Facing Fear & Foes: A Prayerful Response to Persecution

[0:00] In Acts. Remember last week. We saw the first healing. We could say of the New Testament church. We saw the lame man be healed.

[0:11] And really Acts 4. Which continues on the narrative. They heal the lame man. And we leave them walking into the temple. And we see this speech that is given.

[0:23] On result of the man being healed. On result then of the speech. The sermon being given to the crowds around. We see. That the rulers of the day.

[0:33] Are less than happy. Indeed the speech is still going. Verse 1 of chapter 4. And as they were speaking to the people. The priests and the captain of the temple.

[0:45] And the Sadducees came upon them. Greatly annoyed. Because they were teaching the people. And proclaiming in Jesus. The resurrection from the dead.

[0:58] You might think. And sometimes people might say. That to become a Christian. Makes life easier. Well the truth is. And the Christians here. We know this.

[1:09] In some ways. Becoming a Christian. And being a faithful Christian. That actually makes life a lot harder. And it's very hard really. It shows.

[1:19] One of the proofs I always go to. That this is not a man made religion. In that simple truth. Becoming a Christian. Becoming a Christian. Becoming a Christian. Often makes life harder. It's a very hard sell.

[1:29] To sell that to someone. To say. Well become a Christian. And your life might well get harder. It's very hard. To convey that. But it's true. Christians here know that. I don't know your stories.

[1:41] But perhaps after you were saved. You were friends and family. Perhaps didn't treat you the same way. After you were saved. Perhaps you realised things you were involved in.

[1:51] You couldn't be involved in any longer. And so on and so on. Well here for these two men. Being faithful Christians. Being faithful servants. It results in them being harangued.

[2:03] Being imprisoned. And facing the very heights of legal problems. In their day. This as we said is the first time we see real opposition to the gospel message.

[2:19] After the coming of the Holy Spirit. And we'll see this. This is the start really. Of what will be a continued pattern of opposition. Throughout the whole book of Acts.

[2:31] As the gospel spreads. As the gospel seems to spread. Across the towns and villages in the area. Across Europe eventually. We then see opposition grow.

[2:42] And you can really trace it. Imagine a graph. Where the spread of the gospel goes up like that. As more and more people hear the gospel. You also see opposition grow.

[2:53] And the fierceness of the opposition grows. The exact same angle. As the spread of the gospel. And we shouldn't be surprised. The one thing the devil hates the most.

[3:04] Is the name of Jesus. The good news of Jesus. Being proclaimed. Being spread abroad. Good for us to remember. This evening. But also for ourselves.

[3:15] There are always two levels to gospel opposition. Always two levels. The level we perhaps most often experience. Is the human interaction. The physical level.

[3:27] Where someone says to us. You're talking nonsense. Where someone says to us. If you believe that. You're an idiot. Someone says to us. X, Y, or Z. Or other brothers and sisters. Who are praying for. Brothers and sisters.

[3:39] Again I was reading about this week. In certain parts. Of that great continent of Africa. Where they were killed brutally. In front of their family members.

[3:52] In one sense. They were killed brutally. In front of their family members. Because those who killed them. Hate the fact of what they're saying. Because they don't believe. There should be Christians in that area.

[4:04] But humanly speaking. Every opposition. Whether it's small opposition. We might face. Or great opposition. Of Christians being shot and killed. Because of the gospel.

[4:16] The second layer. Is what as it were. Powers. The first layer. Empowers the first layer. That is the spiritual opposition. We know that those.

[4:27] Who don't serve the Lord. And it's a harsh truth. But it's a biblical truth. There's only two ways to serve. We ever serve the Lord. Or we serve the evil one. And those who oppose the gospel.

[4:38] Most viciously. The reality is. They are having the push. Spiritually speaking. From the evil one. The encouragement. The leading. Whatever word we want to use.

[4:50] Our battle. After all. As Paul reminds us. Our battle is not against what? Not against flesh and blood. Yes. We interact with flesh and blood. But our battle is with the spiritual powers.

[5:00] And dominions. And forces. That are against our saviour. Right now. This evening. Brothers and sisters. We are engaging in spiritual warfare. This is the front line.

[5:12] As we sit here comfortable and happy. Or perhaps reasonably comfortable. And reasonably happy. We are actually the very, very front line of spiritual warfare. Don't be fooled for a second.

[5:22] And here we find. These two men. They've served the Lord well. They've stopped to speak to this man. He's been healed through the power of Jesus.

[5:34] And now. They find themselves. Quite literally. Surrounded by the crowd. Note this crowd also includes. Sadducees. That's a group of course.

[5:45] We said of. Jewish religious thinkers. And leaders. And theologians. The Sadducees in particular. Denied. Fully. Vehemently denied. The belief.

[5:55] And the reality. Of any form. Of future. Resurrection. There was no resurrection. According to the Sadducees. And note this group of people.

[6:06] The high priests. And the crowd. And all who assemble round against them. They have. It seems at least. No issue with the miracle. In fact.

[6:17] The miracle itself is ignored. Really. They just hate. The gospel is. Being shared. Greatly annoyed. Verse 2. Because. They were teaching the people.

[6:28] And proclaiming in Jesus. The resurrection. From. The dead. What happens? Well. They're imprisoned. Aren't they? They're imprisoned. The next day.

[6:38] Well. Before that. Verse 3. They're arrested. And then put into prison. Overnight. And really. You think. Well. If.

[6:49] If the two apostles. Are in prison. Then surely. The Lord. Is stuck there. How's he going to work? How's he going to move? Well. Of course. That's silly. What happens?

[6:59] I love how the Lord. Words. And orders. His word. They're imprisoned. In verse 3. What happens? In verse 4. The two apostles. Are in prison. The means.

[7:10] Are in prison. But the power. Behind the means. Which is God. He is still working. In verse 4. Tells us. Just a passing reference. That through the healing. Of this man. Through the preaching.

[7:21] Of the gospel. After the healing. Of this man. There are thousands. A number of men. 5,000. I remember. In this day. At this time.

[7:31] It was a. A masculine numbering system. Think of the feeding. Of the 5,000. 5,000 men. Amongst many. Women and children. If there's 5,000 men saved.

[7:43] You can add another 2,000. Add another 5,000. If you want. Others who are saved. There are thousands. Being saved. By this one miracle. The power of God.

[7:55] Is not imprisoned. But these two men. Certainly are. As we join them in prison. As we join them now. Facing this court. Our focus this evening.

[8:07] Very briefly. Is to see. What are the tools. They make use of. What are the tools. They use. As they face persecution. As they face. Gospel opposition. We can see.

[8:18] What they do. And we ourselves. Can then apply that. To our own situations. We aren't being thrown into prison. But we are facing. This week. Perhaps. Harsh questions. Hard questions.

[8:29] We're facing. Perhaps. Snide comments. And as we seek. To share the gospel. Further and further. Into North Tolstair. What can. And how can. We make use. Of the same tools.

[8:40] The gospel. The gospel is the gospel. And opposition is opposition. The same opposition. The same evil one. That is working this together. Is the same evil one.

[8:51] That is blinding the hearts and minds. Of our friends and family. Around us here. So what tools. Do we use. First of all. We see. In verse 8.

[9:03] In verse 8. We see the tool. With respect. Of the Holy Spirit. We see in verse 7. Are being questioned. That the interrogation.

[9:14] Has begun. By what power. Or. By. What name. Did you. Do this. Verse 8. Then Peter.

[9:25] Filled with. The Holy Spirit. Said to them. And so on. As the questions. Start firing in. Towards these two men. And as Peter. Draws breath.

[9:36] To answer the question. We see. Scripture gives us. This one. Just passing fact. As he answers. The first question. He does so.

[9:47] Filled. Filled to the brim. With. The Holy Spirit. Full. Of. The Holy Spirit. Then what follows.

[9:57] From Peter. We see. Is a clear. Coherent. Measured. Careful. Response. Think. Think back. To the Peter. We meet.

[10:07] All the way. Through the Gospels. How unusual. This response. Actually is. Peter. Who is rash. Peter. Who at times. Is harsh. Peter.

[10:18] Who at times. Just. Wades on. Quite literally. Into the water. Who does things. And says things. Quickly. Who seems to be muddled up. Sometimes. Peter.

[10:28] Is not logical. Peter. Is not slow. Peter. Is not eloquent. Peter is not careful. But yet. Here. When questioned. By the authorities. Peter. Full of the Holy Spirit.

[10:40] Gives. The most eloquent. Careful. Powerful. Answer. To those. Who are. Questioning him. This is.

[10:50] We could say. The Holy Spirit. Working in him. Working on him. And he speaks as one. Filled. With the Holy Spirit. Now some. Will think. And some say.

[11:00] And there is some. Some. Some good arguments. For this. Oh personally. I don't follow them. But we'll say. This is a certain. Type of filling. This was a special.

[11:11] Kind of. Refilling. Of the Holy Spirit. That Peter. Experienced. Of course. They were given. The Holy Spirit. Came to live within them. At Pentecost. And here. Peter.

[11:21] Is receiving. Some fresh. Brand new. Filling. I don't. Think. And I wouldn't argue. That to be the case. I don't think.

[11:32] It's good. To think of it. As a fresh. Filling. I think of it. To think of it. As the Holy Spirit. Is here. Doing his work. In Peter. He is filled. Of the Spirit. Anyway. But here.

[11:42] He's filled. Of it. In the terms. Of the Spirit. Is now. Working. Clearly. Through. Peter. It's working. Clearly. Through the words. Of Peter.

[11:54] Brothers and sisters. As you share. The gospel. You will know this. Yourselves. At times. Not always. But at times. And. Those of us. Who have preached. You know this.

[12:05] Yourself. There's been plenty. Of sermons. Speaking personally. Just briefly. And carefully. Plenty of sermons. Even the last. Year and a half. Of yourselves. Where I've spent.

[12:15] A good. Time. Writing them. And prepping them. And preparing for them. But man. I go home. On a Sunday. And I say to Emma. Monday morning. I say to Emma. What was that? What was that?

[12:27] And humanly speaking. They were muddled. And humanly speaking. They were a mess. On the paper. And humanly speaking. I've got to try my best. They're not great. You wouldn't use them. As examples. Of good sermons.

[12:39] At times. These sermons. Are the ones. I've had feedback. From. The Lord has used. To bless. Some or. Another. In the congregation. If you shared the gospel.

[12:50] You have the same experience. Don't you? Someone asks you. A gospel question. About. About Jesus. About God. And you think. I don't know. And. You stutter. And you stammer.

[13:01] But sometimes. You answer. And the words. Almost just come to you. And you answer the question. And you stop answering. You stop speaking. You think. Where did that come from? Where did that come from?

[13:13] Here we see. A similar thing. Peter is answering. Quite fluently. As he. No doubt. Answers. Carefully. And clearly. We see. This is a power.

[13:23] A speech. The Holy Spirit. Is giving him. Brothers and sisters. We seek. To defend. The gospel. I'm not saying. Every time. We speak. We'll flow.

[13:34] Eloquently. And clearly. But every time. We engage. With someone. We are working. In the power. Of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because he lives.

[13:44] Within us. He moves. Within us. And every interaction. That matters. We're not apostles. No. But we are. Those who are. Spirit filled.

[13:55] Christians. And every time. We share the gospel. Like Peter here. Every time. We defend. Our saviour. As small. As useless. As our words. Might feel.

[14:05] Or might be. The Lord. Will use that. The Lord. Will use it. John Owen. Describing. The speech. Of Peter here. And. At times.

[14:16] When we have. The same. Sort of speech. He calls it. A free. Enlarged. Spirit. Combined. With an ability. Of speech.

[14:27] Suited. To the matter. In hand. In other words. When the Lord. Puts you in a situation. He will give you the words. To speak. In that situation.

[14:38] Jesus. Jesus. In that situation. Jesus himself. Did not warn. The apostles. And his. Disciples. And his followers. That he. Would be with them.

[14:49] At least. The spirit. Would be with them. Luke 12. Verse 11. And verse 12. I read it for us. The words of Jesus. And when they bring you. Before the synagogue.

[15:00] And the rulers. And the authorities. Don't be anxious. About how you should. Defend yourself. Or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit. Will teach you. In that very hour. What you ought to say.

[15:12] Now we must do the hard work. For our sisters. We must. As we say on Thursday. We must. Know the gospel. We must. Live in the gospel. We must. Study God's word. And love. And live.

[15:22] And breathe. God's word. But trust. As we're doing that. Hard work. Behind the scenes. Trust. When it comes down to it. The spirit. Will not abandon us. For he lives within us.

[15:35] They make full use. As it were. Of the Holy Spirit. The spirit. Who lives. Within them. And who lives. Within you. And me. As brothers and sisters. This evening. The second tool.

[15:46] Is even more obvious. Verses 9. Down to verse 13. This is the tool. Of the message itself. The tool. Of the simple.

[15:56] Gospel. Peter's answer. It is simple. Verses 9 onwards. He just gives them. A simple gospel message.

[16:07] He gives them. In a way. They can understand. Who Jesus is. And what's happened. And. But it's all about Jesus. It's all about Jesus. Peter.

[16:18] Doesn't take this chance. To. Cry out. About the. The unfair treatment. He is facing. Which he is. He doesn't say. To. To. To.

[16:28] To moan. About the conditions. They are facing. Peter responds. To the question. With a simple gospel. He trusts. That the gospel. Is able to stand.

[16:39] For itself. He doesn't give some. Logical. Long-winded. Deep discussion. He just says. The gospel. He trusts. The Lord of the gospel. Can use his word.

[16:49] In his way. For his. Purposes. Brothers and sisters. We are called. To do the same thing. Why? Because it's God's word. And God is able.

[17:01] To use his word. Sufficiently. To do. And fulfill. His purposes. One of the questions. One of the worries. That Thomas brought up. Was a worry we have. Of what.

[17:11] If it'll have. The right answers. What if I can't think. What to say. When I get asked. Hard questions. God willing. In a few weeks time. We're starting a series. In our prayer meetings. Going through. A book.

[17:22] Which helps us. To think through. How we share the gospel. I'll give you a spoiler now. The whole point of a book is. Bring them back to Jesus. Be honest.

[17:33] Actually. I can't answer that question. I'm not sure of the exact answer. But I can think of a time. Where Jesus said this. Or Jesus did this. Bring them back to Jesus. Bring them back to the gospel.

[17:44] Again. And again. And again. It's not our logic. That saves anyone. Not our high philosophy. Or our theology. As right as it might be. It's the Lord. Working in their lives.

[17:55] That will save them. Nothing else. And no one else. Brothers and sisters. What is the greatest tool. Of the evangelist. What is the greatest tool.

[18:06] Of our fight. Against the evil one. It is. The gospel. The good news. Of a saviour. Who loves us. Who died for us.

[18:16] Who rose again. Who calls us. His own. Summarised. In verse 12. Where boldly. Peter says.

[18:27] And there is salvation. In no one else. For there is no other name. Under heaven. Given among men. By which. We. Must.

[18:38] Be. Saved. Brothers and sisters. Do we trust. The tool of the gospel. The Lord has given us. Do we trust. That the tool of the gospel. Is a tool.

[18:48] That has been made. Fit for purpose. Do we trust. That. He will use. His. Word. Well. I mentioned.

[19:00] A quote. From. A story. From Bob. Bob Ackroyd. Reverend. Reverend. Dr. Bob Ackroyd. On Thursday. Bob has lots of stories. For every occasion. Bob would often remind us.

[19:12] We were doing. Practical theology classes. And we'd be quite. A time disheartened. Not because of Bob's lectures. Which are always very encouraging. We would look to these great.

[19:24] Ministers. These great pastors. And all the work they did. And we'd think. What do we do? How can we even begin. To do the work they did? And Bob would remind us.

[19:36] He'd say to us. Men. There are many. Who can share the gospel. Better than you. Of that. Have no doubt. But none.

[19:47] Have a better gospel. To share. Brothers and sisters. There are many. Who can share the gospel. Better than you and I. Who are more eloquent. Who are more engaging. Who are more charismatic.

[20:00] That's their gifts. That's their gifts. And we praise the Lord. For these gifts. But there are not one of us. Who have a better gospel. To share. The good news.

[20:10] Is the good news. Whether it's shared boldly. And loudly. Or quietly. With stuttering voice. The Lord will use his work. And his word. The same way. We have the gospel.

[20:24] To share. The second tool here. In fact. It's the gospel. Boldness. Of Peter. And of John. Along with the fact. That they are. Technically.

[20:35] Uneducated men. That causes the council. To be so astonished. Again. Verse. Thirteen. They can't believe it. They have this gospel. Boldness. They know that.

[20:45] They're not educated men. And they are. Astonished. They are. Astonished. Brothers and sisters. Don't. Don't. Try and be anything other than what you are.

[20:58] Than who you are. To use bad grammar. Use. And make full use of your normalness. Make full use of your normalness.

[21:09] You might be like these two great men. Technically uneducated. Fine. Great. You might be greatly educated. Fine. Great. But wherever you are in that scale. It makes no difference to the work of the Lord.

[21:22] He will use you. As you are. Where you are. The skills and gifts. He has given you. And given no one else in the same way. He's given it to you. It's not polished speeches.

[21:37] That those in North Tolstair. Or those around the council needed to hear. It's not polished speeches. Not clearly. Cleverly. Concocted conversations.

[21:48] It is quite simply. Genuine. Heartfelt. Gospel sharing. As Peter does here. That's what the world needs to hear. And our prayer.

[22:00] I hope. Is the same prayer. The same phrase. That is used here. Of the apostles. Would be used of us. As the men hear the gospel. Proclaim boldly.

[22:10] As the council hears the gospel. Proclaim boldly. What is their conclusion? They're astonished. They're astonished. At the end of verse 13.

[22:22] And they recognised. That they had been with Jesus. They recognised that these men. There is something different about them. They recognised that these men.

[22:33] Because of their gospel boldness. Because of their filling of the spirit. Because they're happy to share. The simple gospel truth. They recognise that these men are different. These are the men who have walked with.

[22:45] And been with Jesus. That is our prayer. Isn't it? That those in North Tulsa. Would not think of us. As being part of the free church. Or part of this church. Or everything else.

[22:55] Would see us. Hear our gospel sharing. And say. There's something different about them. It's clear. That they have been. With Jesus.

[23:07] The Holy Spirit. That fills us. The gospel itself. The message itself. The third tool here. Really. Is one for us.

[23:18] Us to have. Correct. Expectations. To have correct. Expectations. Verses 14. Down to verse 22. That big chunk there.

[23:29] Of what goes on. Behind the scenes. And we've covered this. Just lightly before. As we see. That the conferring. In verse 14 onwards. Of the council. We see.

[23:40] We can learn. From this conversation. They have. That logic. And understanding. Alone. Saves no one. The gospel itself.

[23:50] Of course. Is logical. Our God. Is a God. Who is logical. Who has given us. Logic. But what I mean is. Here. These men. Clearly.

[24:01] In these verses. They're happy. To say. Yes. This took place. In fact. They say. Don't they. Verse 16. We can't deny it. Verse 16. Saying. What shall we do.

[24:11] With those men. That a notable sign. Has been performed. Through them. Is evident. To all. That happens. To them. And we cannot. Deny it. We can't.

[24:22] Say it didn't happen. The man. Is standing there. This man. Who the whole. He's outside the temple. They all pass by him. They all saw his legs. Weathered. And not working.

[24:33] And now they see him. Hopping and jumping. And praising God. They can't do much about that. He's there. He's healed. And rather than say. And think to themselves. Well. Maybe all this is true.

[24:45] This lay man. Is now walking. How on earth. Does that happen. We're too concerned. With how to silence. And shut them all up. And get rid of them all. We have to have.

[24:57] The correct expectations. Our battle. Is not with logic. Or intellect. And those. We share the gospel with. Might put that front on. They might show themselves.

[25:09] To be intellectual. And have intellectual arguments. Against the gospel. And that is good. And well. And we seek to answer them. And there are many answers. For these many questions. There are great.

[25:19] Christian philosophers. And theologians. And scientists. Who seek to answer. All the questions. Of the world. But behind. The questions. Of the world. Supposing.

[25:30] All their questions. Are answered. Until. There's a work. In their hearts. They will. Not believe. The gospel. These men. Are. Highly intellectual men.

[25:42] They're. Top level. As it were. Of the civil. Religious government. They are. Brainy men. They are. The equivalent. Today. Of lawyers. Of advocates.

[25:52] They are. The top. Of the top. They're politicians. Lawyers. And clergy. All rolled into one. Highly intellectual. And with all their big brains.

[26:04] They can say. This man is walking again. Therefore. We have to shut the whole thing up. We are. We are. We are not arguing against logic.

[26:14] We are not arguing against. Who is brainier. And who is smarter. Who is more able. Brothers and sisters. We are not wrestling. With flesh. And blood. We are wrestling.

[26:26] With men. And women. Boys and girls. Whose eyes. Whose hearts. Have been blinded. By the evil one. That is the gospel reality. If it was logic alone.

[26:40] If it was logic alone. Then logically. Every single sermon. Should work. On every single person. And any single person. Should be saved. Every time they hear the gospel.

[26:52] But it's not logic. And it's hard. It's so hard. If we think it's all about. Just. Just. Matching intellectual questions. And answers.

[27:02] Then we'll be very quickly disappointed. Then what person. Has heard the gospel. A hundred times. A thousand times. Well until they let go. Of their own self-righteous.

[27:14] Self-righteous ideas. And place themselves. Under Christ. And put him. Before themselves. They will never change. They can hear the gospel. Believe the gospel.

[27:25] Give full mental assent. To the gospel. But until they change their heart. It's all just in their brains. Not in their hearts. And like these men. Supposing they saw a walking.

[27:36] Miracle in front of them. They will not believe. We share the gospel. As those. Who are sharing it. To those who are blind.

[27:51] What's the point? What's the point? I think the illustration. Our Lord gives us. Of the farmer. Sowing the seed.

[28:03] He sows the seed. It's indiscriminate. He seems to scatter it. Everywhere. And he sleeps. He sleeps. And during the night.

[28:13] Whilst he sleeps. There is growth. Quickly. Quietly. Sorry quickly. Slowly. Quietly. Beneath the surface. There is growth. And perhaps more quickly. As it emerges from the ground.

[28:26] All to say to us. All to remind us. We do our work. We sow the seed. We water it. We sow the seed. We water it. We share the gospel. We pray. We share the gospel.

[28:37] We pray. We interact. We use our gifts. We share the gospel. And so on. And so on. And so on. We do the work. And we leave. As it were. The results. To God. Every minister does that.

[28:49] Every Christian. We're called to do that. And we see here. Behind the scenes. It's not about. Intellect. Or logic. Until the eyes.

[29:00] Are opened. Until the Lord. Does his work. There is. This denial. This self-righteousness. Which covers. Even the most obvious. Even the most obvious.

[29:11] Of God's works. Are as nothing. Until God. Opens the eyes. Of the blind. With his glorious. Gospel. Light. Well.

[29:24] They call them. Back in again. And they tell them. To shut their mouths. And not share the gospel again. And. Well. Of course. Peter. And. And John. They make no promises.

[29:34] They say. Well. We can't do that. We won't do that. Basically. But. Let them go. And here. We see this. Final tool. As it were.

[29:44] That they use. At the end. Of verse 22. Onto verse 23. They are released. And where do they go? They go straight. To their friends.

[29:56] They go to the church. They go to the brothers and sisters. Who are waiting for them. Who are probably eagerly awaiting. Who are terrified. What's going on. They're in a home. They're in a house somewhere.

[30:07] Waiting to hear the news. Of these two men. Who are being investigated. Interrogated. And they run. And they make their way. Straight. To their home. Brothers and sisters.

[30:20] The first response. Of these apostles. Is to engage. In. Prayer. And to engage. In prayer. Within the vicinity. Within. The company.

[30:31] Of fellow brothers and sisters. We cannot. Serve the Lord alone. Again. Living cannot. We must. Not.

[30:42] Serve the Lord alone. There is no. Such thing. As a lone. Christian. As a single. Christian. Working on their own. It doesn't work. It doesn't work.

[30:54] It's not how it's supposed to work. We need one another. We need the church. We also need the prayers. Of the church. We need to support one another. What do we learn then.

[31:04] From this prayer. We begin. To pray. And this prayer. The beautiful prayer. We see just some very brief key points. For us. From the prayer. Then the prayer.

[31:16] Verse 25. And verse 26. We see. They look to scripture itself. For. That support. For that reminder. Of the power. And sovereign.

[31:27] Power of God. Even in the midst. Of. Their. Thrial. Verse 27. And verse 28. We see that. That as they. Pray to God.

[31:37] As they. Go through themselves. The. The. The. The. Layers. That took place. For the saviour. To be killed. And. To be accused. By. By her. And Pontius Pilate. And all that.

[31:49] We then see. That they understand. That it's all part. Of God's plan. That what man. Planned for evil. God. Used. For the good. The eternal good. Of.

[32:00] His. People. By praying. That what are they saying. They're reminding themselves. Whatever happens to them. The Lord is in full control. Brothers and sisters. Whether this church.

[32:11] This gathering carries on. For 50 years. 100 years. Or that closes tomorrow. Whether we keep. Preaching the gospel. Whether we go to. Our glory this evening. The Lord will bring.

[32:21] His people in. Not a single person. At the end of the day. In North Tulsa. Will be left behind. As it were. Will be lost. Out of his number. When he comes to collect.

[32:32] His people home. Amen. What's the. Request. We have. In their prayer. An incredible request.

[32:45] Of verse 29. And now Lord. Look upon. Their threats. And grant. To your servants. To continue. To speak your word. With all. Boldness.

[32:55] You would think. They would be praying. For escape. You think. They might be praying. For rescue. Pray.

[33:07] That the enemies. Would be. Squashed. Pray. That they wouldn't be. Persecuted anymore. Pray. They would. Not be captured. Imprisoned anymore. No. What do they pray for? They understand.

[33:18] They are called. To be in this place. In this time. In this day. And they are praying. For. Boldness. Lord. Give us. Boldness.

[33:29] To what? To continue. To speak. Your words. Give us. Boldness. To keep on. Being your servants. Give us.

[33:40] Boldness. To keep on. Being your witnesses. And we see. As we come to the conclusion. Of this section here. The Lord. Answers.

[33:51] Their prayer. When they are prayed. Verse 31. The place. In which. We were gathered together. Were shaken. And they were all filled. With the Holy Spirit. And continued.

[34:01] To speak. The word of God. With. Boldness. God. Shows evidence. Of him. Hearing. And answering. That prayer. The house. Shaking. It connects.

[34:12] To various. To our text. We'll come back. Into that. Eventually. Later on. In the series. And we'll see that. How it matters. Later on. But for now. Just to say. It's evidence. Really. That the Lord.

[34:22] Heard their prayer. And we see. That he answers. Their prayer. They prayed. For boldness. And he made. Them bold. And they continued.

[34:33] And in the sense. That the word. There continued. Grammatically. It's an ongoing. Thing. The sense. Here. Is that those. They prayed. For boldness. They kept. On being bold. They kept. On proclaiming.

[34:45] On. And on. And on. They spoke. They proclaimed. The word. Of God. Of all the boldness. The Lord. Had given them. Brothers and sisters. The word.

[34:57] Has not changed. The need. Has not changed. The tools. The Lord. Has given us. Has not changed. All that's changed. Is the place.

[35:07] The style of dress. The language. The custom. There are many. In North Tulsa. Hundreds. In North Tulsa. They remind. The island. They remind. The rest of our nation.

[35:19] They remind. The world. But North Tulsa. Have not yet heard. The gospel. There are many. Who will oppose. The gospel. Well as we share. The gospel. And face opposition. We pray.

[35:29] The Lord. We bring to mind. Some of these tools. For us. We'll be a praying people. Bold. In our gospel. Proclamation. Knowing. That the battle. Is not against flesh.

[35:40] And blood. Or neighbors. It is against the devil. It is against the evil one. And his armies. And his angels. And his power. But ultimately. Like the believers.

[35:51] Here. We know. And we trust. In his sovereign plan. He's working. All things together. And he. Has the victory. Both there.

[36:03] But also. Here. In. North Tulsa. To bear our heads. Now. A word of prayer. Lord forgive us. We ask for times. Gospel. Cowardice.

[36:15] Times. Where. We shy away. From. The clear. Gospel sharing. Chances. You give us. Help us to be emboldened. Through the word. Help us to be. Enlivened through it.

[36:27] Help us to go out. This new week. And to pray. Even this evening. To pray. You'd give us. gospel sharing chances. Give us then the sense and the burning desire to make the most of these chances. Lord you forgive anything that was said not in accordance to your word. We give you praise that the power is in your word and not in the jar of clay.

[36:48] The jars of clay we may stand here. Lord you receive all the glory for all your work. Bless us as we seek to share the gospel this new week. It would go out with power for your name's sake, not for the sake of this ministry or this congregation or our denomination Lord but you be glorified through it all.

[37:07] Ask all these things in and through and for Jesus his precious name's sake. Amen. We can conclude this evening again in Scottish Psalter Psalm 115 Scottish Psalter Psalm 115 Psalm 115 in the Scottish Psalter We can sing verses like this morning it's a bit more complicated but it's sing verses 1 to 3 first verses 1 to 3 then verses 15 down to verse 18 so verses 1 to 3 first of all not unto us Lord not to us so it's we can say we can we can we can ask when listen we we can네hor songs we