WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:08.660 Let's pray together, and will you join me as we pray for our city and ourselves this 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:08.859 morning? 00:00:08.939 --> 00:00:09.339 Let's pray. 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:16.379 Heavenly Father, great and glorious God, what a privilege it is to worship you this morning, 00:00:16.940 --> 00:00:22.039 to align our hearts to truth, and to declare your wonder and your praises. 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:24.980 Father, you are the one true and everlasting God. 00:00:25.580 --> 00:00:28.839 You are the creator of all that exists in heaven and on earth. 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:34.859 Everything that is visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, rulers or authorities, 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:37.920 all things were created through you and for you. 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:43.000 And we've come to declare that truth this morning, to remind our hearts of it, to be washed in 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:44.280 your goodness and your grace. 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:49.740 Father God, thank you for the truth contained in your scriptures, that those of us in Christ, 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:53.219 that our sins are like scarlet, you wash us white as new. 00:00:53.980 --> 00:00:57.719 That our sin is red as crimson, you, God, wash us whiter than will. 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:02.820 God, in that place, in that we place our hope and our confidence. 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:07.780 It is on this truth that we stand, in that confidence we come before your throne to pray 00:01:07.780 --> 00:01:10.579 and to worship and to honor you this morning. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:15.319 Father God, this morning we pray for the families in Hong Kong. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:19.239 We know, God, that so many families in our city are hurting, God. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:21.039 Marriages are taking strain. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:24.560 Parents are under pressure to give their kids the very best they can. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:28.159 Kids feel the pressure to perform from such a young age. 00:01:28.820 --> 00:01:33.960 God, we bring this area of our city's life before you and we ask for the redeeming power 00:01:33.960 --> 00:01:35.219 of the gospel to be at work. 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:39.020 Lord, we pray for our own marriages and our own parenting. 00:01:39.820 --> 00:01:44.079 That though, God, we are still sinners, will you let the gospel shape our hearts, God? 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:48.060 That we will be better husbands and wives, better mothers and fathers. 00:01:48.060 --> 00:01:53.600 Father, we pray too that as followers of Jesus, we will be salt and light in this area in Hong Kong. 00:01:54.299 --> 00:01:59.320 Help us to know how to come alongside and encourage and strengthen those whose lives are struggling. 00:02:00.340 --> 00:02:05.620 Father, we pray especially for your amazing anointing to rest upon Kristen and Sylvie this week 00:02:05.620 --> 00:02:07.159 as they start the parenting course. 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:11.699 God, may your truth ring out with power and transform our parenting. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:13.719 May we see it for what it is. 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:16.319 May we see what it is that you've called us to. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:21.259 May we know what it means and what it looks like to shape and guide our children's hearts, God, 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:22.219 not just their behavior. 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:23.379 Help us, we pray. 00:02:25.379 --> 00:02:30.099 Father, this morning we want to pray for the Bridge Church, for Eric and Justine. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:33.959 We pray for your special anointing and grace to rest upon them. 00:02:35.079 --> 00:02:37.219 We ask, Lord, that you anoint their ministry there. 00:02:37.539 --> 00:02:40.439 Pray for Eric's preaching, for him to preach with power and authority. 00:02:41.419 --> 00:02:43.139 Pray for their leading of the bridge, God. 00:02:43.139 --> 00:02:49.079 We ask, God, that you blow the wind of the Spirit through the church and cause men and women to love you freshly, 00:02:49.979 --> 00:02:52.959 to see their need for the gospel, to confess sin and run to you. 00:02:53.899 --> 00:02:59.019 We pray, God, for a wave of gospel renewal to take place as your word is opened and taught at the Bridge, Lord. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:03.159 And finally, Lord, we pray for ourselves as well. 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:06.280 Oh, God, come and let the Spirit breathe upon us, God. 00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:09.680 Cause new spiritual life to take place in our own hearts. 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:14.319 Lord, we confess that often our hearts grow cold and hard towards you. 00:03:15.079 --> 00:03:17.139 Oh, God, come and revive our hearts, we pray. 00:03:18.079 --> 00:03:19.960 Open our spiritual eyes to see you. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:24.019 Father, we pray that you will awaken our hearts to you again 00:03:24.019 --> 00:03:27.780 and cause spiritual life and power to change us and empower us for mission. 00:03:28.519 --> 00:03:30.680 May we be great ambassadors in our city. 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:32.560 May we be salt and light. 00:03:32.900 --> 00:03:36.800 May we take the word of the gospel to our city because you, God, have taken a hold of us. 00:03:37.580 --> 00:03:39.319 Come and do this in our midst, we pray. 00:03:39.920 --> 00:03:41.840 In your wonderful name, amen. 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:43.140 Amen. 00:03:43.760 --> 00:03:44.020 Great. 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:46.260 Jefferson's going to come and read God's word to us. 00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:48.420 And so let's listen to that. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:00.360 The scripture reading comes from Ezekiel chapter 37. 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:03.520 Please follow along in your bulletins or on the screen. 00:04:04.740 --> 00:04:12.159 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley. 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:16.139 It was full of bones, and he led me around them. 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:20.199 And behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley. 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:23.879 And behold, they were very dry. 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:28.459 And he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.560 And I answered, O Lord God, you know. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:41.660 Then he said to me, prophesy over these bones and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:50.319 Thus says the Lord God to these bones, behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:05:03.060 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:06.879 So I prophesied, as I was commanded. 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:11.899 And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling. 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:15.780 And the bones came together, bone to its bone. 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:25.699 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:28.060 But there was no breath in them. 00:05:28.060 --> 00:05:44.519 Then he said to me, prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, thus says the Lord God, come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live. 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:54.959 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and a breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:06:01.219 Then he said to me, son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. 00:06:01.979 --> 00:06:06.519 Behold, they say, our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:08.479 We are indeed cut off. 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:20.120 Therefore prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God, behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:29.759 And I will bring you into the land of Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from the graves, O my people. 00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:36.780 And I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. 00:06:37.459 --> 00:06:39.379 Then you shall know that I am the Lord. 00:06:39.780 --> 00:06:42.860 I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord. 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:44.500 This is the word of God. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:45.819 All right. 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:46.680 Thank you, Jefferson. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:47.079 Great. 00:06:49.379 --> 00:06:55.000 Well, if you're new here this morning, my name is Kevin, and wonderful to bring God's word to us. 00:06:55.699 --> 00:07:00.960 If you are not new, you will know that as a church, we've been working our way through Matthew's gospel. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:09.100 And when we got to the Sermon on the Mount, we got to the part where Jesus talks about his followers being like salt and light, 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:13.000 that he sends out into the world as his representatives. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:20.819 And when we got there, we decided to pause there for a couple of weeks and to consider this theme of mission and evangelism. 00:07:21.019 --> 00:07:26.120 What does it mean to be Christ's ambassadors, Christ's representatives in the world? 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:35.980 And so two weeks ago, Chris spoke from Matthew chapter 9 and 10, how Jesus says he's like the shepherd that sees the people that are like lost sheep, 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:37.360 and his heart breaks them. 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:43.000 And so he sends his disciples out and says, go and call back these people that don't know me any longer. 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:51.819 And then last week, we looked from 2 Corinthians 5 at how God sends us out as his ambassadors to speak his message on his behalf. 00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:57.839 And it talks about how we implore those that don't know Christ, be reconciled to God. 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:02.579 And so we are working our way through and considering this theme. 00:08:02.579 --> 00:08:09.420 Now today, we get to our final passage of Scripture in this sub-theme on what does it mean to be salt and light into our city. 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:13.180 And then next week, we're going to pick up again in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:15.980 and Justin Ma is going to be preaching next Sunday. 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:18.000 And so we're looking forward to that. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:21.360 So today, we get to Ezekiel chapter 37. 00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:29.019 And the context of the passage is in Ezekiel is about how the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, have lost their way. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:33.379 They have walked away from God in their rebellion and their sin. 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.179 And the consequence is that things are not going well for Israel. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:41.000 Just like Adam and Eve, they are cut off from God. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:50.080 Life has become difficult, and the ramifications for their sin and their rebellion are playing out in the whole nation, in every area of life. 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:53.899 And so that's what most of the book of Ezekiel is about. 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:56.039 But God has not abandoned them. 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:57.440 He has not forgotten them. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:03.460 And so in his grace and his mercy, he reaches out to them and he calls them back to himself. 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:06.179 And he promises to restore them. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.759 But it's not a simplistic restoration. 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:14.259 He's not just restoring their religious observation or their religious duties. 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:17.279 It's nothing short of an entire makeover. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:20.179 God has got to revolutionize their hearts. 00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:27.559 And it's a restoration that will include them coming back from slavery to the land, the promised land. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:32.419 It is a restoration that includes justice and righteousness in the nation. 00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:39.819 And in short, God promises to restore them in a way that will touch every area of national life. 00:09:40.439 --> 00:09:47.279 Politically, economically, socially, justice-wise, spiritually, relationally. 00:09:47.339 --> 00:09:51.179 Every area of life is going to be touched as God moves in on them. 00:09:51.719 --> 00:09:53.620 And what is God's motivation for this? 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:59.500 Well, he tells us throughout the book of Ezekiel, but in chapter 36, the one just before, God says, 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:02.759 I will take your heart of stone and I will give you a new heart. 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:04.200 I will give you a heart of flesh. 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:06.620 And then he says this. 00:10:06.700 --> 00:10:13.820 He says, I will do this not just for your sake, O Israel, that I'm about to act, but for the sake of my name, says God. 00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:18.740 Because you have profaned it and I will vindicate it for my own glory, says God. 00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:24.180 And so God promises this complete revival and making new his people. 00:10:24.280 --> 00:10:30.260 And he ends off with chapter 36 saying, and then all the earth will know that I am God. 00:10:31.020 --> 00:10:34.040 And that brings us to chapter 37, our passage today. 00:10:34.640 --> 00:10:40.980 Now, as we look at this passage through the lens of the gospel in our own hearts and mission evangelism, 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:42.220 we're going to see four things. 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:45.740 We're going to see what does this passage tell us about our own hearts? 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:48.800 What does it tell us as we seek to be missionaries into our city? 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:51.840 What hope does it give us for our own hearts? 00:10:51.920 --> 00:10:56.480 And what hope does it give us as we try to take this message out into the city? 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:03.100 So we're going to look at this passage through these two lenses, our own lives and this call of God to be his ambassadors into the city. 00:11:03.180 --> 00:11:06.180 And we're going to constantly interchange between these two applications. 00:11:06.420 --> 00:11:07.200 Does that make sense? 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:08.139 Okay. 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:10.279 So let's dive in. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:13.860 The first thing we're going to look at is a hopeless situation. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:15.659 A hopeless situation. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:17.939 Look at this passage, how it starts off. 00:11:18.699 --> 00:11:20.579 Ezekiel gets a vision from God. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:23.339 And in this vision, God takes him to a valley. 00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:27.019 And it's a plain valley. 00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:32.360 But it's not a beautiful scenic valley between, you know, snow-capped mountains. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:33.819 It's a horrific sight. 00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:41.059 Because in front of Ezekiel, he sees this valley is filled, covered with human skeletons. 00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:45.639 And God takes Ezekiel down into this valley to walk amongst them. 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:49.100 And two things grab Ezekiel's attention straight away. 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:53.759 The first one is that there are not just a few bones scattered here and there. 00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:56.059 The valley is completely covered with them. 00:11:56.059 --> 00:11:56.819 Look at verse 2. 00:11:56.979 --> 00:11:57.239 It says, 00:11:57.579 --> 00:12:02.659 He led me amongst them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley. 00:12:03.119 --> 00:12:04.079 Everywhere he looks. 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:11.719 This isn't just, you know, an animal that died in the wilderness or some unfortunate man that ran out of water in the desert. 00:12:12.199 --> 00:12:15.899 This is millions of people and their remains. 00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:18.919 The valley is completely covered with these skeletons. 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:23.279 The second thing you notice is how exceedingly dry they are. 00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:26.099 These are not the bones of someone that's recently died. 00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:28.539 They are bleached white by the sun. 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:34.059 There is not a single remnant of life or sinew or meat that's left on them. 00:12:34.439 --> 00:12:37.939 The vultures and the scavengers have licked these bones dry. 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:40.899 And these bones have been here for a long time. 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:47.559 They have been bleached dry by the sun, and there is no hint of any life left on them. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.059 They are bone dry, as it were. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:50.939 Excuse the pun. 00:12:51.959 --> 00:12:59.379 Now, this may seem like a strange vision to us, but as you read the book of Ezekiel, you'll actually know exactly what's going on. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:01.659 And Ezekiel knows exactly what's going on. 00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:06.620 This is the nation of Israel, and it's a picture of Israel's condition. 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.919 This is how God sees them. 00:13:09.579 --> 00:13:11.139 Now, this is not how they see themselves. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.659 They think of themselves as doing quite all right. 00:13:14.839 --> 00:13:16.120 I mean, they're not perfect. 00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:17.860 They know they've sinned a bit. 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:20.539 I guess they could have been a little more committed. 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:22.279 They're in exile. 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:27.500 But they think of themselves as we're not all that bad, especially compared to the nations around us. 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:29.159 I mean, those guys are really bad. 00:13:29.459 --> 00:13:31.539 We're not perfect, but not as bad as them. 00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:34.439 And they go to the temple every now and then. 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:35.759 They offer some sacrifices. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.500 They maybe lead a CG. 00:13:37.839 --> 00:13:39.240 They serve in the kids' ministry. 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:44.019 They bring their offering to God, except it's a false security. 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:48.360 Because when God looks at their condition, this is how He sees them. 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:51.879 When God looks at their heart, they're not just a little bit off color. 00:13:52.579 --> 00:13:55.199 They haven't just lost their way or a little bit under the weather. 00:13:55.620 --> 00:14:01.539 When God looks at the state of their heart, He sees that they are spiritually dead. 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:03.539 He's dead. 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:10.419 And friends, the Bible tells us that this isn't only the condition of Israel 600 BC. 00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:13.339 This is in fact the condition of humanity. 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:15.379 This is all of our condition. 00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:20.179 The natural state of human beings is that we are spiritually dead to God. 00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:23.039 And that includes yourself and includes myself. 00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:24.279 That's all of us. 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:26.379 It's the very best human being you can think of. 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:28.759 The very worst human being you can think of. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:38.339 In our natural state, apart from God working in us, our natural spiritual condition is that we are dead to the God who made us for relationship with Him. 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:41.500 Now, what does this mean to be dead to God? 00:14:41.579 --> 00:14:42.740 Well, it means a couple of things. 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:48.740 The first thing is what theologians describe our state as being totally depraved. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:52.700 And what that means is that as humans, we are not as bad as we could be. 00:14:53.139 --> 00:15:00.240 But what it means is that every area of our lives has been affected by the pollution and the infection of sin. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:07.759 There is not an area of our lives or our consciousness or our humanity that is not affected or tainted by the brokenness of sin. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:18.220 You think of the way we approach relationships, our sexuality, our work, our careers, our leisure, our friendships, even the way we approach religion. 00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:21.759 All of these are affected and tainted and damaged by sin. 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:25.759 All of life is affected by our sinfulness. 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:29.379 Secondly, it means that there is no spiritual good inside of us. 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:33.220 And that is, there is no good in relation to God in our natural state. 00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:39.179 There is nothing inside of us that we can point to or rely on that will help us draw closer to God. 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:42.220 Now, that doesn't mean that human beings can't do anything good. 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.519 Of course, we can. 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:46.299 Even people that don't believe in God can do good. 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:48.960 You can raise money for the poor and serve in shelters. 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:50.360 You can do good things. 00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:58.019 But what it means is there is nothing fundamentally inside of us that makes us turn away from the love of self towards the love of God. 00:15:58.019 --> 00:16:04.919 And then the third thing that it means is that it means we are utterly unable to save and rescue ourselves. 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:07.240 Think of somebody that is dead. 00:16:07.439 --> 00:16:09.419 Can they take themselves to the hospital? 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:13.699 Can they administer CPR on themselves or phone 911? 00:16:14.199 --> 00:16:15.639 I need an ambulance quickly. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.679 I'm already dead. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:22.639 No, someone that's dead is completely at the mercy of some great physician. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:26.840 If you're dead, you cannot save or rescue yourself. 00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:28.879 You cannot take yourself to the emergency room. 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:30.960 And that's true of all of us spiritually. 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:34.519 There's nothing inside of us that we can do to rescue ourselves. 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:39.620 We cannot go on some pilgrimage or raise some money or give a donation to the poor. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.819 Sometimes people come to me and they say, 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:47.060 I really want to get closer to God, but let me just work on myself spiritually. 00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:50.480 And then when I'm feeling closer to God, then I'll come back to church. 00:16:51.020 --> 00:16:52.320 Or sometimes people say to me, 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:54.760 Kevin, I want to do this Christianity thing. 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.840 Let me just work on me. 00:16:56.020 --> 00:17:01.020 Let me just get a bit better, remove some sin, improve my life, 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.980 and then I'll come and receive God's grace. 00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:04.019 No, you can't do that. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:10.279 There's nothing we can do, nothing inside ourselves that draws us closer to God. 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:13.460 We need to be revived before we can draw near. 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:16.940 Think of how Paul writes about this in the New Testament. 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:18.180 In 1 Corinthians, he says, 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:21.700 No one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:25.379 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God. 00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:27.059 They are foolishness to him. 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.559 He cannot understand them. 00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:30.139 They are spiritually discerned. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:32.259 Or Romans chapter 8, Paul says, 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:35.579 The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God. 00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:37.759 It does not submit to God's laws. 00:17:37.879 --> 00:17:38.720 Indeed, it cannot. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:42.519 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:48.360 And the reason why this is the case is actually given to us in the passage. 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:51.579 Because think about, before we get there, think about in Hong Kong, 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.900 what do we love to do? 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:56.680 Or what do we do for our family members that have passed away? 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:59.279 What do we do at their burial sites? 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.400 We go and sweep them. 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.539 We go and clean them up. 00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:04.480 Every now and then we take flowers. 00:18:04.600 --> 00:18:05.839 We make sure they're well arranged. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:09.159 And we look after the burial sites of our ancestors. 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:09.619 Don't we? 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.579 Well, in the ancient Near East culture, 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:18.539 the burial of the dead was even more important to them than it is to us in modern day Hong Kong. 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:22.980 And the reason is not just for the grieving family members behind, 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:27.480 but for the person that had passed away, a decent burial was very important. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:31.420 Because it symbolized that they would get peace in the afterlife. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.940 If somebody was left unburied or just left to the elements and to the animals, 00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:40.079 it was the sign of an ultimate insult, the ultimate curse. 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:44.380 It was a sign that everlasting suffering into the afterlife. 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:46.520 What's happening here? 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:50.240 As Ezekiel walks amongst these bones, God's sending a message. 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:53.660 He's telling us that these bones are the remains of somebody, 00:18:53.760 --> 00:18:57.360 not just that died in battle or not just that died in famine. 00:18:57.820 --> 00:19:00.760 The reason these bones are here is because of some curse, 00:19:01.300 --> 00:19:03.580 is because of divine judgment. 00:19:04.340 --> 00:19:06.800 And friends, that's what the Bible tells us is our problem. 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:11.580 The result of our sin and our rebellion against God is not just that life is difficult, 00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:14.019 is that we are under a divine judgment. 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:17.199 And the result is that we are left spiritually dead. 00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:22.639 Dead to God, dead to ourselves, dead to the life that God created us for, 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:26.279 and we have no hope of saving or rescuing ourselves. 00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:30.099 Ephesians chapter 2 puts it like this. 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.099 He says, 00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:36.399 As for you, as for me, we were dead in our trespasses and our sins, 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:39.839 in which we once walked, following the curse of this world, 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:42.899 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, 00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:45.079 carrying out the desires of the body, 00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:49.220 and being by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. 00:19:50.439 --> 00:19:52.679 Our situation is hopeless. 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:56.939 Second point is an impossible assignment. 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:59.019 Now let's think about this. 00:19:59.399 --> 00:20:01.699 Jesus comes to us and he says, 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:05.240 outside of Christ, people are spiritually dead, 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:07.079 unable to save themselves, 00:20:07.199 --> 00:20:08.619 unable to rescue themselves, 00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:11.839 and now I want you, Watermark, 00:20:11.959 --> 00:20:14.899 to go as my ambassadors and to speak to them 00:20:14.899 --> 00:20:17.219 and to tell them the wonderful message of Jesus. 00:20:17.719 --> 00:20:21.000 Go into all the world and baptizing them, 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.799 in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 00:20:23.199 --> 00:20:25.899 teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you. 00:20:26.379 --> 00:20:28.299 Jesus sends us out as his ambassadors, 00:20:28.479 --> 00:20:29.239 his representatives, 00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.139 and he says, 00:20:30.479 --> 00:20:33.039 go and take my message and tell people to respond. 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.879 Now here's the question. 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:41.180 How well do dead people respond to messages or instructions? 00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.480 I don't know about you, 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:45.619 but I don't think they respond very well. 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:49.379 If I were to die here on stage right now, 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.960 what would happen? 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:53.759 Well, I hope somebody would call an ambulance. 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:57.519 I hope somebody would try CPR, 00:20:57.659 --> 00:20:58.960 would take me up to Queen Mary. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.539 Claire might run up and say, 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.980 please don't die on me now, 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.980 or something like that. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.960 But I'll tell you what you probably wouldn't do. 00:21:06.340 --> 00:21:07.900 You probably wouldn't come and say, 00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:11.380 Kevin, now this is not a very convenient time to die on us. 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.960 You're in the middle of your sermon. 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.720 I want you to go to the bathroom, 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.700 wash your face, 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.740 sort yourself out, 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.600 and then come back here. 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.559 We're all waiting for you. 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.420 Why wouldn't you say that? 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:23.299 Because dead people don't listen to instructions, 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:23.819 right? 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:27.000 Well, why not? 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.639 Because when we're dead, 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.899 that's how it works. 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.799 Well, friends, in many ways, 00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:35.419 what this means is that the tasks of mission and evangelism 00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:36.559 is an impossible one. 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.480 Jesus sends us out and says, 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:40.839 go and take my message to people 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:43.700 who are spiritually dead and unable to hear 00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:45.000 the word of the gospel. 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:47.659 In many ways, Jesus is sending us out 00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:50.139 and he's asking us to preach to a graveyard. 00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:52.460 Imagine you go to a graveyard 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:55.360 and standing in front of you are tombstones 00:21:55.360 --> 00:21:56.500 and you say, right, 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:58.820 this morning's message comes from Matthew chapter 4. 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:01.060 And Jesus says, follow me 00:22:01.060 --> 00:22:02.940 and I will make you fishers of men. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:04.280 Now, who would like to respond? 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:06.000 Just raise your hand, anybody here, 00:22:06.060 --> 00:22:07.440 and I'll love to pray for you. 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.900 It's not going to happen. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.540 It's not going to happen. 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.500 And Ezekiel knows this. 00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:14.520 Look at what he says in verse 3. 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:16.259 God asks him a question 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.420 and he says, Ezekiel, 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:19.240 can these bones live? 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:22.160 And Ezekiel answers very cleverly. 00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:25.180 He says, oh God, you alone know. 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:27.420 Which is kind of his way of saying, 00:22:28.060 --> 00:22:29.400 God, it's impossible, 00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:31.519 but because you are God, 00:22:31.580 --> 00:22:32.820 I'm not going to say it's impossible, 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:35.019 so I'm just going to sit on the fence. 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:36.600 And so he says, God, I don't know. 00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:38.460 You alone know these things. 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:41.539 And then God gives him an impossible assignment 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:44.220 because he asks him to speak to the dead bones 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:46.580 and to tell them to live. 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:49.380 An impossible assignment. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.180 Point number three. 00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:53.080 Our only hope. 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:55.380 Now, let's look at what happens here. 00:22:56.080 --> 00:22:58.420 God tells Ezekiel to do this ridiculous thing. 00:22:58.539 --> 00:23:00.420 He tells him to speak to the dead bones. 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:03.019 But he tells him not just to say anything. 00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:05.380 He says, speak my word. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.120 Look what he says here. 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:07.840 He says, prophesy over these bones. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:11.180 Now, to prophesy isn't to tell the future. 00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:14.200 To prophesy is to speak God's word 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.880 or to speak on behalf of God, 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.819 God's message using your own words. 00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:20.180 And so God says, Ezekiel prophesy, 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:24.000 speak my message on behalf of me to these dead bones. 00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:25.600 And so look at what Ezekiel does. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.120 Verse four. 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.519 He says, oh, dry bones, 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.700 hear the word of the Lord. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.519 Just by the way, 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:33.279 that's one of the reasons why as a church, 00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:35.200 we preach through books of the Bible. 00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:36.680 We preach expositionally. 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:39.320 Because our job is to bring God's word, 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.360 not my word. 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:41.380 You don't want to hear my word. 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.560 That doesn't do anything. 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:45.360 Who cares what Kevin or Chris' opinion is? 00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:46.920 We want to bring God's word 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:48.380 because God's word breathes life. 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.700 And so Ezekiel says, 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.920 hear the word of the Lord. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.940 This is what the Lord says. 00:23:53.060 --> 00:23:55.700 Behold, I will cause my breath to enter into you 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:57.019 and you shall live. 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:58.460 I will lay sinews upon you 00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:00.080 and cause flesh to come upon you 00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:02.980 and I will cover you with skin 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:04.340 and I'll put breath into you 00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:05.060 and you shall live. 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:06.779 And you will know that I am the Lord. 00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:08.960 Now, just on a side note, 00:24:09.419 --> 00:24:10.159 in Hebrew, 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.299 as far as I understand, 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.639 the word for breath 00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:14.859 and the word for spirit 00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:16.039 as in God's Holy Spirit 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:16.940 is the same word. 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.960 It's the word ruah. 00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.319 And so in a sense, 00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:20.480 there's a play on words here. 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:20.940 God says, 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.460 I will put my breath in you 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.480 but at the same time, 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:23.700 he's saying, 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:25.519 I'll put my Holy Spirit in you. 00:24:25.639 --> 00:24:27.859 I'll put my spirit which causes life. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.159 And so Ezekiel, 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:29.879 look what he does. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.480 Verse seven. 00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:30.859 He says, 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.919 so I prophesied as God commanded me. 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.359 And what happens? 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:36.919 As I spoke God's word 00:24:36.919 --> 00:24:38.019 to these lifeless bones, 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:39.039 there was a sound 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.279 and behold, 00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:41.179 there was a rattling 00:24:41.179 --> 00:24:43.399 and the bones came together, 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.539 bone to its bone. 00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.279 And as I looked, 00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:46.559 there were sinews on them 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:48.379 and flesh had come upon them 00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:49.659 and skin covered them. 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:51.440 As these bones come together 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:53.359 and a body starts to form 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:54.460 and sinew and muscle 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.619 and flesh and skin 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:57.279 and suddenly they start to look 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.579 like a great army 00:24:58.579 --> 00:25:00.259 but there's still something missing. 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:01.659 Verse eight. 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:03.680 There was still no breath, 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.160 no spirit inside of them. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.600 There's no life in them. 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.900 They may look like human beings, 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.980 they may look like an army 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.279 but they're just corpses. 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.060 There's nothing there. 00:25:11.860 --> 00:25:12.800 Then God said to me, 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:14.180 prophesy to the breath, 00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:14.759 to the spirit 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.900 and so I prophesied 00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.580 as he commanded 00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:18.540 and the breath came into them 00:25:18.540 --> 00:25:19.120 and they lived 00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:20.259 and they stood on their feet 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:22.279 an exceedingly great army. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.500 And friends, 00:25:23.860 --> 00:25:25.320 this actually is a picture 00:25:25.320 --> 00:25:27.000 of the essence of salvation. 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:28.740 This is what it means 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.619 to be a Christian. 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.539 This is, 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.779 to be a Christian 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:33.339 is to have new spiritual life 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.799 breathed into our hearts 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.599 and our souls, 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:37.079 into our spiritual being 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:39.099 such that where we were once dead 00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:40.799 we are now given new life. 00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:41.960 To be a Christian 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.680 is not somebody 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:44.579 who intellectually agrees 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.480 with the world view 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:47.500 or even intellectually agrees 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.740 with everything that's in the Bible, 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:50.039 though it is true. 00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.579 Serving God 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.759 and being involved in ministry 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.880 or leading a CG 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:55.359 or serving in the kids ministry, 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.680 that doesn't make you a Christian. 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.680 Friends, 00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.380 a Christian is someone 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.519 who's been saved, 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.420 who's been converted, 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.960 who's had spiritual life 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.299 implanted into their souls 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.720 so that their dead spirit 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.779 is now made alive 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:07.460 and they are now a new creation 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:09.099 as we heard last week. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.559 Someone who was once 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:12.140 unable to reach out to God 00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:13.119 and love and serve Him 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.519 is now, 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:15.160 his heart has been made new 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:17.500 because God breathes 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.359 His Spirit upon them. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.099 There's a wonderful story 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:21.400 of a man by the name 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.519 of William Haslam 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:23.640 in England 00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:24.940 in the 1850s. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.259 And William Haslam, 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.259 I think we've got a picture of him, 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.660 Uncle Will, 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:30.339 was a preacher. 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.420 He was a pastor 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:33.779 and he lived in the town 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.559 of Cornwall 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.319 in England 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.339 in the 1850s. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.759 But even though 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.460 he was a pastor, 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:40.039 he actually wasn't a Christian. 00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:41.619 He thought he was a Christian 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:43.059 but later on in life 00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:43.640 he realized 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.400 that he wasn't. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:47.000 And his heart was cold, 00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:48.079 his heart was hard 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.779 towards God 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.640 and towards others 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:52.200 and he was very judgmental 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.380 and everybody in the town 00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:53.799 knew it. 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.779 The whole town knew 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:56.519 Haslam was a hard, 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.600 judgmental man. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.259 But what happened was 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:01.840 one day his gardener 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:02.880 went to go 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:04.259 and visit another church 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.759 and he became a Christian. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:08.380 And his life changed. 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.400 His whole life changed. 00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.880 And then some people 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:12.299 in William Haslam's church 00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:13.480 went to go hear this preacher 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.620 and they got converted. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.340 And their lives got full 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:17.660 of life and joy 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:19.460 and William Haslam 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.700 saw something change 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.480 in his gardener. 00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:23.100 And he was very perplexed 00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:24.560 by it and challenged by it. 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:25.600 And he realized 00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:26.420 that his gardener 00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.100 now had something 00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:27.820 that he didn't. 00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:29.460 And so he went to go 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.640 see another pastor 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.360 on the outskirts 00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:32.420 of Cornwall town. 00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:35.340 And this pastor said to him, 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.660 if I was dying 00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.400 on my deathbed, 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:38.600 I wouldn't call for you 00:27:38.600 --> 00:27:39.800 for you are not converted. 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.279 And William Haslam 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.220 was greatly troubled. 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:44.040 And so the next Sunday morning 00:27:44.040 --> 00:27:45.700 at church, 00:27:45.800 --> 00:27:46.920 he didn't feel like preaching 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:48.279 and so he thought, 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:49.120 I will just read 00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:50.420 a few passages of scripture 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.400 from the New Testament. 00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:53.100 I will say a few kind words 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:54.420 and then I'll go home. 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:56.740 And so he stands up 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:58.460 and he reads from the gospel 00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.539 and he reads a passage 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.360 about how Jesus 00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:01.779 is speaking to the Pharisees. 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.960 And he says a few kind words 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.820 but he's not in the mood. 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:06.279 And while he's speaking, 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.259 while he's preaching, 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.600 he hears this voice 00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:09.259 in his own head. 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.900 And the voice says to him, 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:11.960 Haslam, 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:13.400 you don't believe 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.779 that Jesus can save you 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:16.060 just like the Pharisees. 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.140 And in that moment, 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.340 while he's preaching, 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.860 he says this. 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.120 Let me, 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:22.800 find it for me, 00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:23.000 sorry. 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.680 He says, 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.539 I do not remember 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:25.519 at all what I said 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:27.539 but I felt a wonderful light 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.120 and joy coming into my soul. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.759 And I was beginning to see 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.700 for the first time 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:33.420 what the Pharisees could not. 00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.860 And so he gets saved 00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.940 by his own message. 00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:37.220 While he's preaching, 00:28:37.320 --> 00:28:38.100 he gets converted, 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:39.120 he gets born again. 00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:40.400 But what happened was 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:42.080 the congregation saw it. 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.240 They saw something 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:44.420 changing inside of him. 00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:46.200 And there was a visiting preacher 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:47.620 in the congregation that day. 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:49.220 And so the preacher stands up 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:49.519 and says, 00:28:49.800 --> 00:28:51.180 the preacher's just got converted. 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.519 He's just got converted. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.060 Hallelujah. 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.539 And the whole church 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:56.440 breaks into outro and singing 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.620 and the meeting, 00:28:57.860 --> 00:28:59.220 there's an outro 00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.880 and things are not the same. 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.560 And what actually happened 00:29:02.560 --> 00:29:03.220 after that 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.900 is Haslam goes on 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:06.560 and there's a revival 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:07.680 that comes through Cornwall. 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:09.900 His whole life changed 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.860 and he started preaching 00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:11.500 the gospel 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.480 for the first time 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.779 and people were getting 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.559 saved everywhere. 00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:16.079 But the point is this. 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.539 The point is, friends, 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.400 you can be a preacher. 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.339 You can be an elder 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.440 in your previous church. 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:21.940 You can be an elder 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.460 in this church. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.180 You can be a CG leader. 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.700 You can serve in kids ministry. 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:27.740 You can be very involved 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.940 in doing Christian things 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.559 and still not be born again 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:32.160 because the Spirit of God 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:33.279 has not come upon you. 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.519 R.C. Sproul said it like this. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.799 God doesn't just throw 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.900 a life preserver 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:39.620 to a drowning man. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.160 He goes to the bottom 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.840 of the sea 00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:43.540 and he pulls a dead corpse 00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:44.680 from the bottom of the ocean. 00:29:45.080 --> 00:29:45.860 He lifts him up 00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.540 onto the bank 00:29:46.540 --> 00:29:47.880 and then he breathes 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:48.400 into him 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:49.740 the breath of life 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.860 and he makes him 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.580 a new person. 00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:53.820 And so Ephesians chapter 2, 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.440 we read it earlier, 00:29:54.540 --> 00:29:55.259 goes on like this. 00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:55.540 He says, 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.180 As for us, 00:29:56.560 --> 00:29:57.320 we were dead 00:29:57.320 --> 00:29:58.720 in our trespasses and sins. 00:29:59.320 --> 00:30:00.279 Any hope for us? 00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:01.540 No hope whatsoever 00:30:01.540 --> 00:30:02.440 but for God. 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.560 We were dead 00:30:03.560 --> 00:30:04.220 in our sins. 00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:05.300 No chance of living. 00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:07.100 But God, 00:30:07.820 --> 00:30:09.100 who is rich in mercy 00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:10.759 because of his great love 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.679 with which he loved us? 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:11.899 Friends, 00:30:11.939 --> 00:30:12.719 just think about that. 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.639 Why does God save us? 00:30:15.679 --> 00:30:15.799 Well, 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.059 Ezekiel 36 tells us 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:18.399 for the praise of his name, 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.339 for his own glory. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.559 But secondly, 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:22.879 because of the great love 00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:24.439 with which he loved us. 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.959 Because of God's 00:30:25.959 --> 00:30:26.740 incessant, 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:28.639 overarching love for us. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.099 When we were dead 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.779 in our sins, 00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:31.919 God made us alive 00:30:31.919 --> 00:30:32.759 together with Christ. 00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:34.579 And he raised us up with him 00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:36.059 and he seated us with him 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:37.059 in the heavenly places 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.359 in Christ Jesus. 00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.879 It is by grace 00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:40.879 that you have been saved. 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:42.379 Not through works. 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.639 This is not your own doing. 00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.879 It is a gift of God 00:30:44.879 --> 00:30:46.759 so that no one may boast. 00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:47.819 And so remember 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:49.159 in Matthew chapter 19, 00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.779 Jesus is talking 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.460 to his disciples 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.779 about the impossibility 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:54.000 of somebody getting saved 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.159 on their own works. 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.399 And the disciples say, 00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:56.759 Well, 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.919 then who can get saved? 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.399 And Jesus says, 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.299 With man, 00:31:00.399 --> 00:31:01.299 this is impossible. 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.319 But with God, 00:31:02.419 --> 00:31:03.480 all things are impossible. 00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.179 Ezekiel, 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:07.299 can these dry bones live? 00:31:08.679 --> 00:31:09.139 Friend, 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:11.059 can you get saved? 00:31:12.139 --> 00:31:12.759 With man, 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.659 this is impossible. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.419 But with God, 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:17.019 all things are possible. 00:31:17.659 --> 00:31:17.980 Friends, 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.839 the only hope 00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:19.759 that you and I have 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.599 of ever getting saved, 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.639 getting born again, 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.980 getting made new, 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:25.559 of having our sins forgiven, 00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:27.179 of having new life 00:31:27.179 --> 00:31:27.779 inside of us, 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.960 is if God comes 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:30.899 and performs divine CPR on us, 00:31:31.159 --> 00:31:31.839 if God comes 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:32.579 and breathes 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:33.740 the breath of his spirit 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.220 into us, 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:35.380 and causes us 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.839 to be made new again. 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:38.160 And that leads us 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:39.019 to our fourth point, 00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:40.980 which is our only confidence 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.860 in missions. 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:43.200 You see, 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.480 the last three weeks 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.240 we've been speaking 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.920 about how Jesus 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.720 sends us out 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:48.079 as salt and light. 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.319 Jesus sends us out 00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:50.220 as his ambassadors. 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:51.400 Jesus sends us out 00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:51.980 to go and call 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:53.680 the people that don't know him 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.539 to come and know him 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.440 and give them the hope 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.420 of the gospel. 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.980 And at first impression, 00:31:58.100 --> 00:31:58.759 we might ask, 00:31:59.200 --> 00:31:59.460 Well, 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.220 why speak? 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:02.180 If this is an impossible task, 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.200 why witness? 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:05.120 Why evangelize? 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.319 We cannot give 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.519 spiritual life to the dead. 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.640 What's the use 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.200 in preaching 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:10.039 to a graveyard? 00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:12.700 Except if God 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.700 does give life 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.240 to the dead. 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:14.980 Except, 00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:15.299 friends, 00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:16.319 if our only confidence 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.059 is that the God 00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.940 who sends us out 00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.740 as ambassadors 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:20.400 is the same God 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:21.220 who works miracles 00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:21.960 to give life 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.900 to the dead. 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.759 And the way 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.299 that he's chosen 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:24.940 to do that 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:26.340 is through the simplicity 00:32:26.340 --> 00:32:27.740 of preaching the gospel 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.839 and witnessing 00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:29.519 to the wonder 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.519 of who Jesus is. 00:32:31.120 --> 00:32:31.500 I remember 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.779 hearing a story 00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.500 a few years ago 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.079 of a man, 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.120 I think he was 00:32:35.120 --> 00:32:35.900 an American man, 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.099 that felt like God 00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:37.720 was calling him 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.400 to be a missionary 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:39.200 into Pakistan. 00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:40.319 Now, 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:41.059 if you know Pakistan, 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.140 it's one of the most 00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:43.039 hostile countries 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.599 in the world 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.180 for Christians 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:44.779 to live in. 00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.160 Christians are constantly 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:46.900 being killed 00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:47.640 and hung 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:50.180 and slaughtered. 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.220 And even more so 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.039 if they try and witness, 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:52.859 if they try and share 00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.920 the gospel with others, 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.759 you are writing 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.759 your own death sentence. 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:57.539 And so as this man 00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:58.680 spoke to his family 00:32:58.680 --> 00:32:59.299 and his friends, 00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:00.039 they're all saying, 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:02.579 why would you do that? 00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:03.819 Surely there are 00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:04.420 other places 00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:05.660 that are less hostile, 00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:06.619 less threatening, 00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.779 more accepting. 00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:09.059 Why not go somewhere else 00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:09.799 where they'll be more 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:10.900 receptive to the gospel? 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:12.859 And his answer was this, 00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:14.460 because it is God 00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.119 who gives life 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:15.740 to the dead. 00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.759 And if God has chosen 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.700 to give life to the dead, 00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:20.059 there is no one 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:21.099 and nothing 00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:22.299 that can stop 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:23.379 his plans. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.259 Friends, 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:25.019 you and I may look 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.879 at our circumstances 00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.700 and our friends 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.700 and you may think, 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:27.940 God, 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.980 they'll never become Christians. 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.279 They'll never admit 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:31.000 that their sin is 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.879 in need of God. 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.200 And to be honest, 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:34.460 I often think like that 00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.180 in my humanness. 00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.440 Sometimes I think, 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.000 oh God, 00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:38.339 that person's never 00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:39.139 going to believe it. 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.119 But friends, 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:41.139 at the heart of the gospel 00:33:41.139 --> 00:33:41.660 is the truth 00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.879 that God saves sinners. 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:43.980 Billy Graham 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:44.839 doesn't save anyone. 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:45.799 Tim Keller 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:46.639 doesn't save anyone. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.200 You and I 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:47.900 don't save anyone. 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.440 God saves people 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:49.859 and therefore 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:51.059 we can be full of faith 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:51.579 that in the most 00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:52.859 difficult circumstances, 00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:54.220 in the most trying 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:54.980 circumstances, 00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.400 in the hardest places 00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:57.120 of our city 00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:58.140 and our nation 00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:59.019 and our world, 00:33:59.160 --> 00:34:00.319 in the most unlikely 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:01.860 territories on the planet, 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:03.319 God is calling people 00:34:03.319 --> 00:34:04.220 to himself. 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.620 He's breathing fresh 00:34:05.620 --> 00:34:06.680 life and spirit 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.980 into their bones. 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.300 And what this means 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:10.039 is two things. 00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:12.079 Two very simple applications. 00:34:12.340 --> 00:34:12.599 One, 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:14.079 don't get discouraged. 00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.639 Don't get discouraged. 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.619 Sometimes you may feel like, 00:34:17.740 --> 00:34:17.860 God, 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.860 I've tried to share the gospel 00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:19.920 with my spouse 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.980 or my sister 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:22.559 or some family member 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.420 for 20 years 00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:24.380 and they're not hearing it. 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.719 Don't give up on them 00:34:25.719 --> 00:34:26.900 because it's not you 00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.579 that saves them. 00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.639 It's not how well 00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:29.599 you articulate it. 00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:31.240 It's not your perfect reasoning. 00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:32.559 It's God who takes 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.360 your simple words 00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:34.059 and breathes life 00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:34.719 into their spirit. 00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:35.719 And one day, 00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:36.340 out of the blue, 00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:37.280 they may just come to you 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:37.639 and say, 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:38.539 I believe. 00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:39.559 I believe. 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.880 Don't get discouraged. 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:42.019 Don't give up. 00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:43.199 Keep on sharing 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:44.159 the wonder of Jesus. 00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:46.219 Second application is this. 00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:48.199 As a church together 00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:49.699 and as individuals, 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:51.279 we need to be those 00:34:51.279 --> 00:34:52.179 who pray 00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:53.579 and who pray 00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:54.819 and who pray 00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:56.139 and who pray. 00:34:57.459 --> 00:34:58.319 J.R. Packer 00:34:58.319 --> 00:34:59.099 says it like this. 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:00.679 Every time we pray, 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:02.699 we confess our impotence. 00:35:02.779 --> 00:35:03.899 That means our inability 00:35:03.899 --> 00:35:05.559 and God's sovereignty. 00:35:06.399 --> 00:35:07.299 And prayer is both 00:35:07.299 --> 00:35:09.199 the highest privilege 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:10.419 and the highest duty 00:35:10.419 --> 00:35:11.199 of the Christians. 00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:12.399 It's a privilege 00:35:12.399 --> 00:35:13.379 because it allows us 00:35:13.379 --> 00:35:13.919 to partner 00:35:13.919 --> 00:35:14.959 with the sovereign God. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:16.320 the miracles 00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:17.300 that God wants to do. 00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.340 He invites us 00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:19.539 into His miracle 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.980 and it's a privilege 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:22.039 to partner with Him 00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:23.780 with His dealings 00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:24.559 and His workings. 00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:25.480 But it's also 00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:26.300 the highest duty 00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:27.460 because it aligns us 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.000 with the truth. 00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:28.820 It reminds us 00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:29.860 that we are completely 00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:31.260 and utterly unable 00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:32.260 to effect a change 00:35:32.260 --> 00:35:33.099 in purple's lives. 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:33.880 And yet, 00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:35.220 God does give life 00:35:35.220 --> 00:35:35.800 to the dead. 00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:37.400 And it's the highest privilege 00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:38.559 because it reminds us 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.059 of that truth 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:40.579 that we are not able 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:41.420 but God is able. 00:35:42.059 --> 00:35:43.280 Chris reminded me this week, 00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:43.619 remember, 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.720 in the book of Acts, 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:45.840 the disciples 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.659 are going around 00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.380 telling everyone 00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:48.039 around Jesus. 00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:49.039 They're getting in trouble 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.460 for it. 00:35:49.720 --> 00:35:50.320 They're getting thrown 00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:50.980 into jail. 00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:52.320 They're getting persecuted. 00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:53.260 Some of them 00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:53.920 have been killed. 00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.099 What do they do? 00:35:55.320 --> 00:35:56.159 Do they back off? 00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:56.940 No. 00:35:57.260 --> 00:35:58.079 They pray. 00:35:58.519 --> 00:35:59.420 And what do they pray? 00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:00.159 They pray, 00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:01.500 God give us boldness. 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.780 God give us courage 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:03.420 not to step. 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:03.980 Stop. 00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:05.139 But the second thing 00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:05.579 they pray 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:07.380 is God let your power 00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:08.280 be upon us. 00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:09.500 Do miracles, 00:36:09.639 --> 00:36:10.019 we pray. 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:11.720 God do what only 00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:12.199 you can do. 00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:13.000 Let your power 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:13.659 come upon us 00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:14.320 that will change 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.159 people's lives. 00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.039 Friends, 00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:17.659 if we're going to be 00:36:17.659 --> 00:36:18.619 a church that's obedient 00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:19.219 to Jesus 00:36:19.219 --> 00:36:20.179 and fill Hong Kong 00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:20.800 with the message 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:21.340 of Jesus, 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:22.500 if we're going to be 00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:23.599 faithful to this task, 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:24.920 how we need to become 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:26.219 a church that prays? 00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.300 See, friends, 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:28.380 the same theological 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.159 conviction 00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:31.280 that drives us 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:31.780 to believe 00:36:31.780 --> 00:36:32.719 that confidence 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:33.420 before men, 00:36:33.719 --> 00:36:34.340 that God 00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:35.360 by His sovereign spirit 00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:36.159 changes people, 00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:37.539 is the same conviction 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:38.320 that ought to make us 00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:39.579 humble and persistent 00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.380 before God 00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.660 because it's God 00:36:41.660 --> 00:36:42.800 that changes lives. 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:43.960 And therefore, 00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:44.640 we need to become 00:36:44.640 --> 00:36:46.000 men and women 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:46.619 that pray. 00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:48.300 Pray in your CGs. 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:50.119 Pray every day 00:36:50.119 --> 00:36:50.960 on the way to work. 00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:53.380 Pray while you're 00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:54.079 making dinner 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:55.140 for your family. 00:36:56.140 --> 00:36:56.660 Pray while you're 00:36:56.660 --> 00:36:57.180 in the shower. 00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.640 Pray for people 00:36:58.640 --> 00:36:59.360 that don't know God. 00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:00.380 Pray for your own heart. 00:37:01.180 --> 00:37:02.680 Pray, pray, pray. 00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:04.039 O Ezekiel, 00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:05.160 can these bones live? 00:37:06.160 --> 00:37:06.599 Watermark, 00:37:06.680 --> 00:37:07.900 can this city be saved? 00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:09.360 O Hong Kong, 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:10.200 can you come to know 00:37:10.200 --> 00:37:11.120 the wonder of Jesus? 00:37:11.660 --> 00:37:12.940 Can God breathe in you 00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:14.120 and power in His spirit 00:37:14.120 --> 00:37:15.380 and save marriages 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.079 and families 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:17.340 and deliver addicts? 00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:18.599 Soften hearts, 00:37:19.200 --> 00:37:20.320 hear the word of the Lord. 00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.280 Behold, 00:37:21.380 --> 00:37:22.599 I will cause my spirit 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.240 to enter you 00:37:23.240 --> 00:37:24.900 and you shall live 00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:26.480 and then you will know 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:27.760 that I am the Lord 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:28.960 your God. 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:30.519 Let's pray together. 00:37:31.180 --> 00:37:32.160 Can I maybe ask you 00:37:32.160 --> 00:37:33.019 to stand with me 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:34.220 and 00:37:34.220 --> 00:37:36.420 I want to encourage us 00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:37.300 to close our eyes 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:38.880 and let's pray together. 00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:49.140 O Lord God, 00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:49.440 we 00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:52.579 we come before you God 00:37:52.579 --> 00:37:53.140 because 00:37:53.140 --> 00:37:54.420 you alone 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:56.400 change lives, 00:37:56.620 --> 00:37:56.920 God. 00:37:59.559 --> 00:37:59.960 God, 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:01.360 we know where the power lies. 00:38:01.940 --> 00:38:02.820 It lies in you. 00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:04.680 It lies in the power 00:38:04.680 --> 00:38:05.280 of your spirit. 00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:05.519 God, 00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:06.440 as we heard this morning 00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:07.320 in Adrian's life 00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:08.420 and so many of us 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:09.100 can testify, 00:38:10.380 --> 00:38:10.539 God, 00:38:10.580 --> 00:38:11.600 when you saved us, 00:38:11.680 --> 00:38:12.840 you caused us 00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:13.580 to be born again. 00:38:13.780 --> 00:38:15.680 You put new life in us, 00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:15.900 God. 00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:17.280 We were dead in our sins 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:17.760 but you, 00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:18.140 Christ, 00:38:18.200 --> 00:38:19.220 have raised us up again. 00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:19.640 And for that, 00:38:19.720 --> 00:38:20.460 we praise you 00:38:20.460 --> 00:38:21.980 and we rejoice, 00:38:22.180 --> 00:38:22.440 God. 00:38:23.680 --> 00:38:23.860 God, 00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:24.680 I pray that we will be 00:38:24.680 --> 00:38:25.940 a church that rejoices. 00:38:26.300 --> 00:38:27.340 I pray put deep joy 00:38:27.340 --> 00:38:27.840 in our heart, 00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:28.120 God. 00:38:28.200 --> 00:38:29.059 May we celebrate 00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:29.620 the gospel. 00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:32.420 friends, 00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:33.119 I want to pray for 00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:34.019 some of us maybe 00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:36.319 that are not Christians. 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.719 Maybe you're not saved. 00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:39.119 You may have thought 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.659 you were a Christian. 00:38:39.859 --> 00:38:40.539 You may have served 00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:41.519 in many areas, 00:38:41.599 --> 00:38:42.339 in many ways. 00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:44.420 But maybe it's just been 00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:45.339 religious duty. 00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:46.460 It's been dead works. 00:38:47.739 --> 00:38:48.420 Maybe your life 00:38:48.420 --> 00:38:49.839 has never been made new. 00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.980 Your heart has never 00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:51.579 come to know 00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:52.579 the wonder of Jesus. 00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.059 Like Haslam, 00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:55.179 you've never experienced 00:38:55.179 --> 00:38:56.179 the life and joy 00:38:56.179 --> 00:38:57.159 of serving him. 00:38:58.059 --> 00:38:58.319 Friends, 00:38:58.320 --> 00:38:58.820 this morning, 00:38:58.900 --> 00:38:59.880 why don't you come to him? 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:01.860 Why don't you confess 00:39:01.860 --> 00:39:02.360 your sin? 00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:04.340 Confess that you have 00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:05.480 no hope apart from 00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:06.500 Jesus forgiving you. 00:39:07.600 --> 00:39:08.340 Confess that there's 00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:09.220 nothing you can do 00:39:09.220 --> 00:39:10.059 to save yourself. 00:39:11.800 --> 00:39:12.780 And then surrender. 00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.640 Come to him and say, 00:39:13.740 --> 00:39:14.000 Jesus, 00:39:14.160 --> 00:39:14.760 please come and 00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:15.760 breathe life into me. 00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.720 Come and forgive me 00:39:17.720 --> 00:39:18.420 of my sins 00:39:18.420 --> 00:39:19.900 and make me new. 00:39:24.300 --> 00:39:24.900 Father God, 00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:25.720 come and do that. 00:39:27.180 --> 00:39:28.220 Come and save us, 00:39:28.219 --> 00:39:28.379 Lord, 00:39:28.419 --> 00:39:28.819 we pray. 00:39:29.799 --> 00:39:30.199 I pray, 00:39:30.299 --> 00:39:30.439 God, 00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:30.939 this morning 00:39:30.939 --> 00:39:31.679 that some people 00:39:31.679 --> 00:39:32.399 will be born again 00:39:32.399 --> 00:39:33.500 for the very first time. 00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:35.919 God, 00:39:36.019 --> 00:39:36.939 come and put a life 00:39:36.939 --> 00:39:37.480 and a joy 00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:38.219 in our hearts 00:39:38.219 --> 00:39:40.139 as the Spirit of God 00:39:40.139 --> 00:39:40.779 takes hold of us, 00:39:40.839 --> 00:39:41.179 we pray, 00:39:41.299 --> 00:39:41.519 God. 00:39:43.299 --> 00:39:43.799 And then, 00:39:43.879 --> 00:39:44.000 friends, 00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:45.059 I want to pray for us, 00:39:45.799 --> 00:39:46.500 maybe some of us 00:39:46.500 --> 00:39:47.500 who just feel like 00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:48.719 we've been dry 00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:49.500 for a long time. 00:39:49.659 --> 00:39:50.959 Maybe we are Christians, 00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:52.399 but that joy, 00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.219 that spark, 00:39:53.879 --> 00:39:55.339 that life of the Holy Spirit, 00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:56.320 it's been a long time 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:57.980 since we felt that. 00:39:58.940 --> 00:39:59.720 We feel like 00:39:59.720 --> 00:40:00.440 we are embers 00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:01.420 that are dying 00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:02.300 out in a fire 00:40:02.300 --> 00:40:03.900 and we want 00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:04.620 the wind of God 00:40:04.620 --> 00:40:05.320 to come and blow 00:40:05.320 --> 00:40:06.400 and freshly cause 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:06.880 our hearts 00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:07.740 to be a flame 00:40:07.740 --> 00:40:08.300 for God. 00:40:10.380 --> 00:40:10.740 Friends, 00:40:10.780 --> 00:40:11.240 if that's you, 00:40:11.280 --> 00:40:12.360 why don't you cry to God 00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:12.960 and ask him 00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:13.820 to come and do that? 00:40:16.120 --> 00:40:16.980 Ask him to come 00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:17.579 and blow 00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:18.480 the wind of the Spirit 00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:19.860 and to freshly cause 00:40:19.860 --> 00:40:21.079 spiritual life 00:40:21.079 --> 00:40:21.680 to take hold 00:40:21.680 --> 00:40:22.240 of your heart. 00:40:22.239 --> 00:40:24.239 Oh God, 00:40:24.339 --> 00:40:25.159 come and do this. 00:40:25.159 --> 00:40:25.239 Oh God, 00:40:25.239 --> 00:40:25.259 come and do this.