1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,080 We are one church. We love God, love people, love 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:06,960 His mission, and love His church. 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:09,520 Welcome to the One Church podcast. 4 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,640 Today we're going to pick up back in this series from 5 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,080 Colossians. I trust you've been encouraged 6 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,320 so far as we've been exploring it. 7 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,360 Our first one looked at being transferred from the Kingdom of 8 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,160 darkness into the Kingdom of light. 9 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,840 We then looked at the supremacy of Christ, thinking about the 10 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,760 fact that Jesus rules and reigns over everyone and everything and 11 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,600 he holds all things together. And a couple of weeks ago, we 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,920 looked at the amazing truth that we have been reconciled by 13 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:44,880 Jesus. And today we come to this 14 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:50,560 equally amazing theme of Christ in me, the hope of glory. 15 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:57,240 Christ in me, the hope of glory. I wonder what we have hope for 16 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,720 in our world and what you have maybe a particular hope for. 17 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,600 I, I remember as a young kid, I probably had a fairly typical 18 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,680 hope, one that other maybe young boys maybe have. 19 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:13,160 And I, I hope that when I grew up that I would be a pilot. 20 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,400 You maybe think that's pretty boring, but you know, as a young 21 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,480 kid, I wanted to be a pilot. And so that, that's something I 22 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,240 hope for. And then one day at primary 23 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,600 school, I remember we had to line up to have an eye test. 24 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,720 And I remember going into one of the, one of the offices, I've 25 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,280 got to tell you, I was really hopeful about being a pilot 26 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,880 until I did this eye test. It turns out I have a partial, I 27 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,680 think red, blue, colour blindness. 28 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,240 So I, I, for the, for the life of me, I couldn't read the 29 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,080 numbers that were on these dots. And so they said to me, well, 30 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,400 James, the good news is your eyesight is brilliant. 31 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,560 The bad news is you can't be a pilot. 32 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,360 So that that hope was dashed. And then as AI remember also 33 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:56,760 having a hope as a 16 year old teenager, I started playing golf 34 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,080 and I loved the game. And I thought, you know what, 35 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:00,840 I'd love to be a golf pro when I'm older. 36 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,920 That would be a brilliant hope. Well, looking back, I thank God 37 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,480 that that was that wasn't the track he took me, took me down. 38 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:14,240 But I wonder what hopes you you have Christ in us, the hope of 39 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:16,840 glory. It's such an incredible thing. 40 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:21,200 So let's dive into Colossians 1 and I'm starting at verse 24. 41 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,440 I'm reading through to 29. I'm reading from the NIV says 42 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,960 this Now I rejoice in what I'm suffering for you and I fill up 43 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,360 in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's 44 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,520 afflictions for the sake of his body, which is the church. 45 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,640 I have become its servant by the Commission of God gave me to 46 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:44,240 present to you the Word of God in all its fullness, the mystery 47 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,960 that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now 48 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:52,200 disclosed to the Lord's people. To them God has chosen to make 49 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,800 known among us among the Gentiles, the glorious riches of 50 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,560 this mystery which is Christ in you the hope of glory. 51 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,520 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching 52 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,400 everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone fully 53 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,880 mature in Christ. To this end, I strenuously 54 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:16,520 contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in 55 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:17,960 me. Amen. 56 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,960 So this morning we're considering this amazing 57 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:26,080 thought, Christ in us, the hope of glory. 58 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,160 But firstly, we see a number of significant truths from this 59 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,200 passage leading up to it. And the first one I want to say 60 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,880 is the church is the body of Christ. 61 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,640 So we see there in that form of this, I'm glad Paul says when I 62 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,360 suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the 63 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:48,200 sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the 64 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,400 church. We the church are the body of 65 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,200 Christ. Yeah. 66 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,680 Do you know that? We are His body. 67 00:03:58,200 --> 00:03:59,920 So we see the church is the body of Christ. 68 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:03,000 But let me comment briefly just on the first part of this verse 69 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:04,600 because you might think it's a little bit weird. 70 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,320 Paul says now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I 71 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,360 fill up in my flesh. What is still lacking in regard 72 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,200 to Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the 73 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,760 church. The NLT put it slightly 74 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,800 differently. I'm glad when I suffer for in my 75 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,079 body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that 76 00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:22,680 continue for his body of the church. 77 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,040 So you read here that Paul rejoices in his suffering and 78 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,280 says that he's adding to what he's lacking in Christ's 79 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:31,360 afflictions. This is helpful from the 80 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:34,440 Believers Bible commentary, and it says this, there is a sense 81 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,800 in which the Lord Jesus still suffers. 82 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,200 When Saul of Tarsus was struck to the ground on the road to 83 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:44,480 Damascus, he heard a voice from heaven saying, Saul, Saul, why 84 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,160 do you persecute me so? Saul had not been consciously 85 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,480 persecuting the Lord, of course. He had only been persecuting the 86 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,720 Christians. He learned however that in 87 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,240 persecuting believers who was persecuting their Saviour. 88 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,440 And he went on to say the head in heaven feels the sufferings 89 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:06,000 of his body here on earth. Quite an amazing thought. 90 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,960 So Paul from his prison style, he rejoiced in what he could 91 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,240 suffer for Jesus name and the church's sake. 92 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,800 Don't forget This is why Paul wrote this letter to the church 93 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,880 in Colossale. He was in prison at the time. 94 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,520 And people can rejoice in the midst of suffering when they see 95 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,400 and believe what God can do through the difficulty. 96 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:31,360 When we are weak, he is strong. So if we are a follower of Jesus 97 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,800 today, we are part of the body of Christ. 98 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,600 Now, despite what people may think or perceive, buildings are 99 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,280 not the church. We know that. 100 00:05:42,280 --> 00:05:44,440 Yeah. The building is not the church. 101 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,640 It's church here today because we are all here, the people. 102 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,400 Yeah, one centre is not the church. 103 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,240 The people are the church. We are the body of Christ. 104 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,600 So when we gather in any given building, maybe it's here at one 105 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:03,120 centre or other, or the buildings around the city, that 106 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,760 is church where his people gather together. 107 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,640 They're churches. If there's no people, there's no 108 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,600 church. We are the church because we're 109 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:16,120 gathered here. Do you know there's about 26,000 110 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,160 Christian denominations in the world? 111 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,120 I mean, it's a staggering number, but only one body of 112 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,840 Christ. You know when God looks down at 113 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:28,600 his people, who we are on earth, he doesn't see all the 114 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,600 denominations and all the different groups. 115 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,080 He sees one group of people that love him. 116 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:40,480 He sees the body of Christ, and can I just say a reminder to us 117 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:45,040 that that no one body of Christ in its different places is more, 118 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,120 is better or more perfect than another. 119 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,760 There's no perfect church, by the way, You've heard this 120 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,840 before, right? If you find somewhere which you 121 00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:57,240 think is perfect, don't go along because you will wreck it 122 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:02,600 because you are not perfect. So number one, we are the body 123 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:07,400 of Christ, and Jesus alone is our true hope #2 is Jesus 124 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,440 revealed? This is what it says in verse 125 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,400 26. This message was kept secret for 126 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,080 centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to 127 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,400 God's people. You know, we've got incredible 128 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,120 hope today because Jesus lives in us by the Holy Spirit. 129 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,240 You know that this wasn't always the case, right? 130 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,880 For thousands of years, God's people, they'd longed and looked 131 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,440 for a time when the Messiah would come, when the Messiah 132 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,920 would be revealed. And for thousands of years the 133 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,600 message in hope of Jesus was kept secret. 134 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,680 If we could put it like that. That's what Paul says in this 135 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:42,800 verse. Did you know that Jesus was 136 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,280 revealed at exactly the right time in history? 137 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:46,920 I don't know if you've ever thought about it. 138 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,960 He was revealed at exactly the right time. 139 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,880 There seems to be a number of reasons perhaps, and we can only 140 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,480 look at it from a human point of view, Why Jesus came when he 141 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,520 did. For one reason. 142 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,200 There was great anticipation among the Jews of that time that 143 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:05,640 the Messiah would come as the the Roman rule over them at the 144 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,320 time over Israel had made the Jewish people hungry for the 145 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:13,040 Messiah's coming. The spread of the gospel was 146 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,760 going to become easier because of travel. 147 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,280 Rome had unified much of the world under it's government, 148 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,760 giving a sense of unity to the various lands, and the entire 149 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,320 empire at that time was relatively peaceful and travel 150 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:30,080 was possible, allowing the early Christians to spread the gospel. 151 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:31,960 Before that time they wouldn't have been able to do it. 152 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,840 Another reason was a common language among the people, so 153 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:40,039 communication was much easier. I read this quote. 154 00:08:40,039 --> 00:08:42,919 While Rome had conquered militarily, Greece had conquered 155 00:08:42,919 --> 00:08:45,640 culturally. A common form of Greek language 156 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:49,120 was the trade language and was spoken throughout the empire, 157 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:51,840 making it possible to communicate the gospel to many 158 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:55,000 different people groups through one common language. 159 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,520 The Father knew when the perfect time was for Jesus to come, 160 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,160 communication, language. And of course, at this point, 161 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,120 humanity had fallen to a real low. 162 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,320 And it was a point in history when no priest or prophet really 163 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,120 sent by God could bring about spiritual salvation. 164 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:17,160 Only God himself coming to earth in human form had the power to 165 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,200 turn the spiritual tide of human history. 166 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,960 Jesus came at the perfect time. Jesus revealed. 167 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:24,960 And you know, God's timing is everything. 168 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,200 Jesus came at just the right time for humanity. 169 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,240 And can I say to us, for us personally, always trust in His 170 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,120 timing. He always sees the bigger 171 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:37,880 picture. God saw the bigger picture of 172 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,280 history and thought now is the time to send my son into the 173 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,040 world. He sees the bigger picture of 174 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:43,600 your life. And His timing is always 175 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,160 perfect. There might be things that 176 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,200 you're waiting for, frustrated about, but God's timing is 177 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,480 always perfect. God is always on time. 178 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:55,320 He is never late. So #1 the church is the body of 179 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,960 Christ #2 Jesus revealed, and #3 we have all been included. 180 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,960 This is great news, people. Paul says this for God, wanted 181 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:06,360 them to know that the riches and glory of of Christ are for you 182 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:10,200 Gentiles too. The great news is, is that the 183 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,680 message and the good news of the Jesus has come to us as 184 00:10:12,680 --> 00:10:14,760 Gentiles. So I'm grateful this morning. 185 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:20,840 We are welcome to the party. Yeah, we've been grafted into 186 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:24,200 Jesus, into God's Kingdom. Listen to this from Romans 11, 187 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:29,760 verse 17, Paul talking about the the nation of Israel and the 188 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:31,440 Israelite people. It says, but some of these 189 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,120 branches from Abraham's tree, some of the people of Israel 190 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:38,440 have been broken off and you Gentiles, that's us, who were 191 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,520 branches from a wild olive tree have been grafted in. 192 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,240 So now you also receive the blessing God has promised 193 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,240 Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment 194 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,440 from the roots of God's special olive tree. 195 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:55,080 Now, at risk of pointing out the obvious, Jesus, of course, was a 196 00:10:55,080 --> 00:11:00,480 Jew, and the Bible is predominantly a telling of God's 197 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,480 plans and journeys with the Israelite people. 198 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:06,000 That's what we read. I want to strongly encourage us 199 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,840 this morning to continue pray for Israel and the Jewish 200 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:12,480 people. The Jewish people are no more 201 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,920 loved by God than us as Gentiles, but they do have an 202 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:20,200 incredibly specific purpose and role to play in God's plans. 203 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,080 And in the days we're living in right now, we see those plans 204 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,400 being outworked in front of our very, very eyes. 205 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,040 It's very exciting. There's barely a day, I'm sure 206 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,200 you'll know, when Israel is not in the news. 207 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:33,320 It's at the centre of world attention. 208 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,240 And not surprisingly, it is where we all know it, where the 209 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,040 Saviour of the world is coming back to. 210 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,320 His feet are going to land on the Mount of Olives in 211 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:46,160 Jerusalem. So is it any surprise that it is 212 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,480 at the centre of the world's attention? 213 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,240 You know, there's nothing more that the enemy would love, 214 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,400 really, than to wipe out God's chosen people and stop his 215 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:56,960 purposes. But the good news is he's 216 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:00,760 fighting a battle that he cannot win, and one that has already 217 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,520 been won. I can only assume that he's 218 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:06,680 trying to destroy as many people as he can on the way to his 219 00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:10,880 final destiny in hell. So let's continue to pray for 220 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,440 the peace of Jerusalem and for God's plans and purposes to be 221 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,440 outworked in Israel and for millions of Jewish people to be 222 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,240 saved. It's part of God's plan and His 223 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,480 purpose. But for us, for God wanted them 224 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,160 to know that the riches and the glory of Christ are for you 225 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:26,880 Gentiles too. We're in, we're at the party, 226 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,960 we're grateful, Amen. We've all been included #4 we 227 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:35,440 get to this Jesus, the true hope, Christ in us. 228 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:37,600 The hope of glory says this to them. 229 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,760 God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious 230 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:45,640 riches of this mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of 231 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,200 glory. And this is ultimately where 232 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:53,880 we've been building. 2 Jesus is our and ultimate hope for 233 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,080 everyone, in case we hadn't tweaked that yet. 234 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,200 Did you know that politicians are not the answer and hope for 235 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,600 this world? Did you know that business is 236 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:07,280 not the answer and hope for this world? 237 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,600 Did you know that environmental action and campaigning is not 238 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,080 the answer and hope for our world? 239 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:17,000 Academic achievement is not the solution and hope for our world? 240 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:21,840 Financial success and material wealth is not the answer and 241 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:25,000 hope for our world. Religion is not the answer and 242 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:29,360 hope for our world. Jesus is the only, the one and 243 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,400 only answer and hope for our world. 244 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:36,600 And when we are born again, this Jesus who is the hope for our 245 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,360 world lives in US. He lives in US. 246 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:43,720 God lives in US. Wow. 247 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,000 The Jesus we have heard described about earlier in 248 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,080 Colossians. Let me read it again just to 249 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:55,720 allow the enormity of what this means to sink into you, says 250 00:13:55,720 --> 00:14:00,040 this in Colossians 115 to 17. Christ is the visible image of 251 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,400 the invisible God. He existed before anything was 252 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,840 created and his supreme over all creation. 253 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,360 For through him God created everything in the heavenly 254 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,080 realms and on earth. He made the things we can see 255 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,480 and the things we can't see such as Thrones, kingdoms, rulers and 256 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:18,120 authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through 257 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,760 him and for him. He existed before anything else 258 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,160 and he holds all creation together. 259 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:33,080 So the same Jesus who spoke the world into existence, the same 260 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:37,280 Jesus who sustains the universe we live in, who holds all 261 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:42,320 creation together, the same Jesus who has always existed, 262 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:48,120 the same Jesus for whom all things were created, This same 263 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:54,840 Jesus lives in US. Should we just park there for a 264 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,040 moment and just just let that sink in? 265 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:06,720 This same Jesus lives in us. So what? 266 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:08,600 What does that mean? What I mean, what does that mean 267 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,560 for our lives? That means a whole host of 268 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,800 things. But let me just say a couple of 269 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,920 things. You may have cottoned on 270 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,840 already, but living the Christian life is pretty 271 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:20,880 impossible without Jesus living in US. 272 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:24,920 Religions are trying it all the time. 273 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,440 It doesn't work. We need something different. 274 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,120 We can't live and love and do all that He has designed and 275 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,480 called us to do without his life in US. 276 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,640 You know, people without Jesus, they try really hard every day 277 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,440 to do better, to be better. But it's like wading through 278 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,880 treacle. People can't do it on their own 279 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:44,480 strength. We were never designed to do it 280 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,000 in our own strength. We need Him living in US. 281 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:52,120 And even as God's people, we cannot effectively live as Jesus 282 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,800 followers without His love, His power, His peace, His strength, 283 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,360 living in US and working from the inside out. 284 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,160 Christianity is the transformation of our lives from 285 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:09,640 the inside out by Jesus living in and through US. 286 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,600 Galatians 220 says this. My old self has been crucified 287 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,680 with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but 288 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,760 Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body 289 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,360 by trusting in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself 290 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,840 for me. You know, the Christian life, 291 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,200 it's not a morally improved life. 292 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,520 It is a totally new and transformed life. 293 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,120 That's why we see in John 3 when Jesus is chatting with one of 294 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,160 the Pharisees, Nicodemus, in secret. 295 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:44,720 Nicodemus went to him at night because he didn't want anyone 296 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:46,800 else to see that he was going to see Jesus. 297 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,760 And Jesus says to him, we must be born again. 298 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,480 A whole new heart and a whole new spirit living in US are 299 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,480 necessary for us to live as God has always intended us to live. 300 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:03,600 We can't do it without him. Christ in US, the hope of glory, 301 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:07,880 the Christian life is the transformed life. 302 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,760 Christ in you. Think about it. 303 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:16,680 If Jesus is in US, and he is, if we have been born again and 304 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:21,040 Jesus loves the people around us and he does, and he wants those 305 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:26,160 people around us to experience life in him, that same Jesus in 306 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,280 US will lead us to a greater love for them. 307 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,800 This will transform our purpose and outlook in living our lives. 308 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,560 I mean, just picture for a minute those people who are in 309 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,760 your sphere of influence, those people in your worlds, in your 310 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,360 everyday worlds, the people that God has put around you. 311 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:47,040 Just picture them for a minute, Family, friends, neighbours, 312 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:51,720 work colleagues, people you meet on the bus, maybe down at the 313 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,920 gym, in the shops, at the allotment, wherever it is God 314 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:56,640 has placed you in your everyday life. 315 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:04,440 Jesus is in you for them. Jesus is in you for their sake. 316 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:10,080 You know, the reality is that in our everyday lives, God is 317 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,480 constantly, I believe, presenting us with opportunities 318 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:17,720 to reach out to people because he is in US and He loves people. 319 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,160 We just need to go with him when he prompts us. 320 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,720 You know, it's a really exciting and purposeful adventure when we 321 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,280 go with what he wants to do through us. 322 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:33,920 On Thursday I had a hospital appointment for my eye and just 323 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,400 in the morning I was just praying and I thought, well, I'm 324 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:38,920 going to meet some different people today. 325 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,560 So I just said to the father said, look, I don't know who I'm 326 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:43,560 going to meet today, but I'm going to see a lot of people I 327 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,600 don't normally see, you know, I'd love to have, you know, an 328 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:50,360 opportunity to speak to someone. So sure enough, I went to the 329 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,000 hospital appointment. I was in the waiting room. 330 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:57,440 I had a scan and then later I went up to another floor to have 331 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:01,440 to have the treatment. And sure enough, joy I, I was 332 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,840 just getting prepared for, for the treatment. 333 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:08,000 And what one, one of the nurses said, some said something to me 334 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,560 about, you know, what you're doing at the, the bank holiday. 335 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:14,480 And I said, Oh, well, we have a bit of family time, Sundays very 336 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,960 busy because I'm a pastor and we're, you know, we're part of a 337 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:21,320 brilliant church. And so the conversation went on. 338 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,760 And then she, she opened up a little bit and told me about her 339 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,920 son. And I said, look, we'll, we'll, 340 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:31,800 we'll pray for your son. So it was just an opportunity in 341 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,400 the middle of everyday life that the Father brought along. 342 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,360 And I think the Father is bringing opportunities for, for 343 00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:40,960 us like that all the time. And can I, can I just encourage 344 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,600 you to take those opportunities when they come because Jesus 345 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:49,400 lives in you and he longs to love and to meet the people 346 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,520 around your lives. Amen. 347 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:59,200 Christ in us the hope of glory. We have the supernatural power 348 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:03,680 of Jesus in us for every situation we are living in. 349 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:08,640 Whether it's parenting, whether it's doing our best at work, 350 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:11,640 whether it's loving our husbands or wives, whether it's loving 351 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,400 our neighbours, whether it's being a great entrepreneur, 352 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,200 whatever it is, the everyday things of life done well with 353 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:19,760 Jesus power working in and through US. 354 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:26,400 Christ in us, the hope of glory. What else do we see here? 355 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:32,000 What says Christ in us? The hope of glory, Hope. 356 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,640 Knowing Jesus, the most incredible hope ever. 357 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:38,640 You know the hope we have in Jesus. 358 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,240 It is a guarantee. It's not a vain wish like my 359 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,040 hopes of being a pilot or a pro golfer. 360 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,760 This is a real hope. This hope goes beyond the here 361 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:55,040 and now of this earth. Jesus in you now means Jesus in 362 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,960 you forever, and nothing can change that incredible fact. 363 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:05,720 Listen to this from one Peter 1/3 to five says all praise to 364 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:07,520 God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ. 365 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,880 It is by his great mercy that we've been born again because 366 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:12,640 God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. 367 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,640 Now we live with great expectation and we have a 368 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:19,160 priceless inheritance, an inheritance that is kept in 369 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,480 heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of 370 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,120 change and decay. And through your faith God is 371 00:21:25,120 --> 00:21:28,200 protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation 372 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:32,400 which is ready to be revealed on that last day for all to see. 373 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:36,800 Christ in us, the hope of glory. We have incredible hope. 374 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:44,080 And lastly, we see as we begin to come to a close, Christ in us 375 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,080 the hope of glory. Glory, the best ever is yet to 376 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:51,440 come. Glory has the last word. 377 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:53,520 Death doesn't have the last word. 378 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:55,720 Sickness doesn't have the last word. 379 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:00,160 Jesus has the last word. Christ in us the hope of glory. 380 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:07,040 Romans 810 to 11 says this. And Christ lives within you. 381 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:11,760 So even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit 382 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,360 gives you life because you've been made right with God. 383 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,560 The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in 384 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:22,200 you. And just as God raised Christ 385 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,440 Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies 386 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,120 by the same Spirit living within you. 387 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:37,520 Christ in us, the hope of glory. Troubles and trials don't have 388 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,520 the last word. Of course they're real. 389 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,280 They're part of ever, ever did any life. 390 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,880 We were promised we'd get trouble, actually. 391 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,560 But glory has the last and eternal word. 392 00:22:58,610 --> 00:23:01,210 So if we're a follower and believer of Jesus this morning, 393 00:23:01,210 --> 00:23:03,690 we have a very real hope for our futures. 394 00:23:07,490 --> 00:23:09,290 Fact. A hopeful future is a guaranteed 395 00:23:09,290 --> 00:23:16,080 certainty when we know Jesus and eternity to be with him, which 396 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:24,560 will be indescribably brilliant. I don't know how we can even 397 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:28,840 begin to comprehend it. We got glimpses, don't we? 398 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:32,760 Sometimes, as we gather in other places of the presence of God 399 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:37,960 and his glory and His Majesty. But it, it's just, it's just a 400 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:43,360 tiny glimpse of what is to come. The most, the best, the most 401 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:46,920 incredible part is to come. And as believers, can I 402 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:47,880 encourage you this morning? Death. 403 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,880 There's No Fear for us because Jesus lives in us. 404 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,320 He is the hope for an incredible future. 405 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:02,680 The reality is the here and now will go very quickly, but the 406 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,160 hope of glory, eternity will go on forever and we will be with 407 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:11,280 him. Christ in US, the hope of glory. 408 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:19,160 Amen. Father, thank you for this, the 409 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:22,200 profound depth of what you're saying to us this morning. 410 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:26,560 Christ in us, the hope of glory. Well, thank you that as 411 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:31,960 believers in you, Jesus the Messiah, or that when we are 412 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:34,440 born again, Lord, you come to live in us by the power of the 413 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:39,600 Holy Spirit. Lord, my simple prayer for us 414 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,520 all this morning. Lord, would we that we would be 415 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:46,440 more acutely aware of the fact, Lord, that you live in US. 416 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:50,880 Lord, that would touch every part of our lives. 417 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,480 Lord, that it would bring about holiness in US. 418 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:57,760 Lord, it would bring about a love for others. 419 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:01,000 Lord in US. Lord, as you live through US, 420 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:03,840 Lord, help us not to stive for what you want to do in and 421 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:06,520 through US. Lord, as we see opportunities to 422 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,840 show your love to those around us or we would take those 423 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:13,440 opportunities. Thank you for your deep and 424 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,000 profound love for us this morning. 425 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,920 Lord, that you loved us so much that you gave your one and only 426 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,360 Son, that I for us. Thank you. 427 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:26,080 That same Son lives in us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, 428 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:32,320 Christ in us, the hope of glory. Amen. 429 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:42,040 The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine 430 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:46,240 upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face towards 431 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:47,960 you and give you peace.