You see him.
I'm torn.
I wonder if I shall bow down, because
I'm a bit shy, or if I will
run into his arms.
I don't know yet which one.
This is my friend Gokyung.
He can speak very good English, but he's
shy too, so he's going to share some
of his story and I'll translate.
我依家同埋以前都係一個好蠢嘅人。
I was before.
I still am a stupid man.
以前我蠢到以為自己係好聰明同埋好叻。
My stupidity was before that I thought I
was clever and smart.
大概差唔多二十年之前呢,我有機會去跟耶穌,跟住耶穌。
About 20 years ago I had the opportunity
to know and follow Jesus.
嗰陣時我有一個好好嘅機會識咗Jackie同埋佢嘅朋友。
I had the opportunity to know Jackie and
her friend.
Jackie依家靚過以前少少。
She's a little bit more beautiful now than
she was 20 years ago.
So much for the old lady.
有一次我記得Jackie係祈禱,同我祈禱。
She prayed for me 20 years ago and
told me that she thought God had a
very very special plan for me.
呢句說話呢好啱我呀,因為嗰陣時我覺得自己好叻呀,要做啲特別嘅事。
This was a good word for me because
I did think I was special.
跟住我問Jackie,你點知呀,係咩計劃嚟㗎?
How did you know?
What's the plan?
Jackie無講俾我聽係咩計劃。
But she didn't tell me the plan.
跟住我用咗好多時間自己想去搵呢個計劃同埋做,但係結果做到一塌糊塗。
Then I spent a lot of time trying
to find this plan and do it, but
it turned out to be a mess.
但係佢有話俾我聽,如果跟耶穌要放低你有嘅嘢,你嘅工作,你有嘅嘢,我嗰陣時完全唔想咁做。
But she told me that if I had
to give up what I had, my job,
what I had, I didn't want to do
it.
因為嗰陣時我係一個社會工作者,我以為我幫緊好多人。
Because at that time I was a social
worker, I thought I was helping a lot
of people.
我以為我幫緊吸毒嘅人,有精神病嘅人同埋破碎嘅家庭。
I thought I was helping people with mental
problems and family problems and addiction problems.
我睇唔到自己原來全部呢啲問題都有係自己身上嘅。
I couldn't see that I had all these
problems on me.
係直到好多年之後,我先至再搵返耶穌上去改變。
I didn't see that all those conditions applied
to me until many years later, I went
to Jesus to change.
所以我去咗同Jackie嘅朋友一齊住。
So I went to live with Jackie's friends.
我發覺原來佢哋對每一個人都講話佢哋有個好特別嘅計劃嘅。
I found out that they told everyone that
they had a very special plan.
而家我明白少少嗰個計劃就係我哋要去識得俾耶穌去愛。
Now I understand that the plan is that
we let Jesus love us.
同埋我哋仲喺世界上面唯一要做嘅嘢就係去講耶穌嘅名俾人聽。
And that our purpose on this earth, number
one, is to let people know about the
name of Jesus.
我而家只係想聽話同埋做呢一樣嘢。
I now would like to do this.
咁我哋就係通過John嘅誦經,我哋就有咁多嘢講話,我哋就知道佢嘅名俾人聽。
And through John's gospel that we have such
a lot of words about knowing God, being
known by him and his love.
但喺Matthew 11.27同Luke 10.22,我哋就有啲講話好似John嘅。
But once in Matthew 11.27 and Luke
10.22, we have words that sound like
John.
無人知道兒子,除咗父親,無人知道父親,除咗兒子。
No one knows the son except the father,
and no one knows the father except the
son.
無人會知道兒子,除咗父親。無人知道父親。
We know neither father, nor son, nor nation,
kids or anything.
無人會知道兒子,除咗父親。無人知道父親。
There are people who we know who we
know who we know who we know are
children of God.
無人知道父親,除咗父親,只有兒子。
No one knows father, nor son, nor anyone
else.
I think I said it was Greek, but
the Jewish word is Yada, and the Greek
word, same word, is Ginosko, and it's the
word to know.
And as we've heard this morning, it's also
being known.
It goes both ways.
And this is intimacy, and we've heard again
that He knows more about us than we
know about Him.
So it's an unfair intimacy to start with,
unless we start in response to His knowing
us and yet still loving us, and knowing
all and still accepting us.
And we respond with the, I want to
know you better too.
One Thessalonians 5, 16, He died, but
whether asleep or awake, we might live together
with Him.
We're safer in this intimacy than we think,
not presumptuous, but safer.
He cares to hold us more than we
care to hold on.
I had a friend, and she lived in
Hong Kong, and her friends worked with children
with severe retardation, and they spent all day
looking after these children who can't walk or
sit, some of them, or talk.
And they used to get up very early
to pray, to meet with the Lord before
the day.
I always remember my friend saying, I overslept
this morning, I missed the Lord.
I had no idea what she was talking
about, how could you?
I'm sure He didn't mind her sleeping for
a couple of hours.
It wasn't that she was any less loved,
known, or safe.
It isn't that we're safe because we keep
meeting with Him.
We're safe because He loves us and knows
us, says He'll keep us.
And the response to that is, I want
to meet you more.
John 5, 15, I don't call you servants
anymore, but friends.
Everything I've learned from my Father I've made
known to you.
So we learn that Jesus, knowing all things,
makes them wonderfully known to us.
And yesterday David mentioned Psalm 103, which is
talking about Moses, in verse 7.
He made known his ways to Moses, his
deeds to the people of Israel.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to
anger and abounding in love.
One of my understandings of intimacy is I
feel like a doorkeeper.
I'll share how I first got to know
Jesus.
I had one of the most, well, I'm
going to say mean conversion.
I mean, I was mean.
I was on a train going home from
a party one night, and I was at
a music college.
And I wasn't a very bad girl, but
I was always hoping to meet a nice
man.
So I went to not good parties.
And at these not good parties, I didn't
like the alternatives.
So I didn't care to do any of
the things that people were doing at these
parties.
And so everybody used to say to me,
well, why did you come then?
I was so dumb.
I thought I was going to meet a
nice man, as if one would go to
a party like that.
Anyway, I was slugging home on the train
one day, and two friends saw me, and
they said to each other, mercifully not to
me, oh, Jackie really meets God.
But to me, they said, oh, we have
these gatherings, you know, every week in London,
and they're awfully nice men, and we talk
about God.
So I thought, well, that's good, because I
quite like to talk about God and meet
some nice men.
And when I got to these Bible studies,
of course, I was going to meet a
wonderful man.
I didn't know he was wonderful then, not
that Jesus, because I had grown up not
really liking him.
I had my own understanding of what he
was like.
But when I heard in one of these
Bible studies that he said, I'm the way,
the truth, and the life, I was asked
to make a decision on whether I would
believe that.
And I didn't like this, because my understanding,
I mean, the way I was brought up
was that you're supposed to be broad-minded.
And so I decided to have it out
with Jesus.
This is why I said, this is mean.
So I said, well, Jesus, I really don't
like this very much, that you're the only
way, because I think it's extremely narrow of
you.
However, I think I'm going to have to
accept that what you say is true.
I mean, up until that time, truly, I
thought the Baptist had made it up.
I used to run by to the train,
and there was something called a wayside pulpit.
I'd seen the words before.
It was a Baptist church.
But when I found out that Jesus said
them, I said, well, I'm just going to
have to decide if they're true or not.
And I'm, you know, dear Jesus, I reluctantly
accept that they're true, and that you are
the only way to God.
Such a mean, a mean prayer, but he's
so kind anyway, and it was the way
for me.
Suddenly, I saw it all the other way
around.
This is not a narrow way at all.
This is the widest invitation.
For all men may come, and it's because
Jesus made a way by dying on the
cross so we can come to holy God,
clean and justified and acceptable somehow.
Then I started going to some Bible studies,
and I was at a girls' one.
And we were doing one of those ones
where you fill in the blanks.
And, you know, I always think if you
don't get 10 out of 10 filling in
the blanks, you know, there's something wrong, because
it's terribly easy.
We were doing John 3.16. God so
loved the blank that he gave his blank,
that if blank believed in blank, blank should
receive blank, you see.
So you fill it in.
And then we came to the prayer time.
And all the girls had their eyes closed,
and I had mine open.
And they were thanking God they had eternal
life.
And I looked at them, and they were
smiling.
And I thought, God, they mean it.
They're really happy they have eternal life.
And I thought, oh, wait a minute.
I filled in the blanks.
I do, too.
And I said, oh, thank you very much,
Lord.
I have eternal life.
And I was happy for about 30 seconds.
And because immediately, this is what I mean
by breathing.
This is my own experience.
I thought, if I have eternal life because
I know Jesus, that means some people don't.
And I'm not sure if I can very
much enjoy being on this earth if my
earthly father isn't going to be in heaven,
and my friends.
And I'm not sure if I can really
enjoy this.
And I have to tell you, it's been
like this for me ever since.
It's as quick as that.
If this is true, I mean, if Jesus
really is the Son of God, and if
he really is the only way, what else
is there to do with our lives except
make him known to people who don't yet?
How else could we enjoy still being here
if we know that there are people who
will perish for lack of knowing him?
So anyway, after this Bible study, they all
got up to do what Christians always seem
to be doing, eat.
And they were cooking something called risotto.
And I looked at them, I was very
intense, you know, I mean, I've just come
to Jesus.
And risotto they were cooking.
And I thought, risotto?
How can you eat risotto when people are
perishing?
And so I ran out to the street
to find somebody who was outside.
And I didn't think I could enjoy the
knowledge of knowing Jesus and having eternal life
and eating risotto if there were people dying
and perishing and hungry outside.
So for me it was as quick as
that.
I came to a relationship with him and
immediately longed to share it, even though it
was just a new one, doorkeeper, Psalm
84.
My soul yearns for, even faints for, the
courts of the Lord.
And verse 10, I would rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than
dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For me, I've always found Christian gatherings hard
when we are feeding so much on the
knowing the love of God and enjoying this
when I know there are people outside still
without.
I'm getting a little better than I was.
My first Christian gathering, I told you, was
about 30 seconds of enjoyment.
Now I can do a little bit longer.
I'm learning to take deeper breaths.
But in looking at this Psalm, I would
rather be a doorkeeper in the house of
the Lord.
I think we do need to remember that
this is Old Testament.
And that the house of the Lord isn't
a place, a physical place.
Even though here, for the purpose of these
few days, there is a place here made
for us so that we can meet with
the Lord without too much chattering.
But for us who know a man and
have begun to know him, the place has
to be somewhere else.
Though we will take days, hours, minutes, whatever
we can to be with Jesus, it will
have to be more a place in our
heart for us to live in this world.
And mothers know this, of course mothers know
this.
There's no way mothers can get away and
get to be with God when they've got
kids.
But they can be with the Lord.
They may not be able to get away
to a special place.
So for me, I think of myself as
a doorkeeper.
I like to go in.
I like to bring people in.
I like to open the door and see
the people outside.
I like to go out and find the
people outside and say, come in.
Intimacy.
I'm known.
Everything about me is known.
I'm still loved.
And we saw yesterday that the prostitute in
Luke 7 must somehow have known.
Must somehow have known.
And it comes, this intimacy, the beginning of
this intimacy.
It comes by revelation.
That's how it came to Saul before he
was Paul.
Suddenly he's on a journey of destruction and
there's a light and hears his name, Saul.
And knowing.
Lord, he replies.
Knowing.
Who it is who is talking.
By revelation.
You see, little Zacchaeus.
Having heard about him.
Having heard about the one who did all
those miracles.
Climbs up into a tree.
Little cheating Zacchaeus.
Little corrupt Zacchaeus.
And suddenly he hears, Zacchaeus.
He knows me.
And Jesus said, I must come into your
house to eat with you.
My house?
Oh, he knows my name.
Does he know what's in my house?
I mean, he's got all this really expensive
burial equipment.
All kinds of stuff he's got stashed, you
know.
Because he's a terrible cheat.
Made a fortune.
Of his own people.
Knowing that he's known.
Zacchaeus.
He doesn't say, oh, no, no, no.
Let's go to a restaurant.
He lets him in.
His house.
And then the most amazing, this story of
being known by the Lord.
And letting him into his house.
This is one of the most amazing stories
in the New Testament.
He repents further than any other man seems
to.
You see actual evidence of what he intends
to do.
With his ill-gotten gains.
And if you add up what he promises.
To give away and repay.
There won't be anything left.
As if it was worth keeping after you've
known him.
The beginning of intimacy.
Being known and knowing comes by revelation.
And our response to the one who knows
us.
One time I knew a drug addict.
This was many years ago.
And I knew he had a mother.
And she's very poor.
She sold herbs in the market.
And this guy never changed.
He still hasn't.
And I used to say, how is your
mother?
I'd like to visit her.
And he always used to say, oh, she's
idol worshipper.
She wouldn't like to see you.
Actually, he didn't want me to go to
his house.
Because he used to, as many drug addicts
do.
Take all his mother's money.
Little though it was.
But one time he got put in prison.
And I found out where she lived.
And I went to see her.
And she was dying.
She had decided to die.
Because if you're a Chinese mother.
And you don't have a son.
You have no future.
You have nothing to live on.
And you have no hope.
So she just decided to lie in bed.
Until she died.
What would you do?
With an idol worshipper.
Who's lost her son.
Well, I said.
Mrs. Chang.
May I pray for you?
Most people would say yes.
And I didn't say anything out loud.
I just said.
Dear Lord, please reveal yourself to her.
Because I don't know.
How to explain.
God to anyone.
And after a little bit.
She began to smile.
And I said.
Well, what's going on?
And she said.
I feel very comfortable in my chest.
She had a chest complaint.
And I said.
Well, you know.
God knows what it's like.
To have lost a son.
Because he sent his son.
Down here for you.
Because he really cares.
About your life.
And about your chest.
And about your future.
Will you trust him?
And she said yes.
And her chest was healed.
And then we.
Boiled her soup.
You can make it quite cheap.
If you buy the bones.
From the butcher.
We boiled her soup.
And came back to see her.
Every day after that.
And after a couple of days.
She said to me.
I got to be baptized.
And I had not mentioned baptism to her.
So I said.
Where did you get that from?
And she said.
Well, last night I was watching the TV.
Now.
She had a huge TV.
But no electricity.
So it actually didn't work.
And she.
Anyway in walled city.
When there was electricity.
It just frequently didn't come on.
Because it was all illegal.
So.
She said.
I was watching the TV last night.
And she said.
This most beautiful man.
Walked across the screen.
And he had a long.
White robe.
And he was.
On a mountain.
And it was very beautiful.
And there were flowers.
And it smelled very sweet.
And he held out his hand.
And he said to me.
Mrs. Chan.
Will you follow me?
And I said.
Yes Jesus.
And he said.
Be baptized.
It's a revelation.
And it's continuing revelation.
Because he reveals to us.
His love.
And he reveals to us.
His ways.
And he reveals to us.
Jesus.
And if we're smart.
We'll press in.
It's called cultivating.
Intimacy.
In John 1.
There were two disciples.
In verse 35.
Who were told.
Come and see.
See the Lamb of God.
And it says.
They spent the day with him.
When we.
By revelation.
Understand that he loves us.
And we respond in faith.
We come into.
An intimate relationship.
But it goes on.
We must cultivate this.
We must press in.
But it isn't that when we're in.
This relationship with him.
We're out.
Of the world.
We may not be.
Of the world.
But we're certainly.
Still left.
Physically.
In this world.
And I believe it doesn't have to be
a choice.
Of being in with the Lord.
Or out in the world.
It's a habit.
Of cultivating.
A relationship with him.
And being in the world.
Because we're here in the world for a
reason.
Jesus praised his heart.
For the disciples in John 17.
John 17.
Verse 26.
I have made you known to them.
And I will continue to make you known.
In order that the love you have for
me.
May be in them.
And that I myself.
May be in them.
So Jesus praised.
That we will.
Know the love he has.
The father has for Jesus.
And that that might be in us.
And there are two.
Revelation prayers in Ephesians.
We'll just look at them quickly.
Ephesians 1.
17.
Full praise.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 17.
The glorious father.
May give us a spirit of revelation.
So that we may know him better.
The eyes of our heart may be enlightened.
May know the hope.
To which he has called us.
The riches of his glorious inheritance.
And the saint.
And we can pray these prayers.
Lord reveal.
Because in your mercy.
You revealed yourself to me to begin with.
Will you go on revealing to me.
The depth of your knowledge of me.
And the understanding.
Of you.
That I may know the hope.
To which I am called.
And again in chapter 3.
Verse 16.
He prays that Christ might dwell in our
hearts.
Through faith.
And that we will then have power to
grasp.
How wide.
Long.
High.
Deep.
The love of Christ is.
That surpasses knowledge.
As we heard this morning.
That we might be filled to the measure.
Of all the fullness of God.
These are words about intimacy.
These are words about.
A love affair.
If you like.
That continues.
In intimacy.
And grows in intimacy.
I was reading a.
Newspaper in Hong Kong.
It was on how to bring up.
Children.
And it was talking about.
Whether you should be.
Strict with your children.
Or easy with your children.
And there was a phrase here.
This is not a.
Bible verse.
This is from.
A sociologist.
And it says.
The child of lovers.
Is always an orphan.
Observing.
In this particular passage.
That if a mother and a father.
Are only.
Wrapped up in each other.
The child may become wayward.
Now I.
Believe.
That this is.
Not just.
A sociological statement.
That we can actually.
From scripture see.
The character of God.
Was that the father loved the son so
much.
And the Holy Spirit.
That they all loved each other so much.
That there had to be.
Increase.
They were not so.
Wrapped up in each other.
Only even though that love was perfect.
And intimate.
But.
It would bring increase.
They wanted.
Those three.
That one.
They wanted us.
The father wanted a bride.
For his son.
There was increase.
There is propagation.
Where there is intimacy.
And my great hope.
Is that you.
Sweet people.
In your cultivation.
Of intimacy of the Lord.
Will not just say.
It is me and him forever.
The me and him.
Must result.
In the sharing.
Of this intimacy.
With those that know not yet.
Otherwise.
It is not a healthy.
Intimacy.
It is something else.
True intimacy.
Will result.
In propagation it must.
Because that is the nature.
Of love.
There will be.
Increase.
And so we wonder.
For those of us that claim.
To know him.
And love him.
If there is no increase.
In fruit.
In character.
And in our sharing of Jesus.
Did we know him.
At all.
Intimacy.
Knowing God.
I will shock you a little bit.
It is not what.
We are on this earth for.
Though ultimately.
It is what we are made for.
I want to say it again.
Just in case.
We have misunderstood.
Where we are.
Intimacy.
Is not what we are here for.
I did not read this.
I am sure about this.
From scripture.
Intimacy is not what we are in this
world.
For.
Though.
It is what we are made for.
Ultimately.
We are made to have relationship with him
in heaven.
Because we are going to continue this love
of him forever.
And we will be singing about it forever.
And him.
And adoring him.
And worshipping him.
And loving being in his presence.
And feasting.
That is our ultimate destination.
And it is who we are made for.
And it is why he called us.
Built himself to us.
But it is not what we are on
this earth for.
Though we will continue.
For one intimacy.
To another.
While we are on this earth.
It is not what we are here for.
You see.
But you know this.
Don't you?
Isn't it.
When he made himself known to us.
We had an understanding.
That we are unfairly washed.
Cleaned.
And instantly.
Instable.
And qualified.
To sit with him.
In heavenly places.
Instantly.
Well why doesn't he take us there.
Instantly.
We are not on this earth.
To get better and better.
Or.
To change from glory to glory.
Or.
To have prayer meetings.
Or.
To study the bible.
I know this sounds shocking.
It is not what we are here for.
Though we will do those things.
The reason we are still here.
Is only one.
Only one.
We are on this earth.
It is to share.
Any kindness we know.
Any sweetness we know.
It is to share.
I have been known.
Understood.
And I am loved.
Would you like to know him too?
That is why we are here.
That is the only reason we are here.
And you know.
I really think.
Excuse me.
I think he had such a nerve.
Jesus.
I mean.
I wouldn't do it that way.
I mean.
God the father and God the son.
I would have said.
Jesus would you just come down.
Fetch everyone.
But he only got around the people.
He could get around.
As the son of man.
And he saw some more in the distance.
And he said.
So many.
As the son of man.
He touched everyone he could.
And everyone who touched him.
Got made whole.
But as the son of man.
He could only touch.
Those that the son of man could touch.
In human form.
He said to his disciples.
There is so many.
So many still there.
I am going to give you power and
authority.
You go.
And then after he died.
He did the whole thing again.
He said.
Bye.
Oh never mind.
I am going to give you my spirit.
So you can go and touch everyone else.
I mean really.
What a plan.
I mean.
Using my knowledge.
I could have thought of a better one.
He had the nerve.
I mean Jesus must have trusted his father
or something.
Or the father must have trusted his son
or something.
You know.
They both must have trusted the spirit.
Because they said.
We are going to leave the world to
you.
But you will have the spirit.
And you are going to do.
Everything that the son has done.
You.
Will make him learn.
You.
Will preach.
The gospel.
You will speak of the kingdom.
You will feed the poor.
You will comfort the lonely.
You will raise the dead.
You will heal the sick.
And I am here.
On behalf of.
A world.
That is perishing.
Who have never heard.
That there is a God.
Of kindness.
Even if some of us here.
Haven't yet known a God.
Of sweetness and kindness and love.
At least we have heard the words.
You know.
I live.
In a place.
In the middle of several continents.
Where the majority of people don't know.
There is a kind.
Or a forgiving God.
They just don't know.
And they won't.
Unless someone goes.
Please don't misunderstand me.
When we heard.
That very special things were going on.
In certain cities.
In North America.
Some years ago.
We were so excited.
It seemed.
Like revival.
People getting excited about Jesus.
And falling in love with Him.
We were so excited.
And then we heard.
Everybody is taking planes.
To those places.
And we waited.
Please don't misunderstand me.
It is so lovely what He has done.
But we are waiting for the planes.
To come back to us.
They haven't yet.
Though we have heard.
They are laughing in some cities.
But there are still.
Today.
Millions of children.
Who are soldiers.
They have been forced.
Into armies.
They have been taught to kill.
They have to choose between killing their parents.
Or being killed.
Or having their arms cut off.
And we hear that there are people catching
planes.
To certain cities where they shake and laugh.
And we are pleased.
They are shaking and laughing.
But we say please.
If you have come to know this God.
Who is kind.
Could you.
For your second plane fare.
Take one.
To our part of the world.
Or a city.
Where the children are in the sewers.
And have to hide from the police.
In case they are shot.
For being orphans.
The world is waiting for those.
Who know Him a little bit.
And in the knowledge of being loved.
Will share this.
With their lives.
For there is no other reason.
To be on this earth.
It is not to get a better degree.
It is not to pay off your mortgage.
It is not even.
And I know this is the hardest of
all.
To see your children's children.
I know that is the hardest of all.
It seems to be.
We have some sweet people.
Who live with us.
And.
Because God has been so kind to us.
We.
We are a bit like some of you
here.
We always say.
We are the limping people.
Helping the limping.
We have about 300 people living with us.
And not one.
Has a normal mother and father.
Not one.
Don't have homes.
Don't have cars.
Most of our guys.
And the girls too.
Have never ever visited a family.
Where they eat together.
Where the mother and father like each other.
Never.
How can we help all these people.
It is not wonderful.
That we live.
30 or 40 in one place.
It is not wonderful.
I rather would put them into.
Families like some of you have got.
But people don't.
I don't know.
If there are any whole people.
Any whole families yet.
Who are ready to share their homes.
We need homes.
But you know.
It is real sweet.
Because so many of our people.
When they come to know Jesus.
They want to share him with other people.
Even though they have not come to any
normal life.
I mean.
They haven't come to rent an apartment.
And get married.
And have kids.
And sort of live normal.
And we have several teams.
That go to various cities.
In a country near us.
And they find the kids.
That are sleeping on the train station.
And those kids have come.
From many provinces away.
Some of them have been slaves.
Several times over.
One little one.
Who is about 7 or 8.
He was bent.
Before he was formed.
Because he came from a province.
Where they.
Heave boulders.
So that was what he did.
Before he had grown properly.
Many of them have AIDS.
And our people.
Pick them up.
Now we don't pay our people.
We don't have a sponsor.
We just share.
What we have.
And they have to spend.
What God gives them on feeding.
These kids.
It's very hard to do it in that
city.
Because we're not supposed to be there.
It's a place where you can't live without
a license.
And they take them.
These kids in.
And we've seen lots of them.
Come to know Jesus.
And the bent one got made straight after
a few months.
And.
It's not the permanent solution.
For those children.
Because.
Because we're not supposed to be in that
city.
We have to move every month or two.
Because.
The soldiers.
If they hear the singing.
Or if the neighbor reports us.
We're moved on.
So they move every month or so.
But we don't know how else.
To take care of children.
Little drug addicts.
Little boys.
Who've been interfered with.
For money.
So.
We hope to take them home.
And we don't know if their parents will
accept them.
Because sometimes they've been thrown out of the
home.
When the mother's married again.
Sometimes they've run away from home.
But we try to get them back.
And so we pray a lot.
For the families.
In the distant villages.
Will they have their son or their daughter
back again.
And there was one little boy.
Who'd.
Come into one of these houses.
For about six months.
And God had.
Healed his body.
And he loved Jesus.
And he loved to worship.
And our people thought well.
Let's try to see if we can take
him home.
So they paid themselves with.
For the train fare.
Three days on the train.
Standing.
To a distant province.
And then a bus.
And then walking up the path.
To the village.
And they are all the time wondering.
Will his mother.
Have him back or not.
And.
They're walking up the path.
And it's just like the story.
Of a.
Prodigal son.
The mother.
Came out of the house.
And ran down the path.
And she.
Embraced her son.
And she was crying.
And she said to.
Our helper.
Our limping helper.
Because we're all limping.
She said let me tell you a story.
She said.
Six months ago.
I came to know Jesus.
And.
Ever since that day I've been praying.
Dear Lord.
I don't know where my son is.
I've lost him for some years.
I don't know which province he's in.
I don't know which city he's in.
But you know.
And.
Please.
Will you send some Christians.
To him.
And he heard my prayer.
And I.
I just love that story.
And I always have a question.
About that story.
And this is the question.
If our.
Limping helper.
Still limping.
In the middle of being changed.
From glory to glory.
But still limping.
If that one had not gone.
And shed the little money.
That he had.
Little.
Would that boy have been saved?
I don't know the answer.
I don't.
Know the answer.
I would like to think.
That love isn't God.
Might have plan B.
But I'm not sure.
I am.
Sure.
That every single.
Child.
Abused kid.
Widow.
Pagan.
Hungry.
Lonely.
And wondering.
How to get clean person.
On this earth.
I am sure.
That when they call out to loving kind
God.
He hears.
And will send someone.
But I don't know if they don't go.
If he has a substitute.
The world's waiting.
For lovers.
Those who are loved.
And those who love Jesus.
Those who are known.
And those who know him.
To share that love.
Because this is the nature.
Of love.
This is the result.
Of intimacy.
And very quickly.
I'll just.
Take you through.
The Moses.
Story.
You could look at this some other time.
But I'll very quickly.
Take you through.
You can just jot down the references.
If you don't look.
But I'm starting in Exodus 24.
Where Moses.
Who has met.
Holy God.
Taken off his shoes.
Been.
Equipped with miracles.
And chosen.
For a purpose.
Has brought the children of Israel.
By miracles.
Out of Egypt.
Across the Red Sea.
Into the desert.
And now the Lord invites him.
Up the mountain.
And we see in verse 17.
Moses in the distance.
Disappearing into.
What looks like a consuming fire.
This morning.
When we were talking.
About laying down our lives.
You know.
It sounded.
A hard thing.
I actually think.
Doing God's plan.
Is easier than not.
The lie is.
It's difficult.
It's not difficult.
The deciding is difficult.
And it was for Jesus.
So it's alright.
If it's difficult for you.
The deciding is difficult.
The getting rid of the old life.
And the doing the God's will.
Is much easier than not.
So here is Moses.
Disappearing into something.
That looks like a volcano.
But.
This smoking.
Smoldering mountain.
Is a place where he finds.
Strangely.
Intimacy.
And in chapter.
We pick the story up in chapter 33.
Verse 13.
Moses who has seen.
Miracles.
Signs.
Says in verse 13.
If you are pleased with me.
Teach me your ways.
I want to know you.
I have seen your deeds.
But I want you to teach me your
ways.
And continue to find.
Favor with you.
And the Lord replied.
My presence will go with you.
And I will give you rest.
And Moses says.
If you don't go with me.
We can't go anywhere.
And then show me your glory.
Verse 18.
And the Lord replies.
What does his glory look like?
I will show you.
Verse 19.
All my goodness.
And my mercy.
And my compassion.
He is the one you are afraid of
serving.
He is the one.
We are afraid of giving everything up for.
A kind fire.
A delightful explosion.
Goodness.
Mercy.
And compassion.
And then Moses is hidden by the Lord.
In the cleft of the rock.
And God says.
I am not going to let you see
me fully.
Because you would die.
But I will just let you see.
A bit of my back view.
As I pass by.
And in chapter 34.
The Lord passed by.
And the words spoken about him.
Still.
These wonderful words.
Compassionate.
Gracious.
Flow to anger.
Abounding in love and faithfulness.
Maintaining love to thousands.
Forgiving wickedness and sin.
This God in the volcano has revealed.
Who he is.
His ways to Moses.
A God of kindness.
Forgiving God.
Abounding in love.
And then.
The Lord says to Moses.
Okay.
I done my bit.
Now you do yours.
It always amuses me.
In the story of Moses.
It seems to happen always.
You know.
The Lord calls him.
And he says.
I have seen.
The slavery.
Of my people Israel.
I have heard their groans.
I am concerned.
I will come down and rescue them.
Now you go.
It is always the same.
Always through this book.
I am concerned.
I do care.
I will save them.
Now off you go.
And so it is.
He will do it all.
But he sends us.
Could he do it without us?
Well.
He is covenanted to do it with us.
And I believe he will not do.
Without us.
Which is why I worry when I am
at conferences.
That are calling out for God.
To do everything.
It is.
It isn't God doing everything.
He is covenanted to do it.
With us.
And I.
Truly believe in seeking him.
And calling out for his help.
And asking him to send his spirit.
And his mercy and love to the world.
But if we don't take what we have.
He will not do it without us.
He sent his son.
To show us his love and kindness.
And now he sends us.
As sons of God.
As sons of men.
To do this.
And Ephesians says.
He saved us.
In chapter 2.
He has expressed his kindness to us.
And verse 10.
He says he has prepared good works.
For us to walk in.
And there are good works for you to
walk in.
And good works for me to walk in.
Prepared.
So they are not that hard.
And people say to me.
Oh Jackie is so brave of you to
go to walled city.
And those gangsters.
They are completely wrong.
First of all.
I rather do what God says.
Than get sicked up by a whale.
Secondly.
I like being there.
And people take me to other cities.
And they say.
Here are all the gangsters you know.
How would you like to go here?
And I said.
Not at all.
This is not my city.
It's yours.
I am not presumptuous to walk down other
gangsters streets.
I knew where I was supposed to be.
It was prepared for me.
I was made for it.
It was made for me.
So good match.
Not so hard.
And anyway.
You can't have walled city.
Gone.
Pulled it down.
Gone that one.
But there are things.
And there are people waiting for you.
That no one else can do.
People longing to hear.
And know and see.
The kindness of God.
So we.
You and I.
Flesh out the word.
And we have.
This paradox.
Just quickly look at 2 Corinthians.
3 and 4.
God reveals himself.
By hiding.
In humanity.
God reveals himself.
By burning the brightness of his glory.
Jesus.
As the son of God.
Veiled the light.
And revealed the light.
Look at the end of chapter 3.
Which is talking about.
What happened in verse 12.
When Moses came down the mountain.
And you know.
He just had caught the back end.
Of God's glory.
Passing by.
But when he came down the mountain.
He was so shiny.
That if people looked at him.
And he only just caught the back end.
Of God's glory.
Kindness.
He was so shiny.
That if people looked at Moses.
They would have been blinded.
So he put a veil over his face.
And so it's talking about.
Those that don't yet know.
The love of Christ.
It's like a veil.
Is over us.
But where anyone turns to the Lord.
In verse 16.
The veil is taken away.
And we.
Who with unveiled faces.
All reflect the Lord's glory.
We've been transformed into his likeness.
With ever increasing glory.
Which comes from the Lord.
Who is the spirit.
So we are changed from glory to glory.
And the shinier we get.
The more people may see.
Jesus in the flesh.
If we'll go to where they are.
You see.
There are two ways of preaching the gospel.
One is the Micah version.
What people see.
Catch planes to by the way.
Something is going on there.
Let's go up to that mountain.
It's alright.
But it's only one way of preaching the
gospel.
For those.
Who don't have the planes there.
And aren't near the mountain.
You must go to them.
You shiny ones.
With glory of God.
Sharing his kindness.
And sweetness.
Now how to do this.
Tonight we talk a bit more.
But right now.
I just want to say that.
It's very simple.
Not difficult.
Not difficult at all.
Chapter 4 talks about.
Jars of clay.
And I went to a conference.
In South Africa once.
They have meetings all day long.
It's a complete nightmare.
For me.
Pre-dawn ministers.
Pre-breakfast prayer meetings.
Midnight ladies meetings.
I mean awful.
And then on the time table.
It's got rest.
One till two.
Actually that's driving from one church to another.
I appeared in one city.
Completely exhausted.
And.
All these super elders said.
Can we pray for you?
No I didn't want prayer at all.
I actually wanted a cup of tea.
But you know.
It really is important to get these things
right.
You know.
Anyway I let them do it.
Because it's been a good sport.
They were awfully loud prayers.
They felt a need to press my head
into the ground.
But anyway.
You know.
They are trying.
You know.
I decided to accept this.
Anyway.
When the minister got on the stage.
I had a group of brothers with me.
He said you know.
Now I've met Jackie.
And her brothers.
He said I understand what cracked pots mean.
So we were known as the cracked pot
team.
But we are.
And you.
Jars of clay.
Amazingly the glory of God.
Is in us cracked pots.
And this is how he chooses.
To reveal himself to the world.
And we can start.
With a very simple thing.
It's called acts of kindness.
And this is real sweet.
If you can get hold of this.
In Acts 4.8. When Peter and James
and John.
Had healed the man.
Who was born lame.
Who was begging by beautiful gate.
Then he got healed.
And then they got arrested.
And he said you're arresting us for acts
of kindness.
Now you can start with acts of kindness.
Now you don't have to wait.
Till you get to India.
Or Nepal or Sri Lanka.
Or any of the countries which some of
you must go to.
Particularly Sri Lanka.
There are.
More little boys.
Who are prostituted.
Under the age of ten.
Than in any other country.
In the world.
And that's for European men.
Some of you must go.
But.
You can start now with acts of kindness.
Now we were in India.
And we were sharing.
About acts of kindness.
This was some years ago.
And there was this lovely pastor.
Who had a church in his home.
Very small home just 400 square feet.
And he filled it full.
And when I went to stay with him
and his wife.
They let me stay in their bedroom.
And they slept on the floor in their
sitting room.
And this pastor had two jobs.
He also worked in a dockyard.
So he is thinking.
I want to do acts of kindness this
week.
And.
People were reporting.
What acts of kindness.
They were doing.
Very simple.
An act of kindness is like giving a
muffin.
To a man in the street.
That's all.
You don't have to suck him with the
gospel.
Just act of kindness.
And.
One Indian lady was saying.
I am giving ice cream to prostitute.
That's all.
And so this.
Indian pastor thought.
Now what should I do?
And on his way to the dockyard.
He had to change trains.
And he had about 5 to 10 minutes
on platform 1.
And all these.
He started to make friends.
Do little acts of kindness.
With the people on platform 1.
And there was a lady that came to
him.
And she said.
My husband is very sick.
Would you please come?
She knew he was a Christian.
And he said.
I am so sorry.
But my train is coming.
I don't have time to come.
And after a few days.
He thought.
I really must go.
So I will take a different train.
So he got all ready to go.
To see this lady's husband.
And so he arrived.
And he saw her.
And he said.
Now I am going to come and see
her husband.
And she said.
It's too late.
He has just died.
There were many of them.
The people that he met.
They sleep on the platform.
And behind the platform.
They didn't have anywhere else.
And he thought.
I am too late.
And he put his.
Head in his hands.
And he wept.
And he cried for about half an hour.
Too late.
And when he opened his eyes.
There was a circle of men.
Sitting around him.
All crying.
From that day onwards.
He could do anything with those men.
What had he done?
He just wept with those who wept.
That's all.
They had never known that.
They loved him.
Because he wept with them.
And after that.
He led many people to Jesus.
He used to take medicine.
Milk.
Little child that had never sat.
Because it's bones were not strong enough.
He took medicine every day.
In case it got soggy.
Because it's humid.
Vitamins.
Until the child could sit and walk.
He prayed with them.
People came to know Jesus.
And then he asked us to go.
And our brothers went on to the platform.
And they played their guitar.
And as they played their guitar.
Jesus came.
Because that's what happens when you worship.
And two Hindu men.
Walking by the back of the platform.
Hearing this worship.
Were in the middle of.
The glory of God.
And they stopped.
And both of them.
Had a revelation of Jesus.
And came to Christ that day.
Now is this because our brothers.
Played the guitar.
And did miracles.
Both those Hindu men were drug addicts.
And then got off drugs.
No.
It was because.
This Indian man.
Wept with those who weep.
That was his act of kindness.
And I want to.
Finish by.
Reminding you of the story.
In Mark 14.
About the lady.
Who anointed Jesus.
Head with perfume.
And they grumbled against her.
And said oh.
And they got out their calculators.
And said this is really not a good
investment.
We could have fed so many poor.
And Jesus said.
Verse 8.
Leave her alone.
She did what she could.
She blew.
Everything she had.
On one poor man.
And he said.
Wherever the gospel is preached.
This will be told of her.
And I try to tell her story.
Wherever I go.
What did she do?
She did what she could.
That's all you need to do.
You haven't got to lead.
Millions of people to Christ.
You don't even need to lead anyone to
Christ.
That's.
His business and theirs.
But we need to share.
His kindness.
And his love.
And his mercy.
So that people have the opportunity.
To know him.
And believe in him.
Be known by him.
To receive his love and mercy.
Kindness and cleanness.
Not up to us.
To make sure they come to Jesus.
But it is up to us.
To take his love.
Mercy.
Kindness and the knowledge of his forgiveness.
To the ends of the earth.
And we start.
Here.
Would you please stand.
I've got some words here.
Got young.
Was listening to the Lord.
Before we began.
And here are some words about some of
you.
Somebody here.
Who is colorblind.
We'd like to pray for you.
Somebody else has problems.
With your blood.
Somebody else has an ingrowing.
Fingernail.
Which causes you pain.
Somebody else.
You're worrying about an operation.
Now we know these words are from God.
And whoever it is.
You don't have to respond publicly.
But.
The reason God has given us these words.
Is that you should know.
Your name.
Somebody else needs to forgive someone.
About something related to a boat.
And there's someone else.
Who's really worrying about how you look.
Now.
None of those words would be.
Too hard to respond to.
If we said come forward.
And we'll pray for you.
And tonight we'll do quite a bit of
that.
Because the Lord is always revealing things.
To us.
So we can help people.
Know that they're known and loved.
And can be healed and forgiven and set
free.
But would you like.
Other things.
In your life.
You don't have to be known publicly.
These are alright these words.
Other things in our lives.
Sins.
Secrets.
That we would hate to be called out.
On the stage.
I'm not going to do it.
Don't worry.
That's definitely not my job.
But they will be shouted from the rooftops
one day.
Unless we let him deal with them.
If we let him deal with them.
They're gone.
And they won't be shouted from the rooftops.
It's just that.
Because he knows you by name.
And he says I want to come and
eat in your house.
Will you let him in.
Or will you say.
Could we go to church instead.
Well I'd take you to an awfully good
meeting Jesus.
Or would you let him in.
He already knows.
He's not shocked.
Neither does he say what we've done is
alright.
It's terrible.
But it can be dealt with very quick.
If we allow him.
Who knows us.
Everything.
The little secret things.
If we allow him to come and live
in us.
Because he already knows us.
And deal with it.
And then.
Limping as we still may be.
He makes us shiny.
With his kindness.
Because we will receive forgiveness.
When we let him deal with us and
live in our house.
We've got something then to share.
Us limpers haven't we.
With a dying world.
Who've never heard about a kind.
Forgiving.
God of love.
Slow to anger.
Compassionate.
Forgiving sins.
That's who he is.
Why are we afraid of him.
We think he's this fiery volcano.
Come to destroy us.
No.
He's come to save us.
He's destroying.
The dung.
Destroying what isn't any use anyway.
That you and I.
Can be intimate with him.
And then.
Our scrap pot limpers.
Get to shine.
With his reflected glory.
The more we.
Press into that relationship.
We get more and more shiny.
We've got more and more to share.
Shall we do that.
Ok.
Let's have some of you guys.
Up on the stage.
And we'll.
You like to come.
Some of you guys.
You like to come.
And we'll call some things out.
And pray for you guys.
Ok.
Do come up.
And then we'll share how to pray for
you.
Because we like to do this together.
I'm not talking to you.
I'm talking to me.
To.
This crack pot.
Who still may have.
Things.
Rooms.
I have not let him in.
Still.
Chat rooms.
You've not let him into.
Oh.
But he does know.
Don't have a chat room without him.
Let him in.
He does know what's inside.
And you're unbelievably still loved.
And in a second.
It's gone.
You're acceptable.
Ok.
There's not going to be room for you
all to come forward.
But I expect you all need to.
Ok.
So.
You may as well.
Ok.
Who would like to let God into every
room in your life?
Yeah.
You want to come forward?
You are known already.
So.
It would be a good thing, wouldn't it?
Say yes.
No.
Come to my house.
I know you know.
We won't go out to a restaurant instead.
As I'm already known.
There's no point in keeping it from you.
You may as well come and live in
my house.
I'm going to pray a bit for some
of you.
And then some others of us here are
going to pray with you.
Don't be afraid little ones.
Though he's only come to take away what
wasn't worth keeping.
Don't be afraid little ones.
Don't be afraid, little ones.
This is the God of kindness.
He's slow to anger.
He's compassionate.
He's abounding in love.
There's not a thing that you've done that
He doesn't already know, and He unbearably loves
you and comes to say, I'll take that
on myself.
You can go free.
Sweet children, you're so desired.
You're so desired.
This is not a God who's come to
burn up your life.
Only burn up the rubbish.
He burns up the rubbish and we go
free.
What a love affair.
No wonder.
No wonder He says we love because He
first loved us.
You want to resist that love?
You want to keep the chat room?
You want to keep that door locked?
You want to not let Him in?
I don't know how He's going to deal
with those things.
I know first of all, once they're admitted,
they're forgiven.
That's it.
After that, I don't know how He's going
to work it out, but He will.
He will.
So tell Him now in your heart the
things that you're ashamed of.
Tell Him now in your heart the things
that you're ashamed of.
Tell Him the things that you were afraid
to tell Him.
Tell Him about the rooms, the things in
your house that you were afraid He might
see.
Tell Him about the secret things He already
knows.
But as you tell Him, they're gone.
That's how it is.
He says, if you say you have no
sin, we're liars.
But if you confess your sin, He's faithful
and just.
So the minute you tell Him, I've got
this room.
This is what I've got in my house.
This is what I've got in my bedroom.
This is who I've had in my bed.
You say it and it's forgiven.
So quick.
He's so kind.
Just don't pretend it's not there.
Now you haven't got to search your house.
That's not our job.
The Holy Spirit will reveal to you now
anything that you're ashamed of that you need
to tell Him.
You haven't got to do a search.
He'll show you.
Now sweet children, as you begin to say,
and you can say it quietly, not so
that anyone else hears, but just a little
bit out loud, tell Him those things that
you've kept hidden.
They're not hidden from Him.
Tell Him the things you didn't think He'd
like to see.
Start to say it.
Start to say them.
And as you do, you are forgiven, cleansed.
I know you don't feel acceptable, but you're
accepted.
Oh little children.
Oh jars of clay.
Oh fellow limping ones.
Now the kindness and forgiveness of a God
who shines on us and even more strangely
through us.
So that a world who has been hurt
and lonely and hungry and depraved and in
sin can see this is what He did
for them.
I too may have hope.
There is a God who understands, who binds
up, who heals.
I will not be afraid of Him, though
I may be in awe of Him, for
He came to save my life, not destroy
it.
I don't want to hold on to those
things at all.
They have brought me shame, displeasure with myself.
Wash me clean.
Free me.
Set me free.
Oh little children.
You are so pleasing to Him right now.
Oh little children.
You're so loved and you put your head
down in shame, but in a minute you
may lift your head to Him and see
Him smiling at you with such pleasure.
Little children.
Good children.
Good.
That's all He ever wanted was for you
to respond to words of love and forgiveness.
Oh why would we have kept away?
And now because of the cross of Jesus
Christ, I speak hope to you.
And I say redemption.
All that has been for shame.
All that the enemy meant for harm, now
by the cross of Jesus be turned round
for good.
And may, I know this sounds awful, may
it be that those of us who've sinned
the most may love the most and because
of redemption be used even more than if
it hadn't happened.
And for those of you who have been
singed against and abused, bring also this shame
and see it turned round for you will
have words of healing and comfort that others
are not qualified to bring.
You, because of what has happened to you,
even are qualified to bring hope to others.
In my shame, in my hurt, He found
me, bound me up, poured oil and balm,
loved me whole.
I understand what you're going through.
I have something to share.
You have been abused.
You have abused.
There is hope for us all through the
cross and it's turned around.
For the sin and the sinned against, the
cross is the answer.
And we may even yet in this world
shine greater than if this had not happened.
I don't understand this, but this is redemption.
Good little children.
You are good little children.
Good little children.
He's not displeased with you.
You're good children.
You've come to your Father and He's not
punishing you.
He says, good children, good children, good children.
I know some of you still feel a
need to bow yourselves down on you.
If you feel able to stand, please do
so some people can move around and pray
for you.
Just feel free.
There are men here who want to pray
for you and congratulate you.
You can stay where you are, just keeping
your eyes shut and people will come around
and pray.
I feel a need for one or two
fathers here to just come and pray some
prayers over the mic.
What I can do as a lady, even
though in this sense I'm not now a
lady, but I just feel that we need
one or two fathers maybe in this city
to pray over these people.