WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:07.400 Children, we are ready for Children's Church at this time, so you may make your way to the back with Miss Savannah there. 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:16.100 And so you may make your way there. And I love seeing all of these children. And I don't know about you, but I love seeing the preschool choirs up here. 00:00:16.519 --> 00:00:29.839 Just to give you an idea of all of those that are helping on Wednesday nights over the last few weeks, we've been averaging around 80 kids from fifth grade and below. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.640 And so that is a lot of people making a place safe for these kids to learn about Jesus, to grow in their gifts. 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:43.399 And so if you have just a moment, I want to encourage you to encourage them. 00:00:43.480 --> 00:00:48.640 If you see some of those workers that help out with our kids, just be an encouragement to them. 00:00:48.740 --> 00:00:54.039 Tell them thank you for all that they do and what a blessing they are to our church. 00:00:54.039 --> 00:01:05.359 This morning, we're going to be continuing in our study of this discipleship pathway, the fact that all disciples know, the fact that all disciples grow, that they show. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:10.480 And today and next week, we're going to be talking about that final part of that discipleship pathway. 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:13.500 And that is the fact that all disciples go. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:20.280 All disciples go and are a part of this mission that God has called us to be on, to be a part of. 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:23.900 And we're going to be looking at the first part of Acts today. 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:29.079 So if you have a Bible, go ahead and make your way there because we're going to be in Acts chapter one. 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:39.960 And one of the things that you notice if you read through the book of Acts and I've done, you know, we spent about half a year, a few years ago, going through the book of Acts. 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:47.059 But if you look at the book of Acts as a whole, one of the things that you're going to notice is this a movement taking place. 00:01:47.579 --> 00:01:53.579 You know, I've spent a lot of time thinking about Acts and a lot of time trying to see what God is doing there. 00:01:53.799 --> 00:02:01.379 And one of the things that I keep coming back to is the fact that when you read through the book of Acts, you see God moving. 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:06.219 You see God working and you see him working through individual lives. 00:02:06.219 --> 00:02:12.479 And so as we see this, a lot of times we don't necessarily relate this to how we see the church today. 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:16.599 We don't necessarily we see that as something that took place at one point in time. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:20.599 And we don't see that God is still using and working today. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:26.000 In fact, a lot of times what we see as the church today is just a place to come to. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:37.340 David Platt, in making a distinction of what the church is and what the church is, and said that the church is neither a place to see nor is it a place to sit. 00:02:37.979 --> 00:02:41.199 Yet this is often how we see church. 00:02:42.020 --> 00:02:43.659 The church is described as a landmark. 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:48.979 You know, it's, you know, First Baptist, the big church there on the corner of Prather Bridge Road and Tougalow Street. 00:02:49.139 --> 00:02:50.680 And we see it as a landmark. 00:02:50.819 --> 00:02:52.139 We describe it as a place. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.520 And I'm as guilty as anybody of this. 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:59.420 I'll oftentimes tell Catherine and the kids, well, I've got to run up to church for something real quick. 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:01.219 And there's two things wrong with that. 00:03:01.480 --> 00:03:03.620 One, I'm not running anywhere right now. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:06.939 And then two, this isn't a place to come to. 00:03:07.040 --> 00:03:09.879 This is, this isn't, the church isn't just a building. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:11.400 It's not a landmark. 00:03:11.600 --> 00:03:13.340 The church is the people. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:17.560 It's a movement of God that is working in people's lives. 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:25.500 The church is not a destination to arrive at and then leave from, nor is it sometimes we're referred to as a place to sit. 00:03:25.699 --> 00:03:26.680 We go to church. 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:27.520 We have a seat. 00:03:27.640 --> 00:03:28.460 We get comfortable. 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:29.699 We're entertained. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:33.680 And then we just leave and come back and do it all again next week. 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:36.520 The church is neither of those things. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:40.640 It is a movement to join and be a part of. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:51.000 And so what you see in the book of Acts is God is at work and there's a movement that's taking place and he's using people in that process. 00:03:51.619 --> 00:03:56.939 Tony Morita notes, he says, no believer is a mere fan, but a player. 00:03:57.479 --> 00:04:08.639 The apostles certainly led the church, but the gospel advanced largely through the words and deeds of unordained and uneducated people, informal missionaries. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:14.459 The church today, in fact, desperately needs to recover this practice, he says. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:25.240 He says, the only difference in a believer sitting in his or her American home and a foreign missionary on the mission field is location, not identity. 00:04:26.159 --> 00:04:27.899 Every Christian is a missionary. 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:32.860 And so each of us should ask, where do I serve? 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:35.539 To whom do I minister? 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:40.900 And so I hope and pray that we all desire to see a movement. 00:04:41.300 --> 00:04:49.160 I hope and pray that we all desire revival to take place in the church, in our community, in the nation, around the world. 00:04:49.340 --> 00:04:51.640 I hope and pray this is all our desires. 00:04:51.780 --> 00:05:01.320 And if this is not our desire, if it's not our desire to see God and move and us be a part of that and seeing revival take place around the world, 00:05:01.319 --> 00:05:05.319 then I've got to question what it is that is most important to us. 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:11.879 Because what we should be about is God's glory and seeing lost people come to faith in him. 00:05:12.159 --> 00:05:23.120 If you are a child of God, then he has a plan and a desire to use you to reach the lost across the street and across the world. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:30.280 And so as we begin to look at our passage today, I want us to begin with a moment of prayer. 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:32.280 I want us to begin with prayer. 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:38.800 And this isn't just a prayer that I want to pray over you, but I want this to be a prayer that you join me with. 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:47.000 Earlier this week, I was reading in the book of Revelation and reading about these seven churches that Christ is speaking about. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:48.220 And he's speaking to here. 00:05:48.339 --> 00:05:55.000 And in each of these instances, I was struck by something in the way that he ends his description of these churches. 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:57.939 In each of these accounts, he says this. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:05.259 He says, he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. 00:06:06.220 --> 00:06:11.060 He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:13.420 And so I want that to be our prayer today. 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:19.939 I want that to be our prayer that if we have an ear, if we're listening to God's word being read, 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:24.280 if what we're seeing and what we're hearing is in alignment with scripture, 00:06:24.280 --> 00:06:29.140 then if we have an ear, let us hear what God has for each of us. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:31.420 So I want to encourage you to pray with me at this time. 00:06:31.520 --> 00:06:33.020 Father, thank you so much. 00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:34.860 Thank you for your word. 00:06:35.020 --> 00:06:37.180 Thank you for what it teaches us about you. 00:06:37.520 --> 00:06:40.540 And Lord, I pray that this morning as we open your word 00:06:40.540 --> 00:06:44.100 and we read scripture, read your holy words, Lord, 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:47.200 that they would not just be words that we hear, 00:06:47.280 --> 00:06:49.240 but we would actually listen to them, 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:51.379 that we would apply them to our lives 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:54.620 and be willing to do what it is that you've called us to do. 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:58.600 And we ask all of these things in Jesus' precious name. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:06:59.400 Amen. 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:00.620 Amen. 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:01.580 With that in mind, 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:04.740 hopefully you've had a chance to open to Acts chapter one. 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:09.620 And we're going to start by reading the first 11 verses of Acts chapter one. 00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:12.399 So Acts chapter one, verses one through 11. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:14.459 This is what the word of the Lord says. 00:07:14.780 --> 00:07:15.639 It says this. 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:17.980 In the first book, O Theophilus, 00:07:18.340 --> 00:07:21.939 I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach 00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:24.340 until the day when he was taken up 00:07:24.340 --> 00:07:27.160 after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:29.699 to the apostles whom he had chosen. 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:32.399 He presented himself alive to them 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:34.980 after his suffering by many proofs, 00:07:34.980 --> 00:07:37.040 appearing to them during 40 days 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:39.800 and speaking about the kingdom of God. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:42.960 And while he was staying with them, 00:07:43.020 --> 00:07:45.740 he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:49.460 but to wait for the promise of the Father, 00:07:49.460 --> 00:07:50.420 which he said, 00:07:50.700 --> 00:07:53.080 you have heard from me for John baptized with water, 00:07:53.200 --> 00:07:55.900 but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit 00:07:55.900 --> 00:07:57.960 not many days from now. 00:07:58.200 --> 00:07:59.900 So when they had come together, 00:07:59.900 --> 00:08:00.800 they asked him, 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:04.840 Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel? 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:06.399 And he said to them, 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:09.579 it is not for you to know the times or seasons 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:12.560 that the Father has fixed by his own authority, 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:14.979 but you will receive power 00:08:14.979 --> 00:08:17.819 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:08:18.039 --> 00:08:20.419 And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem 00:08:20.419 --> 00:08:22.559 and all of Judea and Samaria 00:08:22.559 --> 00:08:24.899 and to the end of the earth. 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:27.179 And when he had said these things, 00:08:27.179 --> 00:08:28.379 as they were looking on him, 00:08:28.419 --> 00:08:31.899 he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:34.459 And while they were there gazing into heaven, 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:35.259 then as he went, 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:38.560 behold, two men stood by them in white robes 00:08:38.560 --> 00:08:40.379 and said, men of Galilee, 00:08:40.660 --> 00:08:42.879 why do you stand looking into heaven? 00:08:43.220 --> 00:08:46.300 This Jesus who was taken away from you into heaven 00:08:46.300 --> 00:08:51.240 will come in the same way you saw him go into heaven. 00:08:51.800 --> 00:08:55.680 You see, understanding this first part of Acts 00:08:55.680 --> 00:08:58.860 is key to understanding the rest of the book. 00:08:59.460 --> 00:09:01.480 Understanding this first part of Acts, 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:04.279 and especially Acts 1.8 is key to understanding 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:05.620 the rest of the book of Acts 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:07.940 and also key to understanding 00:09:07.940 --> 00:09:11.279 how God works and moves in our lives today. 00:09:12.180 --> 00:09:15.460 Acts 1.8 says that there to be witnesses in Jerusalem, 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:17.360 in Judea and Samaria, 00:09:17.680 --> 00:09:19.300 and to the end of the earth. 00:09:19.539 --> 00:09:22.460 And then what you see in Acts is this play out. 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:24.899 Chapters 1 through 7 of Acts 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:26.980 deal with how the Holy Spirit 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:29.279 is moving and working there in Jerusalem. 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:32.220 Verses, or chapters 9 through 11 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:34.460 talk about how the Spirit is working, 00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:37.899 the gospel is being proclaimed in Judea and Samaria. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:39.879 And then from 12 to 28, 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.480 you see that the Spirit is working and moving 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:44.700 to the end of the earth. 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:46.820 Acts is an exciting book 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:50.639 that calls us to live an exciting life. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:53.399 And to help us understand that this morning, 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:55.919 to help us see how this takes place, 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:57.720 there's a few observations 00:09:57.720 --> 00:10:00.480 that I want us to make from Acts 1.8 right here. 00:10:00.860 --> 00:10:02.220 And to begin with, 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:06.600 I want us to see that disciples go with power. 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:09.519 Disciples go with power. 00:10:09.699 --> 00:10:09.840 It says, 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:11.460 but you will receive power 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:14.860 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:17.899 What we see is dependence on the Holy Spirit 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:19.439 throughout the book of Acts, 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:22.380 but especially right here in the beginning. 00:10:23.040 --> 00:10:27.720 The Holy Spirit is so vital to us going 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:30.340 and so vital to the mission of God 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:31.920 being fulfilled and proclaimed 00:10:31.920 --> 00:10:32.740 that Jesus, 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:35.400 right before he gives this great commission, 00:10:35.780 --> 00:10:37.060 when they're all gathered there, 00:10:37.140 --> 00:10:37.460 he says, 00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:39.180 hey, wait right here. 00:10:39.900 --> 00:10:41.580 Wait until the gift of the Father. 00:10:41.780 --> 00:10:44.660 Wait until you receive the Holy Spirit. 00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:46.640 Because he knows that if they go 00:10:46.640 --> 00:10:48.360 without the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.800 then what they're doing is in vain. 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.139 He says, 00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:52.100 wait for the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:52.180 --> 00:10:54.779 You see that right there in Acts 1.4. 00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:56.419 While they were staying with him, 00:10:56.460 --> 00:10:58.659 he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:02.680 but to wait for the promise of the Father. 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:05.600 Jesus tells them to wait for the promise of the Father. 00:11:05.680 --> 00:11:06.800 The promise, of course, 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:08.740 being the Holy Spirit, 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:10.159 the great helper. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:10.480 Remember, 00:11:10.839 --> 00:11:12.259 that the one being talked about 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:14.379 is the one that Jesus describes earlier 00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:15.240 in the Gospels when he says, 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:15.620 nevertheless, 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:16.579 I tell you, 00:11:16.839 --> 00:11:20.000 it is to your advantage that I go away. 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:21.639 For if I do not go away, 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:23.399 the helper will not come to you. 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.699 But if I go, 00:11:25.079 --> 00:11:27.019 I will send him. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:31.279 And then we get to see this power being unleashed. 00:11:31.659 --> 00:11:32.379 In Acts 2, 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:34.139 verses 1 through 12, 00:11:34.199 --> 00:11:36.279 it records the coming of the Holy Spirit 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:37.559 in the day of Pentecost. 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:40.959 The day of Pentecost marked one of three major feasts 00:11:40.959 --> 00:11:42.500 of Israel's annual calendar. 00:11:42.979 --> 00:11:46.319 And Pentecost refers to the 50th day after Passover. 00:11:46.699 --> 00:11:50.859 And so 10 days after Jesus ascends into heaven, 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:53.739 we see the gift of the Holy Spirit coming. 00:11:54.099 --> 00:11:57.000 And I think it would be hard to overstate 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.899 the significance of what is happening here. 00:12:00.179 --> 00:12:02.579 Our need to be dependent on the Holy Spirit 00:12:02.579 --> 00:12:04.679 to work and to move. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:05.899 After all, 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:08.159 these were ordinary men and women 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:10.620 who were proclaiming this message. 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:14.100 So ordinary that in just a few chapters away, 00:12:14.439 --> 00:12:15.600 in chapter four, 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:18.500 Peter and John were before the council of rulers 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:20.139 and the elders and the high priests, 00:12:20.340 --> 00:12:22.000 and they were described this way. 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:22.379 It says, 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:25.799 now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:28.980 and perceived that they were uneducated, 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:29.899 common men, 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:31.679 they were astonished, 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:35.519 and they recognized they had been with Jesus. 00:12:36.579 --> 00:12:37.859 Now, let me be clear. 00:12:37.939 --> 00:12:40.259 I'm not calling any of you uneducated and common, 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:42.699 but if you were, 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:44.699 then you would be in great company. 00:12:44.979 --> 00:12:47.339 You would be in the same company of Peter and John 00:12:47.339 --> 00:12:50.099 and really pretty much all of the first disciples. 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:53.779 The Holy Spirit is what equips us. 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:57.000 Now, this doesn't mean that we don't grow in those equipings. 00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:00.139 It doesn't mean that we don't grow in our relationship with the Lord, 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.980 but it means that if we are believers, 00:13:03.699 --> 00:13:06.259 if we have placed our faith and our trust in Jesus, 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:09.100 then we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:11.980 and this is the power that allows us to go 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:14.159 and proclaim the gospel message. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:15.779 This is what equips us. 00:13:15.839 --> 00:13:18.659 This is what gives us our calling. 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:23.799 This is what allows us to be qualified to take this gospel message. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:24.939 Now, here's the thing. 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:28.179 There's plenty of things in this life that I'm not qualified for. 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:31.379 There's plenty of things in this life that you're not qualified for. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:33.679 In fact, as I was thinking about this, 00:13:34.319 --> 00:13:35.500 I believe I shared a story, 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.059 this story, 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:38.459 at least parts of this with you a number of years ago, 00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:41.299 but I can remember about three or four years ago, 00:13:41.459 --> 00:13:43.319 getting a call from my neighbor, 00:13:43.459 --> 00:13:43.720 Hannah, 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:46.519 who called me and just answered, 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.220 said hello, 00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:48.820 and then just went right, 00:13:48.920 --> 00:13:49.240 didn't say, 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.220 hey, how are you doing? 00:13:50.300 --> 00:13:51.060 Hope things are going well. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:51.759 Hope you've had a great day. 00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:52.920 No, just went right into it, 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:53.080 said, 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:53.600 hey, 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:55.120 do you know how to catch a possum? 00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:56.279 Now, 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:56.700 let me, 00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:57.779 let me be very clear. 00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:59.639 The answer to that question, 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:01.680 do I know how to catch a possum is no, 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:03.779 I do not know how to catch a possum. 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:05.240 But in that moment, 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:06.440 I said, 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:06.680 yeah, 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:07.540 I'll give it a shot. 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:10.879 And so she had a possum trapped in her garage. 00:14:11.040 --> 00:14:15.240 And so what I did was I grabbed the first few things that I saw as I was leaving, 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:18.240 which was a empty clothes basket, 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:19.399 clothes basket, 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:20.720 a cardboard box, 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:21.700 and a wiffle ball bat. 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:22.460 Now, 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:27.200 my plan was to go and throw the laundry basket on top of the possum, 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:28.860 slide the cardboard under there, 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:29.820 flip it over, 00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:30.600 take it to the woods, 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.139 and let it go. 00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:33.500 Don't really know what I was going to do with a wiffle ball bat. 00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:35.419 Guess if things got out of hand, 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:36.680 I was just going to start swinging. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:38.980 But that was the plan going in. 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:39.560 And hey, 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:40.259 we made it work. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.220 We figured it out. 00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:43.960 But that's not something that I'm qualified to do. 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:45.860 That's not something that I'm comfortable doing. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:52.139 There's things in this life that you and I are not qualified to do. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:53.800 There's plenty of those things. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.680 But as believers, 00:14:56.340 --> 00:15:02.139 one thing that we cannot say is that we are not qualified to be a witness for Christ. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:07.700 This does not say that we're all qualified to the ministry of evangelists, 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.300 or a pastor, 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:08.899 or a deacon, 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.740 or those things. 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:13.580 But we are all qualified to be a witness. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:17.960 The reality is we must remember that the only one, 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:18.960 the Holy Spirit, 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:20.240 can take, 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:25.039 he's the only one that can take the gospel to the hearts and minds of men and women 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:27.500 and change them into disciples of the Lord. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:33.220 This is both encouraging and challenging all at the same time. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:37.919 It's encouraging because we recognize that it's not ultimately up to us, 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:43.579 but it's also challenging because it means that we are without excuse when it comes to the fact, 00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:45.979 are we called to the mission? 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:47.519 We can't say, 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.379 I'm not qualified. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.279 We can't say, 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:49.839 I'm not ready. 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.559 We can't say, 00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:51.879 I'm not worthy. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:55.899 When you look at what God did with ordinary people, 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:58.519 it should empower us. 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:02.080 If you were to pick the most qualified people of Jesus' day, 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.340 if you were to go out and say, 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:03.500 hey, 00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:07.860 I want to pick 12 people that are going to be the dream team, 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:12.019 that are going to be the most qualified people to share this good news, 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:13.980 you wouldn't have picked any of the apostles. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.500 You wouldn't have picked, 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:15.860 I want, 00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:16.740 I think you can say now, 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:16.939 oh, 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.600 I would have picked it. 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:17.799 No, 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.360 you wouldn't. 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:23.039 You would have picked some of the most influential people of the day and said, 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:24.079 that's going to be the one. 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.460 That's going to be one. 00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:31.159 But what Jesus did is he picked men who would be willing to follow him, 00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:32.500 who would give their all, 00:16:32.579 --> 00:16:35.019 who would be dependent on the Holy Spirit. 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.679 Were they perfect? 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:35.980 No, 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:38.759 but God used them because of their dependence. 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:46.179 May we be encouraged that all disciples go with the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:50.419 Hopefully we can understand that disciples go with power, 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:52.159 but we are going to, 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.860 but where are we going? 00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:55.740 What are we taking with us as we go? 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:59.580 And so the next thing that we see is not only do disciples go with power, 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:03.259 but we also see that disciples go with a message. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:06.200 Disciples go with a message. 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:06.680 It says, 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:13.320 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses. 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.420 You will be my witnesses. 00:17:15.580 --> 00:17:17.039 And so disciples go with power, 00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:18.120 but they also, 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.080 as they go, 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:20.680 they go with a message. 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.400 The message says, 00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:23.400 the passage says, 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.700 you will be my witnesses. 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:26.960 What's the purpose of a witness? 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:30.759 It is to give an accurate account of what they have seen, 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.740 what they have experienced. 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:36.299 I often say that if you have a relationship with Jesus, 00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:38.160 then you have a testimony. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:41.200 If you have a relationship with Jesus, 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:43.240 if you've given your life to him, 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.700 if you're following him with your life, 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:46.559 then you have a testimony. 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:48.380 And if you have a testimony, 00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:51.900 you can be a witness to that testimony. 00:17:51.900 --> 00:18:00.980 But I also want to take a moment this morning to talk about the message and also share this message with you. 00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:04.360 Because I realize that in a room this size, 00:18:04.540 --> 00:18:09.440 there's a really good chance that not everyone has a testimony. 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:11.960 If someone were to ask you, 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.820 are you a Christian? 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:16.759 I suspect that many of us in here would answer, 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.259 yes. 00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:18.180 Yes, 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:18.860 I'm a Christian. 00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:21.340 But I want to be clear. 00:18:22.600 --> 00:18:27.360 Being a Christian is not simply saying that you believe a God exists. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:33.220 Being a Christian is not simply getting all of the answers right on a test. 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.880 None of us are promised tomorrow. 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:41.120 We've got to make sure that we understand the gospel, 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:43.660 that we've given our life to this, 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:46.780 that we understand that this isn't something that we can do on our own, 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:51.540 but it's something that we have to have Jesus for. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:52.280 You see, 00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:53.500 none of us are promised tomorrow. 00:18:54.260 --> 00:18:57.120 Jesus could come back at any time and at any moment. 00:18:57.400 --> 00:18:58.960 He could come back right now. 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:00.800 And I hope and pray that he does one day. 00:19:01.320 --> 00:19:03.860 I hope and pray that when he comes back, 00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:05.700 I'm doing exactly what he's called me to do. 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.600 I hope I'm preaching. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:11.280 I hope it's one of those moments like that where I get to see Jesus come back, 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:13.280 doing what he's called me to do. 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:16.380 But if he doesn't come back before our life, 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.680 in our lifetime, 00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:19.940 the statistics are still holding strong. 00:19:20.280 --> 00:19:24.340 The mortality rate for human beings is still holding at a hundred percent. 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:27.040 Meaning that at some point, 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:29.119 we are going to give an account for, 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:31.639 for what it is that we've given our life to. 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:36.039 And so there's the first question that I want to ask you this morning is this, 00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.720 are you ready for that reality? 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:40.779 Have you given your life to Jesus? 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:43.139 Have you given your life to him? 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:43.940 Because here's the, 00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:46.079 here's the thing that we must understand. 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:47.859 It can be described like this. 00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:49.439 And I often will describe this way as, 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.679 as bad news, 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.299 worst news, 00:19:51.419 --> 00:19:51.819 good news, 00:19:51.919 --> 00:19:52.599 best news. 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.659 You see, 00:19:53.719 --> 00:19:55.099 the bad news is this. 00:19:55.719 --> 00:19:58.619 The bad news is that each and every one of us are sinners. 00:19:59.479 --> 00:20:01.899 Each and every one of us are sinners. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.299 And because of that sin, 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:07.220 we are separated from God because of that sin. 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:10.419 If we don't give our life to it because of that sin, 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.859 if we left on our own, 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:16.419 we will all one day spend an eternity apart from God in hell. 00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:17.919 That's the bad news. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.980 And here's the worst news. 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:23.839 The worst news is you can't do a thing about it on your own. 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:26.559 We can't save ourselves. 00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:27.359 We can't decide, 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:27.919 you know what? 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.960 I've been bad, 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:30.339 but now I'm going to be good. 00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:31.659 And so from this moment on, 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.180 I'm going to be good. 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:33.820 And then that way it's all paid for. 00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:35.000 It doesn't work that way. 00:20:35.820 --> 00:20:40.200 Present obedience doesn't make up for past disobedience because present 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.440 obedience is what's required. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.580 We can't be good enough. 00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.620 We can't do anything about it. 00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:45.820 But here's the good news. 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:50.420 Here's the good news that Jesus left the glory of heaven. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:53.580 He lived the life that you and I couldn't live. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:55.759 He lived a perfect life, 00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:58.920 a life that we have no hope of living on our own. 00:20:59.140 --> 00:21:00.920 He lived that perfect life. 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:03.539 And then he died the death that we deserve. 00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:06.019 He died the death that we deserve. 00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:08.600 And that makes him able to pay for those sins. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:10.480 And here's the best news. 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:13.440 The best news is if you want, 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:16.060 you can give your life to him right now. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:18.720 You can go from death to life. 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:23.640 You can go from a path that is leading you to a hell to a path that's leading to heaven. 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:27.020 By placing your faith and your trust in Jesus. 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.880 That's the bad news, 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.560 worst news, 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.200 good news, 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:30.940 best news. 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:35.080 This is the gospel that we are called to share. 00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:37.140 And in just a moment, 00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:38.759 at the end of our service, 00:21:38.800 --> 00:21:40.160 we're going to have a time of response. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:42.200 We're going to have a time of reflection, 00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:43.300 a time of prayer. 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:45.039 And when that time comes, 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:49.359 I want to encourage you to respond with a sense of urgency, 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:52.559 to respond in a way that you're saying, 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:55.599 I need Jesus more than anything else. 00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:59.099 This is the gospel message that we are called to share. 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:04.039 The message of salvation is the only hope for a lost and dying world. 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:10.759 And keeping this at the center of what we are doing is key to going with power. 00:22:11.159 --> 00:22:17.599 Keeping Jesus as the focus of what we are called to do is key to receiving that power. 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.700 One pastor years ago, 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:18.920 note, 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.319 he says, 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:22.379 the less Jesus is the core of witness, 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.879 the less power we have. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.379 So we go with power. 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:29.059 We go with a mission, 00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:33.519 but this passage also reminds us where to go. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:37.480 So we must remember that all disciples go with power. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:43.299 They go with a message and they also go where God leads. 00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:45.779 Disciples go where God leads, 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:49.440 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:54.779 and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:57.180 and to the end of the earth. 00:22:57.559 --> 00:23:03.500 I was listening to a message by Vance Pittman a number of years ago. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:06.859 Talking about the great commission in this Acts passage. 00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:09.379 And he brought out some really good points. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.559 To begin with the call itself, 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:16.519 you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:21.180 Oftentimes we hear this and we think only in geographic terms. 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:23.579 We only think in geographic terms. 00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.079 For example, 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:25.299 if you look on a map, 00:23:25.639 --> 00:23:28.539 you will essentially see that where they were was Jerusalem. 00:23:29.339 --> 00:23:33.099 And the surrounding area around them is Judea and Samaria. 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:35.059 And the end of the earth is, 00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:35.559 well, 00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:36.439 it's the end of the earth, 00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:36.899 right? 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:40.019 And so you think of it in these geographic terms. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.639 And there's absolutely that. 00:23:41.919 --> 00:23:45.619 God has called us to be a witness right here where we are. 00:23:45.879 --> 00:23:48.559 He's called us to be a witness to those places around us. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.940 He's called us to be a witness to the end of the earth. 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.940 But I think there's more to this than that. 00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:55.859 Because a lot of times we hear that and we think, 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.099 well, 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:56.659 well, 00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.039 you know, 00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:59.460 some of us are called to be a witness where it's easy, 00:23:59.579 --> 00:23:59.980 right? 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:00.879 And just, 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:02.359 we don't have to move anywhere. 00:24:02.419 --> 00:24:03.460 We don't have to do these things. 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:06.240 And so some of us are called to be a witness where it's easy. 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:08.799 Some of us are called to be a witness where it's a little bit more challenging. 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:10.679 And then those that are super spiritual, 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.000 they're, 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:13.139 they're called to be a witness where it's hard. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:17.440 But I want you to think about those areas at this time. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.420 He says, 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.779 be a witness in Jerusalem. 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:23.680 Do you know what happened in Jerusalem 40 days before this? 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:26.259 They killed Jesus there. 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:30.900 This was not a popular thing to proclaim in Jerusalem. 00:24:31.600 --> 00:24:33.440 And so what he's telling him is he says, 00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:34.759 go to where they hate you. 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:38.140 Go to where you will be despised when they're sharing this message. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:38.700 And then he says, 00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:40.500 go to Judea and Samaria. 00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:41.440 Now Samaria, 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:43.880 the Jews hated the Samaritans. 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.520 In fact, 00:24:44.580 --> 00:24:50.460 this is why Jesus uses a good Samaritan to describe his neighbor to being a good neighbor 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:52.580 and the good Samaritan, 00:24:52.760 --> 00:24:54.320 because they hated the Samaritan. 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.380 So what Jesus is, 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:57.500 is telling us is go to where they hate you, 00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:58.880 go to where you hate them, 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.440 and then go to the end of the earth, 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:03.380 go to places you've never even heard of before. 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:09.620 And so this call to share is a call that is going to be challenging, 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:11.559 no matter where you are, 00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:13.679 but it's a call that is worth it. 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:18.599 These are the final words of Jesus before he returns to heaven. 00:25:19.399 --> 00:25:20.579 I've said it before, 00:25:20.679 --> 00:25:21.439 but Dr. Akin, 00:25:21.679 --> 00:25:22.339 Southeastern, 00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:23.339 he would often say, 00:25:23.479 --> 00:25:25.459 tell us concerning the great commission. 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:25.879 He would say, 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:28.879 last words are lasting words. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:33.339 There is a correlation with what God wants us to be focused on. 00:25:33.459 --> 00:25:38.379 And the last words with which he instructs us as he ascends to heaven. 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:42.040 In Jesus's last words before ascending to heaven, 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:46.760 he tells us that we are his primary means of reaching the world. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:49.760 And so as Jesus is getting ready to ascend to heaven, 00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:50.080 he says, 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:50.500 hey, 00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:52.100 here's what's important. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:54.100 Here's what I want you to be focused on. 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:58.740 I want you to understand that this message is for the nations. 00:25:59.280 --> 00:26:01.160 This message is for everyone. 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:06.900 And you are my primary way of taking this message to a lost and dying world. 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:09.380 Christians have no tribal deity. 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:14.259 We have a savior who loves and died for the nations. 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:19.519 For people who look like us and people who look nothing like us. 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:27.820 For people who grew up with similar values and ones who grew up with completely different values. 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:31.780 For people who have many things in common with us. 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:35.759 And for those who have very few things in common with us. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:41.899 God desires people who worship him from every tribe, tongue, and nation. 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:48.299 God desires to see lost people, whether they have no religion or a false religion. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:51.639 He desires lost people to come to faith in him. 00:26:51.640 --> 00:27:00.600 We must repent of any unconcern that we have for lost people across the street or across the world. 00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:07.900 And recognize that Jesus sent ordinary people to the nations just as he sends us today. 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:11.440 We've got to have his heart for the nations. 00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:13.080 It was Jesus' heart. 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:15.040 It was Jesus' heart 2,000 years ago. 00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:19.820 Still his heart today that we see lost people come to faith in him. 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:25.480 And just this past week, Jason and I had an opportunity to go to Saratoga Springs, Utah. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:32.619 We went there to meet with Pastor Josh Rowland and Gospel Fellowship Church there in Saratoga Springs. 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:40.399 Saratoga Springs and its kind of neighbor Eagle Mountain are two of the fastest growing cities in Utah. 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:45.859 In fact, they're growing so fast they're having trouble keeping up with schools. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.339 They're having trouble keeping up with water. 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:50.459 All of these different things are becoming issues for them. 00:27:50.679 --> 00:27:51.319 But here's the thing. 00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.899 The views there are amazing. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:56.959 You would go and think this is just a beautiful place. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.679 The people are friendly. 00:27:58.839 --> 00:28:00.079 The schools are good. 00:28:00.399 --> 00:28:02.299 Very low crime rate. 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:03.879 The median age, this is crazy. 00:28:03.959 --> 00:28:06.019 The median age for this area is 20. 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:19.059 And unless people go and share the gospel with them, around 99% of the population will spend their eternity in hell. 00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:24.559 You go and you look around at it. 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:26.000 It's beautiful. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.799 People everywhere. 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.779 Backdrop against the mountains. 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:31.460 The lake that's right there nearby. 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.339 The people are friendly. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.059 Schools are great. 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:36.299 Low crime rate. 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.440 All of these things. 00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:44.079 But yet, 99% of them are going to spend an eternity in hell. 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:47.179 Unless somebody tells them about Jesus. 00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:52.839 You see, Saratoga Springs is 85 to 90% LDS. 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:58.019 Roughly 9% have no affiliation with anything. 00:28:58.019 --> 00:29:06.920 Maybe 1% are Catholic and about 0.5% are evangelical Christian. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:13.400 With such a low percentage, what this means is if somebody never left Saratoga Springs, 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:16.680 if they spent their whole life in Saratoga Springs, 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:22.160 they could easily spend their whole life without ever meeting a Christian, 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:25.880 without ever hearing a gospel conversation. 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:28.880 It's a short four-hour flight. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:31.120 Beautiful area. 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.180 Beautiful community. 00:29:32.840 --> 00:29:35.160 Yet, deep lostness. 00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:37.240 Deep lostness. 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.460 They need people to share. 00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:39.660 But here's the good news. 00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:42.519 You know, that sounds like just bad news. 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.820 Here's the good news. 00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:45.500 God can change that. 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:48.580 God can change that. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:52.100 He can use Pastor Josh and Gospel Fellowship to change that. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:54.800 He can use you to help change that. 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.660 He can use me to help change that. 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.720 See, here's the thing. 00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:59.740 If you keep reading and continue to read Acts, 00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:03.380 you'll realize that from Acts 2 to Acts 4, 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:07.300 roughly 15,000 people come to faith in Christ. 00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:13.019 From Acts 2 to Acts 4, 15,000 people roughly came to faith in Christ. 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:15.339 That's a two-week period. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:18.559 Two weeks from Acts 2 to Acts 4, 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:22.839 and you see roughly 15,000 people coming to faith in Christ. 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:28.099 God can work and move with people who are willing to share the gospel message. 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.500 It's the same gospel. 00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.839 It's the same God. 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:33.319 It's the same Holy Spirit is at work today. 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:38.399 This morning, I want to close a little differently than we typically close a message. 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:41.519 We'll still have a chance to respond, 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:45.240 but I want to encourage us all to respond today. 00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:49.460 You see, Clay is going to come and play some music in the background, 00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:51.859 and I'm going to ask you to stand. 00:30:52.439 --> 00:30:55.339 But instead of asking you to stand and sing, 00:30:55.439 --> 00:30:56.859 I'm going to ask you to stand and pray. 00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:59.959 And maybe that looks a little different for you. 00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:03.639 Maybe you stand and you decide to sit back down and pray, 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:05.479 or turn around and kneel and pray, 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:07.599 or I'd love for you to come up here and pray with me. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:10.299 It gets kind of lonely here in the front sometimes. 00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:13.000 I would love for you to come and pray with me here. 00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:15.039 But I want to challenge you to pray. 00:31:15.459 --> 00:31:19.339 Now, we'll still have a chance to sing and respond, 00:31:19.659 --> 00:31:22.339 but I want to encourage all of us to pray. 00:31:22.899 --> 00:31:25.359 And here's the things that I want us to pray today. 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:31.139 I want us to pray and thank God for our salvation in the gospel. 00:31:31.959 --> 00:31:35.079 And also that we had a chance to hear the gospel. 00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:40.379 This will also be a time for you to respond to the gospel. 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:43.959 Maybe earlier when we were talking about the bad news, 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:45.399 worst news, good news, best news, 00:31:45.459 --> 00:31:49.059 maybe you realized, hey, that's something that I need to get right. 00:31:50.419 --> 00:31:52.459 That I don't have a testimony yet, 00:31:52.459 --> 00:31:55.219 but I need Jesus to give that to me. 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:58.639 This is a time for you to respond. 00:31:59.099 --> 00:31:59.759 Don't hesitate. 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.759 Don't wait. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:03.039 Move as God leads. 00:32:03.679 --> 00:32:05.379 But I also want you to pray 00:32:05.379 --> 00:32:08.519 and thank God for the Holy Spirit 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:10.079 who gives us power, 00:32:10.399 --> 00:32:11.379 who equips us, 00:32:11.679 --> 00:32:13.579 who we're reminded is going to be with us 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.979 wherever it is that we go. 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:21.120 But also I want you to pray for lost people 00:32:21.120 --> 00:32:23.420 and salvation is right here in our community. 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:26.319 I want to encourage you to commit to this daily. 00:32:27.120 --> 00:32:30.000 This isn't just something that we should do once in a while 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.779 when we're prompted to do, 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:34.360 but this should be a burden on our hearts 00:32:34.360 --> 00:32:38.579 to pray for the lostness right here in our community. 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:41.379 You know, it's often said, 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:43.039 but it still carries a lot of weight. 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:46.039 If God were to answer all of your prayers 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.919 that you've prayed over the past week, 00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:50.480 how many lost people would be saved? 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:56.099 So let's pray for those who are lost in our community. 00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:59.180 But I also want to encourage us to pray for God 00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:00.640 to work around the world in general, 00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:03.940 but specifically in our partnerships that we have. 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:06.120 If you go through the back here, 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:09.640 you'll see a list of people that we are committed to 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:12.759 that are our partners all over the world. 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:16.200 Yes, we want to come alongside them 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:18.160 and encourage them when we can. 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:20.759 Yes, we want to go and visit them 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:23.099 and serve alongside them when we can. 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:26.299 Yes, we want to give sacrificially and financially 00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:27.420 to them when we can, 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:31.339 but we also are going to commit to pray for them 00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:35.440 and pray for God to work and move in mighty ways. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.859 And then finally, I want you to pray this, 00:33:37.879 --> 00:33:38.779 and this is a hard one. 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:43.440 I want you to pray and genuinely ask, 00:33:44.139 --> 00:33:47.559 how can I be a part of this call to go? 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:52.200 And I want you to pray the even harder part of it. 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:55.660 How can I lead my family to go? 00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:59.299 Not only how can I be a part of this, 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:02.240 but Lord, prepare my heart, 00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:05.599 prepare my kids, my grandkids' heart 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:09.500 to be a part of the mission of God. 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.639 And so I want to encourage you now, 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:14.920 let's all stand together and let's pray. 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.039 Amen.