WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.960 Okay, well, it's time as we now, yeah, go into God's word together. 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:06.879 Why don't I pray? 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.439 Because actually, God is not just speaking when I preach. 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:12.980 He's speaking as we listen to God's word together, 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:15.300 as Florence in a moment comes to read it. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:15.839 Let's pray. 00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:20.820 Our Father, thank you that you are the living, speaking God. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:25.060 And we have the words of Jesus, the words that will never pass away. 00:00:25.179 --> 00:00:27.719 We pray that you would speak to each one of us, to our hearts, 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:31.839 into our lives by your spirit now. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:38.000 So please, as Florence reads, as I bring words from that right of explaining, 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:40.259 please, yeah, do your work by your spirit. 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:41.019 In Jesus' name. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:41.719 Amen. 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:43.299 Florence. 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:54.620 So our reading this morning is from Matthew 28, starting in verse 16. 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:55.399 We read. 00:00:55.399 --> 00:00:59.439 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, 00:00:59.839 --> 00:01:03.239 to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 00:01:04.219 --> 00:01:08.599 And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:11.900 And Jesus came and said to them, 00:01:11.900 --> 00:01:17.840 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:01:18.960 --> 00:01:22.840 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:30.120 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:34.100 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:41.839 And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:44.219 This is the word of God. 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:54.319 That was unusually short, but very famous verses, as I'm sure you remember. 00:01:55.180 --> 00:01:57.420 Now, last weekend, I'm sure, was so great, right? 00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:02.819 We all loved meeting together to celebrate Good Friday, celebrate Easter Sunday. 00:02:03.379 --> 00:02:05.079 I hope you were moved and encouraged. 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:08.020 But then Monday, hopefully you had a good rest. 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:09.900 And then you went back to work. 00:02:10.079 --> 00:02:10.879 And how was that? 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:13.900 Did this week feel like Easter? 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:16.919 Did it feel like the world had changed? 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:18.400 Because that's what we say, right? 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:20.219 Jesus rose from the dead. 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:21.199 The world has changed. 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:22.919 But it doesn't really seem to. 00:02:23.259 --> 00:02:24.759 Maybe work is still the same, right? 00:02:24.819 --> 00:02:25.599 There's pressure. 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:26.919 There's frustration. 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:27.879 There's gossip. 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:30.500 There's unfair management. 00:02:30.500 --> 00:02:31.699 All those things. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:33.580 And not much has changed. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:36.240 Maybe your family is still the same. 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:37.379 The same broken relationships. 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:38.360 The same arguments. 00:02:38.900 --> 00:02:39.759 Maybe the same loneliness. 00:02:41.259 --> 00:02:42.060 The news. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:43.500 Same political things. 00:02:44.259 --> 00:02:46.419 The economy is still on a downward trend. 00:02:47.259 --> 00:02:48.879 And things don't seem to be changing. 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:50.039 That's the world we live in, right? 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:53.699 And then it can seem so far removed from Easter. 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:56.840 When we celebrate Jesus' resurrection. 00:02:56.840 --> 00:03:01.080 It seems to be just kind of the past and the future, right? 00:03:01.140 --> 00:03:03.460 2,000 years ago, yeah, Jesus rose from the dead. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:04.159 That was back then. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:09.640 And we know one day he's going to come back in robes of white and everything that's in the future. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:13.180 But right now, well, let's just hold on and endure, right? 00:03:13.539 --> 00:03:14.680 That's, I guess, how we live. 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:19.960 Well, God wants to say today that actually the world has changed. 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:23.340 And we have a new task to do with that. 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:27.300 That the world is going to, well, yeah, this change has started. 00:03:27.580 --> 00:03:30.080 But we are the ones bringing that. 00:03:30.200 --> 00:03:31.960 And these are very famous verses. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:34.240 People probably know it, right? 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:36.120 The Great Commission is what we call it. 00:03:36.780 --> 00:03:41.480 I've always told myself this week, this is not just a topical sermon on these famous verses. 00:03:42.140 --> 00:03:45.180 Actually, what we're doing now, we're finishing Matthew's Gospel, right? 00:03:45.180 --> 00:03:49.480 This is sermon number 58 of this long series from four and a half years. 00:03:49.980 --> 00:03:51.140 This should be the climax. 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:52.140 No pressure at all. 00:03:52.139 --> 00:03:56.059 No, it's weird, right? 00:03:56.299 --> 00:03:58.779 And in a way, it seems weird because it's a week after Easter. 00:03:59.299 --> 00:04:02.299 You would think this great sermon series we're going to finish at Easter. 00:04:02.419 --> 00:04:03.919 But now we have this extra week. 00:04:04.899 --> 00:04:07.879 Well, actually, that fits really well with today's passage. 00:04:08.839 --> 00:04:10.739 Because in a way, Matthew's Gospel is part one. 00:04:11.339 --> 00:04:13.359 And part one climaxed last week. 00:04:13.619 --> 00:04:15.459 And now we're just setting up the sequel. 00:04:15.619 --> 00:04:16.819 And that's what we're going to do today. 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:20.420 But first, yeah, we need to feel the moment. 00:04:20.599 --> 00:04:22.779 Well, what is the end of part one? 00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:23.459 What is the climax? 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:29.899 And the big thing here that we need to see at the end of Matthew, well, there's a new king. 00:04:30.659 --> 00:04:32.000 A new king. 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:35.800 I mean, if there's a Great Commission, there must be a Great Commissioner, right? 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:37.660 And that is the new king. 00:04:37.780 --> 00:04:40.040 Jesus, the new king over everything. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:42.240 And that flows out of last week. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:44.259 It flows out of the resurrection. 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:47.560 Now, I don't know what you think the resurrection kind of means. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:50.720 If someone asks you, okay, why is the resurrection so important? 00:04:51.699 --> 00:04:52.580 I don't know what you would say. 00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:55.240 Maybe, you know, it shows that there's life after death. 00:04:55.900 --> 00:04:57.460 It shows that the cross has worked. 00:04:58.220 --> 00:04:59.199 And that is all true. 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:04.400 But one of the biggest things in the Gospels is it says something about Jesus. 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:10.819 Because after Good Friday, the big question that everyone had basically was who was Jesus really, right? 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:12.100 Who was Jesus? 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:14.000 We thought he was the king. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.120 We thought he was the savior. 00:05:16.139 --> 00:05:18.480 But he was condemned to death as a blasphemer. 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:19.639 And now he's lying in a tomb. 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:21.340 Who was he? 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:23.579 You know, was he really just a blasphemer? 00:05:23.579 --> 00:05:25.379 Because, yeah, he's just there, dead in a tomb. 00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:27.060 He's gone. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:30.479 Well, no, right? 00:05:30.859 --> 00:05:31.659 What happened? 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:34.240 He rises from the dead. 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:35.659 God raises him from the dead. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:37.060 He's no longer executed. 00:05:37.979 --> 00:05:39.000 Now, what does that say? 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:42.500 What does that say to people who are wondering with this question? 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:46.459 Well, it tells you he is the king. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:47.919 He is God's man, right? 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:49.319 Because that's why he was killed. 00:05:49.939 --> 00:05:50.979 He said, I'm the king. 00:05:51.159 --> 00:05:52.799 And the Sanhedrin says, no, you're not. 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:53.399 And they kill him. 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:55.379 What does God do? 00:05:55.899 --> 00:05:57.039 Raises him back to life. 00:05:57.939 --> 00:05:59.219 He really is the king. 00:05:59.560 --> 00:06:01.219 God says, uh-uh, he is the king. 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:05.699 It's like the Supreme Court overturning the lower court's verdict, right? 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:07.139 Of the death penalty. 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:10.860 No, the resurrection says Jesus really is the king. 00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:14.060 And in a way, more so than before. 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:17.819 I mean, Jesus, in some ways, of course, was always the king, right? 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:21.339 He comes on the scenes and he speaks with all authority and he does miracles. 00:06:21.339 --> 00:06:24.239 And as God, the son, of course, the whole world was his. 00:06:25.479 --> 00:06:30.419 And yet, in some way, after the resurrection, he really becomes the king. 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:32.739 That's what he said would happen, right? 00:06:32.799 --> 00:06:34.719 He speaks, you know, chapter 21. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:36.240 We saw the parable of the tenants. 00:06:36.580 --> 00:06:37.680 What was going to happen? 00:06:37.760 --> 00:06:38.720 He's going to go to the cross. 00:06:38.820 --> 00:06:42.260 Well, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:06:42.840 --> 00:06:45.240 The rejected stone is going to be the center of everything. 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:49.900 On his trial, as he's about to be sent to the cross. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:54.259 Well, Jesus said in chapter 26, well, I am. 00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:55.420 You've said it. 00:06:56.060 --> 00:07:01.280 But from now on, you will see the son of man seated at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven. 00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:07.300 From now on, now that I'm going to be dead, well, I'm going to rise and sit at God's right hand. 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:10.040 The resurrection was going to show that I'm the king. 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:13.260 Because now, well, the cross has happened, right? 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:14.580 He's fulfilled his mission. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:16.300 He's rewarded as king. 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.340 His death was the last straw for Israel. 00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:20.980 They're gone. 00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:23.000 There's now a new kingdom with a new king. 00:07:24.020 --> 00:07:25.260 Sin is paid for. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:26.460 The victory is won. 00:07:26.980 --> 00:07:28.320 He is the new king. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:31.200 That's what the resurrection means. 00:07:31.320 --> 00:07:32.660 And the disciples, they know it. 00:07:32.900 --> 00:07:33.720 He's their friend. 00:07:34.220 --> 00:07:35.939 They've been walking around Galilee. 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:41.839 But when they now see him directly, they saw him, verse 17, and they worshipped him. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:46.500 Some were maybe a bit hesitant, but Jesus reassures them, no, I'm really the king. 00:07:46.719 --> 00:07:50.160 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:07:51.420 --> 00:07:57.100 Through the resurrection, we can all see Jesus is now the king and judge of the whole universe. 00:07:58.019 --> 00:07:58.779 That's who he is. 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:01.339 It's the climax of the gospel, the new king. 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:04.579 Again, that's often what we need to remember, right? 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:10.419 Jesus is our friend and our lover and our brother and our, you know, bridegroom. 00:08:11.139 --> 00:08:18.300 He's also our king and he deserves our, we don't worship your, you don't worship your friend or your brother, but you do worship your divine king, right? 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:19.699 So we worship him. 00:08:21.339 --> 00:08:22.299 And do you believe that? 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:26.539 You know, no other religious leader was raised from the dead. 00:08:26.779 --> 00:08:29.539 No one has kind of God's approval like Jesus does. 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:31.279 No Old Testament prophet. 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:32.539 Lots of great heroes. 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:35.019 None of them died and rose. 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:36.620 Only Jesus. 00:08:36.719 --> 00:08:42.439 Only Jesus has God pointing out this is the man through his resurrection. 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:47.439 But with a new king, of course, there's a new kingdom, right? 00:08:47.459 --> 00:08:48.740 You can't have a king without a kingdom. 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:51.599 Here is, there's also a new kingdom. 00:08:52.079 --> 00:08:53.599 I mean, Jesus came to do something, right? 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:55.819 He came to establish a new people. 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:59.680 He came to bring, you know, the true fulfillment of God's plan. 00:08:59.800 --> 00:09:01.320 The true people of God. 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:03.640 And that is what's happening. 00:09:03.760 --> 00:09:05.300 And partly that's why they're in Galilee. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:06.960 Because we're 16. 00:09:07.060 --> 00:09:08.860 Now the 11 disciples went to Galilee. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:11.760 To the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:16.040 As we heard last week, it shows partly Jesus was just really physically risen. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:19.640 He wasn't just in their hearts because they had to go somewhere else to meet him. 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:22.100 But have you ever wondered, why Galilee? 00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:25.759 I don't know if you know where Galilee is. 00:09:25.819 --> 00:09:26.399 Here's a map. 00:09:26.819 --> 00:09:29.080 It's 120 kilometers away from Jerusalem. 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:34.699 Why does Jesus say, okay, you're going to meet me all the way up there in the north? 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:36.840 Good question, right? 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:41.120 Well, that is because Jesus is doing something new. 00:09:41.660 --> 00:09:43.300 He's always been doing something new, right? 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:46.000 His whole ministry, actually, most of it was in Galilee. 00:09:47.060 --> 00:09:50.500 You know, the Sermon on the Mount, that was on the mountain in Galilee. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:53.300 Maybe it says the mountain that Jesus had directed them. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:54.200 Maybe it was the same mountain. 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:56.180 But why Galilee? 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:57.720 It's far from Jerusalem. 00:09:59.040 --> 00:09:59.220 Right? 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:01.840 In the past, yeah, Jerusalem was everything. 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:05.720 That's the old system with the temple and the religious elites. 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:10.500 But now that they've rejected Jesus, there's something new, something different. 00:10:10.660 --> 00:10:11.060 Galilee. 00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:12.940 Right? 00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:16.560 Galilee, well, as Matthew said earlier, of the Gentiles. 00:10:16.660 --> 00:10:20.960 Galilee, that is all far away on the nations because Jesus' kingdom is different. 00:10:21.940 --> 00:10:25.220 And no longer centered on the temple, but centered on Jesus. 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:28.300 No more about just Israel. 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:32.820 No far away among the Gentiles because all the nations can now come to Jesus. 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:35.220 No longer about religion. 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:36.940 But about grace. 00:10:37.940 --> 00:10:40.399 No longer about legalism. 00:10:40.560 --> 00:10:42.160 But about love from the heart. 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:45.040 A kingdom of humility and service and grace and mercy. 00:10:45.160 --> 00:10:46.300 Just completely different. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:49.759 And so, guys, we're going to meet somewhere completely different. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.100 Because now everything is new. 00:10:51.180 --> 00:10:53.560 There's a new kingdom under the new king. 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:58.159 At the same time, yeah, it is a kingdom. 00:10:59.199 --> 00:11:00.639 Jesus is making a new kingdom. 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:05.219 He's not just giving a nice, wonderful offer that you can say yes or no to. 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:05.419 Right? 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:06.679 Jesus is the king. 00:11:07.059 --> 00:11:08.439 The world has changed. 00:11:08.579 --> 00:11:12.599 The universe is under new management through the resurrection of Jesus. 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:12.720 Jesus. 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:15.620 And now, in a way, everyone in the universe should follow him. 00:11:15.680 --> 00:11:16.279 He's their king. 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:20.600 I know that sounds a bit imperial, right? 00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:21.940 The whole world should follow Jesus. 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:23.960 Maybe you're here from another religion. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.820 And, you know, why does Jesus say the whole world? 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:27.780 Oh, yeah. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.640 Well, partly the world is not a democracy. 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:30.840 Right? 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:32.379 We don't get to choose our leaders. 00:11:33.160 --> 00:11:34.940 God gets to choose our leader. 00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:36.420 And he chose Jesus. 00:11:36.680 --> 00:11:38.160 We can't do much about it. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.700 Although, then again, wouldn't you want this king? 00:11:43.400 --> 00:11:45.080 I mean, look at the world as it is now. 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:47.180 Isn't the world such a mess? 00:11:48.100 --> 00:11:48.300 Right? 00:11:48.520 --> 00:11:52.040 Isn't the world full of suffering and crime and selfishness? 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:53.980 Isn't the world full of sin? 00:11:54.060 --> 00:11:54.960 The world is terrible. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:57.540 What if everyone followed Jesus? 00:11:58.580 --> 00:12:00.920 What if everyone accepted him as king? 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:04.240 What if everyone knew his love and grace? 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:10.600 What if everyone was transformed and lived his way and loved each other like that? 00:12:10.680 --> 00:12:13.160 What if everyone knew that freedom and joy and peace? 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:14.360 What a world that would be. 00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:18.180 That is the world that, in a way, we have, right? 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:18.900 One of this king. 00:12:19.180 --> 00:12:20.420 That is the world we should have. 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:22.300 It's a wonderful thing for the world. 00:12:22.299 --> 00:12:25.199 I mean, the world has changed, right, in some ways. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:29.299 You know, why is there so much concern for equality and justice? 00:12:29.979 --> 00:12:30.979 There are Christian values. 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:37.000 Why are minorities and children and women respected in so many cultures now? 00:12:37.079 --> 00:12:38.259 That's because of the gospel. 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:40.599 Why is there a... 00:12:40.599 --> 00:12:42.459 Why is life valued? 00:12:42.599 --> 00:12:46.240 And people are abolishing violence and the death penalty and all that kind of stuff. 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:48.259 Because people value life because of the gospel. 00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:49.759 And the world... 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.740 Jesus is really good for the world. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:56.360 And so, the fact that Jesus wants the world to go his way, that's a wonderful thing. 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:59.059 So, this is not a hostile takeover. 00:12:59.179 --> 00:12:59.720 It is hope. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:01.740 It is victory over evil. 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:05.919 It is the world as it should be with the rightful king on the throne. 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:07.799 That is where we are now. 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.039 Jesus is risen. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.080 New king. 00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:10.659 New kingdom. 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:13.059 And, in a way, that's how the gospel ends. 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:15.360 And that should encourage us. 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:17.480 But then, what now? 00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:20.820 Now that the king is on the throne, what is the plan? 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:24.680 And so, Jesus says, okay, I've got a task for you. 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:25.379 A new task. 00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:29.080 And that is, well, the kingdom is established. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.759 But the kingdom, well, it needs to be realized. 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:33.399 It needs to be implemented. 00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:35.940 Because Jesus is on the throne, yes. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:38.399 But the world is still what it used to be, right? 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.800 His kingdom is not acknowledged. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.220 It's not followed. 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:42.600 It's not obeyed. 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:46.560 I mean, a few months ago, maybe you remember Elon Musk. 00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:48.259 He bought Twitter, right? 00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:50.940 He paid 44 billion US dollars and bought Twitter. 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:54.360 Now, when he did that, he became the king of Twitter. 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.720 He became the CEO, right? 00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:58.700 Except that, of course, the company hadn't changed. 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:01.480 He had to fire some board members. 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:03.420 And he had, you know, different policies. 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:05.200 And, you know, changed the censorship. 00:14:05.420 --> 00:14:08.060 And let some people back on who were unfairly censored. 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:08.620 And, right? 00:14:08.940 --> 00:14:10.580 His kingdom had to be implemented. 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:12.280 And that took some time. 00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:15.420 And, in a way, that is what we are doing now. 00:14:15.900 --> 00:14:16.980 What is Jesus doing? 00:14:17.060 --> 00:14:17.960 Yeah, he's on the throne. 00:14:18.040 --> 00:14:19.180 The kingdom has been established. 00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:20.980 It needs to be implemented. 00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:23.340 And how is that happening? 00:14:23.540 --> 00:14:27.000 Well, go and make disciples of all nations. 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:30.440 Make the whole world my disciples. 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.160 What is a disciple? 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:33.320 It's a learner. 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:35.360 That's what it literally means. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:35.800 A learner. 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:36.640 Someone who learns. 00:14:37.180 --> 00:14:39.879 Someone who is committed to Jesus and learns to follow him. 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.879 Learns to obey him. 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.080 A learner. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.240 It has kind of two sides. 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:49.700 I mean, if you say you're a student at Hong Kong U, I expect two things, right? 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:51.399 One, you're enrolled as a student. 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:54.379 If you say you're a student, I expect you to be enrolled. 00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:57.559 On the other hand, I expect you to do student things, right? 00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:59.220 Like take classes and exams. 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.700 Those two sides. 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.980 The status and the activity. 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:03.019 And that is here. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:05.720 If you're a disciple, you've committed to Jesus. 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:08.379 And you're going to try and follow him. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.600 That's what we see. 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:12.740 How does Jesus then explain it? 00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:14.360 What does it look like to make disciples? 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:21.100 Well, first of all, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:22.660 --> 00:15:24.639 Baptizing is about allegiance. 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:26.680 Becoming a follower of Jesus. 00:15:27.300 --> 00:15:28.820 Joining his side. 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:33.820 Certainly back then, the world is just communities, right? 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:35.520 One community to another. 00:15:35.800 --> 00:15:37.260 I was with the world. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.240 Now I'm with Jesus. 00:15:38.420 --> 00:15:40.360 I'm joining the community of his followers. 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:43.480 I'm getting baptized from here to there. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.260 It's about allegiance. 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:48.700 But also, yeah, obedience, right? 00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:51.520 Teaching them all that I've commanded you. 00:15:53.180 --> 00:15:54.500 Actually, is that what it says? 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.980 Teaching all that I've commanded you? 00:15:56.660 --> 00:15:57.340 No, right? 00:15:57.340 --> 00:16:00.139 Teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you. 00:16:00.680 --> 00:16:02.540 Actually, we're supposed, it's not just information. 00:16:02.680 --> 00:16:04.720 This is following him in practice. 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:10.080 Because the thing is, I might commit to Jesus, but in a way, my life is like the world, right? 00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:13.120 Jesus is the rightful king, but my life is still a mess. 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:16.240 And so even in my life, things need to change. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:27.560 So I commit to Jesus, and then my life should be increasingly transformed and increasingly growing to do everything that he has commanded. 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:29.639 Everything that in his love he's given to us. 00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:31.919 That is what it is. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:34.220 And that is not just in the world, but in our lives. 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.519 I think that's good to know, right? 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:44.199 Again, if you're here and you think this is so imperial, Jesus as the king, well, he's not going to conquer the world through war. 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:47.399 He's not going to conquer it through force or through deceit. 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:52.759 No, he wants people to just voluntarily commit to him, start following him. 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:56.379 That is how he will conquer the world, he says. 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.939 Now, how do we do that? 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:01.539 That's what I want to come in a moment. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:05.160 Actually, first, the Great Commission. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.859 Now, what does it actually involve? 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:11.660 Because, you know, you talk to different Christian groups, and there's a lot of misunderstanding. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:16.039 So I want to make sure I just cover, okay, what actually is this? 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:18.879 What should we have in mind when we think of making disciples? 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:26.940 First of all, I hope you can see that there is both, well, evangelism and discipleship, right? 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.940 That they're both there. 00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:30.020 Because that's what we see here. 00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:33.540 You're both baptizing, and you're teaching people to follow. 00:17:34.560 --> 00:17:37.500 Now, some Christians, they focus really on one or really on the other. 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:41.520 For some people, basically, it's all about getting more people to follow Jesus. 00:17:41.520 --> 00:17:44.340 And once they say yes, and they pray the prayer, that's it. 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:44.780 Well done. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.980 Move on to the next person. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.520 Now, it's part of it, right? 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:50.039 It is about baptizing people. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:53.039 But they still need to follow Jesus, right? 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:54.299 It doesn't just stop there. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:57.220 Actually, let's help people to really follow Jesus. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:00.440 At the same time, it's not just discipleship. 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:05.779 It's not just getting the Christians that are already there. 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:07.240 There's also new people. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.319 And also, it's not that they go together. 00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:12.779 So maybe you're in your office, and you're a really good influence. 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:19.559 And because of the way you're acting in the office, you know, your colleagues, they are gossiping less. 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.819 And they are kind to each other. 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.799 That's a wonderful thing. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.160 But that's not a great commission. 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:26.240 Because they haven't become disciples, right? 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:30.660 If they don't follow Jesus, well, they haven't become disciples. 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.680 You haven't made disciples. 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:35.059 They are not, both need to be there. 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:38.759 Starting to follow Jesus, but then really following him in practice. 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:43.240 But surely that's important, right? 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:45.839 That we are also good in our office, and things happen. 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:48.079 Well, we need to do, here's another both. 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:52.279 We should both be making disciples and being disciples. 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:56.519 I mean, yes, this is the commission Jesus gives us. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:58.000 It's not the only thing that he says. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.920 Making disciples is not just, this is the be-all and end-all. 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:06.319 I mean, Matthew's gospel is full of teaching about what it looks like to be a disciple. 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:08.039 Read the Sermon on the Mount. 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.980 That's not three verses. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:10.899 That's three chapters, right? 00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:13.559 Jesus wants us to also be disciples. 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.799 Not just make disciples. 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.139 Actually, we are disciples. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.960 And we should live as disciples. 00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:24.460 And that is, and like, if I'm a peacemaker in my office, I'm being a disciple. 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:26.779 I may not be making disciples, but I'm being a disciple. 00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:27.500 Does that make sense? 00:19:27.899 --> 00:19:28.899 You need both of them. 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:34.819 Again, for some people, they say, well, that's not, only evangelism is important. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:37.159 It doesn't matter how we live, because it's not a great commission. 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:39.420 No, that's also in the Gospels. 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:42.320 On the other hand, that's not the only thing. 00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:46.980 We, some people want to, or some people think this is so important. 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:50.360 You know, missional justice, loving our neighbor, is part of the Great Commission. 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.740 It should be part of the Great Commission. 00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:52.620 Well, it isn't. 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.720 It's not making disciples. 00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.300 It's being disciples. 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.500 It's the fruit of discipleship. 00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:58.279 Right? 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:00.139 Our vision statement is over there. 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:05.859 To make, we exist to make mature disciples of Jesus who impact Hong Kong for the glory of God. 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:09.259 Now, the making disciples is the first bit, right? 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.359 Making mature disciples. 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:12.940 And the result, people being disciples. 00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:16.339 Namely, impacting Hong Kong for the glory of God, right? 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:19.319 So there's making disciples and being disciples. 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:27.279 And thirdly, again, different Christians have different emphases, but it should be both local and global. 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.460 Local and global. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.240 Right? 00:20:31.399 --> 00:20:33.720 Because, yeah, disciples of all nations. 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.980 Can you do that here in Hong Kong? 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:40.799 But other people, okay, this is only, you know, if you go to Papua New Guinea to the jungle. 00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:43.980 That's when you're really doing the Great Commission. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.019 Well, they're both here, right? 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:49.240 I mean, you're making disciples of all nations. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:52.480 It doesn't say make disciples from all nations. 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:58.480 I mean, from all nations suggests that once you have a few disciples from somewhere, then you're done. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:20:59.900 Right? 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:02.539 But now it says make disciples of all nations. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:06.940 And only when every single person in Hong Kong follows Jesus. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:10.319 And every single person's life is completely transformed. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:13.900 And every company and every authority structure and everything is all Jesus' way. 00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:15.500 That's when the Great Commission is done here. 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:17.279 And we're not there yet, right? 00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:20.359 There is still Great Commission work to be done in Hong Kong. 00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:25.599 At the same time, it is disciples of all nations. 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:29.200 Not every political country, every people group. 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:36.379 And certainly when Jesus first said this to these 11 disciples, there were no other disciples around, right? 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.000 Around the world. 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:39.059 Now there are, but not then. 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:44.519 And so we should, you know, have a concern for, well, going. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.399 Go and make disciples. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.119 Go elsewhere. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.259 Go to all the nations. 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:52.379 Because Hong Kong has lots of churches, but there were other places without churches. 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:56.200 There were places without even a single Christian. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:22:01.600 There were places without even a single missionary trying to make Christians. 00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:02.819 Right? 00:22:02.840 --> 00:22:07.720 And we should be praying that the gospel would go there and maybe consider whether we are the answer to that prayer. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:10.180 Local and global. 00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:11.620 Okay. 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:16.699 Because after all, Jesus, well, he is, he has all authority. 00:22:16.919 --> 00:22:22.639 Over every single people group in the world, but also over all of Hong Kong and all of our lives. 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.759 All authority. 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:26.500 But then how do we do it? 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:28.099 What does it look like to make disciples? 00:22:29.399 --> 00:22:32.639 Well, a disciple, like I said, it's a learner. 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.679 And how do people learn? 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:37.600 Well, teachers can answer that, right? 00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.960 People learn by teaching. 00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:39.980 Right? 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:45.019 In a way, people learn by giving them the gospel, giving them the word of God. 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:48.440 I mean, you might think, hey, discipleship. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:50.240 I don't see that much in the rest of the New Testament. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:52.500 No, but you see teaching and you see learning. 00:22:52.840 --> 00:22:53.140 Right? 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.799 That is the language of discipleship. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.240 Bringing God's word to people. 00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.000 Right? 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:59.039 How are people saved? 00:22:59.120 --> 00:23:02.560 Well, if they hear the gospel of Jesus. 00:23:02.560 --> 00:23:03.799 If they hear the good news. 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:05.700 If they hear that from the word of God. 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:05.919 Right? 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:08.079 And how do Christians grow when they hear the gospel? 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:10.859 When they hear about Jesus and see him more in the word of God. 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:13.139 Actually, it's very simple. 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.879 It is bringing God's word to people. 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:17.960 Ultimately, that's how we make disciples in a simple way. 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.740 And that's encouraging, I hope. 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:20.940 Right? 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:27.879 You think making disciples is that like a, oh, here's a 12-step program for discipleship and training. 00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:28.419 And no, no. 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:30.379 It's just bringing the word of God to people. 00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:36.140 That doesn't mean that it's not good to have a kind of fixed program in our community groups. 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.600 We've been doing the gospel-centered life. 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.340 I think that's been great. 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:43.080 That we all have a kind of basis that we all have heard and that we can build on. 00:23:43.260 --> 00:23:44.160 That's a good thing. 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:46.540 And, you know, mentoring. 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.280 It's in a way a good thing. 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:52.140 You know, an older Christian helping a younger Christian follow Jesus. 00:23:52.300 --> 00:23:53.220 That's a great thing. 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:57.660 As long as it doesn't become, we need to remember who we're disciples of. 00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:57.960 Right? 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:03.380 Sometimes with that kind of discipleship, basically, you become a disciple of the mentor. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.539 And that's what shouldn't happen. 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:05.839 Right? 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.779 You're both disciples of Jesus. 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:10.779 And the world doesn't need disciples of Niels or disciples of Kevin. 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:12.660 The world needs disciples of Jesus. 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.500 And that's what we are. 00:24:14.860 --> 00:24:16.539 But that's what it ultimately is. 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:18.720 Just bringing God's word to people. 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:20.180 And we can all do that. 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:20.380 Right? 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:26.020 I mean, here in Hong Kong, let's just go through the average day of the average watermarker. 00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.920 We can make disciples. 00:24:28.100 --> 00:24:30.800 So, in the morning, you start by reading something. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:32.580 Maybe from the watermark Bible reading plan. 00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:36.580 And you think about how God's word applies to your lives. 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:40.800 And maybe you think of a friend and how this really would speak to them. 00:24:40.820 --> 00:24:41.420 And you text them. 00:24:42.320 --> 00:24:44.900 And you pray that you would have some opportunities to share that today. 00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:47.180 And you go to work. 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:49.340 And when you get a cup of water, you talk to your colleague. 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:53.140 And you talk about, why is it called Good Friday? 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:55.779 Or maybe you just talk about some TV show. 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:59.500 And you can share something about the gospel and how that's so different. 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:02.920 You're making disciples because you're sharing the word of God. 00:25:03.860 --> 00:25:07.019 And then for lunch, maybe you meet another Christian from church. 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:10.599 And you talk about how it's hard to follow Jesus in the workplace. 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.940 And how you can better do that. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.859 And you share and you pray. 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.519 You're making disciples. 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.359 And you go home. 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:19.220 And you read the Bible with your kids after dinner. 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:21.980 And you are making disciples. 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.940 And then you go to CG. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:25.160 And you look at God's word together. 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:27.579 And share what it means for your life. 00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:30.099 And you try and pray about following it. 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.699 Just a very normal day, right? 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.740 It's not beyond any of us, I think. 00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:37.179 But in a way, this is making disciples. 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:41.439 That doesn't mean that we just stay here. 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:43.279 For some of us, yeah, let's go elsewhere. 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:45.299 Like Amelia went to Taiwan. 00:25:45.919 --> 00:25:48.019 Let's bring the gospel to other places as well. 00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:50.460 But right here, we are now in Hong Kong. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:54.960 Actually, in this way, all of us, I think, can make disciples. 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:57.740 We can share this great task. 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:59.220 And it is a great task, right? 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:03.920 Maybe you feel, well, my life is full. 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:06.240 And people don't really want this. 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:09.339 I mean, who ultimately doesn't want Jesus? 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:11.359 Sometimes people don't know what's good for them, right? 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:13.799 I mean, Jesus, yes, he is the king. 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.759 And they need to hear of him. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.799 They're going to meet him one day. 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:23.559 But also, this is the wonderful hope and joy and freedom that is on offer for everyone. 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:24.759 Right? 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:27.639 Sharing about Jesus should be the most wonderful thing. 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:29.279 I know it can be hard. 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:34.059 Especially, yeah, for people who are, you know, they don't know Jesus yet. 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:37.119 And they might react in a bad way, right? 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:38.039 We don't want that. 00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:39.180 That's why we're often quiet. 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:46.519 Well, in that case, let me encourage you with the last verse. 00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.920 The last sentence. 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:51.259 Because, yeah, we have Jesus' commission. 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.539 We have his task. 00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:54.259 We know that he is the one in control. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.680 We know that he is in charge. 00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.700 He is the king. 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:59.079 But also, we have a new presence. 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:02.900 Because this sounds like this is quite hard to do on our own. 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:05.779 And Jesus says, okay, you go and I'll just stay here. 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.879 I'll just go to heaven. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:13.740 Now, Jesus says, and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:16.020 I am with you. 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:20.000 In the Bible, whenever God gives a task to people, he always says, I'm with you. 00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:21.819 Moses, you go to Pharaoh. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.339 How can I do that? 00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:24.119 Well, I'm with you. 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:26.700 Joshua, you go into the promised land. 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:29.180 I'll be with you wherever you go. 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:33.420 David, hey, I've been with you wherever you go. 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:40.340 And now Jesus sends us out and he says, I will be with you always to the end of the age. 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:42.060 Now, not in human form, of course. 00:27:42.300 --> 00:27:47.320 Remember those parables about the master going away and leaving the servants? 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:49.799 But by his spirit, he is with us. 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:53.439 Which means that as we go and make disciples, we have Jesus' presence. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.319 We have Jesus' help. 00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:57.179 We have Jesus' power. 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:59.059 We have Jesus' comfort. 00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:01.000 We have Jesus' wisdom. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.980 We have all those things. 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:05.799 Because he is with us. 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:08.279 We have everything we need for the task. 00:28:09.419 --> 00:28:11.779 He is God with us in a way. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:14.179 You know, this rounds up the gospel, isn't it? 00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:16.779 You know, 58 sermons ago, how did we start? 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:23.919 Well, the virgin will conceive and bear a son and will call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us. 00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:29.960 Well, back then in person, but now by the spirit, Jesus really is God with us. 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:40.240 And so, yeah, he is there to help us, to strengthen us in this wonderful task of bringing his rule into our lives, 00:28:40.399 --> 00:28:43.439 into each other's lives, and to all nations. 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:47.099 Let's pray we would do that. 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:54.839 Let's just take a moment to reflect, and then I'll lead us in prayer. 00:28:54.839 --> 00:29:24.399 Let's pray together. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:28.340 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:29.500 We praise you, Lord Jesus. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:31.080 You are the king. 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.080 And that you rule over everything. 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:37.280 Your rule of love, your rule of grace that we see on the cross. 00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:43.140 We can now see as you are on the throne, bringing hope and joy to the world. 00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:48.680 Lord, please give us that great vision of Jesus, of your son. 00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:52.140 I'm sorry. 00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:52.820 I pray to the Lord. 00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:53.380 I pray to the Lord. 00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:55.220 Yeah, give us that great vision of you. 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:58.660 And we pray that we would be changed, that we would go out. 00:29:58.860 --> 00:30:09.120 Lord, envision us with this, the message of hope that we have, the gospel that transforms us, the gospel that saves people, and the gospel that can change the world. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:13.719 And to your glory, that you indeed would be seen to be the king. 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:16.299 Not just in name, but you'd be acknowledged. 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.459 Your kingdom would come. 00:30:18.219 --> 00:30:21.519 Everything would be according to your rule of love. 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:23.680 In Jesus, in your name we pray. 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.619 Amen.