1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,060 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,060 –> 00:00:16,500 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN 365 or visit our website openthebible.org. 3 00:00:16,500 –> 00:00:17,760 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,760 –> 00:00:21,540 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:21,540 –> 00:00:26,400 Please open your Bible, that is 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 6 00:00:26,400 –> 00:00:32,500 We have today and then one more week in the series that we have called Don’t Lose Heart. 7 00:00:32,500 –> 00:00:39,619 We live in a world where we very easily can come to lose heart, here we are in this world 8 00:00:39,619 –> 00:00:49,000 of infectious diseases, school shootings, domestic violence, radical ideologies to name 9 00:00:49,000 –> 00:00:55,000 just a few of the stories that just roll and roll in our 24-7 news cycles. 10 00:00:55,840 –> 00:01:01,740 And as one story gives way to another, it is easy for us to lose heart. 11 00:01:01,740 –> 00:01:08,320 And sometimes you may find yourself asking the question, what in the world is God doing, 12 00:01:08,320 –> 00:01:14,379 and perhaps also asking the question, what can I do that will make a difference in such 13 00:01:14,379 –> 00:01:15,900 a world as this? 14 00:01:16,919 –> 00:01:21,139 And that is the focus of the verses that are before us today and I’d like to read from 15 00:01:21,239 –> 00:01:30,720 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 18 to 20 that are before us today. 16 00:01:30,720 –> 00:01:36,040 Second Corinthians five and reading from verse 18. 17 00:01:36,040 –> 00:01:50,599 All this is from God who, through Christ, reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry 18 00:01:50,599 –> 00:01:51,860 of reconciliation. 19 00:01:51,860 –> 00:02:03,480 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses 20 00:02:03,480 –> 00:02:12,619 against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 21 00:02:12,919 –> 00:02:22,720 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. 22 00:02:22,720 –> 00:02:33,800 We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 23 00:02:33,800 –> 00:02:39,139 Now I want very simply today to remind you of the ministry and the message that God has 24 00:02:39,240 –> 00:02:45,000 given to us, and then to make three observations about it. 25 00:02:45,000 –> 00:02:50,619 The ministry and the message that God has given to us, very clearly, is the ministry 26 00:02:50,619 –> 00:02:52,279 of reconciliation. 27 00:02:52,279 –> 00:02:56,759 It’s all through these marvelous verses that we’ve just read. 28 00:02:56,759 –> 00:03:07,139 God, through Christ, reconciled us to himself, verse 18, and he gave us, the people of God, 29 00:03:07,179 –> 00:03:09,020 those who have been reconciled. 30 00:03:09,020 –> 00:03:14,940 We have been given by God this ministry of reconciliation. 31 00:03:14,940 –> 00:03:19,559 As if that were not clear enough, he repeats it again in the next verse with one word of 32 00:03:19,559 –> 00:03:20,559 change. 33 00:03:20,559 –> 00:03:26,500 He says, God was reconciling the world to himself and trusting to us, the message of 34 00:03:26,500 –> 00:03:28,179 reconciliation. 35 00:03:28,179 –> 00:03:33,860 The ministry and the message, which, of course, always stand together, they’ve been trusted 36 00:03:34,059 –> 00:03:40,500 by God to us, his people who have been reconciled to himself. 37 00:03:40,500 –> 00:03:43,619 Therefore, verse 20, here is the conclusion. 38 00:03:43,619 –> 00:03:46,979 We go, we speak in the name of Jesus Christ. 39 00:03:46,979 –> 00:03:50,539 We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 40 00:03:50,539 –> 00:03:52,860 That’s the message that is coming. 41 00:03:52,860 –> 00:03:58,960 The ministry that is coming from the people who have been reconciled to God, by God and 42 00:03:59,500 –> 00:04:07,100 trusted now by God with this marvelous and strategic ministry. 43 00:04:07,100 –> 00:04:14,220 So, since this is what God has given to us, it is really important that we individually 44 00:04:14,220 –> 00:04:19,619 and together understand what we have been given and the commission with which we have 45 00:04:19,619 –> 00:04:23,720 been trusted, that we have grasped it and that we have understood it, so that we can 46 00:04:23,720 –> 00:04:27,100 do it really well. 47 00:04:28,059 –> 00:04:36,420 First thing to say here, is surely this, that the ministry of reconciliation obviously presupposes 48 00:04:36,420 –> 00:04:39,220 a conflict. 49 00:04:39,220 –> 00:04:44,500 Reconciliation only happens when there has been a fight, when there has been a dispute, 50 00:04:44,500 –> 00:04:48,040 when there has been a falling out. 51 00:04:48,040 –> 00:04:55,019 If someone were to say to me after the service, have you been reconciled to your wife, I would 52 00:04:55,339 –> 00:04:58,679 have no idea what you are talking about. 53 00:04:58,679 –> 00:05:00,480 I have never fallen out with her. 54 00:05:00,480 –> 00:05:04,579 I love her, she loves me. 55 00:05:04,579 –> 00:05:09,019 Reconciliation by definition is something that happens when people have fallen out, 56 00:05:09,019 –> 00:05:14,980 when there is a problem, when there has a conflict, where people are no longer face 57 00:05:14,980 –> 00:05:16,559 to face. 58 00:05:16,559 –> 00:05:23,279 Reconciliation in other words, presupposes a problem. 59 00:05:23,299 –> 00:05:28,700 And in order to exercise this ministry that God has given to us, we need to understand 60 00:05:28,700 –> 00:05:32,299 what that problem is as well. 61 00:05:32,299 –> 00:05:44,399 Was the issue that brought the need of reconciliation, was it on our side, was it on God’s side, 62 00:05:44,399 –> 00:05:47,720 or was it both? 63 00:05:47,720 –> 00:05:55,899 On our side, of course, there are plenty – our sins, our doubts, our fears, our resistance 64 00:05:55,899 –> 00:06:04,160 to God, our distrust of God, our unbelief, our self-interest, our lack of faith, our 65 00:06:04,160 –> 00:06:10,119 lack of hope, our lack of love, all these things put us at a distance from God. 66 00:06:10,119 –> 00:06:14,000 So that by nature, we don’t want to talk to Him, we don’t want to come to Him, we 67 00:06:14,000 –> 00:06:21,339 don’t want to submit ourselves to Him, but when everything has been said about the problems 68 00:06:21,339 –> 00:06:29,339 on our side, we still haven’t gotten to the heart of why we need to be reconciled 69 00:06:29,339 –> 00:06:35,140 to God, and what stands in the way of that happening. 70 00:06:35,140 –> 00:06:38,579 Think about this with me for a moment. 71 00:06:38,579 –> 00:06:43,859 Suppose that everything on our side were put right. 72 00:06:43,859 –> 00:06:50,059 Suppose it were possible for you to overcome all of your reluctance towards God, all of 73 00:06:50,059 –> 00:06:54,859 your distrust towards God, for you to put aside all of your self-interest. 74 00:06:54,859 –> 00:07:02,859 Suppose it was possible for one of us today to offer ourselves without reservation to 75 00:07:02,859 –> 00:07:08,380 the purpose of loving God, and trusting God, and serving God. 76 00:07:08,380 –> 00:07:12,220 Would that in itself bring about the reconciliation? 77 00:07:14,179 –> 00:07:17,480 And the answer to that question, of course, is no. 78 00:07:17,500 –> 00:07:20,420 And here’s why. 79 00:07:20,420 –> 00:07:26,100 Because when everything has been said about the problems that are on our side, there is 80 00:07:26,100 –> 00:07:29,959 still a bigger problem. 81 00:07:29,959 –> 00:07:33,179 And we’re told about it right at the beginning of the Bible. 82 00:07:33,179 –> 00:07:38,540 God tells us the story of how our human rebellion against God began. 83 00:07:38,540 –> 00:07:42,059 You remember that Eve wanted to be her own god. 84 00:07:42,660 –> 00:07:48,899 Adam wanted to be his own god too, and so they disobeyed God, and God sent them out 85 00:07:48,899 –> 00:07:51,100 from the garden. 86 00:07:51,100 –> 00:07:57,760 They found themselves in a different world, the world we’re familiar with, a world of 87 00:07:57,760 –> 00:08:03,980 pain where work is hard, a world where Adam and Eve’s own children would fight and one 88 00:08:03,980 –> 00:08:07,779 would even kill the other. 89 00:08:07,839 –> 00:08:12,119 The world that we know so well today, the world of violence, and greed, and disease 90 00:08:12,119 –> 00:08:13,459 and self-interest. 91 00:08:13,459 –> 00:08:17,600 A world under the curse of sin, a world of loss. 92 00:08:17,600 –> 00:08:28,339 Now suppose that at some point, east of Eden, Adam had said to himself, you know what? 93 00:08:28,339 –> 00:08:31,079 I think I made a mistake. 94 00:08:31,079 –> 00:08:34,919 This is nothing like the garden of Eden. 95 00:08:34,919 –> 00:08:39,880 I realize now, I thought I would be better being my own god, and then of course he found 96 00:08:39,880 –> 00:08:44,760 the same, that’s been causing us problems in the marriage ever since. 97 00:08:44,760 –> 00:08:49,299 The truth is, this is nothing like as good as Eden. 98 00:08:49,299 –> 00:08:52,320 I’m gonna go back. 99 00:08:52,320 –> 00:08:54,739 Now here’s the problem. 100 00:08:54,739 –> 00:09:01,640 He could not go back, even if he wanted to. 101 00:09:01,640 –> 00:09:03,440 And why could he not go back? 102 00:09:04,039 –> 00:09:13,599 Well the answer is in Genesis chapter 3 verse 24, God drove the man out, and at the east 103 00:09:13,599 –> 00:09:23,559 of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, angelic figures, and a flaming sword that 104 00:09:23,559 –> 00:09:31,840 turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. 105 00:09:32,840 –> 00:09:34,940 See if you were to overcome 106 00:09:34,940 –> 00:09:40,159 every problem on your side, you would still be left with this problem the 107 00:09:40,159 –> 00:09:49,020 flaming sword on God’s side. What are you going to do about that? A flaming 108 00:09:49,020 –> 00:09:55,559 sword, picture it, that turns every way. It’s flashing, it’s flaming. You get near 109 00:09:55,840 –> 00:10:02,440 it’ll cut you into pieces. Why? Because nothing that has been touched by sin is 110 00:10:02,440 –> 00:10:08,380 going to come into the Eternal abode of God. Nothing is going to ruin the 111 00:10:08,380 –> 00:10:17,340 eternity into which God’s eternal joy will be forever manifest. So Adam’s 112 00:10:17,340 –> 00:10:23,580 outside of Eden, and he is living in a world. We are living in a world that 113 00:10:23,820 –> 00:10:31,380 bears the curse of his and of our sin, and he’s alienated from God. And even if 114 00:10:31,380 –> 00:10:42,780 he wants to, there is for him no way back. And you see, that gets us to the reason 115 00:10:43,840 –> 00:10:49,400 why Jesus Christ came into the world and why he had to go to the cross. 116 00:10:50,179 –> 00:10:55,520 What is the really big problem that needs to be dealt with in order that 117 00:10:55,520 –> 00:11:00,179 reconciliation may take place and can only be dealt with by Jesus Christ 118 00:11:00,179 –> 00:11:05,159 coming into the world and going to the cross? The answer is the flaming sword. 119 00:11:05,159 –> 00:11:13,500 The answer is divine justice. The answer is the great condemnation that lies on 120 00:11:13,659 –> 00:11:21,320 our whole world as a result of our sin. It’s a much bigger problem than just 121 00:11:21,320 –> 00:11:25,140 your doubts, your questions, your disinclination, whether you want to go 122 00:11:25,140 –> 00:11:30,640 God’s way or whatever else. Much, much bigger than that. And friends, we need to 123 00:11:30,640 –> 00:11:35,099 remember these things. When people ask us the question, why in the world would you 124 00:11:35,099 –> 00:11:39,940 believe that Jesus Christ is the only way? I was asked that question by a near 125 00:11:40,340 –> 00:11:45,099 neighbor, again just this week. Well I came and visited your church, but you seemed to 126 00:11:45,099 –> 00:11:50,859 believe that. Why would you believe that? Well here’s one reason that we believe 127 00:11:50,859 –> 00:12:01,059 that. That only Jesus is able to deal with what blocks the way, and what blocks 128 00:12:01,059 –> 00:12:07,539 the way primarily isn’t on our side. It’s the flaming sword. 129 00:12:07,719 –> 00:12:14,820 It’s the justice of God. You can’t understand why Jesus is the only way 130 00:12:14,820 –> 00:12:19,059 until you understand what it is that is the problem that he comes into the world 131 00:12:19,059 –> 00:12:23,020 to overcome. What is it that keeps us out of heaven? It’s much more than your 132 00:12:23,020 –> 00:12:33,179 disinclination. The flaming sword that turns every way, and if we were to 133 00:12:33,179 –> 00:12:44,219 approach it would cut us into pieces. But he has come, and because he has come 134 00:12:44,219 –> 00:12:56,640 there is reconciliation, and the ministry of reconciliation is trusted to us. Now I 135 00:12:56,640 –> 00:13:00,780 want then just to make these three observations today about this ministry. 136 00:13:00,780 –> 00:13:04,539 It’s the simplest possible outline and hopefully it might be one that you 137 00:13:04,539 –> 00:13:09,580 would remember and might be useful to you. The ministry of reconciliation 138 00:13:09,580 –> 00:13:15,020 is from God, it’s for the world, and it’s through us. That’s it, that’s these 139 00:13:15,020 –> 00:13:20,700 verses. The ministry of reconciliation, this marvelous, marvelous ministry, it’s 140 00:13:20,700 –> 00:13:26,419 from God, it’s for the world, and it’s through us. These three things today. 141 00:13:27,219 –> 00:13:31,479 First of all, then, it is from God. Look at that in verse 18, it’s right there. 142 00:13:31,479 –> 00:13:40,539 All this is from God. And then verse 19, God was reconciling the world to 143 00:13:40,539 –> 00:13:48,039 himself. Verse 20, God making his appeal through us. It’s just relentless through 144 00:13:48,039 –> 00:13:53,900 these verses, the constant activity of God. God is always taking the initiative. 145 00:13:53,900 –> 00:13:59,280 God is not in the position of standing back wondering, and waiting to see what 146 00:13:59,280 –> 00:14:04,940 people will do. No, he’s relentlessly at work. God was reconciling the world to 147 00:14:04,940 –> 00:14:11,059 himself. God giving us the ministry of reconciliation. God making his appeal 148 00:14:11,059 –> 00:14:17,020 through us be reconciled to God. So God is not the helpless victim of human 149 00:14:17,020 –> 00:14:21,780 sin and rebellion, he is not wringing his hands or shaking his head in heaven, 150 00:14:21,840 –> 00:14:29,320 saying what in the world am I going to do. Now notice that everything that Jesus 151 00:14:29,320 –> 00:14:37,640 accomplished on the cross is spoken of here as from God. This is very important 152 00:14:37,640 –> 00:14:43,479 for our understanding of who God is. So please look at this with me carefully. 153 00:14:43,679 –> 00:14:44,380 All this 154 00:14:44,380 –> 00:14:52,400 is from God, verse 18, who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to himself. Verse 155 00:14:52,400 –> 00:14:58,419 19, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself. So not simply Christ 156 00:14:58,419 –> 00:15:04,539 was reconciling the world. No, in Christ God was reconciling the world. You have 157 00:15:04,539 –> 00:15:10,239 the same thing in Romans and chapter five, in verse eight. God demonstrates his 158 00:15:10,380 –> 00:15:14,979 love for us in this, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. You 159 00:15:14,979 –> 00:15:18,679 think it might say you know Christ demonstrates his love in the fact that 160 00:15:18,679 –> 00:15:22,239 he died for us. That’s not what it says, that’s true but it’s not what it says. 161 00:15:22,239 –> 00:15:28,000 God demonstrates his love for us in this. Or John 316 best-known verse in the 162 00:15:28,000 –> 00:15:33,960 Bible, God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. So the coming 163 00:15:33,960 –> 00:15:38,919 of Christ tells us more than that the second person of the Trinity loves us. 164 00:15:39,080 –> 00:15:45,820 More than that Jesus loves us. God so loved the world. Now here’s what’s 165 00:15:45,820 –> 00:15:53,719 important for us to grasp. Jesus did not die on the cross in order to make God 166 00:15:53,719 –> 00:16:03,000 love us. Jesus died on the cross because God loves us. Jesus died on the cross 167 00:16:03,760 –> 00:16:13,599 because God loves us. Jesus is God in the flesh. That’s why verse 19 is so 168 00:16:13,599 –> 00:16:25,159 important. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Christ is God the 169 00:16:25,200 –> 00:16:37,599 Son. And since there is only one God, in Him, God offers himself. So when the Bible 170 00:16:37,599 –> 00:16:43,440 says, God spared not his one and only Son, always remember 171 00:16:44,400 –> 00:16:54,440 that God not sparing his Son means God not sparing himself. In 172 00:16:54,440 –> 00:17:02,239 Christ, God gave himself and bore the whole cost of our 173 00:17:02,239 –> 00:17:10,939 reconciliation Himself. In Christ, God was reconciling the 174 00:17:10,939 –> 00:17:17,739 world to himself. Now Spurgeon so often says this in a way that is 175 00:17:17,739 –> 00:17:21,359 helpful. Let me just quote him to you. He says to his 176 00:17:21,359 –> 00:17:27,380 congregation, Never fall into the idea that God is vengeful 177 00:17:27,380 –> 00:17:31,819 and angry, and that the death of Jesus was necessary to 178 00:17:31,819 –> 00:17:37,660 pacify the Father. Beloved, you know better than this. You know 179 00:17:37,760 –> 00:17:43,760 God was love before Jesus died. All was love, all was full of 180 00:17:43,760 –> 00:17:49,260 grace and truth toward his people. God was in Christ, God 181 00:17:49,260 –> 00:17:54,459 came to earth to reconcile men and women, God made the 182 00:17:54,459 –> 00:18:02,459 atonement for us. So here is the first thing to grasp about this 183 00:18:02,459 –> 00:18:07,380 ministry and this message that has been trusted to us. It is 184 00:18:07,420 –> 00:18:15,920 from God and it streams from a heart of love that is the heart 185 00:18:15,920 –> 00:18:23,719 of God and that God is relentless in his activity. He 186 00:18:23,719 –> 00:18:29,920 reconciling us, giving us the ministry of reconciliation in 187 00:18:29,920 –> 00:18:33,660 order that he, in Christ, is reconciling people throughout 188 00:18:33,660 –> 00:18:37,979 the world, appealing to sinners, not counting men’s sins 189 00:18:38,020 –> 00:18:42,140 against them. God, God, God right throughout this, always 190 00:18:42,160 –> 00:18:47,979 acting, which is the greatest encouragement that I know in 191 00:18:47,979 –> 00:18:53,280 sustaining ministry. So the ministry, the message of 192 00:18:53,280 –> 00:18:56,839 reconciliation, it’s from God. Here’s the second thing. It is 193 00:18:56,839 –> 00:19:06,599 for the world. God was reconciling the world to 194 00:19:06,599 –> 00:19:13,839 himself. Now here friends, is a marvelous statement about what 195 00:19:13,839 –> 00:19:21,160 God was doing at the cross. Here’s what it means. In the 196 00:19:21,160 –> 00:19:29,420 death of Jesus God was removing every barrier to peace on his 197 00:19:29,420 –> 00:19:36,219 side. He was putting away his own condemnation and wrath 198 00:19:36,300 –> 00:19:42,479 arising from justice in relation to sin. He was dealing with and 199 00:19:42,500 –> 00:19:48,800 at the cross, smashing that sword that blocked the way. And 200 00:19:49,199 –> 00:19:54,500 as he reconciles people to himself, he sends these people 201 00:19:54,520 –> 00:20:00,819 out to tell the world that it is so. To tell the world what 202 00:20:01,060 –> 00:20:07,819 God has done in Jesus Christ. So understand this. It’s important 203 00:20:07,819 –> 00:20:12,819 to get it clear in your mind. The message that we are to take 204 00:20:12,819 –> 00:20:16,939 out, the message of reconciliation is not that God 205 00:20:17,000 –> 00:20:20,500 hates you but if you are really sorry then perhaps that might 206 00:20:20,959 –> 00:20:24,979 change. No. The message of reconciliation, and you can say 207 00:20:24,979 –> 00:20:31,680 this to any person in whatever sin, God loves you and in Jesus 208 00:20:32,420 –> 00:20:38,359 Christ has put away every barrier on his side in Jesus 209 00:20:38,380 –> 00:20:44,719 Christ. He offers himself to you in love. He invites you. He 210 00:20:44,800 –> 00:20:51,359 fulfills you to receive this reconciliation and for you to 211 00:20:52,160 –> 00:20:55,959 refuse this reconciliation and instead to move towards the 212 00:20:55,959 –> 00:20:59,380 place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth for you to 213 00:20:59,380 –> 00:21:03,739 do that when the door of heaven has been opened for you and the 214 00:21:03,739 –> 00:21:10,680 arms of God are that would be the greatest folly to it walk 215 00:21:10,680 –> 00:21:14,380 away from this love and it would be your ultimate loss. 216 00:21:15,020 –> 00:21:23,420 So, as you receive this reconciliation be reconciled to 217 00:21:23,420 –> 00:21:35,020 God It’s from God and it’s for the world You can speak in this 218 00:21:35,020 –> 00:21:43,079 way to any person that you ever meet There is good news for 219 00:21:44,079 –> 00:21:48,060 And how are they going to hear it how is this reconciliation 220 00:21:48,060 –> 00:21:51,020 going to come? 221 00:21:51,439 –> 00:21:57,160 From God for the world. 222 00:22:01,040 –> 00:22:06,900 Through us. Now, these words are staggering and the more 223 00:22:06,900 –> 00:22:11,219 that I ponder them as I’ve been doing for years, the more 224 00:22:11,219 –> 00:22:19,959 remarkable still they appear to me verse twenty. God making 225 00:22:19,959 –> 00:22:29,339 his appeal through us and then these words we implore you on 226 00:22:29,339 –> 00:22:33,420 behalf of Christ. Here’s the people of God speaking. We 227 00:22:33,880 –> 00:22:38,959 behalf of Christ. Be reconciled God. So this ministry and 228 00:22:42,359 –> 00:22:45,459 message of reconciliation is from God, it’s for the world, 229 00:22:45,459 –> 00:22:48,859 how does it get to the world? The answer is, through us. How 230 00:22:48,859 –> 00:22:54,479 does God speak to people? Through his people. How does God 231 00:22:54,479 –> 00:22:59,900 reconcile people to himself? This ministry comes through his 232 00:23:00,339 –> 00:23:03,380 people. He does it through us. He does it through the ones who 233 00:23:03,380 –> 00:23:07,300 are already reconciled to him, that’s verse 18, he reconciled 234 00:23:07,300 –> 00:23:12,420 us to himself and gave us this ministry of reconciliation. Why? 235 00:23:12,420 –> 00:23:15,400 So that it may go to the world, that’s what it’s saying. 236 00:23:18,560 –> 00:23:23,300 Sometimes a picture just seals a reality in your mind. And 237 00:23:23,300 –> 00:23:27,640 earlier this year I was at a conference in Louisville with 238 00:23:28,239 –> 00:23:36,180 about 7,000 Christian leaders, mainly young. And in the 239 00:23:36,180 –> 00:23:39,180 introductory session they’re trying to get to know who’s 240 00:23:39,180 –> 00:23:44,140 there and 7,000 people they had. Everyone stand up and then sit 241 00:23:44,140 –> 00:23:47,140 down if you are from here and there. And sit down if you are 242 00:23:47,140 –> 00:23:51,660 over 50 and all this kind of thing, you know. Then they had 243 00:23:51,660 –> 00:23:55,160 everyone stand up and say, how did you come to faith in Jesus 244 00:23:55,859 –> 00:24:02,400 Christ. 7,000 people standing. Sit down if you came to Christ 245 00:24:02,400 –> 00:24:07,420 through an open air meeting, some people sat down, sit down 246 00:24:07,420 –> 00:24:12,900 if you came to Christ through someone giving you a tract. A 247 00:24:12,900 –> 00:24:21,920 few people sat down. 7,000 vast majority standing. Sit down if 248 00:24:22,400 –> 00:24:28,979 you came to Christ through the influence of a family member or 249 00:24:29,000 –> 00:24:37,160 a friend. You could feel the gasp as everyone realized the 250 00:24:37,160 –> 00:24:45,040 overwhelming majority sat down as one. You came to Christ 251 00:24:45,619 –> 00:24:54,319 through the influence of a family member or a friend. 252 00:24:55,079 –> 00:25:02,079 That’s 2 Corinthians chapter 5. This message of reconciliation 253 00:25:02,099 –> 00:25:12,500 it is from God it is for the world. And it’s through us, 254 00:25:12,640 –> 00:25:19,099 it’s through your influence on a friend, it’s through your 255 00:25:19,099 –> 00:25:27,000 influence in the life of a family member. It’s through you 256 00:25:27,000 –> 00:25:34,260 being awake to the fact that God has given us this ministry 257 00:25:34,260 –> 00:25:40,439 and that we have it together and individually Friends this 258 00:25:40,540 –> 00:25:43,000 This is the most marvellous life 259 00:25:43,000 –> 00:25:48,439 vision. You’re working as a as a nurse in this sphere in 260 00:25:48,439 –> 00:25:52,380 hospital I’m a teacher here I’m I’m working on this site there 261 00:25:52,380 –> 00:25:57,959 wherever God has placed you and around you There are people 262 00:25:57,959 –> 00:26:01,959 people in the world need the ministry in the message of 263 00:26:01,959 –> 00:26:08,359 reconciliation and there you are. If we were to picture this 264 00:26:08,500 –> 00:26:14,199 Picture a globe. And around that globe there are lots and 265 00:26:14,199 –> 00:26:18,439 lots of little points of light and every point of light is 266 00:26:18,439 –> 00:26:23,540 someone who has been reconciled to God and that person, that 267 00:26:23,540 –> 00:26:29,079 light has the ministry and the message of Reconciliation. Zoom 268 00:26:29,079 –> 00:26:33,680 in more closely and see that building site and there are 269 00:26:33,680 –> 00:26:36,680 lots of orange lights representing all the people, but 270 00:26:36,939 –> 00:26:42,599 perhaps even two white lights, bright lights. And what does 271 00:26:42,599 –> 00:26:45,540 that represent? Here are people who have the ministry and the 272 00:26:45,540 –> 00:26:49,800 message of Reconciliation are among these other people. And 273 00:26:49,800 –> 00:26:52,540 that’s true in every school and that’s true in every hospital, 274 00:26:52,540 –> 00:26:55,739 that’s true in every sphere of life. You say, well, you know, 275 00:26:55,739 –> 00:26:59,319 I’m the only Christian in your family. Thank God he’s put one 276 00:26:59,319 –> 00:27:03,699 light there. What is going to come of that. It’s from God, 277 00:27:03,719 –> 00:27:09,099 it’s for the world, and it is through us. Now, for your 278 00:27:13,439 –> 00:27:18,439 encouragement, look at this. God making his appeal through us, 279 00:27:22,699 –> 00:27:26,119 and he asks those who reconciled to him through every Christian. 280 00:27:27,459 –> 00:27:30,839 In other words, when you speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks 281 00:27:31,000 –> 00:27:33,680 through you. That’s how he speaks. 282 00:27:33,680 –> 00:27:36,420 How does he speak into the world? He speaks through his people. 283 00:27:36,660 –> 00:27:39,819 When you speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks through you. 284 00:27:39,819 –> 00:27:43,040 That’s what he’s saying. God makes his appeal through us. 285 00:27:43,780 –> 00:27:45,979 That’s why in Chapter six and Verse one, he says, 286 00:27:45,979 –> 00:27:50,979 we are God’s fellow workers, because when you reach out to people, 287 00:27:51,839 –> 00:27:55,500 Jesus reaches out to these people through you. 288 00:27:55,540 –> 00:28:00,500 So how is God’s great work of reconciling 289 00:28:00,880 –> 00:28:03,619 people in this community going to happen? 290 00:28:04,959 –> 00:28:09,160 The answer is it’s going to happen through us. 291 00:28:09,699 –> 00:28:10,900 It’s going to happen through you. 292 00:28:10,900 –> 00:28:15,900 It’s going to happen through those to whom he has entrusted in this community. 293 00:28:16,640 –> 00:28:20,380 The ministry and the message of reconciliation, 294 00:28:22,140 –> 00:28:24,339 that is the people that he has reconciled 295 00:28:25,500 –> 00:28:26,619 to himself. 296 00:28:27,699 –> 00:28:31,260 Let me just give in this last part three applications, 297 00:28:31,260 –> 00:28:35,660 deductions that seem very obviously to arise 298 00:28:35,660 –> 00:28:37,599 from this with regards to our ministry. 299 00:28:37,599 –> 00:28:38,640 Here’s the first. 300 00:28:40,839 –> 00:28:44,439 That we must serve with humility because 301 00:28:44,439 –> 00:28:49,439 we also are sinners who have been reconciled to God. 302 00:28:50,619 –> 00:28:53,319 In other words, the stance of Christian ministry 303 00:28:53,380 –> 00:28:56,439 is never to be, as it were, on a high platform 304 00:28:56,439 –> 00:28:59,500 as if we were above everybody else, 305 00:28:59,500 –> 00:29:02,939 looking down on other people and calling on them 306 00:29:02,939 –> 00:29:04,939 to raise their lives to our standards. 307 00:29:04,939 –> 00:29:06,020 That’s not what it is. 308 00:29:06,020 –> 00:29:07,219 That’s not the message. 309 00:29:07,219 –> 00:29:09,239 And that’s not who we are. 310 00:29:11,880 –> 00:29:13,579 We have been reconciled. 311 00:29:14,520 –> 00:29:16,099 And we needed to be. 312 00:29:16,939 –> 00:29:19,680 And apart from the sheer grace and mercy of God 313 00:29:19,680 –> 00:29:21,760 in Jesus Christ, the flaming sword 314 00:29:21,800 –> 00:29:23,599 would have cut us to pieces. 315 00:29:25,300 –> 00:29:26,819 Spurgeon is so helpful here, 316 00:29:26,819 –> 00:29:29,900 describing the spirit of a church 317 00:29:29,900 –> 00:29:32,660 that really has grasped the gospel 318 00:29:32,660 –> 00:29:35,739 and how we speak to others, 319 00:29:35,739 –> 00:29:39,079 who are our neighbors and our friends, 320 00:29:39,079 –> 00:29:41,979 how we present ourselves to the community. 321 00:29:43,000 –> 00:29:44,859 And I quote Spurgeon here. 322 00:29:44,859 –> 00:29:46,579 “‘Are you sinful?’ 323 00:29:47,400 –> 00:29:48,719 “‘So were we.’ 324 00:29:49,719 –> 00:29:53,060 “‘Are you rebellious against God?’ 325 00:29:53,060 –> 00:29:54,579 “‘So were we. 326 00:29:55,420 –> 00:29:57,319 “‘Are your hearts hard?’ 327 00:29:58,060 –> 00:29:59,859 “‘Ours were too. 328 00:30:01,000 –> 00:30:02,640 “‘We do not look down on you 329 00:30:02,640 –> 00:30:07,300 “‘from an elevated platform of affected dignity, 330 00:30:07,300 –> 00:30:09,880 ¿for we recognize our own nature in yours 331 00:30:09,880 –> 00:30:13,300 “‘and therefore come to you as fellow sinners. 332 00:30:14,260 –> 00:30:15,719 “‘We hope,’ says Spurgeon, 333 00:30:15,719 –> 00:30:18,479 “‘that our former condition as sinners and unbelievers 334 00:30:18,560 –> 00:30:23,020 “‘will make us speak to you more tenderly 335 00:30:23,020 –> 00:30:27,439 “‘and will enable us to reach your hearts the better.’” 336 00:30:28,339 –> 00:30:31,680 And then I love this comment that he makes. 337 00:30:31,680 –> 00:30:35,859 “‘God might have sent angels to you 338 00:30:35,859 –> 00:30:37,479 “‘and you would perhaps at first 339 00:30:37,479 –> 00:30:40,520 “‘have been awed by their glory, 340 00:30:40,520 –> 00:30:44,219 “‘but their sermons would have been cold 341 00:30:44,219 –> 00:30:48,180 “‘and unsympathetic compared with ours, 342 00:30:48,219 –> 00:30:51,140 “‘for they could not know your misery 343 00:30:51,140 –> 00:30:54,859 “‘and degradation as we do.’” 344 00:30:54,859 –> 00:30:56,020 I love that. 345 00:30:57,599 –> 00:31:00,500 Angels don’t know what it is to be sinners. 346 00:31:01,780 –> 00:31:04,619 Angels don’t know what it is to be aware 347 00:31:04,619 –> 00:31:07,939 that your very self, your very life 348 00:31:07,939 –> 00:31:10,619 hangs on the grace and mercy of God. 349 00:31:12,420 –> 00:31:13,780 But we do know that. 350 00:31:15,060 –> 00:31:16,979 And therefore should be the most tender 351 00:31:16,979 –> 00:31:18,680 and humble and sympathetic people 352 00:31:18,680 –> 00:31:20,000 in all of the world 353 00:31:21,900 –> 00:31:24,180 because if it was not for the grace of God, 354 00:31:24,180 –> 00:31:26,900 where would your sinful heart have led you today? 355 00:31:28,859 –> 00:31:32,739 Serve with humility because we are sinners 356 00:31:32,739 –> 00:31:34,140 who have been reconciled to God. 357 00:31:34,140 –> 00:31:36,660 To whom has this message and ministry been trust? 358 00:31:36,660 –> 00:31:38,260 Those who’ve been reconciled, 359 00:31:38,260 –> 00:31:40,280 those who owe everything to Christ. 360 00:31:43,579 –> 00:31:46,739 Second, speak from the heart 361 00:31:47,739 –> 00:31:52,739 because God pleads with sinners through you 362 00:31:53,140 –> 00:31:55,300 and gospel has to be put into words. 363 00:31:55,300 –> 00:31:56,900 That’s why it says not only we have 364 00:31:56,900 –> 00:31:58,459 the ministry of reconciliation 365 00:31:58,459 –> 00:32:01,140 but we have the message of reconciliation 366 00:32:01,140 –> 00:32:04,540 and the gospel is spoken through people, 367 00:32:04,540 –> 00:32:06,459 and that’s why it says in verse 20, 368 00:32:06,459 –> 00:32:09,739 God making his appeal, that’s He speaking, 369 00:32:09,739 –> 00:32:11,979 Go making his appeal through us. 370 00:32:11,979 –> 00:32:16,739 We implore you, so we are speaking on behalf of Christ. 371 00:32:17,979 –> 00:32:20,339 Now isn’t this an extraordinary phrase, 372 00:32:20,339 –> 00:32:23,459 God making his appeal? 373 00:32:23,459 –> 00:32:25,819 That’s, to me, a staggering phrase. 374 00:32:27,219 –> 00:32:31,060 You would think that it should be sinners 375 00:32:31,060 –> 00:32:33,099 who are appealing to God, 376 00:32:34,140 –> 00:32:35,900 that it should be sinners who are coming 377 00:32:35,900 –> 00:32:37,540 and holding out our hands 378 00:32:37,540 –> 00:32:41,119 and saying, Oh, God, pleading, urging. 379 00:32:42,579 –> 00:32:44,619 But actually what we’re told here 380 00:32:44,619 –> 00:32:46,900 is that it is first the other way 381 00:32:46,920 –> 00:32:50,219 around, here is God, 382 00:32:51,219 –> 00:32:54,300 the Sovereign, the Almighty, 383 00:32:54,300 –> 00:32:56,380 the Creator himself. 384 00:32:56,380 –> 00:32:58,640 And he’s holding out his hands. 385 00:32:58,640 –> 00:33:00,260 He’s appealing to us. 386 00:33:00,260 –> 00:33:01,640 He’s the one who’s saying, 387 00:33:01,640 –> 00:33:04,699 come, let us reason together, 388 00:33:04,699 –> 00:33:07,020 says the Lord, though your sins be 389 00:33:07,020 –> 00:33:09,060 as scarlet, they shall be white 390 00:33:09,060 –> 00:33:11,219 as snow, God appealing. 391 00:33:13,180 –> 00:33:15,099 Now try and let that settle into your mind 392 00:33:15,099 –> 00:33:18,380 because it fills out for you something wonderful 393 00:33:18,380 –> 00:33:22,180 and glorious that every person needs to know about God. 394 00:33:22,180 –> 00:33:23,939 God wants you. 395 00:33:24,900 –> 00:33:26,699 You matter to him. 396 00:33:28,060 –> 00:33:30,900 It matters to him that you should be reconciled. 397 00:33:30,900 –> 00:33:34,479 He sent his son into the world for this. 398 00:33:35,380 –> 00:33:36,900 If you should find yourself, 399 00:33:36,900 –> 00:33:39,739 if anyone in this congregation this morning 400 00:33:39,739 –> 00:33:43,859 should find themselves on the last day outside of heaven, 401 00:33:43,859 –> 00:33:46,900 you could have no one to blame but yourself. 402 00:33:46,900 –> 00:33:49,420 You certainly could not blame God 403 00:33:51,380 –> 00:33:54,619 as he reaches out to you even now, 404 00:33:54,619 –> 00:33:57,219 appealing to you, 405 00:33:57,219 –> 00:33:59,020 be reconciled. 406 00:33:59,020 –> 00:34:02,099 Every barrier on God’s side has been removed 407 00:34:02,099 –> 00:34:05,420 at immeasurable cost through Jesus Christ 408 00:34:05,420 –> 00:34:07,599 and all that he accomplished on the cross. 409 00:34:07,599 –> 00:34:12,179 God in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. 410 00:34:14,479 –> 00:34:16,820 And his arms are stretched out to you, 411 00:34:20,280 –> 00:34:23,139 and his door is open to you. 412 00:34:24,919 –> 00:34:26,040 And Jesus told this story 413 00:34:26,040 –> 00:34:27,679 that we read earlier in the service 414 00:34:27,679 –> 00:34:32,120 about a man who prepared a great banquet. 415 00:34:33,199 –> 00:34:34,139 And when the time came, 416 00:34:34,139 –> 00:34:35,719 you remember, everyone made excuses 417 00:34:35,719 –> 00:34:36,979 about why they couldn’t come. 418 00:34:36,979 –> 00:34:38,419 And the master said, 419 00:34:38,419 –> 00:34:40,820 we’ll go into the streets and the lanes of the city. 420 00:34:40,820 –> 00:34:41,659 You bring in the poor, 421 00:34:41,659 –> 00:34:43,580 the crippled, the blind, and the lame. 422 00:34:44,699 –> 00:34:47,659 And the servant who’d obviously been thinking ahead said, 423 00:34:47,659 –> 00:34:49,580 and knew the heart of the master, 424 00:34:49,580 –> 00:34:51,620 he said, well, we’ve already done it, 425 00:34:51,620 –> 00:34:53,659 and still there is room. 426 00:34:54,979 –> 00:34:56,840 And the master then says, 427 00:34:56,840 –> 00:34:58,100 when I go out again, 428 00:34:58,100 –> 00:34:59,820 go in this time to the highways. 429 00:34:59,820 –> 00:35:01,620 Go even into the hedges. 430 00:35:01,620 –> 00:35:03,159 Picture that. 431 00:35:04,139 –> 00:35:06,139 Find someone there in the hedges. 432 00:35:07,459 –> 00:35:08,699 And I love the next word. 433 00:35:08,699 –> 00:35:11,280 And compel them to come in. 434 00:35:12,060 –> 00:35:13,840 Compel them to come in. 435 00:35:13,840 –> 00:35:17,080 In other words, deploy every argument, 436 00:35:17,080 –> 00:35:20,159 every winsomeness you possibly can. 437 00:35:20,159 –> 00:35:22,239 Describe to them the great good 438 00:35:22,239 –> 00:35:24,320 of the master’s banquet, 439 00:35:24,320 –> 00:35:25,919 and all that is there. 440 00:35:25,919 –> 00:35:27,560 And go to people and say, 441 00:35:27,560 –> 00:35:30,639 I would so like you to enjoy everything 442 00:35:30,639 –> 00:35:32,719 that there is in Jesus Christ. 443 00:35:34,500 –> 00:35:37,959 Godmaking is appeal through us. 444 00:35:38,959 –> 00:35:41,360 A person who shares the heart of God 445 00:35:41,360 –> 00:35:42,780 can never share the Gospel 446 00:35:42,780 –> 00:35:44,659 in a disinterested kind of way. 447 00:35:44,659 –> 00:35:45,500 Well, here it is. 448 00:35:45,500 –> 00:35:47,560 You know, well, you know, take it or leave it. 449 00:35:50,179 –> 00:35:52,379 Godmaking is appeal through us. 450 00:35:53,820 –> 00:35:58,100 Be reconciled to God. 451 00:35:59,139 –> 00:36:01,479 And notice the word that used here of our speaking, 452 00:36:01,479 –> 00:36:02,699 the word implore. 453 00:36:02,699 –> 00:36:06,500 We implore you, the strength of that word. 454 00:36:06,520 –> 00:36:09,560 The word here can actually be translated beg, 455 00:36:09,560 –> 00:36:11,020 which is fascinating. 456 00:36:11,020 –> 00:36:13,219 It’s used in the context of prayer. 457 00:36:15,120 –> 00:36:18,979 So in Luke chaptr 22, when Jesus speaks to Peter, 458 00:36:20,280 –> 00:36:24,260 and he says, now Satan wants to have you, Peter, 459 00:36:24,260 –> 00:36:27,159 but I have prayed for you. 460 00:36:29,239 –> 00:36:32,000 It’s from the same word that Jesus uses there. 461 00:36:32,479 –> 00:36:33,979 Where? 462 00:36:33,979 –> 00:36:36,959 I’ve implored the Father on your behalf 463 00:36:36,959 –> 00:36:38,860 that your faith may not fail. 464 00:36:40,139 –> 00:36:42,560 So here’s what Christian ministry looks like. 465 00:36:42,560 –> 00:36:46,580 We implore God on behalf of people, 466 00:36:46,580 –> 00:36:51,580 and we implore people on behalf of God. 467 00:36:52,439 –> 00:36:53,459 And, friends, when you see that, 468 00:36:53,459 –> 00:36:55,439 and when you see that God has actually 469 00:36:55,439 –> 00:36:59,879 trusted this ministry in regards to the world, 470 00:36:59,879 –> 00:37:04,219 to us, to his people, to all who have been reconciled to him, 471 00:37:04,219 –> 00:37:08,139 this surely is a vision that is worth giving your life for. 472 00:37:08,139 –> 00:37:12,219 This is worth mobilizing all that you have for. 473 00:37:14,459 –> 00:37:18,800 And, to me, the greatest motivation in all of this 474 00:37:18,800 –> 00:37:21,139 is that this ministry is from God 475 00:37:21,139 –> 00:37:24,080 and that God in constantly active in it, 476 00:37:24,080 –> 00:37:26,699 God appealing through us. 477 00:37:26,699 –> 00:37:29,439 When you speak, God speaks. 478 00:37:29,439 –> 00:37:32,580 When you’re speaking about Christ. 479 00:37:32,580 –> 00:37:36,919 If ministry was simply us trying to do the best that we could 480 00:37:36,919 –> 00:37:38,919 to get reluctant people to believe, 481 00:37:38,919 –> 00:37:40,840 I think we would soon lose heart. 482 00:37:40,840 –> 00:37:43,080 I know that we would, 483 00:37:43,080 –> 00:37:45,239 but this tells us that God is at work, 484 00:37:45,239 –> 00:37:46,159 God is speaking, 485 00:37:46,159 –> 00:37:47,139 God is appealing, 486 00:37:47,139 –> 00:37:49,959 and he does it through us. 487 00:37:49,959 –> 00:37:52,320 So what greater motivation could there be, 488 00:37:52,320 –> 00:37:54,739 God reconciling the world to himself. 489 00:37:54,739 –> 00:37:56,419 He was doing it in Christ 490 00:37:56,459 –> 00:37:59,239 and now he takes those who have been reconciled. 491 00:38:00,780 –> 00:38:04,459 And he said go speak, go minister. 492 00:38:04,459 –> 00:38:08,560 And I will speak and I will minister through you. 493 00:38:10,500 –> 00:38:13,239 And then here’s the very last thing just briefly. 494 00:38:13,239 –> 00:38:14,760 And I want to end on this story 495 00:38:14,760 –> 00:38:17,020 that arises from our own congregation. 496 00:38:18,639 –> 00:38:21,780 That because we’re given the Ministry of Reconciliation, 497 00:38:22,760 –> 00:38:25,399 we must be ready to reconcile with others 498 00:38:25,399 –> 00:38:27,959 as God has reconciled with us. 499 00:38:30,060 –> 00:38:32,100 See, it’s very, very difficult, isn’t it, 500 00:38:32,100 –> 00:38:35,540 to engage in this wonderful ministry 501 00:38:35,540 –> 00:38:36,620 that God has given to us, 502 00:38:36,620 –> 00:38:38,919 the ministry and the message of reconciliation 503 00:38:38,919 –> 00:38:42,840 if we in our own lives are persisting 504 00:38:42,840 –> 00:38:47,260 in advancing an unresolved conflict, 505 00:38:49,239 –> 00:38:54,239 stand ready, willing, even eager, 506 00:38:54,379 –> 00:38:57,419 to reconcile whenever you possible can. 507 00:38:58,860 –> 00:39:00,879 And I know it isn’t always possible. 508 00:39:01,760 –> 00:39:04,699 Some may not be willing to reconcile with you. 509 00:39:04,699 –> 00:39:07,500 The question is, are you willing to reconcile with them? 510 00:39:09,120 –> 00:39:10,979 And God says in Isaiah 65, 511 00:39:10,979 –> 00:39:14,239 all day long, I have my hands stretched out 512 00:39:14,239 –> 00:39:15,840 to this rebellious people. 513 00:39:17,260 –> 00:39:18,260 It’s quite a picture, isn’t it? 514 00:39:18,260 –> 00:39:19,800 They’ll never come, but all day long, 515 00:39:19,800 –> 00:39:21,840 God says, my hands are stretched out. 516 00:39:22,840 –> 00:39:27,439 If you would seek reconciliation 517 00:39:27,439 –> 00:39:29,060 and someone else will not do it, 518 00:39:29,060 –> 00:39:31,340 know this, that God knows what that is like. 519 00:39:33,800 –> 00:39:36,659 But know this also, that his hands are stretched out. 520 00:39:38,100 –> 00:39:43,100 God in Christ reconciling the world to himself. 521 00:39:47,439 –> 00:39:49,419 I want to end then with this story. 522 00:39:49,439 –> 00:39:53,979 It’s a testimony from a member of our congregation 523 00:39:53,979 –> 00:39:55,320 Royce Abram. 524 00:39:55,320 –> 00:39:59,679 Royce and his wife Ann-Lee worshiped here for some years. 525 00:39:59,679 –> 00:40:03,239 Very-very brilliant couple. 526 00:40:03,239 –> 00:40:05,840 Royce served as a volunteer on the media team 527 00:40:05,840 –> 00:40:09,000 for some years, and both of them together 528 00:40:09,000 –> 00:40:11,600 are wonderfully involved in ministry 529 00:40:11,600 –> 00:40:13,719 and dearly loved by those who knew them well 530 00:40:13,719 –> 00:40:15,860 in our congregation. 531 00:40:15,860 –> 00:40:18,919 And then just over a year ago Royce 532 00:40:18,919 –> 00:40:22,040 was offered a position in Boston. 533 00:40:22,040 –> 00:40:26,979 And so in February of last year, Royce and Ann-Lee 534 00:40:26,979 –> 00:40:29,540 left Chicago and began their journey 535 00:40:29,540 –> 00:40:32,979 to a new life on the east coast. 536 00:40:32,979 –> 00:40:35,939 They had got only as far as the south side of the lake. 537 00:40:35,939 –> 00:40:39,260 They were traveling on Interstate 90 538 00:40:39,260 –> 00:40:44,340 when they skidded February on some black ice 539 00:40:44,340 –> 00:40:47,699 and their car crashed into the wall 540 00:40:47,699 –> 00:40:50,419 at the side of the interstate. 541 00:40:50,419 –> 00:40:53,979 They got out of the car only to find 542 00:40:53,979 –> 00:40:58,500 that another car hit the same patch of black ice 543 00:40:58,500 –> 00:41:05,179 and collided into them, injuring Royce and killing Ann-Lee. 544 00:41:05,179 –> 00:41:07,100 What happened afterwards, now just 545 00:41:07,100 –> 00:41:10,219 over a year ago, year and a half ago, 546 00:41:10,219 –> 00:41:13,860 is the part of the story I want to share with you today. 547 00:41:13,879 –> 00:41:18,820 I was so moved the very first time that Royce told me this 548 00:41:18,820 –> 00:41:22,219 and have been moved in every time I’ve spoken with him 549 00:41:22,219 –> 00:41:24,120 since. 550 00:41:24,120 –> 00:41:29,500 And he wrote out his description of what 551 00:41:29,500 –> 00:41:33,540 followed that tragic event. 552 00:41:33,540 –> 00:41:39,560 On February the 4th, 2013, the second day after the accident, 553 00:41:39,560 –> 00:41:42,699 I had gone to the tolk yard to collect 554 00:41:42,699 –> 00:41:46,540 some documents from the car that was wrecked. 555 00:41:46,540 –> 00:41:48,939 As I was waiting in the small room, 556 00:41:48,939 –> 00:41:51,659 I saw the driver of the second car 557 00:41:51,659 –> 00:41:53,780 that crashed into us walk in. 558 00:41:53,780 –> 00:41:57,520 It was totally unplanned, and I believe 559 00:41:57,520 –> 00:42:01,020 it was a God ordained moment. 560 00:42:01,020 –> 00:42:03,899 As he walked in, I recognized him. 561 00:42:03,899 –> 00:42:06,800 I remember vaguely seeing him at the accident spot 562 00:42:06,800 –> 00:42:11,540 since I was also unconscious most of the time. 563 00:42:11,540 –> 00:42:14,820 But he came over to me crying and repeatedly saying, 564 00:42:14,820 –> 00:42:18,280 I am sorry, I am sorry, I am so sorry. 565 00:42:20,439 –> 00:42:24,780 I really felt the spirit of God upon me strengthening me. 566 00:42:24,780 –> 00:42:27,300 And though I was broken and crying, 567 00:42:28,239 –> 00:42:30,139 I shook his hand and hugged him. 568 00:42:31,580 –> 00:42:35,699 I told them, I want you to know that I’ve forgiven you. 569 00:42:36,679 –> 00:42:39,979 God has a purpose through this. 570 00:42:39,979 –> 00:42:41,719 I am a believer in Christ 571 00:42:41,719 –> 00:42:43,739 and my wife was also a believer. 572 00:42:44,800 –> 00:42:47,219 I know that my wife is with the Lord 573 00:42:47,219 –> 00:42:49,840 and I know that I am going to be there also. 574 00:42:51,020 –> 00:42:52,860 I want you to know Christ. 575 00:42:54,000 –> 00:42:56,300 I don’t know what purpose God has in this, 576 00:42:56,300 –> 00:42:59,459 but I know he has a purpose in all that has happened. 577 00:43:00,379 –> 00:43:02,659 I don’t want you to feel guilty. 578 00:43:03,780 –> 00:43:05,600 I want you to know that I forgive you 579 00:43:05,600 –> 00:43:07,479 and that God has forgiven you. 580 00:43:08,360 –> 00:43:10,040 The man said, 581 00:43:10,040 –> 00:43:15,040 I used to be in church but now I am far away from God. 582 00:43:17,399 –> 00:43:19,260 Well, friends, he wasn’t far away from God 583 00:43:19,260 –> 00:43:20,459 at that moment, was he? 584 00:43:21,399 –> 00:43:23,500 God was speaking to him, 585 00:43:24,939 –> 00:43:26,600 laying hold of him. 586 00:43:27,260 –> 00:43:28,739 How? 587 00:43:28,739 –> 00:43:29,840 Through royce. 588 00:43:32,280 –> 00:43:33,979 A few minutes before the accident, 589 00:43:33,979 –> 00:43:36,820 my wife had read a psalm to me. 590 00:43:37,179 –> 00:43:38,760 She’s reading out the Bible in the car 591 00:43:38,760 –> 00:43:40,000 as they’re driving along. 592 00:43:41,139 –> 00:43:43,580 My wife had read a psalm to me 593 00:43:43,580 –> 00:43:45,760 and that Bible was one of the items 594 00:43:45,760 –> 00:43:48,100 that I wanted to retrieve from the car. 595 00:43:49,719 –> 00:43:52,820 I had that Bible in my hand while I was talking to him, 596 00:43:52,820 –> 00:43:54,860 so I gave him the Bible 597 00:43:54,860 –> 00:43:56,580 and I said, 598 00:43:56,580 –> 00:43:59,739 this Bible is very precious to me 599 00:43:59,739 –> 00:44:02,020 as my wife read it a few minutes 600 00:44:02,020 –> 00:44:04,280 before she went to be with the Lord. 601 00:44:05,100 –> 00:44:07,360 I want to give this Bible to you. 602 00:44:08,239 –> 00:44:10,439 I want you to read this Bible 603 00:44:10,439 –> 00:44:12,219 and know more about Jesus. 604 00:44:13,219 –> 00:44:16,639 I want you to know Christ. 605 00:44:18,100 –> 00:44:19,959 This great reconciliation, 606 00:44:21,580 –> 00:44:23,820 it is from God. 607 00:44:25,540 –> 00:44:29,000 It is for a world of people 608 00:44:29,000 –> 00:44:31,000 who are far from Him, 609 00:44:31,020 –> 00:44:31,820 far-sided men. 610 00:44:33,159 –> 00:44:37,459 People with whom your life in some way will intersect. 611 00:44:38,340 –> 00:44:41,239 Perhaps in some way surprising to you, 612 00:44:41,239 –> 00:44:42,080 even this week. 613 00:44:43,459 –> 00:44:44,479 It’s from God. 614 00:44:45,439 –> 00:44:47,600 It’s for the world. 615 00:44:47,600 –> 00:44:49,620 But it’s through us. 616 00:44:51,199 –> 00:44:52,120 Through us. 617 00:44:53,260 –> 00:44:54,100 Father. 618 00:44:56,379 –> 00:44:58,820 As all who you have reconciled to yourself 619 00:44:58,820 –> 00:45:00,739 bow before you now. 620 00:45:00,739 –> 00:45:03,719 I give you a great sense of gratitude, 621 00:45:05,280 –> 00:45:07,919 and also a great sense of the high calling 622 00:45:07,919 –> 00:45:10,540 and purpose for which we are now to live, 623 00:45:11,600 –> 00:45:13,419 no longer for ourselves, 624 00:45:14,520 –> 00:45:18,719 but for the sake of Him who died for us and rose again. 625 00:45:19,659 –> 00:45:23,260 Changing life and changing death and changing eternity. 626 00:45:25,139 –> 00:45:27,760 Thank you that all this is from you. 627 00:45:28,120 –> 00:45:30,439 And thank you that it is for the world. 628 00:45:31,560 –> 00:45:33,919 O Lord, by your grace, strengthen us, 629 00:45:33,919 –> 00:45:36,260 that wherever you have placed us, 630 00:45:36,260 –> 00:45:38,320 with folks we come to know well 631 00:45:38,320 –> 00:45:41,360 and those with whom our paths will only cross 632 00:45:41,360 –> 00:45:42,760 in a moment of life 633 00:45:44,159 –> 00:45:46,939 that we may be the means 634 00:45:46,939 –> 00:45:48,699 of bringing your great message 635 00:45:48,699 –> 00:45:50,560 and ministry of reconciliation 636 00:45:51,939 –> 00:45:54,179 for the sake of Christ in whose name we pray 637 00:45:54,179 –> 00:45:56,419 and everyone together said, Amen. 638 00:45:58,340 –> 00:45:59,179 Amen. 639 00:46:00,040 –> 00:46:01,239 You’ve been listening to a sermon 640 00:46:01,239 –> 00:46:03,659 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 641 00:46:03,659 –> 00:46:08,659 To contact us, call us at 1-877-open365 642 00:46:08,919 –> 00:46:12,459 or visit our website openthebible.org.