1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,080 We are one church. We love God, love people, love 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,000 His mission, and love His church. 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:18,200 Welcome to the One Church podcast we were saved on. 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:23,040 Purpose for a purpose, and one of the most exciting things I 5 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:24,440 think about. Being a follower of. 6 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,680 Jesus is the purpose we receive when we enter. 7 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,280 God's Kingdom. We aren't just forgiven and then 8 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:32,479 we wait until we. Die to go to. 9 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:36,000 Heaven, but we are. Given a purpose on Earth. 10 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,000 To live as citizens of the Kingdom of. 11 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,720 Heaven here on earth. Ephesians 2, verse 10. 12 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,360 Says where we are God's handiwork created in. 13 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,720 Christ Jesus to do. Good works. 14 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:51,640 Which God? Prepared in advance for us to 15 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,320 do. But what are these good works? 16 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:59,040 Well, it says the verse before. That in verse 6 and God raised. 17 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,760 Us up. With Christ and seated us with. 18 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,640 Him in the heavenly. Realms in Christ Jesus. 19 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:12,440 In order that in the coming ages he might display the surpassing 20 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:16,560 riches of his. Grace demonstrated by His 21 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,080 kindness to us in Christ Jesus so. 22 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,520 Even though we're physically here on. 23 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,960 Earth spiritually. We are seated in the heavenly 24 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:32,480 realms of Christ Jesus so that God might display his riches 25 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:37,520 through us. Somehow, somehow, us normal, 26 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:43,320 kind of rather fragile, ordinary people, we've been given the 27 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:49,040 privilege to display the. Power of God to demonstrate his 28 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,840 wonders and the. Everyday Christian life isn't 29 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:54,600 just. Touch on Sunday, I'm sure you'll 30 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,400 be glad to know. It's living as ambassadors of 31 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,760 this Kingdom of heaven that. We're now in and. 32 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,440 Then demonstrating the surpassing riches that we. 33 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,560 Have found in him now in Bible times an ambassador. 34 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,280 They were authorised messages or or like. 35 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,360 Representatives, often a high. Ranking official and they were 36 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,440 sent by the. King or the ruler? 37 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:22,160 Of the nation to. Convey messages to negotiate. 38 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:27,680 Treaties and in Two Corinthians 5, Christians are called 39 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:32,640 ambassadors of Christ. Our purpose is to represent. 40 00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:35,840 God's Kingdom on. Earth and live as citizens of 41 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,240 Heaven. On Earth. 42 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,520 But what does the Kingdom of Heaven look like? 43 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:43,520 I hear you ask. Well, it looks like the one who 44 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,920 rules it, right? Looks like King Jesus and the 45 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:51,640 character of God shapes the Kingdom we're in and our. 46 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:57,560 God is God of love and power, so it says in Psalm 62 verse 11. 47 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,680 One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard power 48 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:07,800 belongs to you God, and with you Lord is unfailing love. 49 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,360 He is the God. Of love and power, He's the God 50 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,520 of grace and might. He's the God of mercy and 51 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,440 miracles. And as followers of Jesus, this 52 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,200 is the life that we've been called into, a life displaying 53 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:28,280 the surpassing riches of God's. Mercy and miracles. 54 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,120 A life experiencing God's. Deep. 55 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:36,000 Compassion and his mighty. Power and. 56 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,440 More and more I'm becoming. Convinced that in the. 57 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:41,560 Christian life, we can't separate the two. 58 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:47,880 Out of His mercy comes miracles, and when we at work, our faith. 59 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,920 It like. In our humanness, we can we can 60 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,840 so often fall into the trap of just focusing on one aspect. 61 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,160 Of God's character, but our purpose. 62 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,400 On Earth is to live. A life of mercy. 63 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,720 And miracles of miracles. And mercy. 64 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,440 We can't just be. Kind people without 65 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,480 supernatural. And on the other hand, we can't. 66 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:15,040 Believe in miracles without. Loving the person that we're 67 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,640 praying for and there's a growing hunger in me and. 68 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,519 I think in many of us, as I talk to you, that we want to be 69 00:04:21,519 --> 00:04:25,680 walking in the power of God. And living as ambassadors. 70 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,680 Of the Kingdom of Heaven. Here on Earth. 71 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,520 So how do we do? That Well, let's look at the 72 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,840 life of. Jesus and see how he ministers 73 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,840 mercy and miracles. So firstly, Jesus ministers 74 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:43,120 mercy. Throughout the whole. 75 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,600 Of Jesus's earthly life. We see that his life. 76 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,360 Is marked by compassion he has for the people around him. 77 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,880 He doesn't let social boundaries or cultural expectations stop 78 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,480 him from showing mercy to those who are in need. 79 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,320 He blessed. The little children. 80 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,320 He stretched out his. Hand to the lepers. 81 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,080 He fed. Those who are hungry. 82 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,200 He comforted the grieving, he rescued the lost, forgave the 83 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:15,040 wrongdoer every. Action of Jesus's was an act of 84 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:17,800 mercy. I love this. 85 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:23,160 Definition of Mercy Mercy is a love that responds to human need 86 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:29,040 in an unexpected or unmerited. Way mercy is the. 87 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:35,200 Action to respond to somebody. Jesus felt compassion, He felt 88 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:39,640 love towards people around him, and then he showed mercy by 89 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,760 doing something about it and responding to the need. 90 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,760 He saw. And here in Matthew. 21 It's 91 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,840 just one of many, many. Examples of Jesus showing mercy 92 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,680 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd 93 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,240 followed him and two men were sitting by the roadside, and 94 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,840 when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted. 95 00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:08,160 Lord Son of David, have mercy on us. 96 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,360 And the crowd rebuked them and told them to be. 97 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,760 Quiet, but they shouted all the louder. 98 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:19,120 Lord Son of David, have mercy on us, Jesus. 99 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,920 Stopped and called them. What do you want me to do? 100 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:27,880 For you, he asked Lord, they answered, We want our sight. 101 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:35,360 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes immediately 102 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,640 they received their sight and followed him. 103 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,000 Maybe that's your cry today, Lord, Son of. 104 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:49,760 David, have mercy on. Me, in the heart of Jesus for 105 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:55,160 you is compassion. He has a deep, deep love for 106 00:06:55,160 --> 00:07:01,240 you, and he hears your cry. I love that in one church there 107 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:06,640 are so many ministers of mercy, people who quietly see the need 108 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,440 around them and are moved by compassion and do something 109 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:12,520 about it. There's the Benson's and the 110 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:13,160 Dave. 'S. 111 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,560 Who drive a van with free furniture for people sleeping on 112 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,640 floors. There's the Katie and John's who 113 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,960 serve breakfast to people at the Cafe church in the village. 114 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,000 They're the the Sandra's who sought clothing donations for 115 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:26,440 those in need. There's the. 116 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,520 Errands who give up sleep to pastor those on the streets at 117 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,360 nightclubs, there's. The David and Linda's who 118 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,080 petition for paperwork. For asylum seekers. 119 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,600 And there's the. Roger and Rosie's who prepare 120 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,520 meals for people when they have no kitchen. 121 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:44,280 And I could keep going. I could name every one of us are 122 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:49,520 the Mercy you Show and this moves my heart because this is 123 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,080 church. We're a body that love and 124 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:58,920 minister mercy and it just makes me proud to be part of a church 125 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,640 that prioritises mercy. It reminds me of. 126 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,800 You know when Paul is shipwrecked and and on the 127 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,320 island of Malta. That that they're so kind to 128 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:10,680 them. And they say that the Islanders 129 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,880 are described as having unusual kindness and. 130 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,000 And I believe as a church, we are people of unusual. 131 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,920 Kindness, I just. Got me thinking, you know in 132 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,080 June when we have our go day, we are being. 133 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,520 Ministers of Mercy. We're we're seeing the need and 134 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:26,880 we're. Responding to it. 135 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:29,960 When we look. At the life of Jesus. 136 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:34,559 Just you can't help but see just mercy, like almost oozing out. 137 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:38,919 Oozing out of him as he responds to those in front of him. 138 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,840 So Jesus also ministers. Miracles. 139 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,520 Now you may have heard of the author, historian and 140 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:50,800 broadcaster Tom Holland and a few years back he was being 141 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,520 interviewed at a leadership conference in the Royal Abbott 142 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,880 Hall and Nicky Gumbel. Asked what he would like to get 143 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,600 off his chest. In front of 500 Church. 144 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,360 Leaders. And Tom Holland describes 145 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,360 himself as an agnostic. But without hesitation, he 146 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:07,800 replied. You need to talk more about the 147 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:12,040 weird stuff. The thing is, he enthused the 148 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:13,240 church. Has been way too. 149 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,640 Successful. At which point everyone in the 150 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,360 room looks a bit surprised. I mean. 151 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,840 You, the church. Kind of invented care for the 152 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,360 poor, but now we. Have the welfare state. 153 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,320 Your monasteries pioneered healthcare and education, but 154 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,800 now we have the NHS and state schools. 155 00:09:31,560 --> 00:09:34,840 Your Bible uniquely teaches human dignity, the ultimate 156 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:38,080 value of every individual. But now we have the European 157 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,920 Convention of Human Rights. The state has basically stolen 158 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,840 all your best. Ideas The only thing you have 159 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:46,760 left because. They can't really take this from 160 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,560 you. Is the weird stuff. 161 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,600 It's the supernatural claims of. Christianity that unsettle 162 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:54,920 cynics like me. It's your weird. 163 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:58,120 Stuff that makes us sit up and wonder whether you might 164 00:09:58,120 --> 00:09:59,760 actually. Be more than just a sort of 165 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,640 metaphysical alternative to the. Liberal Democrats. 166 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:06,120 What an answer is that? He says. 167 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,120 Talk about the weird stuff. Well, Jesus did a lot of weird 168 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,040 stuff. His life was. 169 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:14,720 Marked by the Miraculous and Pete Gregg summarises. 170 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,520 It really well here, he said Jesus was. 171 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:19,960 Born of a virgin. Just think about that. 172 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:25,360 His first miracle involved changing 680 litres of water 173 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,720 into the best wine. He once used a freshwater fish 174 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:32,040 as a cash point. He walked on a lake and threw at 175 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,520 least one wall, claimed to see Satan fall from heaven like 176 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,680 lightning, spent quality time with a couple of men who'd been 177 00:10:38,680 --> 00:10:42,200 dead for almost 1000 years. He frequently. 178 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,840 Conducted exorcisms. Knew what people were thinking. 179 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,400 Altered. The weather with his words 180 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,160 multiplied, food performed healings, and physically he 181 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,760 raised the dead. That's some weird stuff, isn't 182 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:56,480 it, In his gospel. John writes about 7 miracles of 183 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:00,120 Jesus and John's gospel is often called the book of signs because 184 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,720 this is the word sign that John uses for miracles. 185 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,440 So for example, when Jesus turned water into wine, John 186 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:08,680 writes this. What? 187 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:10,280 Jesus. Did here in the Canaan of 188 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,640 Galilee was the first of the signs through. 189 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,640 Which he revealed his. Glory and His disciples believed 190 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:20,680 in Him. So when you're in a new place, 191 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,840 we. Try and navigate around and we 192 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:25,640 pay attention to the signs, don't we? 193 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,200 Or we should. Unless you're being stubborn and 194 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,080 you think, no, it's fine, I know where I'm going. 195 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:33,200 I know some people like that, not looking at them. 196 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,360 So last week we were on a holiday and you need. 197 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,320 Signs, don't you, to get around. I mean, the metro system over 198 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,880 there is amazing, but there's so many exits and entrances. 199 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,040 That you get lost. If you don't use the signs, 200 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:49,720 signs tell us. Where we are now or where we're 201 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,720 going. And This is why, John. 202 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,680 Describes the miracles of Jesus are signs. 203 00:11:55,440 --> 00:12:00,600 They signpost us to who Jesus is and tell us where we're heading. 204 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,000 They give us a glimpse of the heavenly reality that we have in 205 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,280 store for us. They're physical ways that. 206 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:12,240 Point us to the deeper truths of Jesus. 207 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,800 They're basically signposts to the creator, like neon lights 208 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:21,240 pointing about him and highlighting Jesus character. 209 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:26,560 And when the Kingdom of God breaks into our reality, we see 210 00:12:26,560 --> 00:12:29,640 His glory and His. Splendour and get a. 211 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,680 Taste of the World. That is to come where there will 212 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:35,760 be no more death or sickness or destruction. 213 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,400 Miracles are a signpost. To the. 214 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:43,200 Lord of all creation. And Jesus signs. 215 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:48,440 And wonders are not only to show us his power and His Majesty, 216 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:50,960 but they signpost us to his character. 217 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:57,040 We see his. Mercy through the miracles we 218 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,080 see His mercy for the frightened. 219 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,640 Disciples in the Storm. We see his mercy. 220 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,400 For the man who was tormented by hundreds of demons. 221 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,360 We see Jesus's. Mercy for the 5000 hungry 222 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:11,560 people. We see his mercy for the. 223 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:14,360 Servant of the Centurion. We see his mercy. 224 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:18,560 For the 10 isolated lepers. So let's look at. 225 00:13:18,560 --> 00:13:22,280 His mercy for the sisters of Lazarus in John 11. 226 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:29,800 So what happens is Lazarus is sick and word is sent to Jesus, 227 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,960 but Jesus doesn't go straight away. 228 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,760 He waits and then he travels and this is what happens. 229 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:40,680 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she 230 00:13:40,680 --> 00:13:44,200 fell at his feet and said. Lord, if you had. 231 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,360 Been here, my brother would not have died. 232 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,720 And when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along 233 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:55,000 with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and 234 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,240 troubled. Where have you laid him? 235 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,200 He asked. Come and see, Lord, they 236 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,920 replied. Jesus wept. 237 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,560 Then the Jews said, See how he loved him. 238 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:08,920 But some of them said. Could not he have? 239 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:10,320 Opened the eyes of the blind man. 240 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:15,480 Have kept this man from dying. Jesus once more deeply moved, 241 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,880 came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid 242 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:22,080 across the entrance. Take away the stone, he said. 243 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,080 But Lord, said Martha, the sister of the dead man. 244 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:27,440 By this time there is a bad odour, for he has. 245 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:32,000 Been there four days. And then Jesus said, did I not 246 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,160 tell you that if. You believe you will see the. 247 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:37,360 Glory of God. So they took away the stone. 248 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,000 Then Jesus looked up and said, Father, I thank you that you 249 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:41,800 have heard. Me. 250 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:45,120 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit 251 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,240 of the people standing here, that they may believe that you 252 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,040 have sent me. And when he had said this, Jesus 253 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,040 called out. In a loud voice, Lazarus come 254 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:58,200 out. And the dead man came out, his 255 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,040 hands and his feet. Wrapped with strips. 256 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,360 Of linen and a cloth around his face. 257 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,640 We see that Jesus is moved by compassion. 258 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,360 You know the shortest verse in the Bible what we read? 259 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,320 Jesus wept. But it's not. 260 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,160 Just sadness for his friends. His. 261 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,520 Tears are connected to to an anger he has at the effects. 262 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:22,400 Of. Sin and death. 263 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:27,120 On the beautiful world that he created, verse 33 says he was 264 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:30,240 deeply moved in. Spirit and troubled and. 265 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:34,160 And this in Hebrew is is the. Phrase is more similar to anger. 266 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,160 He, he, he. Has almost like an. 267 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:40,360 Anger at what is happening, but. Surrounded by the chaos. 268 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,440 Around him, although the. Wailing and the crying that's 269 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:45,800 happened over. Lazarus Death. 270 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,200 It sort of produces an outrage. In the son of. 271 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:52,560 God at the work of the enemy that is trying to destroy and 272 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,800 destruct. So Jesus is. 273 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,400 Weeping isn't just for that moment. 274 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,080 It's. It's over every individual. 275 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:01,840 Every. Instance of death and decay. 276 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:07,360 And in his compassion Jesus shows mercy and brings life and 277 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,920 reverses the outcome that day. And Lazarus and his sisters have 278 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:17,120 a glimpse of the Kingdom of God, a signpost to what is to come 279 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,080 and who their friend Jesus really is. 280 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:25,680 So we've seen that Jesus ministers mercy and he ministers 281 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:29,120 miracles. Like signposts, the miracles 282 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:30,560 point us. To. 283 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:34,840 The beautiful mercy of Jesus. But the question is how does 284 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,280 that? Affect our purpose then here and 285 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:42,400 now in 2026. It means our purpose is also to 286 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:44,560 be ministers of mercy and miracles. 287 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,560 So maybe you're thinking, well, that's all well and good, Jesus 288 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,720 was God. We're different, but Jesus 289 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,960 doesn't let us off the hook that easily because he said to his 290 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,000 disciples that they would drive out. 291 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,760 Demons speak in new tongues, place their hands on people who 292 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,400 are ill, and do even greater things than these. 293 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,880 And they did. Like if you read the pages of 294 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,680 the New Testament, like Peter held the sick with his 295 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,319 handkerchief and his shadow, Philip was teleported across the 296 00:17:11,319 --> 00:17:15,040 country, and Paul's ministry was led by prophecies. 297 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,920 And dreams. And for all his intelligence and 298 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,359 his preaching skills. Paul understood that the Kingdom 299 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:23,680 of God. Is not a matter. 300 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:27,000 Of talk, but of power. That's one Corinthians 4. 301 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,120 And I don't know about you, but for me, I look at the life of 302 00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:33,360 Paul and the church in the New Testament, and I think maybe we 303 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:36,560 need to do a bit more weird. I don't even believe the Kingdom 304 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,400 of God is shrunk. He's the same God and it's the 305 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:41,960 same Holy Spirit. That lives within us today. 306 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,240 We. Speak in heavenly languages, we 307 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:46,760 claim. To hear the inaudible voice of 308 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:50,280 God and consents his presence. That can't be seen. 309 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:52,360 We're already a bit weird, aren't we? 310 00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:57,080 So as I read at the. Beginning in Ephesians, the call 311 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,960 in our lives is to display the. Surpassing riches of his. 312 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,160 Grace. That we might be. 313 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:07,480 Ministers of Mercy and miracles. And I know that talking about 314 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,480 miracles and the supernatural can raise tough questions. 315 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,680 The question of unanswered. Prayer will always arise. 316 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:17,280 And I know there are. People in the room. 317 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,400 Who will think the stories are great? 318 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,840 But I've been. Chasing a miracle and it hasn't 319 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,920 happened. And all of us have instances 320 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:28,880 where we've prayed and we've not had the answer that we've hoped. 321 00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:33,160 And so I acknowledge. That we approach this subject. 322 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,720 From different angles, often, sometimes with disappointment, 323 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:37,920 but. It's good to be. 324 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,160 Honest with our questions, we live in the. 325 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,920 Reality that actually. Every day is a miracle like the. 326 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,400 Fact that we live on this ball that's spinning and we don't fly 327 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:52,200 off, The fact that the sun rises and the sunsets, the fact that 328 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,160 we're saved by grace like every day is a miracle. 329 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,040 But we also have a belief that God is a God of us. 330 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,560 Suddenly and in a moment, he can just. 331 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:02,640 Step in. And we see the. 332 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:07,040 Supernatural come to pass. A few years back, Lawrence and I 333 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,440 had privilege of going on a mission trip to Tanzania and to 334 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,360 what we want out of our mission partners and James and Karis 335 00:19:13,360 --> 00:19:16,440 also came with us to Tanzania. So ask them loads of questions 336 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,760 about the trip. But over that 10. 337 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:20,600 Days in Africa. We saw. 338 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:25,160 Many miracles blind. Eyes opened, back pain released. 339 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:29,000 Girls freed from demons. Many, many salvations. 340 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,720 And it was amazing. And yet I couldn't help but I 341 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,600 think, Lord, what about all? The people that I'm praying for 342 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:41,600 and I haven't seen an answer and I don't have all the answers. 343 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,160 There are suggestions I can give. 344 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:47,880 But what I do know is this. In Tanzania we went as. 345 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:51,760 Missionaries to offer mercy. And then miracles happened. 346 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,040 We went to share the love. Of Jesus and to. 347 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:58,960 Share the surpassing riches. Of the Kingdom of God. 348 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,360 And we met. People who were in impossible 349 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:06,480 situations, who were lost and hurting. 350 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,800 And we were moved by mercy, we that we had nothing to give 351 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:15,200 them, we had nothing to help them, and yet we had the power 352 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,640 of God. So we prayed for them and God 353 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,360 stepped in. And so it makes me think that 354 00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:25,320 maybe if we want to walk in the power of God each day, we need 355 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:28,280 to see ourselves. As missionaries in our ordinary 356 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:30,760 lives. What if we went as missionaries? 357 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:32,360 In our. Workplace What if we went as 358 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:34,600 missionaries to. The supermarket and. 359 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:38,320 We were so moved by compassion at the lostness of the. 360 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,080 People that we meet. At their brokenness, at their 361 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,720 need of God's love. That we wouldn't care what 362 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,480 people would think, because we're so moved by mercy that we 363 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,120 will pray. And just maybe, maybe God might 364 00:20:50,120 --> 00:20:55,760 step in and do a miracle. This is Jules who is part. 365 00:20:55,760 --> 00:21:00,160 Of one church, Loughborough. She runs a cafe in Shepshed and. 366 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,360 She serves not only good cake. Which I can testify to. 367 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,320 But the aim of a miracle? Cafe is to offer customers 368 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,840 prayer or a prophetic message or an encounter with gods. 369 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,360 And I messaged her this week and I said. 370 00:21:13,360 --> 00:21:14,600 Jules, could you share? With me. 371 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:16,880 Any miracles you've seen in the cafe? 372 00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:20,600 And she sent me a perfume. But let me just. 373 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:25,240 Encourage you with these two. Stories so one customer writes. 374 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:27,960 I have been given. A breast cancer diagnosis 375 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,920 yesterday and came in. For prayer, Jules. 376 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:33,360 Prayed for me and I could feel the presence of God. 377 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,800 Before I came in I'd been awake most of the night thinking of 378 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:40,560 all the what ifs. But after I prayed I felt the 379 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,560 presence of God over me. And Jules shares that three 380 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:47,520 months later, this lady was given the all clear from cancer. 381 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:49,800 Praise God. Praise God. 382 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,600 And then a second one from Jules, she says 2 customers who 383 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,680 come into the shop regularly, one of them had fibromyalgia. 384 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:02,480 And when we prayed for her, all the pain left and the customer 385 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:06,120 explained that how she'd felt full of darkness and it turned 386 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:09,600 out that she'd often practise Reiki, but when they prayed for 387 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,840 her, she saw light and just experience the presence of of 388 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,840 the Holy Spirit. And Jules tells me now that both 389 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,160 of those customers that come in have said yes to Jesus. 390 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,120 So praise God. But I. 391 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:26,120 Reckon the disciples in the New Testament we're really ordering 392 00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:29,640 people like Jules. Like you and I and they. 393 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,080 Serve the people. Around them they were moved by 394 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,080 mercy, and then God came and worked a miracle. 395 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:39,160 Shall we embrace our purpose to be ministers of mercy and 396 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,320 miracles? Well, maybe you're like. 397 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,080 Me. Who needs to know how? 398 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:45,720 Like I'm very practical, logistical, so I'll. 399 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,800 Hear an idea and I'll be. Like but how does that work? 400 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:52,920 How do we grow to be ministers of mercy? 401 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,400 How do we see God? Work supernaturally in our 402 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,640 lives. Well let me just suggest 3 403 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:01,000 practical ideas and that is eyes, ears and mouth. 404 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:02,600 I told you I was. Practical. 405 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:04,680 I like. Things to hold onto. 406 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,800 So firstly, eyes. We use our eyes to see, don't 407 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,600 we? So if we are to grow to. 408 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:12,880 Be ministers of mercy. We need to see the. 409 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,160 Need very simply around. US. 410 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,000 What is the need in front of you? 411 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:20,560 Who is it who you meet every day? 412 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,960 That needs a touch from God. Let the need around. 413 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,280 You move us to compassion. Jesus was often. 414 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:29,600 Going about, it's just. Is every day. 415 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:33,680 When he was interrupted, he saw the need and he responded in 416 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:35,920 that moment. So let's not be people who can. 417 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,880 So we can be blinkered and focused on our own lives and 418 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:44,320 issues and looking inwards, but we need our eyes to see what's 419 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,400 happening and who we can minister to. 420 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,000 And that might mean getting out of our comfort zone. 421 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:50,640 Go and. Spend time with. 422 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:54,280 People from different cultures, different backgrounds, different 423 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:56,200 class and see what. Life is like. 424 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,960 For them. And maybe that is your prayer 425 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:02,120 today. Lord, open my eyes. 426 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,360 To see people like you do. Give me your heart of 427 00:24:06,360 --> 00:24:12,840 compassion, your heart of mercy. Secondly, ears, we need to 428 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:15,560 listen to the Holy Spirit, listen to what God is saying. 429 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:19,320 So often the Holy Spirit is. Speaking and nudging us. 430 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,200 But are we? Listening and what he's doing, 431 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,720 he's revealing what he's doing and and a prophetic word into 432 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:29,560 somebody's life can really break open the way for God to come and 433 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:33,720 step in or it helps us to know how we can pray for somebody. 434 00:24:34,120 --> 00:24:36,520 So recently there was a lady and wake coffee. 435 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:37,560 That. I just. 436 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,000 Sense I just she. Came in, had a cappuccino. 437 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,680 And I I. Remember people's drinks for 438 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:44,080 some reason rather than their names. 439 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:47,240 And I just sense. I should say something to her, 440 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:49,240 but I didn't know what. So I said, God, what do you want 441 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,680 me to say to to her? And I noticed she had tattoos 442 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,080 all the way down her arm. And one of them stuck out to me. 443 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,720 It was a rain cloud, like Thunder and lightning. 444 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,600 And I just felt when I saw that, I felt this phrase come rain or 445 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:04,920 shine. So I just went over to her. 446 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:06,520 I said, excuse me, what's your name? 447 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,600 I felt like God has given me a word for you. 448 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:12,080 Do you mind if I share it? She was like, are you religious? 449 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:13,800 I was like, yeah. Kind. 450 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:14,920 Of. I guess that's why I'm sharing a 451 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,480 word, but we won't go there. And so I just shared and I said 452 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,560 literally I. Just felt this phrase come rain 453 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:24,240 or shine, and I think God wants you to know that whatever season 454 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:26,480 you're in, God loves. You that is such. 455 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:27,760 A simple word, isn't it? And if. 456 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:29,720 For us as believers. Like we think, Oh yeah, God 457 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,680 loves me. That's but in that moment, I 458 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:33,960 mean, she started crying and she said. 459 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,320 That really speaks to. Me, I'm in a really tough season 460 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:38,280 at the moment. I've lost my job, I don't know 461 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:41,560 what I'm doing and out of that we really managed to share. 462 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:44,880 She took a look Luke's gospel home and I continue to pray for 463 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:46,000 her, but. We need to. 464 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,840 Use our supernatural ears to hear what God is saying to 465 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,120 people to be able to then bring the Kingdom of heaven and 466 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,640 because then we can know how to pray specifically. 467 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,040 Does that make sense? Lastly, mouth. 468 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,960 So we use our mouth to taste not just good gluten free pastries, 469 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,840 but we taste and see who the Lord is. 470 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:09,120 Because ultimately every act of mercy, every miracle is to point 471 00:26:09,120 --> 00:26:11,920 us to Jesus. They're signposts, aren't they? 472 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:15,240 And our job is. Is to simply taste and see that 473 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,320 the Lord is good. It's Jesus. 474 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:21,480 Who does the miracle that we can't screw up our eyes pray our 475 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:24,160 hardest? And make things happen. 476 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:29,640 We are his vessels. Jesus comes and does the work, 477 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:33,120 and our role is to step out in obedience, in faith, and pray. 478 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,600 We. Pursue Jesus, not the miracles. 479 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,440 I love this quote. If we are chasing Jesus, not the 480 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:41,120 miracle. Even if the miracle doesn't 481 00:26:41,120 --> 00:26:45,040 happen, we still get Jesus. We pursue him. 482 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,360 We taste and see He's the one who then steps in. 483 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,760 Gladys Eilwood was a chambermaid in England, but she felt the 484 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:59,000 Lord sent her as a missionary to China and when she was there The 485 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:02,400 Japanese are invading China and everyone had fled beyond the 486 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:07,400 yellow river for safety and Gladys took care of 100 orphaned 487 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:11,160 Chinese children so she decided to take all these children and 488 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:15,080 try to get them as far through the yellow river and crossover 489 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,960 to safety so for. Weeks they walked. 490 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,520 Over the mountains, desperately trying to get away from the 491 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,360 invaders. Finally the group reached the 492 00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:26,560 Yellow River, but there were no ferry boats to crossover. 493 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:29,720 Gladys did not know that the ferry boats had stopped, 494 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:33,680 actually a long time ago. Bitterly disappointed and 495 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,240 without any dinner, the children lay down to sleep. 496 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,040 By the third day, Gladys was desperate. 497 00:27:39,120 --> 00:27:41,320 What were they going to do? How would they get across the 498 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,440 river? The children were hungry and 499 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,160 complaining. Gladys felt that the Lord had 500 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:49,600 let her down. In her agony, she prayed and 501 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,160 sobbed her heart out. Lord, she said, I've done my 502 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,960 best and it's no good. The children are starving. 503 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:59,960 Why haven't you helped me? Ma, don't cry, said one little 504 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:03,280 child whom Gladys had once rescued from a life of misery. 505 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:07,280 Ma, Moses crossed the Red Sea and it was bigger than this. 506 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:11,000 God isn't any different, and I'm going to ask him to work another 507 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:15,520 miracle, said the child. As Gladys listened, the child 508 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,760 began to ask God to get them across the river, and Gladys 509 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:20,640 went over put her arm around her. 510 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,640 God forgive me for not having the faith of a little child, she 511 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:25,920 said. Together they asked God for 512 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:28,280 help. After the prayer, Gladys was 513 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:31,280 interrupted. It was an officer in the uniform 514 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:35,640 of a nationalist Chinese army. I have a boat and I can take you 515 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:37,360 and the children across the river. 516 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,400 After they were all. Across the officer and his boat 517 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:46,600 disappeared and it was only then that Gladys realised how strange 518 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,560 it all was. And when the group of children 519 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:53,040 arrived in the city a few hours later, the Chinese could not 520 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:56,160 believe her story. The army came away from the 521 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:58,560 Yellow River weeks ago, they said. 522 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,760 And Gladys smiled and said to herself, God isn't any 523 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:07,600 different. So I started with this. 524 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:14,520 We've been saved on purpose for a purpose, to be ministers of 525 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:18,880 mercy and miracles. In a world that is in so need of 526 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:20,200 love. And compassion. 527 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:23,120 And for God's power. To break in. 528 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:26,040 And we? Worship a God who is so 529 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:28,160 merciful. That sometimes. 530 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:30,960 He just bends the rules of. Creation and steps in. 531 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,560 So that we would get a glimpse of the heavenly home. 532 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:38,360 That we are going towards and we would see how marvellous our 533 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:43,360 Creator is. The Lord bless you and keep you. 534 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:47,200 The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 535 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:51,120 The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.