WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone. Happy New Year.

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 Those of you who, like Sonny, came up to me this morning asking for red pockets.

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! I grew up in England, so very westernized, so please do not come to me.

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 My kids, however, grew up in Hong Kong, so you can give them all the red pockets that you want to.

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 We're going to actually have the ladies pass the Bibles around.

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 Just put up your hand if you would like one.

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 If you don't want one, you still need to take one.

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 So it is the only way to be saved.

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 We had a great baptism this morning. It was really good.

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 I'm not going to lie. Someone asked, were they properly dunked?

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 They were well and truly dunked.

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 In fact, I think I either overestimated my own strength or underestimated my weakness.

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 I think we may have dropped Jasper into the ocean first, and then we had to pick him back up afterwards.

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 So he got well and truly dunked. All the sin was removed. It was good.

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 I want to invite the three of them up in a bit to do the scripture reading for us, actually.

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 So I'll just give you a warning now. Acts chapter 19, if you want to do it.

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 But before then, this week has been a fun week, right?

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 You've been going to all these family gatherings.

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 You've been celebrating with people who actually, I'm guessing, many who do not know Christ yet.

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 And Gabe, last week, shared how Christ really confronts some of these things within our Chinese culture.

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 He gave us the three Fs. Does anyone remember what they were?

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 Does anyone remember?

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 This proves to me that, as I always knew anyway, that people don't really remember what we teach.

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 Oh, oh, there we go. Sunny. Family is one.

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 The Chinese culture just values family so much.

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 And it's not necessarily a bad thing.

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 But yet, actually, when it becomes an idol, when it becomes your God, when it becomes the only thing, that's when the problem is.

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 Brayden, you put your hand up. Are you going to give us another one?

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 Brayden?

00:01:57.939 --> 00:01:58.259
 Huh?

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 Fortune.

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 It's all about money.

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 It's all about wanting more and more blessings onto us.

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 And then the final F. Does anyone remember?

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 It was actually fears.

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 But actually, your one is probably, I think, the most important.

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 I think, actually, so fears is the one that he talked about.

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 How we are actually all afraid of something.

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 And I've joked many times before how the Chinese culture always uses fear as the thing to drive any kind of behavior.

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 I mean, it's part of the honor-shame culture that we're in as well.

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 And what we're most afraid of, maybe, face.

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 How we perceive to other people.

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 Andy, you prayed earlier this morning.

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 And that was the thing that was in my heart.

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 I said, wow, we are really afraid of how the people around us perceive us.

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 How they actually look at us, especially our families.

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 And many of us dread going to these family gatherings.

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 And we get asked those same questions.

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 What do you do?

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 Have you moved on to the next life stage yet?

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 It's all about faith.

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 It's all about fears.

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 It's all about fortune.

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 It's all about family.

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 When Christianity comes into a culture, what it does is it confronts the idols of that culture.

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 And it doesn't force that culture to conform to a perceived Western religion kind of stereotype.

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 We were with my family all the way in Yulong.

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 No word of English spoken in our family gatherings.

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 But they would often say, oh, it's really good that you guys do that.

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 But we didn't grow up in the West.

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 And it's a white man's religion.

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 It's a Western religion.

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 But if you look around the world, and that's why I'm particularly encouraged every time I gather,

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 is on a Sunday morning, around the world, every country, every culture, every race,

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 there are people who are worshipping.

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 You look at the book of Revelation, towards the end in Revelation 7,

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 where every tribe and tongue and every language is worshipping.

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 This is not just a Western religion that speaks English.

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 This is way more than that.

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 This transcends culture.

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 But the problem is, sometimes when Christianity comes into our culture,

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 we don't actually let it confront every part of the culture.

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 What we do instead is we hold on to some of the parts of the culture that we have found very comforting.

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 Family, fortunes, face.

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 And then we say, Christ, can you move in as well?

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 But not fully.

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 Just only to the surface level, because I still need to keep these other ones.

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 And yet Christianity has never just let us stay in that space.

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 In fact, Jesus, if we invite him into our hearts, he goes into every single room.

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 He goes into every single part of our culture and goes,

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 which of this is of me?

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 Family is of me.

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 I was the OG.

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 But which is actually not?

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 What have you turned a good thing into, and now has turned into God itself?

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 It's really what Christianity is doing.

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 And we're going to keep going back into the book of Acts now.

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 And Acts chapter 19 is where we're going to go.

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 But just to recap at the end, Acts 17 is where Gabe finished last week with us.

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 When the gospel is preached, actually a few different responses happened.

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 And this was back then.

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 So this is greatly encouraging for me.

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 So even in a room like this, I know there will be people who fall into these three separate categories.

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 One is you believe.

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 You're like, I'm agreeing.

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 I'm nodding.

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 I'm amening.

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 And there's another group which is like, tell me more.

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 I'm not quite sure.

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 Well, I kind of understand, but I kind of don't.

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 But I would like to find out more.

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 And then there's the third group just mocks and just says, well, this is stupid.

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 Why would you believe that?

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 This doesn't make sense.

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 But then to those, I would ask, well, what do you believe?

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 Do you believe that billions of years ago, we came from nothing and we'll go back to nothing?

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 And that's it.

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 Or you believe in yourself?

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 Or you believe in your career?

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 Or you believe in your achievements?

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 Or you believe in what you can attain in this life, in this world?

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 Is that what you believe?

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 Is that how you get true contentment?

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 And how's that working for you?

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 And I'm not asking in a sarcastic, condescending, petty kind of way.

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 I'm just genuinely asking, how is that working for you?

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 As you look at society out there and you look at all the things people are pursuing out there,

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 do we see people who are genuinely free?

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 People who declare and proclaim to be free, that they can do what they want.

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 Do they actually feel free to you?

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 When actually the things that we say we are in control of, so often, so often, so quickly, they turn around and end up controlling us.

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 Because the moment we lose them, our lives, our worlds just come crashing down.

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 And yet what we believe, what we hang our hats on, is that 2,000 years ago, someone came, the Son of God came.

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 He died and then he rose again.

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 And there has been no evidence to refute that.

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 And that fact changed everything.

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 The fact that we're in 2026 is because we're counting since that man lived.

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 There's got to be something to this.

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 And I want to ask you whether you are in the mock camp or whether you're in the believe camp or whether you're in the just inquiring camp.

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 To just be willing.

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 To be willing to open your heart and go, well, what if there was something true about this?

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 What if there was something to this that is worth looking into?

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 Now, do we have all the answers?

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 Absolutely no.

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 In fact, many of us who are following and believing now, we actually still have a lot of these questions.

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 And yet, I'll be honest with you, I'll be frank with you.

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 The alternative is quite dire.

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 The alternative is quite bleak.

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 So I'd encourage you, if you're just on that fence and you're just wondering, or you're actually, you're quite defiant and you say, no, I don't believe this kind of stuff.

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 Well, why don't you just give it a chance?

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 And actually, test.

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 And see.

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 And my hope is that as you step into a place like this, filled with these people here who are hungry, that actually, you go, oh, there is something to this.

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 Christianity confronts the culture that we're in.

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 Exposes the idols that we're often holding on to.

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 And it shows us a better way.

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 And we see that now as we move into Acts chapter 19.

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 And we're just going to invite them up.

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 Janice, Moses, Jasper, would you mind coming up?

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 Let me embarrass you for a little bit and have you do the scripture reading for us.

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 Is that okay?

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 Can we give them a round of applause?

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 I can tell you the water was cold.

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 The water was cold.

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 So I'm looking forward to the next one, which will be in the summer, where we will have some warm water to go into.

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 All right.

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 Acts chapter 19.

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 What should we do?

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 Why don't you do this?

00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:03.519
 Yeah.

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 Yeah.

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 Moses, you do this.

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 Acts 19 verse 1 to 10.

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 Janice, then you do 11 to 20.

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 And then Jasper, you do 21 to 27.

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 Is that good?

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 Can I invite you to stand for the word of the Lord?

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 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus.

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 There he found some disciples.

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 And he said to them, did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

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 And they said, no, we have not heard that there is a Holy Spirit.

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 And he said, into what then were you baptized?

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 They said, into John's baptism.

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 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling people to believe in the one who was to come after him.

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 That is Jesus.

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 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of Lord Jesus.

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 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

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 There were about 12 men in all.

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 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

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 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took disciples with him.

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 Reasoning daily, the hall of tyrannous, this continued for two years so that all residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

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 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick and their diseases left them.

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 And the evil spirits came out of them.

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 Then some of the in itinerants, Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying,

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 I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.

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 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.

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 But the evil spirit answered, then Jesus, them, Jesus, I know, and Paul, I recognize.

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 But who are you?

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 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

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 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks.

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 And fear fell upon them all.

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 And the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

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 Also, many of those who were now believers came professing and divulging their practices.

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 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burdened them in the sight of all.

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 And they counted the value of them and found it came to 50,000 pieces of silver.

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 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

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 Now, after these events, Paul resolved in the spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem saying,

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 After I've been here, I must also see Rome.

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 And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Eurystice, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

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 About that time, there arose no little disturbance concerning the way.

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 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.

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 These he gathered together with the workmen in similar trades and said,

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 Men, you know that from this business, we have our wealth.

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 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people,

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 saying that gods made with hands are not gods.

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 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute,

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 but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing,

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 and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence.

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 She whom all Asia and the world worship.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thank you, Jasper, Moses, and Janice.

00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:47.840
 Thank you very much.

00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.919
 Hopefully you were able to follow along.

00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:53.100
 Acts chapter 19, if you've got your Bible, do follow along.

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 I'm going to be going through this at a fairly quick speed.

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 But the premise is this.

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 Jesus is Lord of all or not at all.

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 Jesus is Lord of all or not at all.

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 You see when Christianity goes into the city of Ephesus,

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 which is actually a very important city back in the ancient world,

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 just like Antioch, just like Rome, just like Alexandria,

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 this was a place that actually was a hub for sea and land transportation.

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 It was a capital business center.

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 This was an important city.

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 This was an important city.

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 And then Paul goes into this city, and then he brings the gospel.

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 And what's really interesting here is that he meets 12 guys.

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 He meets 12 guys, and this is the start of the church in Ephesus.

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 So this is how it begins.

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 And again, I can just imagine Paul walking into this city,

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 overwhelmed, just like he was in Athens,

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 just deeply provoked, distressed about the idols that were going on here.

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 And he meets 12 guys, and he has this fascinating interaction

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 that actually theologians and scholars to this day

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 are still debating what it truly means here.

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 So he meets these 12 guys who say they've been baptized,

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 but then they don't truly understand the gospel,

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 which is interesting because I wonder whether actually

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 if Paul walked into here and he would ask us,

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 do you truly understand what the gospel is?

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 I wonder how many of us would truly be able to articulate to him

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 and tell him what the gospel is.

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 They say something interesting here.

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 And his question is, did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:19.320
 And they said, no, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.

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 And then John says, well, until what then were you baptized?

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 They said, into John's baptism.

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 And then Paul explains to them, John's baptism was one of repentance.

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 So basically what that is, is if you look back into the book of John,

00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:34.899
 in chapter one, John the Baptist is calling people into repentance.

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 He's saying, hey, turn away from your life of sin.

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 What you're doing is damaging how you're living

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.680
 and it will end up in death.

00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:45.060
 Turn around, repent is what the word repents means.

00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:47.060
 Turn around and go the other way.

00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:49.060
 And so then these people would be baptized,

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:51.180
 basically filled with guilt and shame

00:14:51.180 --> 00:14:52.539
 of what they'd done in their lives.

00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.740
 And they're saying, okay, fine.

00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:55.600
 I want to turn away from that.

00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:57.519
 But what they didn't understand

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.159
 and what Paul was trying to get out here was,

00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.700
 hey, do you know who the Holy Spirit is?

00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:02.820
 Or do you even know who Jesus is?

00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:06.280
 What they had gotten was this feeling of guilt and shame,

00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.580
 baptized into repentance saying,

00:15:08.680 --> 00:15:10.000
 I don't want to live that life anymore.

00:15:10.140 --> 00:15:11.500
 But they didn't really know where to go.

00:15:11.680 --> 00:15:13.280
 They knew they had to turn around from this,

00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:15.500
 but they didn't know that they had to go this way.

00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:19.320
 So instead of just turning around and then following Jesus,

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:22.060
 they turned around and then were kind of just stuck in this place there.

00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:25.240
 And so John goes, hey, do you know that you need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit?

00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:27.160
 Now, this is a rare occurrence here.

00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:30.100
 Because now if you're here having been baptized,

00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:32.600
 you actually don't need to doubt on the most part

00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:34.419
 that you haven't been baptized with the Holy Spirit.

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:36.480
 Our life group was talking about this only a couple of weeks ago.

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:37.719
 There are two baptisms.

00:15:37.839 --> 00:15:39.339
 One is of water and one is of spirit.

00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:41.779
 And often they actually happen at the same time.

00:15:42.579 --> 00:15:43.039
 So when you get,

00:15:43.219 --> 00:15:45.439
 actually the moment you decide to follow Christ,

00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:48.939
 that is proof in itself that the Holy Spirit is inside you.

00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:50.279
 So you don't have to worry.

00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:52.159
 If you are a follower of Jesus,

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.559
 if you are a believer of Jesus,

00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:54.559
 you don't have to worry.

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:56.619
 Wait, actually, do I have the Holy Spirit inside me?

00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:57.739
 Have I been baptized by the Spirit?

00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:59.079
 You don't have to worry about that

00:15:59.079 --> 00:16:01.859
 because Paul actually explains more in 1 Corinthians 12.

00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:05.000
 He says, actually, the fact that you can say Jesus is Lord,

00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:06.779
 the fact that you can utter those three words

00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:08.819
 proves that the Holy Spirit is inside you.

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.339
 The fact that you're aware of your sin,

00:16:11.619 --> 00:16:13.519
 that you're aware of what righteousness is,

00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:15.219
 John chapter 16, verse 8,

00:16:15.599 --> 00:16:18.539
 is what is the Holy Spirit revealing that to you.

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:20.859
 But what he's talking to these guys about,

00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:22.700
 this very specific group about is,

00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:26.200
 hey, I think you don't really understand the gift of grace.

00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:27.980
 I don't think you really understand.

00:16:28.180 --> 00:16:30.000
 You know that you have to turn away from this life,

00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:31.639
 but actually you don't know who you're following.

00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:33.100
 You just know that you shouldn't be there.

00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:34.740
 And so he says, actually,

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:36.419
 what you do need to do is follow.

00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.940
 And he says this is verse four,

00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:39.820
 John baptized with the baptism of repentance,

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.720
 telling the people to believe in the one

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:44.220
 who was to come after him, that is Jesus.

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.620
 And then verse five, on hearing this,

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:47.200
 they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.460
 So what he's saying there is,

00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:50.139
 okay, you understood the first part,

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:53.039
 but maybe you missed the part where John says,

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:54.399
 hey, I can only baptize with water,

00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.759
 but there's one coming after me

00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:57.179
 who is going to baptize in the spirit

00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:58.399
 and you have to follow him.

00:16:58.860 --> 00:17:01.399
 So he's saying, you must know about Jesus.

00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:02.720
 You have to know about Jesus

00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:05.960
 because actually not only do you need to repent of your sins,

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:08.359
 you then need to know where you get forgiveness from.

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.920
 It's not free.

00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:12.759
 It's free for you, but because someone paid a price.

00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:14.299
 And so you need to understand that

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.539
 because if you don't understand that,

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.660
 you don't understand grace.

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:19.759
 You need to understand that actually you're forgiven.

00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:22.240
 You're not dead anymore,

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:24.560
 but you're alive because someone died for you.

00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:26.100
 And now that person lives.

00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:27.920
 It's this concept of grace.

00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:29.600
 Sometimes I wonder,

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:31.600
 actually I'm worried when I walk into a church setting,

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:36.620
 I wonder how many of us here truly grasp the concept of grace,

00:17:37.120 --> 00:17:38.660
 that the Holy Spirit lives inside us,

00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:40.779
 that Jesus sacrificed his life for us,

00:17:40.840 --> 00:17:42.740
 but now he lives inside us.

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:46.339
 To understand that actually we don't deserve to be here.

00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:48.279
 We are far worse than we imagined,

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:50.279
 but far more loved than we ever dare dream,

00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.720
 is what Tim Keller says.

00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:55.319
 And that's what Paul is trying to confront here.

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.559
 And the moment he talks to them about that,

00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:00.299
 boom, they receive the Holy Spirit.

00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:02.220
 And then they start speaking in tongues.

00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:04.759
 Remember, this group has never heard of the Holy Spirit before.

00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.299
 Now, it doesn't really matter

00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:09.859
 which realm of Christianity you're from.

00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:13.099
 One that we all have to agree on

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.859
 is the Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead.

00:18:15.679 --> 00:18:16.839
 It is part of the Trinity.

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.500
 But I know, as we joke,

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.679
 there are some churches that don't.

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.899
 They have the Holy Father, Holy Son,

00:18:21.939 --> 00:18:22.979
 and then they have the Holy Bible,

00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:25.219
 and they replaced the Holy Spirit.

00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.839
 But the truth is,

00:18:26.899 --> 00:18:29.279
 the Holy Spirit is so alive and well and active.

00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:31.279
 This whole book is inspired by him.

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:34.559
 All the events of Acts are done by him.

00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:38.419
 But it gets controversial

00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:40.039
 because what happens here

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.740
 and what we see here

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.159
 is that the moment he prays for them

00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:43.399
 and when he laid hands on them,

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.460
 the Holy Spirit came on them

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:46.480
 and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:50.240
 And this is the part that divides the church

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.440
 because they're like,

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:53.019
 wait, does the Holy Spirit still do that?

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.259
 Or was it only in this time?

00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:57.159
 And actually, let me tell you one thing.

00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.139
 This isn't the key theme.

00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:00.879
 This isn't the main reason why Luke writes this here.

00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:03.680
 The focus of the book of Luke and Acts

00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:05.220
 is not to talk about tongues.

00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.280
 And yet actually,

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:08.800
 just because we are who we are,

00:19:08.840 --> 00:19:09.380
 we are humans,

00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:12.440
 we sometimes chase after those extraordinary things.

00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:14.240
 Some people downplay them.

00:19:14.340 --> 00:19:15.280
 Some people discourage them.

00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:16.300
 Some people dismiss them.

00:19:16.560 --> 00:19:18.000
 Some people try to duplicate them.

00:19:19.040 --> 00:19:19.560
 But I want to say,

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:21.840
 that's not the topic of today's message,

00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:22.980
 but the point is,

00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:25.320
 we just hunger for God.

00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.760
 We just ask him to come.

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:27.540
 And actually,

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:29.100
 whatever experiences come our way,

00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:30.860
 whatever he decides to give to us,

00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:32.400
 he gives to us.

00:19:32.800 --> 00:19:34.980
 We just have to approach with humility.

00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:37.760
 We just have to approach with openness.

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:38.960
 And so,

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:40.200
 what happens then is,

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:42.080
 they receive,

00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:43.100
 and then he moves on,

00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:44.000
 and then he starts teaching.

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:44.480
 But again,

00:19:44.580 --> 00:19:45.760
 some people don't like it.

00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:47.620
 Maybe some of you don't like my teaching here.

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:48.760
 And so,

00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:49.620
 some people don't like it,

00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:53.020
 and so he has to move to another place to keep teaching.

00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:54.380
 And he ends up teaching there for two years,

00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.120
 which is actually the longest place that he's been in.

00:19:56.280 --> 00:19:57.080
 And so you see,

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:59.740
 Ephesus is built on that foundation.

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.300
 And then,

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.920
 something really funny happens.

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.320
 As he's teaching,

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:09.100
 what happens is that he starts doing miracles.

00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.280
 And you see here,

00:20:10.300 --> 00:20:10.800
 verse 11,

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.500
 and God was,

00:20:11.580 --> 00:20:11.780
 actually,

00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:13.520
 let me just re-correct myself.

00:20:14.020 --> 00:20:14.700
 Because I just said,

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.340
 Paul did miracles,

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.100
 but that's not the case.

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:17.020
 That's not what scripture says.

00:20:17.280 --> 00:20:17.820
 Scripture says,

00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:20.000
 and God was doing extraordinary miracles

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.839
 by the hands of Paul.

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:23.740
 So the point where even his handkerchief

00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:25.019
 was filled with power.

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:27.480
 Can you imagine the hype that was building

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.200
 around that time?

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:30.599
 Well,

00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:30.759
 actually,

00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:32.700
 you may have been a part of the church circles,

00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:34.720
 but definitely you will know someone who's ill,

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.400
 and who's unwell,

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:35.960
 and who's sick.

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:37.220
 And then you start hearing something.

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:37.720
 Hey,

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.880
 have you heard about that guy

00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:41.660
 who's hanging out in the hall of Tyranus?

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.440
 He can heal people.

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:43.920
 Hey,

00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:47.160
 you've had that eczema for a very long time.

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.640
 You should go.

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.220
 You should go touch him.

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.180
 And maybe not him,

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.660
 just touch a part of him.

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.940
 Or maybe even just a cloth or a towel.

00:20:56.580 --> 00:20:58.559
 Maybe that power will be the thing that heals you.

00:20:59.440 --> 00:20:59.600
 Hey,

00:20:59.620 --> 00:21:00.279
 what about that cancer?

00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:00.840
 Why don't we,

00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:02.039
 why don't we take them?

00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:05.140
 Can you imagine the hype of that

00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.059
 that was starting to build?

00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:08.200
 People were starting to hear about the miracles

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:08.779
 that were happening,

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.440
 and they couldn't,

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:12.200
 they couldn't resist going to find out,

00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:14.080
 can this person really heal?

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.120
 And it's of that time

00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:17.620
 where there's another group of people

00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:19.299
 who were in the similar kind of work,

00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:20.100
 and they were there,

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:20.600
 thank you,

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.100
 Janice,

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:21.740
 for trying to read that,

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.720
 itinerant Jewish exorcists.

00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:24.700
 Let's just,

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.460
 because it's a mouthful,

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.640
 let's just call them the Ghostbusters.

00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:27.900
 Okay?

00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:29.539
 So these were a group of guys

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.900
 that would go around

00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:32.000
 invoking all the names

00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.759
 of all the different gods

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.960
 to try and heal people.

00:21:34.080 --> 00:21:34.819
 And guess what?

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.400
 It worked.

00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:36.600
 Why?

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.920
 Because the world we live in

00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:38.960
 is a supernatural world.

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.519
 There is a spirit realm

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.279
 that we cannot see.

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.819
 Whether you're a follower of Christ,

00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.819
 a believer in God or not,

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:44.440
 you will,

00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:46.740
 you'll have to acknowledge and admit

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.579
 there's something beyond

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.500
 what we can see here.

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.680
 You have to,

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:51.359
 because there's oxygen in this room

00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.059
 and you can't see it.

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:53.559
 And we all know there's oxygen in this room.

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.319
 But beyond that,

00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:56.460
 there's also a spiritual realm.

00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.319
 And of course,

00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.139
 the enemy is a work,

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.519
 and the enemy is actually powerful.

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.759
 So therefore,

00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:01.660
 these Ghostbusters

00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:02.779
 were actually invoking

00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.660
 all the different names

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:06.180
 and actually causing healings to happen.

00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:07.859
 And so what do they do?

00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:09.679
 They hear about this Paul,

00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:11.659
 and they hear about this name Jesus,

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.019
 and they say,

00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:13.219
 well, why don't we add him

00:22:13.219 --> 00:22:14.119
 to our catalog?

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:16.319
 Maybe Jesus is the most powerful Pokemon

00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:17.139
 we can invoke.

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.859
 Let's go and catch him,

00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.379
 and then let's use him,

00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:22.159
 is what they're doing.

00:22:22.959 --> 00:22:24.419
 If you think back in Acts 17,

00:22:24.719 --> 00:22:26.279
 when Paul walks through Athens,

00:22:26.419 --> 00:22:27.899
 he sees this shrine

00:22:27.899 --> 00:22:28.919
 for an unknown God.

00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.379
 Why is that unknown God there?

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.539
 It's because they worshiped

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.279
 so many gods,

00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:33.500
 but they were very worried

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.319
 that they would offend

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.439
 and miss out some gods.

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.180
 So they would just put one,

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.240
 there's all these gods,

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:38.860
 fertility,

00:22:39.340 --> 00:22:39.840
 wealth,

00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.360
 and prosperity,

00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.420
 but there's one God

00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:42.580
 called the God unknown God.

00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:42.799
 Why?

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.799
 Just in case.

00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.580
 Just in case,

00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:46.880
 because what we do not want to do,

00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.320
 we do not want to offend

00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:49.980
 the God that we did not name.

00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:50.820
 So let's just call it

00:22:50.820 --> 00:22:51.460
 the unknown God.

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.820
 It's really ironic

00:22:52.820 --> 00:22:54.720
 because they create these gods,

00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.380
 they try to worship these gods,

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.019
 but what they're actually

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.640
 really trying to do

00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.539
 is control these gods.

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.680
 Can you imagine a God

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.539
 that you control

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.259
 that will bless you

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:02.820
 with fertility,

00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:03.440
 prosperity,

00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.120
 and all these things?

00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:05.340
 What kind of God is that?

00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.519
 And so what they're trying

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.160
 to do here is

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.420
 they hear about this Jesus.

00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:10.200
 So they said,

00:23:10.320 --> 00:23:11.620
 this name of Jesus

00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:12.460
 sounds powerful.

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.880
 So let's try it.

00:23:14.080 --> 00:23:15.340
 So the sons of Sceva,

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.940
 seven sons of a Jewish

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.880
 high priest named Sceva

00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:18.460
 were doing this,

00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.559
 but the evil spirit

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.120
 answered them,

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.740
 Jesus I know,

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:23.100
 and Paul I recognize,

00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.320
 but who are you?

00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:27.860
 I mean,

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.480
 that would have just been

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.820
 a terrifying encounter

00:23:29.820 --> 00:23:30.320
 to have.

00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.960
 And then,

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.679
 and the man in whom

00:23:33.679 --> 00:23:34.439
 was the evil spirit

00:23:34.439 --> 00:23:35.019
 leaped on them,

00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:35.720
 mastered all of them,

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.559
 and overpowered them

00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.720
 so that they fled out

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.159
 of that house

00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:38.919
 naked and wounded.

00:23:39.919 --> 00:23:40.740
 I don't know if you've ever

00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.559
 been in a fight before,

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:44.539
 but if you enter into a fight

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.519
 and you come out naked,

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.779
 it didn't win well for you.

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:49.759
 It was,

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.920
 it was not a good experience.

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.099
 And so it would have been

00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:53.899
 a hilarious scene

00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:55.319
 to these seven guys

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.799
 try to invoke

00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.500
 and conjure up

00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.220
 the name of Jesus,

00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.660
 end up in a fist fight

00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.379
 with one person

00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:01.559
 and they all walk out

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.399
 of there naked.

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:05.859
 Fascinatingly,

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:08.279
 and this became known

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.119
 to all the residents

00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.500
 that these seven guys

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:12.220
 got into a fight

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.519
 and lost their underwear

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:15.359
 and they walked out.

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.440
 Well, at least the imagery

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:16.879
 that I have,

00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.880
 they were completely naked

00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:18.780
 and wounded.

00:24:20.780 --> 00:24:21.680
 And you would have thought

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.760
 people would be terrified

00:24:22.760 --> 00:24:23.820
 and in some ways they were,

00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.020
 but then response

00:24:26.020 --> 00:24:27.620
 is actually quite a natural one.

00:24:28.540 --> 00:24:30.220
 And fear fell upon them all

00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.660
 and the name of the Lord Jesus

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:33.080
 was extolled.

00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:34.120
 It means worshipped

00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:35.480
 and held in high regard

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.040
 and honoured.

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.720
 So because of that incident,

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.560
 people were like,

00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:42.840
 did you see that?

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.980
 Did you see that

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.820
 those seven guys

00:24:45.820 --> 00:24:46.640
 just get beat up?

00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:48.160
 Those seven ghostbusters

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:49.360
 get beat up by that ghost?

00:24:50.800 --> 00:24:52.360
 Maybe Jesus is the only one.

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.300
 But just a word

00:24:54.300 --> 00:24:55.160
 about those seven guys.

00:24:55.780 --> 00:24:57.100
 I wonder whether you and I

00:24:57.100 --> 00:24:58.420
 are sometimes those seven guys

00:24:58.420 --> 00:25:00.300
 where we try and conjure up

00:25:00.300 --> 00:25:01.140
 the name of Jesus

00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:02.220
 and the power of Jesus

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.100
 so we can get the blessings

00:25:03.100 --> 00:25:03.720
 from Jesus,

00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.740
 but we don't actually

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.660
 know Jesus at all.

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.100
 Imagine

00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:10.540
 if we,

00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.600
 in our pursuits

00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:13.060
 for the things of this world,

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.500
 and we keep going to God

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.280
 and asking for these things

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:15.879
 and actually God says,

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.879
 I don't actually know you.

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:21.000
 How dangerous is that?

00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:22.460
 Do we sometimes do that?

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.460
 What are these guys doing?

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.079
 What are these ghostbusters

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:24.740
 even trying to do?

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.559
 They're trying to make money.

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.539
 They're trying to gain a name

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.160
 for themselves.

00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.819
 If you strip it down,

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.779
 isn't that what we're trying to do

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.279
 half the time?

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:37.200
 Trying to invoke the name of Jesus

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.500
 without the relationship of Jesus.

00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.220
 I'm reminded of

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.500
 the book of Mark.

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.700
 There's this scene

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.619
 in Mark chapter nine,

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.460
 the transfiguration.

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.039
 Jesus takes his three guys

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.680
 up into a mountain

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:47.319
 and they see

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.579
 this just incredible scene.

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.240
 Elijah and Moses show up

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.019
 and Peter's like,

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:51.779
 let's stay here forever,

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.420
 but they can't.

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.039
 So they have to go back

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.920
 down the mountain.

00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:54.839
 And when they go down

00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.259
 the mountain,

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.480
 there is chaos.

00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:58.279
 There is absolute chaos.

00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.420
 Why?

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.460
 Because there's this boy

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:02.500
 with an evil spirit inside them.

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.720
 And the other disciples,

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.779
 the ones who were left behind

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.720
 and all the other followers

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.299
 of Jesus were trying

00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.259
 to cast out this demon,

00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:08.220
 but they couldn't do it.

00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:09.519
 This boy kept getting seizures.

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.460
 And then Jesus stops them

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:12.839
 when he comes

00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:14.119
 and of course he casts out.

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.099
 And then he says this,

00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.660
 what does he say?

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.259
 He says,

00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:17.299
 this kind can only be

00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.099
 cast out by prayer.

00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:19.640
 What does he mean?

00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.079
 He says,

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.619
 this kind of,

00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:22.579
 you can only exercise

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.440
 any kind of power

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.240
 on behalf of me

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.200
 if you actually know me,

00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:26.180
 if you have a connection

00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:26.960
 with me,

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.000
 if you're able to speak

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.880
 to me yourself.

00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:30.180
 If you and I have a connection,

00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:31.460
 that's when you have the power.

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:33.100
 You can't invoke my name

00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:34.079
 and not know me at all.

00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.680
 You can't invoke my name

00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:38.200
 for selfish gain.

00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:41.140
 My name is that powerful,

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:44.160
 but only in connection

00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:46.000
 and in relationship with you.

00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.799
 I wonder whether

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:49.140
 when we go into our pursuits,

00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:49.460
 you know,

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.960
 this all sounds quite extreme.

00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:51.920
 It sounds like demons

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.079
 and it sounds like exorcists,

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:54.460
 but often we approach life

00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.940
 in a very similar way.

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.180
 Jesus,

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.220
 can you give me that job?

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.500
 Jesus,

00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.640
 can you give me that girl?

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.160
 Jesus,

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:02.780
 can you give me what I want?

00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:04.780
 And Jesus is like,

00:27:04.800 --> 00:27:06.080
 but you don't actually

00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:08.020
 want connection with me.

00:27:09.560 --> 00:27:10.500
 Relationship with me

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:13.100
 is the most important thing.

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:16.020
 Even when the crazy things happen

00:27:16.020 --> 00:27:17.980
 that we do for God,

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:20.060
 it happened with the disciples.

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:20.720
 They went out

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.500
 and they actually ended up

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.940
 casting out demons.

00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:23.740
 They ended up doing

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.320
 all these miracles

00:27:24.320 --> 00:27:25.340
 and they go back to Jesus

00:27:25.340 --> 00:27:26.280
 and they're so excited.

00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:27.200
 They're so hyped up.

00:27:27.280 --> 00:27:27.400
 They said,

00:27:27.540 --> 00:27:28.900
 do you know what we did?

00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:29.560
 We did this.

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.440
 We healed that person.

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.780
 And then Jesus says,

00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:32.320
 don't rejoice

00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:33.440
 because you could do those things.

00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:35.519
 Rejoice that your names

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:35.940
 are written

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:38.440
 in heaven,

00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:39.759
 in my heart,

00:27:39.800 --> 00:27:40.620
 that you have a connection

00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:41.940
 with me.

00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.400
 That's what he's trying

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.140
 to confront here.

00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:46.620
 That is,

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:48.080
 in some ways,

00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:48.500
 the irony

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:50.040
 that they tried to do this.

00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:50.840
 It didn't work.

00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:53.180
 They left the fight naked,

00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:54.800
 but yet the name of Jesus

00:27:54.800 --> 00:27:55.519
 was extolled.

00:27:55.860 --> 00:27:56.420
 And something,

00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:56.840
 again,

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:58.120
 this story just keeps going.

00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:59.279
 And verse 18,

00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:00.239
 and also many of those

00:28:00.239 --> 00:28:00.899
 who are now believers

00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:01.719
 came confessing

00:28:01.719 --> 00:28:02.859
 and divulging their practices.

00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:04.139
 And a number of those books,

00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:06.059
 those who had practiced magic arts,

00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.119
 brought their books together

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.819
 and burned them

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.759
 in the sight of all.

00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:11.159
 So the other people,

00:28:11.439 --> 00:28:12.299
 not the seven sons,

00:28:12.419 --> 00:28:13.179
 they look and they see,

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:13.399
 okay,

00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:14.339
 there's something special

00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:15.039
 about this Jesus.

00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.259
 We should follow him

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:18.039
 and only him.

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.000
 No one else.

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.539
 So they come

00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.599
 and they bring all their books

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.839
 and they burn all their books

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.179
 and they say,

00:28:24.239 --> 00:28:24.859
 we're not going to follow

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.559
 these other gods.

00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.299
 We're not going to try

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:26.779
 and invoke

00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.479
 all these other names.

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.519
 We're only going to go

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.440
 with the name of Jesus.

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.420
 We have found the one,

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.360
 the only one.

00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:33.360
 And they go and burn

00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:33.880
 all their books.

00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.700
 And it says here,

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.640
 they burn all their books

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.779
 and they counted the value

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.480
 of them and found it

00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:39.160
 and came to 50,000 pieces

00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:39.799
 of silver.

00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:41.980
 In modern day terms,

00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:43.660
 that's 35,000 US dollars

00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.860
 worth of books.

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.380
 Textbooks of the defense

00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:48.700
 against the dark arts.

00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.380
 They threw them all.

00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.000
 They burned them all.

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.960
 That's a lot of money.

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:55.960


00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.720
 Of course,

00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.640
 I don't know if you have

00:28:58.640 --> 00:28:59.619
 a book like that

00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.799
 at home on your shelf,

00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:02.539
 but maybe you do have

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.759
 some books on self-help.

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.400
 Maybe you do have

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.359
 different books

00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:07.819
 that you have read,

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.380
 investment gurus

00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:10.859
 to help you make money quick.

00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:13.700
 Maybe there are other things

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.619
 that you are relying on.

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.259
 Maybe there are

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.519
 Instagram accounts

00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.299
 that you are following,

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:17.700
 thinking,

00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.039
 okay,

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:19.339
 I will follow Jesus,

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.700
 but I also need

00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.519
 this guy's help.

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:24.400
 I do believe

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.879
 that Jesus provides for me,

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:27.039
 but I better go

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.980
 and do this

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.779
 in order,

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.440
 otherwise I won't get

00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.099
 what I need.

00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:33.740
 And yet these people,

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:35.460
 the beginning of this church

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.680
 happened

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:38.180
 at a bonfire

00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:40.420
 where they each came

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.680
 and took all the books

00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.500
 that they'd relied on

00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.900
 and they burned them.

00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:45.859
 And the value

00:29:45.859 --> 00:29:46.740
 of them,

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:50.900
 35,000 US dollars

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:52.080
 worth of books

00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:54.200
 and magical things

00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:57.580
 because they saw

00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.980
 the power of Jesus.

00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:00.620
 Jesus is either

00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:01.560
 Lord of all

00:30:01.560 --> 00:30:02.900
 or not

00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:03.860
 at all.

00:30:05.540 --> 00:30:06.360
 Imagine that kind

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:06.880
 of community.

00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:09.340
 Imagine if you and I

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:10.759
 all came here

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:12.300
 and had to sacrifice

00:30:12.300 --> 00:30:13.360
 an incredible amount

00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:13.940
 to be here.

00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:16.019
 Because if I'm honest

00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.380
 with you,

00:30:16.580 --> 00:30:18.000
 we didn't have to sacrifice

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:19.220
 that much to sit here.

00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.819
 There is no danger

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.759
 that we're in

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.799
 other than the danger

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.500
 of falling asleep.

00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:28.160
 There is no danger

00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.259
 imminent here.

00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.519
 There are no authorities

00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:31.319
 outside.

00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.480
 This did not cost us

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:32.860
 anything

00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:34.079
 unless you came from

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.440
 Kowloon

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.079
 and you had to pay

00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.579
 for the harbor

00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.559
 transport.

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:37.339
 Yeah,

00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:38.120
 it's a real thing.

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.420
 It's a very real thing.

00:30:41.600 --> 00:30:42.759
 But when there's no cost

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.360
 that we've paid,

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.160
 I wonder how much

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.160
 it's worth to us.

00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:48.019
 When there's no cost

00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.640
 that we've paid

00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.460
 to follow Jesus,

00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:51.240
 I wonder how much

00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.100
 Jesus is actually

00:30:52.100 --> 00:30:53.840
 worth to us.

00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.180
 What's your

00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:02.380
 magic

00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.040
 that you've been

00:31:03.040 --> 00:31:03.620
 relying on?

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.740
 What's the thing

00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.140
 that you've been

00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.860
 holding on to?

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:09.040
 What's the thing

00:31:09.040 --> 00:31:09.540
 where you say,

00:31:09.600 --> 00:31:09.800
 Jesus,

00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:10.480
 you can be Lord

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.420
 but only of these parts

00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.000
 because I have to

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.860
 look after these parts?

00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:14.939
 I don't think

00:31:14.939 --> 00:31:15.719
 that's how this church

00:31:15.719 --> 00:31:16.179
 was started.

00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.639
 Do we hold on

00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:21.139
 to those things?

00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.919
 And this happens

00:31:21.919 --> 00:31:22.559
 the most during

00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.199
 Chinese New Year,

00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.559
 I think.

00:31:23.959 --> 00:31:24.459
 It's exposed

00:31:24.459 --> 00:31:25.319
 when we sit

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.059
 around the table

00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:26.719
 with our friends

00:31:26.719 --> 00:31:27.159
 and family

00:31:27.159 --> 00:31:27.939
 and the question

00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:29.379
 that I asked myself

00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:29.599
 was,

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.959
 how am I going

00:31:30.959 --> 00:31:31.399
 to do this?

00:31:31.879 --> 00:31:32.899
 How am I going

00:31:32.899 --> 00:31:33.399
 to bring up

00:31:33.399 --> 00:31:34.539
 my faith

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:36.799
 to my family members?

00:31:38.159 --> 00:31:38.799
 How am I going

00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.439
 to be different

00:31:39.439 --> 00:31:40.019
 to them?

00:31:40.919 --> 00:31:41.619
 Not just for

00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.419
 different sake,

00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:44.079
 but if I really

00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:44.559
 believe what I

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.139
 truly believe,

00:31:45.219 --> 00:31:45.519
 that actually

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.679
 this is the path

00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.259
 that leads to life

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:47.939
 and this is the path

00:31:47.939 --> 00:31:48.500
 that leads to death,

00:31:48.639 --> 00:31:49.359
 how do I share

00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:49.719
 with them that?

00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.359
 How do I tell

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:50.719
 them that?

00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:52.659
 How did you do it?

00:31:54.459 --> 00:31:55.159
 Do we pray

00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:55.839
 for our families

00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:57.039
 that they would

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.979
 overcome the idols

00:31:57.979 --> 00:31:58.399
 of family,

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:58.759
 fortune,

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.399
 face,

00:31:59.399 --> 00:32:00.359
 and fears?

00:32:01.479 --> 00:32:02.039
 Do we pray

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.599
 for ourselves

00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.319
 that we can be

00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:03.919
 a light when we

00:32:03.919 --> 00:32:04.599
 head into those

00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:04.979
 spaces?

00:32:05.379 --> 00:32:06.099
 Not to judge

00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:06.699
 those spaces.

00:32:06.959 --> 00:32:07.159
 Remember,

00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:08.199
 the gospel is

00:32:08.199 --> 00:32:09.619
 that we are also

00:32:09.619 --> 00:32:10.719
 in that space

00:32:10.719 --> 00:32:11.819
 but then God

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:12.659
 came to find us.

00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:13.340
 He came to save

00:32:13.340 --> 00:32:13.480
 us.

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.000
 He came to preach

00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.840
 peace to us.

00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:16.680
 Do we recognize

00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.880
 our need for a

00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:18.460
 savior and do we

00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.259
 recognize their need

00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:19.759
 for a savior?

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.779
 Christianity continues

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:24.000
 to grow and continues

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.880
 to confront culture.

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.580
 So after that

00:32:25.580 --> 00:32:25.940
 happens,

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.680
 the word of the

00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.400
 Lord continued to

00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:28.259
 increase and prevail

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.759
 mightily.

00:32:29.080 --> 00:32:29.600
 Verse 21,

00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:30.160
 now after these

00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:30.400
 events,

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.060
 Paul resolved in

00:32:31.060 --> 00:32:31.560
 the spirit to

00:32:31.560 --> 00:32:31.880
 pass through

00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:32.880
 Macedonia and

00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:33.800
 Achaia and go to

00:32:33.800 --> 00:32:34.560
 Jerusalem and then

00:32:34.560 --> 00:32:35.220
 afterwards he must

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.740
 go to Rome.

00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:36.019
 Why?

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.300
 Because every city

00:32:37.300 --> 00:32:38.019
 he goes to,

00:32:38.080 --> 00:32:38.500
 he sees the

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.279
 fingerprints of Rome.

00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.759
 He sees that

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.700
 Rome is the place

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.240
 that you have to

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.380
 hit.

00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.340
 This is why I

00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:44.160
 think you are

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:44.660
 in Hong Kong.

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:46.180
 And this is why

00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:46.860
 I am in Hong Kong.

00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:48.319
 Because when you

00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:48.900
 reach a city,

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.559
 you can reach a

00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:49.799
 culture.

00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:52.360
 When Jesus says,

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:52.880
 go and make

00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:53.600
 disciples of all

00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:53.940
 nations,

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.019
 well how good

00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.319
 and how beautiful

00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:56.900
 is it that all

00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.700
 the nations gather

00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.519
 into the cities?

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.400
 And it's when you

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:01.259
 can move the city,

00:33:01.420 --> 00:33:01.940
 that's when you

00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:02.440
 can move the

00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:02.700
 culture.

00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:04.440
 And everything

00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:05.420
 that we need to

00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:06.000
 reach the city

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.120
 is in the city

00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:08.500
 so long as we

00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:09.059
 are open to it,

00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:09.519
 so long as we

00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.279
 are obedient to it.

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.220
 And that's why

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.740
 Paul is saying,

00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.379
 I must go to

00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:12.579
 Rome.

00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:14.660
 I must tackle,

00:33:15.160 --> 00:33:16.000
 Christianity must

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.960
 confront the head

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:17.480
 of this beast.

00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:19.019
 And so he said,

00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:19.660
 that's exactly what

00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:20.139
 he says there.

00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.240
 But afterwards,

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.559
 in Ephesus,

00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.339
 something else

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:23.579
 happens.

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:23.980
 There's a guy

00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:24.680
 called Demetrius,

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.539
 wealthy man,

00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.339
 businessman,

00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:27.480
 okay?

00:33:28.139 --> 00:33:28.539
 Silversmith,

00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.460
 who made silver

00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.720
 shrines of Artemis.

00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:31.920
 Now Artemis is the

00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:32.700
 god of Ephesus,

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.660
 is the local god

00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:34.660
 of Ephesus,

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:36.059
 and she had this

00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:36.960
 incredible temple,

00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:38.160
 four times the size

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.799
 of the Parthenon,

00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:40.079
 bigger than a

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.619
 football field.

00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.740
 People would use it

00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:42.619
 as a bank and store

00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:43.559
 their riches in this

00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:43.839
 temple.

00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:45.220
 It was the centerpiece

00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:46.039
 of the whole city

00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.440
 of Ephesus.

00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:48.180
 And so this guy

00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:49.279
 makes his living,

00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.740
 got rich by building

00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:52.000
 little statues of

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.399
 Artemis,

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:53.899
 and saying,

00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.299
 hey,

00:33:54.440 --> 00:33:55.000
 we're going to sell

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.220
 these,

00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:55.859
 and everyone put

00:33:55.859 --> 00:33:56.220
 them in their

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.460
 houses,

00:33:56.559 --> 00:33:57.019
 and he would make

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.480
 a lot of money

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:57.759
 for them.

00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.139
 Of course,

00:33:58.359 --> 00:33:59.180
 when Paul comes,

00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.079
 and even his

00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:01.000
 handkerchief has

00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:01.819
 more power than

00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.339
 these seven

00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:02.919
 Ghostbusters,

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:03.919
 suddenly people

00:34:03.919 --> 00:34:04.980
 start buying those

00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.379
 statues,

00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:06.559
 and they start just

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.279
 following Jesus.

00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:08.679
 And that gets

00:34:08.679 --> 00:34:09.460
 Demetrius upset.

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:11.900
 He actually riles up

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.300
 a whole group.

00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.079
 These he gathered

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:13.719
 together with the

00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:14.400
 workmen in similar

00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:14.679
 trades,

00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:15.039
 and he says,

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.320
 men,

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.360
 you know that from

00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.059
 this business we

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.860
 have our wealth.

00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:19.179
 We got rich by this.

00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:20.380
 This is our livelihood.

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.599
 I am a third

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.779
 generation silversmith

00:34:22.779 --> 00:34:23.820
 because of this.

00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:25.460
 We need this to

00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:25.920
 survive.

00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:26.739
 Yet Paul,

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.579
 yet Jesus,

00:34:27.779 --> 00:34:28.539
 is ruining that,

00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.300
 and you see in here

00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:29.920
 that not only in

00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.119
 Ephesus,

00:34:30.279 --> 00:34:31.579
 but in almost all

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:32.019
 of Asia,

00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:32.980
 this Paul,

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:34.340
 one guy,

00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:37.519
 God uses as the

00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.160
 chosen instrument

00:34:38.160 --> 00:34:39.059
 to spread throughout

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.680
 all of Asia,

00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:42.000
 the good news of

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.260
 Jesus.

00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:44.000
 But in almost all

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:44.340
 of Asia,

00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:44.980
 this Paul has

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.559
 persuaded and

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.160
 turned away a

00:34:46.160 --> 00:34:46.840
 great many people

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:47.579
 saying that God's

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.140
 made with hands

00:34:48.140 --> 00:34:48.940
 are not God's.

00:34:50.620 --> 00:34:52.039
 Just freeze there

00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:52.480
 for a second,

00:34:52.620 --> 00:34:53.400
 just that line,

00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.680
 that God's made

00:34:54.680 --> 00:34:55.559
 with hands are not

00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:55.980
 God's.

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:56.500
 Well,

00:34:57.700 --> 00:34:57.960
 well,

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.320
 obviously.

00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:01.420
 When we're

00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:02.039
 talking about the

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:02.500
 Holy Spirit,

00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.340
 when we're

00:35:03.340 --> 00:35:03.800
 talking about

00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:04.420
 God Almighty,

00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:05.599
 and then when

00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.179
 we're trying to

00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:06.920
 reduce him to a

00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.579
 little statue that

00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:08.119
 we can make with

00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:08.719
 our own hands,

00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:09.800
 or with our own

00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.239
 little minds,

00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:10.860
 we can understand

00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:11.380
 what's happening.

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.079
 I think that's

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:12.719
 where we go wrong.

00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:14.380
 So even when we're

00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:15.179
 talking about things

00:35:15.179 --> 00:35:15.679
 of the spiritual

00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:15.920
 realm,

00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.480
 like tongues,

00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.079
 like prophecy,

00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:18.940
 sometimes I just

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:19.619
 approach all of

00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:20.219
 this with humility

00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:20.519
 going,

00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:22.059
 this is what I can

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.760
 see in the Bible.

00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:23.940
 This is what I can

00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.699
 see sometimes in

00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:25.659
 experiences out there,

00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:27.239
 but I don't fully

00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:27.519
 know,

00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.420
 and anyone who says

00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:28.940
 they fully,

00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:29.519
 truly know,

00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:30.380
 I don't know if

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:30.940
 we should believe

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.139
 them.

00:35:31.139 --> 00:35:32.400
 Because we're

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:32.879
 dealing with this

00:35:32.879 --> 00:35:33.639
 God that is so

00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.900
 much bigger than

00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:35.319
 us.

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:37.659
 And I've shared

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.460
 this example before,

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.000
 if you've been to

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.359
 my house,

00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:41.779
 you will meet an

00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:43.460
 incredibly vicious,

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:45.019
 intimidating canine

00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:45.639
 called Walter.

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:46.960
 Okay?

00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:48.059
 He's about this

00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:48.279
 size.

00:35:49.359 --> 00:35:50.239
 He's a toy poodle.

00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:52.319
 Never did I ever

00:35:52.319 --> 00:35:52.920
 dream that I would

00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.679
 grow up and own a

00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:54.059
 toy poodle,

00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.639
 but it is what it

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:55.839
 is.

00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:56.639
 It is Hong Kong.

00:35:56.639 --> 00:36:00.139
 Imagine when we

00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.799
 left the house

00:36:00.799 --> 00:36:02.759
 this morning,

00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.799
 and Walter

00:36:03.799 --> 00:36:05.900
 then tries to

00:36:05.900 --> 00:36:07.039
 explain to some

00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:07.719
 of his other

00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:08.539
 canine friends as

00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:09.400
 he's outside

00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:10.480
 going for a

00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:10.639
 poop,

00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:11.799
 guys,

00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:12.359
 I've got the

00:36:12.359 --> 00:36:12.980
 humans down.

00:36:13.379 --> 00:36:14.099
 I know exactly

00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:14.699
 what they do.

00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:15.940
 I know exactly

00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.579
 how they're feeling.

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.579
 I know their

00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:17.980
 culture.

00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:19.000
 I know the way

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.619
 they think.

00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:20.940
 I know what

00:36:20.940 --> 00:36:21.960
 universities are.

00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:22.420
 Like,

00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:22.799
 no,

00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.739
 because he's a

00:36:23.739 --> 00:36:24.099
 dog.

00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.440
 He doesn't

00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:25.900
 understand.

00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:26.259
 Like,

00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:27.179
 if him and

00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:27.980
 his dogmates

00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:29.179
 sat together

00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:29.739
 and said,

00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:30.159
 hey,

00:36:30.219 --> 00:36:31.759
 let's just share

00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.159
 everything we

00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:32.539
 know about

00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:32.880
 humans,

00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:33.839
 they would not

00:36:33.839 --> 00:36:34.319
 be able to

00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:34.819
 tell you much

00:36:34.819 --> 00:36:35.259
 at all.

00:36:36.759 --> 00:36:37.960
 Dogs do not

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.819
 understand humans.

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.599
 Why do we

00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:41.579
 humans think we

00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:42.259
 can make gods

00:36:42.259 --> 00:36:43.420
 with our own

00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:43.699
 hands?

00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:46.420
 Impossible.

00:36:47.839 --> 00:36:48.299
 And so that

00:36:48.299 --> 00:36:48.739
 line,

00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:49.400
 Demetrius,

00:36:49.819 --> 00:36:50.659
 my boy Demetrius

00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:50.839
 here,

00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:51.679
 and I hope he

00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:52.400
 reflects on this,

00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:55.019
 is the irony

00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:55.980
 in that sentence.

00:36:57.440 --> 00:36:57.860
 Do you hear

00:36:57.860 --> 00:36:58.200
 about this,

00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:58.480
 Paul?

00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:59.360
 He said the

00:36:59.360 --> 00:36:59.940
 gods that we

00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:00.579
 made with our

00:37:00.579 --> 00:37:01.059
 own hands

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:01.539
 aren't gods

00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:01.920
 at all.

00:37:04.240 --> 00:37:04.880
 And again,

00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:05.599
 it sounds stupid,

00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:06.160
 but then we

00:37:06.160 --> 00:37:06.559
 look at our

00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:06.880
 lives.

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:08.519
 We look at the

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.039
 things that we

00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:09.639
 hold on to,

00:37:10.780 --> 00:37:12.300
 the brand names

00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:13.160
 that we pursue,

00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:14.160
 the careers that

00:37:14.160 --> 00:37:15.039
 we obsess over,

00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:16.480
 and we wonder,

00:37:16.619 --> 00:37:20.760
 should we be

00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:21.440
 surprised at all

00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:21.960
 when they don't

00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.679
 really satisfy

00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:22.940
 us,

00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:23.340
 when they

00:37:23.340 --> 00:37:24.099
 don't truly

00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:24.720
 deliver us?

00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:27.139
 How often are

00:37:27.139 --> 00:37:27.659
 we actually

00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:28.519
 relying on

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:29.079
 gods that we

00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:29.639
 make with our

00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.099
 own hands?

00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:31.480
 And anyway,

00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:32.079
 Demetrius is

00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:32.599
 trying to cause

00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:32.900
 a riot,

00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:33.360
 and he actually

00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:33.780
 succeeds,

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:34.440
 and he's

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:34.639
 saying,

00:37:35.220 --> 00:37:35.360
 hey,

00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.139
 we're losing

00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:36.639
 money from

00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:36.880
 this.

00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:37.900
 This guy,

00:37:37.980 --> 00:37:38.220
 we need to

00:37:38.220 --> 00:37:38.700
 get rid of

00:37:38.700 --> 00:37:39.139
 this guy,

00:37:39.639 --> 00:37:40.139
 otherwise I've

00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:40.760
 got a whole

00:37:40.760 --> 00:37:41.559
 pile of

00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.200
 statues in the

00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:43.039
 warehouse that

00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:43.539
 won't move,

00:37:44.659 --> 00:37:45.340
 and I've got

00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:45.960
 kids to pay

00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:46.139
 for.

00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:48.700
 And then he

00:37:48.700 --> 00:37:49.780
 also takes on

00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:50.200
 a bit of a

00:37:50.200 --> 00:37:50.579
 higher noble

00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:50.800
 ground,

00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:51.100
 and he says,

00:37:51.240 --> 00:37:51.700
 and there is

00:37:51.700 --> 00:37:52.460
 danger not only

00:37:52.460 --> 00:37:53.060
 that this trade

00:37:53.060 --> 00:37:53.519
 of ours may

00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:53.880
 come into

00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:54.400
 disrepute,

00:37:54.620 --> 00:37:55.220
 but also that

00:37:55.220 --> 00:37:55.840
 the temple of

00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:56.180
 the great

00:37:56.180 --> 00:37:57.080
 goddess Artemis

00:37:57.080 --> 00:37:57.860
 may be counted

00:37:57.860 --> 00:37:58.300
 as nothing,

00:37:58.580 --> 00:37:59.060
 and that she

00:37:59.060 --> 00:37:59.800
 may even be

00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:00.440
 deposed from

00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.260
 her magnificence,

00:38:01.620 --> 00:38:02.420
 she whom all

00:38:02.420 --> 00:38:03.100
 Asia and the

00:38:03.100 --> 00:38:04.039
 world worship.

00:38:04.580 --> 00:38:05.280
 The temple of

00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:05.760
 Artemis is

00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.420
 considered one of

00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:07.120
 the seven wonders

00:38:07.120 --> 00:38:07.760
 of the world.

00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.440
 He's saying,

00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:10.620
 hey,

00:38:10.700 --> 00:38:11.340
 if we don't get

00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:11.720
 rid of this

00:38:11.720 --> 00:38:12.019
 Paul,

00:38:13.060 --> 00:38:13.700
 Artemis will

00:38:13.700 --> 00:38:14.200
 lose her

00:38:14.200 --> 00:38:14.840
 magnificence,

00:38:15.340 --> 00:38:15.960
 to which I

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.320
 would say,

00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:16.560
 well,

00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:17.480
 why does

00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:18.280
 Artemis need

00:38:18.280 --> 00:38:18.980
 us to defend

00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:19.800
 her magnificence?

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:21.680
 Is she that

00:38:21.680 --> 00:38:22.960
 weak that she

00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:23.940
 needs us to

00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:24.460
 build statues

00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:24.980
 for her to

00:38:24.980 --> 00:38:26.320
 sell them so

00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:26.760
 that she would

00:38:26.760 --> 00:38:27.320
 be glorified?

00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:27.580
 Now,

00:38:27.640 --> 00:38:28.240
 people did

00:38:28.240 --> 00:38:28.880
 travel from

00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:29.340
 all over the

00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:29.860
 world to

00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:30.780
 Ephesus to

00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:31.780
 worship Artemis,

00:38:32.780 --> 00:38:33.620
 who was actually

00:38:33.620 --> 00:38:34.300
 mixed in with a

00:38:34.300 --> 00:38:34.980
 Roman god called

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:35.740
 Diana,

00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:37.540
 which would grant

00:38:37.540 --> 00:38:38.000
 fertility.

00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:40.060
 But again,

00:38:40.120 --> 00:38:40.960
 so he's basically

00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:41.480
 saying, hey,

00:38:41.540 --> 00:38:42.300
 this is about me,

00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:43.100
 but it's also about

00:38:43.100 --> 00:38:44.220
 our great city and

00:38:44.220 --> 00:38:44.860
 our great culture,

00:38:44.860 --> 00:38:45.500
 which tells me

00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:45.940
 something else.

00:38:46.740 --> 00:38:47.099
 Religion.

00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:50.340
 Here is

00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:51.140
 practiced publicly

00:38:51.140 --> 00:38:52.720
 and it is also

00:38:52.720 --> 00:38:53.300
 never neutral.

00:38:54.300 --> 00:38:55.180
 You walk into

00:38:55.180 --> 00:38:55.800
 our streets of

00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:56.240
 Hong Kong and

00:38:56.240 --> 00:38:56.800
 you will see that

00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:57.180
 there is a

00:38:57.180 --> 00:38:57.760
 religion that is

00:38:57.760 --> 00:38:58.260
 not practiced

00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:58.640
 privately.

00:38:58.780 --> 00:38:59.320
 It is out

00:38:59.320 --> 00:39:00.260
 there public.

00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:02.120
 The worship of

00:39:02.120 --> 00:39:03.420
 money is one of

00:39:03.420 --> 00:39:04.000
 the biggest ones.

00:39:04.720 --> 00:39:05.460
 And you can see

00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:05.620
 it.

00:39:06.300 --> 00:39:06.880
 You walk through

00:39:06.880 --> 00:39:08.400
 any mall,

00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:09.019
 any MTR,

00:39:09.140 --> 00:39:09.559
 and you'll see

00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:10.260
 the shrines that

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:10.800
 are up where

00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:12.700
 it will show you

00:39:12.700 --> 00:39:13.260
 what we worship.

00:39:13.260 --> 00:39:15.140
 And it is never

00:39:15.140 --> 00:39:15.740
 done in private

00:39:15.740 --> 00:39:16.360
 and it's always

00:39:16.360 --> 00:39:16.920
 in public and

00:39:16.920 --> 00:39:17.340
 it is never

00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:17.660
 neutral.

00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:18.280
 So when we

00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:18.700
 walk through

00:39:18.700 --> 00:39:19.220
 these places,

00:39:19.300 --> 00:39:19.700
 when we walk

00:39:19.700 --> 00:39:20.040
 through these

00:39:20.040 --> 00:39:20.340
 cities,

00:39:20.520 --> 00:39:21.200
 let's not think

00:39:21.200 --> 00:39:21.700
 that this is a

00:39:21.700 --> 00:39:22.280
 neutral ground.

00:39:22.660 --> 00:39:23.360
 Let's remember

00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:23.860
 that this is

00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:24.380
 actually a

00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:24.880
 battleground.

00:39:26.980 --> 00:39:27.620
 That there are

00:39:27.620 --> 00:39:28.180
 lives, there are

00:39:28.180 --> 00:39:29.320
 souls at stake

00:39:29.320 --> 00:39:29.500
 here.

00:39:30.180 --> 00:39:30.720
 And there is

00:39:30.720 --> 00:39:31.580
 only one God

00:39:31.580 --> 00:39:32.180
 that is alive.

00:39:34.060 --> 00:39:34.780
 Jesus is either

00:39:34.780 --> 00:39:36.080
 Lord of all or

00:39:36.080 --> 00:39:36.520
 not at all.

00:39:36.740 --> 00:39:37.160
 And it just

00:39:37.160 --> 00:39:38.360
 shows you how

00:39:38.360 --> 00:39:39.560
 fickle and

00:39:39.560 --> 00:39:40.200
 stupid humans

00:39:40.200 --> 00:39:40.440
 are.

00:39:40.900 --> 00:39:41.480
 Verse 28,

00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:42.420
 and when they

00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:42.800
 heard this,

00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:43.100
 they were

00:39:43.100 --> 00:39:43.720
 enraged and

00:39:43.720 --> 00:39:44.120
 were crying

00:39:44.120 --> 00:39:44.360
 out,

00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:44.880
 great is

00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:45.940
 Artemis of

00:39:45.940 --> 00:39:46.620
 the Ephesians.

00:39:47.320 --> 00:39:48.260
 They shouted

00:39:48.260 --> 00:39:48.920
 this for two

00:39:48.920 --> 00:39:49.260
 hours.

00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:51.960
 And they

00:39:51.960 --> 00:39:52.600
 were confused.

00:39:55.440 --> 00:39:56.120
 And again,

00:39:56.260 --> 00:39:56.640
 this feels

00:39:56.640 --> 00:39:57.120
 extreme and

00:39:57.120 --> 00:39:57.460
 if we were

00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:58.240
 in that spot,

00:39:58.320 --> 00:39:58.640
 it would have

00:39:58.640 --> 00:39:59.019
 felt pretty

00:39:59.019 --> 00:39:59.420
 intense.

00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:00.220
 But if you

00:40:00.220 --> 00:40:00.780
 look around,

00:40:02.420 --> 00:40:03.120
 think about

00:40:03.120 --> 00:40:03.580
 your family

00:40:03.580 --> 00:40:03.900
 gatherings,

00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:04.260
 think about

00:40:04.260 --> 00:40:04.820
 my family

00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:05.080
 gathering,

00:40:05.160 --> 00:40:05.500
 think about

00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:05.860
 the city

00:40:05.860 --> 00:40:06.140
 that we're

00:40:06.140 --> 00:40:06.200
 in,

00:40:06.200 --> 00:40:06.539
 the culture

00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:06.880
 that we're

00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:07.060
 in.

00:40:07.680 --> 00:40:08.060
 Aren't we

00:40:08.060 --> 00:40:08.539
 really just

00:40:08.539 --> 00:40:08.960
 as confused?

00:40:09.060 --> 00:40:09.280
 Aren't we

00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:09.740
 really just

00:40:09.740 --> 00:40:10.160
 as fearful?

00:40:10.380 --> 00:40:10.640
 Aren't we

00:40:10.640 --> 00:40:11.220
 really just

00:40:11.220 --> 00:40:11.840
 as selfish?

00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:15.440
 And so

00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:16.140
 Demetrius tries

00:40:16.140 --> 00:40:16.700
 to rile up

00:40:16.700 --> 00:40:17.180
 the crowd,

00:40:17.539 --> 00:40:20.700
 basically trying

00:40:20.700 --> 00:40:21.019
 to drive

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.420
 Paul out.

00:40:22.120 --> 00:40:22.460
 Now,

00:40:22.580 --> 00:40:22.940
 later,

00:40:23.100 --> 00:40:23.440
 and we won't

00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:23.880
 focus too

00:40:23.880 --> 00:40:24.140
 much on

00:40:24.140 --> 00:40:24.260
 this,

00:40:24.340 --> 00:40:24.560
 there's a

00:40:24.560 --> 00:40:25.019
 town clerk

00:40:25.019 --> 00:40:25.860
 called

00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:26.500
 Alexander who

00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:27.039
 actually comes

00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:27.519
 and calms

00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:28.420
 down the

00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:29.120
 whole setting

00:40:29.120 --> 00:40:29.360
 and says,

00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:29.480
 well,

00:40:29.500 --> 00:40:29.820
 this isn't

00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:30.300
 the way

00:40:30.300 --> 00:40:30.920
 that you

00:40:30.920 --> 00:40:31.320
 do this.

00:40:31.420 --> 00:40:31.600
 If you

00:40:31.600 --> 00:40:31.780
 want to

00:40:31.780 --> 00:40:32.039
 get rid

00:40:32.039 --> 00:40:32.240
 of him,

00:40:32.300 --> 00:40:32.539
 then do

00:40:32.539 --> 00:40:32.760
 it through

00:40:32.760 --> 00:40:33.060
 the proper

00:40:33.060 --> 00:40:33.400
 way is

00:40:33.400 --> 00:40:33.680
 basically

00:40:33.680 --> 00:40:34.039
 what he's

00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.220
 saying.

00:40:34.600 --> 00:40:34.900
 And so

00:40:34.900 --> 00:40:35.380
 actually,

00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:35.740
 the crowd

00:40:35.740 --> 00:40:36.019
 calms

00:40:36.019 --> 00:40:36.260
 down,

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:36.940
 and then

00:40:36.940 --> 00:40:37.240
 they leave.

00:40:37.239 --> 00:40:39.639
 But I

00:40:39.639 --> 00:40:39.899
 think it

00:40:39.899 --> 00:40:40.259
 leaves us

00:40:40.259 --> 00:40:40.539
 with the

00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:41.099
 same question.

00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:42.639
 Is Jesus

00:40:42.639 --> 00:40:43.159
 the Lord

00:40:43.159 --> 00:40:43.559
 of all

00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:43.819
 of our

00:40:43.819 --> 00:40:44.099
 lives,

00:40:44.339 --> 00:40:44.759
 or is

00:40:44.759 --> 00:40:46.159
 he only

00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:46.519
 Lord of

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:46.859
 parts?

00:40:47.219 --> 00:40:47.619
 Because if

00:40:47.619 --> 00:40:47.879
 he's the

00:40:47.879 --> 00:40:48.159
 Lord of

00:40:48.159 --> 00:40:48.399
 parts,

00:40:48.439 --> 00:40:48.699
 then he's

00:40:48.699 --> 00:40:49.199
 actually not

00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:49.500
 at all.

00:40:50.979 --> 00:40:51.519
 That's the

00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:51.879
 difference.

00:40:51.880 --> 00:40:55.180
 the challenge

00:40:55.180 --> 00:40:55.460
 that we

00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:56.300
 have today

00:40:56.300 --> 00:40:58.900
 is can

00:40:58.900 --> 00:40:59.519
 we fight

00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:00.000
 actively

00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:00.599
 against these

00:41:00.599 --> 00:41:01.039
 other little

00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:01.320
 gods,

00:41:02.640 --> 00:41:03.440
 these books

00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:04.019
 that we

00:41:04.019 --> 00:41:04.500
 rely on,

00:41:05.460 --> 00:41:06.400
 this trade

00:41:06.400 --> 00:41:06.960
 that we

00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:07.400
 rely on?

00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:11.220
 I want to

00:41:11.220 --> 00:41:11.619
 finish by

00:41:11.619 --> 00:41:12.079
 sharing with

00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:12.260
 you,

00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:13.400
 we just

00:41:13.400 --> 00:41:13.860
 painted a

00:41:13.860 --> 00:41:14.460
 picture of

00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:15.140
 the beginning

00:41:15.140 --> 00:41:15.720
 of Ephesus,

00:41:16.300 --> 00:41:16.840
 the church

00:41:16.840 --> 00:41:17.280
 of Ephesus,

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.019
 the gathering

00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:18.760
 at Ephesus.

00:41:20.519 --> 00:41:21.400
 Paul writes

00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:22.680
 them a

00:41:22.680 --> 00:41:22.860
 lot,

00:41:23.099 --> 00:41:23.320
 and he

00:41:23.320 --> 00:41:23.780
 loves this

00:41:23.780 --> 00:41:24.000
 church.

00:41:24.720 --> 00:41:25.160
 Actually,

00:41:25.300 --> 00:41:25.700
 in Ephesians,

00:41:25.760 --> 00:41:26.079
 if you just

00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:26.400
 go to

00:41:26.400 --> 00:41:26.760
 Ephesians

00:41:26.760 --> 00:41:26.980
 now,

00:41:27.079 --> 00:41:27.460
 we'll just

00:41:27.460 --> 00:41:27.760
 flick through

00:41:27.760 --> 00:41:27.980
 a little

00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:28.119
 bit,

00:41:28.160 --> 00:41:28.360
 just do

00:41:28.360 --> 00:41:29.480
 a mini

00:41:29.480 --> 00:41:30.200
 Bible study,

00:41:31.139 --> 00:41:31.680
 because

00:41:31.680 --> 00:41:31.940
 actually,

00:41:32.119 --> 00:41:32.320
 it will

00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:32.740
 suddenly,

00:41:33.579 --> 00:41:34.059
 you'll

00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:35.180
 basically

00:41:35.180 --> 00:41:36.200
 color in

00:41:36.200 --> 00:41:38.400
 this church

00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:38.760
 for us.

00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:39.420
 Ephesians,

00:41:39.500 --> 00:41:39.700
 the book

00:41:39.700 --> 00:41:40.160
 of Ephesians,

00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:41.340
 chapter 1,

00:41:42.400 --> 00:41:43.079
 verse 15.

00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:46.280
 Ephesians

00:41:46.280 --> 00:41:46.880
 chapter 1,

00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:47.440
 verse 15.

00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:48.139
 So,

00:41:48.559 --> 00:41:49.280
 Paul visits

00:41:49.280 --> 00:41:49.680
 Ephesus,

00:41:49.800 --> 00:41:50.039
 this is what

00:41:50.039 --> 00:41:50.480
 we see in

00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:50.800
 Acts chapter

00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:51.139
 19,

00:41:51.400 --> 00:41:51.840
 and now

00:41:51.840 --> 00:41:52.480
 he writes

00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:53.559
 to the

00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:54.019
 church in

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:54.320
 Ephesus

00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:55.260
 from prison.

00:41:56.079 --> 00:41:56.740
 And this

00:41:56.740 --> 00:41:57.400
 is many years

00:41:57.400 --> 00:41:57.599
 later,

00:41:57.680 --> 00:41:58.000
 and this is

00:41:58.000 --> 00:41:58.200
 what he

00:41:58.200 --> 00:41:58.420
 says.

00:41:58.940 --> 00:41:59.220
 For this

00:41:59.220 --> 00:41:59.539
 reason,

00:41:59.820 --> 00:42:00.200
 because I

00:42:00.200 --> 00:42:00.539
 have heard

00:42:00.539 --> 00:42:00.800
 of your

00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:01.340
 faith in

00:42:01.340 --> 00:42:01.619
 the Lord

00:42:01.619 --> 00:42:01.940
 Jesus,

00:42:02.400 --> 00:42:02.780
 and your

00:42:02.780 --> 00:42:03.460
 love toward

00:42:03.460 --> 00:42:03.880
 all the

00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:04.119
 saints,

00:42:04.220 --> 00:42:04.660
 I do

00:42:04.660 --> 00:42:05.220
 not cease

00:42:05.220 --> 00:42:05.619
 to give

00:42:05.619 --> 00:42:06.200
 thanks for

00:42:06.200 --> 00:42:06.480
 you,

00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:07.320
 remembering

00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:08.260
 you in

00:42:08.260 --> 00:42:08.980
 my prayers.

00:42:09.420 --> 00:42:09.920
 Because I

00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:10.200
 have heard

00:42:10.200 --> 00:42:10.500
 of your

00:42:10.500 --> 00:42:11.200
 faith in

00:42:11.200 --> 00:42:11.480
 the Lord

00:42:11.480 --> 00:42:11.780
 Jesus,

00:42:12.039 --> 00:42:12.460
 and your

00:42:12.460 --> 00:42:13.240
 love toward

00:42:13.240 --> 00:42:13.900
 all the

00:42:13.900 --> 00:42:14.180
 saints.

00:42:15.720 --> 00:42:16.079
 Later,

00:42:17.019 --> 00:42:17.440
 and that

00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:18.360
 the God of

00:42:18.360 --> 00:42:18.720
 our Lord

00:42:18.720 --> 00:42:19.180
 Jesus Christ,

00:42:19.240 --> 00:42:19.639
 the Father

00:42:19.639 --> 00:42:20.320
 of glory,

00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:20.800
 may give you

00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:21.260
 the spirit

00:42:21.260 --> 00:42:21.700
 of wisdom

00:42:21.700 --> 00:42:22.039
 and of

00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:22.400
 revelation

00:42:22.400 --> 00:42:22.880
 in the

00:42:22.880 --> 00:42:23.539
 knowledge of

00:42:23.539 --> 00:42:23.760
 him,

00:42:23.980 --> 00:42:24.440
 having the

00:42:24.440 --> 00:42:24.860
 eyes of

00:42:24.860 --> 00:42:25.320
 your hearts

00:42:25.320 --> 00:42:25.920
 enlightened,

00:42:26.280 --> 00:42:26.920
 that you may

00:42:26.920 --> 00:42:27.539
 know what is

00:42:27.539 --> 00:42:28.039
 the hope to

00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:28.500
 which he has

00:42:28.500 --> 00:42:28.980
 called you.

00:42:30.300 --> 00:42:30.680
 He's saying,

00:42:30.740 --> 00:42:31.260
 I've heard of

00:42:31.260 --> 00:42:31.640
 your faith,

00:42:31.720 --> 00:42:32.320
 I've heard of

00:42:32.320 --> 00:42:32.740
 your love,

00:42:32.800 --> 00:42:33.420
 I remember,

00:42:33.560 --> 00:42:34.080
 I personally

00:42:34.080 --> 00:42:34.780
 remember when

00:42:34.780 --> 00:42:35.480
 you burned all

00:42:35.480 --> 00:42:36.060
 those books,

00:42:36.059 --> 00:42:37.259
 I personally

00:42:37.259 --> 00:42:37.880
 remember when

00:42:37.880 --> 00:42:38.440
 you received

00:42:38.440 --> 00:42:38.920
 the gift of

00:42:38.920 --> 00:42:39.500
 the Holy Spirit

00:42:39.500 --> 00:42:39.840
 and you

00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:40.500
 encountered

00:42:40.500 --> 00:42:41.380
 and experienced

00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:42.219
 his love.

00:42:42.400 --> 00:42:42.840
 The only way

00:42:42.840 --> 00:42:43.219
 we even

00:42:43.219 --> 00:42:43.840
 experience

00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:44.519
 his love,

00:42:45.119 --> 00:42:45.519
 as Romans

00:42:45.519 --> 00:42:46.099
 5, 5

00:42:46.099 --> 00:42:46.579
 points out

00:42:46.579 --> 00:42:46.840
 to us,

00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:47.380
 is because

00:42:47.380 --> 00:42:48.099
 God pours

00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:48.539
 out his

00:42:48.539 --> 00:42:49.440
 love onto

00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:50.179
 us through

00:42:50.179 --> 00:42:50.579
 his Holy

00:42:50.579 --> 00:42:50.880
 Spirit.

00:42:51.699 --> 00:42:52.219
 So Paul's

00:42:52.219 --> 00:42:52.340
 saying,

00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:52.880
 can you see

00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:53.440
 now as we've

00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:54.360
 read the events

00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:54.619
 of Acts

00:42:54.619 --> 00:42:55.119
 chapter 19,

00:42:55.239 --> 00:42:55.719
 you read what

00:42:55.719 --> 00:42:56.079
 he's saying

00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:56.619
 here and

00:42:56.619 --> 00:42:57.259
 suddenly it

00:42:57.259 --> 00:42:57.619
 adds more

00:42:57.619 --> 00:42:58.019
 context,

00:42:58.259 --> 00:42:58.579
 it adds

00:42:58.579 --> 00:42:58.980
 more color.

00:42:59.239 --> 00:42:59.440
 Guys,

00:42:59.519 --> 00:42:59.980
 I remember

00:42:59.980 --> 00:43:00.500
 your faith

00:43:00.500 --> 00:43:01.099
 and I remember

00:43:01.099 --> 00:43:01.559
 your love.

00:43:01.559 --> 00:43:02.519
 I remember

00:43:02.519 --> 00:43:03.400
 you know

00:43:03.400 --> 00:43:03.779
 how to

00:43:03.779 --> 00:43:04.259
 discern

00:43:04.259 --> 00:43:05.779
 against the

00:43:05.779 --> 00:43:06.079
 spirits.

00:43:06.460 --> 00:43:06.779
 You know

00:43:06.779 --> 00:43:07.139
 how to

00:43:07.139 --> 00:43:07.460
 discern

00:43:07.460 --> 00:43:07.779
 what is

00:43:07.779 --> 00:43:08.199
 right and

00:43:08.199 --> 00:43:08.440
 wrong

00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:09.539
 because you

00:43:09.539 --> 00:43:10.279
 saw those

00:43:10.279 --> 00:43:10.960
 seven guys

00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:11.519
 run out

00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:12.219
 but naked

00:43:12.219 --> 00:43:13.539
 and you

00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:14.039
 saw the

00:43:14.039 --> 00:43:14.559
 power of

00:43:14.559 --> 00:43:14.840
 Jesus

00:43:14.840 --> 00:43:16.579
 and I

00:43:16.579 --> 00:43:16.920
 remember

00:43:16.920 --> 00:43:17.199
 that and

00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:17.519
 I do

00:43:17.519 --> 00:43:17.980
 not cease

00:43:17.980 --> 00:43:18.559
 to give

00:43:18.559 --> 00:43:18.960
 thanks for

00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:19.440
 that and

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:19.960
 the riches

00:43:19.960 --> 00:43:20.400
 of his

00:43:20.400 --> 00:43:20.799
 glorious

00:43:20.799 --> 00:43:21.360
 inheritance

00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:21.779
 in the

00:43:21.779 --> 00:43:22.000
 saints.

00:43:22.299 --> 00:43:23.119
 I remember

00:43:23.119 --> 00:43:23.820
 the immeasurable

00:43:23.820 --> 00:43:24.519
 greatness of

00:43:24.519 --> 00:43:24.980
 his power

00:43:24.980 --> 00:43:25.699
 towards us

00:43:25.699 --> 00:43:26.179
 who believe.

00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:27.019
 I remember

00:43:27.019 --> 00:43:27.460
 when you

00:43:27.460 --> 00:43:27.960
 saw and

00:43:27.960 --> 00:43:28.400
 you witnessed

00:43:28.400 --> 00:43:28.840
 the power

00:43:28.840 --> 00:43:29.199
 of Jesus

00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:29.659
 firsthand.

00:43:29.659 --> 00:43:30.480
 I remember

00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:30.779
 when you

00:43:30.779 --> 00:43:31.119
 were willing

00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:31.320
 to

00:43:31.320 --> 00:43:31.840
 sacrifice

00:43:31.840 --> 00:43:32.760
 35,000

00:43:32.760 --> 00:43:33.320
 US dollars

00:43:33.320 --> 00:43:33.980
 worth of

00:43:33.980 --> 00:43:34.440
 self-help

00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:34.960
 books

00:43:34.960 --> 00:43:35.880
 for this

00:43:35.880 --> 00:43:36.200
 Jesus

00:43:36.200 --> 00:43:37.460
 and now

00:43:37.460 --> 00:43:37.820
 you have

00:43:37.820 --> 00:43:38.260
 riches

00:43:38.260 --> 00:43:39.640
 of his

00:43:39.640 --> 00:43:39.980
 glorious

00:43:39.980 --> 00:43:40.539
 inheritance.

00:43:41.340 --> 00:43:42.260
 I remember

00:43:42.260 --> 00:43:43.300
 all that.

00:43:44.140 --> 00:43:44.860
 Stay strong

00:43:44.860 --> 00:43:47.460
 is what

00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:47.840
 he's saying.

00:43:50.920 --> 00:43:51.559
 And that

00:43:51.559 --> 00:43:52.000
 he worked

00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:52.440
 in Christ

00:43:52.440 --> 00:43:52.760
 when he

00:43:52.760 --> 00:43:53.220
 raised him

00:43:53.220 --> 00:43:53.480
 from the

00:43:53.480 --> 00:43:53.640
 dead

00:43:53.640 --> 00:43:54.059
 and seated

00:43:54.059 --> 00:43:54.519
 him at

00:43:54.519 --> 00:43:54.920
 his right

00:43:54.920 --> 00:43:55.200
 hand in

00:43:55.200 --> 00:43:55.500
 the heavenly

00:43:55.500 --> 00:43:55.880
 places.

00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:56.559
 Verse 21

00:43:56.559 --> 00:43:57.720
 far above

00:43:57.720 --> 00:43:58.380
 all rule

00:43:58.380 --> 00:43:58.980
 and authority

00:43:58.980 --> 00:43:59.480
 in power

00:43:59.480 --> 00:44:00.080
 and dominion.

00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:00.739
 Jesus

00:44:00.739 --> 00:44:01.179
 is Lord

00:44:01.179 --> 00:44:01.460
 of all

00:44:01.460 --> 00:44:03.079
 or not

00:44:03.079 --> 00:44:03.420
 at all.

00:44:04.319 --> 00:44:04.880
 You guys

00:44:04.880 --> 00:44:05.340
 chose

00:44:05.340 --> 00:44:06.000
 Jesus

00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:06.440
 in the

00:44:06.440 --> 00:44:06.679
 beginning.

00:44:09.219 --> 00:44:09.739
 Unfortunately,

00:44:10.900 --> 00:44:11.279
 the town

00:44:11.279 --> 00:44:11.679
 of Ephesus,

00:44:11.819 --> 00:44:12.239
 this great

00:44:12.239 --> 00:44:12.559
 town,

00:44:13.239 --> 00:44:13.960
 actually ends

00:44:13.960 --> 00:44:14.239
 up

00:44:14.239 --> 00:44:15.759
 gone.

00:44:16.579 --> 00:44:16.980
 Who's been

00:44:16.980 --> 00:44:17.420
 to Ephesus

00:44:17.420 --> 00:44:17.940
 by the way?

00:44:18.539 --> 00:44:18.860
 There we go.

00:44:19.159 --> 00:44:19.519
 What is

00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:19.739
 Ephesus?

00:44:19.840 --> 00:44:20.039
 What does

00:44:20.039 --> 00:44:20.279
 it look

00:44:20.279 --> 00:44:20.480
 like,

00:44:20.539 --> 00:44:20.599
 Flo?

00:44:20.599 --> 00:44:20.619
 Flo?

00:44:22.619 --> 00:44:22.940
 No.

00:44:23.719 --> 00:44:24.079
 Agnes?

00:44:24.920 --> 00:44:25.360
 Ruins.

00:44:25.920 --> 00:44:26.360
 A pile

00:44:26.360 --> 00:44:27.799
 of rocks

00:44:27.799 --> 00:44:29.840
 with a

00:44:29.840 --> 00:44:30.219
 temple

00:44:30.219 --> 00:44:30.900
 that was

00:44:30.900 --> 00:44:31.179
 one of

00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:31.539
 the seven

00:44:31.539 --> 00:44:31.900
 wonders

00:44:31.900 --> 00:44:32.679
 of the

00:44:32.679 --> 00:44:32.900
 ancient

00:44:32.900 --> 00:44:33.340
 world

00:44:33.340 --> 00:44:34.719
 is now

00:44:34.719 --> 00:44:35.239
 a pile

00:44:35.239 --> 00:44:36.000
 of rocks.

00:44:36.219 --> 00:44:36.360
 Do you

00:44:36.360 --> 00:44:36.719
 know why?

00:44:37.079 --> 00:44:37.239
 Do you

00:44:37.239 --> 00:44:37.599
 remember why?

00:44:37.679 --> 00:44:38.159
 Did your

00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:38.480
 tall guy

00:44:38.480 --> 00:44:38.799
 tell you

00:44:38.799 --> 00:44:39.019
 why?

00:44:41.119 --> 00:44:41.559
 Does anyone

00:44:41.559 --> 00:44:41.840
 remember?

00:44:44.719 --> 00:44:45.400
 The town

00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:45.840
 of Ephesus

00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:46.880
 was so

00:44:46.880 --> 00:44:47.599
 powerful

00:44:47.599 --> 00:44:49.019
 because it

00:44:49.019 --> 00:44:49.539
 was by a

00:44:49.539 --> 00:44:49.659
 river.

00:44:50.159 --> 00:44:50.639
 It was by

00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:51.059
 the mouth

00:44:51.059 --> 00:44:51.619
 of a river

00:44:51.619 --> 00:44:52.119
 and so

00:44:52.119 --> 00:44:52.299
 that's

00:44:52.299 --> 00:44:52.559
 where all

00:44:52.559 --> 00:44:53.059
 the sea

00:44:53.059 --> 00:44:53.699
 and all

00:44:53.699 --> 00:44:54.659
 the imports

00:44:54.659 --> 00:44:55.159
 and exports

00:44:55.159 --> 00:44:55.880
 would come

00:44:55.880 --> 00:44:56.059
 in.

00:44:57.139 --> 00:44:57.599
 But eventually

00:44:57.599 --> 00:44:58.639
 something happened

00:44:58.639 --> 00:44:58.920
 which was

00:44:58.920 --> 00:44:59.440
 interesting which

00:44:59.440 --> 00:44:59.759
 was called

00:44:59.759 --> 00:45:00.139
 silt.

00:45:00.699 --> 00:45:01.259
 Anyone remember

00:45:01.259 --> 00:45:01.699
 anything from

00:45:01.699 --> 00:45:02.359
 geography lessons?

00:45:03.900 --> 00:45:04.119
 No,

00:45:04.179 --> 00:45:04.619
 neither do I.

00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:05.099
 Let me read it

00:45:05.099 --> 00:45:05.400
 to you.

00:45:07.539 --> 00:45:08.960
 Silt is

00:45:08.960 --> 00:45:10.299
 basically a

00:45:10.299 --> 00:45:11.639
 substance that

00:45:11.639 --> 00:45:12.519
 is like rock

00:45:12.519 --> 00:45:12.960
 and mineral

00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:13.739
 particles all

00:45:13.739 --> 00:45:14.339
 together but

00:45:14.339 --> 00:45:14.779
 smaller than

00:45:14.779 --> 00:45:15.059
 sand.

00:45:15.920 --> 00:45:16.519
 What happened

00:45:16.519 --> 00:45:17.339
 over time was

00:45:17.339 --> 00:45:18.099
 silt started

00:45:18.099 --> 00:45:18.779
 building up

00:45:18.779 --> 00:45:19.739
 in the river

00:45:19.739 --> 00:45:20.779
 bed at the

00:45:20.779 --> 00:45:21.099
 mouth of

00:45:21.099 --> 00:45:21.599
 Ephesus.

00:45:22.339 --> 00:45:22.739
 And what

00:45:22.739 --> 00:45:23.279
 happened then

00:45:23.279 --> 00:45:23.619
 was the

00:45:23.619 --> 00:45:24.239
 water started

00:45:24.239 --> 00:45:24.519
 to get

00:45:24.519 --> 00:45:25.000
 drained out.

00:45:25.699 --> 00:45:26.319
 What happened

00:45:26.319 --> 00:45:26.659
 after that

00:45:26.659 --> 00:45:27.019
 is that the

00:45:27.019 --> 00:45:27.599
 boats could

00:45:27.599 --> 00:45:28.039
 not go in.

00:45:28.319 --> 00:45:28.779
 So it no

00:45:28.779 --> 00:45:29.539
 longer was

00:45:29.539 --> 00:45:30.019
 the sea

00:45:30.019 --> 00:45:30.699
 hub.

00:45:31.920 --> 00:45:32.239
 And so

00:45:32.239 --> 00:45:32.839
 then business

00:45:32.839 --> 00:45:33.519
 started to

00:45:33.519 --> 00:45:33.699
 drain.

00:45:34.400 --> 00:45:34.799
 It started

00:45:34.799 --> 00:45:35.219
 to stop.

00:45:36.319 --> 00:45:36.839
 And slowly

00:45:36.839 --> 00:45:37.359
 but surely

00:45:37.359 --> 00:45:38.599
 that great

00:45:38.599 --> 00:45:38.960
 town,

00:45:39.880 --> 00:45:40.239
 one of the

00:45:40.239 --> 00:45:40.920
 seven ancient

00:45:40.920 --> 00:45:41.319
 wonders of

00:45:41.319 --> 00:45:41.699
 the world,

00:45:42.159 --> 00:45:42.859
 is now a

00:45:42.859 --> 00:45:44.239
 pile of

00:45:44.239 --> 00:45:44.579
 rocks.

00:45:46.819 --> 00:45:47.559
 So Paul

00:45:47.559 --> 00:45:48.339
 writes to

00:45:48.339 --> 00:45:48.859
 the Ephesians

00:45:48.859 --> 00:45:49.619
 but there's

00:45:49.619 --> 00:45:50.019
 someone even

00:45:50.019 --> 00:45:50.579
 more special

00:45:50.579 --> 00:45:51.039
 who writes

00:45:51.039 --> 00:45:51.619
 to the

00:45:51.619 --> 00:45:52.019
 church in

00:45:52.019 --> 00:45:52.940
 Ephesus and

00:45:52.940 --> 00:45:53.500
 that is in

00:45:53.500 --> 00:45:54.480
 the book of

00:45:54.480 --> 00:45:54.860
 Revelation.

00:45:55.099 --> 00:45:55.440
 This is where

00:45:55.440 --> 00:45:56.079
 we'll finish so

00:45:56.079 --> 00:45:56.719
 feel free to go

00:45:56.719 --> 00:45:56.900
 there.

00:45:57.000 --> 00:45:57.340
 I won't have

00:45:57.340 --> 00:45:57.759
 you go anywhere

00:45:57.759 --> 00:45:58.039
 else.

00:45:58.380 --> 00:45:58.779
 Revelation

00:45:58.779 --> 00:45:59.719
 chapter 2.

00:46:01.079 --> 00:46:01.900
 Jesus himself

00:46:01.900 --> 00:46:02.460
 writes a letter

00:46:02.460 --> 00:46:03.079
 to this church.

00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:03.579
 It's the first

00:46:03.579 --> 00:46:04.099
 church that he

00:46:04.099 --> 00:46:05.619
 writes to and

00:46:05.619 --> 00:46:06.619
 he says this.

00:46:07.179 --> 00:46:07.559
 And again,

00:46:07.679 --> 00:46:08.219
 once you've

00:46:08.219 --> 00:46:08.980
 understood Acts

00:46:08.980 --> 00:46:09.619
 19 and you

00:46:09.619 --> 00:46:10.259
 know the story,

00:46:10.639 --> 00:46:11.380
 these words just

00:46:11.380 --> 00:46:11.960
 mean so much

00:46:11.960 --> 00:46:12.159
 more.

00:46:12.639 --> 00:46:13.219
 He writes to

00:46:13.219 --> 00:46:13.599
 the church in

00:46:13.599 --> 00:46:14.079
 Ephesus and he

00:46:14.079 --> 00:46:14.259
 says,

00:46:14.260 --> 00:46:14.900
 I know your

00:46:14.900 --> 00:46:15.220
 works,

00:46:15.300 --> 00:46:16.200
 your toil and

00:46:16.200 --> 00:46:16.780
 your patient

00:46:16.780 --> 00:46:17.720
 endurance and

00:46:17.720 --> 00:46:18.420
 how you cannot

00:46:18.420 --> 00:46:19.480
 bear with those

00:46:19.480 --> 00:46:20.600
 who are evil but

00:46:20.600 --> 00:46:21.400
 have tested those

00:46:21.400 --> 00:46:22.180
 who call themselves

00:46:22.180 --> 00:46:23.120
 apostles and are

00:46:23.120 --> 00:46:23.420
 not.

00:46:23.640 --> 00:46:24.160
 Remember,

00:46:24.560 --> 00:46:24.980
 reference,

00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:25.860
 sons of

00:46:25.860 --> 00:46:29.160
 Sceva and

00:46:29.160 --> 00:46:29.640
 are not and

00:46:29.640 --> 00:46:30.300
 found them to be

00:46:30.300 --> 00:46:30.540
 false.

00:46:30.660 --> 00:46:31.340
 I know you are

00:46:31.340 --> 00:46:32.200
 enduring patiently

00:46:32.200 --> 00:46:33.240
 and bearing up for

00:46:33.240 --> 00:46:34.400
 my name's sake and

00:46:34.400 --> 00:46:35.340
 you have not grown

00:46:35.340 --> 00:46:36.000
 weary.

00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:37.880
 You've done well.

00:46:38.140 --> 00:46:38.700
 You know the

00:46:38.700 --> 00:46:38.960
 truth.

00:46:39.040 --> 00:46:39.740
 You've been going to

00:46:39.740 --> 00:46:40.340
 Bible studies.

00:46:40.480 --> 00:46:41.360
 Your head is filled

00:46:41.360 --> 00:46:42.140
 with Bible

00:46:42.140 --> 00:46:42.519
 knowledge.

00:46:43.019 --> 00:46:43.480
 You have

00:46:43.480 --> 00:46:44.920
 endured patiently

00:46:44.920 --> 00:46:46.900
 and yet it's not

00:46:46.900 --> 00:46:47.200
 enough.

00:46:48.680 --> 00:46:49.160
 Why?

00:46:50.760 --> 00:46:51.640
 But I have this

00:46:51.640 --> 00:46:52.120
 against you,

00:46:52.480 --> 00:46:52.880
 that you have

00:46:52.880 --> 00:46:53.980
 abandoned the

00:46:53.980 --> 00:46:54.700
 love you had

00:46:54.700 --> 00:46:55.400
 at first.

00:46:56.079 --> 00:46:57.019
 That same love

00:46:57.019 --> 00:46:58.539
 when the Holy

00:46:58.539 --> 00:46:59.200
 Spirit poured out

00:46:59.200 --> 00:46:59.740
 on you and you

00:46:59.740 --> 00:47:01.280
 felt the love of

00:47:01.280 --> 00:47:01.440
 God.

00:47:01.559 --> 00:47:02.480
 That same love

00:47:02.480 --> 00:47:03.120
 of Jesus that

00:47:03.120 --> 00:47:03.620
 caused you to

00:47:03.620 --> 00:47:04.160
 burn all those

00:47:04.160 --> 00:47:04.460
 books.

00:47:06.620 --> 00:47:07.640
 That same love

00:47:07.640 --> 00:47:08.840
 is now God.

00:47:11.360 --> 00:47:13.519
 remember therefore

00:47:13.519 --> 00:47:14.099
 from where you

00:47:14.099 --> 00:47:14.500
 have fallen.

00:47:15.400 --> 00:47:16.059
 Remember those

00:47:16.059 --> 00:47:16.480
 times.

00:47:17.579 --> 00:47:18.240
 Remember those

00:47:18.240 --> 00:47:18.720
 times when there

00:47:18.720 --> 00:47:19.579
 was a riot and

00:47:19.579 --> 00:47:20.240
 yet you still

00:47:20.240 --> 00:47:20.900
 stood firm.

00:47:22.300 --> 00:47:22.980
 You still

00:47:22.980 --> 00:47:23.680
 decided that

00:47:23.680 --> 00:47:24.360
 Jesus is the

00:47:24.360 --> 00:47:25.039
 only way.

00:47:28.760 --> 00:47:30.019
 Repent and

00:47:30.019 --> 00:47:30.599
 do the works

00:47:30.599 --> 00:47:30.980
 you did at

00:47:30.980 --> 00:47:31.300
 first.

00:47:31.620 --> 00:47:32.180
 If not, I

00:47:32.180 --> 00:47:32.620
 will come to

00:47:32.620 --> 00:47:33.140
 you and remove

00:47:33.140 --> 00:47:33.700
 your lampstand.

00:47:33.960 --> 00:47:34.579
 I will close

00:47:34.579 --> 00:47:35.039
 your church

00:47:35.039 --> 00:47:35.280
 down.

00:47:36.940 --> 00:47:37.620
 If you don't

00:47:37.620 --> 00:47:38.320
 go back to

00:47:38.320 --> 00:47:38.820
 that first

00:47:38.820 --> 00:47:39.340
 heart, if you

00:47:39.340 --> 00:47:40.240
 don't go back to

00:47:40.240 --> 00:47:41.200
 why this started

00:47:41.199 --> 00:47:41.759
 in the first

00:47:41.759 --> 00:47:42.480
 place, then

00:47:42.480 --> 00:47:42.839
 there's no

00:47:42.839 --> 00:47:43.460
 point for you

00:47:43.460 --> 00:47:45.000
 to exist, is

00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:45.279
 what he's

00:47:45.279 --> 00:47:45.500
 saying.

00:47:48.759 --> 00:47:49.259
 And of

00:47:49.259 --> 00:47:49.819
 course, sadly,

00:47:50.199 --> 00:47:51.199
 the church of

00:47:51.199 --> 00:47:52.039
 Ephesus is no

00:47:52.039 --> 00:47:52.179
 more.

00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:54.139
 The city of

00:47:54.139 --> 00:47:55.559
 Ephesus is no

00:47:55.559 --> 00:47:55.739
 more.

00:47:56.839 --> 00:47:57.379
 But the

00:47:57.379 --> 00:47:57.939
 lessons that we

00:47:57.939 --> 00:47:58.619
 can learn here

00:47:58.619 --> 00:47:59.659
 are the same.

00:48:00.879 --> 00:48:01.980
 If we go back

00:48:01.980 --> 00:48:02.639
 and trace back

00:48:02.639 --> 00:48:03.519
 to Acts 19 and

00:48:03.519 --> 00:48:04.339
 see the works

00:48:04.339 --> 00:48:04.739
 that they did

00:48:04.739 --> 00:48:05.539
 at first, see

00:48:05.539 --> 00:48:06.239
 that the heart

00:48:06.239 --> 00:48:06.659
 that they had

00:48:06.659 --> 00:48:07.339
 at first, the

00:48:07.339 --> 00:48:08.099
 first love that

00:48:08.099 --> 00:48:08.480
 they had at

00:48:08.480 --> 00:48:09.480
 first, and we

00:48:09.480 --> 00:48:11.099
 continue every

00:48:11.099 --> 00:48:12.159
 day to take

00:48:12.159 --> 00:48:13.139
 our books, take

00:48:13.139 --> 00:48:13.759
 our self-help

00:48:13.759 --> 00:48:14.539
 books, take

00:48:14.539 --> 00:48:15.039
 the things that

00:48:15.039 --> 00:48:15.839
 we rely on, take

00:48:15.839 --> 00:48:16.179
 our little

00:48:16.179 --> 00:48:17.019
 statues, and

00:48:17.019 --> 00:48:17.860
 take them to

00:48:17.860 --> 00:48:18.880
 the fire to

00:48:18.880 --> 00:48:21.219
 burn, and

00:48:21.219 --> 00:48:21.719
 remember the

00:48:21.719 --> 00:48:22.139
 love that we

00:48:22.139 --> 00:48:22.779
 had at first,

00:48:23.940 --> 00:48:27.500
 and lift up

00:48:27.500 --> 00:48:28.579
 the name of

00:48:28.579 --> 00:48:28.980
 Jesus, and

00:48:28.980 --> 00:48:29.519
 only the name

00:48:29.519 --> 00:48:31.339
 of Jesus, and

00:48:31.339 --> 00:48:32.400
 only then will

00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:33.519
 he allow us to

00:48:33.519 --> 00:48:34.179
 remain.

00:48:35.819 --> 00:48:36.440
 I wonder

00:48:36.440 --> 00:48:36.900
 whether there

00:48:36.900 --> 00:48:37.839
 is, if you've

00:48:37.839 --> 00:48:38.400
 been a believer

00:48:38.400 --> 00:48:38.860
 for a long,

00:48:38.960 --> 00:48:39.779
 long time, I

00:48:39.779 --> 00:48:40.179
 wonder whether

00:48:40.179 --> 00:48:40.779
 there is silt

00:48:40.779 --> 00:48:41.699
 in our own

00:48:41.699 --> 00:48:43.039
 hearts, layers

00:48:43.039 --> 00:48:43.599
 of sediment

00:48:43.599 --> 00:48:44.199
 that have

00:48:44.199 --> 00:48:44.739
 built over

00:48:44.739 --> 00:48:45.940
 time because

00:48:45.940 --> 00:48:46.639
 of things that

00:48:46.639 --> 00:48:46.940
 we've let

00:48:46.940 --> 00:48:47.399
 into our

00:48:47.399 --> 00:48:48.899
 lives, idols

00:48:48.899 --> 00:48:49.299
 that we've

00:48:49.299 --> 00:48:49.819
 let into our

00:48:49.819 --> 00:48:50.239
 lives, little

00:48:50.239 --> 00:48:51.019
 statues that

00:48:51.019 --> 00:48:51.679
 we rely on,

00:48:52.480 --> 00:48:53.079
 books and

00:48:53.079 --> 00:48:53.819
 IG accounts

00:48:53.819 --> 00:48:54.119
 that we

00:48:54.119 --> 00:48:54.399
 follow.

00:48:56.359 --> 00:48:57.239
 Do we

00:48:57.239 --> 00:48:59.339
 recognize that

00:48:59.339 --> 00:48:59.859
 our hearts are

00:48:59.859 --> 00:49:00.159
 compromised?

00:49:01.839 --> 00:49:02.359
 Do we

00:49:02.359 --> 00:49:02.839
 recognize that

00:49:02.839 --> 00:49:03.359
 our hearts are

00:49:03.359 --> 00:49:03.739
 not pure?

00:49:05.019 --> 00:49:05.559
 And it's in

00:49:05.559 --> 00:49:06.139
 that moment I

00:49:06.139 --> 00:49:06.460
 want you to

00:49:06.460 --> 00:49:07.639
 stop, because

00:49:07.639 --> 00:49:08.199
 you might go,

00:49:08.199 --> 00:49:09.099
 well, then

00:49:09.099 --> 00:49:09.859
 how must I

00:49:09.859 --> 00:49:10.279
 do better?

00:49:11.099 --> 00:49:11.799
 What must I

00:49:11.799 --> 00:49:12.059
 do?

00:49:12.199 --> 00:49:12.879
 Should I go

00:49:12.879 --> 00:49:13.339
 and attend

00:49:13.339 --> 00:49:13.879
 another Bible

00:49:13.879 --> 00:49:14.179
 study?

00:49:14.339 --> 00:49:14.799
 That's not

00:49:14.799 --> 00:49:15.219
 what he's

00:49:15.219 --> 00:49:15.399
 saying.

00:49:15.679 --> 00:49:16.259
 He says, go

00:49:16.259 --> 00:49:17.099
 back to your

00:49:17.099 --> 00:49:17.559
 first love.

00:49:19.500 --> 00:49:20.179
 Go back to

00:49:20.179 --> 00:49:20.739
 that moment

00:49:20.739 --> 00:49:21.059
 where the

00:49:21.059 --> 00:49:21.539
 Holy Spirit

00:49:21.539 --> 00:49:22.159
 filled you and

00:49:22.159 --> 00:49:22.379
 you were

00:49:22.379 --> 00:49:23.039
 overwhelmed.

00:49:23.179 --> 00:49:23.359
 You were

00:49:23.359 --> 00:49:23.679
 given the

00:49:23.679 --> 00:49:24.099
 strength to

00:49:24.099 --> 00:49:24.779
 comprehend the

00:49:24.779 --> 00:49:25.779
 magnitude of

00:49:25.779 --> 00:49:26.279
 the love that

00:49:26.279 --> 00:49:26.739
 I have for

00:49:26.739 --> 00:49:26.839
 you.

00:49:26.879 --> 00:49:27.119
 When I

00:49:27.119 --> 00:49:27.679
 dwelled in

00:49:27.679 --> 00:49:28.219
 your hearts

00:49:28.219 --> 00:49:29.539
 through your

00:49:29.539 --> 00:49:32.119
 faith, when

00:49:32.119 --> 00:49:32.439
 you were

00:49:32.439 --> 00:49:33.559
 willingly giving

00:49:33.559 --> 00:49:34.219
 up all the

00:49:34.219 --> 00:49:34.879
 things of this

00:49:34.879 --> 00:49:35.759
 world to follow

00:49:35.759 --> 00:49:37.399
 me, go back

00:49:37.399 --> 00:49:38.000
 to that moment.

00:49:38.679 --> 00:49:39.119
 Understand

00:49:39.119 --> 00:49:39.799
 again what

00:49:39.799 --> 00:49:40.319
 grace is.

00:49:41.059 --> 00:49:41.579
 Be filled

00:49:41.579 --> 00:49:42.539
 again by my

00:49:42.539 --> 00:49:43.059
 Holy Spirit.

00:49:44.639 --> 00:49:45.960
 Trust me, I'm

00:49:45.960 --> 00:49:46.639
 the only one who

00:49:46.639 --> 00:49:47.319
 will provide for

00:49:47.319 --> 00:49:47.500
 you.

00:49:49.519 --> 00:49:50.460
 If you try and

00:49:50.460 --> 00:49:51.219
 fight this world,

00:49:51.279 --> 00:49:51.859
 if you try and

00:49:51.859 --> 00:49:53.119
 fight and invoke

00:49:53.119 --> 00:49:53.719
 my name without

00:49:53.719 --> 00:49:54.480
 connection with me,

00:49:54.759 --> 00:49:56.139
 you will lose all

00:49:56.139 --> 00:49:56.519
 your clothes.

00:49:58.799 --> 00:49:59.619
 But if you trust

00:49:59.619 --> 00:50:01.079
 me, I will give

00:50:01.079 --> 00:50:02.000
 you everything that

00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:02.519
 you ever needed.

00:50:03.419 --> 00:50:03.839
 Why?

00:50:04.339 --> 00:50:04.960
 Because I gave

00:50:04.960 --> 00:50:05.619
 my life for you,

00:50:05.679 --> 00:50:06.079
 is what Jesus

00:50:06.079 --> 00:50:06.359
 says.

00:50:08.199 --> 00:50:10.699
 you can have

00:50:10.699 --> 00:50:11.980
 your first love

00:50:11.980 --> 00:50:13.359
 for me because

00:50:13.359 --> 00:50:14.000
 I first loved

00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:14.159
 you.

00:50:14.759 --> 00:50:15.699
 I came to

00:50:15.699 --> 00:50:17.179
 find you when

00:50:17.179 --> 00:50:17.579
 you were dead,

00:50:17.639 --> 00:50:17.919
 when you were

00:50:17.919 --> 00:50:18.319
 lost, when you

00:50:18.319 --> 00:50:18.619
 were blind.

00:50:19.279 --> 00:50:20.099
 I came to give

00:50:20.099 --> 00:50:21.000
 my life for

00:50:21.000 --> 00:50:21.179
 you.

00:50:21.839 --> 00:50:22.139
 Would you

00:50:22.139 --> 00:50:22.659
 trust me and

00:50:22.659 --> 00:50:23.639
 allow my Holy

00:50:23.639 --> 00:50:24.299
 Spirit to live

00:50:24.299 --> 00:50:25.059
 inside you now?

00:50:25.299 --> 00:50:25.980
 So you would

00:50:25.980 --> 00:50:26.739
 live in a

00:50:26.739 --> 00:50:27.239
 different way.

00:50:27.439 --> 00:50:27.799
 So you would

00:50:27.799 --> 00:50:29.179
 allow me to

00:50:29.179 --> 00:50:29.799
 confront the

00:50:29.799 --> 00:50:30.519
 idols in your

00:50:30.519 --> 00:50:33.019
 heart, but not

00:50:33.019 --> 00:50:33.839
 to destroy you,

00:50:33.840 --> 00:50:34.260
 but to

00:50:34.260 --> 00:50:35.039
 complete you.

00:50:37.860 --> 00:50:38.380
 Because you

00:50:38.380 --> 00:50:38.920
 and I both

00:50:38.920 --> 00:50:39.340
 know those

00:50:39.340 --> 00:50:39.940
 little statues

00:50:39.940 --> 00:50:40.640
 don't work.

00:50:44.640 --> 00:50:45.280
 That is what

00:50:45.280 --> 00:50:45.720
 he's saying to

00:50:45.720 --> 00:50:45.920
 us.

00:50:46.579 --> 00:50:47.320
 That is what

00:50:47.320 --> 00:50:47.780
 he was saying

00:50:47.780 --> 00:50:48.340
 to the church

00:50:48.340 --> 00:50:48.740
 in Ephesus.

00:50:50.620 --> 00:50:51.300
 That is what

00:50:51.300 --> 00:50:52.500
 he's saying to

00:50:52.500 --> 00:50:52.960
 the church in

00:50:52.960 --> 00:50:53.260
 Hong Kong.

00:50:55.539 --> 00:50:56.380
 Do we truly

00:50:56.380 --> 00:50:57.100
 believe in the

00:50:57.100 --> 00:50:57.660
 name of Jesus?

00:50:58.320 --> 00:50:58.960
 You have a

00:50:58.960 --> 00:50:59.240
 choice.

00:50:59.400 --> 00:50:59.880
 You can mock,

00:51:00.640 --> 00:51:01.320
 you can ask

00:51:01.320 --> 00:51:03.280
 more, or you

00:51:03.280 --> 00:51:03.740
 can believe

00:51:03.740 --> 00:51:04.140
 that he is

00:51:04.140 --> 00:51:04.460
 the name

00:51:04.460 --> 00:51:04.940
 above every

00:51:04.940 --> 00:51:05.140
 name.

00:51:06.240 --> 00:51:06.680
 That at the

00:51:06.680 --> 00:51:07.200
 name of Jesus

00:51:07.200 --> 00:51:08.000
 every knee will

00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:08.600
 bow and every

00:51:08.600 --> 00:51:08.960
 tongue will

00:51:08.960 --> 00:51:09.519
 confess that

00:51:09.519 --> 00:51:10.340
 he is Lord.

00:51:12.860 --> 00:51:13.620
 Let us walk

00:51:13.620 --> 00:51:14.860
 out of here as

00:51:14.860 --> 00:51:15.280
 people who

00:51:15.280 --> 00:51:16.240
 bear his name,

00:51:17.120 --> 00:51:18.680
 who glorify

00:51:18.680 --> 00:51:19.120
 his name,

00:51:20.280 --> 00:51:22.200
 who are just

00:51:22.200 --> 00:51:23.040
 hungry and

00:51:23.040 --> 00:51:23.580
 thirsty for

00:51:23.580 --> 00:51:24.220
 him and his

00:51:24.220 --> 00:51:24.660
 kingdom to

00:51:24.660 --> 00:51:25.380
 come in this

00:51:25.380 --> 00:51:25.820
 world, to

00:51:25.820 --> 00:51:26.660
 confront every

00:51:26.660 --> 00:51:27.680
 part of this

00:51:27.680 --> 00:51:28.100
 world that

00:51:28.100 --> 00:51:29.280
 isn't of him.

00:51:29.660 --> 00:51:30.160
 Not just

00:51:30.160 --> 00:51:30.760
 because he's a

00:51:30.760 --> 00:51:31.360
 domineering

00:51:31.360 --> 00:51:32.680
 tyrant, but

00:51:32.680 --> 00:51:33.200
 because he is

00:51:33.199 --> 00:51:33.859
 gracious and

00:51:33.859 --> 00:51:34.399
 compassionate,

00:51:35.079 --> 00:51:35.679
 and where his

00:51:35.679 --> 00:51:36.339
 spirit is, there

00:51:36.339 --> 00:51:36.899
 is freedom.

00:51:37.039 --> 00:51:37.639
 And don't we

00:51:37.639 --> 00:51:38.500
 just all want

00:51:38.500 --> 00:51:41.039
 freedom for the

00:51:41.039 --> 00:51:41.679
 people around us,

00:51:41.739 --> 00:51:42.199
 for the city

00:51:42.199 --> 00:51:42.759
 that we live in?

00:51:44.639 --> 00:51:45.259
 Let's spend a

00:51:45.259 --> 00:51:45.779
 moment now just

00:51:45.779 --> 00:51:46.980
 to respond as I

00:51:46.980 --> 00:51:47.679
 invite Kelly and

00:51:47.679 --> 00:51:48.699
 the team to

00:51:48.699 --> 00:51:49.039
 come up.

00:51:55.219 --> 00:51:56.099
 Maybe if you

00:51:56.099 --> 00:51:56.819
 join me just

00:51:56.819 --> 00:51:59.439
 and just to

00:51:59.439 --> 00:51:59.939
 bow our heads

00:51:59.940 --> 00:52:00.519
 and close our

00:52:00.519 --> 00:52:01.000
 eyes and

00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:05.400
 ask for the

00:52:05.400 --> 00:52:06.000
 Holy Spirit to

00:52:06.000 --> 00:52:06.519
 speak to us.

00:52:13.360 --> 00:52:13.920
 Jesus, we

00:52:13.920 --> 00:52:14.579
 recognize that

00:52:14.579 --> 00:52:15.860
 you are either

00:52:15.860 --> 00:52:16.519
 Lord of all

00:52:16.519 --> 00:52:17.820
 or not at

00:52:17.820 --> 00:52:17.980
 all.

00:52:17.980 --> 00:52:26.559
 And today here

00:52:26.559 --> 00:52:27.579
 as a family,

00:52:27.719 --> 00:52:28.320
 as a church,

00:52:28.380 --> 00:52:29.000
 we recognize

00:52:29.000 --> 00:52:29.719
 your authority,

00:52:30.219 --> 00:52:30.659
 your power,

00:52:30.800 --> 00:52:31.500
 your dominion,

00:52:32.500 --> 00:52:35.500
 but even more

00:52:35.500 --> 00:52:36.119
 so your grace,

00:52:36.719 --> 00:52:37.260
 your compassion.

00:52:37.260 --> 00:52:44.740
 And so we

00:52:44.740 --> 00:52:45.120
 repent.

00:52:55.000 --> 00:52:55.640
 But we don't

00:52:55.640 --> 00:52:56.200
 just stay there.

00:52:58.460 --> 00:52:59.260
 By your spirit,

00:52:59.340 --> 00:53:00.000
 we also believe.

00:53:00.000 --> 00:53:03.920
 and by your

00:53:03.920 --> 00:53:04.360
 power we

00:53:04.360 --> 00:53:04.639
 follow.

00:53:12.840 --> 00:53:13.380
 Would you

00:53:13.380 --> 00:53:13.980
 continue to

00:53:13.980 --> 00:53:15.940
 confront the

00:53:15.940 --> 00:53:16.579
 idols of our

00:53:16.579 --> 00:53:16.860
 hearts?

00:53:23.460 --> 00:53:24.139
 Thank you that

00:53:24.139 --> 00:53:24.820
 you often do it

00:53:24.820 --> 00:53:25.239
 in such

00:53:25.239 --> 00:53:27.000
 gentleness and

00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:27.400
 humility.

00:53:30.000 --> 00:53:36.579
 often those

00:53:36.579 --> 00:53:37.079
 things that we

00:53:37.079 --> 00:53:37.760
 hold on to are

00:53:37.760 --> 00:53:38.539
 just so destructive

00:53:38.539 --> 00:53:39.239
 to us.

00:53:40.300 --> 00:53:40.880
 Those things

00:53:40.880 --> 00:53:41.440
 that we do in

00:53:41.440 --> 00:53:41.940
 secret, those

00:53:41.940 --> 00:53:42.420
 things that we

00:53:42.420 --> 00:53:43.019
 think in secret

00:53:43.019 --> 00:53:43.860
 are so destructive

00:53:43.860 --> 00:53:45.159
 to us.

00:53:58.659 --> 00:53:59.320
 But I know,

00:53:59.320 --> 00:53:59.940
 but we know the

00:53:59.940 --> 00:54:00.720
 gentleness of the

00:54:00.720 --> 00:54:01.500
 Father comes and

00:54:01.500 --> 00:54:04.900
 approaches and

00:54:04.900 --> 00:54:05.460
 seeks to take

00:54:05.460 --> 00:54:05.920
 those things

00:54:05.920 --> 00:54:06.220
 away.

00:54:17.340 --> 00:54:17.940
 Forgive us,

00:54:18.019 --> 00:54:18.120
 Lord.

00:54:18.120 --> 00:54:18.120


00:54:18.120 --> 00:54:18.160
 Lord.

00:54:18.120 --> 00:54:18.160
 Lord.

00:54:18.120 --> 00:54:18.160
 Lord.

00:54:18.160 --> 00:54:18.160


00:54:18.160 --> 00:54:18.160


00:54:29.320 --> 00:54:30.320
 Lord.

00:54:30.320 --> 00:54:31.320
 Lord.

00:54:31.320 --> 00:54:31.880
 And so we

00:54:31.880 --> 00:54:32.420
 come to you

00:54:32.420 --> 00:54:36.380
 with our fears

00:54:36.380 --> 00:54:36.860
 of failure,

00:54:37.860 --> 00:54:40.160
 with our anxieties

00:54:40.160 --> 00:54:40.820
 for the future,

00:54:42.320 --> 00:54:44.280
 with our judgment

00:54:44.280 --> 00:54:45.120
 against others,

00:54:46.539 --> 00:54:50.120
 with our pursuit

00:54:50.120 --> 00:54:50.640
 of pleasure.

00:54:50.639 --> 00:54:58.259
 and we ask that

00:54:58.259 --> 00:54:58.980
 by the name

00:54:58.980 --> 00:54:59.480
 and the power

00:54:59.480 --> 00:54:59.900
 of Jesus,

00:55:00.239 --> 00:55:01.079
 we will be set

00:55:01.079 --> 00:55:01.259
 free.

00:55:05.859 --> 00:55:06.659
 We remember.

00:55:09.719 --> 00:55:10.420
 We repent.

00:55:10.420 --> 00:55:14.740
 And we go back

00:55:14.740 --> 00:55:15.480
 to our first love.

00:55:15.480 --> 00:55:27.300
 for those of you

00:55:27.300 --> 00:55:27.760
 who are here

00:55:27.760 --> 00:55:28.260
 at pre-service

00:55:28.260 --> 00:55:28.539
 prayer,

00:55:28.599 --> 00:55:29.019
 we work through

00:55:29.019 --> 00:55:30.119
 the Lord's prayer.

00:55:30.300 --> 00:55:31.179
 And just personally,

00:55:31.219 --> 00:55:31.699
 I've been meditating

00:55:31.699 --> 00:55:32.679
 on that first line,

00:55:32.820 --> 00:55:33.380
 our Father,

00:55:33.900 --> 00:55:35.320
 hallowed be your name.

00:55:35.320 --> 00:55:38.360
 Already,

00:55:38.519 --> 00:55:39.420
 we're on our feet,

00:55:39.500 --> 00:55:40.039
 we're on our knees

00:55:40.039 --> 00:55:41.260
 when we pray that prayer.

00:55:44.700 --> 00:55:45.220
 We're praying

00:55:45.220 --> 00:55:45.860
 that the Father's

00:55:45.860 --> 00:55:46.340
 name would be hallowed.

00:55:46.420 --> 00:55:46.620
 We're praying

00:55:46.620 --> 00:55:47.440
 that Jesus' name

00:55:47.440 --> 00:55:48.080
 would be hallowed

00:55:48.080 --> 00:55:48.600
 in our lives.

00:55:48.800 --> 00:55:48.960
 And so,

00:55:49.400 --> 00:55:50.320
 and just remind it

00:55:50.320 --> 00:55:51.000
 that we're beginning

00:55:51.000 --> 00:55:52.200
 a season of Lent as well.

00:55:54.180 --> 00:55:55.440
 And it's a season

00:55:55.440 --> 00:55:56.480
 of re-consecrating

00:55:56.480 --> 00:55:57.160
 ourselves to the Lord

00:55:57.160 --> 00:55:58.160
 in fresh and new ways,

00:55:58.240 --> 00:55:58.820
 praying that we would

00:55:58.820 --> 00:56:00.320
 do that as a church

00:56:00.320 --> 00:56:01.100
 and as a community

00:56:01.100 --> 00:56:03.539
 as we go from here

00:56:03.539 --> 00:56:04.820
 with fresh reverence

00:56:04.820 --> 00:56:05.360
 for his name

00:56:05.360 --> 00:56:07.300
 to live more,

00:56:07.980 --> 00:56:09.080
 live lives that reflect him.

00:56:09.140 --> 00:56:09.640
 So let's pray,

00:56:09.760 --> 00:56:09.900
 church,

00:56:09.940 --> 00:56:10.480
 as we close.

00:56:17.360 --> 00:56:17.720
 God,

00:56:17.780 --> 00:56:18.660
 we revere your name

00:56:18.660 --> 00:56:20.039
 and we thank you

00:56:20.039 --> 00:56:22.559
 that you walk with us

00:56:22.559 --> 00:56:23.800
 step by step

00:56:23.800 --> 00:56:24.240
 in this life

00:56:24.240 --> 00:56:25.460
 that you've created us

00:56:25.460 --> 00:56:26.240
 in your image,

00:56:26.300 --> 00:56:27.280
 that you are restoring us

00:56:27.280 --> 00:56:27.980
 to your image.

00:56:28.700 --> 00:56:29.300
 And we pray that

00:56:29.300 --> 00:56:29.820
 in this season,

00:56:29.920 --> 00:56:30.720
 in this new year,

00:56:31.059 --> 00:56:32.100
 and in our lead up

00:56:32.100 --> 00:56:32.480
 to Easter,

00:56:32.760 --> 00:56:33.280
 that you would,

00:56:33.940 --> 00:56:34.600
 that Christ would dwell

00:56:34.599 --> 00:56:35.400
 in our hearts richly

00:56:35.400 --> 00:56:37.179
 and that for each person here

00:56:37.179 --> 00:56:38.559
 that you would guide us

00:56:38.559 --> 00:56:39.259
 as to what it means

00:56:39.259 --> 00:56:39.900
 to look more

00:56:39.900 --> 00:56:40.920
 like our Savior

00:56:40.920 --> 00:56:41.759
 day by day

00:56:41.759 --> 00:56:42.360
 to be renewed

00:56:42.360 --> 00:56:43.299
 into his image

00:56:43.299 --> 00:56:44.500
 until we enter

00:56:44.500 --> 00:56:45.299
 your glory again.

00:56:46.239 --> 00:56:46.819
 Thank you

00:56:46.819 --> 00:56:48.420
 that we can do that together.

00:56:50.019 --> 00:56:50.719
 Would your name

00:56:50.719 --> 00:56:51.360
 be hallowed

00:56:51.360 --> 00:56:52.299
 in our lives.

00:56:52.759 --> 00:56:53.440
 We pray this

00:56:53.440 --> 00:56:54.299
 in Jesus' name.

00:56:54.599 --> 00:56:54.880
 Amen.

00:56:54.880 --> 00:56:55.000
 Amen.

00:56:55.139 --> 00:56:55.219
 Amen.

00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:55.219


00:56:55.219 --> 00:56:57.219
 Amen.

00:56:57.219 --> 00:56:57.219


00:56:57.219 --> 00:56:57.219


00:56:57.219 --> 00:56:57.219


00:56:57.219 --> 00:56:57.219


00:56:57.219 --> 00:56:57.219


00:56:57.219 --> 00:56:59.219
 Amen.

00:56:59.219 --> 00:56:59.219


00:56:59.219 --> 00:56:59.219


00:56:59.219 --> 00:56:59.219