WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:04.780 Well, good morning, everyone. How lovely to see you. And let me just extend my welcome. 00:00:04.900 --> 00:00:08.839 If this is your first time here at Brunsfield, it is lovely to have you with us. 00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:11.620 My name is Graham. I'm the pastor here of the church. 00:00:11.700 --> 00:00:16.280 Here's what we normally do at this point in our service just for the next 25 minutes or so, he says confidently. 00:00:16.699 --> 00:00:19.879 We're just going to spend a bit of time looking at this passage together. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.039 So let me encourage you, if you have a Bible there, to turn back to the passage. 00:00:24.179 --> 00:00:28.580 If not, the words will go on the screen or you can grab a Bible in front of you. 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:35.799 But you know how we all have friends who don't do small talk, right? 00:00:36.179 --> 00:00:39.460 And normally the golden rule is if you can't think of anyone, it's probably you, okay? 00:00:40.259 --> 00:00:41.599 Friends who don't do small talk. 00:00:41.659 --> 00:00:45.719 Well, here's a question that I remember a friend came straight up and asked me one day. 00:00:46.619 --> 00:00:49.920 They said, is there anything that if you found out it was or wasn't true, 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:53.659 is there anything that would cause you to give up your Christian faith? 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:56.879 Which is a really good question if you think about it, isn't it? 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:00.640 Is there anything that if you found out it was true or wasn't true would cause you to give up the Christian faith? 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:04.040 And the answer to that question, of course, is yes. 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:07.140 Absolutely, it's yes. 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:09.680 The answer to that question is yes. 00:01:09.740 --> 00:01:14.960 You see, the central claim of Christianity is that there was a man who lived called Jesus. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:20.480 He was crucified on a cross and a few days later he verifiably rose from the dead. 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:23.160 Now, if that isn't true, right? 00:01:23.240 --> 00:01:29.100 If time team were to be able to do a Jerusalem special, go on an archaeological dig, uncover his bones, 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:35.420 then let me just say Jesus isn't worth following on Twitter, let alone with your life. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:39.800 I certainly wouldn't be here on a Sunday morning if this weren't true. 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:47.039 The beaten heart of the Bible is that not only is the resurrection of Jesus the biggest fact in history, 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:54.179 but also, and here's whoever you are here today, here's why I'd love you to listen to what this passage is saying to you. 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:59.039 It's the biggest fact in history, but this is God's solution. 00:01:59.340 --> 00:02:05.659 Jesus is God's solution to the two biggest issues that we've been wrestling with as a culture over the last two years. 00:02:05.659 --> 00:02:14.319 Two issues I'm not sure we've got an answer to, and the two issues I think in light of this week are the two issues that are front and center of our minds. 00:02:16.079 --> 00:02:16.599 Do you know what they are? 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:22.039 Death and discrimination slash division. 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:25.579 And this is what God would say to both of them. 00:02:25.580 --> 00:02:38.340 And I was on Twitter the other day, I was seeing a guy who was talking about how, for him, the best thing about the return to life sport, 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:46.160 to get back into a ground again, was the fact that for 90 minutes he can escape how hard his life is. 00:02:47.100 --> 00:02:47.500 Right? 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:51.160 The reason I saw it is because everybody's liking it, everyone's retweeting it, everyone's quoting it. 00:02:51.160 --> 00:02:52.840 Not because people really like football. 00:02:53.320 --> 00:02:55.420 You can substitute anything in there for what you're saying. 00:02:56.580 --> 00:02:58.219 But people understand it. 00:02:59.140 --> 00:02:59.719 It's true, isn't it? 00:02:59.740 --> 00:03:03.880 These two things have just battered our minds and battered our hearts over the last couple of years. 00:03:04.060 --> 00:03:05.220 We're wrestling with it. 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:07.200 How do we make sense of it all? 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:10.360 Do you know, apparently, I learned this on Ant and Dec's Saturday night takeaway, 00:03:10.720 --> 00:03:14.780 apparently 7.26pm on a Saturday night is the happiest minute of the week. 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:16.520 Okay? 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:19.060 Because what can we do on Saturday night? 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:19.939 What do we love to do? 00:03:20.740 --> 00:03:22.080 Just get away from it all. 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:23.580 Yeah? 00:03:23.580 --> 00:03:24.920 Flip that round. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:26.940 7.29 on a Monday morning. 00:03:28.580 --> 00:03:30.600 Generally, this is somebody's research. 00:03:30.720 --> 00:03:38.439 7.29 on a Monday morning is the lowest point of the week when the waves of worry hit us and we turn back to reality. 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:41.180 And we just find it really hard. 00:03:43.099 --> 00:03:45.060 And this is what this passage is saying today. 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:55.680 The news of the crucified and risen Jesus is the news that smashes down the door of despair and offers hope to a dying and a fractured and a broken world. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:59.520 And here's what I want us to see in the next 20 minutes or so. 00:03:59.640 --> 00:04:01.540 Two things I want us to see from this passage. 00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:02.560 Okay? 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:03.280 Here's number one. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:04.960 This is what the gospel does. 00:04:05.540 --> 00:04:10.860 The gospel, the news about the Jesus who came, who lived, who died, who rose again. 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:12.020 What that means. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:13.680 That's what Christians call the gospel. 00:04:13.920 --> 00:04:14.680 Here's what it is. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:15.920 It does two things. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:16.659 Here's the first one. 00:04:16.719 --> 00:04:18.139 It raises up desperate people. 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:24.159 So this section in the book of Acts, Luke focuses in on this man called Peter. 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:26.579 And this is where we jump into the passage today, if you've got it there. 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:35.919 Peter was one of Jesus' closest disciples who spent three years of his life watching, listening, and learning from Jesus. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:42.659 And the risen Jesus has tasked Peter and the other disciples to take the gospel. 00:04:42.660 --> 00:04:50.220 So this good news, but who Jesus is, what he's done, take it to the ends of the earth. 00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:58.480 We jump into verse 32 of chapter 9. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:01.200 Jump into chapter 32. 00:05:02.100 --> 00:05:04.060 And we find Peter going to two places. 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:07.900 And he encounters in those two places two people. 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:10.500 Those two people have two very different problems. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:14.680 Firstly, he goes to this place called Lydda, verse 32. 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:18.040 And he meets this man called Anias. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:19.199 That is his name. 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:20.360 What's his problem? 00:05:20.579 --> 00:05:24.199 His problem, if you see it in the text, is that he is paralyzed. 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:29.300 He has been bedridden for eight years. 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:31.839 That's the eyewitness details of who this man is. 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:36.959 Now you've got to understand that every angle we look at this man from, it's heartbreaking, is it not? 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:39.279 It's utterly heartbreaking. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:43.500 Had the people in Lydda completely forgotten about this man? 00:05:44.539 --> 00:05:48.099 The thing we need to say from this text is that God hadn't forgotten about this man. 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:49.399 God sees this man. 00:05:50.139 --> 00:05:50.879 God's sovereign. 00:05:51.059 --> 00:05:52.539 He's in control over all this. 00:05:52.739 --> 00:05:54.059 People bumping into each other. 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:55.279 It's not coincidence. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:57.519 God is orchestrating all of this. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:03.599 So Peter bumps into this man and he says, Jesus Christ heals you. 00:06:03.779 --> 00:06:05.019 The man's healed. 00:06:05.419 --> 00:06:06.779 What's the result of that? 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:09.299 This man gets his life back. 00:06:10.359 --> 00:06:13.919 And people turned to the Lord. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.039 You see that description there? 00:06:15.099 --> 00:06:16.539 They turned to the Lord. 00:06:16.540 --> 00:06:21.080 I love that the Bible uses this word repentance. 00:06:21.640 --> 00:06:22.240 It's what it means. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:24.160 It means to stop going your way. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:25.780 To repent. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:28.220 To turn around and start going God's way. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:29.600 That's what it means. 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:30.180 I love it. 00:06:30.400 --> 00:06:34.040 At its heart it means to change your mind about who Jesus is. 00:06:34.580 --> 00:06:40.900 Whereas before you looked at Jesus and his death on the cross and you thought to yourself victim and loser. 00:06:40.899 --> 00:06:45.120 Now you look at him on the cross and you say victor and Lord. 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:47.439 It's to turn your mind. 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:49.979 To change your mind about who Jesus is. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:53.000 We'll rattle through this. 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:55.019 Next person is this woman called Tabitha. 00:06:55.659 --> 00:06:59.459 She's just a little bit up the coast in this place called Joppa. 00:06:59.679 --> 00:07:01.939 We get a little bit more of a description of her. 00:07:03.299 --> 00:07:04.299 Verse 36. 00:07:04.459 --> 00:07:05.079 What is she doing? 00:07:05.179 --> 00:07:06.539 She's always doing good. 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:08.939 She's giving to the poor. 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:11.100 She's helping people. 00:07:11.219 --> 00:07:12.180 She's making things. 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:13.500 She's clearly skilled with her hands. 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.160 She makes things like clothes and bags. 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:23.300 But Tabitha, the distressing news, is that she becomes ill and dies. 00:07:23.740 --> 00:07:24.740 Peter goes in. 00:07:24.860 --> 00:07:27.040 He gets down on his knees and he prays. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:31.060 And this dead woman comes back to life. 00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:33.720 Again, what's the pattern? 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:35.459 This woman gets her life back. 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:37.579 And what do the people do? 00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:39.859 They believed in the Lord. 00:07:41.419 --> 00:07:42.500 Believed in the Lord. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:46.319 And I take it what's going on here is Luke is using these two words. 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:49.419 The doctor-cum-historian who's written this. 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:54.659 He's helping us see that to turn and believe are two sides of the one coin. 00:07:55.819 --> 00:07:58.219 If you're here today, that is going to be the call of this passage. 00:07:58.360 --> 00:08:00.719 To change your mind about who Jesus is. 00:08:01.659 --> 00:08:02.439 Repentance coin. 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:04.060 Turn and believe. 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:14.800 And what's going on at this unique moment in history is that these things are happening to authenticate Peter in the eyes of the watching world. 00:08:15.459 --> 00:08:15.839 Right? 00:08:15.899 --> 00:08:18.860 It's almost like God is shining a spotlight on this man. 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:24.520 And he's declaring to the world that this man is no bogus gas man who's turned up at your door. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:24.980 Right? 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:27.900 This man, his message are legit. 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:29.480 This is who he is. 00:08:29.520 --> 00:08:30.939 You can trust what he's saying. 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:39.519 And I take it we're meant to respond in exactly the same way as we see what the risen Jesus is doing through Peter. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:50.679 But more than that, we've got to see here that if our trust is in Jesus, then this might not be what happens to us now. 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:51.819 We need to be clear on that. 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:54.559 I think this is unique for this time. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:09:02.579 But this will certainly be what happens to each and every one of us if our trust is in Jesus in heaven. 00:09:03.839 --> 00:09:05.459 We'll be greeted with those words. 00:09:06.139 --> 00:09:09.779 Jesus Christ heals you. 00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:14.839 And some of us just need to take that in like a sweet this morning. 00:09:16.619 --> 00:09:17.599 Just take it in. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:19.879 Allow the sugar of that verse to hit your bloodstream. 00:09:21.179 --> 00:09:22.459 Jesus Christ heals you. 00:09:22.979 --> 00:09:23.539 It's our future. 00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:26.559 It might not be our present, but it's our future. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:29.559 And here's what I notice in the text. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:30.679 I never noticed it before. 00:09:31.719 --> 00:09:32.740 We're doing this for years. 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:33.740 I always love it in the Bible. 00:09:33.839 --> 00:09:38.039 You read this for years and you realize there's just oceans that you've not discovered here. 00:09:38.579 --> 00:09:38.740 Okay? 00:09:39.079 --> 00:09:44.839 Who is it that Peter particularly wants to see what Jesus has done in the life of Tabitha? 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:47.199 Who is it that he calls for? 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:51.120 He calls for the widows. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:56.879 Now, the widows were the ones in the immediate context were the ones who were absolutely devastated about Tabitha's death. 00:09:57.560 --> 00:09:58.000 Do you see it? 00:09:58.340 --> 00:09:59.500 They were absolutely devastated. 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:05.600 They surrounded Peter, just showing him things, as if to say, do you see how much this has affected us? 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:08.800 Now, what is a widow by definition? 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:12.740 It's somebody whose husband has died. 00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:17.799 And perhaps Tabitha, I don't know, I'm just reading between the lines here. 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:20.560 Perhaps Tabitha was a dear friend of all of these people. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:28.699 And it's almost as if Peter understands that for these people, death has just stung them again. 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:32.500 And they just cannot handle any more of it. 00:10:34.199 --> 00:10:36.319 Each time it happens, it gets more painful. 00:10:36.479 --> 00:10:41.000 I remember speaking to a lady once, coming to her, I think, 80s. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:42.860 And just talking about how she just, what happened? 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:44.139 I'm just losing my friends. 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:46.019 That's really hard. 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:55.779 And if you're here today, and that's you, and I take it all of us, that is the case as we just look at what's going on in our world and our personal lives and on in the world. 00:10:56.679 --> 00:10:58.240 And we're just sick of death. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:03.259 I take it God would particularly want you to know this. 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:07.700 It's almost like he would seek you out today and say, see what happens to Tabitha. 00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:08.140 Right? 00:11:10.160 --> 00:11:12.240 It's not like she's turned into Wonder Woman here. 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:13.460 She will die again. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:17.200 But people looking at this thinking, do you know what? 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:20.160 Even if she dies, Jesus holds her life. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:22.280 Jesus can give her life back. 00:11:23.140 --> 00:11:28.860 And he'll do that to all of his people one day when he returns to make all things new. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:30.420 This really is a message of hope. 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:33.740 The gospel really does raise up desperate people. 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:38.320 And I take it if you've seen it on your news screens recently, that is why so many Christians in Ukraine. 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:43.060 I don't know if you saw the video of them in the metro station, just singing hymns. 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:44.259 Just singing hymns. 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:46.820 Somebody translated it, just the death and resurrection of Jesus. 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:49.720 Just singing hymns to their friends. 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:51.159 Singing hymns to their culture. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:54.419 Because this is where hope is to be found in the darkest of moments. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.700 The gospel raises up desperate people. 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:01.600 It raises up desperate people. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:05.060 And secondly, the gospel smashes down dividing walls. 00:12:06.560 --> 00:12:14.680 And I think what happens next, I don't think it's any exaggeration to say, it's one of, it is the most significant moment in the book of Acts. 00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:19.639 But it's one of the most significant moments in the entirety of the Bible, what happens here. 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:24.920 And if we're to get it, why that's the case, I think we need to understand a nickname. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:28.120 It's one of these strange things that we do as human beings, isn't it? 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:30.340 We all know people with good nicknames. 00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:34.639 But we all know people, I'm sure maybe some of us are here, that we suffer because of a bad nickname. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:40.279 You've got to understand here, the Jews have got a really bad nickname for the Gentiles. 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:42.580 They called them dogs. 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:44.080 Right? 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:45.580 You ever been to the third world? 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:48.240 You're just dogs running about. 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:48.720 Right? 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:52.180 We're not talking about Butze the Chihuahua here when they called them dogs. 00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:59.000 We're talking about street roaming, flea ridden, rabies carrying, undomesticated pest society. 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:01.220 That you just need to put it down. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:04.680 And the Jews look at the Gentiles. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:06.100 Gentiles just means non-Jews. 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:09.299 Everyone else in the world and say, you guys are dogs. 00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:10.220 And do you know what? 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:13.700 The hatred there, the Gentiles just sent it right back. 00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:20.700 The events in the hundred years prior to this have only irritated and inflamed the whole situation. 00:13:21.540 --> 00:13:24.900 You have got two tribes here at each other's throats. 00:13:26.780 --> 00:13:28.060 And Peter's a Jew. 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:33.300 So he's grown up with that mindset that there are only two tribes in the world. 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:34.400 There are only two teams. 00:13:34.700 --> 00:13:35.800 There are us and them. 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:37.860 There are Jews and non-Jews. 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:39.140 Jews and Gentiles. 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:41.840 And here's the thing I think to see in the context of the passage. 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:44.379 There are clean and unclean. 00:13:45.319 --> 00:13:46.759 Clean and unclean. 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:50.080 And like water and oil, the two cannot mix. 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:53.059 Jews and Gentiles cannot mix. 00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:55.879 And you ask yourself, where has Peter got that from? 00:13:58.100 --> 00:14:01.740 The Old Testament, God has said to his people, I want you to live distinctly. 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:04.120 As my people in the world. 00:14:05.439 --> 00:14:08.439 I want you to realize in your heads that you're different. 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:15.600 From the peoples of the world around about you who do their things, who worship their so-called gods. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.340 I want you to understand that you're different. 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:21.799 You worship the living God who created the world. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:27.659 And to get it into their heads that to be right with him, to be his people, they need to be clean. 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:32.939 He's given them these lists of things that they had to consider unclean. 00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:39.760 And the point of it, I take it, was so that the Gentiles would look in at Israel and see that they do things different. 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:47.600 And we might be at a different point in history to this, but we've got to understand that the overarching principle is kind of the same in a way. 00:14:47.760 --> 00:14:50.860 The world would look in and say, they don't behave like us. 00:14:50.880 --> 00:14:52.100 They don't live like us. 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:57.019 And they would look in and say, well, surely it shows us how great Israel's God is. 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:02.019 And that he's made a way for us to be clean before him. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:05.300 And all these laws were to get it in the minds of the peoples. 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:14.000 So that when Jesus came in the scene, people would see that it's only him who can make us clean before this God. 00:15:14.099 --> 00:15:18.439 It's only him and his work on the cross that can make us clean before him. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:26.819 But what had happened is that the Jews had taken all these Old Testament laws about how they are to live and about being clean and unclean. 00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:34.500 And what they'd done is they'd twisted it and developed a pride-filled superiority complex when it comes to the rest of the world. 00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:36.160 Because, hey, hey, hey, God's chosen us. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.180 We're doing the thing. 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:39.480 We're living the life. 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:40.040 They're not. 00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:41.320 They're not. 00:15:43.520 --> 00:15:47.120 And so verse 1 of chapter 10, and you've got to see how big this is. 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.340 This is huge. 00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:50.420 Enter stage right. 00:15:51.160 --> 00:15:51.780 A dog. 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:58.259 This Roman centurion, this soldier called Cornelius. 00:15:59.459 --> 00:15:59.819 Right? 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:02.459 He lives up on the coast in this place called Caesarea. 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:02.860 Right? 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:03.299 Caesar. 00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:04.799 You get what's going on here. 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.860 He's a Roman soldier living in a kind of Roman place. 00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:08.059 He's a God-fearing man. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:15.579 Which I take it means that whilst he's not heard of Jesus, he believes in the gods that the Jews worship. 00:16:16.819 --> 00:16:20.299 And an angel appears to him and says, go and find this man, Peter. 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:27.079 And so he sends a little cohort to get the Jew who's at Joppa. 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.899 And it's interesting in the text. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:29.879 He sends, you see it. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:34.279 He sends two of his servants, which was fine. 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:36.659 But he also sends one of his devout soldiers. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:40.279 Because I think even Cornelius at this point is perhaps hedging his bets. 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.479 Is this really a thing? 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:52.960 What's interesting is that centuries before, in a Bible story, there was another Jew at Joppa. 00:16:54.300 --> 00:16:55.480 His name was Jonah. 00:16:55.480 --> 00:17:02.100 And God sent him to the Babylonians, to this enemy pagan people, to the Gentiles. 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:07.539 Because the thing in that story is that God has compassion for people. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.200 Loves people. 00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:11.099 The good news is to go to all nations. 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:16.140 And Jonah had to run to them to tell them to repent and turn to God and be saved. 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:19.680 But Jonah, so great was his hatred for the people outside. 00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:26.160 So strong and deep was the prejudice in his heart that he got on a boat and got out of there 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:29.980 because he just couldn't bring himself to go to a people who were non-Jewish. 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:34.720 So here's the question then that hangs over Acts 10. 00:17:36.600 --> 00:17:38.360 Will this Jew at Joppa do the same? 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:46.500 Will he overcome the prejudice in his heart or is history just going to repeat itself? 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:51.139 Is the gospel bigger than the hatred in humanity's heart? 00:17:51.699 --> 00:17:56.759 Does the gospel have the power to break down the barriers that our world naturally puts up? 00:17:56.879 --> 00:18:00.779 Does it have the power to unite people from all around the world under the banner of Jesus? 00:18:03.679 --> 00:18:04.619 Peter has a vision. 00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:05.219 Verse 12. 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:10.240 This large sheet comes down from heaven containing all sorts of reptiles, four-footed animals and birds. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:14.079 And Peter's told to rise and eat. 00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:14.440 Right? 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:19.200 Now we look at that and we see some kind of meat platter you would get at a restaurant, don't we? 00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:20.120 Right? 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:24.579 Like something, if you've ever been to that, is it Shebeen that's down the South African restaurant on Lothian Road? 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:26.799 You can order just a bucket of meat. 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:27.720 Right? 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.960 But that's what's going on here. 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:32.120 It's just a meat in a sheet. 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:35.779 But Peter looks at that and sees all kind of foods to be avoided. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:42.799 No wonder he had to see this thing three times to get his mind around it because it's just so countercultural to anything he's understood. 00:18:42.979 --> 00:18:46.000 It goes against the grain of everything that he and his people stand for. 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:49.059 But the key, verse 15. 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:54.039 God says this in light, remember this is in light of Jesus coming. 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:58.440 God says, do not call anything impure that God has made clean. 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:03.299 And Peter goes with them to Caesarea, verse 24. 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:07.799 And he enters Cornelius' house. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:12.539 Now you know that feeling you get of nervousness when you go into someone's house for the first time. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:14.599 Right? 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.720 Different smells. 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.539 Different etiquette. 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:18.259 I mean, is it shoes off? 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.079 Is it shoes on? 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:19.839 Different people? 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:21.940 Is it handshakes or is it hugs? 00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:25.599 That just feeling when you're going somewhere different for the first time. 00:19:27.399 --> 00:19:28.700 Multiply that by a hundred. 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:32.079 I don't think you're even getting close to how Peter is feeling as the guest. 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:36.980 And Cornelius is feeling as the host in this moment. 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:39.039 God understand it. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.859 This is one small step for Peter. 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:45.500 But it's one giant leap for the church of Jesus Christ. 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:49.139 And that's why I think Luke makes such a big deal of it. 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:51.599 He stepped into his house. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:55.740 Now we do something in our culture today, don't we? 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:57.240 The people that we have in our homes. 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:58.899 The people that we are associating with. 00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.859 The people that we want to welcome and love. 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:05.079 In this day, a Jew would never step in a Gentile's house. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.960 And a Gentile would never step in a Jew's house. 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:11.339 So here is one small step for Peter. 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:14.680 But one giant leap for the church of Jesus Christ. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.539 And Cornelius, do you see what he does? 00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:17.920 I take it this is just nerves. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:18.839 He doesn't know what to do. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.579 He falls at Peter's feet. 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.180 Right? 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:24.539 Now the question is, what is Peter going to do here? 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.119 If you think about it. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:31.420 One of your Gentile enemies, a Roman soldier, has just fallen at your feet. 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.299 You're in his home. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.559 What are you tempted to do? 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:37.700 Everything that your history of your people has taught you to do. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.500 What would you do? 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:40.460 Oh yeah, you know your place, son. 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:41.700 You dog. 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:42.519 That's right. 00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:43.500 You get down on your feet. 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.000 No, no, no. 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.799 Peter says what? 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.259 He says, stand up. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:53.599 Peter refused to be treated by Cornelius as if he were a god. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:58.099 And he also refused to treat Cornelius as if he were a dog. 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.859 And the two speak. 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:02.480 And you see how they speak. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.259 They speak what? 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.799 Eye to eye. 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:06.799 Eye to eye. 00:21:07.179 --> 00:21:08.719 Do you see how this is such a big moment here? 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:10.199 Sometimes we can just skip this. 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:12.199 This is a huge moment. 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:16.819 And Cornelius says, verse 32, tell us what God has told you to say. 00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.379 Now get this. 00:21:17.419 --> 00:21:18.500 I haven't seen this until this week. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.079 What's he doing? 00:21:19.679 --> 00:21:20.779 He said, tell us. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:21.579 Right? 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:22.960 We're all ears. 00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:25.099 All ears. 00:21:25.179 --> 00:21:30.099 Now the thing is, the last time Peter came face to face with a Roman soldier, 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:33.599 he struck his ear off. 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.519 Defending Jesus. 00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:40.659 No way these gentiles are coming in and taking my Lord. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:42.220 Peter's ready with his sword. 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.299 Takes off his ear. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:47.819 Now, as Cornelius says, tell us the news. 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:55.619 Peter speaks word into the ear of this Roman soldier proclaiming Jesus. 00:21:58.659 --> 00:22:00.779 Peter relays the vision and hears what it means. 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.500 Verse 34. 00:22:01.659 --> 00:22:04.779 I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:07.379 You see the barrier has been smashed down here? 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:13.579 But he accepts from every nation the one who fears him and who does what is right. 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:15.559 Now here's where we need to do a little bit of work. 00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:18.019 It's not like God has changed his mind. 00:22:19.919 --> 00:22:21.339 He's always had this in his heart. 00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:23.779 This is the heart of the triune God of the Bible. 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:30.799 Ever since Genesis 12 and Abraham, God has said that through you I'm going to bless the nations of the world. 00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:33.639 So this God has not changed his mind. 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:36.859 This God has always had a heart for the peoples of the world. 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:39.759 The question is, why did it take Peter so long to grasp it? 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:41.859 He's been with Jesus for three years. 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:47.440 It cannot be just the case, friends. 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.279 You know your own heart. 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.539 How fickle we are. 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:55.619 How slow we are to grasp at times God's heart for a world. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:04.099 Aren't we all just influenced by our culture in ways I think that we probably wouldn't even admit to? 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:06.119 Aren't there depths in our own hearts? 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:09.459 Like some kind of David Attenborough documentary exploring the deep. 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.579 There's just someone comes up. 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:21.279 Isn't there in each of us we looked hard enough dark areas of our hearts that we don't even realize are there until we're put in situations and we meet certain people. 00:23:22.719 --> 00:23:25.339 And I take it this is what's going on in Peter's heart here. 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:29.039 You know my kids often do that. 00:23:29.339 --> 00:23:33.939 They top the stairs and they chuck the slinky down. 00:23:34.459 --> 00:23:35.279 Remember doing that as a kid? 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:37.339 Chuck the slinky, chuck it down. 00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:39.839 Every so often they'll come through to me and just throw it at me. 00:23:40.399 --> 00:23:41.619 I say, Dad, can you fix it? 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:42.799 Right? 00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.859 So I'm sitting there with this slinky. 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.839 How on earth have you got it in this state? 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.720 Remember these slinkies? 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:48.000 You just get tangled, tangled. 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.480 And so you're looking at this thing. 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:56.079 And just slowly, slowly, slowly, you're just untangling it. 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.379 Uncoiling it. 00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:59.180 Putting it back together again. 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:03.399 And just takes you forever, forever, forever. 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:07.259 But before you know it, here's how it was meant to be. 00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:17.200 And I take it that sin, our rebellion against God that deserves hell and judgment, the sin in our hearts that Jesus took on the cross. 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.880 He's not just saved us. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:20.400 He is transforming us. 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:22.860 And I take it that's what is going on in our hearts. 00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:27.819 Is that Jesus is coming along, getting involved in our lives by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:30.640 And he's just uncoiling it. 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:34.860 As if to say, you were made in God's image. 00:24:35.020 --> 00:24:37.600 That image has been marred by sin at the fall. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:40.040 But I have come on and saved you. 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:42.060 And to bear that image once again. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:45.880 I'm doing that uncoiling work in your heart. 00:24:46.280 --> 00:24:48.320 That's what Peter needs Jesus to do. 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:51.640 He needs him to uncoil his crooked heart. 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:57.040 And so in this dog's house, Peter gets it. 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:01.600 One small step for Peter. 00:25:02.300 --> 00:25:05.080 But one giant leap for the church of Jesus. 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.420 She goes on to tell him about him. 00:25:06.800 --> 00:25:07.820 Anointed by God. 00:25:08.320 --> 00:25:09.520 Crucified by man. 00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:10.840 Verse 39. 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:11.800 On a tree. 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:13.240 That's Old Testament language. 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:17.240 Anyone who's hung in a tree is considered cursed by God. 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.240 And that's the thing. 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:21.059 Jesus doesn't deserve to be cursed. 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:21.700 But I do. 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.880 He takes my place. 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:24.000 He takes my curse. 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.519 He takes the punishment. 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:31.059 And the hell that I deserve for my sin against a righteous God on himself as he dies on the tree. 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.839 Peter says God raised him. 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:35.880 And that's why they're getting into such trouble in the book of Acts. 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:38.779 It's not so much the fact that Jesus died. 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.359 Because everyone's saying, yes he did. 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:40.940 And we killed him. 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.299 No, no, no. 00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:42.539 God raised him again. 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:46.740 And that means that everything that this Jesus said is true. 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:53.160 And God raised him and he appointed him to be judge of the living and the dead. 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:59.440 Meaning that every single human being who's ever existed will one day have to give an account of their life to this Jesus. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:02.880 And is that no good news in light of everything that we've seen over the last week? 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:05.420 That God sees every single bullet. 00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:08.099 That God sees every single sword. 00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:10.440 That God sees every single death. 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:12.579 That God sees every single birth. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:15.319 And no one is getting away with anything. 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:21.480 And I take it that it's also news that should humble us. 00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:29.519 Because if Jesus hasn't paid for our sin on the cross, friends, we'll have to pay for our sin on the cross when we come face to face with a holy God. 00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:33.500 And Cornelius and his companions hear the message. 00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:37.519 And just like Aeneas and Tabitha, they believed it. 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:39.259 And the Holy Spirit falls. 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:41.900 And it's the same Holy Spirit. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.119 And again, we've got to see what's going on here. 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:46.740 The very presence of Jesus that fell on the Jews back in chapter 2. 00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:51.220 This visible representation that the Gentiles have received. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:53.619 The same spirit that the Jews have received. 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:56.160 And Peter urges them to get baptized. 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.599 And again, I take it that's what's going on. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.740 Just this unity thing. 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:01.460 Jews and Gentiles. 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:04.539 Coming to faith in Jesus. 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:09.319 In chapter 11, we didn't have time to read it. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:12.839 Peter gets criticized when he breaks this news of what God has done. 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:15.319 And then he goes on to explain it. 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:19.480 And he says, they have received the same gift. 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:25.200 Leading the Jews back in Jerusalem to exclaim verse 17 of chapter 11. 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:32.940 So then even to the Gentiles, God has granted repentance that leads to life. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:37.039 God is bringing the Jews and the Gentiles together here to form his church. 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.539 Do you see this then? 00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.539 That's what this means. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:42.580 To be a Christian is not about your performance. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:45.160 It's not about place. 00:27:45.620 --> 00:27:46.980 It's not about pedigree. 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.720 It's about a person. 00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:50.759 It's about Jesus. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:58.599 It's about anyone from anywhere, from any time, coming to put their faith in this Jesus Christ. 00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.799 What he's done on the cross. 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:03.019 The fact that he's ridden and what he will one day do. 00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:05.079 This Jesus who offers life. 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:10.359 So let me offer you two challenges just as we kind of bring this towards a close this morning. 00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:13.839 If you're here today and you're not a Christian, here's what I want you to see. 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:18.779 It wasn't enough for Cornelius here to be a God-fearer. 00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.279 Right? 00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:21.519 Or to be a good person. 00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:25.619 He needed to respond to the message of the crucified and the risen Jesus. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:29.199 Peter's not interested in Cornelius bowing before him. 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.000 He said, get on your feet. 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.659 I'm just a man. 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:33.699 But he is interested in Cornelius bowing before Jesus. 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:38.159 What's on offer for you today? 00:28:38.159 --> 00:28:41.779 See that word at verse 36 of chapter 10. 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:44.259 What is on offer? 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:50.859 The good news of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:52.680 Peace is on offer to you today. 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:56.359 The God who your sin has put you at odds with. 00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:59.799 Through Jesus, peace is offered to you today. 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:04.519 And here's what this means in Second Challenge to the Church. 00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:10.539 This passage, what it calls us to do is to go in an all-out search of our hearts. 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:14.579 Is there any kind of prejudice, friends? 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:18.480 Dear brothers and sisters, is there any kind of prejudice that's in our hearts today? 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:23.200 Is there any kind of hatred or envy of people who are different to us? 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:27.279 All these barriers that we see wreaking havoc in our world today. 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:35.579 Class, social status, race, gender, political leanings, education levels, postcode, where are you from? 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:40.279 All of these things that the world puts up, do you see how they're just not on in the Church of Jesus Christ? 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:43.339 Here's the question, application. 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:47.019 When was the last time you had someone into your home who's not just like you? 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:52.439 We've got a wonderful chance today at the church lunch upstairs or even just this morning in here. 00:29:52.679 --> 00:29:54.879 Go and speak to somebody who's different to you. 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:59.980 Go and speak to somebody for whom the only explanation that you would be hanging out here today is Jesus. 00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:02.259 And tell them how much you love them. 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:08.279 You know, it's not fair to say that you will get ahead in our city and every city in the world, 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:13.440 often not by your work ethic, but based on where you live, what you have, who you know. 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:16.000 And the Church of Jesus is to be different. 00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:19.740 Because grace has transformed how we do things. 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:27.099 What a powerful witness to a world at a loss when it comes to understanding how to overcome divides. 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:32.440 That people could look in here, just a little microcosm of what God is doing all over the world, 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:35.359 and say, what is it that's brought those people together? 00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:43.059 You know, Mark Zuckerberg famously said his vision for Facebook was to bring the world closer together. 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:47.700 I'm very thankful for Zoom and for technology and everything that goes on. 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.840 And I love keeping up with friends on the other side of the world. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:55.500 But as far as bringing the world closer together, I just don't see it. 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:58.039 I just don't see it. 00:30:58.700 --> 00:31:00.100 But here's what I do see. 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.200 I'm going to close with this. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.799 I do see the Church. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:07.380 Okay, I was speaking through in Glasgow last Sunday, 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:11.480 and a church some of you might know called Greenview in Glasgow. 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:14.660 And the day before, the pastor there call, and he sends me a text, 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:17.100 and just says, mate, would you mind sending me your script? 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:21.640 I just assumed, what you're probably assuming here, that he just wanted to check it for accuracy, right? 00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:23.840 Nothing like a vote of confidence on a Saturday night. 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.920 But he says, send me your script. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:28.400 But do you know why he wanted my script? 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:33.779 Because he was going to spend a bit of time translating it into Farsi. 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.759 Because that church they've been doing, 00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:39.660 they've connected with a number of Iranian folks in their community. 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:43.640 Doing a Christianity Explorer course, just getting to know one another. 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:46.700 And it's just thrilling to hear what God is doing. 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:49.200 He said a few of them became Christians. 00:31:49.300 --> 00:31:50.440 I wasn't sure who. 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.259 Some of them were just thinking about it. 00:31:52.320 --> 00:31:53.780 It's lovely just to get to know people, 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:55.880 particularly in that part of Glasgow. 00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:58.500 It was just so multicultural to connect with different people. 00:31:59.100 --> 00:32:02.040 But what happened is there was three Iranian guys that came up to me at the end. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:05.240 And they just said, broken English, just thank you. 00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:07.460 I panicked. 00:32:07.540 --> 00:32:08.240 I didn't know what to do. 00:32:08.300 --> 00:32:09.200 I didn't know what was cultural. 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:11.000 So I kind of did it back. 00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:12.380 Inside I'm going, get here, mate. 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:13.200 You know, come on. 00:32:14.860 --> 00:32:16.500 It's amazing that you're here. 00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:21.600 And it's amazing that you and I would be able to look at each other and say, 00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:22.900 brother, I have a connection. 00:32:23.080 --> 00:32:24.380 You cannot explain that. 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.799 How do you explain it? 00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:30.880 Not by nationality, not by geography, not by language, not by hobbies, 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:33.440 not by class, not by profession. 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:35.299 How do you explain that? 00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:39.579 You explain it by the one thing at the beating heart of Christianity. 00:32:39.899 --> 00:32:42.019 The one thing that if it's not true, 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:46.000 means that this whole church thing is just a waste of time. 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:51.159 You explain it by the common faith that we both have in 00:32:51.159 --> 00:32:55.799 and the common forgiveness in life that we have experienced through 00:32:55.799 --> 00:33:00.159 the crucified and the risen Jesus. 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:03.259 Let me just say, I forgot to mention this earlier. 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:05.200 Zoom prayer call tomorrow night. 00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:08.200 We're going to be particularly praying for the situation in Ukraine. 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:10.059 So please do come to that tomorrow night. 00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:12.299 And it's a way of showing our solidarity, isn't it? 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:15.019 As people, someone described it, they just feel helpless. 00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:16.259 That's how I kind of feel. 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:18.019 Well, we can pray. 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:21.799 Solidarity with the church over there, brothers and sisters, 00:33:21.879 --> 00:33:23.819 but just praying for the whole situation. 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:26.160 But this is who brings us together. 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:27.440 It's this Jesus. 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:30.480 This is one small step for Peter, 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:35.200 but it's one giant leap for the church of Jesus Christ. 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:37.320 Let's pray, shall we? 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:52.379 And so, Heavenly Father, I just thank you for today. 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.839 And I thank you for Jesus. 00:33:55.899 --> 00:33:57.740 And I thank you that he is the Savior, 00:33:57.879 --> 00:34:01.980 that you unites together every single person over the world 00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:05.119 who believes in him, unites us together in his church. 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:08.440 Lord, we recognize that at times we have not been good 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:12.099 at just demonstrating the unity and diversity 00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:13.259 which he's brought about. 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:17.900 And so, Father, I pray today that you would help us respond well, 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:22.219 that you would help us just demonstrate this unity 00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:23.239 which he's brought about. 00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:27.259 Father, would you convict us of areas where we need to change? 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:31.139 Would you help us see opportunities to share the love of Jesus 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:35.659 with the people, our neighbors, that we rub shoulders with every day? 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:38.879 And, Father, if we're here today and we don't know this Jesus, 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:42.139 if we're here today and everything that's going on in the world 00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:48.839 is causing us to panic and fear and doubt and question, 00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:55.639 I pray that the same Jesus would walk off the pages of Scripture 00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:57.900 and into their hearts today. 00:34:59.359 --> 00:35:02.059 And, Father, we just thank you for your great love for us 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:05.980 that came seeking us out when we were running from you. 00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:10.539 And I pray you would help us to grasp that love even more today, 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:12.239 at the darkest of times. 00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:15.239 Thank you that Jesus is the one who called himself 00:35:15.239 --> 00:35:16.400 the light of the world. 00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:19.319 And it's in his precious name that we pray. 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:20.460 Amen. 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:20.599 Amen.