The Community Church: Sermons and teaching

00:06
Can we just pray a moment? I want to thank you God that you've spoken already. I want to thank you that you're alive and well. That you reign and you rule and we put our lives in and trust on you totally. We thank you that you're a speaking God and that your words bring life and health and strength and encouragement. That there'll be no end to the increase of your government and peace.

00:33
because you said it and because you say stuff we believe it. We will choose to stand on your word in spite of circumstance and situation, whatever adversity is there. We will know this that the joy of the Lord is our strength in every moment. Thank you that you love us. Thank you that you love each person here God. Just help me please in the name of Jesus. Amen.

01:02
Well, David and Harry in the last few weeks have opened up the word and we are talking and we call it like a little mini series. We got some great stuff coming. It's great teaching which I shan't steal anybody else's thunder. But during the summer we went to a conference in Cardiff. It was called One Voice. And because we didn't have everybody there, we didn't want to just go to a conference, get some notes in our book, maybe have a heart touched and stirred and find that only a third of the church were there. How many conferences, if you're a believer,

01:32
believer in the house, have you been to, notebooks filled and maybe, I'll just say me, maybe a life not changed commensurate to the number of notes I took and the number of sermons I've heard. God wants us to hear the word and be doers of the word. It's crucial for us to have a life that is expanding and

01:54
intimate and deeper with him and God's Word came and the real focus was out there, being a light to the world. And so we didn't want to just race away, we wanted to have a few weeks where we consolidated and just said, for each one of us, we are part of this great commission, being the light of the world.

02:15
We know if you've been around a bit in the Bible, but we're called to go into all nations. Some of us haven't even left this country. My American friends that I have, some of them don't even have a passport. They just stay and say, why would I want to go anywhere else? Everything's in this country. Well, that's a view. That's a view.

02:34
but going into all the world and preaching the gospel, telling the good news, making disciples of all nations, sharing that good news, making disciples, and baptizing them and teaching them to do what? To obey.

02:49
We as believers, it's not our own ship when we come and ask Jesus to be Lord. There's a kingdom and there is a king who is in charge of that kingdom and not like King Charles, a king who has right and rule and reign to absolutely everything. And he, the God who created the heavens and the earth, called us to be part of a mission to touch the world with his life and his love. God called you.

03:19
yourself right where you are. If you're a believer now just put your finger on your chest somewhere in your heart. No Carlos, left hand side I think. It's okay you were doing it I just knew I could have a bit of fun with you.

03:34
You have been called. Just talk to yourself now. Don't look at me. You have been called. I have been called. Tell yourself now. Let's hear your voice. I have been called. I have been called. I'm on a mission.

03:51
can do it. You can, because he says so. We are to be those who go and express his love and his light with the faith and the hope that we've found. I hope that that is great, but also not in our own strength, that we've got to do it because Jesus tells us.

04:13
I have a bit for the JWs around on the street in a plenty trying to earn their salvation, trying to clock up enough hours in their log book to be able to say I've been out there. I have respect for the fact that they get out there. I have sadness in my heart that they think that that's the way that they're going to make salvation and make the cut. It's very sad. But they get out there and they do the thing that they're...

04:42
In fact, I don't quite know, I thought I'd taken that off. It's a personal provocation that to me, I better read it. Let your light shine, Dave Gregg. Let your light shine, Dave Gregg.

04:56
Could you just put your own name in there? Could you? Could you just put your own name there? Don't say Dave Greg, that'll be embarrassing, okay? Could you just... This is it. This is the message. If you get this, we've done a good job, Okay? So, after three, you put your own name in it. Anybody who says Dave Greg, I am publicly gonna walk you out the door, okay? Are you ready? One, two, three. Let your light shine, Dave Greg.

05:25
Some might see me in the headmasters office later.

05:30
See, we know that Jesus spoke of himself and said, I am the light of the world in John. We know that he did that, and we think that's fantastic. But what is more amazing, that he came to his disciples, he came to those around him and said, you are the light of the world in Matthew 5.14. In one John, we read these words, this little letter, and it says, as he is, so are we in the world.

05:59
That wasn't just to the early church. That is a word to us. Now I feel there's a little bit of a gap between as he is and as I am. I'm just working towards closing that gap as best as I can. And if you're on that same journey of faith, then that's fantastic. We're in a good place this morning. As I was thinking about being the light of the world, close your eyes a minute and use your imagination. There were certain images that came up.

06:27
associated with that verse. Just drops into your mind. somebody, what kind of pictures or images came up when you think about the light of the world? They're on posters and Instagram things, isn't it, with verses usually. What kind of thing? A lighthouse. A candle. Very good. Searchlight. A torch. What else?

06:57
You? Oh, that's very good, Geoff. I like that, because you are. But those images are pretty typical of all of us. Does anybody else have anything like a lighthouse, a candle, maybe a beam of light, a shaft of light, a star? We all have those kind of images, and so I'm not going to be that inspired, you might think, because I've got some of those images. I've also got a few songs.

07:22
Now when we, David mentioned it and was brave enough not to sing it last week, but there's a few songs which stay in your head. And a silly little song it seemed has stayed in my life from a meeting that we sang some particular words about the light of mine. And I'm gonna let it shine.

07:50
Let's just take a step back to the fact that we're part of the Great Commission on going into the world. The good news is we're all on the team. If you're a believer in the house, there's no substitutes, there's none of that stuff that you were left behind because nobody wanted you in the team. You were chosen. You're part of his royal priesthood. You're on the A team, not a B team or Z team. When I was teaching to my shame, although I didn't organize it, we had the Z-stream.

08:16
And the Z-Stream were called a particular name which I won't even repeat because they were branded. A Z-Stream for crying out loud. They couldn't even have the intelligence to name them red, blue, and yellow or something. A Z-Stream. But when we come to God's kingdom and God's church and family, we're all in. I love when we see teams. I love seeing those ladies who won the European Championships for England, the ladies who kicked.

08:46
Yeah, they did well winning the World Cup in rugby. I love seeing the bits of TV where golf no longer becomes solo, but this team event where they're out there whacking a ball trying to win the Ryder Cup. I love the camaraderie. I love the togetherness, the chest bumps, the fist bumps. I love the stuff that they're together together. There's something that speaks powerfully, but that can be a little bit distant and far away, especially because they are elite athletes and this is no elite.

09:16
here. I love this. That I had the privilege of being around, seeing a group of people form a team and say we're going to create an event that friends could come, we could have a load of fun and we could raise some money. And this 70s disco team arrived, on our social media, see some of the pictures. They all deserve prizes. But the teamwork where each one had a little role and they played their part.

09:41
Some maybe were at the front, some maybe were in the kitchen, some maybe were doing some planning and preparation. They all played a part and it is a beautiful thing when you see that in operation. It is absolutely inspiring here, in this place. Stuff takes out in the world but I'm really interested in what takes place here with our family. And those people were inspiring to me.

10:09
I've got something to share with you today. A gift! Okay, don't get too excited. Actually, no, no, there's no chocolate. However, I have got a gift that if you were at the side, James, are they on both sides? Just down this side. So, Elijah, I want to see you on your feet and helping me here, okay? You're gonna find that there are some little tea tree lights, like this, okay?

10:40
Tea tree lights down this side, okay? Now there's a little pile of them at the end of each row. Just hold them at the end of each row. And I need a volunteer. I'm actually, I'm gonna pick somebody because they said my name earlier on. Sam, get your head up here.

11:00
Sam is called to go into all the world and you're all the world out here. We're gonna make it a bit easier for him. No I'm not, why should I? So in a moment, Sam is gonna be on mission to you all and all of you get a free gift which you can keep. Contain your excitement a bit more. And he's gonna distribute this little message of light and love of Jesus to each and every person here. Wait. Meanwhile.

11:28
On this side, down the side of each of the chairs, you'll find that there was a little pile. And I would like you guys, that once you've got one, share one. Yeah? Now you've got less people on this side than he has, but we'll live with it. And we're just going to, when you get one, I'd like you to stand up. And that will indicate.

11:49
What's going on? want you to physically look at the difference. Off you go, Sam. I'll give you a heads up. Everybody, once you've got one in your hand, I'd just like you to stand up. This team, you don't have to just stay with one. You could pass one to somebody else as well. That's all good. As soon as you've got one. I like the fact that Miriam stepped over into the dark side and gave one. If you can share anything, that's good. Sam's going to be here until next month.

12:19
Now, can you just physically, we all understand when I say to you, if one person is left to do the job, it's gonna take a long time. When we all started getting one, passing one on, it's gonna take a lot shorter. We're all part of it and I could say those words, but you are more likely to remember this moment when I say, you are part of the team. You are called to be light.

12:48
You are called to be sold to the earth. You are not a substitute. Your words and your life, you gotta let this thing shine. You have a responsibility for the seed of life that you have, not to keep it to yourself, but to share you, the wonderful people of God in this room. We still haven't managed to get them out on this side. Just take your seat a moment, would you?

13:24
park that, we'll come back to it. Health and safety doesn't allow me to do what I really want to do because you know that I would want you to light it here and not be like a Barry Manilow concert waving it because I know that we'd end up with wax on your clothes, wax on your hands and blah blah blah blah blah. We can't do that. But we've maybe seen the pictures in the concerts where somebody's got their phone now isn't it?

13:53
If you go to a concert, I'll tell you what, take a few pictures and then put your phone down and just enjoy the physical presence and sensation of being at a concert. But for us here, if we did the lighting and we passed it on, and we passed on the physical light, you don't just have to do it to one, you can do it to two, to three, and we know the multiplication factor is huge, but it ain't so good if we're just reliant on sound.

14:20
Good old Sammy's out there doing the work. He's there making it. Being the light of the world, that's all of us who are believers, being the light of the world, maybe two broad categories. It's part of being something as a person and then doing. I've got a few things I've written down. Here's some of the things that some of you in this room do so that you go and touch the world with the light of Jesus.

14:50
You volunteer. There's some great organizations in the town. I know that there's people who volunteer at food banks, at soup kitchen, at Compassion Acts. Great organizations that do good work reaching our community, or wherever it is that you're there. A number of our folks involved in a wonderful organization called Safe Families, who we heard about in the summer. You can look these things up. They're supporting families with their encouragement and a bit of their time.

15:19
In the same way, we've got kinship carers that Mel's husband does. I mean, it's an amazing group of people. You do an incredible job as a kinship carer, Mel, and we applaud you for it. Keith Whitaker is inspiring. I see him coming in and speaking to families, going through tough times, giving them bit of advice and bit of wisdom, insight, and support. It does involve some time.

15:48
if we're gonna serve. But in the middle of all the stuff that you can do to be light of the world out there, we don't want us to find we're really strapped here back in the community church, because we wanna do stuff.

16:00
and we haven't got the volunteers, you might be here and it could be a challenge. You're not part of the church, but let's say this, we are all part of that call to be the light of the world and there will be things that we all need to volunteer. We got different skill sets. I was good at the washing up, I'm pretty rubbish at doing a lot of the other techie stuff with music at the 70s stuff. I had a job, I think I did the job pretty well. I did the job pretty well. Did it to the best of my ability. And all together we made a great job, didn't we?

16:29
And here's, I just want you to think about this. There are some things that we do and there's some things that we are. We refuse to be like the world, we refuse to get involved in gossip and backbiting and criticism when you're at work. If you do that, it will not be long before you stand out. Wait, there's a voice of encouragement and a voice of hope.

16:57
and you just don't get involved in rubbish in the buses because that's not really going to do any good. You're not sucking up, you're just saying, I don't want to be a part of that. You don't have to be a good at you shoes, holier than now. You can just avoid being in that. That could be the moment you go and make a cup of tea for people when they start talking and offer to do some kind of service or to the wash up. We've got to be those who guard our lips, refuse to engage in gossip or the stuff that goes wrong.

17:25
Big word corruption, but the stuff in work that's negative and critical and actually sometimes illegal that other people think, oh, well, that's all right. I can take five sick days because that's just the way it is. If they're not going to treat me right, then I'm going to take some sick days and I'll shaft the big boys and the bosses. We've to be careful how we live. We've got to be careful about who we hang with.

17:51
I wonder if we could ask this question and don't beat yourself up because it's the enemy who comes to convict you, the Holy Spirit comes to convict, the enemy comes just to discourage and cause you death. But have a little think and think, when I'm in a conversation with people wanting to be the light of the world and the salt that Jesus calls us to be in society, do people when they come in the area of Dave Gregg and I have conversations or interactions, do they...

18:20
feel after they have left me? Do they feel listened to, valued, encouraged? Do they feel stronger? Do they feel more hopeful, more positive, knowing they're not alone? Now, we can't be all those things in every conversation. But do the people who come in my world make it personal to yourself? Is that predominantly what is happening?

18:48
You know what, don't beat yourself up, just say, I could be that person. I'm the light of the world. When they come out of their darkness, they're coming towards me and I want them to feel so much more. And maybe, just maybe, there's something that we can do to change. When we are a person of character and integrity, when you are a person who does what you say, that there's no credibility gap, your word,

19:15
good I mean the Bible just says like you're yes be yes and you know be no when we do that our lives can touch the people around us and we'll speak powerfully a young man at school in my School year above me. I saw everybody else especially some Christians backbiting They really said I wasn't a Christian, but I looked at them and I was but I wasn't a Christian, but I was judgmental Oh, yeah, I did that bit real well

19:46
You could call me hypocrite. Well, yeah, I didn't care about too much about that. But I was looking and I did see the Christians and just thought, you shouldn't two time that person when you're going out with somebody. If you believe what you read in the Bible, your life should be different. You're just the same as these guys who hate God and don't want anything to do with him. Surely there should be a difference. And around in my world, there was a young man.

20:12
And when I saw him walk and talk, he was kind and generous. I felt better just by being with him. I saw him not just hang out with the cool kids, but come alongside anybody and everybody. I saw him because he called himself a Christian, and I knew that, back in those days, they had these little badges. One said, Jesus saves, and another said, Jesus lives. Of course, the Jesus saves one was green, and for those of you who old enough, you bet I called it, have you saved enough green shield stamps to get saved yet?

20:41
That's what you did. Sorry Elijah, you just have to look at what green shield stamps were. I apologise.

20:49
But this young man became my friend, lifelong friend, because I saw that there was an integrity in what he said he did. He had fun, he had life, and like Sal Smith, and I were joined in our hearts.

21:04
because I looked at his life and was watching it without him even knowing. How many of us do you think have got people looking at us and we don't, not really conscious of it? How many of you? How many of you think that there are people out there in your family, in your friends, in your neighbors, in your, pretty much all of us. Let me say, if you haven't got your hand up, you should have your hand up. There are people watching all the time. We shouldn't live in fear of that, of course. And if anybody starts putting a camera on your front door or anything like that, I think that's called stalking. So let's make sure that that doesn't take place.

21:34
I found a man who touched my life with his actions and his words and his faith spoke powerfully about just who he was, not necessarily what he did. I could kick him in a football game and that was okay. He wasn't, but he was. But let anybody else go near that guy and I was in their face and I was gonna protect him like anything.

22:05
It was a fierce loyalty and I found the faith that he had and my life was changed forever. I just want us to be a group of people today who understand that our lives are in the game, our lives are the light of the world and how can we practically do stuff.

22:29
A tiny light on its own that you've got there seems very insignificant, doesn't it? It doesn't seem like anything. And yet, if I was lost in a forest, if I was in a storm, we know one light can bring about salvation and rescue. One tiny little light. We know the difference when these lights are put together.

22:48
It's one of the reasons why we should remember this picture because if we could light it all up, there is such strength and beauty when you go to those things. I love those kind of concerts where they put candles everywhere and they got the musicians in. I'm tempted to want to go to every one of those because I just look and think atmosphere is great, but powerful when we stand together. Be careful when you have the words saying, don't really matter. You don't count. You don't have to be there. Yeah, go to the car booty. Go shopping. You deserve a break.

23:18
You are needed, you are wanted. God wants you and we want you. Your light needs to shine with us as well as out there. I just want to say some practical, this is real practical stuff here. I was wondering if the figures had changed about communication.

23:39
It used to be, and it still is, the statistics tell you that around 55%, 55 % of communication is conveyed through non-verbal stuff. 55 facial expressions. And in actual fact, on top of that, it's about 37 % is actually conveyed through the tone, not the words, just the tone.

24:06
That leaves us with just 7 % of our communication is the actual words that come out of our mouth. It's not much. But please, if we're going to be light in the world, could I give some practical advice?

24:23
Learn to smile a little bit more. Oh, Dave, you don't understand. No, I do. I really do. I genuinely do. Turn up. When you meet somebody, hello, how are you doing?

24:42
Well, I wouldn't even do that if I was like that. Oh no. We're this close on the train.

24:50
No, I'll just get my phone out and look down, and then I wouldn't even have to look at it. Hi. It's a bit of a squeeze here today, isn't it?

24:59
Oh, sorry, just bumped into you as we walked up. How are you doing?

25:08
You just put a smile on your face just for a moment. I'll take the picture. Tink. And just to say, look how much they were enjoying the work this morning.

25:17
Your smile, your physical face needs to change. And even if our words are only 7%, the word of God tells us that life and death is in the power of the tongue. Death and life is in the power of the tongue. Puts it that way. The bad stuff first, and then the good stuff.

25:35
that you have the words that could bring about the very thing that could help rescue and save and bring hope. Life is in your tongue. Just look to somebody next to you and say, life is in your tongue. Would you just tell them that? Life. It's Proverbs 18, 21 for them who don't believe it. Have a look. Life is in your tongue.

25:58
Paul writes to the church based in Ephesians and he says, don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to the needs, that it may benefit those who listen. We have this incredible opportunity of being light in the world that our words can come and transform a situation. And some of you have already just said, no, it's not me really, Dave. You don't know me, I'm a bit quiet. No.

26:26
then the good news is this, if you feel a bit quiet, let me tell you, your smile can change the room. You can get to the words later, because they're only 7%, aren't they? But your very presence...

26:42
Matthew, who would you like to meet? Dave?

26:47
Well Dave, first or second? Probably the second, oh only probably. You gotta get to know me a little bit more, that's all right. We have our face and our body language is so important, it's a practical thing, is it spiritual? Yes it is. Present your bodies as living sacrifices to him, holy, acceptable and pleasing. That's more than just living morally right. Let's give everything, here. Smile a little bit more.

27:14
Our words are powerful and our actions and deeds are powerful. We cannot just be those who say that we have faith and don't do anything. James, what good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?

27:31
Can faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, if one of you says to them, go in peace, keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith, faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead. You and I need to put some feet to our faith, hands to our faith. We need to do some stuff.

28:00
and not just allow things going on. The early church were meeting in the temple courts every day. It says about them that they had no need amongst them, happily, jointly going along to the place of prayer, being together, enjoying each other's company. Well done, great to see you and everything. And every day around the temple.

28:19
A man was carried because he'd been crippled for 40 years, probably most of his life spent, professional begging, placed down on the road by the temple, by the people, everything's good with us, we've got everything you need, you have need, oh here, there you go. The early church, that was what it was said about them. And the early church passed by the guy repeatedly and didn't recognize any need until Peter comes along. And although the man was begging.

28:47
He does those famous words, silver and gold, have I none but such as I have I give unto you in the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk. Now it's not to be, but we've got some people who really close here to us in our world, maybe a neighbor, maybe a family, maybe a friend, maybe a work colleague going through something, and we can be the light of the world to them.

29:08
And sometimes the light of the world is not expressed by a bullhorn or a speaker on a street corner, although some people do that. It's not expressed by going out on the roads, but how delightful is it to know that Miriam and group of people, if you want to find out more about getting out and going doing something and sharing your faith beyond just your house, have a word with Miriam, great hearing about that. Sometimes being the light of the world says, could I buy you a cup of coffee? Could I buy you a cup of coffee?

29:40
You do something that our dear friend in Norway, evangelist called Arne Skagen, has taught us repeatedly. Give the Holy Spirit something to work with. And that could be putting your neighbor's bins in after a bin day and stopping and just saying hello. A simple, a simple thing could have a powerful, powerful impact.

30:08
thing is this, is it going to stay like it is or is this little light of mine going to shine? And now I've got the earworm.

30:23
It's the light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Why don't you get your little tea tree light now? Before you join me singing, have a think about what you're singing, because I never want to encourage any Christian to respond to a message, because everybody else is doing it.

30:48
This simple chorus expresses a heart's desire to be more than I am at the moment.

30:57
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine.

31:25
I'm gonna let it shine this little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine let it shine let it shine let it shine

31:43
some of us earlier on showed a lighthouse. I think we've got a lighthouse up there. It's a pretty bad one, but it beams out and you get the message. I searched for little lighthouse. I can't find one. Good to have a physical thing in front of you. Just take that. The lighthouse image, of course, he's the lighthouse, but as he is, so are we. The lighthouse is more than just about danger and warning people of danger. We have some words that want to warn people.

32:11
not in a judgmental, you're going to hell and you're gonna burn forever. You know what, Jesus came and he came and he said, I come that you might have life. I don't read that he says, you're gonna burn forever if you don't follow me. No, he came that we might have life. The lighthouse is there.

32:34
The shaft of light that is there warns of the danger, but also they use the lighthouse to guide them to safety. That's what it's there for. They know which way to go in the light of that lighthouse is there. need to go. I was going to use a nautical term then, but I'm void of nautical terms in the same way as I'm void of tools in my house. Go to the left or go to the right, I guess. We can be that lighthouse and we're not going to sing my lighthouse, my lighthouse with the actions. I know.

33:04
I know, you just get over it, you'll be alright.

33:08
But one of the other images that you mentioned, Lars, we got the next one? Yeah.

33:17
Little light shining. I've got one of these torches and I'm to see if it works. Just, it should do. If it doesn't work, I'll be very upset. Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. It's a pretty, sorry, Sarah, apologies, blinded by the light. Somebody will pray for you later on. Okay. Just want you to, for some of you, I can tell you, can show you the slide, but you'll remember it more.

33:47
as I was praying about this. I too had the torch. But I was glad for the internet because the torch did something that this torch does. This is the small thing, yeah? It's the small, okay? Focusing in on a small area. But in my picture that I saw as I was praying about it, this is what it did.

34:19
See? So it went from small, don't look directly at it, to large.

34:29
small. Can I just say for some of you, now, now is the season and now is the time where you have focused your faith and the words you've spoken into a small area. You have limited it yourself. Don't beat yourself up at that point. The words that I got were just, have limited it yourself, but now is the time.

34:57
to extend the range, to take the words of light, I don't mean to blind anybody who's giving black spots in their eyes, rather than this, look to this, that your words,

35:11
will have a greater far-reaching effect as you share them. So have confidence in these days. Have confidence in these days that my word will not return void, but the words that you share, the love that you share, the life that you share will see harvest. That's why I was glad for the internet, which allowed me to get a torch. The problem with the torch, of course, is what happens to it.

35:38
It is batteries, and like the batteries I had before, they run out. It's not enough for us in our lives, it's not enough for us in our lives to be running gradually down on empty. Because Ephesians 5.18 says, be constantly filled with the Spirit.

35:57
Every day, all of us need to do this, not by your own strength or willpower, the JW out on the street mentality. If we go out, if we do anything, we do it in the power of the dunamis, the dynamite of the Holy Spirit, and nothing else will satisfy, because that's his plan. He had one plan, that you wait in Jerusalem, and I will pour out my spirit on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

36:27
it on our own, we're going to up getting tired and disappointed and frustrated and all of those things. But we don't have to. But this is the time that we should go wider. If there ever was a time that you thought that there's somebody who's been quiet and uh negative or anything towards you, find the way to bless that family member. Find the way to show kindness, love, hear them. And your light will shine. Powerful.

36:58
But don't let yourself run down. We've got to be those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. There's a little fire picture that I have. I like fire, Faber. I'm drawn to it. Are you? You you go and stand around it. I like it. I want to put more. I want bigger. I mean, you've got to be around the Rothwellys. I mean, they are the biggest pyromaniacs going. They're beautiful people, beautiful bonfires. Beautiful, beautiful. They are great. Sorry. Sorry, I apologize. They are just great.

37:29
But to keep that, you've got to keep putting fuel on, haven't you? You can't just let it just go down to the embers. Oh, let's get a few more logs on, some fire lighters. How about, forgive me, how about a little bit of that petrol that I put in my lawnmower? Use with caution, please advise. Larger. So I wanted something that was a physical example. I thought in my final little picture, just as we come to a close, I wanted a picture. Never order from Timo.

37:58
I wanted a fire, I thought it was about this size. They were deceptive in the way they pull that picture. They placed people, I don't know what they were, they might have been total little people like this, dressed like adults, sat around the little campfire. Yeah, rubbish, look at this. What size? How rubbish is that? I've never bought anything that's totally, you know, a car, a Jaguar, for £4.50, I'm having it. Yeah, a little dinky car or something. So I bought my little fire, and it's so disappointing.

38:28
But, so we'll keep that, yeah get that one off. That was it, that's a picture of this fire. Take that one, give me the other one, I prefer the other one. There, that's it. However.

38:40
What it did do was this, it was a little bit more heart shaped, a bit more personal, and it represented something. And the Holy Spirit don't come and me up, but he did say this to me when I got it out and I'd gone, I don't believe it, I can't use it, I'd gone through all of that. And then I got some batteries to see it was even worse. And then I suddenly realized.

39:09
that voice that I've learned to know. How's your heart doing? How's your flame doing? How's your fire in your heart? He never comes to beat me up, but he does come to convict me. The Holy Spirit does come along. How's the flames, how is the Fan into flame the gift that is within you. Do I need to fan into flame a little bit?

39:38
Or is it a little bit, it's a bit intermittent? How are you? Forget me now, just how are you? Now don't beat yourself up, but know this, that there's a moment coming right now where we can say, I want to fan into flame. I want my heart to burn with passion. I don't wanna settle for what it's been. I am where I am, and I'm gonna come and put another little log on the fire. So I apologize for.

40:08
this rather pathetic looking thing and if anybody would like to have it so they could create a picture for me. Scout, I see that hand. I'm going to make you a personal gift here. But I'd like to see a photograph of you in your room or using it somewhere, okay? You can collect it at the end.

40:29
How are we doing?

40:33
Gonna let our light shine.

40:37
Or is it just the embers?

40:40
We want to be those that individually, when we all light our candle, when we put fuel on the flame, that we can be those who, and our musicians, could you come back up please? We want to be those who shine as a light to the world because we have got the fire of the Holy Spirit inside of us. Now, we would encourage everybody to do that.

41:05
There's some stuff that you can fan into flame, the gifts within you, speaking tongues, getting the word to pray. Listen, there's early morning prayer. If you struggle praying, why don't you come to the early morning prayer meeting? Come to the prayer and praise meeting. Go to Connect Group where they're praying. Go and be part of prayer triplets that are in the church and say, I wanna be part of that. So that you could grow and become strong and you could, this next three months to the end of the year, that they don't just slip by, but we shine brightly.

41:34
Back in, I think it was 1987, I went to a spring harvest. And when I was at spring harvest, I'd been to Dale's Bible Week. I think the church had gone a year or two below. Had you been going a couple of years at that time? And I went to, Sue and I, we went in one year span, didn't we, over two years. went to, finally we could say, now, spring harvest, Dale's Bible Week, and... Huh?

42:00
We went to do that. I went to a Bible week and a man stood up leading the worship. And I'd had Dave Haddon, who was the primary worship leader within our circles of churches. I'd been in a cattle shed with 5,000 people singing in tongues for a long time thinking, this is...

42:24
what is going on

42:28
And I went and Graham Kendrick came to the front of the platform. And that year, that year, he stood and at the end of the song when we lifted up with some of his great anthems, there was faith and fire in the room. There was the presence of God in a really tangible way. And he went and then suddenly sweeping across the room, tongues came in the meeting and the song of the Lord came and it was nobody could move.

43:00
It was captivating. We went the following year, because we thought, man, that was so good, we've got to go again. And the following year, I don't know what happened other than this. We know as people who lead worship, we can play the final chord, and you can play the chord and stop. Or you can play the chord and see. You can stop or see.

43:22
and who knows what the hospital would do. And I'm not pleased knocking Spring Harvest, because it was a great encouragement to me as a young Christian. But as a young Christian, I thought, why are they doing that? Because they would get to the end of the song and stop, and then somebody would read the scripture, or somebody would say something, and then they would start another song. Not Graham Kendrick leading worship that following year. I don't know what went on behind the scenes, but a young man thought, that's so different, why would you do that? Why aren't they just doing it?

43:51
We'll not get into that, we'll just say this. There's a moment in worship where we lift up our voices and we can absolutely be inspired, look to him who is the creator of all things, who is the light of the world, who says you are the light of the world, and we can shine. Jesus, shine. At Glastonbury, I think they do it, it's called the Assembly Bangers section.

44:14
out with people singing, give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning and this little light of mine and shine Jesus shine. But I sang that song like I'd sung the songs at Dale's Bible Week, believing there could be a generation of the church that would shine so brightly in whatever the adversity or challenges of society and that church would shine brightly and be a bride that was fitting for the King of Kings to come back to.

44:41
And I sing, shine Jesus shine, not in his assembly banger, but as words of faith that just say, I want you to shine in me and through us as a people. And I would invite you to be able to join us. Could you stand together and sing this song if you don't know it? hey.

45:01
Great words, great lyrics. Let's do it.