WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.980 And this morning we're going to be reading Acts chapter 2, starting at verse 1 through to verse 21. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.380 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:43.280 Now they were dwelling in Jerusalem, Jews, devout men from every nation unto heaven. 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:53.079 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:59.539 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:04.659 And how is it that we hear each of us in his own native language? 00:01:06.459 --> 00:01:15.620 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadacia, Pontus and Asia. 00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:23.799 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene. 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:29.359 And visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:34.200 We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. 00:01:35.159 --> 00:01:39.540 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, What does this mean? 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:43.299 But others, mocking, said, They are filled with new wine. 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:48.400 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:56.340 Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:02:02.300 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:06.160 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:13.079 And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:16.259 And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:19.079 And your young men shall see visions. 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:21.960 And your old men shall dream dreams. 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:28.359 Even on my male servants and female servants, in those days I will pour out my spirit. 00:02:28.979 --> 00:02:30.139 And they shall prophesy. 00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:35.219 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below. 00:02:35.839 --> 00:02:38.159 Blood and fire and vapour of smoke. 00:02:38.739 --> 00:02:41.979 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood. 00:02:42.679 --> 00:02:46.619 Before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 00:02:47.359 --> 00:02:52.979 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 00:02:55.399 --> 00:02:59.500 Well, like me, do you sometimes feel afraid? 00:03:00.139 --> 00:03:02.319 To bring Jesus into conversations. 00:03:04.399 --> 00:03:08.459 Especially given the live and let live age we're in. 00:03:09.559 --> 00:03:13.839 To urge others to submit to an ultimate truth claim. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:15.479 To try and convert people. 00:03:16.799 --> 00:03:22.479 And as you probably heard in Victoria, even to, in some circumstances, pray for people. 00:03:23.239 --> 00:03:25.259 It's considered totally arrogant. 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:35.399 How would you engage with someone like this lesbian activist professor? 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:37.000 Here's her words. 00:03:37.519 --> 00:03:44.979 As a university professor, I are tired of students who seem to believe that knowing Jesus meant knowing little else. 00:03:44.979 --> 00:03:48.859 Christians in particular were bad readers. 00:03:49.239 --> 00:03:55.879 Always seizing opportunities to insert a Bible verse into a conversation with the same point as a punctuation mark. 00:03:56.079 --> 00:03:58.620 To end the conversation rather than deepen it. 00:03:59.339 --> 00:03:59.939 Stupid. 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:01.019 Pointless. 00:04:01.799 --> 00:04:02.139 Menacing. 00:04:02.139 --> 00:04:05.639 That's what I thought of Christians and their God Jesus. 00:04:08.459 --> 00:04:13.159 How would you engage with someone like that? 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:13.759 A professor. 00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:19.199 Encountering someone like that, fears would be choking me. 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:22.800 Do I have the right to say that there's another way to live? 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:27.920 Do I have the words to say to a professor? 00:04:30.259 --> 00:04:35.240 We're going to come back to this woman's story near the end of the sermon this morning. 00:04:38.020 --> 00:04:43.340 We might be living in an age of live and let live, but in our passage today in Acts 2, 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:52.280 we're confronted with a reality that tells us there is a much more primary, more fundamental age that we're living in. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.319 A different way of describing it than live and let live. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:58.780 Everyone needs to know what age we're in, what time we're in. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:06.439 So far in Acts 1, we've seen the risen Lord exalted to the highest place in heaven, 00:05:06.620 --> 00:05:12.939 but he's got a new base of operations, but he's got the same passion to save his people. 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:18.220 He's done the hard part in dying, and now he wants the reward of his suffering. 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:21.439 His scope is the ends of the earth. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:23.819 His focus is his died-for people. 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:26.139 His goal is to gather them to himself. 00:05:27.420 --> 00:05:34.399 And he's going to accomplish it through his witnesses, his people, through us, his ambassadors. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:42.800 More precisely, he's going to rule, he's going to speak through the apostolic testimony 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:50.180 of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, what we call the gospel message. 00:05:52.780 --> 00:05:58.699 Whomever the risen Lord calls to himself, we can be sure that he will send his message of the gospel to them, 00:05:58.960 --> 00:06:01.400 and that's how he will gather them to himself. 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:06.419 So now in Acts 2, the day of power arrives. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:12.620 So come with me, open your Bibles, come with me to verses 1 to 4 of Acts 2. 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:18.480 Pentecost, the word means 50. 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:25.399 It's a feast described in the Old Testament law, found in Leviticus 23. 00:06:26.139 --> 00:06:30.319 It's meant to occur 50 days after the Passover. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:39.500 50 days after that first sheaf of wheat of the new harvest has been presented to the Lord, 00:06:40.159 --> 00:06:46.719 thanking him for the new harvest, recognizing that God is the Lord of the harvest. 00:06:47.719 --> 00:06:52.959 So Pentecost is also known as the Feast of Weeks, because it's meant to be seven weeks after the Passover. 00:06:53.379 --> 00:06:55.699 The Feast of the Firstfruits of the Harvest. 00:06:55.699 --> 00:07:03.399 Later Jewish tradition thought this time was the timing of Moses giving the law, 00:07:03.539 --> 00:07:06.139 so the time when God entered into covenant with his people. 00:07:07.579 --> 00:07:13.980 This feast was meant for all the people, all Israel meant to gather, young and old, rich and poor. 00:07:14.539 --> 00:07:19.839 It's meant to be a holy gathering, a holy assembly, and it's meant to be a celebration, a time of rejoicing. 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:24.339 So that's Pentecost in the Old Testament. 00:07:24.339 --> 00:07:28.779 God chooses his timing for a reason. 00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:33.019 It's been 50 days since Jesus rose from the dead. 00:07:33.719 --> 00:07:41.099 I think we're meant to think of that as the kind of first sheaf of wheat of the new creation, 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:44.079 the first bit of the harvest when Jesus rose from the dead. 00:07:44.739 --> 00:07:47.639 And now at Pentecost, the rest of the harvest begins. 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:53.539 The eternal blessings of heaven begin. 00:07:53.540 --> 00:08:03.319 So I want us to imagine where one of the 120 gathered that day, sitting in the upper room, 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:06.420 and the Spirit makes a grand entrance from heaven. 00:08:06.520 --> 00:08:07.340 You couldn't miss it. 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:12.120 A sound fills the entire house like a violent gale. 00:08:12.820 --> 00:08:14.420 There's no mention of a breeze. 00:08:14.759 --> 00:08:16.840 It's the sound that's overwhelming. 00:08:16.839 --> 00:08:19.519 And it came from heaven. 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:21.799 Luke is clear to say. 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:24.639 It came from heaven, which is a clue as to who sent this. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:29.179 And something that looked like tongues of fire. 00:08:29.239 --> 00:08:30.579 I don't know how you picture this. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:36.199 But tongues of fire divided up and rested on each one. 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:43.980 And then you, along with the rest of the church, start speaking in languages you've never studied. 00:08:45.180 --> 00:08:48.259 I don't mean saying bonjour and thinking you know French. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:54.120 The picture here is just starting to talk fluently in a different language. 00:08:56.140 --> 00:09:01.160 Later in Scripture, the idea of speaking in a divine language of tongues is mentioned. 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:02.680 But that's not what's going on here. 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:07.379 Keep in mind that tongue, the tongue is the instrument of speech. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:13.599 The word itself, glossa, is the word used for language. 00:09:15.199 --> 00:09:19.299 This was a fearful, amazing moment. 00:09:20.439 --> 00:09:25.819 A unique event, never to be repeated, when the Spirit visibly and audibly was poured out 00:09:25.819 --> 00:09:29.839 and filled up each one of Christ's people and gave them power to speak. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:36.759 Now, it's not meant to be a blueprint for us to stop and think, 00:09:36.899 --> 00:09:39.000 do I have the Spirit according to this pattern? 00:09:40.060 --> 00:09:41.180 It's not meant to be that. 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:42.100 This is a story. 00:09:42.420 --> 00:09:47.519 This phenomena of what they saw, the Spirit, the tongues of fire, 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:50.580 and speaking in fluent languages all of a sudden, 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:52.240 it's not described ever again. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:54.780 This is a one-time event. 00:09:54.779 --> 00:10:00.620 Nowhere else in the New Testament are we told to measure the Spirit in this way. 00:10:01.839 --> 00:10:04.240 We are told that every believer has a Spirit. 00:10:05.579 --> 00:10:07.679 But don't use this as a blueprint for yourself. 00:10:07.939 --> 00:10:09.419 This is a unique event. 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:11.339 And that's the point. 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:15.459 This day is a turning point in history. 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:18.759 Something, a new age begins. 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:21.460 You couldn't miss it. 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:22.799 A new time has begun. 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:24.939 It's the time of the harvest. 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:34.500 Luke only devotes three sentences to describing the supernatural events. 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:35.659 Three sentences. 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:37.799 Surely that deserves a bit more. 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:39.419 But it's not his focus. 00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:41.220 He moves on very quickly. 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:46.660 He's interested in verses 5 to 13, the impact that the Spirit had on the world, 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:51.060 and then 14 to 21 with Peter's speech about what does this mean. 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:53.100 That should be our focus. 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:55.980 So let's have a look. 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:56.560 Let's listen. 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:03.899 So the Spirit's arrival was noticed by the crowds in Jerusalem 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:06.300 who had gathered for Pentecost, for the feast. 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:10.259 And I've got a picture to describe all these places. 00:11:10.459 --> 00:11:13.419 Bree, you did well trying to name all those places. 00:11:13.939 --> 00:11:14.240 I'm glad. 00:11:14.479 --> 00:11:15.339 I'm not going to try. 00:11:15.699 --> 00:11:16.659 Thank you for doing that. 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:18.719 But I think that picture says it better than I can. 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:31.579 Christ is starting to gather the world. 00:11:31.580 --> 00:11:37.320 The geography, it's not about gathering to Jerusalem. 00:11:37.780 --> 00:11:40.800 The geography is meant to paint a theological picture. 00:11:41.040 --> 00:11:44.200 Christ is gathering people to himself through his word. 00:11:46.540 --> 00:11:48.440 The crowds didn't see the tongues. 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:50.379 They didn't hear the wind. 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:55.440 What they heard is repeated three times by Luke, 00:11:55.520 --> 00:11:56.800 so we don't miss the point. 00:11:57.660 --> 00:11:58.940 So look at verse 6. 00:11:58.940 --> 00:12:04.760 Each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 00:12:05.040 --> 00:12:05.500 Verse 8. 00:12:06.260 --> 00:12:10.500 Galileans of all people, they were considered religiously impure Jews, 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:13.400 having intermarried with other nations since the exile. 00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:15.500 Galileans? 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:20.500 How is it that we hear each of us in his own native language? 00:12:21.560 --> 00:12:23.940 And then verse 11, in case we missed it, 00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:28.140 we hear them telling in our own languages the mighty works of God. 00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:32.680 Christ's people are given power to speak intelligible, 00:12:32.880 --> 00:12:34.680 understandable words, 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:39.840 so that each person in all the world can understand in their own dialect 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.900 the mighty works of God. 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:46.960 What's happening here is a reversal of Babel, the Tower of Babel, 00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:48.040 so Genesis 11. 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:51.500 There God was judging the sin of man, 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:54.940 and so he scattered people, confusing with languages. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.980 Here he is saving. 00:12:57.980 --> 00:12:59.440 He's gathering, not scattering. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.879 He's gathering his people. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:07.120 Not by eliminating the diversity of languages. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.159 He doesn't supersede that. 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:13.379 He works through diversity and draws the world to himself. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:14.960 He's beginning to save. 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:21.600 I think there's a principle here for us today. 00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:26.139 Someone who truly wants someone else to know Christ 00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:28.100 will meet the person where they're at, 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:31.700 searching for the most understandable language 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:33.700 for them to hear the good news. 00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:42.100 I think we see it in the example of William Tyndale during the Reformation. 00:13:42.300 --> 00:13:44.660 In England, he was burnt at the stake 00:13:44.660 --> 00:13:49.700 because he wanted to translate the Bible from Latin into English 00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:51.879 so that everyone could have the Word of God. 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:58.120 That's quite a sacrifice for a translation, isn't it? 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:05.460 He did it so that we could hear God's Word directly. 00:14:06.939 --> 00:14:10.919 Christian jargon is not the measure of sharing Jesus. 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:17.440 You don't have to use Jesus is King in your speech. 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:20.100 Meet the person where they're at. 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:25.960 The Spirit's love will move us to listen well to someone 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:28.080 to try and meet them where they're at 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:30.080 the most understandably as possible. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.939 So let's go back to the story. 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:37.340 Many who were there that day wanted to find out 00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:39.740 what is going on, what does this mean? 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:43.700 Others try and protect their current understanding of life 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:46.019 and just try and dismiss it. 00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.120 Oh, they're just drunk. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:50.779 Somehow being drunk makes you learn languages. 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:56.159 But they try and dismiss it to protect their way of life. 00:14:58.079 --> 00:14:58.879 It's kind of funny. 00:14:58.939 --> 00:15:01.100 It is a kind of new wine, according to the prophets. 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:04.399 I'll let you search that for yourself. 00:15:05.439 --> 00:15:06.360 So what does this mean? 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.919 Peter stands up and speaking on behalf of the 11 apostles 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:11.600 and on behalf of the whole church. 00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:16.319 Peter, in good humour, keeps the sceptics listening. 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:20.680 He doesn't have a go at them for saying that they're drunk. 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:21.980 It's only 9am. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:25.360 He kind of, in a sense, laughs it off. 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:26.300 He keeps them listening. 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:29.740 He then explains the significance of Pentecost 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:32.720 by the prophet Joel. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:36.540 So I just want to mention a side note here, 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:38.120 but I'm excited by this. 00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:41.340 Look carefully at verse 16. 00:15:42.540 --> 00:15:44.000 This is what was uttered. 00:15:44.660 --> 00:15:46.580 That word rings a bell from verse 4. 00:15:46.920 --> 00:15:49.920 This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:56.259 If you can flick back to chapter 1, verse 16. 00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:03.120 Peter, quoting the Psalms, says, 00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:04.919 Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled, 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:10.019 which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David. 00:16:12.099 --> 00:16:13.919 So David and Joel, they're not puppets, 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:17.779 puppets, but God uses their individual personalities 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:20.099 as a mouthpiece. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:22.019 He speaks through them. 00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:26.039 The Holy Spirit was active for Christ, 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:29.779 but only for kings of Israel and prophets. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:32.319 It's just a very select few people. 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:35.620 And look at chapter 1, verse 2. 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.019 What Jesus began to do and teach 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:40.980 until the day when he was taken up, 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:44.399 after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.600 to the apostles. 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:51.680 I think we're meant to see a continuation here. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:55.120 God speaking by his Spirit through the prophets, 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:57.259 empowering Christ's mission, 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:00.500 and now he's empowering the apostles and the church. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.440 Now at Pentecost, 00:17:05.360 --> 00:17:07.019 it's not just kings and prophets. 00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:09.740 There is a deluge of the Spirit. 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:13.200 It is just poured out on all God's people. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:19.579 God speaks through human agents. 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:23.720 And Peter goes on to explain this. 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:25.920 This is exactly what the Father had said would happen. 00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.839 This is what he promised. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:29.339 And we get the first hint of this with Moses. 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.980 During the time of Moses, 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:34.740 two men are filled with the Spirit and start prophesying. 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:37.740 And people like Moses, are you going to stop them? 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.819 They're going to steal your thunder. 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.720 They're going to steal your authority here. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.960 And Moses isn't threatened by it at all. 00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:45.579 He says in Numbers 11, 29, 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:47.859 would that all the Lord's people were prophets, 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.720 that the Lord would put his Spirit on them. 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:52.039 He wants all God's people filled with the Spirit. 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.640 That's the first hint we get. 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.539 Then in Ezekiel, 00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:00.460 he pictured a day in chapter 37 of Ezekiel 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:03.660 where God's people were a valley of dry bones. 00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:05.799 And the prophesied word, 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.240 by the power of the Spirit, 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:10.840 brings new resurrected life to God's people, 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.960 recreating them. 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:15.120 He describes it in chapter 36, 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:17.660 as I will give you a new heart, 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.819 this is the Lord speaking, 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:21.180 and a new spirit I will put within you. 00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:24.080 I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh 00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:25.279 and give you a heart of flesh. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:27.500 And I will put my spirit within you 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:29.539 and cause you to walk in my statues 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:31.700 and be careful to obey my rules. 00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:37.500 And so too we find this new day promised through Joel 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.840 that Peter quotes here. 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:40.240 This is the last days. 00:18:40.360 --> 00:18:41.799 This is the promised future, 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.600 God had said. 00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:47.560 A time period when the Lord is reigning, 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:50.779 when he's ready to carry out judgment, 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:53.440 and when he's ready to save. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.319 This is the new day 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:58.359 when God's Spirit would be poured out 00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:00.079 on the people he saves. 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.519 And notice in Joel, 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:03.679 it's young and old. 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.139 It's men and women. 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:06.960 It's all. 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.279 Poured out on all. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.599 So if it's poured out on all, 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:15.319 then we know that time period has begun. 00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:16.700 Christ is reigning. 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.960 He is saving. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:20.720 The first taste of heaven has begun. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.319 We have received the Spirit. 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:26.720 And the outworking in the Spirit 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.700 will be for all to prophesy. 00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:33.880 I think we often think of prophecy 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:35.980 as foretelling future events. 00:19:36.620 --> 00:19:38.360 And occasionally the Bible talks that way. 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.819 But even the Old Testament prophets, 00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:41.500 a lot of their stuff isn't new. 00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:43.920 They're taking the law of Moses 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:46.019 and applying it in their day and age. 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.480 A lot of it. 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:51.360 Or considers Peter's speech here 00:19:51.360 --> 00:19:53.880 as an example of being empowered to prophesy. 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:56.100 He doesn't talk about future events. 00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:57.720 He talks about past events. 00:19:58.180 --> 00:20:00.900 God has fulfilled his promises in Christ. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.519 He's risen him from the dead. 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.799 Salvation is now available. 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:10.940 I think we should use Luke's own term 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:14.579 to know what prophecy is. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.159 So I like the term 00:20:17.159 --> 00:20:21.680 speaking the mighty works of God. 00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:24.539 And what mightier work of God is there 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:26.159 than raising Jesus from the dead? 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:32.900 The Spirit empowers God's people 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:36.220 to speak the mighty works of God. 00:20:38.580 --> 00:20:42.060 If you haven't received divine dreams or visions, 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:44.740 don't be worried. 00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:49.380 It doesn't say that we should be experiencing this 00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:50.580 every single Christian. 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:54.039 These seem to be in service of prophecy as well. 00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:56.019 So consider Acts chapter 10 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:57.839 when Cornelius, the first Gentile, 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.399 comes to faith. 00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:02.779 Both Cornelius and Peter received dreams and visions. 00:21:03.199 --> 00:21:04.399 But what's the point of them? 00:21:04.919 --> 00:21:07.539 The point is to bring Peter and Cornelius together 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:10.079 so that Peter can, in intelligible language, 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.720 tell Cornelius the gospel 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:13.799 so that he can repent and be saved. 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:16.859 So let's not put God in a box 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:18.919 that he can't use dreams and visions. 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:22.899 But they're in service of the gospel. 00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:30.419 The deluge of the Spirit means one thing. 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.859 The promised day of the Lord, 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:35.319 the last days of eternal life have begun. 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.500 Heaven has begun. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:38.419 Heaven has invaded earth. 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.980 And it's starting in our hearts, 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:43.079 changing us from the inside, 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.119 cleansing us, 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:45.220 filling us with God 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:47.199 and empowering us 00:21:47.199 --> 00:21:48.960 to share that good news with others. 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:53.319 And if the Lord has begun his harvest, 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.679 if that is the new day, 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:56.099 if it's the day of salvation, 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:59.899 then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord 00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:00.699 will be saved. 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:05.559 This promise of God's Spirit 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:08.299 is still available today. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:10.500 We're going to hear more of that next week, 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:12.379 but just look at verse 39 quickly. 00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:15.279 The promise is for you 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:17.199 and for your children, 00:22:17.939 --> 00:22:18.839 the next generation, 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.379 and for all who are far off, 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.859 everyone whom the Lord, 00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:24.619 our God, calls to himself. 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.859 The promise of the Spirit 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:29.399 is for all who believe in the name of Jesus. 00:22:31.179 --> 00:22:32.139 A new age, 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.259 the time of salvation, 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.579 the time of God's Spirit, 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:37.220 the time of Christ gathering his people to himself. 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:39.420 That's the age we're in. 00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:41.279 Heaven has begun. 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.860 People need to understand 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:45.000 that that is the time we're in. 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.259 Judgment is coming, 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:48.720 but first it's time for salvation. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:51.420 Christ is reigning. 00:22:51.420 --> 00:23:00.000 So let's return to our lesbian professor. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:02.340 Her name is Rosaria Butterfield. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.460 You might have heard of her before. 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:07.160 I just love how 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:09.559 the means God used 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.779 to draw her to himself. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.100 So I'm going to read 00:23:12.100 --> 00:23:13.640 a substantial portion 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.740 of her article. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:20.200 that Christians who mocked me 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.740 on Gay Pride Day 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:23.420 were happy that I 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.359 and everyone I loved 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.019 were going to hell 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.559 was clear as blue sky. 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:31.200 That is not what Ken did. 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.279 He did not mock. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.960 He engaged. 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:37.859 So when his letter invited me 00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:39.039 to get together for dinner, 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:39.700 I accepted. 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:42.740 My motives at the time 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.420 were straightforward. 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.559 Surely this would be good 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.339 for my research. 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:47.079 Something else happened. 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:49.039 Ken and his wife, 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:50.960 Floyd, and I became friends. 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.399 They entered my world. 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.399 They met my friends. 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.359 We did book exchanges. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.960 We talked openly 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.859 about sexuality and politics. 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.759 They did not act 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.179 as if such conversations 00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:04.220 were polluting them. 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:06.000 They did not treat me 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.940 like a blank slate. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.379 When we ate together, 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.539 Ken prayed in a way 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.539 I'd never heard before. 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:11.980 His prayers were intimate, 00:24:12.419 --> 00:24:12.779 vulnerable. 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.279 He repented of his sin 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:14.899 in front of me. 00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:15.899 He thanked God 00:24:15.899 --> 00:24:16.720 for all things. 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.740 Ken's God was holy 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.339 and firm, 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.339 yet full of mercy. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.960 I started reading the Bible. 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:23.759 I read the way 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.920 a glutton devours. 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.680 I continued reading the Bible, 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:27.599 all the while 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.539 fighting the idea 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.539 that it was inspired. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.099 But the Bible 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.160 got to be bigger 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:33.339 inside me 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.139 than I. 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.680 I like that phrase. 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:37.460 The Bible got to be 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.379 bigger inside me 00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:38.799 than I. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.839 It overflowed 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.659 into my world. 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:43.159 I fought against it 00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:44.039 with all my might. 00:24:44.399 --> 00:24:45.519 Then one Sunday morning, 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.639 I rose from the bed 00:24:46.639 --> 00:24:47.659 of my lesbian lover 00:24:47.659 --> 00:24:49.259 and an hour later 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.339 sat in a pew 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:52.279 at the Syracuse 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:54.319 Reformed Presbyterian Church. 00:24:55.399 --> 00:24:56.339 Conspicuous with my 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:56.980 butch haircut, 00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.559 I reminded myself 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.779 that I came to meet God, 00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:00.419 not fit in. 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:02.980 I fought with everything 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:03.440 I had. 00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:04.960 I did not want this. 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:08.100 I did not, 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.160 excuse me, 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:12.120 I did not ask for this. 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.779 I counted the costs 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:15.380 and I did not like the math 00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.360 on the other side 00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:17.220 of the equal sign. 00:25:18.060 --> 00:25:19.160 But God's promises 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:19.860 rolled in 00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:21.340 like sets of waves 00:25:21.340 --> 00:25:22.120 into my world. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.300 Then one ordinary day, 00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:25.620 I came to Jesus 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:27.860 open-handed and naked. 00:25:28.340 --> 00:25:28.840 I don't know why 00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:29.600 this is getting to me, 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.939 but please keep focusing 00:25:30.939 --> 00:25:31.500 on the story. 00:25:32.439 --> 00:25:33.679 I came to Jesus 00:25:33.679 --> 00:25:35.000 open-handed and naked. 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.740 In this war of world views, 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.659 Ken was there. 00:25:37.959 --> 00:25:38.679 Floyd was there. 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.559 The church that had been 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.539 praying for me for years 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.019 was there. 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.980 Jesus triumphed 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.740 and I was a broken mess. 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.439 Conversion was a train wreck. 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.459 I did not want to lose 00:25:48.459 --> 00:25:49.419 everything that I loved 00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:50.719 but the voice of God 00:25:50.719 --> 00:25:53.039 sang a love song 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.199 in the rubble of my world. 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:56.079 I weakly believed 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.659 that if Jesus could conquer death, 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.879 he could make right. 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:00.539 Man, 00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:01.500 my world. 00:26:02.219 --> 00:26:03.339 I drank tentatively 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:03.980 at first, 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.859 then passionately 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.519 of the solace 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.359 of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:08.319 I rested in private peace, 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.480 then community, 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:10.619 and today 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:11.539 in the shelter 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.939 of a covenant family 00:26:12.939 --> 00:26:14.579 where one calls me wife. 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:26.519 many call me mother. 00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:31.240 I have not forgotten 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.960 the blood Jesus surrendered 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.740 for this life 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:37.319 and my former life 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:40.839 lurks in the edges 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:41.799 of my heart. 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.740 Shiny and still 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.519 like a knife. 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.740 Beautiful story, 00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:47.220 isn't it? 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:53.079 The Lord 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:54.459 is still gathering 00:26:54.459 --> 00:26:55.039 his people. 00:26:56.919 --> 00:26:58.000 He uses 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.079 the collective witness 00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.919 of his church, 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:00.879 whether 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:02.480 the community's 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.439 direct input 00:27:03.439 --> 00:27:04.179 or 00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:05.459 by setting apart 00:27:05.459 --> 00:27:06.319 and sending 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.220 gospel workers. 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.860 If we're sending, 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.539 we have a share 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.500 in what they say. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.519 It's the Lord's, 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.799 Lord of the harvest 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.420 responsibility 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.620 to work on the inside 00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:18.059 of people. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.359 Ken, 00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:20.059 Floyd, 00:27:20.179 --> 00:27:20.679 in that story, 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.319 they were just 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:21.980 the mouthpiece. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.460 They were just 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.059 the examples. 00:27:23.919 --> 00:27:24.879 It was the promises 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.379 of God 00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:26.500 that rolled in 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:28.539 on her. 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.259 Our job 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:32.079 is, 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.440 I think, 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.339 too cold a word. 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.539 Our delight 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.579 is to be 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:37.039 his true 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.039 and grace-filled 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.679 mouthpiece 00:27:38.679 --> 00:27:39.339 that comes along 00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:39.879 for the right. 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.379 He's the one 00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:41.940 who saves. 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:45.319 If you're afraid 00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.339 to speak about Jesus, 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:47.720 I'm afraid. 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.779 But don't let fear 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.359 convince you 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:50.819 that you don't 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.460 have the spirit. 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.259 You're in very 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.919 good company. 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.899 I'm really 00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:54.639 comforted by 00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:56.079 Paul the Apostle's 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:56.980 words in Corinthians. 00:27:57.179 --> 00:27:57.960 When I came to you, 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.220 brothers, 00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.000 I did not come 00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.940 proclaiming to you 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.980 the testament of God 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:02.119 with lofty speech 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:02.599 or wisdom, 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.059 for I decided 00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.819 to know nothing 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.359 among you 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.779 except Jesus Christ 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.599 and him crucified. 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.759 And I was with you 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.419 in weakness 00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:11.940 and in fear 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:13.339 and much trembling. 00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:15.960 So if you're afraid, 00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.779 don't let that 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.440 convince you 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:17.940 you don't have 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.380 the spirit. 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:21.160 If your desire 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.779 is the same 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.340 as Christ, 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:22.900 that they would 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:24.039 come and share 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:25.580 in Christ, 00:28:26.580 --> 00:28:28.600 then his spirit 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:29.200 lives in you. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.860 And please don't 00:28:32.860 --> 00:28:33.480 think you need 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.059 an eloquent 00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:35.140 gospel presentation. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.920 If you start 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:38.700 a sales pitch, 00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:39.559 people will smell 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.559 it from a mile off. 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.000 No one wants 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.660 to hear that. 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:45.180 Instead, 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:45.759 I think, 00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:46.440 think of what 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.279 a Christian is. 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.900 Paul describes 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.779 a Christian this way 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.860 in Romans 10.9. 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.019 It's a person 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.000 who confesses 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.759 with their mouth 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.860 that Jesus is Lord 00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:57.140 and believe in your heart 00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:58.519 that God raised him 00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.019 from the dead. 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.880 Just being a Christian 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:04.220 is confessing 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:05.120 Jesus is Lord. 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:05.179 God, 00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:08.879 it's to be open 00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:10.039 about what's 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:11.019 true in our heart. 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.619 So Jesus 00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:14.299 describes 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:17.579 speech in Luke 6.45. 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.579 Out of the overflow 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.159 of the heart, 00:29:19.239 --> 00:29:20.019 the mouth speaks. 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:21.799 I think sharing 00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.819 Jesus is just saying 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:24.679 what is true 00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:26.039 in your heart 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.439 already. 00:29:27.719 --> 00:29:28.979 What you believe 00:29:28.979 --> 00:29:29.619 to be true 00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:30.139 and good. 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:35.740 So we're 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.660 in the last days. 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.160 Christ has 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:38.620 given us 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.140 his spirit 00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:40.259 to be his mouthpiece, 00:29:41.080 --> 00:29:42.860 individually 00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:43.820 but collectively, 00:29:45.020 --> 00:29:45.759 so we can have 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.240 confidence 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.120 that we have 00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:48.780 divine authority 00:29:48.780 --> 00:29:49.620 to speak. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.300 We're in an age 00:29:51.300 --> 00:29:53.300 where tolerance 00:29:53.300 --> 00:29:53.800 says, 00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:55.740 it just shames 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.640 us to be silent. 00:29:57.040 --> 00:29:57.759 We need to know 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.660 what age we're in. 00:29:58.660 --> 00:30:00.019 we have 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.920 divine authority 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.480 to speak 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.380 because it is 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:03.540 the age of salvation 00:30:03.540 --> 00:30:05.200 and the spirit 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.820 will speak 00:30:06.820 --> 00:30:07.340 through us. 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.420 We don't have 00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.340 authority to be 00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:12.019 arrogant and superior 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:14.480 but we do have 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.240 authority to speak. 00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:21.380 Although we do 00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:22.019 have authority 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.720 and we do have 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.200 help, 00:30:23.820 --> 00:30:24.860 divine help, 00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:26.100 what we don't 00:30:26.100 --> 00:30:26.940 have is power. 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.940 Not power to save 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:30.340 that is. 00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:33.140 You can't 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:33.820 change anyone. 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.100 You can barely 00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:35.759 change yourself 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.500 if you're like me. 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.420 You can't 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:39.279 change anyone 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:41.840 and it's not 00:30:41.840 --> 00:30:42.300 your job. 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:44.040 That's Christ's job, 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:45.160 the Lord of the harvest 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:47.220 and that should 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:47.800 take the pressure 00:30:47.800 --> 00:30:48.140 off. 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.180 It should mean 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:51.160 we're patient. 00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:53.700 it should mean 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:55.600 we should try 00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:56.200 our best 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:57.120 to persuade 00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:59.000 but persuading 00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.940 isn't up to us. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:01.279 That's up to the Lord 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:03.340 and it should mean 00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:03.820 we pray 00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:05.019 if it's not up to us. 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.440 So the Lord 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:08.000 has filled us 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.640 with his spirit. 00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:10.340 The new day 00:31:10.340 --> 00:31:10.820 of salvation 00:31:10.820 --> 00:31:11.300 has begun 00:31:11.300 --> 00:31:11.880 and together 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:12.460 as a church 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.860 we're just 00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:13.460 the mouthpiece. 00:31:13.560 --> 00:31:14.000 We get to come 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.779 along for the ride 00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:16.360 and we can leave 00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:16.960 the saving up 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:17.420 to the Lord. 00:31:19.580 --> 00:31:20.180 Will you pray 00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:20.460 in the name? 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:20.880 Let's pray. 00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:31.500 Lord, 00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:32.140 thank you for 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:33.259 pursuing me. 00:31:33.600 --> 00:31:34.080 Thank you for 00:31:34.080 --> 00:31:35.060 pursuing each one 00:31:35.060 --> 00:31:35.420 of us. 00:31:36.820 --> 00:31:37.220 Lord, 00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:37.840 as I look back 00:31:37.840 --> 00:31:38.620 in my own life 00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:39.500 there's so many 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:39.880 people 00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:41.259 who were 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:41.920 examples 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:43.700 and who spoke 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.180 to me 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.660 the word of God 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.259 faithfully. 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.019 Thank you 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:48.640 for sending them. 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:49.799 Thank you 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:51.059 for breaking 00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:51.559 through 00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:52.799 each of our 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:55.059 sinful 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.980 barriers 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:57.460 and self-protection. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.639 Thank you 00:31:58.639 --> 00:31:59.039 for breaking 00:31:59.039 --> 00:31:59.319 through 00:31:59.319 --> 00:31:59.839 and changing 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.139 us 00:32:00.139 --> 00:32:01.700 and drawing 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.419 us to yourself. 00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:02.759 Lord, 00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:04.319 we praise you 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:04.859 that you are 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.460 still drawing 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.220 people to yourself. 00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:06.980 Please lift 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.859 our horizons 00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.559 as a church 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.960 beyond 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.940 just 00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:12.759 Newcastle 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.259 but to the 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.659 ends of the 00:32:13.659 --> 00:32:13.980 earth. 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.440 Lord, 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.079 fill us 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:16.639 with prayer 00:32:16.639 --> 00:32:17.200 to you 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.619 as the 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:18.019 Lord of the 00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:18.339 harvest. 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:19.980 please give 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.599 us courage 00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:21.099 when we're 00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:21.539 afraid. 00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:23.579 Please 00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:24.399 move us 00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:25.059 to have a 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.539 share 00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.740 in 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:28.659 others 00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:29.199 coming to 00:32:29.199 --> 00:32:29.599 know you 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:30.000 and having 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.799 eternal life. 00:32:31.879 --> 00:32:32.119 Lord, 00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:32.699 please use 00:32:32.699 --> 00:32:33.079 us as a 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:33.399 church 00:32:33.399 --> 00:32:34.539 but we 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.119 praise you 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:36.379 that you 00:32:36.379 --> 00:32:36.799 are Lord 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.299 and that you 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:37.759 are saving. 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.459 In Jesus' 00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:39.759 name, 00:32:39.939 --> 00:32:40.199 Amen. 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.740 God 00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:58.360 Good to 00:32:58.360 --> 00:32:58.460 zero 00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:58.500 .