WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.660 Good morning, Watermark. Well, that's a good, good morning. Good morning, Watermark. How are you guys? 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:11.939 Good. Okay. My name's Graham, and I'm one of the elders here at Watermark. 00:00:13.099 --> 00:00:22.059 In 1975, two 20-year-olds, both with the name Steve, decided to start a small little venture. 00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:33.519 And they set themselves up in the parents of one of the Steve's garage, and they decided to call their venture after a fruit, and they called it Apple. 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:41.820 And they began working on a computer, but they needed money. They had nothing, so they sold what they had, right? 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:50.379 So Steve, one of the Steves, he sold his VW Microbus, and the other Steve, he sold his HP calculator. 00:00:50.380 --> 00:00:54.859 Now, who would have thought selling a calculator would generate enough money to start a business? 00:00:55.520 --> 00:01:02.340 But they managed to put together over $1,000, and they began working on the Apple I. 00:01:03.140 --> 00:01:11.439 And the Apple I sold, not very well, but it did sell, and it gave them enough money to begin working on the Apple II. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.939 So two years later, in 1977, they released the Apple II. 00:01:16.780 --> 00:01:22.299 And in the first year alone, the sales were $3 million. 00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:30.459 And two years later, the sales had reached $200 million. 00:01:30.459 --> 00:01:37.459 And we know that today, Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world. 00:01:37.539 --> 00:01:39.459 It's just an amazing story. 00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:41.780 Any business school studies this model. 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:43.199 It's incredible. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:45.119 And, okay, let's see. 00:01:45.199 --> 00:01:49.099 Raise your hands if you have an Apple product. 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:50.560 All right. 00:01:51.339 --> 00:01:51.899 Okay. 00:01:52.339 --> 00:01:58.519 So what began in a little garage somewhere, in some parents' garage, has affected us here today. 00:01:58.519 --> 00:01:59.920 We're part of that, right? 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:03.920 By the way, if you have a Samsung, we still love you. 00:02:04.299 --> 00:02:07.219 And we'll pray for you, but we still love you. 00:02:07.379 --> 00:02:07.640 Okay. 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:10.180 So I kind of think about it. 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:15.699 That story is a little bit similar to how the church started, right? 00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:17.479 Same, same, but a little bit different. 00:02:17.900 --> 00:02:21.879 You see, the church started with no money, no buildings. 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:24.539 They had no great influence. 00:02:25.139 --> 00:02:26.840 They weren't greatly educated. 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:31.000 They had no army to force themselves on anyone. 00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:32.960 They were few in number. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:40.400 In fact, they were hated and persecuted and killed for what they were trying to do. 00:02:41.420 --> 00:02:43.840 And yet, in all that, the church started. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:45.360 And it didn't just start. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:45.939 It flourished. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:47.500 It took off like a rocket. 00:02:47.640 --> 00:02:49.439 It spread around the world. 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:52.280 And we are part of that story. 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:56.039 Like Chris said last week, we're still living out that story. 00:02:56.180 --> 00:02:58.199 We are the Acts 29. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:02:59.659 We're still going on. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:09.080 You know, even historians who are not Christians look at the beginning of the church, and they're amazed by this story. 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:11.939 And it's incredible, right? 00:03:11.979 --> 00:03:13.020 And we're part of that. 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:17.680 So, to prepare for today, I thought, well, let me read the whole book of Acts. 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:22.260 Let me get a great overview of what it's about and get into it. 00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:27.920 And as I began reading Acts, honestly, guys, it was like a punch in the guts. 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:31.780 You know, I would read it, and then I'd say, well, they did this. 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:33.379 This happened. 00:03:34.020 --> 00:03:35.300 They lived like this. 00:03:36.340 --> 00:03:38.939 And it was quite painful, right? 00:03:39.620 --> 00:03:43.180 And you guys like the pain, too, because you keep coming back, right? 00:03:43.240 --> 00:03:45.300 So, you guys are in for pain today. 00:03:45.460 --> 00:03:46.259 I'm going to say that. 00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:47.280 That's my disclaimer. 00:03:47.699 --> 00:03:49.819 Today is going to hurt a little bit. 00:03:50.219 --> 00:03:55.620 And I kind of think of it as like that deep massage maybe some of you go for where it really hurts. 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:59.500 You know, they dig the thing, but afterwards, you know it's been good for you. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:01.219 So, that's my disclaimer. 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:03.419 Today is going to hurt a little bit. 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:06.639 So, this is where we are, right? 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:08.000 So, here's the setting. 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:10.620 Jesus has just ascended into heaven. 00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:12.419 There are angels there. 00:04:12.979 --> 00:04:14.419 It's an incredible sight. 00:04:14.539 --> 00:04:16.980 He's now seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:24.079 And he says to this little bunch gathered there watching him go, all right, guys, you go and change the world. 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:25.660 Easy, right? 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:27.199 That's your mission. 00:04:27.300 --> 00:04:28.240 Go and change the world. 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:29.519 Preach my kingdom. 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:30.860 That's it. 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:32.740 Now, these guys are just standing there. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:33.300 That's it. 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:35.900 Angels say, all right, what are you waiting for? 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:36.900 Go back in. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:38.939 And he tells them to do one thing. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:41.280 He tells them to wait. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:45.339 Because you guys are not going to do this on your own. 00:04:45.339 --> 00:04:47.000 If I leave it to you, you're going to fail. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:50.919 What you need is the Holy Spirit. 00:04:51.619 --> 00:04:51.839 Right? 00:04:51.919 --> 00:04:53.879 You need power, and it's coming. 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:54.959 But you need to wait for it. 00:04:55.060 --> 00:05:00.199 Now, Chris said last week, he said, when we mention the Holy Spirit, often it freaks people out. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:03.959 They either think too much about it or they don't think enough about it. 00:05:03.959 --> 00:05:09.039 And there's a great phrase also in the book of Acts which describes the Holy Spirit. 00:05:09.039 --> 00:05:11.199 And it's called the Spirit of Jesus. 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:13.339 And I like that, right? 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:14.599 The Spirit of Jesus. 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:17.899 So when you think of the Holy Spirit, think of the Spirit of Jesus. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:19.719 That's what you need to wait for. 00:05:19.799 --> 00:05:23.419 It's better that I go, but I'm going to send my Spirit to be with you. 00:05:23.420 --> 00:05:29.199 So these guys turn around, and they take a Sabbath day's walk back to Jerusalem. 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:33.759 Now, before you think that was a long walk, lots of time to process, it was about a kilometer. 00:05:34.540 --> 00:05:36.140 So these guys are not big hikers. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:37.480 They just turn around. 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:40.420 They walk one kilometer, and they're back in Jerusalem. 00:05:41.420 --> 00:05:43.540 They're kind of huddled in a room together. 00:05:44.200 --> 00:05:45.439 You've got the apostles. 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:48.700 You've got women, which in itself is amazing. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:53.280 No other religion, when it was founded, had women present. 00:05:53.939 --> 00:05:54.900 But they're the woman. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:55.360 They're there. 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:56.220 They're part of this. 00:05:56.520 --> 00:05:59.080 And you even have Jesus' mother, Mary. 00:05:59.280 --> 00:06:00.280 She's there too. 00:06:01.080 --> 00:06:04.140 And she's not there exalted as a saint. 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:05.980 She's there as part of the number. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:07.960 She's making up a number. 00:06:08.080 --> 00:06:10.800 She's there to be a witness to her son. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:13.220 I mean, I do think that's kind of weird, right? 00:06:13.220 --> 00:06:16.080 Imagine being Mary and witnessing to people. 00:06:16.520 --> 00:06:18.000 Hi, I'd like to tell you about Jesus. 00:06:18.259 --> 00:06:18.960 He's my son. 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:19.639 He's God. 00:06:20.200 --> 00:06:23.200 You know, I meet lots of parents who do think their children are God. 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:25.840 But for Mary, it really was true, right? 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:27.580 But anyway, okay, forget that. 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:29.900 But there's 120 of these people. 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:33.740 Now, that gives me great encouragement, right? 00:06:33.780 --> 00:06:35.480 We're not obsessed by numbers. 00:06:35.540 --> 00:06:38.560 120, and you guys are going to change the world. 00:06:38.640 --> 00:06:42.220 I mean, that's less than what we have here today. 00:06:43.020 --> 00:06:43.900 120 people. 00:06:43.900 --> 00:06:47.500 And this guy, Peter, he stands up. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:48.480 He's obviously the leader. 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:56.920 And he tells the rest of them a story about another one of the disciples, a guy called Judas. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:01.399 And I don't know about you, but I kind of chuckle when I get to this point. 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:03.459 Because here's Peter, right? 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:08.639 And he's saying, listen, that bad guy, he got what he deserved. 00:07:09.419 --> 00:07:14.379 And when you think about who it is that's saying that, wow. 00:07:14.919 --> 00:07:21.979 But this is Peter who just a little while before, he had denied Jesus three times, right? 00:07:22.019 --> 00:07:23.419 A little girl comes up to him. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:24.899 No, sorry, it's not me. 00:07:24.939 --> 00:07:25.560 I don't know him. 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:33.839 And here he is now the leader of the church, and he's saying the other guy, Judas, got what he deserved. 00:07:34.540 --> 00:07:37.740 So we're going to look at Peter and Judas. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:45.040 Okay, hands up if you know anyone or if you called Peter or you know anyone called Peter. 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:45.720 Hands up. 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:48.920 Okay, all of us know someone called Peter. 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:51.600 Okay, now hands up if you know someone called Judas. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:56.560 Okay, he was a disciple, right? 00:07:56.660 --> 00:07:59.360 So why is it that one of them we revere? 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:01.360 We name our kids after them. 00:08:01.460 --> 00:08:02.980 We name churches after them. 00:08:03.200 --> 00:08:04.480 We name buildings after them. 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:07.879 And the other one, it's a horrible word, right? 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:10.400 You wouldn't even call your kids that kind of thing. 00:08:10.400 --> 00:08:15.660 In fact, to call someone a Judas straightaway, people think you're a traitor, right? 00:08:15.840 --> 00:08:17.080 So why is it, right? 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:20.820 These guys had so much in common, and yet they're very different. 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:22.379 Their outcomes are very different. 00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:27.560 I mean, Judas, he was the talk of Jerusalem, right? 00:08:27.659 --> 00:08:35.399 Everyone knew that he had portrayed Jesus, and he portrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins. 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:37.700 I happen to have a silver coin here. 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:38.379 It's a real one. 00:08:38.819 --> 00:08:40.759 It's actually an Australian silver coin. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:45.279 But for 30 of those, he portrayed the Son of God. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:53.240 Now, in that time, in biblical times, 30 silver coins was the price of a slave. 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:57.759 Now, to have a slave was kind of like a status symbol. 00:08:58.199 --> 00:09:00.759 You have someone who can do your work for you. 00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:02.860 You kind of got something to show off. 00:09:03.799 --> 00:09:09.019 But, I mean, it was a lot of money, but it wasn't really like enough money to change your life, right? 00:09:09.019 --> 00:09:11.860 Like, it's not enough money to retire on, and that's it. 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:17.919 But he did it for 30 silver coins, the price of a slave. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:24.399 And what he does, he's filled with sorrow and guilt for what he's done. 00:09:24.500 --> 00:09:27.259 He tries to give the money back to the Pharisees. 00:09:27.339 --> 00:09:28.519 They don't want it anymore. 00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:33.879 So, he goes and he buys a field, and he hangs himself. 00:09:33.959 --> 00:09:37.759 Now, we don't know whether maybe the branch broke or when they cut him down, 00:09:37.839 --> 00:09:42.539 but he falls down, and his guts just kind of split open, right? 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:45.459 He's this mess lying down there. 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:48.280 So, we've got one guy who's now leading the church, 00:09:48.280 --> 00:09:53.900 and we've got the other guy who's just blood and guts all spread out. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.040 That's how they end, the end of the story for both of them. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:04.440 But I want to take you back because, actually, these guys traveled the same path for a while. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.600 What made them different? 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:08.540 So, let's look at the similarity. 00:10:08.540 --> 00:10:12.000 These guys were both disciples of Jesus. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:15.480 They both were with him when Jesus taught. 00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:18.460 They both saw Jesus perform miracles. 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:21.360 They both lived with him. 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:27.580 Both of them, on various occasions, were rebuked or corrected by Jesus. 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:33.139 Jesus warned that both of them would fail even before they did it, 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:36.480 and both of them failed anyway. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:40.180 They told him, listen, you guys are going to do this, and they did it anyway. 00:10:40.300 --> 00:10:48.759 They both failed big time, and both of them were filled with sorrow over what they had done. 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:50.659 But what is the difference between them? 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:55.259 Okay, same, same, but very, very different. 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:58.080 And the difference lies, essentially, in two things, 00:10:58.920 --> 00:11:02.940 how they related to Jesus and how they responded to Jesus. 00:11:02.940 --> 00:11:05.720 This is how Judas related to Jesus. 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:13.060 You see, Judas looked at Jesus, and he kind of thought, well, if I hang out with Jesus, right? 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:14.840 Because Jesus was a big thing in Israel. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:15.980 He's on the scene. 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:17.740 He's performing miracles. 00:11:18.040 --> 00:11:19.140 He's been talking about it. 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:22.020 Israel hasn't had a prophet for 400 years. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:23.620 And Jesus is this big thing. 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:26.760 And Judas kind of reckons, you know, if I hang out with Jesus, 00:11:26.880 --> 00:11:31.420 I get a little bit of this fame for myself. 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:35.899 And Jesus was kind of his ticket to fame and fortune. 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:41.240 And essentially, Judas is interested only in what he can get out of it. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.519 He's interested in himself, right? 00:11:43.579 --> 00:11:45.759 This relationship is all about Judas. 00:11:46.939 --> 00:11:53.439 And Judas, to Judas, Jesus was really just a means to an end, right? 00:11:53.459 --> 00:11:56.539 I use Jesus, and I'll get noticed, right? 00:11:56.579 --> 00:11:57.419 I'll get noticed. 00:11:57.419 --> 00:12:00.799 But for Peter, bless Peter, right? 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:06.159 Peter, I just, when you read about the character of Peter, there's something about him. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:09.259 I mean, this guy, he blows hot and cold. 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:11.199 He says the most ridiculous things. 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:14.659 But for Peter, at the heart of it, Jesus was the end. 00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:18.059 Jesus was the ultimate goal for Peter, right? 00:12:18.079 --> 00:12:20.620 He even says, he says, Lord, like, who are we going to go to? 00:12:20.839 --> 00:12:22.879 I mean, you have the words of eternal life. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:24.279 You are it. 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.199 There's nothing else. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.140 It's about you. 00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:36.100 But Judas, Judas loved the idea of Jesus that was going to be a political Messiah. 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:41.840 He had the idea that Jesus was going to come over, and he was going to kick out the Romans, 00:12:42.040 --> 00:12:45.560 and then he was going to take over as king, and he could ride on that. 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:58.219 And when Jesus turned out not to be what Judas kind of hoped or thought he would be, then quickly that love Judas had turned to betrayal. 00:13:00.099 --> 00:13:00.619 Right? 00:13:00.739 --> 00:13:01.299 Very easy. 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:02.659 It's not going to work out for me. 00:13:02.739 --> 00:13:04.899 I'll try and make a quick buck out of it. 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:11.039 And even if you look at the motive for their biggest failure, you've got Peter. 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:12.959 He denied Jesus, right? 00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:14.199 Like, let's be honest here. 00:13:15.199 --> 00:13:17.399 A little girl comes to him and says, do you know Jesus? 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:18.539 No. 00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:19.559 No. 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:20.539 No. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.980 I mean, it was a cowardly act. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:25.840 But Peter is essentially motivated by self-preservation. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:27.299 He doesn't want to die. 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:33.199 Later in his life, Peter is prepared to sacrifice himself for Jesus. 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:35.839 He does end up dying for Jesus. 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:43.500 There's a strong tradition that Peter requested to be crucified upside down because he couldn't even be crucified in the same way as his Lord. 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:46.539 But at this point in time, he's like, I don't know him. 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:48.279 I don't know him by a little girl. 00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:51.039 But the motivation is self-preservation. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:57.579 And you look at Judas, his portrayal is motivated by greed. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.620 He wants something for himself, right? 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:04.579 He wants a little bit of power, a little bit of influence. 00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:13.039 And if you look at Peter, Jesus just has to look at him, and it breaks Peter. 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:13.919 It just breaks him. 00:14:14.099 --> 00:14:15.240 He absolutely breaks him. 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:18.680 But Judas, I mean, this guy, he could walk up to Jesus. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.779 He could kiss him on the cheek. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:29.580 He could call him his master without the slightest bit of conscience pricking him. 00:14:31.180 --> 00:14:33.440 And that's how they related to Jesus, right? 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:40.779 But all that is nothing compared to how they responded to Jesus. 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:45.279 Despite all that had gone before, this is the key moment. 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:47.939 They fail, and now what are they going to do? 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:55.439 Because both, if you look at it, both actually experience sorrow for what they did. 00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:59.339 But they both responded in very different ways, right? 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:08.459 If you look at Peter, his sorrow was built on the fact that he had sinned against the one he loved. 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:11.580 It got him, right? 00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:13.580 Like, Jesus, I let you down. 00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:14.600 I sinned against you. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.500 And what does Peter do? 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:19.220 He turns to Jesus, to the one he sinned against. 00:15:19.420 --> 00:15:22.040 He seeks forgiveness, and he finds it. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:26.180 And it's the kind of repentance that leads to salvation, right? 00:15:26.780 --> 00:15:31.740 Now, the word repentance in the Greek is the word metanoia. 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:38.259 And it literally just means to change your mind, to turn from something to turn to something else. 00:15:39.280 --> 00:15:41.300 And that's exactly what happened to Peter. 00:15:41.420 --> 00:15:42.840 He turned to Jesus. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.540 He didn't run away from him. 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.600 He turned to Jesus. 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:49.860 Paul writes about it to the church in Corinth, and he says this. 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.259 He says, 00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:57.720 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. 00:15:58.540 --> 00:16:04.120 But worldly sorrow brings death. 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:11.419 So, Judas, he's also filled with a sorrow, but it's a worldly sorrow. 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:17.580 And the only word I could think of that really sums up what worldly sorrow is, is remorse. 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:22.960 Kind of where you're sorry that you got caught, right? 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.940 Or you're sorry it didn't work out the way you had hoped. 00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:33.900 And if you look at Judas, he was just sorry that circumstances hadn't worked out like he had hoped. 00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:40.139 But, you know, and in his deepest moment, his deepest despair, who does he turn to? 00:16:42.059 --> 00:16:44.159 He turns to the Pharisees, right? 00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:46.959 The ones he knew would betray Jesus. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.920 I mean, they used Judas as much as Judas used them. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:53.300 And he turns to them, right? 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.560 He doesn't turn to Jesus. 00:16:55.400 --> 00:16:58.540 And at this point, Judas still makes a choice. 00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:04.220 He chooses death rather than turning to Jesus. 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:08.360 After everything he knows about Jesus, he still chooses death. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:15.519 And he thinks that by ending his life, his problems will go away. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:20.400 But really, he is just running away. 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:25.940 And guys, there's a lot of this in our lives, too. 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:36.700 I think most people, they avoid sin, not because they have this desire to please Jesus and just inherently be good. 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:41.500 They avoid sin because of sin's harmful effects to them, right? 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:47.759 And if you think about it, you're motivated by a kind of self-love, right? 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:54.200 Because if I sin and people find out, that might destroy my reputation, might have a harmful side effect on me. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:59.400 But if I could sin and I could get away with it, I'd probably do it. 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:05.540 So there was a survey done in 2015. 00:18:05.780 --> 00:18:09.380 So two years ago at the University of North Dakota. 00:18:09.560 --> 00:18:11.060 I've never been to North Dakota. 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:12.519 I don't know anything about the university. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:15.920 But they did this survey, and they interviewed college men. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:27.440 And they said to them, if you could rape a girl on campus and get away with it, would you do it? 00:18:28.320 --> 00:18:32.640 And one in three of them answered, yes, they would. 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:35.100 Now, as a dad, that horrifies me. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:37.600 My daughter is never going to go study at North Dakota. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:45.719 But there is something about the human heart that if you could sin and you could get away with it and it wouldn't damage your reputation, would you do it? 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.139 Yes. 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:50.519 But we know that that's not always true, right? 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:54.279 Because when we do get caught, we feel this remorse. 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:56.319 Sorry, shucks, that's bad. 00:18:57.399 --> 00:18:58.259 But here's the difference. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:04.799 As a follower of Jesus, our lives should be marked by a love for Jesus. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:10.960 And that means repentance, not remorse for our sins. 00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:16.079 You see, repentance is the key to being a follower of Christ. 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:22.720 Your Christian journey, the moment you come to faith, begins, or it should begin, with repentance. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:25.579 And you go on repenting. 00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.899 This is what Paul says, right? 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.359 Paul. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.259 We all know Paul. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:32.659 This is what he says in Acts 26. 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:38.160 He says, so then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:41.080 So Paul had a vision from heaven of what he was supposed to do. 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:41.900 He met Jesus. 00:19:42.060 --> 00:19:48.180 And then he says this, first to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem, then to all Judea, and then to the Gentiles. 00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:49.240 I preached. 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.560 What did he preach? 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:57.320 I preached that they should repent and turn to God and. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:59.259 Okay, I told you it's going to hurt. 00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.779 This part is going to hurt. 00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:01.460 Get this. 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:06.779 And demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:09.640 That's what Paul preached. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:21.279 Often, when I talk to people who are going through problems or struggles or doubts with their faith, I will ask them the question, 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:24.539 tell me how you became a believer. 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:26.700 How did you become a follower of Christ? 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:32.720 And very often, I find out that they were never taught to repent. 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:34.620 They were taught only believe. 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.019 That's all you need to do, just believe. 00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:39.080 And they were never taught about repentance. 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:45.200 And they certainly never asked to demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:49.519 Because, you see, it's not just about saying, gee, Lord, I'm sorry, I sinned. 00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:50.420 Right? 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.480 Really, what is that? 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.220 That's not biblical. 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:54.200 You don't find it in the biblical thing. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:58.420 Sin is always plural, and it's always specific. 00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:04.200 And if you look at the New Testament, when they did repentance, there was action involved. 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.140 They burnt books. 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.340 They gave money back. 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:08.960 They were doing repentance. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:18.440 For me, I think I've told you before, but I was a university student, and I was invited to an Alpha course. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:22.960 And for 10 weeks, I argued my way through Alpha. 00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:26.380 We had an Alpha retreat yesterday, by the way. 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.519 Amazing, right? 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:31.100 So I went away on that retreat 20 years ago. 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:32.640 That's almost how long it was. 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:34.819 And I argued my way through that weekend. 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:39.659 And eventually, after 10 weeks, I got to a place where I couldn't run anymore. 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.879 I couldn't hide anymore. 00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:42.779 God had me where He wanted to. 00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:49.220 And I remember very clearly, one night, after talking to someone about faith in Jesus, I went home. 00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:52.399 And I began repenting. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.720 And it was good teaching. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.740 They told me to repent. 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:57.059 And I began. 00:21:57.240 --> 00:22:03.079 And I began naming some of the things that I was confessing, right, that were in my life. 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:09.379 And the more I began to name sins, the more another one would come in my mind, and I would name that one again. 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:13.159 And the more I repented, the more I realized, gee, I'm not as good as I think I am. 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:18.099 And the more I'm repenting, the more I realized, God, I need a Savior. 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:22.539 I need someone to save me from all this crap that I'm giving you. 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:28.200 And the more I repented, the more I realized how beautiful He is as a Savior. 00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:33.639 He is offering me His forgiveness, His grace. 00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:40.700 And the more I repented, the more I realized that He is giving me the power to live right. 00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:44.000 I mean, it's an amazing deal, right? 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.399 Here I am, a sinner. 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:49.960 I give Him my sin, my rubbish, all the things I've thought and done. 00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:56.480 And He is giving me His righteousness, His sonship, His adoption to me, right? 00:22:56.800 --> 00:22:58.100 It's an amazing deal. 00:22:59.540 --> 00:23:00.820 But come to know Him. 00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:05.480 But, guys, I have to be honest. 00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:07.440 That was 20 years ago. 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:12.759 And often in my walk today, I've become very casual. 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.920 I've become casual with God. 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:16.460 I've become casual with my sin. 00:23:16.820 --> 00:23:24.120 And often, the rubbish that's in my life, I'm probably more remorseful over than I'm repentant over. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:29.039 I'm just kind of sorry that my sin catches me out and gets me in trouble sometimes. 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.460 But I'm not repentant. 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:35.440 I'm not repentant to the one I'm really sinning against. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:52.380 So, the question for us as a church, is there stuff in our lives that we are perhaps maybe remorseful over, but not really repentant over? 00:23:52.380 --> 00:24:07.240 You guys, the horrible thing about remorse is that it just leads to guilt, shame, despair, and ultimately death, secrecy. 00:24:07.320 --> 00:24:08.040 There's no life. 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:10.500 Remorse ends in death. 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:13.480 Repentance ends in life. 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:19.900 And I think sometimes we forget that we serve a holy God, a perfect God. 00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:22.579 There's nothing evil in Him. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.839 He's just pure. 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:28.519 But He's also merciful and gracious. 00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:33.640 And He longs to give mercy to those who ask for it and come to Him. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.680 He longs for it. 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:40.600 Are we coming to Jesus in repentance? 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:52.060 At this point in the story, Peter, who was a Jew, he would have been soaked in the Torah. 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.759 He would have known the Psalms. 00:24:54.220 --> 00:25:00.120 The Scripture comes alive to him, and he suddenly realizes, hey, this was predicted a while ago. 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:02.500 And he quotes two passages from the Psalms. 00:25:02.560 --> 00:25:03.779 He says, look, this is it, right? 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.740 God knew what was going to happen. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:07.660 He's not surprised by all this. 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:09.359 But we need to do something. 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:15.819 We need to seek God's will and find a replacement for Judas, right? 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:18.240 So we're going to stop here for a second. 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:21.339 We're going to talk about God's will. 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:23.000 Now, God has two kinds of will. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:27.879 He's got His general will and His specific will. 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:33.160 Now, God has revealed His general will to us already. 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:40.480 So if you walked in here today and you're asking the question, gee, I don't know what God's will for my life is, I'm going to tell you. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:40.879 All right? 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.379 Are you ready? 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.319 This is what God wants for you. 00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:45.819 It comes from 1 Thessalonians 4. 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.059 This is it. 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:51.200 It is God's will that you should be sanctified. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:57.579 That means changed into Jesus slowly or fast, however you respond to Him. 00:25:57.759 --> 00:26:00.500 That you should avoid sexual immorality. 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:07.259 That you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable. 00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:09.059 Here's another one from chapter 5. 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:11.059 Rejoice always. 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:13.480 Pray continually. 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:16.559 Give thanks in all circumstances. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:23.159 For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:26.799 And then we get His specific will, right? 00:26:26.879 --> 00:26:32.079 The Bible doesn't tell us where we're going to work, who we're going to marry. 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:45.460 But I find very often most people are more interested in knowing the specific will than they are interested in doing God's general will. 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.319 That's true for me, right? 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:49.579 God, just tell me what to do. 00:26:50.159 --> 00:26:52.859 But I'm not really seeking His general will. 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:57.460 So my little guy, he's six years old, right? 00:26:57.460 --> 00:27:04.960 So my general will for him is that he would develop a godly character, right? 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.240 That he would tell the truth. 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.600 That he would be kind to others. 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:09.319 That he would listen to his parents. 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:16.660 And then my specific will for him, as a South African, I would love him to play rugby. 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:17.759 Right? 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:20.160 That's my specific will for him. 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:25.779 Now which one do you think I take greater pleasure in when I see him doing it? 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:30.639 I take far greater pleasure in my general will for him. 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:37.519 When I see him acting that out, then I will if he plays rugby or not, right? 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:43.740 I'm far more interested in who he is rather than what he does. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:46.420 And God is exactly the same. 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:52.519 He is far more interested in who you are than what you do. 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:56.759 And by the way, my son has no interest in rugby, so I've lost that battle. 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.900 He loves football for some reason, right? 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:01.599 Yeah. 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:06.160 So these guys, right, now they're seeking God's will. 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:10.879 And my challenge to myself, I'm preaching to myself as I preach to you. 00:28:11.619 --> 00:28:16.359 Do we desperately want to seek God's general will for our lives, 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:19.479 or we're more interested in his specific will? 00:28:22.439 --> 00:28:23.839 So these guys, there they go. 00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:25.459 They knew they had to seek God. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:30.379 There was nothing in their scriptures that told them who it was that was going to replace Judas. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:33.179 So they had to do some seeking of God. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:35.519 And they had a criteria, right? 00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:38.000 They didn't throw their brains out the window. 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:41.039 They actually came up with a sensible list. 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:45.700 And they said, look, it needs to be someone who was with Jesus the whole time 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:47.720 and was a witness to his resurrection. 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:50.500 So anyone here meet that criteria? 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.700 Okay, no, move on, right? 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.440 You guys don't qualify. 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:55.879 But there were two guys that did qualify. 00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.799 And they brought them up. 00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:00.819 And then they prayed and they trusted God. 00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:03.399 And then they cast lots. 00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:11.340 Now, it was probably, could have been, where they took a bag and they put a couple of stones in it 00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:14.900 and wrote their names on the stones. 00:29:15.040 --> 00:29:19.900 And then they trusted that God would lead the hand to pick the right stone. 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:22.920 And it comes out, Matthias, that's the one. 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:25.259 And that's it. 00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:27.800 So, guys, that's it for today. 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:33.879 If you want to seek God's specific will, go home, get a bag, write whatever you want, 00:29:33.919 --> 00:29:36.119 a couple of stones, and that's it. 00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.379 Do we do that? 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:43.500 Imagine you came to Chris as a pastor. 00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:51.059 You came to one of the elders and said, I've got this girl, two girls, both love Jesus. 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:53.599 By the way, guys, that's a criteria, right? 00:29:53.659 --> 00:29:55.119 That's the bottom line criteria. 00:29:55.399 --> 00:29:56.460 They have to love Jesus. 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:58.819 If they don't love Jesus, they don't even meet the list. 00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:00.460 You take them off the list and you start again. 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:03.579 But, and girls, the same way, right? 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.900 The guy has to love Jesus. 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.680 That's your criteria. 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.740 But let's just pretend. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.420 I've got two girls. 00:30:07.620 --> 00:30:08.579 They both love Jesus. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:11.420 I'm not sure about the two girls. 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:15.680 And the elder says to you, or Chris says to you, I know, let me just grab a bag. 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:17.799 Let's write their names on a piece of paper. 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.640 We drop them in. 00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.279 All right, quickly. 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.640 Ah, there it is. 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:21.100 Judy. 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:25.019 Now, if Chris did that, what would you think of him? 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:27.279 He's lost his mind, right? 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:31.319 But he could just take you to Acts 1 and say, there it is. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:36.079 You know, or maybe that's how you got a job decision. 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.839 Which one you're going to take? 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:39.279 Pull out the bag. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.879 So do we do that? 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:42.640 No. 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:43.460 Good. 00:30:44.040 --> 00:30:44.360 Right? 00:30:45.260 --> 00:30:47.080 And there's a very good reason for that. 00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:52.480 Because this is the last time you ever see this practice in the Scripture. 00:30:52.840 --> 00:30:58.680 There was evidence in Israelite community, the story of Achan and Jonah. 00:30:58.820 --> 00:30:59.560 They cast lots. 00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:03.619 But it was also very much a pagan practice to cast lots. 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:08.220 The reason is we are still in Acts 1. 00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:11.379 Acts 2 is still coming. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.639 And what did Jesus do? 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.419 What did he tell them? 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:15.319 At the beginning of the story, you need to wait for something. 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.839 What did he tell them to wait for? 00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:19.039 The Holy Spirit, right? 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:20.019 The Spirit of Jesus. 00:31:20.139 --> 00:31:21.240 This is what you need to wait for. 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:26.519 And Jesus said, it's better that I go because I'm going to send the Holy Spirit. 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:30.880 And the Holy Spirit is going to be a guide. 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.740 He's going to be a counselor. 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:34.420 He's going to be a comforter. 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:40.400 In other words, instruction is going to give way to intimacy. 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:48.220 Instruction is going to give way to intimacy because you are going to be able to know him. 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:52.100 You're going to be able to know his will. 00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:57.539 In my day job, I'm in education, right? 00:31:57.600 --> 00:32:00.620 From Monday to Friday, sometimes on a Saturday, that's what I do. 00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:02.860 And we have this phrase in education. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:07.960 We say that the process is as important as the product. 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:12.620 The process is as important as the product. 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:17.480 And sometimes, guys, God takes us through a process. 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.620 But you know what I want? 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.319 I want the bag. 00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:23.319 I want just tell me yes or no. 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.500 Tell me this or that. 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:26.559 I don't want the whole process. 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:30.019 I just want God to tell me what to do. 00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:37.640 But God sometimes, when we think in his infinite wisdom, what he's doing is he wants to know you. 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:39.519 He wants to know you. 00:32:39.600 --> 00:32:41.460 So it's not just about the product. 00:32:41.600 --> 00:32:44.259 It's not just about his specific will for you. 00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.960 It's about drawing aside. 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:49.200 It's about seeking him and enjoying him. 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:54.120 So the question we have to really ask ourselves is, how do we relate to Jesus? 00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:58.200 How are we responding to him? 00:32:58.200 --> 00:33:04.220 You know, are we following a Jesus as he is? 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:08.640 Or are we following a Jesus as we want him to be? 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:12.340 And sometimes, I follow the Jesus as I want him to be. 00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:23.099 You know, guys, this really, really, as I work through this passage, it's just, it really was like a punch in the guts. 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.259 It really is convicting. 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:29.240 Jesus is not far off, right? 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:31.199 Sometimes I get the feeling that he's far off. 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.000 He's not far off. 00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:34.039 He wants us to seek him. 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:39.159 Because ultimately, what it boils down to is knowing him, right? 00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.980 Paul writes it. 00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:42.460 He says, I want to know Christ. 00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:43.440 That's what it's about. 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:44.519 It's about knowing him. 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:46.920 We talk about this as Christians all the time. 00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:48.720 We tell people it's about a relationship. 00:33:49.399 --> 00:33:50.339 It's about a relationship. 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:54.359 It's about knowing the Father and him knowing us. 00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:58.339 And we need to hold on to him, right? 00:33:58.339 --> 00:34:01.099 I often think about this, right? 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:09.079 Like, when we focus on mission, and we know that as Christians, we should be telling the world, the lost, about the Savior. 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:20.719 But if we do not know the Savior, or we kind of know him, he's a little bit of a stranger to us, how much joy and motivation is there going to be in telling others, right? 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:22.119 It becomes a duty. 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:24.639 It's like, oh, yeah, yeah, you know, you've got to come to Jesus. 00:34:24.759 --> 00:34:25.019 He's good. 00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:37.599 But if you really know and experience him and know him and know that he's good and know that he's in your life, you're going to be far more understanding and have a deep love for people who don't know him. 00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:43.619 I want to finish with story, right? 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:53.139 Over the Easter period, my family and I, we had the privilege of going to Australia for holidays. 00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:53.880 We went to Melbourne. 00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:57.940 So out of all the nasty things I've ever said to Australians, you have a beautiful country. 00:34:58.160 --> 00:35:00.920 You still speak funny, but you do have a beautiful country. 00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:08.400 And part of the trip, the first few days, we were in the city center. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:16.300 And after that, I had booked and planned to rent a car and go out into the countryside. 00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:19.860 So we're busy checking out of the place where we're staying. 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:22.300 And I go downstairs to get the car. 00:35:23.120 --> 00:35:25.480 And he has my booking number. 00:35:25.580 --> 00:35:26.260 I give it to the guy. 00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:27.640 And he says, can I see your license? 00:35:28.660 --> 00:35:31.480 And I give him my international driver's license. 00:35:31.620 --> 00:35:33.320 And he says, can I see your Hong Kong ID? 00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:35.140 I give him a Hong Kong ID. 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:37.440 And he says, can I see your Hong Kong driver's license? 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:40.620 I said, I don't have my Hong Kong driver's license with me. 00:35:40.859 --> 00:35:43.079 It's not a photo ID. 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:44.259 If you have one, know it. 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:47.420 And he says, sorry, I can't give you the car. 00:35:48.319 --> 00:35:55.099 I said, but all it says, you know, if you look at the Victoria, state of Victoria driving thing, all you need is an international license. 00:35:55.219 --> 00:36:00.259 He says, sorry, our rental rules is I've got to see both. 00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:05.140 And so anyway, I go back to our room. 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:06.840 And I open the door and tell my wife. 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:09.740 I said, she's busy packing the bags, getting the kids ready. 00:36:10.200 --> 00:36:13.360 And we're planning on going in the car, driving out to the countryside. 00:36:13.540 --> 00:36:14.620 I said, we've got a real problem here. 00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:16.780 We don't have a car. 00:36:17.640 --> 00:36:18.920 And they're not going to give it to me. 00:36:19.160 --> 00:36:21.300 So anyway, we packed the bags. 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:22.200 We still have to check out. 00:36:22.220 --> 00:36:24.080 And we're going down in the lift from the 30th floor. 00:36:24.520 --> 00:36:25.800 And I said, let's just pray. 00:36:26.220 --> 00:36:26.440 Right? 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.320 So there it is. 00:36:27.480 --> 00:36:29.480 Wife, kids, bags, suitcases. 00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:31.800 And we're praying in this lift. 00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:34.500 And anyway, we get down. 00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:37.559 And we're going to try again because now God is with us. 00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:38.539 And we go in. 00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:41.639 And we're like, can we rent the car? 00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:44.840 And my wife puts on a sad face. 00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:46.480 Nothing. 00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:47.139 Nothing. 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:49.280 These Aussie guys, they're stoic. 00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:49.539 Right? 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:49.940 Nothing. 00:36:50.059 --> 00:36:50.719 No feeling. 00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:53.119 I'm sure they're bitter because we beat them at everything. 00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:56.079 But anyway, they didn't give it. 00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.420 Nothing. 00:36:56.420 --> 00:37:00.659 So we kind of walk out of the car thing. 00:37:01.500 --> 00:37:03.460 And I thought, well, let's try another one. 00:37:03.559 --> 00:37:04.940 So there was one called Thrifty. 00:37:05.099 --> 00:37:06.840 I thought that sounds a little bit more dodgy. 00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:08.260 Maybe that will help us out. 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:09.460 Thrifty. 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.280 No ways. 00:37:10.599 --> 00:37:11.220 Same thing. 00:37:11.260 --> 00:37:12.920 We're not going to give you your car. 00:37:13.340 --> 00:37:16.079 And the whole time we were there, we had beautiful weather. 00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:18.099 Sunshine, everything like that. 00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:20.720 But on the one day, it starts to rain. 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:24.939 So literally, we're out on the pavement, suitcases, kids, and it's raining. 00:37:26.059 --> 00:37:28.980 And the only thing we have, we know no one there. 00:37:29.379 --> 00:37:35.599 The only contact we have is some friends of ours in Hong Kong who, from Sydney, heard we were going to Australia. 00:37:35.659 --> 00:37:38.459 And they said, we know a couple in Melbourne. 00:37:38.459 --> 00:37:41.119 If you have a chance, give them a call. 00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:43.739 So pull out the phone. 00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:45.859 And we send a text message. 00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:48.219 Hi, you don't know us from a bar of soap. 00:37:48.779 --> 00:37:52.759 Could you rent a car in our name? 00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:55.539 And yeah, thanks. 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:55.960 Hi. 00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.960 Hi. 00:37:57.500 --> 00:38:04.679 Now, I mean, for the insurance implications and stuff like that, a dodgy South African, I mean, would you do it? 00:38:04.840 --> 00:38:05.240 No way. 00:38:06.099 --> 00:38:06.860 Push send. 00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:09.740 I mean, I'm kind of uncomfortable with doing this. 00:38:10.780 --> 00:38:13.480 Less than a minute later, we get this reply. 00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.159 Don't worry. 00:38:15.840 --> 00:38:17.659 We have a spare car for you. 00:38:18.300 --> 00:38:19.480 How long do you need it? 00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:25.280 And when we said, you know, like, wow, or thank you, da-da-da, we need it for this day. 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:26.320 It works out perfectly. 00:38:26.620 --> 00:38:31.140 The exact time that we needed it for was the time the car was available. 00:38:31.620 --> 00:38:37.760 And, I mean, this couple, they had just bought a replacement car, and they hadn't sold this other one yet. 00:38:37.840 --> 00:38:40.500 There were people coming to look at it the day after we left. 00:38:41.040 --> 00:38:42.680 Exactly the time we needed it for. 00:38:42.740 --> 00:38:43.940 And it was a nice car. 00:38:44.060 --> 00:38:44.720 It was a Volvo. 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.680 It was pretty cool. 00:38:45.680 --> 00:38:48.000 Except you can't drive fast in Australia anyway. 00:38:48.260 --> 00:38:53.260 But we got there, and we got to meet this couple, right? 00:38:53.260 --> 00:38:55.760 They invited us into their home. 00:38:56.040 --> 00:39:00.540 We joined them a little bit later for Easter, and our kids played together. 00:39:00.780 --> 00:39:04.180 And we got to hear a little bit of their story and their story. 00:39:04.260 --> 00:39:07.820 And they're going to come to Hong Kong sometime, and we're going to catch up again then. 00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:12.260 But really, this whole thing taught me so much, right? 00:39:12.300 --> 00:39:15.080 It taught me that God cares. 00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:18.259 I mean, even this is a car on holiday. 00:39:18.460 --> 00:39:19.819 Come on, first world problems. 00:39:20.340 --> 00:39:22.360 But God cares about that. 00:39:22.799 --> 00:39:27.159 And he doesn't answer in always the way that we think he's going to answer. 00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:28.840 It's often a lot better. 00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:31.840 But it's a process that was more important, right? 00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:37.179 I, as a guy, I often find it very difficult to ask for help or accept help. 00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:38.319 And there it was. 00:39:38.400 --> 00:39:39.219 God put me in a list. 00:39:39.219 --> 00:39:45.480 He took me through a process where I had to reach out and ask strangers for help. 00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:49.099 Guys, this is the God we serve. 00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:55.359 This is the God who knows us, who wants us to know him and take us on a journey of faith. 00:39:56.659 --> 00:39:57.879 Do you know him? 00:39:58.239 --> 00:39:59.480 Do you want to know him? 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:04.019 Is this desire as us of a church to reach out and know this God? 00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:08.239 God, can I pray for you? 00:40:17.239 --> 00:40:21.400 Father, we so often use the phrase, God is good. 00:40:22.300 --> 00:40:27.440 And we use it so casually, God, that we don't even know really what it means. 00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:35.420 Just the depth of your righteousness, the depth of your forgiveness and desire to know us. 00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:42.159 My prayer for me and for us as a church, Lord God, is that, Lord, you will help us, Lord. 00:40:42.260 --> 00:40:47.820 That you will show us by your spirit areas in our lives that we need to put right, 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:53.619 that we need to bring to you in repentance, that we may live with no regrets, 00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:57.099 that we may live in freedom and life and get to know you better. 00:40:58.039 --> 00:41:04.780 Lord, I pray that whatever each one of us goes through and in seeking you and knowing you, 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:07.519 may you reveal yourself to us this week. 00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:15.280 May you take us through a process where you change our hearts with a real desire to know you more 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:23.400 and then go and tell the world that you are good and that you care and that you are watching over us 00:41:23.400 --> 00:41:26.320 and that you do adopt us as children. 00:41:27.440 --> 00:41:29.400 Father, we love you. 00:41:31.260 --> 00:41:32.619 Help us to follow you. 00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:33.659 In Jesus' name. 00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:34.380 Amen.