WEBVTT

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 All right, well, I'll read Acts 15, but to understand the context a little bit better, we'll begin reading in Acts 14, starting at verse 26.

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! We read God's word, trusting it is his inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, sufficient word for you and me, his people.

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 So Acts 14, starting at verse 26.

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 This is referring to Paul and Barnabas on one of their missionary trips.

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 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.

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 Now, when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

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 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

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 Acts 15, 1.

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 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren,

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 Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

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 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them,

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 they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem,

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 to the apostles and elders about this question.

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 So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria,

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 describing the conversion of the Gentiles.

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 And they caused great joy to all the brethren.

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 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders.

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 And they reported all things that God had done with them.

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 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying,

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 It is necessary to circumcise them to command them to keep the law of Moses.

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 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

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 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them,

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 Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us

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 that by the mouth of the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

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 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit,

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 just as he did to us,

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 and made no distinction between us and them,

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 purifying their hearts by faith.

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 Now, therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples,

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 which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

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 But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 we shall be saved in the same manner as they.

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 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Paul and Barnabas,

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 declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them

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 among the Gentiles.

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 And after they had become silent,

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 James answered, saying,

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 Men and brethren, listen to me.

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 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles

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 to take them out, a people for his name.

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 And with this word,

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 this, the words of the prophets agree,

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 just as it is written.

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 After this, I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David,

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 which had fallen down.

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 I will rebuild its ruins and will set it up

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 so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,

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 even all the Gentiles who are called by my name,

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 says the Lord who does all these things.

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 Known to God from eternity are all his works.

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 Therefore, I judge that we should not trouble those

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 from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,

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 but that we write them to abstain from things polluted by idols,

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 from sexual immorality,

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 from things strangled and from blood.

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 For Moses has had throughout many generations

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 those who preach him in every city

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 being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

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 Then it pleased the apostles and elders

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 with the whole church

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 to send chosen men of their own company

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 to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas,

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 namely Judas, who was also named Barsabbas,

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 and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

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 They wrote this letter by them,

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 the apostles and elders and the brethren,

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 to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch,

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 Syria and Cilicia.

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 Greetings.

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 Since we have heard some who went out from us

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 have troubled you with words,

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 unsettling your souls,

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 saying you must be circumcised and keep the law

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 to whom we gave no such commandment,

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 it seemed good to us being assembled with one accord

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 to send chosen men to you

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 with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

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 men who have risked their lives

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 for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas,

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 who will also report the same things

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 by word of mouth.

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 For it seemed good to us,

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 for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit

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 and to us to lay upon you

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 no greater burden than these necessary things

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 that you abstain from things offered to idols,

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 from blood, from things strangled,

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 and from sexual immorality.

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 If you keep yourselves from these,

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 you will do well.

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 Farewell.

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 So when they were sent off,

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 they came to Antioch,

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 and when they had gathered the multitude together,

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 they delivered the letter.

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 When they had read it,

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 they rejoiced over its encouragement.

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 The word of God for the people of God.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 Please be seated.

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 Let's pray.

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 Let's pray.

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 O Lord,

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 the way that you work

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 among your people,

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 among the churches,

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 it's so humbling

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 and so beautiful

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 and so glorifying

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 of who you are.

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 We pray, Lord,

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 that by your Spirit,

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 you'll cause us to see

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 the way that you work through the church

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 and use the church

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 in the way that you want us to see that today, Lord,

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 that you will apply that

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 to this congregation,

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 that you will guide us,

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 that you will give us wisdom.

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 You'll help us to ponder

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 what is the way

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 that you have given churches

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 to receive the blessings of Christ Jesus.

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 We ask this for your glory.

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 Amen.

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 Well, our American tradition tells us

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 that at the signing

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 of the Declaration of Independence,

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 Benjamin Franklin

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 made this comment.

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 And to appreciate what he said,

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 we have to remember,

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 these are former citizens of England

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 that are now living at the colonies

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 that don't want to pay taxes

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 back to England

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 without representation.

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 And those who rebel

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 against the monarchy of England

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 are considered treasonous

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 and therefore,

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 they would be publicly hung.

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 And Benjamin Franklin's comment,

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 at least according to tradition,

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 was this.

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 We must all hang together

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 or most assuredly,

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 we shall all hang separately.

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 Here come representatives

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 from all the colonies

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 taking a strong stand together

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 for their future.

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 In a different context,

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 this sentiment captures a reality

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 that we read in this passage.

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 Isolated churches,

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 places where God's power

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 had been manifested,

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 displayed,

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 the gospel was preached,

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 people believed,

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 even among the Gentiles,

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 and churches are now planted.

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 But on their own,

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 they're isolated.

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 And the enemy is attacking

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 and devouring,

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 and there are wolves creeping in

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 and bringing lies

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 that undermine the gospel.

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 And the principle we see

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 is that we must

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 help one another.

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 We must hang together.

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 So in the first century,

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 these churches

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 are under the guidance

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 of the Holy Spirit

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 and the apostles

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 in a powerful way.

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 The New Testament scriptures

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 as we have them now

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 are still being written

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 and given

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 even in the midst

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 of all these travels

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 and these discussions.

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 The principle for us

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 that I want to focus on

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 and encourage us with today

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 is this.

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 From Acts 15,

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 we see that Christ

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 blesses his churches

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 through one another.

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 That simple statement

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 that we can understand that,

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 see it in God's word,

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 and then discern together

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 what that means

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 for this congregation,

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 that Christ

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 blesses his churches

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 through one another.

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 As we walk through

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 this passage again,

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 I hope to point out

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 eight principles

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 that we see

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 in how God does this.

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 So let's begin

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 at where we started again,

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 chapter 14,

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 verse 26.

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 Notice how this one church

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 in Antioch,

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 which is modern-day Turkey,

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 it's called Asia Minor,

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 they receive the truth,

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 they receive the gospel,

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 they are formed

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 into a church,

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 and they enjoy

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 a time of peace.

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 We read in verse 26

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 of chapter 14,

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 from there,

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 Paul and Barnabas

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 sailed to Antioch,

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 where they had been

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 commended to the grace

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 of God for the work

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 which they had completed.

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 Other churches

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 sent them there,

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 they were commended

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 to go.

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 Now when they had come

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 and gathered

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 the church together,

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 take all the believers,

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 all those who heard

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 the gospel

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 and received God's word,

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 gather them into

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 an assembly,

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 they reported

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 all that God had done

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 with them,

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 with the church,

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 and that he had opened

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 the door of faith

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 to the Gentiles.

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 And the pattern

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 of ministry

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 was to present

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 Jesus Christ

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 first in the synagogues

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 because they already know

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 of God the Creator.

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 They already have

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 all the Old Testament.

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 They have the law

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 and the prophets

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 and the Psalms,

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 and they know

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 the true God,

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 but they need to know

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 about the Messiah.

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 And so,

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 they're explaining

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 that this gospel

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 of the Messiah

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 has gone out

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 not only to you

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 here in the synagogues,

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 but to Gentiles,

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 and God is causing

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 them to believe.

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 Verse 28 of chapter 14

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 says,

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 so they stayed there

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 at the church

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 in Antioch

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 a long time

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 with the disciples,

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 with the believers,

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 with this church.

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 They're enjoying

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 truth and peace.

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 But then,

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 in chapter 15,

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 verse 1,

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 comes a disturbance

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 to this peace

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 in the church

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 of Antioch.

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 Look at verse 1.

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 Certain men

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 came down

00:11:16.079 --> 00:11:16.919
 from Judea.

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 He's saying

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 came down

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 in an elevation reference.

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 You know,

00:11:22.939 --> 00:11:23.860
 so the mountains

00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:24.319
 of Judah

00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:25.639
 were a high point.

00:11:25.779 --> 00:11:26.059
 That's why

00:11:26.059 --> 00:11:28.299
 the Psalms of Ascent

00:11:28.299 --> 00:11:29.079
 are Psalms

00:11:29.079 --> 00:11:29.639
 you would sing

00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:30.360
 going up

00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:31.240
 to Jerusalem.

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 But if we look

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 at it on the map,

00:11:33.439 --> 00:11:34.439
 it's further south.

00:11:35.219 --> 00:11:36.059
 They came up.

00:11:36.339 --> 00:11:36.819
 They traveled.

00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:39.279
 And they brought

00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:39.779
 with them,

00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:40.839
 remember what's

00:11:40.839 --> 00:11:41.419
 in Judea

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.439
 is Jerusalem,

00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:44.539
 the big hub

00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:45.939
 of the people

00:11:45.939 --> 00:11:46.519
 of Israel

00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:48.219
 in the first church

00:11:48.219 --> 00:11:49.000
 from which

00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:49.740
 all the missionaries

00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:50.599
 were being sent out.

00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.139
 And these men

00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:53.000
 taught the brethren

00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:53.779
 in Antioch,

00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:54.539
 unless you are

00:11:54.539 --> 00:11:55.879
 circumcised

00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:56.740
 according to the

00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:57.759
 custom of Moses,

00:11:58.439 --> 00:12:00.360
 you cannot be saved.

00:12:02.319 --> 00:12:02.839
 So,

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.079
 this is the big

00:12:04.079 --> 00:12:04.759
 occasion

00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:05.819
 for everything

00:12:05.819 --> 00:12:06.379
 that we read

00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:07.959
 in chapter 15

00:12:07.959 --> 00:12:08.480
 of Acts.

00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:10.799
 My focus today

00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:11.980
 is on our series

00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:12.599
 on the church.

00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:13.420
 It's not to

00:12:13.420 --> 00:12:14.460
 necessarily

00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:15.639
 spend our time

00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:16.519
 on this theological

00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:17.540
 debate or all

00:12:17.540 --> 00:12:17.920
 the meaning

00:12:17.920 --> 00:12:18.800
 or look at all

00:12:18.800 --> 00:12:19.360
 the rest of the

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:19.840
 New Testament

00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:20.580
 about that,

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:21.340
 but instead

00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:22.139
 on the process.

00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:23.460
 I don't want to

00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.080
 skip over the

00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:25.019
 theological debate,

00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:25.899
 but I want to

00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:26.560
 point out that

00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:27.759
 what these men

00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:28.560
 from Judea

00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.360
 were teaching

00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.340
 is false.

00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:31.379
 Paul knew

00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.019
 this was false.

00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:32.779
 Barnabas knew

00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.500
 this was false.

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.860
 And it was

00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:36.960
 reading the

00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:37.480
 Old Testament

00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.019
 wrong.

00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:39.960
 Deuteronomy 36

00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:40.399
 says,

00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.039
 the Lord your

00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:41.539
 God will

00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:42.379
 circumcise

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:43.399
 your heart

00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:44.340
 to love

00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:44.659
 the Lord

00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:45.079
 your God

00:12:45.079 --> 00:12:45.519
 with all

00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.019
 your heart,

00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:46.699
 with all

00:12:46.699 --> 00:12:47.279
 your soul

00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:48.039
 that you

00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:48.699
 may live.

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:49.980
 And the

00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.600
 decision that

00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:51.039
 we finally

00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:51.559
 get by the

00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:52.100
 end of Acts

00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:53.220
 15 around

00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:53.980
 verse 28

00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:54.439
 or so

00:12:54.439 --> 00:12:55.459
 is the same

00:12:55.459 --> 00:12:55.899
 decision

00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:56.459
 concluded

00:12:56.459 --> 00:12:56.860
 and made

00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:57.559
 very clear

00:12:57.559 --> 00:12:57.819
 throughout

00:12:57.819 --> 00:12:58.459
 all the rest

00:12:58.459 --> 00:12:58.699
 of the

00:12:58.699 --> 00:12:59.199
 New Testament.

00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:00.299
 For example,

00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:01.159
 Paul,

00:13:01.319 --> 00:13:01.659
 the same

00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:02.079
 apostle,

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.019
 in Romans

00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:03.399
 2,

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.059
 28 and

00:13:04.059 --> 00:13:04.539
 29,

00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:05.199
 he wrote

00:13:05.199 --> 00:13:05.980
 to the

00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:06.399
 church in

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:06.659
 Rome,

00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:07.600
 no one

00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:08.379
 is a

00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:08.839
 Jew who

00:13:08.839 --> 00:13:09.480
 is merely

00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:09.899
 one

00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:10.620
 outwardly

00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:12.379
 or is

00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:13.139
 circumcision

00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:14.240
 outward and

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:14.779
 physical,

00:13:15.199 --> 00:13:15.919
 but a Jew

00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:16.539
 is one

00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:17.319
 inwardly.

00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:18.379
 Circumcision

00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.259
 is a matter

00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:19.719
 of the

00:13:19.719 --> 00:13:20.100
 heart

00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:21.059
 by the

00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:21.419
 spirit.

00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:22.659
 This is

00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:23.059
 the correct

00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:23.600
 interpretation

00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.159
 of that

00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:24.679
 Deuteronomy

00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:25.559
 30 prophecy.

00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:27.659
 Philippians

00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:27.919
 3,

00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:28.240
 3,

00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:28.919
 Colossians,

00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:29.360
 Ephesians,

00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:29.759
 so many

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.219
 other places

00:13:30.219 --> 00:13:30.539
 in the

00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:31.019
 New Testament

00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:32.159
 and all

00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:32.399
 of the

00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:32.759
 book of

00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.279
 Galatians

00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:33.720
 make this

00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:34.399
 very clear.

00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:35.319
 For example,

00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:35.879
 Philippians

00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.159
 3,

00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:36.459
 3,

00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:37.460
 we are

00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:37.680
 the

00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:38.360
 circumcision

00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:38.980
 who

00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:39.460
 worship

00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:40.139
 by the

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:40.400
 spirit

00:13:40.400 --> 00:13:40.940
 of God

00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:41.860
 and glory

00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:42.820
 in Christ

00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:43.259
 Jesus

00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:44.080
 and put

00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.460
 no

00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:45.220
 confidence

00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:45.860
 in the

00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:46.200
 flesh.

00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:46.600
 Okay,

00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.700
 so for

00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:48.000
 all these

00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:48.300
 reasons,

00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:48.639
 we will

00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:49.040
 not spend

00:13:49.040 --> 00:13:49.400
 any more

00:13:49.400 --> 00:13:50.180
 time on

00:13:50.180 --> 00:13:50.820
 the theological

00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:52.080
 discussion

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.500
 of the

00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:53.060
 occasion

00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:53.920
 of this

00:13:53.920 --> 00:13:54.440
 process,

00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.280
 but instead

00:13:55.280 --> 00:13:55.639
 we need

00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.220
 to ask,

00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:56.940
 why do

00:13:56.940 --> 00:13:57.259
 we have

00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:57.660
 all of

00:13:57.660 --> 00:13:57.820
 these

00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:58.259
 details

00:13:58.259 --> 00:13:58.680
 in Acts

00:13:58.680 --> 00:13:59.500
 15,

00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:00.340
 if it's

00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:00.700
 not just

00:14:00.700 --> 00:14:01.000
 to give

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:01.600
 the conclusion

00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:01.980
 that's

00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:02.680
 made very

00:14:02.680 --> 00:14:03.639
 clear elsewhere

00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:04.200
 in Scripture.

00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:05.600
 We have

00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:05.860
 all of

00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:06.040
 these

00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:06.459
 details,

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:07.740
 I and

00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.480
 the whole

00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:08.860
 Reformed

00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:09.279
 tradition

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:09.819
 believes

00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:10.860
 because it

00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:11.559
 does teach

00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:12.159
 the church

00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:13.539
 the process

00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:14.539
 to follow

00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:16.079
 when truth

00:14:16.079 --> 00:14:16.799
 and peace

00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.599
 are disturbed.

00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:18.620
 So that's

00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:18.899
 what we'll

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:19.500
 focus on.

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.459
 Let's see

00:14:20.459 --> 00:14:20.939
 all that we

00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:21.360
 can learn.

00:14:21.959 --> 00:14:22.519
 So chapter

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:22.980
 15,

00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:23.599
 verse 2,

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:26.700
 what was

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:28.240
 going on in

00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:31.779
 what was

00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:32.259
 going on in

00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:32.680
 this church

00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:33.320
 in Antioch?

00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.040
 The truth

00:14:36.040 --> 00:14:36.460
 was being

00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:36.920
 attacked

00:14:36.920 --> 00:14:38.320
 and there

00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:38.779
 were men,

00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:39.639
 mature believers,

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.600
 preachers of the

00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.159
 gospel like

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:41.600
 Paul and

00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.120
 Barnabas.

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.420
 As a reminder,

00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:44.240
 Barnabas means

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:44.600
 son of

00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:45.120
 encouragement.

00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:45.659
 He's the one

00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:46.420
 who discipled

00:14:46.420 --> 00:14:47.220
 Paul for

00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:48.460
 about 13

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:48.920
 years.

00:14:49.300 --> 00:14:49.639
 When they

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:50.000
 came as

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.379
 missionaries

00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:50.779
 to another

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.120
 city,

00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.659
 the people

00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:53.259
 seeing these

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:53.840
 two minister

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.899
 together said

00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:55.639
 Barnabas is

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.899
 Zeus and

00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.320
 Paul is

00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:57.799
 Hermes.

00:14:58.580 --> 00:14:59.519
 Zeus is like

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.799
 the fatherly

00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:01.120
 figure,

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:01.620
 the older

00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.460
 wise one,

00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.259
 powerful.

00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:03.939
 That was

00:15:03.939 --> 00:15:04.799
 Barnabas and

00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.860
 Hermes is

00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:06.279
 mouth,

00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:06.759
 you know,

00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:07.820
 and that's

00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:08.039
 Paul.

00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:08.879
 Paul is doing

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.340
 the teaching

00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:09.840
 and the talking

00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.700
 and that's

00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:11.539
 who Paul and

00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.279
 Barnabas are.

00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:12.899
 Paul's an

00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:13.320
 apostle.

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:14.379
 He carries

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.159
 apostolic

00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:16.179
 authority from

00:15:16.179 --> 00:15:17.059
 Christ himself

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:18.480
 and yet within

00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:19.139
 this church in

00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:19.639
 Antioch,

00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:20.759
 there's great

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:22.340
 dispute over

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:22.960
 the truth.

00:15:23.199 --> 00:15:23.559
 It's being

00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:25.059
 challenged and

00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:25.539
 questioned.

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:28.000
 Verse 24 says

00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:29.220
 this church in

00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:29.939
 Antioch was

00:15:29.939 --> 00:15:31.620
 troubled with

00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:33.179
 words that

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.840
 they were

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.960
 unsettled in

00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.840
 their souls.

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:37.939
 This is what

00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:38.600
 happened when

00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:39.460
 false teaching

00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:40.519
 or false words

00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:41.679
 come into a

00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.080
 church.

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.480
 An attack on

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.100
 the truth

00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:46.319
 undermines

00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:46.759
 peace.

00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:49.439
 An attack

00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:50.200
 on truth

00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:50.720
 is what

00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:51.500
 unsettles

00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.379
 peace.

00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:53.159
 It's

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.019
 impossible to

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:54.620
 have peace

00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.299
 in a church

00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:56.419
 if we don't

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:56.879
 care about

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.279
 truth,

00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:58.200
 if we don't

00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:58.639
 care about

00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.080
 doctrine.

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:00.879
 That's the

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.779
 first principle

00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:02.200
 we can

00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:02.759
 notice.

00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:04.819
 And I think

00:16:04.819 --> 00:16:05.419
 now we have

00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.299
 an apostolic

00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:07.879
 example of

00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.519
 how truth

00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.000
 and peace

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.659
 are to be

00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:10.200
 protected

00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:11.419
 by churches.

00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:12.579
 even though

00:16:12.579 --> 00:16:13.039
 Paul's an

00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:13.459
 apostle,

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.519
 the church

00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.360
 in Antioch

00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.299
 verse 2

00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:17.299
 says determined

00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:18.699
 that Paul and

00:16:18.699 --> 00:16:19.479
 Barnabas and

00:16:19.479 --> 00:16:20.259
 certain others

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:21.059
 from them,

00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.459
 so messengers

00:16:22.459 --> 00:16:23.159
 from the church

00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:23.759
 in Antioch,

00:16:24.199 --> 00:16:24.759
 should go up

00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.419
 to Jerusalem

00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.279
 to the

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:27.659
 apostles and

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.959
 elders about

00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:29.659
 this question.

00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.879
 This is how

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:33.899
 God in his

00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:35.059
 wisdom chose

00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:35.579
 to bring

00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:36.679
 clarification,

00:16:37.219 --> 00:16:37.719
 to uphold

00:16:37.719 --> 00:16:38.959
 truth and the

00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:40.120
 peace in this

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:40.799
 local church

00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:41.440
 in Antioch.

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.419
 It wasn't

00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:43.000
 just for Paul

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.480
 to write it

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:43.879
 down as

00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.360
 breathed out

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:44.740
 scripture,

00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:45.480
 though that

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:45.740
 would have

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.299
 been enough

00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:46.980
 and should

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.220
 have been

00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:48.080
 received joyfully.

00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.460
 It was for

00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:49.960
 the church

00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:51.340
 to decide

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.060
 together to

00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:52.679
 send them

00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:53.340
 and messengers

00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:54.419
 to go get

00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:55.460
 help from

00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.299
 another church.

00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.620
 So that's the

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.340
 second principle.

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.779
 A local church

00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.940
 acts on the

00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:01.840
 authority Christ

00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.560
 has entrusted

00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:03.960
 to her to

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.859
 uphold truth

00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:05.359
 and peace.

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:06.779
 Paul and

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.259
 Barnabas,

00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:08.640
 even though they

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.279
 knew the answer

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.079
 that circumcision

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.879
 was not to be

00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:11.460
 forced upon

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.399
 Gentile converts

00:17:12.399 --> 00:17:13.439
 in the new

00:17:13.439 --> 00:17:13.759
 covenant,

00:17:13.919 --> 00:17:14.619
 that that's not

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:16.039
 what saves you,

00:17:16.659 --> 00:17:17.279
 they modeled

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.619
 humility and

00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.399
 they trusted that

00:17:19.399 --> 00:17:20.119
 the Holy Spirit

00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:20.960
 in dwelling in the

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.960
 church would

00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.220
 illumine this

00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:23.819
 matter with

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:25.019
 authority to

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:26.799
 protect the

00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.240
 church in

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:27.819
 Antioch.

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.319
 So the Holy

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.099
 Spirit through

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:30.779
 the church was

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.759
 directing Paul and

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.960
 Barnabas along

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.419
 with other

00:17:33.419 --> 00:17:34.500
 messengers to

00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.559
 submit themselves

00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.879
 and this matter

00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:38.000
 to the council

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.099
 of another

00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:39.639
 church,

00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.879
 which would

00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:41.699
 include apostles,

00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:41.679
!

00:17:41.679 --> 00:17:41.679


00:17:41.679 --> 00:17:42.240
 elders,

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.379
 and all the

00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:43.699
 brethren,

00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.139
 the whole

00:17:44.139 --> 00:17:44.539
 church,

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.339
 so that all

00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:47.500
 churches in

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.159
 centuries to

00:17:48.159 --> 00:17:48.919
 come would

00:17:48.919 --> 00:17:49.659
 have a pattern

00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:50.740
 to follow.

00:17:51.939 --> 00:17:52.799
 The third

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.599
 principle we can

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.199
 glean then is

00:17:54.199 --> 00:17:54.559
 this,

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.079
 the most mature

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:57.539
 believers here,

00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:58.899
 this was Paul and

00:17:58.899 --> 00:17:59.279
 Barnabas,

00:17:59.419 --> 00:17:59.939
 along with

00:17:59.939 --> 00:18:00.719
 messengers that

00:18:00.719 --> 00:18:01.319
 this congregation

00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:02.079
 would trust,

00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.480
 they report back,

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.539
 they humbly

00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.660
 brought a

00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.819
 threat to

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.420
 peace and

00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.480
 truth forward

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.940
 into the light

00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.660
 of the broader

00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.319
 kingdom of

00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.400
 Christ and

00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.420
 they asked for

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.380
 help from

00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.140
 another church.

00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:18.500
 Verse 3 says,

00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:20.000
 so being sent

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.039
 by the church,

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.140
 they passed

00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:23.299
 through Phoenicia

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.000
 and Samaria

00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.059
 and as they

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.620
 went they're

00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:26.779
 describing the

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.440
 same things they

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:27.960
 were describing

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.539
 back to the

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.339
 church in

00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:29.920
 Antioch.

00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:31.140
 God is

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:31.759
 converting

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:34.039
 Gentiles and

00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:34.660
 those churches

00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:35.440
 heard that news

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.279
 and it caused

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.180
 them great joy

00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:38.300
 to all the

00:18:38.300 --> 00:18:38.820
 brethren, the

00:18:38.820 --> 00:18:39.340
 whole church

00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:40.240
 hearing these

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:40.779
 reports.

00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.460
 You notice the

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:42.840
 pattern,

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.019
 it's that,

00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.019
 it's what,

00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:47.580
 it's written in

00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:48.200
 Romans 10,

00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:49.340
 people can't

00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:50.140
 believe in

00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:50.740
 Christ unless

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.340
 they hear the

00:18:51.340 --> 00:18:52.660
 gospel and

00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:53.200
 how will they

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:54.100
 believe unless

00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:55.000
 someone preaches

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.240
 and then here's

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.860
 the part that we

00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:57.580
 can very easily

00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:58.700
 miss today.

00:18:58.700 --> 00:19:00.299
 Paul writes,

00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:00.779
 how will they

00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.860
 preach unless

00:19:01.860 --> 00:19:03.279
 they are sent?

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.460
 And here Paul

00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:06.360
 is modeling that.

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.400
 These churches

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.259
 are sending

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:08.660
 Paul.

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.160
 They are giving

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.440
 him that authority

00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:12.420
 to go on their

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:14.100
 behalf and to

00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:14.740
 do this good

00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.120
 work.

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.160
 So now they're

00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:17.860
 traveling from

00:19:17.860 --> 00:19:18.920
 Turkey, Asia Minor

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:20.279
 all the way back

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.580
 to Jerusalem.

00:19:23.340 --> 00:19:24.059
 According to

00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:24.840
 quick research,

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.640
 this would be

00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:27.660
 about 300 miles

00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.160
 if you were to

00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:28.680
 do it by

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:30.019
 foot, which is

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.920
 probably a good

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.420
 estimate.

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.680
 300 miles would

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.920
 take on average

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.180
 about three weeks

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.700
 to travel by

00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:39.019
 foot.

00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:41.420
 Hartleys, when you

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:42.000
 all went to

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.900
 Rangeley, Colorado,

00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:44.259
 we, we, it's out

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:46.259
 of the way, but it

00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.200
 was a day's travel.

00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:47.740
 You know, we're

00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.380
 going to load up,

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:48.820
 we're going to

00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:49.500
 drive there for a

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.980
 day and, and it's

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.740
 farther than I would

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.580
 go, you know, on a

00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:53.560
 regular basis, but it

00:19:53.560 --> 00:19:54.140
 is doable.

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.519
 And here they're

00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.140
 traveling for 300

00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:58.480
 miles on foot,

00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.440
 three weeks.

00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:01.600
 And notice how

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.600
 even a trip to

00:20:02.600 --> 00:20:03.740
 meet with another

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:05.100
 church is an

00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:05.759
 occasion for

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.220
 fellowship.

00:20:07.580 --> 00:20:08.420
 They have Paul and

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.320
 Barnabas along with

00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:09.900
 these other

00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:10.840
 messengers from the

00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.660
 church in Antioch

00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.900
 spending three weeks

00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:13.900
 together and

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.780
 stopping at other

00:20:14.780 --> 00:20:16.220
 churches along the

00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:16.540
 way.

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:17.880
 And as they go,

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.620
 they're telling of

00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.640
 God's faithfulness

00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.940
 and praising God

00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.400
 together.

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.080
 So the trip

00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:23.380
 itself is a

00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:23.759
 blessing.

00:20:25.040 --> 00:20:26.540
 And distance does

00:20:26.540 --> 00:20:27.620
 not matter.

00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:29.780
 If help can be

00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:30.660
 gained, even if it

00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:31.700
 takes us three weeks

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.700
 to get to a place,

00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:34.940
 it's a blessing and

00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:36.420
 enjoy the journey as

00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:36.820
 we go.

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.880
 Verse four, when

00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.860
 they had come to

00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:41.660
 Jerusalem, they were

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.780
 received by the

00:20:42.780 --> 00:20:44.019
 church and the

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:45.700
 apostles and the

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.060
 elders.

00:20:48.060 --> 00:20:48.740
 Here's an

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.480
 important point,

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.799
 important point of

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.900
 distinction.

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.519
 Initially, in verse

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.360
 four, we're told it

00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:55.960
 was the church,

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.500
 which implies the

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.900
 whole assembly, and

00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.880
 the apostles and the

00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:00.180
 elders.

00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:03.220
 A Presbyterian form

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.279
 of government has

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.920
 the elders gathering

00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:07.140
 as a presbytery

00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:09.120
 without the church.

00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:11.259
 Other forms of

00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:11.799
 government would

00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.360
 have what they

00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:12.860
 would view as

00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:13.779
 succession to that

00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.680
 role of a bishop,

00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.640
 like above the

00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:15.920
 elders.

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.759
 So that would be

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.620
 like a

00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:20.399
 Roman Catholic or

00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:21.419
 even Episcopal or

00:21:21.419 --> 00:21:22.199
 something like that.

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.979
 What I'm going to

00:21:24.979 --> 00:21:26.739
 present to you is

00:21:26.739 --> 00:21:27.319
 what a

00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.159
 congregational,

00:21:28.879 --> 00:21:30.439
 still reformed,

00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:31.919
 Puritan, you

00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:32.639
 know, mode of

00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:34.079
 congregational church

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.099
 government has, which

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:36.619
 includes the church

00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:38.439
 and messengers from

00:21:38.439 --> 00:21:39.000
 the churches.

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.259
 And they were

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.339
 received by them.

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.079
 Notice how they

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.479
 approached them having

00:21:46.479 --> 00:21:47.519
 been sent by another

00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:47.920
 church.

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.720
 Now they're formally

00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:50.660
 received by another

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.119
 church.

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:53.119
 It's not individuals

00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:54.819
 claiming an authority

00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.480
 of their own.

00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:57.220
 They're not presenting

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.619
 their own agenda or

00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.180
 interests.

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.639
 They were formally

00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:03.200
 sent on official

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.819
 church business on

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.160
 behalf of a

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.339
 congregation in

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:07.900
 Antioch.

00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:09.480
 And they could

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.579
 approach this church

00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.619
 now as delegates,

00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:12.700
 as messengers,

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.259
 as representatives,

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:16.460
 and greet one

00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:18.299
 church on behalf of

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:18.680
 another.

00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.960
 Verse 4 says,

00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:22.339
 they reported all

00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:24.059
 things that God had

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:25.059
 done with them.

00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:28.140
 And the principle

00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:28.839
 here, this would be

00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.879
 number five, is that

00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.839
 Christians work not

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.779
 for their own church

00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:33.779
 alone, but Christians

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:35.980
 work alongside all

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:37.019
 God's laborers.

00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.259
 We work together.

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.599
 3 John

00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:42.379
 verse 8 says,

00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.839
 we therefore ought

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:45.220
 to receive such

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:46.680
 that we may become

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:48.200
 fellow workers

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.579
 for the truth.

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:51.160
 So when we have

00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:52.119
 representatives from

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:53.000
 other churches that

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.859
 are laboring for the

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:55.299
 kingdom, laboring for

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.559
 the common cause,

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.980
 we are to receive them

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.900
 as fellow workers

00:22:58.900 --> 00:23:00.039
 of the truth.

00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:01.740
 Verse 5 says,

00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.740
 now this is within

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.339
 the church in

00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:03.819
 Jerusalem,

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.579
 some of the sect of

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.379
 the Pharisees,

00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:07.280
 that means this

00:23:07.280 --> 00:23:08.580
 group that had

00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.720
 been really good

00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.600
 at keeping the law

00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:12.040
 of the old covenant,

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.160
 but notice the

00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:13.900
 wording carefully

00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:14.680
 in verse 5.

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.580
 Pharisees who had

00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:17.540
 believed,

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.440
 they rose up

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.700
 saying,

00:23:20.340 --> 00:23:21.300
 I think,

00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.300
 I think those

00:23:22.300 --> 00:23:23.380
 people from Judea

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:23.980
 and Antioch

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.940
 got it right.

00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:26.440
 I think Paul and

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.240
 Barnabas maybe are

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.980
 getting this wrong.

00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:29.060
 They says,

00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.240
 it is necessary

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.640
 to circumcise

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.280
 Gentiles

00:23:32.280 --> 00:23:33.460
 and to command

00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.060
 them to keep

00:23:34.060 --> 00:23:35.060
 the law of

00:23:35.060 --> 00:23:35.480
 Moses.

00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:38.380
 the church

00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:38.940
 in Jerusalem

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.000
 is now also

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.940
 divided on this

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.660
 same question

00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:42.740
 of truth.

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:44.860
 Believers

00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:46.420
 within the church,

00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:49.160
 they belonged

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.280
 to this congregation.

00:23:51.860 --> 00:23:52.840
 How is the church

00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:53.400
 going to handle

00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:53.680
 this?

00:23:53.760 --> 00:23:54.340
 Some of our

00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:56.100
 members hold

00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:57.160
 this to be true,

00:23:57.320 --> 00:23:57.940
 others of our

00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:58.400
 members hold

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.180
 this to be true.

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.420
 How do we

00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.200
 resolve this?

00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.600
 In verse 6

00:24:03.600 --> 00:24:03.980
 we read,

00:24:04.060 --> 00:24:04.800
 so the apostles

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:06.240
 and the elders

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.139
 came together

00:24:07.139 --> 00:24:08.579
 to read the matter.

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:11.220
 So in verse 6

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:13.500
 we don't see

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.079
 the whole church

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.819
 being mentioned

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.700
 at least not

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.259
 initially.

00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.759
 It's the elders

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.759
 and the apostles

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:20.960
 setting extra time

00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.519
 aside to consider

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.220
 the matter that

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.079
 originated in

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.859
 another church

00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:26.000
 but which now

00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.200
 also exposes

00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.619
 further clarification

00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.579
 needed in their

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.700
 church here in

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.159
 this city.

00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:32.940
 But if you look

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.940
 down at verse 12

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.519
 we're told

00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.800
 all the multitude

00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:37.759
 so before long

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.680
 even if it began

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.320
 being considered

00:24:39.320 --> 00:24:39.980
 by the elders

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.040
 before long

00:24:41.040 --> 00:24:42.120
 they found a way

00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.840
 to involve

00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:44.360
 the whole congregation

00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:45.860
 and it's a big

00:24:45.860 --> 00:24:46.779
 church in Jerusalem

00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:48.000
 described as a

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.480
 multitude.

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:51.180
 They came together

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:54.259
 the representatives

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.960
 of the church

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.500
 the elders

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.240
 and even with

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:56.779
 the apostles

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.279
 with them

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.220
 showing humility

00:24:58.220 --> 00:25:00.000
 involving all the

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.420
 members

00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:02.000
 inviting the

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.339
 brethren

00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.140
 the whole church

00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:04.440
 to prayerfully

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.839
 weigh the teaching

00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.900
 that's been

00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.779
 introduced at

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.539
 another church

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:10.279
 and they made

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.900
 time in their

00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.640
 busy schedules

00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:13.019
 for this need.

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:13.920
 Again not only

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.319
 the elders

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.079
 maybe initially

00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:16.460
 setting that time

00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:17.759
 apart but eventually

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.339
 the whole church

00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:20.980
 saying this is

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.460
 important.

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.339
 They accepted

00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:24.319
 this other church's

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.279
 request for help

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.480
 as a natural

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.720
 part of the

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.680
 scope of their

00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.980
 work as a

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.779
 local church.

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.460
 They put other

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.740
 tasks on hold

00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.720
 for a moment

00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:36.039
 they called a

00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.799
 special meeting

00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.320
 or several

00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:39.560
 meetings of

00:25:39.560 --> 00:25:40.060
 their church

00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:40.840
 to consider

00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.740
 this matter

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.019
 that was troubling

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:44.440
 another church.

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.720
 Verse 7 says

00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.420
 when there had

00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.519
 been much

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.560
 dispute

00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:51.820
 vigorous debate

00:25:51.820 --> 00:25:53.779
 strong arguments

00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.740
 being exchanged

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.660
 and weighed.

00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:57.800
 see how the

00:25:57.800 --> 00:25:58.460
 concerns of

00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:59.140
 one church

00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.460
 have become

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:00.880
 now the

00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.740
 concerns of

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.480
 another church.

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.340
 Here's a

00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:05.279
 principle for us

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.200
 when one

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:07.000
 church asks

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.620
 another for

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.040
 assistance

00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:09.279
 with a matter

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.120
 that threatens

00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:11.360
 peace or

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:11.820
 truth

00:26:11.820 --> 00:26:13.320
 Christ expects

00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:14.600
 churches to

00:26:14.600 --> 00:26:15.519
 help one

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:15.880
 another.

00:26:16.560 --> 00:26:17.380
 How do I

00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:17.820
 come to this

00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:18.259
 conclusion?

00:26:18.560 --> 00:26:19.500
 The Holy Spirit

00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.300
 is directing

00:26:20.300 --> 00:26:22.080
 every one of

00:26:22.080 --> 00:26:22.720
 these steps

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:22.799
 things.

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:24.180
 And when they

00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.539
 give their

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:25.019
 answer their

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.759
 conclusion they

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.980
 say it seemed

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.559
 good to the

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.380
 Holy Spirit.

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.640
 This is the

00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.180
 authority of

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.539
 Christ guiding

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.980
 the work of

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:35.299
 churches with

00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.799
 authority to

00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.660
 labor for peace

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.180
 and truth

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:39.240
 helping one

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.600
 another.

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.480
 In verse 7

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.200
 Peter rose up

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:42.640
 and said to

00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.120
 the men and

00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:44.700
 brethren and

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.240
 I'll summarize

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.019
 verses 7

00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:46.579
 through 11

00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.640
 he's saying we

00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.279
 believe that

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.819
 through the

00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:49.460
 grace of our

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:49.900
 Lord Jesus

00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:51.319
 Christ anyone

00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:52.140
 will be saved.

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:54.680
 In verse 12

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.460
 we read that

00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:55.980
 all the

00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.460
 multitude

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:58.279
 this is the

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.120
 entire local

00:26:59.120 --> 00:26:59.680
 church that

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.400
 was actively

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:02.000
 participating in

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.740
 a theological

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:04.460
 discussion as

00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:05.339
 official church

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:05.880
 business.

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:07.400
 They kept

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:08.720
 silent now and

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.360
 they listened to

00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:10.000
 Barnabas and

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.740
 Paul declaring

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.480
 how many

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.200
 miracles and

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.240
 wonders God

00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:13.600
 had worked

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.039
 through them

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.460
 among the

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.059
 Gentiles.

00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.740
 Verse 13

00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.440
 says after

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.000
 they had become

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.839
 silent James

00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:19.319
 spoke.

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.000
 To summarize

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.819
 he said God

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.420
 knowing from

00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.180
 all eternity

00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:24.039
 that all

00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.640
 nations would

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.200
 call on the

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:25.880
 name of God

00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:27.480
 this is how

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.360
 he is restoring

00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:28.960
 the kingdom

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.400
 through David's

00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:31.360
 line in

00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:32.180
 Jesus Christ.

00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.019
 He is

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.759
 rebuilding his

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.779
 kingdom on

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.700
 earth from

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.300
 the ruins

00:27:36.300 --> 00:27:37.279
 of that

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.600
 kingdom.

00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:39.360
 And now the

00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.320
 church made

00:27:40.320 --> 00:27:41.500
 up of Israel

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.240
 and all

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:44.420
 nations is

00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.220
 recipients of

00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.920
 God's grace.

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.680
 Now verses

00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:48.740
 20 and 21

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.060
 are tricky

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.619
 and I

00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.179
 can't spend

00:27:51.179 --> 00:27:51.539
 a lot of

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:51.859
 time on

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.259
 them now.

00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:52.980
 I also

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.279
 don't want

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.639
 to skip

00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.059
 over them

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.539
 entirely.

00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.299
 Look at

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:55.819
 verse 20.

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.240
 It says we

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:59.379
 write to them

00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:00.139
 to abstain

00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:00.919
 from things

00:28:00.919 --> 00:28:01.899
 polluted by

00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.259
 idols,

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.399
 from sexual

00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:04.019
 immorality,

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:04.940
 from things

00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.559
 strangled,

00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.419
 and from

00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:06.839
 blood.

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.619
 Verse 21

00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:09.200
 for Moses

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.200
 has had

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.480
 throughout

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.339
 many generations

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.299
 those who

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:12.799
 preach him in

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.399
 every city

00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:14.379
 being read

00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:15.059
 in the

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.700
 synagogues

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.759
 every Sabbath.

00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:18.840
 He's saying

00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:19.160
 this,

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:20.000
 as the gospel

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.660
 goes out

00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:21.940
 and God

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:22.779
 has a people

00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.759
 that he has

00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.360
 dispersed

00:28:24.360 --> 00:28:25.460
 and put them

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.240
 in synagogues

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.180
 to hear the

00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:27.740
 Old Testament

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.700
 to prepare

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.519
 them to hear

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.039
 the good news

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.559
 of Jesus.

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.039
 And as people

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.620
 believe whether

00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:33.460
 Jew or Gentile

00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.720
 they need to

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.700
 enjoy fellowship

00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:37.000
 with one another.

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:38.160
 And the

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:38.940
 practices of

00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:39.960
 these pagan

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.620
 temples to

00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.799
 demons should

00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.440
 not be brought

00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.059
 into the church

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.660
 in any way.

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:46.019
 So sexual

00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.580
 immorality

00:28:46.580 --> 00:28:47.140
 was cult

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.900
 prostitution

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.840
 and it was

00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:49.340
 bundled in

00:28:49.340 --> 00:28:50.180
 with worship

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.960
 of the emperor

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:52.080
 and the demons

00:28:52.080 --> 00:28:53.040
 of a given

00:28:53.040 --> 00:28:53.460
 city.

00:28:54.060 --> 00:28:54.759
 So what he's

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.320
 making clear

00:28:55.320 --> 00:28:55.820
 is this,

00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.180
 don't force

00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:57.640
 them to be

00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:58.400
 circumcised.

00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.380
 Salvation

00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.759
 is by grace

00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.620
 not by

00:29:01.620 --> 00:29:02.900
 the ceremonial

00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:03.580
 law.

00:29:04.580 --> 00:29:05.460
 But as

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:05.960
 believers

00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.740
 united into

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.279
 a church

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.580
 they are all

00:29:08.580 --> 00:29:09.160
 to live

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.160
 in fellowship

00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:10.779
 together.

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.140
 And this

00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:12.519
 must be

00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:13.500
 clear by

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:13.920
 the love

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.320
 you have

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.700
 for your

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.279
 congregation

00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.240
 choosing

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.299
 the church

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.539
 even when

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.279
 there are

00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:19.859
 Jews,

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.480
 weaker

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:20.919
 Jews

00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:22.700
 who are

00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:24.000
 understanding

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.460
 now this

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.279
 transition away

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.659
 from the

00:29:25.659 --> 00:29:26.460
 ceremonial law

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:27.279
 to the

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:27.819
 new covenant

00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.879
 commands.

00:29:30.179 --> 00:29:31.000
 In other

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.319
 words,

00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:33.059
 don't

00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.679
 circumcise

00:29:33.679 --> 00:29:34.720
 them but

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.539
 also protect

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.500
 the fellowship

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.019
 of these

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.779
 newly forming

00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.240
 churches.

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.339
 Don't create

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.159
 stumbling blocks

00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:41.139
 one for

00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:41.480
 another.

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:44.240
 verse 22,

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.240
 it pleased

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.099
 the apostles

00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:46.819
 and the

00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:47.200
 elders

00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.559
 with the

00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:48.940
 whole

00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.759
 church.

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.200
 There's an

00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:51.599
 agreement

00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:51.960
 here.

00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:52.940
 There's

00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.680
 what you

00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.079
 could call

00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:54.640
 a common

00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.279
 suffrage.

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.860
 It's using

00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.599
 the authority

00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.620
 that Christ

00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.220
 has entrusted

00:29:59.220 --> 00:29:59.700
 to a

00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.299
 congregation

00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.940
 to affirm

00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.940
 what we

00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.440
 believe to

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:03.860
 be right.

00:30:04.860 --> 00:30:05.660
 We don't

00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.259
 want barriers

00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:06.980
 to fellowship

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:08.259
 but salvation

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:09.220
 is by grace

00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:10.160
 not by

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.680
 keeping the

00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:10.940
 law.

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:12.860
 And because

00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:13.360
 it pleased

00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:13.700
 them then

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.339
 they sent

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.220
 men of

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.819
 their own

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.500
 church to

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:17.140
 Antioch with

00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:17.539
 Paul and

00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.819
 Barnabas and

00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.339
 it lists who

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:19.779
 those men

00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.079
 were.

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:20.880
 Now notice

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.420
 the detail

00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:21.819
 at the end

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.079
 of verse

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.579
 22.

00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:23.559
 These were

00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:25.000
 leading men

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.000
 among the

00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.360
 brethren.

00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.220
 To be sent

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.200
 on behalf of

00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:29.819
 a church to

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.559
 another church

00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:31.940
 as a messenger

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.980
 is a great

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.339
 honor.

00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.420
 Leading men,

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.019
 these are men

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.900
 who are a

00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.460
 blessing right

00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:37.980
 here to our

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.299
 church.

00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:39.159
 They have

00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:39.619
 the fruit of

00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.099
 the spirit.

00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.559
 They're capable.

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:42.579
 They will

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.940
 bring credibility

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:45.059
 to this

00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.559
 decision.

00:30:46.659 --> 00:30:47.379
 And it

00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:48.599
 pleased the

00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.200
 whole church.

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:50.579
 Here's our

00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:51.379
 seventh principle.

00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.159
 These believers

00:30:52.159 --> 00:30:53.919
 experienced a

00:30:53.919 --> 00:30:55.440
 special God

00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:57.480
 directed pleasure.

00:30:58.599 --> 00:30:59.299
 A blessing

00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.359
 of arriving at

00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:01.059
 a resolution,

00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:02.639
 better clarity,

00:31:03.419 --> 00:31:04.259
 and consensus

00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:05.419
 with other

00:31:05.419 --> 00:31:05.940
 believers.

00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.460
 Combining the

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.259
 wisdom of

00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:08.799
 their churches.

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.160
 The satisfaction

00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:12.200
 of confirming

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:13.779
 truth together,

00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:15.100
 bringing closure

00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:16.380
 to a divisive

00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:16.900
 question,

00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:18.960
 affirming this

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:20.000
 pleasing conclusion.

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.779
 It was enjoyed

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.440
 by all.

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:22.720
 If it's a

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.299
 blessing, it

00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:23.759
 should be

00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.039
 shared.

00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:24.600
 It should be

00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:25.500
 something that

00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:26.140
 everyone can

00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:27.360
 know they have

00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:27.920
 a part in.

00:31:28.600 --> 00:31:29.160
 The elders

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:29.920
 were not acting

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.299
 alone as an

00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:31.980
 entity unto

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.600
 themselves.

00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:33.880
 It pleased the

00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:34.600
 apostles, the

00:31:34.600 --> 00:31:35.720
 elders, with the

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.059
 brethren.

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.240
 All who

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:38.500
 participated in

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.100
 this lively

00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:40.539
 process together

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.640
 were edified.

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.180
 They all

00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.960
 exercised the

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:45.059
 authority Christ

00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:45.940
 gave the

00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:47.400
 church, fully

00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:49.460
 participating to

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.000
 help another

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.420
 church.

00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.960
 Verse 23 says,

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.500
 then they wrote

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.600
 this letter by

00:31:54.600 --> 00:31:55.600
 them, the

00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:56.340
 apostles, the

00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:58.240
 elders, and the

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.620
 brethren, to the

00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.519
 brethren, the

00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.960
 whole church, who

00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:02.840
 are of the

00:32:02.840 --> 00:32:04.100
 Gentiles in

00:32:04.100 --> 00:32:05.380
 Antioch, Syria,

00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:06.400
 and Cilicia.

00:32:07.100 --> 00:32:08.259
 So notice now, this

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.860
 letter is going to

00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:09.600
 be a blessing not

00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:10.340
 just to the one

00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:11.519
 church at which the

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.420
 question originated,

00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:13.620
 but to other

00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:13.980
 churches.

00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:14.480
 Let it be

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.000
 multiplied.

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.000
 You could say

00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.539
 these churches

00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.940
 became almost a

00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:19.019
 laboratory to

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.680
 accelerate,

00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.380
 pinning down

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:22.720
 gospel truths to

00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.340
 protect the

00:32:23.340 --> 00:32:23.660
 peace.

00:32:24.600 --> 00:32:25.000
 The others

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.540
 didn't have to

00:32:25.540 --> 00:32:26.120
 go through great

00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:27.380
 dispute to be

00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:28.540
 blessed by this

00:32:28.540 --> 00:32:30.060
 wonderful revelation

00:32:30.060 --> 00:32:30.620
 and this

00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:31.160
 conclusion.

00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:33.020
 They said,

00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:33.460
 greetings.

00:32:34.020 --> 00:32:34.540
 Verse 24,

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.220
 since we have

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:36.720
 heard that some

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.360
 who went out

00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:39.480
 from us, they

00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.120
 had been part of

00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:40.800
 that church, they

00:32:40.800 --> 00:32:41.480
 have troubled you

00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.120
 with words,

00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.480
 unsettling your

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.140
 souls, saying,

00:32:44.780 --> 00:32:45.340
 you must be

00:32:45.340 --> 00:32:46.380
 circumcised and

00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:47.700
 keep the law to

00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:48.900
 whom we gave no

00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:50.680
 such commandment.

00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:52.400
 They're saying

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.680
 these people, using

00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.480
 words to cause

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:56.300
 division, do not

00:32:56.300 --> 00:32:57.800
 have the authority

00:32:57.800 --> 00:32:59.100
 of this church.

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:01.640
 We gave them no

00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.480
 such commandment.

00:33:03.020 --> 00:33:03.880
 Paul and Barnabas

00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:05.280
 modeled being sent

00:33:05.280 --> 00:33:06.920
 humbly as delegates

00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:08.460
 of a church, where

00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:09.440
 these others are going

00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:10.580
 around as

00:33:10.580 --> 00:33:11.280
 troublemakers.

00:33:12.120 --> 00:33:13.140
 Their authority is

00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:14.740
 not to be taken

00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.300
 seriously.

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:18.060
 In verse 25, they

00:33:18.060 --> 00:33:19.140
 report, it seemed

00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:20.720
 good to us being

00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:22.120
 assembled with

00:33:22.120 --> 00:33:23.700
 one accord.

00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.620
 Assembled in the

00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.420
 name of Jesus,

00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:28.160
 having prayed,

00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:30.019
 discussed vigorously,

00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.339
 and arrived at a

00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:31.819
 conclusion.

00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:33.720
 It seemed good to

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.400
 us to send these

00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:35.680
 messengers with

00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.539
 Paul and Barnabas,

00:33:37.100 --> 00:33:38.380
 giving you our

00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:38.860
 conclusion.

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.140
 Here's an eighth

00:33:40.140 --> 00:33:40.600
 principle.

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.559
 After the churches

00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:43.299
 discern the mind of

00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:44.100
 Christ together,

00:33:45.100 --> 00:33:46.480
 when they declare

00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:48.019
 his truth, it

00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:49.420
 carries his

00:33:49.420 --> 00:33:50.080
 authority.

00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:53.340
 The church has the

00:33:53.340 --> 00:33:55.000
 authority delegated

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:56.180
 by Christ.

00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:57.620
 And as we

00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:58.600
 prayerfully discern

00:33:58.600 --> 00:33:59.539
 the mind of Christ

00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:01.080
 together, when the

00:34:01.080 --> 00:34:02.779
 church acts, it's

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:04.060
 not just like a

00:34:04.060 --> 00:34:05.180
 social club making

00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:06.800
 a vote on some

00:34:06.800 --> 00:34:07.380
 transaction.

00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:09.119
 It's not like a

00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.639
 parent-teacher

00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:11.639
 association appointing

00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.760
 this or that or

00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:14.019
 doing something like

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.539
 that for the

00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:14.880
 government.

00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:14.960
 government.

00:34:15.740 --> 00:34:16.519
 No, it's the

00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.300
 authority of the

00:34:17.300 --> 00:34:18.660
 kingdom of heaven

00:34:18.660 --> 00:34:20.860
 carried out through

00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:22.180
 the common suffrage

00:34:22.180 --> 00:34:23.700
 of a local church.

00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.840
 It's the whole

00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:26.900
 church exercising

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.900
 what Christ gave

00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:29.320
 it, which Christ

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.260
 himself called the

00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.420
 keys of the kingdom

00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:32.539
 of heaven.

00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:34.260
 And they do this by

00:34:34.260 --> 00:34:35.300
 sending a letter to

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.900
 other churches in the

00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:38.160
 hands of messengers.

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:41.640
 Their authority was a

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:43.019
 declarative statement

00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:45.319
 of truth in line

00:34:45.319 --> 00:34:46.799
 with God's word.

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.359
 So their authority

00:34:48.359 --> 00:34:49.819
 was declarative.

00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:52.599
 They send it through

00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:55.199
 these chosen men who

00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:55.819
 have risked their

00:34:55.819 --> 00:34:57.879
 lives for the name

00:34:57.879 --> 00:34:58.639
 of our Lord Jesus

00:34:58.639 --> 00:34:59.199
 Christ.

00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:00.799
 Don't forget, these

00:35:00.799 --> 00:35:01.900
 are Christ's

00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.379
 ambassadors.

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:03.859
 They love him.

00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:05.920
 We receive them with

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.179
 love.

00:35:06.299 --> 00:35:07.059
 Please receive them

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:07.819
 back this way.

00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:09.500
 We have therefore

00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:10.960
 sent Judas and Silas,

00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:12.179
 who will also report

00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:14.159
 the same things by

00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:14.900
 word of mouth.

00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:16.179
 See, here's two

00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:17.960
 witnesses coming to

00:35:17.960 --> 00:35:20.380
 also bear witness and

00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.039
 report on the

00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:21.820
 discussion of the

00:35:21.820 --> 00:35:23.980
 church and help the

00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:24.900
 church to receive it

00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:25.179
 well.

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:26.119
 Matthew Henry

00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:27.119
 commented out, these

00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:29.579
 were chief men and he

00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:30.740
 drew four conclusions

00:35:30.740 --> 00:35:31.280
 from that.

00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:33.360
 It shows a respect to

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.760
 the church at Antioch.

00:35:35.059 --> 00:35:36.199
 Even though Antioch is

00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:37.440
 newly formed and like

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.599
 a little small sister

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:40.099
 compared to the massive

00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:41.039
 church in Jerusalem,

00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:42.920
 the church in Jerusalem

00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:44.079
 respects that little

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:45.199
 church in Antioch way

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:45.739
 out of the way.

00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:47.219
 We're sending some of

00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:48.559
 our chief men to

00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.539
 report this back to

00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:49.719
 you.

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:51.420
 You are important,

00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.179
 little church.

00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:53.920
 Number two is to

00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.880
 encourage Paul and

00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:55.339
 Barnabas.

00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:56.559
 We're not making them

00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:57.339
 go back alone.

00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.500
 This is not just their

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:58.839
 burden.

00:35:59.219 --> 00:36:00.119
 We're in this together.

00:36:00.900 --> 00:36:01.960
 Number three, as a

00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:03.559
 solemn embassy, here

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:05.239
 comes this small little

00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:07.199
 group coming and it's

00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:08.019
 men that should be

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:09.179
 received with reverence

00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:10.920
 and respect so that

00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:11.860
 the message will be

00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:12.840
 highly regarded when

00:36:12.840 --> 00:36:13.280
 it's heard.

00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:15.259
 And fourth comment by

00:36:15.259 --> 00:36:16.659
 Matthew Henry, it was

00:36:16.659 --> 00:36:17.719
 a way of keeping their

00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:19.039
 communion with the

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:20.300
 saints as the Nicene

00:36:20.300 --> 00:36:21.480
 and Apostolic Creeds

00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.320
 affirm.

00:36:23.179 --> 00:36:24.639
 It's a way to say we

00:36:24.639 --> 00:36:25.599
 have the same gospel.

00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:26.860
 We're in the same

00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:27.219
 kingdom.

00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:28.420
 We have the same

00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:28.940
 interests.

00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:30.420
 We share in your

00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:30.860
 communion.

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:33.480
 Notice that this is a

00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.980
 letter upholding

00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:35.440
 truth.

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:38.000
 What it's not is a

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.200
 church in Jerusalem

00:36:39.200 --> 00:36:41.179
 applying censures

00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:43.300
 saying now those men

00:36:43.300 --> 00:36:43.940
 who brought in this

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.940
 false teaching need to

00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:46.740
 be excommunicated or

00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:48.300
 publicly admonished.

00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:50.139
 That's not the role

00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:51.519
 that's given in us as

00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:52.740
 an example of a church

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.619
 to another.

00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:56.000
 The authority to

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:57.960
 discipline, to carry

00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:59.179
 out, you know, the

00:36:59.179 --> 00:37:00.500
 decision making of

00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.599
 censure or of

00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:03.480
 consequences for sin,

00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:05.159
 that belongs to one

00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:06.480
 local church only.

00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:08.400
 Another church beyond

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:09.440
 that, even in an

00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:10.900
 association and a

00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:12.079
 congregational understanding

00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:12.980
 does not have that

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.440
 authority.

00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:15.119
 But they do have a

00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:16.019
 true spiritual

00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:17.740
 declarative authority.

00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:18.740
 And when it's the

00:37:18.740 --> 00:37:20.179
 truth from that

00:37:20.179 --> 00:37:21.219
 aligns with God's word

00:37:21.219 --> 00:37:22.240
 and in our case also

00:37:22.240 --> 00:37:23.159
 the confession of

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:24.079
 faith as one more

00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:25.519
 safeguard, it should be

00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.679
 received with spiritual

00:37:26.679 --> 00:37:28.699
 authority of truth.

00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:30.980
 Verse 28, it seemed

00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:32.840
 good to the Holy Spirit

00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:35.079
 and to us to lay upon

00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:36.740
 you no greater burden

00:37:36.740 --> 00:37:37.740
 than those necessary

00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:38.340
 things.

00:37:39.240 --> 00:37:40.420
 And it's exactly what

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.719
 James had suggested.

00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:44.980
 Again, not Peter, not

00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.519
 the Pope.

00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:47.159
 In this case, it was

00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:49.559
 James whose suggestion

00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:50.219
 they followed.

00:37:51.420 --> 00:37:53.900
 Verse 31, I'm sorry,

00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:56.099
 verse 30.

00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:57.960
 After they say farewell,

00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:59.920
 it's our blessing, when

00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:01.059
 they were sent off, they

00:38:01.059 --> 00:38:02.039
 came to Antioch.

00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:03.360
 And when they had

00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:04.360
 gathered the multitude

00:38:04.360 --> 00:38:06.480
 together, they

00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:08.000
 delivered the letter.

00:38:08.840 --> 00:38:10.119
 The letter is not just

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:11.639
 to officers, the letter

00:38:11.639 --> 00:38:13.139
 is to the whole church.

00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:14.300
 And the letter would be

00:38:14.300 --> 00:38:15.460
 presented to the whole

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:15.860
 church.

00:38:16.780 --> 00:38:18.039
 Verse 31, when they had

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:20.039
 read it, they rejoiced

00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:21.639
 over its encouragement.

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:24.460
 And every letter we get

00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:25.619
 in the New Testament, this

00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:26.720
 is the occasion, this is

00:38:26.720 --> 00:38:27.420
 the context.

00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:28.940
 Gather the church

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:29.400
 together.

00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:32.260
 A public reading of this

00:38:32.260 --> 00:38:33.740
 now breathed out New

00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:35.760
 Testament letter for the

00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:36.500
 good of the church.

00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:38.559
 And notice how they

00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:39.820
 received God's word.

00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:43.000
 They rejoiced over its

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:43.800
 encouragement.

00:38:44.860 --> 00:38:46.420
 Here's the ninth and final

00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:48.059
 principle that I see in

00:38:48.059 --> 00:38:48.619
 this passage.

00:38:48.800 --> 00:38:50.840
 When one church labors to

00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:52.780
 uphold truth and peace

00:38:52.780 --> 00:38:55.559
 for another, it leads to

00:38:55.559 --> 00:38:57.559
 rejoicing and encouragement.

00:38:57.559 --> 00:38:59.380
 It's a blessing.

00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:02.019
 It's a blessing from God

00:39:02.019 --> 00:39:04.779
 through one church to

00:39:04.779 --> 00:39:05.139
 another.

00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:09.440
 So I've asked you to begin

00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:11.219
 praying with me and

00:39:11.219 --> 00:39:13.840
 gathering more information

00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:15.559
 considering how can our

00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:16.739
 church carry out these

00:39:16.739 --> 00:39:18.559
 principles of this chapter.

00:39:18.559 --> 00:39:22.059
 I'm encouraging us to

00:39:22.059 --> 00:39:23.480
 consider, strongly consider

00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:25.099
 and participate in a

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:26.179
 lively way with Brett

00:39:26.179 --> 00:39:27.980
 Shaw when he comes in a

00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:29.119
 few weeks as the chair of

00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:29.840
 the Rocky Mountain

00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:30.699
 Reformed Baptist

00:39:30.699 --> 00:39:32.320
 Association of Churches

00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:34.039
 for these reasons.

00:39:34.299 --> 00:39:35.500
 There's also nine of these

00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:37.219
 coincidentally, but these

00:39:37.219 --> 00:39:37.699
 are fast.

00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:38.599
 Okay, here's the nine

00:39:38.599 --> 00:39:39.000
 reasons.

00:39:39.119 --> 00:39:41.239
 Number one, I've thought

00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:42.719
 about how in Matthew 25,

00:39:43.059 --> 00:39:43.719
 Jesus says,

00:39:43.719 --> 00:39:52.239
 And he's speaking to

00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:53.559
 those he calls his

00:39:53.559 --> 00:39:54.639
 brothers, my brethren,

00:39:55.159 --> 00:39:55.879
 my disciples.

00:39:56.279 --> 00:39:57.619
 It's Christians have a

00:39:57.619 --> 00:39:58.639
 principle that's to be

00:39:58.639 --> 00:39:59.959
 applied individually.

00:40:00.599 --> 00:40:01.519
 Initially, I believe.

00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:04.000
 Show love to one another,

00:40:04.399 --> 00:40:05.739
 even the least among these

00:40:05.739 --> 00:40:06.719
 that are his brethren that

00:40:06.719 --> 00:40:08.539
 he adopted, as if you're

00:40:08.539 --> 00:40:09.559
 doing it unto the Lord.

00:40:10.299 --> 00:40:11.419
 And if that's true for us

00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:13.300
 as individuals, how much

00:40:13.300 --> 00:40:14.320
 more for us when we're

00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:15.900
 gathered disciples of

00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:17.180
 Christ, collectively.

00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:19.980
 A church cannot obey

00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:21.440
 Christ so long as it

00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:24.139
 remains bent inwardly on

00:40:24.139 --> 00:40:24.639
 itself.

00:40:25.559 --> 00:40:26.740
 We take care of one

00:40:26.740 --> 00:40:28.420
 another, but we also are

00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:29.940
 like these churches that

00:40:29.940 --> 00:40:31.680
 we see beyond our own

00:40:31.680 --> 00:40:33.680
 walls, our own lives, our

00:40:33.680 --> 00:40:34.680
 own needs, our own

00:40:34.680 --> 00:40:36.200
 desires, our own maybe

00:40:36.200 --> 00:40:37.280
 even priorities.

00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:39.059
 We let what God's doing in

00:40:39.059 --> 00:40:40.720
 his broader kingdom shape

00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:42.379
 all of those things, and

00:40:42.379 --> 00:40:43.779
 we do it as unto the

00:40:43.779 --> 00:40:45.219
 Lord, out of love for

00:40:45.219 --> 00:40:46.980
 him, no matter how small

00:40:46.980 --> 00:40:48.319
 or out of the way another

00:40:48.319 --> 00:40:49.079
 church may be.

00:40:50.279 --> 00:40:51.299
 Number two, because we

00:40:51.299 --> 00:40:53.179
 need to pray and we need

00:40:53.179 --> 00:40:54.699
 to receive the prayer of

00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:55.480
 other churches.

00:40:56.599 --> 00:40:58.319
 Ephesians 6, 18 commands

00:40:58.319 --> 00:41:00.079
 the church to be praying

00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:01.859
 always with all prayer and

00:41:01.859 --> 00:41:03.719
 supplication in the spirit

00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:05.299
 for all the saints.

00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:07.539
 We're commanded to pray for

00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:08.199
 other churches.

00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:10.899
 Think about this.

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:13.279
 When we pray, it's the

00:41:13.279 --> 00:41:14.619
 Lord stirring our hearts to

00:41:14.619 --> 00:41:15.779
 care about what he cares

00:41:15.779 --> 00:41:18.239
 about, and our actions will

00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:19.399
 follow our prayers.

00:41:20.279 --> 00:41:21.799
 Those churches we know, we

00:41:21.799 --> 00:41:22.460
 will pray for.

00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:24.339
 On the other hand of it,

00:41:24.879 --> 00:41:26.399
 it's we don't want to be a

00:41:26.399 --> 00:41:28.339
 church trying to work

00:41:28.339 --> 00:41:29.379
 through whatever God has

00:41:29.379 --> 00:41:30.839
 given us to work through

00:41:30.839 --> 00:41:33.159
 faithfully without the help

00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:34.539
 and the prayers of others.

00:41:34.539 --> 00:41:37.019
 And I see this correlation

00:41:37.019 --> 00:41:38.320
 so clearly, at least on a

00:41:38.320 --> 00:41:40.920
 few occasions, where we

00:41:40.920 --> 00:41:42.119
 might be feeling a time where

00:41:42.119 --> 00:41:43.659
 it's heavy or where it's

00:41:43.659 --> 00:41:44.059
 uncertain.

00:41:44.179 --> 00:41:45.039
 We don't know what to do.

00:41:45.539 --> 00:41:46.759
 And someone who doesn't

00:41:46.759 --> 00:41:48.279
 even know what I'm feeling

00:41:48.279 --> 00:41:49.579
 or what might be going on,

00:41:49.960 --> 00:41:51.039
 they tell me weeks later,

00:41:51.159 --> 00:41:52.759
 we were praying for you

00:41:52.759 --> 00:41:54.340
 that day from the pulpit.

00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:55.659
 It might be someone in

00:41:55.659 --> 00:41:56.579
 Florida or somewhere else,

00:41:56.599 --> 00:41:57.920
 some other church praying

00:41:57.920 --> 00:41:58.619
 for our church.

00:41:58.820 --> 00:42:00.239
 And I just see when God does

00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:02.380
 something that I had no

00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:04.180
 other solution for it has

00:42:04.180 --> 00:42:05.720
 to be the answer of the

00:42:05.720 --> 00:42:06.720
 prayers of other churches.

00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:09.280
 We receive that and we

00:42:09.280 --> 00:42:10.280
 don't want to go it alone

00:42:10.280 --> 00:42:11.780
 because that means we'd be

00:42:11.780 --> 00:42:12.900
 missing out on other

00:42:12.900 --> 00:42:14.760
 churches praying regularly,

00:42:15.320 --> 00:42:17.720
 devotedly, and knowingly

00:42:17.720 --> 00:42:18.920
 for our church.

00:42:19.320 --> 00:42:20.720
 Churches that want to know

00:42:20.720 --> 00:42:22.079
 our church and what God's

00:42:22.079 --> 00:42:22.519
 doing here.

00:42:23.220 --> 00:42:24.559
 Number three, because we need

00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:26.720
 to practice in this life

00:42:26.720 --> 00:42:28.420
 for the life to come.

00:42:29.220 --> 00:42:30.340
 I preached on this a while

00:42:30.340 --> 00:42:32.480
 back and it still, it amazes

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:35.240
 me what Paul says in his

00:42:35.240 --> 00:42:36.100
 letter to the Corinthians,

00:42:36.280 --> 00:42:39.360
 how all the saints, the

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:40.780
 whole church, officers and

00:42:40.780 --> 00:42:42.360
 members, everyone will one

00:42:42.360 --> 00:42:44.960
 day rule over angels when

00:42:44.960 --> 00:42:46.920
 Christ returns in the new

00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:48.079
 heavens and the new earth.

00:42:49.420 --> 00:42:51.019
 That's what the life to come

00:42:51.019 --> 00:42:51.600
 will be like.

00:42:51.660 --> 00:42:52.600
 We will be ruling.

00:42:54.059 --> 00:42:55.260
 And Paul applies that to the

00:42:55.260 --> 00:42:55.740
 local church.

00:42:55.780 --> 00:42:57.420
 He says, well then, how can't

00:42:57.420 --> 00:42:58.600
 you make a simple decision

00:42:58.600 --> 00:42:59.240
 for yourselves?

00:42:59.239 --> 00:43:00.979
 You're going to be given so

00:43:00.979 --> 00:43:02.679
 much more authority in the

00:43:02.679 --> 00:43:03.319
 life to come.

00:43:04.219 --> 00:43:05.379
 So brothers and sisters,

00:43:05.539 --> 00:43:06.139
 think about it.

00:43:06.479 --> 00:43:08.619
 These few years right now in

00:43:08.619 --> 00:43:10.679
 church life, for each of us,

00:43:10.759 --> 00:43:13.059
 this is our time to actively

00:43:13.059 --> 00:43:15.039
 participate in the life of

00:43:15.039 --> 00:43:16.759
 this church because this is

00:43:16.759 --> 00:43:18.559
 where God prepares us for the

00:43:18.559 --> 00:43:19.179
 life to come.

00:43:19.699 --> 00:43:21.299
 We gain practice in ruling

00:43:21.299 --> 00:43:25.000
 well, both locally and in

00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:26.279
 helping other churches like the

00:43:26.279 --> 00:43:27.419
 church in Jerusalem did.

00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:29.680
 And that's when we're serving

00:43:29.680 --> 00:43:31.659
 others and seeking the wisdom

00:43:31.659 --> 00:43:32.780
 and the mind of God and

00:43:32.780 --> 00:43:34.980
 setting time aside to do that.

00:43:35.579 --> 00:43:36.960
 We don't even know how the

00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:38.260
 Lord is using that preparation

00:43:38.260 --> 00:43:39.639
 for the life to come.

00:43:40.740 --> 00:43:42.579
 Number four, because from time

00:43:42.579 --> 00:43:44.960
 to time, any church and every

00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:47.420
 church will need help upholding

00:43:47.420 --> 00:43:49.340
 truth and peace, including ours.

00:43:49.780 --> 00:43:50.860
 There may be times where we are

00:43:50.860 --> 00:43:52.800
 called upon to consider a matter

00:43:52.800 --> 00:43:55.840
 and weigh it and wrestle with it

00:43:55.840 --> 00:43:57.600
 and dispute over it and give

00:43:57.600 --> 00:43:58.060
 advice.

00:43:58.539 --> 00:43:59.720
 And there will be times most

00:43:59.720 --> 00:44:00.920
 likely where this church will

00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:01.320
 need it.

00:44:02.260 --> 00:44:03.220
 Number five, because the

00:44:03.220 --> 00:44:04.740
 authority of each local church

00:44:04.740 --> 00:44:07.360
 is already safeguarded in our

00:44:07.360 --> 00:44:09.180
 second London confession of

00:44:09.180 --> 00:44:09.440
 faith.

00:44:10.160 --> 00:44:11.640
 And as long as we associate with

00:44:11.640 --> 00:44:13.120
 churches that share our same

00:44:13.120 --> 00:44:15.280
 confession of faith, the

00:44:15.280 --> 00:44:16.900
 authority of a local congregation

00:44:16.900 --> 00:44:18.060
 is never in question.

00:44:18.940 --> 00:44:19.860
 Number six, because an

00:44:19.860 --> 00:44:22.120
 association of churches provides

00:44:22.120 --> 00:44:23.900
 an opportunity for peace,

00:44:24.460 --> 00:44:26.140
 increase of love, mutual

00:44:26.140 --> 00:44:29.019
 edification, without which it is

00:44:29.019 --> 00:44:31.260
 hard for churches to survive,

00:44:31.380 --> 00:44:32.880
 especially church plants.

00:44:33.780 --> 00:44:35.380
 It just provides extra strength

00:44:35.380 --> 00:44:37.420
 that the Lord will use to bless

00:44:37.420 --> 00:44:38.539
 in the way he's ordained.

00:44:39.360 --> 00:44:40.599
 Number seven, because all

00:44:40.599 --> 00:44:42.920
 Christians have remaining sin.

00:44:44.200 --> 00:44:46.900
 We are not just barely sinners

00:44:46.900 --> 00:44:47.280
 still.

00:44:47.280 --> 00:44:50.720
 We are all still deeply flawed.

00:44:51.560 --> 00:44:52.760
 I am deeply flawed.

00:44:53.320 --> 00:44:55.420
 Whoever this church appoints to

00:44:55.420 --> 00:44:57.280
 the office of elder and deacon

00:44:57.280 --> 00:44:59.060
 will be deeply flawed.

00:45:00.660 --> 00:45:02.360
 And so we ought to proactively

00:45:02.360 --> 00:45:04.860
 seek out mutual submission and

00:45:04.860 --> 00:45:05.480
 accountability.

00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:07.920
 Galatians 6, 1 and 2 says,

00:45:08.060 --> 00:45:10.220
 Brethren, if a man is overtaken

00:45:10.220 --> 00:45:12.220
 in any trespass, you who are

00:45:12.220 --> 00:45:14.840
 spiritual, restore such a one in a

00:45:14.840 --> 00:45:16.840
 spirit of gentleness, considering

00:45:16.840 --> 00:45:19.920
 yourself lest you also be tempted.

00:45:20.640 --> 00:45:22.680
 See, we're all ones that can

00:45:22.680 --> 00:45:23.780
 very easily be tempted.

00:45:24.559 --> 00:45:26.720
 Bear one another's burdens and so

00:45:26.720 --> 00:45:28.680
 fulfill the law of Christ.

00:45:29.340 --> 00:45:30.300
 Number eight, because an

00:45:30.300 --> 00:45:32.539
 association gives us strength in

00:45:32.539 --> 00:45:35.380
 numbers to withstand the attacks

00:45:35.380 --> 00:45:37.519
 of our own sin, Satan,

00:45:38.059 --> 00:45:39.660
 worldliness, and wolves.

00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:41.559
 It's a way to apply that wise

00:45:41.559 --> 00:45:43.539
 principle of Ecclesiastes 4, 12,

00:45:43.539 --> 00:45:44.739
 which says,

00:45:44.739 --> 00:45:46.940
 though one may be overpowered by

00:45:46.940 --> 00:45:49.039
 another, two can withstand him,

00:45:49.420 --> 00:45:52.139
 and a threefold cord is not quickly

00:45:52.139 --> 00:45:52.639
 broken.

00:45:53.320 --> 00:45:54.960
 Number nine, and finally for today,

00:45:55.519 --> 00:45:57.880
 it's more from common sense and

00:45:57.880 --> 00:45:59.019
 looking back at history.

00:45:59.599 --> 00:46:01.840
 Regional associations in this

00:46:01.840 --> 00:46:04.159
 Reformed Baptist tradition have

00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:06.539
 survived and thrived by supporting

00:46:06.539 --> 00:46:08.380
 one another sacrificially.

00:46:08.380 --> 00:46:13.340
 This is true in the 1600s and 1700s

00:46:13.340 --> 00:46:14.200
 in England.

00:46:15.200 --> 00:46:17.800
 In the time of Spurgeon, he died an

00:46:17.800 --> 00:46:19.680
 early death, and in his own words,

00:46:19.740 --> 00:46:21.980
 he thought it's because he was tired

00:46:21.980 --> 00:46:23.360
 of fighting a battle against those

00:46:23.360 --> 00:46:25.220
 that didn't share the same confession

00:46:25.220 --> 00:46:25.720
 of faith.

00:46:26.059 --> 00:46:27.180
 He called it the downgrade.

00:46:27.680 --> 00:46:30.619
 It was so exhausting when people view

00:46:30.619 --> 00:46:32.480
 themselves ultimately above God's own

00:46:32.480 --> 00:46:32.760
 word.

00:46:33.720 --> 00:46:36.019
 More recent generations have also proved

00:46:36.019 --> 00:46:36.780
 it viable.

00:46:37.639 --> 00:46:40.019
 It's been a resurgence of Reformed

00:46:40.019 --> 00:46:41.599
 Baptist churches around the world,

00:46:41.980 --> 00:46:44.019
 and those that are thriving and those

00:46:44.019 --> 00:46:46.280
 that are encouraged in the ministry

00:46:46.280 --> 00:46:48.699
 tend to be ones that very quickly put

00:46:48.699 --> 00:46:50.960
 themselves in a regional association

00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:53.019
 like the one in southeastern USA,

00:46:53.739 --> 00:46:56.039
 Southern California, Texas, and even

00:46:56.039 --> 00:46:58.300
 one in New Zealand, and one forming in

00:46:58.300 --> 00:47:00.460
 England as well.

00:47:00.460 --> 00:47:03.340
 I believe we are part of a movement

00:47:03.340 --> 00:47:05.639
 trying to get back to these wonderful

00:47:05.639 --> 00:47:08.760
 principles in Acts 15, and my prayer

00:47:08.760 --> 00:47:11.720
 is that, Lord willing, these ancient

00:47:11.720 --> 00:47:15.039
 paths that were marched out in the

00:47:15.039 --> 00:47:17.639
 scriptures and over the centuries can

00:47:17.639 --> 00:47:20.019
 prove once again to be a source of God's

00:47:20.019 --> 00:47:22.659
 provision and accountability and

00:47:22.659 --> 00:47:25.380
 encouragement for entire churches like

00:47:25.380 --> 00:47:28.840
 ours in this generation, and if God will

00:47:28.840 --> 00:47:30.940
 be pleased to preserve Reformed Heritage

00:47:30.940 --> 00:47:33.559
 Church, maybe even for generations to

00:47:33.559 --> 00:47:33.860
 come.

00:47:34.900 --> 00:47:37.420
 So, beloved congregation of our Lord

00:47:37.420 --> 00:47:42.000
 Jesus Christ, associating ourselves is

00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:45.240
 one way that we can be a vessel of

00:47:45.240 --> 00:47:46.380
 Christ's blessings.

00:47:47.100 --> 00:47:48.620
 We need discernment about which

00:47:48.620 --> 00:47:51.260
 association, which timing, those types

00:47:51.260 --> 00:47:54.019
 of things, but I see this principle so

00:47:54.019 --> 00:47:54.400
 clearly.

00:47:54.980 --> 00:47:58.400
 Christ loves to bless his churches through

00:47:58.400 --> 00:48:00.599
 the ways that he has established.

00:48:01.280 --> 00:48:03.280
 Wouldn't it be a joy and a delight to

00:48:03.280 --> 00:48:05.440
 serve as a vessel to bless other

00:48:05.440 --> 00:48:08.000
 churches and also to be an empty

00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:10.220
 vessel receiving that blessing from

00:48:10.220 --> 00:48:12.860
 Christ, even as it comes to us through

00:48:12.860 --> 00:48:13.539
 other churches.

00:48:14.300 --> 00:48:17.059
 Our Lord loves to bless his churches, and

00:48:17.059 --> 00:48:19.960
 he does this through one another, through

00:48:19.960 --> 00:48:20.639
 other churches.

00:48:21.280 --> 00:48:21.900
 Let's pray.

00:48:22.619 --> 00:48:24.079
 Father, we thank you for your

00:48:24.079 --> 00:48:26.579
 faithfulness over the centuries to your

00:48:26.579 --> 00:48:28.179
 people, to your local churches.

00:48:28.840 --> 00:48:30.480
 We thank you that you're the one who

00:48:30.480 --> 00:48:32.759
 began the good work in any local

00:48:32.759 --> 00:48:33.199
 church.

00:48:33.719 --> 00:48:35.380
 You're the one who will see it through to

00:48:35.380 --> 00:48:37.539
 completion, and you've also ordained the

00:48:37.539 --> 00:48:40.000
 means, the secondary causes that will

00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:42.279
 carry out your will and your purpose.

00:48:42.659 --> 00:48:44.719
 We do pray, Lord, that you'll give us good

00:48:44.719 --> 00:48:48.019
 discussion, good clarity, good wisdom, good

00:48:48.019 --> 00:48:49.059
 questions to ask.

00:48:49.819 --> 00:48:52.139
 We pray that your Holy Spirit will guide

00:48:52.139 --> 00:48:54.460
 this church on the right decision, the

00:48:54.460 --> 00:48:56.699
 right timing in a way that brings you all

00:48:56.699 --> 00:48:57.159
 the glory.

00:48:57.840 --> 00:48:59.760
 We thank you, Lord, for your word, how it's

00:48:59.760 --> 00:49:02.220
 alive, how even though this happened in

00:49:02.220 --> 00:49:05.179
 the first century, more than 2,000 years

00:49:05.179 --> 00:49:08.619
 ago, we could relive it as if we're there.

00:49:09.139 --> 00:49:11.139
 We could be in any one of these churches, and

00:49:11.139 --> 00:49:13.260
 we thank you for how you are so faithful,

00:49:13.460 --> 00:49:16.360
 Lord, and one day you will come and rule over

00:49:16.360 --> 00:49:18.440
 the new heavens, the new earth, that great

00:49:18.440 --> 00:49:21.179
 cloud of witnesses to which we belong as well

00:49:21.179 --> 00:49:21.720
 in Christ.

00:49:21.719 --> 00:49:24.379
 We praise you for your faithfulness, Lord,

00:49:24.759 --> 00:49:25.379
 your power.

00:49:26.019 --> 00:49:26.379
 Amen.