WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone. Open up your Bibles to Romans.

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 For those who may be joining us today, we've been going through the book of Romans for quite some time now.

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 We're getting towards those latter chapters, but as has been mentioned already today, we just believe that what you need to hear and what God's people need to hear is the Scripture.

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 We need to hear God's Word, not man's. We don't need to have a good Word. We need the Word.

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 And so that desire, we usually preach verse by verse through different books of Scripture and letting the Holy Spirit use the Word of God to apply it to our hearts.

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 And so we've been moving through Romans. If you would like to catch up, all the sermons are online on our website.

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 But we're getting to these latter chapters of Romans. Chapter 15 is where we will be today.

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 And we're talking about, in chapter 15, Paul's explaining his mission to the Gentile people, the non-Jews in the Roman world,

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 and spreading the Gospel and planting churches in the Gentile world for the glory of God.

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 So today, we will be starting in verse 22 and going all the way down to the end of chapter in 33.

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 But Paul mentions here that his plan is to eventually come to the Romans, because he actually had never been to Rome before.

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 And from there, go on to Spain.

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 But before any of that happens, he mentions that he first must go to Jerusalem.

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 And so, all these things will kind of be.

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 But we're going to unpack the text today mainly with two questions.

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 And to save us time, we'll just eat it bit by bit.

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 But the first question, we'll see in verses 22 through 29.

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 But what are Paul's plans?

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 What are Paul's plans?

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 So let's read together in verse 22.

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 He says,

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 Bringing aid to the saints.

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 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.

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 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them.

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 For if the Gentiles have come to share in the spiritual blessings,

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 they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

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 When, therefore, I have completed and have delivered to them what has been collected,

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 I will leave for Spain by way of you.

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 I know that when I come to you, I will come in fullness of the blessing of Christ.

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 So, I thought the best way to kind of walk through this would be chronological.

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 Because he kind of says like,

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 I'm here now, but I'm going to come to you.

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 But first I'm going to go to this.

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 And sort of goes back and forth.

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 So, in my brain I'm trying to like establish like where did he actually go first and move out from there.

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 So, we see clearly that one of his plans is,

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 because he's currently in Corinth writing to the Romans,

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 his plan is to go to Jerusalem first.

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 You see that in verse 26.

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 But, so before he comes to Rome,

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 he plans to bring a collection that he's been gathering from all the Gentile churches.

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 All the churches that he has planted and been a part of and ministered to.

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 He's been collecting money, gifts, supplies, and order

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 to bring it to the believers who were in Jerusalem

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 because they were not doing well.

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 They were struggling financially.

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 They were poor.

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 They needed assistance.

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 And so, Paul basically says,

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 he picks up this major theme of the letter.

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 This isn't just an example of what Christians should do to show generosity.

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 If you picked up on this,

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 it's a main theme in his letter.

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 That is the debt that Gentile believers owe to their Jewish roots.

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 You see that in chapter 11, verse 8.

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 In chapter 15, 8 and 9.

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 So, he says that these churches like Macedonia and Achaia

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 were pleased to make a contribution to the poor saints in Jerusalem.

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 And he says,

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 indeed, they owe it to them.

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 For the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings.

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 So, meaning like the truths of the gospel

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 that were preached to the Gentiles

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 by Jewish apostles,

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 by Jewish prophets, teachers, and so on.

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 They ought also to serve in the material blessings.

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 So, this gift that he's going to take to Jerusalem

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 comes from many different churches.

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 Thessalonica, Philippi, Corinth, etc.

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 And also, he wants to gather some from the Romans

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 in order to go and give to them.

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 And you see that they're thankful to be a part of this work.

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 They're not doing this begrudgingly.

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 They are blessed to take part in providing the needs

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 and alleviating some of the suffering of their fellow Jewish believers there.

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 So, these Gentiles and us, right,

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 stand in debt to the Jews

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 for the spiritual blessings of the Jewish people.

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 And so, they are joyful to share, like in that,

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 assistance financially.

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 I just thought it was interesting

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 while I was studying this

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 that Paul assumes that financial aid for needy Christians

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 is just a normal part of the Christian life.

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 He didn't have to make a huge argument for why they ought to.

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 He basically is just saying,

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 that's what we do.

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 That's a part of how we live this Christian life

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 by providing for the needs of fellow believers.

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 And he goes on by telling the Romans

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 that that visit of,

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 he asked them to support him in prayer.

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 And he also is just trying to discourage

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 any kind of division or infighting

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 between Jews and Gentiles in the church.

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 He wants them to be unified.

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 One, to put aside just that part of who they think they are

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 and say, hey, you're part of something greater.

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 You are the church.

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 You are the believers.

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 And so, after he has collected that

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 from these Gentile churches,

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 he will go to Jerusalem,

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 then to Rome, then to Spain.

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 So then, to Rome.

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 This is his next part, if you notice that.

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 He says, Paul planned for a while to go to Rome,

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 but he had been hindered.

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 He had been prevented.

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 And he knew that at some point,

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 God would eventually bring him

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 to the imperial city, Rome.

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 The seat, the most powerful place

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 in the ancient world at this time,

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 especially to the Gentile world.

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 And so, he had been hindered

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 from coming to see them,

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 prevented primarily because of what he says

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 prior to this,

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 that his main goal was to plant churches

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 in the unreached areas

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 in the eastern part of the empire.

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 And so, that was his main objective.

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 So, to plant churches

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 and to preach the gospel in pivotal cities

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 to where the gospel would go outward.

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 Corinth, Thessalonica, Athens, etc.

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 And so, from there,

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 he plans to go on to Rome itself.

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 And remember, he wrote from Corinth.

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 This was three years

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 before he actually would go to Rome.

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 And it would be sort of a dream

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 come true to him, really.

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 But if you want to just...

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 I mean, I don't have a lot of places

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 for you to turn outside of our main text,

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 but just flip over to the beginning

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 of the book of Romans.

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 Romans chapter 1.

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 Just to kind of pick up on this.

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 But you can feel his desire

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 and his love for the Roman believers.

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 In chapter 1,

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 we'll start in just verse 7.

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 He goes,

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 First,

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 First, I thank my God,

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 through Jesus Christ,

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 for all of you,

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 because of your faith

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 is proclaimed in all the world.

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 For God is my witness,

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 whom I serve with my spirit

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 in the gospel of His Son,

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 that without ceasing,

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 I mention you always in my prayers,

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 asking that somehow,

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 by God's will,

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 I may now at last succeed

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 in coming to you.

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 For I long,

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 I yearn,

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 I desire to see you,

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 that I may impart to you

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 some spiritual gift

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 to strengthen you.

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 That is,

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 that we may be mutually encouraged

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 by each other's faith,

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 both yours and mine.

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 So, again,

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 that desire he has here,

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 he's hoping to soon realize

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 and to be able to come

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 to Rome itself.

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 So you can go back

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 to Romans 15.

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 Now we see, next,

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 that in verse 24 and 28,

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 that Paul mentions

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 that after leaving Rome,

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 his plan is to journey to Spain.

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 to begin a fourth missionary trip.

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 If you look in a lot of your Bibles,

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 well, at least a lot of the ones

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 that I've seen,

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 they have little maps in the back,

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 they have Paul's missionary journeys

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 in the back.

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 Usually, you might just see three,

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 but I'm pretty certain

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 there was a fourth

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 going on the way to Spain.

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 Remember,

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 if you look in chapter 15 again,

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 that it was always Paul's desire

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 to go to unreached peoples.

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 You see this in verse 20 and 21.

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 He says,

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 Lest I make it my ambition

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 to preach the Gospel,

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 not where Christ has already been named,

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 lest I build upon

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 someone else's foundation,

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 but as it is written,

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 those who have never been told

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 of Him will see,

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 and those who have never heard

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 will understand.

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 So, Paul was particularly gifted

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 and directed by God

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 to be a pioneer

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 to go where the Gospel

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 had not yet been taken yet.

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 Well, there was no Gospel,

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 no church.

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 The name of Jesus

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 had not yet been heard.

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 So, not necessarily to go

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 to where there was already

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 established churches.

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 It was to go where there were no churches.

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 And so, this makes his desire

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 to go to new territory,

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 particularly Spain,

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 because, this is astounding,

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 he had nowhere else to go

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 in the eastern part of the empire.

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 Isn't that crazy?

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 Like, he pretty much,

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 you see his map and his head,

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 he just checked it off.

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 Like, been there,

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 been there,

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 the church is growing

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 and flourishing here,

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 and now he basically says,

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 I've finished that.

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 So, now I look west

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 to Rome and Spain.

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 He plans to go on.

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 The eastern Mediterranean

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 had been somewhat reached.

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 But I think it's astonishing

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 that in verse 23,

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 he's basically saying,

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 I'm finished.

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 My work is done.

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 There's no more places

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 in these regions for me to go.

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 My missionary task is complete.

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 So, praise the Lord.

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 So, he's eager to go on

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 to Rome and then to Spain.

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 So, it's remarkable though

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 that in 25 years

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 of frontier mission work

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 in the eastern Mediterranean,

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 it was finished.

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 Of course, there were still

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 thousands and millions

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 that hadn't been reached yet

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 in those places,

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 but it's not God's design

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 for men like Paul

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 to win everybody to Christ.

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 That's the job of local churches,

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 local believers,

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 local pastors,

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 the job of an indigenous group

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 where they are.

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 So, I mean, just,

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 to pause on this.

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 Are you aware of our

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 collective responsibility

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 to reach the lost around us?

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 And are you aware

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 of your personal responsibility

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 to know, to live,

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 to teach the gospel

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 to unbelievers

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 in the spirit that God has you

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 in your school,

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 in your place of work,

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 your social circles?

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 your social circles?

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 And very often,

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 you know,

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 I say this a lot up here,

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 but it bears repeating

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 because I know that

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 if you were to go back

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 to last week's sermon

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 and then maybe even go back

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 a month,

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 how much of that

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 have all of us

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 put into practice

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 in our lives

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 with God's help?

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 But are unbelievers

00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:13.220
 even on your radar

00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:14.080
 at all?

00:13:14.800 --> 00:13:15.480
 Or do you,

00:13:15.660 --> 00:13:15.920
 quote,

00:13:16.040 --> 00:13:17.300
 leave it to the professionals?

00:13:17.540 --> 00:13:17.700
 Like,

00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:18.860
 we're so professional.

00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:19.560
 Not really.

00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:21.000
 And do you, like,

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:22.399
 really desire

00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:23.860
 to see the lost

00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.860
 come to Christ?

00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:26.060
 It isn't the job

00:13:26.060 --> 00:13:27.960
 of men like Paul

00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:30.019
 to reach everybody.

00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:31.500
 So, therefore,

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:33.180
 Paul hopes to go to Rome

00:13:33.180 --> 00:13:34.800
 to meet with the saints

00:13:34.800 --> 00:13:35.660
 in the church there,

00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.399
 and then he desires

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:37.699
 to use them as a base,

00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.779
 ascending base,

00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:41.819
 to go to Spain.

00:13:41.939 --> 00:13:42.159
 He says,

00:13:42.219 --> 00:13:43.059
 I hope to see you

00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:44.360
 in passing as I go

00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:45.000
 to Spain

00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.339
 and to be helped

00:13:46.339 --> 00:13:47.439
 on my journey there

00:13:47.439 --> 00:13:48.539
 by you.

00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:49.679
 So,

00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:50.459
 Spain,

00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:53.279
 in the first century A.D.

00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:54.039
 was a firm

00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:54.819
 and established

00:13:54.819 --> 00:13:56.379
 part of the Roman Empire.

00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:58.019
 I promise not to bore you

00:13:58.019 --> 00:13:58.919
 the history,

00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:00.240
 the ancient history part of me

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:00.799
 just wants to

00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:01.899
 understand

00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:02.720
 people don't get

00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:04.240
 stoked about it

00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:04.720
 as I do.

00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:05.299
 So,

00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:06.139
 but,

00:14:06.459 --> 00:14:07.919
 it's located

00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.379
 on the far eastern side

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.019
 of the empire.

00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:11.879
 It was called Tarshish

00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.839
 in the Old Testament.

00:14:13.579 --> 00:14:14.860
 Spain was a major center

00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:16.120
 of commerce and culture

00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:17.699
 and provided much

00:14:17.699 --> 00:14:18.779
 in the way of prosperity

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.360
 and security

00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.439
 for the Roman Empire.

00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:21.879
 For the military,

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.980
 it gave massive amounts

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.740
 of manpower,

00:14:24.579 --> 00:14:24.939
 horses,

00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.179
 and very important,

00:14:27.339 --> 00:14:27.620
 this,

00:14:27.719 --> 00:14:28.120
 like the,

00:14:28.219 --> 00:14:28.579
 you ever heard

00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:29.620
 of Spanish steel,

00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:32.019
 the gladius expaniensis,

00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.319
 the Roman sword

00:14:33.319 --> 00:14:33.860
 that they used

00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.399
 in the legions

00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:34.899
 was made

00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:36.179
 from Spanish steel.

00:14:36.939 --> 00:14:38.220
 They had substantial

00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:39.600
 crops for the empire

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:40.639
 to feed the empire.

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.319
 And a lot of well-known

00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:43.220
 Romans in history

00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:44.539
 came from Spain.

00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:45.959
 Seneca,

00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:47.319
 the great philosopher

00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:48.559
 and statesman

00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.659
 who infamously

00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.740
 tutored Nero,

00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:52.579
 failed at that.

00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:54.860
 he actually said

00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.740
 it's something pretty cool.

00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:56.440
 Like, you know,

00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:57.160
 there's a lot of cool

00:14:57.160 --> 00:14:57.860
 things that he said,

00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.400
 but this shows

00:14:59.400 --> 00:15:00.220
 that common grace

00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:01.100
 is a real thing.

00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:03.220
 A wise man

00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:04.060
 never asks

00:15:04.060 --> 00:15:05.340
 what another man serves,

00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.139
 for only his actions

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.320
 will speak the truth.

00:15:09.300 --> 00:15:09.740
 And so,

00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:11.280
 he was one,

00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:11.879
 Seneca,

00:15:12.660 --> 00:15:14.240
 also some emperors,

00:15:14.400 --> 00:15:15.900
 including Trajan,

00:15:15.900 --> 00:15:17.460
 who expanded the empire

00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:19.740
 to its greatest length.

00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:20.940
 And so,

00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:23.040
 it was very critical

00:15:23.040 --> 00:15:24.180
 to Paul

00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:25.200
 that he goes there

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.080
 because that was

00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.560
 a very epicenter

00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:28.340
 in a lot of ways

00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:29.379
 of the Roman empire.

00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:30.460
 So,

00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.240
 strategic location

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:32.980
 for Paul to go

00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.840
 and evangelize

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:35.080
 and plant the church.

00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:35.280
 So,

00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:35.440
 you see,

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.100
 his plans are going

00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.680
 to go to Jerusalem,

00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:38.360
 then I'm going to go to Rome,

00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:39.280
 and then I'm going to go

00:15:39.280 --> 00:15:39.660
 to Spain.

00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:41.040
 Alright?

00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.539
 But,

00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.459
 this is question number two.

00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:46.659
 Did God

00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.860
 allow Paul

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.399
 to accomplish

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.459
 his plans?

00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:51.939
 Now,

00:15:52.079 --> 00:15:52.779
 some of us have

00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:53.819
 this idea

00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:54.759
 that

00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:56.839
 Paul would just,

00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:58.000
 you know,

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.539
 just get him

00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.139
 to work himself

00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:00.759
 into some kind

00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.799
 of spiritual frenzy

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.480
 and God would just

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.199
 speak to him

00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:04.500
 in a vision

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.620
 about where to go.

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.719
 That did happen,

00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:08.579
 but usually,

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:08.959
 Paul,

00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:09.759
 just like us,

00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:10.719
 he used his wisdom,

00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.360
 he used

00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.240
 what he knew

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.220
 about life,

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.940
 and he made decisions.

00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:17.360
 God did,

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:17.860
 on occasion,

00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:18.500
 direct him,

00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:20.060
 but Paul is aware,

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.040
 very aware,

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:23.120
 of a huge truth

00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.180
 that we need to grasp.

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.660
 It says in

00:16:25.660 --> 00:16:26.620
 Proverbs 16,

00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:27.100
 9,

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.440
 the heart of a man

00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.879
 plans his way,

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.940
 but the Lord

00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:34.259
 establishes his steps.

00:16:34.300 --> 00:16:35.300
 We make our plans,

00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:36.720
 but at the end of the day,

00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:37.779
 we're not sovereign,

00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:38.879
 we're not omnipotent,

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:40.240
 and God directs

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:40.980
 our steps.

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:42.879
 Right?

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.620
 It goes on,

00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:44.440
 there's other Proverbs.

00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:45.159
 Proverbs 19,

00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:45.620
 21,

00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:47.720
 many are the plans

00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.419
 in the mind

00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:49.080
 of a man.

00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:50.539
 That surprises

00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.120
 some women.

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:52.139
 There's many plans

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.799
 in our heads,

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.060
 right?

00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:54.379
 But,

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.719
 it is the purpose

00:16:55.719 --> 00:16:57.159
 of the Lord

00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:58.239
 that will stand.

00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.199
 So,

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:00.679
 we make these thoughts,

00:17:00.739 --> 00:17:01.459
 we have these plans,

00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.519
 but God's purpose

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.139
 stands.

00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.460
 True?

00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:05.279
 Yes.

00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:06.879
 Mysterious?

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.599
 Yes.

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.539
 But the Bible writers

00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.240
 fully knew

00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.179
 that as they planned

00:17:11.179 --> 00:17:11.679
 and went about

00:17:11.679 --> 00:17:12.519
 their daily lives,

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:13.339
 they believed that

00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.839
 their entire lives

00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.000
 fell under God's

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.039
 sovereign rule

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.980
 and His providence.

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:19.620
 and they even

00:17:19.620 --> 00:17:20.099
 confess,

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:20.860
 Proverbs 20,

00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.400
 24,

00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:23.000
 a man's steps

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:24.559
 are from the Lord.

00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.180
 How then

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.180
 can man understand

00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:28.140
 his way?

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.960
 So,

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:30.360
 we are told about this

00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:31.000
 in the Scripture

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.000
 and we can't fully

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.059
 grasp it or understand it,

00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:34.799
 but we make plans

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.559
 and we offer them up

00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.039
 to God

00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:36.659
 and ask that He

00:17:36.659 --> 00:17:38.359
 would use them

00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:39.679
 as He sees fit,

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.839
 but ultimately

00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:42.099
 they are in His hands.

00:17:42.179 --> 00:17:43.339
 And Paul was very

00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.159
 aware of this.

00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:45.039
 And so,

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.000
 he often uses

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.359
 tentative phrases.

00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:47.960
 He goes,

00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:50.220
 he said in Acts 15,

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:50.960
 verse 28,

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:52.740
 it seemed good

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.819
 to the Holy Spirit

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:55.419
 and to us

00:17:55.419 --> 00:17:56.980
 to do this.

00:17:57.879 --> 00:17:58.779
 And to the Corinthians

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.460
 he wrote,

00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:01.339
 for I do not want

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.399
 to see you now

00:18:02.399 --> 00:18:03.240
 just in passing.

00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:04.039
 I hope to spend

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.879
 time with you

00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:06.680
 if the Lord permits.

00:18:07.560 --> 00:18:07.760
 So,

00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:08.300
 meaning that he

00:18:08.300 --> 00:18:09.320
 had these plans

00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:10.380
 but he submitted them

00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:12.960
 to God's sovereignty.

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.100
 So,

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:15.100
 are you humbled

00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:16.580
 by that spiritual reality?

00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.380
 Because Paul

00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:18.920
 definitely was.

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.720
 Do we acknowledge

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.380
 God

00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.740
 and seek Him

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.320
 in the making

00:18:22.320 --> 00:18:23.620
 of our plans?

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.700
 Or do we ignore Him

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:26.160
 if He's not really

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.380
 a part of the equation?

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.120
 Very careful.

00:18:29.280 --> 00:18:29.580
 We need to be

00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:30.460
 very careful there.

00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:31.740
 And so,

00:18:32.080 --> 00:18:33.460
 what happened?

00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.180
 What happened

00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.680
 to all these

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:35.200
 different trips

00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:35.720
 that he had planned?

00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.720
 Let's just unpack them.

00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:37.779
 Alright?

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:38.400
 So,

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.100
 did Paul make it

00:18:39.100 --> 00:18:39.680
 to Jerusalem?

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.140
 Yes,

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:41.580
 he did.

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.440
 Read about it

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:42.900
 in Acts.

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.480
 And so,

00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:45.299
 Paul made it

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:45.920
 to Jerusalem.

00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.560
 He was warned

00:18:47.560 --> 00:18:48.460
 ahead of time

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:48.960
 before he went

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.580
 to Jerusalem

00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:50.759
 in Acts 21.

00:18:51.560 --> 00:18:52.880
 Agabus prophesied

00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.900
 that if you go there,

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.840
 I say by the Holy Spirit

00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:56.720
 that you will suffer.

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:57.759
 Like,

00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.400
 you're going to be,

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:58.759
 you know,

00:18:58.820 --> 00:19:00.799
 in great persecution there.

00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.019
 And so,

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:02.440
 Paul said,

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:02.779
 basically,

00:19:02.879 --> 00:19:02.980
 like,

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.720
 I'm ready to go

00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.159
 and I'm ready

00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:04.599
 to die

00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:05.419
 for Jesus.

00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.700
 I don't really care.

00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:07.659
 So,

00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.980
 even if he was warned,

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:09.980
 I mean,

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:10.460
 I want you all

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:10.919
 to just stop

00:19:10.919 --> 00:19:11.659
 and think about that.

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:11.819
 Like,

00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.740
 let's say that God,

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:16.419
 by some crazy chance,

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.200
 revealed to you

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.619
 what would happen

00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:19.919
 to you

00:19:19.919 --> 00:19:20.379
 if you went

00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:21.379
 to a certain place.

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.779
 Your thinking

00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.319
 would be,

00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:25.220
 well,

00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.519
 if it would go well,

00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:27.419
 then I would go there.

00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:27.839
 Right?

00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:28.959
 But Paul,

00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.699
 this was sort of mind-blowing.

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:31.619
 That suffering

00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:32.480
 awaited him there.

00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:33.919
 And he still went.

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:36.179
 This was sort of mind-blowing.

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:38.099
 Even when God did give him

00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:39.119
 a glimpse of the future,

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:41.019
 he didn't run from it.

00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:42.519
 He went towards it.

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:43.379
 So,

00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:44.359
 he suffered greatly

00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.879
 in Jerusalem.

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.980
 He was eventually attacked

00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:48.919
 by a large mob

00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:51.119
 and they accused him

00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:52.199
 of breaking their law.

00:19:52.939 --> 00:19:54.319
 And he addressed the mob

00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:55.039
 and basically shared

00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:55.679
 his testimony

00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:57.000
 and the gospel with them.

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.500
 And they rejected him.

00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.039
 And then they went on

00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.339
 to try to scourge him,

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:03.259
 which wouldn't be new to him.

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.619
 But,

00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.920
 this is very rare

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:07.420
 that Paul usually does this.

00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:09.140
 I think he only does it

00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:10.720
 if it will serve God's purpose.

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:13.380
 Not out of a selfish reason

00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:14.500
 to escape pain.

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:15.779
 But,

00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.960
 he's about ready to be scourged

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.279
 in that there's a Roman centurion

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.839
 next to him.

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:20.880
 And he goes,

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.200
 hey,

00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:24.319
 is it lawful

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.880
 for you to flog a man

00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:27.039
 who is a Roman citizen

00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:28.259
 before he is condemned?

00:20:29.580 --> 00:20:29.960
 So,

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.740
 the centurion's like,

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:30.920
 oh,

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.440
 shoot.

00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:33.319
 And he went to the tribune

00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:33.660
 and said,

00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:35.460
 what do you want to do?

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.880
 This man is a Roman citizen.

00:20:37.080 --> 00:20:37.200
 So,

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.340
 meaning it's against the law

00:20:38.340 --> 00:20:39.180
 for us to just

00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:40.420
 scourge him

00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.319
 without a trial.

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:41.620
 Like,

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:44.319
 he has to be under Roman law.

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:44.539
 So,

00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:45.960
 they were in kind of a panic.

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:46.319
 So,

00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.100
 Paul was eventually in prison

00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:49.779
 when he was in Jerusalem.

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.220
 But,

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.100
 as a Roman citizen,

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.019
 he could appeal

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:54.380
 to Caesar

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:56.559
 for a final trial.

00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:57.720
 So,

00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.340
 that's what

00:20:58.340 --> 00:20:59.779
 led him on to Rome.

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:00.019
 So,

00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:00.860
 next to Paul,

00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:02.640
 did God allow Paul

00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.840
 to make it to Rome?

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:04.880
 Again,

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.039
 the answer is yes.

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.559
 Three years

00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.360
 after writing them,

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.640
 Paul's plan to come to Rome

00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:11.039
 was finally realized.

00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:12.259
 And,

00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:12.840
 however,

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:15.120
 not in the way he intended.

00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.359
 he went,

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.819
 not as a,

00:21:17.939 --> 00:21:18.059
 quote,

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.719
 free man,

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:19.639
 but as a prisoner.

00:21:20.459 --> 00:21:22.019
 He walked up the Via Appia

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.539
 for five days to Rome.

00:21:24.239 --> 00:21:24.639
 And,

00:21:24.699 --> 00:21:25.539
 it had been a long,

00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:26.839
 crazy journey to get there,

00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:27.819
 which you can read about

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.559
 in Acts.

00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:29.879
 Very difficult.

00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:30.199
 But,

00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:30.779
 as he even,

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:32.199
 before he was even in

00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:33.219
 the city itself,

00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:34.000
 there were believers

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.779
 coming out to greet him.

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.199
 And,

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.919
 I think that that's like

00:21:36.919 --> 00:21:37.819
 so encouraging.

00:21:38.439 --> 00:21:39.719
 A place that he had never been.

00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.479
 There were believers.

00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:40.719
 And,

00:21:40.739 --> 00:21:41.379
 they were coming out

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:42.179
 to meet Paul

00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:43.859
 as he came toward

00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.099
 the city gate.

00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.739
 of Rome itself.

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.639
 God had remained

00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:49.319
 faithful to him.

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:49.599
 He said,

00:21:49.679 --> 00:21:50.179
 you must,

00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:51.299
 you will testify

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.799
 in Rome.

00:21:52.899 --> 00:21:53.859
 That's what God told him.

00:21:53.919 --> 00:21:54.039
 So,

00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:55.659
 God was keeping his word

00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:57.559
 and following through.

00:21:58.139 --> 00:21:58.339
 So,

00:21:58.959 --> 00:21:59.939
 as was his style

00:21:59.939 --> 00:22:00.859
 when he got to Rome,

00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:01.279
 he sought out

00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.319
 the Jewish population

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.619
 and began sharing with them.

00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:05.019
 They had the scriptures.

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:05.979
 They had the knowledge.

00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:06.379
 And,

00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:08.439
 it says that some believed

00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:08.939
 and most,

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.979
 but most rejected.

00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.219
 And so,

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.219
 but he didn't give in

00:22:12.219 --> 00:22:12.699
 too easily.

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.360
 It actually says

00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:14.080
 in Acts that

00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:15.980
 he went on

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.759
 from morning

00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.440
 to evening

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.600
 expounding the scriptures

00:22:18.600 --> 00:22:19.080
 to them.

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:19.960
 So,

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.660
 when's the last time

00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:21.819
 any of us ever did that?

00:22:22.080 --> 00:22:22.319
 So,

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:22.960
 all night,

00:22:23.080 --> 00:22:23.559
 all day,

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.860
 he's like sharing

00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.480
 the scriptures,

00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.480
 sharing the gospel

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:28.319
 with these Jews.

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:28.900
 But then,

00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:30.019
 again,

00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:30.960
 as was his way,

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.819
 he kind of turned

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:33.519
 that from the Jews

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.720
 to his undivided attention

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:36.940
 to reaching the Gentiles.

00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.180
 So,

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.440
 a lot of this

00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.340
 you have to kind of go

00:22:40.340 --> 00:22:41.180
 outside

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.080
 and kind of understand

00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:42.759
 what happened,

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:44.680
 but Paul's trial

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.799
 probably did not come

00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:47.120
 for at least two years

00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:48.960
 while he was in Rome.

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:51.059
 It could do the fact

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:52.259
 that many cases

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.100
 were stacked up

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:53.860
 before his,

00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:55.900
 or his was just not seen

00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:57.700
 as that important enough

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:59.620
 to jump to the front

00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.120
 of the queue

00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:00.940
 of the emperor.

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.660
 But,

00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.740
 can you just imagine,

00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:04.799
 that's why Paul's there

00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.080
 in Rome.

00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:07.059
 He's under house arrest.

00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:08.220
 He hasn't tied to Paul

00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:09.199
 for two years

00:23:09.199 --> 00:23:11.240
 and what that was kind of like.

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:11.819
 But,

00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:13.879
 that was not wasted time

00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.339
 at all

00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:15.919
 in God's sovereign plan.

00:23:16.699 --> 00:23:17.579
 During that time,

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.759
 God inspired many

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.859
 of the letters

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:21.659
 that we hold dear today.

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.659
 While he was in Rome,

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.619
 he penned Ephesians,

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.319
 Philippians,

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.740
 Colossians,

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.519
 and Philemon

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.519
 while he was here.

00:23:28.159 --> 00:23:28.279
 So,

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.819
 this wasn't wasted time

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.799
 while he was under

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.679
 house arrest.

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.379
 He's been passed down

00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:33.819
 to us,

00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:34.379
 survived,

00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:35.720
 and in our hands today.

00:23:36.540 --> 00:23:37.580
 In Paul's time

00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:38.540
 under house arrest,

00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:39.840
 he preached the gospel.

00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.540
 In Acts 28,

00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.400
 verse 30 and 31,

00:23:43.540 --> 00:23:43.800
 it says,

00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.720
 Paul lived there

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.840
 two whole years

00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:48.020
 at his own expense

00:23:48.020 --> 00:23:49.860
 and welcomed all

00:23:49.860 --> 00:23:50.760
 who came to him

00:23:50.760 --> 00:23:52.520
 proclaiming the kingdom

00:23:52.520 --> 00:23:53.040
 of God

00:23:53.040 --> 00:23:53.940
 and teaching about

00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:55.760
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:23:55.760 --> 00:23:56.960
 with all boldness

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:58.620
 and without hindrance.

00:23:59.320 --> 00:23:59.740
 So,

00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.620
 on this first trip

00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.100
 to Rome,

00:24:02.600 --> 00:24:03.440
 we had this impression

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:03.960
 that he was just

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.759
 always in a dungeon.

00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.600
 He actually lived

00:24:05.600 --> 00:24:06.720
 as a Roman citizen

00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.660
 under house arrest

00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.440
 pretty comfortably

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.539
 and he could share

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:10.960
 the gospel

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.580
 with anybody

00:24:11.580 --> 00:24:12.940
 who came

00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:14.160
 to talk to him.

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.299
 So,

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.940
 Roman law

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:17.680
 allowed him

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.580
 all these things.

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:18.940
 So,

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.700
 it's safe to assume

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.400
 that he just walked

00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.840
 all over the city of Rome

00:24:22.840 --> 00:24:24.980
 and shared Christ

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.059
 with all that he could

00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.720
 even while he was

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.519
 under guard.

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.680
 And so,

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.579
 he used that freedom

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.460
 well probably

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.519
 from 60 A.D.

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.879
 to 62 A.D.

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:33.900
 But,

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.279
 we don't really know

00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:35.759
 what happened

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.900
 fully,

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:39.220
 but Paul's trial

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:41.879
 probably didn't come

00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:42.480
 for two years

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.359
 and when it was heard,

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:43.940
 it was heard

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.960
 at the southeastern part

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:47.240
 of the Roman Forum

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:49.440
 and the emperor

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.180
 who at that time

00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:50.859
 was Nero,

00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.519
 he would hear

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:54.259
 very important cases,

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.539
 very important situations,

00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:55.899
 but,

00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:57.000
 as we know,

00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:57.519
 for Nero,

00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.099
 he wasn't really

00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:59.019
 a great statesman,

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.619
 he kind of liked

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.599
 theater and music

00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:01.240
 a lot better

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.519
 and not really

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.799
 dealing with serious matters

00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.359
 and so,

00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.399
 often,

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:07.420
 the less important things

00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:08.279
 were delegated

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:10.440
 to the captain

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.359
 or the commander

00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:12.559
 of the Praetorian Guard

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.859
 which was,

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.079
 you know,

00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:15.559
 his personal bodyguard.

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.639
 And so,

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.119
 it is very possible

00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:19.579
 that Paul never

00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:20.240
 appeared

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.819
 before Nero

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.440
 but that would have

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.440
 been a sight to see

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.200
 like the world's,

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.920
 one of the ancient

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.420
 history's

00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:27.120
 greatest tyrants

00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:28.300
 actually face-to-face

00:25:28.300 --> 00:25:29.600
 with one of the

00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.560
 greatest Christians.

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.080
 We don't know

00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:32.800
 that that happened

00:25:32.800 --> 00:25:33.920
 but,

00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:35.539
 at any rate,

00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:37.980
 Christianity as a whole

00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.700
 was not really

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.680
 considered a threat

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.460
 by the empire

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.140
 at this time.

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:41.800
 At that time,

00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:42.360
 it was not.

00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.279
 So,

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.000
 all evidence

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.980
 seems to point

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.779
 to him eventually

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.600
 being released

00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:48.860
 and went on

00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.279
 from there.

00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:50.820
 The charges

00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:52.000
 brought against Paul

00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.800
 were infractions

00:25:52.800 --> 00:25:53.900
 of the Jewish law

00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:55.160
 as we see

00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:55.780
 in Acts

00:25:55.780 --> 00:25:56.380
 and not seen

00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.440
 as a serious threat

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.920
 in the eyes

00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.240
 of Rome

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.720
 at that time.

00:25:58.780 --> 00:25:59.120
 This is just

00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:00.640
 sort of a sect

00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.320
 of Judaism

00:26:01.320 --> 00:26:02.240
 is what they thought.

00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:03.440
 They didn't really

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.100
 consider it

00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:04.820
 a big deal.

00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.740
 Even in Acts 26,

00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:07.360
 King Agrippa

00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:08.140
 even said,

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.700
 this man

00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.280
 might have been

00:26:10.280 --> 00:26:10.880
 set free

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.480
 had he not

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.200
 even appealed

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:12.820
 to Caesar.

00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:14.180
 So,

00:26:14.300 --> 00:26:15.019
 there's one reason

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:15.640
 to think that.

00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.160
 There's no,

00:26:18.300 --> 00:26:19.400
 when we read

00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:19.920
 in Acts

00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.380
 when Paul

00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:21.200
 actually arrives

00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.600
 in Rome,

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.039
 they didn't really

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.720
 even hear anything

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.160
 about him.

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.539
 They were like,

00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:24.740
 oh,

00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:24.920
 well,

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.360
 we didn't know

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.160
 you were under arrest.

00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:26.580
 So,

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.420
 word of that

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:27.840
 had not even

00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:28.620
 reached them

00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.660
 yet.

00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:31.300
 Then secondly,

00:26:31.580 --> 00:26:32.640
 under house arrest,

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.880
 Paul writes

00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.740
 of his confident

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.160
 release.

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.980
 He's pretty sure

00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.860
 that he'll be

00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:39.300
 found innocent.

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.560
 He wrote

00:26:40.560 --> 00:26:41.500
 to the Philippians,

00:26:42.560 --> 00:26:43.300
 I hope therefore

00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:44.360
 to send Timothy

00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:46.000
 just as soon

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:48.940
 as I can.

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.700
 and I trust

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.860
 that the Lord

00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.600
 will shortly

00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:53.039
 send me

00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:53.920
 to you also.

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.320
 So,

00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:54.519
 I mean,

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.059
 he's planning

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:56.240
 on eventually

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.980
 coming back

00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.480
 to see the

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:57.920
 Philippians

00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:58.519
 after his

00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.200
 imprisonment.

00:26:59.660 --> 00:26:59.940
 So,

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.340
 he seems

00:27:00.340 --> 00:27:01.160
 very confident

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.759
 in that release

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.299
 and for those

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.759
 reasons,

00:27:02.860 --> 00:27:03.500
 it's pretty safe

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.059
 to assume

00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:05.500
 that he wasn't

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.120
 found guilty

00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:06.700
 and he was

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.500
 released from

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:10.259
 this sentence

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.960
 that he had.

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:11.799
 So,

00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:12.140
 that leads

00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:12.779
 to the last

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.460
 question here.

00:27:13.580 --> 00:27:13.680
 But,

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:14.680
 lastly,

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.620
 did Paul even

00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.440
 make it to

00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.080
 the western

00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:17.680
 stretch of the

00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.320
 Roman Empire,

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.960
 to Spain?

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.439
 Did he go

00:27:19.439 --> 00:27:19.720
 there?

00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.179
 Well,

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.980
 no visit of

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.119
 Paul is

00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.700
 recorded in

00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:24.939
 the New

00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.319
 Testament,

00:27:25.899 --> 00:27:26.500
 but it's

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.460
 highly possible

00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:27.980
 he went

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.599
 there after

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.299
 his release.

00:27:29.879 --> 00:27:30.480
 There's some

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.359
 extra-biblical

00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:31.899
 sources,

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.919
 historical evidence

00:27:32.919 --> 00:27:33.700
 that say that

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:35.159
 Paul did

00:27:35.159 --> 00:27:35.899
 go there.

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.659
 Twenty years

00:27:37.659 --> 00:27:38.439
 after Paul

00:27:38.439 --> 00:27:39.519
 went to

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:39.819
 Rome,

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.579
 Clement of

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.240
 Rome wrote,

00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.079
 an early

00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:42.679
 church father,

00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.579
 Paul preached

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.299
 in the east

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.899
 and in the west.

00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.399
 He won

00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:47.359
 genuine glory

00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:47.899
 for his

00:27:47.899 --> 00:27:48.259
 faith,

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.599
 having taught

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.219
 righteousness

00:27:50.219 --> 00:27:50.939
 to the whole

00:27:50.939 --> 00:27:51.459
 world and

00:27:51.459 --> 00:27:52.019
 having reached

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.699
 the farthest

00:27:52.699 --> 00:27:54.000
 limits of

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.659
 the west,

00:27:55.479 --> 00:27:56.079
 which at

00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:56.559
 that time

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:56.899
 would be

00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:57.479
 Hispania,

00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.000
 Spain.

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.019
 So,

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.000
 early church

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.000
 fathers wrote

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.639
 about Paul

00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:02.299
 going there,

00:28:02.939 --> 00:28:03.579
 and again,

00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:03.959
 if he was

00:28:03.959 --> 00:28:04.419
 released,

00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:05.000
 why wouldn't

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.519
 he go there?

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:05.959
 Right?

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:06.379
 So,

00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.519
 that's probably

00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.059
 what happened.

00:28:08.119 --> 00:28:08.500
 He went on

00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:08.959
 to Spain.

00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.299
 This gets

00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:11.259
 into the

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.579
 third and

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.299
 last question.

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.979
 I'll ask

00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:15.079
 the Romans.

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.480
 This is

00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.160
 verse 30

00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.860
 and 33.

00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.180
 But how

00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.779
 did Paul

00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:20.319
 ask the

00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.180
 Romans to

00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.559
 pray for

00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:21.779
 him?

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:22.980
 Alright?

00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.079
 You see

00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.480
 this in

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.039
 verse 30?

00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.339
 He says,

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.339
 I appeal

00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:28.039
 to you,

00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:28.620
 brothers,

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.420
 by our

00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:31.279
 Lord Jesus

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.880
 Christ,

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.019
 and by the

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.500
 love of the

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:33.819
 Spirit,

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.480
 to strive

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.200
 together with

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.759
 me in

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.319
 your prayers

00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:36.860
 to God

00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:37.819
 on my

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.319
 behalf,

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.599
 that I

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:39.880
 may be

00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.299
 delivered

00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:41.000
 from the

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:41.700
 unbelievers

00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.660
 in Judea,

00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:43.900
 and that

00:28:43.900 --> 00:28:44.720
 my service

00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.539
 for Jerusalem

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.620
 may be

00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.180
 acceptable

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.840
 to the

00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:48.200
 saints,

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.420
 so that

00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.240
 by God's

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.559
 will,

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.640
 I may

00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.080
 come to

00:28:52.080 --> 00:28:52.860
 you with

00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.559
 joy and

00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:54.140
 be refreshed

00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:54.500
 in your

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:54.980
 company.

00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:56.340
 May the

00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:56.700
 God of

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.420
 peace be

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:57.900
 with you

00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:58.440
 all.

00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.039
 Amen.

00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.759
 So,

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.539
 he appeals

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:01.860
 to them,

00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.500
 he calls

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:02.840
 them,

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.680
 he entreats

00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.039
 them,

00:29:04.840 --> 00:29:05.400
 by their

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.940
 mutual love

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:07.220
 for the

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.700
 Lord Jesus

00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:08.319
 Christ and

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:08.779
 the love

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.120
 of the

00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:10.039
 Holy Spirit,

00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:11.619
 to pray

00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:12.059
 with them.

00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.420
 And first

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:13.940
 he asks,

00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:14.279
 like,

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:14.940
 I know

00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.319
 that I'm

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.519
 going to

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:15.819
 go to

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.259
 Jerusalem,

00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.440
 and like,

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.079
 I'm asking

00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:19.539
 for deliverance

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.379
 from all

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:21.119
 the persecution

00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:22.480
 that will

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.000
 be there.

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.319
 And so,

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:24.779
 did God

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.240
 answer that

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:25.539
 prayer?

00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.539
 It seems

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:26.839
 like he

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.079
 didn't,

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:27.339
 but he

00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:27.539
 did,

00:29:27.619 --> 00:29:28.079
 because they

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:29.019
 didn't kill

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.240
 him,

00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.500
 they didn't

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:29.799
 put him

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.440
 to death.

00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.579
 Their desire

00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.159
 to do that

00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:33.000
 was frustrated

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:34.079
 by God's

00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:34.700
 sovereignty,

00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.379
 but he

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.000
 did go on

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.399
 to Rome,

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:37.980
 just not the

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.680
 way he had

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.119
 intended,

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:39.440
 right?

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:39.860
 We make

00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:40.660
 our plans,

00:29:41.320 --> 00:29:41.880
 but God

00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:42.539
 directs our

00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.259
 steps.

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.420
 So he

00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.000
 did go to

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.220
 Rome,

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.900
 but not as

00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.519
 a free man,

00:29:46.580 --> 00:29:47.039
 but as

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.920
 a prisoner.

00:29:48.580 --> 00:29:49.019
 God had

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.420
 his own

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.140
 way of

00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:50.740
 sending him.

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:51.960
 And so,

00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.480
 in Acts

00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.000
 24,

00:29:54.080 --> 00:29:54.660
 verse 17,

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.100
 it does

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:56.019
 suggest that

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:57.440
 the Jerusalem

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.180
 believers were

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.240
 thankful for

00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.680
 that contribution.

00:30:00.820 --> 00:30:01.019
 They were

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.799
 very grateful

00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.779
 that Paul

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.160
 brought.

00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:04.380
 And then he

00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:04.920
 asked for

00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:06.440
 basically spiritual

00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.240
 refreshment.

00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:07.460
 Like,

00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.579
 I want to

00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:09.059
 come to

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.420
 you by

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:09.900
 God's

00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:11.380
 will and

00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.000
 meet these

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.759
 Roman Christians

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.460
 face to

00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.759
 face and

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.680
 share fellowship

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.160
 with them,

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.519
 worship with

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.120
 them,

00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:19.600
 eat together

00:30:19.600 --> 00:30:20.180
 and laugh

00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:20.799
 together and

00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.340
 have great

00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:21.819
 fellowship

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.519
 together.

00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:23.860
 That was

00:30:23.860 --> 00:30:24.539
 what he had

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.299
 prayed for.

00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:26.279
 That sweet

00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:26.779
 time in

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.120
 Rome,

00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:27.640
 he would be

00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:28.759
 refreshed by

00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.700
 their company.

00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:29.779
 me.

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.140
 And so,

00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.720
 speaking as

00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.080
 like from

00:30:34.080 --> 00:30:34.600
 the point

00:30:34.600 --> 00:30:34.779
 of the

00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:35.000
 view of

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.400
 the Roman

00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:35.960
 church that

00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:36.460
 he's writing

00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:36.779
 to,

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:39.360
 who are

00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:39.880
 the saints

00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:40.640
 that God

00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:42.120
 uses to

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:43.460
 bring refreshment

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:45.080
 to your soul?

00:30:46.080 --> 00:30:46.600
 Encouragement

00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:47.840
 and refreshment

00:30:47.840 --> 00:30:48.600
 to the souls

00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:49.600
 of your

00:30:49.600 --> 00:30:50.580
 fellow believers?

00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:52.539
 Or are you

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.660
 mostly taxing

00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:54.180
 for people

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.000
 to be around?

00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.519
 I feel

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:56.880
 that I can

00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:57.480
 be that way

00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:57.940
 sometime.

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:59.400
 I want to

00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.440
 ask God

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.000
 to help me

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:01.720
 be a source

00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.620
 of refreshment

00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:03.320
 for others.

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.660
 And then he

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.700
 ends with a

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.500
 benediction here.

00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:06.840
 He says,

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:08.519
 finally closes

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.120
 by praying,

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:09.740
 may the God

00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.360
 of peace

00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:11.799
 be with you

00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.220
 all.

00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:12.880
 Amen.

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.380
 So,

00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.340
 just as we

00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:14.620
 see in

00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.240
 verse 13,

00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:15.840
 God is the

00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:16.440
 God of hope.

00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.140
 He's also

00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:18.220
 the God

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:19.039
 of peace

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:20.120
 to those

00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:20.779
 who belong

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.240
 to His

00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.820
 Son and

00:31:22.820 --> 00:31:23.160
 put their

00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:24.019
 trust in

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:24.320
 Him.

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:25.799
 And so,

00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:26.960
 in conclusion,

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:29.400
 it's very

00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:29.900
 easy to be

00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.039
 like,

00:31:30.100 --> 00:31:30.200
 wow,

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.640
 this is just

00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.259
 a lot of

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.740
 details.

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:32.680
 But,

00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:33.900
 I've really

00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:34.580
 tried to

00:31:34.580 --> 00:31:35.019
 think through

00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.440
 and pray

00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:35.820
 what would

00:31:35.820 --> 00:31:37.160
 be some

00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:37.880
 good appropriate

00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:38.580
 application

00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:39.059
 for some

00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:39.500
 of this.

00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:40.700
 But,

00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.220
 I think

00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:43.840
 what came

00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:44.140
 to my

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:44.559
 mind

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.460
 was

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:48.720
 Paul had

00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.299
 finished

00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:50.220
 his task.

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.059
 And,

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:52.640
 we read

00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:54.100
 in John,

00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:55.419
 if you

00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:55.719
 want to

00:31:55.719 --> 00:31:56.299
 join me

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:56.619
 there,

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.439
 we'll

00:31:57.439 --> 00:31:58.139
 close there

00:31:58.139 --> 00:31:58.459
 in just a

00:31:58.459 --> 00:31:58.699
 second,

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.359
 but John

00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.919
 17,

00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:03.019
 verses 4

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.699
 and 5,

00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:04.819
 this is

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.299
 when Jesus

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.099
 is praying

00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:06.619
 to the

00:32:06.619 --> 00:32:06.939
 Father.

00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.119
 And,

00:32:10.179 --> 00:32:11.159
 this is a

00:32:11.159 --> 00:32:12.079
 phrase that

00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:14.039
 haunts me

00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:14.980
 daily,

00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.419
 and often

00:32:16.419 --> 00:32:17.139
 can keep me

00:32:17.139 --> 00:32:18.119
 awake at

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:18.599
 nights.

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.000
 And,

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.359
 I need to

00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.119
 work on

00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:22.759
 that in my

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.399
 own life.

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:25.019
 But,

00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:26.439
 Jesus prayed

00:32:26.439 --> 00:32:26.839
 in John

00:32:26.839 --> 00:32:27.379
 17,

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.119
 verse 4,

00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:29.719
 basically saying,

00:32:29.879 --> 00:32:30.159
 Father,

00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.759
 I glorified

00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.339
 You on

00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:32.879
 the earth,

00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.480
 having

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.099
 accomplished

00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:35.819
 the work

00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:36.319
 that You

00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.959
 gave me

00:32:36.959 --> 00:32:37.759
 to do.

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.639
 So,

00:32:39.959 --> 00:32:40.839
 Jesus was

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.519
 fully

00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:43.399
 and completely

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:44.299
 satisfied

00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:46.099
 with accomplishing

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:46.980
 all the work

00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:48.119
 that the

00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:48.679
 Father had

00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:49.219
 given Him

00:32:49.219 --> 00:32:49.799
 to do

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.279
 on the

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:50.599
 earth.

00:32:51.719 --> 00:32:51.919
 And,

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:52.299
 with that

00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:53.000
 approving

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:53.619
 conscience,

00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:54.199
 that peace

00:32:54.199 --> 00:32:54.959
 of mind,

00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:56.379
 he then

00:32:56.379 --> 00:32:56.959
 prayed,

00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:58.439
 and now,

00:32:58.739 --> 00:32:59.099
 Father,

00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.199
 glorify me

00:33:00.199 --> 00:33:00.500
 in Your

00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.119
 presence

00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.439
 with the

00:33:02.439 --> 00:33:03.219
 glory that

00:33:03.219 --> 00:33:03.739
 I had with

00:33:03.739 --> 00:33:04.159
 You before

00:33:04.159 --> 00:33:04.559
 the world

00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.059
 existed.

00:33:06.939 --> 00:33:07.459
 So,

00:33:07.739 --> 00:33:09.719
 Paul was

00:33:09.719 --> 00:33:10.419
 able to

00:33:10.419 --> 00:33:10.799
 say that

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.359
 with God's

00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:11.579
 help,

00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:11.859
 he had

00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.459
 finished the

00:33:12.459 --> 00:33:13.799
 task of

00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.399
 planting

00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:16.099
 churches in

00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:16.519
 the eastern

00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.279
 part of the

00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:18.000
 Roman Empire.

00:33:18.719 --> 00:33:19.659
 By God's

00:33:19.659 --> 00:33:20.019
 grace,

00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:20.579
 he had done

00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:20.719
 it.

00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.140
 And so,

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:21.759
 from there,

00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:22.360
 the gospel

00:33:22.360 --> 00:33:22.600
 is going

00:33:22.600 --> 00:33:22.860
 to go

00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:23.380
 out to

00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:23.920
 all these

00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.360
 nations,

00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:25.559
 to all

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:25.740
 these

00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.140
 peoples.

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.539
 And at

00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.160
 the end

00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:28.460
 of his

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:28.900
 life,

00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:30.420
 so,

00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:31.240
 what happened

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.779
 eventually,

00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.400
 we know,

00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.220
 is that

00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:33.880
 after this,

00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:34.940
 after he was

00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:35.620
 released from

00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:36.039
 Rome the

00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.660
 first time,

00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.100
 he probably

00:33:38.100 --> 00:33:38.579
 went on to

00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.539
 Spain and

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:39.900
 did some

00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:40.600
 other things.

00:33:40.600 --> 00:33:41.039
 But,

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:41.920
 when he

00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.880
 came back

00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:43.480
 again

00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.960
 through Rome,

00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:46.559
 persecution

00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:47.559
 had started.

00:33:48.679 --> 00:33:49.359
 And believers

00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:50.539
 were being

00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:51.639
 imprisoned and

00:33:51.639 --> 00:33:52.319
 tortured and

00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:53.879
 killed in

00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.839
 the arenas.

00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:57.339
 And so,

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.099
 he is basically

00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:59.019
 on death

00:33:59.019 --> 00:34:00.200
 row in

00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:00.440
 Rome.

00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:00.919
 He was

00:34:00.919 --> 00:34:01.419
 imprisoned

00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:02.139
 officially.

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.259
 And he

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:05.179
 wrote in

00:34:05.179 --> 00:34:06.200
 his letter

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.899
 to Timothy,

00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:08.360
 2 Timothy

00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.239
 4, 6,

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:09.679
 and 8,

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:12.119
 For I am

00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:12.820
 already being

00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:13.460
 poured out as

00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:13.799
 a drink

00:34:13.799 --> 00:34:14.219
 offering,

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.420
 and the

00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:15.920
 time for

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.579
 my departure

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.300
 has come.

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:18.760
 Sounds like

00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:19.139
 what Jesus

00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:19.519
 said.

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.680
 I have

00:34:20.680 --> 00:34:21.059
 fought the

00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:21.579
 good fight,

00:34:21.680 --> 00:34:21.920
 I have

00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.440
 finished the

00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:22.780
 race,

00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:23.039
 I have

00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.480
 kept the

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:23.880
 faith.

00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:25.480
 Henceforth,

00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:26.039
 there is

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.480
 laid up for

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:26.800
 me the

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.200
 crown of

00:34:27.200 --> 00:34:27.659
 righteousness,

00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.079
 which the

00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.400
 Lord,

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:29.980
 the righteous

00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.619
 judge,

00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:31.599
 will award

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:32.300
 to me on

00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:33.139
 that day.

00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:34.240
 And not

00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:34.659
 only to

00:34:34.659 --> 00:34:34.940
 me,

00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:39.539
 but also

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.159
 to all

00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:40.500
 who have

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.320
 loved his

00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:41.880
 appearing.

00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:43.820
 So,

00:34:44.220 --> 00:34:44.820
 Christ,

00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:47.019
 said that

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.140
 he was

00:34:48.140 --> 00:34:48.620
 going with

00:34:48.620 --> 00:34:48.920
 a clear

00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:49.500
 conscience

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.160
 and joy

00:34:50.160 --> 00:34:50.519
 to the

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:50.780
 Father

00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:51.160
 because he

00:34:51.160 --> 00:34:51.280
 had

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:51.860
 accomplished

00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:52.980
 the work

00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.420
 that God

00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:53.880
 had gave

00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:54.480
 him to do

00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:54.860
 on the

00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:55.180
 earth.

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:56.900
 Paul,

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.300
 likewise,

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:57.700
 I've

00:34:57.700 --> 00:34:58.240
 accomplished

00:34:58.240 --> 00:34:59.500
 the task

00:34:59.500 --> 00:35:01.519
 of what

00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.140
 God put

00:35:02.140 --> 00:35:02.720
 me here

00:35:02.720 --> 00:35:03.320
 to do.

00:35:04.700 --> 00:35:05.160
 And so,

00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:06.480
 what is it

00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:09.559
 that God

00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:10.119
 has

00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:11.659
 specifically

00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:12.579
 burdened

00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:13.139
 you with,

00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.380
 given you

00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:14.760
 holy

00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:15.980
 desire for,

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.099
 that when

00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:18.639
 your hour

00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:19.199
 comes,

00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:19.619
 whether it's

00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:20.000
 by a

00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:20.380
 natural

00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:20.900
 death

00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:21.059
 or

00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:21.559
 unnatural,

00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:23.539
 you'll be

00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:23.940
 able to

00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:25.960
 say that

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.219
 I have

00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:26.619
 accomplished

00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:27.000
 all that

00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:27.300
 you gave

00:35:27.300 --> 00:35:27.760
 me to do

00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.019
 on the

00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.199
 earth,

00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:28.480
 and now

00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:28.639
 I'm

00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:29.000
 coming

00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.599
 to you.

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:31.320
 What would

00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:31.780
 that be?

00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:33.619
 What would

00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:33.980
 it be?

00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.599
 The confidence

00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:36.039
 saying I'm

00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:36.440
 coming to

00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:36.539
 you,

00:35:36.599 --> 00:35:36.740
 having

00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:37.219
 accomplished

00:35:37.219 --> 00:35:37.719
 that work

00:35:37.719 --> 00:35:37.980
 for the

00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:38.300
 sake of

00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:38.860
 your name,

00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:39.820
 I've

00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:40.099
 finished

00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:40.659
 the race,

00:35:40.740 --> 00:35:40.940
 I've

00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:41.179
 kept

00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:41.780
 the faith.

00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:43.440
 What

00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.599
 holy

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:45.300
 ambition

00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:46.619
 do you

00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.079
 have?

00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.659
 And one

00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:50.400
 story I

00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:50.960
 read about

00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:53.079
 in 1906,

00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:54.639
 there was a

00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.480
 Scotsman named

00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.260
 James Fraser.

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.300
 He was

00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:57.699
 studying

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.340
 engineering

00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:58.980
 originally.

00:35:59.219 --> 00:35:59.360
 He kind

00:35:59.360 --> 00:35:59.659
 of planned

00:35:59.659 --> 00:35:59.940
 just to

00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.199
 make a

00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:00.740
 career for

00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.300
 himself and

00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:01.900
 be prosperous

00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:03.300
 in London.

00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:03.620
 He was

00:36:03.620 --> 00:36:04.760
 studying for

00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:05.300
 engineer.

00:36:06.100 --> 00:36:06.500
 And later,

00:36:06.700 --> 00:36:07.300
 he became

00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:09.400
 desirous and

00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:10.100
 burdened to

00:36:10.100 --> 00:36:10.700
 go to the

00:36:10.700 --> 00:36:11.140
 unreached

00:36:11.140 --> 00:36:11.600
 people at

00:36:11.600 --> 00:36:12.220
 that time

00:36:12.220 --> 00:36:13.960
 in the

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.820
 Yuan province

00:36:14.820 --> 00:36:15.480
 of China.

00:36:16.620 --> 00:36:17.260
 And he

00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:17.880
 desired to

00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:18.500
 go and do

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:19.140
 frontier

00:36:19.140 --> 00:36:20.039
 missions and

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.800
 evangelism.

00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:22.240
 And the

00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:22.840
 turning point

00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:23.280
 in his life

00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:23.620
 when he was

00:36:23.620 --> 00:36:24.240
 in college,

00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:26.420
 and he

00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:27.300
 read a

00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:27.980
 two-penny

00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:28.600
 pamphlet

00:36:28.600 --> 00:36:29.900
 that had

00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:30.660
 these two

00:36:30.660 --> 00:36:31.340
 sentences in

00:36:31.340 --> 00:36:31.539
 it.

00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:33.320
 If our

00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:33.699
 master

00:36:33.699 --> 00:36:34.199
 returned

00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:34.840
 today to

00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:35.480
 find millions

00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:35.980
 of people

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.159
 un-evangelized

00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:38.579
 and looked,

00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:40.279
 as of course

00:36:40.279 --> 00:36:40.739
 he would

00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:41.099
 look,

00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:42.380
 to us for

00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.059
 an explanation,

00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.579
 I cannot

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.759
 imagine what

00:36:45.759 --> 00:36:46.679
 explanation we

00:36:46.679 --> 00:36:47.219
 should give.

00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:49.139
 One,

00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:50.159
 of the most

00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:50.940
 certain thing

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:52.279
 that I am

00:36:52.279 --> 00:36:53.099
 certain of,

00:36:53.619 --> 00:36:55.779
 what excuses

00:36:55.779 --> 00:36:56.279
 would we

00:36:56.279 --> 00:36:58.259
 make before

00:36:58.260 --> 00:36:58.840
 the Lord?

00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:00.220
 What are

00:37:00.220 --> 00:37:00.920
 we accustomed

00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:02.260
 to making

00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:03.200
 in such

00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:04.020
 good conscience

00:37:04.020 --> 00:37:05.260
 now that

00:37:05.260 --> 00:37:05.700
 we should be

00:37:05.700 --> 00:37:06.620
 wholly ashamed

00:37:06.620 --> 00:37:07.440
 of then?

00:37:08.600 --> 00:37:09.060
 And so,

00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:10.480
 sorry, that

00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.040
 kind of moved

00:37:11.040 --> 00:37:11.500
 me and I

00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:11.980
 barely had a

00:37:11.980 --> 00:37:12.280
 hard time

00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:12.740
 reading it.

00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:15.880
 What excuses

00:37:15.880 --> 00:37:16.320
 are we

00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:16.940
 comfortable with

00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:18.280
 now that

00:37:18.280 --> 00:37:18.640
 we will be

00:37:18.640 --> 00:37:19.500
 ashamed of

00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:20.360
 on that

00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:22.860
 day when

00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:23.360
 the Lord

00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:24.380
 comes?

00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:26.660
 And my

00:37:26.660 --> 00:37:27.539
 prayer for

00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.400
 my life,

00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:28.920
 and you

00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:29.099
 can just

00:37:29.099 --> 00:37:29.440
 pray for

00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:30.079
 my peace

00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:30.480
 of mind,

00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:30.800
 I feel

00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:31.380
 like I

00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:32.660
 put too

00:37:32.660 --> 00:37:33.360
 much burden,

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:33.800
 too much

00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:34.280
 weight on

00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:35.000
 myself to

00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:35.420
 finish.

00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:36.880
 I just

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:37.800
 have a very

00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:38.480
 keen awareness

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:38.840
 that God

00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:39.320
 has extended

00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:39.840
 my life.

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.160
 He's doing

00:37:40.160 --> 00:37:40.599
 that to all

00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:40.880
 of us,

00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.079
 but I'm

00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:41.980
 just maybe

00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:42.480
 more aware

00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:42.700
 of that

00:37:42.700 --> 00:37:43.039
 than some

00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:43.320
 of you

00:37:43.320 --> 00:37:43.519
 are.

00:37:44.460 --> 00:37:44.940
 And so,

00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:45.480
 I feel a

00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:46.019
 burden to

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:47.480
 make good

00:37:47.480 --> 00:37:47.960
 on what

00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:48.260
 He has

00:37:48.260 --> 00:37:48.820
 given me.

00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:50.559
 Not so I

00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:50.860
 can earn

00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:51.460
 salvation,

00:37:52.579 --> 00:37:53.180
 but just

00:37:53.180 --> 00:37:53.680
 because I

00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:54.200
 want to

00:37:54.199 --> 00:37:54.719
 honor Him.

00:37:55.939 --> 00:37:56.259
 So,

00:37:56.619 --> 00:37:56.819
 that's what

00:37:56.819 --> 00:37:57.480
 Christ said,

00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:57.799
 that's what

00:37:57.799 --> 00:37:58.460
 Paul said.

00:37:59.159 --> 00:37:59.379
 So,

00:37:59.480 --> 00:37:59.960
 what is it

00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.339
 in your

00:38:00.339 --> 00:38:00.799
 life that

00:38:00.799 --> 00:38:01.019
 you can

00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:01.199
 say,

00:38:01.319 --> 00:38:01.399
 I've

00:38:01.399 --> 00:38:01.819
 accomplished

00:38:01.819 --> 00:38:02.339
 the work,

00:38:02.460 --> 00:38:02.859
 I've

00:38:02.859 --> 00:38:03.279
 finished

00:38:03.279 --> 00:38:04.000
 the task

00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:05.099
 that He's

00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.519
 put me

00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.139
 on the

00:38:06.139 --> 00:38:06.599
 earth to

00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:06.879
 do?

00:38:07.899 --> 00:38:08.379
 And with

00:38:08.379 --> 00:38:08.559
 that,

00:38:08.659 --> 00:38:09.519
 let's pray

00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:09.879
 together.