WEBVTT

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 Okay, thanks Amy, and great to see you this morning.

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 Please do keep that passage open in John chapter 15.

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 My name is Graham, I'm the pastor here at the church, and it's lovely to welcome you today.

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 Particularly if this is your first Sunday with us, know that you are so welcome,

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 and we would love to serve you in any way that we can, so please do hang around, we'd love to get to know you.

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 And John chapter 15, the second half, into our WhatsApp messages, what WhatsApp messages kind of week that it's been, let the reader understand.

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 Here's what Jesus wants us to know about him today.

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 He wants us to know that he's a king who's hiding absolutely nothing from us.

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 There are no hidden terms and conditions.

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 There's no small print that he really hopes that we don't see.

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 He's full disclosure.

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 And he's full disclosure, particularly when it comes to the reality of what life is going to be like if we decide to follow him.

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 Now, it was Chris Martin from Coldplay who sang this,

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 As of my childhood,

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 Dude, nobody said it was going to be easy,

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 but no one said it was going to be this hard.

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 Do you know the feeling in life?

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 There's all sorts of things, aren't there, that leave us thinking,

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 if only we'd known.

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 Right?

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 If only someone had warned me that this was going to be that difficult

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 before I got so far down the track

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 and I figured it out for myself.

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 How many of us have got DIY projects sitting at home where we said just that?

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 And yet Jesus, I want you to know, dear friends, isn't one of those people.

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 He wants us to know exactly what it's going to be like if we choose to follow him.

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 He's full disclosure today.

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 Full disclosure.

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 And so in John 15, if we take in the two halves of it,

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 we get so clearly, probably more than anywhere else in the whole Bible,

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 we get the paradox.

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 That word, just two things that we don't think go together, but they do.

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 We get the paradox that's right at the heart of the Christian life.

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 If you follow Jesus, these two things are true.

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 That Jesus is the place where true and lasting joy are to be found in this life.

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 That there is no greater thing to live for and know

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 as we live our lives in this world than him.

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 And yet following him puts us on a direct collision course with the world

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 who will hate you for what you believe and what you stand for.

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 So Jesus isn't like the captain in the cockpit saying,

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 on this flight, we may experience some turbulence,

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 but for the majority of it, it's going to be nice.

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 So why don't you sit back and relax and enjoy the flight?

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 Jesus is much more like the army general who's speaking to his troops

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 seconds before they are about to go over the trenches.

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 And here are the final words.

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 And he says to them, this is going to hurt.

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 And with that, can I just say I'm reminded of two reasons why I find in Jesus,

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 or I find Jesus rather, the most endearing of leaders.

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 And I'm reminded of the brilliance of him that has attracted billions throughout the world today

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 and down the generations, convinced them that he is worth following.

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 Firstly, because he tells me it's straight.

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 Follow me and the world will hate you.

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 Got it?

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 Loud and clear.

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 And second, reason for his brilliance is that he's not calling his followers to go anywhere

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 that he's not first gone himself.

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 He is the pioneer of the world-forsaken, heaven-traveling, cross-taking life.

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 And those two reasons come together to show us that he is totally trustworthy today.

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 He is worthy of everything that you have in your life because he's this kind of king.

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 And so hear Jesus say that if joy and persecution

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 are the dominant flavors of your life today as a disciple,

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 then that is normal Christianity.

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 And of course, this only makes sense when we understand

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 what it is to be a Christian.

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 What takes this passage and makes it more than you need to up your game and be brave

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 and makes it into something that is life-alteringly good

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 is if we understand what Jesus has done for us.

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 And it's always the wonderful truth in the Christian life

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 that it always comes back to who we are as disciples of Jesus.

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 You know, there's a famous hymn that the church have sung down through the ages called

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 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.

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 But I was hearing this week about a church in the States

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 who have changed the lyrics to this.

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 I never wanted to follow Jesus.

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 I never wanted to follow Jesus.

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 I never wanted to follow Jesus.

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 But he rescued me.

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 He rescued me.

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 So no turning back.

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 No turning back.

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 And as they sing it, they're reminding themselves

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 that yes, there is no glory like knowing Jesus in this world.

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 It is worth forsaking everything for.

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 And we're declaring as we sing this song that we are choosing

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 to follow him with everything that we've got in this life.

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 But that is not the prerequisite for,

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 but the response to the fact that he chose,

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 loved and pursued enemies of God like us.

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 And he did it not second.

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 He did it first.

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 Or if I could put it like this,

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 Jesus was interested in us way before we were interested in him.

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 You read Galatians 1.

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 Paul talks about how he was set aside before he was born.

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 Because I'll tell you what, before I became a Christian,

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 I used to think just like the world does,

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 that religion, Christianity is a big game of hide and seek,

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 except that I'm the seeker and God's the hider.

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 And yet you step into the Jesus story.

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 You hear him talk.

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 You come to realize that it's completely the opposite way around.

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 That we were lost.

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 We had no interest in him.

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 And yet he came to find us.

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 Jesus is the great seeker.

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 He is the great saver.

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 He is the great restorer.

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 He is the great renewer of human hearts.

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 And I think this is why it is so important that we let Jesus' words,

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 not our logic of how we think it works,

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 shape the way that we understand ourselves,

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 the world and these heavenly realities that he's speaking about here.

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 Now, I'm a simple guy.

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 Maybe you can imagine it like the claw in Toy Story.

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 As you take in what Jesus says to his original disciples there at verse 19.

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 It's on the screen.

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 Follow along if you've got the Bible there.

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 He says that I chose you out of the world.

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 In other words, Jesus reached down into their pit.

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 He did more than that.

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 He joined them in their pit.

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 And he rescued them from the sin and the resulting eternal punishment

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 that was theirs and ours before our holy creator.

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 And he did it through his blood shed on the cross.

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 And he lifted them.

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 He scooped them up.

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 And he lifted them out of the world.

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 And he took them and he placed them,

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 not to run free, my pretties,

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 but he took them and he placed them in him.

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 And that means the most defining feature of the Christian's life

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 is that it is lived in Christ.

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 To be a Christian is to be a completely new

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 and a completely different kind of person.

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 And because of Jesus, friends,

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 you and I are now swimming in a completely new and different direction

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 to the one which we were previously swimming in

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 and the world currently swims in.

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 We have got different values.

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 We live our lives to different priorities.

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 We've got different beliefs.

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 Which is why, isn't it, that as a parent,

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 that though we love the school,

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 we want to be a blessing to our school.

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 We love the people there.

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 That when they send around what they're planning

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 and teaching our kids about sex and sexuality,

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 I see that differently.

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 Hear Jesus say that when you feel different to the world,

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 it is only because he has taken you out of the world.

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 You know, our calling as disciples is not to be sweet.

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 It is most definitely not to be sour.

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 The calling that Jesus makes on our lives is to be salty.

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 And remember the context here.

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 This is hours before Jesus' death.

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 This is where we are in the farewell discourse of this gospel.

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 The final say, the final push that Jesus makes.

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 And Jesus amazingly thinks that the best use of his time

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 in his final hours is not to use it to tick off the bucket list.

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 It is to use it to prepare his disciples

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 for what life will be like for them

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 in the gap between his going and his returning.

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 It's where they will soon find themselves.

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 And of course, it's where we find ourselves today.

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 Last week, we thought about this.

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 And really, this is the most wonderful description

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 of the Christian life.

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 We saw him call his disciples to that deeply rooted life.

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 And if you weren't here, I thought Ian did a fantastic job

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 at just bringing out the comfort, the challenge,

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 and the sweetness of knowing Jesus.

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 Particularly a line that challenged me.

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 I think I quote you right on this, Ian.

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 You talked about the job of our,

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 our job is not just to be impressive looking branches.

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 It is to produce Jesus like fruit in our lives,

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 both individually and corporately.

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 Jesus is called to allow his words to nourish us,

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 to work their way through our system.

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 Life's where the spirit living in us

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 is going to take those words and work them through us

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 and produce in us delicious and joyous

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 Jesus-shaped fruit in our lives.

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 And just in case you thought that the world will love you for that,

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 know that the darkness is never a fan of the light.

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 Maybe you can think of it like this.

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 I remember when I was young,

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 my mum used to wake me up,

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 my brothers up,

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 every single day for school.

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 And you'd have that moment when you were,

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 you were still semi-asleep

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 and you would hear her footsteps coming up the stairs

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 and getting louder and louder and louder.

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 She approached your door

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 and then bam,

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 the door would open

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 and she would go full light switch.

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 Full light switch.

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 My instinctive reaction in that moment

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 was never thank you, mum.

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 Because I was just sitting here thinking

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 that I could really do with some bright light

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 in my life right about now to wake me up.

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 The three words in my mind every single morning were,

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 turn it off.

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 And that's exactly what Jesus is saying here.

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 That as the Spirit increasingly,

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 just to stick with the metaphor,

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 turns up the light dimmer switch

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 in the lives of his disciples,

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 the darkness in turn will increasingly raise its voice

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 to say,

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 turn it off.

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 The world provides no cheerleaders

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 on the path of godliness.

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 It will hate you

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 because you are not from here,

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 says Jesus.

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 Now why does he talk like this?

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 I take it as more than just being forewarned,

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 as being forearmed.

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 This is,

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 see when you experience it.

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 And I take it,

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 we'll come back to this in a little bit,

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 that some of us are right now.

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 Maybe you are in a really scary place.

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 You're feeling the heat.

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 You know exactly what he's talking about.

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 Others of us,

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 it will come.

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 He is saying,

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 when it happens,

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 don't let it alarm you.

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 This is Jesus getting out in front of his disciples

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 and saying,

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 I'm telling you what life is going to be like.

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 And real quick,

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 can I just pull out three things

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 that I hope strengthen us today

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 from what Jesus says here?

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 Do you notice the Father,

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 the Son,

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 and the Spirit

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 all in this section?

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 Of course,

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 it's the Christian doctrine

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 of the Trinity.

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 It's just two words,

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 I take it,

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 that have been mashed together

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 of the threeness,

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 the tri,

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 and the unity.

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 Trinity.

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 It's the Father,

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 Son,

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 and the Spirit

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 who are all involved here

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 in the work of the disciple.

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 Here's three quick things for you.

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 Jesus takes responsibility for us.

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 Jesus is the one

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 who's standing behind all of this.

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 Jesus is the one saying

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 to his disciples,

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 verse 18,

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 when the world opposes you,

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 know that it opposed me first.

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 He is the one saying,

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 verse 21,

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 that when they do these things to you,

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 they will do them on account of my name.

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 So when the world opposes you,

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 however sharp or little that might be,

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 know that what is really going on here

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 is that the world is opposing me.

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 Jesus is the one

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 who's standing behind this all.

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 And he is the one

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 who's standing above it all.

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 You know,

00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.019
 one of the first Christian martyrs

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 that you get chronologically

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 just after this,

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 I guess,

00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:20.460
 in the book of Acts

00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:22.539
 is a man called Stephen

00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:24.379
 whose only crime

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.819
 is that he talks about Jesus

00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:27.459
 and the people's need of him

00:15:27.459 --> 00:15:29.279
 and they don't want to hear it

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.419
 and they kill him for it.

00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:32.799
 But what you get in that scene in Acts

00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:35.079
 is not just the play out on earth.

00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:36.500
 What you get there

00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.699
 is the view from heaven.

00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:41.139
 Jesus is at the right hand of God

00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:43.799
 and he's not sitting.

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.939
 He's standing.

00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:46.020
 He's standing.

00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:48.880
 He's standing as if to say

00:15:48.880 --> 00:15:50.580
 the suffering of my people,

00:15:50.900 --> 00:15:53.060
 it doesn't just get my attention.

00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:55.000
 The suffering of my people

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.400
 draws out my heart.

00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:58.600
 Jesus is,

00:15:59.020 --> 00:16:00.120
 this is more than just

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:04.040
 he sees what's going on.

00:16:05.140 --> 00:16:06.860
 No, he stands with his people

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.620
 in this moment.

00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:11.560
 Jesus takes responsibility here

00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.900
 for the life of his disciples.

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:13.920
 He's got us.

00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:15.659
 He's got us.

00:16:16.979 --> 00:16:18.000
 And secondly,

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:19.059
 do you see how the Father

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:21.319
 has visibility of us?

00:16:22.599 --> 00:16:23.779
 At verse 24,

00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:25.179
 Jesus isn't saying

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:26.719
 that before he entered the world,

00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:28.659
 people were without fault.

00:16:29.339 --> 00:16:31.099
 He's saying that the signs,

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.740
 which I take it is just code for

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.319
 his whole life in ministry,

00:16:34.959 --> 00:16:36.839
 it brings out of people,

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:38.860
 it draws to the surface

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:40.699
 the rejection of God

00:16:40.699 --> 00:16:41.959
 that was already there.

00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:44.500
 And he wants the disciples

00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.860
 to know that as people

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.980
 rejected him,

00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:48.940
 what they were in fact doing

00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:50.200
 was rejecting the Father

00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:51.120
 who sent him.

00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:52.360
 And so there's a little

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.160
 domino effect

00:16:53.160 --> 00:16:54.300
 that's playing out here,

00:16:54.920 --> 00:16:55.720
 that as the people

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:57.160
 reject us,

00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.580
 they are in turn

00:16:58.580 --> 00:16:59.879
 rejecting the Son,

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.620
 and they are in turn

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.580
 rejecting the Father

00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.379
 who sent him.

00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.279
 What does Jesus want us

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:07.220
 to know about the Father?

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:09.480
 Do you see how at verse 25 there,

00:17:10.360 --> 00:17:12.559
 he quotes Jesus

00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:14.819
 likely from the Psalms,

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.620
 the book of the Bible

00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:16.600
 we get in the Old Testament,

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:19.059
 likely from Psalm 35,

00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.900
 a little bit of it on the screen.

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.079
 Go home and read it

00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:22.819
 in your own time.

00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.480
 This Psalm of David,

00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:25.819
 as he pours out his soul

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.680
 before the Lord,

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:30.100
 he's feeling unjustly treated

00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:32.360
 as he tries to walk in godliness.

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:35.000
 People are trying to trip him up

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.000
 at every opportunity.

00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.359
 People are bringing

00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:39.200
 unfounded accusations

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.220
 against him.

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:41.240
 And he says,

00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.140
 Lord, listen,

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:44.079
 they repay me evil

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.039
 for my good.

00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:48.119
 One of the dominant themes

00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:49.059
 you get in that Psalm

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:50.799
 is, Lord, you have seen it all.

00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.859
 Lord, you are the all-knowing one,

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:57.220
 and also you are the all-seeing one.

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.759
 And Lord, I keep going

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.880
 because I know

00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:03.200
 that none of what's playing out here

00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.599
 has escaped your notice.

00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:06.940
 And I keep going

00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:07.519
 because, Lord,

00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.400
 one day I know

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.799
 that you will vindicate me.

00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:12.940
 If you watch that ITV drama,

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:15.720
 Mr. Bates in the post office,

00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:17.059
 was that not the big thing

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:17.920
 that was coming up?

00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:21.579
 It was not a scene in that

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.240
 where he says

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:24.019
 it's not just about the compensation,

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:26.420
 it's about the truth winning.

00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:28.339
 It's about being vindicated,

00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.200
 being right.

00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:31.059
 That's something we all long for,

00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:31.400
 isn't it?

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.740
 For the truth to prevail.

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:35.599
 And this is saying

00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.880
 that God sees it all.

00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:40.019
 All the suffering of his people,

00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:41.400
 every nasty words,

00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.759
 every mocking laugh,

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:44.279
 every evil intention,

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:46.059
 every blow to the chest,

00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:48.259
 the Father has visibility

00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:50.039
 of it all.

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:52.980
 And thirdly,

00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:54.599
 the Spirit brings credibility.

00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:58.200
 You see, I think that's the helper

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:59.500
 that Jesus is talking about

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.960
 there at verse 26.

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.720
 The Spirit whose job it is

00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.980
 to convince people

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.380
 about the truth of

00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:08.019
 and their need of

00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.980
 Jesus as their Savior.

00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:11.819
 Now, I take it that

00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:13.759
 there's an internal angle here

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.000
 to the Spirit's work

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:17.759
 because in Psalm 35,

00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:19.440
 again, right up top,

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.140
 you get this,

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:23.059
 David praying to God

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.880
 and he says,

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.180
 would you say to my soul

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:28.240
 that you are my salvation?

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.880
 In other words,

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.600
 would you massage this truth

00:19:31.600 --> 00:19:33.080
 deep down into my life

00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:34.000
 because right now

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.560
 I'm struggling to believe

00:19:35.560 --> 00:19:36.799
 that it's true.

00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:38.640
 And I take it

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.500
 that the Spirit

00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.500
 for the believer

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:43.080
 brings that sense

00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:43.880
 of assurance

00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:45.100
 to our hearts

00:19:45.100 --> 00:19:46.920
 as we suffer for Jesus

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:49.440
 in the words of Romans 8.

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:49.960
 And of course,

00:19:50.060 --> 00:19:50.160
 there,

00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.640
 the context in Romans 8

00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.860
 is all about the groaning

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:53.719
 that we feel

00:19:53.719 --> 00:19:54.939
 for God to come

00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:56.000
 and make this right.

00:19:57.139 --> 00:19:59.139
 The Spirit will help us cry,

00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:00.159
 Abba, Father.

00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:03.179
 Father, help me know.

00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:05.399
 Help me know this truth.

00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.719
 Help me to keep going.

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.259
 And I take it

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.339
 there's an external angle

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.699
 in the Spirit's work as well.

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:15.079
 The primary mission

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.859
 of the Spirit

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:17.379
 and His people

00:20:17.379 --> 00:20:19.500
 is to show the world

00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:21.159
 that Jesus is more glorious

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:22.180
 than anything

00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:23.480
 or anyone else

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:23.940
 that the world

00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.160
 could possibly offer.

00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:28.100
 As you live your life

00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:29.540
 faithfully for Jesus,

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.480
 it may look like

00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:32.980
 foolishness to you.

00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.720
 It may look like

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:36.759
 we are wasting our time.

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.600
 But can I encourage us

00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:39.320
 to see,

00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:41.100
 because of what Jesus

00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:42.259
 says here,

00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:44.880
 not to think for a second

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:46.580
 that the Spirit of God

00:20:46.580 --> 00:20:47.800
 isn't at work

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:49.500
 in ways that are

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:51.159
 so far above

00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:52.039
 our ability

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:53.220
 to comprehend.

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:56.279
 Because speaking about

00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.980
 and witnessing for Jesus,

00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:59.720
 it really will be

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.539
 like the proverbial

00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.700
 Marmite taste.

00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:05.299
 For some,

00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:06.379
 as they watch you

00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.720
 and taste your life,

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:09.379
 it will be the smell

00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:11.079
 and the taste of death.

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.299
 And they will be repelled

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:13.859
 by it.

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:15.619
 However,

00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:16.939
 others will taste

00:21:16.939 --> 00:21:18.359
 the same thing.

00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.379
 And to them,

00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:22.179
 it will be the smell

00:21:22.179 --> 00:21:24.019
 and taste of life.

00:21:24.959 --> 00:21:27.000
 And they will be drawn to it.

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.359
 And that is how

00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:30.879
 the Spirit of God

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.819
 is at work

00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:33.379
 in our everyday

00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:35.559
 faithfulness.

00:21:35.939 --> 00:21:37.199
 Now just on that note,

00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:38.019
 our time is gone.

00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:39.019
 Just as we close,

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.139
 let me tell you

00:21:40.139 --> 00:21:41.099
 about a friend of mine

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:42.519
 at school called Stephen.

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:42.619
 Stephen.

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:44.920
 Because this is exactly

00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:45.700
 how it worked out

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.299
 for me.

00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:49.319
 Stephen was a Christian

00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.339
 in our year at school.

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.220
 Everyone knew

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.460
 that Stephen was a Christian.

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.480
 But there was one day

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.160
 in particular

00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:55.980
 that all of us

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.599
 found out

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.720
 that he was actually

00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.779
 serious about

00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.900
 this whole God stuff.

00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:02.099
 It was a few days

00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:02.819
 before our school

00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.440
 rugby team

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.139
 played in the

00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:05.680
 Scottish schools

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.619
 finals

00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:08.319
 due to be played

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:08.940
 on the pitches

00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:09.700
 at Murrayfield.

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.619
 Now you're a sporty

00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.900
 14-year-old boy.

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:13.019
 That stuff

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.920
 is the stuff

00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.740
 of dreams.

00:22:16.040 --> 00:22:16.940
 And in the days before,

00:22:17.060 --> 00:22:18.100
 the coach gathers us

00:22:18.100 --> 00:22:19.340
 together as a squad

00:22:19.340 --> 00:22:21.320
 and he tells us

00:22:21.320 --> 00:22:21.880
 the tournament

00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:22.480
 is going to be

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.240
 on a Sunday.

00:22:24.280 --> 00:22:24.940
 And he says,

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.240
 boys,

00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:26.640
 is there any reason

00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.360
 before I name

00:22:27.360 --> 00:22:28.040
 the squad

00:22:28.040 --> 00:22:29.460
 that anyone thinks

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:29.980
 they're not going

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.880
 to be able to play?

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.880
 And Stephen's hand

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.500
 goes up

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:36.019
 and he says

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.540
 in front of the

00:22:36.540 --> 00:22:37.220
 whole room,

00:22:37.800 --> 00:22:38.280
 he says,

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:38.700
 sir,

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.940
 I won't make it

00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:41.319
 because I'll be

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:41.920
 at church.

00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:44.299
 And the rest of us

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.399
 look at each other

00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:47.079
 utterly baffled

00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:49.099
 because in our minds

00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:50.519
 he has got the choice

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.799
 between Murrayfield

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.859
 and the monastery

00:22:52.859 --> 00:22:54.740
 and he's got it

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:56.039
 for one Sunday

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.839
 and he's picked

00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:59.000
 the monastery.

00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.160
 And all of us

00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:01.799
 were thinking,

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:03.339
 why on earth

00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:04.619
 would you choose

00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.359
 to do that?

00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:07.919
 Now we got obliterated

00:23:07.919 --> 00:23:08.919
 in the first round

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:10.279
 so perhaps Stephen

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:12.079
 had most definitely

00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:13.240
 got the last laugh.

00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.939
 But there I was

00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:15.599
 growing up

00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.519
 going to church

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.459
 but let me tell you

00:23:17.459 --> 00:23:19.000
 very, very happy

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.119
 to be non-committal

00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:20.699
 about it

00:23:20.699 --> 00:23:22.539
 as one who loved

00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.119
 the fence.

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:24.579
 I owned the fence

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.219
 growing up

00:23:25.219 --> 00:23:26.899
 going to church,

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.599
 going to school

00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.479
 and I'm watching

00:23:28.479 --> 00:23:29.479
 Stephen here

00:23:29.479 --> 00:23:31.839
 unashamedly nail

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:33.459
 his colours

00:23:33.459 --> 00:23:34.199
 to the mast

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:37.319
 and I hear

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.900
 the nicknames

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.559
 that people give

00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.100
 him outside

00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:40.059
 the group

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:41.620
 and I hear

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.140
 the jokes

00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:42.880
 that people make

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.299
 about him

00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:44.140
 behind his back

00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:45.000
 and he was fully

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.720
 aware of what's

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.299
 going on

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.620
 but while for

00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.360
 everyone else

00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:48.799
 in the room

00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:49.500
 it just confirmed

00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.259
 the ridiculous

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.120
 nature of the

00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:51.960
 Christian faith

00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:54.039
 for me

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:55.080
 for some reason

00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:55.980
 which I never

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.680
 understood at the

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.480
 time but this

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:59.100
 passage tells me

00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:00.860
 Stephen's life

00:24:00.860 --> 00:24:01.519
 drew me to

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.120
 Christianity

00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:02.239
 Christianity

00:24:02.239 --> 00:24:04.539
 and I saw

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.219
 in him

00:24:05.219 --> 00:24:06.419
 someone who

00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:07.519
 fully embraced

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.679
 the paradox

00:24:08.679 --> 00:24:10.119
 that's right at

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.679
 the heart of

00:24:10.679 --> 00:24:11.199
 the Christian

00:24:11.199 --> 00:24:11.719
 life.

00:24:12.199 --> 00:24:13.239
 He had joy

00:24:13.239 --> 00:24:14.879
 and he was

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.539
 willing to

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.379
 embrace

00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:17.119
 persecution

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:18.219
 and in the

00:24:18.219 --> 00:24:18.939
 world's eyes

00:24:18.939 --> 00:24:19.839
 you have joy

00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.279
 when things

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.679
 are going

00:24:20.679 --> 00:24:21.299
 well

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:21.839
 and when

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.199
 things are

00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:23.059
 going badly

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:23.500
 you don't

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.059
 have joy

00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:25.219
 and yet this

00:24:25.219 --> 00:24:26.119
 tells us

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:26.439
 doesn't it

00:24:26.439 --> 00:24:26.959
 and I saw

00:24:26.959 --> 00:24:27.339
 in him

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:27.639
 that those

00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.139
 two things

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:28.759
 run right

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.199
 together

00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:31.160
 and I remember

00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:31.640
 thinking to

00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.160
 myself in

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.620
 that moment

00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:33.500
 whatever he's

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:33.960
 got

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:36.200
 whatever the

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.080
 secret sauce

00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:37.700
 is in his

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.200
 life

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:40.319
 I want it

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:42.539
 and I need

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:42.840
 it

00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:44.720
 and so here's

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.380
 two words

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:45.900
 just to

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:47.120
 that I'll

00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:47.559
 leave you

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:47.940
 with

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:49.180
 as we

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.779
 respond to

00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.380
 this passage

00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:50.660
 today

00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.460
 two places

00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:51.819
 where I think

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.240
 this is going

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.620
 to land

00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:53.140
 for us

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.779
 here's the

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.440
 first word

00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.580
 is courage

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:59.179
 do some

00:24:59.179 --> 00:24:59.500
 of us

00:24:59.500 --> 00:24:59.899
 need to

00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:00.419
 embrace

00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:01.119
 the call

00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:02.439
 to stand

00:25:02.439 --> 00:25:02.919
 up and be

00:25:02.919 --> 00:25:03.500
 different for

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:03.899
 Jesus

00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.839
 and associate

00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:05.399
 with him

00:25:05.399 --> 00:25:05.939
 publicly

00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:06.659
 when the

00:25:06.659 --> 00:25:07.439
 question comes

00:25:07.439 --> 00:25:07.679
 at you

00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:08.099
 tomorrow

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:08.579
 what did

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:08.899
 you do

00:25:08.899 --> 00:25:09.220
 with your

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.720
 weekend

00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:11.579
 what are

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:11.799
 you going

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.279
 to say

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:14.299
 for some

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:14.539
 of us

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:14.859
 this will

00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.220
 be

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.539
 about

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.299
 courage

00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:18.659
 let me

00:25:18.659 --> 00:25:18.980
 just say

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.220
 if you've

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:19.619
 never done

00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.159
 this publicly

00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:20.480
 before

00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:20.919
 we have a

00:25:20.919 --> 00:25:21.299
 baptism

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.819
 class

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.159
 that Kate

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:22.619
 will mention

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.179
 later on

00:25:23.179 --> 00:25:23.579
 tomorrow

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.079
 night on

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:24.519
 Zoom

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:26.119
 from 7.15

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.900
 till just

00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:27.740
 before 8 o'clock

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.160
 before the

00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:28.740
 prayer meeting

00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:30.099
 if you want

00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:30.940
 to publicly

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:33.200
 associate

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.980
 yourself with

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.240
 Jesus

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.660
 that's what

00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:35.480
 baptism is

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.220
 you are saying

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.960
 I'm following

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.319
 him

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.279
 come to that

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.059
 class and find

00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.579
 out about what

00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.480
 baptism is

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.200
 but maybe

00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.079
 let me just

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.839
 say the start

00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.579
 of the year

00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.579
 is always the

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.480
 best time to

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:45.799
 nail your

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.299
 colors to

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.940
 the mast

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:49.099
 some of us

00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:49.539
 this will come

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.279
 as a challenge

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:51.980
 for courage

00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.759
 and others

00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.400
 I take it

00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:53.879
 that we are

00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:54.299
 here

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.659
 and it's

00:25:54.659 --> 00:25:55.299
 not courage

00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.659
 we need

00:25:55.659 --> 00:25:56.119
 comfort

00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:58.220
 you know

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:58.799
 the pain

00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.379
 of what

00:25:59.379 --> 00:25:59.940
 Jesus is

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.519
 talking about

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.940
 here

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:02.119
 and you

00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:02.639
 feel it

00:26:02.639 --> 00:26:02.879
 in your

00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:03.159
 life

00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:03.740
 acutely

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.119
 and it

00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:04.359
 may be

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:04.839
 playing out

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.200
 in all

00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:05.639
 sorts of

00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:05.960
 different

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.399
 places

00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:06.960
 in your

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.659
 university

00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:08.980
 in your

00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.500
 family

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.099
 in your

00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:10.539
 workplace

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.119
 with your

00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.419
 neighbors

00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:12.059
 however this

00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.779
 is playing

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.240
 out for you

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:13.579
 just now

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.000
 I want you

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.480
 to know

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.740
 that everything

00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.200
 that we've

00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:16.819
 done here

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.599
 in this

00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:17.960
 passage

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.539
 is true

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:20.319
 and I

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.720
 want you

00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.279
 to

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:23.279
 we will

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:23.740
 be praying

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.220
 tonight

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.680
 at the

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:24.859
 prayer

00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.180
 meeting

00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.599
 we will

00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:25.920
 be praying

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.359
 tomorrow

00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:26.680
 night

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.220
 on zoom

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:27.639
 as well

00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:27.940
 we will

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.299
 try to

00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:28.819
 establish

00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:29.039
 this

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.420
 prayer

00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:29.980
 weekend

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.399
 every

00:26:30.399 --> 00:26:30.720
 month

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.000
 that we

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.279
 do

00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.119
 we want

00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:32.639
 everybody

00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:33.180
 to join

00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:33.559
 in the

00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:33.759
 prayer

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.000
 life

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.299
 of the

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:34.619
 church

00:26:34.619 --> 00:26:35.119
 if this

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.619
 is you

00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:36.039
 here's what

00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.240
 I want

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.480
 you to

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:36.700
 do

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:36.960
 and I

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.079
 don't

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.200
 know

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:37.400
 if the

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.819
 slide

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.940
 but I

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.180
 want you

00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:39.579
 just to

00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.119
 email

00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.980
 questions

00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.220
 at

00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:42.799
 Brunsfield

00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.259
 that's

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:43.420
 our

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.920
 general

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.240
 email

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.599
 address

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:44.920
 where all

00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:45.039
 the

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.240
 general

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.640
 inquiries

00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.019
 go

00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:47.000
 just tell

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.299
 us your

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:47.619
 name

00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:48.880
 and tell

00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.200
 us how

00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:49.480
 we can

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:49.920
 be praying

00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.319
 for you

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:50.680
 what the

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:50.960
 arena

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.720
 is

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.799
 right now

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.140
 where you're

00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:53.539
 feeling the

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:53.940
 punch

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.920
 and we

00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.420
 will make

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:55.880
 sure that

00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.400
 all of us

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:56.759
 pray for

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.240
 those things

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:57.680
 together

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.799
 because this

00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.200
 is about

00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.799
 corporately

00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.180
 what we

00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:00.359
 do

00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:01.019
 we stand

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.380
 as a

00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:01.820
 body

00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.940
 individuals

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.380
 yes but

00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:03.680
 as a

00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:03.920
 body

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.680
 we uphold

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.240
 each other

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.560
 when the

00:27:05.560 --> 00:27:05.980
 going gets

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.380
 tough

00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:08.320
 and that's

00:27:08.320 --> 00:27:08.580
 what we're

00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:09.040
 called to

00:27:09.040 --> 00:27:09.320
 do

00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:10.020
 we will

00:27:10.020 --> 00:27:10.400
 make sure

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:10.680
 that we

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.120
 pray for

00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:11.420
 you

00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:11.960
 again

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.920
 speak to

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.200
 somebody

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.780
 that you've

00:27:13.780 --> 00:27:15.020
 come with

00:27:15.020 --> 00:27:15.640
 grab one of

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:16.000
 us you've

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.360
 seen up

00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:16.640
 here

00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.080
 we would

00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:17.400
 love just

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:17.700
 to pray

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:17.980
 for you

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.460
 right now

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:18.860
 as well

00:27:18.860 --> 00:27:19.080
 and I'm

00:27:19.080 --> 00:27:19.260
 going to

00:27:19.260 --> 00:27:19.560
 do that

00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:19.780
 in a

00:27:19.780 --> 00:27:19.960
 minute

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.680
 but let

00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:20.940
 me just

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.620
 leave you

00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.080
 with this

00:27:22.080 --> 00:27:22.560
 finished a

00:27:22.560 --> 00:27:23.080
 great book

00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:23.740
 just now

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.500
 called

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.020
 future

00:27:25.020 --> 00:27:25.580
 proof

00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:26.740
 how Jesus

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:26.980
 has

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.360
 future

00:27:27.360 --> 00:27:27.780
 proofed

00:27:27.780 --> 00:27:28.240
 the church

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.040
 great read

00:27:29.040 --> 00:27:29.480
 if you

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:29.980
 want it

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.559
 this is

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:31.860
 what the

00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:32.240
 author

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.279
 Australian

00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:33.759
 Stephen

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.460
 McAlpine

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.059
 says

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.559
 he says

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.380
 yes western

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:38.079
 culture may

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.559
 never have

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:38.980
 been more

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.460
 hostile

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:41.200
 but it has

00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:41.940
 never been

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.799
 more open

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.259
 either

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.819
 and both

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.620
 hostility

00:27:45.620 --> 00:27:47.079
 and openness

00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:48.480
 are only set

00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.200
 to increase

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.339
 our challenge

00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:51.259
 and our

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.000
 opportunity

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.079
 lies in the

00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:54.660
 paradox

00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:56.720
 let me pray

00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:00.519
 Lord Jesus

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:00.900
 we just

00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:01.240
 thank you

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.579
 for who

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:01.940
 you are

00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.299
 today

00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:04.779
 we thank

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.079
 you for

00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:05.980
 the theological

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.900
 truth and

00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:07.299
 heart of

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:07.880
 this passage

00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.480
 that we

00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.160
 feel this

00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:09.460
 in our

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:09.740
 lives

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.240
 because you

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.480
 are the

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:10.860
 one who's

00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:11.400
 chosen us

00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:11.660
 out of

00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:12.100
 the world

00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:13.660
 we thank

00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.000
 you for

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.559
 grace

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:16.120
 we praise

00:28:16.120 --> 00:28:16.440
 you for

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.100
 your mercy

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:18.740
 and Lord

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.059
 I pray

00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:19.420
 particularly

00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:19.839
 for those

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.360
 two words

00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:20.680
 we thought

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.000
 about at

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.480
 the end

00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:21.740
 Lord

00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.059
 however

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.480
 this is

00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:23.140
 playing out

00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:23.440
 in our

00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.740
 lives

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.440
 right now

00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:26.460
 I trust

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:26.779
 that your

00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.299
 spirit will

00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:27.620
 be at

00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:27.920
 work

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.420
 bringing

00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:28.900
 that

00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.400
 sense

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:29.860
 of

00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.920
 courage

00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:32.539
 help us

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:32.860
 to be

00:28:32.860 --> 00:28:33.400
 bold for

00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:33.620
 you

00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:33.880
 Lord

00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.240
 Jesus

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:36.259
 help us

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:36.440
 Lord

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.700
 as we

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.200
 think about

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:37.860
 the arenas

00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:38.200
 that we're

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.820
 currently in

00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:39.220
 just now

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.640
 and how

00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.080
 we can

00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:40.420
 witness

00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:40.860
 for you

00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:41.240
 there

00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:42.559
 Lord

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:42.980
 I also

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.340
 pray for

00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:43.700
 those who

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:43.900
 need

00:28:43.900 --> 00:28:44.360
 comfort

00:28:44.360 --> 00:28:45.680
 Lord

00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.220
 who really

00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:46.779
 are feeling

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.480
 the sharp

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.019
 end of

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.420
 standing

00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.019
 for you

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.759
 and the

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.360
 cost

00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:51.220
 of doing

00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:51.700
 so

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.840
 Lord

00:28:52.840 --> 00:28:53.200
 would you

00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.059
 draw alongside

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:55.500
 as one

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.359
 who knows

00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:56.919
 as one

00:28:56.919 --> 00:28:57.759
 who cares

00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.339
 as one

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:59.339
 who sees

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.899
 and as one

00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:01.240
 who has

00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:01.899
 got us

00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.399
 in the palm

00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:02.679
 of your

00:29:02.679 --> 00:29:03.179
 hands

00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:04.399
 Father

00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:04.940
 help us

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.159
 to be

00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:05.619
 those who

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:05.919
 are not

00:29:05.919 --> 00:29:06.480
 just living

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.179
 for today

00:29:07.179 --> 00:29:08.240
 but are

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:08.759
 those who

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.019
 are

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.159
 incentivized

00:29:10.159 --> 00:29:10.659
 because of

00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.240
 the gospel

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.419
 to live

00:29:12.419 --> 00:29:13.079
 for tomorrow

00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:13.879
 and for

00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:14.659
 your return

00:29:14.659 --> 00:29:15.839
 so Father

00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.419
 be with us

00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:17.500
 now as we

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.539
 close our

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.139
 time together

00:29:19.139 --> 00:29:19.639
 we pray

00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:20.440
 in Jesus

00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.519
 precious name

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.039
 we ask

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.799
 Amen

00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:24.159
 out

00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:24.779
law