WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:07.860 Okay. Welcome, everyone, to Watermark. If it's your first time, if it's your hundredth time, 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:14.839 it's just such a privilege to be here together, to really come into God's presence and to experience 00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:24.219 His Spirit at work amongst us this morning. My name's Chris, and we're going to be looking 00:00:24.219 --> 00:00:29.460 at the book of Acts over the next little while. Before I start, I just want to pray. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.280 Because I want to pray for God's Spirit to really speak to us. And I want you to pray with me. 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:52.740 Father, we need you. We want to hear from you this morning. I pray that my words would be your words, 00:00:52.740 --> 00:01:00.300 that you would speak. Remove anything that is not from you. Let your word touch our hearts and let 00:01:00.300 --> 00:01:09.000 us go and do what you call us to do in the power of your Spirit. Open our eyes in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:17.879 I don't know if any of you have ever seen the U.S. TV show Seinfeld. Has anyone seen Seinfeld? 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:25.240 There's a few people. For those of you who don't know, it was a very popular show in the U.S. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:31.099 And a few years ago, some researchers wanted to find out why this show was so popular. 00:01:31.099 --> 00:01:37.640 Because the show actually markets itself as a show with no plot. Okay? And so what basically 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:42.379 happens, it just kind of wanders from scene to scene, and it's described as a show about nothing. 00:01:42.699 --> 00:01:48.179 That's the way they market it. And so researchers wanted to find out why is this so popular. 00:01:48.699 --> 00:01:52.439 And so they went onto campuses, they did a whole load of research, and you know what they found? 00:01:52.439 --> 00:02:00.780 They found the reason that this was so popular was because it mirrored the lives of the viewers who 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:09.439 watched it. They related totally to this life with no plot and no purpose in their lives. That's 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:15.259 what the research showed. And I think that's really interesting because isn't that so much of actually 00:02:15.259 --> 00:02:21.439 what Hong Kong life really is like as well? You know, we're on this hamster wheel where, you know, 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:25.639 we go to school, and then we're dying to get through this exam. And then, and then we get 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:29.719 through the exam, and then we're dying to go to university. And then, then we graduate from 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:33.699 university, and we're dying to get a job. And then we, we, we get a job. But then we're dying 00:02:33.699 --> 00:02:38.060 very soon, maybe six months afterwards, to get another job. And then we're dying to get married. 00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:42.039 And then when we get married, then we're dying to have a family. And then we get family. And then 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:46.120 we're dying for the family to grow up and leave so we can retire. And then when we retire, 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:48.819 we're dying to do something meaningful, and then we're just dying. 00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:59.939 right isn't that so much of life without a plot to it not part of a bigger story 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:07.259 and you know if you run a startup the way many of us in this city run our lives it would be 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:12.359 bankrupt within a couple of months because i i don't know if you just imagine you walk into 00:03:12.359 --> 00:03:17.780 like an it startup and you say to an employee what are you doing and they'd say i'm typing 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:24.759 okay and you say okay why are you typing they say i i don't know why i'm typing i'm just doing what 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:32.139 everyone else was doing and you'd look at that and you'd think they're wasting something there 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:39.460 there's got to be more to life than that and the purpose of the book of acts and the purpose of what 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:44.879 we're going to look at is we need to know the why we need to know the purpose we need to know the story 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:52.319 that we're part of otherwise you'll end up just kind of doing stuff but maybe you'll end up wasting 00:03:52.319 --> 00:04:02.599 your life and so the book of acts is um we're going to look over the next 10 weeks at the first six 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:11.620 chapters to help us refocus on what the story we're part of what is it that we're meant to be about as 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:20.459 church what is it that it means to be a christian in this city because my strong belief is god has 00:04:20.459 --> 00:04:26.399 not got us here for some kind of plotless wandering existence we're part of something bigger 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:31.899 and so we've looked over this year we've looked at the book of deuteronomy which showed us 00:04:31.899 --> 00:04:37.240 the god the call of god to love him and love other people we've seen how we failed at that the people 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:44.280 of israel failed we've seen how jesus comes along and sinners encounter jesus and when they meet with 00:04:44.280 --> 00:04:52.500 jesus there's a transformation which takes place in their lives and we looked last week and last week 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:58.379 was easter and it's very fitting that we're starting the book of acts last week last week we had baptism 00:04:58.379 --> 00:05:04.240 for those of you not here it's just a great time and and it's just such a fitting time because the book 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:10.720 of acts comes straight after easter straight after the resurrection of jesus and that's where we pick 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:15.560 it up and so what i'm going to look at today i just want to kind of introduce the book of acts to us and 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:20.400 then i want to look at power i want to look at purpose and i want to look at the ascended king 00:05:20.400 --> 00:05:26.079 okay so i'm just going to introduce acts then we're going to look at power purpose and the ascended 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:31.300 king so if you've got your bulletin have it open i'm particularly going to going to focus on 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:39.560 verses six to eight but let me just introduce acts to you um acts is written by luke who colossians 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:45.879 four tells us is a doctor he's a convert to christianity he's well traveled he's well educated 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:51.500 and presumably very well off as well to get an education to be able to write his book he writes 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:57.040 some of the best greek in the whole of the new testament and you know he's also a sometime companion 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:03.520 of paul because we know in the book of acts in chapter 16 the pronouns switch from he says they 00:06:03.520 --> 00:06:12.280 did this to we did this so paul luke is traveling along at some point with with um with paul and he 00:06:12.280 --> 00:06:20.939 sees firsthand how the gospel is spreading throughout the roman empire and so verse uh verses one to five 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:26.219 of this book of acts are really like the the introduction for us and he's writing to this 00:06:26.219 --> 00:06:33.579 guy called theophilus which basically means lover of god and he's a wealthy greek guy presumably a young 00:06:33.579 --> 00:06:41.759 christian like many of us he's going through moments of doubt he's like is jesus the real deal is his 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:47.560 kingdom really as powerful as you say it is because i look around me and i look at the roman empire and it 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:55.280 seems so much stronger and christianity is like this little speck on the map is it real and so this 00:06:55.280 --> 00:07:01.459 is the second time luke is writing this is kind of um the first time was the book the gospel of luke you 00:07:01.459 --> 00:07:06.779 know luke and acts go together okay they're like you know it's like star wars and the empire strikes back 00:07:06.779 --> 00:07:14.860 you know it's kind of this is the sequel to the book of luke and and if you recollect what luke is about 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:23.000 and luke is really about um what he does he collects a whole load of eyewitness evidence to show you 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:29.680 theophilus that what i've taught you about jesus this is sure this is true you can have certainty 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:35.939 about this that's what book one was about book two is kind of starts off as kind of like the um 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:40.520 and previously on you know those tv shows which they they kind of start at the beginning and they're 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:46.219 like and previously on the amazing race you know john got attacked by a hamster and then uh you know 00:07:46.219 --> 00:07:51.659 and he got eliminated you know that kind of thing um that's what acts starts off with the and 00:07:51.659 --> 00:07:59.759 previously and he says basically jesus was the messiah the king who taught about the kingdom he died he 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:05.279 rose again and he headed to jerusalem and in jerusalem that's where he died that's where he brought 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:12.039 forgiveness salvation to people and then acts it's not about going to jerusalem acts is about going 00:08:12.039 --> 00:08:18.659 from jerusalem this gospel message going out into the world okay it's about how jesus reigns how his 00:08:18.659 --> 00:08:26.919 kingdom spreads you know it says you'll be my witnesses in judea and in jerusalem in all judea and 00:08:26.919 --> 00:08:33.220 samaria and to the ends of the earth and so what you'll see is jesus is starting a gospel movement 00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:38.820 which goes first of all and you'll see in the book of acts the first seven chapters it's jerusalem and 00:08:38.820 --> 00:08:44.660 judea okay that's kind of like hong kong island okay and then then it goes to chapter eight is goes 00:08:44.660 --> 00:08:51.620 to samaria that's like kowloon and new territories and then chapter 13 and onwards it's going out to 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:57.060 the ends of the earth that's kind of everywhere else right that's what's going and the implication 00:08:57.059 --> 00:09:03.819 is when you get to chapter 28 paul is in rome and he's proclaiming the kingdom of god and the 00:09:03.819 --> 00:09:09.839 implication is jesus hasn't finished yet the kingdom is still going there's a chapter 29 00:09:09.839 --> 00:09:18.259 okay and you know we as watermarkers his church are in chapter 29 there's only 28 chapters in acts by 00:09:18.259 --> 00:09:25.159 the way okay we're in chapter 29 of how jesus is continuing to spread his kingdom and we're part of it 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:32.459 that's the story we're part of and we're living out this extension of this gospel movement that's spreading 00:09:32.459 --> 00:09:39.419 so that's that's where we are we're in that story that's what book of acts is about 00:09:39.419 --> 00:09:46.959 so let's look verses six to eight and i want to show you something about power and then purpose and then 00:09:46.960 --> 00:10:00.620 the ascended king verse um it says uh verse eight says you will receive power when the holy spirit has 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:12.080 come upon you you know power is pretty vital in the world things don't move without power you know 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:19.200 get in your car there's no power you're not going anywhere turn on the lights no power you're in the 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:19.639 dark 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:29.740 one guy called moses name said power is what we exercise over others that leads them to behave 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:36.920 in ways they otherwise would not have done okay leads you to behave in ways you otherwise would not 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:44.879 have done i find that really actually really helpful because um who who is jesus talking to when 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:52.579 he's when he's talking here who's he talking to it's not a trick question he's talking to the disciples 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:58.899 okay do you remember what's happened like six weeks earlier the disciples good friday like he's talking 00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:03.959 to a load of guys who've just denied him who've run away in fear who locked themselves in a room 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:07.740 because they didn't want anyone to know that they were followers of him these are the people he's 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:15.259 talking to they're totally weak wimps and cowards okay and then jesus rises from the dead brings them 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:23.200 forgiveness restoration and jesus doesn't kind of say hey guys i've done all the hard work of rising again 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:29.500 now i'm leaving it over to you when i come back i expect you to see some results from you guys 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:34.700 jesus doesn't say that he says i'm going to give you power because i know that you're weak 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:41.559 because i know that you're weak because and this is what we saw with peter last week christianity 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:50.419 starts continues and finishes on your knees recognizing your weakness and your powerlessness 00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:57.240 not your capability it starts you cannot live the christian life if you think you're capable of living 00:11:57.240 --> 00:12:03.580 did you get that you can't live it if you think you can do it in your own power because actually 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:11.799 you're weak the disciples knew that you know paul the great apostle says i delight in my weaknesses 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:24.039 because when i'm weak then i'm strong because god's power rests on me you know i think most people 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:31.939 are probably like me i delight in strength you know i hate it when i feel weak right you know 00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:36.819 because i feel kind of vulnerable and exposed you know it's like you have those awkward moments of 00:12:36.819 --> 00:12:44.839 silence where what well it's kind of silent for a while and you know you feel like when you're 00:12:44.839 --> 00:12:48.399 talking to someone and you feel a little bit naked and exposed and you've got to say something to kind 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:53.439 of break the silence because we don't like that feeling of vulnerability we don't like those feelings 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:58.200 of weakness because we want to feel in control we want to feel competent all the time right don't we 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:05.120 and so what we do when we feel a little bit like out of control insecure we try and run as quickly 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:10.700 as possible to a place where we're feeling strong again but jesus says the normal christian life 00:13:10.700 --> 00:13:18.620 get this the normal christian life comes and living at the intersection of your weakness and god's power 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:26.120 do you get that the normal christian life is living at the intersection of your weakness and his power 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:31.759 that's normal christian living and i don't know what i don't know what kind of week you've had 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:37.159 but i'm just kind of looking over my week and i'm just i'm i'm wishing that there were times that i've 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:42.320 been bolder i'm wishing that there were times that i hadn't given into temptation or eaten that extra 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:48.160 piece of cake that i did there i you know i don't like feeling like sometimes i'm not quite strong 00:13:48.160 --> 00:13:56.780 enough i'm not quite good enough at things but jesus says to his disciples you guys need power 00:13:56.780 --> 00:14:02.379 stop trying to rely on yourself i've brought you to your knees now i'm going to give you what you need 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:09.520 and he says power will come upon you when the holy spirit comes on you 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:16.899 so we need to talk a little bit about the holy spirit because um some people get weirded out by 00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:25.559 the holy spirit you know we're um we're happy with father son and holy bible but um but father son and 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:33.340 the holy ghost you know it sounds a bit creepy it sounds a bit weird right um you know others of us are 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:37.779 kind of a little bit too obsessed with the spirit you know we judge every spirit about whether it's 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:43.299 spirit filled and and what that really means i'm not quite sure what that means but what i think it 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:48.740 means is there's a kind of special kind of atmosphere with a kind of happening by vibe and god's word often 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:55.500 is kind of secondary to some good feelings that i have that's often the way we define it but john 15 00:14:55.500 --> 00:15:03.339 says this when the helper comes whom i will send to you from the father the spirit of truth he will bear 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:09.820 witness about me now we need to get this every christian if you're a christian you have the 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:16.879 spirit of god living in you but there's something we forget j.i packer who's a british theologian he 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:23.240 says said this about the holy spirit he said the holy spirit is like floodlights okay floodlights you 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:31.120 know if you go to the the rugby sevens you don't go like at night wow aren't the floodlights amazing 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:37.600 right you're not kind of focusing the whole time on the floodlights the floodlights are there to help 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:44.340 you focus on the game right and so he says actually the holy spirit is not there to get you obsessed by 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:50.539 the holy spirit the holy spirit is there to get you obsessed by jesus is to reveal jesus to you through 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:56.340 his word to convict you of your sin to empower you to live and obey him and to speak of him so that 00:15:56.340 --> 00:16:04.519 you're so filled with jesus that it's just overflowing that he wants to equip you with what you cannot 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:10.040 do and fill you with what you cannot fill yourself with which is so much more of him 00:16:10.040 --> 00:16:17.360 that's what the spirit is there to do and he does it in a number of ways and luke uses the terminology 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:23.340 here he says and he uses interchangeably he says spirit will come upon you you'll be baptized you'll be 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:28.899 filled with the spirit you'll be clothed with power those are all words that luke uses to describe the 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:39.120 spirit and and he's describing here not just something of conversion this filling with the 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:43.160 spirit because it happens this filling of the spirit this baptizing the spirit happens again 00:16:43.160 --> 00:16:53.100 and again and again in the book of acts you know to the same disciples so in in ephesians 5 paul 00:16:53.100 --> 00:17:01.720 tells the church keep on being filled with the spirit okay that's continuous tense so what is that 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:07.259 like what is that like well there's a there's a couple of different things which i think it means 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:15.579 um romans 8 it says the spirit bears witness there's that word witness again to your spirit that you are 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:22.259 children of god okay he bears witness your spirit that you are children of god the spirit reveals the 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:28.660 gospel god's word to you in a way that takes it out of your head and puts it down here into your heart 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:38.359 and sets you on fire martin lloyd jones um who's a welsh preacher he used to use this this analogy he 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:44.339 said the filling with the spirit is like a father walking down the road with his son holding his son hand 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:52.339 and the son feels safe and secure but then suddenly the father sweeps down picks up the son holds him 00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:59.759 hugs him kisses him tells him how much he loves him and then he kind of goes to put him down then he 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:03.859 brings him again and holds him again and tells him he loves him then puts him down they carry on walking 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:10.979 again along the street and that son is as he's walking down he lloyd jones says this you can 00:18:10.979 --> 00:18:17.299 scarcely contain yourself and you want to cry out my father loves me my father loves me oh what a great 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:25.199 father i have what a father what a father that's what the spirit wants to do in our lives to excite us 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:29.039 about jesus about who what it is to be his children 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:39.860 there's a deep assurance a confidence of the truthfulness of what christ has done on the cross 00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:47.779 and we we find that assurance and that confidence in his love so that we don't have to be so self-conscious 00:18:47.779 --> 00:19:01.779 it drives out fear and it produces joy that we're loved we're loved and we don't rely on experiences 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:08.160 that we've got to be careful we don't rely on experiences uh to to kind of base our faith on 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:14.539 our faith is not based on feelings it's based on the word of god and the everyday experience of faith is 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:21.619 walking hand in hand with your father that's what faith is like hearing his voice through god's word 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:27.500 the bible but what he then wants us to do is as he calls us on a mission which we cannot do 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:33.639 to obey him in ways that we know we cannot he wants us to call out to him in our weakness and to cry 00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:40.480 with expectation that he'll fill us with his spirit with his love which will embolden us to go out and 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:50.279 proclaim his word tim keller says the spirit enables you to say if someone as all-powerful as god loves 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:57.860 me like this delights in me has gone to infinite lengths to save me says he will never let me go 00:19:57.860 --> 00:20:04.640 and he's going to glorify me and make me perfect and take everything bad out of my life if that is true 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:10.700 why am i worried about anything why am i worried about anything 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:19.520 you see in our weakness the spirit wants to give us a new confidence in christ and his word which sends 00:20:19.520 --> 00:20:26.420 us out in new boldness do you know what happens peter you know what peter was like last week 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:33.200 he's just total coward he was a chicken no courage in front of a servant girl to stand up for jesus 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:38.940 after pentecost holy spirit comes upon him and he's out in the middle of his crowds he's out in 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:43.920 the middle of those who even killed jesus and he's testifying to the truthfulness of the gospel 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:48.920 and how amazing jesus is you know he's gone from being a chicken to a lion 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:56.779 and he gets arrested and when he's arrested you know he's taken before the authorities and they all 00:20:56.779 --> 00:21:03.019 see he's not very educated he's not a great speaker he doesn't know how to how to do all the kind of 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:09.559 great eloquence but you know he's filled with the spirit and he just speaks with boldness 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:17.900 and you're like everyone's looking what happened to that guy what happened to him what happened to 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:25.779 peter he's speaking the word with boldness the spirit wants to fill us in our weakness 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:33.839 and you know i look at my life and i often wonder in my life and i wonder if you do in yours 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:40.460 are there things which are going on in your life which can only be explained supernaturally 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:47.799 by the power of the spirit working in you and i'm not just talking kind of big miracles although i 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:55.059 believe god does that i'm also talking the spouse who perseveres year after year with somebody in 00:21:55.059 --> 00:22:00.440 praying for their unbelieving partner even though you want to give up i'm talking about the employee 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:08.039 who stands for christ even when it could cost them their job because they refuse to act unethically 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:14.099 because they want to honor christ it's what jordan said about sawyer last week who was so timid before 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:20.659 and is now standing up and talking about her faith and it's only the glory of god that can do that 00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:30.859 you know one of the things i think that stops me stops us experiencing the power of god is that we want 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:37.399 to be safe we want to have everything so we feel in control we want to do things so we don't want to 00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:41.819 step out because we don't want to feel uncomfortable we don't want to feel inadequate we don't want to 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:46.619 feel incapable of doing things so we just stick to what we know how to do anyone do that 00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:55.039 but we won't see his power until we're weak until we get to seeing where he wants us to go and we're 00:22:55.039 --> 00:23:01.139 on our knees saying jesus unless you do this in me i cannot and that's where his power is shown 00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:07.079 that's why 955 on a sunday we're getting people together to pray 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:14.500 and if you want to see god's power in this church in your life i encourage you to come 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:22.299 955 every sunday to come and pray and seek god for that sense of his power which to do what we cannot 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:31.899 do we need jesus we need his spirit do you want to live an explainable life or do you want to live a 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:39.220 life which is only explained by the glory and power of king jesus through his spirit i do 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:44.900 that's the power now let's think about the purpose 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:57.400 because the power is not just for ourselves it says you will receive power when the holy spirit has come 00:23:57.400 --> 00:24:07.540 upon you and you will be my witnesses in jerusalem and on all judea and samaria and to the ends of the earth 00:24:07.540 --> 00:24:12.060 you see i'm i'm really encouraged when i look at the disciples 00:24:12.060 --> 00:24:19.400 because there's so much like you and me i mean jesus died risen from the dead taught them everything 00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:24.259 about the kingdom of god and after all that they're thinking jesus are you now going to restore israel 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:30.279 what that means is like are you now going to bring us back our national pride so we can make life 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:36.019 comfortable for ourselves and we can have a great time here together you know you're going to bring 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:41.140 down the property prices stabilize the markets provide abundant free school places and jesus says 00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:48.460 guys you're thinking israel i'm thinking the world you're staying local i'm thinking global 00:24:48.460 --> 00:25:00.900 you see he says the power is to come so that you can be witnesses my witnesses my witnesses 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:09.640 what's a witness well luke is actually picking up some language from the book of isaiah isaiah 43 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:20.120 where he says um says i i am the lord and beside me there is no savior i declared and saved and 00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:24.280 proclaimed and you are my witnesses that's isaiah 00:25:24.280 --> 00:25:31.240 and luke's picking that up and he's wanting to say what is a witness a witness is someone 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:37.560 who has seen and experienced something right someone who's seen and experienced something the 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:44.419 disciples were witnesses to the life the death and the resurrection of christ that there was no 00:25:44.419 --> 00:25:51.159 savior besides him and they would have proclaimed that to all the nations around them 00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:59.539 now lloyd jones again says there's a difference between an advocate a lawyer my wife's a lawyer so i've 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:07.539 got to be careful but an advocate and a witness you see a lawyer an advocate can prepare 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:15.460 a case dispassionately like not really fully emotionally involved their only invested interest 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:23.720 can be i put can just to get out of trouble okay can be money pride or their own reputation right 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:32.480 but a witness in the court is someone who's involved who says i saw it i experienced it i was 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:39.299 touched by that event it's different and if you're a christian you have the holy spirit living inside 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:48.860 of you who has caused you to see and experience something about jesus right you see if you haven't 00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:55.940 if you say well i just come to church then you're probably not a christian because the definition of 00:26:55.940 --> 00:27:02.299 christian is someone who's the spirit of god has shown the gospel in your life and has changed you 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:03.180 to see jesus 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:13.840 now the problem with the way we talk about the spirit often these days is we talk about it we 00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:19.259 want the power it's all exciting and we all want to make it about making my own little world a bit 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:25.299 better that's what the disciples want but the spirit witnesses you remember that word keeps coming up 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:32.759 witnesses to your spirit so that you can then be a witness to the world do you get how that goes 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:38.980 so he's witnessing to you about jesus love for you so you can go witness to others about his love for them 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:46.259 he speaks god's word to you through the bible through sermons through others so that you can speak it to 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:55.019 others that's how god's kingdom spreads it spreads through his word by the power of his spirit 00:27:55.019 --> 00:28:01.339 that's our mission as watermark do you get that that's our mission we're part of this story 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:10.059 to spread his word but you know whenever a community group becomes simply a place to be with friends 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:17.839 whenever it becomes whenever you come just to listen to a sermon for yourself and there's no overflow to 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:29.779 others that's no longer jesus kingdom that's my kingdom it's what i i call constipated church 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:39.179 food goes in nothing comes out don't take that too far that analogy but but it's dangerous 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:47.420 if you keep eating and nothing's coming out okay i'm putting images in your mind here but you get the 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:58.740 idea you're that can kill you that can kill you and the question is is that you are you receiving but not 00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:06.220 telling are you gaining but not showing are you having the spirit witness to you but you're holding it in 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:09.180 are you a constipated christian 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:19.960 because i confess that often i am and we need to repent of that because we're missing the story we're part of 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:32.140 what's witnessing witnessing is simply experiencing jesus falling in love with jesus through his word 00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:42.060 in our lives and being transparent about it with other people that's all it is experiencing god's 00:29:42.060 --> 00:29:45.860 working in your life speaking to you and just being transparent about it with others 00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:52.880 you know we do it all the time i was on on monday we went out with theo's family we're going hiking 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:59.960 and the kids they love football do you know what they spent a whole lot of time witnessing to me 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:05.940 about how every player that they like is great and amazing they witnessed about the greatness of 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:13.480 leonel leonel messi they witnessed about so many players you know we witness about tv shows 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:20.220 we witness about our kids like how many parents of you have a new baby and then you're like oh yeah 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:22.039 i'm just a bit embarrassed to talk about it 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:29.299 we're not because because when you've got something which really touches your heart 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:39.879 some way somehow it's going to come out it's going to come out and if you're not a christian and the 00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:45.259 idea of sharing about jesus seems strange or seems like you're imposing your views on other people 00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:52.980 just think if you have a friend who's got incurable cancer and you discovered a cure for it wouldn't you 00:30:52.980 --> 00:31:01.140 want to tell them like wouldn't it actually be incredibly unloving not to tell them right 00:31:01.140 --> 00:31:15.940 but so often what happens is life happens i get distracted i want to be comfortable and we become 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:24.060 inward and when we do as a church we become aimless and we miss the power of the spirit because we think 00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:27.960 we can do it but we need him on our knees 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:31.859 and you know 00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:36.019 let me ask you a question 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:41.659 if you're a christian when was the last time you actually 00:31:41.659 --> 00:31:44.399 witnessed to somebody about your faith 00:31:44.399 --> 00:31:52.359 when was the last time you shared i'm not saying gave a 15 minute sermon i'm not even saying gave 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:57.740 gave um gave a whole load of principles i'm just saying shared something about jesus with someone 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.299 who didn't know 00:31:58.299 --> 00:32:04.939 that's not a question to lead you into guilt that's a question to challenge you 00:32:04.939 --> 00:32:10.919 because you know when somebody says to me and i say this to people as well you know well i don't 00:32:10.919 --> 00:32:17.099 have many opportunities i know i know i've experienced that but the first thing i ask is well have you 00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:22.179 prayed about it have you prayed for opportunities and you know what my answer normally is well 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:26.640 no not normally that's normally the response 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:32.380 you know even this week just even preparing this i've had to repent of the times where i've actually 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:35.820 i know this but i've stopped praying for the opportunities 00:32:35.820 --> 00:32:42.100 and so every day like i'm now praying before i go out of the out of the house with fiona we pray 00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:47.580 god give us opportunities today to share you give us the boldness to be able to take them give us the 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:53.039 wisdom to know how to do it and if i don't give those opportunities then let me just honor you 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:59.339 anyway and you know what i'm getting so many more opportunities and you're so much more aware of them 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.839 when you start taking them 00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:07.859 i'm not saying run straight into your office 00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:12.279 tomorrow morning handing out tracts and everything all the desks 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:16.899 you know i'm not saying that i'm saying we witness to people in a context of getting to know 00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:23.039 them intentionally building relationships loving people listening to them but just being transparent 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:29.920 in the context of relationship that's what it is that's what it is and when we have no idea where 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:38.279 to start we begin with prayer we begin with prayer we say god spirit you need to lead me because i have 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:45.279 no idea what to do and he'll show you he'll give you ideas he'll show you but we're a church for those 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:47.960 who are not in church that's what we're here for 00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:59.539 there's power there's a purpose purpose is the mission to proclaim jesus the power is the the fuel to 00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:07.460 be able to do that final thing there's an ascended king ascended king 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:13.480 i don't have time really to go into depth in this um but i don't know if you realize how 00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:15.880 significant the ascension is in christian life 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:23.340 um it says at the end of the passage jesus was lifted up in a cloud took him out of their sight 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:28.820 and two men come down and they say this jesus who was taken from you into heaven will come 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:31.280 in the same way as you saw him go into heaven 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:41.680 he's ascended and jesus says the ascent so tim keller says the ascension is a bit like the 00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:47.100 detonator which sets off the bomb of the the resurrection the death of jesus and the resurrection 00:34:47.100 --> 00:34:53.700 everything that he accomplished on the cross forgiving sins defeating death rising again all of that is 00:34:53.699 --> 00:35:00.699 detonated when he rises again and he ascends to the place of the father's right hand that's what 00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:04.799 acts 2 says he's exalted at the right hand of the father 00:35:04.799 --> 00:35:10.739 you see because where he's exalted he's directing his mission 00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:16.739 through his spirit he's ascended to the throne 00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:25.599 where he reigns now if i ascend to the throne of england there's two ways i could do it 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:30.019 i could go up into buckingham palace and i can just walk up the steps 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:34.239 and i could go down and sit on elizabeth's throne 00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:38.719 now what would change if i did that 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:45.339 i'd probably get thrown out and put in jail that's probably all that would change in the uk 00:35:45.340 --> 00:35:51.200 i might make news but nothing much would change if you if you physically just go up some steps 00:35:51.200 --> 00:35:53.980 it doesn't doesn't actually change a lot 00:35:53.980 --> 00:36:04.519 but if prince william or prince harry or any other princes ascend to the throne what happens 00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:09.360 what happens there's a regime change 00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:17.400 something significant has happened which could although they're pretty insignificant now but in 00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:20.960 the past would have shaped the whole of the country 00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:25.980 you see ascension is not just kind of some spatial idea of kind of going up 00:36:25.980 --> 00:36:28.800 it's actually an idea that he goes up to reign 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:30.000 on the throne 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:37.619 and when the last things that he says are all authority jesus says all authority in heaven and earth 00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:38.699 have been given to me 00:36:38.699 --> 00:36:43.260 do you get that he says all authority has been given to me 00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:45.219 then he says therefore 00:36:45.219 --> 00:36:46.559 go 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:49.360 go because i'm reigning 00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.860 i'm on the throne 00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:52.639 therefore go with confidence 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:52.940 confidence 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:54.539 and 00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:59.339 what that means right now whatever is happening in your life right now 00:36:59.339 --> 00:37:02.599 whatever is happening in this church right now 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:05.859 whatever is happening in this city right now 00:37:05.859 --> 00:37:07.539 jesus is on the throne and he's reigning 00:37:07.539 --> 00:37:09.139 do you get that 00:37:09.139 --> 00:37:10.839 he's reigning 00:37:10.839 --> 00:37:13.519 it's under his control 00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:15.639 and there's 00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:18.199 as he reigns his kingdom is unstoppable 00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:21.519 because he's on the throne 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:23.239 and nothing's going to stop him 00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:26.899 at the ascension 100 people were following jesus 00:37:26.899 --> 00:37:29.059 bit by bit that spread 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:30.980 throughout the entire world 00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:34.119 till now there is christians in every single country of this world 00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:38.879 when his word is proclaimed 00:37:38.879 --> 00:37:41.079 when people are his witnesses 00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:45.259 the spirit empowers and leads and guides 00:37:45.259 --> 00:37:47.539 he's going to do his work 00:37:47.539 --> 00:37:52.119 here's the final two things 00:37:52.119 --> 00:37:55.940 that is an encouragement and a challenge 00:37:55.940 --> 00:37:58.980 because i don't know about you 00:37:58.980 --> 00:38:01.519 sometimes things happen a lot slower than i wish they did 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:03.420 anyone get that feeling 00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:06.079 there are people i want to become christians 00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:09.500 who i've been praying for a long time for them to become christians 00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:12.259 and they haven't yet 00:38:12.259 --> 00:38:16.380 there are things in myself that i want to change 00:38:16.380 --> 00:38:19.360 and it just doesn't seem to happen as quickly as i want them to 00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:21.960 there are things in the church that i want to change 00:38:21.960 --> 00:38:24.059 and they don't seem to happen as quickly as i want them to 00:38:24.059 --> 00:38:26.519 and you can get discouraged and feel like 00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:28.140 is it worth it 00:38:28.140 --> 00:38:33.880 but the doctrine of ascension is liberating 00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:36.780 because it means if jesus is truly reigning 00:38:36.780 --> 00:38:41.099 then things are going absolutely according to his plan 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:43.599 and it's not out of control 00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:46.559 and he's going to do what we cannot do 00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:49.319 he's going to accomplish his kingdom purposes 00:38:49.319 --> 00:38:51.599 you know 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:54.539 just go back to the story of sire and jordan last week 00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:59.519 when we have given up praying 00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:01.860 jesus is still reigning 00:39:01.860 --> 00:39:02.819 and working 00:39:02.819 --> 00:39:05.059 i know there are people in this congregation 00:39:05.059 --> 00:39:07.599 who you have been praying for decades 00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:08.619 for family members 00:39:08.619 --> 00:39:10.019 to come to christ 00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:11.420 and i know last year 00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:14.420 two or three of your fathers came to christ 00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:16.719 in their 70s and 80s 00:39:16.719 --> 00:39:19.659 just when we give up hope 00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:21.460 the kingdom still works 00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:23.059 because god is reigning 00:39:23.059 --> 00:39:25.880 that's the encouragement 00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:27.599 doesn't matter how slow it feels 00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:29.539 he is working it out 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:30.400 you can trust him 00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:32.920 but there's a challenge 00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:33.940 here's the final thing 00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:36.260 if jesus is reigning 00:39:36.260 --> 00:39:37.400 one day he'll return 00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:39.700 and he'll look at all that has been doing 00:39:39.700 --> 00:39:42.200 and he'll look at how much we've turned to him 00:39:42.200 --> 00:39:42.880 on our knees 00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:43.880 saying we need you 00:39:43.880 --> 00:39:46.519 and he'll look at whether as a church 00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:47.599 whether as individuals 00:39:47.599 --> 00:39:49.220 we lived life 00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:51.619 wandering around 00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:53.780 or in part of his story 00:39:53.780 --> 00:39:54.639 not perfectly 00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:57.000 but with him 00:39:57.000 --> 00:40:00.200 i went to a bowling alley 00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:01.099 this week 00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:03.079 it's amazing 00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:04.379 if you go to these bowling alleys 00:40:04.379 --> 00:40:05.639 because 00:40:05.639 --> 00:40:06.879 sometimes 00:40:06.879 --> 00:40:07.399 have you seen 00:40:07.399 --> 00:40:08.019 there's these guys 00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:09.439 they're just dressed in all the gear 00:40:09.439 --> 00:40:09.960 you know 00:40:09.960 --> 00:40:11.119 they look really cool 00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:12.359 they look just so professional 00:40:12.359 --> 00:40:13.199 they've got all this gear 00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:14.480 they've got the glove 00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:15.159 and everything 00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:16.379 they've got their own ball 00:40:16.379 --> 00:40:17.239 as they come in 00:40:17.239 --> 00:40:18.000 and they're all looking 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:18.819 kind of really cool 00:40:18.819 --> 00:40:19.819 and you know 00:40:19.819 --> 00:40:20.759 i'm seeing them coming along 00:40:20.759 --> 00:40:22.339 and they do even the little foot thing 00:40:22.339 --> 00:40:22.879 you know 00:40:22.879 --> 00:40:23.659 they kind of 00:40:23.659 --> 00:40:23.879 you know 00:40:23.879 --> 00:40:24.960 they look so professional 00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:26.719 and i saw them 00:40:26.719 --> 00:40:27.879 as coming up to do this 00:40:27.879 --> 00:40:29.439 and doing all the stuff 00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:30.220 and then i saw them 00:40:30.220 --> 00:40:31.579 and i was thinking 00:40:31.579 --> 00:40:32.420 wow they're just going to 00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:33.720 swerve the ball around 00:40:33.720 --> 00:40:35.200 and do all these kind of crazy things 00:40:35.200 --> 00:40:36.400 and it's going to hit their strike 00:40:36.400 --> 00:40:37.000 every time 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:38.079 and one of them comes up 00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:38.860 he does this 00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:40.920 and it's just like a three year old bowling 00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:43.500 it's like kind of plops on the ground 00:40:43.500 --> 00:40:44.940 and just kind of trickles along 00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:46.019 and then goes into the gutter 00:40:46.019 --> 00:40:47.599 and i'm like 00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.500 what's going on there 00:40:48.500 --> 00:40:50.340 and 00:40:50.340 --> 00:40:51.139 and 00:40:51.139 --> 00:40:52.340 and it wasn't just one 00:40:52.340 --> 00:40:53.260 there was a few of them 00:40:53.260 --> 00:40:56.540 and i thought about it 00:40:56.540 --> 00:40:59.480 at the end of the 00:40:59.480 --> 00:41:00.180 their 00:41:00.180 --> 00:41:00.540 their 00:41:00.540 --> 00:41:02.080 their time bowling 00:41:02.080 --> 00:41:04.020 if they looked up at the scoreboard 00:41:04.020 --> 00:41:06.880 it doesn't matter how great 00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:08.640 the clothing looked like 00:41:08.640 --> 00:41:10.380 doesn't matter how great 00:41:10.380 --> 00:41:12.040 the kind of technique looked like 00:41:12.040 --> 00:41:13.360 doesn't matter about actually 00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:14.100 any of the things 00:41:14.100 --> 00:41:15.280 the key purpose was 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:16.260 did they hit the pins 00:41:16.260 --> 00:41:20.500 and it doesn't matter as a church 00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:21.660 how beautiful we look 00:41:21.660 --> 00:41:22.680 it doesn't matter how 00:41:22.680 --> 00:41:23.280 how 00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:25.180 how wonderful our bible studies are 00:41:25.180 --> 00:41:26.660 it doesn't matter about those things 00:41:26.660 --> 00:41:28.920 but are we doing what Christ has called us to do 00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:32.100 are we doing what he's called us to do 00:41:32.100 --> 00:41:34.580 not in our own power 00:41:34.580 --> 00:41:36.160 because you know the ball which you hold 00:41:36.160 --> 00:41:37.660 is actually too heavy for you to bowl 00:41:37.660 --> 00:41:40.880 we can't be witnesses by ourselves 00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:43.260 i don't have the power for that 00:41:43.260 --> 00:41:44.420 i know 00:41:44.420 --> 00:41:45.480 i mess up every week 00:41:45.480 --> 00:41:48.159 but he says 00:41:48.159 --> 00:41:50.480 i want the spirit to come alongside you 00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:51.639 because you know what the spirit is 00:41:51.639 --> 00:41:53.019 it's like he comes alongside you 00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:53.960 holds your arm 00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:55.039 and he says okay 00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:56.059 and he holds it 00:41:56.059 --> 00:41:57.780 and he's the one with his power 00:41:57.780 --> 00:41:58.579 that bowls the ball 00:41:58.579 --> 00:41:59.679 towards the pins 00:41:59.679 --> 00:42:01.400 to do what we cannot do 00:42:01.400 --> 00:42:07.079 and when we fail 00:42:07.079 --> 00:42:08.820 and when we actually fail to trust the spirit 00:42:08.820 --> 00:42:09.320 and we just 00:42:09.320 --> 00:42:11.099 we do it and we drop the ball in the gutter 00:42:11.099 --> 00:42:12.639 he just says come back to me 00:42:12.639 --> 00:42:14.519 turn back on your knees 00:42:14.519 --> 00:42:15.539 realize your weakness 00:42:15.539 --> 00:42:16.119 repent 00:42:16.119 --> 00:42:17.940 and let's go again 00:42:17.940 --> 00:42:20.559 because i'm the one who's going to do it 00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:22.460 i'm the one who's going to build my kingdom 00:42:22.460 --> 00:42:23.759 there's a power 00:42:23.759 --> 00:42:25.219 you're part of a story 00:42:25.219 --> 00:42:27.300 which i'm working out 00:42:27.300 --> 00:42:28.179 will you trust me 00:42:28.179 --> 00:42:28.940 will you get on 00:42:28.940 --> 00:42:30.519 and do what i've called you to do 00:42:30.519 --> 00:42:37.239 i want us to pray 00:42:37.239 --> 00:42:39.739 because in a second 00:42:39.739 --> 00:42:40.159 what i want 00:42:40.159 --> 00:42:40.960 i have up here 00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:43.259 you may not be able to see it 00:42:43.259 --> 00:42:44.800 i'll see if i can move these 00:42:44.800 --> 00:42:54.199 i have a banner 00:42:54.199 --> 00:42:55.199 it's actually a stretcher 00:42:55.199 --> 00:42:56.320 i've taken the other part out 00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:57.880 we did this 00:42:57.880 --> 00:42:59.200 a few years ago 00:42:59.200 --> 00:43:00.280 as part of watermark 00:43:00.280 --> 00:43:04.120 and what i want you to do is 00:43:04.120 --> 00:43:05.360 this is a stretcher 00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:06.760 because stretchers are meant to carry people 00:43:06.760 --> 00:43:07.440 and save them 00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:08.760 to bring them to christ 00:43:08.760 --> 00:43:10.860 like the man 00:43:10.860 --> 00:43:11.860 who brought his 00:43:11.860 --> 00:43:13.740 his paralytic guy 00:43:13.740 --> 00:43:14.780 on a stretcher 00:43:14.780 --> 00:43:15.800 to bring him to christ 00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:17.860 what i want us to do 00:43:17.860 --> 00:43:19.160 is i want us to pray for a second 00:43:19.159 --> 00:43:22.519 i want us to spend a minute 00:43:22.519 --> 00:43:23.659 maybe we need to repent 00:43:23.659 --> 00:43:26.079 maybe we need to 00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:27.839 just run back to him 00:43:27.839 --> 00:43:29.279 and father and say 00:43:29.279 --> 00:43:31.199 i've been distracted 00:43:31.199 --> 00:43:33.920 i'm not doing what you've called me to do 00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:36.699 maybe you're not a christian 00:43:36.699 --> 00:43:37.859 and you need to actually think 00:43:37.859 --> 00:43:42.259 does my life have a real purpose 00:43:42.259 --> 00:43:43.739 am i part of a story 00:43:43.739 --> 00:43:49.099 because jesus wants you to be part of his story 00:43:49.099 --> 00:43:49.839 and if you're not 00:43:49.839 --> 00:43:51.579 he calls you to come to him today 00:43:51.579 --> 00:43:55.219 but i want you to come up in a minute 00:43:55.219 --> 00:43:55.579 when you've 00:43:55.579 --> 00:43:56.099 when you've 00:43:56.099 --> 00:43:57.699 when you spend a minute just praying 00:43:57.699 --> 00:43:58.379 i want you to come up 00:43:58.379 --> 00:43:59.839 and i want you to write the names 00:43:59.839 --> 00:44:01.000 of one 00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:01.339 two 00:44:01.339 --> 00:44:02.179 or three people 00:44:02.179 --> 00:44:02.799 that you 00:44:02.799 --> 00:44:04.239 have on your heart 00:44:04.239 --> 00:44:06.099 that you would want to be able to witness to 00:44:06.099 --> 00:44:08.619 that you would want to come to know christ 00:44:08.619 --> 00:44:10.959 and i want you as you do that 00:44:10.959 --> 00:44:11.739 just to be praying 00:44:11.739 --> 00:44:13.039 praying 00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:15.079 praying for opportunities 00:44:15.079 --> 00:44:17.039 praying that god 00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:18.739 might work in their lives 00:44:18.739 --> 00:44:20.739 his kingdom word would come 00:44:20.739 --> 00:44:23.279 and he would save them 00:44:23.279 --> 00:44:26.880 so let's just shut our eyes for a minute 00:44:26.880 --> 00:44:28.039 if the band wants to come up 00:44:37.039 --> 00:44:38.019 just want you to think 00:44:38.019 --> 00:44:40.980 am i struggling to trust him 00:44:40.980 --> 00:44:43.219 where am i 00:44:43.219 --> 00:44:45.300 do i just need to ask for him 00:44:45.300 --> 00:44:46.719 to fill me with his love again 00:44:46.719 --> 00:44:48.679 and experience him through his word again 00:44:48.679 --> 00:44:54.420 just spend a minute just with christ now 00:44:54.420 --> 00:44:56.780 and then when you're ready 00:44:56.780 --> 00:44:57.679 i just want you to think 00:44:57.679 --> 00:44:58.519 one 00:44:58.519 --> 00:44:58.920 two 00:44:58.920 --> 00:44:59.579 three people 00:44:59.579 --> 00:45:00.539 i want you to come up 00:45:00.539 --> 00:45:02.559 and to write their names on here 00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:04.279 and we'll pray for that 00:45:04.280 --> 00:45:34.260 Thank you.