WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.000 I'm going to have to be more careful about what I say in sermons. 00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:13.640 Some of you might remember that last Sunday when we looked at the first part of Acts chapter 1, 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:21.219 I talked about how the coming of the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father, implies our great weakness 00:00:21.219 --> 00:00:27.140 and how God then will send us things which are beyond our power, 00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:32.899 beyond our financial resources, our physical power, our intellectual power, our numerical power, 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:38.600 and that he will invite us into things which cause us to depend upon him. 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:43.859 And I said that on Sunday, and it's very easy to say things like that in a sermon. 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:49.740 And then on Monday morning, Monday morning, I came into church and I met one of the brothers. 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:54.880 The brothers own the buildings sort of all over there in the parking lot, 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:57.100 and they told me that they're selling the building. 00:00:58.179 --> 00:01:02.480 And the first thing that I went through my mind is, and I said it to them, 00:01:02.540 --> 00:01:05.200 I said, well, we might be interested in buying it. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.740 Now, I also told them we had no money. 00:01:11.300 --> 00:01:13.599 But I said, we might be interested in buying it. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:17.260 And I think, well, you know, I would like to talk to you about it. 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:20.580 And I mentioned it to the wardens on Tuesday night, 00:01:20.980 --> 00:01:26.160 and their unanimous reaction was that it would be irresponsible for us 00:01:26.160 --> 00:01:30.859 not to let you folks know and to call out to God in prayer, 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:37.900 just to see is it God's will that we purchase that property? 00:01:38.240 --> 00:01:43.800 Will God work a miracle of bringing in finances or lowering the price or whatever? 00:01:43.939 --> 00:01:44.800 Is it God's will? 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:48.359 And so I preached this on Sunday, 00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:54.200 and now I am called to see that, with the warden's permission, 00:01:54.340 --> 00:01:58.200 to say we should pray as to whether it is God's will 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:02.039 for us to be able to take that property 00:02:02.039 --> 00:02:05.700 and keep it sort of owned by Christians, 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:09.180 to be used as a place of prayer and a place of mission 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:10.979 and a place of outreach. 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:15.179 And we don't have the money, but we are called to pray. 00:02:15.679 --> 00:02:16.439 And you know what? 00:02:16.459 --> 00:02:19.159 We can pray, and maybe God will say yes. 00:02:19.739 --> 00:02:21.000 That will be a miracle. 00:02:21.959 --> 00:02:25.679 To make him say, for him to say yes means it will also happen, 00:02:25.799 --> 00:02:26.919 and that will be a miracle. 00:02:27.799 --> 00:02:31.419 Maybe he'll say not yet, and maybe he'll say no. 00:02:31.419 --> 00:02:35.239 And if he says no, then that's his sovereign choice, 00:02:35.379 --> 00:02:36.239 his sovereign will. 00:02:36.899 --> 00:02:41.419 But I invite you to pray as to whether God is calling us 00:02:42.139 --> 00:02:45.959 about that property. 00:02:46.079 --> 00:02:46.639 Please pray. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:51.039 And we'll see what happens. 00:02:51.659 --> 00:02:58.239 So if people have any insights or prophecies or very large checks, 00:02:58.559 --> 00:03:03.279 you can speak to me or the wardens. 00:03:03.699 --> 00:03:04.579 But please pray. 00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:08.959 I'd like you to turn in your Bibles to page 943, 00:03:09.939 --> 00:03:12.459 Acts 1, verses 12 and following. 00:03:12.460 --> 00:03:20.020 And we continue along as we look through the first few chapters of Acts 1. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:26.960 And the text that we're going to read today takes place in this odd 10-day period. 00:03:28.700 --> 00:03:32.100 Forty days before this, Jesus is risen from the dead. 00:03:33.260 --> 00:03:36.480 At the end of verse 11, Jesus is ascended into heaven, 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:39.140 bringing an end to his bodily, earthly ministry. 00:03:39.139 --> 00:03:44.279 And the angels have testified to the apostles what they've just seen, 00:03:44.399 --> 00:03:45.799 so they'll understand it correctly. 00:03:46.519 --> 00:03:50.599 And also promise the apostles that Jesus will return 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:52.979 in the same way that they've seen him lead. 00:03:53.519 --> 00:03:56.399 And they don't know it yet, but in 10 days' time, 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:58.500 the Holy Spirit is going to fall upon them, 00:03:58.679 --> 00:04:00.479 and the church is going to be born. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:04.479 And these two stories are stories where this little account 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:06.439 is an account of that 10-day period. 00:04:06.439 --> 00:04:08.919 And this is how the text begins. 00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:13.359 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:14.979 which is near Jerusalem. 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:17.040 This is Acts 1, verse 12. 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:20.160 They returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:22.779 which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath-day journey. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.500 And when they had entered, 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:27.740 they went up into the upper room where they were staying, 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:30.159 Peter, James, John, and Andrew, 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:31.740 Philip and Thomas, 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:33.620 Bartholomew and Matthew, 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:35.639 James, the son of Alphaeus, 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:37.319 and Simon the zealot. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:39.379 He was a terrorist. 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:42.340 And Judas, the son of James. 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:45.360 These all continued with one accord, 00:04:45.699 --> 00:04:47.340 in prayer and supplication, 00:04:47.579 --> 00:04:48.180 with the women, 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:50.280 and Mary, the mother of Jesus, 00:04:50.900 --> 00:04:51.920 and with his brothers. 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:54.720 Now, I just want to pause here 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:56.600 for a little bit of a second. 00:04:56.600 --> 00:05:01.120 And some of you might have noticed in my prayers 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:04.720 that I asked that my prayer before this sermon 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:07.960 that he might increase and we might decrease. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:11.300 It's one of the famous sayings of John the Baptist, 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:13.640 who was the greatest of all the prophets, 00:05:13.820 --> 00:05:14.800 the last of the prophets 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:16.160 and the greatest of all the prophets. 00:05:16.900 --> 00:05:18.180 And one of the things, 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:21.300 after Jesus' ministry had began, 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:24.720 John the Baptist's ministry started to go downhill. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:28.020 The crowds that came to hear John the Baptist 00:05:28.020 --> 00:05:30.120 before Jesus' ministry began, 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:32.580 the crowds for John the Baptist were huge. 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:36.720 And once John the Baptist had baptized Jesus 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:37.460 and said, 00:05:37.900 --> 00:05:39.440 Behold the Lamb of God, 00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:41.080 which takes away the sin of the world. 00:05:41.180 --> 00:05:42.920 That's why he is the greatest of the prophets. 00:05:43.660 --> 00:05:45.940 Everybody else pointed to the Messiah 00:05:45.940 --> 00:05:49.520 in a distance and in a dark type of manner, 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:52.140 you know, in terms of seeing through a glass darkly. 00:05:52.640 --> 00:05:54.120 And John the Baptist was the one 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.540 who could literally watch Jesus 00:05:56.540 --> 00:05:58.699 walking in the dusty road 00:05:58.699 --> 00:06:00.620 and point to his disciples and say, 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:02.340 Behold the Lamb of God 00:06:02.340 --> 00:06:04.560 who takes away the sin of the world. 00:06:05.340 --> 00:06:07.860 And after that declaration, 00:06:08.459 --> 00:06:10.240 Jesus' ministry took off. 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:13.100 John the Baptist's ministry goes downhill. 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:16.360 And John the Baptist's remaining disciples, 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:18.800 because even some of John the Baptist's disciples 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:21.600 have left John the Baptist and go to follow Jesus, 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:24.660 and some of John the Baptist's remaining disciples say, 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:26.740 John, doesn't it bother you 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:29.139 that they're all going to see Jesus now? 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:31.139 And John's response was, 00:06:31.819 --> 00:06:34.860 He must increase and I must decrease. 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:38.160 And, you know, that is to be 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:41.819 the prayer of our hearts in ministry, 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:45.639 that Jesus might increase and we might decrease. 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:47.060 For me as a minister, 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:50.399 could you pray for me that my desire would be 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:51.959 not that people want to know me, 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:53.639 but that they will want to know Jesus? 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:56.519 Can you pray that for Jono and the band, 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.120 that people don't want to know Jono, 00:06:58.180 --> 00:06:59.159 they want to know Jesus? 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:01.139 Can you pray that for the greeters? 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:04.620 Can you pray that for Ben and for Dave? 00:07:05.159 --> 00:07:06.779 And for everybody involved, 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:08.599 for the wardens and the treasurer 00:07:08.599 --> 00:07:09.939 and council members, 00:07:09.939 --> 00:07:12.240 and all leaders in the church, 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:13.339 you know, for Nat, 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:17.639 that the Father might pour His Holy Spirit upon us 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:20.560 in such a way that the cry of our heart 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:23.860 is that people might not desire to know us, 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:25.220 but know Jesus. 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:27.720 That they won't want more of us, 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:29.379 they want more of Jesus. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:32.279 And one of the things which is so wonderful 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:33.040 about this little, 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:35.879 these few verses which I've just read for you, 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:40.100 is that in a very, very quiet and shy way, 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:45.040 Luke shows that this is the heart of the apostles 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:49.159 because he mentions the 11 remaining apostles, 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:51.439 and after this reference, 00:07:52.060 --> 00:07:54.600 eight of them are never mentioned again. 00:07:55.540 --> 00:07:57.659 They completely and utterly disappear. 00:07:57.800 --> 00:07:59.480 There's the odd reference to the apostles, 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:00.699 et cetera, in general, 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.819 but the actual name of the individual apostles, 00:08:04.100 --> 00:08:05.300 they just cease. 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:07.319 The rest of the book of Acts 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:09.560 as it describes the mission, 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:11.839 the witness to Jerusalem, 00:08:12.100 --> 00:08:14.259 as it describes the witness to Samaria, 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:16.839 as it describes the witness to the Gentiles, 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:18.639 and the witness and the bringing of the gospel, 00:08:18.779 --> 00:08:20.540 right to the center of the empire, 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:23.800 right to the very center of civilization 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:24.800 and all power, 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:25.639 right to Rome, 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:27.279 and eight of their names 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:29.959 completely and utterly are never mentioned again. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:31.839 Isn't that just spectacular? 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:35.399 I mean, could we but have the attitude 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:37.559 of these first apostles 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:39.620 that it doesn't matter 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:41.559 whether our name gets mentioned at all? 00:08:42.079 --> 00:08:46.000 What matters is that the witness to Jesus continues. 00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:49.459 What matters is that people come to faith. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:52.620 What matters is that people be filled with the Holy Spirit, 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:54.240 that the church be built up, 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.680 and whether their names get written up, 00:08:57.399 --> 00:08:59.259 do not matter at all. 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:05.480 The other thing which is so wonderful about this little account of these people 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:08.399 as they obey Jesus and return to Jerusalem, 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:11.039 is that it's not just, 00:09:11.680 --> 00:09:12.779 you know, you look at it, 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:13.700 it's the apostles, 00:09:13.700 --> 00:09:13.840 it's the apostles, 00:09:14.560 --> 00:09:15.740 it's the women, 00:09:16.640 --> 00:09:17.580 it's Mary, 00:09:18.280 --> 00:09:19.520 and it's Mary, 00:09:19.800 --> 00:09:21.780 and it's Jesus' brothers, 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:23.800 and they all gather, 00:09:24.060 --> 00:09:25.540 and they're all with one accord 00:09:25.540 --> 00:09:27.300 in prayer and supplication, 00:09:27.540 --> 00:09:29.740 and this is something else which is really wonderful. 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:30.660 Remember I said that, 00:09:30.920 --> 00:09:31.140 you know, 00:09:31.259 --> 00:09:33.580 if we really have the desire in our hearts 00:09:33.580 --> 00:09:34.520 that this, 00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:35.259 that we are, 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:36.860 that the people in this church 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:38.240 are to have such a servant heart 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.860 that we learn that he must increase 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:40.899 and we must decrease, 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:43.360 one of the things that's implied with that 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:45.340 is that he's the boss 00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:46.180 and we are not. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:49.139 Remember I began by saying 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:52.399 I am inviting us as a congregation 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:56.000 to begin a season of serious prayer 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.220 as to whether God is calling us, 00:09:58.580 --> 00:10:00.560 whether God will make straight the way 00:10:00.560 --> 00:10:03.500 that that property would become part of the property of St. Albans 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:04.519 to the glory of God 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:05.440 that he might increase 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.480 and we might decrease. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:11.200 And the acknowledgement that he must increase 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.200 is that he is greater 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:13.840 and that we ask 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.060 and he might say no 00:10:15.060 --> 00:10:17.259 and he might say not yet 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:18.720 and he might say yes 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:19.440 and we don't know 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:21.320 but he's invited us to ask. 00:10:23.420 --> 00:10:25.700 The apostles pray and pray and pray 00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:27.879 and they also have to wait and wait and wait. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:29.340 This is really, 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:31.680 I mean they only have to wait 10 days in this case. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.080 But you know, 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:35.600 it's not the matter of they pray and it happens. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:36.800 They pray and it happens. 00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:37.740 They pray and it happens. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:39.159 There's many times in our life 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.659 and in the life of the church 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:42.580 where God is just calling us 00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:44.600 to persevering prayer. 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:48.620 One of my favorite saints is St. Monica. 00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:51.879 And the thing I love about St. Monica 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:53.180 is that St. Monica 00:10:53.180 --> 00:10:56.060 had a burden to pray for a son 00:10:56.060 --> 00:11:00.500 and her son was brilliant and immoral 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:05.340 and lived a debauched and successful life. 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:07.340 It's possible to be both debauched 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:08.779 and successful and brilliant. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:10.879 And she prayed for her son 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.019 and prayed for her son 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:13.179 and prayed for her son 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:14.240 and prayed for her son. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:15.340 The years went by, 00:11:15.419 --> 00:11:16.340 the years went by 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:18.559 and finally he came to Christ 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:20.159 and we now know him 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:20.980 as one of the people 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:22.919 who changed the entire course 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:24.419 of the Western world 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:26.139 because his name is St. Augustine. 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:29.080 And that's a spectacular example 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:30.679 of persevering prayer. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.500 And so he who was successful 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:36.220 and debauched and brilliant 00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:40.019 turned to Christ and to holiness 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:42.600 and the service of his great mind 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:44.379 completely and utterly submitted 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:46.100 to the person of Jesus Christ 00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:47.980 to expound the scriptures, 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:50.799 to explain the Christian vision 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:52.740 and the Christian intellect 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:55.299 and to form it for generations to come. 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.480 And so sometimes, 00:11:58.100 --> 00:11:59.179 brothers and sisters, 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:01.539 we are called to pray 00:12:01.539 --> 00:12:02.679 and pray and pray 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:04.639 and wait and wait and wait 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:06.480 and pray and pray and pray. 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:10.059 Let's continue on with the story. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.000 And in the next, 00:12:12.319 --> 00:12:14.039 in two verses from now, 00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:14.740 there's a verse 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:16.519 which if it wasn't there 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:18.659 and if all of the verses like it 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:19.960 weren't there in the Bible, 00:12:20.419 --> 00:12:21.720 then from the perspective 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:23.159 of the world and the flesh, 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:25.080 my life would be a lot easier. 00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:27.600 From the perspective 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:29.059 of the world and the flesh, 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:32.139 if verse 16 wasn't in the Bible 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:33.199 and if all of the verses 00:12:33.199 --> 00:12:35.139 like verse 16 weren't in the Bible, 00:12:35.319 --> 00:12:36.980 my life would be a lot easier. 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:40.399 But that's just from the perspective 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.639 of the world and the flesh. 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:43.120 Here's how it goes. 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:44.299 In those days, 00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:45.120 verse 15, 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:46.559 Peter stood up in the midst 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.480 of the disciples. 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.259 Altogether, 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:49.240 the number of names 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:51.360 was about 120 and said, 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.019 and here verse 16 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:54.580 has been translated poorly. 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:56.440 It should really be 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.639 brothers and sisters. 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:00.720 Brothers and sisters, 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:03.340 this scripture had to be fulfilled 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:05.740 which the Holy Spirit spoke before 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:07.620 by the mouth of David 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.639 concerning Judas 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:09.940 who became a guide 00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:11.399 to those who arrested Jesus. 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:13.379 Now you're probably wondering, 00:13:13.800 --> 00:13:14.200 George, 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:15.259 how on earth 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:16.659 is this passage of scripture 00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:18.200 causing you lots of trouble? 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:20.360 How is it that from the perspective 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:22.120 of my flesh and the world, 00:13:22.300 --> 00:13:23.520 my life would be simpler 00:13:23.520 --> 00:13:25.800 if this verse in the Bible 00:13:25.800 --> 00:13:26.480 wasn't here? 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:27.540 You know, 00:13:28.040 --> 00:13:29.560 it's very, very subtle 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:31.620 but very, very profoundly spoken. 00:13:32.020 --> 00:13:33.360 There are many people today 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.000 in the church 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:35.440 who say the church 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:36.840 wrote the Bible 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:39.100 and now the church 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:40.940 can rewrite the Bible. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:43.720 And this passage of scripture 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:45.200 says that that idea 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:47.280 is completely and utterly wrong. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:48.559 Not slightly wrong, 00:13:48.839 --> 00:13:50.279 not a little bit mistaken, 00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:52.360 it's completely wrong. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:57.079 And because what this verse is saying is, 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.339 actually here's a bit of an aside. 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:01.319 It's been dawning on me lately 00:14:01.319 --> 00:14:02.039 that sometimes 00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:03.500 I have these little expressions 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.240 in my mind 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.860 that I think are Canadian expressions 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:08.279 and because I'm a child of immigrants, 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:09.919 I realize that sometimes 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:11.699 it's from my home country, 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:12.939 they're not Canadian. 00:14:13.299 --> 00:14:14.000 But you might have heard 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.539 the old thing, 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:14.759 you know, 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:15.620 is it the chicken or the, 00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:16.519 like which came first, 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:17.519 the chicken or the egg? 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:19.679 And the answer 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.679 as to which came first, 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:21.740 the chicken or the egg, 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:25.079 is that God created both. 00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:27.179 That's the solution to it. 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:28.659 So it's not a matter 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:29.279 that, you know, 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:30.500 sort of the church 00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:31.340 wrote the Bible 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:32.960 and now we can rewrite the Bible, 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.100 but as we're going to, 00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:34.740 I'll bring out to you 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.059 in a moment, 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:36.100 this passage says 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:37.340 that God is responsible 00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:38.319 for the word of God 00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:38.879 being written 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.960 and God is responsible 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:42.600 for the church being formed. 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:45.120 God creates the Bible, 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:47.240 God creates the church. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.279 It's not a matter 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.700 of the church writing the Bible 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:50.820 or anything like that, 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:52.659 but God creates the Bible, 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.620 God creates the church. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.080 They're both his idea. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.100 Listen to the verse 00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:58.860 more carefully, 00:14:58.980 --> 00:14:59.740 verse 16. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.200 Men and brethren, 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:02.240 brothers and sisters, 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:02.980 this scripture 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.159 had to be fulfilled 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.440 which the Holy Spirit 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:06.340 spoke 00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:08.600 by the mouth of David. 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:11.040 The Holy Spirit 00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:11.820 spoke 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:13.379 by the mouth of David. 00:15:15.180 --> 00:15:16.060 This is just, 00:15:16.180 --> 00:15:16.500 it means, 00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.139 and then in a moment 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.700 he's going to quote two Psalms 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:21.019 and what Peter is saying 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:21.840 is that it was, 00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:22.920 it was ultimately 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:23.960 the Holy Spirit 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:25.300 that spoke these words 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:26.899 through the mouth of David. 00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:27.920 Now, 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:29.060 it's not saying 00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:30.040 that David became, 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.340 like, 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:34.040 David wasn't a fax machine, 00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:35.379 a human fax machine 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:35.879 and God 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:37.759 drafted a letter up in heaven 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:38.580 and it just sort of had to, 00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.659 happened to pop out 00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.399 through his mouth. 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:42.220 The Bible leaves 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.379 completely and utterly 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.220 mysterious 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:45.620 and anonymous 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:47.279 the psychological 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:49.519 and emotional processes 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.240 which went on 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.240 in the writing of scripture. 00:15:51.819 --> 00:15:52.899 And because God 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:54.059 uses human beings, 00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:54.700 it means that, 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:56.139 it means that the scripture 00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.120 comes out in, 00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.319 in Greek 00:15:58.319 --> 00:15:58.759 or, 00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.179 you know, 00:15:59.299 --> 00:16:00.639 or in Hebrew. 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.100 And it means that 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:03.120 scholars later on 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:03.799 they can date, 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:04.500 when you're looking 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.240 at the Old Testament, 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.200 whether this looks like 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.460 it was written earlier 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:08.720 or later sometimes 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.940 because the Hebrew 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.720 looks like it's 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.580 an older Hebrew 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.800 or a newer Hebrew. 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.520 And it means that, 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.920 it means that 00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:16.640 we don't know 00:16:16.640 --> 00:16:17.600 about the processes. 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:17.879 Like, 00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:18.400 so in a sense, 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:18.879 the scripture, 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:20.060 if you heard David, 00:16:20.140 --> 00:16:20.960 David would have had 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.840 a royal accent, 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:24.320 if you know what I mean. 00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:24.820 You know, 00:16:24.900 --> 00:16:25.720 and if you heard 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:27.000 Peter preaching 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:27.840 in that which became 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:28.340 scriptures, 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:30.340 he had a Galilean accent. 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:30.700 In fact, 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.440 one of the problems 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:32.140 for the early, 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:33.360 the early people 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:33.840 in Jerusalem 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.519 is that Peter 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.800 sounded like a hick. 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:36.860 Okay? 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.860 He sounded like 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.879 an uneducated, 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.580 working class hick. 00:16:41.180 --> 00:16:42.460 And they were expecting 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:43.420 him to sound, 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:43.660 you know, 00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:44.720 and we maybe expect 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.480 God to sound 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.379 sophisticated 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.680 and urbane 00:16:47.680 --> 00:16:48.660 and maybe a little bit 00:16:48.660 --> 00:16:49.840 like a CBC announcer, 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.080 something mid-Atlantic. 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:53.700 And God can speak 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.379 like a hick 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.480 and then he can speak 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:56.120 like a poet 00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:57.420 and then he can speak 00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:58.320 in very classical, 00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.460 fancy language 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:00.920 and then he can speak 00:17:00.920 --> 00:17:02.080 like he's a bureaucrat 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.140 because the Bible 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:04.880 doesn't say, 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.299 you know, 00:17:05.360 --> 00:17:06.380 it isn't saying here 00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:08.259 that every human being 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.039 who's been part 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.640 of the process 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.160 of scripture 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:10.640 being written 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:11.900 is like a fax machine 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:13.100 and it just sort of 00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:14.259 pops out of their mouth. 00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.740 It's through the mouth 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.319 of David 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.380 but it's the Holy Spirit 00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:19.779 who has the words 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:21.319 that the Holy Spirit wants 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:22.079 or the words 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.120 that ultimately come. 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.220 This is really, 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:24.980 really important 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.860 for us to understand. 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:26.759 If you could go back 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.620 in a time machine, 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.819 you might find out 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:30.100 that one of those two psalms 00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:30.960 that David wrote, 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.160 that he wrote it 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:33.299 after he had called 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.360 all of his family 00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:35.400 and all of his friends 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.960 to fast and pray for him 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.680 because he felt 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.340 that he had to write 00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:39.440 something really important 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.980 and maybe you'll find out 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.360 that he fasted 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.200 and he prayed 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.279 and he studied 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:45.660 and he went to the temple 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.539 and as a result 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:47.799 of this long process, 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:49.200 he wrote one of those psalms 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:50.720 and maybe if you went back 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.319 in time, 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:52.380 you might discover 00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:53.539 that the other one came 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.180 after he'd had 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.200 the most spectacular 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:56.279 wedding celebration 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:57.440 for one of his kids 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:59.220 and he was a little bit tipsy 00:17:59.220 --> 00:17:59.819 from wine 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.980 and he sat down 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.980 and he whipped it off 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:04.180 and I'm not being disrespectful 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:04.940 to scripture 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:07.640 because the Holy Spirit 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:09.799 speaks through the mouth 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.480 of David 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.880 and the words, 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:14.140 it's the words in scripture 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:15.960 which are inspired by God 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:18.799 and it is completely 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:19.360 and utterly up 00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:21.400 to the sovereign power of God 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:23.160 what psychological, 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.380 emotional, 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.880 cultural things 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:26.500 were going through 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.480 the human authors 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.120 as they wrote 00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:29.680 but the final words 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.240 were the words 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.059 that God wanted 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:32.339 and that's why 00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:33.579 this scripture says 00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.700 in verse 16 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:36.299 that the scripture 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:38.860 had to be fulfilled 00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:41.019 because God is the one 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:42.059 who spoke it. 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:44.579 If it had just been David speaking, 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:45.960 it doesn't have to be fulfilled, 00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:46.360 you know, 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:46.920 it's just like 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.120 if I say this is what 00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:49.099 we have to do folks 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.900 and, you know, 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.920 90% of you say 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.099 that's the dumbest idea 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:52.620 in the world, 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.880 then my word doesn't have 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.599 to be fulfilled, 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.079 does it? 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:57.000 And same with David. 00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:58.299 All sorts of times 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.339 that people didn't go along 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.460 with what David said. 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.879 His own son didn't go along 00:19:02.879 --> 00:19:03.460 with what he, 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.899 his own son tried to kill him. 00:19:05.679 --> 00:19:07.019 There's all sorts of times 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.379 that it doesn't have to happen 00:19:08.379 --> 00:19:09.399 the way David spoke 00:19:09.399 --> 00:19:11.659 but these particular things 00:19:11.659 --> 00:19:13.379 have to be fulfilled 00:19:13.379 --> 00:19:15.000 because it's the Holy Spirit 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:17.259 speaking by the mouth of David. 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.639 Let's just continue on 00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:20.799 to give the rest of the text. 00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:21.619 Verse 17, 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:23.519 for he was numbered with us 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.459 and obtained a part 00:19:24.459 --> 00:19:25.299 in this ministry. 00:19:25.959 --> 00:19:27.639 Now this man purchased a field 00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:29.079 with the wages of iniquity 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:30.779 and falling headlong, 00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:32.199 he burst open in the middle 00:19:32.199 --> 00:19:34.399 and all his entrails gushed out 00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:36.179 and it became known 00:19:36.179 --> 00:19:38.099 to all those dwelling in Jerusalem 00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:40.059 so that the field is called 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.099 in their own language 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:42.539 Akel Dama, 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.519 that is, 00:19:43.959 --> 00:19:44.759 field of blood. 00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:45.979 For it is written 00:19:45.979 --> 00:19:47.259 in the book of the Psalms, 00:19:47.739 --> 00:19:49.279 let his habitation be desolate 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.660 and let no one live in it 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:53.039 and let another take his office. 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:54.379 Therefore, 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.220 of these men 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.279 who have accompanied us 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.240 all the time 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.200 that the Lord Jesus 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:59.579 went in and out among us, 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.700 beginning from the baptism of John 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:02.319 to that day 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.720 when he was taken up from us, 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:05.039 one of these 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.539 must become a witness with us 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.879 of his resurrection. 00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:10.940 And they proposed two. 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:13.259 Joseph called Barsabbas, 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.799 who was surnamed Justice, 00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:16.259 and Matthias. 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:18.299 And they prayed and said, 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:19.319 You, O Lord, 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.940 who know the hearts of all, 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:22.440 show which of these two 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.440 you have chosen 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:25.660 to take part in this ministry 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:26.660 and apostleship 00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:29.240 which Judas by transgression fell, 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:31.799 that he might go to his own place. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.720 And they cast their lots, 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.660 and the lot fell on Matthias, 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.279 and he was numbered 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:38.960 with the eleven apostles. 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:41.680 Now, just a little bit 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.599 of a cool thing 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.640 from church history. 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:45.820 From church history, 00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:48.780 it's reported that Matthias 00:20:48.780 --> 00:20:49.920 became the apostles 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.360 to the Ethiopians. 00:20:52.020 --> 00:20:53.280 Isn't that a cool thing to know? 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.640 Here's this guy in Jerusalem, 00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:58.820 and he doesn't realize that when he, 00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.660 I mean, he starts off 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.460 getting to know Jesus, 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.759 and little does he know 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.800 that he's going to probably 00:21:02.800 --> 00:21:03.800 die in Ethiopia 00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:06.540 as a witness to Jesus. 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.460 Isn't that just the most, 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.580 anyway, I just think 00:21:08.580 --> 00:21:09.240 it's really cool. 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:12.480 You know, you start to embark 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.920 on this path of following Jesus, 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:14.480 you never know 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.359 where it's going to end up. 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.420 You really don't. 00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:19.259 Because he is to be sovereign. 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:20.980 He is to be sovereign. 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.359 Now, the thing about 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.299 this passage here 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.620 is it shows that Jesus 00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:26.539 is building his church. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.059 And we are to model 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.900 in our lives 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:32.160 that Jesus is building the church. 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:34.599 Notice in verse 24, 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.359 and this is one of those 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:37.620 just astounding things. 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:38.639 Remember, Jesus, 00:21:39.219 --> 00:21:42.379 like six weeks earlier, 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:45.939 Jesus was hanging on the cross, 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:46.659 dying. 00:21:47.459 --> 00:21:48.719 And now approximately 00:21:48.719 --> 00:21:50.199 six weeks later, 00:21:51.179 --> 00:21:52.959 Peter and the others say, 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.239 You, O Lord. 00:21:56.219 --> 00:21:58.000 The context shows 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:00.619 that they are praying to Jesus. 00:22:01.919 --> 00:22:03.319 I mean, that's just astounding. 00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:05.539 Six weeks later, 00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:07.419 they are praying to Jesus. 00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.759 You, O Lord. 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:10.239 And they're calling out to him. 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.739 They know that somebody 00:22:11.739 --> 00:22:12.719 has to replace. 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:15.559 And this call to be a servant, 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.739 because the word ministry, 00:22:16.939 --> 00:22:17.839 which is used here, 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:20.959 originally was a word 00:22:20.959 --> 00:22:22.159 used to describe somebody 00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:23.479 who brings food at a meal. 00:22:25.439 --> 00:22:25.859 You know, 00:22:25.919 --> 00:22:26.939 I don't know if you've ever been 00:22:26.939 --> 00:22:27.819 at a fancy meal, 00:22:27.919 --> 00:22:28.399 but if you've been 00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:29.259 at a fancy meal, 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:29.839 one of the things, 00:22:29.959 --> 00:22:30.799 one of the goals would be 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:34.519 if owners of really fancy establishments, 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:39.440 if they could invent invisible ways 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.559 for the food to get there, 00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:41.700 that's what they would want. 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.259 You see, 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.059 because the goal 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:44.539 is to remember the food 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:46.240 and the companionship, 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.839 not to remember the waiter. 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:49.799 You know, 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:51.579 unless you only remember the waiter 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:54.220 because they've been so fantastic, 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.500 they've been so humble, 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:55.940 gracious, 00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:56.500 attentive, 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.000 et cetera, 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.880 and meeting your needs. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:00.819 But they're completely self-effacing 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:02.000 to get that food out 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.599 and to make the person 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.420 who is the guest 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:07.460 feel completely just well-received. 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:09.119 And the word here used for ministry 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:11.079 is the word to describe that. 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:13.319 And so the call 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:15.519 to that type of humble service, 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:17.859 which will also work 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:19.799 in witnessing to the resurrection, 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.079 and they understand 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:22.259 that somebody is called 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.579 to be a leader in this, 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:25.480 which Jesus is called to, 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:27.460 so they call out to Jesus 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:29.680 that he might make 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.380 the continuing choice 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:33.160 in who that person 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:33.940 is going to be. 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:36.660 And so they've been gathered 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.339 in prayer, 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.299 they've been gathered 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.640 in studying the scriptures, 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.140 they've also used 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.059 some of their thinking 00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.819 to try to think 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.619 some things through, 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.519 but at the end of the day 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.059 they want to leave 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.980 the final decision to Christ. 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.880 And in this particular case 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.619 it's the only time 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.640 after the Holy Spirit 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:53.480 comes on Pentecost, 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:55.700 the apostles are never described 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:57.019 as using lots again. 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.880 They use an old Jewish habit 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:00.180 which ends with the coming 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:01.079 of the Holy Spirit. 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:03.740 But they show forth 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:05.539 this fundamental principle, 00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:08.259 Jesus is building his church. 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.720 And since Jesus is building 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.380 his church, 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.440 what should we do? 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:12.940 We say, 00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:13.420 Jesus, 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.759 what would you have us do? 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:18.799 Who would you have 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.259 in this particular role? 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.039 Jesus, 00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:23.480 we will acknowledge 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.160 that we think 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:24.960 that these might be 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.240 the people that you are choosing, 00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:27.079 but you are the one 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.700 who has to make 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.879 that final choice. 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.619 And there's no elections 00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:32.000 in the New Testament. 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:35.339 But there is fasting 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.279 and prayer 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.140 and openness 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.180 to the Holy Spirit 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.660 and studying the scriptures 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.839 that the one 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:42.319 that God has chosen 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:44.160 might step into that role. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.880 may such be our heart as well. 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:48.420 Let us bow our heads in prayer. 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.720 Father, 00:24:58.840 --> 00:24:59.540 we acknowledge 00:24:59.540 --> 00:25:00.840 and confess before you 00:25:00.840 --> 00:25:01.900 that we Canadians 00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:03.279 at this time, 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.880 that we like to try 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.980 to reduce things 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.960 to processes 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.980 and we like to reduce things 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:11.420 to reduce things 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.080 in such a way 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:14.259 that we can be powerful 00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:16.119 and we can be in control 00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:17.799 and we can be in mastery. 00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:19.319 And Father, 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.139 we acknowledge 00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:21.519 that before you 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:23.579 that that's a problem, 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.399 that that's gotten 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:26.980 out of whack in us, 00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:29.879 that we have to learn, 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.319 Father, 00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:31.819 to be open 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:33.059 to your leading 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.119 and your guiding, 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:36.019 open to your Holy Spirit, 00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:38.000 submissive to your word, 00:25:38.699 --> 00:25:40.339 desirous of knowing your will 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.679 and bringing you glory, 00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:43.839 that we must be desirous 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.679 of humility 00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:46.019 and humble service 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.799 and witnessing 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.639 to the resurrection. 00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.619 We ask, 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:49.980 Father, 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:51.220 that those good things 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.000 in our culture, 00:25:52.179 --> 00:25:53.779 that they not be taken from us, 00:25:54.199 --> 00:25:55.579 but in the midst 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:57.099 of whatever good lessons 00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:57.980 we might learn 00:25:57.980 --> 00:26:00.519 from how to figure things out, 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.519 that we might, 00:26:02.679 --> 00:26:03.500 in all things 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.399 and in all ways, 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:06.099 submit to your rule, 00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.379 your guidance, 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:09.620 the power of your Holy Spirit, 00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:11.100 the authority of your word. 00:26:11.820 --> 00:26:12.160 Father, 00:26:12.280 --> 00:26:13.180 teach us humility 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:15.140 that we might submit to you. 00:26:15.580 --> 00:26:17.040 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.820 Amen.