WEBVTT 00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:02.319 But no, it's a joy to be here. 00:00:02.419 --> 00:00:08.300 I also want to introduce my friend Kevin Bennett, who is from the Southerton Church, the sister church. 00:00:08.580 --> 00:00:13.019 It's another Philadelphia suburb, so I'm grateful to have him with me. 00:00:13.220 --> 00:00:17.000 And if you have any questions about evangelism, he'll be able to help you as well. 00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:21.400 But no, thank you so much for just coming to this. 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:24.900 I love being able to be here and get to know you guys. 00:00:25.400 --> 00:00:28.839 And especially just to talk about evangelism. 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:40.420 This is one of the hardest areas in the Christian life, if not the hardest area, to obey the Lord and to obey what God commands us to do. 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:44.920 And so it's great for us to be able to talk about this and study it and look at it. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:47.200 And that's what we're going to do this weekend. 00:00:47.420 --> 00:00:53.480 So what I'd like to do is I'd like to start out with just a message. 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:56.260 You don't have notes for this message. 00:00:56.260 --> 00:00:58.100 It's called Beautiful Feet. 00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:00.560 It's out of Isaiah 53. 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:02.240 Sorry, 52. 00:01:02.800 --> 00:01:12.680 And in this message, just to try to capture the heart of Christ and stir our hearts toward evangelism before we get into the practicals. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:14.620 I know a lot of us want to get to what do I do? 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:15.200 What do I say? 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:16.000 How do I do this? 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:17.299 We'll get to that. 00:01:17.299 --> 00:01:23.159 But it's really important that we kind of capture God's heart for this and see that in Scripture. 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:27.219 So I'm going to try to do two messages tonight. 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:32.560 So the first one will be this one out of Isaiah that we'll do that kind of stirs our heart. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:35.479 We'll take a break and then we'll come back and start getting into the culture. 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:42.659 And I want to talk about just the culture that we live in and what I'm seeing, what we're seeing. 00:01:42.740 --> 00:01:44.380 And I want to ask you guys and draw you out. 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:47.140 Hopefully we'll have enough time for Q&A. 00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:51.239 So if you guys want to open to Isaiah 52 in your Bibles. 00:01:58.420 --> 00:01:59.900 Isaiah 52. 00:02:03.140 --> 00:02:04.920 And let me start as you guys are turning. 00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:09.240 Let me start with this story. 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:23.340 In 1949, a man named John Currier was found guilty of murder and he was sentenced to life in prison. 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:33.260 Later his sentence was commuted and he was transferred from prison and paroled to work for a wealthy farmer near Nashville, Tennessee. 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:39.620 In 1968, his sentence was terminated. 00:02:40.459 --> 00:02:50.699 State Correction Department records show that a letter was written to the prisoner, to John Currier, and to the farmer that he worked for. 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:52.859 So he was a free man. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:57.120 That's what the letter said, but Currier never saw the letter. 00:02:57.780 --> 00:02:59.759 And he never knew that it had been written. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:11.699 So one year went by and then two years and then five years and finally ten years went by and he still did not know that he was free. 00:03:13.299 --> 00:03:15.699 He was, his life was very hard. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:17.840 He was making almost nothing. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:20.539 He made a tiny little allowance for his personal needs. 00:03:21.139 --> 00:03:22.639 His life was filled with hard labor. 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:24.399 He slept in a drafty trailer. 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:26.659 He took baths in a horse trough. 00:03:27.139 --> 00:03:29.340 His life had little or no promise of hope. 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:46.259 And this went on for over ten years until in 1979, a state parole officer found the letter and drove to the farm and delivered it to John Currier. 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:57.980 Now it was suspected that the farmer liked the cheap labor and never told him that he was free. 00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:03.379 How would you feel if you were that prisoner? 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:06.899 How would you feel about that? 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:10.859 Or imagine if you had a letter. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:17.800 Imagine if you had a message that important and you never delivered it. 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:24.680 Imagine if you had news that good and you kept that to yourself. 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:29.860 Let's look at what it says in Isaiah 52 in verse 1. 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:59.840 It says, 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:29.860 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:45.460 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 00:05:46.020 --> 00:05:48.520 Your God reigns. 00:05:48.519 --> 00:06:01.079 Now Isaiah is prophesying about the future when Babylon would rise to power, destroy Jerusalem, and then carry God's people into exile. 00:06:01.659 --> 00:06:03.399 This is devastating news. 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:05.899 Jerusalem is the city of God. 00:06:05.899 --> 00:06:11.779 But the Babylonians would come and tear down the walls and rip apart the temple. 00:06:11.919 --> 00:06:19.539 They would kill the defenders and enslave the rest, leaving only the weak and the poor and the sick behind. 00:06:19.540 --> 00:06:30.840 So Isaiah pictures these stragglers waiting in the ruined city of Jerusalem as a future battle is being fought. 00:06:30.840 --> 00:06:38.759 Not in front of the ruined gates of Jerusalem, but the battle is being fought like a few miles away over the mountains. 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:47.459 And Isaiah pictures these dejected people in the city breathlessly awaiting the news of this battle. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:51.139 If the news is victory, they're delivered. 00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:55.159 If the news is defeat, all is lost. 00:06:55.819 --> 00:07:01.120 Now I don't know if you picked this up, but listen to the tone of Isaiah 52. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:03.120 It's full of triumph and joy and celebration. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:09.720 Verse 1, awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion, put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:13.459 for there shall no more come unto you the uncircumcised and the unclean. 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:15.560 Shake yourself from the dust and arise. 00:07:15.939 --> 00:07:21.040 Be seated, O Jerusalem, loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 00:07:21.660 --> 00:07:25.540 So God is telling them, He's saying, awake, guys, get up. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:27.780 Summon your strength. 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:29.199 Get your best clothes on. 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:30.399 Take those rags off. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:30.579 Why? 00:07:30.860 --> 00:07:32.860 Because the city has been delivered. 00:07:33.579 --> 00:07:34.899 There are no more enemies. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:35.699 They've been defeated. 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:37.740 Stop laying around in the dirt. 00:07:37.860 --> 00:07:38.300 Get up. 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:39.959 Dust yourself off. 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:42.660 And sit down and take the chains off. 00:07:42.780 --> 00:07:44.560 Undo the shackles from your ankle. 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:46.759 Take the chain off your neck. 00:07:47.259 --> 00:07:48.500 You're no longer a slave. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:51.660 Your captivity is over. 00:07:51.660 --> 00:08:04.180 And then in verse 3, it says, for thus says the Lord, you were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:09.140 In other words, the Babylonians just came and took God's people for nothing. 00:08:10.100 --> 00:08:11.580 And Egypt did the same thing. 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:13.580 And Assyria, that's mentioned in verse 4. 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:17.259 In other words, the Lord didn't get anything when they went into captivity. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:18.919 No payment, nothing. 00:08:20.159 --> 00:08:22.219 And this makes God look weak. 00:08:23.039 --> 00:08:27.599 Like the big bully Babylonians just came and took his lunch money. 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:29.759 God surrendered his people for nothing. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:35.519 And the Israelites felt completely let down. 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:38.399 They're convinced they shouldn't have trusted God. 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:41.080 He didn't come through for them. 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:45.939 So they lift their voices in crying and wailing. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:47.939 Look in 5b there. 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:51.200 It says, their rulers wail, declare the Lord. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:57.200 And continually, all the day, my name is despised. 00:08:58.379 --> 00:09:02.680 How could God let this happen? 00:09:04.660 --> 00:09:10.080 Well, their captivity, for one thing, came about because of their own sin. 00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:12.379 This is what they deserve. 00:09:12.540 --> 00:09:17.920 They're being disciplined for centuries of defiance and rebellion and betrayal. 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:19.920 It was their fault, not God's. 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:28.519 But God breaks in on their complaints and anger with verse 6. 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:32.759 Verse 6 is completely unexpected. 00:09:33.819 --> 00:09:40.879 God just got done saying in verse 5 that Israel is continually despising his name all day long. 00:09:40.979 --> 00:09:42.679 They despise who he is. 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:46.259 They complain and doubt and condemn God. 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:57.819 And then in verse 6, God says, therefore, my people shall know my name. 00:09:58.919 --> 00:09:59.799 That's amazing. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:06.799 I mean, Israel was saying, God, how do we know that what you said in verses 1 and 2 will happen? 00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:09.519 How do we know you're going to do this to the Babylonians? 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:12.559 Why should we dust ourselves off and put our best clothes on? 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:14.439 We've been in captivity for 70 years. 00:10:14.579 --> 00:10:15.779 What would change that now? 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.899 How do we know that what you say is true? 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:30.799 And then in the rest of verse 6, he says, therefore, in that day they shall know that it is I who speak. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:34.100 Here I am. 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:38.240 In other words, God, how do we know that this is all going to happen? 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:39.179 How do we know this is true? 00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:41.039 And God says, because I'm the one that said it. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:46.579 Because I spoke. 00:10:47.839 --> 00:10:50.259 I'm the one that has declared this. 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.539 And you know what that reminds me of? 00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:58.099 Remember in Luke chapter 1, during the birth of John the Baptist, remember when Zechariah is in the temple 00:10:58.099 --> 00:11:02.679 and the angel Gabriel appears and tells him he's going to have a baby? 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:05.679 And this is why Zechariah is burning incense in the temple. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.079 And remember Zechariah says, how can I be sure of this? 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:14.239 I am an old man and my wife is well along in years. 00:11:14.719 --> 00:11:16.519 And do you remember what Gabriel says to him? 00:11:17.459 --> 00:11:19.479 He says, I am Gabriel. 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:23.959 I stand in the presence of God. 00:11:25.719 --> 00:11:33.139 I stand in the presence of God and I've been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:41.600 You know, there's something in us that doesn't naturally believe good news. 00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:46.539 God is telling Israel it's incredibly good news here and they don't believe it. 00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:48.240 It seems too good to be true. 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:51.439 They're thinking about all the ways that God has failed them. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:57.840 And so like Zechariah, they question if what God says will come to pass. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:02.120 And it's not wrong to question things. 00:12:03.800 --> 00:12:05.420 Except when God is speaking. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:12.120 Gabriel wanted Zechariah to understand we are talking about God. 00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:14.740 We're not talking about the empty promises of man. 00:12:14.900 --> 00:12:16.200 We're talking about God's word. 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:18.360 I stand in the presence of God. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:26.200 And here in Isaiah, God is speaking another promise of good news. 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:31.980 But it's hard to believe good news when we're going through trials. 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:35.759 When things aren't going the way we want them to. 00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:37.420 So we can doubt God. 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:42.639 And we can not believe his promises. 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:46.279 And when we do that, we despise him. 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:52.139 Israel was wailing against God, charging him and blaming him. 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:54.100 So what is God going to do? 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:57.600 Well, look at verse 5 in chapter 52. 00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:59.120 Verse 5 is kind of interesting. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:05.240 Where it says, now therefore, what have I here declares the Lord. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:06.779 And that kind of reminds me. 00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:08.980 That's kind of like God saying, well, well, well. 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:10.940 What do I. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:13.440 It actually reminds me of a line in Karate Kid. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:17.500 When Dutch says to Daniel LaRusso, well, well, well. 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.799 What do we have here? 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:20.460 If it isn't our little friend Danielle. 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:21.919 What's the matter? 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:22.360 Danielle. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:23.159 Is it mommy going to. 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:23.500 Okay. 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:25.539 I can't go into movie lines because I have these memorized. 00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:29.980 But it's kind of like you feel that a little bit like God saying, okay, well, well, well, well. 00:13:30.099 --> 00:13:31.839 What do we have here? 00:13:31.959 --> 00:13:39.500 What am I going to do with these people who are despising me all day long? 00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:44.319 And God says, I'm going to show them my name. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.719 I'm going to show them who I am. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.620 I'm going to come to them. 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:55.100 Here I am. 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:56.840 This is amazing. 00:13:57.240 --> 00:14:00.620 God is once again going to show them who he is. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:05.820 He's saying, despite your constant rejection of me, I'm going to come to you. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:07.420 I'm going to deliver you. 00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:08.920 I'm going to speak to you. 00:14:09.060 --> 00:14:10.160 I'm going to comfort you. 00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:11.180 I'm going to restore you. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.100 And then I'm going to dwell with you. 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:16.080 This reminds me of the song. 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:20.300 You guys know the song, How Deep the Father's Love for Us. 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:20.900 You know that song? 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:21.920 I love that song. 00:14:22.020 --> 00:14:26.460 And my favorite line is in the beginning, which is how deep the Father's love for us, 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:31.680 how vast beyond all measure, that he would give his only son, and I love this line, 00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:36.940 to make a wretch his treasure. 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:41.000 To make a wretch his treasure. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:42.960 It's amazing. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:45.820 It's grace that God would do that. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:53.679 And I remember when, you know, this song, Amazing Grace, it says, that saved a wretch like me. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:54.200 Right? 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:57.539 Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:04.240 I had a friend in high school that actually was the guy that reached out to my brother and I 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:06.259 and shared the gospel with his name is Alvaro. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.139 And he grew up in a Christian church. 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:10.039 He grew up in a Baptist church. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:10.939 I did not. 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:13.120 I did not grow in a Christian home. 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:16.600 Grew up, started out in Irish Catholic, then went to Episcopalian. 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.500 So we didn't know the gospel. 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.580 Didn't know Amazing Grace. 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:19.360 Didn't know what grace meant. 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:25.419 And, but he said when they used to sing Amazing Grace in his church all the time. 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:30.740 And when they were kids, like he and his friends, when they would get to the part that said, 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:36.360 that saved a wretch like me, they would all go, that saved a wretch like you. 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:38.539 And they'd point to other people in the congregation. 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:39.819 Right? 00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:42.959 So they would not me like other wretches that God saved. 00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:46.179 And so, but I, and I always laughed at that. 00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:51.620 But, but there's something in us that doesn't like to think of ourselves as wretches. 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:53.179 A wretch. 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.299 Right? 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:59.159 And even as those kids, they wanted to say, save the wretch like you, not, not like me. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:01.299 Because we, we don't tend to think of ourselves that way. 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:02.639 It's not, it's not natural. 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.820 But we are wretches. 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.399 And we have despised him. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:10.659 Right? 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.940 You know what his response is? 00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:14.799 I'm going to come to you. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.200 I am going to come to you with grace. 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.600 Here I am. 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.019 I am. 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:26.220 This, this therefore in verse 6 makes no sense. 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.120 It makes no sense. 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:32.940 We are wretched, but God makes us his treasure. 00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:35.200 He takes us back. 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.960 And he shows us his power. 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.480 And he gives us himself. 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:43.759 He reveals himself so that we know him and we don't doubt him any longer. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:54.319 There is a big difference between Israel's story as we read it here in Isaiah and ours. 00:16:54.320 --> 00:17:00.420 God couldn't just take us back the way he did to Israel. 00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:06.259 In their case, he didn't pay any money to the Babylonians. 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:08.920 He just took his people back. 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:13.480 But with us, he had to pay. 00:17:15.320 --> 00:17:17.480 He had to make a payment to get us back. 00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:20.920 And it was a price beyond anything that has ever been paid. 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:23.880 It cost God dearly. 00:17:24.320 --> 00:17:27.800 To get us back, it cost God his son. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:33.740 Our sin against God put us in an infinite debt to God. 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:36.980 And this is a debt that he can't ignore. 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:39.180 Our sins must be paid for. 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.640 We must be punished. 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:44.220 For all the times we've despised God. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:45.559 How are we going to escape this? 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:47.319 We have chains on our necks. 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:49.299 We're lying in the dust. 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:51.960 Our captors and oppressors are walking our streets. 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.000 Is there any hope? 00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:57.140 Well, in comes verse 7. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:58.460 What an amazing verse. 00:17:58.859 --> 00:18:00.279 In verse 7, it says, 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:06.339 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news. 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:08.200 Who publishes peace. 00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:10.139 Who brings good news of happiness. 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:11.339 Who publishes salvation. 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.859 Who says to Zion, 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:16.619 Your God reigns. 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:24.660 Now, remember when we talked about God's people sitting in this ruined Jerusalem in bondage and slavery. 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:27.279 We have this battle, right, that's taking place. 00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:28.720 It's miles away. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:33.140 And the watchers on the walls are eagerly looking for any news of the battle. 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:36.240 When suddenly on a distant hill, a runner is seen. 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:40.180 And he runs quickly down the hill and then out into the open plain. 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.940 People start to gather on the wall. 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.880 What's the news? 00:18:43.360 --> 00:18:44.600 He's yelling something. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.600 What is he saying? 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.559 He's saying, 00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.360 Good news. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.279 Good news. 00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:50.079 There's peace. 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:52.140 There is happiness. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.539 We're saved. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:54.640 God reigns. 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:56.160 Let the celebration begin. 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.200 God was right. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.660 Put on your beautiful garments. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.980 He was right. 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:02.019 You can take off those bonds of slavery. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:02.960 We're saved. 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:04.900 Lift up your voices and sing. 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.700 Sing for joy. 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.900 We've all been rescued. 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:14.279 Now, I tried to think of what this would feel like. 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:16.740 And what would bring this level of joy. 00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:22.480 And the best illustration I could come up with was when I was a kid, maybe say like 10 or 11 or 12 years old. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:36.259 Apart from Christmas, the greatest joy that I experienced is when we had a big snow and school was canceled. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:36.640 Okay? 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.040 A snow day. 00:19:37.040 --> 00:19:37.640 A snow day. 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.400 A snow day, right? 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.640 So you're all with me on this. 00:19:39.780 --> 00:19:53.320 That, as a 10-year-old boy, there is nothing that would bring more joy and just pure happiness than being informed that you did not have to go to school. 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.540 It was a snow day. 00:19:56.580 --> 00:19:57.340 It was a snow day. 00:19:57.339 --> 00:20:02.379 Unfortunately, my kids can't really understand this because most of them were homeschooled and it doesn't work that way. 00:20:02.919 --> 00:20:05.740 But think about this. 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:09.519 When we had a snow day, in a sense, we were saved. 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:15.859 We were saved from the prison of our school, right? 00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:21.759 And we were delivered from our captors, our teachers, right? 00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:23.299 And peace came. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:25.959 There was no more forced labor, homework. 00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:28.719 I mean, it's just freedom. 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:31.479 Just pure joy that happened. 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:36.939 And I think that's just what we, that's like what they would have been feeling here. 00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:41.839 That kind of joy, just pure joy. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:47.779 And I like how verse 7 emphasizes the feet of the guy bringing the good news. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:52.559 How beautiful are the feet of him who brings good news. 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:56.919 How beautiful are the feet of him who publishes peace. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:59.899 The feet of him who brings news of happiness. 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:05.259 How beautiful are the feet of him who publishes salvation, who says your God reigns. 00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:10.720 Now, the irony here is that feet aren't beautiful, right? 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:12.240 They're not beautiful. 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:16.259 They're dirty and nasty and smelly and ugly. 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:20.940 Especially in biblical times when they wore sandals or went barefoot. 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:24.440 You know, they, we have to wash our hands before dinner. 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.779 Back then they had to wash their feet. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:27.059 Like, hey kids, come, it's time for dinner. 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.420 Wash your feet and come to the table. 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:32.819 I mean, feet were just a mess in biblical times. 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:38.240 And even now, people in our society do not like feet. 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:43.099 Some people are excessively grossed out by feet. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:52.059 But listen, when you're bringing news this great, when you're bringing the gospel to someone, 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:57.019 even your feet are beautiful. 00:21:57.019 --> 00:22:06.099 The feet of my mom in her old slippers coming up the steps to tell us it was a snow day, 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:08.599 they were beautiful feet. 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:17.079 That those feet were welcome to come into our room and tell us that it was a snow day. 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:25.740 Listen, the feet that run over the mountains and down the road to deliver the good news of the gospel, 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:29.839 they are the most beautiful feet in the world. 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:34.419 They are feet worth celebrating. 00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:41.299 Guys, we have news that's greater than any news that anyone has ever heard. 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:48.899 And we have the joy and privilege of bringing this good news to those who desperately need it. 00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:51.599 We're God's messengers. 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:53.539 We're his runners. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:58.859 We're the ones that are supposed to come down out of those hills and run and tell people the gospel. 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.079 We're God's feet. 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:06.019 There's a great story in 2 Samuel 18 that actually talks about this. 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:10.639 And so David's men were in a big battle and Joab was the commander of David's army, 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:14.039 was in this big battle and they didn't know who was going to win. 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:17.359 David was back in the city just like waiting to hear this news. 00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:19.079 And so Joab had won. 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:20.920 They had defeated their enemies. 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:27.059 And so Joab sends this Cushite and says, 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:30.720 Go run and tell David that we've won. 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:32.139 Tell him about this victory. 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:36.960 And there's this other guy that's there and his name is Ahamaz. 00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:40.820 And he says, Oh, let me run and tell him. 00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:42.140 Let me run back. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:44.520 And Joab goes, No, you don't need to run. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:46.140 You know, I already sent him a while ago. 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.320 Like, you don't need to run. 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:50.680 Like, there's no special reward for you. 00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.860 You know, you're not going to... 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:54.259 And this is what he says. 00:23:54.320 --> 00:23:55.240 Ahamaz keeps saying this. 00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:57.460 Well, come what may, let me run. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:00.780 And Joab argues with him and he says this. 00:24:00.840 --> 00:24:01.500 Come what may. 00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:03.060 Let me run. 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:04.040 And so Joab finds this. 00:24:04.120 --> 00:24:04.820 Go ahead and run. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.960 And Ahamaz just... 00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:08.240 I don't know what it is. 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:16.680 Just the joy of the victory runs and passes the Cushite and runs to tell David this good news. 00:24:17.340 --> 00:24:18.640 That's a great picture. 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:22.280 We have an amazing message of good news. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:25.940 And we should be dying to get this message out. 00:24:26.020 --> 00:24:27.460 We should be saying, Oh, come what may. 00:24:27.540 --> 00:24:28.360 Just let me run. 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:32.699 Just let me run and tell others this good news. 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:39.039 Now, let's look for a few minutes at the good news that God wants us to share. 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:44.899 So first, number one, the gospel is news of peace. 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:49.400 So the gospel is news of peace. 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:58.560 So there in the beginning of verse 7, it says, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.000 Peace. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.440 Peace. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:24:59.879 Peace. 00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:00.079 Peace. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.440 This is what everybody wants, right? 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:03.500 We want peace in our relationships. 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.960 We want peace in our world. 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:09.120 But we don't know how to get it. 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:15.319 In the 70s, Cat Stevens told us all we need to do was to get on the peace train. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:20.279 John Lennon said all we need to do is give peace a chance, right? 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:28.079 They were talking mainly about the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War when it seemed like the world was a very divided place. 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:31.779 Unfortunately, not much has changed. 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:35.400 The world seems maybe even more divided now than ever. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:44.420 But part of the reason that we can't have real peace is that we can't have real peace until we have peace with God. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:49.880 We're all born into a war, a war that we're fighting against God. 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:53.019 From the moment we're born, our sinful nature tells us that we should be God. 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:54.240 We should be the king. 00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:55.279 We should be in charge. 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.980 We should make the rules and do what we want. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.220 That's what sin is. 00:25:58.220 --> 00:26:01.819 It's doing what you want to do and not what God wants you to do. 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:06.740 It's pushing God's authority down in order to push our authority up. 00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:09.460 And this is where all our problems come from. 00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:15.119 Being at war against God is not a good idea. 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:21.220 If God is against us, we're not going to have peace. 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:27.779 But the gospel is a declaration that peace has come. 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:29.519 Romans 5.1, 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:35.380 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have, what? 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:41.819 Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:46.399 Jesus made peace between us and God. 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:48.899 God had declared war on sin. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:56.700 And Jesus stepped in front of us and took the full assault of God's wrath that should have been ours. 00:26:56.759 --> 00:27:01.839 He took our punishment, cleansed us of sin, and then brought us to God. 00:27:01.939 --> 00:27:06.019 And because of this, we now have peace with God. 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:13.279 And that's the message that we proclaim to the world, that they can have peace with God. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:18.779 And we have to find ways to tell them about this peace. 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:21.420 Now, did you notice how in verse 7 it says, 00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:24.819 How beautiful are the feet of those who publish peace. 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:27.440 So this is kind of weird, like as the guy is like running down the mountain, 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:31.879 he's out into the plain, he gets about 100 yards away from the city, 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:34.559 and he stops and starts setting up a little printing press, 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:36.559 and he starts taking some people from the wall, like, 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:38.079 Hey, what's going on? Tell us the news. 00:27:38.399 --> 00:27:39.940 Hold on, let me get the typeset finished. 00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:41.319 I'm going to be printing the papers in a second. 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:44.359 What is this talking about, publishing peace? 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:46.859 Well, he's not setting up a printing press. 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:52.119 The word publish can also be translated to herald or to proclaim. 00:27:52.659 --> 00:27:56.440 It's actually someone that's entrusted with a message. 00:27:57.480 --> 00:28:03.599 We are all called to herald or proclaim to those who are not Christians. 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:09.699 We're entrusted with a message that we are to declare to others 00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:13.000 so that they can find peace with God through Jesus Christ. 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.919 So the gospel is news of peace. 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:17.359 Number two, the gospel is news of happiness. 00:28:17.879 --> 00:28:19.179 In verse 7, again, it says, 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:23.819 Who publishes peace who brings good news of happiness. 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:31.000 Now, religions all try in very different ways to bring happiness to people. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:33.579 But they don't do a very good job. 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:38.420 They usually bring a lot of duties and requirements and rules 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:43.819 that leave people feeling guilty and just aware of how far short they're falling. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:47.319 Jesus is the only one that can bring true happiness. 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:52.559 All of the ways that people in the world are looking for happiness, 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:54.380 they will ultimately fail. 00:28:54.380 --> 00:29:00.100 Jesus is the only one that can bring true happiness. 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.360 Why? 00:29:00.540 --> 00:29:03.080 Because he's the fountain of happiness. 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:08.020 The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have been happy for all eternity, 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:13.300 loving and adoring and worshiping and celebrating one another in perfect joy. 00:29:13.760 --> 00:29:16.660 And so when we repent and trust in Jesus to save us, 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:21.660 we're joined to this happy, joy-filled trinity. 00:29:22.800 --> 00:29:25.240 We're united with God himself, 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:29.560 and we become the objects of his love and affection. 00:29:30.820 --> 00:29:33.560 See, the world is desperately looking for happiness, 00:29:33.560 --> 00:29:38.100 but it can only come when we're united with God. 00:29:38.820 --> 00:29:39.960 Psalm 1611 says, 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:54.079 Happiness can only come when the Holy Spirit lives inside of us and unites us to God. 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:59.420 When God comes into our Jerusalem, into our ruins, into our mess, 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:02.700 he sets up his throne, he takes ownership of us, 00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:06.279 and then we become happy in God. 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:11.779 Now, most people don't see God this way, 00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:19.319 but God is full of happiness and gladness and laughter and joy. 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:23.059 That's why he's created things that give us joy. 00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:26.200 He's created things that bring happiness. 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:31.240 God made laughter and tears of joy and clapping and singing. 00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:33.440 Read the book of Acts. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:37.860 The book of Acts is marked by joy. 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:42.220 It's marked by happiness and celebration. 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.259 And it's different. 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:46.500 In the Gospels, it's more tense and conflict. 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:49.440 There's conflict and those sort of things in Acts as well. 00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:52.460 But there's a spirit of joy there. 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:54.799 There's more happiness and celebration. 00:30:54.799 --> 00:31:04.279 Now, the apostles didn't just decide to get happy because Jesus rose from the dead. 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:11.579 No, the Holy Spirit came into them and filled them with the very presence of God. 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:16.639 God now dwelt inside his people. 00:31:17.159 --> 00:31:19.619 Listen to this short quote by A.W. Tozer. 00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.059 He says, 00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:28.139 The moral happiness of the Creator had taken residence in the breasts of redeemed creatures, 00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:30.619 and they could not but be glad. 00:31:32.219 --> 00:31:34.859 The work of the Holy Spirit is, among other things, 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:38.039 to rescue the redeemed man's emotions, 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:41.000 to restring his harp, 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:45.700 and open again the wheels of sacred joy, 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:48.440 which have been stopped by sin. 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.819 Isn't that good? 00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:59.460 To restring our harps so that we can sing and experience that joy and bring that praise to God. 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:05.859 We have a message of happiness to share with others. 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:07.859 Let me ask you a question. 00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:12.219 Does the message of the gospel make you happy? 00:32:13.299 --> 00:32:14.479 Does it make you happy? 00:32:15.719 --> 00:32:20.659 If it does, you should be eager to share that happiness with others. 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:23.539 It shouldn't be a chore or a duty. 00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.559 It should be a delight. 00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:30.919 We have an incredible privilege of bringing happiness to a world that just can't find it. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:35.479 Number three, the gospel is news of salvation. 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:37.299 There in verse 7, it says, 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.980 Who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, 00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:41.680 who publishes salvation. 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:44.980 When that messenger was running across the plain, 00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.440 he was yelling, 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:47.019 We're saved! We're saved! 00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.539 The Babylonians are defeated! 00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:49.460 We're not going to die! 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:55.440 We have a message of salvation for those around us. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:59.039 And it's more incredible than anything we could ever imagine. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:01.299 Our message, think about this. 00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:02.180 This is our message. 00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:04.119 No matter who you are, 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:07.539 no matter what you've done, 00:33:08.159 --> 00:33:13.139 no matter how badly you have sinned against God, 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:16.960 no matter how much you've despised Him and doubted Him, 00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:20.200 no matter how much you've railed against Him and disobeyed Him, 00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:23.519 you can be forgiven of all your sins 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:26.220 and join to God. 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:28.839 That's crazy. 00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:33.279 That's amazing. 00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:36.839 That you can be saved from the punishment of hell 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:38.420 through the blood of Jesus. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:43.819 You do not have to suffer the wrath and punishment for your sins. 00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.360 Salvation has come. 00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:47.839 You can be rescued. 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:50.720 And it's all because God reigns. 00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:51.579 Because He won. 00:33:51.679 --> 00:33:55.179 He's won and He's defeated sin and death. 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:58.279 And God has given us this salvation, 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.799 this victory, 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:04.599 and now He calls us to run and spread the good news. 00:34:05.639 --> 00:34:06.939 But it's hard, isn't it? 00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:09.559 Sharing the Gospels, as I mentioned, 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:13.699 is probably the most difficult area of the Christian life. 00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:15.500 It's difficult for me. 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.920 And here's the problem. 00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:19.239 When we tell people the Gospel, 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:23.679 they don't respond with joy and singing. 00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:24.360 Right? 00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:27.260 They don't kiss our feet 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:29.400 when we're trying to bring them the Gospel. 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.599 Right? 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:32.239 When we run down the mountain 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:33.539 with the message of good news, 00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:36.719 people think we're crazy. 00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:41.360 People think that we're outdated and intolerant. 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:43.500 Some people assume that we're self-righteous 00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:47.019 and hateful and judgmental. 00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:48.820 Our news doesn't seem that great 00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:50.199 to the rest of the world. 00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:52.199 And there's a reason for that. 00:34:53.219 --> 00:34:56.500 One reason is that our good news 00:34:56.500 --> 00:35:00.579 has some serious bad news attached to it. 00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:00.920 Right? 00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:03.500 And people don't want to hear the bad news. 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:06.559 People do not want to hear that they are sinful, 00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:08.760 that they are wretches, 00:35:09.059 --> 00:35:11.280 that can't save themselves. 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:13.400 But we have to share the bad news 00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:15.519 so that they can then understand 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:16.880 and receive the good news. 00:35:17.720 --> 00:35:19.460 But that's not easy to do. 00:35:19.600 --> 00:35:21.620 There's risk involved, 00:35:22.060 --> 00:35:25.640 especially in today's very hostile environment. 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:31.000 I read a statistic recently. 00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:33.239 I don't know if it's true. 00:35:33.379 --> 00:35:35.019 Maybe only part of it is true. 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:39.619 But it said that 50% of Christian millennials, 00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:40.539 so this is, 00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:43.279 I think it was talking about millennials and Gen Z, 00:35:43.379 --> 00:35:46.539 so basically people in their 30s and their 20s, 00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:48.039 so 20s and 30s right now, 00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:51.639 that 50% of Christian millennials 00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:55.279 do not believe that we should share our faith. 00:35:56.379 --> 00:35:58.019 Think that it's wrong. 00:35:59.839 --> 00:36:00.819 These are Christians, 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.339 you know, 00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:02.480 confessing Christians, 00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:04.639 that believe that we should just keep that, 00:36:04.719 --> 00:36:07.079 we shouldn't share our faith. 00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:08.219 Why would they think that? 00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:09.920 Well, I understand why they think that, 00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:10.960 because it's risky. 00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.559 It's scary. 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:13.579 Right? 00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:15.579 We're afraid of what people are going to think. 00:36:16.319 --> 00:36:18.920 Number one obstacle to sharing the gospel is fear. 00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:20.480 It's a dangerous job. 00:36:21.300 --> 00:36:22.320 You've heard of the saying, 00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.480 don't shoot the messenger. 00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:26.039 The reason the saying came out 00:36:26.039 --> 00:36:28.139 is because the messenger is bringing some bad news. 00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:28.420 They're saying, 00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:28.639 listen, 00:36:28.740 --> 00:36:29.659 don't shoot me. 00:36:29.780 --> 00:36:32.619 I'm just telling you this news. 00:36:34.200 --> 00:36:37.800 It was the preaching of the gospel 00:36:37.800 --> 00:36:40.840 that got Jesus killed, 00:36:41.700 --> 00:36:44.340 despite the fact 00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:47.559 that he had the most beautiful feet in the world. 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:50.199 Think about how the beautiful feet of Jesus 00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:54.019 as he walked these long, dusty roads. 00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:56.960 I'm going to talk on Sunday about John chapter 4. 00:36:57.400 --> 00:36:59.579 Jesus went from Jerusalem all the way to Samaria. 00:36:59.699 --> 00:37:00.119 It's long. 00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:01.219 It's miles, 20 miles. 00:37:01.719 --> 00:37:03.619 And walked these roads. 00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:07.000 And he constantly was walking these roads 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:10.019 in his sandals or in his bare feet, 00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:11.940 just trying to bring the gospel, 00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.179 bring healing. 00:37:13.179 --> 00:37:17.519 Think about those beautiful feet of Jesus. 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:21.379 That's why a woman kissed his feet in Luke chapter 7. 00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:21.639 Remember, 00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:23.179 this story is so beautiful. 00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:25.619 I'll read it to you in Luke 7, 37. 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:26.799 You know it though. 00:37:26.899 --> 00:37:27.440 And behold, 00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.399 the woman of the city, 00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:29.119 who was a sinner, 00:37:29.659 --> 00:37:32.099 when she learned that he was reclining at table 00:37:32.099 --> 00:37:33.159 in the Pharisee's house, 00:37:33.639 --> 00:37:35.480 brought an alabaster jar, 00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:37.440 a flask of ointment, 00:37:37.859 --> 00:37:39.940 and standing behind him at his feet. 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:41.780 So remember, like in biblical times, 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:43.220 they would eat on these couches 00:37:43.220 --> 00:37:44.559 and the table would be in the center. 00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.740 And you'd lay on this couch. 00:37:45.820 --> 00:37:47.139 Your feet would be behind you. 00:37:47.220 --> 00:37:48.260 You'd kind of be laying out. 00:37:48.740 --> 00:37:51.920 And so she's back behind that couch 00:37:51.920 --> 00:37:54.519 to where his feet are. 00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:55.099 And it says, 00:37:55.720 --> 00:37:57.679 Standing behind him at his feet, weeping, 00:37:58.280 --> 00:38:01.619 she began to wet his feet with her tears 00:38:01.619 --> 00:38:03.800 and wiped them with the hair of her head 00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:05.579 and kissed his feet 00:38:05.579 --> 00:38:08.480 and anointed them with the ointment. 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:10.800 And then he tells that Pharisee, 00:38:11.139 --> 00:38:11.780 he says, 00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:15.900 She has not ceased to kiss my feet. 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:18.380 And what a beautiful picture. 00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:22.260 Even the feet of Jesus were so beautiful to her 00:38:22.260 --> 00:38:24.579 when she was forgiving him all that sin 00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:27.199 and she couldn't stop kissing his feet. 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:30.960 And I think about his feet coming to me 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:32.860 and just the beauty of those feet. 00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:35.760 But even though Jesus had the most beautiful feet 00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:38.460 in the world and brought us the greatest news 00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:38.900 in the world, 00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:41.760 they still pierced his feet. 00:38:43.560 --> 00:38:47.140 They put nails through his feet. 00:38:47.220 --> 00:38:48.680 They nailed him to the cross. 00:38:49.020 --> 00:38:50.820 Some people kissed his feet 00:38:50.820 --> 00:38:56.140 and some people pierced his feet. 00:38:56.139 --> 00:38:59.379 Some people will love your feet 00:38:59.379 --> 00:39:02.539 and some people will hate them. 00:39:04.379 --> 00:39:07.319 One of the reasons this is so dangerous 00:39:07.319 --> 00:39:09.940 and the reason it's so difficult 00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:12.940 is because people don't realize 00:39:12.940 --> 00:39:14.619 the danger that they're in. 00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:16.039 They don't realize that they're lost 00:39:16.039 --> 00:39:17.119 and need salvation. 00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:18.920 Because of this, 00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:21.519 our message doesn't seem like good news. 00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:23.259 It'd be like when my mom was coming 00:39:23.259 --> 00:39:24.259 to wake us up for school 00:39:24.260 --> 00:39:25.300 and tell us there's a snow day 00:39:25.300 --> 00:39:27.300 and she would come up to wake us up. 00:39:27.320 --> 00:39:28.520 And what if we were just so tired? 00:39:28.560 --> 00:39:28.780 We're like, 00:39:28.920 --> 00:39:30.920 Mom, I don't want to go to school. 00:39:31.020 --> 00:39:32.140 Just go downstairs. 00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:33.540 Just leave us alone. 00:39:35.260 --> 00:39:37.380 And we just reject her. 00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:38.660 We didn't believe her 00:39:38.660 --> 00:39:40.900 because we didn't want to go to school. 00:39:41.520 --> 00:39:43.340 The world thinks that Christianity 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.920 is like going to school. 00:39:47.340 --> 00:39:48.760 Christianity is a bunch of rules, 00:39:49.020 --> 00:39:50.680 restrictions, and boring work. 00:39:50.679 --> 00:39:52.699 They don't realize 00:39:52.699 --> 00:39:55.079 that we have joy 00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:58.679 beyond their wildest imaginations. 00:39:58.940 --> 00:40:02.239 We have an eternal snow day 00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:04.219 to tell them about. 00:40:05.619 --> 00:40:06.919 If they could only see, 00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:09.079 if they could only see 00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:11.159 the danger that they're in, 00:40:11.199 --> 00:40:12.359 if they could only see 00:40:12.359 --> 00:40:14.419 what their real problem is. 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:16.500 See, the real problem 00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:18.019 that people have 00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:19.139 is not politics. 00:40:19.139 --> 00:40:20.980 It's not lack of money. 00:40:21.059 --> 00:40:22.659 It's not bad relationships. 00:40:22.659 --> 00:40:23.539 Those are problems, 00:40:23.619 --> 00:40:24.099 but they're not 00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:25.300 our greatest problem. 00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:26.079 Our greatest problem 00:40:26.079 --> 00:40:26.900 is that our sin 00:40:26.900 --> 00:40:28.719 has separated us from God, 00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:30.599 and we can't get out of that. 00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:32.460 J.C. Ryle says, 00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:33.900 Till men and women 00:40:33.900 --> 00:40:35.159 are brought to feel 00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:37.539 their sinfulness and need, 00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:39.539 no real good 00:40:39.539 --> 00:40:41.179 is ever done to their souls. 00:40:41.579 --> 00:40:42.440 Think about that. 00:40:43.320 --> 00:40:44.960 Until men and women 00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:46.139 are brought to feel 00:40:46.139 --> 00:40:48.119 their sinfulness and need, 00:40:48.359 --> 00:40:49.599 no real good 00:40:49.599 --> 00:40:52.119 is ever done for their souls. 00:40:52.359 --> 00:40:54.000 Unless people see their sin 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:55.579 and their need for forgiveness, 00:40:55.819 --> 00:40:58.460 you can't help their souls. 00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:00.519 We need to remember 00:41:00.519 --> 00:41:01.199 that people, 00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:03.319 they just don't see this, 00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:05.319 and we have to find a way 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:06.639 to help them. 00:41:07.420 --> 00:41:08.619 And God is going to help us 00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:09.119 to do this. 00:41:09.179 --> 00:41:11.059 This is why we're gathered 00:41:11.059 --> 00:41:12.319 here this weekend. 00:41:12.799 --> 00:41:14.139 God wants to remind us 00:41:14.139 --> 00:41:16.059 as we start. 00:41:16.400 --> 00:41:17.359 He wants to remind us 00:41:17.359 --> 00:41:18.059 through Isaiah 00:41:18.059 --> 00:41:19.699 how amazing and beautiful 00:41:19.699 --> 00:41:21.420 and powerful the gospel is. 00:41:21.940 --> 00:41:22.719 And you know what? 00:41:24.359 --> 00:41:25.879 We know how beautiful 00:41:25.879 --> 00:41:26.759 the gospel is, 00:41:26.819 --> 00:41:27.199 don't we? 00:41:27.719 --> 00:41:28.299 Don't we? 00:41:28.299 --> 00:41:29.539 We know how beautiful it is. 00:41:29.859 --> 00:41:30.699 Do you remember? 00:41:31.400 --> 00:41:32.159 Do you remember 00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:33.159 when you were lost? 00:41:34.599 --> 00:41:35.679 Do you remember 00:41:35.679 --> 00:41:37.199 what your life was like? 00:41:38.299 --> 00:41:38.739 Do you remember 00:41:38.739 --> 00:41:40.519 when your heart was hard 00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:42.299 and closed to the gospel? 00:41:42.300 --> 00:41:42.820 Do you remember 00:41:42.820 --> 00:41:44.200 when you first heard 00:41:44.200 --> 00:41:44.760 the gospel? 00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:45.720 Do you remember 00:41:45.720 --> 00:41:47.480 when the gospel broke in 00:41:47.480 --> 00:41:49.140 and changed everything? 00:41:49.260 --> 00:41:50.539 This is why we come together 00:41:50.539 --> 00:41:51.140 on Sundays 00:41:51.140 --> 00:41:52.700 and worship with all our hearts. 00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:54.460 We're reminding ourselves 00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:56.539 of the power of the gospel 00:41:56.539 --> 00:41:57.620 that has saved us. 00:41:58.500 --> 00:41:59.440 In Romans 1.16, 00:41:59.519 --> 00:42:00.480 I'm not ashamed of the gospel 00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:01.460 because it's the power 00:42:01.460 --> 00:42:03.100 of God for salvation. 00:42:03.240 --> 00:42:04.440 The message of the gospel 00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:05.360 is power. 00:42:06.039 --> 00:42:08.500 We don't have to be powerful 00:42:08.500 --> 00:42:10.160 or clever or wise 00:42:10.160 --> 00:42:11.600 or perfect to share it. 00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:12.579 We just need to get 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:13.699 this message out 00:42:13.699 --> 00:42:16.440 and watch God go to work. 00:42:17.779 --> 00:42:20.759 We have the power 00:42:20.759 --> 00:42:21.819 of the gospel 00:42:21.819 --> 00:42:23.039 and we've been changed 00:42:23.039 --> 00:42:23.619 by it, right? 00:42:24.099 --> 00:42:25.839 You know what it means 00:42:25.839 --> 00:42:27.960 to be forgiven of your sins. 00:42:28.059 --> 00:42:29.000 You know what it means 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.599 to be adopted 00:42:29.599 --> 00:42:30.759 into the family of God. 00:42:31.179 --> 00:42:32.759 This does not mean 00:42:32.759 --> 00:42:33.880 that your neighbor 00:42:33.880 --> 00:42:34.599 is going to come 00:42:34.599 --> 00:42:36.019 bounding over the fence 00:42:36.019 --> 00:42:36.900 to ask you about 00:42:36.900 --> 00:42:37.699 what God has done 00:42:37.699 --> 00:42:38.219 in your life. 00:42:38.219 --> 00:42:40.939 But God can use us 00:42:40.939 --> 00:42:41.939 even as we take 00:42:41.939 --> 00:42:44.319 small steps, right? 00:42:44.559 --> 00:42:45.879 I know you don't want 00:42:45.879 --> 00:42:46.739 to offend people 00:42:46.739 --> 00:42:47.659 or you don't want 00:42:47.659 --> 00:42:48.819 to come off like a weirdo. 00:42:49.779 --> 00:42:51.059 Please don't come off 00:42:51.059 --> 00:42:51.759 like a weirdo. 00:42:51.879 --> 00:42:53.579 We don't have to. 00:42:53.659 --> 00:42:55.139 We just need to be ourselves 00:42:55.139 --> 00:42:56.939 to be sincere, 00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:58.339 to care about people. 00:42:58.899 --> 00:42:59.759 Maybe you haven't talked 00:42:59.759 --> 00:43:01.179 to your neighbor in years. 00:43:02.079 --> 00:43:02.959 God can use you. 00:43:03.059 --> 00:43:05.019 God can use a friendly greeting 00:43:05.019 --> 00:43:06.079 or a plate of cookies. 00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:08.000 He can use an invitation 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:09.159 to a co-worker 00:43:09.159 --> 00:43:09.960 or a classmate 00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:11.559 to go to lunch 00:43:11.559 --> 00:43:13.440 or to grab coffee. 00:43:14.739 --> 00:43:16.279 Did you know that Paul 00:43:16.279 --> 00:43:17.500 actually quotes 00:43:17.500 --> 00:43:19.480 this passage in Isaiah 00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:20.819 in Romans 10, 14? 00:43:21.699 --> 00:43:22.279 He says, 00:43:22.360 --> 00:43:23.579 How then will they call 00:43:23.579 --> 00:43:24.179 on him in whom 00:43:24.179 --> 00:43:25.039 they have not believed? 00:43:25.239 --> 00:43:25.900 And how are they 00:43:25.900 --> 00:43:26.599 to believe in him 00:43:26.599 --> 00:43:27.639 of whom they have never heard? 00:43:27.759 --> 00:43:28.460 And how are they 00:43:28.460 --> 00:43:29.039 to hear without 00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:30.139 someone preaching, 00:43:30.319 --> 00:43:31.380 someone proclaiming 00:43:31.380 --> 00:43:31.900 or heralding? 00:43:32.139 --> 00:43:32.880 And how are they 00:43:32.880 --> 00:43:33.579 to preach unless 00:43:33.579 --> 00:43:34.119 they are sent 00:43:34.119 --> 00:43:34.960 as it is written? 00:43:34.960 --> 00:43:36.139 How beautiful 00:43:36.139 --> 00:43:37.220 are the feet 00:43:37.220 --> 00:43:39.159 of those who preach 00:43:39.159 --> 00:43:40.440 the good news. 00:43:41.039 --> 00:43:41.559 In other words, 00:43:41.619 --> 00:43:42.139 Paul is saying, 00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:43.460 How are they going 00:43:43.460 --> 00:43:45.000 to hear about Jesus 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:46.179 if we don't speak to them? 00:43:47.039 --> 00:43:47.599 How are they going 00:43:47.599 --> 00:43:48.579 to believe the gospel 00:43:48.579 --> 00:43:49.460 if we don't share it 00:43:49.460 --> 00:43:49.740 with them? 00:43:50.039 --> 00:43:50.760 They're not. 00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:52.320 They're not. 00:43:52.519 --> 00:43:53.940 It's like not delivering 00:43:53.940 --> 00:43:55.880 the letter to John Currier. 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:57.220 They need us 00:43:57.220 --> 00:43:59.480 to open our mouths 00:43:59.480 --> 00:44:00.400 and tell them 00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:01.519 about Jesus. 00:44:01.780 --> 00:44:03.000 And God is sending us 00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:03.699 to do this. 00:44:03.699 --> 00:44:05.079 He's sending us 00:44:05.079 --> 00:44:05.899 into our neighborhoods, 00:44:06.439 --> 00:44:08.339 into our workplaces, 00:44:08.599 --> 00:44:09.639 into our families, 00:44:09.839 --> 00:44:10.939 into our classrooms. 00:44:11.639 --> 00:44:12.500 That's what he's 00:44:12.500 --> 00:44:13.419 calling us to do. 00:44:14.279 --> 00:44:15.439 Remember in Luke chapter 9, 00:44:15.539 --> 00:44:17.199 Jesus sends out the 12 00:44:17.199 --> 00:44:18.199 to proclaim the gospel. 00:44:18.339 --> 00:44:19.599 Then Luke chapter 10, 00:44:19.639 --> 00:44:20.939 he sends out the 72. 00:44:21.659 --> 00:44:22.579 And then in Acts, 00:44:22.659 --> 00:44:23.719 he sent the church 00:44:23.719 --> 00:44:25.139 throughout the world 00:44:25.139 --> 00:44:26.699 to be his witnesses. 00:44:27.179 --> 00:44:28.939 And he gave them 00:44:28.939 --> 00:44:29.859 the Holy Spirit 00:44:29.859 --> 00:44:30.759 and he gives us 00:44:30.759 --> 00:44:31.559 the Holy Spirit 00:44:31.559 --> 00:44:33.159 to help us overcome 00:44:33.159 --> 00:44:34.279 our fears in that. 00:44:34.860 --> 00:44:35.779 And now the baton 00:44:35.779 --> 00:44:37.059 has been passed to us. 00:44:37.799 --> 00:44:39.119 It's gone from one generation 00:44:39.119 --> 00:44:39.799 of believers 00:44:39.799 --> 00:44:40.860 to the next. 00:44:40.940 --> 00:44:42.539 Now it's in our hands. 00:44:43.259 --> 00:44:44.159 And God is sending 00:44:44.159 --> 00:44:44.840 our feet 00:44:44.840 --> 00:44:45.960 into a world 00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:46.599 that desperately 00:44:46.599 --> 00:44:49.340 needs the good news. 00:44:50.179 --> 00:44:51.239 I mentioned earlier 00:44:51.239 --> 00:44:52.739 that sometimes people 00:44:52.739 --> 00:44:53.779 don't see our message 00:44:53.779 --> 00:44:54.659 as good news. 00:44:55.099 --> 00:44:57.099 But there are some people 00:44:57.099 --> 00:44:57.699 that do. 00:44:57.779 --> 00:44:58.820 Not always at first, 00:44:58.820 --> 00:45:00.680 but they do come around. 00:45:01.280 --> 00:45:02.180 Let me close 00:45:02.180 --> 00:45:02.820 with this story. 00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:04.940 When I was in high school, 00:45:05.000 --> 00:45:05.400 as I mentioned, 00:45:05.460 --> 00:45:06.220 I did not grow up 00:45:06.220 --> 00:45:07.039 in a Christian home. 00:45:07.700 --> 00:45:09.160 And in high school, 00:45:09.280 --> 00:45:09.880 my brother and I 00:45:09.880 --> 00:45:11.440 were in a chemistry class 00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:12.280 and we had a friend 00:45:12.280 --> 00:45:13.240 in class 00:45:13.240 --> 00:45:14.100 that we had known 00:45:14.100 --> 00:45:14.960 for a couple years 00:45:14.960 --> 00:45:16.100 and his name 00:45:16.100 --> 00:45:18.220 was Alvaro Rivera. 00:45:18.640 --> 00:45:19.559 And his dad 00:45:19.559 --> 00:45:20.120 was Colombian. 00:45:20.200 --> 00:45:21.539 His mom was from the U.S. 00:45:22.120 --> 00:45:22.840 And his mom 00:45:22.840 --> 00:45:23.340 was a Christian. 00:45:23.420 --> 00:45:24.160 His dad was not. 00:45:24.240 --> 00:45:24.740 So he grew up 00:45:24.740 --> 00:45:25.660 in the Baptist church. 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:27.160 And he was a friend. 00:45:27.240 --> 00:45:28.320 He didn't do some things. 00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:29.480 Like we had, 00:45:29.700 --> 00:45:30.420 my brother and I 00:45:30.420 --> 00:45:31.840 had some like party friends 00:45:31.840 --> 00:45:32.440 in sports 00:45:32.440 --> 00:45:32.900 and that sort of thing. 00:45:33.160 --> 00:45:34.300 He was more on 00:45:34.300 --> 00:45:35.220 the intellectual side 00:45:35.220 --> 00:45:35.460 of things. 00:45:35.519 --> 00:45:36.440 And he wouldn't do 00:45:36.440 --> 00:45:36.960 that stuff. 00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:39.160 Like he wouldn't drink 00:45:39.160 --> 00:45:40.600 or curse 00:45:40.600 --> 00:45:41.420 or do those kinds 00:45:41.420 --> 00:45:41.940 of things. 00:45:42.900 --> 00:45:43.740 But we didn't know 00:45:43.740 --> 00:45:44.220 he's Christian. 00:45:44.539 --> 00:45:45.480 We had no idea 00:45:45.480 --> 00:45:46.100 he was a Christian. 00:45:46.620 --> 00:45:47.360 And we knew him 00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:48.320 for like a couple years. 00:45:49.160 --> 00:45:50.019 And one day 00:45:50.019 --> 00:45:51.019 in chemistry class 00:45:51.019 --> 00:45:51.580 all of a sudden 00:45:51.580 --> 00:45:52.480 he just said 00:45:52.480 --> 00:45:54.440 to my brother and I, 00:45:54.519 --> 00:45:54.880 he said, 00:45:55.120 --> 00:45:56.380 do you guys think 00:45:56.380 --> 00:45:56.840 you're good enough 00:45:56.840 --> 00:45:58.240 to get to heaven? 00:45:58.340 --> 00:45:58.720 And we're like, 00:45:59.880 --> 00:46:00.880 yeah, of course. 00:46:01.059 --> 00:46:02.519 I mean, just look at us. 00:46:02.579 --> 00:46:03.400 I mean, of course we're going to, 00:46:04.360 --> 00:46:05.660 I mean, we're good guys, right? 00:46:05.680 --> 00:46:06.300 We're going to get to heaven. 00:46:06.460 --> 00:46:07.820 And he started to quote 00:46:07.820 --> 00:46:08.840 the Bible. 00:46:08.840 --> 00:46:09.880 He said, you know, 00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:10.860 that it's impossible 00:46:10.860 --> 00:46:11.400 to get to God 00:46:11.400 --> 00:46:12.240 by being a good person. 00:46:12.340 --> 00:46:12.860 We're like, well, 00:46:12.980 --> 00:46:13.940 we didn't know 00:46:13.940 --> 00:46:14.599 what we were talking about, 00:46:14.680 --> 00:46:15.320 but we're Irish, 00:46:15.420 --> 00:46:16.119 so we're good at arguing 00:46:16.119 --> 00:46:17.059 even if we have no idea 00:46:17.059 --> 00:46:17.660 what we're talking about. 00:46:18.019 --> 00:46:18.820 And so our argument 00:46:18.820 --> 00:46:19.680 was a lot of like, 00:46:19.760 --> 00:46:20.480 well, nuh-uh. 00:46:21.079 --> 00:46:21.480 Uh-huh. 00:46:21.619 --> 00:46:22.260 Nuh-uh. 00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:23.420 Like we didn't know 00:46:23.420 --> 00:46:24.599 what we were talking about. 00:46:25.559 --> 00:46:27.860 And so I remember 00:46:27.860 --> 00:46:28.440 my brother and I 00:46:28.440 --> 00:46:29.219 went home 00:46:29.219 --> 00:46:30.400 and asked my mom 00:46:30.400 --> 00:46:31.679 if we had a Bible. 00:46:32.460 --> 00:46:33.900 And we had this big, 00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:35.480 huge Catholic Bible. 00:46:35.639 --> 00:46:35.820 It was like, 00:46:35.940 --> 00:46:36.599 you know, 00:46:36.679 --> 00:46:38.000 this mushroom cloud 00:46:38.000 --> 00:46:38.820 of dust came up 00:46:38.820 --> 00:46:39.159 and I'm like, 00:46:39.440 --> 00:46:40.760 open this up. 00:46:40.800 --> 00:46:41.719 There was like a press flower, 00:46:41.840 --> 00:46:42.420 a press fern, 00:46:42.719 --> 00:46:43.440 a $2 bill. 00:46:43.539 --> 00:46:44.000 Like, what is this, 00:46:44.019 --> 00:46:44.500 a museum? 00:46:44.500 --> 00:46:46.000 It actually had a framed picture 00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:46.360 of Jesus 00:46:46.360 --> 00:46:47.199 was on the front of this Bible. 00:46:47.800 --> 00:46:48.360 And somehow, 00:46:48.679 --> 00:46:50.139 I don't know how this happened, 00:46:50.480 --> 00:46:51.780 somehow we found 00:46:51.780 --> 00:46:52.599 John 3.16. 00:46:52.719 --> 00:46:53.639 There must have been something 00:46:53.639 --> 00:46:54.519 in like, 00:46:54.659 --> 00:46:55.639 go to John 3.16 00:46:55.639 --> 00:46:56.059 or something. 00:46:56.139 --> 00:46:56.420 And we're like, 00:46:56.480 --> 00:46:57.300 oh, hey, we got this. 00:46:57.320 --> 00:46:57.960 So we came back 00:46:57.960 --> 00:46:59.000 in the chemistry class 00:46:59.000 --> 00:47:00.360 the next day to Alva 00:47:00.360 --> 00:47:00.679 and we're like, 00:47:00.900 --> 00:47:01.740 hey, guess what? 00:47:02.460 --> 00:47:03.179 We were reading 00:47:03.179 --> 00:47:03.920 the book of Johnny 00:47:03.920 --> 00:47:05.280 and it says, 00:47:05.460 --> 00:47:07.500 it said, 00:47:07.579 --> 00:47:08.599 if you believe, 00:47:08.659 --> 00:47:09.159 you're in. 00:47:09.280 --> 00:47:10.019 And we believe, 00:47:10.119 --> 00:47:10.559 so we're in. 00:47:10.599 --> 00:47:10.820 So there, 00:47:10.900 --> 00:47:11.320 take that, 00:47:11.380 --> 00:47:11.920 you're busted. 00:47:12.360 --> 00:47:13.240 And he said, 00:47:13.240 --> 00:47:14.280 well, it also says 00:47:14.280 --> 00:47:15.240 in James chapter 2 00:47:15.240 --> 00:47:16.159 that even the demons 00:47:16.159 --> 00:47:17.099 believe in God 00:47:17.099 --> 00:47:18.199 and shudder. 00:47:18.400 --> 00:47:18.780 And we're like, 00:47:19.320 --> 00:47:19.800 crud, 00:47:19.800 --> 00:47:20.680 how did this kid, 00:47:20.740 --> 00:47:21.380 how does he know 00:47:21.380 --> 00:47:22.200 all this stuff? 00:47:22.860 --> 00:47:23.080 Well, 00:47:23.220 --> 00:47:25.700 that was the very beginning. 00:47:26.180 --> 00:47:27.900 That was my first real encounter 00:47:27.900 --> 00:47:28.580 with the Bible. 00:47:29.100 --> 00:47:30.460 And that was the beginning 00:47:30.460 --> 00:47:31.640 of God using 00:47:31.640 --> 00:47:33.000 my friend Alvaro 00:47:33.000 --> 00:47:34.340 to share the gospel 00:47:34.340 --> 00:47:34.940 with us. 00:47:35.539 --> 00:47:36.760 He gave us a Bible 00:47:36.760 --> 00:47:37.300 and my brother and I 00:47:37.300 --> 00:47:37.900 fought over that 00:47:37.900 --> 00:47:38.740 and he gave us two Bibles 00:47:38.740 --> 00:47:39.920 and so we could read it. 00:47:39.920 --> 00:47:41.559 And we started to read 00:47:41.559 --> 00:47:42.099 the Bible 00:47:42.099 --> 00:47:43.619 and we would talk to him 00:47:43.619 --> 00:47:44.539 and he would share, 00:47:45.019 --> 00:47:45.599 he would help us 00:47:45.599 --> 00:47:46.740 to understand his mom 00:47:46.740 --> 00:47:48.579 would share the gospel 00:47:48.579 --> 00:47:49.200 with us. 00:47:49.619 --> 00:47:50.780 And it wasn't long 00:47:50.780 --> 00:47:51.300 after that 00:47:51.300 --> 00:47:52.280 that I went to college, 00:47:52.400 --> 00:47:53.280 that was my junior year 00:47:53.280 --> 00:47:53.840 of high school, 00:47:54.240 --> 00:47:55.240 my freshman year of college 00:47:55.240 --> 00:47:56.039 that God saved me 00:47:56.039 --> 00:47:56.720 and then he saved 00:47:56.720 --> 00:47:57.659 my brother Bob 00:47:57.659 --> 00:47:58.480 who's also a pastor 00:47:58.480 --> 00:47:59.180 in Sovereign Grace. 00:48:00.260 --> 00:48:01.280 And you know what I think? 00:48:01.320 --> 00:48:02.119 This is what I think. 00:48:02.119 --> 00:48:05.819 I wonder what made Alvaro 00:48:05.819 --> 00:48:07.539 all of a sudden 00:48:07.539 --> 00:48:10.139 decide to share with us. 00:48:11.400 --> 00:48:12.440 Because he hadn't shared 00:48:12.440 --> 00:48:12.920 any of that 00:48:12.920 --> 00:48:14.219 for a couple years. 00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:16.799 Why did he all of a sudden, 00:48:17.519 --> 00:48:18.299 and I haven't been able 00:48:18.299 --> 00:48:18.839 to talk to him, 00:48:18.859 --> 00:48:19.539 I haven't talked to him 00:48:19.539 --> 00:48:20.319 in 20 years. 00:48:20.839 --> 00:48:21.699 I haven't been able 00:48:21.699 --> 00:48:22.079 to ask him, 00:48:22.199 --> 00:48:23.659 what made you 00:48:23.659 --> 00:48:25.579 all of a sudden 00:48:25.579 --> 00:48:27.219 share like this? 00:48:28.779 --> 00:48:30.779 Was it a seminar 00:48:30.779 --> 00:48:31.579 like this? 00:48:32.539 --> 00:48:33.539 Was it a message 00:48:33.539 --> 00:48:34.480 that his pastor 00:48:34.480 --> 00:48:36.199 preached on Sunday 00:48:36.199 --> 00:48:36.619 and he thought, 00:48:36.779 --> 00:48:39.400 I gotta say something 00:48:39.400 --> 00:48:40.199 to those twins? 00:48:41.139 --> 00:48:41.980 And here's the thing, 00:48:42.339 --> 00:48:43.319 once he shared that, 00:48:43.380 --> 00:48:45.000 we were arguing with him. 00:48:46.179 --> 00:48:46.980 He could have been, 00:48:47.179 --> 00:48:47.839 oh my goodness, 00:48:47.859 --> 00:48:48.980 these guys are idiots, 00:48:49.119 --> 00:48:49.519 they have no idea 00:48:49.519 --> 00:48:50.179 what they're talking about. 00:48:50.619 --> 00:48:51.739 He kept coming, 00:48:51.880 --> 00:48:53.079 he kept sharing with us. 00:48:54.659 --> 00:48:56.199 And outwardly, 00:48:56.279 --> 00:48:57.079 we just fought him. 00:48:57.400 --> 00:48:57.759 Inwardly, 00:48:57.819 --> 00:48:58.719 we were thinking about 00:48:58.719 --> 00:48:59.159 at home 00:48:59.159 --> 00:48:59.920 and trying to read 00:48:59.920 --> 00:49:00.659 and trying to figure out 00:49:00.659 --> 00:49:01.599 what he was saying. 00:49:01.599 --> 00:49:03.159 which is God's spirit 00:49:03.159 --> 00:49:04.659 drawing us. 00:49:05.099 --> 00:49:06.039 But what made him 00:49:06.039 --> 00:49:06.659 share that? 00:49:07.659 --> 00:49:08.799 What made him decide, 00:49:09.000 --> 00:49:10.159 I need to do something? 00:49:11.339 --> 00:49:12.539 I don't know what it was, 00:49:12.679 --> 00:49:14.779 but I'm here to tell you 00:49:14.779 --> 00:49:15.360 I'm so thankful 00:49:15.360 --> 00:49:15.960 that he did. 00:49:16.699 --> 00:49:17.699 And he stepped out 00:49:17.699 --> 00:49:17.900 and said, 00:49:17.960 --> 00:49:18.679 I'm gonna say something 00:49:18.679 --> 00:49:19.319 to these guys. 00:49:20.039 --> 00:49:21.139 Because God used 00:49:21.139 --> 00:49:22.099 that simple act. 00:49:22.339 --> 00:49:23.599 He wasn't a super strong 00:49:23.599 --> 00:49:24.019 Christian. 00:49:24.019 --> 00:49:26.019 God used him. 00:49:26.019 --> 00:49:26.539 God used him 00:49:26.539 --> 00:49:29.360 to save us. 00:49:29.960 --> 00:49:31.579 To bring the gospel message 00:49:31.579 --> 00:49:34.079 which saved my life. 00:49:34.659 --> 00:49:36.019 And it's why I'm here today. 00:49:37.920 --> 00:49:38.900 Sharing the gospel 00:49:38.900 --> 00:49:39.800 can be scary. 00:49:40.500 --> 00:49:42.699 But it is a beautiful thing 00:49:42.699 --> 00:49:44.259 to bring the message 00:49:44.259 --> 00:49:45.500 of peace and hope 00:49:45.500 --> 00:49:46.820 and salvation to others. 00:49:47.079 --> 00:49:48.300 The greatest way 00:49:48.300 --> 00:49:49.940 you can love someone 00:49:49.940 --> 00:49:51.059 is to share the gospel 00:49:51.059 --> 00:49:51.579 with them. 00:49:51.579 --> 00:49:53.360 And if you take the risk 00:49:53.360 --> 00:49:54.059 to do that, 00:49:54.400 --> 00:49:56.000 your feet will be beautiful 00:49:56.000 --> 00:49:57.099 to many. 00:49:57.360 --> 00:49:57.980 Let's pray. 00:50:02.599 --> 00:50:03.840 God, I just thank you 00:50:03.840 --> 00:50:05.299 so much for Alvaro. 00:50:06.559 --> 00:50:07.759 And I just thank you 00:50:07.759 --> 00:50:08.539 for the courage 00:50:08.539 --> 00:50:09.440 that you gave him. 00:50:09.639 --> 00:50:11.539 And if it was a message 00:50:11.539 --> 00:50:12.920 that his pastor preached 00:50:12.920 --> 00:50:13.480 or seminar, 00:50:13.679 --> 00:50:14.779 I don't know what it was. 00:50:14.900 --> 00:50:15.880 Thank you, God, 00:50:16.500 --> 00:50:18.079 for using that in my life. 00:50:18.139 --> 00:50:19.440 And I just pray 00:50:19.440 --> 00:50:20.360 that you would help 00:50:20.360 --> 00:50:21.180 each of us 00:50:21.180 --> 00:50:23.740 to be an Alvaro 00:50:23.740 --> 00:50:24.700 to someone else, 00:50:24.820 --> 00:50:26.780 to be like Alvaro 00:50:26.780 --> 00:50:28.120 in someone else's life, 00:50:28.200 --> 00:50:29.039 to take a risk, 00:50:29.120 --> 00:50:30.099 to open our mouths, 00:50:30.220 --> 00:50:31.260 to befriend someone, 00:50:31.460 --> 00:50:33.440 to share the good news 00:50:33.440 --> 00:50:34.059 of the gospel. 00:50:34.220 --> 00:50:35.380 And not to be deterred 00:50:35.380 --> 00:50:36.700 even if they don't react 00:50:36.700 --> 00:50:37.260 that well. 00:50:38.180 --> 00:50:39.340 We certainly didn't. 00:50:40.200 --> 00:50:41.280 God, I pray 00:50:41.280 --> 00:50:43.240 just as you are 00:50:43.240 --> 00:50:45.360 putting people 00:50:45.360 --> 00:50:46.480 on our hearts now, 00:50:46.620 --> 00:50:48.360 just faces, people, 00:50:48.360 --> 00:50:49.500 coworkers, friends, 00:50:49.660 --> 00:50:50.400 family members, 00:50:51.000 --> 00:50:51.559 classmates. 00:50:53.240 --> 00:50:53.980 God, I pray 00:50:53.980 --> 00:50:54.800 that your spirit 00:50:54.800 --> 00:50:55.960 would go to these people 00:50:55.960 --> 00:50:56.880 and begin to prepare 00:50:56.880 --> 00:50:57.519 their hearts. 00:50:58.180 --> 00:50:59.160 And you would fill us 00:50:59.160 --> 00:50:59.820 with your spirit 00:50:59.820 --> 00:51:00.720 and give us boldness 00:51:00.720 --> 00:51:01.260 and courage 00:51:01.260 --> 00:51:02.680 to reach out to them 00:51:02.680 --> 00:51:03.140 with the hope 00:51:03.140 --> 00:51:03.760 of the gospel. 00:51:04.400 --> 00:51:05.120 Please do this, 00:51:05.220 --> 00:51:05.880 we pray, Lord. 00:51:06.260 --> 00:51:07.160 In Jesus' name. 00:51:07.579 --> 00:51:07.860 Amen. 00:51:07.860 --> 00:51:07.960 Amen. 00:51:07.960 --> 00:51:08.000 Amen. 00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:08.019 Amen. 00:51:08.019 --> 00:51:08.099 Amen. 00:51:08.099 --> 00:51:08.120 Amen. 00:51:08.120 --> 00:51:08.180 Amen. 00:51:08.180 --> 00:51:08.200 Amen. 00:51:08.200 --> 00:51:08.220 Amen. 00:51:08.220 --> 00:51:08.240 Amen. 00:51:08.240 --> 00:51:08.300 Amen. 00:51:08.300 --> 00:51:08.320 Amen. 00:51:08.320 --> 00:51:08.380 Amen. 00:51:08.380 --> 00:51:08.400 Amen. 00:51:08.400 --> 00:51:08.420 Amen. 00:51:08.420 --> 00:51:08.500 Amen. 00:51:08.500 --> 00:51:10.019 Amen. 00:51:10.019 --> 00:51:10.120 Amen. 00:51:10.120 --> 00:51:10.160 Amen. 00:51:10.160 --> 00:51:10.220 Amen. 00:51:10.220 --> 00:51:12.120 Amen. 00:51:12.120 --> 00:51:12.220 Amen. 00:51:12.220 --> 00:51:12.240 Amen. 00:51:12.240 --> 00:51:14.220 Amen. 00:51:14.220 --> 00:51:14.240 Amen. 00:51:14.240 --> 00:51:14.280 Amen. 00:51:14.280 --> 00:51:14.300 Amen.