WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.480 Happy New Year! 00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:03.359 新年快樂! 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:07.320 Of course, we're trying not to say the usual ones like 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:08.199 ! 00:00:08.199 --> 00:00:11.519 We're trying to be a little bit more Christ-like in our blessings. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:11.519 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:12.280 Who's got some... 00:00:12.280 --> 00:00:13.080 I mean, all I've got is 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:13.679 ! 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:14.519 新年快樂! 00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:15.519 And... 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:16.640 新年健康! 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:17.920 年年有魚! 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:18.879 年年有魚! 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:19.519 Whoa! 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:21.039 Aussie ball coming in! 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:24.640 Yeah, I don't have many other ones. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:25.359 I mean, 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:26.320 快高長大, 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:28.800 but that only really works for Julian. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.159 Who's got some good Christian Chinese ones? 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:38.280 Zhu Yan Sanjai. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:39.439 Zhu Yan Sanjai. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:40.439 What does that mean, Terence? 00:00:40.439 --> 00:00:43.640 God's grace is with you. 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:45.640 God's grace always be with you. 00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:46.280 That's good. 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:47.400 Zhu Yan Sanjai. 00:00:47.400 --> 00:00:47.920 Jill? 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:48.920 Singling. 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:49.920 Singling. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:51.120 Chongwen be filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:00:51.120 --> 00:00:51.879 Whoa! 00:00:51.879 --> 00:00:52.719 Good. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:53.320 A couple more. 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:54.400 Come on, Chinese people. 00:00:54.400 --> 00:00:55.960 What else have we got here? 00:00:55.960 --> 00:00:56.879 Gabs, what do you got? 00:00:56.879 --> 00:00:57.879 No sh... 00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:03.600 Agnes, give us a Chinese Christian one. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.600 Fokbui Munya. 00:01:05.600 --> 00:01:06.600 Fokbui Munya. 00:01:06.600 --> 00:01:07.280 What does that mean? 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:08.280 Gab. 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:09.280 Gab. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:11.040 I'm asking you. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:11.719 What? 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:13.240 It means your cup overflows. 00:01:13.240 --> 00:01:14.000 Yes. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:15.000 Yeah? 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:16.000 With blessing. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:17.320 Cup overflows with blessing. 00:01:17.320 --> 00:01:18.599 One more, one more. 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:20.599 Come on. 00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:23.280 Come on. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:26.319 Connie's looking away to avoid eye contact, but I'm coming right at you. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:27.319 No? 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:28.319 No other Chinese Christian one? 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:29.319 Come on. 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:30.319 One more. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:31.319 That's it? 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:32.319 Oh man. 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:34.319 I think that actually might be it. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:35.319 I might have woke up. 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:37.319 Anyway, all of those things. 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:38.319 Blessings to you. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:39.319 Blessings to you. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:43.319 The title of today's passage is a very out for Chinese New Year. 00:01:43.319 --> 00:01:45.319 It's warning about the Antichrist. 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:46.319 Yep. 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:47.319 That's what... 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:48.319 We're going to go for it. 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:52.119 But I promise you there will be a Chinese New Year theme somewhere that pops up. 00:01:52.119 --> 00:01:53.439 But we're going to be looking. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:54.799 We're just going through one John. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:55.879 We're going through one John. 00:01:55.879 --> 00:01:58.599 And now we've hit this one, which is really interesting. 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:00.079 And he's warning. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:01.679 He's warning the people in the church. 00:02:01.679 --> 00:02:06.079 It starts with, actually, he says, I want you to know him. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:07.759 Not just know about him. 00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:09.680 I want you to know him. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:11.680 I want you to know God. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:15.280 Because when you know God, then actually it will impact the way you live. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:17.199 It will impact the way you behave. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:18.719 So he addresses the moral. 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:21.039 And then he addresses the social, which we did a couple of weeks ago. 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:26.560 And then, of course, Aaron led us in a great time of discovery Bible sermon, which I think, 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.599 from what I hear, has just been great. 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:33.280 The whole heart of that is, actually, when you come in here, can you leave here with the 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:36.039 tools so that you can open the Word of God up yourself? 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:42.439 That you are able to understand this book yourself and digest it and feed from it yourself. 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:44.680 That's the whole point of why we're going to be trying this. 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.319 I know it's uncomfortable, but I think Nathan said one thing that I love. 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:50.759 It's like, it's uncomfortable, but I love it, is what he said. 00:02:50.759 --> 00:02:53.159 And so be prepared for a little bit more of that. 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:53.799 Aaron, thank you. 00:02:53.799 --> 00:02:54.759 Doing a great job. 00:02:54.759 --> 00:03:00.199 When I came back after last week, I was referred to as Mini Aaron instead. 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:01.799 Oh, there's Mini Aaron. 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:02.760 Anyway, thank you. 00:03:02.760 --> 00:03:04.200 It must be a hair joke. 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:07.320 Thank you. 00:03:08.040 --> 00:03:12.680 And then he says, when you know God, it will impact the way you behave. 00:03:13.480 --> 00:03:16.680 And it will impact the way you associate with other people. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:17.560 That's the whole point. 00:03:18.040 --> 00:03:21.080 You're not supposed to fight anymore when you know who God is. 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:23.320 When you keep his truth at the front. 00:03:23.880 --> 00:03:26.040 And this week, he's actually talking about that. 00:03:26.040 --> 00:03:27.000 He's talking about the truth. 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:30.040 He say, hey, in the last days, there's going to be an antichrist. 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:31.319 There's going to be an antichrist. 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:33.799 And actually, there's going to be many antichrists. 00:03:34.359 --> 00:03:36.840 What are these many antichrists and what do they do? 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:38.519 I really want to just hone in on one verse. 00:03:38.519 --> 00:03:39.879 And we're going to talk about it. 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:40.680 Verse 22. 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.919 1 John 2, verse 22. 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:47.639 Who is the liar, but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ. 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:49.479 This is the antichrist. 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:51.319 He who denies the Father and the Son. 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:56.199 He's saying, hey, as your church grows, and this is the context. 00:03:56.199 --> 00:03:58.359 The church is growing, but then something happens. 00:03:58.360 --> 00:04:01.720 There's people from the world come into the church, and then they start leaving. 00:04:02.440 --> 00:04:03.560 This is the context of it. 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:04.600 So he's writing to these people. 00:04:04.600 --> 00:04:08.040 He's saying, look, I know that you're growing, but I also know that there are people leaving. 00:04:08.440 --> 00:04:08.760 Why? 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:09.960 Why are they leaving? 00:04:10.200 --> 00:04:12.840 They're leaving because they don't believe what you believe. 00:04:13.080 --> 00:04:14.040 What's happened here? 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:18.759 There's an antichrist, or there are antichrists who are denying the truth. 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:20.639 Who are denying the truth. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:22.800 And I want to talk today about the truth. 00:04:23.080 --> 00:04:23.960 What were they denying? 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:26.939 They were denying that Jesus is the Christ. 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:31.100 Now, if you've got to just remember, this is around 100 AD. 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:34.459 The church is growing, but there is no canon yet. 00:04:34.459 --> 00:04:37.100 They've not agreed on which books make the Bible. 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:38.459 They've not agreed on that yet. 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:42.939 They've also not created the creeds where they can actually decide, okay, this is what we believe. 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:46.139 So there's this kind of like back and forth that's going on. 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:46.759 What is true? 00:04:46.819 --> 00:04:47.220 What is true? 00:04:47.220 --> 00:04:52.200 And then there are people, there were people coming out from that time and saying, actually, you know what? 00:04:52.280 --> 00:04:54.740 And actually a lot of these people were described as the Gnostics. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:59.720 The Gnostics were people who believed that the spirit and the flesh were completely separate. 00:04:59.960 --> 00:05:03.300 That you were not, they would not be merged together as one. 00:05:03.300 --> 00:05:08.920 So whatever you do in the physical realm does not affect your spiritual consequence or your eternity. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.360 That is essentially what they're saying. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:13.860 They were also saying that Jesus is not God. 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:14.579 Why? 00:05:14.740 --> 00:05:19.139 Because they believe that Jesus can't be both spirit and flesh because they're separate things. 00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:28.680 So what they said was Jesus was a good man who, when he was baptized, you know, when the dove descended on him, and that moment he became a divine being. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:32.919 But then that spirit left him just before he was crucified. 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:36.079 Because they were like, well, if he was God, then he wouldn't die. 00:05:36.259 --> 00:05:38.560 That's not possible is what they were saying. 00:05:38.779 --> 00:05:43.339 So they were saying Jesus cannot be fully spirit, fully God, and also fully man. 00:05:44.159 --> 00:05:45.240 And so that was what they were believing. 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:46.819 So they were saying Jesus isn't the Christ. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:50.639 He was a good man that we can be inspired by, but he is not God. 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:52.839 He is not the one who saves us from our sins. 00:05:53.659 --> 00:05:56.379 Now, that's the core doctrine right there. 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:00.219 We don't use the word doctrine a lot, but that's the core doctrine. 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:08.300 Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, that he was fully God and yet fully man, and that he came to die on behalf of all of us and paid that debt, 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:13.360 and then died the death, and then came to life, and so that we would live? 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:15.579 There was a group that didn't. 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:17.719 Because in that time, they were the Gnostics. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.800 They lived in a world that was inspired by Greek philosophy. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:24.159 It was just the Roman Empire and all the values that came with it. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:26.699 The world has seeped into the church. 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:33.839 And so today, as I was looking at this, and actually, the Lord really gave me a bit of a slap this week as I was reflecting on this, 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:41.939 because I think there's something that I have adopted from the world that I've let seep into the way I approach God. 00:06:42.459 --> 00:06:51.159 I think there's things that we've adopted from the Chinese culture that has caused us to live a certain way when it comes to us being Christians. 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:54.680 So I want to really kind of wrestle a little bit with that. 00:06:54.900 --> 00:06:58.240 But maybe just the first of all, I love the Chinese culture. 00:06:59.140 --> 00:07:03.160 I'm about to talk smack about the Chinese culture, but I do love the Chinese culture. 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:09.920 We were in America a couple of weeks ago, and I realized how much I miss the Chinese culture when the restaurants don't serve warm water. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:13.720 And there are not toothpicks anywhere and everywhere for you to access. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:15.000 You're looking for it everywhere. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:19.960 And when you ask for warm water, growing up in England, asking for warm water was just like speaking another language. 00:07:20.140 --> 00:07:22.160 They do not understand what that is. 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:24.560 And so I love the Chinese culture. 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:26.360 I love the community. 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:27.860 I love the family. 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:30.580 I love all of these things, the reverence and the awe. 00:07:30.980 --> 00:07:37.420 And actually, Chinese people are very just honoring, respectful in so, so many ways. 00:07:37.420 --> 00:07:43.620 So I love those things, but I think there are things in the culture that really has impacted the way we live. 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:47.640 In fact, one of the books that I was reading over Christmas was Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:48.500 Who's read that book before? 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:51.960 It's a great book, and there's one chapter on Chinese people. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:56.020 You have all heard the stereotype that Chinese people are good at math. 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:56.759 Have we heard that? 00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:03.600 And he kind of dives into that a little bit more, and he thinks it's about the way, it's just how our language is made up. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:06.180 So if you think about, actually, I do this. 00:08:06.180 --> 00:08:09.560 If you tell me your telephone number, I will remember it in Chinese. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:12.620 Even though my native tongue is English, who does that? 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:15.560 Who naturally remembers numbers in Chinese more? 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:16.519 Absolutely. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:19.740 I don't know why, and I can never explain it until Malcolm Gladwell told me why. 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:25.079 It's because the language is just so much easier to learn numbers with. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:27.300 Actually, all the numbers are one syllable. 00:08:27.540 --> 00:08:29.280 一、三、四、六、七、八、九. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:38.779 So they did a test where if they showed you a series of numbers, the people who have Chinese as the native tongue are much better memorizing that sequence of numbers, 00:08:38.839 --> 00:08:41.799 because it's so much easier to just have it reel off the tongue. 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:44.459 Whereas in English, it's different. 00:08:44.579 --> 00:08:45.399 You have seven. 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:51.399 And the other thing is, as you grow up, even as a child, it goes from 一、二、三、四、五、六、七、八、九、十. 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:53.779 And then it goes 十一. 00:08:54.220 --> 00:08:59.579 Which actually makes absolute sense, because 十一 is 十同一. 00:08:59.580 --> 00:09:06.139 And so actually, as a Chinese kid, numbers come easy to you, because it just is logical. 00:09:06.300 --> 00:09:06.680 It's rational. 00:09:06.780 --> 00:09:07.379 It makes sense. 00:09:07.660 --> 00:09:08.879 Oh, what's 十一? 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:10.879 Well, it's 十同一. 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:15.600 Whereas English-speaking kids suddenly have to start learning new words, like 11. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:16.420 What's 11? 00:09:16.580 --> 00:09:17.120 Oh, I don't know. 00:09:17.180 --> 00:09:17.360 11. 00:09:17.560 --> 00:09:19.500 I guess it's another word I have to remember. 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:20.720 12. 00:09:22.060 --> 00:09:22.460 You're right. 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:30.120 And so then you have this thing where actually, even from a very young age, those Chinese people almost have the advantage. 00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:33.580 And if you have an advantage of that age, it then just speeds up. 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:38.620 And of course, the other thing that he talks about in the book is the work ethic of the Chinese people. 00:09:38.920 --> 00:09:44.580 And he actually ties it back to the fact that we're in the few countries who obviously come from rice paddy farming. 00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:47.720 Rice paddy farming being something that's very hard work. 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:52.280 It's very hard, whereas the West, in the agricultural farming world, they started inventing machines. 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:55.740 And technology to help them farm in a much easier way. 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:58.299 But rice farming is very hard. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:01.699 And the fields that they did it in were very small, so they couldn't bring machines in. 00:10:02.079 --> 00:10:05.220 So his argument is that's where the Chinese ethic comes in. 00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:07.500 There's no shortcuts to farming rice. 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:10.899 And so the ethic came in for the Chinese people to have that. 00:10:10.959 --> 00:10:12.759 So there are absolutely good things. 00:10:13.199 --> 00:10:16.939 There are cultural legacies, his case is, that actually impact the way we live. 00:10:16.940 --> 00:10:22.340 The question for me is, are any of those cultural legacies bad? 00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:27.720 John here is talking about, hey, there are going to be people who lead you astray, 00:10:28.060 --> 00:10:32.020 who lead you away from the truth, who distort the truth. 00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:39.079 I wonder if there's any cultural legacies for us, as I wear these and as I throw these around everywhere. 00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:43.799 I wonder whether there are any cultural legacies that are actually not of the truth. 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:46.439 But actually, if you keep peeling back, you keep peeling back. 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:49.720 What we're actually saying is Jesus is not the Christ. 00:10:50.659 --> 00:10:51.600 Jesus is not the Lord. 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:54.059 Jesus is not the one who saves us. 00:10:54.059 --> 00:10:57.939 If you ask anyone in this city here, who is God of Hong Kong? 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:00.659 They would probably say money, right? 00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:02.859 They would say all these different things. 00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:08.719 And I realized that actually, how we let some of those principles that we learn, 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:11.099 maybe are innate to us as Chinese people, 00:11:11.839 --> 00:11:14.419 we let it seep into our culture in the church. 00:11:15.199 --> 00:11:19.259 And so the two I really want to focus on are faith and fortune. 00:11:20.239 --> 00:11:21.819 Faith and fortune. 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:23.980 Now, of course, faith is an interesting thing. 00:11:24.060 --> 00:11:24.720 And here is the lie. 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:27.400 The lie is we need the approval of others. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.379 We need the approval of us. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.379 This is everywhere. 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:30.960 Minji. 00:11:31.920 --> 00:11:33.200 Everyone needs Minji. 00:11:33.340 --> 00:11:34.240 Everyone needs faith. 00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:38.700 If you think about all the actions and all the behaviors that happen around, 00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:45.100 what's the reason why China have canceled the game that Argentina are due to play in China? 00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:48.680 Because they didn't get faith from Lionel Messi. 00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:50.460 So they canceled the game. 00:11:50.460 --> 00:11:52.160 It's all about respect. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:58.400 Now, this appeals to me because if you are interested in Enneagrams at all, I am an Enneagram 3. 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:00.860 Does anyone know what an Enneagram 3 is? 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:02.360 Gabs does. 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:03.259 What's an Enneagram 3? 00:12:04.280 --> 00:12:04.759 Achiever. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:08.220 Achievers, Enneagram 3s care a lot about what people think. 00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:11.879 Now, the West calls that people pleasing. 00:12:12.680 --> 00:12:23.040 But in the Chinese community, in the Chinese world, which is so heavily oriented on people and community and family who are from an honor-shame culture, that is faith. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:26.240 And actually, it drives everything that we do. 00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:31.599 So the point where if someone is naughty, if a child is naughty, what do we say? 00:12:31.819 --> 00:12:34.259 They bring shame on the whole family. 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:40.099 Because when you see a naughty kid, you're kind of associating that naughty kid with everything that that family stands for almost. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:45.659 That honor-shame culture is so strong when it comes to the way we operate as a culture. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:50.860 Our social value, our social status is so important to us. 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:54.000 Why do we want the jobs that everyone is chasing for? 00:12:54.180 --> 00:12:56.899 Is that we can bring honor to our family. 00:12:56.899 --> 00:13:01.919 But when we don't do the things that bring honor, we bring shame. 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:04.860 Because now, the culture here is all about relationships. 00:13:05.319 --> 00:13:05.720 Guan hai. 00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:13.480 But of course, the flip side of that, the unhealthy side of that is we just keep chasing for the approval of others. 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:18.819 Everything we do is based on, can I avoid shame? 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:23.500 The French philosopher Descartes said, I think, therefore I am. 00:13:24.179 --> 00:13:24.980 Have we heard of that before? 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:28.259 Whatever your thoughts are, that is who you are. 00:13:28.420 --> 00:13:31.060 Maybe the Chinese twist to that is, I belong. 00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:33.480 Therefore, I am. 00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:42.519 Some have just this great sharing just about, just one of the first gifts you get from your family is the name. 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:46.039 You know me as James Tang. 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:47.320 Why? 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:50.360 Because when I was one, we moved to England. 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:57.800 And my parents decided that actually my real name would be too hard for the English kids to pronounce. 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:00.779 And it wouldn't allow me to assimilate into culture. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:05.060 So they appointed, gave me the name James, which actually does not exist on any of my identities. 00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:06.399 So actually, I am not James. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.480 You guys, you don't know me at all. 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:12.460 My real name is Tang Yatman. 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:14.340 Tang Yatman. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:21.100 You see, in the English culture, the Western individualistic culture, my name comes first. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.460 I don't really worry about who you are. 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.159 You're James. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:27.659 You have the stickers that says, my name is James. 00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:33.120 But my real name, the culture that I'm from, my clan starts first. 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:34.259 Tang. 00:14:35.439 --> 00:14:37.379 And then it's Yatman. 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:40.579 Because when they hear, oh, you're a Tang. 00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:42.079 Oh, you're so-and-so's son. 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:44.819 Your grandfather is so-and-so. 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:50.620 They start to build a picture of you from the name that you have, which has to do with the clan. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:59.259 And actually, the identity that comes, maybe just to twist again Descartes' quote, maybe the quote is, I am because we are. 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:02.879 And since we are, therefore I am. 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:06.240 I am because we are. 00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:10.120 And since we are, therefore I am. 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:18.100 We get our identities from the communities that we're in, which is a beautiful thing. 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:21.040 Because it shows you that the world is bigger than you. 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:33.120 You know, I shared last week at another church that I was visiting that actually the way of just families have changed in one generation is just incredible. 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:36.740 Our parents, our dad was the youngest of 10. 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:39.980 My mom was the second youngest of 11. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:54.720 So if you think about the ratios between adult and children back then, when the foreign domestic helper situation had not taken off, the grandparents were basically 2 to 11 in terms of the people that they had to care for. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:57.800 Within one generation, that has completely flipped. 00:15:57.920 --> 00:16:04.220 And now you see five adults, six adults caring for one child in this society right now. 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:08.220 And then you wonder why the kids grow up thinking that everything is about them. 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:10.399 And this isn't just on them then. 00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:12.220 It's actually the pressure that that comes in. 00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:19.379 Can you imagine the pressure and how it would crush you knowing that all the hopes of the 4, 5, 6 adults around you are on you? 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:22.180 The pressure that is. 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:24.620 And then we wonder why they have mental health issues. 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:33.440 But if we can remind them that actually life is bigger than them, that within this community, you can find your place and this is where you belong. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.200 And that the pressure isn't all on you. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:37.799 Face. 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:40.259 Face is such an important one. 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:41.240 But here's the problem. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:47.000 When we then therefore feel threatened, then there's a couple of things that happen. 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:49.799 The first thing that can happen is we just get defensive. 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:57.399 When our face, because we've made it an idol, because that's essentially the God, that how do other people perceive me? 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:59.899 Do I get the respect of other people? 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:01.479 Because that is so important. 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:05.720 And that has dictated the actions of man over all these generations. 00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:11.359 When someone's face has been attacked and hurt and that causes them to retaliate. 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.759 Because we've made face the idol. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:16.399 I think that's one of the idols that we've adopted. 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:19.539 That's one of the antichrists of this society. 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:23.139 That we think that we need to protect this. 00:17:24.139 --> 00:17:24.859 Is it yours? 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:29.519 And I say that the Lord kind of gave me a bit of a wake-up call. 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:32.680 Because I think this is what was exposed for me this last week. 00:17:33.139 --> 00:17:34.399 As I was preparing the sermon. 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:37.359 Actually, I was telling Christina, I had this really fun sermon that we were going to do. 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:42.799 Where I was going to bring out all the say-t-t-t-u, all the Chinese proverbs. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.200 And we're going to discern which one's false and which one's true. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.599 When we measure it to the Bible. 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:48.559 And I thought it was going to be a really fun input. 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:50.000 Like, not personal at all. 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.619 Just a really fun activity that we could all do. 00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:54.759 And then the Lord comes and challenges me about face. 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:57.519 Because I realized this is one of my idols. 00:17:57.859 --> 00:18:04.539 And I realized it when I'm having conversations with people who are talking and critiquing about the things that I'm doing. 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:11.500 And then suddenly, I'm like, ooh, something in me just doesn't quite feel right. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:16.839 And I realized it's because it's attacking my face. 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.899 Do you have that? 00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:22.799 I tell you, mind, having a conversation with someone. 00:18:23.639 --> 00:18:30.960 And they hear from someone else that something that I'm doing, let's say this church, is not really their cup of tea. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.119 They don't really like it. 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:36.119 Oh, and so they tell this person that, oh, yeah, yeah, the gathering isn't really that fun thing. 00:18:36.199 --> 00:18:36.979 It's not really my thing. 00:18:37.199 --> 00:18:38.179 They do this weird thing here. 00:18:38.239 --> 00:18:39.039 They do this weird thing there. 00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:41.419 And then I hear it this way around. 00:18:41.719 --> 00:18:44.919 And I'm like, oh, that wasn't supposed to hurt. 00:18:45.479 --> 00:18:46.439 But that hurts. 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:48.899 And I was thinking about why it hurts. 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:56.599 Actually, it doesn't hurt if that person comes to talk to me and say, hey, the thing you guys do is quite weird. 00:18:56.599 --> 00:19:02.899 It hurt because that person told that person who then told me. 00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:06.279 And I'm like, oh, that's my face. 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:09.339 Because now, what does this person think of me? 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.579 Do you get that? 00:19:11.199 --> 00:19:12.179 Have you seen that? 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:14.319 And I realize that's exposed my eye. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:23.119 And then I realize when I get criticism, I'm like, why does it crush me so much when someone says the most offhanded thing about something? 00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:25.419 And actually, for those of you who are preaching, you'll know this. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:31.480 A preacher is the most precious, the most fragile the first few hours after the sermon. 00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:34.379 Because it's that moment where you've just poured your heart out. 00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:36.280 And then you're walking out. 00:19:36.520 --> 00:19:38.420 And then usually you get shouted, oh, great sermon. 00:19:38.560 --> 00:19:40.420 Even if it's not great, people are nice. 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.620 People are nice and people are fake. 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:43.360 And so they say, oh, yeah, that was great. 00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:46.800 So glad it was only 10 minutes. 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:55.260 And then in that moment, of course, the praise you find, even if it's fake, you're like, oh, just please just give me the praise. 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:58.260 And then until someone says, oh, yeah, I didn't quite get what you said. 00:19:58.760 --> 00:19:59.300 Well, I don't agree. 00:20:01.080 --> 00:20:02.260 I've heard these before. 00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.740 I'm sure you might have had this too, Aaron. 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:07.660 You're like, you give it a sermon and there's someone from the back who's just been staring at you the whole time. 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:09.440 Just like just disagreeing with you. 00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:11.839 I think Josh is going to be that person for me as he comes. 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.759 And he's going to come straight up to you. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:17.339 And he's like, tell me more about what you just said because I disagree with it. 00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:20.380 And then just inside you just crushed. 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:23.160 Because face is your idol. 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:25.500 Because face is my idol. 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:27.000 Do you have that in your workplace? 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:29.519 You just so happen to be in my workplace. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:32.120 But in your workplace, do you have the same thing? 00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:35.379 When someone criticizes you about something, do you feel offended? 00:20:35.719 --> 00:20:39.879 Because if you feel offended, then I think face might be one of your idols. 00:20:40.979 --> 00:20:44.159 As Paul Chambers in his devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest, says this. 00:20:44.739 --> 00:20:47.719 You'll know there's something wrong with you when you feel offended by someone. 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:50.659 Because that means there's something offensive to Christ inside you. 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:59.940 When you take offense with what someone has said to you, that means there's something offensive inside you against God. 00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:06.180 And I was like, oh, because I can get easily offended sometimes, especially after a message. 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.720 Do you have that? 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:15.039 Now, if the lie is we need the approval of others, I think the truth is God's approval is all we need. 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.740 Galatians 1.10. 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:20.779 Am I seeking the approval of people or of God? 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.839 Who's asked that question to themselves? 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:26.600 If you're in the entertainment industry, you will have this all the time. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.519 Who am I trying to entertain? 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.039 Who am I trying to please? 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:31.779 What am I trying to achieve here? 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:36.339 I'm trying to see the approval and the likes of man. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.779 I think all of us have this. 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:43.220 And if we're from an honor-shame culture, which most of us are, then I think we have this. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:45.339 And I think this is the one we have to surrender. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.639 How do we surrender it? 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:50.960 We speak to the, in the language of those who come from an honor-shame culture. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.960 You can surrender that. 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:58.799 You can repent of that idol by simply recognizing that you were actually one that publicly dishonored God. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:05.899 That actually we have not given him the respect and the face that he needs. 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.519 That is number one. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:11.180 Because when you recognize that actually we're the ones that have turned our backs on him. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:14.079 That we have dishonored him publicly. 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.299 How, you say? 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.720 By the way that we live. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:22.740 When we say that he is Lord, but then we do everything else that doesn't show, reflect that he is actually Lord. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:27.379 If the Antichrist in this book is basically someone who's denying that Jesus is Lord. 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:29.060 Do we do that with our actions? 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:31.880 We may say, oh, of course Jesus is God. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:35.240 But by the way you live, does it look like Jesus is God? 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:39.940 Because if you don't, then actually we have publicly dishonored him. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.980 Because what we're saying, oh God, yeah, I trust you. 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:43.120 I worship you. 00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:45.120 Worship means ascribe worth. 00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:48.100 Which means you're the most important thing to me. 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:53.639 And then we turn around and live our lives in a completely different way where he is not worth at all. 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.879 Think of someone. 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:59.679 Think of someone that you know who says, Paul, you are so important to me. 00:23:00.439 --> 00:23:03.679 You are the most important to me. 00:23:04.699 --> 00:23:06.559 And then Paul goes, hey, James, can we have coffee? 00:23:06.719 --> 00:23:10.059 He's like, oh, well, I'm actually busy for the next seven weeks. 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:13.839 But maybe if we talk again in seven weeks, maybe I'll have time. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:18.319 I've just completely dishonored him. 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:24.619 Do we, do you, do that with the Lord? 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:28.139 Is face one of your idols? 00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:33.339 The question that I ask myself, or maybe you can ask yourself, is why do I care what people think? 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:39.759 Why am I upset when someone seems to throw some shade at me? 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:42.859 And not the loving, joking kind of shade that I throw Julian. 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:47.899 The real kind of like personal attack kind of ones. 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:50.659 And it's often not even about you as a person. 00:23:50.659 --> 00:23:51.679 It's just about what you're doing. 00:23:51.959 --> 00:23:55.000 Maybe there is something that you can improve on, James, in your sermon. 00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:58.279 But yeah, somehow it brings up something in you. 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.339 What is that? 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:05.799 Can we be a people that don't take offense with anything because we were worth nothing? 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.119 We had nothing. 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:11.539 And it was because of Christ that we're even still here. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.679 We publicly dishonored him. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:19.000 We did not show him face, yet he would turn his face toward us. 00:24:19.459 --> 00:24:24.059 In fact, he went to the, we, none of us, none of us like to be humiliated, 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:27.039 especially in an honor, shame culture. 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:29.159 Humiliation, just the thought. 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:35.940 If you get into trouble, maybe a Western thing, it just feels guilty because they've just violated a moral code that they've been, 00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:36.880 they've believed in. 00:24:37.120 --> 00:24:41.060 But a Chinese person, someone in an honor, shame culture, when they've done something wrong, 00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:42.200 what's the biggest problem? 00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:44.779 That they get caught and that everyone will know about it. 00:24:45.820 --> 00:24:47.279 That's the shame coming through. 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:50.400 What will other people think of me? 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:53.740 This is going to be so humiliating for me. 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:59.400 Next time I show up to a family gathering for Chinese New Year, I know how everyone's going to look at me. 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:01.080 The humiliation that that will be. 00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:09.319 But if we truly recognize what Jesus did for us, that he took on the ultimate, ultimate act of humiliation. 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:11.859 He just finished a book called Humilitas. 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:14.879 And it talked about the crucifixion. 00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:18.019 He said, actually, at that time, if you were a criminal, there were three ways to die. 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.879 Number one was crucifixion. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:22.079 Number two was decapitation. 00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:24.359 And number three was being burned alive. 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:25.539 Okay. 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.859 So all fun stuff. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.059 Happy Chinese New Year. 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:33.240 And they said, actually, the crucifixion was the worst one. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:38.319 Because that's the one, if you decapitated, it probably hurts for a little bit. 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:41.319 And then you won't send anything burning alive. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.240 Probably similar. 00:25:42.659 --> 00:25:46.019 But the humiliation of the crucifixion. 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:47.659 That it could be days. 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:52.799 That it could be days that you're just hung on that cross, slowly dying. 00:25:54.639 --> 00:25:56.839 That's what Ellie was quoting from Philippians 2. 00:25:56.839 --> 00:26:02.579 That Jesus, though he had equality with God, did not count it with any significance. 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:07.199 And emptied himself, humbled himself, obeyed cross, even to the point of death. 00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:10.319 Even death on the cross. 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:15.599 We can surrender and let go of any fear of humiliation. 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:19.539 Because we know that our Lord took on the ultimate humiliation for us. 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:23.220 We can repent and surrender the need to save face. 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:26.720 When our Lord had blood dripping all over his face. 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:32.319 So the next time we have a moment where we are threatened, we are attacked, we are critiqued by anything. 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:36.459 We don't need to feel that offense because Christ took the ultimate offense for us. 00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:38.980 That is the truth. 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:43.439 Anything else that isn't of the truth, we must let go. 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.059 So that's the first one. 00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.359 Face. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:46.539 And the second one is this. 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.439 Fortune. 00:26:48.699 --> 00:26:49.059 Fortune. 00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:53.039 Some ones that I do know in terms of the four words are 大家大雷. 00:26:54.779 --> 00:27:00.219 Which really just talks about, oh, blessed that you would have a lucky year. 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.779 And we love that, right? 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:06.879 And if you think about fortune, we're thinking about health and we're thinking about wealth. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:12.100 Everyone we're passing these things to, these little red pockets to, we give a blessing. 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:15.580 And we're hoping that they would be healthy and they would be wealthy. 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:20.960 I wonder how much of that has seeped into our culture as Christians. 00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:24.220 I asked this last year, why are you a Christian? 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:27.100 Why are you a Christian? 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:35.679 Recently, I had some parents who said, oh, I'd love, I'd love our kids to be able to come to your church. 00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:39.719 Because these kids are older, they're not teenagers anymore. 00:27:39.939 --> 00:27:41.179 I said, okay, why is that? 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:45.359 Oh, well, you see, if they come to church, then that means they'll be a better person. 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.819 They'll behave better and they'll get a job. 00:27:48.159 --> 00:27:52.799 And then they can be hard, they can have a better work ethic and then they'll make something of their lives. 00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.419 I was like, wow. 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:59.840 I hope they come to church that they would know Christ, that they would know Jesus. 00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:11.460 But if we think about it, if we're very honest to ourselves, often we come to church, we become Christians for all the good things that come with it. 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:13.980 We treat God as a God with benefits. 00:28:14.560 --> 00:28:19.240 Because we're really trying to get the fortune that comes from being a good person. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.880 We're praying, what's your prayer like? 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:24.200 God, can you give me this? 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.759 Can you grant us good health? 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.759 Can you allow me to get this job? 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:29.300 Brackets, so that I can have wealth. 00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:36.640 Of course, this ties in with the honor-sharing culture because we want those jobs so we can have the money, so we can have the social standing, so we can have the face. 00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:39.120 And we're back in the same place again. 00:28:39.800 --> 00:28:43.360 And that's the same antichrist that is hovering around our church. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:52.579 And you know this by the way, if someone walks in here, welcome newcomers, you walk in here and you're dressed nice and you act proper, then maybe people gravitate towards you. 00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:57.959 But then suddenly the people who come in who you don't deem to help you in your social standing, you don't get anywhere near. 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:00.160 The book of James talks about this. 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:01.200 You guys have favoritism. 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:06.579 When you open up your church doors, the people who look poor, who are poor, you're staying away from. 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:10.079 Yet those who look rich, you stay because, again, the same thing. 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:13.359 Because you deem that person to help you in your social standing. 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:15.339 You deem that person to help you. 00:29:16.439 --> 00:29:19.679 And we need to release that idol because the gospel is quite the opposite. 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:22.419 The spirit of the Lord is on me to what? 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:25.899 To proclaim liberty to the poor, to the broken, to the captives, to the oppressed. 00:29:27.679 --> 00:29:30.779 Have we let that seep into our church? 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:34.000 Have we let that distort the truth of why we gather? 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:39.519 The lie here is that health and wealth are all that we need. 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:43.579 If we're honest to ourselves, like really honest to ourselves, 00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:47.619 maybe we treat our faith in the same way as those four words, 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:51.000 that we're here for blessings. 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:56.559 Whereas the Christian message is not that. 00:29:56.759 --> 00:30:01.740 I count as joy, as blessing, trials of various kinds. 00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:05.039 You won't find a book in the Bible that doesn't have suffering. 00:30:06.199 --> 00:30:09.059 The land of affliction, the sound talked about. 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:11.720 The Christian message is that we will get blessed. 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:15.839 We are blessed even in the midst of the affliction, 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:18.559 even in the midst of suffering. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:21.119 Health and wealth are not all that we need. 00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:23.799 Christ is all that we need. 00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:27.519 Do we have that in our mindset? 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:37.359 And if we don't, maybe today is the day where we recalibrate why we approach faith, 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:39.680 why we gather, why we believe. 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:43.400 What is the idol that you have placed above God? 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.940 Is it face? 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.799 Is it fortune? 00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:51.099 And I wasn't going to talk about this, but there's one that actually, 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:56.480 as Chinese maybe are most guilty of, and it's family. 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:59.259 And hear me out here. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:05.099 Because family is of utmost importance, but still beneath God. 00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:08.099 But still beneath God. 00:31:09.399 --> 00:31:14.079 We live in a culture where families value face, value fortune. 00:31:14.439 --> 00:31:18.659 And that's not to say, hey, leave your family. 00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:24.299 But Jesus did say, if anyone hates his brother, hates his mother, hates his, 00:31:24.459 --> 00:31:26.599 it doesn't do these, they can't follow me. 00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:28.859 He's not telling you to hate your family, 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:31.159 but he's saying that he has to be number one. 00:31:32.179 --> 00:31:34.839 And he also says, honor your father and mother. 00:31:35.679 --> 00:31:41.539 But we have to ask ourselves, is Christ truly the only one in our lives? 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:43.279 Is he truly Lord? 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:46.019 Is Jesus truly the Christ in your life? 00:31:46.219 --> 00:31:47.879 If he's not, then we repent. 00:31:49.899 --> 00:31:50.959 That is the truth. 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:56.279 So while we may not have an antichrist coming in and preaching and saying, 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:57.779 oh, Jesus isn't God. 00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:59.160 Worship these other things. 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.460 It's never that obvious. 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:04.660 But maybe it's even more toxic that it's not that obvious. 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:08.899 Because we that have our senses completely lowered, 00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:13.539 our inhibitions completely gone, 00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.779 because we're like, oh, it's okay. 00:32:14.879 --> 00:32:16.039 These are all good things. 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.559 But when they're not God, 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:20.039 when they're not God, 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:21.920 then it's just the same. 00:32:22.619 --> 00:32:23.720 Would you repent with me 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:26.940 if there are any antichrists in your lives? 00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:29.539 Whether faith is the thing that you've been chasing, 00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.700 whether it's fortune, 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.400 health and wealth, 00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:35.880 and recognize that only Jesus is the one who has the answer. 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:37.320 He says in the Old Testament, 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:40.620 you shall have no other gods before me. 00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:43.720 That word before isn't, 00:32:44.100 --> 00:32:45.039 as long as I'm number one, 00:32:45.100 --> 00:32:46.799 you can have two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. 00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:48.340 The words before me is, 00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:50.580 you can have nothing around me. 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.980 Nothing in my presence. 00:32:53.399 --> 00:32:54.939 I am not just the number one. 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.919 I am the only one. 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.500 That's the truth that we hold on to. 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:02.379 See, that's the moment when actually 00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:06.000 we remind ourselves the real truth 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:08.419 and nothing but the truth is a person. 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:11.539 And that person is Jesus. 00:33:12.199 --> 00:33:13.339 There's a quote I want to finish with. 00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:15.019 They who trust him fully, 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:16.699 find him fully true. 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:19.079 They who trust him fully, 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.419 find him fully true. 00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:21.599 Don't rely on faith. 00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:23.779 Don't rely on the approval of others. 00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:25.899 Don't rely on fortune, health and wealth. 00:33:26.879 --> 00:33:27.559 Trust in him. 00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:29.699 We all worship something. 00:33:29.899 --> 00:33:31.839 Chinese culture is great at worshiping. 00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:35.179 David Foster Wallace is the one who said, 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.279 everyone worships. 00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:38.279 We just have to choose what it is that we worship. 00:33:38.439 --> 00:33:39.259 And I'll finish with this. 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.940 If you worship money and things, 00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:43.259 if they are where you tap real meaning in life, 00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.660 then you will never have enough. 00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:46.140 Never feel you have enough. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:46.879 It's the truth. 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:49.779 Worship your body and beauty and sexual allure 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:51.420 and you will always feel ugly. 00:33:52.119 --> 00:33:53.740 And when time and age start showing, 00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:55.140 you will die a million deaths 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:56.680 before they finally grieve you. 00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:59.140 On one level, we all know this stuff already. 00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:01.559 It's been codified as myths, proverbs, 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:03.200 cliches, epigrams, parables, 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:05.519 the skeleton of every great story. 00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:08.639 The whole trick is keeping the truth up front. 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:10.420 In daily consciousness. 00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:13.319 The whole trick is keeping the truth up front 00:34:13.319 --> 00:34:14.319 in daily consciousness. 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:18.000 The trick, the whole trick is to keep Jesus, 00:34:18.339 --> 00:34:20.839 the truth, right at the front of your consciousness 00:34:20.839 --> 00:34:23.039 so that you can love him with all your heart, 00:34:23.259 --> 00:34:24.839 soul, mind and strength. 00:34:25.239 --> 00:34:26.960 He is the reason that we are here. 00:34:27.299 --> 00:34:29.699 He is the reason that we can still breathe 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:30.699 the air that we breathe 00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:32.639 and that we can live the way that we live. 00:34:34.259 --> 00:34:35.799 Can I pray for us as I invite 00:34:35.799 --> 00:34:37.440 Ellie and Grace and the team up 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.880 as we finish in song? 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:51.079 Jesus, as we gather here 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:53.240 on this special Chinese New Year day, 00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:59.880 we recognize that you are the only true one. 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:02.840 You are the way, the truth and the life. 00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:08.119 If there are any things that we've believed, 00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:09.740 any idols, 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:11.380 any messages 00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:15.660 that have seeped into the way 00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:17.359 into the way that we do life, 00:35:17.799 --> 00:35:18.379 do church, 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:19.319 follow you, 00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.319 we repent of those 00:35:20.319 --> 00:35:21.379 right now. 00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:27.199 Because of what you did on the cross, 00:35:27.259 --> 00:35:28.799 we have no need 00:35:28.799 --> 00:35:31.599 to save face. 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:37.980 because when you took on 00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:39.380 the automatic act of humiliation 00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:40.599 out of your love for us, 00:35:41.319 --> 00:35:43.980 we are freed. 00:35:46.139 --> 00:35:47.719 We are freed from people pleasing. 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:52.960 We are freed from the fear of shame. 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:57.940 Lord, as one, I pray, 00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:58.579 I pray 00:35:58.579 --> 00:36:01.159 that our hearts are united 00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:02.720 on the fact that we do not need 00:36:02.720 --> 00:36:03.119 fortune, 00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:04.360 we do not need luck, 00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:05.800 we do not need health 00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:07.400 or wealth for that matter. 00:36:08.840 --> 00:36:09.900 We just need you. 00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:15.760 So give us neither poverty 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:16.480 nor riches 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:18.260 and remind us 00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:19.880 that we just need you. 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:23.380 Jesus, would you be 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.000 the truth 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:26.139 in our lives? 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.900 When people walk in here, 00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:28.360 would you, 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.260 would they see 00:36:29.260 --> 00:36:31.579 that you are the only one 00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:32.019 we worship? 00:36:34.240 --> 00:36:35.300 You are the only one 00:36:35.300 --> 00:36:35.760 we worship. 00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:39.519 You are the bread of life. 00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:42.940 You are the air we breathe. 00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:46.440 We are hungry for you. 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:47.380 We are desperate for you 00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:48.320 and that is the only thing 00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:48.719 we ask, 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:50.760 the only thing we seek after 00:36:50.760 --> 00:36:51.559 that we would dwell 00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:52.199 in your house 00:36:52.199 --> 00:36:55.900 all the days of our lives. 00:36:58.240 --> 00:36:59.139 So we gaze upon 00:36:59.139 --> 00:36:59.840 your beauty now. 00:37:01.780 --> 00:37:03.079 We inquire in your temple. 00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:08.240 We thank you, Lord. 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:16.639 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:46.619 Thank you. 00:37:46.639 --> 00:38:16.619 Thank you. 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:46.619 Thank you. 00:38:46.639 --> 00:39:16.619 Thank you. 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:46.619 Thank you. 00:39:46.639 --> 00:40:16.619 Thank you. 00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:46.619 Thank you. 00:40:46.639 --> 00:41:16.619 Thank you. 00:41:16.639 --> 00:41:46.619 Thank you. 00:41:46.639 --> 00:42:16.619 Thank you. 00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:46.619 Thank you. 00:42:46.639 --> 00:43:16.619 Thank you. 00:43:16.639 --> 00:43:46.619 Thank you. 00:43:46.639 --> 00:44:16.619 Thank you. 00:44:16.639 --> 00:44:46.619 Thank you. 00:44:46.639 --> 00:45:16.619 Thank you. 00:45:16.639 --> 00:45:46.619 Thank you. 00:45:46.639 --> 00:46:16.619 Thank you. 00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:46.619 Thank you. 00:46:46.639 --> 00:47:16.619 Thank you. 00:47:16.639 --> 00:47:46.619 Thank you. 00:47:46.639 --> 00:48:16.619 Thank you. 00:48:16.639 --> 00:48:46.619 Thank you. 00:48:46.639 --> 00:49:16.619 Thank you. 00:49:16.639 --> 00:49:46.619 Thank you. 00:49:46.639 --> 00:50:16.619 Thank you. 00:50:16.639 --> 00:50:46.619 Thank you. 00:50:46.639 --> 00:51:16.619 Thank you. 00:51:16.639 --> 00:51:46.619 Thank you. 00:51:46.639 --> 00:52:16.619 Thank you. 00:52:16.639 --> 00:52:46.619 Thank you.