WEBVTT

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 Why are you here?

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 Why am I here?

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 I think that's been a question that I've been asking these last few days.

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! I've been asking the Lord, why did you bring us here to do what we need to do?

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 And what is it that we need to do?

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 Thank you.

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 He wants to stay in Asia, because probably that's where the best food is.

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 But then the Holy Spirit says, no, you have to go here.

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 Don't go here. Don't go here. You must go here.

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 And we're beneficiaries of that, because eventually it went to Europe.

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 Then it went to carry on to the West.

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 And I've always been really envious of that, because I, too, want to be told by God, exactly where do you need me to go?

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 Right? Don't we want that?

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 When you hear that voice saying, okay, go to this street corner, find the person who's wearing a red T-shirt, and tell them this secret word, and they will convert, and they will accept Jesus and live eternal life in heaven.

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 And I wish he would close doors for me.

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 Sometimes he doesn't close doors for me, and I keep going through doors, and I don't even know if they're the right one.

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 And on Friday, Christine and I had the most interesting experience.

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 Friday afternoon, we got news that my uncle was on his last few hours.

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 And a dear uncle, because he's probably, I'm not going to be here if his family weren't around us.

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 And my cousins called me, and they said, James, we don't know anything about the faith.

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 We don't know anything about the Bible.

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 What do we need to do?

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 What can we pray?

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 Thank you.

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 I'm going to try not to.

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 What can we do to pray for him so he's more comfortable?

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 They know who we are.

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 They know that we came to Hong Kong to serve God.

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 They don't know God.

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 But then they kept saying, but don't come.

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 We know that you're very busy.

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 Don't come.

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 We know you have work to do.

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 And I was like, screw that.

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 So anyway, I said, I'll try and come as soon as I can.

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 They don't know Jesus.

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 I'm like, Lord, if there's something that you can do with them, then please, I'll go.

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 So they're in China.

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 So they're in Guangzhou.

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 So I said, let's go.

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 I'll go.

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 Of course, I look online, trip.com.

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 The tickets are all sold out already.

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 I think it's just a busy week in Hong Kong.

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 So I said, OK, well, I can't get up then.

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 And then I sat down on the bed.

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 I was like, is that it?

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 Because the doctor said there's only a few more hours.

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 I said, Lord, if you want me to go and share the gospel with them, just tell me and I will go.

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 I'll walk up there.

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 I'll figure it out.

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 I sat down and couldn't find the tickets.

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 And then I was just reminded of my auntie, whose husband this is, who's just outside of our parents.

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 It's probably one of the most nearest and dearest to us.

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 I remember when our dad passed away at 17 in England.

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 This auntie had never even been to Japan.

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 I called her when I was 17.

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 I said, Dad's gone.

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 And she was like, I'm on my way.

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 And I remember she just flew to England.

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 And I sat on my bed on Friday.

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 And I was like, she did that for me.

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 I must go.

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 So I was like, forget it.

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 I'm going to go to West Calhoun Station.

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 So I went to West Calhoun Station, tried to get a ticket.

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 They said, no, it's sold out.

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 I said, well, I don't even need to sit.

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 I can just stand.

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 I'll just hang on the train.

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 Just let me hang on the train.

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 They said no.

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 And then I had to go home.

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 And I was like, I think that's how it feels.

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 You want to do something.

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 You feel that this is the right place to go.

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 And then God says no.

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 Anyway, I told Christina, I don't know.

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 I think that might be it.

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 I don't think I can go and pray for my uncle anymore.

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 And then she, who actually, funnily enough,

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 she was planning to go to Shenzhen herself with a group of ladies.

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 And she got turned away at the border because her visa ran out.

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 And that was completely our fault.

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 That was our neglect.

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 So she had to come back down.

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 So in the same evening, both of us were turned away from China.

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 And she just said, I think he'll still be around tomorrow.

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 The doctor said 3 p.m. Friday was when he was going to go.

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 I said, well, Lord, if you want me to share anything, something,

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 then can you keep him alive till tomorrow?

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 And, of course, in the evening, once we found out I couldn't go,

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 my auntie called me and said, yeah,

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 they're actually going to switch off the machine now.

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 And I said, well, okay.

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 I'm still coming tomorrow morning, and I know he's still going to be there.

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 And she was like, well, okay, let's just see.

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 I wake up in the morning, and actually, he is still around.

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 And so I go straight up.

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 By this point, he can't actually hear me.

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 But I'm just praying for him.

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 I'm just praying for him.

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 I'm reading John 14 over him.

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 I'm just doing everything I possibly can.

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 Do I think, just to be aware, this is,

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 I don't know if this is a good ending.

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 But I want you to know I'm trying.

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 I want you to try to share the gospel.

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 Because I was like, actually, it's not going to be me who converts him.

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 Only God.

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 Only the Holy Spirit.

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 But I have to do my part.

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 So, God, I'll try and knock on every door

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 and see if you will open it.

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 So I got there, and of course, part of me is like,

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 actually, I'm not going to even just think about him.

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 I'm going to think about my auntie.

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 I'm going to think about my cousins.

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 Because they're like, oh, I've been trying to pray for him.

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 I've been trying to get him to say the words.

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 I believe.

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 That's all.

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 But sadly, because it's China,

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 they've already set up the funeral arrangements.

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 There's not going to be a Christian one.

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 And she's like, oh, what's going to happen to him?

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 I said, I don't know.

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 That's out of my control.

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 I'm here just to obey.

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 I'm here just to follow, to do whatever I can.

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 So it doesn't feel nice.

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 And that's where the story ends.

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 And the reason why I'm a mess this morning

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 is because he passed this morning.

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 But I hope that my failure is an encouragement to you.

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 That there is a news that needs to be shared.

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 The question is, are we willing to hear?

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 Are we willing to obey?

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 Are we willing to follow?

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 Each of us has people in our lives

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 who need to know the love of Jesus,

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 need to know the good news of Jesus,

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 need to know that Jesus is the only one that can do it.

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 And maybe the Spirit is speaking to us and saying,

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 well, sometimes it's going to work.

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 Sometimes I'm going to close the door.

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 Sometimes you won't even get a ticket to get on the train.

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 But you do what the Lord asks you to.

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 And that's all you can do.

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 That's why I loved Acts 16.

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 So I guess when I was praying,

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 I've always been praying,

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 God, can you give me an Acts 16 experience?

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 And I guess he did.

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 He closed doors for me.

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 And it's at that point, then I go, well, okay.

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 How am I reacting to this?

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 Because how I react will tell me where I'm at.

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 How I react will tell me

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 whether I really do care about sharing the good news

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 or whether actually I'm still just doing it

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 just for my own comfort.

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 When you follow the Spirit,

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 as Gabe shared so well last week,

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 it's not about comfort.

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 It's not even about your own pleasure

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 and your own luxuries

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 or even your own impact for the kingdom.

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 It's for him.

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 How do you know it's the Holy Spirit?

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 Well, if the Holy Spirit is pointing you to share Jesus,

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 if he's pointing you to Jesus,

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 that's the Holy Spirit.

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 John 16a, when it says,

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 the Holy Spirit will come

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 and convict the world of sin and righteousness.

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 Would we be a people

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 who are willing to follow his Spirit

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 and that is actually it?

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 What if the Spirit was our only strategy?

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 I was talking to Caleb the other day.

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 We've been talking a lot about the Holy Spirit

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 because we're in the book of Acts

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 and you see how the church was born.

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 And it's all about,

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 it's Holy Spirit, would you follow?

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 Would you lead me?

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 I'll follow you anywhere.

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 Just tell me where to go.

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 Tell me what to do.

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 Tell me what to say.

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 Because I can't bring people to you myself.

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 I never have.

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 Well, I didn't come to you myself.

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 You came to me.

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 Last week, workend, we went around

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 because we were at a conference

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 to talk about stewardship and generosity

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 and how Christians should use their wealth.

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 And I was just so inspired by this one person.

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 I won't say the company,

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 but he's a big, big, big tech company in China.

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 The first name that comes to mind

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 is probably the one, that's the one.

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 And he's the chief strategy officer

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 who's a Christian.

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 And as he was sharing,

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 he was like, actually,

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 I'd be very open about my faith up there.

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 And he told me about one of the daily practices

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 and habits that he has,

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 which is every day before I go to work

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 as the chief strategy officer of this company,

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 but as a personal follower of Jesus Christ,

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 I say, Lord, I need your help.

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 Tell me where to go.

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 And every time he goes into a meeting,

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 every time he goes into a big strategy meeting,

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 he goes, God, what do you want me to say?

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 What do you want me to do?

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 I was just blown away.

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 I mean, for him, he said it so casually,

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 but I'm like, we are so engrossed in this world

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 in the way that we go about things.

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 We always need to have a plan.

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 We always need to have a strategy,

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 a three-year plan, a five-year plan,

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 a 10-year plan of what we need to do

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 to succeed, to bring impact.

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 And yet I have sitting inside in front of me,

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 a chief strategy officer

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 of one of the biggest companies in the world

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 saying, I'm reliant on the Holy Spirit.

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 That's it.

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 I was so inspired by him saying that.

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 It just hammers home the point once and again.

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 It's about what God is doing,

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 and we simply follow.

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 I've been inspired, actually, by some stories here.

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 Kelly shared with us a couple of weeks back

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 about just her being able to share the gospel

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 with people around her.

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 And in our group, Steph, I think I saw her somewhere,

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 she said the same thing.

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 She managed to speak to just people.

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 Can we just go to work?

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 Can we go to our next family dinner and go,

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 Holy Spirit, can you just do whatever you want to do?

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 And can you show me who I need to talk to

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 and what I need to say?

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 Can we be people that are so in tune with that,

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 to asking him to lead us?

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 Because I think that's all that's necessary.

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 And once we get there,

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 we do have to then learn how to speak to these people,

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 because you can't speak to everyone in the same way

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 because everyone is different.

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 That's why Paul here is the chosen instrument by God

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 because actually he contextualized so well.

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 One of my favorite passages in the scriptures

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 is 1 Corinthians 9,

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 where it says, well, it's actually the final part

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 is actually I discipline my body,

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 training it to do what it should,

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 lest after preaching to others,

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 I myself might be disqualified.

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 That's why I hold myself to this book

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 to such a high level,

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 because I'm saying I can't preach here

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 if I'm not following this,

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 because I might preach to you,

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 but if I'm not doing it,

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 if I'm not disciplined,

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 then I myself might be disqualified.

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 But that chapter is majestic

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 because earlier in the chapter,

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 Paul says this,

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 hey, to the Jews, I'm a Jew.

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 To the Greeks, I'm a Greek.

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 I become all things to all people

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 in order to save some.

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 That relentless mindset of going,

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 I will adapt myself to whatever it is,

00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:09.599
 whatever language you need to speak,

00:12:09.899 --> 00:12:11.419
 whatever culture you understand,

00:12:11.579 --> 00:12:13.259
 I want to bend myself to you

00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:14.939
 so that you would understand the gospel.

00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:15.660
 And even then,

00:12:15.800 --> 00:12:18.340
 I become all things to all people

00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:21.140
 in order to save some.

00:12:25.640 --> 00:12:26.860
 We see here today,

00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:29.180
 as we look at this scripture passage,

00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.480
 that Paul is exercising

00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:33.380
 that stretching muscle to the full.

00:12:33.900 --> 00:12:35.600
 You see him talking to Jews in one way,

00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:38.440
 and you see him talking to Greeks in another.

00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:42.220
 My prayer as we leave here later

00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:45.000
 is you'll be inspired to go,

00:12:45.060 --> 00:12:46.240
 actually, what's my context?

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:49.240
 What's the language I need to speak

00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:51.019
 to these colleagues,

00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:51.759
 to these friends,

00:12:51.920 --> 00:12:52.940
 to my family members

00:12:52.940 --> 00:12:54.740
 in a way that they will understand,

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.220
 but that the name of Jesus

00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:57.360
 still pierces through

00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:59.279
 into their hearts?

00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:00.820
 So with that,

00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:01.720
 can I invite you to stand?

00:13:02.340 --> 00:13:03.080
 And we're going to read

00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:03.840
 the word of the Lord together.

00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:05.899
 Sorry, Aaron,

00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:06.840
 I wasn't organized enough

00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:07.720
 to ask someone to read.

00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:09.019
 Would you mind reading for us?

00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:14.399
 Sorry, the passage is a little bit long,

00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:15.259
 but as I,

00:13:15.439 --> 00:13:16.000
 but you guys,

00:13:16.079 --> 00:13:16.439
 you guys,

00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:18.079
 I know that you guys can do it.

00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:20.279
 Acts chapter 17,

00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:21.199
 this is the word of the Lord.

00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:22.620
 The whole chapter.

00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.699
 Why don't we do,

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:29.259
 why don't we just do 16 to,

00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:30.279
 I think.

00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:34.259
 Acts chapter 17,

00:13:34.319 --> 00:13:35.860
 verse 16 to 34.

00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:37.580
 Now,

00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.620
 while Paul was waiting

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.759
 for them at Athens,

00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:42.000
 his spirit was provoked within him,

00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:43.259
 and he saw that the city

00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:44.159
 was full of idols.

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:46.379
 So he reasoned in the synagogue

00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:47.220
 with the Jews

00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:48.539
 and the devout persons

00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:49.759
 and in the marketplace

00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.919
 every day with those

00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:52.000
 who happened to be there.

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.279
 Some of the Epicurean

00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:55.680
 and Stoic philosophers

00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:57.519
 also conversed with him,

00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:58.680
 and some said,

00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:01.240
 what does this babbler wish to say?

00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:02.360
 Others said,

00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:03.399
 he seems to be a preacher

00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:04.659
 of foreign divinities,

00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:06.299
 because he was preaching

00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:08.679
 Jesus and the resurrection.

00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.579
 And they took him

00:14:10.579 --> 00:14:11.579
 and brought him

00:14:11.579 --> 00:14:13.480
 to the Arapagus,

00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:13.919
 saying,

00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:14.980
 may we know

00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:16.079
 what this new teaching is

00:14:16.079 --> 00:14:17.000
 that you are presenting,

00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.139
 for you bring

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.079
 some strange things

00:14:19.079 --> 00:14:19.719
 to our ears.

00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:21.100
 We wish to know,

00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:21.439
 therefore,

00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:22.519
 what these things mean.

00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.719
 Now all the Athenians

00:14:24.719 --> 00:14:25.500
 and the foreigners

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.319
 who lived there

00:14:26.319 --> 00:14:27.379
 would spend their time

00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:28.879
 in nothing except telling

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.039
 or hearing something new.

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:31.720
 So Paul,

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:32.779
 standing in the midst

00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:33.779
 of the Arapagus,

00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.319
 said,

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.519
 men of Athens,

00:14:35.699 --> 00:14:37.259
 I perceive that in every way

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:38.220
 you are very religious.

00:14:38.839 --> 00:14:40.199
 For as I passed along

00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.699
 and observed the objects

00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:42.360
 of your worship,

00:14:42.839 --> 00:14:44.240
 I found also an altar

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.139
 with this inscription,

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:47.000
 to the unknown God.

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.759
 What therefore you worship

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.539
 as unknown,

00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:51.439
 this I proclaim to you.

00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:53.120
 The God who made the world

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.179
 and everything in it,

00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:56.079
 being Lord of heaven and earth,

00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:57.639
 does not live in temples

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.439
 made by man,

00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:00.079
 nor is he served

00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:01.079
 by human hands

00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:02.560
 as though he needed anything,

00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:04.120
 since he himself

00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:05.820
 gives to all mankind life

00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:07.580
 and breath and everything.

00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:09.759
 And he made from one man

00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.040
 every nation of mankind

00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:12.620
 to live on all the face

00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:13.180
 of the earth,

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.580
 having determined

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.540
 allotted periods

00:15:15.540 --> 00:15:16.379
 and the boundaries

00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:17.960
 of their dwelling place,

00:15:18.400 --> 00:15:19.759
 that they should seek God

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.160
 and perhaps feel their way

00:15:21.160 --> 00:15:22.500
 toward him and find him.

00:15:23.520 --> 00:15:25.200
 Yet he is actually not far

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.440
 from each one of us,

00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:28.500
 for in him we live

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.760
 and move

00:15:29.760 --> 00:15:31.220
 and have our being,

00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:34.140
 as even some of your own poets

00:15:34.140 --> 00:15:34.660
 have said,

00:15:35.260 --> 00:15:37.160
 for we are indeed his offspring.

00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:40.140
 Being then God's offspring,

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.340
 we ought not to think

00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:42.400
 that the divine being

00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:43.300
 is like gold

00:15:43.300 --> 00:15:44.040
 or silver

00:15:44.040 --> 00:15:44.680
 or stone,

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.720
 an image formed

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.600
 by the art

00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:48.020
 and imagination of man.

00:15:48.800 --> 00:15:49.960
 The times of ignorance

00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.860
 God overlooked,

00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:52.400
 but now he commands

00:15:52.400 --> 00:15:53.560
 all people everywhere

00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:54.279
 to repent

00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:56.119
 because he has fixed a day

00:15:56.119 --> 00:15:57.179
 on which he will judge

00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:58.239
 the world in righteousness

00:15:58.239 --> 00:16:00.599
 by a man whom he has appointed.

00:16:01.579 --> 00:16:02.699
 And of this,

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.679
 he has given assurance

00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:04.239
 to all

00:16:04.239 --> 00:16:05.579
 by raising him from the dead.

00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:07.359
 Now when they heard

00:16:07.359 --> 00:16:07.979
 of the resurrection

00:16:07.979 --> 00:16:08.699
 of the dead,

00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:09.519
 some mocked,

00:16:09.959 --> 00:16:10.759
 but others said,

00:16:11.119 --> 00:16:12.259
 we will hear you again

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:12.939
 about this.

00:16:13.099 --> 00:16:13.919
 So Paul went out

00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:14.619
 from their midst,

00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:16.279
 but some men joined him

00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:16.939
 and believed,

00:16:17.579 --> 00:16:19.159
 among whom also were

00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:20.619
 Dionysus

00:16:20.619 --> 00:16:21.719
 and Arab Haggai

00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:23.720
 and a woman named Damaris

00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:25.000
 and others with them.

00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.720
 This is the word

00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.200
 of the Lord.

00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:28.820
 Praise be to God.

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.379
 Thank you, Aaron.

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.560
 Please take a seat.

00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:38.840
 So,

00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:41.960
 Paul starts to make

00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:43.440
 this journey

00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:44.360
 to Athens,

00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.740
 the cultural center,

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.620
 the cultural capital,

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.320
 not of Greece,

00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.040
 but of the world.

00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:50.779
 This is Athens,

00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:52.039
 not at its prime prime

00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:52.679
 because the Romans

00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:53.579
 had already taken over,

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.779
 but this is in terms

00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:55.839
 of cultural influence.

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.500
 They were still

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.600
 the most important city

00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:59.000
 in the world right now.

00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.819
 And it's really funny.

00:17:00.079 --> 00:17:00.079


00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.480
 Silent Timothy,

00:17:01.839 --> 00:17:03.360
 they are going to join him soon,

00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.660
 but Paul goes there

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.359
 first himself.

00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.299
 And we're actually going

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.359
 to just jump a little bit.

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:08.799
 It was actually

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.960
 the before part

00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:11.839
 in Thessalonica.

00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:13.160
 Paul does the same thing

00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:14.460
 as he does in every city

00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.099
 that he goes to.

00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:16.420
 He goes straight to the Jews.

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:17.399
 He goes straight to the synagogue.

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.639
 And he speaks to them

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.599
 in a very interesting way.

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.439
 At the beginning,

00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.259
 chapter 17,

00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.399
 verse 2,

00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:23.599
 1 and 2 and 3,

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.599
 you can see he goes

00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:24.859
 straight,

00:17:24.939 --> 00:17:25.099
 1,

00:17:25.219 --> 00:17:25.699
 first S,

00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.139
 he goes straight

00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:26.619
 to the synagogue.

00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.599
 Same thing that he does

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.039
 every time.

00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.019
 He goes to the synagogue

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.859
 and then actually

00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:31.179
 he spends three weeks there

00:17:31.179 --> 00:17:31.740
 because he spends

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.919
 three separate Sabbaths there.

00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:34.480
 So he spends three weeks

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.259
 on the Sabbath

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.119
 in the synagogue

00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.299
 talking to the Jews

00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.199
 and opening up

00:17:39.199 --> 00:17:39.719
 the scriptures.

00:17:40.439 --> 00:17:41.179
 So he's opening up

00:17:41.179 --> 00:17:41.480
 the scriptures.

00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.619
 So that's one way

00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.839
 of him contextualizing

00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:44.740
 because he knows

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.639
 what they believe.

00:17:45.959 --> 00:17:46.699
 He knows that they are

00:17:46.699 --> 00:17:47.919
 waiting for the Messiah.

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.320
 So all his job is to do

00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:50.560
 is open up this book,

00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:50.740
 well,

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.360
 half of this book,

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.019
 the Old Testament,

00:17:52.320 --> 00:17:52.740
 and he's saying,

00:17:52.820 --> 00:17:52.960
 hey,

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.340
 do you realize who it is?

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.060
 Do you realize

00:17:55.060 --> 00:17:55.900
 he's actually come?

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.700
 Do you realize

00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:58.420
 there's actually 300 prophecies

00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.600
 in the Old Testament

00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:00.480
 who are pointing

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:02.000
 to the person of Jesus?

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.000
 The fact that he would

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.320
 be born to a virgin.

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:05.220
 The fact that he would

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:06.560
 be born in Bethlehem.

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:07.560
 The fact that he would

00:18:07.560 --> 00:18:09.240
 be a descendant of David.

00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:10.180
 The fact that he would

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.900
 be pierced

00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:12.420
 and that is how he would die.

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.259
 The fact that he will

00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.160
 then rise again.

00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:16.100
 Do you realize

00:18:16.100 --> 00:18:17.440
 all these 300 prophecies

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.300
 are about him?

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.820
 It is him.

00:18:20.560 --> 00:18:21.360
 That's his message

00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:22.420
 to the Jews.

00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:24.360
 And it's one that,

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:24.660
 well,

00:18:24.840 --> 00:18:25.720
 they would have understood

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.580
 to a level

00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:27.240
 because they would have

00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:27.920
 known the scriptures.

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:28.800
 They just didn't know

00:18:28.800 --> 00:18:29.440
 who it was.

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.840
 So he was simply

00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:31.519
 just kind of

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.320
 pulling open the curtain

00:18:32.320 --> 00:18:32.640
 and saying,

00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:33.460
 this is it.

00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.580
 Follow him.

00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:35.279
 And of course,

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.380
 some believe

00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.200
 and then others

00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:37.700
 set a mob

00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.440
 and actually go and

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.660
 try and beat these people

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.360
 out of the city

00:18:40.360 --> 00:18:41.279
 and that's what they do.

00:18:41.540 --> 00:18:41.820
 Jason,

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.720
 who hosts them,

00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.960
 also gets into trouble.

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.519
 He ends up having

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.220
 to pay them money

00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:46.000
 so they can go

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.400
 so you can see there.

00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.400
 And then afterwards,

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.360
 they go to another place

00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:50.720
 and from there in Berea,

00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.680
 they do the same thing.

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.480
 They go to the Jews.

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.440
 They open up the scriptures.

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.319
 This group of Jews

00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:54.680
 are better.

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.759
 They actually open up

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.440
 the Bible with them

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:56.640
 and go,

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:56.840
 okay,

00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.000
 well,

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:59.319
 this is verse 11.

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.360
 They receive the word

00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:01.079
 from all eagerness,

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.180
 examining the scriptures

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.059
 daily to see

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.980
 if these things were so.

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.640
 So basically,

00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:04.900
 they say,

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.100
 oh,

00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.340
 okay,

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:05.819
 all right,

00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.539
 that makes sense.

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.220
 Okay,

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.100
 I guess that is,

00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:08.980
 I guess Jesus

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.759
 couldn't have chosen

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.960
 that he would be born

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.440
 to a virgin.

00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:12.700
 He couldn't have chosen

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:14.539
 to be born in Bethlehem.

00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:15.500
 Who got to choose

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.100
 where they were born?

00:19:16.580 --> 00:19:17.080
 No one.

00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:17.700
 So they're like,

00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:17.840
 oh,

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.039
 okay,

00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:19.000
 this starts to make sense.

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:19.519
 Again,

00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:20.559
 so some Jews responded,

00:19:20.820 --> 00:19:21.660
 but then another group

00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.880
 left every time.

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:23.820
 Honestly,

00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.539
 that's what they gave me

00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.320
 the courage this time

00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:26.340
 as I was going up

00:19:26.340 --> 00:19:26.820
 to my,

00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.080
 who,

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:27.460
 of course,

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.620
 very deeply loved

00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.120
 by my family,

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:29.600
 but I was like,

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.160
 I don't know

00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:30.840
 if they will actually

00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:32.259
 receive this message well.

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:34.440
 And it happened

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.720
 to the very last moment

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.519
 in bed

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:38.359
 when my family

00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:38.700
 was saying,

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.000
 oh,

00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.740
 he's going to be

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.240
 with your dad.

00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:46.619
 And then he's like,

00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:46.799
 oh,

00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:47.940
 how can I not

00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.319
 go to the temple?

00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:50.240
 So good.

00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:52.180
 So good.

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.299
 So good.

00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:56.599
 Your uncle's going to go

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.220
 and be with your dad.

00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.859
 It'll be fine.

00:19:58.920 --> 00:19:59.359
 He's such a good,

00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:00.680
 he was such a good person.

00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:03.680
 In that moment,

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.559
 for me just to go,

00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:05.319
 oh,

00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:08.720
 I actually don't think

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.099
 he will.

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.839
 Because he needs to

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.160
 recognize that he needs

00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:15.519
 Jesus.

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:17.839
 Can you imagine

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.299
 if it was just,

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:18.460
 oh,

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.180
 if it's a good person

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:19.779
 that gets to go?

00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.099
 If you're just nice

00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:22.839
 and if you were kind,

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.619
 then that's enough.

00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:26.099
 For me to be able

00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:26.480
 just to go,

00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:26.640
 no,

00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.559
 I think the only way

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.440
 he's going to get there

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:30.740
 is if he recognizes

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.599
 he needs Jesus.

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:34.879
 Of course,

00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:35.579
 the easier thing

00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:36.059
 at that point

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.319
 to say,

00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:36.480
 yeah,

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:36.799
 of course,

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.839
 he's going to a better place.

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:40.000
 He was good.

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.879
 Everyone speaks highly of him.

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.960
 But that's not the message,

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.299
 is it?

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.220
 That's not the Christian message.

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:47.059
 The Christian message

00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:48.799
 isn't if you are good enough

00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:50.480
 and kind enough,

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:52.079
 you will go to heaven.

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:53.140
 That's not the message.

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:55.579
 We don't need a cross for that.

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:58.039
 We don't need Jesus for that.

00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:00.379
 The Christian message

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.659
 is someone who's willing

00:21:01.659 --> 00:21:02.159
 to say,

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.759
 I need a savior.

00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.659
 And that savior

00:21:07.659 --> 00:21:09.240
 is Jesus.

00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:12.700
 It's funny because

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:14.099
 time and time again

00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:15.039
 in this book of Acts,

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.559
 the Christians had a chance.

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.099
 Actually,

00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.799
 the Romans were like,

00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:18.000
 look,

00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.039
 stop talking about

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.460
 the resurrection.

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:23.259
 Just keep Jesus

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.119
 as a nice man,

00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:24.879
 a good man,

00:21:25.280 --> 00:21:26.000
 a prophet even,

00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:27.760
 who spoke on behalf of God.

00:21:28.040 --> 00:21:28.800
 Keep him there,

00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.100
 but don't talk about

00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:30.640
 the resurrection

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.760
 and we'll let you continue.

00:21:32.760 --> 00:21:33.520
 And then the Christian's like,

00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:33.720
 no,

00:21:33.780 --> 00:21:34.540
 that's the only thing

00:21:34.540 --> 00:21:35.340
 we hang our hat on.

00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:37.060
 That Jesus is the son of God

00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:37.540
 that he died

00:21:37.540 --> 00:21:38.680
 and now he rose again.

00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.540
 And I wouldn't need

00:21:39.540 --> 00:21:40.140
 to die for that.

00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:41.240
 You might want to allow me

00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:42.440
 to live by just compromising

00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:42.920
 my message,

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.820
 but that's the only thing

00:21:44.820 --> 00:21:45.300
 that matters.

00:21:46.060 --> 00:21:47.160
 That he put death to death.

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.700
 Do we have the courage

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.780
 to actually stand up

00:21:51.780 --> 00:21:52.040
 and go,

00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:52.300
 wait,

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:54.400
 there's something wrong here.

00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:54.720
 Of course,

00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:55.980
 Paul time and time again

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:57.700
 seems to just be relentless,

00:21:58.560 --> 00:22:00.580
 focused on what his message was.

00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:02.060
 And so then he gets kicked out

00:22:02.060 --> 00:22:02.620
 of another town

00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:03.400
 and another town

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.480
 and by verse 16,

00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:05.840
 he finally goes to Athens.

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.440
 While he's in Athens,

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:09.960
 he's waiting for Timothy and Silas.

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.980
 So we're now in verse 16

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.800
 if you're following along.

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.880
 While he's walking around

00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.640
 and waiting for them.

00:22:15.040 --> 00:22:16.040
 So he's probably waiting,

00:22:16.320 --> 00:22:17.160
 maybe grabbing some food,

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.340
 walking around the city,

00:22:18.820 --> 00:22:19.080
 seeing,

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.600
 and then this line comes.

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:22.040
 His spirit was provoked

00:22:22.040 --> 00:22:22.560
 within him

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.819
 as he saw that the city

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:25.740
 was full of idols.

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:27.879
 Provoked,

00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.259
 the word there is distressed.

00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.480
 The word there is sudden,

00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:31.839
 violent emotion.

00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:33.240
 He walks around in Athens

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.480
 and sees the different temples

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.899
 and sees the different statues

00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:38.139
 and he has this sudden moment

00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:38.940
 of emotion

00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:39.679
 that is violent

00:22:39.679 --> 00:22:40.500
 and distressed

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:42.099
 and devastated.

00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:45.219
 Why?

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:47.939
 Because he looks

00:22:47.939 --> 00:22:48.740
 and he sees

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.599
 this whole city,

00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:50.939
 this cultural capital

00:22:50.939 --> 00:22:52.000
 of the world

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.299
 is worshipping anything

00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:54.740
 but God.

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.339
 It's filled

00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.619
 with idols.

00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.519
 So again,

00:22:59.659 --> 00:23:00.299
 he does the thing

00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.019
 that he always does

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.859
 and goes straight

00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.399
 to the synagogue

00:23:02.399 --> 00:23:03.799
 and then he speaks

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.279
 with the Jews.

00:23:04.959 --> 00:23:05.339
 Like guys,

00:23:05.419 --> 00:23:05.679
 come on.

00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.240
 This is it.

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:06.839
 Hey,

00:23:06.919 --> 00:23:07.699
 I know the scriptures

00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:08.379
 better than you.

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:09.259
 I promise you,

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.019
 I've met him

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:11.960
 and now I'll go through

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.019
 every passage of scripture

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.480
 with you

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.900
 but Jesus is him.

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.000
 But he doesn't just

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:18.000
 stop there this time.

00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:19.440
 He goes into a place

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.200
 called the Agora

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.680
 which is the marketplace.

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.400
 He doesn't stay

00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:23.900
 in the synagogue.

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:25.079
 He doesn't stay there.

00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.039
 He goes out

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.799
 into the marketplace

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.339
 and he speaks there

00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.400
 and that's when he meets

00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:30.599
 a group of interesting people.

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.299
 Verse 18,

00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.259
 some of the Epicurean

00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.259
 and Stoic philosophers

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:35.259
 also converse with him.

00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:36.259
 The Epicurean

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.559
 and Stoic philosophers,

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.599
 let's just maybe

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:40.879
 a modern equivalent.

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:41.740
 The Epicureans

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.140
 were the ones,

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.680
 you'd call them

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.319
 the hedonists,

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.039
 the ones who just

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.740
 live for pleasure,

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.940
 maximize pleasure,

00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:47.019
 avoid pain,

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:48.680
 live life to the best now

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.500
 and so they're trying

00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.519
 to just molt

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.539
 their whole lifestyle

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.640
 around this philosophy

00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.960
 is just enjoy

00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:55.379
 as much as you can now.

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.019
 So that was them.

00:23:56.379 --> 00:23:56.859
 Next to them

00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:57.559
 were the Stoics

00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:58.519
 who were a different group.

00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.779
 They would be like

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.500
 equivalent to the

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.660
 modern determinists

00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.079
 who say,

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:02.859
 who actually just want

00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.539
 to seek control.

00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:04.700
 They believe

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.299
 that actually when

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.240
 you do this,

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.200
 this will happen.

00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:08.080
 When you do this,

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.200
 this will happen.

00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:10.460
 They are much more traditional,

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.580
 much more strict

00:24:11.580 --> 00:24:12.039
 in the way

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.980
 they live their lives

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.120
 and so you have

00:24:14.120 --> 00:24:15.200
 these two different

00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:16.160
 camps of people

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.700
 in this agora,

00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:18.799
 in this marketplace

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:21.480
 and it's fascinating.

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.860
 Paul comes to them,

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.940
 engages with these philosophers.

00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.360
 Remember,

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.220
 the Greek philosophers

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.039
 were just,

00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.980
 they were used to debating,

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.819
 used to discussing

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.220
 these things

00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:32.080
 and Paul comes

00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:32.880
 and he says one thing,

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:33.340
 verse 18,

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.299
 he was preaching Jesus

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.099
 and the resurrection.

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.539
 Armed with nothing

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.180
 but the fact

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.059
 that who Jesus was,

00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:39.559
 what he did,

00:24:39.919 --> 00:24:40.480
 that he died

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.220
 and then he rose again.

00:24:41.919 --> 00:24:42.480
 And so they go,

00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:43.599
 who is this guy?

00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.659
 What does this babbler

00:24:44.659 --> 00:24:45.259
 wish to say?

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.359
 It looks like he's preaching

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.279
 about a foreign god.

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.680
 And so then they took him

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.279
 to this place,

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:49.899
 verse 19,

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:50.779
 Areopagus,

00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:51.859
 which is basically

00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.659
 a court of law.

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.079


00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.859
 if anyone has been to London,

00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.440
 it's probably like,

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.019
 a little bit like

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.720
 the speaker's corner

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.960
 where people can actually

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.240
 debate philosophies

00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.759
 and argue

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:01.339
 and discuss all these things.

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:02.079
 The only difference

00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:02.980
 is this court

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.559
 actually had even more authority.

00:25:04.959 --> 00:25:05.919
 Speaker's Corner in London

00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:07.179
 just has a bunch of tourists

00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:08.240
 who are hearing people argue.

00:25:08.699 --> 00:25:10.059
 But this Areopagus

00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:10.879
 is where actually

00:25:10.879 --> 00:25:12.019
 the greatest minds

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.799
 all get together

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:14.000
 and exchange ideas

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.500
 and discuss and debate.

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:15.759
 They say,

00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.740
 we would like to hear more

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.740
 about this God.

00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.839
 We're going to take you there

00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.839
 and we're going to have you

00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.939
 speak to us there.

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:21.579
 And so,

00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.459
 verse 22,

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.899
 Paul preaches

00:25:24.899 --> 00:25:26.659
 one of the most powerful

00:25:26.659 --> 00:25:28.039
 contextualized sermons

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:29.299
 that he's done so far.

00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.000
 Remember,

00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:30.839
 up until this point,

00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.659
 he's talking to the Jews.

00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:32.419
 He's saying,

00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.059
 he's talking about

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.639
 the Old Testament,

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.279
 he's talking about

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:34.779
 the prophecies

00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.539
 and he's pointing them

00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:35.980
 to Jesus,

00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.319
 talking about the Messiah.

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.379
 Here,

00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.319
 you can see his sermon

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.460
 completely changes.

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:42.059
 Completely changes

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.279
 and it's almost

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.919
 word feeding again

00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:44.460
 but we'll do it

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.079
 bit by bit.

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.500
 Men of Athens,

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.740
 I perceive that

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.480
 in every way

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:50.819
 you are very religious.

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.059
 For as I passed along

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.000
 and observed the objects

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.619
 of your worship,

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.740
 I found also an altar

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.519
 with this inscription

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:57.519
 to the unknown God.

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.579
 What's the first thing

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:58.940
 he does?

00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.379
 When he gets to Athens

00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:00.940
 and he's waiting

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.579
 for his bros,

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.639
 he's going on a walk,

00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.680
 he's going on a prayer walk

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.399
 and looking around

00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.759
 then he gets very distressed

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.980
 at seeing all these statues

00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.740
 and all these temples

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.159
 and idols

00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:09.299
 and now he's finally

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.980
 given a place

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:11.319
 to address this

00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:12.240
 and so they give him

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.019
 a space to speak

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.619
 and he says,

00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.319
 men of Athens,

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.559
 I can see that actually

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.619
 you are very religious.

00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.299
 You have gods

00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.619
 around everywhere.

00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.419
 Again,

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.259
 the cultural center

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.059
 of the world here

00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:23.599
 had a god for everything.

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.519
 Aries,

00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:25.319
 the god of war

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.159
 and thunder.

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:26.940
 You had the god

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.399
 of fertility,

00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.000
 you had the god

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.539
 of agriculture,

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:28.839
 you had,

00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:30.759
 think of a god,

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.339
 you name it,

00:26:31.399 --> 00:26:31.819
 they've got it.

00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:32.599
 It's just like Taobao.

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.920
 So you have everything

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:35.240
 is right here.

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.899
 And then he says

00:26:37.899 --> 00:26:38.500
 this one thing.

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.240
 He says,

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.019
 but I noticed

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.059
 there was one statue

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:42.559
 that I want to talk about.

00:26:42.899 --> 00:26:43.700
 I'm going to use that

00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.639
 as my entry point

00:26:44.639 --> 00:26:45.720
 for my sermon

00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:47.220
 to contextualize

00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:48.079
 so you understand

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.039
 who this Jesus is.

00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:51.019
 I see that you have

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:52.220
 an inscription for one statue

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.000
 which you just called

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.799
 the unknown god.

00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:54.839
 You don't even know

00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.519
 who that god is.

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.139
 Well,

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.779
 why is that god,

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.799
 why is that statue

00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.619
 there in the first place?

00:26:59.639 --> 00:27:00.139
 Because they had

00:27:00.139 --> 00:27:00.960
 so many gods.

00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.680
 The one thing

00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.259
 that they wanted

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.799
 to make sure

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.359
 is that they would

00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.399
 appease and satisfy

00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:05.159
 every god.

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.259
 So they didn't want

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.379
 any god to have FOMO

00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.700
 and so they just

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.399
 put a god there

00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:09.559
 and said,

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:09.779
 okay,

00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:10.059
 well,

00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.119
 everyone else,

00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:13.659
 if we missed your name,

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.119
 apologies,

00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.659
 we worship you.

00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:17.039
 It's kind of why

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.759
 that god is there.

00:27:18.739 --> 00:27:19.859
 And so he used that

00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.599
 as his entry point

00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:20.799
 and said,

00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:20.919
 hey,

00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:21.479
 I want to talk to you

00:27:21.479 --> 00:27:21.959
 about that god.

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:24.179
 You don't know that god

00:27:24.179 --> 00:27:25.939
 but can I introduce you

00:27:25.939 --> 00:27:26.239
 to him

00:27:26.239 --> 00:27:27.079
 because he knows you.

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.059
 Isn't that clever?

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.679
 Isn't that a clever way

00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:31.839
 to introduce himself

00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:33.119
 into this context

00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:35.019
 to talk to these people?

00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:37.759
 I remember as a,

00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:39.219
 I think I would have been

00:27:39.219 --> 00:27:40.039
 maybe 20 years old

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.759
 when the Da Vinci Code

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.079
 came out

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.480
 and I've shared

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.179
 this story sometimes.

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:43.659
 I was just,

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.079
 okay,

00:27:44.179 --> 00:27:44.859
 so I grew up

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:46.039
 in a university time

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.899
 where apologetics

00:27:46.899 --> 00:27:47.480
 was a real,

00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:47.879
 like,

00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:48.859
 real hot topic.

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.539
 It was really fun

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.699
 to debate and argue

00:27:50.699 --> 00:27:52.500
 and discuss about apologetics.

00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.559
 I think that's kind of

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.480
 lessened a little bit

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.699
 because people care

00:27:55.699 --> 00:27:56.379
 less what you think

00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:56.899
 and care whether

00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:57.839
 just whether you care.

00:27:58.859 --> 00:28:00.339
 And so I remember

00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.299
 using the Da Vinci Code.

00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:02.159
 It was just my way

00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:02.460
 to talk.

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:02.740
 I mean,

00:28:03.159 --> 00:28:03.679
 I guess I don't have

00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:04.139
 any more friends

00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:05.059
 from university anymore

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.579
 but maybe I'll reflect

00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:06.960
 on that.

00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.759
 But I remember

00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.419
 going to my friends

00:28:09.419 --> 00:28:09.539
 and saying,

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:09.659
 hey,

00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:09.980
 have you watched

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.539
 the Da Vinci Code?

00:28:11.399 --> 00:28:11.759
 And they said,

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.180
 yeah,

00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.379
 yeah.

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.299
 And of course,

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.180
 during that time,

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.740
 people were actually,

00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.960
 I think Dan Brown's right.

00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:17.139
 I was like,

00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:17.879
 Dan Brown's just

00:28:17.879 --> 00:28:18.639
 a fictional writer.

00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.680
 What's he right about?

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:20.700
 Well,

00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.500
 I think there might

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:21.899
 be something.

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.599
 I think Jesus got married

00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.039
 and did this

00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.480
 and this and this

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:24.700
 and this.

00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:25.519
 I was like,

00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.359
 that's a lot of faith

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:27.099
 that you need to have

00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.559
 to believe what Dan Brown said.

00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.339
 But I remember

00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.259
 that was my entry point.

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:32.460
 I was like,

00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:33.319
 have you read it?

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.240
 Have you watched the movie?

00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:36.240
 Tom Hanks is pretty good

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.639
 in the movie.

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.920
 Well,

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:38.360
 actually,

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:38.720
 by the way,

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:40.220
 are you actually religious?

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.020
 I go to church.

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.920
 I don't believe that

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.980
 because that's written

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.680
 by a human.

00:28:48.060 --> 00:28:49.140
 But I believe this book,

00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:50.060
 which is written by God.

00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:53.240
 It was just a great season

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.359
 for me in learning

00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.359
 how to defend the faith,

00:28:55.419 --> 00:28:56.319
 how to talk about

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.000
 these things.

00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.519
 Culturally now,

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.019
 I think we're in

00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.599
 a different place.

00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:02.039
 And I want us to think

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:03.039
 about your context.

00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:04.399
 My question at the very beginning,

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.359
 why are you here

00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:06.500
 and why has God placed

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.779
 the people that are around you?

00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:10.279
 What do they need to hear?

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:11.619
 So anyway,

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:14.359
 he finds this unknown God

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:14.839
 and he says,

00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:15.819
 let me tell you

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.679
 about this God.

00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.359
 And he doubles down.

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:18.639
 He says,

00:29:18.679 --> 00:29:19.659
 my God is bigger than yours.

00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:20.519
 My God,

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.300
 he goes,

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:21.759
 he says,

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.340
 let's see,

00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.860
 the God who made the world.

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.759
 So you have a God

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:26.460
 that kind of made reproduction.

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.240
 You've got his God

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.000
 who makes the kind of

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.080
 all these other things

00:29:29.080 --> 00:29:29.660
 that you worship.

00:29:30.080 --> 00:29:30.740
 Can I just say,

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:32.140
 my God just made all of it.

00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:35.180
 The God who made the world

00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:35.860
 and everything in it,

00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:37.400
 being Lord and heaven and earth,

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.420
 does not live in temples

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.120
 made by man

00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:39.980
 like your ones do,

00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.960
 nor is he served

00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.779
 by human hands

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:43.640
 as though he needed anything

00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.460
 since he himself

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.259
 gives to all mankind

00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.279
 life and breath

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.980
 and everything.

00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:48.400
 He's like,

00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:48.840
 your gods,

00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:50.339
 your gods demand

00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.119
 everything from you

00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:52.519
 but give out very little to you.

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.619
 Your gods want you

00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.299
 to serve them

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:57.019
 with a promise

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.779
 of something

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.779
 but it doesn't really happen.

00:29:59.179 --> 00:30:00.679
 My God created everything,

00:30:00.939 --> 00:30:01.480
 gives you everything,

00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.359
 doesn't even need you

00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:03.259
 to serve him

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:04.019
 because actually

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.379
 what you will serve him with

00:30:05.379 --> 00:30:06.439
 came from him anyway.

00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:07.480
 It's kind of like

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:09.139
 a parent and a baby child.

00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.399
 My God is different

00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:13.379
 to yours.

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:15.040
 I want to pause here

00:30:15.040 --> 00:30:15.920
 and just segue a little bit

00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:16.480
 and ask you,

00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:18.440
 if you walk around

00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.320
 the city of Hong Kong,

00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:20.920
 what are the idols

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:22.500
 that you see?

00:30:24.280 --> 00:30:25.220
 What are the idols

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.460
 that you see

00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.340
 in Hong Kong?

00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:30.020
 Maybe I'll make it

00:30:30.020 --> 00:30:30.740
 a little bit more awkward

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:32.180
 just to buy me some time

00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:32.960
 to gather my thoughts.

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.300
 Can you talk to the person

00:30:34.300 --> 00:30:34.920
 next to you

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:37.120
 and share the first idol

00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:37.880
 that comes to mind

00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:39.100
 that you see

00:30:39.100 --> 00:30:39.840
 as you imagine

00:30:39.840 --> 00:30:41.100
 walking where you're walking?

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.279
 What is the idol

00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.339
 that you see in Hong Kong?

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.939
 30 seconds, go.

00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:17.639
 Another 15 seconds.

00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.599
 If the other person

00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.419
 hasn't said one yet,

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.439
 then make them say one.

00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:48.939
 All right,

00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.539
 that's all we got.

00:31:52.679 --> 00:31:53.459
 That's all we got.

00:31:54.639 --> 00:31:55.240
 Looking around,

00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:55.879
 Dr. Arrow.

00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.619
 Avoiding eye contact

00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:58.399
 with me, Dr. Arrow.

00:32:00.679 --> 00:32:02.019
 Arrow's in my life group

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.679
 and I've learned

00:32:02.679 --> 00:32:03.539
 to love him so much

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:05.359
 and he also hates speaking

00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.839
 to anyone, actually.

00:32:08.639 --> 00:32:09.299
 What's an idol

00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.579
 that Janice brought up,

00:32:10.699 --> 00:32:10.859
 shared?

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:14.859
 Money.

00:32:16.719 --> 00:32:17.299
 Of course,

00:32:17.439 --> 00:32:18.019
 that's the one

00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:19.219
 that rules all of Hong Kong,

00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.459
 right?

00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.399
 Especially if you walk

00:32:20.399 --> 00:32:21.959
 through Central and Admiralty.

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:22.899
 Of course, again,

00:32:23.179 --> 00:32:24.099
 money itself is not

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:24.819
 the problem, right?

00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.379
 What's the problem?

00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:27.759
 The love of money

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.959
 is the rule of all evil.

00:32:29.419 --> 00:32:29.919
 If anyone wants

00:32:29.919 --> 00:32:30.480
 to talk about that,

00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.119
 Roger's the person

00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:31.859
 to talk about that with,

00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:32.079
 okay?

00:32:32.379 --> 00:32:33.679
 He's dedicated

00:32:33.679 --> 00:32:35.240
 his life

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.199
 towards this topic.

00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:37.679
 Money.

00:32:37.679 --> 00:32:38.240
 Jesus talked

00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:39.119
 most about money

00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:40.199
 because he realized

00:32:40.199 --> 00:32:40.679
 this whole,

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:42.080
 that it has on us.

00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.299
 When we turn

00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:44.000
 a good thing

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:44.600
 into God,

00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:45.799
 that good thing

00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.680
 turns into a bad thing.

00:32:47.340 --> 00:32:48.039
 When we turn

00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.420
 a good thing

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:48.820
 into God,

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.320
 that good thing

00:32:49.320 --> 00:32:50.220
 turns into a bad thing,

00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:50.900
 right?

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.360
 Money is huge.

00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.600
 Well, it's the thing

00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:54.060
 apparently

00:32:54.060 --> 00:32:55.299
 that makes the world

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:55.759
 go around

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:57.660
 and you see this everywhere.

00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.500
 I mean,

00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:00.720
 the Chinese culture

00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.400
 may be what struggles

00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:02.480
 the most of all

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.240
 with gambling.

00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:04.720
 Money,

00:33:04.879 --> 00:33:05.700
 when we talk about money,

00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.240
 everything is,

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.400
 did we pay too much

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:07.720
 for this?

00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.559
 How do we get this

00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:09.920
 the cheapest

00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.799
 as we possibly can?

00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:12.500
 Right?

00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.400
 We're nodding

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:13.779
 and we're like,

00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:15.000
 that's just a righteous pursuit.

00:33:16.339 --> 00:33:17.119
 That's why we all

00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:17.740
 go to Shenzhen.

00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:21.400
 Money.

00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:25.040
 But how much

00:33:25.040 --> 00:33:25.460
 of that money

00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:27.240
 is a poverty mindset?

00:33:29.320 --> 00:33:29.880
 How much

00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:30.300
 of that money

00:33:30.300 --> 00:33:31.080
 is just rooted

00:33:31.080 --> 00:33:32.880
 in this mindset

00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.360
 that actually

00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:34.480
 I don't have enough?

00:33:35.540 --> 00:33:36.360
 How much of this

00:33:36.360 --> 00:33:37.420
 is just in a mindset

00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:37.720
 of just,

00:33:37.800 --> 00:33:38.519
 oh my goodness,

00:33:39.100 --> 00:33:41.480
 I need to keep saving more

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.280
 for that rainy day.

00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:43.019
 I was convicted

00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:43.540
 by Paul

00:33:43.540 --> 00:33:44.880
 maybe a while ago.

00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:45.940
 Paul has this running joke

00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:46.300
 with me

00:33:46.300 --> 00:33:46.980
 because he knows

00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.700
 one of my idols

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:49.800
 is the refusal

00:33:49.800 --> 00:33:50.700
 to pay for parking.

00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:51.800
 Like,

00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:52.280
 it just,

00:33:52.380 --> 00:33:52.900
 it just,

00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:54.440
 it ruins my whole day,

00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.060
 it ruins my life

00:33:55.060 --> 00:33:55.880
 because I'm just thinking,

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.759
 how do I,

00:33:56.840 --> 00:33:57.580
 how much money

00:33:57.580 --> 00:33:58.460
 do I need to spend

00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.400
 so that I can

00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:00.140
 redeem free parking?

00:34:00.600 --> 00:34:01.320
 And I'll spend

00:34:01.320 --> 00:34:02.060
 up to $1,000

00:34:02.060 --> 00:34:03.580
 so I can avoid

00:34:03.580 --> 00:34:04.840
 paying the $30 parking.

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.860
 I am that person.

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.860
 And one time,

00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.079
 Paul walking with me

00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:09.660
 as we were doing

00:34:09.660 --> 00:34:10.079
 this journey,

00:34:10.220 --> 00:34:11.079
 I think he probably

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.720
 doesn't even remember this,

00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.860
 but he says many

00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.599
 nasty things to me,

00:34:13.660 --> 00:34:14.440
 but this one he said,

00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.559
 he was like,

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.579
 are you poor?

00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.579
 Are we poor?

00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:21.179
 I was like,

00:34:21.239 --> 00:34:21.360
 well,

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:21.900
 I don't,

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.219
 no,

00:34:22.319 --> 00:34:22.500
 no,

00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:23.759
 but parking!

00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:25.860
 It's,

00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:26.299
 I,

00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:26.900
 well,

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.380
 because it's

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.119
 cleaning detergents.

00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:28.779
 Have you met my wife?

00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:29.199
 Like,

00:34:29.259 --> 00:34:30.000
 it's cleaning detergents,

00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:30.400
 it's tissue,

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.519
 it's household things.

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:31.719
 I'm like,

00:34:31.759 --> 00:34:32.219
 if I'm going to spend

00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:32.779
 the money anyway,

00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.639
 I might as well spend money

00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.500
 to give me free parking.

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.239
 Can I get an amen

00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:36.000
 from anyone?

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.299
 Amen.

00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:40.579
 With that said,

00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:41.480
 my goodness is an idol.

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:43.460
 And sometimes I'm like,

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.820
 just pay.

00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:47.280
 Just get it over with.

00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:48.900
 Kelly knows,

00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:50.599
 Kelly shares in this with me.

00:34:51.219 --> 00:34:53.079
 We go to the great food hall

00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:54.079
 and scrounge for receipts

00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:56.139
 so we could collect enough

00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:56.840
 to get free parking.

00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.059
 Man,

00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:59.480
 I'm too vulnerable today.

00:34:59.740 --> 00:35:00.740
 You guys are just judging me.

00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:02.340
 Money,

00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:02.579
 okay,

00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.159
 I want to deflect

00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:04.219
 and move on to somewhere else.

00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.199
 Janine and Ellen,

00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:07.519
 what's the idol that you see?

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:08.460
 Status.

00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.199
 Hmm?

00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:10.599
 Status.

00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:10.780
 Status.

00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:12.159
 Status.

00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:13.639
 If you keep peeling back status,

00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:14.599
 if you keep peeling back,

00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.039
 okay,

00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:15.880
 it's status,

00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:16.659
 it's recognition,

00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:17.639
 it's power,

00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:19.300
 it's just worth.

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:19.880
 It's,

00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:23.860
 do I contribute to my tribe?

00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.699
 There's just this issue of,

00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.139
 just,

00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:28.000
 are we worthy?

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.480
 And we have a,

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.119
 just,

00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:33.800
 mankind just walking around

00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.599
 this world just going,

00:35:34.699 --> 00:35:35.360
 I am not worthy,

00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:36.119
 I am not enough,

00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:37.460
 I don't know who I am.

00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:38.960
 And so I'll grab

00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:40.099
 anything I can hold on to,

00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:41.340
 any badge I can wear,

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.880
 so that others will look at me

00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:43.500
 and honor me.

00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:45.599
 Status.

00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:47.159
 Huge idol.

00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:48.719
 As I've shared before,

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.079
 Keller says,

00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:52.340
 the idol is the one

00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:52.960
 that you say,

00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.980
 if I can just have that,

00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:56.420
 I will be so happy.

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:58.780
 If I can just get that promotion,

00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.400
 then I,

00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:02.019
 my life will be complete.

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.400
 And we get there

00:36:03.400 --> 00:36:04.059
 and we realize

00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:05.659
 it is still not complete.

00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:07.219
 Status.

00:36:07.219 --> 00:36:08.480
 One last one.

00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:09.939
 I'm looking at this area

00:36:09.939 --> 00:36:10.980
 over here.

00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:11.980
 Uncle Paul.

00:36:17.099 --> 00:36:17.419
 Materialism.

00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.039
 Materialism.

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.079
 Materialism,

00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:19.500
 when you,

00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:21.399
 when you walk around

00:36:21.399 --> 00:36:22.019
 and you see

00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:23.299
 that that other person

00:36:23.299 --> 00:36:23.739
 has that,

00:36:24.339 --> 00:36:26.099
 when you walk in the MTR

00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:27.279
 and you see all the adverts

00:36:27.279 --> 00:36:27.759
 of the things

00:36:27.759 --> 00:36:28.500
 that you don't have,

00:36:28.679 --> 00:36:29.179
 but you realize

00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:30.139
 that you really need to have.

00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:32.059
 And so you have to go

00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:32.500
 and get it.

00:36:33.879 --> 00:36:34.879
 And maybe in a city

00:36:34.879 --> 00:36:35.440
 like Hong Kong

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.299
 where we are just

00:36:36.299 --> 00:36:37.539
 so packed in together,

00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:39.879
 we get to see

00:36:39.879 --> 00:36:41.339
 and compare constantly

00:36:41.339 --> 00:36:42.319
 about what others have

00:36:42.319 --> 00:36:43.279
 and what we do not have.

00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:47.420
 Another idol I would say

00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:47.960
 is just,

00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:49.339
 and it's not just Hong Kong,

00:36:49.420 --> 00:36:49.920
 it's just in the world,

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:51.440
 just secularism in general,

00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:52.819
 where we have this thought

00:36:52.819 --> 00:36:53.319
 that actually,

00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.960
 we are actually self-sufficient.

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:57.139
 We just need to

00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:58.179
 obtain success.

00:36:58.179 --> 00:37:00.119
 We need to get as much

00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:01.239
 status,

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:01.679
 money,

00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:02.279
 power,

00:37:02.319 --> 00:37:03.279
 as we possibly can

00:37:03.279 --> 00:37:05.139
 and there we will be satisfied.

00:37:05.799 --> 00:37:06.960
 And when you worship

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:08.179
 secularism,

00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:09.440
 when you worship self,

00:37:10.339 --> 00:37:10.960
 actually those

00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:12.139
 who worship self,

00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:14.119
 the followers of self

00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:14.960
 are exhausted.

00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:17.579
 They're deflated.

00:37:18.399 --> 00:37:19.639
 Because whether you succeed

00:37:19.639 --> 00:37:20.219
 or not,

00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:21.519
 you still lose

00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.399
 because you realize

00:37:22.399 --> 00:37:23.599
 there's no satisfaction here.

00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:25.639
 The one that may be

00:37:25.639 --> 00:37:26.399
 even more dangerous,

00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:26.919
 I think,

00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:28.159
 for secularism

00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:29.440
 maybe specifically

00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:29.960
 in our,

00:37:30.359 --> 00:37:31.859
 in this room right now

00:37:31.859 --> 00:37:33.980
 is the idol of syncretism.

00:37:34.139 --> 00:37:34.859
 What is syncretism?

00:37:35.299 --> 00:37:36.099
 Syncretism is when

00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:37.759
 we integrate our faith

00:37:37.759 --> 00:37:39.219
 with our work.

00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:41.859
 When we think,

00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:42.319
 oh,

00:37:42.359 --> 00:37:43.339
 I need to worship God,

00:37:43.399 --> 00:37:44.199
 I need to follow God

00:37:44.199 --> 00:37:44.920
 to be a good person.

00:37:45.259 --> 00:37:45.420
 Oh,

00:37:45.460 --> 00:37:46.319
 and then he blesses me

00:37:46.319 --> 00:37:46.920
 and then he'll give me

00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:47.460
 a good job.

00:37:48.519 --> 00:37:49.279
 And when he gives me

00:37:49.279 --> 00:37:49.779
 a good job,

00:37:49.859 --> 00:37:50.539
 then I'll get the gym

00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.719
 membership that I need.

00:37:51.899 --> 00:37:52.559
 So then I'll start

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.359
 having the body

00:37:53.359 --> 00:37:54.139
 that I want to have.

00:37:54.859 --> 00:37:55.879
 And when God blesses me

00:37:55.879 --> 00:37:56.420
 with the body

00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:57.039
 I want to have,

00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.679
 then he will give me

00:37:57.679 --> 00:37:58.119
 the spouse

00:37:58.119 --> 00:37:58.779
 that I want to have.

00:37:59.219 --> 00:38:00.440
 And when he blesses me

00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.199
 with the spouse

00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:01.900
 I want to have,

00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:03.279
 and then we'll have babies

00:38:03.279 --> 00:38:05.340
 that have my same body.

00:38:06.259 --> 00:38:07.480
 And they will succeed.

00:38:08.659 --> 00:38:09.500
 And then they

00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:10.460
 will get into

00:38:10.460 --> 00:38:11.579
 Bramer Hill Primary School.

00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.719
 And from Bramer Hill

00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:14.420
 Primary School,

00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:15.259
 they will then head

00:38:15.259 --> 00:38:16.219
 to St. Paul's Co-Ed.

00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:18.300
 And from St. Paul's Co-Ed,

00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:18.980
 they will then head

00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:19.420
 to Harvard.

00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:19.539
 Harvard.

00:38:20.240 --> 00:38:21.000
 And when they get

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:21.480
 to Harvard,

00:38:21.700 --> 00:38:23.539
 that's when the money

00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:24.119
 making comes

00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:24.900
 because then they get

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.760
 to go to McKinsey.

00:38:26.440 --> 00:38:27.119
 And when they go

00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:27.700
 to McKinsey,

00:38:28.340 --> 00:38:29.079
 oh, God has blessed

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:29.599
 us so much.

00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:30.220
 My kid is now

00:38:30.220 --> 00:38:30.740
 at McKinsey

00:38:30.740 --> 00:38:33.579
 with the body,

00:38:34.099 --> 00:38:36.220
 with the wife,

00:38:37.260 --> 00:38:38.039
 with the children

00:38:38.039 --> 00:38:40.139
 who will also

00:38:40.139 --> 00:38:40.900
 head to McKinsey.

00:38:43.200 --> 00:38:43.960
 We laugh,

00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:45.440
 but I think

00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.300
 it's a nervous laugh

00:38:46.300 --> 00:38:49.380
 because you and I

00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:49.900
 both know

00:38:49.900 --> 00:38:52.400
 that's one of the

00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:53.360
 biggest gods in Hong Kong.

00:38:53.720 --> 00:38:54.260
 That's one of the

00:38:54.260 --> 00:38:54.840
 biggest gods

00:38:54.840 --> 00:38:55.780
 in the church.

00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:58.039
 When we think

00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.780
 God is here

00:38:58.780 --> 00:38:59.720
 to give us

00:38:59.720 --> 00:39:00.559
 what we need

00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:01.980
 and what we want,

00:39:02.139 --> 00:39:02.380
 sorry,

00:39:02.579 --> 00:39:03.320
 not what we need.

00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:04.699
 We only need bread

00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:05.820
 but we get more than that.

00:39:05.860 --> 00:39:06.760
 We want more than that.

00:39:09.860 --> 00:39:11.019
 And then we get upset

00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:11.880
 when we don't get it.

00:39:12.500 --> 00:39:13.400
 And that's when

00:39:13.400 --> 00:39:13.980
 you will know.

00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:14.820
 That's when I know

00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:16.180
 that's become my God

00:39:16.180 --> 00:39:17.840
 and how I react

00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:18.599
 to losing that.

00:39:19.720 --> 00:39:19.900
 Right?

00:39:22.160 --> 00:39:22.579
 See,

00:39:22.820 --> 00:39:23.860
 when you look at these,

00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:24.320
 actually,

00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:25.400
 there's this passage

00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:25.980
 in 2 Kings

00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:26.559
 that I must share

00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:26.800
 with you.

00:39:26.840 --> 00:39:27.300
 2 Kings,

00:39:27.579 --> 00:39:28.480
 chapter 17,

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.160
 verse 33.

00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:31.820
 So they feared

00:39:31.820 --> 00:39:32.220
 the Lord

00:39:32.220 --> 00:39:33.500
 but also served

00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:34.260
 their own gods.

00:39:35.720 --> 00:39:36.119
 Ouch.

00:39:37.720 --> 00:39:38.639
 So they feared

00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.019
 the Lord

00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:39.980
 but also served

00:39:39.980 --> 00:39:40.680
 their own gods.

00:39:42.180 --> 00:39:43.039
 Is that you?

00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:48.240
 Long pause

00:39:48.240 --> 00:39:49.220
 for dramatic effect

00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:49.940
 and introspection.

00:39:50.700 --> 00:39:51.559
 Is that you?

00:39:52.780 --> 00:39:53.660
 That you fear

00:39:53.660 --> 00:39:53.980
 the Lord

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:54.619
 but you serve

00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:55.280
 your other gods?

00:40:00.240 --> 00:40:01.059
 Gabs is nodding.

00:40:01.139 --> 00:40:01.619
 I agree.

00:40:02.820 --> 00:40:03.460
 It's you.

00:40:04.139 --> 00:40:04.800
 It's me.

00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:07.700
 Because we say

00:40:07.700 --> 00:40:08.680
 that we follow Jesus

00:40:08.679 --> 00:40:11.599
 but we actually

00:40:11.599 --> 00:40:12.119
 follow him

00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:12.779
 and all these

00:40:12.779 --> 00:40:13.299
 other things.

00:40:14.139 --> 00:40:14.619
 Right?

00:40:14.960 --> 00:40:16.059
 All these other things.

00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:18.519
 We follow Jesus

00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:19.299
 on Sunday morning

00:40:19.299 --> 00:40:21.000
 between 11 to 12.30.

00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:26.000
 Jesus isn't here

00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:26.739
 just to improve

00:40:26.739 --> 00:40:27.280
 our lives.

00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:29.000
 Jesus,

00:40:29.099 --> 00:40:29.780
 when he calls people,

00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:30.300
 he's saying,

00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:31.659
 you're fishers,

00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:32.760
 you're fishermen,

00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:33.539
 I want to make you

00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.079
 fishers of men.

00:40:37.300 --> 00:40:38.280
 You're good with money,

00:40:38.840 --> 00:40:39.800
 I'm going to completely

00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:40.880
 change your perspective

00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:41.219
 on money

00:40:41.219 --> 00:40:42.159
 so you can use money

00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:42.719
 for my kingdom,

00:40:42.840 --> 00:40:43.320
 for my glory.

00:40:44.760 --> 00:40:45.619
 You're good at caring

00:40:45.619 --> 00:40:46.260
 and hospitality

00:40:46.260 --> 00:40:47.559
 and you work

00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:48.280
 in the hotel business,

00:40:48.400 --> 00:40:48.760
 great.

00:40:48.760 --> 00:40:50.380
 you're going to do it

00:40:50.380 --> 00:40:50.920
 for my glory.

00:40:53.220 --> 00:40:54.200
 Not everyone needs

00:40:54.200 --> 00:40:54.820
 to turn into

00:40:54.820 --> 00:40:55.400
 a missionary

00:40:55.400 --> 00:40:55.880
 and a pastor

00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:56.280
 and a monk.

00:40:58.460 --> 00:40:59.300
 Everyone just needs

00:40:59.300 --> 00:41:00.000
 to do whatever

00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:01.400
 Jesus has made you

00:41:01.400 --> 00:41:02.060
 to be

00:41:02.060 --> 00:41:02.960
 so you can do

00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:03.780
 what he's calling

00:41:03.780 --> 00:41:04.380
 you to do.

00:41:06.200 --> 00:41:06.760
 That's it.

00:41:09.600 --> 00:41:10.820
 What is your idol?

00:41:11.720 --> 00:41:12.000
 You see,

00:41:12.100 --> 00:41:12.780
 when we actually

00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:13.660
 have a faith,

00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:14.440
 there's something else

00:41:14.440 --> 00:41:14.860
 that's happened

00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:15.460
 in our culture

00:41:15.460 --> 00:41:16.140
 which is

00:41:16.140 --> 00:41:17.480
 your faith

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.040
 is your own.

00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:18.739
 I can't really

00:41:18.739 --> 00:41:19.440
 meddle and deal

00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:20.300
 and ask you

00:41:20.300 --> 00:41:20.639
 too much

00:41:20.639 --> 00:41:21.300
 about your faith

00:41:21.300 --> 00:41:22.000
 because otherwise

00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:22.699
 I'll hit a nerve

00:41:22.699 --> 00:41:23.559
 and you'll get insecure

00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:24.380
 and then you don't

00:41:24.380 --> 00:41:25.219
 want to talk about it

00:41:25.219 --> 00:41:26.719
 and so you keep

00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:27.679
 that faith private

00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:30.360
 but the problem here

00:41:30.360 --> 00:41:31.079
 is you cannot

00:41:31.079 --> 00:41:32.199
 really keep your faith

00:41:32.199 --> 00:41:32.900
 with Jesus private.

00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:34.219
 It has to seep into,

00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:35.099
 overflow into

00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:36.079
 your public life

00:41:36.079 --> 00:41:38.079
 and so you can

00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:38.619
 think about your

00:41:38.619 --> 00:41:38.880
 colleagues,

00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:39.320
 you can think about

00:41:39.320 --> 00:41:39.719
 your friends

00:41:39.719 --> 00:41:40.980
 who know you

00:41:40.980 --> 00:41:41.960
 and if they're

00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:42.500
 asked about you,

00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:42.719
 they're like,

00:41:42.779 --> 00:41:42.860
 yeah,

00:41:42.900 --> 00:41:43.519
 I think that person

00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:43.960
 is a Christian.

00:41:43.960 --> 00:41:46.019
 I think they

00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:46.500
 go to church

00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:46.800
 on Sunday.

00:41:47.720 --> 00:41:48.400
 Going to church

00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:48.720
 on Sunday

00:41:48.720 --> 00:41:49.619
 is the lowest bar.

00:41:51.280 --> 00:41:52.800
 It is the lowest bar

00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:57.300
 but how we live

00:41:57.300 --> 00:41:58.320
 the rest of our lives,

00:41:59.019 --> 00:42:02.000
 the prayer is that

00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:02.860
 they can think of you

00:42:02.860 --> 00:42:03.000
 and go,

00:42:03.059 --> 00:42:03.119
 okay,

00:42:03.179 --> 00:42:03.280
 well,

00:42:03.320 --> 00:42:03.780
 I think that person

00:42:03.780 --> 00:42:04.179
 goes to church

00:42:04.179 --> 00:42:04.500
 on Sundays

00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:05.900
 and maybe at that point

00:42:05.900 --> 00:42:06.539
 it's okay for them

00:42:06.539 --> 00:42:06.960
 to think that

00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:07.199
 and go,

00:42:07.300 --> 00:42:07.340
 well,

00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:07.579
 actually,

00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:08.099
 and that really

00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:08.780
 helps him

00:42:08.780 --> 00:42:10.900
 when I watch him

00:42:10.900 --> 00:42:11.639
 dealing with his boss

00:42:11.639 --> 00:42:11.980
 and I'm like,

00:42:12.039 --> 00:42:12.519
 that's different.

00:42:12.519 --> 00:42:15.019
 That's a different

00:42:15.019 --> 00:42:15.539
 kind of way.

00:42:16.300 --> 00:42:16.880
 Maybe it's something

00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:17.639
 to do with church

00:42:17.639 --> 00:42:19.880
 and then we can go,

00:42:20.019 --> 00:42:20.119
 actually,

00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:20.300
 well,

00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:20.840
 it's really something

00:42:20.840 --> 00:42:21.539
 to do with Christ.

00:42:24.380 --> 00:42:24.739
 See,

00:42:24.800 --> 00:42:25.280
 these people,

00:42:25.539 --> 00:42:26.500
 I think we didn't

00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:27.159
 actually read it

00:42:27.159 --> 00:42:27.480
 in Acts

00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:29.059
 but when he was

00:42:29.059 --> 00:42:29.259
 getting,

00:42:29.460 --> 00:42:30.440
 when he was in Berea,

00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:30.800
 oh,

00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.539
 in Thessalonica,

00:42:31.639 --> 00:42:31.820
 sorry,

00:42:32.300 --> 00:42:34.300
 they accused this

00:42:34.300 --> 00:42:35.340
 of the Christians

00:42:35.340 --> 00:42:36.759
 in chapter 17

00:42:36.759 --> 00:42:37.360
 verse 6.

00:42:38.559 --> 00:42:39.039
 And when they

00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:39.579
 could not find them,

00:42:39.639 --> 00:42:40.219
 they dragged Jason

00:42:40.219 --> 00:42:40.800
 and some of the brothers

00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:41.400
 before the city

00:42:41.400 --> 00:42:42.159
 authorities shouting,

00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:42.980
 these men

00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:43.579
 who have turned

00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:44.779
 the world upside down

00:42:44.779 --> 00:42:45.679
 have come here also.

00:42:46.399 --> 00:42:47.119
 Praise the Lord

00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:48.099
 that they would be

00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:49.480
 described as people

00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:50.239
 who turn the world

00:42:50.239 --> 00:42:50.940
 upside down.

00:42:52.319 --> 00:42:53.440
 When most of the time,

00:42:53.480 --> 00:42:54.279
 when most of the time,

00:42:54.339 --> 00:42:54.779
 you and I

00:42:54.779 --> 00:42:55.859
 are so adamant

00:42:55.859 --> 00:42:56.960
 and so terrified

00:42:56.960 --> 00:42:57.799
 that we try

00:42:57.799 --> 00:42:58.539
 and live in a way

00:42:58.539 --> 00:42:59.319
 where we conform

00:42:59.319 --> 00:42:59.839
 to the patterns

00:42:59.839 --> 00:43:00.440
 of this world

00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:01.420
 and so we stay

00:43:01.420 --> 00:43:02.179
 and do whatever

00:43:02.179 --> 00:43:03.420
 everyone else does

00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:04.319
 and then we wonder

00:43:04.319 --> 00:43:05.259
 why we can't discern

00:43:05.259 --> 00:43:05.940
 the good and perfect

00:43:05.940 --> 00:43:06.420
 will of God.

00:43:09.159 --> 00:43:09.859
 Romans 12,

00:43:09.940 --> 00:43:10.379
 where he says that

00:43:10.380 --> 00:43:12.079
 in view of God's mercy,

00:43:12.200 --> 00:43:12.900
 live your life

00:43:12.900 --> 00:43:13.760
 in this way.

00:43:13.960 --> 00:43:14.619
 Don't be conformed

00:43:14.619 --> 00:43:15.079
 to the patterns

00:43:15.079 --> 00:43:15.820
 of this world

00:43:15.820 --> 00:43:16.640
 because if you

00:43:16.640 --> 00:43:17.340
 can actually

00:43:17.340 --> 00:43:18.500
 go against it,

00:43:18.760 --> 00:43:20.200
 your mind will be renewed

00:43:20.200 --> 00:43:21.220
 and then you will

00:43:21.220 --> 00:43:22.019
 know my will.

00:43:23.460 --> 00:43:24.180
 And so here's a simple

00:43:24.180 --> 00:43:24.579
 equation,

00:43:24.700 --> 00:43:25.519
 here's a simple question,

00:43:25.599 --> 00:43:26.140
 if you're wondering

00:43:26.140 --> 00:43:26.740
 what God's will

00:43:26.740 --> 00:43:27.400
 is for your life

00:43:27.400 --> 00:43:28.079
 and you're wondering

00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:28.820
 why can't I hear

00:43:28.820 --> 00:43:29.240
 God's will,

00:43:29.519 --> 00:43:30.440
 maybe the next question

00:43:30.440 --> 00:43:31.039
 respectfully,

00:43:31.240 --> 00:43:32.039
 politely would be,

00:43:32.260 --> 00:43:32.619
 well actually,

00:43:32.700 --> 00:43:33.579
 are you still conforming

00:43:33.579 --> 00:43:34.059
 to the patterns

00:43:34.059 --> 00:43:34.680
 of this world?

00:43:34.839 --> 00:43:35.599
 Because if you are,

00:43:35.659 --> 00:43:36.299
 then you won't hear

00:43:36.299 --> 00:43:37.480
 the will of God.

00:43:37.559 --> 00:43:38.099
 The whole point is

00:43:38.099 --> 00:43:38.859
 when you stand up,

00:43:38.940 --> 00:43:39.819
 turn around the other way,

00:43:40.219 --> 00:43:41.099
 repent is what that

00:43:41.099 --> 00:43:41.779
 word really is,

00:43:42.119 --> 00:43:43.079
 and then you'll start

00:43:43.079 --> 00:43:44.019
 hearing the will of God.

00:43:45.259 --> 00:43:46.059
 What about you

00:43:46.059 --> 00:43:46.699
 looks different?

00:43:47.919 --> 00:43:48.940
 John Stott says this,

00:43:50.099 --> 00:43:50.579
 Paul was,

00:43:50.699 --> 00:43:51.879
 his spirit was provoked.

00:43:53.519 --> 00:43:54.519
 Sometimes we look at Paul

00:43:54.519 --> 00:43:54.799
 and we go,

00:43:54.879 --> 00:43:55.559
 well we can't do

00:43:55.559 --> 00:43:56.099
 what you did,

00:43:56.159 --> 00:43:56.960
 we can't speak

00:43:56.960 --> 00:43:57.719
 the way you did,

00:43:59.159 --> 00:44:00.039
 we can't do what you did,

00:44:00.059 --> 00:44:01.179
 we can't have the impact

00:44:01.179 --> 00:44:01.639
 that you did.

00:44:01.919 --> 00:44:02.099
 You see,

00:44:02.159 --> 00:44:03.039
 the only reason Paul

00:44:03.039 --> 00:44:03.940
 had all these things

00:44:03.940 --> 00:44:05.480
 was because he felt

00:44:05.480 --> 00:44:06.360
 the way he did.

00:44:07.519 --> 00:44:08.480
 Does that make sense?

00:44:09.179 --> 00:44:09.980
 How many of us

00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.719
 walk around

00:44:10.719 --> 00:44:12.400
 the temples of Hong Kong,

00:44:12.500 --> 00:44:13.159
 whether it's money,

00:44:13.320 --> 00:44:14.079
 status, power,

00:44:14.400 --> 00:44:15.599
 or actual idols?

00:44:15.860 --> 00:44:16.039
 You see,

00:44:16.079 --> 00:44:16.519
 it's interesting,

00:44:16.739 --> 00:44:17.500
 at least with the Greeks,

00:44:17.539 --> 00:44:18.279
 they were very overt

00:44:18.279 --> 00:44:19.300
 about what they worshipped.

00:44:20.159 --> 00:44:21.340
 We keep our idols

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:21.840
 very hidden,

00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:23.039
 right?

00:44:23.159 --> 00:44:24.259
 You can't actually see

00:44:24.259 --> 00:44:25.159
 our idols until you

00:44:25.159 --> 00:44:26.019
 really think about it,

00:44:26.119 --> 00:44:26.559
 because otherwise

00:44:26.559 --> 00:44:27.259
 they just look like

00:44:27.259 --> 00:44:27.840
 shiny buildings.

00:44:30.820 --> 00:44:31.719
 But the reason why

00:44:31.719 --> 00:44:32.320
 Paul got to do

00:44:32.320 --> 00:44:32.840
 what he did,

00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:34.199
 was because

00:44:34.199 --> 00:44:35.259
 of the way he felt.

00:44:37.099 --> 00:44:38.279
 He was provoked.

00:44:38.759 --> 00:44:38.960
 He's like,

00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:39.840
 this isn't right,

00:44:40.340 --> 00:44:40.940
 when so often

00:44:40.940 --> 00:44:42.139
 we wander through

00:44:42.139 --> 00:44:42.880
 the city and

00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:42.980
 well,

00:44:43.059 --> 00:44:43.759
 whatever.

00:44:46.980 --> 00:44:47.539
 Hong Kong,

00:44:47.679 --> 00:44:48.779
 we have this problem.

00:44:49.659 --> 00:44:50.480
 As I mentioned

00:44:50.480 --> 00:44:51.139
 a couple of weeks ago,

00:44:51.199 --> 00:44:51.960
 John Calvin said,

00:44:52.400 --> 00:44:52.960
 the human heart

00:44:52.960 --> 00:44:54.119
 is an idol factory.

00:44:54.259 --> 00:44:54.759
 We keep

00:44:54.759 --> 00:44:56.440
 creating them.

00:44:56.579 --> 00:44:57.420
 We can't help it.

00:44:58.259 --> 00:44:59.300
 The only solution

00:44:59.300 --> 00:45:00.099
 is that we would turn

00:45:00.099 --> 00:45:00.840
 to the only one

00:45:00.840 --> 00:45:01.300
 who is real.

00:45:01.960 --> 00:45:02.620
 Exodus 20,

00:45:02.700 --> 00:45:03.120
 when he says,

00:45:03.280 --> 00:45:03.920
 you shall have

00:45:03.920 --> 00:45:04.600
 no other gods

00:45:04.600 --> 00:45:05.100
 before me.

00:45:06.060 --> 00:45:07.260
 Nowhere in my vicinity.

00:45:07.420 --> 00:45:07.920
 They can't even

00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:08.920
 be anywhere close.

00:45:09.620 --> 00:45:10.260
 I have to be

00:45:10.260 --> 00:45:10.920
 the only one,

00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:11.860
 not just the number one.

00:45:14.380 --> 00:45:14.760
 Why?

00:45:14.880 --> 00:45:15.340
 Because God

00:45:15.340 --> 00:45:16.120
 is a jealous God.

00:45:16.519 --> 00:45:16.760
 Actually,

00:45:17.100 --> 00:45:17.519
 Paul,

00:45:17.640 --> 00:45:18.180
 his feeling there

00:45:18.180 --> 00:45:19.120
 is provoked feelings

00:45:19.120 --> 00:45:19.620
 of jealousy,

00:45:19.740 --> 00:45:20.060
 which is actually,

00:45:20.060 --> 00:45:22.340
 I wish they would

00:45:22.340 --> 00:45:23.500
 only just have this,

00:45:23.780 --> 00:45:24.700
 only just have God,

00:45:24.760 --> 00:45:25.220
 but they keep

00:45:25.220 --> 00:45:25.800
 just flirting

00:45:25.800 --> 00:45:27.560
 and cheating on him

00:45:27.560 --> 00:45:28.019
 with all these

00:45:28.019 --> 00:45:28.539
 other gods.

00:45:30.060 --> 00:45:31.300
 Not because he,

00:45:31.420 --> 00:45:32.800
 not because he just

00:45:32.800 --> 00:45:34.080
 wants us to himself

00:45:34.080 --> 00:45:34.780
 because he's

00:45:34.780 --> 00:45:35.360
 self-centered

00:45:35.360 --> 00:45:35.800
 and selfish,

00:45:36.080 --> 00:45:36.780
 but he's like,

00:45:37.080 --> 00:45:38.120
 I'm the only one

00:45:38.120 --> 00:45:38.660
 who is willing

00:45:38.660 --> 00:45:39.539
 to give you everything.

00:45:39.660 --> 00:45:40.360
 All the other ones,

00:45:40.460 --> 00:45:41.220
 they demand everything,

00:45:41.320 --> 00:45:41.960
 but they don't give you

00:45:41.960 --> 00:45:42.260
 anything.

00:45:43.180 --> 00:45:44.100
 They will corrupt you,

00:45:44.160 --> 00:45:44.920
 they will consume you,

00:45:44.920 --> 00:45:45.940
 even the good things.

00:45:48.500 --> 00:45:49.460
 But the real God,

00:45:50.120 --> 00:45:50.860
 instead of corrupting

00:45:50.860 --> 00:45:51.420
 and consuming,

00:45:51.880 --> 00:45:52.599
 he will complete.

00:45:55.440 --> 00:45:56.559
 That's the only solution

00:45:56.559 --> 00:45:57.400
 that we would go

00:45:57.400 --> 00:45:58.180
 to him.

00:45:58.240 --> 00:45:59.000
 He was provoked.

00:45:59.300 --> 00:46:00.300
 Paul was heartbroken

00:46:00.300 --> 00:46:01.059
 when he saw this.

00:46:02.099 --> 00:46:03.480
 I recently came across

00:46:03.480 --> 00:46:04.599
 the stat that actually

00:46:04.599 --> 00:46:06.640
 90% of Asia

00:46:06.640 --> 00:46:08.480
 is not Christian.

00:46:09.840 --> 00:46:11.039
 90% of Hong Kong

00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:13.200
 is not 95% actually,

00:46:13.300 --> 00:46:14.120
 I think it's for Hong Kong.

00:46:17.380 --> 00:46:18.160
 I'll let it sit

00:46:18.160 --> 00:46:18.680
 just for a second.

00:46:18.780 --> 00:46:19.420
 I'm going to say it again.

00:46:19.740 --> 00:46:21.220
 Nearly 95% of people

00:46:21.220 --> 00:46:21.920
 in this city

00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:24.300
 are not followers of Christ.

00:46:28.800 --> 00:46:30.320
 My next question to you is,

00:46:30.420 --> 00:46:31.159
 what did that just do

00:46:31.159 --> 00:46:31.700
 to your mind?

00:46:33.180 --> 00:46:34.380
 Some of you just let that

00:46:34.380 --> 00:46:36.740
 thought just fly across

00:46:36.740 --> 00:46:37.119
 and just,

00:46:37.599 --> 00:46:37.880
 it's done,

00:46:37.940 --> 00:46:38.139
 it's gone.

00:46:38.220 --> 00:46:38.740
 Oh, that's a shame.

00:46:39.900 --> 00:46:40.579
 Sucks to be them.

00:46:41.920 --> 00:46:43.019
 Let me paint another picture.

00:46:43.119 --> 00:46:43.340
 I don't know,

00:46:43.400 --> 00:46:44.700
 95%, 200 people.

00:46:45.300 --> 00:46:45.980
 Let's say it's

00:46:45.980 --> 00:46:47.519
 this group here.

00:46:47.519 --> 00:46:49.980
 this group here

00:46:49.980 --> 00:46:52.219
 believes in Jesus.

00:46:53.139 --> 00:46:53.940
 And let's not just say

00:46:53.940 --> 00:46:54.659
 believes in Jesus

00:46:54.659 --> 00:46:55.179
 in the kind of

00:46:55.179 --> 00:46:56.340
 the Christian-y Sunday school way.

00:46:56.539 --> 00:46:57.840
 This is the only group

00:46:57.840 --> 00:47:00.179
 that will go to eternity

00:47:00.179 --> 00:47:02.619
 in this room.

00:47:02.619 --> 00:47:09.940
 the rest will not.

00:47:12.940 --> 00:47:14.279
 The heartbreaking thing is

00:47:14.279 --> 00:47:15.440
 we sit here

00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:16.420
 in this group here

00:47:16.420 --> 00:47:17.699
 and our hearts

00:47:17.699 --> 00:47:18.279
 aren't breaking

00:47:18.279 --> 00:47:18.819
 for this.

00:47:21.460 --> 00:47:22.159
 We're just like,

00:47:22.199 --> 00:47:22.940
 thank goodness

00:47:22.940 --> 00:47:24.359
 I made it into the 5%.

00:47:24.360 --> 00:47:27.340
 Thank goodness.

00:47:28.260 --> 00:47:28.820
 Thank goodness

00:47:28.820 --> 00:47:29.620
 I'm here

00:47:29.620 --> 00:47:30.300
 and I made it

00:47:30.300 --> 00:47:30.760
 into the lift.

00:47:30.900 --> 00:47:31.460
 Now I need to keep

00:47:31.460 --> 00:47:32.039
 closing the lift

00:47:32.039 --> 00:47:33.880
 so that older lady

00:47:33.880 --> 00:47:34.440
 doesn't get in.

00:47:35.539 --> 00:47:35.980
 Come on,

00:47:36.000 --> 00:47:36.320
 old lady,

00:47:36.380 --> 00:47:37.240
 just wait for the next one.

00:47:40.519 --> 00:47:41.019
 That's it.

00:47:44.780 --> 00:47:45.400
 If that doesn't

00:47:45.400 --> 00:47:46.019
 break your heart,

00:47:46.500 --> 00:47:47.860
 then I pray that

00:47:47.860 --> 00:47:48.539
 at some point it will.

00:47:49.820 --> 00:47:50.480
 That you will look

00:47:50.480 --> 00:47:51.220
 and you will see people

00:47:51.220 --> 00:47:51.700
 that you love

00:47:51.700 --> 00:47:52.300
 and see people

00:47:52.300 --> 00:47:52.980
 that you don't love

00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:53.360
 and you're like,

00:47:53.599 --> 00:47:53.940
 oh,

00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:56.240
 if only they would know

00:47:56.240 --> 00:47:59.000
 that there is an answer.

00:48:00.800 --> 00:48:03.000
 Not to their problem,

00:48:03.139 --> 00:48:04.760
 not to our itty-bitty problems

00:48:04.760 --> 00:48:05.860
 about our boss

00:48:05.860 --> 00:48:06.579
 and our promotions

00:48:06.579 --> 00:48:07.039
 and our,

00:48:08.500 --> 00:48:09.300
 but there is an answer

00:48:09.300 --> 00:48:10.119
 to the brokenness

00:48:10.119 --> 00:48:10.679
 in this world.

00:48:12.780 --> 00:48:13.760
 If only they would know

00:48:13.760 --> 00:48:14.800
 that death isn't the end.

00:48:18.500 --> 00:48:19.619
 Pray that we would feel

00:48:19.619 --> 00:48:20.340
 as poor feels,

00:48:20.760 --> 00:48:21.500
 so that we would see

00:48:21.500 --> 00:48:22.139
 as poor sees,

00:48:22.139 --> 00:48:22.980
 so that we would speak

00:48:22.980 --> 00:48:23.699
 as poor speaks,

00:48:23.960 --> 00:48:24.980
 that we would contextualize

00:48:24.980 --> 00:48:26.019
 as he did.

00:48:28.119 --> 00:48:28.519
 Of course,

00:48:28.559 --> 00:48:29.079
 I have no problem

00:48:29.079 --> 00:48:29.559
 saying that

00:48:29.559 --> 00:48:30.460
 because he himself said,

00:48:30.519 --> 00:48:30.599
 hey,

00:48:30.639 --> 00:48:31.559
 if you can't see Christ,

00:48:31.659 --> 00:48:32.400
 1 Corinthians 11,

00:48:32.739 --> 00:48:34.119
 imitate me as I imitate Christ.

00:48:35.279 --> 00:48:36.019
 So Paul gives us

00:48:36.019 --> 00:48:36.960
 this great example.

00:48:37.900 --> 00:48:39.099
 If we struggle with Jesus,

00:48:39.519 --> 00:48:41.719
 then we can see

00:48:41.719 --> 00:48:43.199
 what Paul is doing here.

00:48:43.420 --> 00:48:43.819
 And it's funny,

00:48:43.879 --> 00:48:44.659
 so he doubles down,

00:48:44.719 --> 00:48:44.920
 he says,

00:48:44.960 --> 00:48:45.980
 my God is bigger than yours.

00:48:45.980 --> 00:48:49.440
 And then he goes in

00:48:49.440 --> 00:48:51.059
 and he quotes Greek poets

00:48:51.059 --> 00:48:53.440
 so he knows their culture.

00:48:53.940 --> 00:48:54.920
 So it makes me think,

00:48:54.960 --> 00:48:55.139
 actually,

00:48:55.199 --> 00:48:56.900
 do you know your culture?

00:48:57.900 --> 00:48:59.179
 I was asking this myself

00:48:59.179 --> 00:49:00.219
 when I was in the hospital yesterday,

00:49:00.360 --> 00:49:00.780
 which is,

00:49:00.980 --> 00:49:01.880
 how can I explain

00:49:01.880 --> 00:49:03.219
 to my uncle and auntie

00:49:03.219 --> 00:49:04.559
 or my family

00:49:04.559 --> 00:49:05.539
 about Jesus

00:49:05.539 --> 00:49:06.880
 in a way that they will understand?

00:49:08.360 --> 00:49:09.179
 Because they're not

00:49:09.179 --> 00:49:09.980
 going to be going

00:49:09.980 --> 00:49:10.740
 into the Old Testament

00:49:10.740 --> 00:49:11.079
 and going,

00:49:11.179 --> 00:49:11.320
 oh,

00:49:11.320 --> 00:49:12.140
 this is the Messiah

00:49:12.140 --> 00:49:12.960
 that I've been waiting for

00:49:12.960 --> 00:49:13.600
 all of my life?

00:49:15.120 --> 00:49:15.440
 No.

00:49:16.800 --> 00:49:17.860
 They've got a certain way

00:49:17.860 --> 00:49:18.820
 that they've developed,

00:49:19.140 --> 00:49:19.640
 which is just,

00:49:19.740 --> 00:49:20.200
 let's just be

00:49:20.200 --> 00:49:21.180
 the best people

00:49:21.180 --> 00:49:21.780
 that we can be.

00:49:22.400 --> 00:49:23.460
 And then the Christian message

00:49:23.460 --> 00:49:24.220
 comes to crash in

00:49:24.220 --> 00:49:24.420
 and say,

00:49:24.480 --> 00:49:25.400
 you will never be good enough.

00:49:26.019 --> 00:49:26.800
 But that's okay

00:49:26.800 --> 00:49:27.960
 because there was one who is.

00:49:28.960 --> 00:49:30.059
 You just have to follow him.

00:49:30.220 --> 00:49:31.039
 That's the only thing.

00:49:34.039 --> 00:49:34.860
 Talked about Hong Kong,

00:49:34.940 --> 00:49:35.700
 I want to talk a little bit

00:49:35.700 --> 00:49:36.580
 about one other thing.

00:49:37.420 --> 00:49:38.160
 A part of culture

00:49:38.160 --> 00:49:39.300
 that maybe Paul himself

00:49:39.300 --> 00:49:41.080
 actually wasn't familiar with.

00:49:41.320 --> 00:49:43.980
 that actually he himself

00:49:43.980 --> 00:49:44.820
 didn't get to address

00:49:44.820 --> 00:49:45.539
 because it didn't happen

00:49:45.539 --> 00:49:46.240
 during his time.

00:49:46.440 --> 00:49:47.120
 What do you think that is?

00:49:47.160 --> 00:49:47.720
 What's the culture

00:49:47.720 --> 00:49:48.400
 that we swim in?

00:49:48.500 --> 00:49:49.039
 What's the waters

00:49:49.039 --> 00:49:49.860
 that we swim in now?

00:49:53.140 --> 00:49:53.820
 Social media.

00:49:55.860 --> 00:49:56.559
 Because something's

00:49:56.559 --> 00:49:57.420
 happening around the world

00:49:57.420 --> 00:49:58.320
 that has only really happened

00:49:58.320 --> 00:50:00.000
 in these last few decades,

00:50:00.220 --> 00:50:01.640
 which is the world

00:50:01.640 --> 00:50:02.460
 has globalized.

00:50:02.680 --> 00:50:03.380
 It has expanded

00:50:03.380 --> 00:50:03.940
 but has shrunk

00:50:03.940 --> 00:50:04.660
 at the same time.

00:50:04.920 --> 00:50:06.260
 And now a teenager

00:50:06.260 --> 00:50:07.780
 from Tanzania

00:50:07.780 --> 00:50:09.960
 knows who stray kids are

00:50:09.960 --> 00:50:11.440
 from Korea.

00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:14.699
 That is the,

00:50:14.980 --> 00:50:15.119
 yeah,

00:50:15.159 --> 00:50:15.440
 I don't know

00:50:15.440 --> 00:50:16.079
 what stray kids are.

00:50:16.119 --> 00:50:16.440
 Don't worry,

00:50:16.500 --> 00:50:16.599
 Juju.

00:50:16.720 --> 00:50:17.840
 I never expected you to know.

00:50:20.019 --> 00:50:20.340
 Apparently,

00:50:20.480 --> 00:50:21.220
 a Korean pop band.

00:50:22.380 --> 00:50:22.860
 There we go.

00:50:25.360 --> 00:50:26.000
 But can you see

00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:26.920
 the world is just shrinking?

00:50:28.079 --> 00:50:28.940
 That's the culture

00:50:28.940 --> 00:50:30.119
 that we live in.

00:50:30.119 --> 00:50:34.119
 And I think here's the call.

00:50:34.159 --> 00:50:35.099
 And one of my favorite writers

00:50:35.099 --> 00:50:36.139
 is a guy called Henry Nowen.

00:50:36.480 --> 00:50:37.019
 And he says this,

00:50:37.079 --> 00:50:37.880
 the call actually isn't

00:50:37.880 --> 00:50:38.500
 for the world

00:50:38.500 --> 00:50:39.719
 to have more Christian leaders

00:50:39.719 --> 00:50:40.339
 who are relevant,

00:50:40.599 --> 00:50:41.319
 but actually ones

00:50:41.319 --> 00:50:42.400
 who are willing to stand up

00:50:42.400 --> 00:50:43.420
 against the current

00:50:43.420 --> 00:50:44.179
 that it is

00:50:44.179 --> 00:50:45.219
 and speak into

00:50:45.219 --> 00:50:46.480
 the situations.

00:50:47.519 --> 00:50:48.319
 Paul here does something

00:50:48.319 --> 00:50:48.920
 very interesting.

00:50:49.059 --> 00:50:49.799
 He observes,

00:50:50.400 --> 00:50:51.299
 he discerns,

00:50:51.719 --> 00:50:52.960
 and then he speaks into it.

00:50:54.159 --> 00:50:54.539
 He's like,

00:50:54.579 --> 00:50:54.739
 hey,

00:50:55.639 --> 00:50:56.739
 you worship all these other gods

00:50:56.739 --> 00:50:58.420
 because you're out of fear

00:50:58.420 --> 00:50:59.139
 because you want to

00:50:59.139 --> 00:50:59.920
 satisfy them.

00:51:00.219 --> 00:51:00.859
 And there's one god,

00:51:01.099 --> 00:51:02.000
 you're so afraid

00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:03.299
 that you just cover your bases

00:51:03.299 --> 00:51:04.379
 by having this statue here.

00:51:04.619 --> 00:51:05.339
 Let me just use this

00:51:05.339 --> 00:51:06.259
 to tell you about this one.

00:51:08.879 --> 00:51:09.879
 So he observes,

00:51:10.219 --> 00:51:10.539
 perceives,

00:51:10.659 --> 00:51:11.739
 and then he speaks into it.

00:51:12.259 --> 00:51:12.659
 Can we,

00:51:12.940 --> 00:51:14.119
 we must do the same

00:51:14.119 --> 00:51:15.099
 for our culture here.

00:51:16.920 --> 00:51:18.519
 Social media is a huge thing.

00:51:18.819 --> 00:51:20.159
 Technology is a huge thing.

00:51:20.500 --> 00:51:21.379
 At the conference last week,

00:51:21.599 --> 00:51:22.799
 they were talking about AI.

00:51:22.920 --> 00:51:23.500
 I'm not smart enough

00:51:23.500 --> 00:51:24.179
 to talk about AI.

00:51:24.440 --> 00:51:25.059
 And all the problems

00:51:25.059 --> 00:51:26.139
 to do with AI,

00:51:26.480 --> 00:51:27.199
 one of the people

00:51:27.199 --> 00:51:28.119
 who are at the very forefront

00:51:28.119 --> 00:51:28.539
 of this is,

00:51:28.639 --> 00:51:28.739
 well,

00:51:28.739 --> 00:51:29.939
 AI is just,

00:51:30.439 --> 00:51:30.979
 it's just,

00:51:31.199 --> 00:51:31.819
 it's not,

00:51:31.919 --> 00:51:32.719
 that's not the problem.

00:51:33.339 --> 00:51:34.199
 You know what the problem is?

00:51:34.279 --> 00:51:34.959
 The problem is,

00:51:34.979 --> 00:51:35.659
 is human sin.

00:51:36.459 --> 00:51:37.179
 Because technology,

00:51:37.319 --> 00:51:38.299
 all it does is amplify

00:51:38.299 --> 00:51:39.079
 and exaggerate

00:51:39.079 --> 00:51:39.839
 and shine a light

00:51:39.839 --> 00:51:40.659
 onto human sin.

00:51:41.099 --> 00:51:42.059
 That's all it's doing.

00:51:43.779 --> 00:51:44.639
 But as Christians,

00:51:44.819 --> 00:51:45.759
 I'll be able to stand up

00:51:45.759 --> 00:51:46.419
 and look at it

00:51:46.419 --> 00:51:46.659
 and go,

00:51:46.739 --> 00:51:46.839
 okay,

00:51:46.879 --> 00:51:47.659
 that's what it's doing.

00:51:47.859 --> 00:51:48.559
 We are raising

00:51:48.559 --> 00:51:49.239
 a group of people

00:51:49.239 --> 00:51:50.139
 who in the past,

00:51:50.359 --> 00:51:51.459
 in my own village in England,

00:51:51.639 --> 00:51:52.919
 I would only ever be compared

00:51:52.919 --> 00:51:53.799
 to my friends

00:51:53.799 --> 00:51:55.779
 in my little village

00:51:55.779 --> 00:51:56.259
 in England

00:51:56.260 --> 00:51:57.980
 and my brother

00:51:57.980 --> 00:51:59.220
 and that was easy.

00:52:02.220 --> 00:52:03.500
 But now I'm comparing

00:52:03.500 --> 00:52:04.500
 to all these other people

00:52:04.500 --> 00:52:05.780
 that I don't actually even know.

00:52:06.040 --> 00:52:06.680
 All the ones

00:52:06.680 --> 00:52:07.260
 who are making it

00:52:07.260 --> 00:52:07.940
 into Ivy League.

00:52:08.780 --> 00:52:09.520
 All the ones

00:52:09.520 --> 00:52:10.300
 who are doing CrossFit.

00:52:10.380 --> 00:52:10.820
 What's the joke?

00:52:11.160 --> 00:52:11.340
 You know,

00:52:11.380 --> 00:52:12.000
 how do you know someone

00:52:12.000 --> 00:52:12.680
 who does CrossFit?

00:52:12.740 --> 00:52:13.320
 They'll tell you.

00:52:16.440 --> 00:52:17.600
 Because we're shouting out

00:52:17.600 --> 00:52:18.600
 everything that we're doing

00:52:18.600 --> 00:52:19.640
 and we're putting them

00:52:19.640 --> 00:52:20.380
 onto social media,

00:52:20.640 --> 00:52:21.760
 the latte that I'm having,

00:52:21.960 --> 00:52:23.060
 the degree that I got,

00:52:23.320 --> 00:52:24.300
 the job that I've got,

00:52:24.300 --> 00:52:25.220
 and then everyone else

00:52:25.220 --> 00:52:25.760
 is just looking

00:52:25.760 --> 00:52:26.600
 at what you're doing

00:52:26.600 --> 00:52:28.260
 from the bathroom seat

00:52:28.260 --> 00:52:29.940
 and you're comparing

00:52:29.940 --> 00:52:30.400
 because you're just

00:52:30.400 --> 00:52:31.600
 filled with just insecurity.

00:52:34.380 --> 00:52:35.080
 That's the culture,

00:52:35.200 --> 00:52:35.800
 that's the water

00:52:35.800 --> 00:52:37.060
 that we're swimming in right now.

00:52:38.019 --> 00:52:38.660
 As Christians,

00:52:38.760 --> 00:52:39.539
 what do we do about that?

00:52:39.580 --> 00:52:40.000
 You can,

00:52:40.100 --> 00:52:40.560
 on one hand,

00:52:40.620 --> 00:52:41.620
 just completely ignore it,

00:52:41.760 --> 00:52:42.420
 log out of everything

00:52:42.420 --> 00:52:43.500
 if it isn't good for your soul.

00:52:45.220 --> 00:52:46.180
 On the other hand,

00:52:46.220 --> 00:52:46.900
 if you feel as though

00:52:46.900 --> 00:52:47.680
 this is where the Lord's

00:52:47.680 --> 00:52:48.160
 called you to,

00:52:48.380 --> 00:52:49.180
 then actually there's something

00:52:49.180 --> 00:52:49.800
 that you can do

00:52:49.800 --> 00:52:50.920
 and speak into that culture.

00:52:50.920 --> 00:52:54.680
 Are we willing to do that?

00:52:54.760 --> 00:52:55.360
 And just before,

00:52:55.500 --> 00:52:56.800
 maybe the more older people

00:52:56.800 --> 00:52:57.180
 here go,

00:52:57.280 --> 00:52:57.539
 oh yeah,

00:52:57.599 --> 00:52:58.159
 these young people

00:52:58.159 --> 00:52:59.180
 on their phones.

00:53:00.019 --> 00:53:00.780
 It's you too.

00:53:01.980 --> 00:53:03.460
 You are crushing the candies

00:53:03.460 --> 00:53:04.680
 24-7.

00:53:07.059 --> 00:53:07.760
 It's you.

00:53:08.220 --> 00:53:09.940
 Watching videos

00:53:09.940 --> 00:53:10.940
 on the MTR

00:53:10.940 --> 00:53:12.380
 of strange people

00:53:12.380 --> 00:53:13.519
 doing strange things

00:53:13.519 --> 00:53:14.619
 and strange,

00:53:14.740 --> 00:53:15.300
 it's you.

00:53:15.300 --> 00:53:17.300
 You are not,

00:53:17.420 --> 00:53:17.660
 actually,

00:53:17.860 --> 00:53:18.820
 there was an article

00:53:18.820 --> 00:53:20.500
 written in The Economist

00:53:20.500 --> 00:53:20.940
 about this.

00:53:21.200 --> 00:53:21.920
 There's always this thing

00:53:21.920 --> 00:53:22.600
 about Gen Z

00:53:22.600 --> 00:53:23.220
 and technology

00:53:23.220 --> 00:53:23.980
 and yes,

00:53:24.060 --> 00:53:24.460
 we get it.

00:53:25.140 --> 00:53:25.860
 Figure it out,

00:53:26.340 --> 00:53:26.940
 screen time,

00:53:27.039 --> 00:53:27.580
 whatever it is,

00:53:27.700 --> 00:53:28.380
 there's this little thing

00:53:28.380 --> 00:53:28.800
 called brick

00:53:28.800 --> 00:53:29.380
 that Wes and I

00:53:29.380 --> 00:53:30.060
 talked about one time

00:53:30.060 --> 00:53:31.080
 that will really help you

00:53:31.080 --> 00:53:31.680
 kind of control

00:53:31.680 --> 00:53:32.980
 your social media usage.

00:53:33.680 --> 00:53:34.519
 But for the older people,

00:53:34.640 --> 00:53:35.120
 don't just go,

00:53:35.200 --> 00:53:35.320
 oh,

00:53:35.380 --> 00:53:35.480
 well,

00:53:35.500 --> 00:53:36.100
 those young people,

00:53:36.180 --> 00:53:36.680
 they're better now.

00:53:39.380 --> 00:53:40.120
 It's you too.

00:53:42.280 --> 00:53:43.240
 Just doom scrolling.

00:53:43.239 --> 00:53:46.099
 We have to ask that question,

00:53:46.219 --> 00:53:46.299
 well,

00:53:46.359 --> 00:53:48.539
 what are we surrounded by

00:53:48.539 --> 00:53:49.119
 and what is it doing

00:53:49.119 --> 00:53:49.639
 to my soul?

00:53:51.419 --> 00:53:52.639
 And once you get past that,

00:53:52.819 --> 00:53:53.199
 then you actually,

00:53:53.359 --> 00:53:53.479
 well,

00:53:53.519 --> 00:53:53.679
 Lord,

00:53:53.739 --> 00:53:53.899
 actually,

00:53:54.000 --> 00:53:55.479
 what are you calling me to do?

00:53:58.039 --> 00:53:58.819
 Are you calling me

00:53:58.819 --> 00:54:00.219
 to stay on the Facebook?

00:54:02.579 --> 00:54:03.719
 Or are you causing me,

00:54:04.299 --> 00:54:05.039
 are you calling me

00:54:05.039 --> 00:54:05.479
 to leave it?

00:54:07.079 --> 00:54:07.879
 I can't tell you

00:54:07.879 --> 00:54:08.639
 what the answer is

00:54:08.639 --> 00:54:11.299
 because only the Holy Spirit can.

00:54:11.300 --> 00:54:13.560
 But I think most of us

00:54:13.560 --> 00:54:14.120
 aren't even asking

00:54:14.120 --> 00:54:14.660
 the Holy Spirit.

00:54:16.560 --> 00:54:17.340
 Let's ask him

00:54:17.340 --> 00:54:18.640
 what he actually wants us to do.

00:54:19.860 --> 00:54:20.600
 So he finishes

00:54:20.600 --> 00:54:21.539
 and this is where I'll finish.

00:54:21.700 --> 00:54:22.920
 Verse 29 to 31.

00:54:24.340 --> 00:54:25.100
 He observes,

00:54:25.840 --> 00:54:26.760
 he knows their culture,

00:54:26.860 --> 00:54:27.980
 so he quotes their prophets,

00:54:28.340 --> 00:54:28.880
 their poets,

00:54:29.019 --> 00:54:29.160
 sorry,

00:54:29.460 --> 00:54:30.400
 in him we live and move

00:54:30.400 --> 00:54:31.019
 and have our being

00:54:31.019 --> 00:54:32.519
 and for we indeed

00:54:32.519 --> 00:54:33.000
 are his offspring

00:54:33.000 --> 00:54:33.800
 and then he goes in

00:54:33.800 --> 00:54:34.780
 and he talks about Jesus.

00:54:36.080 --> 00:54:36.560
 He's saying,

00:54:36.660 --> 00:54:37.100
 your idols,

00:54:37.500 --> 00:54:38.519
 your idols are made

00:54:38.519 --> 00:54:39.140
 of gold and silver.

00:54:39.139 --> 00:54:41.440
 But actually,

00:54:41.539 --> 00:54:42.219
 your time of ignorance

00:54:42.219 --> 00:54:42.579
 is up

00:54:42.579 --> 00:54:44.059
 because Jesus has arrived.

00:54:46.079 --> 00:54:47.179
 Because Jesus has arrived

00:54:47.179 --> 00:54:48.079
 and he will be the one

00:54:48.079 --> 00:54:48.480
 who judges.

00:54:49.559 --> 00:54:50.420
 But praise be to God,

00:54:50.500 --> 00:54:51.379
 he won't judge you

00:54:51.379 --> 00:54:54.739
 in the way that you deserve

00:54:54.739 --> 00:54:55.279
 to be judged

00:54:55.279 --> 00:54:57.019
 so long as you believe in him.

00:54:59.400 --> 00:55:00.739
 Verse 29 to 31.

00:55:01.079 --> 00:55:02.920
 It sounds hard to understand

00:55:02.920 --> 00:55:03.400
 sometimes,

00:55:03.559 --> 00:55:04.079
 so I'm going to read

00:55:04.079 --> 00:55:05.579
 Eugene Peterson's

00:55:05.579 --> 00:55:06.619
 translation of it

00:55:06.619 --> 00:55:07.259
 in the message.

00:55:07.260 --> 00:55:09.000
 God overlooks it

00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.720
 as long as you don't

00:55:09.720 --> 00:55:10.320
 know any better,

00:55:10.480 --> 00:55:11.620
 but that time has passed.

00:55:12.020 --> 00:55:13.280
 The unknown is now known

00:55:13.280 --> 00:55:13.960
 and he's calling

00:55:13.960 --> 00:55:15.160
 for a radical life change.

00:55:15.620 --> 00:55:16.320
 He has set a day

00:55:16.320 --> 00:55:17.440
 when the entire human race

00:55:17.440 --> 00:55:17.960
 will be judged

00:55:17.960 --> 00:55:19.200
 and everything set right

00:55:19.200 --> 00:55:20.080
 and he has already

00:55:20.080 --> 00:55:20.840
 appointed the judge,

00:55:21.140 --> 00:55:21.780
 confirming him

00:55:21.780 --> 00:55:22.420
 before everyone

00:55:22.420 --> 00:55:23.240
 by raising him

00:55:23.240 --> 00:55:23.880
 from the dead.

00:55:25.340 --> 00:55:26.500
 He's appointed the judge.

00:55:26.800 --> 00:55:27.380
 The great news,

00:55:27.460 --> 00:55:28.420
 this is why it's good news,

00:55:28.500 --> 00:55:28.700
 people,

00:55:28.860 --> 00:55:29.760
 the great news is

00:55:29.760 --> 00:55:30.700
 that we will be judged

00:55:30.700 --> 00:55:31.380
 but the judge

00:55:31.380 --> 00:55:32.320
 is also our defender.

00:55:34.800 --> 00:55:35.900
 That's why it's good news.

00:55:37.920 --> 00:55:38.620
 Because we are going

00:55:38.620 --> 00:55:39.060
 to be judged

00:55:39.060 --> 00:55:39.740
 and if it's going

00:55:39.740 --> 00:55:40.020
 to be judged

00:55:40.020 --> 00:55:40.800
 on what we did

00:55:40.800 --> 00:55:41.780
 or what we've been doing,

00:55:41.920 --> 00:55:43.080
 that's not good news for us.

00:55:43.300 --> 00:55:44.260
 But the good news is

00:55:44.260 --> 00:55:45.300
 the judge so happens

00:55:45.300 --> 00:55:45.920
 to be the one

00:55:45.920 --> 00:55:46.480
 who's going to look

00:55:46.480 --> 00:55:46.820
 at himself

00:55:46.820 --> 00:55:49.500
 and actually pay the price

00:55:49.500 --> 00:55:49.920
 for us

00:55:49.920 --> 00:55:52.340
 and advocate for us.

00:55:53.340 --> 00:55:54.240
 Isn't that freeing?

00:55:55.000 --> 00:55:56.040
 Isn't that the good news?

00:55:56.240 --> 00:55:57.100
 So therefore we don't

00:55:57.100 --> 00:55:57.940
 have shame anymore,

00:55:58.000 --> 00:55:58.800
 we don't have fear anymore,

00:55:58.840 --> 00:55:59.660
 we don't have guilt anymore

00:55:59.660 --> 00:56:01.420
 because he's done it for us.

00:56:01.420 --> 00:56:05.960
 That has to fill your heart

00:56:05.960 --> 00:56:06.920
 with joy and relief.

00:56:08.700 --> 00:56:09.860
 And your next response

00:56:09.860 --> 00:56:10.740
 after that must be,

00:56:10.980 --> 00:56:11.920
 there are people out there

00:56:11.920 --> 00:56:12.720
 who don't know that.

00:56:13.960 --> 00:56:14.900
 If you're sat here thinking,

00:56:15.039 --> 00:56:15.380
 yeah, actually,

00:56:15.460 --> 00:56:16.039
 when you did that whole

00:56:16.039 --> 00:56:16.840
 90% thing,

00:56:17.000 --> 00:56:17.780
 my heart was just kind of like,

00:56:18.300 --> 00:56:19.240
 well, my prayer is that

00:56:19.240 --> 00:56:19.940
 then you would really,

00:56:20.079 --> 00:56:20.539
 truly understand

00:56:20.539 --> 00:56:21.659
 what the good news is for you.

00:56:22.500 --> 00:56:23.460
 Because once you understand

00:56:23.460 --> 00:56:23.980
 the good news,

00:56:24.460 --> 00:56:26.480
 then you can't help

00:56:26.480 --> 00:56:29.519
 but cry for those outside.

00:56:30.179 --> 00:56:30.940
 You can't help

00:56:30.940 --> 00:56:31.659
 but pray for those

00:56:31.659 --> 00:56:32.559
 who you love and know

00:56:32.559 --> 00:56:34.240
 to know the same thing.

00:56:36.679 --> 00:56:37.519
 That is the prayer

00:56:37.519 --> 00:56:38.440
 that we have.

00:56:45.159 --> 00:56:46.159
 That we have a way now.

00:56:50.639 --> 00:56:51.460
 That we have a way

00:56:51.460 --> 00:56:52.000
 to the Father.

00:56:52.579 --> 00:56:53.240
 That we have a way

00:56:53.240 --> 00:56:53.980
 to eternal life.

00:56:54.059 --> 00:56:55.059
 And there's only one way

00:56:55.059 --> 00:56:56.079
 and it's going to hurt

00:56:56.079 --> 00:56:57.299
 it's going to hurt you

00:56:57.299 --> 00:56:57.900
 to tell those

00:56:57.900 --> 00:56:58.659
 who you love

00:56:58.659 --> 00:56:59.719
 about that way

00:56:59.719 --> 00:57:01.699
 but there is only one way.

00:57:02.719 --> 00:57:03.719
 There is only one

00:57:03.719 --> 00:57:05.179
 who turns the world upside down.

00:57:05.380 --> 00:57:06.759
 Who completely introduced

00:57:06.759 --> 00:57:07.460
 a new kingdom.

00:57:08.139 --> 00:57:09.559
 A new way of living.

00:57:10.239 --> 00:57:11.440
 A new way of saving.

00:57:12.500 --> 00:57:13.579
 He turned it upside down

00:57:13.579 --> 00:57:14.880
 because he succumbed himself

00:57:14.880 --> 00:57:15.259
 to death

00:57:15.259 --> 00:57:16.239
 and in most stories

00:57:16.239 --> 00:57:18.000
 you think that would be the end.

00:57:20.440 --> 00:57:21.659
 But by doing so,

00:57:22.539 --> 00:57:23.519
 he opened a way

00:57:23.519 --> 00:57:24.360
 for all of us.

00:57:24.480 --> 00:57:25.679
 Not just 10%.

00:57:25.679 --> 00:57:26.699
 Not just 5%.

00:57:26.699 --> 00:57:28.019
 All.

00:57:30.599 --> 00:57:31.579
 In Acts 17 he says that.

00:57:31.679 --> 00:57:31.940
 He says,

00:57:32.339 --> 00:57:32.799
 Paul's saying,

00:57:33.039 --> 00:57:33.339
 actually,

00:57:33.500 --> 00:57:34.279
 you don't know him.

00:57:34.359 --> 00:57:35.319
 You see him as an unknown God

00:57:35.319 --> 00:57:36.079
 but actually he's not

00:57:36.079 --> 00:57:37.019
 that far away from you.

00:57:37.059 --> 00:57:38.319
 He's actually right next to you.

00:57:40.179 --> 00:57:40.960
 So beautiful

00:57:40.960 --> 00:57:41.899
 in the way he says that.

00:57:42.859 --> 00:57:43.619
 There are those of us

00:57:43.619 --> 00:57:44.159
 who are sat here

00:57:44.159 --> 00:57:44.399
 going,

00:57:44.500 --> 00:57:45.000
 oh well,

00:57:45.319 --> 00:57:46.940
 I'm actually really far away.

00:57:47.619 --> 00:57:48.819
 I don't know him yet.

00:57:49.819 --> 00:57:50.339
 To me,

00:57:50.379 --> 00:57:51.899
 he is that unknown God.

00:57:51.900 --> 00:57:54.059
 He's too far.

00:57:55.920 --> 00:57:57.380
 That's where I want to encourage you,

00:57:57.579 --> 00:57:57.840
 Jesus.

00:57:58.559 --> 00:57:59.860
 He is the image

00:57:59.860 --> 00:58:00.820
 of the invisible God.

00:58:01.280 --> 00:58:02.380
 He comes to you,

00:58:02.720 --> 00:58:03.680
 preaches peace to you

00:58:03.680 --> 00:58:04.380
 who are far off

00:58:04.380 --> 00:58:06.420
 and invites you in.

00:58:09.599 --> 00:58:10.280
 That is it.

00:58:11.780 --> 00:58:12.700
 That is all there is.

00:58:12.780 --> 00:58:13.559
 There is nothing else.

00:58:13.559 --> 00:58:16.159
 Who can ascend

00:58:16.159 --> 00:58:17.219
 that hill to God?

00:58:18.420 --> 00:58:19.179
 He who has

00:58:19.179 --> 00:58:20.460
 clean hands

00:58:20.460 --> 00:58:22.059
 and a pure heart.

00:58:24.400 --> 00:58:25.259
 And we ask God,

00:58:25.360 --> 00:58:26.039
 would you give us

00:58:26.039 --> 00:58:26.960
 clean hands

00:58:26.960 --> 00:58:27.659
 and a pure heart

00:58:27.659 --> 00:58:28.679
 so we can ascend the hill?

00:58:29.739 --> 00:58:30.900
 And he answers our prayer

00:58:30.900 --> 00:58:31.659
 but not in the way

00:58:31.659 --> 00:58:32.159
 that we think

00:58:32.159 --> 00:58:32.779
 because we think

00:58:32.779 --> 00:58:33.340
 he will do it

00:58:33.340 --> 00:58:34.119
 by helping us

00:58:34.119 --> 00:58:35.719
 get there in ourselves

00:58:35.719 --> 00:58:37.320
 but the way he gifts us

00:58:37.320 --> 00:58:39.059
 is by giving us the one,

00:58:39.159 --> 00:58:39.779
 the only one

00:58:39.779 --> 00:58:40.500
 who has clean hands

00:58:40.500 --> 00:58:41.139
 and a pure heart,

00:58:41.400 --> 00:58:41.619
 Jesus.

00:58:44.199 --> 00:58:45.759
 It flips that song,

00:58:45.840 --> 00:58:46.940
 it flips that Bible verse

00:58:46.940 --> 00:58:48.440
 into a different mindset

00:58:48.440 --> 00:58:48.699
 going,

00:58:48.799 --> 00:58:49.259
 actually Jesus,

00:58:49.380 --> 00:58:50.079
 all I need is you.

00:58:51.500 --> 00:58:52.039
 The only way

00:58:52.039 --> 00:58:52.820
 I ascend this hill

00:58:52.820 --> 00:58:53.659
 is because of you.

00:58:56.199 --> 00:58:57.380
 Would your spirit guide me?

00:58:57.980 --> 00:58:58.900
 Would your spirit lead me?

00:59:01.139 --> 00:59:02.500
 And lead me

00:59:02.500 --> 00:59:03.619
 to those around me?

00:59:06.779 --> 00:59:07.679
 It is only you.

00:59:08.719 --> 00:59:09.299
 Let's pray.

00:59:13.559 --> 00:59:20.440
 Jesus,

00:59:20.599 --> 00:59:23.179
 we rely only on you

00:59:23.179 --> 00:59:24.099
 and your spirit.

00:59:25.000 --> 00:59:26.599
 We surrender every idol.

00:59:31.019 --> 00:59:32.259
 We approach your throne

00:59:32.259 --> 00:59:32.960
 with confidence

00:59:32.960 --> 00:59:33.860
 and humility.

00:59:36.820 --> 00:59:38.039
 We are not for your grace

00:59:38.039 --> 00:59:38.480
 and mercy,

00:59:38.599 --> 00:59:39.380
 we would not even

00:59:39.380 --> 00:59:40.099
 be able to stand.

00:59:40.099 --> 00:59:40.159
 Amen.

00:59:40.159 --> 00:59:40.199
 Amen.

00:59:40.199 --> 00:59:40.199


00:59:40.199 --> 00:59:40.199


00:59:43.559 --> 00:59:46.259
 But your grace

00:59:46.259 --> 00:59:47.239
 is truly sufficient.

00:59:50.719 --> 00:59:51.639
 Your power

00:59:51.639 --> 00:59:52.340
 is made perfect

00:59:52.340 --> 00:59:53.000
 in our weakness.

00:59:58.980 --> 01:00:00.039
 So would your spirit

01:00:00.039 --> 01:00:00.539
 guide us?

01:00:02.119 --> 01:00:02.340
 Amen.

01:00:06.340 --> 01:00:07.239
 We humble ourselves

01:00:07.239 --> 01:00:07.779
 before you.

01:00:08.019 --> 01:00:10.159
 We release

01:00:10.159 --> 01:00:11.199
 every failure,

01:00:12.079 --> 01:00:13.899
 every idol.

01:00:20.159 --> 01:00:20.980
 We press on

01:00:20.980 --> 01:00:21.519
 toward the goal

01:00:21.519 --> 01:00:22.779
 of the upward call

01:00:22.779 --> 01:00:23.779
 of God in Christ Jesus

01:00:23.779 --> 01:00:24.359
 and we pray

01:00:24.359 --> 01:00:25.119
 that as we

01:00:25.119 --> 01:00:26.899
 press on towards you,

01:00:26.980 --> 01:00:27.420
 you would bring

01:00:27.420 --> 01:00:28.059
 as many people

01:00:28.059 --> 01:00:28.859
 alongside us.

01:00:32.699 --> 01:00:33.239
 Thank you.

01:00:33.239 --> 01:00:38.399
 Lord,

01:00:38.399 --> 01:00:40.500
 we seek your face.

01:00:41.879 --> 01:00:42.599
 Would you let us

01:00:42.599 --> 01:00:43.559
 be a generation

01:00:43.559 --> 01:00:46.699
 that seeks you

01:00:46.699 --> 01:00:47.199
 and you alone?

01:00:54.679 --> 01:00:55.279
 Holy Spirit,

01:00:55.339 --> 01:00:55.779
 we need you.

01:00:56.359 --> 01:00:57.139
 We need your help.

01:00:57.199 --> 01:00:57.879
 We need your guidance.

01:00:59.879 --> 01:01:00.939
 Point us to the sun.

01:01:00.940 --> 01:01:04.860
 Point us to Jesus

01:01:04.860 --> 01:01:05.720
 and in doing so,

01:01:05.820 --> 01:01:06.280
 would you point

01:01:06.280 --> 01:01:07.099
 those around us

01:01:07.099 --> 01:01:07.780
 to Jesus too?

01:01:12.320 --> 01:01:12.800
 Thank you,

01:01:12.860 --> 01:01:12.980
 Lord.

01:01:14.059 --> 01:01:15.159
 Would you empower us,

01:01:15.240 --> 01:01:15.900
 encourage us,

01:01:16.280 --> 01:01:16.780
 convict us

01:01:16.780 --> 01:01:17.400
 as we move on

01:01:17.400 --> 01:01:17.760
 from here,

01:01:18.079 --> 01:01:18.980
 that we would see

01:01:18.980 --> 01:01:19.500
 as you see,

01:01:19.659 --> 01:01:20.420
 feel as you feel

01:01:20.420 --> 01:01:23.159
 and move with you

01:01:23.159 --> 01:01:24.519
 to be in step

01:01:24.519 --> 01:01:24.880
 with you.

01:01:26.980 --> 01:01:27.480
 Thank you,

01:01:27.559 --> 01:01:27.659
 Lord.

01:01:29.099 --> 01:01:29.800
 In your name

01:01:29.800 --> 01:01:30.159
 we pray.

01:01:30.940 --> 01:01:31.599
 Amen.

01:01:31.599 --> 01:01:31.700
 Amen.

01:01:31.700 --> 01:01:31.780
 Amen.