WEBVTT

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 Well, morning everyone. It's lovely to have you with us. Do keep that passage open in

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 John chapter 4 as we get into this final section in Jesus' encounter with this Samaritan woman.

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 And it's been so good to hear the things that God has been teaching us by his Spirit as

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 we've spent time in this little section of John's Gospel over the last number of weeks.

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 So spending time in this section this week for me has reminded me of my friend Ollie.

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 So Ollie lives with his family in a place right down at the bottom of the UK called St. Agnes

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 in a place called Cornwall. If you've ever been there on your holidays, it's always a nice place to go, Cornwall.

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 But last time we visited Ollie and his family, Ollie had a go at teaching me some Cornish slang.

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 I don't know why I ever thought I would use that in my life, but here we are and I'm using it today.

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 So it's come in handy. He said, down here folks use this word directly.

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 Right? I'd probably say it better than that, directly or something.

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 And I said, Ollie, you've got to give me this in a sentence, but why would a local use the word directly?

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 And he said, okay, if you were to ask somebody if they have finished a job or not,

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 and they responded with the word directly, what they are telling you is that that job is one that they're going to get to later.

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 Right? That they'll get to it. It's coming. They'll get to it.

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 And the subtext of directly is that there are more important things to me right now.

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 So somebody answers you that word in Cornwall, that's what they mean.

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 The thing that you're asking me to do is not a priority.

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 And here's why Ollie and this one word came to mind this week.

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 Because this is about the one thing that's the most important to Jesus.

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 This is about his focus. This is about his heartbeat.

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 This is about his desire.

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 And this is about the one thing that he's engaged in, not later, but the thing that he's engaged in now.

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 And if you come with me to the text, you'll see it at verse 34.

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 So this is the key verse in this section of John's gospel this morning.

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 Jesus says, speaking to his disciples,

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 My food, and by food he means the thing that sustains and satisfies him,

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 the thing that he wakes up every day determined to do.

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 My food, says Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

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 So carrying out the will of his father is to Jesus his number one priority.

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 Do you see him state it?

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 What is his father's will?

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 Well, we saw it in chapter 3 and verse 16.

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 And there's a reason that people often refer to this verse as Christianity in a nutshell.

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 Because it's so good.

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 What is the father's priority?

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 Well, here we have it.

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 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not perish,

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 but have eternal life.

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 The two W's there.

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 The world.

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 Remember the world that rejected God?

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 God's enemies.

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 This is a world that God loved.

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 And the second W, whoever.

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 Wide open to come and put your trust in Jesus and have life in his name.

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 So Jesus' joy is carrying out the will of his father,

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 which is saving people from the just condemnation of God

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 and flowing from that the eternal separation from him

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 that hangs over every human being out with of Jesus.

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 Jesus' number one aim is to rescue people from that.

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 And more than that, reconcile them to God.

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 Make them right with their creator.

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 And make a way for them to be adopted into the family of God.

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 That's the gospel in a nutshell.

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 That is the core thing of Christianity.

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 Maybe you're here today and this is new to you.

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 Here is the very crux of our faith.

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 The Evangelion.

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 The gospel.

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 A word that when William Tyndale translated the Bible from Latin into English,

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 he said of this word,

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 it's a word that means news,

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 that makes a person's heart glad

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 and makes him sing, dance and leap for joy.

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 That's the gospel.

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 And everything Jesus does has as its goal

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 the finishing of that work.

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 And the next time you see that word finish come up in this gospel

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 is from Jesus' lips

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 as he hangs there suspended on the cross.

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 With his final breath, his final words,

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 it is finished.

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 Jesus dying on the cross is the event that will open up the wonder of the Father's plan

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 to the peoples of the world to respond.

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 And that's what's most important to Jesus.

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 And that's his heart as he lays out here in this section for his disciples.

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 Why does he put it out there?

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 He puts it out there for them to catch.

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 Right?

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 Catch it.

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 Get it in their lungs.

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 This is what he's about.

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 Those who follow him,

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 he wants them to make this their mission.

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 And so as we consider this passage today

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 and what God is doing in the world today,

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 here's three things that this passage invites us not to do.

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 Not to do.

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 Here's the first.

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 Not to underestimate the power of our witness.

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 Remember, all this comes in the context

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 of Jesus' encounter with this Samaritan woman.

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 Scan your eyes back over the first two sections of chapter four if you want.

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 Jesus, the man who knows every skeleton in her closet.

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 Jesus, the man who has invited her to become a worshiper of the living God.

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 Look what she does.

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 Verse 28.

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 She hears that news

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 and she leaves her water jar.

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 Do you see all these details in the text here?

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 She leaves her water jar.

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 Remember, this is noon.

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 This is the height of the day.

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 This is when you're most thirsty.

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 This is the whole reason that she's come out in the first place.

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 But why would you leave your water jar?

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 You leave it because something bigger has happened in your life, right?

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 And she heads back into town.

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 And notice these two surprising details in the text here.

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 I love thinking about this week.

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 Who does she speak to?

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 Do you see?

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 Fair enough.

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 You run back home.

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 You go to your own room and you meditate sweetly on that thought that you've just met Jesus.

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 No, who does she speak to?

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 She speaks to the people.

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 Do you see it?

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 Who are these people?

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 Well, these are the people in her community who had shunned her.

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 And these are the people who she was avoiding at all costs.

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 And so maybe even for the first time in years, she speaks to them.

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 And what does she say?

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 She says, come and meet them.

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 A man who told me, do you see there, everything that I've ever done.

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 Everything that's happened in my life.

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 And you think to yourself, honestly, everything?

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 He's told you everything?

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 That this woman's life was a mixture of regret and mistakes and pain and hurt.

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 And you think to yourself, you want people knowing that?

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 Do you know what?

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 If somebody knew everything about me, the last thing I'd want to do is to broadcast that fact to the world.

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 And then even more than that, invite people to come and meet the person who knows every single thing about me.

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 Right?

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 That's not what I would do.

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 I would either silence that person who knew everything about me,

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 or I would do what the 12 powerful men that apparently Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes and lover of a practical joke, did

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 when they received a telegram from him that simply said, flee, all has been discovered.

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 So he sends this to 12 of the most powerful men in his society.

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 Flee, all has been discovered.

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 And the story goes that within 24 hours, all 12 of those people had legged out of the country.

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 That's what I would do.

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 I would silence him or I would get out of the country.

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 The thought of people finding out everything about us is terrifying, is it not?

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 Which makes this woman's vulnerability here even more remarkable.

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 That she's okay with that.

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 And more than that, she's wearing it.

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 She's embracing it.

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 Which shows us what about the grace of Jesus?

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 That the grace of Jesus liberates us from pretending we're sorted.

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 There is no freer place to be than to live our lives in light of the grace and knowledge and love and forgiveness that is in Christ Jesus.

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 He is the strong tower that the righteous can run into and be saved.

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 And that's not massively attractive.

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 In our world right now where many of us struggle with imposter syndrome.

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 That we think we think we don't deserve to be somewhere.

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 That we think if only they knew.

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 We feel so out of place.

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 We feel like we're not good enough.

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 Do you see how this woman shows us that there is no freer place to be than to live our lives in light of the grace of Jesus?

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 And do you see how we get it again at verse 39?

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 I mean this must have been the standout feature for so many.

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 Do you see how that's repeated twice here in these verses?

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 He told me everything.

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 The people realize they have told her everything.

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 Everything?

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 Her?

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 Him?

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 Everything?

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 Everything?

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 But you see how when many heard that and saw the difference, the transformation that's gone on in this woman's life, they believed.

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 And is it not so beautiful that the first Gentile evangelist in John's gospel,

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 God's plan since before the foundation of the world to gather a people from the ends of the earth to himself,

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 who is the first person beyond the border of Israel who is invited to become a worshiper of God and go and tell everyone else who is it?

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 It's this despised, shunned, Samaritan woman.

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 Oh, how God can powerfully use the story of just a simple, transformed life that says,

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 Jesus saved me from my sin and there's joy and there's life in knowing him.

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 And this is the Sam Albrey quote on the screen.

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 I think this is so wonderful.

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 Sam Albrey's a Christian apologist from down south.

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 He's now over in Nashville in the States, but he just writes some wonderful stuff.

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 Here's what he said, and I love this.

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 I don't need to look good so that Jesus can look good.

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 Feel the weight of that off your shoulders.

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 I need to be honest about my colossal spiritual need so that he can look all sufficient.

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 First thing we've not to do is to underestimate the power of our witness,

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 how the Lord can use that to bring people to himself.

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 You think you've not got a story?

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 You think you've not got a dramatic story?

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 Let me just say it wasn't a dramatic stories of conversion

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 and people doing wonderful things in far off lands for Jesus that convinced me that Christianity was true.

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 Do you know what it was?

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 It was seeing people for whom I could tell that knowing Jesus made a difference to every single detail of their lives.

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 The way they went to work.

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 The way they did the dishes at night.

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 The way that they enjoyed time with their children.

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 The way that they were honest about falling out with their spouse.

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 The way that they went out of their way just to love people in simple ways in our church congregation growing up.

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 Those were the things where I could see that they knew Jesus.

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 Don't underestimate the power and how God can use your simple witness.

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 Here's the second thing not to do.

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 It's not to overlook the people around us.

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 Back in the text you see verse 35.

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 How the camera almost pans back to the disciples.

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 And I love this right?

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 I kind of love slapstick comedy.

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 I wonder how this is kind of how it went.

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 Maybe they even witness her drop her bucket.

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 Smash.

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 And off she runs.

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 And they come into the scene wondering what on earth has gone on here.

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 But they come back to the scene.

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 The camera moves from the woman.

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 She's run back into town.

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 The camera moves to the disciples.

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 What's on their minds?

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 Do you see?

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 What are they thinking about this whole time?

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 They're thinking about food.

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 Jesus, have you had something to eat?

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 They're wondering if he's got some kind of secret stash that he's drawing on.

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 Has somebody given him something to eat?

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 Why is he not answering this question?

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 And he so wonderfully, masterfully uses that desire for bread to teach them about his priorities.

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 And to get them thinking about harvest time.

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 See verse 35.

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 He says, don't you have a saying that it's still four months until harvest?

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 Do you see it?

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 It's probably just something that the locals said to each other at a certain point of year.

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 Kind of like the way, and I was thinking about it this week.

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 Kind of like the thing that we're all saying in Scotland at this time.

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 If you've grown up here, if you've been here for any length of time, here's a saying that we always say in November.

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 What do we say about the knights?

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 What are they doing?

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 They're fair drawing in.

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 We always say it in November time in Scotland.

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 Have you said that one recently?

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 Yeah?

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 Try not to clock anyone in the eyes.

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 I've said that many times.

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 Something that we say at a certain time of year.

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 I think this is what's going on here.

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 Is it not four months until harvest time?

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 And yet Jesus says, way out of harvest time, lift up your eyes and see.

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 Which begs the question, doesn't it?

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 What would they have seen?

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 So what would they have seen?

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 They would have seen brown, empty fields.

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 And that makes what Jesus says next really strange.

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 He says, look and see that the fields are white unto harvest.

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 They are ripe for harvest.

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 So the disciples who were previously thinking of bread are now probably thinking,

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 this guy is a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

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 What is he talking about?

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 What's on the horizon?

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 Rather, flip the question, who's on the horizon?

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 As he likely, and many commentators point this out,

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 as he likely directs their gaze back towards the city where they've just come from

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 and where the Samaritan woman has ran to.

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 That's where their gaze is.

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 And Jesus says, look, what do you see?

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 I'm telling you that the fields are white unto harvest.

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 So what do they see?

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 They see people from that Samaritan village coming out of the Samaritan village on their way to meet Jesus.

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 Because if he has transformed this lady's life, this woman's life,

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 then we need to kind of see who this guy is and what he's about.

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:12.759
 And as they're making their way across, Jesus is saying, do you see the harvest?

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:14.280
 Do you see the people?

00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:17.360
 He's talking about a soul harvest.

00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:22.120
 Now here's why I think I'm so like the disciples in this scene.

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:25.659
 I like to picture them this week.

00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:28.200
 Remember, they've just come from that Samaritan village, right?

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:31.419
 They went in there to buy bread and they've come back out to Jesus.

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:37.980
 Remember this whole Jew, Jew, Israelite, Jew, Samaritan thing that's going on,

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:39.240
 the hostility between the two.

00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:41.960
 Can you imagine the scene when they're in that village trying to get bread?

00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:42.879
 Right?

00:16:44.660 --> 00:16:48.580
 Twelve of them thinking, where's the shop?

00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:50.360
 There's the shop.

00:16:50.540 --> 00:16:53.000
 Tell you what, two of you come in, ten of us will stand outside,

00:16:53.160 --> 00:16:55.920
 but we'll keep a lookout just in case things kick off out here.

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:59.639
 Can you imagine saying to the person who's selling you the bread,

00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.940
 can you have bread?

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.960
 He's very aware of your Galilean accent.

00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:04.519
 He knows you're not from here.

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.460
 All of them are panicking.

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.720
 And what's their only thought?

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:11.720
 Their only thought is we want to get in and we want to get out and back to Jesus.

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.180
 as quickly as we can.

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.500
 Their tunnel vision on that.

00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:19.539
 Not even for a minute did it cross their minds

00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:25.720
 that Jesus actually might have things to do in the lives of these people,

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:29.059
 that Jesus might actually be interested in the lives of these people.

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.660
 I do that all the time.

00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:34.299
 Tunnel vision on my to-do list.

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:38.860
 Autopilot in the mornings because I've got things to do.

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.799
 And do you know what?

00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:43.019
 I fail to stop and look at the people who are in my path.

00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:48.139
 I just take the time to listen and to look.

00:17:49.399 --> 00:17:51.619
 I tried to do it the last few days this week.

00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.200
 Have a look.

00:17:52.919 --> 00:17:54.399
 It's the lollipop lady there today.

00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:58.820
 The guy on the tills in Aldi.

00:17:58.940 --> 00:17:59.640
 The dentist.

00:18:01.560 --> 00:18:02.580
 I got no feelings.

00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:05.320
 The fellow parents who are on the school run.

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:07.060
 The barista who makes my drink.

00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:10.480
 All of these people who are in our lives on a day-to-day basis.

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.300
 That we speak to.

00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.480
 That we interact with.

00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:16.680
 If we believe in the sovereignty of God, and we do,

00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:21.420
 then that means that no one who's in your path today is there by chance.

00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:26.519
 You know, there was a Greek goddess who people worshipped in the first century

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:29.480
 because she was thought to oversee the fortunes of the city.

00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:32.980
 That goddess's name, when translated roughly into English,

00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.080
 you know what it was?

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:34.860
 What it is?

00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.380
 Luck.

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:40.400
 Luck doesn't control your day.

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:46.920
 Luck doesn't control your day.

00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:50.480
 Fortuna, who was the Roman goddess, she doesn't control your day either.

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:51.920
 Fortuna, fortune.

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.340
 Right?

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:53.960
 Fortune cookie.

00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:57.040
 You see where we've derived all of our language from.

00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:57.420
 No, no, no.

00:18:57.740 --> 00:19:00.600
 This God is so sovereign that he controls your day.

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.380
 And we think about it.

00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:04.420
 If this is the game that this God is in,

00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:10.800
 and he uses us as we take his word to the peoples of this world,

00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:12.360
 and as he speaks through that word,

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:15.380
 if he uses us as the means to reach people,

00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:20.360
 then it's game on when we look at the people around us every single day.

00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:25.420
 So let's allow what Jesus is saying here to transform how you and I

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:28.019
 see the people around us every day.

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:31.580
 The people who you will go to tomorrow,

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:34.899
 and who you'll be sitting next to in your lecture hall.

00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:38.939
 And the people who you go tomorrow,

00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:40.879
 or this week,

00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:43.539
 and you're sharing a room with in your office.

00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:46.599
 The person in your office who you have to go and visit

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:48.240
 to get their signature in something,

00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:49.419
 or their input in something.

00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:52.819
 The person who you sit next to on the Christmas night out.

00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:56.379
 The person who buys the house next door and moves in.

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.439
 The people who, in your stairwell,

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:03.000
 will invite you to the Christmas mulled wine and mince pie party that goes on.

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.539
 The new kid that joins your class.

00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:06.039
 All of these different things.

00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:08.080
 If this God is sovereign,

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:10.160
 and he wants to reach the peoples of the world,

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:13.820
 we have to understand that he's put people in our paths for a reason.

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:19.779
 Let's not overlook the people around us.

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:21.619
 And lastly,

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.160
 let's not lose heart

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:25.359
 as we sow the seed.

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.819
 Sticking with the harvest metaphor,

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.099
 do you see verse 36?

00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:33.899
 The disciples get a lesson in sowing and reaping.

00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:38.099
 As people come to faith from this Samaritan village,

00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:39.839
 Jesus wants them to understand

00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:45.920
 that they are reaping the produce of someone else's labor.

00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:47.980
 Verse 38.

00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:49.440
 And in the context,

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:51.440
 I had never really appreciated it before

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.759
 until I got into it.

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.920
 In the context,

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.700
 John the Baptist,

00:20:55.860 --> 00:21:00.000
 when he's baptizing back at verse 23 of chapter 3,

00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.700
 I'd never appreciated before

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:05.220
 that he's doing that in Samaria.

00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.720
 Not too far, actually,

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:11.299
 from where this encounter is happening.

00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:14.140
 So he's been speaking about the kingdom of God in Samaria already.

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:16.360
 He's been calling people to repent.

00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:17.679
 He's been telling people,

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.839
 do you remember those opening chapters

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:20.779
 about the Lamb of God?

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:23.819
 And clearly not only has his message

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:25.339
 had an impact in the moment,

00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:29.000
 but his message is clearly still doing the rounds

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.979
 in the region, do you see?

00:21:31.639 --> 00:21:33.639
 So he's been faithfully sowing.

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:37.139
 And Jesus is helping them understand

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:38.579
 that they are about to reap

00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:40.539
 what John the Baptist was sowing.

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:41.819
 I love that.

00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:43.359
 Do you imagine that this woman runs back

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.359
 to this town and says,

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.679
 this man met Jesus.

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.579
 Could he be the Messiah?

00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.339
 Could he be the Christ?

00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:48.299
 And people think,

00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:48.639
 do you know what?

00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:49.819
 I've heard that name before.

00:21:50.699 --> 00:21:52.139
 I've heard about the Lamb of God.

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:54.779
 I think I've heard of something like that before.

00:21:54.939 --> 00:21:56.079
 And so they're intrigued.

00:21:56.199 --> 00:21:57.139
 They're curious.

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:02.099
 And out they go to meet Jesus.

00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:04.699
 So he's been faithfully sowing John the Baptist.

00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.839
 They're about to reap.

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:08.759
 For a new age is dawning

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:10.619
 as Jesus arrives in the world.

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.079
 An age that means,

00:22:13.199 --> 00:22:15.159
 because of his death on the cross

00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:18.439
 and his ascension into heaven

00:22:18.439 --> 00:22:21.939
 and the sending of the Holy Spirit

00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:26.159
 to apply that work to people's lives,

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:27.839
 to open their eyes

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:31.359
 to the all-surpassing beauty of Jesus,

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:35.559
 that means that it's harvest time.

00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:38.740
 As the old hymn puts it,

00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:40.980
 many of us would have grown up loving this song,

00:22:41.179 --> 00:22:43.099
 and I think it captures it so well,

00:22:43.199 --> 00:22:44.119
 talking about Jesus,

00:22:44.939 --> 00:22:47.659
 who yielded his life and atonement for sin

00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:51.500
 and opened the life gate that all may go in.

00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:55.359
 This is this new age that Jesus is talking about.

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.259
 He's done the thing

00:22:57.259 --> 00:23:00.099
 that's going to draw us back to God,

00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:02.419
 forgiven, ransomed, restored,

00:23:02.699 --> 00:23:04.959
 reconciled, loved, chosen, called.

00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:07.919
 He's justified with a future.

00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:09.799
 The Spirit sent.

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:12.519
 That it's harvest time.

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.459
 That God is going to bring in people

00:23:14.459 --> 00:23:15.679
 from all over the world.

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.980
 And that's the truth,

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.959
 and that's the mindset

00:23:17.959 --> 00:23:21.619
 that he calls his disciples to embrace.

00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:24.539
 And so as we stand in this new age

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:26.720
 that will culminate one day in Jesus returning,

00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:29.299
 sowing and reaping are going to be going on

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.439
 all the time.

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:30.899
 Do you see?

00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:32.300
 All the time.

00:23:34.300 --> 00:23:36.120
 And so here's the question, really simply.

00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:41.660
 Are we sowing the gospel into all sorts of places

00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:45.280
 and into the lives of all sorts of people?

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.320
 And here's the thing.

00:23:46.540 --> 00:23:48.380
 We'll see a few examples of this in a moment.

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:52.480
 We've got no idea how God is going to use that down the line.

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:56.839
 Absolutely no idea how he's going to do it.

00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:57.779
 But he will.

00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:59.740
 His word will never return to him empty.

00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:02.259
 And our labors for him are never in vain.

00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:04.799
 So we sow faithfully,

00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:07.779
 knowing that the Lord will use it.

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:10.400
 And so two quick fire questions

00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:11.480
 to get us thinking about this.

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.000
 First of all,

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:13.660
 are we sowing gospel prayers?

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:16.099
 Are we praying about things?

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:18.120
 You know, one of my favorite stories here,

00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:20.399
 and this is before probably 80% of us,

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.459
 well before my time,

00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:24.019
 probably before 80% of us here,

00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:26.059
 before any of our time.

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:28.319
 There was a lady here called Sheila McBride.

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.419
 And I never met Sheila,

00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:32.179
 but I've heard all about her.

00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:35.019
 Ruth Aird was telling me recently

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.579
 that the two of them used to meet up

00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:38.239
 on a regular basis just over there

00:24:38.239 --> 00:24:38.779
 and pray.

00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:40.500
 And pray.

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.799
 And in the days when the church

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:44.259
 was struggling numerically,

00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.519
 maybe growing a bit older,

00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:48.019
 they prayed, she was telling me,

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:49.299
 that God would raise up

00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.799
 the next generation

00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:54.019
 who would carry on this gospel work

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.379
 and who would continue

00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:57.039
 to be a witness in this community.

00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.619
 Isn't that incredible?

00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.160
 If you're here,

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.240
 look at us here today,

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.539
 you are here

00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:05.039
 and we are an answer to that prayer.

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.700
 How God has answered that prayer.

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.460
 I love it,

00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.639
 just sowing prayers.

00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.539
 It was not an amazing thing

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.359
 to think about this week

00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.299
 as I thought about it.

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.779
 Wouldn't it be great to pray

00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.879
 for the Brunswick congregation

00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:17.460
 who meet here in 30 years' time?

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.639
 Right?

00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.619
 The things that we would love

00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.859
 God to do in this community

00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:21.779
 in 30 years' time,

00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:22.500
 that there would continue

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:24.180
 to be a gospel witness here

00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:26.180
 and there would be a generation here

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:27.019
 who would continue

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.220
 to be on fire for Jesus

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:29.539
 and witnessing to the people here.

00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.299
 Would that be a great thing

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:30.680
 to pray?

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:33.359
 That babies would be born,

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:35.980
 that teens would come to faith,

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:37.160
 people would come to faith.

00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:39.339
 The whole multi-generational thing

00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:41.099
 would continue to carry on here

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.700
 as a witness

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.639
 to what God has done

00:25:42.639 --> 00:25:43.879
 in our midst.

00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:45.320
 So if you're here today

00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:47.040
 and you're before Sheila's time

00:25:47.040 --> 00:25:47.800
 just like me,

00:25:48.020 --> 00:25:49.140
 we need to understand

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.560
 that we are standing

00:25:50.560 --> 00:25:51.320
 on the shoulders

00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:53.260
 of prayer warriors.

00:25:55.580 --> 00:25:57.440
 Are we praying, friends,

00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:59.200
 for the next generation?

00:25:59.540 --> 00:26:01.200
 Are we praying for our friends?

00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.860
 Are we praying for our neighbours?

00:26:03.040 --> 00:26:04.540
 Are we praying for our family?

00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:06.080
 And I love to think

00:26:06.080 --> 00:26:07.620
 we can tell the generations to come

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.480
 that during COVID,

00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:10.040
 we met every night to pray

00:26:10.040 --> 00:26:11.260
 on Zoom.

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.180
 And they'll say,

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.759
 what was Zoom?

00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.039
 And we'll be able to tell them.

00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.680
 Met every night to pray on Zoom.

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:18.140
 And every Monday,

00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:19.019
 I love that,

00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.859
 that every Monday

00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.799
 people meet to pray.

00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:22.119
 Please do come and join

00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:23.359
 if you haven't done that before.

00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:26.279
 Another thing I invite you to do,

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:28.119
 email my address on the website

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:29.220
 with things that you would love

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.960
 us to pray about.

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:30.900
 And we'll make sure

00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:31.940
 that they're prayed about on Monday,

00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.819
 particularly people.

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:35.559
 As you think about Christmas invites,

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:36.940
 speaking to friends,

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:39.400
 if you email in with things

00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:40.740
 and people you want to get prayed for,

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.339
 we'll make sure

00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.279
 that they get prayed for

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.920
 on Monday,

00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:44.559
 eight o'clock on Zoom.

00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:47.279
 Are we sowing prayers

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.900
 as a church generation

00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.519
 here today?

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:51.759
 Are we sowing gospel words

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:54.539
 to our non-believing friends?

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:54.980
 Yes,

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.620
 but maybe just

00:26:55.620 --> 00:26:57.759
 broaden it out a little bit.

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.880
 To our non-believing friends

00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:02.700
 as we think about them.

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.319
 Question,

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.900
 how many of us became believers

00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:05.740
 when put up our hands

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:07.180
 because of the witness

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.599
 and words of a friend or parent?

00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.660
 Just put up your hand

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.200
 if that was you.

00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:11.320
 Somebody told you about Jesus.

00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:12.680
 Right?

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.779
 That's how you came to faith.

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.180
 Whether they were in a church,

00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:15.840
 whether they were at school,

00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.120
 whatever,

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.380
 they just told you about Jesus.

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.640
 Do you see how this works?

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:21.040
 That God would use means

00:27:21.040 --> 00:27:21.820
 to reach us?

00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:24.380
 Be encouraged by that.

00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:26.400
 That this is how God works.

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:28.019
 Are we sowing gospel words

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:29.019
 into people's lives?

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.320
 Non-believing friends.

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:32.500
 But just broaden it up a little bit.

00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:34.120
 Are we sowing gospel words

00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:34.920
 into our children?

00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:36.920
 Parents,

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:39.279
 I get that it's hard,

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.180
 right,

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.580
 to keep on being faithful

00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:43.759
 and sowing into their lives.

00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.220
 Honestly,

00:27:44.340 --> 00:27:45.279
 every night I have

00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:45.920
 that inner wrestle

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.620
 in the chaos

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:49.440
 of family dinner time.

00:27:50.560 --> 00:27:51.580
 WrestleMania happens

00:27:51.580 --> 00:27:52.660
 on the couch over here

00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.480
 and you're running about

00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:53.820
 thinking,

00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.279
 honestly,

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.120
 could we not just get

00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:55.680
 through this night

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.300
 and we'll just get

00:27:56.300 --> 00:27:57.120
 the kids down

00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:58.539
 and we have a free evening?

00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.200
 Right?

00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:01.279
 Don't underestimate

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:02.840
 the spiritual battle of that.

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:04.359
 Why it's always

00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:05.480
 the most difficult time of day

00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.500
 at that point.

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.240
 But are we sowing

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:11.019
 the gospel seed

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.679
 into the lives

00:28:11.679 --> 00:28:12.319
 of our children?

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.079
 And that's not just

00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.699
 a parent's thing.

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.339
 All of us.

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.179
 Are we helping

00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:16.379
 with this next generation?

00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:17.539
 Right?

00:28:17.639 --> 00:28:18.299
 It takes a community

00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:19.059
 to raise a child,

00:28:19.179 --> 00:28:19.879
 so goes the saying.

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:21.480
 Are we sowing gospel words

00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.319
 into their lives?

00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:23.359
 Are we encouraging Peter

00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.139
 in his work?

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.740
 Don't underestimate

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.919
 what God can do

00:28:28.919 --> 00:28:29.720
 as we continue

00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:31.019
 to sow.

00:28:31.199 --> 00:28:31.419
 Friends,

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.579
 to those who are suffering,

00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.779
 going through hard times

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.319
 just now.

00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:37.199
 Are we sowing

00:28:37.199 --> 00:28:37.879
 the word of God

00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:38.859
 into their lives?

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:41.079
 Sowing not cliches,

00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:42.139
 but are we sowing

00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:42.619
 verses,

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.619
 thoughts that we've

00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:44.579
 really thought about

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.639
 and are praying for them?

00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:45.859
 You know,

00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:46.779
 there was the lady

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.459
 who we stayed with

00:28:47.459 --> 00:28:48.119
 in the States

00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:49.559
 over the summer.

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:51.279
 Her husband died slowly

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.259
 and I'm pretty sure

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.299
 it was of MS.

00:28:54.939 --> 00:28:55.480
 And she said

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.099
 when it happened,

00:28:56.199 --> 00:28:57.599
 the years of my pastors

00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.379
 and my friends

00:28:58.379 --> 00:28:59.720
 who for years before

00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.399
 had been sowing

00:29:00.399 --> 00:29:01.259
 the word of God

00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:02.599
 into my life

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.420
 and into my heart

00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.259
 and that moment

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.140
 for both of us,

00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:06.019
 her husband and I,

00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:07.500
 she said it really

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.119
 kicked in.

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:11.660
 Friends,

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.200
 are we sowing

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:13.379
 God's words,

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.519
 faithfully sowing

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.079
 into those

00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:16.039
 who are suffering?

00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:16.900
 And are maybe

00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:18.440
 the last group

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.180
 as we think about,

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.900
 are we sowing

00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:20.740
 into the lives

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.240
 of those

00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.019
 who we might

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:24.099
 understand one day

00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:25.000
 might move on?

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.740
 Right?

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.259
 It's one of the

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.220
 challenges of being

00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:30.680
 a city centre church

00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:31.420
 where there's a high

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.400
 turnover of people

00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:33.119
 and I know that

00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:33.819
 we're feeling it

00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.359
 right now

00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:35.480
 as people come

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:36.640
 and as people go

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.900
 and it's so hard

00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:38.599
 to say goodbye

00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.839
 to people that you love.

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.299
 But what a privilege

00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:42.799
 is it not

00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:43.819
 that God brings us

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:45.000
 people for a season

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:47.099
 for us to love

00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:48.700
 and for us to care for,

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:50.259
 for us to invest in

00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:52.380
 and that those people go.

00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:55.020
 I get that it's hard.

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.400
 I get that it's hard.

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:57.880
 But let's view it

00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:58.480
 like this.

00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.020
 Do you know what?

00:29:59.060 --> 00:30:00.000
 I want to encourage you

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.340
 this morning

00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:01.020
 because I hear

00:30:01.020 --> 00:30:02.100
 the other side of it

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:04.140
 and I speak to the

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.880
 pastors and church

00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:05.760
 leaders of churches

00:30:05.760 --> 00:30:06.500
 where people are going

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.440
 to move on to

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:09.240
 and they say to me

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:11.500
 just thank you so much

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.340
 as a church family

00:30:12.340 --> 00:30:13.240
 for being faithful

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:14.260
 and investing in them

00:30:14.260 --> 00:30:15.000
 for that season

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.640
 of their lives

00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:17.000
 because they've come

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.700
 to us

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:19.420
 and they're such

00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:20.060
 a blessing.

00:30:21.600 --> 00:30:22.300
 I think I said

00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:22.940
 we've got to think

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.480
 with this stuff,

00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:23.819
 isn't it?

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.419
 We've got to think

00:30:24.419 --> 00:30:25.059
 kingdom.

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.399
 Are we sowing faithfully

00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:28.539
 into people's lives

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.440
 who we know

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.680
 might one day move on?

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.159
 We're not holding back

00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:32.659
 from that.

00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.659
 We're investing in people

00:30:34.659 --> 00:30:37.539
 because this is an age

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.419
 to see where the reaper

00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:38.919
 and the sower

00:30:38.919 --> 00:30:40.039
 will rejoice together.

00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.339
 In other words,

00:30:41.379 --> 00:30:42.379
 this is not tribes.

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.539
 They realize that

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.440
 they're on the same team.

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:48.659
 Here is the thing

00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.759
 that's most important

00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.359
 to Jesus.

00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:53.500
 Here is the Father's will.

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.159
 The Father's will

00:30:55.159 --> 00:30:56.279
 to save and gather

00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:57.359
 a people from all

00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.559
 corners of the earth

00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:00.099
 and gather them

00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:01.500
 to him.

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.059
 And if you take

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:04.240
 one thing from this today,

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:04.779
 and I hope you take

00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.419
 more than one thing,

00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.299
 but if you take one thing,

00:31:06.419 --> 00:31:07.579
 just remember

00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:09.319
 that nothing is going

00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.500
 to stop him doing this.

00:31:13.399 --> 00:31:14.339
 Just as we close,

00:31:14.439 --> 00:31:14.879
 let me tell you

00:31:14.879 --> 00:31:16.619
 this one example of this

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:17.419
 that encouraged me

00:31:17.419 --> 00:31:18.139
 that this is true.

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.680
 Last Sunday,

00:31:21.020 --> 00:31:21.900
 after the service,

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.380
 last Sunday,

00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:22.980
 I went to speak

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.780
 at Grace Mount

00:31:23.780 --> 00:31:24.780
 Community Church.

00:31:26.020 --> 00:31:27.240
 And I noticed this lady

00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.860
 who was sitting

00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:28.980
 right on the front row.

00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:31.180
 And so I went up to her

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.480
 and I started chatting to her

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:34.160
 and introduced myself

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:35.120
 and she said back to me,

00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:35.500
 she said,

00:31:35.580 --> 00:31:36.560
 Hi, I'm Marion.

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.140
 I'm the one

00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:39.259
 that used to spy on them.

00:31:40.620 --> 00:31:41.480
 Now, I've heard many

00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.460
 a first line from somebody

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.400
 when I've introduced myself.

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:44.880
 I've never heard that one.

00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:46.800
 But this was Marion.

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:48.520
 Marion used to spy on them.

00:31:49.760 --> 00:31:50.760
 So I've got the backstory.

00:31:51.020 --> 00:31:51.820
 Here's the backstory.

00:31:53.760 --> 00:31:54.360
 The church,

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.160
 when it first started,

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.300
 used to meet in a care home.

00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:57.280
 Now, if you know Grace Mount,

00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:58.580
 you know the leisure centre there.

00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:00.260
 Opposite the leisure centre

00:32:00.260 --> 00:32:01.360
 is the care home, right?

00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:02.760
 So they used to meet there

00:32:02.760 --> 00:32:03.600
 when they first started

00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:04.520
 as a church plant.

00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:06.520
 And as I understand it,

00:32:06.540 --> 00:32:07.100
 the care home,

00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:08.360
 we're happy for them to meet.

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.740
 But as you understand

00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.180
 in our climate,

00:32:10.280 --> 00:32:11.300
 a little bit nervous

00:32:11.300 --> 00:32:12.440
 as to who they are

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:14.140
 and what they're about to teach.

00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:14.460
 Okay?

00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:15.520
 Underlying thing,

00:32:15.600 --> 00:32:16.320
 are they a cult?

00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.220
 So what they did

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.400
 is they sent along a cleaner

00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:21.180
 who was about to clean

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.880
 after they'd left.

00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:22.840
 Sent along the cleaner.

00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:24.440
 Can you go just a little bit early

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:26.480
 and can you spy on them?

00:32:26.540 --> 00:32:27.580
 Can you suss them out?

00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.360
 What are they about?

00:32:29.780 --> 00:32:31.060
 And Marion was that cleaner.

00:32:32.520 --> 00:32:34.800
 So Marion turned up every week

00:32:34.800 --> 00:32:35.840
 just a little bit early.

00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:40.520
 Her suspicion turned to intrigue,

00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:43.020
 turned to interest,

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:45.460
 turned to questions,

00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.660
 turned to conversations,

00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:49.619
 turned to coffees,

00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.319
 turned to repentance

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.319
 and faith in Jesus

00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:54.759
 and turned to baptism today.

00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.379
 Isn't that cool?

00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.579
 I loved it as well

00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.579
 because during the notices

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.200
 they said,

00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:00.960
 we've got a Christianity

00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:01.740
 Explored course

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.359
 that we're running.

00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:04.059
 Who's planning on coming?

00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:06.200
 Marion's hand was straight up.

00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.799
 And I don't mean like that.

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.160
 I mean like that.

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:10.900
 And she turns around

00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:12.040
 to the rest of the congregation

00:33:12.040 --> 00:33:12.680
 as if they say,

00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.360
 come on guys,

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.720
 am I the only one?

00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:15.779
 Am I the only one coming?

00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:16.420
 Am I the only one

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.400
 going to invite friends?

00:33:18.600 --> 00:33:19.200
 Love it.

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.900
 And I think that encouraged me

00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:23.480
 so much because this is hard

00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.540
 and let's not kid ourselves

00:33:24.540 --> 00:33:25.600
 that this is not hard

00:33:25.600 --> 00:33:27.860
 in the world in which we live.

00:33:28.380 --> 00:33:28.720
 It's just hostile

00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:30.279
 to the things of God.

00:33:30.360 --> 00:33:30.640
 And again,

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.640
 this is what we expect

00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:32.800
 as we read through Scripture.

00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:34.399
 But let's be just

00:33:34.399 --> 00:33:36.299
 as fortified

00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:36.899
 and strengthened

00:33:36.899 --> 00:33:37.839
 by the truth

00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:40.279
 that Jesus is bigger.

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.980
 And this is true

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:44.519
 today

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:46.740
 ever as it was then

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:48.960
 that this is the business

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.980
 that he's employed in.

00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:50.440
 And do you see

00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:51.299
 how they finish there?

00:33:51.379 --> 00:33:52.440
 What do they say of Jesus?

00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:54.579
 What's the call

00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:55.559
 of the Samaritans

00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:56.319
 right at the end

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:57.220
 of that section there?

00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.000
 Who is he?

00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.119
 He's the Savior

00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:00.759
 of the world.

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:02.119
 Again,

00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:02.960
 just that world,

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:03.859
 that word world

00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:04.839
 as John uses it,

00:34:04.900 --> 00:34:06.220
 not just Israel.

00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:08.119
 He's the Savior

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:08.880
 of all peoples.

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.280
 All those who would come

00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:11.119
 to put their faith

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:11.900
 and trust in him.

00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:12.559
 And maybe that's you

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:12.960
 here today.

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.719
 You need to do this

00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:14.679
 for the first time maybe.

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.280
 Just put your trust

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:16.900
 in this Jesus.

00:34:17.340 --> 00:34:18.280
 What's on offer today

00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:19.880
 is somebody who knows you,

00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.760
 somebody who's loved you

00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:22.519
 by giving his life

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.280
 for you on the cross

00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:24.500
 and somebody who calls you

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.480
 to come to him

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.840
 and know forgiveness

00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.519
 and life

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.719
 that only he can offer.

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.360
 So here's what I want to do

00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.120
 just really simply

00:34:31.120 --> 00:34:31.940
 as we respond.

00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.700
 And maybe the band folks

00:34:34.700 --> 00:34:35.880
 can come back up

00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:36.340
 at this point.

00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:37.240
 I just want us to think

00:34:37.240 --> 00:34:38.519
 about one friend.

00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:40.579
 Okay,

00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:41.940
 maybe one family member

00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:43.800
 who you would just love

00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:45.120
 to see come to know Christ.

00:34:46.120 --> 00:34:46.740
 And wouldn't it be

00:34:46.740 --> 00:34:47.180
 wonderful,

00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:48.300
 great thought today

00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:49.500
 if all of us

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:51.039
 offer up that one person

00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:53.940
 and know that in this room

00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:55.960
 120 people or so

00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:57.059
 are being offered up to God.

00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.039
 Lord,

00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:58.840
 would you save them?

00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:00.140
 Would you open their eyes?

00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:01.400
 I see, Lord,

00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:03.620
 that the harvest is white.

00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.539
 Would you help me be bold?

00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.440
 Would you help me speak?

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:06.920
 But Father,

00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:07.579
 by your spirit,

00:35:07.640 --> 00:35:08.620
 would you open their eyes

00:35:08.620 --> 00:35:10.140
 to see what I've come

00:35:10.140 --> 00:35:10.960
 to see in Jesus?

00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:12.340
 Truly he is the Savior

00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:12.880
 of the world.

00:35:13.140 --> 00:35:13.820
 So why don't we do that

00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:14.200
 just now?

00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:15.100
 We'll be quiet for a minute

00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:16.140
 and then we'll maybe

00:35:16.140 --> 00:35:16.900
 stand and sing

00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:18.140
 just as we close.

00:35:18.140 --> 00:35:18.240
 Amen.

00:35:18.240 --> 00:35:18.300
 Amen.

00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:18.360
 Amen.

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:18.380
 Amen.

00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:18.800
 Amen.

00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:18.900
 Amen.

00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:19.300
 Amen.

00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:20.300
 Amen.

00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:20.360
 Amen.

00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:20.800
 Amen.

00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:21.300
 Amen.

00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:22.300
 Amen.

00:35:22.300 --> 00:35:22.360
 Amen.

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.300
 Amen.

00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.300
 Amen.

00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:25.300
 Amen.

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:26.300
 Amen.

00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:26.360
 Amen.

00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:27.300
 Amen.

00:35:27.300 --> 00:35:28.300
 Amen.

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:28.820
 Amen.

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:30.800
 Amen.

00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.380
 Amen.

00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:50.500
 Amen.

00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:53.820
 Amen.

00:35:53.820 --> 00:36:02.220
 oh father you have no rival

00:36:02.220 --> 00:36:04.780
 you have no equal

00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:07.320
 truly there is none

00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:10.019
 who matches and compares to you

00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:14.519
 and loving father who hears our prayers

00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:16.300
 because we offer them in Jesus' name

00:36:16.300 --> 00:36:19.059
 Lord would you hear our cries just now

00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:20.900
 for our friends

00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:23.460
 for our family neighbours

00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:26.480
 for those who will rub shoulders with tomorrow

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:29.380
 Lord would you give us the boldness to speak

00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:31.940
 would the fire in our belly

00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:33.460
 just like this Samaritan woman

00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:35.780
 an overflowing love for you

00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:37.820
 be the thing that moves our mouths

00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:41.780
 Father we long that people would come to know him

00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:43.940
 and see in Jesus

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:47.860
 what by your grace we have come to see in Jesus

00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:51.079
 Father thank you for your grace

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:52.360
 thank you Lord

00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:54.659
 that the fields are white unto harvest

00:36:54.659 --> 00:36:56.000
 because of what you have done

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:59.400
 and so father we commit all of these names to you

00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:01.380
 Lord we commit our own struggles

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:03.159
 and our worries and our concerns to you

00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:04.400
 knowing that you love us

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:06.360
 and that you care for us

00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:09.059
 Father be with us the rest of our time

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:10.199
 this morning

00:37:10.199 --> 00:37:11.840
 and the rest of today

00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:12.739
 in Jesus' name

00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:13.839
 Amen

00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:13.879
 Amen

00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:14.760
 Amen

00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:14.980
 Amen

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:15.260
 Amen

00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:15.940
 Amen

00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:16.940
 Amen

00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:20.680
 Amen

00:37:20.680 --> 00:37:22.960
 Amen

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:25.000
 Amen

00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:26.420
 Amen

00:37:26.420 --> 00:37:28.980
 Amen

00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:29.900
 Amen

00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:30.900
 Amen

00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:30.920
 Amen

00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:31.039
 Amen

00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:31.519
 Amen

00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:32.820
 Amen

00:37:32.820 --> 00:37:37.240
 Amen

00:37:37.240 --> 00:37:38.140
 Amen

00:37:38.140 --> 00:37:39.760
 Amen

00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:40.820
 Amen

00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:41.400
 Amen

00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:41.640
 Amen

00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:41.760
 Amen

00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:41.880
 Amen

00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:42.360
 Amen

00:37:42.360 --> 00:37:42.619
 Amen

00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:42.960
 Amen