WEBVTT

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 May the words of my lips and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in thy sight,

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 O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen.

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 Well, dear friends, it's a joy and an honor to be back at Church of the Messiah.

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 And it's always a great joy to have the privilege of opening God's Word,

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 which is what I would like to do at this time.

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 The focus of this sermon will be Acts 8, 26-40,

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 which was the first scripture reading which was read.

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 This morning.

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 I know that you in your sermon times have been making your way through the Gospel of Luke.

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 I'm a big fan of Luke.

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 He's a good guy.

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 And I love the Gospel of Luke.

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 And I love the second edition of Luke, which is the Acts of the Apostles.

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 The first is what Jesus began to say and to teach and to do,

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 which he puts in an orderly fashion, which he made sure.

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 Luke 1, verse 4, he makes it clear the accuracy and the faithfulness of what he conveys to this guy, Theophilus.

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 But in the Acts of the Apostles, he continues the story.

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 And in the first chapter, there is the account of those 40-day period between the resurrection of Jesus and his ascension.

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 Soon we'll be celebrating the ascension of Jesus.

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 And we are in this period of time right now.

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 And one of the things which is very clear about the resurrection of Jesus in that period

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 is that Jesus pounded away with his followers on what we know as the Great Commission.

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 So, for instance, you have in all four Gospels a very distinct but consistent account of what we call the Great Commission.

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 Matthew 28, 19-20.

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 Mark 16, 15.

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 Luke 24, 45-48.

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 John 20, 21.

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 And then Acts 1, 8 is the account of Jesus in a conversation with the apostles

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 in which they're asking the question,

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 when are you going to come back?

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 When are you going to set up your kingdom?

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 And he, interestingly, kind of deflects the question and says this.

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 He said to them,

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 Verse 7,

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 And it's not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

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 But here's what we're heading for.

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 Acts 1, verse 8.

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 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

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 and you will be my witness.

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 Witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.

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 Now, of course, Pentecost is the time when we realize that in fulfillment of the promise of old,

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 and here in Acts 1, 8,

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 when Jesus, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all the followers,

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 that 120 in the upper room.

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 And why was the Holy Spirit given?

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 Primarily, it was equipped them to be witnesses to Jesus.

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 Now, the question is,

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 what form did that take?

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 How was it possible for the witnesses of this cluster of 120 people

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 to begin to take the world for Christ?

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 How did it work from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria,

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 to the uttermost parts of the earth?

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 Well, you might expect that there would have been the best minds coming together,

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 coming up with a well-reasoned strategy

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 in which there are a five-year plan, a 10-year plan,

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 a 15-year plan,

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 in which they would have training

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 and all sorts of things to make sure

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 that the witness is going out in an orderly fashion

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 to do exactly what it is that Jesus said.

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 Well, I'm sorry to say that, in fact,

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 that's not the picture that Luke gives in the Acts of the Apostles.

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 Apostles.

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 It's actually, from our viewpoint, pretty haphazard.

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 But from the viewpoint of the Holy Spirit,

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 the trajectory is clear.

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 Now, what is interesting from my viewpoint,

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 in terms of this today,

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 is that, in fact,

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 more often than not,

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 things were going badly.

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 More often than not,

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 there were afflictions, difficulties,

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 persecutions,

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 imprisonments,

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 all the bad things

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 that you would think would be a hindrance

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 to this witness going forward.

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 Acts 3.

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 Here they are in Jerusalem.

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 Peter and John went to pray.

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 A man is healed,

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 and there's a great furor.

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 He was walking and leaping and praising God.

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 And then Peter,

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 filled with the Holy Spirit,

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 unlike before when he denied Jesus,

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 now he proclaimed,

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 this is all about Jesus.

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 Witness to Jesus.

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 This is all about Jesus.

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 You know, the Jesus whom you crucified,

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 but God raised from the dead.

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 And so, there was a great turning,

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 it says, by Acts 4,

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 in terms of the Gospel.

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 And by Acts 4, verse 4,

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 there were 5,000 men,

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 which means there were more likely

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 around 10,000 people who were believers.

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 Look at the trajectory from Acts 1, 15, 120,

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 Acts 2, 23, 3,000,

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 Acts 4, verse 4, 10,000.

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 It's incredible.

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 But so far, all in Jerusalem.

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 Now what is interesting is that there was a rest,

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 they were given a hard time,

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 did Peter, was he cowed by all this?

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 Not at all.

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 In fact, he reminded them,

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 this is all about Jesus whom you crucified,

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 that God raised from the dead.

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 As a matter of fact,

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 there is no other name under heaven

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 by which men may be saved.

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 So they didn't know what to do with them.

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 They kicked them out,

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 gave them a stern warning

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 not to ever talk about Jesus.

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 And did they say,

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 phew, we got, you know,

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 we made it.

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 Let's keep our head down.

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 This witnessing thing

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 is getting us in big trouble.

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 Instead of that,

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 it says in Acts 4, 29,

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 And now, Lord,

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 they prayed,

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 look upon their threats,

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 and grant to your servants

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 to continue to speak your word

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 with all boldness.

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 Interestingly,

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 they didn't pray so much

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 for their protection.

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 I'm sure they were calling out

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 for God's protection.

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 But they were confident

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 in the sovereign purposes of God

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 that that was not the critical issue.

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 The real issue

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 was whether they would be bold

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 in their witness

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 in fulfillment of Acts 1, 8.

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 And so what they prayed

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 was that even in the midst

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 of setbacks

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 and threats

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 and difficulties,

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 Lord,

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 make us bold.

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 Acts 5,

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 there's kind of the amusing situation

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 by verse 17

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 where the leaders

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 are jealous

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 of what's going on,

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 so they arrest them again.

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 They throw them in prison,

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 but an angel opens the door,

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 and instead of them

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 scuttling home

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 and keeping their head down

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 so that this will never happen again,

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 the angel says,

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 go into the temple courts

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 and preach.

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 So that's what they did.

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 And there's this,

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 in my view,

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 amusing picture

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 of this great Sanhedrin court

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 waiting for these folk

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 who are in such big trouble

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 to be dragged in before them,

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 and they waited for them

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 to be dragged in,

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 and those who were the authority

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 went to get them,

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 and there was nobody in prison.

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 They ended up going to the courts,

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 and they found them there,

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 and then they brought them in.

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 But by then,

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 the damage was being done.

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 Finally,

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 they beat these men,

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 though there was nothing wrong

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 other than them naming

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 the name of Jesus.

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 And when they were released,

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 verse 41 and 42 of Acts 5 says,

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 then they left the presence

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 of the council rejoicing,

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 and they were counted worthy

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 to suffer dishonor for the name.

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 And every day in the temple,

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 and from house to house,

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 they did not cease teaching

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 and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

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 Power to be witnesses,

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 Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria.

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 So far, we're still in Jerusalem,

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 but this is bold witnessing

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 in the midst of many setbacks.

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 Acts 6 gives the account of conflict

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 within the fellowship.

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 The Hellenist widows

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 are not being looked after

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 as well as the Jerusalem widows,

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 and so as a result of that,

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 there's a problem.

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 The apostles make the conclusion

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 they're to turn their attention

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 to prayer and to preaching,

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 and therefore they assign seven

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 who were Hellenists,

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 who were filled with the Holy Spirit

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 and wisdom,

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 who had gifts of administration

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 to take over.

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 Two of them, you know,

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 they're named Stephen and Philip.

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 And Stephen, by the end of Acts 7,

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 is martyred,

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 this mighty man of God,

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 simply for witnessing.

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 Bold witness can get you to trouble,

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 but the gospel goes forward.

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 And so it is in Acts 8, verse 1,

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 and this is all by way of background

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 to getting to Acts 28, verse 26,

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 so I hope you're staying with me.

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 What we're trying to think about

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 is the sovereign purposes of God.

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 When you want to be a bold witness for Jesus,

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 you're on a path with those

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 that we're reading about

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 in the Acts of the Apostles.

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 You're in good company,

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 and you are in line

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 with the mighty arm of God at work.

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 What you don't have

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 is a guarantee

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 that there will never be difficulties

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 in your life.

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 You don't have that promise.

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 So it is that Acts 8, verse 1 says,

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 And Saul approved of his execution,

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 that's Stephen's,

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 and there arose on that day

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 a great persecution

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 against the church in Jerusalem.

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 That was a dark day.

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 And they were all scattered

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 throughout the regions

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 of Judea and Samaria.

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 Does this sound familiar?

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 Judea, Samaria,

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 to the uttermost parts of the earth.

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 Judea and Samaria,

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 except the apostles.

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 Devout men buried Stephen

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 and made great lamentation over him.

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 But Saul,

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 this is Saul of Tarsus,

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 was ravaging the church

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 and entering house after house.

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 He dragged off men and women

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 and committed them to prison.

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 Now those who were scattered,

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 verse 4 of Acts 8,

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 went about preaching the word.

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 Instead of furtively running

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 from bush to bush,

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 making sure that nobody's following them,

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 instead of that,

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 these guys, yes,

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 they're leaving Jerusalem

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 because that was the wise thing to do.

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 The apostles made it clear

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 that that's what they should do.

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 But as they're going,

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 they're gossiping the gospel.

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 And now they're in Samaria.

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 And the crowds,

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 with one accord,

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 paid attention

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 to what was being said by Philip

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 when they heard him

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 and saw the signs that he did.

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 For unclean spirits,

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 crying out with a loud voice,

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 came out of many who had them.

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 And many who were paralyzed

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 or lame were healed.

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 So there was much joy in that city.

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 You may or may not know

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 that one of the churches in Annick,

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 the Annick Network in Canada,

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 named its name based on this verse.

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 It's Celebration Church in Barrie, Ontario.

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 And they are praying,

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 and when they had what they called

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 their hard launch,

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 looking out over the lake

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 in this great, you know,

00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:49.500
 medium-sized city north of Toronto,

00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:52.279
 with all the pastors around them.

00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:54.639
 They commissioned Brian McVitie,

00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:55.960
 who is our Annick priest,

00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:57.799
 and they prayed

00:11:57.799 --> 00:11:59.759
 that there would be joy in the city

00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:02.259
 because of the gospel being received.

00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:05.019
 They were praying for bold witness,

00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:06.559
 and that's what we pray.

00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:12.220
 Well, there was a great turning in Samaria,

00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.960
 and this is so exciting.

00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:15.820
 Do you remember the Good Samaritan?

00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:18.080
 Do you remember what happened in 77,

00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:19.760
 22 BC, and so on?

00:12:20.140 --> 00:12:22.040
 The North Kingdom and the South Kingdom.

00:12:22.540 --> 00:12:24.760
 Largely, the North Kingdom was lost

00:12:24.760 --> 00:12:26.900
 and dark and in trouble

00:12:26.900 --> 00:12:29.040
 as you follow the trail of the Old Testament.

00:12:29.920 --> 00:12:31.140
 So for now,

00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:33.240
 for little old Philip,

00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:35.120
 the administrator guy

00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.200
 who had a gift

00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:38.440
 by the Holy Spirit also preaching,

00:12:38.920 --> 00:12:40.700
 who makes his way fleeing

00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:43.040
 from the authorities in Jerusalem

00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:44.719
 and speaks about Christ,

00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:46.379
 isn't it exciting

00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:48.519
 that in the purposes of God,

00:12:48.599 --> 00:12:49.919
 the gospel came to Samaria,

00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.699
 and there was a great turning,

00:12:51.939 --> 00:12:53.159
 and there was joy in the city.

00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:56.740
 Do you remember in Genesis 50,

00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:01.139
 when Joseph was with his brothers

00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:02.839
 after their father had died,

00:13:03.599 --> 00:13:04.319
 and his brothers,

00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:06.379
 who had tried to kill Joseph before,

00:13:06.719 --> 00:13:07.699
 sell him to slavery,

00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:10.020
 they were now worried,

00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:12.220
 and they said,

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:13.280
 tell, you know,

00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:14.720
 you should know that our father said,

00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:15.660
 be nice to us.

00:13:15.700 --> 00:13:16.879
 That's my paraphrase.

00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.940
 That's not actually what it says

00:13:18.940 --> 00:13:20.060
 exactly in the scriptures.

00:13:20.140 --> 00:13:21.340
 You look up Genesis 50.

00:13:22.020 --> 00:13:24.500
 But Joseph was very clear.

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.340
 He was gracious,

00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:26.400
 but he was clear,

00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:26.900
 and he said,

00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:28.140
 as for you, brothers,

00:13:28.900 --> 00:13:30.280
 you meant evil against me,

00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:33.280
 but God meant it for good,

00:13:33.780 --> 00:13:35.800
 to preserve many people alive.

00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:38.699
 See, that's the amazing thing

00:13:38.699 --> 00:13:40.199
 of the sovereign God we serve.

00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:43.779
 He has many means

00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:45.319
 of bringing about his purposes.

00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:48.919
 He can even use the sin of man

00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:52.159
 as the means of bringing about his purposes.

00:13:52.939 --> 00:13:54.779
 Exhibit A, the cross.

00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:59.679
 Satan and all mankind

00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:01.559
 thought they were dealing with

00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:03.179
 the Son of God,

00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:05.279
 the one good man,

00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.779
 the sinless one.

00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.159
 Get rid of him,

00:14:08.199 --> 00:14:09.100
 and he'll be gone.

00:14:09.939 --> 00:14:12.659
 And so they nailed him to a cross.

00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:17.240
 They got their way.

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.419
 But what they didn't know

00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:21.100
 was that, in fact,

00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:21.980
 that's the means

00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:23.759
 through which salvation comes

00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.339
 to the whole world.

00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:28.579
 This is the God whom we serve.

00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:30.699
 And this is the God that Philip served.

00:14:30.939 --> 00:14:32.539
 And this is the God that you serve.

00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:34.099
 And so it is

00:14:34.099 --> 00:14:35.839
 that they were in Samaria

00:14:35.839 --> 00:14:36.899
 on this great turning,

00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:38.519
 but by verse 26,

00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:40.079
 amazingly,

00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:42.679
 Philip is yanked

00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:45.079
 out of the revival of Samaria

00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:47.099
 to go to one man

00:14:47.099 --> 00:14:47.819
 in the desert.

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:49.599
 Is that not crazy?

00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:52.000
 This is the Lord we serve.

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.899
 He worries about the individual,

00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:55.579
 and he sees through the one

00:14:55.579 --> 00:14:57.740
 nations being raised.

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:59.620
 So it is

00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:01.279
 that it says in verse 26,

00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:02.360
 Now an angel of the Lord

00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:03.120
 said to Philip,

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:05.120
 Rise and go toward the south

00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.060
 to the road that goes

00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:07.240
 from Jerusalem to Gaza.

00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:09.180
 This is a desert place.

00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:11.279
 And he rose and went.

00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:13.240
 I'm amazed at this guy.

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:16.440
 I would have thought,

00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:17.680
 bad decision,

00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:18.659
 maybe sometime,

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.100
 but right now

00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:21.080
 I'm kind of busy

00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:22.039
 with the revival,

00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:22.820
 you know,

00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:24.019
 and so there's a lot of things

00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:25.080
 going on here, Lord.

00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:25.360
 Lord,

00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.580
 that might have been

00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.759
 the lines of my prayer.

00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:29.660
 And maybe Philip

00:15:29.660 --> 00:15:31.000
 prayed that prayer too.

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.639
 But at the end of the day,

00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:34.660
 he heard the angel of the Lord.

00:15:34.780 --> 00:15:36.020
 And what that is,

00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:36.860
 the angel of the Lord,

00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:38.280
 as opposed to verse 29,

00:15:38.520 --> 00:15:39.820
 which is the spirit of the Lord,

00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:42.020
 I'm not sure.

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.080
 I think it's the same.

00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:45.100
 It's God speaking to him

00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:46.800
 by a means which he knew

00:15:46.800 --> 00:15:47.460
 it was God.

00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.660
 So what we're thinking about,

00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:53.100
 friends,

00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:56.240
 is what does

00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:58.179
 the witnessing

00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:59.419
 of the Holy Spirit

00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.559
 as in Acts 1-8

00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.259
 look like

00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.779
 in a person?

00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:05.059
 When you see

00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:06.039
 bold witnessing

00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:07.100
 personified,

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:09.100
 what are some of the qualities

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:10.100
 or characteristics?

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:12.219
 That's what we're looking at

00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:14.259
 when we look at Acts 26-40.

00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:16.419
 We're seeing a man

00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:17.959
 who is a bold witness.

00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.259
 Number one,

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:22.159
 now the angel of the Lord

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.200
 said to Philip,

00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:24.220
 rise and go.

00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:26.019
 And verse 27,

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:27.039
 he rose and went.

00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:28.500
 Verse 29,

00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.480
 and the spirit of the Lord

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:30.080
 said to Philip,

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:31.700
 go over and join this chariot.

00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:34.179
 So Philip ran to him.

00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:34.639
 Remember,

00:16:34.819 --> 00:16:35.460
 we're in the desert.

00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:36.720
 It's hot out there.

00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:39.120
 What we see here

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.700
 is a man

00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.679
 who's a witness,

00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.179
 which means he's in contact

00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:44.299
 with the living God

00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:46.100
 and he's learned to obey.

00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:48.800
 If you want to be

00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:49.740
 a bold witness,

00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:51.300
 you need to

00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:52.759
 be connected

00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.639
 to the vine

00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:55.060
 and then allow

00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:56.180
 the message

00:16:56.180 --> 00:16:57.120
 of the Holy Spirit

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.940
 to come to you.

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.700
 You're listening carefully

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.899
 and you've learned

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.100
 to bend your will

00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.940
 even though

00:17:02.940 --> 00:17:04.160
 all your instincts

00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:04.519
 say,

00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:05.819
 bad idea.

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.620
 That person's not

00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:08.319
 going to want to hear

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:08.880
 from me.

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:10.220
 They're going to laugh

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.140
 me out of the room,

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:11.599
 etc.

00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.140
 And yet,

00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:13.940
 the Spirit of God

00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:14.140
 says,

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:14.720
 go over there,

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:16.259
 talk to that person.

00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.279
 They need to hear

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:17.860
 about Jesus.

00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:19.740
 Philip,

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.220
 number one,

00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.000
 was in contact

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.559
 with God

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.740
 and learned to obey.

00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.460
 Secondly,

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:27.000
 he was a servant.

00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.220
 That's the posture

00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:30.100
 of the Christian.

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.799
 For even the Son of Man

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:33.180
 came not to be served,

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.400
 but to serve

00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.839
 and to give his life

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:37.019
 as a ransom for many.

00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:38.120
 When we're connected

00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:39.299
 to Jesus the vine,

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.519
 we find ourselves

00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.360
 automatically

00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:43.299
 in that relationship

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:44.660
 to everything around us

00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:45.779
 and everyone around us.

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.300
 We're here only

00:17:47.300 --> 00:17:48.279
 as a servant,

00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.800
 as he is the servant

00:17:49.800 --> 00:17:50.580
 of the world.

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.220
 And so it is

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.600
 that Philip was available

00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:55.740
 and enthusiastic.

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.620
 And so it is,

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.680
 he ran up.

00:17:59.660 --> 00:18:00.600
 And what did he do?

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.660
 He said,

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:02.500
 he listened,

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:03.140
 says,

00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.519
 so Philip ran up to him

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.400
 and heard him reading

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.279
 Isaiah the prophet

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:06.759
 and asked,

00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:07.980
 do you understand

00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:08.720
 what you're reading?

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.360
 And he said,

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.000
 how can I

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.240
 unless someone guides me?

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:14.819
 This is a servant.

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.200
 It wasn't,

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.240
 I just happened

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.079
 to have a talk,

00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.240
 Ethiopian eunuch,

00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.420
 which I'd like to drop

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.279
 on you at this time

00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:21.819
 because I've gone

00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.440
 to all this trouble

00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.380
 to come into the desert

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.480
 and you're going to listen.

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:26.539
 He was listening

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.940
 to what the Spirit of God

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:29.039
 was obviously doing

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.859
 and he was making

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.880
 himself available.

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.579
 To be a bold witness

00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.859
 is to be a servant

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:36.059
 who's enthusiastically

00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.900
 available to the people

00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:38.920
 that God leads you to.

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:39.680
 Thirdly,

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.080
 he knew the word.

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.140
 It says,

00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:42.940
 and he said,

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.779
 how can I

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:45.240
 unless someone guides me?

00:18:45.320 --> 00:18:46.259
 And he invited Philip

00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:46.800
 to come up

00:18:46.800 --> 00:18:47.500
 and sit with him.

00:18:47.800 --> 00:18:48.759
 Now the passage

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.320
 of scripture

00:18:49.320 --> 00:18:50.640
 that he was reading

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.259
 was this,

00:18:51.320 --> 00:18:51.960
 like a shepherd

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:53.100
 he was led to the slaughter

00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:53.960
 and like a lamb

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:55.600
 before its shears

00:18:55.600 --> 00:18:56.340
 is silent

00:18:56.340 --> 00:18:57.680
 so he opens

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.539
 not his mouth.

00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.800
 In his humiliation

00:18:59.800 --> 00:19:01.320
 justice was denied him.

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.560
 Who can describe

00:19:02.560 --> 00:19:03.480
 that his generation

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.320
 for his life

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:05.160
 is taken away

00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:06.279
 from the earth?

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:08.319
 And maybe

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.539
 we would think,

00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:09.940
 gulp,

00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:11.559
 where in the world

00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:12.220
 is that?

00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:13.379
 Yikes,

00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:15.259
 we're in trouble now Lord.

00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.819
 I don't know where that is.

00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.920
 It seems pretty obscure

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.539
 to me.

00:19:18.899 --> 00:19:19.639
 Because the eunuch

00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:20.059
 went on,

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.619
 verse 34,

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.019
 and said,

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.940
 about whom I ask you

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:24.039
 does the prophet

00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:24.700
 say this?

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.379
 About himself

00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:27.160
 or about someone else?

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:30.319
 Philip didn't miss a beat

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.660
 because he knew

00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.319
 the word of God.

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:34.859
 He knew the word of God.

00:19:34.939 --> 00:19:36.439
 Of course it was Isaiah 53.

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.539
 There's no more

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.960
 important passage

00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.639
 in understanding

00:19:40.639 --> 00:19:41.839
 the cross of Christ.

00:19:44.179 --> 00:19:45.559
 What it was for him

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.399
 to be the shepherd,

00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:48.939
 to be the victim,

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.399
 the sheep that was slain,

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.339
 the lamb of God.

00:19:51.919 --> 00:19:53.460
 What it was for the father

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.379
 righteously

00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:56.099
 to judge sin

00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:57.700
 who is the propitiation

00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:58.379
 for sin.

00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.319
 And then to be satisfied

00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.000
 satisfied

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.659
 that in fact

00:20:02.659 --> 00:20:03.259
 it's enough.

00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:05.339
 All of that

00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:06.579
 is in Isaiah 53.

00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:08.579
 So clearly

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.500
 the spirit of God

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.759
 was at work here.

00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:12.179
 But what I want you

00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:12.539
 to know

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.259
 is that to be

00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:15.839
 a bold witness

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.059
 requires of you

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.480
 to live in the Bible.

00:20:19.919 --> 00:20:20.480
 It's interesting

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.099
 that Paul said

00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:22.679
 to his young

00:20:22.679 --> 00:20:23.720
 protege Timothy

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:25.099
 in verse 15

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:26.139
 of 2 Timothy 3

00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:26.480
 he says,

00:20:27.439 --> 00:20:29.240
 start verse 14,

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:29.920
 but as for you

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.740
 continue in what

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.299
 you have learned

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.460
 and have firmly believed

00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.220
 knowing from whom

00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.839
 you've learned it

00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:35.359
 and how from childhood

00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:36.839
 you have been acquainted

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:38.200
 with the sacred writings

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.859
 the Bible

00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:40.579
 which are able

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.299
 to make you

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.859
 wise for salvation

00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.779
 through faith

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:45.099
 in Christ Jesus.

00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:46.579
 It's the spirit

00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.279
 who gives life

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.140
 the flesh profits

00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:49.079
 nothing Jesus said.

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.160
 The words that I have

00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:50.779
 spoken to you

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.559
 are spirit

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:53.039
 and life.

00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:55.200
 For people to come

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.380
 to saving knowledge

00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:56.960
 of Jesus

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.420
 there has to be

00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:59.080
 a work

00:20:59.080 --> 00:20:59.940
 of the word

00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.500
 of God

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.420
 in their lives.

00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:03.200
 And if you're

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.780
 to be a witness

00:21:03.780 --> 00:21:04.560
 that's effective

00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:05.800
 you have to be

00:21:05.800 --> 00:21:06.860
 involved in the Bible

00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:08.280
 so that you can

00:21:08.280 --> 00:21:09.000
 be used

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:10.280
 with the scriptures

00:21:10.280 --> 00:21:11.840
 to open them up

00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:13.100
 to the would-be person.

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.960
 I have a theory

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:19.040
 which is not

00:21:19.040 --> 00:21:19.860
 original to me

00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:20.620
 but I like it.

00:21:21.260 --> 00:21:22.220
 Whoever thought of it

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.660
 I think it's a good idea

00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:26.079
 that when Philip

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.160
 approached this

00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.000
 Ethiopian

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.400
 great court official

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:30.160
 but a eunuch

00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.079
 who was a God-fearer

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.860
 but would have been

00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:34.539
 excluded from the

00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:36.059
 inner court of the temple

00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:37.279
 because he was a eunuch

00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:40.180
 he I think

00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:40.940
 would have been thinking

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:42.779
 also about Isaiah 56

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.920
 about a promise

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.799
 that says this

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.620
 verse 3

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:46.799
 let not the foreigner

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.839
 who has joined himself

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.900
 to the Lord say

00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:51.820
 the Lord will surely

00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:52.680
 separate me

00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:53.440
 from his people

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.880
 and let not the eunuch

00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.660
 say

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.759
 behold

00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:58.580
 I am a dry tree

00:21:58.580 --> 00:22:01.259
 for thus says the Lord

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.700
 to the eunuchs

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.400
 who keep my Sabbath

00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:05.900
 who choose the things

00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.680
 that please me

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.700
 and hold fast

00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.600
 my covenant

00:22:08.600 --> 00:22:09.940
 I will give

00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.720
 in my house

00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.800
 and within my walls

00:22:11.800 --> 00:22:12.920
 a monument

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.860
 and a name

00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:15.340
 better than

00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:16.440
 sons and daughters

00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:18.300
 this is exciting stuff

00:22:18.300 --> 00:22:19.519
 you see

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:21.299
 in a very real way

00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:22.619
 Philip had before him

00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:24.099
 not only an Ethiopian

00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:25.720
 so the whole world

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:26.799
 is before him

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.900
 but a person

00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.759
 who by rights

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:30.480
 was in every way

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.500
 disqualified

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:34.400
 and yet in the gospel

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.779
 there was everything

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.599
 there for him

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:38.980
 he knew the word

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.920
 fourthly

00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.980
 and this is the biggie

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.619
 are you ready

00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.839
 drum roll please

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:46.819
 then Philip

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.199
 opened his mouth

00:22:48.199 --> 00:22:49.659
 and beginning

00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:50.659
 with this scripture

00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:52.599
 he told him

00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.539
 the good news

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:55.059
 about Jesus

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:57.079
 dear friends

00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:58.619
 Philip

00:22:58.619 --> 00:23:00.379
 nailed it

00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:01.799
 because

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:03.079
 he taught him

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:04.019
 about Jesus

00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.740
 there would have been

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.579
 so many things

00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:07.619
 he could have digressed

00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:08.699
 and talked about

00:23:08.699 --> 00:23:09.619
 there could have been

00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.419
 so many things

00:23:10.419 --> 00:23:11.279
 that he might have found

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.660
 as sort of preliminary

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.500
 to it

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:15.319
 but what is consistent

00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.460
 about the witness

00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.200
 that you find

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:18.180
 in the book of Acts

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.359
 is that whether it be

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:19.799
 Peter

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:21.139
 or anyone else

00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:22.259
 that in fact

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.639
 they get to Jesus

00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:24.680
 quickly

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.740
 and directly

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:28.220
 and unabashedly

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.559
 see

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.899
 Philip understood

00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:31.680
 the truth

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:33.879
 that there's only

00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.599
 one name

00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:36.099
 by which a person

00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:36.779
 could be saved

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.359
 he understood

00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:39.000
 the truth

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.859
 that God loved

00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:40.159
 the world

00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:40.659
 so much

00:23:40.659 --> 00:23:41.099
 that he gave

00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:41.439
 his son

00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:41.759
 that whoever

00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.379
 believes in him

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.219
 should not perish

00:23:43.219 --> 00:23:44.099
 for God

00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:44.839
 did not send

00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:45.159
 the son

00:23:45.159 --> 00:23:45.639
 into the world

00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.279
 to judge

00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:46.779
 the world

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.919
 but that the world

00:23:47.919 --> 00:23:48.599
 might be saved

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:49.059
 through him

00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:50.079
 and then verse 18

00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:50.740
 says this

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:52.099
 whoever believes

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.679
 in him

00:23:52.679 --> 00:23:54.000
 is not condemned

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.599
 but whoever

00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.559
 does not believe

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.639
 is condemned already

00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:59.219
 it's that simple

00:23:59.219 --> 00:24:00.339
 it's reduced

00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.139
 to one thing

00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:01.740
 what have you done

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.279
 with Jesus

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:04.039
 and so if he cares

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.899
 in any way

00:24:04.899 --> 00:24:05.759
 for this man

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.959
 he's going to

00:24:06.959 --> 00:24:07.839
 teach him

00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.599
 the good news

00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:09.579
 about Jesus

00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:12.460
 if you're a bold

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:12.819
 witness

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.619
 and I remember

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.599
 it was actually

00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:16.839
 I was in a group

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.519
 where there was

00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.359
 a new person

00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.000
 who was hired

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:21.000
 in our diocese

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.879
 in a time before

00:24:22.879 --> 00:24:24.599
 to be the evangelism

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.559
 person for the diocese

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.139
 and there was a

00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:27.039
 two hour

00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.240
 presentation

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.599
 where Jesus' name

00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.919
 was never mentioned

00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.699
 even once

00:24:31.699 --> 00:24:33.939
 well that's

00:24:33.939 --> 00:24:34.679
 unthinkable

00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:36.579
 how can you speak

00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.419
 about the good news

00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:38.279
 and communicating

00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:39.000
 the good news

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:40.240
 if it's not

00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.099
 all about

00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.559
 Jesus

00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.819
 because he's

00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.900
 the only thing

00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.660
 that saves

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:47.200
 Philip got it

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.500
 right

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:49.240
 Jesus said

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.940
 I am the way

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.420
 the truth

00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:50.900
 and the life

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.519
 no one comes

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.000
 to father

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.059
 but by me

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:55.180
 John said

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.740
 he who has

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.180
 the son

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.839
 has life

00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:57.759
 he who has

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.339
 not the son

00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:58.680
 of God

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.539
 has not life

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:02.240
 so it is

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.720
 when

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.940
 when they

00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.579
 it says

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:05.879
 so

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.460
 as

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.059
 as they

00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.659
 were going

00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:08.139
 along

00:25:08.139 --> 00:25:08.740
 the road

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.339
 they came

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:09.759
 to some

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.180
 water

00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:10.779
 and the eunuch

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.059
 said

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.639
 see here's

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.019
 water

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:13.720
 what prevents

00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:14.519
 me from being

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:14.960
 baptized

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.480
 and he

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.119
 commanded him

00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.680
 to stop

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.200
 and they both

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.859
 went down

00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.740
 into the water

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:21.159
 Philip and the eunuch

00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:21.859
 and he baptized

00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:22.299
 him

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.460
 and when they

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:23.879
 came up

00:25:23.879 --> 00:25:24.480
 out of the water

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.119
 the spirit of the

00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:25.639
 Lord carried

00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:26.460
 Philip away

00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.660
 and the eunuch

00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.240
 saw him

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.779
 no more

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.360
 and went

00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:30.220
 on his way

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.340
 rejoicing

00:25:31.340 --> 00:25:34.559
 recently

00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:36.299
 just

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:36.980
 the

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.640
 the

00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.420
 predecessor

00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.180
 to the present

00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:39.700
 bishop of the

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:39.980
 arctic

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.360
 his name

00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:40.740
 was Bishop

00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.180
 Andrew

00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:42.660
 the story

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:42.940
 of his

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.380
 conversion

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:43.799
 is an

00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.279
 extraordinary

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:44.620
 one

00:25:44.620 --> 00:25:45.019
 I heard

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.180
 him

00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:45.579
 give it

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.680
 once

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:48.000
 and

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.000
 he was

00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.579
 as a young

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.120
 man of about

00:25:50.120 --> 00:25:50.559
 20

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.279
 because he

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.079
 spoke English

00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.400
 was used

00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.180
 as a translator

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.720
 for Marnie

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.299
 Patterson

00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:56.619
 Marnie Patterson

00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:57.159
 was preaching

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:57.720
 and he would

00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.419
 say a phrase

00:25:58.419 --> 00:25:58.839
 and Bishop

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.200
 Andrew

00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.659
 then just

00:25:59.659 --> 00:26:00.079
 Andrew

00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:00.879
 would say

00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.319
 a phrase

00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.059
 and so on

00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:02.799
 this was the

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.440
 second night

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.839
 and Marnie

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.240
 was doing

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:05.799
 his thing

00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:06.200
 and Andrew

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.639
 was doing

00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.240
 his thing

00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:08.119
 and then

00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:08.919
 suddenly Marnie

00:26:08.919 --> 00:26:09.819
 said a phrase

00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.339
 and nothing

00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:10.819
 happened

00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:11.779
 he said the

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.500
 phrase again

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.099
 and nothing

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:13.619
 happened

00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:14.339
 and they

00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:14.960
 looked over

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.259
 and there

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.519
 was the

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.079
 prayer desk

00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:16.579
 where people

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.059
 would come

00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.460
 to pray

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.940
 and receive

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.960
 and there

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:19.680
 was Andrew

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.220
 kneeling

00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.639
 at the

00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.220
 prayer desk

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.099
 and what

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.460
 Andrew

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.419
 said was

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:24.299
 that he

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:24.700
 suddenly

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.279
 realized

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.379
 this message

00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:26.819
 was for

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.139
 him

00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:28.539
 and though

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:28.759
 it was

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.359
 embarrassing

00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:30.059
 he was

00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:30.519
 afraid

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.279
 if he

00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:31.799
 didn't go

00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.079
 there

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.000
 right now

00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:34.759
 he might

00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.359
 never feel

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:35.779
 this way

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.160
 again

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:37.440
 and he

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:37.879
 was not

00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:38.240
 prepared

00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.019
 to risk

00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:40.420
 salvation

00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.119
 even

00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:41.519
 although

00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.000
 it was

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.680
 tremendously

00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.240
 humbling

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:45.119
 to break

00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:45.460
 up a

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:45.879
 pretty good

00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.259
 sermon

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.819
 by kneeling

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.099
 there

00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:48.379
 and so

00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:48.700
 Marnie

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.139
 went over

00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:49.639
 and actually

00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:50.599
 Andrew's

00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:50.980
 wife

00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.379
 Mary

00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:51.680
 they were

00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:51.980
 a young

00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.359
 couple

00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:53.160
 she slipped

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.619
 in beside

00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:53.920
 him

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.139
 and the

00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:54.660
 two received

00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.080
 the Lord

00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:55.740
 then they

00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.320
 came back

00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:56.779
 and Andrew

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.460
 continued in

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.220
 his translation

00:26:58.220 --> 00:27:00.420
 dear friends

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.480
 this is

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.320
 what's

00:27:02.320 --> 00:27:02.960
 exciting

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.840
 about this

00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.360
 story

00:27:04.360 --> 00:27:05.860
 is that in

00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.460
 fact the

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.320
 man understood

00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:08.040
 now is the

00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:08.340
 time

00:27:08.340 --> 00:27:09.600
 now is the

00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:09.920
 day of

00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:10.300
 salvation

00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:10.840
 and Philip

00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:11.540
 understood that

00:27:11.540 --> 00:27:12.000
 as well

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.080
 he didn't

00:27:13.080 --> 00:27:13.440
 defer

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.000
 didn't hold

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.400
 him up

00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:15.259
 he knew

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.680
 the spirit

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.080
 of God

00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:16.560
 had brought

00:27:16.560 --> 00:27:17.340
 new life

00:27:17.340 --> 00:27:18.080
 and they

00:27:18.080 --> 00:27:18.720
 sealed the

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.320
 deal by

00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:19.940
 baptism

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:21.060
 that day

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.480
 in the

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:22.899
 water

00:27:22.899 --> 00:27:23.819
 in the

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.159
 desert

00:27:24.159 --> 00:27:28.740
 I made

00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.119
 a commitment

00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.480
 to the

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:29.759
 Lord

00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:31.940
 early on

00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.379
 when I

00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:32.839
 became a

00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:33.099
 bishop

00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:34.119
 knowing that

00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:34.500
 I would be

00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.000
 doing lots

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.599
 of traveling

00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.179
 and lots

00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:36.759
 of preaching

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.220
 in different

00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.819
 situations

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:39.819
 which is to

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.259
 take the

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.859
 opportunity

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.480
 though I

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:41.960
 would know

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.339
 that the

00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:43.119
 vast majority

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:43.639
 of people

00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.000
 that were

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.740
 before me

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.599
 and maybe

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.139
 all in

00:27:46.139 --> 00:27:46.839
 some cases

00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:48.139
 already know

00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:48.699
 the Savior

00:27:48.699 --> 00:27:49.339
 of whom

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:49.899
 I speak

00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:51.199
 to always

00:27:51.199 --> 00:27:51.579
 give an

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.099
 invitation

00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:53.899
 to acknowledge

00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:54.419
 the fact

00:27:54.419 --> 00:27:54.759
 that it's

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.459
 possible to

00:27:55.459 --> 00:27:55.779
 have the

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.220
 grace of

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.000
 God dangling

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.720
 before you

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.799
 and to

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.159
 leave it

00:27:59.159 --> 00:27:59.480
 there

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:01.339
 Paul said

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:01.779
 in 2nd

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.319
 Corinthians 6

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.679
 don't

00:28:02.679 --> 00:28:03.199
 receive the

00:28:03.199 --> 00:28:03.379
 God

00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.039
 allow the

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.459
 grace to

00:28:04.459 --> 00:28:05.339
 be of

00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:05.720
 God to

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.000
 be in

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.379
 vain

00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:07.419
 behold now

00:28:07.419 --> 00:28:07.740
 is the

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.139
 acceptable

00:28:08.139 --> 00:28:08.419
 time

00:28:08.419 --> 00:28:08.939
 now is

00:28:08.939 --> 00:28:09.179
 the day

00:28:09.179 --> 00:28:09.819
 of salvation

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:11.159
 and so

00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:11.839
 dear friends

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:13.199
 I throw

00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:13.579
 out the

00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.099
 invitation

00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:14.740
 once again

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.119
 here at

00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.459
 Church of

00:28:15.459 --> 00:28:15.859
 the Messiah

00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.179
 as I

00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:16.459
 did

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.120
 at the

00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:17.299
 early

00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:17.680
 service

00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.200
 as well

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:19.480
 but I

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:19.960
 also want

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.400
 to say

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:20.880
 to you

00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.360
 who do

00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:21.620
 know

00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:21.799
 the

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.120
 Lord

00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:25.019
 have

00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.140
 you

00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:25.380
 heard

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:25.559
 the

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:25.940
 call

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:27.840
 that

00:28:27.840 --> 00:28:27.980
 the

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.279
 reason

00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:28.519
 you've

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:28.640
 been

00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:28.840
 given

00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.000
 the

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:29.220
 Holy

00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.640
 Spirit

00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:30.660
 is

00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:30.819
 to

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.200
 equip

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.380
 you

00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:31.519
 to

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:31.640
 be

00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:31.779
 a

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.120
 witness

00:28:32.120 --> 00:28:33.039
 do

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.100
 you

00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:33.559
 understand

00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.000
 that

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.180
 you've

00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.299
 been

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:34.500
 given

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.700
 a

00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:35.039
 tongue

00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:36.039
 a

00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:36.539
 tongue

00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.079
 to

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.319
 bring

00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:37.799
 glory

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.039
 to

00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.600
 God

00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:38.840
 and

00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:39.059
 to

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.460
 witness

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:39.680
 to

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:39.860
 the

00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:40.160
 saving

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:40.559
 power

00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:40.779
 of

00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.100
 Jesus

00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:43.860
 are

00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:44.220
 you

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.640
 in

00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:45.279
 active

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:45.799
 contact

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.500
 with him

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:46.680
 and

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.200
 obedience

00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:50.139
 have you

00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:51.259
 learned to be a servant

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.359
 in the environment

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.539
 and the people around you

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:58.740
 are you involved in the word of God

00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:01.460
 so that it can be used even through you

00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.960
 to bring people to

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:05.220
 the wisdom that leads to salvation

00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:09.600
 and when you have opportunity

00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:11.600
 do you go to the goods

00:29:11.600 --> 00:29:14.259
 do you preach Jesus

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:16.900
 anything less than that

00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:19.120
 is to miss the mark

00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:21.279
 would you stand

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.019
 and let's pray

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:29.400
 Lord Jesus Christ

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.960
 I thank you for this

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.420
 wonderful church

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:32.900
 family

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:41.080
 and I thank you for

00:29:41.080 --> 00:29:42.240
 everything you're doing here

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.500
 and through this

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.180
 congregation

00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:47.280
 I pray that

00:29:47.280 --> 00:29:47.980
 no one

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.740
 that you bring

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.740
 within the circle

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.600
 of influence

00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:51.400
 of this church

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:53.240
 would miss out

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:55.920
 that no one

00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.540
 would receive

00:29:56.540 --> 00:29:57.280
 the grace of God

00:29:57.280 --> 00:29:57.759
 in vain

00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:00.779
 but would

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.720
 appropriate it

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.599
 by repentance

00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.299
 and faith

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:05.779
 and even today

00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.180
 Lord

00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.539
 if there's anyone here

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:09.740
 who needs to respond

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:11.500
 would you hear our prayer

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.059
 Lord Jesus

00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:13.319
 I know I'm a sinner

00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:15.900
 I repent of my sin

00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:17.720
 would you come

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.420
 into my life

00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:19.140
 right now

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:21.440
 I want to be yours

00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.059
 forever

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:23.819
 and would you begin

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.420
 the process

00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.160
 of change

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.900
 and then one day

00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:27.960
 I look forward

00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.700
 to being with you

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:29.480
 and to be changed

00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.380
 to be like Jesus

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:32.100
 and Lord

00:30:32.100 --> 00:30:32.940
 for this company

00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.920
 of mighty men

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.300
 and women

00:30:34.300 --> 00:30:35.180
 boys and girls

00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:36.300
 who know you

00:30:36.300 --> 00:30:38.720
 would you enable us

00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:40.360
 to be bold witnesses

00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:43.199
 to this needy dark world

00:30:43.199 --> 00:30:44.500
 that you love so much

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:47.639
 hear my Lord

00:30:47.639 --> 00:30:48.939
 send me

00:30:48.939 --> 00:30:50.059
 Amen