WEBVTT

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 So this picks up in Acts 16 at verse 35.

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 But when it was day, so you have to remember what's happened here is

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 the jailer has come to see Jesus in the Acts of Paul.

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 And in the morning, the magistrate sent to the police saying,

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 let those men go.

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 And the jailer reported these words to Paul,

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 saying the magistrates have sent to let you go.

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 Therefore, come out and go in peace.

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 But Paul said to them, they have beaten us publicly,

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 uncondemned men who are Roman citizens and have thrown us into prisons.

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 And do they now throw us out secretly?

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 No, Paul said, let them come themselves and take us out.

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 The police reported these words to the magistrate,

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 and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.

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 So they came and apologized to them,

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 and they took them out and asked them to leave the city.

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 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia.

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 And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

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 One of the sort of recurring dreams I think human beings have,

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 one of them is ending up at work and somehow being dressed and still wearing your pajamas.

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 And the one of a preacher that moves from church to church,

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 you're showing up and having prepared a sermon on a different text.

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 So thank you for that.

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 Will you pray with me as we turn to the word of God?

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 Holy God, as we come together remembering how you inspired and established this congregation

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 and how you have provisioned them to fully embrace the commission into which they are baptized,

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 we turn to your word.

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 Fill us with hope and the desire for you alone.

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 Fill us with eager anticipation and excitement for every opportunity to speak your truth and to do your will.

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 Fill us with steadfast love for your people.

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 Help us be steadfast in the work that you give us wherever you send us.

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 You are the cornerstone of every Christian existence.

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 Let our lives be built upon that sure foundation,

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 inspiring us a yearning to hear and see and love and respond as people called by you.

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 And now as we turn to your word,

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 let the words I speak and the meditations of all our hearts be of you and be acceptable to you,

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 our Lord and our God.

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 Amen.

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 It's a joy to be with you guys this morning.

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 I just, I don't get a lot of opportunities to preach in the job that I do.

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 It's very much legal and bureaucratic and financial.

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 So when I get a phone call from a fellow pastor and he says,

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 will you come and preach?

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 It's like, okay, I'm on my way.

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 And then he has to tell me it's a month from now.

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 But I do thank you for this morning and just for the joy of being able to be with you,

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 my sisters and brothers in Christ and share God's word.

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 And Daniel mentioned that you are reading through the book of Acts.

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 And so this morning's message is going to be centered on a question.

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 And that question is, what do you value?

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 It's a significant question.

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 And as we read the book of Acts, it's a fair question to ask,

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 because in the Acts, we see what the early church valued.

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 And we see what they endured and suffered because of what they valued.

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 Considering what you value is important,

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 because what you value motivates you.

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 It drives your choices.

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 It drives your behaviors.

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 It's what you apply the time that God gives you in this life toward.

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 It's what you use the biological and financial and physical resources

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 that God entrusted to your care for.

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 What you value most captivates you.

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 Jesus told us what we value and what we do and what we seek to acquire

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 paints a picture of who we are.

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 It reveals what we worship.

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 And as we read through the Acts,

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 it's significant to note what the church clearly identifies

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 as their highest priority, their greatest value.

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 And we might note how that was evident in their Acts.

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 Acts are significant.

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 They are important in the book of Acts.

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 Jesus warns us,

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 some of us will be pretenders.

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 Some of us will claim to believe.

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 Some of us will call out to him,

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 Lord, Lord,

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 cloaked in a Christ-likeness.

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 But when it comes right down to it,

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 when push comes to shove,

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 he tells us that far too many,

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 even most of us,

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 though claiming to be of Christ,

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 will value the ways,

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 the ideals,

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 the ambitions of the world above Jesus.

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 It will be evident,

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 he told us,

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 in our Acts.

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 Among Jesus' followers,

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 I believe,

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 is more than a mere statement.

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 It is a way of life that is obvious to everyone around them.

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 The Acts,

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 the fruits,

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 the outcomes of their Christian lives

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 will leave no doubt of their Christian belief.

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 No doubt about what,

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 or more precisely,

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 who they value.

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 And you know,

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 as much as we might try to say otherwise,

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 our belief is actually revealed in actions

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 driven by our choices

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 and motivated by what we truly value.

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 We bear witness of this truth

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 as we read through the book of Acts.

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 You see,

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 in those early days,

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 Jesus and his church were an outrage,

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 a ridiculous religious parody,

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 a heresy,

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 a scandalous contradiction

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 of Roman interest

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 and Roman values.

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 In Rome,

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 Jesus' followers were ridiculed.

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 There's a bit of graffiti.

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 You can find it on the internet.

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 And it's graffiti that is mocking a man

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 called Alexa Menos,

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 a Christian worshipping his crucified God,

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 which is depicted as a donkey.

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 Then and now,

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 life was hard.

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 It was expensive to just get by.

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 Raising a family was demanding.

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 Building a home was tough.

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 Eking out a living was grueling.

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 Making ends meet was a challenge.

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 Life could be dangerous.

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 And you know,

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 it was heartbreaking.

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 Cultural rejection,

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 political marginalization,

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 social persecution,

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 and economic exclusion

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 are not just recent phenomenon

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 faced by Christians.

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 these persecutions have endured,

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 have been endured by the church

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 from its very beginning.

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 And in the face of all this,

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 Jesus doesn't just say,

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 hey,

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 keep your head down.

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 Take care of yourself.

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 Do what you can.

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 Look out for you and yours.

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 Seek your fortune.

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 Make your name.

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 Instead,

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 he says,

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 you will love the Lord your God

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 and you will love others.

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 You will serve them

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 and even suffer

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 and die for them.

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 You will put their needs

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 and their well-being

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 ahead of you

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 and your own.

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 And you will care

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 for their eternal life.

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 Why?

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 Because you love the Lord your God

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 and you know God's love

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 for others

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 and his eternal value

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 of them.

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 And when you love,

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 your belief in God

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 is obvious

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 because you value

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 what God values

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 and the acts of your life

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 will reveal that truth.

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 Thy will be done.

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 We pray it.

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 We pray it every week.

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 The word will

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 is a broad word.

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 It's a big word.

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 It's expansive.

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 We are praying

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 that what God values

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 and desires about anything

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 will be fulfilled

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 and scripture

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 is clear.

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 What God desires

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 is the restoration

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 of his people

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 to himself

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 in that beautiful

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 free relationship

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 he created

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 and chose for himself

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 and his people.

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 A relationship

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 we call love.

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 So in Acts,

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 we encounter a conflict.

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 A conflict between

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 value systems.

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 Between lives lived,

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 inspired,

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 and ordered

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 by biblical divine love

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 and lives centered

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 on the preservation

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 of self,

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 the elevation of self,

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 the idolatry of self,

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 the worship of self,

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 what the Romans

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 called dignitas.

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 In Roman society,

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 the word dignitas

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 characterized

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 the highest ideal

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 of life,

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 the very object

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 and objective

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 of life.

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 Dignitas,

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 valued authority

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 and wealth accumulation

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 and physical power

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 and influence

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 and self-reliance

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 and prestige

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 and charisma.

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 It was about

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 commanding dominance

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 and demanding respect,

00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:23.000
 being admired

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 and imposing

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 your will.

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 But Jesus said,

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 it's simply

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 not that way

00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:31.980
 among my followers.

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 it won't be that way

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 among you.

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 So this Jesus,

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 this Jesus who shunned,

00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:41.320
 being made a king,

00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:43.200
 who spurned comfort

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 and luxury

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 and treasure,

00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:46.960
 who gave up self

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 and home

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 and family,

00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:49.920
 who prayed,

00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:51.019
 let thy will,

00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:52.420
 not my will,

00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:52.960
 be done,

00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:54.639
 who would not make

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 long prayers

00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:56.440
 and sacrifices

00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:58.320
 for himself

00:10:58.320 --> 00:10:59.300
 and his own benefit,

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 but instead

00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:01.840
 sacrificed himself

00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.200
 so that others

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 might come

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 to know God

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 and to love God.

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 That Jesus,

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 then,

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 as he is so often now,

00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:14.519
 was an absurdity,

00:11:15.180 --> 00:11:15.980
 a caricature,

00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:17.340
 an utter failure,

00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:18.360
 a delusion,

00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.019
 a donkey,

00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:22.860
 crucified on a Roman cross.

00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:25.539
 Today,

00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:26.159
 in Acts,

00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:27.580
 we read

00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:28.720
 of the first

00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:29.779
 few days

00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:30.759
 when this

00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:31.899
 Christian way,

00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.680
 the Christian gospel,

00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:35.000
 had reached

00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:36.220
 Philippi,

00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:37.279
 a city

00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:38.919
 on the very doorstep

00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:39.460
 of what

00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:40.480
 is today

00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:42.200
 modern Europe.

00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:43.860
 Philippi

00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:45.659
 was a capital city,

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:46.659
 a center

00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:48.120
 of Roman culture,

00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:49.840
 of Roman commerce,

00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.379
 of Roman influence,

00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.899
 of Roman government,

00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:54.120
 a center

00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.460
 of worldly pride,

00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:56.980
 and of Roman

00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:57.899
 dignitas.

00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:00.019
 When Julius Caesar

00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:01.159
 was assassinated,

00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:02.460
 his adopted son,

00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:03.360
 Octavian,

00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:04.919
 defeated the armies

00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:06.299
 of the assassins

00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:07.559
 at Philippi,

00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:09.820
 initiating the golden age

00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:10.840
 of the Roman Empire.

00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:12.019
 He conquered,

00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:13.419
 he became

00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:14.379
 Caesar Augustus

00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:16.799
 at Philippi.

00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:17.960
 Philippi

00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:18.799
 was a monument

00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:21.259
 to his dignitas,

00:12:21.599 --> 00:12:22.479
 a dignitas

00:12:22.479 --> 00:12:23.179
 forged

00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:24.959
 by his iron fist

00:12:24.959 --> 00:12:26.079
 and maintained

00:12:26.079 --> 00:12:27.279
 by the fear

00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:27.879
 of Rome.

00:12:28.579 --> 00:12:29.199
 Much,

00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:30.399
 Octavian said,

00:12:30.479 --> 00:12:31.319
 could be accomplished

00:12:31.319 --> 00:12:32.559
 under him.

00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:34.259
 Build your name,

00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:35.359
 seek your fortune,

00:12:35.839 --> 00:12:36.679
 establish your

00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:37.779
 family dynasty,

00:12:38.699 --> 00:12:39.519
 but pay

00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:40.559
 your tax

00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:41.679
 and offer

00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:42.639
 your tribute

00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:43.939
 and worship

00:12:43.939 --> 00:12:46.120
 Caesar Augustus

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:47.639
 or else.

00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:49.639
 In the shadow

00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:50.879
 of Caesar Augustus,

00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:52.240
 you could claim

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.019
 your own

00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:54.500
 muted form

00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:55.740
 of dignitas.

00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:00.200
 What we read

00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:00.720
 in Acts

00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:01.419
 this morning

00:13:01.419 --> 00:13:02.679
 was the arrival

00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:04.460
 of the Evangelical

00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:04.940
 Church

00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:06.039
 in Philippi.

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.539
 Not great armies,

00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:09.539
 not big enterprises,

00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:10.840
 nor an elegant

00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:12.240
 emissaries,

00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.740
 but four guys.

00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:16.460
 four travel-wearied

00:13:16.460 --> 00:13:17.240
 guys

00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.680
 wandering along

00:13:18.680 --> 00:13:19.779
 a riverbank

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:20.940
 encountering

00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:21.779
 a small group

00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:22.259
 of women.

00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:24.019
 And one of these

00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:24.419
 guys,

00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:24.840
 Paul,

00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.240
 had been hopping

00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.440
 from city to city

00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:28.399
 in recent times.

00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:30.100
 In Damascus,

00:13:30.180 --> 00:13:30.899
 his own people,

00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:31.560
 the Jews,

00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:32.580
 had plotted

00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:33.700
 to kill him

00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:34.940
 because of the chaos

00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:36.080
 he had caused

00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:37.200
 by all his

00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.799
 wild Jesus talk.

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:39.720
 You know,

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.759
 Paul was once

00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:42.259
 an up-and-coming

00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:42.779
 leader,

00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:44.799
 an admired scholar,

00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:46.419
 a respected citizen,

00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:47.659
 a defender

00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.840
 of the Jewish faith.

00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:49.960
 But now,

00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:51.319
 Paul was a

00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:52.700
 despised idolater,

00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:53.700
 and worse,

00:13:54.059 --> 00:13:54.500
 worse,

00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.200
 he was a Christian.

00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:59.019
 He lost everything

00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.200
 because of this Jesus,

00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.299
 and he was now

00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:02.879
 trying to convince us

00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.799
 of how much

00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:04.840
 he'd gained.

00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.740
 On Cyprus,

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.580
 he had confronted

00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:08.799
 a mystical cult

00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:09.700
 of a man

00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:10.700
 called Elimus.

00:14:11.160 --> 00:14:11.800
 At the mention

00:14:11.800 --> 00:14:12.860
 of Jesus' name,

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:13.580
 that Elimus

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.960
 was blinded.

00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.600
 His physical reality

00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:17.700
 brought into alignment

00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:19.080
 with his spiritual darkness.

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.780
 The proconsul there

00:14:20.780 --> 00:14:21.640
 had converted.

00:14:21.800 --> 00:14:22.820
 His eyes were opened

00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:24.660
 and stepped into the light.

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.060
 Love God.

00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:27.580
 Love each other.

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:28.980
 Seek first

00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:30.060
 the kingdom of God.

00:14:30.660 --> 00:14:31.720
 Don't store up

00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:32.460
 for yourself

00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.440
 resting treasures.

00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.100
 Use the resources

00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:35.780
 that God

00:14:35.780 --> 00:14:36.500
 has entrusted

00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.179
 for you

00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:39.580
 for God's glory,

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:41.659
 not for your own

00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:43.440
 personal dignitas.

00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.080
 And you know what?

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:45.799
 Even as I say

00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:46.419
 these words,

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:48.200
 I feel the anxiety.

00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:49.539
 There has to be

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.220
 another way.

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:51.179
 Surely,

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:51.940
 our modern

00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:53.320
 Canadian dignitas

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.000
 and divine love

00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.159
 can somehow

00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.019
 coexist.

00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:59.259
 But that anxiety

00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:00.159
 that I feel

00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:01.000
 and that I know

00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.960
 many feel

00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:03.279
 begs the question,

00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:05.139
 what do you value?

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:05.580
 Honestly,

00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:08.840
 what do we value?

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:09.939
 And you know,

00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:11.580
 God sees into our hearts.

00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.279
 He knows the answer.

00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:15.559
 He knows what drives us.

00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.480
 He won't be deceived.

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:19.360
 He knows the struggle

00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.259
 between love

00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:21.419
 and dignitas.

00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.740
 He knows how it will

00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:24.000
 play out in you

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.439
 and among us.

00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.539
 You know the unbelievers?

00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:28.480
 The unbelievers

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.740
 will have all the toys

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.439
 and trinkets

00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:31.080
 and trappings

00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:32.299
 of prosperity.

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.840
 They'll have all the bells

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:35.360
 and whistles of a good life.

00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.399
 The big house,

00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.120
 the condo,

00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:37.759
 the cottage,

00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.639
 the best tech,

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.660
 the car,

00:15:39.780 --> 00:15:40.200
 the boat,

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.040
 whatever else.

00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.580
 Because that's what

00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:43.259
 they value.

00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.740
 That's what they chase.

00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:47.180
 But the Christian asks,

00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.600
 what motivates me?

00:15:49.160 --> 00:15:50.120
 What drives me?

00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.420
 What do I truly value?

00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:56.320
 The early Christians

00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:58.480
 faced the same realities

00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.220
 as we do.

00:15:59.220 --> 00:16:00.399
 And they faced

00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.740
 the same implications

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.560
 of belief

00:16:02.560 --> 00:16:03.620
 and worse.

00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:04.759
 They faced

00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.660
 the iron fist

00:16:05.660 --> 00:16:06.279
 of Rome.

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.379
 In Acts,

00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.139
 these are the Christians

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.580
 that we meet.

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.279
 In Antioch,

00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:13.879
 Paul had caused

00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:14.879
 a near riot

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:16.200
 as the whole city

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.279
 heard him speak.

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:19.320
 And when their golden ambitions

00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:20.120
 were threatened,

00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:22.060
 the influential women

00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:23.879
 and the men of Antioch

00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.480
 rose up

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.660
 and chased that Paul

00:16:25.660 --> 00:16:26.580
 and his Jesus

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.700
 out of town.

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:29.500
 In Iconium,

00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:30.220
 again,

00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:31.660
 Jews and Gentiles

00:16:31.660 --> 00:16:32.520
 heard the truth.

00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:33.640
 And yes,

00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:35.720
 some came to believe.

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.360
 But again,

00:16:36.520 --> 00:16:37.740
 disputes and divisions

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.900
 and conflicts

00:16:38.900 --> 00:16:39.460
 arose

00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:41.340
 as this Jesus movement

00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:42.000
 challenged

00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.140
 their status quo.

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.220
 And again,

00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:45.740
 Paul ran

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.660
 for his life.

00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.320
 But now,

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:48.960
 I imagine,

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.360
 Paul was beginning

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:50.900
 to wrestle

00:16:50.900 --> 00:16:51.700
 with the question,

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.620
 why exactly

00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:55.259
 am I running?

00:16:56.040 --> 00:16:57.120
 What do I fear?

00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:59.200
 What do I believe?

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.100
 What do I value?

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.960
 The idols

00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:04.319
 of self-preservation.

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:05.980
 Is that

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.240
 what I'm clinging to?

00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:08.440
 See,

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.319
 Paul was just

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:09.840
 a guy.

00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:10.279
 He was just

00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.299
 a person like us,

00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:12.319
 flesh and blood.

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:13.840
 He had nothing.

00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.240
 He gave up

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.799
 career

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.720
 and business

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.480
 and academia

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.200
 and prestige

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:19.000
 and family.

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.720
 He was on the run.

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:23.160
 Did he have moments

00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.100
 when he pled

00:17:24.100 --> 00:17:24.779
 with God?

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.299
 Surely,

00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:25.740
 God,

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:27.000
 after all I have done,

00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:27.599
 I deserve

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:29.019
 better than this.

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.139
 At Lystra,

00:17:31.639 --> 00:17:32.740
 Paul resisted

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.899
 the paganization

00:17:33.899 --> 00:17:34.639
 of the gospel.

00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:36.180
 It was a religious

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.240
 commercialism

00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:37.799
 of sorts,

00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:39.319
 a prosperity gospel

00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:40.200
 that would just

00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:41.339
 fold Christianity

00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.639
 into a vibrant

00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:43.559
 local culture,

00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:45.180
 just another ethic

00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.399
 to sample

00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:47.420
 in pursuit

00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.740
 of dignitas.

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:50.559
 when Paul

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.500
 adamantly

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.819
 opposed this

00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.940
 and more intensely

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:55.180
 and precisely

00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.420
 declared the gospel

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.420
 again.

00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.420
 Again,

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.400
 the religious

00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:00.880
 and secular leaders

00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.579
 twisted the Christian

00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:03.359
 claims

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.339
 of a unique,

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.400
 exclusive truth

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.279
 into an offense

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.660
 against

00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:09.059
 the tolerant

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.200
 social fabric

00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.180
 of Lystra.

00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:12.120
 And again,

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.640
 people were incensed.

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:14.940
 They forced him

00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:16.319
 outside the city,

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.420
 stoned him,

00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:18.539
 and left him

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.060
 for dead.

00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:20.759
 You can hear

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.400
 the echoes

00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:22.620
 of Christ's word.

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.960
 I will show him

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:25.200
 how much he must

00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.480
 suffer for the sake

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.120
 of my name.

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.400
 And you cannot

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:30.019
 serve two masters.

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:32.060
 Who do you serve?

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.900
 What motivates you?

00:18:35.080 --> 00:18:36.120
 What do you value?

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.300
 Persecution takes

00:18:38.300 --> 00:18:39.000
 many forms,

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.900
 from marginalization

00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:41.500
 to murder,

00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:43.360
 from economic oppression

00:18:43.360 --> 00:18:44.019
 to criminal

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.680
 incarceration.

00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:46.539
 I wonder

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.539
 how many of us,

00:18:48.060 --> 00:18:48.759
 for the sake

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.380
 of peace

00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.120
 at home

00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:50.740
 or work

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.519
 or school

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:53.000
 or in the community,

00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.180
 to avoid

00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:55.299
 rocking the boat

00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:56.560
 and the consequences

00:18:56.560 --> 00:18:57.539
 of following

00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.940
 Jesus openly,

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.680
 just kind of

00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.860
 quietly go along

00:19:01.860 --> 00:19:02.560
 to get along.

00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.160
 Religion,

00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:05.440
 we convince ourselves,

00:19:05.580 --> 00:19:06.640
 is a private matter.

00:19:07.060 --> 00:19:07.900
 I have a personal

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.340
 faith.

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.620
 I have a personal

00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.080
 savior.

00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:11.620
 I am saved.

00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.519
 It is well

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.319
 with me.

00:19:14.399 --> 00:19:15.399
 But that's not

00:19:15.399 --> 00:19:16.500
 really the gospel,

00:19:16.699 --> 00:19:16.959
 is it?

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.679
 It's all true.

00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:19.759
 But it's not

00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.259
 the way,

00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:21.319
 it's not the work

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:22.039
 that we're called

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.399
 into.

00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:23.000
 In a way,

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.679
 it is a modern

00:19:24.679 --> 00:19:25.239
 dignitas.

00:19:26.959 --> 00:19:28.019
 Standing firm

00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:29.619
 and standing up

00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:31.159
 is not easy.

00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:32.739
 It's costly.

00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.099
 It's the way

00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:35.799
 every Christ follower

00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:37.339
 is called to.

00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:39.879
 Paul was dragged

00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:41.019
 outside of Lystra

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:42.939
 and he was left

00:19:42.939 --> 00:19:43.559
 for dead.

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.099
 So you know,

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.679
 he returned to Antioch

00:19:46.679 --> 00:19:47.720
 and he just decided

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.379
 that enough

00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.199
 was enough.

00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:50.079
 He needed to look

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:50.839
 after himself.

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.659
 He needed to heal

00:19:51.659 --> 00:19:52.659
 his body and soul.

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.779
 He needed to build

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:55.079
 a home and a plan

00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:56.059
 for his old age.

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.259
 Surely he reasoned

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.039
 that's what God

00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:59.039
 desires for me.

00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:00.139
 It's his goodness.

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:01.019
 It's his blessing

00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:01.539
 on me.

00:20:02.419 --> 00:20:03.199
 And all of that

00:20:03.199 --> 00:20:04.279
 that I just said

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.939
 was nonsense.

00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:06.639
 Total nonsense.

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.600
 Of course Paul

00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:08.380
 didn't think any

00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:08.800
 of that.

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.020
 He was a Christian.

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.980
 He and those

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.920
 who had been with him

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:14.140
 gathered the church

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:14.580
 together.

00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:15.500
 They declared

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.600
 all that God

00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:17.780
 had done with them

00:20:17.780 --> 00:20:18.759
 and how God

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.700
 had used them

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:21.300
 and opened the door

00:20:21.300 --> 00:20:21.980
 of faith

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:23.380
 to the Gentiles.

00:20:24.300 --> 00:20:25.060
 I can imagine

00:20:25.060 --> 00:20:25.580
 them saying,

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:25.880
 you know,

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:26.780
 they practically

00:20:26.780 --> 00:20:27.700
 killed me.

00:20:28.560 --> 00:20:29.300
 But you see them

00:20:29.300 --> 00:20:29.780
 over there?

00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:31.060
 You see those

00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:31.940
 folks?

00:20:32.800 --> 00:20:33.900
 They were pagan

00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:34.700
 Gentiles.

00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:36.080
 But now,

00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.440
 they're pagan

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.039
 no more.

00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:40.360
 They loved God.

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.440
 And the church

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.880
 prepared for the

00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:44.620
 next mission

00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:45.840
 into hostile

00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:46.620
 territory,

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.180
 a mission that

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:48.700
 would lead

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.840
 to Philippi.

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.240
 So,

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.200
 as we read,

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:52.640
 Paul,

00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:53.220
 Silas,

00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:53.779
 and Timothy

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.380
 have approached

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:55.160
 a small group

00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:55.720
 of women

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:57.180
 praying by a river

00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.759
 and as they spoke,

00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.799
 God moved in the

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.640
 heart of Lydia

00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:02.039
 and she sees

00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:03.059
 and she believes

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.779
 in the Christ

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.440
 that Paul and

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:04.899
 his team

00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:05.399
 are speaking

00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:05.720
 of.

00:21:06.419 --> 00:21:07.039
 And that's

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.720
 how God

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.839
 has chosen

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.919
 to work

00:21:09.919 --> 00:21:11.220
 through his

00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.639
 people speaking.

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:14.480
 Paul was

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.259
 doing what

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.059
 Christ Jesus

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:17.480
 asks of every

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.399
 single one

00:21:18.399 --> 00:21:19.779
 of his faithful

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.359
 followers.

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.339
 He was doing

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:21.940
 what Jesus

00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.259
 asks of you.

00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:24.700
 What Jesus

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.579
 commissioned his

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.019
 church,

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.339
 that's you,

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.419
 to do.

00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:29.279
 What Jesus

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.179
 planted this

00:21:30.179 --> 00:21:30.879
 congregation,

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:31.740
 again,

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.819
 that's you,

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:33.819
 to do.

00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:35.940
 Every single

00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:37.059
 day of your

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:38.019
 life offers

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.400
 multiple opportunities

00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:40.620
 to share the

00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:41.000
 gospel,

00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.279
 to celebrate

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.720
 Jesus,

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.640
 to talk about

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:43.940
 him,

00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:44.960
 and so to

00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:46.039
 respond to

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.680
 the commission

00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.859
 that he has

00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.559
 given each of

00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:48.799
 you.

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.039
 The commission

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.779
 you stepped

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:52.319
 into on your

00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.519
 baptism to go

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.019
 and make

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.859
 disciples of

00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.180
 Jesus,

00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:56.079
 immersing them

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:56.680
 in the knowledge

00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:57.279
 of who God

00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:57.539
 is,

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.720
 and to go

00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:00.099
 and speak,

00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:01.439
 to tell

00:22:01.439 --> 00:22:03.039
 them about

00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:03.399
 Jesus.

00:22:04.919 --> 00:22:05.959
 When Paul

00:22:05.959 --> 00:22:06.480
 spoke,

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.119
 God opened

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:08.919
 the eyes of

00:22:08.919 --> 00:22:09.699
 Lydia's heart

00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:11.199
 and she saw

00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:12.539
 and received

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.399
 Jesus.

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.059
 She and the

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.899
 whole household

00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.779
 entrusted to

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.399
 her care

00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:18.719
 came to

00:22:18.719 --> 00:22:20.419
 faith in

00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:20.839
 Jesus.

00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.139
 Wayne Gretzky,

00:22:23.679 --> 00:22:24.439
 how's that for

00:22:24.439 --> 00:22:25.199
 transition?

00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.279
 Wayne Gretzky

00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:26.959
 once said,

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.920
 he missed

00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.079
 every single

00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.620
 shot that he

00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:31.140
 failed to

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:31.480
 take.

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.880
 And every

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.819
 time we

00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.840
 fail to

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.299
 speak,

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:35.940
 when we

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.460
 are given

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:38.279
 a God-given

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:38.920
 opportunity,

00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:40.180
 we miss the

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.420
 mark.

00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.400
 We miss the

00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:42.519
 opportunity that

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:44.039
 God gave us

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:45.140
 to reveal him

00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:46.299
 and to watch

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:46.900
 him work.

00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.500
 Paul spoke,

00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:50.980
 God moved

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.680
 in the heart

00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.140
 of Lydia,

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.360
 and you know,

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.519
 this was no

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.400
 small thing.

00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:57.280
 Lydia was

00:22:57.280 --> 00:22:58.019
 a business

00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.660
 person,

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.320
 and her

00:22:59.320 --> 00:23:00.080
 product was

00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:00.840
 extremely

00:23:00.840 --> 00:23:01.480
 expensive,

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.040
 so her

00:23:02.040 --> 00:23:02.920
 clientele would

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.600
 be among the

00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.500
 mega-rich,

00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:05.519
 the social

00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.160
 elites.

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.120
 Lydia would

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.560
 have been the

00:23:07.560 --> 00:23:08.280
 equivalent of

00:23:08.280 --> 00:23:09.380
 a modern-day

00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:10.320
 Paris or New

00:23:10.320 --> 00:23:11.040
 York fashion

00:23:11.040 --> 00:23:11.580
 designer,

00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:12.759
 mixing with

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.300
 the rich and

00:23:13.300 --> 00:23:13.820
 the famous,

00:23:14.040 --> 00:23:14.720
 mingling with

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.280
 the latest

00:23:15.280 --> 00:23:16.440
 sensual cults

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.000
 in the temple

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.560
 spas,

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.780
 moving among

00:23:18.780 --> 00:23:20.160
 celebrations of

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.200
 human ecstasy

00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:22.320
 in the shrines

00:23:22.320 --> 00:23:23.060
 where the

00:23:23.060 --> 00:23:23.640
 bounds of

00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:24.259
 respectable

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.279
 depravity were

00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.799
 pushed.

00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:27.339
 That's where

00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.259
 she plied her

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.599
 purple.

00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:29.559
 And you can

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.240
 imagine the

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.900
 gossip that

00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.879
 week after

00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.700
 her conversion,

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.200
 you know,

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.200
 the prestigious

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.779
 purveyor of

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.539
 purple passes

00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.339
 on the feast

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.319
 of Dionysus,

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.339
 house of

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.319
 purple awash

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.420
 in Christian

00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:41.799
 red.

00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.279
 You can hear

00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.099
 her associates,

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.420
 girl, girl,

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:45.920
 what are you

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.359
 doing?

00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.099
 What are you

00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:47.700
 doing hanging

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.359
 out with those

00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:48.740
 Christians?

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:49.940
 Don't get

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.720
 caught up in

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.259
 their nets.

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.039
 We might like

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.759
 to imagine

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.940
 that Lydia

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.740
 just carried

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.799
 on business

00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:58.059
 as usual.

00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.399
 We like to

00:23:59.399 --> 00:23:59.920
 believe the

00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.539
 things that we

00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:00.980
 wish were

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.319
 true, but you

00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:02.759
 know, it's

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.359
 simply not

00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:03.899
 possible.

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.559
 In Christ,

00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:07.420
 Lydia was no

00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.720
 longer of

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.079
 Caesar.

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.319
 As she

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.059
 entered the

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.879
 river and

00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:12.539
 was baptized,

00:24:13.159 --> 00:24:13.940
 she crossed

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.559
 her own

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:15.019
 Rubicon.

00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:16.740
 We cannot

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.039
 serve two

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.460
 masters.

00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:19.639
 We cannot

00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.859
 worship two

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.359
 gods.

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.299
 her life

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.659
 would change.

00:24:24.719 --> 00:24:25.419
 Paul sees

00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:25.879
 the burden

00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:26.339
 building.

00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.259
 It all

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.959
 happened so

00:24:28.959 --> 00:24:29.679
 fast in the

00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:30.279
 twinkling of

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:30.719
 an eye.

00:24:31.459 --> 00:24:31.859
 And so in

00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:32.659
 his compassion,

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.419
 it seems that

00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:34.240
 he's trying to

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.939
 give Lydia a

00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:35.399
 little bit of

00:24:35.399 --> 00:24:35.879
 space.

00:24:36.199 --> 00:24:36.919
 But Lydia,

00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:38.019
 her heart

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.719
 open to

00:24:38.719 --> 00:24:39.319
 Jesus is

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:39.919
 having none

00:24:39.919 --> 00:24:40.179
 of it.

00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.599
 It's almost

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:41.059
 like she

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.819
 prevails on

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.099
 them and

00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.459
 says, you

00:24:42.459 --> 00:24:42.839
 know, we're

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.199
 in this

00:24:43.199 --> 00:24:43.599
 together.

00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.740
 She opens

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.039
 her home and

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.759
 her heart to

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.019
 them.

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:49.000
 because belief

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.839
 in Jesus

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:51.059
 Christ looks

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.839
 like something.

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:52.759
 It looks

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.480
 fearless.

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.839
 It stands in

00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.259
 the light.

00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.139
 It's generous.

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:56.759
 It's

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.440
 compassionate.

00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.119
 It's

00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:59.599
 self-expending.

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.000
 It's

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.720
 selfless.

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.799
 It goes

00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.500
 into the

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.220
 public square.

00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:03.660
 It goes

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.299
 into the

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.740
 marketplace.

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.279
 It goes

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:05.879
 into the

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.420
 halls of

00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:07.299
 justice and

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:07.900
 into the

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.519
 houses of

00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:08.900
 government.

00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.599
 And it

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.379
 does not

00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:11.539
 ever hide

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:11.879
 in the

00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.259
 shadow,

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.519
 nor is it

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.599
 reserved for

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.440
 merely private

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.039
 moments.

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:17.779
 being Christian

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.940
 looks like

00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.559
 Jesus,

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.759
 steadfast in

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.500
 the face of

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.740
 any cost or

00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.759
 any persecution.

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.940
 Today, we

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.720
 see something

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:29.539
 of Jesus in

00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:29.859
 Lydia.

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.159
 So next,

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.099
 Paul and

00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.599
 his group

00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:36.359
 hanging out

00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.139
 in Philippi

00:25:37.139 --> 00:25:37.700
 and they're

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.440
 being heckled

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:38.980
 by this

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.799
 slave girl.

00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:40.599
 And you

00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:41.099
 know how it

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.420
 goes.

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.200
 The stain of

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:42.579
 Lydia's

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.700
 conversion is

00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.440
 spreading through

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.240
 the town and

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.839
 the hucksters.

00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.179
 You know,

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.220
 they seek to

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:47.679
 capitalize.

00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:48.939
 You worship

00:25:48.939 --> 00:25:49.799
 the most high

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.279
 God,

00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:51.459
 a slave girl,

00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.919
 mocks Paul

00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:53.279
 and his

00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:53.679
 friends.

00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:55.279
 Acts tells us

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.299
 this girl had

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:57.379
 a spirit or

00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.039
 a nature.

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.019
 In Greek,

00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.679
 it says,

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.019
 of python,

00:26:01.679 --> 00:26:02.519
 of a snake,

00:26:02.919 --> 00:26:03.699
 of a deceiver,

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.919
 of a purveyor

00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:05.740
 of divination.

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.539
 She wraps you

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.199
 in her coil,

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.220
 she squeezes you

00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:09.919
 for all your

00:26:09.919 --> 00:26:10.240
 worth,

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:10.899
 and she

00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:11.740
 destroys you.

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.720
 But notice

00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.140
 this,

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.000
 this supposed

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.240
 prophetess says

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.240
 nothing mysterious

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.039
 or particularly

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:17.680
 unknown.

00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.279
 Lydia's story

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.920
 was surely

00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:21.240
 rattling through

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.839
 the gossip

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.720
 chains of the

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:22.980
 city,

00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.079
 and Paul's

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.380
 mission was

00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:26.079
 no secret.

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.799
 But the girl

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.839
 had a reputation,

00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.559
 so through her

00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:30.980
 voice,

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.900
 mere statements

00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.900
 of truth take

00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:33.819
 on some kind

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.740
 of sinister

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.819
 tone of

00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.339
 divination.

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:36.439
 question.

00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.000
 Why?

00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.119
 Why do we

00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:39.659
 so easily

00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:40.379
 give ourselves

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.199
 over to the

00:26:41.199 --> 00:26:41.959
 deceit and

00:26:41.959 --> 00:26:43.419
 nonsense of

00:26:43.419 --> 00:26:44.000
 the occult?

00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:45.899
 And look at

00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:46.579
 All Hallows'

00:26:46.639 --> 00:26:47.639
 Eve, look how

00:26:47.639 --> 00:26:48.220
 it's been

00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:49.319
 appropriated by

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.319
 secular culture,

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.359
 a precious

00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:53.259
 Christian time,

00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:55.459
 now deeply

00:26:55.459 --> 00:26:56.179
 and darkly

00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:56.939
 overshadowed.

00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.480
 There's nothing

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.240
 like a public

00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:00.179
 accusation and

00:27:00.179 --> 00:27:00.859
 a titillating

00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:01.919
 conflict to

00:27:01.919 --> 00:27:02.539
 promote a

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.399
 psychic fraud.

00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:04.399
 You think

00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:05.259
 your Jesus is

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.159
 the only way

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.680
 to heaven,

00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.200
 you think

00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:07.720
 your Jesus

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.420
 is the only

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:08.860
 truth,

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.720
 so you think

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.200
 he's right

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:10.580
 and everyone

00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:11.519
 else is wrong,

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.440
 your way is

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.360
 the only way,

00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:14.360
 what makes

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:15.560
 you so sure

00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:16.019
 of yourself?

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.620
 What makes

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.519
 you so

00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.120
 privileged?

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.500
 Her supposed

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.759
 prognostications

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.620
 had made

00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.259
 this slave

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.720
 girl's owners

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:25.259
 a ton of

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.740
 cash.

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.300
 So when Paul

00:27:27.300 --> 00:27:28.320
 had finally

00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:29.860
 had enough,

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.759
 he spoke

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.380
 the name of

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:32.120
 Jesus at

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:33.320
 which darkness

00:27:33.320 --> 00:27:34.259
 must flee,

00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:35.300
 at which evil

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:36.359
 and deceit

00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:37.240
 must flee

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.619
 and in

00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:37.919
 Jesus'

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.599
 name he

00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:39.319
 commanded it

00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:39.819
 to just

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.919
 stop and

00:27:40.919 --> 00:27:41.539
 get lost.

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.119
 And immediately

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:43.899
 the slave

00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:45.119
 girl's income

00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:46.240
 generating potential

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.039
 evaporated.

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.059
 How many

00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:50.299
 claim Christ

00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:50.819
 as king

00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.559
 just so long

00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.960
 as he can

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.960
 share the

00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.480
 reign over

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.099
 their lives

00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.759
 with cash?

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.359
 And you know

00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:57.599
 cash is

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.019
 alluring.

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.500
 It's an

00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:59.339
 alluring king

00:27:59.339 --> 00:28:00.059
 who has long

00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.940
 ruled over the

00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:01.879
 human heart.

00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:02.680
 And the

00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.380
 moment this

00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:04.960
 Jesus disrupts

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.660
 the marketplace,

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:07.320
 that's when

00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:07.820
 he's gone

00:28:07.820 --> 00:28:08.740
 too far.

00:28:09.520 --> 00:28:10.180
 First Lydia,

00:28:10.780 --> 00:28:11.480
 now the

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:11.780
 girl.

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.160
 This Jesus

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.800
 must go.

00:28:14.860 --> 00:28:15.580
 Paul and

00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:16.300
 his friends

00:28:16.300 --> 00:28:17.100
 must be made

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:17.940
 an example

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.320
 of.

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.480
 The lies

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.320
 are concocted,

00:28:20.820 --> 00:28:21.720
 the prosecutions

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.680
 are fabricated,

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.620
 the Roman

00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:24.180
 lictors,

00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:25.240
 the local

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:26.020
 judges who

00:28:26.020 --> 00:28:27.420
 exact punishment

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.320
 were all too

00:28:28.320 --> 00:28:29.200
 happy to

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.580
 wield their

00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:31.139
 rods,

00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:31.819
 the symbols

00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.240
 of their

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.779
 office,

00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:33.619
 to bloody

00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:34.460
 these Christians

00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.599
 and to beat

00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.500
 this Jesus

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.639
 nonsense out

00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.079
 of them.

00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.639
 And note

00:28:39.639 --> 00:28:40.179
 how Paul

00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:40.819
 responds.

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:41.879
 Does he

00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.539
 renounce his

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:42.839
 faith?

00:28:43.199 --> 00:28:43.439
 No.

00:28:43.939 --> 00:28:44.339
 Does he

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:44.919
 capitulate

00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:45.740
 and plead

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.319
 with these

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:46.960
 secular

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.539
 authorities

00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.299
 for leniency?

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:48.759
 Does he

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.519
 complain to

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.099
 God about

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.699
 the injustice

00:28:50.699 --> 00:28:51.259
 of it all?

00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.299
 Surely God

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:52.819
 I deserve

00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.199
 better?

00:28:53.659 --> 00:28:54.139
 Isn't that

00:28:54.139 --> 00:28:54.460
 what you

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:54.839
 promised?

00:28:55.639 --> 00:28:56.039
 Does he

00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.639
 cry out

00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.500
 for God's

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.159
 wrath to

00:28:58.159 --> 00:28:58.639
 rain down

00:28:58.639 --> 00:28:59.179
 upon his

00:28:59.179 --> 00:28:59.699
 abusers?

00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.720
 No.

00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:02.420
 Just the

00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:02.759
 opposite.

00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.000
 He absorbs

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.559
 the loss.

00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.700
 He tolerates

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.600
 the intolerance.

00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.420
 He sings

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.220
 through suffering.

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:08.960
 He praises

00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.920
 through pain

00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:11.559
 and he prays

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:11.900
 for his

00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:12.680
 persecutors

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.380
 and his

00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:14.059
 prison guards.

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.460
 He trusts

00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.920
 God with

00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.440
 his trauma.

00:29:18.340 --> 00:29:18.779
 And again,

00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.360
 God acts.

00:29:20.840 --> 00:29:21.380
 He breaks

00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.380
 their bonds

00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:23.220
 and bursts

00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:24.120
 their prison

00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:24.960
 wide open.

00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:26.480
 Paul sees

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.240
 the opportunity,

00:29:27.860 --> 00:29:28.259
 not his

00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.580
 freedom,

00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.579
 but the

00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.099
 chance

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.879
 to see

00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.500
 that

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.139
 jailer

00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:33.139
 freed.

00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:34.359
 You see,

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.119
 suddenly

00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:35.619
 everything

00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:36.439
 has flipped.

00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:37.839
 It's the

00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:38.339
 jailer

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:38.919
 who's

00:29:38.919 --> 00:29:39.319
 threatened

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.679
 and traumatized.

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.299
 Surely

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:42.079
 his prisoners

00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:42.879
 have escaped

00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:43.619
 and now

00:29:43.619 --> 00:29:44.259
 he's the

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.079
 one in

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:46.099
 fear of

00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:46.419
 Roman

00:29:46.419 --> 00:29:46.879
 justice.

00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:47.859
 He'd

00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:48.419
 rather kill

00:29:48.419 --> 00:29:48.939
 himself

00:29:48.939 --> 00:29:50.000
 than face

00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.679
 what Paul

00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:51.559
 had just

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.299
 endured at

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.000
 his hands.

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.159
 But that

00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:54.699
 ridiculous

00:29:54.699 --> 00:29:55.199
 Christian,

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.099
 that Paul,

00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:57.179
 and those

00:29:57.179 --> 00:29:57.699
 prisoners

00:29:57.699 --> 00:29:59.000
 immersed in

00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.699
 prayers and

00:29:59.699 --> 00:30:00.379
 surrounded by

00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:00.939
 the praises

00:30:00.939 --> 00:30:01.559
 of God,

00:30:02.399 --> 00:30:03.079
 they honored

00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:04.000
 God by

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.439
 living love

00:30:05.439 --> 00:30:06.699
 in an

00:30:06.699 --> 00:30:07.899
 abundance of

00:30:07.899 --> 00:30:09.219
 integrity and

00:30:09.219 --> 00:30:10.539
 compassion and

00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.839
 generosity even

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:13.199
 for this

00:30:13.199 --> 00:30:14.539
 abusive jailer.

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.240
 They don't

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.139
 just seek their

00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:17.019
 personal freedom

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.759
 in the darkness

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:19.199
 through those

00:30:19.199 --> 00:30:20.419
 open doors.

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.859
 Most every

00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.839
 criminal would

00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:23.480
 run given

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.339
 such a chance,

00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:25.819
 but not

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.099
 those

00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:26.500
 Christians.

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.079
 He stood

00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.559
 firmly,

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.559
 integrity,

00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:30.859
 compassion,

00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:31.879
 love.

00:30:32.679 --> 00:30:33.119
 We're all

00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:34.039
 here, he

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.379
 said.

00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.659
 Impossible.

00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:37.000
 Impossible.

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:39.259
 Yet, the

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.839
 jailer saw

00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.079
 him.

00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:40.959
 There he

00:30:40.959 --> 00:30:41.299
 stood.

00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:42.439
 What else

00:30:42.439 --> 00:30:42.879
 would Paul

00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:43.119
 do?

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.220
 God moved

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:45.539
 in the

00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:45.919
 jailer.

00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:46.519
 The

00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.059
 encrusted

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.819
 stone and

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.279
 the iron

00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:48.959
 chains that

00:30:48.959 --> 00:30:49.339
 had held

00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:49.939
 the jailer's

00:30:49.939 --> 00:30:50.679
 heart captive

00:30:50.679 --> 00:30:52.079
 were burst.

00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:53.079
 The door

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.679
 of grace

00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.799
 flung open

00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.920
 and that

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.660
 jailer stepped

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:57.180
 into the

00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:57.480
 light.

00:30:58.600 --> 00:30:59.039
 And again,

00:30:59.180 --> 00:30:59.840
 we see the

00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.900
 wondrous response

00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:01.480
 to love.

00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.299
 We see

00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:02.820
 repentance.

00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:03.680
 We see

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.220
 restoration.

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.220
 We see

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:06.500
 compassion and

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.060
 generosity.

00:31:08.060 --> 00:31:08.960
 In Paul and

00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.440
 in this

00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:09.980
 ridiculous,

00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.860
 awesome way

00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:11.500
 of the cross,

00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:12.860
 that jailer

00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:13.700
 met Jesus.

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.519
 Paul would

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.200
 later write

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:17.380
 its foolishness

00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:18.039
 to the Greeks,

00:31:18.580 --> 00:31:19.880
 but its wisdom

00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:20.960
 given by God

00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.920
 for his

00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:22.720
 kingdom's

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.240
 advancement

00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:24.420
 and for

00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.160
 gospel growth.

00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:26.980
 The man

00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:28.079
 was changed

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:28.740
 and like

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.100
 Lydia,

00:31:29.600 --> 00:31:30.259
 his whole

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.019
 house was

00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:32.059
 opened and

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.660
 there was an

00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.960
 abundance of

00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.600
 compassion,

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.799
 an expression

00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:36.620
 of Christian

00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:37.079
 love.

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.000
 Enemies

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:39.180
 became brothers

00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.279
 and through

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.720
 it all,

00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.400
 another family

00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.960
 came to

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.519
 know Jesus.

00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.180
 The jailer

00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:46.700
 had asked,

00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:48.180
 what must I

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:48.840
 do to be

00:31:48.840 --> 00:31:49.259
 saved?

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.559
 The answer,

00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:51.960
 believe.

00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:54.140
 And believe

00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:54.799
 in a way

00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:56.640
 that is seen

00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.359
 in the way

00:31:57.359 --> 00:31:58.000
 you live.

00:31:58.859 --> 00:31:59.359
 Live a

00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.440
 belief that

00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:01.099
 is seen

00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:02.019
 in your

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.559
 acts.

00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:04.299
 His belief

00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.160
 too looked

00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:05.799
 like something.

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.039
 It looked

00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.799
 like Jesus

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:09.160
 steadfast

00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:10.579
 even in

00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.079
 the face

00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:11.599
 of dire

00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:12.779
 consequences.

00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:14.619
 Without

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.900
 this jailer's

00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.819
 sacrifice

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:18.200
 and homage

00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:18.899
 to Caesar

00:32:18.899 --> 00:32:19.599
 Augustus,

00:32:19.879 --> 00:32:20.740
 this jailer

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.339
 would simply

00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:22.279
 not be

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:22.899
 tolerated.

00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:24.579
 His life

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.779
 would be

00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.619
 at risk,

00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:27.579
 his family

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:28.619
 would be

00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.359
 upended.

00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.679
 Sacrifices

00:32:31.679 --> 00:32:32.439
 and worship

00:32:32.439 --> 00:32:33.279
 of Caesar

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:33.960
 Augustus

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:34.879
 were required

00:32:34.879 --> 00:32:35.579
 of him

00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.759
 as a Roman

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.240
 official.

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:38.700
 They were a

00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.319
 condition of

00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:39.960
 his employment.

00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:41.639
 We are not

00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:42.419
 told how he

00:32:42.419 --> 00:32:42.759
 fared,

00:32:43.179 --> 00:32:43.980
 but to imagine

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.759
 he lived

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.480
 somehow

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:46.119
 consequence

00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:46.640
 free.

00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:48.119
 No member

00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:48.680
 of the early

00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.119
 church,

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.960
 knowing Rome

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.379
 as they

00:32:50.379 --> 00:32:50.759
 did,

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:51.839
 would make

00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.599
 that mistake.

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:53.640
 This

00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.480
 conversion

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.420
 would be

00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:56.299
 a marvel

00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:57.140
 of surrender

00:32:57.140 --> 00:32:58.140
 and sacrifice

00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:59.160
 and a mighty

00:32:59.160 --> 00:32:59.799
 testimony

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.779
 to the

00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.140
 gospel.

00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:03.059
 So finally,

00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.079
 note what

00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:04.759
 happens when

00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.359
 those Roman

00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.079
 lictors are

00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:06.680
 confronted

00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.559
 by the

00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:07.940
 truth.

00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:09.000
 In fear,

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:09.940
 they offer

00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:10.640
 a quiet

00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:11.500
 appeasement.

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.839
 Just let

00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:13.339
 them go.

00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.019
 Let them

00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:14.279
 go.

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:14.759
 Get them

00:33:14.759 --> 00:33:15.019
 out of

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.220
 here.

00:33:16.139 --> 00:33:16.839
 But then

00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:17.319
 there's that

00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:17.940
 Paul again,

00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:19.079
 that Christian.

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.240
 No way,

00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.039
 he says.

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.579
 He claims

00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:23.220
 the public

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.660
 square.

00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.740
 You condemned

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.720
 me in public.

00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.519
 Now admit

00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:27.160
 your grievous

00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:27.920
 error in

00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:28.259
 public.

00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:29.299
 You've seen

00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:29.960
 the hand

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.279
 of the

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.960
 Most High

00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.519
 God,

00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.279
 to whom

00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.359
 even Octavian

00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:34.000
 Caesar

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.000
 Augustus

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:35.900
 will bend

00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:36.759
 his knee.

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:37.559
 So now

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.240
 let everyone

00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:38.940
 bear witness

00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:40.059
 of the acts

00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:40.700
 of this

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.740
 one true

00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:42.559
 God.

00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.480
 Bear witness

00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.019
 of his

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.360
 truth,

00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:45.299
 his gospel,

00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.059
 and the

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:46.559
 way of

00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:47.440
 his Christ.

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.319
 Bear witness

00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:48.880
 of him

00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:50.059
 who vibrantly

00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.680
 inspired Lydia,

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.900
 who silenced

00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:53.519
 the Satan

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.220
 in the slave

00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:54.480
 girl,

00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:55.440
 who captivated

00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:56.680
 the jailer,

00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.740
 and who set

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.799
 his followers

00:33:58.799 --> 00:33:59.299
 free.

00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:01.539
 Paul had

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.279
 suffered as a

00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:02.640
 Christian,

00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:03.880
 celebrating,

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:04.579
 praising,

00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:05.620
 praying,

00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:06.599
 and singing

00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:07.539
 to God.

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:07.579
 God.

00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:08.599
 And now

00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:09.360
 he stood

00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:09.960
 in the

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.279
 public

00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:10.800
 square,

00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:11.519
 in the

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.059
 marketplace,

00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:12.900
 in the

00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.460
 face of

00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:13.920
 government

00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:14.699
 and Roman

00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:15.300
 justice,

00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:16.059
 and in

00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:16.699
 the dungeon

00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:17.719
 doing exactly

00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:18.400
 what Christ

00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.480
 Jesus had

00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:20.119
 asked of

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.440
 him,

00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:21.860
 and what

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:22.420
 he asks

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:22.840
 of each

00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:23.380
 of us.

00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:26.219
 He believed.

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.639
 He valued

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.079
 God.

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.380
 He loved

00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.420
 God.

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.599
 And it was

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:32.219
 obvious,

00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:33.119
 and it

00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:34.119
 shaped his

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.659
 acts.

00:34:34.659 --> 00:34:35.639
 In

00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.079
 believing,

00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:37.359
 Lydia and

00:34:37.359 --> 00:34:38.079
 that jailer

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:39.079
 valued Christ,

00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:39.960
 and it

00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.940
 shaped their

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.399
 acts.

00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:42.399
 In

00:34:42.399 --> 00:34:43.039
 Philippi,

00:34:43.399 --> 00:34:44.420
 God changed

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.799
 hearts and

00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:47.059
 restored people

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.759
 to eternal

00:34:47.759 --> 00:34:48.199
 life.

00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:49.839
 Homes and

00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:51.139
 families were

00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:51.679
 changed.

00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:53.199
 A church

00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:54.099
 was planted.

00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:56.519
 Years later,

00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:58.219
 Paul would

00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:59.159
 write that

00:34:59.159 --> 00:34:59.619
 church,

00:34:59.899 --> 00:35:00.259
 and he

00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:00.799
 would tell

00:35:00.799 --> 00:35:01.579
 them of his

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.859
 ministry in

00:35:02.859 --> 00:35:03.279
 Rome,

00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:04.519
 his mission

00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.259
 to the

00:35:05.259 --> 00:35:05.679
 imperial

00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.159
 guard.

00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:06.840
 He would

00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:07.360
 write of

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:07.559
 his

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.400
 imprisonment

00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:08.960
 and his

00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:10.759
 evangelism

00:35:10.759 --> 00:35:11.340
 of a

00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:11.920
 whole new

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.539
 group of

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.159
 abusers,

00:35:13.679 --> 00:35:14.179
 liars,

00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:15.320
 persecutors,

00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:16.079
 prosecutors,

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.280
 and jailers.

00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:18.579
 And I

00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:19.099
 can't help

00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:19.619
 but wonder,

00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:20.139
 as the

00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:20.659
 Philippians

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:21.800
 read that

00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.360
 letter that

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:22.659
 he had

00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:23.139
 written to

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.639
 them from

00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.079
 a Roman

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:24.659
 prisoner,

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.699
 what they

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:26.420
 would remember

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.199
 as they

00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:27.579
 read,

00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.940
 describing how

00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.579
 he again

00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:30.239
 was suffering

00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:30.900
 in a jail.

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:32.820
 and still

00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:34.079
 he was

00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:34.740
 advancing the

00:35:34.740 --> 00:35:35.099
 gospel.

00:35:36.099 --> 00:35:36.760
 You are

00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:37.420
 partakers

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.220
 with me

00:35:38.220 --> 00:35:39.019
 of grace,

00:35:39.180 --> 00:35:39.760
 Paul wrote,

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:40.619
 both in

00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:41.619
 my imprisonment

00:35:41.619 --> 00:35:43.360
 and in

00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:44.019
 the defense

00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.940
 and confirmation

00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:45.760
 of the

00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:46.119
 gospel.

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:47.320
 It is my

00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:48.320
 prayer that

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:49.019
 your love

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.660
 may abound

00:35:49.660 --> 00:35:50.160
 more and

00:35:50.160 --> 00:35:51.139
 more with

00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:51.840
 knowledge and

00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:52.720
 all discernment

00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:53.820
 so that you

00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.579
 may approve

00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:54.960
 what is

00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:56.039
 excellent and

00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:57.119
 so be pure

00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:58.440
 and blameless

00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:59.219
 for the

00:35:59.219 --> 00:35:59.579
 day of

00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.059
 Christ,

00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.199
 filled with

00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:01.739
 the fruit

00:36:01.739 --> 00:36:02.579
 of righteousness

00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:03.799
 that comes

00:36:03.799 --> 00:36:04.420
 through Jesus

00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:05.759
 Christ to

00:36:05.759 --> 00:36:06.440
 the glory and

00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:06.920
 praise of

00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:07.239
 God.

00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:09.039
 Today,

00:36:09.259 --> 00:36:09.679
 as you

00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:10.460
 remember your

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:11.199
 first three

00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:11.719
 years of

00:36:11.719 --> 00:36:12.559
 ministry together

00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:13.420
 as a

00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:14.579
 congregation in

00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.159
 this capital

00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:15.799
 of Canada,

00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:17.699
 let Paul's

00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.440
 prayer to

00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:19.139
 that church

00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:20.179
 planted in

00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:21.239
 Philippi,

00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:22.099
 a capital,

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:22.920
 a leading

00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:23.500
 city of

00:36:23.500 --> 00:36:24.299
 another nation,

00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:25.920
 be my

00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:26.679
 prayer for

00:36:26.679 --> 00:36:27.119
 each of

00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:27.940
 you and

00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:28.399
 all of

00:36:28.399 --> 00:36:28.599
 you.

00:36:29.379 --> 00:36:30.000
 My hope

00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.299
 is you

00:36:30.299 --> 00:36:30.879
 will be

00:36:30.879 --> 00:36:31.980
 the church

00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:32.980
 boldly

00:36:32.980 --> 00:36:34.039
 standing in

00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.460
 the public

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:34.899
 square,

00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:35.940
 fearlessly

00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:37.059
 standing in

00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:37.659
 the marketplace,

00:36:38.319 --> 00:36:38.960
 leaving no

00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:39.599
 doubt in

00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.379
 the halls of

00:36:40.379 --> 00:36:41.039
 justice and

00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:41.579
 the houses

00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:42.339
 of government

00:36:42.339 --> 00:36:43.519
 that Christ

00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:45.559
 alone is

00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.119
 your king

00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:47.339
 and that you

00:36:47.339 --> 00:36:47.899
 will serve

00:36:47.899 --> 00:36:48.879
 him with

00:36:48.879 --> 00:36:49.480
 everything

00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:50.519
 entrusted to

00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:51.079
 you from

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:51.579
 the breath

00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:52.039
 you just

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:53.259
 took to

00:36:53.259 --> 00:36:53.719
 the home

00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:54.319
 you inhabit

00:36:54.319 --> 00:36:55.019
 to the

00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:55.759
 abilities and

00:36:55.759 --> 00:36:56.659
 education and

00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:57.399
 bodies and

00:36:57.399 --> 00:36:58.339
 you use to

00:36:58.339 --> 00:36:59.279
 produce incomes

00:36:59.279 --> 00:36:59.679
 to the

00:36:59.679 --> 00:37:00.659
 resources placed

00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.000
 in your

00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.859
 hands to

00:37:01.859 --> 00:37:02.279
 the very

00:37:02.279 --> 00:37:03.119
 lives he

00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:03.879
 invested in

00:37:03.879 --> 00:37:04.679
 you to

00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:05.339
 the spirit

00:37:05.339 --> 00:37:06.319
 that he

00:37:06.319 --> 00:37:07.079
 breathed into

00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:07.359
 you.

00:37:07.799 --> 00:37:09.000
 I pray you

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.719
 will love

00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:10.839
 him with

00:37:10.839 --> 00:37:11.279
 your whole

00:37:11.279 --> 00:37:11.679
 heart,

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:12.679
 that you

00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:13.339
 will value

00:37:13.339 --> 00:37:14.799
 him above

00:37:14.799 --> 00:37:16.079
 all and

00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:17.139
 so be

00:37:17.139 --> 00:37:18.559
 his church.

00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:20.099
 Will you

00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:20.500
 pray with

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:20.699
 me?

00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:20.739
 Amen.

00:37:20.739 --> 00:37:20.779
 Amen.

00:37:20.779 --> 00:37:20.839
 Amen.

00:37:20.839 --> 00:37:20.879
 Amen.

00:37:20.879 --> 00:37:20.960
 Amen.

00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:21.019
 Amen.

00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:21.079
 Amen.

00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:21.879
 Amen.

00:37:21.879 --> 00:37:22.879
 Amen.

00:37:22.879 --> 00:37:22.960
 Amen.

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:23.019
 Amen.

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.879
 Amen.

00:37:23.879 --> 00:37:24.879
 Amen.

00:37:24.879 --> 00:37:24.960
 Amen.

00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.019
 Amen.

00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:25.960
 Amen.

00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:26.639
 Amen.

00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:28.099
 Holy God,

00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:30.579
 it is all

00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.159
 about you.

00:37:31.879 --> 00:37:32.420
 You are the

00:37:32.420 --> 00:37:32.940
 beginning and

00:37:32.940 --> 00:37:33.299
 the end,

00:37:33.379 --> 00:37:33.920
 the Alpha and

00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:34.359
 the Omega.

00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:36.059
 For those who

00:37:36.059 --> 00:37:36.579
 believe,

00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:37.460
 you are the

00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:38.059
 center of

00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:38.679
 every hope,

00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:39.559
 of every

00:37:39.559 --> 00:37:40.059
 dream,

00:37:40.179 --> 00:37:40.500
 of every

00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:40.960
 ambition,

00:37:41.099 --> 00:37:41.440
 of every

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.079
 motivation.

00:37:43.219 --> 00:37:43.619
 Give us

00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:44.339
 eyes that

00:37:44.339 --> 00:37:45.139
 seek only

00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:45.440
 you.

00:37:45.579 --> 00:37:45.879
 Give us

00:37:45.879 --> 00:37:46.559
 ears that

00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.239
 strain to

00:37:47.239 --> 00:37:47.719
 hear your

00:37:47.719 --> 00:37:48.079
 truth.

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:48.719
 Give us

00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:49.319
 hearts,

00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:50.940
 hearts that

00:37:50.940 --> 00:37:51.879
 desire only

00:37:51.879 --> 00:37:52.239
 you,

00:37:52.799 --> 00:37:53.599
 hearts that

00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:54.159
 value

00:37:54.159 --> 00:37:55.319
 you.

00:37:55.320 --> 00:37:59.700
 give us a voice that speaks courageously

00:37:59.700 --> 00:38:04.300
 let us be as steadfast as Jesus Christ was

00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:07.780
 steadfast even in the face of trials

00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:11.140
 persecution death on a cross

00:38:11.140 --> 00:38:14.700
 let your love abound more and more

00:38:14.700 --> 00:38:18.380
 with knowledge and all discernment among your people

00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:19.500
 gathered here today

00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:23.039
 give them the mindset of Christ

00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:27.400
 so that they may approve what is excellent in your eyes

00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:30.500
 and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ

00:38:30.500 --> 00:38:33.219
 filled with the fruit of righteousness

00:38:33.219 --> 00:38:36.980
 that comes through the knowledge and love of Jesus

00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:38.500
 God the Son

00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:41.300
 our only true Lord

00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:43.179
 our only King

00:38:43.179 --> 00:38:47.699
 to the glory and praise of you we live in Christ alone

00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:49.460
 Amen