WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:05.100 Well friends, lovely to be with you this morning and how great it is to gather together. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:06.379 Let me just welcome those. 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:11.000 Maybe particularly it's been a good joy this morning just welcoming a few new folks in the building. 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:12.160 It's great to have you with us. 00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:14.339 Thank you so much for coming along. 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:16.140 Let me just welcome those online as well. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:21.120 And let me invite you to grab a Bible and turn back to Revelation chapter 2. 00:00:21.300 --> 00:00:26.120 So last week we finished the first half of Ephesians. 00:00:26.219 --> 00:00:28.560 We've been in Ephesians for the last number of weeks 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:30.219 and I hope that you've been blessed by that. 00:00:30.279 --> 00:00:31.459 You've been challenged by that. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:36.219 We're going to take a little break and return to it at the start of next year. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:41.000 And so we're beginning a series this morning that will take us right up to the beginning of December 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:47.539 and some of the opening few chapters of this epic last book of the Bible called Revelation. 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:51.439 So let me invite you to turn there now and maybe as you're doing that, 00:00:51.519 --> 00:00:56.379 let me tell you about a big life stage moment that our family hit recently. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:57.980 Hit a few months ago. 00:00:57.979 --> 00:01:03.359 Our oldest daughter, who in my head is kind of just fresh out of the womb, only yesterday. 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:06.219 She started in her own words. 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:07.459 She started big school. 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:10.959 Now I've since heard from her that she loves it, right? 00:01:10.979 --> 00:01:14.579 I take her there every day and she's skipping in now, which is great. 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:15.280 She's loving it. 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:21.079 But let me tell you what happened for the first couple of weeks when I asked her how school was going. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:21.780 Right? 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:23.739 I would say to her, darling, how's school going? 00:01:23.739 --> 00:01:26.780 And she'd respond, and I hope I quote her right here. 00:01:27.199 --> 00:01:28.799 She would just say, it's good. 00:01:30.119 --> 00:01:30.359 Okay? 00:01:30.419 --> 00:01:31.099 It's good. 00:01:31.199 --> 00:01:32.539 And every day, it's good. 00:01:33.119 --> 00:01:33.780 It's good. 00:01:33.859 --> 00:01:37.140 And I'm listening to her thinking, I didn't know we had a teenager in the house. 00:01:37.140 --> 00:01:45.680 But I'm listening to her and I'm laughing because I'm thinking to myself, that's exactly the line that I used to spin my parents when I was at school. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:46.799 Right? 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:47.680 It was good. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:48.420 How was school? 00:01:48.540 --> 00:01:49.280 It was good. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:49.799 And do you know what? 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:53.859 I got away with that line up until a point in the school year. 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:57.899 And that point came when it was parents' night. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:01:58.759 Okay? 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:08.479 And I'd be sitting there, remember this, watching and waiting for my bedroom window from behind the curtain, psyching myself up for the moment when I saw my parents' car come into the drive. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:17.979 I'm panicking a bit because I'd realized that they'd actually spoken to the one person who knew how things really were. 00:02:18.239 --> 00:02:18.319 Right? 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:21.859 And sometimes that came back that things weren't always good. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:23.259 Okay? 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:26.399 They'd spoken to the person who knew how things really were. 00:02:26.679 --> 00:02:35.839 And so come with me, if you like, from Scotland in the year 2020 to Asia Minor and what is modern day Turkey in roughly 90 AD. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:45.659 And to the risen Jesus, who beginning at chapter 2 speaks to these seven different local churches. 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:48.280 And if you like, you want to think about it like this. 00:02:48.599 --> 00:03:02.840 In these chapters, he presents each of them with their spiritual report cards of how things are really going, of what he thinks of them concerning their hearts and their lives as they follow him. 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:07.479 Now, before we get to chapter 2, let me just get you up to speed with chapter 1. 00:03:07.979 --> 00:03:10.819 Now, if you've got it there, let's do a quick skim of the text. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:11.159 Okay? 00:03:11.460 --> 00:03:24.819 The apostle John, who was one of Jesus' closest disciples, finds himself as a religious prisoner in this island of Patmos, which is just off the coast of Turkey. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:26.980 You'll get that in verse 9 of chapter 1. 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:36.339 And it's there that John has this glorious vision of who the risen Jesus is. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:38.239 Okay? 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:38.959 Who is he? 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:40.239 Scan your eyes over chapter 1. 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:41.519 What is Jesus? 00:03:41.739 --> 00:03:42.979 Verse 12 onwards. 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:44.019 What is Jesus? 00:03:45.459 --> 00:03:46.539 Eyes like fire. 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:47.719 Check out these descriptions. 00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:48.799 Eyes like fire. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:50.560 Feet like furnished bronze. 00:03:50.959 --> 00:03:52.719 Face shining like the sun. 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:59.919 So here is a guy going into the back of his mind and pulling out every adjective that he can find to describe what he is seeing. 00:04:00.300 --> 00:04:06.599 Realizing that his vocab is limited in trying to describe and convey the glory of what he sees. 00:04:06.699 --> 00:04:07.520 This is Jesus. 00:04:08.900 --> 00:04:09.979 This is Jesus. 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:11.199 The Alpha and the Omega. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:18.319 The Eternal One who holds the keys of death and life in his hands. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:23.699 And here John is trying to describe him in all his transcendent glory. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:26.680 He is the all-powerful Jesus. 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:30.899 And who is Jesus? 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:32.560 See what he writes in verse 5. 00:04:32.699 --> 00:04:35.579 To him who, and get this in your mind, okay? 00:04:35.719 --> 00:04:36.439 And in your heart. 00:04:36.819 --> 00:04:38.219 To him who loves us. 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:43.620 Quite literally the Greek word there, the one who is loving us. 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:44.100 Right? 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:47.159 He's just doing this all the time. 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:48.200 To what standard? 00:04:50.840 --> 00:04:55.000 With the same love that freed us from our sin by his blood. 00:04:55.080 --> 00:04:55.600 Do you see it? 00:04:56.260 --> 00:04:59.180 You want to know the standard of God's enemy loving? 00:04:59.960 --> 00:05:03.260 Sinner pursuing hell rescuing love for us. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:05.300 Friends, look to the cross. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:09.600 He is the one who is loving us. 00:05:11.820 --> 00:05:13.580 And verse 13, where is Jesus? 00:05:13.579 --> 00:05:17.419 He's in the midst of the lampstands. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:17.959 Do you notice that? 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:21.259 Which in Revelation always represents his people. 00:05:22.599 --> 00:05:23.859 He knows them. 00:05:25.459 --> 00:05:26.639 He loves them. 00:05:27.539 --> 00:05:28.740 He's with them. 00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:31.479 And it's this Jesus who speaks to these churches. 00:05:31.659 --> 00:05:34.180 Now, just pause there for a second and ask yourself. 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:37.400 Is this the Jesus that you have in your mind and in your heart? 00:05:38.400 --> 00:05:39.620 Is this who he is? 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:42.019 All transcendent. 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:42.900 All glory. 00:05:43.060 --> 00:05:43.819 All power. 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:46.460 And all loving with his people. 00:05:46.980 --> 00:05:48.000 So important, isn't it? 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.860 That we grasp and know, particularly at a time like this, both of these truths about Jesus. 00:05:52.860 --> 00:05:54.800 This is who he is. 00:05:55.340 --> 00:05:59.720 And he speaks to these churches. 00:05:59.960 --> 00:06:01.060 And you see his first address? 00:06:01.699 --> 00:06:04.500 First up is the church in Ephesus. 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:06.420 Verse 1 of chapter 2. 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:19.160 These believers who find themselves living in this big, wealthy, prestigious, occultic, proud city of Ephesus. 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:22.300 Jesus has two things to say to them. 00:06:22.320 --> 00:06:23.860 And these are maybe our two points for this morning. 00:06:23.960 --> 00:06:26.520 If you're into taking notes, if your mind works like mine. 00:06:27.280 --> 00:06:28.640 Two things he says to them. 00:06:28.700 --> 00:06:29.720 One positive. 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:31.460 Greatly positive. 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:33.040 One concerning. 00:06:33.840 --> 00:06:33.960 Right? 00:06:34.080 --> 00:06:42.740 And as we journey through these today, I hope that we see just how much we have to learn as a local church 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:44.960 as we understand what he's saying to these churches. 00:06:45.060 --> 00:06:45.700 Ready for this? 00:06:46.400 --> 00:06:46.740 Okay. 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:48.120 Here's the first one. 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:49.140 Positively. 00:06:49.960 --> 00:06:52.220 Jesus loves their desires. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:58.360 He loves their desires, their ambitions, what they want to be as a local church. 00:06:59.080 --> 00:07:01.780 And I think two of them kind of crop up in this passage, right? 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:05.240 They have a desire, firstly, in terms of what they believe. 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:10.120 They have a desire to be known as being, I guess, what we would call sound. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:10.900 Right? 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:11.440 Sound. 00:07:11.580 --> 00:07:12.940 They believe the right things. 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:14.920 You see it, verse 2? 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:16.440 Jesus is saying, 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:19.100 I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people. 00:07:19.420 --> 00:07:25.920 That you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them false. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:26.399 Right? 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:27.180 Think of it like this. 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:28.399 That's how I was picturing it this week. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:34.259 You know, my gran lives in a lovely little place called Largs on the west coast of Scotland. 00:07:35.359 --> 00:07:35.599 Right? 00:07:35.599 --> 00:07:41.879 And round about her, I remember every time we go see her, I notice it, that the house is round about her in the place that she lives. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:46.800 It's all these stickers on the doors that say something like, no ID, no entry. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:47.879 Right? 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.560 No ID, no entry. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:08:05.420 So any person coming to the door, right, claiming to be the gas man, claiming to be the electrician, claiming to be a salesman, knows that if they cannot produce the ID that says that they were sent, they ain't getting in the house. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:06.159 Right? 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:07.160 Sensible, isn't it? 00:08:07.840 --> 00:08:08.000 Right? 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:10.480 No ID, no entry. 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:11.700 Prove that you were sent. 00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:19.100 And these believers in Ephesus are being commended here because they're really good at spotting a fake. 00:08:19.760 --> 00:08:19.980 Right? 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:32.080 That when a stranger turns up in their midst, just rocks up and is spouting the latest spiritual nonsense, the new inside track on how to know God and what God is saying, claiming to be an apostle, 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:39.940 that is one just sent from Jesus, these Ephesians are good at holding back and saying, not so fast, son. 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:40.860 Right? 00:08:40.920 --> 00:08:41.780 Not so fast. 00:08:44.060 --> 00:08:47.740 The Nicolaitans get a mention at verse 6. 00:08:47.820 --> 00:08:50.580 I think this is probably how it's specifically playing out in their context. 00:08:50.780 --> 00:08:55.360 Nobody really knows what the Nicolaitans believed or what they were saying. 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:58.220 Probably something to do with the inside track on getting to God. 00:08:58.220 --> 00:09:03.139 And these Ephesians are enduring in the fight. 00:09:03.300 --> 00:09:06.279 They're persevering in the fight of the faith. 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:07.440 And this is costing them. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:11.879 Jesus is commending them that they're always thinking. 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:14.220 They're always willing to go the extra yard mentally. 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:16.360 They're always chewing things over. 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:17.440 They're always testing. 00:09:17.580 --> 00:09:18.720 They're always discerning. 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:24.220 Taking everything that they're hearing and holding it up against Scripture and saying, does this match? 00:09:25.040 --> 00:09:26.120 Does it match? 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:26.620 Right? 00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:28.779 You've had that experience. 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:32.200 Some of you know have got really back into jigsaws during lockdown. 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:32.419 Right? 00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:33.720 Our family have done that as well. 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:34.460 Love a jigsaw. 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:41.860 You know that feeling when somehow another bit of another jigsaw has made its way into the current jigsaw that you're doing. 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:44.620 And you pick it up and you compare it to the picture in the box. 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:46.560 And you say to yourself, this bit doesn't fit. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.500 Something doesn't feel right. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:52.000 That's these Ephesians to a T. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:52.299 Right? 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:52.940 And you've got to see. 00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:55.179 We've got to see that Jesus loves this in them. 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:56.139 Right? 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:57.220 He loves this in them. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:00.700 They have a desire to be sound. 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:01.720 Right? 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:03.059 To be orthodox. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:07.320 And matching that, they've got a desire to be active. 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:08.379 Do you see it in verse 2? 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.039 Jesus says, I know your works. 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:13.000 I see what you do. 00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:15.700 I see the way you serve. 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:16.379 I see it. 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:21.700 And I think we're to conclude that this is a very active bunch of people. 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:24.000 And again, he's commending them for it. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:26.279 And we're encouraged, aren't we? 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:32.279 As we think elsewhere in Scripture, we are encouraged to not grow weary in doing goods. 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:36.699 We are encouraged to serve the Lord with zeal. 00:10:36.959 --> 00:10:42.459 To be known in our communities as people who really care. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:45.879 And we show that by the way that we serve. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:56.879 And I was on a call this week with fellow Christian parents whose kids are at the same school as our eldest daughter. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:57.159 Right? 00:10:57.779 --> 00:11:03.379 We just got together and we just spoke on the Zoom call about how we can serve the school better. 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.980 What are the needs of the school? 00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:06.679 How is the SU group going? 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:10.179 How can we support the teachers there more, particularly the head? 00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:11.620 Right? 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:17.539 How can we be known as people who genuinely love the school and want to serve the community? 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:19.360 Because wouldn't it be a disaster, friends? 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:25.419 If all we did was drop them off at half eight in the morning, went home, came back at three, picked them up and went back home again. 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:26.939 And had nothing to do with the school. 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:35.759 Wouldn't it be awful if the first time that people heard from us was when we perhaps had an issue with something that was being taught at the school? 00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:38.339 The first time they heard from us. 00:11:39.459 --> 00:11:46.479 We want to be known in the area as people who genuinely love to serve our community. 00:11:46.479 --> 00:11:50.179 And someone was on the call and they prayed and I scribbled it down because it was just so good. 00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:56.659 They said, Lord, help us be known for being a people who serve and who care like Jesus for our community. 00:11:57.339 --> 00:11:57.639 Brilliant. 00:11:58.519 --> 00:11:58.859 Brilliant. 00:12:00.939 --> 00:12:05.599 Some of us, perhaps, I don't know, maybe some of us need challenge this morning as we look at these guys. 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:10.639 But how are we serving the church? 00:12:10.859 --> 00:12:13.099 How are we serving our community? 00:12:13.219 --> 00:12:14.699 Are we active as Christians? 00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:18.360 Are we putting our all into serving with zeal? 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:25.920 But here's where I think we begin to see where the chink in the armor is when it comes to this Ephesian church, right? 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:30.320 And the closer you look at it, you realize that it's not a chink in the armor. 00:12:30.420 --> 00:12:33.340 Actually, it's a gaping hole right about the heart. 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:42.980 Jesus uses that word toil or, as we read in the NIV, their perseverance up top at chapter two, verse two, rather. 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:53.060 And the word toil, the clue, I think, is in that that word carries the sense of being busy to the point of exhaustion. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:13:02.120 Okay, so could it be that these believers in Ephesus are so busy, they're so active, 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:07.279 that actually they are in danger of burning themselves out? 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:16.759 Or could it be that they've just got so distracted in keeping church going and doing stuff, 00:13:16.839 --> 00:13:25.879 we can't let it drop, that actually they're in danger of missing the very reason that their church exists in the first place? 00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:31.199 I was trying to picture it this week, going on the Ephesus church website, right? 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:33.159 Just stay with me, it works in my head. 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:35.699 Going on the Ephesus church website, right? 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:39.240 Big picture of Artemis in the background, lovely picture of the sea. 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:42.339 Okay, this is our city, this is Ephesus, right? 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:45.059 And then you'd click on the what's on icon, right? 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:48.379 Which I'm sure some of you did for Brunsfield before you came. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:49.740 What are these guys doing? 00:13:49.839 --> 00:13:50.439 What's going on? 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:52.299 You click on the what's on icon, 00:13:52.839 --> 00:13:56.059 and a hundred different things drop down in the drop down menu. 00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:58.720 Okay, a packed weekday schedule. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.740 This is what we do. 00:14:00.700 --> 00:14:03.360 Monday night Bible study, Tuesday night soup kitchen, 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:06.500 Wednesday morning toddler group, Thursday night prayer meeting, 00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:09.379 culminating in six services on a Sunday. 00:14:09.540 --> 00:14:13.920 Here is a church full of worker aunts, right? 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:14.700 Busy, busy. 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:18.600 Can't stop, can't talk, got a meeting, can't talk, things to do. 00:14:18.660 --> 00:14:21.660 There would be a Zoom call every night with these guys. 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:29.000 You know, one of my favorite stories is from a pastor in the States called Warren Worsby, right? 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:33.139 He tells a story of moving to a new church in the States, renowned for his busyness. 00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:37.059 The locals there used to joke, they said, 00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:40.519 Mary had a little lamb, or perhaps it was a sheep. 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:44.120 It joined the local Baptist church and died from lack of sleep. 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:52.179 How easy is it to be busy, just busy with church? 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.580 And I think here's the danger, and this is what we'll see in just a moment, 00:14:56.679 --> 00:15:03.340 and it's the temptation to draw a straight line between what our outer man is doing 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:07.860 and how our inner man is doing, right? 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:16.860 That we get so caught up in the treadmill of service that our service of Jesus ceases to flow out of a deep love for Jesus. 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:24.659 That we cease to serve having first wholly satisfied our spiritual thirst 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:28.860 because we have drank from the reservoir of his grace. 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:34.300 Friends, Jesus loves their desires. 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:41.620 But his desire is for their love. 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:47.219 He loves their desires, but his desire is for their love. 00:15:47.479 --> 00:15:53.019 Verse 4, and I think these are some of the most humbling words for busy Christians, right? 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:53.719 In all of Scripture. 00:15:55.299 --> 00:16:00.819 Yeah, I hold this against you, that you have forsaken the love that you had at first. 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:08.040 That is to say that the gospel affections, which once in their heart were red hot, 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:13.340 they have dwindled over the years to the point that they are now stone cold. 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:22.700 What once was a fresh flowing stream of a spiritual life is now a mucky, stagnant pond. 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:24.700 Right? 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.480 A love for Jesus. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:28.200 And I take that by extension. 00:16:28.400 --> 00:16:30.560 A love for others, both inside the church. 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:34.720 Brothers and sisters, and those outside the church. 00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:36.640 You turn to 1 Timothy, right? 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:39.940 Written, Paul writing to Timothy, who's the pastor of this church in Ephesus. 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:43.500 How much of the emphasis is on praying for the outsider? 00:16:44.040 --> 00:16:44.879 Praying for the world? 00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.140 Praying for those in authority? 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.140 Loving the widow? 00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:50.960 Loving those who can't care and provide for themselves, right? 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:56.100 And it seems that this church somewhere along the line have stopped doing it. 00:16:57.400 --> 00:17:00.100 Which I guess they might get away with for a while. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:01.780 Okay? 00:17:01.920 --> 00:17:04.259 They might continue on functioning fine. 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:06.880 But give it a generation or two. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:11.600 And this church will likely have completely fizzled out. 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.240 Why? 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:28.200 Because the current generation won't have passed on anything to the next generation other than a list of spiritual jobs that need done. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:29.400 Right? 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.920 You just need to keep this thing going. 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:31.920 Keep it going. 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.839 Bills to pay. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.019 Get on the treadmill. 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.319 And get it done. 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:37.220 Spiritual jobs to be done. 00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:39.299 That's all we pass on to the next generation. 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:47.200 And before we think about the application of this challenge individually, perhaps we need to stop and think about it corporately as a body. 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:48.119 Right? 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.500 Here's the challenge. 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:52.639 Friends, what are we passing on to the next generation? 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:55.799 What are we passing on to them? 00:17:55.899 --> 00:17:56.019 Right? 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:57.460 All these young people. 00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:02.059 Which when I came, you could count them in the one hand, how many we had. 00:18:02.139 --> 00:18:04.259 And now all of a sudden we've got tons of young people. 00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:04.819 Right? 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:09.059 Or whatever generation you are at, the generation underneath you. 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:09.359 Okay? 00:18:09.679 --> 00:18:11.519 Friends, what are we passing on to them? 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:14.519 What do they see in us? 00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:15.019 Right? 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:18.220 What do they see gets us up in the morning as they look at our lives? 00:18:19.139 --> 00:18:23.799 What do they see is the thing that brings us here Sunday after Sunday? 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:35.299 Because surely this passage teaches us that if the answer to that question is anything other than hearts that within them exist, 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:38.519 a sense of awe at our triune God, 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:42.940 a sense of reverence when we come before and consider His holiness, 00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:46.220 a sense of amazement at His grace towards us, 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:51.159 a sense of wonder as we contemplate the love of God for us shown at the cross, 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:55.779 and a sense of joy at the thought of being His child, 00:18:56.060 --> 00:18:58.660 friends, if the answer is anything other than those things, 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:02.660 then there is no guarantee that this church will exist in the future. 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:09.820 It's the number one rule that they tell you when you're running a baton race. 00:19:10.840 --> 00:19:11.000 Right? 00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:17.900 Really simply, what they teach you is that you can't pass on what you don't have. 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.360 Right? 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.900 You can't pass on what you don't have. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:23.980 If you run a relay race with a baton, 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.800 number one rule, 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.300 make sure you get it. 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.380 Number two rule, 00:19:29.560 --> 00:19:30.560 make sure you pass it on. 00:19:31.080 --> 00:19:31.240 Okay? 00:19:31.320 --> 00:19:32.060 Remember once, 00:19:33.060 --> 00:19:35.500 running the Scottish School Championships down at Meadowbank, 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:37.400 running there in the finals, 00:19:37.860 --> 00:19:38.920 number three on the bend. 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.420 Right? 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.340 Handing it out to get the baton, 00:19:41.560 --> 00:19:44.100 you're looking at my mark as to when I need to start running. 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.780 Went too early, 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:48.619 waiting for the baton, 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.440 didn't come. 00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:50.059 Okay? 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.039 Didn't get it. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:52.180 And at that moment, 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.759 when I realized I'd passed the box, 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:55.839 looking at the guy who was on number four, 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.799 who was the quickest guy in Scotland. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:58.519 Right? 00:19:58.659 --> 00:19:59.940 And he just looked at me and went, 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:02.220 where's the baton? 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.619 Where's the baton? 00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:06.579 The challenge here, 00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:06.839 friends, 00:20:06.899 --> 00:20:08.519 is to make sure that we get the baton. 00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:10.899 A love for the Lord Jesus, 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:12.899 and we pass it on to the next generation. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:17.479 Here is the challenge for these busy bees in Ephesus. 00:20:17.679 --> 00:20:19.459 The warning comes at the end of verse five. 00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.039 If not, 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:21.159 if you don't change, 00:20:21.479 --> 00:20:22.759 so serious is this. 00:20:23.199 --> 00:20:24.039 If you do not repent, 00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:26.619 I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:27.679 Now that is stark. 00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.819 It's stark. 00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:31.639 So what are they to do? 00:20:32.639 --> 00:20:32.919 Right? 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.700 See the two R's at verse five. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.919 You need to remember. 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.579 Do you see the word there? 00:20:38.679 --> 00:20:39.119 Remember. 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.839 And this is a call for humility. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:44.339 For throwing yourself down before the Lord, 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:44.980 and Lord saying, 00:20:45.379 --> 00:20:48.879 let me recapture a wonder at your mercy towards me. 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:49.919 Reverence, 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:50.579 humility, 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:54.179 to revisit the joy that characterized their lives 00:20:54.179 --> 00:20:55.700 when they first became Christians. 00:20:56.879 --> 00:20:57.099 Right? 00:20:57.099 --> 00:21:01.839 I love how Jesus so often describes the kingdom of God. 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:02.159 Right? 00:21:02.219 --> 00:21:03.779 It's never in boring language, 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:05.339 never in boring metaphors. 00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:07.619 It's like finding treasure in a field. 00:21:07.919 --> 00:21:10.299 It's like finding a pearl of great price. 00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:11.839 This is a wonderful discovery. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:14.240 It's a life-changing discovery. 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.299 Friends, 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:18.480 it's one of the greatest delights for me about this job. 00:21:19.879 --> 00:21:21.579 Seeing people for the first time, 00:21:21.919 --> 00:21:22.740 first time, 00:21:23.179 --> 00:21:26.839 coming to see the all-surpassing beauty of Jesus Christ. 00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:27.819 Right? 00:21:27.919 --> 00:21:28.719 Just beaming. 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:29.539 Beaming. 00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.719 It's all they want to talk about. 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.919 And you talk to them about, 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:33.599 actually, 00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:35.119 Jesus calls us to deny self, 00:21:35.219 --> 00:21:35.779 take up cross, 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.500 and follow him. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:36.819 And they're like, 00:21:36.879 --> 00:21:37.019 yeah, 00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:38.019 we're really up for that. 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:38.639 Come on. 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:40.539 Now, 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.379 what's going on? 00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:43.419 In their hearts and in their lives, 00:21:43.459 --> 00:21:44.259 what's going on? 00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:46.859 I can't think of a better way of putting it 00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:47.359 than St. 00:21:47.459 --> 00:21:48.059 Augustine. 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:49.379 Right? 00:21:50.939 --> 00:21:52.459 You can check him out when you go back. 00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:54.639 He talked about in his own life from years ago, 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:56.820 how he chased his worldly pleasures. 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.340 And then he wrote this in his confessions. 00:21:59.300 --> 00:22:01.240 How sweet all at once it was for me 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:03.080 to be rid of those fruitless joys 00:22:03.080 --> 00:22:05.180 which I once feared to lose. 00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:07.940 And then speaking to God, 00:22:08.080 --> 00:22:09.540 you drove them from me, 00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:09.840 God. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.540 You who are the true joy, 00:22:12.080 --> 00:22:13.180 the sovereign joy. 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.020 And get this, 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.800 you drove them from me, 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.080 God, 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:18.400 and you took their place. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.220 You took their place. 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:22.940 You'd found a greater joy 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:24.860 in his life. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.620 I love it as well 00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.580 how often Jesus, 00:22:26.820 --> 00:22:28.160 when he's trying to help his disciples 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.860 understand the kingdom of God, 00:22:30.120 --> 00:22:31.140 where does he point them? 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:32.820 To the great of society? 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.940 To the kings and the rulers? 00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:34.860 Where does he point them? 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.940 He points them to the children. 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:39.080 Of course, 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:39.880 there's an element there 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:41.240 of realizing that like children, 00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:42.540 there's nothing we bring 00:22:42.540 --> 00:22:44.660 to the salvation party, 00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:45.259 if you like. 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.140 Right? 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:47.440 And it's a way as well 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.520 of teaching his disciples 00:22:48.520 --> 00:22:49.720 to care for those 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.500 who have got nothing 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.320 to offer you. 00:22:51.560 --> 00:22:52.259 But surely, 00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:54.140 surely there must be 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.160 another angle on it. 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:57.380 That he's teaching them 00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:59.100 that something off that same 00:22:59.100 --> 00:23:00.520 childlike excitement, 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:02.100 right, 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:03.060 should characterize 00:23:03.060 --> 00:23:04.520 their spiritual lives. 00:23:06.300 --> 00:23:06.460 You know, 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.580 think about the adverts 00:23:07.580 --> 00:23:08.580 you see in TV 00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:10.900 for children's toys. 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:11.900 Right? 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.880 The kids are never bored, 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.259 are they? 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:14.780 Never bored. 00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:15.320 Right? 00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:16.279 Imagine the advert, 00:23:16.419 --> 00:23:17.399 how's your time of gotcha, 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:17.700 kids? 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.819 How's your time of gotcha? 00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:19.359 It's all right. 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:20.619 It's all right. 00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:22.839 It'll do for a couple of hours. 00:23:22.919 --> 00:23:23.740 It'll get you by. 00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:24.720 Yeah, 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.379 it's all right. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:26.819 No, 00:23:26.899 --> 00:23:27.619 what do they say? 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.019 They say, 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.819 there's hours of fun 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.579 to be had here. 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.759 Hours of fun to be had. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.799 You'll be at this all day. 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.679 It's so great. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.819 The Ephesians need to remember 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:36.679 their childlike love for Jesus 00:23:36.679 --> 00:23:37.819 that first characterized 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.539 their lives. 00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:38.819 Friends, 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.939 when they first understood 00:23:39.939 --> 00:23:41.000 who Jesus is. 00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.200 And second are, 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.919 they need to repent. 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:48.059 which means to stop 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:49.139 the way that the words 00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:51.379 tense there. 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.939 It's to make a clean break. 00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:53.899 Right? 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.740 Not to let it go. 00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:55.839 Make a clean break. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.579 Do it now. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.419 Get out of the spiritual rut 00:23:58.419 --> 00:23:58.879 that you're in. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.659 Do the works 00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:00.740 that you did at first. 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.419 There's the call. 00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:02.759 Okay? 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.679 Presumably a reference 00:24:03.679 --> 00:24:04.480 to what they call 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:06.559 the spiritual disciplines. 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:06.919 Right? 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:08.139 The means of grace. 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.280 Reading our Bibles. 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.640 Listening. 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.320 Praying. 00:24:13.300 --> 00:24:13.580 Singing. 00:24:15.020 --> 00:24:15.460 Communion. 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.920 Hanging out with the Lord's people. 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.840 Because let me just say, 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.980 we can help each other 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.620 on this one. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.220 Okay? 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.660 As we keep on going 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.440 in this season, 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.500 I think we're going to have 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.580 to get good as a church 00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:29.540 at going small. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.539 Okay? 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.659 And so being part 00:24:32.659 --> 00:24:33.379 of a home group 00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:34.180 or being part 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.099 of a prayer triplet 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:36.659 or joining the Zoom 00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:37.200 prayer times 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:37.700 is going to be 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:39.099 so helpful for us 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:40.019 in addition to 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:41.059 coming on a Sunday 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:42.079 and maybe tuning in. 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:44.220 If you're not in on that, 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:45.200 then let me encourage you 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.899 to get on the website 00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:47.799 and find someone's address 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.440 or you can contact 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.159 to get in on it. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:50.779 But it's one sure way 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.759 for our fire 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.319 and our hearts 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.019 for the Lord Jesus 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.879 to dwindle 00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:55.299 is to just separate us. 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.139 Separate yourself 00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:58.180 from the Lord's people. 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.420 You know, 00:24:59.420 --> 00:24:59.860 it's always on 00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:00.860 those nature programs, 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.240 isn't it? 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.420 What the young lions 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:04.259 try and do to the zebras. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.400 What do they do 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:06.120 when they're in a park? 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:07.340 They just try and pick them off. 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:08.860 Just try and pick them off. 00:25:10.060 --> 00:25:10.960 It would be so much easier 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:13.019 to catch and devour 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:15.220 when I've picked you off. 00:25:15.320 --> 00:25:16.140 And it seems to me 00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:16.900 that that is the same 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.940 in the spiritual battle 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.620 that we are in. 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:18.920 Friends, 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.560 there is power 00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:21.480 in staying together 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.560 and together 00:25:22.560 --> 00:25:23.900 helping each other 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.920 in terms of our affections 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.500 for Jesus. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.360 If they do so, 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.160 do you see how Jesus 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.060 promises them 00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:30.000 that if they do that, 00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:30.540 verse 7, 00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:31.360 that he will grant them 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:33.320 access to the tree of life 00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:34.779 which is entry 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.880 into his kingdom. 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.279 And that's a glorious promise. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.519 A glorious promise. 00:25:41.800 --> 00:25:42.040 Friends, 00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:42.840 maybe you're here today 00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:43.480 and just as we maybe 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.440 draw this to a close, 00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:44.700 you're, 00:25:46.540 --> 00:25:46.800 you know, 00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:47.460 if there was a 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:49.820 doctor were to take 00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:50.800 your spiritual temperature 00:25:50.800 --> 00:25:51.320 just now, 00:25:53.320 --> 00:25:54.040 you know, 00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:54.880 I wonder whether 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:55.640 the diagnosis 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:57.120 would come back 00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:57.700 as you would be 00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.180 a little bit 00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:58.680 Ephesian. 00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.380 That love 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:02.780 that for the Lord Jesus 00:26:02.780 --> 00:26:03.720 that once characterized 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.380 your life, 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.800 it's maybe dwindling. 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.200 Let me just tell you 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:08.660 as we close 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.400 what my prayer has 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:11.680 been for us this week. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.820 We all can find ourselves 00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.520 in those places, 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:13.960 can't we? 00:26:14.520 --> 00:26:15.420 The prayer for us 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:15.920 this week, 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.740 try and illustrate it 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.320 to you, right? 00:26:19.040 --> 00:26:19.920 I started by telling you 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:21.259 about a big life moment 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.259 for us as a family. 00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:23.840 Let me just tell you 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.439 about another one 00:26:24.439 --> 00:26:25.459 that's happened to us, 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:25.619 right, 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:26.599 over the last couple 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:27.059 of weeks. 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.599 We bought a fire pit. 00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:31.259 Okay? 00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.259 Bought a fire pit. 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:33.980 So at the end 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.399 of the week, 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:36.019 we get the girls out 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.579 after they've had 00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:36.939 their baths, 00:26:36.959 --> 00:26:37.619 we've got the chammies on 00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:38.119 and we just sit 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.759 around the fire pit 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.599 and we toast 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:41.199 marshmallows, right? 00:26:41.699 --> 00:26:42.679 And because it's a Friday, 00:26:43.639 --> 00:26:44.519 our eldest daughter, 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.139 right, 00:26:45.179 --> 00:26:45.779 she calls it 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.720 Fire Pit Friday, 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.079 which I thought 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.699 was quite good. 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.740 Fire Pit Friday, 00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.480 don't have the heart 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.139 to tell her that 00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:52.000 technically it's a 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.720 chimney, right? 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.399 Just let her have it. 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.759 Fire Pit Friday. 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.899 And so last weekend, 00:26:56.959 --> 00:26:57.299 the girls, 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.659 we get them down to bed, 00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.919 we have Fire Pit Friday 00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.480 and Alex and I 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.259 just sat outside 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.379 for a little while 00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:03.179 and we watched the fire 00:27:03.179 --> 00:27:04.299 dwindle, dwindle, 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:05.019 dwindle, dwindle. 00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:06.879 And then we realised 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.619 that actually we wanted 00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.599 to stay out a bit longer. 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.019 So what we did, 00:27:10.179 --> 00:27:11.199 what I did was just 00:27:11.199 --> 00:27:13.000 go down next to the fire 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:15.159 and just spend 00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:15.699 a couple of minutes 00:27:15.699 --> 00:27:17.119 just breathing into it, 00:27:17.179 --> 00:27:17.379 right? 00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:17.480 Okay? 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.859 Get the oxygen in there 00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.779 and the fire, 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.480 once you do that 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.039 for a little while, 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.579 it rekindles again. 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:28.559 Friends, 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.119 the answer to our 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.899 fusion condition, 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.859 if that's us today, 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:33.539 it can't come 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.480 from inside of us, 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:34.839 right? 00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:35.839 We can't drum up 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.619 some kind of 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.579 religious excitement 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:38.559 inside of us. 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.379 The answer is 00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:41.180 to know the love 00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.759 of the Father 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.379 for us, 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:45.180 to come to the cross 00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:46.119 and marvel 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.779 at the Christ 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.559 who loved us 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.379 and who gave 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:49.279 himself for us 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:51.339 and pray 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:52.000 that God 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.819 would breathe 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.679 into our lives 00:27:53.679 --> 00:27:54.480 by his Spirit 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:56.119 the knowledge 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:57.599 of his love 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.079 for us 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.059 in Christ Jesus. 00:28:01.159 --> 00:28:01.639 Friends, 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.579 what but a bigger 00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:04.179 and better grasp 00:28:04.179 --> 00:28:04.740 of the love 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.440 of Jesus 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:07.819 can possibly 00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.759 keep us focused 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.359 on the things 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:10.339 that really matter? 00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:11.539 Jesus holds 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.379 out hope 00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:13.159 to this church 00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:13.879 in Ephesus 00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:16.779 and he holds 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.240 out hope 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.759 by holding 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.579 out himself 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.459 to this church 00:28:19.459 --> 00:28:20.139 in Ephesus. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:22.859 The old song 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:23.480 we used to sing 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:23.939 and we close 00:28:23.939 --> 00:28:24.379 with this, 00:28:24.459 --> 00:28:25.419 I am so glad 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:27.179 that our Father 00:28:27.179 --> 00:28:27.699 in heaven 00:28:27.699 --> 00:28:28.779 tells of his love 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.259 in the book 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.939 he has given 00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:31.139 wonderful things 00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:31.659 in the Bible 00:28:31.659 --> 00:28:32.179 I see. 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.159 This is the dearest 00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:33.819 that Jesus 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.079 loves me. 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.919 I am so glad 00:28:36.919 --> 00:28:37.639 that Jesus 00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:39.019 loves me. 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:40.700 Jesus loves me. 00:28:41.379 --> 00:28:42.359 Jesus loves me. 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.200 I am so glad 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.379 that Jesus loves me. 00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:45.819 Jesus loves 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:47.339 even me. 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:48.720 Let's pray. 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.480 Our Heavenly Father 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.579 we worship you Lord 00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.299 for who you are 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.900 here today. 00:28:56.579 --> 00:28:56.839 And Father 00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.500 we ask that 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.119 by your grace 00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:58.879 you would help us 00:28:58.879 --> 00:29:00.019 to recapture 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:01.660 a sense 00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.759 of your greatness 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:04.700 and a sense 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.420 of wonder 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:06.200 at how much 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.200 you have loved 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.660 us in Jesus 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.300 as your Son. 00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.080 And so Father 00:29:11.080 --> 00:29:11.920 I pray for any 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.680 of us here today 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.000 Father 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.680 who are perhaps 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.920 struggling spiritually 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.640 in the fight 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:17.200 who are finding 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:18.040 things difficult 00:29:18.040 --> 00:29:18.740 just now 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.940 and the sense 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.600 of awe 00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.700 that maybe 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.640 perhaps once 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.460 characterized 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.259 their lives 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.120 as young Christians 00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:25.540 Father 00:29:25.540 --> 00:29:27.320 Lord that by 00:29:27.320 --> 00:29:27.900 your grace 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.460 that you would 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.279 breathe spiritual 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:30.220 life into them 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:32.560 and a knowledge 00:29:32.560 --> 00:29:33.400 of who they are 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.640 an adopted son 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.400 and daughter 00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:36.620 of the living God 00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.399 through faith 00:29:37.399 --> 00:29:37.879 in Jesus. 00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:40.439 And so Father 00:29:40.439 --> 00:29:41.399 we just worship you 00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:42.419 for who you are 00:29:42.419 --> 00:29:44.079 and we pray 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:45.059 all of these things 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:45.759 confidently 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.699 knowing that you 00:29:46.699 --> 00:29:47.500 hear us 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.839 because we pray 00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:49.539 in Jesus' 00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.519 precious name. 00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:51.259 Amen. 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:51.400 Amen.