WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.780 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 6 to 16. 00:00:06.459 --> 00:00:11.740 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, 00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:17.760 but not the wisdom of this age or the rulers of this age who are coming to nothing. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:24.740 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden 00:00:24.739 --> 00:00:30.579 and that God destined for our glory before time began. 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:37.420 None of the rulers of this age understood, for if they had, 00:00:38.219 --> 00:00:40.579 they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 00:00:41.859 --> 00:00:47.340 However, as it is written, no one has seen, no ear has heard, 00:00:47.879 --> 00:00:53.200 no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:57.200 But God has revealed to us by his spirit. 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:03.040 The spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 00:01:04.740 --> 00:01:11.460 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:19.640 In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the spirit of God. 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:26.500 We have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit who is from God, 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:30.260 that we may understand what God has freely given us. 00:01:31.180 --> 00:01:36.819 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, 00:01:36.819 --> 00:01:44.779 but in words taught by the spirit, expressing spiritual truth in spiritual words. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:51.919 The man without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the spirit of God, 00:01:53.199 --> 00:01:57.599 for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:00.979 because they are spiritually discerned. 00:02:01.579 --> 00:02:05.079 The spiritual man makes judgment about the things, 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:10.000 but he himself is not subject to anyone's judgment. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:13.560 For who has known the mind of the Lord, 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:16.419 that he may instruct him, 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:20.419 but we have the mind of Christ. 00:02:21.419 --> 00:02:21.900 Amen. 00:02:21.900 --> 00:02:28.740 Thanks, Lucia. That's great. Thank you. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:30.980 Well, keep that passage open. 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:34.080 We're going to work our way through it together this morning. 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:35.800 And I wonder, as we do that, 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:41.800 if I can ask you to think about what is a successful church? 00:02:42.620 --> 00:02:43.599 Have you ever thought about that? 00:02:43.659 --> 00:02:45.700 What is a successful church? 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:49.379 We know, don't we, what a successful business is. 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:54.199 So a successful business is one that earns lots of money for its owners. 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:57.859 We know what a successful athlete is, don't we? 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:00.840 Someone who wins lots of games, lots of tournaments. 00:03:01.079 --> 00:03:04.500 They get all the cool Nike gear because they get given it as sponsorship. 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:09.560 Maybe you even know what a successful parent looks like. 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:13.099 You know, they have their kids in bed asleep by 7pm 00:03:13.099 --> 00:03:16.979 and are sitting in a tidy flat drinking a cup of tea in front of the television. 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:22.560 I wonder whether you've thought about what a successful church looks like. 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:29.159 I guess if we use those same measures that we were talking about for a church, 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:34.259 we might say that a successful church is one that maybe has a lot of people coming along to it. 00:03:34.620 --> 00:03:35.799 Maybe they've got a lot of money. 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:39.019 Maybe the church meets in a fancy building. 00:03:39.179 --> 00:03:44.099 They have some funky music or a celebrity pastor that everybody knows. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:47.139 But even when you express it like that, you sort of know, don't you, 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:51.120 that doesn't really kind of sound right for a church, does it? 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:55.819 I mean, there are lots of churches like that, especially in London, 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:58.219 and you wouldn't want to go to any of them, really. 00:03:58.840 --> 00:03:59.979 It would be safer not going. 00:04:00.780 --> 00:04:03.159 So what then is success for a church? 00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:05.719 What is it that we are aiming for? 00:04:06.579 --> 00:04:10.099 You know, we're at the start of a journey of church revitalization. 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:13.419 What is it that we're hoping the destination will be? 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:19.159 Well, I want to suggest to you this morning from the passage that we've just read together 00:04:19.159 --> 00:04:22.159 that a successful church is not necessarily rich. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:24.500 It's not necessarily meeting in a fancy building. 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:26.899 It doesn't even have to have funky music. 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:32.540 Instead, what I want us to see together is that successful church is a church that is relying on 00:04:32.540 --> 00:04:37.319 and experiencing the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:46.439 In other words, the church, a successful church, is a place where God is obviously at work, 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:51.519 opening people's eyes and hearts to see the wonder of who he is and what he's done, 00:04:52.180 --> 00:04:55.100 and empowering church members to live that life together. 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:58.279 Now, just think about that with me. 00:04:58.420 --> 00:05:01.759 If that's right, if that's what a successful church is, 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:07.199 if a successful church is relying on and experiencing the regenerating work of the Spirit, 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:10.519 then here's the central thing about a successful church. 00:05:11.099 --> 00:05:13.459 You and I can't make one, can we? 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:19.279 There's nothing that we can do to make church successful, 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:23.139 because the success of a church relies not on us, 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:26.379 but on God, on a movement of the Spirit. 00:05:26.379 --> 00:05:31.839 And I want to suggest this morning that that has a profound impact on what church should look like 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.459 and what church should feel like for all of us this morning. 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:39.360 Now, if you'll wind back with me a moment and come back to 1 Corinthians chapter 2, 00:05:39.420 --> 00:05:42.060 which we read together, I want us to see that there, 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:43.899 but we're going to walk through the passage first, 00:05:43.899 --> 00:05:47.959 and then I'm going to pull out what I think are three implications for us as a church. 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:49.759 So let's just walk through these verses first. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:50.600 Let's walk through them. 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:57.060 In verse 6, Paul tells them that although his preaching isn't with conventional wisdom, 00:05:57.060 --> 00:05:58.660 that's what we were thinking about last week, 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:02.860 still it is a message of wisdom among the mature, as he calls them. 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:06.460 It's important that we get what the word mature is there. 00:06:06.540 --> 00:06:09.320 It doesn't mean people of a mature age. 00:06:10.420 --> 00:06:12.780 I'm sorry if you're of a mature age this morning, 00:06:12.840 --> 00:06:17.000 but what he's not saying this morning is that once you arrive at a certain age, 00:06:17.020 --> 00:06:18.540 you will then understand what he's saying. 00:06:18.540 --> 00:06:21.640 So this is for older folks and not for younger folks. 00:06:21.700 --> 00:06:23.420 That's not what he's saying this morning. 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:26.460 Really, literally the word there is perfect. 00:06:27.140 --> 00:06:29.819 And this is Paul's description of the church. 00:06:29.960 --> 00:06:34.240 These are the saints or the sanctified or the holy people, 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:36.680 as he calls them in chapter 1 verse 2, 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:40.420 the saints in Corinth, the mature in Corinth. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:47.500 Again, that's not because every single church member or any church member is absolutely perfect. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:50.040 Rather, it's to contrast them with the world. 00:06:50.360 --> 00:06:53.199 The world are the perishing, chapter 1 verse 18. 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:56.360 So the mature are really just Christians, 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:00.759 those who more often than not were weak and nothing in the eyes of the world, 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.680 but who have now been saved by God and brought into his kingdom, 00:07:06.100 --> 00:07:08.100 made holy, mature and perfect. 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:13.040 But really the question is then, where is this wisdom from? 00:07:13.260 --> 00:07:15.460 If this wisdom isn't worldly wisdom, 00:07:15.460 --> 00:07:18.600 it's not the wisdom of this age from the rulers of this age, 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:21.560 a wisdom that's coming to nothing, as he puts it in verse 6, 00:07:21.960 --> 00:07:23.860 then what kind of wisdom is it? 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:25.879 Well, look down at verse 7. 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:29.199 You're told this is God's wisdom. 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:32.879 We declare God's wisdom, he says. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:38.339 Wisdom that he tells us has been hidden, but has now been revealed. 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:43.980 It's a bit of an aside, but I think it's worth noticing that the wisdom of God has not been hidden 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:46.279 because God was making his mind up about it. 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:49.060 You and I can be like that, can't we? 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:53.000 You know, we wait until the very last minute to make a decision 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:56.420 because we don't want to get a wrong decision. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:01.019 So someone asks you to do something and you wait for ages and ages and ages 00:08:01.019 --> 00:08:03.920 before you decide whether you're going to say yes or no to doing it. 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.379 Someone's not very happy with me so far this morning. 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:11.720 Please don't worry about it, it's absolutely fine. 00:08:11.819 --> 00:08:12.639 I don't mind a bit of crying. 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:15.920 It's not that here though, is it? 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:20.720 It's not that God can't make up his mind why the wisdom's hidden. 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:23.680 The wisdom has been hidden, but it has been decided. 00:08:23.780 --> 00:08:25.000 Look at the end of verse 7. 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:32.019 You notice there that it has been planned for the glory of God's people before time began. 00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:35.840 In other words, this message of wisdom for the mature, 00:08:36.420 --> 00:08:40.940 although it's been hidden and now revealed, is about the eternal plans of God. 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:45.240 Plans which he established in eternity past and is now working out in history. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:50.279 But despite the fact that these plans are ancient and have been working out in history, 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:54.099 still, verse 8, none of the rulers of this age understood them. 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:54.839 Why? 00:08:55.819 --> 00:08:58.299 Well, because they crucified the Lord of glory, 00:08:59.299 --> 00:09:02.559 which had they known and understood and believed the plans of God, 00:09:02.599 --> 00:09:05.620 had they been mature, to use Paul's phrase in verse 6, 00:09:05.959 --> 00:09:09.099 they would not have wickedly killed God's Son in human flesh. 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:14.220 Again, it's worth seeing the implication of Paul's point here. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:19.820 The message of wisdom for the mature, founded on the ancient plans of God from before time begun, 00:09:20.420 --> 00:09:21.279 focuses where? 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:27.379 This hidden mystery from eternity past has its focus where? 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:30.000 There, on the cross of Jesus Christ, 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:36.480 where the eternal Son in human flesh handed himself over to the wicked intention of his enemies, 00:09:37.259 --> 00:09:41.039 who unbeknown to them, while going through with their wicked intentions, 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:47.360 actually accomplish the eternal plan of God to provide a sacrifice of sin so that he might forgive and save. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:52.940 Now, that plan, we're told, is so glorious we could never have conceived it, verse 9. 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:54.539 He says what? 00:09:54.960 --> 00:10:02.519 No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for his people. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:07.560 But verse 10, that's the message that's now being revealed to Paul by the Spirit, 00:10:07.940 --> 00:10:09.500 and it's the message he's now preaching. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:13.860 Now, we're going to move on just to look at some of the other bits in a moment, 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:15.460 but just think about what this means. 00:10:15.460 --> 00:10:18.980 Notice here that God is not frantic. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:22.200 God is not stressed, is he? 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:27.740 He's not running around trying to accomplish his purposes in the least amount of time possible. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:29.540 Instead, he's patient. 00:10:30.920 --> 00:10:33.540 He is mysteriously patient, isn't he? 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:38.220 He's had a message of salvation decided before time began 00:10:38.220 --> 00:10:43.139 and worked it out in thousands of years of history, building up to the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:52.000 A message that was foreshadowed and role-played out in the temple for thousands of years 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:54.279 before God the Son arrives in human flesh. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:11:00.080 A plan that was achieved not only despite, but because of the ignorance of those who achieved it 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:02.059 as they drove the nails into Jesus' hands. 00:11:02.059 --> 00:11:07.299 And now for thousands of years, he's patiently working out Christ's victory 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:10.179 and giving his spirit to whoever he wills. 00:11:11.179 --> 00:11:12.239 God is patient. 00:11:13.859 --> 00:11:16.500 I wonder if you notice that's how God works in your life too. 00:11:17.459 --> 00:11:18.419 He's not in a rush. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:23.899 Instead of giving quick answers and fast fixes, he is content, isn't he, 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:28.860 for you just to keep coming to the Lord Jesus in the midst of unanswered prayers and confusion. 00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:32.279 But not because he's forgotten you or because he doesn't love you, 00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:37.240 but because he's patiently doing by the Spirit through the cross something so wonderful 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:40.779 you wouldn't even understand it if he explained it. 00:11:40.779 --> 00:11:46.799 Now, back in 1 Corinthians 2, Paul goes on in verses 11 to 16 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:51.159 to explain how God's Spirit has revealed this message, 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:56.299 how the message of wisdom centered on the cross has come to the church by Paul. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:01.399 And there are two parts to it, which we saw, didn't we, with Lashire in the family Bible slot. 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:03.699 The first part is about who the Spirit is, 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:06.039 and the second part is about what the Spirit does. 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:12.899 So firstly, verse 11, the Spirit knows the message of wisdom because he is God the Spirit. 00:12:13.699 --> 00:12:15.779 Who he is, he is God the Spirit. 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:18.679 This is the doctrine of the Trinity, right? 00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:23.899 So although Paul can talk about the Holy Spirit as a separate person from the Father and the Son, 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:28.219 he is distinct from the Father and the Son, yet still he's fully divine. 00:12:28.939 --> 00:12:31.399 He's a partaker in the divine essence of God. 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:36.319 So that the Father can't plan anything that the Spirit doesn't know. 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:40.059 The Son can't do anything that the Spirit doesn't empower. 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:44.699 So the Spirit knows what the Father has planned from eternity past, 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:46.699 because he's divine. 00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:51.840 And what the Son does, the Spirit then enables, 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:55.379 so that Paul knows, verse 12, the message of wisdom from God, 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:58.799 because the Spirit who is at work in him is not the Spirit of the world, 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.659 who knows only things about the world, 00:13:00.959 --> 00:13:03.839 but the divine Spirit from God who knows the things of God. 00:13:04.219 --> 00:13:05.299 So look down at verse 13. 00:13:05.359 --> 00:13:05.899 What does he say? 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.199 He says, this is what we speak, 00:13:08.979 --> 00:13:11.240 not in words taught by human wisdom, 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:12.899 but in words taught by the Spirit, 00:13:13.079 --> 00:13:16.500 explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:20.080 In other words, the first thing to know, says Paul, 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:22.320 when it comes to this revelation of the message, 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:26.279 is that the message comes from a reliable source. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.740 It comes right from the top. 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:28.980 This is right from God himself. 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:31.179 The Spirit is divine. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:33.659 The second then is what the Spirit does. 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:35.279 So look down at verse 14. 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:38.080 Here you'll see that not only the Spirit has access to the mind of God, 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:40.480 but also the Spirit has been at work in Paul. 00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:42.740 So Paul is with the Spirit, 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:44.240 or the Spirit is with Paul. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:48.639 So he doesn't consider the things to come from God as foolish, 00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:49.919 but now as wisdom. 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:52.419 Look down, these I think are important verses. 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.680 Look down at verse 15. 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:56.759 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, 00:13:56.860 --> 00:14:00.080 but such a person is not subject merely to human judgments. 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:05.299 Literally, he doesn't make worldly judgments, 00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:07.399 nor can he be judged by human judgments. 00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:09.379 He's not here saying, 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:13.019 listen, I'm no longer accountable to the law or to anybody. 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:13.980 He's not saying that. 00:14:14.079 --> 00:14:16.419 He's not saying, listen, if I get caught speeding on my camel, 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:19.299 it comes to nothing because I'm above all of that. 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:20.220 That's not what he's saying. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:23.019 Rather, this is about how Paul now thinks 00:14:23.579 --> 00:14:25.019 and how he should be thought about by others. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:28.919 With the Spirit in his mind, 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.439 with the Spirit of God at work in him, 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:33.939 he now thinks God's thoughts 00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:36.879 with the mind of Christ, verse 16, 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.319 which he couldn't do before. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:42.800 In other words, human judgments can't explain Paul anymore. 00:14:43.420 --> 00:14:46.379 You can't explain who Paul is and what Paul does 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:48.220 simply at a human level 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:50.360 because he has the Spirit 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:52.820 and knows the mind of Christ. 00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:55.980 This, I think, is really, really helpful. 00:14:56.660 --> 00:14:58.620 You've got to make sure that we get this straight in our minds. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.720 Paul is saying that 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:02.280 understanding the message of the cross 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:05.279 by the Spirit of God dwelling in our hearts 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:09.939 changes everything about how we think and view the world. 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:13.220 It literally becomes the lenses 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:15.000 through which you see everything. 00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:17.399 So much so that decisions 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:19.579 that would have made no sense before 00:15:19.579 --> 00:15:22.039 now make perfect sense 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:24.339 because you see and understand 00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:26.559 what God is doing through the cross of Christ. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:31.959 There's a famous verse in 1 Corinthians 15, 00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:33.559 just a bit later on in the letter, 00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:35.179 and Paul talks about 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:37.559 if the resurrection hadn't happened, 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.919 he would be to be pitied above all men. 00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:40.779 Do you remember that? 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:43.099 If the resurrection is not true, 00:15:43.239 --> 00:15:45.899 then Paul's life makes no sense at all. 00:15:45.939 --> 00:15:47.019 It's to be pitied. 00:15:47.699 --> 00:15:49.879 But of course, the resurrection has happened, 00:15:49.979 --> 00:15:52.319 so his life makes perfect sense. 00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:55.939 And so it should be for us. 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:58.559 You know, the question for us 00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:59.639 if we're a Christian this morning 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:01.779 is if our lives and decisions 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:03.219 make perfect sense 00:16:03.219 --> 00:16:05.279 without the gospel being true, 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:08.279 then we're not really living the Christian life 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:10.619 because the message of the cross 00:16:10.619 --> 00:16:11.479 is the big truth 00:16:11.479 --> 00:16:12.779 through which everything is filtered. 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:16.519 There's another important aside here as well, 00:16:16.579 --> 00:16:17.500 which I think I want us to get 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:19.259 before we come on to the implications. 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:20.619 Look again at verse 14. 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:23.319 Let me read the first part of verse 14 to you again. 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.899 The person without the Spirit 00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:28.059 does not accept the things 00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:29.659 that come from the Spirit of God, 00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:32.679 but considers them foolishness. 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:35.199 Notice that Paul assumes here 00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:37.220 there are two types of people in the world. 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:40.480 There are people without the Spirit 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:43.019 and there are people with the Spirit. 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:45.259 And those without the Spirit 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:46.959 cannot accept the gospel, 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.159 but consider it what? 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:49.559 Foolishness. 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:50.919 And by implication, 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:52.120 those with the Spirit 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.480 do accept the gospel. 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:55.300 In other words, 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:56.120 and this is important, 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.800 Paul doesn't say there are two types 00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:59.159 of Christian in the world, 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:00.180 those with the Spirit 00:17:00.180 --> 00:17:01.200 and those without the Spirit. 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.840 He's saying there are two kinds 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.600 of people in the world, 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:05.000 those without the Spirit 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:07.140 who therefore don't trust Christ 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:08.660 and those with the Spirit 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:10.500 are those who do trust Christ. 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:11.740 In other words, 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.779 if you love the Lord 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.579 and you think the gospel 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.620 of Jesus Christ crucified 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:15.599 is the best news ever, 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:17.200 that's because the Spirit 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.279 has made you alive, 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.279 not because you've worked it out. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:22.519 No Spirit, 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.500 no life. 00:17:25.379 --> 00:17:26.819 So let me ask you this morning, 00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:29.119 have you experienced that? 00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:32.019 I'm not asking if you've had 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.299 some kind of weird, 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.279 unexplainable experience 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:36.759 of what you think 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.740 might be the Holy Spirit. 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:38.839 No, I'm not asking that. 00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:39.920 What I'm asking you is, 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.539 have you had your eyes open 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:43.220 to the beauty and wonder 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.279 of the plan of God? 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:47.639 You and I live in a world 00:17:47.639 --> 00:17:49.180 where from eternity past, 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:50.940 God has a plan of salvation 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:52.860 for people like you and me. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:57.580 Have you seen that your happiness, 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.860 your eternal life, 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:00.019 lie not in the fulfillment 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:02.259 of your own dreams and aspiration, 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:03.880 but in the accomplishment 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:05.200 of God's plans? 00:18:06.820 --> 00:18:08.759 Have you experienced new life 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.420 by the Spirit 00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.940 so that your eyes and your heart 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:12.019 are open to that, 00:18:12.100 --> 00:18:13.920 to love that and trust that? 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:16.360 Because if you haven't, 00:18:16.560 --> 00:18:17.460 you need to understand 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.620 there's nothing you can do 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:20.059 to kind of generate that 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:21.279 from inside of yourself. 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.400 Instead, you need to turn 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.059 to the Lord and say, 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.500 please God in heaven above, 00:18:25.600 --> 00:18:26.819 give me eyes to see 00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:28.019 and a heart to trust 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.299 the wonder of Christ, 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:31.700 to turn from the horror 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.779 of my selfishness 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:34.660 to love and trust you instead. 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:38.660 That's a really quick run through, 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:40.079 1 Corinthians 2. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.220 Let me try and draw out 00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.120 three implications 00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:43.279 for us as a church. 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:44.619 What does it mean 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.480 for us as a church 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.720 to be relying on the Spirit 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.099 and living out these realities? 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.559 Let me suggest three things. 00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.740 The first one is this. 00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:53.119 Spirit-powered faith 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:55.519 will trump intelligence. 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.220 Spirit-powered faith 00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:58.259 will trump intelligence. 00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.980 I was a student 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:03.299 at Sheffield University 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:04.420 quite a long time ago now, 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:06.019 and I studied geography, 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.859 which has turned out 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:09.059 not to be incredibly useful, 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:09.500 but anyway, 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:11.019 I studied geography at university, 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.619 and one of the things 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.660 that they enabled you to do 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:14.160 was you could pick 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.400 a certain number of modules 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.799 from any other department 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:17.660 in the university. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.700 So at the beginning of the year, 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:21.279 you go and queue up 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:24.000 to register for your optional modules. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.519 One of my friends decided 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:28.059 to just join the shortest queue 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.460 and ended up doing 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:31.000 some weird course 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:31.819 in ancient history. 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.740 Most people did 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:35.240 a computer science module 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.420 because everybody knows 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:37.619 computer science is easy, 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.740 and if you get a good mark, 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.839 it boosts your mark 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.960 in the degree you're actually doing. 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.420 Anyway, 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:43.099 I decided there was 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:44.359 a biblical studies department 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.240 at Sheffield University 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:45.759 at the time, 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.059 and so I took a module 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:48.339 in New Testament Greek, 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.039 so I thought that would be 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.900 interesting and helpful. 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.900 I hasten to add 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:52.359 I wasn't actually very good at it, 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.920 but the striking thing was 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:56.480 in the biblical studies department 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.440 at Sheffield University 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.440 was some of the brightest people 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.359 in the university were there. 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:02.279 They spent their lives 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.700 studying the scriptures, 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:06.879 but they hadn't got a clue 00:20:06.879 --> 00:20:08.099 what the Bible 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:08.980 or the gospel was about. 00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:11.860 It was incredible to me. 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.779 Here were men and women 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:15.180 who were spending their lives 00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:16.259 reading everything 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:16.940 that was written 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.900 about the Bible 00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:19.079 and the Bible itself, 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.599 but still they didn't 00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.279 trust Christ 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.200 and the whole thing 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.279 was foolishness to them. 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.400 That's 1 Corinthians 2 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:26.319 in action, isn't it? 00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:28.279 Because it's not intelligence, 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:31.180 but it is spirit-powered faith 00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:31.880 that counts, 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:32.980 and so it must be 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.480 for us as a church. 00:20:35.140 --> 00:20:36.000 We must learn 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.020 to treasure 00:20:37.020 --> 00:20:37.820 not so much 00:20:37.820 --> 00:20:39.500 great thoughts about God, 00:20:39.580 --> 00:20:41.480 but great faith in Him. 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:44.500 Not because academic learning 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.460 isn't important 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.340 or because Christians 00:20:46.340 --> 00:20:47.300 shouldn't use their brains 00:20:47.300 --> 00:20:47.820 when it comes to 00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:48.520 understanding the Bible. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.740 No, we must, 00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:50.880 and we must train people 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.580 to do that. 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.240 While the point is 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.320 that as a church, 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.640 we should be quicker 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:56.900 to listen to a brother 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:58.120 or a sister in Christ 00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:59.940 who turns us to God 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.779 in the Scriptures, 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.980 then we are listening 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:03.120 to the latest expert 00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:04.019 on the God channel 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.980 who's full of their own 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:06.120 self-importance. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.860 This idea gets expressed 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:10.960 in our church covenant 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.960 or constitution 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.220 that states we're a church 00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.720 that's led by elders, 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:16.059 supported by deacons, 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:17.100 but owned collectively 00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:18.200 by the church membership. 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:20.220 And the church membership 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:21.539 are all those 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:23.059 who having shown evidence 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:24.100 of new life in Christ 00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:24.740 and being baptized, 00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:25.799 covenant together 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.900 to be a church family, 00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:28.620 to look out for one another, 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.740 to care for one another, 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.759 to take responsibility, 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.680 to meet together regularly, 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.759 to appoint leaders 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.819 who will teach the Scriptures, 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.720 celebrate the Lord's Supper 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.240 and baptism. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.620 And it doesn't matter 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:38.980 whether you've been 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:40.140 a Christian for a week 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:41.220 or whether you're 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:42.240 a professor of theology 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.859 and you've been a Christian 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:44.099 for 40 years. 00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:46.000 Membership in the local church 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.460 treats you exactly the same 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:49.519 because church is about 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.819 spirit-empowered faith, 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:52.059 not human intelligence. 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:53.640 You might have heard 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.099 that phrase, 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.240 all-member ministry. 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.099 We're going to think 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.960 about that some more 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.339 in a few weeks' time, 00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.119 but really it's built 00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.919 on this doctrine. 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.599 Every member of the church 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:04.419 is a minister of the gospel 00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:06.379 because every member, 00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:08.240 by means of their conversion, 00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:09.480 has the Spirit of God 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.339 at work in them, 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:12.240 enabling them to understand 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.099 the things of God 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:14.480 and apply them to others. 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.279 Let me try and put it 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.980 as provocatively as I can, okay? 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.359 If the only person 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:21.919 you ever see up the front 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:23.439 in church is me, 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:25.460 or if I'm the only person 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.200 doing ministry 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:27.299 in the life of the church, 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.860 we haven't made a kind 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:31.559 of organizational error. 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:33.620 We've made a theological error 00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:36.380 because all the members 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:37.000 of the church 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.380 are ministers of the church, 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:39.279 not just me. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:40.900 Likewise, 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.759 if you come to church 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.820 expecting that there's 00:22:42.820 --> 00:22:44.019 no contribution 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.759 for you to make, 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:47.120 it's not a laziness problem. 00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:49.019 It's a theological problem 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:51.579 because all of God's people 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.680 are Spirit-empowered 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.740 ministers of the gospel. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.839 Not because we all 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.740 have the same gifts 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:57.240 or have the exact 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.200 same responsibilities, 00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.500 but because we all 00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.440 have the same Spirit. 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:03.079 That's the first implication. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:03.920 Second one, 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.319 praying to God 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.799 will trump nagging people. 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.319 If what Paul is saying 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.160 here is right, 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.000 that we can only understand 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.200 the wisdom and glory 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.680 of the gospel 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.660 by a work of the Spirit 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.519 in our hearts, 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.700 then what we need 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.599 to accept is that 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.339 you and I 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.859 cannot make anybody 00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.419 a Christian, 00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:21.079 can we? 00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.539 How so? 00:23:23.179 --> 00:23:23.980 Well, because you and I 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:25.019 cannot give anybody 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.599 the Spirit. 00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:27.579 It's not in our gift. 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:28.779 You know, 00:23:29.179 --> 00:23:30.899 even with the best explanation 00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:31.399 of the gospel 00:23:31.399 --> 00:23:32.039 that we can bring, 00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:33.379 even with the clearest answers 00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.059 to the questions, 00:23:34.199 --> 00:23:36.240 even with the best literature 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:36.959 and leaflets, 00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:38.859 none of us can make a Christian. 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.439 Only God can. 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:41.699 Now, of course, 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.339 we all know that, 00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:42.639 don't we? 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.839 I don't think I've told anyone 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:45.179 anything they don't know, 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.980 but we do sometimes act 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.199 like we can make people Christian. 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:51.059 If you look at your 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:53.439 praying to nagging ratio 00:23:53.439 --> 00:23:54.319 with your non-Christian 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.199 friends and family, 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.959 how does that balance out? 00:23:57.439 --> 00:23:58.500 I think especially 00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.299 with close family, 00:23:59.379 --> 00:23:59.980 we find ourselves 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:02.019 nagging with them 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.179 to come to church 00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:04.740 or to listen to the gospel 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.879 more than we find ourselves 00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:06.839 pleading with the Lord 00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:08.259 that they might turn to Christ. 00:24:09.419 --> 00:24:10.659 I think the same applies 00:24:10.659 --> 00:24:11.959 to holiness or weakness. 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.599 The gift of the Spirit 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.679 here in 1 Corinthians 2 00:24:14.679 --> 00:24:15.519 doesn't mean that we all 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.559 instantly know everything 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.460 that we need to know 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.879 or that we're all as godly 00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:19.720 as we need to be. 00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:22.599 We haven't been totally liberated 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.599 from the battle with sin, 00:24:23.659 --> 00:24:23.919 have we? 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.579 The Spirit is fully ours, 00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:26.359 but is engaged 00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:27.559 in a lifelong battle 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.899 with our sinfulness. 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.960 So much so that the battle 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:33.279 that we have to be patient 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.539 or to be humble 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.599 or to be thoughtful 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.119 to others 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:37.700 or to be hungry 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.599 for more of the Lord, 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.359 that battle is won for us 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:41.519 in prayer, 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.319 not in nagging. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:44.679 It means that 00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:46.200 when we talk to one another 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.899 about those things, 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.839 we talk to one another 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.659 prayerfully, 00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.220 knowing that actually 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.759 it's the Lord by His Spirit 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.779 bringing the gospel 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.539 that will change 00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.700 and transform us, 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.220 not my nagging. 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.399 The book of James says, 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:00.679 doesn't it, 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.460 that your anger 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.299 achieves nothing 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:04.339 because it's God 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.460 by His Spirit 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.819 that achieves things 00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.599 in our lives. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.579 Final implication then, 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.480 and this is the big one 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.480 that I want us to see. 00:25:12.939 --> 00:25:13.679 God's blessing 00:25:13.679 --> 00:25:15.899 is what success looks like. 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.720 God's blessing 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.500 is what success looks like. 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.439 This is where we started, 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:19.819 isn't it? 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.699 But hopefully you can see 00:25:20.699 --> 00:25:21.919 it a bit more clearly now. 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:23.639 That it is possible, 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.000 isn't it, 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.960 for us as a church 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:27.279 to have lots of people coming 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.299 but still to be 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:28.960 a total failure. 00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:31.039 It's possible for us 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.599 as a church 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:33.579 to have a youth work 00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.679 that's bursting at the seams, 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.500 a toddler group 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.259 that's oversubscribed 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.419 and for us still 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:39.279 to be failing as a church. 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.139 Why? 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:44.059 Well, because what we really need 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:44.859 as a church 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:46.759 is a work of the Spirit 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:48.119 in the lives of people 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:49.559 bringing them to know 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.639 and love and trust Jesus 00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:52.619 and empowering them 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:53.299 to live for Him. 00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:54.839 And without that, 00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:56.019 we can't do anything 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.779 worth doing. 00:25:58.460 --> 00:26:00.059 See, here's the hard truth 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.639 for all of us 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:02.359 and I think it's hard for me 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.539 but it's hard for all of us 00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:03.899 this morning. 00:26:04.199 --> 00:26:05.319 There is nothing 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.460 that any of us 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.519 in this room can do 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.779 to revitalize 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.699 the ministry of the gospel 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:11.140 at West Kilburn Baptist Church. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.600 You know, 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.000 we might be able 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.700 to do a few things 00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.799 to see more people coming. 00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:16.960 We might even see 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:18.000 lots more people coming 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.620 and it might not be wrong 00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.319 to do those things. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.319 They might be good things to do. 00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.180 Perhaps we should do 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.720 some of them 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:24.460 but they won't on their own 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.640 revitalize the ministry 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.240 of the church 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.940 because only a movement 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.799 of the Spirit 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:30.319 will do that. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.500 Only a movement 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.100 of the Spirit 00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:34.220 in the lives of unbelievers 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:35.080 bringing them to faith 00:26:35.080 --> 00:26:35.559 in Christ 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.700 and in our lives 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.640 making us conscious 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.779 of our need of the Lord. 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:41.980 Let me say 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:43.279 just really practically 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.100 how this lands. 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.019 It's why really 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.559 the only thing I've changed 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:48.559 other than the big TV 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:50.920 is the Wednesday night 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.600 prayer meeting. 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:54.100 I've split the Zoom part 00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:55.660 away from the in-person part 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:57.100 as Ray was explaining earlier 00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:58.460 with the hope of just trying 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.120 to make them both 00:26:59.120 --> 00:26:59.980 a little bit better. 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.500 Why would I do that? 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.140 Well, because I am 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:05.340 absolutely convinced 00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:06.360 from 1 Corinthians 2 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:07.039 and from the rest 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.579 of the Scriptures 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:09.339 that actually 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:11.319 it's only God's blessing 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:13.059 that can revitalize 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.180 the ministry of the church 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:16.299 and we need to ask him for it. 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.740 We need to come 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:19.180 and pray 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:20.759 and ask for his blessing. 00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:22.619 So my hope is 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.940 that if you can come 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.500 in person 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:26.139 on a Wednesday night 00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:27.899 please come 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:29.259 pray with us. 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.319 In-person is best 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.480 for all sorts of reasons. 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:34.720 I can explain this 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.279 to you later. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.380 The incarnation 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.680 happened in person, yeah? 00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:39.420 It wasn't live-streamed. 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.759 Coming in person 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.400 is best. 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.039 But if you can't 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.700 attend in person 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.860 maybe there's all sorts 00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.400 of reasons for that. 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.200 Maybe you're housebound 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.799 maybe getting out 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.140 in the evening 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.819 is too difficult. 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.279 Perhaps you're working away. 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.539 Then come on Zoom 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.579 and pray with us there. 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:53.579 Because success 00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.480 for us as a church 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:56.380 is this and only this. 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.519 Relying on 00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.839 and experiencing 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:01.859 the regenerating power 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.419 of the Spirit 00:28:02.419 --> 00:28:03.339 amongst us. 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:05.419 We can't do that 00:28:05.419 --> 00:28:06.079 for ourselves 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:08.179 but we can ask God 00:28:08.179 --> 00:28:09.299 to do it for us. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.879 And wonderfully 00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:12.439 he delights 00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:13.419 to answer that prayer. 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.480 Let me pray. 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.599 Heavenly Father 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:28.679 we come before you 00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.220 this morning 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:30.700 and ask for your blessing. 00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.720 Knowing that there's 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.259 nothing in us 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.160 that deserves it 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.940 but knowing that 00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.480 without it 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.539 we can do nothing. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.620 We long Lord 00:28:38.620 --> 00:28:40.060 that you might bless us 00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:41.259 with the power 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.860 of the Spirit 00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:43.740 opening eyes 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.480 and hearts 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.920 to trust in the Lord Jesus 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:48.500 and moving us 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:50.080 to apply the gospel 00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:50.779 to our lives 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.460 more thoroughly 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.500 even in the dark 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.680 corners of our hearts 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.900 that our lives 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:55.759 would only be 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:57.000 explained 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.460 by us living 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.400 for the Lord Jesus. 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.519 Please do this work 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.480 amongst us 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:04.180 for your glory's sake 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.660 and help us 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.680 in the weeks 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.079 months 00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:08.079 and years to come 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.960 to be faithful 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:10.039 in asking you 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.819 for this blessing. 00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.599 We long 00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.640 to be successful 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.359 as a church 00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:15.319 in the genuine 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.279 sense of that 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:17.619 to be a place 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.019 where 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:19.460 your Spirit 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.599 is experienced 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:21.639 in bringing 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.219 power 00:29:22.219 --> 00:29:23.399 and transformation 00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:24.419 to our lives. 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:25.799 And so we ask 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.279 for that 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:27.359 in Jesus' name. 00:29:28.179 --> 00:29:28.559 Amen.