WEBVTT

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 And this morning I was asked to speak on called to transforming encounters.

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 Some of you might think, what does that mean?

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 Some of you might think, oh, please don't ask me to have to go and speak to anyone and have a transforming encounter.

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 And some of you might be thinking, yeah, let's go.

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 I'm sure that's Dave Sims if he's in the room.

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 But first of all, I think we need to look at what do we mean by transforming encounters?

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 And what did this passage mean?

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 Why, out of all of the transforming encounters that took place in the early church, was this one singled out?

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 But first of all, I'd like to just show a little video clip and then I'd like to ask a couple of questions about it.

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 Hey, life is crazy, is it not?

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 I'm such a heavy tumour.

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 How many people know who that lady is, have seen or heard or know anything about her?

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 This was just a woman in America and she bought that mask for her children but it made her laugh.

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 So in the car she videoed herself laughing in the Chewbacca mask because it made the sound of Chewbacca from Star Wars.

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 And that clip of her in her car with the mask on went absolutely viral within hours.

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 And she, as a result, she was on James Corden's Late Show.

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 She was on Good Morning America.

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 She was on Oprah Winfrey.

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 She just went absolutely mega.

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 She's written a book.

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 It's just gone absolutely mental.

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 Now, it turns out in her interviews that she is also a Christian and she does believe in, she's got a very sort of vibrant sense of humour.

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 And I think God just used who she was naturally.

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 The fact that none of you have heard about it kind of blows the first point of my sermon.

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 But we'll forget about that.

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 So anyway, I was going to ask you two questions, neither of which you will know the answer.

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 So my question was going to be, what does that clip have to do with the sermon today?

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 Well, the first point was her name's Candice.

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 And the queen that the Ethiopian worked for, her title was the Candice of Ethiopia.

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 The second was the fact that both Philip's message to the Ethiopian and her message on Facebook went viral.

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 But they obviously went viral in completely different ways.

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 So in the day when Philip met with the Ethiopian and had their transforming encounter, there was no internet, there was no mobile phone to video it and upload it to Facebook and Twitter.

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 There were not even planes, trains and automobiles.

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 And yet, their conversation spread the message of the gospel around the world.

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 I want to look at how and why that happened.

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 In order to do that, I felt like we needed to just have a quick whistle-stop tour through the early church.

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 So Jesus has been crucified.

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 He rose from the dead and he met with his disciples.

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 They're all petrified in Jerusalem.

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 And Jesus comes to them and he says,

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 I'm going to go to my Father in heaven now.

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 But you need to wait here and you are going to receive the Holy Spirit.

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 And when you've received the Spirit, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem.

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 But also in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

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 If Jesus had come to us today to say that, he'd be saying,

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 wait in Bristol, you'll receive the Holy Spirit,

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 but you're going to be my witnesses in all in Bristol,

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 but also in the whole of the southwest and even to the ends of the earth.

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 But don't forget, they had no internet to just post online.

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 So they probably had no idea how they were going to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.

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 Nonetheless, they do what Jesus asked them.

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 They wait in Jerusalem.

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 They receive the Holy Spirit.

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 And I'm sure some of you know the story.

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 Amazing things begin to happen and the church begins to grow at a phenomenal rate.

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 On the day they receive the Holy Spirit,

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 Peter gets up to preach and 3,000 people give their life to God after that one sermon.

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 So they begin to build community together

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 and they begin to share fellowship with each other.

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 They meet to pray.

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 They meet to look at what God would want of their lives.

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 And God continues to add daily people to this community that is growing alive in faith.

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 They are so transformed themselves that the book of Acts tells us

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 that they even begin to share their possessions.

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 I think that's miraculous.

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 I think that would take some really amazing transformation

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 for us all here to suddenly get up and say,

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 yeah, I've got a car, you can have it.

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 Yeah, I don't need my house moving with us.

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 We've got two spare bedrooms.

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 They begin to share everything.

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 They begin to sell everything they've got

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 and they begin to give money to anyone who needs it.

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 So first of all, they themselves are transformed

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 before they go out and start transforming other people.

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 But as they continue to grow

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 and miracles are taking place in Jerusalem,

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 the officials don't like it

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 and they start to think of ways

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 that they can slow down the phenomenal growth of this new community.

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 But it does keep growing.

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 They get to 5,000.

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 It says, Acts tells us then,

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 that even priests begin to believe

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 and they start being added to the church

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 and officials begin to believe

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 and miracles are taking place.

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 So the apostles are no longer able

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 to keep doing what they believe they're called to do,

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 which is to pray and to bring the word of God.

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 So they choose seven other men

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 to take over the administration

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 of this huge new community that's growing.

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 And Philip, who we hear about in the reading today,

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 is one of those men.

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 Another one of those men is a man called Stephen,

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 who is also performing miracles

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 and people are coming to faith

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 through encounters with him.

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 So at this point,

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 the officials in Jerusalem

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 really want to put a stop

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 to the growth of this community

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 and so they drag Stephen to court.

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 They bring some trumped up charge against him

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 and they stone him to death.

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 At that point where Stephen is stoned to death,

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 the church is persecuted and scattered

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 and they have to flee for their lives.

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 So they flee.

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 Where do you think they flee to?

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 From Jerusalem,

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 where do you think they go?

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 I know somebody in the congregation

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 knows the answer.

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 So Jesus has said,

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 you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem

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 and in all Judea and Samaria

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 and to the ends of the earth.

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 So when they're scattered from Jerusalem,

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 where do you think they go?

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 They go firstly to Judea and Samaria.

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 They get scattered

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 and that's their nearest neighbours.

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 So it would be like us

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 having to flee our homes here.

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 We'd go to the other parts of the south west

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 or we'd go to where we'd got family.

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 We'd go to local cities round about.

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 You might be asking yourself,

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 what was that all about?

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 Why would God allow the church

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 to be broken up and persecuted like that

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 when it's growing at such an amazing rate?

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 Well the answer lies in what Jesus has told them

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 they're going to do.

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 They're amazing witnesses in Jerusalem

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 and things are happening

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 beyond their wildest dreams.

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 But I wonder if maybe

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 they were getting a little bit comfortable

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 and used to those things happening

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 and they were enjoying what was happening

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 because it was all good.

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 So they're persecuted and scattered

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 and they flee to Judea and Samaria

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 and what do you think they do there?

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 Go into hiding?

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 No.

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 They start sharing their message there as well.

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 So now the gospel isn't only being accepted

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 by people in Jerusalem,

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 it's being accepted by people in Judea and Samaria

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 which is what Jesus said would happen.

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 So the church community begins to grow

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 and be established there.

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 The persecution, the stoning of Stephen,

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 none of these things can stop the spread

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 of the message of the gospel

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 and Philip is the one in the book of Acts

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 that is named as being responsible

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 for the church in Samaria being established

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 because he goes to Samaria,

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 he preaches the gospel,

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 the good news of Jesus Christ

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 and what he's done for us

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 and the church, the people in Samaria

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 accept his message

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 and they also are added

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 to this new vibrant community of believers.

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 So there he is in Samaria

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 sharing the good news.

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 So they've witnessed in Jerusalem

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 and the ones that are scattered

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 have witnessed in all of Judea

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 and all of Samaria.

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 At this point,

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 an angel, we're told in the reading,

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 comes to Philip and says,

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 just go south of the city today

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 and go to the road

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 that runs between Jerusalem and Gaza.

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 Now the angel doesn't tell him

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 why he's got to go

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 but he hears and he goes.

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 He doesn't know what's going to happen there

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 but he goes in the heat of the day

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 at an inconvenient time

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 to a hot and dusty desert road

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 simply because he believes

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 that God has asked him to do so.

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 And as he goes

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 and he gets to the road,

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 he sees a chariot.

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 Now this road was the main road

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 out of Jerusalem.

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 So this chariot's leaving Jerusalem

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 and he hears someone in the chariot

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 reading scriptures out loud to himself.

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 And so he sidles up,

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 Philip does,

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 alongside this chariot

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 and starts to ask the man inside

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 who is the Ethiopian,

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 do you understand what you're reading?

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 The Ethiopian is reading

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 from the book of Isaiah

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 and he's reading it out loud

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 as Jews especially

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 are prone to do.

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 And in ancient biblical times

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 that's how most people read out loud.

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 So Philip says,

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 do you understand what you're reading?

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 And the Ethiopian says,

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 well, I can't really

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 unless someone explains it to me.

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 So Philip takes that opportunity

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 to explain

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 that the passage

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 the Ethiopian is reading

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 is about Jesus

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 and Philip begins to share

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 his message

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 with this Ethiopian.

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 Now at this point

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 I ask myself,

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 well, Philip's been sharing

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 that message everywhere

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 and everyone's been

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 hearing him,

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 believing him

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 and agreeing with him.

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 So why is this

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 particular encounter

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 special

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 and highlighted

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 in the Bible?

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 And as I researched,

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 I found out

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 it was because

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 in those days

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 the sort of

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 Jewish,

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 Roman,

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 Grecian world

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 believed

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 that

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 Ethiopia,

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 the top of the Nile

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 region,

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 was the end

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 of the earth.

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 And Jesus

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 had said,

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 you will be

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 my witnesses

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 in Jerusalem,

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 in all Judea

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 and Samaria

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 and to the

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 ends of the earth.

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 So God doesn't

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 send Philip

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 and the disciples

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 to the ends of the earth,

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 he brings the ends

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 of the earth

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 to them.

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 And there's

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 the Ethiopian

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 and he is

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 a wealthy

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 Ethiopian,

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 he works for the

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 Queen of Ethiopia,

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 he's her treasurer

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 and he's going back

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 after what he was

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 doing in Jerusalem,

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 taking part

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 in the festivals,

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 he's heading back

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 to Ethiopia.

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 So Philip

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 gets this opportunity

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 to share

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 the good news

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 with this Ethiopian

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 and that encounter

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 transforms

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 the Ethiopian's

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 life,

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 so much so

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 that he stops

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 the carriage

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 and he says,

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 there's some water

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 I need to get

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 baptised

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 and give my life

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 to Jesus.

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:53.900
 Lottie

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 has been baptised

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 this morning,

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 she has had

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 a transforming

00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:01.060
 encounter

00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:02.279
 with the Holy

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:02.720
 Spirit

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:04.300
 and he will

00:15:04.300 --> 00:15:05.399
 continue to

00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:05.940
 shape

00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.980
 and mould

00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.920
 her life

00:15:07.920 --> 00:15:09.480
 and as family

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:11.139
 and friends

00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:11.920
 and particularly

00:15:11.920 --> 00:15:12.920
 as parents

00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:13.960
 and godparents,

00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.460
 you have a very

00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.500
 specific role

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.539
 to play in that,

00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:19.240
 you will be like

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:19.980
 Lottie's

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.519
 Philip,

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.620
 it is your

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.300
 responsibility

00:15:23.300 --> 00:15:24.740
 to share

00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.700
 the good news

00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:26.360
 with her

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.980
 so that she

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:29.180
 understands it

00:15:29.180 --> 00:15:30.500
 like the Ethiopian

00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.720
 was then able

00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.600
 to understand

00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.340
 what he was

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:33.740
 reading

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.940
 because Philip

00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:35.600
 shared it

00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.080
 with him.

00:15:37.660 --> 00:15:38.540
 So this

00:15:38.540 --> 00:15:39.240
 transforming

00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:39.900
 encounter

00:15:39.900 --> 00:15:41.259
 takes place

00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:42.759
 and the

00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.540
 Ethiopian

00:15:43.540 --> 00:15:44.580
 carries on

00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.180
 his way

00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:46.379
 back to

00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:46.980
 Ethiopia

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:48.160
 and takes

00:15:48.160 --> 00:15:49.400
 the good news

00:15:49.400 --> 00:15:49.840
 that he's

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.740
 received with

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.120
 him

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.980
 and spreads

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.779
 the gospel

00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:54.419
 message

00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:55.560
 to the

00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:56.220
 ends of

00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:56.779
 the earth

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:58.299
 and we

00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:59.019
 are recipients

00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.000
 of that

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.580
 message.

00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.740
 So this

00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:03.259
 morning I

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:03.639
 want to

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.120
 just

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:05.440
 kind of

00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.000
 leave a

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.419
 couple of

00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:06.820
 questions

00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.480
 with you

00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.100
 regarding

00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:09.700
 what

00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:10.460
 transforming

00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:11.220
 encounters

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.700
 are either

00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:13.700
 one taking

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:14.480
 place in

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.200
 our life.

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.660
 I think

00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:17.420
 it's really

00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.500
 easy to

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.060
 assume

00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:19.440
 that

00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:20.340
 whenever

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.140
 we read

00:16:21.140 --> 00:16:21.860
 passages

00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.300
 in the

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:22.600
 Bible

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.080
 we're

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.500
 always

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:23.840
 the

00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.340
 Philip

00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:25.040
 we're

00:16:25.040 --> 00:16:25.360
 always

00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:25.620
 going to

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:25.879
 be the

00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:26.100
 one

00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:26.360
 that

00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:26.759
 sent

00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.920
 and that

00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:28.480
 is true

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:28.759
 God

00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.340
 does want

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:29.980
 us to

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.980
 take

00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.600
 that

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.040
 gospel

00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:32.700
 message

00:16:32.700 --> 00:16:33.740
 but I

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.140
 would just

00:16:34.140 --> 00:16:34.700
 wonder

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:36.500
 how

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.220
 often

00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:37.580
 we're

00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:37.980
 aware

00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:38.580
 that we

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.060
 might be

00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:39.259
 the

00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:39.920
 Ethiopian

00:16:39.920 --> 00:16:40.800
 in

00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:41.440
 the

00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:41.800
 passage

00:16:41.800 --> 00:16:42.540
 and

00:16:42.540 --> 00:16:43.040
 God

00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:43.520
 might be

00:16:43.520 --> 00:16:43.840
 sending

00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.360
 someone

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:44.900
 to us

00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:45.120
 to

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.840
 transform

00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:46.279
 our

00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:46.779
 lives

00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:48.199
 so be

00:16:48.199 --> 00:16:48.600
 aware

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:48.819
 of

00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:49.459
 encounters

00:16:49.459 --> 00:16:50.279
 through

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.699
 which

00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:51.379
 we

00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:51.639
 can

00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:51.899
 be

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:52.720
 transformed

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.980
 and then

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.579
 secondly

00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:55.699
 be aware

00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:55.959
 of

00:16:55.959 --> 00:16:56.620
 encounters

00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:57.319
 that

00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:57.579
 God

00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:57.959
 does

00:16:57.959 --> 00:16:58.279
 want

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:58.480
 to

00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:58.819
 use

00:16:58.819 --> 00:16:59.139
 us

00:16:59.139 --> 00:16:59.620
 to

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.179
 transform

00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:00.559
 other

00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:01.059
 people

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:02.059
 and that

00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:02.279
 can

00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:02.600
 happen

00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.139
 in two

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.659
 ways

00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:04.379
 in

00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:05.019
 Samaria

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.440
 Philip

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.700
 publicly

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.799
 proclaimed

00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:09.440
 and preached

00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.220
 the gospel

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.519
 and crowds

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.200
 were coming

00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:12.940
 to faith

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:14.019
 Lottie

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.039
 has taken

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:15.680
 part in

00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.379
 a public

00:17:16.379 --> 00:17:17.259
 declaration

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.819
 of faith

00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.660
 in Christ

00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:20.619
 this morning

00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:23.059
 but secondly

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.779
 Philip had

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.879
 an opportunity

00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:26.819
 to share

00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:28.000
 a personal

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:28.740
 testimony

00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.180
 with

00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:31.879
 the Ethiopian

00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:32.639
 no one

00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:33.099
 watching

00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:33.740
 it didn't

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.200
 go on

00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:35.059
 social media

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.599
 anywhere

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.480
 he didn't

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.500
 get public

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.379
 recognition

00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:39.440
 for it

00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.299
 in fact

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:41.460
 he just

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:42.380
 disappeared

00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:43.259
 at the

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:43.680
 end

00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.140
 of that

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:44.799
 encounter

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.960
 but the

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.340
 passage

00:17:46.340 --> 00:17:47.080
 tells us

00:17:47.080 --> 00:17:47.400
 that

00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:48.860
 the Ethiopian

00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:49.440
 just went

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.059
 on his way

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.779
 rejoicing

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.340
 anyway

00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.320
 and he

00:17:52.320 --> 00:17:52.940
 took that

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:53.480
 good news

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.019
 with him

00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:55.240
 so these

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:55.820
 encounters

00:17:55.820 --> 00:17:56.420
 aren't for

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:56.960
 fame and

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.440
 fortune

00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.620
 therefore

00:17:58.620 --> 00:17:59.799
 what God

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.400
 wants to

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:00.759
 do

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.340
 in our

00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:01.740
 life

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.180
 and in

00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:02.700
 the lives

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.019
 of the

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.380
 people

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:03.779
 that we

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.059
 do

00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.779
 encounter

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:07.119
 so go

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:07.700
 in

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:09.660
 faith

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.839
 but go

00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:11.859
 in courage

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.579
 as well

00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:14.000
 that God

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.559
 in us

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.720
 will give

00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.859
 us what

00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.559
 we need

00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.399
 in those

00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:20.139
 individual

00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:21.399
 situations

00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.940
 and I'll

00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.440
 just leave

00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:23.859
 you with

00:18:23.859 --> 00:18:25.000
 one encounter

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.539
 that stayed

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.619
 with me

00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:29.059
 for a

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.639
 really long

00:18:29.639 --> 00:18:30.180
 time

00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:32.779
 I was at

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.480
 Bible college

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.079
 before

00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:35.079
 studying

00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:35.720
 Greek

00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:36.799
 and used

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.220
 to have

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.919
 to translate

00:18:37.919 --> 00:18:39.019
 10 verses

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.599
 of scripture

00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.579
 every week

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.779
 and they

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.079
 used to

00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:42.539
 take me

00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.019
 hours

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.779
 I'd spread

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.319
 them out

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:44.980
 all my

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.379
 books

00:18:45.379 --> 00:18:46.339
 it'd be

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:46.899
 like three

00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:47.299
 hours

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.199
 before I

00:18:48.199 --> 00:18:48.679
 got through

00:18:48.679 --> 00:18:49.000
 them

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.779
 one weekend

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.419
 I was going

00:18:51.419 --> 00:18:52.019
 to London

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.980
 to stay

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.579
 with a friend

00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.099
 and I

00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:54.879
 thought I'll

00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.740
 just find

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.179
 a quiet

00:18:56.179 --> 00:18:56.779
 little corner

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.159
 on the

00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:57.579
 train

00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.419
 get my

00:18:58.419 --> 00:18:58.819
 homework

00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.279
 done

00:18:59.279 --> 00:18:59.659
 and out

00:18:59.659 --> 00:19:00.059
 the way

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.359
 then I

00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:00.819
 won't have

00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.240
 to worry

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.939
 about it

00:19:01.939 --> 00:19:03.059
 and the

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.659
 train was

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.240
 packed

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.820
 so I

00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:05.200
 sat in

00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:05.360
 a

00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:05.600
 two

00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:05.880
 seat

00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:06.100
 I

00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:06.540
 spread

00:19:06.540 --> 00:19:06.779
 my

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.080
 books

00:19:07.080 --> 00:19:07.400
 out

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.180
 and said

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:08.660
 to God

00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.400
 I'm not

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.120
 talking to

00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:10.460
 anyone

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.360
 I'm doing

00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:12.080
 my homework

00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:13.500
 because I'm

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.240
 a talker

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.720
 naturally

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:18.040
 a really

00:19:18.040 --> 00:19:19.019
 elderly

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.100
 blind man

00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:20.680
 gets on

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.279
 the train

00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.320
 and someone

00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:23.300
 who's just

00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:23.960
 helping him

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.480
 on says

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:24.820
 to me

00:19:24.820 --> 00:19:25.140
 can you

00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:25.560
 move your

00:19:25.560 --> 00:19:26.240
 books please

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:26.880
 at which

00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:27.400
 point I'm

00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.400
 really irritated

00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.279
 and I

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:29.920
 shove all my

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.519
 books up the

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:30.860
 corner

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:31.699
 and this

00:19:31.699 --> 00:19:32.319
 man sits

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:32.939
 down next

00:19:32.939 --> 00:19:33.339
 to me

00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:34.119
 and I

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.659
 say again

00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:35.039
 to God

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.379
 I'm not

00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:36.099
 talking to

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:36.299
 him

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:37.159
 I'm doing

00:19:37.159 --> 00:19:37.959
 my homework

00:19:37.959 --> 00:19:39.419
 so I get

00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:40.199
 my Greek

00:19:40.199 --> 00:19:41.759
 sentences out

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.659
 read the

00:19:42.659 --> 00:19:43.339
 first one

00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:43.839
 and I think

00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.799
 oh I know

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.219
 what that

00:19:45.219 --> 00:19:45.719
 means

00:19:45.719 --> 00:19:47.079
 write it

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.439
 down

00:19:47.439 --> 00:19:48.099
 move on

00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:48.399
 to the

00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:49.039
 second one

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.779
 I think

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.279
 oh I know

00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:51.679
 what that

00:19:51.679 --> 00:19:52.419
 one means

00:19:52.419 --> 00:19:53.439
 write it

00:19:53.439 --> 00:19:53.819
 down

00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:54.599
 move on

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:54.899
 to the

00:19:54.899 --> 00:19:55.479
 second one

00:19:55.479 --> 00:19:56.199
 and I

00:19:56.199 --> 00:19:57.500
 just fly

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.640
 through all

00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.119
 ten

00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:00.140
 sentences

00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:00.880
 and I

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.079
 think

00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.819
 there's

00:20:01.819 --> 00:20:02.660
 absolutely

00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:03.440
 no way

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.099
 I

00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.960
 of my

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:05.240
 own

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.660
 ability

00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.119
 know

00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:06.400
 what

00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:06.720
 these

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.099
 mean

00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:08.480
 it's

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:08.859
 God

00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:09.980
 so I

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.480
 take the

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:10.880
 hint

00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.640
 I repent

00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:12.180
 of my

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.160
 irritability

00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:14.220
 and

00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:15.839
 finish my

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.339
 sentences

00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:17.039
 and say

00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.960
 just start

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.240
 up a

00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.900
 conversation

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.420
 with this

00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:19.900
 gentleman

00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:20.460
 next to

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:20.680
 me

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.680
 we spend

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.420
 two hours

00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.339
 talking about

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:24.140
 war and

00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:25.059
 politics and

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.440
 religion

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.460
 and every

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.220
 five minutes

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.740
 he tells

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.120
 me he's

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:28.640
 an atheist

00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.460
 he's chairman

00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:29.799
 of the

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.160
 atheist

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.680
 party

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.120
 chairman

00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:31.460
 of the

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:31.980
 humanist

00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.460
 party

00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:34.039
 and that

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:34.600
 there isn't

00:20:34.600 --> 00:20:35.120
 a God

00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:37.400
 but talks

00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.240
 also about

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:38.839
 his Quaker

00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.279
 friend

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.140
 his Catholic

00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:40.620
 priest

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:40.960
 friend

00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.620
 and he's

00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:41.940
 got a

00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.700
 whole litany

00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.880
 of believing

00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:44.600
 friends

00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:46.019
 and towards

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.519
 the end of

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.039
 the journey

00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:47.839
 he says

00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:49.079
 I know

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.519
 there isn't

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:49.900
 a God

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.539
 because if

00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:51.039
 there was

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.339
 he would

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.839
 have allowed

00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.319
 me to

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:52.880
 believe in

00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.100
 him

00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:54.480
 so I

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:54.860
 say

00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:56.180
 do you

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:56.640
 know what

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.480
 Ron

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.380
 the Bible

00:20:58.380 --> 00:20:59.240
 says that

00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.900
 if anyone

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:00.440
 would come

00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:00.900
 to God

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.200
 he must

00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.120
 first believe

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:02.600
 that he

00:21:02.600 --> 00:21:03.160
 exists

00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:04.340
 and you

00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:05.280
 by your own

00:21:05.280 --> 00:21:05.980
 admission keep

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.460
 saying he

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.200
 doesn't exist

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.380
 so maybe you

00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:09.040
 just need to

00:21:09.040 --> 00:21:09.540
 ask him

00:21:09.540 --> 00:21:10.420
 are you

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:10.780
 there

00:21:10.780 --> 00:21:11.780
 and he

00:21:11.780 --> 00:21:12.500
 begins to

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:12.920
 weep

00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:13.640
 a gentleman

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.120
 in his

00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:14.900
 90s

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.680
 blind

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:17.240
 weeping

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.140
 and he

00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:18.600
 says

00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.680
 yes

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.820
 I can

00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:21.620
 see that

00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:22.000
 now

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.319
 so I

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:23.500
 said

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:23.839
 can I

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.079
 pray

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.319
 with

00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:24.480
 you

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:24.740
 Ron

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.519
 yes

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:25.779
 I'd

00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.000
 like

00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.200
 that

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.480
 very

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:26.799
 much

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:26.940
 he

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.220
 said

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.680
 and he

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.059
 lets me

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.380
 pray

00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:28.819
 with him

00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.619
 and he

00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:30.099
 gets off

00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:30.619
 at Reading

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.279
 crying

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.119
 I get

00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:32.740
 off in

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.180
 London

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:33.900
 crying

00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.980
 and I

00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.359
 will never

00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:35.980
 see that

00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.480
 gentleman

00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:36.900
 again

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.359
 but I

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:37.779
 know

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.200
 that was

00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:38.339
 a

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:38.980
 transforming

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.640
 encounter

00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:40.240
 for both

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.700
 of us

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.740
 for him

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.539
 to hear

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.019
 the good

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.500
 news

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.480
 and to

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.220
 be

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:46.400
 encouraged

00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:46.980
 in his

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.259
 own

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:47.640
 journey

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:47.900
 with

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.240
 God

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.059
 for me

00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:49.680
 to know

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.279
 that when

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:50.559
 God

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.059
 wants me

00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:51.500
 to do

00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:51.980
 something

00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.960
 he makes

00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.620
 it possible

00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:54.539
 if we

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:54.920
 just

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.279
 will

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.920
 give him

00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.140
 our

00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.539
 yes

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.859
 so as

00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:58.440
 we close

00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.019
 today

00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.859
 be

00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.660
 encouraged

00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.400
 when you

00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:01.620
 have

00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:02.279
 opportunity

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.420
 to

00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.440
 encounter

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.500
 someone

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.160
 that is

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.400
 going to

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:06.579
 be

00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.359
 transforming

00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.079
 for them

00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:09.440
 and allow

00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.559
 the Holy

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.000
 Spirit

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.839
 to bring

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.279
 people

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:12.940
 into your

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.420
 life

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.220
 in a way

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.620
 that will

00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.240
 transform

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.660
 you

00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:45.640
 to