WEBVTT

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 chapter 16 and verse 1.

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 So he came to Derby and then to Lystra

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 where a disciple named Timothy lived.

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 His mother was a Jewess and a believer,

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 but his father was a Greek.

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 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

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 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey,

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 so he circumcised him because of the Jews

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 who lived in that area,

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 but they all knew that his father was a Greek.

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 As they traveled from time to time,

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 they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles

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 and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.

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 So the churches were strengthened in the faith

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 and grew daily in numbers.

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 Paul and his companions traveled

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 throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia,

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 having been kept by the Holy Spirit

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 from preaching the word in the province of Asia.

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 When they came to the border of Mysia,

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 they tried to enter Bithynia,

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 but the spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

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 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

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 During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia

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 standing and begging him,

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 come over to Macedonia and help us.

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 After Paul had seen the vision,

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 we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia,

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 concluding that God had called us

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 to preach the gospel to them.

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 Okay, may the Lord bless the reading of his word.

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 Hey, well, we'll see,

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 as we've been seeing,

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 Paul's missionary journeys are going to continue,

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 and we'll see that it's Jesus

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 who keeps building his church.

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 You know, the big picture of Acts

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 is that Jesus, before he returns to heaven,

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 gives the spirit to the apostles,

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 so they will continue the work of Jesus

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 in building God's kingdom.

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 And in this little section,

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 we see the guiding of Jesus

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 through his spirit in both of these stories.

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 In the first five verses,

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 Paul is guided to do something

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 that maybe as we start to think about it,

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 is kind of surprising,

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 so that Jesus, the Messiah,

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 can be preached to the Jews.

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 And then in the second,

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 and again, it's perhaps surprising to us,

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 Paul is forbidden from preaching

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 in certain parts of the world

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 by the spirit of Jesus

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 so that ultimately the good news

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 could reach Europe for the first time.

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 So we're seeing that Jesus builds his church,

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 and he does it in his way,

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 with his timing,

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 and it's all for his glory.

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 So let's think about those first five verses

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 and think about this idea

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 that Jesus' mission makes the gospel central.

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 A long time ago,

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 a Christian pastor by the name of John Newton

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 described the apostle Paul in this way.

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 He described him as an iron pillar in essentials,

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 but a reed in non-essentials.

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 And this is one of those places

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 where we see that.

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 In chapter 15,

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 he had the wisdom and the conviction

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 to say that we cannot bend the truth.

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 People are saved by grace alone,

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 so we cannot for a second

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 give people the impression

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 that circumcision saves,

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 but he also has the love and compassion

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 to say,

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 do you know what?

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 We can bend in our mission

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 so that the glory of God's love

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 can be shared.

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 Paul's heart is that he wants

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 to make followers of Jesus

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 wherever he goes.

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 He wants God to be glorified

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 through his son getting glory.

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 He's not trying to convert people

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 to his tribe

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 or to exercise his freedoms instantly.

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 And we see that very clearly

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 in these first five verses.

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 And we see it in how and why

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 Paul has Timothy undergo

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 this Jewish right of circumcision.

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 Having just argued

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 at the Jerusalem council

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 that a person doesn't need

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 to be circumcised to be saved,

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 he then has Timothy circumcised

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 for mission.

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 So that's something we need

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 to think about.

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 We'll do that in a couple of minutes.

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 But first of all,

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 let's introduce ourselves

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 to Timothy.

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 What do we know of him

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 from the first couple of verses?

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 A disciple named Timothy

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 lived in Lystra,

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 whose mother was a Jewess

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 and a believer,

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 but whose father was a Greek.

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 The brothers at Lystra

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 and Iconium spoke well of him.

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 So Timothy comes from

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 a mixed race family,

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 a Gentile father,

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 a Jewish mother.

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 According to Jewish law,

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 he is a Jew,

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 but he's not been circumcised.

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 So this either says

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 his father didn't want him

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 to be raised Jewish,

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 perhaps sort of similar

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 to what Andy was sharing with us,

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 or his mom was not very faithful

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 as a Jew and didn't bother

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 to have Timothy circumcised.

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 But at some point,

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 most likely on Paul's

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 first missionary journey,

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 Timothy and his mom

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 are converted.

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 They come to faith

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 in the Lord Jesus.

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 Chapter 14 tells us

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 of Paul's visit

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 to Derby and Lystra.

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 And what we discover

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 of Timothy

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 is he's well thought of

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 as a follower of Jesus.

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 Paul makes a decision

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 in verse 3.

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 Paul wanted to take him

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 along on the journey,

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 so he circumcised him

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 because of the Jews

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 who lived in that area.

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 But they all knew

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 his father was a Greek.

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 So as Andrew was reminding us,

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 he's now separated

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 from his partner

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 in ministry, Barnabas.

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 He's taken Silas

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 along with him,

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 but it seems he wants

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 to take another mission partner,

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 Timothy, perhaps to train up

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 this young Christian man

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 in mission,

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 and he has him circumcised.

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 And again, we'll come back

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 to that in a moment.

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 But the result of their travels

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 is so encouraging.

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 Verse 4 and 5,

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 as they carry about

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 the verdict

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 of the Jerusalem council

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 that faith in Jesus alone

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 is enough for salvation.

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 You're saved by trusting

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 in God's grace,

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 not in circumcision.

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 What are we told?

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 We're told the churches

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 were strengthened in the faith

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 and grew daily in number.

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 There's strength,

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 there's stability,

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 there's numerical growth

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 as the gospel is confirmed.

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 So, given that's the case,

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 I wonder if anybody

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 is a little bit surprised

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 by what's happening

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 in chapter 15

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 and what's happening

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 in chapter 16.

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 Chapter 15,

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 there's that battle against,

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 you know,

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 keep the law,

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 be circumcised to be saved,

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 and then here,

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 Timothy is told

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 to be circumcised.

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 So we need to think,

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 why is that?

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 So some people have suggested,

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 here is Paul being inconsistent,

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 or here is Paul

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 operating out of fear.

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 He has certain convictions,

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 but because he's fearful

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 of the Jewish community,

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 he goes against those convictions

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 and has Timothy circumcised.

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 But that's not it.

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 When you read Paul's letters,

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 when you read of his experience,

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 you discover just how bold he is

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 as a servant of Jesus.

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 What we have here

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 is that Paul cares,

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 first and foremost,

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 for people's salvation.

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 His big dream

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 is that people will come to faith

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 in the Lord Jesus.

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 His concern is for the glory of Jesus

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 and the extension of his kingdom.

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 So what he's doing here

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 is he is taking a barrier away

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 to gospel proclamation.

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 If I circumcise Timothy,

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 then it will allow him

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 to speak to a Jewish audience.

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 Sometimes we have that

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 about certain people.

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 We look at them

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 or we hear them

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 and we have a certain amount

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 of distress.

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 His teeth are too white

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 or his hair is too slick.

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 He's too loud.

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 He's too polished.

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 And we make judgments.

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 For a Jew,

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 they wouldn't listen to Timothy

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 because they would simply say,

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 he's unclean.

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 He's not one of us.

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 Therefore,

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 we won't listen

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 to his message.

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 And so Paul,

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 for the sake of the gospel,

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 had Timothy

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 circumcised.

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 John Stott,

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 I think,

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 puts it well.

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 He says,

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 what was unnecessary

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 for acceptance with God,

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 you know,

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 Paul has argued

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 it's not necessary

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 to be circumcised,

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 to be right with God.

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 So what was unnecessary

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 for acceptance with God

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 was advisable

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 for acceptance

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 by some human beings.

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 Timothy being circumcised

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 is not a salvation issue.

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 It's a stigma issue.

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 If Timothy is circumcised,

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 then he's much more likely

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 to be effective

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 in mission to the Jews

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 and he'll also be used

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 in mission to the Gentiles.

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 Now,

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 Paul could have said,

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 listen,

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 Timothy is free

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 not to be circumcised.

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 But he doesn't use

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 that freedom

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 and he encourages Timothy

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 to not exercise

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 that freedom

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 for the sake of the Jews

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 who had weak consciences.

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 Because his goal

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 is not that we exercise freedom,

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 his goal is that the gospel

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 is known and heard

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 and that the Messiah

00:09:22.419 --> 00:09:23.860
 is announced.

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 We see some examples

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 of that

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 in mission history.

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 If you've ever read

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 the story of Hudson Taylor,

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 you'll know

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 that he shocked

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 the churches

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 in the UK

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 by going to China

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 and adopting

00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:40.679
 Chinese dress

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 and getting

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 the Chinese

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 top knot

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 in his hair.

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 But,

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 although he shocked

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 people at home,

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 he opened a door

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 for the gospel

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 in China.

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 It's one of the things

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 I think we would do

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 well to pray

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 for missionaries

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 to have that wisdom

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 to be able

00:09:59.479 --> 00:10:00.879
 to understand

00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:01.899
 the culture

00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:03.399
 so as to speak

00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:04.679
 the gospel into it.

00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:05.819
 Paul knew

00:10:05.819 --> 00:10:06.959
 the Jewish culture

00:10:06.959 --> 00:10:07.919
 and he knew

00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:09.179
 a circumcised male

00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:09.639
 would be

00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:11.159
 a better preacher

00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:12.839
 than an uncircumcised

00:10:12.839 --> 00:10:13.959
 Jewish male.

00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:15.899
 Again,

00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:16.740
 missionary story.

00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:17.899
 There's a wonderful book

00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:19.120
 written by

00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:20.259
 Don Richardson,

00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:21.180
 a missionary

00:10:21.180 --> 00:10:22.519
 who died last year,

00:10:22.680 --> 00:10:23.720
 called Peace Child.

00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.259
 Don and his wife

00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:26.899
 were working

00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:28.460
 in tribal

00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:29.700
 island communities

00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:30.580
 in Indonesia.

00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:33.039
 And he was finding

00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:34.539
 the going really tough

00:10:34.539 --> 00:10:35.039
 in terms of

00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:35.899
 sharing the gospel.

00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:37.740
 No sign of anyone

00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:38.500
 giving Jesus

00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:39.019
 a hearing.

00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:39.399
 In fact,

00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:40.139
 they thought Jesus

00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:41.000
 was weak.

00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:41.779
 They thought Judas

00:10:41.779 --> 00:10:42.480
 was the hero

00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:43.440
 of the gospel story

00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:43.840
 actually.

00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:45.779
 And so he was

00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:46.740
 faithfully trying

00:10:46.740 --> 00:10:47.439
 to communicate

00:10:47.439 --> 00:10:48.000
 the gospel,

00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:48.659
 trying to find

00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:49.279
 a way in

00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:50.600
 until he discovered

00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:51.019
 this.

00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:52.519
 There were three tribes

00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:53.159
 at war,

00:10:53.699 --> 00:10:55.019
 constant fighting,

00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:56.159
 and eventually

00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:57.019
 they decided,

00:10:57.559 --> 00:10:58.339
 somebody made

00:10:58.339 --> 00:10:59.620
 this remarkable move,

00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:01.980
 one of the chiefs

00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:03.939
 gave a newborn,

00:11:04.179 --> 00:11:05.439
 his newborn child,

00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:07.120
 to one of the rival

00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.399
 chiefs

00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:09.399
 in order to

00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:11.120
 raise the child.

00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:14.779
 The child was given

00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:16.259
 adopted

00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:17.639
 in order to

00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:18.539
 end the fighting,

00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:19.759
 became known as

00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:21.079
 the peace child.

00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:22.600
 The idea being

00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:23.659
 if a man is

00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:24.839
 willing to give

00:11:24.839 --> 00:11:25.559
 his child

00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:26.919
 to his enemies,

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.179
 then that's a man

00:11:28.179 --> 00:11:29.079
 who can be trusted,

00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:30.279
 therefore I should

00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:31.000
 stop fighting

00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:31.659
 with him.

00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:33.980
 And Don Richardson,

00:11:34.539 --> 00:11:35.159
 sort of looking

00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:36.399
 into the culture,

00:11:36.579 --> 00:11:37.519
 realized here's a

00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:38.220
 connection with

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:38.839
 the gospel.

00:11:39.439 --> 00:11:40.319
 And so spoke

00:11:40.319 --> 00:11:42.000
 about God the Father

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.379
 giving Jesus

00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:44.879
 as the peace

00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:45.379
 child,

00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:46.919
 to make

00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:48.539
 us as enemies

00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:49.139
 into

00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:50.320
 friends,

00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.379
 securing

00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.960
 our forgiveness,

00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:54.080
 that the God

00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:55.120
 that he spoke of

00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.200
 could be trusted

00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:57.580
 because he was

00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:58.419
 willing to give

00:11:58.419 --> 00:11:59.799
 his son

00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:01.620
 to his enemy.

00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:03.559
 But he was

00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:04.960
 looking to

00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:06.100
 understand the

00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:06.919
 culture and to

00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:08.679
 speak into it

00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:09.759
 sensitively.

00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:11.559
 And I think

00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:12.199
 that's one of the

00:12:12.199 --> 00:12:12.759
 things that we

00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:13.679
 learn from the

00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:14.899
 book of Acts,

00:12:15.339 --> 00:12:16.399
 the importance

00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:18.959
 of thinking

00:12:18.959 --> 00:12:19.579
 to ourselves,

00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:20.299
 am I trying to

00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:21.239
 win someone for

00:12:21.239 --> 00:12:22.299
 Christ first and

00:12:22.299 --> 00:12:22.659
 foremost,

00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:24.639
 or am I also,

00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:25.639
 maybe even without

00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:26.299
 meaning to,

00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:26.659
 saying,

00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:28.379
 but to do that

00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.579
 you must also be

00:12:29.579 --> 00:12:30.919
 a lot or a

00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:32.219
 little like me.

00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:33.599
 It's not what we

00:12:33.599 --> 00:12:35.759
 see from Paul.

00:12:36.199 --> 00:12:37.019
 He makes the

00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:38.459
 gospel central.

00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:39.039
 There's that

00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:39.879
 wonderful section

00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:40.699
 in 1 Corinthians

00:12:40.699 --> 00:12:42.139
 9 where we

00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:43.439
 discover Paul's

00:12:43.439 --> 00:12:44.679
 ministry model.

00:12:44.859 --> 00:12:45.219
 He says,

00:12:45.339 --> 00:12:45.919
 I have become

00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:46.959
 all things

00:12:46.959 --> 00:12:48.339
 to all people

00:12:48.339 --> 00:12:49.539
 so that by all

00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:50.519
 possible means I

00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:51.719
 might save some.

00:12:52.219 --> 00:12:53.120
 I do this

00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:54.139
 for the sake

00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:54.779
 of the gospel.

00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:56.479
 So Jesus'

00:12:56.719 --> 00:12:57.359
 mission makes

00:12:57.359 --> 00:12:58.019
 the gospel

00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:59.579
 central and we

00:12:59.579 --> 00:13:00.819
 see that in

00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:02.339
 Paul's experience.

00:13:03.819 --> 00:13:04.500
 And then we

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:06.099
 come to that

00:13:06.099 --> 00:13:07.000
 surprising little

00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:07.399
 section,

00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:08.720
 verses 6 to

00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.379
 10 where we

00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.220
 see Jesus by

00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:10.840
 his spirit

00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:12.179
 closes some

00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:12.639
 doors and

00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:13.500
 opens other

00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:14.399
 doors for

00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:15.000
 mission.

00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:16.639
 So let's

00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.259
 remind ourselves

00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:17.679
 of what's

00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:17.980
 happening.

00:13:18.079 --> 00:13:18.679
 Verse 6,

00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:20.100
 Paul and his

00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:21.179
 companions traveled

00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:21.980
 through the region

00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:22.620
 of Phrygia and

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:24.059
 Galatia having

00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:25.120
 been kept by the

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.519
 Holy Spirit from

00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:27.299
 preaching the word

00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:27.860
 in the province

00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:28.319
 of Asia.

00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:29.539
 When they came

00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.059
 to the border

00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:30.699
 of Mysia,

00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:31.819
 they tried to

00:13:31.819 --> 00:13:32.519
 enter Bithynia,

00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:33.819
 but the spirit of

00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:34.539
 Jesus would not

00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:35.259
 allow them to.

00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:36.159
 So they passed

00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:37.120
 by Mysia and

00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.659
 went down to

00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:39.139
 Troa.

00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:40.439
 So Paul's

00:13:40.439 --> 00:13:41.399
 mission here

00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:42.700
 hits a roadblock

00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:43.779
 not once but

00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:44.279
 twice.

00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:45.100
 So he's got this

00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:45.519
 plan A,

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.460
 natural plan A,

00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:48.159
 let's carry along

00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:49.379
 the Roman road

00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.000
 called the Via

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.519
 Sebast,

00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:51.580
 150 miles

00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:53.139
 southwest towards

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.539
 Asia,

00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:54.539
 towards Colossae,

00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:55.460
 towards Ephesus,

00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:56.039
 but the spirit

00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:56.539
 says,

00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:57.139
 no.

00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.279
 So then they

00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.080
 have another plan.

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:00.259
 Well,

00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:01.679
 let's head north

00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:03.080
 to the non-Roman

00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:04.100
 territory of Mysia.

00:14:04.180 --> 00:14:04.540
 And again,

00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:05.139
 the spirit of

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:05.960
 Jesus says,

00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:06.980
 no.

00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:08.639
 So they've only

00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.840
 got one other

00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.860
 road left to

00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:11.180
 take.

00:14:11.920 --> 00:14:12.540
 So they head

00:14:12.540 --> 00:14:14.360
 northwest on the

00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:14.740
 road that

00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:15.780
 eventually leads

00:14:15.780 --> 00:14:16.800
 them towards

00:14:16.800 --> 00:14:17.940
 Troas.

00:14:18.280 --> 00:14:18.920
 And what we

00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:19.680
 discover is that

00:14:19.680 --> 00:14:20.639
 while they're on

00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:21.500
 that journey,

00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:22.400
 verse 9,

00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:23.060
 during the night

00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:23.700
 Paul had a

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.720
 vision of a

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.759
 man of Macedonia

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.780
 standing and

00:14:26.780 --> 00:14:27.379
 begging him,

00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:28.280
 come over to

00:14:28.280 --> 00:14:29.840
 Macedonia and

00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:30.320
 help us.

00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.160
 God gives him

00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:32.319
 this vision.

00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.100
 And after

00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:33.719
 Paul had seen

00:14:33.719 --> 00:14:34.100
 the vision,

00:14:34.179 --> 00:14:34.679
 we got ready

00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.279
 at once to

00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:35.620
 leave for

00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.139
 Macedonia,

00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:37.600
 concluding that

00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.199
 God had called

00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:38.699
 us to preach

00:14:38.699 --> 00:14:39.439
 the gospel to

00:14:39.439 --> 00:14:39.559
 them.

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.679
 So Paul talks

00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:41.159
 to his

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.659
 colleagues and

00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:43.399
 they all decide

00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:43.819
 that this is

00:14:43.819 --> 00:14:45.059
 confirmation that

00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:46.240
 we should go

00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:47.799
 over to

00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:49.000
 Macedonia to

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.519
 share the

00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:50.019
 gospel.

00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.039
 And we'll see

00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.019
 next week the

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.279
 gospel entering

00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.959
 into Europe.

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.419
 But what are we

00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:57.360
 seeing here?

00:14:57.939 --> 00:14:58.459
 We're seeing

00:14:58.459 --> 00:14:59.399
 that Jesus gave

00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.620
 his spirit to

00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.139
 the church,

00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:02.399
 church, we're

00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:02.939
 seeing that the

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:03.879
 spirit directs

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.559
 the mission of

00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.919
 the church, and

00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.759
 the spirit is

00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:08.799
 directing Paul in

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:10.219
 different ways so

00:15:10.219 --> 00:15:13.319
 that in God's

00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:14.319
 purposes the

00:15:14.319 --> 00:15:15.439
 gospel would come

00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:16.019
 to Europe.

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:17.620
 So the spirit

00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.699
 works by closing

00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:19.679
 some doors, by

00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.120
 saying to Paul,

00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:20.679
 no, you're not

00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.819
 going there, and

00:15:21.819 --> 00:15:23.620
 by opening other

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.199
 doors.

00:15:24.319 --> 00:15:26.220
 He prohibits and

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:27.139
 he permits.

00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:28.259
 And it's

00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:28.939
 interesting that

00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:29.799
 we're not told

00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:31.399
 how the spirit

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.839
 does that.

00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:34.379
 But as we look

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:34.979
 through the book

00:15:34.979 --> 00:15:37.000
 of Acts, we can

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.620
 learn certain

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.620
 things about God's

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.439
 guidance and

00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.159
 mission that we

00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.319
 see in Paul's

00:15:42.319 --> 00:15:43.500
 own experience.

00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:44.759
 We discover the

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.759
 spirit uses

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.639
 various methods

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.519
 in order to

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.479
 guide his

00:15:49.479 --> 00:15:50.259
 church in

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:50.579
 mission.

00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.199
 Sometimes

00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:53.859
 that's through

00:15:53.859 --> 00:15:55.079
 circumstances.

00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:55.660
 So we don't

00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:56.259
 know this, but

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:56.639
 it may have

00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.220
 been that Paul

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.520
 tried to go

00:15:58.520 --> 00:15:59.379
 there, but the

00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.180
 authorities were

00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:00.720
 hostile.

00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:01.420
 There was a

00:16:01.420 --> 00:16:02.160
 Jewish community

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:03.340
 that chased

00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:03.840
 them off.

00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.379
 It could have

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:04.720
 been that he

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:04.960
 had an

00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.180
 illness.

00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:06.480
 So those

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.300
 things happened

00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:08.240
 in other

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:08.860
 situations.

00:16:09.020 --> 00:16:09.860
 So circumstances

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:11.280
 are part of

00:16:11.280 --> 00:16:12.379
 the way that

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.259
 the spirit works

00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.520
 to guide the

00:16:14.520 --> 00:16:14.840
 mission.

00:16:16.160 --> 00:16:16.960
 Perhaps it

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.740
 was simply a

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.280
 sense of

00:16:18.280 --> 00:16:18.820
 conviction.

00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:19.960
 Perhaps they

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.780
 went to go and

00:16:20.780 --> 00:16:21.379
 then they really

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:21.960
 had a feeling

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.379
 that this

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.519
 wasn't at

00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:23.939
 the right

00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:25.019
 place at

00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:25.500
 the right

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.019
 time.

00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.679
 We find in

00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.600
 other times in

00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:29.039
 the book of

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.620
 Acts there's a

00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:30.379
 message of a

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.080
 prophet that

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:32.679
 comes and

00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:34.759
 the apostles

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:36.100
 will respond

00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:37.379
 to that and

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:37.980
 will change

00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:38.620
 their plans,

00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.159
 will change

00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:40.360
 direction because

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.299
 they feel a

00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:41.679
 sense of

00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:43.960
 conviction from

00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:45.139
 one of the

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.519
 prophets.

00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.100
 In verse

00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:47.679
 9 we can

00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.580
 certainly say

00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:50.399
 that God's

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.679
 voice, God's

00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:52.360
 words, is

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.060
 guiding them

00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:53.560
 in the sense

00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:53.899
 that he's

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.379
 given them

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.180
 this vision.

00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:56.539
 And then in

00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:57.180
 verse 10 we

00:16:57.180 --> 00:16:57.840
 can also say

00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:58.340
 that Paul's

00:16:58.340 --> 00:16:58.820
 mission is

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.539
 guided in

00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:00.240
 part by

00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.220
 discussing

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.700
 with other

00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.120
 people.

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:04.819
 So there are

00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:05.599
 circumstances,

00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:06.839
 there are

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.380
 convictions,

00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.059
 there is the

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.620
 word of God,

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.120
 there's other

00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:10.099
 people all

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:10.799
 playing their

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.599
 part in how

00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:14.019
 God by his

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.579
 spirit directs

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.440
 the church

00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:16.900
 and mission.

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.160
 And when we

00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:19.579
 think about

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.039
 guidance,

00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:21.259
 sometimes we

00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:21.640
 can make

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.420
 guidance seem

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:22.880
 like a

00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:23.759
 really sort

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.360
 of supernatural

00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:25.220
 out there

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:27.140
 kind of thing

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.640
 that we have

00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.500
 to wait for

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.840
 sort of voices

00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:30.759
 from the sky

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.440
 or great

00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:31.860
 visions,

00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.280
 but we're

00:17:32.280 --> 00:17:32.900
 discovering,

00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.580
 and we find

00:17:34.580 --> 00:17:35.000
 this to be

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.400
 true in the

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:35.640
 Bible,

00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.240
 that God

00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.320
 most often

00:17:37.320 --> 00:17:37.900
 works through

00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:38.960
 those normal

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.520
 means.

00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:40.880
 In our own

00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:42.259
 lives, he

00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:42.900
 gives us

00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:43.960
 common sense,

00:17:44.060 --> 00:17:44.540
 he gives us

00:17:44.540 --> 00:17:45.340
 other people

00:17:45.340 --> 00:17:46.740
 to discuss

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.300
 things with,

00:17:47.340 --> 00:17:47.960
 he gives us

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:49.060
 our own sense

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:50.539
 convictions about

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.099
 what is the

00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.619
 right thing

00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:52.059
 to do.

00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:53.220
 He gives us

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.139
 the word of

00:17:54.139 --> 00:17:54.799
 God to give

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:55.440
 us direction

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.159
 and the gift

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:56.940
 of prayer.

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.399
 He gives us

00:17:58.399 --> 00:17:59.039
 a fellowship

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.659
 of God's

00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:01.000
 people to

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.819
 together seek

00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:03.659
 to understand

00:18:03.659 --> 00:18:04.419
 how God

00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:05.519
 is leading

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.119
 and guiding.

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.419
 But what we

00:18:07.419 --> 00:18:08.500
 see in Paul's

00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.200
 experience is

00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:09.700
 the spirit

00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.879
 uses various

00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:12.839
 methods as

00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:14.359
 he directs

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:14.859
 his mission.

00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:17.219
 And in

00:18:17.219 --> 00:18:18.459
 that, and

00:18:18.459 --> 00:18:18.939
 we see this

00:18:18.939 --> 00:18:19.539
 from Paul's

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.059
 experience,

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.679
 that that

00:18:21.679 --> 00:18:22.479
 experience will

00:18:22.479 --> 00:18:23.439
 not always

00:18:23.439 --> 00:18:24.639
 be comfortable.

00:18:25.479 --> 00:18:26.159
 Trying to

00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:27.259
 understand God's

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.639
 guidance,

00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.379
 especially when

00:18:28.379 --> 00:18:29.000
 we feel God

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.740
 is saying no

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.619
 or not

00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:32.259
 now, can

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.859
 be hard,

00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:33.799
 can be

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.639
 frustrating at

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:34.779
 times.

00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:35.319
 We can be

00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:35.979
 confused, we

00:18:35.979 --> 00:18:36.559
 can feel really

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.199
 compelled to

00:18:37.199 --> 00:18:37.619
 do a certain

00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:37.979
 thing, but

00:18:37.979 --> 00:18:38.599
 it becomes

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.799
 clear that

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.539
 it's just not

00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.159
 meant to be

00:18:41.159 --> 00:18:41.639
 right now,

00:18:41.699 --> 00:18:42.159
 and that can

00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:42.879
 be a hard

00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:43.939
 place to

00:18:43.939 --> 00:18:44.259
 be.

00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:47.099
 It made

00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:47.899
 me think of

00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:49.019
 the Dr.

00:18:49.179 --> 00:18:50.119
 Zeus story,

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:50.599
 Oh, the

00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.339
 places you'll

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:51.839
 go, if you

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.799
 know that

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.279
 book, you'll

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:53.639
 know that

00:18:53.639 --> 00:18:54.119
 there is a

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:54.779
 place called

00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.439
 the waiting

00:18:55.439 --> 00:18:56.919
 place, a

00:18:56.919 --> 00:18:58.000
 useless place

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.599
 where everyone

00:18:58.599 --> 00:18:59.740
 is just

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.519
 waiting.

00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.299
 And sometimes

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.339
 we can feel

00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:03.740
 like that,

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.099
 there can be

00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:05.379
 a real sense

00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:06.179
 of burden,

00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:07.359
 that we want

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:07.719
 to do

00:19:07.719 --> 00:19:08.359
 something for

00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.079
 God, but

00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:09.919
 the opportunity

00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:10.479
 just isn't

00:19:10.479 --> 00:19:10.839
 there, and

00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:11.139
 that's a

00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:11.759
 really hard

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.240
 thing to

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:12.819
 deal with.

00:19:13.939 --> 00:19:14.639
 I remember

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:14.980
 that in

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.380
 my own

00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:16.060
 experience.

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:16.680
 I finished

00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:18.580
 studying up

00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:18.780
 at the

00:19:18.780 --> 00:19:19.060
 Highland

00:19:19.060 --> 00:19:19.620
 Theological

00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:20.220
 College, and

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:20.560
 I spent

00:19:20.560 --> 00:19:22.820
 months pushing

00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:23.600
 at doors trying

00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:24.460
 to find the

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.600
 right ministry

00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:27.240
 opportunity in

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.180
 the UK, in

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:28.660
 Europe, in

00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.759
 various places.

00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:31.820
 And it was a

00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:32.380
 really difficult

00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:33.380
 time, lots of

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:34.060
 sleepless nights,

00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:35.340
 lots of confusion

00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:36.700
 as to where is

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.440
 the best place

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:37.960
 to go, and

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:39.259
 ultimately, as

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:39.880
 God was saying

00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:41.300
 stay and learn

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.139
 some more.

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.440
 But it was a

00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:45.359
 hard time of

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.220
 wrestling, and

00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:46.700
 that can be

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:48.039
 hard when we

00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.639
 find that our

00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:49.200
 timing and

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:49.799
 God's timing

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:51.119
 don't naturally

00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:52.399
 align.

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.279
 Trusting the

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.259
 sovereign plan

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.799
 and the

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.680
 sovereign timing

00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:58.220
 of God is

00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.940
 the right thing

00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:00.139
 to do, but

00:20:00.139 --> 00:20:01.019
 it's not easy.

00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.599
 Sometimes we

00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:03.039
 can feel

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:03.899
 confused.

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.779
 We might feel

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.240
 confused.

00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.039
 Why didn't

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:07.220
 God allow

00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:07.720
 Paul to

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.099
 preach the

00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:08.680
 gospel in

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:08.980
 Asia?

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:10.059
 And it's

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.680
 important for

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.160
 us in those

00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:11.740
 moments to be

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.279
 able to pull

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.920
 back and to

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:14.240
 remember God's

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.079
 never confused.

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.380
 The sovereign

00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:17.220
 God has a

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.740
 perfect plan for

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:19.500
 his people, for

00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:21.059
 his church, for

00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.599
 his mission.

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.180
 Sometimes it

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:24.819
 helps to learn

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.620
 from history.

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.819
 Church history

00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.620
 shows that God

00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.299
 knows what he's

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.579
 doing.

00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.319
 I discovered

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.120
 this week that

00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:32.559
 David Livingston,

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.360
 a famous

00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:34.960
 missionary to

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.519
 Africa, he

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.120
 actually really

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:36.920
 wanted to go to

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.279
 China.

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:38.500
 And God

00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.000
 didn't allow

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.480
 him to go to

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.920
 China, but

00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:40.579
 instead sent

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:40.900
 him to

00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.380
 Africa.

00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.319
 Maybe you've

00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:43.700
 heard the

00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.720
 story of

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.400
 Gladys

00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.839
 Aylward and

00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:48.380
 her incredible

00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:49.279
 ministry to

00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:49.859
 abandoned

00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:51.059
 children and

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:51.940
 to women in

00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.240
 China.

00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:52.900
 Well, Gladys

00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:53.380
 Aylward had

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.079
 been rejected

00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:55.339
 by all the

00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:56.980
 missions, sending

00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.660
 missionaries to

00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:57.980
 China.

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.019
 She wasn't

00:20:59.019 --> 00:20:59.759
 smart enough, she

00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.240
 wasn't well

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.880
 educated enough,

00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.599
 she'd never be

00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:02.579
 able to learn the

00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:03.140
 language and

00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:03.559
 culture.

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:04.799
 But God had

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.460
 his plan.

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:08.400
 Paul was

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.140
 forbidden by

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:10.240
 Jesus from

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:10.799
 sharing the

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.440
 gospel for

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:11.920
 weeks.

00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:12.380
 And we're

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.039
 not told how

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.660
 Paul fell

00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:15.100
 about that, but

00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:15.680
 we do know

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.400
 that in God's

00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.220
 providence, that

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.920
 was the way for

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.720
 the gospel to

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.880
 come to

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.319
 Europe.

00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.779
 God knows

00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:23.100
 what he is

00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:23.500
 doing.

00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.140
 And we also

00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.279
 see from

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:28.920
 Paul that

00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:29.539
 when a door

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.299
 of opportunity

00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:32.440
 opens, we

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.440
 should go for

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:33.620
 it.

00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:35.159
 when they

00:21:35.159 --> 00:21:35.619
 have that

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.759
 sense that

00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.179
 they should

00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:37.699
 go to

00:21:37.699 --> 00:21:39.059
 Macedonia, and

00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:39.659
 we'll get here

00:21:39.659 --> 00:21:41.079
 next week, we'll

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:42.179
 see what happens

00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:43.099
 when they arrive

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:44.259
 in Philippi.

00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:45.439
 It's a remarkable

00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:45.879
 story.

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.739
 He's going to

00:21:46.739 --> 00:21:47.919
 meet a girl

00:21:47.919 --> 00:21:48.359
 who's held

00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.039
 prisoner by

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:50.419
 men and by

00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:51.299
 evil spirits.

00:21:51.419 --> 00:21:51.839
 We're going to

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.839
 find him chained

00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:54.299
 up in prison, but

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.839
 he's still going to

00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.559
 be singing hymns

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.099
 of praise.

00:21:56.219 --> 00:21:56.539
 Why?

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.599
 Because he knows

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.339
 that he's following

00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.059
 the call of

00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.359
 Jesus.

00:22:01.399 --> 00:22:02.259
 He knows he's

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.819
 walking in

00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.319
 obedience.

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:04.720
 So he's

00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.339
 learning to be

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.919
 content because

00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:07.899
 God had called

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:09.099
 him there.

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.299
 So if we're

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:11.919
 here today and

00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:12.379
 we feel like

00:22:12.379 --> 00:22:13.579
 we're in the

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.500
 waiting place,

00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:15.960
 where doors are

00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:16.839
 closing rather

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.679
 than opening,

00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.859
 we encourage you

00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.720
 to take heart

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.879
 in the good

00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:23.519
 purposes and

00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:23.939
 the perfect

00:22:23.939 --> 00:22:24.919
 timing of God

00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:26.539
 that we'd be

00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.299
 able to submit

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:28.059
 to him and to

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.899
 serve now with

00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.759
 patience while we

00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:31.539
 wait for what

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.159
 doors might

00:22:32.159 --> 00:22:32.659
 open.

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.279
 But then on

00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.839
 the flip side,

00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.379
 if God is

00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:36.740
 opening a

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.200
 door of

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.220
 opportunity for

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:39.259
 useful service

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.379
 in a friendship

00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:41.159
 or in a

00:22:41.159 --> 00:22:42.220
 ministry capacity,

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.519
 take confidence

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.899
 in the gospel.

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.059
 Take confidence

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.420
 in the power of

00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:47.819
 the Spirit.

00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.440
 Take heart in

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:49.960
 the fact that

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.940
 God is concerned

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.599
 for his glory

00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.619
 and God's able

00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:53.500
 to use and

00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.500
 chooses to work

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.720
 through the

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.659
 church, chooses

00:22:56.659 --> 00:22:57.379
 to work through

00:22:57.379 --> 00:22:58.980
 his people for

00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.799
 his glory.

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.400
 Remember from

00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.259
 this story that

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.259
 God uses

00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.259
 something surprising

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.620
 people and

00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:07.120
 he uses

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.819
 surprising

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:09.620
 providences in

00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.740
 order to extend

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:12.099
 his mission.

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:15.160
 So, perhaps for

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.539
 us we can think

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.579
 for ourselves,

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.180
 what will it

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.259
 mean for us

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.900
 this week or

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.259
 in these

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:22.980
 relationships that

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.779
 we have to be

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:26.299
 flexible in

00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.059
 order for the

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.619
 gospel to be

00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:29.039
 shared?

00:23:30.399 --> 00:23:31.220
 To think,

00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:32.220
 how do I need

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.659
 to respond to

00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:34.119
 the way that

00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:34.839
 the Spirit is

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:36.179
 guiding me today

00:23:36.179 --> 00:23:37.139
 or how he's

00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.980
 been guiding us

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.200
 in the last

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.359
 number of

00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:40.799
 weeks?

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.559
 And let's

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.879
 remember that

00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:44.619
 Jesus is the

00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:45.339
 one who is the

00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:45.839
 head of the

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:47.399
 church and who

00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:48.859
 is continuing to

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.859
 build his church

00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:51.200
 and to do that

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:51.839
 through us.