WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.240 The pursuit of recognition and acclamation can be found in every walk of life and the church is no exception. 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:25.000 ! I've worked for the church now since I was 21 years old and I was just a few weeks 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.000 ! I was just a few weeks into my first job as a youth worker for a church. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:32.000 And in a church in South Essex. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:42.000 And I was made aware of this reality when I attended a national youth workers conference, 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:45.000 Christian youth workers conference. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:51.000 There were Christian youth workers from all over the country and there were a lot of speakers there 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:57.000 who were quite well known within the UK church, what we might refer to as Christian celebrities. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:12.000 And during a coffee break I didn't seek this out but I found myself sat at a table with a group of these Christian celebrities. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:27.000 And I just listened to them conversing with each other and it quickly became apparent they were, seemed to be jostling over who was going to get the platform at the next major Christian event. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:33.000 And I was like, you know, you might well have the big top at Spring Arvis but I've got the main stage at New Wine kind of thing. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.000 I was shocked. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:36.000 I was shocked. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:37.000 I was really shocked. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.000 But I probably shouldn't have been. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:46.000 Because it exists in every walk of life. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:51.000 It is in our human nature to aspire towards greatness. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:02:05.000 There is something in us, in our human nature that seeks out either power or financial wealth or just simply recognition in this case. 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:19.000 So much so that it didn't actually take long for it to surface among the very first followers of Jesus even during Jesus' time on earth with them. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:23.000 We're not talking here about the early church after Jesus has ascended into the heavens. 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:28.000 Oh no, this was why Jesus was still here with them in the flesh. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:34.000 And that side of human nature begins to surface. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:45.000 The mother of James and John approaches Jesus and says, I want you to give my sons the highest honour in the kingdom. 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:59.000 Interestingly, we don't know for sure, but there is a strong possibility that this lady was actually Jesus' aunt and that James and John were the cousins of Jesus. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:02.000 We don't know that for sure because it's not explicitly stated. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:21.000 But when you put the pieces together of the Gospels, particularly when you look at the descriptions of the crucifixion and you match the names up and you join the dots, it would appear that the mother of James and John is indeed Jesus' aunt. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:30.000 There could be the possibility that what might have been going on here is, well, you know, we're the inner circle here. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.000 We're closer than the rest. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:35.000 This is family, so come on. 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:37.000 We don't know, but it's a possibility. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:41.000 Either way, the human nature remains. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:51.000 Now, we should perhaps note that it's not James and John themselves, but it's their mother that approaches Jesus. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:04:01.000 With this question, although, and we look at the other Gospels and their versions of this story, we find in Mark's version of this story that mum's not involved. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:03.000 It's James and John themselves. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:08.000 Either way, James and John go along with it, and that's the point. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:17.000 Will there be a special place afforded to them in the kingdom? 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:29.000 So the question I think this raises, and this is where this applies to each and every one of us, is this. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:34.000 Can it ever be right to have ambition? 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:41.000 In the Bible, there are two types of ambition. 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:46.000 And clearly there is one of them that we should resist and reject. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:50.000 We could perhaps have up on the screen the first slide. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:55.000 It's got the words here from Philippians chapter 2. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:57.000 Particularly the first part of this reading. 00:04:57.000 --> 00:04:59.000 Philippians 2, verses 3 to 4. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:00.000 Paul writes, 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:12.000 So clearly there is such a thing as ambition that is selfish. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:15.000 And that's to do with vain conceit. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:19.000 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, Paul writes. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:23.000 Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:29.000 Not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others. 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:34.000 So a question might be, when we're coming to think about our own ambitions, 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:42.000 how do we know if our own ambition is, in Paul's words, a selfish ambition or not? 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:48.000 Maybe we might ask ourselves some of the following questions. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.000 Firstly, is our ambition self-seeking? 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:57.000 Or does our ambition serve others? 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:02.000 Does our ambition seek recognition? 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:09.000 Does our own ambition involve any form of manipulation? 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:14.000 Is it fuelled by pride or entitlement? 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:19.000 So there is such a thing as selfish ambition. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:28.000 But even if we are successful in reaching those kind of ambitions, 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:30.000 we need to remember something so important. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:32.000 And it's this. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:42.000 We can be too big for God to use. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:46.000 But you can never be too small for God to use. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:51.000 I'm going to say that again, and then I'm going to invite us to pause and to reflect and to pray. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:07:03.000 Pray with me for one moment. 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:17.000 Lord, forgive us for when we chase after ambitions that are purely for our own selfish pursuits, 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:22.000 when we're self-seeking, for those times when we seek to make ourselves big. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:30.000 But Lord, you know our hearts and you know our minds. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:33.000 You know our motives. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:43.000 Help us always to remember that no matter how, in worldly terms, successful we might become, 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:51.000 the more we choose to lean on our own strength and greatness, 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.000 the more we can squeeze you out. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:02.000 So, Lord, help us to remember that we can become too big, in worldly terms, 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:05.000 to be of use in the kingdom. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:08.000 But we can never be too small. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:18.000 So, help us, Lord, always to have confidence in your strength and not ours. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:23.000 Amen. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:27.000 That's part one. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:32.000 There is such a thing as what Paul describes as selfish ambition. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:35.000 But not all ambition is selfish. 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:41.000 And there is a type of ambition that we find in Scripture that the Bible affirms and indeed, 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:43.000 applauds. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:45.000 Can we have the next slide up? 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.000 And these are words of Jesus. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:48.000 Where Jesus says, 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:53.000 Seek first his, that is God's kingdom, and his righteousness. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:56.000 And all these things will be given to you as well. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:07.000 You see, if ambition is focused not on our own personal aspirations and wanting to be big, 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:10.000 but on the promises of God, it's a different thing. 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:19.000 Indeed, the Bible, the words of Jesus, calls us to get excited about the future that God is promising us. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:26.000 To be expectant, to be ready for it, to search it out, to long for it to break into our lives, 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:31.000 ultimately in eternity, but right here and right now. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:43.000 Such that we are called to lead our lives in such a way that aspires the amazing things that God is going to do in eternity to happen right now. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:51.000 And when we look ahead with that conviction that there's a future kingdom to be excited about, 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:56.000 that we're called to usher in now, when that happens, 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:02.000 then the kind of ambition that we're talking about is one that is God-honouring and God-centred. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.000 One that is servant-hearted. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:11.000 That's what kingdom-focused ambition is about. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:16.000 And it's good, and it's right, and we should all be after it. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:25.000 William Kerry, the Baptist missionary in India, 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:30.000 he was founder of the Baptist Missionary Society in 1792, 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:35.000 that he said this, 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:39.000 Attempt great things for God. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:43.000 Expect great things from God. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:49.000 That's ambition for the kingdom. 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:56.000 In our humanity, we reach out with our God-given gifts to aspire for great things for God. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:05.000 And we, with all of that, expect the strength of the kingdom, of God's promises, 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:08.000 the Holy Spirit in our lives right here and right now. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.000 Attempt great things for God. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.000 Expect great things from God. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:17.000 There was a missionary who was working as a nurse, 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:20.000 or a nurse working as a missionary, however way you want to put it, 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:22.000 many, many years ago. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.000 I don't know exactly where this story comes from. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.000 It doesn't really matter for the purposes of the story. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:30.000 And somebody was visiting the place where this nurse was working, 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:35.000 where she was ministering particularly to those suffering with leprosy. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:45.000 And this visitor watched very carefully as this nurse ministered some very intimate care to this person with leprosy. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:56.000 It involved them getting very close up and doing some procedure that most of us would probably never go near. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:03.000 And this visitor, after the nurse had finished, said, 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:08.000 I wouldn't do that for a million dollars. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:13.000 The nurse replied, 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:17.000 For one million dollars, I wouldn't do it either. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:24.000 Attempt great things for God. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:28.000 Expect great things from God. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:33.000 Now if we go back to James and John and we fast forward to their own stories. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:42.000 As the scriptures unfold, so they tell us that indeed, they did serve out their call. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:45.000 They followed Jesus. 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:51.000 In such a way that reminds us that ambition for the kingdom will represent enormous cost. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:59.000 If you follow Jesus, you will be taken into situations where you will be called to lay things down for Christ. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:04.000 But you will be blessed beyond words or figures. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:11.000 James, one of these two, we're told in Acts chapter 12, was martyred. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:13.000 He was murdered by the sword. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:20.000 His brother, John, who it seems was the only one of the twelve who actually wasn't martyred, 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:29.000 nevertheless would have witnessed the murder of his brother and indeed his other friends as followers of Jesus, 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:35.000 before being exiled for the rest of his life. 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:44.000 So the question that that perhaps leaves with us is what might ambition mean for us? 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:52.000 In what ways are we called to lay down for the sake of Christ in his kingdom and to be ambitious for him? 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:58.000 To attempt great things for God and to expect great things from God? 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:03.000 You know, the great thing about, one of the many wonderful things about the Christian gospel, 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:11.000 is that whatever stage in life you are at, the word ambition can still carry meaning. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:15.000 You can never get to the point in life where actually, 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:19.000 well, I've accomplished this or not accomplished this or whatever throughout my life, 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:22.000 and I've only had a relatively short time left. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:29.000 Because ambition for the kingdom means something so different. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:35.000 See, when we think about ambition to the lens of kingdom, 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:38.000 we ultimately look to that promise of the kingdom that will come in all its fullness, 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:41.000 which Revelation 21 talks about. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:45.000 Where it talks about there will be a kingdom where there is no more dying, 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:49.000 no more sickness, no more pain, no more evil, no more tears. 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:53.000 Where there will be an infinite overflow of everything we could ever need, 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:55.000 and so much more besides. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:15:00.000 Where there will be perfect riches and beauty beyond comprehension. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:06.000 Where there will be perfect peace and harmony, and untold intimacy, 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:10.000 and we'll be lost in wonder, love and praise. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:19.000 Now, those are what might be referred to as the rewards of heaven. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:25.000 They are the undeserved gift of grace that we don't earn, but we are given. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:33.000 But I want to share with you, and we're going to take a little bit of a deep dive theologically here, 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:39.000 but I want to share with you, I suppose, some of my own wrestling with this question, 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:46.000 how do we make sense of what Jesus appeared to imply when he spoke of rewards in heaven? 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:51.000 I don't know about you, but that's something that over the years I've wrestled with, 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.000 and tried to make sense of. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:59.000 How on the one hand can we talk of heaven as the free gift of God's grace, 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:06.000 and yet at the same time live with conviction that Jesus promises great rewards for those in heaven? 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:09.000 Great will be your reward in heaven, he says. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:17.000 And in Matthew 16, he says that each will be rewarded according to what each has done. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:29.000 Does that imply that there will actually be reward in heaven that is somehow, it varies depending on the kind of life that you have led? 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:35.000 And how does that fit with the parable of the vineyard, the workers in the vineyard, 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:42.000 that Jesus spoke of when he described that there were workers and the same came and worked for all day, 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:46.000 some worked for half a day and some worked for the last hour or so, 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:51.000 and yet when it came to the end of the day and the master came to the vineyard, 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:54.000 everybody was given the same pay. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:57.000 How does that square? 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:01.000 What about somebody who has served Christ faithfully all their lives? 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:05.000 Somebody who may have actually been martyred for their faith, 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:09.000 compared with somebody who just becomes a Christian in the last five minutes. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:11.000 How do we make sense of that? 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:14.000 I'm not going to pretend there's easy answers, 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:24.000 and what I'm about to share with you, I must frame around this introduction to say that it is what we might call speculative theology. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.000 Okay? 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:31.000 Sometimes there are certain mysteries that we can't prove or disprove this side of eternity, 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:37.000 we can only be guided by scripture, but even then scripture leaves a certain gap of mystery, 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:43.000 within which we can speculate so long as we are careful in that speculation, 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:45.000 and we are honest with ourselves and with others and to say, 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:52.000 well, scripture doesn't directly say this, but perhaps there is room within scripture to speculate this. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:58.000 So what I'm about to share with you comes with that in mind. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:03.000 But it comes from one of my favourite theologians in the world at the moment, 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:16.000 a guy called James Bilby, who shares an image, and this idea that when we think about the reward in heaven, 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.000 we're talking about two things. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:20.000 Firstly, we were talking about the reward of heaven. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:28.000 This is for everybody, whatever kind of life we have lived, but has been saved, 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:32.000 and we find ourselves in heaven for all eternity. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:38.000 The rewards of heaven is the same in the sense that, you know, there is no more death, 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:41.000 no more dying, no more pain, no more suffering, no more tears, 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:44.000 all of those things that we read of in Revelation 21. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:47.000 That's the reward of heaven. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:54.000 But then, there is what Jesus is referring to as rewards in heaven, 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:59.000 when he says that each will be rewarded according to what he has done. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:05.000 Now, how then can we understand those differences? 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:08.000 Well, rather than me try and put it into my own words, 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:11.000 I'm just going to read to you from James Bilby, 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:15.000 because he puts it in a far more articulate way than I ever could. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:18.000 He says this, 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:24.000 When I was a kid, and I heard about the idea of rewards in heaven, 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.000 I combined the idea with Jesus' words, 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:31.000 I go and prepare a place for you, 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:34.000 and assumed that if I was a good Christian, 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:37.000 I would get to live in a mansion in heaven. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:43.000 But if I was not, something I judged to be the more likely scenario, 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:49.000 I would live in a box in somebody's backyard in heaven. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:54.000 Even if we set aside some of the childishness of my imagery, 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:58.000 some object that the state of affairs in which there are some 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:03.000 who receive a greater reward than others in heaven is problematic. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:12.000 Would not those with less reward eventually come to resent those with the greater reward? 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:20.000 And even if we assume that existence in heaven is compatible with that sort of resentment, 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:29.000 it might still be asked whether the concept of maximal bliss in heaven is compatible with the variable bliss 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:33.000 associated with the idea of rewards in heaven. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:40.000 So here is a way of explaining how the rewards in heaven are dependent on one's earthly deeds, 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:46.000 and how this idea is consistent with our intuitions about the nature of heaven. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.000 He says this, 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:55.000 Let's draw a distinction between the degree of joy and the quantity of joy a person experiences. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:21:00.000 Let me illustrate this with an example. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:06.000 Imagine a person who has never played golf and never really followed the sport, 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:14.000 watching Bubba Watson hit his shot on the second playoff hole in the 2012 Masters. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:19.000 He had hit his drive way right and was in a thick stand of trees, 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:24.000 163 yards from the pin, with no shot at the green. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:33.000 Instead of punching out, he chose to aim to the left, almost 60 degrees off line from a straight path to the green. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:42.000 He shot from his 52 degree wedge hooked 45 yards and ended up on the green, only 15 feet from the pin. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:48.000 Even a golf novice would have to be impressed with such a shot. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:57.000 If you asked them to rate the impressiveness of the shot on a scale of one to 100, they would undoubtedly rate it at 100. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:03.000 In other words, their degree of appreciation for the shot would be maximal. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:10.000 Now compare that person's experience with my own experience watching the same shot. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:18.000 I have golfed for much of my life and have spent hours at the driving range trying to control shots like that. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:26.000 Because of my experience playing the game, I know that Watson's shot was not only amazing, it was borderline miraculous. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:35.000 My degree of appreciation for that shot, like that of the golf novice, is maximal. 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:37.000 I'd rate it 100. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:48.000 But I submit that my quantity of appreciation for the shot exceeds the golf novices by many orders of magnitude. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:57.000 Now, if golf examples don't work for you, imagine the appreciation of hearing a Stradivaris by a world class concert violinist, 00:22:57.000 --> 00:23:00.000 compared to one who has never even heard a violin. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:08.000 Or a Jimi Hendrix guitar solo by an accomplished guitarist, compared to one who has never picked up a guitar. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:17.000 Similarly, he goes on to say, similarly, while every person's degree of joy in heaven will be the same, 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:26.000 the quantity of joy will be much, much greater for those who have spent their life following Christ. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:32.000 Further, this difference will be a purely subjective internal one, 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:39.000 and therefore, even if resentment was possible in heaven, there will be nothing to resent. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:44.000 For the differences in experiences would not be discernible. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:51.000 Consequently, one of the reasons why this life matters is because our experiences in heaven 00:23:51.000 --> 00:24:01.000 will be a function of, an extension of, our decisions and behaviours in this life. 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:12.000 Now, if you're still with me, what Bilby is saying there is that it's not that we earn our way into heaven. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:16.000 Of course we don't. It's a free gift of God that is undeserved. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:21.000 But the more we engage our ambition with the vision of heaven, 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:27.000 the more will be our capacity to appreciate and know the love of Jesus, 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:34.000 such that you will not be greater than somebody else because salvation is an equal free gift. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:46.000 But what you can look towards is that capacity to appreciate the love of Jesus for all eternity, 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:49.000 and the presence of Jesus for all eternity. 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:56.000 And that is something that you can experience and get used to experiencing right now. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:00.000 Attempt great things for God. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:05.000 Expect great things from God. 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:14.000 I'll close by sharing with you just one last thing. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:24.000 And it's a do with a man called John Stott. 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:27.000 Some of you may have heard of him. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:36.000 There's a story that reminds us that spending time with God is indeed the most important thing you can do now. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:40.000 That's the ambition to engage in. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.000 Because John Stott's life, he died a number of years ago now, 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:49.000 but John Stott's life was a real testimony to the greatness of God 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:53.000 and accomplishing great things for God. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:58.000 Attempting great things for God and expecting great things from God. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:06.000 John Stott was arguably one of the most prominent and prolific Christian leaders of the 20th century. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:09.000 He started out quite well. 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:11.000 He had several Cambridge degrees. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:15.000 He ended up eventually with four doctorates and a CBE. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:20.000 He published over 50 books translated into multiple languages worldwide, 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:22.000 which sold in their millions. 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:27.000 The money, however, he put into the charities that he set up, 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:32.000 among them being the Langham Trust, the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:35.000 and the Church of England Evangelical Council. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:41.000 During his lifetime, he spoke to thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:44.000 and led multitudes to Christ. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.000 He was a chaplain to the Queen. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:50.000 He was an advisor to Billy Graham. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:27:01.000 2005 Time Magazine ranked him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:03.000 He said, 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:05.000 towards the end of his life, 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:08.000 John Stott was asked the question, 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:11.000 if you had your time all over again, 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:14.000 what would you do differently? 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:18.000 He said this, 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:24.000 I would pray more. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:29.000 Let's pray. 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.000 Let's pray. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:42.000 Lord, thank you that you call us to be ambitious in a very specific way. 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:47.000 Thank you that you prepare great things for us in heaven, 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.000 that is an eternal reward, 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:52.000 that is nothing to do with our earning, 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:55.000 that is a free, undeserved gift of your grace. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:28:01.000 You call us to engage in expectation now, 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:07.000 and to be connected to that future promise in hope now. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:13.000 Help us, Lord, to give our lives over attempting things for you, 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:16.000 that we may expect great things from you. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:22.000 Lord, in our daily lives, 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:25.000 may we reach out to serve your purposes, 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:29.000 to aspire to great things of your kingdom, 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:35.000 that others may know your love, your peace, and your truth, 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.000 and your hope in their everyday lives. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:45.000 Holy Spirit, continue to move in our lives now, 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.000 and in the time to come. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:52.000 Keep us always ambitious for you, 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:54.000 and for your kingdom. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.000 In Jesus' name. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.000 Amen.