WEBVTT

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 Morning, church. Our scripture this morning comes from Acts chapter 4, 32 to chapter 5, verse 11.

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! Please follow along in your bulletins, your Bibles, or the screen behind me.

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 Starting in verse 32, we read,

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 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul,

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 and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own,

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 but they had everything in common.

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 And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

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 and great grace was upon them all.

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 There was not a needy person among them,

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 for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold

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 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

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 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas,

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 which means son of encouragement, a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

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 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

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 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

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 and with his wife's knowledge, he kept back for himself some of the proceeds

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 and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.

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 But Peter said,

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 Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit

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 and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

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 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?

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 And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?

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 Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?

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 You have not lied to man, but to God.

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 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last.

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 And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

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 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

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 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

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 And Peter said to her,

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 Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.

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 And she said,

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 Yes, for so much.

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 But Peter said to her,

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 How is it that you have agreed together to test the spirit of the Lord?

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 Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door,

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 and they will carry you out.

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 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last.

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 When the young men came in, they found her dead,

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 and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

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 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Okay, great.

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 Thank you, Jaya.

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 Good morning, everybody.

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 It's great to be with you again.

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 If you are new to Watermark, my name is Kevin,

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 and it's great to have you with us this morning.

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 I want to start off by asking a question.

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 What is very precious to you?

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 What is very precious to you?

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 What do you love to take care of?

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 When I was a young schoolboy,

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 the thing that was most important to me in life was the game of cricket.

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 I don't know if you know the game of cricket.

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 Cricket is a sport that,

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 I guess, various countries play.

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 And talking about cricket,

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 if you are Australian,

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 I'm sorry that you lost the cricket to South Africa at 10 o'clock last night.

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 But there's a prayer team that will pray for your healing after the service.

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 But I loved the game of cricket.

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 I loved following cricket.

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 I loved watching cricket.

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 I loved practicing cricket.

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 I loved reading all the statistics of my favorite players and reading their biographies.

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 But more than anything, I loved playing cricket.

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 And one of the things I loved to do was to make sure all my cricket equipment was well-packed.

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 Everything had its place.

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 Everything was neatly polished and cleaned and in its place.

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 I loved taking care of my things.

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 And so one of the things I loved to do as a boy was before cricket season each year,

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 I would cycle on my bicycle two kilometers down the road to the nearest hardware store.

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 And I had to buy two things,

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 some rolls of sandpaper and some special oil that you use to clean a cricket bat.

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 Then I would cycle home and I would spend the next few days sanding down my cricket bat.

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 Sanding all the bumps and the color and the red marks from the cricket ball out from the previous season.

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 And all the chips and the dents.

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 And I would get it as smooth as possible.

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 And then I would paint it with linseed oil and leave it to dry for a couple of days.

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 And then a few days later I'd go through the whole process again.

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 Until that cricket bat was as smooth as whatever you can imagine.

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 A baby's bottom, let's just say.

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 And it smelled like fresh oil.

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 I loved taking care of my cricket bat.

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 Why?

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 Because at that age, that was probably my most precious possession.

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 We love to take care of things that are precious to us.

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 Now I wonder what is precious to you?

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 What do you love taking care of?

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 Maybe you've just got a new car, right?

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 And suddenly there are all sorts of new rules around the home.

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 No eating in the car.

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 And you are fastidious about making sure it's clean, not only on the outside, but on the inside.

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 Maybe you've been saving up for a new guitar.

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 And you've just bought that Taylor guitar that you've been saving up for for months or years.

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 And what do you do?

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 You buy a cover.

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 You buy dehumidifiers.

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 You buy all sorts of other things.

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 And you're retuning it way too often.

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 You're polishing it.

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 You've got a special cloth just to clean your guitar.

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 And warning to anybody that touches your dear guitar.

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 Or maybe somebody passes you a family heirloom.

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 A diamond ring.

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 And you go out and you buy a special safe and a special box.

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 And special cleaning material.

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 And you make sure nobody is allowed to touch your family heirloom.

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 Friends, what is precious to you?

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 What do you love taking care of?

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 What would your family and friends say that is precious to you based on what you spend time and effort and energy looking after?

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 What do you love to take care of?

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 Well, we're working through the book of Acts.

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 And in the book of Acts, we see how the gospel goes out and forms this community of people.

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 This gospel-shaped community, which is called the church.

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 And the church is a gathering of followers of Jesus, those that have encountered His grace, and now come together.

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 And in this passage, we see that the church, the community of believers, is very precious to Jesus.

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 Jesus loves to take care and to work on and to look after His church.

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 And we're going to see in our passage today that He does that in two ways.

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 He does it through the work of cultivating generous love and through the work of confronting counterfeit faith.

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 To Jesus Christ, the church is so precious to Him that He doesn't just leave it to its own devices.

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 He works on it.

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 He works in it.

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 He takes great care of it.

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 And He wants it to be the beautiful church that He's designed it to be.

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 So, let's dive in and look at this passage.

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 If you've got a Bible, look at it with me, or you've got a bulletin, follow along.

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 We're going to be looking at this passage together.

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 Let's look at the first section.

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 Jesus works in His church by cultivating generous love.

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 And we're going to look at verses 32 to 37 here.

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 Now, this passage is very similar to one that we looked at just a few weeks ago, at the end of chapter 2.

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 And in that passage, you'll remember Peter preaches on the day of Pentecost.

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 About 3,000 people come to faith.

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 And then there's this amazing passage that Luke describes the believers come together that are very devoted to the things of God.

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 There's kind of a vertical component.

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 There's that famous verse in chapter 2 that says,

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 They were devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to breaking of bread, and to the prayers.

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 And they're also devoted to each other.

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 But there's quite a vertical component.

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 Well, in this passage that Jaya read to us, we see something very similar.

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 But here Luke's emphasis is on the horizontal component.

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 As the gospel goes out, as people are changed, what happens?

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 It forms a community.

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 A community of people that, yes, they love God, but they also love one another.

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 Yes, they want to serve God, but they also are serving one another.

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 Here is a group of people who are coming together, not just for what they can get or take or receive,

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 but how they can love and serve each other.

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 Look at what it says.

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 Verse 32.

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 It says,

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 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and one soul.

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 And no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own.

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 But they shared and had everything in common.

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 You may remember there's a verse in Matthew's gospel, chapter 10,

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 where Jesus sends his disciples out, and he says,

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 Freely you have received, now freely give.

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 And that's what we see here.

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 Here are a group of people that, having received so much from Christ, so much in the gospel,

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 received mercy and grace and love and redemption, having freely received, are now willing to freely give.

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 And so, look at verse 34.

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 It says,

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 God is at work in this community.

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 God doesn't just gather them and say,

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 Okay, get on to yourself.

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 He's at work.

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 He's fashioning them.

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 He's shaping them.

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 You know, one of the things that's amazing about the book of Acts is the many miracles.

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 Luke calls them signs and wonders.

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 We saw that two weeks ago when Alan was preaching.

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 Peter and John are on the way to the temple.

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 There's a beggar.

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 He can't walk.

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 And they, in the name of Jesus, get up and walk.

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 And he's made well.

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 The book of Acts is full of these amazing miracles.

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 And what is a miracle?

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 A miracle is when God intervenes and transcends the ordinary laws of nature.

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 A blind man gets sight.

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 A cripple is able to walk.

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 It's God intervening over and above the regular laws of nature.

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 Friends, here what Luke wants to show us is that the miraculous nature of the church was not just the blind getting sight,

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 the cripple walking,

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 but actually the hearts of those that have been touched by the gospel.

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 Look at the miracles here.

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 Not a needy person amongst them.

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 People selling houses and lands and giving money as distributed to anyone as they had need.

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 And just so we know that these are real stories involving real people,

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 Luke tells us about one man in particular.

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 He says, verse 36,

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 Thus Joseph, who is also called Barnabas,

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 a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

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 sold the field that belonged to him,

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 brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

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 This wasn't just general kind of kindness.

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 This was particularly real people

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 selling their possessions and sharing with anyone as they had need.

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 Now, how does this come about?

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 One of the things Luke wants to tell us is that this is God's doing.

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 Look at verse 33 with me.

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 Luke says,

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 And with great power,

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 the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

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 and great grace was upon them all.

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 You know, some commentators think verse 33 doesn't really fit in,

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 because verse 32 talks about this radical generosity.

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 Verse 34 onwards talks about radical generosity.

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 And verse 33 is kind of,

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 it doesn't really fit.

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 But actually what Luke is wanting to say here is,

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 where does this generosity come from?

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 This wasn't a political manifesto.

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 This wasn't a social experiment.

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 This wasn't an economic model.

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 How can we redistribute wealth?

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 This is a work of great power and great grace.

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 When the Holy Spirit comes upon His people,

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 He changes them from the inside,

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 so that they cannot help but love and serve those around them.

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 This is God getting a hold of His people,

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 so that God's community starts to look like what?

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 Like God Himself.

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 Who is God?

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 God is the one who, though He was rich,

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 became poor for our sakes,

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 so that we might become rich in Him.

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 He is the one who so loved the world,

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 that He gave His Son,

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 so that we might not perish.

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 God, out of the abundance of His riches,

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 gives and gives and gives,

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 grace upon grace,

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 mercy upon mercy,

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 love upon love.

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 And in the Gospels,

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 we see this in individual ways.

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 We see people like Zacchaeus, right?

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 Remember Zacchaeus?

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 He's a bit of a thief.

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 He's a tax collector.

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 He's sided with the Romans against his own people.

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 But he encounters the mercy of God,

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 and what does he say?

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 Lord, after half of my possessions,

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 I will give away.

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 And if I've cheated anybody,

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 four times what I've taken from them,

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 I will repay them.

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 Or think of Mary.

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 She encounters this,

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 the amazing mercy of Jesus.

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 And what does she do?

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 She takes her precious bottle of perfume,

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 worth a year's wages,

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 breaks it and pours out of Jesus.

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 In the Gospels,

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 we see these individual accounts

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 of the mercy of God,

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 changing people to radical generosity.

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 But here it is,

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 we see not just individuals,

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 but an entire community

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 that has formed around the Gospel.

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 I read a story recently

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 of a lady called Elisha.

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 And she tells the story

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 where she says,

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 I got dressed to get fired one day.

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 Why was she dressed to get fired?

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 Well, she had recently joined this company.

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 Okay, don't worry about the slide.

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 She had joined this company six months before.

00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:22.799
 She had been 15 months without work,

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.620
 doing temp work,

00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:26.159
 and just trying to make ends meet.

00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.939
 Finally landed a job,

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:29.299
 but six months into the job,

00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:31.200
 the company was going through layoffs,

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.720
 and was laying off numerous staff.

00:15:34.420 --> 00:15:35.000
 And so she says,

00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:36.960
 I got dressed to get fired that day.

00:15:37.540 --> 00:15:39.100
 And that day when I was at work,

00:15:39.140 --> 00:15:42.060
 as the office descended into chaos of tears

00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:43.920
 and people packing up their boxes,

00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:48.180
 I waited at my desk for HR to call me

00:15:48.180 --> 00:15:50.000
 for my notification letter.

00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:53.120
 But it never came.

00:15:54.040 --> 00:15:54.560
 She says,

00:15:54.660 --> 00:15:57.120
 the most beloved and hardworking member

00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.820
 of her team was let go,

00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.040
 but she was spared.

00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:02.779
 Everybody in her team was stunned.

00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:04.360
 Why was she spared?

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:07.159
 This is to what she writes.

00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.439
 As I walked home that day,

00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:12.500
 relief and gratitude overcame me.

00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:15.519
 As I passed my neighborhood grocery store,

00:16:15.599 --> 00:16:17.899
 a woman sat outside asking for money,

00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:20.439
 and I couldn't help but give to her.

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.159
 Never have I given as radically

00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:25.500
 and as generously to any stranger

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:27.179
 as I did that day.

00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:27.939
 Why?

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:31.299
 I was under the influence of mercy.

00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:33.419
 What a great line.

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:34.620
 She says,

00:16:34.719 --> 00:16:36.079
 I couldn't help but I've never given

00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:37.039
 so radically,

00:16:37.219 --> 00:16:38.679
 so generously to a stranger.

00:16:39.099 --> 00:16:39.500
 Why?

00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:42.299
 I was under the influence of mercy.

00:16:42.459 --> 00:16:42.699
 Friends,

00:16:42.739 --> 00:16:43.939
 that's what we see in Acts here.

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:45.399
 A community

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:47.539
 that is formed around the gospel,

00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:49.079
 that's under the influence of mercy,

00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:51.179
 that cannot help but be radically generous

00:16:51.699 --> 00:16:53.620
 because of what they've received.

00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:55.779
 And over the last few weeks

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.860
 as we've been reading Acts,

00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:59.440
 we've seen how God is at work

00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:01.060
 through the church.

00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:01.639
 Right?

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.019
 The apostles are standing up.

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.700
 They're preaching.

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.579
 Hundreds of people getting saved.

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:08.420
 God is at work through his church.

00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:11.420
 But what Luke wants us to see here

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:14.019
 is God was not only at work through the church,

00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:15.400
 but in the church.

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.259
 It wasn't only outsiders,

00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:19.099
 those out there that needed the grace

00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:19.959
 and the gospel.

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:24.240
 God was cultivating a culture of grace

00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:26.459
 and generosity in the church

00:17:26.459 --> 00:17:29.579
 until it started to look like him.

00:17:30.399 --> 00:17:32.099
 Now, what does this mean for us?

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:35.359
 Well, here's one simple implication

00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:36.139
 I can think of.

00:17:37.699 --> 00:17:41.500
 What is the grace and generosity barometer

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:43.559
 of your heart looking like?

00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:45.480
 Okay, do you know what a barometer is?

00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.539
 A barometer is an instrument

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:49.879
 that measures the pressure

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.720
 in the atmosphere

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:52.079
 and tells you what the weather

00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:52.799
 is going to be like.

00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:54.720
 Okay, this is before the days of iPhones.

00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.319
 Okay?

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.799
 So long, long ago,

00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:57.700
 when I was a kid

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:59.319
 and we didn't have smartphones,

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.519
 we used things called barometers.

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:00.920
 Okay?

00:18:01.659 --> 00:18:03.859
 And I'm just joking.

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.819
 I didn't have a barometer growing up.

00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:08.940
 But it measures the atmospheric pressure

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:11.420
 which is something you can't see

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:12.659
 and then it tells you

00:18:12.659 --> 00:18:13.839
 what's going to happen with the weather.

00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:18.439
 Now, generosity and grace

00:18:18.439 --> 00:18:19.639
 is like a barometer

00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:21.220
 that tells us

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.859
 what is the atmospheric pressure

00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:23.740
 of our hearts.

00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:26.459
 How deeply has the gospel

00:18:26.459 --> 00:18:27.480
 got a hold of us

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:29.519
 and gripped our hearts?

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.919
 Here we see a community

00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:34.919
 that is transformed by the gospel

00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:35.919
 and what does it do?

00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.839
 It makes them radically generous

00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.240
 and gracious to one another.

00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:41.059
 It makes them giving.

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:43.399
 It makes them no longer consumers

00:18:43.399 --> 00:18:44.919
 but servers.

00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:47.679
 Friends, if God's generosity

00:18:47.679 --> 00:18:49.419
 and grace to us as individuals

00:18:49.419 --> 00:18:51.440
 produces a community of grace

00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.819
 and generosity to one another,

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.599
 one way to measure that

00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:55.599
 is to ask ourselves

00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.519
 how gracious,

00:18:56.679 --> 00:18:57.539
 how generous are we

00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.700
 to those around us?

00:18:59.419 --> 00:19:00.579
 How gracious are we

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:02.339
 to those in our families?

00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.599
 How sacrificial are we

00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:05.359
 with our possessions?

00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:08.119
 How inclusive are we

00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:09.659
 to those that are different from us

00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:11.080
 and maybe even challenge us?

00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:13.019
 How generous are we

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:14.800
 to those who we feel

00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:15.779
 don't deserve it?

00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.740
 Because the gospel

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:19.279
 that brings us into oneness

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.340
 with God himself

00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:21.500
 will also bring us

00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.580
 into one heart

00:19:22.580 --> 00:19:23.420
 and one spirit

00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.960
 with those around us.

00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:26.080
 So friends,

00:19:26.120 --> 00:19:26.700
 are we living

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:28.420
 under the influence of mercy?

00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:31.180
 What is the barometer of grace

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.580
 saying about our lives?

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.380
 Jesus is at work

00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:34.940
 in his church

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:37.500
 cultivating generous love.

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.799
 But here we see

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:40.220
 in chapter 5

00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:41.220
 another story

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.900
 and it's the picture

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.819
 of Jesus at work

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.460
 in his church

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:47.059
 confronting counterfeit faith.

00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.160
 Now,

00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.720
 if you're new to church

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.279
 this morning,

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:52.000
 maybe you've never read

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.059
 Acts chapter 5

00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:54.799
 and it's quite a scary story,

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.160
 right?

00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.859
 It looks like God

00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:58.339
 takes out one of his own.

00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.579
 You may be surprised

00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.839
 to find that it's in the Bible.

00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:03.839
 Here we have a wealthy couple

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.079
 and nice and Sapphira

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:06.659
 and they sell a piece of land,

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.039
 an excess piece of land

00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:10.500
 and they bring

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:12.099
 a portion of the proceeds

00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:12.939
 to the apostles

00:20:12.939 --> 00:20:14.159
 and they lay it at their feet

00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:14.519
 and say,

00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:15.059
 here,

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.019
 take this money

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.980
 and distribute it

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.500
 to the poor

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:19.019
 as you see fit.

00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.819
 And what do they get

00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:21.399
 in return

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:22.339
 for their generosity?

00:20:23.179 --> 00:20:25.039
 An early funeral service,

00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:25.359
 right?

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.199
 They both

00:20:26.199 --> 00:20:27.579
 fall down dead.

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.319
 What on earth

00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:30.220
 is going on here?

00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:35.079
 I was going to comment

00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:36.000
 about our building fund.

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:36.680
 Thankfully,

00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.620
 that didn't happen here.

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.880
 We are all still alive

00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.279
 and well

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.160
 as far as I know.

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.460
 But let's look

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.460
 at what's happening here.

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.700
 And nice comes

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.299
 to the apostles

00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:47.079
 and he hands over

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.019
 this pile of money.

00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:50.059
 Look at what Peter says,

00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:50.620
 verse 3.

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.960
 And nice,

00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:53.120
 why has Satan

00:20:53.120 --> 00:20:54.339
 filled your heart

00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:56.039
 to lie to the Holy Spirit

00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.579
 and to keep back

00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.319
 for yourself

00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.619
 part of the proceeds

00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.500
 of the land?

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.519
 Just by the way,

00:21:02.679 --> 00:21:03.679
 throughout the book of Acts,

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.899
 God is constantly

00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:06.059
 telling us

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.720
 that these people

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.939
 are filled with the Spirit.

00:21:08.179 --> 00:21:09.139
 Filled with the Spirit.

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:10.220
 Filled with the Spirit.

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.299
 Which is what we want to be,

00:21:12.379 --> 00:21:12.500
 right?

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.240
 Filled with the Spirit.

00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:14.439
 Here,

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.779
 Peter tells Ananias

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.759
 he's filled with Satan.

00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.559
 Not the kind of church

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.200
 we want to be.

00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:20.159
 Verse 4.

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.279
 While it remained unsold,

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:24.059
 did it not remain your own?

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.720
 And after it was sold,

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:27.099
 was it not at your disposal?

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:29.539
 Why is it that you've contrived

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.719
 this deed in your heart?

00:21:31.179 --> 00:21:32.819
 You have not lied to man,

00:21:32.919 --> 00:21:33.699
 but to God.

00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:35.819
 When Ananias heard these words,

00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:36.579
 he fell down

00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.519
 and breathed his lot

00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.659
 and the young men came

00:21:38.659 --> 00:21:39.859
 and carried him out

00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.619
 and buried him.

00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.319
 And of course,

00:21:41.399 --> 00:21:42.319
 his wife Sapphira,

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.500
 three hours later,

00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.059
 comes in

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.299
 and the same thing happens.

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.419
 Now,

00:21:46.699 --> 00:21:47.719
 what's going on here?

00:21:48.439 --> 00:21:48.740
 Well,

00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:50.059
 this account tells us

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:51.199
 at least two things

00:21:51.199 --> 00:21:52.219
 about the early church

00:21:52.219 --> 00:21:54.000
 and the Christian faith.

00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.539
 The first thing

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.379
 it tells us is this,

00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:58.540
 that gospel generosity

00:21:58.540 --> 00:22:00.700
 and sacrificial love

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:02.780
 were so important,

00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.500
 so highly valued

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.480
 to the early church

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.980
 that some people

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.520
 were willing to fake it

00:22:08.520 --> 00:22:09.800
 in order to be part

00:22:09.800 --> 00:22:10.460
 of the community.

00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.360
 And that's quite remarkable.

00:22:13.120 --> 00:22:14.260
 This value

00:22:14.260 --> 00:22:15.800
 of generous love

00:22:15.800 --> 00:22:17.100
 and gracious,

00:22:17.280 --> 00:22:18.060
 sacrificial giving

00:22:18.060 --> 00:22:19.360
 was so highly valued

00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:20.420
 that some people thought,

00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:21.700
 I can't do it,

00:22:21.760 --> 00:22:22.800
 but I better fake it

00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:23.860
 in order to be part

00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:24.580
 of this community.

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:26.619
 And then why,

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.519
 the reason why,

00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.519
 as we've been saying,

00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:31.240
 is because sacrificial generosity

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.599
 and undeserved grace

00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.939
 are at the very heart

00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:34.839
 of the Christian faith

00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.679
 that they believed

00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:36.279
 and proclaimed.

00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:37.699
 Friends,

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.759
 if you're new to church

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.279
 this morning,

00:22:39.399 --> 00:22:40.859
 if you're new to the Christian faith,

00:22:41.419 --> 00:22:42.919
 at the heart of Christianity

00:22:42.919 --> 00:22:45.039
 is the historical reality

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.939
 that Jesus Christ

00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:48.439
 gave of his life

00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:49.859
 on the cross,

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.899
 died for your sins

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:52.539
 and my sins.

00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:54.139
 He gave up his life

00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:55.819
 that we can be included

00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.519
 in the family

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.720
 and the people of God.

00:22:58.659 --> 00:23:00.480
 And Jesus gave of himself

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.879
 so that the moral debt

00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:03.180
 that you and I hold

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.940
 can be paid and full

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:05.899
 and done away with.

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:08.119
 Jesus looked at our moral debt

00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:08.420
 and said,

00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:09.859
 I will pay your debt

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.799
 on your behalf.

00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.279
 And so,

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.359
 this value

00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:14.779
 was so highly esteemed

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.799
 that some were even willing

00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.399
 to fake it

00:23:16.399 --> 00:23:17.440
 to be part of the community.

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:19.299
 But here's the second thing

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.039
 that tells us.

00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.680
 That genuine faith

00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:25.039
 and authentic worship

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:27.299
 were so highly valued

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.580
 by God

00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:30.700
 that he was even willing

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.880
 to expose

00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:33.320
 and remove

00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:35.360
 those who compromised

00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:36.580
 or endangered

00:23:36.580 --> 00:23:38.160
 the Christian faith

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:38.880
 and the gospel.

00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.680
 And that's really scary.

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.920
 That genuine,

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.299
 authentic worship

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:45.799
 and faith

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:47.099
 was so highly valued

00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:47.639
 by God

00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.460
 that he's even willing

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.200
 to expose

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.720
 and maybe even remove

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:52.440
 those who endanger

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:53.119
 and compromise

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.879
 the gospel.

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.019
 You see,

00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:56.159
 why does God deal

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:57.359
 with Ananias and Sapphira

00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:57.940
 like this?

00:23:58.419 --> 00:23:58.799
 Well,

00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.680
 it's not because of

00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.740
 their love for money.

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.399
 It's not necessarily

00:24:02.399 --> 00:24:03.180
 their greed.

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:05.740
 It's their duplicity,

00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:06.960
 their inauthenticity.

00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.779
 Look at what Peter says

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.600
 here in verse 4.

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:10.640
 He says,

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.759
 While it remained

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.900
 unsold and nice,

00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:14.420
 did your property

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.440
 not remain your own?

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:17.039
 And after it was sold,

00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:18.680
 was it not at your disposal?

00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:20.579
 Why have you contrived

00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:21.579
 this deed in your heart?

00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.600
 You have not lied

00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:23.079
 to man,

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.840
 but to God.

00:24:24.600 --> 00:24:24.819
 See,

00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.880
 God entrusted them

00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:26.380
 with money

00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:28.019
 and they could have

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.819
 sold their property

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.440
 and said,

00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:30.640
 come to the leaders

00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:30.960
 and said,

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.660
 you know what guys,

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.579
 we don't,

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.680
 actually God's been gracious

00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.000
 to us.

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:34.559
 We don't need

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.460
 all of this money.

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:37.380
 He has 50%.

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:38.579
 Or,

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.079
 He has 30%.

00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:41.960
 He has 10%,

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.279
 right?

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.480
 They could have done that

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.279
 and that would have been

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:46.279
 a remarkable story

00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.579
 of grace and generosity.

00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.079
 But actually,

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.200
 what's happening here

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.880
 is here are people

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:53.100
 that are not resting

00:24:53.100 --> 00:24:54.220
 in the grace

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.799
 of the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.640
 not resting

00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.759
 in the love of the Father,

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.319
 not trusting

00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.360
 in the free grace

00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:00.880
 of Christ.

00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.140
 Their identity,

00:25:02.360 --> 00:25:03.120
 their security

00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.960
 is,

00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:05.279
 is,

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.140
 is in,

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.180
 not found in what

00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:07.960
 Jesus has done

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:09.000
 in the cross for them

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.860
 and His substitution

00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:11.860
 in death

00:25:11.860 --> 00:25:12.579
 on the cross.

00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:13.900
 Actually,

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.000
 where is their identity

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.440
 found?

00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.380
 Where is their security

00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:17.759
 found?

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.480
 On what basis

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.120
 are they wanting

00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:20.799
 to be part

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.920
 of the Christian community?

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.880
 It's the appearance

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:24.620
 of righteousness.

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.319
 It's the appearance

00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.579
 of being moral

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:29.240
 and having it all together.

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:31.259
 It's in a counterfeit

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:32.620
 facade of morality,

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.440
 believing that

00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.279
 their behavior,

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.240
 their generosity,

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.839
 will allow them

00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:37.339
 to be part

00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:37.899
 of the community

00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:38.599
 of faith.

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.619
 But friends,

00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.339
 friends,

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.559
 the only thing

00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.399
 that welcomes us

00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:45.039
 into the community

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.579
 of faith

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:47.099
 is the free gift

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.000
 of God's grace,

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.920
 not our righteousness

00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.079
 or our generosity

00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:51.920
 or kindness

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:53.960
 or any moral appearance.

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:55.319
 it's in the fact

00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:55.960
 that we come to

00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:56.759
 an empty hand

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.160
 and say,

00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.400
 nothing in my hands

00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:58.920
 I bring,

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:01.559
 simply to your grace

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.860
 and your mercy

00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:03.779
 do I cling.

00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:06.100
 Dane Ortlund

00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:07.299
 in his excellent book

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.160
 called Deeper

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:09.259
 writes this.

00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:09.779
 He says,

00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:11.279
 there are two ways

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.460
 to be dishonest

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.740
 with fellow Christians.

00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.920
 Explicit dishonesty

00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:18.200
 and implicit dishonesty.

00:26:19.080 --> 00:26:20.160
 Explicit dishonesty

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.400
 is outright lying,

00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:21.820
 right?

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.640
 Saying,

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:23.980
 I went here

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.740
 when you didn't

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:27.380
 or I gave this away

00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:28.160
 when you didn't.

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.600
 But it is also

00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:31.060
 implicit dishonesty

00:26:31.060 --> 00:26:32.640
 which is much more subtle

00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:34.200
 and much more common.

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.779
 This is the self-projection

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:38.039
 that gives an appearance

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:39.380
 of moral success

00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:40.180
 and righteousness

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:41.680
 when the truth

00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.860
 is far different.

00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:45.459
 Here in Ananias and Sapphira

00:26:45.459 --> 00:26:46.539
 we see both of those,

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.019
 don't we?

00:26:47.479 --> 00:26:47.759
 Yes,

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.839
 there's explicit lying.

00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:49.839
 This is how much

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.000
 we sold the property for.

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.919
 But far more sinister,

00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:54.079
 far more dangerous

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.799
 is the implicit lying,

00:26:55.959 --> 00:26:56.719
 the projection

00:26:56.719 --> 00:26:57.639
 of righteousness,

00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:58.479
 the projection

00:26:58.479 --> 00:26:59.439
 of immorality,

00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.619
 the projection

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:02.019
 of having it all together

00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:03.439
 when the truth

00:27:03.439 --> 00:27:04.339
 is far from it.

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.379
 See friends,

00:27:06.439 --> 00:27:06.899
 it's not just

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.619
 that Ananias

00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.039
 sinned

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:09.219
 or did something wrong

00:27:09.219 --> 00:27:11.359
 that got them in trouble.

00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:13.199
 we all sin.

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:15.659
 We all make mistakes.

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.559
 If sin was the thing

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.539
 that disqualified them,

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.079
 there would be

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:19.719
 no such thing

00:27:19.719 --> 00:27:20.399
 as a church.

00:27:21.199 --> 00:27:22.419
 But it's pretending

00:27:22.419 --> 00:27:23.699
 to trust in Christ.

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.539
 It's pretending,

00:27:24.679 --> 00:27:25.719
 attempting to earn

00:27:25.719 --> 00:27:26.539
 God's favor

00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:28.059
 through financial gifts.

00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:29.219
 That's an affront

00:27:29.219 --> 00:27:29.839
 to God

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:31.339
 and an offense

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.139
 to the gospel.

00:27:33.219 --> 00:27:33.559
 Friends,

00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:34.699
 long before Ananias

00:27:34.699 --> 00:27:35.259
 and Sapphira

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.539
 lied to the community

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:38.699
 and even before

00:27:38.699 --> 00:27:39.959
 they lied to God,

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:41.500
 they were lying

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.200
 to themselves,

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.380
 thinking that

00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:44.720
 something other

00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.420
 than the mercy

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.019
 of Jesus

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:47.440
 could bring them

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.480
 into God's family.

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.420
 Telling themselves

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.220
 that no one needed

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.640
 to know

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.799
 about their discrepancy,

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.640
 their disconnect

00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.700
 between the story

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.519
 they were projecting

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.940
 and the reality

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:57.840
 of their lives.

00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.620
 A few weeks ago,

00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:02.000
 Jesse,

00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:03.140
 somewhere around,

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.360
 put me on to

00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:05.380
 an author

00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:06.680
 called Blaise Pascal.

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:09.320
 Blaise Pascal

00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:10.380
 was a mathematician

00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:11.460
 and a philosopher

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:13.640
 about 400 years ago.

00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.700
 He was a wonderful

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.420
 Christian man

00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.080
 and he wrote

00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:17.039
 some amazing things

00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:18.140
 and since Jesse

00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:18.779
 and I had lunch,

00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:19.560
 I've been reading

00:28:19.560 --> 00:28:20.920
 Blaise Pascal's book

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:22.080
 called Thoughts

00:28:22.080 --> 00:28:22.860
 or Pensies.

00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:25.400
 And there's an amazing

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.740
 paragraph

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.900
 that he writes in there

00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:29.160
 and I want to read

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.960
 some of it to us.

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:30.740
 This is what he says.

00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.299
 Blaise Pascal

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:34.460
 is wondering

00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:37.099
 about the conflict

00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:38.220
 in the human heart

00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:39.059
 about the fact

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.220
 that we love ourselves.

00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.700
 And he says this,

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.019
 he says,

00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.200
 the nature of humanity

00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.519
 is self-love

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:47.000
 and the nature

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.779
 of human ego

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.619
 is to love

00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.519
 the self only.

00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:50.720
 And he says,

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.740
 but what will we do?

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.399
 There's a problem

00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:55.659
 because we must realize

00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:56.839
 we love ourselves

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.879
 but if we're honest

00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:58.500
 with ourselves,

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.799
 we all see our own

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.879
 faults and failings.

00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:02.440
 and so we love

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:04.160
 this imperfect image

00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:04.700
 that we have

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.320
 of ourselves.

00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:08.080
 And he says

00:29:08.080 --> 00:29:08.860
 that as humans

00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:09.940
 we want to be great

00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:11.040
 but we know

00:29:11.040 --> 00:29:11.660
 the reality

00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.400
 is we're small.

00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:14.300
 We want to be perfect

00:29:14.300 --> 00:29:15.820
 but we see ourselves

00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:17.200
 as full of imperfections.

00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.340
 We want to be

00:29:18.340 --> 00:29:19.480
 an object of love

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.160
 and esteem

00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:20.700
 and honor

00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.780
 in the eyes of others

00:29:21.780 --> 00:29:23.180
 but we see

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:24.580
 that our faults

00:29:24.580 --> 00:29:25.880
 merit only scorn

00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:26.680
 and contempt.

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.480
 And then he writes this,

00:29:28.540 --> 00:29:28.900
 he says,

00:29:29.100 --> 00:29:30.120
 this disconnect

00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:31.539
 which we find

00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.359
 in ourselves

00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:34.079
 produces the most

00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:35.000
 unrighteous

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.899
 and criminal

00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:36.500
 obsession

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.679
 that can be imagined.

00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:39.899
 For man conceives

00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:40.619
 an enemy

00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:42.319
 against that truth

00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.339
 which confronts him

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:44.299
 and convinces him

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:44.959
 of his faults.

00:29:45.439 --> 00:29:45.779
 He says,

00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.179
 we dream up

00:29:47.179 --> 00:29:47.839
 in our minds

00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:49.479
 there's this enmity

00:29:49.479 --> 00:29:50.879
 between how we see

00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:51.459
 ourselves

00:29:51.459 --> 00:29:52.599
 and what we want to be

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.859
 and who we really are.

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.759
 He would annihilate

00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.459
 that truth

00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.539
 but unable

00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.539
 to destroy it

00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.079
 entirely

00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:00.620
 he destroys it

00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:01.960
 as far as possible

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:03.220
 in his own mind

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.840
 and that of others.

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:06.059
 That is to say

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:07.340
 he devotes

00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:08.500
 all his attention

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.319
 to hiding

00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:09.980
 his faults

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.000
 both from others

00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.460
 and from himself.

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.299
 See what he's saying?

00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.140
 He's saying,

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.140
 we have this image

00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:16.579
 of ourselves.

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.539
 I want to look good.

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.720
 I want to think

00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.779
 of myself as grace

00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.980
 but when I look

00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.420
 at myself

00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.340
 I see these faults

00:30:22.340 --> 00:30:23.140
 inside of myself.

00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.059
 So what do I do?

00:30:24.659 --> 00:30:26.139
 I can't deny the truth

00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:28.319
 or I can't hide the truth

00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.319
 so I'll deny it.

00:30:29.899 --> 00:30:30.740
 I'll deny it

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.700
 in your eyes

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.579
 by projecting

00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:33.179
 an image

00:30:33.179 --> 00:30:33.759
 that I'm better

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.379
 than I am

00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:35.679
 and I'll deny it

00:30:35.679 --> 00:30:36.179
 to myself

00:30:36.179 --> 00:30:37.159
 by telling myself

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:37.980
 I'm not as bad

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.940
 as I really am.

00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.919
 And then Blaise Pascal

00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:41.519
 goes on

00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:41.879
 and he says,

00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:43.139
 truly it is evil

00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.259
 to be full of faults

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.859
 but it is still

00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:46.940
 greater evil

00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:48.099
 to be full of faults

00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:48.779
 and unwilling

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:50.059
 to recognize them

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:51.220
 since that is

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.139
 to add to the

00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:53.019
 further fault

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.859
 voluntary deception.

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:56.879
 Friends,

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.339
 none of us

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:57.819
 are perfect.

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.379
 All of us

00:30:58.379 --> 00:30:58.900
 have faults.

00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:00.359
 If you don't

00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:01.160
 have any faults

00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:04.879
 I'd love to meet you.

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:06.900
 Friends,

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.460
 the basis

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.480
 of the Christian faith

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.160
 is that you can

00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:10.259
 only come

00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.599
 if you know

00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.359
 yourself a sinner.

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.079
 If you admit

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.859
 yourself a sinner.

00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.339
 If you come

00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:16.759
 to the foot

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.259
 of the cross

00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:17.619
 and say,

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.079
 Jesus,

00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.119
 I don't have it

00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:19.440
 together.

00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:20.500
 I need your grace.

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:22.240
 But there

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.140
 is a tendency

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:24.359
 inside of our hearts

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.359
 to deny that

00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:25.880
 to others

00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:26.559
 and to deny

00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.420
 that to ourselves

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.140
 and ultimately

00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:29.039
 to deny it

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.440
 to God

00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:29.779
 and say,

00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:30.039
 God,

00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:30.539
 I have it

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.039
 all together.

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.579
 Look at me.

00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:33.900
 I don't need

00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:34.500
 your grace.

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.220
 I've got it

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:35.960
 all myself.

00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.440
 And that

00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.660
 is a disastrous,

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.599
 disastrous

00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.619
 thing to do

00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:41.700
 because it

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.740
 excludes us

00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.960
 from the grace

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.500
 of God.

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:45.940
 And so look

00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.440
 at how,

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.700
 in this passage,

00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.740
 look at how Luke

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.799
 structures this

00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.339
 passage.

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.960
 In Acts chapter

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.539
 4,

00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.420
 Luke,

00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:54.980
 we looked at

00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:55.700
 this last week,

00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:56.859
 the Christians

00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:58.120
 face remarkable

00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:58.900
 persecution

00:31:58.900 --> 00:32:00.059
 and

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:03.200
 obstruction.

00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:04.180
 They are,

00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.380
 the apostles

00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:06.160
 are arrested,

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:06.720
 they're thrown

00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.220
 in jail,

00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:08.039
 they are threatened.

00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.559
 In Acts chapter

00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.000
 5,

00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:10.819
 we see the same

00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.160
 thing.

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:12.259
 The apostles

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.900
 are arrested,

00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.420
 they're thrown

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:13.880
 in jail,

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.559
 they are threatened,

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.079
 they're even

00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:15.799
 beaten up.

00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.539
 But in between

00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:18.599
 these two passages

00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:19.299
 of Acts chapter

00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.899
 4 and Acts

00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:20.500
 chapter 5,

00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:21.299
 here we find

00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:21.939
 the story of

00:32:21.939 --> 00:32:22.719
 Ananias and

00:32:22.719 --> 00:32:23.240
 Sapphira.

00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:25.039
 And I think Luke

00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.579
 is wanting to

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.240
 tell us something.

00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:27.119
 Luke says that

00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.779
 there are two

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.819
 great dangers

00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:29.579
 that the Christian

00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.519
 church will face.

00:32:30.959 --> 00:32:32.179
 There is opposition

00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:33.079
 and persecution

00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:34.059
 from outside,

00:32:34.459 --> 00:32:35.839
 but there's a far

00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.839
 more insidious,

00:32:36.939 --> 00:32:38.419
 a far more dangerous

00:32:38.419 --> 00:32:39.279
 kind of enemy.

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.559
 It's not the

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.379
 opposition and the

00:32:41.379 --> 00:32:42.199
 persecution from

00:32:42.199 --> 00:32:42.719
 outside,

00:32:43.219 --> 00:32:44.240
 it's the insidious

00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:44.959
 deception,

00:32:45.219 --> 00:32:46.079
 dishonesty that

00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:47.019
 resides within.

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:48.900
 And we,

00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.680
 the church can

00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.619
 withstand opposition

00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.460
 from outside,

00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:52.500
 but the deception

00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.460
 and the dishonesty

00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:54.319
 that resides

00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:55.259
 within our hearts

00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:56.180
 will kill us

00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:57.200
 and destroy us

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.420
 and eat us up

00:32:58.420 --> 00:32:59.619
 from the inside.

00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.279
 Persecution,

00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.240
 suffering,

00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:03.279
 torture,

00:33:04.139 --> 00:33:04.519
 jail,

00:33:05.160 --> 00:33:05.599
 prison,

00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:06.379
 friends,

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:06.900
 these things

00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:07.519
 can't destroy

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.099
 the church.

00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:09.859
 But the sin

00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.460
 that resides

00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.920
 within is far

00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:12.700
 more dangerous.

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:14.039
 And so what

00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:14.539
 would it look

00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.220
 like for us

00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:16.120
 to be a community

00:33:16.120 --> 00:33:17.700
 of sincerity

00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:18.319
 and truth?

00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:19.500
 Well,

00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.200
 it looks like,

00:33:20.620 --> 00:33:21.019
 sorry,

00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:21.480
 what would it

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:22.240
 look like for us

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.660
 to be like

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.860
 Ananias and Sapphira?

00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:25.900
 How does this

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:26.420
 look in our own

00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:26.740
 lives?

00:33:26.860 --> 00:33:27.000
 Well,

00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:27.519
 here's a couple

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.059
 of ideas.

00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:29.620
 Maybe it looks

00:33:29.620 --> 00:33:30.340
 like pretending

00:33:30.340 --> 00:33:31.019
 that we have a

00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:31.960
 genuine relationship

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:32.500
 with God

00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.200
 when in reality

00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:33.779
 our hearts

00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.340
 are called

00:33:34.340 --> 00:33:34.819
 to Him

00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:36.140
 and called

00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:36.660
 to the things

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.160
 of God.

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.600
 Friends,

00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:39.740
 maybe it looks

00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.539
 like cultivating

00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:41.519
 secret habits

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.720
 or addictions,

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.180
 patterns of

00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:45.039
 sinful behavior

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.980
 which are

00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:46.839
 well-guarded

00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:47.420
 secrets

00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:48.019
 and we make

00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:48.440
 sure that

00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:49.240
 nobody,

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:50.200
 nobody's going

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.819
 to find out

00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:51.440
 about this.

00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:52.859
 Friends,

00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:53.359
 maybe it's

00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:53.819
 living a

00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:55.079
 double life.

00:33:55.579 --> 00:33:56.019
 We are one

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.900
 person at work,

00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:58.119
 one person at home,

00:33:58.299 --> 00:33:58.879
 one person at

00:33:58.879 --> 00:33:59.480
 university,

00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:00.579
 one person with

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.539
 our friends out

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.299
 and then a

00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:03.139
 completely different

00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:04.079
 person at church

00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:04.680
 on Sunday

00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.879
 or a small group

00:34:05.879 --> 00:34:06.559
 on Wednesday.

00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:08.280
 Friends,

00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:08.800
 maybe it's

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.699
 pretending to

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.639
 forgive somebody

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.759
 and we put

00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:12.400
 on a smile

00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:12.980
 and we talk

00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.699
 sweetly to

00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:13.940
 them.

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.319
 We say,

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:15.119
 that's fine,

00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:15.480
 don't worry,

00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.119
 it's all over.

00:34:16.879 --> 00:34:18.099
 But we replay

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.960
 the action

00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.619
 and we harbor

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.420
 bitterness and

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.259
 anger and

00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.079
 hatred in our

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.559
 hearts.

00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:25.960
 You know,

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.759
 the 16th

00:34:26.759 --> 00:34:28.019
 century reformers

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:30.719
 had a phrase,

00:34:30.879 --> 00:34:31.379
 a Latin

00:34:31.379 --> 00:34:32.099
 phrase they used

00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:32.480
 to say.

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:32.879
 They used to

00:34:32.879 --> 00:34:33.059
 say,

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:33.659
 ecclesia

00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.759
 reformata

00:34:34.759 --> 00:34:36.019
 semper

00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:36.980
 reformanda.

00:34:37.379 --> 00:34:37.559
 Okay,

00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:37.900
 I hope you

00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:38.539
 appreciate my

00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:38.859
 Latin,

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:40.059
 which means

00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:40.780
 the church

00:34:40.780 --> 00:34:41.559
 reformed,

00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:42.599
 always

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.599
 reforming.

00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:44.660
 In other

00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:44.860
 words,

00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.559
 in the 16th

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:45.900
 century,

00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:46.599
 the church

00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:47.599
 discovered the

00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:48.820
 gospel and

00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.700
 it completely

00:34:49.700 --> 00:34:50.480
 reformed the

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:50.740
 church.

00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.440
 It renewed

00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.039
 the church.

00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:53.039
 They discovered

00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.840
 the wonder of

00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:54.500
 Jesus and the

00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.059
 good news of

00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:55.660
 grace and

00:34:55.660 --> 00:34:56.440
 God's mercy and

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:56.860
 the fact that

00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:58.039
 Jesus died on

00:34:58.039 --> 00:34:58.620
 the cross for

00:34:58.620 --> 00:34:59.140
 sinners like

00:34:59.140 --> 00:34:59.400
 them.

00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.380
 And this

00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:01.160
 reformation

00:35:01.160 --> 00:35:02.039
 caused the

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:03.079
 revival of the

00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:03.840
 whole of Europe

00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:04.620
 and changed the

00:35:04.620 --> 00:35:04.920
 world.

00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:06.280
 The church was

00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:07.120
 radically,

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:08.160
 radically different

00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:09.219
 because of

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:10.339
 rediscovering the

00:35:10.339 --> 00:35:11.399
 gospel of God's

00:35:11.399 --> 00:35:11.759
 grace.

00:35:12.299 --> 00:35:12.759
 The church

00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:13.480
 reformed.

00:35:13.839 --> 00:35:14.239
 They called

00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:14.799
 themselves the

00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:15.859
 reformed church.

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.539
 But they were

00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.139
 very,

00:35:18.359 --> 00:35:19.399
 very aware that

00:35:19.399 --> 00:35:20.519
 the danger would

00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.219
 be to say,

00:35:21.399 --> 00:35:21.920
 God,

00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:22.619
 we've arrived.

00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:23.619
 We've discovered

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.139
 the gospel.

00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:24.699
 What can

00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:25.539
 possibly go

00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:26.019
 wrong?

00:35:26.779 --> 00:35:27.519
 And then just

00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:29.079
 to coast into

00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:30.559
 deception and

00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.239
 duplicity.

00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.559
 And so they

00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:33.279
 had this phrase,

00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:33.679
 yes,

00:35:33.759 --> 00:35:34.339
 the church is

00:35:34.339 --> 00:35:35.119
 reformed,

00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:36.219
 but the church

00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:37.119
 is always

00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:37.880
 reforming,

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:39.219
 always repenting,

00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.819
 always examining

00:35:40.819 --> 00:35:41.739
 our hearts and

00:35:41.739 --> 00:35:42.920
 asking ourselves,

00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:44.359
 where is

00:35:44.359 --> 00:35:45.460
 duplicity lying

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:45.839
 within?

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:47.880
 Search me,

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:48.299
 O God,

00:35:48.359 --> 00:35:48.880
 and know my

00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.199
 heart,

00:35:49.299 --> 00:35:49.639
 says Psalm

00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:50.440
 139.

00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:51.259
 Try me and

00:35:51.259 --> 00:35:51.659
 know my

00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.839
 thoughts and

00:35:52.839 --> 00:35:53.500
 see if there's

00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:54.219
 any grievous

00:35:54.219 --> 00:35:54.980
 way in me and

00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.900
 lead me in the

00:35:55.900 --> 00:35:56.799
 way of everlasting

00:35:56.799 --> 00:35:57.359
 life.

00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:58.900
 Friends,

00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.599
 is it possible

00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.539
 that there is a

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:01.179
 measure of

00:36:01.179 --> 00:36:02.019
 Ananias and

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.679
 Sapphira in

00:36:02.679 --> 00:36:02.980
 us,

00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:04.400
 lurking in our

00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:04.839
 hearts?

00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:07.120
 For those of

00:36:07.120 --> 00:36:07.420
 us that have

00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:07.960
 been Christians

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.840
 for many years

00:36:08.840 --> 00:36:09.600
 or part of the

00:36:09.600 --> 00:36:10.400
 church community

00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:11.220
 for many years,

00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:12.280
 the danger is

00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:12.860
 even more

00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:14.519
 prevalent because

00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.519
 it's very easy

00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.640
 to say the

00:36:16.640 --> 00:36:17.340
 right things

00:36:17.340 --> 00:36:18.600
 and to act

00:36:18.600 --> 00:36:20.059
 the part and

00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.680
 to put on the

00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:22.180
 right lingo and

00:36:22.180 --> 00:36:23.000
 to put on the

00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:24.880
 Christian smile and

00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:25.559
 to act like

00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:26.120
 everything's

00:36:26.120 --> 00:36:27.640
 together all

00:36:27.640 --> 00:36:28.280
 the while there's

00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:28.980
 something dark

00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:29.519
 and sinister

00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:30.960
 going on inside.

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:33.960
 Blaise Pascal,

00:36:34.240 --> 00:36:34.820
 at the end of

00:36:34.820 --> 00:36:35.500
 that paragraph,

00:36:35.740 --> 00:36:36.220
 he writes

00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:37.039
 another paragraph

00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:38.099
 and this is

00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:38.780
 what he says.

00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:40.179
 He says,

00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:41.039
 there is one

00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:42.760
 man who we

00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:43.440
 are commanded

00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:45.179
 to undeceive,

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:46.039
 in other words,

00:36:46.139 --> 00:36:47.139
 to be transparent

00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:47.599
 before,

00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:49.119
 to come before

00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:50.260
 him honestly and

00:36:50.260 --> 00:36:51.199
 sincerely and to

00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:51.699
 be real.

00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:53.220
 And the amazing

00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:54.039
 thing is that he

00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:54.699
 knows everything

00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:55.619
 about us everywhere

00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:57.019
 and he loves us

00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.559
 more than we

00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:58.360
 can ever imagine.

00:36:59.659 --> 00:36:59.900
 You see,

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.160
 friends,

00:37:00.240 --> 00:37:01.160
 the secret to

00:37:01.160 --> 00:37:01.860
 being honest

00:37:01.860 --> 00:37:03.119
 with others

00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:03.980
 is to firstly

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.820
 be honest with

00:37:04.820 --> 00:37:05.180
 God.

00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:07.400
 There is one

00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.380
 man who we

00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:08.940
 are commanded

00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:09.960
 to undeceive,

00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:10.760
 to come before

00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:11.660
 him transparently

00:37:11.660 --> 00:37:12.280
 and honestly.

00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:13.639
 But friends,

00:37:13.700 --> 00:37:14.200
 the good news

00:37:14.200 --> 00:37:15.059
 is that this one

00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:15.960
 man knows you

00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:17.619
 perfectly anyway

00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:19.260
 and he loves

00:37:19.260 --> 00:37:19.980
 you perfectly

00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:20.539
 anyway.

00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:21.800
 And he went

00:37:21.800 --> 00:37:22.440
 to the cross

00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:22.980
 for you to

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.960
 cover your sin

00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.960
 and your shame.

00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:26.559
 And as you

00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.240
 come honestly

00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:28.000
 before him,

00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:28.860
 you can be honest

00:37:28.860 --> 00:37:29.519
 with yourself.

00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.119
 And as you

00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:30.480
 are honest

00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:31.099
 with yourself,

00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.179
 we can be

00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:32.739
 honest with

00:37:32.739 --> 00:37:33.380
 one another.

00:37:35.320 --> 00:37:36.099
 As we said

00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:36.380
 earlier,

00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.000
 the book of Acts

00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:37.440
 there are these

00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.380
 two stories

00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:40.340
 showing us

00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:41.440
 God is at work

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.019
 in his church.

00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:43.259
 Jesus so

00:37:43.259 --> 00:37:44.119
 loves his church,

00:37:44.219 --> 00:37:45.059
 it's so precious

00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:46.079
 to him that he's

00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:46.699
 committed to

00:37:46.699 --> 00:37:47.480
 working on it.

00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:48.739
 How so?

00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.259
 By cultivating

00:37:50.259 --> 00:37:51.539
 generous love

00:37:51.539 --> 00:37:53.039
 and sacrificial

00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:54.619
 grace and by

00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:55.300
 confronting

00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:57.739
 duplicity and

00:37:57.739 --> 00:37:58.280
 counterfeit

00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:58.739
 faith.

00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:00.940
 how should we

00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:01.460
 respond?

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:03.119
 Let me give us

00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:03.719
 one or two

00:38:03.719 --> 00:38:04.139
 thoughts.

00:38:04.280 --> 00:38:04.559
 Firstly,

00:38:04.679 --> 00:38:04.960
 friends,

00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:05.820
 be encouraged.

00:38:06.659 --> 00:38:07.500
 Jesus loves

00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:08.059
 his church

00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:09.259
 and he's

00:38:09.259 --> 00:38:09.840
 committed to

00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:10.679
 purifying and

00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:11.380
 strengthening and

00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:12.059
 edifying her.

00:38:12.780 --> 00:38:13.699
 And as imperfect

00:38:13.699 --> 00:38:14.500
 and as messy

00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.719
 as she can be,

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.980
 Jesus has given

00:38:16.980 --> 00:38:17.759
 us his spirit.

00:38:18.280 --> 00:38:19.000
 He's at work

00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.340
 in her.

00:38:19.940 --> 00:38:21.019
 Jesus loves the

00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:21.619
 church and he's

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:22.259
 committed to

00:38:22.259 --> 00:38:22.900
 working in her

00:38:22.900 --> 00:38:24.360
 and purifying her

00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.440
 and making him

00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:26.500
 the spotless bride

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.059
 that she one

00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:27.599
 day will be.

00:38:28.640 --> 00:38:29.039
 Friends,

00:38:29.180 --> 00:38:30.260
 Jesus loves you

00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:31.539
 and you are

00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.480
 precious to him.

00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:33.740
 And because you

00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:34.480
 are precious to

00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:34.940
 him, he is

00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:35.599
 committed to

00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:36.420
 working on you

00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:37.280
 and purifying

00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:38.300
 you and

00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:39.160
 cultivating a

00:38:39.160 --> 00:38:39.640
 heart of

00:38:39.640 --> 00:38:41.059
 generosity and

00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:41.780
 honesty and

00:38:41.780 --> 00:38:43.240
 transparency in

00:38:43.240 --> 00:38:43.900
 your life as

00:38:43.900 --> 00:38:44.120
 well.

00:38:44.680 --> 00:38:45.180
 So be

00:38:45.180 --> 00:38:45.800
 encouraged.

00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:47.360
 Jesus loves you

00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:48.039
 and is for you

00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:48.840
 and is working on

00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.039
 you.

00:38:49.779 --> 00:38:50.400
 But secondly,

00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.199
 be careful.

00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:52.679
 There may be

00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:53.779
 more Ananias and

00:38:53.779 --> 00:38:54.659
 Sapphira in us

00:38:54.659 --> 00:38:55.320
 than we like to

00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:55.659
 admit.

00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:57.099
 And so let's

00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:57.920
 humbly examine

00:38:57.920 --> 00:38:58.380
 ourselves.

00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:00.420
 Let's transparently

00:39:00.420 --> 00:39:01.619
 allow God to be at

00:39:01.619 --> 00:39:02.239
 work in us.

00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:04.079
 Let's ask God to

00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:05.380
 cut and prune away

00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:06.840
 the parts of our

00:39:06.840 --> 00:39:07.559
 lives that are not

00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:09.119
 of him and ask

00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:09.980
 him to help us to

00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:11.400
 lead us to walk in

00:39:11.400 --> 00:39:12.059
 his ways.

00:39:13.079 --> 00:39:13.800
 And then finally,

00:39:13.940 --> 00:39:14.719
 friends, let's be

00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:15.259
 honest.

00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:16.679
 Honest with

00:39:16.679 --> 00:39:17.300
 ourselves.

00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:18.759
 Honest with

00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:20.040
 God and

00:39:20.040 --> 00:39:20.600
 honest with

00:39:20.600 --> 00:39:21.160
 one another.

00:39:22.180 --> 00:39:23.100
 Dane Ortlund in

00:39:23.100 --> 00:39:23.680
 his book,

00:39:23.800 --> 00:39:25.060
 Deep, I read a

00:39:25.060 --> 00:39:25.780
 passage earlier,

00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:26.540
 he ends that

00:39:26.540 --> 00:39:27.820
 chapter called

00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:28.620
 Honesty Like

00:39:28.620 --> 00:39:28.960
 This.

00:39:29.660 --> 00:39:30.160
 He says,

00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:31.000
 friends, believe

00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:31.560
 the gospel.

00:39:32.600 --> 00:39:33.640
 Find a

00:39:33.640 --> 00:39:34.800
 trustworthy friend

00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:35.600
 and bring that

00:39:35.600 --> 00:39:36.620
 brother or sister

00:39:36.620 --> 00:39:37.460
 into your

00:39:37.460 --> 00:39:39.180
 fallenness in a

00:39:39.180 --> 00:39:40.840
 transparent but

00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:41.900
 also a healing

00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:42.760
 and redemptive

00:39:42.760 --> 00:39:43.040
 way.

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.680
 Humble yourself

00:39:44.680 --> 00:39:45.560
 down to the

00:39:45.560 --> 00:39:46.000
 death of

00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:47.480
 honesty and see

00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:48.120
 what life

00:39:48.119 --> 00:39:49.219
 blossoms up on

00:39:49.219 --> 00:39:49.539
 the other

00:39:49.539 --> 00:39:50.000
 side.

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:51.420
 Find yourself

00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.699
 bathed afresh in

00:39:52.699 --> 00:39:53.519
 the gospel of

00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:54.759
 God's grace and

00:39:54.759 --> 00:39:55.539
 the wonder of

00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:56.139
 his love.

00:39:56.779 --> 00:39:57.319
 And as you

00:39:57.319 --> 00:39:58.079
 dare to go

00:39:58.079 --> 00:39:58.980
 deeper into

00:39:58.980 --> 00:40:00.279
 honesty and

00:40:00.279 --> 00:40:01.219
 deeper into the

00:40:01.219 --> 00:40:02.339
 experience of the

00:40:02.339 --> 00:40:02.799
 cleansing,

00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:03.819
 washing blood of

00:40:03.819 --> 00:40:05.400
 Jesus, watch your

00:40:05.400 --> 00:40:07.179
 heart relax and your

00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:09.000
 spirit grow into the

00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:10.400
 growth and mercy you

00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:11.880
 long for but didn't

00:40:11.880 --> 00:40:12.859
 know how to find.

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:14.460
 Friends,

00:40:14.739 --> 00:40:15.400
 Dane Ortlund is

00:40:15.400 --> 00:40:16.599
 really right.

00:40:17.320 --> 00:40:18.220
 There is a way to

00:40:18.220 --> 00:40:19.740
 be healed and

00:40:19.740 --> 00:40:20.460
 it starts with

00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:22.280
 diving deep into

00:40:22.280 --> 00:40:23.900
 the mercy, the

00:40:23.900 --> 00:40:24.920
 honest mercy of

00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:26.579
 Jesus and coming

00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:27.559
 up alive on the

00:40:27.559 --> 00:40:29.220
 other side, more

00:40:29.220 --> 00:40:30.860
 free and more

00:40:30.860 --> 00:40:31.900
 relaxed than we

00:40:31.900 --> 00:40:32.300
 ever thought

00:40:32.300 --> 00:40:32.780
 possible.

00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.119
 Why don't I pray

00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:34.780
 for us and then

00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:36.059
 let's close there

00:40:36.059 --> 00:40:36.460
 together.

00:40:37.340 --> 00:40:37.900
 Let's pray

00:40:37.900 --> 00:40:38.240
 together.

00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:44.899
 Father God, as

00:40:44.899 --> 00:40:45.839
 Celeste remind us

00:40:45.839 --> 00:40:46.539
 this Father's Day

00:40:46.539 --> 00:40:47.199
 we come before

00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:48.719
 you, the perfect

00:40:48.719 --> 00:40:50.419
 Father, the

00:40:50.419 --> 00:40:51.359
 perfect, perfect

00:40:51.359 --> 00:40:52.000
 Father, the

00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:52.739
 Father who doesn't

00:40:52.739 --> 00:40:54.159
 point your finger

00:40:54.159 --> 00:40:54.919
 and show us all

00:40:54.919 --> 00:40:55.599
 our faults and

00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:56.319
 leave us to our

00:40:56.319 --> 00:40:58.079
 own devices, the

00:40:58.079 --> 00:40:59.219
 Father who so

00:40:59.219 --> 00:41:00.299
 loved us that you

00:41:00.299 --> 00:41:01.259
 sent your only

00:41:01.259 --> 00:41:03.119
 Son, that we

00:41:03.119 --> 00:41:04.299
 should not perish

00:41:04.299 --> 00:41:05.059
 but have eternal

00:41:05.059 --> 00:41:05.439
 life.

00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:07.599
 Jesus, thank you

00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:08.320
 that you love your

00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:09.039
 church so much

00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:09.659
 that you committed

00:41:09.659 --> 00:41:10.460
 to working on

00:41:10.460 --> 00:41:10.639
 her.

00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:12.039
 The church and

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:13.159
 we are so precious

00:41:13.159 --> 00:41:13.780
 to you that you

00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:14.860
 will not leave us

00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:16.679
 in our own devices

00:41:16.679 --> 00:41:17.780
 but you call us

00:41:17.780 --> 00:41:18.159
 to yourself.

00:41:18.440 --> 00:41:19.019
 God, by your

00:41:19.019 --> 00:41:19.599
 Spirit come and

00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:20.280
 work on us.

00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:21.720
 Drive out the

00:41:21.720 --> 00:41:23.099
 duplicity and call

00:41:23.099 --> 00:41:24.079
 us to honesty and

00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:25.000
 sincerity I pray.

00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:26.519
 In your wonderful

00:41:26.519 --> 00:41:27.539
 gracious name,

00:41:28.340 --> 00:41:28.619
 Amen.