WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone.

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 In all ages, Christians have found great encouragement

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 in hearing the testimonies of how other Christians

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 came to know Christ.

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 One testimony I frequently call to mind

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 is that of an early theologian named Justin.

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 He tells us that he was converted to Christ

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 because he saw Christian after Christian

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 being led away to die for the sake of Jesus,

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 all while staying steadfast in their faith.

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 And Justin was so amazed, he became a Christian himself.

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 I frequently remember, too, a certain testimony

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 of a woman named Nino, a slave woman back in ancient Georgia.

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 And she converted the royal family of Georgia

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 through her diligent prayers.

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 Then there is the testimony of Frumentius.

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 He was a slave in the royal household of Ethiopia,

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 but far from becoming embittered against his enslavers,

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 he shared the gospel with the prince of Ethiopia.

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 And the prince of Ethiopia believed in the prince of peace,

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 our dear Jesus.

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 And from there, the gospel spread to that African country.

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 I recall, too, a man named Mar-Aba.

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 He was a zealous persecutor of Christians in ancient Persia.

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 And one day, after persecuting a Christian,

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 that Christian forgave him.

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 And Mar-Aba was stunned.

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 And he soon became a Christian himself.

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 Friends, these kinds of testimonies,

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 they continue in modern times, as you well know.

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 Richard Wurmbrandt, one of the great heroes

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 of the 20th century church,

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 he was a Jewish atheist.

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 He was highly educated.

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 But one day, an uneducated farmer

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 had the audacity to give him a Bible.

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 Richard had read the Bible many times before,

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 but this Bible was different,

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 because as Richard says,

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 this Bible was given to him in love.

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 And Richard wept as he read of Jesus,

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 and he was converted to Christ.

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 I also often remember the testimony

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 of a man named Watchman Nee of China.

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 His mother had recently become a Christian,

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 and after administering to him

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 an unjust punishment,

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 she became convicted of her sin.

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 She returned and apologized to him.

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 And Watchman Nee was so amazed

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 at this Jesus who had transformed his mother

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 that he became a Christian.

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 And then he became a leader in the Chinese church.

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 Nowadays, as you know,

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 you can often hear testimonies from people

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 in their own words online.

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 And unexpectedly, recently,

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 I encountered one such testimony

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 when I was listening to the sermons

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 of Martin Lloyd-Jones,

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 a famous preacher in the 1950s.

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 Evidently, a few years back,

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 an organization had Lloyd-Jones' sermons

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 digitized and put online.

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 And when I was browsing through them,

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 I heard the testimony of the man

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 who was paid to digitize the sermons.

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 He was not a Christian,

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 but they hired him to digitize the sermons anyway,

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 and a good thing, too,

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 because by the time he had finished

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 listening to Lloyd-Jones' sermons,

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 Lloyd-Jones had led him to Christ.

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 Sometimes, the online testimonies

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 that strike you to the heart are anonymous,

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 and you don't even know who is sharing.

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 I recall once reading a testimony online

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 by a woman who said that she became a Christian

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 in large part because she was working

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 at a small company which was making job cuts,

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 and the manager asked all the workers

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 to vote on who would lose their job.

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 So they colluded together,

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 and they all voted for the one Christian

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 in the office,

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 and the Christian was let go.

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 But instead of lashing out,

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 that Christian threw a goodbye party

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 and invited all those who had voted against him

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 and welcomed them joyfully into his home.

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 And she was amazed.

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 Friends, there are many things

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 about these testimonies that encourage us

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 and that challenge us.

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 They show the awesome power of the gospel

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 where people are led to repent of their sins,

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 to forgive their enemies,

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 to remain steadfast in the face of death,

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 to love deeply their neighbors,

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 to persist in prayer,

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 and to preach with great conviction.

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 In fact, Martin Lloyd-Jones,

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 that famous preacher I mentioned,

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 after I listened to one of his sermons,

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 he inspired me to preach this sermon

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 and to draw material from it.

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 All the testimonies I've mentioned,

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 they give different beautiful reasons

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 for why people convert to Christ.

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 But in this diversity,

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 there is one deeper theme

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 threaded through them all,

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 and motivating them all.

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 Despite their differences,

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 the ultimate reason

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 why all these people convert to Jesus

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 is the same.

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 And in fact, the same reason

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 is not just present in these testimonies,

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 but in all testimonies,

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 including yours and mine.

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 The ultimate reason

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 for why we come to Christ

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 is nothing less than God

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 stepping into our lives,

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 God intervening in our hearts

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 to turn us from our sins

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 and to welcome us into his kingdom.

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 And it is the same for everyone, friends.

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 At the end of the day,

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 the all-embracing foundational reason

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 for why we come to Christ

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 is that God rescued us,

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 God washed us,

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 God made us clean,

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 God forgave us of all our wrongs.

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 And in his good providence

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 and in his grace

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 through his son Jesus,

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 he restored us.

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 The foundational reason

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 why we came to Christ

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 is not due to us,

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 but due to God.

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 And what testimony

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 can be more encouraging than that?

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 Friends, with this in mind today,

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 we read perhaps

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 the greatest testimony ever given.

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 We read the testimony

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 of Saul of Tarsus.

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 Saul was a murderer.

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 He persecuted the early church.

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 He assisted in executing Stephen,

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 the first Christian martyr.

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 But then as the Bible says,

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 Jesus intervened in Saul's life.

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 He appeared to Saul.

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 He transformed Saul.

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 He turned him from Saul of Tarsus

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 into Paul the apostle.

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 And Paul went on

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 to preach the gospel for decades.

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 And he went on to write

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 many letters of the New Testament.

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 And I want to encourage you

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 this morning

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 that what Jesus did for Saul,

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 though he was the worst of sinners,

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 he also does for you,

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 though you be the worst of sinners.

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 In fact, Scripture tells us

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 that Saul's conversion

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 is an example for us

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 to follow and to consider.

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 Paul explains this himself

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 in his own words

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 that we heard earlier this service.

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 He says in his letter to Timothy,

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 I received mercy for this reason,

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 that in me,

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 as the foremost of sinners,

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 Jesus Christ might display

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 his perfect patience

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 as an example

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 to those

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 who are to believe in him

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 for eternal life.

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 Scripture itself declares

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 that Paul's testimony

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 is an example

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 for all of us who believe.

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 So this morning,

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 we will take Paul's testimony

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 as this very example

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 as we look to Christ

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 and as we walk with him

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 and as we come to him.

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 Would you join me in prayer?

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 Father in heaven,

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 we come to you humbly

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 and we ask that your Holy Spirit

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 would be with us,

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 would empower us

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 to hear your words

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 and to see your face,

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 to be convicted of our sins,

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 but to feel your loving embrace

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 of mercy and forgiveness.

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 Lord, I pray

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 that your Spirit

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 would be heavy upon us

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 with conviction

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 and with joy.

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 And we pray this

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 in the mighty name of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 Paul's testimony

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 is so important

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 that it's repeated

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 three times in the Bible.

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 And this morning,

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 we will focus

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 on the third time

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 Paul gives his testimony.

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 And this is in the book of Acts,

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 chapter 26,

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 which can be found

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 on page 879

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 of your pew Bible.

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 That's 879.

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 Acts, chapter 26.

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 We'll begin in verse 9.

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 Paul is standing trial

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 for his faith in Christ,

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 and he makes his defense

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 before King Agrippa

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 in these words.

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 He says,

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 in verse 9,

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 I myself was convinced

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 that I ought to do many things

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 in opposing the name

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 of Jesus of Nazareth,

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 and I did so in Jerusalem.

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 I not only locked up

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 many of the saints in prison

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 after receiving authority

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 from the chief priests,

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 but when they were put to death,

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 I cast my vote against them.

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 I punished them often

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 in all the synagogues

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 and tried to make them blaspheme.

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 And in raging fury against them,

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 I persecuted them

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 even to foreign cities.

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 In this connection,

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 I journeyed to Damascus

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 with the authority

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 and commission

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 of the chief priests.

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 At midday, O King,

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 I saw on the way

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 a light from heaven

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 brighter than the sun

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 that shone around me

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 and those who journeyed with me.

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 And when we had all fallen

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 to the ground,

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 I heard a voice saying to me

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 in the Hebrew language,

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 Saul, Saul,

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 why are you persecuting me?

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 It is hard for you

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 to kick against the goads.

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 And I said,

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 who are you, Lord?

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 And the Lord said,

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 I am Jesus,

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 whom you are persecuting.

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 But rise and stand upon your feet.

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 For I have appeared to you

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 for this purpose,

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 to appoint you as a servant

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 and a witness to the things

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 in which you have seen me

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 and to those in which

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 I will appear to you,

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 delivering you from your people

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 and from the Gentiles

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 to whom I am sending you,

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 to open their eyes

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 so that they may turn

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 from darkness to light

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 and from the power of Satan

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 and to God

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 that they may receive

00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:20.460
 forgiveness of sins

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 and a place among those

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 who are sanctified

00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:25.820
 by faith in me.

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 Therefore, O King Agrippa,

00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:32.960
 I was not disobedient

00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:33.960
 to the heavenly vision,

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 but declared first

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 to those in Damascus

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 and then in Jerusalem

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 and throughout all

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 the region of Judea

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 and also to the Gentiles

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 that they should repent

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 and turn to God,

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 performing deeds

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 in keeping with their repentance.

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 When reading this passage,

00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:57.259
 most people are immediately

00:11:57.259 --> 00:11:59.580
 struck by the extraordinary things

00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:01.600
 that happened to Saul of Tarsus.

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 But our goal this morning

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 is not to focus

00:12:06.180 --> 00:12:07.519
 on the miraculous elements

00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.379
 of the story,

00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.440
 the flash of light,

00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:11.060
 the appearance of Jesus,

00:12:11.300 --> 00:12:12.780
 the blinding, the healing.

00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:14.320
 Don't be distracted

00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:15.280
 by these things.

00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:16.679
 Because at bottom,

00:12:16.819 --> 00:12:18.379
 this story is a story

00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:21.500
 of the normal Christian conversion.

00:12:22.319 --> 00:12:23.659
 As I said earlier,

00:12:24.579 --> 00:12:28.100
 Saul became an example to us

00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:30.559
 about how we all become Christians

00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:32.779
 and how even after our conversion,

00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:34.360
 God again and again

00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:35.740
 intervenes in our lives

00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:37.500
 to turn us from our sins,

00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:39.500
 to welcome us into his kingdom,

00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:41.480
 to wash us and to make us clean,

00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:44.279
 and to forgive us of all our wrongs.

00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:45.980
 This morning,

00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:48.279
 using Saul as an example,

00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:51.259
 we will walk through his testimony

00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.560
 and we're going to see

00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:55.019
 five points or stages,

00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.200
 five moments

00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:57.920
 that we all go through

00:12:57.920 --> 00:13:00.480
 in our conversion to Christ.

00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:03.100
 And I should give you fair warning

00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:05.480
 that the first three of these

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:07.120
 can be hard to hear,

00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:09.639
 but the last two

00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:11.920
 are glorious beyond words.

00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:15.279
 Let's begin with stage one.

00:13:15.800 --> 00:13:16.860
 Paul says in verse nine,

00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:18.500
 I myself was convinced

00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:20.259
 that I ought to do many things

00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.120
 in opposing the name

00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:22.200
 of Jesus of Nazareth,

00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:24.539
 and I did so in Jerusalem.

00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.200
 I not only locked up

00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:27.500
 many of the saints in prison

00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:29.039
 after receiving authority

00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.039
 from the chief priests,

00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:31.779
 but then when they were put to death,

00:13:31.839 --> 00:13:33.219
 I cast my vote against them,

00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:35.539
 and I punished them often

00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:37.379
 in all the synagogues

00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:39.439
 and tried to make them blaspheme,

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.839
 and in raging fury against them,

00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:42.879
 I persecuted them

00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.240
 even to foreign cities.

00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:47.259
 This passage describes

00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:49.360
 what Paul was like

00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.860
 before his conversion.

00:13:51.079 --> 00:13:52.019
 Paul puts it this way.

00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:53.719
 He says that before Jesus met him,

00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:55.299
 he was trying to do many things

00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:56.620
 that were in opposition

00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:58.319
 to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,

00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.320
 and he was trying to do many things.

00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:00.379
 Now, I know many of you

00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:02.080
 have never tried to persecute Christians

00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:03.160
 and murder them

00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:04.940
 like Saul of Tarsus was doing,

00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:07.379
 but what is important here

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:11.140
 is not precisely what Saul was doing,

00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:13.780
 but why he was doing it.

00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:15.660
 He says in verse nine,

00:14:16.160 --> 00:14:17.300
 I was convinced

00:14:17.300 --> 00:14:19.420
 that I ought to do many things

00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:21.980
 in opposing the name of Jesus.

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:24.220
 A more literal translation is,

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:25.320
 I thought to myself

00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:28.220
 myself that I had to do many things

00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:30.400
 hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:34.060
 Why was Paul doing

00:14:34.060 --> 00:14:35.800
 these wicked things in unbelief?

00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:39.340
 He says he was simply doing

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:42.300
 what he thought was best.

00:14:43.040 --> 00:14:44.480
 He was conducting himself

00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:46.080
 according to his own estimate

00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:47.879
 and according to what was good

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.320
 in his own eyes.

00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:52.780
 And this is a problem

00:14:52.780 --> 00:14:54.360
 because it means that

00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:55.540
 before Saul's conversion,

00:14:56.060 --> 00:14:58.620
 he was the subject of all things.

00:14:59.180 --> 00:15:00.520
 God was merely an object

00:15:00.520 --> 00:15:01.540
 to be manipulated.

00:15:02.300 --> 00:15:04.740
 Just look at what this quote reveals.

00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:06.160
 I thought to myself,

00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:08.660
 I was convinced, Saul says.

00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:11.500
 Did Saul ask God

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:13.280
 what was good?

00:15:13.780 --> 00:15:15.160
 Was Saul submitting himself

00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:16.519
 to the will of the Almighty?

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.179
 No.

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:21.799
 I thought to myself, he says.

00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:23.259
 He came to his own conclusion

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.159
 about what was good

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:24.959
 and what was evil,

00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:25.839
 what was right

00:15:25.839 --> 00:15:26.819
 and what was wrong.

00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:29.059
 He took his course of action

00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.740
 according to what he wanted to do,

00:15:31.959 --> 00:15:33.799
 not according to what God

00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:34.699
 wanted him to do.

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:38.059
 This is our first point

00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:39.500
 to consider this morning.

00:15:39.959 --> 00:15:41.000
 Before we become

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.120
 a disciple of Christ,

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:44.259
 we are all just like Saul was.

00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:45.480
 We are all self-centered

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:46.399
 and self-possessed.

00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.340
 When we are in a state of unbelief,

00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:51.259
 the world revolves around us.

00:15:51.439 --> 00:15:52.659
 We are the center of attention.

00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:53.939
 We do what is right

00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:54.819
 in our own eyes.

00:15:55.319 --> 00:15:56.600
 This is how we all were

00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:57.399
 before Christ.

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.200
 And this is also

00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:01.039
 the same struggle we have

00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:02.399
 when we are backsliding

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.679
 in our walk with Christ,

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.919
 when we turn our attention

00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.980
 away from God

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:07.819
 and to ourselves.

00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:10.779
 Then we do not trust in God.

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.639
 Instead, we trust in ourselves.

00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.860
 We do not look to God

00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:14.980
 for what we should do.

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:16.080
 And instead,

00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:18.699
 we delight in our own eyes.

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.419
 For this reason, friends,

00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:22.879
 we must always ask ourselves,

00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:25.659
 am I trusting in myself

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:28.360
 or am I trusting in God?

00:16:29.939 --> 00:16:31.399
 And so I ask you,

00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:34.639
 who is directing your path today?

00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:37.600
 Are you entrusting yourself to God?

00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:41.159
 Or are you doing what is right

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:43.179
 in your own eyes?

00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:46.379
 Now, you might say

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:49.000
 that you try hard to do good,

00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:50.139
 that you're very spiritual,

00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.559
 you follow a higher power,

00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:53.019
 you try to be unselfish,

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:55.360
 you follow a particular teaching,

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:57.939
 you put your whole life into this,

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.379
 you do good works.

00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:01.639
 Yes, perhaps you make mistakes

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.179
 here and there,

00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.259
 but you're doing your best.

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:05.900
 And God can't possibly blame you

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.859
 for falling short,

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.559
 especially given how

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:10.500
 devotedly spiritual you are.

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.880
 But Saul of Tarsus,

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.920
 when he was in a state of unbelief

00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.680
 and self-worship,

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:18.380
 he was just as devoted

00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:19.200
 to spirituality

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:21.460
 and to doing what he considered

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.880
 to be good as any of you.

00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.640
 He tells us,

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:26.440
 in his letter to the Galatians,

00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.759
 he says,

00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:29.799
 you've heard of my former life

00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:30.380
 in Judaism,

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:32.380
 how I persecuted the church

00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:33.279
 of God violently

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.420
 and tried to destroy it,

00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:36.660
 how I was advancing in Judaism

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:38.799
 beyond many my own age

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.640
 among my people.

00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:42.559
 So extremely zealous was I

00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.840
 for the traditions of my fathers.

00:17:46.320 --> 00:17:48.080
 But when he who had set me apart

00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:49.320
 before I was born

00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:52.320
 and who called me by his grace

00:17:52.320 --> 00:17:55.080
 was pleased to reveal his son in me

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:56.899
 so that I might preach him

00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:58.799
 among the Gentiles.

00:18:00.639 --> 00:18:03.099
 Saul was zealous for doing

00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:05.339
 what he thought was good.

00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:07.939
 He was zealous for what he thought

00:18:07.939 --> 00:18:09.339
 was true spirituality.

00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:11.980
 But in all this,

00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:13.579
 Saul wasn't trusting in God.

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.099
 Instead, he was doing

00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:17.059
 what was right in his own eyes.

00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:19.619
 And his beliefs and his traditions,

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.559
 they might have had elements

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.299
 of truth in them.

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:24.240
 In fact, we know that the Judaism

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:27.139
 of his day had profound truth,

00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:29.440
 divinely inspired truth.

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.839
 But Saul was using these things

00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:33.180
 to further his own purposes

00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:35.500
 instead of furthering God's purposes.

00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:37.299
 And today,

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:40.119
 the very same thing happens with us

00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:42.019
 when we walk in unbelief.

00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:44.279
 The very same thing happens

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:46.700
 when we abandon God

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.839
 and trust in ourselves.

00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:49.779
 It happens when we trust

00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.799
 in what we think is good

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.619
 in our own eyes

00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:53.279
 and we trust in worldly teachings.

00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:55.599
 And it can even happen

00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:57.939
 when we claim to follow

00:18:57.939 --> 00:18:59.359
 the commands of Christ.

00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.879
 But in reality,

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:03.919
 are merely manipulating Christ

00:19:03.919 --> 00:19:05.220
 for our own ends

00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:07.679
 and doing what we think is best

00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:08.859
 on our own terms

00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:10.779
 and not God's.

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:14.619
 This is the first stage

00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:16.220
 when we are apart from Christ.

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.319
 We find ourselves

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.480
 to be worshiping the self.

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.539
 We're inwardly focused.

00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.819
 We're manipulating God.

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.460
 And then the second stage

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.420
 in coming to Christ,

00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:25.160
 it happens like this.

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.799
 Paul tells us,

00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:28.640
 in this connection,

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:31.360
 I journeyed to Damascus

00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:32.019
 with the authority

00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:32.519
 and commission

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.440
 of the chief priests.

00:19:33.600 --> 00:19:34.420
 And at midday,

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.039
 O King,

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.839
 I saw on the way

00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.900
 a light from heaven

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:39.039
 brighter than the sun

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.519
 that shone around me

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.880
 and those who journeyed with me.

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.380
 And when we had all

00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:44.319
 fallen to the ground,

00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.879
 I heard a voice saying to me

00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:47.099
 in the Hebrew language,

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:49.339
 Saul, Saul,

00:19:49.939 --> 00:19:53.759
 why are you persecuting me?

00:19:56.419 --> 00:19:57.819
 Friends, the next step

00:19:57.819 --> 00:20:00.399
 in becoming a disciple of Jesus

00:20:00.399 --> 00:20:04.059
 has very little to do with you

00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:06.139
 and your effort.

00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.960
 Saul is on the way to Damascus.

00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:09.980
 He's journeying there

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:11.579
 to do something terrible.

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:13.639
 He's plotted this beforehand.

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.379
 He's already murdered.

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.779
 He has no problem

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.720
 murdering again.

00:20:18.199 --> 00:20:19.439
 In that previous passage,

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.059
 we read,

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.559
 Saul already told us

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.419
 what was going on

00:20:22.419 --> 00:20:23.159
 in his mind.

00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.659
 I thought to myself

00:20:24.659 --> 00:20:26.240
 I had to do many things

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.599
 against Jesus of Nazareth.

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.439
 He was doing everything

00:20:30.439 --> 00:20:31.359
 on his own terms.

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.399
 He was the subject

00:20:32.399 --> 00:20:33.899
 and God was just

00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:35.419
 the decoration of his world.

00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:37.839
 And then due to no effort

00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.919
 of his own,

00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:40.980
 a flash of light

00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:42.000
 was around him.

00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:43.139
 He falls to the ground

00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:44.619
 and a voice cries out,

00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:46.179
 Saul, Saul.

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:49.379
 And all of a sudden

00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:50.779
 in this second stage,

00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.539
 Saul of Tarsus

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:55.199
 begins to realize something.

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:58.480
 He begins to realize

00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:00.799
 that he is not

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.459
 the subject of all things.

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:06.200
 God is the subject.

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.039
 God is the center

00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.779
 of all things.

00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:10.240
 Saul is no longer

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:10.779
 the focus.

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:11.880
 Saul is no longer

00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:12.740
 doing the talking.

00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.940
 God is addressing him.

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:17.059
 The one who created

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.860
 all the world

00:21:17.860 --> 00:21:19.100
 is speaking directly

00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:19.700
 to him.

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:22.000
 Saul, Saul.

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.380
 And the very same thing

00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:26.579
 happens to us, friends.

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.720
 When God intervenes

00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.360
 in our lives,

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.460
 the very same thing

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.720
 must happen

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.940
 if we are to become

00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:34.140
 a disciple of Jesus.

00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:36.000
 The outward events,

00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.299
 they may not be

00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.519
 so miraculous,

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.980
 but at root

00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:42.299
 they are exactly the same.

00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:43.380
 You have your thoughts,

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.019
 your beliefs,

00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:44.799
 your practices,

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.819
 you do what is right

00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.660
 in your own eyes,

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.880
 and then suddenly

00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:49.299
 it might be a certain hour,

00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:50.680
 a day, a week,

00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.860
 it might be over many months

00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:52.920
 or even many years,

00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.880
 but the light of Jesus

00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:57.019
 appears to you.

00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:59.819
 The light from his face

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.000
 is blinding.

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.539
 The power of his presence

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.940
 forces you to the ground

00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:05.859
 and he cries out your name,

00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:08.680
 Saul, Saul.

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:13.660
 And suddenly you find

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:15.940
 that you are now no longer

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.039
 the one who is talking,

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.420
 you are listening.

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:21.700
 God is intervening in your life.

00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:24.019
 Something is being done to you.

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.740
 Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:28.779
 is not about reforming yourself,

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:31.220
 but about God reforming you.

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:33.819
 Now you are the object,

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.400
 God is the subject,

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:37.819
 and you start to realize

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:39.400
 that most profound

00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:41.519
 and precious truth

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:43.759
 that what really matters

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:46.900
 is not what you think of God,

00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:49.440
 but what God thinks of you.

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:53.200
 and he doesn't think very highly

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.740
 about what you have been doing.

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:59.240
 Has Jesus called your name?

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.779
 Have you been humbled before him?

00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:04.960
 Or are you still waiting for his power

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:07.240
 to come into your life?

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:10.559
 If you are waiting,

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.579
 Scripture declares

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:14.559
 that you are waiting

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:18.200
 because you still aren't really listening.

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:20.859
 For God speaks to all people.

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.279
 In fact,

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.140
 Scripture declares

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:26.579
 the gospel has already been proclaimed

00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:28.700
 in many ways to all of us.

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:31.019
 He has already spoken to you directly.

00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:32.660
 He's already come into your life.

00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:34.980
 In many ways,

00:23:35.040 --> 00:23:36.960
 he's already appeared to you.

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.240
 And in this stage,

00:23:40.300 --> 00:23:42.300
 you realize that you missed it

00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:43.960
 because at bottom,

00:23:44.100 --> 00:23:45.779
 you really didn't want to see it.

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:49.180
 The same thing, in fact,

00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.660
 happened to Saul of Tarsus.

00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:53.040
 This was not the first time

00:23:53.040 --> 00:23:54.960
 Jesus had appeared to Saul.

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:55.980
 In fact,

00:23:56.040 --> 00:23:57.259
 this is not the first time

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:58.880
 Jesus had appeared to Saul

00:23:58.880 --> 00:23:59.920
 in the book of Acts.

00:24:00.860 --> 00:24:02.240
 We see all this clearly

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.779
 displayed several chapters earlier

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:05.480
 in chapter 7 of the book of Acts

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.480
 during the story

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:08.000
 of the stoning of Stephen.

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:12.180
 If we turn there in verse 54,

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.539
 Luke says this.

00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.059
 He says,

00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.480
 When they had heard Stephen

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.319
 say these things,

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.319
 they were enraged

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:20.420
 and they ground their teeth at Stephen.

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.059
 But he,

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.740
 full of the Holy Spirit,

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:24.259
 he gazed into heaven

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:26.019
 and he saw the glory of God.

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.680
 And he saw Jesus

00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:30.380
 standing at the right hand of God.

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.019
 And he said,

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.759
 Behold,

00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:34.799
 I see the heavens opened

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.299
 and the Son of Man

00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:38.160
 standing at the right hand of God.

00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.639
 But they cried out

00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.759
 with a loud voice.

00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:44.859
 They stopped their ears

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:46.700
 and they rushed together at him.

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.400
 And then they cast him

00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:49.180
 out of the city

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.259
 and they stoned him.

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.619
 And the witnesses

00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:52.799
 laid down their garments

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:55.039
 at the feet of a young man

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:57.299
 named Saul.

00:24:57.299 --> 00:25:00.200
 And as they were stoning Stephen,

00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:01.099
 he called out,

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.079
 Lord Jesus,

00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.839
 receive my spirit.

00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:05.940
 And falling to his knees,

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.919
 he cried out again,

00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:09.000
 Lord, do not hold this sin against them.

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:11.139
 And when he had said this,

00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:12.000
 he fell asleep.

00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:17.099
 Well, there it is.

00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.299
 Jesus appeared to Stephen

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:22.700
 and Saul was right there.

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:26.440
 And Saul didn't see Jesus

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:28.000
 because Saul was too busy

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.240
 thinking about all the things

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:31.079
 that he should do against Jesus.

00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:34.019
 Saul didn't hear Jesus

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.639
 because Scripture says

00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:37.419
 he stopped his ears.

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.220
 Saul was too caught up

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.200
 in his sin to notice.

00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:42.399
 He was too full of himself.

00:25:42.919 --> 00:25:44.119
 He was not really listening

00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:46.239
 and he was not really looking.

00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:49.739
 My brothers and sisters,

00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.699
 all these points I'm making

00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:52.819
 about Saul of Tarsus

00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:53.659
 and his conversion

00:25:53.659 --> 00:25:54.879
 may be interesting

00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:56.799
 from a historical point of view,

00:25:56.879 --> 00:25:58.219
 but they won't help you at all

00:25:58.219 --> 00:26:00.419
 unless you answer this question.

00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:02.699
 Are you listening

00:26:02.699 --> 00:26:04.899
 for the voice of Jesus?

00:26:05.739 --> 00:26:08.039
 Are you looking for his face?

00:26:09.399 --> 00:26:10.939
 How many times has he appeared

00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:11.799
 to you already

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:13.199
 and you missed him?

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:16.900
 How often has he called your name

00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:18.100
 and you did not hear

00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:19.559
 because you were not listening

00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:21.500
 because you were so focused

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:23.640
 on yourself and your sins?

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:27.160
 He stands at the door and knocks.

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.620
 Will you let him in?

00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:33.920
 Friends, we've seen two stages thus far

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:36.700
 when we are converted to Christ.

00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:39.080
 First, we're in unbelief

00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:40.100
 and self-worship.

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.120
 And secondly,

00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.940
 God begins to intervene

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.779
 in our lives

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:45.460
 and we begin to realize

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:47.420
 that he is what matters,

00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.180
 not us.

00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:51.160
 And then if you're ready,

00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:52.200
 the third stage

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.160
 in coming to Christ

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:55.460
 proceeds like this.

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:57.420
 When Jesus appeared

00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:59.059
 and he cried out,

00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:00.279
 Saul, Saul,

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.960
 why are you persecuting me?

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:04.259
 Then in verse 15

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:07.120
 of Acts chapter 26,

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.580
 Saul replies,

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:11.439
 who are you,

00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.099
 Lord?

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:14.319
 And the Lord said,

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:18.299
 I am Jesus

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:20.699
 whom you are persecuting.

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:24.099
 In this third stage,

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:25.439
 Saul begins to realize

00:27:25.439 --> 00:27:26.759
 that what he has been doing

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:28.159
 is very wrong.

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:31.099
 The third step

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:32.159
 in our conversion

00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:33.379
 is the conviction

00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:35.000
 of our sins.

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:37.059
 we see that all we've done

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.700
 in our lives

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.460
 have been tainted,

00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.500
 have been self-centered

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.460
 and self-absorbed.

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.880
 It's been wicked and evil.

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.119
 And more than that,

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:44.160
 we begin to realize

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.240
 that all of these sins

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.960
 we had committed,

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:47.160
 we did not just do

00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:48.180
 against someone else.

00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:50.220
 We did them against God.

00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:53.779
 Saul, Saul,

00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:57.000
 why are you persecuting me?

00:27:57.000 --> 00:28:01.140
 Jesus explains this

00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:02.720
 in the Gospel of Matthew.

00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.279
 He says,

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:05.539
 truly I say to you

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.259
 as you did it

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.119
 to one of the least

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.240
 of these my brothers,

00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:10.319
 you did it to me.

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:13.220
 The one thing

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:14.779
 we hate above all others,

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.259
 friends,

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:17.400
 is to think of our sins

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:19.220
 and to think of our sins

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:21.079
 not as mistakes,

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:24.519
 but as what they truly are,

00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:26.859
 sinful sins.

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:29.059
 Because God knows

00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:29.680
 what you do

00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.039
 behind those closed doors

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.160
 or in that dark room.

00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.960
 He knows all about

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:35.119
 what happened years ago

00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:35.960
 to that person.

00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:38.099
 He knows all these things

00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:39.619
 and He knows

00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:40.519
 that whatever you did

00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.500
 against those people,

00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:43.079
 you really did against Him.

00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.519
 In this third stage,

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.940
 we come to realize

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:50.220
 that God knows

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:52.200
 all about our sins.

00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.460
 We cannot hide from God.

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.819
 We cannot hide our sins

00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.599
 from the Almighty

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.579
 who is all-seeing

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.219
 and all-knowing.

00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.459
 Everything will be proclaimed

00:28:59.459 --> 00:29:00.319
 from the rooftops.

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:02.480
 Nothing is hidden from God.

00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.859
 And in this stage,

00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:06.779
 we feel the full force

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:08.379
 of His gaze upon us

00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.959
 and it cuts us to the heart.

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:15.000
 This is no better exemplified

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.980
 than on that night

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:17.819
 when Jesus was betrayed.

00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:20.279
 Jesus told Peter,

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.960
 the apostle,

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.700
 that he would deny Jesus

00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.539
 three times.

00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:26.200
 And the gospel tells us

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.600
 that when Peter was in the courtyard

00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:28.500
 of the high priest

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.900
 observing the trial of Jesus,

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:32.039
 that he did indeed deny Jesus

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.799
 three times.

00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:34.380
 And immediately,

00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:36.120
 after the third denial,

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.840
 Luke writes,

00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:39.759
 and the Lord turned

00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:42.779
 and looked at Peter.

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.480
 And Peter remembered

00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.559
 the saying of the Lord,

00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:47.480
 how he said to him

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.599
 before the rooster crows,

00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:49.699
 today you will deny me

00:29:49.699 --> 00:29:50.379
 three times.

00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:52.220
 And he went out

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.539
 and wept bitterly.

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:55.720
 Friends,

00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:56.839
 the Lord looked at Peter

00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.879
 and Peter was convicted

00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:58.699
 of his sins

00:29:58.699 --> 00:30:00.379
 and he wept bitterly.

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:02.720
 And Jesus looks at all of us

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.660
 while we are sinning

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:05.000
 because all of us

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.720
 when we sin

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:07.200
 are actually sinning

00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.040
 against God.

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.720
 Peter experienced

00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:12.360
 this gaze of Jesus.

00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:14.940
 Saul of Tarsus knew it too

00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:16.180
 and it blinded him.

00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:17.500
 And you,

00:30:18.260 --> 00:30:19.680
 Jesus looks at you also.

00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:22.880
 Saul, Saul,

00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:26.780
 why are you persecuting me?

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:31.920
 But there is much hope,

00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:32.480
 friends.

00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:35.000
 When we feel this conviction,

00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:38.799
 when we feel the full weight

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.599
 of our sins,

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:41.639
 then thanks be to God.

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.619
 We move on

00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:44.519
 to that fourth stage

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.680
 in coming to Christ.

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.099
 And what happens

00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.200
 in this stage

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:49.399
 is shocking.

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:52.420
 What does God do?

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:54.019
 Does he condemn?

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:56.019
 No, friends.

00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:57.799
 He forgives

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:59.500
 and he commissions.

00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.440
 This is what Jesus

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:03.480
 says to Saul of Tarsus

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.900
 in verse 16.

00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:07.539
 Rise.

00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:10.139
 Stand on your feet.

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.940
 I have appeared to you

00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.779
 for this purpose,

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.259
 to appoint you

00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.960
 as a servant

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.579
 and witness

00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.259
 to the things

00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:17.519
 in which you have seen me

00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:18.099
 and to those

00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:19.660
 in which I will appear to you,

00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:21.799
 delivering you

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:22.559
 from your people

00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.639
 and from the Gentiles

00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:25.339
 to whom I am sending you,

00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:27.579
 to open their eyes

00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:28.720
 so that they may turn

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:30.679
 from darkness to light

00:31:30.679 --> 00:31:32.199
 and from the power

00:31:32.199 --> 00:31:33.379
 of Satan to God,

00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:35.079
 that they may receive

00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:37.480
 forgiveness of sins

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:40.259
 and a place among those

00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:42.019
 who are sanctified

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:44.399
 by faith in me.

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:48.820
 Jesus Christ came to earth

00:31:48.820 --> 00:31:49.920
 to save sinners

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:51.600
 and to commission them

00:31:51.600 --> 00:31:52.519
 as ambassadors

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:54.240
 of his kingdom.

00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:57.320
 Jesus forgave Peter

00:31:57.320 --> 00:31:58.660
 and commissioned Peter.

00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:00.640
 Now he forgives Saul

00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:02.280
 and commissions Saul.

00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:04.140
 And I tell you,

00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:05.920
 he desires to forgive you

00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:07.700
 and commission you

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.820
 for his kingdom.

00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:11.899
 He wants to show you

00:32:11.899 --> 00:32:13.480
 all that has been appointed

00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.439
 for you to do.

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.480
 Friends,

00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:17.119
 we serve a God

00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:20.139
 who delights in mercy.

00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:22.439
 He looked upon us

00:32:22.439 --> 00:32:23.460
 walking in darkness

00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.980
 as slaves to sin

00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:26.220
 and though we had wronged

00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:26.859
 him deeply,

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.740
 he came down

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.859
 in the person of Jesus,

00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:30.720
 the healer,

00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.319
 the savior,

00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.839
 to bind and restore

00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.500
 and renew

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.259
 and reconcile,

00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:36.480
 to pay for our sins

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.700
 and to give us new life.

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:43.259
 Jesus is a gentle master.

00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:45.460
 We have wronged him much.

00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:47.160
 We know we have done wrong,

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.180
 but he loves

00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:50.339
 and he longs to forgive

00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:51.519
 and commission us

00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.240
 in his kingdom

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.960
 to spread his gospel

00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:55.920
 of the forgiveness of sins

00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:57.860
 to all nations.

00:32:58.819 --> 00:33:01.039
 The plain truth of the matter

00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:01.779
 is this.

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:04.339
 While we were enemies of God,

00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.980
 Christ died for us.

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:08.360
 What then can separate us

00:33:08.360 --> 00:33:09.579
 from the love of Christ?

00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.799
 Nothing, friends.

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.579
 Nothing.

00:33:15.360 --> 00:33:15.839
 Hallelujah.

00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:19.019
 So then we've gone

00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:20.240
 through four stages.

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:20.940
 The first

00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:22.819
 is being self-centered,

00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:24.099
 focused on the self,

00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:24.720
 self-worship.

00:33:24.860 --> 00:33:25.299
 The second,

00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:27.120
 you realize that God

00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:27.799
 is the subject

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.900
 and what really matters

00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:30.360
 is not what you think of God,

00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.759
 but what God thinks of you.

00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.720
 And the third

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:36.000
 is conviction of sins

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.099
 and the fourth

00:33:37.099 --> 00:33:39.380
 is forgiveness of sins

00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:42.119
 and being commissioned

00:33:42.119 --> 00:33:43.019
 and appointed

00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:44.180
 into God's kingdom.

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:46.279
 And now,

00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:48.819
 we come to that final stage.

00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:50.680
 After the Lord

00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:51.920
 steps into our lives,

00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:53.039
 after he forgives

00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:54.480
 and wipes away your sins,

00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:56.180
 then this happens.

00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:58.320
 in verse 19,

00:33:59.320 --> 00:34:01.340
 Paul says,

00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:01.779
 therefore,

00:34:02.140 --> 00:34:03.140
 O King Agrippa,

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:05.620
 I was not disobedient

00:34:05.620 --> 00:34:06.700
 to the heavenly vision,

00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:09.700
 but I declared first

00:34:09.700 --> 00:34:11.019
 to those in Damascus

00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:12.000
 and then in Jerusalem

00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:12.559
 and throughout

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:14.340
 all the region of Judea

00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:16.280
 and also to the Gentiles

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.780
 that they should repent

00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:19.599
 and turn to God,

00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:21.300
 performing deeds

00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:21.940
 in keeping

00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:23.639
 with their repentance.

00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:27.920
 Paul says in his words,

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.900
 I was not disobedient

00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:32.460
 to the heavenly vision.

00:34:33.319 --> 00:34:35.619
 He accepted his commission.

00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:37.719
 He accepted his appointment

00:34:37.719 --> 00:34:38.940
 from Jesus.

00:34:39.379 --> 00:34:40.179
 He traveled throughout

00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:40.980
 the Roman world

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.819
 preaching that all

00:34:41.819 --> 00:34:42.420
 should repent,

00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.639
 preaching that they should

00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:45.859
 turn to the living God

00:34:45.859 --> 00:34:47.639
 and perform deeds

00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:48.159
 in keeping

00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.039
 with that repentance.

00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:52.800
 This is very different

00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:54.199
 than what Saul of Tarsus

00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:55.619
 was doing before.

00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:58.079
 Remember what he had been saying.

00:34:58.420 --> 00:35:00.320
 I thought to myself

00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:01.779
 that I had to do

00:35:01.779 --> 00:35:02.860
 many things hostile

00:35:02.860 --> 00:35:03.980
 to the name of Jesus

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.800
 of Nazareth.

00:35:05.639 --> 00:35:06.599
 But now,

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.779
 he's looking to God

00:35:08.779 --> 00:35:09.579
 for direction.

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.759
 He's repenting.

00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:12.559
 He's submitting to his Lord.

00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:13.259
 He is saying,

00:35:13.259 --> 00:35:14.639
 here I am,

00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:15.440
 O God.

00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:18.720
 I am here to do

00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:19.340
 your will,

00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:20.720
 not mine.

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.659
 And this friend

00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:25.519
 is the same

00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.420
 with you.

00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:29.079
 God is appointing you

00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:29.840
 to his service

00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:30.760
 and to his kingdom.

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:32.119
 He is commissioning you.

00:35:33.200 --> 00:35:34.179
 Will you accept it?

00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:36.240
 He didn't care

00:35:36.240 --> 00:35:37.340
 that Peter was only

00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:38.579
 an uneducated fisherman.

00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:40.800
 He knew that Saul of Tarsus

00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:41.920
 had committed murder.

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:45.119
 He knows you may be unskilled.

00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:46.019
 You may be afraid.

00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:46.980
 You may be young.

00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.900
 You may be old.

00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:50.299
 He knows you may be in school.

00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:51.339
 You may be retired.

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:53.039
 You may be in poor health.

00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:54.239
 You may struggle with addiction.

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:55.319
 You may be disabled.

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.339
 You may have weak faith.

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:58.039
 You may be the worst of sinners.

00:35:58.859 --> 00:36:00.400
 He knows all these things.

00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:02.940
 But God's purpose for you

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:05.000
 is to convict you of your sins,

00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:06.380
 to forgive you,

00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:07.539
 to restore you,

00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.539
 to renew you,

00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:09.859
 and then to make you

00:36:09.859 --> 00:36:11.679
 his special instrument

00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:14.179
 to shine his loving

00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:15.279
 and glorious light

00:36:15.279 --> 00:36:16.579
 to others

00:36:16.579 --> 00:36:18.699
 and to spread the gospel

00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:20.460
 of mercy and peace,

00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:22.039
 the forgiveness of sins,

00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:24.099
 and the reconciliation

00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:25.639
 of sinners with God.

00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:30.539
 Will you accept this commission

00:36:30.539 --> 00:36:31.599
 of Jesus?

00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.400
 I tell you,

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.219
 there's nothing better.

00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:37.819
 I remember 23 years ago

00:36:37.819 --> 00:36:40.359
 when Jesus intervened in my life,

00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:41.480
 when I was in college,

00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:42.539
 walking in darkness,

00:36:42.739 --> 00:36:43.940
 absorbed in my sins,

00:36:44.139 --> 00:36:45.839
 and then Jesus Christ

00:36:45.839 --> 00:36:47.079
 stepped into my life

00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:49.119
 and convicted me of my sins

00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:51.359
 and then forgave me of my sins

00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:53.740
 and appointed me to his service.

00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.800
 And I tell you, friends,

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:57.240
 this world is not worthy

00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:58.019
 to be compared

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:59.300
 to the kingdom of God

00:36:59.300 --> 00:37:01.620
 and to the service of Christ.

00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:05.900
 Lastly, friends,

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:09.559
 when you are appointed

00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:11.519
 to the service of Christ,

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:15.620
 you will make the same confession

00:37:15.620 --> 00:37:18.079
 that Saul of Tarsus made

00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:20.039
 in his first letter to Timothy

00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:21.140
 that we heard earlier.

00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:24.579
 where he said this,

00:37:26.579 --> 00:37:28.099
 I thank him

00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:30.680
 who has given me strength,

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:32.579
 Christ Jesus our Lord,

00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:34.420
 because he judged me faithful,

00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:36.820
 appointing me to his service,

00:37:36.940 --> 00:37:38.579
 though formerly I was a blasphemer,

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:39.579
 a persecutor,

00:37:41.160 --> 00:37:42.440
 and an insolent opponent.

00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:45.800
 But I received mercy

00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:47.579
 because I had acted ignorantly

00:37:48.140 --> 00:37:49.380
 in unbelief.

00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:52.500
 And the grace of our Lord

00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:55.280
 overflowed for me

00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:56.680
 with the love and faith

00:37:56.680 --> 00:37:58.039
 that are in Christ Jesus.

00:37:58.760 --> 00:38:00.700
 The saying is trustworthy

00:38:00.700 --> 00:38:02.820
 and deserving of full acceptance,

00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:05.980
 that Christ Jesus came into the world

00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:06.860
 to save sinners

00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:08.119
 of whom I am foremost.

00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:11.679
 but I received mercy for this reason,

00:38:12.279 --> 00:38:13.119
 that in me,

00:38:13.759 --> 00:38:14.920
 as the foremost,

00:38:15.420 --> 00:38:17.199
 Jesus Christ might display

00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:18.480
 his perfect patience

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:20.859
 as an example to those

00:38:20.859 --> 00:38:22.339
 who are to believe in him

00:38:22.339 --> 00:38:24.579
 for eternal life.

00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:28.699
 Hallelujah, friends.

00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:31.279
 Let's pray together.

00:38:33.480 --> 00:38:35.059
 Oh, Lord Jesus,

00:38:35.059 --> 00:38:41.320
 thank you that you love us enough

00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:43.460
 to convict us of our sins.

00:38:44.179 --> 00:38:46.000
 Thank you that in your love

00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:48.239
 you came to wash

00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:50.199
 and renew and rescue.

00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:53.000
 Father, I pray for those of us

00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:54.000
 here today

00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:55.119
 who do not know you.

00:38:55.539 --> 00:38:56.939
 We ask that you would

00:38:56.939 --> 00:38:58.539
 illuminate them

00:38:58.539 --> 00:39:00.899
 and turn them to you

00:39:00.899 --> 00:39:02.439
 and to your kingdom.

00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:05.339
 Father, we also pray

00:39:05.339 --> 00:39:07.639
 for those who do know you.

00:39:08.179 --> 00:39:08.819
 Lord, we pray

00:39:08.819 --> 00:39:09.960
 that you would help them,

00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:11.879
 urge them on

00:39:11.879 --> 00:39:13.059
 in their walk with Christ.

00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:14.399
 Help those of us

00:39:14.399 --> 00:39:15.399
 who are backsliding

00:39:15.400 --> 00:39:16.380
 and encourage us

00:39:16.380 --> 00:39:17.059
 in the faith

00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:18.079
 to not grow weary.

00:39:19.200 --> 00:39:20.220
 Lord, we pray

00:39:20.220 --> 00:39:21.340
 also

00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:23.019
 that you would help us

00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:25.300
 to share your gospel

00:39:25.300 --> 00:39:26.619
 of peace and forgiveness

00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:27.559
 with this world.

00:39:27.680 --> 00:39:29.079
 We pray that you would give us

00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:31.180
 a special anointing

00:39:31.180 --> 00:39:32.079
 of your Holy Spirit

00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:33.260
 to do that this week.

00:39:34.820 --> 00:39:36.079
 And we pray this

00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:37.780
 in the mighty, mighty name

00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:38.300
 of Jesus.

00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:39.660
 Amen.