WEBVTT

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 Say something stupid. It just might happen. Acts chapter 16, we're starting at verse 6, page 925 in your pew Bibles, and we'll be reading to the end of the chapter.

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 All right.

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 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

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 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.

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 We remained in this city some days.

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 And on the Sabbath day, we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

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 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods who was a worshiper of God.

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 The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

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 And after she was baptized in her household as well, she urged us, saying,

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 If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.

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 And she prevailed upon us.

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 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.

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 She followed Paul and us, crying out,

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 These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.

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 And this she kept doing for many days.

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 Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit,

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 I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her.

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 And it came out that very hour.

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 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone,

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 they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

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 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said,

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 These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.

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 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.

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 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.

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 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison,

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 ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

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 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

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 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,

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 and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake,

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 so that the foundations of the prison were shaken.

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 And immediately all of the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

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 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open,

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 he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

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 But Paul cried with a loud voice,

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 Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.

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 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in,

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 and trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.

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 Then he brought them out and said,

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 Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

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 And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus,

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 and you will be saved, you and your household.

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 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

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 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds,

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 and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

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 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them,

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 and he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

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 But when it was day, the magistrate sent the police, saying,

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 Let those men go.

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 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying,

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 The magistrates have sent to let you go, therefore come out now and go in peace.

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 But Paul said to them,

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 They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens,

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 and have thrown us into prison, and do they now throw us out secretly?

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 No.

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 Let them come themselves and take us out.

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 The police reported these words to the magistrates,

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 and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens,

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 so they came and apologized to them,

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 and they took them out and asked them to leave the city.

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 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia.

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 And when they had seen the brothers,

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 they encouraged them and departed.

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 When I graduated from college,

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 I joined the staff of InterVarsity, a campus ministry,

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 and I was assigned to work half-time here in New Haven

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 and half-time at Wesleyan University in Middletown.

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 Now, if you're not familiar with Wesleyan,

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 Wesleyan is somewhere between a hippie commune,

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 an elite private college,

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 and a testing ground for unconventional ideas.

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 Students are quite intelligent and thoughtful.

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 At the same time, popular activities, at least among some students,

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 included protesting for all kinds of reasons,

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 throwing naked parties,

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 and smoking pot on the hill on 420.

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 Wesleyan had long since abandoned its Methodist heritage,

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 and it ranked at that time number one

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 on the U.S. News and World Report listings

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 for schools where students ignore God on a regular basis.

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 Occasionally, a Christian international student,

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 usually from somewhere in Southeast Asia or something,

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 would arrive on campus

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 under the impression that Wesleyan was a Christian university

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 because of its name.

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 Their misconceptions did not last long.

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 When I arrived,

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 the Christian fellowship was a group of about 25 students.

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 They met on Friday nights

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 in the basement of an administrative building.

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 In other words,

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 they met where no one would ever find them.

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 The administrators don't work on Friday nights,

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 and students don't go there.

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 Then they weren't intentionally trying to hide.

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 In fact, they really wanted to be engaged

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 with the broader campus.

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 And over time, the group did grow.

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 But they struggled with questions like this.

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 Does Christianity really belong here,

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 in a place like Wesleyan?

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 As a Christian,

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 can I be deeply committed to Jesus Christ

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 and deeply engaged in the life of my college?

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 What does that even look like?

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 Now, I wonder whether you've had similar questions yourself

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 in the place where you live or work or study.

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 Does Christianity have a place

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 in my research lab

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 where people assume that science

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 will one day explain everything?

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 Does Christianity have a place

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 in my suburban neighborhood

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 where everyone's life seems just perfect?

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 Does Christianity make a difference

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 to someone who has suffered,

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 who's been wounded a lot?

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 Is the Christian message really good news

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 for my happy pagan neighbors

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 or my committed Muslim and Hindu and Buddhist friends?

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 In an increasingly pluralistic society,

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 can a church that's committed to the authority of the Bible

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 and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ

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 truly flourish?

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 Or does Christianity really belong somewhere else?

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 If you're not a Christian,

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 perhaps you've wondered,

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 why would I think that Christianity

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 is good news for me?

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 You know, I sort of feel like

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 most Christians aren't like me.

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 Some parts of Christianity feel foreign.

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 Historical relics of a bygone era.

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 Well, this morning's text from the book of Acts

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 addresses exactly these questions.

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 What we see this morning in Acts 16

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 is the gospel of Jesus arriving,

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 taking root and growing

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 in the midst of a proud, pagan,

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 privileged and diverse city,

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 namely Philippi.

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 So far in the book of Acts,

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 we've seen the gospel of Jesus

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 expanding from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria

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 and more recently throughout Syria and Galatia,

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 which is modern Turkey.

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 I've included an outline of the book of Acts

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 in the center of your bulletin

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 that shows this progression.

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 We put it in about six weeks ago,

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 but we're at the beginning of a new section.

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 And there's also a map,

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 so you can see where some of the places are.

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 And in this new section,

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 the gospel of Jesus is proclaimed

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 for the first time in Eastern Europe.

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 It sort of crosses another barrier

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 into Macedonia and Greece.

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 Now, compared to other cities,

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 Luke's account of Paul's visit to Philippi

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 is unusually detailed,

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 indicating its special importance.

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 It's also a time when Luke was present with Paul.

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 Did you notice in verse 10,

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 the pronouns change from they to we

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 for most of the chapter?

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 Some scholars have even wondered

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 whether Philippi was Luke's hometown.

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 But regardless,

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 we'll see two main things this morning.

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 First, that Christianity belongs

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 in cities like Philippi.

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 And second, that Christianity flourishes

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 in cities like Philippi.

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 So first, Christianity belongs

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 in cities like Philippi.

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 We see this in verses 6 through 10.

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 In these verses, we see it's not an accident

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 that Paul and his companions

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 came to Philippi.

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 Rather, it was part of God's providential design.

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 Paul and his companions

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 were twice prevented by the Holy Spirit

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 from going to other places in verse 6 and verse 7.

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 But then finally in verse 9,

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 Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia

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 saying, come over and help us.

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 And they conclude,

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 God has called us to preach the gospel to them.

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 Now, you might wonder,

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 what exactly do we take away from this?

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 Is it possible for me

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 to have that kind of confidence

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 that God has specifically called me

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 to be here in New Haven

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 as his ambassador?

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 Should we seek out or wait for

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 this kind of direct supernatural divine guidance

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 before making major life decisions?

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 You know, I find that some Christians

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 are hesitant to accept a new job

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 or get married or move far away

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 without feeling some kind of supernatural guidance

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 or at least an unusual coincidence

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 that seems like confirmation.

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 Some Christian ministries

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 make a practice of not making

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 any new ministry initiatives

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 unless someone feels specifically led

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 by the Holy Spirit.

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 And so some people actually start each day

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 in listening prayer,

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 waiting for God to impress on someone's heart

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 what the group should do.

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 Now, while there is a value

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 to spending extended periods of time

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 with God in prayer

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 and surrendering and laying before him

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 our decisions and our questions

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 and our priorities,

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 it's actually not Paul's pattern

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 to wait for special supernatural guidance

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 before moving ahead.

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 That's not Paul's pattern here at all.

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 Paul's default mode was not

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 do nothing unless specifically directed

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 by the Holy Spirit.

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 Rather, his default was

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 actively obey the command

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 of Jesus Christ,

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 which has already been given to us.

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 In his case,

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 the command to go and make disciples

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 of all nations

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 and to trust that God would redirect

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 his path if necessary.

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 So chapter 15, verse 36,

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 Paul said to Barnabas,

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 let us return and visit the brothers

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 in every city where we proclaim

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 the word of the Lord

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 to see how they are.

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 There was no dream,

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 no vision,

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 no prophetic word,

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 just a thoughtful initiative

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 to care for fellow believers

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 in Jesus Christ.

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 You know, and there's much

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 that God has already called us to

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 in his word.

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 Most broadly,

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 to love the Lord your God

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 with all our heart

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 and soul and mind and strength,

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 to love our neighbors as ourselves,

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 to do anything that fits

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 under those two headings,

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 broadly speaking.

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 More specifically,

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 seek first the kingdom of God

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 or work in order to earn

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 our daily bread

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 and to share with those in need.

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 Love and support and encourage

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 our fellow believers.

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 Pay our bills and taxes

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 and honor the authorities,

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 to do good to all

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 as we have opportunity

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 to live at peace with all

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 as far as it depends on us

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 and to bear witness

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 to the gospel of Jesus Christ

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 in season and out of season.

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 These are just a few

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 of the exhortations

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 that are broadly given

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 to Christians in the New Testament.

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 from Jesus and the apostles.

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 And so, you know,

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 the God of the Bible

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 is not like a GPS.

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 You know, I find GPS

00:12:26.540 --> 00:12:27.680
 is actually quite annoying.

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 I mean, you know,

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 it tells you in an annoying voice

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 every time you need to turn right

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 or turn left

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 or the road is changing name

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 and you need to keep going straight.

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 But really, a GPS

00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:42.019
 is for someone

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 who lacks a clear sense of direction.

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 Now, you know,

00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:47.740
 some of us do lack

00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.600
 a clear sense of direction

00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:49.799
 and a GPS is a blessing.

00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:53.200
 But God is far better

00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:55.080
 than a mechanical device.

00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.399
 God is our Father in heaven.

00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.899
 And what He wants to do

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.139
 is not tell us

00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:02.000
 in an annoying voice,

00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:03.039
 go left, go right,

00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:03.899
 go straight.

00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:07.139
 But He wants to reveal

00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:08.840
 our ultimate destination.

00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.080
 And He has.

00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:11.940
 That we be conformed

00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:12.440
 to the image

00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:13.580
 of Jesus Christ, His Son.

00:13:14.420 --> 00:13:15.200
 And on the way

00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:16.080
 to that destination,

00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:17.600
 He desires that we walk

00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.180
 in the wisdom

00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:19.120
 that He's given us.

00:13:19.140 --> 00:13:19.560
 In other words,

00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:20.820
 He's sort of shown us

00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:21.720
 the lay of the land,

00:13:22.260 --> 00:13:23.000
 the big picture,

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.300
 and calls us

00:13:24.300 --> 00:13:25.320
 to use our wisdom

00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:27.700
 in making choices

00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:29.200
 to pursue

00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:31.160
 that long-term goal.

00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:34.960
 So has God called you

00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:35.740
 to be His ambassador

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:36.420
 here in New Haven?

00:13:36.520 --> 00:13:37.620
 I think you can be confident,

00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:38.180
 yes,

00:13:38.900 --> 00:13:39.980
 as long as you are here

00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:41.659
 and as you seek to walk

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.159
 in obedience

00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:43.000
 to His commands.

00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:44.700
 You can be confident

00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:45.740
 that He has put you here

00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:46.639
 for a reason.

00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:49.000
 And if He sees fit to do so,

00:13:49.060 --> 00:13:49.899
 He can redirect you.

00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:52.259
 Now it's interesting,

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:53.060
 we don't know exactly

00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:54.860
 how the Holy Spirit

00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.080
 redirected Paul.

00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:58.200
 Was it a prophetic word?

00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:58.980
 Was it a strong

00:13:58.980 --> 00:13:59.779
 internal conviction?

00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:00.759
 Was it a circumstance

00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:01.620
 that made it simply

00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:02.779
 impossible to proceed?

00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.460
 I don't think

00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.039
 we can be sure,

00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:05.700
 but the redirect

00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:06.860
 was clear enough.

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:09.360
 There does seem

00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:09.779
 to have been

00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:11.019
 a period of some uncertainty.

00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.580
 First God says no

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.639
 to preaching in Asia.

00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:15.659
 That was to the west

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:16.600
 if you look at the map.

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:18.480
 Then they try to go north

00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:19.259
 into Bithynia

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:21.240
 and there's no there.

00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:22.519
 And then only after

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.680
 trekking through the mountains,

00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.360
 people can't even figure out

00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.240
 what roads they took

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.980
 because there weren't

00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.560
 good roads

00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.139
 through the mountains.

00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:29.080
 They were sort of going

00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.980
 through the middle of nowhere

00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:32.840
 for two or three hundred miles

00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:34.139
 all the way to Troas.

00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:35.200
 Only once they get

00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.020
 to Troas,

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.920
 does the way forward

00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:38.680
 become clear?

00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:41.259
 And sometimes,

00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:42.140
 maybe you can identify

00:14:42.140 --> 00:14:42.560
 with this,

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.560
 sometimes there are seasons

00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:44.820
 where God seems to say

00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:46.240
 no to one thing

00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:48.040
 and no to another

00:14:48.040 --> 00:14:50.660
 and we wonder

00:14:50.660 --> 00:14:51.460
 what God's up to.

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.660
 And sometimes all we can do

00:14:53.660 --> 00:14:54.280
 is keep going

00:14:54.280 --> 00:14:55.220
 in the one direction

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.360
 that's not completely

00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.560
 closed off to us.

00:14:59.640 --> 00:15:00.560
 But the encouragement

00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:01.280
 from this passage

00:15:01.280 --> 00:15:02.379
 is that God's hindrances

00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:04.160
 are not in vain.

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.500
 By hindering them

00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:07.540
 from preaching in Asia,

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.200
 Asia Minor,

00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:09.900
 the Roman province,

00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:11.120
 and by hindering them

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:12.220
 from going into Bithynia,

00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:13.180
 the Holy Spirit

00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:15.140
 launched them across the sea

00:15:15.140 --> 00:15:16.600
 into a whole new region

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.220
 and brought them

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:18.980
 all the way to Philippi.

00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:21.340
 So we see that

00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:22.280
 in God's providence,

00:15:23.020 --> 00:15:23.920
 Christianity belongs

00:15:23.920 --> 00:15:25.360
 in cities like Philippi,

00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:26.020
 but we also see

00:15:26.020 --> 00:15:27.280
 that Christianity flourishes

00:15:27.280 --> 00:15:29.220
 in cities like Philippi.

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:31.480
 And this is the major theme

00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.259
 in the passage.

00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:34.299
 Now, as I said earlier,

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:36.340
 Philippi was a proud city.

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:37.879
 Verse 12,

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.139
 it was a leading city

00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:40.899
 of the district of Macedonia.

00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:43.319
 It was also a privileged city.

00:15:43.939 --> 00:15:44.980
 As a Roman colony,

00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:46.539
 its citizens enjoyed

00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:47.860
 special benefits,

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:48.779
 special perks.

00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.340
 Its economy had also been boosted

00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.679
 by nearby gold mines,

00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:54.259
 so it was prosperous.

00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.340
 It was also a diverse city.

00:15:56.819 --> 00:15:57.539
 It was located

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:59.299
 on the main east-west road

00:15:59.299 --> 00:16:01.359
 called the Via Ignatia,

00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:03.419
 and Philippi attracted

00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:04.659
 a wide range of people,

00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:05.740
 including a large number

00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.819
 of military veterans

00:16:06.819 --> 00:16:07.799
 from the Roman army.

00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.279
 So it was proud,

00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:09.979
 it was privileged,

00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:10.679
 it was diverse,

00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:12.199
 it was also pagan.

00:16:13.459 --> 00:16:14.599
 Most people in Philippi

00:16:14.599 --> 00:16:15.979
 had no background

00:16:15.979 --> 00:16:17.099
 in the Bible.

00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.819
 There was no Jewish synagogue

00:16:19.819 --> 00:16:20.699
 inside the city.

00:16:20.819 --> 00:16:21.839
 There was only a small group

00:16:21.839 --> 00:16:23.359
 of women who gathered

00:16:23.359 --> 00:16:24.620
 outside the city gate

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.919
 by the river

00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:27.219
 to pray on the Sabbath.

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.600
 So biblical faith

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:31.580
 was seen as a foreign religion,

00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.060
 as something not to be trusted,

00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:35.019
 as something that was

00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:36.279
 not included

00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:37.740
 within the city limits.

00:16:38.800 --> 00:16:39.420
 And in fact,

00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:40.100
 that's a substance

00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:41.200
 of the accusation

00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:42.639
 that's made against Paul

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.779
 in verse 20 and 21.

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:45.759
 What do they say?

00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:47.279
 These men are Jews.

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.639
 They're disturbing our city.

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.639
 They advocate customs

00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:52.860
 that are not lawful

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:54.060
 for us Romans

00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:55.379
 to accept or practice.

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.060
 In other words,

00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:56.559
 they're saying,

00:16:56.859 --> 00:16:58.019
 you guys don't belong here,

00:16:58.099 --> 00:16:59.239
 go back where you came from.

00:17:00.699 --> 00:17:02.119
 But what Luke wants us to see

00:17:02.119 --> 00:17:04.019
 is that this accusation

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.220
 is completely unfair

00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:07.359
 and completely baseless.

00:17:08.379 --> 00:17:09.740
 That Christianity belongs

00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.419
 and flourishes

00:17:10.419 --> 00:17:11.519
 not just in Jerusalem,

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.299
 the historic center

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.279
 of biblical faith,

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.079
 not only among Jews

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.940
 in the diaspora,

00:17:17.379 --> 00:17:18.519
 where there was a large number

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.899
 of people who had moved

00:17:19.899 --> 00:17:20.679
 from Jerusalem,

00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.319
 enough to form a synagogue,

00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:25.000
 but also in a proud,

00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:25.659
 privileged,

00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:27.259
 pagan city like Philippi.

00:17:28.659 --> 00:17:29.859
 And that Paul himself,

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.700
 Paul himself was

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.759
 a faithful Jew

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.500
 who believed

00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.359
 in the God of Abraham,

00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.279
 Isaac, and Jacob.

00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:35.819
 But he was also

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.599
 a Roman citizen

00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:38.899
 who sought

00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:40.079
 the good

00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:42.679
 of the Roman cities.

00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:44.159
 Now what we see

00:17:44.159 --> 00:17:45.339
 in Luke's detailed account

00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.740
 is that the gospel

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.619
 of Jesus took root

00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.659
 among all kinds

00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:49.119
 of people

00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.399
 in Philippi.

00:17:50.479 --> 00:17:51.439
 People from across

00:17:51.439 --> 00:17:52.359
 the social spectrum.

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.739
 People from all kinds

00:17:53.739 --> 00:17:54.579
 of different backgrounds.

00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.419
 And in particular,

00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.339
 Luke introduces us

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.239
 to three people,

00:17:58.939 --> 00:18:00.359
 three very different people

00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:01.719
 in whom the gospel

00:18:01.719 --> 00:18:02.659
 of Jesus took root

00:18:02.659 --> 00:18:04.359
 to make this point

00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:04.879
 that the gospel

00:18:04.879 --> 00:18:06.239
 of Jesus flourishes

00:18:06.239 --> 00:18:08.639
 in cities like Philippi.

00:18:08.719 --> 00:18:09.099
 So first,

00:18:09.179 --> 00:18:09.539
 we're introduced

00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.000
 to Lydia,

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:12.579
 verse 14 and 15.

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.739
 Lydia was a successful

00:18:14.739 --> 00:18:16.619
 independent businesswoman,

00:18:17.459 --> 00:18:18.679
 a seller of purple goods,

00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:20.239
 that meant she would

00:18:20.239 --> 00:18:20.879
 have been catering

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:22.039
 to high-end clients.

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.119
 Purple clothes

00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:24.459
 signified wealth

00:18:24.459 --> 00:18:25.179
 and royalty.

00:18:25.979 --> 00:18:26.919
 She had a house

00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:28.319
 and a household.

00:18:29.459 --> 00:18:30.759
 But while she was successful,

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:32.119
 she was also,

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:32.939
 in some ways,

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.839
 an outsider in Philippi.

00:18:35.419 --> 00:18:36.299
 She was a foreigner.

00:18:37.159 --> 00:18:38.259
 She herself was from

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:39.319
 the city of Thyatira.

00:18:40.419 --> 00:18:41.199
 Now, I think it's

00:18:41.199 --> 00:18:41.899
 quite interesting

00:18:41.899 --> 00:18:43.939
 that her hometown

00:18:43.939 --> 00:18:45.659
 was smack in the middle

00:18:45.659 --> 00:18:46.839
 of, guess where,

00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:47.979
 the Roman province

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.460
 of Asia,

00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.180
 the exact place

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:50.960
 where the Holy Spirit

00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:52.140
 had just hindered,

00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:53.519
 prevented Paul from going.

00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.640
 Because, perhaps,

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.360
 because he didn't want him

00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:57.259
 to stay there,

00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:58.160
 he wanted him to go further.

00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.480
 And yet,

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.220
 in his sovereignty,

00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:01.200
 God prevented Paul

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:01.759
 from preaching

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.099
 in the Roman province

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:03.559
 of Asia,

00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:04.339
 but then led him

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:04.799
 to a woman

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.099
 from that very province

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:07.360
 just in the city

00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:07.940
 of Philippi.

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.759
 Perhaps on her next

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.900
 business trip home,

00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:12.539
 she also brought with her

00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:14.539
 the good news of Christ.

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:18.139
 But verse 14 tells us

00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:20.259
 Lydia was not only

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:20.659
 a foreigner,

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.240
 she was also

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.480
 a worshiper of God.

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:24.519
 And that was a term

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:26.539
 used for Gentiles

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.899
 who had rejected

00:19:27.899 --> 00:19:29.539
 pagan polytheism,

00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:31.859
 who had become

00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:33.180
 very interested in

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.819
 the one God

00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.759
 revealed in the Bible,

00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:38.420
 who had started attending

00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:41.279
 Sabbath prayer services,

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.000
 joining with

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.620
 the Jewish community

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.279
 that read from

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:44.940
 the Old Testament,

00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:47.580
 but hadn't formally

00:19:47.580 --> 00:19:49.140
 converted to Judaism.

00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:50.480
 She hadn't yet been

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.980
 received into

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.740
 the covenant family

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.160
 of God.

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:57.700
 And in verse 14 and 15,

00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.759
 we see three ways

00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.600
 that the gospel

00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:00.580
 took root in Lydia.

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:03.240
 This successful

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.140
 businesswoman

00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:05.140
 who was yet,

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.220
 in some ways,

00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:06.779
 an outsider.

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:08.200
 So first,

00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:08.779
 she listened

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.899
 to God's word.

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.779
 Verse 14 says,

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.980
 the Lord opened her heart

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:13.220
 to pay attention

00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:13.980
 to what was said

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.960
 by Paul.

00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:16.660
 Her attention

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.240
 was gripped.

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.639
 Her mind

00:20:18.639 --> 00:20:19.299
 was persuaded.

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:19.899
 Her heart

00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:21.339
 was strangely warmed.

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.460
 And she said,

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:22.839
 yes,

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:24.399
 this is what

00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:25.460
 I have been searching for.

00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:26.920
 This God

00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:28.000
 who came in

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.720
 Jesus Christ,

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:29.619
 who has sent

00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.359
 his Holy Spirit,

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.399
 he's the one

00:20:32.399 --> 00:20:32.740
 who has been

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.700
 searching for me.

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.440
 So,

00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.920
 she was baptized.

00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.120
 She didn't hold back.

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.039
 She took the plunge.

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.140
 Not only her,

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.340
 but her household as well.

00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:43.660
 And third,

00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.740
 she started treating

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.480
 other Christians

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.539
 like family.

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.640
 God had opened her heart,

00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:50.460
 so she opened her home.

00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.120
 Through Jesus,

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.259
 God had included her

00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:54.100
 in his family,

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.320
 so she included others

00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:56.080
 in hers.

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.180
 One commentator said,

00:20:58.320 --> 00:20:59.140
 Lydia's generosity

00:20:59.140 --> 00:20:59.860
 of spirit

00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:01.960
 showed the genuineness

00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.700
 of her faith.

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:04.100
 You know,

00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:05.019
 it's no small thing

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:07.080
 to invite four grown men,

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.519
 Paul,

00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.039
 Silas,

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:08.420
 Timothy,

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:08.960
 and Luke,

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:10.019
 into your home

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:11.200
 on an indefinite basis.

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.240
 And,

00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:15.480
 you know,

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:15.980
 one of the ways

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.580
 you can tell

00:21:16.580 --> 00:21:18.120
 when someone genuinely

00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:18.960
 becomes a Christian

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.740
 is that their attitude

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.559
 toward family

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.539
 and toward possessions

00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:24.240
 dramatically changes.

00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:26.200
 Family is no longer

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.819
 just blood relatives.

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.340
 Family is also,

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:31.679
 in an even more

00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:32.459
 enduring sense,

00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.319
 brothers and sisters

00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.000
 in Christ,

00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:35.240
 in the family of God.

00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:36.459
 And possessions

00:21:36.459 --> 00:21:37.339
 are no longer

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.559
 things to grasp onto

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:40.119
 and take pride in.

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.339
 They become resources

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.639
 to be used creatively

00:21:42.639 --> 00:21:44.019
 by God,

00:21:44.459 --> 00:21:45.379
 used creatively

00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:46.980
 to advance God's purposes

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.720
 and to serve

00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:48.359
 other people.

00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:50.679
 And so we see

00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:51.679
 that happening

00:21:51.679 --> 00:21:52.259
 right away

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.339
 in Lydia.

00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.459
 At the end

00:21:55.459 --> 00:21:56.019
 of the chapter,

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.119
 it seems that

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.839
 Lydia's house

00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.799
 becomes the gathering place

00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.799
 for the Christian community

00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.419
 in Philippi.

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.439
 And Lydia's generosity

00:22:03.439 --> 00:22:05.319
 left an enduring legacy

00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.699
 in the Philippian church.

00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:07.779
 You know,

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.740
 the church in Philippi

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:10.119
 became well known

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:12.299
 for its sacrificial generosity.

00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:14.059
 Paul writes

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.779
 in his letter

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.480
 to the Philippians,

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:15.919
 he says,

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:16.779
 in the beginning

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.399
 of the gospel

00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:19.000
 when I left Macedonia,

00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.599
 no church entered

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.259
 into partnership

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.679
 with me

00:22:21.679 --> 00:22:22.639
 in giving and receiving

00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:23.639
 except you only.

00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.000
 He says,

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:24.980
 you sent me help

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.720
 for my needs

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:27.059
 time and again.

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:29.399
 Philippians 4,

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.740
 he writes that.

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:33.359
 And so this generosity

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:35.919
 fueled by

00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:36.439
 the gospel

00:22:36.439 --> 00:22:37.299
 of Jesus Christ

00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:38.500
 became a defining

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:40.039
 mark of this church.

00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:41.939
 So that's Lydia,

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:43.039
 the first person

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.679
 who is affected

00:22:43.679 --> 00:22:44.699
 by the gospel

00:22:44.699 --> 00:22:45.119
 of Jesus.

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.099
 But we also see

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:47.519
 another person

00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.720
 in verse 16

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.179
 through 18,

00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.220
 we see a slave girl.

00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.519
 Now this slave girl

00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.339
 was almost

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.359
 the exact opposite

00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.119
 of Lydia,

00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.339
 socially speaking.

00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:58.039
 Lydia was an independent

00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.819
 business owner.

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.179
 She was a head

00:23:00.179 --> 00:23:00.859
 of her household.

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.500
 This girl

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:04.419
 was absolutely dependent.

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.919
 She owned nothing.

00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.519
 She was a slave.

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.980
 She was at the mercy

00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.599
 of her owners

00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.559
 who exploited her

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.639
 for financial gain.

00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:14.559
 Lydia was a worshiper

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.659
 of the one true God.

00:23:16.679 --> 00:23:18.419
 This girl was deeply entrenched

00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:20.399
 in pagan practices.

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.139
 She had a spirit

00:23:22.139 --> 00:23:22.759
 of divination,

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.039
 was engaged

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.919
 in fortune telling.

00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:26.440
 The same word

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:26.840
 was used

00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.440
 to describe

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.180
 the priestesses

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.279
 in the temple

00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:29.860
 of Apollo

00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.519
 at Delphi

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:32.060
 who would allegedly

00:23:32.060 --> 00:23:32.640
 be thrown

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.420
 into a frenzy

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:34.500
 and then supposedly

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.480
 have special insight

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.220
 into the future.

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.320
 Lydia listened

00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:39.779
 attentively

00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.740
 to Paul's words.

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:41.980
 This girl

00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.160
 followed Paul around,

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.200
 interrupting him

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.000
 day after day,

00:23:45.320 --> 00:23:45.880
 crying out,

00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.820
 these men are servants

00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.860
 of the Most High God

00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:48.700
 who proclaim to you

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.560
 a way of salvation.

00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:52.360
 Now in one sense,

00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.500
 what she said

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.220
 sounds true.

00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:56.900
 Paul was a servant

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.960
 of the Most High God.

00:23:58.880 --> 00:23:59.400
 But you know,

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.700
 most people in Philippi,

00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.220
 if they heard that,

00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:03.620
 he's a servant

00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.600
 of the Most High God,

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.220
 you know who they

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:06.000
 would have thought of?

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.120
 They would have thought

00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:07.620
 of Zeus,

00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:09.620
 one of the greatest

00:24:09.620 --> 00:24:10.660
 of the Greek gods,

00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:12.680
 not of Yahweh,

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.559
 the God of the Bible.

00:24:14.860 --> 00:24:17.400
 And Paul was proclaiming

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:19.220
 the way of salvation.

00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.019
 Actually,

00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.000
 it's a little more

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.160
 ambiguous in the Greek.

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:22.759
 It says,

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:23.740
 not,

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:25.359
 it literally just says,

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.559
 who proclaim to you

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.759
 way of salvation.

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.200
 So it could be

00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:30.059
 the way of salvation,

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.660
 but it could be

00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:32.059
 just a way of salvation.

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:34.119
 And that word salvation

00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:35.960
 had a very broad meaning.

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.819
 It could have simply,

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.579
 sometimes it was used

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:40.900
 simply to mean health

00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:42.059
 or well-being.

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.220
 So some people

00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.880
 might have thought,

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:44.759
 huh,

00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:46.839
 Paul's giving us

00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:47.819
 some new advice

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.159
 about how to be healthy,

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.059
 how to live a better life,

00:24:51.879 --> 00:24:53.460
 a new way of living.

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.579
 So verse 18 says,

00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.919
 eventually Paul became annoyed.

00:24:59.939 --> 00:25:01.399
 And I don't think that means

00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:03.019
 he just got really impatient.

00:25:03.939 --> 00:25:04.960
 It's more like Paul

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.740
 was indignant,

00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.359
 deeply troubled,

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:10.159
 like Jesus was at times

00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:10.960
 in the Gospels.

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:14.039
 This girl's loud declarations

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:15.059
 were misleading

00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:15.980
 and distracting.

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:18.220
 But Paul, I think,

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:19.019
 was also troubled

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.099
 by seeing the bondage

00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:20.799
 that she was in.

00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:23.440
 The bondage to her owners

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.900
 who were exploiting her.

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.400
 The bondage to the evil spirit

00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.059
 who controlled her.

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.559
 And so he turned

00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:30.279
 and said to the spirit,

00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:30.980
 I command you

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.980
 in the name of Jesus Christ

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.740
 to come out of her.

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:35.500
 And after years of enslavement,

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.620
 this girl was finally free.

00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:41.000
 You know,

00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:43.360
 in every privileged,

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.240
 prosperous city,

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:47.539
 there's a dark underside.

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:49.700
 Prostitution,

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.440
 slavery,

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.259
 drug addiction,

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:55.359
 physical abuse,

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:56.920
 self-harm,

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.980
 bondage to evil spirits,

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:01.620
 all kinds of things.

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:02.799
 And you know,

00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:03.640
 the Christian Gospel

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.620
 is good news

00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:06.500
 for all who are lost,

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.980
 for all who are enslaved,

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:09.140
 for all who are exploited.

00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.720
 Jesus Christ has come

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.580
 to set the captives free.

00:26:15.580 --> 00:26:16.020
 You know,

00:26:16.040 --> 00:26:17.060
 we don't hear what happened,

00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.660
 the rest of what happened

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.320
 to the slave girl,

00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:20.040
 because her owners

00:26:20.040 --> 00:26:21.660
 were immediately furious.

00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:23.360
 They stirred up a riot,

00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:25.300
 had Paul and Silas beaten

00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:26.640
 and thrown in prison.

00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:29.820
 The slave girl was set free,

00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:31.700
 but Paul and Silas

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.460
 paid the price.

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.340
 They were imprisoned.

00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:37.939
 And yet,

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.699
 even in the prison,

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:40.519
 the Gospel of Jesus

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.439
 flourished.

00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.539
 Verse 25,

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.139
 Paul and Silas

00:26:44.139 --> 00:26:44.639
 were praying

00:26:44.639 --> 00:26:46.459
 and singing hymns

00:26:46.459 --> 00:26:47.259
 to God at midnight.

00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:48.799
 The other prisoners

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.359
 were listening.

00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:55.299
 What a picture of joy

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:56.879
 in the midst of opposition.

00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.479
 Later on,

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.439
 during another imprisonment,

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.159
 Paul would write

00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:02.179
 in his letter

00:27:02.179 --> 00:27:02.859
 to the Philippians,

00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:03.219
 he said,

00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.359
 what has happened to me

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:05.899
 has really served

00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:06.859
 to advance the Gospel.

00:27:07.719 --> 00:27:08.439
 Because he says,

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.399
 now everyone knows

00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:10.459
 that my imprisonment

00:27:10.459 --> 00:27:11.599
 is for Christ.

00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:13.219
 And he says,

00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:13.679
 as a result,

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.719
 most of the brothers

00:27:14.719 --> 00:27:15.159
 and sisters

00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:16.299
 are much more bold

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:17.699
 to speak the Word of God

00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:18.379
 without fear.

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.459
 So Paul's writing

00:27:20.459 --> 00:27:20.959
 from prison

00:27:20.959 --> 00:27:21.379
 and he says,

00:27:21.439 --> 00:27:21.579
 you know,

00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:22.719
 the fact that I'm in prison,

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:26.119
 God's actually using this

00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:28.500
 for the good of his kingdom,

00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:30.339
 for the good news

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.359
 of Jesus to go forth.

00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.639
 So the Gospel of Jesus

00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:35.399
 speaks to Lydia

00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:37.679
 and opens her,

00:27:37.959 --> 00:27:39.279
 her heart is opened.

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:42.379
 The slave girl is liberated

00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:43.119
 and third,

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:45.079
 we meet a jailer.

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:47.579
 Verse 25 through 34,

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.599
 now compared to Lydia

00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.519
 and the slave girl,

00:27:49.919 --> 00:27:50.740
 the jailer would have been

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.699
 somewhere in between

00:27:51.699 --> 00:27:53.079
 on the social ladder.

00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.859
 He worked for the state.

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.859
 Perhaps like many others

00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.379
 in Philippi,

00:27:57.459 --> 00:27:58.559
 he was an army veteran.

00:27:59.579 --> 00:27:59.980
 Regardless,

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:01.480
 as a corrections officer,

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.819
 we can assume

00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.659
 he was a tough guy.

00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:06.519
 He saw human beings

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.199
 at their worst

00:28:07.199 --> 00:28:08.559
 and every day

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.699
 he had to lock people up.

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.939
 But what we see

00:28:11.939 --> 00:28:13.559
 is that God broke through,

00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:17.000
 even to this hardened jailer.

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:18.960
 First,

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:20.399
 God displayed his majesty

00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:21.779
 by sending

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:23.359
 a powerful earthquake.

00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:24.799
 Earthquakes happened

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:26.159
 occasionally in that area

00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:27.399
 and people often

00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:28.220
 interpreted them

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.179
 as a sign of coming

00:28:29.179 --> 00:28:30.579
 divine judgment.

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.399
 The jailer's initial instinct

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.639
 was to take his own life.

00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:35.740
 Because if his prisoners

00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.359
 had escaped,

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.299
 he was liable

00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.940
 to the same punishment

00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:40.059
 that they would have

00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:41.000
 all received.

00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:43.819
 And who knows,

00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:44.500
 some of them may

00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.879
 have been,

00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:48.000
 it's possible

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.500
 that he would have

00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.059
 been executed.

00:28:50.899 --> 00:28:51.460
 But you know,

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.519
 God didn't just display

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.240
 his majesty

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.539
 to the jailer

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:56.440
 in this powerful earthquake

00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:59.619
 that opened all the doors

00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.099
 of the prison.

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.879
 God also displayed

00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:02.319
 his mercy.

00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:05.099
 Verse 28,

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:06.839
 Paul cried

00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.500
 with a loud voice,

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.379
 don't harm yourself.

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.740
 We are all here.

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:12.259
 And interestingly,

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:14.119
 the result was

00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:15.980
 he was even more afraid.

00:29:17.339 --> 00:29:18.259
 Trembling with fear,

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:18.639
 it says,

00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.339
 he fell down

00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:20.379
 before Paul and Silas.

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.960
 You could have escaped,

00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.159
 but you didn't.

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:25.299
 You've saved my life.

00:29:25.419 --> 00:29:26.059
 Why in the world

00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:26.980
 would you do that

00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.759
 for me?

00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.659
 Sirs,

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:31.579
 what must I do

00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.299
 to be saved?

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.819
 What must I do

00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.440
 to be rescued

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.579
 from the judgment

00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.240
 of this God

00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.039
 who sent the earthquake?

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:38.759
 What must I do

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.259
 to receive

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.259
 this saving mercy

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.799
 that you have

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.920
 extended to me?

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.960
 And Paul and Silas

00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.180
 said,

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:45.740
 verse 31,

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.819
 believe in the Lord Jesus

00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:48.879
 and you will be saved.

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.579
 You and your household.

00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.799
 It's that simple.

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:54.559
 You see,

00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.440
 the Bible speaks

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:57.920
 of a majestic God,

00:29:58.599 --> 00:30:00.319
 a holy and righteous God

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:00.940
 who will one day

00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.799
 judge the world.

00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:02.660
 It says,

00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.360
 no creature

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:04.060
 is hidden

00:30:04.060 --> 00:30:04.860
 from his sight,

00:30:05.600 --> 00:30:07.140
 but all are exposed

00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.700
 to the eyes of him

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:10.040
 to whom we must

00:30:10.040 --> 00:30:10.600
 give account.

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.259
 But the Bible

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:13.860
 also speaks

00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:14.860
 of a merciful Savior,

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.740
 Jesus Christ,

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.779
 who willingly shared

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.640
 in our own flesh

00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.080
 and blood,

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.960
 who endured

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.880
 God's judgment

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.920
 on our behalf

00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:24.720
 so that we might live

00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.880
 by believing in him,

00:30:26.560 --> 00:30:28.519
 by trusting his work

00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:30.040
 on our behalf.

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:33.399
 And the circumstances

00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:35.480
 of the jailer's conversion

00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.639
 and of Lydia's conversion

00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.299
 were as different

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.099
 as they could be.

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:40.460
 God opened Lydia's heart

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:42.359
 on a peaceful Saturday

00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:42.960
 afternoon

00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:43.899
 by a riverside

00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:44.700
 while she was listening

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.539
 to Paul speak.

00:30:46.879 --> 00:30:48.319
 God saved the jailer

00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:49.799
 after rudely awakening him

00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:50.619
 in the middle of the night

00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:51.740
 and barely preventing him

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.639
 from killing himself.

00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:55.039
 But the results

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.619
 were the same.

00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.599
 Do you see

00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.879
 these same three results?

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:01.859
 of the gospel

00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.920
 coming to Lydia's heart

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:04.139
 are expressed

00:31:04.139 --> 00:31:04.779
 by the jailer.

00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:05.240
 Like Lydia,

00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:06.799
 he listened attentively

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.619
 to God's word.

00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.319
 Verse 32.

00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.259
 Like Lydia,

00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:11.119
 he and his household

00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:11.839
 believed

00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.960
 and were baptized.

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.559
 Verse 33.

00:31:15.659 --> 00:31:16.299
 And like Lydia,

00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:17.759
 he immediately treated

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.980
 his brothers in Christ

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.159
 like family.

00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.480
 Verse 34.

00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:23.700
 He washed their wounds,

00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:24.940
 he brought them

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.720
 into his house,

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.259
 he fed them a meal.

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:30.200
 not typical behavior

00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:31.519
 for a corrections officer

00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.920
 then or now

00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:34.460
 to do with his inmates.

00:31:35.579 --> 00:31:36.319
 Now it would be

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:37.220
 absolutely prohibited

00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.559
 by the law.

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:42.099
 But do you see

00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:42.759
 how the gospel

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:44.859
 transforms people's lives?

00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:47.019
 Makes us attentive

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.619
 to his word,

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.279
 makes us committed

00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:48.879
 to his people,

00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:50.279
 makes us loving each other

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:50.819
 like family.

00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:51.920
 Have you experienced

00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.579
 this transforming power

00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.180
 of the gospel

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:55.420
 in your life?

00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:58.560
 Verse 34 says,

00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:00.500
 the jailer rejoiced

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:03.140
 along with his entire

00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:03.620
 household

00:32:03.620 --> 00:32:05.180
 that he had believed

00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:05.800
 in God.

00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:07.920
 You know,

00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:08.279
 I don't know

00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:09.039
 what your experience

00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:09.580
 is like here

00:32:09.580 --> 00:32:10.039
 in New Haven,

00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:12.100
 but I don't find

00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:12.480
 New Haven

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.560
 to be a particularly

00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:14.880
 joyful place.

00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.620
 Many people

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:17.960
 in New Haven

00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:18.480
 are busy,

00:32:19.640 --> 00:32:19.960
 driven,

00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.300
 and ambitious.

00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:23.820
 Others are bored,

00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:25.759
 weary of life,

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.679
 seeking pleasure

00:32:27.679 --> 00:32:29.339
 in order to fill

00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:30.439
 a deep emptiness.

00:32:32.159 --> 00:32:32.460
 But you know,

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.859
 the gospel of Jesus Christ

00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:36.259
 creates a community

00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:38.500
 characterized by joy.

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.980
 Deep and lasting joy

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.740
 that penetrates

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.359
 the heart of even

00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:43.399
 the most cynical,

00:32:43.939 --> 00:32:44.439
 hardened,

00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:46.500
 world-weary people.

00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:48.980
 And this was the witness

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.500
 of the church

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.180
 at Philippi,

00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:52.059
 beginning with the jailer

00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:52.759
 and his family.

00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:53.819
 The theme of joy

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:55.460
 appears over and over

00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.960
 in Paul's letter

00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.920
 to the Philippians.

00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:00.299
 I make my prayer

00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:01.140
 for you with joy.

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:02.799
 He says,

00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:03.779
 my brothers and sisters

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.380
 whom I love

00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:04.980
 and long for,

00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:06.359
 you are my joy

00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:07.019
 and crown.

00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:09.960
 And he reminds them,

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:10.579
 rejoice.

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.700
 Rejoice in the Lord

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.299
 always.

00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:15.339
 And again I say,

00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:16.819
 rejoice.

00:33:19.419 --> 00:33:20.359
 Brothers and sisters,

00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.419
 this is what

00:33:21.419 --> 00:33:24.740
 the gospel has called us

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.559
 to here in New Haven.

00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:27.559
 To be a community

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.839
 of people who find joy

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:30.259
 in the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:33.000
 Not in our circumstances,

00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:35.039
 not simply in pleasure,

00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:37.000
 not simply in

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.460
 always smiling

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.059
 and pretending,

00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:41.799
 but enduring joy

00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:42.680
 of knowing that

00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:43.960
 God is for us,

00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:45.879
 that Christ has died for us,

00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:47.419
 that his spirit is with us,

00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.619
 and that he will come again

00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:49.619
 in glory one day.

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:52.500
 This is what the gospel does.

00:33:53.919 --> 00:33:54.619
 In a proud,

00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.200
 privileged,

00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.000
 pagan city,

00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:56.980
 the gospel of Jesus

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:58.279
 opens the heart

00:33:58.279 --> 00:34:00.339
 of a successful businesswoman,

00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.159
 sets free

00:34:01.159 --> 00:34:02.440
 an oppressed slave girl,

00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.359
 and brings joy

00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:04.039
 to a hardened

00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:05.460
 corrections officer,

00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:06.200
 and it brings them

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.819
 all together

00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.519
 in the family

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.619
 of God.

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:12.019
 One commentator

00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.159
 put it like this.

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:13.460
 He says,

00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.900
 what we see in this chapter

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:16.500
 is that the gospel triumphs

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:18.359
 in the Jewish meeting place

00:34:18.359 --> 00:34:19.159
 outside the walls

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.659
 of the city,

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:21.980
 and in the Roman stronghold,

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.940
 inside the city,

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.119
 even inside the prison.

00:34:24.359 --> 00:34:25.279
 It triumphs over

00:34:25.279 --> 00:34:26.259
 magistrates

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:27.079
 and their jails,

00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:27.880
 and it triumphs

00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.539
 over demons.

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:30.159
 Luke shows

00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:30.759
 that the gospel

00:34:30.759 --> 00:34:31.579
 and its followers

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:32.599
 can exist

00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:34.139
 within the place

00:34:34.139 --> 00:34:35.179
 of Roman authority

00:34:35.179 --> 00:34:36.299
 by creating

00:34:36.299 --> 00:34:37.400
 its own space

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.180
 in-house.

00:34:39.160 --> 00:34:39.840
 Thus he shows

00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.760
 that the Christian faith

00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:41.920
 is neither subservient

00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.680
 to Rome,

00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:44.160
 nor is it fundamentally

00:34:44.160 --> 00:34:45.039
 at odds

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.860
 with Rome.

00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:47.840
 In other words,

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.480
 he's saying Christianity

00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.119
 belongs

00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:51.059
 in cities like Philippi.

00:34:51.160 --> 00:34:52.160
 Christianity flourishes

00:34:52.160 --> 00:34:53.900
 in cities like Philippi,

00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.400
 and Christianity

00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:55.119
 will endure

00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:57.579
 in cities like Philippi.

00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:58.740
 Verse 40,

00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:00.599
 before Paul leaves town,

00:35:00.660 --> 00:35:00.900
 it says,

00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:01.860
 he went to visit Lydia

00:35:01.860 --> 00:35:03.740
 and to encourage

00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:04.480
 the brothers.

00:35:05.619 --> 00:35:06.099
 Once again,

00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:06.539
 a reminder

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.380
 that God had brought

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:08.300
 these different people

00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:09.500
 together into

00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:11.659
 his one family

00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:14.119
 as brothers and sisters

00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:14.719
 in Christ.

00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:17.920
 The gospel of Jesus Christ

00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:18.679
 is good news.

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.039
 It's good news

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:21.119
 for all kinds of people.

00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:21.800
 It satisfies

00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:23.099
 the inquiring mind

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.239
 of thoughtful

00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:25.099
 spiritual seekers.

00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:27.279
 It brings profound meaning

00:35:27.279 --> 00:35:28.619
 and purposeful generosity

00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:30.699
 to successful business people.

00:35:31.279 --> 00:35:32.340
 It brings liberation

00:35:32.340 --> 00:35:32.940
 and healing

00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.599
 to the poor,

00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:34.500
 the downtrodden,

00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:35.179
 and the oppressed.

00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:36.319
 It brings joy

00:35:36.319 --> 00:35:37.879
 to hardened police officers

00:35:37.879 --> 00:35:39.639
 and weary social workers

00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.699
 who have seen it all.

00:35:41.319 --> 00:35:42.460
 And it brings us together

00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:44.019
 into one family of God.

00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.480
 Let's pray

00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:48.759
 that we would be changed

00:35:48.759 --> 00:35:49.579
 by this good news.

00:35:49.579 --> 00:36:09.619
 Lord, we pray

00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:12.759
 in the words of Paul's prayer

00:36:12.759 --> 00:36:13.639
 for the Philippians

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.960
 that our love

00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:17.219
 may abound more and more

00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:18.839
 with knowledge

00:36:18.839 --> 00:36:20.299
 and all discernment

00:36:20.299 --> 00:36:22.139
 so that we may approve

00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:22.919
 what is excellent

00:36:22.919 --> 00:36:23.679
 and be pure

00:36:23.679 --> 00:36:24.339
 and blameless

00:36:24.339 --> 00:36:25.439
 for the day of Christ.

00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:27.179
 Filled with the fruit

00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:27.759
 of righteousness

00:36:27.759 --> 00:36:28.739
 that comes through

00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:29.599
 Jesus Christ

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.759
 to the glory

00:36:30.759 --> 00:36:31.699
 and praise of God.

00:36:32.739 --> 00:36:33.819
 We pray that you would

00:36:33.819 --> 00:36:35.639
 make us a joyful people.

00:36:36.919 --> 00:36:38.119
 We pray that you would

00:36:38.119 --> 00:36:39.879
 give us confidence

00:36:39.879 --> 00:36:40.879
 as we go forth

00:36:40.879 --> 00:36:41.959
 into the different places

00:36:41.959 --> 00:36:42.980
 where you have put us

00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:45.820
 with this saving message

00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:46.440
 of the gospel,

00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:47.800
 with this healing

00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:52.699
 reality of Christ

00:36:52.699 --> 00:36:53.500
 in us.

00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:57.780
 And Lord, we pray

00:36:57.780 --> 00:36:58.260
 that you would

00:36:58.260 --> 00:37:00.240
 make us a people

00:37:00.240 --> 00:37:03.019
 who reflect

00:37:03.019 --> 00:37:04.840
 the glory of this gospel

00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:05.639
 of Jesus Christ.

00:37:05.719 --> 00:37:06.500
 We pray in his name.

00:37:06.820 --> 00:37:07.059
 Amen.

00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:07.199
 Amen.

00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:07.260
 Amen.

00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:07.280
 Amen.

00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:07.300
 Amen.

00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:07.360
 Amen.

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:09.199
 Amen.

00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:09.280
 Amen.

00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:09.300
 Amen.

00:37:09.300 --> 00:37:09.360
 Amen.

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.280
 Amen.

00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:13.480
 Amen.

00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:25.480
 Amen.

00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:26.059
 Well, let's stand

00:37:26.059 --> 00:37:27.280
 and let's praise

00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:28.719
 the one

00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:30.280
 whose rain

00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:31.480
 brings joy

00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:32.300
 even in the most

00:37:32.300 --> 00:37:33.559
 unlikely places.

00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:35.179
 Amen.

00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:35.340
 Amen.

00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:35.619
 Amen.

00:37:35.619 --> 00:37:36.099
 Amen.

00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:36.539
 Amen.

00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:37.099
 Amen.

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:37.139
 Amen.

00:37:37.139 --> 00:37:37.159
 Amen.

00:37:37.159 --> 00:37:37.219
 Amen.

00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:37.619
 Amen.

00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:37.860
 Amen.

00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:38.219
 Amen.

00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:38.800
 Amen.

00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:39.079
 Amen.

00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:39.199
 Amen.

00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:39.280
 Amen.

00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:39.880
 Amen.

00:37:42.980 --> 00:38:07.199
 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does its successive journeys run. His kingdom spread from shore to shore till