WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:04.879 We'll be reading two passages this morning, both from the book of Jeremiah. 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:10.640 The first passage is Jeremiah 22, 13 through 19. 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:11.919 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.219 Who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages. 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:39.920 Who says, I will build myself a great house with spacious upper rooms. 00:00:40.140 --> 00:00:44.820 Who cuts out windows for it, paddling it with cedar and painting it with vermilion. 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:48.780 Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:52.900 Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:54.879 Then it was well with him. 00:00:55.620 --> 00:00:57.920 He judged the cause of the poor and needy. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:00:59.260 Then it was well. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.140 Is not this to know me, declares the Lord? 00:01:03.100 --> 00:01:06.400 But you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain, 00:01:06.620 --> 00:01:10.120 for shedding innocent blood and for practicing oppression and violence. 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:15.700 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah. 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:20.760 They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah, my brother, or Ah, my sister. 00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:24.900 They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah, Lord, or Ah, his majesty. 00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:29.920 With the burial of a donkey he shall be buried, dragged and dumped, 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:31.359 beyond the gates of Jerusalem. 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:39.120 And our second passage is Jeremiah 23, verses 1 through 6. 00:01:39.819 --> 00:01:42.900 And in this passage, God pronounces judgment on the kings of Judah 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:46.460 and promises that he will one day raise up a king from the line of David 00:01:46.460 --> 00:01:48.539 who will rule his people justly. 00:01:48.540 --> 00:01:55.860 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, declares the Lord. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:01.420 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people. 00:02:01.980 --> 00:02:07.200 You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. 00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:11.480 Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:16.439 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:20.659 and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:26.439 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, 00:02:26.819 --> 00:02:31.139 nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. 00:02:31.139 --> 00:02:36.859 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous branch, 00:02:37.079 --> 00:02:43.500 and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 00:02:44.339 --> 00:02:48.560 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. 00:02:49.139 --> 00:02:51.319 And this is the name by which he will be called. 00:02:51.959 --> 00:02:53.399 The Lord is our righteousness. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:55.879 Hear the word of the Lord. 00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:01.639 Good morning, everyone. 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:04.060 Welcome any visitors. 00:03:04.299 --> 00:03:05.019 My name is Martin. 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:11.960 I'm one of the elders at church here, and I'll be sharing from God's word. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:17.379 Why don't we pray and ask for God's help as we meditate on the scriptures. 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:20.000 Heavenly Father, thank you that we can gather this morning. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:34.360 We thank you for your word in which you speak to us everything we need to know for salvation and for a life of godliness in Jesus. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:41.120 Please grant to us this morning that we might be attentive to your word. 00:03:42.580 --> 00:03:43.920 Write it on our hearts. 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:46.199 Change us by it. 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:54.199 Shape us to be the people you want us to be, more and more like your son, in whose name we pray. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:55.039 Amen. 00:03:58.339 --> 00:04:04.639 Well, just a heads up, there are some passages that will come on the screen, but the majority of them won't, 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:07.759 and the ones that won't are almost all from the book of Acts. 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:14.000 So, it would be great if you could have a Bible open and sort of ready to look at Acts when we get there, 00:04:14.079 --> 00:04:17.560 although that will be a little bit later on in the talk. 00:04:18.539 --> 00:04:25.639 Now, the first emperor to profess faith in Jesus was, of course, the Emperor Constantine, 00:04:26.039 --> 00:04:31.000 who reigned for three decades until the year 337 AD. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:39.500 Following Constantine, there was a sequence of emperors who were Christian in name, at least, 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:47.920 and the Roman Empire became more and more Christian, at least outwardly. 00:04:48.980 --> 00:04:52.620 But there was one exception in the sequence of emperors in the 4th century. 00:04:52.620 --> 00:05:00.759 In 361 AD, 24 years after Constantine's death, his nephew Julian came to the throne. 00:05:01.740 --> 00:05:07.620 Julian's known to history as Julian the Apostate, because he turned away from Christianity. 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:11.379 And Julian favoured the old Greek and Roman gods. 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:15.319 He wanted to see a revival of Hellenistic religion. 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:26.019 And Julian thought he knew the reason why devotion to Jesus had begun to displace devotion to Zeus and to Demeter 00:05:26.019 --> 00:05:33.240 and to the mother god and all the rest, the pantheon of Hellenistic gods. 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:35.420 Julian thought he knew the reason. 00:05:35.420 --> 00:05:43.040 And he wrote a letter to a pagan high priest whom he installed about why devotion to Jesus had begun to be, 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:49.900 you know, why the other religions were starting to fail and what he thought they should do about it. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:51.240 This is some of that letter. 00:05:51.960 --> 00:05:52.620 Here's what he said. 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:53.439 It'll come up on the screen. 00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:54.240 I'll read out bits of it. 00:05:54.540 --> 00:05:59.240 The Hellenic religion, that just means sort of the Greek, religion of Greek culture, 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:05.699 the Hellenic religion does not yet prosper as I desire and it is the fault of those who profess it. 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:11.800 Why do we not observe that it is the Christians benevolence to strangers, 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:20.560 their care for the graves of the dead and the pretended holiness of their lives that have done most to increase atheism? 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:24.000 By atheism he means disbelief in the old gods. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:25.879 He's calling Christians atheists there. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:32.579 And then he goes on to say, I believe we ought really and truly to practice every one of these virtues. 00:06:33.819 --> 00:06:40.920 And it's not enough for you alone to practice them, but so must all the priests in Galatia, without exception, 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:47.219 either shame or persuade them into righteousness or else remove them from their priestly office. 00:06:48.219 --> 00:06:54.500 For it is disgraceful that when no Jew ever has to beg and the impious Galileans, that's the Christians, 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:59.699 when the impious Christians support not only their own poor but ours as well, 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.660 all men see that our people lack aid from us. 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:08.180 Then let us not, by allowing others to outdo us in good works, 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:13.540 disgraced by such remissness or rather utterly abandon the reverence due to the gods. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:22.839 See, Julian understood the secret of Christianity's success was love. 00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:34.779 He was frustrated that the religions he favoured didn't produce the same deeds of compassion and love and mercy that he saw in the Christians. 00:07:35.620 --> 00:07:40.279 And so he tried to pressure the pagan priests, copy the Christians' love. 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:49.799 The Roman Empire's conversion to Christianity was ultimately because the love of Jesus was stronger than the power of Caesar, 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:52.919 stronger than the might of the legions of Rome. 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:58.779 Jesus made people more just and more kind. 00:08:00.059 --> 00:08:04.000 Jesus himself had said to his disciples that they would be known, 00:08:04.099 --> 00:08:07.079 the world would know them by their love for one another. 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:12.899 Jesus could take a man of rage, a man of hatred, 00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:18.120 and transform him into a model of sacrificial love. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:20.759 Case in point, the Apostle Paul. 00:08:22.719 --> 00:08:24.639 Jesus brought change to people, 00:08:25.479 --> 00:08:27.979 and the change brought people to Jesus. 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:36.960 We're in the final week of our three-week sermon series on justice and mercy or justice and kindness. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:40.759 The key verse for this series is Micah 6 verse 8. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:44.600 He has told you, O man, what is good. 00:08:45.300 --> 00:08:56.539 And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? 00:08:56.539 --> 00:09:01.740 In the last two weeks, we've reflected on God's justice and God's kindness. 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:04.639 God's kindness seen in that magnificent trio of words, 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:07.899 his compassion, his grace, his steadfast love. 00:09:08.939 --> 00:09:10.399 And God's justice. 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:17.620 And what I really wanted you to take away from last week is that God's justice is not just his negative justice in punishing sin, 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:20.659 but much more fundamentally his positive justice, 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:26.000 his absolute commitment to doing what is right and to establishing what is right. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:35.259 And flowing out of God's positive justice comes God's determination to restore creation to be what it ought to be. 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:41.060 Justice and kindness are the marks of God's kingdom. 00:09:41.059 --> 00:10:11.039 Justice and kindness are the marks of God's kingdom. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:13.779 Verses after that that are just sort of listing some of David's officials. 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:17.219 And then the very next chapter begins with a story of David's kindness. 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:19.980 2 Samuel 9 verse 1. 00:10:20.059 --> 00:10:20.620 And David said, 00:10:20.699 --> 00:10:27.639 Is there anyone left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:30.319 Remember, Saul was the old king who tried to kill David. 00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:32.199 He persecuted him. 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:34.900 And now he wants to show kindness to Saul's family. 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:43.759 And chapter 9 goes to tell a story of God's kindness and mercy towards Mephibosheth, the crippled grandson of King Saul. 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:46.980 But see, this is the high point of King David's reign. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:49.780 Justice and kindness. 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:57.480 It quickly went downhill a couple of chapters later when David abandoned both and committed horrific sin. 00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:07.159 But God had given David a promise that one of his descendants would rule on his throne forever over an everlasting kingdom. 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:19.679 And as descendants of David, as kings of Israel and Judah came and went, and the kings in Jerusalem grew more and more corrupt, 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:26.479 like the king Sean read about in that reading from Jeremiah 22. 00:11:28.359 --> 00:11:33.959 The prophets proclaimed and clung to God's promise of a better king who would come. 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:36.859 Jeremiah 23 verse 5 and 6. 00:11:36.859 --> 00:11:42.000 Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I'll raise up for David a righteous branch, 00:11:42.179 --> 00:11:49.439 and he shall reign as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 00:11:50.099 --> 00:11:53.779 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will dwell securely. 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:57.259 And this is the name by which he will be called. 00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:58.759 The Lord is our righteousness. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:01.319 Or Isaiah 9, 6 to 7. 00:12:01.319 --> 00:12:06.839 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulder, 00:12:07.719 --> 00:12:13.179 and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:17.939 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:24.380 On the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness. 00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:29.720 From this time forth and forevermore, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:38.560 Brothers and sisters, the kindness and justice of Jesus reach a focal point at the cross, 00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:42.160 but they don't cease at the cross. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:46.319 Jesus sits on the throne of David. 00:12:47.819 --> 00:12:49.279 He rules forevermore. 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:51.860 As Isaiah 9, verse 7 says, 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:55.740 of the increase of his government and of his peace there's no end. 00:12:55.740 --> 00:13:05.980 The rule of Jesus causes kindness and justice to increase. 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:16.100 Does that mean that the world will keep getting better and better until Jesus returns? 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:19.460 No, I don't think it means that. 00:13:21.940 --> 00:13:28.399 But is all righteousness and justice and peace deferred until the last day when Jesus returns? 00:13:28.680 --> 00:13:29.920 Well, no, it doesn't mean that. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.120 It certainly doesn't mean that. 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:34.720 The reign of Jesus, of course it makes a difference in eternity, 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:36.480 but it makes a difference now too. 00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:40.779 That's the expectation of the New Testament. 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:42.300 It's the expectation of the apostles. 00:13:42.540 --> 00:13:43.899 It's the testimony of history. 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:48.939 And what I want to do, and just kind of as Jen did in the kids' talk, 00:13:49.179 --> 00:13:53.059 in the remainder of this talk, I want to skate through the book of Acts 00:13:53.059 --> 00:14:00.840 and look at some of the ways that the rule of Jesus prompted justice and kindness in the early church. 00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:07.500 Now, I don't want to stand here this morning and say to you, 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:09.980 you must do justice and you must do kindness. 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:12.340 Of course, God wants those things of us. 00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:19.519 But what I want to do is just try and inspire us that God actually does this. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.919 He produces it in his people. 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:23.799 This is the work of God. 00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:26.600 Not that the early church was perfect. 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:29.120 There were plenty of problems that sprang up in the early church. 00:14:29.459 --> 00:14:33.899 But the rule of Jesus caused justice and kindness to increase. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:37.500 And so here are seven things about the early church. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:38.879 I might not get through all seven. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.039 I'll keep my eye on the clock. 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:41.819 If I don't get through all seven, that's all right. 00:14:44.699 --> 00:14:46.819 First, they built real community. 00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:49.639 They built real community. 00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:59.299 By that I mean they built a community where people genuinely and generously shared their lives and possessions with each other. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:02.199 You see this in Acts chapter 2. 00:15:02.199 --> 00:15:05.359 Have a look at Acts chapter 2, verse 42. 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.879 Acts chapter 2, verse 42. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:17.039 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:19.120 Now, there are four activities listed there. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:22.899 They listened to the word of God through the apostles' teaching. 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:24.080 They prayed together. 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.580 They shared meals together. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:28.980 And they devoted themselves, the second item in the list, to fellowship. 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:29.820 What's that? 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:31.639 Well, literally, it's just a word that means sharing. 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:35.419 They shared with one another. 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:39.100 And it's illustrated in verse 44 and verse 45 of chapter 2. 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.340 Verse 44. 00:15:40.340 --> 00:16:00.800 We get a repeat of this description with a bit more detail in chapter 4. 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.860 Turn over to chapter 4, verse 43. 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.960 4, verse 43. 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:11.100 Sorry, verse 32. 00:16:11.300 --> 00:16:12.000 I don't know why I've said... 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.360 Oh, I've got my numbers muddled. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.379 4, verse 32. 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:18.100 Now, the full member of those who believed were of one heart and soul. 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:24.160 And no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:29.680 And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:31.400 And great grace was upon all of them. 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:33.900 There was not a needy person among them. 00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:42.279 For as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, 00:16:42.459 --> 00:16:44.679 and it was distributed to each as they had need. 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:50.620 Now, in the early church, people's attitude to their possessions and their wealth had changed. 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:57.279 On the one hand, they had everything in common. 00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:03.179 Whatever they owned, whatever they possessed, they viewed as being available for others to use. 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.799 It wasn't theirs alone. 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:08.799 It was for all, for any, whoever needed it. 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:10.319 Beyond that, they were selling. 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:15.299 They were liquidating assets, selling property so that the proceeds could be used for the needy. 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:18.500 Now, we read this, and it sounds crazy to us, right? 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:25.159 Because, you know, in Australia, we view property as, you know, that's the most secure form of long-term investment. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.059 Now, why would you sell off property to do this? 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:30.519 You know, that's the thing you hang on to. 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:36.500 And yet we probably all know people, we can probably all think of people who have had to sell their house, 00:17:37.419 --> 00:17:40.019 who have had to sell property in order to live. 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.299 You know, maybe they're out of work. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:43.500 Maybe they can't make the mortgage repayments. 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:45.220 They're unsustainable. 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:51.920 So selling the house was the only option they had to sort of erase their debt and enable them to feed their families and keep going. 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:56.660 But in the early church, people weren't just doing that for themselves. 00:17:57.639 --> 00:18:03.119 They were selling their properties to provide for others, to meet the needs of others. 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:08.279 And that extreme sharing was noteworthy. 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:13.139 We meet one example of it here in verse 36 in chapter 4. 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:22.460 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas, which means son of encouragement, a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:28.480 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:35.680 We meet this disciple Barnabas, who is one example of those who are doing this. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:40.380 Barnabas is a beautiful character in the New Testament, the little glimpses we catch of him. 00:18:43.860 --> 00:18:44.900 But that wasn't unique. 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.820 He wasn't the only one. 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:51.600 Verse 35 says, as many as had properties were doing that. 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.299 34, rather. 00:18:55.299 --> 00:19:05.399 And if that's just one remarkable expression of their life together, it's that attitude of what's mine is yours. 00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:08.859 They cared for one another so deeply that they shared whatever they had. 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:11.740 No one said that anything that he had was his own. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.680 Whatever God had given them, that was available for others. 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:22.080 And that mindset extended not just to their possessions, but also to their talents and their skills and their gifts and abilities. 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:24.960 So flick over to Acts chapter 9. 00:19:26.080 --> 00:19:27.120 Acts chapter 9. 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:30.920 Here we meet a woman named Tabitha, verse 36. 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:35.140 Acts chapter 9, verse 36. 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:40.220 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which translated means Dorcas. 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:43.799 We'll call her Tabitha, that feels a bit kinder. 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:47.420 She was full of good works and acts of charity. 00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:51.100 In those days she became ill and died. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:54.319 And when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 00:19:54.860 --> 00:20:00.819 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to get to him, urging, 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.200 please come to us without delay. 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.680 So Peter rose and went with them. 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:05.660 And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:16.380 All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:27.300 And then the account goes on to describe how actually the Lord restores her life to her, gives her back to the church. 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:35.680 But Tabitha, what was she, we don't know whether she had houses to sell, but she used what God had given her in the service of others. 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.680 She was a seamstress. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.799 She made clothes, garments. 00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:45.919 And all the widows could show the Apostle Peter, look what she made me, the clothing I'm wearing. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.859 Tabitha made it for me. 00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:59.579 Barnabas sold a field, Tabitha made clothing, each was sharing what God had given them with brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:03.479 Real community, because Jesus is on the throne. 00:21:04.699 --> 00:21:05.639 Is it the same today? 00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.919 You bet it is. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:18.440 I mean, I tried to write a list of some of the things that brothers and sisters in Christ have shared with me over the 38 years I've been a Christian. 00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:21.880 There's no way I could write a complete list. 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:26.300 But I wrote a long list. 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:27.620 Homes. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:32.120 When Jen and I first got married, we squatted in different people's homes because we had nowhere to live. 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:42.279 Then in our first year of marriage, after that, we settled down in a house where the owner charged us well under the market rent because we were Bible college students and we couldn't afford much. 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:45.679 And then later when we were at Bible college, someone paid our rent for an entire year. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:50.679 We've been loaned cars, as you heard Jen talk about that. 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:53.779 Trailers. 00:21:54.739 --> 00:21:59.819 Given meals, hospitality, books, help moving house, painting, repairing things, gardening. 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:10.439 Soon after I became a Christian, when I was about 13, I'd become a Christian through school, teacher at school, started going to church, a youth group. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:24.179 And one of the middle-aged mother of one of my new friends at youth group at the church I was going to, met with me once a week for several months, sitting at their kitchen table to teach me to pray. 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:29.039 Now, people have cared for our kids. 00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:35.480 Now, not to mention all the kind and encouraging words that people have offered. 00:22:35.580 --> 00:22:38.480 I mean, you could write your own list, couldn't you? 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:45.440 I can't count the things people have shared with me, but I don't remember them all, but Jesus remembers. 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.620 They're all Jesus' work. 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:52.319 They're the fruit of our King who reigns with justice and kindness. 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:56.839 Well, there's the first thing about the early church, real community. 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:59.219 Second thing, they cared for the weakest. 00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:07.639 We've already begun to see this in chapter 9, as we saw Tabitha, the clothes she made were for the widows of Joppa. 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:16.820 Now, the Old Testament speaks of what Nicholas Wolterstorff has called the quartet of the vulnerable. 00:23:17.520 --> 00:23:23.220 In the Bible, the quartet of the vulnerable are widows, orphans, foreigners and the poor. 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:27.800 These are the people in the ancient world who were most vulnerable. 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:45.240 They were most in danger of kind of – they were on the margins of society, struggling to survive, vulnerable to abuse or mistreatment or neglect, with few means to care for themselves, no one to defend or speak for them. 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:48.359 Who are the vulnerable in our society? 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:55.819 I mean, in many ways, we might think in those – we could think along the lines of those four categories, widows, orphans, foreigners and the poor. 00:23:55.919 --> 00:24:02.039 But, you know, we might think a little bit more broadly as well or maybe more specifically in some of those areas. 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:04.759 The vulnerable in our society, it's not just about money. 00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:08.959 I mean, having insufficient – being poor makes you vulnerable. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:15.880 But there's also social capital, access to services, the ability to find and take opportunities. 00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:24.180 All of these things contribute to whether someone can fully participate in the good things that society offers or whether they miss out. 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:27.279 Healthcare, education, recreation, work. 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:33.299 You might think of people who are fleeing from family violence. 00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:39.960 Children in homes where there's family violence. 00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:43.460 The homeless and rough sleepers. 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:47.700 People living with disabilities or mental health disorders. 00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:50.639 Those experiencing long-term unemployment. 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:51.819 Refugees. 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:55.099 Unborn children. 00:24:57.480 --> 00:25:02.779 Do you know, the leading cause of death in Australia is abortion. 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:04.299 Do you know, the leading cause of death in Australia? 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:14.440 Each year, abortion kills approximately the same number as all cancer deaths and all heart disease deaths combined. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:24.259 In Australia, the most dangerous place to be for a human being to be is in the womb of their mother. 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:33.980 And that's not even to begin to speak about frozen embryos kept in IVF clinics, many which are destined to be discarded. 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.920 What happened in the early church? 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:42.180 They cared for the weakest. 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:45.880 They cared for the vulnerable. 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:49.920 They opened their homes to travellers and offered hospitality. 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:53.000 They developed systems of care for widows. 00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:54.200 We see that in Acts chapter 6. 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:56.680 Look at Acts chapter 6, verse 1. 00:25:59.080 --> 00:26:00.460 Acts chapter 6, verse 1. 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:12.460 Now, in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:14.840 Now, notice there's a problem. 00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:16.700 Verse 1, there raises a problem. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:19.799 But notice there's already a daily distribution. 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:25.080 There's already a system in place for the care of widows before this problem arises. 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:33.539 That every day, food or money or whatever goods are distributed to widows to provide for them. 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:35.380 It's just that this problem has developed. 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:38.980 The need is so great that some are missing out. 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:43.819 And so what the early church did is they refined their system. 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.580 They improved it. 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:47.220 They implemented a change. 00:26:47.439 --> 00:26:52.119 In chapter 6, what it is, is they appoint seven people. 00:26:54.720 --> 00:27:02.740 Verse 3, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:07.579 They appoint seven people to oversee the distribution so that no widow need miss out. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:13.220 The outcome in verse 7, once this is done, is that the word of God continued to increase 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.759 and the number of people. 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:16.100 The number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:20.759 Now, they cared for the needy. 00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:23.319 Julian, the apostate, was right. 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:26.460 The love of Jesus. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.079 Their care for the needy. 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:31.460 And the church flourished and grew. 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:40.939 Both abortion and the abandonment of infants were commonly practiced in the ancient world. 00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:45.320 If family didn't want a child, they'd just leave it out on the street. 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:57.420 And the post-New Testament evidence is not only that the early church strongly condemned abortion, 00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:00.940 but that also that Christians would take in abandoned infants. 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:04.640 If found alive, they'd care for them and raise them. 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:09.020 If they found a child deceased, they'd give them at least a proper burial. 00:28:11.320 --> 00:28:19.120 At times, the church raised funds to redeem slaves, to buy their freedom, or to redeem prisoners of war. 00:28:20.080 --> 00:28:27.420 When plague struck in the mid-third century, Christians were at the forefront of providing care for plague victims. 00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:35.900 I mean, everyone else kind of scurried and ran, but Christians were at the forefront of providing care for those who were afflicted. 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:38.640 And then, you know, many of them succumbing to the plague themselves. 00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.980 Jesus is on the throne. 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:47.279 The one who cleansed the leper by reaching out a hand and touching him. 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:50.240 The one who welcomed little children and blessed them. 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:52.220 The one who gave sight to the blind. 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.680 The one who honoured a poor widow. 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:55.680 Who died for sinners. 00:28:57.420 --> 00:29:00.380 The Jesus who cared for the weakest is on the throne. 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.920 And so his followers care for the weakest. 00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:09.779 Thirdly, in the early church, they overcame prejudice. 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.940 They overcame prejudice. 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:17.420 Very early in its existence, the church was confronted with one of the deep and abiding divisions of the ancient world. 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:21.060 It was the ethnic division, the division between Jew and Gentile. 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:34.639 Thirty-five years after Jesus, in the year AD 66, that division erupted in violence and war in the Jewish revolt in Judea. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:45.520 It was a bloody conflagration in which the Roman legions kind of swept through Galilee and Judea and crushed, ruthlessly crushed the Jewish rebellion. 00:29:46.020 --> 00:29:47.100 Besieged Jerusalem. 00:29:47.880 --> 00:30:01.140 People, thousands and thousands, perished in famine and disease and then in violence as eventually the legions stormed the city and destroyed the temple in AD 70. 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:10.500 And then there was another Jewish rebellion in the second decade of 115 to 117 AD. 00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:15.100 This time not in Judea, but in the diaspora, in the other parts of the Roman Empire. 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:20.579 And then there was another Jewish rebellion in Judea again in AD 132. 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:24.980 That division between Jew and Gentile. 00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:28.779 But Jesus showed the early church a different path. 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:35.219 In Acts 10, in Acts chapter 10, the apostle Peter had a vision. 00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:40.759 We read about his vision in Acts chapter 10, verse 11. 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:50.779 He saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:54.180 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:57.420 And there came a voice to him, rise, Peter, kill and eat. 00:30:57.700 --> 00:31:02.099 But Peter said, by no means, Lord, for I've never eaten anything that's common or unclean. 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:07.599 And the voice came to him a second time, what God has made clean, do not call common. 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:11.899 This happened three times and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:16.439 Now at face value, this vision appeared to be about clean and unclean food. 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:19.359 God saying you can eat anything, all food's clean for you. 00:31:21.939 --> 00:31:30.339 Food was one of those social distinctives or Jewish distinctives that created this barrier between Jews and Gentiles. 00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:34.699 It meant Jews couldn't eat with Gentiles because Jews could only eat clean food. 00:31:38.699 --> 00:31:40.659 Jesus was tearing down that barrier. 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:43.639 But this vision to Peter wasn't really just about food. 00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:45.379 It was actually about people. 00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:57.399 It was about immediately after the vision, God's spirit told Peter, or sent Peter to the house of Cornelius the Centurion, a Gentile, 00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:59.800 to share the gospel with him. 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:04.140 And Peter understood the significance of what God had shown him. 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:06.580 Acts chapter 10 verse 28, look at verse 28. 00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:11.500 He said to them, this is once he's reached that, he's in the home of Cornelius, he said to them, 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:17.559 you yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone of another nation. 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:24.119 But God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:28.480 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. 00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:32.240 10 verse 34. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:39.839 So Peter opened his mouth and said, truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, 00:32:40.299 --> 00:32:43.519 anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:47.779 Verse 35, he calls Jesus, he says, Jesus is Lord of all. 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:53.420 And he goes on as he shares the gospel with them, as the Holy Spirit pours, 00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:56.920 God pours out the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles. 00:32:56.920 --> 00:33:04.140 And Peter baptises them, they're welcomed in full and equal standing with Jewish believers. 00:33:07.560 --> 00:33:11.660 By the first century AD, Jews were scattered throughout the Mediterranean. 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:15.200 And Jews faced a choice. 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:18.960 Separatism or assimilation. 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:23.960 Remain Jewish or become like everyone else. 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:28.259 There were some Jews who remained separate. 00:33:29.340 --> 00:33:32.900 There were some Jews who abandoned their Jewishness and assimilated. 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:36.100 But Jesus Christ showed a third way. 00:33:36.860 --> 00:33:37.880 The way of welcome. 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:40.500 Of accepting one another. 00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:44.740 Jews and Gentiles together in the same church. 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:46.019 No one unclean. 00:33:48.340 --> 00:33:52.140 Quickly other barriers to social acceptance broke down too. 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:55.160 The barrier between slave and free. 00:33:55.800 --> 00:33:59.200 In the church, the slave had the same status as the free person, 00:33:59.300 --> 00:34:01.180 as a brother or sister in Christ. 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:04.540 The barrier between rich and poor. 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:07.620 In James 2, there's a strong warning against favouritism. 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:12.119 The poor man must be welcomed and honoured as rich in faith 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:14.579 and an heir of God's kingdom. 00:34:16.720 --> 00:34:20.280 Jesus healed the divisions of humanity. 00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:29.080 Because he's on the throne, because he welcomes all, we welcome all. 00:34:32.080 --> 00:34:35.540 In the 2021 census, we've just had a census, 00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:38.300 but I don't think the results have been published from that one yet. 00:34:39.600 --> 00:34:41.960 In the 2021 census, according to that, 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:45.280 8.6% of the population of Glendale 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:48.699 is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. 00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:51.720 And 7.7% of Edgeworth. 00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:55.199 Of course, there are other communities in the country 00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:57.659 where there's much higher percentages of Indigenous peoples, 00:34:58.139 --> 00:35:01.019 but in Glendale and Edgeworth, 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:04.440 they reach more than double the state and national average. 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:10.519 Wouldn't it be great to see reconciliation 00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:13.840 between First Nations people 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:17.980 and later arrivals in Australia 00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:19.780 played out in the church 00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:21.760 in love for one another? 00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:25.200 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, of course, 00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:27.860 have for a long time been predominantly Anglo, 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:29.160 but it is shifting. 00:35:30.120 --> 00:35:32.120 In Cameron Park, after Australia, 00:35:32.240 --> 00:35:35.500 the next most common country of birth is India. 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:40.440 Now, we have an opportunity to see 00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:42.640 divisions of humanity healed here, 00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:44.039 if it pleases God. 00:35:45.640 --> 00:35:48.180 Certainly, there's no place for prejudice in the church. 00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:51.299 There's a third thing. 00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:57.139 The rule of Jesus enabled the early church 00:35:57.139 --> 00:35:58.119 to overcome prejudice. 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:01.319 Fourth thing, their love crossed borders. 00:36:03.279 --> 00:36:05.259 The second half, we're now in Acts chapter 11, 00:36:05.339 --> 00:36:08.559 the second half of Acts chapter 11 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:10.980 tells of how the church sprang up 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:14.440 in the city of Antioch in Syria. 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:17.980 Antioch was a church 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:20.099 in which the barrier between Jew and Gentile 00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:21.059 had broken down. 00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:22.679 They were all together in one church. 00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:25.500 But we see there, beyond that even, 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:26.260 that fellowship, 00:36:27.240 --> 00:36:28.820 their expressions of fellowship 00:36:28.820 --> 00:36:31.700 weren't confined to the church in Antioch, 00:36:32.039 --> 00:36:35.280 but actually crossed borders and boundaries. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:38.920 So look at Acts 11, verse 27. 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.380 Now, in these days, 00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:43.500 prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:45.059 and one of them, named Agabus, 00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:47.139 stood up and foretold by the Spirit 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:48.880 that there would be a great famine 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:50.300 over all the world. 00:36:51.340 --> 00:36:53.179 This took place in the days of Claudius. 00:36:54.260 --> 00:36:56.119 So the disciples determined everyone, 00:36:56.280 --> 00:36:57.159 according to his ability, 00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:59.659 to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:01.440 And they did so, 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.440 sending it to the elders 00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:04.039 by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:05.820 Now, do you notice 00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:07.380 the truly remarkable thing here? 00:37:09.260 --> 00:37:11.079 The remarkable thing is not the accurate prophecy. 00:37:11.239 --> 00:37:12.340 I mean, I guess that's remarkable. 00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:15.980 But there's... 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:18.340 Do you see where the famine was going to occur, 00:37:18.720 --> 00:37:19.720 according to the prophecy 00:37:19.720 --> 00:37:21.559 that God gave Agabus through his spirit? 00:37:22.620 --> 00:37:24.620 Who would be affected by this famine? 00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:26.160 Verse 28. 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:30.380 A great famine 00:37:30.380 --> 00:37:34.120 over all the world. 00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:39.699 Now, this occurred around AD 45 to 46, 00:37:39.819 --> 00:37:40.319 this famine. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:42.839 The famine struck Egypt, 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:45.099 and Egypt was the bread bowl 00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:46.119 of the Roman Empire. 00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:47.759 So, you know, 00:37:47.799 --> 00:37:50.059 basically the entire Roman Empire, 00:37:50.219 --> 00:37:51.900 certainly all the eastern Mediterranean, 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:53.880 was going to be deeply affected by this. 00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:57.079 Grain prices skyrocketed. 00:37:57.079 --> 00:38:01.539 A great famine 00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:02.659 over all the world, 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:04.199 at least the Roman Empire. 00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:10.619 Which means that the Christians in Antioch 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.699 who heard this prophecy, 00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:13.699 they were going to be affected 00:38:13.699 --> 00:38:14.739 by the famine too. 00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:18.420 They're living in the eastern Roman Empire. 00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:22.519 It's going to hit them as well. 00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:25.179 But what did they do? 00:38:27.679 --> 00:38:28.960 The disciples determined 00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:30.440 everyone according to his ability 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:31.280 to send relief 00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:32.860 to the brothers living in Judea. 00:38:34.219 --> 00:38:35.840 They could have reasoned, 00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:36.340 you know, 00:38:36.380 --> 00:38:37.699 there are tough times ahead. 00:38:38.039 --> 00:38:39.719 We need to tighten our purse straps 00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:40.820 and look after ourselves. 00:38:43.239 --> 00:38:45.800 But even though they were facing famine too, 00:38:46.679 --> 00:38:48.539 they looked south towards Judea, 00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:51.400 where their brothers and sisters were poorer 00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:53.860 and they thought 00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:54.820 they're going to be hit harder. 00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:57.579 They'll be less able 00:38:57.579 --> 00:38:59.079 to bear the cost of this famine. 00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:00.360 They'll be less able 00:39:00.360 --> 00:39:01.539 to ride out the hardships. 00:39:02.680 --> 00:39:03.460 And so they gave, 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:04.519 freely, generously, 00:39:04.740 --> 00:39:05.720 according to their ability, 00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.579 they gave. 00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:12.720 I don't know whether this strikes us 00:39:12.720 --> 00:39:13.240 as remarkable. 00:39:13.400 --> 00:39:14.059 I think it should. 00:39:14.280 --> 00:39:15.360 I mean, it kind of feels ordinary 00:39:15.360 --> 00:39:16.480 because I think we are more used 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:17.440 to this today 00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:18.420 because of the impact 00:39:18.420 --> 00:39:19.599 of Christianity and Jesus 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:20.320 through the ages. 00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:21.460 But, I mean, 00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:23.480 loving people in distant places 00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:24.920 whom you haven't even met 00:39:24.920 --> 00:39:25.780 isn't ordinary. 00:39:27.080 --> 00:39:27.940 It's the justice 00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:29.120 and kindness of our king. 00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:32.320 Barnabas, 00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:33.180 they sent this gift 00:39:33.180 --> 00:39:33.880 to Jerusalem 00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:34.980 through Barnabas and Saul. 00:39:35.100 --> 00:39:35.800 Barnabas and Saul, 00:39:35.860 --> 00:39:36.400 when they got there, 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:37.320 we read about what happened 00:39:37.320 --> 00:39:38.460 in Galatians chapter 2. 00:39:38.980 --> 00:39:40.080 While they were in Jerusalem, 00:39:40.180 --> 00:39:41.080 they met with Peter 00:39:41.080 --> 00:39:42.200 and with James, 00:39:42.280 --> 00:39:43.019 the brother of Jesus, 00:39:43.100 --> 00:39:44.140 and with the apostle John. 00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:46.140 And they discussed with them 00:39:46.140 --> 00:39:47.340 the gospel they preached 00:39:47.340 --> 00:39:47.920 and they agreed, 00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:48.120 yeah, 00:39:48.119 --> 00:39:49.400 we're preaching the same gospel. 00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.219 Paul and Barnabas, 00:39:50.279 --> 00:39:51.400 you're going to the Gentiles. 00:39:51.759 --> 00:39:52.519 Peter, James and John, 00:39:52.579 --> 00:39:53.659 we're going to the Jews. 00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:55.000 But it's the same message, 00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:55.859 the same gospel. 00:39:56.179 --> 00:39:57.699 And then that little account 00:39:57.699 --> 00:39:59.359 Paul gives of his time 00:39:59.359 --> 00:39:59.819 in Jerusalem, 00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.839 he ends with these words 00:40:00.839 --> 00:40:02.719 in Galatians 2 verse 10, 00:40:02.859 --> 00:40:04.039 only they asked us 00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:05.239 to remember the poor. 00:40:06.279 --> 00:40:07.400 The very thing, 00:40:07.579 --> 00:40:08.019 Paul says, 00:40:08.059 --> 00:40:09.259 I was eager to do. 00:40:10.659 --> 00:40:11.960 And Paul did remember. 00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:14.059 10 to 12 years later, 00:40:14.139 --> 00:40:15.300 after preaching the gospel 00:40:15.300 --> 00:40:16.880 in Macedonia and Achaia, 00:40:17.400 --> 00:40:18.639 he took a collection 00:40:18.639 --> 00:40:19.559 from the churches 00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:20.280 he'd planted 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:22.019 for the poor saints 00:40:22.019 --> 00:40:22.579 in Jerusalem 00:40:22.579 --> 00:40:24.340 and they carried 00:40:24.340 --> 00:40:25.559 a gift to Jerusalem again. 00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:27.159 You get some hints 00:40:27.159 --> 00:40:28.019 about that in Acts. 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:29.980 Later on in Acts, 00:40:30.220 --> 00:40:31.199 Paul talks about it 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:31.820 at greater length 00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:32.740 in some of his epistles. 00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.400 Here was a love 00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:35.960 that crossed borders. 00:40:35.960 --> 00:40:39.840 Compassion and prayer 00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:41.760 for brothers and sisters 00:40:41.760 --> 00:40:43.159 in different places. 00:40:46.760 --> 00:40:47.559 How are we going? 00:40:47.639 --> 00:40:47.900 Fifthly, 00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:49.099 they stood with the persecuted. 00:40:51.199 --> 00:40:52.380 I might skip briefly 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:52.880 over that one. 00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:53.980 In Acts chapter 12, 00:40:54.860 --> 00:40:55.780 Herod killed James, 00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:56.480 the brother of John. 00:40:56.559 --> 00:40:57.579 He threw the apostle Peter 00:40:57.579 --> 00:40:58.079 in prison. 00:40:58.400 --> 00:40:59.139 The whole church 00:40:59.139 --> 00:41:00.139 united in prayer 00:41:00.139 --> 00:41:01.420 for Peter, 00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:02.539 who was facing 00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:03.400 his own execution. 00:41:04.659 --> 00:41:05.119 Elsewhere, 00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:05.880 we see in the New 00:41:05.880 --> 00:41:07.180 Testament multiple times 00:41:07.180 --> 00:41:08.660 of Christians' compassion 00:41:08.660 --> 00:41:09.880 for people who were in prison, 00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:11.180 sending food, 00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:12.119 sending gifts, 00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:13.800 sending people 00:41:13.800 --> 00:41:15.260 to minister to them, 00:41:15.940 --> 00:41:16.619 visiting them 00:41:16.619 --> 00:41:18.500 in their care 00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:19.099 for prisoners, 00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:20.200 exposing themselves 00:41:20.200 --> 00:41:21.220 to the danger 00:41:21.220 --> 00:41:21.840 that would come 00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:23.559 by standing with them, 00:41:25.800 --> 00:41:27.019 sharing in the danger 00:41:27.019 --> 00:41:28.260 of potentially sharing 00:41:28.260 --> 00:41:29.140 in their mistreatment. 00:41:34.119 --> 00:41:34.640 Sixthly, 00:41:34.720 --> 00:41:35.340 they experienced 00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:36.220 radical liberation 00:41:36.220 --> 00:41:36.640 from evil. 00:41:36.700 --> 00:41:37.079 Let's have a look 00:41:37.079 --> 00:41:37.500 at this one 00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:39.059 and then we might 00:41:39.059 --> 00:41:40.100 draw things to a close. 00:41:40.860 --> 00:41:42.280 Turn to Acts chapter 19. 00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:43.680 Acts chapter 19. 00:41:44.600 --> 00:41:45.680 Acts 18 and 19 00:41:45.680 --> 00:41:46.640 describe how the gospel 00:41:46.640 --> 00:41:47.579 first came to the city 00:41:47.579 --> 00:41:48.059 of Ephesus 00:41:48.059 --> 00:41:48.880 in Asia Minor. 00:41:49.360 --> 00:41:50.400 This was the leading city 00:41:50.400 --> 00:41:51.100 of Asia Minor. 00:41:51.220 --> 00:41:51.500 It's probably, 00:41:51.900 --> 00:41:52.620 at the time, 00:41:52.680 --> 00:41:53.220 probably the third 00:41:53.220 --> 00:41:54.120 most important city 00:41:54.120 --> 00:41:54.980 in the Roman Empire 00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:56.539 after Rome and Alexandria. 00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:58.680 It was a strategic location. 00:41:58.820 --> 00:42:00.160 It became a ministry base 00:42:00.160 --> 00:42:00.760 for the gospel 00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:01.380 to go out 00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:02.280 throughout all of Asia. 00:42:02.280 --> 00:42:03.840 That is sort of 00:42:03.840 --> 00:42:04.560 modern day Turkey. 00:42:05.040 --> 00:42:06.600 And it's known 00:42:06.600 --> 00:42:07.260 for its famous 00:42:07.260 --> 00:42:08.240 temple of Artemis. 00:42:08.340 --> 00:42:09.060 It may also have been 00:42:09.060 --> 00:42:10.140 a centre for the practice 00:42:10.140 --> 00:42:11.660 of magic and sorcery. 00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:12.900 Certainly, 00:42:13.019 --> 00:42:13.480 some of those 00:42:13.480 --> 00:42:14.360 who turned to Christ 00:42:14.360 --> 00:42:14.780 in Ephesus 00:42:14.780 --> 00:42:16.360 had been enmeshed 00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:17.420 in the practice 00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:18.100 of magic. 00:42:18.780 --> 00:42:19.420 And we read 00:42:19.420 --> 00:42:20.600 of their dramatic repentance 00:42:20.600 --> 00:42:21.800 in Acts chapter 19 00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:23.140 verses 18 and 19. 00:42:23.300 --> 00:42:24.060 Look at those with me. 00:42:24.380 --> 00:42:25.120 Acts chapter 19 00:42:25.120 --> 00:42:26.160 verse 18 and 19. 00:42:26.159 --> 00:42:26.719 Also, 00:42:26.879 --> 00:42:27.579 many of those 00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:28.599 who are now believers 00:42:28.599 --> 00:42:29.960 came confessing 00:42:29.960 --> 00:42:30.759 and divulging 00:42:30.759 --> 00:42:31.500 their practices. 00:42:32.339 --> 00:42:32.960 And a number 00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:33.440 of those 00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:34.259 who had practiced 00:42:34.259 --> 00:42:35.079 magic arts 00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:36.019 brought their books 00:42:36.019 --> 00:42:36.480 together 00:42:36.480 --> 00:42:37.739 and burned them 00:42:37.739 --> 00:42:38.899 in sight of all. 00:42:39.639 --> 00:42:40.359 And they counted 00:42:40.359 --> 00:42:41.159 the value of them 00:42:41.159 --> 00:42:42.000 and found it came 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:43.559 to 50,000 pieces 00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:44.219 of silver. 00:42:45.179 --> 00:42:45.819 So the word 00:42:45.819 --> 00:42:46.179 of the Lord 00:42:46.179 --> 00:42:47.199 continued to increase 00:42:47.199 --> 00:42:48.299 and prevail mightily. 00:42:49.559 --> 00:42:50.359 Verse 18 00:42:50.359 --> 00:42:51.440 might speak more broadly 00:42:51.440 --> 00:42:52.119 of people coming 00:42:52.119 --> 00:42:53.000 confessing all manner 00:42:53.000 --> 00:42:53.480 of sins. 00:42:53.659 --> 00:42:54.239 Verse 19 00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:56.259 focuses in on those 00:42:56.259 --> 00:42:57.339 specifically on those 00:42:57.339 --> 00:42:57.879 who practiced 00:42:57.879 --> 00:42:58.639 magic arts. 00:42:58.959 --> 00:43:00.219 And the books 00:43:00.219 --> 00:43:01.000 they burned 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:01.759 and gathered together 00:43:01.759 --> 00:43:03.179 are worth 50,000 00:43:03.179 --> 00:43:04.000 pieces of silver 00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:04.539 we're told. 00:43:04.639 --> 00:43:05.339 Now that's a massive 00:43:05.339 --> 00:43:06.099 sum of money. 00:43:07.500 --> 00:43:09.019 Probably means 00:43:09.019 --> 00:43:10.500 50,000 silver drachmas. 00:43:10.639 --> 00:43:11.399 A drachma is equivalent 00:43:11.399 --> 00:43:12.359 to a denarii. 00:43:12.659 --> 00:43:14.899 So about one day's wage 00:43:14.899 --> 00:43:16.939 for a labourer 00:43:16.939 --> 00:43:17.419 or a worker. 00:43:18.779 --> 00:43:20.299 So 50,000 silver 00:43:20.299 --> 00:43:21.759 drachmas 00:43:21.759 --> 00:43:22.579 represents 00:43:22.579 --> 00:43:23.799 something like 00:43:23.800 --> 00:43:26.320 8,333 weeks 00:43:26.320 --> 00:43:27.200 of work. 00:43:30.600 --> 00:43:31.560 The Australian 00:43:31.560 --> 00:43:32.560 average wage 00:43:32.560 --> 00:43:33.500 weekly wage 00:43:33.500 --> 00:43:34.120 this year 00:43:34.120 --> 00:43:35.080 is about $2,000. 00:43:35.900 --> 00:43:36.920 So in Australian 00:43:36.920 --> 00:43:37.280 terms 00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:37.740 this is about 00:43:37.740 --> 00:43:38.680 $17 million 00:43:38.680 --> 00:43:40.019 worth of books. 00:43:42.300 --> 00:43:42.880 I mean I don't know 00:43:42.880 --> 00:43:43.340 that you can really 00:43:43.340 --> 00:43:44.039 make equivalents 00:43:44.039 --> 00:43:44.560 like that 00:43:44.560 --> 00:43:44.780 but 00:43:44.780 --> 00:43:47.600 I mean the costliness 00:43:47.600 --> 00:43:48.500 of this repentance 00:43:48.500 --> 00:43:49.360 is stunning. 00:43:49.360 --> 00:43:53.940 these are people 00:43:53.940 --> 00:43:54.780 who had been 00:43:54.780 --> 00:43:56.519 deeply invested 00:43:56.519 --> 00:43:57.620 and involved 00:43:57.620 --> 00:43:58.360 in the practice 00:43:58.360 --> 00:43:58.940 of magic 00:43:58.940 --> 00:43:59.760 and the practice 00:43:59.760 --> 00:44:00.200 of magic 00:44:00.200 --> 00:44:01.120 is at its best 00:44:01.120 --> 00:44:02.260 worthless and empty 00:44:02.260 --> 00:44:03.280 and at its worst 00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:04.760 the deception 00:44:04.760 --> 00:44:05.320 of demons 00:44:05.320 --> 00:44:06.240 and evil spirits. 00:44:06.620 --> 00:44:07.220 I think the earlier 00:44:07.220 --> 00:44:08.019 bits of this chapter 00:44:08.019 --> 00:44:08.620 hint at that 00:44:08.620 --> 00:44:09.180 actually here 00:44:09.180 --> 00:44:09.820 in this context 00:44:09.820 --> 00:44:10.680 where there's this 00:44:10.680 --> 00:44:11.099 confrontation 00:44:11.099 --> 00:44:12.240 with evil spirits 00:44:12.240 --> 00:44:13.579 and Jesus' name 00:44:13.579 --> 00:44:14.380 and Jesus is shown 00:44:14.380 --> 00:44:14.880 to be the one 00:44:14.880 --> 00:44:15.599 who is in control 00:44:15.599 --> 00:44:16.280 and has power. 00:44:16.280 --> 00:44:18.060 Jesus delivered 00:44:18.060 --> 00:44:18.660 them from that. 00:44:20.660 --> 00:44:22.720 He repudiated it 00:44:22.720 --> 00:44:25.180 so drastically 00:44:25.180 --> 00:44:26.620 and so thoroughly 00:44:26.620 --> 00:44:28.160 that they 00:44:28.160 --> 00:44:30.240 publicly burnt 00:44:30.240 --> 00:44:32.380 160 years wages 00:44:32.380 --> 00:44:33.740 worth of blasphemous 00:44:33.740 --> 00:44:34.220 texts. 00:44:37.600 --> 00:44:38.519 Why? 00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:40.760 Because Jesus 00:44:40.760 --> 00:44:41.480 is on the throne. 00:44:42.780 --> 00:44:43.500 Jesus is setting 00:44:43.500 --> 00:44:44.220 things right. 00:44:44.860 --> 00:44:45.900 He's bringing about 00:44:45.900 --> 00:44:46.820 a kingdom of justice 00:44:46.820 --> 00:44:47.519 and righteousness. 00:44:49.180 --> 00:44:50.320 For people today 00:44:50.320 --> 00:44:51.440 who are ensnared 00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:52.220 in addictions 00:44:52.220 --> 00:44:53.180 and enmeshed 00:44:53.180 --> 00:44:54.480 in patterns of evil 00:44:54.480 --> 00:44:56.880 Jesus is on the throne 00:44:56.880 --> 00:44:57.320 still 00:44:57.320 --> 00:44:59.240 offering the same 00:44:59.240 --> 00:45:00.059 liberation 00:45:00.059 --> 00:45:00.940 and freedom. 00:45:05.240 --> 00:45:06.079 Let's bring this 00:45:06.079 --> 00:45:07.139 to a close. 00:45:07.240 --> 00:45:07.639 We'll skip over 00:45:07.639 --> 00:45:08.139 point seven. 00:45:10.380 --> 00:45:11.960 The Nicene Creed 00:45:11.960 --> 00:45:13.820 from the fourth century 00:45:13.820 --> 00:45:14.660 has a line 00:45:14.660 --> 00:45:16.960 that goes like this. 00:45:17.680 --> 00:45:18.680 We believe 00:45:18.680 --> 00:45:19.880 in one 00:45:19.880 --> 00:45:20.519 holy 00:45:20.519 --> 00:45:21.580 Catholic 00:45:21.580 --> 00:45:22.860 and apostolic 00:45:22.860 --> 00:45:23.460 church. 00:45:23.559 --> 00:45:23.940 Now the word 00:45:23.940 --> 00:45:24.460 Catholic there 00:45:24.460 --> 00:45:25.360 just means universal. 00:45:25.780 --> 00:45:26.200 It's not talking 00:45:26.200 --> 00:45:26.680 about the Roman 00:45:26.680 --> 00:45:27.500 Catholic church. 00:45:28.039 --> 00:45:28.420 It's talking about 00:45:28.420 --> 00:45:29.240 the one universal 00:45:29.240 --> 00:45:29.720 church. 00:45:29.720 --> 00:45:30.480 We believe 00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:30.860 in one 00:45:30.860 --> 00:45:31.460 holy 00:45:31.460 --> 00:45:32.800 Catholic 00:45:32.800 --> 00:45:34.300 and apostolic 00:45:34.300 --> 00:45:34.840 church. 00:45:35.920 --> 00:45:36.820 It's a strange 00:45:36.820 --> 00:45:37.160 line. 00:45:39.100 --> 00:45:40.000 Do we believe 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:40.600 in the church? 00:45:40.599 --> 00:45:40.659 church. 00:45:42.539 --> 00:45:43.380 If you go to 00:45:43.380 --> 00:45:44.019 the New Testament 00:45:44.019 --> 00:45:45.380 the church is 00:45:45.380 --> 00:45:46.500 I don't think 00:45:46.500 --> 00:45:47.039 anywhere the 00:45:47.039 --> 00:45:47.920 object of our 00:45:47.920 --> 00:45:48.299 faith. 00:45:50.219 --> 00:45:51.299 The Bible 00:45:51.299 --> 00:45:51.679 the scriptures 00:45:51.679 --> 00:45:52.579 never call us 00:45:52.579 --> 00:45:53.900 to trust in 00:45:53.900 --> 00:45:54.400 the church 00:45:54.400 --> 00:45:55.059 or have faith 00:45:55.059 --> 00:45:55.860 in the church. 00:45:57.940 --> 00:45:58.739 Can we really 00:45:58.739 --> 00:45:59.440 say we believe 00:45:59.440 --> 00:45:59.880 in the church? 00:46:00.480 --> 00:46:01.360 Jesus is the 00:46:01.360 --> 00:46:01.960 object of our 00:46:01.960 --> 00:46:02.460 faith right? 00:46:06.940 --> 00:46:07.819 We can only 00:46:07.819 --> 00:46:08.699 say we believe 00:46:08.699 --> 00:46:09.439 in the church 00:46:09.439 --> 00:46:10.899 because we 00:46:10.899 --> 00:46:11.699 first said 00:46:11.699 --> 00:46:12.339 we believe 00:46:12.339 --> 00:46:12.619 in the 00:46:12.619 --> 00:46:12.980 Father. 00:46:14.179 --> 00:46:14.939 We believe 00:46:14.939 --> 00:46:15.239 in the 00:46:15.239 --> 00:46:15.599 Son. 00:46:17.139 --> 00:46:17.879 We believe 00:46:17.879 --> 00:46:18.119 in the 00:46:18.119 --> 00:46:18.719 Holy Spirit. 00:46:22.519 --> 00:46:23.159 The only 00:46:23.159 --> 00:46:23.639 thing that 00:46:23.639 --> 00:46:24.519 makes the 00:46:24.519 --> 00:46:24.819 church 00:46:24.819 --> 00:46:25.339 remarkable 00:46:25.339 --> 00:46:26.079 is that 00:46:26.079 --> 00:46:27.119 Jesus Christ 00:46:27.119 --> 00:46:27.619 is on the 00:46:27.619 --> 00:46:28.079 throne 00:46:28.079 --> 00:46:30.000 ruling 00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:30.659 with justice 00:46:30.659 --> 00:46:31.339 and righteousness 00:46:31.339 --> 00:46:32.079 and kindness 00:46:32.079 --> 00:46:34.699 and he 00:46:34.699 --> 00:46:35.500 is changing 00:46:35.500 --> 00:46:37.179 his 00:46:37.179 --> 00:46:37.679 kingdom 00:46:37.679 --> 00:46:38.940 where he 00:46:38.940 --> 00:46:39.279 rules 00:46:39.279 --> 00:46:39.539 his 00:46:39.539 --> 00:46:39.980 domain 00:46:39.980 --> 00:46:40.419 he is 00:46:40.419 --> 00:46:40.779 bringing 00:46:40.779 --> 00:46:41.319 about 00:46:41.319 --> 00:46:42.339 the way 00:46:42.339 --> 00:46:42.699 things are 00:46:42.699 --> 00:46:43.079 supposed to 00:46:43.079 --> 00:46:43.339 be. 00:46:44.139 --> 00:46:44.539 He's 00:46:44.539 --> 00:46:45.539 remaking 00:46:45.539 --> 00:46:46.059 humanity 00:46:46.059 --> 00:46:46.440 the way 00:46:46.440 --> 00:46:46.659 it's 00:46:46.659 --> 00:46:46.960 meant to 00:46:46.960 --> 00:46:47.219 be. 00:46:47.759 --> 00:46:48.099 He's 00:46:48.099 --> 00:46:48.359 setting 00:46:48.359 --> 00:46:48.739 things 00:46:48.739 --> 00:46:49.159 right. 00:46:50.259 --> 00:46:50.579 He's 00:46:50.579 --> 00:46:50.940 causing 00:46:50.940 --> 00:46:51.799 righteousness 00:46:51.799 --> 00:46:52.619 and justice 00:46:52.619 --> 00:46:53.219 and kindness 00:46:53.219 --> 00:46:53.819 and goodness 00:46:53.819 --> 00:46:54.579 and truth 00:46:54.579 --> 00:46:55.619 and mercy 00:46:55.619 --> 00:46:56.279 and compassion 00:46:56.279 --> 00:46:57.039 to increase. 00:47:02.599 --> 00:47:03.399 Do we 00:47:03.399 --> 00:47:03.719 believe in 00:47:03.719 --> 00:47:04.179 the church? 00:47:05.319 --> 00:47:06.000 Well I 00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:06.339 believe in 00:47:06.339 --> 00:47:06.839 the church. 00:47:07.679 --> 00:47:08.739 because I 00:47:08.739 --> 00:47:09.139 believe in 00:47:09.139 --> 00:47:09.440 Jesus 00:47:09.440 --> 00:47:10.639 and I 00:47:10.639 --> 00:47:11.079 believe his 00:47:11.079 --> 00:47:11.500 rule 00:47:11.500 --> 00:47:12.719 is real. 00:47:15.319 --> 00:47:16.139 Thanks be 00:47:16.139 --> 00:47:16.519 to God. 00:47:16.519 --> 00:47:16.519 00:47:16.519 --> 00:47:16.519