WEBVTT

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 You turn your Bible into Acts chapter 24.

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 Acts chapter 24, page 933.

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 We'll be one of the new Bibles.

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 Continuing our series through the end of this book,

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 Paul on trial, defending himself.

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 And after five days, the high priest Ananias

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 came down with some elders and a spokesman.

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 And one Tertullus.

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 They laid before the governor their case against Paul.

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 And when he had been summoned,

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 Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,

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 Since through you we enjoy much peace,

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 and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix,

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 reforms are being made for this nation,

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 in every way and everywhere,

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 we accept this with all gratitude.

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 But to detain you no further,

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 I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.

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 For we have found this man a plague,

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 one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world

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 and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

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 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.

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 By examining him yourself,

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 you will be able to find out from him

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 about everything of which we accuse him.

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 The Jews also joined in the charge,

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 affirming that all these things were so.

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 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak,

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 Paul replied,

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 Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation,

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 I cheerfully make my defense.

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 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days

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 since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,

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 and they did not find me disputing with anyone

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 or stirring up a crowd,

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 either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.

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 Neither can they prove to you

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 what they now bring up against me.

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 But this I confess to you,

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 that according to the way,

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 which they call a sect,

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 I worship the God of our fathers,

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 believing everything laid down by the law

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 and written in the prophets,

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 having a hope in God,

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 which these men themselves accept,

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 that there will be a resurrection

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 of both the just and the unjust.

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 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience

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 toward both God and man.

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 Now after several years,

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 I came to bring alms to my nation

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 and to present offerings.

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 While I was doing this,

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 they found me purified in the temple

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 without any crowd or tumult.

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 But some Jews from Asia,

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 they ought to be here before you

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 and to make an accusation,

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 should they have anything against me,

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 or else let these men themselves

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 say what wrongdoing they found

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 when I stood before the council

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 other than this one thing

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 that I cried out while standing among them.

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 It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead

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 that I am on trial before you this day.

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 But Felix,

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 having a rather accurate knowledge of the way,

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 put them off,

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 saying,

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 When Lysias the Tribune comes down,

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 I will decide your case.

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 Then he gave orders to the centurion

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 that he should be kept in custody

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 but have some liberty

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 and that none of his friends

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 should be prevented from attending to his needs.

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 After some days,

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 Felix came with his wife, Drusilla,

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 who is Jewish,

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 and he sent for Paul

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 and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

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 And as he reasoned about righteousness

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 and self-control

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 and the coming judgment,

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 Felix was alarmed

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 and said,

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 Go away for the present.

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 When I get an opportunity,

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 I will summon you.

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 At the same time,

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 he hoped that money

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 would be given him by Paul.

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 So he sent for him often

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 and conversed with him.

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 When two years had elapsed,

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 Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus.

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 And desiring to do the Jews a favor,

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 Felix left Paul in prison.

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 So this morning,

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 we see the Apostle Paul

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 hauled into court

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 before a self-serving judge,

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 slanderously accused

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 by a clever lawyer,

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 framed by powerful leaders

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 who want to get him executed.

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 Now, for some Christians in the world today,

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 Paul's situation

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 is not hard to relate to.

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 In Pakistan,

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 a Christian woman

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 known as Asia Bibi

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 is facing the death sentence

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 for violating blasphemy laws.

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 Six years ago,

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 she was picking berries

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 with some of her neighbors.

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 She was thirsty,

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 so she got a drink

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 from the well nearby.

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 And the women said,

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 As a Christian,

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 you are unclean.

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 Don't drink our water.

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 An argument ensued.

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 At some point,

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 she said,

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 My Jesus Christ died for me.

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 What did Mohammed do for you?

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 The women then accused her

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 of insulting Mohammed.

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 A mob came to her house

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 and beat her

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 and her family members

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 until the police rescued her

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 and her case was brought to court

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 where she was sentenced to death

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 for blasphemy.

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 Her family has gone into hiding

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 because of death threats.

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 Two Pakistani politicians,

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 one a Christian,

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 one a Muslim,

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 who publicly advocated

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 on her behalf

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 were assassinated.

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 Many human rights groups worldwide

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 have organized petitions

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 calling for her release

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 and recently,

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 the Supreme Court of Pakistan

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 has agreed to review her case.

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 Now, this is an extreme example,

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 but many of our brothers

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 and sisters in Christ

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 around the world

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 face these kinds of realities

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 and possibilities.

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 Now, for many of us,

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 that kind of situation,

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 the situation of persecuted Christians,

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 feels far away

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 from our daily lives

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 and struggles

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 and our ability to help

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 is mostly limited.

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 And we can pray,

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 and we surely should.

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 We can sign the petition online

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 or donate to a Christian ministry

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 like Voice of the Martyrs

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 or Hanum Assad's ministry

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 to refugees fleeing from ISIS.

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 But I think sometimes

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 simply being reminded

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 of the struggles

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 that our brothers and sisters

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 face around the world

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 is helpful

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 because it lifts us out

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 of our self-centered tendencies

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 and our preoccupation

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 with our own worries,

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 which can seem small

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 by comparison.

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 But this morning's text

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 is not only for persecuted Christians

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 who are hauled into court.

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 It has a message

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 for all of us

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 who have been wrongly accused

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 or personally attacked.

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 Now, maybe you have been

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 legally charged

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 for an offense

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 that you did not actually commit.

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 Or maybe you were

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 the victim of a crime

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 and the perpetrator

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 escaped without consequences.

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 Or maybe you've been

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 maligned on the internet.

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 It's not a legal court,

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 but the accusations against you

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 are just as accessible

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 as a Google search of your name,

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 and there's nothing

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 you can do about it.

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 Maybe people have judged you

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 by the color of your skin

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 or by the clothes

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 you were wearing.

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 Maybe the accusations

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 and attacks

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 have come from closer to home,

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 from a family member

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 or a close friend,

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 and it hurts deep inside.

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 The Apostle Paul

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 was accused personally.

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 He was also accused

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 specifically in his role

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 as a Christian.

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 Now, I know for some of you,

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 your work environment

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 can feel like

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 a spiritual battleground.

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 Maybe it's full of cursing

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 and gossip and grumbling,

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 and you feel like

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 you're constantly being asked

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 to work twice as hard

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 to make up for other people

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 who are cutting corners.

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 Or maybe you work aside

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 accomplished and gifted

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 and successful people

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 who have big egos

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 and want big money.

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 Maybe you work with scholars

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 who assume that

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 no intelligent person

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 in their right mind

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 in New Haven, Connecticut

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 would really believe

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 what the Bible says.

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 Perhaps someone makes

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 a passing comment

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 about Bible-believing Christians

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 as if they all lived

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 long ago or far away,

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 back in the 17th century

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 or down south.

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 And you wonder,

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 is it even safe

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 to identify myself

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 as a Christian here?

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 Or maybe you feel like

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 an outsider in your family.

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 Maybe you weren't raised

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 in a religious family

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 and they just can't seem

00:07:59.979 --> 00:08:00.459
 to understand,

00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:02.399
 why do you need to go

00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:03.919
 to church every Sunday

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 and spend so much time

00:08:06.039 --> 00:08:06.939
 with other church people?

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 I mean, we raise you

00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:09.399
 with good moral values.

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 Isn't that enough?

00:08:10.239 --> 00:08:12.119
 Like, is this a cult or something

00:08:12.119 --> 00:08:13.979
 that you're getting involved with?

00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:16.019
 Or maybe you were raised

00:08:16.019 --> 00:08:17.279
 in a different religious tradition.

00:08:18.239 --> 00:08:19.459
 Maybe you've been accused

00:08:19.459 --> 00:08:20.179
 of being a traitor

00:08:20.179 --> 00:08:21.639
 to your family

00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:22.699
 and your heritage.

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 Or maybe your family

00:08:24.239 --> 00:08:25.159
 is also Christian,

00:08:25.559 --> 00:08:27.079
 but for one reason or another

00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:28.399
 you feel spiritually distant

00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:29.359
 from them.

00:08:30.219 --> 00:08:30.919
 Perhaps you've sought

00:08:30.919 --> 00:08:31.839
 to make decisions

00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:33.539
 based on biblical principles

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 and they just don't seem

00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:35.799
 to understand.

00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:37.939
 Now, there's all kinds

00:08:37.939 --> 00:08:38.419
 of examples.

00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:39.100
 Sooner or later,

00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:40.399
 all of us will face

00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:42.279
 accusations and attacks

00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:44.019
 of one kind or another.

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 And this morning,

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 I want us to look

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 at Paul's response

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 to the accusations

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 he faces

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 and what we can learn

00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:52.100
 from his example.

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 This morning,

00:08:53.340 --> 00:08:54.060
 we'll look at our text

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 in three sections.

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 First, the lawyer's accusations.

00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.860
 Second, the apostle's defense.

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 And third, the governor's verdict.

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 Now, incidentally,

00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:05.600
 the structure of the chapter

00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:08.280
 reflects the common pattern

00:09:08.280 --> 00:09:09.800
 of ancient Roman legal proceedings

00:09:09.800 --> 00:09:12.400
 from beginning to end.

00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:13.860
 But first,

00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:15.700
 we have the lawyer's accusations.

00:09:15.700 --> 00:09:17.180
 Verse 1 through 9.

00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:18.020
 Verse 1 tells us

00:09:18.020 --> 00:09:18.840
 that the prosecutors,

00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:20.700
 the temple authorities

00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:21.820
 from Jerusalem,

00:09:22.560 --> 00:09:23.300
 hired a lawyer,

00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:24.940
 Tertullus,

00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:26.300
 to speak on their behalf.

00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:27.740
 Now, in principle,

00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:29.200
 lawyers are paid

00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:30.200
 to make sure

00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:31.640
 that everything can be said,

00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:33.300
 everything that can be said

00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:35.240
 on one particular side

00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:35.980
 is said.

00:09:36.640 --> 00:09:38.080
 And if the system works well,

00:09:38.640 --> 00:09:39.360
 lawyers will present

00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:40.320
 both sides of a case

00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:40.860
 in turn,

00:09:41.420 --> 00:09:42.140
 an impartial judge,

00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:43.899
 will make a well-informed decision

00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:45.500
 and justice will be done.

00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:47.819
 But as everyone knows,

00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:49.740
 the system doesn't always work

00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:50.879
 quite that way.

00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:53.620
 Sometimes people with money

00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:54.679
 and power,

00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:55.799
 both in the ancient world

00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:56.679
 and in the modern world,

00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:58.199
 pay expensive lawyers

00:09:58.199 --> 00:09:59.980
 in order to win cases.

00:10:00.939 --> 00:10:01.899
 And from what we see here,

00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.480
 Tertullus seems to have been

00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:05.539
 a skilled, shrewd,

00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:07.019
 and experienced lawyer.

00:10:08.179 --> 00:10:08.919
 Tertullus began

00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:09.719
 not by launching

00:10:09.719 --> 00:10:10.599
 into his accusations

00:10:10.599 --> 00:10:11.439
 against Paul,

00:10:12.079 --> 00:10:13.319
 but by praising the governor

00:10:13.319 --> 00:10:14.839
 for three whole verses,

00:10:14.979 --> 00:10:15.879
 verses two to four.

00:10:16.939 --> 00:10:17.959
 Now, in the Roman culture,

00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:19.019
 it was common to begin

00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:21.179
 with some respectful comments

00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:22.699
 in order to establish a rapport

00:10:22.699 --> 00:10:24.079
 and gain the goodwill

00:10:24.079 --> 00:10:24.759
 of the judge.

00:10:25.639 --> 00:10:26.779
 But Tertullus didn't just

00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:28.059
 make some general

00:10:28.059 --> 00:10:28.979
 respectful comments.

00:10:29.099 --> 00:10:30.279
 He said exactly

00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:31.979
 what Governor Felix

00:10:31.979 --> 00:10:33.719
 wanted to hear.

00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:35.419
 He flattered him.

00:10:36.439 --> 00:10:37.659
 He praised Felix.

00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:39.419
 Through you,

00:10:39.819 --> 00:10:41.279
 we enjoy much peace.

00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:42.860
 You're a ruler

00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:44.459
 characterized by foresight

00:10:44.459 --> 00:10:46.379
 and wise reforms.

00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:49.019
 He appealed to Felix's kindness,

00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:50.079
 verse four,

00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:52.379
 and he promised to be brief.

00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:54.519
 Now, in reality,

00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:56.539
 Judea was not at peace.

00:10:57.219 --> 00:10:57.959
 It was on the brink

00:10:57.959 --> 00:10:58.699
 of civil war.

00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.439
 And Governor Felix

00:11:00.439 --> 00:11:01.179
 was notorious

00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:02.639
 for brutally suppressing

00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:04.879
 potential uprisings

00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:06.720
 and turning one group

00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.740
 against another

00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:10.200
 to solidify his own power.

00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.360
 His rule was characterized

00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:13.279
 not by kindness,

00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:14.299
 but by harshness.

00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:15.960
 But, of course,

00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:17.000
 the truth didn't matter

00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:18.139
 very much to Tertullus.

00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:19.279
 He just wanted to get Felix

00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:19.980
 on his side

00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:21.480
 and set the stage

00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:22.200
 for his accusations

00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:22.919
 against Paul.

00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.559
 Verse five and six,

00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:26.179
 he outlines his accusations

00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:26.939
 against Paul.

00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:28.220
 First,

00:11:28.880 --> 00:11:29.820
 Paul's a troublemaker,

00:11:30.660 --> 00:11:31.200
 a plague,

00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:31.880
 a pest,

00:11:32.660 --> 00:11:33.600
 stirring up riots,

00:11:33.800 --> 00:11:36.060
 spreading contagious disease

00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:37.920
 all around the empire,

00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:39.640
 all this violence

00:11:39.640 --> 00:11:40.260
 and unrest.

00:11:40.400 --> 00:11:41.680
 He's a threat to peace.

00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:42.740
 He's dangerous.

00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:44.180
 Second,

00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:45.560
 he's a sectarian.

00:11:46.420 --> 00:11:47.220
 He's a ringleader

00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:47.940
 of the sect

00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:49.060
 of the Nazarenes.

00:11:49.140 --> 00:11:50.000
 Now, in some context,

00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:50.820
 the word sect

00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:52.760
 just means a religious group

00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:54.740
 or a particular school

00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:55.360
 or tradition

00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:55.840
 within,

00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:57.139
 in this case,

00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:57.600
 Judaism.

00:11:58.759 --> 00:11:59.500
 But here,

00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:00.340
 but it can also have

00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:01.399
 a negative connotation.

00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:02.480
 I mean,

00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:02.960
 it's sort of like

00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.120
 the word cult today.

00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:06.500
 There's a technical way

00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:07.319
 that scholars use

00:12:07.319 --> 00:12:08.019
 the word cult

00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:09.240
 to just talk about

00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:10.500
 a practice of worship.

00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:12.220
 But if somebody comes

00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:12.879
 to you and says,

00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:14.019
 is that a cult

00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:14.879
 he's part of?

00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:16.580
 You know it doesn't mean

00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:18.019
 is he just going to,

00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:19.059
 you know,

00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.139
 is he just going to church

00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:20.620
 on Sunday

00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:22.200
 or is he going

00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:22.679
 to a temple?

00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:23.919
 Is it just a sort

00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:24.419
 of respectable

00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:25.319
 religious practice?

00:12:25.439 --> 00:12:27.419
 It's a negative term.

00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.620
 A divisive,

00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:30.159
 dangerous,

00:12:30.319 --> 00:12:31.639
 deviant sect

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:33.220
 leading people astray

00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:35.100
 following a Nazarene

00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:37.419
 and Tertullus

00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:38.039
 might have reminded

00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:38.500
 the governor

00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:40.019
 that this Nazarene,

00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:40.379
 Jesus,

00:12:40.939 --> 00:12:41.639
 was crucified

00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:43.419
 under Roman law

00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:45.639
 under an accusation

00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:46.220
 of treason

00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:47.779
 claiming to be

00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:48.620
 the king of the Jews.

00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:51.860
 So, Paul is a troublemaker,

00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:52.940
 a sectarian,

00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:54.120
 and a violator.

00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.279
 He even tried

00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.320
 to profane the temple,

00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.460
 but we seized him.

00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:58.419
 Now you might say,

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.220
 why does that matter?

00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:00.360
 Well, the Romans

00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.480
 gave a lot of authority

00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:02.840
 to religious groups

00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:03.899
 in the ancient world

00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:05.580
 to be in charge

00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:06.440
 of their own temples.

00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.320
 And temples were seen

00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:09.460
 as sacred,

00:13:09.800 --> 00:13:10.779
 holy spaces.

00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:12.539
 You don't violate them.

00:13:13.180 --> 00:13:13.720
 In the temple

00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.320
 in Jerusalem,

00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:16.840
 there were large plaques,

00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:18.639
 prominent signs,

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.980
 and they said this,

00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:20.860
 no foreigner

00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:22.319
 is to go beyond this point.

00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:24.139
 Whoever is caught doing so

00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:25.500
 will have himself to blame

00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:26.360
 for his death,

00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:27.379
 which will follow.

00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:28.379
 And the Romans

00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:30.819
 supported the Jewish temple leaders

00:13:30.819 --> 00:13:32.539
 in enforcing this law.

00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:34.720
 So, basically,

00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:35.779
 Tertullus is saying,

00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:37.159
 Governor Felix,

00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:38.379
 you have brought us peace.

00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:40.240
 You are a man of foresight.

00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.879
 You are for this nation.

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.679
 This man, Paul,

00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:44.059
 is a threat to everything

00:13:44.059 --> 00:13:45.580
 that you have done for us.

00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:47.340
 He's a threat to peace

00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:48.180
 and order.

00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.899
 He's a threat to our temple

00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:51.100
 and to our nation.

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.340
 And you should deal with him

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:53.019
 in the same way

00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:53.720
 that you deal

00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:56.139
 with other dangerous deviants.

00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.040
 Get rid of them.

00:13:59.259 --> 00:13:59.899
 Paul is facing

00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:00.860
 some pretty intense

00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:01.840
 accusations here.

00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:03.620
 Now, take a moment

00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.420
 before we go ahead

00:14:04.420 --> 00:14:05.200
 into Paul's defense.

00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.460
 How do you feel

00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:08.139
 and what do you think

00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:09.980
 when you are accused

00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:10.740
 or attacked?

00:14:12.180 --> 00:14:13.600
 I can remember one time

00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:15.160
 not too long ago

00:14:15.160 --> 00:14:16.480
 when I was the object

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:18.300
 of verbal accusations

00:14:18.300 --> 00:14:19.720
 that felt fairly intense

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.680
 and these were

00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:21.560
 some of my responses.

00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.700
 First, I was furious.

00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:26.019
 I was stewing in my mind

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.800
 about all the ways

00:14:26.800 --> 00:14:28.360
 I could justify myself

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:29.440
 and all the accusations

00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:30.379
 I could throw back

00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.080
 at the other person.

00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:34.720
 Second, I became dejected,

00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.360
 moping around,

00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:37.580
 unproductive,

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.320
 unfocused, gloomy.

00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:41.440
 Third, I just wanted

00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:42.000
 to run away.

00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:44.279
 Maybe you've been there.

00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:46.299
 It can be intense.

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:49.379
 Well, let's consider

00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.559
 the Apostle Paul's response.

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:51.919
 I want to consider

00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:52.579
 three aspects

00:14:52.579 --> 00:14:53.379
 of his response.

00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:55.379
 First, Paul didn't let

00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:57.220
 his anger or frustration

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:58.220
 get the best of him.

00:14:58.439 --> 00:14:59.779
 He maintained his integrity.

00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:02.419
 Second, Paul didn't become

00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:04.319
 despairing or dejected.

00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:06.100
 He maintained his courage.

00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:08.839
 Third, he didn't run away.

00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.399
 He remained steadfast.

00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.919
 Integrity, courage,

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:14.259
 and steadfastness.

00:15:15.579 --> 00:15:16.519
 First, integrity.

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.959
 Paul respected the governor,

00:15:19.479 --> 00:15:20.819
 but he didn't flatter

00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:21.659
 the governor.

00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.959
 Verse 10, Paul begins

00:15:23.959 --> 00:15:24.899
 his speech by saying,

00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:26.699
 knowing that for many years

00:15:26.699 --> 00:15:27.459
 you have been a judge

00:15:27.459 --> 00:15:28.179
 over this nation,

00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:30.120
 I cheerfully make my defense.

00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:31.919
 Paul respected

00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.899
 the governor's authority.

00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:35.079
 He didn't despise it,

00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:37.319
 but he didn't cower

00:15:37.319 --> 00:15:38.539
 in fear of the governor

00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:39.539
 and desperately try

00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:40.620
 to gain his goodwill

00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:42.500
 by resorting to flattery

00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.299
 and half-truths

00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:44.460
 and over-the-top compliments.

00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:47.019
 Now, if you're in a position

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:48.360
 of authority or leadership,

00:15:49.060 --> 00:15:50.060
 you may encounter

00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:50.799
 some people

00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:52.639
 who always seem to think

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.539
 that you're the greatest,

00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:56.159
 who always compare you favorably

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.320
 with other leaders,

00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.340
 who never criticize

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:59.600
 any of your plans.

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:02.040
 be careful

00:16:02.040 --> 00:16:03.460
 that you are not

00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:04.379
 overly drawn

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:07.060
 toward those people

00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:08.820
 because they always

00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:09.500
 agree with you

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:11.200
 and always affirm you

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.800
 and always tell you

00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:13.540
 what you want to hear.

00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.600
 Some of the most valuable

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.659
 people in your life

00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:17.320
 may be the ones

00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:18.300
 who respect you

00:16:18.300 --> 00:16:19.440
 and encourage you

00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:20.700
 but don't flatter you.

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.740
 The ones who know you

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:24.139
 and love you well enough

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.720
 to say things

00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.639
 that you don't want to hear

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:29.319
 because you may need

00:16:29.319 --> 00:16:29.720
 to hear them.

00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:32.080
 If you're under authority,

00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:34.500
 don't despise people

00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.379
 who are over you,

00:16:36.199 --> 00:16:36.740
 even if,

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.580
 like Governor Felix,

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.819
 they are deeply flawed.

00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:41.100
 Don't try to undercut them

00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:42.139
 or avoid their oversight.

00:16:42.319 --> 00:16:43.299
 Respect their role

00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:44.120
 as Paul did,

00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:45.220
 even if their character

00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:46.179
 and performance

00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:47.759
 leave much to be desired.

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.220
 At the same time,

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:51.360
 don't flatter people

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.360
 who are in authority

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.700
 out of an excessive desire

00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.639
 to gain their favor.

00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.840
 The Apostle Paul

00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.980
 had very little power

00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:58.199
 in this situation.

00:16:59.059 --> 00:16:59.819
 He had no lawyer

00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:00.659
 to represent him.

00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:02.500
 He was facing accusations

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.960
 from the head honchos

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.639
 in Jerusalem

00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:05.819
 who had hired

00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.759
 and probably

00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:08.420
 trained and experienced

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:08.960
 and perhaps

00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.920
 an expensive lawyer.

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.519
 He had very little power

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:14.259
 but he maintained

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:14.879
 his integrity.

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.220
 So that's the first thing

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.819
 we see about Paul,

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.400
 his integrity.

00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.180
 Second thing we see

00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:20.759
 about Paul

00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:22.059
 is his courage.

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:24.279
 Paul courageously

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.319
 defended himself

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.639
 against the charges

00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:27.539
 made against him

00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.899
 one by one.

00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:30.019
 Verse 11 through 13,

00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:31.659
 he says,

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.899
 I'm not a troublemaker.

00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:36.740
 He says,

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:38.500
 less than two weeks ago,

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:40.200
 I was up in Jerusalem.

00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:42.700
 I wasn't disputing

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.279
 with anyone.

00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.299
 I wasn't stirring up

00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:44.799
 a crowd.

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.099
 There aren't any accusations,

00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:47.059
 there aren't any evidence

00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.819
 to prove

00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:49.220
 what they're saying.

00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:51.059
 It seems that,

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.460
 interestingly,

00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:52.259
 it seems that because

00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:53.339
 of how tense

00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:55.360
 the situation was

00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:55.960
 in Jerusalem,

00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:57.940
 Paul avoided

00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.799
 getting into public

00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:00.019
 debates and discussions

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.380
 during his time there.

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.600
 Now in many other cities,

00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:05.240
 Paul held daily discussions

00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:07.200
 and he sometimes faced

00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.299
 quite a bit of opposition

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.180
 and he continued

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.240
 publicly preaching

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.579
 and publicly discussing

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.059
 with people

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:13.740
 about the Christian message.

00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:14.559
 But when he was

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.440
 visiting Jerusalem,

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.339
 it seems that he

00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.359
 deliberately chose

00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:19.579
 not to do that.

00:18:20.639 --> 00:18:21.220
 There's a time

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:21.720
 to engage

00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.480
 in public debate

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.079
 and discussion.

00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:24.019
 There's a time

00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:24.559
 to listen

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.819
 and let your deeds

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.299
 speak louder

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.000
 than your words.

00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:28.319
 And Paul had some discernment

00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.639
 in that case.

00:18:30.939 --> 00:18:31.519
 So he said,

00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.480
 I'm not a troublemaker.

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:33.599
 Second,

00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:35.000
 I'm not a sectarian.

00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:36.240
 Verse 14 to 16,

00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:37.859
 the way,

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.339
 now that was just a name

00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:41.119
 for the early Christian movement.

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.539
 He says,

00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:43.639
 the way isn't

00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:45.240
 a dangerous deviation

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:47.000
 from faithful Judaism.

00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.599
 I'm not a maverick

00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.339
 religious leader

00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.519
 sort of making it up

00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:51.259
 as I go along

00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.439
 and just trying to get

00:18:52.439 --> 00:18:53.079
 more and more people

00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.859
 to follow me.

00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:56.259
 I worship the God

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:56.879
 of our fathers.

00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:59.079
 I believe everything

00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:00.139
 laid down by the law

00:19:00.139 --> 00:19:01.579
 and written in the prophets.

00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:02.159
 In other words,

00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:03.799
 I believe the Hebrew Scriptures.

00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.619
 I have the same hope

00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.740
 in God as these men

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:08.079
 in the resurrection.

00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.220
 And as a result,

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.419
 my ambition is always

00:19:12.419 --> 00:19:13.579
 to keep a clear conscience

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.259
 before God

00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:15.959
 and before human beings.

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:18.100
 Paul says,

00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:20.140
 I'm not inventing stuff here.

00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.579
 I'm worshiping

00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:23.400
 the God of our fathers,

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.360
 believing the Scriptures,

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:26.380
 and seeking to maintain

00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:27.220
 a clear conscience.

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.019
 Now,

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.279
 do you see

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.019
 what Paul does here?

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:32.100
 He doesn't just say,

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:34.180
 I'm not one of those sectarians.

00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:35.000
 I'm not one of those

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.079
 dangerous cult leaders.

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.980
 He actually takes

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.660
 that opportunity

00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:39.660
 to present positively

00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:40.539
 what he is,

00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:41.400
 who he is

00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:42.360
 as a Christian.

00:19:43.780 --> 00:19:44.960
 Sometimes out of fear,

00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:46.880
 when we feel accused

00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:47.560
 or misunderstood,

00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:48.780
 we can sort of go

00:19:48.780 --> 00:19:50.080
 into a defensive mode

00:19:50.080 --> 00:19:51.580
 and never say anything

00:19:51.580 --> 00:19:52.720
 positive about what

00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.720
 we actually believe

00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.460
 or practice.

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.440
 When I was in college,

00:19:57.320 --> 00:19:59.480
 I applied and interviewed

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.940
 for an RA position.

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.759
 And during my interview

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.300
 with the dean and master

00:20:05.300 --> 00:20:07.060
 of the residential college,

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:08.820
 they said something like,

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.200
 we know you're very committed

00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:10.939
 to your faith

00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:12.299
 and we know you're a leader

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.460
 in one of the Christian groups.

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.759
 Do you think that would

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:16.839
 cause any challenges for you

00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.899
 or limit your ability

00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:19.419
 to be a resource

00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:20.079
 and a counselor

00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:21.299
 to a wide diversity

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.980
 of students?

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.139
 And I felt a little nervous

00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:24.480
 and I said,

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:24.879
 oh no,

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.339
 certainly not.

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:26.819
 Like,

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:28.379
 it certainly wouldn't

00:20:28.379 --> 00:20:29.659
 cause any barriers for me.

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:30.799
 But you know,

00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.720
 later on I thought,

00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:34.000
 I missed an opportunity here

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.700
 because I could have said

00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:37.059
 something positive.

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:38.799
 I could have said like,

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.859
 being Christian,

00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:41.519
 I find helps me

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.759
 to be a resource

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.359
 and a counselor

00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:44.700
 to a wide variety of people.

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:45.960
 It teaches me

00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.980
 to see every person,

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.179
 Christianity teaches me

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:49.599
 to see every person,

00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.059
 even people who are

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.500
 very different than me,

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:54.159
 as someone who bears

00:20:54.159 --> 00:20:55.179
 the image of God.

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.700
 Christianity also helps me

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.419
 to be realistic

00:20:58.419 --> 00:20:59.500
 and self-critical

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.839
 because it teaches

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.480
 that all of us

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.079
 have profound limitations

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:04.859
 and deep-seated flaws.

00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.859
 It also teaches me

00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.740
 that a person's worth

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.339
 isn't determined

00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:09.299
 by their accomplishments.

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.679
 I wouldn't have to say

00:21:11.679 --> 00:21:12.199
 all those things,

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:13.019
 but I could have said

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:13.500
 one of them.

00:21:14.459 --> 00:21:14.939
 I could have said

00:21:14.939 --> 00:21:15.939
 something positive

00:21:15.939 --> 00:21:18.839
 instead of feeling like

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:20.719
 I only had to say

00:21:20.719 --> 00:21:21.319
 what I wasn't.

00:21:23.699 --> 00:21:24.059
 So,

00:21:24.479 --> 00:21:26.119
 not a troublemaker,

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.639
 not a,

00:21:28.139 --> 00:21:28.879
 what's the second one,

00:21:28.919 --> 00:21:29.359
 sectarian.

00:21:29.719 --> 00:21:30.039
 Third,

00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:30.859
 not a violator.

00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.779
 Verse 17 to 21.

00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:34.279
 Again,

00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:34.959
 he doesn't just say

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.779
 what he wasn't doing.

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.980
 He says what he was doing.

00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.319
 I came to Jerusalem

00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.660
 to bring gifts to the poor

00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:41.140
 and present offerings.

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:43.120
 I was purified in the temple.

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.319
 I was showing my respect

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.860
 for my Jewish brothers

00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.460
 and sisters.

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.380
 And then he says,

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.600
 but some Jews from Asia,

00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:51.140
 and here,

00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:53.299
 the sentence actually breaks off.

00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:54.440
 It's an incomplete sentence.

00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:56.200
 Paul doesn't finish his sentence.

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.620
 You might say,

00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:57.740
 why doesn't he finish his sentence?

00:21:57.860 --> 00:21:58.960
 He's testifying in court.

00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:00.400
 Well,

00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.000
 in Jerusalem,

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.300
 if you remember,

00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.560
 some Jews from Asia,

00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:05.040
 Asia Minor,

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.840
 modern-day Turkey,

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.840
 had accused Paul

00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:09.180
 of violating the temple

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:12.100
 by bringing uncircumcised Greeks

00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:13.540
 into the inner courts.

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:16.240
 That was the original accusation

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:18.460
 that provoked the riot

00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:20.680
 and brought him to trial

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.700
 before the Sanhedrin.

00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:23.300
 But here,

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:26.080
 Tertullus has slightly changed

00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:27.060
 the accusation.

00:22:27.800 --> 00:22:28.900
 He doesn't accuse Paul

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.560
 of actually violating the temple

00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:31.780
 by bringing Greeks

00:22:31.780 --> 00:22:32.420
 into the temple

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:34.100
 because it wasn't true.

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:34.840
 He accuses him

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.460
 of attempting

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.960
 to violate the temple

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.900
 and he says,

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.500
 we stopped him just in time.

00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:42.240
 The original accusation

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.900
 had been dropped

00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:43.960
 and the original witnesses

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:45.700
 had no showed in court.

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:46.920
 Now,

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.600
 Roman law

00:22:47.600 --> 00:22:49.940
 actually harshly penalized

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.420
 witnesses

00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:52.620
 who made criminal accusations

00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:53.960
 against someone,

00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:54.860
 got someone arrested

00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.800
 and then failed

00:22:55.800 --> 00:22:56.580
 to show up in court.

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.140
 And Paul's

00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:58.800
 standing in the court

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.639
 and he looks around

00:22:59.639 --> 00:23:00.399
 and he realizes,

00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:03.359
 none of my original accusers

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:05.000
 who accused me

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.779
 of actually bringing

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.279
 these Greeks

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.839
 into the temple,

00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.519
 they're not here

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.519
 because they realized

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.639
 the accusation wasn't true.

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.740
 And Paul says,

00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.680
 the only accusation

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.440
 that the Sanhedrin

00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.319
 could agree on

00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.359
 is that I believe

00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:16.899
 in the resurrection

00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:17.700
 from the dead.

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:20.379
 Paul courageously

00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.180
 stood his ground.

00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.819
 He didn't back down.

00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:23.859
 He maintained

00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.480
 his integrity

00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:26.279
 and his courage.

00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:29.839
 Now,

00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.160
 the Apostle Paul

00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:33.240
 was falsely accused

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.799
 and unjustly attacked

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:36.460
 and he courageously

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.299
 defended himself.

00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.180
 But many times

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.299
 when we are accused

00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:40.900
 or attacked,

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.360
 it's not quite so simple.

00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.599
 We can't assume

00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:46.740
 that we are always right.

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.220
 A few years ago,

00:23:49.860 --> 00:23:50.519
 Tim Keller,

00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.500
 a pastor in New York,

00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:52.519
 wrote an article

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.579
 about how to respond

00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:55.039
 to harsh criticism.

00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:56.559
 And he said,

00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.339
 the greatest danger

00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:58.000
 of criticism

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.639
 is not to your own

00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:00.639
 public reputation

00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.799
 but to your own heart.

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:04.200
 You feel the injustice of it.

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:06.240
 You feel sorry for yourself

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.400
 and attempts you

00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:08.400
 to despise

00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:09.819
 not only the critic

00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:11.259
 but the entire group

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:11.700
 of people

00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.639
 from which they come.

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.559
 All this can make you

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.039
 prouder over time.

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.139
 He says,

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:18.680
 as a Christian,

00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:20.379
 how should we respond

00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:21.579
 to harsh criticism?

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:21.940
 He says,

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.420
 first,

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.259
 we should look to see

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.180
 if there is a kernel

00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:25.920
 of truth

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:28.240
 even in the most

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.900
 exaggerated

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:30.740
 and unfair criticisms.

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.340
 He says,

00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:32.960
 there is usually

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:33.700
 such a kernel

00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.980
 when the criticism

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.900
 comes from friends

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.640
 and there is often

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.380
 such truth

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:38.460
 when the disapproval

00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.120
 comes from people

00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:40.259
 who actually know you.

00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:42.080
 So look for what

00:24:42.080 --> 00:24:43.019
 you may have done wrong.

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.740
 Identify your own

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.340
 shortcomings.

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:47.100
 Repent in your own heart

00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:47.779
 before the Lord

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.420
 for what you can

00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:49.420
 and let that humble you.

00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:51.400
 It will then be possible

00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.680
 to learn from the criticism

00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.900
 and stay gracious

00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.539
 to the critic

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:55.900
 even if you disagree

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.519
 with much of what

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.320
 he or she has said.

00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.200
 Now he says,

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:00.680
 if the criticism

00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.320
 comes from someone

00:25:01.320 --> 00:25:01.920
 who doesn't know you

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.380
 at all,

00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.860
 he says this is often

00:25:03.860 --> 00:25:04.640
 the case on the internet,

00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:05.960
 it's possible

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.580
 that the criticism

00:25:06.580 --> 00:25:07.920
 is profoundly mistaken

00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:09.340
 and completely unwarranted.

00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.420
 When that happens,

00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:13.160
 it's even easier

00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.580
 to fall into smugness.

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.240
 Perhaps be tempted

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.779
 to laugh

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.759
 at how foolish

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.659
 your critics are.

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.439
 And he says,

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.059
 don't do it.

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.740
 Even if there is

00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:23.599
 no truth at all

00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:24.960
 in what the critic says,

00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:26.119
 you should not mock them

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:27.059
 in your thoughts.

00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.299
 He says,

00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:28.539
 first,

00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.240
 remind yourself

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:29.799
 of examples

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.759
 of your own mistakes,

00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.399
 your own foolishness,

00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.419
 your own cluelessness,

00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.099
 times when you

00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:35.960
 really got something wrong

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.899
 in the past.

00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:38.299
 Second,

00:25:38.439 --> 00:25:38.699
 he says,

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.679
 pray for the critic

00:25:39.679 --> 00:25:40.819
 that he or she

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:42.139
 grows in grace.

00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:46.180
 It's challenging.

00:25:47.540 --> 00:25:48.480
 It's challenging

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:50.380
 to maintain integrity

00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.640
 and courage

00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:52.280
 in the face

00:25:52.280 --> 00:25:52.960
 of accusations,

00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:55.740
 to have the humility

00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.380
 and honesty

00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:58.100
 to be self-reflective

00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:59.060
 even when you feel hurt.

00:26:02.580 --> 00:26:03.700
 So the Apostle Paul

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.620
 maintained his integrity,

00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.440
 his courage,

00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:07.380
 and he remained steadfast.

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.560
 He didn't give up.

00:26:09.820 --> 00:26:10.640
 He didn't blow up.

00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:12.680
 Now,

00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:13.140
 third,

00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.480
 we come to the governor's response,

00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.420
 verse 22 to 27.

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:19.280
 And,

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:19.920
 you know,

00:26:20.040 --> 00:26:20.920
 in the normal course

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.759
 of a Roman trial,

00:26:23.580 --> 00:26:24.540
 there's the summons,

00:26:25.280 --> 00:26:26.640
 there's the prosecution,

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.140
 there's the defense,

00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:29.180
 and now,

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:30.060
 we're waiting

00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:30.820
 for the verdict,

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.660
 and the verdict

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.240
 doesn't come.

00:26:36.340 --> 00:26:37.720
 Paul displayed integrity

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.320
 and courage

00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:38.640
 and steadfastness.

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.920
 Governor Felix

00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.840
 displayed the opposite,

00:26:41.020 --> 00:26:41.620
 hypocrisy,

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.700
 cowardice,

00:26:43.020 --> 00:26:43.680
 and indecision.

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.480
 First,

00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:46.100
 hypocrisy,

00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:47.480
 verse 22,

00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:48.840
 he stalled.

00:26:49.860 --> 00:26:50.620
 When Lysias,

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.100
 the tribune,

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.620
 comes down,

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.660
 I'll decide your case.

00:26:54.040 --> 00:26:54.880
 But if you look back

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.840
 at chapter 23,

00:26:56.280 --> 00:26:57.460
 verse 33,

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.180
 Felix had already

00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:01.120
 received a letter

00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:02.700
 from Lysias,

00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:03.360
 the tribune,

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:03.940
 who was actually

00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.660
 in Jerusalem

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.640
 when the whole incident

00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.080
 happened.

00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:07.799
 And Lysias' letter

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.319
 says,

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.399
 is quoted

00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:10.480
 in chapter 23,

00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:12.500
 verse 26 to 30,

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:14.319
 and in verse 29,

00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.259
 chapter 23,

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.000
 verse 29,

00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:18.079
 he gives a very

00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.759
 clear conclusion.

00:27:18.899 --> 00:27:19.919
 I found that he,

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.679
 Paul,

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.939
 was being accused

00:27:21.939 --> 00:27:22.619
 about questions

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.339
 of their law,

00:27:23.939 --> 00:27:24.599
 but charged with

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.279
 nothing deserving

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.379
 death or imprisonment.

00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:29.220
 Lysias had a pretty

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.939
 clear conclusion.

00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:33.559
 And when Lysias did show up,

00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.919
 nothing seemed to change.

00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.480
 Felix kept Paul in prison

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.299
 for two years.

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:41.079
 It was just a stalling tactic.

00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:42.480
 Obviously, Felix recognized

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.579
 there wasn't a good basis

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.939
 on which to convict Paul.

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.599
 That's probably why

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.639
 he gave him so much liberty

00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.500
 in verse 23.

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:48.659
 But he didn't want

00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:49.639
 to release Paul either.

00:27:50.679 --> 00:27:51.119
 You might say,

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.480
 why?

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:54.139
 Verse 26 gives one reason.

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.319
 It says he was hoping

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.099
 for a bribe.

00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.439
 Perhaps he heard

00:27:58.439 --> 00:27:59.819
 Paul's comment,

00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.419
 I came to Jerusalem

00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:02.139
 to bring gifts

00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:02.699
 to the poor

00:28:02.699 --> 00:28:03.619
 and present offerings.

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.879
 He thought,

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.819
 ooh, money.

00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:08.099
 Paul must have

00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:09.960
 a stash of cash somewhere.

00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.799
 Or he must have

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.819
 some powerful friends.

00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:13.919
 Or at least he should

00:28:13.919 --> 00:28:14.539
 be able to,

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:15.659
 you know,

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.439
 go to those people

00:28:16.439 --> 00:28:17.419
 that he gave the money to

00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:17.740
 and said,

00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.259
 hey, you know,

00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:19.619
 I scratched your back,

00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:20.379
 you scratched mine.

00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:20.659
 Like,

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.759
 we can make a deal here.

00:28:23.919 --> 00:28:24.379
 Of course,

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.379
 Roman law prohibited

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.720
 governors from receiving bribes,

00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.419
 but that didn't matter

00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:27.839
 to Felix.

00:28:28.419 --> 00:28:29.619
 Other governors did it too.

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.319
 Felix wasn't hindered

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.279
 by the letter of the law.

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:38.720
 Verse 27 gives another reason.

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:41.039
 When Felix was recalled

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.819
 from his position

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:43.139
 and replaced by someone else,

00:28:43.919 --> 00:28:45.079
 it says he left Paul in prison

00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:46.039
 because he wanted to do

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.939
 the Jews a favor.

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.279
 Now, Luke doesn't explain

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.779
 the background,

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.759
 but anyone who was reading

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:53.339
 Acts,

00:28:53.419 --> 00:28:54.019
 when Luke wrote it,

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.700
 would have known

00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:56.740
 that Felix

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:58.179
 was not popular

00:28:58.179 --> 00:29:00.240
 among the Jewish population,

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.019
 particularly those

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.559
 in Jerusalem.

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.539
 And the reason why Felix

00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.460
 was relieved

00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.259
 from his position

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.539
 is that there was

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.359
 a dispute

00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:08.319
 between Jews

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:09.220
 and Syrians

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.519
 in Caesarea

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.160
 where Felix

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.559
 had his headquarters,

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:14.180
 and Felix responded

00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.559
 by killing and plundering

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.480
 many of the Jews.

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.960
 And he would have

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.559
 been punished.

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:19.740
 The only reason

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.440
 he wasn't punished

00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.420
 is because his brother

00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:23.059
 had a high position

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.680
 in Rome

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:25.319
 and was a good friend

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:25.859
 with the emperor.

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.259
 So his brother

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.019
 got him off the hook.

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:31.819
 But as Felix

00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.799
 was leaving,

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:33.779
 he thought,

00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.480
 well, I'll throw him

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:34.839
 a bone.

00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:37.059
 Keep this guy in prison.

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.559
 So we see Felix's hypocrisy,

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.519
 we see his cowardice,

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.920
 we also see his indecision.

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.579
 Verse 24,

00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.480
 Felix sent for Paul

00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.839
 because he wanted

00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.400
 to hear him.

00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:49.759
 Perhaps he was curious.

00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.799
 Felix knew something

00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:53.059
 about the way,

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:53.980
 the Christians.

00:29:54.599 --> 00:29:55.160
 Now one of their

00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:56.019
 premier spokesmen

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.839
 was in his custody.

00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:58.279
 Hey, it sounds like

00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:58.919
 something interesting

00:29:58.919 --> 00:29:59.539
 for the governor

00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.079
 and his wife

00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.000
 to do on a date night.

00:30:01.619 --> 00:30:02.019
 Right?

00:30:03.159 --> 00:30:05.279
 So they listened to Paul,

00:30:05.419 --> 00:30:05.779
 but again,

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:07.039
 Paul did not flatter them.

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.240
 He didn't just say

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.179
 what they already

00:30:10.179 --> 00:30:10.819
 agreed with

00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.699
 and what they would

00:30:11.699 --> 00:30:12.379
 have wanted to hear.

00:30:12.459 --> 00:30:13.539
 He spoke about faith

00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:15.199
 in the Messiah Jesus.

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.319
 In particular,

00:30:16.439 --> 00:30:17.480
 he spoke about righteousness,

00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.299
 self-control,

00:30:19.939 --> 00:30:21.059
 and the coming judgment.

00:30:22.179 --> 00:30:23.039
 Now we can't know

00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.199
 exactly what Paul said

00:30:24.199 --> 00:30:24.939
 on these matters,

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:26.240
 but each of them

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:28.140
 comes up in sequence

00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:30.019
 in Paul's most famous letter,

00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:30.960
 the letter to the Romans,

00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.820
 which he would have just written

00:30:32.820 --> 00:30:34.460
 a year or two before this.

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:36.759
 In the book of Romans,

00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.539
 Paul begins by arguing

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.900
 that all human beings,

00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:41.759
 Jews and Gentiles alike,

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.539
 are unrighteous.

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:44.860
 That is,

00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:46.279
 we've disobeyed God's law.

00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:48.539
 We've exchanged God's glory

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.140
 for idols.

00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:50.500
 We've indulged

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.779
 our own selfish desires.

00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.920
 We are sinners.

00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:56.799
 And we can't justify ourselves.

00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.359
 But then Paul said this

00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.379
 in chapter 3 of Romans.

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:00.680
 He says,

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:02.319
 but now the righteousness of God

00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:03.980
 has been manifested.

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:06.099
 The righteousness of God

00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:07.319
 through faith in Jesus Christ

00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.460
 for all who believe.

00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.279
 That through Jesus'

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.619
 atoning sacrifice,

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.539
 unrighteous people

00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:15.879
 can be put right with God.

00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:18.039
 Well, after talking

00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:18.619
 about righteousness,

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.480
 Paul goes on to talk

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.360
 about self-control.

00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:21.640
 For example,

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.460
 in chapter 12,

00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:22.819
 he says,

00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:23.539
 I appeal to you,

00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.380
 brothers and sisters,

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.980
 by the mercies of God,

00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:26.960
 present your bodies

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:29.319
 as living sacrifices,

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:32.099
 holy and acceptable to God.

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.500
 You've died and risen with Jesus.

00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:38.319
 So don't live for yourself anymore.

00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.039
 Present yourselves

00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:41.360
 as an offering to God.

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.019
 Self-control.

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:45.000
 And then in Romans 13,

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:45.620
 Paul speaks about

00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:46.480
 the judgment to come.

00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:48.180
 In these words,

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.519
 Romans 13, 12,

00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:49.799
 he says,

00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:51.019
 the night is far gone.

00:31:51.100 --> 00:31:52.440
 The day is at hand.

00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:54.640
 So then let us cast off

00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:55.519
 the works of darkness

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:57.480
 and put on the armor of light.

00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.580
 One day the world

00:32:01.580 --> 00:32:02.140
 will be flooded

00:32:02.140 --> 00:32:03.460
 with the light

00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.480
 and glory

00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.799
 of the risen Lord Jesus.

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:07.279
 And so Paul urges us,

00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:09.640
 let us now walk in the light.

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.799
 Walk in the truth.

00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:13.460
 And walk in love.

00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:15.340
 And walk in holiness.

00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.879
 Righteousness,

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:17.959
 self-control,

00:32:18.399 --> 00:32:19.319
 the judgment to come.

00:32:20.899 --> 00:32:21.720
 Felix was listening.

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.519
 He didn't like the message.

00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.980
 Because it was evident

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.699
 that Felix's life

00:32:27.699 --> 00:32:28.599
 was not characterized

00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.459
 by righteousness

00:32:29.459 --> 00:32:31.220
 and self-control

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.779
 and he was not prepared

00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:34.539
 for a judgment to come.

00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:36.399
 Felix wanted money.

00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:38.799
 He was willing to take bribes.

00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.399
 Felix wanted power.

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:42.079
 He was willing to throw

00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:43.319
 other people under the bus

00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:44.919
 to maintain it.

00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:46.899
 Felix wanted sex.

00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.439
 He was willing to take

00:32:48.439 --> 00:32:49.240
 another man's wife

00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:49.799
 to get it.

00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:51.700
 His wife, Drusilla,

00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.919
 had been previously married

00:32:52.919 --> 00:32:54.779
 to the king of Amessa.

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.599
 Felix saw her

00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:57.399
 and wanted her

00:32:57.399 --> 00:32:58.220
 and persuaded her

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.039
 to divorce her husband

00:32:59.039 --> 00:32:59.720
 and marry him.

00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.179
 And there they were

00:33:01.179 --> 00:33:02.079
 sitting in front of Paul.

00:33:04.679 --> 00:33:05.720
 Felix wasn't ready

00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:06.460
 to face

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:08.220
 the judgment to come.

00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.059
 And most likely

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:11.539
 that's why he became alarmed.

00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:13.399
 What if all that Paul

00:33:13.399 --> 00:33:13.859
 is saying

00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:14.879
 is really true?

00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:17.240
 What if I will one day

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.079
 face the judgment

00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:18.700
 of Jesus?

00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:21.059
 Felix's alarm

00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:21.500
 could have been

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.099
 the first sign

00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:22.779
 of his repentance.

00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:24.980
 A sense that his own life

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:26.039
 was not right with God

00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:26.859
 but instead of turning

00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:27.399
 toward Jesus

00:33:27.399 --> 00:33:28.200
 he ran away.

00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.639
 Go away, Paul.

00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:33.279
 I'll call you back

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:34.059
 when I want to hear you.

00:33:34.879 --> 00:33:35.980
 I'm in charge here.

00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.480
 I'll summon you

00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.059
 when I want to.

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:41.200
 Before we go on

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.980
 let me say this.

00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:43.919
 If you can relate

00:33:43.919 --> 00:33:44.500
 to Felix

00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:46.460
 if you've begun

00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:47.279
 to see your own

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.559
 unrighteousness

00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:50.799
 or lack of self-control

00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:52.559
 if you realize

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.099
 you're not ready

00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:53.659
 to face

00:33:53.659 --> 00:33:54.659
 the judgment

00:33:54.659 --> 00:33:55.200
 of a holy

00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:56.139
 and righteous God

00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:57.639
 when absolutely

00:33:57.639 --> 00:33:58.579
 everything will be

00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.579
 brought into the light

00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:01.679
 don't run away.

00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.539
 Don't cling

00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.859
 to your fleeting power

00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:07.859
 or your fleeting possessions

00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:09.619
 or the fleeting pleasures

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.460
 of this world

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.679
 in denial.

00:34:13.259 --> 00:34:14.239
 Instead let your fear

00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:15.239
 drive you to Jesus

00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:17.319
 and to the cross

00:34:17.319 --> 00:34:18.960
 where there's forgiveness

00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:20.400
 and righteousness

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.219
 and the power

00:34:21.219 --> 00:34:22.039
 of the Holy Spirit

00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:23.699
 to live a self-controlled life.

00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:28.079
 It's what Paul offered

00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:29.119
 to Felix

00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:33.159
 and yet Felix

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:35.279
 seems not to have received it.

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:39.099
 So Paul

00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:40.460
 maintained his integrity

00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:41.140
 and courage

00:34:41.140 --> 00:34:42.220
 and steadfastness

00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:44.900
 and yet

00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:46.780
 nothing seemed

00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:47.440
 to be resolved.

00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.599
 For two whole years

00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.660
 he was sitting

00:34:50.660 --> 00:34:52.099
 in custody

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:54.280
 periodically called

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:55.059
 before the governor

00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:56.760
 perhaps he'll release me

00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:57.340
 this time

00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:58.940
 perhaps

00:34:58.940 --> 00:35:00.539
 something will change

00:35:00.539 --> 00:35:02.059
 and nothing did.

00:35:02.720 --> 00:35:03.559
 He was left hanging

00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.840
 left waiting

00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:07.280
 you might be asking

00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:08.600
 what enabled

00:35:08.600 --> 00:35:09.240
 Paul

00:35:09.240 --> 00:35:11.039
 to stand firm

00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:12.440
 to remain

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:13.059
 steadfast

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.800
 in his integrity

00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:14.720
 and his courage

00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:15.720
 even though it seemed

00:35:15.720 --> 00:35:16.200
 like everything

00:35:16.200 --> 00:35:17.019
 was up in the air

00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:18.280
 and he had responded

00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:19.200
 as well as he could

00:35:19.200 --> 00:35:20.019
 to these accusations

00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:20.640
 and attacks

00:35:20.640 --> 00:35:20.980
 and yet

00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:22.500
 he wasn't vindicated

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:26.960
 and everything

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.960
 just seemed

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:29.820
 still in the air.

00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:33.000
 You might say

00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:33.360
 how

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:36.539
 how can we

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:38.300
 how can I hold on

00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:39.500
 to integrity

00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.019
 and courage

00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:40.960
 and steadfastness

00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:42.280
 when I face

00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:42.619
 attacks

00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.239
 and accusations?

00:35:45.239 --> 00:35:45.820
 Well when Paul

00:35:45.820 --> 00:35:46.340
 stood before

00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:47.059
 Governor Felix

00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.280
 there were two things

00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:48.719
 that he knew.

00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:50.779
 he knew

00:35:50.779 --> 00:35:51.239
 that the Lord

00:35:51.239 --> 00:35:51.559
 Jesus

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:53.119
 was his true judge

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:54.279
 and he knew

00:35:54.279 --> 00:35:54.719
 that the Lord

00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:55.039
 Jesus

00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:56.439
 was his ultimate

00:35:56.439 --> 00:35:56.939
 advocate.

00:35:58.139 --> 00:35:59.059
 In two of his letters

00:35:59.059 --> 00:35:59.899
 1 Corinthians

00:35:59.899 --> 00:36:01.179
 chapter 4

00:36:01.179 --> 00:36:03.179
 he says

00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.699
 with me

00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:05.239
 it's a very small

00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:05.919
 thing that I should

00:36:05.919 --> 00:36:06.379
 be judged

00:36:06.379 --> 00:36:06.859
 by you

00:36:06.859 --> 00:36:07.480
 or by any

00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.139
 human court

00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:08.859
 in fact

00:36:08.859 --> 00:36:09.399
 I don't even

00:36:09.399 --> 00:36:10.239
 judge myself

00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:11.439
 it is the Lord

00:36:11.439 --> 00:36:12.579
 who judges

00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.139
 me.

00:36:14.299 --> 00:36:15.019
 And in Paul's

00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:15.659
 last letter

00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:17.199
 written from prison

00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:18.259
 2 Timothy 4

00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:18.900
 he says

00:36:18.900 --> 00:36:20.380
 at my first

00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:20.880
 defense

00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:22.000
 no one

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:22.620
 came to stand

00:36:22.620 --> 00:36:23.060
 by me

00:36:23.060 --> 00:36:23.460
 but all

00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:24.080
 deserted me

00:36:24.080 --> 00:36:24.580
 may it not

00:36:24.580 --> 00:36:25.100
 be charged

00:36:25.100 --> 00:36:25.700
 against them

00:36:25.700 --> 00:36:27.320
 but the Lord

00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:28.060
 stood by me

00:36:28.060 --> 00:36:29.520
 and strengthened

00:36:29.520 --> 00:36:29.840
 me

00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:31.080
 so that through

00:36:31.080 --> 00:36:31.680
 me the message

00:36:31.680 --> 00:36:32.340
 might be fully

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:32.880
 proclaimed

00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:33.920
 and all the

00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:34.380
 Gentiles

00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:35.100
 might hear it.

00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:37.140
 If you're

00:36:37.140 --> 00:36:37.660
 accused

00:36:37.660 --> 00:36:38.300
 rightly

00:36:38.300 --> 00:36:39.460
 or wrongly

00:36:39.460 --> 00:36:41.020
 if you were

00:36:41.020 --> 00:36:41.460
 attacked

00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:42.400
 remember these

00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:43.020
 two truths.

00:36:44.040 --> 00:36:44.300
 Remember

00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:45.120
 Jesus is my

00:36:45.120 --> 00:36:45.600
 judge

00:36:45.600 --> 00:36:46.400
 and Jesus

00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.100
 is my

00:36:47.100 --> 00:36:47.480
 advocate.

00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.219
 Jesus is my

00:36:48.219 --> 00:36:48.539
 judge

00:36:48.539 --> 00:36:48.780
 who will

00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.119
 one day

00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:49.780
 bring everything

00:36:49.780 --> 00:36:50.199
 into the

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:50.539
 light

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:51.820
 who will

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.420
 sort out

00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:53.659
 the true

00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:54.400
 and the

00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:54.760
 false

00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:56.000
 and who will

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:56.659
 establish his

00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:57.400
 kingdom of

00:36:57.400 --> 00:36:57.820
 righteousness

00:36:57.820 --> 00:36:58.679
 forever.

00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:00.940
 Jesus is the

00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:01.340
 one I should

00:37:01.340 --> 00:37:01.639
 fear

00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:04.199
 but also

00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:04.760
 remember that

00:37:04.760 --> 00:37:05.320
 Jesus is

00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:06.420
 my advocate

00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:07.619
 the one who's

00:37:07.619 --> 00:37:08.219
 paid for all

00:37:08.219 --> 00:37:08.960
 my sins

00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:10.119
 the one who

00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:10.780
 intercedes

00:37:10.780 --> 00:37:11.760
 for me

00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:13.000
 on my behalf

00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:14.199
 who stands

00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:14.860
 beside me

00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:15.960
 and strengthens

00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:16.179
 me

00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:17.519
 Jesus is the

00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.980
 one I can

00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:19.380
 trust.

00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.639
 And that's

00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:21.960
 where we get

00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.559
 the power to

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.159
 live a life of

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:24.099
 integrity and

00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:24.960
 courage and

00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.840
 steadfastness is

00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:26.239
 knowing that

00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:27.039
 Jesus is our

00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:27.840
 judge and

00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:28.639
 Jesus is our

00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:29.099
 advocate.

00:37:29.099 --> 00:37:29.159
 advocate.

00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:34.679
 No matter who

00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:35.480
 you're called to

00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.199
 stand before

00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:38.639
 whether it's

00:37:38.639 --> 00:37:39.920
 your boss

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:41.480
 whether it's

00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:42.519
 a close

00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:42.940
 friend

00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:44.299
 whether it's a

00:37:44.299 --> 00:37:44.639
 judge in

00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:44.940
 court

00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:47.360
 you can know

00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:47.619
 that

00:37:47.619 --> 00:37:49.599
 Jesus is the

00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:50.099
 only one

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.960
 you need to

00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:51.199
 fear

00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:52.960
 and Jesus is

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.259
 the one that

00:37:53.259 --> 00:37:53.500
 you can

00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:54.420
 completely trust

00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:55.199
 at the same

00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:55.559
 time.

00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:57.980
 This morning

00:37:57.980 --> 00:37:58.340
 we're going to

00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:59.039
 celebrate communion

00:37:59.039 --> 00:38:00.579
 and as we

00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:01.239
 celebrate communion

00:38:01.239 --> 00:38:01.619
 I want to

00:38:01.619 --> 00:38:02.340
 invite us to

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:03.179
 meditate on

00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:03.619
 those two

00:38:03.619 --> 00:38:04.279
 truths and to

00:38:04.279 --> 00:38:05.119
 spend time in

00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:05.480
 prayer.

00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:07.480
 As the bread

00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:07.900
 and the cup

00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:08.199
 are being

00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:08.719
 passed out

00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:09.079
 I encourage

00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:09.400
 you to spend

00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:09.759
 time in

00:38:09.759 --> 00:38:10.079
 prayer

00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:11.299
 praying that

00:38:11.299 --> 00:38:11.539
 the Lord

00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:12.179
 would purify

00:38:12.179 --> 00:38:12.619
 us

00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:13.659
 make us a

00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:14.000
 people of

00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:14.480
 integrity

00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:15.820
 asking the

00:38:15.820 --> 00:38:16.119
 Lord to

00:38:16.119 --> 00:38:16.759
 strengthen us

00:38:16.759 --> 00:38:17.139
 and make us

00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:17.599
 a people of

00:38:17.599 --> 00:38:18.039
 courage

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:19.239
 and asking

00:38:19.239 --> 00:38:19.860
 the Lord to

00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:21.559
 keep us

00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:22.119
 strong and

00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:22.719
 steadfast

00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:24.179
 whatever we

00:38:24.179 --> 00:38:24.699
 may face.

00:38:25.559 --> 00:38:26.400
 Let's pray

00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:26.759
 together.

00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:30.059
 Father we

00:38:30.059 --> 00:38:30.539
 thank you

00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:34.019
 for your

00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:34.320
 word.

00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:35.400
 We thank you

00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:35.980
 for strengthening

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:37.400
 your servant

00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:37.739
 Paul.

00:38:39.219 --> 00:38:40.159
 We thank you

00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:42.920
 that you

00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.380
 filled him

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:43.659
 with your

00:38:43.659 --> 00:38:44.239
 Holy Spirit.

00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:45.360
 We thank you

00:38:45.360 --> 00:38:45.679
 that your

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.279
 son the Lord

00:38:46.279 --> 00:38:46.940
 Jesus Christ

00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:47.519
 stood beside

00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:49.420
 him and

00:38:49.420 --> 00:38:49.739
 did not

00:38:49.739 --> 00:38:50.039
 leave him

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:51.659
 alone so

00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:51.920
 that we

00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:52.400
 could know

00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:55.280
 that you

00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:55.880
 will never

00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:56.300
 leave us

00:38:56.300 --> 00:38:56.619
 alone

00:38:56.619 --> 00:38:58.559
 when we

00:38:58.559 --> 00:38:59.079
 put our

00:38:59.079 --> 00:38:59.460
 trust in

00:38:59.460 --> 00:38:59.639
 you.

00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:02.500
 Lord we

00:39:02.500 --> 00:39:02.820
 pray that

00:39:02.820 --> 00:39:03.119
 you would

00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.160
 come and

00:39:04.160 --> 00:39:04.579
 be present

00:39:04.579 --> 00:39:04.980
 with us

00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:05.260
 as we

00:39:05.260 --> 00:39:05.599
 celebrate

00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:06.039
 the Lord's

00:39:06.039 --> 00:39:06.240
 Supper.

00:39:07.139 --> 00:39:07.440
 Nourish

00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:07.700
 us,

00:39:08.039 --> 00:39:08.280
 strengthen

00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:08.680
 us,

00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:10.420
 equip us

00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:10.740
 to be the

00:39:10.740 --> 00:39:11.180
 people you've

00:39:11.180 --> 00:39:11.480
 called us

00:39:11.480 --> 00:39:11.780
 to be.

00:39:12.680 --> 00:39:13.119
 In Jesus'

00:39:13.119 --> 00:39:13.460
 name,

00:39:13.800 --> 00:39:14.019
 Amen.

00:39:14.019 --> 00:39:14.119
 Amen.

00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:14.160
 Amen.

00:39:14.160 --> 00:39:14.220
 Amen.

00:39:14.220 --> 00:39:14.660
 Amen.

00:39:14.660 --> 00:39:16.160
 Amen.

00:39:16.160 --> 00:39:16.220
 Amen.

00:39:16.220 --> 00:39:16.700
 Amen.

00:39:16.700 --> 00:39:18.160
 Amen.

00:39:18.160 --> 00:39:18.220
 Amen.

00:39:18.220 --> 00:39:18.660
 Amen.

00:39:18.660 --> 00:39:18.700
 Amen.

00:39:18.700 --> 00:39:19.160
 Amen.

00:39:19.160 --> 00:39:20.220
 Amen.

00:39:20.220 --> 00:39:20.240
 Amen.

00:39:20.240 --> 00:39:20.300
 Amen.

00:39:20.300 --> 00:39:20.660
 Amen.

00:39:20.660 --> 00:39:22.380
 Amen.

00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:22.900
 Amen.

00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:25.920
 Well, as we

00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:26.360
 prepare to

00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:27.019
 celebrate communion,

00:39:27.180 --> 00:39:27.740
 let me read

00:39:27.740 --> 00:39:29.039
 the words of

00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:33.139
 Paul from

00:39:33.139 --> 00:39:33.599
 his letter to

00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:34.079
 the Corinthians.

00:39:36.820 --> 00:39:37.420
 He says,

00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:37.980
 For I received

00:39:37.980 --> 00:39:38.539
 from the Lord

00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:39.720
 what I also

00:39:39.720 --> 00:39:40.220
 delivered to

00:39:40.220 --> 00:39:40.740
 you, that the

00:39:40.740 --> 00:39:41.440
 Lord Jesus, on

00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:41.840
 the night when

00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.099
 he was

00:39:42.099 --> 00:39:43.400
 betrayed, took

00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:43.740
 bread.

00:39:44.860 --> 00:39:45.340
 And when he

00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:45.579
 had given

00:39:45.579 --> 00:39:46.039
 thanks, he

00:39:46.039 --> 00:39:47.380
 broke it and

00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:47.820
 said, This is

00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:48.500
 my body, which

00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:49.039
 is for you.

00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:50.539
 Do this in

00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:51.119
 remembrance of

00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:51.300
 me.

00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:53.160
 In the same

00:39:53.160 --> 00:39:53.820
 way also, he

00:39:53.820 --> 00:39:54.340
 took the cup

00:39:54.340 --> 00:39:54.940
 after supper,

00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:55.480
 saying, This

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:56.000
 cup is the

00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:56.440
 new covenant

00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:57.099
 in my blood.

00:39:58.019 --> 00:39:58.660
 Do this as

00:39:58.660 --> 00:39:59.139
 often as you

00:39:59.139 --> 00:39:59.619
 drink it in

00:39:59.619 --> 00:40:00.180
 remembrance of

00:40:00.180 --> 00:40:00.380
 me.

00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:02.160
 For as often as

00:40:02.160 --> 00:40:02.579
 you eat this

00:40:02.579 --> 00:40:03.160
 bread and drink

00:40:03.160 --> 00:40:03.680
 the cup, you

00:40:03.680 --> 00:40:04.260
 proclaim the

00:40:04.260 --> 00:40:04.880
 Lord's death

00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:06.119
 until he

00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:07.220
 comes again.

00:40:09.860 --> 00:40:10.480
 When we

00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:10.820
 celebrate

00:40:10.820 --> 00:40:12.660
 communion, we

00:40:12.660 --> 00:40:13.160
 remember what

00:40:13.160 --> 00:40:13.960
 Jesus Christ has

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:14.639
 done for us.

00:40:15.720 --> 00:40:16.039
 We remember

00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:16.680
 that he too

00:40:16.680 --> 00:40:18.740
 was wrongly

00:40:18.740 --> 00:40:20.380
 accused and

00:40:20.380 --> 00:40:21.960
 attacked and

00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:22.360
 crucified.

00:40:23.720 --> 00:40:24.280
 But we

00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:24.860
 also remember

00:40:24.860 --> 00:40:26.000
 that Jesus

00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:26.920
 willingly gave

00:40:26.920 --> 00:40:27.320
 his own

00:40:27.320 --> 00:40:27.559
 life.

00:40:27.659 --> 00:40:28.099
 He was not

00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.519
 a helpless

00:40:28.519 --> 00:40:29.000
 victim.

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:31.840
 He maintained

00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:32.960
 his integrity

00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:33.720
 and courage

00:40:33.720 --> 00:40:34.659
 and steadfastness.

00:40:34.740 --> 00:40:35.000
 He was

00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:36.079
 perfectly faithful

00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:36.760
 to the end.

00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:38.800
 And he said,

00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:39.280
 I've come to

00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:39.800
 lay down my

00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:41.599
 own life in

00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:42.960
 the place of

00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.720
 sinful people so

00:40:43.720 --> 00:40:44.179
 that you might

00:40:44.179 --> 00:40:45.119
 come and have

00:40:45.119 --> 00:40:45.760
 life through me.

00:40:46.800 --> 00:40:47.500
 So that's what

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:48.220
 we celebrate when

00:40:48.220 --> 00:40:49.420
 we pass out the

00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:49.900
 bread and the

00:40:49.900 --> 00:40:50.800
 cup, remembering

00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:52.100
 Jesus' body and

00:40:52.100 --> 00:40:53.580
 his blood that

00:40:53.580 --> 00:40:54.120
 was shed for

00:40:54.120 --> 00:40:54.500
 us.

00:40:55.660 --> 00:40:57.300
 If you're here

00:40:57.300 --> 00:40:57.980
 today, if you're

00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.560
 a believer in

00:40:58.560 --> 00:41:00.500
 Jesus Christ, if

00:41:00.500 --> 00:41:01.260
 you know that he

00:41:01.260 --> 00:41:02.560
 is your ultimate

00:41:02.560 --> 00:41:03.900
 judge, and one

00:41:03.900 --> 00:41:04.260
 day you will

00:41:04.260 --> 00:41:05.120
 stand before him,

00:41:06.039 --> 00:41:06.440
 and if you

00:41:06.440 --> 00:41:06.960
 believe that he

00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:07.500
 died on the

00:41:07.500 --> 00:41:08.240
 cross for you,

00:41:09.140 --> 00:41:09.380
 and you are

00:41:09.380 --> 00:41:10.660
 trusting him as

00:41:10.660 --> 00:41:11.240
 your advocate,

00:41:12.519 --> 00:41:14.400
 come and take

00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:14.880
 the bread and

00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:15.320
 the cup as

00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:15.780
 they're passed

00:41:15.780 --> 00:41:16.060
 out.

00:41:17.120 --> 00:41:17.700
 If you're here

00:41:17.700 --> 00:41:18.280
 today, if you're

00:41:18.280 --> 00:41:19.340
 not a Christian

00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:21.000
 believer, if

00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:21.280
 you're not

00:41:21.280 --> 00:41:22.080
 following Jesus,

00:41:22.840 --> 00:41:23.800
 we're glad you're

00:41:23.800 --> 00:41:24.080
 here.

00:41:25.140 --> 00:41:25.760
 We ask that you

00:41:25.760 --> 00:41:26.320
 not take the

00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:26.720
 bread and the

00:41:26.720 --> 00:41:27.920
 cup when they're

00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:28.519
 passed out, but

00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:29.040
 just take this

00:41:29.040 --> 00:41:29.940
 time to reflect,

00:41:30.600 --> 00:41:31.640
 to consider the

00:41:31.640 --> 00:41:32.240
 message today,

00:41:32.340 --> 00:41:32.880
 to consider where

00:41:32.880 --> 00:41:33.420
 you are in your

00:41:33.420 --> 00:41:34.019
 life today.

00:41:34.980 --> 00:41:35.780
 We don't often

00:41:35.780 --> 00:41:37.280
 get some quiet

00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:39.000
 moments to really

00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:41.820
 have some time for

00:41:41.820 --> 00:41:43.260
 reflection and to

00:41:43.260 --> 00:41:43.880
 consider where we

00:41:43.880 --> 00:41:44.220
 are, but I

00:41:44.220 --> 00:41:44.760
 encourage you to

00:41:44.760 --> 00:41:45.460
 use this time for

00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:46.180
 reflection and for

00:41:46.180 --> 00:41:48.060
 prayer and to

00:41:48.059 --> 00:41:49.799
 it and know

00:41:49.799 --> 00:41:50.099
 that the

00:41:50.099 --> 00:41:51.279
 invitation is for

00:41:51.279 --> 00:41:52.480
 you to turn to

00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:53.059
 the Lord Jesus

00:41:53.059 --> 00:41:55.239
 and know that he

00:41:55.239 --> 00:41:56.539
 will be yours.

00:41:56.659 --> 00:41:57.000
 With those who

00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:57.559
 are coming to

00:41:57.559 --> 00:41:58.679
 serve communion,

00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:00.039
 come to the

00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:00.639
 front this morning.

00:42:02.239 --> 00:42:02.880
 We're going to

00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:03.579
 pass out the bread

00:42:03.579 --> 00:42:05.299
 first and then

00:42:05.299 --> 00:42:06.360
 we'll pass out the

00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:07.940
 cup and we'll eat

00:42:07.940 --> 00:42:09.179
 and drink and share

00:42:09.179 --> 00:42:09.739
 them together.

00:42:16.380 --> 00:42:17.019
 Malcolm, would you

00:42:17.019 --> 00:42:18.000
 give thanks for the

00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:18.159
 bread?

00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:18.320
 Thank you.

00:42:27.940 --> 00:42:28.840
 Heavenly Father, we

00:42:28.840 --> 00:42:29.280
 thank you for

00:42:29.280 --> 00:42:30.179
 sending your son.

00:42:30.440 --> 00:42:31.199
 Lord, we thank you.

00:42:31.699 --> 00:42:32.599
 Lord, that his body

00:42:32.599 --> 00:42:33.739
 was broken for us.

00:42:34.400 --> 00:42:35.139
 Lord, he tells us in

00:42:35.139 --> 00:42:35.900
 the Gospel of John

00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:37.500
 that his flesh is

00:42:37.500 --> 00:42:39.259
 true food and his

00:42:39.259 --> 00:42:40.179
 blood is true drink.

00:42:41.300 --> 00:42:41.900
 Lord, I pray that

00:42:41.900 --> 00:42:43.199
 this food might

00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:44.019
 nourish us this

00:42:44.019 --> 00:42:44.360
 morning.

00:42:44.360 --> 00:42:46.519
 Lord, as we

00:42:46.519 --> 00:42:49.019
 remember Christ's

00:42:49.019 --> 00:42:50.200
 sacrifice, Lord, that

00:42:50.200 --> 00:42:50.760
 we might take

00:42:50.760 --> 00:42:52.620
 strength from it and

00:42:52.620 --> 00:42:53.599
 continually be reminded

00:42:53.599 --> 00:42:54.519
 of it day by day.

00:42:55.059 --> 00:42:55.500
 Lord, we're

00:42:55.500 --> 00:42:56.440
 thanking you for the

00:42:56.440 --> 00:42:57.220
 forgiveness that we

00:42:57.220 --> 00:42:58.800
 have through it.

00:42:59.519 --> 00:43:00.079
 Lord, we thank you

00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:00.720
 and we praise you in

00:43:00.720 --> 00:43:01.380
 the name of your son,

00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:02.240
 Jesus Christ, and by

00:43:02.240 --> 00:43:02.840
 the power of your

00:43:02.840 --> 00:43:03.140
 spirit.

00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:04.140
 Amen.

00:43:04.140 --> 00:43:04.240
 Amen.

00:43:04.240 --> 00:43:04.280
 Amen.

00:43:04.280 --> 00:43:04.300
 Amen.

00:43:04.300 --> 00:43:04.320
 Amen.

00:43:04.320 --> 00:43:06.300
 Amen.

00:43:06.300 --> 00:43:06.320
 Amen.

00:43:06.320 --> 00:43:06.340
 Amen.

00:43:06.340 --> 00:43:06.360
 Amen.

00:43:06.360 --> 00:43:08.300
 Amen.

00:43:08.300 --> 00:43:08.320
 Amen.

00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:08.360
 Amen.

00:43:08.360 --> 00:43:08.380
 Amen.

00:43:08.380 --> 00:43:08.400
 Amen.

00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:08.420
 Amen.

00:43:08.420 --> 00:43:08.440
 Amen.

00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:08.460
 Amen.

00:43:08.460 --> 00:43:08.480
 Amen.

00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:10.420
 Amen.

00:43:10.420 --> 00:43:10.480
 Amen.

00:43:10.480 --> 00:43:10.500
 Amen.

00:43:10.500 --> 00:43:10.539
 Amen.

00:43:10.539 --> 00:43:12.480
 Amen.

00:43:12.480 --> 00:43:12.500
 Amen.

00:43:12.500 --> 00:43:12.539
 Amen.

00:43:12.539 --> 00:43:14.340
 Amen.

00:43:14.340 --> 00:43:44.320
 Amen.

00:43:44.320 --> 00:43:46.340
 Amen.

00:43:46.340 --> 00:43:48.400
 Amen.

00:43:51.780 --> 00:43:52.220
 Amen.

00:43:52.220 --> 00:43:52.260
 Amen.

00:43:52.260 --> 00:43:52.700
 Amen.

00:43:52.700 --> 00:43:54.539
 Amen.

00:43:54.539 --> 00:43:57.200
 Amen.

00:44:01.200 --> 00:44:01.240
 Amen.

00:44:03.960 --> 00:44:04.420
 Amen.

00:44:13.420 --> 00:44:13.860
 Amen.

00:44:13.860 --> 00:44:14.140
 Amen.

00:44:14.139 --> 00:44:18.659
 Around the table of the king

00:44:18.659 --> 00:44:35.900
 The body of our Savior

00:44:35.900 --> 00:44:38.679
 Jesus Christ

00:44:38.679 --> 00:44:40.940
 Torn for you

00:44:40.940 --> 00:44:46.619
 He didn't remember

00:44:46.619 --> 00:44:50.460
 The wounds that heal the death

00:44:50.460 --> 00:44:53.220
 That brings us life

00:44:53.220 --> 00:44:59.139
 Fade the flowers to make us one

00:44:59.139 --> 00:45:02.639
 And so we shake

00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:07.519
 In this bread of life

00:45:07.519 --> 00:45:10.519
 And we drink

00:45:10.519 --> 00:45:14.099
 Of this sacrifice

00:45:14.099 --> 00:45:17.340
 As a sign

00:45:17.340 --> 00:45:22.019
 Of our bonds of love

00:45:22.019 --> 00:45:27.039
 Around the table of the king

00:45:27.039 --> 00:45:31.659
 To be we 것

00:45:31.659 --> 00:45:31.820
 With us

00:45:31.820 --> 00:45:33.039
 Thank you

00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:36.880
 Thank you

00:45:37.699 --> 00:45:38.340
 And Christ

00:45:38.340 --> 00:45:40.079
 Amen

00:45:40.079 --> 00:45:40.420
 In this beat

00:45:40.420 --> 00:46:10.400
 guitar solo

00:46:10.420 --> 00:46:14.360
 This bread represents the body of Christ

00:46:14.360 --> 00:46:16.559
 broken for you. Let's eat together.

00:46:28.440 --> 00:46:29.200
 Let's pray.

00:46:31.420 --> 00:46:32.579
 Dear Lord, as we

00:46:32.579 --> 00:46:34.860
 come to your table today, as we

00:46:34.860 --> 00:46:36.860
 prepare to share in the

00:46:36.860 --> 00:46:38.820
 cup of the blood of the new covenant,

00:46:39.740 --> 00:46:40.000
 Lord,

00:46:41.039 --> 00:46:41.920
 we pray that

00:46:41.920 --> 00:46:44.960
 we may always and every day

00:46:44.960 --> 00:46:46.740
 remember, not just today,

00:46:46.900 --> 00:46:48.760
 not just the day that we share in the cup,

00:46:48.840 --> 00:46:50.320
 but that every day we might live

00:46:50.320 --> 00:46:52.740
 in light of the blood you

00:46:52.740 --> 00:46:54.880
 shed for us, live in light of the

00:46:54.880 --> 00:46:56.880
 sacrifice you made, a sacrifice that

00:46:56.880 --> 00:46:58.840
 was greater than the blood

00:46:58.840 --> 00:47:00.200
 of Abel, a sacrifice

00:47:00.200 --> 00:47:02.820
 that saved

00:47:02.820 --> 00:47:04.820
 us from our sins. Lord,

00:47:04.880 --> 00:47:06.800
 we pray that we may remember

00:47:06.800 --> 00:47:08.920
 you as you continue to intercede for

00:47:08.920 --> 00:47:10.420
 us at the right hands of the Father.

00:47:11.320 --> 00:47:12.740
 We pray that we may intercede

00:47:12.740 --> 00:47:14.700
 for one another. We pray that this blood

00:47:14.700 --> 00:47:16.080
 may truly cleanse

00:47:16.080 --> 00:47:17.800
 our souls,

00:47:18.960 --> 00:47:20.640
 cleanse us from our sins, and that each

00:47:20.640 --> 00:47:22.780
 day we might live to bring

00:47:22.780 --> 00:47:24.760
 you honor and

00:47:24.760 --> 00:47:26.720
 glory and to love one

00:47:26.720 --> 00:47:28.880
 another. This we pray in Jesus' name.

00:47:28.880 --> 00:47:29.260
 Amen.

00:47:29.260 --> 00:47:29.340
 Amen.

00:47:29.340 --> 00:47:31.400
 God's sake, let's not

00:47:31.400 --> 00:47:33.559
 thank you everyTime maybe were

00:47:33.559 --> 00:47:35.240
 answered just a sound yeah

00:47:35.240 --> 00:47:36.320
 you better

00:47:36.320 --> 00:47:36.900
 love and to love

00:47:36.900 --> 00:47:37.280
 theirs.

00:47:37.280 --> 00:47:37.900
 Good prayer, please do

00:47:37.900 --> 00:47:38.380
 make the task

00:47:38.380 --> 00:47:39.600
 real

00:47:39.600 --> 00:47:42.360
 we ask

00:47:44.539 --> 00:47:48.340
 to

00:47:48.340 --> 00:47:49.000
 you

00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:49.360
истします.

00:47:49.360 --> 00:47:54.620
 Every stain of sin shed for you

00:47:54.620 --> 00:48:00.140
 Drink and remember

00:48:00.140 --> 00:48:02.940
 He drained this cup

00:48:02.940 --> 00:48:08.360
 That all may enter into the sea

00:48:08.360 --> 00:48:12.500
 The life of God

00:48:12.500 --> 00:48:16.180
 So we shed

00:48:16.179 --> 00:48:20.460
 In this bread of life

00:48:20.460 --> 00:48:22.619
 And we drink

00:48:22.619 --> 00:48:26.799
 Of His sacrifice

00:48:26.799 --> 00:48:29.960
 As a sign

00:48:29.960 --> 00:48:34.279
 Of our bonds of grace

00:48:34.279 --> 00:48:39.359
 Around the table of heaven

00:48:46.179 --> 00:48:56.899
 And so with thankfulness and faith

00:48:56.899 --> 00:49:00.500
 We rise to respond

00:49:00.500 --> 00:49:05.779
 And to remember

00:49:05.780 --> 00:49:12.220
 Our call to follow in the steps of Christ

00:49:12.220 --> 00:49:17.960
 As His body needs to be on earth

00:49:17.960 --> 00:49:22.240
 And as we share

00:49:22.240 --> 00:49:25.740
 In His suffering

00:49:25.740 --> 00:49:28.000
 We proclaim

00:49:28.000 --> 00:49:32.740
 Christ will come again

00:49:32.740 --> 00:49:35.980
 And we'll join

00:49:35.980 --> 00:49:40.380
 In the feast of hell

00:49:40.380 --> 00:49:44.660
 Around this evil world

00:49:44.659 --> 00:49:46.920
 Pence and remember

00:49:46.920 --> 00:49:48.000
 tropical Backstreet

00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:49.519
 Will open

00:49:49.519 --> 00:49:52.039
 coups of love

00:49:52.039 --> 00:49:54.119
 하고

00:49:54.119 --> 00:49:56.199
 Him

00:49:56.199 --> 00:49:57.000
 Savings

00:49:57.000 --> 00:49:57.579
 بعد

00:49:57.579 --> 00:49:58.599
 No

00:49:58.599 --> 00:50:00.079
 Bo守

00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:00.779
 All

00:50:00.779 --> 00:50:01.099
 Over

00:50:01.099 --> 00:50:02.319
 About

00:50:02.319 --> 00:50:03.480
 the

00:50:03.480 --> 00:50:03.679
 Se strum

00:50:03.679 --> 00:50:04.719
 Let's Roz

00:50:04.719 --> 00:50:06.179
 Lo

00:50:06.179 --> 00:50:07.159
 Va

00:50:07.159 --> 00:50:07.659
 Mon

00:50:07.659 --> 00:50:07.679
 Vo

00:50:07.679 --> 00:50:08.779
 jar

00:50:08.779 --> 00:50:11.179
 Po

00:50:11.179 --> 00:50:12.759
 scandal

00:50:12.759 --> 00:50:13.159
 Horn

00:50:13.159 --> 00:50:43.139
 guitar solo

00:50:43.159 --> 00:51:13.139
 guitar solo

00:51:13.159 --> 00:51:43.139
 guitar solo

00:51:43.159 --> 00:52:13.139
 guitar solo

00:52:13.159 --> 00:52:43.139
 guitar solo

00:52:43.139 --> 00:53:13.119
 guitar solo

00:53:13.119 --> 00:53:43.099
 guitar solo

00:53:43.119 --> 00:54:13.099
 guitar solo

00:54:13.099 --> 00:54:43.079
 guitar solo