WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.620 I've already described that the activities that we do on campus are kind of based around 00:00:03.620 --> 00:00:05.219 small group meetings and faculties. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:10.779 And every third week, the small group has to organise itself to do evangelism. 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:17.260 And this particular day, I was heading to the engineering faculty, pedalling my bicycle, 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:20.199 riding my bike between my place and the faculty. 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:24.199 And as I went, my phone started to buzz in my pocket. 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:30.399 And every buzz was another member of the group telling me that they couldn't make it that day. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:32.879 It buzzed a fair bit. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:38.539 And by the time I got to the faculty, the last message had arrived to confirm for me that 00:00:38.539 --> 00:00:39.820 I was going to be alone that day. 00:00:40.659 --> 00:00:41.539 No one was coming. 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:47.560 And it's not the first time that I've had to do things on my own, because we've understood, 00:00:47.780 --> 00:00:52.460 we've realised that part of our job is the Lord sending us there to be an example of people 00:00:52.460 --> 00:00:54.500 who will stand for Jesus and who will carry on. 00:00:55.060 --> 00:00:58.840 And that day, sitting in the faculty, when the last message came through and I was alone, 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:07.439 I sat there kind of wrestling with God, angry again, that here I was, this Australian guy 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:10.620 who left a fantastic country to go to Italy. 00:01:11.379 --> 00:01:14.359 And a lot of Italians, they say to us, you are nuts. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:16.159 Why? 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:20.099 Whatever possessed you to think about leaving Australia to come to our country? 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:21.780 They say that all the time. 00:01:21.780 --> 00:01:24.239 They just can't believe that we've done such a dumb thing. 00:01:25.659 --> 00:01:30.140 And so I wrestled that day thinking, Lord, I've left a great country, Australia. 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:31.299 I've come to this country. 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:32.799 We've suffered a whole bunch of different things. 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:38.819 And here I am again, alone, seeking to tell about Jesus to Italians when all the Italians 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:40.379 can't turn up to do it. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:45.319 And I was praying and thinking, Lord, what should I do? 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:45.980 Should I just go home? 00:01:46.020 --> 00:01:48.680 I've got an extra hour and a half up my sleeve that I didn't think I had. 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:57.180 And then, once again, it became clear to me, no, that if the Lord Jesus is Lord of all life 00:01:57.180 --> 00:02:00.820 in Australia, he certainly is Lord of all life in Italy. 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:05.660 And that means all the students that I can see walking to and fro in front of me while 00:02:05.660 --> 00:02:11.000 I'm sitting on that bench in the engineering faculty in Florence, he's Lord of them as well. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:13.479 So that means I have to speak. 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:18.580 So I said, all right, Lord, help me. 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:19.960 I will speak. 00:02:20.699 --> 00:02:23.000 And I started praying for the guy who was sitting there next to me. 00:02:23.539 --> 00:02:25.900 And I opened my mouth and introduced myself. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:27.280 And I said that I was from the GBU. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:29.139 And would he like to talk about Jesus? 00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:31.060 And he said, yes. 00:02:31.060 --> 00:02:36.520 And I'd love to say that after talking with that guy for an hour, he just was kneeling 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:40.699 on the floor, you know, waiting for me to help him pray the prayer and commit his life 00:02:40.699 --> 00:02:41.879 to Jesus as his Lord and Savior. 00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:42.719 He didn't do that. 00:02:43.219 --> 00:02:51.020 In fact, he walked away fairly pumped up with his, I guess, his intelligence and his ability 00:02:51.020 --> 00:02:53.039 to rebut some of the things that I said. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:58.340 And in effect, I learned in that hour that he was his own God because he wasn't going 00:02:58.340 --> 00:03:03.659 to let anyone else in to mess up the scheme that he had going on. 00:03:05.139 --> 00:03:11.780 But the thing that moved me to speak and the thing that must move us to speak is the knowledge 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:19.579 and the belief, our trust in the fact that Jesus is Lord of all the universe, there, everywhere 00:03:19.579 --> 00:03:21.079 and here. 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:27.200 Would you join me again as we pray and seek the Holy Spirit's intervention right now in 00:03:27.200 --> 00:03:31.380 our minds and our hearts as we look at the word of God and we seek to really understand 00:03:31.380 --> 00:03:35.540 that Jesus is this Lord and Savior and we can believe him, we need to believe him and we 00:03:35.540 --> 00:03:36.500 need to speak that out. 00:03:36.980 --> 00:03:37.460 Let's pray. 00:03:39.740 --> 00:03:42.240 Father, thank you for this awesome opportunity to be together now. 00:03:42.380 --> 00:03:47.300 We pray, Holy Spirit, that you would open our hearts and our minds to the truth that 00:03:47.300 --> 00:03:50.540 is in this word, the truth about the Lord Jesus. 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:57.740 That he really is risen, that he reigns and he will return and that we need to speak that 00:03:57.740 --> 00:03:58.040 out. 00:03:58.440 --> 00:04:01.920 Help us to not only understand these things, but to do them. 00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:06.780 And we pray it for your glory and the sake of the salvation of others. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:08.020 In Jesus' name. 00:04:08.760 --> 00:04:09.120 Amen. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:09.200 Amen. 00:04:10.200 --> 00:04:14.560 If you've got a handout, you can follow the outline that's printed there for you. 00:04:14.659 --> 00:04:16.980 The talk is entitled Believe and Speak. 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:20.879 And we're looking just at these verses that have been read for us from 2 Corinthians 4, 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:22.939 verses 13 to 18. 00:04:22.939 --> 00:04:28.120 And the big point, like I've already said, is that God has raised this Jesus from the dead 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:32.920 and he will raise those who trust in this risen Jesus. 00:04:33.980 --> 00:04:39.379 That's what God is urging us to believe, because it's true, and speak out. 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:47.540 The first point there, as you can see, is why you would speak and what you would say. 00:04:48.339 --> 00:04:53.300 And essentially, it's just saying again what I've already said, that God has the power to 00:04:53.300 --> 00:04:55.939 protect and give life in Jesus Christ. 00:04:57.219 --> 00:04:59.719 That's why you would believe and that's why you would speak. 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:03.040 It's interesting that Paul cites Psalm 116. 00:05:03.980 --> 00:05:09.860 So he's drawing back into the Old Testament to find some connection point with what he's doing 00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:14.500 and saying as he lives and as he writes to the Corinthians. 00:05:14.780 --> 00:05:17.280 Please do turn with me to Psalm 116. 00:05:17.440 --> 00:05:21.100 It's really important that we look at that together, because it helps us understand 00:05:21.100 --> 00:05:28.100 that God is faithful even in the midst of trial and turmoil 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:30.280 that comes because of following him. 00:05:30.520 --> 00:05:32.700 Please do turn with me to Psalm 116. 00:05:36.340 --> 00:05:39.460 Where God tells us this through the psalmist. 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:41.820 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice. 00:05:41.900 --> 00:05:43.100 He heard my cry for mercy. 00:05:43.760 --> 00:05:47.040 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:50.460 And it's in a tricky situation. 00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:52.280 The cords of death entangled me. 00:05:52.580 --> 00:05:54.620 The anguish of the grave came upon me. 00:05:55.020 --> 00:05:57.040 I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. 00:05:57.040 --> 00:05:59.140 Then I called on the name of the Lord. 00:05:59.280 --> 00:06:01.319 O Lord, save me. 00:06:02.520 --> 00:06:04.220 The Lord is gracious and righteous. 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:05.720 Our God is full of compassion. 00:06:06.540 --> 00:06:08.020 The Lord protects the simple-hearted. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.700 When I was in great need, he saved me. 00:06:11.460 --> 00:06:14.840 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. 00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:18.060 For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:21.220 my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 00:06:21.379 --> 00:06:24.100 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 00:06:24.100 --> 00:06:25.960 I believed. 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:30.760 And this is the sentence that Paul quotes. 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:33.620 And you might have a footnote similar to mine. 00:06:33.780 --> 00:06:34.060 It says, 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:48.439 It's an awful moment in the psalmist's life. 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:51.519 How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:54.339 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. 00:06:54.660 --> 00:06:59.019 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 00:07:00.899 --> 00:07:02.939 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:04.360 O Lord, truly I am your servant. 00:07:04.459 --> 00:07:06.159 I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:07.879 You have freed me from my chains. 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:11.579 I will sacrifice a thank-offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:14.860 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:17.960 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. 00:07:18.699 --> 00:07:20.199 Praise the Lord. 00:07:22.460 --> 00:07:25.740 The psalmist is in the midst of trouble and difficulty. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:27.240 And what does he do? 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:29.720 He cries out to this God that he knows, 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:31.220 who is powerful and faithful, 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:33.160 to sustain him. 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:37.960 Why would you speak and what would you say? 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:39.760 Well, you would tell about this great God, 00:07:39.840 --> 00:07:40.980 this great powerful God. 00:07:41.080 --> 00:07:44.020 And we see the reason that Paul gives in verse 14. 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:46.560 But I wanted to ask someone who has a loud voice 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:49.720 to read out for us, please, verses 13 and 14. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:51.860 Preferably from an English Bible. 00:07:52.460 --> 00:07:54.040 Because otherwise I won't understand it. 00:07:54.840 --> 00:07:55.800 Or you could read Italian. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.480 Someone, 13 and 14? 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:02.680 I will. 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:03.360 Great. 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:04.200 Loud voice, please. 00:08:06.580 --> 00:08:07.120 That's all right? 00:08:08.820 --> 00:08:09.200 Forgive you. 00:08:09.200 --> 00:08:12.240 We have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written. 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:13.939 I believe and so I spoke. 00:08:14.840 --> 00:08:17.540 We also believe and we also speak. 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:20.680 Knowing that he who reigns the Lord Jesus 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:22.780 will raise us also with Jesus 00:08:22.780 --> 00:08:25.860 and bring us with you into his presence. 00:08:29.620 --> 00:08:30.180 Excellent. 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:33.500 My version has in verse 14 because, 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:35.060 I think Nick's version was, 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:36.200 knowing that. 00:08:37.340 --> 00:08:38.259 But he says, 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:39.720 we believe and we speak 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:42.740 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:44.960 from the dead will also raise us with Jesus 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:47.419 and present you with us 00:08:47.419 --> 00:08:48.779 in his presence. 00:08:48.779 --> 00:08:50.600 So what they're banking on is this. 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:55.000 God has showed that he is powerful 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:57.199 because he's raised Jesus from the dead. 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:00.079 And on the strength of that, 00:09:00.459 --> 00:09:02.339 they put all they have on Jesus 00:09:02.339 --> 00:09:04.480 knowing that he is powerful enough, 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:06.659 or the one who's raised Jesus is powerful enough 00:09:06.659 --> 00:09:08.199 to raise them 00:09:08.199 --> 00:09:10.279 who've trusted the one who raised Jesus 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:13.259 and he is powerful enough 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:15.620 to raise those who trust in the message 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:16.860 that they are proclaiming. 00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:19.519 I've already mentioned it, 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:21.839 but it's a Colum Buchanan line that I'm stealing. 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:24.319 I'll put all I have on Jesus. 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:27.799 I will put all I have on Jesus. 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:28.799 That's what Paul's saying. 00:09:30.319 --> 00:09:33.379 He is convinced that Jesus is risen from the dead 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.259 and it's not only powerful enough for them, 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:37.220 but it's powerful enough for everyone who trusts him. 00:09:37.220 --> 00:09:40.519 I just want to pause for a second here 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:43.259 and make a brief observation 00:09:43.259 --> 00:09:46.259 about what this tells us regarding Jesus himself 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:48.440 and why Jesus is so trustworthy, 00:09:48.660 --> 00:09:51.200 why Nick's song and the chorus is so cool, 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:53.879 why Jesus is it. 00:09:55.540 --> 00:09:58.000 Because Jesus' resurrection actually confirms 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:00.019 Jesus' identity as the eternal king, 00:10:00.800 --> 00:10:03.899 the king that God promised to David 00:10:03.899 --> 00:10:06.639 on the eternal throne of his people. 00:10:08.180 --> 00:10:09.420 If you want to in your own time, 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:10.820 you can have a look at Matthew 28, 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:12.160 verses 18 to 20, 00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:14.040 and Jesus says there in verse 18, 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:16.560 all power, and it's arisen Jesus talking, 00:10:16.700 --> 00:10:19.080 all power in heaven and earth has been given to me. 00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:23.519 He's not saying it before his resurrection, 00:10:23.660 --> 00:10:24.740 he's saying it after. 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:28.180 Jesus' resurrection confirms God's power 00:10:28.180 --> 00:10:29.120 to raise believers. 00:10:30.660 --> 00:10:32.620 It confirms Jesus to be true 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:36.399 because if Jesus had not been raised, 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:37.560 he would have been a liar. 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:41.120 So it confirms actually Jesus' power, 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:42.460 the power of Jesus' own words, 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:43.159 his own resurrection, 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:45.100 confirms that he should be believed. 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:48.679 Jesus is trustworthy 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:50.480 and the risen God. 00:10:51.659 --> 00:10:52.419 Close the bracket. 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:54.580 Now, listen carefully to this. 00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:58.320 Without the resurrection, 00:10:58.920 --> 00:11:01.220 there is nothing to believe. 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:04.560 Without the resurrection of Jesus, 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:06.040 there is no Christianity. 00:11:08.180 --> 00:11:09.900 Without the resurrection of Jesus, 00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:11.080 Jesus is a liar. 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:14.639 On campus, 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:15.759 when I'm talking with people, 00:11:16.920 --> 00:11:19.020 I get to a certain point in the conversation 00:11:19.020 --> 00:11:20.280 and I say something like this. 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:23.400 I just want to be really transparent with you 00:11:23.400 --> 00:11:25.259 and I want you to understand who we are 00:11:25.259 --> 00:11:27.420 so that you're not feeling fooled 00:11:27.420 --> 00:11:29.040 and so that you can know 00:11:29.040 --> 00:11:30.360 if you want to take this conversation further, 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:31.120 you can or not. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.900 We're from the Gruppi Biblici Universitari, 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:35.240 the university Bible groups. 00:11:35.800 --> 00:11:37.379 Our motto is sharing Jesus 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:38.620 from student to student. 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:41.299 So Jesus is at the center of everything we do. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:43.560 We're not trying to build a new church. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:45.560 We're not trying to create a new institution. 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:46.779 We don't want to establish 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:48.580 a new student group on campus 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:49.480 and really, 00:11:49.700 --> 00:11:51.320 we don't care about the GBU. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:56.299 What we want to talk to you about 00:11:56.299 --> 00:11:57.340 is Jesus 00:11:57.340 --> 00:11:58.940 and we want to talk to you about 00:11:58.940 --> 00:12:00.220 one thing about Jesus. 00:12:02.580 --> 00:12:04.560 Do you think he's alive? 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:06.200 Do you think he's risen? 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:09.180 And because I'm a foreigner 00:12:09.180 --> 00:12:10.440 and I've had to learn 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:11.400 the Italian language, 00:12:11.520 --> 00:12:12.620 I kind of muck around a bit saying, 00:12:12.900 --> 00:12:15.900 I'm using the conditional language here, right? 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:17.340 I'm using the conditional tense. 00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:20.940 If Jesus is alive, 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:24.520 then it changes everything. 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:28.460 If Jesus is alive, 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:30.400 then he has the solution 00:12:30.400 --> 00:12:31.980 to our common problem. 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:34.320 He's overcome death. 00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:36.899 But if Jesus is not alive, 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.019 then 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:40.980 I'd be happy to go back to Australia yesterday 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:43.800 and stay there 00:12:43.800 --> 00:12:46.300 and live there 00:12:46.300 --> 00:12:47.440 and die there. 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:51.259 But if Jesus really is alive, 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:53.779 I will go wherever God wants me to go 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:55.980 because if it's good for me 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:57.000 and it really is true, 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.279 then it's good for you 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:00.879 and it's good for everybody. 00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:06.279 It's important in Italy 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:08.819 that we talk about 00:13:08.819 --> 00:13:09.919 the resurrection of Jesus 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:11.519 because otherwise 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:12.539 Jesus is just left 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:14.379 as one of 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:16.399 a hundred, 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:17.240 if not a thousand, 00:13:17.339 --> 00:13:18.539 other gods and saints 00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:19.579 and lesser deities. 00:13:20.459 --> 00:13:22.120 He's someone who got close. 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:23.860 But who knows 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.919 if he got close enough? 00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:26.639 Good guy. 00:13:26.839 --> 00:13:27.579 Top guy. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:29.179 But 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:31.120 is he the risen Lord 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:31.860 of all the earth 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:33.419 in the mind of the average Italian? 00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:34.279 No. 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:35.579 He's not. 00:13:36.579 --> 00:13:37.639 So he doesn't have the power 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.740 to save if he's not risen. 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:39.620 He can't be saved 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:40.699 if he's not Lord. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.339 It's important in Italy. 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:43.620 It's important here too 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.899 where you live. 00:13:46.319 --> 00:13:47.860 The guy who dropped off the car 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.899 that we're currently using, 00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:51.480 we got talking 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:53.539 and it turns out 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.419 that he grew up 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:55.439 in country Australia 00:13:55.439 --> 00:13:57.919 having a Roman Catholic experience. 00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:58.959 as he grew. 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:01.620 Convinced that God was there 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:03.600 but doesn't really know 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.819 how going to Mass 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:07.120 makes him any closer 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:07.740 to that God 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.659 that he knows is there 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:09.679 but can't really be sure 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:10.500 how to connect with. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.139 And I said to him, 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.120 of course it came out 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.459 that we were in Italy. 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:17.059 He was doing a favor 00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:17.899 for my brother-in-law 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.720 giving us this car 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.720 so that he didn't really 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.500 know much about us. 00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.159 And I said, 00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:22.039 we're missionaries in Italy. 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:22.539 He said, 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:22.919 wow. 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:26.799 And in the course 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.219 of conversation 00:14:27.219 --> 00:14:27.500 I said, 00:14:27.579 --> 00:14:28.379 you know what the really 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.299 big deal is 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.719 for me being a missionary 00:14:30.719 --> 00:14:31.659 or being a Christian? 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:32.379 He said, 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.039 no, what's that? 00:14:34.219 --> 00:14:34.480 Well, 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.959 the kicker for me 00:14:35.959 --> 00:14:37.579 is that Jesus is risen. 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:42.300 Because if he's not, 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:45.580 then I'd love to forget it 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.600 because it makes my life 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:48.440 a great deal more difficult 00:14:48.440 --> 00:14:50.900 being a missionary in Italy. 00:14:51.560 --> 00:14:53.080 But if he's alive, 00:14:53.920 --> 00:14:54.940 that changes everything. 00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:56.160 And this guy said to me, 00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:57.560 yeah, 00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:58.759 you know, 00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.920 I've never thought about it 00:14:59.920 --> 00:15:00.440 like that before. 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:03.040 Start thinking about it. 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.580 But what about you? 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:07.820 What about you? 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:12.960 Because often we can be confused 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:14.420 as Christians. 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:18.000 And we might not be super clear 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.160 about what the centre 00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:20.259 of Christianity is. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.060 And this is what I meant. 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.520 There was a meeting 00:15:24.520 --> 00:15:25.300 that I had one time 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:26.240 with a key student 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:27.800 as part of the GBU group. 00:15:29.160 --> 00:15:30.360 And the lights were starting 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.160 to come on for me 00:15:31.160 --> 00:15:32.660 about what I should be doing 00:15:32.660 --> 00:15:33.580 and what should be 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:34.379 some of the key things 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:34.940 that I should be doing 00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:35.320 with students. 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:35.879 And I said to him, 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:36.080 look, 00:15:37.400 --> 00:15:39.760 if I give you two minutes 00:15:39.760 --> 00:15:42.020 to share the central message 00:15:42.020 --> 00:15:43.040 of Christianity with me, 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:43.860 what are you going to say? 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:45.160 And what are you going to say 00:15:45.160 --> 00:15:45.780 with your friends? 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.480 And I said, 00:15:47.520 --> 00:15:48.820 would you mind doing that 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:49.840 just as a bit of an exercise? 00:15:50.020 --> 00:15:50.720 It's not a test. 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.580 He said, yep, yep. 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:52.620 I said, right, 00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:53.460 time starts now. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.160 Stop. 00:16:01.640 --> 00:16:02.740 I said, thanks. 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.080 Can I just reflect 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.840 something back to you? 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:06.180 I said, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:16:06.400 --> 00:16:08.379 I said, you didn't mention Jesus. 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:10.520 He's like, 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:12.320 oh, yeah, right. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.639 But not only did he not 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.480 mention Jesus, 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.639 the resurrection 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.820 was nowhere in sight. 00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.580 Paul's big point here, 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:22.980 resurrection, 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.460 game on. 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.120 No resurrection. 00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:27.740 Forget it. 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.980 If I can borrow something 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:30.340 from the circus in Rome. 00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:35.039 What about you? 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.700 What do you say 00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:37.720 when you've got two minutes 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:39.440 to share the message 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.019 of Christianity 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:41.419 with people you know? 00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:44.220 And I'm challenging about this 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:45.139 because it's become obvious 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:46.519 to me that we need 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.940 to really understand 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:49.320 that the resurrection of Jesus 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:50.620 changes everything. 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.720 And you need to understand 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:52.200 that too, 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:53.139 and we'll see why. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:55.799 Because without this difference, 00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:57.259 without the resurrection 00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:57.659 of Jesus, 00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.519 Christianity is just like 00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.220 any other religion. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.860 Just a set of rules, 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.620 kind of some good examples, 00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:04.259 but it goes nowhere 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:04.680 in the end 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:06.319 because it has no eternal value. 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.599 There's no guarantee 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.859 that by doing Christian stuff, 00:17:10.139 --> 00:17:10.960 you're going to actually 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.240 overcome death 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.359 and have eternal life. 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.519 Without the resurrection, 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.319 Christianity is just like 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:15.920 any other religion, 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:17.059 but because of the resurrection, 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.960 there is believing hope. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.440 It changes everything. 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:22.779 And in keeping with 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.700 the title of this talk, 00:17:23.820 --> 00:17:24.720 Believe and Speak, 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.720 it means not only 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:27.059 is it something worth believing, 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:29.019 but it's worth speaking about. 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.880 That's why you would speak 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:34.740 and that's what you would say. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.299 You would talk about 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.059 Jesus' resurrection 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.000 and it's no mistake 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.140 that Paul talks about that here. 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:39.019 I'd invite you to study 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.019 the book of Acts again 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.759 in your own time 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.799 and just see how much 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.759 they talk about the resurrection. 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:43.900 They don't talk a whole bunch 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.900 about the crucifixion. 00:17:45.320 --> 00:17:46.019 They talk much more 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.680 about the resurrection 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.279 because that's the thing 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.480 that confirms that Jesus 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.940 really should be listened to 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:51.059 and that his death 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:52.200 actually did what 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:53.820 it should have done. 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.059 And Paul goes on, 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.980 the goal of what he's doing 00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:59.740 is also to bless others 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:01.120 and glorify God. 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.559 This is the second point. 00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:04.180 We've already looked at, 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:04.519 haven't we, 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.460 that we've established 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:08.279 that he refers to the psalmist 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.759 in Psalm 116 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.840 because it really sums up 00:18:10.840 --> 00:18:12.320 what they are experiencing. 00:18:12.820 --> 00:18:13.440 When you read from 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.519 the start of chapter 4, 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.519 you see he's talking about 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.539 trials and suffering 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.480 and being perplexed, 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.680 being crushed. 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:20.000 And this is because 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.000 of following Jesus. 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.519 But he wants to keep 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.360 on telling others 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:26.320 about Jesus 00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:27.820 for their sake 00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:28.680 that they might be blessed 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:29.980 and for the glory of God. 00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:30.759 Can someone read up 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.700 verse 15 please? 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.380 It doesn't matter 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.240 what version it is. 00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:36.019 Verse 15 please. 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:51.160 Thank you. 00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:53.400 So he says, 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.079 we're going to keep 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.859 doing this 00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:57.639 and as we do it, 00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:58.579 it's for your benefit 00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.539 because as they keep 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.220 preaching Christ, 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.259 the grace of God, 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:02.180 the news of God's 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.000 unmerited favor, 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.259 the news of God's 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.279 mercy goes out 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.339 and the people 00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:06.900 who hear it 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.460 and they believe it, 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.180 they're brought in. 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.619 And the effect 00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.319 in their life 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.640 is one of being 00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:12.420 overjoyed 00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:13.279 at being released 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.720 from the uncertainty 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.599 of death 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.940 and the fear of death. 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.319 This thanksgiving 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.480 at knowing 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:21.720 that there is a God 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.799 and that God 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.700 loves them 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.700 and they can know 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.299 that God 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.099 and they can be 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:27.099 connected to that God 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:28.000 forever. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.880 and the joy 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:31.759 that they experience 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.420 and the release, 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.740 the freedom from sin 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.819 and the liberation 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.900 from this uncertainty 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:37.000 and God's judgment 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.619 wells up in them 00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:39.420 as thanksgiving. 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:42.220 But that's pretty good. 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.440 That's a personal effect 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:44.900 for the people 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:45.500 who are receiving 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.579 Jesus Christ as Lord 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:48.160 but what it does 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:50.099 is glorify God. 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.680 So what happens 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.299 when a person 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:53.980 is actually hearing 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.680 about Jesus 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.799 being the risen Lord 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.279 of the universe 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.319 and accepting that 00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:58.980 they are being brought 00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.980 into a worship 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.419 of God 00:20:02.419 --> 00:20:03.819 and it works like this. 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:06.019 As Christ is proclaimed 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:08.679 his truthfulness 00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:09.599 which shows itself 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:11.019 in actually being raised again 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:13.200 it points to the fact 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.059 that there is a God 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:15.339 and that God is true 00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.960 and he's eternal 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.700 and he's loving. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.639 He cares about right and wrong 00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:22.559 and he cares about you. 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:27.099 And in all that process 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.799 God goes 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.740 that's right. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.379 That's what I'm like. 00:20:33.139 --> 00:20:34.579 And it's only right 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:36.279 that you should understand me 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.279 as that right, 00:20:37.639 --> 00:20:37.980 loving, 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.319 holy God 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:41.219 who's shown himself 00:20:41.219 --> 00:20:41.980 in the Lord Jesus 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:44.059 and I want to bring you in. 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.279 Come in. 00:20:48.959 --> 00:20:50.339 God is glorified 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:51.039 and Paul is, 00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:52.779 he wants to be on that train. 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:55.379 He wants to be with it. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:57.420 He wants to be on that program. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:59.519 He wants to keep that happening 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:01.680 and he will not take a backward step. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.920 Cherie is a woman 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:07.619 that Sarah has been meeting with 00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:09.440 over the last couple of years now 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:11.339 and Sarah shared a little bit 00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:12.539 of that story this morning. 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:14.899 Cherie is someone 00:21:14.899 --> 00:21:16.339 who has struggled 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:18.039 with depression 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.359 and great uncertainty 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:20.460 relating to 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:22.079 life after death, 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:22.819 judgment. 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.220 But as Sarah 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.000 has been able to sit 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:26.259 and be very patient with her 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.079 opening the scriptures 00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:28.920 and studying Jesus together, 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:30.220 getting to know Jesus together, 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:33.059 Cherie has been liberated. 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.539 And it's a beautiful thing 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.240 to see in the life 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.779 of a person 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:38.079 when they really do understand 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:39.619 how God has made peace 00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:42.500 through the blood of Jesus 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:44.119 and how that's been confirmed 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.000 by his resurrection. 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:48.039 And the joy comes out. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:50.579 The freedom is there. 00:21:51.699 --> 00:21:52.779 The clarity of mind 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:54.579 actually occurs 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.079 and it's like, 00:21:55.199 --> 00:21:55.459 whoa, 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.599 I'm seeing now. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.319 And this has been, 00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:59.299 we've been watching this 00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.379 and praying for this 00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:02.099 in Cherie's life. 00:22:03.139 --> 00:22:04.119 A brother in our, 00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:05.519 in my Bible study group, 00:22:05.739 --> 00:22:06.859 church Bible study group 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.259 in Florence, 00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.039 I think summed it up 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.599 really well 00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.879 when we were studying Acts 00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:10.299 one night 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:10.839 and he said, 00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:11.139 you know, 00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:12.859 it really seems to me 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:14.459 that evangelism 00:22:14.459 --> 00:22:15.039 is much more 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.079 like giving a gift. 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.039 Telling Jesus 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.679 is much more 00:22:18.679 --> 00:22:19.879 about giving a gift 00:22:19.879 --> 00:22:22.099 rather than some crazy thing 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:23.139 that we really feel 00:22:23.139 --> 00:22:24.019 burdened by 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.719 and we can never 00:22:24.719 --> 00:22:25.959 really get to doing. 00:22:27.979 --> 00:22:29.319 And I think he's right 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:31.579 because we're seeing it in Paul. 00:22:31.699 --> 00:22:33.079 He won't take a backward step. 00:22:33.959 --> 00:22:35.240 He will keep going 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.179 because he wants 00:22:36.179 --> 00:22:37.039 to give that gift. 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:39.240 That gift has come to him 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.240 and he didn't deserve it. 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:41.319 He wasn't looking for it. 00:22:41.379 --> 00:22:42.199 He didn't want to take it. 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.220 God said, 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:43.860 here it is. 00:22:44.360 --> 00:22:45.319 Jesus says it to him 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:45.840 on the road. 00:22:47.080 --> 00:22:47.759 He receives it 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.140 and he knows 00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:49.160 he can never give it away. 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.420 He's not going to lose it 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.259 but he wants to give it. 00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:52.039 He wants to make sure 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.480 that other people 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.160 get it as well. 00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:55.440 Italy is a place 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:57.279 that needs that gift. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.460 And I think Australia 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:01.160 is not far behind it. 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.420 We've got 0.2% 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.000 of people 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.799 who are non-Roman Catholic 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.660 Christians in Italy. 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.580 Australia, 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.140 I don't know, 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:09.160 5, 6% 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:09.799 that might kind of 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:10.680 fall into that category. 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.740 believers 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:13.140 who are in churches. 00:23:14.060 --> 00:23:14.900 But there's this 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.840 great confusion 00:23:15.840 --> 00:23:18.000 in Italy 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.000 because Jesus 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.060 is not Lord. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.480 He's not presented 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:23.740 as who he actually is 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:24.880 and people are left 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.759 in their confusion, 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.380 in their fear. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.060 But it's a question 00:23:31.060 --> 00:23:31.500 for us, 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:31.920 isn't it? 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:35.060 Are we speaking it out? 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:39.000 Are we being led 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.080 to the same thing 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:41.500 that filled Paul's heart 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.880 and his life 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:44.300 as he kind of captures it 00:23:44.300 --> 00:23:44.940 in verse 15? 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.140 He's not going to stop it. 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.940 Or this is for your benefit. 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.460 And the final point 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:50.900 I've got 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:52.120 is the reason 00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:52.820 to keep believing 00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:53.460 and speaking 00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:55.640 is because this is 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.600 an eternal reality. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:58.959 Look down again 00:23:58.959 --> 00:23:59.480 with me please 00:23:59.480 --> 00:23:59.919 at the passage 00:23:59.919 --> 00:24:01.240 from verses 16 to 18 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:02.240 and I'll read this time. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:26.819 I think this is a really 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:28.099 awesome reality check 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:28.980 for two reasons. 00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:31.799 When we look at the contrasts 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.399 in these verses 00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:33.779 we see on the one hand 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.299 a whole bunch 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.079 of difficult stuff. 00:24:35.179 --> 00:24:36.500 He talks about losing heart. 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.779 He says we do not lose heart 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.879 but he's talking about that 00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:41.740 because it's pretty easy 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.339 to start thinking 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.539 oh I'm just not sure. 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.500 I don't know if I can keep going. 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.480 I'm taking the knocks. 00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:50.959 He talks about wasting away. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.919 It's kind of the opposite 00:24:52.919 --> 00:24:53.779 of all the advertising 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.459 you see around. 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.679 It strikes us really 00:24:55.679 --> 00:24:57.139 in a big way 00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:58.180 when we come back to Australia 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.259 and then when we return 00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.759 to Italy. 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.120 The Italians are really 00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:01.980 into well-being. 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:04.380 Skin, appearance, beauty. 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:06.140 Being thin. 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.120 Not being too fat. 00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:07.720 And they talk about it 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.300 all the time. 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.360 Come back to Australia 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:10.840 and it's kind of like 00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:11.700 whoa it seems like 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.300 Australia's kind of 00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:13.780 going down the Italian path. 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.660 Paul's not talking about 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:17.220 going to the gym 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:17.759 and he's not talking 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.560 about his own well-being. 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.120 He's not talking about 00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:20.160 the tablets that he can take 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:21.720 to pump himself up. 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:22.780 He's actually talking 00:25:22.780 --> 00:25:23.360 about the fact that 00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:27.120 they are wasting away 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.939 outwardly. 00:25:28.159 --> 00:25:28.919 And he talks about 00:25:28.919 --> 00:25:29.379 troubles. 00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:32.479 That's on one side. 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.639 That's the reality check 00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:35.319 of the effect 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.339 of following Jesus 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:36.739 and the effect 00:25:36.739 --> 00:25:37.439 of being involved 00:25:37.439 --> 00:25:37.979 in the ministry 00:25:37.979 --> 00:25:39.079 of telling out Jesus. 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.099 The other side 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.739 he says, 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.679 have a look again. 00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:45.099 Verse 16. 00:25:45.659 --> 00:25:46.299 We're wasting away 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.399 outwardly yet inwardly 00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:48.299 we're being renewed 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.139 day by day. 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.359 We have light 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.199 and momentary troubles 00:25:51.199 --> 00:25:51.819 but they're achieving 00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:53.099 for us an eternal glory 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:54.239 that far outweighs them all. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.919 So what do we do? 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:57.519 We don't get weighed down 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.039 by thinking about 00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:59.320 all the temporary things 00:25:59.320 --> 00:26:00.300 but we look for 00:26:00.300 --> 00:26:01.180 what is unseen, 00:26:01.300 --> 00:26:01.920 what is eternal. 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:04.320 That is the risen Jesus 00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:06.560 and what he promises. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.500 The great powerful God 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.940 who could raise 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.039 this Jesus from the dead 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.519 and who will raise 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.060 from the dead 00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:13.900 those who believe 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.900 in this risen Jesus. 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.620 In the six weeks 00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.240 that we've been back 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.840 in Australia, 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.180 so far I've attended 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.140 two funerals. 00:26:22.800 --> 00:26:23.440 I've been quite, 00:26:23.800 --> 00:26:25.460 two very different funerals. 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:25.880 The first, 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.860 the wife of Richard Chin 00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:30.519 who is the AFES 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.620 national director, 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.319 Bronwyn. 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:34.120 She died about 00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:35.079 three or four weeks ago 00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:36.680 and then most recently 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.700 a family friend. 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:39.240 He died at the age 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.960 of about 72 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:41.840 and sitting in those funerals 00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:42.720 it was a massive 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.480 reality check. 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:45.500 It's pretty simple 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.000 isn't it? 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.559 The message of a funeral 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.299 often is that 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.740 this life is nothing. 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.900 We can't hang on 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:53.819 to these things 00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:55.200 to make us live forever. 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:57.159 It doesn't work that way. 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.799 Like Ecclesiastes said, 00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.819 a funeral is a good place 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.399 to hang out 00:27:01.399 --> 00:27:02.279 because it's a really 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.240 good wake-up call. 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:07.179 It's a very good 00:27:07.179 --> 00:27:07.819 wake-up call. 00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.279 And Paul is saying 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.759 in the midst of 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.819 all this stuff, 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.720 all this trouble, 00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.220 all this body 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.099 wasting away, 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.740 it's a reminder 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.599 he's drawn back 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.659 to ask why 00:27:21.659 --> 00:27:22.679 and he's pointed 00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:24.019 back to the risen Jesus. 00:27:26.179 --> 00:27:27.059 And he must 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.779 be involved 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.419 in this news 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:29.079 going out. 00:27:30.159 --> 00:27:30.699 I want to just 00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:31.099 leave you with 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:32.219 this one last challenge 00:27:32.219 --> 00:27:33.259 and you can pray 00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:34.099 it for me as well. 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.699 My challenge is this. 00:27:37.159 --> 00:27:38.119 There's a danger 00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:38.719 for us 00:27:38.719 --> 00:27:39.319 if we're already 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:40.459 following this risen Jesus, 00:27:40.719 --> 00:27:41.799 the longer we wait 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.879 to speak out 00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:43.619 what we believe 00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:44.219 and what we know 00:27:44.219 --> 00:27:44.839 about him, 00:27:45.959 --> 00:27:47.199 the further away 00:27:47.199 --> 00:27:48.759 our opportunities 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.599 will be 00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.420 to tell others 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.059 about him. 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:53.019 I've seen this 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:53.599 in Italy 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.539 and I know it 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.079 to be true here 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:55.500 because I've 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.240 experienced it myself. 00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:56.680 This is what 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.319 I'm talking about. 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.599 For evangelical 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.460 Christians in Italy, 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.279 like I've already said, 00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:02.180 it can be very difficult 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.319 to actually live 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:03.980 in this massive 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.619 great ocean 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:06.000 of people 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.759 who don't understand 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.259 who you are 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:07.759 and they don't really 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.799 care for who you are. 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.960 And the church, 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.859 as much as it's 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.640 God's blessing, 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.140 can become a place 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:16.019 where people really 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:17.359 take very severe, 00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.279 deep refuge. 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.240 It's kind of like 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.960 the lifeboat. 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.619 They've been hauled 00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.099 into it 00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:23.039 and the last place 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.480 they want to go 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.279 back into 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.420 is the water 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:25.879 that they've just 00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:26.740 been rescued from. 00:28:27.639 --> 00:28:28.440 But the challenge 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.180 with that is 00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:30.200 they forget 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.899 why they're there 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:33.160 and they just 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:33.899 become a club. 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.619 They enjoy 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.059 all the benefits 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.660 of that club 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.220 but they forget 00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:37.859 about the founder 00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:38.579 and that it's 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.119 up to him. 00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:44.599 And I think 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.420 people can be left 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.139 doing this. 00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:46.940 They sit around 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:47.599 thinking 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.919 about what 00:28:48.919 --> 00:28:49.599 they think 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.559 other people 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:50.980 think. 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.599 It's a bit 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.139 tricky that. 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.000 Sitting around 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.579 thinking about 00:28:56.579 --> 00:28:57.599 what they think 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.099 other people 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.459 think. 00:28:59.059 --> 00:28:59.779 And this is how 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.199 it goes. 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.199 Ah, they hate 00:29:01.199 --> 00:29:01.559 Christians. 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.719 They don't want 00:29:03.719 --> 00:29:04.079 to know. 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.599 They're not 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.000 interested. 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.339 They're going 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.879 to kill me. 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:13.500 And in my 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:13.840 experience 00:29:13.840 --> 00:29:14.500 that's not 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:14.760 true. 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.480 They just 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:17.760 don't know 00:29:17.760 --> 00:29:18.180 Christians. 00:29:18.780 --> 00:29:19.160 They don't 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:19.600 know Jesus. 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:20.760 They really 00:29:20.760 --> 00:29:21.020 want to 00:29:21.020 --> 00:29:21.400 understand. 00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:23.460 But the 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:23.800 longer we 00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:24.480 wait, the 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:24.840 bigger the 00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:26.100 wall and 00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:26.360 the less 00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:27.540 ready we 00:29:27.540 --> 00:29:27.820 are to 00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:28.160 speak. 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.020 And I 00:29:30.020 --> 00:29:30.560 think Paul's 00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:31.200 encouragement to 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.960 us, to you 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.800 tonight, to me 00:29:33.800 --> 00:29:34.520 tonight, to our 00:29:34.520 --> 00:29:35.240 evangelical brothers 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:35.859 and sisters in 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.900 Italy, is to 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.660 speak it out. 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:39.200 Is to get back 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.079 to the fact that 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.799 Jesus really is 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:42.620 risen and that 00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.220 there's much more 00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:43.740 going on than 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.660 meets the eye in 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.279 being a Christian. 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:46.220 It can look pretty 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.740 poor on the 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:48.440 outside, but the 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:50.039 eternal reality is 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:50.559 astounding. 00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.839 Where are you at 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.359 with Jesus? 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.680 Where am I at 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:55.180 with Jesus? 00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.380 Are you really 00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:56.980 convinced that he's 00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:57.220 risen? 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.599 What's going to 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:00.440 keep you going as a 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:00.940 Christian, but what's 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.799 going to move you to 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.319 come and be in 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.059 Italy with us? 00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:05.539 when you're on 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:05.960 your own? 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.259 The Italians 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:10.419 aren't there, but 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:12.740 Jesus is there, and 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.279 you're there. 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.980 That's enough. 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:18.659 Speak it out. 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:20.059 If we believe it, 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.159 we'll speak it out. 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.679 And I want to 00:30:22.679 --> 00:30:23.339 encourage you to 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:24.039 think about how you 00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:24.619 might do that this 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:25.879 week and talk to 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:27.220 each other about how 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.679 that's going. 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.339 Let's pray. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.919 Hallelujah, Father, 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.740 thank you so much 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:35.019 for the chance 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.900 once again to look 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:37.259 into the reality 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.940 of the Lord Jesus. 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.160 Thank you, Father 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:41.160 God, for calling 00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.100 your servant Paul. 00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.100 Thank you, Lord 00:30:43.100 --> 00:30:43.740 Jesus, for calling 00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.900 him, for filling 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:45.820 him with the Holy 00:30:45.820 --> 00:30:48.080 Spirit and testifying 00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:49.740 and giving him such 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.840 a great understanding 00:30:50.840 --> 00:30:51.680 that, Lord Jesus, 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.200 you really are 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:52.779 risen, that he was 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.259 never going to take 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.019 a backward step. 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.180 Please help us to 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:55.980 examine our hearts 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:57.380 and our minds and 00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:58.220 understand whether we 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.720 really believe that 00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.400 you are risen, Lord 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:00.880 Jesus, or whether 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:01.740 we've got doubts, and 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.339 please help us deal 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:03.019 with those doubts. 00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:06.000 And we pray that you 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.039 would help us to speak 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:08.460 out the truth about 00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.099 you, Lord Jesus. 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:10.960 And I pray for your 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:12.279 Italian people, that 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.839 they would do the 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:14.099 same thing and help 00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:14.839 us to be in it 00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.720 together, we ask in 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.339 Jesus' name. 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.279 Amen.