WEBVTT

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 I'd like to leave your Bibles open there and bow your heads and we'll pray.

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 Gracious Father, we thank you for the privilege of being able to meet together now.

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 And as we look at the global task that you've given your church,

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 we pray that in our weakness and our weariness,

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 we might be filled with hope and expectation

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 of what you might do with us for one or two or hundreds or many more.

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 And so Father, fill us with the hope of your spirit and your purpose

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 to bring light in amongst the darkness.

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 And we ask it for your sake. Amen.

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 So how does it make you feel when you hear of things

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 like 2.8 billion people in the world have never heard of Jesus?

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 The modern missionary movement has done a lot and achieved much,

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 and yet there is still so much more to do.

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 How does it make you feel that 50 million people a year

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 slip into a Christless eternity?

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 That's it. 50 million people a year.

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 Is that enough to make you lose heart that the task just seems so big?

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 2.8 million, 50 million a year.

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 What can you do about that?

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 Forget about that.

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 Let's just look at something a bit smaller.

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 Look at the corporate vision of our church.

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 We are hoping under God to grow to 500 in attendance

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 by the end of next year.

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 That is people coming to know Jesus

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 through the ministry of the church.

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 Not 500 people coming from another church,

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 but people who have come to know Jesus

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 in our area and ministries of influence.

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 It's not 2.8 billion people,

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 but maybe it's still enough to make you lose heart.

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 We're talking a couple hundred people here,

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 something like that.

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 Maybe you've seen these church vision things

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 and they seem never achieve what we hope.

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 We always see maybe a bit of growth,

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 but nothing really spectacular.

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 And at the end of the day,

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 we walk away and say,

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 we didn't really get there.

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 Seen it again and again and again.

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 Forget that.

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 Forget 2.8 billion.

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 Forget a couple of hundred.

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 What about your neighbour and your family member

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 or your friend and your colleague

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 who you've been representing Jesus to?

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 And it appears that they are no clearer on Christ now

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 than what they were 12 months ago,

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 10 years ago, 25 years ago,

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 for some people, 50 years ago.

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 Is that enough to make you feel weary and weak,

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 wondering what God is doing in this world?

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 Why bother keep speaking about Jesus

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 and his lordship

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 and the need to repent and to follow him

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 why bother praying

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 because I've done that

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 and it doesn't seem to work

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 and why bother giving to global mission

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 because there's still 2.8 million people out there

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 who need to know Christ?

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 It doesn't make you feel weary and weak

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 when you think of the global task

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 that God's given us.

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 Now let me tell you,

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 it does for me.

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 I think of the task of just seeing us as a church grow

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 so that there are pews that are filled

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 or soon-to-be seats filled

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 with people just coming to know Christ.

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 The great English preacher Charles Spurgeon

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 wrote a lecture to his ministry students

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 titled The Minister's Fainting Fits

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 and in it he describes the pressures

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 upon the Christian minister to lose heart

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 and he says this,

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 a bit of old language,

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 our work when earnestly undertaken

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 lays us open to attacks

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 in the direction of depression.

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 Who can bear the weight of souls

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 without sometimes sinking to the dust?

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 Passionate longings after people's conversion,

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 if not fully satisfied

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 and when are they fully satisfied,

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 consume the soul with anxiety and disappointment.

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 The kingdom comes not as we would.

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 The reverent name of Jesus

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 is not hallowed as we desire

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 and for this we must weep.

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 How can we be otherwise than sorrowful

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 while men believe not our report

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 and the divine arm is not revealed?

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 All mental work tends to weary and to depress

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 for much study is a weariness of the flesh,

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 but ours is more than mental work,

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 it is heart work.

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 The labour of our inmost soul,

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 such soul travail as that of a faithful minister

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 will bring on occasion seasons of exhaustion

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 when heart and flesh will fail.

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 I think Spurgeon's words there

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 will find sympathetic agreement

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 with any heart acquainted with Christian ministry and mission.

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 I'm not just talking about those involved in vocational ministry,

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 which is what Spurgeon was talking about there.

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 I'm talking about anyone involved in Christian ministry

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 and ministry mission in any form.

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 The community group leader who has taught and pastored

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 and exhorted people to follow Christ

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 for months and for years

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 without any apparent fruit that comes from that.

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 The disciple who has represented the Lord Jesus

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 to their friends and their family members

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 and their colleagues at McDonald's

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 and without any apparent response whatsoever.

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 Weak, weary, sceptical, tired, loss of confidence.

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 They're the feelings which bubble away there

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 at the depths of the heart,

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 even if there is an exterior which is triumphant at times.

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 And I think that no one has ever experienced

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 more of what Spurgeon describes there

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 than the Apostle Paul.

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 As you look into 2 Corinthians,

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 you see it in 6 and you see it in chapter 11,

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 1 Corinthians 1 primarily,

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 a list of what you might call

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 deadly ministerial pressures

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 that were upon the Apostle Paul.

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 And it's astounding what he suffered

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 in the midst of this ministry that he's involved in.

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 And the list is capped off there in chapter 11,

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 verses 28 to 29,

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 with his concluding comment,

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 which is,

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 apart from the other things,

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 there is the daily pressure on me

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 of my anxiety for all the churches.

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 Who is weak and I am not weak?

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 Who is made to fall?

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 And I am not indignant.

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 And the question that I ask

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 when I look at the Apostle Paul,

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 when you look at his life,

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 you look at what he suffered,

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 what he gave up,

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 and the hardships and the attacks,

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 did he grow faint?

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 Did he lose heart

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 in the midst of all that difficulty?

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 And the answer that chapter 4 gives us

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 is no, he did not.

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 We do not lose heart,

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 is what he says.

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 He says it twice in chapter 4.

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 And so when the task of 2.8 million people

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 are in front of us,

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 when the task of Chatswood

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 and our friends and our family

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 are in front of us,

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 and it seems so huge,

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 and I am tempted

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 to lose heart in the face of that,

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 I need to listen

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 to a bloke like Paul

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 who suffered more

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 and did not lose heart.

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 And we need to do that too.

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 And he says here

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 in chapter 4, verse 1,

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 therefore since through God's mercy

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 we have this ministry,

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 we do not lose heart.

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 And I want to know

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 why he didn't lose heart.

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 And not more

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 why he didn't lose heart,

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 but what continued

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 to propel him forward

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 again and again

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 for God's global kingdom cause.

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 The first reason

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 I think he doesn't lose heart

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 is in those two words

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 in verse 1,

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 this ministry.

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 It says there,

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 therefore since through God's mercy

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 we have this ministry,

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 we do not lose heart.

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 And the ministry

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 that he's talking about there

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 is the ministry

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 of the new covenant

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 of the Spirit,

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 which he spent most

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 of chapter 3 talking about.

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 And especially

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 what he does there

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 in chapter 3,

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 he compares

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 the old covenant ministry

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 with the new covenant ministry

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 of the Spirit.

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 And in the old covenant ministry

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 he particularly hones in

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 on Moses

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 and Moses' ministry.

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 And the surprise

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 of chapter 3

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 is that this impressive

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 old covenant ministry

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 that Moses had,

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 and it was impressive,

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 you know,

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 you see Moses and God

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 talking face to face

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 as a man talks

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 to his friend,

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 that's impressive.

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 The mountain shakes,

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 the cloud descends,

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 there's fire

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 and there's lightning

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 and stuff like that

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 when God gives

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 the Ten Commandments

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 to his people

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 through Moses,

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 parting of the waters.

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 It's all

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 pretty impressive stuff

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 that Moses involved

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 in with his old covenant ministry.

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 And the surprise

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 of chapter 3 is

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 Paul says

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 it ain't a patch

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 on what

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 new covenant ministry is.

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 It doesn't even compare.

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 It's like getting a torch

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 and shining at the sun

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 and saying,

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 take that, son.

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 The brightness

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 is incomparable.

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 See what he says there?

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 Chapter 3, verse 9,

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 if you've got your Bibles open,

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 have a look at it.

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 If you don't,

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 open your Bibles

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 and have a look at it.

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 If this ministry

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 that condemns men

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 is glorious,

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 how much more glorious

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 is the ministry

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 that brings righteousness?

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 For what was glorious

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 has no glory now

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 in comparison

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 with this surpassing glory.

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 And then down

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 in verse 18,

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 and we who

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 with unveiled faces

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 all reflect

00:09:57.020 --> 00:09:57.960
 the Lord's glory

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 are being transformed

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 into his likeness

00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.180
 with ever increasing glory

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 which comes

00:10:03.160 --> 00:10:03.900
 from the Lord

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 who is the Spirit.

00:10:05.820 --> 00:10:06.800
 There's the comparison.

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 Notice the difference.

00:10:08.420 --> 00:10:09.360
 Old covenant ministry,

00:10:09.520 --> 00:10:09.800
 death,

00:10:09.900 --> 00:10:10.900
 new covenant life.

00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:12.220
 Old covenant ministry,

00:10:12.400 --> 00:10:13.300
 Exodus 33,

00:10:13.780 --> 00:10:15.160
 when Moses talked

00:10:15.160 --> 00:10:15.600
 with God,

00:10:15.680 --> 00:10:17.020
 he had to put a veil

00:10:17.020 --> 00:10:17.880
 over his face

00:10:17.880 --> 00:10:18.600
 because his face

00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:19.500
 was just beaming

00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:20.120
 with brightness.

00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:21.480
 Had to put a veil

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 over it

00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:22.640
 because it freaked out

00:10:22.640 --> 00:10:23.380
 all his mates.

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 And here it says

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 in new covenant ministry,

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 we all with unveiled faces

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 reflect the full glory

00:10:30.520 --> 00:10:31.020
 of God.

00:10:31.420 --> 00:10:32.300
 That's the difference.

00:10:32.680 --> 00:10:33.260
 Veiled glory,

00:10:33.420 --> 00:10:34.000
 full glory.

00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:37.620
 So that's the first reason

00:10:37.620 --> 00:10:38.200
 I think that Paul

00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:39.100
 doesn't lose heart.

00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:40.780
 In spite of how things

00:10:40.780 --> 00:10:41.960
 look on the outside,

00:10:42.400 --> 00:10:43.500
 and it looked like

00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:44.800
 Paul was pretty unimpressive,

00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:46.280
 and the ministry he had

00:10:46.280 --> 00:10:47.160
 was pretty unimpressive,

00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:48.660
 that's the whole argument

00:10:48.660 --> 00:10:49.720
 of Paul's opponents

00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:50.540
 in 2 Corinthians.

00:10:51.020 --> 00:10:51.880
 We're impressive,

00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:52.700
 super apostles,

00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:54.679
 Paul's false

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 because he gets rejected,

00:10:56.419 --> 00:10:57.019
 he gets beaten,

00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.220
 his speaking doesn't

00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:00.000
 amount to much,

00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:01.279
 he's not the real deal.

00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.600
 And what Paul says

00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:04.740
 is that regardless

00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:05.759
 of how it looks,

00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:06.659
 the ministry

00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:08.159
 that he's involved in,

00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:09.720
 new covenant ministry

00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:10.360
 of the Spirit

00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:11.080
 is a ministry

00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:12.059
 about life,

00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:13.580
 and it's so much

00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:14.059
 more impressive

00:11:14.059 --> 00:11:14.600
 than anything

00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:15.439
 that even Moses

00:11:15.439 --> 00:11:16.419
 did in the Old Testament.

00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:19.179
 There's another reason

00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:19.799
 in verse 1.

00:11:20.979 --> 00:11:21.199
 Therefore,

00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:22.799
 since through God's mercy

00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:24.459
 we have this ministry,

00:11:24.959 --> 00:11:26.179
 we do not lose heart.

00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:27.519
 And so the second reason

00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:28.379
 he doesn't lose heart

00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:29.620
 is that this ordinary

00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:30.539
 looking,

00:11:30.939 --> 00:11:32.599
 but glorious ministry

00:11:32.599 --> 00:11:34.699
 has been given to him

00:11:34.699 --> 00:11:36.000
 through God's mercy.

00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:37.519
 And so what is happening

00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:39.419
 here in 2 Corinthians 4,

00:11:40.219 --> 00:11:40.919
 particularly in these

00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:41.399
 early verses

00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.240
 of chapter 4,

00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:45.940
 is it's Paul's own story

00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:47.039
 being traced out.

00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:48.919
 You see,

00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:50.019
 he was an unbeliever,

00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:51.980
 he was blinded

00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:54.500
 to the glory of Christ,

00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.980
 he persecuted Christ,

00:11:57.379 --> 00:11:58.879
 and then on the Damascus road

00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.060
 Paul had seen the glory

00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:01.360
 of God in the face of Christ.

00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:04.580
 Paul was fully aware

00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:07.019
 that this glorious ministry

00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:07.940
 was given to him

00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:09.200
 at the moment of his conversion

00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:10.379
 on the road to Damascus

00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:11.560
 when he was knocked

00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:12.059
 to the ground

00:12:12.059 --> 00:12:14.139
 by the flash of light

00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:15.539
 of the glory of Christ.

00:12:16.439 --> 00:12:17.239
 His salvation

00:12:17.239 --> 00:12:20.279
 and his apostleship

00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.059
 were solely due

00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:23.119
 to God's mercy.

00:12:25.099 --> 00:12:25.739
 And so the combination

00:12:25.739 --> 00:12:26.939
 of this mercy

00:12:26.939 --> 00:12:28.139
 at his own conversion

00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:30.559
 and the astonishing glory

00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:31.399
 of this ministry

00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:33.459
 kept him from losing heart.

00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:35.759
 And not only did it not

00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.059
 cause him not to lose heart,

00:12:37.359 --> 00:12:38.819
 but in fact he was propelled

00:12:38.819 --> 00:12:40.879
 forward in this ministry.

00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.320
 So see it there in verse 2.

00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:44.139
 We have renounced secret

00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.179
 and shameful ways.

00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:46.720
 We do not use distortion,

00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:47.279
 nor do we,

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:49.159
 we do not use deception,

00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:50.600
 nor do we distort

00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:51.439
 the word of God.

00:12:51.939 --> 00:12:52.559
 On the contrary,

00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.259
 by sending forth

00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:54.200
 the truth plainly,

00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:55.220
 we commend ourselves

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.439
 to every man's conscience

00:12:56.439 --> 00:12:57.399
 in the sight of God.

00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:59.159
 And so what it says here

00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:00.600
 is that

00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:03.259
 in the face of temptation,

00:13:05.540 --> 00:13:07.220
 Paul rejected all cunning,

00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:08.879
 all manipulation,

00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:09.720
 trickery,

00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:11.120
 nor did he tamper

00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.080
 with the word of God,

00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:14.259
 nor did he falsify it,

00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:14.879
 distort it,

00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:15.620
 confuse it,

00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.399
 water it down.

00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:17.560
 Instead,

00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:18.420
 what he does here,

00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:19.540
 he embraces openness

00:13:19.540 --> 00:13:20.500
 and candor

00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.639
 and forthrightness

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.740
 and clarity

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.560
 about the glory

00:13:23.560 --> 00:13:24.040
 of the gospel

00:13:24.040 --> 00:13:25.139
 of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:26.980
 There is no vague meaning.

00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:29.220
 There is no confusing language

00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:30.460
 coming out of Paul's mouth.

00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:31.980
 There is no ambivalence

00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.199
 about where he stood

00:13:33.199 --> 00:13:36.179
 or what he meant.

00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:37.980
 He imparted the truth

00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:39.000
 without deviation.

00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:40.299
 That's what it means.

00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:41.379
 Without distortion means

00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:42.379
 he went straight

00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.120
 with the truth.

00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.319
 Undiluted.

00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:48.960
 He wanted the news

00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.059
 about Jesus Christ

00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:51.379
 to be absolutely

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.720
 crystal clear.

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:56.639
 not vague

00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:58.139
 and clouded views

00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:58.939
 about Jesus.

00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:01.139
 Why?

00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.580
 I think the first reason

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:04.340
 is at the end

00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:05.059
 of verse 2

00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:05.879
 where he says

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.059
 he sets forth

00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:09.539
 the truth plainly

00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:11.220
 in the sight of God.

00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:11.679
 That is,

00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:13.120
 the first reason

00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.500
 he did it

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.319
 was because God

00:14:14.319 --> 00:14:15.139
 was his audience.

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.439
 He didn't give a rip

00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:18.100
 about what people

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:18.799
 thought of him.

00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:20.439
 God was his

00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:21.279
 primary audience

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:22.220
 and he would ultimately

00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:22.879
 answer to him

00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.819
 and no one else

00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:24.940
 and he wanted

00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:25.680
 to make sure

00:14:25.680 --> 00:14:26.280
 that that was

00:14:26.280 --> 00:14:26.820
 a good day.

00:14:28.580 --> 00:14:29.460
 Another reason

00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:30.379
 is given to us

00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:32.220
 in chapter 4

00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:33.180
 verses 4 to 6.

00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:35.440
 This is why

00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.300
 he sets forth

00:14:36.300 --> 00:14:37.379
 the truth plainly.

00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:38.400
 This is why

00:14:38.400 --> 00:14:39.520
 he didn't deviate.

00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:41.420
 This is what

00:14:41.420 --> 00:14:42.720
 propelled him forward.

00:14:44.520 --> 00:14:45.200
 And let's start

00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:45.879
 with verse 4.

00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:48.220
 The God of this age

00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:48.980
 has blinded

00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:49.400
 the minds

00:14:49.400 --> 00:14:50.000
 of unbelievers

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.820
 so they cannot see

00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:52.000
 the light of the gospel

00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:53.120
 of the glory of Christ

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.120
 who is the image

00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:54.580
 of God.

00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.419
 You see what

00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:57.039
 he's saying there?

00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:57.799
 The weight of what

00:14:57.799 --> 00:14:58.440
 he's saying there?

00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.159
 This is why

00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:02.720
 it is so essential

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.560
 for Paul

00:15:03.560 --> 00:15:04.539
 that Jesus

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.820
 be crystal clear

00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:07.139
 that the word

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:07.460
 of God

00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:08.580
 be not distorted

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:09.639
 that he speak

00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.100
 the truth

00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:11.039
 wherever he could.

00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:11.799
 He says

00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:12.279
 people

00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:13.919
 who don't believe

00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.679
 in Christ

00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:15.679
 are blind.

00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:19.299
 They can't see

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:21.120
 the supreme

00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:21.879
 value

00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:24.519
 of Christ.

00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:25.919
 And so they won't

00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.599
 receive him

00:15:26.599 --> 00:15:27.319
 as their treasure

00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:27.939
 and they will not

00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:28.659
 be saved.

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.659
 They're blind.

00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:35.979
 The work of God

00:15:35.979 --> 00:15:36.620
 is needed

00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:37.859
 in our lives

00:15:37.859 --> 00:15:39.120
 to open our eyes

00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:40.819
 and give us life

00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:41.799
 so that we can see

00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:42.399
 and receive

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.079
 and savor

00:15:43.079 --> 00:15:45.240
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:47.279
 so that he might

00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:47.899
 be our greatest

00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:48.360
 treasure.

00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:52.720
 But without that

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.480
 we're blind.

00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.200
 And that's not

00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:56.080
 the state of some

00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:56.500
 people.

00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.200
 It's not just the state

00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:57.519
 of two people.

00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.299
 It's the state of

00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:59.879
 everyone without Christ.

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.419
 Blinded.

00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:03.240
 It was my condition

00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:04.639
 for 23 years.

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.039
 Blinded

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:08.639
 to glory of Christ.

00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.039
 I can read

00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:10.519
 the Bible

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.779
 and I cannot

00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.519
 see Christ

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:12.879
 in it

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.319
 for 23 years

00:16:14.319 --> 00:16:15.120
 or for as long

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:15.559
 as I can read.

00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:19.460
 At the heart

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.399
 of this impressive

00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:21.000
 new covenant

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.519
 ministry

00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.120
 is the message

00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:23.919
 of the gospel

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:25.179
 in the word

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:25.480
 of God

00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:25.960
 the Bible.

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.059
 The glory

00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:28.120
 of this ministry

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.139
 is the gospel.

00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:31.720
 And this is

00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:33.039
 what we are

00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.059
 blinded to.

00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:36.000
 The gospel

00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:36.740
 is what Paul

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.399
 came to see

00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:37.879
 and believe.

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.539
 The gospel

00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:39.299
 is what he

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.000
 wants others

00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.480
 to come and

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.139
 see and believe.

00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:42.980
 But it's this

00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.620
 gospel that

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.299
 they're blinded

00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:44.600
 to.

00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:46.379
 The gospel

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:46.879
 is the good

00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.460
 news that God

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.120
 sent his son

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.740
 into the world

00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.439
 to live a

00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:50.100
 perfect life,

00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:51.340
 to die as a

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.000
 substitute for

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.220
 sinners,

00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:52.960
 to absorb

00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.439
 the anger

00:16:53.439 --> 00:16:54.000
 of God,

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:54.879
 to take away

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.279
 our guilt,

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:55.899
 to provide

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:56.779
 the gift of

00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:57.399
 right standing

00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:58.019
 before God

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.360
 and to give

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.259
 eternal joy

00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:00.240
 through faith

00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:00.700
 in the Lord

00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:01.620
 Jesus alone

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.779
 apart from any

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.240
 works of

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:03.960
 obedience on our

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.339
 behalf.

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:07.099
 That is what

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:08.799
 we are blinded

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.119
 to.

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.339
 All of us.

00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:15.619
 We are all

00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:16.519
 blind to the

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.980
 glory of those

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:19.839
 facts unless

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:21.419
 verse 6

00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:22.099
 happens.

00:17:23.699 --> 00:17:24.459
 For God who

00:17:24.459 --> 00:17:24.699
 said,

00:17:24.879 --> 00:17:25.539
 let light shine

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.519
 out of darkness,

00:17:26.959 --> 00:17:27.559
 made his light

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.139
 shine in our

00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:28.879
 hearts to give

00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:29.699
 us the light

00:17:29.699 --> 00:17:30.659
 of the knowledge

00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:31.740
 of the glory

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.399
 of God in the

00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:33.259
 face of Christ.

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.299
 Christ.

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.299
 What Paul

00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:34.980
 describes there

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:35.680
 in verse 6

00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.379
 is the new

00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:36.740
 birth,

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:38.680
 even though he

00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:39.059
 doesn't use

00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:39.460
 the term.

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.359
 The God who

00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.500
 created light in

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:42.980
 the beginning

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:44.259
 does the same

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.579
 thing in the

00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:46.160
 heart of every

00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:46.859
 human being

00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:48.700
 that comes to

00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.079
 Christ.

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.740
 Only the light

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.680
 this time is not

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.200
 a physical

00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:53.759
 light,

00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:56.220
 but the light

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:56.799
 of the knowledge

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.519
 of the glory of

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.160
 God in the face

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:58.559
 of Christ,

00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.299
 or as verse 4

00:17:59.299 --> 00:17:59.799
 puts it,

00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:00.900
 the light of the

00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:01.779
 gospel of the

00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.420
 glory of Christ

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:02.820
 who is the

00:18:02.820 --> 00:18:03.460
 image of God.

00:18:04.820 --> 00:18:06.519
 God causes

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.420
 the human

00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.880
 heart and

00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.600
 the mind to

00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:10.279
 see the truth

00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:10.740
 and the beauty

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.180
 and the worth

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:11.600
 of Christ,

00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.420
 the glory of

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:12.880
 Christ.

00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:14.320
 Not just to

00:18:14.320 --> 00:18:15.140
 see the facts,

00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:16.039
 but to see the

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.720
 glory of the

00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.160
 facts.

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.360
 Darkness

00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:20.539
 remains in

00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.160
 our hearts

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:21.600
 and in our

00:18:21.600 --> 00:18:23.180
 minds until

00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:24.960
 God illumines

00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.580
 the heart and

00:18:25.580 --> 00:18:26.120
 the mind.

00:18:27.580 --> 00:18:28.360
 And when he

00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:28.740
 does,

00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:29.580
 darkness cannot

00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:30.200
 stop it.

00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.259
 This light

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.579
 that he

00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.220
 shines in

00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.379
 pushes all

00:18:34.379 --> 00:18:35.359
 darkness and

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.500
 blindness out

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.319
 and the

00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.200
 darkness and

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:38.660
 the blindness

00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:39.680
 cannot resist

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:39.940
 it,

00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:41.059
 cannot prevail

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:41.700
 against it.

00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:44.819
 So then we

00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.640
 see Christ for

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.279
 who he is.

00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:47.879
 We receive him

00:18:47.879 --> 00:18:48.619
 for who he is

00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.500
 and that's what

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.000
 we want.

00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:51.039
 Is it not for

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.680
 our children,

00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:52.579
 whether they be

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:54.200
 6 or 16 or

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:55.319
 26 or 66,

00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:55.980
 and for our

00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.599
 parents and our

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.700
 spouses and our

00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:59.259
 neighbours and our

00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.000
 colleagues and our

00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.960
 friends at school and

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.579
 for all the

00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:02.519
 chastardly 2.8

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.380
 billion people in

00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:03.880
 the world,

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.860
 the darkness

00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:06.720
 might be removed

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.340
 in the heart.

00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:10.440
 We want the

00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:12.059
 light to shine in

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.799
 their hearts so

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.819
 that they see and

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:15.019
 receive and savour

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.559
 Christ.

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.720
 We want them to be

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.360
 born again.

00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.400
 It is a mighty

00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.920
 act of God and we

00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:22.680
 cannot do it.

00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:29.340
 But that does

00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:31.279
 not mean passivity

00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.779
 on our behalf.

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:35.200
 Just because it's

00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:35.900
 a work of God

00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:37.000
 that we can't do

00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.180
 doesn't mean we

00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:40.160
 sit still and

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.740
 just kind of

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.299
 twiddle our

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.860
 thumbs and wait

00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:43.519
 for God to

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:43.900
 work.

00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:48.279
 There is a

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.279
 human means that

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.700
 God uses to

00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.740
 make this great

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.440
 work happen.

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.819
 In verse 4 we

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.779
 have the dreadful

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.420
 plight of the

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.140
 human condition

00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:57.640
 of the heart,

00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:59.799
 blinded, dead

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:00.539
 if you like.

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.299
 Verse 6 we

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:03.700
 have the

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.460
 sovereign work

00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:06.160
 of God causing

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:08.000
 sight and light

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.140
 to break in with

00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:10.900
 clarity so that

00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:12.259
 Christ is revealed

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.140
 and he's embraced

00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:14.819
 and received and

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:16.059
 new life comes.

00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.779
 And bang in the

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.279
 middle of those

00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.180
 two verses is

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.579
 verse 5 which

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.339
 says we do not

00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:22.599
 preach ourselves

00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:24.639
 but Jesus

00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.619
 Christ as

00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.559
 Lord and

00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.419
 ourselves as

00:20:27.419 --> 00:20:28.039
 your servants

00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.619
 for Jesus

00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.079
 sake.

00:20:29.899 --> 00:20:30.740
 Paul's role,

00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:31.839
 our role is to

00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:32.759
 proclaim Jesus

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:34.899
 as Lord.

00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:36.799
 Remember I

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.339
 said that the

00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.759
 gospel is the

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.419
 good news that

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.039
 God sent his

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:41.599
 son into the

00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.220
 world to live a

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.379
 perfect life, to

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:44.639
 die a substitutionary

00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:45.359
 death for sinners,

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.720
 to absorb the

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.659
 anger of God, to

00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.319
 take away our

00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:48.939
 guilt, to

00:20:48.939 --> 00:20:49.460
 provide the

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.500
 gift of

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.279
 right standing

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.240
 before God and

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.279
 give eternal joy

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:54.980
 through faith in

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.559
 the Lord Jesus

00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:56.839
 alone apart from

00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:57.679
 any works of

00:20:57.679 --> 00:20:58.460
 obedience on our

00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:58.819
 behalf.

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.500
 But let me say

00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.519
 that the gospel is

00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:04.299
 not just about us

00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:05.220
 or even primarily

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:07.000
 about us, about

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.879
 the good news for

00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.539
 us, about God's

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.339
 love for us.

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.759
 It primarily says

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.700
 something very

00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:13.200
 significant about

00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:13.980
 the Lord Jesus.

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:16.900
 Philippians 2

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:18.120
 describes this

00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:18.779
 great work of

00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.380
 the gospel in

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:19.839
 the death and

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.539
 resurrection of

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.180
 the Lord Jesus

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.440
 to take away the

00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:22.860
 sins of the

00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.160
 world.

00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:24.099
 And it goes on to

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:24.819
 say this about

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:26.039
 Jesus, therefore

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:26.759
 this is the

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.880
 consequence of the

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.200
 death and

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:28.799
 resurrection of

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.039
 Jesus.

00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.259
 Therefore God

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:30.980
 exalted him to

00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.779
 the highest place

00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.420
 and gave him the

00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:33.120
 name that is above

00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:34.160
 every name, that

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.759
 at the name of

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.640
 Jesus every knee

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.240
 should bow in

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.779
 heaven and on

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.319
 earth and under

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.180
 the earth and

00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:38.920
 every tongue

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:40.319
 confess that Jesus

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.500
 Christ is Lord,

00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.339
 Master, King,

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.319
 Boss, Ruler,

00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:45.220
 over all things

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:46.480
 for the glory of

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.019
 his Father.

00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:49.379
 The crucified

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.519
 Jesus Christ has

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.220
 been exalted

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.539
 through resurrection

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.939
 as the heavenly

00:21:53.939 --> 00:21:54.419
 Lord.

00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.539
 God's suffering

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.960
 servant is now

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.039
 the ruler of the

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.439
 universe.

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.139
 The man Jesus

00:21:59.139 --> 00:21:59.799
 Christ, he

00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.659
 exalts a God

00:22:00.659 --> 00:22:01.539
 over all of

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.759
 people, over all

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:04.119
 nations, over all

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:04.700
 of history.

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.259
 And Paul says

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.779
 you make that

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.039
 clear.

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:13.180
 Do not distort

00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:13.899
 that truth by

00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:15.059
 shying away from

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.299
 the exclusive

00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.539
 claim that

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.539
 Jesus Lord and

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:18.980
 King and

00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.619
 Master and

00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.500
 Ruler over all

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:22.980
 that is, has

00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.579
 been and will

00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:25.099
 be and call

00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:25.539
 people to

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.079
 confess with

00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.819
 their tongue and

00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.420
 surrender their

00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.039
 lives to his

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:28.659
 loving rule.

00:22:28.659 --> 00:22:29.299
 He said you

00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:29.720
 make that

00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:29.980
 clear.

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:36.339
 And proclaim

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:37.259
 it all this

00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.360
 from a heart

00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:38.920
 of love and

00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.480
 a life of

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:39.920
 service.

00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.420
 That I think

00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:42.839
 is what it

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.620
 means when he

00:22:43.620 --> 00:22:44.160
 says that we

00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.680
 don't preach

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:46.220
 ourselves.

00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.279
 It's to make

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:49.759
 that message

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.319
 clear of the

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:50.799
 Lordship of

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.720
 Christ from a

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.240
 heart of love

00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.900
 and a life of

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.279
 service.

00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.900
 All self-interest

00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.799
 is laid aside.

00:22:57.799 --> 00:23:00.119
 My friends,

00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:01.279
 verse 5 is

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.240
 why Christ is

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.879
 to be clear

00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.899
 and the word

00:23:03.899 --> 00:23:04.359
 of God is

00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:04.819
 not to be

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.299
 distorted.

00:23:05.659 --> 00:23:06.079
 The means

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.460
 that God

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.079
 uses to

00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:08.379
 affect the

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.119
 great and

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.519
 eternal

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.079
 transformation

00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:10.579
 that we

00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:11.299
 long to see

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.839
 across this

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.460
 world in the

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:13.759
 hearts of

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.200
 every man,

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:14.639
 woman and

00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:15.099
 child and

00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:16.299
 even teenagers

00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:18.599
 is bold,

00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.559
 clear, plain

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.500
 proclamation of

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.000
 the good news

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.399
 of the Lord

00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:22.220
 Jesus Christ.

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.759
 As Lord,

00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.659
 from a heart

00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.080
 of love and

00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:28.519
 a life of

00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:28.940
 service,

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.759
 that is the

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.120
 impressive

00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:31.720
 ministry of

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:31.940
 the new

00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:33.320
 covenant that

00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:34.080
 causes the

00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:34.980
 blind to see

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:38.759
 for dark to

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.519
 be distinguished,

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.240
 extinguished,

00:23:43.620 --> 00:23:44.900
 for death to

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:46.380
 be defeated and

00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:47.040
 eternal life

00:23:47.040 --> 00:23:47.380
 granted.

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.540
 That's the

00:23:50.540 --> 00:23:50.860
 impressive

00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.279
 ministry.

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.960
 Let me tell

00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.480
 you that that

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.600
 impressive ministry

00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:57.079
 is a ministry

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:58.759
 that is not

00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.539
 well received

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:01.019
 in a world

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:01.719
 where exclusive

00:24:01.719 --> 00:24:02.379
 claims are not

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:02.899
 tolerated.

00:24:05.219 --> 00:24:05.619
 And one of the

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.339
 great challenges,

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.199
 not just for the

00:24:08.199 --> 00:24:09.019
 preacher but for

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.699
 every single

00:24:09.699 --> 00:24:11.439
 Christian, as you

00:24:11.439 --> 00:24:12.219
 are a witness for

00:24:12.219 --> 00:24:13.919
 Christ, is to

00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:14.759
 dumb down the

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.759
 exclusive claims of

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.159
 Christ.

00:24:17.199 --> 00:24:18.339
 Great temptation

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:18.799
 when you're

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.339
 speaking with a

00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:19.759
 friend or a

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.379
 family member or

00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:22.019
 Lord or a

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:24.079
 neighbour is to

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.199
 not push hard on

00:24:25.199 --> 00:24:25.799
 the Lordship of

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.539
 Christ over all

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:26.960
 that is.

00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:30.220
 But just to say

00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:30.859
 Jesus died on the

00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.559
 cross to save you

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:33.240
 from your sins and

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.839
 you get to go to

00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.039
 heaven.

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.819
 And so for those

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.460
 who are struggling

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:43.339
 with it, and I

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:43.740
 think we do

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.519
 struggle with it,

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.960
 maybe even losing

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:49.199
 heart, let's just

00:24:49.199 --> 00:24:49.720
 keep reading.

00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.720
 Verse 7.

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:52.440
 But we have

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:54.380
 this treasure in

00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:55.600
 jars of clay, this

00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.740
 impressive ministry

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:58.940
 of God's

00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:00.539
 recreating power

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.319
 bringing people from

00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.100
 death to life.

00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.680
 We have it in

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.960
 jars of clay to

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.660
 show that this

00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:06.539
 all-surpassing

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.720
 power is from

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.660
 God and not

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.220
 from us.

00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.140
 The great

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:11.000
 encouragement of

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.339
 that verse there

00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.440
 is that God uses

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:14.900
 weak and weary

00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.019
 and ordinary

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:17.180
 people, ordinary

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:19.460
 jars of clay, to

00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.160
 bring about his

00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:20.740
 great eternal

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.480
 purposes in the

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.080
 lives of people.

00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:23.900
 God wants to

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.600
 display to the

00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:25.380
 world the glory

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:25.920
 of the Lord

00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:27.300
 Jesus Christ, the

00:25:27.300 --> 00:25:27.980
 power and the

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.460
 beauty of the

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.660
 gospel, and he

00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:31.660
 does it via

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.560
 unimpressive

00:25:32.560 --> 00:25:33.200
 vessels.

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.500
 We're not the

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:38.860
 treasure.

00:25:42.040 --> 00:25:42.779
 And when we

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.600
 think we are the

00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:44.860
 treasure, or even

00:25:44.860 --> 00:25:46.420
 rely upon ourselves

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:47.540
 because we've got

00:25:47.540 --> 00:25:48.040
 some clever

00:25:48.040 --> 00:25:49.200
 argumentation,

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:51.960
 we're articulate,

00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:53.259
 passionate, humorous,

00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:54.259
 bubbly, successful,

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.640
 stylish, beautiful,

00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:59.980
 then we will very

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.860
 quickly lose heart

00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:02.220
 in mission and

00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:02.580
 ministry.

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.900
 When we think we

00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:05.600
 are the treasure,

00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:07.120
 our programs are the

00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:08.100
 treasure, my

00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:09.940
 ability to beat

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.580
 that person's

00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.240
 argument is the

00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:14.100
 treasure, we will

00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:14.940
 very quickly discover

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.340
 that we are

00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:15.800
 powerless.

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.120
 This, I think, is

00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:17.679
 what we need to

00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:17.859
 get.

00:26:22.199 --> 00:26:23.099
 I made this

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:25.199
 box about 30

00:26:25.199 --> 00:26:25.759
 years ago.

00:26:26.439 --> 00:26:27.159
 Can't believe I

00:26:27.159 --> 00:26:27.759
 can even say

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.000
 that.

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:32.019
 This box was

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:34.219
 made to hold

00:26:34.219 --> 00:26:34.839
 cassettes.

00:26:35.219 --> 00:26:35.959
 For those of you

00:26:35.959 --> 00:26:36.339
 who don't know

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:36.779
 what a cassette

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.619
 is, it's one of

00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:38.159
 these things.

00:26:40.479 --> 00:26:41.539
 And so 30

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.179
 years ago, these

00:26:42.179 --> 00:26:42.739
 were popular

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:44.059
 cassettes were

00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:44.319
 because nothing

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:44.940
 else existed.

00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:46.940
 And so now,

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:47.640
 although I've been

00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.259
 given another

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.140
 alternative for it,

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:50.000
 so I wanted to

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.640
 use this box,

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.299
 cassettes have

00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.960
 long disappeared

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:56.000
 into obsoleteness.

00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.480
 And in fact, I

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:59.440
 didn't even have

00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.019
 one of these in

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.799
 my house, and so

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.480
 where do you look

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.579
 for something that's

00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.620
 obsolete and no

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.400
 further in use?

00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.460
 You look in church

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:05.900
 cupboards.

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.180
 And you will find

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.259
 things like this in

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.380
 existence still, still

00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.059
 being held onto.

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:12.220
 And so I found

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:13.079
 one, there it is.

00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:14.159
 It used to hold

00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:14.279
 it.

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.960
 These are long

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.339
 gone.

00:27:16.659 --> 00:27:17.740
 The box is not.

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.099
 It hasn't had

00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.980
 anything in it for

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.399
 ages.

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.319
 Why?

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.859
 Because the box is

00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.899
 more precious to me

00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:27.639
 than what was in

00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:27.779
 it.

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.619
 That's anti-gospel.

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:36.119
 That's anti-Christian

00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:36.559
 ministry.

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.220
 The box isn't the

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.919
 impressive thing.

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:41.859
 This is closer to

00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:42.319
 the truth.

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.419
 This is a takeaway

00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:44.919
 container.

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.839
 It's a 21st century

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.359
 version of the

00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:47.240
 1st century clay pot.

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:53.039
 Its purpose is to

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:55.839
 hold the spectacular

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:57.179
 treasure of salt and

00:27:57.179 --> 00:27:58.099
 pepper calamari that

00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:58.819
 I enjoyed on Friday

00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.139
 night.

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.419
 And once the

00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:02.519
 treasure is consumed,

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.519
 it's meant to be

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.639
 discarded, although my

00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:05.359
 wife seems to hang

00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.039
 onto them for some

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.359
 reason.

00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.000
 I thought that's why

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.599
 Tupperware was

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:10.500
 invented, but that's

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.199
 another whole story.

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.819
 Don't get me started

00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.299
 on Tupperware.

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.839
 I cannot understand

00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.579
 why you would sit

00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.579
 around for two hours

00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.500
 discussing plastic

00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.000
 containers.

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.619
 I really...

00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:21.980
 Shoot me dead, for

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.939
 goodness sake, before I

00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:23.379
 do that.

00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:26.699
 Anyway, I've had my

00:28:26.699 --> 00:28:26.919
 piece.

00:28:26.959 --> 00:28:27.619
 I've said my piece.

00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:33.339
 Friends, we've got

00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.720
 to understand that we

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:36.119
 are the takeaway

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.599
 containers.

00:28:36.699 --> 00:28:37.579
 The treasure is on

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.199
 the inside.

00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.480
 It's not the box.

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:40.740
 We're not the

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.019
 treasure.

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.119
 And sometimes I think

00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:44.279
 we act and we behave

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.159
 as if we are the

00:28:45.159 --> 00:28:45.439
 treasure.

00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:48.359
 Anything eternal,

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:50.119
 anything good,

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.279
 lasting that God

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.199
 will ever work out,

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.079
 it's because of the

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.419
 treasure that's inside.

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.619
 It's not because of

00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.599
 how impressive that we

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:56.879
 are.

00:28:58.199 --> 00:28:59.159
 God's concept of

00:28:59.159 --> 00:28:59.859
 ministry is so

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.659
 different from what

00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:01.559
 this world thinks.

00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:03.279
 our world stresses

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:04.480
 the classy, the

00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.200
 top shelf, the

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.019
 polished containers,

00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:07.659
 not the glory of God

00:29:07.659 --> 00:29:08.559
 working through human

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.059
 weakness.

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.619
 The impressive

00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.839
 nature of the new

00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:13.179
 covenant ministry is

00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:14.359
 the great treasure of

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:15.480
 the power of God

00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:17.220
 revealing the glory of

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:19.099
 the gospel through

00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:21.079
 takeaway containers like

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.679
 you and me.

00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:23.960
 Sinful, broken,

00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.559
 fallen, inept,

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:27.559
 takeaway containers like

00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.099
 you and me.

00:29:28.679 --> 00:29:29.419
 And because we are

00:29:29.419 --> 00:29:30.399
 takeaway containers,

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.500
 what that means is

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.440
 you're meant to feel

00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:35.079
 unimpressive and weak

00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:37.500
 and weary, but not

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.460
 ultimately defeated.

00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.720
 Verse 8, we are

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.559
 hard pressed on every

00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.519
 side, but we are not

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:41.920
 crushed.

00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:44.039
 We are perplexed, but

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:45.359
 we are not in despair.

00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.700
 Persecuted, but we are

00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.440
 not abandoned.

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.359
 We are struck down, but

00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.539
 we are not destroyed.

00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:53.339
 We always carry around

00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:54.339
 our body the death of

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:55.339
 Jesus so the life of

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.259
 Jesus may also be

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.660
 revealed in our body.

00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:59.160
 For we who are alive

00:29:59.160 --> 00:30:00.119
 are always being given

00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:00.899
 over to death for

00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:02.359
 Jesus' sake so that

00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:03.139
 his life may be

00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:03.799
 revealed in our

00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.419
 mortal body.

00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:06.059
 Hardship and struggle

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:07.239
 are the normal lot of

00:30:07.239 --> 00:30:08.399
 any sort of takeaway

00:30:08.399 --> 00:30:08.939
 container.

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.099
 It's normal.

00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:14.099
 The temptation is to

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:15.239
 lose heart and always

00:30:15.239 --> 00:30:16.000
 to think it doesn't,

00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:17.019
 it's not meant to be

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.659
 like this.

00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:20.920
 And so if you're

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.920
 feeling weak and weary

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.759
 and out of ideas,

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.720
 helpless in the face

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:25.000
 of lost people,

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.200
 unable to affect real

00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:27.040
 change in someone's

00:30:27.040 --> 00:30:28.060
 life, then you are

00:30:28.060 --> 00:30:29.420
 feeling probably what

00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:29.800
 you ought to be

00:30:29.800 --> 00:30:30.100
 feeling.

00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:32.060
 Pretty normal.

00:30:33.600 --> 00:30:34.700
 But know this, such a

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.940
 clay pot is not a

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:37.220
 liability to God.

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.519
 Your weakness and your

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:40.160
 weariness is normal,

00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:42.420
 expected, and not a

00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:42.880
 hindrance.

00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:47.060
 Our ordinary lives is not

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.940
 a liability.

00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:50.039
 It is in fact an asset

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:52.220
 to God's global

00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:52.779
 purposes.

00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:54.839
 That is, if you truly

00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:55.500
 want God to be

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.000
 glorified.

00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.679
 On the other hand,

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.759
 the proud, the

00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.679
 self-assured, the

00:30:59.679 --> 00:31:00.899
 confident person in

00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:02.700
 their own abilities is

00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.679
 in fact a hindrance to

00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:04.539
 God's global mission.

00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:07.279
 Because they will not

00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:08.639
 act out of a heart of

00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:10.279
 love or a life of

00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.700
 service.

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.019
 God deliberately

00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:14.359
 chooses to use weak and

00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:16.220
 humble people, but he

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.180
 never abandons them to

00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:17.779
 go it alone.

00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.579
 He puts the treasure of

00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:22.460
 his gospel and gifts in

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.559
 clay pots like you and

00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:23.759
 me.

00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:25.620
 And so friends, if you're

00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:26.500
 sitting on the sideline

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.279
 when you think of God's

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.500
 global mission, and you

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.140
 wonder, what can I

00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:30.079
 possibly ever say to my

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.319
 neighbor?

00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.640
 What can I ever possibly

00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:32.579
 say to my friends?

00:31:32.839 --> 00:31:34.019
 What can I possibly do to

00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:35.559
 make a contribution to

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.799
 2.8 billion people who

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.559
 don't know Jesus?

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:39.120
 The 50 million people I

00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:40.059
 can convey about of

00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:41.339
 corpses disappearing into

00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:41.799
 eternity.

00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.019
 What can I possibly do for

00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.279
 that?

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.160
 I want to say to you

00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:45.859
 that no one is too

00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.920
 common, too weak, too

00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.980
 shy, too unarticulate,

00:31:48.139 --> 00:31:49.259
 too old, too disabled,

00:31:49.859 --> 00:31:53.379
 too young to be involved

00:31:53.379 --> 00:31:54.259
 in this spectacular

00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:56.480
 ministry of God's global

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:58.400
 purposes going out into

00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:58.839
 the world.

00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:00.839
 And therefore, since

00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.779
 through God's mercy we

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.759
 have this ministry, I

00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:04.359
 want to implore you not

00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:05.220
 to lose heart.

00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:07.599
 And for us as a church,

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.319
 not to lose heart.

00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:10.279
 Let us press on in the

00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:11.619
 task of proclaiming Christ

00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:13.500
 as Lord out of hearts

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.419
 of love and lives of

00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:16.239
 service while looking to

00:32:16.239 --> 00:32:18.119
 God to push out darkness

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:20.599
 with the light of the

00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:21.819
 glory of the gospel of the

00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.759
 Lord Jesus Christ.

00:32:23.419 --> 00:32:23.739
 Amen.