WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.360 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:03.940 --> 00:00:06.940 Let's talk today about feeling misunderstood. 00:00:07.640 --> 00:00:09.400 ! Has anyone felt misunderstood before? 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:13.859 ! Like you said something and the other person just received it differently. 00:00:13.859 --> 00:00:16.500 ! That your heart wasn't heard, wasn't seen. 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:19.039 And no one likes feeling misunderstood. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:21.039 It hurts to be misunderstood. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:22.140 It doesn't feel great. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:27.140 Now, a few months before Jojo and I got married, 00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:30.839 I moved in first to where we're living now in Taiwei. 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:36.140 And we're working on buying furniture and getting the place ready for her to move in after the wedding. 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:37.640 So one day we went mattress shopping. 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:40.240 We went to a mattress store, went mattress shopping. 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:42.240 And we narrowed it down to two options. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:45.240 Option number one was this fancy custom mattress. 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:49.240 You'd lie down, they'd measure your body and they'd make it custom for you. 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:50.240 It was super comfortable. 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:53.240 And option number two was this simple mattress. 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:55.040 That was, I mean, it was okay. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:59.339 There's nothing to write home about, but except that it was about half the price. 00:00:59.339 --> 00:01:05.039 And now I had been sleeping on the same Ikea mattress for the past six years before that. 00:01:05.039 --> 00:01:06.840 So I don't mind saving a buck or two. 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:10.439 And that's when the sales lady came in. 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:14.039 She was like, hello, can I introduce you to a mattress? 00:01:14.039 --> 00:01:14.739 Right? 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:19.640 This, that, that nice one, that first one you were looking at, it's motion isolating. 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:21.939 So there's two halves still on the mattress. 00:01:21.939 --> 00:01:26.439 If one person moves a lot in the middle of the night, the other person on the other side won't feel it. 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:29.540 And so like, wouldn't you like a good night's sleep? 00:01:29.540 --> 00:01:31.739 So I'm thinking, yeah, I do like a good night's sleep. 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:33.439 Like who, who doesn't? 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:36.240 Um, but then I was like, oh, nice try. 00:01:36.240 --> 00:01:36.539 Mrs. 00:01:36.539 --> 00:01:37.740 Sales lady. 00:01:37.740 --> 00:01:38.240 You're good. 00:01:38.240 --> 00:01:38.939 You're good. 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:40.240 I see what you're doing. 00:01:40.240 --> 00:01:44.240 Um, and that's, that's where the problem started. 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:44.739 Okay. 00:01:44.739 --> 00:01:50.939 So for, for those who don't know Jojo and I, um, we, we think very differently. 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:51.439 All right. 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:52.239 Let's just put it like that. 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:53.640 So I'm, I'm logical. 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:55.039 I'm an engineer by training. 00:01:55.839 --> 00:02:00.039 So I thought to myself, okay, let's do an experiment. 00:02:00.340 --> 00:02:02.640 You're saying it's, it's motion isolating, right? 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:03.739 So let's try it out. 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:06.939 If it costs more, but I'll be more comfortable, like it will go for it. 00:02:06.939 --> 00:02:09.240 But let's, let's do an experiment and try it out. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:11.740 So all this is going on in my head though. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:12.939 This is all going on in my head. 00:02:12.939 --> 00:02:17.740 What actually came out of my mouth was, Hey, Jojo lie down over there. 00:02:19.139 --> 00:02:21.539 And then I just jumped on the mattress. 00:02:21.740 --> 00:02:22.139 All right. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:24.240 Is it working, honey? 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:25.439 Do you feel anything? 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:28.039 Cause I'm just, I just want some data points, right? 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:29.139 That's, that's what I'm looking for. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:35.340 But then to my surprise, Jojo responds, not with that calm tone. 00:02:35.340 --> 00:02:36.039 I was expecting. 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:36.639 Oh, actually. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:36.740 Yeah. 00:02:36.740 --> 00:02:37.840 It's isolating this motion. 00:02:38.939 --> 00:02:42.340 She just said, Hey man, if you want the cheaper mattress, just say it. 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:44.140 No one, no one jumps on a bed like that. 00:02:44.140 --> 00:02:45.140 Stop being so dramatic. 00:02:45.140 --> 00:02:47.640 Why do you have to be so annoying to the sales lady? 00:02:48.140 --> 00:02:48.539 Okay. 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:51.840 But meanwhile, I'm thinking my science experiment. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:53.240 I just, I just wanted to test it. 00:02:54.539 --> 00:02:56.840 So that's, that's misunderstanding. 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.840 She thought that I was being super dramatic to prove a point. 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:05.340 She thought that I was dismissing her thoughts and feelings about what she wanted. 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:10.340 Meanwhile, I thought she was just dismissing my inquiry into wave propagation. 00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:17.140 But now I'm getting angry because I feel misunderstood that she won't hear my side of the story. 00:03:17.140 --> 00:03:19.340 Like I actually do jump in the bed that dramatically. 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:25.240 Um, and she's getting angry because she's thinking she thinks I'm being defensive and I'm angry because she's angry. 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:26.640 She's angry because I'm angry. 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:28.140 We're talking louder and louder. 00:03:28.140 --> 00:03:29.939 And there goes the next few hours of our lives. 00:03:31.640 --> 00:03:36.840 And later on, a few weeks later, we ended up buying that night sir mattress without any further testing. 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:49.340 Um, so it's, it's fascinating to me how the biggest fights can start from the smallest problems because of a simple misunderstanding. 00:03:50.140 --> 00:03:51.140 Can anyone relate to that? 00:03:52.439 --> 00:04:00.140 We all want to be listened to and understood and known, and it hurts to be a misunderstood, especially by those you love. 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:03.840 Now I bring this up because we're going through the book of acts. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:08.340 And in our passage today, we see the apostle Paul misunderstood. 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:16.439 We heard his heart for the church in acts 20 that he said, my life is of no value except to preach the gospel of the grace of Christ. 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:25.340 His heart is I'm willing to suffer and bring grace to you and peace from God, our father and Lord Jesus Christ, because I want you, I want to show you the joy that's yours in Christ. 00:04:27.139 --> 00:04:32.639 But we'll read today that even though that's Paul's heart for the people he reaches, they don't get it. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:33.639 They don't understand. 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:38.139 They misunderstand his words, his heart, his story of encountering Christ. 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:41.139 They slander him and beat him up, arrest him. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:53.139 And yet even in that misunderstanding, he takes that opportunity to point them to Jesus, to follow the way of Jesus, to show the grace of Jesus and preach to them the good news of Christ. 00:04:53.139 --> 00:05:03.639 And we can learn from that ourselves when we're misunderstood, when we're not heard, that even when they don't hear our story, our side of the story, we can respond with the grace of Christ. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:05.139 And yes, it does hurt. 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:14.639 It's not easy, but let us be people that are transformed by grace and respond like Jesus and point to Jesus, even when others don't understand us or hear us out. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:15.139 Or hear us out. 00:05:15.139 --> 00:05:18.139 So now I'll invite Michael and Ethan to come up. 00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:20.139 They're going to read for us from acts. 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:24.139 Let's all stand as we read the word of God in acts together. 00:05:24.139 --> 00:05:31.139 We'll be reading from acts chapter 21, verses 17 to acts 22, verse 22. 00:05:31.139 --> 00:05:35.139 It's a bit of a longer passage, but we'll stand together and read the word of God. 00:05:35.139 --> 00:05:40.639 Acts 21, verse 17 to 22, verse 20. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:41.639 Yep. 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:42.639 I'll start. 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.639 If you guys have the church Bible, it's page. 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:46.639 875. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:47.639 Yes. 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:48.639 875. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:49.639 Yep. 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:50.639 If you're in the church Bible. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:51.639 Thanks. 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:55.639 So chapter 21, verse 17 on acts. 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:56.639 Okay. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:00.639 So chapter 21, verse 17 on acts. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:01.639 Okay. 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:03.639 So chapter 21, verse 17 on acts. 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:04.639 Okay. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.139 Paul visits James. 00:06:07.139 --> 00:06:13.039 Uh, when we had come to Jerusalem, uh, the brothers received us gladly on the following 00:06:13.039 --> 00:06:18.240 day, Paul went in with us to James and all the elders were present after greeting them. 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:23.539 He related one by one, the things that God had done among the Gentiles for his ministry. 00:06:23.539 --> 00:06:26.539 And when they heard it, they glorified God. 00:06:26.539 --> 00:06:31.339 And they said to him, you see brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those 00:06:31.339 --> 00:06:32.539 who have believed. 00:06:32.540 --> 00:06:35.040 Uh, they are all zealous for the law. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:40.040 And they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:40.939 to forsake Moses. 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:47.439 Moses, therefore are telling them to not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:49.439 What then is to be done? 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:51.439 They will certainly hear that you have come. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:53.540 Do therefore what we tell you. 00:06:53.540 --> 00:06:56.040 Uh, we have four men who are under a vow. 00:06:56.040 --> 00:07:01.540 Uh, take these men and purify yourself among of them and pay their expenses so that they 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:03.040 may shave their heads. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:08.240 Thus all know that there is nothing, uh, in what they have been told about you, but that 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:10.540 you yourself also live in observance of the law. 00:07:10.540 --> 00:07:15.840 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter without judgment that they 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:21.040 should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.040 strangled and from sexual immorality. 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:29.540 Then Paul took the men and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, 00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:34.540 giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented 00:07:34.540 --> 00:07:35.540 for each of them. 00:07:35.540 --> 00:07:38.540 Uh, Paul arrested in the temple verse 27. 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:44.540 Uh, when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, 00:07:44.540 --> 00:07:49.540 stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, men of Israel help. 00:07:49.540 --> 00:07:53.939 This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law. 00:07:53.939 --> 00:07:58.939 And this place, moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and he has defiled this holy 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:03.939 place for they had previously seen Trophimus, the Ephesians with him in the city. 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:07.439 And they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:10.439 Then all the city was stirred up and the people ran together. 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:13.540 They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. 00:08:13.540 --> 00:08:15.439 And at once the gates were shut. 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:21.040 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:22.540 was in confusion. 00:08:22.540 --> 00:08:26.540 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:30.540 And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 00:08:30.540 --> 00:08:35.539 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:38.539 He inquired who he was and what he had done. 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:41.539 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. 00:08:41.539 --> 00:08:46.539 And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:56.539 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd for the mob of the people followed crying out away with him. 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:58.539 Paul speaks to the temple people. 00:08:58.539 --> 00:08:59.539 Verse 37. 00:08:59.539 --> 00:09:29.539 00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:32.539 He addressed them in the Hebrew language saying. 00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:33.539 Okay. 00:09:33.539 --> 00:10:03.539 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:33.539 00:10:33.539 --> 00:11:03.539 00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:05.539 And I said, what shall I do, Lord? 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:09.539 And the Lord said to me, rise and go into Damascus. 00:11:09.539 --> 00:11:13.539 And there you'll be told all that is appointed for you to do. 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:24.539 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand of those who were with me and came into Damascus. 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:34.539 And one Ananias, a devout man, according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, come to me. 00:11:34.539 --> 00:11:40.539 And standing beside, standing by me, said to me, brother Saul, receive your sight. 00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:45.539 And at that very hour, I received my sight and saw him. 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:54.539 And he said, the God of our fathers has appointed you to know that he's well, to see the righteousness, to see the righteous one and to hear a voice from his mouth. 00:11:54.539 --> 00:11:59.539 For you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:07.539 And now, why do you wait, rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name? 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:12.539 When I had returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the temple. 00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:22.539 I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me. 00:12:22.539 --> 00:12:30.539 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another, I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:40.539 And when the blood of Stephen, your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him. 00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:45.539 And he said to me, go for, I will send you far away to the Gentiles. 00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:47.539 One more. 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:48.539 Okay. 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:51.539 Up to this, up to this word, they listened to him. 00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:57.539 Then they raised their voices and said away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live. 00:12:57.539 --> 00:12:58.539 Cool. 00:12:58.539 --> 00:12:59.539 All right. 00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.539 Thank you. 00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:01.539 This is the word of God. 00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:03.539 Please take a seat. 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.539 Thank you, Michael. 00:13:04.539 --> 00:13:05.539 And thank you, Ethan. 00:13:05.539 --> 00:13:09.539 They were at our newcomers lunch the past week and now, now are joining life groups. 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:10.539 Thanks for reading for us. 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:12.539 Let's pray. 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:17.539 God, we just open our eyes to see the beauty of your word. 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:21.539 Help us to see the grace that you show us through Christ and how to extend that to others. 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:22.539 Pray in Jesus name. 00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:23.539 Amen. 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:37.539 So again, we're talking about misunderstanding that today, even when we're misunderstood, because that happens, there are times when we are misunderstood when they don't hear our story, despite how frustrating it is. 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:39.539 Let us respond in the way of Jesus. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:43.539 Let's show them the grace of Jesus and point people to him. 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:49.539 And as we read this story in Acts 21, we can see that Paul was misunderstood in a few ways. 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:52.539 First, they misunderstand what he says. 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:55.539 They must misunderstand his teaching. 00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:59.539 There's a misconception floating around in Jerusalem about what Paul is teaching. 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:02.539 And we read that in verse 21 of chapter 21. 00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:12.539 They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to their customs. 00:14:12.539 --> 00:14:20.539 Now, this is important to the Jews because their identity as a people is based on the fact that God chose them. 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:29.539 It's based on the covenant, this agreement that God gave them through Moses, the law, their identity as a people is rooted in the laws and customs of Moses. 00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:34.539 And so when we read this, in other words, there's this rumor that Paul is telling Jews, stop being Jewish to follow Christ. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:37.539 It's a throw away the law of Moses and to stop being Jewish. 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:40.539 And now that's a misunderstanding of what Paul teaches. 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:42.539 His view is more nuanced than that. 00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:45.539 And in Romans seven, Paul agrees with the Jews. 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:47.539 The law is holy and righteous and good. 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:51.539 The problem is that none of us can perfectly fulfill God's law. 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:53.539 We can't follow all of God's commandments. 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.539 We all sin. 00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:59.539 And by works of law, by our own efforts to obey, we all fall short and stand condemned. 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:03.539 Our only hope is that Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law on our behalf. 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:06.539 And he died in our place, taking on the debt that we deserve. 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:11.539 And we have new life because we're saved by grace through faith in Christ, apart from works. 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:13.539 We live by faith in freedom. 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:18.539 We're not constrained by the law, following the new way of the spirit rather than the old way of the law. 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:23.539 That's the good news of Jesus that Paul preaches, but they don't get it. 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:29.539 They don't understand all the Jews here is Paul saying law bad Moses bad. 00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:32.539 Don't follow law, which is not at all. 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:34.539 What all what Paul is saying. 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:36.539 So Paul tries to clear up this misconception. 00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:43.539 He's not bound to obey the Jewish laws and customs anymore, but he decides actually I will use my freedom in Christ. 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:50.539 I'll do that and participate in some of the rituals and customs to prove to them that I still respect the law of Moses. 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:52.539 I'm still a Jew. 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:59.539 And so in verse 26, he goes to the temple and, and does this seven day ritual purification, according to the Jewish law. 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:01.539 That's why he goes into the temple. 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:04.539 And that's Paul's way of offering the Jews and olive branch. 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:07.539 That's his way of extending his handout with a gesture of goodwill. 00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:09.539 It's Paul demonstrating in his heart. 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:15.539 I have become all things to all people so that by all means I might save some. 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:21.539 And he spent seven days of his time in that temple to show the Jews that he still respects the law. 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:26.539 However, it's exactly in doing that when it backfires on him. 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:35.539 Verse 27 says the Jews from Asia, seeing Paul in the temple, stirred the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out men of Israel help. 00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:39.539 This is the man who's teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. 00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:44.539 So imagine being Paul, he was only there at the temple out of love. 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:53.539 He was there in the temple simply to reach out to them, to show them that he cared about their concerns and to address their concerns, to show them the love of Christ. 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:56.539 But that is exactly what backfires on him. 00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:58.539 His love for them shoots him in the foot. 00:16:58.539 --> 00:17:00.539 They misunderstand his heart. 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:02.539 No good deed goes unpunished. 00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:04.539 And that's gotta hurt. 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:07.539 Have you ever been in a similar situation? 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:10.539 Or maybe I only did that task at work to cover for you. 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:13.539 So why are you throwing me under the bus for it? 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:18.539 I only reached out to chat to you because I care about you and I want to make things right between us. 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:20.539 But why are you lashing out at me now? 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:25.539 I only stepped in to mediate between you two because I want, I want you guys to reconcile. 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.539 Why am I suddenly the bad guy? 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.539 Why are you turning on me now? 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.539 Why are you turning on me now? 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:32.539 My parents are here today visiting for a few months from Toronto over there. 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:37.539 I remember my dad would drive me to school and he'd tell me, he'd give me a lot of life advice, like, 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:39.539 Jack Dodi Sam, wear more clothes. 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:44.539 And I got to set up that sometimes I'd argue with him because I misunderstood that as nagging. 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:46.539 Like, no, I'm wearing enough. 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:49.539 When that was just my dad's way of expressing his love and concern for me. 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:51.539 So sorry, dad, about that. 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:56.539 But can you relate when you pour yourself out to care for somebody, 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:59.539 but they misunderstand your heart and it comes back to hurt you. 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:02.539 No good deed goes unpunished. 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:04.539 That's what happened to Paul. 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:07.539 And on top of that, they misunderstood the facts of the matter. 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:09.539 They were misunderstood. 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:12.539 They must understood the facts about that situation. 00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:15.539 In verse 28, it says, 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:20.539 Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place. 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:24.539 Now it was a crime punishable by death to bring Gentiles. 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:27.539 That's people who weren't Jews into the temple. 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:31.539 That would be a crime punishable by death to do that. 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:37.539 But verse 29 continues for they had previously seen Trophimus, the Ephesians with him in the city. 00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:41.539 And they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:44.539 They supposed, assumed, guessed. 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:48.539 They assumed that Paul had brought this Greek guy named Trophimus in. 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.539 Right? 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:54.539 And it was such a concern to them that in verse 30, all the city was stirred up and the people ran together. 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:58.539 They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple and all at once the gates were shut. 00:18:58.539 --> 00:19:02.539 That's the mayhem that occurred just because of this assumption they supposed. 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:04.539 And let's follow their logic. 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.539 Right? 00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:07.539 So Uday is here in Amalty right now. 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:13.539 And, but actually, hey Uday, I saw you and your friend Trophimus having a picnic out at Yunlong last week. 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:17.539 So that means your friend Trophimus must be here today with you in Amalty. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:18.539 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:24.539 That's, that's the logic they have, but I don't see him, but he must be here because I saw you, you two there in Yunlong two weeks ago. 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:25.539 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.539 It makes no sense. 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.539 That's the misunderstanding. 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:32.539 And this misunderstanding turns to such chaos that they're beating him. 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.539 They're dragging him out, beating him. 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:34.539 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:35.539 That's, that's what we see in verse 30. 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:37.539 They drag him out of the temple. 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.539 They want to kill him. 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:40.539 It's not just a small, isolated dispute. 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:43.539 It says that all the city was stirred up. 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:46.539 All Jerusalem was in confusion. 00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:50.539 There is this mob surrounding Paul and hitting him, beating him. 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:56.539 And it got so bad, so bad to the point that the soldiers, the Roman soldiers, the police came. 00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:59.539 And only then that's what stopped them from beating Paul. 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.539 One person's yelling one thing. 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.539 Another person's yelling another thing. 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.539 Kill him. 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:05.539 Oh, men of Israel, Trophimus, it's total chaos. 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.539 Help. 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:09.539 Law of Moses, Ephesians, you defiled the temple. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.539 Away with him. 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.539 Everyone's yelling one thing. 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.539 Another person's yelling another. 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:15.539 Everyone's shouting, but no one knows what's going on. 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:22.539 And because it was so chaotic, the Roman commander couldn't figure out what's happening. 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:24.539 He's saying, why are these people so angry? 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.539 Why are they surrounding this guy? 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.539 What did he do? 00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:29.539 He must have done something because these guys are so mad. 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.539 What did he do? 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:35.539 So the commander orders Paul to be arrested and brought into the army's barracks. 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:40.539 And I love this next part because it just shows how unhinged this whole situation is. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:45.539 So finally, the Roman tribune, the commander has a chance to get in a few words with Paul. 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:48.539 And this is what he asked Paul in verse 38. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:57.539 Are you not the Egyptian who then who recently stirred up a revolt and led the 4,000 men of the assassins out into the wilderness? 00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.539 Right? 00:20:58.539 --> 00:21:03.539 That's that really sounds funny, but here's my best attempt to phrase that in modern terms. 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:14.539 This guy asked Paul, are you not Osama bin Laden who orchestrated 9-11 leader of terrorist group Al Qaeda and then fled to a compound in Abbottabad? 00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.539 Like what? 00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:17.539 00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.539 What are you talking about? 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:20.539 You think you think I'm a terrorist? 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:22.539 You think you're to seal team six? 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:27.539 They got him wrong to the point that he had to say, no, sir. 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.539 I am not. 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.539 In fact, Osama bin Laden. 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.539 I am not a terrorist. 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:37.539 That's the mess that Paul found himself in purely because he wanted to show the Jews that he cared about their law. 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:42.539 And hey, before we point fingers, let's let's admit it. 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:44.539 Don't we also get angry? 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:48.539 And by jumping to conclusions, don't we also do that? 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:51.539 That being quick to speak and slow to listen. 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:53.539 And I can be the first to raise my hand. 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:59.539 Cause I've, I can admit I've read too much into the tone of a short WhatsApp message. 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.539 Okay. 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.539 I've read too much into that. 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:07.539 I've assumed someone's intentionally ignoring me just because they were slow to respond. 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.539 I thought they didn't want to meet up or something. 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:23.539 And that's why James one verse six, verse 19 says, let every person be quick to hear slow to speak slow to anger for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:27.539 Anger is an emotion that naturally comes very quickly. 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:32.539 The Bible says, let us be slow to anger and listen first before casting judgment. 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:39.539 Now, before Jojo and I got married, let's just say we were people who are quicker to speak quicker to anger at that time. 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:49.539 And now in one of our premarital counseling sessions, James and Christina, they led us into, it was a session on communication. 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:54.539 And as a practical exercise, they asked us to practice listening. 00:22:54.539 --> 00:23:06.539 What we do is, um, one person could say their side of the story and the other person, rather than itching to reply or, or just casting judgment on what's right and wrong, preparing a reply in their head. 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.539 No, that's not true. 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:14.539 Um, we would have to first listen to understand, listen without interrupting and listen to understand. 00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:24.539 And we would show that by before responding with for applying, saying our side of the story, we had to demonstrate we were listening by summarizing what they said. 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:28.539 Hey, this is what I heard you say, right or wrong, whether I disagree or not. 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.539 This is what you said. 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:36.539 This is your heart in the matter and to acknowledge how they felt, um, before, before, before speaking. 00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:43.539 And that's, that's, that's something that's been helpful for us to, so that we can practice being quicker to listen, slower to speak. 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:49.539 And it's too bad that Jojo and I went mattress shopping before this because that whole, we're gonna save it a few hours. 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:52.539 Um, and I've also heard it in the context of debating. 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:55.539 It could be philosophical debates or apologetics. 00:23:56.539 --> 00:24:02.539 Um, in order to argue, you have to be able to express your opponent's argument better than they could. 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:07.539 You have to understand their view well enough so that they can say, actually, you said it better than I could. 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:09.539 And only then do you have the right to refute them. 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:16.539 Proverbs 18 verse 13 says, if one gives an answer before he hears it is his folly and shame. 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:23.539 It is folly and shame to be so passionately upset about something because of a misunderstanding. 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:25.539 Just purely because we fail to listen. 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.539 That's folly and shame. 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:28.539 The Bible teaches us to be quick to listen. 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:34.539 However, at the same time, you can actually find that same advice elsewhere. 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:43.539 Self-help books like seven habits of highly effective people will teach you the same thing about empathetic listening. 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:45.539 You can read that in counseling textbooks. 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:47.539 The world's trying that too. 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.539 It's, it's good. 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:53.539 The Bible teaches us to be quick to listen and these are good practices, but how do we do that? 00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.539 What sets us apart? 00:24:55.539 --> 00:25:00.539 Because doing this listening, being slow to anger, it's easier said than done. 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:04.539 It's especially hard when you feel like you're the one being misunderstood. 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:13.539 When your motives are being questioned, when people assume the worst of you, when every, in that case, every instinct of our flesh screams, we have to fight back. 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:15.539 We want to defend a representation. 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:17.539 We want to prove that we're right. 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:22.539 How do we find the strength to respond with grace in a situation like that? 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:28.539 Because yes, we have to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, but it's hard. 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.539 It can be really hard. 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.539 Think about Paul. 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:32.539 He's bruised. 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:37.539 He's bloodied and yet, and yet he's the one arrested at the same time. 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:39.539 The Jews want him dead. 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.539 The Romans think he's a terrorist. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:48.539 The crowd is so crazy that the soldiers had to physically pick him up and carry him away so that he wouldn't be killed. 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:50.539 The adrenaline has to be flowing. 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:52.539 His heart is pounding. 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.539 It's a high stress environment. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.539 It's chaos. 00:25:54.539 --> 00:26:05.539 And in that chaos, I find Paul's response so fascinating because it's, it's this fight or flight situation, but yet he's not in a hurry to enter the barracks to safety. 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:10.539 But neither does he look back and fight and swing at those who hurt him. 00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:17.539 Paul finds the strength in that situation to turn around and address the crowd, not in outrage, but with grace. 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:24.539 I have something to say into this mess, but not to fight back, not to defend myself, but to show you the love of Jesus. 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:26.539 And that's incredible. 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:30.539 An attitude like that doesn't come from just a listening exercise. 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.539 Grace like that isn't normal. 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:36.539 It's only possible because we've been met with grace. 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:41.539 Paul, he experienced the love of Christ and that turned his entire life upside down. 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.539 That changed him. 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:44.539 And that's how he can respond with grace. 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:48.539 Now Paul shares the story of how he was once with them. 00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:52.539 I was one of you in the angry mob, but Jesus saved him. 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:57.539 He was a persecutor of the church, but was transformed when he encountered Jesus. 00:26:57.539 --> 00:27:01.539 And that's how he's able to love those who are persecuting him now. 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:07.539 And as we look at Paul's story, we see in the mess, in the misunderstanding, how it is that we can respond with grace, with the grace of Christ. 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:10.539 How can we respond with grace in such a situation? 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:15.539 And first we can respond with grace, remembering that we've been shown grace. 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:18.539 We can show grace because we've been shown grace first. 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:27.539 Now here, Paul is retelling his conversion story from Acts chapter nine, how Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus. 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:31.539 And he's not just telling the story because he likes telling stories. 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:34.539 He's retelling what Luke already recorded in Acts nine. 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:37.539 But there's this point he's trying to make. 00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:41.539 And it starts by establishing this, that I am just like you. 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:42.539 I am like you. 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.539 I was just like you. 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:47.539 Paul reached out to them by speaking his language. 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:51.539 He literally spoke their language because he was speaking Greek to the Romans. 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:55.539 And then he switched to the language Hebrew or Aramaic. 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:58.539 He was, he spoke their language. 00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:58.539 00:27:58.539 --> 00:28:02.539 He also was speaking the language figuratively earlier in the temple. 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:08.539 By going to the temple and respecting their laws and customs and to speak into their culture. 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:11.539 And he's telling them, I'm still a Jew. 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:13.539 That's in chapter 22, verse three. 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.539 I am a Jew. 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:18.539 To follow Jesus isn't to break away from Judaism. 00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:20.539 Jesus is actually the promised Messiah. 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:23.539 Jesus is a savior that they've all been waiting for. 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:25.539 He's the fulfillment of our people's hopes and dreams. 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:28.539 He's, he's the fulfillment of all the old Testament prophecies. 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:31.539 And actually to be a true Jew is to follow Jesus. 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.539 That's Paul's point here. 00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:37.539 And he's also telling them, I was just like you. 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:40.539 I was just like you standing in the crowd. 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:44.539 In fact, persecuting the way of Jesus, just like you are to me. 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:46.539 I dragged followers of Jesus to jail. 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:48.539 I approved of killing them. 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:50.539 I was actually the leader of this whole angry mob. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:54.539 And yet Jesus showed me grace. 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:57.539 While I was his enemy, Jesus came to me. 00:28:57.539 --> 00:29:01.539 The reason risen Jesus came to me on the road to Damascus, 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:03.539 not to confront me in anger, 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:07.539 but to show me that he really did die on the cross for my sins and rise from the dead. 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:14.539 And in light of that grace, we can look to people who beat us half to death and speak with patience and love. 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:19.539 That's what Paul did when we're misunderstood and under attack. 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:22.539 It's so easy to respond in anger. 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:24.539 How could they say that about me? 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:29.539 How could they so thoroughly misinterpret my intentions? 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:33.539 But the way of Jesus is to look at their angry faces. 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:36.539 And remember that was me. 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:38.539 I was a sinner. 00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.539 I was in need of grace. 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.539 I'm no better. 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:44.539 We show grace because he first showed us grace. 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:47.539 We forgive because he forgave us. 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:50.539 We love because he first loved us. 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:55.539 Now, how does our forgiveness translate into forgiving others? 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:59.539 For me, one of the most foundational passages, 00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:01.539 when I think of forgiveness has, 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:05.539 has got to be Romans eight, Romans eight, verses 33 and 34. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:08.539 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect. 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:11.539 It is God who justifies who is to condemn. 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.539 Christ. 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:14.539 Jesus is the one who died more than that. 00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.539 Who was raised. 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:18.539 Who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.539 Romans eight. 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:22.539 The point there is to tell us that, 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:27.539 that I can have full confidence that there is no condemnation for me because I am in Christ. 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:30.539 Jesus. God is the one who declares me God justified. 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:32.539 Who can accuse me in that case. 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.539 Christ. 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:35.539 Jesus is the one interceding, praying for me. 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:37.539 Who can condemn me. 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:40.539 Romans eight tells me that I am fully forgiven. 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:42.539 No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:47.539 But when you sit in that, meditate on that more, shake that tree a bit more. 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.539 There's another fruit that falls out. 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:51.539 And it's that Christ didn't just die for me alone. 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:58.539 He died for us, for us all, for my brother, to my left, my sister, to my right. 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:02.539 God also declares them not guilty in Christ. 00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:08.539 And how can I bring any charge against God's elect when it's the same God who justifies both of us? 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:12.539 How can I condemn when it's the same Christ who intercedes for us all? 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:19.539 Picture us standing in the courtroom before God, the judge with Christ, the advocate by our side. 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:27.539 And God says to us, he swings the gavel and says, because of the blood of Christ, I declared you justified, not guilty. 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:32.539 That ought to fill us with joy and worship for all eternity. 00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:34.539 And then we walk off. 00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:40.539 Our brother walks up and God says that same judgment to them, forgiven in Christ. 00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:49.539 But when we hear that rather than praising God for his grace and mercy, we turn to God and anger and say, but he misunderstood me. 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:51.539 She talked behind my back. 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:54.539 He didn't appreciate me despite everything I did for him. 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.539 She's guilty. 00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:57.539 Punish him. 00:31:57.539 --> 00:32:04.539 You can't say that when you've been struck by grace, when you know the grace that God has shown you. 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:11.539 And the more we love the blood of Christ, the more we will want to show grace and forgiveness to others. 00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:18.539 How can I say to you, you're guilty when it is my God who declares you justified? 00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:26.539 How can I look upon the same savior who died for me and say that Jesus, your death was not enough for them. 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:31.539 To do that is to shout over Jesus while Jesus is interceding for you. 00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.539 I'm selling Jesus. 00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.539 Your blood is unworthy. 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:36.539 Your blood is not sufficient to cover their sin. 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:41.539 And how can I say that when, when Jesus is shouting my blood, wash them white as snow. 00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:46.539 Forgive them father because of my sake. 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:50.539 If Christ's blood is good enough for me, it's good enough for you. 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.539 It's good enough for him. 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.539 It's good enough for her. 00:32:53.539 --> 00:32:58.539 When we love Christ who died for us, it ought to move us to worship. 00:32:58.539 --> 00:33:00.539 I want to see Christ exalted. 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:06.539 I want to see his name lifted high and actually where sin increase grace abounded all the more. 00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:14.539 When I'm insulted, when I'm mistreated, when I misunderstood, I get to see the precious blood of my savior cover a multitude of sins. 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:17.539 When I lay down my anger and forgive. 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:21.539 So, Oh Lord, help me to forgive for your namesake. 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:22.539 You are worthy of that praise. 00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:29.539 And for those who are not yet in Christ, it'll make us want to cry out, Lord, have mercy on them. 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:31.539 Don't send them to hell. 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:38.539 I'd rather see them forgiven because your grace is magnified and saving the worst of sinners. 00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:42.539 Think of perhaps world leaders causing chaos. 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:51.539 How glorious would it be to see them turn to Christ, drop their weapons, stop the wars, and become the world. 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:53.539 And become servant leaders. 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.539 Forgive them Lord. 00:33:55.539 --> 00:33:59.539 Because I want to see your name exalted among the nations. 00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:03.539 Forgive our enemies for your namesake. 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:13.539 When we're misunderstood, we can respond in grace as we rejoice in the magnitude of God's grace shown to us. 00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:21.539 As our hearts cry out in worship for the lamb that who was slain, we will long to see grace extended to others. 00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:24.539 And that's the first reason we respond with grace. 00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:28.539 By remembering the grace God has shown us and rejoicing in it. 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:34.539 And secondly, we respond with grace because we've been transformed by grace. 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:36.539 We've been changed by his grace. 00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:40.539 Because Jesus didn't forgive us when he died on the cross for us. 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.539 He didn't just forgive us. 00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:46.539 He also rose from the dead and changes us, transformed us, gives us new life. 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:50.539 And that's the second part of Paul's argument in sharing his story. 00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:54.539 That's the crux of his argument is in fact, his changed life. 00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:57.539 He's saying this, look at my life. 00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.539 I am a Jew. 00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:02.539 I grew up in the city right here with you in Jerusalem. 00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:05.539 I was born in Tarsus, but I grew up here in Jerusalem. 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:06.539 You guys know me. 00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:10.539 I was taught by one of your most respected teachers, Gamaliel. 00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:13.539 I was taught to keep the strictest letter of the law. 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:15.539 And I actually kept it better than you. 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:18.539 I was zealous for the law, even more than you were. 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.539 I persecuted the way to death. 00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.539 I killed Christians. 00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:22.539 I dragged them to prison. 00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:26.539 And even your authorities, the high priest, all the government officials, 00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:28.539 all the Jewish authorities, they know me. 00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:30.539 I was actually their representative. 00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:35.539 I had a letter from them authorizing me to, to, to go grab Christians in Damascus. 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.539 And bring them to jail. 00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:41.539 You know, how genuinely I love the law and hated Christians. 00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:46.539 But can't you see that my life is different? 00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:49.539 What can explain my life now? 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:55.539 What can explain that I am standing here before you being dragged out of the temple and beaten to death? 00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:59.539 That how I once devoted my life to crushing the church. 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:03.539 I am now, I would risk everything for his namesake. 00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:09.539 How can you explain who someone who hated Jesus so much now can't shut up about Jesus and sing his praise? 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.539 It doesn't make sense. 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.539 It's not possible. 00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:16.539 Unless, unless I really did see Jesus. 00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.539 Unless he really did rise from the dead. 00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:22.539 Unless I really did see the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.539 And that changed everything. 00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:24.539 That's Paul's argument. 00:36:25.539 --> 00:36:28.539 That he opened my eyes and for the first time now I could see. 00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:30.539 That's the reason I'm here today. 00:36:30.539 --> 00:36:33.539 My life now testifies that Jesus is alive. 00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:35.539 That's Paul's point. 00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:38.539 That my changed life can only be explained by one thing. 00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.539 And that's Jesus. 00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.539 Let's tell our story. 00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:45.539 Let's tell our experience of being transformed by him. 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:57.539 And we, there's a simple framework we can use for sharing our testimony, sharing our story before Christ, what we were like before Christ, encountering Christ, and then how we are new after Christ. 00:36:58.539 --> 00:37:01.539 Before Christ, Paul hated the church and put Christians to death. 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:04.539 He encountered Christ on the road to Damascus in a vision. 00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:12.539 And when his eyes were opened and after Christ, now he's changed to be relentlessly preaching Christ, even to the point of suffering and death. 00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:17.539 I am ready not only to be in prison, but even die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:37:18.539 --> 00:37:20.539 And that raises a question for us. 00:37:21.539 --> 00:37:23.539 What's changed after Christ for us? 00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:26.539 How does our life look different? 00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:30.539 Have our lives really been changed by the gospel in our story? 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:33.539 In our story, is there the good news of Christ or is there barely any news? 00:37:34.539 --> 00:37:40.539 Before Christ, perhaps we idolized studies, careers, family, money. 00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:43.539 After Christ, what has changed? 00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:47.539 Before Christ, we were angry, envious, sexually immoral. 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:50.539 After Christ, what's different now? 00:37:51.539 --> 00:37:54.539 How does our life show that Christ is alive in you? 00:37:54.539 --> 00:38:02.539 And perhaps today we can, we can start by considering how we respond to how we respond to offense and misunderstanding. 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:17.539 If we're praying for opportunities to witness to those around us at work, at school, in our families, when we're mistreated, when we're misunderstood, when we're not heard, that's an opportunity to show that the spirit of Christ is alive in us. 00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:27.539 When they don't appreciate us, when they twist our words and we can respond like Jesus with the grace of Christ, that's a testimony to the world that Jesus is alive. 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:31.539 And so we can ask God to transform us. 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:35.539 We know that the spirit of Christ who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. 00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:42.539 We can ask him to change our lives so that we can be a light to this world and glorify him in this way. 00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:48.539 And even when we fall short, when someone says that thing and we snap back at them, we know there's grace. 00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:50.539 We know that we're forgiven in his name. 00:38:50.539 --> 00:38:59.539 So when we're misunderstood, when we're not heard, let us respond with grace because we've been transformed. 00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:02.539 We're changed by grace and we can keep turning to him. 00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:13.539 We have, our testimony is not just in the past, not just that one time, 10 years ago, when we turned to Jesus and we encountered him at that youth camp, 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:19.539 but it's an ongoing thing every day, every moment God is alive. 00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:21.539 The spirit is in me. 00:39:21.539 --> 00:39:22.539 He's working in me. 00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:28.539 And every day I have new stories to tell of how Jesus is alive because we're transformed by grace. 00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:37.539 But even so, even when we do all this, even when we do all this, we might not receive the response we want. 00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:42.539 Let's finish off by reading verse 22 in chapter 22. 00:39:43.539 --> 00:39:46.539 It says up to this word, they listened to him. 00:39:47.539 --> 00:39:49.539 That word being the Gentiles up to this word. 00:39:49.539 --> 00:39:50.539 They listened to him. 00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:57.539 Then they raised their voices and said away with such a fellow from the earth for he should not be allowed to live. 00:39:58.539 --> 00:39:59.539 He should not be allowed to live. 00:40:00.539 --> 00:40:09.539 That must be so disappointing because Paul is single minded on his mission to preach the good news of Jesus. 00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:11.539 They misunderstood his teaching. 00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.539 They misunderstood his heart. 00:40:12.539 --> 00:40:14.539 They misunderstood all the facts of this situation. 00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:15.539 They called him a terrorist. 00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:26.539 But even as he's dragged away from those looking to kill him, he takes that as an opportunity to show them the grace of Christ. 00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:37.539 And yet, despite all that, when they hear the single word Gentile, when they hear that word Gentile, not Jew, Roman, perhaps they're outraged and they want to kill him again. 00:40:38.539 --> 00:40:47.539 And that's because they were so angry that God might show grace to their enemies, that God might actually have mercy on the Roman people who were persecuting them. 00:40:47.539 --> 00:40:51.539 They were so angry that God might actually show mercy to the enemies. 00:40:51.539 --> 00:40:55.539 So outraged that they couldn't receive the grace that God would give them. 00:40:55.539 --> 00:41:01.539 It's confusing when we're doing our best to live for Christ. 00:41:01.539 --> 00:41:04.539 So listen, respond with grace and share our story. 00:41:04.539 --> 00:41:07.539 But yet, why isn't that person changing? 00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:09.539 Why won't they hear me out? 00:41:09.539 --> 00:41:20.539 Well, when that happens, we can remember these, these truths first, remember that they rejected Jesus, that Jesus was rejected. 00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:32.539 When we're misunderstood, when our stories fall on deaf ears, we actually have the privilege to share in Christ's suffering, to identify with him in being rejected and scorned. 00:41:32.539 --> 00:41:33.539 We walk the same path we walked. 00:41:33.539 --> 00:41:36.539 That's proof that we are followers of Christ. 00:41:36.539 --> 00:41:39.539 When we can follow that road that he walked. 00:41:39.539 --> 00:41:42.539 First Peter two says, he committed no sin. 00:41:42.539 --> 00:41:44.539 Neither was deceit found in his mouth. 00:41:44.539 --> 00:41:47.539 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. 00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:55.539 When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting him to entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 00:41:55.539 --> 00:42:01.539 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness by his wounds. 00:42:01.539 --> 00:42:03.539 You have been healed. 00:42:03.539 --> 00:42:06.539 Jesus suffered for our sake. 00:42:08.539 --> 00:42:09.539 Innocent. 00:42:10.539 --> 00:42:13.539 And even when others don't understand us, it's God who saves. 00:42:13.539 --> 00:42:17.539 We're called to be faithful and just follow the way of Jesus. 00:42:17.539 --> 00:42:19.539 And God's the one who changes hearts. 00:42:20.539 --> 00:42:28.539 Second, we can remember that we are, even if we're not understood and known, that we are fully known and fully loved by God. 00:42:28.539 --> 00:42:33.539 Because why can something so small as picking a mattress flare up into such anger? 00:42:33.539 --> 00:42:45.539 It's because beneath that upsetness, that anger, we're all desperately longing to be seen and known and loved by someone. 00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:47.539 Tim Keller put it like this. 00:42:47.539 --> 00:42:50.539 To be loved, but not known is comforting, but superficial. 00:42:50.539 --> 00:42:55.539 To be known and not loved is our greatest fear, that rejection. 00:42:55.539 --> 00:42:57.539 But to be fully known and fully loved. 00:42:57.539 --> 00:43:00.539 Well, that's is a lot like being loved by God. 00:43:00.539 --> 00:43:02.539 And that's what we need more than anything. 00:43:02.539 --> 00:43:10.539 When people don't hear our side of the story, it hurts because it taps into that fear that we won't be seen, we'll be rejected, that we won't be understood and valued. 00:43:10.539 --> 00:43:12.539 And that does hurt. 00:43:12.539 --> 00:43:18.539 But in the midst of that hurt, we can find comfort that we are fully known and fully loved by God. 00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:24.539 The one who intricately created us, who knitted us in our mother's womb, that he knows our heart. 00:43:24.539 --> 00:43:26.539 He knows the facts of the situation. 00:43:26.539 --> 00:43:27.539 He knows the struggle. 00:43:27.539 --> 00:43:30.539 He knows us deeply, even our sin. 00:43:30.539 --> 00:43:31.539 He knows all of it. 00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:35.539 And yet loved us enough to send his son to die for us. 00:43:35.539 --> 00:43:44.539 And when we rest in that truth that we're known and loved by God, then we don't have to fight so hard to defend ourselves and our side of the story. 00:43:44.539 --> 00:43:48.539 We can be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. 00:43:48.539 --> 00:43:54.539 When the world doesn't hear us out, we can respond with grace of Christ, knowing that we're loved by him. 00:43:54.539 --> 00:44:00.539 There is one who knows us intimately and he declares us fully righteous in Christ. 00:44:00.539 --> 00:44:03.539 So let our hearts also cry out. 00:44:03.539 --> 00:44:07.539 Let's share that heart of God to cry out for others to know that grace. 00:44:07.539 --> 00:44:09.539 Also let's do that. 00:44:10.539 --> 00:44:17.539 And now before we respond in song, I want us to have a short moment of reflection, respond in reflection and some silence. 00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:22.539 Think of when you've been quick to anger. 00:44:22.539 --> 00:44:23.539 Let's take a moment. 00:44:23.539 --> 00:44:28.539 You can bow your heads, close your eyes and reflect. 00:44:31.539 --> 00:44:38.539 Think, has there been a moment when we've been quick to anger, quick to speak, yet slow to listen? 00:44:39.539 --> 00:44:42.539 Is there someone we have offended in that way? 00:44:43.539 --> 00:44:47.539 Confess that to God and know that in Christ, you're forgiven. 00:44:47.539 --> 00:44:50.539 Is there anybody you need to apologize to? 00:44:50.539 --> 00:44:52.539 Any situation like that? 00:44:52.539 --> 00:44:55.539 Spend a moment in reflection. 00:45:02.539 --> 00:45:04.539 Let's also reflect. 00:45:05.539 --> 00:45:08.539 Is there somebody who's offended you? 00:45:08.539 --> 00:45:09.539 Who's offended you? 00:45:11.539 --> 00:45:14.539 Is there anyone that you're struggling to love? 00:45:15.539 --> 00:45:17.539 That you're holding anger towards? 00:45:18.539 --> 00:45:22.539 A situation where you've been misunderstood or you feel that? 00:45:24.539 --> 00:45:28.539 Let's pray for strength to show grace in that situation. 00:45:28.539 --> 00:45:29.539 Let's pray together. 00:45:38.539 --> 00:45:54.539 God, we look to you as our Father who made us, intimately loves us, knows us completely. 00:45:54.539 --> 00:45:56.539 It's numbered every hair of a head. 00:46:00.539 --> 00:46:02.539 God, thank you that you've shown us grace. 00:46:03.539 --> 00:46:05.539 That while we were sinners, Christ died for us. 00:46:06.539 --> 00:46:09.539 And we know you understand us. 00:46:10.539 --> 00:46:12.539 You are like us in every respect, yet without sin. 00:46:13.539 --> 00:46:18.539 You know what it's like to be beaten, to have people yelling at you, crucify him. 00:46:18.539 --> 00:46:22.539 People saying, you're not the son of God. 00:46:23.539 --> 00:46:25.539 You know what that feels like. 00:46:26.539 --> 00:46:31.539 So Lord, help us to, to people who follow the way of Jesus. 00:46:32.539 --> 00:46:33.539 Who follow in your footstep. 00:46:34.539 --> 00:46:37.539 We're just full of love for our enemies. 00:46:38.539 --> 00:46:39.539 Just been transformed by grace. 00:46:39.539 --> 00:46:40.539 I just love your grace. 00:46:41.539 --> 00:46:45.539 Love what your son did for us on the cross. 00:46:46.539 --> 00:46:49.539 And want to see your blood wash a multitude of sins. 00:46:50.539 --> 00:46:55.539 Help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. 00:46:56.539 --> 00:47:00.539 And shine as your light in a crooked and twisted generation. 00:47:01.539 --> 00:47:02.539 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:47:03.539 --> 00:47:03.539 00:47:03.539 --> 00:47:04.539 Amen. 00:47:04.539 --> 00:47:05.539 Amen. 00:47:11.539 --> 00:47:16.539 Yeah, I don't know about all of you guys, but I'm feeling pretty convicted by today's message. 00:47:17.539 --> 00:47:19.539 That Jesus died for us all. 00:47:20.539 --> 00:47:25.539 And usually when I would hear that, I would just think, oh, Jesus died for me. 00:47:26.539 --> 00:47:30.539 But today's message is calling us to remember, he died for the person next to you. 00:47:30.539 --> 00:47:34.539 He died for the person who is in the MTR beside you. 00:47:35.539 --> 00:47:37.539 Trying to get in front of you, trying to cut in line. 00:47:38.539 --> 00:47:41.539 Or the coworker who is really annoying or choose too hard. 00:47:42.539 --> 00:47:44.539 It's really annoying. 00:47:45.539 --> 00:47:47.539 He died for each and every one of those people. 00:47:48.539 --> 00:47:49.539 Can we remember that? 00:47:50.539 --> 00:47:53.539 Can we remember what he has done for us? 00:47:54.539 --> 00:47:56.539 Can we remember where our life would have been without him? 00:47:56.539 --> 00:48:05.539 Because if he cannot remember that, we are in the risk of looking at someone who is in need of that grace and say, I would never. 00:48:06.539 --> 00:48:11.539 So I pray that as we go into our weeks, we can be Jesus people. 00:48:11.539 --> 00:48:14.539 We can be love to those who don't deserve it. 00:48:15.539 --> 00:48:17.539 Because we have been given so much. 00:48:18.539 --> 00:48:29.539 Say, oh Lord, we pray for just a good memory for us to remember the grace that we have been offered. 00:48:29.539 --> 00:48:34.539 If we don't forget where life could have been, couldn't have been without you. 00:48:35.539 --> 00:48:37.539 We can always be grateful to you, Lord. 00:48:38.539 --> 00:48:41.539 So we can extend the same grace that we've been given to those around us. 00:48:42.539 --> 00:48:44.539 That we can choose the Jesus way. 00:48:44.539 --> 00:48:47.539 We can choose to surrender because there is a higher hope. 00:48:47.539 --> 00:48:52.539 Than the mattress or than the small battle that we are seeing in front of us. 00:48:53.539 --> 00:48:54.539 There is a bigger hope. 00:48:55.539 --> 00:48:56.539 And that is hope in you. 00:48:57.539 --> 00:49:00.539 So pray this all in Jesus name. 00:49:00.539 --> 00:49:04.539 Everyone take a seat. 00:49:04.539 --> 00:49:08.539 Everyone take a seat. 00:49:08.539 --> 00:49:21.539 Thank you Uday. 00:49:22.539 --> 00:49:24.539 We reached the end of our service now. 00:49:25.539 --> 00:49:30.539 Something that is on my heart is that this whole Christianity thing is beyond just a worldview. 00:49:30.539 --> 00:49:34.539 It's beyond just a theological concept. 00:49:35.539 --> 00:49:38.539 If we truly believe what we say we believe, we live it out. 00:49:39.539 --> 00:49:43.539 And we live as those who follow and the one who suffered. 00:49:44.539 --> 00:49:46.539 Who was wrongly accused. 00:49:47.539 --> 00:49:51.539 And so I pray, we pray that as we step away from here, that there would be courage in us. 00:49:52.539 --> 00:49:54.539 That we would live in a way that's just different. 00:49:54.539 --> 00:50:00.539 Different, different, set apart, holy, as we go out into this world that is tearing itself apart. 00:50:00.539 --> 00:50:04.539 Would we just choose, choose the Jesus way?