WEBVTT 58:51.270 --> 58:51.280 every Saturday. Um, but it's great to 58:51.280 --> 58:52.390 see the building looking like this. And 58:52.400 --> 58:54.069 it's great to see you all. Uh, today 58:54.079 --> 58:55.750 we're in John's Gospel. So, if you want 58:55.760 --> 58:57.910 to turn with me to John chapter 3, we're 58:57.920 --> 59:00.950 going to be reading from verse 22-36. 59:00.960 --> 59:04.309 Um, and just as a bit of a recap, um, we 59:04.319 --> 59:06.230 remember right back at the beginning, 59:06.240 --> 59:07.910 um, actually Nick, would you mind 59:07.920 --> 59:10.309 getting me some water, please? Uh yes, 59:10.319 --> 59:12.150 please. Thank you. Uh right back at the 59:12.160 --> 59:14.710 beginning, um Andy introduced the gospel 59:14.720 --> 59:16.549 to us. We looked at Jesus being the 59:16.559 --> 59:19.030 word. Um and this kind of cosmic thing 59:19.040 --> 59:20.470 that happened that he was there in the 59:20.480 --> 59:21.829 beginning, he was there before the 59:21.839 --> 59:23.829 beginning. He's always been there. Um 59:23.839 --> 59:25.349 and then we looked at the beginning of 59:25.359 --> 59:27.270 the story of John the Baptist and the 59:27.280 --> 59:29.510 beginning of his disciples. Uh we went 59:29.520 --> 59:32.470 to the wedding. Water turned into wine. 59:32.480 --> 59:34.150 And then the very next week we went to 59:34.160 --> 59:36.870 temple Jesus where he's zealous over his 59:36.880 --> 59:39.829 church over over us his people. Um and 59:39.839 --> 59:42.789 then last week uh we had remind me 59:42.799 --> 59:45.430 people what did we have last week? 59:45.440 --> 59:47.670 Yes. And what was the scripture that we 59:47.680 --> 59:52.870 all know? 59:52.880 --> 59:56.630 Come on. 59:56.640 --> 59:59.510 Everybody out. Come on. What did we 59:59.520 --> 01:00:01.430 have? It's only last week, folks. And it 01:00:01.440 --> 01:00:03.510 is the most famous scripture in the 01:00:03.520 --> 01:00:04.150 Bible. 01:00:04.160 --> 01:00:05.270 I want you to say it. 01:00:05.280 --> 01:00:07.589 I absolutely do want you to say it. Yes. 01:00:07.599 --> 01:00:09.750 Say that. 01:00:09.760 --> 01:00:11.910 The fact that I was pausing is your cue, 01:00:11.920 --> 01:00:13.990 Roland. What did we learn last week? The 01:00:14.000 --> 01:00:15.589 most famous thing that we learned last 01:00:15.599 --> 01:00:23.910 week. 01:00:23.920 --> 01:00:27.670 shall notish. 01:00:27.680 --> 01:00:30.230 I love the bit where you all went 01:00:30.240 --> 01:00:34.230 believes in him. 01:00:34.240 --> 01:00:37.589 Who is believes in him? 01:00:37.599 --> 01:00:40.789 That's because some people are saying 01:00:40.799 --> 01:00:45.589 and some are saying one and only son. 01:00:45.599 --> 01:00:47.030 I was actually using the one where it 01:00:47.040 --> 01:00:49.349 says whoever believes in him. 01:00:49.359 --> 01:00:51.030 Yeah, that kind of 01:00:51.040 --> 01:00:53.270 ah 01:00:53.280 --> 01:00:54.950 I would like it in French. Alli, if you 01:00:54.960 --> 01:00:56.470 wouldn't mind, please. We're going to 01:00:56.480 --> 01:01:09.030 speak it in French. 01:01:09.040 --> 01:01:10.950 may not be in 01:01:10.960 --> 01:01:12.950 lovely. Well done. Thank you. For God so 01:01:12.960 --> 01:01:14.230 loved the world. So that's where we 01:01:14.240 --> 01:01:16.870 ended off last week. Um and uh we're 01:01:16.880 --> 01:01:20.789 going to look at John's gospel 22-36. 01:01:20.799 --> 01:01:22.549 Um so I'm going to read that really 01:01:22.559 --> 01:01:25.030 quickly. So then Jesus and his disciples 01:01:25.040 --> 01:01:26.950 left Jerusalem and went into the Judeian 01:01:26.960 --> 01:01:28.710 countryside. 01:01:28.720 --> 01:01:30.470 Jesus spent some time with them there 01:01:30.480 --> 01:01:32.950 baptizing people. At this same time, 01:01:32.960 --> 01:01:35.349 John the Baptist was baptizing at Enon 01:01:35.359 --> 01:01:37.190 near Salim. I'm hoping I'm pronouncing 01:01:37.200 --> 01:01:38.950 that right. Please don't judge me. 01:01:38.960 --> 01:01:40.710 Because there was plenty of water there 01:01:40.720 --> 01:01:42.630 and people kept coming to him for 01:01:42.640 --> 01:01:45.510 baptism. This was before John was thrown 01:01:45.520 --> 01:01:48.309 into prison. A debate broke out between 01:01:48.319 --> 01:01:50.549 John disciples and a certain Jew over 01:01:50.559 --> 01:01:53.430 ceremonial cleansing. So John's 01:01:53.440 --> 01:01:56.150 disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, 01:01:56.160 --> 01:01:58.150 the man you met on the other side of the 01:01:58.160 --> 01:02:00.150 Jordan, the river, the one you 01:02:00.160 --> 01:02:02.150 identified as the Messiah is also 01:02:02.160 --> 01:02:04.630 baptizing people, and everybody is going 01:02:04.640 --> 01:02:07.510 to him instead of coming to us." John 01:02:07.520 --> 01:02:09.670 replied, "No one can receive anything 01:02:09.680 --> 01:02:12.069 unless God gives it from heaven. You 01:02:12.079 --> 01:02:14.230 yourselves know how plainly I told you, 01:02:14.240 --> 01:02:16.789 I am not the Messiah. I am only here to 01:02:16.799 --> 01:02:18.789 prepare the way for him." It is the 01:02:18.799 --> 01:02:20.870 bridegroom who marries the bride and the 01:02:20.880 --> 01:02:23.589 best man other translations says friend 01:02:23.599 --> 01:02:26.309 is simply glad to stand with him and 01:02:26.319 --> 01:02:29.109 hear his vows. Therefore I am filled 01:02:29.119 --> 01:02:31.910 with joy at his success. He must become 01:02:31.920 --> 01:02:34.470 greater and greater and I must become 01:02:34.480 --> 01:02:37.270 less and less. He has come from heaven 01:02:37.280 --> 01:02:39.750 and is greater than anyone else. We are 01:02:39.760 --> 01:02:42.309 of the earth and we speak of earthly 01:02:42.319 --> 01:02:45.750 things but he has come from heaven and 01:02:45.760 --> 01:02:47.750 I've lost my place. and is greater than 01:02:47.760 --> 01:02:50.390 anyone else. He testifies about what he 01:02:50.400 --> 01:02:52.710 has seen and heard, but how few believe 01:02:52.720 --> 01:02:55.510 what he tells them. Anyone who accepts 01:02:55.520 --> 01:02:57.430 his testimony can affirm that God is 01:02:57.440 --> 01:03:00.789 true, for he is sent by God. He speaks 01:03:00.799 --> 01:03:03.349 God's word, for God gives him the spirit 01:03:03.359 --> 01:03:06.069 without limit. The Father loves his son 01:03:06.079 --> 01:03:08.549 and has put everything into his hands. 01:03:08.559 --> 01:03:11.910 And anyone who believes in God's son has 01:03:11.920 --> 01:03:14.309 eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey 01:03:14.319 --> 01:03:16.390 the son will never experience eternal 01:03:16.400 --> 01:03:19.430 life but remains under God's angry 01:03:19.440 --> 01:03:21.190 judgment. 01:03:21.200 --> 01:03:23.430 Amen. 01:03:23.440 --> 01:03:25.910 I really am enjoying uh John's gospel 01:03:25.920 --> 01:03:28.150 and I particularly like the human side 01:03:28.160 --> 01:03:30.789 uh that we see popping up as we go along 01:03:30.799 --> 01:03:32.789 and we have this amazing interaction 01:03:32.799 --> 01:03:35.750 with um Nicodemus and the proclamation 01:03:35.760 --> 01:03:38.150 of the simple gospel. you Cornelius 01:03:38.160 --> 01:03:40.150 mentioned last week about the bronze 01:03:40.160 --> 01:03:42.710 snake and just by looking and and how we 01:03:42.720 --> 01:03:45.270 it's symbolic of the cross by looking at 01:03:45.280 --> 01:03:48.789 it that's how we're born again. Um and 01:03:48.799 --> 01:03:50.710 so I like the human side of it but I'm 01:03:50.720 --> 01:03:52.150 also really challenged because you see 01:03:52.160 --> 01:03:54.470 humans pop up and behave in ways that 01:03:54.480 --> 01:03:56.069 humans are really good at behaving. So 01:03:56.079 --> 01:03:58.710 I'm sure because I identified a lot with 01:03:58.720 --> 01:04:00.309 this passage as we went through and I'm 01:04:00.319 --> 01:04:02.950 hoping that you will as well. So he's 01:04:02.960 --> 01:04:04.870 baptizing in a place called Enon which 01:04:04.880 --> 01:04:06.789 means many waters because there was lots 01:04:06.799 --> 01:04:08.630 of water there. That's your first thing. 01:04:08.640 --> 01:04:10.870 Um but that many waters is also really 01:04:10.880 --> 01:04:13.670 symbolic of cleansing and preparation. 01:04:13.680 --> 01:04:15.589 And the Bible tells us it's near a place 01:04:15.599 --> 01:04:18.390 called Salim. Uh which means peace. So 01:04:18.400 --> 01:04:20.230 right at the very beginning you've got a 01:04:20.240 --> 01:04:22.470 picture that's being painted. John's 01:04:22.480 --> 01:04:25.029 disciples are baptizing at this place of 01:04:25.039 --> 01:04:27.750 cleansing, at this place of preparation, 01:04:27.760 --> 01:04:31.349 and at this place of peace. 01:04:31.359 --> 01:04:33.670 And I see in it this picture of 01:04:33.680 --> 01:04:35.430 cleansing and peace, this wonderful 01:04:35.440 --> 01:04:37.829 harmony. And right in the middle of that 01:04:37.839 --> 01:04:40.150 place of cleansing and peace, an 01:04:40.160 --> 01:04:42.630 argument begins. 01:04:42.640 --> 01:04:44.230 Any of you have ever been in a family 01:04:44.240 --> 01:04:46.470 situation where it's all been quiet at 01:04:46.480 --> 01:04:49.109 Christmas and everybody is behaving very 01:04:49.119 --> 01:04:50.950 beautifully and there's harmony between 01:04:50.960 --> 01:04:53.510 everybody and then suddenly an argument 01:04:53.520 --> 01:04:55.910 begins. What topics are we not allowed 01:04:55.920 --> 01:04:58.390 to have around the meal tables? 01:04:58.400 --> 01:05:00.870 Politics. Yes. Don't talk about what 01:05:00.880 --> 01:05:02.870 which side of the fence you're on 01:05:02.880 --> 01:05:04.470 because what is a calm and beautiful 01:05:04.480 --> 01:05:06.309 place of peace will disrupt into an 01:05:06.319 --> 01:05:07.829 argument. What's the other thing we're 01:05:07.839 --> 01:05:09.349 not supposed to talk about at the dinner 01:05:09.359 --> 01:05:10.950 table? What was it? 01:05:10.960 --> 01:05:12.950 Religion. Yes, religion is the other 01:05:12.960 --> 01:05:14.950 one, isn't it? Lovely place of calm and 01:05:14.960 --> 01:05:17.109 peace. You start talking about religion. 01:05:17.119 --> 01:05:18.950 Um, and an argument begins. So, it makes 01:05:18.960 --> 01:05:20.789 me smile. It highlights to me that we're 01:05:20.799 --> 01:05:23.510 talking about real human situations. 01:05:23.520 --> 01:05:25.510 Place of cleansing, a place of peace, a 01:05:25.520 --> 01:05:28.150 place of preparation for Jesus. And an 01:05:28.160 --> 01:05:29.910 argument begins. I was out at Crystal 01:05:29.920 --> 01:05:31.829 Peaks the other day and I went into one 01:05:31.839 --> 01:05:33.349 of these shops that's got lovely candles 01:05:33.359 --> 01:05:34.789 that smell really nice and they play 01:05:34.799 --> 01:05:37.829 that whale music. 01:05:37.839 --> 01:05:39.670 Oh, that's a that sounds like seagull, 01:05:39.680 --> 01:05:42.549 doesn't it? Um, but you get what I'm 01:05:42.559 --> 01:05:44.069 trying to say. It was so lovely and it 01:05:44.079 --> 01:05:45.750 smelt so nice and I walked in and the 01:05:45.760 --> 01:05:47.190 lights were dimmed and what have you. 01:05:47.200 --> 01:05:48.630 And I'd only been in there a minute 01:05:48.640 --> 01:05:50.309 browsing around and a two-year-old came 01:05:50.319 --> 01:05:52.630 in and wanted a stuffed giraffe and mom 01:05:52.640 --> 01:05:55.430 said no. And in that moment that was no 01:05:55.440 --> 01:05:57.190 longer a place of peace. Lay on the 01:05:57.200 --> 01:05:59.109 floor, stamped her foot. I want the 01:05:59.119 --> 01:06:01.510 giraffe. I want and then and it just 01:06:01.520 --> 01:06:04.069 made me think that we're really good at 01:06:04.079 --> 01:06:06.230 because we're human. We're really good 01:06:06.240 --> 01:06:08.309 um in this place of peace. Uh this 01:06:08.319 --> 01:06:11.270 argument uh erupts this debate between 01:06:11.280 --> 01:06:13.589 the John's disciples and a certain Jew. 01:06:13.599 --> 01:06:17.349 I love that certain Jew about ceremonial 01:06:17.359 --> 01:06:18.710 washing. Now, just to get a bit of 01:06:18.720 --> 01:06:22.069 context here, um baptism and washing 01:06:22.079 --> 01:06:25.029 wasn't something that was new um to the 01:06:25.039 --> 01:06:26.390 Jews at this point. I think Jewish 01:06:26.400 --> 01:06:28.150 people were really familiar with washing 01:06:28.160 --> 01:06:30.309 practices. They were very familiar with 01:06:30.319 --> 01:06:31.990 ritual baths. They were very familiar 01:06:32.000 --> 01:06:34.789 with cleansing before worship. These are 01:06:34.799 --> 01:06:36.390 things that they would do regularly. So, 01:06:36.400 --> 01:06:37.829 this wasn't something that looked 01:06:37.839 --> 01:06:40.630 particularly brand new. But what was it 01:06:40.640 --> 01:06:43.029 that caused this argument? Well, John 01:06:43.039 --> 01:06:44.710 was talking about something different. 01:06:44.720 --> 01:06:46.230 He was talking about an internal 01:06:46.240 --> 01:06:47.910 cleansing. He was talking about a 01:06:47.920 --> 01:06:50.150 repentance. He was not saying this is 01:06:50.160 --> 01:06:52.230 about outward washing, but this is an 01:06:52.240 --> 01:06:54.870 inner thing. and he was pointing the way 01:06:54.880 --> 01:06:57.029 to Jesus. So again, in my mind, and 01:06:57.039 --> 01:06:58.630 forgive me if I've done a little bit of 01:06:58.640 --> 01:07:02.390 um creative license here, in my mind, I 01:07:02.400 --> 01:07:04.870 wonder whether the argument, because I 01:07:04.880 --> 01:07:06.950 can hear myself here, full disclosure. 01:07:06.960 --> 01:07:08.950 Um I wondered whether the argument about 01:07:08.960 --> 01:07:11.510 whose way was better. Any of you ever 01:07:11.520 --> 01:07:13.270 had an argument with somebody or should 01:07:13.280 --> 01:07:15.190 we let's not call it an argument. Let's 01:07:15.200 --> 01:07:17.029 call it a debate because that sounds 01:07:17.039 --> 01:07:19.670 about whose way was better. Anybody? 01:07:19.680 --> 01:07:21.910 Come on, let's be honest. 01:07:21.920 --> 01:07:24.950 Whose way is better? Mine, of course. 01:07:24.960 --> 01:07:27.750 Mine, of course. Okay, so that's what I 01:07:27.760 --> 01:07:29.109 think was going on. Again, the really 01:07:29.119 --> 01:07:31.510 human thing. Um, and maybe John's 01:07:31.520 --> 01:07:33.029 disciples, the reason that they were a 01:07:33.039 --> 01:07:35.589 bit agitated was because maybe deep down 01:07:35.599 --> 01:07:37.750 they didn't understand why things had to 01:07:37.760 --> 01:07:39.829 change because we've always done it like 01:07:39.839 --> 01:07:41.990 that. Now, let me ask you a question. 01:07:42.000 --> 01:07:44.069 Ever had that feeling in you when things 01:07:44.079 --> 01:07:46.309 change and you're thinking to yourself, 01:07:46.319 --> 01:07:49.510 we've always done it like this? 01:07:49.520 --> 01:07:52.470 Anybody? Yeah. Whose way is the best 01:07:52.480 --> 01:07:55.349 way? Mine always. So I just wonder 01:07:55.359 --> 01:07:56.470 whether there's a little bit of 01:07:56.480 --> 01:07:59.430 irritation, a little bit of issue there. 01:07:59.440 --> 01:08:01.829 And uh and they go over to Jes uh to 01:08:01.839 --> 01:08:06.069 John in this state. And then I love this 01:08:06.079 --> 01:08:07.829 verse and I'm going to read it with a 01:08:07.839 --> 01:08:09.349 bit of a voice because in my head this 01:08:09.359 --> 01:08:13.109 is what's going on. Rabbi, 01:08:13.119 --> 01:08:16.070 that man, who are they talking about? 01:08:16.080 --> 01:08:18.950 Jesus. If you go back to chapter one, 01:08:18.960 --> 01:08:22.070 they knew his name. They knew his name. 01:08:22.080 --> 01:08:26.550 So they make a point of saying that man, 01:08:26.560 --> 01:08:29.829 that man that you met on the other side 01:08:29.839 --> 01:08:34.309 of the Jordan, the one you identified as 01:08:34.319 --> 01:08:38.709 the Messiah is also baptizing and 01:08:38.719 --> 01:08:42.950 everybody is going to him instead of 01:08:42.960 --> 01:08:44.630 coming to us. Now, what kind of language 01:08:44.640 --> 01:08:47.749 does that sound like to you? 01:08:47.759 --> 01:08:50.789 Why do we get defensive? 01:08:50.799 --> 01:08:52.630 Insecurity. 01:08:52.640 --> 01:08:57.269 Insecurity and fear. To understand this, 01:08:57.279 --> 01:08:59.349 we need to kind of have a bit of an idea 01:08:59.359 --> 01:09:02.229 of what it meant to be a disciple back 01:09:02.239 --> 01:09:04.470 then. When you followed a rabbi, 01:09:04.480 --> 01:09:06.550 basically you gave your whole life to 01:09:06.560 --> 01:09:08.950 them. You walked with them. You learned 01:09:08.960 --> 01:09:11.910 from them. Your whole identity was 01:09:11.920 --> 01:09:14.470 wrapped up in the rabbi. If your rabbi 01:09:14.480 --> 01:09:17.510 was doing really well, then guess what? 01:09:17.520 --> 01:09:20.309 You were also really doing very well. If 01:09:20.319 --> 01:09:22.789 the crowds were gathering, you felt 01:09:22.799 --> 01:09:25.269 significant. If people were coming, if 01:09:25.279 --> 01:09:27.669 you felt like you belonged, John was a 01:09:27.679 --> 01:09:29.430 big deal. And there was an awful lot of 01:09:29.440 --> 01:09:31.829 momentum around John and crowds 01:09:31.839 --> 01:09:34.390 gathering. Lives were being changed. So 01:09:34.400 --> 01:09:37.430 when when the I've got a bit of fluff on 01:09:37.440 --> 01:09:39.910 my finger that won't go away 01:09:39.920 --> 01:09:42.550 when um so these disciples are getting 01:09:42.560 --> 01:09:45.269 their significance and their sense of 01:09:45.279 --> 01:09:47.349 worth and their identity and sense of 01:09:47.359 --> 01:09:50.309 value from what John is doing. So when 01:09:50.319 --> 01:09:53.030 people start going to Jesus instead for 01:09:53.040 --> 01:09:56.149 them it must have felt like a loss of 01:09:56.159 --> 01:10:00.310 identity. Any of you ever felt that? Not 01:10:00.320 --> 01:10:04.390 quite sure who you are. um circumstances 01:10:04.400 --> 01:10:06.149 change and suddenly the footing that 01:10:06.159 --> 01:10:09.270 seemed really clear you're not sure 01:10:09.280 --> 01:10:12.709 about anymore and um and I can be harsh 01:10:12.719 --> 01:10:15.270 on them in my mind but I I see it in 01:10:15.280 --> 01:10:19.590 myself. I want to feel significant. 01:10:19.600 --> 01:10:21.750 I want to know that I matter in this 01:10:21.760 --> 01:10:24.470 life. I want to know that my life has 01:10:24.480 --> 01:10:26.470 purpose. And so if there's that loss of 01:10:26.480 --> 01:10:29.830 identity, if if the disciples are going 01:10:29.840 --> 01:10:31.510 or the crowds are going to Jesus, you 01:10:31.520 --> 01:10:33.110 can imagine the disciples are beginning 01:10:33.120 --> 01:10:37.110 to feel a little bit insecure. 01:10:37.120 --> 01:10:40.790 That man, well, they knew his name, but 01:10:40.800 --> 01:10:42.630 immediately distancing himself 01:10:42.640 --> 01:10:45.750 themselves from Jesus. 01:10:45.760 --> 01:10:49.030 The one you identified, what's happening 01:10:49.040 --> 01:10:51.110 there? 01:10:51.120 --> 01:10:52.149 What was that? 01:10:52.159 --> 01:10:56.390 Blame. John, this is on you. You're to 01:10:56.400 --> 01:11:00.070 blame. I love this bit. Everybody is 01:11:00.080 --> 01:11:03.110 going to him instead of us. 01:11:03.120 --> 01:11:05.110 Everybody. 01:11:05.120 --> 01:11:07.350 What? Everybody. Like the king of 01:11:07.360 --> 01:11:10.390 England or the I mean who have you used 01:11:10.400 --> 01:11:11.750 language like that? 01:11:11.760 --> 01:11:15.270 Yes. Everybody is going to him instead 01:11:15.280 --> 01:11:19.189 of us. We all do that. Everybody doesn't 01:11:19.199 --> 01:11:21.750 listen. Nobody listens to me. Everything 01:11:21.760 --> 01:11:24.790 in my life is a mess. Everything is 01:11:24.800 --> 01:11:27.669 going wrong in is everything going wrong 01:11:27.679 --> 01:11:29.590 in the world. 01:11:29.600 --> 01:11:31.990 No, but don't we use language? 01:11:32.000 --> 01:11:33.830 Everything is going We use these big 01:11:33.840 --> 01:11:37.430 exaggerated things when there is fear 01:11:37.440 --> 01:11:40.390 and insecurity. And um I really am 01:11:40.400 --> 01:11:42.070 speaking to myself this morning. I said 01:11:42.080 --> 01:11:44.229 to Nick uh Nick said, "Go for it. Preach 01:11:44.239 --> 01:11:45.590 this morning." I just I actually just 01:11:45.600 --> 01:11:47.590 want to go home because everything about 01:11:47.600 --> 01:11:49.910 this makes me feel insecure 01:11:49.920 --> 01:11:52.229 and a little bit fearful. 01:11:52.239 --> 01:11:53.990 I go through self-doubt working it 01:11:54.000 --> 01:11:55.510 through in my head. When I go home 01:11:55.520 --> 01:11:57.990 tonight, I will analyze absolutely 01:11:58.000 --> 01:12:00.950 everything that I say today because of 01:12:00.960 --> 01:12:03.030 self-doubt and insecurity and 01:12:03.040 --> 01:12:05.030 vulnerability. And the reason I can be 01:12:05.040 --> 01:12:06.630 really open about that with you today is 01:12:06.640 --> 01:12:09.430 because what? I'm in a room full of 01:12:09.440 --> 01:12:12.070 people that also understand what it 01:12:12.080 --> 01:12:14.229 means like to feel vulnerable, to feel 01:12:14.239 --> 01:12:17.189 self-doubt, to feel afraid, all of those 01:12:17.199 --> 01:12:19.590 kind of things. And insecurity makes 01:12:19.600 --> 01:12:21.910 small stuff seems really massive and it 01:12:21.920 --> 01:12:24.149 exaggerates and amplifies threats. And 01:12:24.159 --> 01:12:25.430 do you know what it does for me? It 01:12:25.440 --> 01:12:29.350 justifies what I feel. 01:12:29.360 --> 01:12:31.669 Insecurity and fear also says that 01:12:31.679 --> 01:12:34.550 there's only so much significance to go 01:12:34.560 --> 01:12:37.350 around and I'm not going to get any of 01:12:37.360 --> 01:12:40.709 it. That's what it does. Um because I 01:12:40.719 --> 01:12:43.430 felt insecure. Um because Cornelius, you 01:12:43.440 --> 01:12:46.229 had slides last week, didn't you? 01:12:46.239 --> 01:12:48.470 You did. And when Chris Simpson 01:12:48.480 --> 01:12:51.270 preaches, he has slides. So because I 01:12:51.280 --> 01:12:53.270 feel insecure and a little bit fearful, 01:12:53.280 --> 01:12:58.149 I have a slide. 01:12:58.159 --> 01:13:01.030 I have another slide. 01:13:01.040 --> 01:13:04.390 Do I? No. There we go. 01:13:04.400 --> 01:13:05.669 I knew that would have that effect. 01:13:05.679 --> 01:13:06.950 That's what I was hoping for. I wanted 01:13:06.960 --> 01:13:08.470 you to go a and then it would build my 01:13:08.480 --> 01:13:10.550 significance. You see my sense of self. 01:13:10.560 --> 01:13:13.510 That's me there 01:13:13.520 --> 01:13:15.270 obviously staring into the distance 01:13:15.280 --> 01:13:17.270 thinking about something else as usual. 01:13:17.280 --> 01:13:18.870 That's my younger sister. I absolutely 01:13:18.880 --> 01:13:20.390 love her face in that. I don't know what 01:13:20.400 --> 01:13:21.590 she was thinking about, but it's 01:13:21.600 --> 01:13:23.189 probably I don't want to be part of this 01:13:23.199 --> 01:13:26.390 family. Um, 01:13:26.400 --> 01:13:27.750 the reason I show you this, let's go 01:13:27.760 --> 01:13:28.870 back to the other one of me because I 01:13:28.880 --> 01:13:31.030 love that I look like a rabbit. Go back. 01:13:31.040 --> 01:13:32.709 There we go. Look, I think I was 01:13:32.719 --> 01:13:33.990 probably about nine there. When I was 01:13:34.000 --> 01:13:36.149 seven, I grew up in Ghana. And when I 01:13:36.159 --> 01:13:38.070 was about seven, uh, Ghana went through 01:13:38.080 --> 01:13:39.910 a lot of turmoil. They had several 01:13:39.920 --> 01:13:42.310 revolutions that went wrong. U, not went 01:13:42.320 --> 01:13:44.229 wrong, but failed revolutions. So, there 01:13:44.239 --> 01:13:45.990 was a lot of military presence, a lot of 01:13:46.000 --> 01:13:48.229 shooting, a lot of drama. And just 01:13:48.239 --> 01:13:50.630 before my seventh birthday, I think it 01:13:50.640 --> 01:13:53.590 was, Nick will tell me, 1979, the 4th of 01:13:53.600 --> 01:13:55.910 June or something, um there was a 01:13:55.920 --> 01:13:58.310 successful revolution and there were u 01:13:58.320 --> 01:14:01.030 machine military men all over with big 01:14:01.040 --> 01:14:03.110 machine guns. There were roadblocks. I 01:14:03.120 --> 01:14:04.630 remember going to school on the way to 01:14:04.640 --> 01:14:06.550 school with uh dead bodies at the side 01:14:06.560 --> 01:14:07.750 of the road that had been shot 01:14:07.760 --> 01:14:10.870 overnight. That was where I grew up. Um, 01:14:10.880 --> 01:14:12.790 and I you when I was thinking about 01:14:12.800 --> 01:14:14.229 this, I was thinking all the million 01:14:14.239 --> 01:14:15.510 things in my life that I could think 01:14:15.520 --> 01:14:17.270 about, millions of things, including 01:14:17.280 --> 01:14:18.550 stuff that's happened this week that's 01:14:18.560 --> 01:14:20.470 made me feel insecure and fearful and 01:14:20.480 --> 01:14:21.750 all of that. This is the one thing that 01:14:21.760 --> 01:14:24.229 popped to my mind. 01:14:24.239 --> 01:14:26.790 I remember imagining at this age or a 01:14:26.800 --> 01:14:29.990 little bit younger that um my dad would 01:14:30.000 --> 01:14:33.590 only be safe if I was with him. 01:14:33.600 --> 01:14:34.950 Now when I think about it, I think 01:14:34.960 --> 01:14:36.790 utterly bonkers. But he was a there was 01:14:36.800 --> 01:14:38.470 no fuel cell and he was a pastor. He 01:14:38.480 --> 01:14:39.910 would go walking out to the different 01:14:39.920 --> 01:14:42.149 churches sometimes late at night. We 01:14:42.159 --> 01:14:43.510 would hear the gunshots and I would 01:14:43.520 --> 01:14:46.149 imagine that somewhere out there my dad 01:14:46.159 --> 01:14:47.750 had been shot. That's what was going 01:14:47.760 --> 01:14:50.550 through my head. Um, and so in my 01:14:50.560 --> 01:14:52.950 insecurity and fear, I came to the 01:14:52.960 --> 01:14:54.630 conclusion, don't ask me how I did it, I 01:14:54.640 --> 01:14:56.470 don't know, but I came to the conclusion 01:14:56.480 --> 01:14:58.950 that the only way that he would be safe 01:14:58.960 --> 01:15:01.430 if was if I was joined to him at the 01:15:01.440 --> 01:15:04.470 hip. Anywhere he went, I had to be near 01:15:04.480 --> 01:15:07.510 him. Otherwise, he would die. Going to 01:15:07.520 --> 01:15:09.350 school was an absolute nightmare for my 01:15:09.360 --> 01:15:11.189 parents for a very long period of time. 01:15:11.199 --> 01:15:12.550 They would dress me in the morning and 01:15:12.560 --> 01:15:13.669 as quickly as they were putting the 01:15:13.679 --> 01:15:15.510 clothes on, I was taking them off. There 01:15:15.520 --> 01:15:17.270 was no way I was going to go to school 01:15:17.280 --> 01:15:18.709 because if I went to school, what was 01:15:18.719 --> 01:15:20.950 going to happen? My dad was going to 01:15:20.960 --> 01:15:23.750 die. Um, I remember them shoving me into 01:15:23.760 --> 01:15:25.430 a car. We had car poolool systems in 01:15:25.440 --> 01:15:27.270 those days, shoving me into the car, 01:15:27.280 --> 01:15:28.870 slamming the boot of the car, telling 01:15:28.880 --> 01:15:31.030 the driver to go, go, go, go with me 01:15:31.040 --> 01:15:32.790 locked in there going, "Ah, get me out." 01:15:32.800 --> 01:15:36.149 Um, and amazingly, um, my dad didn't die 01:15:36.159 --> 01:15:38.149 as a result of my trying to save him. 01:15:38.159 --> 01:15:41.030 But I, the reason I bring this up, is it 01:15:41.040 --> 01:15:43.590 was because I wanted I wanted you to 01:15:43.600 --> 01:15:46.550 know and to see that how insecurity and 01:15:46.560 --> 01:15:49.910 fear has the capacity to grow and and it 01:15:49.920 --> 01:15:54.229 causes different things in us. Um, 01:15:54.239 --> 01:15:57.350 and even though the reality isn't true, 01:15:57.360 --> 01:16:00.229 insecurity and fear makes it true in our 01:16:00.239 --> 01:16:03.189 lives. And then therefore it changes the 01:16:03.199 --> 01:16:05.430 way we respond to things and changes the 01:16:05.440 --> 01:16:09.030 way we react to things. And what I see 01:16:09.040 --> 01:16:10.950 in these disciples is that in their 01:16:10.960 --> 01:16:12.470 conversation with each other, their 01:16:12.480 --> 01:16:15.189 insecurity in their fear as they talked 01:16:15.199 --> 01:16:17.669 with each other, those things began to 01:16:17.679 --> 01:16:20.390 find space in their lives. And suddenly 01:16:20.400 --> 01:16:22.550 what they were talking about felt very, 01:16:22.560 --> 01:16:25.110 very real. It didn't matter how many 01:16:25.120 --> 01:16:26.950 times people said to me, "Your dad will 01:16:26.960 --> 01:16:28.790 be fine. You don't need to be there. 01:16:28.800 --> 01:16:31.510 Other people were with him. in my head 01:16:31.520 --> 01:16:33.350 that was the reality and that was what 01:16:33.360 --> 01:16:36.790 had grown in my life. So you can imagine 01:16:36.800 --> 01:16:38.630 the disciples are going through all of 01:16:38.640 --> 01:16:42.709 this and what they're coming to John for 01:16:42.719 --> 01:16:45.990 is comforting and reassurance. They want 01:16:46.000 --> 01:16:49.270 John to say everything is going to be 01:16:49.280 --> 01:16:51.510 okay. 01:16:51.520 --> 01:16:53.510 And he does something really incredible. 01:16:53.520 --> 01:16:55.590 He doesn't dismiss them but he doesn't 01:16:55.600 --> 01:16:59.350 agree with them either. He says, "A 01:16:59.360 --> 01:17:01.189 person can receive only what is given 01:17:01.199 --> 01:17:05.030 them from heaven." In other words, guys, 01:17:05.040 --> 01:17:07.750 you didn't earn this. 01:17:07.760 --> 01:17:10.470 You received this as a gift. It was 01:17:10.480 --> 01:17:13.350 given freely to you. You don't have to 01:17:13.360 --> 01:17:15.510 compete for it. You don't have to worry 01:17:15.520 --> 01:17:17.030 that, you know, if it's given, it'll be 01:17:17.040 --> 01:17:18.310 taken away. You don't have to worry that 01:17:18.320 --> 01:17:19.750 you're going to lose it or that you'll 01:17:19.760 --> 01:17:21.910 drop it or circumstances will take it 01:17:21.920 --> 01:17:23.910 away or anything. If it's been given 01:17:23.920 --> 01:17:27.430 from heaven, it's a gift given to you. 01:17:27.440 --> 01:17:30.229 You've received it. Don't need to fight 01:17:30.239 --> 01:17:32.630 for it. You don't need to compete for 01:17:32.640 --> 01:17:35.030 it. And immediately you get this shift, 01:17:35.040 --> 01:17:38.229 this perspective change. And then he 01:17:38.239 --> 01:17:41.030 goes on to say this. You yourselves know 01:17:41.040 --> 01:17:44.709 how plainly I told you I am not the 01:17:44.719 --> 01:17:47.750 Messiah. He'd already reiterated that at 01:17:47.760 --> 01:17:49.350 the beginning of John's gospel. He'd 01:17:49.360 --> 01:17:51.350 made it clear he wasn't the Messiah. And 01:17:51.360 --> 01:17:52.709 so he comes in again and says, "I'm 01:17:52.719 --> 01:17:56.070 telling you plainly, I can't fix this 01:17:56.080 --> 01:17:59.990 for you. I can't make you feel better." 01:18:00.000 --> 01:18:01.430 Maybe they wanted him to go and have a 01:18:01.440 --> 01:18:03.030 quiet word with Jesus to go and move on 01:18:03.040 --> 01:18:04.709 a little bit. He says, "I can't do 01:18:04.719 --> 01:18:07.270 anything because insecurity and fear is 01:18:07.280 --> 01:18:11.110 an issue of the heart and it takes a 01:18:11.120 --> 01:18:15.430 savior to deal with it." 01:18:15.440 --> 01:18:18.310 My this might seem like a silly story, 01:18:18.320 --> 01:18:21.110 but this insecurity and fear lasted for 01:18:21.120 --> 01:18:24.950 me for a number of years and I had to in 01:18:24.960 --> 01:18:27.110 the end have ministry and prayer about 01:18:27.120 --> 01:18:29.350 it because of what it had done to my 01:18:29.360 --> 01:18:31.430 life. And John was saying, he's saying, 01:18:31.440 --> 01:18:34.390 "Disciples, listen to me. What you're 01:18:34.400 --> 01:18:36.950 reflecting here is the insecurity in 01:18:36.960 --> 01:18:39.430 fear in you. And there is only one 01:18:39.440 --> 01:18:41.590 person that can deal with that. And 01:18:41.600 --> 01:18:42.950 who's that? 01:18:42.960 --> 01:18:45.830 Jesus, the Messiah." He says, "I'm not 01:18:45.840 --> 01:18:48.390 the Messiah. What you're asking me to do 01:18:48.400 --> 01:18:51.590 is above my pay grade. I don't have the 01:18:51.600 --> 01:18:54.149 capacity to deal with that in you. I 01:18:54.159 --> 01:18:56.070 don't have the capacity to deal with 01:18:56.080 --> 01:18:58.070 your sense of worth or your sense of 01:18:58.080 --> 01:19:01.030 identity. That is only something the 01:19:01.040 --> 01:19:04.470 Messiah can do." As I was preparing 01:19:04.480 --> 01:19:07.189 this, I just felt I wanted to say, and 01:19:07.199 --> 01:19:08.310 maybe it's not for in this bit, maybe 01:19:08.320 --> 01:19:09.750 it's for later, I don't know. But I just 01:19:09.760 --> 01:19:12.630 wanted to say that um some of us need to 01:19:12.640 --> 01:19:15.590 hear that the people in your life are 01:19:15.600 --> 01:19:18.550 not your Messiah. 01:19:18.560 --> 01:19:20.630 Maybe you have attached yourself like I 01:19:20.640 --> 01:19:23.350 did with my dad, attached myself to 01:19:23.360 --> 01:19:25.669 somebody or something, 01:19:25.679 --> 01:19:28.070 wanting them to smooth your ruffled 01:19:28.080 --> 01:19:30.470 feathers, wanting make to make you feel 01:19:30.480 --> 01:19:32.950 validated or secure. And I just want to 01:19:32.960 --> 01:19:35.510 say this morning that that person, that 01:19:35.520 --> 01:19:37.750 situation is that that's not your 01:19:37.760 --> 01:19:39.430 Messiah. 01:19:39.440 --> 01:19:41.669 And all that will happen is in time they 01:19:41.679 --> 01:19:43.510 will disappoint you. It will disappoint 01:19:43.520 --> 01:19:45.830 you because it cannot deal with what is 01:19:45.840 --> 01:19:48.709 going on inside you. Who can deal with 01:19:48.719 --> 01:19:53.830 that? There's only one. 01:19:53.840 --> 01:19:55.830 I just felt that. I know that in my own 01:19:55.840 --> 01:19:59.830 life. 01:19:59.840 --> 01:20:02.390 We're asking human beings to only do 01:20:02.400 --> 01:20:04.790 what Jesus can do. And that's what John 01:20:04.800 --> 01:20:06.470 was saying. He's saying, "Guys, I can't 01:20:06.480 --> 01:20:08.709 do any of this. I can't I can't fix this 01:20:08.719 --> 01:20:11.830 for you. I can't I can't do that this is 01:20:11.840 --> 01:20:15.189 above my capacity. There's only Jesus 01:20:15.199 --> 01:20:18.390 that can do that. And then he goes, the 01:20:18.400 --> 01:20:20.470 other word that I thought um came to my 01:20:20.480 --> 01:20:21.990 mind as I was thinking about that was 01:20:22.000 --> 01:20:23.830 actually some of you maybe need to hear 01:20:23.840 --> 01:20:31.830 that you're not the Messiah either. 01:20:31.840 --> 01:20:34.310 Was that an amen? I heard. Okay. All 01:20:34.320 --> 01:20:37.110 right. Yeah. 01:20:37.120 --> 01:20:38.950 need to hear that you're not the 01:20:38.960 --> 01:20:42.229 Messiah. Um, we hear the term Messiah 01:20:42.239 --> 01:20:43.830 complex, don't we? And sometimes we can 01:20:43.840 --> 01:20:45.430 think it is imagining that we are 01:20:45.440 --> 01:20:47.830 amazing. Um, but I think it's more 01:20:47.840 --> 01:20:50.390 subtle than that. I think it's a bit 01:20:50.400 --> 01:20:53.110 like it's up to me to fix this. A bit 01:20:53.120 --> 01:20:55.830 like I had with my dad. It's up to me to 01:20:55.840 --> 01:20:57.590 hold this thing together. If I don't 01:20:57.600 --> 01:21:00.070 step in, it won't be okay. Um, it looks 01:21:00.080 --> 01:21:01.830 like responsibility and it looks like 01:21:01.840 --> 01:21:03.510 care, but underneath it's often 01:21:03.520 --> 01:21:05.990 insecurity trying to take control. Um, 01:21:06.000 --> 01:21:08.070 and I recognized this in myself when I 01:21:08.080 --> 01:21:10.870 was seven. Genuinely believed that it 01:21:10.880 --> 01:21:12.950 was only safe if if I was there with my 01:21:12.960 --> 01:21:16.310 dad. And um, it sounds ridiculous, but I 01:21:16.320 --> 01:21:18.709 utterly believed it. It was a mess 01:21:18.719 --> 01:21:22.709 messiah complex. Um, and in my mind, I 01:21:22.719 --> 01:21:25.750 wasn't being difficult. I just felt that 01:21:25.760 --> 01:21:28.470 someone had to have control. And in the 01:21:28.480 --> 01:21:30.950 absence of any other suitable person, 01:21:30.960 --> 01:21:33.830 the responsibility fell on me. 01:21:33.840 --> 01:21:35.910 which when I think about it, my poor mom 01:21:35.920 --> 01:21:38.390 and my older siblings um in the absence 01:21:38.400 --> 01:21:41.510 of any other suitable person. 01:21:41.520 --> 01:21:43.350 So, some of you need to hear that that 01:21:43.360 --> 01:21:46.229 person that you are going to that 01:21:46.239 --> 01:21:48.550 relationship that that you're going to 01:21:48.560 --> 01:21:51.510 to get that insec the significance or 01:21:51.520 --> 01:21:54.470 insecurity stroked away. It's not going 01:21:54.480 --> 01:21:55.910 to work. It's only Jesus that can do 01:21:55.920 --> 01:21:57.830 that. And maybe we need to also look at 01:21:57.840 --> 01:21:58.950 ourselves and think to ourselves 01:21:58.960 --> 01:22:01.430 actually in situations and circumstances 01:22:01.440 --> 01:22:04.550 am I the one that wants to be the 01:22:04.560 --> 01:22:07.669 Messiah. Jesus is able to do it on his 01:22:07.679 --> 01:22:09.189 own. And we don't think we're 01:22:09.199 --> 01:22:11.590 overstepping. We think we're helping. Um 01:22:11.600 --> 01:22:13.910 but sometimes what looks like care is 01:22:13.920 --> 01:22:16.229 insecurity trying to take control. And 01:22:16.239 --> 01:22:18.229 we just have to ask the Holy Spirit to 01:22:18.239 --> 01:22:23.110 to prod us what is it that motivates us? 01:22:23.120 --> 01:22:25.350 Um because before we realized we're not 01:22:25.360 --> 01:22:28.390 just involved, we're central. Um and I 01:22:28.400 --> 01:22:30.629 just really felt I wanted to to bring 01:22:30.639 --> 01:22:33.510 that out this morning. We have to check 01:22:33.520 --> 01:22:35.590 the motivations of our heart. Which part 01:22:35.600 --> 01:22:36.950 of our heart, which part of our body is 01:22:36.960 --> 01:22:38.310 the most deceitful thing above all 01:22:38.320 --> 01:22:40.629 things, the heart, it'll tell you. It's 01:22:40.639 --> 01:22:42.629 got responsibility and care. But if it 01:22:42.639 --> 01:22:45.590 is meeting a need in me, if it is 01:22:45.600 --> 01:22:47.750 meeting a need in terms of I it is 01:22:47.760 --> 01:22:50.870 dealing with my insecurity and fear, I 01:22:50.880 --> 01:22:53.430 have to go back to Jesus uh and not to 01:22:53.440 --> 01:22:56.229 that. So John doesn't fix the situation. 01:22:56.239 --> 01:22:58.310 He changes their perspective and he 01:22:58.320 --> 01:22:59.750 gives them a completely different lens. 01:22:59.760 --> 01:23:02.470 And he says this, the bride belongs to 01:23:02.480 --> 01:23:04.550 the bridegroom. Who does the bride 01:23:04.560 --> 01:23:06.629 belong to? 01:23:06.639 --> 01:23:10.310 In other words, this was never about you 01:23:10.320 --> 01:23:12.390 in the first place. There is only one 01:23:12.400 --> 01:23:15.910 person at the center of the story and 01:23:15.920 --> 01:23:19.830 his name is Jesus. He is the only one 01:23:19.840 --> 01:23:24.390 who carries things and it isn't you. He 01:23:24.400 --> 01:23:26.550 says the step the friend stands and 01:23:26.560 --> 01:23:31.189 listens close but not central certainly 01:23:31.199 --> 01:23:34.950 involved but not carrying present but 01:23:34.960 --> 01:23:37.910 not responsible for the outcome. And 01:23:37.920 --> 01:23:40.390 that's the shift when we recognize that 01:23:40.400 --> 01:23:42.629 actually we are the friend at the 01:23:42.639 --> 01:23:45.590 wedding and not the bridegroom. Who is 01:23:45.600 --> 01:23:48.470 responsible for everything going well 01:23:48.480 --> 01:23:53.270 today? 01:23:53.280 --> 01:23:54.629 Well, I was thinking about the wedding 01:23:54.639 --> 01:23:57.030 afterwards, but thank you. But yes, 01:23:57.040 --> 01:23:58.629 you're right. Jesus. Thank you, Dylan. 01:23:58.639 --> 01:24:01.990 Yeah. Who's responsible for it? The 01:24:02.000 --> 01:24:04.390 bridegroom. The bridegroom is 01:24:04.400 --> 01:24:06.470 responsible. We get to be part of it. 01:24:06.480 --> 01:24:09.590 get to enjoy. We get to enjoy the the 01:24:09.600 --> 01:24:11.189 the 01:24:11.199 --> 01:24:13.270 ride. We get to enjoy the event. We get 01:24:13.280 --> 01:24:16.950 to enjoy um being part of it but not 01:24:16.960 --> 01:24:19.990 being responsible for it. And he goes on 01:24:20.000 --> 01:24:21.910 to say this. John says, "He must become 01:24:21.920 --> 01:24:25.189 greater and I must become less." To me, 01:24:25.199 --> 01:24:27.990 this is the crux of the thing. The way I 01:24:28.000 --> 01:24:30.149 deal with my insecurity and fear, the 01:24:30.159 --> 01:24:31.750 things that debilitate me, the things 01:24:31.760 --> 01:24:33.189 that make me shrimp back, the things 01:24:33.199 --> 01:24:34.790 that make me controlling, the things 01:24:34.800 --> 01:24:37.430 that make me all those things that I 01:24:37.440 --> 01:24:39.270 don't want to be, the the feeling inside 01:24:39.280 --> 01:24:41.510 me that I don't want to have is that to 01:24:41.520 --> 01:24:45.189 allow the Holy Spirit to become bigger 01:24:45.199 --> 01:24:48.070 in me. 01:24:48.080 --> 01:24:50.550 He must become greater. That doesn't 01:24:50.560 --> 01:24:52.070 mean to say this doesn't mean that Jesus 01:24:52.080 --> 01:24:53.910 is little and somehow I need to worship 01:24:53.920 --> 01:24:55.750 him so that he grows bigger. He is big 01:24:55.760 --> 01:24:58.870 bigger biggest huge huge hu hues large 01:24:58.880 --> 01:25:00.870 larger largest are those right words 01:25:00.880 --> 01:25:03.910 he's all those things he's bigger 01:25:03.920 --> 01:25:07.270 but it talks about the space in my life 01:25:07.280 --> 01:25:10.149 I don't want insecurity and fear to 01:25:10.159 --> 01:25:12.550 dominate what I do and who I am and how 01:25:12.560 --> 01:25:16.470 I live and the only way to do that is 01:25:16.480 --> 01:25:19.510 allowed to Jesus to become bigger. I 01:25:19.520 --> 01:25:21.510 have to own up um and say that sometimes 01:25:21.520 --> 01:25:23.510 my insecurities and fears arrive in the 01:25:23.520 --> 01:25:25.510 middle of the night. Anybody else know 01:25:25.520 --> 01:25:27.910 that feeling? 01:25:27.920 --> 01:25:30.070 Yeah. Arrive in the middle. I can be per 01:25:30.080 --> 01:25:33.430 sleeping perfectly well and suddenly 01:25:33.440 --> 01:25:36.229 insecure and fear. Boof. And then guess 01:25:36.239 --> 01:25:38.390 what I do? 01:25:38.400 --> 01:25:43.110 I wake Nick up 01:25:43.120 --> 01:25:44.790 and I say things like, "Should I be 01:25:44.800 --> 01:25:46.390 worried about that?" And he'll say 01:25:46.400 --> 01:25:48.550 things like, "No, and not now." And 01:25:48.560 --> 01:25:51.030 certainly not with me. 01:25:51.040 --> 01:25:52.310 Maybe we could talk about this this 01:25:52.320 --> 01:25:53.750 morning. And sometimes if it's a 01:25:53.760 --> 01:25:55.350 particularly difficult night, I can wake 01:25:55.360 --> 01:25:57.110 him up several times. I know you said 01:25:57.120 --> 01:25:58.229 don't be worried about this, but should 01:25:58.239 --> 01:26:00.229 I be worried about that? No. No, you 01:26:00.239 --> 01:26:01.189 don't need to be worried about anything, 01:26:01.199 --> 01:26:02.550 Erica. You just need to go to sleep and 01:26:02.560 --> 01:26:03.910 you need to let me go to sleep and all 01:26:03.920 --> 01:26:05.830 of that. Um, I don't even know what I 01:26:05.840 --> 01:26:07.350 was trying to say here. But the 01:26:07.360 --> 01:26:08.870 challenge as I've been preparing this is 01:26:08.880 --> 01:26:12.310 actually Erica, I can't I can't use Nick 01:26:12.320 --> 01:26:14.790 as my messiah. He's going to remind me 01:26:14.800 --> 01:26:15.990 when I wake him up in the middle of the 01:26:16.000 --> 01:26:17.590 night. 01:26:17.600 --> 01:26:18.870 Who are you going to Jesus? Who are you 01:26:18.880 --> 01:26:21.270 going to Erica? The way to deal with it 01:26:21.280 --> 01:26:24.790 is to ask the Holy Spirit to be big in 01:26:24.800 --> 01:26:27.910 my life. He must become big. That's the 01:26:27.920 --> 01:26:30.950 antidote to insecurity and fear is to 01:26:30.960 --> 01:26:33.430 allow the Holy Spirit to grow in my 01:26:33.440 --> 01:26:36.629 life. And I also 01:26:36.639 --> 01:26:39.030 want to say as well that we need 01:26:39.040 --> 01:26:41.590 critical friends around us who will say, 01:26:41.600 --> 01:26:43.750 "Erica, that sounds like insecurity or 01:26:43.760 --> 01:26:46.229 fear to me. What are you going to do 01:26:46.239 --> 01:26:48.709 about it?" Because I could I could there 01:26:48.719 --> 01:26:54.870 there you I could go. Oh, I'm sorry. 01:26:54.880 --> 01:26:56.229 Are you all right there? I didn't 01:26:56.239 --> 01:26:57.990 actually ask your consent. 01:26:58.000 --> 01:26:59.270 That's fine. 01:26:59.280 --> 01:27:00.709 I'm going to be worrying about that now 01:27:00.719 --> 01:27:01.270 tonight. 01:27:01.280 --> 01:27:03.030 Don't worry at all. I give you 01:27:03.040 --> 01:27:03.590 permission. 01:27:03.600 --> 01:27:04.950 Thank you. That's too late now. I've 01:27:04.960 --> 01:27:06.709 done it. 01:27:06.719 --> 01:27:09.430 Um I forgot where I was going with. 01:27:09.440 --> 01:27:10.950 Yeah, we need critical friends amongst 01:27:10.960 --> 01:27:12.950 us that will say, "Actually, that sounds 01:27:12.960 --> 01:27:15.110 like fear to me. 01:27:15.120 --> 01:27:18.070 I don't want to validate your fear. I 01:27:18.080 --> 01:27:20.070 don't want it to grow in your life. Why 01:27:20.080 --> 01:27:22.229 don't we why don't we take it to Jesus? 01:27:22.239 --> 01:27:24.229 Why don't we allow him to become big? 01:27:24.239 --> 01:27:26.709 Because if he is filling the space in 01:27:26.719 --> 01:27:28.870 us, then there's no room for the 01:27:28.880 --> 01:27:30.709 insecurity and the fear and the 01:27:30.719 --> 01:27:32.470 self-doubt and the feeling like we're 01:27:32.480 --> 01:27:34.390 we're so fragile and we're so vulnerable 01:27:34.400 --> 01:27:36.709 we're going to fall over. We need to we 01:27:36.719 --> 01:27:38.550 don't need to validate that. We need to 01:27:38.560 --> 01:27:40.390 challenge one another and say, "What 01:27:40.400 --> 01:27:43.990 about Jesus in that? What about Jesus in 01:27:44.000 --> 01:27:47.510 this situation? 01:27:47.520 --> 01:27:48.790 I don't know where I am, but I'm sure 01:27:48.800 --> 01:27:50.629 it's somewhere. 01:27:50.639 --> 01:27:53.910 How do I know whether insecurity is what 01:27:53.920 --> 01:27:55.990 is speaking? Bible says very clearly in 01:27:56.000 --> 01:27:57.750 John 3, we've just read the scripture 01:27:57.760 --> 01:27:59.270 that there's earthly language and 01:27:59.280 --> 01:28:01.350 there's heavenly language. By what we 01:28:01.360 --> 01:28:03.430 speak, we can tell what's going on. If 01:28:03.440 --> 01:28:05.510 it is about me, if it's about not being 01:28:05.520 --> 01:28:07.350 fair, if it's about insecurity, if it 01:28:07.360 --> 01:28:10.229 points at me, then it's insecurity and 01:28:10.239 --> 01:28:12.070 fear speaking. But if it's saying things 01:28:12.080 --> 01:28:14.550 like, which I'm somewhere on my notes 01:28:14.560 --> 01:28:18.550 here, 01:28:18.560 --> 01:28:20.950 if it's saying things like Jesus is 01:28:20.960 --> 01:28:23.270 enough, Jesus can sort this out. I can 01:28:23.280 --> 01:28:25.590 give this to Jesus. He is trustworthy. 01:28:25.600 --> 01:28:27.510 All those things are the language of 01:28:27.520 --> 01:28:29.510 heaven. We can tell out of the abundance 01:28:29.520 --> 01:28:31.910 of the heart the mouth speaks. What you 01:28:31.920 --> 01:28:34.550 say will tell you whether or not you are 01:28:34.560 --> 01:28:36.149 living in a place where you're trying to 01:28:36.159 --> 01:28:38.229 deal with it yourself or whether you're 01:28:38.239 --> 01:28:40.870 actually allowing Jesus to fill up that 01:28:40.880 --> 01:28:46.470 space in you. 01:28:46.480 --> 01:28:48.790 Jesus is greater. 01:28:48.800 --> 01:28:50.790 He is enough. 01:28:50.800 --> 01:28:53.270 That is a bit of a mantra. He's enough 01:28:53.280 --> 01:28:55.910 for me in the middle of the night when I 01:28:55.920 --> 01:29:00.149 wake up in that moment and suddenly I 01:29:00.159 --> 01:29:02.709 get that overwhelming whooshy feeling. 01:29:02.719 --> 01:29:05.910 Any of you ever had that? 01:29:05.920 --> 01:29:09.750 He is enough for me. 01:29:09.760 --> 01:29:12.390 He is enough for me when I am wobbling 01:29:12.400 --> 01:29:13.990 or 01:29:14.000 --> 01:29:17.350 uncertain. He's enough. And I don't want 01:29:17.360 --> 01:29:21.590 to live with 01:29:21.600 --> 01:29:23.830 the thoughts and the feelings that go 01:29:23.840 --> 01:29:26.149 with insecurity and fear. I want to be 01:29:26.159 --> 01:29:28.070 like John and say, "Actually, I'm not 01:29:28.080 --> 01:29:30.229 worried about Jesus at all. I'm not 01:29:30.239 --> 01:29:31.669 worried that he's baptizing over there. 01:29:31.679 --> 01:29:33.030 I'm not worried that all the disciples 01:29:33.040 --> 01:29:34.310 go over to him. I'm not worried about 01:29:34.320 --> 01:29:35.510 any of that. In fact, I'm actually 01:29:35.520 --> 01:29:37.990 joyful about his success. I want there 01:29:38.000 --> 01:29:41.750 to be joy in my heart. And I realize 01:29:41.760 --> 01:29:43.990 that unless I allow Jesus to fill that 01:29:44.000 --> 01:29:48.470 space in me, that won't be my language. 01:29:48.480 --> 01:29:51.750 I can trust him. I've been given enough. 01:29:51.760 --> 01:29:54.870 You're not my Messiah, Nick. You're not 01:29:54.880 --> 01:29:59.110 my Messiah. 01:29:59.120 --> 01:30:01.270 Your circumstance is not your Messiah. 01:30:01.280 --> 01:30:03.830 You are not the Messiah either. It is 01:30:03.840 --> 01:30:05.350 humbling to find a situation and go, 01:30:05.360 --> 01:30:06.470 "Actually, I don't know what to do about 01:30:06.480 --> 01:30:10.149 this." But Jesus does. I realize I'm 01:30:10.159 --> 01:30:12.550 running out of time very quickly. Let's 01:30:12.560 --> 01:30:13.990 stand together. Wonder if the musicians 01:30:14.000 --> 01:30:31.110 could come back. 01:30:31.120 --> 01:30:32.470 Just really want us to stand and be 01:30:32.480 --> 01:30:35.990 honest. 01:30:36.000 --> 01:30:52.709 Um, 01:30:52.719 --> 01:30:55.430 maybe you could strum something. 01:30:55.440 --> 01:30:57.750 Thank you. 01:30:57.760 --> 01:30:59.030 Maybe as we've been looking at the 01:30:59.040 --> 01:31:00.950 disciples of John, maybe you've 01:31:00.960 --> 01:31:03.030 recognized something of yourself in 01:31:03.040 --> 01:31:05.030 them. 01:31:05.040 --> 01:31:06.870 Maybe you can see where insecurity has 01:31:06.880 --> 01:31:09.590 crept into your heart. 01:31:09.600 --> 01:31:12.229 Maybe it's led you to retreat or to 01:31:12.239 --> 01:31:15.830 control um or to compare or exaggerate 01:31:15.840 --> 01:31:18.629 or feel uncertain. 01:31:18.639 --> 01:31:20.790 Or maybe 01:31:20.800 --> 01:31:22.870 as the disciples did and they said that 01:31:22.880 --> 01:31:25.350 man and they called him that man instead 01:31:25.360 --> 01:31:27.110 of Jesus actually distanced yourself 01:31:27.120 --> 01:31:32.229 from Jesus and from other people. 01:31:32.239 --> 01:31:35.430 Or maybe like me, you recognize that 01:31:35.440 --> 01:31:37.669 you've looked to someone else or 01:31:37.679 --> 01:31:39.030 something else to give you peace, to 01:31:39.040 --> 01:31:41.430 make you feel secure, 01:31:41.440 --> 01:31:43.110 and you know the disappointment that 01:31:43.120 --> 01:31:47.990 comes when they can't be enough. 01:31:48.000 --> 01:31:49.910 Or maybe you recognize the times you've 01:31:49.920 --> 01:31:52.629 tried to find your value in being needed 01:31:52.639 --> 01:31:54.149 or being the one to hold things 01:31:54.159 --> 01:31:56.629 together, carrying things that were 01:31:56.639 --> 01:32:00.709 never really yours to carry. 01:32:00.719 --> 01:32:01.990 Just wonder if we could just take a 01:32:02.000 --> 01:32:32.390 moment to be honest before God. 01:32:32.400 --> 01:32:34.390 Jesus, we bring these things to you now. 01:32:34.400 --> 01:32:36.709 You see us fully. 01:32:36.719 --> 01:32:38.629 You see the places where we feel afraid 01:32:38.639 --> 01:32:41.590 and we feel insecure. The places where 01:32:41.600 --> 01:32:45.350 we try to hold things together. 01:32:45.360 --> 01:32:47.189 The places where we step in because 01:32:47.199 --> 01:32:49.430 we're afraid of what might happen if we 01:32:49.440 --> 01:32:52.310 don't. and the places when you've tried 01:32:52.320 --> 01:32:53.910 to where we've tried to find our 01:32:53.920 --> 01:32:56.950 significance in other people or in what 01:32:56.960 --> 01:32:58.709 we do 01:32:58.719 --> 01:33:01.270 instead of you. 01:33:01.280 --> 01:33:02.870 We bring those things that we've been 01:33:02.880 --> 01:33:05.110 gripping tightly, things that we've been 01:33:05.120 --> 01:33:07.350 trying to control. 01:33:07.360 --> 01:33:10.310 Forgive us for our misguided thinking 01:33:10.320 --> 01:33:12.550 that other people, situations, and 01:33:12.560 --> 01:33:16.310 places are the source of our peace. 01:33:16.320 --> 01:33:18.950 And father, if our insecurity 01:33:18.960 --> 01:33:22.550 is distancing us from you, forgive us. 01:33:22.560 --> 01:33:27.750 We draw close to you this morning. 01:33:27.760 --> 01:33:29.750 We know you, Lord Jesus, are the only 01:33:29.760 --> 01:33:32.870 one who is meant to be the source of our 01:33:32.880 --> 01:33:35.830 joy. 01:33:35.840 --> 01:33:38.629 Help us to see you clearly at the 01:33:38.639 --> 01:33:41.030 center, the bridegroom, the one who 01:33:41.040 --> 01:33:44.070 holds all things. 01:33:44.080 --> 01:33:45.990 Please come and take up that space in 01:33:46.000 --> 01:33:48.950 us, the space we filled with fear, with 01:33:48.960 --> 01:33:51.990 striving, with the need to be needed. 01:33:52.000 --> 01:33:53.270 And would you fill it with your 01:33:53.280 --> 01:33:56.070 presence, with your peace, with your 01:33:56.080 --> 01:33:58.470 sufficiency? 01:33:58.480 --> 01:34:01.350 And where insecurity has taken root, 01:34:01.360 --> 01:34:03.590 would you bring freedom through your 01:34:03.600 --> 01:34:05.910 everinccreasing presence in our lives? 01:34:05.920 --> 01:34:09.750 Lord God, be greater in us, 01:34:09.760 --> 01:34:12.709 grow in us. I pray 01:34:12.719 --> 01:34:15.590 that you would be increase that we would 01:34:15.600 --> 01:34:17.350 decrease 01:34:17.360 --> 01:34:26.390 in Jesus name. Amen.