It’s A Small World
Pastor Daryl Largis – January 3, 2016
Well,didyoueverhaveoneofthosemomentsinyourlifethatyouheard
something,sawsomething,orexperiencedsomethingthatchangedyour
perspectivefromthatdayforward?I'mnottalkingaboutsomething
catastrophic,I'mjusttalkingaboutsomethingjustgoingthroughthe
normalcourseoftheday.Andsometimesthathappens,wherejustgoing
throughthenormalcourseoftheday,we'llseesomethingorhear
something,anditchangesourperspective,kindoffromthatdayforward.
AndthefirsttimethathadhappenedtomewaswhenIwasayoungboy.I
wastenyearsold,andIhadagoodfriendofmine,andoneofthethings
thatwelikedtodowasgotothemovies.Andgivenwherewelived,we
wouldwalktothemovies.Nowitwasn'tonethosestorieswhere,you
know,it'suphillbothwaysandallthisstuff,no.Butwewouldwalktothe
movie,andasten-yearoldboyswoulddo,youknow,partoftheadventure
wasgettingthere,right?Imean,you'dtrynottogetintotoomuchtrouble
but,youknow,youfindwaysandmeansofentertainingyourselfalongthe
way.Sowemadeittothetheaterandwegetourpopcorn,wegetourpop,
we'resittingthereandwaitingforthemovietostart,andtalkingwithmy
friendabout,youknow,whatwe'regoingtodothatsummer.Itwaslate
spring,summerhadn'tquitearrivedyet,andtalkingaboutallthethings
weweregoingtodo.
AndIhearthisnoise,thissoundthatI'dneverheardbefore.Andyou
know,IkepttalkingwithmyfriendandIhearditagainandIwasjustlike,
whatisthat?AndsoIlookeduponthescreenandIsawacoupleofguys
dressedinwhatcan'treallybedescribedasauniform,itwasmorelike
bodyarmor,andtheywerewearingthesefunkywhitehelmets,andthey
hadtheseweapons,andtheywereshootinglasers.AndIwasjustlike
wow,I'veneverseenanythinglikethat.Imean,you'vewatchedcertain
thingsonTVandreadcertainthings,buttoactuallyseeitwhereitlooked
real,itwaskindofthefirsttime.Andthen,thenextscenethesetwoguys
are,they'refightingwithswordsthatglowed!AndIwasjusttotallyblown
awaybyit.AndmanyofyoucanrealizebynowthatI'mtalkingaboutthe
firstmovietrailerfortheoriginalStarWars.AndIcan'teventellyouwhat
moviewesawthatday.Idon'tevenrememberthat.ButIcancertainly
rememberthetrailer,becausethat'sallwetalkedabout,that'sallwe
talkedaboutthroughthewholemoviewaswowwhatwasthat,didyousee
that?Thatwasawesome!Andwespentthewholesummerrole-playing
anddoingthisanddoingthat,anditwasgreat,andwecouldn'twaitfor
themovietocomeout.
Andwe,alongwithprettymuchallofourfriendsandmostoftheliving
worldIthinkatthatpointintimeeventuallydidseethatmovie.Andin
seeingthatmovie,itdidacoupleofthings.One,itmade,itmadetheworld
alittlebitsmaller.Andhere'swhatImeanbythat,inthatwhenwewould
goplacesorI'dtalkwithpeople,eventhoughImightnotknowthem,they
knewaboutthemovie.Andsoitgaveusapointofconnection.Itgaveus
somecommonground.Andsotheworld,ifyouwill,gotalittlebitsmaller
asitrelatestothat.Andthingsthatwehavejustinournormalcourseofa
givenday,candothosethingstous.Theycanmakeourworldalittlebit
smaller.
Anotherexamplewouldbethismorning.Iwasonmysmartphone
checkingonadeliveryaswealldo,right,youknow,thishasgottogetit
here,it'sgottoshowup,andIwasassuredthatthedeliverywasgonna'
happentoday.Infact,Iwasassuredthatthedeliverywasgoingtohappen,
like,rightnow.Andsureenough,I'mgladit'shere,right?Sotherewego.
I'mgladitshowedupbecausethisismysermonoutline.Justkidding,just
kidding.Buttechnologyhasawayofdoingthat.Technologyhasawayof
makingourworldmuch,muchsmaller.
Youknow,hereoverthelastcoupleofweeks,I'vebeeninvideo
conferencecallsonmytabletwithpeopleinArgentinaandpeoplein
Bangkok,Thailandatthesametime.Literallyaroundtheworldconnected
viavideoatthesametime.Ourworld'sgettingsmaller,isn'tit?
NowwhydoIsayallthat?Andwhatdoesthatmatterforustoday?Well,I
thinkforthechurch,itmattersgreatlyasitrelatestothemissiological
ramifications,bothopportunitiesandchallenges.AndwhatdoImeanby
missiological?You'regoinglike,Idon'tevenknowhowtospellthat.Well,
missiologyisjustthis.ItisthestudyofhowGod'sWord,hispeople,the
gospelmoveinandthroughagroupofpeople,anation,aculture.AndI
think,giventhatourworldisindeedshrinking,inasense,itpresentssome
opportunitiesforusfromamissiologicalperspective.Imean,therereally
isn'tanyonetoday,anywhereorevenatanypointintimethatwecan't
touchwithtechnology,aslongastheyhaveaccesstoWIFIright?Imean,
youcangetaholdofjustaboutanybodyanywhereatanytime.Great
opportunityforus.
However,there'saflipsidetothat.Italsomeansthattheworld,aswe
knowit,cantouchus.Thatwhatwastherenowcanbehere.Whatwas
overthere,nowitcanbenextdoor.Andsowhile,yeah,theworldis
smaller,andwecantouchmoreofit.Theworldissmaller,anditalso
meansthattheworldcantouchus.Andarewepreparedforthat?Isthe
churchpreparedforthat?Areyou,amI,ourfamilies,howaboutour
country?Isitpreparedforthat?
AndIwanttospendsometimethismorningtalkingaboutagroupof
peoplewhoaregettingalotofpressinAmericatoday.Nowthey'vebeen
aroundforalongtime,buttoday?Gettingalotofpress.Andunfortunately,
forus,mostofthatwhichwehear,mostofthatwhichweseeisgearedto
stimulateanemotionalorevenapoliticalresponse.Notabiblicalone,and
certainlynotaChrist-centeredone.AndwhatIwanttodotodayistohelp
usbetterunderstandsomethingsaboutthisparticulargroupofpeople,so
thatwecanhaveaChrist-centeredresponse,abiblicallyinformed
responsetothem.
AndwhoamItalkingabout?Well,wecanbetalkingaboutanynumberof
groupsofpeoplearoundtheworld.Butspecificallytoday,Iwanttotalk
aboutIslam.AndIknowassoonasIsaythat,there'sareactionthatyou
have,largelybaseduponwhatyou'veseen,ormaybewhatyou'veheard.
Butmostofusdonothaveadecentunderstandingofevenwhatisit?What
isit?Whatdotheybelieve?Andwhenwedocomeintocontactwith
somebodywhobelievesthat,aMuslim,whatdowedo?Howdowe
respond?Whatdoesthatlooklike?AndIthinkit'simportantforus,asa
church,asChrist-followers,tohaveagoodresponseforthat.Andnottobe
swayedemotionally,andnottobeswayedpolitically,buttobeswayed,if
youwill,biblically.
SowhatIwanttodohereinthenextfewminutesisjusttalkalittlebit
aboutIslam.Whatitis,whatit'snot.ButI'mgoingtocompareitto
orthodoxChristianity,sowegetakindofasidebyside.ButbeforeIdo,we
needtoberemindedoftwothings.Thefirstisthis,isthatGod-God-
createdeveryman,everywoman,everychildinHisownimage.InHisown
image.Everyhumanthat'severwalkedthisplanet,bornandunbornhas
theimageofGodstampedonthem.Nowmarredbysin,wegetallthat,but
underneathitall-underneathitall-istheimageofGod.
ScriptureinGenesisone,twenty-sevenspecificallystates,"SoGodcreated
mankindinHisownimage,intheimageofGodHecreatedthem;maleand
femaleHecreatedthem."Wecan'tforgetthat.Andwhythatmattersis,is
thateverypersonwhowalksthefaceofthisearthhasvaluebecauseGod
createdthemandtheycarryHisimage.Everypersonhasvalue.
ThesecondthingthatweneedtorememberisthatGoddesiresthatevery
personhasanopportunitytobereconciledtohimself.Petertalkstothisin
2Peterthree,nine:"TheLordisnotslowinkeepinghispromise,assome
understandslowness.Insteadheispatientwithyou,"(I'mgladhewas
patientwithme)"notwantinganyonetoperish,buteveryonetocometo
repentance."Everyman,everywoman,everychildtobereconciledtohim
throughChrist.ThatisGod'sheart.
Andsowheneverwetalkaboutpeoplewhodon'tbelievelikewebelieve,
weneedtorememberthesetwothings.They'vebeencreatedintheimage
ofGodandthatGoddesirestoseethemreconciledtohimself.
So,letmejuststartbyaskingacoupleofquestions.Apersonwhois
followingtheIslamicreligion,ifyouwill,iscalledaMuslim.Mostofus
understandthat.Andso,ifIweretoaskyouaquestion,domostMuslims,
andagain,I'mnottheexperthere,I'vedonesomestudy,I'vedonesome
writingonit,andwe'reonlygoingtohitafewthings.Formetobeableto
unpackeverythingasitrelatestoit,impossibletask.We'rejustgoingtohit
onafewhighlightstoday.ButIthinkthey'reimportantonesforustohave
anunderstanding.AndI'mgoingtotrytokeep,tothebestofmyability,
downthemainstream,ifyouwill.NotingthatIslamisverycomplex,very
diverse,muchlikeChristianityis,andyoucangetcaughtupintalking
aboutthis,andwe'regoingtotrytostaydownthemiddle,ifyouwill.
But,domostMuslimsbelieveinagod?AndIthinkmostofthemsayyeah,
theydo.Andthatistrue.MostMuslimsdobelieveinagod.Andinfact,
mostMuslimswouldbereadilyagreeabletosaythattheybelieveinthe
samegodthatChristiansbelieve.Andyoumighthaveheardthat,readthat.
Somebodymighthaveeventoldyouthat.ButasChristians,Christfollowers,weneedtobeverycarefulinagreeingtothatstatement,
becausethere'salotembeddedinthatstatement,andweneedtoask
betterquestionsasitrelatestowell,theIslamicgodisdescribedaswhat?
Well,fromtheperspectiveoftheQuran,theIslamicgodisstrictly
monotheistic,meaningitis,thereisbutgod.TheQuranspecificallystates
thatgodisnotGodtheFather.TheQuranalsostatesthatJesusisnotGod.
We'lltalkmoreaboutthatinjustamoment.Andsoforus,toagreewith
thestatementthattheIslamicgodisthesameaswhatwebelieveinthe
Bible,itisnot.Theyaretwodifferentthings.Theyarenotthesamegod.
OrthodoxChristianity,theGodthatrevealshimselfintheBibleand
throughJesusChristiseternal,istranscendent,isomnipotent,ispersonal
andmanifestshimselfinthreedistinctpersons,GodtheFather,Godthe
Son,GodtheSpirit.NowPastorJerry,backinApril-April2015,April
nineteenth-didawholesermontalkingaboutGod.Therewasaseries
whichwewereincalledFoundations,andifyouwanttohearalotmoreon
this,aswhoGodis,fromanorthodoxChristianperspective,Iwould
encourageyoutopullupthatmessageonourwebsiteandwatchit.Pastor
JerrydoesagreatjobindescribingandwalkingthroughwhoGodisbased
onwhatweknow,andbaseduponwhattheBiblesays.
Butknowthis,thegodofIslamandtheGodofChristianityaretwo
differentthings.Theyarenotthesame,theyarenotthesame,andweneed
tobeverycarefulforthesakeofbuildingabridgeortryingtohavea
conversation,andagreeingtosomethingthatisnottrue.Muslimsviewa
trinitarianoutlookofGodasblasphemy.Straightup.Andsotheirviewof
godismuchdifferentthanours,andweneedtobeveryclearofthat.
Well,howabouttheBible?DomostMuslimsbelieveintheBible?Well,the
answerisyeah.MostMuslimsdobelieveintheBible.However,weneedto
goalittlebitdeeperasitrelatestowhatdotheybelieveabouttheBible.
Well,theyonlybelievecertainthingsabouttheBible.Specifically,that
whichwaswrittenbyMoses,thetorah,thebooksoftheLaw,Psalms,and
someofthegospels.However,theybelievethegospelsareheavily
corrupted.Andso,whenwetalkwithandorinteractwithMuslimsand
theysaywebelieveintheBible,you'vegotta'goalittledeeperthanthat.
Well,whatdoyoubelieveaboutthat?Becausewebelieve,froman
orthodoxChristianperspective,thattheBibleistheinspiredauthoritative
onlyinfalliblewordfromGodtohumanity.
PastorJonathanDrakeinthatsameseriesImentionedearlierdidawhole
sermononjusttheBible.OnApriltwelfthIthinkiswhenhegavethat
sermon.SoifyouwanttoknowmoreabouttheBible,whereitcamefrom,
howdoweknowthisisit,howdoweknowwhat'sinit,shouldbeinit,
wherediditcomefrom?Listentothatsermon.PastorJonathandoesa
greatjobinunpackingthat.
HowaboutJesus?DomostMuslimsbelieveinJesus?Theydobelievein
Jesus.However,theyonlybelieveinJesusasaman,asaprophet,agreat
prophet,butaprophetnonetheless,secondonlytoMohammed.Theyalso
believethatJesuswasnotcrucified.ThatJudasactuallytookhisplace.
TheyalsobelievethatJesuswastakenuptoheavenandwillreturnone
day.Andwhenhereturnsoneday,he'sactually,accordingtotheir
eschatology,he'sgoingtoevangelizeJewsandChristianstobecome
Muslim.ThatistheirviewofJesus.
Well,thatissignificantlydifferentthanourviewofJesus.Weviewhimas
God.Jesushimselfstates"ifyouhaveseenme,youhaveseenGod".
HebrewstestifiestothefactthatJesusistheexactrepresentationofGod.
Hisnature,hisexactnature,isJesus.Colossians-"thefullnessofGod
dwellsinJesus".JesusisGodwithskinon,bornofavirgin,livedasinless
life.Hedidsuffer.Hediddie.Hewascrucified.Hedidrisefromthedead,
conqueringsinanddeath.Andbecauseofthat,youandIhavehope.And
becauseofthat,youandIcanbenowreconciledtoGodtheFather,and
haveassuranceofsalvation.Andwe'regoingtotalkmoreaboutthathere
injustamoment.
Whataboutsin?DomostMuslimsbelieveinsin?Welltheydo.Butthey
don'tbelieveinitinthesamewayyouandIdo.Theybelievethatpeople
arebornwithacleanslate.Andthatanysinthatyoumaycommit,youcan
rectifywiththeirgod.It'soneofthereasonswhytheyprayfivetimesa
day.Theydon'tbelieveinoriginalsin,thatissinthatispasseddown
becauseofthefallofAdamandEve-thatthere'sadepravity,ifyouwill,
bornintoeachandeveryhumanbeingthatcausesthemorwillresultin
themsinning.Theydon'tbelieveinthat.Andbecauseofthat,theydon't
feelthattheyneedasavior.Andsointheirconstruct,theydon'tseeaneed
forJesuswhentheyfeelthattheycangetforgiveness.Oratleasttheyhope
theygetforgiveness.Theydon'tknowforsurethattheyactuallycanget
forgiveness.Andsothere'safairamountofuncertaintythattheylivewith
intermsoftheirrelationshipwiththegodinwhichtheybelievein.
Howaboutthisone?We'veheardourownpresidentandthepresident
priortohimsaythatIslamisareligionofpeace.Heardthat,right?Butit's
hardwhenyouhearthat,andthenyoulookatthingsontheinternetand
thingsonTVwhenyouseeallthisviolence.You'relike,what'supwith
that?Ifthey'resayingit'sareligionofpeace,what'sallthisviolence?And
it'sworthnotingthatmostoftheviolencecommittedbyMuslimsisagainst
otherMuslims.AndI'lltalktothathereinjustamoment.Butifyoulookat
whatthefoundationsofIslamare,theyhavewhattheycalltheirpillars,
andthere'sfivethatmosteverybodyagreesto-fivepillars.Andifyoujust
lookatthosefivepillars,youcouldcomeawayandsay,youknowwhat?I
couldseewheresomebodycouldcallthisareligionofpeace.
However,somewithinthestreamofIslamhaveaddedadditionalpillars.
Oneofthoseisjihad.NotallMuslimshave,butsomehave,andjihadisholy
war.Somesaywellthat'sjustpersonally.Othershavetakenthattomean
publiclyasawaytoaccomplishthespreadofIslam.Andsoweneedtobe
verycarefulasChristians,andasAmericansforthatmatter,inlumpingall
ofMuslimsandallofIslamintoonecamporanother.It'snotthatsimple.It
isnotthatsimple.Itisverycomplex.Andsoweneedtobecarefulin
makinggeneralbroadstatementsaboutthisandaboutthat.
TherearetwomainstreamswithintheframeworkofIslam.OneisShiite
andoneisSunni.Andinfact,eventodaythere'sariftthatisbrewinginthe
MiddleEastrelatingtothis.SaudiArabia,whichisaSunnination,did
something-theyexecutedaShiitecleric.Iran,whichisaShiitenation,is
takinggreatoffensetothat.Andsoyou'vehadthisperpetualwarringif
youwill,betweenthesetwofactionswithinIslamforalongtime.
Andletmejustquicklyexplainwheretheycomefrom,becauseyou
potentiallymayrunintosomewho'saShiiteorsomewho'saSunni.
Sunniscomprisemostofthe1.6billionMuslimsintheworld.Andthey
believethattheleadersoftheirreligionandtheleadersoftheir
government-theydon'tnecessarilydistinguishbetweenthetwo-are
electedfromthecommunity,ifyouwill.TheUmmahtheycallit.Shiiteson
theotherhand,believethatleaderscanonlybedeterminedbybloodline,
meaningthatthereisadirectconnectionbetweenthatpersonand
Muhammad'sdaughter,Fatima.Andasaresult,youhavethesetwo
factionsthatviewwhatshouldbetheproperleadership,andwhoshould
bethegoverningauthoritiesintheseplaces.Anditcausesalotofturmoil.
Andsowhenyouseethat,that,inverysimplistictermsiswhat'sgoingon
there.
AnotherwaytolookatIslamistoviewitasitisbookcentered.WhatdoI
meanbythat?Theybelievethatthefullrevelationofgod,theirgod,is
containedintheQuran.Thefullrevelationoftheirgodiscontainedinthe
Quran.Andasaresultofthat,therearelawsandtherearethingsofwhich
thatcomeoutoftheQuranthatMuslimsmustdo.Itis-notexclusively,but
predominately-aworksbasedreligioussystem.Andawordtodescribe
thatisorthopraxy,meaningtherightkindofpractice.Dotherightthings.
Now,youdon'thearthistermorthopraxy,butwhatyoudohearand
probablyhaveheardisSharialaw.WellSharialawisnothingmorethan
theQuranbasicallysayingMuslimsmustdothesethings-therightthings-
theorthopraxy,andthatbecomesSharialaw.Andit'ssupposedtospeak
intonotonlyyourprivatelife,butyourpubliclife.
Allright,let'scomparethatnowtoChristianity.Christianityisperson
centered,meaningourbeliefisthatthefullrevelationofGodisinaperson,
thatbeingJesusChrist.ThatJesusisthefullrevelationofGod.Nowwe
havetheBible,whichaddscontexttothat,butthefullrevelationofGodis
Jesus.Andbecauseofthat,wehavewhatwecallorthodoxy,whichisthe
rightkindofbeliefs.AndwhenwebelieveinJesusbasedonwhatScripture
says,weareindwelledwiththeSpiritofGod,andaretransformedasa
resultofthat,andnowliveadifferentlifeproducingfruitandarenowfree
ofsin.Andwelivebecauseofgrace.Andit'saninsideout,notanoutside
in.Andsoyouhavethesetwothings-lawononehand,andgraceonthe
otherhand.
SowhydoItellyouallthat?Whatdowedowithallthat?Andagain,
there'salotmore,butjustwiththat.You'vegottoremember-Godcreated
everyman,everywoman,everychildinHisimage.Hedecidedandwants
anddesiresforeverypersontocometofaithinJesusandtobereconciled
untohimself.Muslims,intheconstructinwhichtheylive,andtheviewsin
whichtheyhold,haveahardtimefullyunderstandinggrace,mercy,and
lovefromGod.Theydon'tgetthat.Theydon'tunderstand.WhywouldGod
putskinonandenterintohumanityandsacrificehimself?Theydon'thave
agoodconceptforthat.ButyouandIasChristians,thatisthebasisofour
hopeisthatwefollowandworshipaGodthatnotonlylovesus,buthas
provenHislovebyputtingskinonandenteringintoourmessand
sacrificinghimselftoenableustobereconciledtoHim,andtohave
assuranceofthatandnottoquestionandnottodoubt.Wehaveahope
thatiscertain.Wehaveasalvationthatiscertain.Jesuscompletedallof
theworkonthecross,notjustsomeofit-allofit.
Andashispeople,thoseofusthathavebeentransformedbytheSpiritof
Godlivinginus,byputtingtheirfaithandhopeandtrustinJesus-weare
theprimaryinstrumentsGodhaschosentodaytorevealtotheworldHis
love.YouandIaretheprimaryinstrumentsthatGodhaschosentodayto
declaretotheworldthatJesusinfactistheSonofGod,becauseofthe
personaltransformationthathastakenplaceinthoseofuswhohaveput
ourfaithandtrustinHim.Weneedtorememberthat.
Soourworldisgettingsmaller.Ourworldinfactisgettingrealsmall.And
thelikelihoodofyou,ofme,runningintopeoplewhobelievedifferently
thanyouandIis100%intheworldinwhichwelivein.Now,willtheybe
Muslim?Theymightbe.TheymightbeHindu,theymightbe-whoknows?
Butourworldisgettingsmaller.
Butthisisn'tthefirsttimethatthat'shappened.Whenyoulookatwhat
happenedtotheearlychurch,theworldinwhichtheearlychurchwas
birthedwasintheprocess,inthecontextinwhichitwas,ofgettingreally
small.Andhere'swhatImeanbythat.TheRomanempireconnected
prettymuchtheknownworldatthatpointintime.Andthatwhichwas
wayoverherecouldmakeitallthewayoverhere.Andthatwhichwas
overherecouldfinditswayacrosstheRomanempireallthewaytoover
here.Andthechurchbenefitedfromthat.Thegospelspreadasaresultof
that.Butitalsomeansthattherewerethingsthatcamealongwiththat,
andthatthingsoverhere-youknowwhat?Thoseideas,thosepeople,well
theyshowedupincertainplaces.
Andit'sinterestingthatPaul,inoneofhisletters,spokespecificallyto
somethingsalongtheselines.Andsoturnwithmeifyouwilltothebook
ofColossians.AndsothisisaletterwrittenbytheapostlePaultothe
churchatColossae.Andbecausetheworldwasgettingsmaller,ifyouwill,
thereweresomethingsthatwerepressinginonthechurchatthatpointin
time-mainlythree.Youhadascetics,youhadmystics,andyouhad
gnosticspressinginonthechurchatthatpointintime,challenginga
numberofthingsasitrelatestofaith,butspecificallychallengingthedeity
ofJesusChrist.Andsowhenyoureadthebeginningtwochaptersof
Colossians,PaulgoesintogreatdetailexplainingthedeityofJesus.The
purposeofGod-whatdidJesuscomeanddo?Whoishe?Worthreading!
ButPaulalsoknewthatitwouldn'tbethelastthingthatwouldpressinon
thechurch.Healsoknewthatthere'dprobablybeotherthingsthatwould
becomingdowntheRomansroad,ifyouwill.AndIthinkwhathetoldthe
churchthen,appliestousnow.Andsopickupwithmeinthefourth
chapter,beginninginthesecondverse."Devoteyourselvestoprayer,being
watchfulandthankful.Andprayforus,too,thatGodmayopenadoorfor
ourmessage,sothatwemayproclaimthemysteryofChrist,forwhichIam
inchains.PraythatImayproclaimitclearly,asIshould.Bewiseinthe
wayyouacttowardoutsiders;makethemostofeveryopportunity.Let
yourconversationbealwaysfullofgrace,seasonedwithsalt,sothatyou
mayknowhowtoanswereveryone."
Ithinkthere'sfourthingswecangleanfromthatpassage-thatPaulis
saying,hey,whentherearethingsthatthechurchcomesupagainst,here's
whatyoushoulddo.Thefirstisweneedtowatch.Weneedtopay
attention.Weneedtobevigilantintowhat'sgoingonaroundus.Whatis
happeninginourcommunity?What'shappeninginournation?What's
happeninginourworld?Thechurchneedstoknowthesethings.Weneed
towatch.Weneedtopayattention.
Thesecondthingthatweneedtodoisweneedtopray.Weneedtopray
notonlyforourselves.God,givemetheopportunitytointeractwithsome
peoplewhodon'tseethingsthewayIdo.Wealsoneedtoprayforthose
whoaredoingthatinotherplaces.JustlikePaulaskedthechurchtopray
forthem.Butthirdly,weneedtoprayforthechurchatlarge.Thatthe
churchwouldunderstandthatitsprimaryroleistojoinGodonHis
missiontodeclaretotheworldtherealityofthegospel.
Butthere'sathirdthingthatPaulsaysweshoulddo.Weshould
demonstrate-takeadvantage,makethemostofeveryopportunity,every
opportunitythat'saffordedtoyouandIwiththosewhoareoutside,ifyou
will,thefamilyofChristianity.Weneedtotakeadvantageofthose,and
demonstratetherealityofthegospel.
Andthenlastlyweneedtodothis:weneedtodeclarethegracestory.How
you,howIcametofaithinwhatGodhasdonesincethatpointintimein
thecontextofGod'sstory.
Weneedtowatch.Weneedtopray.Weneedtodemonstrate.Andweneed
todeclare.
Now,wesituphereeverySundayandwegiveyousomeapplication
points,right?Youwritethemdownandeverything'sgoodandweleave
hereandwego,doesthatreallywork?IfIreallydothis,doesitreally
work?Imeandoessomethingactuallycomeofthesethings?WellIcan
definitivelytellyouthattheanswertothatisyes.AndI'mgoingtoshare
withyouacoupleofquickstoriesonexactlyhowwatching,praying,
demonstrating,anddeclaringandhowGodcangetinthemiddleofthat
anddosomeamazingthings.
AhandfulofyearsagoIwasinacountry,inacontinentfarfromherethat
waspredominately,notexclusively,butpredominatelyMuslim.AndIwas
uponahill,andIwasatabuildingstandingonaloadingdockoutside.And
Iwasshootingavideotocastsomevisionforwhatwethoughtwewere
goingtodoasachurchandwithsomeotherpartnersthereasitrelatesto
reachingthatcommunity.AndasIwasstandingonthisloadingdock,I
heardsomething.ItwastheMuslimcalltoprayer.Andforthoseofyou
thathaveeverheardit,it'sunmistakable.AndwhatIwasabletosee,
standingonthisdockwasavalley.Andinthisvalleywasavillage,several
thousandpeoplelivinginthisvillage.
Andthecalltoprayerwentout,andIwaslookingtoseewhatwas
happeninginthisvillageandoutwalksamantomyleft,yourright,all
dressedinwhite.Hewastheimamforthatvillage.Andhebegantowalk
downthemainstreetofthatvillage.Andashedid,peoplewouldcomeout
oftheirhomesandtheywouldgetbehindhim.Andbythetimehegotto
theendofthevillage,severalhundredpeoplewerefollowinghim,and
theywereheadedtothemosqueforservice.
AndIstoodtherethatdayandIwaslike,God,howonearth,howonearth
isyourgospelgoingtoreachthat?Howisyourgospelgoingtopenetrate
that?Yourwordsaysthatyoudon'twantanytoperish,andthatallto
cometorepentance.Howisthatgoingtohappen?Ididn'tknow.Igoton
theplane,man,Iwaswreckedbyit.Comehome,stillthinkingaboutit.
How'sthatgoingtowork?Ididn'tknow.
Fastforwardabouttwoandahalfyears,andIhearastoryfromthatsame
place.Oneofourpartnershadplacedtwomissionariesinthatvillage.And
theyhadbecomefriendswiththatimam.Andjustcometofindoutthat
thatimamhadaneed.Whathewanted,hewantedtolearntospeakandto
writetheEnglishlanguage.AndtheChristianmissionarycoupleagreedto
teachhim-withoneprovision.ThattheywouldstudythebookofJohnin
thegospel.
Andsotheybegantodothat,andoverthecourseofweeksandmonths
theywentatit.Andtheimambegantolearnhowtospeakandwritein
English.Andhegottoaplacewhereheaskedaveryinterestingquestion.
Hesaid,IneedtolearnmoreaboutthisJesusthatI'mlearningaboutin
thisbook.Canyouhelpmewiththat?Andthemissionarycouplesaid,you
knowwhat?Wecan.Infact,there'samoviewe'dliketoshowyou.It's
calledtheJesusfilm.Andinfact,themovieisinyournativelanguage.Why
don'tyougoroundupyourfriends,andinacoupleofdayswe'llwatchthis
movie.
Sosureenough,inacoupleofdaysthatimamwalkedthroughthevillage.
Peoplecameupbehindhim.Theywalkedupthehill.Theygotintothat
buildingandtheywatchedtheJesusfilm.ThatishowGodwasgoingto
deliverthegospeltothem.Anamazingtestimonythatinvolvesbeing
watchful,beingprayerful,somebodydemonstratingloveandcare,butthen
beinginapositiontodeclarethegospel.
Nowletmeshareonemorestorywithyouquickly,andthenwe'llbeoutof
here.Onthatsametrip,Iwenttoavillage-poorvillage.Imean,
unbelievablypoor.Thechildrentheresignificantlymalnourished.
Strugglingwithallsortsofdisease-mostofthemwaterbornediseaseand
itbecamereadilyapparentthatoneofthesignificantneedsinthatvillage
wasanewcleanwaterwell.Sowedeterminedthatweweregoingtowork
withourpartnerstomakethathappen.
NowinthisvillagetherewasaChristianpastor.Hewasnotwellliked.In
facthewastreatedverypoorlybythevillagegiventhevillagewas
predominatelyMuslim.AllofthesurroundingvillageswereMuslim.Allof
theeldersinthatvillagewereMuslimandtheydidn'tlikehimtherebut
theytoleratedhimbeingthere.AndIwentintohischurch,theplacewhere
hemet,tinylittleroom.Imeanit'snotbiggerthanprobablythisrighthere.
Theroofwasfallingdown.Icouldbarelywalkthroughit.Butyethewas
faithful.Wetoldhimthatwewouldbeback,andwetoldhimthatwe
wouldbringcleanwatertothatvillage.
Sofastforwardabouteighteenmonths,andIgotanotheropportunityto
gotothatvillagetobethereforthecommissioningofthatwaterwell.And
itwas,asyoucanwellimagine,ahugecommunityevent.Andsowewere
standingontheplatform-concretepadthatthewaterwellsitsonandthe
wholeentirevillagesurroundedthisconcretepad.AndIgottoprayforthe
village,prayforhopefullyhowGodwouldusethiswaterwelltobless
them.Andmyfriendwhoworksforanotherorganizationofwhowedoa
lotwith,thenpresentedthegospel.Andwhilehewaspresentingthe
gospel,severalimamsfromsurroundingvillagesshowedup.Andthey
werewalkingaroundtheoutsideofallthesepeoplechantingandpraying
whilewewereinthemiddleprayingandproclaiming.Alittletense.Now
I'mnotsurewhatthoseimamsweresaying,butI'mprettysureitwasn't
thegospel.Right?
Sowegetdonewiththat,andthere'sthishugecelebration.Youknow,
we'repumpingthewater.Kidsarethrowingit,drinkingit.Youknow,it
wasgreat.Thevillageelderscomeuptome,fiveofthem,andtheysaywe
wanttotellyousomething.I'mlike,o.k.Becauseyousaidyouweregoing
tobringcleanwatertothisvillageandyoudid,wenowbelieve,allofus,
theelders,weallbelievethelivingwater,asinJesusChrist,thatyour
friendBrianwastalkingabout.That'sworthclappingfor.
Whenwewatch,whenwepray,whenwedemonstrate,wecanthen
declare.Thatishowwehavearesponseasachurch,asapeople,who
followChristandbelieveintheBiblewhenitcomestothosethatdon't.To
makethemostofeveryopportunity.AndI'llleaveyouwiththisthought.
Asourworldgetssmaller-anditisgettingsmaller-ourloveneedstobe
bigger!Asourworldgetssmaller-anditis-ourloveneedstobebigger.
Nowtheremaybesomeofyouinthisroomthat,forthefirsttimeyou've
heardsomethingaboutJesusthateitheryou'veheardbeforeoritlanded
differentlytoday.Ihopeso.AndIhopethatGodspoketoyouinatangible
waytoday-becauseIcantellyouthis:theGodIwanttoworship,theGodI
wanttofollowistheonewhocameafterme.Theonewhoenteredintomy
messandsaidIloveyouevenwhenIdidn'tlovehim.That'stheGodwe
follow.That'stheJesuswefollow.Who,inspiteofourmess,andinspiteof
oursin,saidIloveyou.SomuchsoIamwillingtodieforyou.
I'mgoingtoprayhereinjustamoment.Andifthat'syouandyou're
believingthatforthefirsttime,Iwouldencourageyouwithallthefaith
thatyouhavetoacceptwhatGodhasdoneinJesusandtocomebyour
FiresideRoomandtalktosomepeoplethere.Theyjustwanttopraywith
you.Theywanttogiveyousomeadditionalinformation.Notgoingtosign
youupforanything-theyjustwanttohelpyou.Themostincredible
decisionthatyoucanmakeinyourlifetime.
Andfortherestofus,howdowerespondwhentheworldgetssmalland
wehavethingspressinginonusthataredifferentmaybe?New?We
watch.Wepray.WedemonstrateGod'slove.Wetakethemost,makethe
mostoutofeveryopportunity.AndthenwedeclareGod'sgraceinourown
lifeinthecontextofhisstory.
Solet'spray.Father,wethankyousomuchfortoday.Lordwethankyou
forhowyoucallus,howyouinviteus,howyou,byyourwisdomhave
chosentouseusbrokenvessels,imperfectpeople-butyetfilledwithyour
Spirittobeagentsofyoursinthisworld.Todeclaretherealityofa
transformedlife.TodeclaretherealitythatJesusChristisinfactLordof
lordsandtodeclarethatwearefreefromsinandhaveassurancesof
salvation.Maywedosohumbly.Maywedosoinaway,Father,that
demonstratesyourlove.AndLord,Ipraythatyouwouldgiveus
opportunities,eventhisweek,todojustthat.Andforthosehere,Father,
whoarewrestlingwiththeirfaithatthispointintime,Lord,Ipraythat
youwouldmeetthemwherethey'reat.Thatyouwouldgivethemthefaith
thattheyneed.ThatyouwouldgivethemthecouragetheysoneedtosayI
believe.IbelievewithallofmyheartthatJesusinfactcame,died,rose
againandbecauseofthatIcanbereconciledtoyou.Wethankyou,Father.
WeloveyouandweaskthesethingsallinyourSon'smostprecious,
preciousname-JesusChrist,ourrisenLordandSavior.Amen.