WEBVTT

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 As part of our series, looking at lessons that we might learn from the early church,

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 as presented in the Bible and the book of Acts,

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 we're thinking today about what it might mean as a church today

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 to live out a calling in both fear and freedom.

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 When you hear those words, fear and freedom,

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 then probably instinctively we would say, well, how do those two go together?

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 One seems a very positive concept, the other seems very negative.

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 How can it be as a Christian that we're called to live in fear and freedom?

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 What I want to suggest to you is every single one of us has fears.

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 We all have fears of some kind.

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 At times they may really surface in our lives, and when that happens, it's ugly.

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 It's horrible.

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 At least a certain type of fear is.

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 But with faith in God, we discover a new sense of fear, a different type of fear,

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 a fear that's a good fear, a positive one, a healthy one.

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 And when we discover that sense of fear, it puts all others in perspective and we find freedom.

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 What is it that you have as your negative type of fear?

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 We'll come back to that right at the end when we come to pray.

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 First, a story.

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 I love today's Bible reading.

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 I love it because I find it so difficult.

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 It's one of those stories that is definitely not an easy one to read.

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 It's not easy to swallow.

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 It's not a fluffy reading.

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 It's a jagged, edged reading because it's so challenging.

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 There's a story of three ministers that met together,

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 and they were discussing, arguing would be a better word,

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 about the best way of funding the church.

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 And they got on to the subject of offerings on a Sunday.

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 And one of them said, well, you know, we tend to,

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 we're sort of phasing out having any sense of offering,

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 but we do still encourage people to give through using the envelopes

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 and putting a check and gift-aiding it and putting it in an envelope

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 because that's really the way to go.

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 And another one, another minister said,

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 oh, actually, you're a little bit behind the times there.

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 We actually encourage everyone to give by standing order.

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 That's a much more efficient way.

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 And gift-aided as well, of course.

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 The third minister said, oh, actually, I totally disagree.

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 We still have cash, and we insist on cash offerings.

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 And what I like to do is I like to physically get the plate passed around

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 and then take it in my hands, and right at the end,

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 I throw the thing as hard as I can up into the air.

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 As I pray, receive, oh, Lord, all of these gifts

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 that these fine, generous people have offered to you.

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 And if it's your desire, dear Lord, to bless me as their pastor today,

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 then in your sovereign and miraculous strength and power,

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 I beseech thee to rain back on me all that you want me

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 to put into my personal bank account.

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 The story that we have this morning is about the way

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 in which the early church structured their giving.

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 We see mind-blowing generosity of people brought everything they had

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 and laid it before God in his service, his kingdom,

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 and of his church here on earth.

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 And it would be a great passage, perhaps, to use

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 if our subject this morning was about money and how we handle it

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 and how we offer it in the Lord's service.

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 But that's not actually our subject.

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 You see, I want to suggest to you that this story,

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 whilst it is about that subject,

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 I think there is something even deeper than that going on here

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 that it exposes.

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 It's about truth and integrity and a sense of what it means

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 to have that godly fear that brings with it a new sense of freedom.

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 Let's just rewind some 2,000-odd years back to this reading

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 that we've had this morning.

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 The church was very, very young.

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 It was still in its infancy.

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 Living very, very close to Jesus' historic resurrection.

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 The Holy Spirit had come.

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 The people that we are reading about here

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 are the first generation of Christian believers.

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 The gospel was literally in their hands.

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 Were it not for these people,

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 the New Testament would not have been written.

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 And they had an agreed understanding

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 over how they would live

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 and ensure that all the needs were met.

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 I want to suggest that Ananias and Sapphira's wrongdoing

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 was not that they had sold and held back money,

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 although that is what the reading is telling us,

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 but that there's something even below that,

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 namely that they had broken trust.

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 They had decided, maybe unwittingly,

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 but in a kind of casual way,

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 that they didn't need to live by the same frame of reference

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 that had been agreed upon.

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 I've come across two interpretations

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 of what is perhaps the hardest part of this passage,

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 namely that the two figures there,

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 Ananias and Sapphira,

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 that they dropped down dead.

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 The first interpretation is that they were quite literally,

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 supernaturally struck down.

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 The second interpretation is that

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 upon realising the seriousness,

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 the gravity of what they had done,

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 they were so overwhelmed by fear

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 that they collapsed and died.

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 We can neither prove nor disprove

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 which of those interpretations is the truth,

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 but either way,

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 they still raise exactly the same theme,

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 and it is this.

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 It is fear.

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 There is such a thing as a healthy sense of fear.

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 And these words,

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 the events in this story,

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 expose the reality that

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 things go wrong

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 when we live by the wrong type of fear.

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 Now let's just think about that theme of fear,

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 fear as a healthy thing.

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 Or rather,

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 let's think of an unhealthy sense of fear.

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 The sense of fear that has to do with dread.

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 The sense that drives people away from God

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 because they fear that God is such a terrible,

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 terrible, vindictive being.

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 You know, whatever else,

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 that kind of guilt-inducing,

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 scaremongering fear

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 is not the type of fear that the gospel is about.

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 It can't be.

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 Because John tells us that there is no fear in love.

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 Perfect love drives out fear.

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 So whatever else fear means,

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 it doesn't mean that

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 when we're talking about the kind

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 that is healthy

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 and that God desires of us.

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 God is an awful God.

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 A-W-E

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 or full.

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 Not an awful God.

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 A-W-F-U-R.

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 So what might be

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 that sense of

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 awe-inducing,

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 awe-inspiring,

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 healthy,

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 wholesome,

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 helpful,

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 life-giving,

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 energy-breathing,

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 Holy Spirit instilled fear

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 be about.

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 A number of years ago,

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 there was a theologian

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 called H.H. Farmer.

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 And H.H. Farmer,

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 he was a biblical scholar,

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 would say to his students,

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 you can't be pally

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 with God.

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 And they used to,

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 the students

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 under H.H. Farmer,

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 used to,

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 they coined the phrase,

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 they used to say,

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 you can't be pally

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 with the farmer.

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 Because he had said,

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 you cannot be pally

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 with God.

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 And when he said that,

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 you can't be pally

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 with God,

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 what he wasn't doing

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 was denying

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 the importance of the sense

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 of the personal relationship

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 with God,

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 which is central

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 to the Christian gospel.

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 He wasn't denying that.

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 But what he was warning of us

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 was the danger

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 of embracing a gospel

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 that so,

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 so emphasizes

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 the personal

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 that we lose sight

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 of the sense of mystery

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 and the power of God.

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 You see,

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 first and last

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 and everything in between,

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 being a Christian

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 isn't just about

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 knowing about God,

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 it's about knowing God,

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 it's about loving God,

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 it's about living

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 that relationship

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 with God

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 in a very deep,

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 real,

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 meaningful

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 and personal way.

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 It's about knowing

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 Jesus as your friend,

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 it's about knowing God

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 as your father,

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 it's about knowing him

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 and listening for him

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 in our daily lives

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 and having that relationship

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 that is built on love

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 and grace and peace.

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 But when we use

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 all of that language,

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 if we're going to be

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 true to scripture,

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 if we're to be authentic

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 with it,

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 what it doesn't mean

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 is that it's just

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 a casual thing

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 by which there is

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 no sense of mystery.

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 And when H.H. Farmer

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 said,

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 you can't

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 or you shouldn't

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 be pally with God,

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 I think that is what

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 he was driving us towards.

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 You see,

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 there is such a thing

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 as an important,

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 helpful kind of fear.

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 Think of fire.

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 Now, fire

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 can be

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 one of the greatest,

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 most helpful resources.

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 It can save life.

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 It can keep us warm.

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 It can be creative.

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 It can kill off germs.

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 But if it's not treated

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 with anything other

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 than fear and respect,

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 it can kill us.

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 A major challenge

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 to us today

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 as a church

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 in the widest

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 global sense,

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 I would suggest,

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 is

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 that we recapture

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 such radical respect

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 and recognition

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 of God's power.

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 That God

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 blesses us

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 and God longs us

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 to know his blessing.

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 But as Christians,

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 we need

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 to relearn

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 the importance

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 of being able

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 to carry

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 a full cup

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 with a steady hand.

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 these words

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 of Scripture

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 today

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 bring us

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 to that point

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 where we are

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 called to

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 rediscover

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 something

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 of what it means

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 to live in a wholesome

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 and healthy

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 and constructive

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 kind of fear.

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 And that means

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 rediscovering

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 the sense

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 of the reality

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 of prayer

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 and expectation

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 that when we pray,

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 something genuinely

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 supernatural

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 is taking place.

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 There's a

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 story of

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 three

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 religious leaders

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 meeting together

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 discussing the best

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 positions for prayer.

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 And this conversation

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 was taking place

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 in a room

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 that happened

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 to have

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 a phone

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 connection,

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 their landline,

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 and in the background

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 was a man

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 repairing

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 the

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 phone line

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 line,

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 the landline

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 connection.

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 Well,

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 one of the

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 leaders there

00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:34.759
 was saying,

00:11:34.839 --> 00:11:34.939
 well,

00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:35.439
 I believe

00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:36.000
 that when you

00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:36.240
 pray,

00:11:36.339 --> 00:11:36.799
 there is only

00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:37.219
 one way

00:11:37.219 --> 00:11:37.620
 to pray

00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:38.240
 and that

00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:38.600
 is by

00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:38.959
 kneeling.

00:11:40.579 --> 00:11:41.279
 That's the

00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:41.879
 way to

00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:42.279
 pray

00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:43.279
 with dignity.

00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:45.959
 Another

00:11:45.959 --> 00:11:46.639
 leader was

00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:46.899
 there and

00:11:46.899 --> 00:11:47.000
 said,

00:11:47.079 --> 00:11:47.179
 no,

00:11:47.219 --> 00:11:47.319
 no,

00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:47.480
 no,

00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:48.059
 I don't

00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:48.639
 agree with

00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:48.899
 that at

00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:49.059
 all.

00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:49.480
 It is a

00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:49.919
 far better

00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:50.360
 way

00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:51.159
 to pray

00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:51.600
 with your

00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:52.339
 arms

00:11:52.339 --> 00:11:53.179
 outstretched

00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:53.519
 looking

00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:53.899
 upwards.

00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.199
 That

00:11:55.199 --> 00:11:55.620
 is the

00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:55.980
 best way

00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:56.399
 to pray.

00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:59.039
 There

00:11:59.039 --> 00:11:59.399
 was another

00:11:59.399 --> 00:11:59.939
 leader there

00:11:59.939 --> 00:12:00.299
 that said,

00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:00.459
 no,

00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:00.600
 no,

00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:00.779
 no,

00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:01.720
 the best

00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:02.059
 way to

00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:02.860
 pray is

00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:03.360
 prostrate.

00:12:03.439 --> 00:12:03.500
 You

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:03.879
 should lie

00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:04.240
 down on

00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:04.500
 the floor

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:04.779
 with your

00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:05.459
 face flat

00:12:05.459 --> 00:12:05.939
 out of

00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:06.459
 respect.

00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:09.199
 The

00:12:09.199 --> 00:12:09.639
 telephone

00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.419
 repair guy

00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:11.139
 couldn't

00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:11.959
 help overhearing

00:12:11.959 --> 00:12:12.659
 the conversation

00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:13.879
 and just as

00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:14.159
 he was

00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:14.539
 leaving,

00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:15.340
 he chimed

00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:15.559
 in,

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:16.620
 well,

00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.000
 the best

00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:17.659
 praying that

00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.059
 I've ever

00:12:18.059 --> 00:12:18.959
 done was

00:12:18.959 --> 00:12:19.240
 when I

00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:19.639
 was hanging

00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:20.299
 upside down

00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:20.620
 from a

00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:21.419
 telegraph pole.

00:12:21.419 --> 00:12:27.179
 Isn't

00:12:27.179 --> 00:12:27.519
 there a

00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.279
 real sense

00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:29.000
 in which

00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:29.699
 we pray

00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:30.099
 in a

00:12:30.099 --> 00:12:30.699
 way that

00:12:30.699 --> 00:12:31.240
 is far

00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:31.539
 more

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:31.959
 dynamic,

00:12:32.439 --> 00:12:32.679
 and by

00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.059
 that what

00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:33.399
 I mean

00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:34.399
 is personally

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.299
 meaningful

00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:36.299
 and engaging,

00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:37.360
 where we are

00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:38.000
 truly paying

00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:38.659
 attention when

00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:39.059
 we are on

00:12:39.059 --> 00:12:39.479
 the edge,

00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:40.719
 when we are

00:12:40.719 --> 00:12:41.039
 in those

00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:41.699
 situations

00:12:41.699 --> 00:12:42.159
 where we

00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:42.599
 are feeling

00:12:42.599 --> 00:12:43.120
 vulnerable.

00:12:45.459 --> 00:12:45.980
 And notice,

00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:48.339
 well,

00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:48.779
 you won't

00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.039
 have noticed

00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:49.419
 because it

00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:50.339
 wasn't projected

00:12:50.339 --> 00:12:50.699
 onto the

00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:50.899
 screen,

00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:51.699
 but in

00:12:51.699 --> 00:12:52.059
 the book

00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:52.360
 of Acts,

00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:53.439
 the verse

00:12:53.439 --> 00:12:54.120
 immediately

00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:55.139
 preceding the

00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:55.759
 story that

00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.179
 we read

00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:57.079
 this morning,

00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:58.299
 we're told

00:12:58.299 --> 00:12:59.299
 in verse 31

00:12:59.299 --> 00:12:59.959
 of Acts chapter

00:12:59.959 --> 00:13:00.360
 4,

00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.459
 just before

00:13:01.459 --> 00:13:02.319
 we get all

00:13:02.319 --> 00:13:02.699
 of the other

00:13:02.699 --> 00:13:03.199
 story about

00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:03.600
 how the

00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.459
 believers shared

00:13:04.459 --> 00:13:05.019
 their possessions

00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.419
 and lived

00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:06.039
 sacrificially

00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:06.439
 together,

00:13:07.439 --> 00:13:08.059
 it says that

00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:08.519
 the believers

00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.039
 were gathered

00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:09.620
 together and

00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:09.879
 they were

00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.319
 praying,

00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:11.039
 and it

00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:11.259
 says,

00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:12.620
 after they

00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:13.059
 prayed,

00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:13.899
 the place

00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:14.439
 where they

00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:15.059
 were meeting

00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:15.799
 was shaken,

00:13:16.439 --> 00:13:16.759
 and they

00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:17.279
 were all

00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:17.699
 filled with

00:13:17.699 --> 00:13:18.019
 the Holy

00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:18.639
 Spirit and

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.220
 spoke the

00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:19.639
 word of

00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:20.519
 God boldly.

00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:23.659
 that's the

00:13:23.659 --> 00:13:24.659
 context of

00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:25.179
 everything else

00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:25.720
 that happens,

00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:26.220
 that was the

00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:26.559
 thing that

00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:27.259
 underpinned the

00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:27.639
 life of the

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.379
 early church,

00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:29.799
 that they

00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.259
 had that

00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:30.740
 sense that

00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:31.419
 prayer isn't

00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:32.179
 just a

00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:32.559
 religious

00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.299
 activity,

00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:34.879
 it's a

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.279
 sense of

00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.199
 knowing the

00:13:36.199 --> 00:13:37.120
 reality of

00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:37.399
 God's

00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:37.980
 presence,

00:13:38.699 --> 00:13:39.699
 knowing and

00:13:39.699 --> 00:13:41.379
 in an

00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:42.100
 expectant

00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:43.399
 way that

00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:43.879
 God is a

00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:44.259
 God to be

00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:44.919
 feared in

00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:45.720
 a positive

00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:46.259
 kind of way,

00:13:46.319 --> 00:13:46.740
 in the same

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:47.240
 way that we

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:47.939
 fear something

00:13:47.939 --> 00:13:48.460
 awesomely

00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:49.199
 powerful like

00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:49.720
 fire.

00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.919
 God is

00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:53.399
 there on

00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.039
 the move,

00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:55.279
 calling us to

00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:55.759
 be a part of

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:56.259
 his movement,

00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:58.159
 and we are

00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:59.399
 called to

00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.620
 live in that

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.279
 sense of

00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.519
 fear, but

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.559
 that fear

00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:04.179
 that brings

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:04.819
 with it a

00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:05.659
 new freedom.

00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:11.539
 the church

00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:13.139
 is ill-served

00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:14.120
 when we

00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:15.240
 dilute or

00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.959
 deny the

00:14:16.959 --> 00:14:17.559
 demands of

00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:18.059
 the gospel,

00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:20.039
 and we

00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:21.019
 lose sight of

00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:22.039
 the importance

00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:23.299
 of that

00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:24.759
 fear that

00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:25.500
 actually sets

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:25.939
 us free.

00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.319
 One last

00:14:28.319 --> 00:14:28.639
 story.

00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:28.779
 thing.

00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:31.960
 I read a

00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:32.399
 while ago

00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:33.120
 of one

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:33.679
 way in

00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:34.019
 which in

00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.519
 some parts

00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:34.779
 of the

00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:36.120
 world they

00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:36.679
 train

00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:37.500
 elephants.

00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:39.340
 You never

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:39.779
 know when

00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:40.220
 you might

00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:41.039
 need that

00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:41.539
 piece of

00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:41.960
 information.

00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:44.559
 And what

00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:45.259
 they do is

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:46.139
 they take

00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.379
 the elephant

00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:47.720
 and they

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.019
 take a

00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:48.259
 very,

00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:48.779
 very strong

00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:50.620
 chain and

00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.799
 attach one

00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:52.179
 end of the

00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:52.659
 chain to a

00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:52.980
 very, very

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:54.600
 strong tree and

00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:54.939
 the other

00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:56.639
 end to one

00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.179
 of the feet

00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:57.679
 of the

00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:58.019
 elephant.

00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.480
 And just

00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:00.159
 out of the

00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:00.580
 elephant's

00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.059
 reach they

00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:01.720
 place some

00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.100
 food.

00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:03.840
 Now for

00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.580
 several days

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.199
 the elephant

00:15:05.199 --> 00:15:06.259
 will try

00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:06.980
 really hard

00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.480
 to get to

00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:07.939
 the food.

00:15:08.439 --> 00:15:08.799
 But every

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:09.139
 time it

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.480
 does so it

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.460
 tugs on the

00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:11.879
 chain and

00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.299
 it causes

00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:12.819
 pain and

00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:13.419
 it can't

00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:14.220
 quite reach

00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:14.639
 the food.

00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:16.199
 This goes

00:15:16.199 --> 00:15:16.480
 on for

00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.039
 several days

00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:17.860
 until the

00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.899
 elephant has

00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:19.720
 come to

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.539
 accept that

00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.039
 it cannot

00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.620
 reach the

00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:21.919
 food.

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.439
 It accepts

00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:24.620
 its limitations.

00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:25.659
 It has

00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:26.899
 been conditioned.

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:28.819
 And at

00:15:28.819 --> 00:15:29.519
 that point

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.860
 they can

00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:31.600
 then remove

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.240
 the chain

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.340
 and replace

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:33.799
 it with a

00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:34.100
 rope.

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.759
 Now the

00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.799
 rope actually

00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:37.419
 isn't that

00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:38.639
 strong and

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.120
 the elephant

00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:39.939
 could easily

00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:40.919
 snap it at

00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:41.759
 any point.

00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:43.620
 However by

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.379
 this stage it

00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:44.959
 has been so

00:15:44.959 --> 00:15:45.720
 trained and

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.480
 conditioned to

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.720
 accept what

00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.559
 it thinks are

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.340
 its limitations

00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:51.980
 that it

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.680
 will simply

00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:54.320
 not try to

00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:55.080
 stray away

00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:56.920
 from where

00:15:56.920 --> 00:15:57.360
 it is.

00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.519
 However

00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.500
 there's one

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.080
 exception

00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:03.019
 and that is

00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.639
 if fire

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.560
 breaks out

00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:06.200
 near where

00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:06.580
 the elephant

00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.080
 is.

00:16:07.920 --> 00:16:08.540
 Because at

00:16:08.540 --> 00:16:09.080
 that point

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.240
 the elephant's

00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:11.980
 instinctive

00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:12.860
 fear of

00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:14.420
 fire will

00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:16.100
 overtake its

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.759
 fear of

00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:17.519
 pain or

00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:17.840
 indeed

00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.340
 anything

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.559
 else and

00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:19.879
 it will

00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:20.539
 just bolt.

00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:21.939
 The rope

00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:22.539
 will snap

00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:24.059
 and apparently

00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:24.439
 if that

00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:24.919
 happens you

00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:25.379
 will never

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.179
 ever train

00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:26.779
 or condition

00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:27.840
 that particular

00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:29.539
 elephant again.

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.799
 The fear

00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.519
 of God

00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.419
 in the

00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:36.000
 best,

00:16:36.199 --> 00:16:36.899
 most wholesome,

00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:37.939
 positive and

00:16:37.939 --> 00:16:38.980
 life-giving way

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:40.319
 brings us

00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:41.419
 that kind

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.199
 of freedom.

00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:44.159
 It puts

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:44.699
 all other

00:16:44.699 --> 00:16:45.579
 fears into

00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:46.399
 perspective and

00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:47.019
 holds them in

00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.379
 check.

00:16:48.439 --> 00:16:48.879
 Sure,

00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:49.620
 things happen

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.019
 in our

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.559
 lives that

00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:50.919
 make us

00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.539
 feel afraid,

00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.039
 that make us

00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:52.399
 worry,

00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:52.980
 that will

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.819
 from time

00:16:53.819 --> 00:16:54.159
 to time

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:54.460
 keep us

00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:54.899
 awake at

00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:55.279
 night.

00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.319
 But they're

00:16:58.319 --> 00:16:58.659
 given a

00:16:58.659 --> 00:16:59.379
 new perspective

00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:02.319
 for ultimately

00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:02.819
 God.

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.319
 God is

00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:05.639
 there.

00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.339
 God is

00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:08.839
 the one

00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.639
 who is

00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:10.400
 all-powerful.

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:11.960
 And whilst

00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:12.299
 there are

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:12.660
 things in

00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.059
 this life

00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:13.440
 that do

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:13.819
 not make

00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:14.240
 sense to

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:14.619
 us right

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:14.879
 now,

00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:15.660
 things that

00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:16.200
 we can't

00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:16.619
 quite get

00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:16.979
 our minds

00:17:16.979 --> 00:17:17.319
 around,

00:17:17.459 --> 00:17:17.839
 things that

00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.219
 come our

00:17:18.219 --> 00:17:18.439
 way,

00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:18.879
 things that

00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:19.459
 worry about

00:17:19.459 --> 00:17:19.659
 us,

00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.439
 we know

00:17:20.439 --> 00:17:21.079
 in the

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:21.519
 depths of

00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:22.039
 our being

00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:23.919
 that God

00:17:23.919 --> 00:17:24.399
 is bigger

00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:25.759
 and greater

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.339
 than it all.

00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:28.979
 And when we

00:17:28.979 --> 00:17:29.339
 have that

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.219
 sense of

00:17:30.219 --> 00:17:30.979
 respect,

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.199
 that sense

00:17:32.199 --> 00:17:33.159
 of healthy,

00:17:33.379 --> 00:17:34.159
 wholesome fear

00:17:34.159 --> 00:17:34.799
 for him,

00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:37.459
 everything else

00:17:37.459 --> 00:17:38.059
 is put in its

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:38.459
 place.

00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:38.600
 things.

00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.819
 So let's

00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:42.600
 come back

00:17:42.600 --> 00:17:43.000
 to that

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.620
 question that

00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.140
 I started

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:44.519
 with.

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.319
 What sort

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:47.980
 of things

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:50.799
 do we

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.100
 live in

00:17:51.100 --> 00:17:51.559
 fear of?