WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.540 So here's two things you might be believing about Christianity this morning. 00:00:05.020 --> 00:00:06.900 And they both begin with the letter B. 00:00:08.339 --> 00:00:10.080 First one is to do with your brain. 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:16.260 Maybe you're here and you're thinking all the stuff that Christians believe about this man called Jesus 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:24.440 who lived in the first century, who died on a cross, who they claim came back to life. 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:30.820 How can any rationally thinking person believe that kind of stuff? 00:00:32.260 --> 00:00:34.060 And the second B is to do with your background. 00:00:34.219 --> 00:00:38.160 Maybe you're here and you're thinking the only reason that people become Christians 00:00:38.160 --> 00:00:41.020 is because of their upbringing. 00:00:42.060 --> 00:00:46.740 The influence of Christian family or friends, the fact that you were brought up in a culture 00:00:46.740 --> 00:00:50.520 which is steeped in Christian things and history. 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:57.720 And so had you been raised somehow or somewhere else, then you'd equally likely be a Mormon, a Muslim or an atheist. 00:00:59.460 --> 00:01:03.280 Now those two beliefs might ring true for some of us here today. 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:12.260 Or if, in my case, you maybe think of people in your mind, friends and family who you love, who think like that. 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:16.000 Well here's what I want us to do with those two beliefs in mind. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:21.019 I want us to be introduced to one man who's at the heart of our passage. 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:24.400 And I want to tell you three things about him. 00:01:25.540 --> 00:01:28.000 So his name is Sergius Paulus. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:29.680 Do you see that? Verse 4. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:31.439 Here's now into the text. 00:01:31.579 --> 00:01:34.219 Here's three things we learn about this man. 00:01:34.340 --> 00:01:40.680 He lives and he works on the island of Cyprus, which is a good gig if you can get it, I'd imagine. 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:50.040 Second thing, verse 7, he's a pro-consul, which means he's the Roman governor who's got a military background, 00:01:50.260 --> 00:01:55.980 who's on the island of Cyprus to protect and uphold the interests of Rome, 00:01:56.160 --> 00:02:00.420 which means he's got absolutely no Jewish heritage. 00:02:00.940 --> 00:02:03.440 He's not got a scooby about God. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:10.819 And because he's had zero exposure, he's got absolutely no interest in the things of Jesus. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:13.599 This man is completely in the dark. 00:02:15.419 --> 00:02:18.620 And number 3, verse 7, Luke just drops it in. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:21.020 He's an intelligent man. 00:02:21.319 --> 00:02:25.860 I take it you don't get this kind of gig at this kind of senior level if you're not. 00:02:25.860 --> 00:02:33.480 This passage today is going to end with this man deciding to become a follower of Jesus. 00:02:33.940 --> 00:02:38.080 So you imagine if he's here today, he's standing on the stage and you're putting those two beliefs to him. 00:02:38.600 --> 00:02:40.720 You're a Christian simply because of your background. 00:02:41.160 --> 00:02:43.960 You're a Christian because you've disengaged brain. 00:02:44.160 --> 00:02:49.100 Sergius Paulus, if he was here today, and it's been a good day yesterday for the Italians, hasn't it? 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:50.660 Here's Sergius Paulus. 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:52.240 He'd be having absolutely none of that. 00:02:53.180 --> 00:02:54.020 Absolutely none of it. 00:02:54.020 --> 00:02:55.460 And here's what I love about the book of Acts. 00:02:55.500 --> 00:03:05.240 All the way through, Luke's helped us see how, and you get it at 1224, he's helped us see how the word of God has gone forth. 00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:07.840 And thousands have responded to that. 00:03:07.920 --> 00:03:10.180 It's the message of Jesus has gone forth. 00:03:11.600 --> 00:03:12.780 He's gone corporate. 00:03:14.040 --> 00:03:14.260 Okay? 00:03:14.700 --> 00:03:19.460 But equally, now and again, Luke hits the brakes and he slows the pace of the narrative right down. 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:23.400 And he focuses in, right in on the one. 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:25.300 He goes individual. 00:03:26.219 --> 00:03:28.580 And I take it both matter to the risen Jesus. 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:31.020 Both matter to this God at the heart of the Bible. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:33.180 The corporate, the thousands, the millions. 00:03:33.920 --> 00:03:34.360 Vumpf! 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:35.379 The one. 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:45.240 It's almost as if God, who of course has loved and known about and called Sergius Paulus to himself before the foundation of the world. 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:51.659 It's almost as if right here, he's saying, Sergius Paulus, now's your time, boy. 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:55.400 Now's your time for you to hear and respond about the news about my son Jesus. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:57.560 Right in this moment in history. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:03.780 And like a moth to a flame, Sergius Paulus can't fly anywhere else but towards the light. 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:04.060 Okay? 00:04:04.219 --> 00:04:04.500 Bam. 00:04:04.980 --> 00:04:06.920 Can't fly anywhere else but towards the light. 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:09.719 And here's what I want us to do. 00:04:10.299 --> 00:04:17.579 If you're a Christian here today, I want us to stop and to savor exactly what this tells us about our God. 00:04:17.579 --> 00:04:32.000 And allow the thirst of your soul to be so wonderfully quenched as God's Holy Spirit brings to mind this truth. 00:04:32.719 --> 00:04:40.740 That however you're feeling here today, however tired you are here today, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, 00:04:40.740 --> 00:04:48.199 whoever you are here today, if your trust is in this Jesus, this is exactly what God the Father did to you. 00:04:50.100 --> 00:04:51.319 He chose you. 00:04:52.379 --> 00:04:53.639 He knew you. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:56.019 He loved you. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:59.000 He went after you. 00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:01.079 He sent his son to die for you. 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:03.180 His son redeemed you. 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:05.519 His son won you at the cross. 00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:08.680 His son took you to himself as he rose again. 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:14.720 And from the Father and the Son goes the Spirit to apply that work to your heart. 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:18.100 So the minute you became a Christian, this is what kicked in. 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:20.340 And this is who you are. 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:25.079 The words of that Stuart Townend song that we sometimes sing here, 00:05:25.220 --> 00:05:30.220 Loved before the dawn of time, chosen by my maker, hidden in my saviour. 00:05:30.340 --> 00:05:36.960 I am his and he is mine, cherished for eternity. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:38.919 This is the kind of God we have. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.539 This is what we're going to see, the God who goes after his people to win them. 00:05:43.359 --> 00:05:45.899 And this is just Sirius Paulus having his moment in the sun. 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:49.620 Do you know how God does it? 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:56.139 He starts by stirring up a church who are up for playing their part in the bigger mission. 00:05:56.139 --> 00:05:58.919 Verse 25 of chapter 12. 00:05:59.039 --> 00:05:59.459 Come with me. 00:05:59.579 --> 00:06:02.479 Our boys Barnabas and Saul are back on the scene. 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:07.060 They've delivered the money that the church in Antioch, if you remember that, 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:09.819 that happened a couple of chapters ago, 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:14.079 that the money that the church in Antioch wanted to give to their brothers and sisters back in Jerusalem 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:19.659 because of the famine and because they knew that they were going to have a really hard time because of that famine. 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:20.240 What did they do? 00:06:20.300 --> 00:06:22.300 They sent back some money. 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:27.340 So Paul and Barnabas are back in Antioch having travelled to Jerusalem and delivered that money. 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:31.939 Now, look what Luke tells us about the church here. 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:35.180 It's a diverse church in the text. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:35.720 Do you see? 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:40.600 Just look at the five people who are mentioned on the leadership team of this church. 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:45.439 I think that's probably just the easiest way to understand the reference to prophets and teachers. 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:48.840 Look at the five guys around the leadership team. 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:56.139 And again, just notice the range of them, the international feel of this church in Antioch. 00:06:57.079 --> 00:06:57.319 Right? 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:01.319 You've got Barnabas, who is a Levite from Cyprus. 00:07:01.579 --> 00:07:03.279 This is going to be a big part of the narrative here. 00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:05.839 Cyprus is where Barnabas is from. 00:07:06.299 --> 00:07:07.839 And where is the gospel going to go next? 00:07:08.019 --> 00:07:09.239 It's going to go to Cyprus. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:15.620 So you can imagine Barnabas at this point amazed at what God would want to be doing in his home turf. 00:07:15.719 --> 00:07:15.899 Right? 00:07:15.899 --> 00:07:25.419 You've got Barnabas, you've got Saul, you've got the Pharisee from Tarsus, you've got Simeon and Lucius, who I think to understand are both African. 00:07:26.359 --> 00:07:26.439 Right? 00:07:26.599 --> 00:07:29.039 Simeon's called Niger, which just means black. 00:07:29.159 --> 00:07:36.239 I take it Luke just helping his first readers differentiate this Simeon from another Simeon who must have been in the church in Antioch. 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:40.620 And you've got Lucius from what I think is modern day Libya. 00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:43.540 And then I find this one fascinating. 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:45.819 And if you haven't noticed this before, come and see it. 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:48.079 We get this lad called Mannion. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:49.399 I think that's how you would say his name. 00:07:49.860 --> 00:07:50.240 Mannion. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:53.720 Now notice what Luke drops in the text about who this guy is. 00:07:55.740 --> 00:08:02.139 See, a few verses earlier, Herod Agrippa had been struck down by God for trying to be God. 00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:10.339 Well, Mannion, I think, is most probably that Herod's foster brother. 00:08:12.019 --> 00:08:14.259 Now that's why I call a diverse five. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:20.919 From all sorts of places with all sorts of backgrounds, it's like the beginning of some kind of joke, isn't it? 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:26.580 What do a Levite, a Pharisee, two men from Africa, and a member of Herod's family have in common? 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:29.920 Except it isn't a joke, is it? 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:32.159 It's a description of this church in Antioch. 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:35.580 Answer, Jesus of Nazareth. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:37.580 That's what they've got in common. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:40.220 I don't imagine they have an awful lot else in common. 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:44.820 But that thing they have in common, and it's done more than draw them together as mates, 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:49.580 is bound them together as brothers in Jesus Christ. 00:08:49.580 --> 00:08:53.980 It's a wonderful testimony to what Jesus has done. 00:08:54.680 --> 00:08:55.639 Now, here's a wee exercise. 00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:59.100 I'm not going to do it, but if I were to get people here this morning to put up their hands 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:01.720 and to shout out the place where they were born, 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:06.759 it would be such a powerful example of this precise point. 00:09:09.020 --> 00:09:13.420 We're from all over the place, and yet here in this room, what do we have in common? 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:16.200 Jesus of Nazareth. 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:25.900 Here is a diverse church, and let's never grow tired of celebrating our diversity, 00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:28.580 because this is what Jesus has done. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:32.160 God the Father has drawn us together in Jesus' Son. 00:09:32.400 --> 00:09:37.600 The principalities, the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places are supposed to look on at this 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:40.580 and say, how on earth has this God done this? 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:45.100 How has he done what no other culture in the world can do? 00:09:46.560 --> 00:09:48.440 He's brought us together as family. 00:09:50.680 --> 00:09:52.440 This is a diverse church. 00:09:53.020 --> 00:09:54.340 It's a beautiful church. 00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:56.040 And it's the expectant church. 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:56.620 Do you see that? 00:09:56.700 --> 00:09:57.379 Let's just move on. 00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:57.980 What are they doing? 00:09:58.100 --> 00:09:58.660 Verse 2. 00:09:58.659 --> 00:10:02.379 They are worshipping and fasting. 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:09.419 Fasting is something that Christians often do, meaning they just stop eating for a while to devote themselves to prayer. 00:10:09.959 --> 00:10:13.299 I've done it a number of times in my life. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:15.699 I just found it a really powerful thing to do. 00:10:16.079 --> 00:10:19.019 And I take it this is the fruit, this worshipping and fasting. 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:27.240 This is the fruit of what Barnabas and Saul have decided to devote themselves to back at verse 26 of chapter 12. 00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:28.079 Just have a wee look. 00:10:28.939 --> 00:10:31.480 Verse 26 of chapter 12. 00:10:31.939 --> 00:10:34.199 What did they give themselves to in this church? 00:10:36.179 --> 00:10:39.419 They gave themselves to teaching. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:45.819 Unleashing God's word in the lives of his people. 00:10:45.820 --> 00:10:49.200 Seeing God through his Holy Spirit. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.760 Transform his people's lives. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.660 Make them more like Christ. 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:55.520 How does he do it? 00:10:55.580 --> 00:11:03.820 He does it through his words as his spirit takes it and moulds us more into the likeness of Jesus. 00:11:04.020 --> 00:11:04.940 And here's a simple point. 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:09.080 Theology should always lead to doxology. 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:11.320 Always, right? 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:15.740 Truth about God should always lead to worship. 00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:21.260 In the words of Jen Wilkin, who's in her brilliant little book, Woman of the Word, 00:11:22.640 --> 00:11:25.920 subtext, how to study the Bible with both our hearts and our minds. 00:11:26.020 --> 00:11:28.240 She just simply says this, and I love this. 00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:33.000 The heart cannot love what the mind does not know. 00:11:35.160 --> 00:11:37.460 These people aren't going through the religious motions. 00:11:37.660 --> 00:11:39.660 Here is an expectant church. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:41.920 And this is a sending church. 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:45.039 For it's while they are worshipping and fasting. 00:11:45.179 --> 00:11:49.740 Do you see in the text that the Holy Spirit speaks and says, 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:55.539 Set aside Paul and Barnabas for the wider work to which I've called them. 00:11:55.539 --> 00:12:02.299 Now I take it however the Holy Spirit said that, and we don't know exactly how it happened. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:07.539 Whatever he said, it made complete sense to the church. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:09.959 In other words, the church here weren't passive. 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:12.159 The Spirit spoke. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:14.519 And the church acted. 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:21.379 Because you notice how Luke makes it crystal clear that it's the church who laid their hands on Paul and Barnabas 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:23.959 and sent them off to Cyprus. 00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.980 And I take it that's just laying on of hands. 00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:27.279 I take it that just means, do you know what? 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:28.759 We're in this with you too. 00:12:29.839 --> 00:12:30.620 We're sending you out. 00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:36.340 Now moving to the other question, how does God the Holy Spirit speak today? 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:36.919 Absolutely. 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:38.259 How? 00:12:39.659 --> 00:12:42.700 Through God's living word. 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:46.820 We have to understand in this unique time, we have now what they did not have then. 00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:49.600 We have the completed Bible. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:55.840 The person of the Spirit speaks as we listen to God's voice here. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:13:02.980 And as he stirs us up in response, as he moves us to action, and I take it as we step out in obedience 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:08.379 and as we pray and discern with one another, is this the Lord's will? 00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:11.060 I'll give you an example of it. 00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:18.160 My friend Andy Prime, years ago, he was mulling on the words of Romans 10. 00:13:18.800 --> 00:13:19.660 Couldn't get over them. 00:13:19.900 --> 00:13:21.019 Read this in your own time. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.740 Paul's prayer there for taking the gospel to new places. 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:27.980 He says, how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:28.980 It's Romans 10. 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:29.879 You can read it. 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:34.120 And he goes home to his wife, Sarah, and he says, Sarah, listen, I've been reading this 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.700 and I can't get it out of my mind. 00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:38.919 And Sarah says, listen, why don't you go and walk around the streets of Grace Mount 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:44.200 and take what you've been listening to and just see what God does? 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:49.000 And so he goes and he starts looking at all the houses, all the people, 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:52.580 and thinking about all the brokenness, thinking about all the pain, 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:56.360 thinking about all the people who are heading for a lost eternity, 00:13:56.540 --> 00:14:01.259 facing God's judgment because they just have not responded to the message of Jesus 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:02.600 because they've rejected him. 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:07.480 And through the words, God, the Holy Spirit just broke his heart. 00:14:08.920 --> 00:14:14.660 And in that moment, he traces it back to the very start of what is now Grace Mount Community Church, 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:17.940 where the guy who was here last week is a member of. 00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:20.680 And so Andy starts bringing others in. 00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:21.600 Is this right? 00:14:22.140 --> 00:14:23.800 Do you think this is right? 00:14:24.760 --> 00:14:26.020 How might we do it? 00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:30.320 The Spirit speaks through the Word. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:32.820 We want to hear God's voice. 00:14:32.900 --> 00:14:33.540 We want to hear about the Spirit. 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:35.480 We get ourselves into the text. 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.480 What is God saying? 00:14:38.300 --> 00:14:40.920 And so the church, do you see how they send off Paul and Barnabas? 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:42.800 Now, don't miss who these two dudes are. 00:14:43.079 --> 00:14:45.639 This is Paul and this is Barnabas. 00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:49.519 This is two of their most experienced leaders. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.199 These are the two teachers. 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:52.459 This is Barney. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.399 Do you remember his nickname? 00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:55.120 That is his nickname. 00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:56.559 His name is Joseph. 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.759 This is Barney. 00:14:57.859 --> 00:14:58.779 This is the encourager. 00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:01.099 This is the guy who you want to hang out with. 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:02.539 Who just makes you feel great. 00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:05.120 Who tells you to keep on going with the Lord. 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:06.219 Can we not just keep him? 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.099 Can we not just keep him? 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:09.580 And this is Paul. 00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:13.159 This is the man who's a trained Pharisee. 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:17.659 This is a man who knows his, for want of a better word, who knows his Bible. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.000 Can we not just keep him? 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:22.340 The guy who's going to the Gentiles. 00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:25.100 Imagine how well things would go if we kept these two. 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.500 But this church is sending church. 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:30.300 I mean, this is the ultimate tag team match. 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:31.560 Is it not Paul and Barnabas? 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:34.440 But this church are up for giving away. 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:36.860 Do you notice a few weeks ago what they are up for giving away? 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:36.940 Money. 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.860 And this week, what are they up for giving away? 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:41.980 People. 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:43.980 Why? 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:47.860 Because they've bought into the bigger mission. 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:54.180 Now two things I've been challenged by, and I'll chuck these out and see if they hit. 00:15:54.759 --> 00:16:04.480 Two things I've been challenged by is would expectant be the word that captures our mood currently as a congregation? 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:10.600 Are we praying big things? 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:14.779 Are we giving God the glory when things happen? 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.759 You know, I think it was wonderful. 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:23.039 We made a call as a staff team a few weeks ago to give God the praise that Burrow Me Your SU group has opened up again, that opportunity. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.460 It's closed for so, so long. 00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:26.300 Just didn't know. 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.279 No way in. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:27.980 What's going to happen? 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.940 God, just open the door. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.940 Just give him the praise. 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:31.840 Do we pray big things? 00:16:31.900 --> 00:16:34.400 Do we pray, God, would you do the things that we cannot do? 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:36.420 Do we say, I think this is how I was challenged. 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.740 Do we say, Lord, lead us? 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:43.980 How often we make our plans and then we lay them at the Lord's feet as if to say, Lord, could you just bless them? 00:16:44.880 --> 00:16:45.160 Right? 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.980 Like some kind of divine expenses sheet. 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:50.600 I just need you to kind of sign off at the bottom here and just bless what we're trying to do. 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:54.800 It's the challenge here, isn't it, to do it the other way around. 00:16:56.659 --> 00:17:06.740 Lord, would you lead us out of a worship, a heart that wants to worship, a heart that overflows with love for him. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:09.079 Lord, would you lead us? 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:15.759 So expectancy, it's the second thing, and this is the confession of a city center pastor who's coming up for a decade here. 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:17.599 Do you know what? 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:22.639 For years I used to loathe, I used to loathe the turnover of people in this place. 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.439 Right? 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:31.480 People would come for a season and you'd get to know them, you'd invest in them, you'd have high hopes for them, you'd have their future planned out. 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:38.879 But a few years later, what they'd be off, job, uni, moving, house, getting involved in another church. 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:44.919 I used to find it so, so difficult operating like some kind of golem with a dog calling, my precious, you know. 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:48.160 I just convicted, what an idiot. 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.680 What an idiot. 00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:55.000 And the Lord used this church in Antioch to challenge my thinking. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:59.039 Because these folks weren't interested in building brand Antioch. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:04.160 And nor should we be interested in building brand Brunsfield. 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:10.779 Like we're kind of pitching on a version of Spiritual Dragon's Den or something. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:14.779 You know, this is not about us and what we can attract people to. 00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:19.660 This is about a kingdom mindset that says, train, love, invest. 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.279 What's the word? 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:22.500 Send. 00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:25.840 Train, love, invest. 00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:27.160 Send. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.560 And I think we should be greatly encouraged, if you've been in the church for a while, 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:36.000 the amount of people who have gone on and done wonderful things. 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:41.500 Not just mission parts of the world, not just things in Edinburgh, but just being a good church member of another church. 00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:45.180 Just being an employee who is glorifying Jesus through what they do. 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:47.140 And you guys have played a part in that. 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.200 Train, love, invest. 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.340 Send. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:54.380 And of course, don't miss this. 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:56.460 Who are we reflecting in that? 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:00.440 We're reflecting our Heavenly Father. 00:19:01.820 --> 00:19:11.180 Who out of an overflow of His love, sent His Son to save us. 00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:13.820 To ransom us. 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.860 To rescue us. 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.460 To die for us on the cross. 00:19:16.560 --> 00:19:17.600 To save us. 00:19:18.320 --> 00:19:22.000 And as almost the Father sends the Son and says, 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:30.200 the purpose of this, ultimately, is that I want you to delight in the Son, like I delight in my Son. 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:33.839 And I want an overflow of that love for Him. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:39.379 To transform you and cause you to go with the message of Him. 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:45.159 And in turn, do you see how that conquering King of love at the end of Matthew's Gospel, 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:51.259 He has all authority and He's the one who's with us always. 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.720 He calls us to go. 00:19:55.420 --> 00:20:00.380 As He's sending, is right at the heart of who our triune God is. 00:20:00.380 --> 00:20:07.220 Here is a church up for playing its part in the bigger mission. 00:20:08.780 --> 00:20:13.760 And from there we meet a man who's up for investigating the biggest news. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:18.099 Because where do Paul and Barnabas go? 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:18.660 Do you see it? 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.720 Verse 4. 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.720 Where do they go? 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.960 In obedience. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:25.440 They go to Cyprus. 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:29.680 And after they've preached at the synagogue in Cyprus, 00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:31.839 they head to Paphos. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:34.799 Which you can kind of see it on the map there. 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.960 It's at the other end of the island. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:42.240 And in typical Acts fashion, there's opposition and there's hunger. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:45.859 And those two things will always be there, I take it, 00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:47.140 as the Gospel goes forth. 00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:49.700 Opposition and hunger. 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:52.900 And the opposition comes from this man called Bar Jesus. 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:53.920 Do you see him in the text? 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.380 Do you see him? 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.640 Bar Jesus. 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:57.720 And there's great irony in that name. 00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:00.400 Because Bar means son of, 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:03.099 and Jesus means Jesus, right? 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:06.339 Son of Jesus. 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:08.039 And he's anything but. 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:13.980 And I think that's why Luke tells you his local name, 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:14.700 Elemas. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:17.220 To try to bring out the irony here. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:19.119 He's a Jewish sorcerer. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.859 Do you see in the text? 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.859 He's a false prophet. 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:24.700 And he's an attendant to Sergius Paulus. 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.819 And I've been wrestling with this guy this week. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:29.960 He's kind of like a spiritual advisor to Sergius Paulus. 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:32.319 He's kind of like Jafar in Aladdin. 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.639 He's kind of that kind of deal. 00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.119 Okay? 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:36.799 And he meets Paul and Barnabas. 00:21:37.479 --> 00:21:39.439 And he hates their message. 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:41.000 He hates it with a passion. 00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:42.939 And what's happened? 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.879 And I love this. 00:21:44.199 --> 00:21:45.039 Get this. 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:48.619 What's happened is that Bar Jesus 00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:51.079 has opposed the message. 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:53.500 He's gone back to work. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:56.299 And he's told Sergius Paulus 00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:58.159 about the deluded men 00:21:58.159 --> 00:22:00.859 peddling a ridiculous message 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:02.759 who he's just met in the marketplace. 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:05.519 And instead of joining in the laugh, 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:09.839 Sergius Paulus is intrigued. 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.379 I love it. 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:14.879 So in control is this God. 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:17.339 So sovereign is he. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:20.819 So determined is he to get to Sergius Paulus 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:23.000 that he's used the Jesus hater 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:25.140 as the matchmaker. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.279 Right? 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:30.460 Sergius Paulus meets Paul and Barnabas. 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:34.880 As I was just encouraging this morning 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:37.579 that the opposition 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:41.519 was the very thing that God used 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:44.799 to open the door for opportunity. 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:49.860 Now never underestimate what God can do 00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:50.740 and might be doing 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:53.960 through your whispers of witness. 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:56.720 Right? 00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:58.840 In every season of your life. 00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:00.819 In the high points 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:02.220 when things are good, 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.019 witnessing to Jesus. 00:23:04.340 --> 00:23:05.559 In the low points 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:07.420 when life is just really hard. 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:09.259 And we're slogging it out 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:11.160 trying to be faithful to Jesus. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.840 In every season of life. 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.620 As mundane and as boring 00:23:16.620 --> 00:23:17.720 and as insignificant 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:19.720 as you think your witness is. 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:21.420 You have no idea. 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:23.200 We have no idea 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:25.180 whose ears around the office 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.400 might be picking it up. 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.740 We have no idea 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.380 whose eyes on the school run 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:31.620 might be drawn to you. 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.019 Love it. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:35.880 There's this woman in our prayer group 00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:37.339 for our primary school. 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.360 She's just called Anna. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.700 She's just known in the community 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:41.019 as the woman who smiles. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.460 The amount of conversations 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.680 that have come from Anna. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.079 Anna, why do you smile? 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.740 Why are you happy? 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.640 Because you know Jesus. 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:49.900 No idea the whispers 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.600 of your witness. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.720 You've no idea 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.840 whose heart 00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:54.420 in your student halls 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.880 God might be working in 00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:57.580 to respond to who he is 00:23:57.580 --> 00:23:58.360 through the whispers 00:23:58.360 --> 00:23:59.460 of your witness. 00:24:02.040 --> 00:24:03.380 And that's encouraging. 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.120 You see verse 7. 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.200 Sergius Paulus 00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:11.160 who I'd imagine 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:13.480 having had the most 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:15.740 twisted version of the gospel 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:17.460 as bar Jesus lays it back to him. 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.440 Sergius Paulus 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.320 what does he want to do? 00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:22.340 He wants to hear 00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:23.040 the word of God. 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:25.120 I want to hear it. 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.340 See what God's doing? 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.540 He's just working in his heart. 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.680 Just stirring up his heart. 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.740 Maybe that's you here today. 00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:32.560 Maybe you're here 00:24:32.560 --> 00:24:34.140 and you just want to hear it. 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.200 Best place to do it 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:36.860 read the accounts 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:38.020 of Jesus for yourself. 00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:38.960 You can pick some up 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:39.380 I think 00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:41.340 on the desk at the back. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.340 Just read the accounts 00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:42.960 of Jesus. 00:24:43.320 --> 00:24:44.500 Read it to someone else. 00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:45.220 Listen I'm game 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.840 if you are. 00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:46.559 Right? 00:24:46.639 --> 00:24:47.379 I love doing it. 00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:50.839 Who is this man Jesus? 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.759 Bar Jesus tries to stop it. 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.240 Do you notice? 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.939 And God strikes Bar Jesus 00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:57.359 for his deceit and trickery. 00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:58.619 He's unable to see. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.519 Okay verse 11. 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.439 Paul makes it clear 00:25:04.439 --> 00:25:05.279 why this is happening. 00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:05.939 Will you never 00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:06.859 verse 10 sorry. 00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:07.980 Will you never stop 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:09.000 perverting the right ways 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.480 of the Lord? 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.459 The Lord is against you. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.099 What happens? 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.359 Mist and darkness 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.019 comes over him 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:13.980 and he starts groping about. 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.539 Now who does that 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.279 remind you of? 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.359 Reminds you of Paul 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:17.660 doesn't it? 00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:18.519 A few chapters earlier. 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.240 This is exactly 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.099 what happened to him 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:21.139 which I think 00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.980 might suggest 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.359 we don't know 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:22.759 what happened 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.660 to this man afterwards 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.940 but it might suggest 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:26.180 that there's a loving 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:27.799 opportunity for Bar Jesus 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:29.099 to change his ways 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:30.019 and turn to the Lord. 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.839 To do everything 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.759 that his name suggests 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.599 he should be doing. 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:36.220 And similar to what 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.960 we saw last week 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.379 you see here 00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:38.440 God just removes 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.980 the barrier. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.460 He just removes 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.019 the barrier 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:44.500 because nothing 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:46.380 is going to stop 00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.440 this good 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:48.259 and gracious 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:49.340 and loving God 00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:51.620 getting to 00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.519 Sergius Paulus. 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.600 And notice what 00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.140 sealed the deal 00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:56.779 verse 12 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.539 Sergius Paulus 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.380 is not so much 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.620 amazed by the scene. 00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:02.160 What's he gripped by? 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:05.039 He's gripped by the teaching 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:07.120 about the Lord. 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.539 And so 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.580 verse 24 00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:12.299 of chapter 12 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:14.519 the word of God 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.680 continued 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:17.460 to spread 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.180 and flourish. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.880 Jerusalem, 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.420 Judea, 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.799 Samaria, 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.559 the ends of the earth 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.200 and here it is 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.220 on this little island 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.880 of Cyprus. 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.460 And just as we close 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.039 I want you to take 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.640 one take you 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.340 to a conversation 00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:29.880 that happened 00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:33.559 on the 746 train 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.220 from Edinburgh 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.799 to Glasgow 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.240 at the train 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.340 of end of last week. 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.080 I think I said that right. 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:40.720 My friend John 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.220 gets on 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:43.440 and being a smart man 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.400 he gets a table seat 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:46.220 and he sits down 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:46.720 and he starts 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.559 reading his Bible 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.120 and the woman 00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:49.160 opposite him 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:50.220 after a little while 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.299 notices that he's 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:52.680 reading Psalm 132. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.279 And she asks him 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.240 son what are you reading? 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.600 So John talks to her 00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:58.200 about the psalm 00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:58.740 that he's on 00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.340 and she says 00:26:59.340 --> 00:26:59.620 you know what 00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.420 I've never really had 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.160 any time 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:02.140 for any of that. 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:04.759 but another voice 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.380 pipes up 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.660 and this time 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.020 it's not from 00:27:07.020 --> 00:27:07.860 the table sheet here 00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:08.200 it's not from 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.020 the table sheet there 00:27:09.020 --> 00:27:09.480 as I understand 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:09.960 it from John 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.300 it was from 00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:10.660 the one 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.560 around the back 00:27:11.560 --> 00:27:12.880 and she's been 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.320 doing 00:27:13.320 --> 00:27:14.480 what everyone 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.500 does on trains 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.380 they've been 00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:16.900 listening in 00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.860 to the conversation 00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:20.500 and another voice 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.240 pipes up 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.840 and she's been 00:27:21.840 --> 00:27:22.400 listening in 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.200 and she's provoked 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.320 by this lady's refusal 00:27:24.320 --> 00:27:24.840 and she says 00:27:24.840 --> 00:27:25.380 you know what 00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:26.920 I've never read 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:27.960 the Bible before 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:29.240 I've always 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:29.980 fancied it 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.440 but the problem 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:30.920 is I just 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.720 wouldn't know 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.720 where to start 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.920 wouldn't know 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.819 what to do 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:37.100 so John 00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:37.840 hands her a book 00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:39.180 and his number 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:39.980 and he says 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:41.660 let's get together 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.340 and read it together 00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:44.539 and that was 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.700 ten days or so ago 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.240 right so that's 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.079 hot off the press 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:47.860 I've got no idea 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.700 how it ended up 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:50.500 but I think it makes 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.480 the exact point 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.960 the same as what 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.759 Luke is telling us 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.340 in this passage 00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:55.480 with Sergius Paulus 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:57.740 to be a Christian 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.380 is to disengage 00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:58.900 your brain 00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.599 to be a Christian 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.079 you're a Christian 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:01.140 because of your 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:02.079 Christian background 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:03.000 I take it this lady 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.500 on the train 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.099 I take it that 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:04.880 Sergius Paulus 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.319 would say 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.579 no 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:09.240 no the gospel 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.900 Luke is saying 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:10.779 is simple enough 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:12.039 for anyone to understand 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:14.640 the gospel is deep enough 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.599 and glorious enough 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.559 for everyone to be 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.160 swimming in 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.279 for the rest of their lives 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.079 and realise you've not 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:20.259 even scratched the surface 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:21.940 and the gospel is available 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.799 for anyone to respond to 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:25.880 and place their faith 00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:26.759 in this Jesus 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:28.440 and this God 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.099 is the message 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:29.960 about the crucified 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:31.420 risen and crucified 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.420 and risen Jesus 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.319 goes forth 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:35.379 to see how this God 00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:37.400 nothing will stop him 00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:39.000 get in the way 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.980 of his determination 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.740 to win his people 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.480 for himself 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:44.920 and that's the glory 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.500 of this chapter 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.000 I think 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.859 that this is who 00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.579 this God is 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.859 mortal 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:52.039 UD inferred 00:28:52.039 --> 00:29:02.519 and qui 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:03.179 neither 00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:05.480 the Sin 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.819 or the 00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.199 he 00:29:07.199 --> 00:29:07.799 who 00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:08.359 is 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:08.419 is 00:29:08.419 --> 00:29:09.039 his