WEBVTT

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 Heavenly Father, we are excited to begin our study of the book of Acts, to hear what you

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 have to say in your word about your son Jesus Christ, about the Holy Spirit, about the church,

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 who we are, about our mission. And Lord, we want to use this opportunity to examine ourselves,

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 and we want to be stirred up by the examples we see in the Christian brothers and sisters who have

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 gone before us. And we want to be more empowered, filled by your Holy Spirit in our life and ministry.

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 So please do that, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Amen. That's chapter 1. I will read verses 1 to 14.

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 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,

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 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the

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 apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs,

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 appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

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 And while staying with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise

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 of the Father, which he said,

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 You heard from me, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days

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 from now. So when they had come together,

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 they asked him,

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 Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?

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 He said to them,

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 It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority,

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 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

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 and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.

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 And when he had said these things as they were looking on, he was lifted up,

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 and a cloud took him out of their sight.

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 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, to behold,

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 two men stood by them in white robes and said,

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 Men of Galilee,

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 why do you stand looking into heaven?

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 This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven

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 will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.

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 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet,

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 which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day journey away.

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 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying,

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 Peter and John and James and Andrew,

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 Philip and Thomas,

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 Bartholomew and Matthew,

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 James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the zealot,

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 and Judas the son of James.

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 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer,

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 together with the woman,

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 and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 We are in Acts chapter 1, verses 1 to 14,

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 beginning our series in the book of Acts.

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 As I said earlier, the author is Luke, the evangelist.

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 That's attested as early as 2nd century,

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 and we see evidence of that throughout the book of Acts

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 because he includes himself in the narrative by using the pronoun we.

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 And we know that Luke was a companion of Paul's

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 from Philemon 24, 2 Timothy 4.11, and other places.

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 And since the last recorded event in the book of Acts took place around 62 A.D.,

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 and since the book never mentions several key events in church history

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 and in the history of Israel from 65 to 70 A.D.,

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 it seems examples of that would be in the Neronian persecution,

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 death of Paul and Peter,

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 significant events, destruction of Jerusalem.

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 It seems likely that Acts was finished before that,

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 so the date of composition is somewhere between 62 and 65 A.D.

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 And in verse 1, Luke says,

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 In the first book of Theophilus,

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 I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach.

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 So from this, we know that Acts is the second of a two-volume series.

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 And the first volume is the Gospel of Luke,

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 which was also dedicated to this person named Theophilus,

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 who was likely a patron that funded the copying and distribution of Luke's work.

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 And in Luke 1, verse 3,

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 he has said that having followed all things closely for some time past,

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 that he has written an orderly account of what Jesus did and taught.

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 That was what Luke said about his Gospel.

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 So the genre of the book of Acts, likewise, is history, just like Luke.

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 And more specifically, it's biblical history,

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 since it emulates the style and theological themes of Old Testament history.

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 And I noted in our sermon series through Luke

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 that Luke is a first-rate historian

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 whose attention to detail is noted by many modern historians and archaeologists.

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 And perhaps this is not surprising,

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 considering that he was a doctor.

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 He's called the beloved physician in Colossians 4, verse 14.

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 And now in this sequel,

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 with the same orderliness and meticulousness we expect of him,

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 he tells us about what Jesus continues to do through his apostles.

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 But it's important to note that this wasn't just Dr. Luke's hobby

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 or a mere academic exercise because he likes history.

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 He likes to keep a record of things that happened.

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 There's a reason why the church tradition calls him Luke the Evangelist.

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 Luke sought to preserve this history

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 so that you might believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.

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 We saw this purpose clearly at the beginning of his Gospel

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 in Luke chapter 1, verse 4.

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 He said,

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 That you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

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 That's the purpose of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, its sequel.

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 Especially because the early church was persecuted,

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 so intensely persecuted,

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 and in many cases by the Jews themselves,

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 there were many opportunities for doubt to creep in.

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 So Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts

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 to reassure people that Jesus really is who he said he was.

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 That he really died on the cross and was raised on the third day.

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 That he really ascended to the heavens.

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 That he really sent the Spirit of God down.

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 That these events really were the work of God.

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 And it was the fulfillment of God's promises from of old.

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 And that the church really is the true people of God.

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 And that the apostles are the ones who are continuing the things that Jesus did and taught.

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 My prayer is that as we go through this,

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 that you be reassured of these things also.

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 So the intended structure of the book of Acts is made apparent by the summary statements

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 at the end of each section,

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 where Luke mentions one way or another that the Word of God continued to increase,

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 or that the church multiplied and was built up.

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 These are examples of all the summary statements.

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 Acts 2, 6, 9, 12, 16, 19, and 28.

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 And if you use those as kind of as guiding markers to form an outline,

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 it looks like this.

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 The church of Christ established and empowered in chapter 1 to chapter 2, verse 41.

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 And then the church in Jerusalem, chapter 2 to 6.

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 The church in Judea and Samaria, chapter 6 to 9.

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 Peter and the first Gentile convert.

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 And Paul turning to the Gentiles.

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 And then to the end of the earth.

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 And finally to Jerusalem and to Rome in 1921 to 2831.

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 In this particular passage, Luke teaches us that as followers of Jesus,

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 we are to bear witness to Jesus Christ to the end of the earth

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 by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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 That's the main point of our passage this evening.

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 And I'm going to talk about that in three parts.

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 First, the power for Christian mission, chapter 1, verses 1 to 5.

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 Then the purview of Christian mission, verses 6 to 11.

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 And finally, prayer and Christian mission, verses 12 to 14.

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 In Luke chapter 24, verse 19, after Jesus' resurrection,

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 we see two of Jesus' disciples on the road to Emmaus

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 speaking about how Jesus was a prophet mighty in deed and word

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 before God and all the people.

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 And echoing that language, Luke says here in chapter 1, verses 1 to 2 of Acts,

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 In the first book of Theophilus,

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 I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach

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 until the day when he was taken up,

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 after he had given command through the Holy Spirit

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 to the apostles whom he had chosen.

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 But what exactly did Jesus say and do?

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 What exactly did Jesus command his apostles?

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 Verses 3 to 5 give us more detail.

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 It says,

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 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs,

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 appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

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 And while staying with them,

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 he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem,

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 but to wait for the promise of the Father,

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 which he said,

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 You heard from me.

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 For John baptized with water,

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 but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

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 This verse closely parallels what Luke said at the end of his gospel

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 in chapter 24, verses 46 to 49,

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 which also contains these three elements of what Jesus did and said.

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 First is Christ's suffering,

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 which includes his death,

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 his death on the cross.

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 Second is Christ's resurrection.

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 Third is Christ's message about the kingdom of God.

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 In Luke 24, 46, 47,

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 he unpacks it and says,

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 Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer,

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 and on the third day rise from the dead,

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 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins

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 should be proclaimed in his name to all nations,

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 beginning from Jerusalem.

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 So once again,

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 Christ's suffering,

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 Christ's resurrection,

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 and Christ's proclamation of the kingdom of God,

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 which entails coming under the gracious reign of Christ

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 by receiving forgiveness of sins

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 through repentance and faith.

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 This is what Christ did and said.

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 He first suffered,

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 died on the cross for our sins.

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 He tasted death for our sake

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 so that we might have eternal life

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 by putting our trust in him.

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 Second, he was raised.

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 The fact that he was raised

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 is proof that his death,

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 his atoning sacrifice,

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 was accepted by the Father.

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 And the third,

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 it is Christ's death and resurrection

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 that makes possible our repentance

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 for the forgiveness of sins.

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 And true repentance is not merely a mental ascent,

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 but it's a turning,

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 a reorienting of one's entire life.

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 When you renounce your autonomy

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 and submit to the lordship of Christ,

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 when you renounce your sinful ways

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 and submit to the ways of God,

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 that is true repentance

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 that leads to forgiveness of sins.

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 And only those who have received forgiveness of sins

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 in this way

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 are reconciled to God

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 as citizens of the kingdom of God.

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 They're no longer under the dominion of Satan,

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 but under the gracious reign of Jesus Christ, the king.

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 That's why the proclamation,

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 the message of the kingdom,

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 the good news of the kingdom,

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 and the good news of Christ's death

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 and resurrection

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 are intimately related.

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 Jesus did and taught these things.

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 And the apostles continued to do

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 and teach these things.

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 And now we are to do and teach these things.

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 We are called to suffer as Christ suffered.

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 The Greek word that's translated as witnesses in verse 8

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 is the word from which we get the English word martyr.

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 Not all Christian witness involves martyrdom,

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 but all Christian witness involves suffering.

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 At the time of Paul's conversion in Acts 9, 15-16,

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 Jesus says concerning him,

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 He is a chosen instrument of mine

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 to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings

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 and the children of Israel.

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 For I will show him how much he must suffer

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 for the sake of my name.

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 Being a Christian witness entails

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 carrying the name of Jesus

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 and suffering for the name of Jesus.

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 If you live the way Christ lived

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 and if you say the things that Christ said,

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 you're going to be persecuted

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 no matter where you live on this planet.

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 Because the enemies of Christ

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 will not leave you alone.

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 But take heart,

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 because those who suffer with Christ

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 will also rise with him.

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 Those who partake in his suffering

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 will also partake in his resurrection glory.

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 And so we are being called to follow this pattern

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 that Christ has set for us.

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 But curiously, verse 1

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 describes the entirety of Jesus' earthly ministry

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 right up to his ascension to heaven

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 as what Jesus began to do and teach.

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 Isn't that interesting?

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 Isn't that interesting?

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 In one sense, his earthly ministry is finished.

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 And yet, that's only what he has begun to do.

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 This is because his ministry now continues

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 through the apostles and through the church.

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 He says,

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 He commanded through the Holy Spirit

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 to the apostles whom he had chosen.

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 The word apostle comes from the Greek word

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 that means to send.

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 The Latin equivalent of that word is missio

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 from which we get the word missions.

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 The apostles are missionaries.

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 Sent out with the authority

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 of the risen Christ.

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 Eleven of these apostles

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 are named in Acts 1, verse 13.

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 The original twelve minus Judas Iscariot,

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 the traitor.

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 And Jesus began his mission

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 while here on earth.

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 And he now continues that mission

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 through the Holy Spirit

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 in the ministry of the apostles.

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 And that means we too

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 are part of this ongoing mission.

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 Because Ephesians 2, 19-21

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 says that we are members

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 of the household of God

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 that is being built

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 on the foundation of the apostles

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 and prophets.

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 Christ Jesus himself

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 being the cornerstone.

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 The people of God, the church,

00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.600
 is the temple of the Lord

00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.500
 being built up

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:51.000
 on the foundation of the apostles.

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:53.539
 We're part of the same building project

00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.519
 as these apostles.

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:59.419
 And that's why the mission of Christ,

00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.599
 the mission of the apostles

00:16:00.599 --> 00:16:01.819
 is now also our mission.

00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:04.699
 Sometimes we,

00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:06.039
 as followers of Christ,

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:07.079
 become apathetic

00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:08.379
 because we lose sight

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.019
 of our mission.

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:13.059
 Your life after conversion

00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:15.099
 is not a victory lap.

00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.979
 You're still in the race.

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.099
 Your mission is not yet complete.

00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:23.659
 The confetti is not falling.

00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:29.000
 You're not supposed to loiter around

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:30.299
 until you die and go to heaven.

00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:35.500
 I don't know if you have ever been

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:37.279
 given a trust or responsibility

00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:39.120
 that you felt was so weighty

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.620
 and important

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:43.059
 that you felt honored by it.

00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.719
 Maybe you were selected

00:16:45.719 --> 00:16:47.439
 to give a graduation speech

00:16:47.439 --> 00:16:49.399
 as a representative of your class.

00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:53.079
 Maybe it was when you first

00:16:53.079 --> 00:16:54.559
 held a child in your arms.

00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.720
 Maybe it was when you were given

00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.579
 a special assignment by your boss

00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:01.639
 or by your advisor.

00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.779
 Brothers and sisters,

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:08.139
 this is the greatest honor

00:17:08.139 --> 00:17:10.079
 of a Christian's life.

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:15.720
 Our mission is to know Christ

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:17.000
 and to make Him known.

00:17:17.439 --> 00:17:19.099
 To treasure Christ

00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:20.939
 and to trumpet Him to the world.

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:25.399
 The risen Lord Jesus Christ,

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.759
 whose name is exhausted

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:28.619
 above every other name,

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.679
 has given us personally

00:17:30.679 --> 00:17:32.679
 a mission to fulfill.

00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:35.500
 We are witnesses of the Lord Jesus.

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.500
 We are ambassadors

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.599
 of the kingdom of God.

00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:41.740
 And don't think that the apostles

00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:43.740
 were special, extraordinary men.

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.879
 The apostles were ordinary men.

00:17:47.939 --> 00:17:49.319
 Acts chapter 4 verse 13

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.879
 says that they were uneducated,

00:17:51.439 --> 00:17:52.819
 common men.

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:55.359
 Not only that,

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.839
 they were sinful men.

00:17:57.959 --> 00:17:59.419
 Men who often failed

00:17:59.419 --> 00:18:00.799
 to grasp the significance

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:02.139
 of Jesus' teachings.

00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:04.480
 Men who made many mistakes.

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.240
 And yet our merciful Lord

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:10.120
 gave them their sacred trust.

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:14.319
 And He extends that same trust

00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:17.019
 to bumbling disciples like us.

00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:24.380
 That He showed...

00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:25.880
 I feel that keenly

00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:27.480
 every time I stand on this pulpit

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:30.440
 because it was enough mercy

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.819
 for Him to save me.

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.599
 That was more than enough.

00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:36.839
 And He could have said to me,

00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:38.139
 Sean, now that I've saved you,

00:18:38.219 --> 00:18:39.139
 just stay back

00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:40.759
 and don't mess up

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.559
 anything I'm doing.

00:18:43.439 --> 00:18:44.699
 But instead, He says,

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.079
 Sean, can you go

00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:47.740
 and shepherd my flock?

00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:49.500
 The precious ones

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:51.119
 I purchased with my own blood.

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.279
 Sean, can you go

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.379
 and preach the good news

00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:56.419
 of the kingdom of God?

00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.819
 Brothers and sisters,

00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:01.019
 the Lord Jesus says

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.139
 also to you,

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:04.200
 here is my gospel,

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.839
 the pearl of greatest prize,

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.339
 the most precious treasure.

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:10.119
 Will you steward it?

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.259
 Will you share it

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.139
 that others too

00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:14.200
 may be lifted out

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.859
 of their poverty

00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:15.859
 of sin and shame?

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.879
 Here is my

00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:21.519
 emancipation proclamation,

00:19:22.399 --> 00:19:23.559
 the only message

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.779
 that can redeem people

00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:26.379
 from their slavery to sin.

00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:28.180
 Can you go

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.380
 and break the chains

00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:30.520
 of my children?

00:19:35.520 --> 00:19:36.460
 Brothers and sisters,

00:19:36.560 --> 00:19:37.340
 in your home,

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.660
 at your school,

00:19:38.780 --> 00:19:40.000
 at your workplace,

00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:41.320
 in your neighborhood,

00:19:41.540 --> 00:19:42.440
 among the nations,

00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.020
 you have a most weighty

00:19:45.020 --> 00:19:46.520
 and glorious mission

00:19:46.520 --> 00:19:47.460
 in Jesus Christ.

00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.540
 Do you remember it?

00:19:50.540 --> 00:19:50.560
 Do you remember it?

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:57.860
 If that makes you,

00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.440
 if you're champing

00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.280
 at the bit to go

00:20:01.280 --> 00:20:02.360
 when you hear that,

00:20:03.540 --> 00:20:04.880
 that's probably

00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:06.180
 how the apostles felt too.

00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:08.900
 They just witnessed

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.940
 Jesus' resurrection.

00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.780
 They're about to witness

00:20:11.780 --> 00:20:13.460
 his ascension to heaven.

00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:17.840
 You'd think they would be

00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.860
 antsy and anxious

00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:20.220
 to tell everyone

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.920
 about what they have seen.

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:25.460
 But Jesus tells them

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.260
 to hold their horses.

00:20:27.340 --> 00:20:28.700
 He says in verses 4 to 5,

00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:31.280
 While staying with them,

00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:32.520
 Jesus ordered them

00:20:32.520 --> 00:20:34.720
 not to depart from Jerusalem,

00:20:35.260 --> 00:20:36.240
 but to wait

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.380
 for the promise

00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:38.100
 of the Father,

00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.360
 which he said,

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.500
 You heard from me,

00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:42.640
 for John baptized with water,

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.620
 but you will be baptized

00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.620
 with the Holy Spirit

00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:45.920
 not many days from now.

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.480
 Why does Jesus do this?

00:20:48.520 --> 00:20:49.120
 He feels like

00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:50.360
 calling a timeout

00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:51.480
 when your team is on a roll

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:53.060
 and scoring all the points.

00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:55.620
 You just was raised

00:20:55.620 --> 00:20:56.280
 from the dead,

00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:58.040
 they couldn't stop you.

00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.640
 Why must we wait?

00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:03.340
 It's because until Jesus

00:21:03.340 --> 00:21:04.760
 ascends to the right hand

00:21:04.760 --> 00:21:05.400
 of the Father,

00:21:06.260 --> 00:21:07.540
 the Spirit of God

00:21:07.540 --> 00:21:08.340
 cannot descend.

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.400
 Because as Jesus said

00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:12.740
 in John 16, verse 7,

00:21:12.800 --> 00:21:13.740
 If I do not go away,

00:21:13.800 --> 00:21:15.340
 the Helper will not come to you,

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.320
 but if I go,

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:18.060
 I will send Him to you.

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:20.500
 It's only as the risen

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:22.460
 and ascended Lord

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:24.019
 that Jesus has the authority

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:26.179
 to send the Holy Spirit.

00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:27.779
 And this is why

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.619
 He spends 40 days on earth

00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:31.099
 after His resurrection,

00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.980
 appearing to His disciples

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.799
 and speaking about

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.700
 the kingdom of God.

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:37.000
 Jesus' wilderness temptation

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.139
 in Luke chapter 4

00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.279
 was 40 days.

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:41.399
 Israel wandered in the wilderness

00:21:41.399 --> 00:21:42.319
 for 40 years

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.139
 before coming into

00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:44.159
 the promised land.

00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:45.940
 The 40 days leading up

00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:47.340
 to the final stage

00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.160
 of Jesus'

00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.720
 This 40 days

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.640
 is what's leading up

00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.000
 to the final stage

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.400
 of Jesus' inauguration.

00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:56.320
 His ascension to the throne.

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.019
 His full reign

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.600
 over His people.

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:04.039
 And when He ascends,

00:22:04.219 --> 00:22:06.059
 Jesus fully comes

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:07.199
 into His kingdom

00:22:07.199 --> 00:22:09.559
 over the church,

00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:10.439
 over His people

00:22:10.439 --> 00:22:12.399
 as the Messianic King.

00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.319
 And from there,

00:22:13.439 --> 00:22:15.480
 He reigns and sends His Spirit

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.559
 to empower His believers.

00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:19.980
 And it's imperative

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:22.219
 that the apostles wait for that.

00:22:23.439 --> 00:22:25.119
 Because without the Holy Spirit,

00:22:25.219 --> 00:22:26.619
 they cannot accomplish

00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:27.240
 their mission.

00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:28.859
 They must first,

00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:29.159
 it says,

00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:29.860
 be baptized

00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.960
 with the Holy Spirit.

00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:32.840
 This is an allusion

00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:34.040
 to Luke 3.16

00:22:34.040 --> 00:22:34.860
 where John the Baptist

00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:36.180
 spoke of how Jesus,

00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:37.640
 who was to come after Him,

00:22:37.800 --> 00:22:38.900
 would baptize people

00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:41.220
 in the Spirit and fire.

00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:43.400
 To baptize literally means

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.200
 to immerse.

00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.580
 Just as John

00:22:45.580 --> 00:22:46.779
 literally immersed

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.660
 people in water,

00:22:47.800 --> 00:22:48.820
 signifying their repentance,

00:22:49.040 --> 00:22:50.240
 Jesus will figuratively

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.500
 immerse people

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.620
 with the Holy Spirit

00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:53.820
 and fire,

00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:55.480
 pointing to the cleansing

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.460
 and purifying work

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.279
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.839
 It is the Spirit

00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.079
 who sanctifies us,

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.420
 consecrates us

00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:04.160
 for His God's special purposes.

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.420
 And not only that,

00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.019
 it's the Spirit

00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:07.299
 who empowers us

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.299
 for His mission.

00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:11.099
 Jesus says in verse 8,

00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.579
 but you will receive power

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:14.119
 when the Holy Spirit

00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:15.099
 has come upon you.

00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:17.660
 Without this power,

00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:20.059
 the apostles are impotent,

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:23.420
 incapable of doing

00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.599
 what Jesus has commissioned

00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.200
 them to do.

00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:29.259
 in Ezekiel 37,

00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:31.279
 God paints a dramatic picture

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:33.660
 of the Holy Spirit's power.

00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:37.759
 God brings prophet Ezekiel

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.720
 and sets him down

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.759
 in the middle of a valley

00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:41.160
 full of bones,

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:43.180
 very dry bones,

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:43.539
 it says,

00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.580
 which means these people

00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:45.059
 have been dead

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.860
 for a long time.

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:49.240
 And God commands Ezekiel,

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:53.339
 prophesy over these bones

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:54.859
 and say to them,

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:56.140
 O dry bones,

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.920
 hear the word of the Lord.

00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.380
 It's the toughest

00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.500
 preaching assignment

00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.240
 you can receive.

00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.740
 Tell dry bones

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:08.519
 to hear the word of the Lord.

00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:10.380
 And yet,

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.240
 when Ezekiel prophesies

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.200
 over them,

00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.819
 the bones start to rattle

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.839
 and come together,

00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:16.480
 sinews and flesh

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.380
 start to appear,

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.620
 skin starts to cover

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.159
 over them.

00:24:19.459 --> 00:24:20.719
 And God commands Ezekiel,

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:22.459
 prophesy to the breath.

00:24:23.439 --> 00:24:24.599
 Breath is the same word

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.819
 as spirit in Hebrew.

00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:27.439
 Prophesy to the breath,

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.699
 thus says the Lord God,

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:30.039
 come from the four winds,

00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:30.859
 O breath,

00:24:31.179 --> 00:24:32.619
 and breathe on these slain

00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:33.719
 that they may live.

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.219
 And when the breath of God

00:24:36.219 --> 00:24:37.339
 enters what was once

00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:38.219
 dry bones,

00:24:38.439 --> 00:24:39.659
 the breath came into them

00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:40.339
 and they lived

00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:41.259
 and stood on their feet

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:43.359
 an exceedingly great army.

00:24:44.659 --> 00:24:45.239
 And afterward,

00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:46.919
 God explains to Ezekiel,

00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.880
 these bones

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:49.279
 are the whole house

00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:49.860
 of Israel.

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.600
 Behold,

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.060
 they say,

00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:53.420
 our bones are dried up

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.620
 and our hope is lost.

00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:56.259
 We are indeed cut off.

00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:56.580
 Therefore,

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:58.220
 prophesy and say to them,

00:24:58.620 --> 00:25:00.279
 thus says the Lord God,

00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.140
 behold,

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.960
 I will open your graves

00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:04.039
 and raise you

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:05.000
 from your graves,

00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:05.779
 O my people.

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.380
 And I will put

00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.980
 my spirit within you

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:11.400
 and you shall live.

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:14.540
 There can be

00:25:14.540 --> 00:25:16.120
 no spiritual quickening,

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:18.040
 no spiritual awakening

00:25:18.040 --> 00:25:19.820
 apart from the Spirit of God.

00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:23.480
 Ephesians chapter 2,

00:25:23.540 --> 00:25:24.220
 verse 1 says

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.680
 that all unbelievers

00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.960
 are dead

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.080
 in their trespasses

00:25:28.080 --> 00:25:28.700
 and sins.

00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:31.519
 And preaching

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.600
 to dead people

00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:33.759
 is futile.

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:33.840
 Now,

00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:40.400
 I guarantee you

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:40.860
 that at the end

00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:41.880
 of that prophetic vision,

00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.759
 Ezekiel was not

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.360
 patting himself

00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:45.880
 on the back

00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:46.660
 thinking what a great

00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.420
 preacher he was.

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.380
 Look at me.

00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.740
 Look at these bones

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.360
 coming together.

00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:58.620
 But isn't that exactly

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.519
 what we do sometimes?

00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.759
 It's easy for us

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:08.380
 mistakenly to think

00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:10.040
 that people are saved

00:26:10.040 --> 00:26:11.060
 by the eloquence

00:26:11.060 --> 00:26:11.960
 of our preaching,

00:26:12.780 --> 00:26:13.480
 the zeal

00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.580
 of our evangelism,

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.500
 the efficiency

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.800
 of our organization,

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.240
 or the brilliance

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.260
 of our strategies,

00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:21.000
 but souls

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.900
 are never

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:23.380
 saved by such things.

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.880
 When a spiritually

00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:29.680
 dead person

00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.500
 is made alive

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.100
 in Christ,

00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:32.260
 when a spiritually

00:26:32.260 --> 00:26:33.300
 blind person

00:26:33.300 --> 00:26:34.340
 is made to see,

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.800
 it is always

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:37.200
 the mighty work

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.159
 of the Spirit

00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:38.740
 of God.

00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:42.119
 And so Jesus

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:42.919
 doesn't tell

00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:43.539
 the apostles,

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.180
 hey,

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.319
 go and brainstorm

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.059
 for a little while,

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.700
 come up with

00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.680
 a five-year plan

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.639
 for world domination.

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.200
 No,

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:51.059
 he tells them,

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.059
 go,

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:52.960
 wait

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:55.519
 for the Holy Spirit.

00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.259
 Because the Holy Spirit

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.899
 is the power

00:27:01.899 --> 00:27:02.799
 for Christian mission.

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:09.099
 Now look at the purview

00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:09.919
 of Christian mission

00:27:09.919 --> 00:27:11.019
 in verses 6 to 11.

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.440
 In verse 6,

00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.119
 the apostles

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.819
 start to wonder,

00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.319
 Lord,

00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.339
 will you at this time

00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.099
 restore the kingdom

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.720
 to Israel?

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.440
 They thought

00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.279
 Israel's hope

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.019
 had been dashed

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.419
 with the death

00:27:27.419 --> 00:27:27.879
 of Jesus,

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.099
 but now that he

00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.299
 has risen from the dead,

00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:30.879
 they were beginning

00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:31.980
 to entertain thoughts

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.740
 of a national revolution

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:35.279
 and a political

00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.299
 hegemony again.

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.519
 Jesus had already

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.180
 corrected this

00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:40.720
 misunderstanding

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:42.240
 in Luke chapter 17,

00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:43.180
 20 to 21,

00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:44.360
 when the Pharisees

00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:44.940
 asked him,

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.480
 when the kingdom

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.500
 of God would come,

00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.039
 Jesus answered them,

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.940
 the kingdom of God

00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.579
 is not coming

00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.240
 in ways that can

00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.880
 be observed,

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:55.559
 nor will they say,

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:55.860
 look,

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.539
 here it is,

00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.620
 or there,

00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:58.779
 for behold,

00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.640
 the kingdom of God

00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.520
 is in the midst

00:28:00.520 --> 00:28:00.940
 of you.

00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:02.460
 In other words,

00:28:02.520 --> 00:28:03.259
 the kingdom of God

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.220
 is unobservable

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.259
 to the physical eye,

00:28:05.860 --> 00:28:06.520
 yet already

00:28:06.520 --> 00:28:07.380
 the kingdom of God

00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:08.420
 is in our midst,

00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.680
 it's among us,

00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:11.200
 wherever Christ

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.720
 and his followers are,

00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:14.320
 wherever Christ the king

00:28:14.320 --> 00:28:15.500
 and his subjects are,

00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:16.280
 that is where

00:28:16.280 --> 00:28:17.580
 the kingdom of God

00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:18.060
 is,

00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.460
 because the kingdom

00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:20.020
 of God

00:28:20.020 --> 00:28:21.520
 is the dominion

00:28:21.520 --> 00:28:23.560
 of the realm

00:28:23.560 --> 00:28:25.020
 of God's rule.

00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:28.180
 sometimes we too

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:28.819
 can be tempted

00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.779
 to speak of the kingdom

00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.220
 of God

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:31.779
 in geopolitical terms.

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.500
 In much the same way,

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.339
 the ancient Jews

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.619
 expected the establishment

00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:37.539
 of the kingdom of God

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.319
 through the overthrow

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.220
 of the Roman Empire.

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.579
 But the kingdom of God

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.480
 does not come

00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.940
 in observable ways.

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:46.099
 No matter how Christian

00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:47.379
 its history

00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.559
 and values are,

00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:50.400
 and no matter how Christian

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.460
 the United States

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.319
 becomes,

00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:54.139
 this country

00:28:54.139 --> 00:28:55.339
 or any other country

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.059
 for that matter

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.359
 will never be

00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.359
 the kingdom of God.

00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:02.679
 Rather,

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.700
 the kingdom of God

00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.720
 becomes manifest

00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:06.159
 when we live

00:29:06.159 --> 00:29:06.879
 in submission

00:29:06.879 --> 00:29:07.899
 to God's rule

00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:09.059
 as his people.

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.319
 And this kingdom

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.519
 continues to grow

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.079
 and spread

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.299
 until it takes hold

00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:14.939
 among every nation

00:29:14.939 --> 00:29:15.539
 on earth.

00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:18.379
 And then Christ the king

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:19.819
 will return in glory

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:21.939
 to consummate his kingdom.

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:24.419
 over all the earth.

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:28.339
 And until that time,

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.399
 political power

00:29:29.399 --> 00:29:31.899
 or military triumph

00:29:31.899 --> 00:29:33.659
 is not the lot

00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:34.299
 of God's people.

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:40.480
 So Jesus gently redirects them

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.480
 in verses 7 to 8.

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:42.960
 It is not for you

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:44.519
 to know times or seasons

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.159
 that the Father

00:29:45.159 --> 00:29:45.740
 has fixed

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.740
 by his own authority.

00:29:47.439 --> 00:29:49.059
 But you will receive power

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:50.439
 when the Holy Spirit

00:29:50.439 --> 00:29:51.379
 has come upon you

00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:52.480
 and you will be my witnesses

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.140
 in Jerusalem

00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:54.140
 and in all Judea

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:54.700
 and Samaria

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.940
 and to the end

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.560
 of the earth.

00:29:58.280 --> 00:29:59.940
 They will receive power,

00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:00.380
 all right,

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.000
 but not the power

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.240
 to crush Roman armies,

00:30:03.760 --> 00:30:04.860
 not the power

00:30:04.860 --> 00:30:06.040
 for political domination,

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.760
 not the power

00:30:06.760 --> 00:30:08.220
 to rule over the heathens,

00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.640
 but the power

00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.840
 to bear witness

00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:11.420
 to Jesus

00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.280
 among them.

00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:16.920
 Jesus masterfully

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:18.740
 adjusts the worldly

00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.920
 dynamics of power

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.579
 that the apostles

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.819
 had uncritically accepted.

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.660
 Furthermore,

00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:26.639
 Jesus tells us

00:30:26.639 --> 00:30:27.639
 that it is not for us

00:30:27.639 --> 00:30:27.980
 to know

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:29.160
 when the end will be.

00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.619
 Instead of being

00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:32.099
 unduly preoccupied

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.940
 with predicting the end,

00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:35.559
 we should be occupied

00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:37.180
 with bearing faithful witness

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.059
 till the end.

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:41.659
 As Matthew 24,

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.500
 verse 14 says,

00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.240
 And this gospel

00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:43.759
 of the kingdom

00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.579
 will be proclaimed

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:45.579
 throughout the whole world

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.220
 as a testimony

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.500
 to all nations,

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.839
 and then the end

00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.279
 will come.

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.480
 The focus should be

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.720
 on what Christ

00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:55.000
 commands us to do

00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.839
 in the meanwhile

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:57.039
 and not on when

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.139
 Christ will return.

00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:00.099
 We know that

00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:01.099
 Christ will return

00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:01.980
 and that's enough.

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.679
 We do not need

00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:04.240
 to know when.

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:06.980
 And this is what

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.940
 Jesus commands us

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.759
 to be my witnesses,

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.319
 he says.

00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:12.640
 A witness affirms

00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.539
 or attests

00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.339
 to something,

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.700
 something outside

00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.279
 of themselves.

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:20.039
 Followers of Christ

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.700
 are commanded

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.779
 to attest to

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.700
 and give testimony

00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.880
 regarding the person

00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:24.819
 and work

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.819
 of Jesus Christ.

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.200
 His life,

00:31:27.380 --> 00:31:27.960
 his death,

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.700
 his resurrection,

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.819
 his ascension.

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.059
 Our mission

00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:32.059
 is not to create

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:33.440
 platforms for ourselves

00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:35.160
 to rise to prominence

00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:35.799
 ourselves,

00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:37.640
 to proclaim ourselves

00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:38.700
 and our experiences.

00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:40.279
 But it is to make

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.299
 Christ prominent,

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.820
 to proclaim Christ,

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:45.259
 who he is

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:46.340
 and what he has done.

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:49.320
 And we can't forget this,

00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:49.960
 brothers and sisters,

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.200
 we're not the saviors

00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:51.840
 of this world.

00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:56.580
 Christ is the savior

00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:57.660
 that this world needs

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.860
 and our task

00:31:58.860 --> 00:32:00.100
 is to point the world

00:32:00.100 --> 00:32:00.740
 to him,

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.299
 the only person

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.440
 who can save.

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:05.159
 It is not our job

00:32:05.159 --> 00:32:06.119
 to save this world.

00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:09.240
 That's what we're witnesses.

00:32:13.419 --> 00:32:14.899
 Christ is on trial

00:32:14.899 --> 00:32:15.960
 before the eyes

00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.559
 of our neighbors.

00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:19.259
 Christ is on trial

00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.019
 before the eyes

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:21.000
 of the watching world.

00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:22.240
 And they're asking,

00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:22.879
 is Jesus

00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:24.579
 who he really claimed to be?

00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:26.759
 Is Jesus really

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.819
 the messianic king?

00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:29.899
 Is Jesus really

00:32:29.899 --> 00:32:30.700
 the son of God?

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.639
 Is Jesus really

00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.460
 the lamb of God

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.059
 who takes away

00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:34.000
 the sin of the world?

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.659
 Can Jesus

00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.759
 give me hope

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.439
 and cleanse me

00:32:37.439 --> 00:32:38.480
 from my sins?

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:40.059
 Can Jesus

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:41.139
 reconcile me

00:32:41.139 --> 00:32:41.779
 to God?

00:32:42.419 --> 00:32:43.220
 The world

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:43.919
 is literally

00:32:43.919 --> 00:32:44.480
 dying

00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.519
 before our eyes.

00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:48.500
 And worse,

00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:49.399
 they are perishing

00:32:49.399 --> 00:32:50.439
 forever,

00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.679
 spiritually.

00:32:51.679 --> 00:32:51.839
 Spiritually.

00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:56.240
 And there are those

00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:56.899
 who perish

00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:58.699
 even now

00:32:58.699 --> 00:33:00.299
 without hearing

00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:02.740
 one witness.

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:04.599
 Stand up for Christ

00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:05.179
 and say,

00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:05.899
 yes,

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.099
 I know this Jesus.

00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.959
 He is my Lord

00:33:09.959 --> 00:33:10.480
 and King

00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:12.059
 and he is everything

00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:13.259
 he says he is.

00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:20.700
 this is why

00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.660
 we have to go

00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:23.059
 and make disciples

00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:23.819
 of all nations.

00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:26.680
 He has asked us

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:28.420
 be my witnesses.

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.960
 And where should we go?

00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.680
 Jesus tells us

00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:41.279
 you will be my witnesses

00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:42.019
 in Jerusalem

00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:44.019
 and in all Judea

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.740
 and Samaria

00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:46.940
 and to the end

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:47.700
 of the earth.

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.940
 This verse functions

00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.220
 as the thesis statement

00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:53.200
 of the entire book.

00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.139
 The entire Gospel of Luke

00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:56.960
 had a movement

00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:58.579
 toward Jerusalem

00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.839
 where climactically

00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.720
 Jesus would die

00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.639
 and be raised

00:34:01.639 --> 00:34:02.180
 from the dead.

00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.720
 And then the entire

00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.519
 book of Acts

00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.379
 is a movement

00:34:07.379 --> 00:34:08.840
 away from Jerusalem.

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.360
 Following

00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:13.500
 the apostles

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.220
 for spreading

00:34:14.220 --> 00:34:14.680
 the good news

00:34:14.680 --> 00:34:15.019
 of Jesus

00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:15.840
 from Jerusalem

00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:17.240
 to Judea and Samaria

00:34:17.240 --> 00:34:17.860
 and to the end

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.400
 of the earth.

00:34:26.240 --> 00:34:27.039
 The mission

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.620
 of the church

00:34:27.620 --> 00:34:28.840
 begins in Jerusalem

00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:29.780
 because that's where

00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.720
 Joel chapter 2

00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:31.340
 verse 32

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:32.200
 prophesied

00:34:32.200 --> 00:34:32.880
 that the promised

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.620
 Holy Spirit

00:34:33.620 --> 00:34:34.120
 would come.

00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:37.980
 Jerusalem,

00:34:38.120 --> 00:34:38.980
 the ancient capital

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.460
 of Judah,

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.539
 the city of David,

00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.199
 where the temple

00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:41.779
 of God is,

00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:42.679
 the very center

00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:44.019
 of Jewish worship.

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:45.699
 This is,

00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.539
 that's the origin

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.579
 from which the reign

00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.099
 of Christ,

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:49.619
 the Messiah,

00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.679
 the ultimate king

00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:51.239
 spreads.

00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:52.940
 Then it moves

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:54.099
 to all Judea and Samaria

00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:54.679
 which includes

00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.340
 the territories

00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:55.840
 that were once

00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:56.639
 part of the southern

00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.840
 kingdom of Judah

00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.420
 and the northern

00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:59.239
 kingdom of Israel

00:34:59.239 --> 00:35:01.480
 after the division

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.320
 during the days

00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:02.940
 of Rehoboan.

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:07.300
 And then the end

00:35:07.300 --> 00:35:07.780
 of the earth,

00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:08.159
 finally,

00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:10.760
 is the known

00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.860
 inhabited world.

00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:15.260
 At the time,

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.280
 Acts was written

00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:17.260
 that was considered

00:35:17.260 --> 00:35:17.700
 to be

00:35:17.700 --> 00:35:18.880
 Scythia to the north,

00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:21.460
 Ethiopia to the south,

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.320
 which is modern-day

00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:22.599
 Sudan,

00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:25.099
 Spain to the west,

00:35:25.220 --> 00:35:26.139
 and India and China

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:26.760
 to the east.

00:35:26.760 --> 00:35:30.000
 And since Luke

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:31.080
 explicitly mentions

00:35:31.080 --> 00:35:31.780
 Philip's ministry

00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:33.060
 to the Ethiopian eunuch

00:35:33.060 --> 00:35:33.880
 in Acts 8,

00:35:34.240 --> 00:35:35.260
 and since Paul

00:35:35.260 --> 00:35:36.620
 mentions the Scythians

00:35:36.620 --> 00:35:38.220
 in Colossians 3.11

00:35:38.220 --> 00:35:39.580
 and also expresses

00:35:39.580 --> 00:35:40.280
 his desire to go

00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:40.960
 to Spain

00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:42.260
 in Romans 15,

00:35:42.600 --> 00:35:43.580
 it seems that the

00:35:43.580 --> 00:35:44.620
 apostles took this

00:35:44.620 --> 00:35:45.880
 command quite literally

00:35:45.880 --> 00:35:47.520
 that they were to go

00:35:47.520 --> 00:35:48.600
 to the end of the earth,

00:35:49.740 --> 00:35:50.980
 as far as they

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:51.960
 possibly can go.

00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:55.980
 And if they did this

00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:56.679
 on foot,

00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:57.860
 with their limited

00:35:57.860 --> 00:35:58.659
 understanding of

00:35:58.659 --> 00:35:59.519
 world geography,

00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:01.220
 we who have uncovered

00:36:01.220 --> 00:36:03.039
 the farthest extremities

00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:03.539
 of earth

00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:04.460
 have no reason

00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:05.559
 not to go.

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:10.679
 But this commission

00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:11.519
 is not merely

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:13.119
 geographical in scope,

00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:15.380
 it's also ethnic.

00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:18.220
 As I mentioned earlier,

00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:19.280
 Jerusalem was a center

00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:20.480
 of Jewish worship.

00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:22.320
 And further out,

00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:23.780
 in all Judea and Samaria,

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:25.119
 you found more folk

00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:26.500
 and syncretistic

00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:27.880
 expressions of Jewish faith.

00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:29.480
 For example,

00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.920
 Samaria was the capital

00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:31.920
 of the northern kingdom

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.440
 of Israel,

00:36:33.219 --> 00:36:33.920
 and that name,

00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:34.340
 Samaria,

00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.599
 gets sometimes used

00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:36.619
 to refer to the entire

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.300
 northern kingdom.

00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:39.480
 And when the Assyrians

00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:40.380
 captured Samaria

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.639
 in 722 B.C.,

00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:42.380
 they deported

00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.280
 all the Israelites

00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:44.900
 of substance and means

00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:45.880
 and then settled

00:36:45.880 --> 00:36:47.219
 the rest of the land

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:48.019
 with foreigners.

00:36:48.019 --> 00:36:50.880
 And these foreigners

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.840
 then intermarried

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.440
 with the Jews

00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:53.280
 who were left there,

00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:55.079
 leading to a form

00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:56.420
 of syncretized religion.

00:36:57.719 --> 00:36:58.860
 And because of this,

00:36:59.239 --> 00:36:59.699
 Jews,

00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:01.300
 who had been deported

00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:03.059
 and then later returned

00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:04.099
 to their homeland

00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:04.840
 from exile,

00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:05.780
 they viewed

00:37:05.780 --> 00:37:07.159
 these Samaritans

00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:09.019
 not only as children

00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:10.119
 of political rebels,

00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:11.119
 compromisers,

00:37:11.219 --> 00:37:12.420
 but also as racial

00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:13.099
 half-breeds

00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:15.880
 and syncretistic,

00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:20.799
 adulterated believers.

00:37:25.299 --> 00:37:27.339
 But the apostles

00:37:27.339 --> 00:37:28.199
 are called to go

00:37:28.199 --> 00:37:30.239
 even to the Samaritans.

00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.900
 And then finally,

00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:35.679
 the end of the earth.

00:37:36.259 --> 00:37:37.779
 This is where you find

00:37:37.779 --> 00:37:38.679
 the Gentiles,

00:37:38.679 --> 00:37:40.739
 the pagans

00:37:40.739 --> 00:37:41.960
 who are farthest

00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:42.480
 removed

00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:43.980
 from the Jewish faith.

00:37:46.419 --> 00:37:47.339
 That was me

00:37:47.339 --> 00:37:48.179
 and many of you.

00:37:51.139 --> 00:37:53.480
 That this ethnic scope

00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:54.419
 is in view here

00:37:54.419 --> 00:37:54.899
 is confirmed

00:37:54.899 --> 00:37:56.000
 by the Messianic prophecy

00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:57.000
 of Isaiah 49,

00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:57.679
 verse 6,

00:37:58.039 --> 00:37:58.940
 which Acts 1a

00:37:58.940 --> 00:37:59.619
 alludes to.

00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:00.419
 It says,

00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:02.159
 It is too light a thing

00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:02.739
 that you should be

00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:03.419
 my servant

00:38:03.419 --> 00:38:04.079
 to raise up

00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:05.539
 the tribes of Jacob

00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:06.440
 and to bring back

00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:07.099
 the preserved

00:38:07.099 --> 00:38:08.019
 of Israel.

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:09.259
 I will make you

00:38:09.259 --> 00:38:09.820
 as a light

00:38:09.820 --> 00:38:10.920
 for the nations,

00:38:11.820 --> 00:38:12.679
 some translations

00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:14.280
 say to the Gentiles,

00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.719
 that my salvation

00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:16.420
 may reach

00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:17.199
 to the end

00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:18.059
 of the earth.

00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:19.739
 Reaching the end

00:38:19.739 --> 00:38:20.380
 of the earth

00:38:20.380 --> 00:38:21.039
 means to go

00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:22.039
 to the nations.

00:38:22.759 --> 00:38:23.759
 And that word nation

00:38:23.759 --> 00:38:25.099
 refers to ethnic

00:38:25.099 --> 00:38:26.300
 people groups.

00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:29.559
 This is also confirmed

00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:30.219
 by the parallel

00:38:30.219 --> 00:38:31.340
 in Luke chapter 24,

00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.159
 verse 47,

00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:32.840
 where Jesus says

00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:33.780
 that He died and rose

00:38:33.780 --> 00:38:35.360
 so that repentance

00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:36.099
 for the forgiveness

00:38:36.099 --> 00:38:36.519
 of sins

00:38:36.519 --> 00:38:37.139
 should be proclaimed

00:38:37.139 --> 00:38:37.639
 in His name

00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:39.359
 to all nations

00:38:39.359 --> 00:38:40.879
 beginning from Jerusalem.

00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:42.400
 Once again,

00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:43.379
 referring to ethnic

00:38:43.379 --> 00:38:44.579
 people groups.

00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:46.500
 So this command

00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:47.739
 to be Christ's witnesses

00:38:47.739 --> 00:38:48.460
 in Jerusalem

00:38:48.460 --> 00:38:49.440
 and in all Judea

00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:50.000
 and Samaria

00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:50.579
 and to the end

00:38:50.579 --> 00:38:51.079
 of the earth

00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:52.759
 not only traverses

00:38:52.759 --> 00:38:54.219
 geographic boundaries,

00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:55.239
 but it also

00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:56.400
 transgresses

00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:57.839
 ethnic divisions.

00:38:57.840 --> 00:39:01.579
 this is why

00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:02.360
 as a church

00:39:02.360 --> 00:39:03.680
 we pray each month

00:39:03.680 --> 00:39:04.360
 for a specific

00:39:04.360 --> 00:39:05.300
 people group

00:39:05.300 --> 00:39:06.380
 of a country.

00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:09.440
 For the Sheikh

00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:11.340
 people in Bangladesh,

00:39:11.660 --> 00:39:12.559
 the Sunda people

00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:13.260
 in Indonesia,

00:39:14.200 --> 00:39:15.100
 the Persian people

00:39:15.100 --> 00:39:15.640
 in Iran,

00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:16.539
 the Bammar people

00:39:16.539 --> 00:39:17.140
 in Myanmar,

00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:18.820
 the Hausa people

00:39:18.820 --> 00:39:19.519
 in Nigeria,

00:39:19.940 --> 00:39:21.320
 and so on.

00:39:21.700 --> 00:39:22.460
 All of these

00:39:22.460 --> 00:39:23.120
 people groups

00:39:23.120 --> 00:39:23.880
 we pray for

00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:24.519
 are considered

00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:25.380
 unreached

00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:26.940
 or least reached,

00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:27.940
 which means

00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:28.680
 no more than

00:39:28.680 --> 00:39:29.579
 2% of their

00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:30.180
 population

00:39:30.180 --> 00:39:31.039
 are gospel-believing

00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:31.500
 Christians,

00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:33.519
 which means

00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:34.059
 they lack

00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:35.800
 the sheer numbers

00:39:35.800 --> 00:39:36.900
 and the resources

00:39:36.900 --> 00:39:37.599
 necessary.

00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:42.559
 they need

00:39:42.559 --> 00:39:43.299
 witnesses of

00:39:43.299 --> 00:39:43.619
 Jesus

00:39:43.619 --> 00:39:44.380
 to be sent

00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:44.980
 among them.

00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:47.279
 And I pray

00:39:47.279 --> 00:39:47.759
 that God

00:39:47.759 --> 00:39:48.440
 sends more

00:39:48.440 --> 00:39:48.940
 laborers

00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.279
 into that

00:39:49.279 --> 00:39:49.699
 harvest

00:39:49.699 --> 00:39:50.900
 even from

00:39:50.900 --> 00:39:51.480
 among us.

00:39:55.500 --> 00:39:56.319
 This is the

00:39:56.319 --> 00:39:56.880
 purview of

00:39:56.880 --> 00:39:57.500
 Christian mission.

00:39:58.279 --> 00:39:58.699
 Our mission

00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.279
 is global

00:39:59.279 --> 00:39:59.719
 in scope

00:39:59.719 --> 00:40:00.159
 because it

00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:00.519
 is too

00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.279
 small a

00:40:01.279 --> 00:40:01.579
 thing

00:40:01.579 --> 00:40:02.219
 for the

00:40:02.219 --> 00:40:02.980
 Lord Jesus

00:40:02.980 --> 00:40:03.360
 who is

00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:03.759
 exalted

00:40:03.759 --> 00:40:04.039
 above

00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:04.679
 every other

00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:05.159
 name

00:40:05.159 --> 00:40:07.699
 to save

00:40:07.699 --> 00:40:08.099
 the Jews

00:40:08.099 --> 00:40:08.420
 only,

00:40:08.759 --> 00:40:09.819
 to rule

00:40:09.819 --> 00:40:10.199
 over

00:40:10.199 --> 00:40:11.159
 Israel

00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:11.599
 only.

00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:16.259
 He will

00:40:16.259 --> 00:40:16.579
 instead

00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:17.099
 save

00:40:17.099 --> 00:40:17.619
 and reign

00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:18.199
 over Jews,

00:40:18.359 --> 00:40:18.920
 Samaritans,

00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:20.000
 and Gentiles,

00:40:20.359 --> 00:40:20.839
 people from

00:40:20.839 --> 00:40:21.159
 all the

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:21.539
 nations.

00:40:23.460 --> 00:40:24.299
 We live

00:40:24.299 --> 00:40:24.839
 in Cambridge

00:40:24.839 --> 00:40:25.440
 in Boston,

00:40:25.739 --> 00:40:26.339
 the Jerusalem

00:40:26.339 --> 00:40:26.859
 of modern

00:40:26.859 --> 00:40:27.339
 education.

00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:29.099
 And because

00:40:29.099 --> 00:40:29.539
 of this,

00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:29.859
 we have

00:40:29.859 --> 00:40:30.879
 people from

00:40:30.879 --> 00:40:31.480
 these very

00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:31.940
 unreached

00:40:31.940 --> 00:40:32.599
 people groups

00:40:32.599 --> 00:40:33.639
 coming into

00:40:33.639 --> 00:40:34.099
 our city

00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:35.420
 from all

00:40:35.420 --> 00:40:35.719
 over the

00:40:35.719 --> 00:40:36.000
 world.

00:40:37.799 --> 00:40:38.699
 The nations

00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:39.159
 are among

00:40:39.159 --> 00:40:39.779
 us and so

00:40:39.779 --> 00:40:40.179
 let's be

00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:41.059
 faithful to

00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:41.599
 bear witness

00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:42.000
 to them.

00:40:45.980 --> 00:40:46.699
 The fact

00:40:46.699 --> 00:40:47.000
 that we

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:47.420
 live in a

00:40:47.420 --> 00:40:48.079
 highly transient

00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:48.659
 city also

00:40:48.659 --> 00:40:49.179
 presents a

00:40:49.179 --> 00:40:49.880
 unique opportunity

00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:50.480
 for us

00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:52.579
 as long as

00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:53.119
 we remember

00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:53.579
 that our

00:40:53.579 --> 00:40:53.960
 identity

00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:56.799
 is as

00:40:56.799 --> 00:40:57.199
 witnesses

00:40:57.199 --> 00:40:57.719
 of Jesus,

00:40:58.319 --> 00:40:58.619
 that we

00:40:58.619 --> 00:40:59.159
 are sent

00:40:59.159 --> 00:40:59.599
 ones.

00:41:00.739 --> 00:41:01.219
 So if

00:41:01.219 --> 00:41:01.940
 you're not

00:41:01.940 --> 00:41:02.839
 here for

00:41:02.839 --> 00:41:03.480
 a time

00:41:03.480 --> 00:41:04.440
 just to

00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:04.740
 get your

00:41:04.740 --> 00:41:05.099
 degree

00:41:05.099 --> 00:41:05.679
 or finish

00:41:05.679 --> 00:41:05.880
 your

00:41:05.880 --> 00:41:06.340
 research

00:41:06.340 --> 00:41:07.039
 or project

00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:07.599
 or to

00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:07.960
 work a

00:41:07.960 --> 00:41:08.340
 job

00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:09.920
 until you

00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:10.260
 move to

00:41:10.260 --> 00:41:10.699
 the next

00:41:10.699 --> 00:41:11.780
 step,

00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:13.820
 while you're

00:41:13.820 --> 00:41:14.079
 here,

00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:14.400
 you are

00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:14.900
 witnesses

00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:15.500
 of Jesus

00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:15.960
 Christ.

00:41:18.179 --> 00:41:18.820
 And when

00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:19.179
 you leave

00:41:19.179 --> 00:41:19.820
 this place,

00:41:20.179 --> 00:41:20.599
 you are not

00:41:20.599 --> 00:41:21.039
 just going to

00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:21.539
 another place

00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:21.800
 to do

00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:22.559
 something else,

00:41:23.079 --> 00:41:23.719
 you're also

00:41:23.719 --> 00:41:24.300
 sent out

00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:25.360
 there as

00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:25.940
 witnesses

00:41:25.940 --> 00:41:26.980
 of Jesus

00:41:26.980 --> 00:41:27.440
 Christ.

00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:30.579
 And after

00:41:30.579 --> 00:41:30.960
 giving the

00:41:30.960 --> 00:41:31.559
 apostles this

00:41:31.559 --> 00:41:31.840
 charge,

00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:32.680
 Jesus ascends

00:41:32.680 --> 00:41:33.059
 to heaven

00:41:33.059 --> 00:41:33.579
 in verses

00:41:33.579 --> 00:41:34.120
 9 to

00:41:34.120 --> 00:41:34.480
 11,

00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:36.300
 and when

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:37.240
 he has

00:41:37.240 --> 00:41:37.660
 said these

00:41:37.660 --> 00:41:38.079
 things as

00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:38.280
 they were

00:41:38.280 --> 00:41:38.800
 looking on,

00:41:38.860 --> 00:41:39.039
 he was

00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:39.660
 lifted up,

00:41:39.760 --> 00:41:39.960
 and a

00:41:39.960 --> 00:41:40.559
 cloud took

00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:40.820
 him out

00:41:40.820 --> 00:41:41.059
 of their

00:41:41.059 --> 00:41:41.360
 sight.

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.360
 And while

00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:42.680
 they were

00:41:42.680 --> 00:41:43.300
 gazing into

00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:43.880
 heaven as

00:41:43.880 --> 00:41:44.320
 he went,

00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:45.280
 behold,

00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:46.019
 two men

00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:46.600
 stood by

00:41:46.600 --> 00:41:46.920
 them in

00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:47.620
 white robes

00:41:47.620 --> 00:41:48.420
 and said,

00:41:48.539 --> 00:41:48.840
 Men of

00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.300
 Galilee,

00:41:49.420 --> 00:41:49.900
 why do you

00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:50.500
 stand looking

00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:50.980
 into heaven?

00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:52.100
 This Jesus

00:41:52.100 --> 00:41:52.579
 who was taken

00:41:52.579 --> 00:41:53.100
 up from you

00:41:53.100 --> 00:41:53.460
 into heaven

00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:53.940
 will come

00:41:53.940 --> 00:41:54.460
 in the same

00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:55.360
 way as

00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:55.820
 you saw

00:41:55.820 --> 00:41:56.440
 him go

00:41:56.440 --> 00:41:56.920
 into heaven.

00:41:58.400 --> 00:41:59.120
 This verse

00:41:59.120 --> 00:41:59.680
 intentionally

00:41:59.680 --> 00:42:00.440
 parallels the

00:42:00.440 --> 00:42:00.980
 account of the

00:42:00.980 --> 00:42:01.920
 transfiguration in

00:42:01.920 --> 00:42:02.340
 Luke chapter

00:42:02.340 --> 00:42:02.719
 9,

00:42:03.480 --> 00:42:04.000
 where his

00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:04.599
 clothing also

00:42:04.599 --> 00:42:05.460
 became dazzling

00:42:05.460 --> 00:42:05.760
 white.

00:42:05.900 --> 00:42:06.280
 He was joined

00:42:06.280 --> 00:42:07.159
 by two men

00:42:07.159 --> 00:42:07.500
 there,

00:42:07.940 --> 00:42:08.760
 and then a

00:42:08.760 --> 00:42:09.500
 cloud came and

00:42:09.500 --> 00:42:10.219
 overshadowed

00:42:10.219 --> 00:42:10.420
 them.

00:42:12.699 --> 00:42:13.360
 And the

00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:14.039
 difference is that

00:42:14.039 --> 00:42:14.860
 the transfiguration

00:42:14.860 --> 00:42:15.619
 was only for a

00:42:15.619 --> 00:42:15.860
 moment,

00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:17.420
 but at his

00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:17.880
 ascension,

00:42:18.019 --> 00:42:18.500
 Jesus is

00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:19.360
 translated into

00:42:19.360 --> 00:42:20.440
 glory permanently.

00:42:21.440 --> 00:42:22.320
 And Jesus'

00:42:22.539 --> 00:42:23.539
 ascension is the

00:42:23.539 --> 00:42:25.159
 guarantee that he

00:42:25.159 --> 00:42:26.260
 will return in

00:42:26.260 --> 00:42:26.840
 glory in the

00:42:26.840 --> 00:42:27.400
 same way he

00:42:27.400 --> 00:42:27.740
 went up.

00:42:27.739 --> 00:42:30.579
 And that

00:42:30.579 --> 00:42:31.219
 reality should

00:42:31.219 --> 00:42:31.859
 give us hope

00:42:31.859 --> 00:42:32.379
 as we bear

00:42:32.379 --> 00:42:32.919
 witness to

00:42:32.919 --> 00:42:33.239
 Jesus,

00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.139
 because though

00:42:34.139 --> 00:42:34.719
 we might be

00:42:34.719 --> 00:42:35.179
 rejected,

00:42:35.539 --> 00:42:36.019
 and we will

00:42:36.019 --> 00:42:36.219
 be,

00:42:37.139 --> 00:42:37.639
 though people

00:42:37.639 --> 00:42:38.039
 might not

00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:38.779
 believe us,

00:42:39.119 --> 00:42:39.559
 though people

00:42:39.559 --> 00:42:41.639
 might persecute

00:42:41.639 --> 00:42:41.839
 us,

00:42:41.879 --> 00:42:42.819
 we bear witness

00:42:42.819 --> 00:42:43.559
 knowing that

00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:44.539
 Christ will

00:42:44.539 --> 00:42:45.279
 return to

00:42:45.279 --> 00:42:45.979
 vindicate us.

00:42:46.759 --> 00:42:47.419
 He will come

00:42:47.419 --> 00:42:48.119
 back in glory.

00:42:50.699 --> 00:42:51.519
 And that brings

00:42:51.519 --> 00:42:51.839
 me to my

00:42:51.839 --> 00:42:52.439
 final point,

00:42:52.779 --> 00:42:53.399
 prayer and

00:42:53.399 --> 00:42:54.000
 Christian mission.

00:42:54.339 --> 00:42:54.899
 Please follow

00:42:54.899 --> 00:42:55.339
 along with me

00:42:55.339 --> 00:42:55.819
 as I read

00:42:55.819 --> 00:42:56.559
 verses 12 to

00:42:56.559 --> 00:42:56.980
 14.

00:42:58.320 --> 00:42:58.900
 Then they

00:42:58.900 --> 00:42:59.480
 returned to

00:42:59.480 --> 00:43:00.119
 Jerusalem from

00:43:00.119 --> 00:43:00.519
 the mount

00:43:00.519 --> 00:43:01.480
 called Olivet,

00:43:01.539 --> 00:43:02.079
 which is near

00:43:02.079 --> 00:43:03.099
 Jerusalem, a

00:43:03.099 --> 00:43:03.759
 Sabbath day's

00:43:03.759 --> 00:43:04.279
 journey away.

00:43:04.840 --> 00:43:05.460
 And when they

00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:05.920
 had entered,

00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:06.920
 they went up to

00:43:06.920 --> 00:43:07.519
 the upper room

00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:07.960
 where they were

00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:09.059
 staying, Peter

00:43:09.059 --> 00:43:09.659
 and John and

00:43:09.659 --> 00:43:10.059
 James and

00:43:10.059 --> 00:43:10.759
 Andrew, Philip

00:43:10.759 --> 00:43:11.239
 and Thomas,

00:43:11.380 --> 00:43:12.059
 Bartholomew and

00:43:12.059 --> 00:43:13.219
 Matthew, James

00:43:13.219 --> 00:43:13.639
 the son of

00:43:13.639 --> 00:43:14.360
 Alphaeus and

00:43:14.360 --> 00:43:14.960
 Simon the

00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:15.579
 Zealot, and

00:43:15.579 --> 00:43:16.239
 Judas the son

00:43:16.239 --> 00:43:16.679
 of James.

00:43:17.159 --> 00:43:18.099
 All these,

00:43:18.259 --> 00:43:19.000
 with one

00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:20.299
 accord, were

00:43:20.299 --> 00:43:20.940
 devoting

00:43:20.940 --> 00:43:21.699
 themselves to

00:43:21.699 --> 00:43:23.659
 prayer, together

00:43:23.659 --> 00:43:24.299
 with the woman

00:43:24.299 --> 00:43:25.159
 and Mary, the

00:43:25.159 --> 00:43:25.820
 mother of Jesus,

00:43:25.820 --> 00:43:26.360
 and his

00:43:26.360 --> 00:43:26.660
 brothers.

00:43:28.539 --> 00:43:29.340
 After Jesus

00:43:29.340 --> 00:43:30.000
 then sends to

00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:30.840
 heaven on the

00:43:30.840 --> 00:43:31.559
 Mount of Olives,

00:43:32.240 --> 00:43:32.920
 the apostles make

00:43:32.920 --> 00:43:33.640
 their way back to

00:43:33.640 --> 00:43:34.340
 their abode in

00:43:34.340 --> 00:43:35.000
 Jerusalem, wherever

00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:35.720
 they were staying

00:43:35.720 --> 00:43:36.180
 in Jerusalem.

00:43:36.740 --> 00:43:37.480
 And then they

00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:38.100
 head up into the

00:43:38.100 --> 00:43:38.720
 upper room where

00:43:38.720 --> 00:43:39.340
 they were staying.

00:43:40.080 --> 00:43:41.220
 It's possible that

00:43:41.220 --> 00:43:41.820
 this is the same

00:43:41.820 --> 00:43:42.480
 upper room where

00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:43.160
 Jesus had the

00:43:43.160 --> 00:43:44.380
 Last Supper, but

00:43:44.380 --> 00:43:45.240
 Luke does not

00:43:45.240 --> 00:43:46.100
 specify, and there

00:43:46.100 --> 00:43:46.720
 were many such

00:43:46.720 --> 00:43:47.460
 upper rooms, so

00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:48.200
 it's impossible to

00:43:48.200 --> 00:43:48.820
 say for sure.

00:43:49.780 --> 00:43:50.500
 But what's

00:43:50.500 --> 00:43:51.340
 important is what

00:43:51.340 --> 00:43:51.980
 they do there.

00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:53.820
 And it says what

00:43:53.820 --> 00:43:54.780
 they're doing as

00:43:54.780 --> 00:43:55.679
 they're waiting for

00:43:55.679 --> 00:43:56.500
 the Holy Spirit in

00:43:56.500 --> 00:43:56.780
 Jerusalem.

00:43:57.340 --> 00:43:57.980
 It says in verse

00:43:57.980 --> 00:43:59.199
 14, all these with

00:43:59.199 --> 00:44:00.159
 one accord were

00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:01.320
 devoting themselves

00:44:01.320 --> 00:44:01.840
 to prayer.

00:44:03.940 --> 00:44:04.900
 The verb

00:44:04.900 --> 00:44:06.619
 devote means to be

00:44:06.619 --> 00:44:08.179
 busily engaged in

00:44:08.179 --> 00:44:08.559
 something.

00:44:11.719 --> 00:44:14.940
 Too often, we as

00:44:14.940 --> 00:44:15.960
 modern believers are

00:44:15.960 --> 00:44:17.539
 too busily engaged in

00:44:17.539 --> 00:44:18.619
 other activities to

00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:18.820
 pray.

00:44:18.820 --> 00:44:22.559
 But the earliest

00:44:22.559 --> 00:44:23.780
 believers were

00:44:23.780 --> 00:44:24.980
 devoting themselves

00:44:24.980 --> 00:44:26.019
 to prayer.

00:44:28.019 --> 00:44:29.260
 What would your

00:44:29.260 --> 00:44:31.300
 biographer say that

00:44:31.300 --> 00:44:32.780
 you were devoted to

00:44:32.780 --> 00:44:33.420
 in life?

00:44:37.660 --> 00:44:38.500
 That you were

00:44:38.500 --> 00:44:39.140
 devoted to your

00:44:39.140 --> 00:44:40.780
 spouse, your kids,

00:44:41.500 --> 00:44:43.440
 your work, your

00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:45.360
 studies, to a

00:44:45.360 --> 00:44:46.740
 hobby, a football

00:44:46.740 --> 00:44:48.800
 team, sports?

00:44:49.600 --> 00:44:50.200
 Traveling?

00:44:50.940 --> 00:44:51.300
 Drinking?

00:44:54.480 --> 00:44:55.320
 What would a

00:44:55.320 --> 00:44:56.300
 historian writing

00:44:56.300 --> 00:44:57.380
 about our church

00:44:57.380 --> 00:44:58.860
 one day say we

00:44:58.860 --> 00:44:59.780
 were devoted to?

00:45:09.460 --> 00:45:10.500
 The early believers

00:45:10.500 --> 00:45:11.860
 were devoted to

00:45:11.860 --> 00:45:12.240
 prayer.

00:45:14.740 --> 00:45:15.800
 And they were also

00:45:15.800 --> 00:45:16.740
 doing this with one

00:45:16.740 --> 00:45:17.160
 accord.

00:45:17.159 --> 00:45:19.019
 It says in unity,

00:45:19.519 --> 00:45:20.699
 not only together in

00:45:20.699 --> 00:45:21.879
 one place, but also

00:45:21.879 --> 00:45:22.679
 together in one

00:45:22.679 --> 00:45:23.920
 heart and one

00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:24.739
 mind.

00:45:27.739 --> 00:45:28.899
 If you remember from

00:45:28.899 --> 00:45:29.799
 the Gospel of Luke,

00:45:30.619 --> 00:45:33.179
 before every pivotal

00:45:33.179 --> 00:45:34.559
 moment of Jesus' life

00:45:34.559 --> 00:45:36.159
 and ministry, Luke

00:45:36.159 --> 00:45:37.119
 tells us that Jesus

00:45:37.119 --> 00:45:39.379
 was praying before

00:45:39.379 --> 00:45:41.599
 he's baptized and the

00:45:41.599 --> 00:45:42.019
 Spirit of God

00:45:42.019 --> 00:45:42.739
 descends on him and

00:45:42.739 --> 00:45:44.039
 the Father speaks of

00:45:44.039 --> 00:45:44.839
 him saying, this is my

00:45:44.840 --> 00:45:45.680
 beloved Son in whom

00:45:45.680 --> 00:45:46.539
 I am well pleased.

00:45:46.940 --> 00:45:47.800
 Jesus is praying

00:45:47.800 --> 00:45:48.400
 before that.

00:45:49.460 --> 00:45:50.360
 Before he chooses

00:45:50.360 --> 00:45:51.300
 his twelve apostles,

00:45:51.500 --> 00:45:52.360
 Jesus is praying.

00:45:52.940 --> 00:45:53.740
 Before he teaches

00:45:53.740 --> 00:45:54.880
 them how to pray with

00:45:54.880 --> 00:45:55.460
 the Lord's Prayer,

00:45:55.579 --> 00:45:56.440
 Jesus is praying.

00:45:58.940 --> 00:46:00.000
 Before Peter's

00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:01.059
 breakthrough confession

00:46:01.059 --> 00:46:02.559
 that Christ, Jesus

00:46:02.559 --> 00:46:03.820
 is the Christ of God,

00:46:04.240 --> 00:46:05.260
 Jesus was praying.

00:46:06.559 --> 00:46:07.240
 Before the

00:46:07.240 --> 00:46:08.500
 transfiguration and

00:46:08.500 --> 00:46:09.220
 his transform

00:46:09.220 --> 00:46:10.220
 into glory, Jesus

00:46:10.220 --> 00:46:11.019
 was praying.

00:46:11.019 --> 00:46:16.019
 And before his

00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:17.420
 betrayal and death,

00:46:18.219 --> 00:46:20.019
 Jesus was praying.

00:46:23.559 --> 00:46:25.179
 And Luke is going

00:46:25.179 --> 00:46:26.119
 to continue that

00:46:26.119 --> 00:46:26.840
 emphasis throughout

00:46:26.840 --> 00:46:27.659
 the book of Acts.

00:46:28.119 --> 00:46:29.119
 And once again, we

00:46:29.119 --> 00:46:34.059
 see here, before the

00:46:34.059 --> 00:46:35.619
 descent of the Holy

00:46:35.619 --> 00:46:36.980
 Spirit to empower the

00:46:36.980 --> 00:46:37.940
 church for mission,

00:46:37.940 --> 00:46:38.940
 prayer.

00:46:38.940 --> 00:46:40.280
 And the believers

00:46:40.280 --> 00:46:41.579
 are not just waiting

00:46:41.579 --> 00:46:42.579
 about doing nothing.

00:46:43.300 --> 00:46:45.139
 They are devoting

00:46:45.139 --> 00:46:47.420
 themselves to prayer.

00:46:48.220 --> 00:46:50.420
 Prayer is a

00:46:50.420 --> 00:46:51.559
 hallmark of faith.

00:46:52.420 --> 00:46:53.019
 It's one of our

00:46:53.019 --> 00:46:54.019
 greatest Christian

00:46:54.019 --> 00:46:54.679
 vocations.

00:46:56.280 --> 00:46:57.539
 None of us are

00:46:57.539 --> 00:46:58.139
 apostles.

00:46:59.220 --> 00:47:01.659
 Yet all of us can

00:47:01.659 --> 00:47:03.300
 pray like the woman

00:47:03.300 --> 00:47:05.019
 disciples that are

00:47:05.019 --> 00:47:05.659
 mentioned here.

00:47:05.940 --> 00:47:06.820
 And Mary, the mother

00:47:06.820 --> 00:47:07.800
 of Jesus and his

00:47:07.800 --> 00:47:10.120
 brothers who are

00:47:10.120 --> 00:47:10.800
 praying with the

00:47:10.800 --> 00:47:11.200
 apostles.

00:47:12.320 --> 00:47:13.740
 Not everyone can be

00:47:13.740 --> 00:47:15.000
 preachers and pastors,

00:47:15.360 --> 00:47:17.920
 yet all of us can

00:47:17.920 --> 00:47:18.400
 pray.

00:47:22.880 --> 00:47:24.300
 And as the 19th

00:47:24.300 --> 00:47:25.100
 century English

00:47:25.100 --> 00:47:26.300
 pastor Charles Spurgeon

00:47:26.300 --> 00:47:28.760
 puts it, prayer is

00:47:28.760 --> 00:47:30.980
 the slender nerve that

00:47:30.980 --> 00:47:32.780
 moves the muscle of

00:47:32.780 --> 00:47:33.740
 omnipotence.

00:47:33.739 --> 00:47:39.219
 successful Christian

00:47:39.219 --> 00:47:41.459
 missions work is

00:47:41.459 --> 00:47:43.500
 never a calculable

00:47:43.500 --> 00:47:44.379
 result, a

00:47:44.379 --> 00:47:46.039
 predictable result of

00:47:46.039 --> 00:47:47.399
 correct methods and

00:47:47.399 --> 00:47:47.879
 strategies.

00:47:48.579 --> 00:47:50.039
 It is always the

00:47:50.039 --> 00:47:51.119
 sovereign work of the

00:47:51.119 --> 00:47:51.659
 Holy Spirit.

00:47:52.099 --> 00:47:53.039
 And for that reason,

00:47:53.199 --> 00:47:54.199
 it is always the

00:47:54.199 --> 00:47:55.839
 fruit of concerted

00:47:55.839 --> 00:47:56.139
 prayer.

00:48:00.139 --> 00:48:01.459
 So missiologist

00:48:01.459 --> 00:48:02.879
 Wilbert Schenk puts it

00:48:02.880 --> 00:48:03.320
 this way.

00:48:04.940 --> 00:48:05.880
 Missionary obedience

00:48:05.880 --> 00:48:07.680
 is first of all an

00:48:07.680 --> 00:48:08.920
 act of submission to

00:48:08.920 --> 00:48:09.740
 the leadership of the

00:48:09.740 --> 00:48:10.340
 Holy Spirit.

00:48:11.960 --> 00:48:13.200
 Strategic thinking

00:48:13.200 --> 00:48:14.460
 ought to begin and

00:48:14.460 --> 00:48:15.960
 end with the

00:48:15.960 --> 00:48:18.240
 prayer, your will be

00:48:18.240 --> 00:48:18.559
 done.

00:48:23.519 --> 00:48:24.740
 And that's my prayer

00:48:24.740 --> 00:48:26.440
 this evening.

00:48:27.880 --> 00:48:29.019
 That we would bear

00:48:29.019 --> 00:48:29.800
 witness to Jesus

00:48:29.800 --> 00:48:30.740
 Christ to the end of

00:48:30.740 --> 00:48:31.660
 the earth by the power

00:48:31.659 --> 00:48:32.359
 of the Holy Spirit

00:48:32.359 --> 00:48:34.879
 and that we would be

00:48:34.879 --> 00:48:35.779
 a people who devote

00:48:35.779 --> 00:48:36.779
 ourselves to pray in

00:48:36.779 --> 00:48:37.819
 preparation for that,

00:48:38.379 --> 00:48:41.519
 for the empowerment

00:48:41.519 --> 00:48:42.659
 that we need for that.

00:48:45.199 --> 00:48:45.839
 Let's pray.

00:48:50.559 --> 00:48:52.159
 God, we do seek this

00:48:52.159 --> 00:48:52.559
 power.

00:48:52.559 --> 00:48:58.059
 Lord, please wake us up

00:48:58.059 --> 00:49:01.500
 to our senses to realize

00:49:01.500 --> 00:49:03.099
 how impotent we are,

00:49:04.900 --> 00:49:06.420
 how futile all our

00:49:06.420 --> 00:49:08.940
 endeavors are apart from

00:49:08.940 --> 00:49:09.920
 the empowering work of

00:49:09.920 --> 00:49:10.519
 your Holy Spirit.

00:49:14.719 --> 00:49:16.199
 Grant us that power,

00:49:16.380 --> 00:49:16.519
 Lord.

00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:19.420
 Fill us with your Spirit,

00:49:19.420 --> 00:49:19.740
 Lord.

00:49:21.539 --> 00:49:22.639
 Move us to prayer,

00:49:22.800 --> 00:49:23.000
 Lord.

00:49:26.780 --> 00:49:27.659
 That we might bear

00:49:27.659 --> 00:49:29.000
 witness to the name of

00:49:29.000 --> 00:49:30.700
 Jesus to the end of the

00:49:30.700 --> 00:49:30.980
 earth.

00:49:33.360 --> 00:49:34.579
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:49:35.220 --> 00:49:35.519
 Amen.

00:49:35.519 --> 00:49:35.619
 Amen.

00:49:35.619 --> 00:49:35.639
 Amen.

00:49:35.639 --> 00:49:35.659
 Amen.

00:49:35.659 --> 00:49:35.680
 Amen.

00:49:35.680 --> 00:49:35.700
 Amen.

00:49:35.700 --> 00:49:35.720
 Amen.

00:49:35.720 --> 00:49:37.639
 Amen.

00:49:37.639 --> 00:49:37.720
 Amen.

00:49:37.720 --> 00:49:39.639
 Amen.

00:49:39.639 --> 00:49:39.720
 Amen.

00:49:39.720 --> 00:49:39.780
 Amen.

00:49:39.780 --> 00:49:41.720
 Amen.

00:49:41.720 --> 00:49:41.780
 Amen.

00:49:41.780 --> 00:49:43.720
 Amen.

00:49:43.720 --> 00:49:45.720
 Amen.

00:49:45.720 --> 00:49:45.780
 Amen.

00:49:45.780 --> 00:49:47.720
 Amen.

00:49:47.720 --> 00:49:47.780
 Amen.

00:49:47.780 --> 00:49:47.800
 Amen.