WEBVTT

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 Well, it's good to be back with you this morning.

00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:11.099
 I've been away for three weeks.

00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:15.939
! I was supposed to be teaching a few weeks ago in Central Asia.

00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:17.940
 That did not happen.

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 There was a little bit of a change to our schedule,

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 as some of you are aware of.

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 About a month ago, Sunday night,

00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:30.679
 many of you are aware, some of you are not,

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 my daughter had a cardiac arrest right after the service.

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 And she, for all intents and purposes,

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 died right there in the bathroom.

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 But by God's grace,

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 through some of your actual activity

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 in helping to restore her, resuscitate her,

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 over the next several minutes,

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 she is now at home.

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 Actually, I think she's here.

00:01:03.080 --> 00:01:03.600
 She's here.

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 Right?

00:01:06.320 --> 00:01:06.400
 Right?

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 This morning's passage is going to be a picture

00:01:18.219 --> 00:01:19.780
 of what our family,

00:01:20.320 --> 00:01:22.719
 what our family experienced

00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:24.620
 over the past several weeks.

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 A picture of investment.

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 A picture of interest.

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 A picture of

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 a church that is vested.

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 A church that cares.

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 A church that has been faithful to pray.

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 A church that has been engaged

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 in the process

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 of ministering to

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 Rachel and her husband and family.

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 Also to us

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 and extended family.

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 I am grateful

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 for Maranatha Baptist Church.

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 I cannot think of another church

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 I would rather be in

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 than Maranatha Baptist.

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 It's the work of the Spirit.

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 God's work

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 through the lives

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 of

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 the saints

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 who were here

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 that came through,

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 that was evident,

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 that was,

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 that drew attention

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 to the power of God

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 and drew attention

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 to the work of God

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 in your lives

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 as God's Spirit

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 worked in you

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 to minister

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 to our family.

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 Thank you

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 for your

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 active,

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 deliberate,

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 and faithful

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 investments

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 in ministries

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 to us

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 over the last

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 several weeks.

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 Thank you.

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 This morning

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 we're going to be

00:02:44.439 --> 00:02:45.200
 looking at a passage

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 that is familiar

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 to us.

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 A passage

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 where the Holy Spirit's

00:02:50.220 --> 00:02:50.580
 power

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 is so visible,

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 is so evident,

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 and draws

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 so much attention

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 to His work

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 in the lives

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 of people

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 that it is

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 extraordinary.

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 It helps

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 to accentuate

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 what God

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 intends

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 or wants

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 and desires

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 to do

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 for every

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 single one

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 of us.

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 God's Holy Spirit

00:03:11.519 --> 00:03:12.679
 dwells in

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 every believer.

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 Everyone this

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 morning of you

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 who know

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 Jesus Christ

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 as your Savior,

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 who have come

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 to the place

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 of admitting

00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:21.319
 your sin,

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 confessing

00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:23.199
 your sin,

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 and believing

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 that Jesus Christ

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 not only died

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 for your sin,

00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:28.759
 took the cost

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 of your sin

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 and mine

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 on His body,

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 and then was

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 resurrected

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 on the third day

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 to extend

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 to us

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 eternal life

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 for those

00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:38.159
 who believe.

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 For everyone

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 in this room

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 and everyone

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 who is watching

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 on the live stream

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 who have come

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 to enjoy

00:03:45.540 --> 00:03:46.700
 and experience

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 the saving work

00:03:47.819 --> 00:03:49.100
 of Jesus Christ

00:03:49.100 --> 00:03:50.640
 through faith,

00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:52.680
 you have

00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:53.659
 the indwelling

00:03:53.659 --> 00:03:54.300
 Holy Spirit.

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 And since you

00:03:57.900 --> 00:03:58.840
 have the Holy Spirit,

00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:00.960
 the Holy Spirit

00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:01.700
 intends to do

00:04:01.700 --> 00:04:02.480
 something in you.

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 the Holy Spirit

00:04:04.859 --> 00:04:06.159
 will not allow you

00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:07.579
 to stay where you are.

00:04:08.959 --> 00:04:09.799
 If you

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 and if I

00:04:10.839 --> 00:04:12.219
 are responsive

00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:14.199
 to His work,

00:04:14.739 --> 00:04:15.599
 His active,

00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:16.500
 consistent,

00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:17.579
 deliberate,

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 faithful work

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 day by day,

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 if we are responsive

00:04:22.259 --> 00:04:23.079
 to that work,

00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:24.099
 what we're going to see

00:04:24.099 --> 00:04:24.599
 this morning

00:04:24.599 --> 00:04:25.480
 from our passage

00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:26.779
 in Acts chapter 4

00:04:26.779 --> 00:04:28.899
 should shine

00:04:28.899 --> 00:04:30.779
 through every single life,

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 every single member

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 of this body.

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 I think all of us

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 could say

00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:39.299
 that we want to see

00:04:39.299 --> 00:04:40.119
 the power of God

00:04:40.119 --> 00:04:41.000
 work in our life.

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 Would you agree?

00:04:44.559 --> 00:04:45.679
 I want to see

00:04:45.679 --> 00:04:46.559
 the power of God

00:04:46.559 --> 00:04:46.939
 work

00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:50.139
 in my life.

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 I want it to be

00:04:52.219 --> 00:04:53.120
 so unmistakable.

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 I want it to be

00:04:54.939 --> 00:04:55.539
 so clear.

00:04:56.459 --> 00:04:57.899
 Not because I want

00:04:57.899 --> 00:04:58.819
 attention

00:04:58.819 --> 00:05:00.939
 on me,

00:05:01.099 --> 00:05:02.019
 but I want the attention

00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:03.099
 to go to Him.

00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:05.719
 I want God's glory

00:05:05.719 --> 00:05:07.000
 to be so evident,

00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:09.199
 to be so visible,

00:05:09.599 --> 00:05:10.740
 to be so obvious,

00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:12.439
 that the people

00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:13.479
 that see my life

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 and the people

00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:14.479
 that see

00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:17.360
 the lives

00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:18.960
 of every believer

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 filled

00:05:20.060 --> 00:05:21.319
 with the Spirit

00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:22.300
 will say,

00:05:23.420 --> 00:05:24.379
 I want what they have.

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 There's something

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 quite exceptional

00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:28.759
 about their life.

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 Something quite

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 extraordinary

00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:31.500
 about them.

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 I want that

00:05:32.960 --> 00:05:33.379
 to be true

00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:33.879
 of me too.

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 But as we work

00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:38.500
 through this passage

00:05:38.500 --> 00:05:39.620
 today in Acts chapter 4,

00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:40.240
 and I would encourage

00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:40.840
 you to turn there,

00:05:40.900 --> 00:05:41.560
 Acts chapter 4,

00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:42.960
 if you're using

00:05:42.960 --> 00:05:43.520
 the Pew Bible,

00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:45.279
 it's on page 912.

00:05:46.699 --> 00:05:47.399
 The truth

00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:48.399
 of this passage

00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:49.099
 this morning

00:05:49.099 --> 00:05:50.599
 is that while

00:05:50.599 --> 00:05:52.079
 the power

00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:52.759
 of the Spirit

00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:54.180
 is present

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 and the power

00:05:55.359 --> 00:05:56.240
 of the Spirit

00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:57.279
 is available,

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 in order for us

00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:01.339
 to really access

00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:02.899
 and enjoy

00:06:02.899 --> 00:06:04.219
 and experience

00:06:04.219 --> 00:06:05.419
 the power,

00:06:07.419 --> 00:06:08.639
 most times

00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:09.560
 it comes one way.

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 You're not going

00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:13.500
 to enjoy

00:06:13.500 --> 00:06:14.079
 or experience

00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:14.519
 the power

00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:14.819
 of God

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 if you don't

00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:15.459
 need it.

00:06:16.660 --> 00:06:17.180
 You're not

00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:17.959
 going to experience

00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:18.920
 or enjoy

00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:19.340
 the power

00:06:19.340 --> 00:06:19.780
 of God

00:06:19.780 --> 00:06:20.360
 if you

00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:21.879
 push it away

00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:22.819
 and choose

00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:23.680
 a road

00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:24.620
 that's easy.

00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:26.840
 You're not

00:06:26.840 --> 00:06:27.620
 going to enjoy

00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:28.459
 the evident

00:06:28.459 --> 00:06:29.579
 power of God

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 without a struggle,

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 without opposition,

00:06:34.620 --> 00:06:35.920
 without hard things.

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 That's when

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 the power

00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:38.740
 of God

00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:39.720
 shows up

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 and by

00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:42.080
 God's grace

00:06:42.080 --> 00:06:43.500
 His power

00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:44.260
 was so evident

00:06:44.260 --> 00:06:45.500
 four weeks ago.

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 His power

00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:48.440
 was evident

00:06:48.440 --> 00:06:51.380
 and I want

00:06:51.380 --> 00:06:51.920
 to see God's

00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:52.180
 power

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 but what often

00:06:53.140 --> 00:06:54.340
 like,

00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:54.820
 oh,

00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:56.280
 I want to see

00:06:56.280 --> 00:06:56.680
 your power

00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:57.080
 but I want

00:06:57.080 --> 00:06:58.220
 to see the power

00:06:58.220 --> 00:06:59.080
 easy,

00:06:59.240 --> 00:06:59.800
 I want it to be

00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:00.740
 easy, Lord.

00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:03.380
 But it doesn't

00:07:03.380 --> 00:07:04.140
 happen that way

00:07:04.140 --> 00:07:04.660
 because when

00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:05.560
 things are easy,

00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:06.640
 you just don't

00:07:06.640 --> 00:07:07.440
 need God's power.

00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:07.519
 power.

00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:12.019
 I want to

00:07:12.019 --> 00:07:12.579
 encourage you

00:07:12.579 --> 00:07:13.600
 right in this

00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:13.959
 moment

00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:15.639
 before we even

00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:16.259
 get started

00:07:16.259 --> 00:07:17.839
 in this passage

00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:18.180
 today.

00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:19.920
 I want just

00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:20.779
 you and the

00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:20.920
 Lord,

00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:21.860
 can I just

00:07:21.860 --> 00:07:22.759
 encourage you

00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:23.279
 to close,

00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:24.500
 just you and

00:07:24.500 --> 00:07:25.199
 God right now,

00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:25.959
 close your eyes

00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:27.159
 and think,

00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:27.939
 you and God

00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:28.600
 right now,

00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:30.019
 answer this

00:07:30.019 --> 00:07:30.459
 question.

00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:31.560
 God,

00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:32.240
 I want

00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:33.420
 to see

00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:34.519
 your power.

00:07:34.659 --> 00:07:35.079
 Oh God,

00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:35.639
 please,

00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:36.659
 let me see

00:07:36.659 --> 00:07:37.040
 your power.

00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:38.800
 And oh God,

00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:39.399
 please,

00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:40.500
 this next step,

00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:43.160
 allow me

00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:44.579
 to be open

00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:46.560
 to you doing

00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:47.480
 whatever it takes

00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:48.240
 for that power

00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:48.860
 to be evident.

00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:50.420
 Would you be

00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:51.000
 willing to have

00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:51.720
 that conversation

00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:52.199
 with the Lord?

00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:53.319
 God,

00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:54.699
 whatever it takes,

00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:55.800
 I know you

00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:56.259
 are good.

00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:57.819
 I know you

00:07:57.819 --> 00:07:58.860
 allow hard things

00:07:58.860 --> 00:07:59.699
 sometimes to

00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:00.500
 happen so that

00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:01.120
 your power can

00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:01.459
 show up.

00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:02.399
 God,

00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:04.259
 it's worth it.

00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:06.060
 It's worth it

00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:06.959
 so that your

00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:07.540
 glory can be

00:08:07.540 --> 00:08:08.139
 put on display.

00:08:10.220 --> 00:08:10.819
 Well,

00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:11.379
 I trust that

00:08:11.379 --> 00:08:12.339
 is your prayer

00:08:12.339 --> 00:08:12.939
 this morning.

00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:15.199
 And our passage

00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:16.060
 today from Acts

00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:16.680
 chapter 4

00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:18.220
 will encourage us

00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:19.340
 to see what

00:08:19.340 --> 00:08:19.879
 that power

00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:20.680
 looks like.

00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:22.560
 It is the

00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:23.600
 power of God.

00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:25.360
 The power

00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:25.939
 of God

00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:26.579
 is resident

00:08:26.579 --> 00:08:27.620
 in your life.

00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:29.199
 Do you see it?

00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:30.680
 Can you enjoy it?

00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:32.100
 Are you experiencing it?

00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:33.700
 I trust you are.

00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:34.759
 And I trust

00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:35.700
 that as people

00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:36.820
 are looking at

00:08:36.820 --> 00:08:37.159
 your life,

00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:37.360
 they're like,

00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:38.200
 oh wow,

00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:39.980
 the Spirit of God

00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:41.600
 is so powerful

00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:42.100
 through them.

00:08:42.420 --> 00:08:43.639
 I can see

00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:44.720
 Him at work.

00:08:45.019 --> 00:08:45.320
 Oh,

00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.159
 may God be glorified

00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:49.100
 through His

00:08:49.100 --> 00:08:50.440
 evident power

00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:51.080
 in us.

00:08:52.620 --> 00:08:53.019
 You remember

00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:53.740
 the context

00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:56.180
 of Acts chapter 4.

00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:56.600
 We're going to be

00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:57.720
 in verses 32,

00:08:57.820 --> 00:08:58.440
 but you remember

00:08:58.440 --> 00:08:58.940
 the story.

00:08:59.100 --> 00:08:59.840
 It actually traces

00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:01.200
 back to Acts

00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:01.879
 chapter 3.

00:09:02.220 --> 00:09:03.200
 Where Peter and John

00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:04.480
 are going to the temple

00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:06.360
 on the day of prayer.

00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:07.320
 And it's this hour

00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:07.879
 of prayer.

00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:09.179
 And they encounter

00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:10.159
 this lame man.

00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:11.059
 He's been lame

00:09:11.059 --> 00:09:11.820
 since birth.

00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:13.340
 And we come to find out,

00:09:13.580 --> 00:09:13.759
 well,

00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:15.259
 he's been alive

00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:16.620
 for the last 40 years.

00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:16.980
 And so,

00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:18.559
 he's been there

00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:19.220
 at the temple

00:09:19.220 --> 00:09:20.220
 asking for money.

00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:21.120
 This is just about

00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:22.179
 survival for him.

00:09:22.379 --> 00:09:23.340
 He wants money.

00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:24.840
 So he asks Peter and John,

00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:25.799
 they're walking by,

00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:26.879
 do you got anything

00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:27.740
 you can give to me?

00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:29.500
 And Peter says,

00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:29.720
 well,

00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:30.200
 you know,

00:09:30.580 --> 00:09:31.519
 silver and gold

00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:32.079
 have I none,

00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:32.799
 but what I have

00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:33.679
 I'm going to give to you.

00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:35.340
 In the name of the Lord

00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:36.559
 Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

00:09:37.059 --> 00:09:38.039
 rise up and walk.

00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:40.120
 And he doesn't just try

00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.579
 to kind of

00:09:41.579 --> 00:09:42.860
 creak up

00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:44.919
 and try to stumble

00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:45.639
 into place.

00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:45.799
 No,

00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:47.500
 it says he leaps up.

00:09:47.819 --> 00:09:48.879
 He's walking

00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:49.620
 into the temple.

00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:51.139
 He's praising God.

00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:52.139
 It is clear

00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:53.100
 that the work

00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:54.039
 of God has happened.

00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:56.579
 And because of this

00:09:56.579 --> 00:09:57.299
 work of God,

00:09:57.439 --> 00:09:58.559
 it says the people

00:09:58.559 --> 00:09:59.240
 in the temple

00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:01.699
 rush to where he is.

00:10:02.959 --> 00:10:03.659
 They're like,

00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.039
 we know this guy.

00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:07.099
 What is going on?

00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:08.240
 There's something

00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:09.299
 taking place here.

00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:11.480
 What are we,

00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:12.240
 what's happening?

00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:13.079
 Some power

00:10:13.079 --> 00:10:14.000
 has happened.

00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:15.539
 And of course,

00:10:15.819 --> 00:10:16.679
 these people

00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:17.339
 in the temple,

00:10:17.579 --> 00:10:18.219
 they remember

00:10:18.219 --> 00:10:19.179
 just a few weeks

00:10:19.179 --> 00:10:19.679
 before

00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:21.259
 that the same power

00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:22.179
 was present

00:10:22.179 --> 00:10:23.120
 in the Lord Jesus.

00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:24.979
 And they're making

00:10:24.979 --> 00:10:25.959
 this correlation.

00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:26.599
 Okay,

00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:27.319
 wait a second.

00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.319
 This same power

00:10:28.319 --> 00:10:29.120
 happened just a few

00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:29.739
 weeks ago

00:10:29.739 --> 00:10:30.539
 in Jesus.

00:10:30.739 --> 00:10:31.879
 Now it's happening again.

00:10:32.099 --> 00:10:33.219
 Who are these people?

00:10:34.579 --> 00:10:35.079
 And Peter

00:10:35.079 --> 00:10:36.319
 and John

00:10:36.319 --> 00:10:36.659
 take,

00:10:37.359 --> 00:10:38.519
 capitalize on the opportunity

00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:40.579
 to teach the gospel.

00:10:42.439 --> 00:10:44.239
 They teach in boldness.

00:10:44.959 --> 00:10:45.739
 And it says that Peter,

00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:46.439
 by the power

00:10:46.439 --> 00:10:47.039
 of the Spirit,

00:10:48.179 --> 00:10:48.639
 he says,

00:10:48.719 --> 00:10:49.559
 it's by the power

00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:51.039
 of Jesus Christ,

00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:52.039
 this man,

00:10:52.179 --> 00:10:53.199
 has been healed.

00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:54.099
 Not that by the power

00:10:54.099 --> 00:10:54.659
 of us.

00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:56.319
 And he shares

00:10:56.319 --> 00:10:57.339
 the gospel with them.

00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:58.479
 It says he shares

00:10:58.479 --> 00:10:59.059
 the gospel

00:10:59.059 --> 00:11:00.239
 about the death

00:11:00.239 --> 00:11:00.879
 of Christ

00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.739
 and the resurrection

00:11:02.739 --> 00:11:03.379
 of Christ.

00:11:03.579 --> 00:11:04.620
 He shares with them

00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:05.120
 the truth

00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.339
 they need to hear.

00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:07.559
 The only truth

00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:08.579
 that will save them

00:11:08.579 --> 00:11:10.259
 from their situation,

00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.219
 from their sin.

00:11:12.719 --> 00:11:14.079
 And it's the same gospel

00:11:14.079 --> 00:11:15.039
 that we preach today.

00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:17.599
 And I would have you know

00:11:17.599 --> 00:11:18.559
 the consistent pattern

00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:19.500
 as we work our way

00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:20.679
 through the book

00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:21.079
 of Acts

00:11:21.079 --> 00:11:22.759
 is that every gospel

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:24.639
 message must include

00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.639
 the resurrection.

00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:28.859
 There is not a gospel

00:11:28.859 --> 00:11:30.579
 without the resurrection.

00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:32.479
 And we're going to see

00:11:32.479 --> 00:11:34.000
 attention drawn to that again

00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.439
 as we work our way

00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:36.179
 through this passage.

00:11:37.099 --> 00:11:37.819
 Well, the people

00:11:37.819 --> 00:11:38.959
 are excited

00:11:38.959 --> 00:11:39.939
 about what God

00:11:39.939 --> 00:11:40.500
 has done.

00:11:40.859 --> 00:11:41.839
 Their response

00:11:41.839 --> 00:11:43.059
 is 5,000

00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:43.979
 come to faith

00:11:43.979 --> 00:11:44.919
 in Christ.

00:11:45.199 --> 00:11:45.859
 But while

00:11:45.859 --> 00:11:47.039
 they're excited,

00:11:47.359 --> 00:11:48.159
 the religious leaders

00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:48.839
 are not.

00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:51.159
 And they arrest them,

00:11:51.219 --> 00:11:51.980
 they draw them in,

00:11:52.079 --> 00:11:53.539
 they interrogate them.

00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:55.059
 And Peter and John

00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:55.939
 are there along

00:11:55.939 --> 00:11:56.559
 with this

00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:59.419
 once lame man

00:11:59.419 --> 00:12:00.000
 who's now

00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.980
 in the company.

00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:04.339
 And they're interrogated

00:12:04.339 --> 00:12:05.419
 and threatened

00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:06.699
 by the Sanhedrin.

00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:09.139
 Well,

00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:10.939
 the Sanhedrin releases them.

00:12:11.839 --> 00:12:12.519
 They go back

00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:13.159
 to their place.

00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:13.679
 So we find

00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:14.779
 in chapter 4,

00:12:14.839 --> 00:12:15.899
 verse 23,

00:12:16.719 --> 00:12:17.480
 speaking of

00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:18.000
 John

00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.299
 and Peter,

00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.240
 when they were released,

00:12:21.339 --> 00:12:22.319
 they went to their friends

00:12:22.319 --> 00:12:22.919
 and reported

00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:24.159
 what the chief priests

00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:24.980
 and elders

00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:25.779
 had said to them.

00:12:25.939 --> 00:12:27.219
 And when they heard it,

00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:28.100
 they lifted

00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:28.899
 their voices

00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:29.740
 together

00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:31.039
 to God.

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:32.059
 And we find

00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:32.519
 that they prayed.

00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:37.179
 This is the first lesson.

00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:38.659
 This is not in the notes,

00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:39.199
 by the way.

00:12:39.659 --> 00:12:40.519
 Not the first point.

00:12:40.959 --> 00:12:41.519
 But I think it's

00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:42.459
 an important lesson

00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:43.080
 for us to know.

00:12:44.560 --> 00:12:45.280
 If we want

00:12:45.280 --> 00:12:46.019
 to be people

00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:47.320
 who are demonstrating

00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:47.820
 confidence

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:49.060
 in God,

00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.340
 we want to be people

00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:51.820
 who are experiencing

00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:52.519
 the power of God,

00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:53.280
 we're people who pray.

00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:55.360
 We're going to be

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:55.900
 people who pray.

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:57.240
 That's what they do.

00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:58.519
 They pray.

00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:00.060
 They exalt

00:13:00.060 --> 00:13:00.900
 the sovereignty

00:13:00.900 --> 00:13:01.500
 of God.

00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:03.160
 They acknowledge

00:13:03.160 --> 00:13:03.920
 His authority

00:13:03.920 --> 00:13:04.820
 in all situations.

00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.860
 I love the fact

00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:07.420
 that they

00:13:07.420 --> 00:13:08.500
 don't pray

00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:09.139
 like me.

00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:10.100
 They're not praying

00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:10.580
 that God

00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:11.540
 would fix

00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:13.000
 this hostility.

00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:13.879
 That He would

00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:14.579
 put down

00:13:14.579 --> 00:13:15.360
 the resistance.

00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:15.939
 That He would

00:13:15.939 --> 00:13:16.919
 do away

00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:18.240
 with the adversity.

00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:19.480
 They're not praying

00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.159
 that way.

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.219
 They know that God

00:13:21.219 --> 00:13:21.879
 is sovereign,

00:13:22.219 --> 00:13:23.240
 that God has a plan,

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:24.159
 and that God

00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:25.500
 delights in using

00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:26.679
 hard things

00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.939
 to call attention

00:13:27.939 --> 00:13:29.399
 to His glorious power.

00:13:29.579 --> 00:13:30.759
 They understand that,

00:13:30.819 --> 00:13:31.719
 and so they're praying

00:13:31.719 --> 00:13:33.539
 not for the problems

00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:34.399
 to go away,

00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:35.679
 but for courage

00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:36.439
 to speak

00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:37.259
 in the midst

00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:38.179
 of those problems.

00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:40.019
 give us boldness,

00:13:40.099 --> 00:13:40.359
 God.

00:13:40.959 --> 00:13:41.579
 Oh God,

00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:42.239
 help us

00:13:42.239 --> 00:13:43.759
 to be courageous

00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:45.000
 and bold

00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:45.899
 to speak

00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:46.679
 about You

00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:50.000
 because they want

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.959
 the power of God

00:13:51.959 --> 00:13:52.579
 to be evident

00:13:52.579 --> 00:13:54.079
 in their life.

00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:55.559
 They want the gospel

00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:56.299
 to be clear.

00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:57.519
 They want God

00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.259
 to get glory.

00:13:58.979 --> 00:14:00.079
 It only happens

00:14:00.079 --> 00:14:01.219
 this way,

00:14:01.959 --> 00:14:03.099
 and so God answers.

00:14:03.219 --> 00:14:03.879
 We find that in

00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.559
 chapter 4,

00:14:04.599 --> 00:14:05.099
 verse 31.

00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:07.500
 And when they had prayed,

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.560
 the place

00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:09.379
 in which

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.200
 they were gathered

00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:11.120
 together was

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:11.879
 what church?

00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:13.240
 Shaken.

00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:16.899
 And they were filled

00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:17.720
 with the Holy Spirit

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:19.220
 and continued

00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:21.460
 to speak the word

00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:22.500
 of God

00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.639
 with boldness.

00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:26.159
 The Holy Spirit

00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.139
 comes on them

00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:28.519
 in an extraordinary way

00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:29.399
 and the room

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:29.840
 is shaken.

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.580
 It is unmistakable.

00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:33.820
 God is present.

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:35.379
 God is here.

00:14:35.680 --> 00:14:36.540
 God's power

00:14:36.540 --> 00:14:38.640
 is uncontested.

00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:40.700
 You can trust it.

00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:42.640
 And if we get

00:14:42.640 --> 00:14:43.400
 a sense of that,

00:14:44.160 --> 00:14:45.100
 we will enjoy

00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:45.700
 the benefits

00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:47.980
 of this unstoppable God.

00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:50.080
 The same God

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:50.760
 who dwells

00:14:50.760 --> 00:14:52.200
 in every single believer

00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:54.040
 and promises

00:14:54.040 --> 00:14:54.879
 the same power.

00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:56.460
 Want access

00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:57.000
 to that power?

00:14:57.140 --> 00:14:57.560
 You have it.

00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:59.500
 You want to enjoy

00:14:59.500 --> 00:14:59.920
 the benefits

00:14:59.920 --> 00:15:00.480
 of that power?

00:15:00.900 --> 00:15:01.380
 You can.

00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:03.480
 And what does

00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:04.720
 that power look like?

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:04.939
 Well,

00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.580
 sometimes,

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.980
 it doesn't often look

00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:09.080
 like a room

00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:09.779
 that shakes.

00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:10.320
 Matter of fact,

00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.439
 sometimes it looks

00:15:11.439 --> 00:15:12.159
 a little common

00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.080
 and I think that's

00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:13.679
 sometimes what

00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:14.620
 our problem is.

00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:16.939
 And that's what

00:15:16.939 --> 00:15:17.340
 we see.

00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:18.240
 We're going to see

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.120
 this extraordinary

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.759
 work of God

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:22.320
 among these people.

00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:23.980
 And maybe it doesn't

00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:24.600
 look extraordinary

00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:25.320
 but it is.

00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:27.900
 I wonder this morning

00:15:27.900 --> 00:15:30.660
 if this is your experience.

00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.900
 Have you experienced

00:15:32.900 --> 00:15:34.160
 God's power this way?

00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:35.900
 Do you want

00:15:35.900 --> 00:15:37.720
 to experience

00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:38.600
 God's power this way?

00:15:40.400 --> 00:15:41.520
 I trust we do.

00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.680
 But it's costly.

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:45.940
 It's costly

00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:47.020
 because God's power

00:15:47.020 --> 00:15:47.760
 has to make

00:15:47.760 --> 00:15:50.000
 a weak people

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.340
 so that His glory

00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:53.000
 can show up.

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.100
 because,

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.559
 as Paul will say,

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:56.980
 His grace

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.179
 is made perfect

00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:59.299
 in weakness.

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.600
 We have to be willing

00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.059
 to be

00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:03.500
 shattered

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:05.539
 in order for

00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:06.100
 God's power

00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:08.679
 to overcome

00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.740
 the breaking.

00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:11.580
 Just a brief word

00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.159
 about filling

00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:13.240
 with the Spirit.

00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:13.919
 They were filled

00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:14.340
 with the Spirit.

00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.220
 What is that talking about?

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:15.659
 Well,

00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.440
 it's not talking about

00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:17.440
 a second indwelling.

00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.220
 Okay?

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:19.800
 Once we have

00:16:19.800 --> 00:16:20.360
 the Spirit,

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:21.399
 we have the Spirit

00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:22.240
 fully,

00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:23.440
 completely.

00:16:23.660 --> 00:16:24.960
 It's not a second filling.

00:16:25.180 --> 00:16:26.500
 It's not a power-up

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.200
 as it were.

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:27.940
 Like they got

00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:29.100
 some of the Spirit

00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:29.940
 and they're able

00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.920
 to operate

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:31.759
 a little bit

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.300
 but now this

00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:34.019
 you got this power-up

00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:34.620
 and the Holy Spirit

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:36.560
 I'm filled now.

00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.940
 Now I can do ministry.

00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:38.420
 No.

00:16:38.680 --> 00:16:39.580
 They had access

00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.220
 to the Spirit

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:40.899
 entirely

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:42.019
 at the beginning.

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:44.319
 This filling

00:16:44.319 --> 00:16:46.079
 is about

00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:47.120
 more about

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.559
 dispensing

00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.399
 self

00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.439
 so that we can be

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:51.439
 more filled up

00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:52.299
 with the Lord.

00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.139
 It's about

00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.679
 putting away

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:55.439
 the things

00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.279
 of our flesh

00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:57.279
 so we can allow

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.059
 God to occupy

00:16:58.059 --> 00:16:59.199
 more of our life.

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.860
 Paul refers to it

00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:02.279
 this way

00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:03.240
 in Ephesians.

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.019
 He talks about

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.319
 do not be

00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.680
 drunk with wine

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.900
 but be filled

00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:08.759
 with the Spirit.

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.980
 And the Greek

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.460
 is actually

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:13.920
 pretty emphatic

00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.240
 where it says

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.799
 be being

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.120
 kept filled.

00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:18.480
 This is a continual

00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.039
 process

00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:20.819
 of the Christian life.

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:22.299
 This is laying down.

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.340
 This is submitting

00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:24.720
 to His authority

00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.420
 in our life.

00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.759
 And this is moving

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:28.759
 moving according

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.319
 to His plan.

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:30.940
 Not grieving

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.400
 the Spirit.

00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:32.960
 Not quenching

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.460
 the Spirit.

00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:34.779
 But walking

00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.279
 in the Spirit.

00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:36.640
 What the Spirit

00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.400
 says through

00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:37.940
 His Word

00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:38.720
 we do

00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.860
 without question.

00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:41.180
 The more we do that

00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:42.580
 the more the Spirit

00:17:42.580 --> 00:17:43.620
 will occupy

00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.539
 the spaces

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.140
 of our life

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:46.060
 and we'll enjoy

00:17:46.060 --> 00:17:46.519
 His power.

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:47.660
 Okay.

00:17:48.580 --> 00:17:49.460
 How do we see

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.960
 the Spirit show up?

00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:52.539
 First we see

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.519
 the Spirit show up

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.960
 in their united

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.860
 participation.

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.720
 Their united

00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.740
 participation.

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.200
 Acts chapter 4

00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:00.840
 verse 32.

00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:02.200
 It says this,

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.660
 Now the full number

00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:05.220
 of those who believed

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:06.299
 were of one heart

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.019
 and soul

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:08.620
 and no one said

00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:09.740
 that any of the things

00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.779
 that belonged to Him

00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.779
 was His own

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:13.160
 but they had everything

00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:14.000
 in common.

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.580
 We see their

00:18:15.580 --> 00:18:16.259
 participation.

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.400
 This Greek word

00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:19.420
 plathos

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.200
 is the word

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.059
 full number.

00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:21.620
 That's the

00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:22.319
 that's where we get

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:22.920
 the translation

00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.700
 full number.

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.440
 It's really the word

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.059
 multitude.

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:26.819
 It's the word

00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:27.400
 for many.

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:30.039
 This specific group

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:31.319
 is also governed

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.079
 by this definite article.

00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:35.379
 It is the multitude

00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:37.139
 not just an anonymous group

00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:38.500
 and it's the multitude

00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:40.119
 of those who believe.

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:43.259
 Every single person

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.299
 who believe

00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:46.119
 is part of this number

00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:49.099
 and the full number

00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:51.200
 every single one of them

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.339
 united.

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:55.659
 That is the work

00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:56.779
 of the Spirit.

00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:00.019
 Full participation.

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:02.339
 a church

00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:03.139
 that knew

00:19:03.139 --> 00:19:04.200
 they belonged

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.859
 together.

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.039
 And

00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.579
 it wasn't just

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.180
 something

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.139
 theological

00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:11.259
 that they

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.399
 gave mental

00:19:12.399 --> 00:19:13.019
 assent to.

00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:13.759
 It was something

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.319
 that they

00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.440
 were actively

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.259
 a part

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.960
 of

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:18.579
 shoring up

00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.440
 the process

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.159
 and

00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:21.659
 making sure

00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:22.220
 that was

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.500
 true about them.

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.379
 That they were

00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:25.099
 in fact

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:26.200
 as a multitude

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:27.559
 however large

00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:28.240
 that multitude

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.599
 must have been.

00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.500
 they were

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.159
 together.

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:31.859
 They were

00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:32.299
 unified.

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.359
 One heart.

00:19:33.699 --> 00:19:34.559
 One soul.

00:19:36.219 --> 00:19:36.859
 As many of the

00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:37.419
 individuals

00:19:37.419 --> 00:19:38.019
 as there

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.839
 must have been.

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:41.039
 And we saw

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.179
 from Acts chapter 2

00:19:42.179 --> 00:19:42.699
 there's at least

00:19:42.699 --> 00:19:43.779
 3,000 men.

00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:44.899
 We see from

00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:45.939
 Acts chapter 4

00:19:45.939 --> 00:19:46.599
 there's at least

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:48.000
 another 5,000 men

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.299
 plus all the ones

00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.039
 that got saved

00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.639
 along the way.

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.519
 In Acts chapter 2

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.439
 verse 47

00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:53.139
 day by day

00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:54.259
 the church

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.219
 grew and multiplied

00:19:55.219 --> 00:19:56.619
 as God had favor.

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.859
 this could have

00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.299
 been at least

00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.339
 10,000 men

00:19:59.339 --> 00:20:00.219
 and you add

00:20:00.219 --> 00:20:01.039
 women and children

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.019
 who knows

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.779
 20,000

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.539
 30,000

00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:05.500
 and God

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.219
 had done such

00:20:06.219 --> 00:20:07.059
 a work in their

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.439
 life

00:20:07.439 --> 00:20:08.779
 they're characterized

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.439
 this way

00:20:09.439 --> 00:20:12.199
 one heart

00:20:12.199 --> 00:20:14.359
 one soul

00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:16.319
 full participation.

00:20:17.719 --> 00:20:18.759
 It's extraordinary.

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.439
 It's a work

00:20:20.439 --> 00:20:20.799
 of God

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.480
 and it's

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:22.919
 significant

00:20:22.919 --> 00:20:23.399
 that when

00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:24.659
 the first signs

00:20:24.659 --> 00:20:25.259
 of persecution

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.819
 begin to confront

00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.680
 this church

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.919
 it doesn't

00:20:28.919 --> 00:20:29.960
 fracture them

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.940
 it makes them

00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.960
 that much more

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.779
 enabled

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:34.180
 and empowered

00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.899
 to settle in.

00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:38.079
 We belong

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.879
 together

00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:40.960
 and we've seen

00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.779
 this over and over

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.639
 again as the mark

00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:43.000
 of this

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.159
 people

00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:45.519
 going all the way

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.139
 back to Acts

00:20:46.139 --> 00:20:46.519
 chapter 1

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.220
 verse 14

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.400
 these all

00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.059
 with one

00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.660
 accord

00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.620
 were devoting

00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:51.500
 themselves

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.220
 to prayer

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.180
 together

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:54.559
 with the women

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.400
 and Mary

00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:56.059
 the mother of Jesus

00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.640
 and his brothers.

00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:58.519
 Acts chapter 2

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.059
 verse 1

00:20:59.059 --> 00:20:59.980
 when the day

00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.600
 of the Pentecost

00:21:00.600 --> 00:21:00.920
 arrived

00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.759
 they were all

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.519
 together

00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.759
 in one place.

00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.440
 Acts chapter 2

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.640
 42 and 44

00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:07.779
 and they devoted

00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.519
 themselves

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.660
 to the apostles

00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.180
 teaching

00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.180
 and the fellowship

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:12.220
 the breaking of bread

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.779
 and prayers

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:14.400
 and all who believed

00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.799
 were together

00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:17.379
 and had all

00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:18.099
 things in common.

00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.079
 Their unity

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:21.079
 is a work

00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:22.200
 of the Spirit.

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.279
 That's what

00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.019
 the Spirit does.

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.940
 He unifies

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:28.000
 a people.

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.759
 He makes them

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.000
 one.

00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.279
 One heart

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.460
 one soul

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:37.319
 this is exactly

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.379
 what Jesus Christ

00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:38.759
 prayed

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.879
 for

00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:41.639
 future followers

00:21:41.639 --> 00:21:42.460
 of him.

00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.839
 This is what

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.579
 Jesus Christ

00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:45.079
 prayed for

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.579
 Maranatha.

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.639
 Here's his prayer.

00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:49.480
 Jesus Christ

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.240
 prayer for

00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.379
 this church

00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:52.440
 captured

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.059
 in John

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.879
 chapter 17

00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:54.399
 verse 20

00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:54.940
 says this

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.680
 I do not

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.579
 ask for these

00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.000
 only

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.039
 but also

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.919
 for those

00:21:58.919 --> 00:21:59.240
 who will

00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.819
 believe in me

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.259
 through their

00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:00.539
 word.

00:22:00.659 --> 00:22:01.180
 That's you.

00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.139
 That's me.

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.000
 That they

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.799
 may be

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.299
 one

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.980
 just as you

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.819
 father are in me

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.500
 and I in you

00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:10.039
 that they may

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.519
 be in us

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.419
 so that the

00:22:11.419 --> 00:22:12.240
 world may believe

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.759
 that you

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.700
 have sent

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.579
 me.

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.000
 Jesus

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.339
 cares

00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:19.480
 about

00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.079
 oneness.

00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.299
 He cares

00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:22.799
 about

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:24.839
 unity

00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.680
 of this

00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.059
 church

00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:27.480
 and not

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:27.960
 just that we

00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.460
 all kind of

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:28.940
 gather in

00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.680
 one spot

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.980
 and not just

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:31.500
 that there's no

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.220
 presence of

00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:33.019
 conflict here.

00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.559
 That's not

00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.159
 what we're

00:22:34.159 --> 00:22:34.720
 talking about

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.299
 in terms of

00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:35.659
 unity.

00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:36.180
 No, we're

00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:36.759
 talking about

00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.799
 a church

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.399
 that is so

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.059
 vested,

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.039
 a church that

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.460
 is so

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.180
 involved,

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.119
 a church that

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.919
 cares about

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.340
 one another

00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:44.340
 so much

00:22:44.340 --> 00:22:45.180
 that they

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.860
 are one

00:22:45.860 --> 00:22:46.640
 heart,

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.680
 one soul,

00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:48.620
 one objective,

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.460
 one priority,

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.519
 one purpose,

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.539
 one mission.

00:22:51.800 --> 00:22:52.560
 It's all,

00:22:52.840 --> 00:22:53.320
 they're all

00:22:53.320 --> 00:22:53.600
 in.

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.460
 All in.

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:58.019
 There's a

00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.700
 research done

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.539
 back in the

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.420
 mid-90s.

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:01.960
 It's called

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:03.640
 the Robin Dunbar's

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.420
 research on

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.560
 social network

00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:05.980
 layers.

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.340
 And basically,

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.640
 they did an

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.620
 evaluation of

00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.380
 how many

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.519
 relationships do

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.740
 we have and

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.379
 kind of what

00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:13.639
 are the

00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:14.740
 different spheres

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.240
 of those

00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:15.839
 relationships.

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:16.700
 And what

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.099
 they found

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.680
 is this.

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.519
 In the

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:19.819
 study,

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.799
 5,000

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.700
 recognizable

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.420
 faces.

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:23.680
 People that

00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.279
 you recognize,

00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:24.660
 you walk

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:24.920
 along,

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.139
 I think I

00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:26.980
 know that

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.440
 face.

00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.400
 I think I've

00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:28.859
 seen them

00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:29.160
 before.

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.819
 I can't quite

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.319
 place it.

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:30.819
 There's about

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.740
 5,000 of

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.039
 those,

00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:32.359
 okay?

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.879
 And then

00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.619
 within that

00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:36.139
 group,

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.119
 there's 1,500

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.420
 of people who

00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:38.720
 would be

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.619
 considered familiar.

00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.039
 Known

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.599
 names.

00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.339
 You can

00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:43.359
 generally

00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:44.680
 identify that

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.680
 person by

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.039
 name.

00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.319
 Then,

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.099
 a subgroup

00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:49.839
 of 500,

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.759
 500

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.579
 acquaintances.

00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:52.639
 You actually

00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:52.940
 know who

00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.319
 they are,

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.599
 but the

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.339
 relationship is

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:55.639
 a little

00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:56.339
 superficial.

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.420
 Now,

00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:57.839
 we're tightening

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.399
 even more.

00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:58.619
 Now,

00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.259
 150

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.500
 meaningful

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.240
 relationships,

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.299
 people with

00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:02.659
 whom there

00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:03.019
 is real

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.440
 history,

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:04.700
 reciprocal

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.579
 relationship

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.159
 and trust,

00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.019
 some sense

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.700
 of obligation

00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.180
 to them.

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.259
 And this

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.539
 was kind

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.180
 of all done

00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:11.360
 through a

00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.039
 study where

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.860
 who sends

00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:13.680
 Christmas cards

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.640
 and how many

00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.380
 are being sent

00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:15.759
 and who do

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.140
 you send

00:24:16.140 --> 00:24:16.620
 them to.

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.660
 And usually

00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:18.940
 this 150

00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.820
 is this

00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:20.200
 group,

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:20.640
 okay?

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.460
 That there's

00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:22.240
 some relationship,

00:24:22.560 --> 00:24:23.039
 there's some

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.000
 reciprocity

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.360
 happening,

00:24:24.820 --> 00:24:25.880
 there's something

00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:26.640
 reciprocal,

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.120
 give and take

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:28.700
 that's happening

00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.000
 there.

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.660
 But then we

00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.180
 kind of tighten

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.519
 a little bit

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.500
 more to 50.

00:24:33.120 --> 00:24:33.900
 50 what would

00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:34.400
 be considered

00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.360
 good relationships,

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.539
 good friendships,

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:38.060
 people with whom

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.740
 you maintain

00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:40.059
 personal relationship

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.559
 with.

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.399
 And then 15

00:24:42.399 --> 00:24:43.419
 who would be

00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:44.200
 close or

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.240
 considered best

00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:45.559
 friends,

00:24:45.679 --> 00:24:46.480
 people you

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.139
 would confide

00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:47.819
 in and turn

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.099
 to when there's

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.919
 something significant

00:24:49.919 --> 00:24:50.759
 in your life.

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.179
 And then 5,

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:52.839
 intimate,

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.159
 intimate

00:24:54.159 --> 00:24:55.200
 friendships,

00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:56.519
 these are the

00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.319
 people who will

00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.220
 drop everything

00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.579
 to come to

00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.159
 your assistance.

00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.980
 I wonder

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.720
 who are

00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:06.079
 your 50.

00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.400
 Who are

00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:08.880
 your 50?

00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.559
 How are

00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.440
 you cultivating

00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.900
 in that 50

00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.539
 of good

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.100
 friendships

00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:15.120
 here at

00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:15.600
 Maranatha,

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.180
 how are you

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.740
 cultivating

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:18.019
 better friendships?

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.720
 I think it

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.360
 usually happens

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:21.100
 through service.

00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.480
 It happens

00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.039
 as we

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:24.339
 are ministering.

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:24.680
 Maybe it's

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:24.920
 a little bit

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.539
 more casual,

00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:26.900
 but there's

00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:27.579
 service taking

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.039
 place.

00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:28.600
 There's a

00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.120
 give and take

00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:29.759
 that's happening.

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:30.700
 There's an

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.360
 interest in

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:31.819
 their life.

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:33.100
 There's a

00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:33.940
 personal

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.660
 commitment

00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:35.440
 to try

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.539
 to minister

00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:36.820
 to their

00:25:36.820 --> 00:25:37.240
 needs.

00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.240
 I wonder

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:39.640
 who are

00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:40.220
 the 15?

00:25:41.820 --> 00:25:42.140
 Who are

00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:43.200
 these close

00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.880
 friends or

00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.580
 best friends?

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.140
 Who are you

00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.120
 praying for

00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:48.380
 faithfully?

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.120
 Who do you

00:25:50.120 --> 00:25:50.480
 care about

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.279
 enough to

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:51.940
 know what

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.400
 their needs

00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:53.460
 are and to

00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:53.820
 take it to

00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:54.120
 the throne

00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:54.600
 of grace

00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:54.980
 and to

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.340
 follow up

00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:55.720
 with them

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.620
 to make

00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.539
 sure that

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.220
 that friendship

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.680
 continues to

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.640
 grow deeper?

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.440
 And maybe

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:02.980
 the five,

00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.759
 this intimate

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.200
 circle?

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.620
 Who are you

00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.200
 inviting to

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.720
 your home?

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.160
 Who are those

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.819
 friendships that

00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.440
 you're developing

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.160
 and taking

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:10.539
 deeper?

00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.420
 This is

00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.180
 something that

00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.700
 takes activity.

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.360
 It doesn't

00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:15.039
 just happen

00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.980
 by accident.

00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:16.720
 It's something

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.960
 that as the

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.700
 Holy Spirit is

00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.440
 working in your

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.140
 life, he

00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:21.220
 cultivates this

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.019
 kind of life,

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:22.860
 participation.

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.400
 But it takes

00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:24.920
 work.

00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:26.819
 It takes

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.160
 work.

00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.700
 Are you

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.000
 vested?

00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:30.859
 Do you

00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.640
 care for

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:31.859
 the Holy

00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.759
 Spirit to

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.099
 show up in

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:33.359
 your life

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:33.700
 this way?

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.759
 I've got to

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.519
 admit, this

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:38.099
 is one of

00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:38.339
 the harder

00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:38.720
 ones for

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:38.900
 me.

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:41.599
 It's

00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:41.880
 something I

00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:42.119
 definitely

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:42.619
 need to do

00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:42.839
 better.

00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.119
 And those

00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:45.420
 of you who

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:45.980
 are part of

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:48.160
 the Maranatha

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.400
 directory app,

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.779
 it can be

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.640
 really easy.

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.660
 And those

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.460
 of you who

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:55.240
 are following

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.039
 along with

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:57.119
 the powerhouse

00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:58.319
 prayer, there

00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:58.919
 are names

00:26:58.919 --> 00:26:59.519
 that are in

00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.179
 that and

00:27:00.179 --> 00:27:00.859
 through the

00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:02.079
 course of

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.399
 the months

00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:04.619
 working through

00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:06.779
 every family

00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.899
 and every name

00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.679
 of individuals

00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:09.460
 who call

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:09.839
 Maranatha

00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:10.240
 their home.

00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:13.879
 Are we

00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:15.379
 serious about

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:17.240
 seeing the

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:17.859
 Spirit's power

00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:18.279
 show up in

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:18.700
 our life?

00:27:18.899 --> 00:27:20.359
 Enough to

00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:20.700
 take this

00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.099
 seriously.

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.659
 To be

00:27:22.659 --> 00:27:24.039
 participating in

00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.480
 one another's

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:24.659
 lives.

00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:24.980
 Not just

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.559
 showing up on

00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:25.819
 a Sunday

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:27.819
 morning, but

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:29.019
 being active

00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:30.139
 in participation.

00:27:31.159 --> 00:27:31.700
 I know I

00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:32.119
 need to do

00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:32.339
 better.

00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.179
 I trust that

00:27:33.179 --> 00:27:33.599
 you will

00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:36.419
 also press

00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:36.659
 in.

00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:38.480
 Their united

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.179
 participation.

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:39.740
 Second, we

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:41.039
 see their

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.460
 eager

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.419
 cooperation.

00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:43.720
 Their eager

00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.379
 cooperation.

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.079
 We see that in

00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.240
 verses 32 and

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.639
 34.

00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.259
 It says,

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:47.859
 Now the full

00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.419
 number of those

00:27:48.419 --> 00:27:48.859
 who believed

00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.500
 were of one

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.019
 heart and

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:51.039
 soul, and no

00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.619
 one said that

00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.039
 any of the

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:52.359
 things that

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:52.960
 belonged to

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:54.099
 him was his

00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:55.339
 own, but they

00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.039
 had everything

00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.659
 in common.

00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.440
 Verse 44,

00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.319
 And all who

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.920
 believed were

00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:03.579
 together, and

00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:05.099
 had all things

00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:06.480
 in common, and

00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:06.980
 they were selling

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.539
 their possessions

00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.819
 and belongings, and

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.420
 distributing the

00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:11.480
 proceeds to all as

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.259
 any had need.

00:28:12.639 --> 00:28:13.319
 Now I just want to,

00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:15.619
 just a word of the

00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.279
 book of Acts.

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:18.200
 This is descriptive,

00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.440
 not prescriptive,

00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:20.519
 meaning this is what

00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:22.539
 the church did, not

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.740
 necessarily what the

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:25.620
 mandate for us is.

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.980
 But let me tell

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.819
 you, when the

00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.599
 Holy Spirit is

00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:29.960
 present, we want

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.799
 to follow the

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.400
 Spirit's lead,

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:31.819
 right?

00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.420
 And so, if this

00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:35.000
 is what extravagant

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.039
 love and

00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:37.140
 participation looks

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:37.960
 like, if this is

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.819
 what cooperation

00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:40.599
 looks like, if this

00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.339
 is what the

00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.500
 Spirit on a life

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.779
 looks like, oh

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:45.039
 Lord, please help

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.279
 me.

00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:46.620
 Help me to do

00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.500
 better at this.

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:49.779
 Help me to be

00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.599
 aware of needs.

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.400
 Help me to be

00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:54.120
 cooperative in the

00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.680
 process.

00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:56.880
 And look at the

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:58.600
 comprehensiveness of

00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.300
 these words.

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.300
 How comprehensive.

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:04.759
 No one said any of

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:06.560
 the things, everything

00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:07.360
 in common.

00:29:08.100 --> 00:29:09.600
 Comprehensive nature

00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:10.740
 of their sharing

00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:12.400
 because they were

00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.700
 all one heart, one

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.300
 soul.

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:18.500
 They were a family,

00:29:19.040 --> 00:29:19.900
 a spiritual family.

00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:19.960
 family.

00:29:21.540 --> 00:29:22.880
 This body was

00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.440
 engaged.

00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:24.160
 They were alert.

00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:25.420
 They knew the

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:25.740
 needs.

00:29:25.840 --> 00:29:26.960
 They were actively

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.120
 identifying and

00:29:28.120 --> 00:29:28.860
 meeting those needs.

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.640
 They knew who they

00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:29.880
 were.

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.620
 They knew who the

00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.300
 problems were.

00:29:31.800 --> 00:29:33.019
 They knew how they

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.940
 could contribute to

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:35.820
 those problems and

00:29:35.820 --> 00:29:38.000
 help to remedy those

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.580
 problems.

00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:40.420
 You know, when I was

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.820
 a kid growing up, I

00:29:41.820 --> 00:29:42.940
 learned from the

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.759
 example of my

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.100
 family.

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:45.280
 And I trust that

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:47.680
 as families, we

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.500
 are setting this

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.759
 pattern for our

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.980
 children as well.

00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:52.240
 And I think a lot

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.759
 of the things that

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:54.119
 I've learned and

00:29:54.119 --> 00:29:55.720
 have benefited from

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:57.139
 have resulted from

00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:58.079
 the great

00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:59.500
 indoctrination of

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.440
 my mom and dad.

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.099
 When I was growing

00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:03.559
 up, my dad being a

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.559
 pastor, he did not

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:06.099
 make much at all.

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.420
 But my mom and dad

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:08.259
 had a spirit of

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:08.720
 generosity.

00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.539
 They wanted to

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.519
 invite people into

00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:10.940
 their home.

00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:11.740
 They wanted to

00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.359
 meet needs.

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.859
 And oftentimes

00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:14.940
 what that meant is

00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:16.059
 when we had people

00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:16.920
 over to our house,

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.980
 there was only so

00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.820
 much that could be

00:30:18.820 --> 00:30:19.779
 put on the table.

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:20.640
 And so when you

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:22.420
 have a family of

00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:24.340
 six plus other

00:30:24.340 --> 00:30:25.080
 guests that are

00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:26.460
 coming, then that

00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.000
 means there's not a

00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.460
 whole lot to go

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:27.759
 around.

00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:28.980
 So my dad had a

00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:29.299
 code.

00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.640
 The code that he

00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:32.019
 would say before

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.640
 any of us would

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.320
 sit down was

00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:34.240
 FHB.

00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.039
 FHB.

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.759
 What does that

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:37.940
 mean?

00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:38.580
 Well, it means

00:30:38.580 --> 00:30:40.380
 family hold back.

00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:43.380
 Family hold back.

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:43.940
 And so when he

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.860
 said FHB,

00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:46.620
 we knew our

00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.200
 portions were

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.620
 going to be

00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.740
 intentionally small

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:50.320
 so that we

00:30:50.320 --> 00:30:50.920
 could defer to

00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.440
 our guests.

00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.120
 I wonder if

00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:56.259
 in the church

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:56.880
 of Jerusalem

00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:57.720
 that was kind

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.200
 of the mantra.

00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.519
 Hey, FHB.

00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.519
 FHB.

00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:01.600
 Family hold

00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:01.940
 back.

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.840
 We have the

00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:05.059
 joy of

00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:05.660
 contributing.

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.120
 The joy of

00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:07.480
 sharing.

00:31:07.840 --> 00:31:08.880
 The joy of

00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.539
 distributing.

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.360
 Family hold

00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:11.820
 back.

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.879
 for the sake

00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:14.000
 of the glory

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.480
 of God

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.059
 and the

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.460
 wonder

00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.859
 of God

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.480
 providing

00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:18.000
 through

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.960
 us

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.939
 and his

00:31:19.939 --> 00:31:20.319
 spirit

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.500
 working in

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:21.939
 us

00:31:21.939 --> 00:31:22.779
 not only to

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.399
 meet the

00:31:23.399 --> 00:31:24.299
 needs of

00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:24.679
 others

00:31:24.679 --> 00:31:25.480
 but then to

00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.240
 see how

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.139
 God graciously

00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:28.339
 meets and

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:29.339
 attends to our

00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:29.980
 needs as well.

00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.000
 You see,

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.579
 we can't

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.299
 understand or

00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.480
 see that God

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.099
 is able to

00:31:34.099 --> 00:31:34.639
 meet a need

00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:34.939
 when that

00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:35.899
 need is not

00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:36.359
 present.

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:39.459
 And what a

00:31:39.459 --> 00:31:41.179
 beautiful portrait

00:31:41.179 --> 00:31:42.779
 of God's work

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.159
 when we're

00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:43.740
 willing to

00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.659
 share.

00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:45.899
 And that the

00:31:45.899 --> 00:31:47.059
 family intentionally

00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:48.379
 holds back.

00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:51.719
 It was also

00:31:51.719 --> 00:31:52.339
 important to

00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:53.219
 see is that

00:31:53.219 --> 00:31:53.719
 there wasn't

00:31:53.719 --> 00:31:54.559
 a needy person

00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:55.959
 because the

00:31:55.959 --> 00:31:56.459
 needy people

00:31:56.459 --> 00:31:57.119
 also had the

00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:58.319
 same goal.

00:31:59.419 --> 00:31:59.939
 They

00:31:59.939 --> 00:32:00.879
 understood

00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:01.339
 that

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:04.119
 they needed

00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:04.719
 to press in

00:32:04.719 --> 00:32:05.159
 as well.

00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:05.500
 They needed

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.039
 to contribute

00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.539
 as well.

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.099
 And so

00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:07.839
 their needs

00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.659
 were smaller.

00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.139
 They were

00:32:09.139 --> 00:32:09.859
 real needs.

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.579
 They were

00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.740
 truly impoverished.

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.079
 They were

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:15.099
 truly in short

00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.559
 of what was

00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.099
 necessary.

00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:16.839
 And they

00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.299
 only took

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:17.940
 what was

00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.859
 necessary so

00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:19.339
 the rest

00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:19.720
 could be

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.099
 distributed

00:32:20.099 --> 00:32:20.839
 to others.

00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:22.159
 It was a

00:32:22.159 --> 00:32:22.839
 collaborative,

00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:23.759
 cooperative

00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.819
 effort.

00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.099
 MacArthur

00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:27.659
 has said

00:32:27.659 --> 00:32:28.619
 they were

00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.220
 focused

00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:29.839
 beyond

00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.480
 themselves

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.359
 to reaching

00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:32.099
 the lost

00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:32.960
 world with

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.339
 the truth

00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:33.599
 of the

00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:33.960
 gospel.

00:32:34.139 --> 00:32:35.059
 That left

00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:35.779
 them little

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.099
 time to

00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:38.299
 bother with

00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:39.019
 trivial

00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:39.740
 personal

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.519
 matters.

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:44.960
 Sharing

00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.480
 requires

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:46.099
 awareness.

00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:48.000
 It requires

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.559
 alertness.

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.359
 It requires

00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.879
 being involved.

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.940
 It requires

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.160
 relationship so

00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.519
 we know what

00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:53.819
 the needs

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:55.299
 are and the

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:55.980
 work of the

00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.500
 spirit in our

00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.079
 life to be

00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:58.480
 willing to

00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.539
 share for the

00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.559
 glory of God.

00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:02.220
 So we've

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:02.519
 seen their

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:02.779
 united

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.460
 participation,

00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:04.839
 their eager

00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.659
 cooperation,

00:33:05.879 --> 00:33:06.139
 and in

00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:07.299
 verse 33

00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:07.940
 we see their

00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:08.619
 spirit-filled

00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:09.740
 proclamation.

00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:11.359
 Spirit-filled

00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.059
 proclamation.

00:33:13.159 --> 00:33:13.579
 And with

00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.839
 great power

00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:16.179
 the apostles

00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:16.759
 were giving

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.500
 their testimony

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.240
 to the

00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.720
 resurrection,

00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:19.720
 here it is,

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:21.259
 resurrection of

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:21.839
 the Lord

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.559
 Jesus.

00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:24.079
 Great

00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:24.940
 power.

00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:26.139
 It's the word

00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:26.700
 mega.

00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:28.420
 mega.

00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:28.460
 Mega

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.059
 dunamai.

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.460
 Great

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:30.920
 power.

00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:31.980
 And this

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:32.220
 is the

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:32.580
 mark.

00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:33.720
 This is the

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.700
 mark of a

00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.380
 church that

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.080
 is filled by

00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:36.500
 the spirit.

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:39.200
 This is the

00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.819
 promise that

00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.460
 Christ gave to

00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:41.019
 the disciples

00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:43.220
 very early on

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.779
 in Acts chapter

00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.039
 1.

00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.400
 He says in

00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:45.940
 Acts 1.8,

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.660
 remember what he

00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:46.940
 says?

00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:47.980
 You will

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.640
 receive

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:51.279
 power when

00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:51.559
 the Holy

00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:52.000
 Spirit has

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.319
 come upon

00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:52.539
 you.

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:55.740
 See,

00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.480
 power always

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:56.799
 has a

00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:57.240
 purpose.

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.359
 Power always

00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:00.099
 has an

00:34:00.099 --> 00:34:00.599
 objective.

00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:01.259
 It's always

00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:01.779
 directional.

00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.319
 It's always

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.899
 with the

00:34:02.899 --> 00:34:03.500
 purpose of

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.319
 making much

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.079
 of God,

00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:05.879
 not in

00:34:05.879 --> 00:34:06.859
 making much

00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:07.240
 of me.

00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:08.820
 And that

00:34:08.820 --> 00:34:09.619
 power was

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.500
 promised early

00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.559
 and it

00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:12.119
 becomes this

00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:12.679
 consistent

00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.779
 evidence of

00:34:13.779 --> 00:34:14.159
 what we see

00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.420
 all the way

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.639
 through.

00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:15.619
 Acts chapter

00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:15.880
 2,

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.539
 verse 43,

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.759
 awe came upon

00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:18.460
 every soul

00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:19.400
 and many

00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:20.340
 wonders and

00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:21.440
 signs were

00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.980
 being done

00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:22.780
 through the

00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.199
 apostles.

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:23.840
 That's

00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.280
 power.

00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:26.159
 Acts 3.12,

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:26.559
 and when

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.340
 Peter saw

00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:27.800
 it, he

00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.400
 addressed the

00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:29.280
 people, men

00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:29.699
 of Israel,

00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:30.460
 why do you

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:31.219
 wonder at

00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:31.940
 this or why

00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.639
 do you stare

00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.380
 at us as

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:33.740
 though by

00:34:33.740 --> 00:34:34.280
 our own

00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:35.300
 power or

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.340
 piety we

00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:36.659
 have made

00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.199
 him walk?

00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.240
 Power was

00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:38.820
 present.

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.119
 The Spirit

00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.940
 was working.

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.320
 It was a

00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:43.679
 power of

00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:44.039
 proclamation.

00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:44.559
 That's what

00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:44.880
 they prayed

00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:45.099
 for.

00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:46.480
 Courage,

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.199
 boldness to

00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:49.579
 proclaim Christ.

00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:51.240
 And this is

00:34:51.240 --> 00:34:51.960
 when people

00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:53.340
 turn to God.

00:34:53.720 --> 00:34:55.000
 They find that

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.300
 God gives

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.139
 them overcoming

00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:57.820
 strength.

00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:59.619
 Overcoming

00:34:59.619 --> 00:35:00.119
 strength.

00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.240
 And they

00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:01.780
 return to

00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:02.720
 pray with

00:35:02.720 --> 00:35:03.159
 their friends

00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:04.159
 and God

00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.559
 through his

00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.280
 Spirit gives

00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:06.260
 them, his

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:08.119
 Spirit fills

00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:09.159
 them for a

00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:10.340
 purpose to

00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:11.440
 proclaim, to

00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:11.860
 witness.

00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.240
 And when they

00:35:13.240 --> 00:35:14.559
 come back, what

00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:14.940
 do they do?

00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:16.059
 They witness,

00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:16.860
 they speak.

00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:20.320
 I wonder how

00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.180
 many of us

00:35:21.180 --> 00:35:21.920
 need that

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:22.180
 kind of

00:35:22.180 --> 00:35:22.460
 power.

00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.500
 Man, it's so

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:24.900
 easy to be

00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:25.539
 afraid, isn't

00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:25.720
 it?

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.059
 It's so easy

00:35:27.059 --> 00:35:27.280
 to be

00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:29.320
 intimidated by

00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:30.599
 opposition.

00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:31.920
 And maybe

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.480
 some of you

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:32.980
 are in

00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:34.860
 positions where

00:35:34.860 --> 00:35:35.140
 you've been

00:35:35.140 --> 00:35:35.900
 told to keep

00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:36.200
 your mouth

00:35:36.200 --> 00:35:36.460
 shut.

00:35:37.620 --> 00:35:38.140
 That if you

00:35:38.140 --> 00:35:38.620
 say certain

00:35:38.620 --> 00:35:39.920
 things, that

00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:40.260
 you're going to

00:35:40.260 --> 00:35:41.180
 risk losing

00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:41.800
 your job.

00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:43.720
 And I

00:35:43.720 --> 00:35:44.080
 don't know,

00:35:44.220 --> 00:35:45.039
 there's wisdom

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:46.620
 in speaking at

00:35:46.620 --> 00:35:47.220
 the right times,

00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:49.240
 being wise as

00:35:49.240 --> 00:35:49.800
 serpents and

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:50.420
 harmless as

00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.440
 doves, but I

00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.820
 wonder, even in

00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:53.220
 some of those

00:35:53.220 --> 00:35:54.539
 casual relationships,

00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.600
 how much of us,

00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:56.720
 God, I need

00:35:56.720 --> 00:35:58.519
 your power to

00:35:58.519 --> 00:35:59.080
 be present in

00:35:59.080 --> 00:35:59.519
 my life.

00:36:00.780 --> 00:36:01.580
 I need your

00:36:01.580 --> 00:36:02.140
 speaking,

00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:03.880
 proclaiming power,

00:36:04.120 --> 00:36:05.480
 not only to

00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:07.080
 have courage, but

00:36:07.080 --> 00:36:08.240
 the wisdom of

00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:09.320
 your Spirit to

00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:09.760
 be able to say

00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:10.340
 what needs to be

00:36:10.340 --> 00:36:10.880
 said in this

00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:11.180
 moment.

00:36:11.179 --> 00:36:11.919
 He will give

00:36:11.919 --> 00:36:12.119
 that.

00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:13.759
 He gives

00:36:13.759 --> 00:36:14.159
 wisdom.

00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:15.119
 He gives

00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:15.480
 power.

00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:16.739
 His Spirit

00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:18.000
 provides it.

00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:20.259
 United

00:36:20.259 --> 00:36:20.960
 participation,

00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:22.259
 eager

00:36:22.259 --> 00:36:23.099
 cooperation,

00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:24.699
 Spirit-filled

00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:25.379
 proclamation,

00:36:25.719 --> 00:36:26.019
 and then

00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:27.239
 Spirit-enabled

00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:28.039
 transformation.

00:36:29.299 --> 00:36:29.899
 We see that at

00:36:29.899 --> 00:36:30.379
 the end of

00:36:30.379 --> 00:36:31.159
 verse 33.

00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:32.219
 And with

00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:33.019
 great power,

00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:33.639
 the apostles

00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:34.099
 were giving

00:36:34.099 --> 00:36:34.799
 their testimony

00:36:34.799 --> 00:36:35.440
 to the

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.099
 resurrection of

00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:36.319
 the Lord

00:36:36.319 --> 00:36:37.039
 Jesus, and

00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:37.460
 then this,

00:36:37.719 --> 00:36:38.519
 and great

00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:39.819
 grace was

00:36:39.819 --> 00:36:40.699
 upon them

00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:40.960
 all.

00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:42.359
 Great grace

00:36:42.359 --> 00:36:42.859
 was upon

00:36:42.859 --> 00:36:43.419
 them all.

00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:44.000
 What does

00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.579
 that mean?

00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:45.839
 They're already

00:36:45.839 --> 00:36:46.519
 saved.

00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:48.299
 They're already

00:36:48.299 --> 00:36:49.659
 part of the

00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:50.079
 fellowship.

00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:51.599
 They've already

00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.579
 experienced the

00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:53.239
 grace of God,

00:36:53.319 --> 00:36:54.019
 this unmerited

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:55.219
 favor in

00:36:55.219 --> 00:36:56.119
 drawing them

00:36:56.119 --> 00:36:57.379
 in to Christ.

00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.319
 They've enjoyed

00:36:58.319 --> 00:37:00.039
 the benefits of

00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:00.819
 this work in

00:37:00.819 --> 00:37:01.059
 their life.

00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.759
 What is this

00:37:01.759 --> 00:37:03.000
 grace that we're

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.519
 talking about?

00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:04.559
 Great grace

00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.579
 was upon them.

00:37:05.579 --> 00:37:07.139
 And I think

00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.659
 as we read

00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:08.139
 through the

00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:09.340
 rest of the

00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:10.599
 book of Acts,

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:11.039
 and as we

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:11.900
 then access

00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:12.420
 some of the

00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:12.840
 letters that

00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:13.199
 the apostle

00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:14.319
 Paul preached

00:37:14.319 --> 00:37:15.840
 and wrote,

00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:16.400
 then we come

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:17.079
 to understand

00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:18.199
 grace is more

00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:19.059
 than just

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.739
 salvation.

00:37:19.739 --> 00:37:20.840
 It's the work

00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.840
 of the Spirit

00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:22.559
 in life.

00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:24.039
 It is the

00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:25.619
 evident nature,

00:37:25.779 --> 00:37:26.380
 the evident

00:37:26.380 --> 00:37:27.579
 presence of

00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:28.139
 the Spirit

00:37:28.139 --> 00:37:29.559
 working in

00:37:29.559 --> 00:37:30.579
 a life to

00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.619
 transform them,

00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:33.199
 to make them

00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:33.859
 something that

00:37:33.859 --> 00:37:34.339
 they're not,

00:37:34.599 --> 00:37:35.739
 to change them

00:37:35.739 --> 00:37:36.440
 from what they

00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:37.559
 were to what

00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:39.059
 Christ intends

00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:40.000
 to do for

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.239
 them.

00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:42.539
 God's grace

00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:43.199
 was evident.

00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:44.460
 It means His

00:37:44.460 --> 00:37:45.859
 Spirit was so

00:37:45.859 --> 00:37:46.960
 obvious, so

00:37:46.960 --> 00:37:48.139
 tangible, so

00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:48.799
 evident, so

00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:49.920
 visible, it's

00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:51.440
 like, wow, God

00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:51.859
 is here.

00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:53.579
 That's what we

00:37:53.579 --> 00:37:54.000
 mean when we

00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:55.059
 talk about the

00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:55.719
 grace of God,

00:37:55.880 --> 00:37:57.159
 the great grace

00:37:57.159 --> 00:37:57.579
 of God.

00:37:57.799 --> 00:37:58.519
 That everyone

00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:59.719
 looking at this

00:37:59.719 --> 00:38:00.199
 church said,

00:38:00.299 --> 00:38:00.440
 ah,

00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:02.780
 I know how

00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:03.240
 to explain

00:38:03.240 --> 00:38:03.700
 this.

00:38:04.700 --> 00:38:05.500
 God is here.

00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:07.220
 God is among

00:38:07.220 --> 00:38:07.700
 His people.

00:38:08.720 --> 00:38:09.760
 It's unquestionable.

00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:10.720
 I know what's

00:38:10.720 --> 00:38:10.960
 happening.

00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:13.659
 And we,

00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:14.659
 as we look

00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:15.579
 through the

00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:16.000
 book of Acts,

00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:16.380
 that's what we

00:38:16.380 --> 00:38:16.619
 see.

00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:18.099
 Acts chapter 6

00:38:18.099 --> 00:38:18.539
 verse 8, I'll

00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:18.900
 just give you a

00:38:18.900 --> 00:38:19.559
 couple examples.

00:38:20.240 --> 00:38:20.980
 And Stephen,

00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:23.519
 full of grace

00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.639
 and power.

00:38:25.820 --> 00:38:26.340
 He's already

00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:26.860
 saved.

00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:28.019
 What is this

00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:28.280
 grace?

00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:28.780
 Well, it's the

00:38:28.780 --> 00:38:29.740
 evident work of

00:38:29.740 --> 00:38:30.099
 the Spirit.

00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:31.000
 Coupled with

00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:31.460
 power.

00:38:32.059 --> 00:38:32.460
 With great

00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:33.219
 grace and power

00:38:33.219 --> 00:38:34.139
 was doing great

00:38:34.139 --> 00:38:35.159
 wonders and signs

00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:36.239
 among the people.

00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:37.699
 The grace of God

00:38:37.699 --> 00:38:38.099
 was on him.

00:38:38.860 --> 00:38:39.799
 Acts 11, 23.

00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:40.360
 This is the

00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:41.059
 church of Antioch.

00:38:41.739 --> 00:38:42.239
 This church of

00:38:42.239 --> 00:38:42.659
 Antioch was

00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:43.239
 growing and

00:38:43.239 --> 00:38:43.980
 multiplying and

00:38:43.980 --> 00:38:44.779
 flourishing because

00:38:44.779 --> 00:38:46.299
 of the preaching of

00:38:46.299 --> 00:38:46.880
 God's word.

00:38:47.299 --> 00:38:48.500
 And Barnabas will go

00:38:48.500 --> 00:38:49.299
 to this church.

00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:49.960
 And it's

00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:50.420
 interesting.

00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.239
 It's fascinating.

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:52.259
 Notice what it

00:38:52.259 --> 00:38:53.519
 says in 11, 23.

00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:54.679
 When he came,

00:38:54.739 --> 00:38:55.159
 speaking of

00:38:55.159 --> 00:38:56.139
 Barnabas, when he

00:38:56.139 --> 00:38:58.299
 came and saw the

00:38:58.300 --> 00:39:00.720
 grace of God, he

00:39:00.720 --> 00:39:01.260
 was glad.

00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:02.960
 And he exhorted

00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.920
 them to all remain

00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:04.539
 faithful to the

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.860
 Lord with steadfast

00:39:05.860 --> 00:39:06.440
 purpose.

00:39:07.180 --> 00:39:09.060
 He saw the grace of

00:39:09.060 --> 00:39:09.380
 God?

00:39:09.539 --> 00:39:10.340
 What did he see?

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:12.480
 Oh, he saw this kind

00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:13.200
 of church that we're

00:39:13.200 --> 00:39:13.800
 talking about this

00:39:13.800 --> 00:39:14.060
 morning.

00:39:15.080 --> 00:39:16.120
 He saw a church that

00:39:16.120 --> 00:39:17.320
 was participating with

00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:17.720
 one another.

00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.200
 He saw a church that

00:39:19.200 --> 00:39:20.680
 was cooperating in

00:39:20.680 --> 00:39:20.980
 sharing.

00:39:21.120 --> 00:39:22.300
 He saw a church that

00:39:22.300 --> 00:39:23.860
 was thriving in

00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:25.180
 gospel proclamation

00:39:25.179 --> 00:39:26.960
 because the church

00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:28.000
 was exploding.

00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:29.559
 The grace of God

00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:30.179
 was there because

00:39:30.179 --> 00:39:31.379
 the Spirit was

00:39:31.379 --> 00:39:31.799
 working.

00:39:32.799 --> 00:39:33.679
 It was evident.

00:39:33.779 --> 00:39:34.539
 It was clear.

00:39:35.419 --> 00:39:35.819
 God's here.

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:37.659
 God is here.

00:39:39.319 --> 00:39:39.500
 Oh.

00:39:41.159 --> 00:39:41.960
 You want that kind

00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:42.299
 of grace?

00:39:46.019 --> 00:39:47.599
 That's the kind of

00:39:47.599 --> 00:39:49.059
 grace that the

00:39:49.059 --> 00:39:50.460
 Spirit desires to do

00:39:50.460 --> 00:39:51.599
 for every single

00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.239
 one of us.

00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:52.239


00:39:53.939 --> 00:39:55.479
 Great grace.

00:39:56.699 --> 00:39:57.459
 Not just

00:39:57.459 --> 00:39:59.059
 supplementary grace

00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:00.119
 to get you to the

00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:00.679
 next day.

00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:02.539
 But great,

00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:04.039
 extravagant,

00:40:04.739 --> 00:40:05.459
 overflowing,

00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:07.379
 abundant grace.

00:40:07.539 --> 00:40:09.219
 The power of God

00:40:09.219 --> 00:40:10.759
 working in your

00:40:10.759 --> 00:40:11.279
 life.

00:40:11.699 --> 00:40:12.899
 That kind of

00:40:12.899 --> 00:40:13.419
 grace.

00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:15.199
 That's what we can

00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:17.219
 have if we allow

00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:17.939
 the Spirit to have

00:40:17.939 --> 00:40:18.659
 His way in our

00:40:18.659 --> 00:40:18.959
 life.

00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:19.039
 life.

00:40:20.659 --> 00:40:22.000
 But it comes at a

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:22.400
 cost.

00:40:24.300 --> 00:40:25.599
 And so that's what

00:40:25.599 --> 00:40:26.260
 the Apostle Paul

00:40:26.260 --> 00:40:27.900
 talks about in

00:40:27.900 --> 00:40:31.480
 2 Corinthians 12.9.

00:40:33.220 --> 00:40:34.860
 Where Jesus says to

00:40:34.860 --> 00:40:35.940
 Paul, after he says,

00:40:36.019 --> 00:40:36.720
 will you take away

00:40:36.720 --> 00:40:38.420
 this inconvenience in

00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:38.780
 my life?

00:40:38.820 --> 00:40:39.480
 And by the way, I

00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:40.059
 think it's appropriate

00:40:40.059 --> 00:40:41.079
 to pray that God

00:40:41.079 --> 00:40:41.980
 takes away thorns in

00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.360
 our flesh.

00:40:42.519 --> 00:40:43.400
 That is appropriate.

00:40:43.720 --> 00:40:44.380
 But we need to be

00:40:44.380 --> 00:40:45.199
 ready for the response

00:40:45.199 --> 00:40:45.820
 when the response

00:40:45.820 --> 00:40:46.119
 comes.

00:40:46.119 --> 00:40:48.279
 And God's response

00:40:48.279 --> 00:40:49.099
 to him is,

00:40:49.279 --> 00:40:51.079
 Paul, my grace,

00:40:51.799 --> 00:40:53.599
 my grace is

00:40:53.599 --> 00:40:54.440
 sufficient for you.

00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:58.279
 For my strength is

00:40:58.279 --> 00:41:00.319
 made perfect in your

00:41:00.319 --> 00:41:00.739
 weakness.

00:41:01.900 --> 00:41:03.480
 Therefore, I will boast

00:41:03.480 --> 00:41:05.839
 in my infirmities that

00:41:05.839 --> 00:41:07.739
 the power of Christ

00:41:07.739 --> 00:41:09.519
 may rest upon me.

00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:11.219
 I want the grace.

00:41:11.420 --> 00:41:12.219
 And if that means I

00:41:12.219 --> 00:41:13.099
 got to be weak,

00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:15.679
 oh God, give me the

00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:17.019
 weakness so I can

00:41:17.019 --> 00:41:18.779
 enjoy your grace,

00:41:19.400 --> 00:41:20.519
 your power,

00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:22.199
 your strengthening

00:41:22.199 --> 00:41:24.159
 might for your glory.

00:41:25.819 --> 00:41:27.539
 In verses 34 to 35,

00:41:27.699 --> 00:41:28.219
 we come to their

00:41:28.219 --> 00:41:29.679
 deliberate act of

00:41:29.679 --> 00:41:30.579
 consecration.

00:41:31.639 --> 00:41:32.659
 Their deliberate act

00:41:32.659 --> 00:41:33.579
 of consecration.

00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:34.900
 It says,

00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:36.139
 there was not a

00:41:36.139 --> 00:41:37.559
 needy person among

00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:37.900
 them.

00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:39.920
 For as many as were

00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:40.839
 owners of lands or

00:41:40.839 --> 00:41:42.259
 houses sold them and

00:41:42.260 --> 00:41:43.220
 brought the proceeds

00:41:43.220 --> 00:41:44.560
 of what was sold

00:41:44.560 --> 00:41:46.780
 and laid it at the

00:41:46.780 --> 00:41:47.900
 apostles' feet.

00:41:49.040 --> 00:41:49.400
 And it was

00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:50.520
 distributed to each

00:41:50.520 --> 00:41:51.740
 as any had need.

00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:54.180
 I love this.

00:41:55.460 --> 00:41:56.480
 And consecration is

00:41:56.480 --> 00:41:57.420
 a word to set

00:41:57.420 --> 00:42:00.020
 apart from common

00:42:00.020 --> 00:42:01.820
 or secular use to

00:42:01.820 --> 00:42:02.940
 something that's

00:42:02.940 --> 00:42:03.520
 consecrated,

00:42:03.640 --> 00:42:04.520
 something that's

00:42:04.520 --> 00:42:05.720
 dedicated to God,

00:42:06.080 --> 00:42:07.320
 something that has a

00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:08.260
 spiritual purpose.

00:42:08.420 --> 00:42:09.520
 And that's what these

00:42:09.520 --> 00:42:10.320
 people were doing.

00:42:10.320 --> 00:42:12.460
 these disciples who

00:42:12.460 --> 00:42:13.300
 wanted to contribute,

00:42:13.920 --> 00:42:14.980
 they were aware of

00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:15.820
 needs, but sometimes

00:42:15.820 --> 00:42:16.320
 they weren't.

00:42:17.180 --> 00:42:18.840
 And in their desire to

00:42:18.840 --> 00:42:19.860
 be part of the work

00:42:19.860 --> 00:42:21.019
 of God, they just

00:42:21.019 --> 00:42:22.460
 entrusted or consecrated,

00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:24.400
 they dedicated those

00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:25.780
 funds to the

00:42:25.780 --> 00:42:26.160
 apostles.

00:42:26.280 --> 00:42:27.160
 They laid it at their

00:42:27.160 --> 00:42:27.580
 feet and said,

00:42:27.840 --> 00:42:29.539
 this is for Christ.

00:42:29.820 --> 00:42:30.820
 This is for Him to

00:42:30.820 --> 00:42:32.220
 use however He sees

00:42:32.220 --> 00:42:32.600
 fit.

00:42:33.820 --> 00:42:36.340
 And sometimes we are

00:42:36.340 --> 00:42:38.039
 in, as it were,

00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:39.400
 the driver's seat of

00:42:39.400 --> 00:42:40.539
 helping to meet

00:42:40.539 --> 00:42:41.639
 specific needs of

00:42:41.639 --> 00:42:42.480
 people around us

00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:43.259
 because we're aware

00:42:43.259 --> 00:42:43.480
 of them.

00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:44.239
 But sometimes,

00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:45.920
 sometimes we don't

00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:46.759
 know about needs and

00:42:46.759 --> 00:42:47.980
 sometimes we might

00:42:47.980 --> 00:42:48.679
 know about a need but

00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:49.079
 we want to be

00:42:49.079 --> 00:42:49.880
 anonymous in the

00:42:49.880 --> 00:42:50.360
 process.

00:42:50.699 --> 00:42:51.759
 We consecrate this to

00:42:51.759 --> 00:42:51.980
 God.

00:42:52.079 --> 00:42:53.440
 We lay this offering

00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:55.699
 at the feet of the

00:42:55.699 --> 00:42:57.519
 leaders and we allow

00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:59.380
 God to use our gifts

00:42:59.380 --> 00:43:00.820
 for His glory.

00:43:00.820 --> 00:43:06.160
 A couple principles

00:43:06.160 --> 00:43:06.680
 of giving.

00:43:07.800 --> 00:43:09.280
 First, giving is to

00:43:09.280 --> 00:43:09.720
 be anonymous.

00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:11.680
 It's to be anonymous.

00:43:12.760 --> 00:43:13.420
 In Matthew chapter

00:43:13.420 --> 00:43:14.980
 6 verses 3 and 4 it

00:43:14.980 --> 00:43:15.140
 says,

00:43:15.260 --> 00:43:16.400
 When you give alms,

00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:17.640
 do not let your left

00:43:17.640 --> 00:43:18.800
 hand know what your

00:43:18.800 --> 00:43:20.300
 right hand is doing.

00:43:21.840 --> 00:43:23.019
 May your Father who

00:43:23.019 --> 00:43:25.580
 sees in secret repay

00:43:25.580 --> 00:43:26.519
 you openly.

00:43:27.460 --> 00:43:28.260
 Trust the Lord,

00:43:28.460 --> 00:43:29.840
 give anonymously.

00:43:29.840 --> 00:43:32.420
 Second, giving needs

00:43:32.420 --> 00:43:33.420
 to be in faith.

00:43:34.039 --> 00:43:35.200
 And we find that all

00:43:35.200 --> 00:43:35.680
 throughout the

00:43:35.680 --> 00:43:35.940
 scripture.

00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:36.740
 We find from 1st

00:43:36.740 --> 00:43:37.559
 Timothy chapter 3

00:43:37.559 --> 00:43:38.360
 3 that the

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:39.300
 qualification for a

00:43:39.300 --> 00:43:40.340
 leader is not to be

00:43:40.340 --> 00:43:41.660
 a lover of money.

00:43:41.940 --> 00:43:43.160
 We find throughout

00:43:43.160 --> 00:43:44.640
 the scripture the

00:43:44.640 --> 00:43:46.220
 commitment of giving

00:43:46.220 --> 00:43:47.840
 that requires a

00:43:47.840 --> 00:43:48.620
 measure of faith.

00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:49.680
 We're trusting the

00:43:49.680 --> 00:43:51.800
 Lord to take care of

00:43:51.800 --> 00:43:52.559
 the needs that we

00:43:52.559 --> 00:43:53.440
 have as we're

00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:54.240
 distributing to

00:43:54.240 --> 00:43:54.660
 others.

00:43:55.640 --> 00:43:56.760
 Third, giving needs

00:43:56.760 --> 00:43:57.440
 to be voluntary.

00:43:57.860 --> 00:43:58.440
 We find that from

00:43:58.440 --> 00:43:59.019
 2nd Corinthians

00:43:59.019 --> 00:43:59.720
 chapter 9 verse

00:43:59.719 --> 00:44:00.000
 7.

00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:02.339
 Each one must give

00:44:02.339 --> 00:44:03.439
 as he has decided

00:44:03.439 --> 00:44:04.159
 in his heart,

00:44:04.559 --> 00:44:06.079
 not reluctantly or

00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:06.859
 under compulsion,

00:44:07.179 --> 00:44:07.919
 for God loves a

00:44:07.919 --> 00:44:08.500
 cheerful giver.

00:44:09.699 --> 00:44:11.259
 Fourth, giving is an

00:44:11.259 --> 00:44:12.379
 eternal investment.

00:44:13.679 --> 00:44:14.199
 Lay not up for

00:44:14.199 --> 00:44:14.919
 yourselves treasures

00:44:14.919 --> 00:44:16.199
 on earth, where

00:44:16.199 --> 00:44:17.159
 moth and rust corrupt,

00:44:17.259 --> 00:44:18.019
 where thieves break

00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:18.659
 through and steal,

00:44:18.739 --> 00:44:19.539
 but lay up for

00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:20.639
 yourselves treasures

00:44:20.639 --> 00:44:22.139
 in heaven, where

00:44:22.139 --> 00:44:23.039
 neither moth nor rust

00:44:23.039 --> 00:44:24.259
 corrupt, where thieves

00:44:24.259 --> 00:44:25.159
 do not break through

00:44:25.159 --> 00:44:26.000
 or steal, for where

00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:27.000
 your treasure is,

00:44:27.259 --> 00:44:28.000
 there will your heart

00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:28.619
 be also.

00:44:28.619 --> 00:44:30.119
 We recognize that

00:44:30.119 --> 00:44:31.179
 the giving that we

00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:32.179
 contribute, while

00:44:32.179 --> 00:44:33.460
 physical in nature,

00:44:33.659 --> 00:44:34.599
 really has a

00:44:34.599 --> 00:44:35.519
 spiritual element.

00:44:35.739 --> 00:44:36.760
 We are giving for

00:44:36.760 --> 00:44:37.739
 the sake of

00:44:37.739 --> 00:44:38.159
 eternity.

00:44:39.719 --> 00:44:40.780
 We're trusting the

00:44:40.780 --> 00:44:41.500
 Lord with those

00:44:41.500 --> 00:44:42.400
 gifts and asking

00:44:42.400 --> 00:44:43.840
 that he would be

00:44:43.840 --> 00:44:45.579
 glorified in the

00:44:45.579 --> 00:44:46.139
 giving of those

00:44:46.139 --> 00:44:46.460
 things.

00:44:46.599 --> 00:44:49.139
 Finally, we've seen

00:44:49.139 --> 00:44:49.599
 their united

00:44:49.599 --> 00:44:50.260
 participation,

00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:51.119
 their eager

00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:52.280
 cooperation,

00:44:52.280 --> 00:44:53.860
 their spirit-filled

00:44:53.860 --> 00:44:54.800
 proclamation,

00:44:55.940 --> 00:44:57.820
 their spirit-empowered

00:44:57.820 --> 00:44:58.680
 transformation,

00:44:59.540 --> 00:45:00.460
 their deliberate act

00:45:00.460 --> 00:45:01.540
 of consecration,

00:45:01.640 --> 00:45:02.600
 and finally, the

00:45:02.600 --> 00:45:03.780
 continuing evidence

00:45:03.780 --> 00:45:04.900
 of dedication.

00:45:05.800 --> 00:45:06.620
 The continuing

00:45:06.620 --> 00:45:07.780
 evidence of

00:45:07.780 --> 00:45:08.080
 dedication.

00:45:08.260 --> 00:45:08.620
 And now the

00:45:08.620 --> 00:45:10.160
 spotlight shifts to

00:45:10.160 --> 00:45:10.460
 one.

00:45:10.580 --> 00:45:11.300
 Now we've been

00:45:11.300 --> 00:45:13.000
 working to look at

00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:14.120
 an entire group,

00:45:14.200 --> 00:45:15.440
 a multitude there

00:45:15.440 --> 00:45:18.019
 in Jerusalem,

00:45:18.160 --> 00:45:19.260
 and now the lens

00:45:19.260 --> 00:45:19.920
 kind of shifts,

00:45:20.019 --> 00:45:20.680
 and now we're kind

00:45:20.680 --> 00:45:21.740
 of spotlighting this

00:45:21.739 --> 00:45:23.819
 person Barnabas or

00:45:23.819 --> 00:45:24.159
 Joseph.

00:45:24.319 --> 00:45:25.419
 He's just one of

00:45:25.419 --> 00:45:25.899
 the collective.

00:45:27.179 --> 00:45:28.899
 But God uses this

00:45:28.899 --> 00:45:30.979
 dedication of this

00:45:30.979 --> 00:45:32.659
 man Joseph, who is

00:45:32.659 --> 00:45:33.339
 known by the

00:45:33.339 --> 00:45:34.500
 apostles as Barnabas,

00:45:34.739 --> 00:45:35.319
 as kind of a

00:45:35.319 --> 00:45:36.279
 starting point as it

00:45:36.279 --> 00:45:38.179
 were, to launch the

00:45:38.179 --> 00:45:39.259
 rest of his faith-filled

00:45:39.259 --> 00:45:39.779
 ministry.

00:45:41.139 --> 00:45:42.139
 Verse 36,

00:45:42.299 --> 00:45:44.159
 Thus Joseph, who was

00:45:44.159 --> 00:45:45.239
 also called by the

00:45:45.239 --> 00:45:46.919
 apostles Barnabas,

00:45:46.979 --> 00:45:47.819
 which means son of

00:45:47.819 --> 00:45:49.139
 encouragement, a

00:45:49.139 --> 00:45:50.419
 Levite, a native of

00:45:50.419 --> 00:45:51.719
 Cyprus, he sold a

00:45:51.719 --> 00:45:53.059
 field that belonged

00:45:53.059 --> 00:45:53.819
 to him and brought

00:45:53.819 --> 00:45:55.099
 the money and laid

00:45:55.099 --> 00:45:55.939
 it at the apostles'

00:45:56.179 --> 00:45:56.500
 feet.

00:45:58.739 --> 00:45:59.759
 This is significant.

00:46:00.759 --> 00:46:01.339
 He sold his

00:46:01.339 --> 00:46:01.779
 property.

00:46:03.279 --> 00:46:04.219
 We find earlier in

00:46:04.219 --> 00:46:05.719
 verse 34 and 35,

00:46:06.139 --> 00:46:06.719
 they sold their

00:46:06.719 --> 00:46:07.219
 homes.

00:46:07.980 --> 00:46:08.899
 This in the first

00:46:08.899 --> 00:46:10.079
 century was

00:46:10.079 --> 00:46:11.059
 significant because

00:46:11.059 --> 00:46:12.339
 this was their

00:46:12.339 --> 00:46:13.679
 future.

00:46:14.679 --> 00:46:15.719
 And much of this

00:46:15.719 --> 00:46:16.679
 property had been

00:46:16.679 --> 00:46:18.119
 handed down generation

00:46:18.119 --> 00:46:19.099
 after generation

00:46:19.099 --> 00:46:19.939
 after generation.

00:46:19.940 --> 00:46:20.500
 This was their

00:46:20.500 --> 00:46:21.280
 legacy.

00:46:21.280 --> 00:46:22.659
 And yet they were

00:46:22.659 --> 00:46:23.740
 willing to abandon

00:46:23.740 --> 00:46:25.079
 these things for the

00:46:25.079 --> 00:46:26.420
 sake of the cause.

00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:28.880
 Primarily the cause

00:46:28.880 --> 00:46:30.780
 of showing Christ

00:46:30.780 --> 00:46:35.900
 and being useful for

00:46:35.900 --> 00:46:36.920
 gospel ministry.

00:46:38.059 --> 00:46:38.980
 And here's Barnabas.

00:46:39.639 --> 00:46:40.800
 And we know his story

00:46:40.800 --> 00:46:41.820
 because this is kind of

00:46:41.820 --> 00:46:44.019
 the first glimpse of

00:46:44.019 --> 00:46:45.059
 his dedication that God

00:46:45.059 --> 00:46:47.200
 then takes this work or

00:46:47.199 --> 00:46:48.799
 act of faith and he

00:46:48.799 --> 00:46:49.939
 multiplies it.

00:46:50.500 --> 00:46:51.639
 What seemed like a

00:46:51.639 --> 00:46:52.960
 subtraction for

00:46:52.960 --> 00:46:54.699
 Barnabas will actually

00:46:54.699 --> 00:46:56.699
 become an addition

00:46:56.699 --> 00:46:57.939
 because God will now

00:46:57.939 --> 00:46:59.819
 multiply his ministry.

00:47:00.219 --> 00:47:02.000
 Yes, he's laid down his

00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:03.739
 physical property, but if

00:47:03.739 --> 00:47:05.099
 you know the rest of the

00:47:05.099 --> 00:47:06.759
 story, you'll understand

00:47:06.759 --> 00:47:08.679
 that Barnabas becomes so

00:47:08.679 --> 00:47:11.759
 influential and so

00:47:11.759 --> 00:47:13.159
 prominent that it is

00:47:13.159 --> 00:47:14.299
 Barnabas that actually

00:47:14.300 --> 00:47:16.640
 goes and fetches Paul,

00:47:17.019 --> 00:47:18.060
 brings him back to

00:47:18.060 --> 00:47:19.380
 Antioch, and the church

00:47:19.380 --> 00:47:20.880
 mission begins.

00:47:22.220 --> 00:47:23.080
 That's Barnabas.

00:47:25.880 --> 00:47:27.300
 Sometimes God uses

00:47:27.300 --> 00:47:29.220
 extraordinary acts of

00:47:29.220 --> 00:47:32.000
 faith, obedience, to

00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:34.220
 begin the process of

00:47:34.220 --> 00:47:35.800
 working in our life to

00:47:35.800 --> 00:47:36.900
 get us to something even

00:47:36.900 --> 00:47:37.220
 greater.

00:47:37.519 --> 00:47:38.640
 But my guess is for

00:47:38.640 --> 00:47:39.500
 most of us in this room,

00:47:40.460 --> 00:47:41.460
 God will normally just

00:47:41.460 --> 00:47:43.300
 use common and

00:47:43.300 --> 00:47:44.619
 ordinary steps of

00:47:44.619 --> 00:47:44.920
 faith.

00:47:45.980 --> 00:47:47.099
 What does God say?

00:47:48.079 --> 00:47:48.800
 How do I need to

00:47:48.800 --> 00:47:49.099
 obey?

00:47:50.240 --> 00:47:51.599
 How will I then benefit

00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:54.320
 and see the work of

00:47:54.320 --> 00:47:55.679
 God's grace in my life?

00:47:57.059 --> 00:47:59.139
 I trust that every

00:47:59.139 --> 00:48:01.119
 single one of us want

00:48:01.119 --> 00:48:02.480
 great grace.

00:48:03.639 --> 00:48:05.619
 It happens one way.

00:48:06.800 --> 00:48:08.460
 It happens as God leads

00:48:08.460 --> 00:48:10.300
 leads us through his

00:48:10.300 --> 00:48:11.340
 word and through his

00:48:11.340 --> 00:48:12.840
 spirit, and we say

00:48:12.840 --> 00:48:13.280
 yes.

00:48:14.579 --> 00:48:15.599
 Are you willing to

00:48:15.599 --> 00:48:18.139
 say yes to the things

00:48:18.139 --> 00:48:19.440
 that God has called you

00:48:19.440 --> 00:48:20.720
 to do this week?

00:48:21.519 --> 00:48:23.420
 And when you do, God

00:48:23.420 --> 00:48:25.179
 by his spirit will

00:48:25.179 --> 00:48:27.099
 enable that work and

00:48:27.099 --> 00:48:28.079
 glorify himself.

00:48:30.579 --> 00:48:33.800
 May God be glorious

00:48:33.800 --> 00:48:35.079
 among us.

00:48:36.300 --> 00:48:37.019
 Let's pray.

00:48:38.460 --> 00:48:43.740
 Father, thank you for

00:48:43.740 --> 00:48:45.220
 the example of this

00:48:45.220 --> 00:48:47.059
 church that we see

00:48:47.059 --> 00:48:48.039
 here in Acts chapter

00:48:48.039 --> 00:48:48.340
 four.

00:48:49.659 --> 00:48:50.440
 And Lord, I pray that

00:48:50.440 --> 00:48:52.019
 you would help us not

00:48:52.019 --> 00:48:53.780
 to see this and just

00:48:53.780 --> 00:48:55.559
 epitomize this.

00:48:55.639 --> 00:48:58.559
 This is an exceptional

00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:00.400
 church, and we can

00:49:00.400 --> 00:49:01.740
 draw attention to the

00:49:01.740 --> 00:49:03.280
 wonder of what you did

00:49:03.280 --> 00:49:04.639
 among these people.

00:49:05.199 --> 00:49:06.360
 And while that is true,

00:49:06.440 --> 00:49:07.019
 Lord, I pray that you

00:49:07.019 --> 00:49:07.820
 would help us to

00:49:07.820 --> 00:49:09.200
 recognize that you can

00:49:09.200 --> 00:49:10.539
 do this same work in

00:49:10.539 --> 00:49:11.800
 us because we have

00:49:11.800 --> 00:49:13.280
 the same spirit.

00:49:14.980 --> 00:49:16.200
 Lord, may we be

00:49:16.200 --> 00:49:18.160
 yielded to your work.

00:49:18.300 --> 00:49:19.640
 May we learn to say

00:49:19.640 --> 00:49:20.460
 yes.

00:49:21.539 --> 00:49:22.240
 And may the

00:49:22.240 --> 00:49:23.300
 mantra

00:49:23.300 --> 00:49:25.100
 of our

00:49:25.100 --> 00:49:26.300
 efforts and

00:49:26.300 --> 00:49:27.539
 activities be

00:49:27.539 --> 00:49:28.960
 FHB,

00:49:29.519 --> 00:49:30.580
 family hold back

00:49:30.580 --> 00:49:31.440
 for the sake

00:49:31.440 --> 00:49:33.080
 of the glory of God

00:49:33.080 --> 00:49:33.720
 and the benefit

00:49:33.719 --> 00:49:35.379
 benefit of the body.

00:49:36.219 --> 00:49:37.399
 May you be glorified.

00:49:37.639 --> 00:49:38.579
 We pray in Jesus' name.

00:49:38.839 --> 00:49:39.039
 Amen.

00:49:39.839 --> 00:49:40.439
 God bless you.

00:49:40.779 --> 00:49:41.559
 Have a great week.

00:49:41.559 --> 00:49:41.559