WEBVTT

00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:03.540
 We'll turn back to a reading in Acts chapter 9.

00:00:04.980 --> 00:00:07.759
 As we look here at the conversion of Saul,

00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:12.200
! We're going to focus mainly on verse 10 down to verse 20.

00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:15.060
! I just want to read again at verse 15.

00:00:18.400 --> 00:00:21.059
 But the Lord said to him, he was saying to Ananias,

00:00:21.059 --> 00:00:25.839
 Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name

00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:29.620
 before the Gentiles and kings and the children,

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.820
 of Israel.

00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:35.939
 He is a chosen instrument of mine.

00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:41.920
 We hear the word testimony used in church,

00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:45.120
 and particularly maybe as we approach a communion season,

00:00:45.120 --> 00:00:47.879
 we hear people talking about their testimony.

00:00:48.460 --> 00:00:49.579
 But what does it mean?

00:00:50.179 --> 00:00:52.939
 Perhaps many of us know what a testimony is.

00:00:53.060 --> 00:00:55.420
 Maybe we've told our testimony.

00:00:55.579 --> 00:00:59.780
 Maybe we've heard others sharing what we call their testimony.

00:00:59.780 --> 00:01:03.100
 But perhaps we're not sure just what it means.

00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:07.820
 The word testimony itself has two real meanings.

00:01:08.820 --> 00:01:10.900
 One can be, and they're both related to evidence.

00:01:11.299 --> 00:01:15.540
 One is when you think of a testimony given in court.

00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:19.240
 So in a legal setting, someone will give a testimony.

00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.159
 That's an account of something that they've maybe done,

00:01:23.379 --> 00:01:25.840
 or something that they may be seen happening.

00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:27.620
 So they give a testimony.

00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:28.640
 It's spoken.

00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:30.719
 It's giving evidence.

00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:36.400
 But the other testimony is speaking about the Christian's experience.

00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:40.180
 And again, it's making something public.

00:01:40.540 --> 00:01:43.020
 And it's speaking about evidence.

00:01:43.260 --> 00:01:45.600
 It's speaking about something that's happened.

00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:50.559
 But it's the work of God's grace in our lives.

00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:53.879
 So instead of when we're giving evidence in court,

00:01:53.979 --> 00:01:57.419
 we're looking maybe at the accused, or maybe at ourselves.

00:01:58.259 --> 00:02:00.759
 That's giving testimony to a person.

00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:03.259
 When we're thinking of the Christian's testimony,

00:02:03.419 --> 00:02:05.439
 it's not just looking at ourselves,

00:02:05.539 --> 00:02:07.379
 although it's telling about our experience,

00:02:07.379 --> 00:02:09.639
 but it's looking to God,

00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:15.680
 and telling of the wonder of what God has done in our lives.

00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:19.340
 So what's your testimony today?

00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:24.000
 When you think of the two ways that we can give a testimony,

00:02:24.180 --> 00:02:26.599
 one is kind of giving evidence about ourselves.

00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:28.759
 That is a testimony of some,

00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:30.879
 where the focus is on what we're doing,

00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:33.139
 or what we've done in life.

00:02:33.139 --> 00:02:35.599
 Is that your testimony today,

00:02:35.799 --> 00:02:37.599
 when the focus is on what you are doing?

00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:41.399
 Or is your testimony today to the experience

00:02:41.399 --> 00:02:45.099
 and the work of God's grace in your life?

00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:48.599
 That you're able to say that the Lord has helped me,

00:02:49.019 --> 00:02:50.779
 that the Lord has been with me,

00:02:50.799 --> 00:02:53.699
 that the Lord has taken me from the mighty clay

00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:56.959
 and put my feet on that rock that is Jesus Christ.

00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:01.299
 That he's taken me from darkness into his marvelous light.

00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:04.240
 Is that your testimony today?

00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:08.040
 And is your testimony a public one?

00:03:08.900 --> 00:03:12.260
 Is it one that you are delighted to show to others?

00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:16.040
 Whether you think of the selfish way we can boast in ourselves,

00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:20.280
 or whether it's a public way we're able to profess Christ

00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:23.720
 as our Lord and as our Savior.

00:03:24.760 --> 00:03:27.200
 Well, every testimony of God's grace

00:03:27.200 --> 00:03:30.140
 is a reason to rejoice.

00:03:30.139 --> 00:03:32.899
 It doesn't matter who it is.

00:03:33.419 --> 00:03:35.699
 It doesn't matter what they've done.

00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:39.279
 Young or old, male or female, boy or girl.

00:03:39.679 --> 00:03:40.739
 It doesn't matter.

00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:43.739
 It doesn't matter what kind of conversion it's been.

00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:45.839
 Whether it's been a dramatic one.

00:03:46.279 --> 00:03:47.659
 Whether it's been a major change,

00:03:47.699 --> 00:03:49.879
 as we see here with Saul.

00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:53.159
 Or whether it's just the quiet way that God has worked.

00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:54.379
 Maybe from your childhood,

00:03:54.539 --> 00:03:57.119
 you've always known and loved the Lord.

00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:01.319
 And then you come to a point where you make that a public profession.

00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:04.620
 A testimony is a wonderful thing.

00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:07.800
 It's a beautiful thing to hear and to see

00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:12.200
 the way the Lord works in so many people's lives.

00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:17.579
 But what do we do when we hear of someone becoming a Christian?

00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:20.339
 When someone gives their testimony,

00:04:20.479 --> 00:04:21.439
 do you rejoice?

00:04:22.339 --> 00:04:24.699
 And do you give thanks to God for that work?

00:04:24.740 --> 00:04:27.060
 Or do you maybe begin to question it?

00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:27.939
 Is it real?

00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:29.319
 Is it true?

00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:33.120
 Can it really be right that that person is converted?

00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:36.300
 Well, think of the conversion of Saul here,

00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:38.360
 the testimony of Saul.

00:04:38.840 --> 00:04:39.840
 What do you see?

00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:43.160
 We think of Saul, who became known as Paul.

00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:46.100
 We think of him and all that he did for the Lord.

00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:49.120
 And all the letters that he wrote to the churches,

00:04:49.259 --> 00:04:50.360
 the places he went.

00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:54.220
 And we think of him as a great evangelist in the New Testament,

00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:58.160
 going out proclaiming the wonders of Jesus Christ.

00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:02.699
 But what was he before he came to that?

00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:07.480
 Before he came to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:11.840
 Well, all you have to do is look at the first verse of Acts chapter 9.

00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:13.579
 And you see what he was.

00:05:14.139 --> 00:05:19.660
 But Saul still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.

00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:21.620
 This is what he was.

00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:25.300
 He was a persecutor of the church.

00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:27.740
 And the more we look at the scriptures,

00:05:27.740 --> 00:05:31.600
 the more we see the wonder of God's grace.

00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:36.780
 Saul's conversion is one of these high points in scripture,

00:05:36.780 --> 00:05:42.620
 where we see the wonder of grace towards one who was literally killing Christians,

00:05:43.100 --> 00:05:45.580
 arresting them, having them put to death.

00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:50.960
 And the history of the church and the change that would come through his conversion,

00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:52.100
 it's remarkable.

00:05:52.100 --> 00:05:55.200
 And we think of Saul here.

00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:56.660
 But there's another name mentioned,

00:05:57.180 --> 00:06:00.100
 just as important in the midst of Saul's conversion.

00:06:00.620 --> 00:06:01.760
 Not as well known,

00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:04.160
 little is known of him,

00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:04.939
 but this man,

00:06:05.340 --> 00:06:06.060
 Ananias.

00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:09.020
 He is mentioned here too.

00:06:09.460 --> 00:06:10.780
 And as a reminder to us,

00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:11.160
 yes,

00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:13.180
 there's dramatic conversions,

00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:15.560
 and the wonder of Saul's conversion.

00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:19.699
 But there's also the way God works through all his people.

00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:23.000
 Ananias being one.

00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:27.220
 God is able to transform anyone.

00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:29.420
 And here we're looking at Saul.

00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:30.000
 And really,

00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:31.639
 he was like an animal,

00:06:31.779 --> 00:06:33.379
 and a wild animal.

00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:36.180
 But God tamed him.

00:06:36.840 --> 00:06:39.100
 John Calvin uses that kind of illustration

00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:41.399
 in his commentary on Acts.

00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:41.799
 He says,

00:06:41.919 --> 00:06:45.919
 Luke tells how the Lord not only brought him under control

00:06:45.919 --> 00:06:47.939
 when he was like a wild animal,

00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:51.139
 but made him a new person.

00:06:52.239 --> 00:06:55.099
 It wasn't like taming an animal and putting him in a cage

00:06:55.099 --> 00:06:57.120
 because they were still dangerous,

00:06:57.359 --> 00:07:00.339
 but this wild animal was a new creation.

00:07:01.179 --> 00:07:03.399
 Saul, who was breathing out murderous threats,

00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:04.500
 is now going out,

00:07:04.919 --> 00:07:07.719
 proclaiming the wonder of the grace of God.

00:07:07.799 --> 00:07:09.179
 He's a new person.

00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:14.420
 He ever tried to tame a wild animal?

00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:18.639
 I'm sure many have had pet lambs over these last months.

00:07:18.699 --> 00:07:21.040
 They're not exactly wild animals,

00:07:21.280 --> 00:07:22.180
 but by nature,

00:07:22.280 --> 00:07:24.220
 they want to go and do their own thing.

00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:25.460
 But you can.

00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:26.360
 You can feed them,

00:07:26.420 --> 00:07:28.220
 and they can come very close to you.

00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:29.759
 The closest I ever came

00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:33.079
 was catching two baby rabbits out in the garden.

00:07:33.899 --> 00:07:36.040
 Again, not exactly wild creatures,

00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:37.160
 but by nature,

00:07:37.220 --> 00:07:38.160
 they just want to be out.

00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:40.060
 But I thought I could look after them.

00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:41.480
 I thought I could care for them

00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:43.340
 and make them love me.

00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:45.939
 But the first opportunity they got,

00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:46.800
 they were away.

00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:48.300
 They ran away.

00:07:49.320 --> 00:07:50.780
 And that's just the way we are.

00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:52.500
 We are by nature a people

00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:54.760
 who God needs to tame.

00:07:55.220 --> 00:07:55.960
 But by nature,

00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:58.860
 we are a people who run away.

00:07:58.860 --> 00:08:01.379
 And it's amazing when you see

00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:04.139
 truly wild animals tamed.

00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:07.240
 Lions and those who can work with them

00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:08.920
 and get alongside them.

00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:11.379
 But the worst of sinners

00:08:11.379 --> 00:08:12.980
 in the hands of God

00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:15.220
 can be changed and tamed

00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:18.900
 and made into new creations as well.

00:08:18.939 --> 00:08:22.080
 And this is what this passage reminds us of.

00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:25.300
 The power of God to change.

00:08:25.859 --> 00:08:28.399
 And that God is in control.

00:08:29.039 --> 00:08:30.699
 And that when we trust him,

00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:33.139
 he is able to help us.

00:08:33.699 --> 00:08:35.879
 When we think of that thing

00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:36.899
 that we need to do

00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:37.860
 as we're talking about

00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:39.199
 with the children,

00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:41.220
 the bravest thing we've ever said,

00:08:41.899 --> 00:08:42.439
 help.

00:08:43.340 --> 00:08:44.539
 That is what we need,

00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:46.960
 to say help to the Lord.

00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:49.100
 And there's just two things

00:08:49.100 --> 00:08:50.840
 I want us to look at this passage,

00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:52.580
 two headings we want to look under it.

00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:54.100
 And the first is looking at

00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:56.700
 the taming that takes place.

00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:57.740
 And then secondly,

00:08:57.840 --> 00:08:59.960
 we're going to look at the tamer,

00:09:00.540 --> 00:09:01.980
 the one who does it.

00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:03.000
 So first of all,

00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:04.920
 we see the taming.

00:09:05.540 --> 00:09:06.519
 So we think of Saul

00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:08.740
 breathing out murderous threats.

00:09:08.860 --> 00:09:10.639
 He's like a wild animal.

00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:12.040
 So what changed?

00:09:13.100 --> 00:09:15.440
 Do you believe in miracles?

00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:18.879
 You might say yes,

00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:21.500
 because we see them in the Bible.

00:09:21.620 --> 00:09:22.780
 We read about miracles

00:09:22.780 --> 00:09:26.100
 that Jesus performed in the Bible.

00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:28.840
 We read about the miraculous works of God

00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:30.480
 throughout the scriptures.

00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:32.500
 But what about today?

00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:37.160
 Do you believe that God does miracles today?

00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:42.420
 There's a psalm, Psalm 77, verse 14.

00:09:42.980 --> 00:09:44.300
 In the St. Sam's version,

00:09:44.300 --> 00:09:44.800
 it says,

00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:46.379
 you are the God of miracles,

00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:48.799
 whose power the nations view.

00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:52.059
 Other translations use the word wonders,

00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:53.439
 but it means the same thing.

00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:55.319
 You are the God of miracles.

00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:59.099
 And today we still view God in that way,

00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:01.519
 that he is the God of miracles,

00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:04.299
 because God still does wondrous works.

00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:06.919
 God still takes people

00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:09.539
 from darkness to light.

00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:11.319
 God still takes people

00:10:11.319 --> 00:10:13.879
 from anger and a rage against God

00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:16.139
 to love the Lord.

00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:20.199
 He is the God of miracles.

00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:24.459
 But we can be scared

00:10:24.459 --> 00:10:27.399
 of what God is doing as well.

00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:29.559
 Think about it for yourself.

00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:31.899
 Maybe you've been out on a walk,

00:10:32.459 --> 00:10:34.860
 walking around the castle grounds, perhaps,

00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:36.600
 and you're on a narrow path

00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:38.379
 and coming towards you

00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.480
 is someone with a dog

00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:40.860
 and the dog is kind of

00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:41.940
 straining at the leash

00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:43.259
 to come towards you.

00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:45.820
 And if you're a little bit scared of dogs,

00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.120
 you're quite hesitant

00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:48.620
 to go towards them.

00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:50.220
 But the owner very often

00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:51.200
 will say something like,

00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:51.879
 don't worry,

00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:53.519
 it won't bite you.

00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:56.419
 But you're still not sure,

00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:56.840
 are you?

00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:58.680
 You're still a little bit wary,

00:10:58.800 --> 00:11:00.180
 especially if they start barking.

00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:02.220
 You're still a little bit wary

00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:04.600
 and sometimes rightly so.

00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:08.980
 Well, think about Saul here then.

00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:12.019
 He's like a wild animal.

00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.300
 He was ravaging the church,

00:11:13.420 --> 00:11:15.120
 breathing out murderous threats.

00:11:15.940 --> 00:11:17.639
 But now the grace of God

00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:19.500
 has taken hold of him

00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:21.399
 and he's a new creation.

00:11:21.680 --> 00:11:22.820
 He is tamed.

00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:25.920
 Now, had you heard

00:11:25.920 --> 00:11:28.940
 or known of Saul at this time,

00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:32.040
 what would your reaction be?

00:11:33.180 --> 00:11:34.580
 Especially if you're told,

00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.379
 go and see him.

00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:39.139
 Go and speak to him.

00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:41.519
 Well, we see it with Ananias here

00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:43.899
 how he responds in verse 13.

00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:45.920
 The Lord has told him

00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:48.100
 to go and lay hands on him

00:11:48.100 --> 00:11:49.540
 that he might regain his sight.

00:11:49.680 --> 00:11:50.399
 In verse 13,

00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.920
 Ananias answered,

00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:53.660
 Lord, I have heard

00:11:53.660 --> 00:11:55.500
 from many about this man

00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:57.100
 how much evil he has done

00:11:57.100 --> 00:11:58.920
 to your saints in Jerusalem.

00:11:59.060 --> 00:12:01.180
 That's his initial reaction.

00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:03.859
 And that would probably be our reaction

00:12:03.859 --> 00:12:05.519
 if we were in his shoes as well.

00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:07.839
 Think about it in this way.

00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:09.019
 Every year,

00:12:09.479 --> 00:12:10.799
 the Christian organization

00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:11.959
 open doors.

00:12:12.819 --> 00:12:14.039
 They work highlighting

00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:16.639
 where Christians are persecuted

00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:18.379
 around the world.

00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:19.059
 And they produce

00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:21.000
 a world watch list

00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:22.139
 every year.

00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:24.779
 the top 15 countries

00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:27.899
 where Christians face persecution,

00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:29.899
 the most extreme persecution.

00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:31.460
 The top three countries

00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:31.960
 in the world

00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:33.199
 are North Korea,

00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.159
 Somalia,

00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:35.460
 and Yemen.

00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:37.080
 And you can see the list

00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:38.860
 for yourselves online.

00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:39.779
 And they recorded

00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:40.779
 that last year,

00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:44.379
 4,476 Christians

00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.659
 were killed

00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:47.019
 for their faith.

00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:49.980
 Imagine being asked

00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:51.679
 to go to one of these places.

00:12:52.699 --> 00:12:53.500
 To North Korea,

00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:54.240
 Somalia,

00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:55.240
 or Yemen.

00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:56.919
 And being told

00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:58.259
 to go and speak

00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:00.179
 to one of the main people

00:13:00.179 --> 00:13:01.079
 who have been

00:13:01.079 --> 00:13:02.079
 persecuting

00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:03.919
 those of the Christian faith.

00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:04.939
 And to say to them,

00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:06.340
 I have a word

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:08.159
 from God for you.

00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:09.840
 Would you go?

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:12.340
 Would you go

00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:13.299
 immediately?

00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:14.319
 You would be hesitant,

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:14.919
 I'm sure,

00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:16.379
 same as myself.

00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:18.120
 There would be that fear,

00:13:18.219 --> 00:13:19.459
 that natural fear.

00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:21.299
 And that's the natural fear

00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:22.839
 that Ananias has here.

00:13:22.939 --> 00:13:23.759
 He has heard

00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:24.839
 about Saul.

00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:25.339
 He's heard

00:13:25.339 --> 00:13:26.159
 what he's doing.

00:13:27.099 --> 00:13:27.719
 And he's told

00:13:27.719 --> 00:13:28.439
 to go and see him

00:13:28.439 --> 00:13:29.740
 and lay hands on him.

00:13:31.219 --> 00:13:31.799
 And he's saying

00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.439
 almost to the Lord,

00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:33.259
 are you sure?

00:13:34.479 --> 00:13:35.500
 I have heard

00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:37.019
 about this man.

00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:38.699
 And yet,

00:13:39.259 --> 00:13:40.339
 Ananias here

00:13:40.339 --> 00:13:41.059
 is one of those

00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:42.219
 special people

00:13:42.219 --> 00:13:43.259
 who almost just

00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:44.539
 steps onto the scene

00:13:44.539 --> 00:13:45.099
 of the Bible

00:13:45.099 --> 00:13:46.039
 for a few moments

00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:47.259
 and then quickly

00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:49.120
 disappears again.

00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:51.019
 But so important.

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.139
 One of these unsung

00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:54.139
 heroes of the faith.

00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:55.779
 But Ananias

00:13:55.779 --> 00:13:56.519
 is a picture

00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:58.199
 of what faith does.

00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.699
 It trusts God.

00:14:01.959 --> 00:14:03.919
 Faith trusts God.

00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:07.120
 And in verse 14,

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:07.839
 we see,

00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:09.500
 and here he has authority,

00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:10.439
 so he's still speaking

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:12.400
 about how he's come

00:14:12.400 --> 00:14:14.680
 to arrest the people.

00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:16.260
 But the Lord said to him,

00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:16.700
 go,

00:14:17.400 --> 00:14:18.320
 for he is a chosen

00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.140
 instrument of mine.

00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.300
 And so with these words

00:14:22.300 --> 00:14:22.840
 from the Lord,

00:14:23.520 --> 00:14:25.000
 Ananias goes.

00:14:26.780 --> 00:14:27.360
 And look at the way

00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.420
 he describes

00:14:28.420 --> 00:14:29.600
 Saul then.

00:14:31.020 --> 00:14:31.800
 He departed,

00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:32.980
 and it says in verse 17,

00:14:33.040 --> 00:14:33.900
 and entered the house,

00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:35.060
 this is where Saul was,

00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:36.919
 and laying his hands

00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:37.219
 on him,

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:37.599
 he said,

00:14:38.119 --> 00:14:39.239
 brother Saul.

00:14:40.459 --> 00:14:41.219
 Not just

00:14:41.219 --> 00:14:42.559
 at a distance,

00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:43.299
 carefully,

00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:44.500
 saying Saul,

00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:46.799
 but laying his hands

00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:47.319
 on him,

00:14:47.439 --> 00:14:47.639
 saying,

00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:48.939
 brother Saul.

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.679
 Acknowledging the work

00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.319
 of God's grace.

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:56.400
 that he is accepted

00:14:56.400 --> 00:14:57.920
 by God.

00:14:59.280 --> 00:14:59.980
 Ananias

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.460
 is calmed

00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:02.140
 by the grace

00:15:02.140 --> 00:15:02.740
 of God,

00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.000
 and Saul

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.440
 is transformed

00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:06.879
 by the grace

00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.060
 of God.

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.560
 And God

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:10.600
 is able

00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.760
 to tame.

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.900
 And that's the wonder

00:15:13.900 --> 00:15:15.879
 of everyone's testimony.

00:15:16.640 --> 00:15:17.460
 Whether it's the

00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:18.760
 quiet testimony,

00:15:19.640 --> 00:15:21.120
 still with the fear

00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.040
 and anxiety

00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:23.519
 and an element

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.559
 of how am I

00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:25.539
 going to go on.

00:15:26.819 --> 00:15:27.579
 Or whether it's

00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:28.659
 those who are brought

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.620
 from a background

00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:31.480
 of very publicly

00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.179
 disrespecting

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.919
 or cursing

00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:34.519
 the Lord.

00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:36.240
 Turning your back

00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:36.860
 on the Lord

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:38.019
 that the Lord

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.699
 is able

00:15:38.699 --> 00:15:39.959
 to tame.

00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.339
 There's two examples

00:15:42.339 --> 00:15:42.679
 here.

00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:43.539
 Ananias,

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.379
 the one who knows

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.439
 and loves the Lord,

00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.240
 and Saul,

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.419
 breathing out

00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:49.579
 murderous threats

00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:50.639
 against the Lord.

00:15:51.319 --> 00:15:52.019
 And yet we see

00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:52.720
 the wonder

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:54.299
 of the grace

00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:55.699
 of God.

00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:58.779
 And so it reminds us

00:15:58.779 --> 00:15:59.899
 how we are to deal

00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:01.240
 with one another.

00:16:02.199 --> 00:16:03.299
 How we are to look

00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.579
 at one another.

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.480
 And to see that

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.600
 God is able

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.799
 to change

00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:09.480
 anyone.

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:11.720
 God is able

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:13.360
 to take the vilest

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.000
 of sinners

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.679
 and make them

00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.960
 a new creation.

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.060
 salvation.

00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:19.700
 And we are challenged

00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:20.920
 by Jesus himself

00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:21.540
 when we look at

00:16:21.540 --> 00:16:23.720
 Matthew chapter 16.

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:24.980
 Chapter 6,

00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.440
 verse 14 and 15.

00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.840
 And this is at the end

00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:30.379
 of the Lord's prayer

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.600
 where it says,

00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.600
 For if you forgive

00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:34.600
 others their trespasses,

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.920
 your heavenly Father

00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:37.900
 will also forgive you.

00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.440
 But it goes on to say,

00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.240
 if you do not

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.440
 forgive others

00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.600
 their trespasses,

00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:44.420
 nor will your Father

00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:46.900
 forgive your trespasses.

00:16:48.140 --> 00:16:49.060
 And there's an example

00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:49.800
 for us here

00:16:49.800 --> 00:16:51.060
 of that in Ananias,

00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.680
 where he's saying

00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:53.160
 initially,

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:54.240
 I've heard

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.580
 about this man.

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.760
 I've heard

00:16:56.760 --> 00:16:57.380
 the things

00:16:57.380 --> 00:16:58.460
 he has done

00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:59.700
 against his people.

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:01.480
 but he is able

00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.240
 to forgive

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.960
 and to call him

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:05.460
 Brother Saul,

00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:06.880
 to see that the

00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.680
 Lord's grace

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:09.640
 is a powerful thing.

00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:12.319
 So we are to

00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:14.200
 forgive others.

00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:16.660
 Because if we're

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.519
 not able to,

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:17.940
 it says,

00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:18.900
 your Father

00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:20.059
 will not be able

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:20.480
 to forgive

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.539
 your trespasses.

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:22.980
 So there's that

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:24.519
 serious warning.

00:17:26.600 --> 00:17:27.519
 God tames

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.400
 his people.

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:28.940
 And we're shown

00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:29.820
 just how he does

00:17:29.820 --> 00:17:30.539
 it with Saul.

00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:31.880
 How does

00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:33.740
 he change?

00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:34.220
 Well, we see

00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:34.860
 three things

00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.840
 very briefly here.

00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.140
 We see Saul

00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:38.180
 is praying

00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.660
 in verse 11.

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:41.720
 And the Lord

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.299
 said to him,

00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:42.880
 rise and go

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.480
 to the street

00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:44.120
 called straight.

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:44.900
 And at the house

00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:46.100
 of Judas,

00:17:46.600 --> 00:17:47.259
 look for the man

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.799
 of Tarsus

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.360
 named Saul.

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.240
 For behold,

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.559
 he is praying.

00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:52.559
 Immediately,

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.080
 Saul is praying.

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:55.720
 He is looking

00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.120
 to God.

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:56.539
 He knows

00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:57.279
 he can come

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:58.240
 into that

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.039
 relationship

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.839
 with God.

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.700
 As Gordon

00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.200
 was preaching

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:01.720
 on the last

00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.299
 couple of weeks,

00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.059
 the importance

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:04.220
 of prayer

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:05.220
 in our personal

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:05.900
 and our corporate

00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:06.400
 life.

00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:07.680
 Here it is

00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.900
 shown to us,

00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:09.819
 Saul immediately

00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.940
 is praying.

00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:13.000
 You see,

00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:14.240
 Saul is humble

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.859
 before the Lord.

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.460
 Saul would have

00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.099
 gone on and said,

00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:18.720
 I can do it

00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.880
 myself previously

00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.440
 and everything,

00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.680
 but now he can

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.759
 receive that help

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.680
 from Ananias.

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:23.799
 us.

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.000
 And so we are

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.740
 to be humble

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:28.160
 before the Lord

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:29.580
 ourselves as well,

00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:30.779
 to humble ourselves

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.480
 under the mighty

00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.440
 hand of God.

00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:33.840
 That's what we

00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:34.740
 need to do.

00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:36.259
 And you see then

00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:36.740
 also,

00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.440
 Saul is living

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.360
 for Christ.

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.100
 A transformation

00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:40.940
 has come

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:42.519
 in his life.

00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:43.200
 He's baptized.

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.480
 He has fellowship

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.920
 with the disciples.

00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.460
 And then he goes

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.299
 on to proclaim

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.580
 Jesus in three

00:18:48.580 --> 00:18:48.940
 verses,

00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:49.420
 18,

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:49.900
 19,

00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:50.660
 and 20.

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:52.040
 What a dramatic

00:18:52.040 --> 00:18:52.880
 change.

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.000
 Baptized,

00:18:55.320 --> 00:18:55.880
 fellowshipping,

00:18:56.620 --> 00:18:57.600
 and proclaiming

00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:57.980
 Jesus.

00:18:58.100 --> 00:18:58.640
 And it leaves

00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.480
 people amazed.

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.140
 He has been

00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.759
 transformed.

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.300
 He has been

00:19:03.300 --> 00:19:04.980
 tamed by the

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.620
 grace of God.

00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.420
 And so what is

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:09.279
 God saying

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.800
 to you today?

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:13.100
 Do you believe

00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:13.720
 in miracles?

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.820
 Do you believe

00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:16.980
 that God is

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:18.100
 able to save

00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:18.480
 you?

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:21.839
 He can save

00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:22.940
 anybody

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:24.460
 if we but

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:26.059
 look to him,

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.500
 if we ask

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:29.339
 him for help.

00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:31.460
 Saul

00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.819
 and Ananias,

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.319
 two very

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:34.819
 different kinds

00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.599
 of people,

00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:37.240
 but both

00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:37.980
 under the

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:39.360
 grace of

00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:39.740
 God,

00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:41.120
 used in

00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:42.259
 amazing ways.

00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:43.720
 And so

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.420
 can you be.

00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:46.019
 Every one

00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.460
 of us

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.680
 can be used

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.380
 by God

00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.640
 by coming

00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:49.940
 to put

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.780
 our trust

00:19:50.780 --> 00:19:51.700
 in the

00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.320
 Lord Jesus

00:19:52.320 --> 00:19:52.920
 Christ.

00:19:54.360 --> 00:19:55.080
 And what

00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:55.700
 makes the

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.180
 difference

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.700
 here?

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.180
 Well,

00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:58.460
 the second

00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:58.740
 thing we

00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.200
 see here

00:19:59.200 --> 00:19:59.720
 is the

00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.260
 tamer.

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:01.300
 I just

00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:01.560
 want to

00:20:01.560 --> 00:20:01.760
 think

00:20:01.760 --> 00:20:02.280
 briefly

00:20:02.280 --> 00:20:03.300
 on this.

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:03.540
 The

00:20:03.540 --> 00:20:04.060
 tamer.

00:20:04.800 --> 00:20:05.060
 What

00:20:05.060 --> 00:20:05.500
 made the

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.000
 difference

00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.380
 to Saul?

00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.500
 What

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:08.920
 made the

00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.460
 difference

00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.820
 to Ananias?

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:12.599
 Why

00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:12.859
 was

00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.319
 Saul

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.819
 so

00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.240
 changed?

00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:14.460
 Why

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:14.639
 was

00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.439
 Ananias

00:20:15.439 --> 00:20:16.099
 in his

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:16.339
 fear

00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:16.819
 able to

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.339
 go to

00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:17.639
 Saul

00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:17.899
 and put

00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:18.399
 his hands

00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:18.700
 on him

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.139
 and say,

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.559
 Brother

00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.159
 Saul,

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.039
 well,

00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:21.319
 it was

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:21.879
 all of

00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:22.319
 God.

00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:23.579
 You see,

00:20:23.679 --> 00:20:24.099
 testimony,

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.099
 it's not

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:26.059
 about us.

00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.039
 Ananias

00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.559
 wouldn't go

00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.000
 and say,

00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:29.240
 oh,

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.399
 well,

00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:29.720
 I got

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.379
 strength in

00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.119
 myself to

00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:31.500
 go and

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.679
 speak to

00:20:32.679 --> 00:20:33.419
 Saul,

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:33.899
 look at

00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:34.220
 me.

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.240
 No,

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.539
 he would

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.839
 testify to

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.299
 God.

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.339
 God spoke

00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:38.740
 to me.

00:20:39.459 --> 00:20:40.019
 He said,

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:40.659
 I have

00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:41.639
 this man

00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.039
 Saul,

00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:42.379
 but he

00:20:42.379 --> 00:20:42.740
 is an

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.299
 instrument

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:44.480
 of mine

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.159
 to carry

00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:45.799
 my name.

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.779
 It's

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:48.199
 all about

00:20:48.199 --> 00:20:48.779
 God.

00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:51.899
 And the

00:20:51.899 --> 00:20:52.500
 same with

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:52.939
 Saul.

00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:53.500
 Saul,

00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:54.299
 in his

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.259
 pre-conversion

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.699
 life,

00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.659
 had believed

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.579
 Jesus was

00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.839
 dead and

00:20:58.839 --> 00:20:59.559
 his mission

00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.240
 was to

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.919
 destroy any

00:21:01.919 --> 00:21:02.980
 lingering thought

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.399
 that this

00:21:03.399 --> 00:21:03.839
 religion,

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.639
 this Christian

00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:05.179
 faith,

00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:05.939
 would go

00:21:05.939 --> 00:21:06.379
 anywhere.

00:21:07.399 --> 00:21:07.679
 He was

00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:08.000
 going to

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.460
 get rid

00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:08.859
 of it.

00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.460
 But now

00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.180
 he's an

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:11.799
 instrument in

00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.180
 God's

00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:12.599
 hand.

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:13.900
 The

00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:15.059
 tamer is

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.599
 God and

00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.000
 God is

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.420
 able to

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.039
 use in

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.859
 them to

00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:18.740
 proclaim the

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.740
 wonder of

00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.480
 this Christ

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.819
 far and

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.299
 wide.

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:24.380
 God had

00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:24.839
 other

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.779
 plans.

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:27.819
 And the

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.900
 Bible is

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:29.559
 full of

00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.599
 these chosen

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.779
 instruments in

00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.500
 his hands.

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.079
 People who

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.099
 were brought

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:35.819
 from different

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.400
 backgrounds,

00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:36.940
 people who

00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:37.759
 others would

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.160
 have looked

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.720
 down on,

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.160
 yet the

00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:40.400
 Lord used.

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.019
 Because if

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.480
 we start

00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.079
 comparing

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.539
 ourselves with

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:45.299
 others, we

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.240
 always end up

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.099
 in difficulty.

00:21:47.879 --> 00:21:48.180
 Because we

00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:48.720
 always end up

00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.019
 thinking, I'm

00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.599
 not as good

00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:50.000
 as that

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.299
 person.

00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:50.879
 I can't

00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:51.539
 be used

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.519
 like that

00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.079
 person.

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.339
 And yet

00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:54.940
 many of us

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.720
 have different

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.900
 personalities,

00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:57.539
 different

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.500
 characteristics,

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:58.879
 and the

00:21:58.879 --> 00:21:59.519
 Lord can

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.119
 use them

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:01.119
 all for

00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:01.960
 his glory.

00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:02.940
 What we

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.799
 see as a

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.339
 weakness,

00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:05.539
 God can

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:07.039
 use as a

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.680
 strength.

00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:10.879
 And Paul

00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.460
 goes on to

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.720
 speak about

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.539
 that in his

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:13.980
 letter to

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.700
 the Corinthians.

00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.359
 1 Corinthians

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.220
 chapter 1

00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:18.500
 verse 26,

00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:18.859
 he says,

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:19.460
 For consider

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.299
 your calling,

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.019
 brothers.

00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.799
 Not many of

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.099
 you were

00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:23.180
 wise according

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.859
 to worldly

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.599
 standards.

00:22:25.159 --> 00:22:25.680
 Not many

00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.460
 were powerful.

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.159
 Not many

00:22:27.159 --> 00:22:27.519
 were of

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.440
 noble birth.

00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:30.180
 But God

00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.940
 chose what

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.559
 is foolish

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.559
 in the world

00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.259
 to shame

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:33.899
 the wise.

00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:35.140
 God chose

00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.480
 what is

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.040
 weak in

00:22:36.040 --> 00:22:36.420
 the world

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.160
 to shame

00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.280
 the strong.

00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:39.500
 God

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.940
 can tame.

00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:41.960
 He's the

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.340
 one who

00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:43.040
 has power

00:22:43.040 --> 00:22:43.920
 and the

00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.280
 one who

00:22:44.280 --> 00:22:44.700
 uses

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:46.040
 his people.

00:22:46.040 --> 00:22:46.680
 Because God

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.040
 is in the

00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:47.519
 business of

00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.259
 taking people

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.860
 and using

00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.240
 them in

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.259
 ways they

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.800
 never imagined

00:22:51.800 --> 00:22:52.680
 possible.

00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:53.740
 When you

00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.280
 look through

00:22:54.280 --> 00:22:54.740
 scripture,

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.759
 you find

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.980
 that again

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.480
 and again.

00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:57.840
 You think

00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:58.540
 of Esther

00:22:58.540 --> 00:22:59.220
 in the Old

00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.360
 Testament who

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:00.940
 had set off

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:02.000
 for such a

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.080
 time as

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.319
 this.

00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:03.599
 She was

00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.199
 an instrument

00:23:04.199 --> 00:23:05.519
 in God's

00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.619
 hand who

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.960
 saved her

00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:09.259
 people at

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.039
 that time.

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.179
 You think

00:23:11.179 --> 00:23:11.819
 of how God

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.659
 used an

00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:13.119
 unknown

00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:14.019
 shepherd boy

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:15.000
 called David

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.859
 to become

00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:16.279
 one of the

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.159
 greatest kings

00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:17.879
 of Israel.

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:19.699
 You think

00:23:19.699 --> 00:23:20.519
 of how God

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.299
 used a

00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.319
 blind beggar

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:22.679
 named

00:23:22.679 --> 00:23:23.619
 Bartimaeus

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:24.500
 begging at

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:24.980
 the side

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.299
 of the

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.039
 street and

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.279
 yet who

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.019
 cried out

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.699
 for help

00:23:27.699 --> 00:23:28.659
 to God

00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:29.859
 and taught

00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.639
 the disciples

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:31.339
 in a large

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.759
 crowd such a

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.200
 powerful

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.539
 lesson,

00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.200
 an instrument

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.400
 in God's

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:35.759
 hand.

00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.599
 You think

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.019
 of the

00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:37.519
 Samaritan

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.900
 woman who

00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:39.579
 was rejected

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.240
 by many

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.240
 who Jesus

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.039
 met at a

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.700
 well one

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.900
 day, an

00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.640
 instrument in

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.339
 God's hand

00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:45.660
 who went

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.720
 back into

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.339
 her town

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:47.900
 and told

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:49.019
 people that

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.339
 she had

00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:50.220
 met this

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.720
 Messiah,

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.579
 the Christ.

00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.400
 Could this

00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.420
 be the

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:53.879
 Christ?

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:54.859
 You think

00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:55.059
 of the

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.920
 disciples who

00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:56.539
 were called

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.220
 by God,

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.059
 various walks

00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.779
 of life,

00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.140
 and yet it

00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:01.559
 was said

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.139
 these men

00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:02.679
 have turned

00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:03.299
 the world

00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:04.599
 upside down

00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.220
 because they

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.879
 were instruments

00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:07.379
 in God's

00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:07.879
 hand.

00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:09.480
 There's a

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.539
 book with

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.159
 the title

00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:11.839
 Ordinary

00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.500
 People,

00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.079
 Extraordinary

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.639
 God.

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:15.639
 It's a

00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.579
 book that's

00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.539
 told of the

00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.179
 hundred year

00:24:18.179 --> 00:24:19.700
 history of

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.240
 the church

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:20.980
 in Roskeen,

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.319
 the free

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:21.879
 church in

00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.539
 Roskeen.

00:24:23.139 --> 00:24:23.740
 Ordinary

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.339
 People,

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.379
 Instruments

00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:26.259
 in God's

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.559
 Hand,

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.379
 an

00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:28.000
 extraordinary

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.919
 God who

00:24:28.919 --> 00:24:29.440
 can do

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.340
 great

00:24:30.340 --> 00:24:30.940
 things.

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:32.559
 And

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:32.820
 shouldn't

00:24:32.820 --> 00:24:33.019
 it be

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.559
 exciting

00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.059
 for us

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:34.400
 to think,

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:34.580
 well,

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.039
 what can

00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.059
 God do

00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:36.600
 with me?

00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:39.000
 If we

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.299
 were to

00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:39.700
 put our

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.400
 lives,

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.019
 our hearts

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.799
 into the

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.360
 hands of

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:42.640
 God,

00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.080
 what can

00:24:43.080 --> 00:24:43.500
 he do

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.559
 with me?

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.059
 Instead

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.680
 of thinking,

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.279
 but I'm

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:47.700
 weak,

00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:48.620
 I've got

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.200
 nothing to

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.559
 offer,

00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:52.080
 God is

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:52.460
 able.

00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:54.519
 Ordinary

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.180
 people,

00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.480
 extraordinary

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.799
 God.

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.380
 Formerly,

00:24:59.480 --> 00:24:59.880
 Saul had

00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:00.319
 a mission,

00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.299
 but it

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:01.779
 was all

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.059
 about

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.700
 self,

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.360
 persecuting,

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.039
 eliminating

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.079
 the people

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.720
 of God.

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.299
 He was

00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:08.900
 advancing,

00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:09.319
 as he

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:09.759
 says in

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.720
 Galatians,

00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.319
 advancing

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.480
 beyond many

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:12.799
 of his

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.460
 contemporaries.

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:13.799
 He was

00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.240
 on the

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.140
 ladder to

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:16.000
 success as

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.440
 he saw

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:16.680
 it,

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.539
 but he

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.039
 was brought

00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:19.559
 down

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:21.160
 and to

00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.839
 realize

00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.299
 that that

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.000
 was nothing

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.380
 compared to

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.319
 the surpassing

00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.880
 worth of

00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:27.020
 knowing Christ

00:25:27.020 --> 00:25:27.880
 Jesus my

00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.280
 Lord.

00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.100
 And what

00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:31.780
 does Paul

00:25:31.780 --> 00:25:33.000
 put this

00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.820
 down to?

00:25:35.060 --> 00:25:35.800
 The work

00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:37.060
 of God.

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:38.680
 You see

00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.540
 Paul,

00:25:39.780 --> 00:25:40.060
 Saul,

00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:40.720
 sharing his

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.120
 testimony

00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:41.800
 throughout the

00:25:41.800 --> 00:25:42.180
 book of

00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:42.580
 Acts.

00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:44.020
 In chapter

00:25:44.020 --> 00:25:45.020
 26 of

00:25:45.020 --> 00:25:45.220
 Acts,

00:25:45.300 --> 00:25:45.980
 verse 14,

00:25:46.620 --> 00:25:47.200
 again we're

00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:47.800
 told some

00:25:47.800 --> 00:25:48.220
 more of

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:48.680
 Paul's

00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.180
 testimony

00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:49.580
 there.

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.420
 When we

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:52.820
 had all

00:25:52.820 --> 00:25:53.280
 fallen to

00:25:53.280 --> 00:25:53.520
 the ground,

00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:54.100
 I heard a

00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:54.660
 voice saying

00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:54.980
 to me,

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.740
 in the

00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.039
 Hebrew

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.599
 language,

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.079
 Saul,

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.500
 Saul,

00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:57.980
 why are

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.140
 you

00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.839
 persecuting

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.160
 me?

00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.259
 It is

00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:00.839
 hard for

00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.299
 you to

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.660
 kick

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.180
 against

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.500
 the

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:02.980
 goads.

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.740
 It's

00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.259
 reminding

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.920
 us there

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.019
 of the

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.579
 tamer,

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:09.480
 how God

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.640
 is able

00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.380
 to tame

00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:11.920
 because that

00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.339
 word

00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.539
 goads,

00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:14.720
 or as in

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:14.920
 another

00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.819
 translation it

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.019
 says,

00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.420
 kicking

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.140
 against the

00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:17.539
 pricks,

00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:18.779
 it's all

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.640
 about what

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.420
 is used

00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.079
 to direct

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.839
 animals,

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:23.339
 the stick

00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:23.720
 that is

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.299
 used to

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.139
 push them

00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:25.799
 in the

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.099
 right

00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:26.779
 direction.

00:26:26.919 --> 00:26:27.199
 You hear

00:26:27.199 --> 00:26:27.720
 that phrase

00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.659
 goading

00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:29.379
 them on.

00:26:30.179 --> 00:26:30.480
 That's

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:30.720
 what it

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:30.879
 means,

00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:31.099
 it just

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:32.119
 means pushing

00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:32.319
 you,

00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.059
 prompting

00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:33.399
 you on

00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:33.839
 in a

00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.259
 certain

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:35.319
 direction.

00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:37.399
 And

00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:38.480
 Saul

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.159
 is

00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:39.740
 fighting

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.679
 against

00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:41.019
 it.

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.379
 The

00:26:42.379 --> 00:26:42.939
 Lord is

00:26:42.939 --> 00:26:43.740
 goading

00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.000
 him,

00:26:44.699 --> 00:26:45.720
 but he's

00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.099
 fighting

00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:46.859
 against it.

00:26:46.939 --> 00:26:47.240
 And he's

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.619
 saying to

00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:47.740
 him,

00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:49.599
 why are

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.199
 you kicking

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:50.940
 against

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.240
 me?

00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.080
 Is that

00:26:53.080 --> 00:26:54.559
 you today?

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.160
 Are you

00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:57.160
 feeling these

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.819
 goads,

00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:58.960
 the Lord's

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.039
 prompting you

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.039
 in a certain

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.539
 direction,

00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:01.900
 and you're

00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:02.319
 trying to

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:03.360
 fight against

00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:03.539
 it,

00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:03.860
 you're trying

00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.380
 to push

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:05.080
 in a

00:27:05.080 --> 00:27:05.480
 different

00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.160
 direction,

00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.799
 but the

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.259
 Lord is

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:08.860
 still

00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:10.100
 pushing you.

00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:11.740
 Is it

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:13.080
 time to

00:27:13.080 --> 00:27:13.480
 stop

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:13.940
 kicking

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.519
 against

00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:14.759
 him?

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.640
 Is it

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:16.279
 time to

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:16.700
 stop

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.360
 fighting

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:17.920
 against

00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.380
 that and

00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:18.860
 just say,

00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.259
 Lord,

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.180
 help.

00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:20.319
 help.

00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:23.160
 Lord,

00:27:23.600 --> 00:27:24.259
 help.

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.100
 The

00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:27.580
 bravest

00:27:27.580 --> 00:27:28.759
 thing we

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.440
 can say

00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:31.140
 is,

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:31.620
 Lord,

00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:32.580
 help.

00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:34.319
 I've

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.680
 done it

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:34.900
 long

00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.340
 enough,

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.759
 going

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.840
 against

00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:38.180
 you.

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.160
 Help.

00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:41.779
 Help me

00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:43.000
 go in

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:43.539
 the right

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.420
 direction.

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.920
 Paul was

00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:47.420
 fighting,

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.460
 but he

00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:50.120
 still

00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:51.500
 a chosen

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.100
 instrument

00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:52.480
 in the

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.120
 hands of

00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:53.460
 God.

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.220
 Maybe you

00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:54.799
 are today

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.200
 too,

00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:57.160
 but it's

00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:58.200
 time to

00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.880
 stop kicking

00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.700
 against him

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:01.380
 and just

00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:02.059
 to let him

00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:03.620
 come and

00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.140
 have your

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.660
 life and

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.740
 live for

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.039
 him.

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.519
 Paul would

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.200
 see himself

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.860
 as weak,

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.360
 and so do

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:12.620
 we,

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.200
 but that's a

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.759
 good thing,

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.759
 God.

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.379
 Because it's

00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:16.920
 only then

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.500
 we see

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.700
 the strength

00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.819
 of God.

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.000
 Charles

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.700
 Spurgeon

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.299
 put it like

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:26.700
 this,

00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:29.000
 grow in

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:29.559
 the root

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.539
 of all

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.039
 grace,

00:28:31.580 --> 00:28:32.259
 which is

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:32.799
 faith.

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.160
 Believe

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.759
 God's

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.279
 promises

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.279
 more firmly

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.400
 than ever.

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.039
 Allow your

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.720
 faith to

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.539
 increase in

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.160
 its fullness,

00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.660
 firmness,

00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.559
 and simplicity.

00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.380
 Don't

00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:47.740
 over

00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.779
 complicate it,

00:28:50.340 --> 00:28:51.340
 but by

00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:51.880
 grace,

00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:52.680
 grow

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.759
 through

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.299
 faith.

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:56.099
 believe.

00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:57.919
 Stop

00:28:57.919 --> 00:28:58.359
 kicking

00:28:58.359 --> 00:29:00.319
 and believe

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:02.079
 and be

00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:02.700
 an instrument

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:04.000
 in God's

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.319
 hand that

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.000
 your testimony

00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.559
 would be,

00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:07.680
 not look

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.200
 what I've

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:08.500
 done,

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.480
 but look

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:10.720
 at what

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.299
 God has

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:12.700
 done to

00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:13.899
 me and

00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:14.319
 to many

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.759
 more,

00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.159
 and give

00:29:16.159 --> 00:29:17.399
 glory to

00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:17.659
 him.

00:29:18.399 --> 00:29:18.799
 Let us

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.019
 pray.

00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.059
 Lord,

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:23.319
 our

00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:23.859
 gracious

00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:24.299
 God,

00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:24.639
 we do

00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:25.359
 thank you

00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:25.859
 that you

00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:26.279
 are one

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:26.639
 who is

00:29:26.639 --> 00:29:27.199
 patient

00:29:27.199 --> 00:29:27.459
 and

00:29:27.459 --> 00:29:27.899
 merciful.

00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:28.199
 You

00:29:28.199 --> 00:29:28.279
 know,

00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:28.519
 as we

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.099
 think of

00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.240
 Saul

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.719
 kicking

00:29:30.719 --> 00:29:31.240
 against

00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:31.519
 the

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:31.979
 goads,

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:32.919
 and how

00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:33.459
 often we

00:29:33.459 --> 00:29:33.879
 find

00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.479
 ourselves

00:29:34.479 --> 00:29:35.139
 like that

00:29:35.139 --> 00:29:35.439
 too,

00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:35.819
 when we

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.159
 are just

00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:36.459
 kicking

00:29:36.459 --> 00:29:36.759
 out

00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.219
 against

00:29:37.219 --> 00:29:37.519
 you,

00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.339
 turning

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:38.679
 into

00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:38.859
 our

00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.079
 own

00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.500
 ways,

00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.019
 but yet

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.459
 by your

00:29:40.459 --> 00:29:40.939
 grace,

00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:41.479
 by your

00:29:41.479 --> 00:29:41.859
 love,

00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.019
 you guide

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.279
 us,

00:29:43.419 --> 00:29:43.859
 you help

00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:44.019
 us,

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.259
 and we

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.379
 pray that

00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:45.639
 you will

00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:46.099
 continue

00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:46.579
 to do

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:46.979
 that,

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:47.799
 and to

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.240
 help us

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.579
 to give

00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.379
 that testimony

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.779
 of glory

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.319
 to your

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:51.659
 name,

00:29:52.159 --> 00:29:52.500
 as we

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.059
 ask all

00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:53.359
 with the

00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:53.720
 forgiveness

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.279
 of our

00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:54.519
 sin,

00:29:54.599 --> 00:29:55.059
 in Jesus'

00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:55.500
 name,

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.259
 Amen.

00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:00.980
 We'll

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.619
 conclude by

00:30:01.619 --> 00:30:02.299
 singing to

00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:02.740
 God's

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.359
 praise in

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.659
 Psalm 73

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.099
 in the

00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.579
 Scottish

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.220
 Psalter

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.799
 version,

00:30:08.179 --> 00:30:08.559
 page

00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.619
 316,

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.019
 we'll

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.460
 sing from

00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.399
 verse 23

00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:14.159
 to 26.

00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.259
 And this

00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.559
 is a

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.039
 psalm where

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.519
 you see

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.240
 the psalmist

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.759
 initially

00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.559
 questioning

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.339
 the Lord,

00:30:20.419 --> 00:30:20.839
 but then

00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.740
 you see

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.359
 this great

00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:23.179
 change

00:30:23.179 --> 00:30:23.639
 in verse

00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:24.440
 23,

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.559
 nevertheless

00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:26.720
 continually,

00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:27.240
 O Lord,

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:27.659
 I am

00:30:27.659 --> 00:30:28.099
 with thee,

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.679
 thou dost

00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.319
 me hold

00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:30.299
 by my

00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:30.919
 right hand

00:30:30.919 --> 00:30:31.639
 and still

00:30:31.639 --> 00:30:32.339
 upholdest

00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:32.579
 me,

00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:33.079
 thou with

00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:33.299
 thy

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.759
 counsel

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.359
 while I

00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:34.599
 live,

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.519
 wilt me

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.139
 conduct

00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.720
 and guide

00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.059
 and to

00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.639
 thy glory

00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.259
 afterward

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.319
 receive me

00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.339
 to abide.

00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:40.700
 Let's sing

00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.319
 these four

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.980
 verses to

00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:42.480
 God's

00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:43.079
 praise.

00:30:43.079 --> 00:31:13.059
 miracle.

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:24.339
 my right hand, and still thou holdest me.

00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:43.339
 Though it I counsel while I live, will be conduct and guide,

00:31:43.339 --> 00:32:02.339
 and to thy glory afterward receive me to abide.

00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:21.480
 Whom have I in the heavens high, but thee, O Lord, alone,

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:40.140
 and in the earth through my desire, besides thee there is none.

00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:59.140
 My flesh and heart doth paint and fill, but God doth fail me never.

00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:17.640
 For of my heart, God is the strength and portion forever.

00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:22.780
 After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right.

00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:23.980
 We'll close with the benediction.

00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:29.860
 Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:33.880
 rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.620
 Amen.

00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.980
 Amen.

00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:54.980