WEBVTT

00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.399
 Thank you. It is a joy to be with you.

00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:06.540
 If you've got your Bibles open, it's Ephesians 4,

00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:10.160
 but we're also going to look a little bit at Ephesians 1.

00:00:11.120 --> 00:00:14.740
 As an American pastor some years ago wrote a best-selling book,

00:00:14.780 --> 00:00:17.519
 as it turned out to be, about the local church,

00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:20.719
 its core conviction was this.

00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:24.960
 The local church is the apple of God's eye.

00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:29.879
 It's the focal point of all that he is doing in the world.

00:00:30.780 --> 00:00:31.920
 Now, look around.

00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:33.979
 Look at one another.

00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:36.280
 This was his conviction.

00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:40.079
 If you're a Christian here this morning, part of this local church,

00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:46.159
 you are part of being the apple of God's eye,

00:00:46.519 --> 00:00:49.859
 the focal point of all that he's doing in the world.

00:00:50.019 --> 00:00:56.980
 That actually well reflects the main theme of Ephesians as a letter.

00:00:57.599 --> 00:01:00.099
 In fact, there's no other letter in the New Testament

00:01:00.099 --> 00:01:03.899
 that kind of has such an expansive, such a soaring,

00:01:04.219 --> 00:01:07.479
 such a cosmic view of the place of the local church,

00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:09.299
 which looks so ordinary.

00:01:09.819 --> 00:01:10.280
 Look at that.

00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:10.899
 Look at one another.

00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:11.820
 So ordinary.

00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:13.840
 So weak.

00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:19.540
 So apparently ineffective and inconsequential.

00:01:19.960 --> 00:01:21.260
 But in God's economy,

00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:25.360
 it's these companies of God's people,

00:01:25.860 --> 00:01:27.000
 small and large,

00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:29.360
 scattered around the world throughout time,

00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:34.280
 is the focal point of all that he's doing against the back cloth

00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:36.500
 of all that is happening in the world,

00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:38.780
 the rise and fall of nations,

00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:42.659
 the coming and going of prime ministers,

00:01:43.719 --> 00:01:45.680
 wars and times of peace.

00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:47.640
 God is working constantly,

00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:51.140
 and he's doing that through the local church.

00:01:51.440 --> 00:01:54.380
 And the point is, in chapter 1, verse 10,

00:01:54.740 --> 00:01:57.500
 the whole unfolding storyline of the Bible

00:01:57.500 --> 00:01:59.180
 is encaptured in the fact,

00:01:59.440 --> 00:02:00.860
 in the story of salvation,

00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:04.980
 which is a story of God working every single day

00:02:04.980 --> 00:02:07.719
 through his people in the world,

00:02:07.980 --> 00:02:09.800
 through the whole course of human history,

00:02:10.200 --> 00:02:11.900
 with one great aim.

00:02:11.900 --> 00:02:13.360
 There it is in verse 10,

00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:17.760
 to bring all things in heaven and earth under Christ.

00:02:17.939 --> 00:02:18.860
 That's where it's going.

00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:21.620
 If you're a Christian, that's your destiny.

00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:23.560
 That's where you and I are going.

00:02:24.480 --> 00:02:25.719
 And Ephesians shows us,

00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:28.000
 through Jesus' death and resurrection,

00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:31.900
 how God will bring into being this new creation,

00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:34.540
 the new heavens and the new earth,

00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:37.219
 as it's called elsewhere in the book of Revelation.

00:02:38.200 --> 00:02:40.480
 It's the kind of world that we long for.

00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:43.659
 It's the kind of world that we sing about.

00:02:44.259 --> 00:02:48.120
 Famously, John Lennon sang about it in the 60s and 70s

00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:49.679
 with that song, Imagine.

00:02:51.379 --> 00:02:53.339
 Most of you are of an age and time,

00:02:53.419 --> 00:02:54.579
 well, you'll remember that song.

00:02:54.939 --> 00:02:56.280
 But what was he singing about?

00:02:56.699 --> 00:02:59.239
 He said, I hope someday you'll join us,

00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:02.179
 and the world will be at one.

00:03:02.599 --> 00:03:04.159
 The world longs for peace.

00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:05.739
 The world longs for unity.

00:03:06.299 --> 00:03:08.739
 The world longs for oneness.

00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:11.100
 But it can't deliver it.

00:03:11.460 --> 00:03:13.159
 It's not in the power of humankind

00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:16.200
 to deliver the kind of world that we want.

00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:19.620
 And yet, the fact that we long for that kind of world

00:03:19.620 --> 00:03:23.620
 is all part and parcel of the imprint of God's image

00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:25.200
 in our heart and our soul.

00:03:25.460 --> 00:03:26.780
 We've lost that world.

00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:28.400
 We lost it in Genesis.

00:03:29.160 --> 00:03:31.020
 But it's a world that's going to be regained,

00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:32.100
 as John Milton put it,

00:03:32.160 --> 00:03:33.219
 paradise regained,

00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:35.620
 that's spoken about in the book of Revelation.

00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:37.640
 That's the journey of the Bible,

00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:40.920
 from paradise lost to paradise regained.

00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:43.099
 But that world isn't going to be regained

00:03:43.099 --> 00:03:44.640
 by human beings.

00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:47.740
 It's going to be regained by the intervention of God.

00:03:47.980 --> 00:03:50.580
 And he's begun that through the death

00:03:50.580 --> 00:03:53.719
 and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:55.540
 So what's going on in history,

00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:57.360
 against the butt cloth of all that's going on

00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:58.240
 in our own lives,

00:03:58.500 --> 00:03:59.840
 and in the history of our nation,

00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:01.439
 and the history of the world right now?

00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:02.479
 It's this.

00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:06.419
 God is building his church.

00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:08.120
 As Ephesians puts it,

00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:12.280
 one world, one body, one people.

00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:15.639
 And before we get to the passage in Ephesians 4 this morning,

00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:17.659
 I just want to remind you,

00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:18.680
 if you're a Christian,

00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:22.920
 of something that you're in danger of missing every day

00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:24.819
 and losing sight of,

00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:26.920
 and I can see from some of your faces

00:04:26.920 --> 00:04:28.540
 that you're losing sight of it,

00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:33.200
 it's the incredible privilege of being a Christian.

00:04:33.980 --> 00:04:36.460
 It might not feel like that here this morning,

00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:38.340
 but if you're a Christian,

00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:42.320
 you are amongst the most privileged people

00:04:42.320 --> 00:04:44.220
 in all the world.

00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:45.860
 You really are.

00:04:46.620 --> 00:04:47.020
 Why?

00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:49.980
 Well, as Ephesians 1 puts it in verse 4,

00:04:49.980 --> 00:04:54.759
 you're chosen in him before the foundation of the world.

00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:57.680
 Or again, adopted as God's sons,

00:04:57.680 --> 00:04:59.819
 heirs of all that he owns,

00:05:00.620 --> 00:05:03.079
 to be adopted into the family of God.

00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:05.860
 The story is told of the little boy who was adopted,

00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:09.639
 and he was getting a lot of grace from his mates at school.

00:05:10.139 --> 00:05:10.960
 And in the end,

00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:13.040
 he turned around and said,

00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:16.540
 at least my father chose me.

00:05:17.280 --> 00:05:20.019
 Your fathers had no choice in the matter.

00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:21.480
 You were just given to them.

00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:22.519
 Isn't that brilliant?

00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:27.919
 Adoption is at the heart of the Christian experience.

00:05:27.919 --> 00:05:32.539
 A father in heaven who so loved you personally

00:05:32.539 --> 00:05:38.120
 that he purposed, he chose you to adopt you into his family.

00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:41.639
 Paul is saying to this ragamuffling church in Ephesus,

00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:43.379
 this is who you are.

00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:45.459
 Christian here today in Brunsfield,

00:05:45.659 --> 00:05:47.180
 this is who you are.

00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:48.939
 You are chosen.

00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:50.259
 You are adopted.

00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:51.639
 You are, verse 7,

00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:54.220
 redeemed through the death of Christ.

00:05:54.459 --> 00:05:55.480
 As Peter puts it,

00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:58.060
 not with silver and gold,

00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:01.019
 but with the precious blood of Christ.

00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:02.960
 How much does God love you?

00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:04.300
 That much.

00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:06.000
 To give his son.

00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:07.819
 You fathers here,

00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:10.319
 can you imagine any scenario

00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:12.939
 where you're willing to give up your child

00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:15.639
 to rescue another person?

00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:19.360
 This is the immensity of God's heart and God's love

00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:22.199
 that he has given his very best,

00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:24.160
 his only begotten son,

00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:25.339
 to rescue us.

00:06:25.779 --> 00:06:28.620
 That's the value that he puts upon having you

00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:30.519
 in his family.

00:06:30.659 --> 00:06:31.399
 Do you see the thing?

00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:33.720
 You couldn't be of greater value.

00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:35.659
 You couldn't be of greater worth.

00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:37.879
 You couldn't be of more significance.

00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:40.339
 This is your identity.

00:06:40.339 --> 00:06:41.759
 And that's why,

00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:44.979
 because we're sealed with the Holy Spirit,

00:06:45.099 --> 00:06:46.599
 verses 13 and 14,

00:06:47.179 --> 00:06:49.259
 there's a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance

00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:51.079
 so that we cry in our heart,

00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:51.799
 Abba, Father,

00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:54.459
 we are aware of our relationship with God,

00:06:54.919 --> 00:06:56.459
 that we are called to live,

00:06:56.539 --> 00:06:57.019
 verse 12,

00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.399
 for the praise of his glory.

00:07:00.559 --> 00:07:03.139
 I'm sure you've been through Ephesians 1 at some point.

00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:05.639
 If not, it's a great passage to return to.

00:07:05.819 --> 00:07:07.759
 But that's who we are as Christians.

00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:10.139
 And I just want to remind us of that.

00:07:10.139 --> 00:07:12.099
 Before we come to chapter 4 today,

00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:18.860
 because getting hold of that is so important

00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:23.620
 to our everyday life and service of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:25.699
 Or as it puts it in chapter 1,

00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:28.159
 in verse 1 of chapter 4,

00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.759
 as a prisoner for the Lord,

00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:34.479
 I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling

00:07:34.479 --> 00:07:35.899
 you have received.

00:07:36.799 --> 00:07:37.639
 You see, as a Christian,

00:07:37.919 --> 00:07:38.679
 you've been chosen,

00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:39.599
 you've been adopted,

00:07:39.919 --> 00:07:41.539
 you've been called into God's family,

00:07:41.719 --> 00:07:43.139
 and he's given you a purpose.

00:07:43.919 --> 00:07:47.959
 And the purpose is to live a life worthy of who you are.

00:07:47.959 --> 00:07:52.139
 Remember that film,

00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:55.199
 Saving Private Ryan?

00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:58.000
 There's a very poignant scene at the end of it,

00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:01.099
 where 50 years or so later,

00:08:01.719 --> 00:08:02.379
 Private Ryan,

00:08:02.479 --> 00:08:03.519
 now an old man,

00:08:04.099 --> 00:08:08.500
 returns to visit the grave of Captain John Miller,

00:08:08.620 --> 00:08:10.500
 who had led that band of people.

00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:11.560
 It's a true story, isn't it?

00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:14.620
 He'd led those troops to rescue Private Ryan.

00:08:16.220 --> 00:08:17.500
 And he's there now,

00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:18.180
 Private Ryan,

00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:18.879
 with his wife,

00:08:19.339 --> 00:08:20.259
 with his children,

00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:21.399
 with his grandchildren.

00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:24.280
 They're all gathered around that grave in France,

00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:26.259
 in that cemetery.

00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:28.459
 And he turns to his wife,

00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:29.579
 and he says,

00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:32.500
 tell me that I've earned it.

00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:35.179
 Tell me that I've earned it.

00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:35.779
 You see,

00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:38.360
 he was aware that the sacrifice,

00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:39.340
 what was made for him,

00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:42.300
 had granted him a life that John Miller never knew.

00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.480
 He was aware of the enormity of the cost of it.

00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:47.980
 And his instinct was,

00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:50.060
 tell me that I've earned it.

00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:52.399
 Tell me that I've earned it.

00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:59.820
 That's so, so related to that deep instinct within us

00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:02.160
 that thinks we can earn our salvation.

00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:04.000
 Do you see the point?

00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:06.040
 We can't earn it.

00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:09.459
 There's nothing we can do to earn our salvation.

00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:11.039
 It's a gift of God.

00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:14.500
 Those words of Private Ryan

00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:16.399
 are the very antithesis,

00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:17.899
 the very opposite of the gospel.

00:09:18.459 --> 00:09:20.419
 Because the gospel says you can't earn it.

00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:21.919
 It's a gift.

00:09:22.579 --> 00:09:24.219
 The gift of faith,

00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:26.319
 the gift of grace given to you.

00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:28.500
 You can't earn your salvation.

00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:30.539
 God has done it all.

00:09:30.539 --> 00:09:33.819
 And knowing that God has done it all,

00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.139
 knowing that we respond to God,

00:09:37.219 --> 00:09:38.219
 not out of duty,

00:09:39.219 --> 00:09:40.419
 but out of love.

00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:43.079
 The Christian life isn't duty,

00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:44.139
 it's devotion.

00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:45.839
 It's the response to love.

00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:48.539
 Knowing that he's done all those things for me,

00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:50.860
 what can I do but love him in return,

00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:51.919
 with his help,

00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:52.980
 day by day?

00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:55.659
 It's the response of love.

00:09:55.659 --> 00:10:00.339
 And here in the verse 1 to 16 of chapter 4,

00:10:00.899 --> 00:10:04.559
 it spells out kind of what it means, therefore,

00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:06.399
 to live a life of devotion.

00:10:06.539 --> 00:10:08.179
 What's the implications for us,

00:10:08.339 --> 00:10:09.579
 as a local church,

00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:11.740
 to the immensity of God's love

00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:13.719
 and God's goodness to us?

00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:17.600
 Well, it is simply this.

00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:20.399
 First, it's to be a peacemaker.

00:10:21.339 --> 00:10:24.759
 And secondly, it's to be a bodybuilder.

00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:27.799
 A peacemaker and a bodybuilder.

00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:29.480
 Verses 1 to 6.

00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:31.539
 As we've already seen,

00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:33.279
 you see, there's an instinctive longing

00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:35.740
 in the human heart for peace,

00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:36.600
 for unity.

00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:40.039
 We have things like the United Nations.

00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:42.059
 The nations come together,

00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:43.379
 long for unity.

00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:47.279
 But if anything so illustrates

00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.720
 the total impotence of a nation

00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:53.299
 or nations to get together to create unity,

00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:54.500
 it's the United Nations.

00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:57.399
 We have a united kingdom.

00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:59.840
 It's a very dangerous thing

00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:01.399
 to talk about in Scotland, isn't it?

00:11:01.419 --> 00:11:02.879
 The united kingdom.

00:11:04.939 --> 00:11:07.539
 You see, there's this longing in all of us

00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:10.799
 for unity, for togetherness.

00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:12.759
 But as we've already seen,

00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:13.659
 left to ourselves,

00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:15.379
 we can't create that.

00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:17.059
 But the gospel creates it.

00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:19.120
 Christ has won the peace

00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:22.200
 and he's created unity for his family.

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:25.080
 Firstly, Paul talks about it in chapter 2.

00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:28.240
 It's a peace between God and his people.

00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:30.299
 In Christ, verse 13,

00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:31.980
 you who were once far away

00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:34.060
 have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.779
 He himself is our peace.

00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.080
 But it's not until we have that vertical peace

00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:40.299
 with God that we can begin to have

00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:42.440
 peace with one another.

00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:45.180
 You'll never have horizontal peace

00:11:45.180 --> 00:11:46.080
 between people.

00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:47.100
 Without first,

00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:49.000
 you have that vertical peace

00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:51.360
 between a person and God.

00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:53.060
 That's what God is creating

00:11:53.060 --> 00:11:54.680
 in the gospel.

00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:57.340
 Verse 14 of chapter 2,

00:11:57.340 --> 00:11:58.720
 He has made the two groups,

00:11:58.840 --> 00:11:59.759
 Jew and Gentile,

00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:01.620
 naturally hostile to one another,

00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.920
 one and destroyed the barrier,

00:12:04.040 --> 00:12:05.940
 the dividing wall of hostility.

00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:08.280
 You see, the gospel has the power

00:12:08.280 --> 00:12:09.060
 to do something

00:12:09.060 --> 00:12:12.660
 that no other human institution,

00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:14.899
 philosophy, religion,

00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:16.700
 whatever you might want to call it,

00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:18.220
 has the power to do.

00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:21.620
 It's to create a global community.

00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:24.540
 And you can illustrate this very easily.

00:12:25.420 --> 00:12:27.100
 You've had surely the experience

00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:28.560
 of being somewhere else.

00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:29.420
 You're away on holiday,

00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:30.320
 whatever it might be,

00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:32.300
 and you meet another Christian.

00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:33.840
 And immediately,

00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:36.279
 there's a bond between you.

00:12:37.180 --> 00:12:39.399
 Now, last May, I think it was,

00:12:40.060 --> 00:12:42.060
 I was very happily walking along

00:12:42.060 --> 00:12:43.540
 the promenade

00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:45.379
 in a place called St. Brellard's Bay

00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:47.139
 in Jersey.

00:12:47.540 --> 00:12:47.940
 Beautiful.

00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:50.019
 And the sun was shining,

00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:52.660
 and like the typical Brit abroad,

00:12:52.660 --> 00:12:54.000
 I had my T-shirt,

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.279
 take my T-shirt off,

00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:57.019
 have my knotted hanky on my head,

00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:57.740
 no, I didn't really.

00:12:58.060 --> 00:12:59.220
 But we're just walking along there,

00:12:59.279 --> 00:12:59.659
 Val and I,

00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:00.460
 and then suddenly,

00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:03.779
 this guy leans over outside of this,

00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:05.379
 it's kind of like a hotel,

00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:06.680
 but it was all open.

00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.019
 And he said,

00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:08.879
 Trevor, it's Trevor,

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.920
 it's Trevor, isn't it?

00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:11.220
 I go, who's this guy?

00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:13.820
 It was your pastor.

00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:17.800
 And that's why we're here today.

00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:19.300
 It was a direct result.

00:13:19.520 --> 00:13:20.320
 But the amazing thing,

00:13:20.420 --> 00:13:20.740
 isn't it?

00:13:21.260 --> 00:13:23.260
 You've surely been there.

00:13:23.780 --> 00:13:25.340
 There's an immediate rapport.

00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:28.100
 There's an immediate brotherhood,

00:13:28.180 --> 00:13:28.620
 isn't there?

00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:30.520
 You're in the family.

00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.040
 You've never met them before,

00:13:32.260 --> 00:13:33.700
 but they're a brother and sister

00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:34.820
 in Christ.

00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:37.340
 It's just one of the reflections

00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:39.020
 of what God does in the gospel.

00:13:39.660 --> 00:13:40.940
 It's incredible, isn't it?

00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:43.820
 God brings us together.

00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:46.360
 But it's not man-made,

00:13:46.520 --> 00:13:47.600
 it's God-made.

00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:50.840
 We don't create this unity,

00:13:51.260 --> 00:13:52.020
 it's a given.

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:54.060
 But you remember what Paul says

00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:54.840
 here in Ephesians?

00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:58.080
 Maintain the unity of the gospel

00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.240
 in the bond of peace.

00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:01.460
 You see, unity is not something

00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:03.580
 we create, it's given.

00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:05.660
 You're in Christ,

00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:06.860
 I'm in Christ,

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.840
 it's given.

00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:10.420
 All we can do is destroy it.

00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:12.760
 Or maintain it,

00:14:12.920 --> 00:14:14.400
 which is Paul's point here.

00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:16.880
 He's calling us to be peacemakers.

00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:19.440
 Not so much peacemakers,

00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:21.220
 but actually peacekeepers

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:23.100
 to maintain the unity

00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:24.640
 in the bond of peace.

00:14:25.260 --> 00:14:26.660
 The challenge here

00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:28.400
 is not to destroy

00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:30.280
 what God instinctively

00:14:30.280 --> 00:14:33.160
 and intrinsically creates

00:14:33.160 --> 00:14:34.640
 in the gospel.

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:37.220
 But how do we do that?

00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:38.939
 Well, Paul is really helpful here

00:14:38.939 --> 00:14:39.679
 because he tells us

00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:41.100
 four ways

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:42.340
 in which we can

00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.819
 keep the peace.

00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:44.840
 The first

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.919
 is there

00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:46.519
 in

00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:48.759
 verse 1

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.679
 or verse 2.

00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:50.960
 Be completely

00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.600
 humble.

00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:52.899
 Be completely

00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:53.799
 humble.

00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:55.799
 You see,

00:14:56.299 --> 00:14:57.860
 this is why I wanted to remind us

00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:59.000
 who we are in Christ.

00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.940
 If you know yourself

00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:01.759
 to be chosen

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.139
 and adopted

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:04.360
 and the recipient

00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:05.419
 of God's grace

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:07.799
 and totally unworthy of it

00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:09.179
 but lavished

00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:10.299
 with his love,

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.600
 if you know yourself

00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.659
 to be made alive

00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:13.379
 to God,

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.820
 to be given

00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:15.639
 a glorious hope

00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.299
 of the future,

00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:18.360
 surely there's no room

00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:20.279
 for pride in that,

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:20.659
 is there?

00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:22.539
 It's all stuff

00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:23.379
 that God has done

00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.360
 for you.

00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.460
 You haven't achieved it.

00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:27.180
 You're not better

00:15:27.180 --> 00:15:28.259
 than the next person.

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.400
 Very often you're worse

00:15:29.400 --> 00:15:30.080
 than the next person.

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.960
 But this is what God has done.

00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:34.220
 And if he's done it

00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:36.139
 by himself,

00:15:36.420 --> 00:15:37.360
 humbling himself

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.400
 unto death.

00:15:38.900 --> 00:15:39.879
 So there's no room

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.980
 in the Christian life

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.080
 for pride.

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.480
 Now, that's easy to say

00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:45.560
 but pride is the first thing

00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:46.379
 to enter us.

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.800
 It's the heart of sin,

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:48.720
 isn't it, after all?

00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:49.560
 The big eye.

00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:51.680
 And it's the last thing

00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:52.660
 to leave us.

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:56.220
 That self-preservation,

00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:56.879
 that instinct

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:58.379
 to want to be first,

00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.240
 to be noticed,

00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:02.220
 to be applauded.

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.840
 It's profound.

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:04.740
 And yet,

00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.620
 here in the Gospel,

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:07.500
 God sets about

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:09.639
 making his people

00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:11.320
 a humble people.

00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:13.700
 Not a Uriah Heep

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.040
 kind of humble.

00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:15.980
 Charles Dickens

00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:16.379
 wrote about,

00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:16.639
 you know,

00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:18.220
 oh, I'm ever so humble.

00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.759
 Not that kind of thing.

00:16:20.540 --> 00:16:21.620
 But the outlook

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.340
 upon life

00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:23.080
 that realizes

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:24.639
 that all I am

00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.840
 and all I have been given

00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.820
 is a result

00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:27.940
 of the grace of God.

00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:29.500
 And it's astonishing.

00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.259
 It's wonderful.

00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:32.920
 And I'm valued

00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:33.980
 by God

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.139
 beyond my wildest

00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.860
 imagination.

00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:38.480
 C.S. Lewis

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:40.500
 put it like this.

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.040
 Humility

00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:43.680
 is not thinking

00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:44.580
 less

00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:45.680
 of yourself

00:16:45.680 --> 00:16:47.560
 but thinking

00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:48.740
 of yourself

00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.639
 less.

00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:50.660
 That's brilliant,

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.120
 isn't it?

00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:51.960
 It's not thinking

00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:52.960
 less of yourself.

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.580
 Don't devalue

00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.460
 the value

00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.240
 that God has given

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.600
 to you.

00:16:56.679 --> 00:16:57.120
 You're the most

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.879
 privileged person

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.720
 in the universe.

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.580
 But because of that,

00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:03.299
 think of yourself

00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:04.180
 less.

00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:06.079
 Reflect the Father.

00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:07.839
 Reflect the image

00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.640
 of the Son.

00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.259
 Reflect the Spirit

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.279
 that indwells you,

00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.900
 that looks to the needs

00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:13.900
 of others.

00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:15.740
 Think of the people

00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.680
 who've made the greatest

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.420
 impact

00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:19.259
 on your Christian life.

00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.940
 Have you got them?

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.599
 Got that person?

00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:23.779
 Probably several.

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.119
 But that one person.

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.259
 I would

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:30.480
 venture to say

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:32.379
 that the quality

00:17:32.379 --> 00:17:35.140
 that has impressed you

00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:36.359
 and left such an impression

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.079
 upon you

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:37.960
 by that person

00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:39.500
 is that they were humble.

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.420
 They were humble

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:44.339
 because they denied themselves.

00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:45.900
 They put up with you.

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.640
 I'm thinking of one guy

00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:48.220
 particularly,

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:50.339
 a guy called Ian Oliver

00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:51.940
 who when I became

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:52.460
 a Christian

00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:55.799
 for probably two years,

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.700
 every Thursday lunchtime,

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.960
 we would meet up,

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.980
 I'm showing my age now,

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.819
 at the Wimpy Bar.

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.579
 I don't know if you still

00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:02.220
 have Wimpy Bars.

00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:04.420
 They were the precursor

00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.380
 of McDonald's.

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.920
 And we would meet up

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.620
 in the Wimpy Bar

00:18:07.620 --> 00:18:08.440
 in Leicester Square

00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.380
 for an hour

00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:10.799
 and he was basically

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.019
 discipling me.

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.900
 It cost him a lot.

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:14.920
 Every time he paid

00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.420
 for the meal.

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.580
 But it wasn't simply

00:18:16.580 --> 00:18:17.700
 the cash it cost him.

00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:19.480
 He gave his time.

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.880
 Not only the hour

00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:22.100
 we were there,

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:23.300
 the half hour each way

00:18:23.300 --> 00:18:23.860
 that it took him

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.440
 to get there.

00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.759
 All the way through

00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.940
 there was that sacrifice,

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.060
 there was that humility

00:18:28.060 --> 00:18:29.779
 in order to bless me.

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.200
 You've all got people

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.400
 in your lives like that.

00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:33.860
 That it costs them.

00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:35.140
 It costs them

00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.060
 to serve you,

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.140
 to grow you

00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:38.019
 in the faith.

00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:39.100
 They were humble.

00:18:39.360 --> 00:18:40.860
 They wanted your best.

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.259
 They wanted your flourishing.

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:44.000
 They wanted your improvement

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:44.819
 as a Christian.

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.619
 Paul goes on to say,

00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:49.900
 be completely humble

00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:51.240
 and gentle.

00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.379
 How quickly

00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:55.079
 unity is fractured

00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.339
 by our lack

00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:57.180
 of gentleness.

00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:58.720
 You see,

00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.660
 gentleness comes

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.400
 from a heart

00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:01.900
 that knows the Saviour.

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:02.740
 The one who said,

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.519
 come unto me,

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.900
 all you who are weary

00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:05.940
 and heavy laden,

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:08.579
 and I will give you rest

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.920
 for I am gentle

00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.980
 and lowly of heart.

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:16.000
 gentle

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.460
 is not weak.

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.700
 We're told Moses

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:21.019
 was the meekest man

00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:21.879
 upon the face of the earth.

00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:22.940
 He was a strong man.

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.059
 He once killed

00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:26.140
 another person.

00:19:26.379 --> 00:19:26.819
 He was probably

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.599
 a very big,

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.680
 powerful guy.

00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.119
 But God said

00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:30.940
 he was meek.

00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.920
 He was gentle.

00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:32.359
 Why?

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.920
 Because he'd experienced

00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.980
 the love and the grace

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.640
 and the mercy

00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:37.160
 and the humbling of God.

00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:39.059
 And that made him

00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.799
 gentle.

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:42.480
 This is the point

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.379
 that's being made here,

00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:43.740
 isn't it?

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.099
 This same spirit

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:45.839
 of Christ,

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.000
 the one who is gentle

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.700
 and lowly,

00:19:48.159 --> 00:19:48.839
 is a spirit

00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.859
 that indwells you

00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.619
 and me,

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.119
 Christian.

00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:53.000
 So let's be gentle

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.419
 with one another.

00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:56.500
 It's the secret

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.359
 of true unity.

00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:59.879
 The third way

00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:01.439
 is that of patience.

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.719
 Verse 2 again,

00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.740
 be completely humble

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.240
 and gentle.

00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.419
 Be patient,

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.279
 bearing with one another

00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:09.899
 in love.

00:20:11.179 --> 00:20:11.379
 See,

00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:12.479
 none of us,

00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:13.959
 this might come as a surprise,

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:14.719
 none of us

00:20:14.719 --> 00:20:15.659
 are the finished product.

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.399
 We're not in heaven yet.

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.759
 So we struggle

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.339
 with sin

00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:20.219
 every day.

00:20:20.419 --> 00:20:20.959
 We struggle

00:20:20.959 --> 00:20:21.779
 with the old nature.

00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:24.220
 We're all work

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:25.059
 in progress.

00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:25.960
 I had a friend

00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:26.920
 from Northern Ireland,

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.839
 one of the elders

00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.480
 at Chessington,

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.960
 who took 18 months

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.960
 off of his work

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.519
 to come and serve

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.160
 in the church.

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.500
 And after two months

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.299
 he came to me

00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:36.940
 and he was quite troubled

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.099
 because he thought,

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.500
 you see,

00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.819
 working in a church

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:41.119
 was the ideal job.

00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:41.740
 He thought,

00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.379
 this is it.

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.660
 I can leave my business

00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.480
 in the oil business

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.619
 and all the aggravation

00:20:45.619 --> 00:20:45.940
 of that.

00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:46.680
 I'll be working

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.379
 in a church.

00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.559
 It will be a taste

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.079
 of heaven.

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.759
 And he said to me,

00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:52.400
 Trevor,

00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:53.859
 I've come to the conclusion

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:55.920
 that Christians are great

00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:57.000
 at loving one another

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.480
 from a distance.

00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.119
 Isn't that true?

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.879
 I can love anybody

00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:02.879
 from a distance.

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.920
 But you put me

00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:06.119
 in a team with them.

00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:07.599
 I want to do it this way.

00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.920
 They want to do it that way.

00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:11.140
 It's a recipe

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:12.279
 for conflict

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:13.059
 and disaster,

00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.579
 isn't it?

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.680
 I need to be patient.

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.259
 Once I was

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.000
 in the Philippines

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.720
 with another

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.259
 of the elders

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.819
 from Chessington

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.799
 visiting a missionary

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:23.359
 couple that we'd sent

00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.900
 from Chessington.

00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:27.859
 And we were walking

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.599
 along this street

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.119
 one day

00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:30.839
 on the island

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:31.500
 of Mindoro

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:33.420
 and this guy

00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.500
 was coming towards us

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.759
 and he had a T-shirt on

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.319
 and it said

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:37.940
 on the front,

00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:40.099
 don't give up on me.

00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:41.200
 Now,

00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.079
 in the Philippines,

00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:43.140
 it's a wonderful climate,

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.859
 just like Edinburgh

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:46.200
 on a spring day.

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.039
 Everybody's walking

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.160
 about in their T-shirt

00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:48.820
 and shorts.

00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:49.680
 That's all you need.

00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:51.720
 And they've all got

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.600
 emblazoned

00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:53.400
 with little messages

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:54.060
 on the front.

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.580
 So we're thinking,

00:21:55.800 --> 00:21:56.420
 this is probably

00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.180
 a pop group.

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.920
 Don't give up on me.

00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.620
 Strange name,

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.220
 but nevertheless,

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.019
 probably a name

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.740
 of a pop group.

00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:03.100
 But the answer came

00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:04.300
 when he walked past us

00:22:04.300 --> 00:22:05.100
 and on the back

00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:05.759
 of the T-shirt

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.320
 it said,

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.980
 God's not finished

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.560
 with me yet.

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.580
 Don't give up on me.

00:22:11.040 --> 00:22:11.940
 God's not finished

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.500
 with me yet.

00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:13.819
 Christian,

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.019
 in our dealings

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.640
 with one another,

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.480
 remember that.

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.859
 God's not finished

00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.579
 with that brother

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.700
 and sister yet,

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.740
 just as he's not

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.559
 finished with you.

00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.559
 And the older you get,

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.640
 this is my experience,

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:27.980
 I want to speak

00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.940
 on behalf of my wife

00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:30.079
 on this occasion as well,

00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:31.339
 I think it's this.

00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:32.859
 You realize

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.059
 how innately

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.500
 selfish

00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.660
 and self-centered

00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.180
 you are.

00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.400
 And it's a lifetime

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:39.420
 experience

00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.200
 of God,

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.200
 the Holy Spirit,

00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:42.320
 striving with you

00:22:42.320 --> 00:22:43.800
 through disappointments,

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.279
 through failure,

00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.360
 through tragedies,

00:22:46.560 --> 00:22:47.460
 in order

00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.960
 that we might bear

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.700
 the resemblance

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.759
 more of his son.

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:52.019
 Don't give up on me.

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.840
 God's not finished

00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:54.680
 with me yet.

00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.019
 So be patient.

00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.120
 You see,

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:58.000
 patience,

00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:59.220
 what does patience do?

00:23:00.320 --> 00:23:01.440
 Patience extends

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.580
 to other Christians

00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:04.740
 the thing

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.880
 that we're very good

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.700
 at extending

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.560
 to ourselves.

00:23:08.300 --> 00:23:08.800
 Patience.

00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.560
 We're always ready

00:23:10.560 --> 00:23:11.700
 to excuse ourselves,

00:23:11.800 --> 00:23:12.240
 aren't we?

00:23:12.580 --> 00:23:13.700
 There's always a reason

00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.420
 why I've acted

00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:15.380
 in a certain way.

00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:17.500
 I can be patient

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.060
 with myself

00:23:18.060 --> 00:23:18.660
 because, wow,

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.279
 I'm still a work

00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:19.860
 in progress.

00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.019
 Yeah, but so

00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.900
 is the other Christian.

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.300
 They're a work

00:23:23.300 --> 00:23:24.220
 in progress as well.

00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:24.920
 We're all a work

00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:25.480
 in progress.

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:27.560
 So be humble,

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.160
 be gentle,

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.019
 be patient.

00:23:29.800 --> 00:23:30.720
 Make every effort,

00:23:30.800 --> 00:23:31.480
 he says here.

00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:33.160
 Make every effort

00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:33.720
 because there was

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.860
 nothing half-hearted

00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:36.220
 in the way

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.340
 that the Lord Jesus

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:39.039
 gave his life

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.000
 to seek

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.879
 and save

00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:41.699
 the lost.

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:44.199
 So being a peacemaker

00:23:44.199 --> 00:23:46.599
 has those four elements

00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:47.119
 to it.

00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.139
 Humility,

00:23:48.439 --> 00:23:49.159
 gentleness,

00:23:50.179 --> 00:23:50.599
 patience,

00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:52.159
 and the desire

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:53.679
 to go the extra mile,

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.699
 to make every effort.

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.980
 Take the initiative

00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:01.359
 of sorting out differences.

00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:04.919
 Is that instinctive to us?

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.319
 No, it's a remarkable work

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.099
 of the Holy Spirit,

00:24:07.199 --> 00:24:07.559
 isn't it?

00:24:08.399 --> 00:24:09.379
 Well, let them come.

00:24:09.459 --> 00:24:10.059
 Let them come

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:11.419
 and say sorry to me first.

00:24:11.959 --> 00:24:13.319
 Then we'll get reconciled.

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.439
 Is that how God

00:24:15.439 --> 00:24:16.599
 acted towards you,

00:24:16.959 --> 00:24:17.559
 towards me?

00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:20.939
 No, exactly the opposite.

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.519
 He came seeking

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:24.679
 and saving the lost.

00:24:24.899 --> 00:24:25.859
 He took the initiative.

00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:27.719
 Making every effort

00:24:27.719 --> 00:24:28.419
 is actually

00:24:28.419 --> 00:24:30.299
 swallowing our pride,

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:32.299
 emulating

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.419
 the Savior,

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.359
 making every effort

00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.419
 to be patient

00:24:36.419 --> 00:24:37.240
 with that person,

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.519
 to be united

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.359
 with that person

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.419
 for whom God

00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:41.440
 has joined together.

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.379
 As we say

00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:43.279
 at the marriage ceremony,

00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.539
 let no man

00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.339
 put asunder.

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.759
 See, unity to God

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.039
 is precious to him.

00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:50.339
 It's the marriage

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:51.180
 of his bride

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.619
 to his son.

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.859
 Let what God

00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.639
 has put together,

00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.440
 let no man

00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.159
 put asunder.

00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.559
 It's a fearful thing

00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:00.559
 to cause another

00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.299
 Christian,

00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:02.159
 especially a younger

00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:02.639
 Christian,

00:25:02.899 --> 00:25:04.240
 to fall and stumble

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.319
 and fall away

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.879
 because of our lack

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.579
 of humility,

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.460
 because of our lack

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.159
 of gentleness,

00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:10.339
 because of our lack

00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:11.559
 of making every effort

00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.720
 to be patient

00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:15.099
 and even be ready

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.559
 to be wronged

00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.919
 in order to be

00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:19.460
 a peacekeeper.

00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:21.059
 It's a big calling,

00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:21.579
 isn't it?

00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.940
 This is massive.

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.059
 But it's also

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:25.039
 accompanied by another

00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:25.659
 thing, isn't it?

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.839
 Verses 7 to 16.

00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:27.799
 We're getting towards

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.220
 the end now.

00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.859
 We must close.

00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.019
 And that's to be

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:31.439
 a body builder.

00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:32.819
 What's it say here?

00:25:33.159 --> 00:25:33.859
 Verse 16,

00:25:34.199 --> 00:25:35.359
 as each part

00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:37.099
 does its work.

00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.679
 What is that work?

00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:39.539
 It's the work

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.459
 of building up

00:25:40.459 --> 00:25:41.059
 the church.

00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.579
 And the point

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.099
 of building up

00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.579
 the church

00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.480
 is not that we

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.179
 can have a nice

00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:46.480
 club where we're

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.159
 all good mates

00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:47.899
 with one another.

00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.659
 It's always for the

00:25:49.659 --> 00:25:50.500
 benefit of the world

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.099
 outside.

00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:52.699
 Do you remember

00:25:52.699 --> 00:25:53.319
 that Psalm?

00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:54.720
 I think it's Psalm 133

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.819
 talks about how

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.880
 blessed it is

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:58.059
 with brothers and

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.000
 sisters dwell together

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.579
 in unity,

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:01.460
 for there the Lord

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.819
 bestows his blessing,

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:04.319
 even life forevermore.

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.860
 Flip that around

00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:06.259
 for a minute,

00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:06.620
 would you?

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.039
 What happens

00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.640
 when a church

00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:10.259
 becomes disunited?

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.559
 What's the first

00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.160
 thing to go?

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.640
 You tell me.

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.839
 What's the first

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.360
 thing to go?

00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.180
 Graham?

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.480
 See,

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.259
 it's the only name

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.000
 I know in the room.

00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:21.759
 Well,

00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.759
 I know his wife's name,

00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.059
 Alex,

00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:23.500
 but I'm not going

00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.660
 to ask her because

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.079
 she's going to give

00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:25.940
 us lunch later.

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:26.880
 What's the first

00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.519
 thing to go when

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.960
 a church is disunited?

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.799
 A heart for the

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.000
 world,

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.400
 isn't it?

00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:32.740
 There the Lord

00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.920
 bestows his blessing

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.960
 when a church is

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.319
 united.

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.799
 The converse is true.

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.720
 When a church is

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.500
 disunited,

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:40.819
 it loses a concern

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.359
 for the world

00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:41.819
 outside.

00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.579
 And the world

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.559
 outside looks at

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.059
 it and says,

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.319
 don't talk to me

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.299
 about a message

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.500
 of peace and

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.019
 unity,

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.819
 how God has

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.940
 reconciled it.

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:53.519
 it hasn't.

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.360
 Look at you.

00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.080
 You're arguing

00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:55.740
 with one another.

00:26:55.840 --> 00:26:56.660
 You're disunited.

00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:58.840
 The message

00:26:58.840 --> 00:26:59.680
 has no value.

00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:01.440
 They can

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.059
 discard the

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:02.340
 gospel.

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.180
 You see,

00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.600
 unity

00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:06.320
 is just so

00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:07.320
 core to

00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:08.039
 the proclamation

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:09.420
 of the

00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:09.799
 gospel.

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.259
 But how

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:11.600
 does the

00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:12.100
 church grow?

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.519
 How does it

00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.420
 become strong?

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.160
 Well,

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:14.980
 verse 7 and 8,

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.880
 to each one,

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.240
 grace has been

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.340
 given as Christ

00:27:18.340 --> 00:27:19.160
 appointed it.

00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:21.259
 This is why

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.740
 it says,

00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:22.540
 when he ascended

00:27:22.540 --> 00:27:23.040
 on high,

00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:23.800
 he took many

00:27:23.800 --> 00:27:24.519
 captives and

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.220
 gave gifts to

00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:25.820
 his people.

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:27.759
 This is how

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.300
 the church

00:27:28.300 --> 00:27:28.700
 grows.

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.660
 That's a

00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.300
 reference to

00:27:30.300 --> 00:27:31.019
 actually Psalm

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.220
 68 that has

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.220
 a picture of

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.759
 a conquering

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.980
 general who's

00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:36.140
 giving out the

00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:37.100
 gifts, giving

00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:38.200
 out the spoils

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.360
 to his army.

00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.400
 And here's the

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.040
 conquering king,

00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:42.680
 here's the Lord

00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.560
 Jesus Christ,

00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:45.300
 and he's about

00:27:45.300 --> 00:27:45.960
 building his

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:47.259
 kingdom in the

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.000
 world through

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.820
 ordinary men and

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.539
 women like you

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:49.980
 and I,

00:27:50.379 --> 00:27:51.200
 aware of our

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:51.779
 frailties,

00:27:51.939 --> 00:27:52.879
 aware of our

00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:53.519
 failings,

00:27:54.139 --> 00:27:54.839
 aware of our

00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.859
 sin, but

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.579
 redeemed,

00:27:57.939 --> 00:27:58.700
 made right with

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.720
 God, and

00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:01.000
 empowered to

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.079
 reach out with

00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.679
 this gospel

00:28:02.679 --> 00:28:03.639
 through the

00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:04.939
 grace God

00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:05.599
 gives us.

00:28:06.639 --> 00:28:07.539
 To each one,

00:28:07.879 --> 00:28:08.980
 grace has been

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.460
 given.

00:28:10.179 --> 00:28:10.759
 And Paul here

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.379
 isn't talking

00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:12.259
 about so much

00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:13.200
 salvation grace

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.439
 as service grace,

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.819
 the ability to

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.659
 use the gift

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.340
 God has given

00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:18.580
 us for the

00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:19.640
 glory of his

00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:20.060
 name.

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.019
 A variety of

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.680
 gifts are given

00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:25.220
 in chapter 4,

00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:25.680
 aren't they,

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.640
 that display our

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.740
 unity and our

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.420
 diversity.

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.680
 But actually,

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.540
 Paul doesn't list

00:28:31.540 --> 00:28:32.240
 here, he does

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.960
 elsewhere what

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.800
 these gifts are,

00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:35.259
 but here he talks

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:36.180
 rather about the

00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:36.519
 role.

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:39.080
 So, he says in

00:28:39.080 --> 00:28:39.740
 verse 11,

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:41.060
 Christ himself gave

00:28:41.060 --> 00:28:42.000
 apostles and

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.380
 prophets.

00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.460
 Now, they're not

00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.120
 the Old Testament

00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:45.240
 prophets, they're

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.000
 the early New

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.819
 Testament prophets

00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:48.380
 that together with

00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:49.299
 the apostles gave

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:50.160
 us what we call

00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.380
 the New Testament,

00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:52.620
 a Bible for

00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.400
 every generation.

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.559
 But then he goes

00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:56.380
 on in verse 11,

00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:57.259
 then there are

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.980
 evangelists,

00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:58.940
 pastor, teachers,

00:28:59.360 --> 00:29:00.200
 shepherds, who

00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:01.019
 all have this one

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.700
 thing in common,

00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.920
 they share and

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:04.160
 teach the word of

00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:04.460
 God.

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.880
 In other words,

00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:07.600
 God gives every

00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:08.299
 local church,

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.100
 its leaders,

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:11.579
 in order that

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.240
 the church,

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.599
 every member of

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.019
 the church,

00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.200
 might flourish

00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.240
 together.

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.160
 Church is never

00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:19.000
 to be a

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.339
 spectator sport.

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.819
 You see, if only

00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:23.519
 they'd listened to

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.259
 me last night,

00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.660
 Chelsea would be

00:29:25.660 --> 00:29:26.519
 in the cup final

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.240
 today.

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.640
 But they didn't.

00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.980
 And the problem

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.660
 was they couldn't

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.160
 hear me.

00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.240
 I mean, I was

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.059
 shouting at them

00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:34.059
 from 400 miles

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.799
 away at a TV

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.240
 screen.

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.019
 Living the

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:40.319
 Christian life is

00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.480
 not a spectator

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.000
 sport.

00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:43.660
 That's the point.

00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:45.120
 It's not that the

00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:46.059
 pastor, teachers,

00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.759
 the evangelists,

00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:47.279
 they're the ones

00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:48.120
 out there doing

00:29:48.120 --> 00:29:49.700
 the work, and I'm

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.339
 just shouting them

00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.539
 on, go for it,

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.259
 go for it, Graham.

00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.359
 No, no, no.

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.740
 They're like player

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.220
 coaches.

00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:56.839
 They're on the

00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.640
 pitch, and we're

00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.220
 on the pitch.

00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.920
 And their role is

00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.819
 to use the word of

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.839
 God to encourage

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.960
 us, to equip us,

00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.200
 to strengthen us,

00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.420
 to challenge us,

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:08.059
 to inspire us,

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.440
 so that each

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.740
 member does

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:12.059
 its part.

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.159
 That's a glorious

00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:15.059
 picture, isn't it,

00:30:15.139 --> 00:30:16.220
 of unity, of

00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:17.639
 body, that God

00:30:17.639 --> 00:30:18.700
 says here, God

00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.200
 has given to

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:19.940
 every Christian

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:21.720
 a gift, many

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.619
 gifts very often,

00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.740
 but at least one

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.119
 gift.

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:26.079
 At least one

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.460
 gift.

00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:27.960
 So if you know

00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.879
 Christ this morning,

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.379
 have you asked

00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:30.659
 yourself, what is

00:30:30.659 --> 00:30:32.440
 that gift that God

00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:33.200
 has given to me?

00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.140
 What are those

00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:34.880
 gifts that God

00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.519
 has given to me?

00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:36.900
 And how does he

00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.620
 want me to use

00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.279
 them in his body,

00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:38.920
 and where can I

00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.640
 serve him?

00:30:41.580 --> 00:30:42.180
 I'm about the

00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:43.039
 day and age where

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.620
 I can remember

00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:45.360
 choruses from being

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.360
 sent to Sunday

00:30:46.360 --> 00:30:47.100
 school as a

00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:47.360
 child.

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:47.700
 Although it

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.340
 wasn't a Christian

00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:48.840
 home, I was

00:30:48.840 --> 00:30:49.220
 sent to a

00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.860
 brethren Sunday

00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:50.240
 school.

00:30:51.100 --> 00:30:51.680
 There's one that

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.400
 always stays with

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:52.539
 me.

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.240
 There's a work

00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.000
 for Jesus.

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.400
 How does it

00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:55.880
 continue?

00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.200
 Those of you

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.740
 that know it,

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.420
 come on, don't

00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:00.000
 be shy, you

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:02.039
 brethren amongst

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.460
 us.

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.380
 There's a work

00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:04.120
 for Jesus.

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.039
 None,

00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.799
 dearie me,

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.840
 none but you

00:31:07.840 --> 00:31:08.240
 can do.

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:08.940
 I really am

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.539
 aged, aren't

00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:09.700
 I?

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.559
 There's a work

00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.120
 for Jesus.

00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:12.240
 None but you

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:12.600
 can do.

00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.039
 It's a great

00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:13.519
 thing, isn't

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:13.740
 it?

00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:15.920
 See, you live

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:16.539
 next door to

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.120
 those neighbours.

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.259
 It's only you.

00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:20.480
 You are in that

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.440
 office, in that

00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.579
 university, in that

00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.240
 college, in that

00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.640
 school.

00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.740
 You're in that

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.140
 workplace.

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.160
 There's a work

00:31:27.160 --> 00:31:27.600
 for Jesus.

00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.440
 Only you can

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:28.640
 do.

00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:31.660
 God has gifted

00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.700
 every one of

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:34.720
 us and set

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.180
 us in our

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.960
 different places

00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:37.540
 and given us

00:31:37.540 --> 00:31:38.620
 this work to

00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:38.880
 do.

00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.480
 And we're in

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.360
 it together and

00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:41.920
 we're a team

00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:42.620
 together and we

00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:43.360
 need one another

00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:43.779
 together.

00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:45.640
 And as

00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:46.480
 Graham mentioned

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:46.840
 at the beginning,

00:31:47.040 --> 00:31:48.019
 we come together

00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:49.460
 on a Sunday to

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.259
 encourage one

00:31:50.259 --> 00:31:50.980
 another, to

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:51.759
 remind ourselves

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.500
 who we are,

00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:54.400
 to patch up

00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:55.000
 some wounds,

00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:55.840
 if needs be,

00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:56.740
 in order that we

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.480
 can go back on

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.300
 the front line on

00:31:58.300 --> 00:31:59.000
 Monday morning.

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.960
 Because that's

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.460
 the picture.

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.519
 The church is an

00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:02.299
 army, Ephesians

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:02.640
 6.

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.359
 We're in a

00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:04.200
 spiritual battle.

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.700
 It requires

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.059
 prayer.

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:06.880
 It requires

00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.359
 protection.

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.319
 It requires

00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.720
 that we support

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.500
 one another.

00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:11.799
 Because that's

00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:12.460
 the way an

00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:13.720
 army wins the

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.099
 victory.

00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.559
 It's a glorious

00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.240
 picture, isn't

00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:16.420
 it?

00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.779
 So here we

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:20.920
 are, called

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:23.119
 to be

00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:24.819
 peacemakers and

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.500
 to be body

00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.119
 builders.

00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.279
 leaders.

00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:27.619
 We build

00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:28.399
 ourselves up in

00:32:28.399 --> 00:32:29.359
 all sorts of

00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:30.079
 ways, not just

00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:31.159
 here on a

00:32:31.159 --> 00:32:31.559
 Sunday.

00:32:32.239 --> 00:32:32.879
 When we meet

00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:33.299
 with another

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.079
 Christian, perhaps

00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:34.719
 read the Bible

00:32:34.719 --> 00:32:35.519
 with them, or

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:36.039
 just over a

00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.599
 cup of coffee.

00:32:36.719 --> 00:32:37.219
 When we invite

00:32:37.219 --> 00:32:37.959
 people into our

00:32:37.959 --> 00:32:38.419
 homes.

00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.439
 When we meet

00:32:39.439 --> 00:32:40.059
 in our small

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.500
 groups.

00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:41.639
 When we serve

00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:42.259
 together in

00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:42.599
 teams.

00:32:42.719 --> 00:32:43.239
 I want to do

00:32:43.239 --> 00:32:43.959
 it this way, you

00:32:43.959 --> 00:32:44.419
 want to do it

00:32:44.419 --> 00:32:44.819
 that way.

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.479
 What did that

00:32:45.479 --> 00:32:46.099
 guy say on

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:46.699
 Sunday about

00:32:46.699 --> 00:32:47.079
 unity?

00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:48.039
 Yeah, let me

00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.719
 start to be a

00:32:48.719 --> 00:32:49.179
 bit humble.

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:50.019
 This is the

00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:50.739
 way it works.

00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:52.959
 It's a glorious

00:32:52.959 --> 00:32:54.179
 thing when you

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.939
 see God at

00:32:54.939 --> 00:32:55.919
 work in a

00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.340
 group of

00:32:56.340 --> 00:32:58.080
 Christians who

00:32:58.080 --> 00:32:58.519
 are so

00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.300
 diverse in

00:32:59.300 --> 00:32:59.759
 so many

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.580
 different ways.

00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.080
 Educationally,

00:33:02.340 --> 00:33:02.779
 socially,

00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:03.779
 racially.

00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:05.279
 It's only God

00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.140
 can do this in

00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:06.560
 the gospel.

00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.340
 It's a glorious

00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:08.160
 thing to behold,

00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:08.640
 isn't it?

00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:09.539
 It's for his

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:10.759
 praise and

00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:11.500
 glory.

00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.340
 Friends, as

00:33:13.340 --> 00:33:14.539
 you know, we

00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.140
 live in a

00:33:15.140 --> 00:33:15.680
 comfortable,

00:33:16.120 --> 00:33:17.140
 pleasure-seeking,

00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:19.039
 self-seeking

00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.900
 culture.

00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.519
 And it can be

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.340
 like a cancer

00:33:22.340 --> 00:33:23.420
 to the soul.

00:33:24.100 --> 00:33:24.800
 And we need

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.799
 to repudiate

00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:28.339
 that culture

00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:29.359
 and the

00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:30.000
 spirit of the

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.559
 age and

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:31.899
 have the

00:33:31.899 --> 00:33:32.440
 spirit of the

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:32.960
 master who

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.339
 says, I've

00:33:33.339 --> 00:33:34.500
 not come to

00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:35.299
 be served,

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.159
 but to

00:33:36.159 --> 00:33:36.639
 serve.

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.259
 So this

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.859
 gospel is

00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:39.539
 gloriously

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:41.339
 counterculture.

00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:43.099
 It means that

00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:44.519
 daily the

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.500
 Lord calls us

00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.639
 to follow

00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:47.940
 him, to

00:33:47.940 --> 00:33:48.680
 follow him.

00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:50.620
 in a life

00:33:50.620 --> 00:33:50.980
 that's

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.720
 characterized

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.980
 by unity,

00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:54.360
 humility,

00:33:54.360 --> 00:33:56.420
 and a

00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.000
 desire to

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.580
 build up

00:33:57.580 --> 00:33:58.539
 by fellow

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.080
 Christians,

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.299
 that together

00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.000
 we can reach

00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:01.820
 out to the

00:34:01.820 --> 00:34:02.580
 glory of God,

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.680
 to a lost

00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.779
 world around

00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.279
 us.

00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:06.640
 Well, may the

00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:07.360
 Lord empower

00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:08.960
 us daily to

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.840
 live up to

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.500
 our calling.

00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.340
 That's our

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:11.680
 calling.

00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.720
 Whatever day

00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:13.380
 job we do,

00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.180
 this is our

00:34:14.180 --> 00:34:14.440
 calling,

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:14.900
 Christian.

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:16.539
 Let's

00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:16.780
 pray.

00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:18.440
 Heavenly

00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.000
 Father, we

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:19.500
 thank you for

00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.000
 this glorious

00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:20.380
 book of

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:20.780
 Ephesians.

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.260
 We thank

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:22.599
 you for the

00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:24.240
 remarkable,

00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:24.980
 the astonishing

00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:25.940
 example of

00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.240
 the Lord

00:34:26.240 --> 00:34:27.920
 Jesus, who

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.940
 came not to

00:34:28.940 --> 00:34:29.680
 be served,

00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.139
 but to

00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.559
 serve.

00:34:31.180 --> 00:34:31.720
 Lord, help

00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:32.079
 us to

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.680
 embrace that

00:34:32.680 --> 00:34:33.320
 every day

00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.360
 when our

00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.200
 old nature

00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:36.539
 constantly wants

00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:37.320
 to be served.

00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:38.360
 Help us,

00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.079
 Father, indeed,

00:34:39.180 --> 00:34:40.260
 to be peacemakers.

00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:41.760
 Help us, even

00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:42.619
 this day, if we

00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:43.220
 need to, to

00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:44.059
 reach out to

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:44.360
 another

00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:44.820
 Christian,

00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:45.960
 to put

00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.760
 things right

00:34:46.760 --> 00:34:48.000
 and show the

00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.720
 glory of the

00:34:48.720 --> 00:34:49.320
 gospel to

00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:49.760
 reconcile.

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:51.160
 Help us,

00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:51.760
 Lord, to be

00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:52.420
 those who

00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:54.039
 want to use

00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.860
 our gift to

00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:55.760
 build up the

00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:56.240
 church.

00:34:56.660 --> 00:34:57.180
 Thank you that

00:34:57.180 --> 00:34:57.840
 you've gifted

00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:59.059
 every one of

00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.820
 us, no matter

00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:01.059
 what our age,

00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:01.639
 what our

00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:02.260
 situation.

00:35:03.220 --> 00:35:03.660
 Thank you,

00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:04.380
 Father, for

00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:05.240
 that gift of

00:35:05.240 --> 00:35:05.900
 prayer that

00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:06.940
 you so often

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.559
 have given to

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.440
 our older

00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:09.139
 brothers and

00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:10.280
 sisters who

00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:10.760
 do this

00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.940
 invaluable work

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.960
 behind the

00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:13.940
 scene to

00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.840
 strengthen those

00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:15.120
 on the

00:35:15.120 --> 00:35:15.740
 front line.

00:35:16.220 --> 00:35:16.500
 Lord, in

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:16.980
 all these

00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.539
 things, may

00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.360
 Jesus Christ

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.120
 be glorified,

00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:19.600
 we pray.

00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.000
 Help us, we

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.800
 ask, day by

00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.680
 day to live to

00:35:22.680 --> 00:35:24.440
 your glory and

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:25.100
 for our good.

00:35:25.660 --> 00:35:26.120
 Amen.

00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.940
 Amen.

00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:27.079
 Amen.