1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,760 Hi, I'm switched on now. It's so good to see you and it's 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,080 just wonderful to be back here again to share with you and such 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,440 a big group from all the different sites welcome and to 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,200 you online, welcome. It's just lovely to be here and 5 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:18,360 share fellowship together. Well, how was your Christmas? 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,440 Is it great? Some of you thumbs up. 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,560 Yes, it was good, special with loved ones clothes. 8 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:30,320 Some of you OK feeling a bit weary, Others could have been 9 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,840 better. OK, the good news, it doesn't 10 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:34,680 come around until another whole year. 11 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,760 But this is the the wonderful Sunday that's sandwiched between 12 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:45,240 Christmas and New Year and this is the time where we can just 13 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:50,240 blow away all that was passed and look towards the future. 14 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,520 Often this is a time where we just reflect and what's happened 15 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,880 in the last year or so and what are we really wanting as the 16 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:03,760 year starts 2026, Can you believe it? 17 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,920 So I think that Isaiah says it's so much better than I do. 18 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:13,760 And Isaiah 4318 and 19, I haven't got it on the screen 19 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,720 because I really want you to remember this. 20 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:21,280 Isaiah 4318 and 19. He says, forget the former 21 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:25,760 things, don't think about the past and dwell on it. 22 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:32,280 See, I'm doing something new. And I really believe that's what 23 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,360 he's got. For each one of us, he is going 24 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,800 to do something new. We're going to welcome our 25 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,720 wonderful new pastors, Chuck and Taron, for a start, for the 26 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:42,960 church. We're so excited about that. 27 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:47,440 But in our own individual lives, he's wanting to do something 28 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,560 new. We've had a very good Christmas 29 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,720 series so far, haven't we? With Denise speaking on the good 30 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:58,760 news and then we had Claire who spoke so powerfully on The Dust 31 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,360 and the Divine. And then we had Claire after 32 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,640 Claire speaking. We had wonderful Jenna last week 33 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,039 and what a moving talk that was. If you haven't listened, I 34 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,720 really encourage you from the Crib to the Clash. 35 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,920 And she also spoke about the cross and the crown. 36 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,440 It was just an amazing talk. And when I was praying about 37 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,800 what do I share today, I didn't know what these lovely ladies 38 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,720 were going to talk about. And I started to say, Lord, what 39 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:32,120 do you want me to share? And amazingly, he gave me this 40 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:37,240 title, the grime and the glory. And I thought, well, that's a 41 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,440 bit dramatic, isn't it? You know, especially for me 42 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,880 because I'm usually the gentle one who likes to encourage. 43 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,280 And he said, no, this is not the gentle time. 44 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,240 This is the grime and the glory. And I want you to speak with 45 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,960 boldness like you've never spoken before. 46 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,440 And I really loved me. But I really believe that this 47 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:03,400 is what he's what he has on his heart for us today, something 48 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:07,760 that is extraordinary as we are saying goodbye to the old and we 49 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:12,160 are welcoming the new, He is leading us as He has done 50 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,960 through all the ages on the grime to the glory. 51 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:21,600 So what I've called this talk is the light of life, because 52 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,320 that's Jesus. He brings light in the darkness. 53 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:30,680 He opens up all the shadows and he beams in his glorious light. 54 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:33,440 And it's the light that is healing. 55 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:39,040 It's the light full of love. It's the light with energy in it 56 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:45,600 to bring life and his life is not just stumbling onto the next 57 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,480 year with long arms. I always think it's like these 58 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,640 orangutan arms. You know when you're really not 59 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,640 really keen when you said to the kids tidy up your room with 60 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,920 supper time or that's the orangutan. 61 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,640 It's not that we are going in with excitement to see what he 62 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,360 has for us because it's abundant life. 63 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,240 It's full life in all of its glory. 64 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:15,280 So I want us to think today about two things as we are 65 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:20,240 looking at the light of life. He is the God of breakthrough. 66 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,560 And with God, when you've opened yourself to the God of 67 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:29,200 breakthrough, you can expect the unexpected. 68 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,880 And that has been His way all through the centuries. 69 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,720 Forget the former things. Don't dwell on the past. 70 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,200 And that's Isaiah 4318. You'll remember it. 71 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:46,280 See, I am doing a new thing. I believe He really is. 72 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,560 We often think at the Christmas time that it all starts at the 73 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:56,600 nativity, the little baby in the Manger, and it started eons 74 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,960 before then, before the beginnings of time and space. 75 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,480 Christ was there as a light in the most amazing way. 76 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:11,480 We can start reading in Genesis chapter 1, the beginning. 77 00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:15,280 God created the heavens and the earth, and I love this. 78 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:20,320 It's just so moving and I almost can hear a Symphony swelling 79 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:22,560 now. The earth was formless and 80 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:27,280 empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the 81 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:31,760 Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 82 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,120 I've talked about this before, this amazing picture of a giant 83 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:41,440 bird hovering, pulsating, vibrating over this chaos. 84 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,640 And God spoke. God said let there be light. 85 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,160 And I can just hear the cymbals flashing. 86 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:54,640 It was light and things were irreparably changed. 87 00:05:55,560 --> 00:06:01,400 The God of Breakthrough had torn open time and space and broken 88 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:06,720 into our world because he wanted to share himself, His glory, His 89 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:11,080 light, His life with us, His creatures, the ones that he's 90 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,720 made in the most extraordinary way. 91 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,680 You look at that little baby lying in the Manger and you 92 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:21,640 think there was more power in that little baby's finger than 93 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,560 in the biggest atomic bomb. But it was powerful, good, 94 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:28,480 powerful, healing, powerful life. 95 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:35,880 That is Jesus, the light of life all the way through the Old 96 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:37,960 Testament. It's the same picture. 97 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,880 God is the God, a breakthrough and when he comes, you can 98 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,600 expect the unexpected. Are you ready? 99 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,440 Let's look firstly at Moses. There's so many I could talk 100 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,120 about, but Moses, I really love him so much. 101 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:56,880 He's just such a down to earth guy. 102 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,800 I mean, he made many mistakes like we all do. 103 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,160 And then there was this time where he met God in front of 104 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,720 that burning Bush and God spoke to him. 105 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,840 And you can imagine the absolute terror of a Bush that was 106 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,840 burning but not consumed. And then the voice coming out 107 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,160 and speaking and saying, I've called you and I have a plan for 108 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,240 your life to set the captive spree. 109 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,240 And he would just say, no, not me. 110 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:28,800 Now I just want to share with you quite honestly, as I'm 111 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:32,880 afraid about this. I know that the God of 112 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:38,680 Breakthrough truly has a plan for each one of you like he has 113 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,440 for me. And I'm the one who feels so 114 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,520 unworthy and so useless often and I really do make mistakes. 115 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,960 But he's saying, don't worry, I am with you. 116 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:55,480 I'm calling you for a purpose because I want to use you to set 117 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:59,560 you free, but then to use you to set the others free. 118 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:05,120 The world is walking in darkness and chaos and the Holy Spirit is 119 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,720 hovering and brooding and even in this room I can just sense 120 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:14,080 He's here wanting breakthrough and it's not this gentle heaven 121 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,360 touching earth. Sometimes it is that way with 122 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,960 the Lord. It's beautiful and it's like 123 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,680 little dewdrops. The way that this is described 124 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:28,440 in Genesis is a rupturing. It's a ripping, it's a tearing, 125 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:33,000 it's a breaking. It's quite a forceful in coming 126 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:38,440 into our time and space because of the urgency that he wants to 127 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:43,120 rescue. And what he said to Moses was he 128 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,080 would be with him, but he would call him. 129 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:50,640 And Moses kept making excuses. And I love the way that God is 130 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:54,760 the God of the unexpected. Moses is probably his comfort 131 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,640 blanket, so to speak. Was his ride makes mad of her. 132 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,720 But he would have had that ride hurting the sheep 'cause he was 133 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,840 a shepherd. The guy said, what's in your 134 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,360 hand? And he knew it was his staff to 135 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,840 throw it on the ground. And it became a snake. 136 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,480 And it says in the Scripture, Moses was terrified. 137 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,280 And I can just imagine him jumping and dodging the stake. 138 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:18,040 And the Lord told him how to take it and use it. 139 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:22,280 And with that rod he struck the Red Sea, and the Red Sea opened 140 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,160 again. The Hebrew word is this tearing, 141 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:30,760 rupturing, breaking of God, of the breakthrough coming in and 142 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,480 doing the impossible. Expect the unexpected. 143 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,120 And this, dear Moses, we were singing Show me your face in 144 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:39,680 such a beautiful way. Thank you. 145 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:44,520 We were singing. Moses, this man who was in his 146 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:49,240 80s climbed Mount Sinai. And if you've been to Mount 147 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,880 Sinai at all, you'll see it is a mighty big mountain. 148 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:58,120 It's about 7 1/2 thousand feet. There's over 2000 meters that he 149 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:03,480 went up there and he asked God this amazing, public, audacious 150 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,640 question. Show me your glory. 151 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,200 I love the fact that Moses wanted more. 152 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,960 He saw such miracles. He saw the plagues, he saw the 153 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:20,080 Red Sea open, he saw the Manor, he saw the fire by night and he 154 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,680 wanted more. Oh, I want more. 155 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:29,720 And he said, show me your glory. And God said, you can't see me 156 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,840 and live because that is the brilliance of the light. 157 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:36,400 It is too dazzling that you just cannot see him and live. 158 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:42,320 So he very lovingly hit him in a cleft of a rock, and he passed 159 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,480 over him. And it is just that this sort of 160 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:51,360 after light glimmer, the trail, the trace of life of light that 161 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,520 came over Moses as he was in the cleft of this rock. 162 00:10:55,520 --> 00:11:00,440 And it was so intense and dazzling, although it just was 163 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:05,280 like after lightning. You see this face of light when 164 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,760 he came down from the mountain, his face actually radiated. 165 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,600 I've seen so many old stained glass windows of Moses and he's 166 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,560 got horns because people actually thought it was like 167 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:20,000 light beams going ping, ping, ping out of his head. 168 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:26,760 The light was so bright because of this encounter trail of God's 169 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,920 light and His glory that was Moses. 170 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,440 All through the Old Testament, the prophets keep talking about 171 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:39,440 this light that is to come. Let's look at Isaiah. 172 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:45,680 Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 2 says the people who walk in darkness 173 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:50,360 will see a great light. For those who live in a land of 174 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:55,760 deep darkness, a light will shine and I just love this. 175 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,400 It's breakthrough. It's God just ripping open and 176 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,720 letting his glory and his light come beaming in. 177 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,840 When I was praying about this, I thought so often when I talk, I 178 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:11,160 I always get a sense of violence and gentleness. 179 00:12:11,680 --> 00:12:15,320 I feel the Lord saying today is the day of the brass band and 180 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,680 the drums. And when I said we're going to 181 00:12:17,680 --> 00:12:22,520 really let it, let it go, because this is a message where 182 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:24,920 it is loud. You can't actually tiptoe 183 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:28,800 through it. It's God wanting to say wherever 184 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:33,960 you are, whoever you are, allow me to breakthrough into your 185 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:39,120 life and show you my light, who I am as you've never seen and 186 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:44,200 known me before, Because that way I can equip you to be who I 187 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,240 want you to be and to do what I want you to do. 188 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:54,800 So those who walked in darkness, yes, they, they have, those 189 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,840 who've walked in darkness have seen a great light. 190 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:03,200 And when you see that light and you know that light, your life 191 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:08,280 is irreparably changed. Those who live in a land of 192 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,920 darkness, and I land in many ways is in a land of deep 193 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,880 darkness. Let them see the light. 194 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:17,560 And that's the way that Lord is speaking. 195 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:22,240 Do you know that they were amazing prophecies about the 196 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:26,000 light coming? And then expect the unexpected. 197 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:27,440 You know what happened after that? 198 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:33,400 Malachi spoke. He was a prophet, a minor 199 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:37,600 prophet. And for 400 years there was 200 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,720 silence, nothing. Expect the unexpected. 201 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,000 Everybody's ready for the light and nothing happens. 202 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,600 Have you felt that you're so pumped up and ready for God to 203 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,800 move? You're waiting for the light, 204 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,640 you're waiting for breakthrough and nothing happens. 205 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:02,320 But God was preparing the perfect time, the perfect place. 206 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:07,360 And you know, there are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament 207 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:14,480 about Jesus Christ coming, how he would be conceived, what kind 208 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,360 of birth you would have, what kind of life you would have, 209 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:21,400 what his character would be, how he would identify with the poor 210 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:25,240 and the broken, how he would heal, how he would feel the pain 211 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,040 and how he would be beaten and bruised, and how he would go as 212 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:34,760 a perfect sacrifice. Over 300 prophecies about him. 213 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:40,200 And so at the right time, at God's perfect time, he broke 214 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:41,720 through. There he is again with this 215 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:48,400 rupturing, tearing open and God coming in to be among us because 216 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:54,680 no longer were we to be in the dark about who God is, what he's 217 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,120 like. He came to show us. 218 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:01,840 He came to say touch me, feel me, know me, because it's about 219 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,880 relationship. That's what was so beautiful 220 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,560 about Moses. He wanted the relationship, not 221 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:11,200 just the religious of the Tabernacle and all the things 222 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,600 that he was taught to do, which is good. 223 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,320 You've got to go through all those, study the word, do this, 224 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:22,400 but it's relationship anywhere, anytime, everywhere, all the 225 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,200 time. That's what it is, knowing him 226 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,440 and him knowing you and really being one with him. 227 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,600 And that time of Moses in the rock, I think is one of the most 228 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:37,760 intimate, beautiful moments in the whole of Scripture where God 229 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:41,360 was so gracious. He wanted to see the glory, He 230 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,160 wanted to see the pump, He wanted the big brass band. 231 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,440 But God just lovingly said you can't see me and live. 232 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:53,440 And he said what I'm going to show you is who I am, my 233 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,720 character. My goodness will pass. 234 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,080 And isn't that so gracious of him? 235 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,320 We want the big lights and the effect, don't we? 236 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,920 The razzmatazz. But what he says is, I want you 237 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:11,440 to see my character. And that's why expect the 238 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,400 unexpected. When Jesus was born, it wasn't 239 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:20,040 the White Horse and the stallion and the Messiah all in gold 240 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,800 coming in. It was the most ridiculously 241 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:31,080 impossible, mundane mercy case. And Denise went through that and 242 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:35,280 some of the other speakers in the Christmas series that it was 243 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:39,960 to shepherds that God first revealed message that the Christ 244 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:43,800 child was born and shepherds lived with the sheeps smelt like 245 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,200 the sheep we've covered with sheep. 246 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:50,080 This isn't that. And they are the ones who 247 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,760 illiterate and educated. They went for showers out there 248 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:57,760 every day on the hillside, but they were the ones that God knew 249 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,160 but received us with joy. And they were full of joy and 250 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:06,680 they came to worship. And we know that this baby was 251 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:12,319 born in Bethlehem as it was predicted, and he was raft and 252 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:16,079 swaddling toes. And we know that all the sheep 253 00:17:16,079 --> 00:17:18,800 that were in that hillside around Bethlehem were the 254 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,040 perfect little lambs that we bred for sacrifice. 255 00:17:22,319 --> 00:17:24,880 That's what was in that area of Bethlehem. 256 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,520 They were the little lambs that were wrapped in swaddling 257 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,520 clothes and put in a stone through and then later 258 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:35,280 sacrificed with the temple. And that's exactly Jesus, this 259 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:43,360 perfect little baby God's gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes who 260 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:47,440 one day would move to the cross and then the crown as we've had 261 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:49,880 in the past. So that's how it started. 262 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:52,560 Messy. Not what we think, expect the 263 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:54,960 unexpected, But that's the breakthrough. 264 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,880 Jesus showed us what God was like. 265 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,240 We can read that in Colossians 115. 266 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,760 He is the exact image, the essential manifestation of the 267 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,400 unseen God. When you've seen Jesus, you've 268 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,080 seen the Father. And in Hebrews 1/3, this is the 269 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:18,480 one that I absolutely love. The sun is the radiance, the 270 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:23,560 only expression of the glory of our awesome God, reflecting 271 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:27,880 God's Shekinah glory. The light being the brilliant 272 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,440 light of the divine, the exact representation of the perfect 273 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,760 imprint of the Father's essence. So the essence of who God the 274 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:40,160 Father is, Jesus showed us in brilliance. 275 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,360 That's Hebrews 1/3, and if you read that in different versions, 276 00:18:44,360 --> 00:18:48,520 you'll catch excitement of that, that it's sheer brilliance. 277 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:54,320 That was Jesus. Mark is a wonderful gospel. 278 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:58,160 I love reading Mark because he's very on the go immediately, 279 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,880 straight away. He he's an action man. 280 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:07,160 He was very young as a disciple. But amazingly, of all of the 281 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:13,160 Gospels, Mark is the one who describes this rupturing of 282 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:18,000 heaven and breakthrough, which Matthew and Mark and John 283 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,600 haven't expressed in quite the forcible way. 284 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:27,680 Twice Mark uses a word. I have to have a sip of water 285 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:34,000 before I say it. The way he says heaven was 286 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:36,880 opened. It's so you know why I had to 287 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,320 have a sip of water? I hope I didn't splash you. 288 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,640 Can you go? Those who speak Afrikaans and 289 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:53,280 German can go Ghidzo. It means tear, rupture, RIP open 290 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:59,000 Ghidzo. And Mark uses that only twice in 291 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:04,160 his whole gospel. The first time is when Jesus was 292 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:09,120 baptized and he's coming out of the water and as if the heavens 293 00:20:09,120 --> 00:20:10,560 were. Kid. 294 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,520 So we get schism from that, actually in English, which is 295 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:17,480 rather polite. But kid, so is he ripped open 296 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:20,160 heaven. He tore it open because he 297 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:24,320 wanted to come down in a way that would manifest his glory. 298 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,800 And that's the Holy Spirit again, like this beautiful bird 299 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:31,640 coming, but in peace, resting on him and remaining on him. 300 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:36,000 Mark uses that deliberately. It's a forceful, almost violent 301 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,760 rupturing. It's irreversible. 302 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,320 Can you get the feeling, and you know the second and only time 303 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:48,080 that Mark uses that tide, Sir, in his gospel, it's when Jesus 304 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:53,280 died on the cross as the perfect lamb, taking on himself the full 305 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:57,240 sacrifice of all the sins of everything you've done. 306 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:01,360 I've done Hitler, all of the people in the past, all that 307 00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:04,440 will come who've done anything wrong at any time. 308 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:10,080 He became sin. Who knew no sin we would be 309 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,280 righteous and one in relationship with God, this 310 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:20,440 incredible sacrifice and when he died on the cross hide though 311 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:25,200 was the temple curtain. It was ruptured, it was torn, it 312 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,040 was rent. And that's only two times that 313 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:31,760 Mark uses that. And that temple was amazing 314 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:35,800 because only the high priest could go into the holiest of 315 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:40,080 holies once a year behind this incredible curtain that was as 316 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,760 wide as a man's hand, about four inches or more thick of gold, 317 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:49,720 woven thick temple. It was 60 foot high, 18 meters 318 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:58,320 high. That curtain took 300 priests to 319 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:02,200 move and help it to get erected. That's what Josephus, who's the 320 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,400 story and who wrote a lot of in the time of the 1st century. 321 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:08,720 He said it took 300 piece to even lift it and move it. 322 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:12,040 That was ripped. I think. 323 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,120 So just like that from top to bottom. 324 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,280 Can you sense that? God is saying with urgency, with 325 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:26,040 passion, with love, there's no separation, but Jesus did I want 326 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,200 to RIP open. I want to open heaven so that 327 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:35,200 you and I can be 1 not just from time to time, but forever. 328 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:39,400 This is this amazing breakthrough God. 329 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:44,280 And once we give ourselves and receive them and understand that 330 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:50,200 expect the unexpected because he can move in ways you wouldn't 331 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:54,200 even dream possible. And he loves to use ordinary 332 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:58,560 people. He loves to use ordinary, not 333 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,000 the high and mighty and haughty and pride. 334 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,960 You think they know it all. And, and often when I'm sharing 335 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,120 the Greek words, it's not because I want to rattle off 336 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:10,320 that I know. It's not that. 337 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,560 It's because often that word is more punchy than our English. 338 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:16,960 Sometimes the translations quite bland. 339 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,480 But if you get the real sense of what the original was, you 340 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:22,600 almost feel it in your bones, don't you? 341 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:27,880 So I'm going to just move along. Heaven gets ripped open and God 342 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:31,880 comes in rupturing is the translation because here's the 343 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,520 brakes with God. Now two more things I want to 344 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:41,360 share with you about Jesus. He himself declared that he is 345 00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:45,000 the light of the world. And there there are two 346 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:49,400 instances where he actually said I am the light of the world and 347 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,560 you know where those are. It's so significant and so 348 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:56,560 interesting. The one was in John chapter 8, 349 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,480 after the woman had been caught in adultery. 350 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:02,800 She knew she was wrong and she knew she was going to be stoned 351 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,320 to death because that's what happened in those days. 352 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,800 So she was in the middle of the town square, probably with all 353 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,120 the people around, and they had their stones and they were ready 354 00:24:11,120 --> 00:24:14,760 to pelt her. And it seems horrific to us, but 355 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,280 that actually happened then. And sometimes this even happened 356 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,800 today. They would punish her that way 357 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:27,840 and Jesus was there and we read that in John age. 358 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:35,720 He was just putting his hand in the sand and he asked them who's 359 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:39,040 without sin? You cast the first note. 360 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,000 What I think is so interesting about this is that whole group. 361 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,000 You can imagine the tittering and the twittering. 362 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,000 Oh, you know, she's on the wrong. 363 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,760 They'll never tell you what the guy did. 364 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:57,560 But anyway, she was there and what is interesting is that John 365 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,840 records they started to leave and walk away the oldest first 366 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,720 those older guys realized I I can't throw that stone. 367 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:11,080 And then you can imagine these young hot heads thinking I'm 368 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,080 going to store throw. But eventually they realized 369 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:17,000 they had to and they all walked away and left her. 370 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,480 And Jesus said I don't condemn you either. 371 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,240 I don't sin anymore. I am the light of the world. 372 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,600 That's when he said it. It's amazing, isn't it? 373 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:34,560 So many people are sitting in shame, waiting for the pelting 374 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,600 of criticism, maybe from people who are closest to them. 375 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:42,720 Maybe her family members would have been there really to pelt. 376 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:48,120 And I'm just saying to you, let the God of Breakthrough come 377 00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:52,320 into your situation. Let him love you where you are. 378 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:57,120 Let him bring in his light because it's a healing light. 379 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,200 It's a warm light, it's a light of love. 380 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:06,600 And when you think of the dust and you think of the way he made 381 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:14,080 Adam the same creator, beautiful Jesus Christ our Lord. 382 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:18,600 The second time that he said I am the light of the world is in 383 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:20,760 the next chapter, John Chapter 9. 384 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:27,000 And this is a wonderful passage where it's the blind man Feast 385 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:28,760 of Tabernacles. They're crowds. 386 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:33,360 Josephus said there were probably a million Jews coming 387 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:37,800 to to to Jerusalem. I mean a million Jews coming to 388 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,560 Jerusalem for the feast of Tabernacles in that time. 389 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:48,880 It was fully crowded and at in the crowds this blind man was 390 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:52,880 sitting there and Jesus went to heal him. 391 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:56,040 You know, again what I just think is so wonderful about the 392 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:58,840 Lord. He is the one when everybody 393 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,440 shield away from lepers because they had these big ulcerated 394 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:06,880 sores that often oozed pus and stank and they were the 395 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,400 outcasts. Jesus went deliberately to touch 396 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:13,480 the leper, and that skin was made whole. 397 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:18,640 They'd like a young babies pure with the blind man. 398 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:24,800 He could have at a word said sight come, but he didn't. 399 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:30,200 He did the healing in a way that that blind man would know 400 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:34,560 something different. In all the crowds milling, Jesus 401 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:39,120 spat on the ground and again spit. 402 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,720 The blind man couldn't see, but he would have heard that, he 403 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:47,720 would have known someone spitting and Jesus said made mud 404 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,400 from the dust and he put the mud. 405 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,400 Look how involved he is, isn't it beautiful? 406 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:59,240 He put the mud on his eyes and he said now go and wash in the 407 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:05,120 pool of saloon and you will see. And this man would be helped and 408 00:28:05,120 --> 00:28:07,880 groping. Some scholars say it was almost 409 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:11,960 half a kilometer from where this took place to on the word up to 410 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:14,640 the temple where the people would go to the actual pool of 411 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:17,440 Siloam. But then you know what happened 412 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:21,120 in 2004. I mean, not very far long ago, 413 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:26,760 they were cleaning and mending a pipe that was burst just in the 414 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:30,960 southern side of the wall of the Old City of of Jerusalem near 415 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:33,840 the South gate. And as they were mending this 416 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:38,240 broken pipe in 2004, they thought, hey, this is opening up 417 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,400 to like a big chasm. And they started to dig and the 418 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:45,160 archaeologists found this massive pool of Siloam. 419 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:50,560 They all thought it was just a small, a small place. 420 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,800 But as they opened it up, you know what they found? 421 00:28:55,520 --> 00:29:00,600 2 sizes of an Olympic pool, 2 Olympic pool sizes. 422 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:05,320 Under the ground near the South Gate in Jerusalem are this 423 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:09,560 massive pool of Siloam that was fed by Gishan Springs. 424 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:13,160 That was what he went to washing. 425 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:18,000 And it's so amazing that I just love the way the Bible is not 426 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:22,080 just a book that is spiritually rich, but historically accurate. 427 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:30,440 And this man went and he saw, but before Jesus spat on the 428 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:35,840 ground, he said, I am the light of the world. 429 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:40,760 Isn't that interesting because everybody's walking in darkness 430 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:45,040 and in blindness and if you don't receive him, you're going 431 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,600 to be spiritually blind just like that man. 432 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,560 So I think that's just amazing. Those are the two times the 433 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:54,960 adultery again, it's the dust. It's like Adam and that's our 434 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,880 Lord beautifully. So now the punchline. 435 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:03,840 We know about Moses, we know about the prophets, Jesus saying 436 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:08,880 he's the light of the world. But Jesus said, if you believe 437 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:14,000 in me, if you receive me into your life and let me cleanse you 438 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:18,400 and change you from deep within, you become the light bearers, 439 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:23,280 which is absolutely astounding. We have that precious gift of 440 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:27,720 his light shining in US and through us to impact the world 441 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,720 around us. You are the light of the world, 442 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:34,600 He said the light bearers. The Passion translation puts it 443 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:41,320 so beautifully in Matthew 514. Your lives light up the world. 444 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:43,360 I think we have got it on our side. 445 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:49,360 Your lives light up the world. But how can you hide A city that 446 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:52,120 stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and 447 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,000 then hide it in an obscure place? 448 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:57,400 Instead, it's placed where everyone in the house can 449 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,320 benefit from the light. So don't hide your light. 450 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:04,160 And I'm saying that to you, and I'm saying it to myself. 451 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,320 Let it shine brightly before others. 452 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:12,480 My, we need bright lights in this very Dark World, don't we? 453 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:16,880 And it's the Lord in us. We can't say that we are in a 454 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:22,200 great shakes, but it's the Lord in US shining through us that 455 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:26,040 can really impact other people's lives in the most amazing way 456 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:32,440 because it's Him in US doing it. I love the message translation 457 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:36,400 too, because the message translation says here's another 458 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:40,560 way to put it. You're here to be light, 459 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:43,800 bringing out the God colors of the world. 460 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:47,600 And Serena sitting there, you first share this and I, it 461 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:52,320 impacted me so much bringing out the God colors of this world. 462 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:58,440 God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as 463 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:04,360 public as a city on a hill. If I make you light bearers, you 464 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:07,000 don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? 465 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:10,960 And I'm just thinking of all of you sitting here thinking I have 466 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:13,080 got a calling. I know I've got a calling. 467 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:18,040 The Lord has said to me that I'm going to be able to do this and 468 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:22,480 say that and be that and you don't feel adequate or 469 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:24,960 circumstances have kept you in darkness. 470 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:30,800 I really say with urgency and love, be His light bearers. 471 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:36,160 Come on, let him breakthrough, let him rupture that unbelief. 472 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:40,680 Let him open up the fear. Let him come in, bring his light 473 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:45,480 and all it's dazzling beauty and glory, and start using you and 474 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:49,480 you and you and you and me to make this world filled with his 475 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:52,200 light. Come on, we're going to do it. 476 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:03,200 What I love is, he says by opening up to others, you'll 477 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:08,160 prompt people to open up to God and then they'll see what He's 478 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:11,600 done in your life and what He can do in their lives. 479 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:15,960 So don't, let's be timid and don't let's just go groping into 480 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:18,920 the next year. Do you feel a sense of 481 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:22,960 breakthrough? I do because it's our choice. 482 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:26,840 It's all here. He's given it to us and we are 483 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:29,560 the ones that he says are his light bearers. 484 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:34,840 You might be sitting there nodding your head, but in your 485 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:37,080 heart you've got your arms folded and you're thinking, 486 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:41,440 there's like little Johnny. This is the day before kitties 487 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:44,560 had to wear seatbelts in South Africa, the story told. 488 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:48,720 Actually, my little son who was sitting at the back but kept 489 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:51,880 wanting to stand up in the car. And I said, you've got to sit 490 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:53,600 down. You could not let us stand up. 491 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,440 Sit down when we're driving. Is it all right, Mom? 492 00:33:57,040 --> 00:33:59,480 I might be sitting down, but I'm really standing up. 493 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,480 And I thought, you know, that's how it is sometimes with us. 494 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:06,120 We, we kind of think we've got to obey. 495 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:12,040 It was a man called Saul who was very resistant to the gospel and 496 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:14,960 especially to Jesus. And he was on his way to 497 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:18,600 Damascus to find out, root out the Christians and get them 498 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,400 thrown into jail. This is a true story. 499 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:27,320 And on the way, he met Jesus, who was resurrected but appeared 500 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:31,800 to him in dazzling light because he is the light of life. 501 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:38,120 And he appeared to Seoul in such a startling way that Seoul just 502 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:41,040 collapsed to the ground and he was totally blinded and he 503 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:43,800 couldn't eat for three days. People had to lead him. 504 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:47,719 And then a very brave soul and Ananias came and prayed for him 505 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:51,719 and we read it was like scales falling off his eyes. 506 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,639 And my goodness, what a change man. 507 00:34:55,840 --> 00:35:01,280 After that encounter with Jesus, he became the fieriest preacher. 508 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:03,400 People were still scared of him because they thought he was 509 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:05,280 pretending and that they would get into jail. 510 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:08,080 But they could see he was prepared to die. 511 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:11,000 He was prepared to go to prison for his faith because he had 512 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:14,240 encountered Jesus. So I urge you, if you've really 513 00:35:14,240 --> 00:35:19,960 met him, just give your lives to Him and expect the unexpected 514 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:24,040 because He's about to do new things in our land, in our 515 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:26,920 church, and in our hearts and our communities. 516 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:30,120 So even if you're sitting there and you're sitting down, but 517 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:35,360 you're really standing up, He knows that's OK, but open 518 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:40,000 yourselves to him. And I went to close by just 519 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:44,000 wrapping up. We started with Genesis and 520 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:46,520 God's speaking. Let there be light. 521 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:50,120 And you know, four days later, the sun and the moon were 522 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:55,040 created. Light came first, four days 523 00:35:55,040 --> 00:36:00,920 later fight because Jesus has always been then I was through 524 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:03,760 him. Everything was made and was held 525 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:06,520 together. And in the Book of Revelation, 526 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:11,480 right at the end of this amazing Bible, we read in Revelation 21 527 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:17,000 that one day, and this is true, we're going to be with the Lord 528 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:23,120 forever and of our forever home. And this is where we're not 529 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:28,040 going to need a son, we're not going to need a moon, because he 530 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:31,280 is going to be everlasting light, and he's going to be 531 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:35,280 flooding us with his light in such a beautiful way that we 532 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:38,440 will need no extra light. Let's just read that from 533 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:48,070 Revelation. And the city has no need of the 534 00:36:48,070 --> 00:36:53,510 sun or the moon to give light to it with the glory, the splendor, 535 00:36:53,950 --> 00:36:56,630 the radiance of God has illumined it. 536 00:36:57,080 --> 00:36:59,880 And the Lamb. Remember how we started with a 537 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:03,000 little lamb in the swaddling clothes, perfect picture of 538 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:07,840 Jesus as a baby? Yeah, the Lamb is in his final 539 00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:10,320 glory. He is. 540 00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:14,960 It's Lamb and it's light. This is the truth. 541 00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:17,240 And we will all be there to see it. 542 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:23,400 So I just encourage you to start seeing yourself in a new way. 543 00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:27,720 And I'm sorry, we're going to go back a slide before to One Peter 544 00:37:27,720 --> 00:37:30,360 29 because I want to really close with this. 545 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:38,640 You are God's chosen treasure. You may not feel like it, you 546 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:43,400 may not think you look like it, but you are God's chosen 547 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:48,240 treasure. You are priests and kings, 548 00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:52,000 priests because you mediate between people and God and you 549 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:56,080 minister to God and kings, Queens. 550 00:37:56,080 --> 00:37:59,160 You're part of royalty, not because you deserve it or I 551 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:02,240 deserve it. Because He's chosen us to be 552 00:38:02,240 --> 00:38:06,360 there with him. A spiritual nation. 553 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:11,960 That's who we are. Set apart as God's devoted ones 554 00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:15,760 who love God. He has called you out of 555 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:22,560 darkness to experience His marvelous light, and now He 556 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:26,560 claims you as his very own. You will forever belong to Him. 557 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:30,160 So maybe your Christmas was lonely and you're not looking 558 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:32,280 forward to New Year because it's going to be lonely. 559 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:37,280 You are not alone. You are His forever beloved. 560 00:38:38,240 --> 00:38:42,280 You are with Him, inseparable until eternity. 561 00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:46,280 He loves you intensely. That He ripped open heaven. 562 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:58,480 He did that for you. And he did it because you have a 563 00:38:58,480 --> 00:39:02,880 calling, a strong calling. He did this so that you would 564 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:07,600 broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. 565 00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:12,120 And when you've surrendered your life to him, expect the 566 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:14,600 unexpected. You don't know where he'll send 567 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,120 you, like to Nepal. You don't know where you're 568 00:39:17,120 --> 00:39:18,760 going to go, what you're going to do. 569 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:22,360 The fact that I'm up here and I came sitting in the back for 570 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:28,120 years in the back row, and now He has a purpose for everybody. 571 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:33,960 We're no great shakes, but we hold the light of lights in us. 572 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:36,520 We hold the light of life within us. 573 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,840 So would you stand if you're able, and let's commit this time 574 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:49,560 to the Lord. If you would like to open your 575 00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:54,600 hands as a token of surrender or your hearts, there's such a 576 00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:56,680 beautiful presence of the Lord here. 577 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:02,920 The Holy Spirit is moving, drawing you into a deep oneness 578 00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:06,600 with Himself. He doesn't want you to struggle 579 00:40:06,600 --> 00:40:10,080 on anymore. He wants to be that breakthrough 580 00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:15,640 in your life, and He wants to draw you close forever so that 581 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:20,520 you can experience His light, which is healing and love and 582 00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:25,280 wholeness. Oh Lord, we love you and we are 583 00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:30,840 so grateful for you. That you broke into our messy 584 00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:35,480 time and space to show us your love in a tangible way. 585 00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:40,440 That we could see and touch and feel and see how you spent so 586 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:44,520 much time with the outcasts, with the lonely, with the broken 587 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:49,760 hearted, and also with those who were successful. 588 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:54,960 Nicodemus who came to you and each one you spoke with such 589 00:40:54,960 --> 00:40:59,200 love and Lord, I know you are here today, speaking, wooing 590 00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:03,200 each one who is here and listening online with love. 591 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:09,920 Surrender to him. If you don't know him, give 592 00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:15,800 yourself to him. There's nothing more important 593 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:20,920 than that. That's why you were made and 594 00:41:20,920 --> 00:41:25,720 that's why you are here. The Lord, we say, come the last 595 00:41:25,720 --> 00:41:30,480 flood us take on everything that we've done that's wrong. 596 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:34,640 It's disappointed you that's caused our brokenness or our 597 00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:38,360 hardness of heart, our bitterness, our anger, our 598 00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:42,680 resentment. You take Lord, just clean us and 599 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:46,000 shine your light into this dark areas of our lives that we 600 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:49,040 haven't given to you yet. Shine. 601 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:52,200 We don't want them. They bring us down, they make us 602 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:54,160 miserable. We give it to you. 603 00:41:54,560 --> 00:41:57,960 And instead we receive your forgiveness, we receive your 604 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:03,600 light, we receive your love and your joy and an abundant life. 605 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:09,120 Thank you that you are the light of life and we bring glory to 606 00:42:09,120 --> 00:42:13,720 your name by all saying Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen, 607 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:14,520 Amen.