WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:10.179 When you read the book of Acts, in a sense, it's a story both of continuity and change. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:14.720 It's implied from the very first words of the book of Acts, chapter 1, verse 1. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:17.059 Luke, who wrote the book, says, 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:21.780 In my former book, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach. 00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:27.300 By implication, the book of Acts will be about Jesus continuing to be active, 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:34.340 Jesus continuing to teach, only this time it will be as his spirit-filled followers 00:00:34.340 --> 00:00:39.060 take that message, Jesus is Lord, into the world. 00:00:40.060 --> 00:00:46.260 And just like Jesus, they're going to do this through their words and through their actions. 00:00:46.380 --> 00:00:50.320 And that little section that we just read, chapter 9, 32 to 43, 00:00:50.980 --> 00:00:54.340 is one of the clearest signs, I think, that we have in the book 00:00:54.340 --> 00:01:00.220 that we're to read the story of God's church as continuing the work of Jesus. 00:01:01.020 --> 00:01:04.460 And I hope that we'll see that as we work our way through the passage. 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:11.200 I don't know how many of you have visited the Sagrada Familia Cathedral 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.100 or Gaudi's Cathedral in Barcelona. 00:01:14.100 --> 00:01:16.520 If not, you probably are aware of it. 00:01:16.580 --> 00:01:18.420 It's one of those buildings. 00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:24.519 The Great Unfinished Cathedral, which I think is due to be finished in 2026. 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:28.460 But Gaudi began that work way back in 1883. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:35.640 And he continued it until he died in 1926, obviously leaving it unfinished. 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:41.939 But since then, the work has continued under five different sets of architects, 00:01:41.939 --> 00:01:49.079 but each one always following very closely Gaudi's original design and Gaudi's original concept. 00:01:50.259 --> 00:01:52.879 And that's what I want us to think about when we read the book of Acts, 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:54.239 when we think about the church today. 00:01:54.340 --> 00:02:02.459 The church of Jesus is considerably more bigger, considerably more beautiful than Gaudi's Cathedral. 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:06.060 But we have that image in the Bible that Jesus is building the church. 00:02:06.140 --> 00:02:07.780 The church is pictured as a temple. 00:02:07.780 --> 00:02:13.500 And he continues to build it down through the centuries across every continent and every culture. 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:16.740 Even just think about what we've been praying about this evening. 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:21.659 But it's really important for us to remember, and we see it so clearly in Acts, 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.000 Jesus remains the architect. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:24.939 He is the one who's building his church. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:29.139 It's his plan that comes to pass, and it's for his glory. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:35.639 And we, as the church, we have the privilege of being part of this great building project. 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:38.379 So let's think about that. 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:41.279 Jesus continues to build his church for his glory. 00:02:41.399 --> 00:02:47.479 The evidence of continuity in this section is striking. 00:02:47.619 --> 00:02:52.259 It's why we read from Mark 2 and Mark 5, because there's clear parallels. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:55.039 And as we read here, we can say two things. 00:02:55.159 --> 00:03:00.679 First of all, Luke wants us to be in absolutely no doubt that Jesus is still building his church. 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:07.719 And the second thing that becomes apparent is that Peter, as disciple, as apostle of Jesus, 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:15.280 is utterly committed to continuing the mission of Jesus in the ways of Jesus and for the glory of Jesus. 00:03:16.140 --> 00:03:17.219 So that's what we're going to see. 00:03:17.300 --> 00:03:21.340 But before we get there, just for a couple of minutes, it's interesting to see, I think, 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:25.700 how the followers of Jesus are described in this section. 00:03:25.699 --> 00:03:29.819 Did you notice there's a couple of different ways that the church is talked about? 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:32.639 In verse 32, it says, 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:39.219 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 00:03:40.519 --> 00:03:44.359 Now, we hear the word saint and maybe all kinds of things come to our mind. 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:49.939 But here, when Luke uses it, he's not describing super Christians. 00:03:49.939 --> 00:03:56.039 This isn't Peter heading off to visit the other disciples, this elite group who are saints. 00:03:57.180 --> 00:04:01.919 And so it's clearly also not describing what happens to Christians in the future, 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:06.400 that we're on this progression and sometime we'll make it to be saints. 00:04:06.900 --> 00:04:10.659 This is a description of God's church now. 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:13.579 So the word saint, what does it mean? 00:04:13.579 --> 00:04:19.800 It means someone who is holy, someone who is set apart for God. 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:26.300 And so we've got this lovely picture of the church that's been set apart for God, 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:27.360 for God's purpose. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:32.319 And Peter has got this role and responsibility, this pastoral responsibility, 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:39.060 to travel from place to place seeking to encourage and build up those that God has chosen, 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:44.399 those whom God has saved, those who are set apart to live for him. 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:50.699 And then in verse 36, there's another word used to talk about the church. 00:04:51.479 --> 00:04:53.060 In verse 36, it says, 00:04:53.339 --> 00:04:57.759 In Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha. 00:04:59.239 --> 00:05:02.000 Tabitha is not one of the original 12. 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:07.159 She is, you could say, a normal member of a normal church. 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:14.660 But the word disciple, in this usage, describes someone who is learning Jesus. 00:05:15.700 --> 00:05:21.920 Someone who is learning his life, his words, his actions, and seeking to follow in his footsteps. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:27.540 That was the pattern of student teacher that there was in Jesus' day. 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:36.780 And so those who are Christians are called to be those who follow after Jesus, who pattern our lives on him. 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:43.320 And so it's just to remind us that if we are Christians here today, if we are part of God's church, 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:47.560 we are saints and we are disciples. 00:05:48.700 --> 00:05:50.780 Now that's almost a by the by. 00:05:50.779 --> 00:05:56.899 We've got this section here where we have two, we could call them confrontation stories, 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:02.439 where we see very much the power of Jesus versus the powers of sickness and death. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:05.659 It reads, in a sense, very much like what we'd have in the Gospels. 00:06:06.019 --> 00:06:09.439 Very much like what we had in the Gospel of Mark. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:20.719 Only this time, it's Peter, by the Spirit, functioning as Jesus' agent, bringing victory against these hostile forces. 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:31.199 And in both these scenarios, these victories of good over evil stand as a signpost of the salvation that Jesus brings. 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:36.779 That Jesus comes to bring new life through faith in him. 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:43.619 And that the people in Peter's day understand that what he's doing points ultimately to the glory of Jesus. 00:06:43.779 --> 00:06:47.979 So their response, the response of many, is to believe. 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:52.939 So in verse 35, when they see the miracle performed on Anais, 00:06:53.419 --> 00:06:57.939 it says, all those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:03.539 And then in verse 42, the miracle with Tabitha. 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:10.060 This became known all over Joppa and many people believed in the Lord. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:14.680 So let's very quickly, we're just going to do this for a few minutes. 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:22.500 We're going to look at each miracle and see how it very deliberately follows the pattern that we find in the Gospels. 00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:26.040 First of all, that healing of paralyzed Anais. 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:33.000 And I hope even as we're thinking about Mark chapter 2, those first 11 verses where Jesus heals the paralyzed man, 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:35.319 we can see some parallels. 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:40.220 So Jesus, after healing the man, says, pick up your mat. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:45.820 Peter says to him, get up and tidy your mat. 00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:50.680 On both occasions, the purpose is to show the authority of Jesus. 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:58.680 So in Mark 2, Jesus heals the man to show that he had the authority on earth to forgive sins. 00:07:59.259 --> 00:08:04.060 And here, Peter is very deliberately saying to Anais in verse 34, 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:06.680 Jesus Christ heals you. 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:12.000 It's by the authority of Jesus, by the power of Jesus, that you will be healed. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:15.459 And as we've already seen, just as it was in Mark chapter 2, 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:20.139 the response of many in the crowd is to believe in Jesus on the account of the miracle. 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:26.920 So Peter seems to be deliberately following the pattern of Jesus in healing this paralyzed man. 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:33.679 And I think we can see the same when we look at the story of Tabitha or Dorcas, 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:39.019 and we compare it to Jairus' daughter in Mark chapter 5. 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:48.039 And remember that Peter was one of the three disciples who was there when Jairus' daughter was raised from the dead. 00:08:48.100 --> 00:08:51.019 And again, we can see some patterns emerge. 00:08:51.199 --> 00:08:57.779 So in verse 38, people hear that Peter and some of the disciples are close by, 00:08:58.220 --> 00:09:03.039 and so there's that request, same as with Jairus for his daughter, 00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:06.000 please come at once. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:11.919 By the time Peter arrives at the house, just as it was when Jesus arrived at the house, 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:15.980 he arrives to a house of mourning. 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:22.399 There is death in the house, and people have come to mourn with the family. 00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:27.659 And in verse 40, just as Jesus does, Peter sends the people out. 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:33.620 And then there's this really fascinating little wordplay. 00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:37.799 So Jesus in Aramaic, in raising Jairus' daughter, says, 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:40.120 Talitha cum, little girl, get up. 00:09:40.579 --> 00:09:43.659 And here Peter, who was also someone who spoke Aramaic, 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:47.399 most likely said, Tabitha cum. 00:09:47.839 --> 00:09:50.059 There's one letter of a difference. 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:52.620 It's really striking how similar it is. 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:59.000 And he too takes her by the hand, and there is rejoicing and believing. 00:10:00.340 --> 00:10:08.279 What are we being reminded of by Luke as he very carefully records the miracles of Peter? 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:12.840 He's reminding us that the church continues to grow, 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:15.679 and it's down to Jesus. 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:17.899 It's down to the power of Jesus. 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:18.879 It's not down to Peter. 00:10:19.179 --> 00:10:20.459 It won't be down to Paul. 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:22.799 And it's not down to you or me either. 00:10:23.659 --> 00:10:27.100 It's down to the work of God through his church. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:32.740 And Luke is also reminding us that Jesus is glorified. 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:37.059 As people recognize that he is God's Savior, 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:41.179 that he is the anointed one who has been sent to be the Lord, 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:48.759 the King, the Redeemer, which is still as true today as it was then. 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:57.099 And so we see the way Jesus is building his church in the lives of different people, 00:10:57.459 --> 00:11:00.299 Aeneas, Tabitha, others around them, 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:05.179 takes different forms, but Jesus is at work. 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:08.939 And it's the same for us today. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:15.479 Whether our story is seemingly routine or very dramatic, 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:20.239 whether we read of what's happening in the persecuted church where, 00:11:20.739 --> 00:11:23.219 you know, despite intense family opposition, 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:25.519 people are still choosing to follow Jesus, 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:27.639 even if it means they lose everything, 00:11:28.179 --> 00:11:31.219 or whether it's people brought up in Christian households 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:34.180 to become followers of Jesus at a young age, 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:41.960 Jesus does and will continue to rescue and gather people in for his own glory. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:44.639 And so we've got this great encouragement. 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:46.360 It's God who's doing the work. 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:48.500 It's Jesus who works through his people. 00:11:48.560 --> 00:11:52.120 And there's a great incentive to us to continue praying 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:56.680 for the people that we care about and for the world that God cares about. 00:11:56.679 --> 00:12:00.159 So Jesus builds his church for his glory, 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:06.399 but it's important for us to recognize the means that he employs here 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:12.419 because Jesus uses his people to build his church for his glory. 00:12:13.359 --> 00:12:15.699 So we need to be clear on two things. 00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:19.459 We need to be clear on God's sovereignty and salvation, 00:12:20.199 --> 00:12:22.579 that he is the one who eternally chooses, 00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:25.039 that he is the one who eternally loves, 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.399 he's the one who eternally saves. 00:12:28.599 --> 00:12:31.240 Revelation reminds us that Jesus is the Lamb of God, 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:34.159 slain before the foundation of the world, 00:12:34.219 --> 00:12:39.399 that we are chosen before the world ever came into existence. 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:40.839 If we are God's people, 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:43.599 God is absolutely sovereign in saving people, 00:12:43.699 --> 00:12:46.519 but we also need to see that God's means of saving people 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:50.240 most often involves his people, 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:51.740 regular people like you and me, 00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:54.279 reading the Bible with someone, 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:56.019 talking to somebody about Jesus, 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.340 sharing something of our faith, 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:00.799 living consistently as Christians before people 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:03.820 to make them ask questions. 00:13:04.680 --> 00:13:07.779 So while we are not called to be Peter, 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:09.919 you know, Peter is center stage here, 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:10.600 absolutely, 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:13.019 as the human actor, 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:14.620 you know, we're not called to be Peter, 00:13:14.700 --> 00:13:16.560 we're not called to be apostles, 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:18.419 we're not writing bits of the Bible, 00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:22.379 we're not spearheading mission in the world. 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.659 But what about Anais? 00:13:27.339 --> 00:13:28.299 Verse 33, 00:13:28.439 --> 00:13:29.919 He found a man named Anais, 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:33.239 a paralytic who'd been bedridden for eight years. 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:33.859 Anais, 00:13:34.579 --> 00:13:35.359 Peter said to him, 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.679 Jesus Christ heals you, 00:13:36.739 --> 00:13:38.500 get up and tidy up your mat. 00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:40.539 Immediately Anais got up. 00:13:41.079 --> 00:13:43.179 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon 00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:45.919 saw him and turned to the Lord. 00:13:46.719 --> 00:13:47.860 So here's the great thing with Anais, 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:50.879 his story of God's work in his life 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.059 draws people to faith. 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:55.799 That just by walking around, 00:13:56.360 --> 00:14:00.240 he has the chance to bring Jesus glory. 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:04.179 It's a little reminder that our everyday life 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:06.439 before God matters, 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:08.959 our everyday life of faith matters. 00:14:09.719 --> 00:14:11.099 How we are in our families, 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.419 how we are as friends, 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:14.759 how we handle success and disappointment, 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:17.220 how we talk about others, 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:19.860 how we seek to live consistently, 00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:22.480 can make a difference. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:26.179 We don't know anything about Anais, 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:30.220 but his life was something that drew people to Jesus, 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:32.799 because they could see the power of God 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:34.340 in his life. 00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:38.000 And it's important for us to remember 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.860 that our everyday witness, 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:41.620 wanting to be a good neighbor, 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.700 to live well for the sake of Jesus, 00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:44.820 that matters to God, 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:46.920 and God can use what we think of as small 00:14:46.920 --> 00:14:49.080 for his glory. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:51.280 And then we have Tabitha. 00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:53.080 And Tabitha's story, 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:55.980 it seems to be one of a life 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:57.560 marked by 00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:59.620 doing good, 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:01.899 extending care, 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:03.899 helping the poor. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.060 You know, 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:07.299 you see the legacy of her life 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:10.279 in this pre-funeral gathering 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:11.740 of people who have come 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:14.539 to mourn in her house 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:16.120 and to pay testimony 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.620 to all that she has done, 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.560 the clothing, 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.440 the robes 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:21.980 that she had made. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:22.980 Here is a woman who 00:15:22.980 --> 00:15:25.220 used her skill and resources 00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:26.399 to serve others. 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:28.200 Here is someone who had received 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.560 mercy from God 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:31.879 and who is passing that mercy 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.900 on to others 00:15:32.900 --> 00:15:34.960 in her community. 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:39.100 And so they're different, 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:41.000 but they're both testimonies 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.020 to God's grace 00:15:42.020 --> 00:15:43.600 and God working through them. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.280 For Anais, 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:46.000 his story of God's grace 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.120 transforming his life 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:48.240 was powerful 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.520 and drew people 00:15:49.520 --> 00:15:50.860 to faith in Jesus. 00:15:51.640 --> 00:15:52.759 And for Tabitha, 00:15:53.020 --> 00:15:55.120 her story of God's grace 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.340 transforming the way 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:57.220 that she lived, 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:59.139 that she set that priority 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.379 of being for the poor, 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.360 of extending mercy 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:01.860 to the poor, 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.360 also had a profound impact 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:06.080 on many people. 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:10.220 So as we read this section, 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:12.700 there is an encouragement 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:16.040 to us as regular Christians 00:16:16.040 --> 00:16:19.279 that we have dignity 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.879 and purpose, 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:23.540 that God can use our lives 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:25.879 to extend his kingdom, 00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:28.059 to bring him glory, 00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:30.339 to extend his mercy 00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:32.980 into our world. 00:16:34.819 --> 00:16:36.759 I remember speaking to somebody 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:38.899 who was talking about 00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:41.480 their grandfather's involvement 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:44.240 in a great building project. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:45.779 And there was that sense 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:47.679 of family pride 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:49.379 still existing 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:50.799 because they could look 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.099 at that great architectural feat 00:16:53.099 --> 00:16:53.559 and say, 00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:55.439 my grandfather 00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:57.959 helped to build that. 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:01.199 And there's this wonderful sense 00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:03.279 that we can look 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:05.000 at the church of God 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:06.180 and we can be so encouraged 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:07.940 as we see what God's doing 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.700 in his world 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.599 and to recognize 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:11.480 that we're a part of that. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.659 We're not called to be gaudy, 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.000 we're not called to be 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.579 the great architects, 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:18.700 that's Jesus' job, 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:20.539 but all of us 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:21.340 with our gifts, 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:24.460 with our situations in life, 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:26.600 we get to be laborers 00:17:26.600 --> 00:17:28.920 on the very best 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:31.059 building project of all 00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:32.799 because Jesus continues 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.120 to build his church 00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:35.960 so that he will be glorified 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.900 and he continues 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:38.500 to use his people, 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:39.799 his church, 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.319 people like you and me 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:42.440 to that end.