WEBVTT

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 Back in 2004, I think it was around about then, I made an application on behalf of my previous church to the New South Wales Department of Commerce in order for us as a church to access government contract rates on a number of different purchases.

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 The process was painful, to say the least, in terms of the paperwork going backwards and forwards and the amount of time it took.

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 It took weeks and weeks and weeks.

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 Eventually, after not hearing anything for some time, I rang them up and spoke to the person dealing with our case.

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 He said to me, it's been sitting there and I've been holding on to it because I don't know what to do with it.

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 He asked me, in the course of that conversation, to finish this deal, if you like.

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 What I need to do is I need a copy of your business's constitution.

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 I wasn't sure such a thing existed.

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 I said to him, we're a church.

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 He said, well, yeah, but any organisation and institution has a constitution.

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 I pushed it a little bit harder.

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 What is it that you want from this constitution?

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 He said, well, basically, I need a wind-up clause.

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 He said, so if the church or when the church ceases to exist, what happens?

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 So I'm kind of a little bit testy at this point.

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 And I said, I wasn't quite sure what to say.

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 And so I said the first thing that came into my mouth, which is always, not always the best idea.

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 But I said to him, well, we've been operating since the day of Pentecost.

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 I'm not sure exactly when that was, but it was probably something like 1,700 years before New South Wales government even came to exist, let alone the New South Wales Department of Commerce.

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 There's around 2 billion members worldwide.

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 And I think our wind-up clause, whatever that is, kicks in when Jesus comes back.

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 And I can't give you the date for that.

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 That didn't seem to satisfy him.

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 And so I sent him a copy of the Australian government's Anglican Church Constitution Act of 1902, which has got no wind-up clause in it, but seemed to satisfy him.

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 And then eventually, after a number of weeks, I got a piece of paper.

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 You see, we were operating on two different worldviews.

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 His worldview is that the church is just like any other institution, and it will come to an end.

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 And that is the tide of the culture in which we exist now in our country.

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 The church has had its day.

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 In fact, more specifically, God has had his day amongst us.

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 We are now living in enlightened and technological advanced times that don't need God.

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 My worldview, driven by the scriptures, says that God was the living God when the universe banged into existence.

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 He was the living God when James Cook put his foot on Australian soil for the first time.

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 He was the living God in 1966 when Time magazine put a title on its front cover saying,

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 Is God dead?

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 And so, I'm not thinking of a wind-up clause in terms of God and his purposes.

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 No thing, no person will prevail against him and his purposes.

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 No matter how big the head of state is right now, no matter how powerful a person might be,

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 Tony Abbott, Barack Obama, whoever it might be,

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 there is not a single head of state in all the world right now who will be ruling in 100 years.

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 They'll be gone.

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 All of them.

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 The turnover is 100%.

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 And in a brief 120 years, this planet will be populated with, apparently, around 10 billion new people.

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 That means all the 6, 7 billion, whatever it is right now,

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 that currently have got their feet planted on the earth,

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 will be all vanished and gone.

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 You and me, gone.

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 Dead.

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 Dead.

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 But God will still be alive and ruling and his purposes still being worked out.

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 And so, the main thrust of today's passage is,

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 try as you will, as powerful as you may be,

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 you stand against this God and you lose.

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 It's that simple.

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 There is no wind-up clause to his purposes.

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 That's the reality here.

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 So, open up your Bible to Acts 12.

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 So far, Acts 1 to 11.

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 It's an incredible account of the fulfillment of Acts 1, verse 8,

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 which is the key verse in understanding Acts.

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 You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

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 The word of God and the message of forgiveness of sins, new life in Jesus Christ,

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 has spread rapidly in chapters 1 to 8.

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 And it is simply saying that in chapters 1 to 8, it's simply saying Jesus reigns.

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 He is doing what he said he would do.

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 He is alive and he is active in this world.

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 And so, in the first 11 chapters of Acts, all in all, it's been a pretty good start.

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 They've had a few hiccups along the way, a few little issues.

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 And, you know, Stephen was killed in chapter 7 and things like that.

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 But all in all, vision 8050 or whatever it is that they had, it's had a pretty good start.

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 But when you get into Acts 12, the days couldn't be much darker for this church in Jerusalem

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 and certainly for the early church.

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 Have a look at it there, verse 1.

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 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who were belonging to the church,

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 intending to persecute them.

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 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

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 And when he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also.

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 This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

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 After arresting him, he put him in prison.

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 Now, that is a major blow for this early church.

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 Major blow.

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 So imagine here for us at St. Paul's.

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 If Chris was just beheaded down at the concourse because he was proclaiming Jesus just before Christmas,

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 and Brian's arrested, he's in Chatswood lockup, or Hornsby lockup,

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 and awaiting the same thing as soon as Christmas and Boxing Day is over.

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 They'll bring him out to the concourse and do the same thing for him.

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 Can you imagine what we would feel at that point?

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 It would be an unthinkable tragedy.

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 It would be an enormous blow for us as we consider, God, you've given us this mission.

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 Things have been going fantastic.

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 And all of a sudden, this has happened to our key leaders.

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 It would gut us in many ways.

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 And so here in Acts 12, we see that Herod is the main enemy.

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 This is Herod I.

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 He is grandson of Herod the Great, even though he wasn't the first Herod.

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 He was entitled Herod I.

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 He was grandson of Herod the Great, the Herod the Great who hoped to kill Jesus himself

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 by getting rid of all the infant boys around Bethlehem and around the time Jesus was born.

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 Herod I was sent to Rome to be educated after his grandfather killed his father.

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 Close family, this one.

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 And then he grew up in Rome as a friend and of the imperial family.

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 He became something of a playboy.

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 And in AD 23, he fled Rome to Palestine to escape his creditors.

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 He spent time in prison.

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 And at times he lived in pretty humble, destitute circumstances.

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 However, that all shifted for him when a few of his boyhood mates rose to power in Rome and appointed him to be ruler of Judea and Samaria under their rule.

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 This is the sort of story that magazines sell for, you know, this is incredible.

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 For example, Herod I was preeminently a politician.

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 When amongst the Romans, he would act like a Roman.

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 When amongst the Jews, he would act like a Jew because that was his heritage.

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 He was won by heritage, not by conviction.

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 And so he would do anything to maintain his popularity with the Jewish people who were his main constituents.

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 He saw Jewish Christians as divisive and believed their activities would disturb the population.

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 And so with the sudden word here, James was gone.

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 Just one verse, gone.

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 Put to death by the sword.

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 And as soon as the Feast of Unleavened Bread was over,

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 because you weren't allowed to do executions during the Passover,

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 you had to kind of wait for church to be over so you'd go and kill people,

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 there would undoubtedly be a mock trial and Peter would join James in death.

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 And so the Jerusalem church here would have felt overwhelmed and powerless in this scenario.

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 And there was nothing they could do except verse 5 says,

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 the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

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 The word translated earnestly comes originally from a word that means to stretch or to strain.

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 They were straining in prayer, or as one person puts it,

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 they were praying with agony for Peter.

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 Does anything look more ridiculous to oppressors than a ragtag,

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 harried group of believers praying for God's help in the midst of oppressive darkness?

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 To those outside the family of God, this looks like terminal weakness.

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 Getting around to pray?

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 You know, one of you leaves is dead, another one's on the way,

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 and the best you can come up with is pray?

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 It would have been much more sensible to organise a petition.

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 Picket the prison or the palace or something like that, a few placards, release Peter.

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 Plan a reprisal attack, that'll do it.

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 Car bomb, not that they had them back in those days.

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 Camel bomb, outside the palace.

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 Or a kidnapping, sorry to camels.

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 Or a kidnapping, one of Herod's close confidants or a family member.

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 Show some strength, put political power against political power.

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 The opponents here must have thought, what fools?

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 Herod's power is irresistible.

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 The sword had fallen once, and it would fall on the helpless neck of another of their leaders.

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 Even verse 11 indicates that everyone in Jerusalem figured that Peter was done for.

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 And so, zero hours at hand, Passover was complete,

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 and now Herod and his staff could come out of church and kill Peter.

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 The victim of a kangaroo court.

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 Verse 6 begins the description of this final night.

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 It says,

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 The night before Herod was to bring him out to trial,

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 Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,

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 bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.

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 Peter was sleeping.

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 In fact, quite soundly asleep.

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 It says that an angel a little bit later had to nudge him to wake him up.

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 But his restfulness on this night simply means that he was at peace with himself.

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 He was at peace with God, and he was at peace with these circumstances in which he found himself.

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 It's quite possible that he shared Christ as best he could with his captors,

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 had a time of prayer, fell asleep, resting in Jesus,

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 and on the shoulder of one of the soldiers.

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 It tells us, verse 4,

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 that Peter was guarded by four squads of four soldiers each.

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 Herod wanted to make sure that this really dangerous prisoner that he's caught was not going to escape.

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 These are extraordinary precautions.

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 Normally, they only chained a prisoner to one soldier,

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 and he's got chains on both sides of him.

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 And to make it even more so,

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 there's two soldiers standing outside his cell door to keep guard of him.

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 It's pretty hopeless,

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 and then all of a sudden,

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 there's an unexpected turn of events.

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 Verse 7,

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 Suddenly,

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 an angel of the Lord appeared,

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 and a light shone,

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 shined in the cell.

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 Boom, brightness.

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 He struck Peter on the side,

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 and woke him up,

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 quick,

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 come on, get up.

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 And the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

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 Now, Peter's been in a deep sleep here.

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 He must have been groggy,

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 because the angel had to tell him in verse 8 to get dressed.

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 Put on your clothes and your sandals,

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 wrap your cloak around you,

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 and follow me.

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 Just imagine,

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 early in the morning,

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 Peter obeyed,

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 probably in disarray.

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 Sandals are on the wrong feet.

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 Cloak sort of hanging loosely,

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 his hair's all over the place,

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 grabbing for his long back and his baraka

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 to try and kickstart the morning.

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 He's dazed,

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 he's bewildered like a sleepwalker,

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 not quite sure where he's going,

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 or even why he's going.

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 And verse 9,

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 it says,

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 Peter followed him,

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 that is the angel out of the prison,

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 but he had no idea that what the angel was doing

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 was really happening.

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 He thought he was seeing a vision.

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 He was confused.

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 But there was a dawning awareness,

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 a reality,

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 and as he rubbed his eyes,

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 the reality must have staggered him.

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 Verse 10,

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 they passed the first and second guards,

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 came to the iron gate leading to the city,

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 and it opened for them by itself,

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 and they went through it.

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 And when they had walked the length of one street,

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 suddenly,

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 the angel left.

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 And then Peter came to himself.

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 His chains fell off.

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 He walked right on out by the two guards,

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 which were chained to him.

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 He walked right past the two sentries,

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 and then the gates of the city just swung open.

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 The word translated by itself in verse 10

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 is automatae.

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 The gates opened automatically.

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 I mean, these gates are more reliable

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 than the one we've got out the front here.

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 It opens a close of his own mind.

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 Sleepy or not,

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 he's wandered out there in the streets in Jerusalem,

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 and he must have felt the goose bumps

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 and the adrenaline,

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 and the angel's gone.

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 Stood on the streets of Jerusalem,

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 the middle of the night,

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 he's rubbing his wrists,

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 rubbing his eyes,

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 holding back a yawner thinking,

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 rightio then.

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 You can just imagine the experience.

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 Do you get the picture?

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 Those ragtag, beleaguered, weak Christians

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 knew a God with greater power

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 than Herod's armies and his prisons.

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 The legions of Rome barred the door,

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 but it only took one of God's agents

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 to liberate the captive.

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 And what happened here

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 is that Peter's experience

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 re-equated the embattled church in Jerusalem

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 with the true nature of its strength.

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 No matter how grim,

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 perplexing,

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 and difficult our situation is,

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 God and his angels are present to minister to us.

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 He can deliver at any time,

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 anywhere,

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 in any place.

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 There is nothing too hard for him.

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 Having said that,

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 let me just take a short diversion

00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:18.639
 and raise one big question

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:20.059
 that these verses pose.

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:22.839
 why was Peter preserved,

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:23.899
 but James wasn't?

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:26.299
 James got it,

00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:27.539
 head cut off,

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:28.879
 Peter didn't.

00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:31.380
 James died by the sword,

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:33.020
 Peter was marvelously preserved.

00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:35.120
 Why is one saint rescued

00:17:35.120 --> 00:17:36.420
 and another not?

00:17:37.040 --> 00:17:38.960
 Why are we sitting here tonight

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.740
 in complete freedom,

00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.740
 with no fear for our life

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.340
 whatsoever,

00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.900
 under any kind of threat

00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:45.340
 whatsoever?

00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:47.059
 We've got it pretty cozy and comfy

00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:50.199
 and yet 100 million Christians

00:17:50.199 --> 00:17:51.379
 around the world today

00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:52.779
 will do this sort of thing

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:54.119
 under great threat of their life.

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:55.879
 And in fact,

00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:57.500
 some will give their life for doing this.

00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:58.919
 Why is that?

00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.359
 What's the difference?

00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:04.399
 Let me start with the stupid answer.

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.919
 The stupid answer is,

00:18:07.159 --> 00:18:09.220
 well, because the church didn't pray for James.

00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.259
 As if by our praying,

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:15.599
 we order God to act in certain ways.

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:19.740
 Our prayers ought to be informed by humility

00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:21.879
 because they have been taught

00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:23.279
 by God's mystery.

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:27.720
 We don't always get God's ways.

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:30.099
 His understanding is unsearchable.

00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:32.379
 It is infinite wisdom and understanding,

00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:34.579
 but it is unsearchable.

00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:37.220
 And at the very least,

00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:39.720
 the example of James here tells us

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:42.779
 that the cross of Christ

00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:45.339
 hangs over the existence

00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:47.319
 of every Christian life.

00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:51.319
 And sometimes we are called

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:53.440
 to suffer for Christ's name.

00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:56.559
 And yet on the other hand,

00:18:56.639 --> 00:18:57.720
 the example of Peter

00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:00.139
 tells us that the power of Christ

00:19:00.139 --> 00:19:02.980
 hangs over every Christian life.

00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:05.279
 And sometimes our Lord delights

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:07.980
 to show us how thrilled He is

00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:10.960
 to rescue us from any danger.

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:13.180
 So on the one hand,

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:15.940
 we must not forget Philippians 1.29,

00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:17.579
 for it has been granted to you

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.720
 on behalf of Christ,

00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:20.519
 not only to believe on Him,

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.500
 but also to suffer for Him.

00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.640
 And yet to hold that together

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.720
 with Psalm 116, verse 8,

00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.420
 for you, O Lord,

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.980
 have delivered my soul from death,

00:19:30.340 --> 00:19:31.440
 my eyes from tears,

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:32.539
 and my feet from stumbling.

00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.600
 To keep those together.

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:38.779
 We need to recognize the mystery

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.759
 of God's providence

00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:44.699
 and rest in that mystery.

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:48.819
 We need to understand with clarity

00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:50.419
 that God's greater purpose

00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:53.119
 than our safety and comfort

00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:54.519
 in this earth,

00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.619
 in this world,

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.939
 is His glory

00:19:57.939 --> 00:20:00.459
 through the fulfillment of His plans.

00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:02.720
 God will always act

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.240
 to glorify His name

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:05.440
 and advance His gospel.

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.299
 Now that does not mean

00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:08.860
 that we are simply tools

00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:10.340
 in His hands or pawns

00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:11.220
 to be thrown around

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.079
 wherever we like.

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.279
 God's providence

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:15.600
 is always perfect.

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:21.899
 And He is a careful shepherd

00:20:21.899 --> 00:20:22.519
 of His sheep.

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.919
 I just quoted from Psalm 116

00:20:26.919 --> 00:20:27.939
 just a moment ago,

00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.679
 verse 8,

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.159
 where it says,

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.059
 For you, O Lord,

00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:31.379
 have delivered my soul from death,

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.699
 my eyes from tears,

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.759
 and my feet from stumbling.

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:37.339
 Psalm 116, verse 15,

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.559
 seven verses later,

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.519
 says,

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.679
 Precious in the sight of the Lord

00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:42.899
 is the death of His saints.

00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:47.140
 Reflecting on this verse,

00:20:47.780 --> 00:20:49.840
 the great Charles Spurgeon wrote,

00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.920
 They shall not die prematurely,

00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:52.840
 referring to the saints,

00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:54.360
 they shall not die prematurely,

00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:56.220
 they shall be immortal

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:58.780
 till the work is done.

00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:01.980
 And when their time comes to die,

00:21:02.340 --> 00:21:04.840
 then their deaths shall be precious.

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:08.480
 The Lord watches over their dying beds,

00:21:09.080 --> 00:21:10.820
 He smooths their pillows,

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:13.319
 He sustains their hearts,

00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:15.179
 and He receives their soul.

00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:24.879
 Do you recognize your perfect safety

00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:26.179
 until your work is done

00:21:26.179 --> 00:21:26.939
 for the Lord Jesus?

00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:30.939
 This God is to be trusted,

00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:33.779
 no matter how dark things appear.

00:21:35.639 --> 00:21:37.419
 Calm, secure trust in Him

00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:38.419
 must be our response

00:21:38.419 --> 00:21:39.419
 in all situations.

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:44.519
 This Peter who slept soundly

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:46.000
 in the prison cell

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:49.440
 had just seen one of his mates,

00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:50.720
 heads cut off,

00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:53.240
 and he knew what the outcome

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.600
 was likely to be for him,

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:57.680
 and he rested in God's purposes

00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.800
 and providence

00:21:58.800 --> 00:22:01.340
 in between two Roman soldiers.

00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:04.599
 I don't think he expected

00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.379
 to get out of it,

00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.899
 but God was delighted

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:09.519
 to demonstrate His power,

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.839
 not just to Peter,

00:22:10.919 --> 00:22:11.839
 but to the church,

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:14.119
 and to Herod and to everyone else,

00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:16.099
 and to bring him out of prison.

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.579
 And so there he is,

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:23.539
 standing in the streets in Jerusalem,

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:28.019
 probably asking just as many questions

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:29.980
 that we have about the mystery of God

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:32.200
 and why.

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.799
 And then finally dawns on him

00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:37.119
 what God has done for him,

00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.619
 and so he went to the house of Mary

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:41.119
 where many people had gathered for prayer,

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.859
 and he knocks on the door.

00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:47.459
 What follows is a story

00:22:47.459 --> 00:22:50.240
 of confusion and joyful humour.

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:54.240
 A servant girl named Rhoda

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:56.299
 came to answer the door

00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:57.459
 that Peter was knocking on,

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:59.519
 and she became so befuddled

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.659
 at Peter's voice

00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:03.979
 that she ran to announce his arrival

00:23:03.979 --> 00:23:05.919
 without even opening the door for him.

00:23:07.979 --> 00:23:10.779
 She excitedly busts in

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:12.259
 to the prayer meeting

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.799
 and says,

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.579
 Peter's at the door.

00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:19.000
 And the response

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.220
 of the prayer meeting,

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.879
 the church that's gathered

00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.960
 is now famous.

00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.359
 Verse 15,

00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:26.059
 you're out of your mind.

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:28.319
 You're crazy, Rhoda.

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.720
 And when she kept insisting,

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.500
 no, I'm not crazy,

00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.359
 he's at the door.

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:37.680
 No, it must be his angel.

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.980
 But Peter kept on knocking,

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.180
 and when they opened the door

00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:41.920
 and saw him,

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.400
 they were like,

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:46.640
 Peter's here.

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.900
 At first they thought she was mad,

00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.140
 then they switched the story

00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:53.500
 to that she was just,

00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:53.779
 you know,

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:55.119
 Peter's angel or spirit.

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.500
 You just imagine it.

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.519
 The church is there,

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.759
 agonising in prayer for Peter.

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.359
 Rhoda comes busting in.

00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.460
 Peter's at the door.

00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:03.079
 And they're,

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.940
 shh,

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.920
 quiet Rhoda.

00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:10.460
 Can't you see we're praying in agony.

00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:13.560
 Don't bother us

00:24:13.560 --> 00:24:16.600
 with the answer to our prayers.

00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:23.059
 It's not a very idealistic picture

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:23.799
 of the church here,

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.139
 is it?

00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:27.879
 But is this not a picture of ourselves?

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:31.439
 Sometimes we go through the motions

00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:33.279
 and even the earnestness of prayer

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.880
 and when God answers those prayers,

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:38.320
 we are just taken by surprise

00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:40.920
 that God would answer our prayers.

00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:44.900
 We pray fervently for the conversion of relative

00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:45.660
 and when it happens,

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.080
 it's like,

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.680
 that was unexpected.

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:47.820
 Dude,

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:49.259
 amazing.

00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:53.080
 What is amazing here

00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:56.720
 is our slowness to believe God's ability

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:59.340
 and his willingness to answer our prayers.

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:03.560
 This section is a humorous rebuke

00:25:03.560 --> 00:25:04.920
 for this church in Jerusalem

00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:06.180
 as it is for us.

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.900
 Can it be the case

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:10.620
 that even in our most earnest prayers,

00:25:10.820 --> 00:25:12.140
 we sometimes find

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:14.560
 that we're almost going through the motions

00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:16.480
 without actually expecting

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.220
 that God will hear us

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.259
 or that he will act.

00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:23.839
 It's almost a throwaway line,

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.740
 oh, I'll pray for you.

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:29.039
 A throwaway line,

00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:30.140
 I'll pray for you

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:32.019
 hoping that we can potentially

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.500
 stop this conversation happening further.

00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:36.000
 I'll just pray for you

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:38.539
 and then forget about it altogether.

00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:42.000
 Some of us have been reciting

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.279
 for years,

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.240
 creeds,

00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.759
 singing songs,

00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.640
 reading the Bible

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:48.299
 that declare that God is creator,

00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.920
 that he sustains everything,

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:51.240
 that he is almighty

00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:53.839
 over all that is in this world.

00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:56.140
 And when he answers a prayer,

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:56.980
 we're like,

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:59.900
 that's surprising.

00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:07.019
 it's like we weren't expecting him

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.600
 to be listening.

00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:10.940
 Or maybe we weren't expecting

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.240
 him to be able to do anything.

00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:14.800
 Or maybe we weren't expecting him

00:26:14.800 --> 00:26:16.820
 to actually want to do anything.

00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:20.519
 I think that when we go through

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.980
 the motions in this way,

00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:24.140
 we tend to treat prayer

00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:25.780
 like a technique

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:28.759
 forgetting what we want

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.639
 rather than seeing

00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:30.879
 that prayer is a relationship.

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:34.139
 The really encouraging thing here

00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:36.559
 is that God is not bound

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:38.160
 by our imperfections.

00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:40.500
 Apparently in this passage,

00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:43.279
 God answered unbelieving prayer.

00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:49.079
 We may say things incorrectly

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:50.920
 or say things without sufficient belief,

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.740
 but God just loves

00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:55.720
 to hear his people pray.

00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:58.139
 And he is well able

00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:59.259
 to do immeasurably more

00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.819
 than we can ask or imagine.

00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.139
 My friends,

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.079
 prayer,

00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.079
 one of our core values

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.299
 is to devotion to prayer.

00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:07.440
 Prayer ought to be

00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:09.759
 a constant statement to God,

00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:11.420
 to our world,

00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:13.120
 to us as a church here,

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:13.779
 St. Paul's,

00:27:13.820 --> 00:27:15.400
 to our own consciences

00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:17.220
 that we exist

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.360
 to do things

00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:19.900
 that we cannot do

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:21.779
 without the supernatural grace of God.

00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:24.440
 That's what happens

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.640
 when we pray.

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:29.640
 We can rattle off the creed

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:31.700
 about who we believe as a God,

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:33.519
 but we actually demonstrate

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.460
 that we believe

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.620
 what we just said

00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:37.259
 in prayer.

00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:41.240
 That's how we truly believe it.

00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:42.460
 is when we pray,

00:27:44.060 --> 00:27:44.580
 this God,

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:46.120
 is a God who is not just

00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:47.140
 in relationship with me

00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.200
 and wanting to hear my prayers,

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:50.060
 but he is able to act

00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:52.140
 and wanting to act.

00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:54.940
 St. Paul's exists mainly

00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:56.720
 to do the humanly impossible,

00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:57.980
 everything good

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.480
 and worthwhile

00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.080
 and eternal

00:27:59.080 --> 00:28:00.560
 and God glorifying

00:28:00.560 --> 00:28:01.580
 that we want to do

00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:02.340
 as a church

00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:03.900
 we cannot do

00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:05.480
 without the supernatural power

00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.180
 and grace of God.

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.680
 It is pride

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.759
 and it is arrogance

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.300
 to think that we can build a church

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.119
 that we can see

00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:13.159
 ministry flourish

00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:14.599
 and people come to Christ

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.559
 just by putting in

00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.259
 right strategies

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.399
 and having the right language

00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:18.159
 and the programs

00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:18.799
 into place.

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.980
 We must be devoted to prayer.

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.839
 And so,

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:30.480
 we now come to the end

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.139
 of the passage

00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:33.319
 because the rescue of Peter

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.579
 isn't the end of it.

00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:37.759
 God hasn't finished

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:39.019
 with Herod

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:40.240
 just yet.

00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:43.059
 Verse 20

00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:44.399
 and 24

00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:45.819
 tell us what happens next.

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:46.599
 He,

00:28:46.879 --> 00:28:47.159
 Herod,

00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.839
 had been quarreling

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.419
 with the people

00:28:49.419 --> 00:28:50.339
 of Tyre and Sidon.

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.480
 They now joined together

00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.460
 and sought an audience

00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:53.980
 with him.

00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:55.039
 Having secured

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.299
 the support of Blastus,

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.819
 a trusted personal servant

00:28:58.819 --> 00:28:59.220
 of the king,

00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:00.519
 they asked for peace

00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.919
 because they depended

00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:03.180
 on the king's country

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:04.320
 for their food supply.

00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:06.340
 On the appointed day,

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:06.800
 Herod,

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:08.140
 wearing his royal robe,

00:29:08.300 --> 00:29:09.360
 sat on his throne

00:29:09.360 --> 00:29:10.620
 and delivered a public address

00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.240
 to the people

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.960
 and they shouted,

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.660
 this is the voice

00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.700
 of a God,

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:18.200
 not of a man.

00:29:19.340 --> 00:29:20.120
 And immediately,

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:21.920
 immediately,

00:29:22.580 --> 00:29:23.200
 because Herod

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.039
 did not give praise

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.580
 to God,

00:29:25.100 --> 00:29:25.759
 an angel of the Lord

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.740
 struck him down

00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.500
 and he was eaten

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.160
 by worms

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:29.039
 and died.

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.920
 And so what happened was

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:33.180
 Herod presents himself

00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.960
 to the theatre

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.620
 in Caesarea

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.859
 to make a speech.

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:38.420
 The historian Josephus

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.160
 said that

00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.740
 he wore

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:43.339
 a very impressive

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:45.559
 royal ornament,

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.819
 a gown

00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:48.359
 that was woven

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.380
 out of silver

00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:50.799
 and so that

00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.680
 as he walked

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.519
 in the sunshine,

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.099
 the reflection

00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:55.460
 blinded the people

00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:58.700
 can you see

00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.340
 the

00:29:59.340 --> 00:30:02.660
 divine

00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.819
 poetry here

00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:05.000
 as the

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.840
 angel

00:30:05.840 --> 00:30:06.960
 went into

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.680
 the cell

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.279
 with Peter

00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.759
 and

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:10.720
 made bright

00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.259
 the cell.

00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.700
 The crowd

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.759
 heard him speak

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.980
 and they shouted

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.600
 the voice

00:30:16.600 --> 00:30:17.519
 of a God

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.579
 and not of a man.

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.660
 And this

00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.319
 incredibly

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.180
 twisted king

00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:22.840
 received

00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:24.259
 their worship

00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:25.920
 in verse 23

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.500
 he was

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.240
 immediately

00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.400
 struck

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.519
 by an angel

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.279
 and again

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.160
 we have

00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:31.599
 the divine

00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:32.400
 poetry here

00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:32.859
 because the

00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.420
 same word

00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:34.039
 was used

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.379
 when the

00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:34.740
 angel

00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:36.079
 struck Peter

00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.839
 to arouse

00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.400
 him from

00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:37.960
 his sleep

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.759
 in verse 7

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.140
 and possibly

00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:40.680
 it's the same

00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.180
 angel

00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.740
 here striking

00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.180
 Herod

00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.480
 though the

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:43.940
 results

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.640
 are very

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.019
 different.

00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.200
 The historian

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.920
 Josephus

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.720
 says that

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.379
 immediately

00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:50.200
 upon giving

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:51.039
 his speech

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.160
 Herod hit

00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:52.779
 the ground

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:54.120
 in excruciating

00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:54.720
 pain

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.580
 in the

00:30:55.580 --> 00:30:55.900
 abdomen

00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.360
 area.

00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:57.580
 They

00:30:57.580 --> 00:30:58.140
 carted him

00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:58.920
 from the

00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.680
 Caesarea

00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:00.160
 theatre

00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:01.880
 and five

00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.580
 days later

00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:03.340
 he died

00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:04.140
 having suffered

00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:04.820
 for five

00:31:04.820 --> 00:31:05.340
 days of

00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:06.540
 excruciating

00:31:06.540 --> 00:31:07.680
 agony.

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:09.779
 Immediately

00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.560
 he was struck

00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:11.120
 down by the

00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:11.420
 angel.

00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.340
 The one

00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:15.860
 thing Herod

00:31:15.860 --> 00:31:16.840
 didn't realise

00:31:16.840 --> 00:31:17.680
 when he went

00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.000
 for his

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.360
 diplomatic

00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:18.920
 journey

00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:20.460
 was that

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:20.740
 God

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.120
 hadn't

00:31:21.120 --> 00:31:21.560
 closed

00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:21.800
 the

00:31:21.800 --> 00:31:22.240
 case.

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:23.740
 He

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.019
 thought

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:24.519
 he had

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.900
 executed

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:26.300
 the

00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:26.800
 soldiers

00:31:26.800 --> 00:31:29.240
 but the

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:29.620
 blood of

00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:29.980
 James

00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.620
 still cried

00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:31.140
 out to

00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:31.480
 God

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:31.980
 from the

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.360
 earth

00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:34.380
 and Herod

00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:34.800
 was going

00:31:34.800 --> 00:31:35.220
 to learn

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:35.740
 what Isaiah

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.519
 40 verses

00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.180
 23 to

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.120
 25 means

00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:38.460
 when it

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.840
 says

00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:40.080
 he brings

00:31:40.080 --> 00:31:40.759
 princes to

00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:41.200
 naught and

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.800
 reduces the

00:31:41.800 --> 00:31:42.180
 rulers of

00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:42.460
 the earth

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.039
 to nothing.

00:31:43.800 --> 00:31:44.400
 No sooner

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:44.860
 are they

00:31:44.860 --> 00:31:45.240
 planted,

00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:45.920
 no sooner

00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.360
 are they

00:31:46.360 --> 00:31:46.740
 sown,

00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:47.320
 no sooner

00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:47.620
 do they

00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:48.060
 take root

00:31:48.060 --> 00:31:48.279
 in the

00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:48.720
 ground,

00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.920
 then he

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:51.000
 blows on

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:52.039
 them and

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.240
 they

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:53.340
 wither and

00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:54.100
 a whirlwind

00:31:54.100 --> 00:31:54.960
 swips them

00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:55.620
 away like

00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.200
 chaff.

00:31:57.380 --> 00:31:58.100
 To whom

00:31:58.100 --> 00:31:58.620
 will you

00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.380
 compare me

00:31:59.380 --> 00:31:59.920
 or who

00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.320
 is my

00:32:00.320 --> 00:32:00.860
 equal

00:32:00.860 --> 00:32:02.060
 says the

00:32:02.060 --> 00:32:02.640
 Holy One.

00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:05.720
 Acts chapter

00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.940
 12 is all

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.500
 about God

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.000
 and Herod.

00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.460
 This chapter

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.340
 begins with

00:32:11.340 --> 00:32:12.120
 Herod killing

00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:12.759
 James

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:15.680
 and it

00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.420
 ends with

00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:16.740
 the angel

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.000
 of the

00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.259
 Lord

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.660
 killing

00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:18.039
 Herod.

00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:20.259
 The main

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.620
 point of

00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:21.080
 this chapter

00:32:21.080 --> 00:32:21.759
 is very

00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.320
 plain.

00:32:24.080 --> 00:32:24.519
 If you

00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:25.080
 oppose

00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:25.680
 Jesus,

00:32:26.820 --> 00:32:27.740
 you lose.

00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:30.019
 He has

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.560
 no equal.

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:32.500
 You

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:32.920
 cannot

00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:33.380
 stop

00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:33.560
 his

00:32:33.560 --> 00:32:34.060
 purposes.

00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.519
 Luke put

00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:36.960
 this chapter

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:38.320
 together in

00:32:38.320 --> 00:32:39.120
 such a way to

00:32:39.120 --> 00:32:40.019
 make it plain

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:40.720
 for this church

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:41.400
 in Jerusalem

00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.580
 in its

00:32:42.580 --> 00:32:43.240
 dark day.

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:45.259
 you may

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.099
 feel small

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:46.819
 and insignificant

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.220
 in the

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.920
 Roman Empire.

00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.539
 You may

00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.220
 think that

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.539
 you are

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.279
 overpowered

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.000
 when your

00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.819
 best leaders

00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.539
 are killed

00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.240
 on a

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:53.740
 political

00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:54.259
 whim.

00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:55.099
 But the

00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:55.680
 truth is

00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.160
 that if you

00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:56.759
 stay with

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.400
 Jesus and

00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:58.099
 stand firm

00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.539
 with him,

00:32:58.900 --> 00:32:59.859
 you win.

00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:03.440
 And if you

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.140
 oppose him,

00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:05.880
 you lose.

00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:16.440
 God

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:16.960
 here

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:18.120
 turned

00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:19.200
 the tables

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:20.660
 entirely on

00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:21.600
 everything that

00:33:21.600 --> 00:33:22.040
 Herod was

00:33:22.040 --> 00:33:22.760
 trying to do

00:33:22.760 --> 00:33:24.580
 in squashing

00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:25.260
 the church.

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:29.740
 He turned

00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.160
 it around

00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:30.680
 so that in

00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.480
 verse 24,

00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.220
 Herod is

00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:33.700
 dead,

00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:34.660
 but the

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.059
 word of

00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:35.900
 God grew

00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:37.180
 and multiplied.

00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:40.779
 God

00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.400
 exalted

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.259
 God and

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:42.980
 not Herod.

00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:43.779
 He made

00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.700
 the reputation

00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.440
 of Jesus

00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.279
 spread,

00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:48.240
 not Herod's.

00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.019
 And this

00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:50.539
 is the goal

00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:50.960
 of all that

00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:51.619
 God does,

00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:52.980
 to magnify

00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.779
 his wisdom

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.259
 and his

00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:55.240
 power and

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.740
 spread the

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.160
 fame of

00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:56.700
 his son

00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:57.259
 who saved

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.660
 sinners.

00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:58.539
 So be

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.180
 encouraged.

00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:01.339
 We're not

00:34:01.339 --> 00:34:01.900
 facing what

00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:02.420
 the Jerusalem

00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:03.299
 church faced,

00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:03.779
 but we have

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.140
 our own

00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:04.940
 issues in

00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:05.519
 this country

00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.680
 and for us

00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.279
 as a church.

00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.039
 Do not be

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:09.860
 impressed or

00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:10.659
 discouraged by

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:12.119
 temporary worldly

00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:13.059
 triumphs over

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.579
 the gospel.

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:16.059
 Be bold and

00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:16.960
 courageous to

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.519
 spread the

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.219
 word of God

00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:19.219
 and leave the

00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:20.219
 outcome to

00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:20.739
 God.

00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:23.599
 God will

00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.360
 bury the

00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:24.900
 messengers

00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.680
 of his

00:34:25.680 --> 00:34:26.420
 message,

00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:27.940
 but he

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.500
 will not

00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:29.119
 bury his

00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:29.579
 message.

00:34:30.680 --> 00:34:30.940
 His

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.780
 messages will

00:34:31.780 --> 00:34:32.500
 come and

00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.180
 go and

00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:33.519
 they will

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.119
 enter their

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:35.300
 eternal reward,

00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:36.740
 but God's

00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:37.460
 gospel of the

00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:37.980
 Lord Jesus

00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:39.079
 Christ continues

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:40.480
 to move on

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.440
 to the ends

00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.139
 of the earth.

00:34:43.200 --> 00:34:44.139
 It will not

00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:44.539
 stop.

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:49.320
 God's gospel of the

00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:50.320
 gospel of the

00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:50.820
 Lord Jesus.

00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.320
 And in this

00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:52.019
 commitment series,

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:52.599
 I am calling

00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:53.800
 you to commit

00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:55.559
 your life to

00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.320
 the unstoppable

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:59.320
 God and

00:34:59.320 --> 00:35:00.340
 seeing his

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:01.079
 unstoppable

00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:03.559
 purposes being

00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.440
 fulfilled through

00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:06.639
 us here as a

00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:07.119
 church at

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:07.300
 St.

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:07.900
 Paul's.

00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:09.920
 will you

00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:10.519
 give yourself

00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:10.940
 to this

00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:12.840
 God and

00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.360
 move with

00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:14.780
 Jesus rather

00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:15.160
 than stand

00:35:15.160 --> 00:35:15.700
 opposed to

00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:15.920
 him?

00:35:16.680 --> 00:35:17.019
 Amen.

00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:19.239
 Finally,

00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:19.980
 if you

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.880
 can

00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:22.059
 come and

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:23.019
 you

00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:23.619
 will

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.840
 take

00:35:24.840 --> 00:35:25.800
 seu

00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.820
plain to

00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:27.800
 a

00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:28.800
 Christ

00:35:31.800 --> 00:35:32.420
 will you

00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:37.400
 and

00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:38.320
 will you

00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:40.199
 be

00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:40.679
 and

00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:41.340
 will you

00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:41.639
 Give

00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:42.719
 open

00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.179
 Your

00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:43.739
 withdrawals

00:35:43.739 --> 00:35:44.639
 and

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.420
 see you