WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.639 We're really blessed this morning to have a guest speaker with us. 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:09.599 It's the Reverend Aaron Imey from Australia via Jerusalem. 00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:16.620 And he is part of CMJ, which means the Church's Mission Among the Jews. 00:00:18.120 --> 00:00:21.300 Sort of vaguely, you know, CMJ, just think Christian Mission and Jews, 00:00:21.539 --> 00:00:25.280 and then you've got, you know, the other little connector words can sort of figure themselves out. 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:28.379 And it's a wonderful ministry. 00:00:28.379 --> 00:00:32.019 It's the Christ Church, which is part of that in the old city of Jerusalem, 00:00:32.140 --> 00:00:35.159 the oldest Protestant church in the Middle East. 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:37.420 And Aaron serves there. 00:00:37.519 --> 00:00:40.100 Lots of stories about evangelism and everything. 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:44.840 Next time he comes, hopefully it won't be the 9 o'clock service on the long weekend in May, 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:47.259 but it's just really wonderful to have him with us. 00:00:48.379 --> 00:00:49.859 Aaron, how many kids do you have? 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:50.239 Three. 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:51.620 Three and one wife? 00:00:52.120 --> 00:00:52.659 One wife. 00:00:52.700 --> 00:00:53.200 Okay, good. 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:54.379 That's just... 00:00:54.379 --> 00:00:55.460 In the Middle East, you can never tell. 00:00:55.539 --> 00:00:56.659 Yeah, that's why I had to ask. 00:00:56.659 --> 00:00:57.480 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:00:57.479 --> 00:00:58.839 So one wife, three kids. 00:00:58.879 --> 00:00:59.939 How long have you been in Jerusalem? 00:01:00.419 --> 00:01:01.159 20 years. 00:01:01.559 --> 00:01:02.419 20 years. 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:04.159 And so how well do you speak Hebrew? 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:04.739 Tell us. 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:05.140 Okay. 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:06.840 I'm dangerous. 00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:07.799 A new miss will come. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:09.179 What's that? 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:10.099 I'm dangerous. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:12.599 I speak Hebrew dangerously. 00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:14.420 Oh, you speak Hebrew dangerously. 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:14.920 Okay. 00:01:14.979 --> 00:01:15.879 But you can speak it. 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:16.759 Oh, yes, absolutely. 00:01:16.979 --> 00:01:18.120 People understand it. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:18.959 Totally. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:19.299 Totally. 00:01:19.299 --> 00:01:22.819 And they're a bit surprised that a goy knows how to speak Hebrew? 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:23.939 Yeah. 00:01:24.420 --> 00:01:26.679 I still have an Australian accent with my Hebrew. 00:01:26.819 --> 00:01:27.879 I can't get rid of it. 00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:33.700 Well, at least it sounds like an educated Australian accent, 00:01:33.819 --> 00:01:35.539 not one of those, you know what I mean. 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:36.039 I won't say anything. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:37.659 I've just put my foot in my mouth. 00:01:37.759 --> 00:01:38.719 I won't say anything more. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:44.280 It's the first time in my whole ministry I've put my foot in my mouth, actually. 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:47.019 At least the first time in the last minute. 00:01:50.099 --> 00:01:52.200 So you're going to tell us this in your sermon, 00:01:52.320 --> 00:01:54.700 but what's the Jewish feast that this all took place at? 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:56.260 It's called Shavuot. 00:01:56.540 --> 00:01:56.939 Shavuot. 00:01:56.960 --> 00:01:58.180 It's the Feast of Weeks. 00:01:58.740 --> 00:02:02.159 So they still celebrate that festival in Jerusalem? 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:02.740 Yep. 00:02:02.859 --> 00:02:04.099 Celebrating it right now. 00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:04.560 Right now? 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:04.799 Really? 00:02:04.960 --> 00:02:05.420 Right now? 00:02:05.520 --> 00:02:05.960 Right now. 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:06.819 Oh, okay. 00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:07.219 Yep. 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:07.840 Good. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:09.840 Well, it's just a blessing to have you. 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:12.900 I'm just going to pray for him and for us as he opens the word. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:17.300 And then after this, we're going to have a chance to pray for him and other things as well. 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:17.960 So let's just pray. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:20.700 Father, it's your word, not ours. 00:02:20.860 --> 00:02:22.680 Jesus is the Savior, not us. 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:25.159 You are God, not us. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:28.580 We are really thankful for that. 00:02:29.219 --> 00:02:31.500 Father, you wrote your word. 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:33.300 You know what you want to speak to us. 00:02:33.420 --> 00:02:35.840 We ask for the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon Aaron, 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:39.080 that he might open your word to us, 00:02:39.219 --> 00:02:41.000 that he might draw us to Jesus, 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.039 make us more open to the Holy Spirit, 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:48.419 and create within us a desire to glorify you, Father, 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:49.460 and bring you praise. 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:51.379 And this we ask in Jesus' name. 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:51.800 Amen. 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:52.979 Amen. 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:55.599 Thank you very much. 00:02:56.120 --> 00:02:57.360 I really enjoy coming here. 00:02:57.420 --> 00:02:58.620 I like what you've done with the place. 00:02:58.680 --> 00:02:59.819 You've made it look like a theater. 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:00.639 Did you know that? 00:03:03.319 --> 00:03:04.360 And you have a great name, 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:05.819 Church of the Messiah. 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:07.299 So it's Pentecost, 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:08.859 and in Israel today, 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:10.199 it is Shavuot, 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:11.979 the Feast of Weeks. 00:03:12.859 --> 00:03:14.439 Just from the story that we read, 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:15.419 Acts chapter 2, 00:03:16.459 --> 00:03:18.500 better set the alarm so I know when to stop. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:21.439 It's Pentecost. 00:03:21.699 --> 00:03:23.479 We see the Acts chapter 2. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:26.459 It's a very familiar story to us all. 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:28.340 We read it quite a few times. 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.759 I can tell you that I've actually celebrated this now 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:33.579 48 times in my life. 00:03:33.580 --> 00:03:36.600 It's the giving of the Holy Spirit, 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:38.780 the start of the church, 00:03:39.820 --> 00:03:40.940 and for me, 00:03:41.040 --> 00:03:43.960 I get to operate in a mission 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:46.840 five minutes away from where all this happened, 00:03:47.540 --> 00:03:49.380 which is a privilege. 00:03:50.820 --> 00:03:52.600 And Acts chapter 2, 00:03:52.900 --> 00:03:53.340 Pentecost, 00:03:53.460 --> 00:03:56.580 it's a great mission story for missionaries. 00:03:57.500 --> 00:03:58.780 I mean, you get the Holy Spirit, 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:01.080 you have a captivated audience, 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:03.880 you preach a very short sermon, 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:06.020 and you save 3,000 people. 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:10.860 So it is a really good story. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:11.880 3,000 in one day. 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:12.600 It's fantastic. 00:04:13.880 --> 00:04:16.740 The book of Acts is sacred history. 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:20.060 It's the sacred history of the church. 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:22.699 2,000 years ago. 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:25.879 So how does it impact now? 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.579 How does it impact us now? 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:29.680 What does Pentecost mean for us now? 00:04:29.740 --> 00:04:31.079 How does the Holy Spirit, 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.360 the giving of God's Spirit onto all flesh, 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:36.620 impact and motivate us now? 00:04:37.659 --> 00:04:39.639 So Luke, who's writing this, 00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:43.139 has one eye on Pentecost 00:04:43.139 --> 00:04:46.639 and one eye on the Exodus, 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:50.120 the first Pentecost. 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:52.139 Because let's remind ourselves 00:04:52.139 --> 00:04:53.759 when we pick up the book of Acts, 00:04:54.280 --> 00:04:57.199 this has happened before. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:02.800 In Hebrew, we call it Shavuot, 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:04.300 the Feast of Weeks. 00:05:04.660 --> 00:05:06.720 So after we finish Passover, 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:09.620 we count 49 days, 00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:11.100 seven sevens, 00:05:11.340 --> 00:05:12.399 a week of weeks. 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:14.079 And on the 50th day, 00:05:14.340 --> 00:05:16.899 we get together and celebrate another festival, 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:18.139 the Festival of Shavuot. 00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:19.159 Well, initially, 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:22.259 this was an agrarian culture, 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:24.339 we celebrated the wheat harvest, 00:05:25.419 --> 00:05:27.099 but we celebrated the idea 00:05:27.099 --> 00:05:29.019 of us journeying out of Egypt, 00:05:29.539 --> 00:05:31.639 coming to the footsteps of Mount Sinai, 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:33.659 actually meeting God 00:05:33.659 --> 00:05:35.459 for the very first time, 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:37.279 which is a big deal. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:39.939 What did we know about God 00:05:39.939 --> 00:05:40.699 when we were in Egypt? 00:05:42.099 --> 00:05:42.620 Nothing. 00:05:42.620 --> 00:05:45.259 We didn't have a priest, 00:05:45.340 --> 00:05:46.199 we didn't have a prophet, 00:05:46.340 --> 00:05:47.459 we didn't have the temple. 00:05:47.840 --> 00:05:49.180 But we get to Mount Sinai 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:50.939 and God reveals himself. 00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:54.180 It was a really big event for us 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:55.139 as a people. 00:05:55.300 --> 00:05:56.500 And God spoke to us 00:05:56.500 --> 00:05:59.240 and he gave us the Torah. 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:01.480 And the tradition these days 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:04.240 is to sit around for the next 24 hours 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.240 and read the book of Ruth. 00:06:06.899 --> 00:06:08.600 So Jewish people are gathering 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:09.560 in their synagogues 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:11.280 and the passage read, 00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:11.759 obviously, 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:13.060 is not Acts chapter 2. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:14.980 It's the book of Ruth. 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:16.899 And there's lots of themes in there 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:18.899 that are amazing and powerful. 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:19.819 You've got themes 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:21.620 of Jews and Gentiles 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:22.340 coming together, 00:06:23.340 --> 00:06:24.680 which is what you had 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:26.340 at the Exodus story. 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:27.759 Who came out of Egypt? 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:29.000 Yes, Israel did. 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:30.300 But who else came out? 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:32.300 The mixed multitude. 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:35.199 There were all kinds of people. 00:06:36.020 --> 00:06:38.180 So you have Jews and Gentiles 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:38.980 in the book of Ruth 00:06:38.980 --> 00:06:39.620 coming together. 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:40.879 You've got Redeemer figures. 00:06:41.020 --> 00:06:42.740 People are engaged 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:43.960 in the act of redemption. 00:06:44.420 --> 00:06:45.680 You even get a character 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:47.139 that appears called the Goel, 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:48.420 the Redeemer, 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:51.500 a type of Messianic figure. 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:52.840 You have converts, 00:06:53.460 --> 00:06:54.860 these people who are actually 00:06:54.860 --> 00:06:56.240 coming and embracing 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.500 the history of God 00:06:58.500 --> 00:06:59.480 and the Jewish people. 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:02.220 And it's about a community 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:03.560 that was once excluded 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:04.580 from Israel, 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:05.560 the Moabites, 00:07:06.520 --> 00:07:07.439 now becoming part 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:08.020 of the community. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:09.980 So it's a great book 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:11.560 to start reading around 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:13.460 at the time of Pentecost. 00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:15.560 For our context, 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:17.280 we have, 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:18.439 in the time of Acts, 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:20.220 we're under Roman occupation. 00:07:21.900 --> 00:07:24.060 We have a distinct lack 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:25.160 of leadership 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:26.360 in the Jewish community. 00:07:27.100 --> 00:07:28.540 We haven't had a good leader 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:29.740 for quite some time 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:31.680 when we get to the book of Acts. 00:07:32.260 --> 00:07:34.000 We've got pretty poor shepherds. 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:36.460 And they're all fighting each other 00:07:36.460 --> 00:07:38.220 over who's got the correct interpretation 00:07:38.220 --> 00:07:39.460 of the Torah. 00:07:40.260 --> 00:07:42.220 We've got Sadducees 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:44.800 who jealously guard the temple 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:45.680 and its environment. 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:46.700 We've got the Pharisees 00:07:46.700 --> 00:07:48.140 who always point their finger 00:07:48.140 --> 00:07:49.540 at how bad they are. 00:07:49.640 --> 00:07:50.800 We've got these rabbis 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:52.600 who are always on the fringe. 00:07:52.700 --> 00:07:53.240 We've got people 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:55.780 who are embracing Hellenism, 00:07:55.779 --> 00:07:57.599 Greek theology 00:07:57.599 --> 00:07:59.019 and assimilating 00:07:59.019 --> 00:08:00.239 into that culture. 00:08:01.159 --> 00:08:02.579 We don't have any prophets. 00:08:03.119 --> 00:08:04.179 No one's speaking 00:08:04.179 --> 00:08:05.159 into our community. 00:08:05.299 --> 00:08:06.139 No one's getting up 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:08.279 delivering powerful sermons. 00:08:09.419 --> 00:08:10.979 And we don't have 00:08:10.979 --> 00:08:12.119 an independent nation. 00:08:13.179 --> 00:08:14.359 For some reason, 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:15.239 that seems to be quite 00:08:15.239 --> 00:08:16.039 an important thing 00:08:16.039 --> 00:08:16.659 for some people. 00:08:19.239 --> 00:08:20.399 So what are we left with? 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:24.039 We're left with the Bible. 00:08:25.479 --> 00:08:27.339 We're left with the Torah. 00:08:28.359 --> 00:08:29.639 And so we leap 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:31.339 into a study of the Torah, 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:32.860 the study of the Bible, 00:08:32.959 --> 00:08:34.579 to try and find out God's will. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:35.879 If we haven't got good shepherds, 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:37.659 we don't have a good temple structure, 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:39.019 if it's all gone corrupt, 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:40.240 if we don't have any prophets 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:41.199 speaking into us, 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:42.539 we don't have any kings 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:43.659 that can give us direction, 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:45.439 then where do we find our direction? 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:47.439 So for a couple of hundred years 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:50.900 prior to Acts chapter 2, 00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:53.040 we leapt into the Torah. 00:08:53.180 --> 00:08:54.000 And we made 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:55.980 the giving of the Torah 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:57.620 a very special event. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.320 So Shavuot, 00:09:00.780 --> 00:09:02.260 the giving of the Torah, 00:09:02.400 --> 00:09:03.940 when God actually came down 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:05.460 on the mountain and spoke, 00:09:06.560 --> 00:09:08.480 that became known as 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:09.400 hachag, 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:11.080 the festival. 00:09:11.800 --> 00:09:13.000 So when you read in the Gospels, 00:09:13.140 --> 00:09:14.020 sometimes you'll see 00:09:14.020 --> 00:09:15.300 Jesus went to Jerusalem 00:09:15.300 --> 00:09:16.220 for the festival, 00:09:16.220 --> 00:09:17.680 or for the feast. 00:09:18.279 --> 00:09:18.980 But I won't tell you 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:19.759 what feast it was. 00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:21.500 It's Shavuot. 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:22.660 It's Pentecost. 00:09:23.040 --> 00:09:24.360 It even became more important 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:24.920 than Passover. 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:28.060 Like it was the big thing 00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:29.220 because the Bible 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:30.220 became important. 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:32.680 It was how we discerned 00:09:32.680 --> 00:09:33.560 from the will of God. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:35.600 And we read 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:37.399 at the beginning of Acts 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:40.519 this sort of shaking 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:42.420 of nature, 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:44.300 of lightning, 00:09:44.540 --> 00:09:44.960 of thunder, 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:45.500 of wind. 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:47.299 And the disciples 00:09:47.299 --> 00:09:48.480 are together 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:50.240 and they're of one 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:51.139 accord. 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:53.200 And our passage 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:53.720 opens 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:54.820 and it stresses 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:56.940 that they were as one. 00:09:57.059 --> 00:09:57.899 It stresses 00:09:57.899 --> 00:09:59.039 unity. 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:01.879 This actually is 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:05.179 a Jewish insight 00:10:05.179 --> 00:10:06.139 into the text. 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:09.360 They were united 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:10.120 as one. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:12.379 They were not united 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:13.659 with the corrupt temple. 00:10:13.659 --> 00:10:13.719 people. 00:10:15.299 --> 00:10:16.959 They were not united 00:10:16.959 --> 00:10:18.699 with the corrupt 00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:19.539 religious leaders. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.500 They were not united 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:22.919 with the Roman occupation. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:25.799 What were they united with? 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:27.959 With each other. 00:10:29.579 --> 00:10:30.959 They were a community. 00:10:32.339 --> 00:10:33.620 Stopped fighting each other 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:34.439 about who was going to sit 00:10:34.439 --> 00:10:35.579 on the right hand of Jesus. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:37.319 Who was going to be the best 00:10:37.319 --> 00:10:38.419 of the disciples. 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:41.479 They were of one accord. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:42.740 One heart. 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:44.120 One mind. 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:46.860 Sharing their possessions. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:49.059 Selling things 00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:49.679 and making sure 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:50.219 that everybody 00:10:50.219 --> 00:10:51.360 had enough. 00:10:52.839 --> 00:10:53.719 Giving together 00:10:53.719 --> 00:10:55.199 each of their material wealth. 00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:57.219 Dividing up divisions 00:10:57.219 --> 00:10:57.740 of labor 00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:58.479 to make sure 00:10:58.479 --> 00:10:59.120 that who could do 00:10:59.120 --> 00:10:59.579 the teaching, 00:10:59.959 --> 00:11:00.399 who could do 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:00.879 the serving, 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:02.120 who could be the warden, 00:11:02.339 --> 00:11:03.159 who could do the music. 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:05.699 They were getting 00:11:05.699 --> 00:11:06.519 themselves together, 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:07.740 meeting together, 00:11:08.199 --> 00:11:09.439 praying together. 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:11.579 Acts says 00:11:11.579 --> 00:11:12.159 that they were 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:12.899 getting together 00:11:12.899 --> 00:11:14.620 for the prayers. 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:16.719 This actually 00:11:16.719 --> 00:11:17.539 is a Jewish comment 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:18.519 because unity 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:20.459 attracts the presence 00:11:20.459 --> 00:11:20.939 of God. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.559 What was the purpose 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:24.159 of the Exodus? 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.539 Why did God 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:27.699 with a mighty hand 00:11:27.699 --> 00:11:28.519 and an outstretched arm 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.679 reach down 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:30.839 into a nation 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.800 that didn't know 00:11:31.800 --> 00:11:32.660 anything about him 00:11:32.660 --> 00:11:33.759 that were slaves 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:35.780 and redeem them? 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:38.220 It wasn't, 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:39.399 the purpose 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:39.940 of the Exodus 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:40.940 was not 00:11:40.940 --> 00:11:41.780 to get a bunch 00:11:41.780 --> 00:11:42.580 of Hebrew slaves 00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:43.379 into the Holy Land 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:45.560 because if it was, 00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:46.860 God would have given 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:48.399 Moses better directions. 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:50.460 He would have said 00:11:50.460 --> 00:11:51.139 when you get out 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:51.600 of Egypt, 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:52.379 you turn left. 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:52.800 When you hit 00:11:52.800 --> 00:11:53.420 the Mediterranean, 00:11:53.680 --> 00:11:54.320 you turn right 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:56.300 and you can't miss it. 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:57.980 The purpose 00:11:57.980 --> 00:11:58.600 of the Exodus 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:00.080 is to bring 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:00.500 the people 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.360 to Mount Sinai. 00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:02.060 The purpose 00:12:02.060 --> 00:12:02.560 of the Exodus 00:12:02.560 --> 00:12:03.780 is so that 00:12:03.780 --> 00:12:04.500 they can hear 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.600 the voice 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:06.040 of the Lord. 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:07.200 The purpose 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:07.720 of the Exodus 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:08.920 is for God 00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:10.240 to reveal himself 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.600 and to become king. 00:12:13.920 --> 00:12:14.740 And so if that's 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:15.520 so important, 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:16.340 why did it take 00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:17.040 50 days? 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.320 If it was 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:20.360 so important 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.780 to get the children 00:12:21.780 --> 00:12:22.420 of Israel 00:12:22.420 --> 00:12:24.120 to Mount Sinai, 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:25.620 why does it 00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:26.340 take them so long? 00:12:27.660 --> 00:12:28.560 What's the issue? 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:30.379 And so for Jewish people, 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:31.719 Jewish commentators, 00:12:31.819 --> 00:12:32.299 they read through 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:32.699 the Bible 00:12:32.699 --> 00:12:33.279 and they look 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:35.739 at every word 00:12:35.739 --> 00:12:36.799 individually 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:37.239 with a little 00:12:37.239 --> 00:12:37.959 minutiae looking 00:12:37.959 --> 00:12:38.739 and they discover 00:12:38.739 --> 00:12:40.139 that every time 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:40.839 Israel wanders 00:12:40.839 --> 00:12:41.579 around the desert, 00:12:42.599 --> 00:12:43.199 the verb 00:12:43.199 --> 00:12:43.899 to camp, 00:12:44.199 --> 00:12:44.639 yachanu, 00:12:44.979 --> 00:12:45.859 is in plural. 00:12:46.479 --> 00:12:47.219 They camped, 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:47.839 a group of them. 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:48.500 That's actually 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:49.059 good grammar. 00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:51.099 But then all 00:12:51.099 --> 00:12:51.699 of a sudden 00:12:51.699 --> 00:12:53.059 in Exodus 19, 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:54.479 the verb 00:12:54.479 --> 00:12:54.939 switches 00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:56.600 to singular, 00:12:57.260 --> 00:12:58.060 which is grammatically 00:12:58.060 --> 00:12:58.660 incorrect. 00:12:59.760 --> 00:13:00.920 But it's in the Bible. 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:02.160 And they go, 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:03.180 that shouldn't be there. 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:04.840 What does it mean 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:06.000 that they were camping 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:07.300 as one 00:13:07.300 --> 00:13:08.500 person? 00:13:09.900 --> 00:13:10.880 And then they say, 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:11.200 wow, 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:11.880 unity 00:13:11.880 --> 00:13:13.300 attracts 00:13:13.300 --> 00:13:14.220 the presence 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:14.920 of the Lord. 00:13:16.020 --> 00:13:16.600 We were 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:17.680 so concerned 00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:18.120 about 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.080 whose camel 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:20.480 was stepping 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.480 on who else's camel 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.060 and whose tent 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:22.640 was too close 00:13:22.640 --> 00:13:23.780 to everybody else's tent 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.360 and who was getting 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.059 a bigger share 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:26.740 of the manna 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:27.839 and the water resources. 00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:29.059 But all of a sudden 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:29.439 we said, 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:29.679 no, 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.659 we're together 00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:31.139 in this. 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:33.459 And God came down. 00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:35.620 And when they 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:36.679 read the text, 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:37.259 they discover 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:38.399 that when God spoke, 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:40.939 you could actually 00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:42.139 see it. 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.439 When you read 00:13:44.439 --> 00:13:45.939 Exodus 20, 00:13:46.459 --> 00:13:47.559 verse 18, 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.559 it says 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:50.379 in Hebrew, 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:51.980 Vokol Ha'am 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.000 and all 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:53.820 the people, 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:54.559 well, 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:55.120 who are the people? 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:56.799 Remember, 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:58.320 Israel is now 00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.000 made up of 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:00.039 Jews and Gentiles. 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:01.960 When they leave 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:02.360 Egypt, 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.439 there are Jews 00:14:03.439 --> 00:14:04.480 and 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:06.360 Egyptians 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:07.159 came with them. 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.600 They are together. 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.200 Kol Ha'am, 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:12.759 all the people, 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:14.000 not 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.820 Kol Ha'udim, 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.740 Kol Israelim, 00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:16.919 not all the Israelites, 00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:17.500 all the Jews, 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:18.519 Kol Ha'am, 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:19.539 Ro'im, 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.399 they saw 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:21.579 et 00:14:21.579 --> 00:14:22.819 Hakolot, 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.600 they saw 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.539 the voices. 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:27.759 Now, 00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:28.759 in my English translation, 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:29.340 it says, 00:14:29.699 --> 00:14:30.559 all the people saw 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:31.500 the thunder and flashes 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.000 of lightning. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.240 But the actual Hebrew 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:35.980 says, 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.460 all the people 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:38.159 saw 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:39.679 the voices. 00:14:40.939 --> 00:14:41.360 The, 00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:42.519 very next word, 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.379 the et 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.679 ha'lepedim, 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:45.600 and 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:46.819 the torches. 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:49.160 what did they see 00:14:49.160 --> 00:14:49.960 when God spoke? 00:14:51.020 --> 00:14:52.220 They saw fire. 00:14:53.400 --> 00:14:54.660 They saw fire 00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:55.700 and they heard 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:56.720 lots 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:57.700 of voices. 00:14:59.140 --> 00:14:59.960 And they heard 00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:00.820 et 00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:01.920 kol Ha'shofar. 00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:02.800 They heard 00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:03.660 the sound 00:15:03.660 --> 00:15:04.900 of the shofar, 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:06.400 the big horn 00:15:06.400 --> 00:15:07.120 that 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:08.220 signals 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:09.320 and invokes 00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:09.940 the presence 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:10.640 of the Spirit 00:15:10.640 --> 00:15:11.460 in Jewish tradition. 00:15:11.940 --> 00:15:12.620 You go to Israel 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:13.240 and you get all these 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.000 Christians coming along 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.780 blowing shofars 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:15.279 all the time. 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:17.559 Completely inappropriately, 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.860 just so you know. 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.819 You don't blow 00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:21.279 shofars 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:21.980 whenever you feel 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.459 like it. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.279 It has a particular 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.159 purpose. 00:15:25.839 --> 00:15:26.500 It's designed, 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.839 you blow it 00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:28.480 to invoke 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.159 the Spirit 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:29.659 of God 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:30.939 and to wake you up. 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:32.439 When you read 00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:33.000 the Psalms 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.319 that said, 00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:34.139 sleep or awake, 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:34.639 you were supposed 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.419 to blow the shofar. 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:36.059 Wake up! 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:36.799 The Spirit 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:37.379 of God is here, 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:37.839 we've got to do 00:15:37.839 --> 00:15:38.179 something. 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:40.979 So they saw 00:15:40.979 --> 00:15:41.699 the voice 00:15:41.699 --> 00:15:42.500 of the shofar, 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.539 the Edha 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:43.979 Hashem, 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:44.620 and the mountain 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:45.319 of the smoke, 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:47.599 and the people 00:15:47.599 --> 00:15:48.519 were afraid, 00:15:49.599 --> 00:15:50.979 and they 00:15:50.979 --> 00:15:52.299 kind of 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:53.299 retreated. 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:53.859 It was a bit 00:15:53.859 --> 00:15:55.620 scary for them. 00:15:56.479 --> 00:15:57.139 And you see 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:58.259 the very same 00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:58.739 thoughts. 00:15:58.819 --> 00:15:59.319 That's why Luke's 00:15:59.319 --> 00:16:00.079 got one eye 00:16:00.079 --> 00:16:01.120 on the Exodus 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:01.539 because that's 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.799 exactly what happens 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:03.500 again 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:05.059 when we have 00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:05.620 Pentecost. 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:07.519 we have 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.519 the Holy Spirit 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.200 coming down, 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:10.200 we have the sound 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:10.919 of the shofar 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:11.779 where the church 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.740 is woken up 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:14.159 and there were 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.659 tongues of fire. 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:17.919 You could see it 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:19.600 and you could 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.299 hear it. 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:25.320 So the Torah 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.340 that was given 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:26.980 to the people, 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.580 those same people 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:29.659 were now being 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.879 given the Spirit 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:31.340 of God. 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:34.279 And oddly enough, 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:36.319 this was declared 00:16:36.319 --> 00:16:36.980 in a prophet, 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:38.879 the prophet Joel. 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:40.799 He had actually 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:41.539 said this before. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.079 He said that this 00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:42.679 was going to happen, 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:43.360 that the Spirit 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.439 of God was going 00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:45.259 to be poured out 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:47.019 on all flesh. 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.299 One of the 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:49.139 beautiful things 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.879 about reading 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.579 the Psalms 00:16:50.579 --> 00:16:51.100 and reading 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.600 the prophets 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.740 is we actually 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.839 discover that 00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:54.679 God is the God 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:55.279 of the world. 00:16:55.839 --> 00:16:56.799 For God so loved 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:58.199 the world, 00:16:58.319 --> 00:16:59.139 not just the Jews, 00:16:59.939 --> 00:17:01.039 salvation was 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.299 always going 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:03.139 to be universal. 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.500 When God was 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:04.980 going to pour 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.799 out His Spirit, 00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.319 He was going 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:06.700 to give it 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:08.700 to all flesh. 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.759 Males, 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.119 females, 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:13.639 old, 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:14.559 young, 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:15.720 rich, 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:16.700 poor. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.400 This is 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.839 frightening stuff 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:20.299 for totalitarian 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.539 dictators and kings. 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.059 There was going 00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.339 to be no difference. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:26.599 God was going 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.900 to give His Spirit 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:28.639 to everybody 00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:29.160 and what were 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:30.059 they going to do? 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.659 They were going 00:17:31.659 --> 00:17:32.399 to roll over 00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:33.139 and bark like 00:17:33.139 --> 00:17:33.559 dogs. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:34.240 No. 00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:37.119 They were going 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.159 to prophesy. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.579 Somewhere along 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.000 the line, 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:41.700 we've switched 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.440 that word 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.859 because we've 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:45.879 now just so 00:17:45.879 --> 00:17:46.919 busy concentrating 00:17:46.919 --> 00:17:47.599 on the tongues 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.720 aspect that 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.359 that's only like 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:50.200 halfway through 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:50.960 the Acts 2 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.460 passage. 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.819 It keeps going. 00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:54.679 Stuff happens. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:55.639 People get 00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:56.220 saved. 00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:56.919 The community 00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:58.419 starts to act 00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.039 in a certain 00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.400 way. 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.000 That's where 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.279 the bit 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:00.500 I'm going 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.000 to get to. 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.140 But the 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:02.740 prophet Joel 00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:02.980 says, 00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:03.340 I'm going 00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:03.640 to pour 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:03.960 out my 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:04.380 Spirit 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:04.940 on all 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:05.240 flesh 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.539 and you 00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.039 all 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:06.620 prophesy. 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.620 It might 00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:09.360 be great 00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:10.100 to speak 00:18:10.100 --> 00:18:10.519 in tongues. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:10.940 It might 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.820 be wonderful 00:18:11.820 --> 00:18:12.300 to roll 00:18:12.300 --> 00:18:12.720 on the ground 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.279 barking like 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:13.519 a dog, 00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:13.820 but that 00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:14.440 is not 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.240 the point. 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:16.880 That is 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.880 not the 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:18.279 final 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.259 conclusion. 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.400 And everyone 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.240 in the world 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:23.980 was going 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:24.420 to get it. 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:24.640 And the 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.019 world, 00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:26.880 let's be 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.160 honest, 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:28.000 is a 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.700 very hostile 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.200 place. 00:18:30.560 --> 00:18:31.220 It's hostile 00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.640 to the 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:31.980 gospel. 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.300 It's hostile 00:18:33.300 --> 00:18:33.820 to the 00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:34.140 church. 00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:35.420 It's hostile 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:35.940 to the 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.220 truth. 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:37.320 It's just 00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:37.720 like the 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:37.980 wilderness. 00:18:39.300 --> 00:18:40.200 It's dry. 00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.720 It's dangerous. 00:18:42.320 --> 00:18:42.680 It's the 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.500 abode of 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:43.880 demons. 00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:45.160 And yet, 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:47.560 that's where 00:18:47.560 --> 00:18:48.300 God calls 00:18:48.300 --> 00:18:48.840 his heroes. 00:18:51.540 --> 00:18:52.380 He doesn't 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:52.640 say, 00:18:53.360 --> 00:18:53.580 I'm going 00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:54.720 to get you 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.160 saved. 00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:55.580 You're going 00:18:55.580 --> 00:18:55.940 to become 00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:56.640 my disciple. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:57.460 Let's 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.160 sit under 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:58.740 a really 00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.640 nice tree 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:00.220 by the 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.540 lake of 00:19:00.540 --> 00:19:00.680 the 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.100 Galilee, 00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:03.780 chew some 00:19:03.780 --> 00:19:04.060 gum, 00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:04.860 and wait 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.140 for the 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:05.500 rapture. 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.600 He takes 00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:08.440 his heroes 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.180 out into 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.680 the desert. 00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:11.620 Abraham's in 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:11.900 the desert. 00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:12.640 Isaac's in 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:12.980 the desert. 00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:13.740 Moses is in 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.020 the desert. 00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:14.480 The people 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:14.960 of God are 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.360 in the desert. 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.880 The prophets 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.320 will run to 00:19:17.320 --> 00:19:17.560 the desert. 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:19.040 Jesus goes 00:19:19.040 --> 00:19:19.620 to the desert. 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:20.700 John the 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.400 Baptist says, 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.600 I will prepare 00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.600 a place where 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:24.620 in the wilderness, 00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:26.399 that's where 00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:27.019 God's going 00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.539 to speak. 00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:28.039 That's where 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:28.519 he's going 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.259 to encounter. 00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:29.539 That's where 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:29.699 he's going 00:19:29.699 --> 00:19:30.059 to meet 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:30.739 his people. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:30.899 He's going 00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:31.279 to meet 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.179 them in 00:19:32.179 --> 00:19:32.699 the world. 00:19:33.919 --> 00:19:34.219 He's going 00:19:34.219 --> 00:19:34.679 to meet 00:19:34.679 --> 00:19:35.379 his people 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:36.159 in the 00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:36.379 world. 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.079 For God 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:38.239 so loved 00:19:38.239 --> 00:19:39.059 the world. 00:19:40.199 --> 00:19:41.139 It's hostile. 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:41.919 It's dangerous. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.639 But God 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:43.019 is going 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.359 to make 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:43.719 it better. 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:45.359 He is not 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:45.699 going to 00:19:45.699 --> 00:19:46.099 leave it 00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:46.579 dry. 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:47.739 He is not 00:19:47.739 --> 00:19:48.000 going to 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.319 leave it 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:48.699 barren. 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.119 He's not 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:49.379 going to 00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:49.699 leave it 00:19:49.699 --> 00:19:50.079 alone. 00:19:50.679 --> 00:19:51.199 He's going 00:19:51.199 --> 00:19:51.679 to come 00:19:51.679 --> 00:19:53.359 and leave 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:53.740 heaven. 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:54.379 He's going 00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:54.659 to come 00:19:54.659 --> 00:19:55.139 down and 00:19:55.139 --> 00:19:55.419 dwell. 00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:56.980 He's going 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.220 to make 00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:57.539 it better. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.879 Anyone who 00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:00.419 calls on the 00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:00.779 name of the 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.179 Lord is going 00:20:01.179 --> 00:20:01.679 to be saved. 00:20:02.699 --> 00:20:03.480 This actually 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.379 should wake 00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:04.919 us all up. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.399 This really 00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:05.899 should motivate 00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:06.199 us. 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.199 The Holy 00:20:07.199 --> 00:20:08.460 Spirit isn't 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.679 given to 00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:10.639 us so that 00:20:10.639 --> 00:20:11.099 we can have 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:11.659 goosebumps, 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.939 as nice as 00:20:13.939 --> 00:20:14.720 goosebumps might 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:14.980 be. 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.139 It's not 00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:18.000 given so that 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.500 we can have 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.419 eschatological 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:21.640 experiences and 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:21.920 then write 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.200 them on 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:22.539 Facebook. 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.680 It isn't 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:25.240 so that we 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:25.820 can just run 00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:27.380 around and 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:28.080 learn mystical 00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:28.560 languages. 00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:30.400 As nice as 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:32.640 that is, it 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:34.060 is given for 00:20:34.060 --> 00:20:34.660 mission. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.460 And I'm 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:37.820 going to say 00:20:37.820 --> 00:20:38.480 that not just 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.300 because I'm a 00:20:39.300 --> 00:20:39.580 missionary. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.440 I'm going to 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.039 say it because 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:43.060 that's what God 00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:44.080 gave it for. 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:46.420 So that anyone 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.380 in the world 00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:49.100 who calls on 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:49.579 the name of 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.359 the Lord will 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:50.959 be saved. 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.039 The Holy 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.779 Spirit is 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.740 given to 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.199 the people 00:20:54.199 --> 00:20:54.619 of God, 00:20:54.699 --> 00:20:55.279 to Jews and 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.719 Gentiles, 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.619 for the task 00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.359 of making 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:57.859 the world a 00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:58.399 better place. 00:20:59.480 --> 00:20:59.980 For the 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.639 task of 00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.119 going out 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:01.480 into the 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.579 world and 00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:03.500 sharing the 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:03.879 love of God. 00:21:03.939 --> 00:21:04.879 To transform 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:05.459 the wilderness 00:21:05.459 --> 00:21:06.480 into something 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.059 that's bright, 00:21:07.199 --> 00:21:07.459 cheerful, 00:21:07.659 --> 00:21:07.939 colorful, 00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:08.459 full of 00:21:08.459 --> 00:21:09.059 flowers and 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.359 beautiful. 00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.419 A place that 00:21:10.419 --> 00:21:10.819 would all 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.359 like to live. 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.099 It's to put 00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:12.639 the will of 00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.679 God into 00:21:13.679 --> 00:21:14.379 practice. 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.399 That's why we 00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:16.899 get the Holy 00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.339 Spirit. 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.099 It is 00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:20.119 given as 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:21.819 a gift so 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:23.539 that we give 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.980 it away as 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.359 a gift. 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:26.819 And so we 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.879 actually have 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:29.139 to hear that 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:29.959 shofar too. 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:31.480 And if we 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.279 had one, I'd 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:32.879 say let's blow 00:21:32.879 --> 00:21:33.279 it today. 00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:34.819 Okay? 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.819 And I would 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.179 say sleeper 00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:37.559 awake. 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.379 We the 00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:39.919 church, we 00:21:39.919 --> 00:21:40.480 need to wake 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:40.659 up. 00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.359 We need to 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:43.079 make sure that 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:43.959 we take today, 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:44.639 we take, we 00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:45.639 retell the story 00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:46.139 of Pentecost 00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.680 every year. 00:21:46.840 --> 00:21:47.200 We're supposed 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.660 to get 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.140 ourselves 00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:49.020 reanimated 00:21:49.020 --> 00:21:49.940 and reexcited 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.900 and remind 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.680 ourselves, I 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:51.880 mean that 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.500 really is the 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:52.840 job of 00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:53.980 preachers, to 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.780 remind us of 00:21:54.780 --> 00:21:55.480 the story that 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.460 we already 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:56.780 know. 00:21:57.580 --> 00:21:58.480 To refill 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.240 ourselves with 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.380 hope and 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:01.120 vision and 00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:01.960 remind us that 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.500 we're supposed 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.280 to be having 00:22:03.280 --> 00:22:03.880 dreams and 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:05.020 visions, that 00:22:05.020 --> 00:22:05.680 we're supposed 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:07.360 to be engaged 00:22:07.360 --> 00:22:08.540 in this world, 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.540 not alone. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.140 I do it with 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:13.020 you and you 00:22:13.020 --> 00:22:13.520 and I get to 00:22:13.520 --> 00:22:13.980 do it together 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.779 and we 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.200 have the 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:15.880 Holy Spirit, 00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.680 the presence 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.180 of the God. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.539 It was a 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.019 really good 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.720 prayer that 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:22.519 George said 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.000 this morning 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.279 where he 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.720 said, Lord, 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.200 you know, 00:22:24.360 --> 00:22:24.980 somehow it 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.380 was better 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:25.779 that Jesus 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.259 went away 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.480 and the 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:26.920 Holy Spirit 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.279 was given. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:27.740 I don't 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.220 get it. 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:29.860 And it's 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.380 so true. 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:30.980 It would 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:31.380 be really 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:31.819 nice to 00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.339 keep Jesus. 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.559 But for 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.400 whatever reason, 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.940 and he knows 00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.539 the best plan, 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:36.480 he gave us 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.700 the breath 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.559 of God 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:38.940 himself. 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:39.319 And this 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:39.819 is not 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.400 something we 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.180 take sitting 00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:41.500 down. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.359 It is 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:42.559 not 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:42.839 something 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.160 that we 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:44.740 take and 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.920 keep it 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.220 in our 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.720 little prayer 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:47.180 closets. 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:47.819 It's 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.319 something that 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:48.599 we get 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.119 motivated. 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.039 We are 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.819 all supposed 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.220 to be 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:51.700 motivated. 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:52.400 You, 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.220 me, 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.279 our families. 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.160 There is a 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.680 world out 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.140 there that's 00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:58.220 hostile and 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:58.680 God wants 00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.019 to make 00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.359 sure that 00:22:59.359 --> 00:22:59.640 when we 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.119 go into 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:00.299 it, 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:00.640 we are 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:01.279 safe with 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:01.500 him, 00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:01.799 we are 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.220 protected 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.720 by him, 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.259 but we 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:03.640 have 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:03.980 something 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.359 that can 00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:04.799 help us 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.240 through all 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:05.359 the 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:05.779 challenges. 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.700 So, 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.279 brothers and 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:08.579 sisters, 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.359 Pentecost, 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.640 the readings 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:10.940 that we 00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:11.580 read this 00:23:11.580 --> 00:23:11.920 morning, 00:23:12.040 --> 00:23:12.660 our prayers, 00:23:12.780 --> 00:23:13.440 they challenge 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.160 us to 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:15.320 hear the 00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:15.800 shofar, 00:23:16.100 --> 00:23:17.100 to see 00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.759 God speak 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.640 in action, 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.180 to put it 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.300 into practice 00:23:22.300 --> 00:23:22.960 so that 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.000 everyone, 00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:26.440 everyone 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.900 who calls 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.140 on the 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:28.380 name of 00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:28.740 the Lord 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.920 will be 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.440 saved. 00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:33.259 And that's 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.780 good news.