WEBVTT

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 Last week I talked about the invested leader, the leader who admonished with tears, who was willing to be with his people night and day.

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 And it would rebuke them, would encourage them.

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 But all of it would be done just through this personal relationship.

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 Just this leader that is humble, this leader that is filled with integrity, this leader that has courage.

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 And honestly, you can see from Paul's writing, he also gets so blessed by the people that he leads.

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 He writes to the church in Ephesus, in Philippi, and he just has this love that's just exploding for his people.

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 I pray for that kind of love that I would have for you.

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 I pray if you're in a small group that your leader would have that same love for you.

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 And I pray that you would have that same love for your leader.

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 And today we continue, because at the end, previously in the book of Acts, chapter 20, we see him saying goodbye to his leaders.

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 And they're crying and they're on their knees because he's about to head off.

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 He's about to head off to Jerusalem.

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 And the chances are they know that actually he's not coming back.

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 This is the last time that they see him.

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 And then the journey begins.

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 And this is where we jump in, in Acts, chapter 21.

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 So if I could invite you to stand for the word of the Lord.

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 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Kos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

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 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

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 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria and landed in Tyre.

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 From there, the ship was to unload its cargo.

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 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days.

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 And through the Spirit, they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

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 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey.

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 And they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city.

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 And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another.

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 Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

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 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemaeus, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.

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 On the next day, we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the Evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

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 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

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 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

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 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said,

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 Thus says the Holy Spirit,

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 This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns his belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

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 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

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 Then Paul answered,

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 What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?

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 For I am ready not only to be imprisoned, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

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 And since he would not be persuaded, we seized and said,

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 Let the will of the Lord be done.

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 After those days, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.

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 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Manassan of Cyprus,

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 an early disciple with whom we should lodge.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Praise be to God.

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 Please take a seat.

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 Thank you.

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 Holy Spirit, we ask that you would be here with us this morning.

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 I'm not convinced.

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 My words are they need to hear.

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 In fact, I'm certain of it.

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 We all seek to hear your voice.

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 We humble ourselves before you and ask that you would lead us.

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 You would speak to us.

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 You would convict us.

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 You would admonish us.

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 You would encourage us.

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 You would build us up.

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 We are here for you.

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 In your name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 I'm going to speed up a little bit during the book of Acts, this final bit now,

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 because he's just on a journey after journey.

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 We're on a tour with Paul as he heads to his final destination, which is ultimately death.

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 And in that journey, there's some things that I think we can pick up that are actually really, really fascinating to me.

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 We see here in these 16 verses, he travels and he goes to quite a few different places.

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 And the first thing that I thought when I was reading this passage, I was like, this is a real person.

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 These are real people living real lives, facing real problems, and that they're also real friends.

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 It made me ask the question, when was the last time I cried for a friend?

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 When was the last time you cried for a friend?

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 Whether it's a goodbye or whether it's just something that they're going through where you're like, it actually breaks your heart.

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 When was the last time that happened for you? Do you remember?

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 When was that?

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 Does anyone have any examples of when that could have been?

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 Flo, you're nodding.

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 Yeah.

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 So seeing friends in difficult situations where they don't really know what to do next,

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 you don't really know what to do next, and you're just out there and your heart just breaks.

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 When was the last time you said goodbye to a friend and you were both crying?

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 That's of course a measure, not the only measure, but of just friends that have really invested in one another.

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 You've been through times together, the good ones and the bad ones.

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 And you see Paul here, he's going through.

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 And actually, something interesting, as you look at the book of Acts, you see him going to these different places.

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 There's two things that he keeps doing every time.

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 It's kind of just his kind of MO, what he does.

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 First thing he does, actually, what is it?

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 What does he do?

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 When Paul usually, he goes into a city, what's the first thing that he really does?

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 Kelly?

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 I have to go to the city.

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 He goes to the temple.

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 He goes to the synagogue.

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 Why?

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 To worship and also to engage with the people there to start talking to him.

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 That's the first thing that he does.

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 The second thing that he does, he goes to find friends.

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 He's just on the lookout for friends.

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 Imagine Paul walking into a city.

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 He's like, okay, what I need to do is God's given me a mission, so I'm going to go preach the good news.

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 But I've also got to find friends as I do it.

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 You see in Acts 16, he hangs out in Philippi.

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 Actually, he didn't want to go to Philippi.

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 He wanted to stay in Asia because that's where the good food is.

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 But he didn't stay in Asia.

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 And the Holy Spirit in Acts 16 says, don't stay in Asia.

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 The food is too good for you.

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 You'll get too fat.

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 I want you to go to Europe where you will only have fish and chips.

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 And that's it.

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 And so he goes to Europe and he goes to Philippi.

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 And he's there.

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 And actually, there's not that many Jews there.

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 So he's hanging around for a while.

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 This is Acts 16, by the way.

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 He's hanging out in Philippi.

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 There's no Jews.

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 There's actually not even a synagogue.

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 Why?

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 Because in order for a place to have a synagogue, you need at least 10 Jews.

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 There's not even 10 Jews there.

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 So there's no synagogue.

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 So he's like, but I still want to find my people.

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 I've still got to find friends.

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 So what does he do?

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 He goes to the outskirts of the city where there are a few ladies.

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 And one of them is called Lydia.

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 And that's when the church in Europe begins.

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 That's the very first church in Europe there.

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 And then, of course, in Acts 17, he goes to Athens.

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 And then he goes to, in Acts 18, he goes to Corinth.

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 And he finds Priscilla and Aquila.

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 He's looking for friends.

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 He's always looking for people to be around.

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 Joe and I, we grew up in this place in England called Leicester.

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 Has anyone been to Leicester before?

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 Wow, you have.

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 What did you think of it?

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 That was Birmingham, Julia, when you came to me.

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 So you've never been to Leicester.

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 So, so cool.

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 My hopes were lifted there just for a second.

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 Has anyone, no one been to Leicester?

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 Good for you.

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 No one deserves to be doing good to Leicester.

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 Leora, you've been to Leicester?

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 What did you think of it?

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 Unimpressionable.

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 Correct.

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 There is literally, what good can come out of Nazareth and Leicester?

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 That is in the word of God.

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 So we, we were the only two Chinese kids in, in school, in school.

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 Just wide working class kind of school.

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 We were the only Chinese kids.

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 So naturally I would tell everyone that I was related to Bruce Lee.

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 And they would believe it and that would be okay.

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 I counted actually, I don't know about you, I don't know whether, because we had different

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 schooling systems, as you can tell from the different intelligent level that we have here.

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 But I think I went to seven different schools.

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 Seven.

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 I don't know whether you counted, but for me it was, it was seven.

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 The only Chinese kid going to different schools constantly.

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 Looking back, I'm like, man, that was traumatizing.

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 I guess that explains a lot of who I am today.

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 And I'll tell you what my MO was every time.

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 And this was, you know, this was six-year-old James, this was eight-year-old James, this

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 was 11-year-old James.

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 I would find the guys who play football and I would try and play with them.

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 Because honestly, if I become friends with them, I mean, they're the ones that bully

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 people anyway.

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 So if I become friends with them, then it's okay.

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 Then I'll be safe.

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 And so every time I went to a new school, I would go find, okay, who are the kids that

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 I need to befriend?

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 When I came to Hong Kong, when I walked into the Society of the Friendship Group, who says,

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 oh, who do I need to get to know so that I will be safe?

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 So I resonate a little bit with Paul.

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 As he walks into these cities, he's like, I need to find my friends.

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 I need to find my people so I can actually feel safe.

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 So I listen to a wide range of different people during my week through podcasts and sermons.

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 And most of them are pastors you'll be comforted to know.

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 But every now and again, I really like to listen to people outside who, just to remind me,

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 it's what Keller says, you know, hold the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.

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 And just to be connected to the world.

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 And actually, two of my favorite communicators and thinkers are actually Simon Sinek and Trevor

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 Noah.

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 Hilarious on different levels, but actually they just say some really, really insightful things

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 in the most humorous way.

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 And it's inspiring for me.

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 One of their recent podcasts, they talk a lot about friendship.

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 They said, actually, friendship has completely been left out of society.

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 We don't even know actually how to make friends anymore.

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 Actually, something that he said that was really interesting.

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 He was like, actually, the breakdown of friendship is a real thing because we simply don't have

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 time for them anymore.

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 Often when we're in our pursuit of career, in our pursuit of family, what's the thing that

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 really gets left behind?

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 Friends.

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 Friends are the ones that we leave behind.

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 And he's saying, actually, the problem is when you don't have friendships, actually,

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 you're missing a key part of just what it means to be a flourishing human.

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 We need friendships.

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 So what happens is when we don't have time for friends, we don't have time to be investing

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 in friends and to be receiving what only friends can give.

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 Spouses cannot give certain things.

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 Family cannot give certain things.

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 And so when we miss what friends can give, we put all those expectations onto our girlfriend,

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 our boyfriend, our husband, our wife.

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 And then the problem becomes like, why aren't you satisfying me?

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 Why aren't you caring for me?

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 In the way that actually only friends really can.

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 This week, I told you I had an up and down week and I was telling my friend.

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 And then again, super busy guy.

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 The first thing he said was, well, it's not a good week.

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 Let's jump on a call.

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 Five minutes.

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 That's all we need.

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 Five minutes.

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 You tell me what's going on.

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 We pray.

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 That's it.

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 We drop it.

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 And done.

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 After those five minutes, to be honest, ended up being about 25.

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 It was like, I was blessed.

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 Do you have friends?

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 The Netflix show, The Live to a 100, where it talks about the blue zones, where people

00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:38.500
 live to 100.

00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:41.279
 Of course, healthy diet, of course, olive oil and pasta.

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 But really, community.

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 Friends.

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 A place where you feel known.

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 A place where you know.

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 The problem here is a lot of us, especially those in big cities, we have kind of,

00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:55.719
 given up on friendship.

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 Why?

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 Because, well, actually, you find this, and we were talking about this the other day.

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 As you grow up in school, your best friend, and who remembers their best friend in grade

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 three?

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 You do?

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 What's his name?

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 What her name?

00:12:11.099 --> 00:12:11.620
 Rain Man.

00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:13.479
 Dustin Hoffman.

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 Your friend was a movie.

00:12:20.079 --> 00:12:20.939
 So you do remember?

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 Okay.

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 One or two.

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 But of course, oh, you remember.

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 Your best friend's name?

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 Sixty-some-odd years.

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 Incredible.

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 And you still keep in touch.

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 That is incredible.

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 What a blessing to be able to have those.

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 And of course, also sad to say that they are rarities to have those kind of friends

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 for that long.

00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:43.279
 Agnes, you've got to...

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 Still friends?

00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:45.639
 Vincent?

00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:46.759
 Huh?

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.379
 Vincent's not your friend?

00:12:48.839 --> 00:12:49.360
 I knew it.

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 Since primary one.

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 Incredible.

00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:54.320
 Well, then maybe it's just me.

00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:55.279
 Maybe I just don't have friends.

00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:59.500
 Of course, changing school seven times does do that to you.

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:04.220
 But actually, you realize that actually, as you get older and older, your friendship circle

00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:05.180
 just gets smaller and smaller.

00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:09.320
 In fact, your actual appetite and your interest in making friends gets smaller and smaller.

00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:13.720
 So by the time you reach kind of like young adulthood, you're kind of like, okay, I've

00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.420
 been there, done that.

00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:18.140
 Do you remember at university when you walked into university campus for the first time and

00:13:18.140 --> 00:13:19.160
 you're like, I need to make friends.

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:19.980
 I need to survive.

00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:22.260
 And then what's the saying?

00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:26.320
 The saying is it takes you three hours to make a friend and then it takes you three years

00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.180
 to try and get rid of them.

00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:33.559
 But then as you get older, you're like, I just can't have that many friends.

00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:35.939
 I just need two, three.

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:38.519
 Or if you're a guy, just half a friend.

00:13:39.459 --> 00:13:41.779
 And we just sit next to each other and not talk.

00:13:42.199 --> 00:13:42.779
 And we're okay.

00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:43.339
 We're bros.

00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:49.859
 But in a city like Hong Kong, you invest in friendships and then in a few years time,

00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.199
 they leave.

00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:53.179
 And then, okay, really miss them.

00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:53.819
 Cry.

00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:55.039
 Move on.

00:13:55.359 --> 00:13:55.959
 Be a new friend.

00:13:56.219 --> 00:13:56.639
 Get together.

00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.799
 Let's get our families together.

00:13:58.019 --> 00:13:59.559
 We do it again after a few years.

00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.439
 Oh, cry.

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.100
 They're gone.

00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.720
 By the third round, you're like, you know what?

00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:04.720
 It's okay.

00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:07.139
 I'm just going to watch movies at home instead.

00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:10.659
 Friendships are hard.

00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:15.559
 Yet I can see that every time Paul goes into a new place, he's looking for friends.

00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:16.980
 Why do you need friends?

00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:18.779
 Because you need people to sit in the mud with you.

00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:20.120
 This is something that Simon Sinek said.

00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:24.299
 You need someone who is willing to sit in the mud with you in your worst times.

00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:27.740
 Friends that are just good for you to hang out and have a laugh with and play board games with.

00:14:28.339 --> 00:14:28.740
 Good.

00:14:29.099 --> 00:14:29.639
 Really good.

00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:33.659
 But you also need that friend who's willing to show up at your father's funeral.

00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.959
 Which is what happened to me.

00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:41.579
 Actually, when our dad passed, actually two of our friends moved in with us for a few weeks.

00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:43.180
 I don't remember why.

00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.100
 I don't remember how.

00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:45.580
 I just remember them being there.

00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:48.520
 And I remember the funeral, we had a blast.

00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:50.020
 For some reason, I don't know why.

00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:53.420
 Of course, the actual ceremony and the service was sad and we were crying.

00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:56.759
 But as soon as we were downstairs, my friends just kept making me laugh.

00:14:56.920 --> 00:14:58.360
 And it was mildly inappropriate.

00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:01.300
 And people were looking at this.

00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:01.899
 Don't be wrong.

00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:02.779
 Pray for James.

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:10.039
 But it was just such a blessing to me and myself that there would be friends who would be not afraid to have these awkward conversations.

00:15:10.180 --> 00:15:16.259
 And also not afraid just to have a laugh even in the most dire circumstances such as death.

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:19.080
 Do you have those kinds of friends?

00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.500
 I actually think Paul did.

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:22.379
 He had Barney, Barnabas.

00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:23.580
 He had Silas and he had Timmy.

00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:27.259
 And actually, towards the end of his life, he had Timmy who was, of course, his mentee.

00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:29.539
 He actually told Timmy, hey, come to me quickly.

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:31.860
 Of course, Paul only needed God.

00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:32.480
 We know that.

00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.080
 And yet he would tell Timmy, please, come to me.

00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:38.240
 He would tell other guys, hey, remember to bring my jacket.

00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:39.519
 Remember I left it there at your house?

00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:40.899
 Bring my jacket to me.

00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:46.340
 You could see that Paul was just connected to his friends.

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:51.299
 And as you see this tour with Paul, you realize it's not just a tour with Paul.

00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:54.679
 It's actually a tour with Paul and friends.

00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:56.500
 And you start seeing it in Scripture.

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:58.000
 You see Jonathan and David.

00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:59.080
 You see Ruth and Naomi.

00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:02.899
 You see Job and his buddies when he's going through the worst time in his life.

00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:08.340
 And actually, for seven days, his friends, Job's friends were doing pretty well until they opened their mouths.

00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:09.980
 And then they didn't do well.

00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:16.100
 But actually, for those seven days, they were just willing to sit there with him in the mud, not saying anything, just crying with him.

00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:20.620
 Just going, life does really, really, really suck.

00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.960
 And we have no answers.

00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:23.539
 But there's one thing we can do.

00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:26.580
 Our one response is that we will be here with you.

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:30.039
 Paul had friends.

00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.539
 We see in Scripture we do that.

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:33.379
 Paul suffered a lot.

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:37.279
 And the next example I'm going to give based by no means the same.

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.519
 But I remember.

00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:40.419
 Do you guys remember something called COVID?

00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:45.620
 So during COVID, there was a few years where none of us were allowed to leave.

00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:46.460
 Right?

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:48.540
 Well, yeah, actually, that was true.

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.580
 Or you could leave and then not come back for a while.

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:58.820
 There's certain parts that I really miss about those few years where none of us were allowed to leave.

00:16:59.280 --> 00:17:07.500
 Where every time we would meet, we would kind of complain because we read the SCMP article today about what the newest restrictions were.

00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:10.279
 When it went from three days to seven days to 21 days.

00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:12.000
 And the amount of cases when we followed it.

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.460
 It was 56 one day.

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:15.340
 And then the next day it was 200 cases.

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:18.059
 There was something about being here.

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:21.879
 Some of my closest friends right now in Hong Kong.

00:17:22.639 --> 00:17:25.000
 My fondest memories are during that time.

00:17:26.159 --> 00:17:28.019
 But we had kids and we have nowhere to go.

00:17:28.659 --> 00:17:30.939
 So we went to this place called Inspiration Lake.

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.619
 Has anyone been there?

00:17:32.199 --> 00:17:33.139
 Inspiration Lake, Disney.

00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:33.779
 Beautiful.

00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.799
 The restrictions there are super loose.

00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:38.859
 And so that was our refuge.

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.000
 That was our hiding place.

00:17:40.679 --> 00:17:43.220
 And those are friends that I hold so dearly.

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:45.440
 Friends are the ones who stick with you.

00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:51.259
 And you see here, Paul's about to go through something really hard.

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:55.079
 And he's about to enter the final chapter of his life.

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:56.259
 And what is he doing?

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:58.200
 He's surrounded himself by friends.

00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.079
 Let's just have a look.

00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:00.759
 So he sets sail.

00:18:00.919 --> 00:18:01.919
 Not on the Royal Caribbean.

00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:03.199
 But he just sets sail.

00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:04.220
 And he starts heading.

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.859
 And he lands at a place called Tyre.

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:09.699
 And then he goes to Ptolemaeus.

00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.539
 And then he goes to Caesarea.

00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.639
 And each time he goes, he reaches out to people.

00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:19.099
 When he goes to Tyre, verse 4.

00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:22.859
 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days.

00:18:23.459 --> 00:18:24.740
 So he goes to this new place.

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:26.019
 And he's like, okay, I need to find some friends.

00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.759
 I need to find some people.

00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:27.699
 So he meets these people.

00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:30.659
 And he hangs out and stays with them and lives with them for seven days.

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:33.459
 And this isn't just then small talk and chit-chat.

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.179
 What do you do?

00:18:34.219 --> 00:18:34.819
 What do you do?

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:40.199
 But it was literally, oh, you're a follower of Christ as well.

00:18:40.619 --> 00:18:41.039
 Me too.

00:18:41.379 --> 00:18:45.980
 And you can tell about because straight away, you know, the next thing that they describe is,

00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:49.700
 and through the Spirit, they were telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:50.819
 Why?

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.299
 Because they were having a time of prayer.

00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:53.079
 Why?

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:57.859
 Because they were hearing from the Holy Spirit that actually this Paul that they'd only just met,

00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:01.859
 but they had become really good friends with, he was about to suffer in Jerusalem.

00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:04.259
 So these new friends of his were like, don't go.

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.639
 They weren't telling him not to obey the Holy Spirit.

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:10.200
 They were saying, hey, the Holy Spirit told us that what you're going to face next

00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.360
 is going to be really tough.

00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.779
 It's going to be imprisonment.

00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:13.799
 It might even be death.

00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:16.539
 Please, we urge you, please don't go.

00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:21.860
 Paul acknowledges them, doesn't listen to them.

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.140
 I'll talk a little bit more about that later.

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.980
 But then afterwards, he still goes.

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:26.880
 Verse five.

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:29.720
 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey,

00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:33.400
 and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city.

00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:36.340
 And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another.

00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:39.080
 Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:44.639
 I have this beautiful scene, image in my head of Paul and these new friends

00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:47.679
 with their wives and their children walking along the beach.

00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:50.259
 I'm going to call this the ministry of the beach.

00:19:50.919 --> 00:19:55.039
 Can you just imagine these people, these friends, these families walking together,

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:59.859
 walking to his death, walking to his imprisonment.

00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:02.019
 And they would just be on the beach.

00:20:02.699 --> 00:20:04.839
 And then not caring what other people think,

00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:09.119
 when it's time for him to get on the boat, they all kneel down on the beach.

00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:15.899
 Just this beautiful picture of what spiritual friendship looks like.

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:21.460
 When you know someone is about to head into danger.

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:25.580
 And they are still, they just have this posture of resolve.

00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.600
 I'm going.

00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:29.800
 In chapter 20, he says, I am constrained by the Holy Spirit.

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.480
 What does that mean?

00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:33.400
 I'm so compelled, I can't not go.

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.100
 Do you understand?

00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:35.400
 I can't not go.

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.640
 I've heard the Holy Spirit talk.

00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.880
 I've heard God tell me this.

00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:40.600
 How can I not go to where God calls me?

00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:46.520
 And these new friends, they basically accept it.

00:20:46.560 --> 00:20:47.860
 They have a posture of humility.

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.060
 And they say, okay.

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:52.700
 Well, if you still won't listen and you don't want to stay here,

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.600
 then we will walk with you.

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:56.280
 And we will take you as far as we can.

00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:00.640
 The Western church struggles with something,

00:21:01.020 --> 00:21:03.760
 which is the concept and the idea of suffering.

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:08.559
 We struggle with it because we don't think it should happen.

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:11.619
 We struggle with it because we've heard someone say,

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.799
 well, Jesus is for our good.

00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:16.019
 So everything, when we invite Jesus into our lives,

00:21:16.379 --> 00:21:19.019
 our lives will be happy and peaceful and healthy.

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:21.619
 But the moment we get sick, the moment something happens,

00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:25.400
 our first reaction is, God, are you there?

00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.460
 Are you real?

00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:29.019
 We've bought into this lie, and I'll call it a lie,

00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:33.000
 that the human existence does not need to have suffering.

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:38.539
 When actually, suffering is very much a part of the human experience.

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.759
 Francis Chan does this sermon,

00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:44.980
 and he goes through this example of every single book in the New Testament,

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:48.700
 and he points out the points and the places of suffering that happen.

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:52.440
 Every chapter, every book in the book of the New Testament,

00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:54.220
 talks about suffering.

00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:56.500
 Somehow, somewhere along the way,

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.420
 we've grown up in church,

00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.879
 where now we've gotten to a point where we're like,

00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:00.879
 if I follow Christ, there will be no suffering.

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.080
 How?

00:22:04.040 --> 00:22:05.160
 How did we get there?

00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:08.600
 When we see here, time and time again,

00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:10.540
 that is really all we see.

00:22:11.300 --> 00:22:14.340
 A famous Christian apologetics guy said this,

00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.600
 that actually that question of,

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:18.040
 if there is a God, then why is there still suffering?

00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:20.680
 He only ever heard that question in the first world,

00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.880
 in the Western world.

00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:23.700
 Because of the rest of the world,

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:26.960
 they are very acquainted with this friend called suffering.

00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:31.180
 That the world is not in the perfect place.

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.740
 That it is broken.

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.060
 That there is pain.

00:22:34.260 --> 00:22:34.860
 There is war.

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:36.240
 There is death.

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:40.780
 But somehow, in our Western church,

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:42.000
 we've adopted it.

00:22:42.540 --> 00:22:43.960
 And then we try to avoid it.

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:47.480
 And so when something goes wrong in our lives,

00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:49.559
 the first thing that we say is,

00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:51.600
 God, this must not be part of your plan.

00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:53.340
 When actually, sometimes,

00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:55.640
 suffering shows us, proves us,

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:58.059
 that actually we are right in the center of God's plan.

00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.460
 And you can see it.

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.600
 You can see the examples here.

00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:02.180
 I'm so sorry.

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.000
 You can see it.

00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:05.400
 The question is, then what do we do?

00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:07.880
 When we go through suffering,

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.799
 do we pray, God, would you remove the suffering?

00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:12.579
 Or do we pray, God, would you give me the courage to face it?

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:17.799
 I hear about this pastor who was arrested

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:20.000
 and put in prison for his faith in Central Asia.

00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:22.279
 And he was getting tired.

00:23:22.379 --> 00:23:23.099
 He was getting exhausted.

00:23:23.199 --> 00:23:24.139
 He was getting discouraged.

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.759
 Will he ever be released?

00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:28.199
 And his prayer wasn't that he would be released.

00:23:28.439 --> 00:23:29.720
 His prayer was that,

00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.379
 God, would you bring me a friend?

00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.939
 And lo and behold, two weeks later,

00:23:34.139 --> 00:23:35.359
 another pastor gets arrested.

00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:36.399
 And he has put in.

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.659
 And he rejoiced.

00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:41.240
 He didn't tell the other pastor.

00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.059
 That was the prayer, I guess.

00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:47.240
 But the accounts come out afterwards

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.980
 that they were released.

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:50.519
 They both said that was the best time of their lives.

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:52.179
 Can you imagine what that even means?

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:54.399
 And you might say, oh, that's...

00:23:54.399 --> 00:23:55.759
 What is that?

00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:56.419
 Is that even...

00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:58.259
 Well, Acts 15 and 16,

00:23:58.359 --> 00:24:01.799
 you see Paul in prison with his friend Silas,

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:03.059
 with his boy Silas.

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.799
 They've been beaten.

00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:05.779
 They're bleeding.

00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:07.220
 They're lying on the floor.

00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:08.839
 And what does Paul say?

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:10.319
 Well, he doesn't actually say.

00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:12.480
 He's like, should we sing some Hillsong?

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:15.039
 Should we worship a little bit?

00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:18.099
 Why don't you sing the first verse

00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:18.960
 and I'll sing the chorus?

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.879
 You worshiped.

00:24:21.939 --> 00:24:24.039
 And I can imagine they were just close.

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:27.720
 Friends that are right and die.

00:24:27.899 --> 00:24:29.619
 Friends that are so close that suffer with you

00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:31.559
 that they become family.

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:35.000
 That's the spiritual friendship that we're looking for.

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.839
 That is it.

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:41.819
 As the modern theologian says,

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.500
 what does he say?

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.440
 I don't got friends.

00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:47.139
 I got family.

00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.539
 Fasten the Furies.

00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:55.500
 Do we have those kinds of people in our lives

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:57.099
 that actually, even when we disagree...

00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:58.359
 Do you have a friend who disagrees with you?

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.659
 And the moment they disagree with you,

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.559
 you still just love them

00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.779
 and you have that engagement

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.579
 and that you talk to them?

00:25:02.899 --> 00:25:03.899
 That's the friend that we need.

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:06.579
 Not the friend that when we have a different view to them,

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.859
 suddenly it becomes,

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:10.680
 oh, then we must cancel each other.

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:12.599
 We must not belong together.

00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:14.119
 In fact, I think that's the very reason

00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:15.180
 why we should belong together,

00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:17.299
 is when we have friends who have different opinions

00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:19.279
 because that's how we grow.

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:21.299
 And so you see this

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.320
 and then it carries on.

00:25:22.560 --> 00:25:24.160
 So they go on aboard the ship, verse 6,

00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:27.320
 and then the new friends from Tyre return home.

00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:28.080
 Verse 7,

00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:29.779
 And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre,

00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:31.259
 we arrived at Ptolemaeus

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:32.279
 and we greeted the brothers

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:34.039
 and stayed with them for one day.

00:25:34.360 --> 00:25:36.240
 On the next day, we departed and came to Caesarea

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:38.460
 and we entered the house of Philip the Evangelist,

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:40.620
 who was one of the sevens who stayed with them.

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.840
 Philip the Evangelist, we've seen him before.

00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.920
 He comes from Acts chapter 8.

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.720
 My favorite chapter,

00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.279
 where he meets that Ethiopian

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:48.820
 and he runs alongside him.

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.100
 It's that Philip.

00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:52.300
 That Philip who wasn't afraid

00:25:52.300 --> 00:25:53.640
 of following God's mission

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.519
 and went into Samaria

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:57.460
 and went to basically spread the good news.

00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.620
 That Philip.

00:25:58.860 --> 00:26:00.019
 But now he's settled here

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:01.640
 and then he has four daughters

00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:03.400
 and they all live with him

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:05.680
 and they all prophesy.

00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:07.900
 So if anyone had any doubts

00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:10.279
 as to whether women get the spiritual gifts,

00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.300
 we see right here,

00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:12.000
 there's four daughters.

00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:14.160
 Can't imagine living with four daughters in one house,

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:18.240
 but you see that he had friends there.

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.420
 And then you have Agabus,

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.100
 another friend who comes,

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:23.420
 who also was in the earlier book of Acts,

00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.220
 in Acts chapter 11,

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.720
 when he prophesies a famine.

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:28.620
 So you see these people just getting together,

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.480
 spending time together

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.420
 and coming to us.

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.600
 And this is where Agabus comes out

00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.300
 with another prophecy.

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.180
 And coming to us,

00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.560
 verse 11,

00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.319
 when he took Paul's belt

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.659
 and bound his own feet and hands

00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:36.980
 and said,

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:38.119
 thus says the Holy Spirit,

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:40.019
 this is how the Jews at Jerusalem

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.940
 will bind the man who owns this belt

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:45.179
 and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:47.240
 So a new place,

00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.500
 a new friend,

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.220
 saying the same thing.

00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.819
 That when you get to Jerusalem,

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.980
 you will be bound.

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:56.079
 You will be put in prison.

00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.559
 This kind of friendship

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.860
 isn't the type of friendship

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.880
 that just hangs out

00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:04.299
 and enjoys dinners together.

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.360
 This is the type of friendship.

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:06.920
 Can you imagine

00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:08.680
 what kind of place they were in

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.660
 in their minds and in their hearts

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.240
 to get to the point

00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.920
 where they are praying

00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.200
 and that they hear from the Holy Spirit

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.900
 and that the Holy Spirit speaks to them.

00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.799
 These are friends

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.640
 that are not just on a physical,

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.360
 earthly level,

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.420
 but they're on a spiritual level

00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:20.339
 where they are sharing and praying

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:22.899
 and diving into the deep spiritual things together.

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.240
 And then Agabus here

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.519
 is a little bit intense.

00:27:27.199 --> 00:27:28.059
 Borrowes Paul's belt,

00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:30.000
 straps himself up

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.359
 and says,

00:27:30.439 --> 00:27:31.740
 this is what's going to happen to you

00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:33.799
 is what God is telling me.

00:27:34.459 --> 00:27:35.139
 It's interesting.

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:35.579
 Remember,

00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:37.000
 who writes the book of Acts?

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.799
 Luke.

00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.559
 So what you see here is then

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:42.519
 before in Tyre,

00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:44.039
 Luke is saying

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:46.039
 they were trying to tell Paul not to go.

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.599
 In verse 12,

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.980
 when we heard this,

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:50.740
 we and the people there

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:52.360
 urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:55.180
 So Luke's kind of just recording all this

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:56.079
 and writing it for us,

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.720
 for our benefit.

00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:58.500
 And so this is what happened in Tyre.

00:27:58.819 --> 00:28:00.279
 And then we're in the reach of this area

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:02.160
 and Agabus gives this prophecy.

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.240
 Luke's like,

00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.039
 oh boy,

00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.279
 this is for real.

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.420
 We and the people

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:09.099
 all tried to stop him from going.

00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:13.200
 And yet here comes Paul's answer.

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.120
 What are you doing?

00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.779
 Weeping and breaking my heart.

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:18.019
 For I am ready not only to be imprisoned,

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:20.400
 but even to die in Jerusalem

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:22.180
 for the name of the Lord Jesus.

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.740
 He doesn't say,

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.379
 how dare you?

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.160
 He doesn't say,

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.460
 I reject what you're saying.

00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:33.920
 He's saying,

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.480
 guys,

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.680
 don't do this to me.

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.319
 Don't do this to me.

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.440
 You know

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:42.299
 what God is telling me to do.

00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.200
 And yes,

00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.420
 you also know

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:46.059
 what I'm going to face there.

00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.419
 It's funny,

00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.759
 just rewind a little bit.

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.319
 Acts 20,

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.299
 when he's talking to his elders

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:54.039
 from Ephesus,

00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:54.779
 he says this,

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.379
 verse 22,

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.220
 and now behold,

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:56.940
 I'm going to Jerusalem

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.960
 constrained by the Spirit,

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.679
 not knowing what will happen to me there.

00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.220
 Of course,

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.379
 he doesn't really not know.

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:02.919
 He does know

00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:03.879
 because he carries on saying,

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.720
 except that the Holy Spirit

00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:06.099
 testifies to me in every city

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.839
 that imprisonment

00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.899
 and afflictions await me.

00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:10.740
 Joe and I,

00:29:10.800 --> 00:29:11.160
 our families,

00:29:11.280 --> 00:29:12.480
 we love going on cruise ships

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.920
 because we have children

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:16.040
 and it's just easier.

00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.860
 And so we go to a place,

00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:18.900
 we get off,

00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.519
 we walk around,

00:29:20.080 --> 00:29:21.080
 pretend we know the place well

00:29:21.080 --> 00:29:22.000
 and then get back on the ship

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.640
 and just keep eating

00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.980
 and go back to the playroom.

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.820
 But Paul's tour was different.

00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.519
 Paul's cruise tour

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:31.560
 was every port that he went to,

00:29:32.060 --> 00:29:33.300
 he would face affliction

00:29:33.300 --> 00:29:34.640
 and imprisonment.

00:29:35.600 --> 00:29:36.680
 Don't you think there'd be a moment

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.220
 where he'd be like,

00:29:37.280 --> 00:29:37.500
 guys,

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.320
 I think I'm not going to get off the boat today.

00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:41.720
 I don't want to get beaten today.

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.440
 And yet the fire that he had,

00:29:44.540 --> 00:29:45.300
 the heart that he had,

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.480
 even when his friends,

00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.960
 even when his boy Luke,

00:29:48.120 --> 00:29:49.200
 that he's writing all this down,

00:29:49.280 --> 00:29:51.240
 you can imagine him just writing,

00:29:51.360 --> 00:29:52.620
 oh, I best record this for the people.

00:29:53.040 --> 00:29:53.600
 And then he's like,

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.160
 you know what?

00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.640
 Paul, seriously,

00:29:56.300 --> 00:29:58.040
 there's enough people telling us not to go.

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.880
 We should stay put here.

00:30:00.120 --> 00:30:01.160
 It's pretty nice here.

00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.140
 And yet he says,

00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:04.480
 why are you doing this to him?

00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.080
 Well,

00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:07.040
 interestingly,

00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.820
 what happens here,

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:08.800
 verse 14,

00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:10.240
 and since he would not be persuaded,

00:30:10.520 --> 00:30:11.440
 we ceased and said,

00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:14.040
 let the will of the Lord be done.

00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:14.840
 And after these days,

00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:16.140
 we got ready and went up Jerusalem.

00:30:17.020 --> 00:30:18.640
 And some of the disciples from Caesarea

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.259
 went with us,

00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:21.160
 bringing us to the house of Manasson,

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.920
 of Cyprus,

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:24.180
 an early disciple with whom we should lodge.

00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:26.880
 His friends see that there's no,

00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:28.100
 there's no turning this guy.

00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:29.680
 There's no changing his mind.

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:30.740
 And they said,

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.100
 fine,

00:30:32.100 --> 00:30:33.340
 we will come with you.

00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:36.580
 The ministry of the beach,

00:30:37.520 --> 00:30:39.380
 the ministry of just being present.

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.080
 When friends disagree with you,

00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:43.620
 yet still go with you

00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:45.660
 into the fire.

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:48.800
 What kinds of friends are those?

00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.720
 Not earthly friends.

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:53.900
 They are brothers and sisters in Christ

00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:55.620
 who have made the same decision

00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:57.660
 to follow Jesus,

00:30:58.100 --> 00:31:01.080
 even into persecution.

00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:02.380
 Now,

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.000
 I've said this before,

00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:04.160
 and I'll say this again.

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:07.200
 We live in a very comfortable setting right now.

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:12.880
 I don't know how much we've paid to be here.

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:13.440
 Now,

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:15.420
 I also acknowledge there are people in this room

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.920
 who have counted the cost,

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:18.720
 who have actually turned on family

00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.740
 to follow Jesus

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:22.200
 and are worshipping with us here right now.

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:24.120
 And I want you to know that I see you,

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.799
 I acknowledge you,

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.819
 that there has been a price that you have paid

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:27.900
 to sit here.

00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:31.600
 But I also know there's a lot of us here

00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:34.080
 who don't have that experience.

00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:37.920
 We've never had to really count the cost

00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:40.000
 of being a follower of Christ.

00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:42.580
 We've never really had to be in a place

00:31:42.580 --> 00:31:42.800
 where,

00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:44.460
 should I go to church this Sunday?

00:31:44.620 --> 00:31:46.400
 Because I might get caught by the authority.

00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:50.340
 We've not had the privilege

00:31:50.340 --> 00:31:51.900
 of going through that.

00:31:52.580 --> 00:31:53.340
 And the problem is,

00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:54.000
 when we don't have,

00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:55.280
 we've not had the privilege

00:31:55.280 --> 00:31:56.180
 of going through that,

00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.120
 then there's a chance

00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:59.180
 that actually our love for Him

00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:00.360
 hasn't been refined

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:02.140
 in the way that those

00:32:02.140 --> 00:32:03.200
 who have gone through that

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:05.240
 have benefited from,

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.400
 have grown through.

00:32:07.860 --> 00:32:08.300
 But,

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.600
 there are things

00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:11.540
 that we have paid the cost for.

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.960
 Or at least there maybe are things

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.500
 that we should.

00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:15.140
 Again,

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:16.380
 it's the same question that I ask.

00:32:17.060 --> 00:32:17.460
 Often.

00:32:20.600 --> 00:32:22.500
 What has being here cost you?

00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:23.820
 And if it hasn't cost you anything,

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:25.080
 then what is it worth to you?

00:32:26.060 --> 00:32:27.580
 If our faith in following Jesus

00:32:27.580 --> 00:32:28.519
 hasn't cost us anything,

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:30.140
 then maybe it isn't really worth anything

00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:31.080
 to us.

00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:31.800
 But,

00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:33.200
 what if we lived lives

00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:33.960
 in a way where,

00:32:34.100 --> 00:32:34.259
 okay,

00:32:34.340 --> 00:32:36.180
 we are not facing imminent danger,

00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:36.640
 but,

00:32:36.800 --> 00:32:37.540
 there are decisions

00:32:37.540 --> 00:32:38.560
 that we're going to make,

00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.900
 the places we're going to be at,

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:41.540
 the way we're going to act at work,

00:32:41.540 --> 00:32:42.640
 that will actually slow

00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.920
 our career progression down.

00:32:45.280 --> 00:32:45.759
 Where actually,

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.680
 if I do this

00:32:46.680 --> 00:32:47.980
 and I follow Jesus in this way

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.879
 and I live in this way,

00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.339
 actually,

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.339
 I won't get the promotion.

00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:52.140
 Because my boss will see

00:32:52.140 --> 00:32:53.160
 that I'm doing the same thing

00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.680
 as those guys.

00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:55.319
 What if that was the cost?

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.720
 And honestly,

00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:57.480
 big picture wise,

00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:58.240
 it's still pretty lame.

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:59.339
 But let's just go with it for now.

00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.259
 What if it was,

00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:00.960
 you made decisions

00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:01.720
 in your workplace

00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.319
 where actually,

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:04.079
 I am willingly sacrificing

00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:05.220
 my promotion next

00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:06.559
 so I can spend more time

00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.460
 with my small group?

00:33:09.439 --> 00:33:10.199
 And it's okay

00:33:10.199 --> 00:33:11.139
 if I get overlooked.

00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:13.099
 Because what is my job anyway?

00:33:13.399 --> 00:33:14.359
 I don't get to write it

00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:14.839
 on my grave.

00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.119
 It's not eternal.

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.039
 All it will do

00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:19.119
 is take up more time

00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:21.519
 for me to do things

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.740
 that aren't as important to me.

00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:24.319
 What if we were people

00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:24.579
 who said,

00:33:24.659 --> 00:33:24.779
 actually,

00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:26.019
 I don't mind sacrificing that.

00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:27.039
 Of course,

00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:28.099
 there will be people around us

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:28.299
 who are like,

00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:29.059
 what are you doing?

00:33:29.639 --> 00:33:30.500
 That's less money.

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:33.079
 You've lost that job title.

00:33:33.919 --> 00:33:34.899
 But what if we were people

00:33:34.899 --> 00:33:35.220
 who said,

00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:35.599
 actually,

00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:36.839
 I've counted the cost

00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:38.399
 and this is nothing compared

00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:39.359
 to the surpassing worth

00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:40.240
 of knowing Christ Jesus,

00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:40.619
 my Lord.

00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:44.079
 What if we were in positions

00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:45.700
 where I am in full-time ministry

00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.519
 in my office,

00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:47.519
 in my workplace

00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:49.639
 and that's my primary goal

00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:51.980
 and my work will serve that,

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.519
 will submit to that

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.259
 and I will do my very best

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:55.819
 in my work

00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.879
 and some of us here,

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:58.240
 the Lord has placed us

00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:59.019
 in positions

00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.680
 of power

00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.900
 so that we can

00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:02.139
 be a force for good,

00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:03.519
 that we can show people

00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:04.839
 that Jesus is Lord

00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:05.559
 in a way

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.960
 that only you can.

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.300
 What if we were

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:11.380
 those kinds of people?

00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:13.579
 What if we choose God

00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.199
 and it means

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:14.800
 we don't choose

00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:15.420
 that relationship?

00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:17.739
 Then actually,

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.300
 you know

00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:19.380
 that the relationship

00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:20.139
 isn't going to draw you

00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:20.719
 closer to God

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:22.739
 and you wrestle

00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:23.880
 and you argue with yourself

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:25.059
 and you try and rationalize it.

00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:25.900
 What if that was

00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.539
 your cost today?

00:34:26.759 --> 00:34:27.300
 What if that was

00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:27.840
 your cost of saying,

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.139
 actually,

00:34:28.259 --> 00:34:29.000
 today I won't choose

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.519
 look,

00:34:29.579 --> 00:34:29.920
 I don't know

00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.500
 what the future holds.

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.300
 If I miss out on you,

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:31.679
 I don't know

00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.139
 whether I'll have

00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.679
 someone in the future

00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.460
 but it doesn't matter

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.119
 because I count

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:35.960
 that nothing

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:37.139
 compared to the surpassing

00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:37.699
 worth of knowing

00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:38.300
 Christ Jesus.

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.900
 What if we started

00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:41.239
 making those decisions?

00:34:42.579 --> 00:34:44.079
 Not every one of us here

00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:45.119
 will be persecuted

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.400
 for our faith

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:49.059
 but there are costs

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:50.219
 that we should consider.

00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.079
 But,

00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:53.159
 I want to spend

00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:53.880
 a little bit of time

00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:54.619
 because I don't want

00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.440
 to just talk about that

00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.920
 and then not actually

00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:57.559
 acknowledge that there

00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.539
 are people in this world

00:34:58.539 --> 00:35:00.119
 that are genuinely

00:35:00.119 --> 00:35:01.360
 facing persecution

00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:03.740
 because of their decision

00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:04.980
 to follow Jesus.

00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:06.280
 The same Jesus

00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:06.960
 that we follow

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:09.099
 and yet their life

00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:10.260
 looks so different.

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:14.820
 There's a few organizations

00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.460
 that I looked up.

00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.579
 One's called Open Doors

00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.280
 and another's called

00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.960
 International Christian Concern

00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:19.659
 and another called

00:35:19.659 --> 00:35:20.940
 Voice of the Martyr

00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:22.679
 where you hear about

00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:23.159
 some stats

00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:24.200
 about what's happening

00:35:24.200 --> 00:35:24.659
 in the world

00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:25.440
 right now

00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:27.320
 with some people

00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:28.760
 who are facing persecution.

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.740
 388 million Christians

00:35:30.740 --> 00:35:31.659
 are experiencing

00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.820
 persecution.

00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.619
 That's one in seven.

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.880
 One in seven people

00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:37.800
 who have committed

00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:38.599
 to follow Christ

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:40.260
 are facing trouble

00:35:40.260 --> 00:35:41.840
 because of that decision

00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:42.599
 alone.

00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.639
 Over half of them

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.039
 are women

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:46.079
 and girls.

00:35:47.420 --> 00:35:48.179
 A third of them

00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:49.559
 a third of them

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:50.379
 are under the age

00:35:50.379 --> 00:35:51.019
 of 15.

00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:53.480
 A young person

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:53.899
 who says

00:35:53.899 --> 00:35:55.619
 I'm going to follow Jesus

00:35:55.619 --> 00:35:59.319
 even if it means

00:35:59.319 --> 00:36:01.219
 everything that it means.

00:36:03.299 --> 00:36:04.500
 We don't have the privilege

00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.319
 of that in Hong Kong.

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.699
 But we should care

00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.899
 about it.

00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:13.460
 There's a nine-year-old girl

00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:14.759
 from Bangladesh

00:36:14.759 --> 00:36:15.539
 and actually

00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.699
 I have young life colleagues

00:36:16.699 --> 00:36:18.059
 in Bangladesh

00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.960
 that are suffering

00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:20.019
 through this

00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:21.039
 where her family

00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:21.699
 is

00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:23.519
 a Christian

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:25.139
 in a Muslim community

00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:27.399
 where they get surrounded

00:36:27.399 --> 00:36:27.899
 their house

00:36:27.899 --> 00:36:28.500
 gets surrounded

00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.539
 regularly

00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:30.399
 by people

00:36:30.399 --> 00:36:33.899
 telling them

00:36:33.899 --> 00:36:34.699
 you must go back

00:36:34.699 --> 00:36:35.379
 to Islam

00:36:35.379 --> 00:36:37.500
 and yet they stay.

00:36:37.779 --> 00:36:38.439
 They throw stones

00:36:38.439 --> 00:36:39.159
 into their house

00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:40.519
 and yet they stay.

00:36:41.799 --> 00:36:42.679
 And this nine-year-old girl

00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:43.159
 isn't allowed

00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:43.879
 into the school

00:36:43.879 --> 00:36:44.899
 in the local village

00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:46.440
 because her family

00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:47.320
 are Christian.

00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.579
 Nine years old.

00:36:48.820 --> 00:36:50.000
 That's Elysia's age.

00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:53.900
 But because of her

00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:54.740
 family's decision

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:56.579
 she can't get

00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:58.500
 the safety

00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.340
 that she deserves.

00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:02.420
 But yet there are

00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.119
 people out there

00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:03.820
 who care for

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.360
 these people.

00:37:04.720 --> 00:37:05.340
 So this organization

00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:05.940
 opened doors.

00:37:06.260 --> 00:37:07.260
 They go and create

00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:08.059
 communities

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:09.000
 safe homes

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:10.019
 for these families

00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:10.980
 who decide

00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:11.680
 to follow Jesus

00:37:11.680 --> 00:37:12.480
 where they can have

00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:12.940
 a place

00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:14.019
 where they can be.

00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:19.480
 And she describes

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:19.840
 the church

00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:20.740
 as the only place

00:37:20.740 --> 00:37:22.099
 where I am not

00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.900
 alone.

00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:27.639
 4,847

00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:28.920
 Christians

00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:29.619
 were killed

00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:30.300
 for their faith

00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:31.420
 this last year.

00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:33.800
 Nearly 5,000

00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:34.180
 Christians.

00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.920
 Simply because

00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:36.740
 they refused

00:37:36.740 --> 00:37:39.280
 to deny Christ

00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:40.240
 they lost

00:37:40.240 --> 00:37:40.900
 their lives.

00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:43.099
 13 people

00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:43.639
 a day.

00:37:46.579 --> 00:37:47.779
 4,700

00:37:47.779 --> 00:37:48.900
 were detained

00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:49.659
 without trial

00:37:49.659 --> 00:37:50.819
 and arrested.

00:37:51.839 --> 00:37:52.400
 Last September

00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:53.759
 in a court

00:37:53.759 --> 00:37:54.239
 in Iran

00:37:54.239 --> 00:37:55.739
 five people

00:37:55.739 --> 00:37:56.779
 were sentenced

00:37:56.779 --> 00:37:57.339
 to eight years

00:37:57.339 --> 00:37:57.699
 in prison

00:37:57.699 --> 00:37:58.440
 for simply

00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:59.259
 just attending

00:37:59.259 --> 00:37:59.739
 church

00:37:59.739 --> 00:38:00.819
 and being part

00:38:00.819 --> 00:38:01.719
 of a prayer

00:38:01.719 --> 00:38:02.579
 meeting online.

00:38:04.259 --> 00:38:05.339
 And that was it.

00:38:05.340 --> 00:38:10.120
 3,000 people

00:38:10.120 --> 00:38:11.480
 kidnapped

00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:13.600
 every year

00:38:13.600 --> 00:38:14.260
 because of

00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:14.700
 their Christian

00:38:14.700 --> 00:38:15.019
 faith.

00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.800
 I talked

00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:19.760
 a few months

00:38:19.760 --> 00:38:20.000
 ago

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:21.240
 about the

00:38:21.240 --> 00:38:21.620
 situation

00:38:21.620 --> 00:38:22.240
 in Nigeria

00:38:22.240 --> 00:38:24.440
 where in November

00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:25.880
 300 school kids

00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:27.300
 were taken

00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:27.579
 away.

00:38:27.579 --> 00:38:30.719
 a couple

00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:31.299
 weeks ago

00:38:31.299 --> 00:38:32.380
 two church

00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:32.900
 services

00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:34.579
 were raided.

00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.139
 172

00:38:37.139 --> 00:38:37.500
 people

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:37.880
 who were

00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.299
 worshipping

00:38:38.299 --> 00:38:38.799
 around the

00:38:38.799 --> 00:38:39.219
 size of

00:38:39.219 --> 00:38:39.659
 this group

00:38:39.659 --> 00:38:40.259
 right here

00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:42.579
 kidnapped

00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:43.099
 because they

00:38:43.099 --> 00:38:43.559
 were worshipping

00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:43.880
 Jesus.

00:38:51.880 --> 00:38:52.599
 What do we

00:38:52.599 --> 00:38:54.059
 do with that?

00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:57.259
 The story

00:38:57.259 --> 00:38:58.920
 shared by

00:38:58.920 --> 00:38:59.340
 International

00:38:59.340 --> 00:38:59.679
 Christian

00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:00.039
 Concern

00:39:00.039 --> 00:39:00.460
 about a

00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:00.699
 pastor

00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:01.759
 in Central

00:39:01.759 --> 00:39:02.079
 Asia

00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:04.799
 ultimately

00:39:04.799 --> 00:39:05.079
 it was

00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:05.480
 released

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:07.780
 but his

00:39:07.780 --> 00:39:08.219
 wife shared

00:39:08.219 --> 00:39:08.699
 this story

00:39:08.699 --> 00:39:09.480
 where when

00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:09.960
 he was in

00:39:09.960 --> 00:39:10.199
 prison

00:39:10.199 --> 00:39:11.219
 his story

00:39:11.219 --> 00:39:11.740
 was heard

00:39:11.740 --> 00:39:13.659
 and people

00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:14.079
 around the

00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:14.260
 world

00:39:14.260 --> 00:39:14.860
 followers of

00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:15.099
 Christ

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:15.480
 around the

00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:15.659
 world

00:39:15.659 --> 00:39:15.960
 would write

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.400
 letters to

00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:16.559
 him

00:39:16.559 --> 00:39:16.940
 to try

00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:17.360
 and encourage

00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:17.579
 him.

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.579
 He didn't

00:39:19.579 --> 00:39:19.840
 get a

00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:20.500
 single one

00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:22.539
 because the

00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:23.000
 prison officers

00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:23.320
 would just

00:39:23.320 --> 00:39:23.900
 not let him

00:39:23.900 --> 00:39:24.320
 read them.

00:39:26.420 --> 00:39:27.000
 But they

00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:27.440
 still ended

00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:27.860
 up changing

00:39:27.860 --> 00:39:28.500
 his life

00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:29.219
 because one

00:39:29.219 --> 00:39:29.480
 day

00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:30.760
 one prison

00:39:30.760 --> 00:39:31.119
 officer

00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:31.900
 was having

00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:32.199
 a bad

00:39:32.199 --> 00:39:32.460
 day

00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.480
 and was

00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:33.760
 beating

00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:34.039
 him

00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:35.480
 and as

00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:35.679
 he was

00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:35.920
 beating

00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:36.079
 him

00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:36.380
 he said

00:39:36.380 --> 00:39:37.380
 you are

00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:37.980
 so annoying

00:39:37.980 --> 00:39:38.559
 do you

00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:38.759
 know how

00:39:38.759 --> 00:39:39.259
 many letters

00:39:39.259 --> 00:39:39.579
 I have to

00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.199
 throw away

00:39:40.199 --> 00:39:40.759
 of yours

00:39:40.759 --> 00:39:41.259
 every day?

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.099
 Oh my

00:39:43.099 --> 00:39:43.420
 goodness

00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:44.460
 that lit a

00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:45.440
 fire in

00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:45.960
 this pastor's

00:39:45.960 --> 00:39:46.259
 heart because

00:39:46.259 --> 00:39:46.579
 he's like I

00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:46.980
 don't need to

00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:47.500
 read those

00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:47.800
 letters.

00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:49.460
 There are

00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:49.860
 people who

00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:50.360
 remember me

00:39:50.360 --> 00:39:50.719
 outside.

00:39:55.199 --> 00:39:55.739
 I don't

00:39:55.739 --> 00:39:56.199
 have to face

00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:56.480
 that kind

00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:57.000
 of persecution.

00:39:59.779 --> 00:40:00.300
 I don't

00:40:00.300 --> 00:40:00.679
 think you do

00:40:00.679 --> 00:40:00.920
 either.

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:03.559
 But my

00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:03.960
 fear is

00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:04.720
 that then

00:40:04.720 --> 00:40:05.780
 causes my

00:40:05.780 --> 00:40:07.519
 faith to

00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:08.360
 be stale.

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:13.559
 It doesn't

00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:14.099
 need to look

00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:15.000
 so extreme

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:15.199
 as I was

00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:15.619
 having a

00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:16.179
 conversation

00:40:16.179 --> 00:40:16.760
 with Anton

00:40:16.760 --> 00:40:17.059
 the other

00:40:17.059 --> 00:40:17.280
 day.

00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:18.880
 Often even

00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:20.840
 talking to

00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:21.380
 someone who

00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:22.119
 doesn't share

00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:22.500
 the same

00:40:22.500 --> 00:40:22.900
 faith as

00:40:22.900 --> 00:40:23.059
 you,

00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:24.420
 sharing the

00:40:24.420 --> 00:40:24.900
 gospel with

00:40:24.900 --> 00:40:25.079
 them,

00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:26.179
 that forces

00:40:26.179 --> 00:40:26.800
 something out

00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:26.940
 of you.

00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:27.460
 That causes

00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:27.780
 you to

00:40:27.780 --> 00:40:28.320
 double down

00:40:28.320 --> 00:40:28.599
 in your

00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:28.860
 faith.

00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:29.519
 Do I

00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:29.820
 really

00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:30.340
 believe this?

00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:30.940
 Because if I

00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:31.420
 don't share

00:40:31.420 --> 00:40:32.000
 it, then do I

00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:32.840
 really believe

00:40:32.840 --> 00:40:32.980
 it?

00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:33.300
 Because the

00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:33.820
 very nature

00:40:33.820 --> 00:40:34.260
 of what I

00:40:34.260 --> 00:40:34.780
 believe is

00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:35.059
 that I

00:40:35.059 --> 00:40:35.500
 must share

00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:35.659
 it.

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:36.179
 So if I

00:40:36.179 --> 00:40:36.719
 don't share

00:40:36.719 --> 00:40:37.000
 it, that

00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:37.280
 means I

00:40:37.280 --> 00:40:37.920
 don't know

00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:38.320
 if I truly

00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:38.780
 believe it.

00:40:38.820 --> 00:40:39.079
 But the

00:40:39.079 --> 00:40:39.559
 moment I

00:40:39.559 --> 00:40:40.059
 do share

00:40:40.059 --> 00:40:40.480
 it, then

00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:40.920
 it forces

00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:41.260
 me to

00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:42.059
 decide, do

00:40:42.059 --> 00:40:42.539
 I actually

00:40:42.539 --> 00:40:43.219
 believe this?

00:40:43.480 --> 00:40:43.860
 It doesn't

00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:44.260
 mean I have

00:40:44.260 --> 00:40:44.619
 to answer

00:40:44.619 --> 00:40:45.159
 every single

00:40:45.159 --> 00:40:45.860
 question right,

00:40:46.119 --> 00:40:46.699
 but it does

00:40:46.699 --> 00:40:47.460
 mean that I

00:40:47.460 --> 00:40:47.940
 care enough

00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:48.380
 about this,

00:40:48.440 --> 00:40:48.920
 I believe

00:40:48.920 --> 00:40:49.440
 enough in

00:40:49.440 --> 00:40:50.139
 this, and

00:40:50.139 --> 00:40:50.740
 I am

00:40:50.740 --> 00:40:51.480
 willing not

00:40:51.480 --> 00:40:51.900
 to put my

00:40:51.900 --> 00:40:52.400
 life on the

00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:52.840
 line, but

00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:53.340
 at least to

00:40:53.340 --> 00:40:53.639
 put my

00:40:53.639 --> 00:40:54.179
 friendship in

00:40:54.179 --> 00:40:54.559
 an awkward

00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:55.159
 place for a

00:40:55.159 --> 00:40:55.579
 few minutes

00:40:55.579 --> 00:40:56.240
 where I can

00:40:56.240 --> 00:40:56.619
 ask them,

00:40:56.679 --> 00:40:57.079
 hey, do you

00:41:02.980 --> 00:41:03.519
 this to

00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:04.340
 varying degrees

00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:05.039
 of success

00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:05.960
 and consistency?

00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:07.659
 But that's my

00:41:07.659 --> 00:41:08.199
 conviction that

00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:08.880
 I'm growing in

00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:09.480
 myself, going

00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:10.420
 this is something

00:41:10.420 --> 00:41:11.219
 that I must do.

00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:11.619
 I was sharing

00:41:11.619 --> 00:41:12.079
 with my life

00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:12.480
 group a couple

00:41:12.480 --> 00:41:13.380
 weeks ago, this

00:41:13.380 --> 00:41:14.199
 idea of, actually,

00:41:14.280 --> 00:41:15.099
 how can we not

00:41:15.099 --> 00:41:16.179
 be hypocrites?

00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:17.619
 How do we be

00:41:17.619 --> 00:41:18.219
 people who are

00:41:18.219 --> 00:41:18.920
 willing at any

00:41:18.920 --> 00:41:19.599
 moment to share

00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:20.000
 the faith?

00:41:20.340 --> 00:41:20.599
 And I was

00:41:20.599 --> 00:41:21.380
 sharing with

00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:21.940
 them an epic

00:41:21.940 --> 00:41:22.440
 fail that I

00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:22.920
 had the other

00:41:22.920 --> 00:41:23.119
 day.

00:41:23.460 --> 00:41:24.000
 The other day I

00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:24.360
 was playing

00:41:24.360 --> 00:41:25.360
 basketball with

00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:25.760
 a group of

00:41:25.760 --> 00:41:26.420
 friends, and if

00:41:26.420 --> 00:41:26.719
 you know me

00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:27.099
 when I'm playing

00:41:27.099 --> 00:41:28.360
 basketball, I'm

00:41:28.360 --> 00:41:29.599
 not Pastor James,

00:41:29.679 --> 00:41:30.740
 I'm just playing

00:41:30.740 --> 00:41:31.159
 basketball.

00:41:31.380 --> 00:41:31.679
 And I don't

00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:32.380
 really want to

00:41:32.380 --> 00:41:32.860
 talk to people

00:41:32.860 --> 00:41:33.380
 about Jesus

00:41:33.380 --> 00:41:34.240
 when I'm just

00:41:34.240 --> 00:41:34.860
 doing something

00:41:34.860 --> 00:41:35.860
 like my hobby.

00:41:36.140 --> 00:41:37.220
 And I met

00:41:37.220 --> 00:41:37.700
 this person,

00:41:38.260 --> 00:41:38.920
 spoke to them,

00:41:39.079 --> 00:41:39.720
 and often they

00:41:39.720 --> 00:41:40.140
 asked me, oh,

00:41:40.160 --> 00:41:40.519
 so what do you

00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:40.640
 do?

00:41:40.680 --> 00:41:40.940
 And then I

00:41:40.940 --> 00:41:41.300
 say, I'm a

00:41:41.300 --> 00:41:41.539
 pastor.

00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:42.599
 And then I

00:41:42.599 --> 00:41:44.720
 said, I'm

00:41:44.720 --> 00:41:45.280
 playing basketball

00:41:45.280 --> 00:41:45.720
 right now.

00:41:47.559 --> 00:41:48.599
 But all I

00:41:48.599 --> 00:41:49.099
 could eke out

00:41:49.099 --> 00:41:49.539
 of me was,

00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:50.320
 well, do you

00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:50.800
 go to church?

00:41:51.539 --> 00:41:51.960
 And he said,

00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:52.360
 oh, no, I

00:41:52.360 --> 00:41:52.720
 don't go to

00:41:52.720 --> 00:41:52.940
 church.

00:41:55.940 --> 00:41:56.820
 And then there

00:41:56.820 --> 00:41:57.300
 was like five

00:41:57.300 --> 00:41:58.000
 seconds of just

00:41:58.000 --> 00:41:58.720
 silence there.

00:42:00.240 --> 00:42:00.720
 Because I was

00:42:00.720 --> 00:42:02.640
 like, I don't

00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:03.139
 want to engage

00:42:03.139 --> 00:42:03.460
 in this.

00:42:06.359 --> 00:42:06.859
 I've already

00:42:06.859 --> 00:42:07.400
 just met him.

00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:08.039
 We're just

00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:08.460
 about to go

00:42:08.460 --> 00:42:08.839
 back on the

00:42:08.839 --> 00:42:09.039
 court.

00:42:10.199 --> 00:42:10.739
 And then I

00:42:10.739 --> 00:42:11.219
 chickened out.

00:42:11.420 --> 00:42:11.619
 I was like,

00:42:11.639 --> 00:42:11.759
 oh.

00:42:13.339 --> 00:42:13.960
 Afterwards, I

00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:15.000
 sat in my

00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:15.400
 car and I

00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.940
 just felt the

00:42:15.940 --> 00:42:17.239
 crushing of the

00:42:17.239 --> 00:42:17.619
 Holy Spirit

00:42:17.619 --> 00:42:18.319
 going, wow.

00:42:21.319 --> 00:42:22.039
 I'm not here to

00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:22.679
 guilt trip myself

00:42:22.679 --> 00:42:23.219
 and say every

00:42:23.219 --> 00:42:23.960
 time I speak to

00:42:23.960 --> 00:42:25.059
 someone, every

00:42:25.059 --> 00:42:25.900
 waitress, every

00:42:25.900 --> 00:42:27.519
 clerk, I must

00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:27.879
 talk to them

00:42:27.880 --> 00:42:28.360
 about Jesus.

00:42:29.240 --> 00:42:29.760
 But what I'm

00:42:29.760 --> 00:42:31.599
 saying is, do

00:42:31.599 --> 00:42:32.099
 we follow the

00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:32.720
 convictions, do

00:42:32.720 --> 00:42:33.160
 we follow the

00:42:33.160 --> 00:42:33.940
 opportunities that

00:42:33.940 --> 00:42:34.500
 the Lord gives

00:42:34.500 --> 00:42:34.680
 us?

00:42:34.720 --> 00:42:35.200
 So when there

00:42:35.200 --> 00:42:35.680
 is a moment

00:42:35.680 --> 00:42:36.140
 where someone

00:42:36.140 --> 00:42:36.960
 engages us with

00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:37.480
 the faith or

00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:38.160
 has an opening

00:42:38.160 --> 00:42:38.619
 where we can

00:42:38.619 --> 00:42:39.280
 talk about it,

00:42:39.380 --> 00:42:40.099
 are we willing

00:42:40.099 --> 00:42:40.760
 to talk about

00:42:40.760 --> 00:42:40.920
 it?

00:42:43.200 --> 00:42:43.800
 So fast

00:42:43.800 --> 00:42:44.380
 forward to

00:42:44.380 --> 00:42:45.300
 yesterday, I

00:42:45.300 --> 00:42:45.680
 was at a

00:42:45.680 --> 00:42:46.599
 birthday dinner

00:42:46.599 --> 00:42:47.400
 with a friend

00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:49.980
 and the theme

00:42:49.980 --> 00:42:51.519
 was just

00:42:51.519 --> 00:42:52.880
 Midwest Texan

00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:53.680
 cowboy thing.

00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:55.019
 So I'm sat

00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:57.159
 at the dinner

00:42:57.159 --> 00:42:59.019
 table next to

00:42:59.019 --> 00:42:59.519
 two people who

00:42:59.519 --> 00:42:59.960
 I don't know

00:42:59.960 --> 00:43:01.259
 in my cowboy

00:43:01.259 --> 00:43:04.019
 hat and then

00:43:04.019 --> 00:43:04.579
 the same question

00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:05.619
 comes up, oh

00:43:05.619 --> 00:43:06.359
 hi, I'm James,

00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:07.440
 what do you do?

00:43:07.500 --> 00:43:07.799
 I say, well,

00:43:07.859 --> 00:43:08.119
 guess.

00:43:09.139 --> 00:43:09.579
 And no one

00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:10.099
 ever can guess.

00:43:11.159 --> 00:43:11.719
 They usually just

00:43:11.719 --> 00:43:12.299
 go with mafia.

00:43:13.399 --> 00:43:14.419
 And then I

00:43:14.419 --> 00:43:14.899
 say, well, I'm a

00:43:14.899 --> 00:43:15.159
 pastor.

00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:18.759
 Do you go to

00:43:18.759 --> 00:43:19.079
 church?

00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:20.239
 Have you been to

00:43:20.239 --> 00:43:20.480
 church?

00:43:21.639 --> 00:43:22.279
 And the woman

00:43:22.279 --> 00:43:22.539
 just,

00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:24.259
 starts crying.

00:43:27.980 --> 00:43:28.679
 Just disclaimer

00:43:28.679 --> 00:43:29.380
 here, nothing

00:43:29.380 --> 00:43:30.119
 that I did.

00:43:31.259 --> 00:43:32.360
 Good, good

00:43:32.360 --> 00:43:32.920
 or bad.

00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:35.000
 Ironically, I

00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:35.619
 was sat, she

00:43:35.619 --> 00:43:36.119
 was on one side

00:43:36.119 --> 00:43:36.500
 and her husband

00:43:36.500 --> 00:43:36.920
 on the other

00:43:36.920 --> 00:43:37.119
 side.

00:43:37.400 --> 00:43:38.259
 So after that

00:43:38.259 --> 00:43:38.659
 happened, I

00:43:38.659 --> 00:43:39.119
 turned to him

00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:39.360
 and I was

00:43:39.360 --> 00:43:40.199
 like, I'm

00:43:40.199 --> 00:43:40.639
 really sorry.

00:43:41.279 --> 00:43:41.719
 Your wife is

00:43:41.719 --> 00:43:41.940
 crying.

00:43:45.699 --> 00:43:46.239
 But I say

00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:46.619
 that not in a

00:43:46.619 --> 00:43:47.079
 bad way either.

00:43:47.159 --> 00:43:47.460
 I'm saying

00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:47.960
 actually, it's

00:43:47.960 --> 00:43:48.440
 not even me

00:43:48.440 --> 00:43:48.820
 that does it.

00:43:48.900 --> 00:43:49.199
 I don't have

00:43:49.199 --> 00:43:49.679
 to do that

00:43:49.679 --> 00:43:50.019
 much.

00:43:50.539 --> 00:43:50.840
 It's the

00:43:50.840 --> 00:43:51.320
 Holy Spirit

00:43:51.320 --> 00:43:51.800
 that's doing

00:43:51.800 --> 00:43:52.420
 and then in

00:43:52.420 --> 00:43:52.820
 the rest of

00:43:52.820 --> 00:43:53.099
 the evening

00:43:53.099 --> 00:43:53.559
 I got to

00:43:53.559 --> 00:43:53.820
 hear this

00:43:53.820 --> 00:43:54.599
 beautiful story

00:43:54.599 --> 00:43:55.220
 how this

00:43:55.220 --> 00:43:55.900
 couple who

00:43:55.900 --> 00:43:56.360
 don't know

00:43:56.360 --> 00:43:57.079
 Christ are

00:43:57.079 --> 00:43:57.680
 being drawn

00:43:57.680 --> 00:43:58.420
 into his

00:43:58.420 --> 00:43:58.860
 presence.

00:44:00.740 --> 00:44:01.000
 And that

00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:02.340
 being sat

00:44:02.340 --> 00:44:03.800
 randomly next

00:44:03.800 --> 00:44:04.440
 to a pastor

00:44:04.440 --> 00:44:05.960
 was what

00:44:05.960 --> 00:44:06.300
 tips them

00:44:06.300 --> 00:44:06.519
 over.

00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:08.019
 I did

00:44:08.019 --> 00:44:08.380
 nothing.

00:44:08.900 --> 00:44:09.519
 Good or bad.

00:44:10.519 --> 00:44:11.220
 I was just

00:44:11.220 --> 00:44:12.280
 being obedient.

00:44:12.440 --> 00:44:12.720
 I was just

00:44:12.720 --> 00:44:13.159
 learning from

00:44:13.159 --> 00:44:13.599
 my mistake.

00:44:13.800 --> 00:44:14.519
 Not my mistake

00:44:14.519 --> 00:44:15.139
 from last week.

00:44:15.139 --> 00:44:18.619
 I think that's

00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:19.099
 all we need

00:44:19.099 --> 00:44:19.460
 to do.

00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:22.839
 There's

00:44:22.839 --> 00:44:23.119
 another

00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:24.519
 gentleman in

00:44:24.519 --> 00:44:24.719
 the Czech

00:44:24.719 --> 00:44:25.079
 Republic

00:44:25.079 --> 00:44:26.719
 who serves

00:44:26.719 --> 00:44:27.099
 in Sudan

00:44:27.099 --> 00:44:27.519
 trying to

00:44:27.519 --> 00:44:27.980
 share the

00:44:27.980 --> 00:44:28.239
 gospel.

00:44:30.079 --> 00:44:30.619
 They were

00:44:30.619 --> 00:44:31.480
 both imprisoned,

00:44:31.719 --> 00:44:32.079
 ended up

00:44:32.079 --> 00:44:32.659
 becoming best

00:44:32.659 --> 00:44:32.920
 friends.

00:44:33.879 --> 00:44:34.079
 There would

00:44:34.079 --> 00:44:34.819
 be stories

00:44:34.819 --> 00:44:36.219
 about prisoners

00:44:36.219 --> 00:44:38.539
 separated by a

00:44:38.539 --> 00:44:38.739
 wall,

00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:39.599
 preaching to

00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:40.019
 each other

00:44:40.019 --> 00:44:40.519
 by tapping

00:44:40.519 --> 00:44:41.119
 on the wall

00:44:41.119 --> 00:44:42.159
 and communicating

00:44:42.159 --> 00:44:42.739
 through Morse

00:44:42.739 --> 00:44:42.960
 code,

00:44:43.599 --> 00:44:44.079
 encouraging

00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:44.619
 each other

00:44:44.619 --> 00:44:45.639
 in the

00:44:45.639 --> 00:44:45.879
 faith.

00:44:50.219 --> 00:44:50.859
 And just

00:44:50.859 --> 00:44:51.500
 in case you

00:44:51.500 --> 00:44:51.839
 feel as though

00:44:51.839 --> 00:44:52.139
 all those

00:44:52.139 --> 00:44:52.460
 were years

00:44:52.460 --> 00:44:52.719
 ago,

00:44:53.159 --> 00:44:53.579
 the ICC

00:44:53.579 --> 00:44:54.079
 reported

00:44:54.079 --> 00:44:55.299
 February 26,

00:44:55.460 --> 00:44:55.819
 so a couple

00:44:55.819 --> 00:44:56.859
 weeks ago,

00:44:57.920 --> 00:44:58.399
 a mob of

00:44:58.399 --> 00:44:58.699
 Hindu

00:44:58.699 --> 00:44:59.460
 nationalists in

00:44:59.460 --> 00:44:59.960
 central India

00:44:59.960 --> 00:45:00.460
 attacked a

00:45:00.460 --> 00:45:01.059
 Christian family

00:45:01.059 --> 00:45:01.779
 after the

00:45:01.779 --> 00:45:02.460
 family refused

00:45:02.460 --> 00:45:02.879
 to deny

00:45:02.879 --> 00:45:03.279
 Christ.

00:45:04.639 --> 00:45:05.339
 The family

00:45:05.339 --> 00:45:05.719
 lost their

00:45:05.719 --> 00:45:06.319
 home and

00:45:06.319 --> 00:45:06.799
 their belongings

00:45:06.799 --> 00:45:07.239
 during the

00:45:07.239 --> 00:45:07.500
 attack,

00:45:07.719 --> 00:45:08.179
 forcing them

00:45:08.179 --> 00:45:08.539
 to live

00:45:08.539 --> 00:45:08.839
 on the

00:45:08.839 --> 00:45:09.099
 streets.

00:45:09.099 --> 00:45:12.799
 200 radical

00:45:12.799 --> 00:45:13.079
 Hindus

00:45:13.079 --> 00:45:13.579
 surrounded the

00:45:13.579 --> 00:45:13.880
 house and

00:45:13.880 --> 00:45:14.420
 attempted to

00:45:14.420 --> 00:45:16.159
 force Ramsey's

00:45:16.159 --> 00:45:16.619
 family to

00:45:16.619 --> 00:45:17.139
 deny Jesus

00:45:17.139 --> 00:45:17.940
 and reconvert

00:45:17.940 --> 00:45:18.519
 to Hinduism.

00:45:18.659 --> 00:45:19.119
 The furious

00:45:19.119 --> 00:45:19.779
 mob burst

00:45:19.779 --> 00:45:20.079
 into the

00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:20.259
 home,

00:45:20.360 --> 00:45:20.619
 threw the

00:45:20.619 --> 00:45:21.000
 family's

00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:21.339
 food and

00:45:21.339 --> 00:45:21.679
 belongings

00:45:21.679 --> 00:45:22.139
 into the

00:45:22.139 --> 00:45:22.420
 street,

00:45:23.380 --> 00:45:23.639
 and yet

00:45:23.639 --> 00:45:23.980
 the family

00:45:23.980 --> 00:45:24.440
 chose to

00:45:24.440 --> 00:45:24.880
 remain in

00:45:24.880 --> 00:45:25.119
 Christ.

00:45:25.339 --> 00:45:25.779
 Last night,

00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:26.360
 all six

00:45:26.360 --> 00:45:26.839
 children and

00:45:26.839 --> 00:45:27.259
 my wife

00:45:27.259 --> 00:45:27.699
 slept in

00:45:27.699 --> 00:45:28.019
 the rubble

00:45:28.019 --> 00:45:28.400
 with no

00:45:28.400 --> 00:45:28.659
 roof.

00:45:28.980 --> 00:45:29.599
 God gave

00:45:29.599 --> 00:45:30.079
 us courage

00:45:30.079 --> 00:45:30.519
 to come

00:45:30.519 --> 00:45:31.039
 thus far.

00:45:31.539 --> 00:45:31.960
 We hope

00:45:31.960 --> 00:45:32.360
 that God

00:45:32.360 --> 00:45:32.940
 will continue

00:45:32.940 --> 00:45:33.480
 to strengthen

00:45:33.480 --> 00:45:34.339
 us to

00:45:34.339 --> 00:45:35.139
 remain faithful

00:45:35.139 --> 00:45:36.779
 to him.

00:45:39.099 --> 00:45:42.500
 What do

00:45:42.500 --> 00:45:42.880
 we do

00:45:42.880 --> 00:45:44.299
 with that?

00:45:47.719 --> 00:45:48.279
 Apart from

00:45:48.279 --> 00:45:48.779
 go to God

00:45:48.779 --> 00:45:49.159
 and give

00:45:49.159 --> 00:45:49.500
 thanks,

00:45:49.639 --> 00:45:49.819
 okay,

00:45:49.940 --> 00:45:50.380
 in this

00:45:50.380 --> 00:45:50.659
 current

00:45:50.659 --> 00:45:50.980
 moment,

00:45:51.099 --> 00:45:51.319
 in this

00:45:51.319 --> 00:45:51.539
 current

00:45:51.539 --> 00:45:51.960
 season in

00:45:51.960 --> 00:45:52.319
 our lives,

00:45:52.380 --> 00:45:52.759
 we are

00:45:52.759 --> 00:45:53.659
 in safety.

00:45:54.059 --> 00:45:54.480
 But Lord,

00:45:54.539 --> 00:45:54.920
 what is it

00:45:54.920 --> 00:45:55.239
 that you

00:45:55.239 --> 00:45:55.559
 want me

00:45:55.559 --> 00:45:55.980
 to do

00:45:55.980 --> 00:45:56.559
 where I

00:45:56.559 --> 00:45:56.940
 can go

00:45:56.940 --> 00:45:58.000
 out of

00:45:58.000 --> 00:45:58.679
 my comfort

00:45:58.679 --> 00:46:00.400
 zones to

00:46:00.400 --> 00:46:00.739
 share the

00:46:00.739 --> 00:46:01.259
 good news?

00:46:03.259 --> 00:46:03.839
 The good

00:46:03.839 --> 00:46:04.339
 news that

00:46:04.339 --> 00:46:04.839
 led me from

00:46:04.839 --> 00:46:05.259
 being dead

00:46:05.259 --> 00:46:05.559
 to now

00:46:05.559 --> 00:46:06.039
 being alive.

00:46:06.139 --> 00:46:06.360
 The good

00:46:06.360 --> 00:46:06.679
 news that

00:46:06.679 --> 00:46:07.159
 led me from

00:46:07.159 --> 00:46:07.819
 first being

00:46:07.819 --> 00:46:08.319
 blind but

00:46:08.319 --> 00:46:08.900
 now seeing.

00:46:09.099 --> 00:46:12.339
 And if

00:46:12.339 --> 00:46:12.639
 I don't

00:46:12.639 --> 00:46:13.179
 feel that

00:46:13.179 --> 00:46:13.599
 conviction,

00:46:13.759 --> 00:46:13.880
 God,

00:46:13.940 --> 00:46:14.199
 can you

00:46:14.199 --> 00:46:14.639
 remind me

00:46:14.639 --> 00:46:15.159
 again of

00:46:15.159 --> 00:46:15.539
 my lost

00:46:15.539 --> 00:46:15.799
 state?

00:46:17.400 --> 00:46:18.000
 We get

00:46:18.000 --> 00:46:19.319
 so comfortable

00:46:19.319 --> 00:46:19.980
 and so

00:46:19.980 --> 00:46:21.360
 cushy here

00:46:21.360 --> 00:46:23.559
 when God

00:46:23.559 --> 00:46:24.219
 pours blessings

00:46:24.219 --> 00:46:24.699
 out on us

00:46:24.699 --> 00:46:25.000
 as we think

00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:25.500
 we deserve

00:46:25.500 --> 00:46:26.159
 them,

00:46:27.000 --> 00:46:29.839
 that we're

00:46:29.839 --> 00:46:30.759
 entitled to

00:46:30.759 --> 00:46:30.980
 them.

00:46:32.739 --> 00:46:33.259
 The friendship

00:46:33.259 --> 00:46:33.839
 of suffering

00:46:33.839 --> 00:46:34.599
 that Paul

00:46:34.599 --> 00:46:35.500
 goes through

00:46:35.500 --> 00:46:36.259
 from city

00:46:36.259 --> 00:46:36.860
 to city.

00:46:37.679 --> 00:46:38.039
 And what's

00:46:38.039 --> 00:46:38.420
 his ultimate

00:46:38.420 --> 00:46:38.779
 comfort?

00:46:39.839 --> 00:46:40.480
 His ultimate

00:46:40.480 --> 00:46:41.119
 comfort is

00:46:41.119 --> 00:46:41.420
 that he

00:46:41.420 --> 00:46:41.819
 has a

00:46:41.819 --> 00:46:42.159
 Christ,

00:46:42.259 --> 00:46:42.679
 a Lord

00:46:42.679 --> 00:46:44.960
 that is

00:46:44.960 --> 00:46:45.319
 willing to

00:46:45.319 --> 00:46:45.619
 sit in

00:46:45.619 --> 00:46:45.900
 the mud

00:46:45.900 --> 00:46:46.460
 with him.

00:46:47.159 --> 00:46:47.519
 In Acts

00:46:47.519 --> 00:46:47.980
 9 when

00:46:47.980 --> 00:46:48.719
 Jesus meets

00:46:48.719 --> 00:46:49.139
 Paul,

00:46:49.900 --> 00:46:50.380
 Saul at

00:46:50.380 --> 00:46:50.719
 the time

00:46:50.719 --> 00:46:50.980
 and says,

00:46:51.059 --> 00:46:51.259
 why are

00:46:51.259 --> 00:46:51.940
 you persecuting

00:46:51.940 --> 00:46:52.079
 me?

00:46:52.139 --> 00:46:52.380
 Why are

00:46:52.380 --> 00:46:53.480
 you hurting

00:46:53.480 --> 00:46:53.759
 me?

00:46:55.139 --> 00:46:55.759
 But now

00:46:55.759 --> 00:46:56.179
 I'm going to

00:46:56.179 --> 00:46:56.759
 choose you.

00:46:57.059 --> 00:46:57.559
 You are

00:46:57.559 --> 00:46:57.860
 going to be

00:46:57.860 --> 00:46:58.380
 my instrument

00:46:58.380 --> 00:46:58.900
 and you

00:46:58.900 --> 00:46:59.119
 are going

00:46:59.119 --> 00:46:59.480
 to suffer

00:46:59.480 --> 00:47:00.000
 for my

00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:00.599
 namesake.

00:47:00.599 --> 00:47:05.719
 Jesus

00:47:05.719 --> 00:47:06.559
 himself when

00:47:06.559 --> 00:47:06.839
 he was

00:47:06.839 --> 00:47:07.079
 in the

00:47:07.079 --> 00:47:07.360
 garden

00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:07.599
 of

00:47:07.599 --> 00:47:08.179
 Gethsemane.

00:47:08.400 --> 00:47:08.819
 What does

00:47:08.819 --> 00:47:09.259
 he need?

00:47:10.259 --> 00:47:10.860
 Friends.

00:47:12.339 --> 00:47:13.099
 Stay here

00:47:13.099 --> 00:47:13.679
 with me.

00:47:14.159 --> 00:47:14.900
 Keep watch

00:47:14.900 --> 00:47:15.519
 with me.

00:47:15.759 --> 00:47:16.339
 I'm about

00:47:16.339 --> 00:47:16.779
 to do

00:47:16.779 --> 00:47:17.259
 something

00:47:17.259 --> 00:47:18.179
 that is

00:47:18.179 --> 00:47:18.339
 going to

00:47:18.339 --> 00:47:19.019
 be so

00:47:19.019 --> 00:47:19.659
 painful.

00:47:21.880 --> 00:47:22.440
 Blood

00:47:22.440 --> 00:47:22.920
 is going

00:47:22.920 --> 00:47:23.199
 to come

00:47:23.199 --> 00:47:23.460
 through

00:47:23.460 --> 00:47:24.579
 my pores.

00:47:24.579 --> 00:47:26.420
 please

00:47:26.420 --> 00:47:26.659
 stay

00:47:26.659 --> 00:47:27.079
 with me.

00:47:29.940 --> 00:47:30.420
 Jesus

00:47:30.420 --> 00:47:32.239
 willingly

00:47:32.239 --> 00:47:32.840
 suffering

00:47:32.840 --> 00:47:33.400
 for us.

00:47:33.860 --> 00:47:34.299
 Willingly

00:47:34.299 --> 00:47:34.980
 sitting in

00:47:34.980 --> 00:47:35.360
 the mud

00:47:35.360 --> 00:47:36.159
 with us.

00:47:37.019 --> 00:47:37.699
 Philippians 2

00:47:37.699 --> 00:47:38.019
 who though

00:47:38.019 --> 00:47:38.259
 was in

00:47:38.259 --> 00:47:39.759
 the image

00:47:39.759 --> 00:47:40.059
 of God

00:47:40.059 --> 00:47:40.319
 did not

00:47:40.319 --> 00:47:41.159
 count God

00:47:41.159 --> 00:47:43.059
 the equality

00:47:43.059 --> 00:47:43.639
 that he had.

00:47:43.940 --> 00:47:44.500
 He emptied

00:47:44.500 --> 00:47:44.900
 himself.

00:47:45.059 --> 00:47:45.259
 What is

00:47:45.259 --> 00:47:45.500
 that?

00:47:46.179 --> 00:47:46.340
 We

00:47:46.340 --> 00:47:46.860
 translate it

00:47:46.860 --> 00:47:47.279
 as Jesus

00:47:47.279 --> 00:47:48.279
 the Prince

00:47:48.279 --> 00:47:48.579
 of Heaven

00:47:48.579 --> 00:47:48.900
 was willing

00:47:48.900 --> 00:47:49.239
 to sit

00:47:49.239 --> 00:47:49.679
 in the mud

00:47:49.679 --> 00:47:50.139
 with us.

00:47:53.659 --> 00:47:54.099
 That's

00:47:54.099 --> 00:47:54.539
 what keeps

00:47:54.539 --> 00:47:55.219
 us going.

00:47:55.440 --> 00:47:55.759
 That's

00:47:55.759 --> 00:47:56.320
 what kept

00:47:56.320 --> 00:47:57.019
 Paul going.

00:47:57.360 --> 00:47:57.599
 And then

00:47:57.599 --> 00:47:58.320
 later in

00:47:58.320 --> 00:47:58.980
 John 15

00:47:58.980 --> 00:48:00.300
 we see

00:48:00.300 --> 00:48:00.980
 Jesus say

00:48:00.980 --> 00:48:02.480
 the greatest

00:48:02.480 --> 00:48:03.199
 example of

00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:03.639
 love is

00:48:03.639 --> 00:48:04.059
 when someone

00:48:04.059 --> 00:48:04.380
 is willing

00:48:04.380 --> 00:48:04.679
 to lay

00:48:04.679 --> 00:48:05.039
 down their

00:48:05.039 --> 00:48:05.559
 lives for

00:48:05.559 --> 00:48:05.920
 their friend.

00:48:06.960 --> 00:48:07.460
 And now

00:48:07.460 --> 00:48:07.980
 I call you

00:48:07.980 --> 00:48:08.440
 my friends.

00:48:09.380 --> 00:48:09.940
 And I've

00:48:09.940 --> 00:48:10.179
 told you

00:48:10.179 --> 00:48:10.639
 everything that

00:48:10.639 --> 00:48:10.940
 I know.

00:48:11.759 --> 00:48:12.300
 I've given

00:48:12.300 --> 00:48:12.699
 you everything

00:48:12.699 --> 00:48:13.279
 that I have.

00:48:15.019 --> 00:48:15.579
 Paul had

00:48:15.579 --> 00:48:16.059
 the strength

00:48:16.059 --> 00:48:16.679
 to do that

00:48:16.679 --> 00:48:17.340
 for others

00:48:17.340 --> 00:48:18.340
 because Christ

00:48:18.340 --> 00:48:18.840
 did that

00:48:18.840 --> 00:48:19.559
 for him.

00:48:19.559 --> 00:48:24.259
 but then

00:48:24.259 --> 00:48:24.599
 he calls

00:48:24.599 --> 00:48:24.860
 us to

00:48:24.860 --> 00:48:25.099
 do the

00:48:25.099 --> 00:48:25.299
 same.

00:48:26.840 --> 00:48:27.299
 Some of

00:48:27.299 --> 00:48:27.639
 us may

00:48:27.639 --> 00:48:28.219
 be called

00:48:28.219 --> 00:48:28.599
 into

00:48:28.599 --> 00:48:28.900
 dangerous

00:48:28.900 --> 00:48:29.179
 parts

00:48:29.179 --> 00:48:29.420
 of the

00:48:29.420 --> 00:48:29.659
 world.

00:48:31.880 --> 00:48:32.320
 And just

00:48:32.320 --> 00:48:32.619
 before you

00:48:32.619 --> 00:48:32.699
 go,

00:48:32.739 --> 00:48:32.860
 oh,

00:48:32.880 --> 00:48:33.039
 that's

00:48:33.039 --> 00:48:33.279
 such a

00:48:33.279 --> 00:48:33.599
 far-fetched

00:48:33.599 --> 00:48:33.739
 thing.

00:48:34.659 --> 00:48:35.139
 I was

00:48:35.139 --> 00:48:35.420
 the same

00:48:35.420 --> 00:48:35.659
 as you

00:48:35.659 --> 00:48:35.880
 for a

00:48:35.880 --> 00:48:36.019
 while

00:48:36.019 --> 00:48:36.440
 until I

00:48:36.440 --> 00:48:36.599
 met

00:48:36.599 --> 00:48:36.940
 colleagues

00:48:36.940 --> 00:48:37.219
 who were

00:48:37.219 --> 00:48:37.480
 literally

00:48:37.480 --> 00:48:38.000
 serving in

00:48:38.000 --> 00:48:38.199
 some of

00:48:38.199 --> 00:48:38.320
 these

00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:38.679
 places.

00:48:40.460 --> 00:48:40.940
 And it

00:48:40.940 --> 00:48:41.099
 just

00:48:41.099 --> 00:48:42.199
 completely

00:48:42.199 --> 00:48:43.719
 broke my

00:48:43.719 --> 00:48:44.199
 perspective

00:48:44.199 --> 00:48:44.960
 on what

00:48:44.960 --> 00:48:45.239
 I think

00:48:45.239 --> 00:48:45.379
 I'm

00:48:45.379 --> 00:48:45.559
 going

00:48:45.559 --> 00:48:45.759
 through

00:48:45.759 --> 00:48:45.980
 here.

00:48:50.919 --> 00:48:51.500
 But he

00:48:51.500 --> 00:48:51.799
 calls

00:48:51.799 --> 00:48:52.219
 each of

00:48:52.219 --> 00:48:52.480
 us

00:48:52.480 --> 00:48:53.559
 friends

00:48:53.559 --> 00:48:54.439
 and he

00:48:54.439 --> 00:48:54.639
 calls

00:48:54.639 --> 00:48:54.939
 each

00:48:54.939 --> 00:48:55.059
 of

00:48:55.059 --> 00:48:55.199
 us

00:48:55.199 --> 00:48:55.319
 to

00:48:55.319 --> 00:48:55.439
 go

00:48:55.439 --> 00:48:55.579
 and

00:48:55.579 --> 00:48:55.699
 lay

00:48:55.699 --> 00:48:55.960
 down

00:48:55.960 --> 00:48:56.219
 our

00:48:56.219 --> 00:48:56.559
 lives

00:48:56.559 --> 00:48:56.960
 for

00:48:56.960 --> 00:48:57.179
 someone

00:48:57.179 --> 00:48:57.379
 else.

00:48:57.460 --> 00:48:57.839
 And often

00:48:57.839 --> 00:48:58.279
 it doesn't

00:48:58.279 --> 00:48:58.859
 even need

00:48:58.859 --> 00:48:59.159
 to be

00:48:59.159 --> 00:48:59.419
 our

00:48:59.419 --> 00:48:59.719
 lives.

00:48:59.779 --> 00:49:00.059
 It just

00:49:00.059 --> 00:49:00.279
 needs

00:49:00.279 --> 00:49:00.759
 to be

00:49:00.759 --> 00:49:01.519
 that

00:49:01.519 --> 00:49:02.000
 conversation

00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:02.359
 that we

00:49:02.359 --> 00:49:02.519
 need

00:49:02.519 --> 00:49:02.599
 to

00:49:02.599 --> 00:49:02.799
 have.

00:49:03.000 --> 00:49:03.119
 It

00:49:03.119 --> 00:49:03.339
 actually

00:49:03.339 --> 00:49:03.559
 just

00:49:03.559 --> 00:49:03.739
 means

00:49:03.739 --> 00:49:03.919
 we

00:49:03.919 --> 00:49:04.039
 need

00:49:04.039 --> 00:49:04.139
 to

00:49:04.139 --> 00:49:04.279
 lay

00:49:04.279 --> 00:49:04.500
 down

00:49:04.500 --> 00:49:04.759
 our

00:49:04.759 --> 00:49:05.159
 egos

00:49:05.159 --> 00:49:06.000
 and

00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:06.179
 our

00:49:06.179 --> 00:49:06.539
 fears

00:49:06.539 --> 00:49:07.000
 and

00:49:07.000 --> 00:49:07.219
 our

00:49:07.219 --> 00:49:07.819
 insecurities.

00:49:07.819 --> 00:49:08.139
 That's

00:49:08.139 --> 00:49:08.579
 all we

00:49:08.579 --> 00:49:08.819
 need

00:49:08.819 --> 00:49:09.019
 to

00:49:09.019 --> 00:49:09.239
 do.

00:49:09.239 --> 00:49:09.519
 Can

00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:09.739
 we

00:49:09.739 --> 00:49:10.000
 do

00:49:14.199 --> 00:49:14.539
 go

00:49:14.539 --> 00:49:14.879
 and

00:49:14.879 --> 00:49:15.039
 have

00:49:15.039 --> 00:49:15.159
 an

00:49:15.159 --> 00:49:15.379
 awkward

00:49:15.379 --> 00:49:15.919
 conversation

00:49:15.919 --> 00:49:16.099
 with

00:49:16.099 --> 00:49:16.319
 someone

00:49:16.319 --> 00:49:17.699
 and

00:49:17.699 --> 00:49:18.179
 literally

00:49:18.179 --> 00:49:18.460
 say

00:49:18.460 --> 00:49:18.839
 we're

00:49:18.839 --> 00:49:18.919
 going

00:49:18.919 --> 00:49:19.000
 to

00:49:19.000 --> 00:49:19.179
 make

00:49:19.179 --> 00:49:19.299
 it

00:49:19.299 --> 00:49:19.559
 awkward.

00:49:21.379 --> 00:49:21.619
 Well,

00:49:21.719 --> 00:49:22.039
 don't

00:49:22.039 --> 00:49:22.480
 deliberately

00:49:22.480 --> 00:49:22.699
 do,

00:49:23.059 --> 00:49:23.460
 but be

00:49:23.460 --> 00:49:24.059
 prepared

00:49:24.059 --> 00:49:24.879
 for it

00:49:24.879 --> 00:49:25.139
 to be

00:49:25.139 --> 00:49:25.460
 awkward

00:49:25.460 --> 00:49:25.919
 and

00:49:25.919 --> 00:49:26.079
 to

00:49:26.079 --> 00:49:26.259
 be

00:49:26.259 --> 00:49:26.619
 okay.

00:49:28.059 --> 00:49:28.539
 Why?

00:49:28.639 --> 00:49:28.799
 Because

00:49:28.799 --> 00:49:28.939
 we

00:49:28.939 --> 00:49:29.159
 believe

00:49:29.159 --> 00:49:29.279
 that

00:49:29.279 --> 00:49:29.419
 this

00:49:29.419 --> 00:49:29.859
 matters.

00:49:31.719 --> 00:49:32.159
 This

00:49:32.159 --> 00:49:32.439
 world

00:49:32.439 --> 00:49:32.759
 is in

00:49:32.759 --> 00:49:33.199
 deep

00:49:33.199 --> 00:49:33.559
 need

00:49:33.559 --> 00:49:33.919
 of

00:49:33.919 --> 00:49:34.259
 people

00:49:34.259 --> 00:49:34.480
 who

00:49:34.480 --> 00:49:34.619
 are

00:49:34.619 --> 00:49:34.839
 willing

00:49:34.839 --> 00:49:35.039
 to

00:49:35.039 --> 00:49:35.319
 share

00:49:35.319 --> 00:49:35.500
 a

00:49:35.500 --> 00:49:35.699
 different

00:49:35.699 --> 00:49:36.059
 message.

00:49:37.960 --> 00:49:38.419
 We

00:49:38.419 --> 00:49:38.739
 turn on

00:49:38.739 --> 00:49:38.859
 the

00:49:38.859 --> 00:49:39.059
 news

00:49:39.059 --> 00:49:39.179
 and

00:49:39.179 --> 00:49:39.319
 we

00:49:39.319 --> 00:49:39.599
 see

00:49:39.599 --> 00:49:39.939
 all

00:49:39.939 --> 00:49:40.119
 the

00:49:40.119 --> 00:49:40.359
 different

00:49:40.359 --> 00:49:40.679
 warfare

00:49:40.679 --> 00:49:40.960
 that's

00:49:40.960 --> 00:49:41.259
 happening

00:49:41.259 --> 00:49:41.619
 around

00:49:41.619 --> 00:49:41.819
 the

00:49:41.819 --> 00:49:42.079
 world.

00:49:42.079 --> 00:49:42.420
 The

00:49:42.420 --> 00:49:42.719
 world

00:49:42.719 --> 00:49:42.880
 is

00:49:42.880 --> 00:49:43.059
 in

00:49:43.059 --> 00:49:43.500
 deep

00:49:43.500 --> 00:49:43.940
 need

00:49:43.940 --> 00:49:44.900
 of

00:49:44.900 --> 00:49:45.000
 a

00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:45.199
 different

00:49:45.199 --> 00:49:45.539
 message.

00:49:48.539 --> 00:49:49.059
 This

00:49:49.059 --> 00:49:49.259
 week

00:49:49.259 --> 00:49:49.460
 we've

00:49:49.460 --> 00:49:49.579
 been

00:49:49.579 --> 00:49:51.019
 helping

00:49:51.019 --> 00:49:52.259
 MJ

00:49:52.259 --> 00:49:53.619
 familiarize

00:49:53.619 --> 00:49:53.960
 his new

00:49:53.960 --> 00:49:54.239
 school.

00:49:55.199 --> 00:49:55.199


00:49:55.199 --> 00:49:56.719
 part of

00:49:56.719 --> 00:49:56.940
 that

00:49:56.940 --> 00:49:57.639
 is that

00:49:57.639 --> 00:49:57.940
 the

00:49:57.940 --> 00:49:58.319
 parent

00:49:58.319 --> 00:49:59.460
 gets

00:49:59.460 --> 00:49:59.860
 to sit

00:49:59.860 --> 00:50:00.179
 in

00:50:00.179 --> 00:50:00.920
 this

00:50:00.920 --> 00:50:02.099
 classroom

00:50:02.099 --> 00:50:02.880
 for the

00:50:02.880 --> 00:50:03.039
 day

00:50:03.039 --> 00:50:03.279
 with

00:50:03.279 --> 00:50:03.460
 them.

00:50:04.039 --> 00:50:04.139
 And

00:50:04.139 --> 00:50:04.239
 so

00:50:04.239 --> 00:50:04.400
 this

00:50:04.400 --> 00:50:04.559
 week

00:50:04.559 --> 00:50:04.739
 my

00:50:04.739 --> 00:50:05.059
 office

00:50:05.059 --> 00:50:05.340
 was

00:50:05.340 --> 00:50:05.619
 this

00:50:05.619 --> 00:50:06.299
 classroom

00:50:06.299 --> 00:50:06.659
 filled

00:50:06.659 --> 00:50:06.840
 with

00:50:06.840 --> 00:50:07.019
 two

00:50:07.019 --> 00:50:07.159
 year

00:50:07.159 --> 00:50:07.319
 old

00:50:07.319 --> 00:50:07.699
 toddlers.

00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:10.179
 And

00:50:10.179 --> 00:50:10.880
 there

00:50:10.880 --> 00:50:11.000
 was

00:50:11.000 --> 00:50:11.259
 one

00:50:11.259 --> 00:50:11.539
 scene

00:50:11.539 --> 00:50:11.980
 in

00:50:11.980 --> 00:50:12.139
 the

00:50:12.139 --> 00:50:12.380
 space

00:50:12.380 --> 00:50:12.539
 of

00:50:12.539 --> 00:50:13.019
 15

00:50:13.019 --> 00:50:13.360
 minutes

00:50:13.360 --> 00:50:14.699
 I

00:50:14.699 --> 00:50:14.940
 witnessed

00:50:14.940 --> 00:50:15.480
 three

00:50:15.480 --> 00:50:15.780
 different

00:50:15.780 --> 00:50:16.119
 kids

00:50:16.119 --> 00:50:17.500
 slap

00:50:17.500 --> 00:50:18.099
 each

00:50:18.099 --> 00:50:18.260
 other

00:50:18.260 --> 00:50:18.480
 around

00:50:18.480 --> 00:50:18.619
 the

00:50:18.619 --> 00:50:18.940
 face.

00:50:20.539 --> 00:50:21.099
 Literally

00:50:21.099 --> 00:50:21.860
 no

00:50:21.860 --> 00:50:22.240
 reason.

00:50:23.119 --> 00:50:23.639
 Unsolicited.

00:50:24.179 --> 00:50:24.659
 Literally

00:50:24.659 --> 00:50:25.260
 because they

00:50:25.260 --> 00:50:25.760
 felt like

00:50:25.760 --> 00:50:25.940
 it.

00:50:27.460 --> 00:50:28.119
 And I

00:50:28.119 --> 00:50:28.240
 said

00:50:28.240 --> 00:50:28.780
 wow.

00:50:30.219 --> 00:50:30.760
 And

00:50:30.760 --> 00:50:31.000
 then of

00:50:31.000 --> 00:50:31.159
 course

00:50:31.159 --> 00:50:31.659
 once one

00:50:31.659 --> 00:50:31.920
 gets

00:50:31.920 --> 00:50:32.280
 slapped

00:50:32.280 --> 00:50:32.460
 the

00:50:32.460 --> 00:50:32.659
 other

00:50:32.659 --> 00:50:32.980
 stands

00:50:32.980 --> 00:50:33.280
 up

00:50:33.280 --> 00:50:34.599
 and

00:50:34.599 --> 00:50:34.740
 then

00:50:34.740 --> 00:50:35.000
 turns

00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:35.320
 around

00:50:35.320 --> 00:50:35.500
 and

00:50:35.500 --> 00:50:36.000
 tries

00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:36.159
 to

00:50:36.159 --> 00:50:36.340
 slap

00:50:36.340 --> 00:50:36.480
 them

00:50:36.480 --> 00:50:36.800
 back.

00:50:38.500 --> 00:50:39.019
 Right?

00:50:39.019 --> 00:50:41.199
 And

00:50:41.199 --> 00:50:41.440
 then I

00:50:41.440 --> 00:50:41.840
 sat

00:50:41.840 --> 00:50:42.139
 there

00:50:42.139 --> 00:50:42.719
 as I

00:50:42.719 --> 00:50:42.820
 was

00:50:42.820 --> 00:50:43.039
 reading

00:50:43.039 --> 00:50:43.179
 the

00:50:43.179 --> 00:50:43.420
 BBC

00:50:43.420 --> 00:50:43.880
 news

00:50:43.880 --> 00:50:45.340
 and I

00:50:45.340 --> 00:50:45.420
 was

00:50:45.420 --> 00:50:45.539
 like

00:50:45.539 --> 00:50:45.759
 oh

00:50:45.759 --> 00:50:46.659
 this

00:50:46.659 --> 00:50:47.039
 classroom

00:50:47.039 --> 00:50:47.239
 looks

00:50:47.239 --> 00:50:47.579
 exactly

00:50:47.579 --> 00:50:48.500
 the same

00:50:48.500 --> 00:50:48.739
 as the

00:50:48.739 --> 00:50:48.920
 world

00:50:48.920 --> 00:50:49.199
 leaders

00:50:49.199 --> 00:50:49.440
 that we

00:50:49.440 --> 00:50:49.679
 have

00:50:49.679 --> 00:50:50.599
 right

00:50:50.599 --> 00:50:50.860
 now.

00:50:52.139 --> 00:50:52.619
 I'm

00:50:52.619 --> 00:50:53.019
 sat in

00:50:53.019 --> 00:50:53.579
 the same

00:50:53.579 --> 00:50:54.480
 place

00:50:54.480 --> 00:50:55.639
 watching

00:50:55.639 --> 00:50:56.199
 the same

00:50:56.199 --> 00:50:56.599
 things

00:50:56.599 --> 00:50:58.039
 happen.

00:50:59.400 --> 00:51:00.059
 And the

00:51:00.059 --> 00:51:00.300
 fellowship

00:51:00.300 --> 00:51:00.639
 has been

00:51:00.639 --> 00:51:01.139
 going through

00:51:01.139 --> 00:51:02.360
 the book

00:51:02.360 --> 00:51:02.500
 of

00:51:02.500 --> 00:51:02.759
 Genesis

00:51:02.760 --> 00:51:03.700
 and you

00:51:03.700 --> 00:51:04.060
 see from

00:51:04.060 --> 00:51:04.500
 the very

00:51:04.500 --> 00:51:04.840
 beginning

00:51:04.840 --> 00:51:05.620
 people

00:51:05.620 --> 00:51:05.880
 just

00:51:05.880 --> 00:51:06.380
 fighting

00:51:06.380 --> 00:51:07.620
 constantly.

00:51:10.640 --> 00:51:11.260
 The world

00:51:11.260 --> 00:51:11.520
 is in

00:51:11.520 --> 00:51:11.880
 deep need

00:51:11.880 --> 00:51:12.100
 of a

00:51:12.100 --> 00:51:12.280
 different

00:51:12.280 --> 00:51:12.620
 message.

00:51:13.820 --> 00:51:14.120
 And what

00:51:14.120 --> 00:51:14.380
 is that

00:51:14.380 --> 00:51:14.640
 message?

00:51:14.720 --> 00:51:15.160
 That message

00:51:15.160 --> 00:51:15.500
 is that

00:51:15.500 --> 00:51:15.840
 would we

00:51:15.840 --> 00:51:16.220
 turn the

00:51:16.220 --> 00:51:16.380
 other

00:51:16.380 --> 00:51:16.620
 cheek?

00:51:18.660 --> 00:51:19.120
 That

00:51:19.120 --> 00:51:19.360
 message

00:51:19.360 --> 00:51:19.720
 doesn't

00:51:19.720 --> 00:51:20.060
 feel

00:51:20.060 --> 00:51:20.480
 comfortable.

00:51:21.640 --> 00:51:21.920
 That

00:51:21.920 --> 00:51:22.200
 message

00:51:22.200 --> 00:51:22.660
 will often

00:51:22.660 --> 00:51:23.080
 lead to

00:51:23.080 --> 00:51:23.340
 our

00:51:23.340 --> 00:51:23.600
 pain.

00:51:25.660 --> 00:51:26.260
 But I

00:51:26.260 --> 00:51:26.480
 find

00:51:26.480 --> 00:51:26.760
 comfort

00:51:26.760 --> 00:51:27.020
 and I

00:51:27.020 --> 00:51:27.280
 pray that

00:51:27.280 --> 00:51:27.580
 you will

00:51:27.580 --> 00:51:27.760
 find

00:51:27.760 --> 00:51:28.160
 comfort

00:51:28.160 --> 00:51:29.220
 in the

00:51:29.220 --> 00:51:29.580
 one we

00:51:29.580 --> 00:51:30.000
 professed

00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:30.100
 to

00:51:30.100 --> 00:51:30.340
 follow

00:51:30.340 --> 00:51:32.000
 went

00:51:32.000 --> 00:51:32.160
 through

00:51:32.160 --> 00:51:32.320
 that

00:51:32.320 --> 00:51:32.520
 pain

00:51:32.519 --> 00:51:32.840
 and suffered

00:51:32.840 --> 00:51:33.059
 that

00:51:33.059 --> 00:51:33.360
 pain

00:51:33.360 --> 00:51:34.739
 for us.

00:51:35.159 --> 00:51:35.599
 Knowing

00:51:35.599 --> 00:51:35.820
 that

00:51:35.820 --> 00:51:36.280
 whatever

00:51:36.280 --> 00:51:36.619
 can

00:51:36.619 --> 00:51:36.880
 happen

00:51:36.880 --> 00:51:37.079
 to

00:51:37.079 --> 00:51:37.199
 us

00:51:37.199 --> 00:51:37.380
 in

00:51:37.380 --> 00:51:37.639
 this

00:51:37.639 --> 00:51:37.940
 side

00:51:37.940 --> 00:51:38.059
 of

00:51:38.059 --> 00:51:38.460
 eternity

00:51:38.460 --> 00:51:39.139
 remains

00:51:39.139 --> 00:51:39.320
 on

00:51:39.320 --> 00:51:39.539
 this

00:51:39.539 --> 00:51:39.759
 side

00:51:39.759 --> 00:51:40.079
 but there

00:51:40.079 --> 00:51:40.239
 is

00:51:40.239 --> 00:51:40.480
 something

00:51:40.480 --> 00:51:40.659
 that

00:51:40.659 --> 00:51:40.800
 is

00:51:40.800 --> 00:51:41.059
 far

00:51:41.059 --> 00:51:41.400
 greater

00:51:41.400 --> 00:51:41.960
 that

00:51:41.960 --> 00:51:42.280
 awaits

00:51:42.280 --> 00:51:43.139
 all

00:51:43.139 --> 00:51:43.259
 of

00:51:43.259 --> 00:51:43.500
 us.

00:51:45.460 --> 00:51:46.000
 Would

00:51:46.000 --> 00:51:46.239
 we

00:51:46.239 --> 00:51:46.659
 commit

00:51:46.659 --> 00:51:46.980
 to

00:51:46.980 --> 00:51:47.280
 having

00:51:47.280 --> 00:51:47.500
 the

00:51:47.500 --> 00:51:47.780
 posture

00:51:47.780 --> 00:51:48.019
 of

00:51:48.019 --> 00:51:48.460
 resolve

00:51:48.460 --> 00:51:49.480
 like

00:51:49.480 --> 00:51:49.659
 Paul?

00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:50.320
 Would

00:51:50.320 --> 00:51:50.500
 we

00:51:50.500 --> 00:51:50.800
 commit

00:51:50.800 --> 00:51:50.940
 to

00:51:50.940 --> 00:51:51.119
 having

00:51:51.119 --> 00:51:51.300
 the

00:51:51.300 --> 00:51:51.639
 posture

00:51:51.639 --> 00:51:53.000
 of

00:51:53.000 --> 00:51:53.440
 humility

00:51:53.440 --> 00:51:54.039
 and

00:51:54.039 --> 00:51:54.340
 care

00:51:54.340 --> 00:51:54.679
 like

00:51:54.679 --> 00:51:54.840
 his

00:51:54.840 --> 00:51:55.099
 friends?

00:51:55.219 --> 00:51:55.320
 Would

00:51:55.320 --> 00:51:55.559
 we

00:51:55.559 --> 00:51:56.059
 commit

00:51:56.059 --> 00:51:56.219
 to

00:51:56.219 --> 00:51:56.460
 having

00:51:56.460 --> 00:51:56.759
 the

00:51:56.759 --> 00:51:57.059
 posture

00:51:57.059 --> 00:51:57.900
 to

00:51:57.900 --> 00:51:58.300
 be

00:51:58.300 --> 00:51:58.699
 there

00:51:58.699 --> 00:51:58.980
 for

00:51:58.980 --> 00:51:59.179
 each

00:51:59.179 --> 00:51:59.360
 other

00:51:59.360 --> 00:51:59.539
 to

00:51:59.539 --> 00:51:59.900
 sit

00:51:59.900 --> 00:52:00.119
 with

00:52:00.119 --> 00:52:00.320
 each

00:52:00.320 --> 00:52:00.559
 other

00:52:00.559 --> 00:52:01.019
 in

00:52:01.019 --> 00:52:01.739
 the

00:52:01.739 --> 00:52:02.380
 mud?

00:52:03.900 --> 00:52:04.300
 My

00:52:04.300 --> 00:52:04.599
 final

00:52:04.599 --> 00:52:04.840
 thing

00:52:04.840 --> 00:52:06.119
 that

00:52:06.119 --> 00:52:06.219
 I

00:52:06.219 --> 00:52:06.360
 was

00:52:06.360 --> 00:52:06.599
 blessed

00:52:06.599 --> 00:52:06.840
 with

00:52:06.840 --> 00:52:07.460
 today

00:52:07.460 --> 00:52:08.279
 was

00:52:08.279 --> 00:52:10.079
 before

00:52:10.079 --> 00:52:10.259
 this

00:52:10.259 --> 00:52:10.500
 message

00:52:10.500 --> 00:52:10.699
 before

00:52:10.699 --> 00:52:10.900
 this

00:52:10.900 --> 00:52:11.179
 service

00:52:11.179 --> 00:52:11.659
 my head

00:52:11.659 --> 00:52:11.880
 was all

00:52:11.880 --> 00:52:12.159
 over the

00:52:12.159 --> 00:52:12.420
 place

00:52:12.420 --> 00:52:12.679
 and I

00:52:12.679 --> 00:52:13.119
 needed a

00:52:13.119 --> 00:52:13.300
 little

00:52:13.300 --> 00:52:13.559
 place

00:52:13.559 --> 00:52:13.920
 to sit

00:52:13.920 --> 00:52:15.239
 I sat

00:52:15.239 --> 00:52:15.519
 down

00:52:15.519 --> 00:52:16.420
 and as

00:52:16.420 --> 00:52:16.960
 most of

00:52:16.960 --> 00:52:17.579
 us do

00:52:17.579 --> 00:52:17.960
 when we

00:52:17.960 --> 00:52:18.340
 sit down

00:52:18.340 --> 00:52:18.900
 wanting to

00:52:18.900 --> 00:52:19.420
 focus on

00:52:19.420 --> 00:52:19.619
 God

00:52:19.619 --> 00:52:20.219
 the next

00:52:20.219 --> 00:52:20.460
 thing that

00:52:20.460 --> 00:52:20.719
 we do

00:52:20.719 --> 00:52:20.940
 is that

00:52:20.940 --> 00:52:21.300
 we open

00:52:21.300 --> 00:52:21.559
 up our

00:52:21.559 --> 00:52:21.820
 WhatsApp

00:52:21.820 --> 00:52:22.019
 up

00:52:22.019 --> 00:52:25.059
 you guys

00:52:25.059 --> 00:52:25.200
 don't

00:52:25.200 --> 00:52:25.480
 do that

00:52:25.480 --> 00:52:25.880
 you guys

00:52:25.880 --> 00:52:26.180
 go straight

00:52:26.180 --> 00:52:26.400
 to the

00:52:26.400 --> 00:52:26.580
 Bible

00:52:26.580 --> 00:52:27.300
 okay

00:52:27.300 --> 00:52:27.680
 all right

00:52:27.680 --> 00:52:28.000
 cool

00:52:28.000 --> 00:52:30.280
 so I

00:52:30.280 --> 00:52:30.580
 opened up

00:52:30.580 --> 00:52:30.960
 my WhatsApp

00:52:30.960 --> 00:52:31.340
 and I

00:52:31.340 --> 00:52:31.580
 was like

00:52:31.580 --> 00:52:33.240
 procrastinate

00:52:33.240 --> 00:52:33.880
 for two

00:52:33.880 --> 00:52:34.140
 minutes

00:52:34.140 --> 00:52:34.559
 just to

00:52:34.559 --> 00:52:34.880
 make sure

00:52:34.880 --> 00:52:35.420
 everything's

00:52:35.420 --> 00:52:35.800
 set before

00:52:35.800 --> 00:52:36.320
 I spend

00:52:36.320 --> 00:52:36.640
 time with

00:52:36.640 --> 00:52:36.780
 God

00:52:36.780 --> 00:52:37.360
 I

00:52:37.360 --> 00:52:37.700
 opened it

00:52:37.700 --> 00:52:37.940
 up and

00:52:37.940 --> 00:52:38.080
 this

00:52:38.080 --> 00:52:38.660
 WhatsApp

00:52:38.660 --> 00:52:39.080
 group

00:52:39.080 --> 00:52:39.380
 that we

00:52:39.380 --> 00:52:39.580
 have

00:52:39.580 --> 00:52:40.420
 is called

00:52:40.420 --> 00:52:40.740
 Scripture

00:52:40.740 --> 00:52:41.080
 Club

00:52:41.080 --> 00:52:42.240
 2.0

00:52:42.240 --> 00:52:44.340
 led by

00:52:44.340 --> 00:52:44.760
 our dear

00:52:44.760 --> 00:52:45.120
 Paul

00:52:45.120 --> 00:52:46.280
 over here

00:52:46.280 --> 00:52:47.940
 and I

00:52:47.940 --> 00:52:48.320
 was inspired

00:52:48.320 --> 00:52:48.519
 in that

00:52:48.519 --> 00:52:48.640
 moment

00:52:48.640 --> 00:52:48.900
 just to

00:52:48.900 --> 00:52:49.300
 open it

00:52:49.300 --> 00:52:49.559
 to have

00:52:49.559 --> 00:52:49.780
 a look

00:52:49.780 --> 00:52:50.039
 again

00:52:50.039 --> 00:52:50.720
 and

00:52:50.719 --> 00:52:52.179
 so what

00:52:52.179 --> 00:52:53.039
 we do

00:52:53.039 --> 00:52:53.299
 and how

00:52:53.299 --> 00:52:53.739
 Paul leads

00:52:53.739 --> 00:52:54.299
 us is that

00:52:54.299 --> 00:52:54.899
 we pick a

00:52:54.899 --> 00:52:55.379
 Bible verse

00:52:55.379 --> 00:52:56.019
 to memorize

00:52:56.019 --> 00:52:56.519
 each week

00:52:56.519 --> 00:52:57.739
 and then we

00:52:57.739 --> 00:52:58.980
 just try and

00:52:58.980 --> 00:52:59.419
 memorize it

00:52:59.419 --> 00:53:00.039
 and then we

00:53:00.039 --> 00:53:00.500
 actually voice

00:53:00.500 --> 00:53:00.899
 record it

00:53:00.899 --> 00:53:01.219
 into the

00:53:01.219 --> 00:53:01.399
 group

00:53:01.399 --> 00:53:03.259
 and I

00:53:03.259 --> 00:53:03.480
 don't do

00:53:03.480 --> 00:53:03.779
 this every

00:53:03.779 --> 00:53:04.000
 week

00:53:04.000 --> 00:53:04.179
 Paul

00:53:04.179 --> 00:53:05.259
 but this

00:53:05.259 --> 00:53:05.500
 week I

00:53:05.500 --> 00:53:06.000
 just played

00:53:06.000 --> 00:53:06.379
 your one

00:53:06.379 --> 00:53:07.559
 for two

00:53:07.559 --> 00:53:07.879
 minutes

00:53:07.879 --> 00:53:10.399
 he's

00:53:10.399 --> 00:53:10.759
 memorized

00:53:10.759 --> 00:53:11.099
 Matthew

00:53:11.099 --> 00:53:11.739
 chapter 5

00:53:11.739 --> 00:53:12.119
 verse 1

00:53:12.119 --> 00:53:12.559
 to 24

00:53:12.559 --> 00:53:13.039
 and he's

00:53:13.039 --> 00:53:13.500
 just practicing

00:53:13.500 --> 00:53:14.199
 and you

00:53:14.199 --> 00:53:14.559
 hear him

00:53:14.559 --> 00:53:14.899
 just doing

00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:15.000
 it

00:53:15.000 --> 00:53:16.279
 and I

00:53:16.279 --> 00:53:16.959
 share it

00:53:16.959 --> 00:53:17.239
 not to

00:53:17.239 --> 00:53:17.579
 puff him

00:53:17.579 --> 00:53:17.759
 up

00:53:17.759 --> 00:53:18.159
 because his

00:53:18.159 --> 00:53:18.659
 ego is

00:53:18.659 --> 00:53:18.859
 already

00:53:18.859 --> 00:53:19.219
 big enough

00:53:19.219 --> 00:53:19.419
 and his

00:53:19.419 --> 00:53:19.599
 head's

00:53:19.599 --> 00:53:19.899
 big enough

00:53:19.900 --> 00:53:22.740
 but it

00:53:22.740 --> 00:53:23.240
 blessed me

00:53:23.240 --> 00:53:23.740
 so much

00:53:23.740 --> 00:53:24.440
 this morning

00:53:24.440 --> 00:53:25.860
 because he

00:53:25.860 --> 00:53:26.680
 recited through

00:53:26.680 --> 00:53:27.880
 a sermon

00:53:27.880 --> 00:53:30.079
 the most

00:53:30.079 --> 00:53:30.400
 powerful

00:53:30.400 --> 00:53:30.780
 sermon

00:53:30.780 --> 00:53:32.639
 in the book

00:53:32.639 --> 00:53:33.039
 of Matthew

00:53:33.039 --> 00:53:34.400
 chapter 5

00:53:34.400 --> 00:53:35.840
 and he lists

00:53:35.840 --> 00:53:36.639
 the Beatitudes

00:53:36.639 --> 00:53:37.500
 and it finishes

00:53:37.500 --> 00:53:37.800
 with

00:53:37.800 --> 00:53:38.380
 blessed are

00:53:38.380 --> 00:53:38.840
 those who

00:53:38.840 --> 00:53:39.580
 are persecuted

00:53:39.580 --> 00:53:40.280
 for righteousness

00:53:40.280 --> 00:53:40.720
 sake

00:53:40.720 --> 00:53:41.280
 for theirs

00:53:41.280 --> 00:53:41.560
 is the

00:53:41.560 --> 00:53:41.800
 kingdom

00:53:41.800 --> 00:53:42.220
 of heaven

00:53:42.220 --> 00:53:42.980
 blessed

00:53:42.980 --> 00:53:43.440
 are you

00:53:43.440 --> 00:53:43.900
 when others

00:53:43.900 --> 00:53:44.539
 revile you

00:53:44.539 --> 00:53:45.280
 and persecute

00:53:45.280 --> 00:53:45.800
 you and utter

00:53:45.800 --> 00:53:46.460
 all kinds

00:53:46.460 --> 00:53:46.920
 of evil

00:53:46.920 --> 00:53:47.500
 against you

00:53:47.500 --> 00:53:48.039
 falsely

00:53:48.039 --> 00:53:49.080
 on my

00:53:49.080 --> 00:53:49.740
 account

00:53:49.740 --> 00:53:50.240
 rejoice

00:53:50.240 --> 00:53:51.420
 and be

00:53:51.420 --> 00:53:51.660
 glad

00:53:51.660 --> 00:53:53.820
 for your

00:53:53.820 --> 00:53:54.380
 reward is

00:53:54.380 --> 00:53:54.780
 great in

00:53:54.780 --> 00:53:55.019
 heaven

00:53:55.019 --> 00:53:55.539
 for so

00:53:55.539 --> 00:53:56.260
 they persecuted

00:53:56.260 --> 00:53:56.860
 the prophets

00:53:56.860 --> 00:53:58.080
 who were

00:53:58.080 --> 00:53:58.680
 before you

00:53:58.679 --> 00:54:00.619
 Jesus

00:54:00.619 --> 00:54:00.879
 says

00:54:00.879 --> 00:54:01.299
 those of

00:54:01.299 --> 00:54:01.440
 us

00:54:01.440 --> 00:54:01.579
 who

00:54:01.579 --> 00:54:01.919
 step

00:54:01.919 --> 00:54:02.359
 out

00:54:02.359 --> 00:54:03.719
 to share

00:54:03.719 --> 00:54:04.079
 the good

00:54:04.079 --> 00:54:04.379
 news

00:54:04.379 --> 00:54:04.839
 to turn

00:54:04.839 --> 00:54:05.239
 the other

00:54:05.239 --> 00:54:05.599
 cheek

00:54:05.599 --> 00:54:06.039
 and to

00:54:06.039 --> 00:54:06.480
 sit in

00:54:06.480 --> 00:54:06.819
 the mud

00:54:06.819 --> 00:54:07.440
 with those

00:54:07.440 --> 00:54:08.219
 who are in

00:54:08.219 --> 00:54:08.839
 need of a

00:54:08.839 --> 00:54:09.179
 saviour

00:54:09.179 --> 00:54:10.399
 blessed are

00:54:10.399 --> 00:54:10.599
 you

00:54:10.599 --> 00:54:15.099
 you talk about

00:54:15.099 --> 00:54:15.379
 all the

00:54:15.379 --> 00:54:16.019
 martyrs and all

00:54:16.019 --> 00:54:16.539
 those who are

00:54:16.539 --> 00:54:16.960
 imprisoned

00:54:16.960 --> 00:54:18.000
 they're not

00:54:18.000 --> 00:54:18.599
 doing it just

00:54:18.599 --> 00:54:19.019
 to cause

00:54:19.019 --> 00:54:19.399
 themselves

00:54:19.399 --> 00:54:19.819
 pain

00:54:19.819 --> 00:54:20.539
 because they

00:54:20.539 --> 00:54:21.099
 love pain

00:54:21.099 --> 00:54:24.319
 they do it

00:54:24.319 --> 00:54:24.639
 because they

00:54:24.639 --> 00:54:25.239
 see a glory

00:54:25.239 --> 00:54:26.000
 that far

00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:26.599
 outweighs

00:54:26.599 --> 00:54:26.980
 the pain

00:54:26.980 --> 00:54:29.719
 they're

00:54:29.719 --> 00:54:30.179
 experiencing

00:54:30.179 --> 00:54:30.860
 a love

00:54:30.860 --> 00:54:31.619
 that far

00:54:31.619 --> 00:54:32.259
 outweighs

00:54:32.259 --> 00:54:33.380
 the hurt

00:54:33.380 --> 00:54:35.319
 a love

00:54:35.319 --> 00:54:35.699
 that covers

00:54:35.699 --> 00:54:36.079
 a multitude

00:54:36.079 --> 00:54:36.699
 of sins

00:54:36.699 --> 00:54:37.659
 a love

00:54:37.659 --> 00:54:38.159
 that drives

00:54:38.159 --> 00:54:38.839
 out fear

00:54:38.839 --> 00:54:42.599
 there's a

00:54:42.599 --> 00:54:42.980
 new way

00:54:42.980 --> 00:54:43.679
 to live

00:54:43.679 --> 00:54:45.360
 and it's

00:54:45.360 --> 00:54:45.679
 the Jesus

00:54:45.679 --> 00:54:45.940
 way

00:54:45.940 --> 00:54:49.460
 would we

00:54:49.460 --> 00:54:50.159
 step out

00:54:50.159 --> 00:54:50.480
 of here

00:54:50.480 --> 00:54:51.300
 and be

00:54:51.300 --> 00:54:51.820
 committed to

00:54:51.820 --> 00:54:52.159
 following

00:54:52.159 --> 00:54:52.840
 the ways

00:54:52.840 --> 00:54:53.460
 of Jesus

00:54:53.460 --> 00:54:55.940
 regardless of

00:54:55.940 --> 00:54:57.000
 response

00:54:57.000 --> 00:54:57.860
 regardless of

00:54:57.860 --> 00:54:58.159
 outcome

00:54:58.159 --> 00:54:58.860
 regardless of

00:54:58.860 --> 00:54:59.380
 consequence

00:54:59.380 --> 00:55:01.679
 let us pray

00:55:20.480 --> 00:55:26.300
 Jesus

00:55:26.300 --> 00:55:26.719
 thank you

00:55:26.719 --> 00:55:27.059
 for

00:55:27.059 --> 00:55:30.559
 the gift

00:55:30.559 --> 00:55:30.980
 of friendship

00:55:30.980 --> 00:55:35.380
 thank you

00:55:35.380 --> 00:55:35.740
 even for

00:55:35.740 --> 00:55:36.059
 the gift

00:55:36.059 --> 00:55:36.559
 of suffering

00:55:36.559 --> 00:55:38.219
 when it is

00:55:38.219 --> 00:55:38.539
 for your

00:55:38.539 --> 00:55:39.059
 namesake

00:55:39.059 --> 00:55:41.659
 when it is

00:55:41.659 --> 00:55:42.000
 for your

00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:42.380
 righteousness

00:55:42.380 --> 00:55:53.059
 Lord would you

00:55:53.059 --> 00:55:53.539
 finish by

00:55:53.539 --> 00:55:54.019
 speaking to

00:55:54.019 --> 00:55:54.900
 each of us

00:55:54.900 --> 00:56:01.099
 would you give us

00:56:01.099 --> 00:56:02.460
 our instructions

00:56:02.460 --> 00:56:03.039
 for where

00:56:03.039 --> 00:56:04.300
 we must go

00:56:04.300 --> 00:56:06.720
 who we must

00:56:06.720 --> 00:56:07.620
 engage with

00:56:07.620 --> 00:56:19.240
 forgive us when we

00:56:19.240 --> 00:56:19.840
 live in fear

00:56:19.840 --> 00:56:20.519
 forgive us when we

00:56:20.519 --> 00:56:21.080
 live in shame

00:56:21.080 --> 00:56:22.580
 forgive us when we

00:56:22.580 --> 00:56:23.260
 live in pride

00:56:23.260 --> 00:56:39.520
 Lord would you show

00:56:39.520 --> 00:56:40.220
 us how to live

00:56:40.220 --> 00:56:41.440
 in a new way

00:56:41.440 --> 00:56:46.840
 in your way

00:56:46.840 --> 00:56:58.240
 yeah thank you

00:56:58.240 --> 00:56:59.079
 Lord thank you

00:56:59.079 --> 00:56:59.660
 Lord that

00:56:59.660 --> 00:57:04.120
 that you died

00:57:04.120 --> 00:57:04.660
 for us

00:57:04.660 --> 00:57:06.539
 and because of

00:57:06.539 --> 00:57:07.340
 that we

00:57:07.340 --> 00:57:10.460
 are able to

00:57:10.460 --> 00:57:11.980
 yeah just

00:57:11.980 --> 00:57:13.320
 be able to share

00:57:13.320 --> 00:57:14.039
 the gospel to

00:57:14.039 --> 00:57:14.600
 others Lord

00:57:14.599 --> 00:57:16.500
 it is a news

00:57:16.500 --> 00:57:17.099
 that is worth

00:57:17.099 --> 00:57:17.799
 sharing Lord

00:57:17.799 --> 00:57:18.739
 one that

00:57:18.739 --> 00:57:22.059
 we can just

00:57:22.059 --> 00:57:22.739
 place above

00:57:22.739 --> 00:57:23.380
 all other

00:57:23.380 --> 00:57:24.099
 things Lord

00:57:24.099 --> 00:57:25.659
 one that we

00:57:25.659 --> 00:57:26.099
 can

00:57:26.099 --> 00:57:30.559
 forego our

00:57:30.559 --> 00:57:31.019
 egos

00:57:31.019 --> 00:57:32.019
 forego our

00:57:32.019 --> 00:57:32.819
 pride

00:57:32.819 --> 00:57:33.159
 our

00:57:33.159 --> 00:57:35.619
 what we

00:57:35.619 --> 00:57:37.599
 are suffering

00:57:37.599 --> 00:57:37.940
 and going

00:57:37.940 --> 00:57:38.460
 through Lord

00:57:38.460 --> 00:57:41.659
 so I just

00:57:41.659 --> 00:57:42.259
 pray that as we

00:57:42.259 --> 00:57:42.940
 go forth this

00:57:42.940 --> 00:57:44.099
 week that we

00:57:44.099 --> 00:57:45.360
 will be able to

00:57:45.360 --> 00:57:48.480
 pick up the

00:57:48.480 --> 00:57:49.259
 opportunities where

00:57:49.259 --> 00:57:50.400
 we get to share

00:57:50.400 --> 00:57:51.139
 the gospel with

00:57:51.139 --> 00:57:51.779
 others Lord

00:57:51.779 --> 00:57:52.699
 may we be

00:57:52.699 --> 00:57:53.839
 obedient may we

00:57:53.839 --> 00:57:57.039
 be responsive to

00:57:57.039 --> 00:57:57.860
 the Holy Spirit

00:57:57.860 --> 00:57:59.079
 to the prompting

00:57:59.079 --> 00:57:59.500
 of you

00:57:59.500 --> 00:58:02.639
 yeah so that we

00:58:02.639 --> 00:58:03.139
 could we can

00:58:03.139 --> 00:58:03.639
 further your

00:58:03.639 --> 00:58:03.940
 kingdom

00:58:03.940 --> 00:58:06.179
 we thank you

00:58:06.179 --> 00:58:06.440
 Lord

00:58:06.440 --> 00:58:07.940
 in Jesus

00:58:07.940 --> 00:58:08.480
 name we pray

00:58:08.480 --> 00:58:09.360
 amen

00:58:09.360 --> 00:58:09.519
 you