WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.839 Okay, welcome everyone to this kind of crazy day where it's Typhoon 8, but we're doing something we've never done before. 00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:14.120 We're doing a Facebook Live. There's a little posse of people here, which is just really exciting. 00:00:15.740 --> 00:00:19.039 We're going to be just looking through a little bit of the sermon today. 00:00:19.339 --> 00:00:22.260 I've got a couple of people here I'm going to interview as well. 00:00:22.740 --> 00:00:28.900 And so if you're at home, we just pray that this will be just a great time for you to engage with God and to really hear God's word. 00:00:28.899 --> 00:00:33.299 But also that this will be something where you can go and think about, talk about, discuss. 00:00:34.060 --> 00:00:40.500 We'll also have an opportunity, if you want to put comments or ask questions all the way through, I've got some great people. 00:00:40.659 --> 00:00:48.140 We've got Carlo here. We've got Joseph is doing like the, he's done all the technical stuff because it's amazing because I wouldn't have a clue how to do that. 00:00:48.599 --> 00:00:57.399 I know already we've got some guys on. We've got Millen on. We've got Sherman on. We've got Simon on. We've got Fiona on. 00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:04.219 There's just a lot of people coming on now. So this is just going to be, we're just going to see how it goes. 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:13.840 Okay, so bear with us. And actually let's notice, is there a way to just turn the camera around to see all the people who are here? 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:25.400 Give a hi. Give a hi. Okay, there's some more behind. We've got some Joseph's kids behind. We've got David. We've got Melody here. 00:01:25.939 --> 00:01:29.659 Fiona's in the back there. We've got Alan. We've got Catherine down there. 00:01:29.659 --> 00:01:42.259 And just one of the other things that's kind of going on in all the craziness with the T8 is we've got the ICF, our university ministry retreat, which has been going on, which should have been over in Leumun. 00:01:42.379 --> 00:01:50.400 But actually because of the weather, they've come here. So I kind of came in this morning and there's just some blurry eyed kind of students there who don't seem to have got much sleep. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:02:08.180 But I managed to get a couple of them to kind of drag them away. And so Marco and Aris, I'd love to hear a little bit about this crazy weekend of what you've been doing, a little bit of what's going on with the university stuff here over this weekend. 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:12.800 So Marco, do you want to just tell us what have you done over this last day or so? 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:20.200 Yeah, so our retreat started on Friday night and it was in Leumun. So I was like in the Shao Kewan area. 00:02:20.540 --> 00:02:28.240 And then like we had a session and then yeah. And then at night we had like games and like kind of like activities where we got to know each other a little more. 00:02:28.600 --> 00:02:35.500 And then on Saturday we had another session in the morning and then the afternoon we went to the beach, which was in, which beach is it? 00:02:35.820 --> 00:02:36.260 Shekau. 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:41.800 Shekau Beach, yeah. Shekau Beach, which was like really cool because like the waves are like massive, like with the T3. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:45.740 But then like we found out in the evening we had to leave Leumun. 00:02:45.880 --> 00:02:49.320 So then like we kind of had an ad hoc plan of like coming here. 00:02:49.460 --> 00:02:52.700 And then we didn't know like if it would work out because we didn't know we could sleep here. 00:02:53.260 --> 00:02:55.500 And like, yeah, it was just like really like messy. 00:02:55.760 --> 00:02:57.700 But then like I'm glad it worked out in the end. 00:02:58.100 --> 00:03:02.340 That's great. I mean, tell us maybe something you've learned, something you've been looking at. 00:03:02.540 --> 00:03:07.660 What has God been talking to you? What struck you over this last day, day and a half? 00:03:07.659 --> 00:03:11.979 Yeah. I think for this time the retreat, the theme is identity. 00:03:12.539 --> 00:03:14.939 And we covered like four topics so far. 00:03:15.139 --> 00:03:18.439 One is alive. The second one I think is chosen. 00:03:19.060 --> 00:03:21.560 And then the third one is holy. 00:03:22.379 --> 00:03:23.699 And then last one is able. 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:28.659 I think what struck me the most is chosen. 00:03:29.979 --> 00:03:35.239 Because like after the video and like Jeremy's like sharing, 00:03:35.739 --> 00:03:38.280 and then we get to have some quiet time on our own, 00:03:38.379 --> 00:03:43.280 kind of like reflecting on what we have learned through the passage, the videos. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:49.039 And I think why it strikes me the most is because there's one question in the personal reflection 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.019 asking us like what does being chosen mean to me. 00:03:52.620 --> 00:03:54.319 And I was reflecting on that. 00:03:54.419 --> 00:03:57.899 I was thinking like it means it's a free gift. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:04.859 And it's like a blessing to us that I cannot earn or I can't use. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:06.979 It's not performance based. 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:12.759 And it just really struck me a lot because like as a final year student, 00:04:13.079 --> 00:04:18.019 I'm applying for different, I'm thinking of applying for a master's. 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:20.500 I'm thinking of looking for jobs. 00:04:21.039 --> 00:04:26.039 I think a lot of time I'm just having this mindset that I have to, you know, 00:04:26.099 --> 00:04:32.860 do well to strike hard in order to be chosen, in order to be kind of like be valued. 00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:39.120 And but then like through the passage, we look into Ephesians. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:47.840 And it kind of talks about like Ephesians chapter 1, verse 4 to 6. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:54.400 It talks about like in love, God, he predestined us to be adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ 00:04:54.400 --> 00:04:57.280 in accordance with his pleasure and will. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:04.439 So it's so much about God chosen us because he loved us and because of Jesus Christ. 00:05:04.619 --> 00:05:06.239 That's why we are chosen. 00:05:07.059 --> 00:05:11.259 So it's kind of like God telling me like Iris, you know, 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:20.379 even though you'll never be good enough, you'll never be like up to, 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:27.239 you'll never be perfect, but then you were chosen because of Jesus and because I loved you. 00:05:27.699 --> 00:05:32.879 So I think like it really struck me a lot because, yeah, it's like as a final year student, 00:05:33.019 --> 00:05:38.299 always thinking like I have to prove that I can be chosen for the master program. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:40.479 I can be chosen for a job, you know. 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:43.359 So it's a really good reflection for me. 00:05:43.419 --> 00:05:44.000 That's great. 00:05:44.259 --> 00:05:44.659 That's great. 00:05:44.799 --> 00:05:46.119 We don't need to do a sermon now. 00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:47.039 You've done it for us. 00:05:47.179 --> 00:05:48.379 That's great. 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:54.559 What can we pray for you as you're kind of finishing off the retreat in a couple of hours? 00:05:55.019 --> 00:05:56.000 What would you like us to pray for you? 00:05:56.019 --> 00:05:57.099 Marco, what could I pray for you? 00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:03.899 I think one really important thing is like in a retreat we learn like a lot of different stuff. 00:06:04.419 --> 00:06:07.679 And then I think what's most important is like after the retreat, 00:06:07.859 --> 00:06:10.139 like how do we continue our lives? 00:06:10.259 --> 00:06:14.159 Like retreat is only like a three-day part of our like whole year 00:06:14.159 --> 00:06:16.459 and part of this like huge life we still have to live. 00:06:17.119 --> 00:06:23.359 And I think one thing is like pray for that we can actually like really apply what we learn here. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.960 I think especially like, yeah, I think Iris mentioned about like being chosen. 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:35.800 And also like for me more like realizing that we are holy and that we're not like just sinners, this idea. 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:47.379 And I think, yeah, like really like taking on this identity and like how that trend like really do like take actions that kind of translate into our real life. 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:49.139 I think that's like a really big thing for us. 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:49.860 That's great. 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:50.779 Anything else for you? 00:06:50.779 --> 00:06:54.739 I think it's just same as Marco, like putting into practice. 00:06:55.099 --> 00:06:57.639 Because a lot of times we learn things, we have this kind of knowledge. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:00.839 But then we go back to school, we just forget. 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:09.179 So it's to really like kind of really like live out what we have learned and kind of like remind ourselves what we have learned. 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:18.220 Great. So if you're watching at home, just join me in praying, praying for these guys and for the other students who are just here at the rest of this retreat. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:31.420 Father, we just, yeah, just so amazed at that truth that because of Jesus, not because of how great we are, but because of how great you are, we are chosen by you. 00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:32.579 We are loved by you. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:33.500 We are secure. 00:07:33.699 --> 00:07:34.500 We are valuable. 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:36.259 We are precious children. 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:43.159 And Lord, I pray for both Marco and Iris and all the other students who are engaging with your word. 00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:52.159 I pray that this would not just be a kind of one minute wonder, but this would be something which really just kind of marinates and resonates in their heart. 00:07:52.300 --> 00:08:01.519 I pray that they'd get a greater glimpse of how beautiful you are, even as they go back into their studies and the stresses and applying for jobs and exams and all those things. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:08.699 Help them to keep knowing that they're holy, that they're chosen, that they're loved, and that they have security in you. 00:08:08.859 --> 00:08:12.680 And that can give them confidence for all that's going to come in this coming year. 00:08:12.799 --> 00:08:15.139 So I pray you bless them in Jesus' name. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:16.120 Amen. 00:08:17.139 --> 00:08:19.339 Thanks so much, guys, for joining us. 00:08:19.799 --> 00:08:21.319 And enjoy the rest of your retreat. 00:08:21.579 --> 00:08:22.120 Thank you. 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:22.500 Thank you. 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:23.279 That's great. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:34.440 So what we're going to do now is I'm just going to go through a little bit of what we've been doing already in the sermon series, which is we've been looking at identities. 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:45.039 And we've been looking, particularly in the book of Ephesians, but at what it means that if we know who we are, then that shapes how we live. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:48.159 Like, if you think you're a failure, you'll live as a failure. 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:51.100 If you believe that you're a disciple, you'll live as a disciple. 00:08:51.100 --> 00:08:53.379 If you know that you're a saint, you'll live as a saint. 00:08:54.019 --> 00:08:58.540 And last week we looked at what Eric was talking about, or two weeks ago, actually, before the baptism. 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:02.639 We were looking at being part of family. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:05.899 And if you know that you're family, then you'll live out your family. 00:09:06.040 --> 00:09:14.960 I plan to ring my parents every single week, but I don't ring them kind of hoping that that will make us family. 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:16.940 I ring them because we already are family. 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:26.420 And even if our relationship was bad, and it's not, but if it was, I wouldn't kind of say, well, it's bad, so therefore, let's just quit even trying. 00:09:26.540 --> 00:09:29.780 I'd say, we're family, therefore, let's try and work this out. 00:09:30.300 --> 00:09:31.440 And so that's what we're looking at. 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:34.360 We're looking at identity shapes, what you do and who you are. 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:40.620 And so today we want to look at the theme of being a servant and what that really means for us. 00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:45.960 And so if you have the passage, turn to Ephesians 4. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:50.240 With you, we're going to be looking at Ephesians 4 and John 13 together. 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:54.680 And really, if you've got, I want to kind of make this interactive a little bit as well. 00:09:54.679 --> 00:10:07.039 So if you've got comments or questions, please just kind of write them down and Melody will kind of shout them out and show us a little bit about, well, she'll sort through your questions. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:14.159 So if there are easy ones for me to answer, Melody, then please send them across. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:20.480 So I think all of us know that serving is kind of a good thing. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:30.799 You know, in businesses, everyone's into doing, you know, charity days, charity runs, volunteering, cleaning up the beach, all those different things. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:39.240 We know from studies that actually if you do stuff which is outwardly serving other people, it actually makes your life more meaningful, fulfilled, purposeful. 00:10:39.319 --> 00:10:40.000 We kind of know this. 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:41.559 Everyone's got that in society. 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:49.679 And as a church, I think one of the just the most amazing things about Watermark is just really seeing all the people serving. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:52.359 Like Joseph coming down today, just serving in different ways. 00:10:52.459 --> 00:10:57.879 Every Sunday we have like 40 to 50 people serving in just different ways. 00:10:57.939 --> 00:11:03.899 And if you look throughout the whole week, there's so many people serving in so many different ways. 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:05.079 And I think it's just incredible. 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:13.139 But I think one of the things that I've realized is because it can seem like we're just kind of preaching to the choir when we're talking about serving here. 00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:23.720 But one of the things I've realized is just as I've reflected on how I serve is the fact that I could I can serve without being a servant. 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:28.460 I can be a volunteer without being a servant. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:38.240 And so what I want to kind of look at and just go through this passage together with you is to think about what does it actually mean that God has called us his servants. 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:43.720 So I want to I want to kind of talk about who's serving here. 00:11:44.800 --> 00:11:45.879 OK, who are we serving? 00:11:46.040 --> 00:11:47.519 Who's on the throne when we serve? 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.279 And where's the power to serve? 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:53.079 OK, so that's kind of a little trajectory of where we're going. 00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:55.779 So who serves? 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:04.159 I don't know if you've you've been in been in church in the Sunday service and you've kind of gone away thinking that sermon. 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:06.039 I just got nothing out of that. 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:08.019 That music was uninspiring. 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:16.539 The coffee was bad, you know, and you kind of judge your experience of your church service by how well it served you. 00:12:16.539 --> 00:12:18.159 You know, I've done that. 00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:20.339 I'm guilty as charged. 00:12:21.339 --> 00:12:24.679 Well, this passage that I want to read and I'm going to just read it to us. 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:27.139 Ephesians 4, I'm going to look at verse 11. 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:33.620 Paul's going to kind of challenge us a little bit here about who what church is meant to be about. 00:12:34.099 --> 00:12:35.279 He says he says this. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:45.799 And he, God, gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:55.199 for building up the body of Christ until we attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God to mature manhood, 00:12:55.199 --> 00:13:06.439 to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves carried about by every wind of doctrine, 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:09.439 by human cunning, craftiness and deceitful schemes. 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:18.000 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we're to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:23.060 from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it's equipped, 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:29.580 when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:30.540 Okay? 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:33.040 So, what is he talking about there? 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:36.800 He's talking about, okay, God has given leaders to the church. 00:13:36.900 --> 00:13:39.879 That's the kind of the apostles, the prophets, evangelists, all those guys. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:41.900 He's given leaders to the church. 00:13:42.800 --> 00:13:45.940 And their job is to equip the saints. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:47.300 And who are the saints? 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:49.580 We've done a sermon on saints. 00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:51.480 You should all be saying now, I am. 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:52.379 Okay? 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.020 Yeah, people are raising their hands. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:54.460 That's good. 00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:57.500 We are saints. 00:13:57.500 --> 00:14:02.559 So, their job is to equip God's people to do what? 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.840 To do ministry. 00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:04.500 Okay? 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:07.000 So, who is doing the ministry? 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.139 Who is doing the ministry? 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:11.299 Is it all the leaders doing all the ministry? 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:12.940 No. 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:20.120 Here, it's saying, actually, the job of staff and elders and pastors and teachers is to equip the congregation 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.860 so that they will be able to do the ministry. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:28.360 And then he goes on to this analogy of growing up from being a child to being mature, to being an adult. 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:30.919 And he's saying, that's how we learn. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:38.180 So, pastor's job is to equip people so that we, as the body of Christ, are doing the work of ministry. 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:41.200 And you've got to ask me, okay, what is ministry? 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:43.899 And the word ministry just means serving. 00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:45.100 That's what it means. 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:49.000 A government minister is a government servant, technically. 00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:52.879 And that's what church is all about. 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:58.980 You know, if the staff and the pastor is kind of burning out and they're the only ones doing the ministry in the church, 00:14:59.060 --> 00:15:00.540 that is not a biblical church. 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:02.639 You know, I heard the example of them. 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:08.860 Someone once said, a football match is 11 people on a pitch desperately needing rest. 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:12.360 And 50,000 people in the stands desperately needing exercise. 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:17.159 And that can be what church is like. 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.620 But that's not what it's meant to be. 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:23.879 And so, our goal is like, every one of us has got gifts, has got a part to play. 00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:26.399 We're a body, which means we're interconnected. 00:15:27.300 --> 00:15:32.340 And so, as we learn where I serve, then each one of us is going to grow up ourselves. 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:35.659 You know, you don't grow mature by going to Bible studies. 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:36.740 Did you know that? 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:39.700 Like, yes, go to Bible studies. 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.980 Yes, listen to sermons. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:44.399 But actually, if you just stay on your couch and do nothing, you're never going to grow mature. 00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:45.779 You'll be a spiritual baby. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:51.539 But if you want to grow, it says, use the food you've got and go out and serve other people with it. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:56.940 You know, because you know when you're a child, the world centers around you, right? 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:59.680 Feed me, comfort me, give me pocket money. 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:00.399 Okay? 00:16:00.920 --> 00:16:03.340 And then when you grow up and become an adult, what is it? 00:16:03.420 --> 00:16:06.899 It's like, feed others, comfort others, give them pocket money. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.639 And that's the way it works. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.039 Okay? 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:09.080 Okay? 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:17.539 So, if we're to grow up to be in the measure of Christ, which means to look like him, how he serves, this is what we're meant to do. 00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:18.439 Okay? 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:23.919 So, when, and I just want to kind of finish this idea. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:35.240 When we say things like, the church should do this and the church has got a problem with this, we're actually missing the idea that we're a body, that we're a family together. 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:39.440 Because if you think you're a family, then we say, we should do this. 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:41.379 Or we have a problem with this. 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:45.419 And the thing is, what I notice is, every single one of us sees different problems. 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:54.120 And if you see a problem in the church, and there are plenty, then maybe that is God's way of saying, well, why don't you become part of the solution to that? 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:54.440 Okay? 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.419 People are not welcoming. 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.539 You've got to welcome people. 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.700 People don't pray enough. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:58.700 Start praying. 00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:01.620 People don't serve enough. 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:04.620 Just start serving and encouraging others to do that. 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.960 And that's how we'll grow together. 00:17:08.100 --> 00:17:10.660 Last thing of kind of this first part. 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:15.960 One interesting thing in churches is we often talk about volunteering. 00:17:17.080 --> 00:17:21.019 Now, I want to ban the word volunteering from actually in church. 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:24.319 Because you know, you know why? 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.240 And I understand it. 00:17:25.360 --> 00:17:27.980 You know, some people get paid for serving, some people don't get paid. 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.980 I get the idea. 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:38.259 But actually, when my wife cooks a meal for me in my family, she doesn't say, I don't say to her, thank you for volunteering. 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:40.559 I say, thank you for serving. 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:41.339 Thank you for helping. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.019 Thank you. 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.480 Because it's family. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:48.839 Volunteering is, I'm an independent person and I'm going to support a cause which I think is good. 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:52.279 But family is like, hey, we are part of this together. 00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:53.460 This is my responsibility. 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.140 So we're not volunteers. 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.440 We're servants. 00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.180 We're ministers. 00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:59.420 We're people who serve each other because we're family. 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.220 Okay? 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:03.820 So that's the kind of first thing really for us to think about. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:11.100 So because we're family, we've got to think about, okay, and because we serve, we've got to look at what this looks like. 00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:13.740 So I want to look at what this looks like. 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:16.859 So I want to look at the kind of classic passage, John 13. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:21.359 So again, if you've got your Bible, turn with me to John 13. 00:18:21.439 --> 00:18:25.279 I'm kind of going to go a little bit backwards here. 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:29.819 But it's a story about Jesus washing disciples' feet. 00:18:30.199 --> 00:18:30.339 Okay? 00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:33.799 I think you know the story if you've been in church a while. 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:48.940 And verse 1 says, basically, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:53.759 It says, Jesus is about to go to the cross the next day. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:19:01.580 And it says here that Jesus, his pattern of life is that he's going to love even right to the very end of his life. 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:06.259 And in verse 13, after he's washed the disciples' feet, he says this. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:11.440 He says, okay, do you guys understand what I've done for you? 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:15.360 You call me teacher and Lord and you're right, for that's what I am. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.940 You know, I've got status here. 00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:23.960 And he says, if I'm your teacher and Lord and I wash your feet, then guys, you should be washing each other's feet. 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:24.600 Okay? 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:26.700 I set the pattern here of how to do stuff. 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:33.779 And then he says in verse 16, he says, truly, truly, I say to you, which is Jesus' way of saying, hey, listen up, guys. 00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:40.340 A servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:41.200 Okay? 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.080 What is he saying? 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:45.380 He's saying something really profound here. 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:48.680 He's saying, the way down is the way up. 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:52.220 You know, the way down is the way up. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:57.320 You know, politicians and leaders often try and make themselves great by self-promotion. 00:19:57.880 --> 00:20:07.060 But what he's saying here is saying, if you're my followers and I'm your leader, I'm your master, then you guys have to operate the way I operate. 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:10.299 And the way I operate is the way down is the way up. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:13.119 The way to greatness is the way of service. 00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:16.639 And so, really interesting. 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:20.500 He says, I came as a servant to serve you in my life and in my death. 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:23.759 And that's to be your pattern and your servants. 00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:25.819 Do you know what the word servant means? 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:26.799 I'm going to do a little poll. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:28.680 What does the word servant mean here? 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.359 What is a servant? 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:33.200 Trying to get some feedback here. 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.220 A person who serves. 00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:35.460 A person who serves. 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.279 A great answer. 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:40.180 This word servant, it's actually, it's a really special word. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.720 It's a word, it's the word, Greek word doulos. 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.799 You don't need to know that. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:47.240 But sometimes translated slave or bond servant. 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:54.099 And the closest thing we get to this idea, it's not kind of slave as in African slave trade. 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.940 It's actually more domestic helper. 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:58.940 Except your master owned you at the time. 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:00.759 So, what is he saying? 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:08.019 He's saying that Jesus, though he's great, he makes himself nothing and he becomes like a domestic servant. 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:09.400 A domestic helper. 00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:11.319 To serve us. 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:18.279 And so, therefore, because our identity is him, that means you and I, if we're Christians, we are domestic helpers of God. 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:21.179 We're domestic helpers of God. 00:21:21.899 --> 00:21:22.799 That's what it means. 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:24.039 And who do we help? 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.639 It's the church. 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:26.419 Okay? 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.159 The church. 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:29.779 But also, Paul, you see it again and again. 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:35.659 He keeps saying, okay, Paul, in all his letters he says, Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. 00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:38.279 Paul, a domestic helper of Jesus Christ. 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:43.619 He keeps saying, in everything, every part of his life, it's not just Sunday I'm a servant and then I get on with my life. 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:46.399 Now, every part of my life, I'm a domestic servant. 00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:47.680 A domestic helper. 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.660 And what does a helper do? 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:52.799 The number one goal is to please their master. 00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:55.220 The number one goal is to please their master. 00:21:56.740 --> 00:22:00.879 So, some of us might be offended by the idea that we're a domestic helper. 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:01.599 I don't know. 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:03.619 But that's just your pride. 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.759 It's my pride. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.480 Okay? 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:09.740 But to be a domestic helper is a massive honor. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:10.940 It's a huge honor. 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:19.599 Because if I met someone who said, hey, I work with Apple at Silicon Valley. 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:22.680 And I was like, oh, interesting. 00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:23.980 Suddenly, I was really interested. 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:27.740 And then they went on and told me I had no idea what they actually did with Apple. 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:35.420 But the very fact of them being associated with Apple made me interested and gave them some credibility in my eyes. 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:45.039 The very fact that you are a servant of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, gives you instant honor as his servant. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:47.819 Because he entrusts his work. 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:49.019 He doesn't entrust it to everyone. 00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:51.480 He entrusts his work to you. 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:54.680 Because he is the honored one. 00:22:55.339 --> 00:23:05.980 So, if I'm going to ask you, if you think about in your family, like if you're married, if you've got kids, if you've got colleagues in the church, 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:13.019 how often do you actually think to yourself, okay, God, how am I going to please you by serving these people? 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:15.299 How am I going to please you by serving my wife today? 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:20.039 God, how do you want me to please you by serving my colleagues today? 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:23.160 Because that's what God's domestic servant asks. 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:26.720 So, that's all of us serve. 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.620 Who are we serving? 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.740 We're serving Christ as his domestic helpers. 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.079 Okay? 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:34.079 Here's the part which really challenges me. 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:34.620 Okay? 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:37.799 Who's on the throne in your serving? 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:42.500 I've got bad news as well as good news here. 00:23:44.479 --> 00:23:50.139 If you serve, it doesn't matter how much you serve, every time you serve in some way, you've always got mixed motives. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.419 Okay? 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:54.819 Nobody ever serves with 100% pure motives. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:55.759 Okay? 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:59.339 You know, I can preach now and I want you to know Christ. 00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:03.539 But actually, I can also have the desire that I want to gain respect from you. 00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:05.039 For myself. 00:24:05.959 --> 00:24:16.539 You know, I can care for somebody a long time and then a lot of that is because I want to love you and have compassion on you. 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:19.659 But sometimes it's also because I feel guilty if I don't do it. 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.600 Right? 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:22.060 I have many mixed motives. 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.420 Some of them are good motives. 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.340 Some of them are got good. 00:24:25.060 --> 00:24:25.300 You know? 00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:27.540 And we can even sometimes serve to avoid God. 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.860 I don't know if you've seen this. 00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:35.380 I had a neighbor who moved next door and I took around a box of chocolates to him. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.580 Next morning, I have straight on my doorstep a bottle of wine. 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:41.440 Now, do you think he was serving me? 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.580 It was kind of tit for tat. 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:49.020 You see, it was like he wanted to give to me, like he wanted to get out of feeling like he owed me something. 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:49.900 Right? 00:24:50.060 --> 00:24:56.820 He wanted, maybe, I think maybe he felt guilty that if he didn't reciprocate then he'd be in kind of my debt or something. 00:24:56.820 --> 00:25:02.680 He actually gave to me because I think he wanted to get me off his back so he could carry on living his life his way. 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:07.100 So, that's actually how often we treat God. 00:25:07.860 --> 00:25:14.700 Sometimes we can do stuff for God, but we still stay on the throne of my life for myself. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:15.880 You know? 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:19.640 Ever cooked a meal for your family and they come home and they say, I'm not hungry? 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:24.440 Or they start complaining and you feel to yourself, well, stop it, I'm not going to serve you again. 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:31.360 Or have you ever thought to yourself, you know, you spent time listening and caring for someone and they said, oh, you haven't cared for me enough. 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:33.500 And you think, well, fine, I'm not going to care for you anymore. 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.859 Who am I serving? 00:25:35.979 --> 00:25:38.219 I'm serving myself in that. 00:25:38.979 --> 00:25:53.719 And, you know, John 13, this passage, is going to give us a few, three ways that actually you see how we can stay on the throne of our lives and how Jesus wants to reorient us off the throne of our lives when we serve. 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:54.279 Okay? 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.799 So, have a flick through. 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.000 John 13. 00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:01.500 Okay, and if you've got any questions, I don't know. 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:04.940 I'm just looking on to see if there's any questions over there. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:10.339 Just bounce them off because I don't just want to talk to a camera here. 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:10.839 Okay. 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:13.319 I have some other beautiful people around. 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:13.899 That's good. 00:26:15.399 --> 00:26:17.339 Okay, who's on the throne when we serve? 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.039 John 13. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:21.579 It says, okay, it's before the feast of the Passover. 00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:27.559 And we know what's happened is Jesus has asked Peter and John to go and set up the meal for him. 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.000 Okay? 00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:29.139 That's a lot of work. 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:31.180 So, they've been putting in a ton of work. 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.240 They get to the meal. 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:33.720 Okay, they're sitting down. 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.339 And then Jesus is there. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.599 And then somebody smells something. 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.460 And it's Peter's feet. 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.779 And it's John's feet. 00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:41.059 And it's James' feet. 00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:47.639 And nobody, nobody has bothered to think about washing anybody's feet. 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:50.879 Now, that might not seem a big issue to us. 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:59.500 But culturally, not washing someone's feet in a hot, dusty country was like not greeting them at the door, not offering them a drink when it's hot outside. 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:04.200 It's basically saying, I don't care about your need for refreshment right now. 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:06.460 I'm not really interested in you. 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.879 That's what it's saying. 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:12.100 And so, Peter was thinking, I've done my job. 00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:13.360 Look at all the work I've done. 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:13.880 I've done the meal. 00:27:14.540 --> 00:27:15.440 John's thinking the same. 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:18.500 Everyone's looking at everybody else and they're thinking, this is a servant's job. 00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:22.080 Nobody should, like, we're too big for this. 00:27:23.060 --> 00:27:32.220 And it's really interesting because you can stay on the throne of your life when you think and you limit your service to when it suits you. 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:41.140 You see, Jesus, what he does, you know, if ever there's a time that he needs serving, it's right now because he knows he's going to die the next day. 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:43.480 That's pretty emotionally traumatic. 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:50.600 You need somebody to just be around you to support you and care for you when you're going, about to die, right? 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:55.179 And everyone else is thinking, I've done my bit. 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.619 I don't need to do any more. 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.439 Don't care about him. 00:28:00.719 --> 00:28:03.099 And so Jesus says he loves them to the end. 00:28:04.179 --> 00:28:14.299 He gets down, strips off, gets down onto his knees and washes their feet, meets their need. 00:28:14.679 --> 00:28:15.819 No one else is willing to. 00:28:16.159 --> 00:28:17.679 Right at his darkest time. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:21.840 And, you know, I realized this. 00:28:22.560 --> 00:28:27.740 And you realize when you have deadlines that sometimes people interrupt you. 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:30.039 I was preparing a sermon. 00:28:31.060 --> 00:28:32.340 I had a deadline. 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:33.100 I had to get it finished. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:37.519 And then somebody interrupts me and starts asking a question about a personal nature. 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:40.120 And I'm like, hey, I don't need this right now. 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:41.519 Listen, I've got a sermon to do. 00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:43.140 And, you know, they're in trouble or whatever. 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:46.720 I don't care about them because this is not the convenient time for me to serve you. 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:49.120 Don't you realize I'm serving a lot of other people here? 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:54.759 And Jesus is like, are you on the throne of your life right now? 00:28:56.180 --> 00:29:03.360 You know, I serve sometimes to keep myself on the throne of my life. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:08.939 Not just when it suits me, but also when I think people deserve, they deserve my service. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:09.759 Okay? 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:15.279 Jesus could have turned around to his disciples and said, Peter, stop being selfish. 00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:16.539 Get down here. 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.679 Wash their feet. 00:29:17.939 --> 00:29:18.899 He was totally entitled to. 00:29:19.139 --> 00:29:20.419 Totally entitled to. 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:22.880 But he doesn't. 00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.820 And then think what happens. 00:29:25.060 --> 00:29:25.980 Judas is there. 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.300 Can you imagine? 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:31.740 He steps down and he looks up and sees Judas, his face. 00:29:32.080 --> 00:29:35.360 And he knows everything that Jesus is about to do to him. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:37.240 He's going to betray him completely. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:44.300 Wouldn't you be tempted as you get down there to kind of dig your nails in a little bit into his feet and scratch him a little bit? 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:47.180 Grit your teeth while you're trying to wash his feet? 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:49.740 But Jesus doesn't. 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:54.120 Because he knows that he's God's domestic servant, so he's going to please him. 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.380 He's pleased his father. 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:57.779 He doesn't have to get his own back at that moment. 00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:58.480 He's secure. 00:30:00.560 --> 00:30:01.279 I don't know. 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:04.279 I had a boss in the UK. 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:07.100 Worst boss ever. 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.180 She embezzled. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:09.779 I found this out later. 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:13.480 She embezzled the whole year's profits from the school I was working at. 00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:16.900 She treated the staff terribly. 00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:23.420 She tried not to pay us for two months and then claimed it was an internet banking error. 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:25.320 You know, it's kind of a wonderful lady. 00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:28.519 And you know, I was a good Christian. 00:30:28.860 --> 00:30:30.820 I didn't say anything bad to her. 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:33.200 But was I going to serve her? 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:34.839 No way. 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.639 I was never going to serve her. 00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:44.460 And then one day, I was praying for opportunities to witness to people in the school. 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:47.640 And God said to me, why don't you pray for her? 00:30:47.840 --> 00:30:48.720 Pray blessing over her. 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:50.779 And I said, no, there's plenty of other people I could be praying for. 00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:51.660 I don't want to pray for her. 00:30:52.600 --> 00:30:55.380 And God said to me, get off the throne of your own life. 00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:59.380 Stop trying to make yourself have to get your own back in this situation. 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:01.079 Start praying blessing over her. 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:06.879 And you know, that was one of the hardest prayers I've ever started praying. 00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:09.120 But do you know what happens? 00:31:09.300 --> 00:31:14.220 If you have a struggle with serving someone who you don't think deserves to be served, 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:17.660 it's because you're actually on the throne of your life. 00:31:17.840 --> 00:31:20.540 And the way to start serving them is to start by praying. 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:22.240 Praying blessing on them. 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:28.519 Because you can't pray blessing on somebody and have a heart of bitterness at the same time if you're continually praying over them. 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.539 And it sets you free. 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:33.019 Because you don't have to prove and get your own back on them. 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:36.960 So you serve not just when it's comfortable and suits you. 00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:40.220 You serve not just the people you think deserve to be served. 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:41.299 Because Jesus doesn't. 00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:48.279 And the final way that you can sometimes serve to stay on your throne is when you actually refuse to allow yourself to be served. 00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:54.359 You know, Peter in the story, he basically says, 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:59.039 Jesus says, okay, I'm going to wash your feet. 00:31:59.139 --> 00:32:01.480 And Peter says, no, you're never going to wash my feet. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:03.539 I'm not going to let you near my feet. 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.599 Why? Because Peter was proud. 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:07.899 He didn't want anyone to go and lower himself for him. 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:14.240 And Jesus says, basically, if you want to be my servant, then you've got to let me wash your feet. 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:21.660 And the interesting thing here is, in church, we can be so self-sufficient sometimes, you know, 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:25.039 that I don't want to let anybody know my needs. 00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:28.880 And so I fail to allow other people to serve me. 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:31.180 And we rob the church of an opportunity to serve us. 00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.440 I don't know if you realize that. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:35.660 You know what Jesus does before this? 00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:43.060 This woman, sinful, shameful woman, comes at his feet, washes his feet with her hair. 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:46.480 The religious people were like, why are you letting her wash your feet? 00:32:46.840 --> 00:32:49.740 And Jesus says, no, she can serve me now. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.200 She can serve me. 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:53.000 Because Jesus was secure. 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.519 He didn't have to be on the throne. 00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:57.940 He could be served as well as serve at the same time. 00:32:57.940 --> 00:33:04.880 Do you know, I don't know if you ever think, I don't want to share about a situation with anyone because I don't want to bother other people. 00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:09.620 If you're like that, if you don't want to appear needy, that's your pride. 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:15.920 You need to get off your throne and say, okay, I'll be vulnerable. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:18.100 I'll let people serve me. 00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:29.199 And you know that the church also needs to be a place where if you're always serving and you're burning out and you can't say no to anyone, that's probably because you're also on the throne of your life. 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:33.119 Because Jesus actually also says, I do want you to rest at times. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:38.119 So Christ says, be more about pleasing me than just about pleasing others. 00:33:38.199 --> 00:33:39.759 Don't stay on the throne of your life. 00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:45.740 And the reason why I just wanted to talk about that and really mention that is because of this. 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:50.559 You can never justify yourself before God through your serving. 00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:52.920 Because you've always got mixed motives. 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.120 You can't. 00:33:54.180 --> 00:34:01.480 You can never think you're good enough, never be acceptable enough, never atone for your guilt enough by serving. 00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:02.779 You just can't. 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.039 You know, I had a funeral. 00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:07.220 I was at a funeral, a lady, a few weeks ago. 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:13.800 And one of the relatives said to me, you know, she was such a great lady. 00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:17.260 She was always serving, helping lots of people, doing a lot of charity work. 00:34:17.640 --> 00:34:20.340 She must get some extra brownie points with the man upstairs. 00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:28.960 And I wanted to say to him, I didn't, but I wanted to say to him, listen, I'm so pleased that she's such a servant. 00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:31.019 I wish more people were serving in that way. 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:40.700 But actually, if you suggest that in some way her serving removes the wrongs that she has committed before a holy God. 00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:45.500 If you suggest in some way that you can kind of pay back God by doing a little bit of serving. 00:34:45.600 --> 00:34:47.320 Then that's actually an insult to God. 00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:48.580 You don't know him. 00:34:49.480 --> 00:35:03.860 Because the really interesting thing is that Jesus, when he serves us, he gave everything. 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:07.620 He gave his entire life for us. 00:35:08.280 --> 00:35:10.080 He gave everything for you. 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:16.559 He saw you as so precious, he would be willing to lower himself to everything, to give up everything for you. 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:22.799 And then if you just say, hey, oh, Jesus, accept me now because I've served a few people. 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:27.500 That's like the queen, going to the queen, the queen inviting you to a lavish banquet at her expense. 00:35:27.779 --> 00:35:31.320 And you turning up with a $10 note and saying, hey, just have this. 00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:34.440 That's about you trying to stop feeling guilty. 00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:38.019 That's not about you receiving and enjoying the gift that is on offer. 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:44.280 You know, because she's going to turn around and say to you, is that all this is worth to you? 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:46.099 Is that all it's worth? 00:35:46.099 --> 00:35:58.860 You know, all the serving you do, all the bottles of wine you pass around, none of that, none of that can ever pay back Jesus for what he's done for you. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:06.039 And so there's some people who Jesus says, they say to Jesus, Lord, Lord, didn't we serve you with all of our lives? 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:07.380 We did all this stuff for you. 00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:10.720 And Jesus says to them, basically, get away from me. 00:36:10.740 --> 00:36:11.460 I never knew you. 00:36:12.680 --> 00:36:14.400 Because your serving is not adequate. 00:36:14.780 --> 00:36:18.280 All he asks is, you can't justify yourself before God. 00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:21.039 You've just got to accept the invitation by faith. 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:25.539 Repent of being on the throne of your life and just say, Jesus, I'm your servant. 00:36:26.740 --> 00:36:28.519 And that's all he looks for. 00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:30.579 Nothing in my hands I bring. 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:33.000 Simply to the cross I cling. 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:35.579 That's the gospel. 00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:40.260 Okay, so who is serving all of us? 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:41.659 Who do we serve? 00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:44.420 We're serving to please our master as his domestic servants. 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:45.780 How do we serve? 00:36:46.139 --> 00:36:47.679 And how do we serve? 00:36:47.739 --> 00:36:52.800 Well, we've got to get off the throne of our lives and allow him continually coming back to let him serve us. 00:36:53.360 --> 00:37:01.239 And let him shape us so that we serve not just when it suits us, not just the people we think deserve it, but what's going to please him. 00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:02.099 Final thing. 00:37:03.419 --> 00:37:05.439 And please give us some other comments. 00:37:06.899 --> 00:37:08.279 Where's the power to serve? 00:37:08.819 --> 00:37:11.119 Because I don't know if you think about this. 00:37:11.319 --> 00:37:12.559 How do you serve like Jesus? 00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:17.479 Because honestly, I look at some of the people around me and I just don't want to serve them. 00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:25.960 And if the way down is the way up, the struggle we have is we don't want to feel weak. 00:37:26.679 --> 00:37:27.820 Who wants to feel weak? 00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:28.900 Right? 00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:31.659 Because when you're down, that's a place of vulnerability. 00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:33.719 You know, I want to be up here. 00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:34.880 I want to be noticed. 00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:35.780 I want to be light. 00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:37.099 I want to be the enemy. 00:37:37.539 --> 00:37:39.139 And Jesus is saying, no, you've got to go down. 00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:44.119 Now, we can serve when it's kind of cool and everyone's serving. 00:37:44.259 --> 00:37:54.339 But when there's like a homeless guy in Central that I go up and start talking to and then everyone turns around and looks at you and you look really weird, that's when you think, oh, maybe I shouldn't be serving at this point, this person. 00:37:55.799 --> 00:37:57.000 Because it's all about you. 00:37:58.059 --> 00:37:58.900 And it's all about me. 00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:03.159 But Jesus shows us his utter power in weakness. 00:38:05.319 --> 00:38:06.699 And this is amazing. 00:38:06.879 --> 00:38:08.019 Like, I just think this is amazing. 00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:10.980 You know when Jesus is before Herod? 00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:15.139 And Herod is basically looking down on him and saying, okay, prove yourself to be king. 00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:24.059 Jesus could have at that moment done kind of a Harry Potter thing and just kind of turned him into a frog and said, okay, you convinced now? 00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:25.880 Could have done that. 00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:27.360 But he stays silent. 00:38:28.860 --> 00:38:29.259 Humiliated. 00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:29.759 Weak. 00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:35.500 At the cross, the Pharisees are mocking him, saying, come down from the cross. 00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:36.940 Come down from the cross. 00:38:37.760 --> 00:38:38.880 Come on, can't you save yourself? 00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:41.240 And you know what Jesus says? 00:38:41.720 --> 00:38:44.900 Well, he could have said, okay, I'm coming down. 00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.119 Come down. 00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:47.659 Whipped a couple of Pharisees. 00:38:47.860 --> 00:38:50.280 Put them up on the cross and said, okay, anyone else want to mock me now? 00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:51.800 Could have said that. 00:38:52.579 --> 00:38:53.260 But he doesn't. 00:38:53.260 --> 00:39:07.480 You see, Jesus has this desire to please his father out of a complete security in who he is, where he's going, and whose he is. 00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:09.740 Look at the beginning of John 13. 00:39:10.519 --> 00:39:12.820 And we're going to just kind of wrap it up with this. 00:39:13.159 --> 00:39:14.360 Then we'll answer any questions. 00:39:15.260 --> 00:39:15.880 This is amazing. 00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:16.639 We often forget this. 00:39:16.740 --> 00:39:19.099 We often don't see this in the beginning of John. 00:39:21.579 --> 00:39:23.059 Beginning of John, it says this. 00:39:23.059 --> 00:39:37.820 Jesus, knowing that the father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and then he began to wash their feet. 00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:39.980 Did you see what he said? 00:39:40.580 --> 00:39:45.440 He didn't say, Jesus, knowing that his father expected him to serve, got up and served. 00:39:46.200 --> 00:39:46.800 Didn't say that. 00:39:47.140 --> 00:39:51.220 He didn't say, Jesus, knowing that he had to practice what he preached, got up and served. 00:39:52.360 --> 00:39:53.180 Didn't say that. 00:39:53.500 --> 00:40:05.019 It says, Jesus, knowing the father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was going back to God, got up and served. 00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:07.200 Do you get what he's saying? 00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:09.559 He's saying, he knew his status. 00:40:10.279 --> 00:40:14.439 He knew whose he was, and he knew where he was going. 00:40:15.480 --> 00:40:19.759 That was the power to serve and be down, because that is security. 00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:25.279 You don't need everybody else to lift you up if you are already lifted up. 00:40:25.639 --> 00:40:28.059 You know, it says, you are honored. 00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:29.819 I mean, that's what Iris was saying. 00:40:30.179 --> 00:40:31.159 You're chosen. 00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.000 You're loved. 00:40:32.359 --> 00:40:33.739 Ephesians says, you are honored. 00:40:33.839 --> 00:40:36.179 You are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. 00:40:36.179 --> 00:40:39.099 You are the king of kings with the lord of lords. 00:40:39.259 --> 00:40:48.759 You have a power and a position and a status and an inheritance that you will reign with him in the whole world, it says in scripture. 00:40:48.760 --> 00:40:59.900 You don't need to cling on to your throne, because you already have approval and acceptance and honor. 00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:03.460 Nothing to lose. 00:41:03.460 --> 00:41:04.220 Nothing to prove. 00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:11.840 You know, in the UK, we have charity shops, which are basically secondhand clothes, which, you know, you can get great stuff. 00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:12.840 You can get, like, Gucci. 00:41:12.940 --> 00:41:17.980 You can get all kinds of stuff at, like, just ridiculously cheap prices, like $50, Hong Kong dollars. 00:41:17.980 --> 00:41:22.760 And do you know who goes to charity shops to buy clothes? 00:41:24.699 --> 00:41:25.139 Anyone? 00:41:25.760 --> 00:41:26.159 The poor. 00:41:27.460 --> 00:41:29.039 You would think it's the poor. 00:41:30.179 --> 00:41:34.780 The poor do not go to charity shops, generally, to buy clothes. 00:41:34.780 --> 00:41:41.040 Because the poor, they think they have to prove themselves. 00:41:41.240 --> 00:41:46.980 And so the poor will generally try and buy the more expensive brands to prove that they are worth something. 00:41:48.420 --> 00:41:51.280 In fact, that's actually why a lot of people buy brands. 00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:56.220 If you're not just buying it for the aesthetics, but people buy brands because you've actually got to try and prove yourself. 00:41:56.219 --> 00:42:02.039 But actually, the middle class people are the people who go to the charity shops because they've got nothing to prove. 00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:05.419 They feel secure in their status, and so they can feel like they can get a bargain. 00:42:05.919 --> 00:42:08.559 So they lower themselves to go and get these stuff. 00:42:09.219 --> 00:42:10.179 It's good stuff. 00:42:11.159 --> 00:42:12.139 Because they're secure. 00:42:13.799 --> 00:42:23.599 If we can be domestic helpers of God and see our honor, then that means as God's family, we can look to serve each other. 00:42:23.599 --> 00:42:29.400 But whether it's people we struggle to serve or whether it's people who serve at inconvenient times, 00:42:29.819 --> 00:42:35.279 but this, as we get that mentality, we begin to look more like Jesus, and the body of Christ begins to grow. 00:42:35.400 --> 00:42:37.440 And that's what Paul is talking about in Ephesians. 00:42:38.219 --> 00:42:39.719 We serve like Jesus is. 00:42:41.699 --> 00:42:43.500 And so the final thing is this. 00:42:44.599 --> 00:42:49.420 Paul says the greatest way you can serve each other is by speaking the truth in love. 00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:52.019 Do you know why he says that? 00:42:52.019 --> 00:43:02.679 Because you're not going to serve and stay off your throne unless we as a community are continually reminding each other of our status in Christ, 00:43:03.159 --> 00:43:08.679 of who we are in him, so that we can really live and be empowered to take the way down, 00:43:09.400 --> 00:43:13.099 so that we will be honored and glorified with him in a new creation. 00:43:13.659 --> 00:43:14.119 Let's pray. 00:43:14.119 --> 00:43:14.199 Amen. 00:43:14.199 --> 00:43:14.639 Amen. 00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:15.800 Amen. 00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:15.860 Amen. 00:43:15.860 --> 00:43:15.900 Amen. 00:43:15.900 --> 00:43:15.960 Amen. 00:43:22.019 --> 00:43:22.199 Amen. 00:43:23.039 --> 00:43:30.579 Father, I just, even though it's kind of weird doing this on camera, Lord, I just know that we're a family. 00:43:31.340 --> 00:43:32.539 You've chosen us. 00:43:33.099 --> 00:43:34.039 We're your servants. 00:43:34.159 --> 00:43:36.320 But we're your servants because you served us first. 00:43:38.500 --> 00:43:46.340 Lord, I know that there are so many people that I think I serve, but actually so much of it's more about pleasing me than it's about pleasing you. 00:43:46.340 --> 00:43:52.640 Lord, I pray for us that we would right now be thinking of the people around us. 00:43:52.700 --> 00:43:53.740 Lord, it may be colleagues. 00:43:54.600 --> 00:43:55.980 It may be a spouse. 00:43:56.860 --> 00:43:59.000 It may be people in our community group. 00:43:59.700 --> 00:44:05.820 That actually, if we're honest, Lord, we haven't even thought how we'd please you by serving them. 00:44:05.820 --> 00:44:19.500 I pray that you would give us hearts to actually stop and think how we can serve them, meet their needs, whether it's their need for encouragement, whether it's their need for prayer, whether it's just a practical helping hand. 00:44:19.900 --> 00:44:25.400 Whatever it is, Lord, I pray that you'd open our eyes so that we become who we are, which is your servants. 00:44:26.059 --> 00:44:26.660 In Jesus' name. 00:44:27.660 --> 00:44:27.880 Amen. 00:44:30.920 --> 00:44:31.280 Great. 00:44:35.820 --> 00:45:01.100 So, the last thing really, just as you go out and have a great week and look to be serving people, 00:45:01.099 --> 00:45:12.960 tomorrow night, if you're a parent, there's just a great opportunity to come and just meet with some other parents and to really talk about parenting together here and using some of the alpha parenting materials. 00:45:13.299 --> 00:45:14.079 So, kind of go online. 00:45:14.179 --> 00:45:15.039 You can check that out. 00:45:15.579 --> 00:45:23.699 We're going to be doing some stuff about membership and really thinking about, as we talk about being part of a family, what it means to really be members of the church. 00:45:23.699 --> 00:45:37.980 So, if you're an existing member and you've signed a membership covenant, a membership document, on the 29th of October, so that's in a couple of weeks' time, we're going to have just a meeting after the service to talk through some of the changes that we want to bring in about membership. 00:45:38.139 --> 00:45:47.519 We realize we've talked about membership, but we've only done it in a kind of halfway, and we want to just think about how can we do this in a way to really honor what the Bible teaches us in that. 00:45:47.519 --> 00:45:57.360 So, 29th, we'll be doing that for existing members, 30th of October, and also the following 6th of November, we'll have some new membership classes, and we'll be talking a bit more about that. 00:45:57.699 --> 00:46:02.659 But, in the meantime, just have a great week, enjoy your Typhoon 8 day, and God bless. 00:46:02.900 --> 00:46:03.579 In Jesus' name. 00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:04.380 Amen. 00:46:17.519 --> 00:46:18.519 Amen. 00:46:47.519 --> 00:46:48.519 Amen. 00:47:17.519 --> 00:47:18.519 Amen. 00:47:47.519 --> 00:47:48.519 Amen. 00:47:48.519 --> 00:47:49.519 Amen. 00:47:49.519 --> 00:47:50.519 Amen. 00:47:50.519 --> 00:47:52.519 Amen. 00:47:52.519 --> 00:47:53.300 Amen. 00:47:53.300 --> 00:47:54.519 Amen. 00:47:54.519 --> 00:47:55.259 Amen. 00:47:55.259 --> 00:47:55.699 Amen. 00:47:55.699 --> 00:47:56.659 Amen. 00:47:56.659 --> 00:47:58.659 Amen. 00:47:58.659 --> 00:47:59.699 Amen. 00:47:59.699 --> 00:48:00.599 Amen. 00:48:00.599 --> 00:48:01.239 Amen. 00:48:01.239 --> 00:48:01.699 Amen. 00:48:01.699 --> 00:48:03.280 Amen. 00:48:03.280 --> 00:48:03.679 Amen.