WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.060 I'm going to lead us in prayer. 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:04.480 Lord Jesus, as we come to your word now, 00:00:04.580 --> 00:00:07.320 we pray that you would speak to us by your spirit, 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:10.120 that you would make us attentive to you, 00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:11.560 that you would grow us in Christ, 00:00:12.380 --> 00:00:15.019 and that we would be men and women who worship you, 00:00:15.099 --> 00:00:17.620 who give you the glory in every aspect of our life. 00:00:18.400 --> 00:00:20.760 And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:21.859 --> 00:00:24.120 We sell Christianity short 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:27.660 when we separate being rescued by Jesus 00:00:27.660 --> 00:00:29.900 from worshipping Jesus, 00:00:30.940 --> 00:00:33.299 and what I mean is that we preach, 00:00:33.460 --> 00:00:37.060 come to Jesus, receive forgiveness for your every sin and failure. 00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:40.859 We preach the rich generosity of God, 00:00:42.179 --> 00:00:45.460 but we forget to say, or people don't hear, 00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:49.980 join us in treasuring Jesus together. 00:00:52.519 --> 00:00:55.219 So people will take a free ticket to heaven. 00:00:56.219 --> 00:00:58.379 They want what Christ gives. 00:00:58.380 --> 00:00:59.960 They want salvation. 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:00.520 They want salvation. 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:02.120 They want his free gift. 00:01:03.060 --> 00:01:04.560 And they don't want him. 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:10.879 God's grace is given so that we can know him 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.939 and participate in his glory. 00:01:12.939 --> 00:01:18.399 And God's goal in saving people is that we would worship him, 00:01:19.399 --> 00:01:22.060 that we would acknowledge him for who he is, 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:25.200 that we would give him his worth-ship, 00:01:25.759 --> 00:01:27.859 that we would delight in him, 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:30.799 that we would rejoice to give him glory. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:34.759 We are saved to worship. 00:01:36.259 --> 00:01:38.700 And so my message to you this morning is, 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:40.079 come to Jesus, 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:41.899 be rescued, 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:43.659 start worshipping. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:48.299 Now you use the word worship, 00:01:48.399 --> 00:01:49.759 and it's quite a confused word. 00:01:50.679 --> 00:01:52.359 A lot of people use the word 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:54.399 when what they are talking about is singing. 00:01:55.340 --> 00:01:56.259 So for some, 00:01:56.420 --> 00:01:58.920 singing in church is worship. 00:02:00.340 --> 00:02:03.359 And others talk about the service or the liturgy, 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:05.599 and they describe that as worship. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:10.139 And I think I want to say that they are both 00:02:10.139 --> 00:02:12.819 very narrow uses of the word worship. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:16.939 And they may or may not be worshipped 00:02:16.939 --> 00:02:19.759 depending on what is going on in a person's heart. 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:23.439 So you can be sitting here this morning, 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:25.819 and you can be totally disengaged from God, 00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:28.219 and you can be totally disengaged from one another, 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:30.979 and if that's the status of where we are, 00:02:31.079 --> 00:02:33.280 then we can hardly claim to be worshipping. 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:39.879 Jesus quotes Isaiah 29 in Matthew 15 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:40.680 when he says, 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:43.000 These people honour me with their lips, 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:45.599 but their hearts are far from me. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:51.740 So it's possible to make all the right noises, 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.439 and at the same time to have a heart 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:57.479 which is far from God. 00:02:58.539 --> 00:03:01.319 And that is a warning to all, 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:03.060 including me. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:10.419 I want us to think this morning of worship 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:12.039 as a whole-of-life activity. 00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:13.400 It's broad. 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:17.359 It's about giving God his due in our life. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:20.979 Worship means responding to God on his terms, 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:21.699 not ours. 00:03:22.459 --> 00:03:24.060 True worship will be expressed 00:03:24.060 --> 00:03:26.000 in loving obedience to Christ. 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:28.299 True worshippers will not ask, 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:29.280 What's in it for me? 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:31.199 They know Christ, 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:32.520 and so they will ask, 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:34.680 What do you want from me? 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:39.240 Lord, I so treasure you. 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:44.080 I trust you with every circumstance of my life. 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:46.960 Lord, take my life 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:49.460 and use it to your glory. 00:03:49.460 --> 00:03:54.420 Now I'm continuing our Kingdom of God series. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:56.820 We're looking at the big picture movement of the Bible. 00:03:57.600 --> 00:03:58.980 We've been working to the theme 00:03:58.980 --> 00:04:00.960 which Sam's put up in front of us this morning. 00:04:01.100 --> 00:04:01.780 There is a king. 00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:04.480 There are subjects of the kingdom, 00:04:04.700 --> 00:04:06.780 and there is a place where the king reigns. 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:08.439 There's a place where God reigns. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:10.259 And what we're doing is 00:04:10.259 --> 00:04:12.620 we're considering different places in the Bible, 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:14.099 and we were looking at the Bible 00:04:14.099 --> 00:04:16.600 in those places over time, 00:04:16.660 --> 00:04:17.959 and we're asking over time, 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:21.139 What does it look like to be God's people 00:04:21.139 --> 00:04:24.459 in God's place under God's rule? 00:04:26.159 --> 00:04:28.620 And today we turn our attention to Moses. 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:30.899 So Exodus 19, it would be great to have it open. 00:04:31.779 --> 00:04:33.879 We'll be going to various places this morning. 00:04:35.259 --> 00:04:37.800 But in Exodus 19, verse 4, 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:39.699 God says to the people of Israel, 00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:42.420 You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:45.340 and how I carried you on eagles' wings 00:04:45.340 --> 00:04:46.780 and brought you to myself. 00:04:49.960 --> 00:04:52.340 It summarises a big story. 00:04:54.080 --> 00:04:55.500 700 years before, 00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:58.680 God revealed the future to Abraham in Genesis 15. 00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:00.780 We read it last week. 00:05:00.980 --> 00:05:02.259 God said to Abraham, 00:05:02.379 --> 00:05:02.639 He said, 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:05.379 Know for certain that your descendants 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:07.139 will be strangers in a country 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:08.079 not their own, 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:11.019 and they will be enslaved 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:13.459 and mistreated for 400 years, 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:16.060 but in the fourth generation, 00:05:16.219 --> 00:05:17.279 they will come back here. 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:21.560 So in Exodus 19, 00:05:21.659 --> 00:05:22.639 where we are this morning, 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:24.800 the future that Abraham spoke of 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:25.719 is now past. 00:05:27.180 --> 00:05:28.399 And his descendants 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:30.680 had grown to be a great number in Egypt. 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:33.199 And they cried out to the Lord 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:34.740 because they were cruelly oppressed 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:35.980 by a racist government. 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:39.379 And God raises up Moses 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:41.100 to confront the king of Egypt. 00:05:41.660 --> 00:05:43.980 And in a series of enormous miracles, 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:46.500 God destroyed the power of the Egyptian king 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:47.560 and all his gods. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:51.920 And all through the contest 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:53.340 with the Egyptian king, 00:05:53.699 --> 00:05:55.540 Moses was asking him 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:57.139 to allow Israel to go 00:05:57.139 --> 00:05:58.519 and worship the Lord. 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:02.359 And the king continually refused. 00:06:03.419 --> 00:06:04.699 God wouldn't be worshipped 00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:05.560 in his kingdom. 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:07.399 No way he would allow them 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:08.639 to shoot through 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:09.819 and go and worship God. 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:10.579 Not going to happen. 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:16.139 It's a huge story. 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:17.339 And in the end, 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:20.079 everyone who trusts God's word 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:21.079 and protects themselves 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:22.560 with the blood of the lamb lives. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:25.500 And everyone who ignores God's provision 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:27.339 loses their firstborn son. 00:06:27.339 --> 00:06:29.500 And so God forces 00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:31.179 the Egyptian king's hand. 00:06:31.819 --> 00:06:33.539 The Egyptians beg the Israelites 00:06:33.539 --> 00:06:34.719 to leave their land. 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:36.339 They send them away with riches. 00:06:37.339 --> 00:06:38.699 They plunder the Egyptians. 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:43.079 They escape to the desert. 00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:45.239 And God saves the nation 00:06:45.239 --> 00:06:46.479 in a stupendous way. 00:06:46.579 --> 00:06:48.019 He drives up the Red Sea. 00:06:48.579 --> 00:06:50.239 The nation passes through. 00:06:50.659 --> 00:06:53.059 And God drowns the armies of Egypt 00:06:53.059 --> 00:06:54.299 when they try to follow. 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:57.740 And it's this massive story 00:06:57.740 --> 00:06:58.379 in the Bible 00:06:58.379 --> 00:06:59.340 of salvation 00:06:59.340 --> 00:07:00.540 and of redemption. 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:03.220 God pulls all the levers 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:04.560 to deliver his people. 00:07:05.220 --> 00:07:07.139 The entire nation of Israel, 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:08.860 all of Abraham's descendants, 00:07:09.580 --> 00:07:12.199 experience this extraordinary rescue 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:15.319 from the most appalling circumstances. 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:18.120 And we see that God 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:19.819 is keeping his promises 00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:20.959 to Abraham. 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:25.439 And so when God says 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:27.040 in verse 4, Exodus 19, 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:28.480 you yourselves have seen 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:29.560 what I did to Egypt 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:31.539 and how I carried you 00:07:31.539 --> 00:07:32.680 on eagle's wings 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:34.060 and brought you to myself, 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:38.240 it has got a big story behind it. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:42.379 So Exodus 19 begins 00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:43.060 with the nation 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:44.319 just over eight weeks 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:45.000 out of Egypt. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:47.460 And they're in the desert 00:07:47.460 --> 00:07:49.740 in front of the mountain of God, 00:07:49.840 --> 00:07:50.579 Mount Sinai. 00:07:50.960 --> 00:07:52.300 And God reminds them 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:53.420 that he is the one 00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:54.340 who saved them. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:55.319 And he addresses 00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:56.579 his rescued people 00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:57.439 and he says to them, 00:07:57.480 --> 00:07:58.480 this is verse 5, 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:16.640 And what God does 00:08:16.640 --> 00:08:18.160 is he offers these people, 00:08:18.280 --> 00:08:19.020 his people, 00:08:19.640 --> 00:08:21.400 a privileged role 00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:23.439 in his purposes for the world. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:26.040 And God says, 00:08:26.200 --> 00:08:27.140 I will treasure you, 00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:29.099 you will be set apart 00:08:29.099 --> 00:08:30.139 for my purposes, 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:31.180 you will be 00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:32.580 my representatives 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:33.659 to the world. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:37.699 And God names the terms. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:38.399 He says, 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:39.879 Obey me fully 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:41.580 and keep my covenant. 00:08:43.199 --> 00:08:44.379 And if you do, 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:45.720 you will be the nation 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:46.879 out of all the nations 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:47.500 of the earth 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:48.879 who represent me 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:49.639 to the world. 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:53.159 Now I haven't got time 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:53.639 this morning, 00:08:54.059 --> 00:08:54.799 but if we read 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:55.899 the next 12 chapters, 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:56.539 you would read 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:57.480 the 10 commandments 00:08:57.480 --> 00:08:58.240 being given 00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.399 and the laws of God 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:00.099 and the provisions 00:09:00.099 --> 00:09:01.059 for priesthood 00:09:01.059 --> 00:09:02.199 and you would see 00:09:02.199 --> 00:09:02.959 how God wants 00:09:02.959 --> 00:09:03.860 to be worshipped 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:05.480 and you would see 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:06.459 that at the conclusion 00:09:06.459 --> 00:09:07.199 of God giving 00:09:07.199 --> 00:09:08.240 all his instructions, 00:09:08.459 --> 00:09:09.860 the people with one voice 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:10.360 say, 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:12.099 everything that the Lord 00:09:12.099 --> 00:09:12.539 has said, 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:13.120 we will do. 00:09:13.199 --> 00:09:14.199 That's Exodus 24. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.519 Everything that the Lord 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:17.139 has said, 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:18.599 we will do. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:19.879 It's a great moment 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:20.419 of commitment. 00:09:20.419 --> 00:09:24.620 And God invites 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:25.860 this nation of Israel 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:27.360 into this privileged 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:28.959 relationship with him. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:29.839 They say, 00:09:29.979 --> 00:09:30.740 we will do it 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:31.719 and they blow it 00:09:31.719 --> 00:09:32.579 first base. 00:09:35.779 --> 00:09:36.839 Because you get to 00:09:36.839 --> 00:09:38.079 Exodus chapter 32 00:09:38.079 --> 00:09:38.719 and 33 00:09:38.719 --> 00:09:39.599 and you come across 00:09:39.599 --> 00:09:40.860 a national disaster. 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:44.319 Moses is up on the mountain 00:09:44.319 --> 00:09:45.319 meeting with God. 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:47.260 The people convince Aaron 00:09:47.260 --> 00:09:48.940 to make them a golden calf 00:09:48.940 --> 00:09:49.660 which they begin 00:09:49.660 --> 00:09:50.500 to party around 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:51.040 and worship. 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:56.120 The holy people of God, 00:09:56.220 --> 00:09:57.360 his treasured possession, 00:09:57.580 --> 00:09:58.900 stepped away from privilege. 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:00.720 They went back to being 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:02.180 just like everyone else 00:10:02.180 --> 00:10:03.860 and in a short period of time 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:04.720 they just went back 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.560 into the world. 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:10.699 And Moses and Joshua 00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:12.019 come back down the mountain 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:13.459 to an orgy of worship 00:10:13.459 --> 00:10:14.299 as the nation 00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:15.779 dances and prances 00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:17.259 around this stupid thing 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:18.259 that they have made. 00:10:21.859 --> 00:10:23.139 Sometimes we behave 00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:24.059 as though there's some kind 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:25.279 of safety in sin. 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:25.679 You know, 00:10:25.819 --> 00:10:26.919 we get security 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:27.839 if everybody else 00:10:27.839 --> 00:10:28.899 is doing the same thing 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:29.699 it'll be alright. 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:35.199 We drive like the road 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.540 rules are for everybody else. 00:10:38.060 --> 00:10:39.740 We watch television shows 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:40.720 that a few years ago 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:41.520 wouldn't have even got 00:10:41.520 --> 00:10:42.660 an R classification 00:10:42.660 --> 00:10:43.420 at the movies. 00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:46.900 We go back into the world 00:10:46.900 --> 00:10:47.460 we gossip 00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:48.120 we call it 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:49.759 informed conversation. 00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:55.140 Moses says to Aaron 00:10:55.140 --> 00:10:56.840 what on earth is going on? 00:10:58.180 --> 00:10:59.480 What have you done? 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:02.640 And he gives this 00:11:02.640 --> 00:11:03.900 idiotic explanation. 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:05.959 Oh don't be angry 00:11:05.959 --> 00:11:07.360 we threw all the 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:08.500 jewellery into the fire 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:10.279 and look what popped out. 00:11:10.579 --> 00:11:11.399 It's a miracle. 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:17.159 Heard the story recently 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:18.059 a 50 something 00:11:18.059 --> 00:11:18.659 year old man 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:19.779 somebody my age 00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:20.939 left his wife 00:11:20.939 --> 00:11:21.919 went overseas 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:23.340 sleeping with a 25 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:24.259 year old woman 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:25.360 to do mission 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:26.500 in an orphanage. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:31.220 And he justified 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:32.559 himself by calling it 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:33.059 ministry. 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:37.939 We are blind fools 00:11:37.939 --> 00:11:38.579 when it comes 00:11:38.579 --> 00:11:39.139 to sin. 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:44.559 Moses saw the people 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:45.299 running wild. 00:11:45.579 --> 00:11:46.359 He's horrified 00:11:46.359 --> 00:11:47.079 that the nation 00:11:47.079 --> 00:11:47.839 has turned away 00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:48.419 from God 00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:49.500 in worship 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.419 and he takes 00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:51.299 the most drastic 00:11:51.299 --> 00:11:51.839 action. 00:11:52.199 --> 00:11:53.099 He gets the Levites 00:11:53.099 --> 00:11:54.099 to strap the sword 00:11:54.099 --> 00:11:54.879 in and on 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:55.719 and go in amongst 00:11:55.719 --> 00:11:56.159 the people 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:57.219 and bring it to a halt 00:11:57.219 --> 00:11:58.359 and they slaughtered 00:11:58.359 --> 00:11:59.500 3,000 of their own 00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:00.339 people that day 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:01.200 and then God 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.000 topped it off 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:02.560 with a plague 00:12:02.560 --> 00:12:03.000 that killed 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.879 a whole lot more. 00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:09.040 And Moses 00:12:09.040 --> 00:12:10.240 goes to the Lord 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:10.960 and he appeals 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:11.620 for mercy 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:12.379 and forgiveness 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.300 for the people 00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:15.660 and he places 00:12:15.660 --> 00:12:16.820 himself between 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:18.240 them and God 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.720 he acts 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:20.639 as a priestly 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:21.360 mediator 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:23.080 and he says 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:23.840 if you won't 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:24.980 forgive their sin 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:26.300 then blot me 00:12:26.300 --> 00:12:27.420 out of your book. 00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:31.979 And God 00:12:31.979 --> 00:12:33.219 replies very firmly 00:12:33.219 --> 00:12:33.959 whoever sinned 00:12:33.959 --> 00:12:34.439 against me 00:12:34.439 --> 00:12:34.979 I will blot 00:12:34.979 --> 00:12:35.699 out of my book. 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:41.019 And again 00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.099 it's a long story 00:12:42.099 --> 00:12:43.179 but this is 00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:44.319 opportunity lost 00:12:44.319 --> 00:12:47.299 because Israel 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:48.039 has blown it 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:48.779 on the starting 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.279 blocks. 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:50.079 Right at the 00:12:50.079 --> 00:12:50.439 beginning 00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:51.179 they lose 00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:51.919 the opportunity 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:52.819 to be the 00:12:52.819 --> 00:12:53.839 privileged nation. 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:56.519 They will never 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:57.379 now be 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:57.919 the kingdom 00:12:57.919 --> 00:12:58.559 of priests 00:12:58.559 --> 00:12:59.199 and the holy 00:12:59.199 --> 00:12:59.699 nation 00:12:59.699 --> 00:13:00.379 the treasured 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:00.799 possession. 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:03.899 And in judgment 00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:04.600 God says 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:05.480 go to the land 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:06.319 but I will not 00:13:06.319 --> 00:13:07.139 go with you 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:09.980 because you 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:10.740 are a stiff 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.559 necked people 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:13.120 and I might 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:13.879 destroy you 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:14.500 on the way. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:20.539 I was blown 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:21.240 away by this 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:22.120 God does not 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.240 change his mind. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:26.039 they lose 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:26.779 an immense 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:27.500 opportunity 00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:30.360 but God 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:31.259 still 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:32.639 shows grace 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:33.519 to the 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:33.980 nation 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:35.220 in allowing 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:36.100 Moses to 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:36.659 mediate 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:37.560 on their 00:13:37.560 --> 00:13:38.019 behalf. 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.600 And so 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:43.460 Moses rather 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:43.840 than the 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.139 nation 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:44.840 becomes the 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:45.180 priest 00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:45.519 or the 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.000 mediator 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.600 who stands 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.279 between God 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:47.840 and people. 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:49.519 He is the 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:49.919 man who 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.659 turns God's 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.299 anger away 00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:51.680 from the 00:13:51.680 --> 00:13:51.980 nation. 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:52.580 He is the 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:52.980 man to 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:53.460 whom God 00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:54.320 says I 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:54.940 am pleased 00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:55.379 with you 00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:55.659 and I 00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.060 know you 00:13:56.060 --> 00:13:56.600 by name. 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.580 Exodus 33. 00:13:58.259 --> 00:13:58.960 He is the 00:13:58.960 --> 00:13:59.379 man who 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:00.120 knows and 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:00.779 sees the 00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.340 glory of 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:01.659 God. 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:05.159 No one 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:05.639 else in 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.159 the nation 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:06.920 is privileged 00:14:06.920 --> 00:14:07.399 to know 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:07.920 God in the 00:14:07.920 --> 00:14:08.259 way that 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:09.039 Moses does. 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:12.500 God is 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.340 still king 00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:15.759 and God's 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.539 people are 00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:17.759 still invited 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:18.659 to God's 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.120 place. 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:19.519 That's for 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.019 next week 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:21.019 for Sam's 00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:21.259 sake. 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:22.980 God is 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.659 king 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:24.139 but now 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:24.840 God rules 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:25.340 them through 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:26.100 a particular 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:26.740 mediator. 00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.899 A priest 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:29.580 who stands 00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:30.259 between God 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:30.840 and people 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:32.300 and they 00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:32.659 are no 00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:33.159 longer a 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:33.680 nation of 00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:34.019 priests 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.659 mediating 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:35.220 God to 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:35.779 the world. 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.360 And what 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:39.019 is lost 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.659 is not 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:40.440 recaptured 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:41.060 in great 00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:41.560 glory 00:14:41.560 --> 00:14:43.360 until you 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:43.840 get to the 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:44.360 pages of 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:44.620 the New 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.000 Testament. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:45.059 covenant. 00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:48.740 So in 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.059 Hebrews 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:49.779 chapter 9 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.500 verse 15 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:50.940 it says 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:51.659 for Christ 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.779 is the 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.340 mediator 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:53.779 of a 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:53.980 new 00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.379 covenant 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:56.259 that 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:56.700 those 00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:57.100 who are 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:57.519 called 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:57.879 may 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.379 receive 00:14:58.379 --> 00:14:58.620 the 00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.019 promised 00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.620 eternal 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.220 inheritance 00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:01.620 now that 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.039 he has 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:02.700 died as a 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:03.240 ransom to 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:03.679 set them 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:04.259 free from 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:04.720 the sins 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.200 committed 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.059 under the 00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:06.320 first 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:06.720 covenant. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:09.160 Or in 00:15:09.160 --> 00:15:09.480 Hebrews 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.420 chapter 14 00:15:10.420 --> 00:15:11.139 verse 4 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:12.879 we have a 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.440 priest who 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:14.040 has gone 00:15:14.040 --> 00:15:14.500 through the 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:14.820 heavens. 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:17.120 And so 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:17.639 the glory 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:18.660 of God 00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:19.120 is seen 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:19.399 in the 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:19.960 Lord Jesus 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.340 in a 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:20.860 fuller way 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.259 than was 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.960 ever revealed 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:22.220 through 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:22.620 Moses. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.019 Christ 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:24.440 is the 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:24.980 mediator 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.519 the priest 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.139 who dies 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:26.820 for the 00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:27.139 sin of 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.460 God's 00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:27.840 people. 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:29.700 He is a 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.519 propitiation 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.139 for our 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.379 sin. 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.000 He turns 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.420 God's 00:15:32.420 --> 00:15:32.720 anger 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.639 away from 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.000 us. 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.080 He is 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:36.600 in heaven 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:38.560 he knows 00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.040 God's 00:15:39.040 --> 00:15:39.540 glory and 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:40.080 when Jesus 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:40.680 was here 00:15:40.680 --> 00:15:41.220 God his 00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:42.120 father declared 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.180 this is my 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:43.860 son whom 00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.540 I love 00:15:44.540 --> 00:15:45.460 listen to 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:45.840 him. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.120 And it 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:51.680 gets even 00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:52.440 better because 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:53.860 Jesus restores 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.820 what was lost 00:15:54.820 --> 00:15:55.639 when God's 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.620 people faltered 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.259 at first 00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.519 base and 00:15:58.519 --> 00:15:59.240 worshipped the 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:00.100 golden calf. 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:07.019 Peter has 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:07.480 a clear 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.159 understanding 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:08.680 of what 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:09.440 Jesus has 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.180 restored 00:16:10.180 --> 00:16:11.080 when he 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:11.460 writes 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:12.320 1 Peter. 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.180 He 00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:14.639 effectively 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.220 writes to 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:15.620 us sitting 00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:15.980 here this 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:17.500 morning and 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.120 he says to 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:18.960 us but you 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:19.680 are a chosen 00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:21.600 people a 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.620 royal priesthood 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:23.259 a holy 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:23.960 nation a 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:24.840 people belonging 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:25.980 to God that 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.820 you may declare 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:27.740 the praises of 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.540 him who called 00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:29.159 you out of 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:30.500 darkness into 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.139 his wonderful 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.599 light. 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:34.500 Once you 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:34.919 were not a 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:36.459 people but 00:16:36.459 --> 00:16:37.120 now you are 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:37.719 the people of 00:16:37.719 --> 00:16:37.919 God. 00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:38.579 Once you had 00:16:38.579 --> 00:16:39.259 not received 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.219 mercy but 00:16:40.219 --> 00:16:40.839 now you have 00:16:40.839 --> 00:16:41.659 received mercy. 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:41.740 mercy. 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:45.959 And so Peter 00:16:45.959 --> 00:16:47.159 takes up the 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:47.740 language of 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.399 Exodus to 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.139 explain the 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.600 mission of 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.419 Christian believers 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:51.199 to the world 00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:52.019 and it is 00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:52.579 absolutely 00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.319 glorious. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.019 The privilege 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:55.439 and the 00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.419 opportunity offered 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.559 in Exodus and 00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:58.419 lost has been 00:16:58.419 --> 00:16:59.199 recaptured. 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.219 Believers are 00:17:01.219 --> 00:17:02.259 addressed as a 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.120 chosen people, 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:03.860 a royal 00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:04.740 priesthood, a 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.980 holy nation, a 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.059 people who 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.539 belong to 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:07.839 God. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:10.579 And we 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.099 are called 00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:11.720 those things 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.359 because of the 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:12.759 work of 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.059 Christ. 00:17:13.179 --> 00:17:13.659 So in 1 00:17:13.659 --> 00:17:14.179 Peter chapter 00:17:14.179 --> 00:17:14.799 1 Peter 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.119 says, 00:17:15.459 --> 00:17:16.220 Praise be to 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.759 the God and 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.359 Father of our 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:17.879 Lord Jesus 00:17:17.879 --> 00:17:18.459 Christ. 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:19.220 In his 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:20.319 great mercy he 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.059 has given us 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.319 new birth into 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.179 a living hope 00:17:23.179 --> 00:17:23.779 through the 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.639 resurrection of 00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:25.419 Jesus Christ 00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:26.159 from the dead. 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:30.379 So salvation 00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:33.819 has led to 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:34.679 the opportunity 00:17:34.679 --> 00:17:35.759 for privileged 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.039 service of the 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.359 king. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:41.319 and we are 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:42.059 able to enter 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.019 into a life of 00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.419 worship. 00:17:44.679 --> 00:17:45.459 And we are 00:17:45.459 --> 00:17:46.159 now able to 00:17:46.159 --> 00:17:46.819 do God's 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.539 works which he 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.139 prepared in 00:17:48.139 --> 00:17:48.959 advance for us 00:17:48.959 --> 00:17:49.419 to do. 00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:52.159 And 1 00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:52.980 Peter says that 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.539 we have been 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.159 called to a 00:17:54.159 --> 00:17:54.959 very specific 00:17:54.959 --> 00:17:55.500 role. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:57.819 To declare 00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:59.199 the praises of 00:17:59.199 --> 00:18:00.299 him who called 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:00.980 you out of 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:02.259 darkness into 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:02.859 his wonderful 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.259 light. 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.000 1 Peter chapter 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.899 2 verse 9. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.779 God has 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.439 saved us for 00:18:09.439 --> 00:18:10.039 a purpose. 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.619 To declare 00:18:12.619 --> 00:18:13.379 the praises, 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:13.919 to declare 00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:14.720 his praises. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:14.819 God has. 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:19.400 And Peter says 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:19.960 that to a 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.380 bunch of 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.039 believers who 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:21.660 don't seem 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.519 very significant 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.380 in terms of 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:23.980 power and 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.279 worldly influence. 00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:27.480 He calls them 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.360 strangers in the 00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:29.000 world, he says 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.660 they're scattered, 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.539 and yet he says 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.180 to them even 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:32.740 though everybody 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.799 might despise you 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.279 for what you 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:34.860 think and for 00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:35.720 what you believe, 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.620 you go and live 00:18:37.620 --> 00:18:38.480 such good lives 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.400 among the pagans 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.079 that though they 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:40.819 accuse you of 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.440 doing wrong, 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.059 they may see 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:44.000 your good deeds 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:44.600 on the day of 00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:45.380 Christ Jesus. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.180 Who we are 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:52.600 in the world 00:18:52.600 --> 00:18:53.120 is not what 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:53.519 makes us 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.400 significant in 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:55.180 God's economy. 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.840 On the day of 00:18:57.840 --> 00:18:58.539 Christ Jesus, 00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.360 your ATAR, 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.160 your position in 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.620 the business 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.320 world, the 00:19:02.320 --> 00:19:02.960 properties and 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.500 wealth that you 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:03.980 possess, 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.320 representing 00:19:05.320 --> 00:19:06.000 Australia at 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.380 sport or 00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:07.039 whatever it is, 00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:07.860 will not matter. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:12.279 God has saved 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:12.920 us to give 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.720 him the glory 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.480 and not to 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.279 take his glory 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.019 to ourselves. 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.100 We are saved 00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:18.860 to worship. 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.820 And if you are 00:19:21.820 --> 00:19:22.700 a Christian believer, 00:19:22.840 --> 00:19:23.519 you have a story 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.519 to tell about God 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.140 who brought you 00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:25.779 from darkness 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.400 to light. 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:29.940 And the journey 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.500 for all of us 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.019 might be a little 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.580 bit different. 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.340 Some of us have 00:19:32.340 --> 00:19:33.080 been nurtured in 00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:33.640 the faith in 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.640 Christian families 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:36.580 and maybe, 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.240 maybe not, 00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:37.740 there have been 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.640 places along the 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.440 way where our 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:40.420 family's faith has 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:41.259 become our own. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:44.559 And others of 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.160 us know very 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:45.980 clear moments of 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.799 conversion, a 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.500 moment in time 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.240 when you understood 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.259 Christ and trusted 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.000 him for the first 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.320 time. 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:51.039 You've got a story 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.539 to tell. 00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:54.340 And even if you 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:54.900 aren't sure what 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:55.860 your story is, 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.220 we have his story. 00:19:58.320 --> 00:19:58.820 We have the 00:19:58.820 --> 00:19:59.200 gospel. 00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.279 And God has 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:02.380 provided a perfect 00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:03.400 mediator, a perfect 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:03.820 priest. 00:20:04.080 --> 00:20:04.880 He has stood in 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.340 our place. 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.200 He has died for 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:06.720 our sins. 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.720 And we have God's 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.559 great news about 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.240 the Lord Jesus 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:10.680 Christ. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.180 We have a 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.120 message that God 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:12.740 wants us to 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.799 declare to his 00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.200 world. 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:16.759 And it's a 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.279 message which 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:18.299 people need even 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.880 if they don't 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.600 think they do. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.380 What you see 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:28.140 here is that God 00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:28.960 speaks to the 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.440 world through 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.660 chosen mediators, 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.420 his people. 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:31.519 people. 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.220 He does it through 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.820 the church. 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.019 And I don't 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.620 mean the church 00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.539 as an institution. 00:20:41.800 --> 00:20:42.180 I mean the 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.019 people of God 00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:44.640 scattered throughout 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.660 the world who 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.500 meet in many 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.400 different places 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:48.480 and circumstances 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:50.360 around the word 00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:50.779 of God. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.840 The community 00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:54.600 groups that I'm 00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:54.960 in at the 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:55.360 moment are 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:55.960 reading a book 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.740 called A 00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.039 Meal with 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.359 Jesus. 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:57.940 I've mentioned 00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.279 it a few 00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:58.880 times over the 00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.240 last few 00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.539 weeks. 00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:00.839 It's a 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.519 delightful little 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:01.900 book that 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.359 looks at the 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:03.240 significance of 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.319 food and meals 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:07.019 in Luke's 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.359 gospel. 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.480 And it 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.359 describes Jesus 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:10.940 in a very 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:12.079 ordinary way as 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.599 the son of 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.359 man who came 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.120 eating and 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:14.539 drinking. 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.759 And the 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.559 religious people 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.160 called him a 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:21.859 drunkard and a 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:22.259 glutton. 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:25.319 But it's in 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.019 Luke's gospel, 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.660 it's during 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.359 meals that 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:28.240 Jesus does 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:28.720 some of his 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.579 most significant 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.299 teaching, 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:30.920 sometimes 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.500 offending, 00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:32.599 sometimes 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.180 comforting. 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:35.960 But he does 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.379 it in the 00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:36.700 ordinary. 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.200 And I think 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:41.660 much of 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.519 ministry happens 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:42.879 in the 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.839 ordinary moments 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.519 of life. 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:47.879 Opportunities 00:21:47.879 --> 00:21:48.420 to declare 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.220 God's praise 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.319 come in very 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.480 ordinary settings 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.099 around a 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.379 meal. 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.859 At the 00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.619 school gate, 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.579 while we're 00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.119 watching our 00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.679 kids play 00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:01.619 sport, over 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:02.279 lunch in the 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.939 workplace, one 00:22:03.939 --> 00:22:04.480 of you told me 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.339 a lovely story 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.579 the other day 00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.099 of wanting to 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.579 be a friend 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.079 and to hold 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:08.819 out a helping 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.299 hand. 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:10.879 And it led 00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.799 to a conversation 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.779 where the 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.619 person expressed 00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.259 interest in 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.719 coming to 00:22:14.719 --> 00:22:15.099 church. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.219 Brian 00:22:18.219 --> 00:22:18.679 Tung did 00:22:18.679 --> 00:22:19.119 some great 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.659 things at the 00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.179 end of last 00:22:20.179 --> 00:22:21.039 year with the 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:21.919 NTE mission. 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:24.919 The whole 00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:25.819 team surveyed 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.379 people down 00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:26.579 at the 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:26.859 Mandarin 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.539 Centre down 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.199 in Chatswood 00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:29.459 and their 00:22:29.459 --> 00:22:30.299 purpose wasn't 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.879 to do a 00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:31.459 dump and 00:22:31.459 --> 00:22:32.219 declare every 00:22:32.219 --> 00:22:32.799 purpose of 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.159 God in 00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:34.039 every conversation. 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.019 I think 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.379 Brian described 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:38.799 it as a 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:40.339 date, a 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:40.719 point of 00:22:40.719 --> 00:22:41.480 contact and 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.099 hoping maybe 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:42.740 to create an 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.480 opportunity for 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.500 a second 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.939 date and a 00:22:45.939 --> 00:22:46.799 second opportunity. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:49.039 I have a 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.419 friend who 00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:50.159 describes these 00:22:50.159 --> 00:22:50.460 sort of 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.480 conversations like 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:51.859 fishing. 00:22:52.639 --> 00:22:53.039 He said you 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.919 need a well 00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:55.799 presented bait 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.319 and you need 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:58.099 patience while 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.799 you wait for 00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.319 the fish 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.839 themselves to 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.460 show interest 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.000 in what you've 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.779 got to offer. 00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:05.180 I like to 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:05.619 talk about 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.279 having winsome 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.279 conversations with 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:09.059 people, not 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.579 being too 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:11.680 pushy, listening 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.500 well, sharing 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.500 yourself, being 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:15.079 real, not 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.599 looking to 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.299 dump your 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:16.859 truck on 00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.259 top of 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:17.639 people. 00:23:21.919 --> 00:23:22.839 Romans 12 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:24.220 1 says 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:24.899 therefore in 00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:25.220 view of 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.019 God's mercy 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:27.539 present your 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.259 bodies as a 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:29.119 living sacrifice 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:29.960 to God 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:31.559 which is your 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.559 spiritual act 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.119 of worship. 00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:36.220 Salvation 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.639 leads to 00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:38.179 worship 00:23:38.179 --> 00:23:40.720 and worship 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:43.099 is whole of 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:44.079 life service 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:45.000 of the Lord 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.980 Jesus Christ. 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.539 In 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.379 Exodus God 00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:49.980 moved his 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.740 mighty arm to 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.139 save his 00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:51.699 people in a 00:23:51.699 --> 00:23:52.419 marvellous way. 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.419 They were 00:23:54.419 --> 00:23:54.939 called to 00:23:54.939 --> 00:23:55.559 worship him. 00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.619 They blew it 00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.439 at first base. 00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.839 They lost the 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.859 privilege opportunity 00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:01.539 to be God's 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.279 priests, God's 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.019 mediators to 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.480 the world. 00:24:05.439 --> 00:24:06.159 And in 00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:07.159 Jesus Christ we 00:24:07.159 --> 00:24:07.799 have been offered 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.919 privilege again. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.819 1 Peter 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.759 chapter 2 says 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.299 you are a 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.180 chosen people, 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.960 a royal 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.700 priesthood, 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:18.240 a holy 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.940 nation, a 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.759 people belonging 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.480 to God 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:22.079 that you may 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:22.759 declare the 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.519 praises of 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:23.920 him who 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.460 called you 00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:24.839 out of 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.240 darkness 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.640 into his 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.099 wonderful 00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:27.599 light. 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.539 So go into 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.099 the ordinary 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:35.000 and be the 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.720 extraordinary 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.900 people that we 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:37.700 have become in 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.099 Christ. 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.199 Christ. 00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.459 So my 00:24:40.459 --> 00:24:41.079 message to you 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:41.579 this morning, 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.079 come to 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.699 Jesus, be 00:24:44.699 --> 00:24:46.699 rescued, start 00:24:46.699 --> 00:24:49.240 worshipping, open 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:51.000 our mouths, use 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.799 our resources, open 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:54.639 our homes, open 00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.419 our hearts to 00:24:55.419 --> 00:24:56.379 people living in 00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:58.240 darkness that we 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.119 might declare the 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.119 praises of him who 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:01.019 called us out of 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.819 darkness into his 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.819 wonderful light. 00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:05.519 Amen.