WEBVTT

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 We want to be shaped by it, we want to be faithful servants, effective witnesses of our Lord Jesus.

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 So to that end, we ask that you would address us, teach us, and by the power of Holy Spirit, change us this morning.

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 In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

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 Acts chapter 25, starting verse 13.

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 I'm going to be, it's a long passage, I'm going to jump around a little bit, so I invite you to your Bible's open.

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 Acts 25, verse 13.

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 Now when some days had passed, the Rippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.

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 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying,

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 There is a man left prisoner by Felix, and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.

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 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.

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 So when they came together here, I made no other way, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.

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 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evil as I supposed.

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 Rather, they had certain points to dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be a Bible.

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 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding him.

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 But when Paul had a deal to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.

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 Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would like to hear the man myself.

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 Tomorrow, said he, you will hear him.

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 So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent man of the city.

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 Then at the command of Festus, Paul was brought up.

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 And Festus said, King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me,

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 both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

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 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death.

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 And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.

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 But I had nothing definite to write to my lord about him.

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 Therefore, I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa,

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 so that after we have examined him, I may have something to write.

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 For it seems to be unreasonable in sending a prisoner not to educate the charges.

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 So the greatest party of religion, I've lived as a Pharisee.

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 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,

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 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly worship night and day.

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 And for this hope, I am accused by Jews, O King.

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 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

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 I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

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 And I did so in Jerusalem.

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 I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests,

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 but when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

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 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme.

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 And in raging fury against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

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 In this connection, I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

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 At midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven,

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 brighter than the sun that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.

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 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language,

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 Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?

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 It is hard for you to kick against the goats.

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 And I said, who are you, Lord?

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 And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

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 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose,

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 to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me

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 and to those in which I will appear to you,

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 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you,

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 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light

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 and from the power of Satan to God,

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 that they may receive forgiveness of sins

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 and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

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 Therefore, O King Agrippa,

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 I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

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 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem,

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 and throughout all the region of Judea,

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 and also to the Gentiles,

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 that they should repent and turn to God,

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 performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

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 For this reason, the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

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 To this day, I have had the help that comes from God,

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 and so I stand here testifying, both to small and great,

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 saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass,

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 that the Christ must suffer,

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 and that by being the first to rise from the dead,

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 he would proclaim light, both to our people and to the Gentiles.

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 And as he was saying these things in his defense,

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 Festus said with a loud voice,

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 Paul, you are out of your mind.

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 Your great learning is driving you out of your mind.

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 But Paul said,

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 I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus,

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 but I am speaking true and rational words.

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 For the king knows about these things,

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 and to him I speak boldly,

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 for I am persuaded that none of these things had escaped his notice,

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 for this has not been done in a corner.

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 King Agrippa,

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 do you believe the prophets?

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 I know that you believe.

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 And Agrippa said to Paul,

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 In a short time,

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 would you persuade me to be a Christian?

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 And Paul said,

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 Whether short or long,

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 I would to God that not only you,

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 but also all who hear me this day,

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 might become such as I am,

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 except for these chains.

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 Then the king rose,

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 and the governor,

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 and Bernice,

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 and those who were sitting with them,

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 and when they had withdrawn,

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 they said to one another,

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 This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.

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 And Agrippa said to Festus,

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 This man could have been set free,

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 if he had not appealed to Caesar.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 In the book,

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 The Insanity of God,

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 which is one of the books

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 that are on our 2022 Trinity Reads Book Challenge,

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 Nick Ripken tells many of the stories

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 that he has collected over the 20 years

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 of visiting and interviewing hundreds of believers

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 who live in areas

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 where there is intense persecution of Christians.

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 And at the end of the book,

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 Ripken makes the startling observation

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 that our persecuted believers around the world

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 do not ask us to pray

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 that their persecution would cease.

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 Instead,

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 they ask us to pray

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 that, quote,

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 they would be faithful

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 and obedient

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 through their persecution

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 and suffering.

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 Because Jesus taught

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 that persecution

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 will be the norm

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 and not the exception

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 for Christians.

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 And because 2 Timothy 3.12

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 teaches that indeed

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 all who desire to live

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 a godly life in Christ Jesus

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 will be persecuted.

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 Our brothers and sisters

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 in persecuted countries

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 believe that praying

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 for the end of persecution

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 is tantamount to praying

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 that people will no longer follow Christ.

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 Ripken notes that

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 even in countries

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 where it is most intense

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 and pervasive,

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 quote,

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 persecution is completely avoidable.

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 If someone simply leaves Jesus alone,

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 doesn't seek him or follow him,

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 then persecution

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 will simply not happen.

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 Beyond that,

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 even if someone

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 becomes a follower of Jesus,

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 persecution will likely not happen

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 if the faith

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 is kept private and personal.

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 If a person is silent

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 about their faith in Jesus,

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 the chance of being persecuted

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 is very small.

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 So if our goal

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 is reducing persecution,

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 that task is easily achieved.

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 First,

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 just leave Jesus alone.

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 Second,

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 if you do happen to find him,

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 just keep him to yourself.

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 The reason for persecution, then,

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 is that people keep finding Jesus

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 and then they refuse

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 to keep him to themselves.

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 Having said this,

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 Ripken asks a provocative question.

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 He says,

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 perhaps the question should not be,

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 why are others persecuted?

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 Perhaps the better question is,

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 why are we not?

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 Could it be that we are not persecuted

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 because our lives

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 are indistinguishable

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 from that of unbelieving

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 people in the world?

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 Could it be that we are not persecuted

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 because we have been silent

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 about Jesus?

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 When our brothers and sisters

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 in persecuted parts of the world

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 have shared Jesus

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 at the risk of being beaten,

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 ostracized, jailed,

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 and even killed,

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 have we kept Jesus

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 to ourselves

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 from the comfort

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 of our free western world?

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 In this passage,

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 we see the apostle Paul

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 on trial yet again.

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 And once again,

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 we see Paul

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 bear faithful witness

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 to Jesus.

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 Even in dire circumstances,

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 whenever he opens his mouth,

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 it seems Paul can't help himself

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 but to speak of Jesus.

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 And through Paul's example,

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 Luke reminds us

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 that we too are servants

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 and witnesses

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 of the risen Lord Jesus.

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 And we've been sent out

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 to open people's eyes

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 so that they might turn

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 to the light of Christ.

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 That's the main point

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 that Luke is making here.

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 So let's talk first

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 about how Jesus

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 is the resurrected Lord

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 and then secondly

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 about how we are his servants

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 and witnesses

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 in this passage.

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 So this is taking place

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 sometime between 58 and 60 AD.

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 It's when Porcius Festus

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 who replaced Antonius Felix

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 as the Roman procurator

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 of Judea.

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 And Paul is under trial again.

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 This time,

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 he is being interrogated

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 by King Agrippa.

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 Chapter 25, verse 13

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 tells us that Agrippa the king

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 and Bernice arrived at Caesarea

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 and greeted Festus.

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 The Agrippa mentioned here

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 in this passage

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 is Agrippa the second.

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 He is the great grandson

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 of Herod the first

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 who tried to kill Jesus

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 when he was an infant.

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 And the son of Herod Agrippa the first

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 who appears several times

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 throughout the book of Acts

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 as a violent persecutor

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 of the church.

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 So he's got quite the heritage here,

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 this Agrippa.

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 And Bernice that is mentioned here

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 is Agrippa the second's sister.

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 And also she happened to be

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 the older sister of Drusilla

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 who we know is the wife

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 of Festus,

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 Festus' predecessor Felix

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 that was mentioned

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 in chapter 24.

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 Agrippa the second

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 is a client king

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 appointed by the Roman emperor

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 to rule over the Jewish world,

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 over Jerusalem and Judea

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 and surrounding regions.

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 Because of this,

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 Agrippa was an expert

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 in Jewish affairs.

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 He was intimately familiar

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 with the controversies

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 of the Jews,

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 the theology of the Jews,

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 their politics, etc.

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 So he likely would have

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 been aware already

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 of the waves that Paul

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 was causing among the Jews.

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 And that's why later

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 in chapter 26 verses 2-3

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 Paul says this to Agrippa.

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 He says,

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 I consider myself fortunate

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 that it is before you

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 King Agrippa

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 I am going to make

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 my defense today

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 against all the accusations

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 of the Jews.

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 Especially because

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 you are familiar

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 with all the customs

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 and controversies

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 of the Jews.

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 So this is a great opportunity

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 for Paul to be vindicated.

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 And given this background,

00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:31.639
 Agrippa's interest

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:33.220
 in Paul makes sense.

00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:34.200
 And so when Festus

00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:34.980
 mentions that he is

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:37.159
 holding Paul in prison,

00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:39.000
 he says immediately

00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.539
 in 25 verse 22,

00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:41.960
 I would like to hear

00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:42.860
 the man myself.

00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:44.519
 And Festus grants him

00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:44.899
 the wish.

00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:46.919
 But before Festus

00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:47.659
 gives the floor

00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:48.340
 to Agrippa,

00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:49.399
 he gives a summary

00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.240
 of the situation

00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.720
 of his assessment

00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:52.960
 of Paul twice.

00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:54.419
 First informally

00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:55.360
 in chapter 25

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.379
 verses 14-21

00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.659
 and then again formally

00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:58.299
 during the official

00:12:58.299 --> 00:12:59.539
 proceedings in

00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.939
 verses 24-27.

00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:03.620
 And in both of those times,

00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:05.200
 Festus mentions

00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:06.179
 Paul's innocence.

00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:08.059
 He says in verses

00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:09.080
 18-19,

00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:10.039
 when the accusers

00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:10.500
 stood up,

00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:12.000
 they brought no charge

00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.759
 in his case

00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.840
 of such evils

00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:14.559
 as I supposed.

00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:15.360
 Rather,

00:13:15.439 --> 00:13:16.340
 they had certain points

00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:17.100
 of dispute with him

00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:18.419
 about their own religion

00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:19.720
 and about a certain

00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:20.940
 Jesus who was dead

00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:21.580
 but whom Paul

00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:23.080
 asserted to be alive.

00:13:24.060 --> 00:13:25.200
 So the Jews were,

00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:25.920
 as we've been following

00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:26.460
 in this story,

00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:27.580
 were falsely accusing

00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:29.560
 Paul of desecrating

00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:30.100
 the temple

00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:31.360
 and of starting a riot

00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:31.960
 and they were trying

00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:32.900
 to get a capital

00:13:32.900 --> 00:13:34.400
 sentence for him.

00:13:34.920 --> 00:13:36.160
 But Paul was not guilty

00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:37.220
 of any of those crimes.

00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:37.960
 He was innocent

00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:40.460
 and he was only claiming

00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:41.580
 that Jesus is

00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:42.580
 the promised Messiah

00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.680
 and that he died

00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:44.400
 and was raised

00:13:44.400 --> 00:13:44.980
 from the dead

00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:45.840
 and that all must put

00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:46.639
 their faith in him.

00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:48.440
 And so again,

00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:50.300
 in verses 24-25,

00:13:51.520 --> 00:13:52.340
 Festus summarizes,

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:53.440
 the whole Jewish people

00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:54.580
 were shouting that Paul

00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:55.780
 ought not to live any longer

00:13:55.780 --> 00:13:57.420
 but I found that he

00:13:57.420 --> 00:13:58.280
 had done nothing

00:13:58.280 --> 00:13:59.620
 deserving death.

00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.440
 Paul's not guilty

00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:03.139
 of any crime

00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:03.720
 and that's how

00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.540
 believers should be

00:14:04.540 --> 00:14:05.680
 when they bear witness

00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:07.040
 in a hostile world.

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.100
 We should be innocent

00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:09.820
 and yet we must bear

00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:11.200
 bold witness to Jesus.

00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.340
 So what then

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.500
 was the reason

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:15.860
 why Jews wanted

00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:17.280
 to kill Paul so badly?

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:20.019
 Festus' assessment

00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:21.560
 was that it had to do

00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:22.199
 with the question

00:14:22.199 --> 00:14:23.259
 of the resurrection,

00:14:24.119 --> 00:14:25.159
 Jesus' resurrection.

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:27.099
 And his conclusion

00:14:27.099 --> 00:14:27.859
 is consistent

00:14:27.859 --> 00:14:28.739
 with what Paul's

00:14:28.739 --> 00:14:29.679
 been saying all along

00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:30.559
 because he's been saying

00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:32.279
 from chapter 23 onward

00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:33.539
 every time that

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:35.819
 it's because of his claim

00:14:35.819 --> 00:14:37.259
 that Jesus was raised

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:37.799
 from the dead

00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:38.539
 that he is now

00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:39.500
 being persecuted.

00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.219
 It's with respect

00:14:41.219 --> 00:14:41.859
 to the resurrection

00:14:41.859 --> 00:14:42.419
 of the dead

00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:43.299
 that he was on trial.

00:14:44.319 --> 00:14:45.379
 And that's the point

00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:46.539
 that Paul emphasizes

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:48.279
 again before Agrippa.

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.939
 Look at chapter 26

00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:51.199
 verses 68 with me.

00:14:51.339 --> 00:14:51.539
 It says,

00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:52.879
 Paul says,

00:14:52.959 --> 00:14:54.000
 And now I stand

00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:54.740
 here on trial

00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:56.379
 because of my hope

00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:56.959
 in the promise

00:14:56.959 --> 00:14:57.799
 made by God

00:14:57.799 --> 00:14:58.480
 to our fathers

00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.240
 to which our 12 tribes

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.079
 hope to attain

00:15:01.079 --> 00:15:02.319
 as they earnestly

00:15:02.319 --> 00:15:03.620
 worship night and day.

00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:05.199
 And for this hope

00:15:05.199 --> 00:15:05.839
 I am accused

00:15:05.839 --> 00:15:07.019
 by Jews, O King.

00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:08.759
 Why is it thought

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.539
 incredible

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.559
 by any of you

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.620
 that God

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.500
 raises the dead?

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:15.340
 A consequence

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:16.159
 of the fall

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:16.899
 of humanity

00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:18.539
 because of Adam's sin

00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:20.740
 was loss of access

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.639
 to the tree of life

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.000
 as we know

00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:22.799
 from Genesis 3.

00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.580
 God had placed

00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:25.139
 the tree of life

00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:25.899
 in the Garden of Eden

00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:27.120
 for people to eat it

00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:28.320
 and to dwell forever

00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.340
 in his presence.

00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:32.399
 But because of Adam's sin

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.500
 death came into the picture

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:36.159
 as a penalty for sin.

00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:39.279
 And in all the genealogies

00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.080
 of the Old Testament

00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:42.639
 in Genesis, Numbers,

00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:44.240
 1 and 2 Chronicles,

00:15:44.400 --> 00:15:44.820
 Ezra,

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:47.500
 we find the haunting refrain,

00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.440
 So and so lived

00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:50.620
 this many years

00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:52.020
 and he died.

00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:54.759
 And that raises

00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:56.580
 a huge theological question.

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:59.320
 God, can you do anything

00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:00.460
 about death?

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:03.540
 You promised Abraham

00:16:03.540 --> 00:16:04.560
 that his descendants

00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:06.120
 will be as innumerable

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:07.620
 as the stars in the sky,

00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:09.280
 but who cares?

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.759
 He's dead.

00:16:14.400 --> 00:16:15.720
 You used Moses

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.980
 to rescue the Israelites

00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:17.940
 out of Egypt,

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:19.540
 but he died

00:16:19.540 --> 00:16:20.379
 before he could even

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.600
 enter the promised land.

00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:24.300
 You promised David

00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:25.320
 that one of his descendants

00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.580
 will reign on his throne

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.139
 forever,

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.020
 but what gives?

00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:30.960
 He'll never see it.

00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:32.900
 He's dead.

00:16:36.040 --> 00:16:36.900
 Yes, Lord,

00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:37.759
 you have done much

00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:38.620
 for your people.

00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.620
 You rescued them

00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:40.360
 out of their slavery

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:40.779
 in Egypt.

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.480
 You brought them

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.039
 into a land

00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.519
 flowing with milk and honey.

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.720
 You gave them a nation

00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.740
 and a kingdom,

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.940
 but what about death?

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.080
 People are still

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.539
 falling like flies

00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:52.360
 left and right.

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.759
 Can you do something

00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.399
 about that?

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:56.259
 Can you undo

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.519
 that?

00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:01.559
 some of us

00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:03.079
 have lost loved ones

00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:03.759
 recently,

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:06.139
 and we continue

00:17:06.139 --> 00:17:06.940
 to remember

00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.639
 with sadness,

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.619
 and we wonder,

00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:11.319
 why death?

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:11.379
 death?

00:17:13.659 --> 00:17:14.659
 Yes, Christians

00:17:14.659 --> 00:17:15.619
 have been used

00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:16.019
 by God

00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.779
 in ancient times

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.539
 and modern times

00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.599
 to raise the dead,

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.240
 as prophets Elijah

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.339
 and Elijah have done,

00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.700
 as apostles Peter

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.839
 and Paul have done,

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.599
 as Jesus himself did,

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:28.179
 but all of those people,

00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.419
 even those who were

00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:30.799
 temporarily reanimated,

00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:33.039
 eventually died again.

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.119
 Again,

00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:37.000
 death is

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.980
 the most significant

00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:40.259
 consequence of the fall,

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.720
 but can death

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.700
 itself be defeated?

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.119
 The prophets

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:45.900
 of the Old Testament

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:47.460
 picked up on this theme

00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:48.319
 and relate to us

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.680
 what God promised

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:51.019
 to do about death.

00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.160
 In Isaiah 25, 8,

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:53.500
 it says,

00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:54.799
 He will swallow up

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:55.519
 death forever,

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.319
 and the Lord God

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.220
 will wipe away

00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.819
 tears from all faces,

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.920
 and the reproach

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.519
 of His people

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.339
 He will take away

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.079
 from the earth.

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.599
 Isaiah 26, 19,

00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.399
 Your dead shall live,

00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:09.579
 their body shall rise.

00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:10.199
 You will,

00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:10.919
 to you who dwell

00:18:10.919 --> 00:18:11.559
 in the dust,

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.559
 awake and sing for joy.

00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:16.219
 In Ezekiel 37,

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.740
 after God raises,

00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:18.399
 miraculously,

00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:20.299
 a valley of dry bones

00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:21.339
 and brings them

00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.139
 back to life,

00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:24.099
 He promises this,

00:18:24.179 --> 00:18:24.599
 Behold,

00:18:24.679 --> 00:18:26.559
 I will open your graves

00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:27.559
 and raise you

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.299
 from your graves,

00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:29.000
 O my people.

00:18:29.219 --> 00:18:30.179
 I will bring you

00:18:30.179 --> 00:18:31.119
 into the land of Israel,

00:18:31.199 --> 00:18:31.919
 and you shall know

00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:32.899
 that I am the Lord

00:18:32.899 --> 00:18:34.139
 when I open your graves

00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:34.759
 and raise you

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.500
 from your graves,

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.119
 O my people.

00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.960
 In Daniel 12,

00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:39.859
 verse 2,

00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:40.440
 perhaps one of the

00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:42.140
 most famous examples,

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:43.460
 it says,

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:44.900
 Multitudes who sleep

00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:46.000
 in the dust of the earth

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:46.799
 will awake,

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.799
 some to everlasting life,

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.680
 others to shame

00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:50.940
 and everlasting contempt.

00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.460
 And this is Paul's point.

00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:55.519
 When numerous passages

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.039
 of Scripture

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:58.000
 point to this promise

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.160
 of the resurrection,

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:01.500
 that God is going to deal

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.660
 with this problem of death

00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.799
 once and for all,

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:05.680
 why should anyone

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.419
 who believes

00:19:06.419 --> 00:19:07.480
 in the Word of God

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:09.139
 find it unbelievable

00:19:09.139 --> 00:19:11.399
 that God raises the dead?

00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:16.000
 Paul's faith

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.059
 in the resurrected Jesus

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.879
 was rooted

00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:19.419
 in the Jewish Scriptures.

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.159
 Contrary to being

00:19:22.159 --> 00:19:23.700
 someone who is anti-Jewish,

00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.859
 Paul is arguing that,

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.099
 no,

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.180
 I am being

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.419
 a faithful Jew.

00:19:28.419 --> 00:19:30.079
 This is what I've been taught

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:31.019
 in the Jewish Scriptures.

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:34.359
 Jesus is the fulfillment

00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.240
 of the hope

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.619
 of the 12 tribes of Israel.

00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:38.960
 And it's precisely

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:40.920
 for proclaiming this Messiah

00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:42.680
 that we had all been waiting for

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.259
 that you are not

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.059
 persecuting me.

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.119
 So Paul continues

00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:48.519
 in verses 22 to 23,

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.680
 To this day,

00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:51.000
 I have had the help

00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.960
 that comes from God,

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.420
 and so I stand here

00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.339
 testifying both

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.359
 to small and great,

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.400
 saying nothing

00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.660
 but what the prophets

00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.759
 and Moses said

00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.940
 would come to pass,

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:01.160
 that the Christ

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.080
 must suffer,

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.220
 and that by being

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.140
 the first to rise

00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:04.720
 from the dead,

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:06.340
 he would proclaim light

00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:07.860
 both to our people

00:20:07.860 --> 00:20:09.600
 and to the Gentiles.

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:12.299
 Hosea chapter 6,

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:12.960
 verse 2,

00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:14.360
 prophesied specifically

00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:15.600
 that the Messiah

00:20:15.600 --> 00:20:16.240
 would die

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.880
 and be raised

00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.660
 on the third day.

00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.940
 And he prophesied

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:22.580
 that our resurrection

00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:24.279
 would be connected

00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:25.220
 to be wrapped up

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.380
 with Jesus' resurrection,

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.759
 the Messiah's resurrection.

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:30.759
 And that's what Paul's saying

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.379
 when he says here

00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.839
 that Jesus was the first

00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:34.079
 to rise from the dead.

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.859
 That implies

00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:39.339
 that Jesus is not the last

00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.660
 to rise from the dead.

00:20:41.379 --> 00:20:42.119
 There will be others

00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:43.299
 who follow in his footsteps.

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:45.000
 This is the idea

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:47.299
 that Jesus is the first fruits

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.220
 from the dead,

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:49.000
 which Paul,

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.660
 that's an idea

00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.819
 that Paul expands upon

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:52.759
 in 1 Corinthians 15,

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:54.599
 verses 19 to 26.

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.460
 I think I have that

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.319
 to project for you.

00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.079
 He says,

00:20:57.179 --> 00:20:58.099
 If in Christ

00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.919
 we have hope

00:20:58.919 --> 00:21:00.000
 in this life only,

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.159
 we are of all people

00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:02.019
 most to be pitied.

00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:03.359
 But in fact,

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.579
 Christ has been raised

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.119
 from the dead,

00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:06.339
 the first fruits

00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:07.139
 of those who have

00:21:07.139 --> 00:21:07.899
 fallen asleep.

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.799
 For as by a man

00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.579
 came death,

00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:11.599
 by a man has come

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.559
 also the resurrection

00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.240
 of the dead.

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.439
 For as in Adam

00:21:14.439 --> 00:21:15.220
 all die,

00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.399
 so also in Christ

00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:17.700
 shall all be made alive,

00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:19.799
 but each in his own order.

00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:20.879
 Christ,

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.059
 the first fruits,

00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:23.339
 then that is coming

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:24.240
 those who belong

00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.059
 to Christ.

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:27.119
 Then comes the end

00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.099
 when he delivers

00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:29.039
 the kingdom to God,

00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:29.519
 the Father,

00:21:29.639 --> 00:21:30.220
 after destroying

00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.919
 every rule

00:21:30.919 --> 00:21:31.700
 and every authority

00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.379
 and power.

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:33.740
 For he must reign

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.460
 until he has put

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.139
 all his enemies

00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:35.839
 under his feet.

00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:37.339
 The last enemy

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.159
 to be destroyed

00:21:38.159 --> 00:21:39.359
 is death.

00:21:40.899 --> 00:21:42.879
 The idea of the first fruits

00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.599
 in the Old Testament

00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.579
 has to do with

00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:45.700
 bringing the first

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:47.119
 of your produce,

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.919
 the first fruits

00:21:47.919 --> 00:21:48.579
 of your produce

00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.279
 that you farmed

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.259
 as well as the first fruits

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.339
 of your livestock

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.539
 as an offering to God

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.980
 in thanksgiving.

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.700
 And that offering,

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.740
 the first fruits,

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.740
 represented the rest

00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.740
 of the harvest.

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.000
 It was a way

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.659
 of acknowledging

00:22:01.659 --> 00:22:02.700
 that really all

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.539
 that we have

00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:05.000
 is from God.

00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:05.680
 It's a good gift

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.180
 from him.

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.639
 And really all of it

00:22:07.639 --> 00:22:08.319
 belongs to him.

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.200
 But we bring

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.240
 the first fruits,

00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.379
 the best and the first

00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:12.059
 things that we have

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.379
 bought,

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:12.859
 we have brought

00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.440
 from our produce

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.859
 as a way to honor God

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.440
 and recognize

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.460
 that it's all from him

00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:16.839
 and that it all

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.579
 belongs to him.

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:19.059
 And it's a pledge

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.919
 of the harvest

00:22:19.919 --> 00:22:20.559
 that is to come.

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.359
 We're saying

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:22.839
 when we give

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.579
 our first fruits

00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.019
 to God,

00:22:24.179 --> 00:22:25.000
 there will be

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.879
 a harvest to follow.

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.779
 This is just

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.500
 the first fruits

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.279
 that God's given

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.859
 to us.

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.039
 And in a similar way,

00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:32.939
 Christ is the first fruits

00:22:32.939 --> 00:22:34.220
 of the resurrection.

00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.759
 He's the first fruit,

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.799
 first to be raised

00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:37.399
 from the dead.

00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.960
 And it's the resurrection

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.740
 of Christ

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:41.039
 that guarantees

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.079
 his followers

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.079
 future resurrection.

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.639
 It's a pledge

00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.240
 for us.

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:47.200
 just as when Adam

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.859
 died,

00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.019
 when Adam sinned

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.700
 and he died,

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.680
 he was the first man,

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.640
 he was the representative

00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.720
 of all of humanity.

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.980
 And when he died,

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.700
 he brought death

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.839
 into all of humanity.

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:57.819
 And similarly,

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.500
 when Jesus,

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.519
 the new Adam,

00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.259
 the representative

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.180
 of all those

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:01.980
 who pledged

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.359
 their allegiance

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:02.859
 to Jesus,

00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:03.720
 to him,

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.099
 when Jesus is raised

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:05.660
 from the dead,

00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:07.120
 that's the guarantee

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.880
 that all those

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:08.640
 who belong to him

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.680
 will also be raised

00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:10.660
 from the dead.

00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:13.460
 1 Corinthians 15,

00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:14.400
 56 says,

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.460
 the sting of death

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.120
 is sin

00:23:16.120 --> 00:23:17.580
 and the power

00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:18.500
 of sin is the law.

00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.900
 It's because Jesus

00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:22.180
 paid the penalty

00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:22.720
 for sin

00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.080
 that we can be free.

00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.400
 Because if sin

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.340
 is not dealt with,

00:23:27.780 --> 00:23:28.620
 death can never

00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:29.200
 be avoided.

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.320
 Because wherever

00:23:30.320 --> 00:23:31.000
 there is sin,

00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:31.640
 there is death

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.259
 because death

00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.740
 is the punishment

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.300
 for sin.

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.460
 And but by dying

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.140
 on the cross

00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:38.380
 for our sins,

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.720
 taking up our penalty

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.380
 on the cross,

00:23:40.840 --> 00:23:41.960
 Jesus dealt with sin

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.780
 once and for all

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.500
 so that those

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.420
 who believe in him

00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.279
 would no longer

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.759
 be under the power

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.819
 of death.

00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:50.339
 Jesus has paid

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:50.859
 our debt.

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.680
 That's what Paul

00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.599
 is proclaiming.

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.500
 But in order

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.440
 to be guaranteed

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.539
 this resurrection,

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.680
 we have to align

00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.539
 ourselves with Jesus.

00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.920
 Paul says that

00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.660
 in 26,

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.259
 verse 18

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.220
 of our book,

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:04.279
 in the book of Acts,

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.799
 that we gain a place

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.519
 among those

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.539
 who are sanctified

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.859
 by faith

00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:09.759
 in Jesus.

00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:12.259
 By believing

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.339
 that Jesus

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.680
 is the Son of God.

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.720
 By believing

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.279
 that Jesus

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:18.079
 is the Messianic King,

00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:18.960
 the Savior

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.579
 of the world,

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.619
 and that he died

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.680
 for our sins

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.279
 and was raised

00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:22.859
 from the dead

00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:23.720
 to give us

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.960
 eternal resurrection life.

00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.720
 But this faith

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.220
 is not

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.579
 a mental assent

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:29.940
 only.

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.819
 It's a belief

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.559
 that affects

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.159
 our behavior.

00:24:34.379 --> 00:24:35.019
 That's why

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.920
 in verses 18

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.379
 and 20,

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:36.960
 Paul uses

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.420
 the language

00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:38.259
 of turning

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.539
 and repentance.

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.100
 Paul says

00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.660
 in verse 20

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.299
 that he preached

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.819
 that people

00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.720
 should repent

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:45.059
 and turn to God

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.799
 performing deeds

00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.500
 in keeping

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.860
 with their repentance.

00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.440
 To repent

00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.400
 means to turn.

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:51.960
 If you really

00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:52.720
 believe in Jesus,

00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:54.079
 there will be

00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:55.120
 deeds

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.579
 that are in keeping

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.299
 with our repentance.

00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.700
 Imagine that

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.180
 your friend

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.720
 is driving

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.279
 and you're sitting

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.279
 on the passenger side.

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.319
 You have the GPS

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:05.039
 in your hand.

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.839
 he is going

00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.619
 in the wrong direction.

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.079
 So you tell him,

00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:09.259
 hey,

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.279
 you have to make

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.720
 a U-turn.

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.599
 You have to turn around.

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.180
 And he keeps

00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.839
 driving

00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:16.440
 in the wrong direction.

00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.000
 So you tell him,

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.159
 hey,

00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:20.079
 you made the wrong turn.

00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:21.059
 You have to turn around.

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.659
 And he keeps

00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:23.839
 driving in the wrong direction.

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.859
 And at that point,

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.779
 you would wonder,

00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:28.879
 did my friend

00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:29.460
 hear me?

00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:31.340
 Is he ignoring me?

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:31.960
 Does he think,

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.259
 I don't know how to

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.620
 listen to read the GPS,

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:36.620
 not giving him

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.340
 the right direction?

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.620
 Because,

00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:42.140
 if he really heard him,

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.900
 he would have

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.380
 turned around.

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.559
 In a similar way,

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.700
 when we believe

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.220
 in Jesus,

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.420
 you turn

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:50.380
 toward him.

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.600
 You reorient

00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:52.380
 your life

00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:53.980
 around him.

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.100
 Your purposes

00:25:55.100 --> 00:25:55.680
 and priorities

00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.559
 are realigned

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.440
 with Jesus'

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.600
 purposes and priorities.

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.079
 And so,

00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.019
 if you say

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.980
 you believe in Jesus,

00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:01.899
 but your life

00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:03.099
 gives no evidence

00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:04.199
 that you have,

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:04.579
 in fact,

00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.319
 turned around,

00:26:06.459 --> 00:26:07.699
 it brings into question

00:26:07.699 --> 00:26:08.639
 whether you really

00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:09.519
 repented,

00:26:10.199 --> 00:26:10.859
 whether you really

00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.339
 believed.

00:26:15.639 --> 00:26:16.699
 And if you are here

00:26:16.699 --> 00:26:17.119
 this morning

00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.199
 and you have not

00:26:18.199 --> 00:26:19.139
 turned around,

00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.159
 if you're still

00:26:21.159 --> 00:26:22.240
 going in the wrong direction,

00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:23.199
 then you must

00:26:23.199 --> 00:26:24.299
 repent and believe

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:24.679
 in Jesus.

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.779
 think of how much

00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.939
 of your time,

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.519
 your life,

00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:33.619
 how much of human

00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:34.579
 activity in general

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.619
 is driven by

00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:36.419
 the desire to

00:26:36.419 --> 00:26:37.259
 prolong life

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.980
 and avoid death.

00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.339
 All the health

00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:41.379
 precautions we take,

00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.159
 diets,

00:26:43.679 --> 00:26:44.319
 exercise,

00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:45.419
 medicine,

00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:46.339
 research,

00:26:46.679 --> 00:26:47.359
 even work.

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:49.019
 We work ultimately,

00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:49.319
 right,

00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:50.139
 because we need to

00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:50.899
 earn money so that

00:26:50.899 --> 00:26:51.639
 we can buy food

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.099
 to eat

00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:54.519
 because you can't

00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.339
 live without working.

00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:59.159
 But despite all

00:26:59.159 --> 00:26:59.899
 these efforts,

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.819
 the world has

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:02.240
 no answer for death.

00:27:04.419 --> 00:27:05.779
 The resurrected Jesus

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:07.059
 is the only person

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:07.799
 who has ever

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.679
 solved

00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:10.079
 the problem of death

00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:11.059
 and he is

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:12.599
 our only answer.

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:16.159
 And this is why

00:27:16.159 --> 00:27:17.159
 it's imperative

00:27:17.159 --> 00:27:18.059
 that those who

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:19.259
 have found Jesus,

00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.740
 those who are already

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.599
 servants of Jesus

00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:22.740
 and must bear

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.699
 witness to him,

00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.259
 tell everyone about

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.719
 his death and

00:27:25.719 --> 00:27:26.119
 resurrection.

00:27:26.939 --> 00:27:27.539
 And that brings me

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.399
 to my second point,

00:27:28.459 --> 00:27:29.039
 that we are his

00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:30.519
 servants and witnesses.

00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:33.179
 The gospel of Jesus

00:27:33.179 --> 00:27:34.619
 Christ is the good

00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:34.919
 news,

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.839
 this is the best

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.759
 news in all the

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:38.019
 world and we are

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.759
 responsible for

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.339
 spreading it.

00:27:40.459 --> 00:27:41.459
 Paul describes his

00:27:41.459 --> 00:27:42.299
 mission of proclaiming

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:42.939
 the gospel in

00:27:42.939 --> 00:27:45.019
 chapter 26,

00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.959
 verse 18 as

00:27:45.959 --> 00:27:47.559
 to open their

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.039
 eyes.

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.439
 Whose eyes?

00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.199
 He says in

00:27:50.199 --> 00:27:51.359
 verse 17 and 23,

00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:52.059
 that is to open

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.919
 the eyes of both

00:27:52.919 --> 00:27:54.699
 Jews and Gentiles.

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.559
 This would have

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.719
 been surprising for

00:27:57.719 --> 00:27:58.839
 the Jews because

00:27:58.839 --> 00:27:59.399
 they didn't think

00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:00.079
 their eyes need to

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.500
 be opened.

00:28:01.219 --> 00:28:01.759
 Well, they are the

00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.579
 chosen people of God

00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:03.399
 after all, but this

00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:04.000
 is what Paul

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.740
 proclaimed, that

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.939
 the Jews' eyes

00:28:05.939 --> 00:28:06.919
 also need to be

00:28:06.919 --> 00:28:07.199
 opened.

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.759
 This is a good

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.479
 lesson for us.

00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.339
 It teaches us that

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.959
 sometimes even the

00:28:12.959 --> 00:28:14.039
 people who are very

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.119
 religious and

00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:17.179
 spiritual, who seem

00:28:17.179 --> 00:28:17.939
 to think that they

00:28:17.939 --> 00:28:18.919
 have all the answers,

00:28:19.459 --> 00:28:20.419
 who have a religious

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.380
 upbringing and a

00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:22.320
 spiritual heritage,

00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:24.860
 maybe even our

00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:27.460
 pastor's kids, are

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:27.940
 lost.

00:28:31.300 --> 00:28:32.500
 Sometimes I think we

00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.340
 can be lulled into

00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:34.460
 thinking that people

00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.740
 who seem to be doing

00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.680
 well for themselves in

00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.800
 this world don't need

00:28:37.800 --> 00:28:38.279
 Jesus.

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.920
 But that's not the

00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.220
 case.

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.580
 Everyone is lost

00:28:42.580 --> 00:28:43.500
 apart from Jesus.

00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:45.460
 Everyone is a sinner

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.600
 in need of a Savior.

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:48.359
 So Paul says he was

00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:49.439
 sent out by Jesus,

00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:50.599
 quote, to open their

00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:51.779
 eyes so that they may

00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:53.399
 turn from darkness to

00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.659
 light and from the

00:28:54.659 --> 00:28:56.379
 power of Satan to God

00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:57.579
 that they may receive

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.859
 forgiveness of sins and

00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.839
 a place among those who

00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:01.279
 are sanctified by faith in

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.699
 him, in Jesus.

00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:05.240
 Everyone who doesn't

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:07.039
 know Jesus is groping

00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:08.019
 about in the dark.

00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.480
 Do you really believe

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.119
 that, brothers and

00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.379
 sisters?

00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:13.640
 Even the most

00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:15.080
 intelligent person you

00:29:15.080 --> 00:29:16.480
 meet, even the most

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.820
 successful person you

00:29:17.820 --> 00:29:19.240
 meet, even the person

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.380
 that appears to have

00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.820
 everything figured out

00:29:21.820 --> 00:29:24.180
 is hopelessly lost

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:24.840
 without Jesus.

00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:25.960
 Do you believe that?

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:31.020
 Everyone who doesn't

00:29:31.020 --> 00:29:32.040
 know Jesus is under the

00:29:32.040 --> 00:29:33.080
 power of Satan.

00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:37.460
 Even the most moral and

00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:39.840
 law-abiding person, even

00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:41.679
 the most prolific good

00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:42.740
 doer that everyone

00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:45.000
 seems to admire, is

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:46.240
 ultimately under the

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.659
 power of Satan.

00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:49.899
 Do you really believe

00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:50.179
 that?

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.859
 And this is why we as

00:29:56.859 --> 00:29:57.659
 servants and witnesses

00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.799
 of the risen Lord Jesus,

00:29:59.139 --> 00:30:00.459
 we must open their eyes

00:30:00.459 --> 00:30:01.799
 to the light of Christ.

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:04.459
 The fact that some

00:30:04.459 --> 00:30:05.539
 people don't want to

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.639
 hear the gospel does not

00:30:06.639 --> 00:30:07.879
 make the gospel any less

00:30:07.879 --> 00:30:08.879
 of good news.

00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:10.180
 The fact that some

00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:11.280
 people don't believe the

00:30:11.280 --> 00:30:12.460
 gospel does not make it

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.980
 any less of a good news.

00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:15.660
 It is the good news.

00:30:15.780 --> 00:30:17.520
 It is the only good news

00:30:17.520 --> 00:30:18.080
 of salvation.

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.180
 It is what we have been

00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:20.700
 commissioned to share.

00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:25.480
 And that command, it is a

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:25.940
 command.

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.900
 It comes to us from the

00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:29.700
 highest possible authority.

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:33.940
 In chapter 25, verse 26,

00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:36.100
 Festus refers to Caesar as

00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:36.859
 his Lord.

00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:39.899
 But Paul serves a

00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.559
 different Lord.

00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.919
 He addresses the risen

00:30:43.919 --> 00:30:45.959
 Jesus as Lord in chapter

00:30:45.959 --> 00:30:47.199
 26, verse 15.

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.000
 He says, while he was

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:50.379
 journeying to Damascus with

00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:51.279
 the authority and

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.159
 commission of the chief

00:30:52.159 --> 00:30:53.039
 priests to persecute

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.679
 Christians, he says in

00:30:54.679 --> 00:30:56.539
 verse 12 to 18, at

00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:58.519
 midday, O king, I saw on

00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.559
 the way a light from

00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:01.319
 heaven, brighter than the

00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:03.119
 sun that shone around me

00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:04.099
 and those who journeyed

00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.579
 with me.

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:06.179
 And when we had fallen to

00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:07.199
 the ground, I heard a

00:31:07.199 --> 00:31:08.179
 voice saying to me in the

00:31:08.179 --> 00:31:09.619
 Hebrew language, Saul,

00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.839
 Saul, why are you

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.759
 persecuting me?

00:31:11.979 --> 00:31:13.000
 It is hard for you to

00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:13.979
 kick against the goals.

00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:15.579
 And I said, who are you,

00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:15.859
 Lord?

00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:17.459
 And the Lord said, I am

00:31:17.459 --> 00:31:18.259
 Jesus whom you are

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:18.859
 persecuting.

00:31:19.159 --> 00:31:21.079
 But rise and stand upon

00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:22.339
 your feet, for I have

00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:23.579
 appeared to you for this

00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:25.599
 purpose, to appoint you as

00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:27.079
 a servant and witness to

00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:28.159
 the things in which you

00:31:28.159 --> 00:31:29.919
 have seen me and to those

00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:31.259
 in which I will appear to

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.639
 you.

00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:35.520
 This is a scene out of

00:31:35.520 --> 00:31:36.440
 the throne room.

00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:39.000
 Because when you go into

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.200
 the throne room of a

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:42.060
 king, you fall prostrate

00:31:42.060 --> 00:31:42.640
 before them.

00:31:43.100 --> 00:31:44.040
 And so they all fall to

00:31:44.040 --> 00:31:45.120
 the ground when the light

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:46.000
 shines that is brighter

00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:46.560
 than the sun.

00:31:47.300 --> 00:31:47.840
 And when you are

00:31:47.840 --> 00:31:49.120
 prostrate before the king,

00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:50.860
 only when the king says

00:31:50.860 --> 00:31:52.320
 you can rise up, you rise

00:31:52.320 --> 00:31:52.600
 up.

00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:54.560
 And that's what Paul does.

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:56.420
 Jesus says to him, rise

00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:57.780
 and stand upon your feet,

00:31:57.780 --> 00:31:59.540
 for I have chosen you,

00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:01.280
 appointed you as a servant

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:02.279
 and a witness.

00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:05.160
 Why did Paul do a complete

00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:06.440
 180 in his life?

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:09.119
 Moments before he was

00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:10.399
 doing the bidding and

00:32:10.399 --> 00:32:11.139
 then going with the

00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:11.940
 authority of the high

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:13.619
 priests to persecute

00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.019
 believers.

00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:16.700
 Why did he turn around?

00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:18.279
 Why is he now proclaiming

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:19.119
 the Christ that he was

00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:20.220
 persecuting once in his

00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:20.519
 life?

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:22.579
 Because he encountered

00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:25.180
 the risen Lord who has a

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:26.460
 higher authority.

00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:26.519
 authority.

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:29.140
 The authority of the risen

00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:31.120
 Lord overrode the authority

00:32:31.120 --> 00:32:32.140
 of the chief priests.

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:35.340
 In the various spheres of

00:32:35.340 --> 00:32:36.920
 our lives, we listen to

00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:38.200
 people who have authority in

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:39.279
 those respective spheres,

00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:39.680
 don't we?

00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.500
 If you're in the classroom,

00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:43.700
 you listen to the teacher.

00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:46.700
 If we're in at work, we

00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.640
 listen to our boss.

00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:50.440
 If you're a child at home,

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.420
 you listen to your parent.

00:32:53.620 --> 00:32:55.900
 But here is Jesus who has

00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:57.520
 risen from the dead.

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.860
 Here is Jesus who has

00:32:59.860 --> 00:33:01.240
 ascended to the heavens.

00:33:01.800 --> 00:33:02.780
 Here is Jesus who is

00:33:02.780 --> 00:33:04.520
 seated at the right hand of

00:33:05.160 --> 00:33:06.700
 God the Father himself,

00:33:07.080 --> 00:33:08.759
 far above all rule and

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.200
 authority and power and

00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:12.320
 dominion and above every name

00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:13.200
 that is named.

00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:15.680
 Here is Jesus who speaks

00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:17.180
 from a light from heaven

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:18.700
 brighter than the sun.

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.480
 Only thing that can

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.720
 possibly be is the

00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:23.660
 unapproachable light that

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:25.920
 God himself dwells in that

00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:27.019
 we read early in 1 Timothy

00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:29.319
 6 verse 15.

00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:33.700
 The risen Jesus is God.

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.340
 He is the son of God.

00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:37.279
 He is the king of kings and

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.660
 lord of lords whose

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:41.400
 authority overrides every

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.200
 other authority.

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:44.819
 And his authority extends to

00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:46.920
 every sphere over the

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.900
 entire cosmos.

00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:51.519
 So when Jesus tells us to do

00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:54.440
 something, we obey.

00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:59.759
 And this is why Jesus said to

00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.960
 Paul when he appeared to him

00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:02.940
 in verse 14, Saul, Saul, why

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.819
 are you persecuting me?

00:34:03.860 --> 00:34:05.080
 It's hard for you to kick

00:34:05.080 --> 00:34:05.880
 against the goads.

00:34:06.620 --> 00:34:10.199
 A goad is a pointed stick that

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:11.980
 farmers use to drive

00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:13.420
 cattle, prod them in the

00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.460
 direction that they wanted to

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:14.679
 go.

00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.860
 So if you want them to go

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.840
 this way, you press them this

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.059
 way.

00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:19.940
 But if sometimes cattle will be

00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:21.300
 rebellious and they'll kick

00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:22.820
 against it, try going a

00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:23.619
 different direction.

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:25.679
 But that's not a battle that

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:26.760
 the cattle can win.

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:30.019
 Because the more you turn and

00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:32.159
 the more you, there's only so

00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:33.920
 long can the cattle remain under

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:35.380
 the pressure of that sharp goad

00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:37.219
 before it folds and starts to

00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:37.820
 follow the farmer.

00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:40.460
 So that expression was used by

00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:41.620
 the Greeks to refer to

00:34:41.620 --> 00:34:43.900
 resisting something that has

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:45.400
 higher power, something that is

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:46.680
 irresistible, ultimately

00:34:46.680 --> 00:34:47.480
 unavoidable.

00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:51.300
 Paul could not avoid his

00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:52.800
 commission, his call, because

00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:54.500
 God had called him to it.

00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:55.940
 The Lord Jesus, who had all the

00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:58.180
 authority, had commanded him to

00:34:58.180 --> 00:34:58.380
 it.

00:34:59.200 --> 00:35:01.200
 And so Paul says in verse 19, I

00:35:01.200 --> 00:35:02.780
 was not disobedient to the

00:35:02.780 --> 00:35:03.400
 heavenly vision.

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.700
 He obeyed.

00:35:05.260 --> 00:35:06.200
 He followed Jesus.

00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:07.439
 He started proclaiming him

00:35:07.439 --> 00:35:07.919
 everywhere.

00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:11.279
 Most of us don't think twice

00:35:11.279 --> 00:35:13.299
 about obeying human authorities.

00:35:14.399 --> 00:35:14.619
 Right?

00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:16.659
 When the traffic cop tells us to

00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:20.039
 drive through a red light or stop

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:24.419
 at a green light, even though we

00:35:24.419 --> 00:35:28.359
 are, that goes against everything

00:35:28.359 --> 00:35:29.239
 we have been taught in driving

00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:29.579
 school.

00:35:30.339 --> 00:35:31.980
 And it goes against the pattern

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:33.879
 that we have come to be

00:35:33.879 --> 00:35:35.239
 accustomed to every single day.

00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:37.139
 We do what they tell us to do

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:38.959
 because the cop's authority

00:35:38.959 --> 00:35:42.379
 overrides that of the traffic

00:35:42.379 --> 00:35:42.639
 light.

00:35:45.139 --> 00:35:47.019
 So when the Lord Jesus commands

00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:48.419
 us to go and tell people about

00:35:48.419 --> 00:35:50.939
 his gospel, it doesn't matter how

00:35:50.939 --> 00:35:52.279
 much peer pressure we face.

00:35:53.299 --> 00:35:55.319
 It doesn't matter what the law of

00:35:55.319 --> 00:35:56.039
 the land is.

00:35:57.699 --> 00:36:00.819
 We obey because it comes from a

00:36:00.819 --> 00:36:01.519
 higher authority.

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:06.059
 This is why Paul was able to stand

00:36:06.059 --> 00:36:07.679
 up tall and bear witness to Jesus

00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:08.860
 even before kings.

00:36:08.860 --> 00:36:11.739
 Look at chapter 25, verse 23 with me.

00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:13.699
 It's a great scene.

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.880
 It says, so on the next day,

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:17.739
 Agrippa and Bernice came with great

00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:19.599
 pomp and they entered the audience

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:21.300
 hall with the military tribunes and the

00:36:21.300 --> 00:36:22.380
 prominent men of the city.

00:36:22.759 --> 00:36:24.420
 Then at the command of Festus, Paul was

00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:24.800
 brought in.

00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:27.719
 Notice the star contrast.

00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:31.359
 Here's Agrippa and Bernice arrive with

00:36:31.359 --> 00:36:34.199
 great pomp in their royal regalia,

00:36:34.459 --> 00:36:34.859
 undoubtedly.

00:36:35.739 --> 00:36:37.539
 They're accompanied by military

00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:39.559
 tribunes, probably in their uniforms

00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:41.559
 and medals and everything that shows

00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:42.159
 who they are.

00:36:43.299 --> 00:36:44.879
 And then they're also surrounded by,

00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:46.659
 Paul's also surrounded by the prominent

00:36:46.659 --> 00:36:50.539
 men in all their pretenses of power and

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:50.899
 luxury.

00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:54.720
 And then with utter simplicity, it says,

00:36:55.099 --> 00:36:55.880
 Paul's brought in.

00:36:57.740 --> 00:37:00.480
 Probably in his plain garb, prisoner garb.

00:37:03.400 --> 00:37:06.559
 Imagine yourself in Paul's shoes, how easy

00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:08.260
 it would have been for him to be overwhelmed

00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:09.480
 and intimidated.

00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:13.180
 A raid before him is a spectacular display

00:37:13.180 --> 00:37:15.660
 of earthly wealth, authority, and power.

00:37:16.280 --> 00:37:18.599
 And here he is, a lone prisoner.

00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:21.940
 But that's the thing.

00:37:22.759 --> 00:37:24.579
 Paul is not alone.

00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:29.719
 He says in chapter 26, verse 22, Paul says,

00:37:29.819 --> 00:37:33.639
 To this day, I have had the help that comes

00:37:33.639 --> 00:37:34.659
 from God.

00:37:34.940 --> 00:37:39.519
 And so I stand here testifying both to small

00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:40.480
 and great.

00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:44.779
 Because Jesus, who has all authority in heaven

00:37:44.779 --> 00:37:47.819
 and on earth, stands by him to help him.

00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:51.920
 Paul is able to stand up and testify both to small

00:37:51.920 --> 00:37:55.000
 and great without shrinking.

00:37:57.880 --> 00:38:00.220
 Sometimes as Christians, we're tempted to fight

00:38:00.220 --> 00:38:01.200
 fire with fire.

00:38:02.220 --> 00:38:05.260
 When the world's renowned scientists tell us that

00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:08.519
 science makes God obsolete, we point to prominent

00:38:08.519 --> 00:38:10.140
 scientists who believe in God.

00:38:11.120 --> 00:38:13.960
 When the world's philosophers tell us that God is dead,

00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:17.019
 we point to Christian philosophers who argue that God is

00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:17.800
 very much alive.

00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:20.019
 Oh, you have doctorates?

00:38:20.219 --> 00:38:21.420
 We have doctorates too.

00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:23.759
 Oh, you have experts on your side?

00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:25.320
 We have experts on our side too.

00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:28.800
 But then when we're outnumbered,

00:38:28.900 --> 00:38:30.980
 when we feel out-resourced,

00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:33.019
 when we are outdone,

00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:35.559
 when we are outlawed,

00:38:35.559 --> 00:38:37.179
 we shrink.

00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:37.199
 We shrink.

00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:42.699
 But we don't need to do that.

00:38:44.179 --> 00:38:46.920
 Because Jesus, the risen Lord,

00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:49.199
 has all the authority.

00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:55.000
 We can hold our heads up high and speak of Jesus

00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:56.099
 in any situation.

00:38:57.460 --> 00:38:59.000
 Not only when we have power.

00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:06.059
 Paul was bold and unapologetic in his witness.

00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:08.539
 In chapter 26, verse 27,

00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:10.039
 when Paul asks King Agrippa,

00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:11.840
 Do you believe the prophets?

00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:13.800
 I know that you believe.

00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:15.360
 Agrippa responds,

00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:16.960
 In a short time,

00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:19.039
 would you persuade me to be a Christian?

00:39:20.659 --> 00:39:22.280
 Agrippa is incredulous.

00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:24.500
 He's having a hard time processing the fact that

00:39:24.500 --> 00:39:26.559
 Paul is trying to convert him.

00:39:28.780 --> 00:39:31.360
 Paul, you're on trial here.

00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:32.780
 You're a prisoner.

00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:36.440
 And you only have a brief moment here

00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:37.860
 to defend yourself.

00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:40.480
 And are you spending that time

00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:43.320
 trying to persuade me to become a Christian?

00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.380
 During that time.

00:39:47.260 --> 00:39:49.599
 And Paul's response in verse 29 is amazing.

00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:49.980
 He says,

00:39:50.119 --> 00:39:51.519
 Whether short or long,

00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:54.059
 I would to God that not only you,

00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:56.119
 but also all who hear me this day

00:39:56.119 --> 00:39:58.539
 might become such as I am.

00:39:58.739 --> 00:39:59.960
 Except for these chains.

00:40:02.340 --> 00:40:03.539
 Is that your heart

00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:06.380
 for your unbelieving neighbors and friends?

00:40:06.779 --> 00:40:08.799
 That they would become like I am?

00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:11.239
 That they would love Christ like I do?

00:40:11.279 --> 00:40:12.679
 They would know Christ like I do?

00:40:12.679 --> 00:40:13.679
 Is that your real heart?

00:40:15.559 --> 00:40:16.779
 How would you answer

00:40:16.779 --> 00:40:19.119
 if one of your friends or coworkers or neighbors

00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:20.420
 asked you point blank,

00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:23.299
 Hey, are you trying to convert me to be a Christian?

00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:30.360
 Well, no, not exactly.

00:40:30.539 --> 00:40:32.599
 I'm not trying to get you to change.

00:40:33.860 --> 00:40:35.320
 I'm not trying to proselytize.

00:40:35.460 --> 00:40:37.739
 I just want to share my perspective,

00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:38.519
 my opinion.

00:40:42.699 --> 00:40:44.440
 That's not Paul's response.

00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:49.240
 Paul's answer is an emphatic yes.

00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:50.760
 Yes.

00:40:51.240 --> 00:40:53.340
 I am trying to convert you.

00:40:54.420 --> 00:40:54.840
 Yes.

00:40:54.900 --> 00:40:56.240
 I am trying to convert you

00:40:56.240 --> 00:40:57.300
 and not you only,

00:40:57.440 --> 00:40:59.360
 but everyone who hears me.

00:41:00.019 --> 00:41:02.000
 Because I want everyone to be saved.

00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:12.539
 Billions of people

00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:15.980
 on Twitter,

00:41:16.199 --> 00:41:17.000
 on Facebook,

00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:19.980
 politicians,

00:41:21.480 --> 00:41:24.519
 religious teachers,

00:41:25.800 --> 00:41:26.260
 professors,

00:41:26.260 --> 00:41:29.360
 they're all trying to persuade us

00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:30.280
 to believe something

00:41:30.280 --> 00:41:34.120
 that they believe is true,

00:41:34.540 --> 00:41:35.740
 that they believe is good.

00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:38.860
 And it's nonsense that

00:41:38.860 --> 00:41:40.880
 it's only religious faith

00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:42.360
 that has to be relegated

00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:45.240
 to the realm of private opinion.

00:41:45.239 --> 00:41:49.139
 Even as a prisoner,

00:41:49.599 --> 00:41:50.939
 even during his defense speech

00:41:50.939 --> 00:41:51.559
 during trial,

00:41:51.719 --> 00:41:52.719
 Paul is evangelizing.

00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:55.099
 What about us?

00:41:58.479 --> 00:41:59.639
 In the book I mentioned

00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:00.199
 at the beginning,

00:42:00.479 --> 00:42:01.319
 The Insanity of God,

00:42:01.419 --> 00:42:02.179
 one of the believers

00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:04.059
 who had endured much persecution

00:42:04.059 --> 00:42:06.659
 in communist Russia

00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:07.739
 when he was still USSR,

00:42:08.319 --> 00:42:09.859
 says this to Nick Ripken.

00:42:09.860 --> 00:42:13.800
 Don't you ever give up

00:42:13.800 --> 00:42:14.300
 in freedom

00:42:14.300 --> 00:42:17.240
 what we would never give up

00:42:17.240 --> 00:42:17.940
 in persecution.

00:42:19.099 --> 00:42:20.599
 And that is our witness

00:42:20.599 --> 00:42:21.240
 to the power

00:42:21.240 --> 00:42:22.019
 of the resurrection

00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:22.980
 of Jesus Christ.

00:42:25.760 --> 00:42:27.940
 Let us not be silent

00:42:27.940 --> 00:42:29.660
 in times of peace

00:42:29.660 --> 00:42:33.519
 when our brothers and sisters

00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:34.300
 throughout history

00:42:34.300 --> 00:42:35.860
 and throughout the world

00:42:35.860 --> 00:42:37.220
 have spoken up

00:42:37.220 --> 00:42:39.380
 in times of great persecution.

00:42:39.860 --> 00:42:41.559
 Let's pray.

00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:47.640
 God, we pray

00:42:47.640 --> 00:42:49.500
 that you would shape

00:42:49.500 --> 00:42:50.820
 and define our reality.

00:42:57.500 --> 00:42:58.820
 That we would be,

00:42:59.480 --> 00:43:01.200
 we would see

00:43:01.200 --> 00:43:02.640
 and live with,

00:43:05.640 --> 00:43:07.660
 by faith and not by sight.

00:43:09.860 --> 00:43:15.120
 so that we can truly say

00:43:15.120 --> 00:43:16.120
 of all those who,

00:43:16.840 --> 00:43:18.300
 to all those who don't know you,

00:43:19.500 --> 00:43:23.260
 to God,

00:43:23.820 --> 00:43:26.260
 I wish that all of you

00:43:26.260 --> 00:43:26.820
 would be saved.

00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:28.140
 That all of you

00:43:28.140 --> 00:43:29.440
 would be like me

00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:31.140
 who knows Jesus.

00:43:31.139 --> 00:43:32.519
 to all of you

00:43:32.519 --> 00:43:33.139
 would be saved.

00:43:33.139 --> 00:43:34.500
 That we pray

00:43:34.500 --> 00:43:35.159
 that you would make us

00:43:35.159 --> 00:43:35.599
 a church

00:43:35.599 --> 00:43:37.039
 that shares the gospel

00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:37.799
 with unbelievers

00:43:37.799 --> 00:43:38.500
 every week.

00:43:42.500 --> 00:43:43.739
 To small and great,

00:43:44.219 --> 00:43:45.639
 to the poor and rich,

00:43:46.139 --> 00:43:48.239
 to the weak

00:43:48.239 --> 00:43:48.920
 and the powerful.

00:43:48.920 --> 00:43:56.420
 and we trust,

00:43:56.599 --> 00:43:56.680
 Lord,

00:43:56.740 --> 00:43:57.320
 that when we do,

00:43:57.400 --> 00:43:58.380
 that you will save.

00:44:04.559 --> 00:44:05.260
 Embolden us,

00:44:05.740 --> 00:44:06.480
 empower us

00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:07.039
 as your witnesses.

00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:08.820
 In Jesus' name,

00:44:09.579 --> 00:44:09.820
 Amen.