WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.459 this story that we've heard this morning is about family, but it's far more than family. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:15.720 It's far more than family. It's about saving your family. And this morning, we baptised Beatrice 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:23.660 into God's family. I don't know what God will do in Beatrice's family, but one thing I know for sure 00:00:23.660 --> 00:00:32.019 that he will do in Beatrice's life is that she will grow in faith and in love. And most of all, 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:38.500 I pray that she'll have a heart to share that with other people and bring them into the knowledge 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:44.539 and love of God. I want to ask a question. I want to ask you a question this morning. When was the last 00:00:44.539 --> 00:00:53.100 time you were sent somewhere on an errand? And where did you end up? Last time you were sent 00:00:53.100 --> 00:01:01.460 on an errand. And where did you end up? I remember the first time I was sent as a young lad to the 00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:10.460 corner shop. That was my errand. You have the money in an envelope. Your mum writes on there what she 00:01:10.460 --> 00:01:18.540 wants, in case I forget, in the 200 yards it was to get there. And there was a full briefing, of course, 00:01:18.540 --> 00:01:26.100 before you went. Don't talk to anybody. Don't lose the envelope. Don't lose the money and carry it 00:01:26.100 --> 00:01:32.740 properly home with the basket that you were provided with that you wish you hadn't. 00:01:34.800 --> 00:01:41.600 And off you go, six years old, six years old. This was an adventure. I remember it as though it was 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:48.979 yesterday. And it was an important mission because my mission was to get half a pound of mince, 00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:58.419 two onions, a wheat sheaf loaf, and a packet of Huntley and Palmer biscuits. Now that tells you how 00:01:58.419 --> 00:02:07.699 old I am. Okay, I declare it. People are smiling. In the envelope was three shillings and sixpence. 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:15.319 And I was allowed to get a penny's worth of sweets with that as well. How do you feel? How do you feel 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:21.539 when you are called on an errand? How do you feel when you step out on an adventure? How does that feel? 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:28.740 Exciting, apprehensive, important, nervous. Can I do this job that I've been sent to do? Life doesn't 00:02:28.740 --> 00:02:37.379 change whether you are six or whether you are 60. We still feel that. When God calls us out 00:02:37.379 --> 00:02:49.080 onto a job, we can feel all of that. And welcome here to the story of Joseph, a story that in so many, 00:02:49.460 --> 00:02:56.600 many ways encapsulates the whole breadth of what it means to be family. In our Old Testament reading, 00:02:56.599 --> 00:03:03.500 Joseph, he was about 17, was with his brothers. They're tending sheep. And he brought to his brothers 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:15.400 a bad report. He towed tails. He ratted on them. They were not a pleasant bunch. And here we see, 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:25.060 and right at the beginning, this idea of a dysfunctional family at work. How does God use that? 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:32.920 I am so encouraged when I read about all the dysfunctional families in the Bible. It helps 00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:41.259 me so much in life. You see, Joseph and his younger brothers were born by a different wife. And Jacob 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:48.340 loved his wife dearly, and especially the oldest son, Joseph. He poured and lavished love upon this one 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:57.420 boy. No wonder he was going to have problems with his siblings. And so easily in the Old Testament 00:03:57.420 --> 00:04:05.980 story, we can be dazzled by the coat of many colours. Andrew Lloyd Webber, images perhaps of the 00:04:05.980 --> 00:04:13.219 Joseph the Dreamer. But in this dysfunctional family, have you noticed in the Bible that in this reading, 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:20.660 in all these dysfunctional families I read about, brings me hype. It brings me true hype. Because 00:04:20.660 --> 00:04:27.620 here we have a family in crisis, whose father was too busy running a minor nation that he couldn't 00:04:27.620 --> 00:04:37.360 control his sons, let alone love them, let alone direct them. And who do we identify with in the story? 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:45.180 Because perhaps we identify with the jealousy of the brothers, faced with a younger sibling who 00:04:45.180 --> 00:04:52.900 had life lavished upon him. So many people in large and small families feel that they have been ill, 00:04:52.939 --> 00:05:00.780 treated, forgotten. But this morning, I don't want to concentrate so much on the family. I want to 00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:07.299 concentrate on the journey. Because so often we look at the family, but not the journey. And the journey 00:05:07.299 --> 00:05:13.159 is important because in many ways, the mission that Joseph was about to embark on was totally, 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:21.119 totally out of his control. His brothers wanted to get rid of him. And so what's your mission and 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:31.759 purpose at the moment? Is it clear? Is it defined? Do you know what your mission and calling is at the 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:38.379 moment? What does God want for your life and the life of others around you? Because that's an important 00:05:38.379 --> 00:05:45.680 question to ask. Because if we don't know that, often we can be like a boat without a rudder. We can 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:51.600 just go along. And sadly, if we don't know what that is, we will be diverted. And we will be diverted 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:58.639 so easily. We are lost. We're perplexed. We need to be clear about God, what God wants for us and to be 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:06.879 in the power of God. Because God has a plan for your life. It may not be evident, but God has got a plan. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:18.079 Now, I can say that because I personally don't need the flashiness of life. And so often, 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:24.959 we can buy into different situations that we think is of God that gives us status, that gives us purpose. 00:06:25.719 --> 00:06:33.219 But unless we know the true value and calling of God, we will be diverted. Joseph didn't have that 00:06:33.220 --> 00:06:41.600 option. He's sold into slavery and has to ask himself, what is this all about, God? What is this 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:47.320 all about? And maybe this morning, we need to do that. What is my mission? What is my calling? What 00:06:47.320 --> 00:06:56.520 are you actually calling me to do at this stage of my life? Something this morning, I want to talk about 00:06:56.520 --> 00:07:02.940 how something's changed in the spiritual life of Christchurch over the past few months. Something 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:11.160 missionally that is hugely exciting. You see, today, there are those that are returning from 00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:16.139 New Wine. There will be those that will be coming back from Falcon Camp, who are serving on Falcon Camp. 00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:21.159 There are those who are getting ready to serve at Hill House. There are those that are looking forward 00:07:21.159 --> 00:07:28.680 to working with young people in September, in transforming lives for good in our schools. There 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:34.100 will be those of those who are looking forward to Alpha and bringing their five friends along, 00:07:34.860 --> 00:07:39.860 that they've already thought about and prayed about, about inviting along. There will be those 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:46.060 who are serving on our new under-14s football team. There will be those who are serving in Uganda and on 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:51.620 Uganda teams. There will be those who serve on Monday lunchtime clubs. There are those who are serving in 00:07:51.620 --> 00:08:00.720 the workplace. The list goes on and on. We ask God, what is our purpose in that? Why am I here? What am I 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:08.759 doing? How will you increase your purpose for me? Why? Because it's God's desire. It's God's desire for us. 00:08:08.819 --> 00:08:17.340 We want to see people saved. It's as if a family, because when you're in family, it costs. And my goodness, 00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:28.060 did it cost Joseph. It cost Joseph dearly. Joseph's mission was to take him face to face with family 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:36.319 jealousy so rife that some would have killed him. It took him into slavery. It nearly took him into 00:08:36.319 --> 00:08:46.459 Potiphar's wife's bed. How did he avoid that? Then it took him to jail for saying no. Good man. 00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:55.500 What am I doing here? I did the right thing, but now I'm in prison. Do you know what? He never gives 00:08:55.500 --> 00:09:02.879 up hope. And God gives him the ability to interpret dreams. He gives him the ability to move in the 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:09.320 prophetic. And from that, it's wonderful when that happens and when the Spirit of God moves, bringing 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:20.040 chaos into order. And that is where we are with Joseph. And then before Pharaoh, he brings him to 00:09:20.040 --> 00:09:27.220 Pharaoh because he prophesies into Pharaoh's life. Then he comes into Pharaoh's court. He is promoted. 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:35.240 He's running the whole infrastructure. This Joseph, this man of God, and God takes him to the heart of 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:47.139 Pharaoh's life from nearly being killed to head up a prime position to save a land from famine. 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:57.000 God calls Joseph to feed a whole people and to feed his brothers. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:07.799 For me, this is a revelation in the story. I often read the story of Joseph, but he feeds not only a whole 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:17.899 nation, but he's called to feed his brothers. I pray that's part of our calling. Because what is your 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:27.439 Christian journey like? Do you feel as though you are being called to feed others with the power of God? 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:34.659 Mission is hugely rewarding, but it's rarely easy. And I want us to seriously consider what God might 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:42.500 be calling us to in this new season. Because some of us will go to places that we never ever thought 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:49.539 that we would be called to go to in order to feed the community that we are called to reach. 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:56.419 Joseph didn't know that where he would end up, but he trusted and he responded. He trusted 00:10:56.419 --> 00:11:07.820 and responded. Trust and respond. Is that your journey? And if it has been, well done. 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:13.240 You know, but I'm going to ask a big question. Do you want to feed a hungry nation in the community? 00:11:13.800 --> 00:11:22.120 Do you want to do that? Because I do. Joseph gets to feed not only the ones who sold him into slavery, 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:30.220 but to a whole nation because God called him and he responded. He saw a nation healed, fed, 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:41.700 and spiritually restored. He showed grace. He showed the love of God to people and especially his brothers 00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:48.399 who didn't really deserve it. And that is transformational. Do you want to see a nation, 00:11:48.540 --> 00:11:55.560 a community with the saving power and spiritual food of God? Because I do. And we want to increase that 00:11:55.559 --> 00:12:02.139 and what God is doing amongst us. I can't do that on my own. I can't do that even with you. I can only 00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:09.019 do it and we can do it together as family in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter 2, 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:17.179 people scoffed at Peter. Verse 14, then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:22.919 crowd. Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you. Listen carefully to 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:28.579 what I say. These men are not drunk. They thought they were drunk because they were so ecstatic and 00:12:28.579 --> 00:12:33.699 filled with the Holy Spirit. These men are not drunk as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning. 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:42.279 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel. Important line. This is what is spoken by the prophet 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:50.219 Joel. In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:59.340 prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:07.840 and women, I will pour out my spirit in those days and they will prophesy. Even on my servants, they will 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:15.220 prophesy. Something transformed happened in the life of this church on Father's Day. On Father's Day, 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:22.500 if you, for those that were here, especially for those that weren't, we saw one of the many 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:28.120 missional outreaches that we're now engaged with, with a 14-year-old boys football club. 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:35.320 They're playing in the league. It's significant. Most of the lads that are playing aren't yet Christians. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:41.440 And yet people have come and we are reaching out into the sporting community through a 14-year-old 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:49.020 football team that play in the league. What many didn't know was that day that there was a man, 00:13:49.180 --> 00:13:57.140 a faithful member of this congregation called Doug Hand. Doug Hand was a man who was passionate 00:13:57.140 --> 00:14:06.340 about sport. He was passionate about Jesus. He was a passionate follower who had seen in his own life 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:13.780 as a boy the value of what it was to play sport, but to know Jesus. And he had a desire, 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:21.960 he always had a desire to see a football team of lads as an outreach. That was his dream. 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:32.259 Doug had a dream to see young lives saved. Doug was a faithful Christian gentleman. He was called home to be 00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:43.980 with the Lord in 2013. He shared a dream with me. He shared a dream. Your old men will have dreams. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:48.679 He shared a dream. Perhaps he didn't know where it would end. He didn't know where the Lord was going 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:55.480 to use him, but he knew that it was God's purposes, that people would be saved. Your sons and daughters 00:14:55.480 --> 00:15:02.340 will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. On Father's Day, 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:09.180 through that dream and vision, Kathy and Mike Pope and others realised the vision. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:17.940 And they saw the opportunity and we commissioned them and an under-14s football team. You probably 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:22.920 know as Peter was speaking at the start of the early church or the way as it was called then, 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:27.599 that Peter didn't know where it was going to end. He didn't know where this new thing was going to 00:15:27.599 --> 00:15:33.639 end. He didn't have a clue, but he knew that he was called, that he was passionate and to put things 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:41.120 in place and to start things. I wonder if Joseph knew when he was sold into his slavery where it would 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:49.360 end up, how God would use the events to change the lives of other people. As we come to communion and 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:57.560 prayer this morning, prayer for healing. And that can be for physical, for the Lord to heal us, but also 00:15:57.560 --> 00:16:07.659 healing of our doubts, healing of our cynicism, healing of our dysfunctionality, 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:12.879 our failure of failing to encourage others to build them up. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:20.679 Our healing in so many different ways, our preferences, our jealousy. You know, how will 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:26.379 God use our lives? Let him show you. You know, if you're expecting to see it all mapped out before you, 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:35.399 well done. I wish I did. But is your heart to see others saved? I'm just going to ask you that this 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:41.639 morning. I'm going to ask you to take that away with you. Is your heart to see other people saved? 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:45.899 Do you want to see people hungry for God fed? 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:56.480 In Acts chapter 2, Peter says, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 00:16:57.340 --> 00:17:03.620 Everybody who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. I have pictures in my head now 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:10.259 of those I want to see saved. I want to see them on that great day. I want them to be welcoming me in. 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:14.779 I want them to put their arms around me. I want to be putting my arms around them. I want to see them 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:20.819 not just saved for that great day, but saved today because God has got a purpose for them, for you and 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:27.299 I and for them. There is a new missional feeling in the air and the people that we've spoken about in 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:33.819 Christchurch. The saints who have gone before us who dream dreams. Maud Obery, a great saint in this 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:37.859 church. She's now called to be with the Lord. She dreamed when there was no children here to see 00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:44.240 children filling this church in excess of 80 kids now on the books. That isn't including the ones we're 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:50.799 reaching in schools and we're reaching in various different settings. She had a dream and Maud's dream 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:55.579 was fulfilled and she was fortunate to see it in her lifetime before she went to see the Lord. 00:17:55.579 --> 00:18:04.079 Hugh Garlick, walk of a thousand men. Hugh had a dream to see men come to Christ. Hugh was a great saint. 00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:13.139 He is with the Lord. I have no doubt we saw 28 men at our last men's meeting and we have contact with 00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:22.039 over 50. That is growing. You know, we sense that the Lord, we are having men coming to baptism. 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:27.420 We are having men asking to be baptised and that will be happening in the next few months. 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:36.319 We sense that the Lord is asking us to be both feet in and I want to encourage you of being in that 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:45.319 culture. Be in that culture here of both feet in. Not one foot in, but both feet in. You know, 00:18:45.379 --> 00:18:50.240 we're not happy. We're not happy with just being one feet in anymore. No more sitting on the fence, 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:57.920 but people who are both feet in. And that will be out of our comfort zone, I can promise you. 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:05.900 While we see life saved, while we see opportunities to bring people to Christ, 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:09.779 as we come and share as a family at this table, 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:20.579 ask Him to transform our hands, our hearts, our feet, our wallets, 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:28.359 to see our brother and sisters saved. You see, my mission, my mission, my mission, my mission, 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:34.539 my mission and your mission is not written on an envelope. It's not written on an envelope and I pray 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:41.039 it is written on your heart. And that is where we are as a church. I pray that mission of God will be 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:49.000 written afresh today on your heart. And God will show you people that we will reach, that we will 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:56.259 dream dreams and maybe not in our lifetime, although I pray that they are, that we will see a whole community 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:57.579 come to Him.