WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, everyone. It's a great privilege for me to be here. Can everybody hear me?

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 When we talk about mission, we just heard some insight into what overseas or cross-cultural mission looks like.

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 And oftentimes we think that involves language, that involves culture, that involves study.

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 You need to have skills as a speaker or skills as a teacher or insight as an apologist.

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 But I can say to you from a human standpoint, the reason why I'm standing here today is a Christian named Alan invited me to church.

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 I didn't go to church. I didn't believe in God. I saw no need to do either.

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 And I encountered this man, Alan, 27 years ago when I moved to Scotland.

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 We shared a flat just off the High Street in the center of Edinburgh on Coburn Street, that windy street that goes down to Waverly.

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 And Alan was a Christian. And the first thing Alan did was find a church.

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 It happened to be Buclue Free Church, where I've been ever since.

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 And Alan had a personal and a profound and an obvious relationship with Jesus.

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 Now, I didn't know what the gospel was. I didn't know who Jesus was.

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 But I did know who Alan was.

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 And I could tell that there was something in him that was different and positive and engaging.

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 So sometimes we think of mission and we think of the challenges, and there are.

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 And we think of the preparation, and there is.

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 But I would suggest that each one of us here, if we know Jesus, if we love Jesus,

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 then he has given to us the work of mission, whether local or national or international.

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 And we live in a day where we might be tempted to despair.

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 We might be tempted to say there's so much, so much darkness.

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 There's so much ignorance. There's so many difficulties.

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 And that's all true.

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 But if the day is characterized by darkness, doesn't that mean that light would be even more apparent?

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 If we live in a day that is characterized by confusion, doesn't that imply that clarity becomes ever more obvious?

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 So never lose sight of what you can do, not there and then, but here and now.

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 With that brief introduction, I'd like to take you to a very distant place.

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 If you go as far south as you can and you go as far west as you can in China,

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 there is a monument with a plaque that's written in three languages.

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 And it's written in the language of Mandarin Chinese, it's written in the language of the Lisu people,

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 and it's also written in English.

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 The English inscription reads this,

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 Today, the Lisu people live in three countries predominantly.

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 There's approximately 900,000 Lisu people in China,

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 350,000 in Myanmar, Burma,

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 and about 40,000 in Thailand.

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 Now, the Lisu population in China is 45% evangelical.

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 By evangelical, we're evangelical.

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 We believe the gospel.

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 We recognize Jesus as Savior and Lord.

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 We recognize the Bible as the word of God.

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 We recognize that salvation is the work of God through Christ applied by the Holy Spirit.

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 So these are believers as we would recognize believers.

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 So 45% of the Chinese, the Lisu people within China are evangelical.

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 52% of the Lisu people in Myanmar are evangelical.

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 And 34% of the Lisu people in Thailand are evangelical.

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 Now, I hope today that I'll give you some information.

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 I'm not expecting anybody to remember statistics.

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 But remember that this plaque was from the Lisu church in recognition of one man,

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 giving thanks and praise to God for his work.

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 So today, if you look at the Joshua Project, and if you've never seen this website,

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 I'd encourage you to go.

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 The Joshua Project looks at the world and all of the peoples of the world

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 and gives you an insight into each of these people.

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 So you can look up any people group.

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 You can look up any nation.

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 And you can see the progress of the gospel in that place and among those people.

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 So these statistics are as accurate as we can get at the present time.

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 This is 2017.

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 In 1908, when James O. Fraser went to...

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 Well, he left for China in 1908.

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 He arrived and settled in the far southwest by 1910.

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 And that was the first time he encountered the Lisu people.

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 They had traditional dress that was different from the Chinese.

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 They had language that was different from the Chinese people.

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 They had customs that were different.

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 But the one thing that struck James Fraser was this,

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 that the Lisu people knew absolutely nothing about Jesus Christ.

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 So we are talking about 109 years ago,

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 that the Lisu people were unreached,

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 unpenetrated, unengaged with the gospel of Jesus.

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 And today, let's say 110 years later,

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 these are a people who are predominantly evangelical believers.

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 Now, how does this happen?

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 How did this happen?

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 And how can we be a part of what God is doing?

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 So this church and these people...

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 Now, James O. Fraser was a missionary

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 with what was then known as the China Inland Mission.

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 It's now known as OMF, Overseas Missionary Fellowship.

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 And this is a missionary organization that is operating

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 in many of the countries of Eastern Asia,

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 involved in work among the Asian peoples

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 and the Chinese people and the Chinese diaspora.

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 But let me take you back, because I want us to be inspired.

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 Because as we consider these great figures of the past,

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 we might be inclined to say,

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 that's great for him.

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 That's great for them.

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 But what can I do?

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 Or what can we do?

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 Well, just to take you back a little bit.

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 So when James Fraser, he was born in 1886.

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 When he was 20 years old, he graduated.

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 He had a degree in engineering.

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 He also happened to be a very accomplished pianist.

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 And he was going to pursue a career in engineering.

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 He was a Christian.

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 And then a friend gave him a leaflet, a pamphlet.

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 And the title of the pamphlet was,

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 Do Not Say.

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 Do Not Say.

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 And the subtitle was,

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 The Church's Excuses for Neglecting the Heathen.

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 Now by heathen means the foreigners,

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 the people living in distant countries,

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 but particularly foreigners who do not know the gospel.

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 And this is a remarkable pamphlet.

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 It's about 80 pages.

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 And this pamphlet profoundly transformed the thinking

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 and profoundly transformed the life of James Fraser

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 and through his life,

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 profoundly transformed the Lisu people group.

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 So maybe we can begin by asking ourselves,

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 what excuses are we making?

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 What excuses are we making individually?

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 What excuses are we making as a church?

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 That we look at this world today,

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 roughly 7.4 billion people on this big planet,

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 and it's growing.

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 We think of the diversity,

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 all different kinds of philosophies,

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 all different kinds of religions,

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 all different kinds of customs.

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 We think of those areas of the world

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 where there are barriers and obstacles,

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 and there are many.

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 We think of those areas of the world

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 where being a Christian is dangerous.

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 And we're proclaiming Jesus could be very dangerous.

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 And we can all make excuses individually.

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 I'm too young.

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 I'm too old.

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 I'm not good with languages.

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 I find it difficult to eat unusual food.

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 It's too far.

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 It's too tough.

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 We don't have enough money.

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 This is a reason.

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 In my own church, the free church,

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 this is a constant refrain.

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 We don't have the resources.

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 We don't have the people.

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 We don't have the funding.

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 But this pamphlet was reminding us

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 that one day,

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 Jesus Christ will return.

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 And one day,

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 Jesus will ask us to give an account.

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 And this pamphlet that Fraser read,

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 and this pamphlet,

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 which you can read,

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 it's there online if you'd like to see it,

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 it's suggested that the excuses that we make now

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 will appear to be very hollow then.

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 They won't be very persuasive

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 when Jesus gives us the opportunity

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 to make our excuses

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 or to give the reasons for which

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 we have not shared the gospel with our neighbors,

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 nor have we shared the gospel

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 with the distant peoples of the world.

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 So let's keep in mind this man, James Fraser.

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 Let's keep in mind a people

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 that had no knowledge of the gospel

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 about a hundred years ago.

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 And that a people today

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 who are characterized

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 by a vibrant and by a vital Christian church,

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 not a perfect Christian church.

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 As much as you have to celebrate

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 in Brunsfield Evangelical Church,

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 yours is not a perfect church.

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 Beclew Free Church on the other side of the meadows,

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 certainly not a perfect church.

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 Why?

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 Because we're composed of people.

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 So the Lord Jesus is not waiting to work

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 in the lives of perfect people

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 or in the fellowships of perfect churches.

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 If he was, he would have no one to work with

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 and no congregations to work with.

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 But do we have a vision

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 for what God is up to?

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 Because as you read the Bible,

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 and just a few moments ago,

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 Alistair read two chapters.

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 He read a chapter from the middle of the Bible,

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 Psalm 67.

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 He read a chapter from the end of the Bible,

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 Revelation chapter 7.

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 If I could read a few verses

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 from the beginning of the Bible,

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 if you look, for example,

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 at Genesis chapter 12.

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 This is one of the profound encounters

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 of the Bible.

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 The Lord said to Abram,

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 go from your country

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 and your kindred

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 and your father's house

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 to the land that I will show you.

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 And I will make of you a great nation.

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 And I will bless you

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 and make your name great

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 so that you will be a blessing.

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 I will bless those that bless you.

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 And him who dishonors you,

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 I will curse.

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 And in you,

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 all the families of the earth

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 shall be blessed.

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 Now, as we read the Bible,

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 there are threads

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 that unite the whole of Scripture.

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 The gospel is one of those threads.

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 The message of salvation

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 through faith

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 is one of these threads

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 that unites the whole of Scripture.

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 Because when God spoke to Abraham,

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 what do we read?

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 We read that Abraham believed God

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 and that God credited

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 his faith as righteousness.

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 So it's all about trusting in God.

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 It's not about us,

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 what we do,

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 but it's about God

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 and what he has done.

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 Now, Abraham saw Jesus

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 from a distance.

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 We have a much clearer picture,

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 don't we,

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 of who Jesus is

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 and what Jesus has done.

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 So the thread of the gospel

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 runs from Genesis

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 through to Revelation.

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 There is no other message

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 because there is no other Savior.

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 But I would suggest equally

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 that the thread of mission

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 runs through the whole of Scripture.

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 It becomes clearer

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 and more focused

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 as we go from old to new

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 or as we go from the beginning

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 of the Old Testament

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 through to the Psalms,

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 through to the prophets,

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 through to Isaiah,

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 that we see a growing picture

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 that God has a care and concern

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 not for some or few,

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 but for all.

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 All families,

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 all tribes,

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 all nations,

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 all peoples,

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 and that God chose

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 to work in the life

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 of Abraham,

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 one,

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 that Abraham would become

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 a nation,

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 a nation based on faith.

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 So wherever you see Abraham,

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 think faith.

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 There is the father

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 of the faithful.

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 So God built a great nation

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 out of one man.

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 But the desire was

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 that not only this one nation

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 would know God,

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 but that this one nation

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 would show God off

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 to the nations

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 that they would desire

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 to come

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 to see God

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 for themselves.

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 And that's what God

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 is doing

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 in the lives

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 of his people today.

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 He not only is concerned

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 about your salvation,

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 your eternal destiny,

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 he's not only concerned

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 about your welfare,

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 but God wants

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 to show himself off

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 in your life

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 and through your life

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 so that the people

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 you work with,

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 the people that you

00:14:49.459 --> 00:14:50.539
 live next door to,

00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:51.579
 the people within

00:14:51.579 --> 00:14:52.559
 your household,

00:14:52.939 --> 00:14:53.659
 the people that you

00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:54.720
 rub shoulders with

00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.179
 as you go to church,

00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:56.899
 or the people that

00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:58.360
 you just have

00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.419
 good friendships with,

00:14:59.439 --> 00:14:59.959
 that they want to say

00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:01.159
 there's something about him

00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:02.159
 and there's something

00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:02.879
 about her

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.879
 and there's something

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.919
 about us.

00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.279
 That's different.

00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:07.659
 And when God

00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.939
 shows himself off,

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:10.019
 what does he show off?

00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:11.559
 He shows off his power.

00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:12.860
 He shows off his mercy.

00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:14.460
 He shows off his grace.

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:16.179
 He shows off his goodness.

00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:19.120
 We sang a version

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:21.079
 of Amazing Grace

00:15:21.079 --> 00:15:22.439
 just a few moments ago.

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:25.279
 God demonstrated his power

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.259
 and his mercy

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:27.699
 in the life of John Newton,

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.600
 a man whose life

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.399
 was characterized

00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.939
 by infidelity.

00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:33.399
 He was an unbeliever,

00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:34.899
 a man whose life

00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.699
 was characterized

00:15:35.699 --> 00:15:38.840
 by sin and licentiousness.

00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:40.500
 God met him.

00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.420
 God changed him.

00:15:41.540 --> 00:15:42.680
 God transformed him.

00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.360
 So when he said,

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:44.220
 Amazing grace,

00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.580
 how sweet the sound

00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:47.100
 that saved a wretch like me.

00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.399
 I once was lost,

00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.160
 but now am found,

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:49.840
 was blind.

00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:51.100
 But now I see

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:52.080
 that John Newton

00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:53.860
 was testifying personally

00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:55.220
 to the grace

00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.100
 and to the power

00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:57.700
 of the gospel.

00:15:57.700 --> 00:16:00.320
 So as we survey

00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:01.740
 the scriptures,

00:16:02.520 --> 00:16:03.940
 Abraham will be

00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:05.100
 the father of a nation

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:06.000
 and that nation

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.080
 through him,

00:16:07.180 --> 00:16:07.820
 through that nation

00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:08.540
 and through Abraham

00:16:08.540 --> 00:16:09.660
 that all the nations

00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:10.100
 of the earth

00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:10.840
 will be blessed.

00:16:11.660 --> 00:16:12.780
 God be merciful

00:16:12.780 --> 00:16:13.640
 and bless us

00:16:13.640 --> 00:16:14.700
 that the blessing

00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.420
 that we desire

00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.220
 for ourselves

00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:17.180
 in Psalm 67

00:16:17.180 --> 00:16:19.180
 is an overflowing blessing

00:16:19.180 --> 00:16:20.660
 so that others

00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:21.320
 might see,

00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.440
 that others might taste,

00:16:22.540 --> 00:16:23.600
 that others might enjoy,

00:16:24.040 --> 00:16:25.320
 and others might benefit.

00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.840
 And as we come

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.860
 to this final picture

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:31.520
 in the book of Revelation,

00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:34.700
 we have that there's

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.379
 a multitude,

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.060
 so many that they

00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:37.980
 cannot be numbered,

00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:40.000
 that they are clothed,

00:16:40.040 --> 00:16:41.120
 they're wearing white,

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:43.660
 they have been made pure,

00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.520
 they've come out

00:16:44.520 --> 00:16:45.360
 of the tribulation,

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.720
 they've washed their robes

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.660
 and made them white

00:16:47.660 --> 00:16:49.540
 in the blood of the Lamb.

00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:52.340
 And how are these described?

00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:53.740
 A great multitude

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:54.880
 that no one could number

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.120
 from every nation,

00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:57.019
 from all tribes

00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:58.299
 and peoples and languages,

00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:00.360
 standing before the throne,

00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.840
 before the Lamb,

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:03.700
 clothed in white branches,

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.259
 in white robes

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.140
 with palm branches

00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:06.759
 in their hand

00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.599
 and crying out

00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.640
 with a loud voice,

00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:10.240
 salvation belongs

00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.119
 to our God

00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:12.339
 who sits on the throne

00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:14.440
 and to the Lamb.

00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:16.279
 All peoples,

00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:17.660
 all nations,

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.579
 all families

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:20.240
 will be represented

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:20.700
 where?

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.220
 In glory,

00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:24.539
 in front of the Lamb.

00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.680
 So the promise

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.260
 to Abraham

00:17:26.260 --> 00:17:27.520
 and the fulfillment

00:17:27.520 --> 00:17:28.240
 of Revelation,

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.500
 these are the great bookends.

00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:32.200
 And here we are

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.080
 right in the middle.

00:17:33.520 --> 00:17:34.700
 We are in the middle

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:37.000
 of God's redemptive plan.

00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:38.560
 And right now,

00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:39.520
 we can say

00:17:39.520 --> 00:17:41.220
 that there is a world

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:42.560
 and that there are peoples

00:17:42.560 --> 00:17:43.560
 in this world

00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:45.180
 who do not yet know

00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.760
 and have not yet heard.

00:17:47.300 --> 00:17:48.260
 The Lisu people

00:17:48.260 --> 00:17:49.300
 now have heard.

00:17:49.780 --> 00:17:51.200
 They have an indigenous church.

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.799
 They have a growing church

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.980
 that is able

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.519
 to reach its own people

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:58.200
 and even reach beyond

00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:00.039
 its own people group.

00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.660
 Let me remind you

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:04.180
 just of those words

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.319
 of the Great Commission,

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.360
 Matthew 28.

00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:08.740
 If you think of Matthew 28,

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:10.539
 verses 18 to 23,

00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.180
 three verses

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:13.980
 shows how my mind works.

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.039
 I often think of food.

00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:15.900
 Think of a sandwich,

00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:16.600
 right?

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:17.840
 A sandwich,

00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.600
 you have a piece of bread,

00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.000
 you have something

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.400
 in the middle,

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.259
 you have a piece of bread.

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.859
 This is a sandwich

00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:23.579
 because you have two statements

00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:25.400
 and in the middle

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.819
 you have a command.

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.220
 Statement number one,

00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.519
 and Jesus came

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.539
 and said to them,

00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:33.420
 all authority in heaven

00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.319
 and on earth

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.640
 has been given to me.

00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:37.599
 That's who Jesus is.

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.799
 The other half

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.400
 of the sandwich

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:42.200
 is the statement

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:43.000
 in verse 20,

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:43.680
 and behold,

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:45.339
 I am with you always

00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:47.500
 to the end of the age.

00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:48.880
 So what do we have?

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.660
 We have the power of Jesus

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:52.160
 and we have the presence

00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:52.740
 of Jesus.

00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.980
 So all power,

00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:56.140
 all authority,

00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.299
 and his presence

00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:57.980
 is with us

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.839
 from now until forever.

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:02.119
 Now you understand

00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:03.259
 those brackets

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.339
 or the bread

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:04.980
 of the sandwich.

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.359
 You then come

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.220
 to the command

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.420
 because if you look

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:08.900
 at the command

00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:09.400
 on its own

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:09.819
 you would say,

00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:10.519
 I can't do it.

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.279
 We can't do it.

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.240
 This is impossible.

00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:13.680
 But if you have

00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.819
 all powerful Jesus

00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:16.119
 and all present Jesus,

00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:17.599
 then the command

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.500
 go therefore

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.959
 and make disciples

00:19:19.959 --> 00:19:22.219
 of all the nations,

00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:23.959
 baptizing them

00:19:23.959 --> 00:19:24.639
 in the name

00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:25.259
 of the Father

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:25.819
 and of the Son

00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.879
 and of the Holy Spirit,

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.659
 teaching them

00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:28.719
 to observe

00:19:28.719 --> 00:19:30.279
 all that I

00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:32.019
 have commanded you.

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.879
 Now that command

00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:34.459
 comes now

00:19:34.459 --> 00:19:35.059
 into a much

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:36.119
 different focus.

00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:38.159
 Because if the power

00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:39.359
 belongs to Jesus,

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.579
 can he do this?

00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.379
 Absolutely.

00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:44.200
 If the presence

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:45.460
 of Jesus is there,

00:19:45.780 --> 00:19:47.120
 will he do this?

00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:48.360
 Absolutely.

00:19:49.280 --> 00:19:50.360
 All the power,

00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:51.620
 all the resources,

00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:53.020
 all that we need,

00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:53.640
 the wisdom,

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.380
 the grace,

00:19:54.520 --> 00:19:55.040
 the strength,

00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:55.680
 the courage,

00:19:55.780 --> 00:19:56.240
 the comfort,

00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.520
 we are not doing

00:19:57.520 --> 00:19:58.460
 this on our own,

00:19:58.840 --> 00:19:59.980
 but he is with us

00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.980
 every step,

00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.300
 every journey,

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.860
 every challenge.

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.300
 So if you think

00:20:05.300 --> 00:20:06.100
 of the Great Commission

00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:07.180
 in that way,

00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.500
 you realize

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.820
 that it's still

00:20:09.820 --> 00:20:10.740
 all about Jesus.

00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:12.759
 the work of the cross,

00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:13.839
 the work of salvation,

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.779
 is that a joint venture

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.579
 on our part

00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:17.380
 that we give

00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:18.099
 and he gives

00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.779
 that we do

00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.480
 and he does?

00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:19.859
 No.

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.299
 It's his work

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.839
 on our behalf

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:24.220
 and all the benefit

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:25.240
 comes to us.

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.859
 Now in the work

00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:27.599
 of mission,

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.059
 in a sense,

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:29.500
 yes,

00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.180
 we go,

00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.920
 we respond,

00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:33.660
 we proclaim,

00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:36.000
 but it's his work

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.700
 from beginning

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.579
 to end.

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.240
 It's his power.

00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:40.380
 It's his authority.

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.819
 It's his presence.

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.579
 It's his agenda.

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:47.279
 All the praise

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.180
 on all the credit

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.259
 and all the glory

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.480
 will ultimately

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:52.000
 come to him.

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:54.339
 Now when you think

00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:55.819
 to that story

00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.500
 of James Fraser,

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.000
 let me give you

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.400
 an insight

00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:58.180
 into what kind

00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:58.900
 of person

00:20:58.900 --> 00:21:00.559
 Fraser was.

00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.839
 Now you might say

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:03.160
 he's an educated man

00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:03.900
 and he was.

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.620
 He was gifted

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:07.480
 in acquiring language

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.460
 and understanding

00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.579
 a different culture,

00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.539
 which he was.

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:12.000
 So much so

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.160
 that the

00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:14.680
 Lisu alphabet

00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.819
 that was adopted

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:17.160
 by the Chinese government,

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.460
 you see,

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.180
 the Lisu people

00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:19.299
 are one of 55

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:21.700
 minority people groups

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.400
 within the

00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.380
 People's Republic

00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:24.059
 of China.

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:26.559
 The government

00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.059
 of China

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.599
 recognized

00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:29.039
 that the Fraser alphabet

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.120
 was the best

00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:30.779
 representation

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.680
 of the Lisu

00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.980
 language

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.700
 that has ever

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.339
 been developed.

00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.839
 So here's a man

00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.319
 with gifts,

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:36.920
 absolutely.

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:38.920
 But listen to his

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:40.580
 insight into the

00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:41.420
 work of mission.

00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:43.060
 He said,

00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:44.140
 I used to think

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.120
 that prayer should

00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:46.600
 have the first place

00:21:46.600 --> 00:21:48.519
 and teaching the second.

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:51.160
 Now I feel that it

00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.180
 would be truer to

00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:53.140
 give prayer

00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:54.259
 the first,

00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:54.940
 second,

00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:56.580
 and third place

00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:58.019
 and teaching

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.100
 the fourth.

00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:01.159
 Now this is the

00:22:01.159 --> 00:22:01.659
 challenge.

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.399
 We might not all

00:22:03.399 --> 00:22:04.119
 have the gifts

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:04.740
 to teach.

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.119
 We might not have

00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:06.799
 all the gifts

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.819
 to acquire language.

00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.240
 We might not all

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.139
 have the gifts

00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:12.159
 to evangelize

00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:12.759
 or to give an

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.579
 apologetic,

00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:14.219
 a reason,

00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:15.319
 or a response.

00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:17.199
 But prayer

00:22:17.199 --> 00:22:18.859
 is something

00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.419
 that we all

00:22:19.419 --> 00:22:20.000
 can do.

00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:22.000
 Prayer is something

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.779
 that we are all

00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.699
 able to do.

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.759
 And in prayer

00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.559
 we are drawing

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.779
 upon the resources,

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.420
 the strength,

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:27.980
 the power

00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.900
 of the one

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.640
 who has all

00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:30.180
 power,

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.600
 all strength.

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.420
 In one of his

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.059
 prayer letters

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.759
 he wrote to

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.460
 his supporters,

00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.759
 Fraser said this,

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:38.980
 he said,

00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:40.240
 I am not asking

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.460
 you just to

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.240
 give help

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.100
 in prayer

00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:44.559
 as a sort

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.360
 of sideline,

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.259
 but I am

00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.299
 trying to roll

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:48.940
 the main

00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.759
 responsibility

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.180
 of prayer

00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:52.519
 on you.

00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.339
 I want you

00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:55.119
 to take

00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:55.960
 the burden

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:58.680
 of spiritual

00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.200
 warfare,

00:22:59.319 --> 00:22:59.960
 the burden

00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.480
 of warfare,

00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:03.599
 the burden

00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.400
 of these people

00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.420
 on your shoulders.

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:07.319
 I want you

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:08.119
 to wrestle

00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:09.200
 with God

00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.960
 for them.

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.279
 So it's very easy

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.420
 to look at

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.339
 someone like

00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:15.119
 Fraser and to say

00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:15.920
 what a great

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.980
 missionary,

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.139
 what a great

00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:19.359
 example of.

00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:21.279
 But I think

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.619
 he would be

00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:22.359
 the first to say

00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:22.959
 and was the

00:23:22.959 --> 00:23:23.479
 first to say

00:23:23.479 --> 00:23:23.799
 that it was

00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.359
 not him,

00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:26.059
 but it was

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.000
 the prayers

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.799
 of God's

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.159
 people,

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.039
 but even more,

00:23:29.399 --> 00:23:29.939
 it was the

00:23:29.939 --> 00:23:30.579
 God to whom

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:30.859
 they were

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.219
 praying.

00:23:31.939 --> 00:23:32.539
 He was the

00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:32.879
 one who

00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:33.459
 achieved.

00:23:33.719 --> 00:23:34.279
 He was the

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:34.559
 one who

00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.039
 accomplished.

00:23:35.199 --> 00:23:35.639
 He was the

00:23:35.639 --> 00:23:36.000
 one who

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.819
 transformed

00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:38.099
 the spiritual

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:39.659
 lives of

00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:40.279
 these people.

00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:40.779
 It was not

00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.159
 him,

00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.379
 but it was

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.259
 God himself.

00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:45.019
 So there

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:45.339
 you have

00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:46.459
 the great

00:23:46.459 --> 00:23:46.959
 commission.

00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.099
 There you

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.699
 have the

00:23:48.699 --> 00:23:49.779
 reminder of

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.319
 what God

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.299
 has done

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.779
 and is

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.200
 doing.

00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.319
 You're

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.799
 celebrating

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.440
 these years,

00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.240
 67 to

00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.099
 2017,

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.259
 50 years.

00:23:59.440 --> 00:23:59.879
 Let me

00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.200
 take you

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:00.700
 back to a

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.339
 key moment

00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:02.259
 in that

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.639
 period.

00:24:02.639 --> 00:24:03.059
 It was in

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:04.500
 1974.

00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.599
 In 1974,

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.079
 a group of

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.980
 leaders from

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.700
 all over the

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.559
 world gathered

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.539
 in Lausanne,

00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.559
 Switzerland.

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.159
 It became

00:24:14.159 --> 00:24:16.799
 known as the

00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.399
 Committee for

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.180
 Worldwide

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:19.280
 Evangelism,

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.420
 and they

00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:21.140
 published a

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.500
 covenant.

00:24:22.560 --> 00:24:22.860
 You see,

00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.380
 the recognition

00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:24.120
 was this.

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.420
 On one

00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:25.980
 level,

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.780
 by 1974,

00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:29.000
 all the

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.960
 nations of

00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:30.620
 the world,

00:24:31.280 --> 00:24:31.820
 the nation

00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:32.560
 states,

00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:33.940
 had been

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.940
 penetrated to

00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.640
 some extent

00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.000
 by the

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.420
 gospel.

00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:37.560
 So there

00:24:37.560 --> 00:24:37.840
 was a

00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:38.400
 perception,

00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.500
 among some

00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.120
 at least,

00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:40.780
 was,

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.780
 overseas

00:24:41.780 --> 00:24:42.800
 mission has

00:24:42.800 --> 00:24:43.880
 now been

00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.380
 fulfilled.

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:47.180
 Listen to

00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.780
 these words.

00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:50.180
 We affirm

00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:50.980
 that Christ

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.540
 sends his

00:24:51.540 --> 00:24:51.920
 redeemed

00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:52.640
 people into

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.160
 the world

00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:53.640
 as the

00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.200
 Father sent

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:54.560
 him,

00:24:55.020 --> 00:24:55.540
 and that

00:24:55.540 --> 00:24:56.340
 this calls

00:24:56.340 --> 00:24:56.780
 for a

00:24:56.780 --> 00:24:57.600
 similar deep

00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:58.320
 and costly

00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:58.820
 penetration

00:24:58.820 --> 00:24:59.260
 of the

00:24:59.260 --> 00:24:59.620
 world.

00:25:00.280 --> 00:25:00.900
 We need

00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.400
 to break

00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.100
 out of

00:25:02.100 --> 00:25:02.580
 our

00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:03.720
 ecclesiastical

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.360
 ghettos and

00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:05.040
 permeate

00:25:05.040 --> 00:25:06.020
 non-Christian

00:25:06.020 --> 00:25:06.740
 society.

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:07.900
 In the

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.380
 church's

00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:09.060
 mission of

00:25:09.060 --> 00:25:09.760
 sacrificial

00:25:09.760 --> 00:25:10.460
 service,

00:25:11.020 --> 00:25:12.200
 evangelism is

00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:12.820
 primary.

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:15.039
 world's

00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:17.000
 evangelization

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.439
 requires the

00:25:18.439 --> 00:25:19.480
 whole church

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.579
 to take

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.259
 the whole

00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.799
 gospel to

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.439
 the whole

00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:24.200
 world.

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:25.859
 I think

00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.159
 we can

00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:26.579
 celebrate

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.200
 here,

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:27.919
 Brunsfield

00:25:27.919 --> 00:25:28.599
 Evangelical

00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.119
 Church,

00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.220
 Buclew Free

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.819
 Church,

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:31.879
 Charlotte

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:32.299
 Baptist

00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:32.960
 Chapel,

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.779
 Corubber's

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.159
 Christian

00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:34.399
 Cloth.

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.039
 We have

00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.299
 many churches

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.099
 in the

00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.579
 city of

00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.039
 Edinburgh

00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:39.319
 that have

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.980
 the whole

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.500
 gospel.

00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:41.879
 We'll

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.279
 differ on

00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:42.700
 some small

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.019
 points,

00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.259
 but that

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:43.460
 doesn't

00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:43.799
 matter.

00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.579
 But we

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.079
 have the

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.440
 message.

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.559
 We have

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:46.940
 the message

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.480
 of Jesus.

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.139
 But are

00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.879
 we aware

00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:50.500
 of our

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.460
 responsibility?

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.000
 The whole

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.619
 church,

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.839
 that doesn't

00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.200
 just mean

00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.139
 everyone of

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:56.660
 Brunsfield

00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.500
 Evangelical,

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:57.779
 but it

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.379
 means all

00:25:58.379 --> 00:25:58.980
 the believers

00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.559
 within the

00:25:59.559 --> 00:25:59.940
 city of

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.319
 Edinburgh,

00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.339
 within the

00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:01.819
 nation of

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.240
 Scotland,

00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:02.819
 the whole

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:04.099
 church needs

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.639
 to take

00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.420
 this whole

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.039
 gospel.

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.220
 We don't

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.700
 give the

00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.319
 world anything

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.000
 less than

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.379
 what we

00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:09.859
 have,

00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:11.079
 but we

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.419
 need to

00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:11.919
 take it

00:26:11.919 --> 00:26:12.279
 to the

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.059
 whole of

00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.699
 this world,

00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.500
 to all

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.939
 of its

00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:16.740
 people.

00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.259
 If you

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.500
 look at

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.000
 the Bible,

00:26:22.199 --> 00:26:23.079
 in Acts

00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.959
 chapter 1,

00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:25.279
 there were

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.459
 about 120

00:26:26.459 --> 00:26:28.079
 people who

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.959
 met together

00:26:28.959 --> 00:26:29.839
 for prayer.

00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.659
 By Acts

00:26:31.659 --> 00:26:32.659
 chapter 2,

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:34.879
 3,000 had

00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:35.679
 been added to

00:26:35.679 --> 00:26:36.559
 the church at

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.059
 the end of

00:26:37.059 --> 00:26:37.479
 Peter's

00:26:37.479 --> 00:26:38.039
 Pentecost

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.500
 sermon.

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:40.039
 Acts chapter

00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.500
 4,

00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:41.220
 we're told

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.259
 that many

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.720
 of those

00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.000
 who had

00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.519
 heard the

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.259
 word believed

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.539
 and the

00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:44.980
 number of

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.559
 men came

00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.079
 to about

00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.980
 5,000.

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.819
 By Acts

00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:50.019
 chapter 17,

00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:51.839
 when Jason

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.680
 had welcomed

00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:55.660
 some of the

00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.220
 brothers into

00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:56.720
 his home,

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.279
 we're told

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.380
 that these

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:58.980
 men who

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.460
 have turned

00:26:59.460 --> 00:26:59.880
 the world

00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.880
 upside down

00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.420
 have come

00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.980
 here also.

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:03.960
 Jason has

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.599
 received them

00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.099
 and they are

00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.980
 all acting

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.720
 against the

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.460
 decrees of

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:07.859
 Caesar.

00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.959
 saying that

00:27:08.959 --> 00:27:09.399
 there is

00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:09.879
 another

00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:10.559
 king,

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:11.599
 Jesus.

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:12.839
 So there

00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:13.799
 is a rapid

00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:15.279
 spread of

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:15.959
 the gospel

00:27:15.959 --> 00:27:17.240
 within the

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.279
 biblical period.

00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:19.699
 120,

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.179
 3,000,

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.319
 5,000.

00:27:22.659 --> 00:27:23.299
 The world

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.399
 turned upside

00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.179
 down.

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.219
 Now, I'm a

00:27:27.219 --> 00:27:27.699
 student of

00:27:27.699 --> 00:27:28.059
 history.

00:27:28.199 --> 00:27:28.779
 When I came

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.299
 to this

00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.379
 country, I

00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:30.859
 came to

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.399
 study the

00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:31.919
 history of

00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:32.359
 Scotland.

00:27:32.979 --> 00:27:33.519
 So it

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.539
 wasn't church

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.219
 history, but it

00:27:35.219 --> 00:27:35.719
 was the history

00:27:35.719 --> 00:27:36.279
 of the Scottish

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.259
 people, the

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.039
 political history

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.799
 of Scotland, and

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.059
 it was a

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.480
 comparative

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.299
 study between

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.319
 Scotland and

00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:41.759
 Ireland.

00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:42.759
 If you want

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.460
 more information

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:43.980
 that can tell

00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.539
 you fascinating

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.000
 stuff.

00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.200
 But having

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.779
 become a

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.500
 Christian, my

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.019
 love for

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.680
 history is

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.420
 still there.

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:50.839
 And when I

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.379
 read the

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.379
 biographies of

00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:53.180
 Fraser, or

00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.200
 read William

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.079
 Carey, or

00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:56.119
 read of

00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:57.039
 Hudson Taylor,

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.319
 or read of

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.660
 Charles Spurgeon,

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:01.019
 and I'll be

00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:02.139
 referencing some

00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:02.660
 of these folks

00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:04.299
 later today, I

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:04.799
 love the

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.200
 history.

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.579
 So let me

00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:06.879
 give you an

00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:07.500
 idea of

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.579
 history, because

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.559
 if you think

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.680
 of 1900,

00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:13.180
 1900 probably

00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:13.659
 was the

00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:14.339
 high-water

00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:15.460
 mark of

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.180
 Western

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:16.940
 missionary

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:19.119
 activity in

00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:20.519
 the nations,

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.480
 overseas,

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.519
 foreign mission

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.500
 activities,

00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.720
 probably at

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.319
 its height by

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.500
 1900, certainly

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:28.579
 1900, 1910.

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.740
 In 1900,

00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:31.819
 Africa had

00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.639
 10 million

00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:34.279
 Christians, and

00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:34.779
 that was about

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.779
 10% of the

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.399
 population.

00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:39.160
 By 2000, this

00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:39.779
 figure had

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.359
 grown to

00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:43.000
 360 million

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:44.519
 Christians,

00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.740
 representing

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.420
 half the

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.099
 population.

00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.599
 Quantitatively,

00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:51.059
 this may well

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.920
 be the largest

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:53.279
 shift in

00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:53.740
 religious

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.779
 affiliation that

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.339
 has ever

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.779
 occurred anywhere.

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.259
 I don't know

00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.680
 about you, but

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.019
 I have this

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.639
 perception.

00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.940
 I have lived

00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.540
 in Scotland

00:29:03.540 --> 00:29:04.700
 27 years.

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.820
 You kind of

00:29:05.820 --> 00:29:06.380
 see the

00:29:06.380 --> 00:29:07.860
 church here, and

00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:08.320
 you kind of

00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:08.960
 think, well, I

00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.700
 guess that's the

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.280
 way it is

00:29:10.280 --> 00:29:10.720
 everywhere.

00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.380
 It's not the

00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:12.900
 way it is

00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.300
 everywhere.

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.920
 In the world

00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:16.240
 today, the

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.520
 gospel is

00:29:17.520 --> 00:29:18.820
 reaching new

00:29:18.820 --> 00:29:19.740
 people, and the

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.520
 church of Jesus

00:29:20.520 --> 00:29:21.580
 is growing, and

00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:22.259
 in some cases

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.500
 growing rapidly.

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:24.980
 If I could

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.900
 recommend one

00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:26.660
 book to you,

00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.460
 you might be

00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.020
 familiar with

00:29:28.020 --> 00:29:28.660
 John Piper.

00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:30.000
 John Piper

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.660
 wrote, let

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.259
 the nations

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.100
 be glad, the

00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:32.980
 supremacy of

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.680
 God in

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.080
 missions.

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.660
 If you want

00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.480
 one book that

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.900
 will fire you

00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:40.560
 up to pray, and

00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:41.340
 maybe even to

00:29:41.340 --> 00:29:42.960
 go, I would

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.840
 say that this is

00:29:43.840 --> 00:29:44.360
 the book to

00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:44.720
 read.

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.040
 Because Piper

00:29:46.040 --> 00:29:47.920
 will capture the

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:49.080
 biblical imperative,

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.540
 and Piper will

00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:51.400
 fire you and

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.700
 enthuse you with,

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.840
 if you've ever

00:29:53.840 --> 00:29:54.680
 seen Piper or

00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:55.400
 heard Piper, he's

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:55.900
 got a great

00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.880
 enthusiasm about

00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.680
 his preaching, and

00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.320
 it comes through in

00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:58.779
 his writing.

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.339
 But think of

00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:01.720
 this, 10% of

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.700
 Africa, at the

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:03.379
 height of the

00:30:03.379 --> 00:30:04.200
 Western missionary

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:05.819
 endeavor, in

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:07.539
 1900, 10% of

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.159
 the population

00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:08.779
 was Christian.

00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.439
 Today, when

00:30:10.439 --> 00:30:11.279
 many of the

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.819
 Western missionary

00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.819
 agencies have

00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.720
 withdrawn or

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:16.619
 reduced, so you

00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.859
 see, God is

00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:19.339
 working, and he's

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:19.899
 working in

00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:21.299
 remarkable ways,

00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:22.159
 and he's

00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:23.099
 developing and

00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:24.119
 growing local

00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:24.960
 churches,

00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:27.879
 remarkably, in

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:31.560
 the continent

00:30:31.560 --> 00:30:33.260
 of Africa, and

00:30:33.260 --> 00:30:33.820
 to the ends of

00:30:33.820 --> 00:30:34.320
 the earth.

00:30:34.760 --> 00:30:35.540
 Just to give

00:30:35.540 --> 00:30:36.220
 you another

00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.000
 statistic that

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.560
 you might find

00:30:37.560 --> 00:30:38.100
 interesting.

00:30:40.760 --> 00:30:44.160
 In 1900, 2.5%

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.260
 of the world's

00:30:45.260 --> 00:30:46.240
 population were

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.360
 categorized as

00:30:47.360 --> 00:30:48.200
 believers in

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:48.580
 Jesus.

00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.900
 2.5%.

00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:51.040
 So that meant

00:30:51.040 --> 00:30:52.000
 it took 18

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.260
 centuries for the

00:30:53.260 --> 00:30:54.960
 gospel to reach

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.460
 1 out of 40

00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.079
 people.

00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:59.460
 That figure was

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.380
 doubled by the

00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.740
 year 1970.

00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:04.019
 So 5% of the

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.860
 world's population

00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:05.740
 by 1970.

00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.620
 That's remarkable.

00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.579
 18 centuries,

00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.559
 2.5%.

00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:11.620
 70 years, now

00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:12.740
 to 5%.

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:14.180
 Today, we're

00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.579
 probably around

00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:17.779
 the 12, 12.5% to

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:19.279
 15%.

00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:21.480
 So you go from

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.640
 1 out of 40 in

00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:23.180
 1900.

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.540
 You're now to

00:31:24.540 --> 00:31:26.100
 1 out of 8 in

00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:27.040
 2017.

00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:27.740
 There's still

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.660
 plenty to go.

00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.220
 But I was

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.160
 shocked by these

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.280
 statistics because I

00:31:32.280 --> 00:31:33.120
 thought in my

00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:34.400
 mind that we

00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:34.780
 would have been

00:31:34.780 --> 00:31:36.080
 seeing, if not a

00:31:36.080 --> 00:31:37.320
 sharp decline, but a

00:31:37.320 --> 00:31:38.940
 steady decline in

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:40.300
 the expansion of the

00:31:40.300 --> 00:31:40.620
 gospel.

00:31:40.800 --> 00:31:40.980
 Why?

00:31:41.080 --> 00:31:41.860
 Because we've seen a

00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:43.560
 steady decline here

00:31:43.560 --> 00:31:44.620
 within the United

00:31:44.620 --> 00:31:45.420
 Kingdom or within

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.860
 Scotland.

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.380
 But no.

00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.960
 The work of the

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:49.140
 gospel, the advance

00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:50.180
 of the gospel, is

00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:51.600
 proceeding, and in

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.699
 some cases, rapidly.

00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:54.659
 But let me give you

00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:55.179
 an insight.

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.039
 You don't need to

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.799
 remember the numbers,

00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:59.019
 but think of the

00:31:59.019 --> 00:31:59.779
 scale here.

00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:02.119
 Remember in 1974,

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:02.939
 there was a

00:32:02.939 --> 00:32:03.959
 recognition that

00:32:03.959 --> 00:32:05.939
 describing world

00:32:05.939 --> 00:32:08.199
 mission by nations

00:32:08.199 --> 00:32:09.319
 was inadequate.

00:32:10.439 --> 00:32:11.299
 In the United

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.259
 Nations today, there

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:14.119
 are 193 nations

00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:14.719
 in the UN.

00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.000
 In the most

00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.980
 recent Olympics, the

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:18.500
 Rio Olympics 2016,

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:20.500
 206 nations

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:20.980
 competed.

00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.980
 Missiologists

00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:25.279
 suggest that in

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.139
 the world there

00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:27.179
 are approximately

00:32:27.179 --> 00:32:30.659
 17,000 people

00:32:30.659 --> 00:32:31.379
 groups.

00:32:32.219 --> 00:32:33.159
 Now, these might be

00:32:33.159 --> 00:32:33.879
 distinguished because

00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:35.519
 of language, or by

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:37.059
 culture, or by

00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:37.500
 both.

00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:39.279
 But that's a much

00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:39.839
 different picture,

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.299
 isn't it?

00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:43.039
 193 nations in the

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.759
 UN, 206 nations in

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.659
 the Olympics.

00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:47.579
 Now, 16, let's say

00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:50.119
 17,000 people

00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:50.919
 groups.

00:32:50.919 --> 00:32:52.079
 And out of those

00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:55.699
 17,000, 7,000 are

00:32:55.699 --> 00:32:57.139
 in the category of

00:32:57.139 --> 00:32:59.899
 unreached, like the

00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:00.799
 Lisu people in

00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.639
 1910.

00:33:02.139 --> 00:33:03.199
 They did not know

00:33:03.199 --> 00:33:03.759
 the gospel.

00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:05.299
 They had no

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:06.339
 meaningful engagement

00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:07.719
 with the message of

00:33:07.719 --> 00:33:08.559
 Jesus Christ.

00:33:08.939 --> 00:33:09.919
 They had no

00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:11.079
 scriptures in their

00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:11.500
 language.

00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:12.239
 They had no

00:33:12.239 --> 00:33:13.479
 indigenous church.

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:13.539
 church.

00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:14.920
 They had no

00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:17.759
 significant effort of

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.860
 bringing the gospel to

00:33:18.860 --> 00:33:19.120
 them.

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:21.500
 So 7,000 people

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.819
 groups today represent

00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:24.779
 over 3 billion

00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:26.900
 people on this

00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:27.299
 planet.

00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:29.779
 This afternoon, we're

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:30.460
 going to be looking at

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.420
 what mission looks like

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.819
 locally.

00:33:32.360 --> 00:33:33.440
 And if we're honest,

00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:35.220
 mission among our own

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.920
 people is tough.

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:41.440
 Now, in every church

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:41.980
 there will be some

00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:42.980
 people who come to

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.840
 church regularly who

00:33:43.840 --> 00:33:44.560
 are not Christians.

00:33:45.080 --> 00:33:46.120
 But they might come

00:33:46.120 --> 00:33:47.100
 because of family, they

00:33:47.100 --> 00:33:47.880
 might come because of

00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:49.180
 curiosity, or maybe just

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:50.039
 come because of custom.

00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:51.140
 But at least they're

00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:52.240
 accustomed to church,

00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:52.519
 right?

00:33:53.060 --> 00:33:55.560
 Now, these people know

00:33:55.560 --> 00:33:56.380
 what church is like.

00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.259
 They have a familiarity

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.240
 at least with what the

00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:58.980
 message of the church

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.320
 is.

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.840
 So as a preacher,

00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:04.080
 they're part of the

00:34:04.080 --> 00:34:04.480
 audience.

00:34:04.860 --> 00:34:05.480
 You don't need to do

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.440
 much work to get them.

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.160
 They're there in front

00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:07.400
 of you.

00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:08.420
 So you can preach the

00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.700
 gospel, you can encourage

00:34:09.700 --> 00:34:10.599
 them or exhort them

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.320
 because they're there

00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:12.340
 in front of you.

00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:14.559
 The next step, of course,

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.740
 for you or for me, is

00:34:15.740 --> 00:34:16.760
 how do we reach the

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:18.440
 Scottish people, the

00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.079
 people that live in

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.900
 Edinburgh, work in

00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:20.740
 Edinburgh, are from

00:34:20.740 --> 00:34:22.300
 Edinburgh, how do we

00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.240
 reach them meaningfully

00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:23.880
 for the gospel?

00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.940
 And that's tough.

00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:26.659
 Because these are

00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:27.519
 people that don't go to

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:27.920
 church.

00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:29.599
 They probably don't read

00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.099
 the Bible.

00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.500
 They may or may not

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.559
 have any knowledge or

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.659
 background about

00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.380
 Christianity.

00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:34.500
 Christianity.

00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:36.280
 But when we talk

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.500
 about these 7,000

00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:39.579
 people groups, these

00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:40.640
 are very different

00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:41.760
 types of people.

00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:42.920
 They have very

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.760
 different languages.

00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:44.920
 They have very

00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:45.780
 different cultures.

00:34:46.740 --> 00:34:47.900
 They have a, the

00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:49.099
 distance culturally

00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:50.380
 between them and us

00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:51.099
 is vast.

00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:52.420
 Now you might say

00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:53.240
 the difference between

00:34:53.240 --> 00:34:54.900
 a person who goes to

00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.800
 church, believes in

00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:57.880
 Jesus, Scottish person,

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:59.059
 and the Scottish person

00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.680
 who doesn't go to

00:34:59.680 --> 00:35:00.780
 church, there's a

00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:02.140
 gap there, absolutely.

00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:03.500
 But that's a relatively

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.239
 small gap.

00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.879
 You speak the same

00:35:05.879 --> 00:35:07.119
 language, you're from

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:08.920
 the same culture, you

00:35:08.920 --> 00:35:10.339
 understand the nuances,

00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:12.039
 you understand roughly

00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:12.940
 what people think, what

00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:13.879
 people feel, etc.

00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:15.960
 But if you're trying now

00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:17.339
 to reach a nomadic

00:35:17.339 --> 00:35:19.059
 group in Saharan

00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:21.579
 Africa, they have a

00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:22.779
 very different language

00:35:22.779 --> 00:35:24.000
 than we do, they have

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:25.279
 very different cultures

00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:27.639
 than we do, they don't

00:35:27.639 --> 00:35:29.500
 have settled communities

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.539
 as we would see them,

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.820
 that is a huge

00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:33.320
 missiological gap from

00:35:33.320 --> 00:35:34.199
 where we are to where

00:35:34.199 --> 00:35:34.779
 they are.

00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:38.340
 But if we are committed

00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:40.659
 to the command that

00:35:40.659 --> 00:35:42.880
 Jesus gives, and you'll

00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:43.699
 notice in the Bible,

00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:45.380
 Jesus never really does

00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:46.460
 give suggestions.

00:35:47.759 --> 00:35:49.000
 Jesus never really does

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.880
 offer advice.

00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:52.519
 Jesus tells us what to

00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:52.840
 do.

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.300
 He gives us what we

00:35:54.300 --> 00:35:56.219
 need, but he doesn't

00:35:56.219 --> 00:35:57.599
 give us ten tips for a

00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:58.279
 happy life.

00:35:58.280 --> 00:36:00.040
 He doesn't give us

00:36:00.040 --> 00:36:03.480
 five insights to a

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.300
 healthy church.

00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.960
 He says, I want you to

00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.760
 make disciples of all

00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:07.460
 the nations.

00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.700
 Remember that pamphlet,

00:36:10.560 --> 00:36:11.740
 the church's excuses

00:36:11.740 --> 00:36:12.860
 for neglecting the

00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:13.460
 heathens.

00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:16.400
 These 7,000 people,

00:36:16.920 --> 00:36:18.280
 groups, who do not

00:36:18.280 --> 00:36:20.220
 have the gospel, they

00:36:20.220 --> 00:36:21.220
 are geographically

00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:22.640
 remote, they are

00:36:22.640 --> 00:36:23.620
 culturally very

00:36:23.620 --> 00:36:25.340
 different, many of

00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:27.340
 them are hostile to

00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:28.480
 what they perceive to

00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.160
 be the gospel.

00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:30.600
 They're not Christians

00:36:30.600 --> 00:36:31.120
 and they don't

00:36:31.120 --> 00:36:32.160
 particularly want to be

00:36:32.160 --> 00:36:32.620
 Christians.

00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:33.940
 There may be

00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:35.400
 restrictions that mean

00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:36.539
 that you and I cannot

00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:38.039
 easily go to those

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.539
 places.

00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:41.220
 Now, those sound like

00:36:41.220 --> 00:36:41.900
 good excuses.

00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.900
 Jesus, the language is

00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:45.440
 really different.

00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:47.320
 Jesus, the culture is

00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.900
 very different.

00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:50.720
 Jesus, they don't

00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:51.280
 really want to be

00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:51.960
 Christians anyway.

00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:54.220
 Their countries or

00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:54.980
 their leaders are

00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:55.480
 hostile.

00:36:55.480 --> 00:36:55.760
 hostile.

00:36:58.619 --> 00:37:00.659
 That excuse, to

00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.480
 you and to me, I

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.199
 think we can convince

00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:02.659
 each other.

00:37:03.179 --> 00:37:03.940
 I think we can give

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.599
 each other a fair

00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:05.860
 number of reasons why

00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:07.679
 reaching these 7,000

00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:09.059
 people groups is beyond

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:09.940
 our capacity.

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:12.000
 We're few, there are

00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:13.920
 many, we're limited

00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.380
 financially, the

00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.960
 cultural and all these

00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:17.119
 things.

00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:18.139
 We could list a number

00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:20.420
 of excuses, but the

00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:21.780
 pamphlet's title was

00:37:21.780 --> 00:37:23.519
 do not say.

00:37:24.740 --> 00:37:27.460
 So, 3.1 billion

00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:29.620
 people on this

00:37:29.620 --> 00:37:30.840
 planet have no

00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:32.260
 meaningful connection

00:37:32.260 --> 00:37:34.240
 to the gospel.

00:37:35.240 --> 00:37:37.400
 Does that bother

00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:38.180
 us?

00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:41.000
 3 billion people.

00:37:41.540 --> 00:37:42.860
 Now, you might say that

00:37:42.860 --> 00:37:43.940
 there are lost people

00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:44.580
 wherever you go.

00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:45.720
 There might be lost

00:37:45.720 --> 00:37:47.420
 people in your family,

00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:48.580
 people that you love

00:37:48.580 --> 00:37:50.160
 dearly, that do not yet

00:37:50.159 --> 00:37:51.019
 know the Lord Jesus.

00:37:51.579 --> 00:37:53.179
 And they, you know,

00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.920
 I once was lost, but

00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:55.480
 now I'm found.

00:37:55.839 --> 00:37:57.299
 So, the Bible does

00:37:57.299 --> 00:37:58.480
 give you this kind of

00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:59.719
 binary category.

00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:01.759
 Amazing grace means

00:38:01.759 --> 00:38:03.039
 you're found by

00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.579
 Jesus.

00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:05.619
 But the, apart from

00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:06.599
 the amazing grace of

00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.699
 Jesus, you're lost.

00:38:08.659 --> 00:38:09.739
 But these people are

00:38:09.739 --> 00:38:10.940
 not just lost.

00:38:11.719 --> 00:38:12.460
 They have no

00:38:12.460 --> 00:38:13.500
 meaningful way of

00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:14.199
 being found.

00:38:15.319 --> 00:38:16.339
 Now, does that mean

00:38:16.339 --> 00:38:17.440
 that God is, absolutely,

00:38:17.679 --> 00:38:18.719
 God is not limited.

00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:19.899
 God can do what he

00:38:19.899 --> 00:38:21.099
 wants, as he wants,

00:38:21.379 --> 00:38:22.539
 how he wants, when he

00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:22.879
 wants.

00:38:23.419 --> 00:38:24.539
 God can do anything

00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:25.779
 he wants.

00:38:26.339 --> 00:38:27.679
 And yet, God chooses

00:38:27.679 --> 00:38:29.199
 to use you and me.

00:38:30.339 --> 00:38:31.839
 I would choose other

00:38:31.839 --> 00:38:33.139
 people, to be honest.

00:38:33.679 --> 00:38:34.719
 I would choose more

00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:35.419
 able people.

00:38:35.799 --> 00:38:36.679
 I would choose more

00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:37.379
 gifted people.

00:38:37.459 --> 00:38:38.039
 I would choose more

00:38:38.039 --> 00:38:39.219
 enthusiastic people.

00:38:39.899 --> 00:38:40.679
 Jesus tends to

00:38:40.679 --> 00:38:41.299
 choose us.

00:38:41.839 --> 00:38:43.079
 He chooses ordinary

00:38:43.079 --> 00:38:43.699
 people.

00:38:43.859 --> 00:38:44.159
 Why?

00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:45.099
 Because when

00:38:45.099 --> 00:38:46.639
 extraordinary things are

00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:47.399
 accomplished by

00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:49.220
 ordinary people, the

00:38:49.220 --> 00:38:50.340
 credit must go

00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:51.320
 somewhere else.

00:38:52.260 --> 00:38:53.039
 When extraordinary

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:54.099
 things are accomplished

00:38:54.099 --> 00:38:54.940
 by extraordinary

00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:56.740
 people, then, well,

00:38:56.780 --> 00:38:57.500
 they must have the

00:38:57.500 --> 00:38:57.760
 credit.

00:38:57.880 --> 00:38:58.780
 He's great at this,

00:38:58.860 --> 00:38:59.760
 she's good at that.

00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:00.079
 No.

00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:01.780
 When we realize that

00:39:01.780 --> 00:39:02.860
 we're not good at

00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:03.720
 these things, and

00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:04.700
 we're not naturally

00:39:04.700 --> 00:39:06.099
 able to these things,

00:39:06.300 --> 00:39:07.340
 and when we realize

00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:08.200
 that it must be

00:39:08.200 --> 00:39:09.260
 Jesus, and Jesus

00:39:09.260 --> 00:39:10.460
 alone who does it,

00:39:10.820 --> 00:39:11.720
 then the credit, the

00:39:11.720 --> 00:39:12.559
 praise, and the honor

00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:13.800
 goes to him.

00:39:13.800 --> 00:39:16.539
 I'm going to give

00:39:16.539 --> 00:39:18.180
 you one final

00:39:18.180 --> 00:39:18.880
 statistic, which is

00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:19.700
 even more striking.

00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:21.039
 So 7,000 people

00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:22.440
 groups, 3 billion

00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:24.180
 people, unreached.

00:39:24.680 --> 00:39:26.380
 There are 3,000

00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:27.120
 people groups.

00:39:27.160 --> 00:39:27.660
 These are often

00:39:27.660 --> 00:39:29.080
 very small, very

00:39:29.080 --> 00:39:30.000
 isolated, very

00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.380
 remote.

00:39:30.820 --> 00:39:31.860
 There are 3,000

00:39:31.860 --> 00:39:32.560
 people that are

00:39:32.560 --> 00:39:34.220
 described in this

00:39:34.220 --> 00:39:36.539
 way, unengaged,

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:38.860
 unreached groups.

00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:40.320
 So there's

00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:41.780
 approximately 4,000

00:39:41.780 --> 00:39:43.580
 people groups, and

00:39:43.579 --> 00:39:44.440
 attempt to reach

00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:44.659
 them.

00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:45.739
 They're on

00:39:45.739 --> 00:39:46.679
 somebody's radar.

00:39:47.259 --> 00:39:47.860
 They're on a

00:39:47.860 --> 00:39:48.679
 mission organization.

00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.279
 They're on a

00:39:49.279 --> 00:39:49.659
 church.

00:39:49.940 --> 00:39:51.059
 Somebody is trying

00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:51.900
 to reach these

00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:53.299
 4,000 people.

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.840
 But there are

00:39:54.840 --> 00:39:56.000
 3,000 people

00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:56.940
 groups, roughly

00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:58.119
 200 million

00:39:58.119 --> 00:39:58.699
 people.

00:39:59.179 --> 00:40:00.279
 That means 40

00:40:00.279 --> 00:40:01.400
 people for every

00:40:01.400 --> 00:40:02.639
 Scottish person.

00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:04.699
 So 40 times the

00:40:04.699 --> 00:40:05.400
 population of

00:40:05.400 --> 00:40:05.799
 Scotland.

00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:07.079
 200 million

00:40:07.079 --> 00:40:08.799
 people, and all

00:40:08.799 --> 00:40:09.980
 we know about

00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:11.319
 them is that they

00:40:11.319 --> 00:40:12.219
 exist as a people

00:40:12.219 --> 00:40:12.579
 group.

00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:13.599
 They have no

00:40:13.599 --> 00:40:14.559
 indigenous church.

00:40:14.659 --> 00:40:15.059
 They have no

00:40:15.059 --> 00:40:16.119
 indigenous believers

00:40:16.119 --> 00:40:17.380
 in Jesus, and

00:40:17.380 --> 00:40:18.840
 nobody is attempting

00:40:18.840 --> 00:40:20.099
 to reach them yet.

00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:22.480
 So humanly speaking,

00:40:22.619 --> 00:40:23.639
 they're lost with

00:40:23.639 --> 00:40:25.799
 absolutely no way of

00:40:25.799 --> 00:40:27.059
 being found, and no

00:40:27.059 --> 00:40:28.179
 prospect of being

00:40:28.179 --> 00:40:28.599
 found.

00:40:29.299 --> 00:40:31.139
 So as poorly as we

00:40:31.139 --> 00:40:32.259
 evangelize Edinburgh,

00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:33.819
 at least the people

00:40:33.819 --> 00:40:34.539
 of Edinburgh have

00:40:34.539 --> 00:40:34.940
 access.

00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:36.299
 They could come to

00:40:36.299 --> 00:40:37.239
 Brunsfield tomorrow.

00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:38.239
 They could come to

00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:38.980
 Becloot tomorrow.

00:40:39.259 --> 00:40:40.079
 If they want the

00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:40.860
 Bible, they could get

00:40:40.860 --> 00:40:41.460
 any number of

00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:42.200
 copies of any

00:40:42.200 --> 00:40:42.579
 number of

00:40:42.579 --> 00:40:43.300
 editions of the

00:40:43.300 --> 00:40:43.660
 Bible.

00:40:44.340 --> 00:40:45.700
 But these 7,000

00:40:45.700 --> 00:40:46.660
 people groups can't

00:40:46.660 --> 00:40:47.559
 easily go to church,

00:40:47.640 --> 00:40:48.720
 and these 3,000

00:40:48.720 --> 00:40:49.960
 certainly can't go to

00:40:49.960 --> 00:40:50.320
 church.

00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:51.440
 There's no church for

00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:52.220
 them to go to.

00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:53.539
 There's no Bible for

00:40:53.539 --> 00:40:54.240
 them to purchase.

00:40:54.920 --> 00:40:55.579
 Even if they could

00:40:55.579 --> 00:40:56.579
 purchase it, it just

00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:57.460
 doesn't exist.

00:40:59.880 --> 00:41:02.760
 James Fraser, 1910,

00:41:02.880 --> 00:41:05.240
 comes to China, and

00:41:05.240 --> 00:41:06.340
 he encounters these

00:41:06.340 --> 00:41:07.000
 people, and they're

00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:07.620
 obvious.

00:41:07.619 --> 00:41:09.079
 They have different

00:41:09.079 --> 00:41:09.719
 culture.

00:41:09.859 --> 00:41:10.639
 They wear different

00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:11.019
 clothes.

00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:11.960
 They speak a different

00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:12.500
 language.

00:41:12.859 --> 00:41:14.219
 And when he found out

00:41:14.219 --> 00:41:15.799
 that they had no

00:41:15.799 --> 00:41:19.000
 knowledge of Jesus, he

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:20.659
 dedicated the rest of

00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:23.119
 his life, the next 30

00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:25.199
 years, to learning their

00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:27.679
 language, to teaching

00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:28.559
 them the gospel.

00:41:29.159 --> 00:41:31.480
 And God used him and

00:41:31.480 --> 00:41:33.460
 others powerfully,

00:41:34.199 --> 00:41:36.859
 remarkably, to reach this

00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:38.820
 group of people, so

00:41:38.820 --> 00:41:40.740
 that today there is a

00:41:40.740 --> 00:41:42.160
 worshiping church among

00:41:42.160 --> 00:41:43.300
 the Lisu people in

00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:45.420
 Burma, in China, in

00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:45.820
 Thailand.

00:41:46.420 --> 00:41:47.500
 They know Jesus.

00:41:47.860 --> 00:41:48.700
 They love Jesus.

00:41:49.039 --> 00:41:50.220
 They are passing on that

00:41:50.220 --> 00:41:50.960
 knowledge to their

00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:52.240
 children and passing on

00:41:52.240 --> 00:41:54.140
 that knowledge to the

00:41:54.140 --> 00:41:55.840
 rest of their people.

00:41:56.680 --> 00:41:58.099
 The task is great.

00:41:58.740 --> 00:42:00.320
 The challenges are many.

00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:02.920
 The resources are few.

00:42:03.620 --> 00:42:05.320
 The time is short.

00:42:05.320 --> 00:42:08.680
 How do we look upon the

00:42:08.680 --> 00:42:09.080
 world?

00:42:09.820 --> 00:42:12.039
 How do we look upon people

00:42:12.039 --> 00:42:13.360
 who don't know the

00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:13.860
 gospel?

00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:16.019
 How do we look upon the

00:42:16.019 --> 00:42:17.820
 people groups that don't

00:42:17.820 --> 00:42:18.860
 have a meaningful

00:42:18.860 --> 00:42:20.740
 connection or a meaningful

00:42:20.740 --> 00:42:21.559
 opportunity?

00:42:22.240 --> 00:42:23.559
 Does that move our

00:42:23.559 --> 00:42:24.120
 hearts?

00:42:24.700 --> 00:42:27.000
 Does that enliven our

00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:27.539
 prayers?

00:42:28.100 --> 00:42:29.660
 Does that elicit a

00:42:29.660 --> 00:42:30.320
 response?

00:42:31.140 --> 00:42:33.360
 Maybe you can't go, but

00:42:33.360 --> 00:42:34.240
 maybe you can send

00:42:34.240 --> 00:42:34.720
 someone.

00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:37.780
 Maybe you can't speak

00:42:37.780 --> 00:42:38.820
 that language, but

00:42:38.820 --> 00:42:40.019
 maybe you can devote

00:42:40.019 --> 00:42:41.519
 yourself to prayer.

00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:43.660
 Remember Fraser saying,

00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:44.800
 I used to think it was

00:42:44.800 --> 00:42:46.640
 prayer was the first and

00:42:46.640 --> 00:42:47.599
 teaching was the second,

00:42:47.700 --> 00:42:48.500
 but now I'm convinced

00:42:48.500 --> 00:42:49.559
 prayer is the first,

00:42:49.700 --> 00:42:51.420
 second, and third, and

00:42:51.420 --> 00:42:52.680
 teaching is the fourth.

00:42:54.140 --> 00:42:56.160
 I'm convicting myself

00:42:56.160 --> 00:42:56.680
 here.

00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:59.599
 If worldwide evangelism

00:42:59.599 --> 00:43:01.559
 depended upon the

00:43:01.559 --> 00:43:02.960
 frequency and fervency of

00:43:02.960 --> 00:43:07.099
 my prayers, it would be

00:43:07.099 --> 00:43:07.500
 hopeless.

00:43:09.179 --> 00:43:10.779
 But if we have a genuine

00:43:10.779 --> 00:43:12.379
 love for Jesus, which we do,

00:43:12.659 --> 00:43:13.940
 every believer has a genuine

00:43:13.940 --> 00:43:15.919
 love for Jesus, and if we

00:43:15.919 --> 00:43:17.379
 realize what Jesus has done

00:43:17.379 --> 00:43:19.440
 for us, and if we realize

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:21.539
 what we now have, and if we

00:43:21.539 --> 00:43:23.659
 realize what we once were, and

00:43:23.659 --> 00:43:24.940
 if we realize where we are

00:43:24.940 --> 00:43:26.780
 going, and if we understand

00:43:26.780 --> 00:43:28.700
 that one day we will be in

00:43:28.700 --> 00:43:29.720
 that great multitude,

00:43:30.280 --> 00:43:32.260
 Revelation chapter 7, and

00:43:32.260 --> 00:43:33.700
 we will have the white robes,

00:43:33.720 --> 00:43:34.800
 and we will have the palm

00:43:34.800 --> 00:43:36.380
 branches, and we will be in

00:43:36.380 --> 00:43:37.539
 that great multitude from

00:43:37.539 --> 00:43:38.420
 every language, nation,

00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:40.099
 tribe, we know that that's

00:43:40.099 --> 00:43:40.800
 where we'll be.

00:43:41.740 --> 00:43:44.059
 How can we best use our time

00:43:44.059 --> 00:43:44.679
 now?

00:43:44.920 --> 00:43:46.260
 How can we best use our

00:43:46.260 --> 00:43:47.320
 talents now?

00:43:47.480 --> 00:43:48.880
 How can we best use our

00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:50.240
 resources now?

00:43:51.400 --> 00:43:53.619
 The work of mission is the

00:43:53.619 --> 00:43:57.139
 work of taking Jesus, his

00:43:57.139 --> 00:43:58.819
 message, his life, his

00:43:58.819 --> 00:43:59.579
 death, his resurrection,

00:43:59.980 --> 00:44:01.699
 taking the gospel of Jesus

00:44:01.699 --> 00:44:04.519
 to people who do not yet

00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:05.359
 have it.

00:44:05.799 --> 00:44:06.500
 They might be our

00:44:06.500 --> 00:44:08.880
 neighbors, but let's spare a

00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:10.779
 thought, and let's consider

00:44:10.779 --> 00:44:13.519
 what we have to say and what

00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:16.219
 we can do for the three

00:44:16.219 --> 00:44:18.019
 billion people that are

00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:18.659
 unreached.

00:44:18.799 --> 00:44:20.519
 For the 200 million people

00:44:20.519 --> 00:44:21.719
 that are not only unreached,

00:44:21.719 --> 00:44:25.919
 but not even engaged, can we

00:44:25.919 --> 00:44:28.959
 see those numbers reduced?

00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:31.659
 Because as many as 7,000 are,

00:44:32.439 --> 00:44:33.819
 the Lisu people are no longer

00:44:33.819 --> 00:44:34.639
 in that group.

00:44:35.199 --> 00:44:36.339
 A hundred years ago they were.

00:44:36.879 --> 00:44:37.719
 Today they're not.

00:44:38.739 --> 00:44:40.019
 What will we be able to

00:44:40.019 --> 00:44:41.719
 celebrate 10 years from now?

00:44:41.799 --> 00:44:43.039
 What will you be able to

00:44:43.039 --> 00:44:45.119
 celebrate 50 years from now?

00:44:45.619 --> 00:44:47.259
 A vibrant, growing church?

00:44:47.799 --> 00:44:49.279
 Maybe planting new churches

00:44:49.280 --> 00:44:51.480
 within Edinburgh, but will you

00:44:51.480 --> 00:44:52.500
 as a church be able to

00:44:52.500 --> 00:44:54.740
 celebrate and say, we have

00:44:54.740 --> 00:44:56.860
 attempted by the grace of God

00:44:56.860 --> 00:44:59.660
 to reach people in this world

00:44:59.660 --> 00:45:01.980
 who have not heard the gospel

00:45:01.980 --> 00:45:03.500
 and praise be to God.

00:45:03.940 --> 00:45:06.060
 He has been pleased to use us,

00:45:06.300 --> 00:45:08.260
 to use our prayers, to use our

00:45:08.260 --> 00:45:10.640
 efforts, to use our service at

00:45:10.640 --> 00:45:12.820
 home, abroad, and to the ends

00:45:12.820 --> 00:45:14.640
 of the earth, and the praise and

00:45:14.639 --> 00:45:17.159
 the glory is all his.

00:45:18.460 --> 00:45:20.799
 In loving memory of James O.

00:45:20.920 --> 00:45:24.960
 Fraser, 1886 to 1938,

00:45:25.639 --> 00:45:28.519
 how beautiful are the feet of

00:45:28.519 --> 00:45:30.639
 those who bring good news.

00:45:30.839 --> 00:45:33.500
 With deepest love, remember you

00:45:33.500 --> 00:45:35.839
 always, the Lisu Church.

00:45:36.559 --> 00:45:38.940
 Can we pray that there'll be more

00:45:38.940 --> 00:45:41.279
 and more monuments of living

00:45:41.280 --> 00:45:43.420
 churches to those who have

00:45:43.420 --> 00:45:45.820
 taken the good news of the

00:45:45.820 --> 00:45:47.880
 Lord Jesus Christ and that

00:45:47.880 --> 00:45:50.980
 many today who are lost will

00:45:50.980 --> 00:45:53.600
 find themselves at that place

00:45:53.600 --> 00:45:55.900
 in glory, in front of the Lamb,

00:45:56.160 --> 00:45:57.920
 with the robes, holding the palm

00:45:57.920 --> 00:46:00.820
 branches, singing the song of the

00:46:00.820 --> 00:46:01.460
 redeemed.

00:46:02.000 --> 00:46:02.980
 So may God bless us.

00:46:03.040 --> 00:46:03.900
 May God encourage us.

00:46:03.980 --> 00:46:04.880
 May God challenge us.

00:46:04.940 --> 00:46:06.220
 May God inspire us.

00:46:06.740 --> 00:46:08.980
 I tell you this, ordinary people

00:46:08.980 --> 00:46:11.900
 accomplish extraordinary things

00:46:11.900 --> 00:46:13.780
 because we have an

00:46:13.780 --> 00:46:16.039
 extraordinary God, we have an

00:46:16.039 --> 00:46:18.320
 extraordinary Savior, and we

00:46:18.320 --> 00:46:20.780
 have an extraordinary gospel.

00:46:21.780 --> 00:46:23.619
 May God bless you and us all.

00:46:24.219 --> 00:46:24.719
 Amen.