WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:06.339 It was really wonderful last week to celebrate together how Jesus rose from the dead, that 00:00:06.339 --> 00:00:11.200 the resurrection happened, that a new creation has started, that the world has changed. 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:16.300 Although you might be forgiven for wondering, well, how much did the world change? 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:22.080 I mean, that morning, Easter morning, would anyone in Jerusalem know that a new creation 00:00:22.080 --> 00:00:22.559 has started? 00:00:23.240 --> 00:00:24.500 How about the rest of the world? 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:27.179 Would any of them know that the world had changed? 00:00:27.940 --> 00:00:28.920 I'm not sure. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.000 I think this is an issue that we sometimes wonder about, right? 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:35.899 Why isn't the world different? 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:37.740 Why is the world still the same? 00:00:37.899 --> 00:00:39.500 Why is there still so much suffering? 00:00:39.980 --> 00:00:41.259 Maybe you feel that at the moment. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:48.439 Maybe your work is just really hard and you feel, okay, God, you know, now I'm back with 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:49.719 you, but my life isn't any better. 00:00:50.659 --> 00:00:55.740 Or maybe actually you're out of work or you've come out of some relationship and it really 00:00:55.740 --> 00:00:59.740 hurts or you're in a relationship that's not going well and you can't get out because you're 00:00:59.740 --> 00:01:00.560 married, right? 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:03.560 All kinds of ways that we still suffer. 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:05.799 Illness, health issues. 00:01:06.859 --> 00:01:07.260 Yeah. 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:09.120 People, loved ones who die. 00:01:10.379 --> 00:01:15.500 And then we wonder, yeah, how, what kind of difference has the resurrection, the death 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:16.900 and resurrection of Jesus made? 00:01:16.960 --> 00:01:21.780 These big events that we say has changed history, but it seems like it hasn't. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:25.900 Maybe you're here, you're not a Christian and that's exactly the question you have, right? 00:01:25.960 --> 00:01:27.820 And you see us celebrating with joy. 00:01:28.219 --> 00:01:29.180 Well, what's the big deal? 00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:31.439 What's the big deal that Jesus rose from the dead? 00:01:31.460 --> 00:01:32.980 Because we don't see much change. 00:01:33.900 --> 00:01:35.740 I guess we all sometimes have those questions. 00:01:36.240 --> 00:01:39.020 And that is exactly what we're going to talk about today. 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:41.000 So I hope that we'll, today will help you. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:42.420 Help us see that. 00:01:42.420 --> 00:01:46.000 Actually, you know, why is the world the way it is? 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:49.799 And why isn't Jesus doing something about it? 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:56.799 Now, what we're doing, we're actually continuing our previous series, which was, which we did 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:59.920 before Easter called The Wonderful Work of God. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:04.760 We've been kind of going through the storyline of the Bible, especially the story of the Old 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:05.159 Testament. 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:09.819 I've made a kind of, maybe in previous weeks, you've seen this kind of graph. 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:12.780 This is basically the story of the Bible. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:18.379 So God started with making a perfect world, but then Adam and Eve sins and everything 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:19.140 went wrong, right? 00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:23.479 The world was cursed, broken, but God promised to make things better. 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:27.520 He promised to the people of Israel, okay, you're going to be my people. 00:02:27.699 --> 00:02:34.060 And slowly he kind of built up this beautiful kingdom that came to a climax under David and 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:34.400 Solomon. 00:02:35.379 --> 00:02:37.080 And the line is kind of how good things are. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:39.599 But then, yeah, they turn away from the Lord. 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:47.159 They sinned again, and they ended up back down at the bottom in exile, away from home 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:48.259 as slaves in Babylon. 00:02:49.459 --> 00:02:51.539 And that is, was very sad. 00:02:52.340 --> 00:02:53.359 That's kind of where we ended. 00:02:53.900 --> 00:02:56.240 But the wonderful thing is that's not the end of the story. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:59.379 God promised, no, I'm going to make things better. 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:01.479 I'm not going to, not just back to Solomon. 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:04.400 I'm going to go, we're going to go all the way back to the Garden of Eden. 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:06.319 I'm going to make everything right again. 00:03:06.740 --> 00:03:07.759 That's what God promised. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:08.639 That's wonderful. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:12.259 Well, that's where we kind of finished before Easter. 00:03:13.739 --> 00:03:14.459 What now? 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:18.340 Well, first, there's a few more books in the Bible that we skipped over. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:23.679 In fact, they do come back from Babylon after like 70 years. 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:27.239 But that's not really it yet. 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:28.840 They're still poor. 00:03:29.019 --> 00:03:30.379 They're still under foreign rule. 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:34.780 No, the real change, of course, is like 500 years later when Jesus comes. 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:35.599 Right? 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:39.240 That here is Jesus and he dies and he rises. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:41.460 And that's what we've just remembered over Easter. 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:44.599 But now, okay, now we're in the New Testament. 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:47.860 I think maybe you're new here. 00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:50.479 But for most of us, the story is relatively familiar. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:50.780 Right? 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:51.639 Well, what happens? 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:54.319 Well, after Jesus' resurrection, we just read it. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:56.739 Jesus, he goes back to heaven. 00:03:57.319 --> 00:03:59.979 And he, chapter 2, he gives the Spirit. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:06.639 And then the church starts to spread in Judea, in Samaria, to the rest of the Roman Empire. 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:08.799 And actually, that's still happening today. 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:09.879 The church is still spreading. 00:04:10.459 --> 00:04:12.519 And one day, Jesus will come back. 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:15.800 In a way, the story is quite simple in the New Testament. 00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:17.480 It's quite short. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:22.319 So, as we continue the series, we're actually not just going through that week by week. 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:24.560 Because most of us know it. 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:29.139 Now, if you read the New Testament, what kind of books do you get? 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:30.160 You get a lot of letters. 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:32.160 You get a lot of explanation. 00:04:32.900 --> 00:04:35.840 Because there are some things that are very different from before. 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:39.879 If you come from the old to the new, there are some things that have changed. 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:42.899 God's people used to be this nation. 00:04:43.159 --> 00:04:44.600 And now, it's a church. 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:45.600 And it's very different. 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:47.540 How does that work? 00:04:47.719 --> 00:04:49.139 We're going to think about that next week. 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:51.899 The law was such a big thing. 00:04:52.300 --> 00:04:54.219 Maybe you're doing our Bible reading plan. 00:04:54.659 --> 00:04:56.379 And you've been in Deuteronomy. 00:04:56.819 --> 00:05:01.060 And please, you know, keep all the commandments and laws and statutes. 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:03.740 And you wonder, what is that like now for a Christian? 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:06.860 That's something that we want to talk about. 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:12.120 But today, we're going to talk about, well, that thing that I just mentioned. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:14.500 What actually has Jesus done? 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:16.280 You know, he died and rose. 00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:17.280 What has it actually done? 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:18.540 And what is still to come? 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:20.180 And what has Jesus done? 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:22.100 And what is he still to do? 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:25.759 As people call it, the already and the not yet. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:28.600 And basically, how do I write this graph? 00:05:28.840 --> 00:05:29.759 You see this graph? 00:05:30.060 --> 00:05:31.040 No, sorry, previous one. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:35.360 We know that when Jesus returns, it's all up there. 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:38.800 Then everything will be fulfilled. 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:42.300 But in between, you know, is it down here? 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:43.580 Is it nearly up there? 00:05:43.660 --> 00:05:44.340 Is it in the middle? 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:45.379 Is it a bit of both? 00:05:46.260 --> 00:05:48.000 What is the Christian life like now? 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:49.360 What should we expect to see? 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:50.280 What is the world like? 00:05:51.400 --> 00:05:52.980 That is what we're going to think about. 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:55.939 And we need to be clear on that. 00:05:56.060 --> 00:06:01.640 Because if you think that we're up here, and then you suffer, and you get hurt, and you 00:06:01.640 --> 00:06:03.560 think, well, what's wrong? 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:04.879 Is Christianity not true? 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:08.700 Well, maybe your expectations are just wrong, right? 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:10.180 We want to have the right expectations. 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:14.120 We want to know what is going on, and what is Jesus doing now? 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:15.500 So that's what we're going to talk about. 00:06:16.640 --> 00:06:20.060 And it's a bit of a complex issue, but it's really important. 00:06:20.060 --> 00:06:22.899 So we talk about the already and the not yet. 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:27.399 Well, what has Jesus done, and what is he still to do? 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:32.360 I think a good way is just to go back a few weeks, and we saw all these promises that God 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:32.800 made. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:35.899 Well, which ones has he fulfilled, and which ones not yet? 00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:41.740 So if we just make a list, here, look at a lot of things that actually have happened. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:42.519 Right? 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:44.439 So God promised he would send a king. 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:45.639 Well, he's done that, right? 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:48.459 Christmas, 2,000 years ago, the king is here. 00:06:48.459 --> 00:06:50.180 What would he do? 00:06:50.259 --> 00:06:53.739 He would die as a perfect sacrifice and bring atonement. 00:06:53.919 --> 00:06:55.259 Well, that happened at the cross, right? 00:06:55.659 --> 00:06:56.859 We are fully forgiven. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:58.039 We're reconciled to God. 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:00.180 What else? 00:07:00.219 --> 00:07:00.819 The new covenant. 00:07:01.099 --> 00:07:02.879 Again, that was started at the cross. 00:07:04.019 --> 00:07:05.539 Inaugurized by Jesus' death. 00:07:05.899 --> 00:07:06.419 The spirit. 00:07:06.979 --> 00:07:07.620 New hearts. 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:08.799 That happened in Acts 2. 00:07:08.919 --> 00:07:10.359 That happened 2,000 years ago. 00:07:10.659 --> 00:07:10.819 Right? 00:07:11.379 --> 00:07:12.060 What else? 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:14.899 The nations are now free to come to Christ. 00:07:14.899 --> 00:07:17.159 Again, we see that happen. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:20.179 In the book of Acts, you see people no longer just Jews. 00:07:20.279 --> 00:07:22.019 People from all over the world coming. 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:24.120 Satan, right? 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:26.659 Satan, who were in Genesis 3. 00:07:26.739 --> 00:07:27.279 Things went wrong. 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:33.579 Well, the New Testament says he was cast out and disarmed and defeated and bound all at 00:07:33.579 --> 00:07:33.979 the cross. 00:07:34.859 --> 00:07:38.339 So there's a lot of things, actually, that the Bible says have happened. 00:07:38.339 --> 00:07:43.659 At the same time, there's other promises that clearly have not happened yet. 00:07:43.919 --> 00:07:44.039 Right? 00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:46.560 So the new creation. 00:07:47.039 --> 00:07:47.219 Right? 00:07:47.299 --> 00:07:51.199 There were promises of, you know, the wolf shall lie down with the lamb. 00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:55.399 And the child will play with the cobra and that kind of stuff. 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:57.739 Well, we have a garden with snakes. 00:07:57.959 --> 00:07:59.799 We do not let our kids play with snakes. 00:07:59.979 --> 00:08:00.139 Right? 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:01.859 That's clearly not here yet. 00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:03.199 I don't see that happening. 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:05.279 How about no more death? 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:07.199 No more perfect healing? 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:08.519 Immortality? 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:12.060 Well, as most of us know, we grow old and we die. 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:13.379 That's clearly not here yet. 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:16.300 Great prosperity, right? 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:18.259 The sower overtaking the reaper. 00:08:19.060 --> 00:08:20.839 There's a lot of poor Christians in the world. 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:22.019 Clearly, it's not there yet. 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:23.719 No more tears. 00:08:23.860 --> 00:08:24.500 No more sadness. 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:26.459 It's not there yet. 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:26.860 Right? 00:08:28.159 --> 00:08:28.560 Enemies. 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:29.800 Oppressors. 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:30.680 Right? 00:08:30.719 --> 00:08:31.699 That's what God said. 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:33.559 He said he would make the world safe again. 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:34.860 We would have peace forever. 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:37.220 Well, ask Christians in North Korea. 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:39.600 They're still there. 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:40.299 Right? 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:43.620 And Satan, well, sin, they are present. 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:47.279 Satan has been defeated, but he's still active. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:48.519 He's still there. 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:50.639 And so I hope you can see. 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:52.860 I hope this is, I mean, I could give you Bible passages. 00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:56.379 But I hope you can see that actually, yeah, there were things that Jesus has done. 00:08:56.819 --> 00:08:58.159 And things that he has not yet done. 00:08:58.539 --> 00:08:58.779 All right? 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:01.179 We're not yet fully back in the Garden of Eden. 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:06.420 And if you think everything's already here, you'll be disappointed. 00:09:07.780 --> 00:09:09.400 Now, this is a long list. 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.320 Is there an easy way to remember this? 00:09:11.920 --> 00:09:15.060 And we talk about, okay, the kingdom is here, but it's not fully here yet. 00:09:16.660 --> 00:09:18.140 That doesn't maybe help you. 00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:26.399 Now, if you've read some more, if you've been a Christian for a while, maybe you've heard of what people call the overlap of the ages. 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:32.419 As some people explain it like this, that in the Old Testament, you know, there's the old age and then the king comes. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:33.639 And then you have got a new age. 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:37.460 But then Jesus complicates things. 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:38.939 What does he say? 00:09:38.939 --> 00:09:43.799 He says, well, the old age continues. 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:45.819 But the new age starts at the cross. 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:47.899 But then the old age only ends at his return. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:49.399 That is one way of looking at it. 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:56.000 But I think that doesn't really help us very much because we don't know, okay, well, what does the new age and the old age mean? 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:07.459 Instead, I think the easiest way to think about it, well, we've been talking about the cause of the fall and the consequences this week, right? 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:14.519 Everything went wrong when Adam and Eve turned away from God through sin, through our broken relationship with God. 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:19.460 Instead, but then what was the result? 00:10:19.560 --> 00:10:23.820 The result was this broken world, the curse, right? 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:24.720 That's the effects. 00:10:25.460 --> 00:10:32.840 And if you line up these lists, actually, it's all the cause things that have been done and all the effects things that are still to go. 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:34.480 Does that make sense? 00:10:34.940 --> 00:10:36.560 That's a good way to think about it. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:41.019 So God promised, I'm going to deal with sin and then everything will be all right. 00:10:41.119 --> 00:10:44.679 And he's dealt with sin when Jesus came, when he died and rose. 00:10:46.359 --> 00:10:48.000 But the effects are still to come. 00:10:49.699 --> 00:10:51.939 And the curse still needs to be lifted. 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:55.679 Now, I think that's a helpful way of thinking about it. 00:10:56.119 --> 00:11:00.759 I mean, one very big thing for me, I think for us, what does it mean? 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:04.739 It means that the right side is fully 100% guaranteed. 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:05.659 Right? 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:09.180 Because we're talking about, you know, we're talking about cause and effect. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:10.639 Right? 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:13.200 If the cause is dealt with, the effects will follow. 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:18.639 You have a virus and then you've got certain symptoms like a rash or a fever. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.960 Well, once your body has beaten the virus, you know the rash will disappear. 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:22.299 Right? 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:23.120 It's guaranteed. 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:25.100 It's the same here. 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:25.539 Right? 00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:27.219 Why is the world broken? 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:28.459 Because of sin. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:34.139 Well, if sin has been dealt with, then the world will be unbroken one day. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:34.740 Right? 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:35.620 We know that. 00:11:36.319 --> 00:11:37.919 And so that gives us great assurance. 00:11:38.059 --> 00:11:38.179 Right? 00:11:38.319 --> 00:11:40.319 The big problem behind everything. 00:11:40.839 --> 00:11:42.019 Death has been dealt with. 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:43.159 Sin. 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:44.639 Our broken relationship with God. 00:11:44.740 --> 00:11:45.659 Jesus solved that. 00:11:46.199 --> 00:11:47.679 And so we know the rest will follow. 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:48.360 That's wonderful. 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:55.019 However, you may, when I say this, this sounds very simple. 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:57.480 I need to nuance it a little bit. 00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:05.060 So, what, first of all, I guess I talk about sin has been dealt with. 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:09.519 Well, I looked at myself this morning and it feels like sin hasn't been dealt with. 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:09.700 Right? 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:12.379 You will probably have the same. 00:12:12.460 --> 00:12:14.259 In what sense has sin actually been dealt with? 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.019 Well, the thing is, sin is a bit of a complicated thing. 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.659 Because there's two things. 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:22.299 One, there is kind of our hearts and how we turned away from God. 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:24.960 But the thing is, that led to a consequence. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.759 That led to us being corrupted. 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:30.439 It led to us having a sinful nature. 00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:33.480 So, sin is kind of its cause and effect. 00:12:33.659 --> 00:12:34.039 It's both. 00:12:34.439 --> 00:12:38.019 And the cause is our hearts and the effect is our sinful nature. 00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:40.340 And, you know, he's dealt with the cause. 00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:42.779 We have new hearts by the Holy Spirit. 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:47.819 But deep down at the root, if you're a Christian, I mean, you trust in Jesus. 00:12:47.939 --> 00:12:48.799 He gives you the Spirit. 00:12:49.059 --> 00:12:49.799 You're changed. 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:54.299 But that new heart is still in an old body full of sin. 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:58.860 And so, what we experience is a kind of battle between old and new. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:02.059 And so, yeah, it's a kind of halfway. 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:06.019 Because, yeah, it's kind of there's the new heart but the old body. 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:08.620 And they kind of fight and hopefully there's progress. 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:10.299 Hopefully, things get better. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:12.879 Sometimes there are seasons where it gets worse. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:16.360 But, you know, that's, I think, why we still sin. 00:13:16.439 --> 00:13:18.199 It's partly cause and partly effect. 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.439 I think that that explains it. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:20.519 Right? 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:23.679 But basically, the big thing has been done. 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:26.159 At the root, sin has been cut. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.679 Our relationship with God has been fully restored. 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:30.459 And that's wonderful. 00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:36.719 Now, when I say this, I know there's different Christian traditions. 00:13:36.979 --> 00:13:38.159 They emphasize different things. 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:38.359 Right? 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:41.199 So, some Christians, they really emphasize the already. 00:13:41.719 --> 00:13:44.099 And others emphasize the not yet. 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:47.979 Now, when I say this, I know what some people will say. 00:13:48.099 --> 00:13:51.319 Hey, isn't there more to life now than just this? 00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:53.679 So, I just want to say three things. 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:57.899 First of all, some people think, well, that means we don't have you very much now. 00:13:58.479 --> 00:14:02.899 Actually, what dealing with sin, our relationship with God is huge. 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:03.939 Right? 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.359 What has Jesus done? 00:14:05.699 --> 00:14:07.579 He's reconciled you to God. 00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:08.299 Right? 00:14:08.339 --> 00:14:10.179 He's provided full forgiveness. 00:14:10.859 --> 00:14:12.659 You're now a child of God. 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.819 You know his care and his delight. 00:14:14.959 --> 00:14:20.000 You can face eternity with full confidence because of what Jesus has done. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:26.379 You have God himself living inside you by the Spirit, changing you so that you know God more and more each day. 00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:28.659 And you're changing to become like Christ. 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.639 There is so much that he has done. 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:30.899 Right? 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.600 Okay, you still get sick. 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:34.720 But think about all the other things. 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:34.940 Right? 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.899 There's so much that he has done. 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:37.700 Right? 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:40.960 The spiritual blessings of being a Christian are wonderful. 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:42.840 And we shouldn't minimize that. 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:43.059 Right? 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:47.759 And I'm also not just when I say, okay, healing is still future. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:50.319 I'm not saying that God can't do miracles. 00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:52.379 He can do miracles. 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:52.960 Yes. 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.919 He can be kind and heal you if you're sick. 00:14:56.500 --> 00:15:00.179 But it's just not really the same as like forgiveness. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:00.679 Right? 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:05.700 Forgiveness, you are, if you trust in Jesus, you are 100% forgiven. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:08.259 Fully, finally, forever. 00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:10.179 Nothing ever changes that. 00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:15.679 If Jesus heals you from being sick, you know, it's only temporary. 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.799 You're going to get sick again. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.659 You're going to get old. 00:15:17.739 --> 00:15:18.439 You're going to get die. 00:15:18.739 --> 00:15:19.319 You're going to die. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.479 It is not the same. 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:20.679 Right? 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:28.359 Now, the full, complete healing that we see in the Bible, that we see promised in the Old Testament, that's only when Jesus returns. 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:30.199 So, it's not really the same. 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.539 Yes, God can do miracles. 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.579 I mean, why do we call it a miracle? 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:35.379 Because it's unusual. 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:35.800 Right? 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:37.780 And we pray, God, if it's your will. 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:40.420 Because we know it's not guaranteed. 00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:44.360 Forgiveness, you don't have to say, if it is your will, please forgive me. 00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:46.520 Jesus has one forgiveness. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.600 He's paid for it. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.379 You are fully forgiven if you trust in Jesus. 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:52.080 And so, that's different. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:58.879 And thirdly, just to say, actually, if you think about it, life is better. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.620 The world has changed. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:03.200 Because sin is such a big problem. 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:09.300 I mean, even if you still get sick, think about some of the difference that Jesus can make. 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:14.400 Imagine a woman who is just, she idolizes relationships. 00:16:15.040 --> 00:16:21.139 And so, she has this series of abusive boyfriends who hurt her physically and emotionally. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.680 She's a wreck. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:26.800 And then she hears about Jesus and believes. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.180 And now she finds her treasure in Jesus. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:31.220 And so, she doesn't need those guys anymore. 00:16:31.660 --> 00:16:32.820 And then she joins the church. 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:34.280 She gets meaningful friendships. 00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:38.379 At some point, she gets married to a wonderful, godly husband. 00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:40.860 Her life is so much better, right? 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:47.220 And just because of turning back to God and finding, you know, her joy in Jesus. 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:49.379 It can make a huge difference. 00:16:49.660 --> 00:16:50.680 And not just for yourself. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.400 For others, right? 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.399 Here's a family. 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:53.439 Here's a family. 00:16:53.439 --> 00:16:59.079 And the husband, he's a bad-tempered, drunkard, a lazy, selfish pig. 00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:01.319 And then, you know what? 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.740 He becomes a Christian. 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:06.619 And he becomes gentle and kind and hardworking and sacrificial. 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:09.900 That family, you know, things will completely change. 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.480 Just because of the gospel. 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:13.740 Or even bigger, right? 00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:19.160 Imagine a whole country where millions and millions and millions of people become Christians. 00:17:19.620 --> 00:17:21.220 And they start loving their neighbor. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.460 What do you see? 00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:26.779 Well, they will abolish the slave trade. 00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:29.460 And they will abolish child labor. 00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:32.120 And they will start charities for the poor. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:34.039 And they will start schools and hospitals. 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:35.159 And those kind of things. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:37.799 That's what happened in the Great Awakening in England. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.659 That country was really changed. 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:42.099 Because so many people were saved. 00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:45.339 And under, like, John Wesley and George Whitefield. 00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:49.779 And, you know, there was a wonderful revival that led to so much social change. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:50.899 Right? 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:53.180 The gospel does change things. 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:55.359 No, the curse is still there. 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:57.339 But there's kind of the direct effects of sin. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.359 You know? 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.519 Just because sin makes your life, you know, bad. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:03.500 And that has changed. 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:07.019 So the gospel, it really does change the world in some ways. 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:08.259 We don't think about that, right? 00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:11.819 We often just think about, okay, you know, my life is still hard. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:15.500 Actually, if you think about it, the gospel has made such a difference. 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:18.480 I don't know what the world would be like if Jesus hadn't come. 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:22.539 And we didn't have 2,000 years of gospel progress in the world. 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:26.819 But the curse is still there. 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:30.259 And the world is still broken. 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.159 It's still fallen. 00:18:32.139 --> 00:18:33.379 And we still feel that. 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:34.639 Often. 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:35.879 When work is hard. 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:37.180 When relationships are hard. 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.619 When you struggle with your sin. 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.680 When you face death. 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:46.879 And so you're probably wondering, okay, yes, I understand that this is the case. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.440 But why? 00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:49.639 Why does it have to be like that? 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:53.079 Why can't Jesus, why didn't he just do everything in one go? 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:58.579 Why not solve it all and, you know, make paradise here on earth? 00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.399 Why not? 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:02.480 Well, the answer is quite simple. 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.240 Right? 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:06.059 We see that in this Bible passage. 00:19:07.439 --> 00:19:11.220 Yeah, so it's more of a theological talk rather than looking at this Bible passage. 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:15.039 But the disciples, yeah, they were confused about it. 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:15.259 Right? 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:17.960 So Jesus, he's risen from the dead. 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.880 He talks to them. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:21.339 And then 1 verse 6. 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:27.339 So when they'd come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:27.880 Right? 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:29.600 Hey, are you going to do everything now? 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.760 Are you going to restore the kingdom? 00:19:31.600 --> 00:19:33.000 And Jesus says, no. 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:39.560 He said to them, it's not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.800 So basically he says, not yet. 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:45.060 That will come and you don't know when. 00:19:46.760 --> 00:19:48.540 But there is something to do. 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.420 And what is that? 00:19:50.560 --> 00:19:54.160 Well, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:19:54.520 --> 00:19:56.640 And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:02.360 And in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth, to all the nations. 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:07.820 Actually, between the first two comings, there's a time of mission. 00:20:09.300 --> 00:20:14.220 And when you think about it, that is why the two comings are separated. 00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:17.259 Because let's think about foreign nations. 00:20:18.060 --> 00:20:21.000 Where do the foreign nations fit into those promises? 00:20:21.280 --> 00:20:23.940 Well, there are twice on the chart. 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:24.820 Right? 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:27.960 But if we, I think we're a few slides behind. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.200 Yeah. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.500 A few more. 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.539 Foreign nations. 00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:41.379 We have that brown bar underneath the title. 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:42.899 Yes. 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:47.540 So basically, the foreign nations, they've shown up twice in the table. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:52.920 On one hand, you know, if you read the Old Testament, God makes two promises. 00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:55.620 He promises on one hand their enemies will be gone. 00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:57.580 Their oppressors will be gone. 00:20:58.620 --> 00:21:00.100 And so the foreign nations will be gone. 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:04.040 That's not a foreign, a kind of racist thing or a nationalist thing. 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:09.819 These are the people who invade your country and kidnap your kids and plunder your goods. 00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:10.480 Right? 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:12.399 They make your life terrible. 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:14.240 And God says they'll be gone. 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:14.980 You'll have peace. 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:15.259 Right? 00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:20.200 I mean, if you live in Ukraine and God says, I'm going to deal with Russia, that's good news. 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:20.579 Right? 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:24.619 So foreign nations, good news, God will deal with them. 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:28.159 But at the same time, he says, they are going to come to Jerusalem. 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:28.679 Right? 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:31.859 The foreign nations, they're going to come to God. 00:21:31.939 --> 00:21:34.079 They're going to come back to Jerusalem and worship him. 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:39.299 Now, those two promises, are they kind of compatible? 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:41.099 It's hard, right? 00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:42.759 How can you do two at the same time? 00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:46.000 Okay, I'm going to destroy them and I'm going to bring them to Jerusalem. 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.659 You can't. 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.259 Right? 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:51.200 But they have to happen in sequence. 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:58.379 When God says, okay, I'm going to get rid of all the foreign nations, but then also bring them to Jerusalem, that's impossible. 00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.740 No, they need to happen in order. 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:06.059 First, the nations will come to Jerusalem, those who respond, those who turn back to God. 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:14.379 And then those who are not, who don't want to, well, God will get rid of them to make the world safe again. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.140 And that's the idea. 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:18.840 And that's why, yeah, the cause needs to be dealt with. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.580 First, people turn back to God. 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:25.759 But the effect, dealing with persecution and oppression, will come later. 00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:31.240 Because if Jesus deals with it now, then people can't be saved. 00:22:32.520 --> 00:22:34.560 Basically, Jesus will make the world perfect. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:37.980 And to make the world perfect, he has to get rid of everyone who's imperfect. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:42.639 But if everyone who's imperfect is gone, people can't be saved. 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:46.440 No one can have a chance to turn back to God. 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:49.599 And sometimes you feel that. 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.079 I don't know. 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:54.500 Maybe you're at work and your colleagues make your life really hard. 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:57.000 You kind of wish they were gone sometimes. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:57.259 Right? 00:22:57.259 --> 00:23:02.059 But at the same time, if they're gone, how can they hear the gospel? 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.779 How can they be saved? 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.220 They can't. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:07.460 And so that's why Jesus is waiting. 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:09.200 Here is a great verse. 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:10.279 Yeah? 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.019 Why is Jesus not here yet? 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:14.420 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9. 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:17.140 This is a chapter about the coming of Jesus. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:21.680 And people wonder why, what happened to this promise of his coming? 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.720 Why isn't he here yet? 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:27.180 And the answer, well, the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise. 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.539 Some count slowness. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.680 But he is patient with you. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:34.500 Not wanting anyone to perish, but all to reach repentance. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.799 Why is Jesus not here yet? 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.019 He's patient. 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:43.440 He wants people to reach, not to perish, but to reach repentance. 00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:46.259 And Jesus, one day he will come back. 00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:48.519 And then that will be the final judgment. 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:51.039 Everyone who's ever lived will be judged. 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:55.299 And then it's really an eternity with him or an eternity away from him. 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.740 But then it's too late. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:01.740 And so that's why, yeah, his two comings are separated. 00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:03.259 So that mission can take place. 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:04.440 Yeah? 00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:07.539 And surely you want to wait for that, right? 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:10.759 Maybe, yeah, you think, okay, man, I wish my call. 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.440 Jesus, please come back now. 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.319 My life is hard. 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:16.139 But then you've been witnessing to your friends. 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:18.819 And maybe tomorrow they would come to Christ. 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:20.519 Tomorrow they would give their life to Jesus. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:24.000 But what if Jesus answers your prayer and he comes back today already? 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:29.119 Well, then your friends will be on the wrong side of the final judgment, right? 00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:34.740 I guess if you think about it like that, okay, I'll wait for another day, right? 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:37.859 I think for most of you, right? 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:43.139 Imagine if Jesus came back before you knew him, before you were saved. 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:48.759 In my case, you know, remember the year 2000 and the world was going to end? 00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:51.079 Remember if Jesus came back? 00:24:51.199 --> 00:24:53.019 What if Jesus came back in the year 2000? 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:57.359 Well, then I would be in hell now because I became a Christian 2001. 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:06.379 I'm so thankful that he didn't come back yet, that Jesus was patient, that he waited to save me, that he waited to save so many of you. 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:12.259 Actually, around the world, I think about 50,000 people become Christians each day. 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:20.700 50,000 people turning away from Islam and Hinduism and, you know, empty idols to the real God. 00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:21.779 Isn't that wonderful? 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:24.079 Well, Jesus just wants to save more people. 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.640 That's why he's delaying his judgment. 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:29.039 He's delaying the full fulfillment. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:31.639 I hope you see the point, right? 00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:33.039 There's a reason for the delay. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.440 There's a reason. 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:40.579 And maybe you're here, by the way, if you're not a Christian and you may wonder, why is the world like this? 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:43.000 Well, because Jesus is waiting for you. 00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:48.099 You know, he has died to make forgiveness possible and he's extending his hand to you. 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.319 Come back to me. 00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:50.119 I made you. 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.759 I love you. 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.579 But you've turned away. 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:57.119 Come back to me and find new life and eternity with me later. 00:25:57.119 --> 00:26:00.500 And maybe that's why Jesus isn't here yet, because of you. 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:02.379 So why don't you turn to him today? 00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:07.879 But, of course, for us who are Christians, we've done that. 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.399 What should we be doing? 00:26:10.659 --> 00:26:12.079 We want Jesus to come back. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:20.059 Well, Peter says a few verses later, he says this really interesting thing, right? 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:26.899 He says, since all these things are just to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in all holiness and godliness? 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:29.879 Waiting for and hastening the day of God. 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.159 He says, make it come more. 00:26:32.419 --> 00:26:33.879 Why don't you make it come more quickly? 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.839 Which seems kind of weird, right? 00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:38.799 Surely Jesus decides when he's going to come back. 00:26:39.479 --> 00:26:41.379 How can we make it come more quickly? 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:46.219 Well, because there's a job to be done, right? 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:48.759 That's Acts 1 verse 8, right? 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.200 What is the job? 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:53.440 Well, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:59.039 And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.279 That first finished the job. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:02.879 And then Jesus comes. 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.319 That's basically it, right? 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.159 Like my kids. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:11.079 They want to see the newest episode of some series that we're following, like Loki or something. 00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:14.599 Well, first finish your homework and then you can watch, right? 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.039 First finish your job. 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.519 That's the thing. 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.779 Jesus wants to come back. 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.679 But there's a job to be done, right? 00:27:21.679 --> 00:27:22.700 There's people to be saved. 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:29.480 And so if we want Jesus to come back, let's get on with the job, basically. 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:32.500 I mean, not that we, you know, why do we share the gospel? 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:34.880 Well, we want my life to be easier. 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:38.500 That's not the, you know, there's love for people and the glory of God. 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.640 But basically that's it, right? 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:41.440 That is what Jesus is doing now. 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.500 He is saving people. 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.980 Jesus is, I mean, he's doing lots of things. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.120 He's ruling the universe. 00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:47.900 He's interceding for us. 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:51.799 But also he is in the world active saving his people. 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:53.539 And what are we going to do? 00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.619 Are we just going to stand there? 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.879 Okay, Jesus, come on. 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:56.960 Hurry up. 00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.220 No, right? 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:00.440 You roll up your sleeves and we get involved. 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:02.879 That is what Jesus wants us to do. 00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:04.139 To witness to him. 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.019 To share the gospel. 00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:08.779 To, you know, help the world know Jesus. 00:28:08.919 --> 00:28:12.799 So that, yeah, all the people Jesus wants to save are saved. 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:13.919 Yeah. 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:18.159 So, you know, and we can do that, right? 00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:21.139 You will receive power when the Spirit comes upon you. 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:23.140 Yeah, the Spirit does lots of things. 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:24.720 Yeah, helps us know God. 00:28:24.820 --> 00:28:25.780 It changes our hearts. 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.160 One big thing. 00:28:27.580 --> 00:28:28.440 We see it in Acts 2. 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:32.140 He gives us the power to share the gospel, right? 00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:35.100 He fills us so that we, you know, he helps us speak. 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:35.920 He gives us courage. 00:28:36.780 --> 00:28:38.140 The Spirit will do that. 00:28:38.560 --> 00:28:39.560 And he's been given. 00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:42.100 So, yeah, let's get on. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:44.320 So, you know, we have Explore in a few weeks. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:46.980 Are there people who you can invite to explore? 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:51.379 We'll have an afternoon service starting, especially evangelistic. 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.720 Come and bring people, right? 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:54.079 Talk to your colleagues. 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:55.460 Try to share the gospel, right? 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:57.159 That is what Jesus wants us to do. 00:28:57.160 --> 00:29:00.400 Take part in what he's doing now. 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:04.320 And not just around you, of course. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:09.120 You may wonder, well, is there a certain number of people that Jesus wants to save? 00:29:09.919 --> 00:29:11.319 I don't think we know that. 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:16.479 One thing we do know, well, he says here, to the ends of the earth. 00:29:17.239 --> 00:29:18.979 And make disciples of all nations. 00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:23.479 And so one thing he does want to do is reach every single people group around the world. 00:29:24.699 --> 00:29:27.639 That is not finished yet, definitely, right? 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:29.759 There's about 17,000 people groups. 00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:32.539 Maybe 7,000 of them are unreached. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.159 3,000 are not engaged. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:37.119 So here's a nice map. 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:43.419 These are all the people groups that kind of, you know, where there's hardly any Christians, 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:47.519 hardly any churches, where it's really hard, sometimes not even a missionary working there. 00:29:48.239 --> 00:29:52.579 They're mainly, people call that a 10-40 window, between 10 degrees and 40 degrees latitude. 00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:55.519 That's half the world's population. 00:29:56.419 --> 00:29:59.839 But they, yeah, it's really hard to get to know Jesus. 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:03.839 So why don't we pray for the gospel to go there? 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:06.839 Why don't we pray whether God wants to send us there? 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:10.479 And I know that sounds really hard, going on mission work. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:14.199 But as you heard, you know, life's going to be hard anyway, right? 00:30:14.659 --> 00:30:16.079 The curse hasn't been lifted yet. 00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:18.219 This is not the time to enjoy. 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:20.039 This is the time to work. 00:30:20.739 --> 00:30:25.959 So maybe, you know, you know what it's like to work in your office versus being a missionary. 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:27.620 Both of them are not easy. 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.720 So, yeah. 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:32.600 I hope you see this is what God is doing now. 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:33.840 This is what Jesus is doing. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:36.400 So let's take part in it. 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.920 Let's join him. 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:43.500 If you love him, if you're so thankful that Jesus waited for you, that Jesus reached out to you and saved you, 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:47.440 why don't we join him in what he's doing, how he's saving people? 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:51.500 And isn't it such an encouragement that we know there will be success? 00:30:52.320 --> 00:30:54.580 You know, we will see Jesus saving people. 00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:56.240 He will not let us suffer for nothing. 00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:59.620 He isn't here yet because he wants to save more people. 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:02.340 We know there's a purpose why we're still here. 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:05.000 Isn't that encouraging? 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:07.500 So let's be active. 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.640 Let's share the gospel. 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:13.759 Let's preach the gospel till your work on earth is done as we've been singing.