WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.640 every tribe or every group of people has its defining markers. 00:00:04.060 --> 00:00:06.660 I thought for safety's sake, I might start with us. 00:00:07.719 --> 00:00:12.759 So North Shore people, you know, has defining markers like boat shoes, 00:00:13.820 --> 00:00:16.120 Range Rovers, polo shirts, 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:19.780 that thing that we never admit about how we think we're better 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:21.580 than anyone who lives anywhere else in Sydney. 00:00:22.240 --> 00:00:27.500 Then, of course, there's the Westies who love stubbies, thongs, tattoos. 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:31.179 Shoes, country people, who, from what I can gather from Steve, 00:00:31.300 --> 00:00:33.600 is basically boots, utes and guns, 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:36.700 and perhaps a little bit of good hospitality. 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:40.939 Now, I know there are stereotypes, there are general, there are exceptions, 00:00:41.219 --> 00:00:43.200 but stereotypes exist for a reason. 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:45.320 There's always something there. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:49.840 But what I wanted to ask is, what is it that marks this tribe? 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:53.200 What is it that marks Christians as distinct? 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:56.039 Or, if you like to ask it another way, 00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:58.820 how do you tell if someone is actually a Christian? 00:00:59.619 --> 00:01:02.079 Or whether or not they're just kind of doing lip service 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:04.659 to being a Christian and following Jesus? 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:10.280 What's the most important evidence of faith in Jesus? 00:01:11.340 --> 00:01:12.599 Is it attire? 00:01:13.460 --> 00:01:14.560 Socks and sandals? 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:17.480 I had a friend in Bible college 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:21.060 who purchased a Bible that was of the perfect size 00:01:21.060 --> 00:01:23.219 to fit in a satchel that he also owned, 00:01:23.320 --> 00:01:25.100 so that he would always be wearing his Bible 00:01:25.100 --> 00:01:26.200 in his Bible satchel. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:29.420 Is that the definitive marker of someone who is genuine 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:30.640 when it comes to following Jesus? 00:01:31.600 --> 00:01:33.500 Is it maybe a personality trait, 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:34.939 something that we don't want to admit, 00:01:35.060 --> 00:01:36.600 like being judgmental, 00:01:37.320 --> 00:01:39.079 being the moral police? 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:44.280 Well, there's probably lots of things that matter 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:47.539 when it comes to being genuine in the way we follow Jesus. 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:49.299 But tonight I want to look at one that, 00:01:49.459 --> 00:01:50.379 as you go through Scripture, 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:53.579 is quite conspicuous and unavoidable. 00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:55.579 And so I want to throw a whole bunch of verses 00:01:55.579 --> 00:01:56.439 at you really quickly. 00:01:56.539 --> 00:01:57.359 They're going to be on the screen 00:01:57.359 --> 00:01:58.719 so that you can read them with me. 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:00.959 And then we'll come back and look at it in the end. 00:02:01.019 --> 00:02:03.379 So first up is Micah 6, verse 6 to 8. 00:02:03.859 --> 00:02:04.140 It says, 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:24.939 He has shown you, 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:26.819 O mortal, what is good. 00:02:27.379 --> 00:02:29.080 And what does the Lord require of you? 00:02:29.659 --> 00:02:30.780 To act justly, 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:32.259 and to love mercy, 00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:34.560 and to walk humbly with your God. 00:02:35.179 --> 00:02:36.859 Again, Luke 3, verse 11. 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:39.060 Anyone who has two shirts 00:02:39.060 --> 00:02:40.939 should share with the one who has none. 00:02:41.379 --> 00:02:43.199 Anyone who has food should do the same. 00:02:43.859 --> 00:02:44.579 Psalm 41. 00:02:45.219 --> 00:02:47.319 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak. 00:02:47.819 --> 00:02:49.739 The Lord delivers them in times of trouble. 00:02:50.579 --> 00:02:51.599 Proverbs 14. 00:02:52.359 --> 00:02:53.780 Whoever oppresses the poor 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:55.539 shows contempt for their maker, 00:02:55.979 --> 00:02:58.259 but whoever is kind to the needy 00:02:58.259 --> 00:02:59.139 honors God. 00:02:59.859 --> 00:03:00.939 Isaiah 58. 00:03:00.939 --> 00:03:03.120 If you spend yourselves 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:04.419 on behalf of the hungry 00:03:04.419 --> 00:03:06.780 and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:09.280 then your light will rise in the darkness 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:10.780 and your night will become 00:03:10.780 --> 00:03:12.120 like the noonday. 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:13.979 And then James 1.27. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:17.039 Religion that God our Father accepts 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:19.520 as pure and faultless is this. 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:22.379 That's a significant introduction sentence. 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:23.520 You know you need to pay attention 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:24.579 to what comes after that. 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:28.259 Religion that God our Father accepts 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:30.280 as pure and faultless is this. 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:32.659 To look after orphans and widows 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:33.400 in their distress 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:35.460 and to keep oneself 00:03:35.460 --> 00:03:37.939 from being polluted by the world. 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:42.300 One of the distinct markers 00:03:42.300 --> 00:03:43.840 of those who follow Jesus 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:46.180 is a social conscience. 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:48.400 And more than just a social conscience 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:50.039 and an investment, 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:53.539 a concern for those who are in need, 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:55.919 essential to genuine faith 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:57.500 is a heart that cares about 00:03:57.500 --> 00:03:58.340 the less fortunate, 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:00.620 that cares about the widow, 00:04:00.819 --> 00:04:01.280 the orphan, 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:02.000 the oppressed. 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:03.639 And look, 00:04:03.699 --> 00:04:04.939 on one level that just seems 00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:05.840 really obvious. 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:07.599 It just makes sense. 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:08.659 It just kind of fits with 00:04:08.659 --> 00:04:09.419 who Jesus is 00:04:09.419 --> 00:04:10.259 and what he was like. 00:04:10.379 --> 00:04:12.219 The general vibe of Jesus 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:13.659 was to go and hang out 00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:14.579 with the downtrodden, 00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:15.919 to be nice to those 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:16.819 that everybody else 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:18.860 left to the side. 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:22.000 But you might be wondering, 00:04:22.520 --> 00:04:23.139 given that we had 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:24.500 a fair trade expo today, 00:04:24.840 --> 00:04:26.020 is this sermon 00:04:26.020 --> 00:04:26.939 just a bit of a 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:28.240 fair trade beat-up? 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:30.540 Am I just trying to 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:31.259 pump the tyres 00:04:31.259 --> 00:04:32.439 of a particular cause 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:33.480 that we're focusing on 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:34.040 this week 00:04:34.040 --> 00:04:35.360 to try and, you know, 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:36.139 get you revved up 00:04:36.139 --> 00:04:36.800 in that direction? 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:38.360 Well, maybe a better question 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:39.400 to ask would be, 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:41.800 why does this matter? 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:45.600 Why is this so significant 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.000 when it comes to testing 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:47.900 the genuineness 00:04:47.900 --> 00:04:49.280 of someone's faith, 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:50.699 someone's claim 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:51.560 to follow Jesus? 00:04:52.540 --> 00:04:53.379 I want to give you 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:53.980 three reasons. 00:04:54.060 --> 00:04:55.020 I think there's probably more, 00:04:55.080 --> 00:04:55.580 but I want to give you 00:04:55.580 --> 00:04:56.800 three tonight 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:58.460 that might be a good question, 00:04:58.780 --> 00:05:00.199 a good test for you 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:01.780 in terms of whether or not 00:05:01.780 --> 00:05:03.000 this is distinctive 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:04.120 in your life. 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:06.580 Three reasons this matters. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:07.860 Firstly, 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:10.460 because all people 00:05:10.460 --> 00:05:11.240 matter to God. 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:13.120 Not just some, 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:13.939 not just good, 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:14.819 not just Christians, 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:16.560 all people matter to God. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:17.560 If we go back 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:18.500 to the very beginning 00:05:18.500 --> 00:05:19.020 of Scripture, 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:20.100 the first thing 00:05:20.100 --> 00:05:20.960 that God does 00:05:20.960 --> 00:05:22.139 when He creates people 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:24.199 is He creates them 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:25.080 valuable. 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:27.340 He puts an intrinsic 00:05:27.340 --> 00:05:29.000 dignity into people. 00:05:29.379 --> 00:05:30.620 When He creates humans, 00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:32.139 He puts His image 00:05:32.139 --> 00:05:32.720 on them. 00:05:33.660 --> 00:05:34.660 He by default 00:05:34.660 --> 00:05:35.439 creates them 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:35.960 as something 00:05:35.960 --> 00:05:37.000 that is representative 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:38.160 of Him. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:40.379 And so we need 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:42.060 to look at all humans, 00:05:42.540 --> 00:05:43.079 local, 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:43.879 foreign, 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:44.560 friendly, 00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:45.079 enemy, 00:05:45.219 --> 00:05:45.399 whatever, 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:47.639 as having some value, 00:05:48.139 --> 00:05:49.459 some importance, 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:50.959 whether they're rich, 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:51.459 poor, 00:05:51.540 --> 00:05:52.100 or otherwise. 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:52.560 I don't know 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:53.120 if you've noticed 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:54.439 that currently 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:55.180 in our country 00:05:55.180 --> 00:05:55.860 as we debate 00:05:55.860 --> 00:05:56.420 whether or not 00:05:56.420 --> 00:05:57.480 we should accept 00:05:57.480 --> 00:05:58.319 refugees, 00:05:58.579 --> 00:05:59.120 and particularly 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:00.060 Syrian refugees 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:00.699 at the moment, 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:02.199 well-meaning people 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:03.620 are making suggestions 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:04.199 like, 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:05.500 maybe we should 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:06.360 just have 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:08.160 Christian refugees 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:08.759 come in. 00:06:09.740 --> 00:06:10.660 Maybe we should 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:11.160 just have 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:12.620 non-Muslim refugees 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:13.519 come in. 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:15.780 And maybe 00:06:15.780 --> 00:06:16.199 if you want 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:16.819 to be generous 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:18.959 it's a security fear, 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:19.840 whatever it is, 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:21.399 but as Christians 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:23.300 from the very 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:24.379 beginning of Scripture 00:06:24.379 --> 00:06:26.120 God doesn't 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:26.600 distinguish 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:28.040 values 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:28.920 between different 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:29.660 kinds of people. 00:06:29.660 --> 00:06:31.620 He creates 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:32.460 all people 00:06:32.460 --> 00:06:34.180 in His image. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:35.380 Muslim, 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:36.320 Christian, 00:06:36.980 --> 00:06:37.360 Syrian, 00:06:37.900 --> 00:06:38.380 Iraqi, 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:39.140 Iranian, 00:06:39.820 --> 00:06:40.360 Australian. 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:42.680 Have you ever 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:43.320 noticed how 00:06:43.320 --> 00:06:43.880 when there is 00:06:43.880 --> 00:06:44.700 a disaster 00:06:44.700 --> 00:06:45.280 in the world, 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:45.640 whether it's 00:06:45.640 --> 00:06:46.340 a natural disaster, 00:06:46.440 --> 00:06:47.020 a plane crash, 00:06:47.080 --> 00:06:47.740 whatever it is, 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:49.879 that we get 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:51.020 given a particular 00:06:51.020 --> 00:06:52.320 emphasis in the story. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:53.540 So a plane 00:06:53.540 --> 00:06:54.120 has crashed, 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:55.360 300 people are dead, 00:06:55.860 --> 00:06:56.940 and there was 00:06:56.940 --> 00:06:57.980 three Australians 00:06:57.980 --> 00:06:58.660 on board. 00:06:59.660 --> 00:07:00.580 Or there's 00:07:00.580 --> 00:07:01.100 an earthquake, 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:02.540 X amount of people 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:03.160 are displaced, 00:07:03.380 --> 00:07:03.640 etc. 00:07:04.100 --> 00:07:05.460 This many Australians 00:07:05.460 --> 00:07:06.220 were involved. 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:07.540 Now, 00:07:07.760 --> 00:07:08.540 on one level, 00:07:08.840 --> 00:07:09.060 sure, 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:09.860 we're in Australia, 00:07:09.939 --> 00:07:10.460 there's a chance 00:07:10.460 --> 00:07:11.240 we might know them, 00:07:11.380 --> 00:07:13.140 but have you ever 00:07:13.140 --> 00:07:14.660 asked why that 00:07:14.660 --> 00:07:16.400 detail is so 00:07:16.400 --> 00:07:16.780 important? 00:07:18.640 --> 00:07:19.500 Why are those 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:20.460 three Australians 00:07:20.460 --> 00:07:21.360 or ten Australians 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:22.460 or fifty Australians 00:07:22.460 --> 00:07:23.820 more significant 00:07:23.820 --> 00:07:24.360 than the other 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:26.080 300 or 5,000 00:07:26.080 --> 00:07:26.740 or whoever it is 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:27.340 that's lost their 00:07:27.340 --> 00:07:27.700 life? 00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:30.900 Now, 00:07:30.980 --> 00:07:31.280 I want to be 00:07:31.280 --> 00:07:32.180 gracious because 00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:34.860 it's loss, 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:36.220 it's pain. 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:37.640 There's so much 00:07:37.640 --> 00:07:38.680 emotion wrapped up 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:39.280 in this sort of 00:07:39.280 --> 00:07:39.740 a topic, 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.800 but I wonder 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:43.500 if the reason 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:44.720 that we go 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:45.680 there first, 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:47.220 I wonder if the 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:47.660 reason we 00:07:47.660 --> 00:07:48.540 emphasise the 00:07:48.540 --> 00:07:49.100 Australians 00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:51.360 is because 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:52.460 we tend to 00:07:52.460 --> 00:07:53.100 view the world 00:07:53.100 --> 00:07:53.840 through a lens 00:07:53.840 --> 00:07:54.960 that starts 00:07:54.960 --> 00:07:55.440 with me. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:57.699 and so if 00:07:57.699 --> 00:07:58.360 they're Australian, 00:07:58.519 --> 00:07:59.060 it's more 00:07:59.060 --> 00:08:00.120 closely 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:00.620 associated 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:01.279 with me. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:02.920 I can more 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:03.939 closely identify 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:04.439 with who 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:04.959 they are. 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:07.120 My value 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:07.620 almost gets 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:08.240 connected to 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:08.800 who they are, 00:08:08.860 --> 00:08:09.420 whereas if I've 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:10.000 never met them 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:10.540 or seen them, 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:12.180 then it's still 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:12.959 sad, but it's 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:13.500 not the same, 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:13.819 is it? 00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:17.399 But could it 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:17.920 be that the 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:18.620 Bible's painting 00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:18.959 a really 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:19.639 different picture 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:20.199 about the way 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:20.939 God calls us 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:21.420 to view the 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:21.680 world? 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:24.040 Could it be 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:24.560 that every 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:25.560 single person 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:27.279 matters and 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:27.920 is valuable? 00:08:28.779 --> 00:08:29.439 The second 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:30.120 passage that 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:30.779 Jimmy read out 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:31.259 for us in 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:31.980 Matthew 25 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:32.779 is a scary 00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:33.399 passage in 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:33.939 many ways. 00:08:34.059 --> 00:08:34.539 It's a picture 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:35.240 of the final 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:35.700 judgment. 00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:36.500 Jesus 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:36.980 gathers 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:37.940 everybody in 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:38.500 front of his 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:39.420 judgment throne 00:08:39.420 --> 00:08:40.300 and like a 00:08:40.300 --> 00:08:41.020 shepherd begins 00:08:41.020 --> 00:08:41.980 to sort between 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:42.740 the sheeps, 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:43.720 those who are 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:44.700 genuinely following 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:45.360 him, and the 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:46.920 goats, those who 00:08:46.920 --> 00:08:47.740 maybe have paid 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:48.560 lip service, those 00:08:48.560 --> 00:08:49.160 who have claimed 00:08:49.160 --> 00:08:49.840 to be Christian, 00:08:50.220 --> 00:08:50.860 but for whatever 00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:51.660 reason are not 00:08:51.660 --> 00:08:52.100 genuine. 00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:53.160 And listen to 00:08:53.160 --> 00:08:53.740 the words. 00:08:54.640 --> 00:08:54.860 It says, 00:08:54.940 --> 00:08:55.480 the king will 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:56.400 say to those 00:08:56.400 --> 00:08:57.420 on his right, 00:08:57.500 --> 00:08:58.300 this is to those 00:08:58.300 --> 00:08:58.720 who have been 00:08:58.720 --> 00:08:59.200 faithful, 00:09:00.180 --> 00:09:01.080 come you who 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:01.800 are blessed by 00:09:01.800 --> 00:09:02.440 my father, 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:03.379 take your 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:03.920 inheritance, 00:09:04.140 --> 00:09:04.560 the kingdom 00:09:04.560 --> 00:09:05.379 prepared for you 00:09:05.379 --> 00:09:05.720 since the 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:06.399 creation of 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:06.820 the world, 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:07.600 for I was 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:08.320 hungry and 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:08.840 you gave me 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:09.299 something to 00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:09.539 eat. 00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:10.600 I was thirsty 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:11.220 and you gave 00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:11.620 me something 00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:12.139 to drink. 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:12.840 I was a 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:13.500 stranger and 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:14.019 you invited 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:14.500 me in. 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:15.059 I needed 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:15.779 clothes and 00:09:15.779 --> 00:09:16.299 you clothed 00:09:16.299 --> 00:09:16.419 me. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:17.019 I was sick 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:17.259 and you 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:17.740 looked after 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:17.899 me. 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:18.379 I was in 00:09:18.379 --> 00:09:18.879 prison and 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:19.200 you came 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:19.559 to visit 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:19.820 me. 00:09:20.439 --> 00:09:20.799 Then the 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:21.080 righteous 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:21.580 will answer 00:09:21.580 --> 00:09:21.879 him, 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:22.299 Lord, 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:24.159 when did 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:24.639 we see you 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:25.120 hungry and 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:25.639 feed you, 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:26.919 or thirsty 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:27.399 and give you 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:27.879 something to 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:28.200 drink? 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:30.200 When did 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:30.679 we see you 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:31.220 a stranger 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:31.919 and invite you 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:32.340 in, or 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:33.039 needing clothes 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:33.620 and clothe 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:33.799 you? 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:34.759 When did 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:35.360 we see you 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:35.980 sick or in 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:36.539 prison and 00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:36.860 go to 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:37.379 visit you? 00:09:38.419 --> 00:09:38.759 It's the 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:39.240 key line. 00:09:39.319 --> 00:09:39.639 The king 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:40.279 will reply, 00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:41.039 I tell you 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:41.600 the truth, 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:42.740 whatever you 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:43.379 did for one 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:43.939 of the least 00:09:43.939 --> 00:09:44.360 of these 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:44.980 brothers of 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:45.340 mine, 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:46.580 you did 00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:47.019 for me. 00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:51.899 God 00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:52.600 associates 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:53.740 his own 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:54.340 worth 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:56.879 with his 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.840 image bearers. 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:01.519 The way 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:01.939 that we 00:10:01.939 --> 00:10:03.000 treat people 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:04.519 is directly 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:05.320 connected 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:06.960 to the 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:07.259 way that 00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:07.399 we're 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:07.659 treating 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.100 God. 00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:09.000 They're 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:09.399 actually 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:10.379 inseparable. 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:13.679 He has 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:15.059 designed 00:10:15.059 --> 00:10:15.379 our 00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:15.899 existence, 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:16.580 he's designed 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:17.259 our interactions 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:17.639 and our 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:18.120 relationships 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:18.700 in such 00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:19.159 a way 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:20.220 that our 00:10:20.220 --> 00:10:20.860 relationship 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:21.659 with him 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:22.360 is not 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:22.820 just some 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:23.379 abstract 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:24.019 spiritual 00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:24.500 reality, 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:25.019 but it is 00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:25.740 played out 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:26.100 in our 00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:26.600 relationships 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:27.139 with one 00:10:27.139 --> 00:10:27.460 another. 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:31.560 all people 00:10:31.560 --> 00:10:32.120 matter to 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:32.400 God 00:10:32.400 --> 00:10:32.860 because he 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:33.420 has created 00:10:33.420 --> 00:10:33.879 them as 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:34.379 valuable. 00:10:36.700 --> 00:10:37.460 The second 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:38.480 reason that 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.200 this social 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:39.920 conscience is 00:10:39.920 --> 00:10:40.759 so significant 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:41.519 for us as 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:41.960 followers of 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:42.700 Jesus is that 00:10:42.700 --> 00:10:43.480 we've got to 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:44.040 remember that 00:10:44.040 --> 00:10:44.560 the world's 00:10:44.560 --> 00:10:44.980 not supposed 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:45.639 to be like 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:46.040 this. 00:10:47.160 --> 00:10:47.340 Now, 00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:47.780 sure, 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:48.420 we live in a 00:10:48.420 --> 00:10:48.740 really, 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:49.480 really privileged 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:50.060 part of the 00:10:50.060 --> 00:10:50.340 world, 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:51.820 but when we 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:52.320 look at those 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:52.960 news stories, 00:10:53.280 --> 00:10:53.800 there's this bit 00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:54.080 of us that 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:54.280 goes, 00:10:54.460 --> 00:10:54.920 that's not 00:10:54.920 --> 00:10:55.240 right, 00:10:55.280 --> 00:10:55.580 is it? 00:10:55.580 --> 00:10:57.040 That's not 00:10:57.040 --> 00:10:57.379 what God 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:57.840 intended. 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:00.780 Again, 00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:01.560 Genesis 1, 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:02.680 God's good 00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:03.160 design, 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:05.200 creation itself 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:06.440 has an 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:07.280 inbuilt 00:11:07.280 --> 00:11:07.920 provision. 00:11:09.280 --> 00:11:09.720 There's this 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:10.320 pattern in 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:10.840 Genesis 1, 00:11:10.900 --> 00:11:11.320 when God's 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:11.740 creating, 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:12.240 he's walking 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:12.639 around, 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:13.120 let there be 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:13.460 light, 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:14.160 let there be 00:11:14.160 --> 00:11:14.440 sea, 00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:14.879 let there be 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.180 land, 00:11:15.280 --> 00:11:15.600 let there be 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:15.920 trees, 00:11:16.020 --> 00:11:16.300 let there be 00:11:16.300 --> 00:11:16.600 all these 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:16.860 things, 00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:17.280 let there be 00:11:17.280 --> 00:11:17.639 animals, 00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:18.520 and eventually 00:11:18.520 --> 00:11:19.060 people. 00:11:19.400 --> 00:11:19.800 There's a 00:11:19.800 --> 00:11:20.140 pattern. 00:11:21.180 --> 00:11:21.879 God always 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:22.680 creates what 00:11:22.680 --> 00:11:23.480 is required 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:24.400 for life 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:25.620 before he 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:26.159 creates the 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:26.500 life. 00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:30.159 He creates 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:30.720 the sea 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:31.319 before he 00:11:31.319 --> 00:11:31.779 creates the 00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:32.360 creatures to 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:32.819 go in it. 00:11:33.659 --> 00:11:34.379 He creates 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:34.919 the plants 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:35.439 and trees 00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:35.899 and fruit 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:36.439 and food 00:11:36.439 --> 00:11:37.019 before he 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:37.480 creates the 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.059 animals and 00:11:38.059 --> 00:11:38.459 the people 00:11:38.459 --> 00:11:39.079 to live there 00:11:39.079 --> 00:11:39.600 and be fed 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:40.039 by it. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:41.299 Creation 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:43.600 itself has 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:45.379 provision designed 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.120 into it. 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:47.980 And in fact, 00:11:48.439 --> 00:11:49.500 current statistics 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.319 tell us the same 00:11:50.319 --> 00:11:50.819 story. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.059 There is enough 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:52.519 food, 00:11:52.699 --> 00:11:53.480 enough money, 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:54.580 enough medicine 00:11:54.580 --> 00:11:55.940 for everyone 00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:56.539 on the earth 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:57.139 right now. 00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:00.440 But oppression 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:01.440 and greed 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:03.480 and injustice 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:05.920 mean that there 00:12:05.920 --> 00:12:06.800 is an inequality 00:12:06.800 --> 00:12:07.659 of distribution. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:10.940 It's not 00:12:10.940 --> 00:12:11.620 supposed to be 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:12.259 like this. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:13.600 And so we've 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:14.539 got to understand 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:15.840 that what 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:16.620 happened from 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:17.360 that perfect 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:18.060 design that 00:12:18.060 --> 00:12:18.700 God had 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:20.259 to our kind 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:20.639 of messed 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:21.200 up reality 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:21.700 reality now 00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:23.560 is not 00:12:23.560 --> 00:12:24.420 something that 00:12:24.420 --> 00:12:25.000 we can fix 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:25.500 with money. 00:12:26.420 --> 00:12:27.120 It's not a 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:27.620 matter of us 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.080 turning around 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:28.220 going, 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:28.700 I need to be 00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:29.420 more generous. 00:12:29.800 --> 00:12:30.280 I need to be 00:12:30.280 --> 00:12:31.060 more caring. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.180 The issue 00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:32.940 that takes us 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:33.600 from a good 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.220 garden of 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:35.180 Eden to a 00:12:35.180 --> 00:12:35.740 messed up 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:36.440 right now 00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:38.000 is sin. 00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:41.640 The problem 00:12:41.640 --> 00:12:42.320 and the reason 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:42.860 this matters 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:43.340 for us as 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:43.860 Christians is 00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:44.320 because this 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:44.600 is our 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:45.420 core issue. 00:12:46.780 --> 00:12:47.320 Sin is the 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:48.120 reality of us 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:49.060 rejecting God, 00:12:49.160 --> 00:12:49.740 telling him that 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:50.240 he doesn't 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:50.480 matter, 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:51.100 living as if 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:51.659 we're more 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.139 important, 00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:53.460 and sin is 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:54.000 the reason 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:54.480 that there is 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:55.159 poverty in 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:55.580 the world. 00:12:56.560 --> 00:12:57.460 Sin is the 00:12:57.460 --> 00:12:57.940 reason that 00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:58.240 there is 00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:59.080 suffering in 00:12:59.080 --> 00:12:59.460 the world. 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:00.560 Sin is the 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:00.960 reason that 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:01.200 there is 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:01.860 pain and 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:02.659 oppression and 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:03.240 injustice. 00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:06.580 And what that 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:07.480 does is tell us 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:07.980 two things. 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:09.180 One, this isn't 00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:09.820 a money issue, 00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:10.320 it's a heart 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:10.659 issue. 00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:12.759 And two, this 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.299 isn't someone 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:13.940 else's issue, 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:14.560 this is my 00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:14.879 issue. 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:17.560 Now I want to 00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:17.960 take a step 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:18.899 sideways just for a 00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:19.519 second and just 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:20.779 talk about sin 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:21.480 and consequence. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.159 What I'm not 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:23.779 saying and what 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.600 the Bible doesn't 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:26.679 teach is that I 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.960 be selfish here and 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:29.340 look after myself and 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:30.600 as a consequence God's 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:31.179 going to make me 00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:32.000 poor later on. 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.899 It's not sin and 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:34.980 punishment like that, 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:35.419 it's not that 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.899 direct, but it's 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:37.679 more like the 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:39.059 collective consequence 00:13:39.059 --> 00:13:40.500 of sin, 00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.639 everybody's sin, 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:44.259 results in this 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:45.480 disproportionate 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.340 allocation of 00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:47.480 wealth and 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:48.139 starvation. 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:49.000 It's kind of like if 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.679 you wander along 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:50.340 next to Sydney 00:13:50.340 --> 00:13:52.139 Harbour, you 00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:52.620 might see a 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.639 plastic bag floating 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:54.139 in the water, 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:55.539 you might see 00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:56.259 somebody's Coke 00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:57.200 can, a Snickers 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:58.379 wrapper, some 00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.019 sort of floating 00:13:59.019 --> 00:13:59.759 slick that you 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:00.259 can't quite 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.860 identify, it's 00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:02.559 not real nice. 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:03.419 And you might 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:04.159 sit there at that 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:04.840 moment as you 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:05.580 walk past and 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.559 think, man, 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:07.399 whoever did that 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:07.860 should have to 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.120 pay. 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:09.779 Those dodgy 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:10.720 boat owners or 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:11.379 whoever it is 00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:12.019 that's made that 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:12.620 mess, they should 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:13.059 have to clean 00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:13.440 that up. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:14.899 But what you've 00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:15.379 got to understand 00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.039 is you're part of 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:16.439 the problem. 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:18.059 Every time you 00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:18.620 flush your toilet, 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:19.019 it's got to go 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:19.379 somewhere. 00:14:20.459 --> 00:14:21.139 I mean, it's 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:22.559 treated, it's 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:23.079 looked after, but 00:14:23.079 --> 00:14:23.980 it ends up in 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:24.419 the ocean. 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:27.620 It's kind of 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:28.159 like that with 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.500 sin. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.240 It's not so 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:30.860 much that your 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:32.379 sin will have 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.299 results for you, 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:35.039 but ultimately a 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:36.179 whole world full of 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:37.079 people living for 00:14:37.079 --> 00:14:38.379 themselves instead of 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:39.639 for God, a whole 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.639 world full of people 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:41.559 trying to look after 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:42.659 themselves instead of 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:44.299 each other, results 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:45.339 in some people 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:47.420 missing out, results 00:14:47.420 --> 00:14:48.259 in some people 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:49.200 starving, some 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:50.080 people living in 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:50.920 what we would 00:14:50.920 --> 00:14:51.899 consider unlivable 00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.500 conditions. 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:55.639 And so there's an 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.680 inbuilt warning for 00:14:56.680 --> 00:14:57.139 us today. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.580 Be very careful 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:03.280 as you reflect on 00:15:03.280 --> 00:15:04.460 issues like poverty 00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.720 and oppression, 00:15:06.780 --> 00:15:07.920 slave labour, all 00:15:07.920 --> 00:15:08.759 that sort of stuff, 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.460 be very careful 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:13.280 not to look down 00:15:13.280 --> 00:15:15.080 on the perpetrators. 00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:16.200 Don't sit there 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:17.180 and tut-tut at 00:15:17.180 --> 00:15:17.860 Nike and their 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.480 sweatshops. 00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:23.399 Be sad, be 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.420 concerned, be 00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:26.500 frustrated, but 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.280 don't judge. 00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:30.879 Because you sin 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.160 too. 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.460 You're part of the 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:35.759 problem. 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:37.720 I'm part of the 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:37.980 problem. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.080 You and I 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:41.920 contribute to the 00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:42.420 issues. 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:44.419 part of the 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:45.419 issue. 00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:46.779 Part of why this 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:49.179 matters for us so 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:49.839 much as Christians, 00:15:49.839 --> 00:15:50.899 part of why this is a 00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:51.899 measure of the 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:53.339 genuineness of our 00:15:53.339 --> 00:15:53.759 faith is because it 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.799 takes us back to our 00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:55.959 biggest issue, our 00:15:55.959 --> 00:15:57.079 rejection of who God 00:15:57.079 --> 00:15:58.179 is, our rejection of 00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:59.599 his plan for our life. 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.779 And so tonight I want 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.620 to encourage you, rather 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.539 than feeling like a 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:05.740 victim in a bad world, 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:08.620 maybe instead you can 00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.560 put your hand up and 00:16:09.560 --> 00:16:10.759 confess that you're part 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:11.200 of the issue. 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.480 And then you can 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.399 depend on God's 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.560 goodness to forgive you 00:16:15.560 --> 00:16:17.860 and use you in spite of 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:19.100 your weaknesses and 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.759 limitations to still be 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:22.500 contributing in a 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.080 helpful way. 00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:26.159 Poverty and inequality 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:27.659 and oppression is part of 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.419 a bigger issue. 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.840 It's part of a sin issue. 00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:31.340 It's the issue that Jesus 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.120 came to fix. 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.820 I want to go to the 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:33.860 Isaiah passage that was 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.720 read out for us and if 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.340 you can get that in 00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:36.120 front of you, I encourage 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.639 you to have Isaiah 42 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.060 open. 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.539 This passage comes at a 00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.759 point in Israel's history 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:43.480 where they are in exile. 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.159 That means they've been 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.259 dragged away from their 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:46.639 homeland. 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:48.759 They're living as slaves, 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.980 if you like, servants of 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:52.240 another country, longing 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.679 for a better time, crying 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:54.740 out to a God who had 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.700 promised to look after 00:16:55.700 --> 00:16:56.000 them. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:58.960 And listen to this short 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:00.159 few verses which is 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:01.659 pointing towards Jesus. 00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.460 Listen to the 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.279 description of what 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.279 Jesus is going to do 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.039 and how he's going to 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:06.400 do it. 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.460 Chapter 42, verse 1. 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:11.359 Here is my servant whom 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:13.720 I uphold, my chosen one 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.740 in whom I delight. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.579 I will put my spirit on 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:18.200 him and, this is his job, 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:21.480 he will bring justice to 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.039 the nations. 00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:24.519 He will not shout or cry 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.980 out or raise his voice in 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:26.599 the streets. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:28.579 A bruised reed he will not 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:30.200 break and a smouldering 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:31.839 wick he will not snuff out. 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:34.739 In faithfulness he will 00:17:34.739 --> 00:17:36.500 bring forth justice. 00:17:37.459 --> 00:17:39.199 He will not falter or be 00:17:39.199 --> 00:17:40.619 discouraged till he 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:42.299 establishes justice on the 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:42.659 earth. 00:17:43.199 --> 00:17:45.279 In his law the islands will 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.579 put their hope. 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:50.179 Jesus comes to bring 00:17:50.179 --> 00:17:50.759 justice. 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:53.419 Now we know, we read the 00:17:53.419 --> 00:17:54.659 New Testament, Jesus comes 00:17:54.659 --> 00:17:55.799 to deal with sin and that's 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.259 the point. 00:17:56.959 --> 00:17:58.219 They're actually connected. 00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.879 It's the same problem. 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:01.200 It requires the same 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:01.800 solution. 00:18:03.080 --> 00:18:04.080 In the book of Isaiah, 00:18:04.260 --> 00:18:06.240 justice is given a much 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.560 richer definition. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.000 Sometimes when we think 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.640 justice, our mind goes 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:12.040 straight away to a 00:18:12.040 --> 00:18:12.460 courtroom. 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.980 We think about punishments 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.520 given out. 00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.960 We think about people being 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:18.840 maybe vindicated if they've 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.720 been wrongly accused. 00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:20.600 We think about this 00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:22.300 judicial decree. 00:18:23.760 --> 00:18:25.500 And that's part of the 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:25.780 picture. 00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:26.880 That's the Matthew 25 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.240 picture where the King 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.540 Jesus sits on the throne 00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:30.940 and says, you're a sheep, 00:18:31.020 --> 00:18:31.540 you're a goat. 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:32.900 He does decree, innocent, 00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:33.820 guilty, on board. 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:35.620 But there's more going on 00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:35.920 here. 00:18:36.520 --> 00:18:38.140 What Isaiah does for us 00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:39.920 is help us to see that when 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:41.640 God talks about justice, 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:44.860 it includes all of his good 00:18:44.860 --> 00:18:45.360 intention. 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:48.780 It includes essentially his 00:18:48.780 --> 00:18:49.180 will. 00:18:50.260 --> 00:18:51.780 What the servant will bring 00:18:51.780 --> 00:18:53.460 is what was always supposed 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:53.900 to be. 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:56.060 What the servant will do is 00:18:56.060 --> 00:18:57.360 fix everything that's 00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:57.640 wrong. 00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:00.019 What Jesus does when he 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.500 turns up is not just some 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.860 abstract up there, fix some 00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:05.160 sin so that one day we go 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.580 to heaven. 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:07.820 He turns up to bring justice, 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:10.160 to deal with inequality, to 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.460 deal with poverty, to deal 00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:13.280 with all the symptoms of sin 00:19:13.280 --> 00:19:15.100 that exist in our lives, to 00:19:15.100 --> 00:19:16.720 deal with sickness and pain 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:18.220 and frustration and anxiety 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:19.380 and all these things. 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.440 You can see it in Jesus' 00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:22.019 ministry. 00:19:22.580 --> 00:19:23.480 Yes, he preaches. 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.220 He says, come. 00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.380 He says, put your trust in 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:25.480 me. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.180 Be forgiven. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.660 But he also feeds people 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:30.700 and heals people and deals 00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:32.099 with physical needs because 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:34.279 all of the inequality, all of 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:35.599 the problems that we face in 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:37.279 life come back to the same 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:41.740 root issue of sin, of rejecting 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.259 God. 00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:46.339 There's something really cool 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:48.339 about the way that the servant 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:49.279 will bring justice. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:51.879 on one level, it doesn't 00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:53.259 sound inspiring when you 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:54.980 think about the kind of 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:56.680 opposition that you would 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:58.759 face if you were on a justice 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:00.339 crusade in our world now. 00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:02.200 But listen to them. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:03.019 Verse 2. 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:06.700 He will not shout or cry out or 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.259 raise his voice in the streets. 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:10.660 A bruised reed he will not 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.099 break. 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.899 A smouldering wick he will not 00:20:12.899 --> 00:20:13.539 snuff out. 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:17.339 In faithfulness, he will bring 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:18.159 forth justice. 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:21.099 He will not falter or be 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:23.099 discouraged till he establishes 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.200 justice on the earth. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:28.019 He will face opposition, but the 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:29.240 means by which he will bring 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:33.920 justice is not force, but sacrifice. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:44.200 At his cost, at his expense, we 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:45.140 can be vindicated. 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:53.560 God goes to extraordinary lengths 00:20:53.560 --> 00:20:55.220 to fix what's wrong with the 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:55.539 world. 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:59.160 He sends his son so that people 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:01.160 like us who tell God whatever we 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.940 don't care can actually have a 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.840 relationship with him. 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:05.500 But more than that, he sends his 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:07.180 son so that people like us who 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:08.720 treat each other like we don't 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:10.680 matter, or at very least treat 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:12.779 each other like I'm number one, 00:21:13.320 --> 00:21:14.500 can actually have the kind of 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.900 relationships we were supposed to 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.200 have. 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:18.000 The kind of relationships we were 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:19.720 designed to have of service and 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.140 love. 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:25.779 This matters for us as Christians 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:27.880 because all people matter to God 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:29.440 and it matters because it's not the 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.560 way it's supposed to be. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:33.220 It's not the picture of God's good 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.039 design at the beginning. 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.839 It's not the picture of what Jesus 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:37.019 has achieved and we're going to 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.960 enjoy in heaven. 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:43.380 And now that Jesus has come, the 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:45.200 work he has begun, he has entrusted 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.940 to us to continue. 00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:52.000 To defend the cause of the 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.019 fatherless and the widow. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:22:00.460 plus this is evidence of his grace to 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:00.879 us. 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:03.980 This is how grace plays out. 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:06.579 It shifts our perspective on life and 00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.460 the things that we do. 00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:11.319 In my previous church, I had a friend 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.819 who I did ministry with. 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.299 I'm not going to mention his name 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.759 because it's a pseudo-incriminating 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.220 story. 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.599 He's a good guy. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.180 I love him. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.900 He loves Jesus. 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.759 He's fantastic. 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:21.180 He was a great resource for me. 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:23.940 One of the rules that you have in 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:25.299 ministry or that I have in ministry 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.880 is that you should never pay full 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.299 price. 00:22:27.560 --> 00:22:28.519 Mainly because I don't have enough 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:28.799 money. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.860 And so whenever we're running 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:31.000 anything, I'm trying to get a 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.279 discount. 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:33.400 I'm trying to sort of wrangle a deal. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.360 I want a cheap bus. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.279 I want a free bus. 00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:36.580 I want the pizzas for a discount. 00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:38.480 I want whatever I can do to not pay 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.980 the full price for things. 00:22:40.560 --> 00:22:43.140 He took this to a whole other level. 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:45.720 We used to run quite a big youth 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.500 ministry camp. 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:48.720 We had sort of 400 plus people on 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.220 this camp. 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:52.259 And he would get us like seven 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.720 minibuses for free like that. 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:56.019 Like he had people tripping over 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.519 themselves, competing with one 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.160 another to give us good deals. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.700 He just, I don't know how he did it. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.799 One year on camp, it was like 40 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.480 degree plus. 00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:05.059 We were in this big barn for our 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.339 meetings. 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.160 It was horrific. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.619 Kids would get bleeding noses from 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:07.900 the heat. 00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:08.460 It was terrible. 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:10.500 And so one year he turns around to 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.759 me after being on the phone for 15 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:11.980 minutes. 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.359 He goes, oh, I've convinced a company 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:15.460 to travel down, set up portable air 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.340 conditioning in the hall. 00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:17.600 And then at the end of the week, 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:19.279 pack it up and take it away for free. 00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.900 I'm like, that's great. 00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:23.779 But how? 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:26.960 I remember one time in particular, 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:29.000 we were just out to dinner. 00:23:29.100 --> 00:23:29.700 It wasn't ministry. 00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:32.100 We went to the good old all-you-can-eat 00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:32.740 Pizza Hut. 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:35.640 Really is a sad reality that they're 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:36.000 all gone. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:38.840 Just have a moment of pause and 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:40.660 lament over the fact that that's not 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:40.840 around. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:43.579 Anyway, we went to Pizza Hut all-you-can-eat. 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:45.279 It was a good value restaurant. 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.500 For those of you who missed that 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:48.000 reality, which actually might be a few 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:51.039 of you, it was just like a smorgasbord 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:52.659 of pizza and you could just keep going 00:23:52.659 --> 00:23:54.319 back and back and back. 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:56.519 They had like a dessert bar as well, 00:23:56.699 --> 00:23:58.379 so all the soft serve you can eat. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.339 It was amazing. 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.980 So the only thing lacking was 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.339 refillable soft drinks, but you know, 00:24:02.399 --> 00:24:03.019 that's for another day. 00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.899 So we're in Pizza Hut. 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.740 We're eating pizza. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.199 We're chatting. 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.259 We're having a good time. 00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:09.079 And it comes to the end of our meal 00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:11.259 and it's almost time to pay. 00:24:11.419 --> 00:24:13.319 And I notice he, my friend gets up 00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:13.859 and disappears. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.480 Sort of didn't think heaps of it. 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.359 Maybe he's going to the bathroom, 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:17.720 whatever. 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.839 And the manager happened to be sitting 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:21.460 in a booth a couple of spots away. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:23.339 I think she was doing the figures for 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.659 the night. 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.859 They were getting ready to close up. 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:27.039 And I noticed out of the corner of my 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.799 eye that my friend sat down on her 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:31.079 table and obviously they were chatting. 00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:33.439 And a few minutes later he comes back 00:24:33.439 --> 00:24:35.240 and he goes, okay, we can go. 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:38.440 And I said, did you pay for dinner? 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.720 He said, no. 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:41.359 I said, do we need to pay for dinner? 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.519 He said, no. 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.000 I went, okay. 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.299 Sounds good. 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.500 And out we go. 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.519 And it wasn't until we got outside 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.220 that I went, wait a minute. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.680 Why don't we have to pay for dinner? 00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:51.880 What just happened? 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:55.039 And he says to me, well, I just explained 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:57.420 to the manager that the pizza available 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:59.019 on the All You Can Eat bar wasn't of 00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:01.000 sufficient variety that I could actually 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.880 call it All You Can Eat. 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:04.480 And also the time, amount of time that 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:06.019 it took for our drinks to arrive after 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.120 ordering at the beginning weren't 00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:08.539 sufficient to be serviced that we should 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.000 pay for. 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:11.839 And she agreed, and so they agreed, 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.299 that our dinner would be free. 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.980 Now let's remember that All You Can Eat 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:19.259 Pizza Hut was a whopping $5.95. 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.059 Generous savings. 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:27.440 Now, like I said, I love my friend. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.460 He's good value. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.980 He is a blessing in many ways. 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:33.620 But I was reflecting this week on something 00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:37.160 that he maybe has in hyperversion, 00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:39.299 but is true of all of us. 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:44.140 The way we approach all of our interactions 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:45.779 like that, where there's money involved, 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:47.259 where it's shopping, eating, whatever, 00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:50.900 the number one dictating factor for us is, 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:52.480 maybe I'm speaking out of turn, 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.500 but I don't think I am. 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:55.759 The number one factor is, 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:58.720 how can I get the best deal for me? 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.519 Think about it. 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.119 You go shopping for something, 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:05.720 you go from shop to shop to find the cheapest place, 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:07.980 and then you go online to get it even cheaper 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:09.180 once you've found the right size. 00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.660 It's how we shop. 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:14.220 And it makes sense in so many ways, 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:15.279 that like, that's logical, 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:17.420 I don't want to pay any more than I have to. 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:20.600 But can you see that behind that mentality 00:26:20.600 --> 00:26:22.160 is an attitude of, 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:25.140 this is all about my outcome. 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:30.360 This is all about my experience. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:32.519 There's not even a level of awareness or engagement 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:34.279 of the person on the other side of the counter, 00:26:34.560 --> 00:26:36.519 let alone the person who drove whatever it is 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.500 and delivered it to the shop, 00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:38.720 let alone the person who made it, 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.820 let alone anyone else. 00:26:40.300 --> 00:26:42.000 The driving thing for us is, 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:42.980 me. 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.080 Me. 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:49.900 The reason issues like poverty 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:52.200 and caring for those in need 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:54.220 matter when it comes to being a Christian 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:57.240 is because it's a reflection 00:26:57.240 --> 00:27:00.580 of the change that God has worked in us. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:04.220 See, it makes sense 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:07.340 to look after yourself. 00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:09.680 It makes sense 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:11.820 to try and provide for yourself. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.259 It makes sense 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:15.320 to get the best scenario for you 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.980 unless 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:20.619 somebody else has already done it. 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.539 See, 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:28.279 if you claim to be a follower of Jesus, 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:29.619 what you're saying is, 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.000 God loves me. 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.919 God provides for me. 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:40.019 God gives me so much more 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:41.799 than I could possibly need or deserve. 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:44.000 God has guaranteed 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:45.440 my eternal future. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.639 God has forgiven me. 00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:50.519 God has given me 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:52.279 every good thing in my life. 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.359 And so actually, 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:56.359 it doesn't make sense 00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:59.419 to then go out into the shops 00:27:59.419 --> 00:28:02.139 and live as if you need to look after number one. 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:06.859 You need to get the best deal for you. 00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.759 Because actually, 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:10.119 God is already looking after you 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:11.279 and He's told you in Scripture 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.699 that He cares about the person 00:28:12.699 --> 00:28:13.699 on the other side of the counter. 00:28:13.959 --> 00:28:15.079 He cares about the person 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:16.219 that made that shirt 00:28:16.219 --> 00:28:17.099 or that coffee 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:18.259 or whatever else it is. 00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:20.599 They're valuable to Him. 00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:28.239 The Christian life 00:28:28.239 --> 00:28:30.279 is a redefined reality. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:32.279 We have a new starting point. 00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:34.259 See, 00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:34.799 the issue 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.599 back at the beginning 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.339 when we talked about 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.139 that news story 00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:37.899 that tells us about 00:28:37.899 --> 00:28:38.879 the three Australians, 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.600 and again, 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.360 I do it. 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:42.620 I'm not casting judgment on you. 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.460 I do it as well. 00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:43.700 I go, 00:28:43.760 --> 00:28:44.200 oh, you know, 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:45.120 three Australians. 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.960 That's really sad. 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.620 The issue there is 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.900 that the reason that's sad 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.420 is because 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:51.000 that connects 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.940 to where I am. 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.560 Because the way 00:28:53.560 --> 00:28:54.660 I view justice 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:55.240 and poverty 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:56.100 and everything else 00:28:56.100 --> 00:28:56.460 in the world 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.120 is defined 00:28:57.120 --> 00:28:58.420 by how it connects 00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:58.940 to me. 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:01.940 But as a Christian, 00:29:02.060 --> 00:29:02.600 that's not 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:04.120 how we view the world. 00:29:04.760 --> 00:29:05.900 The world is defined 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:07.000 and sin is defined 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.620 and the issues 00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:08.000 in the world 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.400 are defined 00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:09.120 by how does this 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:10.080 relate to God. 00:29:10.560 --> 00:29:11.180 And God says, 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:11.820 every person 00:29:11.820 --> 00:29:12.320 on that plane 00:29:12.320 --> 00:29:12.960 matters to me. 00:29:13.280 --> 00:29:13.680 God says, 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.280 every person 00:29:14.280 --> 00:29:15.280 who's making a shirt 00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:15.840 or a shoe 00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:16.360 or a meal 00:29:16.360 --> 00:29:17.220 or whatever it else is 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.200 matters to me. 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.740 And then He says, 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:23.180 I'm going to look after you. 00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:26.259 So we don't have 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.540 to shop anymore 00:29:27.540 --> 00:29:28.460 with this fear 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.600 of who's going 00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:30.440 to look after me. 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:32.580 We don't have 00:29:32.580 --> 00:29:33.519 to live our lives 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.620 anymore with this fear 00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:36.180 of what about me? 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:39.400 God's got that covered. 00:29:45.580 --> 00:29:46.980 So I guess just to finish, 00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:48.100 I wanted to ask the question, 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:49.960 where does a Fair Trade Expo fit? 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.820 Whether you made it here today 00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:52.880 for the Fair Trade Expo 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.200 or not, 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.799 you know roughly 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.559 the gist of it. 00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:56.500 Fair Trade basically 00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.440 means two things. 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.600 One is you pay 00:29:58.600 --> 00:29:59.380 a little bit more 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.340 for the same product. 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.120 Then you have to. 00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:03.900 And two, 00:30:05.320 --> 00:30:06.680 the person who's making 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.480 that product 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.799 gets paid 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.559 what they deserve. 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:11.440 That's what Fair Trade is. 00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.600 There's a whole bunch 00:30:12.600 --> 00:30:13.180 of other stuff 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:13.980 about investing 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:14.920 in their businesses 00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.740 and enabling them 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.539 to be sustainable 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.500 and doing training 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:19.019 and lending of money 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.480 and a whole bunch 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:19.960 of other things 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.900 which you can research 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.720 and all sorts of stuff. 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:24.600 But a Fair Trade Expo, 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.440 where does it fit 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.920 when it comes to checking 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.960 our social conscience, 00:30:28.080 --> 00:30:29.000 our love for the poor? 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.900 Well, it's not the solution. 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.960 Buying Fair Trade 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:35.160 won't fix poverty 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:35.799 in the world 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.539 because we know 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.059 that poverty 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.380 is a symptom of sin. 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.940 Only Jesus 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:41.119 can fix that. 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.539 But what something 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:45.019 like Fair Trade does 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.859 or just giving generally 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.839 to those in need 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:48.559 does 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:53.279 is it gives us 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.839 a chance 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.359 to remember, 00:30:56.139 --> 00:30:57.619 to remind ourselves 00:30:57.619 --> 00:30:59.519 that we don't have 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.220 to be worried 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.179 about me 00:31:01.179 --> 00:31:03.740 because God is. 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:06.059 It's a chance 00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:07.220 to remind ourselves 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:08.240 that as we go 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.119 looking for the things 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:09.980 that we need, 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:10.980 and I use that 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.700 very loosely, 00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:14.039 God has already 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:15.039 provided it all. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:19.559 Maybe it gives us 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.000 a chance 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.980 to get a bigger picture 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.960 of the kinds of people 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.500 that live 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.379 in the world 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:23.879 with us 00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:24.940 that God cares about 00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.420 that matter 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:26.599 and the kind of situations 00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.460 they're living in. 00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:32.420 But more than anything else, 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:35.700 shopping, 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.399 Fair Trade, 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.559 giving to those in need, 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:38.359 caring for people 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:38.980 who need it 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:41.039 is a chance 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.380 for us 00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:42.220 to come back 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:44.779 and just again 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:46.200 be reminded 00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:47.500 of the confidence 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.400 and hope 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.160 we have in Jesus. 00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:52.640 A Fair Trade Expo 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.440 is not designed 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.440 to make you feel guilty. 00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:55.579 This sermon 00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:56.279 is not designed 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:56.920 to make you go 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.559 and spend more 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:58.140 on Fair Trade 00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:58.839 this Christmas 00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:00.240 or feel guilty 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.019 about every present 00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:01.460 you buy 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.339 or anything like that. 00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:03.960 It's kind of not the point. 00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:07.299 The point is 00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:09.960 God loves you. 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:13.379 God has provided 00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:14.319 for you in Jesus 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:16.000 and so you don't have 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.460 to stress 00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:17.319 with the what about me 00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:18.119 question anymore. 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:19.759 You're released 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:21.419 to go and love 00:32:21.419 --> 00:32:21.960 and invest 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.460 in people 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.440 that you'll never meet 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:28.159 but who right now 00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:29.279 live in conditions 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.119 that we just 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:30.799 wouldn't tolerate. 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.139 It's a chance 00:32:34.139 --> 00:32:34.539 for you 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.359 to be reminded 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:35.940 that the things 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.440 of this world 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:37.139 are temporary 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:38.680 and all the things 00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.300 that really matter 00:32:39.300 --> 00:32:40.160 can't be taken away 00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:40.600 anyway. 00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:46.400 It's a chance 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:46.740 for you 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.620 to loosen your grip 00:32:47.620 --> 00:32:48.220 on the things 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:49.360 that God has given you 00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:50.740 so that you can 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.380 tighten your grip 00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:51.720 on Him. 00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.060 Let's pray. 00:32:57.060 --> 00:32:57.100 Let's pray. 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:03.380 Father God, 00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:04.220 we want to admit 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.040 that sometimes 00:33:05.040 --> 00:33:05.580 when we look 00:33:05.580 --> 00:33:06.500 at things like this 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.339 it's really easy 00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.000 to realize 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.660 that we suck 00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:10.559 at this. 00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.779 It's really easy 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.500 to get distracted 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.519 by feeling guilty, 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:16.180 to get distracted 00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:16.980 by failure, 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.839 to maybe push 00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.779 this message away 00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:21.079 because it's not 00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:21.799 comfortable 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:24.079 but God, 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:24.099 but God, 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:24.700 help guilt 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.399 not to be the 00:33:25.399 --> 00:33:25.819 destination 00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.720 for us. 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:29.359 If there is guilt, 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.279 help us to give it 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.759 to you. 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.960 Help us to remember 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.720 that you love us 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.960 in spite of who we are. 00:33:35.919 --> 00:33:37.000 That one of the gifts 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.839 that you give us 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:38.919 is to take our guilt 00:33:38.919 --> 00:33:39.559 on yourself, 00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:41.859 to take our shame 00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:42.259 away, 00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:43.480 to release us. 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.200 God, 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:45.879 thank you for your 00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:47.180 patience with us 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:49.060 as we stumble 00:33:49.060 --> 00:33:50.039 and as we keep 00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:51.060 trying to grow 00:33:51.060 --> 00:33:51.920 into this life 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.299 that you have 00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:53.299 designed for us. 00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:55.779 God, 00:33:55.840 --> 00:33:56.299 right now 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:57.299 there are so many 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.400 people in this world 00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.440 that you cherish, 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:03.279 that live with 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.060 less than what 00:34:04.060 --> 00:34:04.539 they need. 00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:09.680 Please enable us 00:34:09.680 --> 00:34:10.900 to be a blessing 00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.519 for them. 00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.519 Enable us 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.320 to be bringers 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.440 of your justice, 00:34:16.180 --> 00:34:16.920 to proclaim 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.500 the hope 00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.180 of Jesus, 00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:19.660 to use what 00:34:19.660 --> 00:34:20.440 you have entrusted 00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.380 to us so that 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.460 you might get glory, 00:34:22.620 --> 00:34:23.120 so that people 00:34:23.120 --> 00:34:23.960 might recognize 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.760 that you are 00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:25.920 a God who cares. 00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.720 You are a God 00:34:27.720 --> 00:34:28.480 who provides. 00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.000 Father, 00:34:31.120 --> 00:34:31.640 thank you for 00:34:31.640 --> 00:34:32.420 placing us 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:34.380 here in this church 00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:35.200 at this time 00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:36.200 with these resources. 00:34:38.100 --> 00:34:39.300 Please so shape 00:34:39.300 --> 00:34:39.920 our hearts 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:40.559 that we might 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.240 be faithful 00:34:41.240 --> 00:34:41.780 with what you 00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:42.360 have entrusted 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:42.920 to us. 00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:44.960 Amen.