
 The primary motivation for mission, for you, for me, for everyone in the whole world,

00:08:46.739 --> 00:08:52.819
 is for the glory of God. That is the primary goal and the motivation of mission.

00:08:52.959 --> 00:09:00.399
 It's all about God. Let me clarify. Mission is not to do, has not to do,

00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:04.980
 in the first place, with the welfare and glory of the human race.

00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:11.659
 It's not about the growth and expansion of the church. When we think that's what it's all about,

00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:19.100
 we lose our vision and our focus. It's about the glory of God. And that forms the highest goal

00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:27.439
 of mission. And the ultimate goal is that God will be glorified as His people, that's us,

00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:33.300
 tell other people about His greatness, and as people who are at enmity with God,

00:09:33.660 --> 00:09:37.720
 come to faith in Jesus Christ. That's about as simply as I can put it.

00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:44.280
 Mission is church-centered. That's why we're talking about mission today. That's why there's a mission weekend.

00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:51.720
 And the church, us, we are the means of mission, and we are the goal of mission.

00:09:51.720 --> 00:10:00.340
 Does that make sense? We're how it's done. And it's all done so that people will be added to the church of Jesus Christ.

00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:05.580
 And again, the church is much bigger than anything that many of us might think about.

00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:14.000
 That's the goal and the aim. And the goal is to gather people into the community of local churches in the world.

00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:16.840
 And what do we do here? We've been doing it today.

00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:20.100
 Where we worship God. We've been doing that.

00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:24.960
 Where we equip people to grow in a relationship with God.

00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:27.040
 And that's why we're here today.

00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:32.560
 And where we share God, where we share Jesus Christ and the gospel with other people.

00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:37.080
 And that's not necessarily done within four walls.

00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:39.500
 The church of Jesus Christ has legs.

00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.060
 And we walk.

00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:42.740
 And we leave the building.

00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:44.200
 I come from the north.

00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:45.060
 I say that.

00:10:45.180 --> 00:10:47.440
 I've lived in the north since 1991.

00:10:48.060 --> 00:10:52.200
 If I was preaching today in the north, you know this.

00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:53.740
 I would have a suit on.

00:10:54.419 --> 00:10:55.600
 I would have a tie on.

00:10:56.340 --> 00:10:56.860
 Yes, I would.

00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:59.159
 Just so that I wouldn't offend certain people.

00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:00.120
 That's what I would do.

00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:04.899
 And we would probably be seated in some of the most lovely buildings in the world.

00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:09.000
 And my wife would be throwing off her cabigans because it would be far too warm.

00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:12.139
 That's just how it is.

00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:15.580
 And sometimes, perhaps, we can get connected to the building.

00:11:15.939 --> 00:11:18.139
 So let's disconnect from the building.

00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:19.019
 We know that.

00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:20.480
 We are the church.

00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:21.860
 And we are the goal.

00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:23.980
 People like you and me.

00:11:24.819 --> 00:11:28.000
 And so what I want to do today, and I'm picking this up from Johnny.

00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.600
 He was saying something like this.

00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:31.139
 And this is my paraphrase.

00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:36.200
 I simply want to challenge you and me, and I need to be challenged all the time,

00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:39.600
 to think about mission, about the practice of mission,

00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:46.240
 and perhaps to process all the stuff we've got into our heads and hearts over the weekend.

00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:48.080
 Yesterday we were blitzed, weren't we?

00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:54.780
 And sometimes when we're blitzed by it, statistics, how many Christians, where the church has been persecuted,

00:11:55.160 --> 00:12:00.100
 where things are not like that, and so forth, we don't know what to do with all that stuff.

00:12:00.660 --> 00:12:01.580
 So we think.

00:12:01.580 --> 00:12:04.120
 But I also want us to feel.

00:12:05.160 --> 00:12:07.620
 And I want us to feel the motivation for mission.

00:12:08.400 --> 00:12:10.800
 And then I want us to take the responsibility.

00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:14.600
 Now, we can't be responsible for all of mission.

00:12:15.300 --> 00:12:20.520
 And if I had my way, I would have all of you today picking up the four little boxes that remain

00:12:20.520 --> 00:12:23.460
 and saying, I want to support Baptist missions.

00:12:23.660 --> 00:12:25.520
 By the way, take them.

00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:31.600
 Because I'm going up in public transport today, and I'd rather not have all the stuff to carry along with me.

00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:34.840
 So take them and support Baptist missions.

00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:37.199
 And especially the radio in Peru.

00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:38.079
 Isn't that right, Tom?

00:12:38.699 --> 00:12:39.379
 There we go.

00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:44.159
 But I want us to think about responsibility about mission.

00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.360
 Now, we can't do everything.

00:12:45.439 --> 00:12:49.179
 All the Lord will ask you to do and me to do is something.

00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:50.439
 Something.

00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:53.659
 Maybe more than we've done up until this time.

00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:54.779
 So let's go back.

00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:56.799
 First big brush stroke.

00:12:56.939 --> 00:12:59.819
 And I don't want to lose this from my thinking, your thinking.

00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:02.059
 Because it's really what the Bible teaches.

00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:05.839
 The primary motivation is the glory of God.

00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:10.879
 And when you think about that, that keeps our hearts right.

00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:11.720
 Doesn't it?

00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:17.459
 And we can share in that because you and I, and we've read about it,

00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:20.579
 are co-heirs with Christ.

00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:28.840
 And the scripture goes on to say, if we share in his sufferings.

00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:35.360
 And I don't think there is any Christianity without suffering.

00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:40.080
 I had a little quote I was going to throw in yesterday, but I couldn't do it.

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:40.919
 I didn't have time.

00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:45.720
 Archbishop Festo Kivingeri from the Anglican Church in Africa,

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:51.740
 speaking at the anniversary of the martyrdom of a Ugandan archbishop,

00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:53.899
 said this, said this,

00:13:53.899 --> 00:14:00.480
 Without bleeding, the church fails to bless.

00:14:00.939 --> 00:14:03.600
 Now that sounds very tough, doesn't it?

00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:08.220
 Without bleeding, the church fails to bless.

00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:11.500
 And sometimes we want very comfortable lives.

00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:14.519
 But I'll tell you this, following Jesus Christ,

00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:18.440
 sooner or later, will cost us some kind of suffering.

00:14:18.560 --> 00:14:20.399
 I don't mean physical, necessarily.

00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:24.300
 It will cost us perhaps somebody laughing.

00:14:24.540 --> 00:14:26.759
 It will cost us something along the way,

00:14:27.040 --> 00:14:30.259
 where people make it a little bit difficult for us to follow Jesus,

00:14:30.540 --> 00:14:33.940
 and to believe the simple faith that we have in him.

00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:36.980
 And it's still true, co-heirs with Christ,

00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:41.200
 if we share in his sufferings.

00:14:41.420 --> 00:14:44.000
 Being willing to lay down our lives for Jesus.

00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:48.140
 It's never all blessings at no cost.

00:14:48.760 --> 00:14:50.100
 And that's true for the church here.

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.540
 It's true for every church, everywhere.

00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:55.160
 We won't see the full blessing of God,

00:14:55.420 --> 00:14:57.320
 unless somewhere along the line,

00:14:57.860 --> 00:15:01.800
 there's a tough element to following the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:05.579
 Now that leads me to my second motivation for mission.

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.919
 And if you have your Bibles, please,

00:15:08.439 --> 00:15:11.819
 I want to pick it up now in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, please.

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.179
 In verse 18.

00:15:14.859 --> 00:15:17.799
 And Paul is talking about you and me,

00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:23.879
 and about what you and I are called to be in Christ.

00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:27.079
 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 18.

00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.639
 I'm just going to pick out a few verses,

00:15:29.180 --> 00:15:30.300
 because for me,

00:15:30.900 --> 00:15:33.400
 this is what you and I do.

00:15:34.660 --> 00:15:35.420
 And are.

00:15:36.520 --> 00:15:39.379
 And all of this is a gift from God,

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:43.620
 who brought us back to himself through Christ.

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:48.340
 And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:50.420
 For God was in Christ,

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.960
 reconciling the world to himself,

00:15:53.540 --> 00:15:55.980
 no longer counting people's sins against them.

00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:59.440
 And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:01.159
 And I love this verse.

00:16:01.680 --> 00:16:02.740
 This is what you and I do.

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:06.539
 So, you and I are Christ's ambassadors.

00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:10.639
 God is making his appeal through us.

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:14.800
 We speak for Christ when we plead,

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:18.060
 come back to God.

00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:21.879
 The secondary motivation for mission,

00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:24.580
 and these are the only two main points I have this morning,

00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:28.500
 is the ministry of reconciliation.

00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:31.920
 I can think of nothing more exciting than that.

00:16:32.580 --> 00:16:33.800
 The ultimate goal?

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.060
 God's glory.

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:41.400
 And that includes the reconciliation of this world to God.

00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:46.860
 Now, Jesus is here today by the Holy Spirit.

00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:50.039
 And Jesus empowers you and me by his Spirit.

00:16:50.459 --> 00:16:53.399
 And you and I are involved as members of a church,

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:55.379
 as part of the body of Jesus Christ,

00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:58.360
 on Christ's behalf.

00:16:58.360 --> 00:17:01.480
 And we ask people,

00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.560
 we implore people,

00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:04.720
 to be reconciled to God.

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.420
 And Paul goes on to say,

00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:13.259
 it is just as if we do so on Christ's behalf.

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:17.660
 Now, when I used to tell my school friends,

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:18.819
 into my teen years,

00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:21.039
 when I went through grammar school,

00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:24.200
 that I wanted to be a missionary,

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:27.559
 actually, I believed then,

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.599
 and I still believe,

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:31.539
 that perhaps the Lord had given me the privilege,

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:33.159
 of being called to do

00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:35.839
 one of the most wonderful things in the world.

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:38.379
 But every Christian is called to do exactly the same.

00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:41.200
 And that is to call people to come back to God.

00:17:41.659 --> 00:17:42.619
 And we believe that.

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:44.299
 And we certainly believe,

00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:46.139
 in 1 Corinthians 15, verse 3,

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:48.500
 that Jesus Christ died,

00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.399
 he was buried,

00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.460
 and that he rose again.

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:55.599
 And if a person does not believe that,

00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.579
 Paul goes on to say,

00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:57.819
 in 1 Corinthians 15,

00:17:57.819 --> 00:18:00.619
 if a person does not believe that Jesus died,

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.359
 was buried,

00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:03.179
 and rose again for their sins,

00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:06.339
 that person is not a Christian.

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:10.460
 And a lot of people say they're Christians

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:12.019
 because they do good works.

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:14.519
 And I think it's excellent that people do good things.

00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:16.700
 And none of us can ever criticize that.

00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.679
 And we certainly know

00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:20.099
 that there's a general goodness of God in the world.

00:18:20.439 --> 00:18:23.119
 But we believe that the resurrected Christ

00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:24.379
 appears to people,

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:26.000
 and changes their lives.

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.859
 Now that's a simple,

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:29.660
 powerful message.

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:30.720
 Paul.

00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:33.079
 What a wonderful testimony.

00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.319
 Against the church.

00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.880
 Against Christians.

00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:39.799
 Locking them in prison.

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:42.599
 And totally opposed to the ideology.

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.680
 And then God

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:47.220
 showed the resurrected Christ to Paul

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.460
 on the Damascus road.

00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:50.480
 And he was absolutely changed.

00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.180
 James,

00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:54.119
 the half-brother of Jesus,

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:56.000
 mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15.

00:18:56.719 --> 00:18:58.059
 The half-brother of Jesus,

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.679
 who when Jesus was alive,

00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.699
 said about Jesus,

00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:02.639
 he's beside himself.

00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:04.000
 Actually,

00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.739
 he was saying

00:19:04.739 --> 00:19:05.619
 that Jesus

00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:07.019
 was a little bit

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.319
 out of his mind

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.539
 at that point.

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:11.079
 Didn't believe in Jesus.

00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:12.139
 You know,

00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:13.579
 I find that a tremendous comfort.

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:15.099
 Sometimes people say to me,

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.599
 I try to live for Jesus

00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:17.779
 in my family,

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.419
 and people

00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:19.839
 don't want to hear.

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.899
 Can you imagine

00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.500
 that Jesus,

00:19:22.679 --> 00:19:23.639
 the very Son of God,

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.659
 walking on the earth,

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.339
 and his own half-brother

00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:27.339
 had no faith.

00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:29.319
 And then he came to faith

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:30.679
 and changed.

00:19:30.939 --> 00:19:32.000
 Other people were changed.

00:19:32.399 --> 00:19:33.619
 And I love the story of Peter,

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:35.779
 mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15.

00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:36.819
 The failure.

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.679
 The man who wanted

00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:39.579
 to follow Jesus

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:41.419
 and didn't manage to do so.

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:43.059
 And the resurrected Christ

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:43.879
 appeared to him.

00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:46.019
 Do you not think

00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.699
 that sometimes

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.620
 we give Peter

00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:48.660
 bad press?

00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.960
 We think that Peter's

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.299
 the headstrong man.

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.660
 We think that Peter's

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.299
 the one who,

00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:55.160
 you know,

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.559
 says,

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.580
 I'm going to follow Jesus

00:19:56.580 --> 00:19:58.000
 and he gets it all wrong.

00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.380
 But the thing

00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:01.180
 that changed me

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:02.120
 and my view on Peter

00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:03.279
 is I've read one Peter,

00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.340
 I've read two Peter.

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.799
 And when we read that,

00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:07.620
 we have another kind of Peter,

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.799
 a mature man

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.920
 going on.

00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:10.779
 Changed.

00:20:11.620 --> 00:20:12.380
 So exciting.

00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.620
 That's the message

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.700
 that you and I have.

00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:16.519
 Jesus died,

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.139
 was buried

00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:18.359
 and rose again

00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:19.819
 for our sins.

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.859
 And when we believe that,

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:22.920
 things change.

00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:24.879
 In Peru,

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.200
 I'll give you a statistic.

00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:26.819
 Incidentally,

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.940
 please take these things.

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.440
 They're heavy.

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.960
 I don't want to carry them

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.839
 on the bus, really.

00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.599
 And you read about Peru,

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.740
 you read about Spain,

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.319
 France,

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.099
 different places,

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.279
 Baptist missions works.

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.879
 When I went to Peru

00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:39.279
 in 1973,

00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:42.000
 before many of you

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.460
 were born,

00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:45.579
 1 to 1.5%

00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:47.460
 of the Peruvian population

00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:49.140
 professed

00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:50.180
 evangelical faith.

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.620
 Let's put it that way.

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.480
 According to government

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.620
 figures in Peru now,

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:56.079
 12.5%

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.400
 God has done

00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:58.059
 wonderful things.

00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.019
 Peru's very different.

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.200
 I get in a taxi

00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.120
 in Belfast

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:04.000
 and we talk about

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.340
 everything.

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.319
 I get in a taxi

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:05.779
 in Peru

00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:07.720
 and the guy says to me,

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.980
 you're not from here.

00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:10.139
 No.

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.639
 What brings you here?

00:21:13.399 --> 00:21:13.879
 And I say,

00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:14.539
 well, I'm a missionary.

00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:15.720
 I'm a Christian.

00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.519
 And we have a conversation.

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.039
 And within minutes

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.759
 we can be talking

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.799
 about spiritual things.

00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:22.200
 People are so religious

00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.180
 in Peru

00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:23.940
 and so open

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:25.559
 in a way that perhaps

00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.299
 they aren't here.

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.700
 So I've been spoiled

00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.899
 working in that.

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.480
 Now,

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.899
 let's bring it back here.

00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.940
 This ministry

00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:33.720
 of reconciliation.

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.319
 And you're probably saying,

00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:36.559
 do I have to go to Peru?

00:21:36.919 --> 00:21:38.259
 Does everybody have to go

00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.960
 somewhere else?

00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:40.539
 Not necessarily.

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:41.579
 I think

00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.799
 wherever God

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.740
 has placed you,

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.559
 whatever job you have,

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.939
 that's where the Lord

00:21:46.939 --> 00:21:47.879
 is leading you.

00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.279
 Somebody has put it this way

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.019
 and I love this.

00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:55.200
 If we want to follow Jesus,

00:21:55.419 --> 00:21:56.419
 we have to follow Him

00:21:56.419 --> 00:21:58.019
 to the ends of the earth.

00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.679
 For that

00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:01.359
 is where He is going.

00:22:02.179 --> 00:22:02.659
 Now for me,

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.200
 that was Peru.

00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.859
 For some of you,

00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.779
 that's here.

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.079
 Some have come

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.819
 from other places

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.599
 to here.

00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:10.359
 It might seem like

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.059
 the end of the earth

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.599
 to you folks

00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:11.939
 who have come

00:22:11.939 --> 00:22:12.719
 from other places.

00:22:13.219 --> 00:22:14.019
 But this is the end

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.819
 of the earth for you

00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:15.979
 because this is where

00:22:15.979 --> 00:22:17.459
 Jesus has brought you.

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.039
 And where the Lord

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.579
 took me

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.979
 was to another country.

00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.959
 And it doesn't matter

00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:23.000
 whether you're here,

00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.359
 Belfast,

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.039
 Orkney,

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.899
 or the United States,

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.919
 or Africa,

00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.059
 any place in the world.

00:22:29.199 --> 00:22:30.240
 That's where the Lord

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.859
 is leading you and me.

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:32.899
 And I thank God

00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:33.719
 for how He's led me

00:22:33.719 --> 00:22:34.299
 in my life

00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:35.319
 and for what I've been

00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.039
 able to do.

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.379
 You know,

00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.439
 things have changed

00:22:38.439 --> 00:22:39.079
 in the world.

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.479
 You've probably noticed this.

00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.419
 In the past,

00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.319
 most missionaries

00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:45.899
 were from the West.

00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:46.799
 True?

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.259
 Yesterday,

00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:49.119
 I noticed that

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.399
 the country that sends out

00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:51.359
 most missionaries today,

00:22:51.479 --> 00:22:52.339
 did anybody notice?

00:22:53.699 --> 00:22:53.939
 Huh?

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.619
 Was it China?

00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:57.099
 China's sending out a lot.

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:57.939
 You're almost right.

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:59.220
 It surprised me.

00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.220
 Yeah.

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.120
 Say that.

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:05.340
 I think it was Mongolia

00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:06.000
 or Moldova.

00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:06.640
 It was one of those

00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.400
 weird countries.

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.779
 Brazil sends out a lot.

00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.279
 China sends out a lot.

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.400
 China wants to send out

00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:14.860
 100,000 missionaries.

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.259
 Do you know

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.600
 what's happening?

00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:18.600
 We naughty Westerners,

00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:20.220
 I'm talking about we Brits,

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.580
 and I'm talking about

00:23:21.580 --> 00:23:22.240
 we Americans,

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.320
 we're at war

00:23:23.320 --> 00:23:24.900
 in certain countries.

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.259
 They don't like us

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:26.660
 over there

00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.299
 for some reason.

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:29.180
 Don't quite understand that.

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.200
 I'm being facetious.

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.139
 But you know

00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:32.980
 what the Lord's doing?

00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.879
 Chinese people,

00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:36.099
 I mean real Christians,

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.019
 are going from China

00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:38.399
 and they want to send

00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:40.819
 100,000 missionaries

00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.379
 from China.

00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.220
 The persecuted church

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:44.339
 that has grown

00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:44.980
 when missionaries

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.980
 were thrown out of China

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.980
 back in 1951,

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.740
 I think it was,

00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.000
 one million Christians.

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.019
 Do you know now

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.759
 how many Christians

00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.480
 there are in China?

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.259
 Some reckon

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.720
 there might be

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:57.680
 130 million.

00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:00.339
 That's one in ten Chinese.

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.759
 Check it out.

00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:02.900
 Most of the things

00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:03.980
 we wear are made in China.

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.259
 One in ten,

00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:06.079
 probably a Christian

00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:06.920
 making your shirts

00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:07.559
 and your trousers

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.420
 and everything else.

00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.740
 But those guys

00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.799
 are going to other countries

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.519
 and they're not going

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.440
 as missionaries,

00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.460
 they're going as Christians.

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:15.079
 Because at the end of the day,

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.099
 to call yourself a missionary

00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.019
 is not very popular

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.180
 in certain parts of the world.

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.299
 And they're going.

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.819
 This is going too.

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:25.579
 But they're going.

00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:26.419
 They're going to work

00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.179
 in these places.

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.720
 And they're in Afghanistan.

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.319
 They're in Iraq.

00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.619
 They're in Iran.

00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:33.700
 And they're talking

00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:35.059
 about the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:24:35.179 --> 00:24:36.279
 Isn't the Lord so wise

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.559
 in what He does?

00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:38.359
 See,

00:24:38.679 --> 00:24:39.679
 call them what you like.

00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:40.960
 Maybe they work

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.480
 in laboratories.

00:24:41.679 --> 00:24:42.119
 Who knows?

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:43.099
 But they're working

00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.720
 for the Lord.

00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:45.259
 And in the past,

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.119
 most missionaries

00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.919
 were from the West.

00:24:47.419 --> 00:24:48.000
 Not now.

00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.439
 Not now.

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:51.500
 More people are coming

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.759
 from the other countries

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.840
 and we,

00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.420
 we will

00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:57.420
 have to receive people

00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.580
 and willingly

00:24:58.580 --> 00:24:59.360
 and lovingly

00:24:59.360 --> 00:25:00.059
 receive people

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.400
 and say,

00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.860
 you guys perhaps

00:25:01.860 --> 00:25:03.240
 have so much to teach us

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.360
 from other countries

00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:05.220
 here in the West.

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.640
 We won't go down

00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.120
 that route

00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:07.900
 at the moment.

00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:08.860
 But there are now

00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:09.820
 more Christians

00:25:09.820 --> 00:25:12.240
 in the Southern Hemisphere

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:14.559
 and in what used to be called

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.320
 the Third World

00:25:15.320 --> 00:25:16.460
 than in the West.

00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.000
 I think that's great.

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.660
 I think that's great.

00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:21.700
 I could go down

00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.519
 the line on that.

00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:24.059
 But in this task

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.940
 of reconciliation,

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:27.319
 I've learned this.

00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:28.880
 And this might seem

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.920
 a very, very simple

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.839
 lesson to learn.

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.140
 And it's this.

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.480
 There is no room

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:38.460
 for first fiddles,

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.980
 number ones.

00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:42.779
 There's only room

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.799
 in the Lord's work

00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.980
 for number twos.

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.460
 And I've called us

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.599
 second fiddles.

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.819
 I love to go

00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.400
 to the orchestra.

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:51.140
 We went at Christmas,

00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:51.880
 Jeannie and I.

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.660
 And I'm dreaming

00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.559
 of Jeannie today.

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.640
 And incidentally,

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.420
 Jeannie with the light

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:56.960
 grey hair,

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.160
 if you know her.

00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:58.940
 That's a good

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.700
 Scottish song.

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.579
 And we go.

00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:04.039
 And I'm always enthralled

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:05.240
 because in the orchestra,

00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:06.319
 Handel's Messiah,

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.079
 you name it,

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.799
 first fiddle.

00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:09.299
 The conductor,

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.180
 he stands up

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:11.039
 and he bows forever

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.500
 and a day at the end

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.579
 and he gets the applause.

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:15.380
 And first fiddle.

00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:16.480
 Have you noticed that?

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.420
 And he often goes over

00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:18.500
 and shakes the hand

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.779
 of the first fiddle.

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.620
 That's probably not

00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:21.640
 the best way to say it.

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.400
 But the second fiddler

00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.799
 is also playing.

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.220
 Imagine first fiddle

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.140
 without second fiddle

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:29.039
 and third fiddle

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.799
 and fourth fiddle.

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.759
 Where would the orchestra be?

00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.799
 And in the Lord's work,

00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:35.539
 now you're beginning to think,

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.980
 Ken's beginning to be

00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.680
 non-biblical.

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.660
 Well, let me give you

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.180
 my scripture.

00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.360
 Where about John the Baptist?

00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.799
 That's where I start.

00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:44.659
 The greatest of all the prophets,

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.460
 Jesus said.

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:49.059
 But what did John say?

00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:50.200
 Jesus said,

00:26:50.419 --> 00:26:51.359
 John is the greatest

00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.460
 of all the prophets.

00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.859
 Let Jesus say stuff,

00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.399
 not us.

00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.059
 But John said,

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:59.079
 Jesus must increase.

00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:01.879
 I must decrease.

00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:04.359
 So when I think about

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:05.599
 the practice of mission,

00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:06.359
 yes,

00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.759
 the ultimate goal of missions

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.720
 is the glory of God

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.559
 through the redemption

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.220
 of people,

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:12.100
 redemption of people

00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:12.600
 for God

00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:13.640
 through Jesus Christ.

00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:17.460
 The radio in Peru.

00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.460
 I'm going to show you

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.880
 something from Baptist missions.

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.900
 I only have two of these

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.700
 and I'm going to give them

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.140
 to you.

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.940
 I don't know if you have

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.640
 a notice board.

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:26.500
 But I went to a church

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.180
 in the north.

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.420
 This is everybody

00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:29.299
 in Baptist missions.

00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.160
 There aren't many

00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.100
 of these around anymore.

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.120
 Some of you may have them,

00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:33.380
 right?

00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:34.740
 Well,

00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:36.220
 I went to a church recently

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:37.259
 and they had it up.

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.500
 There I am,

00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.400
 right in the center.

00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:39.940
 I went to a church

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.200
 and I said,

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:40.220
 huh.

00:27:41.080 --> 00:27:42.600
 But it was up on the wall.

00:27:43.040 --> 00:27:43.200
 No,

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.759
 not really.

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.759
 That came out wrong.

00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:46.320
 But it was up on the wall

00:27:46.320 --> 00:27:47.240
 and we were there,

00:27:47.320 --> 00:27:49.019
 all the western missionaries.

00:27:49.800 --> 00:27:50.759
 And I said to them,

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.920
 have you got another copy?

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.300
 They said,

00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:52.560
 no.

00:27:53.080 --> 00:27:53.360
 I said,

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:53.940
 what a pity.

00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.680
 Because if you were to pin

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.500
 the other side up,

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.540
 this is Peru.

00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:59.140
 There are,

00:27:59.280 --> 00:28:00.060
 look at the Peru bit,

00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:00.860
 this little corner,

00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:01.820
 three couples.

00:28:03.040 --> 00:28:03.580
 Three couples.

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.620
 And I love these guys,

00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.180
 but they're not doing

00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.920
 all that much

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.680
 because there's only

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.140
 three of them.

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.220
 Three couples.

00:28:10.840 --> 00:28:11.620
 But look at the front.

00:28:13.060 --> 00:28:14.500
 Fifteen different units,

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.580
 all on Baptist,

00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.900
 with Baptist missions,

00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:18.100
 being paid a pittance,

00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:18.820
 perhaps.

00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:20.120
 But they're doing

00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:21.200
 far more work

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.460
 than the missionaries

00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:22.920
 in Peru.

00:28:23.080 --> 00:28:24.060
 I think that's exciting.

00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.460
 And even in Peru,

00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.140
 the radio,

00:28:28.040 --> 00:28:28.860
 and it's my baby.

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.780
 When you do give money,

00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.660
 give it to the radio.

00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.220
 There you go.

00:28:32.040 --> 00:28:33.140
 Specify the radio.

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.600
 The Lord bless you.

00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:37.759
 But there they are,

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.339
 great team.

00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:39.219
 They're Peruvians.

00:28:39.719 --> 00:28:39.939
 You see,

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.839
 all I could do,

00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:42.139
 and I'm being quite honest,

00:28:42.219 --> 00:28:43.039
 all I could do

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:45.399
 was set up the radio.

00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:47.679
 And my ministry

00:28:47.679 --> 00:28:48.500
 is very simple.

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:49.879
 Your ministry

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.759
 may be very simple,

00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.919
 may be better than mine.

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:54.000
 I'm an implementer.

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.440
 And you know,

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:58.200
 when people said to me,

00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.240
 you're setting up a radio.

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.240
 What do you know about a radio?

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:01.480
 Nothing.

00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.680
 But all my life,

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.460
 I've done stuff.

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.480
 I've started stuff.

00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.740
 It's just one of the things

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.779
 I like to do.

00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.539
 It's one of the things

00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.359
 that excites me.

00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.500
 It's why I get bored

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.240
 and move on

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.220
 to something else.

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:13.019
 People are different.

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.720
 I'm an implementer.

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.740
 It's somewhere in the Bible.

00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.940
 I just haven't found it yet.

00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:18.920
 It's a gift.

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:20.000
 Implementation.

00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:22.259
 But other people come behind.

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:24.119
 So in this task

00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:25.299
 of reconciliation,

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:27.019
 I'm learning

00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.779
 and I've learned

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.700
 over many years

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:30.319
 that I need to be number two.

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:33.099
 Second fiddle.

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:35.259
 Do you believe me?

00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.660
 So how does this apply to me?

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.960
 How does this apply to you?

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.420
 Obviously,

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.920
 everything primarily,

00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:42.599
 and this is why

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:43.400
 it's so important,

00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.799
 is for the glory of God.

00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:46.700
 But even in the ministry,

00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.220
 often,

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:50.079
 there's no room

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:51.579
 for number one.

00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:53.039
 It's only for number twos.

00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:54.980
 Let me give you

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:55.539
 another scripture.

00:29:55.899 --> 00:29:56.599
 Paul is writing.

00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:59.339
 1 Corinthians 15, 9.

00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:01.919
 Now, let me say something

00:30:01.919 --> 00:30:02.740
 just before that.

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.460
 Somebody told me

00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.079
 the other day,

00:30:04.159 --> 00:30:05.000
 and I love this.

00:30:06.439 --> 00:30:06.899
 I don't know

00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.699
 where he got it from.

00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.339
 Somebody said

00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:09.899
 from Charles Hatton Spurgeon.

00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.240
 It takes more grace

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:14.079
 than tongue can tell

00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:15.419
 to play

00:30:15.419 --> 00:30:17.639
 the second fiddle

00:30:17.639 --> 00:30:18.579
 well.

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:21.079
 I'll repeat that.

00:30:21.139 --> 00:30:21.839
 It's not a text,

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.240
 but I think it's biblical.

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:24.839
 It takes more grace

00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.799
 than tongue can tell

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:27.720
 to play the second fiddle

00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.259
 well.

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.839
 1 Corinthians 15, 9.

00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.779
 Paul is writing.

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.059
 What does he write?

00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.679
 This is Paul,

00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:34.679
 the Apostle Paul.

00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:36.039
 I am the least

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:37.899
 of the Apostles.

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.879
 I am the least

00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:40.679
 of the Apostles

00:30:40.679 --> 00:30:41.839
 who am not worthy

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.119
 to be called an Apostle

00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:44.319
 because I persecuted

00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:46.119
 the Church of God.

00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:47.119
 What did he say?

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.179
 I am number two?

00:30:49.219 --> 00:30:49.479
 No.

00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:51.759
 Not even number two.

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.539
 I am the least.

00:30:54.739 --> 00:30:55.959
 He met the risen Christ.

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.399
 And when Paul

00:30:57.399 --> 00:30:58.719
 met the risen Christ,

00:30:58.919 --> 00:31:00.139
 he had two questions.

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.919
 Check it out.

00:31:01.399 --> 00:31:02.659
 In the Acts of the Apostles,

00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:04.079
 he met the risen Christ

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:05.279
 and he said this,

00:31:05.659 --> 00:31:07.239
 Who are you, Lord?

00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:09.459
 And isn't that

00:31:09.459 --> 00:31:10.399
 the greatest question

00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:11.259
 we can ever ask?

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.779
 Lord, who are you?

00:31:13.479 --> 00:31:14.659
 I want to know you better.

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:16.920
 And the other question is,

00:31:17.040 --> 00:31:18.279
 what do you want me to do?

00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:20.100
 I don't think you and I

00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:21.640
 can ask two greater questions

00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:22.700
 than these two.

00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:24.040
 Who are you?

00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.779
 And we want to know him better.

00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:28.040
 And you know,

00:31:28.080 --> 00:31:29.440
 he spent the rest of his life,

00:31:29.560 --> 00:31:30.040
 I believe,

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.640
 answering these two questions.

00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:33.220
 And if you have questions in life,

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.960
 I think these are the best questions

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.980
 we can ever ask

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.360
 and we can ever answer.

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.320
 Lord, who are you?

00:31:39.040 --> 00:31:40.340
 Let me know you better today.

00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:42.040
 And I meant what I said earlier

00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:43.300
 and I hadn't pre-planned it

00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:44.759
 when he said to me,

00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:46.819
 When did you come to Jesus Christ?

00:31:47.639 --> 00:31:48.839
 I gave all that I knew

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:50.339
 about me to God then.

00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.960
 And I know a lot more

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.599
 about me now

00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:53.759
 because the Lord reveals

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.700
 a whole lot more to me

00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.259
 about me.

00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.619
 And I can give a whole lot more

00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:57.700
 of me to the Lord now

00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:58.859
 than I used to.

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:01.059
 And I knew Jesus was glorious

00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:01.779
 and I knew that

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:03.099
 he changed my life then.

00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.619
 But I know that he changes

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:05.899
 my life more now

00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:07.180
 because he's more glorious

00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:08.079
 than I realized

00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:09.980
 he was when I was 10.

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.720
 52 years later,

00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:13.079
 that's how it is.

00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:15.019
 Later in life,

00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:15.920
 what did Paul write?

00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.120
 He's growing.

00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:18.480
 And I'll tell you

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.220
 how I know this.

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.700
 Ephesians 3, 8.

00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.680
 It was written

00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:23.299
 after 1 Corinthians 15.

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.759
 Later in life,

00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.420
 Paul grows

00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:26.440
 and he says this.

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.700
 He writes this.

00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.279
 To me,

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.420
 who am less

00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.620
 than the least

00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:32.799
 of all the saints.

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.440
 Imagine that.

00:32:35.339 --> 00:32:36.039
 What do we think

00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.559
 of ourselves

00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.900
 in the church

00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.779
 of Jesus Christ?

00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.319
 Do we think

00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:40.259
 we're the most important

00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.799
 kingpin?

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:42.319
 We can be tempted

00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:43.099
 to think that.

00:32:43.259 --> 00:32:44.039
 But he goes on to say,

00:32:44.159 --> 00:32:45.139
 this grace was given

00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:46.460
 that I should preach

00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:47.539
 among the Gentiles

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:49.519
 the unsearchable

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.940
 riches of Christ.

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.299
 What did Paul say?

00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.859
 Great sainthood?

00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:56.559
 Great sainthood

00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:58.539
 is to see yourself

00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.279
 like Paul,

00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:00.740
 the least of all.

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:03.440
 That's a paradox,

00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:03.980
 isn't it?

00:33:04.139 --> 00:33:05.220
 Almost a contradiction.

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.200
 He saw great grace,

00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:08.819
 he saw the greatness

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.600
 of the gospel

00:33:09.600 --> 00:33:10.759
 and he saw that

00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:12.080
 it was all about Christ,

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.440
 not about him.

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.440
 Later in life,

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:16.880
 and we know this

00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:18.799
 because 1 Timothy 1.15

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.440
 was written

00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:21.160
 after Ephesians

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:22.500
 and after 1 Corinthians.

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:24.279
 Just before his death,

00:33:25.080 --> 00:33:25.900
 following Jesus,

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:26.900
 he was growing.

00:33:27.580 --> 00:33:28.420
 This is growth.

00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:31.700
 1 Timothy 1.15.

00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.420
 There are several

00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:33.519
 faithful sayings

00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.539
 quoted in the

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.380
 pastoral epistles

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.660
 and this is one of them.

00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:38.480
 This is a faithful saying

00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:40.580
 and worthy of all acceptance

00:33:40.580 --> 00:33:42.180
 that Christ Jesus

00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:43.200
 came into the world

00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.160
 to save sinners

00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.880
 of whom

00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:47.360
 I

00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:48.480
 am

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.480
 chief.

00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:52.240
 Now doesn't that seem

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:52.940
 the opposite

00:33:52.940 --> 00:33:54.600
 of spirituality?

00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:58.800
 That's descending growth.

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:01.040
 What happens

00:34:01.040 --> 00:34:02.000
 in spirituality

00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:03.040
 as we come to know

00:34:03.040 --> 00:34:03.700
 the Lord Jesus

00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:05.759
 is the exact opposite

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.480
 of what happens

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.220
 in the world.

00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.139
 Apostle,

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.220
 the least.

00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:13.320
 Saint,

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.400
 less

00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:15.820
 than the least

00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:17.460
 of all the saints.

00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.860
 Was Paul lying?

00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:21.179
 I don't think so.

00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.920
 I think Paul saw himself

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:24.599
 in relation to other Christians

00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.980
 as not that important.

00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.360
 Maybe you don't think

00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.119
 you're that important.

00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:29.280
 Good

00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:31.320
 in that sense.

00:34:32.060 --> 00:34:32.600
 Maybe the Lord

00:34:32.600 --> 00:34:33.180
 can use you

00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:33.980
 even more

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.180
 in that way.

00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:36.340
 And sinners,

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.620
 the worst.

00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:39.240
 Did Paul mean that?

00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:40.680
 Absolutely.

00:34:41.560 --> 00:34:42.560
 And isn't that growth?

00:34:43.680 --> 00:34:44.000
 You know,

00:34:44.100 --> 00:34:44.720
 when I was younger

00:34:44.720 --> 00:34:45.400
 I used to think

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:46.580
 that the older I would get,

00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.240
 as Johnny says,

00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:49.880
 near retirement age,

00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:52.040
 that I would feel

00:34:52.040 --> 00:34:52.580
 holier.

00:34:53.220 --> 00:34:53.540
 Ah,

00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:55.019
 I don't feel

00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.679
 holier

00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:56.480
 today.

00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:57.440
 I don't stand

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.599
 here thinking

00:34:58.599 --> 00:34:59.619
 I'm a missionary.

00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.659
 I'm holier

00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:01.400
 than other people.

00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.619
 I'm absolutely

00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:03.320
 amazed

00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:04.199
 that the Lord

00:35:04.199 --> 00:35:05.000
 can use me

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.759
 and He's still

00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:06.340
 calling me

00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:07.079
 to follow Him.

00:35:07.759 --> 00:35:09.039
 And the older I get,

00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:10.000
 the more I have to

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.900
 confess my sins

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:11.719
 than ever before.

00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:14.420
 And into that mix,

00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:15.279
 imagine this,

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.380
 Paul presented

00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:18.119
 the unsearchable

00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:19.119
 riches of Jesus.

00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.019
 That's growth.

00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:22.719
 Descending growth.

00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:25.019
 The opposite

00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:25.960
 of what it is

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.579
 in this world.

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.559
 How about me?

00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.360
 How about you?

00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:29.800
 In me,

00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:30.279
 in you,

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:30.759
 in us,

00:35:30.860 --> 00:35:31.519
 there's no room

00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:33.259
 for self-importance

00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:34.219
 in one sense.

00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:36.820
 I go into bookshops

00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:37.400
 when I travel

00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:38.940
 and if I see

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:40.420
 another self-help book

00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:41.480
 I think I'll blow up

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.239
 the bookshop.

00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:43.880
 Everything is

00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:44.519
 self-help,

00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:46.139
 self-esteem

00:35:46.139 --> 00:35:47.400
 and all that stuff.

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:49.360
 The irony is

00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:50.860
 we only

00:35:50.860 --> 00:35:52.199
 are esteemed

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:52.860
 finally

00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:54.039
 in Jesus Christ

00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.980
 and the weaker

00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.680
 we are,

00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:56.579
 the stronger

00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:57.240
 we are.

00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.780
 Isn't that strange?

00:35:59.680 --> 00:36:00.180
 Paul says,

00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:01.660
 did Paul mean this?

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.340
 He says,

00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:03.340
 I have even

00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:04.700
 despaired of life

00:36:04.700 --> 00:36:06.280
 itself.

00:36:07.620 --> 00:36:08.840
 That's rock bottom.

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:10.400
 And yet,

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:10.780
 he says,

00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:11.800
 when I am weak,

00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.880
 I'm strong.

00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:14.220
 And there's no room

00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:15.180
 for self-righteousness.

00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:16.519
 I've been a Christian

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.740
 for 52 years.

00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:21.159
 No room.

00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.199
 No room.

00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:23.559
 Life is just a vapor.

00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.099
 Let me tell you,

00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:25.919
 it's just gone.

00:36:27.319 --> 00:36:27.839
 And on the line,

00:36:27.899 --> 00:36:28.279
 my mother

00:36:28.279 --> 00:36:29.199
 passed away.

00:36:29.279 --> 00:36:29.819
 She was 90.

00:36:30.319 --> 00:36:31.039
 And I was talking

00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:32.000
 to somebody the other day.

00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:32.399
 I said,

00:36:32.419 --> 00:36:33.139
 I don't particularly

00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:33.819
 like to live

00:36:33.819 --> 00:36:34.459
 to be 90.

00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:35.379
 I said,

00:36:35.419 --> 00:36:36.139
 but the alternative,

00:36:36.339 --> 00:36:37.099
 I'm not too attracted

00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:37.839
 to that either.

00:36:39.459 --> 00:36:40.000
 You know,

00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:41.039
 life is just flying.

00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:42.839
 And that's good.

00:36:42.899 --> 00:36:43.779
 We'll be in heaven soon.

00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:44.579
 But meanwhile,

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:46.460
 I don't know about you.

00:36:46.579 --> 00:36:47.239
 In my life,

00:36:48.759 --> 00:36:49.619
 and I mean this,

00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:51.900
 I do a lot of repentance now.

00:36:52.779 --> 00:36:53.739
 If I say something

00:36:53.739 --> 00:36:54.519
 I shouldn't say,

00:36:55.099 --> 00:36:55.579
 I think,

00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:56.440
 that's not nice.

00:36:57.759 --> 00:36:58.400
 If the Lord speaks

00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:59.019
 to my heart,

00:36:59.299 --> 00:37:00.380
 I just know that I have

00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:01.360
 to be right with God.

00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:02.900
 And it's a daily thing,

00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.360
 isn't it?

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:05.039
 And I notice that people

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:05.940
 who are like myself

00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:06.659
 at this age

00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.579
 are nodding their heads.

00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:08.460
 You know what I mean?

00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.759
 It's what happens

00:37:09.759 --> 00:37:10.400
 when we grow

00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:11.579
 and go on.

00:37:11.619 --> 00:37:12.400
 A lot of repentance.

00:37:13.739 --> 00:37:14.099
 But,

00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:16.099
 the other side to that is,

00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:17.699
 the beautiful paradox is,

00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.059
 we see more

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:20.259
 of the unsearchable

00:37:20.259 --> 00:37:21.259
 riches of Christ

00:37:21.259 --> 00:37:22.559
 than we've ever seen before.

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:23.719
 Isn't that true?

00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:27.279
 Back to Baptist missions

00:37:27.279 --> 00:37:27.779
 for a moment.

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:29.019
 Three couples in Peru.

00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:30.219
 I think that's great.

00:37:30.940 --> 00:37:31.420
 13,

00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.779
 15 Peruvian units

00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:33.340
 on the Peru.

00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.440
 I think that's wonderful.

00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.659
 And to serve the Lord

00:37:37.659 --> 00:37:38.739
 on the foreign mission field

00:37:38.739 --> 00:37:39.340
 doesn't mean

00:37:39.340 --> 00:37:40.779
 you're a number one kingpin.

00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:42.900
 How people can put you

00:37:42.900 --> 00:37:43.860
 up on a pedestal

00:37:43.860 --> 00:37:45.340
 it's not like that.

00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:47.460
 They're just so important.

00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.500
 These guys working away

00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:49.980
 in Peru.

00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:51.800
 Peruvians that I love.

00:37:51.860 --> 00:37:52.680
 I'm going back in June

00:37:52.680 --> 00:37:53.180
 and July

00:37:53.180 --> 00:37:54.079
 and I'm looking forward

00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:54.519
 to that.

00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:55.700
 And when Peru gets

00:37:55.700 --> 00:37:56.280
 into your blood

00:37:56.280 --> 00:37:57.099
 it's in there.

00:37:57.720 --> 00:37:58.280
 You're going back

00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:58.800
 on your honeymoon,

00:37:58.960 --> 00:37:59.200
 are you?

00:38:00.280 --> 00:38:00.700
 Tom?

00:38:01.120 --> 00:38:01.440
 Oops.

00:38:02.539 --> 00:38:03.260
 There we go.

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:04.820
 We're all number twos,

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:05.280
 aren't we?

00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.160
 Partners.

00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:07.940
 ordinary people.

00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:10.259
 And God calls us

00:38:10.259 --> 00:38:12.379
 to be second fiddles.

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:14.579
 I think that balances out

00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.059
 beautifully

00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:16.259
 every church.

00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:16.940
 Don't you?

00:38:18.379 --> 00:38:19.559
 And the glory is His.

00:38:20.219 --> 00:38:20.500
 You see,

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.739
 we're on a faith adventure.

00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:22.559
 The other night

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:24.379
 Elizabeth Almanza,

00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:25.179
 you know her Tom,

00:38:25.739 --> 00:38:26.179
 phoned.

00:38:26.579 --> 00:38:27.500
 It was so encouraging.

00:38:28.179 --> 00:38:28.420
 She,

00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:30.019
 if you know the Bible college

00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:30.500
 in the north,

00:38:30.599 --> 00:38:31.219
 we have Valerie

00:38:31.219 --> 00:38:32.579
 who works in the,

00:38:32.659 --> 00:38:33.279
 she keeps us

00:38:33.279 --> 00:38:34.739
 six lecturers straight

00:38:34.739 --> 00:38:35.779
 in Peru.

00:38:35.899 --> 00:38:37.059
 It's Elizabeth Almanza.

00:38:37.439 --> 00:38:37.899
 And she said,

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.219
 Ken,

00:38:38.679 --> 00:38:39.199
 it's great.

00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:40.079
 We're meeting for prayer

00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:40.679
 every morning

00:38:40.679 --> 00:38:41.779
 and we're praying.

00:38:41.919 --> 00:38:42.659
 The pastor's wives

00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:43.359
 are meeting for prayer.

00:38:43.459 --> 00:38:44.579
 We're having an evangelistic

00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.199
 campaign.

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.519
 And she told me

00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:47.339
 all kinds of things

00:38:47.339 --> 00:38:47.839
 and I thought,

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:48.419
 wow.

00:38:48.679 --> 00:38:49.159
 I didn't know

00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:49.839
 all these things

00:38:49.839 --> 00:38:50.519
 were going on.

00:38:51.859 --> 00:38:52.599
 And there are the guys

00:38:52.599 --> 00:38:53.599
 working in the mission,

00:38:53.859 --> 00:38:54.779
 the Peruvians.

00:38:54.959 --> 00:38:55.799
 I was so excited.

00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:58.459
 I want to encourage you today.

00:38:58.859 --> 00:39:00.000
 I don't want to send you

00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:00.599
 on a guilt trip.

00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:01.659
 I really don't.

00:39:02.139 --> 00:39:03.019
 I want you to think

00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:03.659
 about the weekend.

00:39:03.900 --> 00:39:04.179
 Fine.

00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:05.920
 I want you to process it.

00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:07.259
 I don't want you

00:39:07.259 --> 00:39:08.380
 to try and do everything

00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:09.279
 for every mission

00:39:09.279 --> 00:39:10.619
 and every field

00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:11.119
 in the world.

00:39:11.239 --> 00:39:12.000
 You can't.

00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:13.719
 But I want you

00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:14.480
 to think it through.

00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:15.619
 But be encouraged.

00:39:15.819 --> 00:39:16.960
 The primary motivation

00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.819
 for what you do

00:39:17.819 --> 00:39:18.579
 and for your life

00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:19.219
 and my life

00:39:19.219 --> 00:39:20.519
 is the glory of God.

00:39:21.319 --> 00:39:22.239
 And He has a whole lot

00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:22.779
 more glory

00:39:22.779 --> 00:39:23.980
 in your life

00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:24.619
 and my life

00:39:24.619 --> 00:39:25.719
 than you might even think.

00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:27.019
 I believe that.

00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:28.539
 So don't give up.

00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:29.639
 Don't give up.

00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:30.960
 This is for the glory of God.

00:39:31.299 --> 00:39:31.659
 Secondly,

00:39:32.219 --> 00:39:33.480
 the secondary motivation,

00:39:33.980 --> 00:39:35.259
 the ministry of reconciliation.

00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.379
 It's a process.

00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:38.400
 That's the challenge.

00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:39.219
 Think about it.

00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:40.920
 Think about the practice.

00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:42.519
 Feel it in your heart.

00:39:43.059 --> 00:39:43.779
 Be motivated

00:39:43.779 --> 00:39:45.879
 and take that responsibility

00:39:45.879 --> 00:39:47.219
 to heart.

00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:50.639
 Recession in the South.

00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:52.019
 I wasn't going to say this

00:39:52.019 --> 00:39:52.799
 but I came across

00:39:52.799 --> 00:39:53.500
 this little quote

00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.059
 the other day.

00:39:54.539 --> 00:39:55.779
 Some folk are looking for jobs.

00:39:55.900 --> 00:39:56.900
 You think you don't have money.

00:39:56.900 --> 00:39:58.240
 But you know,

00:39:58.440 --> 00:39:59.660
 I found this

00:39:59.660 --> 00:40:00.320
 and I've worked with

00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:01.440
 poor people in the world

00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:04.099
 and they're some of the best people

00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:05.180
 I've ever met in my life.

00:40:05.260 --> 00:40:06.220
 I'm not against wealth.

00:40:06.780 --> 00:40:08.039
 I've met wealthy people

00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:08.639
 and some of them

00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:09.300
 are the best people

00:40:09.300 --> 00:40:09.760
 in the world.

00:40:10.780 --> 00:40:11.300
 But giving

00:40:11.300 --> 00:40:12.660
 is not giving

00:40:12.660 --> 00:40:14.220
 of any kind

00:40:14.220 --> 00:40:15.300
 until

00:40:15.300 --> 00:40:16.960
 it interrupts

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:18.099
 our lifestyle.

00:40:19.680 --> 00:40:20.980
 People talk about a tenth.

00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:22.519
 The Bible

00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:23.480
 in the New Testament

00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:24.599
 doesn't mention the tenth.

00:40:24.699 --> 00:40:25.760
 Have you ever wondered about that?

00:40:25.920 --> 00:40:27.179
 It talks about generous giving.

00:40:28.019 --> 00:40:28.740
 I'm just leaving you

00:40:28.740 --> 00:40:29.219
 with that one.

00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:30.740
 Maybe that's

00:40:30.740 --> 00:40:31.760
 where you have to plug in.

00:40:31.860 --> 00:40:32.880
 I can't afford to.

00:40:34.019 --> 00:40:34.240
 Hey,

00:40:34.900 --> 00:40:35.820
 giving is not giving

00:40:35.820 --> 00:40:37.300
 until it interrupts

00:40:37.300 --> 00:40:38.420
 our lifestyles.

00:40:40.420 --> 00:40:41.240
 Without bleeding

00:40:41.240 --> 00:40:42.639
 the church

00:40:42.639 --> 00:40:44.119
 fails to bless.

00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:44.880
 Let's pray.

00:40:46.760 --> 00:40:47.280
 Father,

00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:48.079
 we thank you

00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:49.340
 our God and Father

00:40:49.340 --> 00:40:51.079
 that you are a missionary God.

00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:53.740
 Thank you

00:40:53.740 --> 00:40:55.320
 that the Bible

00:40:55.320 --> 00:40:57.039
 is a missionary book.

00:40:58.100 --> 00:40:58.660
 Father,

00:40:58.720 --> 00:40:59.200
 we thank you

00:40:59.200 --> 00:40:59.880
 that the gospel

00:40:59.880 --> 00:41:02.160
 is a missionary message.

00:41:02.420 --> 00:41:03.380
 It's to be shared.

00:41:03.539 --> 00:41:04.579
 It's good news.

00:41:06.120 --> 00:41:06.460
 And Father,

00:41:06.539 --> 00:41:07.019
 we thank you

00:41:07.019 --> 00:41:07.640
 that your church

00:41:07.640 --> 00:41:09.200
 is a missionary institution.

00:41:09.780 --> 00:41:11.260
 Here in Carragalline,

00:41:12.280 --> 00:41:13.000
 this church,

00:41:14.140 --> 00:41:14.579
 us,

00:41:14.579 --> 00:41:15.539
 these people

00:41:15.539 --> 00:41:18.420
 are missionary people.

00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:20.120
 Help us,

00:41:20.380 --> 00:41:20.440
 Father,

00:41:20.600 --> 00:41:22.340
 always to be missionary minded

00:41:22.340 --> 00:41:24.300
 so that we do not deny

00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:24.980
 the faith

00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:26.220
 entrusted to us

00:41:26.220 --> 00:41:28.039
 nor betray your trust

00:41:28.039 --> 00:41:30.400
 in not passing it on.

00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:31.660
 We know you.

00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:32.559
 We love you.

00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:34.160
 And we know

00:41:34.160 --> 00:41:34.760
 it's wonderful

00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:35.500
 to know you.

00:41:36.140 --> 00:41:36.500
 Father,

00:41:36.559 --> 00:41:37.620
 we go through many struggles

00:41:37.620 --> 00:41:38.519
 and we know that.

00:41:38.680 --> 00:41:39.980
 Sometimes we even doubt

00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:41.940
 and you take us through.

00:41:43.079 --> 00:41:43.440
 And Father,

00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:44.200
 we thank you today

00:41:44.200 --> 00:41:45.220
 that the ultimate goal

00:41:45.220 --> 00:41:46.300
 of preaching the gospel,

00:41:46.700 --> 00:41:47.700
 of sharing you,

00:41:47.699 --> 00:41:48.679
 is your glory.

00:41:49.460 --> 00:41:49.839
 And Father,

00:41:49.939 --> 00:41:51.179
 we worship you

00:41:51.179 --> 00:41:52.059
 that you have given us

00:41:52.059 --> 00:41:53.259
 this wonderful ministry

00:41:53.259 --> 00:41:54.379
 of reconciling

00:41:54.379 --> 00:41:55.619
 this world to yourself.

00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:57.779
 And Father,

00:41:57.879 --> 00:41:58.599
 we bless you

00:41:58.599 --> 00:41:59.739
 that we enter into mission

00:41:59.739 --> 00:42:01.719
 because Jesus Christ

00:42:01.719 --> 00:42:02.419
 is present

00:42:02.419 --> 00:42:03.000
 in the form

00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:04.019
 of the Holy Spirit

00:42:04.019 --> 00:42:04.919
 here among us.

00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:07.359
 And he gives us power.

00:42:08.239 --> 00:42:09.099
 Power to go,

00:42:09.439 --> 00:42:10.419
 but power to be.

00:42:11.359 --> 00:42:12.599
 And that we're involved

00:42:12.599 --> 00:42:14.239
 as members of the church.

00:42:14.339 --> 00:42:15.439
 The body of Christ.

00:42:15.440 --> 00:42:17.639
 And Father,

00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:18.320
 we thank you

00:42:18.320 --> 00:42:19.519
 for that wonderful text

00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:21.119
 that when we implore people,

00:42:22.119 --> 00:42:24.619
 we do so on Christ's behalf

00:42:24.619 --> 00:42:26.740
 to come back to God,

00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:28.240
 to be reconciled to God.

00:42:28.559 --> 00:42:30.019
 It's just as though

00:42:30.019 --> 00:42:31.800
 you make your appeal

00:42:31.800 --> 00:42:32.700
 through us.

00:42:34.760 --> 00:42:35.480
 And Father,

00:42:35.559 --> 00:42:36.200
 we thank you

00:42:36.200 --> 00:42:37.880
 that you've called us

00:42:37.880 --> 00:42:38.599
 to do that

00:42:38.599 --> 00:42:39.360
 simply,

00:42:40.119 --> 00:42:40.440
 daily,

00:42:40.980 --> 00:42:41.780
 when you give us

00:42:41.780 --> 00:42:42.559
 the opportunities,

00:42:42.940 --> 00:42:43.440
 not artificially.

00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:44.119
 artificially.

00:42:45.039 --> 00:42:45.679
 And thank you,

00:42:45.780 --> 00:42:45.960
 Father,

00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:46.559
 for we know

00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:47.500
 that in this lies

00:42:47.500 --> 00:42:49.119
 the only possibility

00:42:49.119 --> 00:42:49.780
 of forgiveness

00:42:49.780 --> 00:42:51.740
 and of a new relationship

00:42:51.740 --> 00:42:52.500
 with God

00:42:52.500 --> 00:42:53.400
 for many people

00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:54.599
 and for all

00:42:54.599 --> 00:42:55.700
 who will come to you

00:42:55.700 --> 00:42:57.220
 to worship you

00:42:57.220 --> 00:42:59.360
 in spirit and in truth,

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.659
 loving you

00:43:00.659 --> 00:43:02.579
 with all our hearts

00:43:02.579 --> 00:43:03.940
 and with all their hearts,

00:43:04.340 --> 00:43:04.840
 souls,

00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:05.720
 minds,

00:43:05.940 --> 00:43:07.179
 and strength.

00:43:07.840 --> 00:43:08.360
 And Father,

00:43:09.240 --> 00:43:10.460
 in this we rejoice

00:43:10.460 --> 00:43:12.400
 in Jesus Christ,

00:43:13.000 --> 00:43:13.599
 our Lord.

00:43:14.480 --> 00:43:14.860
 Amen.

00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:17.720
 Blessings on you.