WEBVTT 00:00:00.860 --> 00:00:02.399 What should we do then? 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:10.220 That was the question that the people put when they heard the proclamation of the coming of Jesus. 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:16.019 How do you wake up in the morning? 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:24.179 I enjoy waking up to the sound of the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:28.560 Actually, there's two things in that last sentence that are not true. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:31.559 One, I don't enjoy waking up. 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:37.339 Two, actually I don't particularly enjoy listening to the news. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:40.679 But I do quite like the programme. 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:46.799 Except there's one bit of that programme that really gets on my nerves. 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:51.460 And usually I've switched off the radio by this point. 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:55.719 But in case I haven't, this is the point when I normally do switch it off. 00:00:56.099 --> 00:00:58.060 It's the thought for the day. 00:00:59.539 --> 00:01:02.920 Now, the reason why that gets on my nerves so much, 00:01:03.580 --> 00:01:07.340 and by the way, I've heard people who've actually presented, 00:01:07.340 --> 00:01:11.600 who have actually presented the thought for the day previously, 00:01:11.780 --> 00:01:14.219 who have stopped doing it, say the same sort of thing, 00:01:14.820 --> 00:01:17.780 is that it's so bland, in my humble opinion. 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:19.900 Now, there are some exceptions. 00:01:20.739 --> 00:01:25.400 In fact, I think there are some of the thought for the day episodes that are brilliant, excellent, 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:26.840 absolutely fantastic. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:38.540 But on the whole, my own perception of it is that so often it seems that everything has to be distilled down 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:45.460 to the most lowest common denominator of shared moral and philosophical truths, 00:01:45.460 --> 00:01:51.900 that you can't say anything that's going to be controversial, that's going to upset anybody, 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:56.480 and therefore you can't say anything that's particularly interesting. 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:02.020 Jonathan Humphries himself apparently went on record as saying, 00:02:02.019 --> 00:02:07.939 we're going to hear someone tell us that Jesus was really nice. 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:13.599 And Justin Webb apparently has gone on record as saying, 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:17.000 they are roughly all the same. 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:22.280 If everyone was nicer to everyone else, it would all be fine. 00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:25.620 Now, perhaps I'm being a little bit harsh, 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:29.800 but the point I'm driving towards is this. 00:02:31.060 --> 00:02:42.219 The authentic biblical Christian gospel leaves no room to be bland and undisturbing. 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:49.659 See, I think the sad reality is that when people hear the word Christianity, 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:54.280 they kind of think possibly, well, not true, 00:02:54.280 --> 00:02:57.740 but probably before they even get that far, 00:02:58.259 --> 00:03:01.199 just think, well, so what if it is? 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:07.939 Because it is continually presented in such a way that seems so unchallenging, 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:11.240 so undisturbing, that doesn't rattle your cage, 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:15.580 that doesn't cause you to sit up and think and review your life choices. 00:03:17.139 --> 00:03:18.500 It's just boring. 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:26.840 I'm quite convinced that there are vast, vast, vast, vast, vast, vast numbers of people 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:29.159 that will go nowhere near a church, 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:35.080 not because they think that actually the message that is proclaimed about Jesus isn't true, 00:03:36.139 --> 00:03:38.500 but it just seems boring. 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:49.699 And they meet the claims of Jesus with, or their perceived claims of Jesus with, 00:03:50.419 --> 00:03:52.340 well, so what? 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:58.920 When we hear properly the message of the gospel, 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.840 if the message of Jesus and his claims, 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:11.759 the claims of the Christian gospel are proclaimed faithfully for what they actually were and are in the New Testament, 00:04:12.099 --> 00:04:16.259 there is no space for a shrugging of the shoulders and a so what? 00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:21.579 Because when we hear it, it evokes a demand, a response. 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:28.120 The very question that the first generation of hearers made, 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:31.860 which was, what should we do then? 00:04:33.379 --> 00:04:34.560 What should we do? 00:04:35.819 --> 00:04:41.079 And that's a question for every single one of us to ask every day of our lives 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:46.639 when we hear the gospel proclaimed, well, then what should we do? 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:50.039 How do we respond to that? 00:04:51.099 --> 00:04:54.099 Because Christian faith is a practical faith. 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:57.299 It's not just something that you, you know, 00:04:57.339 --> 00:05:00.919 you subscribe to a set of obscure theological propositions. 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:04.500 It's where the rubber hits the road. 00:05:04.599 --> 00:05:06.439 It changes the way we live our lives. 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:08.959 It changes the way we see everything. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.639 It changes the way we make decisions. 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:13.279 So what should we do then? 00:05:14.979 --> 00:05:19.819 And we may not always like what it's going to say to us. 00:05:20.419 --> 00:05:25.319 When we hear the Christian gospel proclaimed faithfully, clearly and authentically, 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:31.740 there will be some things that we'll need to stop doing. 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:37.799 And there will be some things that we'll need to step up to the mark and start doing. 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:42.780 And those things may not be comfortable listening. 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:51.259 There's an old story about a pastor who arrived in a frontier town in the Old West. 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:55.659 It was a rural church. 00:05:56.159 --> 00:06:01.180 And he was very disturbed when early on in his ministry there, he was out walking by the river one day, 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:10.319 and he saw some people hauling logs that were being floated downstream from the river up onto the river bank. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:15.219 And on the end of these logs, they had the names of the logs owners branded on them. 00:06:15.219 --> 00:06:24.219 And he was horrified to see some of his church members cutting the names off the ends of the logs and then rebranding them. 00:06:25.180 --> 00:06:26.680 So he thought, what am I going to do about this? 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:29.339 He didn't want to just go right up to them and challenge them. 00:06:29.339 --> 00:06:34.779 So he decided to wait until the next Sunday, and he preached a sermon, Thou shalt not steal. 00:06:36.659 --> 00:06:40.699 Well, people were leaving the church afterwards, shaking his hand as they went out the door, 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:45.259 and every single one of them, including those that he saw stealing these logs, 00:06:47.159 --> 00:06:51.299 just shook his hand and said, great sermon, pastor, thank you very much. 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:54.420 So he felt he needed to try it again. 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:59.740 So the second week, he preached pretty much the same sermon, word for word, on Thou shalt not steal. 00:06:59.900 --> 00:07:02.639 Once again, he had the same polite response. 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:06.379 Everybody walked past, shook his hand and said, thank you, great sermon. 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:11.800 So he decided that he needed to ramp things up a bit and be a little bit more focused. 00:07:12.259 --> 00:07:17.439 On the third week, he preached exactly the same sermon once again on the message, Thou shalt not steal. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:22.759 And he repeated that phrase, Thou shalt not steal, virtually every other sentence, 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:32.139 except for the very end, when he said, so then, my friends, Thou shalt not cut the ends off thy neighbour's logs. 00:07:34.159 --> 00:07:35.959 And they drove him out of town. 00:07:39.540 --> 00:07:45.879 It was Mark Twain that famously said, when it comes to the Bible, when I read the Bible, 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:49.019 it's not the bits that I don't understand that trouble me. 00:07:51.219 --> 00:07:54.519 It's the bits I do understand that trouble me. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:00.519 See, when you hear the message of the Gospel, when it lands in your life, 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:03.540 you can't not make a response. 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:06.819 What should we do then? 00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:08.980 What does this mean? 00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:17.540 And if the Gospel really is in God speaking to us, through Jesus, into our own lives, 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:19.580 and God wants the best for us, 00:08:19.900 --> 00:08:23.080 then we shouldn't be surprised that he may want us to make changes. 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:28.580 He may be calling us to stop doing some things that may be very painful to stop doing, 00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:33.560 and he may be calling us to take up things that may be very difficult for us to take up. 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:35.619 But it's a message we need to hear. 00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:39.479 Let me tell you a story. 00:08:40.500 --> 00:08:43.659 I feel a little bit embarrassed sharing this one with you, but I'm going to anyway. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:52.299 I'm currently in the process of sorting out being a power of attorney for a close family member, 00:08:53.439 --> 00:08:57.619 and gradually working through the different parts of the process. 00:08:57.620 --> 00:09:05.620 And this involved, a few weeks ago, having to go into a building society that I hadn't been in before, 00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:10.419 and I thought I'd got pretty much everything all sorted out, all paperwork, 00:09:10.659 --> 00:09:14.779 went armed with everything that I could think of, all the documents and everything. 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:21.680 So I went along and went into the building society, walked in, 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:25.419 and there was some surprisingly unbusy, 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:30.379 and there were several members of staff there, sat behind tables, looking very friendly, 00:09:30.579 --> 00:09:32.099 and said, come on over, come and sit down. 00:09:32.199 --> 00:09:33.559 So I sat down. 00:09:34.319 --> 00:09:35.459 And they said, how can I help you? 00:09:35.579 --> 00:09:39.099 I said, well, this may be quite a long thing, 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:43.159 but let me just share with you what I've done so far and what I need to do. 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:45.179 So it's all to do with power of attorney. 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:46.899 And they smiled and nodded. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:50.439 I said, well, the thing is, is I've got a close family member 00:09:50.439 --> 00:09:53.279 that wants me to be power of attorney, 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:55.459 and so I've started doing things. 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:57.819 We signed all the solicitor stuff, 00:09:57.939 --> 00:10:00.279 and that all went through a very long time ago. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:02.379 I've got all of that with me right now. 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:06.959 And I went into another branch when I was in another place a while ago 00:10:06.959 --> 00:10:09.279 because this person lives a long way away from here, 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:12.319 and they can't get to the building society, 00:10:12.459 --> 00:10:13.959 so that's why they've asked me to do it. 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:17.259 And so what I was told, what we really want to do 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:21.759 is to be able to set up some online banking for them 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:24.440 so that I can actually just do everything for them. 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:26.680 They can phone me up, tell me what they want me to do, 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:28.379 and then I can go online and do it for them. 00:10:29.560 --> 00:10:31.960 And so the thing is, is that they've also got one of those 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:34.420 very old-fashioned accounts that's got the old passport, 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:35.700 and they've recently had a letter. 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:37.360 Here's the copy of the letter here 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:41.840 that actually says that they're discontinuing the use of these passports, 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:46.060 so they're going to have to change their account in the next few months anyway. 00:10:46.300 --> 00:10:48.320 And I said, I wasn't sure what to do, 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:50.840 so I went into another branch, not this one, 00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:54.360 a couple of weeks ago and started the process, 00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:56.899 and they told me that what I need to do 00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:59.280 is to actually set up an account myself, 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:02.360 put one pound in it so that I can get online, 00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:06.120 and then they can attach this new account to my account, 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:09.960 and then I can actually access it for them. 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:10.620 They said, yeah. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:13.160 So I've set it up, I've been home, 00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:15.980 and I've waited a week or whatever, 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:17.060 and now I've gone online, 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:20.060 and now I've got this new account that I've set up in my own name, 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:22.100 and I can now do online banking, 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:25.360 and so now I'm coming in today with everything that I think I need 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:27.139 to be able to do the next stage. 00:11:27.400 --> 00:11:29.800 I've got all the paperwork for their account, 00:11:29.900 --> 00:11:31.460 I've got my ID, I've got a passport, 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:32.580 I've got a driver's license, 00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:34.379 I've got their passport for their account, 00:11:34.560 --> 00:11:35.200 I've got everything. 00:11:35.300 --> 00:11:36.940 Can you advise me what to do, please? 00:11:36.940 --> 00:11:41.580 And they said, do you need the building society? 00:11:41.800 --> 00:11:42.280 I said, yeah. 00:11:43.300 --> 00:11:44.900 He said, this is an estate agent. 00:11:48.900 --> 00:11:51.000 The building society is next door. 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:54.880 Now, in my defence, 00:11:55.640 --> 00:11:57.960 there was a lot of scaffolding outside, 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:00.080 and all the signs were covered. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.180 The second thing I would say in my defence 00:12:03.180 --> 00:12:06.600 is that the first thing that I saw when I walked into the room 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:08.020 was the word mortgage. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:08.860 Yeah? 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:13.100 But it was only at this point that I looked round and realised, 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:15.620 actually, the place was very quiet, 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:18.840 and there were lots of pictures of houses for sale 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:20.400 in all directions. 00:12:22.040 --> 00:12:24.580 So, yes, I'll admit, I'm a total muppet. 00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:28.259 But after I got over myself, 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:30.660 I apologised profusely, 00:12:31.060 --> 00:12:33.940 I went next door and sorted out what I had to sort out 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:35.560 in the building society. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:39.360 Now, where am I going with this story? 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.020 This person that listened to me was lovely. 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:46.100 You know, their listening skills were second to none. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:48.580 They gave me eye contact, they smiled, 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.620 they were friendly, 00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:52.580 they let me say everything that I had to say 00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:55.659 while they nodded and listened really carefully. 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:59.820 And I apologised to them for wasting their time. 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:03.700 But I couldn't help thinking, 00:13:03.820 --> 00:13:06.539 and it took me a long time for the penny to drop afterwards. 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:11.919 Why on earth did they wait that long 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:14.899 before telling me just to stop? 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:14.940 Stop. 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.080 Is that not a value 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:25.200 that everybody would surely subscribe to? 00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:30.519 Why did you wait this long 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:32.360 before telling me? 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:37.299 If you were making a set of mistakes in your life, 00:13:37.560 --> 00:13:39.440 if you were messing something up, 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:41.720 if you were completely on the wrong track, 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:44.600 wouldn't a true friend be somebody 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:46.519 who would actually have the courage 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:49.379 to confront you lovingly, 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:52.240 but in a way that is authentic and real, 00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:53.019 and say, 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:55.519 because I love you, 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:58.840 and because I think you're making, 00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.759 because I care for you 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:02.659 and want the best outcome for your life, 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:05.079 I'm having this tough, 00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:07.379 going to have this tough conversation with you 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:09.059 and stop you right now. 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:13.199 I'm pointing you in the direction 00:14:13.199 --> 00:14:14.279 that you need to be going. 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:18.720 When we read the Christian gospel, 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:21.179 and it lands, 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:26.059 and it says things that at first sight 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:27.340 may seem quite harsh 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:29.899 and very difficult, 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:34.379 don't write it off just because it's difficult. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:40.199 It's difficult because God loves you. 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:44.440 It's difficult because God knows 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:48.060 that in order for the best things to happen for you, 00:14:48.920 --> 00:14:50.500 tough choices have to be made, 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.740 including sacrifices, 00:14:53.780 --> 00:14:55.220 including laying down things 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.560 that you don't want to lay down, 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:58.360 and including taking up things 00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.640 that you have to take up. 00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:06.940 Sometimes tough, difficult challenges come our way. 00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:09.940 We need to be stopped in our tracks 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:12.800 and told we have to stop right there 00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:17.480 because it's in our interest 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:21.640 and God loves us enough to tell us so. 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:27.759 I'm going to close by sharing with you an image. 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.740 What should we do then? 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:32.919 What should we do? 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.620 What does that mean for each of us 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.799 right now in our lives? 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:38.620 What things might God be saying to us 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.679 that we've got to stop? 00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:43.019 What things might God be saying to us 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:44.059 that we've got to stop? 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:48.319 You know, almost always, 00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:49.479 when we ask that question, 00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:50.500 what should we do then? 00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:52.019 It's not going to be an easy one, 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:55.099 but it's going to be something we need to hear. 00:15:55.959 --> 00:15:57.379 So I'm going to share with you an image. 00:15:58.079 --> 00:15:58.959 It's an image that, 00:15:59.219 --> 00:16:00.579 it's not a magic trick, by the way, 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:02.159 so don't get your hopes up. 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.799 Something's not going to suddenly disappear 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:05.219 or appear or anything like that, 00:16:05.339 --> 00:16:06.719 but it's an image, a visual image, 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:08.839 and sometimes I think visual images 00:16:08.839 --> 00:16:10.959 can speak more powerfully than words. 00:16:11.699 --> 00:16:13.299 When we ask ourselves that question, 00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:14.659 what should we do? 00:16:16.839 --> 00:16:18.699 We need to remember that it's a question 00:16:18.699 --> 00:16:19.939 that we need to ask 00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:21.459 and keep on asking 00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:24.099 every day of our lives of following Jesus. 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:26.479 I've got a glass and I've got some water. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.079 I've got quite a lot of water here, actually. 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:30.620 I'm going to start by pouring this water 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.519 into the glass. 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:35.299 This is just ordinary water. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:38.759 Christchurch tap water. 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:39.679 It's delicious. 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:44.419 You can get some afterwards at the back. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:45.139 Actually, you can't 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.859 because I've got all the chunks. 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.979 Sorry, catering team. 00:16:52.459 --> 00:16:54.399 When you come to Jesus for the first time, 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.500 you say, what shall I do then? 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.899 You give your life to him. 00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:01.620 The Bible tells us that you become a new creation. 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:02.939 You see that water there. 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.439 It's clear. 00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:03.919 It's pure. 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:04.940 It's amazing. 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:07.380 You come to Christ for the first time 00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:09.320 and you know the reality of Jesus 00:17:09.320 --> 00:17:10.799 in your life for the first time. 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.900 You know he's real 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:13.000 and it changes things. 00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:14.740 It changes the way you look at life. 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.620 It's amazing. 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.100 But you know, 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:20.299 when that happens, 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.259 it's still human, 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.700 which means 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:28.140 you won't completely have lost 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:30.059 all the human stuff 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:32.900 that you carried before giving your life to Jesus. 00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:34.120 It's still there. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:36.820 So that question 00:17:36.820 --> 00:17:38.880 of what shall I do then 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:41.880 needs to be an ongoing question 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:44.000 where we ask God's Holy Spirit 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.340 not just to fill us the once, 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.400 but in an ongoing way. 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:49.019 Let me show you what I mean. 00:17:49.780 --> 00:17:50.600 You see, the chances are 00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:52.980 that there'll be all sorts of things, 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.540 ordinary human things, 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:56.440 but things that aren't perhaps that great 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:58.380 that will still be going on in our lives. 00:17:59.100 --> 00:18:00.740 I've got some lemon juice here. 00:18:01.540 --> 00:18:02.500 This is bitter. 00:18:03.800 --> 00:18:04.759 I'm going to pour that in 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:07.019 and that's just to remind us 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:08.560 that we might be carrying bitterness 00:18:08.560 --> 00:18:11.240 around inside us. 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:14.460 Sunny gone, cloudy and bitter. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:20.940 I've got some white vinegar. 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:23.940 Now the thing is, 00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:24.360 is that 00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:29.040 this represents self-righteousness. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:30.399 You know, 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.759 when you become a Christian, 00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:33.000 there's such a danger there. 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.200 You can suddenly think, 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.200 well, I'm all right now. 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:36.700 The thing is, 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.139 is that 00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:38.920 this looks like water. 00:18:39.639 --> 00:18:40.500 Self-righteousness, 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.099 you kind of 00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:42.839 can't necessarily see 00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:44.019 or it's not always that clear. 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:45.119 And sometimes, 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.279 I'm going to pour some of this in there, 00:18:46.619 --> 00:18:47.619 sometimes then, 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.019 you know, 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:49.899 self-righteousness is going on 00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:51.500 and it might just look like righteousness. 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.779 It might just look like 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.259 we've got, 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:54.659 you know, 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.099 wonderful, 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:55.920 pure lives, 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:58.360 but reality is it stinks. 00:18:59.300 --> 00:19:00.740 You can't smell this right now, 00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:01.380 but I can. 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.700 I've got something here 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.840 that smells just as bad, 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.840 but you can see 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:09.980 and that's malt vinegar. 00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:12.840 And this represents anger. 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.400 Again, 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.640 these aren't abnormal things, 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.259 that's the point. 00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:17.400 They're ordinary things. 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.660 But maybe we've got some anger 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:21.440 still kind of going on in us. 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.480 Pour that there, 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.360 you can see that now. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:26.159 It's really not looking good 00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:27.099 and you seriously 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:28.079 wouldn't want to drink that. 00:19:30.679 --> 00:19:31.099 Oh, 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:33.179 I've got some green food colouring here. 00:19:33.439 --> 00:19:34.399 Maybe it's envy. 00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:37.599 We might not even realise 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:38.299 that we're envious, 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.059 but, 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:40.419 you know, 00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:41.479 we're, 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.659 put some green in there. 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.119 There we go. 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:45.559 That, 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:50.759 that actually we're carrying around 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:52.000 that envy 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.879 in our lives. 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:55.259 Looking at other people's lives 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.319 and making comparisons 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.660 with ourselves. 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:00.960 Or, 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.940 maybe, 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:04.259 I've got some blue here now. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.779 This stands for 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.259 the really toxic stuff. 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:11.200 The stuff that we're addicted to. 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:14.500 The stuff that feels like 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:16.019 it's become so absorbed in us 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:17.019 we can't get rid of it. 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:20.379 The stuff that 00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:22.519 just doesn't seem to go away, 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:24.579 but that just 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:26.160 seems to skew 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:27.379 the way we look at 00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:29.000 just about everyone 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.680 and everything. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.000 So there we are. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:34.879 That's us. 00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:37.619 We're ready 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.420 with that 00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:39.920 to go out 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:40.920 and win people 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.480 for Jesus. 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:43.619 Looks great, 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.000 doesn't it? 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:49.599 We ask that question. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.980 What can we do then? 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:55.220 It's not just a one-off question. 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:55.960 It is. 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.019 We're still saved. 00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.460 We may know 00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:59.539 that despite all of that 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.519 mess in our lives, 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.160 God still, 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.900 for some bizarre reason, 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.400 loves us 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.759 unconditionally. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.980 But he doesn't want us 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.960 to stay that way. 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:14.299 And the thing is 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.940 is that when we come to him, 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.620 he comes 00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:18.480 and he pours 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.180 his spirit 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:20.180 into us. 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.799 It's not just a one-off. 00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:29.240 Because his promise 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:31.960 is that he will go on 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.900 pouring his spirit 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:34.579 into us. 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.460 And gradually, 00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:38.440 and this may take years, 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.559 in fact, 00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:40.759 it never really stops. 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:43.360 But his Holy Spirit 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:44.720 just pours 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.980 and pours 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.500 and pours 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:48.980 and pours 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.920 and pours. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:51.180 And the wonderful thing is, 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.259 is whether we're there 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.940 to receive it openly or not, 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.600 he's got so much 00:21:55.600 --> 00:21:56.580 more spirit to give 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:57.700 than we have human 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.600 mess that needs 00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.220 clearing up. 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.920 And in Ephesians 5, 00:22:02.080 --> 00:22:03.500 Paul uses this phrase, 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.700 which is hard to translate 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.259 into English, 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.039 but he doesn't just say 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.820 about being filled 00:22:06.820 --> 00:22:07.400 with the spirit, 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:08.440 but he talks about 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:10.140 keep on being 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:11.360 being filled. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.780 Be being filled. 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.560 In other words, 00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:14.440 it's an ongoing, 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.820 continuous thing. 00:22:16.080 --> 00:22:16.880 It's not something 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:18.280 that just happened once 00:22:18.280 --> 00:22:19.400 and then that's it. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.280 But rather, 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.320 his Holy Spirit 00:22:21.320 --> 00:22:22.200 wants to fill us 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.620 and go on filling us 00:22:23.620 --> 00:22:25.160 each and every day, 00:22:25.300 --> 00:22:26.040 which means no matter 00:22:26.040 --> 00:22:27.019 how much rubbish, 00:22:27.320 --> 00:22:28.519 no matter how much junk 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:30.100 is going on there, 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.440 the stuff that we can see 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:33.140 and the stuff that we can't see, 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.480 God's Holy Spirit 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.780 never gives up on us 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.799 and he wants to keep on 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:38.059 soaking us in his spirit, 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.680 filling us with his spirit, 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.680 completely, 00:22:40.879 --> 00:22:42.700 completely filling our lives 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.819 and flushing out 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:44.720 all of that stuff 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.859 so that every time 00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:46.740 we come back to him 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.779 and we say we are sorry, 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:49.259 it's not hypocrisy, 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.200 it's facing up to the reality 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.339 that we need his spirit 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.619 every day of our lives 00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:55.139 because we're human beings 00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:56.480 and we've all got that mess, 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.619 but God is real 00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:58.839 and God understands us 00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.759 and God knows us 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.920 and loves us enough 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:02.639 to keep on challenging us 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.900 and telling us the stuff 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:05.460 that we might not want to hear 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.780 but we need to hear 00:23:06.780 --> 00:23:09.320 and as his spirit keeps filling us 00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:11.720 so we will stop doing gradually 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.900 and sometimes subtly 00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:15.000 the things that we need to stop doing 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:18.060 and he will also give us the courage 00:23:18.060 --> 00:23:18.980 and the strength 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.680 and the power 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.540 to do things 00:23:20.540 --> 00:23:22.400 that we really don't want to do 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.600 but we can do 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:25.740 because only he can give us 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:28.800 that amazing Holy Spirit power 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:31.159 because he is completely 00:23:31.159 --> 00:23:34.099 and utterly inexhaustible 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:40.200 and so it goes on 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:42.799 and never stops 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:52.379 tastes alright 00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:55.879 what shall we do then? 00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:59.480 well let's pray right now 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:08.880 Lord thank you 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:11.620 that even though we often 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:13.340 perhaps feel like giving up on you 00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:14.680 you don't give up on us 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:18.600 thank you that there's always more of you 00:24:18.600 --> 00:24:19.980 than there is of us 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:23.220 and that no matter what mess 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.380 there might be in our lives 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.800 that needs to be stopped 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:29.700 and no matter how many new opportunities 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.879 there may be 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:32.379 that actually you know 00:24:32.379 --> 00:24:33.019 could happen 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.399 if only we trust in you 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:36.579 thank you that your spirit is there 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:38.159 to open up those possibilities 00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:41.339 so Lord as we ask that question now 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.740 each of us will be answered 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:44.500 probably in a slightly different way 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:46.220 but Lord what would you have us do? 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:51.359 Lord fill us 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:53.639 and go on filling us 00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:55.659 with your Holy Spirit power 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:58.460 wash us clean 00:24:58.460 --> 00:25:01.580 fill us with hope 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:02.640 fill us with energy 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.620 fill us with vision 00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:04.840 fill us with passion 00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:06.400 fill us with courage 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:11.000 go on filling us 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.279 and renewing us 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:15.380 that we may become the people 00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:17.860 transformed that you long for us to be 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:20.500 now 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.559 tomorrow 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:23.339 and every day 00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:27.159 in Jesus name we pray 00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:29.240 Amen 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.839 Amen 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.000 whaterm quant 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.700 for it to end 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:38.660 all the way 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.240 of hearing 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.720 and above 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:42.079 them 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.779 and above 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.359 the end 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:43.819 and above 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:43.980 you 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:44.539 worry 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:46.180 well