WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:04.280 If you're sat there going, oh well, maybe I should serve, but I don't know. 00:00:04.700 --> 00:00:08.240 Some of the service, sometimes I've served and it's just not really that fulfilling. 00:00:08.500 --> 00:00:11.400 ! Sometimes it's just, it's not really my area of expertise. 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:15.500 And honestly, I'm already tired on Sundays and I have to come and give. 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:19.019 If you're wondering in those things and thinking those things, 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:22.440 I would like to encourage you that the Bible has you covered. 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:27.339 As we've been looking at the book of Acts, as we've been looking at needs that have emerged, 00:00:27.339 --> 00:00:32.060 people needing food, so people have been appointed to be deacons to go and distribute the food. 00:00:32.820 --> 00:00:36.899 The Bible has you covered in the sense that if you're thinking, oh, I need to serve and feel satisfied, 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:40.460 the Bible has you covered in saying that actually, you've got it completely wrong. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:43.420 That's not why we serve. 00:00:44.379 --> 00:00:50.439 Why we serve is because our eyes are on the Lord and that trumps everything. 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:52.920 And you see the deacons. 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:54.200 Honestly, what's happening? 00:00:54.299 --> 00:00:56.740 Just to recap, just to rewind your mind in Acts chapter 6. 00:00:56.740 --> 00:00:57.780 The church is growing. 00:00:58.020 --> 00:01:00.079 Only two chapters before, no one was in need. 00:01:00.219 --> 00:01:00.960 Everyone was okay. 00:01:01.120 --> 00:01:02.960 Everyone was known and seen and cared for. 00:01:03.160 --> 00:01:07.560 But only two chapters later, there are those, there are widows who aren't getting the food that they need. 00:01:07.740 --> 00:01:13.719 So then they say, okay, let's appoint seven people, seven deacons to go and serve to give them food. 00:01:13.820 --> 00:01:14.700 And so what do we have? 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:16.640 We have Stephen. 00:01:16.960 --> 00:01:19.439 And that's where Gabe talked a little bit about last week. 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:23.439 And just Stephen put his hand up and said, well, actually he was chosen because he was a man of character 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:24.659 and it's not a competence thing. 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:26.420 I'll help with the food. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:33.060 He ends up then preaching the sermon of his life, giving a history lesson that ends up with him being killed. 00:01:34.219 --> 00:01:35.560 That's a heart of service there. 00:01:35.640 --> 00:01:38.679 The Bible has us covered when it comes to what serving truly means. 00:01:38.739 --> 00:01:42.060 It means emptying ourselves because there's something far greater for us. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:46.540 And just maybe a few points, even just on the person of Stephen. 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:49.540 First of all, it's about character and not competence. 00:01:50.320 --> 00:01:54.400 Even though it was just to distribute food, they could have found anyone. 00:01:54.540 --> 00:01:55.799 With two arms, they could have helped. 00:01:56.240 --> 00:01:56.879 But it wasn't. 00:01:56.939 --> 00:02:00.680 It was someone who had to be filled with the spirit, who had that character to be able to do it. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:03.020 Because they know that it's never just about feeding. 00:02:03.260 --> 00:02:04.980 It's never just about stacking chairs. 00:02:05.240 --> 00:02:06.439 It's about way more than that. 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:07.019 It's about worship. 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:09.560 It's about serving God with all of our hearts and our minds. 00:02:09.639 --> 00:02:13.020 And whatever we do, we are doing it as though we are doing it for God. 00:02:13.359 --> 00:02:14.719 That's how Stephen was picked. 00:02:15.060 --> 00:02:16.539 That's how Philip was picked. 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:18.759 And also, just another thing. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:21.199 You sign up to something and say, God, yes, I will do it. 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:23.120 Who knows what you'll end up doing? 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:28.300 Stephen signed up to distributing food, ends up preaching the gospel and giving a history lesson. 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:33.540 And then Philip also signs up for the same thing and ends up going to Samaria, which is what we're going to look at today. 00:02:33.980 --> 00:02:34.800 You never know. 00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:41.500 The goal, the key, the actual real fun of all of it is as you say yes to God, you don't know where he's going to take you. 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:43.960 And then it's going to be fun in some way. 00:02:44.160 --> 00:02:49.000 But most of all, it will be glorifying to him even in the smallest of tasks. 00:02:50.220 --> 00:02:52.260 Let's not look down on any of the tasks that we have. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:54.720 There aren't just two or three roles in church that need service. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:57.280 There are so, so many ways to be able to serve. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:00.939 The question is, what's God placed on your heart and how has he called you to do it? 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:07.460 And finally, when we're looking at serving, it's about getting to the place where it could lead to the end of yourself. 00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:11.080 Now, for Stephen, it really did end up with the end of him. 00:03:11.979 --> 00:03:16.439 But really, for us as we serve, it's kind of saying, God, not my will, but yours. 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:20.120 I'm going to empty myself to love on others because that's what you did for me. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:22.680 That's what service is really about. 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:26.080 And so if you're sat there going, OK, well, I've been around here for a little while now. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:28.000 Well, it's getting increasingly uncomfortable. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:29.320 And I'm wondering why I'm sat here. 00:03:29.540 --> 00:03:32.220 Well, actually, the next step is, hey, actually, let's join us. 00:03:32.660 --> 00:03:33.780 Join us. Help us take chairs down. 00:03:33.860 --> 00:03:38.140 Help us take chairs. Help us do whatever it is that God's called you to, because God will use that. 00:03:38.980 --> 00:03:42.420 Serving is serving is such a key part of the Christian faith. 00:03:42.419 --> 00:03:47.059 And you just ask yourself, and we all should ask ourselves, well, what are we doing actually to serve? 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:52.060 And you look at Stephen, and I was talking about this with our life group this last week. 00:03:52.279 --> 00:04:01.119 And as I was just even just imagining the story, if you open up the word and you look at Acts chapter 7 at the very end, 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:04.119 we're not even going to the bit we're going to talk about today yet. 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:10.840 So Stephen gives this sermon, and then he says, you stiff-necked people, you have not learned the lessons that your father has learned. 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:12.759 Stiff-necked, I don't know what I'm saying. 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:14.719 I don't know what I'm saying. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:17.379 And then what happens? 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.279 And just the response that he gets. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:28.079 Danny is a drama teacher, and she was in our group, and as I was reading this together with our group, 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:31.180 I was just imagining, this could be a really intense drama. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:36.259 Like, really, you see Stephen, chapter 7, verse 54. 00:04:36.420 --> 00:04:40.779 Now when they heard these things, they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 00:04:40.779 --> 00:04:43.299 Did you catch that? 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:48.779 They were so angry at what he was saying, that they were grinding their teeth. 00:04:50.179 --> 00:04:56.500 And then later on, it says, verse 57, and they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 00:04:57.479 --> 00:05:00.039 That's a really hostile response. 00:05:01.179 --> 00:05:06.519 But honestly, how many of us will truly get if we went to work and told people that we went to church, 00:05:07.619 --> 00:05:10.039 that we had a faith in Jesus? 00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:12.659 They ground their teeth at him. 00:05:12.719 --> 00:05:15.679 They covered their ears, and they ran towards him, and eventually they stoned him. 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:21.979 And I said, Stephen is so extra here as a follower of Christ. 00:05:22.099 --> 00:05:23.799 He just followed Christ to a T. 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:27.319 How did he manage to cope with the people being so angry at him? 00:05:27.659 --> 00:05:30.459 And it says in verse 55, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:05:30.779 --> 00:05:35.939 He gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing in the right hand of God. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:43.100 You see, when we serve and when we face problems, we can deal with those problems when our eyes are focused on the right place. 00:05:43.139 --> 00:05:49.339 But when we serve out of the wrong place, when we're looking at the wrong thing, that's when we're like, oh, I don't have capacity for this. 00:05:49.379 --> 00:05:50.279 I don't have the margins for this. 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:51.300 I don't have the energy for this. 00:05:51.300 --> 00:05:57.800 But if our eyes are truly gazing towards him as Stephen was, then everything is okay. 00:05:58.280 --> 00:05:59.800 Everything makes sense. 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:05.960 To the point where when they stone him and he's just about to die, his final words, just to copy Jesus' words, 00:06:06.460 --> 00:06:09.460 Lord, do not hold this sin against them. 00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:12.580 Forgive them, for they know not what they do. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:15.460 Isn't that just so extra from Stephen? 00:06:15.459 --> 00:06:17.019 And he didn't have to say that. 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:19.139 He just said, God, just take me. 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:19.519 I'm done. 00:06:21.239 --> 00:06:22.219 Leave these fools. 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:25.519 And yet he had the heart of Christ. 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:25.779 Why? 00:06:25.919 --> 00:06:29.599 Because his eyes were fully focused on God. 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:38.060 It's dramatic because as this scene was happening, we get introduced to the next character. 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:40.019 And I can totally see this in a movie. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:45.519 Because as they're stoning him, as they kill him, on the side, there's a man. 00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:49.319 And there, that man is just stood there watching. 00:06:49.579 --> 00:06:55.839 And the people who were just filled with rage completely have lost their sense of just rationality here. 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:57.279 They kill this Stephen. 00:06:57.459 --> 00:06:59.899 And then they go towards this other man who's standing on the side. 00:07:00.039 --> 00:07:02.019 And they lay down their garments towards him. 00:07:02.039 --> 00:07:03.039 And you're like, what is happening? 00:07:03.099 --> 00:07:03.579 Can you imagine? 00:07:03.579 --> 00:07:04.180 Can you even? 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:05.399 I think I'm even getting goops. 00:07:05.479 --> 00:07:08.159 I'm even trying to retell this story, imagining that it's a movie. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:10.260 And so they go to this man on the side. 00:07:10.380 --> 00:07:11.520 And they lay down their garments. 00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:12.700 Who is this man? 00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:14.100 How is he so important? 00:07:14.220 --> 00:07:15.220 Why is he witnessing this? 00:07:15.380 --> 00:07:18.439 And why are people now looking at him as they're murdering this other guy? 00:07:18.660 --> 00:07:20.260 Of course, this guy is Saul. 00:07:21.440 --> 00:07:24.680 And then you can just see the camera just moving over to Saul. 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:28.940 And you can hear the dramatic music that happens as they look to him. 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.500 And then you see the fast track of Saul. 00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:37.800 You go from him being a witness to the execution to then the next one in Acts chapter 8 verse 1. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:40.959 And Saul approved of his execution. 00:07:41.339 --> 00:07:42.220 So he's a witness. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:44.459 And then he's an approver of this. 00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:46.600 And actually, he's the one who allowed this to happen. 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:49.259 And you're like, who is this man? 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:51.899 Only two verses later in 3. 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:57.519 Actually, you see that Paul and Saul was ravaging the church and entering house after house. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:01.579 He dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:06.819 So he goes from witness to approver to now the one who's actually the aggressor. 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:10.339 Who goes into people's homes and drags them out. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:14.039 Can you imagine the trauma and the fear of if you decide to follow Christ, 00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:19.939 that any moment Saul and the authorities will come into your home and drag you out and put you into prison. 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:23.399 And you're wondering, who is this man? 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:30.199 Of course, if you look at the book of Acts, he only gets this for a chapter. 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:34.740 And then he himself goes through the most radical transformation. 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:39.819 But before we get to that, there's actually two weeks where we're going to focus on Acts chapter 8, 00:08:39.939 --> 00:08:46.879 where I find it's just fascinating to see what happens because it goes from a gathering to the scattering. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:54.419 Only a few chapters before, Acts chapter 5, verse 11, after Ananias and Sapphira die, 00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:56.019 the whole church was filled with fear. 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:57.500 The whole gathering was filled with fear. 00:08:57.559 --> 00:08:58.899 That's where that first word comes in. 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:04.320 And a couple of chapters later, the gathering changes form because it becomes the scattering. 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:07.980 And we, you and I, are sat here today because of this. 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:09.340 Because of the scattering. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:11.100 And so we're going to talk about that. 00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:13.919 I'm going to be adventurous here, but I'm going to stick to principles here. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.559 We're going to read through the book of Acts chapter 8. 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:18.240 Can I invite you to stand for the word of the Lord? 00:09:26.319 --> 00:09:28.620 And Saul approved of his execution. 00:09:28.939 --> 00:09:33.259 And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:38.620 And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 00:09:39.199 --> 00:09:42.980 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 00:09:42.980 --> 00:09:46.700 But Saul was ravaging the church and entering house after house. 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:49.659 He dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:52.320 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 00:09:52.700 --> 00:09:55.639 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:59.320 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip. 00:09:59.580 --> 00:10:01.659 When they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:06.320 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them. 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:08.860 And many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:11.460 So there was much joy in that city. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:19.080 But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:24.899 They all paid attention to him from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the power of God that is called great. 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:29.159 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:36.399 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 00:10:37.339 --> 00:10:38.719 Even Simon himself believed. 00:10:38.819 --> 00:10:41.120 And after being baptized, he continued with Philip. 00:10:41.579 --> 00:10:44.500 And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:54.039 Now when the apostles of Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:59.079 For he had not yet fallen to any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:02.299 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:13.059 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:20.360 But Peter said to him, may your silver perish with you because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money. 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:25.379 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:32.039 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven. 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:36.419 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:42.019 And Simon answered, pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me. 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:49.440 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:50.900 This is the word of the Lord. 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:52.880 Please take a seat. 00:11:57.640 --> 00:11:59.980 So you see the scattering is happening. 00:12:00.520 --> 00:12:04.740 So what happens is the church is growing and people are clearly paying notice. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:10.940 And then Saul, and we get the first execution, the first form of persecution is starting right here. 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:14.600 And what happens, they are dragged away into prisons, away from their homes. 00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:16.360 So the next thing is they start to scatter. 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:21.480 The word scatter actually in Greek has the same root word as the word diaspora. 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:24.320 So basically the Christians start to spread. 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:27.279 This is interesting because this is basically the start. 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:31.680 It's activating phase two of the mission of Christianity. 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:38.279 If it wasn't for this moment, you could argue that maybe we're not sat here today as Christians. 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.940 That's how important this is. 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:41.660 Tim Keller actually says this. 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:49.660 He said, actually, before Jesus flew off into the sky in Acts 1, he said, you'll be my witnesses to Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria and to the ends of the world. 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:53.360 But the apostles just stayed in Jerusalem. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:13:01.200 And they stayed in Jerusalem and they were slow to leave Jerusalem because really they had the upper room, they had the prayer room, they had the gathering. 00:13:01.419 --> 00:13:02.460 It was all pretty comfortable. 00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:05.060 So they were like, you know what, let's just stay put here until we're told otherwise. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:12.019 And so then what we see is that actually persecution is the thing that causes them to activate into phase two. 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:14.200 Don't you and I have that same thing? 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:19.960 It's more comfortable until someone forces us to do something else. 00:13:20.520 --> 00:13:30.440 It's more comfortable to stay in one place until an external force comes in to actually push us, to nudge us in the right direction. 00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:31.800 John Stott says this. 00:13:32.520 --> 00:13:36.480 The persecution in Jerusalem was neither an accident nor a tragedy. 00:13:37.020 --> 00:13:41.940 It was the strategy of the Lord of the harvest to thrust out his reapers into the ripe fields. 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:46.960 It was a painful but necessary dispersal for the sake of the mission. 00:13:48.260 --> 00:13:52.660 It was Sertullian who also said the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:56.220 How often do you and I think about that? 00:13:56.660 --> 00:14:02.900 That we are sat right here knowing Jesus because someone died for us. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.400 Not even Jesus. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:07.920 Of course, that's the most important one. 00:14:07.920 --> 00:14:10.920 But someone laid down their life. 00:14:11.940 --> 00:14:12.880 For us to be here. 00:14:13.800 --> 00:14:16.400 I don't know whether we think about that enough. 00:14:16.880 --> 00:14:20.640 And I'm not saying it just in the way that, well, let's just guilt trip ourselves into following Jesus. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:21.420 That's not what it is. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:24.600 But I think we take for granted what we have here. 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:30.639 But when we remember that actually people gave their lives for this. 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:33.259 And it wasn't just even in this book. 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:41.960 There are people here in this room who come from places where actually there are people still dying for the good news of Jesus right now. 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:51.180 When Joe was 17, he went to Uganda and he got to experience a whole different life of the Christian faith and mission there. 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:56.720 You look at Latin America and you look at the hostility towards the church for the longest time. 00:14:57.280 --> 00:15:04.660 You look at just anywhere around the world, you will find places where actually persecution is still happening right now. 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:12.179 Yet we sat here for some reason, the most comfortable of us here. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:15.439 And yet somehow we struggle to live the faith the most. 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:16.519 Isn't that just strange? 00:15:19.219 --> 00:15:20.399 It's strange for me. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:24.100 The persecution doesn't stop proclamation. 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:26.559 In fact, if anything, it helps. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:30.739 Because so often we need that nudging out of our comfort zones. 00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:39.479 Forget going to another country, which Erica, Aidan, Godfrey, you guys are all going to at the end of September to the Congo. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:42.219 That, that's uncomfortable. 00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:46.759 Is there a 12-hour bus ride on top of the flights that you guys are going to do? 00:15:47.599 --> 00:15:48.939 That's going to be uncomfortable. 00:15:49.839 --> 00:15:50.819 And people are doing that. 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:53.259 And you're saying, okay, I'm not really doing much. 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:59.220 I want to encourage you that actually there are people in this church that are scattering, that are doing those things already. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.419 And that is uncomfortable. 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:01.879 But you know what else is uncomfortable? 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:07.799 Not just sharing the gospel in Congo, but also sharing the gospel in Soho Club. 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:10.000 That is uncomfortable too. 00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:15.240 You see, the question isn't actually where we're going to do this. 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:17.080 It's actually where our heart is right now. 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.759 You can find opportunities. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:25.439 Yes, actually, trips like going to the Congo will be transformational. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:28.139 Not just for the people there, but also for the people going. 00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:31.799 But there are opportunities right here as well. 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:36.159 You see, as they're scattering, it says it, chapter 8, verse 1. 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:40.519 And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:45.439 So actually, it's possible to remain uncomfortable, but still stay exactly where you are. 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:53.040 In fact, it was actually important for the apostles to say in Jerusalem, just to kind of act as the stronghold of this is, we're not going anywhere. 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:55.280 Can you imagine just what's happening there? 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.880 The church is growing. 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:58.260 The apostles are still preaching. 00:16:58.500 --> 00:17:00.360 The deacons are helping and serving. 00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:02.600 And of course, at the moment people are dragged to prisons. 00:17:02.880 --> 00:17:03.880 They're like, okay, you guys go. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.340 Just go. 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:05.380 Philip, go. 00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:07.560 We're going to stay put. 00:17:08.760 --> 00:17:13.020 And it's fascinating because as you look at how they go, it's actually the heart. 00:17:14.600 --> 00:17:18.060 It was just as uncomfortable for the apostles as it would be for the people who were scattering. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:20.200 But you see, the heart is the thing. 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.260 Time and time again. 00:17:21.360 --> 00:17:24.840 If you're sat here going, oh, I don't know whether I should do this for God. 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.860 The answer is yes, go. 00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:28.460 Let me just keep it simple for you. 00:17:28.520 --> 00:17:29.160 You look at Abraham. 00:17:29.300 --> 00:17:29.880 You look at Moses. 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:30.560 You look at Jonah. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:35.679 You see that the answer usually is, get out of your comfort zone. 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:37.179 This isn't rocket science. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:40.119 This is a cheesy magnet quote that we'll see anyway. 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:40.819 Just go. 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.960 Get out of your comfort zone. 00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:43.980 And that's when you'll start swimming in the deep. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:48.440 And that's when you'll start feeling the goodness of God and the faithfulness of God. 00:17:48.679 --> 00:17:52.859 You staying at home on your couch, you won't be able to feel the goodness of God. 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:55.139 Not for that long anyway, because you'll just fall asleep. 00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:57.299 But go. 00:17:58.919 --> 00:18:00.500 Get out of your comfort zone. 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:04.299 And you see, and actually you can see Philip's heart here. 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.700 Verse 4, it says this. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:08.700 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:10.859 Let me just stop there for a second. 00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:16.659 If I was part of a church, then this church started growing. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:22.119 And then people that I know are getting dragged into prison from their own homes. 00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:25.000 And I have to run for my life. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:31.119 I don't know if I'm, the next thing I'm doing is to continue to preach the word. 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.319 I'm going to be like, you know what? 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:33.559 And I can rationalize this. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.099 You know what? 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.839 There is, it's hot outside. 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.799 If there's pressure outside. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.720 Let me just go and lay low for a while. 00:18:39.620 --> 00:18:41.880 Actually, people are trying to catch us. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:45.039 Why don't we just lay low for a while and just stay quiet for a second? 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.900 Can you imagine if they did that? 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.720 We wouldn't be here. 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:51.259 These guys were pushed out of their homes, pushed out of Jerusalem. 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:54.920 Philip here, he goes to Samaria, which actually is a whole other story. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:57.779 Because the Samaritans were not friends to the Jews. 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:00.000 In fact, they were political and religious rivals. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:03.480 That's why you have the story of the good Samaritan in Luke 15. 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:07.140 Because Jesus is saying, these two groups of people hate each other. 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.900 But we're going to have to help each other. 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:11.160 You see, John 4, the woman at the well. 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:11.740 What's that? 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.420 That's in Samaria. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:15.740 Jesus is making a point and saying, I will go through this place. 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:20.220 Because I want to show you that even them, even them, even people that you Jews hate, 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:22.220 these are still my children. 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:26.759 So Philip leaves his home, leaves Jerusalem, and goes to Samaria. 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.759 And what does he do? 00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:29.220 He does not lay low. 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:30.339 He does not stay quiet. 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:33.519 He keeps preaching the word of God. 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:36.779 At that moment, I'm just like, oh. 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.720 That's courage. 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:42.120 The apostles stay in Jerusalem as courage, too. 00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:45.099 And we just have to ask God, each of us, and go, do you want me to stay? 00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:45.799 Or do you want me to go? 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:48.579 But either way, my heart is trusting in you. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:54.839 I want to make myself uncomfortable in the Congo, or at the Soho Club in Central Admiralty, 00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:55.719 wherever it is. 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:59.559 Lord, can I live in a way that you are actually real? 00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:01.819 And Philip does this. 00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:03.379 And he goes, and he shares. 00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.399 And it's fascinating. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.199 Things happen. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:08.579 Unclean spirits crying out with a loud voice. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.759 They come out of many. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.819 Many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:15.319 And then verse 8, it says this. 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:18.180 And there was much joy in the city. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.740 I have a theory. 00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:26.720 Those of us who have been Christians for a long time, we actually forget what it was like when we didn't have God. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.240 If you've come to Christ recently, you're like, hey, I remember. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:34.819 I remember the aimlessness, the lack of hope I had in my life. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:39.240 But for those of us who have grown up in the church, you're like, oh, things aren't going right now. 00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:39.819 And I'm just kind of. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:47.120 But actually, there's a world outside that is desperate for hope. 00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:50.180 That is paralyzed with fear. 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:54.799 People who don't feel as though they have a future. 00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:56.259 And we forget that. 00:20:56.660 --> 00:21:04.519 Honestly, as I was preparing this message yesterday, I was sat in a coffee shop and two obnoxious, loud men were behind me talking. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:12.820 And they were just talking about just kind of showing off to each other and what they did over the weekend and how much money they made and this and that. 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:15.620 And you could smell the insecurity. 00:21:15.820 --> 00:21:19.620 You could smell the hopelessness that was there, yet they just couldn't admit it to each other. 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:21.679 And there was part of me, which, again, I lacked courage. 00:21:21.739 --> 00:21:23.619 I just wanted to turn around and go, do you know Jesus? 00:21:24.219 --> 00:21:25.639 He will solve all of your problems. 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:32.379 You two are just pretending to like each other because you think this will help you further your career in some way. 00:21:32.879 --> 00:21:36.279 But can I tell you that actually your career isn't going to be the thing that satisfies you and lasts? 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:40.579 If I had the courage of Philip, I would have just turned around in that moment. 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.039 But I did not. 00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:43.459 I carried on preparing my sermon. 00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:46.179 But we forget. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.399 We actually forget what it's like. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:54.080 And you see, when it actually happens, when you actually share the good news with people, you'll realize that there is joy. 00:21:56.740 --> 00:22:01.320 One of the pastors that you heard me quote a lot is a pastor called Tim Keller who's in New York. 00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:08.019 He found very quickly that if he wants to preach the good news, he has to tap into what the bad news is for that group of people. 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:10.720 And in New York, he decided that's where his church was. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:13.880 In New York, the issue was idols. 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:20.840 The issue was the bad news was idols, people putting their faith in money, in sex, in power, in career. 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:23.120 And so he realized that was where he needed to tackle. 00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:24.920 Because, again, I've said this before. 00:22:25.080 --> 00:22:30.180 In order for us to fully appreciate the good news, we have to understand that there is bad news. 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:36.279 If we have to truly understand that Jesus is the solution, we first need to know what the problem is. 00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:37.340 Right? 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.740 That's how we do it. 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:40.440 That's how we share the good news. 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:46.620 So even as I'm talking now, I'm thinking, okay, as a gathering here, as we seek to try and scatter, what do we need to do? 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:52.779 What's the message that we need to hold in our hearts to take to people so that they would have joy, that they can be released? 00:22:52.779 --> 00:23:00.319 Again, it was our group that was talking about sometimes we think that actually the Christian faith and being a Christian is boring and unfulfilled and you don't get to do all these things. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:07.379 But if we could just tell people that this is where we find purpose, this is where we find hope, it's not in what they're trying to do. 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.660 It will bring them joy. 00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:14.099 So let me ask you, and I'll genuinely pick on some people just to kind of raise the heart rate a little bit here. 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:17.859 What's the idol in Hong Kong? 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:19.079 What are the idols that you see? 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:21.559 Think about the people that you are surrounded by. 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:26.920 What are some of the struggles in Hong Kong that you can see? 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:29.639 What's the bad news in Hong Kong that we can preach good news into? 00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:31.920 Nathan, can I start with you? 00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:33.059 What's the bad news? 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.500 No time. 00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.339 No time. 00:23:39.379 --> 00:23:40.779 The poverty of time is true. 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:42.559 We're just incredibly busy. 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:48.019 And I'm learning to ask myself, okay, what does that even mean for me? 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:49.139 Why am I so busy? 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:51.099 Why am I filling my schedule with these things? 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:53.779 The people that I'm filling my schedule with, why am I meeting them? 00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.139 What's it for? 00:23:55.199 --> 00:23:56.159 What are the things that I'm trying to do? 00:23:56.179 --> 00:23:57.019 What am I doing them for? 00:23:58.419 --> 00:24:00.119 And then to let the good news penetrate that. 00:24:00.179 --> 00:24:03.919 Actually, there are some people that, quite frankly, I don't need to be as worried about. 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:04.639 I don't need to. 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:06.419 I need to prioritize to the right people. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.500 Because Jesus is free. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:10.519 And sometimes we feel as though we have to do everything. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.240 Right? 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:14.700 But it's Christ who does it and not us. 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:16.099 So what does that look like? 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.720 The poverty of time. 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:19.039 That's a good one. 00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:21.640 Any other things that come up? 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:25.400 Aidan, you're hiding your face in the Bible. 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.120 So maybe I'll ask you. 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.279 What's an idol for Hong Kong? 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.519 Work. 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:29.579 Work. 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.140 Tell me more. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.680 What does that mean? 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:40.560 I think you're expected to sacrifice a lot of things for your job. 00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:41.019 Yeah. 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:46.259 You're expected to sacrifice a lot of things for your job in Hong Kong. 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:51.720 And so a lot of the decisions that you have to make are based around the demands that you have at work. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:55.779 That either your boss actually has or the ones that you just perceive they have. 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:58.740 And therefore, that just changes your life in every way. 00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.480 Work. 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.980 And of course, work is the thing. 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:03.259 And when work isn't going well, it threatens our identity. 00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:06.019 You know, I'm Trevor and I'm a doctor. 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:10.160 And if that's not going well, then actually that threatens my identity. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:13.099 Ironically, I think Trevor seems to be okay with this situation. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.779 For those of us who know him well. 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:21.759 But our occupation ties so deeply into our identity. 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.519 That's an idol. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:27.819 So then when you preach the good news to that, you say, hey, actually, you are way beyond what you do for a living. 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:30.079 That isn't why you're loved. 00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:31.159 That isn't why you're accepted. 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:34.720 You don't have to prove your existence to your boss or to your colleagues. 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:40.419 Because, quite frankly, your job title right now will not end up on your grave. 00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:42.800 Right. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:43.900 Work. 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:44.880 One more. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.400 I'm going to go into that side of the room over there. 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.840 Scanning, scanning, scanning. 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.400 Mark, what have you got? 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.759 Mental health. 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.940 Mental health. 00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:56.700 Mental health. 00:25:56.700 --> 00:26:01.340 What do you think is the cause of mental health problems in Hong Kong? 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.460 High stress environment. 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.680 Poor living conditions. 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.519 No space. 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.120 No time. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.460 To even process. 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:18.380 And maybe we're part of a culture that doesn't even know how to process. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:21.519 If you're just sitting in front of someone and saying, actually, I'm feeling stressed. 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.860 We don't even know what to do with that. 00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:26.000 We don't even know how to ask each other about those kinds of things. 00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:30.740 And so the good news there that Jesus is the comforter, that actually he sees the deepest 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:34.719 parts of us, that he knows what we're going through, that we can cast our anxieties onto 00:26:34.719 --> 00:26:36.119 him because he cares for us. 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.019 That's good news. 00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:40.859 We need to be aware of what the bad news is surrounding us. 00:26:40.939 --> 00:26:42.359 And I think it's different with every culture. 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.619 It's different with every city. 00:26:43.979 --> 00:26:48.099 But when you know what the bad news is, you are then able to actually share what the good 00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:48.500 news is. 00:26:48.699 --> 00:26:52.019 And when they understand the good news, then there will be joy in the city. 00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:55.599 And they will be freed from looking at ourselves. 00:26:55.939 --> 00:26:58.699 I was so touched by our prayer this morning before service. 00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:02.459 And Aaron led us in this wonderful time of repentance, which doesn't sound fun. 00:27:02.479 --> 00:27:02.899 I get it. 00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:06.759 But it was just us saying to God, just forgive us, God. 00:27:07.179 --> 00:27:11.619 And it was just forgive us, God, of just our self-centeredness, of just focusing on ourselves. 00:27:11.679 --> 00:27:13.279 And I need to prove. 00:27:13.459 --> 00:27:14.419 I need to seek to prove. 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.919 And just repenting of that. 00:27:15.959 --> 00:27:18.859 And the freedom that comes from that is incredible. 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:22.639 Should we be willing to repent of it? 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.740 And it's funny. 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:25.799 It's really a fascinating account that happens after this. 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.919 And it's in verse 9. 00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:28.639 But there was a man named Simon. 00:27:29.199 --> 00:27:32.399 Simon the Great is who we can see is called here. 00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.879 Simon the Magician. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:38.119 Now, we don't know actually whether he was a master of the dark arts or whether he was 00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:41.659 actually just someone who was just doing sleight of hand and was able to kind of trick people. 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:44.000 But either way, hype was growing around him. 00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:49.480 He could get a following because people were amazed at some of the magic tricks that he 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:49.900 could do. 00:27:50.600 --> 00:27:53.180 And so what happens here is, it's funny. 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:55.340 And he is saying that he himself was somebody great. 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.620 They all paid attention to him. 00:27:56.779 --> 00:28:00.060 And then they said again, this man is the power of God that is called great. 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:02.099 So we'll just call him Simon the Great. 00:28:02.419 --> 00:28:05.740 And they paid attention to him for a long time because for a long time he could amaze 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.899 them with their magic. 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:11.740 But when Philip comes in, now Philip doesn't try and compete with him with magic tricks. 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:14.879 Philip simply comes and preaches the good news of the kingdom of God. 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:15.720 That's it. 00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:17.579 And that there is only one name that is great. 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:19.279 And that name is Jesus. 00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.599 And what happens? 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:22.939 Everyone starts believing in Philip. 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:27.339 Not in Philip himself, but in the message that Philip was carrying. 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:33.299 Even Simon himself believed, which is great. 00:28:33.699 --> 00:28:34.639 And you think, oh, great. 00:28:34.939 --> 00:28:38.839 The master of the dark arts, the magician, ends up following Jesus. 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:41.960 But we see that everything isn't quite as it seems. 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:47.359 Because you see in verse 13, it says this, and seeing signs and great miracles, he performed 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.459 he was amazed. 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:54.079 Simon, sadly, wasn't attracted to just the power of Jesus and the message of the kingdom 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.459 of God. 00:28:54.899 --> 00:28:59.839 He was attracted by the good things, the tricks that Philip could do. 00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:01.659 People were getting healed. 00:29:02.699 --> 00:29:04.539 And Simon's like, I want in on that. 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.599 I want that kind of power. 00:29:08.199 --> 00:29:09.159 Because that'll be good. 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.959 Because that will be a moneymaker. 00:29:11.679 --> 00:29:12.519 And so that's what he says. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:15.459 During the same time, I'm just going to go through the story because I just think it's 00:29:15.459 --> 00:29:16.519 a really fun story to hear about. 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:20.960 In verse 14, now when the apostles of Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:23.460 God, they sent to them Peter and John. 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:27.859 Bear in mind, the apostles were still in Jerusalem, holding down the fort, laying low, of course, 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:30.319 but very uncomfortable in their own comfortable place. 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:35.339 And then they hear that their enemy territory, their enemy country is starting to receive the 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:35.599 gospel. 00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:37.279 So they're like, okay, we must go check it out. 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:40.019 And when they go and check it out, they see them. 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:43.700 In verse 15, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:48.420 Verse 16, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the 00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.279 name of the Lord Jesus. 00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:51.100 Pause there for a second. 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.480 Just a teeny bit of theology. 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:56.539 When you accept Jesus, you already have the Holy Spirit. 00:29:56.740 --> 00:30:01.259 1 Corinthians says this, that actually the fact that you can even profess a faith in the 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:05.059 Lord Jesus and say that he is Lord already says that the Holy Spirit is in you. 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:05.680 Okay. 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:11.079 But for some reason, there is an exception here that there are people who say they will 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:15.759 follow Jesus, but as the scripture says here, but the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on them. 00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:17.240 The question is why? 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:25.599 For everyone else, even for us, the moment you can say that Jesus is Lord, you can be sure 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.400 you don't need to guess whether the Holy Spirit is in you. 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:29.019 The Holy Spirit is already in you. 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:32.940 The fact that you can even say that, but for some reason it's not happened here yet. 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:33.779 Why? 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:38.819 The reason, again, I think is because of racism and discrimination. 00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:43.559 As I just said, the Jews did not like the Samaritans. 00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:45.720 In fact, the Jews didn't really like anyone else full stop. 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:50.379 They were just a prideful group that just looked down on everyone else because they were God's 00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:50.960 chosen people. 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:56.220 And I think the reason why God says, actually, Peter and John, I need you to see this. 00:30:57.039 --> 00:31:01.420 I need you to see that actually my Holy Spirit is for everyone, not even just for you. 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.799 It's for everyone. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:07.660 So he deliberately holds back so that Peter and John can see so that they can confirm that 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:12.779 actually the gospel is not just for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles, also for the non-Jews. 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:17.619 And so when they arrive, they see, boom, the Holy Spirit then comes down on them. 00:31:17.879 --> 00:31:21.240 And then again, signs, crazy things happen from here. 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:24.740 It's fascinating because Peter doesn't actually learn yet. 00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:28.079 You see two chapters later, he's still racist. 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.319 He's still discriminating. 00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:34.279 And it's just, if you don't feel like you're a great person, I hope the Bible encourages you. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:36.859 It is filled with people who are not that great, that God uses. 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:40.619 If you're like, oh, James, I know, I don't serve with the right heart. 00:31:40.699 --> 00:31:41.759 I don't seek him with the right heart. 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.819 I don't scatter with the right heart. 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.559 Don't worry. 00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:45.439 For every Philip, there's a Peter. 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:49.319 And Peter wasn't the smartest, kindest person. 00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:52.719 And yet God chooses to hold back the Holy Spirit. 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:58.779 And so when Peter and John actually show up in Samaria, they see, whoa, it's for these guys too. 00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:06.879 And that begins Peter's journey, slow journey of learning that the gospel is for everyone. 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:08.220 And it's just this incredible scene. 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:09.980 And that moment, Simon is just amazed. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:15.379 If you've grown up in the charismatic church at all and you've seen some of the things that can happen, 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.899 you can imagine where Simon is. 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.599 He's like, what? 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.700 People are falling down. 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.639 People are getting healed. 00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:21.539 There's gold dust falling down from the sky. 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:24.039 Do you know how much money all of this can make? 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:26.559 So then he goes to Peter and John. 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:28.399 He says, hey, can I give you some money? 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:30.039 Can I buy this power? 00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:31.460 Is really what he's saying. 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:35.420 And then Peter just comes down hard on him. 00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:39.700 I mean, it says, verse 20, may your silver perish with you. 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:43.019 The modern translation of that is to hell with your money. 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.920 To hell with your money. 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:46.399 You think you can buy this? 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:49.740 You think you can trick people to have the power so you can have power over them? 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.819 That's not how this works, my friend. 00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:56.279 He says, may your silver perish with you. 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:59.359 Because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:03.099 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:09.240 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:12.399 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:14.440 Just like that just comes straight out of this. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:17.000 That's just a bomb that's flying towards Simon. 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:17.799 From Peter. 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.000 Again, ironic, isn't it? 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:22.039 But Peter, now filled with the spirit, is a new man. 00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:24.000 And he's not holding back. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:26.079 And just when you think, well, Peter, that's really a bit harsh. 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:28.480 Again, just rewind a little bit context here. 00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:30.019 Chapter 5. 00:33:30.420 --> 00:33:33.279 There was that married couple that tried to trick the church. 00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:37.400 And saying, hey, can we be part of this, the inner circle? 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:39.920 If we sell our land, but we'll keep a bit of money for ourselves. 00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.700 And what happens to them? 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.220 They die. 00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:43.779 On the spot. 00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:49.139 So in some ways, if you understand the context, Peter's actually giving this guy a chance. 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:51.559 He's saying, hey, repent. 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.220 Turn back. 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:55.220 It's not too late. 00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:57.619 I can see in your, wouldn't that just terrify you? 00:33:57.899 --> 00:33:59.779 I can see in your heart that you are just so bitter. 00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:04.639 That you have such a need to prove to people that you are great. 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:06.899 Repent. 00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:09.300 I don't know, guys. 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:13.300 I think about Simon and I think, am I like Simon? 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:15.920 That do I go to God? 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:19.660 Because God, I hope, will answer my prayers. 00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:22.320 So that my family will be safe and healthy. 00:34:22.560 --> 00:34:23.280 And they'll grow up. 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:25.040 And they'll grow taller than me. 00:34:25.200 --> 00:34:26.840 And be more successful than me. 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:29.519 And that you'll keep them from harm, God. 00:34:29.600 --> 00:34:31.580 And you'll give me what I want. 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.940 Do I go to God for those reasons? 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:36.380 I don't know. 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:37.400 I think sometimes I do. 00:34:38.680 --> 00:34:42.460 Sometimes, like Simon, I mistake the gift as a giver. 00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:45.980 And I go to the giver because I really just want the gifts. 00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:49.360 I don't know whether that's the case for you. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:51.579 But Peter here is saying, it's repent. 00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:53.659 You're coming at this from all. 00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:55.079 Your money. 00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:58.099 Your money's not going to do anything in this. 00:34:58.240 --> 00:34:58.940 I don't have money. 00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:00.900 But I have the power that comes from Jesus. 00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:03.119 Repent, is what he's saying. 00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:06.280 And honestly, even after that lecture, I don't know. 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:07.660 I don't know if Simon gets it. 00:35:07.720 --> 00:35:09.900 Because at the end, verse 24, he says this. 00:35:10.140 --> 00:35:17.620 After Peter completely lays it on him, he says, Simon says, pray for me to the Lord that nothing of what you have said may come upon me. 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:20.960 What's he saying? 00:35:21.280 --> 00:35:22.680 Oh, please don't let that happen to me. 00:35:24.080 --> 00:35:25.500 And it makes me think, do I do that sometimes? 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:27.980 Sometimes I go to God because I want the good things. 00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:31.440 Sometimes I go to God because I'm afraid of the bad things. 00:35:32.680 --> 00:35:33.440 Do you have that? 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:35.420 Oh, you're guilty. 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.460 I haven't read the Bible today. 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.659 Something bad might happen to me. 00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:43.539 Can you see that we've completely misunderstood the heart of God, who God even is? 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:47.139 That we're not going to God for the good things. 00:35:47.300 --> 00:35:50.539 And just because we don't go to him doesn't mean automatically there are bad things. 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:55.480 Jesus himself, when he was here, said the sun shines on the righteous and the unrighteous. 00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:57.280 The rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous. 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.519 That's not what it's about. 00:35:58.900 --> 00:36:02.220 He just wants us to know him, to reach out to him. 00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:03.759 And that's it. 00:36:04.879 --> 00:36:06.599 Can we want him for him? 00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:10.519 And can we acknowledge that even when we don't, that's okay. 00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:13.679 It doesn't mean he's going to then pour out judgment onto us and kill us. 00:36:15.279 --> 00:36:16.659 Talking to a good friend about this. 00:36:16.759 --> 00:36:24.839 And I love the heart because he was like, oh, not really been going to God because I'm trying to learn to not go to God only when I want something from him. 00:36:24.840 --> 00:36:29.400 And I was like, oh, that's such a nice thing to say, right? 00:36:30.120 --> 00:36:31.280 God, I don't want to just use you. 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:36.300 And then I think I had a bit of a realization and a revelation. 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:37.019 I was like, you know what? 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:38.579 I think God is so gracious. 00:36:38.579 --> 00:36:42.440 He wants us to go to him even if it's just when we want him. 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:45.179 It's just who he is. 00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:50.679 Sometimes our conception of him is just wrong because of that. 00:36:51.159 --> 00:36:56.480 And I gave the example of my third child, MJ, who actually doesn't really like me that much. 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:59.699 Probably because he looks too much like me and he's blaming me for the hairstyle. 00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:02.659 And he doesn't really, the moment his mother's around, that's it. 00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:03.659 I'm just dead to him. 00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:06.119 And I'm just like, this is bold guy. 00:37:06.259 --> 00:37:07.699 Don't worry, I don't need therapy. 00:37:07.779 --> 00:37:08.099 I'm okay. 00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:20.779 And I was thinking about him and I was like, okay, when she's around or quite frankly, when anyone else is around, he doesn't really come to me for anything unless there literally is no one. 00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:23.099 It's just me and the bookshelf. 00:37:23.799 --> 00:37:25.639 And then he'll look at me. 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.119 He wants something. 00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:27.719 He'll look at me. 00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:31.460 And then he'll go, I literally have no one else. 00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:33.539 It's just the bold guy who can help me with this. 00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:40.219 At that moment, and I ask this question to my group, at that moment, do I want him to come to me or not? 00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:43.059 I've got to say the answer is yes. 00:37:43.819 --> 00:37:57.799 Even if he's using me in that one instance, the fact that he reaches out to me, the fact that he needs, he knows he needs my help and wants to be with me just for those two seconds as I hold him and lift him up to the thing that he actually wants. 00:37:58.659 --> 00:37:59.420 I want it. 00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:01.920 I think that's the heart of the father. 00:38:03.659 --> 00:38:12.960 I think that's the heart of the father, that he is so gracious and compassionate, so desiring for a relationship with us that he just wants us to reach out. 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:19.699 Now, of course, at some point, I hope that we grow out of the stage of just going to him just for the stuff. 00:38:20.099 --> 00:38:27.480 I hope that at some stage, Micah and I will be friends where we sit and we have a beer and he comes and just talks to me about life. 00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:29.119 I hope that's the case. 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:35.079 But until then, if he's just coming to me just because he wants something from me, that's okay. 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:41.980 The question for us as we continue to mature as followers of Christ is, well, where's my heart in this, God? 00:38:42.259 --> 00:38:47.119 Am I only spending time with you because I'm afraid of the guilt of not spending time with you? 00:38:47.420 --> 00:38:48.440 Then, you know, we don't want that. 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:56.679 It's like me going to my physio and only being forced there because he's guilt-tripping me to go and I actually don't really like him and I don't really want to be there. 00:38:56.739 --> 00:38:57.420 I don't really want to grow. 00:38:57.420 --> 00:39:01.079 So that's, no, I actually like my physio and I want to spend time with him. 00:39:02.200 --> 00:39:03.920 And that's where the joy comes from. 00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:10.840 And so I hope we don't have either the fear of, actually, the consequences of not wanting him. 00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:15.159 But I also hope that we don't have this thing of we just want him just because it'll help us feel better. 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:19.579 If we go to church on Sunday and tick off that box, then we'll feel better this week. 00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:20.380 That's not what it is. 00:39:20.460 --> 00:39:21.180 But then come. 00:39:22.720 --> 00:39:25.039 It's all about, it's all about the heart. 00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:27.960 But the question for us is, do we have that? 00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:29.539 Can we ask ourselves that question? 00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:31.980 Do we truly want Jesus for Jesus? 00:39:32.739 --> 00:39:36.500 I was preaching in the Chinese side a couple of weeks ago and I asked a really extreme stupid question. 00:39:37.159 --> 00:39:39.500 And I asked, and it's tied in with work. 00:39:39.940 --> 00:39:45.480 And it was, for your children, would you either, would you rather, I mean, this game is always a terrible game. 00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:55.260 Would you rather have your child be the CEO of HSBC but not know God or be the janitor of HSBC but then know God and love God? 00:39:57.380 --> 00:40:00.360 Of course, someone comes up to me, well, can I have both? 00:40:01.059 --> 00:40:02.659 I'm like, well, yeah, yeah, sure. 00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:04.000 You can be a janitor and not know God. 00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:04.420 That's fine. 00:40:04.420 --> 00:40:10.880 That's up to you. 00:40:12.760 --> 00:40:15.860 But man, I asked that question and it dug me deep in my heart. 00:40:18.059 --> 00:40:23.720 Because if I'm honest, it'll be nice to have the wealth and the health. 00:40:24.820 --> 00:40:29.639 And we go to God and we think, we're going to God for him, but actually we're going to God for all the things that we think he can give us. 00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:31.200 The blessings that he can pour out to us. 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:34.399 Not realizing that he himself is the actual gift. 00:40:36.219 --> 00:40:37.759 And it's in him that we have purpose. 00:40:37.859 --> 00:40:38.799 It's in him we have hope. 00:40:39.399 --> 00:40:40.859 Do we understand that? 00:40:41.099 --> 00:40:42.519 Now, honestly, this is where I'll finish. 00:40:43.059 --> 00:40:45.319 You might sit there and go, yeah, I'm not there. 00:40:46.099 --> 00:40:47.539 Jesus is not my single focus. 00:40:48.219 --> 00:40:51.919 He is not, as Psalm 27 says, the one thing I ask for and the one thing I seek. 00:40:52.239 --> 00:40:58.159 That I can't sit and gaze upon his beauty for all of my days because singing worship songs for three songs is too long for me. 00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:00.219 Forget all of my days. 00:41:00.219 --> 00:41:01.319 That's hard. 00:41:02.319 --> 00:41:04.000 And I'm here to say, I think that's okay. 00:41:04.899 --> 00:41:07.099 The very desire to please God is what pleases God. 00:41:07.399 --> 00:41:09.779 You can say, God, I don't think I love you yet. 00:41:09.819 --> 00:41:12.659 I don't think I want you yet, but I want to want you and I want to love you. 00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:17.259 And I want you to be my soul and only focus in life. 00:41:17.339 --> 00:41:23.379 I want to surrender all the other things to you because I want to only trust in you. 00:41:24.380 --> 00:41:25.579 Jesus, I just want you. 00:41:25.579 --> 00:41:29.719 And I think he'll be gracious and he'll hear. 00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:33.679 So long as we surrender and we repent. 00:41:34.739 --> 00:41:36.480 And each time we're like, oh, there is. 00:41:36.599 --> 00:41:37.480 There's the flesh again. 00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:39.459 There's me wanting to seek approval. 00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:40.919 There's me wanting to climb up the ladder. 00:41:41.019 --> 00:41:42.480 There's me wanting to prove to that person. 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:47.699 And as long as we are aware of that and we go, God, give it back to you every day. 00:41:47.760 --> 00:41:48.960 Just give this back to you. 00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:52.539 I think he's gracious and compassionate. 00:41:52.539 --> 00:41:57.920 I think all he wants is just relationship with us. 00:41:59.139 --> 00:42:02.159 And it doesn't matter whether we have this or have this. 00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:09.519 The Apostle Paul says this, I've learned a secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:11.480 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:42:13.139 --> 00:42:14.599 That's what that passage is about. 00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:16.019 It's like, I don't know. 00:42:16.340 --> 00:42:17.900 Whether I have a lot or little, it doesn't matter. 00:42:18.019 --> 00:42:20.759 I press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:42:20.759 --> 00:42:21.519 That's all I want. 00:42:21.519 --> 00:42:22.380 That's all I care for. 00:42:23.159 --> 00:42:24.119 Jesus, give me you. 00:42:24.480 --> 00:42:27.659 If you give me everything else and you're not there, it's not going to be worth it. 00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:31.159 Can we have that in our hearts? 00:42:31.219 --> 00:42:32.900 Can we not be like Simon the Great? 00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:46.880 Can we not try to be great ourselves and recognize there is only really one great person and the greatest of all emptied himself, laid down his own life, took the form of a servant for us. 00:42:47.239 --> 00:42:50.320 And died for us. 00:42:50.320 --> 00:42:53.160 Even death on a cross for us. 00:42:53.159 --> 00:43:01.980 When we understand that, that we were forgiven, that we were supposed to be on that cross, then we can be like Stephen and be so extra. 00:43:01.980 --> 00:43:07.440 And just say, it doesn't matter because my eyes are just gazing towards you. 00:43:07.840 --> 00:43:12.000 And then we can be like Stephen and be asked to serve food and rice for people. 00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:14.400 And then suddenly be called upon to preach. 00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:15.059 It doesn't matter. 00:43:15.059 --> 00:43:19.340 I'm praying that we would have the right heart to serve. 00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:21.360 We would have the right heart to scatter. 00:43:21.639 --> 00:43:23.259 And we would have the right heart to seek. 00:43:23.260 --> 00:43:31.080 Would you join me in that prayer of saying, Jesus, I just want you. 00:43:31.079 --> 00:43:41.219 Or if you're not there yet, then you say, Jesus, I just want to want to want you. 00:43:41.219 --> 00:43:47.519 I'm going to invite the band now to just help us respond. 00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:55.179 And for us to spend just a little bit of a moment just to still ourselves before God, because actually the busyness is a very real thing. 00:43:55.239 --> 00:43:57.119 The noise, the work is a very real thing. 00:43:57.119 --> 00:44:03.779 And when you have those things, you just become so distracted by the noise, so numbed by the busyness. 00:44:04.039 --> 00:44:08.819 We don't spend that time sitting and going, Jesus, search my heart, test my thoughts. 00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:14.039 If there is anything that is not right, lead me on the way everlasting. 00:44:14.759 --> 00:44:19.319 Right now, the same opportunity that was given to Simon is given to us. 00:44:20.099 --> 00:44:22.880 To search our hearts and say, God, I just want you for you. 00:44:23.480 --> 00:44:25.000 No fear, no pride. 00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:28.679 Just you for you. 00:44:48.259 --> 00:44:49.179 What good is it? 00:44:49.339 --> 00:44:56.819 What good is it for us to gain the whole world and lose the one thing that is the most important? 00:44:57.119 --> 00:44:59.940 A relationship with you. 00:45:01.839 --> 00:45:03.940 You, Jesus, we are all we want. 00:45:10.139 --> 00:45:12.799 As a church, you are all we want. 00:45:14.019 --> 00:45:15.359 And so we make room for you. 00:45:15.360 --> 00:45:21.480 We serve, we scatter, we seek you. 00:45:24.480 --> 00:45:26.039 With single-minded devotion. 00:45:31.880 --> 00:45:32.800 We thank you a lot. 00:45:34.079 --> 00:45:34.539 Thank you. 00:45:34.640 --> 00:45:35.800 We got together this morning. 00:45:36.780 --> 00:45:37.700 Would you lead us? 00:45:37.699 --> 00:45:41.639 That our time with you this week doesn't just stop here. 00:45:45.960 --> 00:45:50.559 That you would be part of every dinner, every lunch, every work shift. 00:45:53.019 --> 00:45:53.980 Every dinner party. 00:45:55.539 --> 00:45:56.519 Lord, we just want you. 00:45:58.139 --> 00:45:58.799 Thank you, Lord. 00:45:59.699 --> 00:46:00.739 In your name we pray. 00:46:00.739 --> 00:46:02.500 Amen.