WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.780 Hi, my name is George Sinclair. I'm the lead pastor of Church of the Messiah. It is wonderful 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:20.760 that you would like to check out some of the sermons done by Church of the Messiah, either 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:24.920 by myself or some of the others. Listen, just a couple of things. First of all, would you pray 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:31.520 for us that we will open God's Word well to His glory and for the good of people like yourself? 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:37.939 The second thing is, if you aren't connected to a church and if you are a Christian, we really, 00:00:38.179 --> 00:00:42.579 I would really like to encourage you to find a good local church where they believe the Bible, 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:48.760 they preach the gospel, and if you have some trouble finding that, send us an email. We will 00:00:48.760 --> 00:00:54.560 do what we can to help connect you with a good local church wherever you are. And if you're a 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.340 non-Christian checking us out, we're really, really, really glad you're doing that. Don't 00:00:59.340 --> 00:01:04.680 hesitate to send us questions. It helps me actually to know, as I'm preaching, how to deal with the 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:07.780 types of things that you're really struggling with. So God bless. 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:19.740 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would continue to fall with gentle power. Father, 00:01:19.739 --> 00:01:29.219 you know that your Word touches us in some ways, touches some of our deepest fears. And so, 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:35.339 Father, you know that we as human beings often turn our eyes away from this or skip over it quickly. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:41.379 But we ask, Father, that you sort of pin us with your Word and that your Word might enter deep within 00:01:41.379 --> 00:01:47.780 and that you might help us, Father, to walk towards some of these fears and hear the beauty and the glory 00:01:47.780 --> 00:01:53.739 and the wisdom of your Word. And we ask these things in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:01:54.540 --> 00:01:55.400 Please be seated. 00:01:59.400 --> 00:01:59.760 So, 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:07.140 if my wife was to be giving me a small present like this, 00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:10.860 she wouldn't just wrap it like this. 00:02:10.860 --> 00:02:17.880 One of the things which is really wonderful about her is she likes to make sure that there's lots of excitement in opening the presents. 00:02:17.880 --> 00:02:21.420 She likes to, in a sense, increase the wow. 00:02:21.419 --> 00:02:29.119 And so, she would take something like this and maybe put it in some smaller box wrapped with paper so that if you shook it, 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:30.139 you couldn't hear what it was. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:36.539 And who knows, depending on her mood, she might even put that smaller box in a bigger box and surround that with all sorts of paper 00:02:36.539 --> 00:02:40.959 and cover it up so that when you shake it, you can't hear what's inside of it. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:50.760 So, you have to do a bit of a journey of opening things up until you get to the present, which is the whole point, or the main point of it. 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:54.400 The Bible text that we're looking at today is in some ways like that. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:03:00.960 It's, on one level, very different in that there's not just, you know, wrapping paper or old newspapers that you throw away. 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:07.840 The stuff around the great present or the great treasure is all important, and we'll look at it quite briefly. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:15.900 But in the midst of this story, there's a profound treasure, a great present that's given to us. 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:20.280 A verse, two verses that it'd be very worth your while to memorize. 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:31.319 And these two verses, if you're paying attention to my prayer, on one hand, they touch on something which makes Canadians very nervous and anxious, 00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:33.400 and they want to avert their eyes from it. 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:45.480 But at the other hand, that thing which makes us most anxious and fearful actually is the solution to another fear that we have at a very deep level. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:49.480 Or at least maybe not you now, but at some point in time, you might have that fear. 00:03:49.980 --> 00:03:54.259 So, let's look. Actually, what we're going to do, if, Claire, could you just jump ahead to verse 9 and 10? 00:03:54.340 --> 00:03:55.740 I'm not going to leave you in suspense. 00:03:55.740 --> 00:04:01.659 Hence, we're going to go with the big thing of the verse, and I'll explain to you why it's a problem or an issue for some people. 00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:03.820 Actually, for most people. 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:09.360 And then we'll go back and we'll look at the story, just so you see the context. 00:04:09.580 --> 00:04:13.480 And then we'll come back and look again at these two verses. 00:04:14.320 --> 00:04:16.340 So, and here's the two verses. 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:17.300 Paul's in Corinth. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:19.000 I'll give you more of an introduction in a moment. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:20.420 But here's what happens. 00:04:20.500 --> 00:04:21.019 Verse 9. 00:04:21.699 --> 00:04:23.959 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:29.439 Now, if you're like me, my version of the Bible has red print every time Jesus speaks. 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:31.720 So, this next little bit's in red print. 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:35.519 Here's what Jesus says to Paul. 00:04:36.100 --> 00:04:40.060 Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent. 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:41.759 For I am with you. 00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:44.540 No one will attack you to harm you. 00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:47.579 Here's the problem part. 00:04:47.579 --> 00:04:50.579 For I have many in this city who are my people. 00:04:51.579 --> 00:04:53.800 Now, why is that last bit a problem bit? 00:04:54.699 --> 00:04:56.620 Well, the last bit there is a problem bit. 00:04:56.719 --> 00:05:02.620 It's one of the texts which divides people who are more on the reform side of the playing field from those who are more Armenian. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:09.299 And that's because in the original language, it's not just that God is saying something like, 00:05:09.500 --> 00:05:14.060 I don't know what the wisdom is nowadays, but like, you know, 20 years ago, they'd say, 00:05:14.060 --> 00:05:17.759 let's say we wanted to make ourselves known and we decided to do a direct mail campaign. 00:05:18.660 --> 00:05:25.019 And smart people could say if you sent that out to 20,000 people, there's a certain percentage of people who will respond and come. 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:27.800 And God's not just saying something like that. 00:05:27.840 --> 00:05:30.759 He's not just saying, by the way, I've seen the future and these people are going to come. 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:37.779 And the implication of the text in the original language is that they will come, that God is doing something. 00:05:38.039 --> 00:05:41.680 He will do something by which it means that they will come to know him. 00:05:42.060 --> 00:05:44.300 That's why he can already call them his people. 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:50.100 And that, of course, touches on our fears around, well, whether we have free will. 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:56.520 And there's a whole range of fears and questions that people have around this, but that's what the text is saying. 00:05:57.020 --> 00:06:01.500 So let's look at the whole text in context, and then I'm going to circle back after we've seen it, 00:06:01.540 --> 00:06:07.120 and we'll spend some time in this because, as I said, this is actually a profound treasure. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:13.100 It touches on one fear, but as you hear how the Bible answers that fear, 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:17.459 it shows you something about the beauty of God and the beauty of the gospel. 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:22.699 And it also is a great comfort for those who struggle with a different fear. 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:25.759 So anyway, let's go to the beginning, see how it goes. 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:29.280 First one, chapter 18 of Acts. We're back in our sermon series next. 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:34.220 This is an eyewitness-based history of the early days of the Jesus movement. 00:06:34.220 --> 00:06:41.740 These things are taking place around the year A.D. 49 to A.D. 51, roughly. 00:06:42.960 --> 00:06:46.620 And Paul, it's what's known as Paul's second missionary journey, 00:06:46.940 --> 00:06:55.100 and this is part of the story of how Christianity first leaps across this huge divide and enters Europe. 00:06:55.760 --> 00:07:00.540 Europe is pagan, pagan, pagan, pagan, pagan, and this describes, 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:05.040 these last few chapters have described how the gospel enters Europe. 00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:10.240 And Paul has just been in Athens. He's left Athens. He's by himself. 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:15.000 And he goes to the main city, probably the main city in all of what we now know of as Greece. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.040 And here's how the story continues. 00:07:17.200 --> 00:07:18.680 Verse 1. 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:22.160 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth, 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:27.819 and Paul found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:31.060 recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:34.860 because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. 00:07:35.019 --> 00:07:37.379 Claudius was the Roman emperor at the time. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:40.980 And by the way, this is one of those texts, there's other things in it. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:45.340 And this event of Claudius kicking all the Jewish people, 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:47.400 or most of the Jewish people out of Rome, 00:07:47.840 --> 00:07:52.220 we actually know that's true from a pagan historian by the name of Suetonius, 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:54.439 who's a very important pagan historian, 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:57.220 who talks about Claudius doing this in the year 49. 00:07:57.819 --> 00:08:00.240 It's one of the ways that we can date some of the book. 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:01.780 So this happens after this. 00:08:01.840 --> 00:08:05.259 It's why maybe later on in 49, maybe early 50, 00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:08.759 that what Paul is talking about has actually happened. 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:10.719 Anyway, we continue, verse 3. 00:08:11.599 --> 00:08:12.360 Sorry, verse 2. 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:15.740 Because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome, 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:17.399 and Paul went to see them. 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:19.759 And because he was of the same trade, 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:22.439 he stayed with them and worked, 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:24.939 for they were tent makers by trade. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:27.899 And tent makers not only made tents, 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:30.099 but we'd also now call them leather workers. 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:33.019 So he was both a leather worker and a person who could make, 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:36.860 you know, from animal hides, awnings and stuff, 00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:39.800 to protect from the rain, but more particularly from the sun. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:41.480 And verse 4. 00:08:42.019 --> 00:08:44.720 And Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:48.779 and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:51.500 So that's how the text begins. 00:08:52.060 --> 00:08:54.440 By the way, some of you know your Bible 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:55.860 and know that Priscilla and Aquila, 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:56.919 or Aquila and Priscilla, 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:58.659 that you've heard those names before. 00:08:58.659 --> 00:09:01.360 This is where we meet them. 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:04.620 They're probably not Christians when Paul meets them. 00:09:04.719 --> 00:09:07.240 He meets them and works with them because they're both Jewish. 00:09:08.219 --> 00:09:09.579 But sometime during this, 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:10.919 we're not told about their conversion, 00:09:11.079 --> 00:09:12.579 but they obviously become Christians. 00:09:12.839 --> 00:09:15.059 And I think they show up like almost a dozen times 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:16.240 in the rest of the New Testament 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:19.480 because they become, in a minor way, 00:09:19.539 --> 00:09:20.639 quite important people 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:23.980 in the early days of the church in Greece 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:26.120 and in what we now call Turkey. 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:28.259 They become, in fact, his traveling companions 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:30.200 and very, very great friends. 00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:33.320 It's also really interesting, if you notice here, 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:34.840 I haven't talked about it very much, 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:36.159 but look at verse 4 again. 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:36.600 He said, 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:39.539 Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath. 00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:42.440 And I, you know, it's one of those things, 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:44.480 you could almost make it a whole sermon topic 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:46.360 if you're going and looking through the book of Acts. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:47.560 How does the gospel 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:51.460 leap over these huge racial and language 00:09:51.460 --> 00:09:54.060 and cultural and geographic divides? 00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:57.460 And what you'll see is that it's never by force. 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:59.120 It's never by compulsion. 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:03.120 It's always by reason and persuasion. 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:08.100 Open-handed, public declaration of the truth 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:10.580 and giving reasons in the hope that it will persuade. 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:12.680 That's how the gospel moves forward. 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:18.540 So the next part, the next verse is very interesting. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:20.839 It's one of the things that the book of Acts 00:10:20.839 --> 00:10:22.000 has really helped me with. 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:25.719 It explains how you should talk to a Jewish person 00:10:25.719 --> 00:10:28.399 or the types of things you should talk to a Jewish person about 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:30.259 if they find out that you're a Christian 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:33.339 and they want to talk a little bit about your religion, 00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:35.379 our faith, so to speak, in there. 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:36.799 So let's see in verse 5. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:48.879 Now just read this again. 00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:50.979 Paul was occupied with the word, 00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:55.399 testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:57.859 So what's happened is Paul didn't have any money. 00:10:57.959 --> 00:10:59.199 He was working as a tent maker. 00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:03.599 Silas and Timothy have arrived with some financial gifts 00:11:03.599 --> 00:11:04.599 from the other churches, 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:06.720 so Paul now doesn't have to work as a tent maker. 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:10.620 He can give himself 24-7 to telling people about Jesus. 00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:12.680 And the heart of it, 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:14.960 I was just talking to a Jewish man the other day, 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:18.100 and one of the things I like to talk to them about 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:21.560 is that we Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah, 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:25.040 the Messiah that your Tanakh, your Torah, promises, 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:27.759 and that not only is Jesus the Messiah, 00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:31.660 but he fulfills the promise that God made to Abraham 00:11:31.659 --> 00:11:33.779 in Genesis chapter 12, 1 to 3, 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:37.779 that God, through Abraham's seed, singular, 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:40.360 there will be a blessing to the whole earth. 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:44.179 And I say, you know, we're one of those non-Jewish people 00:11:44.179 --> 00:11:46.079 who've been blessed by the Jewish Messiah. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:49.860 Those are the types of things I try to talk to them about, 00:11:50.199 --> 00:11:51.360 see if they're at least receptive. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:53.460 Many times they're a bit surprised to discover 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:55.860 that most of the New Testament was written by Jewish people. 00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:59.500 And they're even surprised often that I know that Jesus was Jewish, 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:00.940 actually. 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:06.279 There's been a lot of miscommunication throughout the years 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:08.279 with many people who are Jewish. 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:11.820 But notice here that it says he was occupied with the Word. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:14.379 Just if you could put up the very first point, Claire, 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:15.399 that would be very helpful. 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:17.320 I don't want to spend a long time with it, 00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:19.720 but just every time in the book of Acts, you see, 00:12:20.400 --> 00:12:24.060 it's a very common thing for it to say that Paul or Peter 00:12:24.060 --> 00:12:27.940 opens the Word or shares the Word or talks about the Word. 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.980 So what does that, the Word, mean? 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:34.020 Very simply, the Word is the good news 00:12:34.020 --> 00:12:36.140 that Jesus Christ crucified. 00:12:37.280 --> 00:12:40.320 Sorry, the Word is the good news 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:44.960 of Jesus Christ crucified in light of the Bible. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:50.019 And it's also the Bible in light of Jesus Christ crucified. 00:12:50.160 --> 00:12:50.980 That's what it means. 00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:52.879 That's, in a sense, what I'm to do every Sunday. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.800 I'm to open the Word with you. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:58.780 This is hopefully what the Sunday school does, 00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:01.300 what the women's group and the men's group and the small group. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:04.180 You open the Word, and you look at the Word, 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:07.080 reading the Word, looking at it through the lens, 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:11.820 in light of the fact that Jesus Christ crucified is good news for us. 00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:17.140 It's the means by which God has reconciled people to himself 00:13:17.140 --> 00:13:18.320 and forgiven our sins. 00:13:18.780 --> 00:13:23.160 And we're also to not only just look at the Bible in light of Jesus Christ, 00:13:23.280 --> 00:13:28.620 but we're to look at Jesus Christ crucified in light of the Bible. 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:29.860 That's what the Word means. 00:13:30.020 --> 00:13:32.160 So anytime you see that in the book of Acts, 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:34.840 that's what you should understand is what is happening. 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:39.500 Now, the story takes a bad turn. 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:42.060 And those of you who've been following along with the book of Acts 00:13:42.060 --> 00:13:44.700 know that two types of things happen wherever Paul goes. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.240 And one thing is that people become Christians. 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:50.340 The other thing is that people want to shut them up. 00:13:51.160 --> 00:13:53.379 And that's exactly what happens here in Corinth. 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:55.740 Look how it goes on in verse 6. 00:13:55.740 --> 00:14:00.100 And when they, that's the Jewish leaders, 00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:02.759 opposed and reviled him, 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:05.100 and the language there is quite strong, 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:08.480 they didn't just say, you know, we want you to stop. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:11.320 The reviling means that they slandered him. 00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:13.480 They slandered him. 00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:15.820 They would have said untruths about him 00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:17.620 that they knew were untruths 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:21.220 to make him look as bad as it possibly could be. 00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:25.659 They lied about him in ways that made him look exceptionally bad. 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:28.720 And so as a result of that, it continues, 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:30.919 he shook out his garments and said to them, 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:33.259 your blood be on your own heads. 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.180 I am innocent. 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:37.899 From now on, I will go to the Gentiles, to the pagans. 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:40.759 Doesn't mean he'll never talk to a Jewish person again, 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:44.039 but it means now that the focus on his ministry 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.539 is going to be to pagans. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:49.100 Before it was Jewish people primarily, pagans second. 00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:52.539 Now it's going to be primarily pagans and Jewish people second. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:55.179 And so, verse 7, 00:14:55.319 --> 00:14:59.480 he left there and went to the house of a man named Tidius Justice, 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.740 a worshiper of God. 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:04.459 His house was next door to the synagogue. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:07.879 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:10.579 believed in the Lord together with his entire household. 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:13.199 And many of the Corinthians, hearing Paul, 00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:14.500 believed and were baptized. 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:17.360 For some of you, when you hear this text, 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.639 immediately you'll think of what happened to us 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:23.539 at the end of June in 2011. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:25.519 If you're curious about the details, 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:27.399 you can talk to somebody like Andrew or whatever. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:31.419 We came to the point we had to leave our building. 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:34.959 And when we left our building, 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:37.860 we basically went next door to our whole building 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:41.319 to continue with our worship services. 00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:43.740 It's a very similar type of thing as what happened there. 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:46.639 Now we get back to our key verse, 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:48.179 which we're going to return to at the end. 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:50.819 And the Lord said to Paul one night, verse 9, 00:15:51.199 --> 00:15:51.759 in a vision, 00:15:51.759 --> 00:16:09.779 I mean, right now they're worshipping Aphrodite. 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:11.919 Right now they're worshipping Zeus. 00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:13.779 But they don't know it, 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:15.159 but they will become Christians. 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:19.240 Even though right now they don't seem to show any interest, 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.320 they don't seem to show any, 00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.940 they're not even on their radar. 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.659 They will become Christians. 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:29.460 And so one of the things which is interesting, 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:31.180 as I said, this is a text which 00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:37.100 almost talks as if human beings don't have any free will. 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:40.080 Yet if you look at the text, 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:42.940 this text is embedded in things 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:44.840 that show that we do have free will 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:47.060 and we're responsible for the decisions we make. 00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:50.099 People of their own free will 00:16:50.099 --> 00:16:52.119 seem to decide to become Christians. 00:16:52.839 --> 00:16:55.719 Paul, when he shakes off his robes 00:16:55.719 --> 00:16:58.279 as sort of a sign of judgment upon them, 00:16:58.299 --> 00:17:02.919 is implying that they could choose differently 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:05.359 and they've chosen to slander him 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:10.720 and oppose him and reject Christ. 00:17:10.899 --> 00:17:12.559 And that they've done that of their own free will. 00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.559 That's the implication. 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:16.599 And, I mean, you could ask yourself, 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:19.000 is this just because the text is inconsistent 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.960 or is there something else going on? 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:22.259 Well, we'll get back to that. 00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:25.319 You'll notice that this idea of freedom and everything 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.919 continues on in the rest of the text. 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:27.779 Look at verse 11. 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:31.940 And Paul stayed a year and six months 00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:33.700 teaching the word of God, 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:35.519 there's that phrase again, among them. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:39.500 But when Galio was pro-council of Achaia, 00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:42.759 the Jews made a united attack on Paul 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:44.400 and brought him before the tribunal. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.940 Now, just actually pause here. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.900 This is just one of those little nerdish things. 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:51.339 You know, one of the things, 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.099 if you look at the text 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:54.779 or look at a commentary 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.920 that helps you look at the text 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.299 in the original language, 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:00.680 and they don't cover it literally in English 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.579 because it wouldn't be helpful for us in English, 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:05.199 but every time, every little city, every community, 00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:06.579 they have different statuses 00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:08.659 and therefore there's different political officers. 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:12.240 And every time that Luke gets that right, 00:18:12.679 --> 00:18:14.119 and he gets it right at a time 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:15.439 when he can only get it right 00:18:15.439 --> 00:18:17.539 if he's based on eyewitness testimony 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:19.319 because back then they didn't have Google. 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.939 Like now you could Google and say, 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:25.740 what was the political structure of Athens? 00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.639 And you could look it up. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.659 What were the officials called? 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.919 You could look it up on Google. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:32.680 Google, but, or if not that, 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:34.340 maybe the Encyclopedia Britannica, 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.240 for those of you who remember 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.259 what encyclopedias were. 00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:37.820 But back then when Luke was writing this, 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.940 there wasn't Google, 00:18:39.320 --> 00:18:41.080 there wasn't the Encyclopedia Britannica. 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:43.100 They'll only know that if the truth matters 00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:45.800 and he was actually there and got it right 00:18:45.800 --> 00:18:47.620 because he cares about the truth mattering. 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:50.000 And there's this other really interesting 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:52.000 historical thing about this phrase. 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:53.220 I'll read it again, verse 12. 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.960 But when Galio was pro-council of Achaia. 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:58.940 Now Luke would have no way of knowing 00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:03.100 that because Galio is relatively well known 00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:04.180 in the ancient world, 00:19:04.340 --> 00:19:06.259 that there's actual historical evidence 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.259 of when he's there, 00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:10.460 which is how you can date Paul's visit here. 00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.519 And here's the other neat, 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:13.079 two other neat little things. 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:17.360 Stoics, Stoicism's very popular right now, 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:19.539 especially among men. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:21.779 But in general, it's very, very popular. 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:26.420 Galio's brother was one of the famous 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:28.299 Stoic philosophers named Seneca. 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:32.240 And here's the other thing, 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.399 which is very interesting, 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.680 that both Galio and Paul, 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:38.660 for different reasons obviously, 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:41.440 would be both killed by Nero 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.359 within 12 months of each other 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:47.839 in about 11 years or 12 years after this. 00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:49.879 Just one of those small little coincidences, 00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:50.600 so to speak. 00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:52.180 Luke wouldn't know any of this 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.800 when he's writing it. 00:19:52.820 --> 00:19:54.340 He wouldn't know that Seneca 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:57.040 is still known as a Stoic philosopher. 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:59.880 But anyway, just one of those little asides 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:01.620 some of you might appreciate. 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:03.240 I'll read that verse again, verse 12. 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:05.680 But when Galio was pro-council of Achaia, 00:20:06.260 --> 00:20:09.280 the Jewish leaders made a united attack on Paul 00:20:09.280 --> 00:20:11.940 and brought Paul before the tribunal saying, 00:20:12.800 --> 00:20:14.240 this man is persuading people 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:16.420 to worship God contrary to the law. 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:21.700 Now, by the way, in Roman time, 00:20:22.060 --> 00:20:25.100 there was, in fact, laws about how you were allowed 00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:27.200 to worship and who you were allowed to worship. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:31.380 And the entire Roman Empire was pagan. 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:34.160 The one exception to that were Jewish people 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.820 who, of course, weren't pagans. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:37.340 They believed there was only one God. 00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:41.759 And there had been an exemption made for the Jewish people 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:46.640 by the Roman emperors, allowing them to worship 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:49.039 in their own, you know, from a pagan point of view, 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.920 illogical, stupid, foolish, unlearned way. 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:54.079 But they were allowed to do it. 00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:58.559 And so they're accusing Paul of, in a sense, 00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.619 inventing a new religion. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:03.279 And because this is being decided at a very high level 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:06.699 in an official Roman colony by a pro-council, 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:10.000 a person whose dad was famous, his brother's famous, 00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:14.959 how Galio rules on this could have a huge impact legally 00:21:14.959 --> 00:21:18.079 on how Christians were viewed over the next, 00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.719 over quite a few more years. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:22.959 It's a very different situation than, in a sense, 00:21:23.179 --> 00:21:24.799 the other things that Paul was doing. 00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:26.619 It would be like getting a bit of a misdemeanor 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:29.659 where you call bylaw on it and you get fined 00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:31.799 for, you know, making too much noise at night or something. 00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:34.819 This is a very, very different type of charge, 00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:37.399 which is probably why it's in the Bible. 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:39.439 To read verse 13 again, 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:41.559 this man is persuading people to worship God 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.859 contrary to the law. 00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:43.939 So it doesn't mean contrary. 00:21:44.419 --> 00:21:46.159 They don't mean it contrary to our law. 00:21:46.239 --> 00:21:47.939 They mean contrary to Roman law. 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.679 But verse 14, 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.500 but when Paul was about to open his mouth 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.639 to defend himself, 00:21:53.699 --> 00:21:55.379 Galio said to the Jewish leaders, 00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:58.900 if it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, 00:21:59.200 --> 00:21:59.700 O Jews, 00:21:59.800 --> 00:22:02.200 I would have reason to accept your complaint. 00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:04.860 But since it is a matter of questions 00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:07.280 about words and names and your own law, 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.720 see to it yourself, 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:11.480 I refuse to be a judge of those things. 00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:13.860 And he drove them from the tribunal 00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:15.800 and they all see Sosthenes, 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:17.180 the new ruler of the synagogue, 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.860 and beat him in front of the tribunal. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:21.400 But Galio paid no attention to any of these things. 00:22:22.300 --> 00:22:23.120 And then verse 18, 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:24.639 Paul stayed many days longer, 00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:25.919 took his leave, 00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:28.039 and begins his journey home. 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:29.759 And that's what the next few verses say. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.939 So basically what, 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.359 this is very important to look. 00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:33.359 It's probably why it's in there. 00:22:33.739 --> 00:22:36.839 There's been a very high level legal decision made 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:39.639 that from that Roman official's point of view, 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:43.239 Christianity is a version of Judaism. 00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:43.859 Therefore, 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.859 it's covered by the exemptions 00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:47.119 that Jewish people have 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.319 allowing them to worship. 00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:48.879 It's a very, 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.719 very big deal. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:52.019 There's a couple of lawyers in the congregation. 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.559 You can ask them about precedence 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.539 and how that would work. 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.660 And they'll tell you 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.860 this becomes a very big thing. 00:22:57.360 --> 00:22:57.539 Now, 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.839 there's the text. 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.960 It's a very interesting text. 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.160 It implies that 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.160 the Jewish people 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:04.960 are responsible for making this case. 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:06.759 Galio is freely responsible 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:08.220 for making his answer. 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:10.880 People accepting and receiving, 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:12.200 that's all on them. 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.480 Yet at the same time, 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.819 there seems to be this idea 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.980 that there's this 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:18.679 lack of free will 00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:19.700 and God's sovereignty 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.419 that some people 00:23:20.419 --> 00:23:21.379 are going to become Christians. 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.579 How does it all fit together? 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:23.299 Well, 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:25.059 let's look again at verse 9 and 10. 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.460 Do not be afraid, 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.599 but go on speaking. 00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:31.819 Do not be silent, 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.579 for I am with you, 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:36.099 and no one will attack you to harm you, 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:38.179 for I have many in this city 00:23:38.179 --> 00:23:39.319 who are my people. 00:23:40.179 --> 00:23:40.619 Now, 00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:42.639 I'm not going to explain the whole issue. 00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:43.319 I'm just going to give you 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:45.659 a couple of hints or clues 00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:47.939 about how to understand this text. 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.799 First one, 00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.639 if you put a point to, 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.399 that would be helpful. 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:53.359 The first thing is to take a breath 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:55.220 and just pause for a moment. 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:57.779 All systems of thought, 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.240 every system of thought, 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.240 doesn't matter if you're a Buddhist, 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:00.960 if you're a Hindu, 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:01.679 if you're a Muslim, 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.299 it doesn't matter 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.379 if you're Richard Dawkins, 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.159 it doesn't matter 00:24:04.159 --> 00:24:06.799 if you're the New Age person, 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.480 it doesn't matter 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:09.000 if you have some type of boutique, 00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:11.819 curated type of putting together 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.980 a spiritual teaching, 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.140 it doesn't matter who you are, 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.620 all systems of thought 00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:16.460 have to account 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.440 for the mystery 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:21.299 of unstoppable external force 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:23.220 and real internal freedom. 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.700 Everybody has to account for it. 00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:26.599 The thing which is unique 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:27.440 about Christianity 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.819 is it's right in your face. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.299 Texts like this 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.880 and other texts 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:32.559 which I've talked about 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:32.920 in other weeks, 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.799 it's right in your face. 00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:34.339 You see it. 00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:36.799 If you are interested, 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:39.359 go to the Dig and Delve website. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.779 I've shared this before. 00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:42.899 And go and look up 00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:44.799 Os Guinness having a conversation 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.779 right on this stage 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:47.220 with an atheist philosopher 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:51.079 chosen by the Atheist Club of Ottawa, 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.720 the Atheist Organization of Ottawa. 00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:54.240 And they had a conversation 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.299 about the meaning of life. 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.419 And one of the things 00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.720 which is very unique in that 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:59.059 is he acknowledges 00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:00.839 that from his point of view, 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.359 there is no meaning to life 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.259 and there is no freedom. 00:25:05.139 --> 00:25:06.299 He acknowledges it. 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.599 You can tell it really bothered 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.919 the atheists in the room. 00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.919 But he just said, 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.879 listen, if all you have 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:14.980 is matter and motion 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:16.279 and that's all you have, 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.619 you know, at the end of the day, 00:25:17.679 --> 00:25:18.480 there's nothing special 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.440 about human beings 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.059 and it's just, 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.759 we're just the product 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.379 of external, 00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:24.339 unstoppable external forces 00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.619 and we might think 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.220 we have freedom, 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:26.899 but at the end of the day, 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:28.079 the freedom's an illusion. 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:29.619 And it doesn't matter 00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:31.579 and so I could maybe change 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:34.619 and so only all systems of thought 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.480 have to talk about, 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.899 have to try to deal with this. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.659 And so it, you know, 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:40.559 if somebody challenges you about it, 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.039 one of the things 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:42.039 you can vaguely say is, 00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:42.460 okay, listen, 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.159 I'll try to give you 00:25:43.159 --> 00:25:44.279 my explanation of it, 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.559 but you need to give me 00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:46.859 an explanation about it too. 00:25:47.179 --> 00:25:47.919 It's not just me. 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.879 And at the end of the day, 00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:51.279 the Christian explanation 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.879 is by far the wisest, 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.939 not only the wisest, 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.139 but also the most beautiful. 00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:56.759 If you could put up 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.379 the next slide, 00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:58.720 that would be very helpful as well. 00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.700 And part of the reason 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:01.180 that only the Christian answer 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:03.020 is both wise and beautiful 00:26:03.020 --> 00:26:05.780 is that only the gospel reveals 00:26:05.780 --> 00:26:08.200 that love is the ultimate 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.860 and basic reality. 00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:12.960 Only the gospel reveals 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.940 that love is the ultimate 00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:17.180 and basic reality. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:19.220 But what do I mean by this? 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.320 You see, 00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:21.420 all systems of thought 00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.640 tend to either see 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.960 our current life 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:25.220 as either a tragedy, 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:28.380 something that happened 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:29.000 with the one 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.480 where the one 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.579 is no longer the one, 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:31.680 or, 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.400 and even then, 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.019 they tend to think 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.779 in terms of power, 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.500 but basically, 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.720 all systems of thought 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.799 primarily think 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.960 in terms of power, 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:40.660 some type of power. 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:42.000 And when you think 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.819 about the whole problem 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:45.039 of both power 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:46.000 and free will, 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:47.579 if you just think about it 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.440 in terms of power, 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.579 you're never going to be able 00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:50.720 to solve the problem 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:53.279 because you either have 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:55.159 to minimize the external power 00:26:55.159 --> 00:26:57.139 or to maximize your own 00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:57.639 or whatever, 00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:58.559 it's always going to be 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.179 a problem. 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.619 But you see, 00:27:00.699 --> 00:27:01.659 here's what Christians say. 00:27:01.699 --> 00:27:02.779 Christians obviously believe 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.939 that power matters, 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.579 but only Christianity 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.619 teaches the Trinity. 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:09.079 Only Christians can really 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:09.740 and truly say 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.639 that God is love. 00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:12.159 Only Christians. 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.819 Before there was any matter, 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.639 before there was time, 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.919 before there was energy, 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.720 before there was 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.860 that singularity, 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.120 which we now call that 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:22.840 which existed 00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:25.180 when the Big Bang happened, 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.420 before that happened, 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:28.039 the Father loved the Son 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:29.180 and the Son loved the Father 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.080 and the Father loved 00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:30.820 the Holy Spirit 00:27:30.820 --> 00:27:31.560 and the Holy Spirit 00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:32.300 loved the Father. 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.560 And you could go on 00:27:33.560 --> 00:27:34.820 with all of those relationships 00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:36.380 and that what existed, 00:27:36.560 --> 00:27:38.080 God existed before all things 00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:39.140 and one of the fundamental 00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:41.160 characteristics of the God 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.660 of the Bible 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.980 is that God is love. 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:45.539 And so before there's matter, 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.200 there's love. 00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:47.019 That's why it's both 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.920 most ultimate 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:50.180 and it's most basic. 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:52.340 Love is that which is 00:27:52.340 --> 00:27:52.940 most basic 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.700 and most ultimate. 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.380 Now there's a mystery 00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:56.060 about love 00:27:56.060 --> 00:27:57.680 if you think about it 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.160 for a second. 00:27:58.820 --> 00:27:59.700 And I know this is going 00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.840 to maybe touch on something 00:28:00.840 --> 00:28:02.259 that can be a bit upsetting 00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:03.080 to some people. 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:05.220 But when you fall in love 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:05.920 with someone, 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:08.740 there's two things 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.360 that happen. 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.580 And not just fall in love, 00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:11.320 another thing would be, 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.180 and this is where I know 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:12.880 I'm touching on 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:14.039 some soft spots, 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.800 tender spots, 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.879 because there's many people 00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:17.579 who would love to be able 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.639 to have a baby 00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.700 and either through 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.980 not being able to marry 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.919 can't have a baby 00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:23.539 or through infertility 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.460 can't have a baby. 00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.619 So I know we're touching 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.419 on something here. 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.279 But if you're to ask 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.000 a mom, 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.319 you know, 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:31.019 the day after, 00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:32.639 she's holding this brand new 00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:33.279 little baby 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.259 in her arms 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:36.019 and she's just filled 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:37.200 with love for that baby 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:39.500 or somebody 00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:40.519 who's just fallen in love 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.180 and they're just filled 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.480 in love with that other person. 00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.379 There's two things 00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:44.119 about love. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.799 On one hand, 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:48.059 you feel most free 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:49.460 and most yourself 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.640 when you're in love. 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.519 On the other hand, 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.940 you feel most bound 00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:56.400 when you're in love. 00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:00.779 You are completely 00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.819 and utterly bounded 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.579 with that baby. 00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:04.699 You are bound in a way 00:29:04.699 --> 00:29:05.559 that seems like 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:08.179 the most unbreakable iron law. 00:29:09.439 --> 00:29:10.359 The same time, 00:29:10.419 --> 00:29:11.439 you feel most free. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:14.259 Isn't that neat about love? 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:18.220 So God, 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.799 who makes all things 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:21.439 including power and force 00:29:21.439 --> 00:29:22.599 out of love, 00:29:23.419 --> 00:29:25.000 has so made and woven 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.819 human beings 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.720 and human realities 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:28.159 that power is real 00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:30.059 because he needs 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.859 to have power real 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.759 because he wants, 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:33.079 he's out of the fullness 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.819 of his love, 00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.619 not because he has 00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:35.299 any deficit 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:36.119 in who he loves, 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:36.920 but out of the fullness 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.579 of his love, 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.980 he creates beings 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:40.160 who can love each other 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.099 and can love him. 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.480 And if you're going 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.279 to love each other 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.559 and you're going 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.079 to love him, 00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.599 you have to have 00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:45.960 the dignity of causality 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.839 and you can't have 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.319 the dignity 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:47.799 of being able 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.640 to cause things 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.460 if there's not a world 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.279 of cause and effect. 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.579 And God has so woven 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.420 things together 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:54.360 that there is both 00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:56.259 in fact true cause 00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:56.720 and effect 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.580 and there is in fact 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.360 at the same time 00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:59.380 true human freedom. 00:30:00.840 --> 00:30:02.259 And it's a mystery 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.759 about how it is 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.980 that God has woven that 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.920 that at the same time 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.560 that we can say 00:30:06.560 --> 00:30:07.039 that George, 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.360 God can say to George, 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.060 George, 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.720 you freely sinned. 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:12.460 You freely did that. 00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:14.220 You can't pass that off 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:14.560 on me. 00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:15.680 You can't pass that off 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.320 on your parents. 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.400 You can't pass that off 00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:17.880 on genetics. 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.820 You did it of your own 00:30:18.820 --> 00:30:19.380 free will. 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:22.380 And that's going to be 00:30:22.380 --> 00:30:23.800 completely and utterly true. 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.480 But here's the other thing 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.300 about the text. 00:30:27.540 --> 00:30:28.120 Remember I said 00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:28.560 on one hand 00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:29.660 it touches upon something 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.680 which we're afraid of 00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.860 which is losing our freedom. 00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:34.200 But it's also this text, 00:30:34.860 --> 00:30:35.060 you know, 00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:35.820 listen to it again 00:30:35.820 --> 00:30:36.220 when it says 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.440 I have many in this city 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.360 who are my people. 00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.440 I keep speaking 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:41.260 because there are many people 00:30:41.260 --> 00:30:41.740 in this city 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.620 who are my people. 00:30:43.320 --> 00:30:43.840 If you could put up 00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:44.480 the fourth point 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.440 that would be very helpful. 00:30:46.020 --> 00:30:47.680 The Lord sees you 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:49.299 woos you 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:51.160 and draws you to himself. 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:52.680 Now, 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:54.620 I go to the 00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:56.560 Starbucks in Bell's Corners. 00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.380 I don't normally 00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:59.460 do any product placement 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:02.480 but I go to that place 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:04.100 just about every day 00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:04.519 of the week 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.660 other than Sunday. 00:31:05.840 --> 00:31:07.120 I go to do sermon prep 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:07.880 and sometimes 00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:08.480 some other work 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.120 there in the morning. 00:31:09.620 --> 00:31:11.420 So I'm a regular, 00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.720 regular, regular, regular. 00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:13.680 In fact, 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.700 I'm such a regular 00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:17.480 that I pay for my coffee 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:19.220 with a registered card 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.579 and if you pay for your coffee 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.559 with a registered card 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.120 at Starbucks, 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.279 you get free refills. 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:26.680 And so I'll buy my tall, 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:28.500 black coffee with no room 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.920 and after I've been there 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.000 for 45 minutes 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.579 or an hour 00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.039 or whatever, 00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:33.240 I'll go to get my refill 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.000 and I always get 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.460 a Mint Majesty tea 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:36.579 grande size 00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:37.879 with one Splenda. 00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.539 And I'm such a regular 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.899 that sometimes 00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:41.480 the baristas, 00:31:41.639 --> 00:31:42.579 when they see me 00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:43.519 in there, 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.980 they get my tea 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:46.179 prepped in advance 00:31:46.179 --> 00:31:46.879 for me 00:31:46.879 --> 00:31:47.720 with George 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.599 written on it. 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:50.220 I'm not making this up. 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.559 And they have 00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:52.419 the Splenda in it 00:31:52.419 --> 00:31:53.460 and the two tea bags 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.319 and it's Mint Majesty 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:55.000 and it's a grande. 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:56.759 And so when I get up, 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.859 there it is, 00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:58.779 two little eyes 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.399 and a smile. 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.240 It says George 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:02.899 and I get my tea refill 00:32:02.899 --> 00:32:03.879 very, very quickly. 00:32:04.520 --> 00:32:05.360 But sometimes, 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.080 this happened to me 00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:06.860 just the other day, 00:32:07.300 --> 00:32:08.060 I'd been in there 00:32:08.060 --> 00:32:09.000 for 45 minutes, 00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:09.620 50 minutes. 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:11.060 I go up to get my tea refill 00:32:11.060 --> 00:32:12.580 and the barista says to me, 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.000 oh, 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.720 you came here later 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:15.340 than normal? 00:32:16.340 --> 00:32:17.600 Is it time for your coffee? 00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.520 And I said, 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:19.480 oh, 00:32:20.320 --> 00:32:22.300 it's so hard 00:32:22.300 --> 00:32:23.480 to be an older man 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.560 and become unnoticed 00:32:24.560 --> 00:32:25.120 and invisible. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.660 I've been here 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.540 for 50 minutes 00:32:28.540 --> 00:32:29.960 and I, 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.720 that's fine. 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:31.820 I can be invisible. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.740 I'm in therapy. 00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:32.880 I can be, 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:34.120 you know, 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:34.700 for it 00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.940 because it's hard 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.480 to be invisible. 00:32:36.859 --> 00:32:37.059 Now, 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:37.819 here's the thing. 00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:39.559 And for some of you, 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.759 you're cute, 00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.700 you're vivacious, 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.500 you're handsome, 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:43.440 you're good looking, 00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:45.039 you've never been invisible 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:46.519 in your entire life. 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.420 But being invisible 00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.200 is a problem 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.079 for many people. 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.839 There are people 00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.460 who would say 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.740 that in their family 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:54.819 with multiple kids, 00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.740 they always felt 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.220 like they were 00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:57.480 the invisible child. 00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:58.980 That when they were 00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.420 in school, 00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.980 they were the invisible kid. 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:02.259 That when it comes time 00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:03.240 to parties or dating, 00:33:03.360 --> 00:33:03.920 they're invisible. 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:05.759 People look right at them 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.579 but don't see them. 00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.620 They're looking for somebody 00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:08.360 more important, 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:09.140 more interesting, 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:09.920 that that's the story 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.380 of their lives. 00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:11.019 For many people, 00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:11.839 especially women, 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:12.920 one of the things 00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:14.220 that they worry about 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.779 is that they get 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.539 to a certain age 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.019 and beyond, 00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:16.779 they start to feel 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.620 as if they're invisible. 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:19.339 It's a human problem. 00:33:20.620 --> 00:33:21.059 But you see, 00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:22.660 if you think about this text, 00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:24.259 what this text is saying 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:25.819 is the solution to it. 00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:27.120 It might very well be 00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:27.860 that your parents 00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:28.400 treated you 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.600 like the invisible child. 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.180 It might very well be 00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:32.180 that in elementary school 00:33:32.180 --> 00:33:32.700 and high school 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.280 and university 00:33:33.280 --> 00:33:34.540 and in your place of work 00:33:34.540 --> 00:33:35.620 that you're invisible. 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:37.380 It might very well be 00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:38.380 that you could be 00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:39.300 in that Starbucks 00:33:39.300 --> 00:33:40.300 for 50 minutes 00:33:40.300 --> 00:33:40.900 or an hour 00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:41.780 and they don't even know 00:33:41.780 --> 00:33:42.340 you're there. 00:33:43.800 --> 00:33:45.000 That could very well 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.759 be the case. 00:33:46.560 --> 00:33:47.680 But God sees you. 00:33:51.120 --> 00:33:52.440 He sees you long 00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:53.220 before you even 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:53.900 look for Him. 00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:57.360 and He loves you 00:33:57.360 --> 00:33:59.880 and He woos you 00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:01.880 and He'll bring you 00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.540 to Himself. 00:34:04.320 --> 00:34:05.080 You might have been 00:34:05.080 --> 00:34:05.840 missed and invisible 00:34:05.840 --> 00:34:06.540 with everybody 00:34:06.540 --> 00:34:07.259 on the planet 00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:08.840 but not with the triune God, 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:10.440 not with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:14.260 --> 00:34:15.320 So this text, 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.440 which on one hand 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:17.480 sounds very scary, 00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.220 is in fact 00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:20.480 opens up the whole 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.460 truth of the Trinity 00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:22.440 in a whole different way 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:23.340 to understand 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.639 human freedom 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.159 and dignity 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:26.039 but also something 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.720 about the fact 00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.480 that we're seen. 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.079 So now just, 00:34:30.200 --> 00:34:30.740 I have to start 00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:31.380 wrapping it up. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.400 Just a couple of things 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:32.840 about this. 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:33.599 Let's look again 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.519 at verse 9 and 10. 00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:35.079 Remember I said 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:36.079 it's a very good verse. 00:34:36.200 --> 00:34:36.579 It's something 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.599 you should try to memorize. 00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:39.340 There's five different things. 00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:40.280 I'm going to summarize them 00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:40.900 in two statements 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.679 but before that, 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:43.300 just listen to the, 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.300 here's the thing 00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:45.559 which Jesus is saying 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.559 to you and me today. 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.539 Each one of us here, 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:48.400 do not be afraid. 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.300 And we know 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:51.260 that this is a text 00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:52.840 addressed to you and me 00:34:52.840 --> 00:34:55.180 because it's a regular feature 00:34:55.180 --> 00:34:56.040 of the New Testament 00:34:56.040 --> 00:34:57.360 time and time again. 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.540 Jesus constantly was saying 00:34:58.540 --> 00:34:59.320 do not be afraid. 00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:00.140 Do not be afraid. 00:35:00.560 --> 00:35:01.160 He doesn't want you 00:35:01.160 --> 00:35:01.800 to be afraid. 00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:03.180 Don't be afraid. 00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.800 Jesus is speaking 00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:05.940 to you and me directly, 00:35:06.220 --> 00:35:07.100 looking us in the eyes, 00:35:07.200 --> 00:35:08.080 saying don't be afraid. 00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.720 And this particular, 00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.260 you know, 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:10.480 thing, 00:35:10.640 --> 00:35:11.220 it, you know, 00:35:11.240 --> 00:35:12.320 many of us know 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:13.160 that it may be 00:35:13.160 --> 00:35:14.380 a little bit uncomfortable. 00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:16.060 I've told people that, 00:35:16.160 --> 00:35:16.760 you know, 00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.940 in coffee shops 00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.680 that I'm a pastor 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.980 and they were friendly 00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.719 to me before 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.899 and as soon as they hear that 00:35:21.899 --> 00:35:22.839 you can see a change 00:35:22.839 --> 00:35:23.399 that comes over 00:35:23.399 --> 00:35:24.359 their entire face 00:35:24.359 --> 00:35:26.339 and the entire body posture 00:35:26.339 --> 00:35:28.279 towards me. 00:35:28.399 --> 00:35:29.179 They're not friendly 00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:30.139 towards me anyway, 00:35:30.339 --> 00:35:31.259 anymore when they find out 00:35:31.259 --> 00:35:32.039 that I'm a pastor 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:32.799 and we all know 00:35:32.799 --> 00:35:33.639 what that's like. 00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:35.039 And so it makes us 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:35.919 not want to speak 00:35:35.919 --> 00:35:37.699 to hide who we are. 00:35:37.799 --> 00:35:38.500 But the text says 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.460 do not be afraid, 00:35:40.339 --> 00:35:40.839 verse 9, 00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:41.980 but go on speaking 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:43.079 and do not be silent, 00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:43.299 right? 00:35:43.379 --> 00:35:44.119 Go on speaking 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:46.239 and the other thing, 00:35:46.319 --> 00:35:47.099 don't be silent. 00:35:47.819 --> 00:35:48.579 And that's a message 00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.380 for you and me. 00:35:50.779 --> 00:35:52.920 And then it also says this, 00:35:53.099 --> 00:35:53.699 why, why, 00:35:53.819 --> 00:35:54.319 and by the way, 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:54.519 you see, 00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:55.000 here's the thing 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.539 about the Bible. 00:35:55.619 --> 00:35:56.819 The Bible's not being foolish 00:35:56.819 --> 00:35:57.179 and saying, 00:35:57.299 --> 00:35:57.380 okay, 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.619 don't feel what you're feeling. 00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.199 The Bible knows it. 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:00.679 You know, 00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:01.519 I could tell somebody 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.099 don't be sad. 00:36:02.179 --> 00:36:02.279 Well, 00:36:02.319 --> 00:36:03.319 me telling you not to be sad 00:36:03.319 --> 00:36:03.940 doesn't stop you 00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.599 from being sad. 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.059 I could tell you 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.659 don't be afraid 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:06.559 and you're still afraid. 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:06.759 Like, 00:36:06.779 --> 00:36:07.539 that doesn't mean anything. 00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:09.219 The importance of that text 00:36:09.219 --> 00:36:10.819 isn't that real Christians 00:36:10.819 --> 00:36:11.480 aren't afraid. 00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:13.740 It is that God knows 00:36:13.740 --> 00:36:14.320 you're afraid. 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:15.760 Jesus knows you're afraid. 00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:16.019 Otherwise, 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:16.820 he wouldn't say to you, 00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:17.659 don't be afraid. 00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:19.119 And the point is, 00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:19.659 and so therefore, 00:36:19.780 --> 00:36:19.900 you know, 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:20.480 you're a terrible, 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.460 lousy human being 00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:23.119 and a completely horrible 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:24.659 seventh-rate Christian, 00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:25.699 not even second-rate. 00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:26.440 No, no, 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.219 it's not what he's saying. 00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:28.960 It means that there's 00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:30.099 an invitation for me 00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:30.800 to come to him 00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.920 with the fact that I'm afraid. 00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:33.980 And he's not telling me 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:34.480 to stop. 00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.460 He's telling me to look 00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:36.900 at two other things instead 00:36:36.900 --> 00:36:38.639 in a comfort 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:40.380 that he knows me. 00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:42.619 You see, 00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:42.940 it says, 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:43.740 do not be afraid, 00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.679 but go on speaking, 00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:45.340 do not be silent. 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:46.260 And here's the thing, 00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:47.219 the first thing to look at, 00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:48.119 for I am with you. 00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:49.380 I am with you. 00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:53.179 It's a profound freedom. 00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:53.420 Lord, 00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:54.679 I'm afraid to share 00:36:54.679 --> 00:36:55.860 the gospel with that person 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.300 or I'm afraid 00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:57.119 for whatever it is. 00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:58.659 I'm afraid to say something 00:36:58.659 --> 00:37:00.579 that might offend. 00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:01.340 I'm afraid. 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.500 Or, you know, 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.280 I'm just afraid 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:04.920 about all these things 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:05.559 that we're afraid of 00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:06.559 and we can come to him 00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:07.420 and say, 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:07.619 Lord, 00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:08.239 I'm afraid. 00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:11.880 And this is an invitation 00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:13.759 for us not to stop 00:37:13.759 --> 00:37:14.779 looking at our fear 00:37:14.779 --> 00:37:15.719 as much as to look 00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:16.199 at the fact 00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:17.920 that he is with you. 00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.699 Jesus is saying, 00:37:20.779 --> 00:37:21.679 I am with you. 00:37:22.659 --> 00:37:23.420 It's an invitation 00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:24.360 for George to say, 00:37:24.619 --> 00:37:24.860 you know, 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:25.219 Lord, 00:37:25.320 --> 00:37:26.320 I'm afraid of doing this. 00:37:26.380 --> 00:37:26.940 I'm afraid of that. 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:27.960 I'm afraid of this happening. 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:30.420 Help me to bring home 00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:30.940 to my heart 00:37:30.940 --> 00:37:31.759 that you're with me. 00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:34.160 I'm not going to face it alone. 00:37:36.020 --> 00:37:37.180 The next part's going to 00:37:37.180 --> 00:37:38.060 have to be nuanced. 00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:39.540 And it says, 00:37:39.700 --> 00:37:40.900 and no one will attack you 00:37:40.900 --> 00:37:41.560 and harm you. 00:37:42.020 --> 00:37:42.340 Now, 00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.700 why does this have to be nuanced? 00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.020 Well, 00:37:44.040 --> 00:37:44.780 it has to be nuanced. 00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.860 All of the three things 00:37:45.860 --> 00:37:46.680 that we've said before 00:37:46.680 --> 00:37:47.680 and the next thing 00:37:47.680 --> 00:37:48.420 are all things 00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.180 that are in the New Testament. 00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:50.740 I think they're general commands 00:37:50.740 --> 00:37:52.240 all put beautifully together 00:37:52.240 --> 00:37:53.140 here in this text. 00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:54.240 But if you read 00:37:54.240 --> 00:37:55.140 all of the New Testament, 00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:56.300 you do know that, 00:37:56.400 --> 00:37:56.660 in fact, 00:37:56.660 --> 00:37:57.540 it's not the case 00:37:57.540 --> 00:37:58.320 that you won't get 00:37:58.320 --> 00:37:59.420 attacked and harmed. 00:38:00.300 --> 00:38:01.180 There's already been 00:38:01.179 --> 00:38:02.239 Christian martyrs. 00:38:03.059 --> 00:38:03.879 Paul himself, 00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:05.099 if you read 2 Timothy, 00:38:05.819 --> 00:38:06.859 he confesses, 00:38:06.919 --> 00:38:07.339 he says, 00:38:07.539 --> 00:38:07.980 in effect, 00:38:08.139 --> 00:38:09.059 I know I've been delivered 00:38:09.059 --> 00:38:10.579 many times from prison, 00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:11.940 but I've come to understand 00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:12.879 that this time, 00:38:13.759 --> 00:38:17.719 after I see my next trial, 00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:20.139 I'll be killed. 00:38:21.139 --> 00:38:22.579 This is the end for me. 00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:24.619 So how we are 00:38:24.619 --> 00:38:25.819 to understand this text 00:38:25.819 --> 00:38:27.019 is to understand it 00:38:27.019 --> 00:38:28.859 in light of Daniel chapter 3. 00:38:28.860 --> 00:38:29.599 There's a very, 00:38:29.720 --> 00:38:30.160 very beautiful 00:38:30.160 --> 00:38:31.180 and powerful story 00:38:31.180 --> 00:38:32.340 in Daniel chapter 3 00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:34.240 that Shadrach, 00:38:34.340 --> 00:38:34.700 Meshach, 00:38:34.760 --> 00:38:35.240 and Abednego 00:38:35.240 --> 00:38:36.380 are three Jewish men 00:38:36.380 --> 00:38:37.360 in the employ 00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:38.120 of the emperor 00:38:38.120 --> 00:38:38.900 Nebuchadnezzar. 00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:40.780 And Nebuchadnezzar decides 00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:42.140 that all of his officials 00:38:42.140 --> 00:38:42.700 are going to have 00:38:42.700 --> 00:38:43.800 to worship the idol. 00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.380 And so Shadrach, 00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:45.800 Meshach, 00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:46.320 and Abednego 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:46.720 are going to, 00:38:46.720 --> 00:38:47.700 they make the sound 00:38:47.700 --> 00:38:48.460 to start worshiping. 00:38:48.559 --> 00:38:49.519 Everybody worships. 00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:50.599 Three dudes are left 00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.340 standing up, 00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:52.280 Shadrach, Meshach, 00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:52.840 and Abednego. 00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:54.840 Everybody's mad at them. 00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.720 The king threatens them. 00:38:56.719 --> 00:38:57.019 He says, 00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:58.000 you realize that 00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:59.019 if you don't bow down 00:38:59.019 --> 00:38:59.359 and worship, 00:38:59.439 --> 00:39:00.419 I am going to kill you. 00:39:00.919 --> 00:39:01.539 And Shadrach, 00:39:01.619 --> 00:39:01.959 Meshach, 00:39:02.019 --> 00:39:02.459 and Abednego 00:39:02.459 --> 00:39:04.239 say this memorable phrase 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:05.779 to Nebuchadnezzar. 00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:07.359 He looks at Nebuchadnezzar 00:39:07.359 --> 00:39:07.559 and says, 00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:09.919 we believe that our Lord, 00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:10.639 our God, 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.699 can deliver us. 00:39:13.259 --> 00:39:15.559 But if not. 00:39:17.559 --> 00:39:19.559 But if not. 00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:23.420 We will not worship. 00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:24.179 We will die. 00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:27.320 And that's how we're 00:39:27.320 --> 00:39:28.279 to understand this. 00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:29.960 When we're attacked, 00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:31.059 we can pray. 00:39:31.219 --> 00:39:32.279 The Lord can deliver you. 00:39:32.840 --> 00:39:34.019 It might be that he won't. 00:39:34.820 --> 00:39:35.860 So in the back of our mind, 00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:36.639 it's but if not. 00:39:37.579 --> 00:39:38.719 And then this final thing 00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:39.779 is I have many in the city 00:39:39.779 --> 00:39:40.480 who are my people. 00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:41.699 That's why it's worth our while 00:39:41.699 --> 00:39:42.500 to tell our kids 00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:43.259 about the gospel, 00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:45.599 to tell their friends, 00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:46.900 to tell our coworkers, 00:39:47.119 --> 00:39:48.659 just to bear witness to Jesus 00:39:48.659 --> 00:39:50.719 because God has people 00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:51.440 in this city. 00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:53.119 Unless you've come to the sense 00:39:53.119 --> 00:39:54.000 that this is Ottawa 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:55.379 is Sodom and Gomorrah 00:39:55.379 --> 00:39:56.879 and no Christian 00:39:56.879 --> 00:39:58.239 should presume upon that, 00:39:58.299 --> 00:39:59.559 that's a terrible thing 00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:00.079 to presume, 00:40:00.460 --> 00:40:01.899 there are people in this city, 00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:02.839 despite the fact 00:40:02.839 --> 00:40:04.179 that they seem disinterested 00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.219 or maybe even hostile 00:40:05.219 --> 00:40:05.960 to the gospel, 00:40:06.099 --> 00:40:07.159 there are people in this city 00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:08.460 who are going to become Christians. 00:40:09.759 --> 00:40:10.639 That's why we should 00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:11.639 speak the gospel. 00:40:12.339 --> 00:40:13.219 That's why people 00:40:13.219 --> 00:40:15.000 like our brother B over there 00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:16.679 will go to closed nations 00:40:16.679 --> 00:40:18.299 to tell people about Jesus 00:40:18.300 --> 00:40:19.440 because, right brother, 00:40:19.820 --> 00:40:21.260 there are people in that place 00:40:21.260 --> 00:40:23.100 who God has called for himself. 00:40:23.600 --> 00:40:24.640 And it doesn't depend 00:40:24.640 --> 00:40:25.460 upon our skill. 00:40:26.200 --> 00:40:27.280 It's a wonderful truth 00:40:27.280 --> 00:40:27.760 of the gospel. 00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:28.760 So just in closing, 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:30.160 two different things up here 00:40:30.160 --> 00:40:31.260 to help put this together. 00:40:31.800 --> 00:40:33.060 If you could put up number five. 00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:34.880 I thought of making it longer, 00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:36.060 but I thought I'd bring 00:40:36.060 --> 00:40:37.100 the two aspects out 00:40:37.100 --> 00:40:38.220 in two different sentences. 00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:39.400 And if you want, 00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:40.740 you can take a screenshot 00:40:40.740 --> 00:40:43.060 or it can be online. 00:40:43.260 --> 00:40:44.860 I send these words 00:40:44.860 --> 00:40:45.860 to Josiah later. 00:40:45.860 --> 00:40:48.220 the Lord can deliver you, 00:40:48.720 --> 00:40:49.880 but if not, 00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:51.559 do not be afraid, 00:40:52.099 --> 00:40:53.220 for he is with you. 00:40:53.860 --> 00:40:55.140 And there are many people, 00:40:55.940 --> 00:40:58.220 there are many people, 00:40:59.320 --> 00:41:02.680 I can't read my writing. 00:41:03.200 --> 00:41:05.460 There are many people in this city 00:41:05.460 --> 00:41:06.860 who will become Christians. 00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:08.220 Whatever that is, 00:41:08.440 --> 00:41:09.340 you can see it. 00:41:09.340 --> 00:41:11.380 The Lord can deliver you, 00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:12.280 but if not, 00:41:12.940 --> 00:41:13.820 do not be afraid. 00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:15.900 You lose your job, 00:41:16.340 --> 00:41:17.200 you get a demotion, 00:41:17.380 --> 00:41:18.539 or you don't get the promotion. 00:41:19.140 --> 00:41:20.079 He didn't deliver you. 00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:21.680 Don't be afraid. 00:41:22.700 --> 00:41:23.440 He is with you. 00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:25.100 There are many people in this city 00:41:25.100 --> 00:41:26.579 who will become Christians. 00:41:27.140 --> 00:41:28.140 You could go about number six, 00:41:28.200 --> 00:41:28.920 that would be helpful. 00:41:29.680 --> 00:41:30.900 The Lord can deliver you, 00:41:31.200 --> 00:41:32.059 but if not, 00:41:32.700 --> 00:41:33.660 go on speaking, 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:35.140 and do not be silent, 00:41:35.140 --> 00:41:36.460 for he is with you. 00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:38.940 And there are many people in this city 00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:40.260 who will become Christians. 00:41:40.860 --> 00:41:42.159 That's the message of this 00:41:42.159 --> 00:41:45.220 very, very, very profound text. 00:41:45.659 --> 00:41:46.639 Do not be afraid, 00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:48.039 but go on speaking. 00:41:48.519 --> 00:41:49.539 Do not be silent, 00:41:49.800 --> 00:41:50.900 for I am with you, 00:41:51.119 --> 00:41:52.900 and no one will attack you to harm you, 00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:54.360 for I have many in this city 00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:55.400 who are my people. 00:41:56.139 --> 00:41:56.940 Let's stand. 00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:03.900 Bow our heads in prayer. 00:42:06.460 --> 00:42:08.820 Father, 00:42:09.079 --> 00:42:10.380 you know that some of us 00:42:10.380 --> 00:42:13.659 are struggling with invisibility, 00:42:14.539 --> 00:42:15.980 with feeling unseen. 00:42:16.159 --> 00:42:16.860 Some of us, Father, 00:42:16.940 --> 00:42:17.619 may be worried 00:42:17.619 --> 00:42:19.920 that we're entering into a time 00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:20.920 of our lives 00:42:20.920 --> 00:42:22.920 where we will be increasingly unseen. 00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:25.559 That one that people sort of know 00:42:25.559 --> 00:42:26.720 there might be a body there, 00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:28.039 but they're really looking around 00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:29.300 for somebody more interesting, 00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:30.039 more important, 00:42:30.420 --> 00:42:31.400 more fun, 00:42:31.579 --> 00:42:32.019 more hip, 00:42:32.139 --> 00:42:32.619 more cool, 00:42:32.740 --> 00:42:33.000 whatever. 00:42:33.000 --> 00:42:35.260 And so, Father, 00:42:35.320 --> 00:42:36.500 we give you thanks and praise 00:42:36.500 --> 00:42:37.619 for this profound truth 00:42:37.619 --> 00:42:38.460 that you see us, 00:42:39.179 --> 00:42:40.860 that you see us, 00:42:40.920 --> 00:42:41.619 that you know us, 00:42:41.659 --> 00:42:42.519 that you wooed us, 00:42:42.559 --> 00:42:43.760 and that you brought us to yourself. 00:42:45.159 --> 00:42:46.079 And we ask, Father, 00:42:46.139 --> 00:42:46.940 that you help this 00:42:46.940 --> 00:42:48.420 to be a truth 00:42:48.420 --> 00:42:51.119 that comes home to our heart, 00:42:51.780 --> 00:42:53.440 that Jesus is with us. 00:42:54.139 --> 00:42:54.480 Father, 00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:55.139 you know the things 00:42:55.139 --> 00:42:55.840 we're afraid of. 00:42:55.920 --> 00:42:56.900 Help us to be honest 00:42:56.900 --> 00:42:57.519 and come to you 00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.179 with our fears, 00:42:58.179 --> 00:42:59.980 and we ask 00:42:59.980 --> 00:43:00.779 that you help us 00:43:00.779 --> 00:43:02.659 not to think about the fear, 00:43:02.859 --> 00:43:03.239 but to, 00:43:03.759 --> 00:43:04.539 although it's there, 00:43:04.679 --> 00:43:06.859 but to focus on 00:43:06.859 --> 00:43:07.779 you were with us 00:43:07.779 --> 00:43:09.159 and that you will use us 00:43:09.159 --> 00:43:10.579 and that these things 00:43:10.579 --> 00:43:11.940 are true, Father. 00:43:12.299 --> 00:43:13.299 And so we should take 00:43:13.299 --> 00:43:14.339 steps of faith. 00:43:15.739 --> 00:43:15.940 And, 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:16.679 Father, 00:43:16.759 --> 00:43:17.839 we thank you for Jesus, 00:43:18.099 --> 00:43:19.879 that he is Jesus Christ crucified, 00:43:20.199 --> 00:43:21.159 that he is the means 00:43:21.159 --> 00:43:22.719 by which our sins are forgiven 00:43:22.719 --> 00:43:24.079 and we are made right with him. 00:43:25.019 --> 00:43:25.859 He is the means, 00:43:25.860 --> 00:43:27.920 the true revealing 00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:29.220 of the depth of love 00:43:29.220 --> 00:43:29.840 of the Trinity, 00:43:31.120 --> 00:43:31.720 that Jesus, 00:43:32.220 --> 00:43:33.300 out of love for us, 00:43:33.400 --> 00:43:34.380 died for us 00:43:34.380 --> 00:43:36.320 so that we can be made 00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:37.240 right with you 00:43:37.240 --> 00:43:37.780 and forgiven. 00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:38.500 So, Father, 00:43:38.840 --> 00:43:39.960 keep our eyes fixed 00:43:39.960 --> 00:43:41.480 on Jesus Christ crucified, 00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:43.519 that he is with us, 00:43:44.380 --> 00:43:45.620 that he has saved us, 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:47.420 that he will never abandon us 00:43:47.420 --> 00:43:48.200 or forsake us 00:43:48.200 --> 00:43:48.840 or let us go. 00:43:49.740 --> 00:43:50.800 And as these truths 00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:51.660 become more real 00:43:51.660 --> 00:43:52.440 to our hearts, 00:43:52.920 --> 00:43:53.780 grant us courage 00:43:53.780 --> 00:43:54.720 and boldness 00:43:54.720 --> 00:43:55.940 to live for you. 00:43:56.519 --> 00:43:57.519 And we ask these things 00:43:57.519 --> 00:43:58.440 in the name of Jesus, 00:43:58.560 --> 00:43:59.580 your Son and our Savior. 00:44:00.260 --> 00:44:00.640 Amen. 00:44:00.640 --> 00:44:00.820 Amen. 00:44:00.820 --> 00:44:00.880 Amen. 00:44:00.880 --> 00:44:00.900 Amen. 00:44:00.900 --> 00:44:00.920 Amen.