WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 Good morning everyone. 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:08.000 Yeah, so we spent some time yesterday at St. Barnabas in Sia Yingpun actually. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:14.000 It's really a center for the homeless and the needy in the local western district. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:16.000 There are actually two groups of people. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:22.000 There are actually people who are from the elderly and also for the homeless in the region. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:26.000 And they have physical needs of course, you know, food and shelter. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:31.000 But also spiritual needs is more what the focus is for the center also. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:37.000 And so we also talked to the center people there while we were serving. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:41.000 They actually have special needs for Saturday and Sunday for volunteers especially. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:44.000 Because that's where a lot of the events happen also. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:47.000 Bigger events happen on Saturday and Sunday. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:53.000 Yeah, and I think one area which we can really help in is in terms of their spiritual needs. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:55.000 A lot of these people are very lonely. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:58.000 They are elderly, 80s and 90 years old. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.000 But they are still living alone. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.000 And they really just want someone who can just care for them and share with them their lives. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:10.000 So I think one area which we can help in is to just take the time to talk to them. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.000 Pray with them and counsel them. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:18.000 And just to let them know that someone is there to care for them and to act as a channel of God's love. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:27.000 So I think this is really just one area which apart from just worshiping in here, we can bring our worship out into the community to serve them. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:30.000 Let's pray. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:37.000 Our Heavenly Father, this morning we come to worship you as a family. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.000 We bring you our thanksgivings and praises. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.000 Blessed is the King. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:50.000 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive all the glory and honor and power. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:53.000 For you have created all things. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:02:00.000 And for your pleasure and by your will, we are created and have our beings. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:10.000 Not only you created us, but you have also sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to save us, to redeem us, and one day to restore us. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:15.000 For all this, we lift up our praises to you. 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:25.000 We thank you for planting Watermark Church in the District 15 of Hong Kong to give us a spiritual home in this place. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:29.000 Thank you for giving us a pastor who loves you. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:35.000 Thank you for building him a pastoral team of leaders who shepherd us. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:42.000 Lord, please keep them in good health and protect their families and loved ones. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.000 Command them to teach us your truth. 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:53.000 And enable them to set an example in life, in love, in faith, in purity. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:03:07.000 O Lord God, grant us a teachable spirit to follow their examples to imitate Christ Jesus in life, in love, in faith, in purity. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:17.000 Help us understand and experience your love, so that we may exercise how to love and forgive one another. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:29.000 And so by loving one another, people around us will come to know that you are the Lord and we are Jesus' disciples. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:40.000 Lord, if there are any seekers among us today, Heavenly Father, would you help them feel the presence of God right now as we worship you? 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:51.000 Through the preaching of your word today, would you draw them closer to the cross to receive Jesus' salvation? 00:03:51.000 --> 00:04:05.000 And if any here who is weary and heavy burdened, Father, would you help them to find rest and healing in you through the worship this morning? 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:14.000 As a church on the hill, our community groups are seeking ways to serve the Hong Kong society. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:24.000 We do pray for your guidance, wisdom, sensitivity, and the spirit of love to engage us with the right opportunities 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:34.000 in order to minister to the poor and the needy in a manner that they could feel the difference in life as if God has touched them. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:53.000 As the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas is approaching near, Holy Spirit, please inspire us with more interesting ways to share Jesus' love with our friends and relatives and colleagues and neighbors. 00:04:53.000 --> 00:05:00.000 Oh, Lord God, just like you added to their number daily in the early church, 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:12.000 we are earnestly praying our Heavenly Father will be adding those who are being saved to our number at Watermark continuously. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:28.879 So that the grace that is reaching more and more people, reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:36.879 That's truly what our hearts desire for you, Father, that your glory will overflow in this church. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.879 In Christ's name we pray. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:45.879 Dear Jesus, thank you so much for the city of Hong Kong that you have allowed us to live in. 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:49.879 What a privilege we have to live in the gateway to Asia. 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:52.879 We pray for our relationship with mainland China. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:55.879 Give us your heart for this country. 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:59.879 We ask for you to put Christians in leadership positions in our government, 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:04.879 whom have integrity to be a light for you throughout Hong Kong. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:13.879 We pray for all the Christians in Hong Kong, in media positions, in art positions, in education, as well as all the churches around, 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:20.879 to reach out to each part of Hong Kong and to be the hands and feet to share your love to others who do not know you yet. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:28.879 Please help us to be faithful in our serving you, no matter how small or large our parts may be. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:34.879 We entrust all of our outreaches that Watermark is doing throughout this city to you. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:42.879 Allow our community groups who so generously, through social settings, services like cleaning the beach, 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:49.879 and this new opportunity in helping serve the poor in our area, also reap generously. 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:58.879 We submit all of Hong Kong to you, Lord, and we ask your continual mercy and love upon Hong Kong, we pray. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:04.879 We thank you, Father, for your creation. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:10.879 The Bible tells us that in the beginning, you created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:15.879 The beauty we see each day and night, and you declared it all good. 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:29.879 As we look at our world and all its varied cultures, we ask that you would call believers to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the world and its many varied people groups. 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:36.879 Help us to individually share the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that can change a life. 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:41.879 God sent his son to be born in a manger in Bethlehem. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:46.879 Live with mankind as a man, though totally God. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:48.879 Be crucified. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:49.879 He died. 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:50.879 He was buried. 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:51.879 He was buried. 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:54.879 But on the third day, he rose from the dead. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:58.879 He paid the price for the sins of the world. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:01.879 He paid the price for each of us. 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:04.879 We only need to receive the gift. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:11.879 He made the way for each individual that would be born to have a relationship with God. 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:20.879 And Lord, we pray that you would also raise up influential leaders all over the world to lead with Christian principles and morals. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:27.879 Give them wisdom, knowledge, and courage to lead others in a godly manner. 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:38.879 Let us not forget to pray for the people and people groups around the world that are being persecuted for their faith in Christ. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.879 Give them courage, God. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:44.879 Provide them with daily strength and bless them. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:55.879 And finally, Lord, guide us as a part of the body of Christ to pray for other believers and for those who do not know you. 00:08:55.879 --> 00:09:03.879 Give us boldness in sharing the gift of salvation with those God places in our lives, in our world. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:05.879 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:06.879 Amen. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:20.879 Today's scripture comes from John 11, 1-16. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:22.879 Please follow along. 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:32.879 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:44.879 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick, saying, 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:48.879 Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:51.879 But when Jesus heard this, he said, 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:59.879 This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified in life. 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:05.879 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:10.879 So when he heard that he was sick, he then stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:15.879 Then after this, he said to the disciples, Let us go to Judea again. 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:21.879 The disciples said to him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and you are now going there again? 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:26.879 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:33.879 If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:38.879 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:50.879 This he said, and after that he said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go, so that I may awaken you out of sleep. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:55.879 The disciples then said to him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover. 00:10:55.879 --> 00:11:00.879 Now, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he was speaking of literal sleep. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:12.879 So Jesus then said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:20.879 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, so that we may die with him. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:23.879 This is the reading of God's word. 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:24.879 You may be seated. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.879 Logistics 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:41.879 Well, for the privilege of coming, I am very grateful. Beyond compare. And for the privilege of thinking together about the Bible, I am grateful. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:55.879 There is a reality that is beyond what we can observe. It is important to know that. It is important to embrace that. 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:59.879 It is important to live in light of that. 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:11.879 So what I would like to do in a few moments that I have is to speak, to access, to gain a glimpse into that reality. 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:18.879 To lift our eyes from the shadows, to lift our eyes from the shadows, up to a different land. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:25.879 I would like to do that using a story that I think you and I all know. 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:36.879 It is the story of our Lord's raising of Lazarus, Eleazar, in the Old Testament scriptures. 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:40.879 The one whom God helps is his name. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:53.879 When you read through the Gospel of John, what you observe is the point of the seven miracles that are found there is really not the point. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:13:08.879 The point of the book is that John uses various discourses, various miracles and conversations to make the point of the claims of who Jesus is. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:17.879 That he is the Son of God, that he is the Son of the living God, he will say in our text. 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:26.879 When you think about the Gospel of John, there are three major talks or discourses that he gives. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:33.879 One is in chapter 3, and it is his encounter with Nicodemus. 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:44.879 If you know of that story, Nicodemus is a learned, religiously and politically astute man, a teacher. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:46.879 Jesus says to him, 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:49.879 Are you not the teacher in Israel? 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:53.879 And you do not understand these things. 00:13:53.879 --> 00:14:10.879 So, at a proper social occasion, in the cool of a closing day, Jesus had an interview, a discussion, with this great man on the rooftop, a rooftop in Jerusalem. 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:25.879 In the next chapter, it is not a rooftop, it is an intersection of various dusty roads at the foot of Mount Gerizim in Ebal, north of Jerusalem at a well. 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:42.879 There he meets a lady, unnamed, from tragic circumstances, both socially, morally, and religiously. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:47.879 And he seeks to help her to understand. 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:54.879 In our chapter, you have the encounter with two distraught sisters. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:59.879 The setting is sorrow and disorientation. 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:04.879 Their brother has suddenly died. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:17.879 Unlike the other two encounters, this one includes the disciples, a faceless crowd, and a dead man. 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:29.879 What is common in all three of these stories is our Lord's use of words that actually have a double meaning. 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:34.879 In chapter 3, with Nicodemus, he said, 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:41.879 You must be born a second time. 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:50.879 But that second time term could also be translated, you need to be born again. 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:54.879 Nicodemus does not understand that. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.879 And he says to the Lord, 00:15:55.879 --> 00:16:01.879 How can a man who is old be born of his mother's womb a second time? 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:09.879 And our Lord replies to him that you must be born with a different kind of birth, 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:14.879 one whose origins are as the wind and the rain. 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:24.879 When he talks to the lady who is coming for water at a very odd time of the day, 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.879 he says to her, 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:36.879 I will give you water of such a quality that you will never thirst again. 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:46.879 She is thinking about what is 21 feet below her in a well dug by Jacob. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:49.879 But Jesus says to her, 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:53.879 If you drink the water that I will give you, 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:59.879 it will be as springs that bubble up forever. 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:08.880 In this chapter, Jesus plays a double meaning of the word sleep. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:10.880 The disciples got it right. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:13.880 If his friend is sleeping, 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:20.880 why hazard his life in a rebellious Jewish leadership setting? 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:22.880 Because he'll wake up. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:29.880 But the words sleep and dead are the same words. 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:38.880 What is interesting about our story is that Nicodemus speaks, 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:43.880 the lady at the well, though unnamed, speaks, 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:48.880 but the central figure in this story doesn't say a word. 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:57.880 He is dead. 00:17:57.880 --> 00:18:02.880 In the first two occurrences, there was no miracle. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:04.880 That is observable. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:08.880 He talked to Nicodemus, and the day ended. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:13.880 He talked to a lady at the well, and the disciples returned. 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:20.880 But here, at the end of the story, which is ultimately not the real point of the story, 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:22.880 is a miracle. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:27.880 When you analyze the miracles in John's Gospel, there are seven. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:33.880 This man is an artist as well as a literary figure. 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:36.880 Seven is the number of completion. 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:43.880 This is the ultimate miracle in our Lord's life and ministry, 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:45.880 at least according to John. 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:49.880 When you look at our little passage, which is not literal, 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:51.880 it is a story. 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:54.880 It is a tragic story. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:57.880 In it, there are three parts. 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:04.880 And what I would like to do in the few moments that I have is to tell the story. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:10.880 The story begins with a request. 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:22.880 And that request is that a person that Jesus loves has met with tragedy. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:31.880 The second part of our story, beginning about verse 17, is the encounter of Jesus with these 00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:35.880 two interesting sisters. 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:38.880 And the third part is the raising of Lazarus. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:45.880 So I'd like to simply tell the story and then apply the story. 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:49.880 The setting of the story is in the first three verses. 00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:52.880 And we are introduced to three adults. 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:54.880 They are siblings. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:59.880 They share a special intimacy with the Lord. 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:04.880 In verse 3 and verse 5, it is said that he loved them. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:12.880 They lived in the little town of Bethany, on the eastern side of the slopes of the Mount of Olives. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:19.880 They are a family facing the wilderness, about two miles from the city. 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.880 They are well-to-do people. 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:31.880 And we know that because they live in a very large home where multitudinous guests could gather, 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:33.880 in this case, to mourn. 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:38.880 They are a socially prominent family within their city. 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:48.880 And they are wealthy enough to own a private burial tomb for their family. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.880 We know little of Lazarus. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:53.880 Of course, he does not speak. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:58.880 His name means, the one whom the Lord helps. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:02.880 We know a bit more about Martha and Mary. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:05.880 We know that Martha is the oldest. 00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:08.880 Mary is the youngest. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:15.880 But in our text, Mary is mentioned first, probably because of the anointing in chapter 12. 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:22.880 Martha is an active lady. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.880 She is stoic. 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:26.880 She is reserved. 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:28.880 She is industrious. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:33.880 She is alert to what's going on around her. 00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:37.880 She is a sensitive, responsible woman. 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:44.880 Mary, on the other hand, is a contemplative sort. 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:47.880 You always find this lady sitting. 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:50.880 She is meditative. 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:53.880 And she is devotional. 00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:56.880 And we basically know what happened. 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.880 Their brother became sick. 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:07.880 And with a great degree of prudent wisdom, they know what to do. 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:12.880 They know Jesus, the great healer. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:17.880 He is a day's journey away, the Bible says. 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:24.880 He is in the place where John had baptized him in the river Jordan. 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:29.880 Sixteen miles, eight hours walk, a day journey. 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:44.880 And so they dispatch a courier to tell them that, to tell Jesus that Lazarus is sick. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:56.880 When Jesus hears this, the Bible says that he does not immediately rush to Jerusalem and Bethany. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:59.880 He waits two days. 00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:08.880 The disciples say, well, if he's asleep, the dear guy will wake up. 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:21.880 But Jesus says, he is dead. 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:26.880 The disciples say, we've already been to Jerusalem. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:33.880 We have understood that the religious leadership is seeking to kill you. 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:40.880 If he is asleep, why do we have to go? 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:54.880 And Thomas, who is an interesting disciple, whose character is characterized by disbelief, despondency, and devotion. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:59.880 He finally says, let us go and die with them. 00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:06.880 Jesus' answer to them is in the form of an illustration. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:12.880 It is important to be in the very center of the will of God. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:26.880 And the center of the will of God is more important than the circumstances and exigencies and tragedies of life. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:32.880 So he said, you are safe if you walk in the daylight. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:43.880 But if you walk in the night, by which I think he means, apart from the will of God, you will stumble. 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:46.880 So he waits two days. 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:50.880 And then he comes. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:25:06.880 Mary, or Martha, who is obviously the more aware elder sibling, though there are tensions between these girls, goes out to meet Jesus. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:17.880 And she says something rather wonderful to him that is an indication of her profound grief. 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:29.880 She says to him, if you'd been here, my brother would not have died. 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:36.880 Is she expressing a rebuke for his heartiness? 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:44.880 Or is she expressing the distortion of the tears in her eyes? 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:50.880 I don't know. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:55.880 And then she says this. 00:25:55.880 --> 00:26:03.880 Ask the Father, because he hears your prayers. 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:10.880 But if you look at the word ask, it tells us a lot about the distortion. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:25.880 Because the word ask is always used of an inferior making requests of a superior. 00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:27.880 Jesus is not inferior. 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:28.880 She knows that. 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:37.880 She says in our text, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.880 She is sad. 00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:39.880 She is sad. 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:44.880 And sadness does what it does to all of us. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:47.880 It clouds our vision. 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:51.880 It scrambles our mind. 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:58.880 And Jesus says to her, your brother will live. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:05.880 She says, I know he will live in the resurrection in the last day. 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:14.880 And then Jesus says, the fifth of the great I am's of John's Gospel. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:18.880 I am the resurrection and life. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:24.880 If you believe in me, you will live. 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:30.880 And Martha says, I know you're the Son of God. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:37.880 I know you're the Messiah of this time. 00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:45.880 At that point, she hurries off to her sister who is sitting, entertaining these paid mourners 00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:48.880 that fill their living room. 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:55.880 And she says to Mary, the master is here. 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:57.880 And he is calling for you. 00:27:57.880 --> 00:28:01.880 What a wonderful way. 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:05.880 So Mary rises. 00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:12.880 And the mourners follow her, thinking that she has gone to the tomb to mourn. 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:20.880 And Mary says in verse 32 exactly what her sister had said. 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:30.880 Master, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:36.880 And Jesus says to her, where is he buried? 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:37.880 Of course he knows. 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:43.880 But that is not the point. 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:47.880 And so they go to the grave. 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:54.880 And there is a stone over it, as there always is. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:57.880 And Jesus gives a command. 00:28:57.880 --> 00:29:02.880 Remove the stone. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:09.880 Mary says, he has been buried already for four days. 00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:11.880 She did not say this, but we know this. 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:17.880 That burials in the Near East, given its climate, is immediate. 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:22.880 And in Iran and Sapphira were buried the day they died. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:26.880 He has been dead for four days. 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:28.880 It is not pretty. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:42.880 And Jesus, weeping, has the stone removed. 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:52.880 And in a loud, loud voice, he says, 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:56.880 Lazarus comes forth. 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:59.880 Which is amazing to me. 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:02.880 Because this man is dead. 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:11.880 Death brings with it the incapacity to hear. 00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:14.880 So why is he calling in a loud voice? 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:18.880 For this man is dead. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:21.880 And the answer, I think, is this. 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:24.880 He is not talking to Lazarus. 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:29.880 He is talking to a vast crowd of people 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:34.880 that are beginning to assemble for the Passover, 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:40.880 Israel's great feast of remembrance, of deliverance, 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:45.880 wherein he will become the great deliverance. 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:49.880 And we all know the end of the story. 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:51.880 Wrapped in the clothes of death, 00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:55.880 strips of cloth that bound him, 00:30:55.880 --> 00:31:01.880 this man heard the command and was brought to life. 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:10.880 And the Bible tells us that Jesus said to unbind him. 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:13.880 That's our story. 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:24.880 It's one of the most interesting stories across the pages of Holy Scripture. 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:29.880 The question then becomes this, for all of us. 00:31:29.880 --> 00:31:34.880 What do we make of this story? 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:45.880 What do we carry home to face another week from this little text of Holy Scripture? 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:48.880 What I would say is this, very simply. 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:50.880 One. 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:56.880 That the Lord, though transcendently sovereign, 00:31:56.880 --> 00:32:04.880 is one who is moved by our disappointments and tears. 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:13.880 You and I worship a God who is absolutely above us, 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:19.880 in enormous transcendence and glory and power. 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:27.880 Yet the wonder of the Christian faith is that this guy, this God who is so austere, 00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:37.880 so other, so powerful, is a God of condescension. 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:40.880 He is a God of compassion. 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:45.880 I have met many people who are compassionate but powerless. 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:50.880 And I have met people who are powerful and compassionless. 00:32:50.880 --> 00:33:09.880 But our Lord Jesus is all powerful, able to wipe every tear from our eyes, and all caring. 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:20.880 In verse 33 it says that Jesus saw her weeping. 00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:26.880 And verse 35 says, Jesus wept. 00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:29.880 What were they, these tears? 00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:42.880 These tears, there were tears of love for the tragedy and hurt in this family. 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:46.880 Jesus knew the end of the story. 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:50.880 He didn't say to the girls, suck it up. 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:53.880 A great day is coming. 00:33:53.880 --> 00:34:00.880 Aren't you glad that your brother is in heaven? 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:04.880 Which he was. 00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:07.880 But he was brought back, but that's another story. 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:20.880 What strikes me here is that I've met a lot of people who try to comfort me by casting me into heaven 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:25.880 when my life on earth is a hell. 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:28.880 But Jesus didn't do that. 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:32.880 Jesus knew the end of the story. 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:43.880 Yet, confidence of how things would turn out never made him a stoic. 00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:46.880 He entered into pain. 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:49.880 He knew its genuine terror. 00:34:49.880 --> 00:34:51.880 But he did it. 00:34:51.880 --> 00:35:03.880 So I would say that Jesus is the sovereign Lord of time and history. 00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:15.880 Yet, that did not exclude a compassionate identity in the pains and temporalities of life. 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:24.880 Jesus, standing before a tomb, knew that sorrow would be turned into joy. 00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:30.880 But it did not take away from his compassion. 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:35.880 So my first question is this. 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:40.880 Does it do it for you? 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:53.880 Have you let a misapplication of truth hide the expression of true compassion? 00:35:53.880 --> 00:36:02.880 Second, why did Jesus wait for two days? 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:08.880 Why does he wait to bring us comfort sometimes? 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:11.880 He can do it in an instant. 00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:13.880 But why does he linger? 00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:21.880 And why is it that you and I will carry some of our pains to the grave? 00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:30.880 When he is an all-caring, all-loving, infinite, compassionate heavenly father. 00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:33.880 And the answer to that is this. 00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:37.880 To strengthen our faith. 00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:39.880 God brings us trials. 00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:42.880 What did he say? 00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:49.880 You will see the glory of God. 00:36:49.880 --> 00:36:52.880 What is the glory of God? 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:58.880 The glory of God is the expression of his character. 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:01.880 And it's only in pain. 00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:04.880 And it's only in trials. 00:37:04.880 --> 00:37:16.880 It's only in the backdrop of the darkness of our days that God writes in brilliant colors the word grace. 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:23.880 To know the darkness is to know grace. 00:37:23.880 --> 00:37:31.880 He says in verse 15 to his disciples who already believe this, that you might believe. 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:34.880 So what am I saying? 00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:40.880 I'm saying faith is always an organism that needs to grow. 00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:46.880 It's not static. 00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:53.880 There are degrees of trust in all of us toward God. 00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:59.880 His desire is to deepen our trust. 00:37:59.880 --> 00:38:04.880 Is that your view of suffering? 00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:05.880 Third. 00:38:05.880 --> 00:38:11.880 He raised this man from the dead. 00:38:11.880 --> 00:38:14.880 To verify his claim. 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:22.880 That here is one and the only one who is Messiah. 00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:28.880 He is a prophet greater than Moses. 00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:29.840 Deuteronomy 18 verse 18. 00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:36.880 Why did he cry out in a loud voice? 00:38:36.880 --> 00:38:42.880 I don't see Jesus crying out in a loud voice often. 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:43.880 When he stood before Jerusalem. 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:45.880 When he stood before Jerusalem. 00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.880 He cried out. 00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:49.880 Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem. 00:38:49.880 --> 00:38:52.880 I would have gathered you as a hen gathers her chicks. 00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:55.880 But you would not. 00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:57.880 When he hung on the cross. 00:38:57.880 --> 00:38:59.880 In a loud voice. 00:38:59.880 --> 00:39:02.880 He cried those words. 00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.880 It is finished. 00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:04.880 It is finished. 00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:05.880 It is finished. 00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:06.880 It is finished. 00:39:06.880 --> 00:39:09.880 You and I will hear it one more time. 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:12.880 When the angels say it at the end of time. 00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:15.880 It is finished. 00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:19.880 Why did he cry out in a loud voice? 00:39:19.880 --> 00:39:22.880 Not to inform Lazarus. 00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:23.880 Lazarus. 00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:29.880 Lazarus has suffered auditory depletion. 00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:30.880 He cried out in a loud voice. 00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:31.880 He cried out in a loud voice. 00:39:31.880 --> 00:39:33.880 So that Jerusalem would hear. 00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:35.880 Hear what? 00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:36.880 I am one. 00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:37.880 I am one. 00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:42.880 Who is the fulfillment of all the promises. 00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:46.880 Of all the Holy Scriptures. 00:39:46.880 --> 00:39:50.880 They spoke of me. 00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:53.880 And there is the proof. 00:39:53.880 --> 00:39:57.880 A dead man. 00:39:57.880 --> 00:40:00.880 He has come to life. 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:01.880 Fourth. 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:04.880 I think the story is here. 00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:09.880 To reveal the nature of the rebirth. 00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:13.880 When he talked to Nicodemus. 00:40:13.880 --> 00:40:14.880 He said. 00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:15.880 Nicodemus. 00:40:15.880 --> 00:40:18.880 It is the core of the evening. 00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:21.880 The wind is blowing off the Mediterranean. 00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:23.880 You can't see it. 00:40:23.880 --> 00:40:26.880 But you know it is real. 00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:28.880 Because you experience its evidence. 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:31.880 On your skin. 00:40:31.880 --> 00:40:32.880 The wind. 00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:33.880 The wind. 00:40:33.880 --> 00:40:34.880 The wind. 00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:35.880 The wind. 00:40:35.880 --> 00:40:36.880 The wind. 00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:40.019 equally invisible as the wind. 00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:45.140 You need to be born a second time, 00:40:45.980 --> 00:40:50.039 not from a womb, but from heaven. 00:40:51.780 --> 00:40:56.480 And I have come to show that to you. 00:40:58.440 --> 00:41:00.140 He said to the lady at the well, 00:41:01.200 --> 00:41:02.720 this unnamed lady, 00:41:03.140 --> 00:41:05.920 and I think the reason Jesus left her unnamed 00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:07.659 is she is me. 00:41:09.579 --> 00:41:11.019 She is all of us. 00:41:11.900 --> 00:41:12.740 Twisted life. 00:41:18.059 --> 00:41:19.360 He said to her, 00:41:20.740 --> 00:41:24.539 if you drink the water I will give you, 00:41:25.480 --> 00:41:28.519 you will never thirst again. 00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:35.900 And she ran off leaving her bucket at the well. 00:41:36.800 --> 00:41:37.940 She came to fill it, 00:41:38.539 --> 00:41:42.159 but she was so full of through water 00:41:42.159 --> 00:41:44.000 that she left it 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:47.119 and went into the city to the men 00:41:47.119 --> 00:41:49.739 that she had served promiscuously to say, 00:41:49.739 --> 00:41:53.399 this is not the Messiah, is it? 00:41:56.399 --> 00:41:59.479 And here it is to teach us 00:41:59.479 --> 00:42:03.279 that to enter God's family, 00:42:04.279 --> 00:42:09.419 we must be born from the dead. 00:42:09.420 --> 00:42:16.400 dead people have no auditory skills. 00:42:18.539 --> 00:42:19.700 Without hearing, 00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:21.860 there can be no doing. 00:42:25.159 --> 00:42:26.500 If I can't hear, 00:42:27.079 --> 00:42:29.019 how can I respond? 00:42:30.200 --> 00:42:31.440 There's only one answer. 00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:35.579 There has to be a gift given 00:42:35.579 --> 00:42:37.880 so that you can hear. 00:42:39.380 --> 00:42:41.860 And that gift that is given, 00:42:43.200 --> 00:42:45.440 that is capable of bringing 00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:47.280 the living dead to life, 00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:50.340 is the voice of our Lord. 00:42:50.980 --> 00:42:54.179 I am the resurrection 00:42:54.179 --> 00:42:55.919 and the life. 00:42:56.899 --> 00:42:57.299 I am it. 00:43:02.019 --> 00:43:02.859 It's a gift. 00:43:05.699 --> 00:43:07.239 We need to accept that gift. 00:43:10.699 --> 00:43:11.899 The question is, 00:43:13.059 --> 00:43:13.639 have we? 00:43:14.339 --> 00:43:16.000 It is the greatest question 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:19.319 you will ever answer in this life. 00:43:19.320 --> 00:43:23.640 It is one that you will not 00:43:23.640 --> 00:43:24.360 be able to answer 00:43:24.360 --> 00:43:26.960 in the next life. 00:43:29.860 --> 00:43:30.340 Finally, 00:43:31.120 --> 00:43:33.480 why is the story here? 00:43:34.980 --> 00:43:36.519 It's to show you and I 00:43:36.519 --> 00:43:37.780 hope. 00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:42.460 After darkness 00:43:42.460 --> 00:43:44.740 comes light. 00:43:46.140 --> 00:43:47.680 You and I are walking 00:43:47.679 --> 00:43:50.039 in a shadowed land. 00:43:51.500 --> 00:43:52.460 The best 00:43:52.460 --> 00:43:53.859 and highest privileges 00:43:53.859 --> 00:43:54.579 of it 00:43:54.579 --> 00:43:56.259 are temporal. 00:43:58.500 --> 00:43:59.899 And they point to something 00:43:59.899 --> 00:44:00.440 far better. 00:44:04.460 --> 00:44:05.639 So I would say, 00:44:07.179 --> 00:44:08.919 what Jesus said, 00:44:09.699 --> 00:44:10.839 what Martha said 00:44:10.839 --> 00:44:11.559 to Mary, 00:44:12.559 --> 00:44:14.259 the teacher is here. 00:44:15.219 --> 00:44:16.339 He's calling for you. 00:44:16.340 --> 00:44:18.480 The teacher is here. 00:44:19.460 --> 00:44:20.340 He's calling for you. 00:44:22.200 --> 00:44:24.240 Jesus said to Martha, 00:44:25.079 --> 00:44:26.640 do you believe this? 00:44:28.740 --> 00:44:29.620 Do you believe this? 00:44:34.740 --> 00:44:36.160 There is a reality 00:44:36.160 --> 00:44:39.039 that is beyond 00:44:39.039 --> 00:44:41.039 what can be observed. 00:44:43.160 --> 00:44:44.940 It is important to know that. 00:44:44.940 --> 00:44:47.800 it is important 00:44:47.800 --> 00:44:49.059 to embrace that. 00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:51.740 It is important 00:44:51.740 --> 00:44:52.760 to live in light of that. 00:44:54.800 --> 00:44:55.920 Hear the words 00:44:55.920 --> 00:44:56.740 of our Lord. 00:44:57.840 --> 00:44:58.360 I 00:44:58.360 --> 00:44:59.340 am 00:44:59.340 --> 00:45:01.079 the resurrection 00:45:01.079 --> 00:45:01.820 and the life. 00:45:04.360 --> 00:45:05.659 He that believes in me, 00:45:05.700 --> 00:45:06.619 though he dies, 00:45:07.619 --> 00:45:08.900 shall live. 00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:09.639 God 00:45:09.639 --> 00:45:10.280 is 00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:10.900 the 00:45:10.900 --> 00:45:11.760 God 00:45:11.760 --> 00:45:12.340 we thank you, 00:45:12.340 --> 00:45:12.900 our Father, 00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:14.200 for the Holy Scriptures 00:45:14.200 --> 00:45:18.139 because they point 00:45:18.139 --> 00:45:18.780 to you 00:45:18.780 --> 00:45:21.400 and to know you, 00:45:22.860 --> 00:45:23.740 the one 00:45:23.740 --> 00:45:25.240 of which it points 00:45:25.240 --> 00:45:27.559 is to know life. 00:45:27.559 --> 00:45:30.619 we thank you, 00:45:30.619 --> 00:45:31.139 our Father, 00:45:31.420 --> 00:45:33.380 that you have delivered 00:45:33.380 --> 00:45:34.519 us from our darkness, 00:45:35.519 --> 00:45:38.440 that you are the 00:45:38.440 --> 00:45:39.000 resurrection 00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:39.880 and the life. 00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:42.099 You are the answer 00:45:42.099 --> 00:45:42.619 to living 00:45:42.619 --> 00:45:44.779 and you are the answer 00:45:44.779 --> 00:45:45.539 to the grave. 00:45:47.299 --> 00:45:48.299 We thank you 00:45:48.299 --> 00:45:49.500 for the deep hope 00:45:49.500 --> 00:45:50.980 that burns 00:45:50.980 --> 00:45:52.299 within our soul. 00:45:52.300 --> 00:45:52.380 Father, 00:45:53.180 --> 00:45:55.519 I pray, 00:45:55.600 --> 00:45:56.080 dear Father, 00:45:57.019 --> 00:45:57.900 that those 00:45:57.900 --> 00:45:58.920 who have not 00:45:58.920 --> 00:45:59.880 been brought 00:45:59.880 --> 00:46:00.800 from the cave 00:46:00.800 --> 00:46:02.820 would hear 00:46:02.820 --> 00:46:03.780 what Jesus said. 00:46:05.180 --> 00:46:06.060 The Master 00:46:06.060 --> 00:46:06.500 is here. 00:46:07.620 --> 00:46:08.180 He is calling 00:46:08.180 --> 00:46:08.720 for you. 00:46:10.400 --> 00:46:11.600 Do you believe 00:46:11.600 --> 00:46:12.220 these things? 00:46:13.980 --> 00:46:14.580 And, 00:46:14.680 --> 00:46:14.940 Father, 00:46:15.539 --> 00:46:16.160 we believe 00:46:16.160 --> 00:46:16.580 these things. 00:46:18.080 --> 00:46:19.039 We truly 00:46:19.039 --> 00:46:20.019 believe these things. 00:46:20.019 --> 00:46:22.659 and we truly 00:46:22.659 --> 00:46:23.320 love you. 00:46:25.539 --> 00:46:26.679 And we thank you 00:46:26.679 --> 00:46:28.340 in Jesus' name. 00:46:28.340 --> 00:46:28.579 Amen. 00:46:29.019 --> 00:46:29.579 They hear amen. 00:46:30.579 --> 00:46:30.920 Amen. 00:46:31.699 --> 00:46:31.900 Hey, 00:46:31.960 --> 00:46:32.579 if you're here 00:46:32.579 --> 00:46:33.460 for the first time 00:46:33.460 --> 00:46:34.159 or you've been here 00:46:34.159 --> 00:46:35.000 a billion times, 00:46:35.139 --> 00:46:35.699 I don't think you can do 00:46:35.699 --> 00:46:36.320 a billion times 00:46:36.320 --> 00:46:36.920 in two years, 00:46:37.659 --> 00:46:38.300 but if you need 00:46:38.300 --> 00:46:39.599 someone to pray 00:46:39.599 --> 00:46:40.079 with you, 00:46:40.219 --> 00:46:41.019 need someone to talk 00:46:41.019 --> 00:46:41.619 about things, 00:46:42.039 --> 00:46:42.920 we have trained 00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:43.880 prayer counselors 00:46:43.880 --> 00:46:44.380 up front. 00:46:44.460 --> 00:46:45.300 It's all confidential. 00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:46.739 Come see the elders. 00:46:47.000 --> 00:46:47.780 Come see the staff. 00:46:47.920 --> 00:46:48.360 We would love 00:46:48.360 --> 00:46:49.179 to pray with you. 00:46:49.179 --> 00:46:50.440 Don't leave here 00:46:50.440 --> 00:46:51.000 with a burden 00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:51.599 on your heart 00:46:51.599 --> 00:46:51.899 or something 00:46:51.899 --> 00:46:52.239 that you feel 00:46:52.239 --> 00:46:52.759 like God's been 00:46:52.759 --> 00:46:53.419 talking to you. 00:46:53.799 --> 00:46:54.819 Come talk to somebody 00:46:54.819 --> 00:46:55.359 and let's pray 00:46:55.359 --> 00:46:55.739 with you 00:46:55.739 --> 00:46:56.980 and listen to 00:46:56.980 --> 00:46:57.500 what Christ 00:46:57.500 --> 00:46:58.179 has to say 00:46:58.179 --> 00:46:58.719 to you today. 00:46:59.339 --> 00:46:59.639 Thank you, 00:46:59.719 --> 00:47:00.159 Dr. Hannah, 00:47:00.279 --> 00:47:00.960 for sharing 00:47:00.960 --> 00:47:01.619 God's word 00:47:01.619 --> 00:47:02.179 with us today. 00:47:02.579 --> 00:47:02.839 Also, 00:47:02.960 --> 00:47:03.759 we don't pass 00:47:03.759 --> 00:47:04.500 around offerings 00:47:04.500 --> 00:47:05.239 around here. 00:47:05.699 --> 00:47:06.199 There's little 00:47:06.199 --> 00:47:07.299 blue envelopes 00:47:07.299 --> 00:47:07.919 and we do that. 00:47:08.119 --> 00:47:08.739 We've been on 00:47:08.739 --> 00:47:09.039 a journey 00:47:09.039 --> 00:47:09.599 for two years. 00:47:09.699 --> 00:47:10.179 We feel like 00:47:10.179 --> 00:47:12.019 everything that we do 00:47:12.019 --> 00:47:12.960 is acts of worship 00:47:12.960 --> 00:47:13.460 to the Lord. 00:47:14.039 --> 00:47:14.500 And so as you 00:47:14.500 --> 00:47:15.219 respond to what 00:47:15.219 --> 00:47:15.779 Christ has done 00:47:15.779 --> 00:47:16.259 in your life, 00:47:16.359 --> 00:47:17.319 we just ask you 00:47:17.319 --> 00:47:18.599 to respond 00:47:18.599 --> 00:47:19.480 with your finances 00:47:19.480 --> 00:47:20.059 too because 00:47:20.059 --> 00:47:20.639 he's given us 00:47:20.639 --> 00:47:21.199 all things 00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:21.860 and that helps 00:47:21.860 --> 00:47:22.219 us to do 00:47:22.219 --> 00:47:22.679 the outreaches 00:47:22.679 --> 00:47:23.159 we've talked 00:47:23.159 --> 00:47:23.739 about and all 00:47:23.739 --> 00:47:24.159 those things. 00:47:24.719 --> 00:47:25.380 When you leave, 00:47:25.460 --> 00:47:26.059 don't just rush 00:47:26.059 --> 00:47:26.319 out. 00:47:26.420 --> 00:47:27.539 There's food 00:47:27.539 --> 00:47:28.139 and drinks 00:47:28.139 --> 00:47:29.779 and what you've 00:47:29.779 --> 00:47:30.159 heard today 00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:30.699 over and over 00:47:30.699 --> 00:47:31.380 is that this is 00:47:31.380 --> 00:47:32.259 only 20% 00:47:32.259 --> 00:47:32.719 of what we do 00:47:32.719 --> 00:47:33.299 as a church. 00:47:33.839 --> 00:47:34.719 80% is done 00:47:34.719 --> 00:47:35.319 in community 00:47:35.319 --> 00:47:36.440 outside in Hong Kong 00:47:36.440 --> 00:47:37.059 and other places. 00:47:37.599 --> 00:47:38.159 So if you're not 00:47:38.159 --> 00:47:38.960 in a community group, 00:47:39.460 --> 00:47:40.719 please sign up. 00:47:40.759 --> 00:47:41.259 There's a table 00:47:41.259 --> 00:47:41.679 out there. 00:47:41.799 --> 00:47:42.420 Sylvie will be 00:47:42.420 --> 00:47:43.039 at the table 00:47:43.039 --> 00:47:44.000 and we would 00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:44.340 love for you 00:47:44.340 --> 00:47:44.940 to join a community 00:47:44.940 --> 00:47:45.460 group and go 00:47:45.460 --> 00:47:46.139 on this journey 00:47:46.139 --> 00:47:47.059 that we're on. 00:47:47.119 --> 00:47:47.400 We have them 00:47:47.400 --> 00:47:48.280 all around Hong Kong. 00:47:48.380 --> 00:47:49.039 We started a couple 00:47:49.039 --> 00:47:50.360 on the Kowloon side 00:47:50.360 --> 00:47:51.440 and so this is 00:47:51.440 --> 00:47:51.940 your chance. 00:47:52.039 --> 00:47:52.720 Don't leave here 00:47:52.720 --> 00:47:53.440 without signing up 00:47:53.440 --> 00:47:53.920 for a community 00:47:53.920 --> 00:47:54.579 group, okay? 00:47:55.059 --> 00:47:55.760 Next week, 00:47:56.099 --> 00:47:57.220 the cloud is moving 00:47:57.220 --> 00:47:58.260 and so we are 00:47:58.260 --> 00:47:59.539 at West Island School 00:47:59.539 --> 00:48:00.440 in your bulletin. 00:48:00.519 --> 00:48:01.099 There's maps 00:48:01.099 --> 00:48:01.680 to get there 00:48:01.680 --> 00:48:02.880 so don't come here. 00:48:03.240 --> 00:48:03.599 I don't know 00:48:03.599 --> 00:48:04.500 what's going on here. 00:48:04.880 --> 00:48:05.460 I think a wedding. 00:48:06.039 --> 00:48:06.720 Next week, 00:48:06.800 --> 00:48:07.840 we'll be at West Island 00:48:07.840 --> 00:48:09.539 so we will see you 00:48:09.539 --> 00:48:10.719 at West Island 00:48:10.719 --> 00:48:13.139 and also I wanted 00:48:13.139 --> 00:48:15.940 to, my lovely wife, 00:48:17.360 --> 00:48:17.960 what we like to do 00:48:17.960 --> 00:48:18.340 is we like to, 00:48:18.679 --> 00:48:20.659 we wanted to bring up 00:48:20.659 --> 00:48:21.519 John and Carolyn 00:48:21.519 --> 00:48:23.159 and would you guys 00:48:23.159 --> 00:48:23.500 come up here 00:48:23.500 --> 00:48:24.119 for just a second 00:48:24.119 --> 00:48:24.739 and join us? 00:48:25.759 --> 00:48:26.980 So they have been 00:48:26.980 --> 00:48:29.139 a huge part for us 00:48:29.139 --> 00:48:29.840 as a couple 00:48:29.840 --> 00:48:31.400 and as a church. 00:48:31.960 --> 00:48:33.059 They are here 00:48:33.059 --> 00:48:35.259 at massive sacrifices 00:48:35.259 --> 00:48:36.079 to themselves. 00:48:36.259 --> 00:48:37.420 They actually flew in 00:48:37.420 --> 00:48:38.019 from Israel 00:48:38.019 --> 00:48:39.679 on a group 00:48:39.679 --> 00:48:40.900 and so they've just 00:48:40.900 --> 00:48:42.960 been huge servants 00:48:42.960 --> 00:48:43.539 to us. 00:48:43.920 --> 00:48:44.900 When we got married, 00:48:45.000 --> 00:48:46.119 I was still in seminary. 00:48:46.219 --> 00:48:47.079 Christina had no one 00:48:47.079 --> 00:48:47.659 to talk to. 00:48:47.759 --> 00:48:48.800 She needed someone 00:48:48.800 --> 00:48:49.440 really badly 00:48:49.440 --> 00:48:50.099 to talk to 00:48:50.099 --> 00:48:52.880 and so she sought out 00:48:52.880 --> 00:48:53.259 Carolyn 00:48:53.259 --> 00:48:54.199 and Carolyn has been 00:48:54.199 --> 00:48:55.759 a huge answer 00:48:55.759 --> 00:48:56.400 to our prayer 00:48:56.400 --> 00:48:57.099 and I would spend 00:48:57.099 --> 00:48:57.559 all my money 00:48:57.559 --> 00:48:58.219 to bring you guys 00:48:58.219 --> 00:48:58.840 back as much 00:48:58.840 --> 00:48:59.340 as I could 00:48:59.340 --> 00:49:00.460 just because of 00:49:00.460 --> 00:49:01.099 how you ministered 00:49:01.099 --> 00:49:01.380 to us. 00:49:01.739 --> 00:49:02.719 And so with that 00:49:02.719 --> 00:49:04.079 and all the Israel trips 00:49:04.079 --> 00:49:04.639 they've taken us 00:49:04.639 --> 00:49:05.159 on, they've taken us 00:49:05.159 --> 00:49:06.039 on three Israel trips 00:49:06.039 --> 00:49:06.960 so one with Island, 00:49:06.960 --> 00:49:08.420 one with Watermark 00:49:08.420 --> 00:49:09.119 and then the next one 00:49:09.119 --> 00:49:10.380 coming up May 16th. 00:49:10.619 --> 00:49:11.440 And so we just wanted to, 00:49:11.500 --> 00:49:12.740 this is a very small token 00:49:12.740 --> 00:49:15.139 but it's what you mean 00:49:15.139 --> 00:49:16.840 to us as a family 00:49:16.840 --> 00:49:18.019 and as a church family 00:49:18.019 --> 00:49:18.900 that's a symbol 00:49:18.900 --> 00:49:19.900 of your serving us. 00:49:22.780 --> 00:49:23.220 Yeah. 00:49:23.960 --> 00:49:25.059 Thank you so much. 00:49:27.840 --> 00:49:30.240 And so, yeah. 00:49:30.500 --> 00:49:31.840 So let me pray for us 00:49:31.840 --> 00:49:32.840 and we can go out 00:49:32.840 --> 00:49:33.920 and I pray that you would 00:49:33.920 --> 00:49:35.620 think about that reality 00:49:35.620 --> 00:49:37.920 beyond what we see. 00:49:39.019 --> 00:49:40.160 That reality is Christ. 00:49:42.220 --> 00:49:43.079 Father, we thank you 00:49:43.079 --> 00:49:43.539 for this day. 00:49:43.680 --> 00:49:44.539 Thank you for your mercy 00:49:44.539 --> 00:49:45.240 and your grace. 00:49:49.559 --> 00:49:51.000 We pray for those of us 00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:53.280 here who are still in the tomb. 00:49:54.700 --> 00:49:55.360 Pray that they would 00:49:55.360 --> 00:49:56.059 hear your voice 00:49:56.059 --> 00:49:58.000 in amazing ways 00:49:58.000 --> 00:49:59.400 of love, 00:49:59.800 --> 00:50:00.180 mercy, 00:50:00.500 --> 00:50:00.860 grace, 00:50:00.860 --> 00:50:02.120 compassion, 00:50:02.200 --> 00:50:02.740 all those things 00:50:02.740 --> 00:50:03.420 we've sung up 00:50:03.420 --> 00:50:04.500 and we've hooked 00:50:04.500 --> 00:50:04.900 to your word. 00:50:05.700 --> 00:50:06.579 We pray that they would 00:50:06.579 --> 00:50:07.420 hear that voice 00:50:07.420 --> 00:50:09.000 and they would walk 00:50:09.000 --> 00:50:09.900 into a new life 00:50:09.900 --> 00:50:10.559 of your son. 00:50:11.440 --> 00:50:11.780 Father, we pray 00:50:11.780 --> 00:50:12.800 for the rest of us here 00:50:12.800 --> 00:50:13.980 who often sometimes 00:50:13.980 --> 00:50:14.740 go on a journey 00:50:14.740 --> 00:50:17.000 and sometimes we miss 00:50:17.000 --> 00:50:17.880 hearing that voice 00:50:17.880 --> 00:50:19.420 because we've listened 00:50:19.420 --> 00:50:20.900 to so many other voices 00:50:20.900 --> 00:50:21.460 around us, 00:50:21.519 --> 00:50:22.180 talking to us 00:50:22.180 --> 00:50:23.700 and pulling our distractions 00:50:23.700 --> 00:50:25.460 away from the centrality 00:50:25.460 --> 00:50:26.019 of your son. 00:50:26.720 --> 00:50:27.800 Father, we just beg 00:50:27.800 --> 00:50:28.880 forgiveness and 00:50:28.880 --> 00:50:29.460 faith and mercy. 00:50:30.539 --> 00:50:31.240 We thank you. 00:50:32.420 --> 00:50:33.100 We thank you. 00:50:34.180 --> 00:50:35.660 You freely give grace 00:50:35.660 --> 00:50:37.840 whenever we ask. 00:50:38.400 --> 00:50:39.360 Even when we don't, 00:50:39.539 --> 00:50:40.220 you're always here. 00:50:41.180 --> 00:50:42.180 And so we come to you 00:50:42.180 --> 00:50:43.340 and we worship you 00:50:43.340 --> 00:50:43.820 this morning. 00:50:44.840 --> 00:50:45.340 We thank you 00:50:45.340 --> 00:50:46.539 that you are amazing 00:50:46.539 --> 00:50:48.960 and we can trust you. 00:50:49.680 --> 00:50:50.460 It's your gift. 00:50:51.500 --> 00:50:52.400 We love you 00:50:52.400 --> 00:50:53.780 and we pray all these things 00:50:53.780 --> 00:50:54.440 for your son Jesus. 00:50:54.640 --> 00:50:55.120 Holy name. 00:50:56.080 --> 00:50:56.260 Amen. 00:50:56.260 --> 00:50:57.600 God bless you. 00:50:57.820 --> 00:50:58.440 See you next time.