WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.839 Thirty years ago, I was on a plane in O'Hare Airport in Chicago, when this very cool guy, beautiful suit, expensive hand luggage, came into the cabin. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:29.920 ! I was feeling amazingly blessed as I managed to get my ticket bumped up into business class. 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:36.600 After paying a pittance to travel. So I was sitting there, I got up because he had the window seat. 00:00:38.540 --> 00:00:42.740 And like Americans do, he thrust out his hand and told me his name. 00:00:43.980 --> 00:00:47.460 So I responded by telling him my name. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:59.460 And he said to me, it's the kind of question that clergy don't really like to be asked when they're in Mufti. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:02.020 He said, what do you do for a living? 00:01:02.539 --> 00:01:08.700 And I was tempted to say, I'm in middle management in some national organisation. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:17.000 But I sort of thought if I said that, I'd hear a cock crow in my head or something and it might break down. 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:20.500 So he's kind of stiffened. 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:27.060 He said to me, you need to know I have nothing to do with religion. 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:32.319 He said, I've never had a religious thought in my life. 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:36.700 But you have one minute to tell me why it's important to you. 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:40.780 What would you say? 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:44.340 What would you say? 00:01:45.460 --> 00:01:47.400 I mean, I can't remember what I said. 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:48.780 It's 30 years ago now. 00:01:48.980 --> 00:01:53.020 And I can just about remember why I'm standing here at the moment. 00:01:53.019 --> 00:02:03.159 And he proceeded to drain the liquid contents of the business class cabin and fell into a coma. 00:02:04.039 --> 00:02:05.759 And we said goodbye to each other. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:09.039 We didn't exchange telephone numbers or anything like that. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:14.719 And I did think about him once or twice. 00:02:15.079 --> 00:02:22.519 And I mean, I can't say that faithfully I prayed for him, that whatever I said would influence him. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:24.759 But I did think of him occasionally. 00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:40.639 And when I thought of him, I thought to myself, I wonder what kind of persons Paul had in mind when he said, you know, God can do infinitely more than we ever dare to ask or imagine. 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:50.159 And it would be maybe 10, 12, possibly 15 years later. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:53.280 In the days of faxes. 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:54.879 Remember them? 00:02:56.560 --> 00:03:01.519 And suddenly my machine started to whir about 5.30 in the evening. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:06.960 And he was from this guy. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:09.539 He said, you might remember me. 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:11.099 We sat next to each other. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.599 He said, I appreciate I was a little antisocial. 00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:17.060 But I thought you might like to know. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:18.759 And you might even like to pray for me. 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:20.419 Because tonight I'm being baptised. 00:03:22.899 --> 00:03:27.579 And it was in a church actually in Brussels that I knew quite well. 00:03:27.579 --> 00:03:30.060 And I knew the minister there. 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:39.159 And the minister there relayed to me what an amazing turnaround there had been in the mind of this man. 00:03:39.159 --> 00:04:02.400 And the reason he was so kind of embittered and so unwilling to listen to the gospel was that his 21-year-old beautiful daughter had died of leukemia some two or three years before I bumped into him. 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:13.340 And tonight one of the things we'll hear about from verse 1 in this passage in a few moments. 00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:15.280 is 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:18.160 what do we do? 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:20.980 Where do we turn 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:25.720 when bad things in life happen to us? 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:34.120 Before that, I just want to do a quick recap on the things we were talking about last week. 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:44.280 And I said there were three things that I thought, you know, it's up to you, but three things I thought that you might like to talk about at this Lent. 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:48.959 One was, do I really believe? 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:56.239 Have I really processed the truth that if I am in Christ, as Paul would put it, I am forgiven? 00:04:57.339 --> 00:05:00.539 Or do I still live under a cloud of guilt? 00:05:00.540 --> 00:05:15.180 Two, can I truly accept God's grace, this idea that God loves me even though I may have lived a life which would not normally deserve his love? 00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:29.680 And thirdly, this is a question for believers only, am I working hard on those good works that God has prepared in advance for me? 00:05:30.540 --> 00:05:41.439 And I said, you know, there's three good questions for Lent that you could think about, and I don't know if you have, but I would suggest you might. 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:48.560 I came across this week in my preparations another way to look at the Ephesian literature. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:57.020 And this pattern basically divides the whole epistle into three sections. 00:05:57.020 --> 00:06:00.020 The first section is chapters 1 to 3. 00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:03.780 Where Paul is talking about the wealth of the believer. 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:12.620 You remember in chapter 1 we're told that in Christ God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual gift. 00:06:14.280 --> 00:06:18.520 Then the person who wrote this framework up said, 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:21.680 we move from the wealth of the believer to the walk of the believer. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:29.220 That is, given that this is what you believe, this is the way that you should behave. 00:06:30.220 --> 00:06:41.939 And our speaker in church on Sunday made the very good point that a lot of churches seem to get the idea that if you want to come amongst us, 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:42.960 you better behave. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:49.779 In the hope that if you come amongst us, some of it may rub and you come to believe. 00:06:49.779 --> 00:06:57.679 And he was questioning whether or not we should be like that. 00:06:58.019 --> 00:07:02.759 And you know that phrase that's used in churches frequently, 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:04.739 all are welcome. 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:11.199 And I attended this Methodist church in Cornwall, which some friends of ours went to. 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:18.639 It was this rather dear Methodist lay preacher with a very fine Cornish brogue. 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:25.019 And he would say, after the service today, there'll be a sausage sizzle. 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:30.639 And my daughter, Mahalia, will be singing at it. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:33.159 All are welcome. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:36.740 I mean, I have no idea how many people went. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:37.959 I didn't go myself. 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:40.560 But we say all are welcome. 00:07:40.719 --> 00:07:46.060 But I think, you know, there may be occasions when we really need to face the truth. 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:51.879 That actually, in a lot of churches, a lot of people who show up in goodwill don't feel welcome. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:54.920 And we need to think about that. 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:58.639 I heard a speaker today. 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.720 No, I heard it was at the prayer meeting this morning that I attended. 00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:07.040 And somebody was saying, it's Mothering Sunday this Sunday. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.560 And, you know, that's a really sad day for a lot of people. 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:11.259 And that's true. 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:20.920 And, you know, I often wonder whether we should call it Motherhood Sunday. 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:25.740 So it's not quite as, you know, stigmatizing for people who are not mothers. 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:26.539 But I don't know. 00:08:28.159 --> 00:08:31.719 So from the wealth of the believer to the walk of the believer. 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:42.800 And then the very last shortish section, which I suspect in our churches, and I shall say this again to you in a couple of weeks, the warfare of the believer. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:47.639 That is, we're involved with the principalities and powers. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:51.120 Paul says that's where our real battle lies. 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:54.639 And then he tells us to put on the full armor of God. 00:08:55.560 --> 00:08:58.879 And to pray at all times in the Spirit. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:04.039 So I have this kind of anxiety about the warfare bit. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:08.360 And that is, in most churches, they don't even take it seriously at all. 00:09:08.860 --> 00:09:15.379 And in some churches, they're totally obsessed by it and find the work of the devil under every stone they can overturn. 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:19.960 And I want to say to you, I think we do need to take it seriously. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:28.700 But we don't need to be obsessed because Jesus Christ has already won the victory over the evil one on the cross of Calvary. 00:09:31.060 --> 00:09:33.340 So that's another way to look at it. 00:09:33.660 --> 00:09:38.440 And what's great about this text, I'm not going to read this to you tonight. 00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:41.620 But you might like, if you like homework, you might like to do this. 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:45.580 But you might like to look at the story of Paul's arrest. 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:53.519 Remember I told you that this letter was written very likely from Rome where Paul was in prison. 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:58.600 He was later transferred to Jerusalem and held in house arrest in Jerusalem. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:05.399 But at this point, he was chained to a Roman army prison officer. 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:11.480 And you can read about that in Acts chapter 21, verses 17 to the end. 00:10:12.299 --> 00:10:21.019 And the interesting thing about Paul's imprisonment was that, first off, he should never have been in prison. 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:24.899 He was a Roman citizen. 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:28.899 And Roman citizens had a lot of rights. 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:38.459 I mean, basically the way it worked out if you were a Roman citizen, was that if somebody did something to you, 00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:45.840 and the person was caught, the full might of the Roman Empire would be brought to bear on them. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:54.259 And, you know, as we know, you might well end up being crucified upside down on the Appian Way or some such place. 00:10:54.259 --> 00:11:00.100 So he was in prison wrongly because he was a Roman citizen. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:04.159 But even worse, he was falsely accused. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:12.439 What he was accused of was saying, because, we'll talk about this a bit more in a moment, 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:19.220 but because Paul saw his primary ministry to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, 00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:24.620 he was accused of being dismissive by the scribes and the Pharisees, 00:11:24.680 --> 00:11:27.920 of being dismissive about the law in the Old Testament. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:31.200 Paul wasn't dismissive of it at all. 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.019 Incidentally, nor was Jesus. 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:36.360 You know, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, 00:11:37.060 --> 00:11:40.899 I didn't come to change a jot or tittle of the law. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:42.200 I came to fulfill it. 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:43.920 Two different things. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:51.719 I was telling somebody I had to go to Long Ashton on Sunday and give a talk on... 00:11:51.719 --> 00:11:57.059 There's some people, and I mean, there are quite a lot of people like this, surprisingly, in many ways, 00:11:57.479 --> 00:12:01.779 who think that we should never read the Old Testament in public worship, you know, all that butchery. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:07.579 Actually, less than 0.01% of the Old Testament is to do with butchery. 00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:15.120 In fact, there's a lot more stuff in the Old Testament calling sinful Israelites to repentance 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:21.020 than there is about violence and death and all that kind of thing. 00:12:22.900 --> 00:12:29.960 So, Paul describes himself in verse 1 as a prisoner of Christ. 00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:35.759 Interestingly, there is a new version of the New Testament. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:36.819 Of course, there is. 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:39.879 Called the English Standard Version. 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.720 You may have seen a copy of it. 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:47.080 As far as I know, it is the only modern translation of the New Testament 00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:50.120 where instead of saying that Paul... 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:54.039 When Paul describes himself as the prisoner of Christ Jesus, 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:58.059 the ESV says the prisoner for Christ Jesus, 00:12:58.220 --> 00:13:02.539 which I think carries a sense that the actual Greek word won't carry. 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:04.980 I think he was a prisoner of. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.259 Christ Jesus. 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:12.179 But that in itself is a very interesting statement. 00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:16.899 Because technically, Paul was a prisoner of the Roman Empire. 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:20.700 To be accurate, he was a prisoner of Caesar Nero, 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:22.939 who was not a nice man. 00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:26.519 And he was in a Roman prison 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:30.500 and was something that would be held by the Romans in Jerusalem. 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:34.840 And I think they asked the very interesting question of, 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:37.720 really, whose prisoner was Paul? 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:41.820 I think if you'd asked the man in the street 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:44.460 whose prisoner Paul was, 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:47.220 they would have said, well, Nero's, the Romans. 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:51.639 But actually, Paul described himself differently. 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:56.059 He says, I'm a prisoner of Christ Jesus 00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:58.779 for the sake of you Gentiles. 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:08.879 I think that raises a very interesting question. 00:14:09.939 --> 00:14:12.419 And I think it's raised the same question 00:14:12.419 --> 00:14:14.600 for Christians throughout the ages. 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:16.920 And that is, in the end, 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:20.899 who is in charge of your life? 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.960 In the world today, 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:27.040 there are two dominant philosophies. 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:28.899 One is fatalism. 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:30.259 You know, 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:30.340 you know, 00:14:31.199 --> 00:14:34.379 Garrison Keeler, 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:40.340 in one of his stories about Lake Wobegon, 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:45.120 says that the town motto was, 00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:46.480 we are what we are. 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:50.579 And actually, just so you know this, 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.500 do you know, I mean, 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:54.360 if you're part of Prayer for Clevedon, 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:57.519 keep your mouths delicately closed at this point. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.360 But do you know what the motto 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.879 of Clevedon Council is? 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:06.860 Shout it out. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:09.159 Watch and pray. 00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:10.419 Isn't that amazing? 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.319 So as a group, 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.779 which I get to as often as I can, 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.860 that meets to pray for Clevedon, 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:18.120 I'm sure they'd love to see some of you at that. 00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:21.480 It's a good time together to pray for our town 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:24.579 and those setting authority over us. 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:30.920 But making the decision 00:15:30.920 --> 00:15:34.280 as to who is really in charge of your life 00:15:34.280 --> 00:15:36.040 is a very critical issue. 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:39.540 And it's been a critical issue 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:41.680 for Christians throughout the ages 00:15:41.680 --> 00:15:45.520 and for people in this church this evening. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:50.620 And one of the times that we discover 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:53.120 who is really in charge of our lives 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.199 is when something goes wrong. 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:56.939 As I said, there are two things there, 00:15:57.860 --> 00:16:00.439 philosophies that underlie the way 00:16:00.439 --> 00:16:01.939 a lot of people think today 00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:04.379 and indeed the way quite a lot of Christians think. 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:07.659 One is what's called fatalism, 00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:09.340 that is stuff happens, 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:11.600 get over it kind of thing. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:13.960 And the other is determinism, 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:16.740 which is a far more subtle thing 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:19.820 and in my view has found its way into churches 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:21.879 in a way that's not been that helpful. 00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:24.879 Determinism is this idea 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:27.659 that all human actions 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:33.779 take place because of circumstances 00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:35.019 beyond ourselves. 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:39.100 So you will have heard it often said, 00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:41.620 you know, when a prisoner is in court 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:46.220 that some barrister stands up and says, 00:16:46.340 --> 00:16:47.240 well, my Lord, you know, 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:49.179 poor old Harry here, 00:16:49.419 --> 00:16:51.159 you know, he came from a broken home. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.340 He flunked it in school 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:56.519 and it's not his fault 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:58.699 that he bashed this person over the head. 00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:06.259 And the trouble with the kind of determinist thing is, 00:17:06.360 --> 00:17:08.200 I mean, people blame biology, 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.759 they blame their parents, 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:13.120 they blame all kinds of things 00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:15.519 for their circumstances today. 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:17.259 That would be determinist thinking. 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:20.640 There's a man called Professor Robert Sapolsky 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:25.440 who's written a scary book called Determined. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:29.039 And what that book argues is that 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:31.360 anything we do is the result 00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:33.080 of our internal programming 00:17:33.080 --> 00:17:35.340 and external circumstances. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:38.059 So it's either your genes 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:40.279 or it's your background. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.860 And of course, up to a point, 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.380 we can't say that our backgrounds 00:17:43.380 --> 00:17:44.600 don't affect us. 00:17:46.340 --> 00:17:48.000 But on the other hand, 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.059 we can't keep excusing 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:52.460 our bad behavior 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:54.640 on the basis of it's not really my fault, 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.200 you know. 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:58.900 My mother didn't make a great job 00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.720 of, you know, 00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:01.500 nappy training me, 00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:02.220 so, you know, 00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:04.420 that's the reason I'm a serial killer. 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:08.120 I'm exaggerating to make a point. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.840 But look, here's the thing. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.759 The trouble with determinism, 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:13.700 and I think this has found its way 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:15.080 into our churches, 00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:17.140 is it is a machine 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:19.299 to create perpetual victimhood. 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:23.279 It's never my fault. 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.839 If I can always throw the ball 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.660 out to the wing, 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:29.000 then I'm never responsible 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.240 for my behavior. 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.039 And in my view, 00:18:31.139 --> 00:18:32.599 it's one of the most childish 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:36.839 facets of adulthood 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:40.980 is not to understand 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.879 that behavior has consequences. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:43.020 consequences. 00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.580 My view is, 00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.580 it's rule one 00:18:48.580 --> 00:18:49.520 of being a parent 00:18:49.520 --> 00:18:50.540 that you need to teach 00:18:50.540 --> 00:18:51.200 your children 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:51.900 that behavior 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.960 has consequences. 00:18:53.800 --> 00:18:54.640 I don't think 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.620 that's saying anything 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:57.020 particularly controversial, 00:18:57.400 --> 00:18:58.760 although if you were 00:18:58.760 --> 00:19:00.580 a couple of generations younger, 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.360 you'd probably, 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.160 you know, 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.880 I'd be outed 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.620 on mum's net 00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:04.220 or something. 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:08.339 So Paul saw his, 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:10.539 that Jesus was in charge 00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.100 of his life. 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:11.839 He's in prison. 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.819 He's not getting great food. 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.900 He's chained to a bloke 00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:16.180 24 hours a day. 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:19.759 And he still recognizes 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:21.779 that who's in charge 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.519 of his life 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:25.100 is Christ Jesus. 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:28.759 And I think the problem 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:30.220 for us is that 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.400 especially when times 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:31.920 are difficult, 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:33.500 when things are not going, 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:35.240 how we would like 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:35.900 them to go. 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.119 The big problem 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.000 is this. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:42.019 We start to forget 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.740 that Jesus 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.660 is in charge 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.440 of our lives. 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.019 If you have 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.319 an addictive illness, 00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:47.720 you know, 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.299 you need to be very honest 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.220 with yourself 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:52.240 about who's in charge 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.059 of your life. 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:55.039 Is it your addiction 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.079 or is it Christ Jesus? 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:00.420 If you're going through 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:01.420 a hard time, 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.339 where will you turn? 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.519 You know, 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:05.240 I love Psalm 121. 00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:06.279 It's going to be read 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:07.899 tomorrow at my friend 00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:09.240 of mine's funeral service, 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.579 which I have to speak at, 00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:14.859 where the psalmist says, 00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:18.480 it's what they call 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.259 a psalm of, 00:20:20.679 --> 00:20:22.079 it's a psalm that was said 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:24.859 as the Israelites 00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:26.819 traveled to the big feasts 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:28.480 in Jerusalem. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:30.660 And Psalm 121 00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:32.500 is a well-known psalm. 00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:37.099 And the first line of it, 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.259 I think, 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.740 asks a very deep 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:42.019 existential question. 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.319 And it's this. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.019 Sorry, 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:50.220 I'm in 121, 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:50.819 don't I? 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:56.480 I lift up my eyes 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.139 to you, 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:59.339 to you whose throne 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.240 is in heaven. 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.200 Sorry, 00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.559 Psalm 121. 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:05.119 I lift up my eyes 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:05.720 to the hills, 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:07.159 whence does my help 00:21:07.159 --> 00:21:07.619 come from? 00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:09.139 That is a very profound 00:21:09.139 --> 00:21:11.079 existential question. 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.879 Where do you turn 00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:16.059 when your life 00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:16.919 is under pressure? 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.920 And if Jesus 00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:20.519 is in charge 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.440 of your life, 00:21:22.560 --> 00:21:23.320 you will do well 00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:24.140 to turn to him, 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:24.759 will you not? 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.500 But it's amazing, 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:27.960 isn't it, 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.100 how many of us 00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:29.900 in times have, 00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:31.560 it's the kind of last thing, 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:32.100 I must say, 00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:33.820 I chastise myself sometimes. 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.120 You know, 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:35.380 I'm in a situation, 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:36.400 somebody comes in 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.220 and says something, 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:39.360 and sometimes I think, 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.640 why is the last thing 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.500 I think about 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.200 praying? 00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:43.960 You know, 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.480 I generally 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:46.460 want to think of myself 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.059 as somebody 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.920 who's prayerful 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:50.000 and I like to come 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.460 to prayer meetings here 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:53.100 and I like to think 00:21:53.100 --> 00:21:54.640 of those that I know 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.480 and lots of people 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.180 I don't know. 00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.519 So Paul 00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:00.180 is telling us 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:01.420 by telling us 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.200 that he's a prisoner 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:03.500 of Christ Jesus, 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.559 though he's in prison, 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:06.559 who is in charge 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.700 of his life. 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.480 I mean, 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.440 are you aware of this, 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:12.559 that Paul's ministry 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.160 in prison 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.980 was unbelievably 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.620 productive 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.939 he wrote 00:22:16.939 --> 00:22:17.519 the epistle 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.639 to the Ephesians, 00:22:18.919 --> 00:22:19.799 he wrote the epistle 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.819 to the Philippians, 00:22:20.979 --> 00:22:21.739 he wrote the epistle 00:22:21.739 --> 00:22:22.779 to the Colossians, 00:22:23.139 --> 00:22:23.839 and he wrote 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:24.239 the letter 00:22:24.239 --> 00:22:25.399 to Philemon 00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:27.219 all at times 00:22:27.219 --> 00:22:28.199 when he was in prison. 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:30.599 And, 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.139 you know, 00:22:32.219 --> 00:22:32.899 I'm glad we've got 00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:33.979 those epistles 00:22:33.979 --> 00:22:35.199 to look at 00:22:35.199 --> 00:22:36.539 and to study together, 00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:37.439 all written 00:22:37.439 --> 00:22:38.059 from prison. 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.579 Paul was very clear 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.899 under whose authority 00:22:41.899 --> 00:22:42.679 he served. 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.139 He was a prisoner 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:44.980 of Christ. 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.520 Let me just ask you, 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:47.900 are we as clear 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.320 as that? 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.300 Not that we're in prison, 00:22:51.080 --> 00:22:52.360 but that we are 00:22:52.360 --> 00:22:53.640 servants 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.820 of Christ. 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:58.400 And that should be 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:00.759 the determining factor 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:02.700 in all that we do 00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:04.160 and all that we say. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:07.140 when I was 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:11.320 a brand new Christian, 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.180 I went to this 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.380 very strict 00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:14.820 church, 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:15.580 and 00:23:15.580 --> 00:23:17.500 there were all 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.320 kinds of rules, 00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.040 and one of them 00:23:19.040 --> 00:23:19.660 was that 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.600 if you were 00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:21.220 single 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.240 and you were 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.519 near a single woman, 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.480 there's no way 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.019 you should get 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.140 more than nine inches 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:27.040 closer to her. 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.259 Right? 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:29.599 I mean, 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:29.980 I never, 00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:30.859 you know, 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:33.160 I never argued 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:33.779 with our cure 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.240 and said, 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:34.440 well, 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:34.680 you know, 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.400 it just gives you 00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:36.220 a little bit of, 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:36.859 you know, 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.019 leeway. 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.640 But nine inches 00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.559 was the rule, 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:42.019 but the better rule 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.900 that he gave us was, 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.400 he said, 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.900 I hope you will 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:46.140 never do anything 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:47.019 when you're with 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.740 your girlfriend 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:50.160 that Jesus, 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.960 if you imagine 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.259 Jesus looking at you, 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.200 would you be ashamed? 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.619 Wow. 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:59.479 So Paul was very clear 00:23:59.479 --> 00:24:01.019 under whose authority 00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:01.879 he served, 00:24:01.979 --> 00:24:03.119 and this Lent, 00:24:03.199 --> 00:24:04.439 you might like to just 00:24:04.439 --> 00:24:05.919 mull over in your mind, 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.099 how clear are you 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:08.099 about the authority 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:09.099 of Christ Jesus 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.539 in your life? 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:12.939 And then 00:24:12.939 --> 00:24:14.039 we come 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.079 in verse two 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:16.239 to the big deal, 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.939 the very big deal 00:24:17.939 --> 00:24:19.279 in this 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.599 whole epistle 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.739 as a matter of fact. 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.579 And when Paul's 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.199 talking about 00:24:24.199 --> 00:24:25.139 the dispensation 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:25.740 of grace, 00:24:25.780 --> 00:24:26.640 he's not talking 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:28.060 about saving faith. 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.400 He's talking 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:30.160 about the way 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:31.540 that God revealed 00:24:31.540 --> 00:24:32.880 a mystery to him. 00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:35.060 And the mystery 00:24:35.060 --> 00:24:36.380 related to 00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:37.200 an issue 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.460 that could have 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.940 torn the early church 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.400 apart. 00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:41.840 And that was, 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.600 is the gospel 00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.900 only for Jews? 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:46.060 Or is it for Jews 00:24:46.060 --> 00:24:47.259 and Gentiles? 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:51.519 that was the issue 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.480 why Paul 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.339 was in prison? 00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.160 And, 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.460 you know, 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.400 Paul had a very 00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.660 challenging message 00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.519 in a 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.819 divided world, 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.920 and in Galatians 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.839 chapter three 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:04.539 and verses 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:06.099 26 to the end, 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.680 he talks 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.599 about, 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:10.180 he says this, 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:12.380 there is 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:13.340 neither Jew 00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:14.100 nor Greek, 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.539 slave nor free, 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.759 male nor female, 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.400 for you are 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:19.220 all one 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.380 in Christ 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:21.000 Jesus. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.920 Two really 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:25.120 significant points 00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:26.140 here to bring 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:26.360 out. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.100 One is 00:25:27.100 --> 00:25:29.140 that Paul knew 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:30.920 that real change 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.779 comes from the 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.420 preaching of the 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:32.759 gospel. 00:25:34.600 --> 00:25:35.180 Paul had 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.100 different ways 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.980 of doing it. 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:38.500 if you read 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.220 Acts, 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.860 you will read 00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:40.319 there that 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:41.099 Paul's plan 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.620 if he went 00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.279 into the synagogue, 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:43.000 when he arrived 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.759 in a new town, 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.599 he went straight 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.279 to the synagogue, 00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:46.599 and he tried 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:47.220 to prove 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:47.839 from the Old 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.339 Testament 00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:50.400 that Jesus 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.120 was the 00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:52.140 promised Messiah. 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.039 And a few 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.740 Jews believed, 00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:55.259 lots of them 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:55.620 didn't, 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.180 but a few 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:56.559 did. 00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:57.980 When he, 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:58.779 and we only 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.140 have one 00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.980 example of this 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.420 in the New 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:00.819 Testament, 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.400 and that's 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:01.819 in Acts 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.779 chapter 17 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.480 when Paul 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.220 is in Athens 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.680 and he stands 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.420 on this hill 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:06.839 which is 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:07.599 outside the 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.399 Areopagus 00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:09.899 called 00:26:09.899 --> 00:26:13.179 the, 00:26:13.179 --> 00:26:15.740 what's it 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.039 called? 00:26:17.639 --> 00:26:18.779 The Areopagus. 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.119 Areopagus. 00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.579 And if you 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:21.939 go there, 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.439 by the way, 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:22.819 it's been 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.379 climbed on 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:23.980 by so many 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.459 preachers, 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:24.919 it's really 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.639 shiny and 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.039 dangerous. 00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:27.039 It's really 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.659 easy to get 00:26:27.659 --> 00:26:28.079 up there, 00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.379 but it's 00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:28.899 quite difficult 00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:29.579 to get down. 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:32.939 And I 00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:33.240 think when 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:33.539 we were 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:33.699 there, 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:33.980 somebody 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.500 broke their 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.059 wrist trying 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:35.759 to get down 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.599 off it. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.220 But the 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.960 big deal 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.700 in this 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.200 gospel 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.980 addresses 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.819 that thing 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.279 that could 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:44.700 have caused 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.559 a major 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.619 dispute 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.440 in the 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:47.859 life of 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.279 the early 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.619 church. 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.119 Is this 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.599 deal, 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.259 the gospel, 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.220 only for 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.980 Jewish people 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:54.140 or is it 00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:54.920 for Gentiles 00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.359 as well? 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:55.839 Paul's 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:56.379 conviction 00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.740 from the 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.619 earliest days 00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:58.960 of his 00:26:58.960 --> 00:26:59.539 conversion 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.019 were, 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.660 this is for 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.460 Gentiles as 00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:02.660 well. 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.140 That was 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.039 dynamite 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.880 in terms 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:06.319 of the 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.180 expectation 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:09.279 of the 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.539 Jews. 00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:12.900 And Paul, 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:14.980 Peter, 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.799 you remember 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:17.079 in Acts 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:18.860 chapter 10, 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:19.819 has this 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.559 kind of weird 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:21.299 dream where 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.980 he sees all 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.600 these animals 00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:24.299 and gets 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:24.840 to the end 00:27:24.840 --> 00:27:25.620 of it and 00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:26.680 God says 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:26.960 to him, 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.120 look, 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.539 none of 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.279 these animals 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.000 are going 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.420 to make you 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:29.920 unclean. 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.980 And his 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.620 understanding 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.039 of his 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.720 dream is 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.340 that the 00:27:33.340 --> 00:27:34.140 gospel is 00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:34.860 for all 00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.420 creatures. 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.680 I mean, 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.200 that's true, 00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:38.560 I don't know 00:27:38.560 --> 00:27:39.380 if you think 00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:39.940 about this, 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.519 but I mean, 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:40.800 you know, 00:27:40.820 --> 00:27:41.500 the prophecies 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.759 of Isaiah, 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.600 you get this 00:27:43.600 --> 00:27:44.740 idea that the 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.240 whole of 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.820 creation will 00:27:46.820 --> 00:27:47.600 be redeemed. 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:48.800 And do you 00:27:48.800 --> 00:27:49.200 remember he 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.820 talks about 00:27:49.820 --> 00:27:50.900 the lion lying 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.420 down with 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:51.920 the lamb? 00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:53.340 And I 00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:53.440 mean, 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:53.920 it's quite, 00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:54.840 you know, 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.700 challenging to 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.420 think of lions 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:56.940 becoming 00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:57.960 vegetarians. 00:27:57.960 --> 00:28:00.940 Maybe vegans, 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.559 I don't know. 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.019 So this 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.779 dispensation 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.480 of grace, 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.180 Paul, 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:06.519 when he 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.079 talks about 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.579 a mystery, 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.279 I told you 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.720 this last 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:08.900 week, 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.440 a mystery 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.100 here is 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:10.880 not like 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.720 we've got 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:11.980 to get 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.539 together the 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.120 clues and 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:14.059 find out 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:14.759 who done 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:14.980 it. 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.519 But the 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.759 mystery is 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:19.799 an ancient 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.559 fact that 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.920 suddenly God 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.539 reveals. 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.019 And of 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.240 course, 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:25.620 in the 00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:26.180 Old Testament, 00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:26.960 you can 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.940 find evidence. 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.720 that God's 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.460 concern was 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:29.900 for all 00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:30.340 people, 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.259 not just 00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.680 for his 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.100 chosen 00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:32.620 people. 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.420 And certainly 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:35.019 in the 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.680 New Testament, 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.059 Paul led 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.660 the charge 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:38.279 on preaching 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:38.960 the gospel 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.600 to the 00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.180 Gentiles. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:43.019 And here's 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.400 the thing, 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:44.860 and sadly, 00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.100 I think we 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:48.079 are losing 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.960 this in the 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.860 21st century 00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:50.420 church. 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.840 That Paul 00:28:52.840 --> 00:28:54.140 wrote in 00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:56.240 Romans chapter 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:56.779 1, 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.700 you remember 00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.240 this verse, 00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.319 verse 16. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:02.240 Paul says, 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.599 I'm not 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.139 ashamed of 00:29:04.139 --> 00:29:04.639 the gospel. 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.519 Well, 00:29:07.619 --> 00:29:08.160 I have the 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:09.359 horrible feeling 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:10.240 that there are 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:10.839 a lot of 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.639 churches up and 00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.099 down this 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:13.819 country which 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.240 are very 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.220 unsure as 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:15.720 to whether 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.799 the gospel 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.559 is the right 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.099 thing to 00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:18.519 preach. 00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:21.240 Romans chapter 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.379 1 in verse 00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:22.839 16, 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.599 I'm not ashamed 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:24.139 of the gospel. 00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:24.539 Why? 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.819 Because it is 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.559 the power of 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.179 God for the 00:29:27.179 --> 00:29:27.959 salvation of 00:29:27.959 --> 00:29:28.939 everyone who 00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:29.539 believes. 00:29:31.419 --> 00:29:31.799 I mean, 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.659 when you read 00:29:32.659 --> 00:29:33.039 that, you 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.619 kind of ask 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:33.980 yourself, 00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:34.899 well, why 00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:35.500 wouldn't we 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.679 preach that? 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.199 If it's the 00:29:38.199 --> 00:29:38.619 power, 00:29:39.439 --> 00:29:41.299 if it's the 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:43.119 power of 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:44.099 God for the 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:44.879 salvation of 00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.339 everyone, 00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:46.859 it needs to 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.740 be released 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.519 into this 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:48.919 world. 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:52.700 Paul gives 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.180 us a 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:54.920 little 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.860 framework as 00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:56.240 to his 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.960 understanding 00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:57.320 of the 00:29:57.320 --> 00:29:58.460 gospel in 00:29:58.460 --> 00:30:00.620 chapter 15 00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:01.220 of 1 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.900 Corinthians, 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:02.259 in the 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:02.860 first few 00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.700 verses there, 00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:04.100 I won't 00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:04.840 bother reading 00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:05.440 that to you 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:05.840 tonight. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.680 The issue 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:11.420 of Jews 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.620 and Gentiles 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.380 and who's 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:13.900 the gospel 00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:14.700 for was the 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.519 very reason 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.500 that Paul 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:16.940 was in 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:17.300 prison. 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:18.919 And his 00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:20.879 amazing 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:23.379 conclusion was 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:24.099 it's for 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:25.000 all people. 00:30:26.419 --> 00:30:26.919 I want to 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:27.460 go back to 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:27.839 what I was 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.200 saying at 00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:28.700 the beginning. 00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.279 If I 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:33.720 said to 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.240 you, you 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.599 know, do 00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:34.899 you think 00:30:34.899 --> 00:30:35.379 the gospel 00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:35.779 is for 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.339 all people? 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.759 And then 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.319 I said to 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:39.579 you, and 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:39.839 do you 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.279 think your 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:40.740 churches 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.659 should be 00:30:41.659 --> 00:30:42.379 inclusive? 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.419 I don't 00:30:45.419 --> 00:30:45.859 think there's 00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:46.480 anybody in 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:46.859 the house 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.200 who would 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.799 say, certainly 00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.200 not. 00:30:49.600 --> 00:30:49.900 I think 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.319 you'd all 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.740 think that 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.279 the churches 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:52.900 should give 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:53.360 a welcome 00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:54.080 to anybody 00:30:54.080 --> 00:30:54.940 and everybody. 00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.299 And I 00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:57.960 think you 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.680 would say 00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.960 that the 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:01.120 gospel is 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:01.759 for all 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.559 people, for 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:05.059 all classes, 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:05.819 races, 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.220 et cetera, 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:07.759 et cetera. 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:11.819 And 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.980 look, 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:16.259 I think we 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.599 got to 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.519 really think 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:20.660 60 years 00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:21.319 ago, a 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.640 movement 00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:22.960 started called 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.819 the Gospel 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.819 and Culture 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.339 Movement. 00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:26.980 And what 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.539 that movement 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.400 was about in 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:28.900 its early 00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.779 days was 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:31.019 working out 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.660 how do we 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.200 preach the 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:32.880 gospel in 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.799 different cultures. 00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.519 It's a good 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.000 question. 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.059 tradition. 00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.720 I think 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.460 anybody who's 00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:39.819 been a 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.559 youth pastor 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.279 would say 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:41.799 that the 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.200 way they 00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:42.920 preach the 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:43.579 gospel to 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:44.460 youngsters isn't 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.039 quite the 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.680 same as 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.720 you would 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.539 preach to 00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.420 older people. 00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:48.839 I mean, 00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:49.960 basically, the 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.519 tenets are 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.059 the same, 00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:51.420 but they 00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.380 might use 00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:52.740 different 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.519 illustrations, 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:54.440 different 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:59.220 parables to 00:31:59.220 --> 00:32:00.460 kind of get 00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.099 their message 00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:01.660 across. 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:04.240 But it's 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:04.900 the 00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:07.740 Gospel and 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.120 Culture 00:32:08.120 --> 00:32:08.779 Movement 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.700 migrated 00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:10.320 somewhat 00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:11.940 and 00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:15.480 started to 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.180 ask questions. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:16.759 Well, hang 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.060 on. 00:32:18.040 --> 00:32:19.240 If all 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:20.340 organizations 00:32:20.340 --> 00:32:20.920 have a 00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.320 culture, 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.560 maybe our 00:32:23.560 --> 00:32:24.220 churches have 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:24.779 a culture, 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.259 and maybe we 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.840 need to think 00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:27.480 some more 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.120 about that 00:32:28.120 --> 00:32:28.600 culture, 00:32:29.120 --> 00:32:29.800 because we 00:32:29.800 --> 00:32:30.720 blithely stand 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:31.279 at the front 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:31.700 and say, 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.160 all are 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:32.660 welcome, 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:34.859 but do 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.339 they feel 00:32:35.339 --> 00:32:35.779 welcome? 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:38.000 I remember 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.779 in my church, 00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:39.740 which was in 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:41.000 the so-called 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.599 yacht and 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.379 yogurt belt 00:32:42.379 --> 00:32:43.420 of South 00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.980 Buckingham, 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:45.639 and I 00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:46.180 remember the 00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:46.960 first time 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.960 a chap came 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:49.379 to church 00:32:49.379 --> 00:32:50.139 in the summer 00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:50.740 with his 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.379 short-sleeved 00:32:51.379 --> 00:32:51.720 shirt, 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.799 and he had 00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.480 tattoos, 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.559 sleeves as they 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:54.980 call it, 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.099 on both arms. 00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:56.339 I mean, 00:32:56.379 --> 00:32:56.859 I'm going back 00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:57.639 a long time 00:32:57.639 --> 00:32:57.920 now. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:32:59.879 And people 00:32:59.879 --> 00:33:00.899 were horrified 00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.820 that he 00:33:01.820 --> 00:33:02.200 would come 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:02.820 forward for 00:33:02.820 --> 00:33:03.960 communion and 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.360 put his 00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:05.220 tattooed arms 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:05.660 out to 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:06.340 receive it. 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.560 And, 00:33:08.600 --> 00:33:08.840 you know, 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.320 we're all 00:33:10.320 --> 00:33:11.300 relatively 00:33:11.300 --> 00:33:11.860 intuitive. 00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:12.580 We can kind 00:33:12.580 --> 00:33:13.080 of get, 00:33:13.780 --> 00:33:13.940 you know, 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.620 am I welcome 00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:15.340 here or am I 00:33:15.340 --> 00:33:15.660 not? 00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:19.700 I thought to 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.240 myself, 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:20.960 and, you 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.040 know, 00:33:21.080 --> 00:33:21.680 I'm somebody 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.220 who is 00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:22.940 conservative 00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:23.920 on issues 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.480 of human 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.259 sexuality, 00:33:26.080 --> 00:33:26.460 but I 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:26.840 think, 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.900 you know, 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:29.440 all people 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.160 are welcome 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:30.779 in our 00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.240 churches, 00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:34.000 and I 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:34.300 thought, 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:34.640 you know, 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.080 what must 00:33:35.080 --> 00:33:35.860 it be like 00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:37.120 to be a 00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:37.800 gay person 00:33:37.800 --> 00:33:38.259 and come 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.900 to church, 00:33:39.100 --> 00:33:39.580 particularly 00:33:39.580 --> 00:33:40.620 30 years 00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:40.900 ago. 00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.279 I mean, 00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:41.680 you know, 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:42.820 public attitudes 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.460 have changed 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:43.899 a lot. 00:33:46.139 --> 00:33:46.799 I thought 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.359 to myself, 00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:47.799 what must 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.299 it be like 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:48.639 if you've 00:33:48.639 --> 00:33:49.240 been imprisoned? 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:50.799 And people 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:51.279 know it. 00:33:53.119 --> 00:33:53.419 Are you, 00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:54.399 can we 00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:55.039 really make 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.559 people like 00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:56.019 that feel 00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.299 welcome? 00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:56.519 Well, 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:56.919 the answer 00:33:56.919 --> 00:33:57.539 is yes, 00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:58.879 but it's 00:33:58.879 --> 00:33:59.240 got to be 00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.899 thought about. 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.059 And the 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.519 kind of 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:02.179 pat phrase, 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.779 all are 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.359 welcome, 00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:04.759 I think 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.659 sometimes can 00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.139 be very 00:34:06.139 --> 00:34:07.200 unselfaware 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.440 when we 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:08.980 say it. 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:10.599 And Paul 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.119 goes on, 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:11.519 says this 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.440 amazing thing, 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:15.660 that in 00:34:15.660 --> 00:34:16.500 chapter 6 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.080 he talks 00:34:17.080 --> 00:34:17.760 about the 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.400 rulers and 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.000 authorities 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:19.480 and he 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:20.460 also mentions 00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:22.200 them in 00:34:22.200 --> 00:34:23.640 chapter 3. 00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.660 And he 00:34:25.660 --> 00:34:26.320 thinks it's 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:27.100 a very good 00:34:27.100 --> 00:34:27.800 thing that 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.400 in preaching 00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:28.880 the gospel 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:29.320 to the 00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.100 Gentiles, 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.400 he's 00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:32.200 preaching it 00:34:32.200 --> 00:34:33.240 to the 00:34:33.240 --> 00:34:35.420 rulers and 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:36.300 authorities 00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.100 of this 00:34:37.100 --> 00:34:37.960 present age. 00:34:38.120 --> 00:34:38.640 That is, 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:40.920 those forces 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:41.440 that you 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.260 cannot see 00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:42.740 but are 00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:43.220 at work 00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:43.520 in the 00:34:43.520 --> 00:34:43.860 world 00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:44.480 which are 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.140 malign. 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:47.560 Forces 00:34:47.560 --> 00:34:48.220 that can 00:34:48.220 --> 00:34:49.220 oppress 00:34:49.220 --> 00:34:50.000 your life, 00:34:51.080 --> 00:34:51.440 forces 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.300 that can 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:53.500 create 00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.520 war and 00:34:54.520 --> 00:34:55.320 rumours 00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:55.940 of war 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:56.740 and all 00:34:56.740 --> 00:34:57.240 that kind 00:34:57.240 --> 00:34:57.600 of thing. 00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.180 And Paul 00:34:58.180 --> 00:34:58.620 thinks, 00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.380 one of the 00:34:59.380 --> 00:35:00.120 great things 00:35:00.120 --> 00:35:00.600 about the 00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:00.960 gospel 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:03.200 is that 00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:04.680 it turns 00:35:04.680 --> 00:35:05.020 back, 00:35:05.100 --> 00:35:05.840 it limits 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.720 their 00:35:06.720 --> 00:35:07.240 malign 00:35:07.240 --> 00:35:08.040 power in 00:35:08.040 --> 00:35:08.660 this world. 00:35:08.659 --> 00:35:08.739 love. 00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:11.500 And 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:13.519 here's my 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:14.399 final point 00:35:14.399 --> 00:35:15.000 for tonight. 00:35:15.279 --> 00:35:15.899 So in 00:35:15.899 --> 00:35:17.359 towards the 00:35:17.359 --> 00:35:17.799 end of 00:35:17.799 --> 00:35:18.500 this chapter, 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.319 I love 00:35:20.319 --> 00:35:20.799 this. 00:35:21.779 --> 00:35:22.379 Paul says, 00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:23.140 I pray 00:35:23.140 --> 00:35:24.500 that out 00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.099 of his, 00:35:25.200 --> 00:35:25.579 that is 00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:26.039 God's 00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:26.480 glorious 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:27.019 riches, 00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:28.019 he may 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.640 strengthen 00:35:28.640 --> 00:35:29.119 you with 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:29.940 power through 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.820 his spirit 00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:31.400 in your 00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:32.180 inner being 00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:33.640 so that 00:35:33.640 --> 00:35:34.360 Christ may 00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:35.039 dwell in 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:35.900 your hearts 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:36.400 through 00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:36.980 faith. 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:41.539 I'm always 00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:42.079 telling 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.840 Christians 00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:44.360 because there 00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:44.800 is this 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:45.340 kind of 00:35:45.340 --> 00:35:46.220 slightly 00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:47.220 superficial 00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:48.379 idea around 00:35:48.379 --> 00:35:48.779 that if 00:35:48.779 --> 00:35:50.000 I become 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.699 a Christian 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:52.339 my problems 00:35:52.339 --> 00:35:52.879 are over. 00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:54.379 Nothing 00:35:54.379 --> 00:35:55.000 bad will 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.759 ever happen 00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.239 to me 00:35:56.239 --> 00:35:56.759 because I've 00:35:56.759 --> 00:35:57.079 got the 00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.639 Lord on 00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:58.519 my side. 00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:00.259 And 00:36:00.259 --> 00:36:00.619 actually 00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:01.480 Jesus said, 00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:01.980 didn't he, 00:36:02.279 --> 00:36:02.799 the rain 00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.259 will fall 00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:03.539 on the 00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:03.839 good and 00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:04.980 bad alike. 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.219 And I 00:36:07.219 --> 00:36:07.599 think this 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:08.279 verse gives 00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:08.980 you a clue 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:09.759 to God's 00:36:09.759 --> 00:36:10.419 divine 00:36:10.419 --> 00:36:11.419 strategy to 00:36:11.419 --> 00:36:12.019 do with 00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:12.539 hardship 00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.059 and that 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:13.399 is, 00:36:14.219 --> 00:36:14.719 God won't 00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:15.439 protect you 00:36:15.439 --> 00:36:16.119 from everything 00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:16.679 that goes 00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:17.119 wrong in 00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:17.779 your life. 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:20.659 But he 00:36:20.659 --> 00:36:21.119 will give 00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:21.619 you inner 00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:22.159 strength. 00:36:23.779 --> 00:36:24.519 He'll give 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:24.839 you the 00:36:24.839 --> 00:36:25.579 inner strength 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.239 to hang 00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:26.739 together. 00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:32.619 I've 00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:32.839 never 00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:33.460 forgotten 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:33.859 this, 00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:36.159 but I 00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:36.480 remember 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:36.980 when we 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:37.380 had a 00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:37.679 terrible 00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:38.519 car accident 00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:39.139 and poor 00:36:39.139 --> 00:36:39.839 auntie was 00:36:39.839 --> 00:36:40.539 very badly 00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:41.179 injured and 00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:42.059 my family, 00:36:42.259 --> 00:36:42.679 apart from 00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:43.179 my son, 00:36:43.319 --> 00:36:44.619 gathered in 00:36:44.619 --> 00:36:46.239 the John 00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:46.959 Ratcliffe 00:36:46.959 --> 00:36:48.599 Hospital in 00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:49.419 Oxford. 00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.259 I've never 00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:51.759 forgotten 00:36:51.759 --> 00:36:52.239 this. 00:36:53.479 --> 00:36:54.139 So this 00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:54.679 guy comes 00:36:54.679 --> 00:36:55.059 out in 00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:55.500 scrubs. 00:36:55.719 --> 00:36:56.079 They've had 00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:56.679 emptier in 00:36:56.679 --> 00:36:57.099 there for 00:36:57.099 --> 00:36:57.959 three or 00:36:57.959 --> 00:36:58.559 four hours 00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:59.179 and this 00:36:59.179 --> 00:36:59.659 guy comes 00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:00.000 out in 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:01.199 scrubs and 00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:01.639 he said, 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:02.459 I think we 00:37:02.459 --> 00:37:02.899 need to have 00:37:02.899 --> 00:37:03.439 a word. 00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:04.279 So have a 00:37:04.279 --> 00:37:04.599 word. 00:37:04.839 --> 00:37:05.799 And he 00:37:05.799 --> 00:37:06.399 took us to 00:37:06.399 --> 00:37:06.919 the side 00:37:06.919 --> 00:37:07.139 room. 00:37:08.419 --> 00:37:09.059 And fortunately, 00:37:09.179 --> 00:37:09.719 I think I was 00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:10.500 the only one of 00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:11.319 the five of us 00:37:11.319 --> 00:37:11.979 who saw this, 00:37:12.059 --> 00:37:12.519 but on the 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:13.679 door there 00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:14.299 was a sign 00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:14.740 that said 00:37:14.740 --> 00:37:15.400 bereavement 00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:15.680 room. 00:37:17.120 --> 00:37:17.580 I'm thinking, 00:37:17.700 --> 00:37:18.100 oh my 00:37:18.100 --> 00:37:18.620 goodness. 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:20.680 So he 00:37:20.680 --> 00:37:20.980 went in 00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:21.500 there and 00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:22.000 anyway, 00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:22.620 it turned 00:37:22.620 --> 00:37:23.140 out auntie 00:37:23.140 --> 00:37:23.800 hadn't died 00:37:23.800 --> 00:37:24.080 and he 00:37:24.080 --> 00:37:24.740 explained to 00:37:24.740 --> 00:37:25.039 her that 00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:25.720 her injuries 00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:26.400 were pretty 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:28.300 extensive and 00:37:28.300 --> 00:37:28.640 she was 00:37:28.640 --> 00:37:29.240 under a, 00:37:30.140 --> 00:37:30.360 they'd 00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:31.039 induced a 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:32.260 coma and 00:37:32.260 --> 00:37:33.500 his line 00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:33.860 was the 00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.480 next 24 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.220 hours will 00:37:35.220 --> 00:37:36.060 be critical. 00:37:37.560 --> 00:37:37.980 Well, 00:37:38.080 --> 00:37:38.440 if you know 00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:38.760 auntie, 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:39.200 she's here 00:37:39.200 --> 00:37:39.580 tonight. 00:37:39.700 --> 00:37:39.860 I mean, 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:40.580 she survived 00:37:40.580 --> 00:37:42.200 that amazingly. 00:37:42.199 --> 00:37:46.299 But my 00:37:46.299 --> 00:37:47.279 four daughters 00:37:47.279 --> 00:37:47.839 and I, 00:37:48.019 --> 00:37:48.819 we went to 00:37:48.819 --> 00:37:49.319 what they 00:37:49.319 --> 00:37:50.279 call the 00:37:50.279 --> 00:37:50.719 visitors' 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:52.279 room in 00:37:52.279 --> 00:37:53.059 the intensive 00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:53.859 care unit 00:37:53.859 --> 00:37:55.779 and we 00:37:55.779 --> 00:37:56.399 prayed to 00:37:56.399 --> 00:37:57.219 quite late 00:37:57.219 --> 00:37:58.439 into the 00:37:58.439 --> 00:37:58.639 night, 00:37:58.699 --> 00:37:59.119 or should I 00:37:59.119 --> 00:37:59.659 say into 00:37:59.659 --> 00:38:00.079 the early 00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:00.579 morning. 00:38:02.259 --> 00:38:02.879 And at the 00:38:02.879 --> 00:38:03.259 end of it, 00:38:03.299 --> 00:38:03.739 I think we 00:38:03.739 --> 00:38:04.480 did have this 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:04.960 conviction. 00:38:05.179 --> 00:38:05.719 I certainly 00:38:05.719 --> 00:38:06.279 did have it 00:38:06.279 --> 00:38:07.019 very strongly 00:38:07.019 --> 00:38:07.579 and as we 00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:08.179 got no 00:38:08.179 --> 00:38:08.699 idea, 00:38:08.919 --> 00:38:09.119 I mean, 00:38:09.199 --> 00:38:09.719 we prayed 00:38:09.719 --> 00:38:10.719 that God 00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:11.259 would heal 00:38:11.260 --> 00:38:11.720 healthier, 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.080 but our 00:38:13.080 --> 00:38:13.700 deeper 00:38:13.700 --> 00:38:14.600 awareness 00:38:14.600 --> 00:38:15.360 was that 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:15.880 whatever 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:17.260 happened, 00:38:18.600 --> 00:38:19.040 we would 00:38:19.040 --> 00:38:19.420 be given 00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.060 the strength 00:38:20.060 --> 00:38:21.540 to carry 00:38:21.540 --> 00:38:21.860 on. 00:38:22.900 --> 00:38:23.400 I pray 00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:23.820 that out 00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:24.100 of his 00:38:24.100 --> 00:38:24.560 glorious 00:38:24.560 --> 00:38:24.980 riches, 00:38:25.160 --> 00:38:25.740 he may 00:38:25.740 --> 00:38:26.380 strengthen 00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:26.800 you with 00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:27.260 power 00:38:27.260 --> 00:38:28.400 through his 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:28.940 spirit 00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:29.900 in your 00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:30.660 inner being. 00:38:31.760 --> 00:38:32.380 I thank 00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:32.920 God for 00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:33.640 that promise 00:38:33.640 --> 00:38:34.240 that Paul 00:38:34.240 --> 00:38:35.180 writes there. 00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:38.180 His inner 00:38:38.180 --> 00:38:39.060 strength helps 00:38:39.060 --> 00:38:40.040 us because 00:38:40.039 --> 00:38:41.480 it reveals 00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:42.079 the truth 00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:42.699 about God 00:38:42.699 --> 00:38:43.279 to us 00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:45.139 and it 00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:45.860 strengthens 00:38:45.860 --> 00:38:46.920 us from 00:38:46.920 --> 00:38:47.699 the inside 00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:48.340 out. 00:38:49.880 --> 00:38:50.639 Going back 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:51.119 to what I 00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:51.559 was saying 00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:51.920 is in 00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:52.420 times of 00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:52.719 trouble, 00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.759 it's often 00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:54.940 we grasp 00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:55.400 at things 00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:55.759 which are 00:38:55.759 --> 00:38:56.639 external to 00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:56.980 us to 00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:57.539 help us. 00:39:00.039 --> 00:39:00.179 No, 00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:00.800 God's plan 00:39:00.800 --> 00:39:01.420 is that he 00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:01.840 wants to 00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.619 strengthen us 00:39:02.619 --> 00:39:03.279 from the 00:39:03.279 --> 00:39:04.079 inside out, 00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:04.579 that we 00:39:04.579 --> 00:39:06.259 might face 00:39:06.259 --> 00:39:06.940 the terrible 00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.559 things that 00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:08.099 can happen 00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:08.659 to us 00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:09.519 in our 00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.000 lives 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:13.360 by this 00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:13.880 strength. 00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:16.259 And Paul 00:39:16.259 --> 00:39:16.500 says, 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.579 verse 20, 00:39:17.659 --> 00:39:18.259 it's a power 00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:19.019 that's already 00:39:19.019 --> 00:39:20.420 working within 00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:20.880 us. 00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:23.099 He also 00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:23.599 says, 00:39:24.779 --> 00:39:25.460 the power 00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:27.219 in terms 00:39:27.219 --> 00:39:27.739 of its 00:39:27.739 --> 00:39:28.880 ability to 00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:29.599 do more 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:30.079 than we 00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:30.719 can ever 00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:31.219 ask or 00:39:31.219 --> 00:39:31.699 imagine, 00:39:32.199 --> 00:39:32.440 is 00:39:32.440 --> 00:39:33.559 unimaginable. 00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:33.619 people. 00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:36.139 And in 00:39:36.139 --> 00:39:36.960 verse 21, 00:39:37.159 --> 00:39:37.719 Paul tells 00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:37.900 us, 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:38.639 it reveals 00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.299 the glory 00:39:39.299 --> 00:39:39.900 of God 00:39:39.900 --> 00:39:40.759 in the 00:39:40.759 --> 00:39:41.179 church. 00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:43.500 I think 00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:44.519 that when 00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:45.239 it comes 00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:46.900 to your 00:39:46.900 --> 00:39:47.639 role as 00:39:47.639 --> 00:39:48.519 witnesses in 00:39:48.519 --> 00:39:49.079 the church, 00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:50.099 if I might 00:39:50.099 --> 00:39:50.719 say this 00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:51.519 politely to 00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:51.759 you, 00:39:52.219 --> 00:39:52.799 I think 00:39:52.799 --> 00:39:53.320 people are 00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:53.759 much more 00:39:53.759 --> 00:39:54.619 interested to 00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:55.719 know in 00:39:55.719 --> 00:39:56.279 how you 00:39:56.279 --> 00:39:56.759 have coped 00:39:56.759 --> 00:39:57.420 with hardship 00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:57.960 in your 00:39:57.960 --> 00:39:59.820 life than 00:39:59.820 --> 00:40:00.340 whether or 00:40:00.340 --> 00:40:00.860 not God 00:40:00.860 --> 00:40:01.380 found a 00:40:01.380 --> 00:40:02.259 parking space 00:40:02.259 --> 00:40:02.820 for you in 00:40:02.820 --> 00:40:03.559 the supermarket 00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:04.360 car park. 00:40:04.740 --> 00:40:05.059 I'm not 00:40:05.059 --> 00:40:05.500 saying he 00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.100 isn't 00:40:06.100 --> 00:40:06.920 interested in 00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:07.580 your parking. 00:40:08.900 --> 00:40:09.360 He'd be 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:10.039 very interested 00:40:10.039 --> 00:40:10.519 in mine. 00:40:10.580 --> 00:40:11.000 I can never 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:11.720 park straight. 00:40:14.700 --> 00:40:15.380 But see 00:40:15.380 --> 00:40:15.720 what I mean? 00:40:15.780 --> 00:40:16.019 I mean, 00:40:16.059 --> 00:40:16.539 I think there 00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:17.160 is power 00:40:17.160 --> 00:40:18.019 in testimony 00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:20.559 where God 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:21.640 has really, 00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:23.980 really helped 00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:24.559 us through a 00:40:24.559 --> 00:40:25.240 difficult time 00:40:25.240 --> 00:40:26.059 in our lives. 00:40:26.059 --> 00:40:26.199 testimony. 00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:33.039 I've found 00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:34.000 testimonies to 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.900 be of varying 00:40:34.900 --> 00:40:35.599 value that 00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:36.000 I've heard 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:36.440 in church. 00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:36.860 I've never 00:40:36.860 --> 00:40:37.440 got this 00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:41.320 confirmation 00:40:41.320 --> 00:40:42.559 I was taking 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:43.599 and a 00:40:43.599 --> 00:40:44.179 minister came 00:40:44.179 --> 00:40:44.539 to me and 00:40:44.539 --> 00:40:44.639 said, 00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:44.860 we've got 00:40:44.860 --> 00:40:45.279 three of 00:40:45.279 --> 00:40:45.559 the young 00:40:45.559 --> 00:40:46.059 people who 00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:46.380 want to 00:40:46.380 --> 00:40:46.679 give a 00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:47.119 testimony. 00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:50.699 And two 00:40:50.699 --> 00:40:51.059 of them 00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:51.940 were, 00:40:51.940 --> 00:40:52.519 you know, 00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:53.920 pretty good, 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:54.340 I thought. 00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:54.760 And the 00:40:54.760 --> 00:40:55.460 last one was 00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:56.700 this boy 00:40:56.700 --> 00:40:57.960 got up and 00:40:57.960 --> 00:40:59.340 comes ambling 00:40:59.340 --> 00:40:59.880 up to the 00:40:59.880 --> 00:41:00.760 front and 00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:02.160 says to him, 00:41:02.240 --> 00:41:02.420 so, 00:41:03.600 --> 00:41:05.039 Jeremy, 00:41:05.280 --> 00:41:05.700 why are you 00:41:05.700 --> 00:41:06.840 getting confirmed 00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:07.340 tonight? 00:41:08.220 --> 00:41:08.760 He said, 00:41:09.059 --> 00:41:09.220 well, 00:41:09.260 --> 00:41:09.740 my grandson 00:41:09.740 --> 00:41:10.079 said she'd 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:10.480 buy me a 00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:10.760 bike. 00:41:14.640 --> 00:41:15.880 I didn't 00:41:15.880 --> 00:41:17.620 talk to him 00:41:17.620 --> 00:41:18.079 afterwards, 00:41:18.180 --> 00:41:18.579 but I kind 00:41:18.579 --> 00:41:18.800 of thought, 00:41:18.840 --> 00:41:19.600 it's not 00:41:19.600 --> 00:41:20.280 what we want, 00:41:20.340 --> 00:41:20.620 is it, 00:41:20.640 --> 00:41:21.079 that kind 00:41:21.079 --> 00:41:21.460 of thing. 00:41:22.200 --> 00:41:22.480 So, 00:41:22.620 --> 00:41:23.120 here you 00:41:23.120 --> 00:41:23.340 go. 00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:26.440 three 00:41:26.440 --> 00:41:27.780 questions for 00:41:27.780 --> 00:41:28.019 you to 00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:28.600 think about 00:41:28.600 --> 00:41:29.240 this Lent. 00:41:30.740 --> 00:41:31.400 Where do 00:41:31.400 --> 00:41:31.840 I find 00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:32.900 strength in 00:41:32.900 --> 00:41:33.440 time of 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:33.800 need? 00:41:36.640 --> 00:41:37.160 Second, 00:41:37.300 --> 00:41:37.600 what does 00:41:37.600 --> 00:41:38.260 it mean to 00:41:38.260 --> 00:41:38.940 make Jesus 00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:40.180 the authority 00:41:40.180 --> 00:41:41.600 over my 00:41:41.600 --> 00:41:42.079 life? 00:41:44.320 --> 00:41:45.120 And three, 00:41:45.240 --> 00:41:45.559 do we 00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:46.200 take the 00:41:46.200 --> 00:41:47.160 rulers and 00:41:47.160 --> 00:41:47.880 authorities, 00:41:48.140 --> 00:41:48.820 these hidden 00:41:48.820 --> 00:41:49.660 forces at 00:41:49.660 --> 00:41:50.120 work in 00:41:50.120 --> 00:41:50.660 the heavenly 00:41:50.660 --> 00:41:51.280 realms, 00:41:52.039 --> 00:41:53.260 whose influence 00:41:53.260 --> 00:41:54.059 is malign? 00:41:54.059 --> 00:41:54.380 do we 00:41:54.380 --> 00:41:54.860 take them 00:41:54.860 --> 00:41:55.679 seriously 00:41:55.679 --> 00:41:56.739 enough? 00:41:58.440 --> 00:41:58.440 00:41:58.440 --> 00:41:58.440 00:41:58.440 --> 00:42:28.420 Thank you.