WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:09.679 Father, as we enter into this preparation time before Lent, help us to remember that 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:17.179 anything we receive from you is because of your grace and because of your love and your 00:00:17.179 --> 00:00:19.039 goodness and your kindness towards us. 00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:26.100 Lord, that parable reminds us that it does not matter how long we've been a Christian 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:33.399 or how short we've been a Christian. We are a part of your family, not because we have labored and toiled, 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:43.100 but because you have given us eternal life. Lord, let us humbly come before you and remember who we are 00:00:43.100 --> 00:00:53.540 in light of who you are. So Lord, we ask your blessing on this text. Help us to hear with our 00:00:53.539 --> 00:01:00.000 spiritual ears by the empowering of your Holy Spirit. We pray this in Christ's name. Amen. 00:01:01.339 --> 00:01:08.400 If you're following along, we will be on page 56 in the Acts Scripture Journals. Just a heads up, 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:18.719 but before we get into it, we'll begin by talking about confrontation. Now, don't put up your hand, 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:27.219 but answer in your head. How many of you love confrontation? My guess is probably zero. Maybe 00:01:27.219 --> 00:01:33.260 there's a bit of a crazy person among us that loves confrontation, but my guess is it's no. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:42.799 Confrontation is something that by and large, again, I don't want to pigeonhole all people that 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:50.280 are Canadians, but by and large, Canadians are not known as confrontational people. In many ways, 00:01:50.939 --> 00:01:57.560 I mean, we have opinions, but we like to be passive aggressive about it, subtle about it. We want people 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:03.679 to get the hint. We don't want to confront people. And yet, confrontation can be a very good thing. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:14.840 Confrontation can be a source of growth for many of us. Nobody has the corner on right living. We make 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:22.300 mistakes. Oftentimes, there's an ignorance about some of the mistakes and the erroneous ways we live, and 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:31.800 being confronted on something can open our eyes and begin the process of right living, of correcting 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:39.140 what is wrong, ideally so that we can then live in the truth. Now, there's obviously right ways to 00:02:39.140 --> 00:02:45.680 confront people and wrong ways to confront people. That's not so much what I'm going to refer to here, 00:02:45.820 --> 00:02:52.880 but just to say that we oftentimes have, we have confused civility with a politeness. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:03:03.799 We're not willing, in a sense, to confront people, to be a thorn in the side, so to speak, because we are 00:03:03.799 --> 00:03:09.939 more concerned about politeness, and we've confused politeness with civility. So now, this isn't my idea. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:17.680 I picked this up from Alexandra Hudson. She wrote a book on civility, interestingly. I didn't end up 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:24.120 reading it, but read a few articles around it, and she talks about how civility is the recognition of 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:31.240 the full personhood of an individual, and I would extend that to say that a part of that full personhood 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:40.420 is understanding people as image bearers of God, and as such, to confront somebody on something that is 00:03:40.419 --> 00:03:46.839 wrong, or erroneous, or wrong-headed in some kind of way, is to respect their personhood, 00:03:47.659 --> 00:03:52.859 to respect that they are made in the image of God, and that they are made to walk in the truth, 00:03:54.979 --> 00:04:02.339 engaging in a mode of conduct that is befitting of a member of civil society. It's a part of the civis, 00:04:02.419 --> 00:04:08.099 a part of being a part of society. So civil disobedience, at its best, ideally, is to, 00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:19.000 not to, not to, to start some kind of riot, but to open the eyes of a segment of society to a wrong 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:23.159 way of thinking. So the civil rights movement in America is a great example of that. 00:04:24.459 --> 00:04:33.540 In its best form, it's to not crush or shame the, the, the, the population that is for segregation 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:39.160 in the south, but it's to open their eyes to the truth so that they would correct their ways 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:45.700 and walk in the truth. That's the, the idea of civil disobedience, but it's confrontation. 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:57.939 Jesus heals not simply to undo evil, but to give hope that the brokenness will not stay broken 00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:06.180 forever. In many ways, when Jesus heals, when he casts out demons, when he commands nature, when he does 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:12.180 any miracle, what we see is a confrontation between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:20.819 of evil, or of Satan, or of sin, or of death, that has ruled over mankind for far too long, for centuries 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:28.680 upon centuries, and has, in a, in a very real way, looked to spoil and destroy God's good creation. 00:05:29.459 --> 00:05:34.500 And this ministry, in a sense of confrontation, the kingdom of heaven versus the kingdom of the earth, 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:42.759 we've seen that it doesn't end with Christ ascending into heaven in Acts 1, but it becomes the very 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:49.120 ministry of his church, and we've seen this from Acts 1 all the way to Acts chapter 9, that the church 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:57.180 continues on, and in a sense, even, I don't want to say adds to Christ's ministry, but it certainly expands it. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:05.160 So that the ministry of Christ doesn't remain in the Galilee and then in Jerusalem, but goes to Judea, 00:06:05.340 --> 00:06:07.160 Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:16.699 The ministry of reconciliation is what it's called, but it can also be the ministry of confrontation. 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:25.439 So the church, by the power of the Holy Spirit, continues to confront the forces of evil and sin and death 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:32.620 by proclaiming the gospel, the wonderful good news that through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, 00:06:33.699 --> 00:06:41.240 people from all nations and backgrounds will become citizens of heaven, the kingdom of God forever. 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:49.000 So in our text, we're going to look primarily actually at verse 31 of the previous week's reading, 00:06:49.759 --> 00:07:00.780 and then that will be our first point, so to speak, and our second point will be looking at the rest of the text to verse 43. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:06.340 Really, we're going to look at how the gospel exposes and confronts our brokenness and fears. 00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:12.779 First, by confronting our obsession with distraction and pleasure. 00:07:13.579 --> 00:07:16.879 And second, confronting disease and death. 00:07:16.919 --> 00:07:23.719 And we'll see actually that the confrontation of distraction and pleasure is actually the bigger confrontation in a way 00:07:23.719 --> 00:07:26.620 than the confrontation with disease and death. 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:28.259 So look with me, verse 31. 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:30.339 This is the previous week. 00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:31.699 Susan did not read this. 00:07:32.139 --> 00:07:34.799 It was read last week, but I'll read it again right now. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:42.020 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up, 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:46.960 and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. 00:07:48.080 --> 00:07:51.199 This is the third summary statement in Acts. 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:57.360 We've seen it, if you remember, in Acts chapter 2, and I believe it's in Acts chapter 3. 00:07:57.740 --> 00:08:01.819 It kind of sums up the state of affairs in the church thus far. 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:09.719 If you remember last week, Saul of Tarsus, the zealous Pharisee who is persecuting the church, 00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:15.920 is miraculously confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus, and he comes to faith. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:16.579 He is converted. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:20.100 And then he becomes an evangelist. 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:27.600 He is on his way to persecute, and by the end of the chapter, he's the one being persecuted. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:33.500 And it would make sense then that this summary statement speaks of peace in the church, 00:08:33.540 --> 00:08:37.360 because their chief persecutor seems to be now on their side. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:42.720 But there's more to it than that, because it also doesn't just sum up what just happened, 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:44.899 but looks ahead of what is to come. 00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:50.399 The text again. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:55.620 So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was being built up, 00:08:56.139 --> 00:08:59.480 and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. 00:08:59.939 --> 00:09:06.360 Wouldn't it be wonderful that in a hundred years they could say, whoever they are, they, 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:09.919 could say, instead of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, they could say, 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:14.079 so the church throughout all of Ottawa, and especially Church of the Messiah West, 00:09:14.819 --> 00:09:16.240 they had peace. 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:21.279 They were being built up, and they walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:22.259 It would be a wonderful thing. 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:27.419 I mean, whoever the youngest child is, is, you know, 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:31.819 dies with their huge family around them at 95 years old. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:38.939 Nobody who founded the church or launched the church or who's here this morning would be around in a hundred years, 00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:40.860 but they'd still say that about our church. 00:09:40.920 --> 00:09:42.080 It would be a wonderful thing. 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:46.680 But the question then would be, how did they have peace? 00:09:47.280 --> 00:09:50.360 So for us, how do we have peace? 00:09:52.140 --> 00:09:53.800 How were they being built up? 00:09:53.800 --> 00:09:58.540 How did they enjoy a church that multiplied or grew? 00:09:59.380 --> 00:10:00.980 So the answer seems to be two things 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:07.600 that seem on the surface to be contradictory, 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:09.519 but are deeply intertwined, 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:12.820 and that is the second part of verse 31, 00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:16.060 the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:18.899 So looking first at the fear of the Lord, 00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:22.639 it seems by and large in Scripture there's two ways, 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:26.279 and this is like really general comments about the fear of the Lord, 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:28.060 but there's two ways to understand the fear of the Lord. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.360 The first is actual fear. 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:34.200 We see it with not even interactions with God himself, 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:35.680 but with an angel of the Lord. 00:10:35.680 --> 00:10:39.080 People, they turn white as a ghost. 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:41.000 They fear God. 00:10:41.280 --> 00:10:47.560 It is to encounter the all-powerful, completely holy, awesome God of light 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:52.560 is a terrifying thing for sinful, finite human beings. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:59.479 If you remember, when Moses goes up on Mount Sinai to receive the law from God, 00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:00.859 he comes down and the people, 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:07.899 I mean, it was always God's purpose to see all the people interact with God, 00:11:07.979 --> 00:11:09.599 but the people were too afraid, 00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:10.259 and they said, 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:12.139 Moses, you go as our representative. 00:11:13.319 --> 00:11:16.459 We can't, it's too scary for us. 00:11:16.699 --> 00:11:17.839 It's terrifying. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:22.440 And God actually told Moses that they were right in that assessment. 00:11:24.019 --> 00:11:28.820 The uncreated triune God is in no way in anyone's debt. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:33.940 He has never compromised his character or his identity or his purity, 00:11:34.680 --> 00:11:41.060 nor does he get squeamish or does he lose courage in the face of sin and death. 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:45.759 To cross this God is a fearful thing. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:49.819 He is completely holy, completely other, completely all-powerful. 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:54.879 To fear God is to fear God in a very real way. 00:11:55.299 --> 00:12:00.460 The second way that it talks about the fear of the Lord is connected to the first bit, 00:12:00.819 --> 00:12:05.919 but in this way, it's more of a deep and awe-inspired reverence 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:13.240 in terms of a relationship or a relational connection to God in that way. 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:17.759 And we'll talk about that shortly. 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:23.100 But the fear of God is little talked about in general, 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:27.580 and even in some ways even less talked about in the church, 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:32.139 and it's dangerous to be overly simplistic in determining why this is, 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:38.220 but I want to suggest the reason is that we live in an age of pleasure and distraction. 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:41.920 So here's where we get into this confrontation. 00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:45.080 But first, a bit about the pleasure and distraction. 00:12:46.680 --> 00:12:51.379 We engage in pleasures to distract ourselves, and we distract ourselves with pleasure. 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:58.300 Oftentimes for the purpose of not feeling the acute reality of our reality, 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:02.060 the nature of sin and fallenness. 00:13:02.059 --> 00:13:06.939 I'm not suggesting that any form of pleasure is wrong, 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:14.979 or that engaging in some kind of respite from just very busy or difficult seasons or situations, 00:13:15.119 --> 00:13:20.379 to have mental breaks from the monotony and the routine of life, 00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.639 that somehow that is sinful. 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:23.259 I'm not somehow suggesting that. 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:30.240 I'm suggesting that we have a problem with the very age, 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:34.600 the very ethos that informs the way we live, 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:38.720 that our age is an age of pleasure and distraction. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:41.799 It's the very thing in some ways that defines us. 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:49.039 It has become our telos, our reason to be, our guiding North Star, 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.699 the thing that we live for. 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:54.459 Whether we know it or not, we look for pleasure. 00:13:54.959 --> 00:13:59.839 But this guiding principle, it is not true solve for our souls. 00:13:59.979 --> 00:14:02.799 It is not the very thing that we need, even though we look to it. 00:14:03.699 --> 00:14:06.639 Because the problem with pleasure and distraction is that the pleasure 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:09.279 oftentimes loses its pleasurableness. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:14.339 And distraction does not make the problem go away. 00:14:16.339 --> 00:14:22.579 Our feelings of meaninglessness or loneliness or sin and fears, they persist. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:27.500 And this is Satan's great trick, 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:30.839 to distract us with good and pleasurable things, 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:34.559 to draw our attention and affections away from God and his Son. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:39.959 We value the kingdom of whatever far more than the kingdom of heaven. 00:14:40.219 --> 00:14:41.819 I say whatever because it can be whatever. 00:14:42.359 --> 00:14:44.479 So a very interesting thing with temptation, 00:14:44.939 --> 00:14:51.959 that it's not just the evil, dark, or terribly sensual things that are temptations, 00:14:52.119 --> 00:14:53.799 although those things certainly do exist. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:56.259 They need to be dealt with, of course. 00:14:56.259 --> 00:15:00.740 But the temptation, in a sense, is anything that is good, 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:03.460 where we put our ultimate hope in, 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:06.480 that distracts us from our ultimate end, 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:12.659 that we see as a source of strength or courage or delight in, 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.779 more than God. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:17.319 In many ways, this is idolatry. 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:19.660 And it's Satan's great trick. 00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:20.940 It certainly is. 00:15:21.900 --> 00:15:23.760 We have an enemy that seeks not to create, 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:26.240 in a sense, an army of atheists, 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:30.340 but an army of distracted pleasure seekers. 00:15:31.160 --> 00:15:32.820 I mean, he'll take the atheists too, by the way. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:36.520 I mean, he'll do whatever it takes to distract us. 00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:37.580 And it's interesting. 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:39.500 I mean, I talked to somebody earlier this week 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:41.820 about the Screwtape Letters, 00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:43.840 and this is a bit of a longer quote. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:46.500 So, the Screwtape Letters, if you haven't read it, 00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:47.440 it's by C.S. Lewis, 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:51.220 and it's a clever little way, in a sense, 00:15:51.300 --> 00:15:52.240 to look at temptation 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:56.680 and the way that Satan's plans 00:15:56.680 --> 00:16:02.320 and temptations aren't organized in any other way 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:04.660 apart from just drawing us away from God. 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:09.280 So, it is written in a series of letters back and forth 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:14.860 from an uncle, demon, who is like a high-up-there demon. 00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:17.259 It's a weird book, but it's very clever. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:19.679 To his nephew novice son. 00:16:20.959 --> 00:16:22.559 Or, sorry, his nephew novice. 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:28.120 He's like a junior officer, so to speak, in hell. 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:31.199 And he's giving him advice on how to tempt 00:16:31.199 --> 00:16:33.299 this one client he has. 00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:35.399 And this is how it goes. 00:16:37.219 --> 00:16:41.419 As this condition becomes more fully established, 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:44.419 you will be gradually freed from the tiresome business 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:47.399 of providing pleasures as temptations. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:53.319 As uneasiness and his reluctance to face it 00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:56.000 cut him off more and more from all real happiness, 00:16:56.579 --> 00:16:59.399 and as habit renders the pleasures of vanity 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:01.419 and excitement and flippancy 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:04.359 at once less pleasant and harder to forego. 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:07.519 For that is what habit fortunately does to a pleasure. 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:10.319 You will find that anything or nothing 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.599 is sufficient to attract his wandering attention. 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.920 You no longer need a good book, 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.379 which he really likes, 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.339 to keep him away from his prayers 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:21.099 or his work or his sleep. 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:24.639 A column of advertisement in yesterday's paper will do. 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.960 You can make him waste his time 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.620 not only in conversation he enjoys 00:17:29.620 --> 00:17:30.720 with people whom he likes, 00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:33.079 but in conversations with those he cares nothing about 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:34.819 on subjects that bore him. 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:38.039 You can make him do nothing at all for long periods. 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:40.759 You can keep him up late at night, 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:43.660 not roistering, 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:46.880 but staring at a dead fire in a cold room. 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:51.160 All the healthy and outgoing activities 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:53.200 which we want him to avoid 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:55.740 can be inhibited and nothing given in return 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:57.779 so that at last he may say, 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:59.460 as some of my own patients 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:02.359 said on his arrival down here, 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.359 that's hell, 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:06.299 I now see that I spent most of my life 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.700 in doing neither what I ought 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.640 nor what I liked. 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:12.120 The Christians describe the enemy, 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:13.700 whenever the enemy is there, 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.660 he's talking about God. 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:16.380 Everything's backwards, remember. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:19.120 The Christians describe the enemy as one, 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:19.480 quote, 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:21.400 without whom nothing is strong, 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.059 end quote, 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:24.339 and nothing is very strong, 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:27.299 strong enough to steal away a man's best years, 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.599 not in sweet sins, 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:31.539 but in a dreary flickering of the mind over it, 00:18:31.659 --> 00:18:34.319 knows not what and knows not why, 00:18:34.659 --> 00:18:37.440 in the gratification of curiosity so feeble 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.940 that the man is only half aware of them, 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:42.460 in drumming of fingers and kicking of heels, 00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:44.899 in whistling tunes that he does not like, 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:47.700 or in the long, dim labyrinth of reveries 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:50.259 that have not even lust or ambition 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:51.559 to give them a relish, 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:54.380 but which one's chance associations 00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:57.000 has started them, 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.620 the creature is too weak 00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:00.220 and fuddled to shake off. 00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:03.559 You will say that these are very small sins, 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.140 and doubtless, 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:06.720 like all young tempters, 00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:08.840 you are anxious to be able to report 00:19:08.840 --> 00:19:10.559 spectacular wickedness, 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.140 but do remember, 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.759 the only thing that matters 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.620 is the extent to which you separate 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:17.339 the man from the enemy. 00:19:18.179 --> 00:19:19.099 It does not matter 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:20.659 how small the sins are provided, 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.899 that their cumulative effect 00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:25.219 is to edge the man away from the light 00:19:25.219 --> 00:19:26.439 and out into the nothing. 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:29.059 Murder is no better than cards, 00:19:29.719 --> 00:19:30.859 if cards can do the trick. 00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:33.239 Indeed, the safest road to hell 00:19:33.239 --> 00:19:34.219 is the gradual one, 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.779 the gentle slope, 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:37.179 soft underfoot, 00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:39.000 without sudden turnings, 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.859 without milestones, 00:19:40.179 --> 00:19:41.419 without signposts. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:43.479 Your affectionate Uncle Screwtape. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:48.200 If anything can be weaponized 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:50.299 to distract us from God, 00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:52.259 where is the hope? 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:56.720 Friends, the hope is in Christ Jesus 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.640 and his gospel. 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:01.480 The gospel confronts our obsessive 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:04.019 and pervasive pleasure-seeking 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.779 by helping us to see 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.079 what the fear of the Lord, 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.640 that the fear of the Lord 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:11.000 is a good and gracious thing. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:13.619 It is not a scary thing, 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:16.759 but actually a blessing for us. 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.380 So what does that mean? 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.839 How is it a blessing for us? 00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:22.119 To know that there is a good 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:23.680 and perfect and holy God 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.980 and that this God 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.319 is the source of all goodness 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:28.660 and beauty and truth, 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.839 and in him we can find eternal, 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:33.299 true eternal satisfaction, 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:35.720 and that he has provided to us 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.640 a way that we would be made right with him 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.980 and enjoy him forever 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:41.640 in an eternal relationship. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.500 This is the gospel message. 00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:45.680 This is the very thing 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:47.560 that in a very real way 00:20:47.560 --> 00:20:48.660 we long for, 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.980 but we look everywhere else for 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.360 except from him, 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.520 and we take wonderful, 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:54.900 beautiful, good things 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:57.220 and we muddy them 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.960 and ruin them 00:20:57.960 --> 00:21:00.660 because we try to use them 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.980 to achieve something 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:03.440 that they were never designed to, 00:21:03.580 --> 00:21:03.940 namely, 00:21:05.020 --> 00:21:05.640 eternal satisfaction 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:07.220 with the one true God. 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:14.480 God doesn't cease to be holy, 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:16.560 but through the cross 00:21:16.560 --> 00:21:17.540 he allows us 00:21:17.540 --> 00:21:19.259 into this right relationship with him 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:22.600 because of what Christ has done. 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:24.100 He doesn't lower his standards, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:27.060 but he descends himself 00:21:27.060 --> 00:21:29.140 paying the penalty for our sin 00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:31.640 so that we could have access to him, 00:21:32.100 --> 00:21:33.180 not on our own merit, 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.040 our own righteousness, 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:36.619 our own, in a sense, clothing, 00:21:37.379 --> 00:21:38.420 but by Christ. 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.920 And the result is 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:42.539 the giving of his very spirit. 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.680 And it says, interestingly, 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:45.839 in verse 31, 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.519 that there's the comfort 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:48.379 of the Holy Spirit 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:49.619 that also builds the church. 00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:51.539 So the giving of the Spirit 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.399 comforts us. 00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:55.099 And in a real way, 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.159 is this not the very thing 00:21:56.159 --> 00:21:57.180 we're looking for, comfort? 00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:57.900 comfort, 00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:00.200 a divine comfort, 00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:02.400 a comfort that speaks 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:04.259 to a deep peace 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.759 where our future is secure 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.480 and all our fears 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.680 are relieved, 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.860 that our life has meaning 00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.620 and purpose. 00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:15.720 We look for such comfort 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.720 in pleasure 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.400 and distraction, 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.660 but are we really comforted 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.380 by such things? 00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.300 And the gospel, 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:23.880 what it does 00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:26.140 is it confronts that, 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:29.180 that pleasure seeking 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:31.400 and that distraction 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.500 for the sake 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.860 of true comfort. 00:22:33.860 --> 00:22:35.880 It confronts it 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:37.720 and it tells us 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.720 in a very real 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.820 and loud way 00:22:39.820 --> 00:22:43.880 that that is not comfort at all 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:44.780 and that is a blessing 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.359 from God. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:49.480 What is interesting 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.720 about finding deep 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.700 and eternal comfort 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.259 in the Lord 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:54.500 is that we actually 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.500 become less concerned 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.160 about ourselves. 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.779 A book written 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:59.200 a few years back 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.680 by Timothy Keller 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.700 who has since passed away, 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:04.000 the blessing 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.339 of self-forgetfulness. 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:07.579 And we have this blessing 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.660 of thinking 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:10.059 of ourselves less. 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:13.720 Not being obsessive 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.480 about our own 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.920 pleasure and distraction, 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:18.279 we become joyful 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:20.500 in the things 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:22.700 that bring God joy. 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:24.539 The mission of God 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:26.360 becomes our mission 00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:28.279 where Christ 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:30.259 continues on 00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.099 through his church 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:32.039 by his spirit 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:33.579 to confront disease 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.700 and death 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:37.099 and false gods 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.740 like pleasure 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:39.799 and distraction. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.180 So this leads us 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.940 to the second confrontation 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.180 with disease 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:45.700 and death 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:47.640 and in many ways 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:48.580 it seems 00:23:48.580 --> 00:23:49.820 like this is the easier 00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:50.539 confrontation. 00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:54.220 We'll get to that 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:54.480 in a minute 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.120 but let's read 00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:57.120 verses 32 to 42. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.100 Now as Peter 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:00.080 went here and there 00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:01.380 among them all, 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.360 he came down 00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:03.220 also to the saints 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.360 who lived in Lydda. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.500 Peter likely 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.779 is consolidating 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:08.000 all of these churches 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.140 churches 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:10.920 that popped up 00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.720 with Philip 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.579 and some other apostles 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.539 proclaiming the gospel 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.480 around Samaria 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.519 where the gospel 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.240 spread 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.319 after the stoning 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.240 of Stephen. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.440 Church order 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:21.259 is being brought 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.400 to all these various 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.079 house churches 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.859 or gatherings 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:25.039 and this is what 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:27.319 Peter is likely doing. 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.759 Verse 33, 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.259 there he found 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.539 a man named 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.440 Aeneas, 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:34.019 bedridden for eight years. 00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:34.880 Interestingly, 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:36.039 in the original language, 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.359 it could be bedridden 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:38.019 since he was 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.799 eight years old. 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.639 Either way, 00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:42.440 this man has not 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.339 walked in a very 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:43.899 long time. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.339 He was bedridden 00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.139 for eight years 00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:48.639 and he was paralyzed 00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.359 and Peter said 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:49.659 to him, 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.139 Aeneas, 00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:52.279 Jesus Christ heals you. 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.819 Rise and make your bed 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.379 and immediately 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.039 he rose 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.420 and all the residents 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.539 of Lydda and Sharon 00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.099 saw him 00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:58.720 and they turned 00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.440 to the Lord. 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.539 Now there was in Joppa, 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.639 that is modern day Jaffa, 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.420 just south of Tel Aviv, 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:06.720 a disciple named 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.300 Tabitha, 00:25:08.300 --> 00:25:09.560 which translated 00:25:09.560 --> 00:25:10.460 means Dorcas. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.460 Same, 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:13.500 both those names 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.340 mean gazelle, 00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:14.940 it's just, 00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.660 one is Aramaic, 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.240 one is Greek. 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.240 Tabitha, 00:25:19.300 --> 00:25:19.940 or Dorcas, 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.640 was full of good works 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.580 and acts of charity. 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.380 In those days, 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.180 she became ill 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:24.640 and died 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.660 and when they had 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.400 washed her, 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.400 they laid her 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:29.259 in an upper room. 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.519 Since Lydda 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.340 was near Joppa, 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:31.960 the disciples, 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:33.000 hearing that Peter 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.580 was there, 00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:34.920 sent two men 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.279 to him, 00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.220 urging him, 00:25:37.060 --> 00:25:38.120 please come to us 00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:38.640 without delay. 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.360 So Peter arose 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:41.060 and went with them 00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:42.039 and when he arrived, 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.640 they took him 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.400 to the upper room. 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.960 All the widows 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.980 stood beside him 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.380 weeping 00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:48.120 and showing tunics 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:49.120 and other garments 00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:50.539 that Dorcas made 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.420 while she was with them. 00:25:52.120 --> 00:25:53.140 But Peter put them 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.800 all outside 00:25:53.800 --> 00:25:54.580 and knelt down 00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:55.060 and prayed 00:25:55.060 --> 00:25:56.820 and turning to the body, 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.180 he said, 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:57.840 Tabitha, 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.500 arise. 00:25:59.300 --> 00:26:00.279 And she opened her eyes 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.740 and when she saw Peter, 00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:02.380 she sat up 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:03.900 and he gave her 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:04.420 his hand 00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.240 and raised her up 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.700 and calling the saints 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.180 and widows, 00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:08.360 he presented her alive. 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.000 Verse 42, 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.480 and it became known 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.880 throughout all Joppa 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:14.060 that many believed 00:26:14.060 --> 00:26:14.980 in the Lord. 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.780 We have two miracles here, 00:26:17.540 --> 00:26:18.860 two confrontations, 00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:20.260 one with disease 00:26:20.260 --> 00:26:21.360 and ailments 00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:22.220 and one with death. 00:26:23.020 --> 00:26:24.480 They look very similar 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:26.740 to two miracles 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:28.020 that Jesus performed himself. 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.639 the first, 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:29.940 Aeneas, 00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:30.859 he's a paralytic. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.420 He is raised 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.539 much like the paralytic 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.700 of Mark chapter 2 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.000 where, 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:35.900 if you remember, 00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:37.920 a paralytic is lowered 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.799 through the roof 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.539 and Jesus tells him 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:42.019 just like he does Aeneas here 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:43.279 to rise, 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.879 take up your bed 00:26:44.879 --> 00:26:45.940 and walk. 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:46.720 Very, 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:48.319 very similar language. 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.220 In the second, 00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:50.839 we have this woman, 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.000 Tabitha or Dorcas, 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:52.759 she's died 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.839 and she's raised again. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.680 Notice that Peter, 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:56.379 he prays first, 00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:56.960 it's different 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.440 than what Jesus does. 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:00.420 Jesus doesn't pray 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.260 to himself 00:27:01.260 --> 00:27:02.940 but he just lifts her up 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.380 but nevertheless, 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:03.960 Peter, 00:27:04.280 --> 00:27:05.020 in working with 00:27:05.020 --> 00:27:06.860 the power of Jesus, 00:27:07.020 --> 00:27:07.580 says to her, 00:27:08.020 --> 00:27:08.520 Tabitha, 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.220 rise. 00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:10.920 Interestingly, 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:12.220 the only difference 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:12.880 in language 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.880 between what Jesus does 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:16.080 with Jairus' daughter 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:18.240 in Mark chapter 5 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.960 and what Peter does 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.740 with Tabitha 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:23.480 in Acts chapter 9, 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.620 it's identical, 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:26.599 everything's identical 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:27.059 about it 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.919 except for one letter. 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.059 With Jesus, 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.519 he says Talitha, 00:27:30.739 --> 00:27:31.119 rise. 00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:32.479 Just a different name. 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:34.119 Peter says Tabitha, 00:27:34.219 --> 00:27:34.639 rise. 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:35.759 One letter 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:37.799 is different 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.579 and Luke, 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.419 writing this, 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.039 he is making 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.739 this connection. 00:27:41.979 --> 00:27:42.199 It is, 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:43.319 there's no doubt 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.879 about it. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.899 He is telling us 00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:46.439 that Christ, 00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.539 not Peter, 00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.939 but Christ continues 00:27:48.939 --> 00:27:49.819 to be at work 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.539 through his church 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:52.439 doing the same 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:54.299 work of confronting 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.680 the effects 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.420 of sin 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.279 and brokenness 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:57.799 in the world, 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.720 disease and death. 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.320 Christ is still active. 00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:03.140 He's ascended, 00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:04.620 but he is still 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.799 the active agent 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:06.660 in this story. 00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:08.259 Peter is a conduit. 00:28:08.620 --> 00:28:09.360 What does he say 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:10.400 to Aeneas? 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:14.039 Jesus Christ heals you. 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:15.340 Rise and make your bed. 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.420 And what does he say 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.920 to Tabitha? 00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:18.960 He prays. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:21.220 He's clearly praying 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.140 to Jesus, 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.100 Tabitha, rise. 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:28.059 Jesus is still at work 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.519 confronting sin 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.100 and death, 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:31.759 disease, 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.200 and everything 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.600 that belongs 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.759 to evil. 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.299 And in both cases 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.819 we see a movement 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.299 up, 00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:41.420 up to life, 00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:42.440 up to heaven, 00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.420 and not down 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.240 towards the grave 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.680 and to death. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.740 For Aeneas, 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:46.640 arise. 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.759 Interestingly, 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.779 that Tabitha 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:50.039 her body is put 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.839 in an upper room. 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.700 If you remember 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:53.200 back in Acts chapter 5, 00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.759 Ananias and Sapphira 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:56.259 drop dead on the spot. 00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.440 Crazy story, 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.399 but they're buried 00:28:58.399 --> 00:28:58.899 right away. 00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:00.500 It is a custom 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.579 to bury right away. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:02.299 I mean, 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.899 a part of it 00:29:02.899 --> 00:29:03.500 has to do 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.160 with being 00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:05.519 in a warm climate, 00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:07.279 but the other part 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:07.700 of it is 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:08.839 to respect the body, 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.700 to lay the body 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.519 to rest right away. 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.859 A body that dies, 00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:12.680 you don't put 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.619 in an upper room. 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.039 It's a bit of 00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.779 a bizarre 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:16.599 thing to do, 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.079 although 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:18.119 it's bizarre, 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:20.000 but it's bizarre 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:21.319 unless you 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.679 believe maybe 00:29:22.679 --> 00:29:23.479 this person 00:29:23.479 --> 00:29:24.199 could rise again. 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.459 But we see 00:29:26.459 --> 00:29:27.000 either way 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.699 a movement 00:29:27.699 --> 00:29:29.059 not down 00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:30.559 towards the grave 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.099 and death, 00:29:31.219 --> 00:29:31.699 but up 00:29:31.699 --> 00:29:33.039 towards life 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.199 and resurrection. 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:38.400 In both cases, 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.500 the product of sin 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.240 and brokenness 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:40.880 are confronted. 00:29:41.080 --> 00:29:41.960 Disease and death 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.500 are shown 00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.640 in this 00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.819 to be lesser foes. 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:45.980 And what's the result? 00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:46.680 Verse 35 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:48.819 and also verse 42. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.259 I'll read verse 35 00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:50.819 first. 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.580 And all the residents 00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.279 of Lydah 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:53.799 and Sharon 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.420 saw him, 00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:55.279 that is, 00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:56.059 Aeneas, 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:57.120 the former paralytic, 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.160 and they turned 00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:58.720 to the Lord. 00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:00.380 And in verse 41, 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.559 sorry, 00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:02.279 in verse 42, 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.799 And it became known 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.779 throughout all Joppa, 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.559 and many believed 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.440 in the Lord. 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.879 The result 00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:11.299 of the confrontation 00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:12.160 of disease 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.779 and death 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:15.019 wasn't simply 00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:16.160 that the paralytic 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:17.000 could walk again 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:18.079 and the dead person 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.660 could rise 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:19.839 once again, 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:21.240 but it was to declare 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.859 that death 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.859 and disease, 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:26.480 they were weak enemies. 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:27.920 They were defeated enemies. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.700 They were neutered enemies. 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.920 They were enemies 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:31.680 without power. 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.779 They had a shelf life. 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.920 The time has come 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:36.660 that life 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.600 and life eternal 00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:39.059 would be given 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:40.220 to all who believed. 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.240 It was a sign, 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.160 in a sense, 00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:44.180 that pointed up 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:45.220 towards Christ. 00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:46.420 The fact is, 00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:47.460 I mean, 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.860 I'm assuming, 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.039 maybe I shouldn't assume, 00:30:51.120 --> 00:30:51.680 but I'm assuming 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.120 Aeneas got some disease 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.740 later on. 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.500 In a year, 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:54.940 he could have got 00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:56.299 tuberculosis. 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:56.880 We don't know. 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:59.260 Maybe he contracted pneumonia 00:30:59.260 --> 00:31:01.800 when he was in his old age. 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.220 Whatever. 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.360 But he got sick 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:04.160 at a certain point 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:05.120 and his body failed him 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:05.740 and he died. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.760 Tabitha, 00:31:09.300 --> 00:31:10.040 maybe she lived 00:31:10.040 --> 00:31:10.640 another five, 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.100 ten years. 00:31:11.260 --> 00:31:11.840 Maybe she 00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:14.040 had a 30-year 00:31:14.040 --> 00:31:15.760 mercy ministry 00:31:15.760 --> 00:31:17.200 after this. 00:31:17.260 --> 00:31:18.200 It was an incredible thing. 00:31:18.260 --> 00:31:18.800 We're not sure. 00:31:19.540 --> 00:31:20.560 But she died. 00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:22.600 The point 00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:23.860 isn't so much 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:24.899 to revel 00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:26.099 in the healing 00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:27.419 or the resurrection, 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.419 but to see 00:31:29.419 --> 00:31:30.759 what that represents 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.959 and what that points to. 00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.599 That the kingdom 00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:33.659 of heaven has come 00:31:33.659 --> 00:31:34.939 and has confronted 00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:36.059 the kingdom 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:36.799 of darkness 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.779 and sin forever 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:39.279 and has found 00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:39.740 the kingdom 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.479 of darkness 00:31:40.479 --> 00:31:41.139 and sin 00:31:41.139 --> 00:31:41.919 to be wanting. 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.439 That's true hope. 00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:45.719 That is true hope. 00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.519 A sure and better hope 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.039 than anything 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.519 we can put our hope 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:51.000 in here. 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:53.119 It's a better hope 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.920 than any pleasure 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:54.980 that we could find 00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:56.420 apart from Christ 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:58.160 and any distraction 00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:59.480 that truly gets 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.339 our mind off 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.359 of our problem 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.759 or problems 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:04.359 for a period of time. 00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:09.299 If the rejoicing 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.059 of the disciples 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:11.359 in verse 35 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:12.160 and 41 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:13.599 were just with the healings, 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.559 it would be false hope. 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.380 But it wasn't. 00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:19.059 It was eternal hope. 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:21.940 We need to be 00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.619 hopeful people, 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.419 but we also need 00:32:23.419 --> 00:32:24.299 to be hopeful people 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:25.599 in the right things, 00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:27.000 the right person. 00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.839 If we put our hope 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.599 in medicine, 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.299 beating disease forever, 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:33.679 that's a lesser hope 00:32:33.679 --> 00:32:34.879 to put our hope into. 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.859 Medicine, fantastic. 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:38.899 Right living, 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:39.720 exercise, 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.960 doing all the things, 00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.559 very good, 00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.200 but that can't be 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:44.159 our eternal hope. 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.519 Hope in the way 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:48.119 we build our lives 00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:49.159 or raise our children 00:32:49.159 --> 00:32:53.279 or how we run our business 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:55.659 or how we are employees. 00:32:56.659 --> 00:32:58.119 If we put our ultimate hope, 00:32:58.219 --> 00:33:01.439 our ultimate feelings 00:33:01.439 --> 00:33:03.379 of pleasure in that, 00:33:04.199 --> 00:33:05.319 that will let us down. 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.539 All good things, 00:33:07.679 --> 00:33:08.399 but that can't be 00:33:08.399 --> 00:33:09.319 our ultimate hope. 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:10.779 Christ will be 00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:11.439 our ultimate hope 00:33:11.439 --> 00:33:12.399 because God forbid 00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:13.579 something happens 00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.339 to our families. 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:15.779 It could. 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:17.319 God forbid something 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:18.420 happens to our job 00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:20.440 or our reputation. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:22.000 All of these things 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.819 are not guaranteed 00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.599 to last forever. 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.480 Only Christ 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.359 can last forever. 00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.839 So where is our hope? 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:30.619 Only in the gospel 00:33:30.619 --> 00:33:31.160 do we see 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:32.099 the ultimate hope 00:33:32.099 --> 00:33:33.480 that confronts 00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:34.539 and defeats 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:36.619 the source 00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:37.639 of all disease 00:33:37.639 --> 00:33:38.960 and all death 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:40.099 and confronts us 00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:41.279 and wakes us up 00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:42.319 from our malaise. 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:44.720 And this is something 00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:46.379 that we 00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:49.079 constantly fall into. 00:33:49.399 --> 00:33:49.819 This is why 00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.960 a season of Lent, 00:33:51.439 --> 00:33:52.500 of preparation 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:53.980 into Easter 00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:55.099 is helpful for us 00:33:55.099 --> 00:33:55.419 because 00:33:55.419 --> 00:33:57.019 it's a season 00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.740 where we 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:59.000 once again 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:00.700 in a very 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:03.740 pointed way 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:05.460 recognize 00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.619 our great need 00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:07.539 for Christ's mercy 00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:08.960 and we bend 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.300 our need 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:10.059 to him afresh. 00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.159 That's why 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:13.480 confession of sin 00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:14.940 is a huge part 00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:15.599 of what we do 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.300 here at our church 00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:17.199 and what the Bible 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:18.119 talks about 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:18.759 is because 00:34:18.759 --> 00:34:20.139 we often 00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:21.019 fall into 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:21.779 patterns of 00:34:21.779 --> 00:34:22.300 distraction 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:22.940 and pleasure 00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:24.279 and we fail 00:34:24.279 --> 00:34:24.940 to put our hope 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:26.199 in the ultimate one. 00:34:26.759 --> 00:34:27.619 We put our hope 00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.380 in lesser things. 00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:29.940 So friends, 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:32.059 ask yourself, 00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:34.199 who is your hope in? 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:35.480 Is it in the cross 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:36.059 of Christ 00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:37.139 that will never 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:37.859 let you down? 00:34:38.419 --> 00:34:39.439 That will always 00:34:39.439 --> 00:34:40.099 satisfy 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.739 in this life 00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:42.939 and in the world 00:34:42.939 --> 00:34:43.259 to come 00:34:43.259 --> 00:34:44.619 or in a lesser hope 00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:45.679 that really is no hope 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:45.960 at all? 00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:46.779 Let's put our hope 00:34:46.779 --> 00:34:47.819 in Christ. 00:34:47.919 --> 00:34:48.319 Let's pray. 00:34:50.019 --> 00:34:50.539 Father, 00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:51.179 we thank you 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:53.299 for your goodness 00:34:53.299 --> 00:34:54.559 to us 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:57.119 that in times 00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:59.179 of conviction 00:34:59.179 --> 00:34:59.759 of sin 00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:01.299 that it is not 00:35:01.299 --> 00:35:02.339 to shame 00:35:02.339 --> 00:35:02.879 us 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:06.140 to make us 00:35:06.140 --> 00:35:07.099 feel rotten 00:35:07.099 --> 00:35:07.539 forever 00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.280 but to open 00:35:08.280 --> 00:35:08.820 our eyes 00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.940 to confront us 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:13.380 with a wrong 00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:14.099 path that we 00:35:14.099 --> 00:35:14.760 are walking down 00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:16.000 so that by your 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.840 strength we would 00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.500 go down the right 00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:17.840 path. 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:18.940 We would repent 00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:20.280 through ourselves 00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:21.099 to your grace 00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:22.640 afresh once again. 00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:24.180 Lord, 00:35:24.240 --> 00:35:24.900 if we are people 00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:25.480 that have fallen 00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:27.240 into cycles 00:35:27.240 --> 00:35:28.579 of pleasure 00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:29.660 and distraction 00:35:29.660 --> 00:35:30.880 as the means 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:32.320 by which we 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:34.340 address 00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:36.280 our feelings 00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:37.059 of meaninglessness 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:38.019 or sin 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.740 or loneliness 00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:39.880 or whatever it may be 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:40.940 rather than looking 00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:41.460 to you 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:43.039 by your strength 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:44.180 will you help us 00:35:44.180 --> 00:35:45.720 to look to you 00:35:45.720 --> 00:35:46.160 afresh? 00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:48.440 Lord, 00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.380 help us to always 00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:50.059 remember that 00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:52.320 any eternal joy 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:53.340 that we might have, 00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:53.940 any comfort 00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.800 of the Holy Spirit, 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:56.740 any divine pleasure 00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:58.519 that we will experience 00:35:58.519 --> 00:35:59.320 in this life 00:35:59.320 --> 00:35:59.860 it is because 00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.559 of the grace 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:02.280 of your wonderful 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:03.800 Son offered to us 00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:04.639 on the cross 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.199 of Calvary. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:06.599 Amen.