1 00:00:15,360 --> 00:01:00,310 Oh, come on. Ah. 2 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,160 So which one is actually better? Huh. 3 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,960 Which one is actually better? It's nice. 4 00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:23,880 To see you. Welcome. 5 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,280 It's been an amazing series. I actually don't think I'm going 6 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:32,000 to preach long today, but really, what's that? 7 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:36,760 Can you just tell us how you got that? 8 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,520 Plast on your hand. Can you tell us how you did 9 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,240 that? Yeah, because Afrikaans guys 10 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,160 don't cut. Their wood China they order in 11 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,600 cut already. Now you do my boys something. 12 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:51,880 You can come and order wood and then start chopping it before 13 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:53,480 the bra, but they order. It ready. 14 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:57,880 Made just put it straight on the bra so your 6 stitches very bad. 15 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,120 Can you put? My loaf of bread up at least, 16 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,200 Ricky. That came from my next door 17 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,680 neighbor this week. She's here today. 18 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,039 Afrikaans lady and. I'm actually not going to 19 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:12,440 preach. I want to just say. 20 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,480 Two scriptures with you. I was going to preach on 21 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,040 Ecclesiastes 4. Again I looked and I saw all the 22 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,520 oppression that was taking place under the sun. 23 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:27,600 I saw the tears of the oppressed and they have no comforter 24 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:34,120 powers on the oppressors and they have no comforter if. 25 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:34,680 You can. Turn to. 26 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:35,680 Mark. Chapter 7. 27 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:49,320 Please. And verse 31 Then Jesus left the 28 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,840 vicinity of Tyre and went through Sardon down to the Sea 29 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,240 of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 30 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,040 There's some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could 31 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,880 hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. 32 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,080 After he took him aside away from the crowd, Jesus put his 33 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:12,080 finger into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the 34 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:15,880 man's tongue. He looked up to heaven. 35 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:22,440 I've. Spent a week preparing. 36 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,280 I've got. 5 pages of notes and as I passed. 37 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,520 I cannot get past these two words. 38 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:38,680 And with a deep sigh, I've spent days in my study this week. 39 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,680 Thank God. Is this somehow that you can put 40 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:48,880 the depth of that sigh inside of my heart, that somebody would 41 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:50,520 hear it? Because it says in the book of 42 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:56,400 Ecclesiastes they were oppressed, but nobody saw their 43 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,920 tears and nobody heard their cry. 44 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:05,440 And I thought, God, is there some way please God, that deep 45 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,440 inside of my heart I could start to feel that sigh. 46 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,200 And I don't know who is here this morning, but somebody just 47 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:24,360 needs to hear deep inside of. Your heart, dear God. 48 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,040 And I want to just preach on this very simple thing. 49 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:35,200 It is better to be here in the local church than it is to be in 50 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,400 a place where nobody can hear. Your cry. 51 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:40,120 It is better to. Be. 52 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:40,920 Here SO. Whole of. 53 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:42,400 Ecclesiastes 4. It's better. 54 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,480 Than this then that Bob will is better than Marmot or Land Rover 55 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:46,760 is better than. However. 56 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:47,280 You want. To do. 57 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:49,640 It but the Bible says there's some things that are better than 58 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,160 others and it's. Better to be in community than 59 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,120 it is. To be alone. 60 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,600 And the SMSI don't know if you've got it yet, Ricky, you've 61 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,320 got. It morning. 62 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,560 Buddy. Morning, buddy. 63 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,880 Capital M. Capital B, buddy that. 64 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,080 Means I'm important to him. Morning buddy. 65 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,200 So awesome here with a. Heart that's. 66 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:16,520 A man. Who's sitting up there? 67 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,640 Somewhere morning buddy. So awesome. 68 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:22,600 Yeah. Be God. 69 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,960 I won't tell you who he is, but I'll tell you who I met him. 70 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,720 I met him on the side of a rugby field at Hilton College in. 71 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,880 Natal and he just shook his hand he. 72 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,000 Said hi, I'm this and I said hi, I'm that. 73 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,080 And now he's sitting in the church together and he watching 74 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:37,720 this baptism. I'm looking up there and he's 75 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,800 just he's just drying his ass. He's a successful businessman. 76 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,240 He's highly. He's just gifted. 77 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,600 And he's looking down at this baptism pool, and I'm looking at 78 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,320 this baptism pool. And we met in Natal, but we're 79 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,600 sitting together and I think God, Can you imagine what God 80 00:05:53,600 --> 00:06:01,080 thinks? It's awesome. 81 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,720 It's awesome. My next door neighbor just 82 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,200 brings me a loaf of bread because she wants to share it to 83 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,880 my friend who was up here last week with his daughter. 84 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,920 His wife watches all online, and then her friend writes a poem 85 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:17,680 about the. Humility of her husband. 86 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:21,040 She sends me the poem God can hear when you're together, 87 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:23,480 whether you're fixing generators. 88 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,840 Or when you're just meeting each other on the side of a rugby 89 00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:27,240 field. And then my next. 90 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:30,360 Door neighbor from the tell. This is my next door neighbor 91 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:31,960 from the Tel. My family have a. 92 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:32,760 Little Cottage. In the. 93 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,400 Tub this is. My next door neighbor from the 94 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,720 Tel and you know, every single time that I come to Natal 95 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:39,480 because it's cold in the Tel every single. 96 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,680 Time I come there, my firewood is up and he just sends me. 97 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,440 A. Picture says welcome the. 98 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,800 Firewood is full and then he comes to Pretoria to do business 99 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:50,320 and he SMS and he says can. I stay. 100 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:51,000 At your. Home. 101 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,000 And for two days, my next door, the Bible says it's better to 102 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:55,840 be. Together. 103 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:58,960 And then it's to be a part. Amen. 104 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:06,360 And this. Is my friend's daughter. 105 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,160 She's a doctor. She qualifies this year as a 106 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,160 doctor. I've called the doctor for five 107 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:13,080 years. She keeps saying I'm not a 108 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,480 doctor, but you got to say I was right. 109 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,880 And her dad has been my friend for 30 years and he's had a 110 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,560 nervous breakdown. He's been in ministry and his 111 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,920 church was right on the edge of a of a squatter camp. 112 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:28,080 And he had 200 break insurance a year, every year for about. 113 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:29,560 Four years he got called out. He was the only. 114 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,880 Elder 800 times in four years. He got called out and eventually 115 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,000 had a nervous breakdown and I've been trying to look after and be 116 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:37,920 his friend and this. Last week. 117 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,960 This week. On Friday she just SMS said hey 118 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,600 can I come and stay at your house because it's better. 119 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:43,720 To be. Together. 120 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:54,040 Than it is to be alone. And this man, this man who has 121 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,640 been deaf and dumb. And can't communicate with 122 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,600 anybody, he says. Is there anybody that can feel? 123 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:01,760 It and. Jesus says. 124 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,120 With a deep sigh, say deep sigh deep. 125 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,280 Sigh. Say deep sigh, deep sigh. 126 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:22,480 Let's let's try and do that. My black friend. 127 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:24,880 Who came from the Congo? Who came to? 128 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:26,600 Pretoria to serve God with us, went. 129 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,640 Overseas to see his family and when he came back he said, hey 130 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,480 Rory, I was walking through Europe and I felt I thought 131 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,440 about you, so I bought you a pair of shoes. 132 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,559 So what do we have any? Some Congo I'm from South 133 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:40,760 Africa, is black. I'm white. 134 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:41,120 He's. Got a? 135 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,039 Degree. I don't have a degree, but he 136 00:08:43,039 --> 00:08:45,240 said Hey roll, when I was walking through the streets of 137 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,840 Europe, I saw this pair of shoes and I just thought about you and 138 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:50,880 I just walked. I will put them on today. 139 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,600 And inside of my heart, Christian, was a deep sigh. 140 00:09:05,250 --> 00:09:10,210 And you might be a friend. I won't point you out after. 35 141 00:09:10,210 --> 00:09:12,810 years of marriage and this week had to write for the first time. 142 00:09:12,810 --> 00:09:15,130 He had to put a cross in the divorce section. 143 00:09:15,130 --> 00:09:17,410 And he sent it to me and he said, Rory, it took me. 144 00:09:17,410 --> 00:09:20,440 Ages to actually mark. The divorce. 145 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:28,560 Box. Deep, deep, deep. 146 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:33,360 Deep side. About to make a. 147 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:38,320 Ministry decision. Everybody says yes, my friend 148 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:39,760 walked. Into my office this week. 149 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,280 Put a cup of coffee down. And from deep inside. 150 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,320 Of his soul, he said. Oh, I'm concerned about you. 151 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:53,760 We're about to build this building. 152 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:00,120 We had bulldozers outside the front, we had front end loaders. 153 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,760 Everybody was dressed in. Hard hats. 154 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:05,200 I was sitting at Melrose Arts looking. 155 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:06,640 At my mum's finances and I had a. 156 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,200 Nervous breakdown. My heart started to race and 157 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:13,320 this building project was put on hold for 18 months because of my 158 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:14,760 health. But God. 159 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:16,320 Didn't want us to. Get the glory. 160 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,760 Through our human effort, He wanted to build it in COVID when 161 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,600 we had absolutely no control of that. 162 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,600 But in that time, God raised this man up to start to preach 163 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:38,780 because 2 is better than one. We're not meant to get into 164 00:10:38,780 --> 00:10:40,300 competition. So, well, he's better. 165 00:10:40,300 --> 00:10:41,980 I like him. I prefer him know. 166 00:10:41,980 --> 00:10:45,900 That the beauty is together. The beauty is together. 167 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:49,000 Don't ask who's preaching. Or who you like that that would 168 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:53,280 cause ructions in our church when we're together come and 169 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,240 stand next to me Stephen. When you're together, back to. 170 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:03,720 Back. When you're together, doesn't 171 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,160 matter. His arms are bigger than mine, 172 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:12,640 but when we are together we have each other's. 2 is better than 173 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:19,720 one. You know who you are, buddy. 174 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,080 Morning, buddy. Yes, it is awesome here. 175 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:24,160 And you know why it's awesome here? 176 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,600 Because you are here. And my neighbor who bought us 177 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,160 sourdough bread. It's awesome. 178 00:11:31,680 --> 00:11:36,200 Because you are here. And my pastor, doctor friend, 179 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:41,360 No, it's awesome. Because you are here and my 180 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,280 neighbors from the tailed. You know why it's awesome? 181 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:52,880 Because you are here and the pillars of the church and Robin 182 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,840 and Suzanne own. You know what's awesome? 183 00:11:57,560 --> 00:12:00,920 Because whatever this church has been through, you are here. 184 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:03,640 And I don't know who you are. I don't. 185 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:14,060 Know what your situation is. I don't know if you're there for 186 00:12:14,060 --> 00:12:17,460 them. Or you feel completely isolated. 187 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:25,280 But all I've asked God. This week is can you give me 188 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,480 the? Depth deep inside of my heart. 189 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,000 That people will know. That it's. 190 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,280 Better to be here than it is to be alone. 191 00:12:41,700 --> 00:12:46,020 I really am not unprepared, but I feel this deep in my heart. 192 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:01,880 Jesus was. Alone on the cross, and he cried 193 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,320 out to the Father. Eloy, Eloy. 194 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:09,080 Lamasa Bhaktani. My God, my God, why have? 195 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:15,200 You forsaken me. He cried that So whoever is in 196 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:19,920 this building today, whether you're divorced or alone. 197 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:24,000 Or you're oppressed. And nobody you feel, according 198 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:30,040 to Ecclesiastes, can hear your cry or see your tears. 199 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,600 They know this. The one who? 200 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:34,360 Was left. On the. 201 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:38,600 Cross. By himself, can hear you, can 202 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,800 see you, is deeply concerned about you. 203 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:47,760 And whether it's through my body up there, or my buddy's daughter 204 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:53,040 there, or my neighbor who speaks Zulu from Natal, or my fellow 205 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:58,880 preacher or my fellow elders, or my black friend who buys me 206 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:05,200 shoes, just know this. It's better to be together than 207 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:29,900 it is to be alone. He looked. 208 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:33,180 Up to heaven. And with a deep. 209 00:14:33,180 --> 00:14:38,420 Sigh, he said ifafafa, which means be opened. 210 00:14:38,900 --> 00:14:40,900 At this the man's ears. Were opened. 211 00:14:41,820 --> 00:14:45,060 His tongue was loosened. And he began to. 212 00:14:45,060 --> 00:14:48,780 Speak plainly. Jesus commanded him not to tell 213 00:14:48,780 --> 00:14:50,060 anyone but the more. He did. 214 00:14:50,060 --> 00:14:52,480 So. The more they kept talking about 215 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,240 it, people. Were overwhelmed with amazement 216 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:56,760 he. Has done. 217 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,080 Everything. Well, they said he. 218 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:04,720 Even makes the deaf hear and. The mute speak and the lonely 219 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:09,440 feel loved and the suicidal have hope and the rejected be 220 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,800 accepted in. The divorced feel like first 221 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:18,760 class citizens and the bankrupt feel rich and the despised feel 222 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:24,760 loved, and the abused feel whole, and The Dirty feel clean, 223 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:32,120 and the unholy feel the whiteness of God and the left 224 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:41,130 behind feel chosen. Yes, you young lady. 225 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:56,560 And you and you young lady. It's OK, You can cry. 226 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:42,640 Morning, buddy. It's awesome to be here. 227 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:48,920 Morning, buddy. Morning, friend. 228 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,480 Morning, neighbor. It's great to have you here. 229 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,960 It's better to be here than to be alone. 230 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:57,360 God bless you.