WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:06.960 Have you noticed when you're out and about the array of innovative and even designer masks 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:12.880 that people are wearing? People must be paying a fortune for some of them. I'm not into mask envy 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:21.600 but I really admire people's sense of innovation, fun, fashion and design. I've seen some really 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:28.960 interesting mask prints you know some are covered in glitter diamante sort of things, some are got 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:35.600 company logos on the side, some have got big smiles across the front. In Hill Road the other day I was 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:40.160 chatting to somebody it was a bit like a Disney film I found myself conversing with a Dalmatian. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:52.799 Masks do exactly what they do, they mask things. In our reading this morning there's an outbreak of 00:00:52.799 --> 00:01:00.320 honesty, there's an outbreak of honesty and openness, nothing is hidden, no masks as Peter and John 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:06.719 converse with the establishment and share the truth of the gospel with the establishment. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:16.959 They face threats, they face arrest, torture, yet they spoke boldly. Nothing is hidden, nothing 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:25.599 transparent, open and honest in all things. And this morning's theme is about us being unleashed 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:33.759 as a people of God in gratitude, prayer and sharing. And you will know that if it's a family, if any of 00:01:33.759 --> 00:01:39.759 those elements are missing, then family life has not only diminished but there is something seriously 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:46.719 missing when we can't pray with and for one another, when we can't show gratitude, encouragement and share 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:54.160 openly in all that we have to offer. So the backdrop here is that Peter and John return to the followers 00:01:54.160 --> 00:02:01.840 after going through this ordeal and are relating to what has happened. When you've been through or maybe when 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:09.680 you have faced an ordeal, struggle or concern within your setting, within your family, wherever that might be, 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:17.680 how do you deal with it? How do you engage with it? Do you slap a mask on? Not literally, but do you 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:24.240 pretend it's okay? Do you put it away? Do you not share it? Do you not hand it to God? 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:38.159 Do you not share it orゆet it to God? Do you need самых minus a card or Нет? Do you NRWR, stop for lack of 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:47.120 Beard nice and recursion, frankly. Everyone is returning all our answers and getting real updates and 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:51.920 gently. You may be tempted to start writing your Christmas cards and those letters, where we tell people, what we've been 00:02:51.919 --> 00:03:00.939 open it. Last year it was full of pictures of their new luxury extension. My goodness and it 00:03:00.939 --> 00:03:07.019 was a luxury extension. How amazing their kids were doing at school. All the grade A students. 00:03:07.019 --> 00:03:13.479 How they had been nominated for awards in the community. Oh and their new puppy. Even their 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:19.099 new puppy had got a certificate that they put on there. I think it was for biochemistry or something 00:03:19.099 --> 00:03:29.000 but you know you get the picture. The sad thing was is that in February of this year we heard that they 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:37.859 had separated. Behind the mask life had been on the skids for months. Their children were in bits. 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:44.900 The cost of the new extension had almost crippled them financially and the puppy well the puppy 00:03:44.900 --> 00:03:51.379 chewed through the sofa at Christmas and had been returned to where she came from. It was tragic. 00:03:53.379 --> 00:04:00.020 Masking the reality of life wasn't an option for the early church and it's not an option for us now. 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:07.460 You know the early church were really good at being real about stuff and as a result they were open to 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:14.260 the massive move of the Holy Spirit because they knew their need of God and the need of the community 00:04:14.260 --> 00:04:17.259 that God asked them to serve. 00:04:19.180 --> 00:04:27.900 What you saw is what you get. A community living out and doing life together in the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:27.900 --> 00:04:33.460 Not afraid to trust in him for all things and you have this to be pretty confident in your openness don't you? 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:42.419 Having gone through what they go through to say now Lord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 00:04:42.419 --> 00:04:48.339 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform sizes and wonders through the name of your Holy Servant Jesus. 00:04:49.699 --> 00:04:53.219 That's boldness. That's trust. That's openness. That's gratitude. 00:04:53.220 --> 00:05:02.720 And the result was after they prayed the place was filled with the Holy Spirit. It was shaken. 00:05:03.580 --> 00:05:09.640 They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly and that bonded them together. 00:05:09.640 --> 00:05:16.960 That brought them together as family, encouraged each other and we read that there was this new openness. 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:21.959 All of the believers were in one heart and mind. 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:26.839 No one claimed that any of their possessions were their own, but they shared everything they had. 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:29.839 One in heart and mind. 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:38.079 That's such a counter-cultural message for us, isn't it, to hear today. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:50.399 I think it was Mike that said the other day that if the church stopped doing social work, somebody else would probably step in and do that. 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:52.819 As valuable as that is. 00:05:54.219 --> 00:06:00.719 But if the church stops preaching and moving in the power of the Holy Spirit, nobody else is going to do that. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:08.460 We've been called to be distinctive in our culture, in our time and in our place. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:12.840 What have we shared recently? 00:06:14.880 --> 00:06:16.680 Just have a moment's thought about that. 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:20.080 What have we shared recently with somebody? 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:24.280 And then what was the cost of that sharing? 00:06:25.520 --> 00:06:30.420 Maybe even sharing the reality of our situation, like our friends in the letter. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:37.600 I know that there is often a resistance in church circles. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:42.220 There always has been ever since I can remember to talk about finance. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:44.860 Oh, the church is asking for more money. 00:06:46.860 --> 00:06:51.020 I had to learn a long time ago that it's not ours. 00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:56.080 It's all his given to us to share. 00:06:56.079 --> 00:07:00.379 And we need to be grateful and show gratitude for that. 00:07:01.359 --> 00:07:03.219 It wasn't an issue for the early church. 00:07:03.859 --> 00:07:07.939 As we hear at the end of it, Barnabas came and just laid everything before the apostles. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:10.259 Where am I going with this? 00:07:10.259 --> 00:07:19.480 I guess for us as a church unleashed as a people of gratitude, prayer and sharing, then it has to be exactly that. 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:23.240 Gratitude, prayer and sharing. 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:34.040 Take out the gratitude and thanks for all that God has done for us, done for me in my life on the cross through Jesus Christ and his resurrection for me and saving me. 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:40.520 Then without that, surely that's so much to be grateful for, isn't it? 00:07:41.379 --> 00:07:51.020 We can't be in a Christian life without that gratitude moment by moment for all that God has done for us and to share that with other people. 00:07:51.019 --> 00:08:03.819 Take out the prayer and we miss out on that power element of relationship with Jesus through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, that conversation that happens 24-7. 00:08:04.299 --> 00:08:05.680 Take out the sharing. 00:08:07.019 --> 00:08:08.299 Take out the sharing. 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:11.899 We become little more than a paid members club. 00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:17.139 If I don't like something, well, I'll just withdraw my giving. 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:21.439 I'll cancel my subscription because something or somebody upset me. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:23.379 That's not family. 00:08:24.179 --> 00:08:26.659 That's not the family picture I see in Acts. 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:35.059 This was a people totally committed and sold out for his purposes and the people that they were called to serve. 00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:40.860 One of years ago, there was a comedy program I just loved. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:41.820 It was called Bread. 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:48.860 It was written by Carla Lane and it was focused around a Liverpudlian working class family. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:52.560 And it was filmed mostly around their kitchen table. 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:57.399 And in the middle of this kitchen table was a chicken. 00:08:57.700 --> 00:09:02.279 It was a pottery chicken, one with a lid where you used to keep eggs in it. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:09.460 But this was the pot where the family, after their various exploits, not all of them were particularly legal, 00:09:09.460 --> 00:09:15.500 where they would place their money as a central focus for their family life. 00:09:16.060 --> 00:09:17.259 It was family. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.519 They shared everything. 00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:21.360 Everyone contributed. 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:23.900 No one was left out. 00:09:23.899 --> 00:09:29.579 There's going to be a letter that will arrive with you soon. 00:09:30.539 --> 00:09:33.039 If you don't get one, please ask for one. 00:09:33.100 --> 00:09:36.659 It will be coming from our wardens at the church. 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:38.399 It's very honest and open. 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:44.279 No masks about the element of sharing and finances at Christchurch. 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:54.759 Like most settings, we as a church family will be struggling to financially maintain that which God has asked of us as a family. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:01.579 And at this time of need in our community, we need to be aware of that, as in the early church, 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:05.100 that it's not a time to say, oh, what can we cut back on? 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:10.340 But rather, how much are you asking of us, Lord, to give and share with others? 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:20.000 I'm aware that some members of the family are really realistic in what they can give financially and put into that pot, 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:22.220 the chicken in the middle of the table. 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:31.040 And others maybe haven't considered the importance and relevance of that giving in response to God and the wider church family. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:33.719 And that's what the letter will ask of us. 00:10:34.819 --> 00:10:44.939 The letter will ask each and every one of us to come before God and to consider what our contribution is in the light of this teaching series and that of the early church. 00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:55.179 As I said at the end of this reading this morning, we are picturing Barnabas. 00:10:55.179 --> 00:11:04.500 Barnabas, who has been impacted by the power of the spirit and just lays everything, not only before the apostles, but before the Lord. 00:11:04.599 --> 00:11:05.899 He's called the great encourager. 00:11:06.199 --> 00:11:07.039 I love encouragers. 00:11:09.099 --> 00:11:12.599 And he encourages so many people in their journey. 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:16.299 I'm going to end this morning with a story. 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:17.419 It's a true story. 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:19.799 And it's about a man called Evan. 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:23.000 His name was called Evan Roberts. 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:27.460 He was born in a Welsh mining village in 1878. 00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:30.720 He was the ninth of 14 children. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:42.720 And at 12 years old, Evan, like many children of his age, left school to go down into the colliery and into the mines along with his father and the rest of his male family. 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:48.039 With such a limited education, he wasn't well read. 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:50.000 But Evan knew his Bible. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:52.379 Very rarely was he seen without his Bible. 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:54.659 And he even took it into the mine. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:57.259 He was deeply dedicated to prayer. 00:11:57.659 --> 00:12:01.980 And people would say that he would often miss sleep to pray through the night. 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:05.220 God called him. 00:12:06.179 --> 00:12:07.299 And he left the mine. 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:10.580 A big financial step for him in that day. 00:12:10.580 --> 00:12:18.560 And he went to college where he experienced a move and a filling and a baptism of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:21.900 And he felt compelled to share that with others. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:33.800 This week or last week in 1904, at just 26 years old, Evan Roberts stood at the end of a prayer meeting in front of 17 people. 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:36.419 And he shared these things. 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:41.059 He asked them to, one, confess your sins. 00:12:41.939 --> 00:12:46.899 Two, get rid of anything in your life that could get between you and God. 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:50.539 Three, obey the Holy Spirit. 00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:54.860 And four, publicly declared Jesus a saviour. 00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:59.279 All 17 of the people there made a commitment that night. 00:12:59.599 --> 00:13:04.379 And in the following weeks, they too went out and shared that with others. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:07.000 And many responded to that call. 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:11.240 From there, Evan was called to tour Wales. 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:17.440 And in this move of the Holy Spirit, he shared that message. 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:20.940 He said himself that he wasn't a great preacher. 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:27.120 But the message that he'd been given, those four things, drew people in their thousands. 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:29.360 They flocked to the meetings. 00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:35.840 And over 18 months, 100,000 people made their commitment to Jesus Christ. 00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:39.299 And the Welsh revival broke out. 00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:47.659 Newspapers reported from collieries to cities that people were aflame with the glory of God. 00:13:47.819 --> 00:13:49.919 Police courts were hardly necessary. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:56.919 Pubs and clubs were deserted as people moved into churches and into chapels. 00:13:57.539 --> 00:14:05.219 And they prayed both night and day and went out and flooded their community with the love of God, 00:14:05.219 --> 00:14:08.979 which was transformed in the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:09.299 --> 00:14:20.500 The thing is, never be tempted or deceived that the attractiveness of the early church can happen in our generation. 00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:21.799 It can. 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:30.740 Because it said in that reading, all the believers were one in heart and mind. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:33.779 One in heart and mind. 00:14:33.859 --> 00:14:34.539 They were together. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.639 They were family. 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:39.059 No one claimed that any of their possessions were their own. 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:41.459 But they shared everything they had. 00:14:41.459 --> 00:14:49.659 And with great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:54.019 And God's grace was so powerfully at work within them all. 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:54.439 That's the fact that we're going to be able to do. 00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:54.980 That's the fact that we were going to do. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.659 That's the fact that we were going to do. 00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:55.960 That's the fact that we were going to do. 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:57.279 That's the fact that we were going to do. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.259 Is that a picture that grasps you this morning? 00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:02.340 It does for me. 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:17.159 That sense of love and grace outpouring into our communities is surely something that we should aspire to and be open to. 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:26.899 Maybe you're asking for that now in your life to be that transformational move of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:31.519 To maybe transform your thinking. 00:15:32.079 --> 00:15:33.779 To renew you. 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:35.000 To renew your life. 00:15:35.699 --> 00:15:39.659 To give you a fresh perspective on God's purposes.