WEBVTT

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 All right, good morning, everyone.

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 Good morning.

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 Hi, so we're continuing through the book of Acts today.

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!

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 We're focusing on this scattering.

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 Acts is about the start of the church, how a small, persecuted Jewish sect of a few tens

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 of men that grew and scattered such that 2,000 years later, across the world, here in Hong

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 Kong, we're sitting here today, along with, united with the rest of the church around the

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 world.

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 That's Acts.

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 And how does Acts inform the way that we gather and scatter as a church today?

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 So we left off last week with a little bit of drama.

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 Jesus was talking to his disciples, and then once he was done, a cloud came and took him

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 off to the sky, took him to heaven.

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 That's not something you see every day.

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 And on top of that, angels appeared right next to him, right next to the disciples and said,

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 Christ will return, but until then, you have work to do.

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 The church has work to do.

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 You must go make disciples of all nations.

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 We must preach Christ locally here in Hong Kong, wherever we are, our Jerusalem, but

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 also to the ends of the earth so that the whole earth, the whole world will be filled

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 with the glory of God.

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 So there's much to do.

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 We must go.

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 But before that, before the early church went, Jesus gave a command to his apostles.

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 He told them, wait, wait for the Holy Spirit.

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 You can't do anything without the Holy Spirit.

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 So wait for him.

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 And that's where we pick up this week, in the waiting period.

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 Coming up, the church has a huge task to do, a big mission, but they also have this promise

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 that they will receive the Holy Spirit, God on the move, God dwelling in them, and the

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 Holy Spirit is even better than the presence of Christ physically with them.

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 That's coming up, but for now, they're going to have to wait.

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 Waiting.

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 Can any of us relate to that?

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 Maybe you can't wait to be done with exams or to go off to university away from home.

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 Maybe you're waiting to find a stable job, husband or wife.

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 Maybe you're fired up about this whole talk is gathering and you just want to go now.

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 And you're asking, what should I be doing now?

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 So I'm sure we've all been in a situation where we really wanted something to happen,

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 but we need to wait.

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 Today, we'll see how the early church waited as they looked forward to the promise of the

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 Holy Spirit and to scattering.

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 Today in Acts, we'll see that the early church, as they waited, they weren't just passively

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 waiting, but they were actively seeking God's will in their waiting.

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 In their waiting, they were looking to God's will in three ways.

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 They were asking for God's will in prayer.

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 They trusted God's will as revealed in scripture and they discerned God's will for this 12th

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 apostle.

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 So we'll read from where we left off in Acts chapter one, starting from verse 12.

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 So Acts chapter one, verses 12 to 26.

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 Please stand for as we read scripture out of reverence for scripture.

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 Let's stand together as we read the word of God.

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 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath

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 day's journey away.

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 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying.

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 Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James,

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 the son of Alphaeus and Simon, the zealot and Judas, the son of James.

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 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer together with the woman and Mary,

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 the mother of Jesus and his brothers.

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 In those days, Peter stood up among the brothers.

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 The company of persons was all in about 120 and said, brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled,

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 which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became

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 a God to those who arrested Jesus.

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 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in the ministry.

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 Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness and falling headlong, he burst

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 open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

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 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the field was called in

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 their own language, akeldama, that is, field of blood.

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 For it is written in the book of Psalms, may his camp become desolate and let there be no

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 one to dwell in it.

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 And let another take his office.

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 So one of these men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went

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 in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up

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 from us.

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 One of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.

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 And they put forward to Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justice and Matthias.

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 And they prayed and said, you Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these

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 two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned

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 aside to go to his own place.

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 And they cast lots for them and the lot fell on Matthias and he was numbered with the 11

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 apostles.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Please take a seat.

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 Okay, so again, we're looking today at how the early church waited and we'll take this

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 verse by verse, picking up from last week as Jesus ascended into heaven.

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 So verse 12 says, all this happened, Jesus ascended on the Mount called Olivet, also known as the

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 Mount of Olives.

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 This was about a Sabbath day journey away.

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 So now the Jews had developed laws around the Sabbath.

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 The Sabbath was a day meant for rest.

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 And to avoid working on the Sabbath, they limited how far they could walk and decided about a

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 kilometer was fine.

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 So that's what a Sabbath day journey is.

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 The point is that the disciples were close by in Jerusalem, a half hour walk away in Jerusalem's

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 backyard.

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 And so after they see Jesus lifted up into heaven, after they're done staring into the sky,

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 they turn around and take a short walk back to town.

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 Then verse 13, and when they had entered, they went to the upper room.

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 They went up to the upper room where they were staying.

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 This may or may not have been the upper room where they ate the last supper before Jesus was

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 betrayed.

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 The location isn't really important.

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 The point, what's relevant is that they were all staying together and gathered together in one place.

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 Now here in verse 13, we start to see a hint of trouble.

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 So who's gathered together in the upper room?

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 Verse 13 says, there's Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and

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 Matthew, James, the son of Alphaeus and Simon, the zealot and Judas, the son of James.

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 Now this kind of sounds like the list of Jesus's 12 disciples, but if anyone were counting, you

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 would have just ran out of fingers and got to 11, not 12.

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 One disciple is missing from the list and that disciple is Judas.

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 Judas Iscariot, to be precise.

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 There's another Judas present, Judas, the son of James.

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 He's also sometimes called Thaddeus.

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 Thaddeus was fine.

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 Judas Thaddeus, he never hurt anybody.

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 The one disciple missing here is the other Judas, Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed

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 Jesus, Judas the traitor.

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 So we're short one disciple here.

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 There's 11 instead of 12, and that will be important later.

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 But for now, we'll move on.

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 There's others gathered together with the 12 minus one disciples.

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 Verse 14 says that.

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 They were together with the woman.

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 That's probably the woman who accompanied Jesus and his disciples, some of which saw the empty

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 tomb.

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 And we also see there's Mary and some of Jesus's brothers.

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 We know a bit of Jesus's family in Mark, Mark chapter 6, which tells us that Jesus had at

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 least four brothers and two sisters.

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 Earlier, they were skeptics.

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 John 7 says that not even his brothers believed in him.

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 But after they saw him rise from the dead, now they're here.

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 They're gathered with the disciples.

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 They believe.

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 And aside from the people named here that we've talked about, there's some others because

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 verse 15 tells us that in total, there were about 120 followers of Jesus total at the

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 time gathered together.

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 So there's 120 people waiting for, followers of Jesus waiting, waiting for the arrival of

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 the spirit.

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 But while waiting, they weren't just waiting passively.

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 They weren't on the couch scrolling through reels.

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 They're making good use of the time.

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 Verse 14 says, all these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.

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 As the church waited, they were devoting themselves to prayer together.

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 That's the first way they were looking for the God's will in their waiting.

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 They devoted themselves to prayer together, asking for God's will.

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 Now, they weren't just dabbling in prayer.

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 They were devoted to it.

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 To be devoted to prayer, we need both purpose and conviction in prayer.

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 It's easy to dabble with prayer and pray half-heartedly every now and then.

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 We can all do this.

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 But we can't be devoted to prayer without both purpose and conviction.

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 The church had purpose.

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 They waited with purpose.

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 They were preparing for a mission.

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 They weren't just waiting for nothing.

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 They were preparing themselves to receive the Holy Spirit and then to go proclaim Christ

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 to all the earth.

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 They had a purpose.

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 And they also had conviction.

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 They had this deep belief.

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 But it's not just that praying is good.

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 We need to pray.

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 Acts shows us that the church had a firm belief that what we're doing, this conviction, what

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 we're doing is not our mission.

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 No, instead, it is God's mission.

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 We're not working on our own.

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 It's his work and he will see to it that this work gets finished.

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 We want the world to know Jesus.

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 But how much more does the father who sent his son to die for the sins of the world want

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 the world to see his son and believe and be saved?

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 Our God will surely make this happen.

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 And all we need to do is ask and obey.

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 That's the conviction that makes them devoted to prayer.

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 And we can see this conviction later in verse 24 when they're praying for Judas' replacement.

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 Look at their huge view of God.

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 God is not small to them.

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 He is God in heaven.

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 They pray, you, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show us, show which one of these two

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 you have chosen.

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 They're saying, you, God, you have a perfect plan.

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 Show us who you've chosen.

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 We want your will, Lord.

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 That's all.

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 And later in Acts 4, authorities, they're threatening the church to stop them from preaching

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 about Christ.

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 And they pray.

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 Verse 24 in Acts chapter 4.

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 They say, sovereign Lord who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them.

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 They're saying, you're the sovereign Lord of all.

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 Yes, there's guys hunting us down.

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 They're trying to stop us.

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 But you're the Lord of all.

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 They can't lay so much as a finger on us if you don't want them to.

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 And in verse 29.

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 Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with

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 all boldness as you stretch out your hand to heal.

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 They're saying, God, your will be done.

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 We're preaching your word.

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 We're doing your mission.

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 And so we trust that you will stretch out your hand to accomplish your will.

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 We just need to ask.

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 That's the purpose and conviction we need in order to be devoted to prayer.

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 Our classmates, our coworkers, our friends, our family.

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 God wants them to know him.

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 They want them to experience the fullness of life.

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 They want them to know Christ.

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 God wants them to know Christ so much more than we want them to.

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 And he can make it happen.

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 So let's ask him.

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 John Piper says that weakness in prayer is often due to neglecting the fact that we are at war.

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 That we have a mission.

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 We're fighting a spiritual battle to advance the kingdom of God, as we talked about last week, into all the earth.

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 And God gives us prayer like a tactical radio that soldiers carry on the front lines so that they can ask the commander for marching orders or for enemy intelligence to accomplish their mission.

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 That's one purpose for prayer.

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 This military communications.

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 And sometimes we miss the purpose of prayer when we forget that we're at war.

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 Instead of fighting, we're at Five Guys.

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 Prayer is meant for soldiers on the front line to ask their general to rein and airstrike down in enemy positions.

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 But we want to pick up the military radio to say, hey God, can I get a cheeseburger and fries?

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 If that's the attitude, of course we can pray.

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 We won't need prayer.

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 If prayer is more like the intercom at a drive-thru than a direct line to the situation room, then yeah, we won't have this conviction in prayer.

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 We won't be devoted to prayer if our main concerns are these civilian pursuits.

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 Just having better grades, we gain a nice job, get a larger flat, and then the cycle repeats again for our kids.

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 We'll only be devoted to prayer by holding on to our purpose that Christ has sent us out and with a firm conviction that God will get the glory that he deserves.

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 And of course, God isn't just this general, but he's our loving father.

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 He's a father who sent us out.

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 And so we can have confidence that he'll have our backs.

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 He'll make sure that we succeed.

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 He doesn't leave us out to dry.

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 And that's why Jesus said in John 15, I chose you that you should go and bear fruit so that whatever you ask my father in my name, he may give it to you.

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 That's the confidence we can have in prayer.

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 That's the purpose and conviction that pushes us to pray.

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 So what can we do?

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 Right?

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 Verse 14 says, the early church was with one accord.

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 They were united.

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 They were devoted to prayer together.

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 Not just praying individually, which we should do on our own too.

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 Or praying together.

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 So how can we be a church devoted to prayer together?

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 Here's one step.

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 Here's one invitation to you.

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 I'd love for all to join for prayer together.

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 Every Sunday at 1030 in the morning, we gather together in prayer before the rest of our worship service.

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 So normally we start at 11, but you can come just half an hour earlier, 1030.

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 Even if you want to sleep in, you can still make it for 1030.

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 It's not that early.

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 So I'd love for all of us to make prayer together a habit.

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 And we'll commit to making our weekly prayer gatherings meaningful and on time and just respect everyone's time in it.

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 But I'd love for everyone to join in prayer together.

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 Having this purpose and conviction that we need to do this.

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 Let's pray together.

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 And now as we're talking about scattering, as we're going through Acts,

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 I admit that as a church, we don't have that many,

00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:41.560
 we don't currently have that many organized ways for us to go out, serve Hong Kong, serve the world together.

00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:45.399
 It's perfect because now is the perfect time to pray.

00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:51.519
 This is a perfect opportunity for us as a church to ask God together how we are to scatter.

00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:53.199
 Just like what the early church did.

00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:57.520
 I'd love for us to come together with this conviction and purpose that God,

00:14:57.720 --> 00:15:00.460
 he wants to work through our church here in Hong Kong,

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:03.160
 and he wants to do his work all around the world.

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:05.280
 If only we would ask him.

00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:07.800
 So can we be devoted to praying together?

00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:14.699
 So in their waiting, the church was devoted to prayer, asking for God's will to be done.

00:15:15.099 --> 00:15:17.120
 Next, they also trusted in God's will.

00:15:17.339 --> 00:15:19.859
 They trusted God's will as revealed in scripture.

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:26.439
 As they were waiting and praying together, Peter stood up and said in verse 16, he said,

00:15:26.959 --> 00:15:29.159
 Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled,

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:33.620
 which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas.

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:37.860
 First, notice how Peter thinks about scripture.

00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:42.279
 Peter thinks that scripture is God's word spoken through man.

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:47.840
 Scripture was spoken by the Holy Spirit, who is God, by the mouth of man, in this case, David.

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.360
 Peter later quotes two psalms.

00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:53.620
 He affirms that those psalms are written by this man, the King David,

00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:59.500
 yet it was inspired by the Holy Spirit to be exactly the words that God wanted.

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:03.580
 Scripture is God's word spoken through man.

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:06.980
 And also, Peter believes that God's word won't fail.

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:10.259
 It will not return void, but shall accomplish its purpose.

00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:15.560
 Peter says, Scripture had to be fulfilled because God is true and can't lie.

00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:18.379
 His word stands true and his promises will come true.

00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:21.200
 And his promises have come true in Christ.

00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:28.420
 Peter goes on and says, Scripture had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who became a God to those who arrested Jesus.

00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:34.180
 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:39.860
 Now, this brings us back to the problem earlier in verse 13, that there's 12 minus one disciples.

00:16:40.040 --> 00:16:43.580
 We're missing one disciple because Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus.

00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:48.580
 People wanted to kill Jesus and Judas Iscariot told them where they could find Jesus and arrest them.

00:16:49.520 --> 00:16:54.220
 So Judas teamed up with those guys who arrested and killed Jesus.

00:16:54.220 --> 00:17:00.500
 And as a result of his betrayal, we learn that Judas met quite a gory end, to be frank.

00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:02.120
 That's in verse 18.

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:06.680
 Now this man, who is Judas, acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness.

00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:11.920
 And falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:19.140
 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the field was called in their own language, a keldama, that is field of blood.

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:23.599
 So his gods burst open and everything leaked out.

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.539
 Field of blood indeed.

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:25.599
 Field of blood indeed.

00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:30.159
 Now, there's another account of Judas' death in the book of Matthew.

00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:37.639
 And quite frankly, it's a bit different from the recording in Acts, what we read here in Acts.

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:43.779
 And in fact, people have pointed at times to Judas and said that there's contradictions in the Bible, looking at Acts and Matthew.

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.019
 And we can't trust the Bible.

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:55.299
 But I'd like us to see how these differences, not contradictions, instead serve to highlight what Luke is trying to emphasize in Acts.

00:17:56.240 --> 00:18:04.659
 So Matthew, this Matthew 27, verse 5, says that after Judas betrayed Jesus, Judas got cold feet.

00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:06.899
 He saw what he did and he got a bit of cold feet.

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:12.339
 He threw the blood money back at the religious leaders and then he went away to hang himself.

00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:19.659
 Now, the religious leaders in Matthew, they take the money and then buy this field that's now called field of blood.

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:26.579
 The difference between Matthew and Acts is that in Matthew, the chief priests are the ones who buy the field,

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:30.359
 while in Acts, it says that Judas acquired a field.

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:38.959
 In Matthew, Judas goes and hangs himself, while in Acts, his guts just burst open and everything leaks out.

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:49.640
 But so one reason for this is throughout the book of Matthew, one focus, Matthew's focus is on Jesus criticizing Jewish religious leaders.

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:53.259
 That's one of Matthew's emphasis that these religious leaders, they're phonies.

00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:54.480
 They're leading people astray.

00:18:54.480 --> 00:19:04.740
 And so it's no wonder that Matthew, he chooses to record one part of this story, which is the chief priests, their guilt, they're the ones buying the field.

00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:10.200
 It highlights their role, their role in Jesus's crucifixion, their complicity in it.

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:16.120
 In Acts, the emphasis is instead on Judas's guilt and wickedness.

00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:22.879
 That's why Luke focuses on this fact that the field was bought with Judas's blood money, with the reward of his wickedness.

00:19:23.159 --> 00:19:28.739
 So reading both accounts together, we can, we know that the chief priests were the one, they took the money and bought the field,

00:19:28.979 --> 00:19:31.019
 but using the money that Judas threw back at them.

00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:34.639
 So in a way, Judas, through the chief priests, acquired this field.

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:41.059
 And while Judas hung himself in Matthew, Acts shows us God's judgment upon Judas,

00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:46.740
 to highlight that God is the sovereign God and that he's in control and he's the one who judges.

00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:51.299
 Elsewhere in Acts, we see that God brings instant judgment upon people.

00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:57.720
 For example, Acts 5, Ananias, Sapphira, they lie to God and instantly they're struck dead.

00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:02.460
 In chapter 12, King Herod, he pats himself on the shoulder.

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:04.059
 He says, I'm a God.

00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:07.460
 And then instantly, angel of the Lord strikes him down.

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:09.059
 He breathes his last and worms eat him up.

00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:15.500
 The same idea is emphasized here, that God judged Judas guilty for what he did.

00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:19.700
 And that divine judgment, guts burst open, everything spilled out.

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:22.659
 The point in Acts is that God is in control.

00:20:23.419 --> 00:20:26.659
 Judas's betrayal wasn't an interruption to God's plan,

00:20:26.899 --> 00:20:31.299
 but in fact part and parcel of God's plan as foretold in scripture.

00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:35.000
 Judas was not an interruption.

00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:38.220
 So how does that relate to us in our waiting?

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:41.740
 Put yourself in the disciples' shoes.

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:46.099
 We always talk about the fact that Judas betrayed Jesus.

00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:47.039
 Yeah, he did.

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:49.319
 But also think about this.

00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:52.200
 Judas was with these disciples for three years.

00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:54.759
 It's like how us, we know each other.

00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:58.500
 We've been with each other for maybe almost two years since we've come to this space.

00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.440
 Longer for other of us.

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:03.000
 But Judas was with the disciples for three years.

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:04.159
 He was their friend.

00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:05.840
 They ate, drank together.

00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:08.100
 They ministered together side by side.

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.240
 They trusted him.

00:21:10.300 --> 00:21:11.300
 He handled the money even.

00:21:12.580 --> 00:21:14.000
 Judas betrayed Jesus.

00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:16.620
 He betrayed the disciples also.

00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:21.420
 Imagine how the disciples would have felt there too in that room.

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:26.500
 They were probably a bit confused and hurt themselves at what Judas had done.

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:30.980
 There's often tension and hurt in our waiting.

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:39.019
 If you're waiting, pleading for God for a job, a husband or a wife, or you're faithfully telling people about Jesus, but so far no one's turning to him.

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.640
 Rather, they're turning against you.

00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:46.180
 Or maybe instead, you've been hurt by people in the church.

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:51.480
 Just like how Judas was stabbed in the, Judas stabbed the apostles in the back, stabbed Jesus in the back.

00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:55.060
 You possibly were hurt by people in the church too.

00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:58.020
 Maybe it's abuse of authority.

00:21:58.259 --> 00:22:02.160
 People misreading scripture, twisting it for their own purposes.

00:22:03.020 --> 00:22:05.000
 Sexual scandals, misconduct.

00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:10.700
 The sad reality is that those things do happen in the church.

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:12.259
 And too often too.

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:17.020
 And it can be very confusing and disorienting to see that.

00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:24.660
 It could be confusing to our faith to see that from people, that behavior from people claiming to be followers of Christ.

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:29.160
 Just like it was for the apostles serving alongside Judas.

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:37.180
 But let's follow the disciples' lead and grieve without being shaken.

00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:39.920
 We spoke about lamenting several weeks ago.

00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:43.340
 Can we grieve as people with hope?

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:47.240
 The disciples who saw Jesus and served alongside him too.

00:22:47.340 --> 00:22:51.560
 He maybe saw Judas do miracles, casting out demons, healing the sick.

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.460
 Yet betrayed them.

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:58.720
 The disciples kept their eyes on God and what he did.

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:03.519
 Judas' betrayal led to the most heinous act in history.

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:05.440
 The greatest act of injustice even.

00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.139
 The crucifixion of the son of God.

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.980
 Himself on the cross.

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:13.559
 Even that was part of God's plan.

00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.980
 And God meant for good.

00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:18.619
 And if he is Lord over the cross.

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:21.279
 Sovereign over the greatest evil in the world.

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:25.960
 I can believe that he's at work in my current situation too.

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:29.119
 2 Corinthians says,

00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:35.460
 This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:40.539
 We don't know exactly why tragedies happen now.

00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:44.120
 And I don't claim to begin to imagine what some people here have been through.

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:48.640
 But we can trust that even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.519
 That God, you are with me.

00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:53.039
 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:59.799
 We can trust that God is working for the good of those who love him.

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:04.919
 Because he turned Judas' betrayal and Jesus' death even for good.

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:07.379
 And one day he'll bring justice.

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:09.000
 Even if we don't see it now.

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:11.319
 God brought justice to Judas.

00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:14.639
 And he will bring justice to our situations too.

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:19.599
 So let us trust God's will as revealed in scripture.

00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.980
 Just like the early church.

00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.440
 In their waiting, they prayed.

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.519
 They trusted in scripture.

00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:29.000
 And lastly, they discerned God's will.

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:31.059
 They discerned God's will for the 12th apostle.

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:34.880
 Peter continues speaking in verse 20.

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.059
 He says,

00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:37.619
 For it is written in the book of Psalms,

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.960
 May his camp become desolate,

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.859
 and let there be no one to dwell in it,

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.299
 and let another take his office.

00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:47.619
 So, first, they're again discerning God's will as revealed in scripture.

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.559
 They're looking to scripture.

00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:51.920
 Again, we're facing the problem of the 12 minus 1's disciples.

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:56.440
 Peter, he's quoting Psalms 69 and 109 here,

00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:58.180
 which are psalms of lament.

00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:02.960
 Lamenting over God's people being attacked by their enemies.

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:06.740
 So Peter saw that these psalms were fulfilled in Christ.

00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:11.859
 That Jesus represented all of God's people as the true righteous one.

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:14.480
 And Jesus was betrayed by his enemy Judas,

00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:18.839
 fulfilling some of these psalms of God's people being attacked by their enemies.

00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:23.139
 And just like all of God's enemies, Judas was destroyed for his sin.

00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:28.119
 And looking at this, Peter concludes that someone needs to take Judas' office

00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:30.480
 and replace him as one of the 12 apostles.

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:34.839
 Scripture tells us another reason why there should be 12 apostles.

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:41.819
 There are 12 of them to symbolize that the church is the new Israel,

00:25:41.959 --> 00:25:43.679
 is the new assembly of God's people.

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:46.259
 There were 12 tribes in Israel,

00:25:46.439 --> 00:25:49.599
 and these tribes were the foundation of the Old Testament people of God,

00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:50.599
 the people of Israel.

00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:55.759
 In the same way, these 12 apostles will now lay the foundation for the church,

00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:59.720
 which is the new assembly of God's people ever since Christ's death and resurrection.

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:05.079
 And with that, Peter gives us now three criteria for the 12th apostle.

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.720
 Number one, so he lays out some criteria.

00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:10.640
 If we are to choose a replacement, then you need to fulfill these criteria.

00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:17.160
 Number one, this guy had to be a follower of Jesus during his entire earthly ministry.

00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:19.600
 Peter says this in verse 21.

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.360
 He says,

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:23.579
 We need to pick one of the men who have accompanied us

00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:27.259
 during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:31.379
 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us.

00:26:32.099 --> 00:26:36.519
 So the 12 apostles, they all had to be people who accompanied Jesus

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:38.759
 during his entire time of ministry,

00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:42.539
 starting from when John was baptizing people in the Jordan

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:46.240
 to make straight the way for the Lord up until his ascension

00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.700
 when Jesus was taken up into heaven.

00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:49.019
 That's what we read last week.

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:55.660
 Number two, the apostle had to be an eyewitness to the resurrection.

00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:59.279
 One of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:04.440
 The 12 apostles have to, they had to have seen the risen Christ in the flesh.

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:08.140
 And number three, he had to be specifically chosen by Jesus.

00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:11.300
 That we see back in verse three from last week.

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:15.400
 Jesus gave commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles,

00:27:15.800 --> 00:27:17.779
 specifically the apostles whom he had chosen.

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:22.480
 So not all eyewitnesses of Jesus who fulfilled the first two criteria became apostles.

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:27.779
 The 12 were specifically chosen by Jesus to lay the foundation for the church.

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:34.940
 And on that note of apostles, the topic of apostles is quite relevant to us now recently.

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:38.820
 Because this coming Wednesday, May 7th,

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:47.500
 135 cardinals will gather in Vatican City to enter a conclave, participate in a conclave,

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:54.180
 and elect the next pope, which the Roman Catholic Church believes to be the successor of the apostle Peter.

00:27:54.180 --> 00:28:00.460
 So there's some substantial differences between what the Roman Catholic Church teaches and what we believe.

00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:07.460
 In large part though, a lot of these differences hang on this doctrine of apostolic secession.

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:11.880
 Which is, the Catholics believe that after the apostles died,

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:15.660
 their authority was passed on to these successors.

00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:18.000
 People that followed the apostles, successors.

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:22.000
 And when they died, when each successor died, it'd be passed on to subsequent successors.

00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:25.700
 Up to the present, where now this pope, which is being elected,

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:28.500
 is the successor of the apostle Peter,

00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:33.559
 who is, as Catholics believe, the chief apostle and has authority over all apostles.

00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:37.099
 So that, according to the catechism of the Catholic Church,

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:41.579
 the pope has full supreme and universal power over the whole church.

00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:44.000
 A power which he can always exercise unhindered.

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:47.759
 Now there's lots more that Catholicism teaches,

00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:50.539
 but they're largely based on this assumption that the church,

00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:54.319
 under the pope, has authority to dictate true doctrine.

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:57.380
 They believe that the church can dictate what the apostles teach,

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.819
 determine what the apostles teach.

00:28:59.420 --> 00:29:05.180
 On the other hand, we believe that God placed that authority in his word.

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:08.240
 That the scripture contains the apostles' teaching.

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:13.839
 The church doesn't dictate, but rather submits to scripture and the apostles' teaching.

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:16.599
 That's sola scriptura from the Reformation.

00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:26.900
 And now one classic Catholic argument for apostolic succession comes from this passage,

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:32.039
 that just as Matthias replaced Judas, there should be successors for other apostles also.

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:35.399
 But that's not really valid.

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:40.019
 I don't think that's a good argument because, number one, Judas wasn't really a true apostle.

00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:45.619
 Judas, or any other successor later, so Judas didn't satisfy the criteria to be an apostle.

00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:50.639
 He didn't see the risen Christ, and he definitely wasn't there for the resurrection because he was dead.

00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:55.859
 And secondly, Judas didn't receive the Holy Spirit like the rest of the Twelve.

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:57.879
 Again, because he was dead by that time.

00:29:57.880 --> 00:30:06.340
 And thirdly, later when the apostle James dies in Acts 12, there's no record of naming another successor,

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:12.280
 which is a pretty big detail to neglect if that's the foundation of a lot of other doctrines.

00:30:12.360 --> 00:30:14.980
 It's a big detail to neglect if it's such an important one.

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:22.759
 So all that's to say, if the church is built on apostolic succession and stands on shaky foundation,

00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:30.259
 rather than the apostles' teaching, we should be a little careful and take things with a grain of salt.

00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:34.880
 So that's a side note on apostolic succession.

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:36.980
 But anyways, back to verse 23.

00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:40.880
 They need 12 apostles to complete the 12.

00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:42.620
 They need one more to complete the 12.

00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:44.639
 And so they nominate two men.

00:30:45.479 --> 00:30:50.539
 Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and another guy called Matthias.

00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:56.239
 These two men followed Jesus for three years along with the other 11 apostles,

00:30:56.419 --> 00:30:57.500
 and so they fit all the criteria.

00:30:59.139 --> 00:31:01.419
 They checked the two boxes.

00:31:01.639 --> 00:31:05.199
 They followed him around the whole time and also saw his resurrected body.

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:11.720
 But then there remains this third criteria, that apostles had to be specifically appointed by God.

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:21.420
 And so the church, they turned to God in prayer in order to discern his will and figure out, to see who God had appointed.

00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:27.019
 So in verse 24, it says that they prayed and said, you, Lord, who know the hearts of all,

00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:32.680
 show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship,

00:31:32.800 --> 00:31:35.640
 from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.

00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:39.759
 So the church, they pray and ask God to reveal his will to them.

00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:42.380
 They say, we're not the ones choosing God.

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.279
 You're the one choosing.

00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:45.400
 Apostles have to be chosen by you.

00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:47.840
 Not our will, but yours be done.

00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:48.680
 So show us your will.

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.380
 So far, so good.

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:55.920
 But then the church, they do something a little bit strange to us, a little bit weird, foreign to us.

00:31:56.800 --> 00:32:01.400
 Verse 26, he says, and the church, they cast lots for them.

00:32:02.120 --> 00:32:02.840
 They cast lots.

00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:06.540
 So to pick between these two guys, they cast lots.

00:32:06.540 --> 00:32:12.740
 That's similar to maybe tossing a coin or rolling a dice in order to determine the outcome.

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:16.640
 So heads, it'll be Joseph, tails, Matthias.

00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.920
 That's sort of like what the church did.

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:24.759
 And we learned that the lot fell on Matthias and he was numbered with 11 apostles.

00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:29.400
 So the coin landed tails and that's how Matthias was chosen.

00:32:30.359 --> 00:32:30.539
 Okay.

00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:38.420
 So that might seem a little weird to us because most of us now, we don't cast lots to discern God's will.

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:40.200
 That's not something we're really taught to do.

00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:40.720
 Right.

00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.299
 We should pray.

00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:42.279
 We should read scripture.

00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:45.559
 But no one says cast lots.

00:32:46.080 --> 00:32:48.539
 So was the church correct in casting lots?

00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:52.039
 And if they were, should we imitate them and cast lots today?

00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:54.080
 We'll start with that first question.

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.840
 Was the church correct to use lots?

00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.940
 And some people have said no.

00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:02.360
 Which, judging from modern practice, that might seem right.

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.900
 But no, they shouldn't have cast lots.

00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:05.759
 They made a mistake in picking Matthias.

00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:09.940
 And we know that because Matthias doesn't appear in the Bible later.

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:11.379
 He's just a minor character.

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:16.099
 Actually, after this, the only two times he appears is in these verses here.

00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:17.279
 And he doesn't appear again.

00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:21.700
 So that's just some indication that Matthias might have been a mistake.

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.119
 They rushed it.

00:33:23.400 --> 00:33:24.200
 And yeah.

00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:24.279
 Yeah.

00:33:24.860 --> 00:33:31.319
 And instead, the apostle Paul, he, later in the second half of Acts, he takes a big role in Acts.

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:34.920
 And he writes, actually, about half the books in the New Testament.

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:38.400
 So, actually, maybe Paul should have been that 12th apostle later on.

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:40.000
 And they rushed it a little bit.

00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:42.900
 So that's one thing people say.

00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.400
 I don't think that's quite right, though.

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:53.220
 One reason is that many others of the 12 disciples, they only make a small appearance later in the New Testament also.

00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:54.480
 So Paul takes a big role.

00:33:54.800 --> 00:33:59.040
 But a lot of the other apostles, they probably in Acts had a huge role to play.

00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:00.320
 But they're not mentioned that much.

00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:02.660
 Okay.

00:34:03.600 --> 00:34:04.640
 That's the first reason.

00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:16.539
 And second reason is that Paul, apostle Paul, he doesn't meet that first criteria of being this eyewitness of Jesus throughout his entire earthly ministry from the time of John's baptism.

00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:25.039
 So instead, I think that Paul should be considered a special apostle in addition to the 12 appointed by Jesus to reach the Gentiles.

00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:29.660
 And also looking at this passage, there's no indication that the church did anything wrong.

00:34:30.680 --> 00:34:31.680
 There's no rebuke.

00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:34.699
 The scripture doesn't say they were wrong in casting lots.

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:36.039
 It records that they did it.

00:34:36.299 --> 00:34:39.899
 And actually, by the looks of it, they're doing everything else right.

00:34:40.419 --> 00:34:41.000
 They're praying.

00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:41.819
 They're in the word.

00:34:42.339 --> 00:34:49.819
 They look in every way like a community that is looking to God, obedient and seeking his will and obediently waiting for the spirit.

00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:53.159
 And also casting lots, it's not something that we do.

00:34:53.419 --> 00:34:57.059
 But it's an Old Testament practice that's actually endorsed by God.

00:34:57.059 --> 00:35:05.299
 It's rooted in this high view of God's sovereignty that every cast of the lot, every time you throw the lot, that falls under God's sovereignty.

00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:09.360
 When you roll the dice, it lands on four just because God has ordained it.

00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:12.880
 God is in control of absolutely everything.

00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:18.140
 And so the church, they're trusting that God is in control, even over the roll of a dice.

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:21.059
 And he would make sure that the result is what he wanted.

00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:28.619
 And casting lots, it's actually in the book of Joshua, they cast lots in order to divide up some of the land.

00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:32.900
 So casting of lots has this role in the foundation of Israel also.

00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:37.159
 So I believe that the church, they were obedient in casting lots.

00:35:37.319 --> 00:35:38.699
 That was something fine for them to do.

00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:46.199
 But the second question is, if they were correct to do it, should we also use lots to discern God's will today?

00:35:46.299 --> 00:35:47.719
 Is that something we should do today?

00:35:48.859 --> 00:35:53.119
 Now remember, the church back then, they were in this period of waiting.

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:58.219
 They were commissioned by Jesus to go, but they were waiting for something.

00:35:58.359 --> 00:36:00.739
 They were waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit.

00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:06.279
 And the arrival of the Holy Spirit, that marks a completely new way in which God relates to us.

00:36:07.819 --> 00:36:13.000
 This practice of casting lots, it belongs to this old era, the old covenant.

00:36:13.859 --> 00:36:20.139
 So after the Spirit comes, which is next week in chapter two, God relates to us in a new way.

00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:25.099
 And after the Spirit comes, we don't see any other record of the church casting lots anymore.

00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:28.119
 They don't use this way to discern anymore.

00:36:28.319 --> 00:36:28.980
 They're still praying.

00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:31.299
 They're really intently seeking God's will in prayer.

00:36:31.619 --> 00:36:35.719
 And actually, before every major turn in acts, almost always the church is in prayer.

00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:42.239
 They're seeking God's will, but doing so through the Spirit rather than this roll of the dice.

00:36:43.319 --> 00:36:44.219
 So same for us now.

00:36:44.299 --> 00:36:46.440
 We should keep praying, holding fast to Scripture.

00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:49.800
 But rather than casting lots, we have something better.

00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:52.380
 Something better than throwing a dice.

00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:54.559
 And that's the Holy Spirit.

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:56.679
 The Holy Spirit is just more personal.

00:36:57.820 --> 00:36:58.559
 Gives us wisdom.

00:36:59.019 --> 00:37:03.940
 That's just a better and more personal way of making decisions than by throwing a dice.

00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:05.860
 That's the way we make decisions now.

00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:12.340
 Romans 12 says, we do so by being transformed in the renewal of your mind.

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:13.880
 That's how we make decisions.

00:37:14.200 --> 00:37:17.880
 So that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God.

00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:20.160
 What is good and acceptable and perfect.

00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:26.200
 Have our minds transformed such that our desires, they're aligned with God's desires.

00:37:26.500 --> 00:37:28.900
 And our choices are aligned with God's choices.

00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:31.160
 That's what the Spirit does in us.

00:37:32.140 --> 00:37:34.860
 Transforming us so that we make decisions like God.

00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:37.220
 We want what is pleasing to God.

00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:47.199
 And so we don't need to read tea leaves because now with the arrival of the Spirit, God speaks to us personally and he guides us personally.

00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:54.639
 So last year when I proposed to my wife Jojo, I took her on the scavenger hunt.

00:37:54.699 --> 00:37:55.279
 That's how I proposed.

00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:58.879
 So we used to live close to each other in the Jordan TST area.

00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:01.099
 And I guess now we still live close to each other in Taiwai.

00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:08.380
 But anyways, I took her on scavenger hunt around different spots that we used to hang out.

00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:09.920
 Spots that are memorable to us.

00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:11.339
 So one was Donkey.

00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:14.259
 That's where we first met for an accidental first date.

00:38:15.299 --> 00:38:19.619
 And then Avenue of Stars where I accidentally took her for this romantic light show.

00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:25.259
 And then this park where we broke up once, which is a long story.

00:38:25.799 --> 00:38:27.039
 A story for another time.

00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:30.799
 But yeah, I'll tell you, I know quite a bit about waiting.

00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:37.420
 Until at last, I brought her to the roof garden in my clubhouse.

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:39.239
 And that's where I finally proposed.

00:38:41.339 --> 00:38:44.799
 But imagine if Jojo instead, she just rolled the dice.

00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:46.339
 And she's like, oh, clubhouse.

00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.259
 I'm going straight there.

00:38:47.799 --> 00:38:51.199
 And just made a beeline to that roof garden all by herself.

00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:53.420
 That'd be a pretty lame proposal.

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:54.639
 I'd be hearing about it for months.

00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:55.860
 That'd be pretty bad.

00:38:55.860 --> 00:39:07.680
 No, it was better, actually, for us to take our time, spending time together, laughing, enjoying the afternoon together, me by her side, holding her hand every step of the way.

00:39:09.460 --> 00:39:13.360
 She wasn't lost guessing also at what I wanted her to do, where I wanted to go.

00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:17.440
 Because at each stop, there's this clue telling her what's next.

00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:19.679
 She had to do some work to figure it out.

00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:22.860
 But yeah, there's some guidance telling her what's next.

00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:25.920
 And if she was totally stumped, I was right there.

00:39:26.039 --> 00:39:26.980
 She could just ask me.

00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:28.440
 And I could give her a hint.

00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:31.740
 And she didn't have to worry about where she was heading.

00:39:31.800 --> 00:39:38.980
 Because even if she got totally wrong and went the wrong way, I'd just take her by the hand, spin her around, and say, hey, actually, babe, it's that way.

00:39:38.980 --> 00:39:42.940
 And also, she knew I was going to propose that day.

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:43.800
 There's no doubt there.

00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:45.320
 She knew where she was heading.

00:39:45.980 --> 00:39:48.960
 And she knew I would make sure I got her there.

00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:52.559
 That's how God guides us now by the Spirit.

00:39:52.900 --> 00:39:53.920
 He's by our side.

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:55.280
 And not just by our side.

00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:56.119
 Even better than that.

00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:57.960
 He dwells within our hearts.

00:39:58.780 --> 00:40:02.000
 So we don't have to worry and be anxious about tomorrow.

00:40:02.240 --> 00:40:03.639
 We can be free to simply enjoy.

00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:07.260
 We can enjoy the journeys taking us on, looking to Him.

00:40:07.260 --> 00:40:08.420
 Right?

00:40:08.580 --> 00:40:09.620
 There's decisions to make.

00:40:09.700 --> 00:40:11.260
 Which school, which job, which person.

00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:17.780
 But we can make those decisions freely, knowing that He's guiding us every step of the way.

00:40:18.140 --> 00:40:20.500
 That He wants the best for us.

00:40:22.020 --> 00:40:24.120
 He's guiding us to do His mission.

00:40:24.740 --> 00:40:26.280
 And He wants the best for us.

00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:28.760
 We just need to walk humbly with Him.

00:40:29.580 --> 00:40:30.440
 In step with Him.

00:40:30.600 --> 00:40:32.000
 Looking to Him for guidance.

00:40:32.720 --> 00:40:34.540
 He gives us wisdom in Scripture.

00:40:34.539 --> 00:40:37.559
 Revealing to us who He is and what He wants.

00:40:38.139 --> 00:40:41.940
 And so we can conform our mind to think the way He does.

00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:46.079
 He also answers us when you ask for direction in prayer.

00:40:46.500 --> 00:40:47.480
 We can ask for His will.

00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:49.900
 And He speaks to us by the Spirit also.

00:40:51.340 --> 00:40:54.739
 And we can have confidence in seeking Him out.

00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:57.300
 Because we know that Jesus loves His bride.

00:40:57.800 --> 00:40:58.779
 He loves His church.

00:40:58.780 --> 00:41:03.880
 And He will see to it that we make it home safely to this wedding feast of the Lamb.

00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:09.140
 So let's keep that in mind when we wait and seek God's will.

00:41:09.260 --> 00:41:11.040
 When we need to wait and make decisions.

00:41:11.800 --> 00:41:12.760
 That God loves us.

00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:13.500
 He is for us.

00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:17.240
 When we wait, let us be devoted to praying together.

00:41:17.960 --> 00:41:18.360
 1030.

00:41:18.560 --> 00:41:19.560
 I want to see you there.

00:41:19.800 --> 00:41:20.760
 If you can make it.

00:41:21.200 --> 00:41:22.960
 But let's be devoted to prayer together.

00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:26.720
 If not that, just have this conviction that this is God's will.

00:41:26.920 --> 00:41:28.440
 That we have a purpose here.

00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:33.519
 And He wants to show our church how we are to scatter and reach the nation.

00:41:34.079 --> 00:41:35.059
 And how to glorify Him.

00:41:35.139 --> 00:41:36.639
 It's His battle, His mission.

00:41:36.740 --> 00:41:38.860
 He cares about winning this war far more than we do.

00:41:40.199 --> 00:41:42.360
 So let's be church that's devoted to praying together.

00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:46.280
 And let us trust in God's will as revealed in Scripture.

00:41:46.800 --> 00:41:48.179
 Knowing that He is Lord of all.

00:41:48.179 --> 00:41:50.460
 Every trial in this life.

00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:52.039
 Every bump in the road.

00:41:52.199 --> 00:41:53.239
 Every twist.

00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:56.339
 They are all part of His plan.

00:41:56.980 --> 00:41:59.639
 And one day, looking in heaven, we'll be looking back.

00:42:00.099 --> 00:42:01.259
 We'll look back on all those.

00:42:01.579 --> 00:42:03.319
 And there'll be stories that we'll tell.

00:42:03.399 --> 00:42:04.919
 To praise God for all that He's done.

00:42:05.139 --> 00:42:07.259
 That He was with us even in our darkest moments.

00:42:07.339 --> 00:42:08.359
 And He brought us safely home.

00:42:09.839 --> 00:42:12.119
 And let us also discern His will.

00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:14.079
 In freedom, without fear.

00:42:14.259 --> 00:42:15.079
 We don't have to worry.

00:42:15.839 --> 00:42:17.299
 But keep our eyes on Him.

00:42:17.300 --> 00:42:20.840
 Because His Spirit dwells within us.

00:42:21.640 --> 00:42:26.140
 So that's how we wait in God's will as we prepare to scatter.

00:42:26.940 --> 00:42:29.380
 That's how we look to God's will in our waiting.

00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:32.120
 What a blessing it is to have God's Spirit.

00:42:32.580 --> 00:42:34.060
 Better than the roll of a dice.

00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:36.980
 But more on that next week as we get to Acts 2.

00:42:37.280 --> 00:42:38.900
 Which is the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:41.460
 This pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of the Pentecost.

00:42:41.840 --> 00:42:43.160
 That's coming up next week.

00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:45.440
 Until then, we wait.

00:42:46.580 --> 00:42:47.140
 Let's pray.

00:42:47.300 --> 00:42:55.180
 Lord, we look to you.

00:42:55.280 --> 00:42:56.820
 You are the sovereign Lord over all.

00:42:58.580 --> 00:43:00.860
 And, yeah.

00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:02.039
 You love your church.

00:43:02.380 --> 00:43:06.080
 You will see to it that we make it home to you in heaven.

00:43:06.519 --> 00:43:09.960
 And that we bring every one of the sheep that you died for.

00:43:10.140 --> 00:43:10.860
 You know your sheep.

00:43:10.940 --> 00:43:11.760
 They hear your voice.

00:43:11.760 --> 00:43:15.320
 Lord, as we prepare to scatter.

00:43:15.540 --> 00:43:16.920
 As we're thinking about scattering.

00:43:18.200 --> 00:43:19.380
 Would you guide our church?

00:43:19.940 --> 00:43:22.160
 Show us where it is in Hong Kong.

00:43:22.240 --> 00:43:23.040
 Who it is around us.

00:43:23.080 --> 00:43:24.340
 Our friends, family, coworkers.

00:43:25.460 --> 00:43:26.620
 Random people on the street.

00:43:26.619 --> 00:43:28.299
 As we're walking along.

00:43:28.299 --> 00:43:29.460
 Show us by your spirit.

00:43:29.599 --> 00:43:31.940
 Who it is that we can share Christ with.

00:43:32.779 --> 00:43:35.039
 Show us how it is as a church we can organize.

00:43:35.539 --> 00:43:36.319
 And go out.

00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:38.779
 And also, Lord, give us a heart for the nations.

00:43:38.940 --> 00:43:39.639
 And give us ways.

00:43:39.799 --> 00:43:42.960
 Show us how we can be supporting your work around the world.

00:43:43.920 --> 00:43:44.739
 Lord, we look to you.

00:43:44.819 --> 00:43:47.460
 Make us a church that truly believes.

00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:50.820
 That this is your mission.

00:43:51.300 --> 00:43:52.840
 You will accomplish it.

00:43:52.880 --> 00:43:53.659
 That you love us.

00:43:54.139 --> 00:43:55.280
 You want to work through us.

00:43:55.579 --> 00:43:58.079
 Make us a church that is devoted to prayer.

00:43:58.260 --> 00:43:59.159
 That trusts in your word.

00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:01.659
 And show us your will, Lord.

00:44:02.199 --> 00:44:03.619
 We pray all this in Jesus' name.

00:44:04.260 --> 00:44:04.460
 Amen.

00:44:05.420 --> 00:44:07.260
 Let's stand and respond in song.

00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:17.280
 God, we know the battle does belong to you.

00:44:17.460 --> 00:44:18.099
 Amen.

00:44:22.659 --> 00:44:26.300
 We know that whether we're in a season of waiting.

00:44:29.539 --> 00:44:34.420
 A season of trusting your hands to lead and guide us.

00:44:34.840 --> 00:44:37.460
 We don't necessarily maybe know where we're going.

00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:39.820
 But we know you do.

00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:40.980
 And so we're trusting you.

00:44:44.059 --> 00:44:46.980
 Whether we're in a season of absolute clarity in our life.

00:44:46.980 --> 00:44:48.719
 And we're living our best life right now.

00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:56.260
 We know that no matter where we're at.

00:44:57.059 --> 00:44:59.059
 That the battle does belong to you.

00:44:59.059 --> 00:45:04.059
 That you are fighting with us.

00:45:04.119 --> 00:45:05.279
 That you are fighting for us.

00:45:07.380 --> 00:45:08.219
 That you are speaking.

00:45:08.400 --> 00:45:08.940
 That you are leading.

00:45:09.059 --> 00:45:09.699
 That you are guiding.

00:45:09.699 --> 00:45:10.639
 And that you are for us.

00:45:10.639 --> 00:45:14.719
 That you are for us.

00:45:14.759 --> 00:45:16.019
 And that you care for us.

00:45:16.019 --> 00:45:16.960
 And that you love us.

00:45:18.139 --> 00:45:22.299
 And you see what it is that we're walking through.

00:45:22.300 --> 00:45:30.940
 let's just sit here for a minute

00:45:30.940 --> 00:45:37.180
 maybe we can sing the song one more time

00:45:37.180 --> 00:45:41.280
 and I want to encourage you

00:45:41.280 --> 00:45:44.300
 with wherever you are at

00:45:44.300 --> 00:45:46.000
 if you are in a season of waiting

00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:49.360
 and trusting God in the midst of uncertainty

00:45:49.360 --> 00:45:51.580
 and you need prayer

00:45:51.579 --> 00:45:55.099
 ask a friend beside you to pray for you

00:45:55.099 --> 00:45:58.400
 and if you're like oh shoot I have no friends here today

00:45:58.400 --> 00:46:01.099
 well we're all your friends

00:46:01.099 --> 00:46:06.739
 ask someone beside you or come up ask Pastor Gabe or someone

00:46:06.739 --> 00:46:10.639
 but we do want to make a space that

00:46:10.639 --> 00:46:14.179
 we realize life is real and hard and good

00:46:14.179 --> 00:46:19.159
 and we have a God who is fighting with us and for us

00:46:19.159 --> 00:46:22.420
 and sometimes we just as Gabe talked about we just need to come to him in prayer

00:46:22.420 --> 00:46:25.000
 and so as we sing the song one more time

00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:27.500
 if you need prayer ask for it

00:46:27.500 --> 00:46:31.119
 if you feel God speaking to you about your friend who needs prayer

00:46:31.119 --> 00:46:32.299
 go and pray for them

00:46:32.299 --> 00:46:35.679
 but let's spend a few minutes in prayer today

00:46:35.679 --> 00:46:51.099
 and so God we lay all our fears at your feet today

00:46:51.099 --> 00:46:56.960
 we lay them at your feet and we trust you with them

00:46:56.960 --> 00:47:00.559
 and we say take them

00:47:00.559 --> 00:47:07.420
 take our fears and carry them for us

00:47:07.420 --> 00:47:08.900
 take our uncertainty

00:47:08.900 --> 00:47:11.539
 take our lack of faith

00:47:11.539 --> 00:47:15.740
 we trust you with it Father

00:47:15.740 --> 00:47:18.619
 and as we go out today

00:47:18.619 --> 00:47:20.860
 we know that you go before us

00:47:20.860 --> 00:47:23.480
 and that you go with us

00:47:23.480 --> 00:47:25.640
 into whatever we're walking into

00:47:25.640 --> 00:47:28.800
 and we praise you for that

00:47:28.800 --> 00:47:31.440
 and we rejoice in that

00:47:31.440 --> 00:47:35.640
 so may this not end here

00:47:35.640 --> 00:47:38.099
 but may it continue throughout our weeks

00:47:38.099 --> 00:47:40.019
 in our workplaces

00:47:40.019 --> 00:47:44.539
 may we know you're moving in our lives

00:47:44.539 --> 00:47:46.519
 in your name we pray

00:47:46.519 --> 00:47:48.039
 amen

00:47:48.039 --> 00:47:49.579
 amen