WEBVTT

00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.000
 Thank you so much, Derek and Lynn, for reading.

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 Folks, lovely to see you this morning.

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 Hope you've been enjoying the sunshine over the last week or so.

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 It doesn't happen often here, does it?

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 So we've been enjoying it over the last few days.

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 Let me encourage you to come to Acts chapter 2

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 and to this thrilling part of God's Word

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 that I hope is going to be so instructive

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 and also just inspiring for us today

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 as we continue to live our lives for the glory of Jesus Christ

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 in the city which he has called us to live in.

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 But let me just pray as we get there.

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 The words of Psalm 119.

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 Your hands have made and fashioned me.

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 Give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

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 And so it's to you, Heavenly Father, our creator,

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 the God who loves us, the God who provides for us.

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 Father, we pray that you, by your Spirit,

00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:00.059
 would help us understand something more of the glory of your Son.

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 And may today what we look at, Father, be inspiring for us

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 as we just glean an insight into your worldwide purposes

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 for the glory of your Son.

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 And we pray these things in his precious name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

00:01:14.199 --> 00:01:16.560
 Well, folks, with Acts chapter 2 open in front of you,

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 let me just put a number on the screen to get us going this morning.

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 If you're like me, you get easily confused by the number of zeros

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 that appear in figures.

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 Let me put you out your misery and tell you that that number is 97.2 million.

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 Now, I wonder if you can think on the spot as to what that number represents.

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 What does it represent?

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 Well, let me tell you that according to Christian charity Operation World,

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 that is the number of people living in China today

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 who claim to be following Jesus Christ.

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 So 97.2 million people.

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 Let's agree that that is an awful lot of people.

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 If you're trying to put it in some kind of context in your mind,

00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:07.640
 know that there are just under 70 million people living in the whole of the UK today.

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 So this is the number of Christians, disciples of Jesus,

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 who are living in China today.

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 Now, let me ask you, as you consider that number,

00:02:16.379 --> 00:02:18.060
 how do you explain it?

00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:20.980
 How do you explain it?

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 How do you explain how, despite being an atheist nation

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 where the government not only discourages faith

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 but is known to close churches and jail believers,

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 that the number of Jesus followers, disciples in China

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 has risen roughly 10 times since 1980?

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 How do you explain the fact that despite real persecution,

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 it's why we should be always praying for our brothers and sisters

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 in other parts of the world

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 who are counting the cost for following Jesus in such a real way.

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 How do you explain the fact, despite persecution,

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 despite limitations on things like social media

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 where communication is really easy,

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 how do you explain the fact that China is currently on course

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 to be home to more Christians in the world

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 than any other country by the year 2030?

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 How do you explain it?

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 How do you explain that despite all the odds,

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 against all the things that should tell us otherwise,

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 the church in China is growing exponentially

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 and nothing seems to be able to stop it?

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 What we're looking at today in Acts chapter 2

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 is the Bible's number one answer to that question.

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 And I imagine it's the question that Luke's original audience

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 are asking themselves as they pick up the book of Acts,

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 as they read the story of the early church,

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 they think, how has this happened?

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 Well, it's a great question to ask.

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 That's the one that we're going to ask today.

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 Here is the number one answer that the Bible gives.

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 I'm going to throw another number on the screen.

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 This time, I hope, a bit more manageable.

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 It's the number 120.

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 Go back one, 120.

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 Now, if you come with me to the text,

00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:06.599
 verse 15 of chapter 1,

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 this is kind of where we'll pick it up today.

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 120, a lot more manageable number.

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 That is the number of disciples in Jerusalem

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 at this point in the Bible story.

00:04:16.339 --> 00:04:16.839
 Okay.

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 Not an impressive number.

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 Again, if you're trying to put that in some sort of context,

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 can we call there's kind of 40 adults in this room just now,

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 maybe even less than that?

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 And that's just three times that number.

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 So again, just get your heads around 120 people.

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 All the world, 120 people.

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 Now, that's not an impressive number.

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 And more than that,

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 this is not a very impressive group of people.

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 Okay.

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 If you've ever seen the film 500,

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 okay, this isn't Gerard Butler and 500 trained Spartan soldiers

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 who are armed with weapons and six packs galore,

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 ready to take on anyone who comes against them.

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 This is 120 everyday people.

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 You have former fishermen.

00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:03.360
 You have a former tax collector.

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 In the text, you'll see Jesus, his mum and his brothers.

00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:09.240
 120 people.

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 They don't have numbers on their side.

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 And they don't have, I guess,

00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:15.079
 what we would call worldly prowess on their side.

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 But what they do have is a mission from the risen Jesus

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 to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

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 They've got a mission and they've got a promise

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 that he will send from the Father and the Son,

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 the Holy Spirit to empower them to do the mission.

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 And more than that, over, above all else,

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 they possess hearts that have been gripped

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 by a glorious Christ.

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 They have been loved by Jesus.

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 You know, one of the men that God used in the years gone by

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 to make a gospel impact in our city of Edinburgh

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 was an American by the name of D.L. Moody, right?

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 So he used to speak here,

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 Corroboros Christian Centre in the Royal Mile.

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 And people used to look down on D.L. Moody

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 for his ineloquence,

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 for his humble upbringings,

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 for his lack of education,

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 for the fact that he used to sell shoes

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 for a living back in America.

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 And yet, despite those things,

00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:24.000
 during his life, God used him to bring the gospel

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 to an estimated 100 million people across the globe.

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 And for Moody, the words that captured his heart

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 were the ones that were spoken to him by a friend

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 as they sat together somewhere, I think, down south

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 on a park bench.

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 His friends simply said,

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 Dwight, that was his name,

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 the world has yet to see

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 what God can do

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 with one life

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 that is fully consecrated to Jesus Christ.

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 And D.L. Moody made a pledge in his heart right then.

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 He said,

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 I can be that man.

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 Now, I hope that's an encouragement

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 for some of us here today

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 who are feeling a bit like the 120 disciples.

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 Really got nothing going for me.

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 Could God use me?

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 What about my lack of education?

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 What about my ineloquence?

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 What about all the faults and failings that I have?

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 And I hope we're encouraged by this text today

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 to say that it's never been about us.

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 Here is God, through his spirit,

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 accomplishing his purposes.

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 And so what Luke is recording for us here

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 is the beginning of that mission

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 and the fulfillment of that promise.

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 And these things kind of come together

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 in verse 1 of chapter 2.

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 On the day of Pentecost.

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 If you've got the text there,

00:07:32.719 --> 00:07:34.079
 on the day of Pentecost, verse 1.

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 Now, Pentecost, one of the Jewish festivals,

00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:40.639
 happens 50 days after Passover.

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 And I guess it's kind of the equivalent

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 to what we might call today,

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 some churches do this, don't they?

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 They have a harvest festival.

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 This is what the people are doing.

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 Celebrating God's faithfulness

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 and giving them the harvest.

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 Of course, it's...

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 The camera angle changes, isn't it?

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 It's not just about a physical harvest.

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 Right here in Acts 2,

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 here is the start of the spiritual harvest.

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 It's great, isn't it?

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 What's going on?

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 And Luke kind of unfolds what goes on.

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 Remember, the doctor come historian

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 with an eye for the details

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 trying to record for people what's happened.

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 Right? For Theophilus.

00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:17.680
 But I imagine for the readers

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 who are behind Theophilus looking at this,

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 he records the details of what happens

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 on the day of Pentecost.

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 We're going to look at it in three quick scenes

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 to get us through this, right?

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 He firstly records an undeniable moment

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 as God pours out His Holy Spirit on His disciples.

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 Now again, if you've got the text there,

00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:40.699
 notice Luke's plural emphasis

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 as he records what happened in this section.

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 Okay, how often he repeats the word them

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 or they

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 or just collective language which he uses

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 to emphasize that the Spirit fell

00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:55.980
 not on a certain few individuals.

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 The Spirit fell.

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 God poured out His Spirit on all

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 of His people.

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 So what happens when we put our faith in Jesus?

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 The only reason we can say that

00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:08.240
 we could come to be a Christian

00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:10.200
 is because the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives.

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 All of us have

00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:12.560
 the Spirit.

00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:15.280
 You see, as you read the Old Testament,

00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:18.959
 you encounter the Holy Spirit falling on select individuals,

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 anointing people to fulfill a certain task.

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 But now the Spirit has fallen on all believers

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 as God takes up residence

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 in the lives of His people.

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 Again, I hope that's encouraging for you this morning.

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 See what Luke describes verse 2.

00:09:36.859 --> 00:09:37.599
 There was a sound

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 like a mighty wind

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 and there was a sight.

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 Tongues like fire

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 rested on

00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:46.659
 each of the believers gathered here.

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 Which I guess shouldn't surprise us in a sense

00:09:48.439 --> 00:09:49.719
 because what this is all about

00:09:49.719 --> 00:09:51.579
 is this is going to be about proclamation.

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 Proclamation.

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 Verse 4.

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 The disciples start speaking in other languages.

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 Understandably,

00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:03.459
 verse 7,

00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:04.419
 the people are

00:10:04.419 --> 00:10:06.819
 amazed and bewildered.

00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:07.600
 What did they say?

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 I think this is quite funny

00:10:08.459 --> 00:10:09.159
 if you look at the text.

00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:09.819
 What did they say?

00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:10.179
 They say,

00:10:10.539 --> 00:10:12.100
 are these people not Galileans?

00:10:12.179 --> 00:10:12.659
 Do you see it?

00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:15.699
 Are these people not Galileans?

00:10:16.199 --> 00:10:16.980
 Because apparently,

00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:19.079
 people from the region of Galilee,

00:10:19.199 --> 00:10:19.600
 which I guess

00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:20.620
 to the north of,

00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.399
 way to the north of Jerusalem,

00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:25.179
 they're known for two distinct things.

00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:27.199
 They're known for their distinct accent.

00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:28.819
 It's why,

00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:30.140
 if you remember where Peter's gathered

00:10:30.140 --> 00:10:31.100
 around the courtyard

00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:32.620
 and the servant girl says,

00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:33.640
 I recognize your accent.

00:10:33.640 --> 00:10:34.660
 Your accent betrays you.

00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:35.240
 Apparently,

00:10:35.300 --> 00:10:36.920
 people from Galilee have a distinct accent.

00:10:37.040 --> 00:10:38.460
 We should get that in the UK.

00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:39.680
 Right?

00:10:39.760 --> 00:10:40.920
 You can immediately tell

00:10:40.920 --> 00:10:41.940
 within two or three sentences

00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:43.080
 listening to somebody

00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:44.060
 where they come from.

00:10:44.400 --> 00:10:44.560
 Right?

00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:45.520
 Geordies,

00:10:45.940 --> 00:10:46.520
 Scousers,

00:10:47.020 --> 00:10:47.420
 Cockney,

00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:48.420
 Weegees.

00:10:49.040 --> 00:10:49.180
 Okay?

00:10:49.220 --> 00:10:50.340
 I remember the couple of years

00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:51.400
 I spent living down south.

00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:52.460
 Within two or three sentences,

00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:53.920
 people had placed where I came from.

00:10:55.040 --> 00:10:55.620
 We get that.

00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:58.360
 These people are known for their accent

00:10:58.360 --> 00:10:59.700
 and they're known for their,

00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:00.580
 I guess the word is,

00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:01.440
 commonness.

00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:03.060
 Okay?

00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.740
 And so the people look at these people speaking

00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:07.340
 and they say,

00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:09.539
 where did they learn how we speak?

00:11:10.980 --> 00:11:11.659
 Because it's not,

00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:12.940
 which is a great question.

00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:14.700
 Cracking question.

00:11:14.700 --> 00:11:17.120
 Because it's not like they've signed up

00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.420
 for a night class at college

00:11:18.420 --> 00:11:19.460
 and learnt this.

00:11:20.640 --> 00:11:22.180
 It's not like they've downloaded an app

00:11:22.180 --> 00:11:22.820
 on their phone

00:11:22.820 --> 00:11:24.120
 and they sit in bed every night

00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:26.320
 listening to somebody speak to them.

00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.680
 Remember when we did that at school?

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:29.759
 French is the only language I can speak.

00:11:30.160 --> 00:11:31.300
 Equity and reputie.

00:11:31.400 --> 00:11:32.320
 That was it, wasn't it?

00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:33.720
 Listen and say it back.

00:11:34.020 --> 00:11:35.220
 These people didn't have that.

00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:38.759
 Verse four is clear.

00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:40.240
 The Spirit gave them this ability.

00:11:42.280 --> 00:11:42.759
 And as a side,

00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:43.620
 let me just deal with this here.

00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.440
 I think that's why

00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:46.919
 we need to see this as a one-off event.

00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:48.980
 Unrepeatable.

00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:51.940
 And I think what we need to see

00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:54.740
 is that this is what differentiates this

00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.519
 from the tongues that we see later on

00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:57.980
 in Scripture, 1 Corinthians 12.

00:11:58.980 --> 00:11:59.720
 It seems there,

00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:02.879
 Paul is addressing their unintelligibility.

00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:04.799
 People can't understand what's being said.

00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.700
 Whereas here,

00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:07.600
 yes, it's supernatural.

00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:10.740
 And yet this seems to be all about intelligibility.

00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:11.899
 People can understand

00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:13.060
 what's being said immediately.

00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:16.360
 Look what Luke describes.

00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:18.700
 Who is there from verse 9?

00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:20.539
 Who is there at verse 9?

00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:20.919
 Do you see it?

00:12:20.940 --> 00:12:24.539
 People from 15 different nations.

00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.399
 I love that.

00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:27.779
 15 different nations.

00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:28.940
 He takes the time,

00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:29.860
 again, the historian,

00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.759
 to tell you where all these people have come from.

00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:34.639
 From the surrounding nations.

00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:37.179
 They've come to Jerusalem for this festival.

00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:38.720
 And I guess what's going to happen

00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:40.399
 is they're going to hear this good news,

00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:42.220
 these mighty works of God,

00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:43.439
 understand,

00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:45.399
 and then go back to their own countries

00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:47.439
 and proclaim Jesus there.

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.600
 Do you see how this is happening?

00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:50.259
 The ripple effect of the gospel.

00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:54.480
 And do you see God's international heart here?

00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:56.319
 And I think this is where we maybe need to pause

00:12:56.319 --> 00:12:57.120
 and reflect on it.

00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:58.639
 God's international heart

00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:00.559
 for the peoples of the world.

00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:01.659
 Have you ever wondered,

00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:02.340
 stopped to think,

00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.480
 why we are here?

00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:04.559
 Why are you here?

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:07.439
 Why should the gospel have made it to Edinburgh?

00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:09.260
 Why should somebody have told you

00:13:09.260 --> 00:13:10.520
 about the good news of Jesus?

00:13:11.640 --> 00:13:14.080
 Because this God has an international heart

00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:16.560
 to reach the peoples of the world

00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:17.920
 throughout the generations.

00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:22.620
 His desire to see the peoples of nations

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:26.480
 come to have life in Jesus.

00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:27.540
 And you see here,

00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:28.620
 it's categorical.

00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:29.840
 There is no gender barrier.

00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:31.160
 There's no race barrier.

00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:32.720
 There's no ethnicity barrier.

00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:34.140
 There's no class barrier.

00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:38.360
 There are all people coming to know Jesus.

00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.960
 And in the Bible story,

00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:44.259
 if the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11,

00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:46.600
 looked at at the beginning of last year,

00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:50.480
 was about God's response to mankind's rebellion

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:52.740
 as he scattered the peoples of the world

00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.139
 and confused their languages.

00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:55.759
 Do you see how this is kind of like

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.100
 the reversal of Babel?

00:13:58.439 --> 00:14:01.360
 What God is doing is through the diversity

00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.720
 of language.

00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:08.539
 They are united in the one common message.

00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:11.659
 United in this common understanding

00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:13.419
 that Jesus is king.

00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.319
 Psalm 67,

00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:16.379
 we're going to look at it tonight

00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:17.019
 in the prayer meeting.

00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.779
 Let the peoples praise you, God.

00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:19.740
 This is what's going on.

00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:20.939
 The peoples of the world

00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:22.639
 in their distinct tongues

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:25.019
 praising God.

00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:27.159
 It's a wonderful scene, isn't it?

00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:29.259
 It's a wonderful scene.

00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.639
 But here's maybe what hit me this week

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:32.059
 as I thought about it again.

00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:35.559
 I love the Bible's realism here.

00:14:36.319 --> 00:14:37.319
 Again, it's just something

00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:39.459
 that helps me understand

00:14:39.459 --> 00:14:41.379
 that this is something that I can trust.

00:14:42.099 --> 00:14:43.279
 I love the Bible's realism

00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.199
 because maybe you're here

00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:46.119
 and you're thinking to yourself,

00:14:47.059 --> 00:14:47.539
 I don't know,

00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:48.419
 maybe the same thing

00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:49.439
 that was in your mind this week

00:14:49.439 --> 00:14:50.399
 when you heard about those plans

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.719
 for the European Super League.

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:52.579
 Okay?

00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:53.939
 You heard about that stuff?

00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:55.740
 people saying in the news,

00:14:56.180 --> 00:14:57.880
 no, the idea behind this is

00:14:57.880 --> 00:14:58.880
 we just want to see

00:14:58.880 --> 00:14:59.680
 the best teams in Europe

00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:00.780
 play together.

00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:02.040
 We just want to see sports,

00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:02.840
 entertainment,

00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:03.840
 and that's what we want to see.

00:15:03.900 --> 00:15:04.340
 And you're thinking,

00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.240
 yeah, sure it is.

00:15:05.780 --> 00:15:06.560
 Sure it is.

00:15:08.260 --> 00:15:09.860
 People speaking in different languages?

00:15:10.160 --> 00:15:10.660
 Yeah, sure.

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:11.960
 Sure it is.

00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:12.840
 Nonsense.

00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:14.020
 I don't know,

00:15:14.060 --> 00:15:15.000
 maybe that's your response.

00:15:16.180 --> 00:15:16.820
 I'd say that

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:18.420
 that's a perfectly plausible response

00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:19.360
 because this isn't something

00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.360
 that happens every day,

00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:20.699
 is it?

00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:23.620
 But I love the Bible's realism here.

00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:24.539
 Not only is that included,

00:15:25.699 --> 00:15:26.479
 I think that's included

00:15:26.479 --> 00:15:27.759
 because Luke realizes

00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:28.699
 that people will be asking

00:15:28.699 --> 00:15:29.339
 this question.

00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.299
 What do the people say?

00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:32.240
 Verse 13.

00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.339
 They're drunk.

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.219
 That's what people thought

00:15:36.219 --> 00:15:36.679
 at the time.

00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:37.620
 They're drunk.

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:39.219
 Right?

00:15:39.219 --> 00:15:40.439
 And Luke's readers

00:15:40.439 --> 00:15:41.939
 reading this many years later

00:15:41.939 --> 00:15:43.599
 who might think the same thing

00:15:43.599 --> 00:15:45.259
 and yet here is people

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:47.199
 in the first century

00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:49.140
 who can smell a rat as well.

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:51.000
 They can smell a rat.

00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:51.960
 That's what they thought

00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:53.680
 and yet Luke is helping us see

00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:55.580
 that I'm guessing

00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.520
 that many of those

00:15:56.520 --> 00:15:57.620
 who mocked are in the crowd

00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.460
 that hears the message

00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:59.320
 that comes next

00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:00.800
 and they're in the huge group

00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:01.820
 of people that respond

00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.460
 at the end.

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:04.100
 So if you're thinking that today,

00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:06.080
 then know you're in good company.

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:08.280
 These people thought that as well

00:16:08.280 --> 00:16:08.879
 and that's why I want you

00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.720
 to hang on in here

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.960
 and see what happens next.

00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:11.200
 Okay?

00:16:11.280 --> 00:16:12.120
 Because we move

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:13.920
 from an undeniable moment.

00:16:14.280 --> 00:16:15.600
 We move to an unmissable point.

00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:18.759
 Sermon with an unmissable point.

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:19.900
 Verse 14.

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.759
 Upstands Peter.

00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:23.060
 And the very fact

00:16:23.060 --> 00:16:24.020
 that Peter is the guy

00:16:24.020 --> 00:16:24.700
 who speaks here,

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:26.540
 I hope that encourages you as well.

00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:30.180
 He's just been loved by Jesus.

00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:31.520
 Forgiven.

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:32.560
 Restored.

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.540
 Heart inflamed.

00:16:35.160 --> 00:16:36.140
 By Jesus.

00:16:36.340 --> 00:16:37.600
 Again, it's Peter.

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.360
 Right?

00:16:38.420 --> 00:16:40.180
 This guy who only a short while ago

00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:42.040
 collapsed like a house of cards

00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:43.720
 when somebody asked him

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:45.259
 if he were with Jesus.

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:47.539
 collapsed when a servant girl

00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.539
 interrogated him

00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.740
 and yet here he is

00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:51.740
 filled with the Holy Spirit

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:54.319
 unashamedly and boldly

00:16:54.319 --> 00:16:55.600
 exploiting what has happened

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.659
 to an enormous crowd of people.

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:01.319
 I take it there's no explanation

00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:02.319
 for that other than

00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:04.079
 the power of the Holy Spirit

00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.420
 and the life of somebody

00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.500
 who was willing to be used.

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.759
 If you want to distill its contents

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.720
 because of time,

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.759
 his sermon's got two big points

00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.539
 and I'm aware of the irony

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.899
 it's in a three point sermon,

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.159
 okay, but stay with me.

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.180
 Here's two big points

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:17.639
 of his sermon.

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.740
 He's talking about,

00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.559
 he's saying to the crowd,

00:17:19.659 --> 00:17:21.000
 listen, a new page has turned.

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.500
 A new page has turned, right?

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.700
 This isn't a random event.

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.500
 You see how he brings in

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.299
 the prophet Joel.

00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:27.019
 This is something that

00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:27.980
 Joel spoke about.

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.019
 You look at Joel,

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:30.639
 Joel in his day,

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:32.079
 he's looking forward

00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.180
 to the two big things

00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:34.099
 that God is going to do

00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:34.779
 in the future.

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:36.159
 Right?

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.259
 These two kind of markers.

00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:38.079
 The first one,

00:17:38.159 --> 00:17:38.960
 that God is going to do

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.960
 something incredible

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.299
 in the eyes of the world.

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:41.919
 He's going to do it

00:17:41.919 --> 00:17:43.220
 and pour out his spirit

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.039
 on his people

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:45.119
 as a result of it

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:47.259
 and the word's going to go forth.

00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:49.559
 And in so doing,

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.399
 after this moment,

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.359
 the new page is turned.

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.500
 This is going to usher in

00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.700
 the period of gospel proclamation.

00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.460
 So that,

00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.200
 verse 21,

00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.059
 everyone and anyone

00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.980
 who hears

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.440
 and calls on the name

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:01.960
 of the Lord

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:03.159
 will be saved.

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.359
 And that's the page

00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:05.039
 that's turned

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.659
 because of this event.

00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:07.799
 You know,

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.579
 our little girl Chloe,

00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:10.240
 we've been going

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.279
 through the Narnia series.

00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.079
 She's just devouring

00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:12.939
 the Narnia books,

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.159
 right?

00:18:13.199 --> 00:18:14.079
 And I absolutely love them.

00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:14.899
 I think I'm enjoying them

00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:15.720
 more than her personally,

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:15.939
 right?

00:18:15.939 --> 00:18:17.019
 We're reading these Narnia books.

00:18:18.179 --> 00:18:19.000
 Lewis is just such

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:20.099
 a brilliant way

00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:23.220
 of weaving biblical truths

00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:23.939
 into his stories,

00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:24.899
 but more than that,

00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.539
 helping us understand

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:28.599
 why all of our best stories

00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.659
 are caught up

00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:31.199
 in the bigger Bible one.

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.480
 That's what I love

00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.339
 about C.S. Lewis,

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.399
 just his insight

00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:34.919
 into things.

00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.740
 I love as well

00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.599
 how Lewis first

00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.939
 became a Christian.

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.679
 I once said to him

00:18:40.679 --> 00:18:42.359
 by his friend J.R. Tolkien,

00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:44.019
 who was a Christian,

00:18:44.179 --> 00:18:44.839
 said to Lewis,

00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:45.220
 he said,

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:45.859
 have you ever wondered

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.960
 why you love stories

00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:47.539
 so much?

00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.240
 The reason you love

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.039
 stories so much

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:51.359
 is because you're in one.

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.139
 You're in one.

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.000
 Love that.

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.039
 You're in one.

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:56.899
 Friends,

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.579
 this is the story

00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.240
 we are in,

00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.240
 right?

00:18:59.259 --> 00:18:59.899
 You need to understand

00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.559
 our lives,

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.619
 not random.

00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:03.439
 We're in this story,

00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.399
 God's story,

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.679
 and this is the part

00:19:05.679 --> 00:19:06.279
 of the story

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.220
 that we are in.

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:09.400
 participating in what

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.200
 God is doing

00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:12.319
 and taking this news

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.660
 of his risen son

00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:16.339
 to the peoples

00:19:16.339 --> 00:19:18.319
 of the world.

00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.299
 This is the part

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.140
 of the story

00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:21.120
 that you and I

00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:21.620
 are in.

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.480
 And the other thing

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.360
 that Joel is talking about,

00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:24.039
 the other event,

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.420
 verse 20,

00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:26.500
 is the great and glorious

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.400
 day of the Lord.

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.460
 Right?

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.740
 The return of the king

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.839
 when Jesus returns

00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:32.380
 to judge the living

00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:33.060
 and the dead

00:19:33.060 --> 00:19:33.880
 according to how

00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.780
 they have responded

00:19:34.780 --> 00:19:35.640
 to him.

00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:37.240
 Eternal life,

00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:38.680
 eternal death.

00:19:38.760 --> 00:19:39.960
 That is the next thing

00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.780
 that has to happen

00:19:40.780 --> 00:19:41.800
 in the Bible story.

00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:44.700
 And so we now find

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.000
 ourselves,

00:19:45.080 --> 00:19:45.800
 do you understand this,

00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:46.820
 living between

00:19:46.820 --> 00:19:48.040
 these two bookends,

00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.180
 the pouring out

00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:49.840
 of the Spirit

00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:51.720
 and the return

00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.220
 of Christ.

00:19:52.360 --> 00:19:53.380
 This is where we are

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:54.160
 in the story.

00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:55.720
 And God is going

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.160
 to accomplish

00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:56.900
 his purposes.

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.380
 And because of that,

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.060
 verse 22,

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:02.339
 I assume Peter says

00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.419
 because the page

00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:04.019
 has turned,

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.879
 because these bookends

00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:06.539
 are now in place,

00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.119
 you've got to listen

00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:07.899
 to what I say.

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:08.720
 Right?

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.639
 What's he saying?

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.139
 Second point,

00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:10.700
 the two-point sermon,

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:12.339
 the king is crowned.

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.139
 You see verse 25,

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:14.960
 you killed him,

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.619
 says Peter.

00:20:16.419 --> 00:20:17.419
 You killed him.

00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.019
 Right?

00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.419
 It doesn't beat

00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:19.099
 around the bush.

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:19.940
 It doesn't hold

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.359
 the punches.

00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:22.059
 You killed him.

00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:22.839
 Now if you hang

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.619
 on a second there

00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:24.559
 and think about it,

00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:26.940
 not everyone listening

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:27.559
 to that would have

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.279
 killed Jesus

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.899
 or played any part

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.220
 in it.

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:30.900
 Right?

00:20:31.040 --> 00:20:32.240
 So I'm trying

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.860
 to get into the text

00:20:32.860 --> 00:20:33.320
 this week thinking

00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:33.840
 how did,

00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:34.960
 how would they have

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.680
 responded to that?

00:20:35.780 --> 00:20:36.560
 You killed Jesus.

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.540
 No we didn't.

00:20:38.580 --> 00:20:39.380
 Well in a greater sense,

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.080
 maybe in one sense

00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:40.580
 they didn't.

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.160
 But in a sense

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.220
 they did, friends.

00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:44.220
 And we all did.

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.940
 It was our sin

00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:48.140
 that put him there.

00:20:49.040 --> 00:20:49.780
 You killed him.

00:20:50.540 --> 00:20:51.080
 You killed him.

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:51.900
 You know I remember

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:52.740
 as a teenager

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.600
 going to the cinema

00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:54.740
 to watch Mel Gibson's

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.360
 film The Passion

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.040
 of the Christ.

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.280
 I know you ever saw

00:20:57.280 --> 00:20:58.160
 that when you were young.

00:20:58.540 --> 00:20:59.060
 I'm sure you can get

00:20:59.060 --> 00:20:59.519
 it on Netflix

00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.299
 or something today.

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.980
 The Passion of the Christ,

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:02.940
 one of the only films

00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.960
 I can ever remember

00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:05.339
 where at the end of it

00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:07.160
 nobody moved for 10 minutes.

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.799
 It was incredible.

00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.680
 Never experienced

00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.400
 anything like that before.

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.759
 But a little known fact

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.559
 about that film,

00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:12.779
 Mel Gibson,

00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.440
 the director,

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:15.180
 Mel Gibson's only in it

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.839
 at one point

00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:16.559
 in the whole film.

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.920
 And it's his hand

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:20.059
 that's on the hammer

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.259
 that nails,

00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:22.839
 the nails into

00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:23.700
 Jesus' hands.

00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:24.240
 Right?

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.220
 His hand.

00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.900
 And it's his way

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.779
 of saying in the film,

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.460
 I take some responsibility

00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:29.299
 for what happened

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:29.779
 to Jesus.

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:32.900
 You killed

00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:33.680
 the Son of God.

00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.120
 Friends,

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.480
 we killed

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.180
 the Son of God.

00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:36.319
 Our sin put him there.

00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.100
 But here's what else

00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:39.100
 Peter wants them to know.

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:41.000
 Even that act

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.799
 of murder

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:43.759
 was all part

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.500
 of God's plan.

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.079
 All part of God's plan.

00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.900
 His purposes

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:50.220
 will not be thwarted.

00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:51.740
 Would it look like defeat?

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:53.160
 No, God got his greatest

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:55.099
 victory on the cross.

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:57.480
 Death could not hold him.

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.440
 And I think the idea

00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.120
 is that the fact

00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:00.400
 that Jesus is sinless,

00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:02.940
 death had no hold on him.

00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:03.799
 Right?

00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.440
 Death, because of our sin,

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.440
 pays us wages.

00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.680
 This is what we deserve.

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.839
 We deserve death.

00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:11.160
 But Jesus, sinless,

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.380
 death had no hold on him.

00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:13.640
 It wasn't paying him anything.

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.240
 And so that's why, friends,

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:17.559
 his victory is our victory in him.

00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:18.720
 And I think that's why

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:20.160
 he brings in Psalm 16

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.819
 at this point.

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.599
 To show them

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.319
 that even David

00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.099
 saw this coming.

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.420
 Even David was looking forward

00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:27.140
 to this day.

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:27.980
 David, I guess,

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:28.880
 the fan's favorite

00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:30.019
 of the people in the crowd.

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:30.460
 Right?

00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:31.220
 Poster boy.

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.079
 We love David.

00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:36.079
 Even David called Jesus Lord.

00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:37.559
 Psalm 16.

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:38.120
 Love it.

00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:39.079
 Peter knows his scriptures.

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.819
 And even David knew

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:43.279
 that the only way

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.279
 that he would see life

00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:45.000
 after death

00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.500
 is because his life

00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.539
 was caught up with

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:49.279
 God's anointed king.

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:52.259
 And this Jesus,

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.099
 verse 36,

00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:54.680
 is now at the right hand

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.200
 of God.

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.480
 God raised him.

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.879
 God vindicated his servant.

00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:59.639
 And this is the message

00:22:59.639 --> 00:23:00.339
 that the world

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:02.339
 needs to respond to.

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.579
 Some of you might be old enough,

00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:05.879
 I don't know,

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:07.519
 to remember US TV anchorman

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.000
 Walter Cronkite.

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:09.960
 Right?

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.920
 The only reason I know of him

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.559
 is because he was

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.519
 a US anchorman

00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.680
 that kind of signed off

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.259
 every night

00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:14.859
 after he'd read

00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:15.839
 the evening news

00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:17.859
 with his catchphrase.

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.159
 Right?

00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:19.619
 And his catchphrase was

00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:22.299
 and that's the way it is.

00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:23.639
 Right?

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:25.059
 And that's the way it is.

00:23:26.439 --> 00:23:27.379
 I think that's exactly

00:23:27.379 --> 00:23:28.679
 what Peter is saying here.

00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:29.599
 Right?

00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:30.959
 This is no blog piece.

00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:33.819
 This is no TV debate.

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.599
 This is no podcast.

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:37.279
 This is no opinion piece

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:37.839
 in The Guardian.

00:23:38.439 --> 00:23:40.480
 This is news.

00:23:41.699 --> 00:23:43.000
 And I think that's why

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.980
 at this point he says

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.279
 you can know this for,

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.259
 or do you see the word?

00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:47.460
 Certain.

00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:51.000
 This is news.

00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.599
 And that's the way it is.

00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.740
 And having heard the sermon

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.899
 with the unmissable point

00:23:57.899 --> 00:23:59.339
 comes verse 37,

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.940
 an unbelievable response.

00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.639
 And it's unbelievable,

00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:03.119
 I guess,

00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:04.099
 in two directions.

00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:04.980
 We need to see this.

00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.319
 Firstly,

00:24:05.399 --> 00:24:06.019
 it's unbelievable

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.920
 from heaven.

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.700
 From heaven.

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.639
 Do you see the response

00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:10.279
 that the people make?

00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:11.740
 They are cut to the heart.

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:13.180
 Now I love that phrase.

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.279
 They're cut to the heart.

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.519
 The Holy Spirit

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:17.799
 is impacting people

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.619
 like a surgeon

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.700
 with a scalpel

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:21.220
 going right into the heart.

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.240
 These people feel

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.059
 the conviction.

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.819
 Conviction that this is true.

00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:27.299
 What this man is saying,

00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:28.039
 the man that we thought

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.700
 was drunk,

00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.440
 is true.

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.440
 And they ask,

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:33.119
 what should we do?

00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:33.799
 That's the question.

00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:35.180
 And the answer should be,

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.759
 there is nothing you can do.

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.480
 There is nothing.

00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:39.599
 You had your chance.

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.859
 You killed the Son of God.

00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:42.399
 There's nothing you can do.

00:24:42.959 --> 00:24:43.479
 And yet,

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:43.919
 do you see,

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:45.319
 that's not the response.

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:50.539
 They killed the second person

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.359
 of the Godhead.

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.799
 We killed the second person

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.519
 of the Godhead.

00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:53.979
 And yet,

00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:55.579
 God offers them

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.579
 the third.

00:24:58.599 --> 00:25:00.579
 The gift of the Holy Spirit.

00:25:01.679 --> 00:25:03.240
 How good is this God,

00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:03.639
 friends?

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.839
 Just take a moment

00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:05.719
 and think about that.

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:08.680
 How merciful is this God?

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.180
 How patient is this God?

00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:14.000
 How compassionate is this God?

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.180
 You know the words

00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:16.220
 of Charles Wesley

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:18.180
 in one of his famous hymns,

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.960
 My God is reconciled.

00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.319
 His pardoning voice I hear.

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:24.000
 He owns me as his child.

00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:26.019
 I can no longer fear.

00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:28.059
 With confidence I now draw near.

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.940
 And Father,

00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:29.799
 Abba,

00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.319
 Father,

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.779
 cry.

00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:32.299
 How good is this God?

00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:34.240
 It's unbelievable from heaven.

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:37.299
 And it's unbelievable on earth

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.460
 to see verse 41.

00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:41.039
 3,000 people respond

00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:42.180
 in repentance and faith.

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.380
 They publicly nailed him

00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.039
 to the cross.

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.460
 And yet,

00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.539
 now as they get baptized,

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.319
 repent,

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:51.500
 they publicly nail their colors

00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.319
 to the mast

00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.079
 that they follow this king.

00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:57.140
 One unbelievable day,

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.319
 the day of Pentecost.

00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.579
 Friends,

00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.120
 let me just ask you

00:26:00.120 --> 00:26:01.240
 really quickly an application

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:01.960
 and I know our time

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.620
 has almost gone.

00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:04.140
 Two questions

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:05.300
 as we respond to this.

00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:05.940
 Trying to think about

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.680
 how do we respond

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.680
 to what's going on here.

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.960
 I think this should call us

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.420
 to pray.

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.740
 Call us to pray in action.

00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:12.620
 Here's two things

00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.120
 I just want to,

00:26:13.540 --> 00:26:14.200
 questions I want you

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.660
 to think about

00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.600
 as you go home today.

00:26:16.300 --> 00:26:17.120
 In terms of your prayer

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:17.640
 and witnessing.

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.580
 Friends,

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:21.000
 are we praying for places?

00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:23.740
 Are we praying for places?

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.820
 As we see God's

00:26:24.820 --> 00:26:26.160
 international heart here,

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.460
 the heart of our Father

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:29.460
 for the places

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:30.640
 and peoples of the world,

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.360
 let me ask us,

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.000
 do we share

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.219
 that same concern?

00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:34.659
 That his glory

00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:35.579
 would go forth.

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.219
 You know,

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.879
 we have got

00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:38.539
 a brilliant opportunity

00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.559
 to do that tonight.

00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:40.319
 We're going to gather

00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.899
 on Zoom,

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:41.740
 okay,

00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.419
 six o'clock.

00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:42.939
 You'll just find

00:26:42.939 --> 00:26:44.659
 the link in the newsletter.

00:26:45.179 --> 00:26:45.899
 We're going to pray

00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:47.339
 for countries in the world.

00:26:47.439 --> 00:26:48.299
 We've been kind of focusing

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.299
 on different continents.

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.659
 Tonight,

00:26:49.699 --> 00:26:50.219
 we're going to focus

00:26:50.219 --> 00:26:50.779
 on Europe.

00:26:51.199 --> 00:26:51.799
 Different people,

00:26:51.979 --> 00:26:52.419
 different members

00:26:52.419 --> 00:26:52.959
 of this church

00:26:52.959 --> 00:26:53.879
 from different countries

00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.379
 are going to come

00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.099
 and just bring us

00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:56.819
 ways that we can pray

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.519
 for the advance

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.139
 of the gospel

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.840
 in their country.

00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:01.540
 So please come in tonight.

00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:03.259
 Love you to be part of that.

00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:04.860
 Just a movement of prayer

00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:06.600
 to pray for the places

00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.620
 in the world.

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:08.980
 Maybe something we used

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.759
 to do with our girls

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.720
 when they were really young,

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:11.840
 when we had family

00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:12.480
 Bible times,

00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:13.840
 just bought a really old map

00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:14.340
 and we laid it

00:27:14.340 --> 00:27:15.140
 right on the ground

00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:16.640
 and just went through

00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.320
 different countries

00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:17.960
 of the world.

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.100
 They found the countries

00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:19.700
 on the map.

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.600
 We, as a family,

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:23.060
 worked out how we could pray,

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.360
 right?

00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:24.360
 Geography and theology

00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.200
 kind of come in together.

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:26.660
 How can you creatively

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.340
 do this?

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.519
 Are we concerned

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.879
 for the places of the world,

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.079
 the peoples of the world?

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.579
 But also are we concerned

00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.339
 for the places

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.720
 of our everyday lives?

00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.639
 Okay, there was a

00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:37.939
 British missionary once

00:27:37.939 --> 00:27:38.519
 by the name of

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.399
 Norman Grubb

00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:39.980
 and every day

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.980
 when he used to get up,

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.899
 he just prayed a simple prayer

00:27:42.899 --> 00:27:43.659
 as he got out of bed

00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:44.139
 in the morning.

00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.179
 He prayed,

00:27:45.439 --> 00:27:46.299
 Good morning, Lord.

00:27:46.939 --> 00:27:48.159
 What are you up to today?

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.919
 Can I be part of it?

00:27:50.699 --> 00:27:51.339
 Thank you.

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.220
 Amen.

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:54.679
 What are you up to today, Lord?

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.659
 Can I be part of it?

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:57.779
 Friends, I love that

00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.740
 sense of expectation.

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.759
 Love that sense of expectation.

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.680
 Do we share it?

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.620
 Do we understand

00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:03.220
 that our Father

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.880
 has put people

00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:04.880
 in our lives today,

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:06.519
 that we are not here

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.259
 by accident?

00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:09.100
 His purpose is

00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:09.960
 that he's accomplishing,

00:28:10.080 --> 00:28:10.940
 so there's no chance

00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.480
 encounter

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.180
 as we go about

00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:12.980
 our daily lives.

00:28:13.060 --> 00:28:13.779
 Who are you meeting

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.480
 in your lives?

00:28:14.560 --> 00:28:15.300
 Think about it.

00:28:15.560 --> 00:28:16.740
 On the school run,

00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:18.340
 in the office,

00:28:18.540 --> 00:28:19.420
 on the commute,

00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.620
 at the barber's,

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.620
 in the supermarket,

00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.939
 who's on your street?

00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.699
 Are we praying

00:28:24.699 --> 00:28:26.339
 for places expectantly?

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.099
 Are we going

00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:27.919
 about our days

00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:29.279
 expecting that God

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.959
 by his spirit,

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.159
 and we have no idea

00:28:31.159 --> 00:28:32.099
 how he is at work,

00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:33.199
 yet we know that he is?

00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:35.319
 Is that even

00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:36.000
 on our radar?

00:28:36.219 --> 00:28:36.899
 Are we praying

00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:38.339
 for places?

00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.159
 And secondly,

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.779
 are we praying

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.379
 for faces?

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.079
 Are we praying

00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.679
 for faces?

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:42.979
 You know,

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.379
 I had a mate

00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:44.000
 at university,

00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:45.359
 he used to carry

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.159
 about in his wallet,

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.459
 you know,

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.519
 the little see-through bit

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.039
 where your driving

00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.739
 license goes?

00:28:49.159 --> 00:28:49.879
 He had in there

00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.300
 the name

00:28:50.300 --> 00:28:51.180
 of three friends.

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.780
 Every time he opened

00:28:52.780 --> 00:28:53.220
 his wallet,

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:54.360
 just reminded,

00:28:54.540 --> 00:28:55.060
 shoot it up,

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.080
 shot up rather,

00:28:56.520 --> 00:28:58.080
 a prayer for three individuals.

00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.280
 I'm going to pray

00:28:59.280 --> 00:29:00.280
 for these three friends.

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:01.740
 Pray for these

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.360
 three friends again.

00:29:02.840 --> 00:29:03.060
 Friends,

00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:04.040
 who are we praying for?

00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.040
 Wouldn't it be

00:29:05.040 --> 00:29:05.660
 a wonderful thing

00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.540
 that as a church family

00:29:06.540 --> 00:29:07.160
 we just committed

00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:07.480
 to praying

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.980
 for one friend

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.500
 this week?

00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.240
 Everyone,

00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:11.140
 if everybody does it

00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:11.960
 in the church family,

00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.440
 okay,

00:29:12.840 --> 00:29:13.560
 I don't know what's that,

00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:14.640
 150 friends

00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:15.220
 we're praying for.

00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:15.960
 Imagine that.

00:29:16.560 --> 00:29:16.840
 Lord,

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.280
 would you,

00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:18.220
 and take the language

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.120
 from the text,

00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:20.599
 by your spirit,

00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:22.099
 cut them to the heart.

00:29:23.139 --> 00:29:24.199
 Cut them to the heart.

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.539
 Help me witness,

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.619
 help me speak,

00:29:26.739 --> 00:29:27.619
 but by your spirit,

00:29:27.719 --> 00:29:28.439
 would you cut them

00:29:28.439 --> 00:29:28.979
 to the heart?

00:29:29.439 --> 00:29:29.639
 Friends,

00:29:29.679 --> 00:29:30.119
 are we praying

00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:30.759
 for places?

00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:32.179
 Are we praying

00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:33.699
 for faces?

00:29:36.219 --> 00:29:36.519
 You know,

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.359
 we started with a number.

00:29:37.439 --> 00:29:38.079
 Let me just finish

00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:38.899
 with another number.

00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.000
 98.

00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:42.719
 98.

00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:43.019
 Do you know

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.739
 what that number is?

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.579
 We're gradually

00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:45.379
 working our way down,

00:29:45.459 --> 00:29:45.659
 I know.

00:29:46.239 --> 00:29:46.459
 Do you know

00:29:46.459 --> 00:29:47.059
 what that number is?

00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:48.339
 That is not a number,

00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:48.980
 well it's a number,

00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.139
 it's a percentage.

00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:51.339
 Okay?

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.859
 It's the percentage

00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:53.859
 of people in Scotland

00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:55.099
 who do not know Jesus.

00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:58.279
 Now I hope

00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:59.419
 that that breaks our heart,

00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.639
 that that is as high as that.

00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:02.279
 Given the spiritual heritage

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.079
 of our country,

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:05.099
 that 2% of people

00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.679
 in this country

00:30:05.679 --> 00:30:06.899
 claim Jesus is Lord.

00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:08.539
 Friends,

00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:09.819
 are we burdened by that?

00:30:09.899 --> 00:30:10.619
 Are we praying

00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:11.919
 for people in our country?

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.399
 Now let me just encourage us,

00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:14.300
 the Lord is at work.

00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:15.120
 Some of the greatest,

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:17.060
 the greatest stories

00:30:17.060 --> 00:30:17.600
 that I've heard

00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:18.480
 over this period

00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:18.960
 of lockdown,

00:30:19.280 --> 00:30:20.120
 in amazing ways

00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:20.840
 the Lord at work

00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:21.460
 in people's lives,

00:30:21.540 --> 00:30:22.480
 people becoming Christians,

00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:23.860
 in unexpected ways.

00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:25.920
 Prayer meeting

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.560
 on Friday night

00:30:26.560 --> 00:30:27.660
 of 400 different people

00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.900
 in Edinburgh

00:30:28.900 --> 00:30:29.440
 and Fife

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.019
 and the Lothians

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.960
 praying for people

00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:31.680
 in our city,

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:33.000
 in our country

00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.200
 to come to know Jesus.

00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:35.180
 The Lord is at work,

00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:36.519
 Aslan is on the move.

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.660
 But do we,

00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.320
 are we burdened

00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:38.980
 by that number?

00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:40.180
 98% of people

00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.660
 in our country

00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:42.200
 do not know Jesus.

00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:44.980
 So how do you explain it?

00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:47.240
 How do you explain it?

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.460
 How do you explain

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:51.059
 those 97.2 million people

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.519
 in China?

00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:52.400
 How do you explain

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.460
 what the Lord is doing?

00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.420
 Answer,

00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.400
 the Father

00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:56.960
 whose heart beats

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.539
 for the peoples

00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.259
 of the world.

00:30:59.059 --> 00:30:59.440
 Answer,

00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:00.120
 a Son,

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:01.100
 Jesus Christ

00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:02.340
 who has loved us,

00:31:02.600 --> 00:31:03.299
 who is risen

00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.140
 and is glorious.

00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:05.120
 Answer,

00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:05.860
 the Spirit

00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:06.519
 who is sent

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.160
 into the hearts

00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:07.740
 of believers

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:09.100
 to enable them

00:31:09.100 --> 00:31:10.100
 to relationally

00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:11.660
 revel in the Godhead

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.920
 and empower them

00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:14.100
 to declare his praises.

00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:16.180
 Let's pray together.

00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.420
 And maybe just

00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:21.240
 in the silence now,

00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:21.500
 friends,

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.060
 let's just take

00:31:22.060 --> 00:31:22.860
 this opportunity,

00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:24.600
 maybe just

00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:25.940
 as a way of response,

00:31:26.040 --> 00:31:26.700
 let's think of

00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:27.580
 that one friend,

00:31:28.040 --> 00:31:29.440
 the person

00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.259
 in our lives,

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:30.900
 and let's just

00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:32.019
 maybe 10 seconds,

00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:32.880
 let's just pray

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.779
 for that individual

00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.360
 just now

00:31:34.360 --> 00:31:35.700
 as we respond

00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.200
 to this.

00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:36.680
 Amen.

00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:43.380
 2 Corinthians chapter 5.

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.120
 Therefore,

00:31:46.300 --> 00:31:46.940
 knowing the fear

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.519
 of the Lord,

00:31:48.300 --> 00:31:49.000
 we try

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:50.320
 to persuade

00:31:50.320 --> 00:31:51.080
 others.

00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.900
 Heavenly Father,

00:31:52.040 --> 00:31:52.800
 thank you so much

00:31:52.800 --> 00:31:53.660
 for your gospel.

00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:55.380
 Father,

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.180
 thank you so much

00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:56.680
 for the way

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:58.080
 that you have loved us

00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:58.960
 in your Son,

00:31:59.080 --> 00:31:59.340
 Jesus.

00:31:59.560 --> 00:31:59.880
 And Father,

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.920
 we pray that as we

00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:01.960
 respond to this,

00:32:02.120 --> 00:32:02.779
 your Spirit

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.700
 poured out

00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:05.279
 on your people

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:07.279
 for us to revel in you

00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.300
 and declare your praises

00:32:08.300 --> 00:32:08.779
 to the world.

00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.080
 Father,

00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:09.940
 help us to do that

00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.299
 this week.

00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:10.860
 I pray for those

00:32:10.860 --> 00:32:11.640
 watching this today

00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:12.759
 who maybe don't know you,

00:32:13.100 --> 00:32:14.140
 maybe those in this room.

00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:14.700
 Father,

00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.620
 I pray that you would

00:32:15.620 --> 00:32:16.600
 bring a sense

00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:17.200
 of conviction

00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.420
 about who Jesus is.

00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:19.680
 Father,

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.500
 thank you so much

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:21.259
 for your wonderful

00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:21.840
 love for us.

00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.080
 Father,

00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:22.799
 where would we be

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.299
 if you were not

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.140
 this kind of God?

00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:25.299
 And we just commit

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.039
 ourselves to you,

00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:26.279
 Father,

00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.600
 in Jesus' precious name

00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:28.000
 we pray.

00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:28.799
 Amen.