WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.320 I want to speak from Matthew chapter 10, verses 16 to 33, we're going through Matthew's gospel. 00:00:07.700 --> 00:00:12.560 ! And if you remember last week, you'll remember that Jesus was speaking to his ambassadors, 00:00:13.780 --> 00:00:18.780 ! He was speaking to those who were going to carry his mission to the world. 00:00:19.620 --> 00:00:26.280 And we saw, didn't we, that those words were given to the apostles, they were not given directly 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:33.280 to us, but they are given for us. And they were to go to the Jews and speak of the Jews 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:40.700 in Matthew 10. And we learn lots about God's plan and the progress of God, about his priorities 00:00:40.700 --> 00:00:46.900 for mission, how God provides for us. And all those things are directed by the gospel. 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:53.780 But verse 16 shows us that Jesus is now looking further ahead. Look at verse 16. He's looking 00:00:53.780 --> 00:01:01.200 beyond the immediate concerns of the 12 disciples. And he's looking to that time beyond Pentecost, 00:01:01.300 --> 00:01:06.680 when the gospel would kind of go out to all peoples. When they would bring the gospel to 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:11.799 the world, verse 18. It speaks of mission to the Gentiles, whereas verse 6 speaks about 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:18.500 mission to the Jews. And if you look at verses 21 and 22, he's still speaking there, isn't 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:24.980 about the church's mission, about us and our mission to the world. It stretches to today. 00:01:25.379 --> 00:01:34.840 This turmoil of parents against children. Of this hatred. And what Jesus is doing this 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:40.200 morning is he is shocking us. He is saying that in the mission of Jesus, which we carry 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:45.460 out, we must expect persecution. And in the light of that, we must be ready to persevere 00:01:45.459 --> 00:01:51.459 to the end. So look at verse 16. It's an abiding principle. He says, doesn't he? 00:01:53.059 --> 00:01:58.199 Behold, I'm sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and 00:01:58.199 --> 00:02:07.359 innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over the courts and flog you in their 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:13.500 synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:21.379 before them and the Gentiles. It's really smart, isn't it? He's saying, to be saved, you've 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:25.400 got to endure to the end. You've got to keep going. It means enduring to the end of the 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:30.680 persecutions. Enduring to the end of our lives as good soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:36.939 The Christian life is about keeping going. You fight the fight. You run the race so that 00:02:36.939 --> 00:02:44.460 you will receive the crown. And it really is an obvious passage about persecution and perseverance 00:02:44.460 --> 00:02:48.879 and endurance. And there will be much hardship in the Christian life and Christian witness. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:55.620 What he's saying to you is, to live as a Christian, there will be danger and heartbreak. There will 00:02:55.620 --> 00:03:02.000 be disappointment and there will be struggle. And that is Christian discipleship. That is what 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:08.620 it is like to be a Christian. And that is such a contrast, isn't it, to what we're often told 00:03:08.620 --> 00:03:16.860 by the church today. You know the words like celebration. Words like experience, like worship. 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:23.099 You don't find, do you, on any website that I've gone on this week about churches, on the front 00:03:23.099 --> 00:03:32.900 page, persecution, suffering, hatred. But there's no triumphalism with Jesus. There's no naivety 00:03:32.900 --> 00:03:38.539 either. He says, beware of people. They are like, verse 16, they are like wolves. That's 00:03:38.539 --> 00:03:46.479 pretty blunt. And he says you must therefore have wisdom and realism. You must be wise as 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:53.079 servants, gentler stuff. And it's clear, isn't it, that Jesus is not naive of a 00:03:53.080 --> 00:04:00.580 Christian life. It's going to be tough right to the very end. And he says you must be surprised 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:04.620 by that. You must be shocked by that. But why is it going to be so tough? Well the answer 00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:10.900 is very clear. And that is that the gospel of Jesus Christ always, always divides. So 00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:15.939 do you remember in chapter 9, verse 33, we saw it in the summer, don't we? That after 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:22.980 all these miracles, the crowds, they marvel. We've never seen anything like it, they say. 00:04:23.180 --> 00:04:29.139 We rejoice in the faith. But look at the very next verse. Look at verse 34. It's very clear, 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:36.600 isn't it? But the Pharisee said, he casts out demons by the prince of demons. Do you notice 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:43.480 how Matthew does that? He puts, doesn't he, faith and unbelief side by side. The gospel 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:52.180 of Jesus always divides. And the messages of Jesus always divide. So verse 34 is very clear, 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:58.960 isn't it? There is a division. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. 00:04:59.460 --> 00:05:06.300 I've not come to bring peace, but sort of division. Can we reach up a sun? There are, there's stark 00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:13.379 words, aren't there? There are two ways, two ways to live. Two gates. Two roads. There's a road 00:05:13.379 --> 00:05:21.060 of life and the road of death. And the gospel is always a double-edged sword. It divides men 00:05:21.060 --> 00:05:26.600 and women and boys and girls. And that is why it's hard to be a Christian. And the mark of 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:34.519 a false gospel, the mark of a false gospel preacher is that there's no division. The whole church 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:40.839 claims, isn't this wonderful? Isn't this terrific? This is the ministry that we want. And when the 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:48.919 ministry is uniformly popular, that means it's not likely to be the biblical gospel. If the 00:05:48.919 --> 00:05:56.479 reaction to the gospel ministry is not the same reaction as what Jesus received, it's not 00:05:56.479 --> 00:06:02.979 his message. Some are, on the one hand, will be hungry, they'll desire more, they'll want 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:12.780 more. But others, well there will be those whose hearts are closed. Or closing. And hardening. 00:06:12.840 --> 00:06:18.680 And we have to come to terms with that in the Christian life. And it's not easy. From the 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:24.360 perspective of the preacher, it's not easy. It's hard to know if you're being faithful to 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:28.879 the message of Jesus. It's hard to know that if you are, you will always see division. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:34.019 There will always be a mixed reaction. No matter how good your sermon is, no matter how good 00:06:34.019 --> 00:06:40.420 your church is, how faithful it is, Jesus says there will always be a division. But Jesus 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:46.240 tells it as it is. He's not a spin doctor. And he says we must expect hardship and persecution 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:52.659 and struggle, and we must prepare for it, so that we're able to persevere to the end. And 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:59.000 he says we go out as sheep. Sheep in the world's eyes are powerless. We are foolish. We are 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:07.380 weak. Who is here of sending out sheep to convert wolves? It's madness. It's ridiculous in the 00:07:07.380 --> 00:07:13.120 world's eyes, but we are not valueless, Jesus is saying. You go out as sacrificial lambs 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:20.480 for my sake. For my sake. That is why you're hated. And you have heavenly power and heavenly 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:26.560 resources the world doesn't see. Just look at verse 19 of chapter 10. When they deliver 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:29.579 over you, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:36.360 to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the spirit of 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:44.860 your father speaking through you. I am with you. And because I will never abandon you, 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:49.300 well you must know that as well. So in this first paragraph, there are three areas where 00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:54.480 persecution comes from. Three areas where you and I must expect persecution. The first 00:07:54.480 --> 00:08:01.819 area is from the religious establishment. Look at verse 17. The danger is when we read the 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:05.639 gospels, we think of it like westerns. Do you remember westerns where you can always tell 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:11.659 the goodies and the baddies really easily? The baddies had stubble and beards. The goodies 00:08:11.659 --> 00:08:16.699 were clean shaven when they, but it's not like that. It's not like that in life in general. 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:23.779 And it's not like that when you come to the gospels. We mustn't think of the Pharisees and 00:08:23.779 --> 00:08:30.180 the synagogue leaders as these kind of very obvious bad and evil people. You see they were 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:34.639 the church of the New Testament age. Synagogues and rulers, they are closing their eyes and 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:41.139 hardening their eyes. The church, when Jesus came to it, persecuted him because they were 00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:47.199 so adrift from the reality of the grace of God, they couldn't stand it. And so they flogged 00:08:47.199 --> 00:08:53.199 the ministers of Jesus Christ and nothing has changed in 2,000 years. And so around the 00:08:53.199 --> 00:08:57.639 world, so much of the persecution of true believers in Jesus Christ comes from institutional 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:04.639 churches. Just ask Christians in some of the former Iron Curtain countries where the Orthodox 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:13.419 church in Russia and in Greece persecutes relentlessly the evangelical people. It's the same in our 00:09:13.419 --> 00:09:25.500 country. Religion despises evangelical gospel faith. It despises the words of Jesus and the 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:33.940 apostles' words being taken seriously. So save us from these fundamentalists. Let the church 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:42.320 be broad. Let it be very broad as long as it's narrow enough to keep us out. Because that's 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:48.279 the reality. Religion always hates real faith. And it always has done. It always will do. 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:55.779 Because real faith, real faith in Jesus Christ liberates people. That's why, where religion 00:09:55.779 --> 00:10:01.919 it always seeks to control and enslave people. And religious leaders always want to make you 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:08.100 dependent upon them. They love to make you enslaved of them. They love to make the institution 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:12.759 the one that is in control. So there will always be persecution from the institutional church. 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:21.399 Secondly, there will be persecution in verse 18 from the state. From governors. From society 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:28.200 at large. That's true, isn't it? Throughout history. The history of the Christian faith. It's 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:34.580 something that is real and alive and has always been a terrible threat to society. Gospel believers. 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:41.819 A society that is militantly anti-Christ. That is why Nero burned those Christians in the first 00:10:41.820 --> 00:10:49.280 century. Blamed the burning of Rome on them. Butchered them. That is why the Nazis and the 00:10:49.280 --> 00:10:56.360 Soviets rounded Christians up and sent them to gulags and concentration camps. In our Western 00:10:56.360 --> 00:11:02.879 secular democracy, it's no different. There's not the same physical violence, is there? But 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:10.940 there is the same vehemence. Just think of the media. How sneering and how scornful they are 00:11:10.940 --> 00:11:18.080 of the biblical faith. They laugh Bible-believing Christians. They scorn, don't they? The disdain 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:27.040 of someone like John Humphreys. Or even Ricky Gervais. They love the liberal churchmen who 00:11:27.040 --> 00:11:32.080 will tell them everything they want to hear. But when somebody is actually really clear on 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:38.560 stating the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching of the apostles, there will be 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:46.919 nothing but scorn. The third area is, it will be from within the family, verse 21. And maybe 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:54.979 that is most painful of all, isn't it? Think of the hurt and the hostility. The bitterness, 00:11:55.699 --> 00:12:02.179 the pain that is in people's families. When a child is converted and they turn to Christ. 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:08.620 And the parent cannot stand the loss. Maybe the loss to their career or to their future. 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:16.359 When a child goes against the pattern of their parents by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:22.319 what a heartbreak and what a pain that is. Or a husband against a wife. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:28.540 But Jesus is saying, isn't it? This is genuine Christian discipleship. And this is what will 00:12:28.540 --> 00:12:33.300 happen. And when that does happen, when your family turns on you being a Christian, that 00:12:33.300 --> 00:12:38.700 is not an evidence of failure. That is the reality of following Jesus. So to sum up, verse 00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:50.340 22, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. And sometimes that experience is very 00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:57.120 real, and we know that. I think as some of you hear it, it is very lonely, isn't it, for 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:05.560 you to bear the name of the Lord Jesus today. Sometimes it seems almost too much to bear. 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:12.940 And Jesus is warning you and I, and encouraging you and I, and saying, do not be deceived. It 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:18.519 is not a sign of failure when that happens. My mission is not out of control when these things 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:26.340 happen. Rather, it's the only way it can be in a world that disdains our Saviour. And 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:33.500 he says, rejoice in it for my sake. It can't be any other way. Do you remember the Beatitudes? 00:13:34.179 --> 00:13:43.199 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and slander you on my account. Rejoice. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:48.500 Why? Well, they persecuted the prophets that went before you. In other words, what does 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:53.720 it show you? It shows you that you are the genuine article of faith when people hate you. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:14:04.440 And great is your reward in heaven. In other words, you're not forgotten when these things 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:12.180 happen to you. And God is saying, I've not abandoned you. And he's preparing a reward and he sees it 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:22.279 all. And you've got to realise that is how mission works. Look at verse 80. He says, 00:14:22.339 --> 00:14:27.899 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake to bear witness to them and 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:34.739 the Gentiles. The word there, bear witness, it's the word we get martyr from. That's how 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:40.740 the church grows. Tertullian, in the second century, he was right when he said that the 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:48.659 blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. And Jesus, you see, is teaching his followers 00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:58.340 all of this. That they will be prepared for lives of witness and discipleship and so they'll 00:14:58.340 --> 00:15:04.540 be able to endure to the end. It's so much the opposite of what we hear today, isn't 00:15:04.540 --> 00:15:11.440 it? So people say to me, do not speak about the negatives of the gospel up front. It'll 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:18.259 put people off. And don't talk about sin and suffering and the demands of Christ, particularly 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:22.720 in the area of sexuality. Don't speak about that on Sundays. Because on Sundays we are visitors. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:27.560 This is great to have so many visitors here today. And those who are new to the Christian 00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:32.519 faith. And we don't want those who come to be put off by the rough stuff. But if you don't 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:38.360 preach it on Sundays, when do you preach it? It's actually deceitful and dishonest, isn't 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:45.720 it, to hide this. And actually, a bigger problem is it's the antithesis of what Jesus does in 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:55.420 this chapter. Because Jesus is brutally and absolutely up front and clear. And you see, 00:15:55.460 --> 00:16:02.220 Jesus knows your heart and mind. And he knows, doesn't he, Jesus knows that there are great 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:10.420 weapons in the hand of our enemy. And the great enemy of all Christians in particular. And fear, 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:19.219 fear is a great enemy, isn't it? Fear is a great enemy of Christian mission. Fear can neutralise 00:16:19.219 --> 00:16:27.299 mission in our churches and in our lives and in our families even. And wherever fear is 00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:34.519 so often the great enemy within, it is something that must be confronted and overcome. And how 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:40.740 Jesus helps you and I to do that is he forces us to face up to the causes of fear, which are 00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:46.579 real and they're understandable. But Jesus wants to show you this morning that you should not 00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:55.279 allow your thinking to be directed by fear, but by the true gospel. So that we need not 00:16:55.279 --> 00:17:01.079 fear and we can endure. And so the second paragraph of verses 24 to 33, Jesus puts his finger on three 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:09.539 specific dangers that our great enemy, fear uses to cripple us. Three times Jesus tells you this 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:16.920 morning, do not be afraid. And each time he gives you the remedy. So the first fear that comes to us 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:25.220 is he brings before us the fear of the terrible sting of slander. The terrible sting of slander. 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:34.660 Slander. And slander, when people speak evil against you, leads to a silencing of the witness of the gospel. 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:39.799 Look at verse 25 and just see how horrible that sting can be. 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:43.360 Here is the religious establishment. 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:48.160 And here is the church of the day. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:52.079 And they brand Jesus, the Son of God, 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.220 the Messiah. 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:57.599 They brand him Beelzebub, the Prince of Demons. 00:17:58.659 --> 00:17:59.899 The devil himself. 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:03.859 Here is the clever and the powerful 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:06.059 religious experts of the day. 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:08.699 The theologians. The ones that come on the TV 00:18:08.699 --> 00:18:10.699 and are asked to speak on documentaries. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.799 And they sneer at gullible 00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:15.859 simpletons who take the Bible seriously. 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:19.779 Who believe things like heaven or hell. 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.740 Or two ways. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.720 Or a final judgment. 00:18:23.899 --> 00:18:27.160 Or an exclusive way to God through Jesus Christ alone. 00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:29.879 They say things, 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.779 Well I used to be like that. 00:18:31.899 --> 00:18:33.359 But I've grown out of it. 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:37.559 I used to be a word man. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:40.200 But then I discovered the Spirit. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.379 Don't get me wrong, 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:44.420 I'm very glad of my evangelical roots. 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:46.279 But you have to move on. 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:47.180 It's far more complex. 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:51.039 It's too simplistic to take the Bible seriously. 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.799 In fact, people who do that 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:54.820 are quite a danger. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.680 They are fanatically. 00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.380 So how do you feel 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:01.440 when that kind of slander 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.840 is directed at you 00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:05.019 and what you believe 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.759 and what you cherish most deeply 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.400 in your heart? 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.860 What you want to do 00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:11.299 at that point 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.320 is shrivel up, don't you? 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:12.920 And hide. 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:15.759 And to get away from the 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:18.259 horrible, stinging sarcasm. 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.620 And it's very easy 00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:23.320 for the sting of slander 00:19:23.320 --> 00:19:24.580 to silence us. 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:27.160 To silence the gospel. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.140 To silence the truth. 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.380 So we basically live 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:30.779 our privatized religion. 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:34.140 And the assault comes on us 00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:35.240 from those three directions 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.660 that Jesus has already spoken about. 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.900 From the religious establishment. 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:40.220 From those who call themselves Christians. 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:42.839 And that particularly stinks, doesn't it? 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:44.799 That particularly stinks 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.339 when we feel 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:46.620 that we need to be accepted. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.000 It's particularly hard 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.799 for Christian leaders. 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:52.579 I hope you pray for your elders. 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.519 We're not immune 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.640 from this. 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:58.039 And you must pray for those 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:59.039 who are in far harder places 00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.620 than we are. 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:01.879 But it is often 00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:04.019 a very, very lovely furrow. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.439 When you're looked at 00:20:06.439 --> 00:20:07.500 as a kind of narrow, 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.359 bigoted, fundamentalist. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.419 They're coming 00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:12.199 to family circles, 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:12.599 can't they? 00:20:13.959 --> 00:20:15.559 That young teenager 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.379 who is converted 00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:17.879 and starts to take God seriously 00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.719 and the family 00:20:18.719 --> 00:20:19.879 are desperately worried 00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:20.819 about their fanaticism. 00:20:21.979 --> 00:20:22.819 That's taken over them. 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.919 Parents worried sick 00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:26.879 and the real temptation 00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:27.339 is there 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:29.059 is you keep quiet. 00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:31.839 We know, don't we, 00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.819 it can happen in society. 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:34.939 In our workplace 00:20:34.939 --> 00:20:35.859 or in our school, 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:36.699 in our colleges. 00:20:37.159 --> 00:20:37.979 You get the sneers 00:20:37.979 --> 00:20:39.279 behind your back 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:41.139 when you won't join 00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:41.719 in the humour 00:20:41.719 --> 00:20:42.479 of the office 00:20:42.479 --> 00:20:43.639 or the classroom. 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.079 When you won't 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.879 take part 00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:47.899 in the going on 00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:48.319 and on 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:48.719 and on 00:20:48.719 --> 00:20:49.399 about sex 00:20:49.399 --> 00:20:50.179 or whatever it is. 00:20:52.179 --> 00:20:53.019 I heard this week 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:54.039 about a young teenager 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:55.139 who was at work 00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:57.419 and he had his mobile phone 00:20:57.419 --> 00:20:58.539 stolen by his colleagues. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:01.000 And they managed 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.419 to get the courage 00:21:01.419 --> 00:21:01.899 to get into it. 00:21:02.219 --> 00:21:02.839 One message 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:03.500 they found in it 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:03.899 was sent 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:04.979 from a Christian friend. 00:21:05.479 --> 00:21:06.619 It was the words 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.179 of a psalm 00:21:07.179 --> 00:21:07.939 to encourage him. 00:21:09.479 --> 00:21:10.699 And they taunted 00:21:10.699 --> 00:21:11.899 this teenager 00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:12.739 relentlessly 00:21:12.739 --> 00:21:14.799 and remorselessly. 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:17.899 What do you think 00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:18.460 that does 00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:19.119 in a hostile 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:19.819 work environment? 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:21.639 Well I'll tell you 00:21:21.639 --> 00:21:22.059 what it does. 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:22.759 You know what it does. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.579 It makes you want 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.919 to be silenced 00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:25.419 doesn't it 00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:26.259 about your faith. 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.659 It makes you 00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:30.659 want to be quiet 00:21:30.659 --> 00:21:31.159 completely 00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:33.079 and to make 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.019 that horrible 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.379 stinging slander 00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:36.099 to go away. 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.319 And that pressure 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.180 is isn't it 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:40.560 very very 00:21:40.560 --> 00:21:41.940 very strong 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.460 today. 00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.740 But Jesus 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.799 says in verse 26 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.340 just look at it 00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:46.779 with me 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:48.340 he says 00:21:48.340 --> 00:21:49.820 have no 00:21:49.820 --> 00:21:51.320 fear of them. 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.799 And he gives us 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:55.140 a reason 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:55.519 he says 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:56.039 nothing that is 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.279 covered 00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:56.740 will not be 00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:57.120 revealed. 00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.220 Nothing is 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.060 that is hidden 00:22:00.060 --> 00:22:00.640 will not be 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.220 made known. 00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.039 In other words 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.200 Hebrews 4.13 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.940 says nothing 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.860 in all of creation 00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:05.200 is hidden 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.920 from God's sight. 00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:07.660 Everything is 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.000 uncovered 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.380 but everything 00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.099 is laid bare 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:10.220 before the eyes 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.579 of him 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.279 whom we must 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.740 give an account 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.000 to. 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:15.079 God is true 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:17.240 and in time 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.839 the truth 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.359 will out. 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:18.859 That is what 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.519 Jesus is saying. 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.640 There is 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:22.160 a coming 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:22.599 judgment 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:24.859 when everything 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:25.400 will be laid 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:25.900 bare 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:26.759 exactly as it 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.039 is 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.539 and he will 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.220 vindicate his 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.400 people 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:28.779 and we can be 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.279 sure of that. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.880 And so verse 27 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.940 the answer to 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:33.119 slander is not 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.900 silence 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.579 but what 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.519 proclamation. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.519 It is to 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:39.980 proclaim the 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.500 truth of God 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:40.740 from the 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:41.259 house troughs 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.579 to be 00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:42.039 unashamed 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.579 to speak. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.859 Don't be 00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:45.460 silenced 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:47.460 because God 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:47.900 is true. 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:48.599 Never forget 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:48.960 that. 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.220 Proclaim his 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:51.559 truth. 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:53.380 You see the 00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:54.660 gospel proclaims 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.059 the hidden 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.660 things. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.460 Things which 00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.140 are invisible 00:22:58.140 --> 00:22:58.720 to the eyes 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.140 of the world 00:22:59.140 --> 00:22:59.640 but the day 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.160 will come 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.519 one day 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.200 when these 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.519 things will 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:01.980 be declared 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.539 openly 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.980 and all 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.259 the world 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:04.579 will see 00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:04.819 it. 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.079 And Jesus 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:07.619 says to his 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:08.019 battle 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.680 disciples 00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.240 and believers 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:09.599 he says 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.099 live in the 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:10.420 light of 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.119 that day. 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:12.899 Keep that 00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:13.740 day and all 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.319 will be laid 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:14.899 bare on that 00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.139 day. 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.720 Keep that 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.259 day at the 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.579 most in 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.099 your minds 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.920 and proclaim 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.339 the truth 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:18.700 of God. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.099 Don't be 00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:19.460 afraid. 00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:21.539 Secondly 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.240 our enemy 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.019 fear beats 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.480 us with the 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.859 dread of 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.460 violence and 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:24.940 persecution 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.279 doesn't 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.539 it? 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.180 Verse 28 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:29.039 It beats 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.480 us with the 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:29.879 dread of 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:30.500 violence and 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:30.980 persecution. 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:34.440 And those 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.000 things that 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:36.339 fear and 00:23:36.339 --> 00:23:37.059 that dread 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.619 can so 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:38.500 easily lead 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.139 to paralysis 00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:40.240 and compromise. 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.259 Verse 28 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.019 speaks of 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.619 the reality 00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:45.339 and the 00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:46.059 violence of 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.720 martyrdom. 00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:48.859 We're not 00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.639 experiencing that 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.259 in this country 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.500 at the moment 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:50.940 but we must 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.960 never think 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.539 that that 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:53.819 has gone 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.200 away. 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.180 It's affected 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.920 every century 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.559 of the church. 00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.039 There were 00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.599 more martyrs 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.240 in the 21st 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.700 century than 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.119 all the other 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.619 centuries put 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:02.000 together. 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:04.159 It's very 00:24:04.159 --> 00:24:04.619 likely this 00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.000 century will 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.220 have even 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.619 more. 00:24:07.159 --> 00:24:07.680 The most 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.359 conservative 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:10.240 average says 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:10.460 that there 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.619 will be 00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.480 probably 20 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.399 martyrs for 00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:12.740 the Christian 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.460 faith today. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.819 People are 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.819 being relentlessly 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:18.079 persecuted for 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:18.539 the sake of 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.139 Jesus Christ. 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.220 And who's it 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.539 coming from? 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:21.019 It comes from 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.639 the establishment 00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:22.220 the religious 00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:22.779 establishment 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:24.279 and it comes 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:24.899 from families 00:24:24.899 --> 00:24:25.779 in many places. 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:28.779 There are 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.619 Muslim converts 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.480 in this country 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.019 who've literally 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.519 disappeared. 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:34.159 some have 00:24:34.159 --> 00:24:34.599 been physically 00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.119 beaten and 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:35.500 some have 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:35.960 disappeared. 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:37.859 Some have 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.399 been assumed 00:24:38.399 --> 00:24:39.319 dead by their 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.319 families when 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.720 they followed 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.139 Christ. 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:43.759 It comes too 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.079 doesn't it 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.700 from secular 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.619 governments in 00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:46.159 many parts of 00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:46.399 the world. 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:46.759 You look at 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.119 Burma. 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:49.000 The systematic 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.839 persecution of 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.119 the Kaurin 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.440 people. 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.420 Largely 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.039 Christian people 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.559 and many 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.519 many more. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.519 But in our 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.859 western secular 00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.680 democracy the 00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.720 hostile is just 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.379 as great. 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.060 that's what I 00:25:01.060 --> 00:25:01.380 want you to 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:01.620 see. 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:03.840 There is no 00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:04.800 violence at 00:25:04.800 --> 00:25:05.380 the moment 00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:07.920 because it's 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:08.360 against the 00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:08.620 law. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.000 But if we 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.460 teach the 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.260 uniqueness of 00:25:12.260 --> 00:25:12.980 Christ and 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.860 the falsity of 00:25:13.860 --> 00:25:14.800 all other ways 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:15.640 to God, if we 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:17.080 teach the truth 00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:17.980 of God's moral 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.680 law about 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.500 sexuality and 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.080 other things, 00:25:21.260 --> 00:25:21.880 these things will 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.220 be turned 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:22.940 against us. 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:25.539 And Jesus 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.500 says, expect 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.640 it and be 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.200 ready for it. 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.100 And worse, 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:30.779 verse 28, 00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:34.000 he says, 00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:34.700 don't be afraid 00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.299 even if those 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.840 have the power 00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:36.360 to kill the 00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:36.660 body. 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:38.980 Rather fear 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.360 God. 00:25:41.360 --> 00:25:41.980 Because he's 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.600 not only true, 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.259 he's great. 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:45.720 And he is the 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.000 one who has 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.759 power of life 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.960 and death. 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.299 And that 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:50.740 power is for 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.120 eternity. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:54.659 That fear, 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.279 Proverbs 9, 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:55.699 verse 10, 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.259 says, that 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.779 fear of God 00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.199 is the 00:25:58.199 --> 00:25:58.619 beginning of 00:25:58.619 --> 00:25:58.899 wisdom. 00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:00.959 And Psalm 00:26:00.959 --> 00:26:02.239 34, which 00:26:02.239 --> 00:26:02.719 we'll sing 00:26:02.719 --> 00:26:03.079 right at the 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.559 end of our 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.219 service, teaches 00:26:04.219 --> 00:26:04.939 us to fear 00:26:04.939 --> 00:26:05.500 the Lord, 00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:06.059 you his 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.439 saints. 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.299 For all 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.779 those who 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.199 fear him 00:26:09.199 --> 00:26:09.779 have no 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.199 lack. 00:26:12.199 --> 00:26:12.819 Fear him, 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.379 you saints, 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.000 and you will 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.219 then have 00:26:14.219 --> 00:26:14.699 nothing else 00:26:14.699 --> 00:26:15.039 to fear. 00:26:17.459 --> 00:26:18.000 And that 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.559 God has 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.159 you in 00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:19.719 his hands 00:26:19.719 --> 00:26:20.179 now. 00:26:21.939 --> 00:26:22.519 But more 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:22.879 importantly, 00:26:22.939 --> 00:26:23.359 more importantly 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:23.639 than that, 00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:24.119 verse 3, 00:26:24.179 --> 00:26:24.959 33 makes 00:26:24.959 --> 00:26:25.599 absolutely 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:26.000 plain, 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.539 doesn't it? 00:26:28.679 --> 00:26:29.199 That we 00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:29.879 will all be 00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:30.139 in his 00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:30.439 hands, 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.079 all of us, 00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:31.659 every single 00:26:31.659 --> 00:26:32.119 one of us, 00:26:32.199 --> 00:26:32.539 ultimately, 00:26:32.679 --> 00:26:32.919 on that 00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:33.239 day. 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:35.839 That God 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.099 is the 00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:36.319 one who 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:36.599 is to be 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:37.000 feared, 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:37.739 not the 00:26:37.739 --> 00:26:37.979 one who 00:26:37.979 --> 00:26:38.299 can beat 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:38.599 and hurt 00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:39.139 our bodies. 00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.039 So live 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.359 in the 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:40.939 light of 00:26:40.939 --> 00:26:41.559 that day, 00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:41.859 Jesus 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.259 says. 00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:44.319 And 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:44.799 thirdly, 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.559 fear 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.639 taunts us 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:48.700 with the 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:48.980 kind of 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:50.000 desolation 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.780 of divine 00:26:50.780 --> 00:26:51.460 distance. 00:26:52.520 --> 00:26:52.700 What does 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:52.960 that mean? 00:26:53.020 --> 00:26:53.280 That we 00:26:53.280 --> 00:26:53.759 feel God 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.180 is far 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:54.540 away. 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.100 The 00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.680 desolation 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.160 of divine 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.759 distance. 00:26:59.460 --> 00:26:59.940 When God 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.420 seems to be 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:00.900 so far 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.259 away from 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.560 us, 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:02.820 that he's 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.220 abandoned 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.640 us, 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:05.759 and it's 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.180 so easy, 00:27:06.300 --> 00:27:06.660 isn't it, 00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.880 easy to 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.440 kind of 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:09.480 allow that 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:09.759 to lead 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.180 to an 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.900 erosion of 00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:11.440 confidence 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.799 and a 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.240 loss of 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.680 trust. 00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.299 And perhaps 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:15.960 this for us 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.299 is the most 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.740 difficult thing 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.180 of all. 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.519 Perhaps in 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:19.880 the UK, 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:20.600 this claims 00:27:20.600 --> 00:27:21.299 more casualties 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.720 than any 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:21.900 other. 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.539 When life 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.259 is hard, 00:27:24.860 --> 00:27:25.140 and when 00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.640 our prayers 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.100 don't seem 00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:26.320 to be 00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:26.740 answered, 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.340 when it 00:27:28.340 --> 00:27:28.680 seems like 00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.180 the heavens 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:29.799 are like 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.500 brass, 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.259 and God 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:32.019 is dead, 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:32.580 where are 00:27:32.580 --> 00:27:32.759 you, 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.100 Lord? 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:35.660 Why am I 00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:36.200 still suffering 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.620 with this? 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:36.900 Why? 00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:37.660 I've been 00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.019 faithful. 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.180 Haven't you 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:39.600 prayed that? 00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:41.299 Why have you 00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:41.779 allowed my 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.440 beloved partner 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:42.879 to be taken 00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:43.359 from me? 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.220 Why am I 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.899 still struggling 00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.399 with this 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:47.240 sin when I 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.759 hate it? 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.500 Where are 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:48.639 you, 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:48.919 Lord? 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.059 Why haven't 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.399 I been 00:27:51.399 --> 00:27:52.180 healed of 00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:53.139 this disease 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:53.659 or this 00:27:53.659 --> 00:27:54.279 illness that 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.759 dogs me? 00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.460 Why haven't 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.139 I had any 00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:56.659 sense of 00:27:56.659 --> 00:27:57.399 breakthrough in 00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:57.720 the Christian 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.240 ministry I'm 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.859 involved in? 00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.059 Where are 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.180 you, 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.319 Lord? 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:01.480 Have you 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:01.940 gone away? 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:02.759 Are you 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.059 distant? 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:05.740 And you 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:05.839 see, 00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:06.240 the religious 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.799 establishment 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.180 and the 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:08.079 world and 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.759 our families 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.159 very often 00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:09.700 join in the 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.119 chorus. 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:11.680 Look at 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:11.839 these 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.319 pathetic 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:12.740 Bible 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.180 people, 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:13.919 so old 00:28:13.919 --> 00:28:14.259 fashioned. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.460 They don't 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:17.819 see anything 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.279 like the 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:18.659 kind of 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:18.960 church 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.240 growth 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.599 that we 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:19.960 see. 00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:22.759 And God 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.259 has left 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:23.779 that kind 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.099 of thing. 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:25.980 I remember 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.200 when I 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:26.379 had just 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:26.619 come to 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:26.740 this 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:26.919 church 00:28:26.919 --> 00:28:27.019 and 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.240 somebody 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:27.500 searched 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:27.700 me up 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:27.899 and said 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.220 you are 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:28.779 a really 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.159 good 00:28:29.159 --> 00:28:29.460 preacher 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:30.019 to old 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:30.399 people. 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.460 Meaning, 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:34.779 I was 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.000 completely 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.200 out of 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.399 touch, 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.000 which may 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.180 be. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:39.720 We live 00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.140 in a 00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:40.380 visual 00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:40.700 age, 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.380 we live 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:41.839 in a 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:42.160 techno 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.460 age, 00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.660 a church 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:43.920 that is 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:44.440 devoted to 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:44.779 the teaching 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.319 of God's 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:45.720 word and 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.100 the simple 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:46.440 means of 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.600 grace. 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:46.839 It just 00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:47.180 won't cut 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.620 it anymore. 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:49.880 We've 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.519 left all 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.120 that behind 00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:51.680 today. 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:52.960 You're a 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.319 dinosaur. 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.319 And God 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.000 feels distant. 00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:00.000 Or your 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.519 family says, 00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:01.319 look what you 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:01.600 could have 00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:01.980 had. 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.700 Look how 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:03.980 you could 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.440 live if you 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:04.819 weren't so 00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:05.640 fanatical. 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:06.779 How has 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.519 God provided 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:07.819 for you? 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.220 Where is 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:08.319 he? 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:08.799 Look what you 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:09.099 could have 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:09.559 had. 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.579 Where is 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.079 your God 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.379 when you 00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:11.740 can't get 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.259 the job? 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:15.839 Why isn't 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.460 God provided 00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:17.579 your wife 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.039 or husband 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.659 or family? 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.019 And we 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.259 say to 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:22.480 ourselves, 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:22.700 Lord, 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:22.899 have you 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.339 left us? 00:29:23.419 --> 00:29:23.519 Well, 00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:23.980 there's 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.059 nothing new 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.419 to that, 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:25.779 is there? 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.019 The 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.339 psalmist 00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:28.700 says in 00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.299 Psalm 42, 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.180 my tears 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:31.559 have been 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.299 my food 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:32.779 day and 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.119 night, 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.740 while they 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.279 continually 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:35.659 say, 00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:36.180 where is 00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:36.700 your God? 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.500 And the 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.079 answer is, 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.240 says, 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:41.839 Jesus is 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.399 not only, 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.899 Jesus says 00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:45.700 that God 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.159 is not only 00:29:46.159 --> 00:29:46.579 true, 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.139 but that he 00:29:47.139 --> 00:29:47.440 is to be 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:47.919 proclaimed, 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.619 and not only 00:29:48.619 --> 00:29:49.000 that he is 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.539 great, 00:29:50.639 --> 00:29:51.159 and to be 00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:51.639 feared, 00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:53.659 but God 00:29:53.659 --> 00:29:54.460 is far from 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.119 distant and 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:55.919 disinterested in 00:29:55.919 --> 00:29:56.099 you. 00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.539 So he is 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:56.720 near. 00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.139 So look at 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:57.680 verses 29 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.220 and 30. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:29:59.879 They are 00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:00.240 wonderful 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:00.599 verses, 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:00.799 aren't 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:00.980 they? 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:03.319 it's not 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:03.700 just that 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.180 he sees 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:04.960 each sparrow 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.440 fall to 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:05.860 the ground, 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.420 but actually 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:06.900 a sparrow 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:07.480 cannot fall 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:07.720 to the 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:07.960 ground 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.559 without the 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:08.860 God of 00:30:08.860 --> 00:30:09.160 heaven and 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:09.360 earth 00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:09.980 deciding it 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.360 will happen. 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:12.900 Two little 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.579 sparrows, 00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:15.660 and he 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:16.160 numbers the 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.599 very hairs 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:16.839 of your 00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.160 head. 00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:19.099 It's a 00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:19.400 picture of 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:19.860 a mother, 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.180 isn't it, 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:20.380 with a 00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:20.880 little girl 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.380 between her 00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:21.680 knees, 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.019 and she's 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.319 gently 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:22.960 combing and 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.400 pleating her 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:23.720 hair, 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.120 and that 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:24.460 is the 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:24.779 Lord. 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.180 Except he's 00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:27.640 counting them 00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:28.240 to every single 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.579 one of them. 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:28.900 He is 00:30:28.900 --> 00:30:29.140 near. 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:31.420 He is 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:31.980 near to 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.279 you, 00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:32.720 and he 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.259 loves and 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:33.660 he cares 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.059 for every 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.740 single one 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:35.000 of his 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.319 beloved 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.700 children, 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.120 and every 00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:36.519 hair on 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:36.940 your head. 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.700 And therefore 00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.099 he says 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:38.880 in verse 31, 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.019 do not 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:41.240 be afraid, 00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:43.519 because you 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:43.839 are more 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.299 valued than 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:44.579 many 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:45.279 sparrows. 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.420 I love 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:47.819 those words 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.319 God speaks 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:49.120 to Moses 00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:49.360 at the 00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:49.539 burning 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:49.900 bush. 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:51.339 When 00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:52.019 Israel is 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.779 downtrodden, 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.259 and they 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.620 think that 00:30:53.620 --> 00:30:53.880 God has 00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:54.220 abandoned 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:54.480 them, 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:55.680 and they're 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.120 groaning 00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:56.819 in slavery, 00:30:58.819 --> 00:30:59.700 and all 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.180 the while 00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:00.420 they're 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:00.960 unaware that 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.319 God is 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:02.079 working out 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.519 his great 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:02.860 plan of 00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:03.200 redemption, 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:03.640 and God 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:03.900 says, 00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.240 I have 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.000 seen the 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.500 affliction of 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:05.980 my people, 00:31:06.120 --> 00:31:06.400 and I've 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:07.000 heard their 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.420 groaning, 00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:07.860 and I've 00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:08.380 come down 00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:08.840 to deliver 00:31:08.840 --> 00:31:09.079 them. 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:11.720 And maybe 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.319 you feel 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:12.720 this morning 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.140 that God 00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:13.759 is distant, 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.319 that he's 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.039 got no 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.900 interest in 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:16.519 you personally. 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.000 And perhaps 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.340 you feel, 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:19.640 well, why 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.019 should God 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:20.400 be interested 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:20.700 in me? 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:20.960 I'm so 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.420 insignificant. 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.660 And perhaps 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:24.340 even more, 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:24.960 you're saying, 00:31:25.100 --> 00:31:25.680 you don't 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.299 know how 00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:26.640 I've let 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.100 him down 00:31:27.100 --> 00:31:27.740 this week, 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:29.160 and he 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:29.539 must have 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:29.940 let me. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.880 And all 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.480 your confidence 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.220 is sapping, 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:33.779 and your 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.319 faith is 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:34.740 teetering, 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.299 and the 00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:35.880 enemy of 00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:36.500 fear has 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.240 gripped inside 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:37.700 your heart, 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.400 then verse 31 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:38.940 is especially 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.299 for you, 00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:39.600 isn't it? 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.759 Fear not, 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:43.360 because you 00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:43.900 are of more 00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:44.340 value than 00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:45.380 many smarrows. 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:46.720 how do I 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.080 know that? 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:47.460 How do you 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:47.880 know that? 00:31:48.300 --> 00:31:48.740 Well, because 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.340 Christ the 00:31:49.340 --> 00:31:49.940 Redeemer came 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.380 down from 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:50.720 the glory 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.080 of heaven, 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:52.640 to die on 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:52.960 the cross 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.460 at Calvary, 00:31:53.560 --> 00:31:53.980 because he 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:54.460 saw the 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:54.980 affliction of 00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:55.420 his people, 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:55.940 and he 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:56.380 loved his 00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:56.640 people, 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.020 so he 00:31:57.020 --> 00:31:57.320 came. 00:31:58.340 --> 00:31:58.680 And do 00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:58.980 you think 00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.280 he will 00:31:59.280 --> 00:32:00.220 ever abandon 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.720 you in 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.160 your Christian 00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:01.440 life, 00:32:01.520 --> 00:32:01.820 having done 00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:02.080 that? 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.480 Never. 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:04.940 He says, 00:32:05.300 --> 00:32:05.480 to his 00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:05.700 people, 00:32:05.780 --> 00:32:06.080 I am with 00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:06.360 you even 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.700 to the end 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.160 of the age, 00:32:08.600 --> 00:32:09.040 even amid 00:32:09.040 --> 00:32:09.380 all the 00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:09.940 struggles that 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.180 you will 00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:10.880 surely face, 00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.420 right to the 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:11.600 end, 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:11.920 I am with 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.000 you. 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.279 I am 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:12.519 not 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:12.940 distant, 00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:13.480 so take 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:13.839 heart. 00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.440 And if 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:16.779 they did 00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.200 those things 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.539 to you, 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:17.779 do you know 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.079 why they 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:18.359 did them 00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:18.779 to you? 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:19.539 They 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.079 drew them 00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:20.319 to you 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.559 because 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:20.859 they did 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:21.079 them to 00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:21.299 me. 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:23.019 And if 00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:23.460 they hate 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:23.619 you, 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.000 it's because 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.420 they hated 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:24.720 me, 00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.039 and if 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.660 they persecute 00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:25.980 you, 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.400 it's because 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:26.980 they persecuted 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.240 me. 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:27.960 But rejoice, 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:28.740 because it's 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.200 enough for 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:29.559 the servant 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:29.980 to be like 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:30.539 his master, 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.180 for the 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:31.700 pupil to be 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.059 like their 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.420 teacher. 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:33.579 It's for 00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:33.859 me, 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.440 it's for 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.059 my sake. 00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:36.680 It's not 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:37.140 because I've 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:37.440 abandoned 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:37.779 you. 00:32:39.859 --> 00:32:40.420 One of the 00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:40.779 Puritants 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:42.799 closest to 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:42.960 the 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.359 captain 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:44.880 is a 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:45.099 sure 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:45.539 target 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:45.839 for the 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:46.339 archers. 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.059 And so 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:49.579 if this 00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:50.079 morning you 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:50.859 come to 00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:51.380 worship and 00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:51.660 you are 00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:52.140 struggling, 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.140 take heart. 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:54.839 You live 00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:55.660 life now 00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:55.980 in the 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.299 light of 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:56.740 that coming 00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.119 day, 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:58.859 that day 00:32:58.859 --> 00:32:59.180 when a 00:32:59.180 --> 00:32:59.839 war shall 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.339 be declared 00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:00.819 and God 00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.440 will vindicate 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:01.920 his people 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.579 and rejoice, 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:03.420 verse 32. 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.119 So 00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:08.579 everyone who 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.259 acknowledges me 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:09.759 before men, 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:10.420 I also will 00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:10.980 acknowledge before 00:33:10.980 --> 00:33:11.579 my father who 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:11.799 is in 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.000 heaven. 00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:12.460 You count 00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:12.980 the cost. 00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:14.779 And you 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.099 count the 00:33:15.099 --> 00:33:15.599 cost of the 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.179 struggles and 00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:16.679 the hardship 00:33:16.679 --> 00:33:17.079 that there 00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.480 will be in 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:17.819 the Christian 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.059 life. 00:33:18.139 --> 00:33:18.500 Don't be 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:18.819 naive, 00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:20.000 don't mistake. 00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:22.419 Count the 00:33:22.419 --> 00:33:23.079 cost this 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.299 morning. 00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:25.839 But count it 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.579 in the only 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:27.039 terms that 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:27.339 matter, 00:33:27.439 --> 00:33:27.720 that is 00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:28.199 eternity. 00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.000 Every 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.539 struggling 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:32.299 believer that 00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:32.819 is faithful 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.399 to the name 00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:33.819 of Jesus 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.299 Christ, 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.279 and the 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:37.019 onslaughts, 00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:37.319 and the 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:37.919 assaults from 00:33:37.919 --> 00:33:38.359 the world, 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:38.619 and the 00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:38.960 flesh, 00:33:39.099 --> 00:33:39.319 and the 00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:39.559 devil, 00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:40.059 and all its 00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:40.339 forms, 00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:41.299 every single 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:41.699 Christian 00:33:41.699 --> 00:33:42.220 believer who 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:42.799 endures the 00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:43.619 end will 00:33:43.619 --> 00:33:44.119 hear the 00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:44.559 Lord Jesus 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:45.279 Christ proclaim 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:45.799 their name 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:47.019 to the 00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.399 Father in 00:33:47.399 --> 00:33:47.599 heaven. 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:50.599 But we 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:50.899 need to 00:33:50.899 --> 00:33:51.500 finish where 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:51.939 the passage 00:33:51.939 --> 00:33:52.539 finishes in 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.299 verse 33, 00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.199 which is a 00:33:54.199 --> 00:33:54.559 shock. 00:33:56.679 --> 00:33:57.279 Because what 00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:57.759 Jesus wants 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.220 you to do in 00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:59.119 verse 33 is he 00:33:59.119 --> 00:33:59.599 wants you to 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:00.059 count the 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.779 cost of not 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.439 standing for 00:34:01.439 --> 00:34:02.159 Jesus Christ. 00:34:04.959 --> 00:34:05.599 Count the 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:06.359 cost of denying 00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:06.679 him, 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:09.139 denying him 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.700 who loved 00:34:09.700 --> 00:34:10.159 us and 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:10.740 gave everything 00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:11.599 for us. 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:13.180 And if you 00:34:13.180 --> 00:34:13.619 are not 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.920 willing to 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.599 stand for 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:15.820 him, it 00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:16.280 will lead 00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:16.900 to a loss 00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:17.460 that is, 00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:18.360 verse 33, 00:34:18.700 --> 00:34:19.440 unimaginable. 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.539 You see, the 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:24.900 mission of 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.480 Jesus Christ 00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.780 and his 00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:26.380 kingdom claims 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:27.059 absolutely 00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.659 everything. 00:34:28.220 --> 00:34:28.599 Be clear 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:29.039 about that. 00:34:30.680 --> 00:34:30.920 And 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:31.700 discipleship 00:34:31.700 --> 00:34:32.500 always will 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:32.960 be a life of 00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:34.579 struggle and 00:34:34.579 --> 00:34:35.019 persecution. 00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:37.279 It will be a 00:34:37.279 --> 00:34:38.059 life of being 00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:38.859 sheep amongst 00:34:38.859 --> 00:34:39.480 wolves. 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:40.799 And it will 00:34:40.799 --> 00:34:41.239 be a life of 00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:42.079 persevering, of 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.599 keeping going 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.139 to the end. 00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:45.460 Despite fears 00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:46.119 within, but 00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:46.619 Jesus says, 00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:47.059 don't be 00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.759 silenced by 00:34:47.759 --> 00:34:48.199 the sting of 00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:48.519 slander. 00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:48.899 God is 00:34:48.899 --> 00:34:49.159 true. 00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:50.419 And so 00:34:50.419 --> 00:34:50.960 proclaim his 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:51.359 truth from 00:34:51.359 --> 00:34:51.859 the roof 00:34:51.859 --> 00:34:52.219 jobs. 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.219 Fear not, and 00:34:54.219 --> 00:34:54.539 don't be 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:55.319 paralysed by 00:34:55.319 --> 00:34:56.199 the threat of 00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:56.639 violence. 00:34:56.839 --> 00:34:57.419 God is 00:34:57.419 --> 00:34:57.879 great. 00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:59.000 Fear him, not 00:34:59.000 --> 00:34:59.440 men and 00:34:59.440 --> 00:34:59.759 women and 00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:00.119 boys and 00:35:00.119 --> 00:35:01.019 girls and 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.500 all they can 00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.159 do for you. 00:35:03.279 --> 00:35:03.719 And don't 00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:04.099 ever be 00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.719 desolate and 00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:05.059 think that 00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:05.399 God has 00:35:05.399 --> 00:35:06.139 forgotten you, 00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:06.679 or that 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:07.119 God is 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:07.779 distant because 00:35:07.779 --> 00:35:08.179 God is 00:35:08.179 --> 00:35:08.739 near and 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:09.519 every hair 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:09.799 on your 00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:10.539 head is 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:10.839 numbered. 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.139 And so 00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:11.639 trust him. 00:35:12.879 --> 00:35:13.400 He sees it 00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:13.819 all and he 00:35:13.819 --> 00:35:14.139 cares. 00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:16.079 And he is 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:16.420 with you. 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:18.839 And above 00:35:18.839 --> 00:35:19.500 all, live 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:21.940 now in 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.639 the light of 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:24.259 these, well 00:35:24.259 --> 00:35:25.039 these light and 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:25.599 momentary 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:25.900 troubles. 00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:28.139 But look at 00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:28.639 them in the 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:29.460 light of an 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:30.359 eternal weight 00:35:30.359 --> 00:35:31.219 of glory that 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:32.039 far outweighs 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:32.480 them all. 00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.119 And so live in 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:34.519 the light of 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.239 that day. 00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:38.199 And 00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:38.679 everything we 00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:39.280 face today will 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:39.719 only be a 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:40.039 cause of 00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:40.519 rejoicing. 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:43.119 Even though 00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:43.759 that joy will 00:35:43.759 --> 00:35:44.079 be through 00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:44.900 tears and 00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:47.219 pain, it 00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:47.659 will be a 00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:50.199 solid joy and 00:35:50.199 --> 00:35:50.759 a lasting 00:35:50.759 --> 00:35:52.960 treasure that 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.340 only the 00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:54.059 disciples, the 00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:54.440 children of 00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:54.960 Jesus Christ, 00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.360 know anything 00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:55.639 about. 00:35:57.460 --> 00:35:58.019 Let's sing 00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:58.480 before we 00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:58.960 come to the 00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.420 road stable.